Happy Birthday to Percy Jackson!

XXXIX

Percy

Percy wasn't very surprised when Rhea said that. In fact, he was expecting to have met her earlier. Perhaps when he had killed Kronos a while back.

"Great, " he said blandly. "No offense, but I was expecting something a little better." He received a kick in the shin by Annabeth. Percy realized what he said and prayed that Rhea wouldn't blast him to bits.

Fortunately, the goddess held off on that. Instead, she smiled ever so slightly, as if amused. "I would, but alas, Tartarus is still upset over an argument we had a couple centuries ago."

Percy decided not to ask what it was about. Instead, Annabeth cleared her throat and said, "So uh… care to help us out?" For a moment, there was no response. Then, "In what ways I can, perhaps. I cannot help you directly; the Ancient Laws forbid that. And while Zeus is not the best ruler we have seen, he…" Rhea's voice trailed off as a sudden uproar drowned her out. Percy looked down into the mess that used to be a monster army.

It was absolute chaos. At this point, the dracenae were in full combat with the telkhines, who were attacking Cyclops, who were attacking centaurs. It was a circle of death. It would've been great, except for the fact that Percy was in Tartarus, and monsters were regenerating seconds after being killed. It was like this could go on forever.

"We could probably march right through, and nothing would notice us," Annabeth muttered. It was certainly better than walking around the whole free-for-all. Percy didn't have any better idea, so he shrugged and replied, "Why not?"

They slid down the ridge and began casually strolling through a warzone, like this was a walk in the park. Rhea floated with them, blabbering about Gaea and Zeus and exile, none of which was new to Percy. Sure enough, like Annabeth said, nothing noticed them, save a few, and before he knew it, Percy had reached the other end.

"That was fun!" Rhea chirped. Percy almost agreed. "Well?" She asked. "Let's get going! You're almost at the Doors!"

"Yes we are," Annabeth muttered, staring at something in the distance. Percy followed her gaze, and his jaw dropped.

Less than 200 feet away from them, held in place by chains attached to trees, was a wooden door. It might've looked weird, but Percy had no doubt. The energy it radiated confirmed it as the passageway to the mortal world. He looked at Annabeth, who raised an eyebrow at him. "Something's waiting on the other side," she said.

Percy sighed. "Yeah." He looked at Rhea, who was tinkering with her fingernails. "You didn't really help us much."

Rhea looked offended. "Nonsense! What do you think caused that army back there to start fighting? Where do you think you got a backpack fresh of supplies?"

Percy felt his back, and sure enough, his hand touched a whole lot of pointy objects—arrows, which he didn't have 10 minutes ago. "Oh, but by the way," Rhea started. "If you want to cross into the mortal world now… well, there'll be a rather nasty surprise waiting for you."

"What do you mean?" Percy was more curious at this point than annoyed. It wasn't as if anything could be worse than Tartarus, right? But then again, Percy had a tendency of bad luck, and Annabeth nearly as much.

Rhea frowned slightly. "I can't tell, really. All I know is that something powerful lies beyond the Doors, and Tartarus is jamming my powers. I suppose that's a downside of being in the hellhole where monsters are created. Percy couldn't help but feel a little jealous at Rhea's ability to go, "Oh, I can't blow up whatever I want. That sucks." Percy almost wished he had accepted godhood from Zeus when he could.

Annabeth shuffled her feet. "So, obviously, being a god, you're not going to bother blasting it to bits?" She asked, with a little bit of hope in her voice.

"Na, too much work. Plus, the Doors are a dangerous place, where titans and gods should not meddle. Gaea plays a dangerous game, staying there."

"And about any mortal tourists…" Annabeth prompted.

"Oh, they won't be a bother. In fact, few people even know about this place. Even fewer dare journey here. Those that do will get turned back... and don't ask how."

Percy decided not to, despite his curiosity. At least Gaea wasn't incinerating them as soon as they entered the temple.

"Anyways, I would recommend you not enter until your friends on the other side arrive."

"But its August 1st already, isn't it," Percy muttered. He swore to himself that when he saw Jason again…

"Yes, and your friends are still in Carthage. They-"

"Wait," Annabeth interrupted. "Carthage? Why are they in Africa?"

Rhea shrugged. "Something important, I hope."

Now Percy hated Jason even more, and from Annabeth's expression, she probably did too. Still, Percy would not stay in Tartarus. He had more than enough of this place. Any more and Percy would begin to doubt his sanity, if he wasn't already. "We'll take our chances," Annabeth voiced for Percy.

Rhea nodded. "Good luck, then. The Olympians would not take lightly to me entering the mortal world, and as such, I cannot leave." And just like that, she disappeared, leaving Percy and Annabeth to fend for themselves. Percy looked at Annabeth. "Well…" Percy started. "Ladies first?"

Annabeth scowled at him, and pushed Percy forward. "Aren't you supposed to protect the damsel?" She teased.

"Ah, but of course!" And Percy began marching up to the Doors. Every step felt like eternity. 10 meters… 5 meters… then he there, his hand on the door. Percy wondered if this is a fake, a trap, but Percy had a feeling that it wasn't. Before he could decide against it, Percy took out Riptide and yanked the door open, and his reality twisted.

When he came back to his senses, Percy was lying down on a cement floor, with wind blowing in his face. Wind… He hadn't felt wind since Rome… Percy shot to his feet and almost refused to believe what he saw. "Oh my gods," Annabeth muttered next to him. As unlikely as it was, here they were, alive and on their feet, in the mortal world.

/chapter

I had to end it here because reasons. Anyways, important news: There will be no book 5 Fanfiction. I realized the main reason I had so much trouble with this story in the long run was how linear the topic forced your plot to be. Anyways, there's a poll on my profile for what should I write next. I might do a book 5 IF I get a crapton of votes for me to do so, but its unlikely. Anyways, September for the next chapters.

I do personally feel I would do well for humor, but that's just me.

QOTC: Our parents first teach us to talk and walk, then to sit down and shut up.

SOTC: Cups by Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect's "When I'm Gone). I think Anna is my new heartthrob.

EOTC: Pitch Perfect. Saw it on DVD, damn awesome. Picked up the soundtrack immediately after.