Okay. Hi. Hello. Bonjour. All that.
mariahi (guest): Don't throw away the paper anytime soon. And if you never write, you'll never get good, so go ahead and try it.
Mythology Girl (guest): I love mythology too, so much. I'm just really afraid that if I use Greek/Roman/Egyptian-and now Norse, too-mythology, then people will think I'm just trying to copy Rick and dismiss me out of hand. And I like the fallen angel thing too, I'm just not very good at writing it.
Annie (guest): I used to spell dying like that too, thinking that between die and dye, it would be dieing and dying. But it's actually dying and dyeing. So 'dieing' is wrong, and 'dying' is the right way. Took me the longest time to figure that out.
Annabeth Jackson (guest): I'm glad you liked Chiron's POV; I was a little worried about it. And that's a really good story idea-I probably won't be writing it, at least not any time soon, but it's something I'd read if it was written, so you should give it a try.
bubbles-and-books: I really like your username. Also, thanks for reading the fanfic, and reviewing pretty much every chapter. Or is it every chapter? Whichever. Thanks.
Guest (guest): Okay, is it bad I'm really clueless as to what 'smut' means? I mean, I might now, and my brain is just being stupid right at this particular moment, but...I have no idea what it means. Care to enlighten me?
PrimordialOfBlueFood: I love vampire books. They're really great, and extremely popular...but they're so overdone. I feel like I won't be able to come up with an orginal enough idea to get noticed. :( And I'm afraid that if I do the Roman/Greek hero series of my own like I really want, people (publishers in particular) will just think I'm copying Rick and won't take me seriously. I said the same thing above, in another response...I dunno, maybe they wouldn't, but since Rick's books are really one of a kind, it just might give people the wrong idea if I write about demigods too. But I really want too... :'(
Jo (guest): I promise my first few books won't go "all TFIOS on you," 'kay? But I'll probably right one or two of the mushy-gushy/tearjerker books, because I'm really good at writing romance and heartbreak. Wonder what that says for my future...
Maia Jackson (guest): I really like that idea. The foster-care thing. I think I'll use it...now I just have to figure out what supernatural element I want. Because I want it to have a supernatural element; I'm not very good at writing regular books. And the second idea is really great too. I'll remember it; I promise. Oh, and the Percy thing-see, that's what I'm so torn over. I haven't quite decided who I'm going to kill yet (not saying for sure I'm killing anybody), especially because the fic will be so much more powerful (I mean, sad, too, but hey) if Percy dies. And come on, everyone knows happy ever afters are totally unrealistic. But I love Percy-I DON'T WANT ANY OF MY BAES TO DIE! *bursts into hysterical tears/laughter that makes everyone think I'm less sane than I let on* My emotions are very confusing right now. About this. And everything. So. Yeah.
Carrot Seven: See, me too. 'Awesome' used to be such an awesome word and now I use it so much and nothing seems to convey just how awesomely full of awesomeness I think awesome things are. There just aren't enough ways to say it.
DaughterofAthena (guest): You are an inherantly good person and you are totally going to end world hunger/gain world peace/revolutionize third world countries someday because you're just that awesomely nice and good so remember me when you're famous and in the news and magazines in pictures with orphans that you helped and people who's lives you saved and how you cured cancer or whatever. You're totally made of awesome sauce and don't let anyone convince you otherwise.
WiseGirl0801 (guest): Yes, I noticed this. Poor Zoe and Bianca...and I just think that this is a metaphor/reflection of normal life, because it's like: the strongest, least likely people to die were killed. They were both supposedly immortal, as well, and my feelings on this subject are so rushed and tangly and all that, that it's very difficult to explain.
marla (guest): Thank you for confessing and apologizing. You are forgiven, on the condition that you never, ever do it again.
Mecha Unicorn (guest): OMG..."WHY IN THE NAME OF KRONOS' SPOTTY UNICORN PATTERNED UNDERPANTS WOULD YOU DO THAT?!"...OMG...I laughed so hard...I'm going to use that now. You just...have no idea...I was crying...
