A/N: Boy, have I got a treat for you. I've got this chapter and then 5 more, already written. Just need to proofread them. Just, fair warning: I skip the first two books, and I'm taking my ever-loving time with the third. So... if you were thinking this would be really fast paced... it's not. It's slow. Not boring—very exciting, in fact—but very slow. I think it's really awesome. Forgive any OOC-ness. Also, some things happen quite quickly, so please don't skip any sections. Also, please note the new description details, and note that the new rating is M. There will be no explicit sexual scenes (ever), but there is at least one extremely graphic/gratuitous depiction of bodily mutilation, so, not really a T for Teen rating any more. There are currently no sex scenes planned at all, but maybe I'll write them if enough people ask me to. If I do write them, they won't be explicit. It'll be... tasteful. That'll come later, though.

Note: Nancy Bobofit's place in this story is no more. She may come back for a cameo later, but she's not a main character, and this story isn't even close to over. I didn't know where I wanted the story to go at first, so I did a lot of weird things. Like the Hero vs. Great Hero power-ranking system. What was I thinking?

Double Note: I regret making Lily so hard to write. But I don't regret her. I'm aware of Lou Ellen being a daughter of Hecate, but this is an AU. It isn't just canon-divergent. It is fully AU. Lou Ellen doesn't exist.

Triple Note!: If I ever said Lily's height and age before, I'm ret-conning it in this chapter. She is Percy's age and extraordinarily short, well under 5 feet tall. Zoë is nearing 6 feet. Percy's height is explained in this chapter.

Happy Note: Zoë's name has the proper 'ë' now! Yay! And also the way Zoë talks is now more accurate. Forget what you knew about the Zoë I wrote before. I've made changes to Zoë, so she's closer to the one in the book, hopefully. In the book, she only really uses 'thee' and 'thy' at the end of sentences, but Grover reveals she gets more old-timey the more upset she is. You can bet that's gonna come up.

btw I didn't write the last few chapters with a physical copy of the book whoopsies so I fucked some stuff up oopsiedaisies. Like, for example, why Thorn was at Westover, Thorn's role in the story in general, tons of stuff, and stuff. From now on, I'm reading my actual copy, 2007, First Edition, 13 point Centaur MT font, baby.

Sad Note: I've been writing dialogue wrong like an idiot this whole time. I've also been spacing paragraphs out weirdly, too. But, I'm writing it like it appears in The Titan's Curse, now. Or trying to, at any rate.

Disclaimer: This is a fan-made work using characters and settings from existing works. It is not intended to infringe on the copyright of any existing work.

PS: The title of this chapter isn't exactly a throwaway line.

12: Percy Is An Unreliable Narrator

When Percy came to, the first thing he noticed was that he could no longer hear Zoë calling out to him. He had to remind himself of where he actually was. Yancy. His dorm room. His bed.

As he groggily tried to jog his mind, he berated himself. "Why didn't I come out of the lake and look around? What got into me? I really want to know what happened up top, it could have been helpful."

How long had he been in that lake? Thinking about it, he figured it was something like a century. He'd been an old man for a really long time before he finally gave in. It seemed like he'd been alive longer than humans were supposed to live. Maybe the water had been healing all his body's problems, so his lifespan was much longer than it would've normally been.

Realizing it was still the middle of the night, he decided to go to sleep. He hadn't truly slept since before the Lake.

He had a dreamless night, and woke up rested.

He quickly learned that speaking out loud was hard. After a hundred years of staying silent in fear of being discovered, opening his mouth and speaking words was a real challenge.

But remembering to act like a child was even harder. Much harder. Even if he hadn't accumulated much life experience at the bottom of a lake, without even fish to talk to, he was much older now. He'd been alone with his thoughts for so long. He wasn't the same boy he was when he'd descended into Oneida.

This time around, Percy decided, he would play it by the book. To get a baseline of how much stronger he had gotten. He would do just as he'd done the first time, and make it back to Kronos.

He left Nancy behind. It hurt, but... She would be safer somewhere else. Anywhere but near him. He wasn't going to save anyone this go-round.

On the field trip, and until the school year was over, things were going much the same as they had originally, only... Percy forgot one thing.

Liliana was still at camp. And he just couldn't abandon his little girl.

When he arrived at camp, he annihilated the Minotaur—after it captured his mother, of course. Without even really trying, Percy made quick work of the bull-man, using nothing more than his quick wits and his bare hands.

Stuck in the Hermes cabin with the rest of the undetermined, it was easy to open up to Lily.

"Percy big big! How?"

Ruffling her hair, he said, "It's a secret, Lily. I've been practicing for a long time. But you're still stronger than me! Remember to work hard while I'm on the quest, or I might catch up to you!"

"How Percy know all?"

"That's… that's a secret, too."

He acted just a hair more mature this time, garnering a bit more respect at camp. He couldn't really help it. He was over a hundred years old, but still pretended he was twelve. It was exceptionally difficult at times, while at others, it couldn't be simpler. But all in all, he said less dumb shit, and made better decisions overall.

