Lol as of writing this A/N I have 69 followers. Heheheh. It's a sex thing... Heheheheh. Anyways, You may notice that the phrase pairings undecided no longer is in the summary... well just because I decided them doesn't mean they're together yet.

*DAMMIT now it's 70 follows... BUT IT'S 42 FAVS, ANSWER TO THE ULTIMATE QUESTION OF LIFE THE UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING AMIRITE yes I am rite

* now it's not either... bummer. Didn't write it fast enough.

Disclaimer: I don't claim ownership over any of the characters or settings in the following work of fiction, adapted from Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Percy thought about the prophecy before going downstairs.

He would he kill Ares? What did that even mean? How can you kill a god? Wouldn't that make the gods think Percy too powerful to keep alive?

How would he steal the bolt, if he was going to get it from Ares anyways? Maybe he was supposed to steal the Helm of Darkness? But if he killed Ares, wouldn't it be his anyways? Well, this line was a bit easier to figure out than the first, anyways. If he somehow killed Ares, and didn't make him agree to the terms of a duel first, then the Helm wouldn't technically be his to take. And it was quite easy to steal from dead men, that much was clear.

The third line hadn't really changed much, and the fourth line seemed even better than before. It openly told him what he already knew. Thanks, Oracle, old buddy!

Percy decided he'd do what he normally did when he wasn't sure what to do: the exact same thing as the first time.

When he exited the Big House, Chiron, Grover, and, surprisingly, Nancy were all gathered around the steps. Nancy hadn't been there when he'd first gone up, so he was a little surprised. Why was Chiron letting Nancy hear the prophecy? Grover was essentially already chosen to be his questmate, as the council of cloven buttfaces or whatever they were called had ruled that Grover's mission wasn't complete: he would need to accompany Percy on his quest, and if they both came back alive, then he would be allowed a searcher's license. Percy knew that Grover was destined be the one to find Pan, although Pan would actually die as soon as they met, so he needed that license. But that was a thought for another time.

Chiron spoke before Percy could. "Nancy here has already volunteered to accompany you on your quest, regardless of the prophecy you received. I felt she should be allowed to hear it, at least, before you choose your questmates. Annabeth is also probably around here somewhere, invisible, clearly not realizing I'd allow her to be here if she'd simply asked. She volunteered as well."

Annabeth shimmered into existence, Yankees cap in hand, blushing slightly, embarrassed. "I only did it so maybe I'd get to leave camp for once. Fight real monsters."

Percy felt bad, because there was no way he was letting Annabeth come with him on this quest. He felt horrible whenever she was around; they wouldn't last five seconds in a fight where they had to cooperate. But she was still a person. He didn't like making anyone feel bad.

Percy also decided that he was going to tell Annabeth, and the rest of the gang, the whole prophecy. Not this one, but the original. Maybe she wouldn't feel so bad about him not picking her. Not that she liked him much anyways, especially not now that she knew he was a son of the sea god.

Percy took a shaky breath before he relayed the original prophecy (which he thought was a nice touch),

"You shall go West and face the god who has turned,

You shall find what was stolen and see it safely returned,

You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend,

And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end."

"Now are you so eager to help?" Percy said, questioning.

Grover spoke up before the scene got too tense, in a fake cheerful sort of way. "Well, those first two lines seem pretty great!"

Chiron looked far away, his eyes sad. No prophecy was ever good news.

Grover was desperately trying to keep it together.

Nancy was dumbfounded, too shocked to speak.

Annabeth looked analytical, as usual, and it was her that spoke next. "But the last two lines are abysmal."

She shook her head, before continuing, "Listen, Percy, I won't betray-"

Percy cut her off. "Don't worry about it. You don't call me a friend. It doesn't apply to you."

Nancy couldn't speak. It was like the weight of the world was crushing down on her. How could she possibly convince Percy she would never betray him? And he was going to fail? What kind of a prophecy was this?

"Listen, Percy, my boy, prophecies' true meanings are often not known until the end of the quest. They're never straight. There is almost always a double meaning," Chiron tried to comfort.

But Percy didn't need comfort. He knew exactly what he was doing. "Grover, Nancy, pack up your stuff. We've got a quest to go on."

Nancy was still dumbfounded, but this time it was happier. She couldn't believe he'd picked her. He was already an amazing fighter, and what was she good at? Wouldn't Annabeth have been the smarter pick? There was no way she would betray him. Nancy obviously knew she wouldn't betray Percy, but she could never convince him of that. So she didn't try.

Annabeth was outraged. "What!? You're choosing her over me? I have five years of experience, and I can't betray you!"

