Chapter VI: In Which Political Fists Fly
Lupa sat still within the confines of her cave. She was mildly surprised that Juno had taken Jason without her permission and left her with this 'Percy Jackson'.
Lupa knew about Percy Jackson's conquests. Her wolf children were placed all over the country to ensure that Greek and Roman don't make contact and to keep up with news. She knew about his quests and battles. She would even dare to say that she was mildly impressed. He has the qualities of a Greek and a Roman.
That had bothered Lupa. When Reyna had presented him, he smelled Greek but also Roman. Lupa had thought that this was intended by Juno in order not to kill him.
Lupa's tail swung back and forth on the ground. What the Oracle had assigned the campers to go on the quest had bothered her as well. She expected a child of Apollo to go, for healing purposes and a child of Mars, for battles and such. The last camper that would go on the quest would usually have something in relation to the quest.
That would make three, the number needed in order for the quest to be blessed by the Fates. Three Fates and three eldest gods, the beings of the sacred number.
The Oracle had assigned four campers to go. This has happened before, but the quest always ended badly with it failing or some of the campers on the quest had been brutally killed or bad luck had haunted them.
From what the prophecy said, the quest will have bad luck haunting it the moment they leave the camp. And if this quest failed, it would be even harder for Jason and the others to fulfil the latest Great Prophecy.
The Oracle's choice can be overruled. Lupa had only done this once and the quest was deemed a success, much to Chiron's dismay.
Lupa barked an order to a nearby wolf to summon the Praetors for a meeting and to bring Percy along as well.
Percy sifted through the sand, watching it as the black, white and brown sand mixed briefly before going back to their original patterns.
He swam around for a bit when something in the white sand caught his eye. It was a small conch shell. Nothing out of the ordinary really, about three inches in length and a peachy colour. Something about it seemed special to Percy.
He picked it up and examined it. Yeap, nothing special about it.
Percy wondered how the blonde girl was doing and if they ever found what they were searching for.
"I'll give it to the girl if I ever see her again." Percy decided on a whim. He wouldn't hear the end from it if Todd knew.
Percy felt a presence in the tent above him and swam straight up. He figured out that he didn't have to swim back where he entered.
There was a large wolf sniffing in his tent. For a minute, Percy had thought that it was Lupa but the wolf wasn't as huge as Lupa was and its fur was a chestnut brown.
The wolf looked at Percy, who was still in the pool. Are you Percy?
"Yes, I am." Wolves were clearly respected here and they won't hesitate to maim or kill you if you showed disrespect.
Get dressed and climb up. The wolf didn't look to happy when he said that but Percy complied anyways.
"Where are we going?" He asked as the wolf bounded from the tent and started to run to the back of the fort.
Lupa has summoned a meeting with the Praetors of First Legion.
"Am I a Praetor?" Percy was confused. He hadn't done anything to earn the right to become a Praetor, unless being the only child of a god automatically makes you one. He doubted this.
The wolf confirmed this. No, you don't have the right to earn the privilege of become a Praetor. That is only for the strong, committed, brave campers of First Legion.
The wolf reached the end of the fort and jumped over the wall, landing gracefully. The sun was beginning to set. "Then why am I being brought over there?"
A simple representative for Neptune. You won't have any say in the meeting.
"Glad to know I'm important." Percy grumbled. "Where are we going?"
The place where the meetings of importance are held in a building a distance from the camp.
"Why?" Percy wondered why the wolf was answering his questions. The wolves at First Legion tended to ignore the campers.
Praetors tend to do anything to get their way, including huge battles.
"Huge battles? How would they do that?" Becoming a Praetor became less appealing to Percy.
Summoning monsters, using the powers that their godly parent gave them, almost anything they can use to win.
"Oh." By that time, they had arrived at a domed building. It was about as tall as the fort's wall and there seemed no way to get in.
Percy got off the wolf and looked at the dome. "How do I get in?"
The only reply was silence, so Percy guessed that the wolf had already left.
He walked along the perimeter of the dome. The pillars were differently designed to show the god they represented. Percy passed on what he assumed was Zeus's pillar. The pillar was a stormy grey which shown an eagle holding a lightning bolt.
The next pillar was sea-green with the symbol of a gold trident in the middle. At the bottom of the pillar was a tablet written in original Latin. Percy had a hard time deciphering it but this is what he got from it.
