Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or any characters, all rights go to Rick Riordan
Chapter 5: My mother teaches me bullfighting and first night
'My mother teaches me bullfighting'
"Sounds like a fun family outing," Hermes grimaced. Percy and Grover shared a look of unease, knowing what was to come.
'We tore through … she kept her foot on the gas.'
"That really isn't safe," Demeter fretted.
"Sounds awesome," The demigods, Hermes and Ares chorused.
"You do that if you want a one-way ticket to the infirmary," Hestia lectured to the demigods.
'Every time there … kind of shag-carpet pants.'
That broke the tension in the room as everyone burst into laughter, except Grover who bleated indigently.
"I am so using that," Thalia laughed.
"Percy," Grover complained to his best friend, who just grinned sheepishly in return.
'But, no, the … smell of a wet barnyard animal.'
Grover gave his friend another glare amongst the laughter that had resurfaced.
"It's not my fault, I didn't say it out loud," Percy defended.
"You still thought it," Grover grumbled.
"You are technically partially barnyard…." Travis trailed off as Grover turned his glare.
'All I could think to say was, "So, you and my mom... know each other?"'
"I think you could have worded that better," Katie giggled. Percy blushed in embarrassment as everyone else laughed as well.
"I think I'm gonna die laughing by the end of this," Apollo chuckled.
'Graver's eyes flitted … "Watching me?"'
"Stalker Grover makes another appearance," Thalia teased.
'"Keeping tabs on … "I am your friend."'
"Always will be." Grover chimed.
'"Urn ... what are you, exactly?"'
"A merman," Triton said sarcastically.
'"That doesn't matter … my best friend is a donkey—"'
"Ooh," Dionysus winced. "That was not good wording, I once called Pan a donkey, my grapes didn't grow for months."
'Grover let out a … goat from the waist down."'
"You literally just said it didn't matter," Conner pointed out.
'"You just said it didn't matter."'
"You think like Percy," Travis teased, whilst his brother mock fainted.
'"Blaa-ha-ha! There are satyrs who would trample you under hoof for such an insult!"'
"Like coach Hedge," Annabeth added. Camp half-blood demigods shuddered, he was not a satyr you want to insult. Everyone else looked at them in confusion. Piper and Leo perked up at the mention of their insane teacher, he was in on the mythology world? And was a Satyr?
The Romans were still stuck on the fact that fauns helped instead of begging.
'Whoa. Wait. Satyrs. You mean like ... Mr. Brunner's myths?"'
"Glad to see you paid attention," Chiron smiled.
'"Were those old ladies at the fruit stand a myth, Percy? Was Mrs. Dodds a myth?"'
"You were definitely trying to convince me of it," Percy said sarcastically, referring to Grover making him think he was crazy.
'"So you admit there was a Mrs. Dodds!"'
"That is what you are stuck on?" Katie asked in disbelief.
"In my defense, I thought I was going insane," Percy said.
"Thought?" Grover snorted.
'"Of course."... You started to realize who you are."'
"You are just confusing him even more," Amphetrite shook her head.
'"Who I—wait a … from what? Who's after me?"'
"Easier to list who isn't after you." Annabeth snorted. Some gods raised an impressed eyebrow.
'"Oh, nobody much," … few of his blood-thirstiest minions."'
"As blunt as ever," Annabeth said dryly.
"Did you want me to skirt around it?" Grover questioned.
"All right, break it up," Percy said over their bickering.
"Alecto will love being called a bloodthirsty minion," Persephone giggled. Grover paled.
"Please don't tell her."
'"Grover!" … drive faster, please?"'
"I think she's already going too fast," Demeter snorted.
'I tried to wrap my … could never dream up something this weird.'
"I stand corrected." Percy sighed, and the demigods looked at him in sympathy. They had bad demigod dreams, but his were the worst.
'My mom made a hard …"Where are we going?" I asked.'
"Camp!" Will said cheerfully.
'"The summer camp I …"The place your father wanted to send you."'
"Just a little while late," Thalia said sarcastically.
'"The place you didn't want me to go."
"Please, dear," my … some old ladies cut yarn."'
"If only it were that simple," Poseidon sighed.
"Those weren't old ladies," …" Whoa. You said 'you.'"
"Of course, you would zone in on that," Annabeth sighed.
'"No, I didn't. I said 'someone.'"'
"You definitely said 'you'," Chris added unhelpfully.
'"You meant 'you.' As in … like 'someone.' Not you, you."'
"Boys," Artemis groaned.
'"Boys!" my mom said.'
Artemis smiled, this mortal woman was looking promising, it was a shame that she was so inclined to be Percy's mother, she would be an amazing hunter.