He wasn't called the Commander or anything, but he was looked on more favorably than the first time. He tried his best to talk with all the undetermined, keep them from defecting. His espionage efforts seemed foolish in retrospect. Like an eighteen year old playing soldiers, pretending to be all grown up, just because he was old enough to have finished high school. He wasn't so ostentatious this time.

When Percy went on his first quest, a few things happened differently, but on the whole, nothing changed. Percy felt that all the important events stayed the same. The prophecy wasn't different, so... that was enough for him.

After the master bolt quest, Percy went back to school for Tyson. His barely-there relationship with Annabeth was still a thing in this go-round, and he found that even after all these years, he still missed her.

He tried not to be overly friendly with her, not sticking around her so often, but he realized he had missed her as a friend. Even if he usually knew most of what she would say, he enjoyed her company. She was still a little kid, but she was Athena's little kid, so she wasn't unbearable.

With Annabeth on his side, most events played out similar to the way they had the first time, and Percy decided it really would be best to try to maintain the status quo when possible, to avoid events spiraling out of his control. Nobody Percy cared to save had died on his first two quests, so what was the point of trying to mess with it all? It was just one of the many things he had thought about during his decades-long training session. When he wasn't pining away over the lieutenant of the Hunt, of course.

During his two years out of the water, he'd only seen his feelings for the Huntress grow. He wouldn't say he loved her, or anything, but... he found himself wishing she was with him more and more as time went on. It was strange—he'd never really been that close with her. He'd known her for all of two weeks, across all his lives. It wasn't much time to get to know someone, but he felt different about her nonetheless.

Soon, he would meet her again. He, Annabeth, and Thalia were on their way to Westover Hall, and he only now remembered all the embarrassing baby stories his mom told the girls during the drive.

He knew there wouldn't actually be anything between Zoë and himself when they met, but he still felt a little nervous when he thought about the eternally young woman.

She held far more sway over him than any other person on earth—that much was obvious. He had obsessed over her for literal decades. Gods sue him, but he was a little rattled at the thought he was going to see her again, after something like a hundred years.

After finally getting his Mom to leave, and the three demigods entered the giant terrifying castle that was supposed to be a boarding school, something in the air told the two more powerful of the trio that something bad was brewing.

Annabeth started to say, "I wonder where—"

The doors slammed shut behind them.

"Oo-kay," Percy responded as he had the very first time. "Guess we'll stay awhile."

Percy almost started bobbing his head to the dance music coming from down the hall, but managed to stop himself before Thalia started making fun of him.

It was something he'd picked up from his stay in Oneida Lake. It turns out that if you don't hear music for a century, you start to appreciate it a little more. Even the lame stuff sounds a lot better than decades of soul-crushing silence.

Dr. Thorn and Ms. Gottschalk emerged from the shadows, and Percy let Thalia handle the Mist-notizing this. He'd kill Thorn right now, but… someone had to give exposition, after all. Now that Percy wasn't doing his whole spy-shtick, he wouldn't be able to blame his knowledge on his spies. Now, he needed to explain to Artemis about the Great Stirring and the Ophiotaurus. Who better than a manticore?

Percy had not realized how very annoying asking Annabeth to dance would be. Maybe he should've just killed Dr. Thorn when he had the chance.

Finally, the manticore nabbed the children of Hades, and Percy made his move.

"Annabeth, get Thalia and Grover! I'll go after Thorn!"

"It's too dangerous!" Annabeth shouted back.

"No time! Get them!" Percy responded as he ran out the door.

He saw the di Angelo siblings in a corner of the main entrance. He located Thorn via his water signature as he sprinted towards the children.

"Stay behind me if you don't want to die," he warned the scared kids.

Percy spun around and slashed away a foot-long spike with Riptide.

"Come on, Thorn," he taunted. "You'll have to do better than that."

"Thank you for coming out of the gym," the French manticore-in-human-form said as he stepped into the light. "I hate middle school dances."

A second spike flew out from behind Thorn, where his tail was concealed, and another swipe from Riptide sent it spiraling away.

"Impressive," Dr. Thorn drawled. "As I expected from the famous Perseus Jackson."

The french accent from Thorn still kind of creeped Percy out.

Another three spikes flew simultaneously, and none were aimed at the Son of the Sea.

The demigod angrily activated his shield as he deftly pushed two projectiles away with it, hitting the third with Riptide. Something like this was still child's play for him. He was much more powerful than he had ever been.

He had really bulked up this time, with the help of his underwater chains, and he was even taller now than he had been the last time he was here. He'd never been taller than 6'0" originally, even when he'd been almost 16. Now he was barely fourteen, but he was already 6'1". It was very strange. He'd woken up the same height as always, but he seemed to be growing faster every time he reset. He still hadn't decided if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

His body rippled with muscle as he deflected another volley of three spines in an instant. The manticore growled in displeasure as Percy smirked.

