Hello everybody and welcome to chapter three of Alaster Grace: Heir of Zeus. I just have to say two things. One, I plan on doing about two or three chapters a week if I can. And two, a gmail account has been created. If you have any ideas or questions or even fan art relating to the fanfiction, or you can make an original character to send to me that can possibly be mentioned in the story. You can email:

alastergracefanfic1 @ (put an actual at sign) gmail .com (don't do any spaces, the email just doesn't appear on this chapter unless I space it out)

All eyes were on Percy as he took a walk all the way to Cabin 3 (AKA Poseidon Cabin). I almost couldn't believe it, I couldn't believe that I was right (I really didn't want to be) another child of the Big Three at Camp. Now I have to compete with Percy to see which one of us is the demigod in the prophecy.

People have been talking about him behind his back. The attack of the hellhound scared a lot of the campers. Somebody inside the camp has summoned a monster to attack campers. But the thing is that Hellhound that day only went after Percy, so somebody summoned it to purposefully make it go after him. So naturally that made nearly everybody in camp stay away from him, even Clarisse steered clear of him, but that didn't stop her from giving him death glares from a distance.

I've been avoiding Percy too. He already felt off to me when I first met him, guess that's because deep down I felt that he was a child of Poseidon. Zeus and Poseidon have a humongous rivalry, so I don't think my dad would be too happy with me being all buddy buddy with Poseidon's spawn.

I'm trying to get into his favor, being friends with his rival's child isn't really getting into his favor.

I've doubled down on my training, pushing myself to my limits. I need to be better than I already am, there's new competition in camp and there's no way I'm gonna be number two.

It was so early in the morning to the point where it was still dark outside, I decided to leave my Cabin to get in some extra training since I couldn't sleep. I've been having a lot of nightmares recently, weird nightmares. There's been this one with a destroyed city, one with Olympus in ruins and I kept hearing that same voice in my nightmare I had a while ago, and there was this especially weird one with an eagle and a horse.

I opened my door, my eyes widened when I saw who was at my doorstep.

It was Grover. Grover Underwood with Percy at his side.

"H-Hi, Alaster," Grover said nervously.

"Hello, Grover," I said. It's been a while since Grover and I have talked. About five years since I've gotten to Camp. "Why are you at my doorstep?"

"Um, It's Mr. D. He wants to speak with you and Percy," Grover said, fidgeting with his hands, something's definitely up with him. But Grover's always been a little timid and unconfident, especially since after what happened with Thalia.

"Why would he want to speak with me? I get why he'd wanna talk with Barnacle Breath but why me?" I asked him.

"Who are you calling Barnacle Breath, Lightning Rod?" Percy stepped toward me with an edge to his voice.

"Can you guys please not fight?" Grover said, standing in between us, his voice was shaking.

"It's cool that you're protecting your friend from getting his butt kicked, Grover," I said. I took a sigh. "But fine, let's go."

I know I'm acting a bit different. I'm feeling this weird feeling, it's almost like every time I'm around Percy since he's been claimed I just want to toss him away with the wind.

We walked to the Big House. In the distance I could see rain, but it's nothing to worry about. It doesn't rain at Camp Half-Blood unless we want it to, whenever there's bad weather it just passes around us.

We passed the volleyball pit where the Apollo kids were playing a game against the satyrs. Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Dionysus, were walking in the strawberry fields and making the plants grow. A lot of campers were out, but it was noticeable that everybody was a lot more uncomfortable or tense.

Grover, Percy, and I finally got to the front porch of the Big House. Dionysus sat at a pinochle table. He was wearing a tiger-striped Hawaiian shirt with a Diet Coke in his hand. Sitting across the table was Chiron in his fake magic wheelchair. They were playing against wind spirits, I could tell because there were two sets of cards floating in the air.

"Well, well," Dionysus said. "And don't expect me to kowtow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle-Beard is your father."

Lightning flashed over the storm clouds, thunder shook the windows.

"Blah, blah, blah," Dionysus said

I could hear the clips and clops of Grover's cowering hoofs against the wood of the porch.

"One of you was already too much and now we have two. If I had my way, Alexander and Peter, I would make your molecules erupt in flames. We'd sweep up the ashes and be done with a lot of trouble. But Chiron seems to feel this would be against my mission at this cursed camp: to keep you little brats safe from harm." Dionysus said

"Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D," Chiron said without looking up from his cards.

