Alaster POV

The day Percy moved to Cabin Number 3 AKA Poseidon's Cabin, everybody was watching him. It wasn't a surprise, he was now one of the only children of the Big Three who were at camp.

Percy's walk of shame would be very uncomfortable if I was in his situation, well I was in his situation about five years ago.

Nobody mentioned the hellhound that attacked him on the night of Capture the Flag, at least not to his face, they would talk about it behind his back. But the attack had scared everybody, it showed that monsters could get into camp, that someone was in the camp summoning monsters to attack people.

I'm not gonna lie though...I've been avoiding Percy. I mean you can't blame me, he's a son of Poseidon and I'm the son of Zeus, our parents have a huge rivalry. It's only natural that we're not supposed to be friends either.

But since Percy's a child of the Big Three, I've had to step up my game, I've trained harder, worked harder, and even pushed myself to my limits, I worked so hard that I slept for three days straight.

One day I was walking out of Cabin One and saw Percy and Grover walking together.

I don't know how, it might've been my conscience or something, but I could of swore I heard a voice in the back of my head saying "Follow them"

So I followed them. I followed them all the way to the Big House once they got on the porch I stayed on the side of the house around the corner so I could hear what they were saying.

"Well, well"Mr. D said. "Our little celebrity. Come closer, and don't expect me to bow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle-Beard is your father"

A net of lightning flashes across the clouds and thunder shook the windows of the house.

"Blah, blah, blah"Mr. D said. "If I had my way, I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames. We'd sweep up the ashes and be done with a lot of trouble. But Chiron seems to feel this would be against my mission at this cursed camp: to keep you little brats safe from harm"

"Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D"Chiron said

"Nonsense"Mr. D said. "Boy wouldn't feel a thing. Nevertheless, I've agreed to restrain myself. I'm thinking of turning you into a dolphin instead, sending you back to your father"

"Mr. D—"

"Oh, all right. There's one more option. But it's deadly foolishness"Mr. D said. "I'm off to Olympus for the emergency meeting. If the boy is still here when I get back, I'll turn him into an Atlantic bottle nose. Do you understand? And Perseus Jackson, if you're at all smart, you'll see that's a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do"

I heard the snap of fingers. And then nothing.

"Sit, Percy, please. And Grover"Chiron said. "Tell me, Percy. What did you make of the hellhound?"

A moment of silence.

"It scared me"Percy said. "If Alaster hadn't stabbed it, I'd be dead"

"You'll meet worse, Percy. Far worse, before you're done"Chiron said

"Done...with what?"Percy asked

"Your quest, of course. Will you accept it?"Chiron said

"Um, sir. You haven't told me what it is yet"Percy said

"Well, that's the hard part, the details"

Thunder tumbled across the valley. The storm clouds had now reached the edge of the beach. That's not good.

When I had finally put it together, Percy spoke. "Poseidon and Zeus. They're fighting over something valuable...something that was stolen, aren't they?"

"How did you know that?"

"The weather since Christmas has been weird, like the sea and the sky are fighting. Then I talked to Annabeth, and she'd overheard something about a theft. And...I've also been having these dreams"

"I knew it"Grover said

"Hush, satyr"Chiron said

"But it is his quest!"Grover said

"Only the Oracle can determine. Nevertheless, Percy, you are correct. Your father and Zeus are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise: a lightning bolt"

Oh gods...Zeus' master bolt was stolen. I mean, there's no doubt about it, Poseidon had to have taken it. He and Zeus have been rivals for ages, so maybe he took it in order to gain power over him.

"A what?"Percy laughed nervously.

"Do not take this lightly. I'm not talking about some tinfoil-covered zigzag you'd see in a second-grade play. I'm talking about a two-foot long-cylinder of high-grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives"Chiron said

"Oh"

"Zeus' master bolt. The symbol of his power, from which all other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclopes for the war against the Titans, the bolt that sheered the top off Mount Edna and hurled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt which p is enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers"

"And it's missing?"

"Stolen"Chiron said

"By who?"

"By whom?"Chiron said. "By you"

"WHAT!?"I yelled, uncapping the orange side of the highlighter I had, making my spear expand from it and pressed down on my ring, making Aegis appeared. I jumped onto the porch and pointed my spear at Percy. "You're dead meat, Jackson"

"Alaster, stand down. Lower your weapon"Chiron said in a warning tone.

