Percy Jackson & The Four Horsemen
Review Replies:
EnoughFanfictionBetrayal:
Trust me, I've gotten bored of no real Percabeth adventure fanfictions. And Percy's love interest will be Annabeth and no one else. Don't worry.
Chapter 2: A Not-So-Warm Welcome Home
PREVIOUSLY ON THE FOUR HORSEMEN:
The reopening of the Labyrinth had to be a bad sign. Although, this was the second time today his instincts had acted differently compared to what Chiron and Juniper had said. Maybe if he found out who this camper was-
"Prissy."
Well, shit.
Percy really did not want the first frie-, well, not a friend friend, but- , yeah, you get it. Anyway, he was hoping he'd get to meet a few more friendlier friends before Clarisse, but the Fates hated him, so what did he expect?
"Are you going to get up or continue staring at Grover's girlfriend, Prissy?"
Realizing he was still staring at Juniper, he turned around to see Clarisse La Rue, daughter of Ares.
"What in Hades do you want, Clarisse? Can't you go, like, skewer some kids in the coliseum."
"Why do you think I'm here, ya dumbass."
She pointed her spear, Maimer, at him. The whine of electricity filled the air, making Percy's arm hair stand up straight. A loud squeak was heard from somewhere behind him, and then a poof.
"Looks like the dryad didn't want to be here either. You gonna come and get your ass beat or stand here waiting for the next dude while looking like a doofus?"
Unknown to Clarisse, however, Percy was dying to get into the battlefield. And so, he took his pen out from his pocket and accepted the challenge to a spar.
The coliseum was a recent addition to the camp. The old arena was deconstructed and a team of demigod architects headed by Annabeth remodeled the arena with some Roman architecture, to represent the two camps' unity. Percy, unfortunately, did not have the time to appreciate what his girlfriend had made as he was dragged into the coliseum very unceremoniously.
"Yo, Clarisse, you think you can be a little less rough?"
"No."
"Just a lil bit?"
"No."
"Come on."
"Shut up and get ready."
And with that, she pushed him to the centre of the coliseum.
"No armor?"
"Unless you're too much of a pussy."
"And you're gonna fight me with just your spear?"
"Do you see a shield or anything in my hands, idiot?"
Percy grumbled. He brought out his sword and stood ready, waiting for Clarisse to make the first move. Which, in hindsight, was probably a stupid idea because children of Ares definitely know how to be aggressive and not make mistakes. Percy found that out from what happened next.
Clarisse yelled and charged, almost skewering Percy through with her first stab. Percy managed to sidestep and swung Riptide at her. Clarisse pushed the non-pointy end of the spear upwards and met his slice with a clang.
They both tried pushing their respective weapons to get more leverage, and unfortunately for Percy, the ground in which the point of the spear had dug into was a much better fulcrum than his arm.
Realizing that he wasn't going to win this deadlock, he sidestepped again, removing his blade from the lock. The muscle of Clarisse caused her to stumble, having no other force to work against. In that moment, Percy tripped her and brought his sword down for the kill.
Clarisse, however, was a much more experienced warrior, and rolled away from Percy (and her spear). She got back up, and pulling up her fists, she charged again.
Despite Percy's longer reach, Clarisse knew how to dodge the blade well enough to push Percy back. Sooner or later, she was within reach of her spear and ducked as Riptide sliced over her. She grabbed her spear and slammed the staff end against the flat of Percy's blade.
Percy had, of course, loosened his grip to be able to attack easier and the sheer force behind Clarisse's slam was enough to send his sword flying away from him.
"How the turntables."
"You're making quips without a weapon? I knew you were stupid, but not that stupid."
Percy shrugged and scampered away from Clarisse towards his sword. Clarisse was the better runner, and after a bit, she stood between Percy and his sword.
"Too scared to use your fists, Jackson?"
"Too afraid to hit a woman, Clarisse."
Clarisse snarled and lunged at him, bringing her spear in a downward slash. Percy sidestepped again, grabbed Maimer, and yanked it from Clarisse's grip. There was a slight oversight in this plan, however, for Percy was not wearing leather gauntlets to insulate the current flowing through the spear.
"AH, STYX!"
Percy threw the spear off into the distance, and pulled up his fists quick enough to block a punch from Clarisse.
"Shaky hands, Jackson. What would Chiron say?"
"You know what, Clarisse? How about you try holding an electric spear without protection and then speak shit."
Clarisse responded with a quick one-two to Percy's face, both scoring hits on his nose.
"Not another nosebleed."
"Stop making jokes."
Percy sent an punch to Clarisse's midsection, while she kicked at Percy's own, ending in both of them doubling over.
"You're a bitch, you know that?"
"Shut up, Jackson."
Percy needed an advantage, and Clarisse didn't exactly know that these jokes were his way to stall. The only advantages he had always had over Clarisse were his water powers and his sword, one which was against the rules in this spar and the other still behind Clarisse. Unfortunately for him, while Clarisse didn't realize he was stalling, she had come to the same conclusion, picking up Riptide.
