I do not own, that would be Rick Riordan.
Thanks for all the reviews, favourites and follows that I have received for the last chapter and the story. Oh and for Visit to the Past.
Thanks to those who answered my questions last chapter. Still don't know how the Stoll's pillows appeared. I'm glad you liked the pillow fight as I wasn't sure about it. My favourite characters to write are of course the brothers. My favourite god by the way is Poseidon and Hestia. Demi-gods Percy and Nico (sorry can't choose one).
Chapter 21- The Hearing and Tyson.
"That was a loonnng taxi ride," said Percy.
"No it wasn't," said Annabeth.
"You were angry and acting like I had punched your grandmother," said Percy.
"You punched Hera?" asked Hermes.
"WHAT?" screeched half the people in the room.
"Athena is her mother; Zeus is therefore her grandfather, making Hera her grandmother. Well step grandmother," explained Hermes.
"I haven't punched any grandmothers or step grandmothers," said Percy.
"I don't think Annabeth would have been that upset if that was the case," whispered Nico to Thalia "especially if it was Hera."
"Annabeth had a monster infested spring in San Francisco however she had been back to camp TWICE since Christmas but wouldn't tell me why," said Percy.
"I think you were upset because she hadn't told you she had returned to New York," said Aphrodite.
"Percy asked about Nico and Luke," said Annabeth.
"You inquired about me?" asked a shocked Nico.
"I think I asked about your whereabouts, before asking about Luke's plans," admitted Percy as Hades managed to hide his shock that a child of his brother was clearly worried about the welfare of his son.
"Luke wasn't at Mount Tam which was over-run with monsters," said Annabeth.
"So as far as we knew Luke was sailing around in his demon-infested ship with a slowly re-forming Lord Kronos in a golden sarcophagus," said Percy.
"Percy used my phone to call his mom and explain everything," said Annabeth.
"Well I tried to. Do you know how hard it is to leave a message trying to explain how you burned down a school again?" asked Percy with a sigh.
"When we reached camp Peleus, the dragon protecting the Golden Fleece seemed relaxed and the camp looked peaceful, but there was tension in the air. Something felt wrong, like the hill was holding its breath, waiting for something bad to happen," informed Percy.
"I left Percy, telling him I needed to talk to Clarisse and that I would inform Chiron that he had arrived, so he could speak to Percy before the hearing," said Annabeth.
"I hate when you do that," exclaimed both Percy and Thalia.
"You provide us with just enough information to pip our curiosity and then gets upset when we go looking for answers," said Thalia.
"She is not the only one who does that," said Poseidon looking at Athena while Apollo, Hermes, Ares and Artemis nodded their heads in agreement.
"I said hello to some of my friends as I wandered around camp," said Percy. "Travis and Connor were hot wiring the camp's van."
"What were you two planning?" asked Katie. The brothers shrugged in reply having no idea.
"I wandered into the sword arena. In the middle of the floor with its back to me was a hellhound the size of a tank," said Percy.
"How did it get past the magical borders?" asked Demeter.
"It must have been invited in, I guess we will find out why soon," answered Athena.
"The hellhound looked right at home, on its belly chewing the head off a combat dummy," said Percy.
"At least it wasn't a camper it was chewing on," said Chris with an involuntary shudder, pain clearly shown in his eyes. Clarisse placed her arms around his shoulders to comfort him.
"I pulled my sword and charged, and brought my blade down but was blocked by another sword. It came from nowhere and I instinctively turned and struck the swordsman," said Percy.
"Who is defending a monster?" asked Demeter.
"The swordsman was a grey-haired man in Greek armour. He informed me that the hellhound was harmless. He then introduced me to Mrs O'Leary," answered Percy.
"That is your dog?" asked Hermes.
"She becomes mine, but at that time she was Quintus's pet," answered Percy.
"How do you get a hellhound for a pet?" asked Demeter.
"Apparently it was a long story involving many close calls with death and quite a few giant chew toys," said Percy.
"Yeah, now I know what I need to get my pet," said Nico.