Dome intrare in campis primum fac montes oportet
To enter the Dome, you must first make plains into mountains.
"Plains into mountains? How am I supposed to do that?" He asked himself as he examined the inscription closer.
…Earthshaker, lad. You don't know your own strength.
Earthshaker? What did Dakota say about Neptune? Percy racked his brain for information. Something about earthquakes? Percy's mind was filled with Latin information since there were two sessions at First Legion. The intense physical training session that lasts about 4-7 weeks then a schooling session where everything is in Latin.
"He's the god of earthquakes…" He muttered to himself. "But how am I going to make an earthquake?"
Percy looked to the ground for any sign that could help him or inspire him. He took out the knife that Tim and twirled it while he looked. He was decent with a knife, not as skilled as a child of Mars or Venus but decent.
Nothing so far, He thought, getting a bit frustrated. He had no idea how to make an earthquake and he would've turned back if he didn't have to face the wrath of Lupa or the wolf that brought him.
He closed his eyes and willed the earth to shake, it didn't and Percy felt stupid.
He went back to the pillar and sat down in front of it. He was completely out of ideas. He was also hungry since he left before lunch.
Percy wondered how he was gonna get back as he made patterns in the dirt with the knife. Something was glowing on the knife and Percy looked at it.
The orbs that seemed to be just a decoration was glowing a dark brown, like the dirt he was playing with.
Is this just like Riptide? Riptide harnesses the power of the ocean. Percy had no idea how he knew that but this gave him an idea.
Percy grabbed the knife by the hilt and stabbed it into the soft spot on the ground. He watched as the three orbs slowly filled with the brown light.
He picked up the knife. It felt warm comfortable in his hands. "I wonder if Tim designed it this way, I'll ask the next time I see him."
Percy didn't know what compelled him to stab the pillar. For all he knew, it could've insulted his father. Was Neptune temperamental anyways?
Nothing happened for a few seconds.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently. Percy lost his balance and fell. Cracks appeared in the pillar and the dome. Even the ground opened up.
After what seemed like five minutes, the ground stopped. Percy took a couple of minutes to reorient himself. "So I don't get immunity from earthquakes? Wished I would've known beforehand." He muttered as the dizziness faded away.
The ground had fared less than he did. There was a ton of dust in the air and some of the ground was uneven.
His knife was still in the now cracked pillar. There was also an opening in the pillar. Percy forced himself up and walked back to the pillar.
Percy pulled the knife from the pillar and looked at it. The orbs were empty and the knife felt cold.
"I shall name you Terraemotus." He must've been dizzier than he thought because he could've sworn that the knife glowed slightly when he named it.
Percy put Terraemotus back in its sheath and slowly entered the Dome, cautious now since he was in 'Praetor' territory'.
Percy walked down a long hall with paintings of various kids, teens and adults. This must First Legion's equivalent to the Hall of Fame. Is that Benedict Arnold? The painting that had Benedict was X-ed out in a blood red paint with blue words spelling out TRAITOR in capital letters.
Percy kind of wanted to look at the paintings but his attention span wasn't really cut out for staring at really old paintings.
"I bet you fifteen Aurei that your Contubernium won't win at Sabotage tomorrow night." Percy heard someone challenge.
Percy stopped short of a brightly lit room. The room was circular and it seemed to be in the middle of the Dome since he could see the ceiling become convex.
In the middle of the circular room, there was a round table with thrones surrounding it. The thrones were as unique as the Caput tabernacula back at First Legion. In the middle of the large, round table was a fire pit. The fire pit was lit despite it being the middle of the day. The flames were a mix of orange and grey.
Percy saw a brunette look up from a magazine and snort. She was sitting on a throne that looked like it was taken straight from a Barbie house. The armrests were puffy and a baby blue. The rest was a hot pink and Percy was positive he saw it glitter a bit. "Sure Christian. When Todd's white hair turns black is when I'll lose to you. Bet's on."
"Hey!" Todd protested, looking up from a huge ruby he was playing with. He was on a pitch black throne that looked like it was made from obsidian; it was studded with jewels, and precious metals. It seemed to suck the light around it. "Why does my awesome hair have to be the subject of an insult?"
A guy who was sitting two seats away from Todd, rolled his eyes. "Be quiet Corpse Breath, I think I just heard something outside the Dome." He has golden hair which reminded Percy of a bale of hay. It was spiky and messy as one as well. His throne seemed to be taken straight from a garden. The main part of the throne seemed to be made from reeds or bamboo, the arm rests were made of wheat and hay.
