Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympia or The Heroes of Olympus.
Percy stared at the unkempt man in front of him.
It was hardly my fault if all started to believe that Luke had turned into me, Percy thought irritated. Or that the cabin of Hermes retaliated by attacking the cabin of Ares that they found guilty and somehow ended up with Apollo's cabin started to burn.
Have they managed to put out the fire yet?
But in any case it ended with Annabeth had dragged him here grumbling and half the camp now thought that he was a mini-god who had succeeded to hit a record in creating chaos and basically worshiped him for it. The other half were convinced that he was a punishment sent by Zeus to make their life as a wandering Tartarus.
It is probably a kind of record, Percy thought and leaned back in the chair he sat on. He did not know if it was good or bad that he at least felt a little proud of it.
"Chiron," Percy said finally when his ADHD just could not sit still anymore, "why am I here?"
"The boy is not just a little bit naughty with the thought of all the problems he had created today," the man hissed in front of him.
What had I expected of Dionysus, Percy thought and mentally shook his head. But he had become accustomed to that the wine god could at least say his name right and be civilized against him. But yes, it will maybe be so in the time. If Percy did not spun of everything completely.
Where was the old Annabeth when he needed her?
"He's probably just overwhelmed Mr. D ", Chiron defended him from his place in his magic wheelchair. "But I see that you've figured out my pseudonym, child."
Percy resisted the urge to exclaim that he was not a little child and said instead: "You talk sometimes as if you were thousands of years old, you once asked how the coffee machine in the school worked and it is something that I know almost all adults are addicted to coffee. Your jacket did not smell of coffee late after the event. And then I saw your shadow in a horse shape at night in Yancy Academy, "Percy added.
Mr. D snorted loudly in the Diet Coke.
"Well, child, it seems like you have done your detective work very good," Chiron said neglected.
Sincerely Percy nodded. "But you still have not explained why I'm here. And if you want to interrogate me about anything, I just want to point out my right to a fair lawyer. If I don't get one: it was that Clarisse girl's fault all the time and I'm just an innocent victim! That was all I wanted to say."
"Percy, you're not in trouble," Chiron said soothing.
Percy glared suspiciously at the centaur. "I believe you until the contrary is proven."
"I still say we should make a pie of him and sell him to the other hooligans," interjected Mr. D.
"You as a camp director must not boil camp members to pies and sell them to other camp members," interrupted Chiron quickly. "And please do not call them hooligans. Or at least not so they hear it. "
"It worked for Johnny Depp," Mr. D argued back.
"But was he not murdered in that movie, or am I wrong about that?" Percy asked. "And when did he started calling people hooligans?"
"I am a god Pedro," Mr. D said and ignored the last Percy had said. "I am immortal. Which means I can't die. "
"Give up the ghost, added to the final rest, burst, sleep, go to the hereafter, wedging the corner, exhaled the last sigh, fallen, become death by an angry mob with pitchforks and torches...", Percy counted.
"I can't do any of those things," said Mr. D contemptuously.
"Percy," Chiron said that clearly wanted to get some control of the situation again, "May you choose to believe or not, but the fact is that immortal means immortal. Can you imagine that for a moment, never dying? Never fading? Existing, just as you are, for all time?"
"It sounds very boring," Percy said honestly. "Or maybe if you were the lord of the universe and could decide everything yourself..."
The thunder warned with a rumbling.
"Jady, Jady, jay," Mr. D said. "That job is permanently busy, Patrick."
"I know," Percy sighed. "But if I were lord of the universe, the first things I would do is to remove all the clowns and replace them with things like clown fish instead. Who does not like Nemo the fish? And I would also replace Tuesdays to various theme days. One day could be ocean theme! "
"I know at least one god who would stand behind you then," Chiron muttered and Percy was not sure if it was intended that he would had heard that or not.
"You do know how to play pinochle?" Mr. D eyed Percy suspiciously.
"In fact, I know it," Percy said.
"Sir," the god said.
"Thanks, but you do not call me sir," Percy said with such an angelic smile as possible.
"Well," Mr. D said as he glared at Percy "it is, along with gladiator fighting and Pac-Man, one of the greatest games ever invented by humans. I would expect all the civilized young men to know the rules."
