Chapter 12:

"Hello Perseus Jackson. You don't know me, I'm Gaea or like many people know me mother earth. I came to offer you a chance for survival. You want your memories back don't you? I can bring them all back the only thing you have to do is lead your search party to Cerro Alto Mountain in Texas. There my son Theodamas will wait for you." I somehow managed to talk, I knew the voice was in my head but I had to say something to it. "How can I trust you when you put me through so much PAIN?" I was surprised my head didn't explode. My head had like a bigger pain than the one I was feeling but it lasted only seconds. "Think about it demigod. Beware of what I can do to your friends if I don't. Take that as a warning." And with that the pain was gone and I could see clearly. What had the woman been talking about? That warning worried me but there was nothing I could do so I kept it to myself.

I looked up and both, Lauren and Bobby, where looking intensely at me not sure of what to do. I tried to stand up but failed. All my energy was gone. Lauren saw this and as the medic in here she started giving orders to Bobby. "Go get me some ambrosia and nectar. Oh and please get me a wet cloth while I get him to bed." Bobby was about to do what he was told but thought better of it. "Maybe I should take him to the bed in case he is too heavy for you to carry." She shook her head "you are still too weak to be carrying such a heavy weight." He went to get the thing from the desk. I hadn't noticed but it was filled with medicines and gauzes. Bobby came with the ambrosia and told me to drink it and Lauren said that she would place a wet cloth on my forehead for relaxation mostly. I saw the cloth in her hand and felt like I couldn't wait to get it on me. I saw the water dripping from it and the temptation was too much. "Umm, I would prefer to get the cloth first. I want to, uh" I thought of something to say, even though I already sounded stupid. "Calm down before I drink." She gave me a curious look but saw no problem with that so she placed it on my forehead.

As soon as it touched my skin I felt stronger it wasn't much but it made me feel somehow better. Bobby handed me the drink but I shrugged it off. "Maybe some water would make me feel better." Lauren shook he head. "Percy you were screaming your head off just a moment ago and started talking alone you need ambrosia." I ignored her, and turned to Bobby. "Bobby to me a favor. I would like water but salt water. Would you think you would be able to go to the beach and bring me some water? I wouldn't ask you if I didn't know it would make me feel better. I know you are hurt but-" I was cut off by Grover's voice, "I already did that. I thought you would prefer it salted and I went to get it when I heard you scream. I recognized your scream and was about to run inside but a voice told me to get water. Maybe it was your father." Grover was holding two glasses with water. Bobby turned to look at Lauren how whispered at him. "He says Percy is son of Neptune." Bobby started murmuring to himself. I caught something here and there. "World War II… The Big Three… Last Prophecy…" he kept talking like this but I ignored it. As soon as I got a glass I threw all the water in my face. I felt a rush of energy. I felt great, nothing better than water but it somehow felt even stronger, my dad probably did something to it. I saw Bobby's wounds where better but they wouldn't completely heal. I had an idea. "Bobby sit down" apparently I interrupted some thoughts because he looked like he didn't know I was there. I took the second glass and concentrated on the water.

It all went out of the glass but in my command. Cure his wounds. The water placed itself on top of Bobby and then splashed him. I heard him wince and then let out a sigh of relief. He looked at me and I saw something in his eyes. Probably surprise because I wasn't supposed to be born. I felt uncomfortable so I changed the subject. "Bobby, do you know about the prophecy and the quest? Lupa actually wanted to see you but I guess after all that happened she won't mind. I assume you already know the prophecy." He nodded and said, "Oh yeah, about that I am not sure I can guide you. Maybe it's another son of Minerva." I shook my head and tried to encourage him. "I don't think so, I have a feeling it's you though I don't know why. You just look right." I looked at Lauren and Grover for support. "Oh yeah," Lauren said, "maybe that's why you two bonded so well you were meant to go together." Grover gave his most supportive voice, "Of course it's you. I can feel the nature trusts you and if they do, so do I. I trust you to lead us." This made Bobby smile, "Thanks guys. Well about the prophecy I think the last line means it has to be done by the eclipse, and that is next week. By the twins embrace may mean when the sun makes a ring around the moon, so it is embracing it, but I may be wrong."