Todd glared at the guy. "Shut up Flower Boy."
"Corpse Breath, Flower Boy here is right. Didn't you feel the earth shake?" Bobby asked. Bobby didn't look to happy. His throne was made from chrome and leather. The leather looked worn and it was torn in some places. The top of the throne was chrome and it had two lethal looking spears on either side, they sparked with red electricity.
Percy felt a knife at the back of his neck. The holder of the knife made him walk forward by poking it hard in his neck. "Lookie at what I found here. A trespasser?"
All of the Praetors, (Percy counted eighteen) turned to glare at him, even Todd. He felt much unprepared against eighteen people who could make his life like hell.
"What are you doing here?" Reyna demanded. Her hair was in a ponytail. The throne she was sitting on had a blueprint pattern on it. There was a cup holder full of silver and white markers plus all sorts of writing tools. There was an owl perched on the upper right corner.
"I-I don't know. Some wolf brought me here." Percy stammered. Reyna's eyes were really distracting.
'Flower Boy' scowled a bit. He had pale green eyes. "You must be a representative then."
"Representative?" Percy asked. He kept a hand on Terraemotus in case they decide to attack him all at once.
"Someone who isn't a Praetor and is the only child of a god or goddess but come to Council Meetings when needed."
The brunette in the Barbie throne entered in the conversation. "It must be pretty important if a representative is needed." She said the word like it was an insult.
Reyna nodded. "I'm guessing this rules out the possibility of Lupa assigning the new Praetor for First Legion."
Everyone seemed disappointed at that, Reyna, Todd and Gwen looked slightly worried. Bobby looked displeased. "What happened to the first one?"
At first, nobody answered. A guy with shaggy purple hair answered for the Praetors. "He went missing a couple of days before you arrived." Percy recognized his voice. He was the one who challenged the brunette. Christian, he sat lazily on a tiger patterned throne. He was eating ripe, juicy grapes that were growing from a vine that was wrapped around the chair. "Ever since then, we've been anxious to see whether or not Lupa will either assign a quest to look for him or assign a new Praetor of First Legion."
Percy kind of liked the guy. His hair was weird, of course but he supplied the information that he wanted. Something about Christian irked Percy just a tiny bit.
He suddenly noticed that everyone in the room was looking at him a bit suspiciously, like he was the one to blame for the missing leader of First Legion or maybe that he would become the new Praetor of the camp. He wasn't even a normal Praetor. They are pretty competitive.
"Might as well take a place at your throne." Another redhead spoke, she was by Bobby and her throne was one of the simplest there was. It seemed to be made of Imperial Gold and bits of Celestial Bronze. There were veins around it that seemed to be holding fire.
The girl seemed to be the peacemaker or their interest in him lowered a bit. The Praetors turned back to what they were doing. Todd glanced at him before going back to his ruby.
Percy sighed and scratched his head, shaking some dirt from it. He looked around the room. There were very few empty thrones, around five.
The biggest throne in the room was between Todd and another throne. It was made from pure gold and white puffs of smoke occasionally released. There was a huge picture of an eagle holding a thunderbolt in its claws on the front of the throne.
Beside it was a throne that was made from huge seashells. It didn't look all that comfortable but when Percy sat on it, it was.
He got a weird feeling when he sat down. He felt that all of the other Praetors were ruining his power. He shook the feeling away. He wasn't like these people, he really didn't care if he became a Praetor or not.
It seemed that he was the last person needed because Lupa walked in. Everybody stood up in respect and sat back down when she nodded her head.
Senatus Populusque Romanus. Lupa said, Percy and the others repeated what she said.
She looked at Percy. You should learn to control your powers. She looked back to the others. Todd was not amused; he looked at Percy, a bit annoyed.
The meaning of this meeting is because the Oracle has spoken. Everybody straightened and they looked excited. Percy wondered why but said nothing. She has spoken of a quest that will help return our leader and it is related to the Second Great Prophecy. Gwen, say the prophecy so out representative can know.
Gwen took a deep breath and began to recite it.
"Seven Half-bloods shall answer the call.
To storm or fire, the world must fall.-"
Percy's throat felt constricted, like someone was choking him. His voice or breathing wasn't affected. "An oath to keep with a final breath. And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death."He finished for Gwen.