"Nonsense," Dionysus said. "They wouldn't even feel a thing. Nevertheless, I've agreed to restrain myself. I'm thinking of turning you both into a dolphin and a hawk respectively, and sending you both back to your daddies."

Chiron spoke up again. "Mr. D-"

"Fine, there's one more option. But it's suicide," Dionysus told us. "I'm off to Olympus for the emergency meeting. If those two brats are still here when I get back I'm turning them into an Atlantic Bottlenose and a Red-tailed Hawk. Do you understand? Perseus Jackson, Alaster Grace, if you're at all smart, you'll see that's a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do."

He took a playing card and turned it into a security pass and snapped his fingers, and he was gone in an instant.

Chiron looked stressed and tired, but he put on a smile nonetheless. "Alaster and Percy, please sit. You too, Grover."

Chiron put down his cards. "Tell me, Percy. What did you make of the hellhound?"

Percy shuddered. "It scared me. If you hadn't shot it, I'd be dead."

"You'll meet worse, Percy. Far worse, before you're done," Chiron explained.

"Done with what?" Percy asked him.

No way. He isn't…he hasn't even been here for a month!

"You're giving him a quest." I said, Percy looked shocked.

"Are you serious?" Percy turned back to Chiron and asked him.

"Of course, will you accept it?"

"Um, sir. You haven't told me what it is yet," Percy brought up.

"Well, that;s the hard part, the details," Chiron grimaced.

Thunder rumbled across the valley. The storm clouds are now at the beach. That's not a good thing. I think I might just know what this is about…

"It's about Zeus and Poseidon, isn't it?" I asked him.

"They're fighting over something valuable…something that was stolen, aren't they?" Percy spoke.

"How did you know that?"

"I've had dreams," I said. "Dreams that have been slowly cluing me in on what's happening."

"And the weather since Christmas has been weird, like the sea and the sky are fighting. Then I talked to Annabeth and she overheard something about a theft. And…I've also been having these dreams too." Percy mentioned.

Okay, that makes sense. Our fathers are involved in the fight, so now our dreams are sort of connected I guess.

"I knew it," Grover said.

"Hush, satyr," Chiron told him.

"But it's their quest!" Grover said

"Only the Oracle can determine. Nevertheless, you both are correct. Your fathers are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise: a lightning bolt."

My eyes widened. My father's lightning bolt, his symbol of authority and power, has been stolen. This is the opportunity I've been waiting for. If I get the lightning bolt and bring it back to Olympus, then my father will finally stop ignoring me.

"A what?" Percy laughed nervously.

"Do not take this lightly," Chiron warned him. "I'm not talking about a tinfoil-covered zigzag you'd see in a second grade play. I'm talking about a two-foot-long cylinder of high-grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives."

"The master bolt," I blurted out. "It's the symbol of Zeus' power, all other lightning bolts are inferior to it, they pattern themselves after it. It was made by the Cyclopes for the war against the Titans. It was the weapon that dethroned Kronos. It holds enough power to make nuclear atomic bombs look like a sparkler candle."

"Woah. And it's missing?" Percy asked.

"Stolen," Chiron said.

"By who?"

"By whom?" Chiron said. "By you."

My head snapped towards Percy. "What? That's not right. How can he have stolen the master bolt? Percy is in no way stealthy enough."

"I didn't steal anything!"

"You did not hear me correctly. Zeus thinks that you both stole the master bolt. During the winter solstice, at the last council of the gods, Zeus and Poseidon had an argument. The usual nonsense: 'Mother Rhea always liked you best', 'Air disasters are more spectacular than sea disasters', et cetera. Afterward, Zeus realized his master bolt was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose. He immediately blamed Poseidon. Now, a god cannot usurp another god's symbol of power directly-that is forbidden by the most ancient of divine laws. But Zeus believes that Poseidon convinced two human heroes to take it."

"But why would he think I took it?" I asked Chiron. "I'm his child."

"That's the exact reason why. Kronos killed his father, Ouranos. Zeus dethroned his father, Kronos. Zeus thinks that you might be trying to overthrow him as he did his father and his father did his father," Chiron explained. "He thinks that Poseidon promised you and Percy greatness if you helped him overthrow Zeus by taking his symbol of power. Zeus has good reason to be suspicious. The Forbes of the Cyclopes age under the ocean, which gives Poseidon some influence over the makers of his brother's lightning. Zeus believes that Poseidon has used you both to take the master bolt and pass it off to him, and is now secretly having the Cyclopes build an arsenal of illegal copies, which might be used to topple Zeus from his throne. At first Zeus was only thinking it was Alaster, but when Poseidon claimed you, Percy, Zeus believes he has found his two thieves. Percy, you were in New York over the winter holidays. You could easily have snuck into Olympus."

