Welcome to the Sea of Monsters.

Chapter 6

What is with the freaky Demon Pigeons?

I want to thank everyone for the ideas, but I am using shadowwriter329's ideas. I think they are the best along with the one I thought of.

The next few days would have been hell for the camp, but thanks to Naruto, it was actually bearable, especially after he pranked Tantalus and of course, Naruto was never caught.

Naruto smiled at what he had done to the annoying man. The morning after he had come back with the others, he did a prank that was a bit cartoonish.

Flashback…

Everyone was a bit tired seeing as it was still morning and mostly everyone wanted to still be asleep, but Tantalus all got them up from their peaceful sleep.

As soon as they all sat down, Naruto smirked as see saw Tantalus notice a rather good looking donut was on his plate. It had sprinkles! The girls that he was sitting with all quieted down when they saw that look and saw that he was staring at Tantalus. Soon, the somewhat quiet dining hall was extremely quiet, wondering what Naruto had in store for them today.

Mr. D. noticed all this and inwardly smirked. He really did like this blond, but not even he knew what was about to happen. Tantalus stared at the donut with sprinkles with childlike wonder, completely ignoring everything and everyone else around him as he made a grab at the piece of food that wanted so badly!

However, it hopped away like usual, but this time it was different. It suddenly grew eyes, arms, and legs. The two stared at each other in shock for a few minutes, with Tantalus trying to figure out if he had gone insane or not…well more insane than he already was. Suddenly, the donut screamed in fear. "AHHH!"

"AAHH!" Tantalus let out.

"AAAAH!"

"AAAHHH!"

This went on for about a minute as everyone just stared in shock at what they were seeing. A freaking talking and walking donut…with sprinkles was having a freaking screaming contest with Tantalus of all people.

Then it took out a top hat and cane and begun to sing in a deep voice. "Hello my baby! Hello my rag time gal! Send me a kiss by wire, baby my heart's on fire! If you refuse me, honey you'll lose me. Then you'll be left alone, oh baby! Telephone and tell me I your own! AAH!" It sang before scooped up by an annoyed Tantalus and screaming as it was about to be eaten.

However, he should have known it was too good to be true because of the fact that it went poof as soon as he bit down on it and he held his mouth in pain. There before him was a metal hockey puck with a hole in it like a donut.

It was just too much for everyone to bare as they all fell out of their seats with uncontrollable laughter, including Naruto who could not believe the man had fallen for that. Even the Satyrs and Mr. D. were in the uproar of laughter. Tantalus just grumbled to himself, intent on finding out who did that to him. "Yeah yeah, laugh it up while you can!"

End Flashback…

Naruto chuckled at the memory some more as he stared out onto the lake. Tantalus had been furious but he never caught the blond, the he did eye the blond for the rest of the day, with the other camper smirking at him and patting him on the back for a good wake me up.

To be honest, he got that idea after watching an old cartoon on the WB and ironically, it was a frog who sung that song.

His next few pranks made everyone laugh even harder. The day after that prank, Naruto had installed small speakers in the man's room that night and the morning he muttered random catch phrases the whole day. He had set the speakers to play commercials for all types of food from Mcdonald's and a good number of other fast food.

The man broke down after saying, "I'M LOVING IT!" for the 100th time that day. Mr. D found the man quivering behind the Big House and muttering random phrases with tears running down his face like he had gone insane.

After that, Naruto did a simple prank by setting up a fake wall that had a picture of any kind of food Tantalus loved the most. It also the smell of it as well, so much so that it made the man lose control of himself and he ran straight into it, which was quite funny to see the man face plant into it before it disappear, leaving no trace that it had been there.

The last prank he had pulled was a dinner. Naruto had place a jar of honey on the man's table before it started and the man was suspicious of it. For good reason too, because as soon as he reach for it, moved to the side like it usually did, but this time, it came with consequences. The reason for that was is because Naruto had put a bee hive into the jar and it was full of angry bees. The movement had been the final straw for the bees because they blast out of the jar and went straight for Tantalus, who tried run away…mostly to the lake, but it was still drinkable, so it parted away from him, giving him no protection for the many bee stings.