Percy didn't care for prideful Annabeth. "But isn't that a logical fallacy, daughter of Athena? Just because the prophecy says someone who calls me a friend will betray me, that doesn't guarantee that someone who doesn't call me a friend won't."

That shut her up. Percy had learned a thing or two from Annabeth, and it wasn't just The Art of War.

Percy continued, "And besides, Nancy didn't even try to convince me that she wouldn't betray me. She wanted to go on this quest because she wanted to stay with me and Grover, and everyone knows it. If she was going to betray me, she would've been the first person to tell me she would never betray me. Kind of like you, daughter of wisdom. It's something you would have realized if you didn't let your pride get in the way of rational thinking!"

Percy hadn't really meant to unload on the poor girl, she was just a prideful, lovesick fool who wanted to see the world. But she had also led him on for four straight years, whether she knew it or not, and she definitely did, since she freaking kissed him one time! Just thinking about it made Percy's blood boil. Was he just not good enough for her?

He grabbed Nancy's shoulder, and told Grover to follow, and the three left to gather their things together. But before he left, he let his anger take control, enough for one last retort for the stunned Annabeth.

"Besides, the prophecy said one who calls me a friend. Not someone who is my friend."

He could hear Annabeth's scoff in the distance, because his statement operated under the same false pretense that hers had: that just because the prophecy said someone would do something, it doesn't mean someone else couldn't do it, too.

Percy realized in his haste and anger that he had forgotten he wasn't supposed to know that Hades was in the West. He turned about face and walked sheepishly back, followed by Grover and Nancy.

"Ummm, Chiron, who exactly is the god in the West we're supposed to be looking for?"

Chiron, who had stayed out of the debacle, looked pleased that Percy had come to his senses.

"Just, think, Percy. Which god would stand to gain from a war, one that weakened both Zeus and Poseidon?"

Percy couldn't resist telling him the true answer. "Somebody who likes war?" he pretended to guess, cluelessly.

Annabeth put her hand on her forehead and slid it down across her face. She could hardly believe his stupidity.

Chiron was less obvious, but it was clear he had hoped the boy was not as foolish as he was appearing to be. What had happened to talking about logical fallacies? "Er, perhaps, but it is far more likely someone who wants to seize control. Someone who would gain strength with more dead mortals. Someone who holds a grudge, who has been unhappy ever since his lot was drawn thousands of years ago."

"You mean Hades?"

"That seems to be the only safe guess, yes."

The rest of the conversation went just about the same, with the exception that Percy managed to convince the centaur to let them leave the next morning, rather than that afternoon. They had two and a half months, after all, until the summer solstice deadline.

As fate would have it, Percy dreamed for the first time, other than the times Kronos had called to him, which hadn't been too often. At any rate, he was very surprised when he dreamed of Hades' throne room.

Hades sat on his throne, contentedly grinning. "Young demigod. Before you leave on your little quest, I have a... little proposition for you."

Percy wondered absently about what he was going to say. This hadn't happened before, but he doubted it was something he needed to worry about.

Hades waved his hand, and his mother appeared in a flash of light, trapped in a shower of gold, with a terrified look on her face. Hades had captured her after all.

"Hahaha! If you want to see your mother alive again, you'd better return what you stole!" Hades' look turned from amused to furious at the end of his sentence. He really wanted his helm back.

And just like that, the dream was gone.

Percy was actually glad, strange as it sounded. If this was like last time, she was actually safer with the lord of the dead than with Gabe Ugliano. Percy could barely admit it to himself, but he was very very glad she'd been captured. He just had to make sure he convinced Hades not to kill her, and he'd be home free.

Before the three left, Chiron gave Percy and Nancy two canteens filled with nectar, and a bag filled with ambrosia. Percy knew that they needed to keep those in different places: their backpacks, their pockets, anywhere. They didn't want to lose all their ambrosia at lunch. The camp store loaned Percy twenty drachmas and a hundred bucks, both of which Nancy eyed greedily. Percy wasn't surprised. He knew her fatal flaw was avarice. Intense, unrelenting greed. If she wanted something, she would take it, no matter whose it was. Percy decided he'd let her carry the money. She'd steal it from him before the day was through anyways, Percy was sure.

For a weapon, Grover brought only his reed pipes and Nancy brought a bow, slung across her chest, which was slightly odd, and 24 celestial bronze tipped arrows, as well as a dagger, in case something got too close. Neither wore armor. Percy did. He wore the set that Beckendorf had put him in, as he had actually taken to wearing it all the time. He felt a little unprotected without the curse of the Styx, so it made him feel a small bit better.