"Yeah, and we were there as well," I said. "On a field trip, or something like that."

I didn't know how to feel. My father, the person I've been praying to. Praying to notice me and see me as worthy of being his legacy…thinks of me as an enemy.

"But I've never been to Olympus! Zeus is crazy!" Percy said.

Chiron, Grover, and I looked up into the sky. The clouds weren't parting, instead they were going over us.

"Er, Percy…?" Grover said. "We don't use the c-word to describe the Lord of the Sky."

"Perhaps paranoid," Chiron suggested. "Then again, Poseidon has tried to unseat Zeus before. I believe that was a question on your final exam, Percy."

"Something about a golden net? Poseidon and Hera and a few other gods…they, like, trapped Zeus and wouldn't let him out until he promised to be a better ruler, right?"

"Correct," Chiron said. "And Zeus has never trusted Poseidon since. Of course, Poseidon denies stealing the master bolt. He took great offense at the accusation. The two have been arguing back and forth for months, threatening war. And now, you've come along Percy-the proverbial last straw."

"But I'm just a kid!"

"Percy. If you were Zeus, and you already thought your brother was plotting to overthrow you, then your brother suddenly admitted he had broken the sacred oath he took after World War II, that he's fathered a new mortal hero who might be used as a weapon against you…wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?" Grover said

"But I didn't do anything. Poseidon-my dad-he didn't really have this master bolt stolen, didn't he?"

"Poseidon's too proud to convince Zeus that he's not a thief," I said.

"Exactly," Chiron agreed. "Zeus has demanded that Poseidon return the bolt by the summer solstice. That's June twenty-first, ten days from now. Poseidon wants an apology for being called a thief by the same date. I hoped that diplomacy might prevail, that Hera or Demeter or Hestia would make the two brothers see sense. But your arrival has inflamed Zeus' temper. Now neither god will back down. Unless someone intervenes, unless the master bolt is found and returned to Zeus before the solstice, there will be war. And do you know what a full-fledged war would look like?"

"A world filled with chaos," I spoke up, in deep thought. "The destruction that the gods would cause in their war would wipe out everybody and everything. The Olympians would have to choose sides. The entire globe would be a battlefield."

"And you both would be the first to feel Zeus' wrath," Chiron said.

The rain got heavier. The volleyball players stopped their game and stared at the sky, stunned.

"So we have to find this stupid bolt," Percy said. "And return it to Zeus."

"What better peace offering," Chiron said. "To have the son of Poseidon return Zeus' property?"

"But if Poseidon doesn't have the bolt, where is the thing?" Percy asked

"Before I can say more, you both must take up the quest. You must seek the counsel of the Oracle," Chiron's expression turned grim.

"Why can't you just tell us where the bolt is beforehand?" Percy asked

"Because if I did, you would be too afraid to accept the challenge," Chiron said.

Percy gulped. "Good reason."

"You agree then?"

Percy looked at Grover who nodded. "All right. It's better than being turned into a dolphin."

"Alaster?"

I sighed deeply and leaned against the railing. "For so long I've been waiting for my father to stop ignoring me, to treat me with the same respect and be held in high glory that he does with his other children. Now I learn that he sees me as a threat, something that he regrets creating. So I should just drop everything and risk my life to bring it to him? So he can do what? Just go back to ignoring me? Even if he does start treating me better it won't erase that he once saw me as a threat. His own son…Fine. I'll go on the quest. But I'm not gonna do it for him. I'm doing it so that people on this planet won't die."

"Then it's time you consulted the Oracle," Chirons said. "Alaster Grace, Percy Jackson. Go upstairs to the attic. When you come back down, assuming you're still sane, we will talk more."

Percy and I walked into the Big House. We went up the stairs and climbed up the ladder and into the attic. The attic was filled with items that belonged to Greek Heroes and even gods.

Sitting on a stool was the Oracle. I've only seen her once before. She looked like a mummy, a human female body that had shriveled into a husk. As we got closer she sat up, her eyes glowed green and a mist that was the same color came out of her mouth.

