1 Year and 2 Months Later… (Sep 7, 2003)
Somewhere in Camp Halfblood…
"So… it's like a comic, but it's all black and white, and I have to read it backwards?" Luke questions, clearly confused. He looks at the book in his hands, inspecting its art. The 'book' was really Volume 1 of the One Piece manga. The official English translation was printed last June. "Geez, you recommending this is probably the only reason I'd read it."
"Trust me Luke, it's really good" I tell him, taking a sip of the smoothie in my hand. Unfortunately, it wasn't a sweet chocolate smoothie, but one of those weird green diet smoothies. The things I do to one day get abs. Normally, I'd be pretty fit thanks to my demigod genetics, but I had to balance out any potential 'beer belly' I might get. After using the Mist to trick some Hermes kids into thinking I was one of the older campers, I now had a supply of beer that would discreetly come into camp at my beck and call… I might have an addiction, but it was none of my present-me's concern.
"Still… It's about a really stretchy pirate guy but this kid doesn't look like he'd even steal candy from a baby. Even you gotta admit, that it's a weird premise" For that past hour, I've been trying to convince Luke to read One Piece. Mainly because nobody at Camp had even heard of it, and the Anime and Manga scene still hadn't taken off to the Mainstream.
"Luke, you are literally the son of a god." I deadpanned. Come on Luke, join the darkside! We have manga!
"Touche" Luke sighs, clearly having given up. "Fine, Gill, I'll give it a try later." Another disciple, bagged and tagged. Y'know, I really hope Luke stays like this. His current self is way more fun to hang out with than the broody, evil, and dark servant of Kronos he could become.
Before we could talk further, the soothing cries of our friendly-neighbourhood-phoenix filled our ears, and we looked up to see Icarus flying down from the sky to us. Over the past year, he had gotten slightly bigger, and he could use his fire combatively, though the flames were still nothing compared to one of my Fireball's. Yet.
However, there was a far greater change that no one else apart from me (And the satyrs and dryads) had the honour of having. "Dad! Dad!" The bird caws, landing on my head. Though he was lighter last year, my far greater Strength stat made it seem like there was a feather rather than a bird. As you could see, Icarus was capable of speech, though I was the only demigod at Camp that could understand him because of Allspeak. If I had to describe his voice, it was clearly that of a child's, high pitched and very 'cutesy'. But there was something… melodic about it.
"Hey Icarus. You've been good?" I ask him, stroking the brilliant yellow feathers upon his head. Despite how beautiful the phoenix's song was, it most certainly did not fit his mischievous personality. Were he a demigod, Icarus would most definitely be part of the Hermes cabin. Despite having an entire plate of bacon reserved for him every morning, he took pleasure in stealing bacon and other meat off of the Ares table. I'm not too sure why he had some strange vendetta against those kids, but I can't lie, it was amusing to watch them chase the laughing bird.
Of course, he didn't just mess with Ares' kids. Whenever the Aphrodite demigods put on their makeup, Icarus would surprise them, causing them to mess up their face. With the Athena demigods, he'd often hide their books somewhere that was easily seen but hard to reach. Hell, he even messes with the Apollo cabin by using something that we like to keep close to our hearts. Our pride. Nearly every time we sang, he'd barge in and let loose his own melody. Whilst we were better at singing, his voice had a magical soothing effect that would cause everyone's attention to go to him. However, I did find a solution for this via bribing him with coconut water, which was annoying to get since the Hermes Cabin didn't find those in stock much, but when they couldn't find any, I'd just use Nimbus to find some myself.
"I'm always on my best behaviour, Dad!" Icarus lied as easily as he breathed, "Anyway, Mister Chiron wants Uncle Luke to come to the Big House! I think he wants Uncle Luke to come quickly because he gave me an extra big piece of chicken!" Ah yes, another change that came with Icarus's growth was that he could be used as a message service around Camp without the need for an Iris Message. Since I was the only one who could understand him, we would tie a piece of paper around his leg containing the message. In return, he'd get a piece of chicken or beef. Frankly, he was all too happy with the arrangement.
"...Just Luke?" That was odd. Usually Chiron sends Icarus for me because I accidentally started a civil war at Camp, or when I sneak some sriracha into Annabeth's cookies. And then he'd just scold the fuck out of me. But naturally, that never stopped me from my hijinks.
"What's this about me?" Luke asks, as he drinks his Monster Energy Drink. Funnily enough, after last year, on the day I returned to Camp after killing Skorpius, and I gifted him a crate of Monster with beer hidden within, Luke has seemingly given up on drinking alcohol, and has instead begun partaking in Monster. At least it was healthier? Funnily enough, he liked the Monster so much that he was disappointed that the rest of the crate I gave him had beer instead. However, as the Head Councillor of the Hermes Cabin, whatever item he wanted, he could get his hands on it. It seems he has traded one addiction for another.