"Honestly, your life is in danger and that is what you are arguing over?" Athena said exasperated, this was the future generation of demigods?
'She pulled the wheel hard to …"What was that?" I asked.'
Those that didn't know wondered the same thing.
'"We're almost there," my mother said, … in the car, anticipating, wanting us to arrive.'
Percy felt his knee begin to shake from the nerves.
'Outside, nothing but …She really hadn't been human. She'd meant to kill me.'
"Noooo," Nico said sarcastically. "She wanted a hug."
"Hey!" Percy whined. "You heard the book, it was delayed shock."
'Then I thought about … being crushed, fried, and hosed down all at the same time.'
Percy gasped, his arms instantly becoming red as if they had been too close to an open flame. He fell onto his father with a pained groan. Apollo was instantly up and across the room next to Percy.
"S'fine," Percy slurred.
"Nothing about this is fine," said a pale Annabeth.
"The lack of adrenaline is only making it worse," Apollo sighed. "At least at that moment, he had so much adrenaline that he didn't feel it as much."
"This is gonna suck so much," Percy whined. "Everything is gonna suck."
Poseidon looked saddened at this, any hope of a pain-free book was thrown out the window. Apollo sighed and began to heal the boy's arms.
'I peeled my forehead off the back of the driver's seat and said, "Ow."'
Percy groaned and moved his hand to clutch his head, but it was quickly swatted away by Apollo's hand, which then rested on his head. Percy sighed in bliss as his headache was instantly cleared.
"This is great," Percy smiled, much to everyone's amusement.
'"Percy!" my mom … "I'm okay... ."'
"Sure you are," Nico said, his voice an octave higher as he looked at his friend(crush) in pain.
'I tried to shake off the daze. I wasn't dead.'
"Always a good realization," Connor said shakily, eyeing Percy in concern.
'The car hadn't really exploded. … Lightning.'
"Zeus," Poseidon said dangerously.
"It hasn't happened yet," Zeus said weakly.
"Be lucky it hasn't, because you would not get off lightly, little brother," Poseidon said threateningly to the king of the gods. Percy, in his haze, smiled slightly at the knowledge that his dad, even without knowing him personally, is so protective.
"I have a feeling that my dad is going to be the cause of much of my workload," Apollo mutters to Percy.
"Just a little," Percy laughs, making Apollo sigh dramatically, but could feel his anger rising at his dad's unfair treatment.
The rest of the room was similarly outraged, everyone glaring at the god of lightning. Even Hestia gave him a look of disappointment, which seemed to hit harder than anyone's glare.
"I didn't know about this," Nico said, with Thaia agreeing.
"It was years before you got to camp," Annabeth said incredulously.
"Doesn't mean we shouldn't have known," Thalia sniffed.
'That was the only … big motionless lump. "Grover!"'
"A lump!" Grover bleated, but his annoyance was ruined by his best friend leaning on his father's side in pain.
'He was slumped over, … best friend and I don't want you to die!'
"Thank you?" Grover asked in confusion, then sighed. "That's the best I'm gonna get."
"Hey, I said I lost sleep worrying about you." Percy defended.
"You lost sleep over that dolphin in the aquarium we went to." Annabeth pointed out.
"She was hungry," Percy argued.
"Glad to know I'm equal to a dolphin," Grover said wryly, but everyone could see the humor in his eyes
"In Percy's book, that's pretty high up," Nico contributed.
'Then he groaned "Food," and I knew there was hope.'
"I feel that," Leo said solemnly.
'"Percy," my mother said, … upraised hands made it look like he had horns.'
Poseidon went pale, knowing what the monster was. His son was truly not favored by Tyche.
Others had come to a similar conclusion and were now looking at Percy in undisguised horror. The demigods leaned forward, knowing he won, but had never heard of how it had happened.
'I swallowed hard. … tree-sized pine at the crest of the nearest hill.'
"It's me," Thalia said cheerfully, confusing the majority of the room. When seeing the looks she simply stated, "Spoilers."
'"That's the property … are coming with me. Help me carry Grover."'
"Such loyalty," Hestia marveled. "Tis a good trait to have."
"It can also be a dire trait if taken too far," Athena pointed out. Percy sighed, knowing his fatal flaw had caused him trouble in the past.
"Even I know he would never leave her." Clarisse scoffed.
'"Food!" Grover moaned, a little louder.'
"Satyr," Dionysus cursed. "You are going to be found."
Everyone looked at the wine god in surprise, not realizing he had been paying attention or cared.