"I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, seekers, and ask."

"What is our destiny?" I asked.

The mist swirled thickly and turned into an illusion made of mist. All sound outside of what was in front of me was blocked out. What was made out of the mist was a woman with long blonde hair and next to her was a girl with black hair and a punk get-up. And finally there was a small child wearing overalls over a purple shirt. It was my mother, Thalia…and Jason.

My mother spoke, but it was in the voice of the Oracle. "You will face the hardships of the past. Test of resistance, if your will can last."

Then Thalia. "Battling a powerful opponent to return what's stolen. Making the wrong decision will leave you broken."

And finally Jason spoke. "One decision will determine how your life ends. Choosing wrong will result in no family, no camp…no friends…"

Their figures dissolved. Finally I heard something else.

"Wait! What do you mean? What friend? What will I fail to save?" Percy shouted out.

The mist retreated back into the husk and the Oracle shrunk back into the wall.

I turned to Percy. "Are you ready?"

Percy didn't respond.

We headed back down to the porch.

"Well?" Chiron asked.

"She said I would retrieve what's stolen," Percy said as he slumped into the chair. I sat down on the railing.

"Yeah, she said the same thing to me too," I lied. I was still thinking about what she told me. So much emphasis on a decision that I have to make that would make or break me.

"That's great!" Grover exclaimed.

"What did the Oracle say exactly?" Chiron pressed. "This is important."

"She…she said that I would go west and face a god who had turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned. She said that a half-blood who leaves will never be the same when he comes back." Percy said

"She said the same thing to me," I said

"I knew it," Grover said

"Anything else?" Chiron looked unsatisfied.

"No. That's about it," Percy said

"Yup," I said

"Very well. But know this: the Oracle's words often have double meanings. Don't dwell on them too much. The truth is not always clear until events come to pass." Chiron told us.

Chiron looked at me, like he knew I wasn't being truthful. I averted my eyes from him.

"Okay," Percy said. "So where do we go? Who's this god in the west?"

"Think, Percy," Chiron said. "If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to gain?"

"Somebody else who wants to take over?" Percy guessed.

It was Hades. Besides Zeus and Poseidon, Hades is the only one powerful enough to take over.

"Yes, quite. Someone who harbors a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was divided eons ago, whose kingdom would grow more powerful with the deaths of millions. Someone who hates his brothers for forcing him into an oath to have no more children, an oath that both of them have now broken."

"Hades," Percy said.

"He's the only possibility," I said

A scrap of aluminum fell out of Grover's mouth. "Whoa, wait. Wh-what?"

"A Fury came after Percy," Chiron told him. "She watched the young man until she was sure of his identity, then tried to kill him. Furies obey only one lord: Hades."

"Yes, but-but Hades hates all heroes," Grover protested. "Especially if he has found out Percy is a son of Poseidon…"

"A hellhound got into the forest. They can only be summoned from the Fields of Punishment. Hades must have a spy in the camp, that's the only way it could get in, someone let it in," I spoke up.

"He must suspect that Poseidon would try to use Percy to clear his name. Hades would very much like to kill this young half-blood before he can take on the quest," Chiron said

"Then why didn't he send one after me? If Zeus thinks I helped with stealing the bolt wouldn't another Hellhound be sent after me as well?" I asked him.

"The most logical answer is that Percy is much less experienced than you, Alaster," Chiron explained. "Killing him would be much less difficult than it would be to kill you, having five years of training under your belt."

"So we have two major gods that wanna kill us? Great." Percy said

"But a quest to…" Grover gulped. "I mean, couldn't the master bolt be in some place like Maine? Maine's very nice this time of year."

"Hades sent a minion to steal the master bolt," Chiron insisted. "He hid it in the Underworld, knowing full well that Zeus would blame Poseidon. I don't pretend to understand the Lord of the Deads' motives perfectly, or why he chose this time to start a war, but one thing is certain. Percy and Alaster must go to the Underworld, find the master bolt, and reveal the truth."

I was…nervous. I'd never been to the Underworld. But I've heard stories. Not to mention that Hades is responsible for Thalia's death, so I felt a mix of fear and anger.

Grover was so nervous that he started downing pinochle cards down his throat.

"Look, if we know it's Hades," Percy told Chiron, "why can't we just tell the other gods? Zeus or Poseidon could go down to the Underworld to bust some heads."

