AN: So, I'm a little sad that nobody has been reviewing. Except you chocolatethunder, you're amazing! But, I'm also pretty happy that my first story has so many views. Its OVER 500! So, thanks, and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
LINE BREAK
FRANK
We were all back at the meeting house (AN: I don't know where they hold their meetings, sorry) waiting for Jason to tell us what we needed to know. I was surprised to see A.J walking around. Even so, I felt a small feeling of gratitude. I had heard about what happened from Hazel and Nico. I shuddered remembering the evil glint in Nico's eyes when he told me. He seemed back to normal now, though, as he sat next to Reyna. When Jason saw that we were all here, he spoke.
"I consulted the auguries In order to find out what we need to do next." He said. He had told Hazel, Reyna, Nico, and I about their quest. I looked over at the girl, Pan she said her name was. I remembered how Hazel said that he insisted she come along for the meeting, though I saw no reason why. I still don't, but hey, it wasn't my place to argue.
"So, what's next?" A.J asked, interrupting my thoughts. I don't quite know what to think of him. Sure I was grateful that he helped out Hazel, but there was something off about him. Something I couldn't place. Almost like...
"We need to go to Greece." Jason said, snapping me back out of my thoughts. Gods, I need to stop doing that.
"Where in Greece?" Percy asked. Jason shook his head.
"I don't know. The auguries could only point out a trip to Greece." He said. Percy sighed.
"Of course." He said. "Gods forbid anything was actually easy for a change."
"It might be easier than you think." A.J said. Percy looked over at him.
"What do you mean?" He asked. A.J smiled.
"Well, you know how Rachel has the spirit of Delphi inside her?" Percy nodded. "See, Delphi is a real place. In Greece. It might be a good idea to go there." Then he looked around at everybody, particularly Annabeth. "Unless anybody has any other ideas?" Nobody spoke up.
"Alright." Jason said finally. "To Delphi it is then."
"Have you all forgot something?" Pan asked quietly. "How do you plan to get to Greece?" Percy smiled.
"I have an idea." He said.
LINE BREAK
A few minutes later, everyone was in a line. Hazel, Nico, Pan, Reyna, and I were seeing them off. Suddenly, A.J called out to us.
"What are you three doing?" He asked. "You're coming with us." Every last one of us looked at him in confusion.
"Who are you talking about?" Reyna asked. A.J smiled.
"Why, Frank, Hazel and Pan of course." He said. I was shocked.
"What do you mean?" I asked. A.J kept smiling.
"Well, you and Hazel need to come along because we can stand a better chance with more loved ones. That, and everyone seems to trust you guys. Pan needs to come along because we need somebody with medical skill."
"Hey!" Calypso cried. "I have medical skill!"
"I know." A.J replied. "But for a group as large as this, we need somebody else as well."
"And how do you know that Frank and I are in love?" Hazel asked. A.J smirked.
"It's an obvious thing to see." He said. "Especially since Frank expressed an excess amount of gratitude towards your safety. Taking that into account, he's either a close family member or your boyfriend. And I know its not the first choice."
"How so?" I asked. A.J's face almost split in two.
"Being of my parentage gives me special skills. Now then, come along." Suddenly, a chain wrapped around the three of us, and we were pulled to the group. I turned to find Nico and Reyna waving, with smiles on their faces.
"Don't worry Frank." Nico said. "I'll help out Reyna in your place." With a sigh, I turned and followed the others as we walked out of Camp Jupiter.
LINE BREAK
A.J
As we made our way towards our destination, I recalled Percy's genius idea that led us on this path.
FLASHBACK
"I have an idea." Percy said. Annabeth looked at him curiously.
"What kind of idea?" She asked. Percy smiled.
"The amazons." Percy said. "We can pay the amazons a visit. They can ship us to Greece." I choked.
"Ship us?" I asked. "Alright. I'll buy that. But ship us from where?" Percy smiled again.
"From Amazon, where else." He said.
"Percy, you know that's in Seattle, right?" Annabeth asked. Percy nodded.
"Of course I know. Hazel, Frank, and I went there on our first quest together. Back when I was... you know." He finished lamely. Annabeth, who was right next to him, leaned against him. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her head.
"PDA!" I shouted. It was so sudden that the two split apart. They looked at me with exasperated looks wile I cackled.
FLASHBACK END
I caught sight of Pan just a ways ahead of me. I sped up so that I was right beside her. She looked at me as I came, then focused back on the track in front of her.
"What's up?" She asked.
"I just wanted to apologize for dragging you into this." I said. "I didn't really give you much of a choice. Sorry." She shook her head.
"Nah, it's fine." She said. "I might seem shy, but I really am not. Maybe a little introverted, but not entirely. I came because I wanted to." I sighed.
"Well, that's good." Then, there was a shout. Pan and I hurried up to find Percy, Jason, Leo, Piper, Calypso, and Annabeth fighting with a horde of humanoid creatures.
"Colossus!' Annabeth yelled. Immediately, my sword was in my hand. Frank and Hazel had just joined us and had only fought for a few moments before we were all done. Then, I looked up, and saw a city just down the hill we were on.
"San Francisco." Annabeth said beside me. "We should go around. Far, far around."
"Yeah, after all, we got Atlas on one mountain" Leo said as he looked at Calypso "and that place where we fought Enceladus, Mount Diablo." When I hear Leo say that, a memory began to play through my mind. I remembered those words I heard he day I fought with Jason: "When the time comes to lay claim to your family, I will await you on the devil's mountain."
"You guys need to go on ahead." I said. "I have some business to take care of on Mount Diablo." Percy was immediately at my side.