Percy just shrugged his shoulders at the thing with the gladiators. "I agree that Pac-Man is quite okay, but the gladiator fighting, I'm not so sure," he said and remembered how he had fought against Cyclops in a gladiator arena before Kronos had resurrected again. And that reminded him very much of the Romans away at Camp Jupiter. They were kind to be enemies or would in any case dismiss each other now, right? Now wait, they would not remember each other at all. The Fate did not expect that he would remember everything that happened in the past - this future, or did they? Hopefully they know better than that. They would have sent Annabeth or Jason or anyone else who could actually remember the details that were not about conflict or mission. He was so screwed.
"By the way, where is Grover?" Percy asked. He had the idea that the Satyr had been part of the conversation the last time...
"He wanted to come," Chiron said, "but we felt it was best that we spoke to you first ..." the centaurus dragged out on the words.
"Chiron said it best," Mr. D corrected. "I could not care any less."
"Will he be all right?" Percy asked. Grover does not deserve to be punished for something that was not even his fault.
"His judgment is not yet beaten in stone," Chiron said. "The Council is still investigating it. But what we wanted to say was that we regret your loss, child, "Chiron said and briefly looked towards Mr. D who was not paying any attention anymore, but mixed rather with the playing cards.
"Thank you," Percy said simply. He was still worried about Grover and if it was the same as the last time everything would work out and he, Grover and Sally could be sitting in a restaurant and eat tacos far away from Gabe, gods and monsters. But then has things gone the way Percy really wanted?
"And we wonder, if you want to talk about it right now, how you manage to avoid all he monsters for so many years when you knew you were a demigod?" the centaurus continued.
Percy shrugged again. "I don't really know actually. Perhaps it's was only luck?"
"Maybe," Chiron said finally after he seemed to regard Percy with a detailed eye for a few seconds.
He always seems to know when I withhold something. Maybe Gabe is right, maybe I actually suck at hiding things. But so far no one had discovered that I am a time traveler, so it's 1-0 to me.
"Can I go now?" Percy asked hopefully.
Reluctantly nodded Chiron. "Annabeth Chase, the girl who brought you here, will be your guide here at the camp. She is in the room on the other side of the big house. You can't missed it. "
"Does she of all people have to show me around?" Percy asked. It was not that he didn't want to see her. But at the same time... who knows how their relationship with each other will be now. She might hate him. Or maybe even go with the Titans. No, thought Percy. It can't happen. It can't happen.
Instead he simply said: "I mean, it's was like she wanted to kill me before when she brought me here. Can I trust that she not trying to drown me or something like that? "
Ha. She can try to drown him. The gods know that Clarisse has tried in earnest many times. The proof of her failure was very much alive son of Poseidon who continued to walk around and breathe.
"She will not try to kill you," Chiron assured Percy.
"If I get murdered, she is the first of the list of suspects," Percy said and pursing his mouth before he walked from the god and the centaur.
Percy followed the porch until he came to the back of the house. Mentally, he tried to prepare himself, sure, he had met Annabeth just half an hour ago, but that meeting had gone so fast...
He opened the big door and looked around cautiously. It was pure white light from hospitals cottage that met his gaze. Yikes, white. Why must hospital always be white…?
Viwws!
Percy stared at the knife that was stuck in the wall two centimeters from his face. Too close.
"My apologize," came a stiff voice. "But you surprisingly looked like a monster."
So she was still mad at him.
"Hey, Annabeth was it, huh?" Percy greeted and gave the knife back with a certain trepidation because it looked like she wanted to stab him with it.
Annabeth just nodded. "Come on, I'll show you around. You're not going to start walking away by yourself as soon as I turn my back?" she asked suspiciously.
"I promise not to do it on my honor," Percy swore solemnly and he glimpsed a smile from Annabeth before it quickly disappeared.
"Come on then."
"I was just waiting for you," Percy said.
"But I'm in front of you on the way out." She had a point, so Percy hurried after her.
They walked for a while in silence towards the cabins. The exchange with Annabeth had made Percy hopeful. Perhaps they could be the friends that they had been in this age. Well, minus all the fights and his confusion over the gods actually existed. Annabeth pointed out the strawberry fields for him and canoe lake and then finally the forest as she briefly explained that they used to play capture the flag in before she stopped so suddenly that Percy was about to bump into her.
"What will happen at the summer solstice?"
"What?" Percy wonder confused.
She looked around, as if she were afraid someone would hear what she said before she burst out in a rush: "What is going on? What was stolen? We only have a few weeks!"
"Oh that," said Percy voiceless and it appeared nothing what he thought of his face, but inside he was panicking. What would he say now?
"So you know something," Annabeth said with shining eyes.
