Chapter 6

Annabeth's Pov

Percy is so stupid. He says he'll never go on these world threatening quests again, and poof, he's part of another great prophecy. He was part of what? Like three great prophecies including this one?

I cursed Percy while I packed for the long journey. Ambrosia, nectar, matches, money, extra clothes, my Yankees baseball hat. I strapped my drakon bone sword to my waist and tied my hair back into a ponytail. I looked at myself in the mirror. Everything was good.

The other Athena campers were already at breakfast, I excused myself to finish packing.

I thought about the submarine Leo was making. Last night, I heard a lot of clanging, banging, and whirling. Curiosity got the best of me and I sneaked out of Athena's cabin. I was precautious of the harpies until I realized they were not out patrolling. I barged into Cabin 9, realizing they were all awake. They explained to her about the submarine and that Festus was going to be the sub.

" Well, you see, this is actually a simple project, one that may be done by sometime during the morning." Nyssa explained." We're just making Festus waterproof and larger, and with controls within his stomach."

" You're completely remodeling him?" I asked.

" Yea, but that's not what Leo says, he said it's a just a upgrade."

" Huh, I guess we'll be leaving tomorrow right?"

" The sooner the better." Leo called from below the floor.

Anyway, so that's how I know about the submarine.

I ran to the pavilion where at the Hades table, Percy, Thalia, Nico, and Leo were already waiting for me.

Percy walked over to me and lightly kissed me on the forehead." Good morning! Leo says he finished our transportation!"

Leo's face fell on his cereal, and he quickly sat up." Wha!? Who? Oh yea."

Then he went back to snoring.

" It's a like a sub dragon." Thalia said.

" Yea, I saw it." I said, as Percy led me to a spot in the table.

" Water, why water?" Nico grumbled.

I almost jumped out of my seat. I didn't realize I was sitting next to Nico until he talked. I never understood him, after the giant war, he was a little more outgoing, but still pushed things away when it got personal. He was still skinny and pale, dark, and hanged out with more dead people than live ones. I don't think I'll ever get used to him.

" I say we leave around 1," Percy said." So that a certain someone gets rest."

" Oh really? I feel fine, never been better. I feel like I can fight 200 m&m's." Leo yawned.

" Yeah, my point proven."

It was about time to go, Chiron let us, the five going on the quest, have the day off so they could rest. I kinda felt bad for the Hephaestus kids, they had zero sleep but was still forced to do all the activities.

I walked outside at 12:50pm exactly, Leo was working on last minuet bugs under Festus. By the looks of it, he didn't take our advise.

Festus, was way bigger than he was before. Way bigger. He looked like he was pregnant. His head was now the size of a very small room, the neck was about my height. The belly, don't get me even started on the belly. It might have been the size of a large apartment. Festus' wings grew to the size of over 14 feet. I saw rockets newly built into his heels and tiny ones at his tail.

Leo used the wii controller to open the door to Festus,( Which was his mouth ) and led the way inside. I kinda felt awkward walking into the mouth of a giant dragon, but it was cool. Inside the throat, there were windows so you could see the ocean. In the belly, there were red carpets, fuzzy and soft. A big 5 by 3 foot long HDTV on one side of the belly. A leathery brown couch with cup holders was positioned across the TV, a small coffee table sat inbetween the couch and TV. Two windows were beside each side of the TV, the curtains were positioned in a old time like ring to it with emerald green and gold patterns. There were seven doors on the opposite side from the TV. There was a obsidian door, a golden door, a coral door, a metal door, a quartz door, a pearl door, a wooden door, and a emerald door. On the other side near Festus' tail, there was a large ivory dinning table, or war table. And there was a trap door beside it where I was quite were we here supposed to stock things at. There was also a hatch that opened to the top. Behind the ivory table was a mini kitchen. And of course, the exclusive fridge and air conditioning. Overall, the new Festus looked like he swallowed a barbie doll apartment.

" Over there's the TV, zzz, there's your five rooms, zzz, and over there, zzz is our dinner table and meeting table. Zzzzzzz..." Leo collapsed on the floor.

" That was almost expected." I said.

" He was over tired. He made eight rooms." Thalia grunted.

