Percy should have been listening to the little red flag at the back of his mind when he heard the words "come back from the dead", but Tsunami pulled him and Riptide off the beach and followed the guard before Percy could even make up his mind. He dangled beside Riptide, the dragon, as she swam as fast as she could. Percy smiled shyly Riptide as they both dangled from Tsunami, occasionally bumping into each other, but luckily she found that dragging the two would slow her down and let Percy and Riptide go. Percy willed the currents to go faster making the trip easier for Tsunami, Riptide, and the guard.
They arrived at the palace and Percy followed Tsunami through the tunnels and into the center where all the dragons were murmuring and staring in awe. Tsunami pushed her way through the crowd and beckoned Percy and Riptide. Riptide gave Percy a nervous glance and studied his face. "Percy, is everything ok"? He asked, seeing the worry in Percy's eyes. "I don't really know about this Riptide. Someone coming back from the dead is very unusual, but of course that is just demigod worrying. Who knows, he might not be a threat like when Nico brought back Hazel. That went well so I guess I'm just over exaggerating", Percy really hoped he was over exaggerating, he didn't want to run into danger, not here, not now with all of these dragons around. "I wouldn't worry about it Percy. Last I remember Gill, he was pretty nice. He was on my side when my father stole Tsunami's egg and he actually let me live and not stick me in battle to die like Coral made my mother do".
Percy decided to trust Riptide that Tsunami's father coming back from the dead and ignore that little flag waving frantically in his mind and trot after Tsunami.
When They finally emerged from the crowd, Percy saw the queen, Coral, and her daughters all together with a large green dragon. Coral was crying and hugging the green dragon who hugged her back and spoke reassuring words to her. Percy couldn't see his face because Gill had his back to him, but the dragon was strong, but gentle, hugging the queen with so much love Percy wanted to cry. The only thing weird about him was the metal band around his neck and the fact that his presence set the little red flag to do flips and ollies in Percy's mind, trying its best to get his attention. "Um, Mother", Tsunami said and the green dragon turned around and smiled a handsome friendly smile, his green eyes sparkling with joy. "Are you my daughter"? The dragon asked in a smooth voice that the kindest king would have. "You are magnificent like your mother. Oh my I'm sorry for trying to kill you in that arena. I had no control over myself and I am glad that you killed me before I could hurt anymore innocent dragons. Come here and give your father a hug", Gill stretched out his arms wide for a hug and Tsunami hugged him.
Percy watched as the other two dragonets bounced all over their father and the queen talk to her husband at last. Percy thought he might be able to walk away from the scene unnoticed until Anemone said, "Father, I met this amazing dragon today, come meet him. His name is Percy".
Anemone pulled her father's arm up to where Percy was standing and introduced them, "Father, this is Percy, he's a demigod". "I see", said Gill with no sign of a threat anywhere, just that strong, talon that patted Percy on the shoulder. "Hello there Perseus Jackson", the dragon's smooth tone turning into a maniacal growl, eyes turning from calm to insanity.
Before Percy could back away and run, Gill brought out a familiar spike and slashed it down Percy's neck. Pain erupted through the demigod's gills and Percy screamed in agony. "Percy", Anemone yelped trying to run to Percy's side and do something, but Coral held her daughter back with the new harness. "Gill? What is happening"? Coral stammered after gathering up her daughters. Gill laughed maniacally as he pinned Percy to the floor, holding a manticore spike as Percy writhed in agony, blood spilling out of his neck and gurgling into bloody foam, "World Peace my love. Peace for his world and ours. This is the first step to ending any kind of war forever. We will all bow to one ruler and one ruler only. She will slaughter this demigod and seven others and receive their power. The power of death, intelligence, precious metals, the sky, hunting, shape shifting, fire, and last, but not least, the power of the sea". With those words, Gill put another talon on Percy's body and claws dug into his scales. Percy winced and thrashed under the weight of the dragon as Gill whistled for reinforcements. Tons of dragons spilled out all around them and to Percy's surprise, stalked toward Tsunami, Anemone, Auklet, and their mother who stood their ground, bravely arching their backs to look bigger or to pounce. It was hard to tell with dragons because they weren't as lightly built like a cat. Percy roared in fury and thrust his talon in the air, causing a giant wave to wash over everyone.