"What's wrong, Dr. Thorn?" Percy said sarcastically. "Nemean Lion got your tongue?"

This time it was Dr. Thorn's turn to smirk. "No. Hydra."

Percy's eyes widened as he spread out his water sense, just before a hydra burst through the front gates.

Thorn to the left of me, hydra to the right!

"Here I am, stuck in the middle with you," Percy sang off-key as he swiped away another volley from Thorn.

Picking up a di Angelo in either arm, he cast a spell on himself, "Boost!"

With his legs juiced, he was able to sprint past the hydra as he avoided yet another volley of spikes from the manticore.

Running out the front door left conveniently 'open' by its previous user, Percy headed towards where he knew the Hunt would be.

Thorn laughed evilly as he monologue-d.

Percy wasn't listening, as he was busy thanking Liliana for teaching him so many spells this summer. He was so proud of her.

Finally, they were nearing the cliff overlooking the sea, and Percy started raising the seawater surreptitiously.

"And soon we shall have the most important monster of all—the one that shall bring about the downfall of Olympus!" Thorn finished his monologue with a volley of seven spines.

"Cool story bro," Percy said sarcastically, as he blocked every one of them. "Tell it again."

With that, a mass of seawater already formed into razor sharp swords came crashing down on the manticore, who began changing into his true form as the blades of water sliced his flesh repeatedly.

Percy wasn't sure how the monster was alive after all that. This thing was nigh indestructible. And there was a hydra on the way.

"You will pay for this!" the monster shouted as it charged Percy. The son of Poseidon sidestepped, but forgot something very important: Nico and Bianca were right behind him.

Percy was able to grab the closer of the two, Nico, but Bianca was just too far away. He quickly cast a 'Launch' spell, impaling the monster with a spear of water, but it didn't even slow down as it tore past him.

"Shit!" he shouted as the manticore scooped Bianca up with its tail.

He began condensing the water around the beast's legs to show it down, but it was too late. It faltered but kept moving. Percy couldn't cast Launch again because the manticore might use Bianca to block the projectile. Percy could do nothing but run toward the monster as it leapt off the cliff.

"Fuck!" he cursed again as Nico screamed, "BIANCA!"

Nico yelled incoherently as he stumbled towards the cliff, but it was too dark to see the fate of his sister.

Putting his hand on the young boy's shoulder, Percy confided, "She isn't dead, Nico."

Nico looked up with teary eyes as he frantically sought comfort. "She's not?! What happened?!"

"I'm not quite sure, but your big sister is still alive," Percy shared. "His plan was probably to take you both away, not kill you. Otherwise you'd already be dead. They had something down there, waiting to catch them. I won't lie to you and say your sister is perfectly safe, but she is alive."

Nico was still crying as he asked, "Why did they take her?!"

Percy knew that Dr. Thorn was trying to lure Thalia or him so they could get one of them to call the Ophiotaurus. They needed a child of the eldest three gods. They just didn't realize Nico and Bianca were children of the Big Three. Otherwise, Thorn really would've already taken them.

But Percy didn't need to know that, so Percy answered, "They will try to get her to join their army. But I'm going to get her back. Don't worry, Nico. I will rescue your sister."

Nico just sniffled.

"For now, we've got a hydra to kill."

The Hydra ended up being much easier to deal with. With the help of Thalia, Annabeth, Grover, and, eventually, the Hunt, the hydra was killed the 'correct' way, with a torch burning off its chance at regrowth. Even the helicopter that showed up was turned into birds by Artemis, just as it had the first time.

"Zoë Nightshade." Thalia's voice trembled with rage. "Perfect timing, as usual."

Zoë regarded the group, her eyes pausing for the briefest of moments when they reached Percy. "Four half-bloods and a satyr, my lady."

"Yes," Artemis said. "Some of Chiron's campers, I see."

"My sister!" Nico yelled as Percy held him back. "You have to go save my sister!"

"I'm sorry, young demigod," Artemis said. "Your sister is beyond help."

"We'll find her, Nico. Don't worry," Percy consoled.

Grover started kneeling in the snow and grovelled to Artemis for a while. Without Bianca to try to recruit, the Hunt didn't even bother explaining the situation to Nico, so Percy had to do it.

But Percy kind of lost steam after a while, and kept looking out where Bianca fell. His friends took Nico and explained the rest to the boy while Percy sulked by the cliff.

He had one job, and he couldn't even do it. Stall the manticore until Annabeth arrived.

He had a hundred ways to stop that manticore dead in its tracks—but he didn't use any of them. He had spells of binding, he could've used the moisture in the air to force the creature to submit, he could have fought it fair and square and just taken forever doing it. But he didn't want to reveal his power. It wasn't time yet.

He'd already had a hydra make an unexplained appearance, and that was with him trying to keep his power a secret. He could only imagine what would happen if he let Kronos find out he was a full blown male mage, the only one he knew of to ever exist.

