YASSSSSSS! THE INFAMOUS PIG IS BACK IN BUSINESS.

Sorry for the long wait, guys and gals. It's been a year. I'm a terrible author. There were exams, and tests, and more troublesome projects (No clashing of the projects though, haha...? That was a terrible pun) for me. And I flubbed some of it, and even I'm Asian, I flubbed Math. Seriously. The subject I have the most confidence for, I flubbed it. GODDANGIT! :(

And then there were parents, who are Asian too... You guys know how they are.

So forgive me, Artemis, who graced us with her presence in the review section. Don't kill me with your sickles.

I would try my best to have more frequent updates from now on, seeing that I have freed my burden.

Thank you for the support, remember, follow and REVIEW!

ENJOY THIS LONG-AWAITED STORY!

PC: 1

Chapter 3: A Pirate's Life for Me

ISA

'Wake up!' Thalia screamed into Percy's ear. 'WAKE UP, KELP HEAD!'

Percy sat up groggily and rubbed his ear. 'Seriously, Thals, the moment I wake up is the moment I lose my hearing or my...' She shocked him with a spark of lightning. 'Neural system.' He finished, glaring at his cousin.

'I'm still waiting for you to lose your cockiness.' Thalia smirked. Percy rolled his eyes.

Isa ignored the two squabbling teens and went over to where Cheng's sword was dropped. She picked the sword up. 'Flame of Vengeance...' Isa muttered to herself, reading the name of the sword lovingly, that was engraved on the side of the blade. She admired the design edged around the blade- pure black and with a dragon etched on the flat of the blade. 'Vengeance is served indeed today.'

Isa sheathed the blade to her back and turned towards the two demigods. Thalia was tending to Percy's wounds, the dragon's teeth somehow destroying the shield Tyson made him and biting to his arm, forming a nice, clean 5-inch hole in the shield and giving Percy a nasty inch-deep wound.

'That looks so freaking bad.' Percy complained, splashing sea water onto the wound, the wound healing just a little bit.

'Hold on...' Thalia muttered, as she produced the bandage out of her backpack and wrapped the wound up. Percy looked at her.

Thalia sighed. 'It's the same bandage from the Apollo cabin.' Percy's mouth formed an O and nodded. Thalia rolled her eyes and stood up. 'I can see the Hong Kong Police Force coming.' Thalia muttered.

'So, what do we do now?' Percy asked.

'We run?' Thalia asked.

'That seems like a very good idea.' Isa confirmed. Placing her hands on the teenager's shoulders, Isa teleported them away from the area.

PERCY

By the time they unpacked their stuff in their hotel and showered (*cough* Thalia *cough*) after the teleportation, it was already well past afternoon. The trio sat in a nearby Macdonalds. Percy was munching happily on his chicken burger, while gazing at the news on a TV. Apparently some boat carrying explosives rammed into the restaurant, destroying the entire restaurant.

'What IS that thing actually?' Thalia asked Isa.

'That, my friends, was the Ice elemental dragon, one of the rarest creatures in the world of the deathless.' Isa replied. 'I'm surprised that its strength was this weak. Last time I fought that with the hunters, things were not too lucky.'

'Wait, the HUNTERS?' Thalia asked, her curiosity picking up a notch. 'Are you saying that you just left? It's very nice there!'

Isa sighed. 'I was thrown out, actually.'

Thalia's eyes widened. 'You broke your vow? How could you! I understand that not all men are unfaithful, but you shouldn't have betrayed Artemis by-'

Isa's eyes turned to one in anger. 'Don't. Even. Talk about it.' Isa turned to Thalia with a pleading expression. 'Please. It still pains me to say the entire truth, but I can only tell you this- I did not break the vow I gave my lady- she, however, broke her promise to me.' Isa turned to the counter behind her. 'I'm gonna get myself another cheeseburger.' She hopped off and walked away into the distance. Thalia looked at Percy with an awkward expression. Then, she narrowed her eyes at him. Percy's eyes widened. 'Don't look at me. I do not know anything. Just because I'm her half-bro doesn't mean I know everything about her, Thals.'

Thalia, satisfied with the answer, turned her eyes at the Deathless, at the counter arguing about why the double cheeseburger only having one piece of cheese. 'I don't know what she meant.' Thalia admitted. 'What I do know that Artemis saying that there used to be two lieutenants in the Hunter's ranks. She said that the reason why there is only one now is because she needs a long-term memory on a wrong she cannot undo.' Thalia looked up at the moon, shining more brightly than it used to. 'I need to clarify this with her after this is over.' Thalia looked down. 'If I survive.' She sipped on her coffee as she looked up. Then her eyebrows frowned, as if focusing on some sound. Then her eyes shot well wide as she dropped her cup of coffee. Coffee splashed onto the ground.

'Oh shit.' She muttered, looking at the sky again, 'Oh no... This can't be happening…'

'What, Thalia?' Percy asked.

Isa came back with her half-eaten cheeseburger. 'I think she meant this.' She put her hands on Percy's ears.

That was when he heard the sound of the Hunting Horn. The ethereal beauty of the horn echoed around his ears. Isa removed her hands, and the sound of the horn dissipated.

Percy's pondered for a second before acknowledging what that was. He gasped.

'Yes, Percy,' Isa said. 'It's the horn of the hunt, calling on the help of the wild. And remember, Percy, Artemis the Huntress never loses a prey.'

THALIA

'We need a ship.' Percy said, leaning on the harbor railing.

'That is the smartest thing that I have ever heard you say, Kelpy.' Thalia rolled her eyes. 'That's why we're standing here.'

'In the place that's closed for further police investigation? That's really likely.' Percy retorted.

Isa walked back from dock, a big smile on her face.'Come on, demigods, I found our ride.'

'Are we really gonna ride in that?'

'What, this? Look at this big warship! see no problem with that, Thals.' Percy said from the Captain's wheel, putting his hands on the wheel as if it was his.

'It's a pirate ship, for Pete's sake!' Thalia threw her hands up in exasperation.

'Mortals only see this as a fishing boat.' Isa said. 'If we are gonna deal with the ghosts, pirates and monsters of the Pacific, then we need a ship that can fight.'

'Whadaya mean?' Thalia said timidly.

'It means...' Percy drawled out. 'If we are going to deal with the ghost, pir-'

'Why do the Pacific have Pirates?' Thalia squeaked.

'Because it's really filled with them?' Isa rolled her eyes and spread her hands. The ropes became untied and the ship's sails raised up to the masts, revealing bloodshot-red sails and a black skull glistering into the distance.

'But we don't have a crew!' Thalia yelled.

'Our Dad's Poseidon, Thalia.' Percy rolled his eyes, 'We command every ship.' He raised one of his hands off the wheel, and an anchor flew from the bottom of the sea and onto the deck. When Percy put his hands onto the ship, the wheel glowed a bit, and dimmed. The ship lurched a bit, and stilled. 'You coming, Pinecone?' Percy smirked. 'We have a key to turn.'

Thalia doesn't know much about ships- she'll admit this. But doing something rather than cooking, sleeping and cleaning, would be pretty nice for a change. Percy and Isa was all about taking care of the ship, piloting, raising the right sails, and all other ship stuff. Thalia huffed and . While she knew that those things aren't fun in any means, she still wanted something to do- rather than 'helping out' just by looking at what they do perfectly.

'Thalia? A little help here?' Percy called out, waving his arms. Thalia, overjoyed that she could finally get some action, sprang up from her seat in the bar, and went up to the bridge, where Percy was waiting.

'Whassup?' Thalia asked the son of Poseidon, punching him on the shoulder. 'What do I need to do this time?'

'Well, ask yourself that question.' Percy replied. 'I seriously have no idea on what you're gonna have to do.'

'What do you mean?' Thalia asked.

'Birds learn to fly when their parents pushed them from the nest, you know.' Isa said, walking towards them with a bucket of water.

Thalia nodded. 'Yeah, so- wait, you two aren't gonna-'

But they did.

Percy wrapped his hands around Thalia and held it while Isa snapped her fingers. The water inside the bucket flew out, and channeled into Percy's arms.

'When I come down, Kelpy, you're dead as FUCK, you get that?' She growled, glaring with her head turned at the son of Poseidon.

'I know, dear Thals.' Percy grinned forcefully. 'Enjoy the ride. Adios!'

With that, Percy's homemade water cannon fired, and Thalia was screaming as she was vaulted into the skies.

Terror and Fright was the only things existent in Thalia's brain right at the moment. 'Kill Jackson' was the next one. But she was still failing around in the sky as she plummeted down from the sky. Thalia screamed, and yelled out panicky in her mind: STOP FALLING.

That was the moment when she realized that she wasn't falling at all.

She frowned, and wiggled her feet a little. No movement. Thalia raised an eyebrow and tried to command the air around her to move her around. Moments later, before she knew it, she was zipping about over the ship, diving and screaming her heart out with glee. As she whooped with joy, she saw Percy down there, looking up at her, smiling wide with delight. She shook her head. That Kelp Head… She smiled.

Although she'd never say it in front of his face, she is grateful that she had him by her side.

At least when everyone betrays you, she can always rely on her idiot of a cousin to stay with her.

PIPER

'Jumping jacks! Count off to one-hundred! Ready, Go!' A gruff voice barked out. The six demigods shuffled into position and with the beep of the Instructor, they started jumping. Piper was sweating heavily by now, her head spinning, her feet felt like jelly. But she knew that, she needs to go on, or else...

Piper looked to the right of her, and saw Frank dropping onto the ground. The Instructor was on him instantly. The baton smacked into Frank's thighs and he doubled over. 'Get on with it, demigod.' The Instructor snarled. Frank uncurled himself and started jumping again.

Piper had never done so many jumping jacks in his life. Her arms and stomach burned. Don't even mention about the floppy legs.

'98! 99! 100!' Ares paused. He drew in a deep breath. 'Leg lifts!'

Piper glared at Ares. She couldn't go on- but she had to. She would get the baton if she stopped. She tried- She HAD to move! Her legs cried out in agony, and only sluggishly responded.

'Rest.' Ares sighed, seeing the demigods in this kind of shape.

Ares shook his head, dissatisfaction clearly on his face as the demigods before him whimpers. 'Weaklings. Only 5 routines and you are all slacking already. Here, get some water.' Ares threw a bag at the broken demigods. Piper caught it with her unresponsive arms and ripped open the bag. Every demigod there pounced onto the water bottle bag, and Piper, the first one to the bottle, rolled out with her remaining power left away from the scramble and gulped down the liquid. It was warm and slightly salty. She didn't care. That was the best water she had ever tasted.

'A bad start, demigods…' Ares grunted, shaking his head. 'I don't understand why demigods nowadays cannot do these kinds of training.'

'Perhaps you should go with a more…mild…approach?' A sharp female voice came from the beach behind them. Ares looked at the female behind Annabeth.

'Athena. What brings you here?' Ares looked at her warily. Athena looked at him, then at the sprawling demigods on the ground. 'Them. You know they are not suited for this kind of training Ares.'

'They need it to defeat Jackson!' Ares reasoned.

'No they don't!' Athena yelled. She knelt down by Annabeth, looking at her face- disheveled, tired and nearing death's door. 'Look at her- how would they stand this type of training!' Athena summoned a towel and lightly pressed it on Annabeth's forehead. 'This is just torture, Ares.'

Ares looked at this with annoyance.

'Athena, you're right. This-'

'I'm always right.'

'Oh for GODS SAKE, Athena!' Ares yelled. 'Stop interrupting!' He scratched his head in exasperation. 'You are right. This is torturing them. I should not do this. This is not humane.'

Piper let out a little cheer inside her head. She will finally see the end of this madness! She looked around excitedly and saw her friends' eyes light up. Jason's hand went to grab hers. Piper could sense the relief in his hands just by his grip.

Athena smirked. 'Well, at least you know this by now. So stop torturing them, okay?'

'I know this a long time ago, actually.' Ares muttered.

Athena's smile faltered. 'What was that?'

'I know that already, okay!' Ares roared. 'I know they aren't ready for this, I know they aren't suited to become the Spartans we had in Greece, and I know that this will torture them!'

'Then why did you do this to them!' Athena screamed at him.

Ares looked down, and stayed silent. Athena's eyes narrowed and stared laser beams at Ares. 'You gonna explain yourself?' She finally asked after an awkward silence.

'The enemy we're facing is Jackson.' Ares began. 'The best swordsman in this blasted camp. The second best swordsman in camp doesn't even come close. He is also the strongest, and also the one with the highest stamina.'

'So?' Athena asked, clearly confused. 'I know that already. What does Jackson has to do with this?'

At this moment Annabeth gasped. Piper looked at her confused- as with the remainder of the six demigods there.

Ares' eyes gleamed as he looked at Annabeth. 'Ask your daughter.'

'Annabeth, do you know something that I don't?' Athena's eyes were harsh now, more piercing, as she glared at her daughter. 'Have you been asking for this?'

'No, Mom, No!' Annabeth's eyes widened. 'Absolutely not!'

'She doesn't know anything, Lady Athe-' Hazel said, trying to save her friend, but Athena shushed her.

'Then what is it, my daughter.'

Annabeth shook her head.

'Tell us!' Piper urged.

'Yeah!' Jason agreed. 'I don't want to do this anymore….'

Annabeth gulped. 'We all know that Percy is the best fighter in camp, an-'

Jason flinched at this.

'-and for a very good reason.'

Annabeth turned to face her mother.

'Mother, that wasn't based on the Spartan's military training. That was based on Percy's own workout schedule.'

THALIA

She sighed as Isa kept drilling the pirate in their table for news. This negotiation is going nowhere. Yes, Intel about the Gods and the blood seals are important, but this is just a waste of time. She looked at the bar's dangling sign,and decided to let Isa do the asking.

Maybe Percy's having a better time than me. Thalia thought, looking over to her cousin. Of course Percy can find fun in the direst of places. He was throwing kitchen knives at the dartboard.

'A wha….?' Isa exclaimed beside her, interrupting her chain of thoughts.

'You heard me matey.'

'So you tell me that we can go tothe Fortress …and all we need to do is to follow this goat.' Isa raised an eyebrow and looked down at the goat at the pirate's feet, who was chewing on the leather pouch of its owner.

'This is Faerus! The sacred goat of me bloodline! He knows every secret location hidden in the deepest seas.'

'So that is why you got lost and came here to look for directions.'

'…'

'You waste my time, Redbones. Goodbye.' Isa stood up and motioned for Percy and Thalia to leave the desk.

'WAIT!' Redbones grabbed Isa's forearm. 'Me goat can still lead yar to some grass, the best grass in dar world. Me sell it to yar for a thousand.'

'For a THOUSAND Drachmas!? No deal, pirate.' Isa stands up and walked a few steps towards the door.

She stopped when a few pirates entered the bar, blocking the way out. Isa was surrounded.

'Well, lady.' The Pirate just now said. 'Here is what we're going to do. You are either gonna give me the drachmas-'

One of the pirates pointed his gun at Percy from behind, pointing straight at Percy's heart. 'Or Preston will kill this pretty boy right here. We'll deal with this outside. Move. Now.' His other crewmates ushered the trio out of the door.

Thalia grumbled and whispered. 'Told you this was a bad idea.'

Isa grumbled. 'No shit. But it's better than no idea.'

'Well I-'

'Move, scallywag.' Preston ordered Percy, whose face was void of emotions. He complied. Thalia was quickly tugged along with the crew, hands grabbed by two pirates, as they headed towards the docks unwillingly

Once they were out to the docks, Percy looked around. And then, he stopped suddenly. All the others looked at him skeptically.

'Walk.' Preston said. Percy did not move.

What are you doing Percy…

'What be you DOIN'! I said keep walkin'.' Preston barked. Percy ignored him.

'You scurvy dog you-'Preston pushed the pistol to Percy's back and pressed the trigger.

'NO!' Thalia screamed.

But the shot never hit him.

Instead, Percy twisted his body and elbowed the pistol from below the moment the pistol was pressed against his back, making the pistol barrel go straight up into the air. The shot fired into the sky. Preston clutched his hand, dropping the pistol, his wrist obviously numbed.

This is the opening that Percy needed.

Percy grabbed the hand of Preston and yanked it downwards, towards Percy's stomach, then grabbed his arm with both hands. Using his back as the Fulcrum of a lever, Percy sent the bigger pirate crashing onto the wooden floor. Percy grabbed Riptide from his pocket and pointed it at Preston's throat. Hoisting the groaning pirate up, Percy faced the other pirates with his sword pointed at Preston's heart at the back.

Everyone froze.

'RELEASE HIM NAR.' Redbones snarled.

'Here's what we are going to do.' Percy said calmly. 'You are going to release the two ladies you are holding, and bring them to me. Or I'll kill this nice lad right here.'

'WE NOT BE LISTENING TO A MERE BO-' A pirate shouted

'Then he dies.' Percy countered.

'Release them.' Redbones said desperately.

Isa and Thalia were roughly shoved towards Percy's direction. Percy kicked Preston back to his lackeys. Preston tumbled onto the floor, scrambling to his feet.

The two sides stared at each other for a few seconds.

'WHAT ARR YAR WAITING FAR!' A random Pirate shouted, breaking the silence. 'GET 'EM!'

The Pirates charged. Next to him, Thalia readied her canister of mace, and reached for her shield, focused on the task at hand.

And then they dived into the midst of battle.

ARTEMIS

'Milady?'

'Yes, Phoebe?'

'Where are we going?'

'Finding out where Thalia's group of three is, ask them questions, and then bring her to Olympus.' Artemis said coolly, pulling on the reigns of the horses, as the chariot sped up.

'What did she do, my lady?' Phoebe asked, fumbling with her bow.

'Betrayed Olympus to side with Percy Jackson. He killed Ares' son.' Artemis answered.

'The boy… killed someone? Not possible.' Phoebe gasped.