It pretty hard for anyone to eat because everytime they heard him scream like a girl throughout the woods, they had to laugh. There was one time that he even screamed out for his mommy to save him.

All in all, it had been a fun couple of days.

"Hey Naruto!" a gruff female voice called out.

Naruto turned and smiled when he saw his friend Clarisse stand behind him. "Hey. What's up?"

"I want you to be my partner in the chariot races that is in a few days." Clarisse said, not giving much room for argument. "I mean, the kids of War and Death is a pretty bad ass combination, right?"

Naruto chuckled. She made a valid point. It was like they were meant to win a contest like this. "Sure, I have no problem with that."

Clarisse smiled. "Cool, now let's make sure we win this!" She said as they went to work.

XXX

Currently, Naruto was working a pet project of his, the Hell Bike, in the Hephaestus work shop. Since he was good making things, he was welcomed there anytime he wanted. So far, he was half done.

He didn't get a chance to work on it yesterday because he worked on his and Clarisse's chariot while also sparing with Percy since the boy could not get a decent spar. He could understand why the boy didn't want to fight Clarisse though. She was a bit rough after all, however, so was he.

Another thing he pondered on was Tyson. The young Cyclops was a good guy and he was really handy. Hell, Beckendorf got the guy working in the workshop. He wondered what the big guy was making.

"Naruto? You in there?" came the voice of Annabeth.

"Yeah." Naruto said as he put down his tools and got up to see his fellow blond. "Whatcha need?"

"I was wondering if you wanted me as your partner for the chariot races." The girl said.

Naruto raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "You and Percy have a fight or something?"

"How could you tell?"

"Simple. You don't look happy and I thought you were doing to do the race with him since you make a good team." Naruto said truthfully.

"We had a fight…about his half-brother and we decided to do this separately. He was defending Tyson and I was just getting anger because of…past experiences."

"Yeah I figured as much. You seemed wary of the big baby." Naruto said with a chuckle before his face went serious. "Thalia told me what happened the last time I talked to her. I understand your….wariness of the guy, but give him a chance. Not everything is the same."

"I know…" Annabeth said sadly before she locked eyes with the blond. "You saying that from experience?"

"Hell yeah." Naruto said. "Mostly from my time as a Jinchuriki. I proved that I was a good gu while most people think that Jinchuriki are evil because of what we hold. So, just give the guy a chance….if not for me, then for Percy."

Annabeth smiled, Naruto was right. "Thanks, I'll try." She said, happy to have a friend like him. "So you didn't answer my question."

"Yeah sorry about that, but I already have a partner. Clarisse." Naruto said, making the girl shiver.

"Oh geez!" Annabeth said, "That is a match made in hell! You guys are going to be tough to beat."

"Heh, that's the point." Naruto said with a smirk. The he had a look on his face like he just remembered something. "Oh! I almost forgot!" Naruto then rushed over to his work bench and picked up and rather odd and wicked looking short sword with strange red designs in the middle of the blade. "This is the Blade of Athena, heck I even got Athena bless it with her power." She said as he handed the blade to her.

It looked a bit heavy, but it was the perfect weight for the girl as she examined the blade. "You made this…for me?"

"Well yeah." Naruto said. "I am making weapons for all my friends."

"The name sounds familiar."

"It should, it is basically the weapon of choice in the God of War 3 game. Although, Athena never told me was special power yours has, guess you will just have to figure that out on your own. And if you become proficient in using that, I will make the other one for you."

Annabeth smiled again. Naruto really was a good guy. "Thanks Naruto."

"No problem. Can't be using just that dinky little dagger for the rest your life." Naruto said. "Besides, with your skill in battle, I am sure you'll figure out a way to use both in battle."

"You bet!" Annabeth chuckled before she got up. "Well, I better get back to the others if we want to get our chariot done." She said before giving her fellow blond a hug and then leaving the room so that he could continue his work.

"Well, this should be interesting." Naruto said before he looked to the other side the room where a giant block of metal stood. "Might well get started on Beckendorf's new weapon." He then looked at the weapon designs that he had on the work bench. "Still….what should I make for Percy?"