Percy bore no shield. He kept Body Odor strapped to his waist, sheathed on his left. This would lead enemies to believe that it was his main weapon, if they assumed he was right handed. What they wouldn't know, however, is that Percy had two swords. Or, he would once Chiron gave it to him. Percy had practiced drawing his sword with his left hand from the scabbard on the left, which is quite difficult to do quickly. It involved drawing it straight out, flipping it 180 degrees, while simultaneously rotating it 180 degrees as well, so that the handle was in the correct direction. That was another flaw with Body Odor. While it was double edged, it mattered if you held it right side up or upside down. Riptide didn't suffer from the same problem. Percy, in addition to practicing drawing it, practiced using it with his left hand, more than his right actually. In a tough fight, one he'd need Riptide for, he would only rely on what he knew how to do with Body Odor in his left hand. Percy had never fought with two swords before, but it couldn't hurt to try, right? He had survived this quest last time with Riptide alone, and with no shield. He was better equipped than ever, and there was no slight greater to a smith than accepting his work and then abandoning it when the going gets rough. Body Odor had served him well, better than any shield, and he would repay his debt to the sword, even if fighting with two swords wasn't something you could pick up in four days.

Percy also carried several bottles of water, in case he needed extra healing, or a quick weapon or something. Only, he filled up the bottles with seawater, which was much easier to manipulate, and healed him faster.

Before they left, Luke came up to the group, greeting Percy with a, "Ho, friend! I've got something for you!" and got a scowl from Nancy, but Grover and Percy looked happy to see him, one more sincere than the other.

No one noticed except for Percy. Luke had called him "friend."

After Luke left, and Grover put on the cursed shoes, Chiron finally gave Riptide to Percy, even though Percy already had "a perfectly fine weapon." It was a gift from his father, after all. Chiron was obligated to give it to him.

Percy was elated. He finally had his dear friend back; he had his most prized possession. Like true love and gasoline, it was something you only missed when it was gone. But he finally had it back. The beautiful three foot blade, gold riveted hilt, leather wrapped handle that fit his hand exactly, the perfect balance. Everything you could ever need in a sword. Percy felt like he was in Elysium, maybe even the Isles of the Blessed.

Percy practiced flicking off the cap with one hand a few times, finding that whenever he wished to sheathe the sword, the cap always seemed to be in his left hand somehow. Percy never really thought about it before. He didn't keep the cap in his left hand when he fought, and he never had to look for it after battle, it was always just in his hand when he needed it. Pretty nifty little sword.

As they were driven to the bus terminal by Argus, Percy got curious about something.

"Nancy, just how much money do you have on you right now?"

Nancy blushed, clearly trying to pretend she hadn't stolen any money from any campers.

"Uhm, just the hundred bucks and twenty drachmas you gave me to hold on to, heheh, why do you ask?"

She was blatantly obvious. Percy decided he wouldn't be telling Grover or Nancy his little secret during this quest. They were both terrible liars.

Percy and Grover both glared at Nancy pointedly.

Grover bleated, and Percy asked, "Nancy, please. It's just us and Argus. We know you steal stuff all the time. This could be useful. How much do you have with you right now, other than what I gave you?"

Nancy looked thoughtful for a moment. "Other than what you gave me? On me right now? Hmm..." She counted on her fingers.

"Eight hundred sixty seven dollars and forty cents, and eighty eight drachmas. Wait, hold on... no that's right, eighty eight," she said, completely straight faced.

Percy's and Grover's eyes nearly popped right out of their skulls. How had she gotten so much, so fast!? It was crazy! Even a few of Argus's eyes had widened when he heard the number, and he was never surprised by anything. He'd, er, well, he'd seen it all, so to speak.

"Where on earth are you carrying that much!? That much cash and that many drachmas should be clearly visible on your person!" Percy exclaimed.

Nancy hesitated for half a second, before grinning a wide grin. "A thief never reveals her hiding place."

Grover seemed resigned to the idea she'd never tell them, but Percy didn't come back to life to not know something. He didn't realize it, but he was hungry for knowledge, almost as much as a child of Athena. Not intelligence, mind you, just knowledge, secrets. That sort of thing. It wasn't the most healthy obsession, but it was a small price to pay for immortality.

"I'm not buying that, Nance. I know you're hiding it somewhere. Now, are you gonna tell me, or am I gonna have to tickle it out of you?"

Nancy paled. She was very, very ticklish. Her eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't dare."

"Try me."

Percy went to tickle her, one hand headed for her neck, the other for her stomach. He had barely touched her, hadn't even started tickling her yet, actually, when she screamed, "I YIELD!"

Argus's eyes flinched at the volume at which she cried.

Percy decided that maybe her fatal flaw wasn't greed after all. Maybe it was being ridiculously ticklish.

