I Don't Own Percy Jackson

[Quest: The Fates and You: has started!
You knew this was coming, I knew this was coming, we all honestly knew this was coming, and yet I am still surprised you are stupid enough and stubborn enough that the Fates themselves have had to write you into the plot just to limit the fall out, and to force a conversation with you about it. Good luck in not being erased from existence by convincing them you shouldn't be destroyed.

Rewards:
?
?
?
Not dying

Failure:
Non-Existence]

[Notice: Perk [Lupa's Blessing] has been activated until the end of this quest: +10 to all stats]

[Notice: Perk [Son of Nike] has been activated until the end of this quest]

[Notice: Status Effect [Victory's Blessing: Skill] has been activated until the end of this quest]

Those were the things I got once my stuff was decided, it was cool, I don't think my Mom's stuff should have triggered, but I think she's actively looking out for me now. It makes me feel nice to think that's what it is at the very least, so that's what I'm choosing to believe.

The meeting broke after that, the only last thing I mentioned was, on the way out a small warning to Zoe about the shirt Travis and Conner was planning on giving her, and before long I was off, doing my own thing... Or at least I normally would be doing my own thing, Percy and Silena followed me out, Percy was tired, I could tell, but was way more determined than I figured he would be in questioning me on just about everything.

And I do mean everything.

If I knew were Annabeth was already, if she was safe, what I was going to do that would anger the Fates, what we were doing and where we were going, how I knew about everything, along with about a dozen other things, I think Silena wanted to ask similar questions, but she just didn't have the time to manage it before Percy did it for her.

I explained most of it, but I explained up to a point, saying I had an idea about where Annabeth was, and no I couldn't just teleport and get her, the situation was more complicated than that, that she was in danger, obviously, but she'd live, that what I would be doing was something I had been requested to do and therefore knew would go horribly wrong for me, we were basically following the exact path that the other group would be, for one of the main reasons I mentioned why I was in hot water in the first place.

It took a while, and I was suitably vague when it came to knowing about all this, I just said I was awesome, or how did he know anything that was happening that he wasn't involved with, blah blah blah, not lying but not saying the truth either, as well as implying I picked up a lot of stuff on my travels, which, well, that's hardly a lie.

We talked for a bit more, mostly about things we'd need to take and prepare, other boring stuff, it was awkward and tense, and Silena wouldn't look me in the eyes and constantly forced whatever she wanted to say down whenever the two of us almost got close to the rhythm we were in months ago, when we got along without issue.

I didn't act like things were anything they weren't, I made jokes with people I hate, I made jokes with people I like, I don't act different unless I had to for one of my goals, I refuse for my personality to bend to those around me. So I continued to joke, saying things we needed, making fun of the things we didn't, talked about whatever I felt like, and in the end, I just moved on with my day.

Silena did her best to not laugh, or smile, to not react to me being me. That stung, I honestly have no idea just why she volunteered if she was just going to act weird and stilted, I didn't want her to or for her to be here, I knew she didn't want to be here either, I just... couldn't see a reason, at least a logical one as to why she was, and once those are out of the window I'm usually flying blind when it comes to other people.

Maybe she took my word about her needing to be the one to work for forgiveness literally? I'd rather she not throw herself in danger though if that's the case...

Anyways, we talked, got ready, and then we went to sleep, well... The other two did, I spent some time with Nico, catching him after he had a long talk with Bianca. He wasn't as upset this time, but it was clear he was sad, really sad, and I think I gave the kid a very good method of talking about his stuff by being around. I was the only one he knew here outside of his sister, so I think I was also the only option or person he would actually open up with.

He was energetic, but he wasn't exactly an extrovert from what I've seen how he interacted with the other campers.

Anyways, I made him the promise about protecting his sister, he perked up at that, I even gave a pinky promise, it was very official. It actually was, Oath Maker kind of was made for something like that, and Nico wanted a reassurance, and if it made him feel better and I got to show off another power, one I didn't get to use often enough, then I was fine with that.

After that, I sent him off to the Hermes cabin for a good nights sleep. I didn't go to sleep though, instead I headed off to the side of the waters by the lake, before sitting down at it.

It was late at night, as I hummed and sat on the side of the lake, thinking things through.

Right now, at this very moment, the Ophiotaurus was being caught up in the ocean by something as mundane as a fishers net, if I knew where it was, I could find it, and then I could kill it. Simple, clean, easy. Offering the thing's insides through a fire would then become the sacrifice for greater power, and then I would be granted a power so strong I could raze Olympus itself.

It really was to bad I couldn't just murder it without every god alive trying to instantly murder me for the idea of an uprising... Would be pretty funny though, but as it stands, I have no way of finding it, unless I wanted to see if I could pull off a ritual to locate the thing, but that wouldn't be worth it.

I had no idea just what the burning of the dead body would do, for all I know it's just a big red doomsday button that instantly mercs every god alive currently, or it could do something completely different and grant the person insane power. All I really know is in the books Atlas wanted Thalia to do it, and that doesn't exactly tell me anything, just he didn't think it was worth doing it himself from what I remember... Which means a lot of things, the main point is, it might be risky for even a titan to try it...

Or maybe it was just an irony thing to have the daughter of Zeus be the one to do it, honestly speaking I don't remember this book all that well. I know the plot points enough to use them for my favor, but the conversations and actual interactions on a real level wasn't really all there. I knew things were going to happen, I just didn't know the exact dialogue that was going to be used. It was like that with the first two books as well, those two times I just also had the fact I wasn't involved in them to be able to not have to worry about it.