XXX

Later that night, he had a strange dream. It was like the other dreams he and Percy have been having about Grover….who was always in a freaking wedding dress!

It didn't fit him very well. The gown was too long and the hem was caked with dried mud. The neckline kept falling off his shoulders. A tattered veil covered his face.

He was standing in a dank cave, lit only by torches. There was a cot in one corner and an old fashioned loom in the other, a length of white cloth half woven on the frame. And he was staring right at the two boys, like it was a TV pro-gram he'd been waiting for. "Thank the gods!" he yelped. "Can you two hear me?"

Percy was slow to respond, still not believing what he was seeing…even in his dream. However, Naruto, who was used to this type of stuff thanks to his Limbo power, answered, "Wow, talk about interactive."

"Funny." Grover deadpanned. "Percy! Please respond. Can you hear me as well?"

"I hear you," Percy said. "Grover, what's going on?"

From behind the boulder, a monstrous voice yelled, "Honeypie! Are you done yet?"

Grover flinched. He called out in falsetto, "Not quite, dearest! A few more days!"

"Bah! Hasn't it been two weeks yet?"

"N-no, dearest. Just five days. That leaves twelve more to go."

The monster was silent, maybe trying to do the math. He must've been worse at arithmetic than I was, because he said, "All right, but hurry! I want to SEEEEE under that veil, heh-hehheh."

"Oh man. What have you gotten yourself into that you are the girl in the relationship?" Naruto laughed.

"Cut the crap!" Grover roared, a bit freaked out as he turned back to the two boys. "You have to help me! No time! I'm stuck in this cave. On an island in the sea."

"Yeah, that's helpful." Naruto deadpanned.

"Where?" asked Percy.

"I don't know exactly! I went to Florida and turned left."

"Wait what?" Both boys asked, not getting it.

"It's a trap!" Grover said. "It's the reason no satyr has ever returned from this quest. He's a shepherd, Percy! And he has it. Its nature magic is so powerful it smells just like the great god

Pan! The satyrs come here thinking they've found Pan, and they get trapped and eaten by Polyphemus!"

"Poly-who?" asked Percy.

Naruto groaned. "That giant Cyclopes."

"Right!" Grover said hurriedly. "I almost got away. I made it all the way to St. Augustine."

"But he followed you," Percy said, remembering the first dream. "And trapped you in a bridal boutique."

"You have to admit that is kind of funny." Naruto said with a chuckle. "It gave you the perfect disguise, but also screwed you over as well."

"Don't remind me." Grover cried. "My first empathy link with the two of you must've worked then. Look, this bridal dress is the only thing keeping me alive. He thinks I smell good, but I told him it was just goat-scented perfume. Thank goodness he can't see very well. His eye is still half blind from the last time somebody poked it out. But soon he'll realize what I am. He's only giving me two weeks to finish the bridal train, and he's getting impatient!"

"Wait a minute. This Cyclops thinks you're—"

"Yes!" Grover wailed. "He thinks I'm a lady Cyclops and he wants to marry me!"

The two stared at their goat like friend in seriousness. It would have been funny if he was joking, but Grover sounded as scared as hell.

"What can we do to help?" Naruto asked with a grim expression. He can be a joker most of the time, be he knew when to be serious.

"I am in the Sea of Monster! GET ME OUTTA HERE!" Grover cried, making Naruto's eye twitch that his friend had gotten stuck there of all places.

"Where is that?" asked Percy, confused as hell.

Naruto groaned. "The way you described how you got there, it sounds like you are actually in the Bermuda Triangle."

"That's your best bet." Grover said before he looked at them nervously. "And, I am sorry about this you guys, but this empathy link ... well, I had no choice. Our emotions are connected now. If I die ..."

"Don't tell me, we'll die too." Percy deadpanned.

"Oh great. No pressure there." Naruto grumbled.

"Oh, well, perhaps not. You might live for years in a vegetative state. But, uh, it would be a lot better if you got me out of here." Grover said, making Naruto's eyebrow twitch in annoyance.