But he should have been able to protect the children of Hades, even without his powers. He was such a fool.

For some reason, Zoë crept up behind him while he sat—he'd kept his water sense active constantly since the hydra had managed to sneak up on them, so he detected Zoë long before she was within earshot. Originally, she had not come to fetch him so stealthily, so he wasn't even sure it was her until she got close enough that he felt her. She was born of Atlas and a sea goddess, Pleione. Pleione was one of the original sea nymphs, and he felt her daughter's connection to the sea within her water signature.

Even Zoë herself did not know why she felt the urge to converse—however briefly—with a boy, any further than her Lady's orders to bring him to her.

"You seem even more distraught than the girl's brother," she said plainly.

"I could've protected her. I had that fight won, but I didn't end it fast enough," Percy said glumly. "This is my fault."

"Hm." Zoë made a noise that could've meant anything. It was a short, flat noise, kind of like humming for just an instant. Percy remembered her doing that many times in the past, and was no closer to figuring out what it meant. "Come with me. Lady Artemis wishes to speak with thee."

Percy stood up as he answered, "Alright. Thank you for escorting me."

As Zoë led him to the last tent, where Artemis resided, Percy thought about starting a conversation, but decided not to bother. Around Zoë, he could be his own subdued, pensive self, rather than the hyperactive goofball everyone more-or-less expected him to be. He didn't have anything to say, so he didn't bother speaking. He simply enjoyed the immortal teen's silent company as they walked together.

His patience was rewarded when Zoë began speaking on her own. "You made a mistake. 'Twould be a lie to say otherwise. You focused too much on defeating thy enemy, and not enough on protecting thy charges. Your mistake may have even cost the life of an innocent maiden."

However fond Percy was of the woman, however much he felt the weight of the world fell on his shoulders, and however scarred he was by the loneliness of Oneida Lake, he was still the Percy Jackson: Percy, sarcastic, impertinent, Jackson.

He looked at the regal Huntress and chided gently, "Has anyone ever told you that you aren't very good at comforting people?"

Not fully understanding the rhetorical nature of the question, Zoë nodded and answered honestly, "Several times."

Then she frowned slightly, and said, "However, you did not allow me to finish. As I was saying, you made a terrible mistake. But that is what it was: a mistake. And mistakes are to be expected of thee. You are only human."

She was going to say, 'You are only a boy,' but something changed her words at the last second.

Zoë opened the flap to Artemis's tent and went inside, leaving Percy by himself in the snow.

"But I'm not human, am I?" he mused under his breath. Just before he entered the goddess's tent, he muttered, "None of us are."

The 'oldest camper' walked into the tent to see the same scene as usual—minus Bianca. Zoë was just sitting down on Artemis's right. The ensuing conversation was a mix of new and old. The familiar and the undiscovered.

"Join us, Percy Jackson," the goddess said.

Percy sat across from her as she studied him, which didn't make him nearly as uncomfortable as the first time. He was used to it by now. Old eyes in a young body. Every time he looked at himself in a mirror, he saw the same thing.

"You have old eyes, Perseus," the auburn-haired tween stated cryptically.

"Uh... thanks?" he responded, unsure of how to take that comment.

"It wasn't a compliment," the Lady of the Moon clarified.

"O-oh," the demigod stuttered, never having been through this with the virgin goddess.

"Echoes swirl around you. Memories your own, but not your own."

Percy's eyes flashed in fear. No one had ever guessed his secret so clearly. She knew? How?!

The moon goddess crinkled her own pair of old eyes in amusement. "You need not be afraid. I will not harm you. It is not the first time I've seen a situation like this, after all."

Oh. Of course, the Isles of the Blessed: be reborn three times, and achieve Elysium all three times. She must have seen plenty of things like this.

Even still, Percy decided he needed to figure out how to hide his… 'swirling memories,' in the future. He didn't need gods who were more curious than Artemis on his ass in the future.

"I… see, my Lady," Percy tried to admit respectfully.

Artemis stared at the curiosity before her. Just who had he been before? Heroes rarely lived long, and she was surprised by the age of his eyes.

"There's something about this one."

"No matter," the goddess said. "I did not summon you for such trifles, after all. We have more important things to discuss."

"Of course," Percy assented, but perhaps he was not respectful enough, as Zoë began glaring at him angrily.

"You must forgive my Huntresses if they do not welcome you," Artemis explained. "It is very rare that we would have boys in this camp."

She thought about her words. To the immortal Huntresses, who were mostly hundreds of years old, all men alive were boys in comparison, so they tended not to make a heavy distinction. But this one… Hmm.

"Such as you are, at any rate," she amended.

"They've been nothing but helpful, so far," Percy reported—and it was technically the truth, his mind thinking back to Zoë's earlier words of 'comfort.'