"NO PETS," shouted Hades, not liking the part about close calls with death.
"Please Dad. I could get a puppy hellhound and train him from the start," said Nico giving his father the puppy-dog eyes. However they didn't work.
"No," said Hades giving Nico a look that clearly showed that the topic was closed. Well at least for now, Nico was not going to drop the topic so easily.
"Quintus introduced himself as the new sword instructor, he was there helping Chiron out while Mr D was away," said Percy.
"Where was Dionysus?" asked Zeus.
"He was out helping the gods recruit against the Titans. Although Mr D being away from camp was the best news I had heard all day, I knew it signified that the Titan threat was looking bad," said Percy.
"Great, I get away from the brats for a summer," said Dionysus looking pleased… before the smile dropped as he realising how much danger they must be in for his father to send his on his own mission.
"Off to the side of the arena were six wooden crates that were rattling. They were the size of picnic tables and printed on the size was Triple G Ranch, Open with care. Triple G Ranch is not responsible for property damage, maiming or excruciatingly painful deaths," said Percy.
"What is in those crates?" asked Ares with a hint of glee in his voice.
"It was part of a training exercise, which will be mentioned later," said Annabeth.
"I was surprised that Quintus was a demi-god," said Percy.
"Demi-gods do live long and prosper lives," said Athena.
"I guess I had never thought of living to old age before, what with the great and terrible prophecy," said Percy.
"That was even before you even knew what the prophecy was," said Will.
"Well the prophecy does say when a child of the big three reaches the age of sixteen," pointed out Thalia.
"Chiron came and collected me from Quintus. Although his tone was light, there was uneasiness in his eyes. He did seem rather pleased when Quintus called him master," said Percy.
"Anyone would enjoy being called master," pointed out Apollo.
"Quintus seems kind of mysterious….," said Athena.
"Chiron explained that it was not good news that the she-demons were stirring. He said that the most powerful empousi could explode into flames. Kelli did not die, just escaped," said Percy.
"What did Chiron say about what Kelli said?" asked Zeus.
"We were to speak about it further after the hearing," said Percy.
"Chiron brought Percy on his back, as they were running late," said Annabeth.
"Man, that is twice that you have ridden on his back," said Will.
"Why are you so special?" asked Travis.
"Yeah he always gets angry when we get on his back and request a ride," said Connor.
"You two usually jump on his back yelling ride them cowboy," disclosed Katie.
"Good times… Hey bro. Next new camper lets dare them to have a ride on Chiron calling him pony and son of the evil one," said Connor.
"After they cartwheel around the camp," replied Travis.
"The Pegasus are going to be so happy," said Percy "their favourite clean up crew will be looking after them for a fortnight."
"A fortnight, try a month," said Clarisse the smiles on the Stoll brothers dropped.
"Chiron dropped me off with Annabeth, Clarisse and Juniper; who I had never met," said Percy.
"What are you doing there?" asked Athena to Clarisse, but received no answer.
"The hearing consisted of a bunch of satyrs sitting in a circle. Grover was in the middle facing three really old, really fat satyrs," said Percy.
They are the Council of Cloven Elders, show them some respect," said Dionysus "…But they are very old and fat."
"While Grover was trying to explain his story, I was trying to reassure Juniper that the hearing was going well," said Annabeth.
"This stupid old satyr, Silenus announced that he didn't believe what Grover was saying," said Percy.
"Stupid old fart," mumbled Clarisse.
"They didn't look impressed when Chiron cantered up and joined them," said Annabeth.
"He is an honorary member of the council but I think some of the satyrs don't like it," said Dionysus.
"Well the satyrs reminded me of goats in a petting zoo. With their huge bellies, sleepy expressions and glazed eyes that couldn't see past the next handful of goat chow," said Percy. Dionysus laughed shaking his head,
"One of Hermes children actually sent a satyr to a petting zoo. Took them a while to exchange him back for a goat," said Dionysus.
"The council were not happy that for six months they had heard the scandalous claims that the wild god Pan had spoken to Grover," said Clarisse.
