Chiron was enjoying one of the few moments of peace he got in his immortal life he was sitting in his wheelchair drinking a glass of iced tea and watching his students enjoy their downtime. It was moments like these that made life worth living. He closed his eyes to take in the moment a content smile on his face, then the campers started yelling.
"He's back lincoln's back," came the voice of a daughter of Hermes.
Chiron exited his chair to greet the son of Artemis heading towards the western border he found Lincoln just beyond the barrier with 3 giant boars harnessed to a sled.
"Oh Chiron good I was hoping to ask you about this you see the piglets here can't enter campgrounds and I don't want to leave them here alone," Lincoln explained, rubbing one's head whale feeding another a handful of mushrooms.
"Oh yes all you have to do is give them permission to cross the boundary as a Demigod of camp half-blood," he explained.
"oh well I Lincoln loud give you 3 permission to enter," Lincoln said with doubt but the three did pass through easily.
"So young hero, how was your first quest," Chiron asked.
" it was … A Lot," Lincoln answers, his voice wavering.
"That is how it often is, you have done well to return in one piece," Chiron responded, guiding the boy and the boars to the big house.
After Lincoln told his story to Chiron and Mr. D what had happened Mr.D declared a feast of pork chops and bacon which caused Lincoln to grimace.
Once Mr.D left to set up the feast Lincoln also left and was surrounded by other campers asking him about his quest, but before he answered any questions he asked them one of his own "where's percy,"
The campers all looked back to Chiron. Chiron in his long life had seen thousands of battles thousands of heroes who lost themselves to the lust of battle he had even watched his father eat the gods and in his entire life but the unease and dread he felt looking at the son of Artemis.
"Well my boy you see you're brother also has been given a quest of his own," Chirom explained.
"Oh I see … When was this," Lincoln asked.
"the day after you left,"
"Ah I sure hope he's safe and returns soon who knows the damage that could be done," Lincoln finished with a smirk.
As the boy left, the only thing that the teacher of heroes could feel was the ever-looming presence of a predator waiting for a moment of weakness to strike.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1 week later xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Charion awoke in his stall the feeling of dread he had had since Lincoln's return had left him the night before with the return of Percy's group. Chiron left his stall to go about his morning ritual and was surprised to see a majority of the camp including Dionysus waiting for him at the front of the big house most with cameras and all laughing and pointing. Looking down at himself he saw his hair and fur had both been died separate shades of pink he was also wearing a pink shirt that read my little pony friendship is magic and on either flank were depictions of 3 balloons.
Chiron didn't even react beyond a chuckle of his own. Looking over the campers he saw only one person missing Lincoln loud, the centaur had no doubt in his mind that Lincoln had pulled off this prank.
"Well I must admit I was always more of a flutter-shy fan than pinkie pie," Chiron chuckled causing the others to laugh even harder.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx a few weeks later Lincoln's pov xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
It was the last day of camp Lincoln was looking for his brother, he and percy had put off this conversation long enough Lincoln knew he was going home for the school year but percy and Lincoln have barely spoken since his return Percy had changed after his quest not in a bad way he seemed more himself than ever and Lincoln feared that meant his brother was going to stay at camp year-round.
Lincoln would never stop one of his family from doing what made them happy but if percy chose to stay he wouldn't know how to react in a way to had always been the two of them against the world.
"Hay bossman," came Custos Apri's (1) voice.
Lincoln had named the piglets over the last few weeks, the three had quickly grown to ma their mothers' size; the Demeter cabin and Satyers had quickly given the trio a job of clearing out the strawberry fields;
"yo Custos how's your day," Lincoln said parting the boar's side.
"So far so good I found something you gotta see," He said crouching.
Lincoln climbed onto Custos and the boar ran off into the forest into a clearing in the center of which was a large wolf easily bigger than the hellhounds he had seen it was curled and seemingly asleep. Lincoln felt the energy of the wolf he recognized it as his mother's power. He approached staying low and quiet.
"Don't worry she doesn't bite much," came a familiar voice he couldn't place it but he knew it.
Sitting with her back to the wolf a few inches from its massive claws and fangs, was a small silver-haired girl she looked a little older than Lincoln himself she was wearing familiar silver camouflage with a bow over her sholder.
"so you're Artemis it's good to finally actually meet you," Lincoln said approaching her.
"You're sharp not many people figure it out so quickly," She smiles.
"well it's not that much of a leap so what are you doing here,"
"I came to thank you for freeing the boar and dealing with hippomenes I got you a gift," She said pointing to the wolf.
"No thanks,"
"do you hate me," She asked looking lincoln in the eye.
"No how could I this is the first time we talked, but I also know a bribe when I see one expressly a poorly thought out one," he answered.
"that is a surprisingly mature way of looking at this, … I'm proud of you Son," The goddess said with a smile.
"thank you … But don't call me Son as far as I'm concerned you're just the person who knocked up my mom," Lincoln explaind.
"... You ever notice how the moon sometimes stays out later or rises earlier on important days in you're life how you have never once had a nightmare that was because I was thair watching over you, I know it doesn't make up for anything and l admit that I now realize the rules governing how gods can interact with thair children are cruel both to the parent and child you, all of the demigods deserve better," she explaind her voice going from flat and even to on the verge of tears.
Lincoln didn't hesitate before bringing Artemis into a hug, he didn't care if it was his mother or that she was a goddess to him it was just someone in need of comfort. They stayed like that for a bit before Artemis calmed down.
"I'm sorry I don't know what came over me," Artemis said leaning back.
"Hay everyone needs a shoulder to cry on sometimes, even gods apparently," Lincoln chuckled.
"thank you, Lincoln… You still deserve a reward for your quest here," She said, producing 3 collars.
"what are these," percy asked.
"put one around Custos neck," She explaind.
Despite knowing it wouldn't fit Lincoln put the Gray one around Custos neak and Lincoln did get it around the board neak as it shrank down to the size of a teacup pig but maintains its tusks.
"the mist will make them look like ordinary Pigs and if they wish they can grow back to thair full size," Artemis explained.
"wow this is so cool now I can come with ya boss man," Custos said, hopping onto Lincoln's lap.
"I just you can buddy and you're siblings if they want," Lincoln responded.
"They want to stay here. I told them I would be going with you even if you didn't want me to ," Custos explained.
Lincoln just laughed, petting under the piglet's head brushing the same spot Lincoln's sword had searched his mother's head.
"Artemis how long till the Calydonian boar reforms," Lincoln asked.
"I have spoken with Hades on that matter. He has moved her up the approved reformation list but it will still take years," She explains.
Lincoln smiled at that he stayed there for the next few hours enjoying the afternoon.
"You're mother just arrived you should head back to the camp," Artemis said standing up.
Lincoln returned to the camp in time to say goodbye to Annabeth and hear about what happened with Luke. their mother also picked them up and percy finally told Lincoln the whole story of his quest.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx AN xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Officially, the first summer is over
1: The Boars are named Custos meaning guardian Cursus meaning racer and Curiositas (or Curio for short) meaning Curiosity and the last name Aper literally means Boar.
So the only real difference between the original quest and this version is that Grover didn't have to stay behind and Percy's Bio mom and he spent time together in hades.