'The man with the blanket … And the points that looked like horns'
Poseidon gave a stressed sigh. He was feeling guilty, twice this monster had fought his sons, first Theseus, and now Percy, and he had been the one to create the monster. If only he had not cursed that kings wife…
'"He doesn't want us," … cross the property line."'
"That is a bit silly," Hestia commented. " Situations like these require it."
"It is mainly to prevent wanderers," Chiron said sheepishly.
'"But..." "We don't have time, Percy. Go. Please."'
"He's not gonna like that," Thalia commented.
"I didn't," Percy confirmed.
'I got mad, then-'
"Duck and cover," The twins shouted jokingly.
'-mad at my mother, …"Mom! I am not leaving you. Help me with Grover."'
Hera sighs wistfully.
'I didn't wait for her answer. … very far if my mom hadn't come to my aid.'
Artemis raised an eyebrow, a boy acknowledging a woman's strength and contribution, how rare.
'Together, we draped Grover's … through wet waist-high grass.'
"That is a bit silly," Thalia mentioned, thinking of her own time getting to camp. "Its quite difficult to see over the grass if the demigod is only a child, especially if they are being chased by monsters, it could be the factor that kills them"
'Glancing back, I got my … bright white Fruit of the Looms- '
"What?" Hephaestus said in confusion, he had zoned out a while ago, thinking of new inventions, and came back to that description.
"Why is he wearing those?" Apollo laughed, spurring others into a laughing fit by imagining it. A few looked to Hades, thinking he may know as he was the one to send it, but he looked just as aghast as them.
'-which would've … couldn't get from an electric sharpener.'
This quickly sobered anyone still amused by the description, and tension thickened.
'I recognized the … But he couldn't be real.'
"Oh, he is," Triton muttered under his breath.
'I blinked the rain … "Names have power."'
"She is a truly intelligent woman," Athena commented, quite impressed with the mortal.
'The pine tree was still … But he'll figure out where we are soon enough."'
"She truly did her research for you," Hestia pondered. "I wonder why she didn't just tell you, to teach you everything she knew."
"She wanted me to have a relatively normal childhood," Percy smiled sadly.
"You? Normal?" Grover said in disbelief.
'As if on cue, the bull-man …Not a scratch, I remembered Gabe saying.'
Everyone smiled.
"Oops," Many said maliciously.
'Oops.'
Some giggled slightly, happy the horrid man got a fraction of what he deserved.
'"Percy," my mom said. … very well once he's charging. Do you understand?"'
"For a mortal, she is much more educated than I assumed," Hestia beamed.
'"How do you know …He'd smelled us.'
"Such an unfair advantage, that monsters can smell us," Will complained.
'The pine tree was only … few seconds and he'd be on top of us.'
Many let out stressed breaths.
'My mother must've … He reeked like rotten meat.'
Aphrodite wrinkled her nose like she was smelling it right there.
'He lowered his … and at the last moment, I jumped to the side.'
Everyone looked at Hestia with bated breaths.
Percy looked around in bewilderment, he was obviously alright.
'The bull-man stormed … was half a mile away. We'd never make it.'
"Ever a pessimist," Annabeth sighed.
"I prefer to think I'm a realist," Percy said cheekily.
The bull-man … "I can't go any farther. Run!"
The demigods looked devastated, Percy shouldn't have had to go through this at such a young age, he didn't deserve it.
'But I just stood there … her as she struggled, kicking and pummeling the air.'
Percy closed his eyes and covered his face with trembling hands, it was like he was reliving the horror and anguish he had felt when he was 12. He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked to see Apollo's concerned eyes analyzing him. Percy shook his head; there was nothing to physically heal this time.
'"Mom!" … managed to choke out one last word: "Go!"'
The gods looked confused, and devastated in Poseidon's case, was this woman dead? This sounded like her death, but other demigods have vouched to have met her before, so what was actually happening?
Hades sweated slightly, having an idea what he was about to do, and quite a few people would have a word or two to say about it.
'Then, with an angry roar, … A blinding flash, and she was simply ... gone.'
"That is not how mortals die," Athena observed, then turned her eyes onto her uncle. "Why did you take the mortal?"
"I am not entirely sure yet," Hades confessed.
'"No!" … I'd gotten when Mrs. Dodds grew talons.'
Percy's leg bounced slightly, unsure what to do with all the newfound energy that ran through him.
"Well, he is done for." Niico deadpanned.
'The bull-man bore down on … make him dissolve too.'
Grover paled slightly, happy that he did not have to remember this, it would have given him nightmares for a long time.
'I couldn't allow that.'
"Thanks, Perce," Grover said gratefully, happy he had him as his best friend.
'I stripped off … Hey, stupid! Ground beef!"'