"Honeypie!" the monster bellowed. "Dinnertime! Yummy yummy sheep meat!"

Grover whimpered. "I have to go. Hurry!"

"Wait! You said 'it' was here. What?"

But Grover's voice was already growing fainter. "Sweet dreams. Don't let me die!"

With that, Grover disappeared from the dream, but Percy and Naruto was still there. "What did he mean though?"

"Well, he did say it held a lot of Nature Energy, so it must be important." Naruto said before he looked to the Son of Poseidon. "Percy, let's wait to tell Annabeth and the others about this later. Knowing Tantalus, he won't care. So let's make sure either one of us win that race tomorrow. We could say that we want a quest to save Grover's ass."

"Right. Good Luck." Percy said.

Naruto smirked. "You too Water Boy." Naruto said before he too disappeared from the dream.

XXX

The morning of the race was hot and humid. Fog lay low on the ground like sauna steam. Millions of birds were roosting in the trees—fat gray-and-white pigeons, except they didn't coo like regular pigeons. They made this annoying metallic screeching sound that reminded them of submarine radar.

The racetrack had been built in a grassy field between the archery range and the woods. Hephaestus's cabin had used the bronze bulls, which were completely tame since they'd had their heads smashed in and their back blown out, to plow an oval track in a matter of minutes.

There were rows of stone steps for the spectators— Tantalus, the satyrs, a few dryads, and all of the campers who weren't participating. Mr. D didn't show. He never got up before ten o'clock.

"Right!" Tantalus announced as the teams began to assemble. His right eye and pretty much that part of his face would twitch thanks to Naruto's pranks. He still had the bee stings as well. A naiad had brought him a big platter of pastries, and as Tantalus spoke, his right hand chased a chocolate eclair across the judge's table. "You all know the rules. A quarter-mile track. Twice around to win. Two horses per chariot. Each team will consist of a driver and a fighter. Weapons are allowed. Dirty tricks are expected. But try not to kill anybody!" Tantalus smiled at them like they were all naughty children. "Any killing will result in harsh punishment. No s'mores at the campfire for a week! Now ready your chariots!"

That's harsh? Naruto thought.

Beckendorf led the Hephaestus team onto the track. They had a sweet ride made of bronze and iron—even the horses, which were magical automatons like the Colchis bulls. They had no doubt that their chariot had all kinds of mechanical traps and more fancy options than a fully loaded Maserati.

Since Naruto and Clarisse were partners, their chariot was pretty wicked looking. It was basically the freaky face chariot that one would see in the Hercules movie that Hades flew on to free the Titans. However, the face was blood red while rest of it looked black, even the wing like attachments. It also looked like it had black energy raising off of it. The skeletal horses were the same way. It was full of nasty toys to make sure they won, making Percy and a lot of other pale.

Apollo's chariot was trim and graceful and completely gold, pulled by two beautiful palominos. Their fighter was armed with a bow, though he had promised not to shoot regular pointed arrows at the opposing drivers.

Hermes's chariot was green and kind of old-looking, as if it hadn't been out of the garage in years. It didn't look like anything special, but it was manned by the Stoll brothers, and Percy shuddered to think what dirty tricks they'd schemed up. Especially if Naruto had teamed up with them.

That left Annabeth's and Percy's. Naruto looked to see them arguing and the blond say Annabeth pale a bit at one thing he said. "Geez, I tell him to wait and goes and does what he wants. Meh, I am not surprised." Naruto mumbled out. "I can only assume she knows now."

"Who knows what?" Clarisse asked as she got in the chariot.

"Oh Percy told Annabeth something from last night. Let's just say we have more of a reason to win now." Naruto said. Getting a questioning looked he elaborated. "Grover is in trouble, he told us through an Empathy link….or whatever the hell that thing is called." Clarisse's eyes widened in understand before she nodded. She was more determined to win now…mostly for her friend.

The conch horn sounded.

"Charioteers!" Tantalus called. "To your mark!"