Awesomeness (guest): Awwwww, thank you! You guys! Just...you're all so encouraging. It makes me feel rainbowy inside again, seeing how much everyone believes in me.
MaximumRider99: Nah, I haven't read it. Is it a book, or a fanfic, or something...? If I can get to it, I'll read it. It sounds good.
ilovemesometacos: Sounds really good. If you get it published, tell me and I'll read it, 'kay? And I'll have to try that book; it sounds like a good one. Also: my sister paints our dogs' toenails sparkly hot pink. YOU CANNOT OUTWEIRD ME.
reynarara16: You know, I don't think Reyna would like your username, for some weird reason. Maybe just the way she reacted when Grover laughed at her initials being RA-RA and all...But I like your username. Also your reviews; they're very nice. Also, I very much like your idea. It just might end up happening...AND THANKS FOR THE DAUNTLESS CAKE! I ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH!
NinjaOfAwesome (guest): I like the new ending; it's a good one.
Sophhascoconuts (guest): Hey, I can take inspiration from Frozen. Also, have you not seen the memes everywhere about how Reyna is Elsa and Elsa is Reyna and anyone who argues is wrong? They are remarkably similar, you have to give them that. Also, the whole letting-down-the-braid thing wasn't actually inspired by Elsa (and Elsa didn't pull the braid completely out, she just unpinned it so that it fell down her back) it was just something I felt she'd do, because your hair pulls at your scalp painfully if it's in for a while. Another thing: I am not a sir. Which you know, since you called me girlfriend in the next line...So why call me sir...I'm just confused now...okay...goodbye...
WeirdButAWESOME16: Yes, I agree. School is definitely very bleh. Icky ugh bleh. And the story ideas are totally cool-eo.
Okay, end of review responses, cuz I got eight pages in and they ain't ending anytime soon. Sorry to those I didn't get to; YOU'RE ALL AWESOMENESS AND SPRINKLES!
Now, on to business: I'm starting a new job soon-Thursday I go in for training-which means my after school time is about to get even more severely limited. I have spell bowl, Destination Imagination, homework, and now a new job on top of a bunch of home stuff/homework/chores. Plus I may or may not be getting a second job on top of the first in a week or two. Life is about to become a juggling act, and I've never been very good at juggling. Just, don't expect too much of me, okay? I'll do my best to update at least every week, but it might go a few days longer.
Now: try to derandomize the reviews a little. I mean, I know I said you could post random stuff, but try to keep them being reviews. I want feedback-try not to just tell me you liked the chapter anymore. Tell me what parts were your favorite, what parts were more meh and could use some jazzing up, if there were parts you didn't really like as much, etcetera. Your reviews can still have the same random bits from your lives and stuff, plus questions and the chat thing you've got going on, but they'll just end up longer with more feedback for me. I like CONSTRUCTIVE criticism, so no hatin' just to be hatin', but tell me what parts of my writing I need to work on. Okay?
Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter CII
Jason
When Jason wakes up, it's because Piper nearly pokes his eye out with her foot. As it is, she gets him good in the nose, and he groans, clutching his face, before trying to roll over to get out of reach of her feet.
Which, of course, is stupid, since he's on a coach.
He falls off and onto the floor-or he would've, if Percy and Annabeth hadn't been laying there, breaking his fall. Although neither of them make very good cushions, since as soon as he lands on them they both jolt awake and start trying to push him off, jabbing him with their elbows and kicking their legs, not liking the fact that he's pinning them to the carpet. And, to his credit, he really does try to get off of them, it's just hard when you're tangled in a blanket and you just woke up.
Percy's the one who finally remedies the situation by sitting up and shoving Jason off, grabbing him by the shoulders and pushing him to the side, where he lands hard on his side.
On top of Leo, this time.