Artemis covered her mouth with one dainty hand and laughed softly, "Hoh hoh, is that the case? I'd liked to have seen that. Boys are usually forbidden to have any contact with the Huntresses. The last one to see this camp..." She looked at Zoë. "Which one was it?"

"That boy in Colorado," Zoë said. "You turned him into a jackalope."

"Ah, yes." Artemis nodded, satisfied. "I enjoy making jackalopes. But enough pleasantries. Percy, I've asked you here so that you might tell me more of the manticore. Of why it plummeted off a cliff with a potential recruit of mine, instead of simply eating her."

Percy told her what he remembered of Thorn's monologue—the General, the Great Stirring, and, most importantly, the as-of-yet unnamed Ophiotaurus.

When he was done, Artemis made plans to hunt the monster that had the power to destroy Olympus on her own, much to the chagrin of her Lieutenant. She vowed to capture the creature and bring it back to Olympus in time for the council meeting, to prove once and for all that the Titans were waking up.

"It's the Ophiotaurus, isn't it?" Percy asked seriously, even though he already knew the answer.

Artemis gripped her bow tightly with one hand, pushing a claw away from her heart with the other. "Let us pray we are wrong."

"Can goddesses pray?" Percy solemnly asked, saying the familiar line with a new darkness. He really wanted to know this time—so he could pray to that, instead of them.

But he had no such luck. Instead of an answer, all he received from Artemis was an upgrade from her original flicker of a smile to a new small grin—one that didn't make him feel particularly hopeful. "Before I go, Percy Jackson, I have a small task for you."

"As long as it doesn't involve getting turned into a jackalope, I'm all ears."

"Unfortunately, it does not. I want you to escort the Huntresses back to Camp Half-Blood. They can stay there in safety until I return."

"What?" Zoë blurted in disbelief. "But, Artemis, we hate that place. The last time we stayed there—"

"Yes, I know," Artemis said. "But the past is in the past now, Zoë. You must learn to put down your hatred, and forgive your grudges. It is your right to use Cabin Eight whenever you are in need. Besides… I hear they rebuilt all the cabins you burned down."

Zoë muttered something about foolish campers and ridiculous notions.

"Not to mention, this time, Percy Jackson will be with you," Artemis said confidently, like she knew something the two half-bloods didn't.

"My Lady Artemis," Percy got the attention of the girls. "I'm sure your Huntresses are more than capable of travelling to Camp Half-Blood on their own. What exactly are you asking me to do?"

Artemis nodded in satisfaction as Zoë fixed Percy with an unreadable expression.

"I'm glad you asked," the preteen spoke, punctuating her words with a small clap. "If you'd proved too foolish, I'd never have told you."

Percy grumbled, "Is this the mythical 'If you don't know, I won't tell you' I've heard about?"

Zoë asked curiously, "What does that mean, Perseus?"

A drop of sweat rolled down the side of his forehead at the dangerous juncture. At least Artemis seemed to know what he was referring to, so he wasn't quite in mortal peril, just yet.

Clearing his throat, Percy explained, "I've just… heard stories at Camp, about relationship problems."

Instantly, Zoë raged, standing up in a heartbeat. "Relationship?! You dare—"

"Let him finish," the younger-looking girl ordered, placing her hand on Zoë's arm to calm her down. "He meant no disrespect, Zoë."

A couple more drops of sweat fell off Percy's brow and into his lap. "Anyway, I've heard that there's a… thing that gir—certain people—do, when they get upset with their boyf—partner. Which is, they refuse to tell their partner what's bothering them, and when their partner asks 'What have I done wrong,' they don't answer, citing an excuse along the lines of, 'If you don't already know, then I'm not going to tell you.' I've just never seen it actually happen."

Zoë huffed, stating, "It must be foolish boys who do this. How presumptuous, to compare my lady to a creature like that."

Percy just looked at the regal teenager for a second before saying shakily, "R-ight. My bad."

Artemis looked slightly amused at the interaction, but thought it had gone on long enough. "At any rate, my true request is for you to… Hmm, to 'stand up' for my Huntresses once they arrive at Camp. We wouldn't want any… incidents to occur while I'm away."

Zoë looked offended, "But, Artemis, we don't need the protection of a male—"

"I wouldn't be protecting you," Percy pointed out. "I'd just be helping make your stay a little more comfortable while your Lady is busy. If anything, I'm certain that the ones who will need my protection are the campers—not you."

"I take it you agree to my request?" Artemis confirmed.

"If Zoë will have me," agreed Percy.

Artemis looked at Zoë for what seemed like longer than necessary before nodding. "She will."

Percy looked at Zoë, who nodded slowly.

Artemis 'hmm'-ed in approval, before saying, "Dawn is approaching, and I must summon a ride from my brother. Run along now."

Percy stood up to leave, and after he bowed and was about to turn away, Artemis added, "And, do not despair, Percy Jackson. You did save one of the demigods."

After Percy left the tent, Zoë asked her mistress, "My lady, should I break camp?"