"That's all you could come up with? 2Thalia asked, clearly unimpressed.
"I was 12, and really stressed."
'"Raaaarrrrr!" The monster …I had an idea—a stupid idea- '
"As yours usually are," Annabeth sighed.
'-but better than no idea at all.'
"As our situations usually are." Percy teased.
'I put my back to the big … But it didn't happen like that.'
"Of course, it didn't," Will said, throwing his hands up.
'The bull-man charged too fast, … and landing on his neck.'
"Just to clarify, are you really doing this with no training?" Frank asked in thinly veiled shock. He has trained for a long time, and she still thinks he isn't ready for monsters.
'How did I do that? I didn't … impact nearly knocked my teeth out.'
Percy winced slightly and put his hand to his mouth.
'The bull-man staggered around …" Food!" Grover moaned.'
"I didn't make it easy for you," Grover realized sheepishly.
"Wasnt your fault." Percy waved him off.
'The bull-man wheeled … I pulled backward with all my might.'
"Not gonna happen kid." Ares snorted. Percy smirked.
'The monster tensed, gave a surprised grunt, then—snap!'
"What?" Ares asked in surprise.
"I think the rain gave me more strength," Percy explained.
"But Poseidon's domain is the seas, not water." Athena pointed out.
"But - water," Percy shrugged unhelpfully. Everyone stared. " I don't know how to explain it; water gives me strength as well."
Poseidon beamed, his son was a truly powerful demigod.
'The bull-man screamed … My head smacked against a rock.'
Apollo's hand immediately reached for Percy's head, glowing golden, relieving the pain as soon as it had appeared. Percy sighed in appreciation.
'When I sat up, … the same way Mrs. Dodds had burst apart.'
"A fury and the minotaur, both whilst untrained and unaware of your heritage." Reyna wondered.
"You'll get used to it." Annabeth snorted.
'The monster was … I'd just seen my mother vanish.'
Percy sighed sadly, remembering the loss he had experienced. Many gave him sympathetic looks that he ignored, not wanting their pity.
'I wanted to lie down and … wasn't going to let him go.'
"It is admirable that you would help him, even after everything that had happened in the prior minutes." Demeter smiled.
"He's my best friend," Percy said as if it explained everything.
'The last thing I … hair curled like a princess's.'
"Oooooh," The twins teased, realizing immediately who he was describing. "Love at first sight."
Percy and Annabeth looked at each other, only just realizing that they never even had the chance to tell tier friends that they had broken up… This was gonna be fun.
"The sea spawn and my daughter?" Athena asked, aghast.
"A forbidden romance," Aphrodite said dreamily. Apollo frowned slightly, not particularly enjoying the idea.
"I mean, I'm not forbidding it," Poseidon pointed out. "As long as es happy, I do not care."
Annabeth gave Percy a look that clearly said 'You tell them'. He gave her a helpless look until she glared.
"Guys, I have to tell you something," Percy hesitated, knowing that he very well could get killed for this. "Me and Annabeth broke up."
"WHAT?!" All the Greek demigods and even Chiron shouted in shock.
"How?" Aphrodite said, near tears, her ship had fallen as soon as it had sailed.
"Did anyone bet on this?" Travis muttered to Connor, who just shook his head, this wasn't even on the list of possibilities.
"There were a few that said they won't get together, but none on a breakup," Connor said back.
"You bet on us?" Annabeth said flatly. The brothers nodded unabashed.
"How?" Thalia stressed. She had seen them tiptoe around each other for years, how have they broken up in literal months?
"Yeah, turns out," Percy interjected, motioning to himself and Annabeth. "Gay."
A moment of silence occurred before all their friends burst into talk, overlapping each other whilst the gods looked over them in befuddlement.
"Okay!" Annabeth shouted, gaining silence immediately. "Yes we broke up because we are gay, though I'm still convinced Percy is the definition of bi-panic, but we are still best friends."
"I am not bi-panic." Percy spluttered,
"Luke," Annabeth, Grover, Travis, Connor, Will, Clarrise, Katie, and Chris chorused. Percy blushed slightly and slumped down in his seat.
Whilst this was all happening Nico was near catatonic, Percy had liked guys this whole time? He had a chance this whole time? But, he was like, so straight for Annabeth. Nico was done.
"As entertaining as this is," Amphitrite interrupted smoothly. "As we are mortals now, we also require sleep, and I think we all wish for this chapter to be over."
"Im good!" Apollo, the only one with his godly powers, chirped and was skillfully ignored by his family.
"I'm sure you can all talk about this at breakfast in the morning." Hestia smiled at the Demigods. Aphrodite and Hermes pouted, this drama was golden, Olympus drama starts getting old after the same stuff for millennia, but with demigod drama, there is always something new.