Now was different, I was putting myself directly into the action, and this wasn't just chatting with gods and seeing if I can get something out of them. I'm going to be making my case to one of the governing forces of existence itself for a decision they already know I'm going to make, and as it stands, I have no idea just what I'll be doing exactly since I've already changed the narrative, but we'll see how it goes.

"Alright, well they just took off like they have somewhere to be... Where are we going?" I just hummed at Percy's concerned question, his foot bouncing up and down violently on the ground as I watched as the van holding the other party sped off. Zoe was a very aggressive driver, I could respect that.

"DC, it's where they are heading, and they'll be needing some help"

"Why are we just following them anyways?" That was Silena's question, I think Percy was to happy to be going at all to even think about that one. Still, it wouldn't hurt now to tell them as I looked around, before spotting what I wanted. Another van we could use, the camp had a few of them to move the strawberries around in, as I opened the driver door and waves for the two to come in with me, before saying.

"Because I made a promise to Hades to protect Bianca, and since she is currently Fated to die within the next few days... Well, we're on protection detail without her and the others knowing. That's what I'm going to do that's going to piss Fate, I'm saving someone who's string has already been cut" Both paled a bit at the idea, but surprisingly both still pulled themselves into the car as Silena asked.

"W-why does Hades want to protect her?" Percy was the one to figure it out before I could open my mouth, his eyes widening as he looked at me.

"You said you knew who their dad was, that's why you went with us, you came back to camp to protect them because Hades is their dad" I just shrugged, before finally nodding.

"Yeah, we worked out something of a deal, though technically speaking the ends of it haven't fully been sorted, I figure it would be best to hold up my side of it and make sure I'm not dead by the end of it before I demand anything of their dad" Silena looked between the two of us, before giving me a long look, like she was trying to figure something out before asking.

"Is this... is it a good idea?" I laughed at that, as I twisted the key, as the van roared to life, as we were quickly on the road, as I hummed to myself as I pulled out onto the road, tilting my head to the side as I felt for the connection of the item I had slipped into Bianca's hat when she wasn't looking when I had been talking to Zoe to give her a warning about the shirt the Stoll brothers had given her. It was decently easy, and it was actually pretty simple to drive, the muscle memory wasn't really there, but my brain was fast enough to make up the difference and learn to drive on the road pretty damn quickly. It almost felt on the level of second nature.

It wasn't nearly as fun as the Sun Chariot, but that was fine as I answered Silena's question.

"Of course not! I see it as I have a... twenty-percent chance I'll be dying in the next few days, but my odds have been worse, I'll be fine. Fair warning to both of you though, some stuff is going to be wild... And... Well, let's just say I have a plan for both of you when everything comes to a head, and I finish my project. Since you two seem up to helping me, think you can listen to some advice?" Neither seemed to refute the idea, I just smiled, as I looked back to the road, as I started to explain the base idea of my plan.

We had pulled into some rocket place about a minute after the other party has rushed inside, Silena looked lightly ill at the driving, since apparently to keep pace with a crazy driver you had to be an even more crazy driver, I was honestly surprised neither had commented on the thirteen year old who was barely tall enough to see over the wheel, because as much as I hate it, I was kind of short, driving them.

I think I could do just about anything mundane at this point and no one would question it since everyone has somewhat adjusted to my normally insane actions. Maybe I should start ramping it up to keep them on their toes?

Anyways, I just hummed as I looked around for a moment before saying.

"Silena, head after them, tell them they are in danger, but not to leave just yet, see if you can Charm Speak the normies out of the place so we don't deal with possible casualties. Percy, you're with me, we're doing some recon. Thorn is here and I want to see what he's up to" They gave me a look, Percy clearly paused, a part of his mind struggling for a moment to remember I was actually incredibly awesome and equally as smart, and in fact he wasn't the leader here.

"Uh, right" He sounded a bit dumbfounded, but he's never actually seen me when I was in strategy mode, I never really got the chance to be honest, so with that we moved, as Silena rushed into the building and quietly whispered ideas into a few guards, and a number of other important looking people, and before long there was a nice and quiet line moving to the front door, everyone with a lightly dreamy look on their faces as me and Percy rushed around and before long I held out a hand to stop him as Thorn walked into a room. Percy blinked and me, but I just smiled and said.

"You got that baseball cap?" He blinked before asking.

"How did you even-?" I just gave him a look, as he just rolled his eyes, " Right, you know everything, yeah" I just nudged him and said.

"Go invisible and head in, I'll be with you" He didn't know what to think of that, but didn't hesitate as he moved in, half way towards the door vanishing from sight as the cap was placed on his head. I just smiled before taking a deep breath, time to see if my plan for this would work fully. Adriel was already complaining in my head, as-

[Notice: Skill [Trade Off] has been used to change 500 Mana into 5,000 additional Spirit Points; If these aren't used up fast, you're soul will start to break apart trying to hold the excess power in]

Yeah, that's something, Trade Off said it was only level nine, but with skill boosts, it was actually at level thirty two, that was the phantom bonus, and normally I wouldn't be able to know just what I was suppose to have at that level, the game didn't tell me normally, it was hidden for a reason, but the skill was still technically at that level, meaning any bonus affects or just how much it could trade was there, I just needed to know I could do it.

And Adriel happened to have insider information about everything like that, he had the peak behind the screen after all. Plus, when you apply the same idea as that to something like my Minor Illusion, skill, which was at level seven, but got an extra level per ten points in control... Then it was actually at level forty-forty, and that means I don't even need an enchantment to do something like this-

[Notice: Skill [Minor Illusion] has been used -15,000 Spirit Points, Status Effect [Invisible] has been applied for seven and a half minutes!]

