Thanks for answering the question guys, and for a few of you who think thought that I was being sexist, I wasn't. I just wanted to know.
In this chapter things begin to build up, so I suggest you grab some crisps, sit back and READ.
I woke up in the same position I went to sleep in: with Hestia in my arms. I looked around and noticed that it was probably around midday, due to the position of the sun, which surprised. Usually it was Hestia who'd wake up early and often burn some part of me in order to subdue my slumber.
I willing to bet that you already know of my tendency to piss of every God or Goddess at any chance I get, and believe you me, I intend to keep up that reputation. I summoned some water from the stream nearby and coated my body in a light coating of water. I froze the water around me, but left a large enough hole for me to get out. Once out, I looked at my handiwork, and was slightly impressed.
Hestia was sleeping soundly while half of her body was hovering over thin air, while in reality she was sleeping over a water- based silhouette of me. I took a noiseless shower and dressed in equal silence while making sure that Hestia was still asleep. I summoned an orb of water above her head and readied my legs for the chase that was surely going to come.
As soon as she started to stir, I let my power over the water disappear, which you might have expected to cause a series of hilarious events. First, the orb of water over her, crashed on her head effectively waking her up, which was soon followed by her falling on the soft ground on which we were sleeping on. While all of this happened, me, being the manly man I am, ran as fast as my legs would carry me.
"PERSEUS ANDREW JACKSON" Hestia screamed running after me with rage in her eyes. Once she said my middle name, I knew my immortal life may end sooner than expected. Still keeping up with my reputation though, I laughed maniacally trying to piss her off even more.
Now all of you may be thinking that I'm pretty stupid for doing all of this, but COME ON I wanted some payback. And I'm still not a 12 year-old kid, thank you very much. Anyway, I ended up reaching camp where I stopped to take a breath, but let me tell you, taking a breath while being chased by a goddess is a huge mistake. I learnt that lesson the hard way because as soon as I stopped I got run over a freight train in form of my fiancé. It's a good thing that I had the curse of Achilles or else all the punches she was giving me would hurt like hell.
"Hey, calm down!" I said holding Hestia's hands to her side to stop her from hitting me any further.
"Why should I?" Hestia said peeved that I had gotten one over her. She almost reminded me of Athena in that trait.
"Because I, for the first time in our relationship, got one over you." I said holding my hands in the air, wishing for applause. Which, surprisingly, I got. From whom you may ask, from the God of pranks himself, Hermes.
"Amazing work, but you could have-" Hermes was about to say something before he noticed the glare on Hestia's face. "You could have just let her sleep." He said trying to subdue her glares. Which actually worked! Damn! I have to ask him to teach me how to do that.
"No offence, you coward." I said mock angrily, but trust me I was just kidding. "Why are you here anyway?"
"I have really got to teach you how to insult people." Hermes said, obviously pleased at my reaction. "All the Olympians are here to see how you train the demigods."
"But why?" I whined childishly which was so against my AWESOME character.
"Beats me. Just stop teasing my aunt and get ready. They're all waiting for you at the arena." He replied waltzing off to the arena.
"Oh great. Now I've got an audience to watch me perform." I groaned to myself.
"I thought you liked people watching you perform." Hestia said smirking at the fact that I was soon going to feel embarrassed. What a wonderful fiancé. "And besides, you always loved to start off with a grand entrance, where better to do that than in front of a huge audience."
"I'm really beginning to rub off on you. Aren't I?" I said.
"You wish, now come on. " She said dragging me to the arena. Thank Hestia for the gift of food summoning. I was walk-eating while trying to think of a huge and AWESOME entrance.
Now before all of you think that I'm not showing enough maturity or obvious signs of being totally pissed off, I would like to assure you that I am pissed, but only at a few people. You didn't really expect me to be moody did you, come on, life isn't all bad, it's got its good side as well. And AWESOME entrances are part of the good sides.
Now back to my planning. I went with a huge fire starting off in the middle of the arena, growing until it reached the edges. Hestia would transport the both of us in the centre of the burning inferno, after which I would make the flames dissipate which would result in an awe-inspiring entrance. I told Hestia of my plan which she readily agreed and once we reached the outskirts of the arena we decided to put our plan into motion.
I summoned a huge roaring fire in the middle of the arena grounds which both surprise and scared everyone in the bleachers. In a few seconds, the flames had reached a few meters in front of the bleachers, at which Hestia and I transported to the middle of the roaring flames. Everything was going according to plan until there was a steady torrent of water dousing the flames and in turn soaking Hestia. As soon as the flames disappeared in a cover of steam, I felt a slap on my face. AGAIN!
"What was that for?" I yelled at Hestia.
"That was for summoning the water." She said happy that she had gotten a slap in.
"That wasn't me." I said looking at the audience for the perpetrator and instead found Marcus looking rather sheepish. "It's Marcus." I blamed pointing at him.
"I'm so sorry. It was an accident." Marcus begged going on his knees knowing what Hestia was capable off.
"Oh fine, I'll let it go because you apologized." She said waving her hands in a shooing gesture which surprised me.