'They both looked … still conscious. Bring him inside."'
"That's the end." Hestia beamed.
"That was not a fun chapter," Poseidon commented, eyeing his son to see if the pain from the book had had any lasting effects.
"Luckily, we all have quarters on Olympus," Hestia began. "Any gods with children here will be housing them in spare rooms in those quarters, and the few demigods other or non-demigods may stay in my quarters."
Grover, Rachel, and Reyna smiled gratefully, worry lifting from their faces, happy the kind Goddess had offered.
"Everyone may retire for the night then," Zeus practically ordered, and the demigods were ushered out by their respective patrons.
Percy allowed himself to be guided by his father in content silence, with his half-brother and Aphetrite alongside them both. He allowed his mind to briefly wander. Everyone had taken his and Annabeth's mutual break up rather well, considering there was apparently a bet on it. These books were going to be a pain; metaphorically and physically. The actual pain part sucked sure, but he had lived through that, he may just die from embarrassment when his future thoughts are read out. There were so many things to dread; His first meeting with his dad, anything he thought about Zeus, Hera, and Ares, and that time he was turned into a guinea pig. It was all really gonna suck.
He snapped out of his thoughts when his father opened a teal blue door, with the frame decorated with golden sea creatures, mythical and otherwise. When they entered, Percy had to smile, because it was almost exactly the same as his cabin at camp, except bigger. It smelled as if the ocean was right outside, and Percy unconsciously relaxed, feeling truly safe since the reading started.
Poseidon and Amphitrite immediately went and claimed the king-size bed a suite off the side of the room, and Percy then noticed other doors, which he assumed were rooms for himself and Triton. The four sat on the sofas in the lounge-like room.
"Today had been the oddest day I have experienced in a while," Poseidon said wryly, breaking the silence.
"Sadly, this doesn't even break the top ten for me." Percy laughed slightly, causing the immortal family to chuckle slightly, though making them feel apprehensive about what they will soon be reading if it were crazier than the day's events. He then turned to Triton and Amphitrite to address them, " Also, aren't you supposed to hate me, you know, for being a bastard son and all?"
Both immortals froze for a moment, shocked at the sudden question.
"You are… interesting." Triton began hesitantly. "You are not like fathers other children. I will save judgment for a later date."
"What do you know of our family's myths?" Amphitrite asked in favor of answering him.
"Not much, i tend to learn on the go," Percy said honestly, much to their exasperation.
"I am not prone to jealous outbursts like Hera, and I will always treat my husband's children kindly," Amphitrite explained. "I had welcomed Theseus with open arms, and I will do the same to you."
Percy smiled, relieved his immortal stepmom wasn't prone to violent outbursts, again like Hera. "That's a relief."
"I imagine so," Poseidon laughed, who had been watching the scene in amusement, and looking at his wife and son fondly. They lapsed into awkward silence.
Percy realized this was the first time he had properly seen his dad since te war, and now he didn't even know him thanks to the back-in-time issues. He blew a breath out in frustration. Sure he was happy his dad was talking to him more and taking an interest, but it would be back to normal once he got back to his time unless the laws were changed as Hestia suggested.
Poseidon was nervous, he didn't want to say something that would upset his son, he didn't know him well enough, and if what he had witnessed is correct, his son was just as unrestricted as himself.
Amphirtire was tired. This was the first time she had ever truly felt tired, and she would bet it was because of the fact she was now mortal, she didn't like it. Seeing her husband and stepson stare at each other awkwardly was painful, if not amusing, but she wanted to sleep.
"I think I will retire for the night," The goddess said, rising from her place on the sofa, smiling reassuringly at Percy, and retreating to her room, Poseidon quickly followed after a quick good night, and assurance of more talk tomorrow, happy to escape the awkwardness.
Triton sighed and stood up. "He just doesn't know what to say without knowing you, you will both be more comfortable in time. I think I shall retire for the night as well, being mortal is exhausting."
That, Percy could agree with. Now that sleep had been mentioned, it felt as if he was being weighed down by the sky again, and wanted nothing more than to be in a bed. He dragged himself to stand and go to the room that Triton had not retreated to. It had the same sea theme as the main room, but much smaller, with a bathroom attached. Percy didn't even take anything else in before falling onto the extremely comfortable bed and let Morpheus overtake him.
AN: Hello guys! Sorry that it has taken so long for this chapter, I have been working so much, I did over 60 hours last week alone, but I'm going to try and update more in the future. Thank you for the positive comments, they have been what has motivated me to keep writing this! Hope you all liked this chapter!