Cool huh? I had a limit of course, I couldn't just trade all my Mana in for one hundred thousand Spirit or anything, that would burn me inside out according to my butterfly friend, but something like this, as long as I did it quickly enough, was barely noticeable as I slipped into the door after Percy, I could still feel his presence with the Perk I got for Perception, as we watched as three figures talked.

Thorn, Luke, and the 'General' aka Atlas, aka top ten for worse dad ever, were in a circle jerk of angst, talking about evil plans and whatever, I wasn't really listening, much more focused on the fact that Atlas used some weird ritual magic thing to raise from the dead a bunch of adorable kittens, they were super cute. Sure they were saber tooth tigers and in the future would probably try to rip my head off but now there are small, and adorable, and amazing, and I wanted all of them.

I might or might not have made a second goal right then and there to adopt all five of them, and then raise them up and have them be awesome, but that's thoughts for later as the next set of bones came in as I watched silently as Percy did his hero thing, not thinking twice when he learned the newly skeleton boys would be hunting whoever's scent was picked up. And then he ran off like a bat out of hell when Luke demanded they chase him, as the skeletons caught his scent.

I just hummed and dropped my invisiblity as I turned to look at the three remaining people, the three from before, as I waved and smiled as Luke jumped back, pulling his sword while Thorn and Atlas just watched, surprised by the sight of me, but not interested enough to do anything as Luke said in shock.

"Nick? How are you here" I just shrugged.

"Heard there was a party, figured I'd see what the commotion was about, and I wanted to talk to the big guy over there" I turned to look at Atlas, as Luke raised his sword, clearly ready to fight, when the Titan spoke.

"What is your business here mortal? Have you come to be lead under my stead?" I just huffed at that.

"Of course not, but if you have a blessing you'd like to give me, then I'd be all for it, I just thought I would give you a head's up for the future. I'm going to be making great use of you, so I figured I'd give you a chance to just give me everything I want now" The titan smirked, before a gravelly and harsh laugh boomed from his chest.

"Curious! What an interesting little speck! You dare think yourself mighty enough to make me bend a knee! Me! The strongest of the titans! I could break you with my pinky!" I just smiled and shrugged.

"Just thought I would give you a warning and a chance, Luke, nice to see you again. Next time around I'll be trying to kill you, but I have more pressing issues to deal with for the time being" He stepped forwards and said as he brandished his blade.

"You don't think I'll be just letting you leave? Even you weren't that idiotic" I just laughed, he was hilarious, thinking he could stop me, as I said.

"I'd love to see you tr-" I interrupted myself as I ripped my gun from my side and fired, the whistling sound was like it was every other time I had fired the weapon, as a bullet of black iron shot forwards and slammed right into Luke's chest... Or at least it should have if his body didn't seem to glow, just for a moment, his scar on the side of his face pulsing harsh lines, like something was trying to rip itself out of it, as the bullet in it's path slowed, until it stopped about a foot from his chest, as he looked at the thing in shock, and in agony, before he collapsed to a knee, my bullet fell with him, tapping onto the ground.

I just smirked and vanished in a twisting spiral of shadow that came up to take me away as Thorn tried to shoot me with his spikes.

I reappeared next to Luke, but I didn't try and stab him, no point at the moment, I'm not the chosen one after all and I had a bit more to get done before I went to court with the Fates, but I did snag the bullet I had fired as I went before vanishing in another pool of darkness as Luke screamed for me to stop.

Appearing over top of a balcony in the center of the building, I just hummed and looked down as I watched the chaos of Percy, Silena, and the other five fighting off a massive golden lion. The Nemean Lion to be accurate, as I watched with barely a mild interest as Phoebe was slashed across the chest hard, as her blood was flung out and painted the walls, the hunter's were screaming, everyone looked panicked, and Phoebe was dead by the time she hit the ground, she wasn't anything special, not part anything, just mortal with a blessing, she wasn't nearly as durable as the rest of us.

I would know, it's why I let her come along with the other hunters and campers. We were in a space museum, and the Prophecy had spoke of losing one of the quest members to a land without rain. I couldn't have that be Bianca, so I just had to have Fate have it's fill somewhere else, and this was the closest space would get to the earth, a place where it is celebrated, because there is never any rain in space.

Step one of my plan was complete.

Now, time to save the rest of them since Percy hasn't had the idea of chucking space food in the lion's gut yet, as I backed up a few feet, and then grinned, as I yelled out as I rushed forwards, jumping my foot snagging on the railing as I launched myself off of it, soaring through the air, right down onto where the Lion was.

"Sup kitty cunt!" It was a great feeling, flinging myself through the air, as I slammed onto the back of the Lion's back, as everyone screams for me to be careful, I just laughed, as the thing reared up... and then promptly slammed itself into a wall, a stone wall, so hard long spiderweb cracks piled up from where my back was just slammed into it, as I just gritted my teeth with an even sharper smile, even as my ribs cracked under the strain, and said.

"Normally I'd just roast you with my words, but since you're hide can't be hurt..." I reached forwards, my arms just managing to pull arm it's neck, as I grunted, as the calls of my friends from below yelled in shock horror... And then promptly unleashed nine thousand points of sun fire right into the Nemean Lion's head as I cackled out-

"I'll just cook you alive!" The thing roared, and I could feel my eyebrows being burned off, as I just cackled as the thing flung me around, as the massive burning ball of fire stayed in place, as I was bucked around and flung about on it's back... But the normal brain can't survive at a temp of over one hundred and five for more than a minute at most without permeant damage. The average fire was bare minimum three hundred, this fire was sun-fire powered with every drop of mana I had, which... I assume meant it was real hot.