If the glares of the Praetors scared him, the surprised looks terrified him. Even Lupa looked surprised.
Bobby narrowed his eyes. "Where did you hear it? That information is only for Praetors to know. We haven't even told the other campers yet."
The constricted feeling was still there. He had to control his hands to stop them from going to his throat. "I don't know…"
Bobby scoffed. "Quit playing the I-don't-know- crap. We all want to know how you got in the borders without Lupa's consent, how you got your sword or why nobody can hurt you. We need to know who you are."
Gwen, Todd, Christian and all of the other Praetors nodded their consent. Percy wished the ground could open up and swallow him.
Lupa growled once. That is a time for later, Bobby. We have to focus on the quest the Oracle has supplied. Gwen, say the other prophecy.
Gwen looked visibly shaken by what Percy said. She thought Percy was an alright guy but now that he knew the Second Great Prophecy. That wasn't good news. The Second Great Prophecy was told after they conquered Mount Orthys when they returned to First Legion. Gwen thought that the second one was scarier than the first one.
"The eldest half-bloods beware by sleep.
Stone and Flesh collide, only to be freed by snow and water.
Beginning at old places, the immortal metals shall reap.
The forgotten and lost arouses, to return against slaughter.
Child of Both, a secret is bilked for only allies will keep."
Lupa sat down behind Gwen. This prophecy does not speak well children. The oracle has chosen four campers to fulfil it.
Whispers started. A single bark from Lupa silenced them. The ability to override the Oracle's chosen campers is possible; it does not work out half of the time. Choose wisely.
'Flower Boy' asked, "Who are the campers, first of all?"
Gwen Ferrate, Bobby Malcom, Todd Muerti and Percy Jackson.
"Three Praetors! That's not fair!" The brunette exclaimed. "They're gonna take all the credit!"
"The Praetors? Who cares? Why does Percy have to go? I don't think he even has his camp tattoo yet. He's not important!" A teenager with grey hair retorted. He was at the far end of the table. The throne he sat on was made from glass. Percy could see the colours of the rainbow as the light from the room reflected off of the glass.
"Jeremy is right. We should remove Percy. Three Praetors is enough for this quest. What do you think, Ashing?" Bobby asked the guy who sat by Jeremy. He had spiky chestnut brown hair and eyes that were different colours. The left was forest green and the right was storm grey.
Ashing leaned back, putting his arms behind his head. Percy wasn't sure what his throne looked like, whenever he tried to concentrate on it, it changed forms. The only things Percy was sure of that it was divided in half and each half was different. "Chose to remove Percy, then you might have trouble when 'Stone and Flesh collide, only to be freed by snow and water.' Keep Percy, you'll have trouble from the start, after all its four people."
Todd rolled his eyes, "Come on, Ashing. We know you're a son of Janus but will you please give us a straight answer? Your contradicting answers don't lead us anywhere."
"Ashing is right," Gwen replied. "I think Percy should stay, also I think we should just leave the chosen campers as it be."
Everyone besides Percy looked at her as if she said 'Let's stop killing monsters and be friends with them. Won't that be fun?'
"Why Gwen? Because if our leader returns you can say you contributed the most to his return?" A guy said. His hair was honey-gold and cropped neatly. The throne that he sat on reminded Percy where a champion would sit. It was higher than the other thrones besides Todd's, Percy's and the one between them. It was actually sitting on a magnificent chariot, Percy could only see part of the chariot but he could see a laurel wreath pattern.
"Shut up Tristan. Being in only one quest won't contribute a whole lot, unless it's actually bringing our leader back. Which I don't think it will." Gwen retorted, her cheeks slightly pink.
Lupa said nothing as the Praetors argued about who was going. She wasn't surprised to see they weren't focusing on the meaning of the prophecy. If Jason was here, they probably would have. Now that the spot of the leader of First Legion was open, they were getting more competitive.
Lupa examined Percy. He was looking at his lap and wasn't contributing much to the argument. When Percy finished the Second Great Prophecy, it confirmed her theory.
Lupa knew that wherever Percy went, trouble followed. One of the flaws of being a child of a god with unpredictable nature.
Elijah, Son of Invidia finally spoke. The others quieted a bit. When the son of a goddess who can balance almost everything spoke, people took care to listen. He asked, "What is the purpose of the quest? If we knew, maybe we can figure out who is better suited to go."