"Oh, apparently Chiron wants you at the Big House ASAP." I informed him, looking at the sky. The Pegasi were flying in the sky as always, but this time they were making an Omega formation. A warning to demigods that a God (barring Hestia and Mr D) had arrived at camp. And if Chiron was calling for Luke…
Well, I wonder what chaos the God of Mischief will bring?
1 Hour Later…
After Luke had left for the Big House, I decided to spend my time by playing my Pokemon Sapphire, and more interestingly, a nuzlocke. I think I might be doing the first nuzlocke ever, in this universe at the very least. The trend started in 2010, so it's very likely that I'm 7 years ahead of the curve.
Whilst playing, Icarus was talking to me about the gossip around the camp, including some he'd learnt first hand. Apparently, someone had stolen half the Athena's cabin erotica (Yes, they kept adult novels, though they did keep it hidden from the younger kids. Icarus managed to sneak some out for me a couple months ago. It wasn't bad), and now the older cabin members were leading a very quiet manhunt led by their new Cabin Councillor.
In other news, one of the new campers, Katie Gardner, had burned the ends of her hair on the lava-climbing wall, which had somehow started a campaign led by the Aphrodite cabin to shut down the wall. I doubt it'd lead to anything. Even if Chirona agreed with them (Which I highly doubt), they'd still have to convince Dionysus, and frankly, I'm pretty sure pigs will fly before that happens.
Along with that, Icarus had seen two demigods making out in the forest at night. But that wasn't where the real gossip was. According to him, one of the demigods was the new Cabin Councillor of the Athena Cabin, and the other was the Cabin Councillor of the Aphrodite Cabin. And frankly, this was very interesting as it could severely affect the dynamics of Capture the Flag. Whilst the Aphrodite Cabin were generally non-combatants in Capture the Flag, that was only because they tended to be allied with the Ares cabin, and the Ares demigods didn't want one the Aphrodite kids to even get a scratch, because Aphrodite would complain to Ares and Ares would yell at his kids.
But the Aphrodite Cabin could be powerful on the field. I remember reading one of the Camp's records on a particularly special Capture the Flag game, back in 1956. Whilst the Aphrodite Cabin was allied with the Ares Cabin more often than not, there was one week where they changed their alliance to the Demeter Cabin.
It was a one-sided massacre.
Despite their seemingly beauty-centric personality, the Aphrodite cabin had a dark side to them, just as love itself has its own cruelty. They were the perfect honeypot that not even the shadiest Russian Government secret program could recreate. With a simple wink of their eye, an Aphrodite demigod could lure a group of demigods into a trap without the demigods even realising. Hell, they had only one Charmspeaker, yet that Charmspeaker managed to make half the opposing team drop their own weapons.
And that was all under the supervision of the Demeter Cabin. I shudder to think what would happen if the Athena Cabin had the children of Aphrodite in their repertoire.
However, before I could think of any possible strategies to defeat the Athena Cabin's possible weapon, I was interrupted by footsteps on the grass that were coming closer to me. I looked towards where the sound was coming from and saw Luke, with an indiscernible expression on his face.
"Yo Luke, what did Chiron want you for?" I ask, despite having my own (probably) correct guesses.
Luke sighed, "Come off it Gill. I'm pretty sure you already know. Don't think I didn't notice that you somehow predicted that Brazil would win the 2002 Soccer-"
"Football" I interrupted him. If he was going to expose me, he might as well do it properly. Although, I wonder why he decided to tell me he knew of my knowledge of the future right now? I guess the news Chiron told him left him in a bad mood.
"Fine. Anyway, don't think that I didn't notice that you managed to guess that Brazil would win the 2002 Football World Cup, that Germany would be the runner-up, and that Turkey somehow managed to get 3rd place. I don't think anyone saw even that coming. How much did you make on those bets again?"
"A solid 30 Grand" I grin, remembering the sheer amount of high quality wine I bought with that money. I swear, Mr D stared at me with a more annoyed look than normal, as if he could smell the alcohol.
"Exactly. No 9-year-old can make a bet like that without knowing the future." Luke smiles. I guess my natural (System-enhanced) charisma cheered him up. "Which is why I think you know what I'm about to ask you." The fact that he knows that I know the future isn't that bad. I planned on telling him sometime within the next few years, but the fact that he knew meant that Annabeth probably knew, which would be annoying as hell to deal with.
"Firstly, that's not how my Future Knowledge works." I correct, getting up from my seat, "And secondly, yes. I will go with you to the Garden of the Hesperides to steal the Golden Apples of Immortality." Luke lets out a breath of relief. Did he think I'd pass on a daring adventure? What a ridiculous thought!