Because it took less than fifteen seconds before the thing slumped down as I rolled off of it with a faint wheeze, since I didn't have any non broken ribs as I coughed out as I looked up at Percy and Silena who rushed over to look at me.

"Why is it always my ribs!" They both just sighed in relief, like I'd actually not joke even on death's door, as I held a hand up as Percy pulled me to my feet as I looked down at it, before saying.

"The thing is brain dead, but it's not vanishing. Percy, want the last strike?" He blinked before looking at the thing.

"You beat it... I mean, I don't know... how you got fire but..." I shrugged.

"Apollo, he's really chill" He just sighed before moving closer, lifting it's head up and looked down it's mouth, which, like in a cartoon, when it was forced open, let out a trail of black smoke, as Percy stabbed up into the things head, killing it properly with his sword. I could have done it, but I didn't see the need to, plus he'll need the coat later, as well as for another reason. Plus, I did all of the work really so-

[Notice: Unique Greek Monster [Nemean Lion] has been slain; You did most of the credit, so fine:

+25,000 Exp gained]

[Notice: You have gained one level]

Cool. The thoughts in my head were interrupted as I turned and looked at the sight of Zoe, small tears in her eyes, holding onto Phoebe as she stared down at her sister in arms... Dying... No, dead already, good, that would have been so awkward since everyone knows I can heal people!

Bianca was crying a bit, but she was alive, so I'm cool with her being sad right now, as Thalia and Grover just looked away, Percy, as he picked up the pelt, in wonder, just sighed, looking back at the group as well before handing it over to me, I just held my hand up and said to him.

"Keep it, your kill, besides I think I have more than enough magic on me" He blinked, but he was tired, I could see it, death hit him hard, every death. I couldn't imagine just how exhausting that must be, as he just slipped the coat over his shoulders, like a blanket, before the coat itself shimmered and moved to look like a brown coat. Thalia gritted her teeth after a moment, looking ready to turn to look at us and yell or something, when a bang from the back as a number of skeletons rushed out, as I glanced over and mentioned casually at the sight of the special undead soldiers charged at us.

"We should get moving, I don't think I can kill those things just yet" I totally could, they were skeletons controlled by spirits, one good shot or an effective hit with my Stygian Iron sword would probably kill them, not any other blessing metal could do it, but I didn't see a reason to mention that as we all were rushing out of the place, everyone trying to talk at once, but all still managed to shove ourselves into one van before speeding off.

I was driving, Zoe was just staring at her hands, she'd snap out of it soon enough, but she needed a moment, they all did, as I looked into the rear view mirror before noting the helicopter that was following us... Lovely. Percy was the first to break from his thoughts, he was the strongest mentally here, even if he didn't think so, as he said to the van.

"Uh, guys, we got a tail... literally, that's Thorn!" I check and yeah, a tail was literally hanging out of the side of the helicopter that looked surprisingly familiar. Thalia spoke up quickly after a minute, trying her best to not yelp as I swerved through two lanes to jump onto an exit ramp.

"They know this van! We need to lose them somehow! Nick, can you make us, like, cover or something?" I thought about it, then gunfire from the helicopter rained down as I twisted the wheel hard enough to almost rip it form the column as the van half spun as I slammed on the breaks to round a very sharp turn, as I said over the screams.

"Nope! I used most of my energy on the big cat" Speaking of cats, I forgot to get the kittens, I was a bit to busy to think about that right now, but I was lamenting that fact all the same when Bianca half yelled.

"There! T-The tunnels we can hide in them!" I looked around, noticing the subway, before turning harshly, as the entire van nearly flipped as I slammed on the gas, as we nearly drove straight down the stairs, before I slammed the breaks again, twisting the wheel as we skidding and slid, burning every inch of tread off the wheels, as I parked us right in front as Zoe, finally back to her senses, gripped her bow and yelled.

"Everyone out!" No one thought twice as we piled out of the van as we rushed down into the tunnels, I wasn't the fastest of the group, but out of all of us, Silena was the slowest, and it was showing, she was trailing a bit by the time the crunching sound of the van being blasted away filled our ears. I didn't think twice as I slowed down, just barely enough, to reach out, grab onto her, and literally bride carry her to the nearest cart, as we rushed on, barely in time before it closed as I sighed and looked around at everyone lightly panting as well, mostly from nerves.

"So, that was something, haven't had a proper chase like that in ages. It's almost like I'm wanted by the police! Again!" Everyone was staring at me, so I just stared back, before pouting, ok, not my best work, but it wasn't that bad... That's when Silena jabbed her elbow into one of my tits at a very awkward angle, pressing right over a broken rib as I winced and glanced down, realizing I was still holding her, I smiled, tiling my head, before finally saying, "Oh right, sup?"

She just stared at me, before looking away her face went an interesting shade as I moved to set her down, she moved quickly away from me before speaking up again.

"Thanks" Percy spoke up next.

"Uh, anyway, they have my scent, those bone guys, they'll be keeping track of me" Zoe gave him a glare before sighing, looking away.

"It matters not, thy are not apart of thy current quest. There is no reason to continue forwards with us, thy speak of what has happened and so shall we split our paths furthermore from this point" Percy just paused, glancing over to me, as I looked back before saying.

"We kind of are apart of your quest though, up to a certain point, Fate's going to get pissed at me for a reason, and I've already started it from just being here, for the time being our points are lined up. We are two separate parties, you're leading your own, and I have mine, but we are going to be heading in the same direction for a while no matter what, so might as well get along in the mean time and just deal with it" She frowned at that, looking away before saying to me.

"Thy do not like the idea of any boy joining thy quest for Lady Artemis, but if thy keep with his... ilk, then thy will not turn away good fortunes" Percy looked offended, I looked offended, both of us for different reasons, but in the end I just sighed before saying with a sarcastic tint to my words.