"Maybe. Perhaps not," Percy said neutral. "Or at least not that thing with the summer solstice. But I know something like as the sun drives of a self-fashion crazy guy. The lady how gives the snow to the earth is an ice cold bitch. Janus is dangerous to the traffic. I mean, the guy has two faces, but he is always taking to himself so he always confuses himself then. Actually, he is dangerous to the whole planet if you asked me…"
Annabeth's eyes narrowed calculation. "I suggest that we are part of an alliance. I am a daughter of Athena. The wisdom goddess. When you arrived, I was hoping... I mean... Athena gets along well with almost everyone except Ares. And then we have her rivalry with Poseidon. But, then, besides that... I thought we could cooperate. I thought you might know something. "
Percy thought about it. Becoming Annabeth's friend, alliance partner ... almost friend... eh, whatever... would be an advantage from the start. But what would he say about the information she wanted. Why could he never think about things like this from the beginning?
"I didn't think you liked me," he said finally.
"I don't," Annabeth assured.
"Should I be offended?"
"Being allies must not mean that they actually like each other," the daughter of Athena continued, without caring about Percy interruption.
"Sorry, but I don't know anything about it right now," Percy said. It was both a lie and the truth. He did not know much about what had become of Zeus bolts before the entire mission-spectacle, but he had the basic facts...
Annabeth looked as if someone had said that all architecture in the world was forbidden. "I have to get a mission" she muttered to herself. "I'm not too young. If they just told me what the problem is..."
Percy was relieved when a voice called: "Percy!"
Grover ran up to the two, and waved violently with a shoebox in the air. His artificial feet threatened to fall off at any time.
"You saved my life," Grover gasped out when he arrived after a few seconds of awkward silence. "I... well, the least I could do... I went back to the hill. I thought you might want this."
He reverently held up the shoebox in front of Percy.
"It's Minotaur horn, right?" Percy mumbled though he already knew what is was very well.
Grover nodded.
"Thanks Grover," Percy smiled. He was really grateful. The Minotaur was the first monster that he had ever killed back then and now. It had become a symbol that although, you meet an enemy that seemed to appear overpowering, you could manage it anyway.
"It was nothing," Grover said although he blushed with embarrassment. "By the way, guys, did you know that it goes around the most ridiculous rumors that Luke had turned into Percy. I mean, how can it lead to Apollo's cabin was set on fire? And Jake Mason the son of Hephaestus, repeats all the time that he saw someone with black hair and green eyes stand up and lead Hermes cabin Ares cabin with war cry: "For the turtles!" Not to mention that all of the Aphrodite girls sneaking around and looking after their "super-hot" rebel. I get really sick of all the perfume. Hehe, gets, goat… eh, never mind. And both of the Stoll's brother seem to be in shock after they may have been, or may not have been deceived by non-Luke or if it was Luke. And then..."
"Um, yes," Percy interrupted quickly. "We get it. Really strange. No idea how all this could have happened."
Grover looked at him suspiciously and Percy turned pleadingly to Annabeth just looking at him with a look that clearly said: 'You started this. You can finish it as well. '
"Well, Grover, so here it is, once you have started something leads one thing usually to another and then you have to be..."
"It was not what I meant," Annabeth muttered with a blush.
Percy shrugged. "Sorry. But you were not clear what you meant, so I took a chance. "
"What are you talking about?" asked Grover and looked between the two of them who had not left each other with their eyes.
"I'm talking about that Percy perhaps should think things through first before he actually is doing them," Annabeth said hard.
"But I'm talking about you may not always need a plan. The result can be as good anyway, "Percy shot back.
The two continued to argue while they went on with Grover after them sighing.
After a while, Percy found himself able to relax and enjoy discussing with Annabeth again. Sure, he was not as good or fast on to argue that her, but he had twelve years more experience now so he held it up to her pretty well. This reminded him of all the times he used to talk about Annabeth about basically anything and everything. Such as the time in which he had argued that there must be some logic that the moon was made of cheese, as so many movies claimed. Annabeth had not been amused and quickly tried every little trick she knew - which was a lot - to try to disprove it.
Eventually was Percy aware that it had formed a crowd and they had stopped at the volleyball field.
"Why are all staring at us?" Percy asked.
"It's not us they are staring at. It's you they are staring at," Annabeth said amused.
And indeed, a whole bunch of camp members stood and watched them, or me then, Percy thought.