"That's good to hear. Now I have to ask Thalia." Hmm… Thalia would definitely be a good choice, especially if events turn to the worst. Luke looks at me, his expression now serious, but also sombre, "I… Gill, can I talk to you about something?"
I looked at him. No Gamer, no skill. I looked at him with my own eyes. I saw the same kid that needed advice so much all those years ago by a campfire. Who revealed a hidden side of himself. "Take a seat, Luke." I told him, as I followed my own advice, "You know I'm available to talk? I quite enjoy it."
Luke chuckles, as he takes a seat. Unlike his usual self, he's slouched, and unguarded. "Yeah… It's just that, when you talked to me a couple years ago, after we fought the Hydra, it kind of changed… everything for me, y'know? My outlook on life, my perception of the world, and how I see my dad. It changed everything. And I have a sneaking suspicion that it was for the better, wasn't it?"
I give a solemn smile at that, "You were kind of a grouch in the other timeline". Luke and I hadn't had such a serious conversation in a long time, that I nearly forgot how mature he could be. In the sky, Icarus was flying about, trying his best to hide the fact that he was listening to our conversation.
"Ha, I figured. Well, even after our talk by the campfire, you even gave me advice at Hal's home. When you told that… a really gross story which was your way of trying to tell us that the more we try to stop fate, the worse it will end up for us." Oh, and it was to also make you guys throw up. Damn, I wish I had a camera, "And then, most of all, you told me to give my dad a chance. You saw that I would meet him." I didn't even need to nod to respond. We were close enough for I to not need to give one, "I decided to follow your advice, since I thought they were your last words, and by the gods, it was the best damn decision I made. I learnt everything. The reason why my childhood was so fucked up. I guess you also know too?"
"You didn't deserve to live through that, Luke" Perhaps it was the adult in me, but I didn't like hearing a child having suffered a shit childhood like me. Maybe that's why I pitied Luke a lot in the books. I probably would've done the same if I were in his shoes. Were I in my previous life approached by Kronos during my childhood, well I would've watched a burning world caused by my very hands.
"Thanks." There is a brief silence, before Luke suddenly places his hands on the top of his head, like he was having a breakdown. His voice becomes shaky, and he becomes more vulnerable than I'd ever seen him before. "Gill, I need you to tell me! How on earth should I feel about this? Hermes seems to have so little faith in me that he gave me a quest that's been done before by the Heracles of all people! Am I really that unreliable? Hell, I bet that he picked a quest out of a hat, and I just ended up with the Golden Apples! What if this is his way of abandoning me? He did the same with mom. He shouldn't have allowed her anywhere near Camp Halfblood! I…"
I listened to Luke as he continued to break down, and I think I understood what was going on in his head. The same thing happened to the original Luke. He felt shafted by Hermes. I have no doubt his current self was better mentally than the original Luke, but with knowledge of what actually happened to his mom, and the idea that his dad wasn't all bad, I guess everything was weighing more heavily on his mind.
With both my hands, I slap them onto both of his cheeks, stopping him mid-sentence, "Luke. Breathe." Without him noticing, I slip Hestia's Handkerchief into his pocket. I see him immediately calm down as the Handkerchief's soothing effect takes place. "Alright, okay now? Let's take this one by one. Firstly, as much as you might not want to hear it, your mom's… accident wasn't your dad's fault."
"What are you talking about?" Luke asks, slightly agitated.
I sigh, "I guess Hermes didn't tell you everything. Haven't ever wondered why the Oracle in the attic is a rotting corpse?" The Oracle was very uncomfortable to see in real life. I had seen her once, through the corner of my eye. Despite being a pile of rotten flesh and bones, I swear she gave me a look of visceral hate. "Long ago, someone shunned by his own brethren had lost their love because of prophecy, in a moment of hate, they took it out on the easiest target. The messenger of the prophecy."
"The Oracle was cursed." Luke said in realisation, "So that no one can become a new oracle. And my mom-"
"Your mom thought that she could break the curse. Hermes tried to stop her, but he's the God of Travellers, he can't stop someone's journey." I rest a hand upon Luke's shoulder. I wonder what's going on in his mind. "Unfortunately your mom was wrong. No one really knows the true conditions of the curse, but I suppose it's something that won't be done till years from now." Until Nico and Bianca come to camp at the earliest.
"...Gill, do you know which God made that curse?" Luke asks, his hands clenched.
What I said next is something I would regret doing for a long time, even if it didn't have any negative consequences.
"No, Luke. I don't." I lied, already regretting that I had lied to a close friend, "I can see the future, but the past is really blurry for me. If I had to guess, I'd say The Crooked One did it, but I don't have any evidence." It hurt me that I was manipulating Luke, but it was genuinely for his own good.