"But Chiron. He stole the lightning bolt! I'm gonna kill him and take it to Olympus myself"I said

"Lower your weapon, child. You should not have been listening in on this conversation. But since you've clearly heard so much, I will let you know what is occurring in the world of the Gods. Not sit now"

I growled at Percy before capping my spear and Aegis disappeared, I sat down next to Grover.

"Now. Zeus thinks that you stole the bolt, Percy. During the winter solstice, at the last council of the gods, Zeus and Poseidon had an argument. The usual nonsense: 'Mother Rhea always liked you best', 'Air disasters are more spectacular than sea disasters', etcetera. Afterward, Zeus realized his master bolt was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose. He immediately blamed Poseidon-"

"As he should"I grumbled to myself.

"Now, a god cannot usurp another God's symbol of power directly—that is forbidden by the most ancient of divine laws. But Zeus believes your father convinced a human hero to take it"

"But I didn't—"

"Patience and listen, child. Zeus has a good reason to be suspicious. The Forbes of the Cyclopes age under the ocean, which gives Poseidon some influence over the makers of his brother's lightning. Zeus believes Poseidon has taken the master bolt, and is now secretly having the Cyclopes build an arsenal of illegal copies, which might be used to topple Zeus from his throne. The only thing Zeus wasn't sure about was which hero Poseidon used to steal the bolt. Now Poseidon has openly claimed you as his son. You were in New York over the winter holidays. You could easily have snuck into Olympus. Zeus believes he has found his thief"

"It makes sense"I said

"Oh, Alaster. You are not safe either"Chiron said

"What? What do you mean?"I asked

"Zeus also believes it could have been you who took his lightning bolt. You were also at Olympus when the lightning bolt was stolen"Chiron said

"But I'm his son. Why would he think I did it?"I asked

"If you remember correctly, it seems to run in the family. The Titans overthrew their father and Zeus overthrew his father. Zeus believes that history might just be repeating itself"Chiron said

"That's stupid"I said, crossing my arms.

"Zeus is crazy! I've never even been to Olympus!"Percy said

I looked up into the sky along with Chiron and Grover. The clouds weren't parting around us, as it was raining currently, but the rain doesn't come down unless we want it to.

"Er, Percy...?"Grover said. "We don't use the c-word to describe the Lord of the Sky"

"Perhaps paranoid"Chiron suggested. "Then again, Poseidon has tried to unseat Zeus before. I believe that was question thirty-eight on your final exam..."He looked at Percy.

"Something about a golden net? Poseidon and Hera and a few other gods...they, like, trapped Zeus and wouldn't let him out until he promised to be a better ruler, right?"Percy said

"Correct"Chiron said. "And Zeus has never trusted Poseidon since. Of course, Poseidon denies stealing the master bolt. He took great offense at the accusation. The two have been arguing back and forth for months, threatening war. And now, you've come along—the proverbial last straw"

"But I'm just a kid!"

"Percy. If you were Zeus, and you already thought your brother was plotting to overthrow you, then your brother suddenly admitted he had broken the sacred oath he took after World War II, that he's a fathered a new mortal hero who might be used as a weapon against you...wouldn't that put a twist in your yoga?"Grover said

"But I didn't do anything. Poseidon—my dad—he didn't really have this master bolt stolen, did he?"

Chiron sighed. "Most thinking observers would agree that thievery is not Poseidon's style. But the Sea God is too proud to try convincing Zeus of that. Zeus has demanded that Poseidon return the bolt by the summer solstice. That's June twenty-first, ten days from now. Poseidon wants an apology for being called a thief by the same date. I hoped that diplomacy might prevail, that Hera or Demeter or Hestia would make the two brothers see sense. But your arrival has inflamed Zeus' temper. Now neither god will back down. Unless someone intervenes, unless the master bolt is found and returned to Zeus before the solstice, there will be war. And do you know what a full-fledged war would look like, Percy?"

"Bad?"Percy said

"Imagine the world in chaos. Nature at war with itself. Olympians forced to choose sides between Zeus and Poseidon. Destruction. Carnage. Millions dead. Western civilization turned into a battleground so big it will make the Trojan War look like a water-balloon fight"Chiron said

"Bad"Percy repeated

"And you, Percy Jackson, would be the first to feel Zeus's wrath"Chiron said

The rain became more prominent. The Volleyball players stopped their game and stared in stunned silence at the sky.