Several of the camp members pushed each other with their elbows. One pointed to the minotaurhornet which Percy carried. Another said: "It is him."
Most of the camp members looked as they were older than Percy. He consoled himself at least he knew the truth that he was mentally older than the other. The satyr were bigger than Grover, all of them trotting around in orange CAMP HALF-BLOOD T-shirts, with nothing else to cover their bare shaggy. At least Grover had pants in this age.
Percy could vaguely remember the last time camp members had been staring at him like this, he had felt embarrassed and shy, but this time it was more like a mild inconvenience. He had no desire to be treated as neither the new kid who they could pick on and look down on, or be worshiped for something that had required such a big sacrifice.
"Listen up guys, you know that yes, it was I who defeated the piece of meat, uh, I mean, the minotaur, and, yes, I could possibly have been turned into Luke for a few hours - but technically if we should be careful here it was he who turned into me - and it may or may not have ended up with Apollo's cabin became an early campfire ", Percy proclaimed for the spectators.
"The cabin began to burn. There is no not in that lines," said a guy with blond hair that Percy realized was a young Will Solace, a son of Apollo.
Hehe, so small he looks like. No wait, I'm small too now. Freaking damnet, how could anyone take me seriously when I was in this age. That is an actually depressing thought...
Percy interrupted his train of thought and held up his hands in one: take it easy gesture.
"Okay, it was very sad to hear, I sincerely hope that your cabin returned in its original condition soon."
"We are already working on to fix it," said a burly guy at the back of the crowd and Percy realized with a lump in his throat that he desperately held back that it was Charles Beckendorf. Or just Beckendorf that he had been called by all except Silena.
He could not help it but he thought back on the ship they had sank before Beckendorf had died in the explosion. No, I will not let him or anyone else to die this time, thought Percy decided. I will prevent that.
"Guys, we really have to move on. You can take up this with Mr. D if you want, "Annabeth informed all.
None looked like they wanted to take up anything at all with the acidic and generally unpleasant as the god of wine camp members scattered involuntarily and went back to their own chores.
"Well, that went okay," Percy said in passing.
Annabeth shook her head at him. "Come on. I will show you where you'll sleep. "
Right. All unclaimed went automatically to the Hermes cabin. Okay, so it was still in the future, but all new demigods was claimed quite fast. He and Annabeth had even talked to Chiron about building a brand new cabin for the unclaimed so the Hermes cabin would not be forced to have them at all. The plan was put on ice quite thoroughly in the form of three old women.
"Hey, wait! Does it mean that Percy actually did all that stuff that I said before? "Grover exclaimed suddenly.
"Uh... no comment."
"Percy!"
"Let's go! We can't be late!"
Percy dragged the other down through the valley before anyone could protest. They went over the green meadows and past Grover's satyr friends and came surprisingly quickly to the cabins.
They are so few, Percy thought. It looks so empty without Hades and Iris and Hypnos and all the other lesser gods cabins. Okay, Hades would not like that I compared him with the lesser gods, but he has to take it now.
Zeus' cabin was magnificent as usual but also empty. Hera, Artemis and Poseidon's cabins stood also empty. It was almost something desolate about them.
Dad, please claim me quickly, Percy begged. He had been missing his old cabin with its familiar rough, gray stone decorated with shells. Not that he actually believed that Poseidon would hear his prayer because he probably was busy keeping Zeus from trouble. But who knew, the gods have a tendency to listen when it has to do with them. When it suited the gods themselves would say. Reluctantly, Percy turned away from the cabin three and looked at the other cabins again.
Everything looked so different, yet familiar. Cabin nine with their smokestack. Cabin four with grass roof. But there was something in the air that were the most different here. Percy could not quite put his finger on what it was, but something had definitely changed between the future and the past.
"Cabin one, two, three and eight are empty for the moment," Annabeth said and Percy looked at her spuriously. He could not remember that she had informed him that the last time. When he thought about that she had not even walked with him here. So he had already made a difference.
"The male gods have uneven cabin numbers and the female gods have even numbers," Grover said. "Cabin four is Demeter's cabin. Those who live there are mostly friendly. They like nature too. And cabin five, avoid them, Percy, as much as possible. They are a nasty bunch."
Percy looked toward the cabin five. Ares cabin. Clarisse's cabin. From the angry red color of the cabin thumped the bawling rock music from the amplifier out through the front door. People inside fought and drove arm wrestled with each other.
In the doorway a large girl stood and glared at him.
Nice to see you too Clarisse.