Everyone turned to Lupa, waiting for an answer. The rebellion against the gods is not over yet. Many ancient monsters are rising. The purpose of the quest is to stop one of them.
The room was silent. It's not over? Percy dreadfully thought.
A strawberry-blond boy broke the silence. He looked younger than everyone in here. The throne he was sitting on looked like a cup used for wine in the Middle Ages. "How do you know, Lupa? I mean no disrespect. I am merely curious."
I will tell you when the quest is completed. Everything will be easier to understand after it is done.
"Okay."
Reyna took the silence for the opportunity to speak. "We can just let the campers go and leave it to the Fates. I mean, if the Oracle has chosen the campers for this quest. They're all gonna be needed at some point. We should figure out who is Child of Both is." Most of them nodded in agreement. Bobby didn't look too happy.
It is wise, Reyna. Lupa agreed. Have you considered the option that the quest is fated to fail since there will be four instead of the sacred three?
Reyna folded her arms and leaned back. "Yes but wouldn't the quest be much more susceptible for failure if we kept with the sacred three? I think we should keep it the same and send them out as quickly as possible. If the rebellion is not over, it's going to be a much harder war to win than the Second Olympian War."
Percy wasn't pleased with this and he hated not knowing why. He agreed with Bobby slightly, he was tired of saying I don't know.
Reyna looked at Dakota. "When do you think they should leave?"
Dakota shuffled in his throne. It looked like a first class seat in an airplane with a caduceus "They should probably leave in the morning."
"Let's finish this meeting soon. We're gonna miss the pyram." A petite, dirty blonde girl murmured. Her throne was covered with random facts, it was made from white stone and the letters of the facts glowed.
"This is important, Alice. The pyram can wait." Hazel insisted. Alice pouted and murmured something about a new trick.
Todd cleared his throat. "Let's just vote now, while there is still silence in this room. All for Gwen, Bobby, Percy and me raise your hand." Gwen, Reyna, Hazel, Dakota, Christian, the brunette, another strawberry-blonde girl along with the guy, Alice and Todd raised their hands.
"All those in favour of eliminating Percy from the quest, you may raise your hands now." Bobby, 'Flower Boy, Ashing, Jeremy, Tristan and Elijah raised their hands.
"Is that everyone?" The strawberry-blonde guy asked.
"No, Louis and Matthew are asleep, again." Alice supplied, looking annoyed.
"We'll count them against. So that's ten for and eight against." Bobby scowled.
"It's decided. Gwen, Bobby, Todd and Percy, you guys should get ready. I believe this meeting is over. Issack, wake up Louis and Matthew, will ya?" Reyna said, her tone saying that it was final. The strawberry-blonde guy nodded and walked over to two boys, one with messy brown hair and the other with unkempt grey hair.
"Louis, Matthew. Wake up." Issack shook them both. The one with brown hair looked up at him sleepily, his throne was made from clouds and it looked irresistibly soft. The grey-haired teen leaned back and stretched.
"Did I fall asleep again? Why can't my place be moved away from Louis?" He complained sleepy and got off his throne, which Percy couldn't see like it was a mirage. Matthew stumbled slightly before gaining his balance.
Louis had a harder time waking up and almost put Issack to sleep. "Louis…you don't want to stay in the Dome again? You can go back to your tent now." That seemed to work for Louis lifted his head from the table and yawned.
Percy turned his attention away from them and saw that everyone was just walking into the dark halls and disappearing.
He sighed, he really didn't want to go to on this quest but it looks like he has to.
He walked down one of the empty halls, his mind racing. It can't be a good thing if the rebellion isn't over yet. This Second Great Prophecy is gonna be a lot worse than the first one.
He didn't know why his gut was telling him to be even more careful. His gut also told him that the quest will not be in his favour.
With those thoughts in mind, Percy walked deeper into the halls and was teleported back to First Legion.
Wassup my various demigods, fauns, nymphs, dryads and minor godlings? It is I! The Scribe of Stories. I apologize for not updating earlier but stuff has kept me busy. I hope the longness of the chapter will please you. Not much happens in this chapter but never fear! The chapters will get a bit more exciting now that there is a quest. (What PJO fanfic isn't complete without a quest?)
Updates will still be going on, just at a slower rate.
So, can you name all of the Praetors in this chapter and their godly parent? I hope i made it obvious with their thrones. Predictions? What do you think the quest prophecy means?
Remember, reviews make lovely presents for my inbox!