"So I have to find the stupid bolt"Percy said. "And return it to Zeus"

"No way!"I said, standing up. "There's no way this Seaweed Brained idiot can find Zeus' bolt. Send me instead"

"Alaster"Chiron said dangerously. "Sit"

I rolled my eyes and sat down again.

"What would be a better peace offering, Percy than to have the son of Poseidon return Zeus' property?"Chiron said

"If Poseidon doesn't have it, where is the thing?"Percy asked

"I believe I know"Chiron's expression turned grim. "Part of a prophecy I had years ago...well, some of the lines make sense to me, now. But before I can say more, you must officially take up the quest. You must seek the counsel of the Oracle"

"Why can't you tell me where the bolt is beforehand?"

"Because if I did, you would be too afraid to accept the challenge"Chiron said

Percy gulped. "Good reason"

"You agree then?"

Percy looked at Grover who nodded. "All right. It's better than being turned into a dolphin"

"Then it's time you consulted the Oracle"Chiron said. "Go upstair, Percy Jackson, to the attic. When you come back down, assuming you're still sane, we will talk more"

Percy entered the Big House and quickly disappeared when he went up the stairs. But soon enough, Percy came back.

"Well?"Chiron asked

"She said I would retrieve what was stolen"Percy said that he slumped down into a chair.

Grover sat forward, chewing excitedly in the remains of a Diet Come can. "That's great!"

"What did the Oracle say exactly?"Chiron pressed. "This is important"

"She...she said I would go west and face a god who had turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned. She said that a half-blood who leaves will never be the same when he comes back"Percy said

"I knew it"Grover said

Chiron looked unsatisfied. "Anything else?"

"No. That's about it"Percy said

"Very well, Percy. But know this: the Oracle's words often have double meanings. Don't dwell on them too much. The truth is not always clear until events come to pass"Chiron said

"Okay"Percy said. "So where do I go? Who's this god in the west?"

"Ah, think, Percy"Chiron said. "If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to gain?"

"Somebody else wants to take over?"Percy said

Right then I immediately knew. "Think, Jackson. Think of someone who has a grudge and has been unhappy since the world was divided millennia ago, whose kingdom would grow stronger with the deaths of millions. Someone who hates his brothers for forcing him into an oath to have no more children, an oath that both of them have now broken"

A brief moment of silence.

"Hades"Percy said

I clenched my fists hard. "He's the only possibility. A Fury came after you, didn't it? She watched you until she found out about your identity, then tried to kill you. The Furies only obey Hades. Hades hates all heroes. Especially if he found out that you're a son of Poseidon...and a hellhound got into camp. They only come from the Fields of Punishment, and have to be summoned by someone who's in the camp"

"Hades must have a spy here. He must suspect Poseidon will try to use Percy to clear his name. Hades would very much like to kill this young half-blood before he can take on the quest"Chiron said

"Great,"Percy muttered. "That's two major gods who want to kill me."

"But a quest to ..." Grover swallowed. "I mean, couldn't the master bolt be in some place like Maine? Maine's very nice this time of year."

"Hades sent a minion to steal the master bolt," Chiron insisted. "He hid it in the Underworld, knowing full well that Zeus would blame Poseidon. I don't pretend to under-stand the Lord of the Dead's motives perfectly, or why he chose this time to start a war, but one thing is certain. Percy must go to the Underworld, find the master bolt, and reveal the truth."

Grover trembled, he scarfed down pinochle cards down like they were potato chips.

I should be the one going on this quest, not Percy. I'm the son of Zeus for crying out loud.

"Look, if we know it's Hades,"Percy told Chiron, "why can't we just tell the other gods? Zeus or Poseidon could go down to the Underworld and bust some heads."

"Suspecting and knowing are not the same," Chiron said. "Besides, even if the other gods suspect Hades—and I imagine Poseidon does—they couldn't retrieve the bolt them-selves. Gods cannot cross each other's territories except by invitation. That is another ancient rule. Heroes, on the other hand, have

certain privileges. They can go anywhere, challenge anyone, as long as they're bold enough and strong enough to do it. No god can be held responsible for a hero's actions. Why do you think the gods always operate through humans?"