"Come on," Grover said quickly and drew Percy and Annabeth a bit.
"Yes, now you've met the person who you would not meet," Grover sighed.
"She seemed cool," Percy said most just to see their reactions. But he had meant it, too. When Clarisse had past the time, which she preferred to turn down the smaller people in the dirt - literally - she was actually a really nice type. But the gods forbid that she ever heard him say it.
Both Annabeth and Grover stared at him as if he had just said that he wanted to be just like Batman when he grows up.
"Clarisse," Annabeth said hesitantly, "you can say many things about. Cool is not one of those things."
Percy just smiled mysteriously to them. "Okay, what is the rest of the cabins for?" He asked then only for its very purpose, even though he knew well what everything was and who lived there. But that was weird to hear about all the cabins and people some had live there for many year ago from his perspective. The whole thing was some as a very stranger dream that he was prepared to wake up from but that would never happened.
Annabeth straightened her back. "Number sex is Athena's cabin," she announced proudly.
"Your mother?"
"Yes, she is. Goddess of wisdom like I said for some minutes ago."
"Nice," Percy said. He did not think he could get away with saying something else to Annabeth about this. At this time, the gods - her mother especially - was her whole world.
"It's pretty cool," Annabeth nodded. "It's almost like an entire library just for us there. It is absolutely amazing! "
"I believe you," Percy agreed quickly. "You do not need to show me."
Grover cleared his throat. "Cabin seven is Apollo's cabin. Usually you get dazzled by it, because the light is so strong during daytime"
True, Percy had thought that if he brought some sunglasses so he can put them on when he walked past the cabin. He and Piper had been joking that if the cabin only was a little bit light stronger so can they sunbathing beside the cabin seven instead of the real sun.
"The lights are not so strong now," Percy observed and gazed cabin seven critically.
"It could have been because it is being renovated," a voice said behind them.
Lee Fletcher went out with long steps from cabin seven and up to them. Another dead guy who Percy had meat today.
"Hey Lee," Annabeth said easily. "And yes, it was foolish for Percy. But I'm sure he did not mean it, right? "She elbowed Percy between his ribs and he nodded quickly in agreement.
"Yes, it was just an accident." Inside Percy wailed with pain. Annabeth had really sharp elbows. Someone should be banned they should ever be used in violent purposes.
"Hm, okay. Apology accepted. Hm. See you later at dinner, "Lee said before he walked away shaking his blond head.
"Ouch!" Percy cried once Lee had disappeared from their sight. "What was that necessary for? I would have said so anyway!"
"Probably," Annabeth agreed. "But I wanted to be on the safe side. And by the way you deserved it."
"No one deserved that…", Percy began.
"Cabin eight is Artemis and she is a virgin goddess so she obviously have no children," Grover interjected quickly.
"If I don't remember wrong so is Athena also a virgin goddess, and she has children," Percy said glaring at Annabeth.
"Do you really want to discuss how I really was born and became?" Annabeth asked.
"No," Percy hastened to say. "That's not necessary."
"Thought so. Okay, uh, right. Cabin nine is Hephaestus cabin. His children tend to keep to the forge of the time. They are okay. And cabin ten is, ugh, gods forbid, the Aphrodite's cabin. I have nothing against them personally, but some people are really vain and superficial there. Some are okay as their leader Silena Beauregard..."
Right, Silena, thought Percy sadly. Was she already a spy... no, she never was a real spy. She was a hero to the end. Regardless of what people like Drew Tanaka said she would always be a hero. Although Silena was on Luke's side right now, he would do his best to make sure she didn't die this time. She and Beckendorf deserved their happy ending.
"...But I would suggest that you take it gently with them or you will be right as it is to have a love potion up in your throat," Annabeth continued and Percy pulled away from his thoughts to listen to her again.
"I do not want a love potion in my throat," Percy said frankly.
"This is why you should keep a friendly distance from them," Grover explained helpfully.
"And that takes us to the cabin eleven, Hermes cabin," Annabeth said and Percy wondered for a moment if Grover and Annabeth somehow had rehearsed all this together. "This is where you will live," she added hesitantly.
"Okay, sure," Percy said casually and Annabeth and Grover shared a glance with each other.
"Cabin twelve is Mr. D's cabins, "said Grover ago. "It's just a twin couples living there at the moment. They are okay people too. "
"Guys, did you not say at all the male gods had uneven numbers on their cabins?" Percy asked really actually interested. "Twelve is an even number. And last I checked, Mr. D was a guy. Or is it something that you hide from me?"