"When I apologize, you whack me till kingdom come, but when he apologizes you let him go." I asked incredulously.
"He said it was an accident. Anyway, when are you going to start on your training, I'm sure that many of them don't want to see us bickering like Artemis and Apollo." She replied smirking mischievously.
"Hey!" The twins said in unison but were soon interrupted by Aphrodite.
"No please continue, I want to hear some juicy stuff." She said greedily.
"Nah" I said hoping to piss her off. "Okay, everyone gather your weapons and come to the centre of the arena." I commanded. I guess my entrance must have been really captivating because none of them made a move which made me yell out my previous command.
"And I mean everyone." I said eyeing the Olympians as their children got in the centre.
"Do you really think that we Olympians need training?" Athena said obviously miffed that I even suggested the idea. Doesn't she ever learn her lesson? I know she's proud and all that but seriously, would it kill you to listen to someone else for a while?
"Yes, yes I do." I said passively not wanting to start another fight. Athena huffed but followed her children to the arena square. The other Olympians followed her example and stood with their children. I tried to avoid looking at Athena's children for obvious reasons and tried to find a few familiar faces in the various groups. While doing so I noticed that Hera was standing alone, looking awkward and lonely. I felt a little sorry for her, even though she may be mean, she still has feelings. So I asked a few of the immortal campers to go over to her side and they obeyed without question and received a look of gratitude from Hera.
"Now listen, many of you may think that you are the best when it comes to fighting, but none of you know how to fight with various weapons. So, instead of me training you, I'm going to ask one cabin to teach another and vice versa." I said looking at the enraged faces of the cabin.
"Why don't you want to train us? Do you think we're too petty for you?" A loud voice shrieked. I looked around for the voice's owner and soon found it to be from Annabeth.
"I don't think so I only wish to speed up the process. Won't it be easier to learn from friends than it is to learn from a stranger?" I said hoping to curb my rage at her outburst.
"Stranger? You're no stranger; you're the best warrior to ever walk this earth." Nico said appreciatory.
"Thank you Nico, but I prefer to be estranged from all those who abandoned and betrayed me." I said heartlessly noticing the teary look on Annabeth's face. "Now, the Athena cabin will teach the Ares cabin on war strategy while the Ares cabin teaches them how to fight with weapons. And th-"
"WHAT! You'd have us learn from them." Now who do you think said that? The proud goddess of wisdom, of course.
"Why yes, Athena. Both of your cabins need the training in order to succeed in the war." I said venomously. "And I'm sure the silence from Ares means that he agrees with me. Now, where was I. Oh yes. And after the two of them are done, they will teach the other cabins. The Apollo cabin and Hunters of Artemis can help with Archery and stealth as long range is as important as short range. The Hermes and Hephaestus cabin will do the same by teaching the others how to place traps. Hecate and Demeter can aide them in that aspect while the Morpheus and Hypnos cabins can provide a way of spying on the enemies movements."
A few nods from the Immortal campers empowered my method of training but I could see the look of defiance on the few faces belonging from the Athena cabin but thankfully they kept quiet. I went over the cabins and how they could help till I reached a dead end. What in the world would help the big three?
"Zeus, Poseidon, Hades. Have you thought your children the full extent of their powers?" I asked and guessed that they hadn't from the sheepish looks on their faces. "Great. Now stop thinking that they will kill you like how you killed your father and teach them how to gain more control over their powers. And on a side note many of you should first learn from the Ares cabin as only a few of you are able to hold a sword correctly."
"But what are you going to do?" Christina asked from her place in the Apollo cabin.
"Nothing, I'll just sit in the bleachers and oversee the training. I'll get involved after a day or two." I replied. Now many of you may be thinking that I'm lazy, but I've got a good excuse; I don't want to teach the basics to a large number of campers.
"This will not only teach you of battle techniques but it will help you value your campers and the teamwork you do together." I said directing my speech towards the immortal campers and Olympians who must have remembered the reason I left. "And before I forget, Hermes will you please send a message to the Roman camp to aide us in this war."
"Of course, cousin." He said transforming into his jogging suit.
Oh great, another marathon to the boring Romans. A familiar voice said in my head which reminded me of a small snake. I looked around until I saw something clipped on Hermes's belt: A Caduceus on a mobile phone.
Shhh! don't let the Romans hear you calling them boring. A more feminine voice said.
"Hermes, please make sure that George and Martha keep their mouths shut while at camp Jupiter. Especially George." I said thinking of what might befall Hermes if they don't.
"Sure thing Perce." Hermes said as I heard protests from both of them and some mentions of rats which I didn't pay attention to. I looked over at the others and noticed that they hadn't moved at all during my conversation, but once I looked at them harshly, they all scrambled to do what I had told them to.
I walked up to the top of the bleachers with Hestia and just surveyed the campers. We both sat down and looked at Ares and Athena cabins working together for the first time in millennia, the big three teaching their kids while the trap specialists walked over to the forges. We spent around three hours looking at how they worked in harmony albeit there were moments of frustration (Ares and Athena) which was soon diminished.