Artemis shook her head. "I must tell you something very important, Zoë."

Zoë just looked confused. "My lady?"

"There is a... bond, between you and that fellow. Small. Very small. Thin, and faded, as well. But it is there."

Zoë blanched and her eyes widened. "My lady, I would never—"

"I know, Zoë," Artemis interrupted. "You have been my friend for a very long time, and I am well aware of your feelings toward men, and your loyalty to me. I do not think anything will come of the slight connection between you and he while I am away. I simply wish to tell you that he is strong. Far stronger than he lets on."

"Then he—"

"No. He did not intentionally let the girl be captured. His loyalty to Olympus is unquestionable, that much I can feel. But he had many chances to end that fight, and chose not to take them."

"I could've protected her. I had that fight won, but I didn't end it fast enough," Percy said glumly. "This is my fault."

Zoë, lost in thought, whispered the words she had heard Percy say, "I had that fight won... This is my fault…"

Artemis nodded. "My point is, Zoë, that you should not think of him as the teenage boy he appears to be. If you do not take him seriously, you will be... at a disadvantage."

"Understood, my Lady. I shall break camp."

Percy exited the tent and went to find his group. He saw a depressed Nico, a moping Thalia, and an Annabeth struggling to keep a Grover from chasing after the Huntresses. They were all hanging around a pine tree, well separated from any members of the Hunt.

"Hey guys!" he greeted as he walked up to them.

He saw Thalia's fist coming from a mile away, and he let it hit him on the cheek, as it was too weak to truly hurt him. This hadn't occurred before, so he was actually happy to receive the punch, just so something new would happen.

As he rubbed his somewhat-sore jaw, he heard Thalia explain angrily, "That's for running off on your own."

He accepted the fierce hug that came next just as happily as he had accepted the punch.

As Thalia tried to squeeze the life out of him, he asked, "Then what's this for, Thals?"

He couldn't hear the daughter of the sky's response, as she mumbled it directly into his slowly dampening shirt.

Annabeth blushed and translated, "I think that's for staying safe."

Thalia pushed him away and rubbed the tears out of her eyes quickly. "What in Hades were you thinking, running off like that?"

"Thorn and the kids were both missing. If I hadn't stepped in, Nico would have been captured, too."

Hearing his name, Nico looked up for once. "So you're… the son of Poseidon?"

Percy cringed visibly. He had avoided saying the true names of... anything, really, during his time in Oneida lake. He didn't even think them. He didn't want any divine attention. Although... most demigods avoided the names of monsters, not gods.

"Names have power, Nico—now that you know what they truly mean, anyway. Try not to use them carelessly."

At the boy's unamused stare, he continued, "But to answer your question: Yes. I am the one and only Son of the Sea."

"So you're strong, then? You're powerful?" the ten year old boy confirmed.

Percy did not like where this was going. "Strong, powerful… those are relative terms, Nico."

Nico furrowed his brows but Percy didn't let the boy interrupt him. "I was stronger than the monster who captured your sister, but he still got away. You were much, much weaker, but you walked away without a scratch. Bianca was stronger than you, but she was still taken, just because I dodged in your direction. Because of pure luck. You each had a fifty-fifty shot—a coin toss. That's all it was. It broke in your favor, and that's why you're here, but she's not."

Tears started breaking through Nico's emotionless facade.

Percy closed his eyes for a second, before he knelt down to the sitting boy, and put his hands on his shoulders. "I know it's hard, Nico. I know you wish it was you instead of her—or even me instead of her. 'Why did the monster take my sister instead of him?' Don't feel bad for those thoughts, they're natural. She was your sister, and I'm just some guy. I know what it's like to have selfish feelings like that, too."

Nico looked at Percy with hopeful eyes.

Percy hummed in acknowledgement. "Mmm. But I also know what's really eating you. More than just wishing you or I had taken Bianca's place, you feel responsible. Like you should have been stronger. Like you should have protected her. Like it's your fault. I know, because I've felt the same. I know better than you think, what it means to be too weak to save your precious people."

Sniffling, the ten year old asked, "You… do?"

Annabeth and Grover nodded, likely recalling him failing to save his mother—though she had been saved in the end.

Percy wasn't talking about that. He smiled sadly, and when Nico locked eyes with him, he felt like Percy was a hundred years old.

Percy whispered so the other demigods wouldn't hear, "Keep a secret, kid? I know it better than anybody."

Speaking at full volume again, he made a promise to Nico. "But it's not your fault that you were too weak, Nico. You haven't had even ten minutes of training. I've had... a lot more than that, and that bastard still slipped right through my fingers. This is my fault. And that's why I'm gonna find where they're keeping your sister, I'm gonna kill her jailers, and then, I'm gonna bring her back."

Percy stood up, pulling Nico to his feet with him. He looked at the young demigod carefully.

"But you've got to make me a promise, Nico."

"I promise!"

Percy jokingly bonked the kid on the head. "Too eager! Wait 'til you hear what I'm gonna say, first!"

