Author's Note:

Back again with another chapter, writing these out quicker than I expect too. Just to let you know, not much will happen this chapter, it's just some stuff that needs to happen, things that need to be said.

Oh, but there is, one semi-important plot point. Let's just say you'll know it when you read it.

And hey! Chapter 15! I feel like that's special, but I have no idea why.

One bit of news, for you all, I received a PM regarding this story. I'm not sure if it was a kind of copy-paste/automated thing. What the message was? It was an offer to enter this story into a competition. Now I followed the link, checked out the website, and everything seemed legitimate. The competition seemed open to anyone, but I guess they go around contacting some writers directly.

Now, here's the problem. I would love to enter this fic into the competition. I really would. But, the closing date for entries, is on the 28th this month. And one of the criteria, is that the fic is one hundred percent finished. Done. You see the problem here? There's no way I'm going to finish this story by then, and I don't plan to rush it or finish it early to change that. I'll take as much time as I need to write this story properly.

At the end of the day... it doesn't bother me so much.

Enjoy reading.

Chapter 15

The Sun Can Get Drunk Too

Now Percy had never been to a proper party in his entire life, but even so he was sure that this was up there in terms of scale, and all-round awesomeness.

There were these nine musicians on a stage playing music that sounded like it shouldn't be coming from the instruments they were playing, which was blasting through speakers spread about the palace. There was this one god walking around creating stands for food and drinks from nowhere.

The twelve gods of the council had shrunk to human size to mingle with the guests, and there were a lot of guests. All the gates to the palace had opened, and it was like every single god and goddess on the floating mountain had rushed up to join the party.

Percy had managed to repress his headache for the council, and ignore it. But now? Surrounded by what seemed like the energy of hundreds of deities, and the loud music to top it all off? He felt like his head was going to explode.

Before he even thought about raiding the food stands, Percy pushed and shoved his way through the crowd, forgetting for a moment these were gods he was barging past.

Percy ran through one of the giant gates to the palace, and found himself in the same courtyard where they'd set down on the flying horses. Now outside, the music was quieter, and after a few minutes of lying on the grass, his head felt a little clearer.

Percy just kept lying there though, looking at the night sky. It was about midnight now, and the stars were just as beautiful as they were back on the other side of the country.

Funny that thoughts like that don't seem weird.

His head definitely clearer, Percy sat up, and drew Zoë's knife. He admired the silvery blade, and the way it shone no matter the light it was in. Then, on the blade's other side, Percy saw some kind of etching in its side.

'ημισέληνος' is what is what the etched word was, but Percy couldn't be sure what it said.

Zoë called it 'I̱miséli̱nos'. That's probably what it says, but what does that mean?

"Crescent"

Percy looked behind him. Grover, Annabeth and Thalia were all there.

"I'm pretty sure that's what the Greek on the knife means," Thalia said. "If you were wondering."

They all sat down on the grass with them, holding plates stacked with food.

"Hey, aren't you hungry man?" Grover asked him.

Any other time, Percy would've gone and got his own, or go steal their food, but tonight…

"Nah. I've had a lot on my mind. Not hungry." Percy put the knife back in his pocket.

"So, how exactly does a mortal find themselves on a quest with demigods?" Annabeth asked.

"I did explain back in there."

"Not all of the details though."

"Hmm. Alright then. Well I suppose it's time I tell all of you the full story."

So Percy began to recount everything leading up to his hiding in the trunk of their car, and the incident with the Nemean Lion which sealed him in as a quest member. The story went to before he was even living on the New York streets, to when he first ran away from the orphanages and foster homes, to his two years as a street kid, and the day, not too long ago, he tried to pickpocket Thalia. It took a while, but Percy told the tale.

"Wow… impressive, if all if it is true..." Annabeth said.

Percy raised an eyebrow. "You doubt me?"

"I find the part with the New York gang a little farfetched."

"You live in a world where teenagers can control lightning, there are animals with metal fur, gods live on a floating mountain top… and you doubt my story?"

Annabeth shrugged. "You do have a point there, I'll admit."

After a few moments of silence, Percy remembered something he's been meaning to ask.

"Hey guys, I know the mission is done and all, the quest is over… but I'd still like to hear about the prophecy."

"Yeah, we should've told you this earlier. Zoë was the one who received it." Thalia said. "It went like this… Five shall go west to the goddess in chains, the unordinary one saves from pain. The bane of Olympus vanishes from the trail, Campers, Hunters, and Thief combined prevail. The Titan's Curse two will withstand, and one may perish by a parent's hand."

"Alright, I'm guessing I'm the Thief, and everything else seems to have fallen into place, but… 'the unordinary one saves from pain'… I'm not sure about that one."

"My guess, is that it refers to the godly junkyard. You giving Bianca the lions pelt. We were all pretty sure it saved her life."

"Hmph. Maybe… but speaking of Bianca, what did that god want with her, back in there?"

"I'm… not sure. That was Hephaestus, the god who owned the junkyard."

"You think he's angry?"

"I don't see why he would be. He threw all that stuff away for a reason, and he's never really felt one way or another about the other gods' kids."

"Hellooo heroes!" A voice from behind them called.

They looked behind them to see Apollo, walking towards them waving. He stumbled every few steps, and had a cup of wine in his hand. He hiccupped when he reached them.

I didn't realise gods could get drunk.

"Hey, listen, it's… really cool and, all… saving my sis. I, hic… thank you, little ankle bitters."

"We're older than that… Lord Apollo." Annabeth huffed.