"Percy," A voice said surprising Hestia and I. I looked around finally finding Annabeth to the side of the bleachers a few feet down. She was being followed by Athena and Poseidon who I guessed also wanted to talk to me. I looked over to where they were supposed to be and realized that a few of the immortal campers were now in charge of what was going on.
"Yes" I asked mechanically no wishing to speak to any of them.
"Well-" Poseidon said struggling to think of what to say before being interrupted by Annabeth.
"We all would like to apologize for our behavior and the way we treated you." She said sincerely.
"Hestia, did you hear something?" I said ignoring Annabeth's apology which aggravated her mother.
"Look, I know you hate everyone, but would you at least accept our apology. How do you think Theseus would feel?" Athena retorted going way below the belt.
"YOU DARE TALK ABOUT THESEUS!" I said fuming. "You rejected his love for you. You caused him to fall into depression, vulnerability, insanity. Do you really think that you know more about how Theseus would feel than I do? He never forgot you, never, he loved you and you spurn his advances." I ranted till Athena couldn't speak any more.
"Come on Percy. Leave mom alone, she doesn't deserve any of this." Annabeth said placing a hand on my shoulder which was soon taken back as she felt a sharp, burning sensation on her palm, courtesy of me.
"I guess you're right. She doesn't deserve this much hatred from me. The most worthy contenders would be you and that sorry excuse of a father I had." I said looking at all of them with a murderous glare in my eyes, "The both of you severed the bonds we had 50 years ago, and none of you made any move of repairing it since I've comeback. Marcus, on the other hand, hadn't managed to form a deep bond that could have hurt me when broken; nonetheless, he repaired whatever bond we had."
"How can we ever earn back your trust son?" Poseidon asked looking crestfallen at the end of my rant.
"Don't call me son," I spat. "Earning back my trust is going to be hard work, so I suggest you go and work on some of your other children instead of the one who hates your guts. And tell Nico to come meet me."
They all walked sullenly at my obvious hatred of them and once again I was looking at the campers with Hestia head resting on my shoulder. What surprised me most of all was that she hadn't spoke during my whole speech which scared me a little bit.
"Hestia, are you okay? You didn't even speak one word while I was shouting at the." I asked, my voice traced with worry.
"I'm fine. I just didn't want to ruin your monologue." She said hugging me closer. We stayed that way till Nico arrived looking tired from the training but still wearing a thick heavy coat which was a rather foolish idea when training.
"Hey Percy, what'd you need to see me about?" He asked cheerfully.
"Well," I asked not sure how to phrase my next sentence. "Do you know where my parents are?"
"What? You haven't seen your parents." He said with disbelief.
"I think my question is the answer you're looking for. I didn't want to put them through any more trouble. So do you know where they are and how they're doing?" I asked hopefully knowing that Nico thought my mother as his own.
"They're fine. Both of them are in some retiring home in LA, but they still miss you dearly. They're grandparents now." He said no longer surprised that I hadn't visited or made contact with them.
"Do they, you know, think that I'm dead?" I asked concerned.
"Yeah. Sorry about that but it was the only way to stop them from torturing themselves any longer." He said head hung low. I clapped him in the shoulder in a way which meant that I was fine with what he did. He smiled at me and went back to his training.
Hestia and I spent a few hours in the bleachers looking at how my training scheme was working for the campers until sunset. I called of training, congratulated them on their success and told them to go to the Pavilion for dinner. I went back to my camp by myself because Hestia needed to be there at the Pavilion and ate by myself wishing that I was back to my life of solitude, but what can I do. Hestia always had some power over my heart which I never regretted.
I fell into a sleep which for the first time in 50 years was full of dreams. I could see the forces of the enemy and could hear some voices.
"We must make sure of their numbers before attack." A dark, rough voice said.
"But how are we to do that, Enceladus? I'm sure that the Olympians will surely have their eyes on us." A much smoother voice said, reminding me of the smooth talker, Prometheus. Both of the voices stayed silent for a while until a new voice spoke up.
"I think I've got a perfect idea on how to do that. We can surprise them with an attack force consisting of small number of fast, small but powerful monsters." The voice sounded deep and gravely.
"And how are we to surprise them you idiot of a titan." Enceladus said.
"Well, I can use my powers over th-" The voice said before being interrupted by Prometheus.
"Not now. It appears we have some unwanted guests. Some child of Hypnos I guess." He said looking around for the intruder until he swiped his fingers through my body waking me up instantly.
I looked around and noticed that it was the dead of night and that Hestia was sleeping soundly to the side of me. I tried to think of what the dream meant and wondered when they were going to attack, but I knew one thing for sure, Prometheus may have been able to sense an intruder but he didn't know it was me for sure. But I guess that he will know soon enough, once the escaped monsters reach him. Not knowing what to do next, I went over to the arena to tire myself out through training.
End of this chapter. I really want to know if I should kill of Percy in the next chapter and I'm really sorry if I took time to write this, but I was having a small episode of writer's block.
Anyway, review and tell me your ideas. Flames are accepted because I really want to improve my writing skills.
Bye for now.