"Cool, thanks for understanding. Come on, let's change trains a few times and then hunker down for the night somewhere" They nodded and in a blur of events that were honestly just a bit to boring to want to go into detail about, that's what we did, because that's what I read, so... after a while, and a few talks with a homeless man who gave me a wink...

Well, we found ourselves in a train that was rushing hundreds of miles faster than it should be able to go, not that anyone noticed, as I sat down in some kind of car... I had no idea what kind, which I found was kind of weird since I apparently know how to drag race if given what I did in that van was any measure of my driving skills that I don't remember having.

Just who was I? Why do I know how to street race? Why is that even though I never had a body before, that I know being in this one is wrong? So much to think about, so little I wanted to.

Pretty wild to think about ain't it? I just fiddled with the car buttons and stuff, just to do something with my hands, as I felt my ribs finally finish knitting themselves back together, before, way back when, it would take about a day to heal, now it took about an hour or so for bigger bones, I've had my finger bones fix themselves in about a quarter of an hour before.

Anyways, time moved on, everything went as it does, we got off once the place stopped, in New Mexico, I thought about mentioning the thing about Pan being here, but I had an idea for that later on, so just kept it to myself. Watching the events play out before me, only thing was, this time I was comforting Bianca about her decisions with Nico, I didn't sugarcoat it, but I did say the kid was tough and that she and him both would be fine.

Percy overheard some of it, but not much, just enough to start asking questions, when we were interrupted by a few things, a wild boar, that I sort of wanted to kill when it tried to run us over, as well as the skeleton crew, who had guns this time, it was impressive how good of a shot they were, but I had demigod reflexes, blocking bullets was surprisingly not hard. The only reason Luke didn't just block my shot was because he wasn't expecting it.

No one expects the twelve year old to be strapped.

It's kind of my favorite part of having a gun.

Anyways, we did more running, I mostly just let the others take the lead, I wasn't really all that interested in... this. It was boring, I knew what was going to happen, it was predictable and all I had to do was keep up and make sure nothing went horrible wrong, it was easy and honestly not a challenge compared to some of the things I've gone through.

Honestly nothing at all in comparison to some of it, this is the sort of thing that happens all the time when you live outside of camp or around enough mortals to attract enough attention away from you. Wild stuff happens, like riding massive pigs... Ok, that's a new one for me, but the point stands, I'm used to being around undead, of running or fighting for my life, the only difference was I was doing it with people and I knew what was going to happen.

It was kind of nice in another way because I could actually talk to multiple people, Adriel was awesome, but our conversations weren't exactly consistent or often. At least back and forth talks, he could hear me no matter what, but the other way around wasn't all that sorted out.

Past that, I think I needed the challenge when I was in near death situations, strangely enough, to enjoy it. Not to surprising, I'm kind of a textbook case of an adrenaline junkie.

Anyways, I just vibed, making jokes when I could, Silena tried to look sneaky when she shot looks to me, Percy tried to act like he wasn't nervous, Thalia tried to act like everything wasn't horrible, Zoe acted like she wasn't suffering in silence and waiting for her death that she knew was coming, and Bianca tried to act like she knew she belonged here. They were all failing, that took most of the fun out of it for me.

Quests were just depressing with other people if they're always going to be moody like this.

Not to say I wasn't hiding anything, I was just a lot better at it, a natural talent, or a learned one that, like most things, I don't remember learning. I preferred natural talent, less depressing and totally makes me sound a lot cooler.

But I was a bit nervous all the same, as we approached the scrapyard, as I stared out at the sign reading off in massive text 'GILA CLAW, ARIZONA' before taking a deep breath, as we walked in, I placed a hand on both my parties shoulders and said.

"This is the place... It's been fun" Percy suddenly looked a dozen times more anxious, I couldn't blame him, he got really messed up when his friends went missing, Annabeth, Grover, Tyson, any time it happens, he freaks, and this time he knows it, and can't do a thing about it. He had a job past me, and if I hadn't told him what was going to be happening in the following next couple of minutes, then no doubt Percy would be destroyed, making a decision against who he wanted to help more.

He was loyal to everyone he was close to, well past the normal emotional point most would have, and to chose between anyone was hard on the guy, so I just took it out of his hands. What? I can have someone set up to die horribly without remorse but I'm not heartless enough to give someone decision anxiety!

"Good luck man, you too Silena" I just gave a smile to Percy as we walked in, as Silena gritted her teeth and tried to not look worried. She failed, horribly, but I just gave her a pat on the shoulder and a smile, as we walked in, she seemed to relax a bit from the gesture.

We just existed for a while, making camp, I made the fire, it let off more light than I think it was suppose to, and was a bit hotter than the color would think, a blazing yellow color.

We talked for a while, about stars, about talking, Grover had this idea about coffee to find Pan, it was neat, well, it was until Grover turned to me for support.

"What about you Nick? You've been... like everywhere haven't you? You've met more gods than any other half-blood personally, do you believe in Pan?" I just leaned back at the question, staring up at the stars for a while before answering.

"Pan's alive" The declaration startled him, but he seemed ready to keep talking, to ask questions, about how I could be sure, so I just kept going, "But I don't think it's a matter of finding him and hoping our problems get fixed. That's stupid, everyone should do whatever they think they need to, if they see a problem they should deal with it themselves, not pawn it off on some god to deal with. I have that issue in just about every religion out there, everyone likes to pray but no one likes to do"

Grover blinked, before glancing down, his brow tensed, thinking that over before saying.