I felt it was right but had no way of knowing. "Well it's the only idea we have so let's hope its right. With the prophecies there is no real way of knowing." We heard a gong and knew it was time for dinner. "Is it so late already? The time flew," I said. "Guys please don't tell anyone I am a son of Neptune and watch your backs during the game later, just in case. I have a bad feeling." When they had all agreed, we left.

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The Mercury cabin was allied with Bacchus (Dionysus), Somnus (Hypnos), Minerva (Athena), Apollo, and Vulcan (Hephaestus). Reyna forgot to tell me that the winner team didn't have to do chores for a whole month and that was something many people really fought for. Today's setting was going to be on the forest but apparently it changed every time. "Okay every one; this is what we will do. We will go first for the mars cabin. Let's leave the Venus cabin for the end because those guys are the easiest to fight." Everyone nodded at Bobby and we heard a gong. I pulled out Riptide and waited for Mars to scream a war cry but none came. "That means we have to get ready. The next gong it's the start. We will wait for them to come and if they don't after ten seconds we go to them but silently." Everyone started pulling their swords out and I looked at my bracelet. Everyone in my team was wearing the same one obviously. I heard the gong and the war cry echoed the whole forest.

We didn't have to go to them; probably the Mars cabin was too excited to wait. The first one to come after me was a daughter of Cupid (Eros). I had seen her before but I never noticed how beautiful she was. I didn't really want to hurt her; she looked so cute when she was fighting. I blocked her blows with easy but started to drop my guard. "Wont you let me beat you?" she said and I was about to agree but then I heard Lauren scream and that reminded me we were fighting. I ignored her question and fought her. She wasn't really good. I had my sword on her throat really fast and she looked shocked her charm had failed but gave me the bracelet and started walking off. Avoiding the fighting people. I put it on and kept fighting. I knew they had sent her to me on purpose. I was probably a big threat and they all wanted me down. Next, one or many sons of Hecate attacked me. He multiplied himself and I had to fight them until I found the right one. My first idea was to fight them and slowly I would find out who he was. I was doing great and had already made two of eight disappear and as soon as I made the third one another one got me to the ground. I thought of something. I grabbed a bunch of dirt and rolled out of the way of the sword that was aimed at my chest. I stood up and threw the dirt. All of them disappeared except one. He yelped but stayed and fought. He had a good defense but I managed to get his sword on the ground and my sword at his throat.

He gave me three bracelets and left. I turned and saw there weren't many people left. Half the Mars cabin was gone, and I later found out the Mercury cabin stole their bracelets. Lauren was fighting a girl from the Venus cabin which shocked me because they were both fighting great. I saw Reyna perched on a tree and about to jump on Kit who just saw I was still here. I also saw Hazel and Bobby fighting three sons of Ceres (Demeter). Besides them there were about ten more people from my side and about thirteen from theirs. I turned in time to see Reyna jump. Kit hadn't even noticed her and she was about to finish him off when we heard Lauren scream. We all turned to look at her and we saw she and the Venus girl where fighting some dirt monsters.

They looked like humans but it was as if they were made of dirt. Just then fifty more of those came out of the ground. Everyone left what they were doing and turned to face them with their swords up. They attacked us but they were too much. I ran to one and cut its arm right off, after a couple of seconds he reassembled. What are these? Everyone was losing their battles, even Kit and me. "Run to the cliff" someone yelled. It was Bobby. We did as he told us. Just then I remembered Gaea's warning, to watch out. We got to a clearing. There I saw the see below. It looked so far away and I wanted to jump but I knew I had to stay and fight. I turned around and saw the dirt figures where already close and we where about thirty-three and they were over fifty. Everyone got ready to fight and I think I am not the only one that wondered why a son of Minerva would bring us to a dead end.

Lauren had her bow in hand. The one her father had told her would appear when needed. Hazel turned her ring to an arrow and used her quiver. They were really close, and I was about to run to them when I heard Bobby talk. "Sorry Percy, I have no choice."