"All except Mr. D's cabins ", Grover changed. "He symbolizes the two sexes so he is both a man and a woman. Although I do not believe it is literally…"
They were all silent for a few seconds.
"That is a horrible thought," Percy said at last. "I have not something against some people, be what you want be for me, but Mr. D…? That's is only scary."
"Why did you even brought up that," Annabeth muttered.
"I will have nightmares after this," Grover complained sadly.
"But is he the man or woman to the twins?" Percy was wondering. "No, wait, I don't even want to know."
"I think we should forget we ever had this discussion and move on now," Annabeth said finally and Percy and Grover nodded in agreement. "But as I said most of us is okay. We are a bit like a big rowdy family, "Annabeth continued with a wistful gleam in her eyes that she didn't quite manage to hide.
She was certainly right about that. They were beaten, mocked each other, trying mostly to either humiliate, maim and / or kill each other, but they looked after each other when it was needed, thought Percy as they walked toward to the cabin eleven and his nerves began to creep up inside him. He prepared himself mentally to see his old nemesis Luke again.
The cabin itself looked like it anytime should breathe it's last breath. The paint was peeling and the threshold had been worn down. Above the doorway hung Hermes' symbol caduceus with two snakes that slithered around it. And inside, it reminded Percy about the hopeless times in the wars. There was some heavy air around the cabin hiding in the laughter and jokes.
Why had I not noticed this the last time? But I did do it of course. Some of the children have looked so sad and bitter. They were waiting for a letter that never comes or even will be written after all.
The children who were present in the cabin was staring at the trio judgment fully when they stepped up to the threshold. Especially at Percy.
Carefully Percy moved forward determined not to make a fool of himself this time. Obviously the Fate wanted to humiliate him, and the first thing he did was to stumble on the threshold.
There were a few scattered giggles, but otherwise it was quiet.
It's cruel to laugh at others misfortune, thought Percy and rubbed his head as he turned in. He had a vague recollection that he had stumbled the last time too...
When Percy stood up Annabeth said: "Percy Jackson - this is the cabin eleven."
"Is it he who was transformed to Luke?"
"And is it he who made that two of our members are in the hospital cabin after we went to attack Ares cabin?"
Ops, thought Percy. This is not good.
"Yes that's him," Annabeth said.
Traitor! You're supposed to be on my side, and don't give out information to the enemy.
The camp members of cabin eleven exchanged glances and Percy was preparing for the first screams.
"It was just so awesome!"
"What?" Percy asked mutely.
"Yes," a girl nodded that sat on a bunk bed. "It was impressive. If you aren't a son of Hermes, I don't know what! "
"Yeah right," another boy agreed. "No one has done anything so big for ages here. It was just so cool. And how you hit Clarisse... That moment will forever be in my memory..."
"Yes it was a very impressive piece of art of war," a tall guy said who paved his way between the people in the cabin until he stood in front of Percy.
"Hello, Luke," Annabeth greeted with a blush.
"Annabeth," Percy greeted old counselor-friend-enemy-un-hero-to-hero-again-colleague-type-mourners-for-his-death-Luke before he turned his eyes to Percy. "As the others had said, it was really respectable what you did and you clearly have cabin eleven's recognition, Perseus."
"It's just Percy," was the only thing that Percy could think of to say then.
"Of course," Luke said smoothly. "But I'll surely give you a place to sleep... Jocelyn, is the place occupied?"
"That is my place!"
"Maybe there?"
"Nope, that place is busy too, Luke."
"And all the beds are presently taken...?"
"Here is a place," a boy said Percy immediately recognized as one of the Stoll. He stood beside his brother and Percy tried discreetly figured out who was who. The boy who spoke looked to be a few centimeters shorter one the other so it could be Connor Stoll... They should wear name tags or something, thought Percy. It's really hard to tell them apart.
"Excellent," Luke nodded. "Take your place, Percy."
Percy walked over to the little spot - the location could not be described any other way. He wondered if he should lay down his minotaur horn there or not. He was actually surrounded by children to the god of thieves...
"No one will try to steal it," assured the second Stoll - Travis Stoll then. "It is your martial."
Percy nodded and felt a little guilty for having thought as he thought. It had been a very vain and unjust thought. Just because they were children of the god of thieves, it does not mean that they have to steal as their dad.
"Travis, give Percy his wallet back."
"Oh Styx! I was so close."