"I... I um..." Nancy was having a hard time talking, so Percy raised his hands again, his fingers wiggling quickly. She caved.

"I stole an enchanted coin purse from the attic of the Big House! It didn't seem like anyone was using it, so I thought I could just take it! It's not like the green snake lady was keeping her loose change in it or anything!"

Percy was about to just chastise her when he realized something she'd said was a little off. A little too... accurate. She'd said "green snake lady." The only way she would've known that would be if the Oracle...

Percy spoke very calmly.

"Nancy, what I'm about to ask is very important. When you went in the attic, did you happen to ask the Oracle a question? One that she answered?"

Nancy paled considerably. She'd received a prophecy. Just great, thought Percy. Another thing he wouldn't know until it came back to bite him in the butt.

"What did she say?" Grover asked.

"None of your business!" Nancy shrieked as she pushed Grover away from her, which pushed her onto Percy.

She blushed profusely, before clearing her throat and collecting her hair behind her head, and saying in an overly calm tone. "It was a personal matter, and I assure you it had nothing to do with this quest."

Percy sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose. He'd been doing that a lot, lately. "When was this?"

"Wednesday night. Or, I guess, Thursday morning."

"And you're one hundred percent certain it had absolutely nothing to do with this quest whatsoever?"

Nancy mumbled something inaudible, looking straight at the ground.

"What? I didn't catch that," Percy said.

Nancy looked absolutely frazzled when she yelled, "I SAID, WELL, IT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH ONE OF THE PEOPLE ON IT!"

Percy covered his ears the second she started yelling, but it was impossible not to hear what she'd said. "Well, was it any good?" he asked her quietly.

She blushed an intense shade of red, her entire face the color of fresh blood. Despite her blush, she kept her tone calm, and even haughty. "You wouldn't know. It doesn't concern you. Hmph."

Yeah, because you asked the Oracle about Grover, Percy thought to himself. Oh, Nancy.

Eventually they reached the bus terminal, and Argus let them off on the van, gave Percy a sly wink, and drove off.

Percy knew they were close to his apartment, where Gabe probably hadn't noticed Sally's disappearance yet, and wouldn't until he wanted some bean dip. Percy was getting angry that he couldn't stop Gabe from hitting his mother before now.

Grover could sense his anger towards Gabe, and said, "If it makes you feel better, she married him to keep you safe."

Percy, who had completely forgotten satyrs could read emotions, quickly realized that if he didn't tell Grover and Nancy about his mother's kidnapping right now, it'd be very suspicious.

"Grover, I actually had already figured that out, but thanks for telling me. He is incredibly mortal, and must smell like it, too. I actually nicknamed him Smelly Gabe. I guess that was particularly apt, huh? But there's something else I have to tell you guys."

"What is it?" Nancy said cautiously, but kindly.

"Last night, I had a dream. I was in Hades' throne room, and he told me he had my mom hostage, and showed her to me, frozen in time. If I don't give him what I stole, then he'll kill her."

Percy realized as he was saying it, just how much this would affect. How had he not thought of it before!?

Grover and Nancy were shocked, but for different reasons. Nancy actually figured it out first, which Percy thought was surprising.

Grover spoke first. "But you don't have the bolt! Your mom..." Grover bleated loudly.

Nancy looked sympathetic, but she had her priorities straight. "But... doesn't that mean... that he doesn't have the bolt, either? If he wants you to give it to him, then that must mean he doesn't have it!"

Percy quickly quieted her. "Nancy!" he whisper-shouted. "Not so loud. Not until we know what will happen if the gods find out."

"So, what exactly does this mean?" Grover asked, anxiously. He had already eaten two tin cans out of nervousness, and was starting on a third. Who knew what the mortals saw.

Percy took a breathe, making it shaky, but still determined. "If both Zeus and Hades think I stole the bolt, and I didn't steal the bolt, then it must mean someone is trying to make us think Hades took it."

"But who?" Nancy asked, nervous that they didn't know what they thought they knew.

Grover suddenly spoke up, nervously. "Guys, maybe we shouldn't talk about this here. I smell... bad things. We should keep moving."

"Grover's right. The quest says go west, so we'll go west. Let's go," Percy said in a commanding tone. He was used to rallying the troops, and this skill carried over quite nicely to his two troubled friends.

Not long after, they had boarded the Greyhound that Percy knew the Furies would soon be boarding as well.

When the Kindly Ones got on, all three tensed up.

Nancy spoke. "Is that-"

"It has to be," Percy interrupted. "Kindly Ones. All three of them."

"We're dead," Grover gulped.