"I think they were more upset that Pan had spoken to Grover and not to any of them," pointed out Annabeth.
"It was about that time that Juniper looked like she wanted to beat up the three satyrs," said Percy.
"Oh how lovely, defending her boyfriend," said Aphrodite.
"Annabeth and Clarisse held her back," said Percy.
"Clarisse held someone back from fighting?" said a surprised Will.
"Annabeth and Clarisse working together, they despised each other," said Thalia.
"We didn't despise each other, we just hadn't really had the need to get along," said Annabeth.
"We are usually pitted against each other in Capture the Flag games," pointed out Clarisse. She was right the teams were usually led by Ares or Athena campers.
"The council had let him travel and keep his searchers licence for the previous six months so he could prove his 'preposterous' claim. They were not impressed that in all his travels he had found nothing," said Percy.
"Thankfully Chiron managed to talk the council into giving Grover one more chance," Annabeth informed the group.
"Grover was to have one more week to prove his claims," said Clarisse.
"One more week, that is so unfair," exclaimed Hermes.
"In one week Grover had to prove that Pan had spoken to him, otherwise he would lose his searchers licence. The meeting was adjourned so the satyrs could go enjoy their noontime meal," said Percy with obvious loathing.
"I mentioned to Grover about an option he had, but he had to think about it," said Clarisse.
"What option?" asked Poseidon.
"That was when the conch horn sounded, signalising cabin inspections. I raced to my cabin, although it was my first day my cabin was a mess from the last time I had left it. Chocolate wrappers and crisp packets on my bunk and my armour scattered around the room," admitted Percy.
"When is it not in a mess?" asked Thalia.
"Sounds like your father, I was forever telling him to clean his place when we were younger," said Hestia. Poseidon and Percy shared cheeky grins as others rolled their eyes.
"Someone is going to get kitchen patrol," said Will.
"Yeah us," said Travis.
"How did that happen?" asked Will.
"Maybe you should stop hiding your dirty laundry under the bed. You do it every time," said Annabeth.
"I dashed into my cabin and was quickly pulled into a bone crashing hug by an enthusiastic Cyclops wearing a flowered apron and rubber cleaning gloves," said Percy.
"And that's how we ended up with kitchen patrol," said Connor dramatically as the room laughed.
"Tyson was happy that I was not eaten by monsters and checked that I had all my limbs. Tyson then wanted to go eat peanut butter sandwiches, ride fish ponies, fight monsters, see Annabeth and make things go BOOM," said Percy.
"I hope not all at once," said Poseidon with a twinkle in his eye.
"After cabin inspection which I passed thanks to Tyson, we went to the forges and Tyson impressed Beckendorf with his ability to craft metal weapons. While Tyson worked he described the Cyclops forges and Poseidon's palace," said Percy. "Tyson also mentioned how tense it was down there as the old gods of the sea were starting to make war with dad and battles were raging all over the Atlantic." Poseidon groaned. He was going to have a tough time, but was glad Percy and Tyson were at camp.
"Tyson assumed me that Dad wanted us both at camp, but pointed out that there were bad people above the sea as well, and we could make them go BOOM," said Percy.
"What is with him, making things go BOOM?" asked Zeus.
"If we are talking about things going boom, I think I beat Tyson," said Percy.
"That is for sure," said Annabeth rolling her eyes but there was fondness in them.
"Tyson and I were joined by Annabeth at the canoe lake where I asked her what Grover's other option was," said Percy.
"Yes what is this other option?" asked Hera.
"It was something I had scouted out," replied Clarisse.
"It would be dangerous especially for Grover," said Annabeth.
"Yet it still happened," said Nico.
"Tyson admitted that goat boy scares him," said Percy.
"How can Tyson, a Cyclops be afraid of a Satyr?" asked Ares.
"Hooves and Horns, oh and goat fur makes his nose itchy," said Annabeth.
"Before dinner Tyson and went to the sword arena where Quintus showed me some new moves. He fought like how people play chess- like he was putting all the moves together and you couldn't see the pattern until they made the last stroke and won," said Percy.