"Geroffme." Leo mumbles, through a mouthful of Jason's shirt, and Jason scrambles backwards, accidentally placing his hand on Hazel's-her stomach, apparently, since she squeaks and immediately balls forward to try and lessen the pain.
"Sorry, sorry." Jason repeats, over and over again.
"Just find an empty spot on the floor and stay there, Superman." Percy tells him, his voice rough. "It isn't rocket science. You're waking everybody up."
Jason finally manages to find a place where he's not sitting on someone's fingers or squashing their toes, and lays back, cushioning his head on his hands and sighing.
Percy echoes his sigh, and then everyone falls silent. Piper's snores, along with Frank's, are the only sounds in the room. Then Percy shifts sideways, rustling fabric, and shoves his arm under his back, obviously trying to smooth out a bunched blanket or something similar.
He finally gives up and stands, stumbling to turn to face the couch, and shoves Piper's feet over. "Move over." He tells her loudly, before collapsing face first onto the couch with her.
Jason smiles and rests his head back again, closing his eyes.
Sleeping on the job. A voice echoes loudly through the room. Naughty, naughty.
Percy and Piper both jump in surprise, falling off the couch just like Jason did, landing on Annabeth, who yelps loudly and then starts cursing at them both, calling them very uncomplimentary things in Greek.
A woman matieralizes in one of the loveseats, right next to the couch, paring her nails with a wicked-sharp knife. She's wearing camo cargo pants, combat boots, and a black tank top, and would look perfectly normal if it weren't for the feathery black wings folded behind her shoulders.
"Eris." Jason states, and the woman glances up briefly, before looking back to the knife in her hand and crossing her legs casually at the ankles.
"You know, what is it with boys and shirts?" She complains loudly. "You never seem to be able to wear one for long."
"I don't know, Eris." Annabeth replies, her voice strained from the two bodies laying on top of her, muffling her voice. "It's something I've thought about plenty of times. But you have to admit they look pretty good without them."
"I don't have to admit anything." Eris answers, flicking a nail clipping away, her lips turning down in a frown. Then she glances between Percy and Jason, giving them both appraising sort of looks, and smiles. "But that doesn't make it any less true."
She glances around at the others briefly, and raises an eyebrow at Leo's attire. "Why is that one," she points her knife at Leo, "wearing a dress?"
"Amazing what charmspeak can get people to do, isn't it?" Piper mutters sleepily.
Eris laughs, her lips pulling back over dazzling white teeth, her pointed canines looking dangerously sharp, like a vampire's. "Oh, I like this one." She leans forward, still smiling, and flicks the tip of her knife towards Piper. "You're the Mclean girl, aren't you?"
"Well, at least you didn't call me the Aphrodite girl." Piper mumbles. "That would've been about a hundred times worse."
"Not very fond of your mother, then, are you?" Eris asks cheerfully. "Don't worry, I'm not either."
Hazel props herself up on an elbow, pulling herself halfway out of the sleeping bag she's sharing with Frank, and squints at the figure of the goddess. "Can someone please tell me why we're having this conversation with a goddess who'd like nothing better than to kill us?"
"Kill you? No." Eris waves her hand dismissively, and then bares her teeth in a rabid grin. "Although games really are much more fun when someone gets hurt."
"Isn't there a saying that says, 'It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt?" Frank questions confusedly.
"Oh, I despise that saying." Eris snarls, brandishing her knife. "It's so boring."
"Doesn't make it untrue." Frank argues stubbornly.
"And yet you laugh whenever someone trips or runs into a wall." Eris banters, waving her knife dangerously.
"Well, when someone injures themself, then it's a little more amusing." Percy interjects, straightening his arms and shoving himself up, standing a little unsteadily. When he regains his balance, he grins and offers a hand to Eris. "Nice to meet you. I'm Percy Jackson."
Eris lets her gaze travel admiringly up his torso, smiling suggestively. "Yes you are." She replies, and takes his hand, shaking firmly. After a few seconds, it becomes clear that she doesn't seem particularly inclined to let go, and Percy clears his throat uncomfortably.