"Quit your whining, goat boy. We're heroes. We got this. I won't let them hurt you. Either of you."

Nancy blushed but was still upset. "Percy, we're your friends. We will fight, too. You don't have to kill everything yourself. Remember what happened last time you said you'd protect both of us?" The way she said it, she seemed almost... desperate.

Percy looked sheepish. "Er, yeah. Sorry. Anyways, there's three of us and there's three of them. We know they'll die if you slash them, I assume the same will go for arrows."

Percy seemed to notice Grover. "Oh, and, umm. Well, we'll handle this one. There's not much room for the flying shoes here, but you'll get the next monster, I promise!"

Grover looked like he was about to say that he wouldn't mind not getting the next monster, thank you very much, but the Furies spoke.

"I've got to use the restroom."

"Me, too."

"As do I."

They slowly moved towards the back of the bus, where the three friends sat.

"Not good!" Nancy whispered.

"Let's just see how this plays out. Get out your dagger, Nance. On my signal, stab the nearest one in the chest," Percy whispered back.

"What's the signal?" Nancy asked.

"You'll know it when you see it."

Nancy looked incredulous, but Percy added, "I've always wanted to say that. But seriously, you'll know."

But as Percy looked down the isle, the three Furies all in a line, he changed his mind. He wouldn't put his friends in danger. The furies weren't there to kill him, just get back the Helm. Hades wasn't trying to kill Percy. He just wanted his stuff back. They weren't going to be too hard to kill. Not if he distracted them with what they wanted.

"Actually, never mind. I have a plan. If this works, we won't have to be in much danger. Just trust me. This won't be like last time."

Nancy and Grover both looked like they wanted to argue, but Percy wasn't going to let them.

He stood up in the isle, Body Odor strapped to his waist, armor protecting his torso, thighs, and forearms. He rose to his full height, and in his loudest voice, he spoke.

"Alecto, Megaera, Tisphone. You want me to give you what I took?" It was risky, as whoever spoke could say something about the Helm of Darkness.

The mortals on the bus immediately took notice.

Alecto, who was in front of the other two, being in the aisle, spoke. "Of course. Give to us what you stole, and perhaps you will not suffer eternal torment!"

Percy grinned. Exactly what he wanted. "Well, I haven't stolen anything, but I'll give you what I have." He produced Riptide from his pocket, still in pen form.

"A pen!?" Alecto screeched. "What manner of trickery is this!?"

Percy shook his head. "Trickery isn't a very nice word. I like to think of myself as crafty."

"That matters not! Deliver to us-"

Percy, before she could say anything about the Helm of Darkness, held Riptide straight towards them, and, in one fluid motion, uncapped it and lunged at the Furies, plunging the sword through Alecto, then Megaera, then Tisiphone, all in the same lunge, before any of them even had time to transform. They exploded into dust, one after another.

Percy quickly capped Riptide, and bowed, saying, "And I have made all three old ladies, disappear!"

Everyone on the bus was stunned. Percy had no clue what they thought had just happened, and he really didn't want to find out.

"Now that I am done with the trick, please let me and my assistants off the bus right now!"

The bus driver slammed on the brakes. Percy didn't know what the driver thought was going on, but it seemed he was very happy to have Percy off his bus.

Grover and Nancy followed Percy reluctantly off. They were a bit further than where the bus had spun out of control last time.

Once the bus sped off, Nancy slapped Percy in the face.

"What in Hades was that, Percy!"

Percy rubbed his cheek and wanted to get mad, but he couldn't. She was probably justified.

"What did I do wrong, Nancy?" Percy asked gently.

Grover stepped aside. He looked angry, too, but not as much as Nancy.

Nancy grabbed Percy by the straps of his armor, and pulled on him. "You idiot! You could've gotten hurt, or killed!" Nancy seemed less angry, or, rather, closer to tears.

"Nancy, I-"

She shook him roughly, interrupting him. She was crying now.

"What would've happened if you had died, huh? What would me and Grover have done then, huh? Without... without..." Nancy was crying too hard. Percy grabbed her, and held her to him.

"It's okay, Nancy. It's okay. It's all gonna be okay. I'm fine. We're all fine," he said, soothingly, rubbing her back gently.

Nancy was only crying marginally less hard, but she managed a few words. "The Oracle said... she said... someday... I would have... to save..." She started sobbing even harder, making her unable to talk.

"It's okay, Nance. You're gonna be okay. I'm gonna be okay."

She kept crying into his armor, which couldn't have been very comfortable.

"I don't suppose you can walk, can you?" Percy asked, but it was more to himself than to Nancy. She made no indication of hearing him, and kept crying. "No, I suppose not."