"I- I try you know? All us satyrs try, it's why we are looking for Pan" I just hummed. The conversation moved away from that quickly enough as it turned to just how Bianca managed to kill one of the skeletons, I broke that up quickly enough.

"She's the daughter of Hades" Everyone turned to look at me at that, I just raised an eyebrow. "What? I already told Nico about it, I figured he'd pass the message along" Bianca looked like I just hit her with a mallet, which was ridiculous, that while Percy's eyes widened.

"Wait, but that means-" Thalia finished.

"Hades also broke the oath" I just sighed, again, and said.

"Nope, two strikes" Percy gave me a long look as I smiled and said, "Think it through, I said I met them about two years back, but they aren't any older, and this was when I was out west in LA" I could see his brain piecing together the puzzle before.

"Bianca, did you ever stay at a place called the Lotus Casino and Hotel?" Bianca's eyes widened before saying.

"Yes! How'd you know? Nick you didn't tell him that... wait, what do you mean that was a few years ago, it was barely a few months before you showed back up?" I let Percy go through the explaining as I looked back up at the stars, I didn't do much star gazing, last time was when I had a hole from my body and I had nothing to do but look at them. I think I preferred them this time.

Anyways, a Limo with the god of war and the goddess of love is about to show up, and I have a feeling that combination isn't going to be good for anyone, so I just waited until...

On que, I just listened and watched, Silena looked shocked and then devastated that her mother didn't have the slightest interest in talking to her as Percy was forced into the back while the taco place not to far away from us opened up on Ares' demand. I just stood up, all attention moved away from me, as I headed off into the graveyard, deeper. Silena joined me in seconds, I just gave her a glance, she just kept her eyes ahead of her.

I decided to not mention it, we just kept walking as I looked around to try and find what I was looking for. Silena was the one between us to break the silence, it was honestly surprising, out of the two of us, any betting man would think I couldn't go three minutes without saying something, and they'd be right, and yet she broke it the quiet in under two.

"I- if she doesn't want to see me then I don't want to see her" I glanced at her... This was a serious thing, she looked hurt, I cracked a smile.

"Fair enough" She just shrugged.

"I mean, it's not like I need to see her or anything!" I nodded.

"Of course, I still haven't met my own mother" She snorted at that, as I gave her a glance.

"Sorry... Just... at least you know Nike cares, she claimed you on your first night, it took almost a year before mine remembered I existed. And I know her enough to know if I do talk to her, all she's going to talk about is... something stupid" I snorted at that.

"You think romance is stupid all of a sudden?" She looked away.

"Shut up..." I just raised my hands as I look around for a while, trying to spot something as she seems to think over what was on her mind, "I- my dad wasn't the best, and she isn't exactly the best either. I'd like it if I had at least one parent to talk about normal stuff, not worry if the only time I'll meet my mother she'll want to talk about nothing but my nonexistent love life"

"I thought things were going pretty well between you and Charles"

"How did you- You're a stalker"

"You're really obvious"

"Whatever, look, just... because it's not bad, doesn't mean I want to talk only about that, we're still just friends, figuring each other out. Plus I really just do not want to talk about my parents in any way. You understand?" I thought about it, before shrugging.

"Not at all, I've never had a parent I could talk to, I've never met my mom, and I've never met my dad. I don't know anything about him, and not a lot of people know much about my Mom. I just know she's awesome, but people with my kind of personality tend to... clash, so I have no idea if we'd get along" Silena stopped, as I turned and looked at her.

"You-... Never met your dad?"

"Nope, grew up on the streets, it's all I can remember, fending for myself and everything" Silena huffed.

"Of course, you're life is just one big drama novel that out paces all of ours"

"All our lives suck, it just matters how much you want that sucking to effect how you approach shit. I don't let it affect me at all"

"Well excuse me that we all aren't immune to trauma"

"Not all of us can be as badass as I, you are excused" She laughed, before pausing and just sighed.

"Well thanks... I'm sorry about shutting you out, making everyone shut you out, but... You did something that hurt me, I know you get that, it's just hard to understand that you knew it would happen and did it anyways" I just shrugged.

"Thanks for the sorry, a real one. But I'm not going to justify myself anymore, I did what I did and I don't regret it"

"Yeah, I know" Then I smirked before saying.

"Besides don't feel to bad, Aphrodite isn't a big fan of mine either no doubt" Silena gave me a confused look as I just smiled. "She tried to meddle, but I went around her and did things my own way to get all this to happen" She just snorted.

"Of course, slighting the Goddess of love because you thought you could do something better than her, that's going to go well for you" I shrugged.

"I've done worse"

"I don't doubt it" I grinned, but I smiled wide when I found what I was looking for, as I moved over to what looked like a massive set of toes, they were well over ten feet tall by themselves as I bonked my hand against the side as Silena spoke up.

"Uh, what's with the foot?" I just turned back and said as I held out a hand.

"Fate, that's what's up with the foot" She raised a questioning eyebrow at that and at my hand.

"This is Fate's... foot" I laughed before shaking my hand.

"Something like that, just come on" She looked cautious before reaching out and holding my hand before she screamed as darkness consumed us before we were spat up, inside something tight and cramped as Silena groaned and I tried to ignore the fact she had her body crushed up against mine as she said.

"What the hell Nick! Where are we!" I just smiled, as I held up a hand and managed to wiggle my way up the thing we were in as a light of fire opened up above our head. For her benefit, I didn't need it, as she looked around before saying. "Are we inside the foot!"

"Yep, it's on the ground at the moment so we can't really stand up straight, but we're good here. We really don't want it to stand up straight" Silena was quiet for a long moment before saying.

"We're going to break this foot to prevent Fate?"