"Um, Annabeth?" He says, and she pushes herself up onto her elbows, blowing hair out of her face and peering up at Eris groggily.
"Eris, would you please stop ogling my boyfriend? And let the poor Seaweed Brain go, he doesn't know what he's doing half the time." She says, and Eris laughs before finally releasing Percy's hand.
"It's all in jest, dear Annabeth." Eris reassures her. "After all, your boyfriend is extremely good-looking."
"A fact I'm well aware of." Annabeth replies, letting herself admire him for a bit. Eris does the same, leaning forward and propping her chin on her hand, and they both just stare at Percy for a bit.
It's more than a little weird.
"Can you two please stop looking at Percy like that?" Jason pleads. "It's disturbing."
"Oh, you're just jealous, Grace." Percy grins, before striking a ridiculously provocative pose. "You know you can never be this attractive."
Eris laughs, and Annabeth grins too. "I think you're enjoying this too much, Seaweed Brain."
"Hey, I can't help it if I'm hopelessly handsome." He tells her. "You're just lucky to have someone as pretty as me."
Annabeth growls and reaches forward, yanking his foot out from under him. He lands with a thump, the hard impact driving the air from his lungs, but as soon as he regains his breath, he starts laughing. She shuts him up with a kiss.
At that moment, Leo gives a particularly loud snore, and they all bust out laughing again, even Eris, although her laugh is more of a witch's cackle. Piper throws a pillow at Leo's head, hitting him right in the face, and a second later he lifts his head, blinking at everyone with bleary eyes.
"Whazgoinon?" He asks, and Piper chucks another pillow at him.
"How you didn't wake up five minutes ago is beyond me." She says, picking up another pillow and pulling her arm back.
"Whoa, whoa, Beauty Queen, stop it with the pillows already! I'm awake, I'm awake!" Leo protests, holding up his hands in surrender, and she lowers her arm with a growl.
"I'd be careful with the nicknames, Valdez, or I just might decide to extend your time in that dress." She threatens, and he rolls his eyes, smirking at her. Then his eyes widen, and he looks down at himself before jumping up in excitement.
"It's morning, I can take finally take off this stupid dress!" He crows, then starts singing the words, chanting them repeatedly as he dances in a circle. "I can take it off, no more pink, I can take it off, no more frilly dress, I can take it o-"
This time it's Jason who throws the pillow, knocking him back onto his butt.
"Stop talking about taking things off." He chides, and then turns when he hears a choking noise, only to find Piper trying to muffle her violent laughter. Her eyes are shining with restrained mirth over her hands, and Jason grins at her, which just sets her off even worse.
"Oh, this week is going to be such a fun one." Eris says, baring her teeth, and they all fall instantly silent.
"What do you mean, this week?" Piper asks, voicing the question they're all thinking. (actually I was thinking about whether I could have waffles for breakfast, but whatever floats your boat, sweetheart. Shut up Leo or I'm going to kill you. This isn't your chapter.)
"The gods decided to make things easier for you. You have eight days left until the Feast of Spes. That's eight more days of monster attacks that could be potentially fatal or result in your permanent injury. They'd rather that didn't happen before August First, since they want you all to be in top shape, so they've decided to accelerate the days while you have your test. It'll seem like it lasts only for a day or two, but when you finish, it'll be the night before the first of August." Eris explains, her voice toneless, face carefully blank.
"Can we have waffles for breakfast?" Leo pipes up, in a dreamy voice that makes it clear he hasn't been paying much attention. (Dam you, Valdez.)
"LEO!" Six voices scold simultaneously, and he rocks back on his hands, his brow furrowing into a hurt expression.
"Geez, fine, we can have pancakes if you want." He mumbles, and they all groan aggravatedly, throwing their hands up in the air.
"What?" He asks, confused, and Piper makes a strangled sound somewhere between a growl and a laugh.