"Suspecting and knowing are not the same," Chiron said. "Besides, even if the other gods suspect Hades-and I imagine Poseidon does-they couldn't retrieve the bolt themselves. Gods cannot cross each other's territories except by Invitation. That is another ancient rule. Heroes, on the other hand, have certain privileges. They can go anywhere, challenge anyone, as long as they're bold enough and strong enough to do it. No god can be held responsible for a hero's actions. Why do you think the gods always operate through humans?"

"You're saying we're being used?" I asked.

"I'm saying it's no accident Poseidon has claimed you now Percy. It's a very risky gamble, but he's in a desperate situation. He needs you."

"You've known I was Poseidon's son all along, haven't you?"

"I had my suspicions. As I said…I've spoken to the Oracle, too."

"So let me get this straight. We're supposed to go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead," Percy said

"Check," Chiron said

"Find the most powerful weapon in the universe."

"Check,"

"And get it back to Olympus before the summer solstice in ten days,"

"That's about right,"

"Did I mention that Maine is very nice this time of year?" Grover asked weakly.

"You don't have to go," Percy told him. "I can't ask that of you."

"Oh…" Grover shifted his hooves. "No…it's just that satyrs and underground places…well…". Grover took a deep breath and stood up. "You saved my life, Percy. If…if you're serious about wanting me along, I won't let you down."

So that's the team. Percy, Grover, and I. Not what I imagined, or wanted, but I guess I don't have a choice.

"All the way, G-man." Percy turned to Chiron. "So where do we go? The Oracle just said to go west."

"The entrance to the Underworld is always in the west. It moves from age to age, just like Olympus. Right now, of course, it's in America." Chiron said

"Where?"

"I thought that would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles," Chiron said

"Of course it is," I said, not surprised at all.

"So we just get on a plane-"

"Nope. Sorry, Percy. Plane's not an option," I said

"Exactly! Percy, have you ever been on a plane in your life?" Grover shrieked.

Percy shook his head.

"Percy, think," Chiron said. "You are the Son of the Sea God. Your father's bitterest rival is Zeus, Lord of the Sky. Your mother knew better than to trust you in an airplane. You would be in Zeus' domain. You would never come down again alive."

"But Alaster is with us," Percy said

"Yeah, but Zeus thinks I stole the bolt too," I said. "He won't even think twice. We can't travel overseas either. That's Poseidon's domain and I'll be at risk every minute that I'm there."

"Okay," Percy said. "So we'll travel overland."

"That's right," Chiron said. "I'm afraid that before you go, there is an issue at hand. There are a total of three on a quest. Percy you have chosen Grover, but there has been another who has volunteered for this quest."

Oh. I think I might know who that person is.

"Gee," Percy said, feigning surprise. "Who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?

The air shimmered behind Chiron and Annabeth became visible, and stuffed her Yankees cap into her back pocket.

"I've been waiting a long time for a quest, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said. "Athena is no fan of Poseidon, but if you're going to save the world, I'm the best person to keep you from messing up."

"But that means…" I said

"One of you would have to stay back," Chiron said

Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and I looked at one another.

"Why can't we all go?" Percy asked

"The Rule of 3," I said. "Three is a sacred number. If we risk more than three of us going on a quest there's a chance that one of us dies, goes missing, or we fail the mission all together. Those aren't necessarily guaranteed but it's not unheard of."

"We cannot risk this," Chiron said. "The fate of the world hangs in the balance."

"Chiron," I got up from the railing and walked up to him. "I think you should let us all go. We are all important in our own ways. Annabeth's right, we need her help. Percy and I are leading the mission. Grover needs his searcher's license. We can all benefit from this quest. Chiron, we already know the risks, we know what's at stake. We already know it's not safe out there for people like us. So what's the problem in including one extra person. You can't deny it, we need to go, all four of us."

There was silence, Chiron was in very deep thought. I could've been about two minutes of silence before he spoke up again. "You all know the risk. Alaster, Percy…I am putting all of my trust into you both so that you will not fail this quest. So that you both can save the world."

"We understand," Percy said, standing next to me.

"Very well," Chiron said. This afternoon, we can take you as far as the bus terminal in Manhattan. After that, you are on your own."

Lightning flashed. Rain poured down on the meadows…they were never supposed to have violent weather. This is getting worse.

"No time to waste," Chiron said. "I think you should all get packing."