Sorry it took me so long to write this. Kept writing myself into a corner and lost track time. Thanks for being patient with me. Here you go.
Seven years ago.
When Sally was pregnant with Percy, Poseidon sped up the whole process and made it painless. When Sally became pregnant with Kratos' child, she endured the whole nine months and gave birth to a healthy boy who would be named Anthony. After giving birth Sally looked like she survived ten rounds with Mike Tyson. She and Anthony remained in the hospital for a few more days to make sure there were no complications. This left Kratos watching Percy.
Kratos stopped by Mcdonalds and bought Percy a happy meal and then by bookstore to pick up some books about various mythologies and bought Percy some coloring books. Back at the apartments, "Perseus, I will be in the kitchen reading, you may watch television but keep the volume low."
Percy happily ate his happy meal and scribbled the same blue crayon over every page. He grabbed the remote with both hands and began changing the channels looking for cartoons.
"With the death toll in the-"
"Cleans stains in-"
"You's is a Bitch-Ass-Nig-"
Percy was looking for SpongeBob, Dora the explorer or heck he would even settle for Camp Lazlo. Something quickly caught Percy's eye and went back. Two men with shiny red gloves dance back and forth. It was Rocky starring Sylvester Stallone.
Percy watched intensely during training montage and fights. Then the movie was over, but thankfully it was a Rocky movie marathon. By the second movie Percy stood on the couch and began mimicking the boxers. Wanting to be like Rocky, Percy began looking from gloves.
Kratos was now reading the chapter about Loki. With each sentence he felt his 'Spartan Rage' meter grow. How dare they slander his son! His boy!
Odin! That one eyed bastard! He rewrote history, blaming his crimes and misdeed on his son! Kratos slammed the book shut and tossed it on the table, he felt a headache coming. Kratos counted to four and breathed out, counted to four and breathed in. That is when Percy ran into the kitchen and took two oven mitts with him. Curious, Kratos follows his son.
Percy had the mitts on and copied the punches on the TV. Percy was terrible, just wildly swinging each fist and doing strange leaps. "Perseus, do you like boxing?" Percy stopped and looked at Kratos, sweat on his brow. "I'm Rocky!" He turned back to the television and began swinging his fist again. "If you like I can teach you how to box."
Percy turned back around with his green eyes filled with excitement. "Really!" To get things ready Kratos pushed back the furniture to back a makeshift ring. First, he showed Percy how to make a proper fist. Kratos got on his knees though effortlessly towing on the young boy. Percy was excited with starry eyes. First Kratos how to make a fist. Bending each finger inward and then closing his thumb over them. Percy looked at his fists with wonder. "Perseus, these will be your first weapons, you first must master your hands before you will hold any blade, or staff, or firearm." Kratos formed his fist; it was bigger than Percy's head. The five year old goosebumps covered his entire body.
"Are you ready to be taught, my son?" Kratos asked, Percy was pumped up! "YEAH!" He yelled. This was the first day of Percy training. Kratos taught him the very basic knowledge of boxing and the four punches: The Jab, The Hook, The Cross, and The Uppercut.
A few days later Sally returned home with the newest addition to the Jackson family. A welcome home party was thrown with Clark, Molly, and Prometheus joining them. Clark babyproof the apartment, Molly made several health potions for Sally and Anthony, and Prometheus examined Anthony with his Foresight and announced that Anthony would become healthy, strong, and wise.
Percy bounced back and forth between adults and kept yelling, "I wanna hold him!" He was not allowed to. The adult sat around the table talking and passing Anthony around. Then Sally then told Clark and Molly that she and Kratos would like them to be Percy and Anthony Godparents. Molly burst into tears of joy and hugged them both. As things began to calm down Sally finally asked, "So, what have you and Percy been doing while I was gone?" Kratos then said, "Teaching him to Box." This caught everyone's attention.
"I'm Rocky!" Percy yelled as he ran back and forth. "So, has his training begun?" Prometheus asked, he knew that Kratos would teach Percy, but this much sooner than the Titan expected. "Care to give us a demonstration?" Clark The Cyclops remember when boxing was invented. Kratos saw no reason why not. They pushed some of the furniture to give space.
Sally, Molly, Clark, and Prometheus, watched from the kitchen. Sally held Anthony and calmly rocked him back and forth. Kratos gave Percy instructions, and the demigod followed them to the letter showing what he learned from the last few days. Everyone smiled and laughed as Percy threw little punches and bounded back and forth fighting an imaginary opponent.
"How cute!" Molly gushed. Clark nudged Prometheus, "Here is the next Muhammad Ali!" Prometheus laughed, "The future world champion is before us!" Sally had the biggest smile watching her oldest son move with such passion. Kratos decides to take things up to the next level. He got on his knees, "Perseus," Percy tools his stance. Something changed, Percy's innocent eyes became a sharp glare, just like Kratos. The adults took notice of the sudden change in Percy. Then Kratos said, "Attack." Percy explosives toward his father and attacks with absolute ferocity!
Kratos slapped away Percy punches. The rest could not believe what they were seeing, Percy Jackson, the hyperactive knucklehead, had become a ruthless fighting machine! Percy kept striking and weaving and bobbing from Kratos counters until he threw his cross and lost his balance rolling across the living room and crashed into a wall. "Percy!" Sally yelled, before her brain could send the signal for her to stand and move toward her son to comfort him, Percy was already standing again and launched back towards Kratos, Percy ducked under counter and clung to Kratos be grabbing his shirt and began unleashing a series of ruthless hits into Kratos ribs.