Annabeth places a restraining hand on Piper's shoulder and turns back to Eris. "Why are they doing that? It gives us less time to prepare."
"They believe the test will do all that just fine." Eris tells her neutrally, and then smiles. "In that, at least, they're right."
"What do you mean?" Jason asks, and she turns her black eyes to him. Eyes that remind him eerily of Reyna's...
"After this test, should you pass, you'll no longer need to make any other sort of preparation. It's designed to test the strength of your team, yes, but also to hone your skills and keep you on your toes. When I'm through with you, the seven of you with be the most formidable warrior demigods since the Trojan War."
"You can do that in a day?" Percy asks doubtfully, and she turns a humorless smile on him.
"Not that you much need it, Jackson." She tells him. "But yes. I can do that in a day. I am, after all, a goddess."
"But you're the goddess of strife." Piper points out. "Shouldn't you be trying to break us apart, not help us?"
"I will be trying to break you apart. What part of 'testing the strength of your team' didn't you undersand?" She returns. "I am the goddess of strife, yes, but I am also the sister-goddess of Ares." Her unfathomable black eyes wander over them, lingering on Frank. "My name is war."
"Nice to know." Leo comments nervously, his voice strained.
"You sound a lot like Bellona." Jason points out, studying her, puzzling over her motives.
"Oh, yes, your Roman goddess of war." She smiles, twirling her knife through her fingers. "In many ways, I am her. In another world, I would be her Greek equivalent." She tilts her head, each word clipped and precise. "But she is the goddess of war to protect the homeland. Taking offense for defense." She taps the tip of her knife, drawing a bead of blood to the fingertip of her index finger. "I, on the other hand, am war for the sake of war."
At that, she stands and sheathes her knife, unfolding her wings so they stretch across the room. Angel's wings, were it not for the inky black color of the feathers.
A fallen angel, then.
"In exactly one hour, you will be taken to the place I have chosen for your test." She sweeps her gaze across the room. "Eat, drink-you never know when you'll get the next chance to. Get dressed as well, arm yourselves with any and all weapons you choose." She taps the hilt of her own sword, belted at her waist, along with several knives and a javelin. "No armor. The extra weight will only slow down, and trust me when I say you won't want that."
The corners of her mouth pull into a faint smile, and she glances between Percy and Jason. "Also, as much as I appreciate the view, you might want to put on shirts."
The world seems to warp where she stands, her image twisting, and then she's gone, leaving nothing except for the metallic smell of blood and metal.
I like Eris. She and I have a mutual liking for hot shirtless boys.
The next chapter will come within the next few days, but the one after that might not come for another week after that, maybe a few days more, because it's gonna be one of the super long ten to fifteen pages chapters, getting through half of the Eris trials (half because I gots to get back to Reyna and Nico before the trials end). After the epic long chapter, we have a Calypso chappie, and then Reyna and Nico chappies, and then we get back to the Seven for another epic long chapter that hopefully wraps up the Eris trials in an extraordinarily spectacular way.
One last item of business now: I need more ideas for the trials. Are there any specific challenges you guys would like the Seven to face? Try to think of difficult, nearly impossible trials that you'd like them to face, and I'll see what I can do. But I really, really need more juice for my idea blender, so GIMME SOME JUICE, please!
I love you, HELP ME GET MORE FOLLOWS AND FAVORITES PLEASE BECAUSE WE'VE APPARENTLY HIT THE MOST REVIEWS ON FANFICTION AND NOW WE SHOULD GO FOR THE MOST FOLLOWS/FAVORITES BECAUSE GOALS ARE AWESOME AND THE MORE WE HAVE THE MERRIER, don't forget the poor lost soul of Percy's panda pillow pet (tragically murdered by Octavian, the foul little git), and THROW SOME GLITTER IN THE AIR FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON EXCEPT CUZ YOU CAN, BECAUSE YOU CAN!