"Yep, pretty cool right?" She just sighed, but I could tell the idea of ripping and tearing at all the wires and cogs was appealing to her need to vent, as I just said, "Do what you feel like, destroy the bitch from here, I'mma see if I can get everything sorted out up top" She didn't say anything as I crawled up higher and higher, until I got a good angel that I could just shadow travel my way up the leg, in short quick jumps, until I managed to move at least a few hundred feet up and I got to the head.

It had more space than the feet at the very least as I abused Search over and over again, until I finally found what I needed.

[Talos Prototype Control System
A basic version that was put in the head of the real Talos, it is infinitely complex but the general idea is, power comes through here, and this system controls where that power goes, sort of like a brain stem, just with the brain included. It's probably the most important part of this thing.

Rank: S]

Cool, I pulled out something I liked to call a power drill, and at the end of it, was Stygian Iron. Yeah, I have power tools in my bag, and yes, I used dead spirits of the kids who's parent made this robot, to make a drillbit that I could use to destroy it... what do you expect me to do? It's a robot that's as tall as small sky scrappers, this wasn't the kind of thing you can just hack at and hope it works, you need to destroy the important stuff by putting holes all over it.

So that's what I did, as I pressed the tool to the device, and then drilled a hole right through it. And then I put a hole into every single port that was connected to the thing that I could see, and then I stabbed a few Stygian Iron spikes into it to adsorb any power that came through, because damn if this metal wasn't the most busted thing I had access to in near unlimited amounts, and damn if I wasn't going to abuse the absolute hell out of that.

After that, I teleported out onto the top of the head, stared down at it for a moment, raised a hand and was about to do something else, when everything was interrupted by a wave of red, as I stumbled and looked around... at the nothing around us in all directions.

"What in the-" Silena was next to me, as we stared and then... I turned, and saw them, three old women, sitting down, in rickety old rocking chairs, one with a string, one with a needle, and one with a pair of scissors, expect, they were held in one hand each, and in the other hand for all three, they held the same, massive, completed green hat, a hat that now had a stabbed yellow line poking out from it that clearly didn't belong, the hat was obviously the same one Bianca wore, as they stared at me, as Silena's breath caught, I realized after a moment, she didn't let it out, as I managed to turn away from the elderly women and look at... my friend.

She was froze, not blinking, not moving, I couldn't see her chest moving. I reached up, pressing a finger to her chin, she was warm, but no pulse, it was like...

"It's like her next actions, words, choices, haven't been created yet and she has reached the end of her woven thread" It was freaky, both her and the fact that one of the old women seemed to know what I was thinking.

"That's really freaky... and pretty cool. Sup" The one on the left huffed, the one on the right grumbled, and the one in the middle had just gave a small mean glare that any granny could give, before moving back to the item as she continued to sow what looked looked to be a yellow bow onto the top, it didn't quite mesh right into the lines and the wool didn't seem the right type, like it was an afterthought and they were working with material they shouldn't for this project, which, in this case, it was exactly that.

Atropos, the one with the snippers, and the only one who had nothing to do, seemed to have been the one chosen to speak as the other two worked.

"You know why you are here child of Nike" I just smiled.

"Yeah, you are here to judge me on whether I can keep making a mess of your timeline. Nice to meet you three by the way, you're my grand aunts" She just huffed, waving a hand like the idea was of little importance, I begged to different, these three were the children of Nyx, and I liked to play on every familial connection I could get my hands on. I mean, I doubt it would work, but it was something. Atropos glared at me.

"You have done more than that child, since the moment you arrived, everything has had to be changed! We have been working harder than we have since we were first created to make up and keep everything moving even in the slightest of ways, thankfully before this point it has all been inconsequential. But now! A child of Hades living past her woven end! Bah! The stitch work alone! Do you see this hat! The line work is ruined! The yarn isn't the same kind, and I have never had to cut the same string twice you know! My clippers are going to get dull!"

She sounded like an old grandma who was angry her wheel of fortune was coming on an hour later than she was used to.

"Yeah, sorry about that, I didn't really get a choice" She just huffed.

"Of course not! You're like one of those annoying butterflies, if we don't keep up with every flap then everything would go all sideways! You don't mean to do it, but here you are! We can't even get rid of you without annoying that damn dev!" Wait... what.

"What? Dev?" She just huffed.

"Yes yes, keep up, the Dev, whatever that is. No respect these days! In my day you were either a god or a titan or a giant, there was no need for made up titles! But as it stands they have a interest in you and we don't even have a string for you to cut anyways. You are... nearly Fateless, any god or deity of any power can't control your actions, it's... repulsive" Her voice certainly showed just how much she thought about that, as I just smiled. Apparently Gamer's Body was so strong it voided me from even Fate's control.

"Well that's good to know. I don't suppose this is going to have a happy ending though?" She sneered, before looking away with a huff as her sisters continued to work and stitch into the hate, the sight of what I thought was a bow was quickly being filled out until it was clear what it was suppose to be was a small yellow butterfly. Huh, that's something.

"Of course, just because we can not control you, do not think yourself above us. We know every move you will make, and we still sow for all others. If you do not please us or make sense of your actions in a way we may find worthy of you messing with our plan then even if we can not directly cut your ties, we can move the entire Greek world against you, you may think yourself clever and with many plans, but you do not know all, and you can not control all. It would be like a mouse trying to escape a maze designed to hold a titan, you may think there is an escape, but there is not, you will die horribly, slowly, and without joy"

"Well... You're certainly don't know how to sugarcoat the hellscape you three are willing to put me through" She seemed quite happy with that.

"Good, Clotho and Lachesis say I don't know how to communicate, bah, that's crazy, just because I decide to cut the thread, doesn't mean I don't have any idea about the rest of it!" I just nodded, before saying.