"What? You cant go there." He said. "It's too dangerous."
"I'm flattered. Truly." I said with immense sarcasm. "The great Percy Jackson is worried about my safety." Then I smiled. "I'll be fine. You guys however, you need to go see the amazons. Please, I need to do this." He looked at me for a second, then relented.
"Fine, but you had better make sure you come back." He said. I smirked.
"I've not met a monster yet what can kill me good sir." I said as I headed off. "Take care of everyone Percy."
LINE BREAK
I finally reached the top of Mount Diablo, only to find a bonfire going. There was nobody around, save for a little girl sitting in the flames. I recognized her instantly.
"Mother." I said. The girl in the fire smiled warmly. (AN: see what I did there :)
"Hello A.J" she said. "I knew you would come."
"Of course I came. What kind of son would I be otherwise?" I asked. "I've waited so long to meet you. I have questions that only you can answer."
"Then please sit at my hearth and ask them." She said with a gesture to the ground. I sat next to the flames, and was bathed in pleasant heat. "What do you wish to know?" Hestia asked me.
"Why did you never claim me?" I asked her aloud. "Why did I go through my entire life not knowing who my parents were?" I looked at her to see her smiling sadly.
"The truth is I never knew you existed. I'm sorry to say that, but that is how it goes." She said.
"Because I'm an accident, right?" She reached out and gently held my shoulder.
"Of course not." She said. "You were always meant to be, yet I had no idea when you would appear. I've waited so long for you A.J. You will finally bring this family of ours together." She turned me to face her. "If you would like to fill that role, then you must grow into your powers. If you wish it, then please step into the flames." She looked at my hesitation. "I understand if you refuse. I have neglected you all your life, and I have no right to ask of your help. I'm sorry." I smiled.
"I understand. You have no need to apologize, Mother. I'll do what it takes." I stood up and walked into the flames.
LINE BREAK
PAN
I was walking along when suddenly Piper was at my side.
"Hiya." She said. I looked at her, to see her beaming. "I've been meaning to talk to you ever since we left."
"About what?" I asked.
"I think A.J likes you." She said. I scoffed.
"Why do you think that?" I asked. She kept smiling that ridiculous smile.
"It's one of my skills." She said.
"Daughter of Aphrodite, matchmaker extraordinaire." Leo called from ahead.
"Shut it Leo!" Piper yelled. I distinctly heard laughter coming from up ahead. Then, Piper focused her attention on me.
"So, I'm going to help you get him to ask you out." I tripped and fell.
"What?" I asked incredulously. "Are you serious right now? We're in the middle of a quest, and you want to update my social status?" I heard a laugh.
"That's just the kind of person she is." Jason said as he walked up and kissed Piper.
"PDA!" Leo shouted without looking.
"Shut it Leo!" Both Jason and Piper yelled simultaneously.
LINE BREAK
A.J
When I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by darkness. Hestia was standing just in front of me, the only tangible thing in this world. She held her hand out and placed it on my face, so that her fingers covered my eyes. Suddenly, vivid flashes and images sprang before me. I saw Percy and Annabeth traveling with Pan towards a dark castle. I saw Jason and Frank carrying Leo to a mountain. I saw Calypso helping Hazel walk to another mountain. I saw Piper with Nico and Reyna, looking intently at a knife. I didn't see myself. Then, just as quickly as they began, the images ended. Hestia removed her hand from my face. She smiled.
"Your powers have been unlocked. Use them well." She said. I wanted to say that I didn't know how to use my powers, when the knowledge suddenly sprang into my head. I knew precisely how to use the powers Hestia just gave me. She waved her hand, and a vision of the others fighting a group of girls appeared.
"Those are the amazons." I said in shock. "But they couldn't have made it to Seattle yet." Hestia shook her head.
"You have been out of sync with your world. A week has passed since you entered my flames." She saw my shocked expression, I can tell because she smiled. "There is still time to help them. You know what you must do." And I did. So, without any hesitation, I formed a chain connecting me with one of the others. I focused on that tie until I couldn't feel myself anymore. Suddenly, I was zooming along a very narrow ruby track. Then, everything went dark.
LINE BREAK
PERCY
Okay, so we had walked into Amazon, just like last time. This time, however, Hazel, Frank, and I were all recognized immediately. We were then escorted along with the others to the throne room we visited last time. We were greeted by queen Hylla, who expressed how happy she was to see us again. She then asked what brought us here. We told her what we wanted them to do. When we were done, she made a deal with us. Apparently, because of some laws of theirs, or something like that, we had to fight the amazons. All of us vs most of them. If we won, then they would do as we asked. So far, we were doing a pretty bad job. Almost right away, Pan was knocked out. We formed ourselves into a circle around her, each of us fending off way to many amazons to count. We were all tired, and it looked like we wouldn't last much longer. Then, there was a shout of anger. Suddenly, A.J appeared out of nowhere and double drop kicked the two amazons in front of me. Then, he was spinning around the room like a demented hurricane, demolishing anybody he could get his hands on. He kneed an amazon in the gut while using his foot to kick another in the knees. He elbowed another in the ribs, while punching a third in the face. Eventually, each of his limbs was inflicting harm at the same moment. Soon, he was done. He stood in the middle of a massive pile of unconscious bodies, panting slightly. He looked at us.
"Hey guys. How's it going?" He asked with a smile.
LINE BREAK
AN: Hey, this is the longest chapter I've written in awhile. Oh, and since it's taking so long for me to write the chapters, I've decided to update whenever I finish them. That's it. R&R Please. Thanks.