"Like Annabeth and her siblings playing chess," said Will.
"I asked Quintus if he had always been a swordsman and was informed he had been many things," said Percy. "As we were fighting his shoulder strap fell down and I saw a mark on his shoulder. It was purple mark, a bird with folded wings." Athena gasped no, it couldn't be him.
"I asked him what it was?" said Percy.
"Don't be rude," scolded Hestia.
"I realised it wasn't a tattoo, it was an old burn, like he had been branded," said Percy "Quintus told me it was a reminder." He snuck a look at Athena who had a look of disbelief and a hint of anger on her face.
"What was Tyson doing while you fought?" asked Poseidon wanting to know about his young son.
"He was playing with Mrs O'Leary, who he called little doggie," said Percy. "They were wrestling for the bronze shield and playing Get the Greek."
"Does anyone else find it weird that Get a Greek, involves a large dog attacking a life size dummy?" asked Rachel. "Why isn't it Get the Roman or Viking?"
"At dinner Tyson noticed the big crack that someone had made in the dining pavilion," said Percy.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it," said Nico apologetic.
"I told Tyson the story of what had happened and that he wasn't to tell Chiron. Tyson said his lips were sealed as the Titans may use Nico if they knew about who he was. Although Tyson is childlike he is smart," said Percy.
"Even Tyson wanted to protect me," exclaimed Nico as Percy nodded.
"That night I didn't want or couldn't sleep and noticed a light coming from the fountain in my room," said Percy.
"With your history of nightmares I don't blame you," said Demeter.
"I approached the fountain and a voice told me to deposit a drachma, I did and I watched the Iris Message. It showed a young boy on the side of a riverbank tending to a campfire of blue flames," said Percy. "It was Nico and he was throwing pieces of paper into the fire- the Mythomagic cards he had been obsessed with the winter before,"
"You saw that?" asked Nico quietly. Percy nodded.
"You are camping in the Underworld?" questioned Hades. Nico nodded.
"On the banks of the River Styx," replied Nico.
"Although he was about eleven he looked older, his hair was longer and shaggier, his skin paler and he wore ripped jeans and a battered aviator's jacket was several sizes too big," described Percy. The gods noticed the aviator's jacket on the young boy but didn't question it.
"I realised Nico hadn't sent the iris message. I continued to watch trying to get answers. Nico tossed another card into the fire calling it useless. Another voice told him it was a childish game," said Percy. "At first I couldn't see him but something shimmered and a form of a man was seen- a ghost.
"You are getting advice from a ghost?" questioned Demeter and exchanged worried glances with Hades.
"I wanted to know how to get Bianca back," whispered Nico.
"The ghost told Nico it hadn't been done before, but there may be a way. An exchange, a soul for a soul," said Percy.
"I had offered," admitted Nico. Hades jumped off his throne.
"I do not want that, I will not let one child of mine die for another," said Hades visibly distressed.
"The ghost told Nico he meant a soul that should have died already. Someone who had cheated death," Percy said. Athena gasped as she put two and two together.
"I just wanted to summon Bianca. I was so confused. I didn't understand why he was talking about justice and vengeance," admitted Nico.
"I didn't like the ghost's tone as he tried to convince Nico that he would help him. He pointed out that he had saved him, lead him through the maze and taught him how to use his powers. He asked whether or not he wanted revenge for Bianca's death. The ghost reminded me a bully from school who would convince other kids to do stupid things and although they got into trouble the bully never did," said Percy.
"I hate those bullies," said Will.
"Now I understand how you survived the maze," said Clarisse.
"That was when the image shimmered and I lost connection to the iris message. I was glad I knew that Nico was alive. I was worried that he was trying to bring his sister back from the death and that he was looking for vengeance. I thought Nico was looking for me."
A/N: Hope you liked. To all my followers and favourites- the little box at the bottom is the perfect place to tell me why you liked my story. Why did you favour/ follow? Tell me please.
Please Review.
Questions: What was your favourite line/ part for this chapter. I wonder if any of you will pick my favourite?