Percy hesitated for a second, but decided whatever it was he was considering didn't matter. He was a sucker for a crying girl, anyways. He hoisted her up in the air, carrying her bridal style, his right hand supporting her back and his left hand supporting her legs, while saying, "Upsy-daisie!" Nancy wasn't particularly heavy, so Percy didn't have a problem carrying her, but her bow was annoying him. Why couldn't she have gotten a bow like the hunters have, that shrinks into like a hairpin or something?

"We gotta keep moving, G-man. Sorry I blew our ride. We would've endangered the mortals if we'd stayed on. If they decided we were criminals, we would've had to hurt them to stay alive. Sorry I fought them alone."

Grover looked sympathetic. "It's okay, Perce. I wouldn't have been much help in a fight, anyways. Nancy was a lot more mad than me, and she yelled at you enough for both of us. Let's go."

Percy and Grover walked in silence, save for Nancy's loud, incessant sobbing. It got gradually quieter, but her prophecy had clearly scared the Hades out of her, and this was the first time she was letting it out. There isn't much privacy for an untrained child of Hermes. Her cabin was always crowded, and she couldn't sneak past the Harpies. Well, she probably could, Percy thought, she just wouldn't be able to fight them, and so she wasn't going to risk it.

Eventually she stopped making noise, but when Percy looked down, she was still silently sobbing. It had been about an hour, and Percy knew that there must be something else to it. Something she wasn't telling them. No one cries for an hour. Well, maybe some people do, but Nancy didn't. An hour is a long time.

"Yo, Grover. Let's stop for just a minute. My arms are getting tired."

Percy leaned down to Nancy's ear, and whispered, "Nancy? I'm gonna put you down for a minute. Can you stand?"

She nodded slightly.

Percy put her down, but she latched onto him as soon as he did, wrapping her arms around him, pressing her head to his breastplate. She was only a few inches shorter than him, so she was leaning over slightly. It must have been super uncomfortable, because he was encased in celestial bronze, but she didn't seem to care.

Grover turned away, like he was embarrassed by the show of affection from Nancy.

Percy heard a tiny, heartbroken voice that cut straight to his core.

"Percy?"

Nancy was looking up at him, her face still wet with tears.

When he heard Nancy's voice like this, so soft, so gentle, so full of innocence, it was like everything else left his head completely. At essentially all times, Percy was constantly thinking about what was going to happen next, what he could do differently, how this had happened, how he was going to kill the next monster, and so on, but when he heard Nancy's voice, it was like nothing else existed. This person needed his help. This voice was all that mattered right now.

He almost wasn't thinking at all.

"Yeah?" he replied gently. He couldn't use the same tone as Nancy, because he wasn't in her position, but he made his tone as soft and gentle as he could muster.

"You'll stay with me, right?" Her tone didn't change. It was still almost imperceptible, so quiet that if you were even listening to yourself think while she was talking, you wouldn't be able to hear it. Percy could only hear her voice. The rain stopped making noise, the bugs in the forest were silent, the cars in the distance disappeared, the sound and smell of the Hudson miles away. Nothing else existed but this question.

You'll stay with me, right?

Percy couldn't think of an answer, couldn't think of anything at all. He simply spoke.

"If I ever leave, I will always come back for you, Nancy."

Percy knew he shouldn't make promises like this, not in his position, but it was like he couldn't bring himself to even think about what he was saying. It was what he felt, not a response he concocted to fit the situation.

Nancy looked pleased by this, but she was clearly still a little broken inside. She looked him in the eyes, her teary light brown versus his comforting sea green.

"Will you just... hold me? For a little while?" she said, in the same tone, one that could brook no argument, no debate, no disagreement. She couldn't even muster a blush when she asked him something so embarrassing.

Percy couldn't have denied her request, even if he wanted to, which he didn't. He only wished he wasn't wearing his armor.

He said nothing, just wrapped his arms comfortably around her, sending the silent message that, for the time being, she was right here, and he wasn't letting her go anywhere without him. That he wasn't going anywhere without her.

Percy didn't even realize at that point just how much Nancy meant to him. Maybe he didn't love her, but he needed her to be safe. He couldn't stand it when she was sad. He didn't know what to do when she yelled at him. And he couldn't deny that he really wanted to kiss her.

Unfortunately for Nancy, Percy was also the most oblivious man on the planet. While all of that was true, he hadn't thought any of it consciously. He didn't understand why she made him feel like that. He didn't try to understand.

After a few minutes, Percy wasn't sure how long exactly, Nancy pushed him away from her, no longer crying, face red as a beet.

"Okay! Forward march, men! Onward, towards... um... the west!" Nancy started walking exaggeratedly, barely bending her knees at all, swinging her arms wildly.