Once the water rolled back into the pools, Percy found that none of Gill's army was hurt and Percy was free. Immediately he got to his feet and ran to Anemone and Tsunami. Anemone's harnas was slashed and Percy spotted her mother fighting three blue dragons and seemed to be making progress. Percy ran to their side and swiped his sword at a metal chunk in a dragon's shoulder and the dragon disintegrated in a flash of dull light. Tsunami gave Percy a satisfying look and ripped out a piece of metal in an another attacking dragon's neck. They fought side by side, but Percy didn't realize that he was slowly being pushed back, away from any help.
Suddenly out of no where, Gill jumped on Percy's back, causing Percy's sword to skitter away and sink to the bottom of the entrance to the palace. "Give up demigod, your final battle will happen here. If you give up, these dragons will not have to suffer and you can see your beloved again". Percy had no idea what he was talking about until a sinking feeling started in his stomach and constricted his throat as an idea popped in his mind. "You-you don't mean…" "Your beloved Annabeth? Yes thats what I mean", and Gill pulled out a polished white stone. A scene appeared on the stone, it was dark with only torches to light the place up. Percy's heart ached when he saw a pale gold dragon with stormy grey eyes look up at him and heard it croak his name in Annabeth's voice. Annabeth the dragon studied the situation and when she saw Gill she got really angry. "Is he making you a deal Percy? Don't trust him, he will not follow through with it. I repeat don't you dare make a promise Seaweed Brain or I will punch you again".
Percy was too stunned to speak, but seeing Annabeth chained up like that made him angry. Before Gill could react, Percy pulled out Riptide and uncapped the pen. He slashed at the dragon's scales, but the metal didn't hurt Gill. Instead, Gill was pushed to the side by the force of his swing, giving the demigod had enough time to think.
Percy found his focus, imagining the waves and deadly storms in the ocean and wind started blowing violently, water lapped at the edges of the pools and puddles, trying to aid Percy. The wind got stronger and stronger till Percy was standing in his own personal hurricane destroying any enemy dragon that got in his path.
Through the wind and swings at attacking dragons, Percy could see what was happening in the battlefield. He saw that dragons were fighting each other, biting, slashing, and clawing their enemies till they found the metal piece and slashed it out or ripped it out, making the dragon's disintegrate. Percy spotted the seawing guards defending the civilian dragons as they fled from the scene to safety. In the air, queen Coral was defending her daughter Auklet as best she could, whacking aside dragons trying to capture her and yelling about traders. Percy wanted to help out the queen, but his energy was fading and he needed to keep his hurricane blowing. He slashed away five more enemy dragons before he finally gave out. The hurricane stopped and he was left panting heavily.
When Percy looked up he was horrified to see Gill had captured the queen. He was flapping his wings and had Coral struggling under the grip on her neck. "Give up son of Poseidon. You are weak and worthless, just a shadow of my master's glory will soon become. If you give up, you will see this kingdom spared. All of the dragons could live their lives as they did before, but all of their sufferings will end when my master gains the power of your friends and no one will suffer again. The world will be purified and your world will be next".
Percy swore at Gill in Greek and raised his middle claw in the air. He didn't do that ever or his mother would punish him, but he was so angry at the dragon that his curses wouldn't do enough.
"PERCY. PROTECT MY DAUGHTERS AND CATCH AUKLET". Percy didn't understand what she meant until she unclipped Auklet from her harness and the tiny dragon fell. Percy jumped up and caught her in time, but when he looked up, he found Gill had already gotten away with the queen.
"Percy, come on we need to get out of here", yelled Tsunami as she whacked dragons away from her sister. Tsunami grabbed Anemone's talon and plunged into the water with Percy close behind with Auklet. He willed the currents to push them faster and faster through the tunnel until they rocketed into the sea and Tsunami took flight with Anemone flapping behind her. Percy yelped as he rocketed out of the water and into dark sky slowly turning pink from dawn.
For a second he had no idea what to do, terrified of falling out of the sky. Then he remembered, he had wings. He spread them and they caught the wind and he soared towards Tsunami and Anemone.
When he caught up to the two he was panting and flapping his wings as fast as he could. "WAIT UP. WHERE ARE WE GOING"? Percy yelled over the wind. "WE ARE GOING TO THE RAINFOREST KINGDOM", Tsunami yelled back as they flew into the orange sunrise.
Whew that was exiting for me, but of course that is my opinion. Was it exiting enough for you guy? Anyway I have some important news to share with all of you. I am going on a weeks vacation in the mountains and I do not think that I will be writing much for a little while. So while I'm gone, I wish you all a great spring break and happy Easter, and also keep dreaming my friends.