"The Crooked One?" He questioned, seemingly buying my lie, "Wait a fucking minute, you don't mean that he's fucking coming back!?"
I looked away, pretending that I was guilty for saying something I shouldn't have, "I… can't tell you any more."
Luke sighs, understanding, before continuing our earlier conversation, "So, it's my mom's fault she went crazy, and I took it out on my dad like some sorta kid." Hey, I take offence to that! Not all kids are misguided.
"Hey. It wasn't anyone's fault, okay?" I gently chide, "And no matter what you say, you still are a kid. You should be allowed to make mistakes, Luke."
Luke chuckles, "Sometimes I forget how mature you are despite your tiny body." I brush off the (obviously light-hearted) backhanded compliment. "I was right in coming to you for advice. Still… I can't help but be pissed that dad gave me such a lame quest."
I sigh in relief. That's one thing out of the way. Now, convincing him that the quest was cool would most certainly be easier. "Look at it from another perspective. 2000 years ago, Heracles went to the Garden of the Hesperides and took a Golden Apple. But tell me, Luke, what do you think of the Labour as a theft? How would objectively rate as the son of the God of Thieves?"
Luke thinks with an intense expression before answering. "It… It was a sham of a theft. Heracles didn't even sneak about. He went straight to Atlas and put himself into a very risky position that could've ended with him holding the sky for eternity. Hell, Atlas might've not even gone to the tree to get a Golden Apple. I can appreciate the trickery he used to put Atlas under the sky again, but there were so many other ways to get that Apple, even if Heracles had to do it by himself. Hell, I could do it… better… Fuck. I think I get it."
I grin, "Yes you do! Do you truly think the pride of any thief would let such a great heist forever be fumbled by a brute like Heracles? The fact that Hermes gave you a quest that's clearly important to him, shows just how much trust he has in you, Luke!" In all honesty, I was speaking my heart's truth. This is a headcanon/theory I've had since my previous life. After all, Luke is Hermes's favourite child.
Luke stands up, with renewed vigour flowing through his body, and a bright smile on his face. He stood up straight, his eyes were full of emotion once more, and he gave the aura of a leader that was once subtle but now a roaring waterfall. He wraps me in a quick hug, "Thanks Gill. You're amazing." I like hugs. Jamie tends to give me one now and then. They're warm and nice. "I'll go ask Thalia if she wants to come on the quest as well!" He runs off to Olympus-knows-where, leaving me standing by myself.
Well, I guess that's my good deed for the day!
I jump back into my chair, and Icarus lands, sitting in Luke's chair. I take out a beer from my inventory, and begin drinking from it. My liver is going to beat my ass one day, but I'll be damned if I don't do my best to take it out before then!
"Kid, I might not be the God of Wine, but even I know that someone your age should not be drinking that." A mysterious voice behind says. It was an adult male voice, which had a clear New York accent.
And I already guessed who it was. After all, there is only one kind of entity in this world that just loves sneaking behind innocent demigods such as I.
"How may I help you, Lord Hermes?"
Author's Notes: And done! I know this chapter is like way shorter than usual, but I felt like it flows better like this, and you all know how much I love my cliffhangers! And congrats to all the people who guessed it was time for the Garden of Hesperides! Since there isn't a particularly clear date for when Luke went on his quest, I decided to do it 2 years before the first book so that Kronos would have enough time to corrupt Luke in the original timeline.
I'd also love to thank you all for the mad amount of support this fic has been getting! As of today, 3/8/23, this fic has 426 Reviews, 1209 Followers, 971 Favourites, and OVER 125,000 VIEWERS! So thank you all so much!
Anyway, as some of you may remember, last week we discussed the possibility of using AI Art so that you all could see Gill's design. A majority of you are fine with it, so using Stable Diffusion, and photoshop (to make it look bearable), I've made Gill and Icarus! Keep in mind, these are not 'Official' Designs, as I want the real official designs made by a real artist when I have the money to buy a commission.
Oh and btw, since Fanfiction doesn't allow links, please replace a full remove all spaces in the link and replace dot with a full stop .
Anyway, here's a photo Gill of Gill and Icarus : imgur dot com /a/zFskcrY
Also, in other news, Anyone else beyond excited for the next One Piece episode? Frankly I can't wait!
Anyway, here are Gill's stats:
Name: Gilgamesh Ashford
Age: 10
Level: 54
Title: Child of Apollo
HP: 8903/8903
MP: 10509/10509
Stats
Strength: 450
Agility: 500
Endurance: 450
Charisma: 515
Intelligence: 500
Willpower: 500
Luck: 450
Stat Points: 0