To Kratos this was no different than some snowflakes landing on him. The others could not believe how furious Percy was! Prometheus saw the burning warrior spirit within! Clark was reminded how dangerous the child truly was! Molly felt the same energy that a savage beast would admit.
"Percy Stop!" Sally screamed. Percy didn't listen and kept fighting with all his might. Kratos picked up Percy who kept swinging his fists! Sally looked at Kratos, what did he do! "Kratos! What have you done to him!" Sally's voice strained with outrage and shock. Kratos looked her in the eye and simply replied. "He belongs to me now."
The Present.
In Class Two-Two-Three; Mathematics. Mr. Brown, who looks like all forty five year math teachers called three of his students. "Mr. Jackson, Mr. Long, and Mr. Tennyson, meet me after class." while some other classes would say 'Oooh!' or snicker but the rest of the class were relieved that they weren't the ones called. Percy Jackson, Benjamin Tennyson and Jake Long came up to Mr. Brown desk, he handed them last Monday's test. "Congratulations Mr. Tennyson, you scored the highest."
Ben scored a fifty-three, Percy a forty-nine, and Jake a forty-three. Jake was Chinese American and could feel at least nine generations of ancestors cursing him from the afterlife. The three teens grimace knowing what will happen when their parents find out. "Boys, I'm disappointed, you boys had all week to study.'' They were dismissed and went to lunch.
Ben slammed his fist on the lunch table. "All Week! We don't have all week!" Jake leaned on the table, hand on his head. "Math, I get math, but what the heck was even on that test." Percy himself knew he was going to get an earful from his dad, maybe he should get detention? Especially now, He and Kratos have not been getting along. Percy grabbed his sandwich and took a bite. Then he saw the new guy.
"Hey, that's the new guy, right?" Percy pointed to him, across the cafeteria was a tall Japanese boy with spiky black hair and calm expression. Eating lunch alone. Ben got up, "Let's forget our terrible grades and greet our new classmate." Percy and Jake follow Ben.
"Hi, my name is B-" no one expected what happened next, the new guy spun around his fist shooting out toward the center of Ben's face. For Percy time slowed down, he moved his left hand catching the fist. Smack! Percy held the fist, Ben mind finally recognized what was about to happen and stepped back.
"Now Friend, we were just here to say hello. Hello." Percy let go of the new guy fist whose face became alarmed. "I am very sorry!" he bowed. "Woah there 'Mister Punch First', everything all good," Jake said.
"He almost punched me." Ben said, still on alert.
"Almost, he 'almost' punched you." Percy pointed out that Ben's face was still intact. "Once more I apologize. I am sorry, being new I am quite nervous." The new guy said, still bowing. Percy held up both hands shoulder level, "Hey man we get, now let's get our introductions done, my name is Percy Jackson."
"Jake Long,"
Ben was standing behind Percy and Jake, just in case. "Ben Tennyson."
The New guy stopped bowing and raised up straight, "I am Jin Kazama."
Percy took notice of Jin's accent, his English was very good but it was clear that it was not his first language. "Are you Japanese?"
"Yes, I was raised on Yakushima, it is one of the many islands near the coast of my nation."
Percy nodded, "One question, what is your favorite anime? My is One Piece"
Ben elbowed him in the back, "Perc! You don't ask a Japanese person about anime! That's insensitive!" Jake agreed, "Yeah that's like asking a Mexican what their favorite taco is."
Jin gave a small smile, "It's ok. Grappler Baki." Percy had a big smile, "I love Grappler Baki! It's so crazy!"
Jin chuckled, "I was told you Americans were…eccentric."
"Oh buddy you haven't seen anything yet!" Jake said, "Last Saint Patrick Day Chicago had a running of the bulls, that were all painted green!"
"And you won't believe what happens in Florida on a daily basis." Ben said now feeling that he was no longer in danger of being punched. They brought Jin over to their table and began trading stories.
After school Ben and Jake went to their clubs leaving Jin alone with Percy. "So, you're staying at the dorms?" Percy followed his new friend. "Yes, it's alright. When I lived with my mom we had a small house, honestly the dorm seems bigger." Jin explained, they went across the campus. "So why are you in America? Did something happen?"
The energy around Jin became silent. Percy apologized, "Sorry, you don't have to tell. But I'm here because I drove a bulldozer through my last school." Jin turned around with a look of absolute surprise, "What?" Percy then explained what happened, then he began talking about all the time he was expelled. "And that was how I learned that toilets could explode." Jin stared wide-eyed at him. "Percy, you sure are a character." Percy had a proud look; he sure was a character. Walking through the dorms up to Jin's room, Percy had to ask, "So Jin, what martial art do you know?"
"What gave you the idea that I know martial arts?" Jin asked, they stopped, Percy had his hands in his pockets and a neutral expression on his face. His hand was still tingling from the punch. "But if i hadn't stopped that punch, Ben would be needing a breathing tube right now."
"Really? Only a breath tube. Well, that wasn't one of my best punches." Jin said. Slowly the pressure in the air began to increase. "Now Jin in America it's rude to punch people without a good reason."
"And I apologized, but it seems that you Americans do like to stick your nose in other people's business."
"We were greeting our new friend."
"Who said that we are friends?"
The tension grew and grew. Birds on the roof flew off feeling the danger, students in the dorms began to feel a sense of dread. