Chapter 7: Present Pranks
AN: This chapter takes place before the Hidden Oracle and the Magnus Chase Series but after Demigods and Magicians. Enjoy.
Percy had been planning this for quite a while. After the Giant War and his run in with Egyptians things had been calm and he was excited for a calm Christmas with his mom, Paul and Annabeth. (This is before he met all those Norse of course.) There was thing he wanted to do.
He had gotten Nyssa from the Hephaestus cabin to create a large bronze jar for him though it had gotten him a few weird looks. Then with some help from Iris he made a call to Hermes.
The god popped up on the beach and looked at the wrapped bronze jar which had a bow on top. "What's that?"
"A present for Ares," Percy answered. "I know you're busy but as one of the gods who appreciates pranks the most I thought you might want to help."
"I'd be happy too. What'd he do this time?"
"Another giant boar after I beat Clarisse in a friendly sparring match. It's a bronze jar. Send me any footage you get."
Hermes grinned. "I'll stop by Hephaestus to pick up some bugs. George? Martha? Think you could put an order in?"
"I'd be happy too Percy dear," Martha hissed.
"Could we put in an order for some rats too?" George asked.
"No. You'll get the footage by Christmas morning Percy."
The son of Poseidon grinned. "I'll give you some extras from dinner. Thanks!"
Percy of course followed up on his promise and Hermes got some roast beef burnt in his honor to Hermes as well as Poseidon. He headed home from Camp just a few days later with Annabeth to spend Christmas with Sally and Paul. It had been nice to spend those first days of winter break at Camp before he had to get back to studying for his SATs.
The night before Christmas he got into bed only to hear a voice. Immediately Riptide was in his head before he realized it was only an Iris message. "This is a collect call. Please put in a Drachma if you'd like to see it."
Percy shuffled out of bed to his drawers. It took almost a minute but he threw a drachma in right before the message could expire.
"Percy? It's Hermes. Well it worked amazingly. I didn't even need to put it in his apartments. Just in the throne room for the solstice meeting. He's once again the laughing stock of Olympus here it is."
Percy watched the gods arguing as usual during their solstice meeting. He couldn't help but notice that Apollo was missing but that concern went away quickly. The council quieted when a large box popped up in the middle of the throne room.
"Hermes?" thundered Zeus.
"Umm… It's a package for Ares. The sender wanted to be anonymous. Passed all the security checks," said Hermes checking his tablet.
Ares grinned. "Cool. Something from a fan. Of course I get all the cool surprise presents."
He walked into the middle of the throne room and opened the box. As he did the sides fell away and a bronze jar was exposed. Ares paled exponentially and whimpered. The gods all stared for a moment before Hermes laughed. Hephaestus followed with a loud chuckle. Then Poseidon and Dionysus and soon enough all the gods were laughing.
Ares was on the floor screaming. "Get it away! Get it away!"
Hephaestus limped forward and picked it up. "It's a jar Ares. That was millennia ago you were captured. Nice craftsmanship though. Looks like one of mine."
Ares glared and Hephaestus chuckled. "I wish it was but I assure you it's not."
"Hermes, you punk! Who sent it?" he yelled.
The messenger god shook his head. "Can't say. Costumer discretion. Not completely sure anyway."(He was the god of lies too.)
Ares growled. "I will get my revenge."
He stood up only to walk into the bronze jar and burst into tears again. The Iris message closed on the Olympian council all laughing at him. Ares never did find out though a lot of the other gods knew.