Nico rubbed his head and nodded.

"Alright then. I'm gonna find your sister, and bring her back. And what you're gonna do, is train. You're gonna go to Camp Half-Blood, and you're gonna train your butt off. And you're gonna keep training until I get back. Because there isn't any meaning in the words strong or weak. There's only stronger and weaker. And you're gonna go from weaker to stronger. Got it?"

Nico nodded and said seriously, "I promise!"

Percy ruffled the Italian's hair. "Alright, good deal."

Grover added, "Don't worry, Nico. If anyone can save Bianca, it's Percy!"

"So what were you talking with Artemis about?" Thalia asked, and Percy explained most of it to the group, not exposing his secret, or Artemis's true request.

Grover, even as much as he loved Artemis, blanched ferociously—turning totally sheet white—when he heard the Huntresses were coming to camp.

Percy rolled his eyes. "Come on, G-man. It can't have gone that poorly. Artemis said we rebuilt the cabins Zoë burned down."

Thalia grumbled, "Uggh, Zoë. Why am I not surprised to hear that no good, stuck-up bitch burned down the Camp?"

Percy unintentionally frowned when he heard Zoë being cursed by Thalia. He didn't like it, but he didn't know how to explain why to Thalia. He was supposed to be standing up for the Huntresses back at Camp, too, and he still wasn't exactly sure why Artemis had wanted him to do it. He'd seen how they acted at Camp before—like one big happy family. It didn't seem like Artemis would care about the fate of a few cabins, either. So why did she ask him to stick up for them?

Percy felt Zoë's water signature nearby, knocking him out of his thoughts as he hurriedly reprimanded, "Tone it down a little, Thals?"

Thalia looked miffed but agreed anyway. "Yeah, whatever."

"Thanks."

"I feel a haiku coming on," Apollo announced.

The entire Hunt shared a groan, used to Apollo's antics.

The sun god cleared his throat and held up one hand, but suddenly shuddered, and his haiku wasn't the one Percy remembered.

"Reverberations:

Clinging like a second skin,

Hiding endless pain."

Apollo looked taken aback for a moment, but quickly adopted his goofball persona. "So, that was pretty weird, huh? Wonder what that was all about."

The god claimed he didn't know what the haiku-prophecy was referring to, but he was staring right at Percy when he said it, so it wasn't very convincing.

Apparently that sudden prophecy freaked the god out a great deal, as he skipped all his shenanigans and simply set the sun car to bus mode. He didn't even bother trying to flirt with the Huntresses, and just got in the driver's seat while they loaded up their stuff.

That was just as well, as Percy wasn't looking forward to resetting if Apollo tried to hit on Zoë Percy was sure he'd do something very stupid, and might get fried in the process. Luckily, he didn't have to find out.

Percy heaved a sigh of relief when he realized he wouldn't be subjected to Thalia's driving.

Artemis fixed her lieutenant with a knowing gaze. "Zoë, I'll see you by the solstice. You're in charge of the Hunt until I return. Do well. Do as I would do. And remember what I told you."

With Apollo driving, the group arrived at Camp Half-Blood without incident.

The instant Percy climbed off the bus, he saw Lily flying towards him.

And not metaphorically, either. She was flying using a spell, hurtling through the air like a bullet.

"Percy Percy Percy! Percy all good?" she asked happily as she clambered up the tall demigod, eventually depositing herself on top of him, sitting like a kid on her dad's shoulders so she could see better in a crowd.

The smile that graced his features was not a conscious one, and that made him smile even wider.

"Yeah, I'm safe, Lily. How have you been?"

Zoë watched on with a great deal of curiosity as a man conversed with a child of Hecate. Out loud. An occurrence that should be impossible. Only mages can understand or even perceive the physical attempts at communication the children of Hecate perform, and only women can become mages. In her entire multi-millennia life, she had never heard of a male mage. Never even heard a rumor about one.

"Lily good," the girl reported happily. She frowned and said, "Lily no all no."

"That boring, huh? Guess the climbing wall's no fun when you can fly."

The Huntresses were busy unloading the bus, so Percy decided he could take the moment to introduce Lily to Zoë, and vice versa.

Percy turned to face Zoë, which had the effect of turning Liliana to face her, too.

"Lily, there's someone I want you to meet. This is Zoë Nightshade, lieutenant of the Hunt. Go ahead and introduce yourself, Lily."

Lily looked shocked and excited—not that Percy could actually see her face, since she was still seated on top of him. "Know magic?!"

Percy nodded.

Lily swallowed and looked at Zoe. She pointed at herself. "Liliana. Girl magic."

She pointed at Zoe. "Good."

Zoe smiled uncharacteristically and said, "Well met, Liliana, daughter of Hecate. It is nice to meet thee, too."

It looked like tears were forming in Lily's eyes.

"Know… Lily?"

"I understand thee well, Liliana."