"So... what's first then? I assume my mind based on the oracle, but how are you planning on testing loyalty? You know my situation, I am on the gods side" Atropos sneered again, staring at me with distaste.

"For now, but you are chaotic and without end, who is to say when the next best deal comes around, you decide the gods are overdue. We see the futures where you destroy Olympus, all for the barest of boons. Not even a few days have past since you contemplated slaying the Ophiotaurus, you thought about risking something that could spell the end of the gods just for the idea of a meager boost in strength that is already mostly not yours"

"Ok, I mean... When you put it like that, it sounds bad, but I would like to point out I didn't in the end actually do that" She didn't seem all that impressed with my defense.

Instead, the other two sisters put down the hat, pulling out a long, tangled yellow string, holding it out, before saying to me.

"You have no bonds, any you have created to your roots have been purely for gain, you have no hold on Olympus and for that matter the world as a whole, and for that something must change. You're loyalty shall be tested, and then your body, and your soul. Should you fail any level of your test, you shall meet the end of your days within the coming weeks, and if you shall die during the trail there is no second chance, there is no escaping Fate" I just hummed, as we stared at each other for a long moment, before I smiled, and said.

"Alright then, how about a deal?" She quirked an eyebrow.

"You realize just where you are standing child? This is a test to prove yourself, and you wish to make a deal? Have you no understanding of preservation?" I just shrugged.

"You are the Fates, you care more for the Gods than the titans, but you are inherently unbias, free will does exist, just not in the way everyone thinks, by your own words I'm nearly truly free, but there is more to it than that... And we both know, even if you could kill me, I'll have weeks to do what I wish with my power. My actions lead impacts, you can't stop that, so how much damage do you think I could cause when I want everything to go to hell? Inter-religion warfare just to give you an idea of the bare minimum I could start with just a few action" All three glared at me, but they couldn't destroy me, they made the mistake in telling me that, and it meant I have a bargaining chip they should never have given me.

"So what do you think? You threaten us to keep you alive, skipping the trails we have set for you? Or else you think yourself mighty enough to force us in a position such as that!" She sounded almost furious, I just shook my head, looking insulted.

"No, since when have I ever used threats against any deity to get my way? Well, now I guess, I'll take your tests, and you can judge me as you wish, but I want to add a deal to it, if I fail, I'm dead anyways, it's just a matter of time, so if I lose, then I'll blow my brains out myself right after. But if I win, then you can never involve yourself directly within my business again, and that you must judge my actions fairly and completely unbias. If you do not then, I will live and pass automatically, getting what I want, and I get your blessing"

They stared at me, clearly thinking over the matter, it didn't matter, they would say yes, I needed a way to grantee the test to be fair and just, and if I failed, then I was going to die anyways at some point, this way, I could control it. The Fates might think they knew everything, and they might even be right, but they made another mistake, they can't know exactly what I'll do, they have an idea, they can see possible futures, but they can never know for sure.

If that wasn't the case, then I'd already be dead, and this conversation would never have happened.

This was them trying to find a way to justify messing with their own works to an insane degree to kill me, and I couldn't have that, so a deal in which they couldn't go back on was the best method to assure they wouldn't try anything that wasn't completely fair. After all, I can't imagine there was anything more that they would hate more than the person causing all their grief to be given even an ounce of their power.

As it stood, and for how it would always be, I was too dangerous to let live, but I was infinitely more dangerous to try and kill.

Especially without a full proof plan, I just figured, I might as well give them one that also happens to help me out just as much as it will help them. So of course, I wasn't at all surprised when Atropos spoke up with a huff.

"Fine, the deal is struck, good luck then, you shall need it!" I just smiled.

"Sure thing aunty" Their glare was the last thing I had seen before I had vanished.

Speed running through the plot of the third book, I condensed about five times as many words of the chapters this took up into this one chapter just so we could get through it all and to get to this part as fast as possible so we could get to the fun stuff, so here we are. Leave your theories below, or wherever, It's always interesting to see what people think in comparison to what's going to happen. They have a habit of being right and wrong, but that's just human nature... And by that, I have yet to actually think about what the three trials are going to be, I have literal weeks before you lot see this to come up with something, but that's besides the point, I just came up with the first thing that rhythmed in my head because I knew I wanted this confrontation to happen for the prophecy I wrote last chapter... but I didn't think more on it until I actually got here, which... sucks, but I'll come up with something, I usually do at the very least.

Secondary note, I just want to mention something, because I like to mention stuff when I do research and it's been a bit, butterflies have a massive amount of symbolism in this story, like... It's everywhere, Adriel, the spirit that Nick relates to the most, is a butterfly, the Fate's mark Nick's interventions with Butterflies, they even compare him to one, that's for... so many reasons, even the colors mean something, Adriel is a purple butterfly for a reason, the fates use yellow for Nick's mart for a reason, there is a reason why Nick has such a strong connection to the Underworld, and it's because of butterflies. It's crazy, there are so many layers there that if you want to look it up and find out, I'd recommend it, it's very interesting to read about symbolism through cultures that people have regarding animals and colors.

Past that, I've been focusing real hard on the drama and character development side of things, because I've kind of had to for plot sakes with Nick being his normal self adding humor to the situation, that doesn't mean the situation is in a position to be seen as funny. It's a whole thing, so next chapter I think it's about time I dived back into the world of fun that if my insane mind to come up with something fumy as well as serious, or at least whatever I think is funny. I think it'll be cool, though I have to find a way to make all the foreshadowing I've put in the last few chapters also make sense now... I'll come up with something, Anyways, See ya.