"No you was not close at all, Travis."
"No one asked for your opinion, Connor."
But when Percy thought about it, he should probably not rule out all Hermes children as innocent.
"And I don't even know I had a wallet," Percy mumbled to himself.
"Come on, we have to move on," Annabeth said quickly. "I'm going to show you the last at the camp."
They walked out again and Hermes children excited shouts and laughter disappeared in the background. When they were a few meters away Annabeth said: "Jackson, you have to do better."
"But it went better than expected," Grover remarked.
Annabeth sighed irritably. "I know that, but Percy still need to do better."
"I thought it went well," Percy said. Much better than last time, anyway.
"I can't believe I thought you were the chosen one," Annabeth muttered.
Wait, what? Said she so the last time? Percy tried desperately to recall. But no, he was not really sure if she had said so or not.
"Annabeth," Grover muttered in warning.
"Who are the chosen one?" Percy asked curious about what to answer.
"Oh, it's nothing special. Only some type that is destined to save the world from complete distraction and / or terrible slavery. The details are a bit obscure. But there is nothing to worry about now, "Grover said.
"Suddenly, the world feels so safe," Percy said dry.
"As Grover said, do not worry about it now, Percy," Annabeth stated.
"You know, why is everyone so packed? There is plenty of space in those cabin's, "Percy said, pointing to the first cabin's.
Both Annabeth and Grover paled.
"A demigod does not choose one cabin Percy. It depends on who is your immortal parent. "
"Yes, as Annabeth said. You can't just walk in and decide to sleep over at other people's homes," Grover continued.
"But if, just if, you had a god's approval then?" Percy asked with a raised eyebrow. He had a thought that perhaps could work. The gods were proud creatures, but some of them could give in to a mortals suggestion sometimes. Or so they realized they that wisdom of it. But then there used to only take the credit, and the mortal was too afraid to speak against. Okay, Percy really realized how easy Kronos had when he gathered allies.
"The gods are very busy," Annabeth said rigid and Percy decided to let the matter rest.
Just then shouted a rough voice: "But look at that! Our junior member! "
Percy looked in the direction from which the voice has been heard. Obviously, it would just be Clarisse La Rue who came against the trio. She had brought three other girls, who were all big and looked just as ugly and nasty as she did. They all wore camouflage jackets.
"Clarisse," Annabeth sighed. "Why do you not go and polish your spear or something?"
"Certainly, Miss vain," the big girl said. "So that I can run right through you on Friday night."
"It's against the rules," Grover said with a tiny voice. Oh, brave loyal Grover, it was a good try, but it would hardly work.
"And I can break your hairy legs when I´m holding on," Clarisse added viciously against Grover looked as if he wanted to sink through the earth. Or maybe not, because there was Hades and Mrs. Dodds and scary dead people.
"The flag will be ours," Annabeth said with a steady tone of voice. "You have no chance."
"We will pulverize you," Clarisse said - but it jerked in her eyelids, as if she was not sure she could complete the threat. She turned to Percy.
"And here we have the nerd of all the nerds himself here."
"You forget, however, that this little nerd hit you with a very wide margin in the battle before," Percy grinned. It was not often that Percy struck Clarisse in wrestling but in a sword fight, where the odds more equal.
"I stumbled" Clarisse protested. "I could easily have won otherwise."
"Are you going to say that the next time too?" Percy snorted.
Clarisse growled. "We have an inauguration ceremony for fresh disturbances, Prissy."
"Clarisse, if you continue you will become like a Mr. D, "Percy said honestly. He could at least try not to have more enemies than necessary. "You do not want to be widely disliked? Is it not better to have friends who can back you up? You are the daughter of the god of war, whether anybody here should know the importance of having someone who watches your back in battle. Clarisse, I do not want to be your enemy, but you are impossible to be friends with when you are like that. "
Clarisse had a slight pink blush in her face, but then her expression hardened again.
"How cares. Come and I'll show you "she hissed.
"Clarisse ..." Annabeth was trying to say.
"Stay out, your besserwisser."
Annabeth looked hurt, but she neglected to interfere.
Grover tried to go forward but his path was stopped by Clarisse three friends.
Clarisse grabbed Percy's arm and twisted it into a hard police grip but Percy let it happened. She dragged him into the girls' toilet and went into the nearest booth.
"This should teach you to respect your superiors."