Percy and Grover looked at each other and shrugged. They started walking behind her.

Grover spoke first, saying "Alright, now that we're all... mentally present, let's discuss who's really behind this mess."

"Right," Percy started, "if Hades didn't take the bolt, and Poseidon didn't take the bolt, and if we assume Zeus really did lose his bolt, then there's really only a few options that make sense."

"Yeah?" said Nancy.

"Somebody who's always down for a war... or somebody else who wants power. And if we assume it's not a new enemy, then there's only one that makes any sense."

"Who do you think that is, Perce?" Grover asked.

"The one who the gods took power from in the first place," Percy responded solemnly.

Grover stopped dead in his tracks, while Nancy didn't seem to care. "You mean K-"

Percy lunged forward and clamped his hand over Nancy's mouth, startling her a great deal. "Do not speak his name, lest you attract his attention," he said seriously, before taking his hand off of her face. Percy knew firsthand not to mention someone's name if they wished you harm. Usually saying the gods' names was fine, if you used them respectfully, but saying the names of monsters, of evil gods... After four years, Percy was trained not to say the name of someone who wished you harm, because names hold power. A lot of power.

"Sorry. So, do you mean my... great grandfather?"

"Yes, that would be my guess."

"That would be very. very bad," Grover said. "Like, really bad. Maybe he was just... trying to trick you! Into coming to the underworld, so he can kill you!"

"But, Grover, if he knew I didn't have the bolt, then why would he tell me to give it to him in exchange for my mother? Why wouldn't he just tell me to come and get her, or ask for my father's trident or something? There's no way Hades stole the bolt," Percy said with finality.

Nancy spoke up, rather cheerfully for a girl who'd just had a breakdown and was now headed to her likely death, "Well, some god in the west turned traitor. We'll get there, face him, get the Bolt, and go home."

Grover mumbled, "Yeah, and then someone's gonna betray Perce, and Perce will fail to save something-"

"What was that, goat boy?" Nancy asked, accusingly.

"Nothing, nothing."

Eventually, they reached Auntie Em's, and they were all starving.

Percy decided he'd kill Medusa after she made them cheeseburgers.

"What does that say?" Nancy asked Grover, unable to read the sign.

"Auntie Em's Garden Gnome Emporium," he said, nervously.

"Sounds perfectly normal. Let's go. I'm hungry."

"Nancy!" Grover said. "These statues are... creepy. Their faces are all scared. I smell monsters."

"You're imagining things, Grover," Nancy reassured.

Percy held back a moment, before whispering to Grover, "Oh ye of little faith, G-man. Haven't you figured it out already? Auntie M? Scared statues?"

Grover's eyes widened comically.

"Shh... Let's see if she's gonna make us food before we kill her. I've got this under control. I just wanna see if Nance will figure it out. She's not the best with remembering monsters, and it seems like there's a spell here, too. It's making this place smell irresistible to humans and demigods, but presumably not to satyrs, if you smell monsters. But don't worry, I'll kill 'Auntie Em' before she's a threat," Percy whispered.

Then, in a normal voice Percy said, "Let's go in. I'm starving."

Everything followed the same general procedure as the first time, up until they got to the dining area.

"Children, please, no weapons at the dining table. Allow me to put them somewhere safe. Even orphans must practice good manners," Medusa said, charmingly. Nancy, never one to pass up free anything, especially food when she was starving, instantly obliged. She could just steal her bow back whenever she wanted, anyways, if the woman didn't give it back.

Percy was less inclined to hand over Body Odor, but he still had his secret weapon, so he managed to get over it.

Grover whimpered a lot when that happened.

"Relax, Grover. I'm sure we won't need those weapons at the table."

Grover seemed to loosen just a little, but he was still very tense.

"And your armor, too. That's not proper eating attire."

Percy begged to differ, because he'd been wearing it nonstop since he got it, save for when he showered. He was much more reluctant to let the monster take his armor off, and he could've sworn Nancy looked miffed too, and was blushing a little.

When Medusa came back with the food, and put it on the table, Percy made his move.

He rose, and Medusa looked a little surprised.

"Auntie Em, thank you so much for the food!"

"Of course! Anything for you poor dears." As she spoke, Percy put his hand in his pocket, and gripped Riptide tightly.

"Really, it's so sweet of you to do something like that," Percy said, pouring on the charm like syrup on his pancakes, which is to say, a whole lot. As he spoke, he slowly brought Riptide out of his pocket, and turned ever so slightly to his right while moving his hand behind him, so she wouldn't notice the thing he held in his paw.