Lily started crying openly now.

"Lily… happy… all happy… " she cried.

She got too emotional, apparently, as she broke down and started sobbing uncontrollably. Percy picked her up by the legs she'd slung over his shoulders and brought her over his head, before she grabbed onto him and shoved her face into his chest like it was going out of style.

Percy looked at Zoë. "I hope you won't mind terribly if I bring her over at dinner? She got too excited, but she'll really want to talk to you later."

At Zoë's unreadable look, he added, "I'm the only one here who can understand her, and I only got here two years ago, so while Lily is physically fourteen, she's a lot less developed in certain ways. She acts more like she's… roughly five or six. She's really excited to meet another mage, and she doesn't really know how to manage her excitement, yet. That's why… this happened."

Eventually Zoë nodded. "Bring her. We shall speak later, Perseus Jackson."

"Agreed. I'll go tell Chiron you're here."

The entire group of non-Huntress mythical beings marched towards the Big House: Percy (and by extension, Liliana), followed by an overeager Nico, then the dynamic duo of Annabeth and Thalia, and finally—where'd Grover go?

Percy figured he was chasing the Huntresses, as usual. Nice to know that some things never change.

Chiron and Mr. D were playing cards, just as Percy remembered. Chiron's smile didn't change, either.

"Percy! And Thalia and Annabeth, too. Ah, and this must be… " he lingered, waiting for a name.

"Nico di Angelo," Percy provided. "Half-blood, strong scent."

"Ahh," Chiron sighed audibly in relief. "The mission was a success."

Percy shook his head. "No. It wasn't a complete failure, but to call it a success would be…"

"Inaccurate," Annabeth supplied, to Percy's nod of agreement.

Chiron's happy expression melted like snow come spring. "What's wrong? Where's Grover?"

Thalia made a noise of annoyance. "Tch. Probably off chasing the Huntresses."

As if on cue, Grover trotted into the room, grinning like a maniac. He looked like he lost a fight with a hellhound. "The Huntresses are all moved in!"

Chiron looked surprised. "The Hunt is here?"

Percy shook his head again. "The Huntresses are here, not the Hunt. They'll be in Cabin Eight. I, ah, may have promised that I'd try to keep everyone in line while they're here."

Annabeth whipped her head to him. "You didn't tell us about that. Why? When did that happen?"

Percy laughed humorlessly. "Ha, ha. Why do you care? I didn't think it would be a problem."

"In any case, we obviously have a lot to talk about," Chiron cut in. "Grover, perhaps you should take our young friend to the den and show him our orientation film."

Percy put his hand over Nico's chest, preventing him from moving. "That won't be necessary, Chiron. The conversation to come involves Nico. I'll handle his orientation myself, later."

Chiron looked at him with his old, old eyes, before acquiescing. "Perhaps you should all have a seat, then, and we'll discuss things further. Are any of you hurt?"

"No," said Percy, at the same time everyone else said "Yes."

"What's wrong?"

Percy drummed up a cheeky smile and said, "I may have effed up my shoulder, but it's no problem a quick soak won't fix."

Annabeth sighed and informed her father-figure, "He's doing it again, Chiron. Just like with the Chimera, the Bull-Man, the Kindly Ones, the Hydra, Medusa, Ares—"

Thalia interrupted to add: "Don't forget all the patrols he insists he doesn't find anything on."

"I don't," Percy grumbled. He muttered, "Nothing important, anyway."

Annabeth cleared her throat. "The point is that Percy is selling himself short again. He fought one on one with a manticore while protecting two children, and would have killed it, too, if it hadn't jumped off a cliff with Nico's sister."

Chiron frowned when he heard the fate of the child's sibling, but slowly nodded. "Percy, my boy, I know you have a penchant for downplaying your achievements. But please, don't downplay your injuries."

"I'm not!" Percy suddenly snapped, before instantly becoming embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I just… don't want to talk about this right now. I'm really upset that I couldn't protect Nico's sister. I don't need medical attention, so it isn't even worth mentioning. Just… let me explain what happened, alright?"

Chiron nodded. "Yes, alright."

A/N: I used an awful lot of description and dialogue straight from the book on this one.

Here's a new thing I'll be doing after ever chapter:

Intentional Quotes From Other Media: One

If you find that quote, I can tell you with certainty: you play that game way too much. It's something a background character you can't interact with says at the beginning of the game to someone other than the player character, and I only included the first part of it, which is just a normal phrase in English. If you got it, you get 1,000 points!

Hint: The first half of the quote is one sentence. The second half of the quote is, "Are you best friends now?"

If you get it after the hint, you still get 100 points.

There will be quotes in every new chapter, because I can't help myself. None of them will be fourth wall breaking, though. Well... one sort of is, but I thought it was really funny. Tell me if I unintentionally quoted something, btw. I got a couple comments saying readers "saw what I did there" and I had no idea what they were talking about.

Please review and tell me how you think I'm doing~

l

V