Not a chance in Tartarus. It will not happen. Percy had a plan. He would just let everything happen now. With a little water manipulation included. He did not actually know what toilet water tasted like. He was the son of the sea god, not the drain god after all. Clarisse forced him down and he thought: "Let me not end there. Let me not end up there."
It twitched in his stomach and he smiled almost of relief that everything worked with his water powers. Maybe he should have been more prepared and already checked if the water still would do as he said before he let Clarisse push him down into the toilet ring.
"You know," Percy pressed out, "you will get a dip if you do not stop now. I warn you. "
Clarisse just laughed derisively at him. "As if that would happen."
"Last warning." He would not be altogether bad. Transferring time he did not know what would happen, but now he knew better. Clarisse was not someone who you wanted to have as your enemy and she was a great friend when she acted like it. And Percy had warned her twice now, she had only her self to blame.
Percy felt how it pulled in his stomach again. He heard the water pipes rumble and shake the tubes.
Clarisse grip on Percy became weaker.
The water shot up from the toilet and made a bow over the head of Percy.
The next moment he was lying flat on my tile floor and heard Clarisse screaming behind him.
Percy turned around just as the water gushed up from the toilet again, and hit Clarisse so hard in the face that she sat on her behind.
The water continued to spray as from a fire hose and shoved her backward into a shower cubicle.
She struggled gasping and her companions took a few steps towards her, but then the other toilets exploded too.
Six rays of water hit them. The showers were all running together and sprayed all the water rays on the girls straight out of the toilet and got them to swirl as if they were garbage washed away.
Just like the last time.
As soon as they had gone out the door, Percy felt how it ended up snatching the pit of the stomach and the water was turned off as suddenly as it had begun to spray.
The whole bathroom was soaked.
Annabeth and Grover stood in exactly the same place as before and stared shocked at Percy. At least he had been able to prevent them from getting wet as he had failed the last time. Or only Annabeth then. Grover was not even here the last time.
Percy looked down and saw that he was sitting on the only dry spot in the whole room apart except from where Annabeth and Grover was. He was surrounded by a circle of dry floor.
"I warned her twice," Percy mumbled and walked to the satyr and the daughter of Athena.
"P-P-Percy," Grover stammered, shocked. "H-how did you do that?"
"I did nothing, it must have been bad wiring," Percy lied quickly. "Lucky for me anyway."
Grover looked as he bought it, but Annabeth looked suspicious. Obviously, he had really expected something else?
"It should not have happened so suddenly," she said. "It is not logical, it is completely-", she seemed to struggle with what she'd put her words in the best way, "illogical", she concluded tame.
"I don't know," Percy said with a shrug. "You get to talk to one of Hephaestus kids about it."
They went to the door. Out there was Clarisse and her friends straight in the mud and a stack of other camp members were gathered and stood and gaped.
Clarisse's hair was smeared over her face. Her camouflage jacket was wet and she smelled sewer.
Percy thought she would try to jump up and take a stranglehold on him but instead she looked almost, was that impressed?
"I do not understand how you did that, but that was awesome, and utterly disgusting at the same time," she said reluctantly.
Percy could only stare wordlessly at her. Since when has Clarisse ever given him some kind of respect?
"Really?" he asked.
She nodded. "But that does not mean I will not completely destroy you later, punk. But it would not surprise me if you were a son of Ares. And you have to get yourself some muscle then, your chicken."
Clarisse walked to the cabin five with her friends after her and the spectators went out of her way.
"What are you staring at?" the daughter of Ares roared to the camp members. "Out of my way idiots! I will make puree of you if you don't move on!"
Annabeth sighed. "I do not know how you did it when you got her to say that to you, but it seems as if the spell is broken."
"Hm," Percy mumbled absent. Could things already have changed so much? Okay, he had consciously altered his arrival quite a lot but he had never been able to imagine what the consequences would have been. He thought he could now understand that Clarisse had not accepted him as a friend or alliance and so on, she stated that she had seen him for who he is (not see, see but see, that had only been crazy if Clarisse had known that he was a time traveler), nothing more, nothing less.
Percy smiled faintly. It looked as if the future would not be uneventful.
AN: And we have one more chapter done.
So sorry for the long, long waiting, you are the best for your patience, guys 3 and I'm also sorry that the story goes side by side with the original canon so specific right now. But it is necessary, until the history has started for real.
And why Percy has not panic over being sent back, well, I can't see that Percy would have panic and drop his head and screaming and all that. Right now he focuses on meeting his old friends, and the rest comes later.
But, however, have a nice day
-Aveline