'Yes he did.' Artemis confirmed. 'All evidences points to him.'

'Why would the boy do that?' Phoebe wondered. 'Yes, although he is a boy, but he isn't vile. Nothing like the one that we hate.'

Artemis flinched.

Status report. Artemis thought. Orion's hate level increase 1000%.

'Wait a minute.' Phoebe asked. 'You said group of three. Thalia, Jackson, who else?'

Artemis blanched.

'Who else, Artemis.'

'Oh…I don't know… Isa…?' Artemis drawled out.

'WHAT?!' Phoebe screamed. The other hunters looked at her, thinking that she'd lost her mind. After all, Artemis was a goddess. 'THERE IS NO WAY WE ARE HUNTING ISA.'

'Isa?' A voice came out from the hunters. It was Linda, one of the hunt's oldest members. 'We're hunting Isa?'

'We're not killing her.' said Victoria.

'Why not?' Holly asked. 'She's just another girl who was corrupted enough to help a male murderer.'

This riled up the old hunters.

'Don't you dare talk about Isa like that, Holly, if you don't know anything about her.' Phoebe snarled, desperate to protect her former superior.

'I do what I want!'

'Well, you bit-'

Soon enough, the hunters were split between two blocs- the older hunters and the newer hunters, arguing about this matter. The peaceful night sky was suddenly filled with yells and terrible insults.

'STOP!' Artemis yelled. All the girls looked at her.

Artemis stopped the chariot and walked towards the middle of two blocs, which was formed in the midst of the argument.

'Some of you may know who I-Isa is.' She stuttered. She straightened up. 'Some of you don't. Now, here's what we are going to do. We are not going to kill them.'

'WHAT?' Lucy shouted. 'They are murderers!'

'SHUT UP!' Sarah yelled. 'You don't know shit about Isa.'

'Everyone shut up.' Artemis snapped. The hunters stopped and looked at her apologetically. 'We are not going to kill them. But we are going to capture them. We will ask them questions, and then bring them to Zeus.'

Silence. The Sarah spoke up.

'I won't do it. We owe her too much. My heart hurts whenever someone says her name, let alone seeing her, and hurting her.' She looked down.

All the older hunters' faces turned glum. 'That makes both of us.' Phoebe said.

The newer hunters' expression turned from gleeful to confusion. What on Earth are they talking about?

Artemis saw the faces of the older hunters and sighed. What should she do? Ah. She got an idea.

'How about this. Although we'll still bring them to Zeus, we'll just talk to her. We would not hurt her, unless one of them attacks first.'

'Can we not bring them to Zeus?' Victoria asked. 'That's just an alternate way to say "sending them to their deaths"'.

'We need to. Father's orders.' Artemis said sadly.

'You shouldn't have taken the job in the first place!' Phoebe shouted. 'I still remember who she was to us. We still remember, Artemis, and most of all, you still-'

'I KNOW!' Artemis yelled. 'AND IT HURTS, PHOEBE. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DO THIS, OKAY?' She calmed down a bit. 'We won't hunt them. But we will find them. And talk to them while we still have the chance. Zeus is impatient. Imagine if I did not volunteer to hunt them, who would he order instead?'

Phoebe's eyes understood immediately. She growled. 'Dad.' Her eyes softened. 'I'm sorry, milady.'

'It's okay, lieutenant.' Artemis said. 'I would have reacted the same way.'

Her phone beeped. It was a text message from Hermes.

H: So u want the location of Perce?

She replied.

A: Yes. You have it?

H: He's at the Pacific, near Asia. U should find him dere.'

H: I don wanna tell u dis, but dads orders.

A: I don't wanna hunt them either.

H: Y U take job?!

A: You don't know why?! You dumb?

H: O.o Right. Don't kill dem, please?

A: I don't know. I won't be the initiative though. That's the best I can garuntee you.

H: I r8 it 8/8 m8. Gud luck. Peace.

Artemis locked her phone and rolled her eyes. The internet-short forms are getting real annoying. But then again, he invented the internet, so she can't blame him.

She ordered the Pegasi in front of her to go faster. Time is running short. If she and the hunt is going to get to them, then there is no time to waste.

To the Pacific it is.

Some minor action going on in this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it, remember to drop a review and follow the story or me, if you have, remember to check out the other story Clash of Projects, and I will see you guys soon!

Shout out to MEIPHANTOMHIVE, who enjoyed my story and dropped reviews! Thank you, good sir. Or Madam. Or Pig :D

And by the way do NOT eat pork. I would be med.

Infamous Pig, Over and Out.