"You're saying I'm being used."

"I'm saying it's no accident Poseidon has claimed you now. It's a very risky gamble, but he's in a desperate situa-tion. He needs you."

Percy looked at Chiron. "You've known I was Poseidon's son all along, haven't you?"

"I had my suspicions. As I said ... I've spoken to the Oracle, too."

"So let me get this straight,"Percy said. "I'm supposed go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead."

"Check," Chiron said.

"Find the most powerful weapon in the universe."

"Check."

"And get it back to Olympus before the summer sol-stice, in ten days."

"That's about right."

I looked at Grover, who gulped down the ace of hearts.

"Did I mention that Maine is very nice this time of year?" he asked weakly.

"You don't have to go,"Percy told him. "I can't ask that of you."

"Oh ..." He shifted his hooves. "No ... it's just that satyrs and underground places ... well..."

I wanted to speak up and say that I could go but Chiron kept his eyes on me, like something terrible would happen if I interrupted again.

Grover took a deep breath, then stood, brushing the shredded cards and aluminum bits off his T-shirt. "You saved my life, Percy. If...if you're serious about wanting me along, I won't let you down"

"All the way, G-man"Percy said and I rolled my eyes. "So where do we go? The Oracle just said to go West?"

"The entrance to the Underworld is always in the west. It moves from age to age, just like Olympus. Right now, of course, it's in America"Chiron said

"Where?"

"I thought that would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angels"Chiron said

"Oh"Percy said

"Yup, so why don't you just hop on a plane and—"

"No!"Grover cut me off. "What's wrong with you? Percy, have you ever been on a plane in your life?"

Percy shook his head.

"Percy, think"Chiron said. "You are the son of the Sea God. Your father's bitterest rival is Zeus, Lord of the Sky. Your mother knew better than to trust you in an airplane. You would be in Zeus' domain. You would never come down again alive"

Lightning crackled and thunder boomed overhead.

"Okay," Percy said. "So, I'll travel overland"

"That's right"Chiron said. "Two companions may accompany you. Grover us one. The other has already volunteered, if you will accept her help"

"Gee"Percy said, clearly faking surprise. "Who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?"

The air shimmered behind Chiron.

Annabeth became visible, stuffing her Yankees cap into her back pocket.

"I've been waiting a long time for a quest, seaweed brain," she said. "Athena is no fan of Poseidon, but if you're going to save the world, I'm the best person to keep you from messing up."

"If you do say so yourself,"Percy said. "I suppose you have a plan, wise girl?"

Her cheeks colored. "Do you want my help or not?"

"A trio,"Percy said. "That'll work."

"But Chiron! I can help! Please, I can help I promise I can!"I said

"Alaster"Chiron said. "You know the rule"

I growled loudly. "This place sucks!"

Lightning protruded from my hands, hitting the ceiling of the Big House. I walked away angrily.

You know, after being rejected like that, most people would follow the rules and not leave.

But I'm not most people.

I immediately went to my cabin and packed everything I could: my weapons, my clothes, some snacks.

I left the Cabin and walked to the horse stables.

I've got something to admit. So on my very first quest, I was able to find a creature that would listen to me, that was because this creature was part Eagle, so therefore it could talk to me.

It was Griffon. In case you didn't know, a Griffon is a creature with an eagle head, talons, and wings with a lion's body.

I named the Griffon...well...Griffyn.

I walked to the horse stables and went all the way down to where the last stable was, and there she was, Griffyn.

"Hey! What's up, Chief!"Griffyn said

I shook my head. "I told you to stop calling me that"

"No way! I call you Chief because you're the Chief, Chief!"

"That makes almost no sense whatsoever"I said. "Anyway, Chiron's not allowing me to go on a quest, so I'm gonna take you to follow the people who are going on the quest. You think you handle it?"

"You got it, Chief!"Griffyn said

"All right Griffyn, let's go," I said, mounting Griffyn

"You got it, Chief"Griffyn said. She started running before she took to the air.

"WOOOOOOOO!"

Okay, that's the end of the chapter. Sorry that this wasn't much of an Alaster chapter. I just hoped I highlighted more of Alaster's character traits.

Also from on the true story begins.