"Oh… isn't that adorable hic… it's like a puppy thinking it's people, hic." Apollo slurred. "Listen… it's… it's been great, I love you heroes. You do stuff that means, hic, we can party… and stuff. But… we're wrapping up… still, important crap… to get down… to get done, I mean... it's time to go, little bros. The Old Horse… is waiting down in Chicago… I mean New York, hic."

"Okay then. Guys, time to head back to camp." Thalia said. She turned to Percy. "The 'Old Horse', is Chiron. The guy who runs camp."

"You mean the place where you all live, and train… is run by a talking horse?" Percy replied.

"No, a centaur. Half-man, half-horse."

"And that makes things so much less weird."

They got up to leave, but Apollo laid a hand on Percy's shoulder. "Hey, I goats… I mean, got to talk to you for minute, alone… guy to guy. Mortal to god. Insignificant being to almighty, hic, awesomeness."

"We'll wait for you just inside the palace." Grover said.

They walked inside, and Percy turned to the drunken god. "So, what do you want Fred?"

"Hey, man… I just… wanted to say, I've been looking stuff up, hic, doing research. Now, I haven't looked at everything that, needs to be looked at, but… I think, the whole, hic… first, male oracle thing, might… might work… hic."

Percy frowned. "I remember you mentioning something like that… but what exactly do you mean?"

"Well, you already… get glimpses of the future, in your dreams yeah? This, refines the whole thingy. Heroes, would, hic… go to you to get, a prophecy before their quests and stuff."

"And if I don't know any good prophecies?"

"Oh no… it's all, hic… automatic. You don't, really have to worry about anything… hic. Just, don't try to do anything yet. You… would probably die, if you tried right now. That, is all for now, my second favourite mortal… you should probably, catch up with your… friends."

"Umm… okay then. Goodbye then… Lord Apollo."

"Hic, no problems… well carry on then, nothing to, hic, see here."

Hmm. I don't seem to get headaches when it's one on one.

Before he walked away, Percy remembered Bianca walking away if the god Hephaestus. He'd also called Apollo and Artemis with him.

"Before I go Apollo… what's happening with Bianca? What did Hephaestus want with her?"

"Oh… that. Well, it's to do with the whole Talos incident. He's building her a, hic, replacement."

"He's making a replacement Talos, for Bianca?"

"Oh no… he's making, hic, making her a new leg."

The words took a few seconds to register.

"WHAT!"

"Geez, not so loud man. It's simple, she got a piece of magical bronze stuff in her leg, hic, and that stuff is not good for demi-kids. The wound, got infected. Badly, hic. She's gotta lose one of her legs. Hephaestus, builds her a replacement leg, and I gotta be there, hic, to make sure the operation goes smooth, hic, like peanut butter. I am the god of medicine… hic."

"And you can do that while you're drunk?" Percy asked sceptically.

"Don't worry bro, I'll be slick and sober when the time comes."

"… Damn. And she'll be alright?"

"I promise it. She'll be back with her Hunters, hic, in a few days."

"… Fine. Goodbye Apollo."

Percy walked onwards, inside the palace, to find almost all the gods were gone. There were a few still hanging around, a couple still dancing. The music had quietened, and there were plates and food strewn about the place. There was confetti everywhere too, but Percy had no idea where that came from.

The gods seem very human right now.

He saw Thalia, Annabeth and Grover down one part of the palace, standing at another set of giant gates. He ran up to meet them.

Thalia smiled. "Ready to see where you'll be staying with us for the foreseeable future?"

"Ready as I'll ever be. And guys… I know what Hephaestus wanted with Bianca."

Percy told them what Apollo had said on the way back down to Manhattan, in a plain average elevator of all things. It even came with stand awkward-elevator-music, which didn't particularly suit the conversation.

"Wow… wonder how she's holding up?" Annabeth said.

"I haven't known her for long," Thalia replied. "But, if there's one thing I know, she's strong. She'll make it through."

The elevator brought them back to ground level. They stepped outside of the Empire State Building, onto the Manhattan streets. It was still dark outside, and it was snowing slightly. Though Percy expected the sun would rise fairly soon.

The same white van, with the 'Delphi Strawberries' logo, Percy had seen Zoë driving when all this started, pulled over onto the curb in front of them.

Instead of a half-horse guy like he expected, a blonde haired man, with eye balls all over his body stepped out of the van. He had eyeballs on his cheeks, forehead, chin, hands, wrists, and probably in other places too.

"Looks like Chiron isn't picking us up then." Annabeth said.

All of his eyes looked towards Percy, squinting, in synchronization.

That's kinda creeping me out.

Grover looked to Percy. "This is Argus, our security chief."

He turned back to Argus, the man-with-way-too-many-eyes. "This is Percy, he's uh, with us."

Argus didn't seem to question him. He just got back into the van.

Thalia sighed, like she was relieved of something. "Finally. Time to get some proper rest. Guys lets go home. Oh, and Percy? You might like it there… but you'll be the only mortal. Sometimes demigods have… superiority issues. Don't let them trample over you, but at the same time… be careful."

"Thanks for the concern, but I don't need to fight to handle myself when it comes to other people, if that's what you're implying."

"No no, I just… look, I would've told you if I thought you couldn't make it there, but not everyone may be the friendliest. You'll probably be fine with the Hermes kids… but I'd watch out for the Ares cabin, if I were you. You'll probably know them when you see them. They like red stuff."

"Gotcha."

Well then… I guess I've got a new home to go to. I'm officially fighting for gods and demigods. And if anyone at this camp thinks they can trample on me… I will, take all their stuff.

I don't condone alcoholism.