"Look who has a weapon."
Clarisse sliced Riptide at him, forcing Percy to jump back. The barrage of slices and slashes pushed Percy backwards until he was stood against a wall. Clarisse swung Riptide at him again, and he ducked. But if Clarisse swung any lower than his neck he'd be done for. But maybe…
He kicked up his leg, flicking up the dry sand that was scattered across the floor of the coliseum. He knew Clarisse's grip would be tighter on her only weapon so he couldn't exactly take it from her. He had noticed her swings were wide enough to prevent him from sidestepping and if he managed to bring her close enough, he'd be able to force her to cleave the sword into the marble of the pillar behind him, giving him an opening.
"Sand? Really, Prissy? That desperate?"
Clarisse had fallen for the trap, and came in closer to him, stepping on his foot. She brought Riptide in from her left; and the sound of a sharp sword getting embedded into marble scraped into his ears.
As Clarisse realized her mistake, Percy brought up his other foot and kicked her hard, sending her back a few meters. Percy yanked out his sword and charged at Clarisse.
Clarisse, who wasn't as experienced with defense, tried to dodge the slashes of Riptide. Percy was a much more unruly fighter, and landed a hit on her arm with the flat of his blade. Immediately, as she reeled out from the blow, he stuck out his leg and tripped her.
Clarisse fell down onto the ground, and she felt the cold bronze point of Riptide pressed against her neck.
"I win. Again."
Percy walked out of the showers with a sigh of contentment. There was nothing better in life than a good warm shower, after all.
His private moment was interrupted by a shimmer in the air in front of him as the voice of Fleecy the cloud nymph said:
"Iris Message for ya, Percy."
The shimmer slowly expanded to show the face of his girlfriend Annabeth, dimly illuminated by the glow of the fading sun behind him.
"Seaweed Brain."
Her voice was filled with excitement and giddiness, so much so that Percy immediately smiled back.
"Wise Girl."
"So… guess who's in the San Fran International Airport with a ticket to New York?"
Percy tried not to smile even harder at the teasing smile he glimpsed at the corner of Annabeth's lips.
"You don't seem to be in an airport, Annabeth. Where's all the planes… and people?"
"Turns out the planes can't fit in the women's room, Percy."
With a face of realization, Percy asked the most important question in the world.
"Are you sure you're allowed to show me the inside of a women's bathroom, Wise Girl? I don't feel so good."
Annabeth sighed. "It's not even the first time I've IMed you in a bathroom, Seaweed Brain."
"Anyway, I need your help on something."
"Oh really? And what new prophecy was given this time?"
"No prophecy for now, but something's wrong. The Labyrinth was re-opened by some camper."
Her face suddenly turned serious, for both Percy and her had had horrible experiences in the Labyrinth.
"Why?"
"I'm guessing an escape plan, but he covered his tracks by saying that Chiron had ordered him to clean up Zeus' Fist. From what Juniper said, the dude's a camper."
"Percy, are you that sure that someone is going to use the Labyrinth as an escape plan? Especially if he's been here for some time?"
"Why not? Luke used the Labyrinth to escape after poisoning Thalia's Tree."
The mention of Luke, was as always, a touchy subject between the two.
"Percy, think about it. You're telling me that a camper removed the additions to Zeus' Fist on the order of Chiron. This camper, who you have no idea about, has done nothing suspicious."
"I don't know, Wise Girl, something just feels wrong."
"Maybe-" Her voice was cut off by an announcer's indistinct voice.
"Styx, I got to go. Seaweed Brain, we'll talk about this once I'm there. Don't do anything stupid."
"I won't."
Annabeth swiped through the IM and left Percy there, on top of some small ridge, overlooking the sun go down over the sea.
After a light dinner, Percy went for a small walk near the lake. Being near water always seemed to calm his mind. The naiads in the lake waved to him, but Percy didn't respond. His mind was occupied.
It was funny how this one time his instincts seemed to be going in a completely different direction than what everyone else seemed to be thinking. He hated the conflict that was rising in him. The facts were there, and there definitely wasn't anything odd about the facts. But his instincts seemed to be chasing loose threads. His instincts were usually right, but everyone else couldn't be wrong, could they?
He stared into the darkening depths of camp's canoe lakes, before noticing a small bronze glint in the water. He waded into the lake, watching the small thing grow larger and larger until he heard it. The sound of fire and gears. The sound of mechanical creaks and a voice, distinctly yelling "LEO IS BACK, BABYYY!" followed by another yelling "WHY IS THE DRAGON FLYING STRAIGHT DOWNWARDS?"
All da ladies 3 Leo. Hope ya enjoyed, ya goofs. First time writing a fight scene, hope that came out proper. And yes, Calypso. And no, Caleo isn't a thing. I'll try my best to write them like siblings though.
Apologies for the plot moving super slow in this one but I think the first main conflict should be clear by now. Thoughts on who the unknown camper's godly parent is? (Hint: not a major goddess.) Leave a review and whoever guesses it first wins a blue cookie.
-Scythe7137