Naruto and Clarisse gain a determined look on their face as they got ready to the race to begin. Clarisse was driving while he was fighting since he was the better fight, being a ninja and all. She did not seem to have a problem with that.

Looking around, he saw a multitude of odd looking evil pigeons on the edge of the track, surrounding them. He noticed that he himself and Percy were the only ones that noticed them. How the hell was that possible? "Please tell me you see those birds."

"Yeah, just ignore them." Clarisse said. "They won't attack unless provoked. They are called Stymphalian birds."

"Oh joy." Naruto deadpanned. He knew about these birds. They were evil birds that when they attacked someone, took everything but the bone.

Soon, Tantalus signal for them all to go and go they did. They all shot off, determined to win as well.

However, they soon found out that this race was more of survival instead of what they first thought because the birds attacked. "You were saying?" Naruto deadpanned to his partner, who had a freaked out expression on her face.

"Just shut up and kill those things!" Clarisse barked.

Naruto nodded as he saw a few of the birds heading for them. Some of the birds went to the skeletal horses, trying to peck their non-existent eyes out. The blond smirked as he took out fear and destruction to slice away at the violent birds.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Beckendorf get mobbed. His fighter tried to bat the birds away but he couldn't see anything. The chariot veered off course and plowed through the strawberry fields, the mechanical horses steaming. It was basically the same for the other chariots except for Percy's and Annabeth's, who seemed to be planning something to get rid of the annoying birds. He saw them head for the Big House to get something.

Seeing that most of the competitors were gone from this little race and were fighting for their lives, Naruto decided to help out a bit. He put away his sword once the birds around them were pretty much gone and took out ten kunai with explosive note attached to them. Clarisse saw this and yelled, "The hell are you doing!"

"Cooking us up some pigeon meat!' Naruto joked around with a smiled before he threw the kunai outward. "Shadow Kunai Jutsu!" The blond smirked as the ten become fifty and explosion rockets the air and ground as the demon pigeon began to drop like flies, but there were still more. "Dang...i was gunning for hundred...my chakra is still a bit messed up.

Thankfully, Percy and Annabeth decided to return and put on some music. Naruto smirked, Annabeth really knew her stuff. Back in the day, Hercules uses sound to drive them off and it was still working. On a side note, He saw that Tantalus wasn't really do anything but chasing around some food like a mad man.

The blond's friends used Chiron's CD, the All-Time Greatest Hits of Dean Martin, began to play. Suddenly the air was filled with violins and a bunch of guys moaning in Italian.

The demon pigeons went nuts. They started flying in circles, running into each other like they wanted to bash their own brains out. Then they abandoned the track altogether and flew skyward in a huge dark wave.

"Dang! It's a mad house!" Naruto shouted above the music and screeching of the birds, making Clarisse laugh at she joke as she drove.

"Now!" shouted Annabeth. "Archers!"

With clear targets, Apollo's archers had flawless aim. Most of them could nock five or six arrows at once. Within minutes, the ground was littered with dead bronze-beaked pigeons, and the survivors were a distant trail of smoke on the horizon.

The camp was saved, but the wreckage wasn't pretty. Most of the chariots had been completely destroyed. Almost everyone was wounded, bleeding from multiple bird pecks. The kids from Aphrodite's cabin were screaming because their hairdos had been ruined and their clothes pooped on. Some of them were even complaining how Naruto was going to haze them about it.

"Bravo!" Tantalus said, but he wasn't looking at Percy or Annabeth. "We have our first winners!"

He finish the line and awarded the golden laurels for the race to a stunned-looking Clarisse and Naruto. They were the last ones in the races and actually won…..so Tantalus awarded them, seeming to spite Percy and Annabeth.

Then Tantalus turned and smiled at Percy, which was a bit creepy. "And now to punish the troublemakers who disrupted this race."

Naruto gained a dead panned expression. "You have got to be kidding me."

XXX

Well, there you all go. Another chapter. Hope you all liked it. I am going to be revising the Prophecy for this book….it is going to include Naruto.
I also plan on releasing a Naruto/Fairy Tail crossover in the near future...prolly when i am done with Cyberspace.

Review!