Percy and I looked at each other, and smiled. This reminds us so much of our adventure last year, the one against Gaea. For a brief moment, I understood why Percy might like adventures. Because you were with friends. You made wonderful and horrible memories that you laugh about together later on. Percy shot the eight doors a death glance as if he knew there was something bad about it.

Leo sharply jerked up," Okay, this is Sub Captain Leo Valdez! I did not just pass out, we will be departing soon!"

He ran back to the throat, but I stopped him. This was too much, that boy seriously needed some rest.

" Leo, you need to sleep. Why don't you let me take off?" I suggested.

Leo looked at me with bloodshot eyes." I suppose, but do you know how to drive Festub?"

I raised a eyebrow." Festub?"

" Yea, you know what I'll explain after I wake up. There should be instructions in Festub's brain."

Without waiting for an answer, Leo trudged to his room with the metal door. He pressed a button and the door creaked open. Leo wobbled inside and colapsed on his bed. His metal door automatically closed by itself.

The others were confused, obviously. But being a child of Athena, I knew what he meant. When we just entered Festub through the mouth. I examined the entire head when we first walked in. There was a ladder leaned next to the left eye, and a hatch like the one in the belly, only smaller. I knew it had to go somewhere. And when Leo mentioned 'brain', I knew exactly what it was.

I ran towards the across Festub's throat. I reached the head. I grabbed the wooden ladder and put one end of it leaning against the hatch, the other end securely against nothing. I began to climb, I prayed the ladder wouldn't break, or slip. I easily pushed the hatch upwards and climbed above. The sunlight warmed me.

I realized that Festub's so called brain is where the captain would drive the now water dragon. The Brain was completely made of glass, so I could see all twenty cabins at my height. There was a light blue armchair with a microphone in the cup holder place. There was a mini nightstand and on it, a mini TV. The TV showed recordings happening right now. Thalia unpacking. Percy complaining about his coral door, Leo sleeping.

I flinched. There were video cameras within every room. This was gonna be a pleasant trip.

Just beside the stalker TV was a wii controller identical to Leo's. And below it, a half a centimeter thick manual, a very convenient guide to controlling Festub. It literally said:

A Very Convenient Guide to Controlling Festub By Leo Valdez( The Great )

Like I said, being a child of Athena had it's advantages. I flew by the pages, memorizing every fun tip, Leo tips, and Leo the Great tips. And it was all very painful but it taught me what I needed to do.

I picked up the wii controller, and started the engines. I saw the surprised looks on everyone's faces with the video cameras. I smiled and picked up the microphone.

" This is your captain speaking, don't panic, we'll be taking off soon to save the world again. It's just a normal day with no chance of rain but perhaps some ocean."

Festub's wings started flapping. I saw Chiron galloping outside, where many of the campers and hunters were already. Festus roared, as if to say goodbye. Flying in Festub wasn't as fast as the Argo ll, but once it's in water, he'll be as fast as, well, faster that any boat.

I activated the rocket boosters and we jerked forwards. I had my seat belt fastened, but I realized I hadn't warned them about it. Percy crashed into the ivory table, Nico tumbled out of the shadows and landed on his bottom. Thalia kissed the floor and Leo remained snoring. I noticed the furniture were not rolling around. I guessed they were like nailed to the floor or something.

" Uh I suppose I forgot to mention the safety precautions. When landing or taking off or diving, please go to your rooms and fasten yourselves to your seat or perhaps you may crash into something and break a bone or two."

I heard Thalia's muffled voice call out." You think!?"

I felt the pressure of taking off. I enjoyed being able to see everything around me, considering the fact that Festub's brain was completely made of glass. I did miss the Argo's roomy decks, inside Festub, it was a bit squished and cramped. But that only made it more cozy like.

After a few minuets of turbulence. After that I put Festub to auto pilot to Singapore. I headed down the ladder and to the belly. There, Percy, Thalia, and Nico smiled when they saw me.

" Annabeth, next time warn us before you activate secret rocket boosters that may break a bone or two." Percy said, with that mischievous glint in his eyes.

" Which way are we going in? Across the Pacific, or across the Atlantic?" Nico asked.

" Across the Pacific."

Chapter 6 end.