She didn't notice. She was busy ogling Percy, who looked so much like Poseidon had, in his 'younger' years.

"Oh, it's really nothing at-"

Her head fell to the ground as her body disintegrated. Percy had swung Anaklusmos while flicking the cap off with his thumb, the sword growing to its full length just before connecting with Medusa's neck.

Medusa didn't even see it coming.

Nancy was outraged for a split second, bolting upright, before she realized the nice woman's body had disintegrated.

"PERCY! WHAT DID YOU- oh. That was a monster. You probably just saved my life again, didn't you?"

"Yeah, that was Medusa. Let's eat up. Her head will still be there when we're finished eating.

"You jerks!" Nancy cried. Percy hadn't been expecting that. "You both knew! You both knew she was a monster and YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!"

Percy knew he was in big trouble. He had legitimately messed up this time. There was no reason to keep it from Nancy. He just wanted to see if she'd notice. That was a trick he might've pulled on Clarisse and felt fine with it, but Nancy was mad, and it made him feel horrible. He had to make her... not mad. He felt like his insides were being stirred thoroughly. He was not a fan.

He put the cap back on Riptide, conveniently back in his hand, and rushed over to Nancy, who slapped him across the face before he managed to lock her in an embrace.

"Owww. Look, Nance, I'm really sorry. I'll be honest. I knew it was Medusa the whole time, and I wanted to see if you'd figure it out on your own, and that was stupid and mean, and I'm sorry, I'm really really sorry," he said, one hundred percent genuine.

Nancy tried to turn away, but it didn't really work, because he was holding her so tightly. This time, he wasn't wearing armor, and it felt... different. She never wanted him to stop holding her, ever. She wished they could stand there, in the dining area of Auntie Em's Garden Gnome Emporium, forever. Then she remembered she was mad at him.

"Let go," she said, incredibly half-heartedly. "No, don't do that. I deserve this... as an apology," she tried to reason, mostly to herself. As if it made a difference to Percy, who wasn't really thinking about anything but how soft Nancy was in his arms.

Uhhh, wait, what?

Nancy was still peeved that he'd hidden the fact that he knew Grover was right and let her be rude to him, and let her make a fool of herself for not realizing it was Medusa. She was also peeved that Percy was sending her so many mixed signals. Here he was, holding her, after he'd carried her in his arms for a mile... Her cheeks heated up, and she was blushing full force. She tended to do that a lot. He was holding her, but he never tried to make a move on her, and it was infuriating. Did he like her or not!?

"Most girls would get a kiss if their... bgrurrbugahfuhfuhgrahruhruhrrrrr," Nancy mumbled quietly to herself, unintelligible gibberish towards the end.

"What?" Percy said, softly, though he'd heard what she said, save the unintelligible part.

Grover turned away. Medusa was less disgusting than this PDA.

"Nothing..." Nancy grumbled.

Percy started to let her go, but before he let her all the way go, he stopped, suddenly.

Percy didn't know what on earth possessed him to do something so stupid, but he pulled her toward him again and gave Nancy a quick kiss on the cheek, before letting go, grabbing Medusa's head, and walking towards the cash register, cheeseburgers and milkshakes and french fries forgotten on the table, and Nancy standing dazed by herself, not even remembering to blush.

Heh. Heheh. Heheheheh. HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEH! I'M MAD WITH POWER!

But how do you know for sure if you have power unless you abuse it?

Hopefully the fluff wasn't unbearable. I tried not to go too overboard. Just the right amount of overboard. I won't know if it's okay until the reviews start coming in anyways, because I've never written anything so fluffy in my life.

Notes/Clarification:

The "voice" Nancy uses that affects Percy a lot towards the end of the chapter is a real thing that I have heard before, and hopefully will hear again... *sighs wistfully* But seriously, I didn't just make up the effects that Percy suffers, so to speak. They might seem over the top but I assure you, that once you truly love someone, the voice you'll hear them use after they stop crying will affect you the same way, no matter what it is that they say. That's my experience anyways.

Percy seems a little too smart at the beginning, but it is an AU, so who's to say he didn't listen to Annabeth a little more the first time?

Percy gets cool sword, doesn't use it once in the next chapter.

That's all for notes. As always, comment, review, PM, or message me if you have a question and I'll clarify if you were supposed to know the answer already.

Sorry if there are errors in spelling, grammar syntax, stuff like that, I didn't edit this one as thoroughly as the others. I've been busier than usual lately.

Anyways, see you next time. Will they acknowledge what just happened? When will they kiss for real? Will they kiss for real?

Only I know, and I don't even know! HAHAHA!

Also pls review pls pls I am sad sack who need review for foods pls pls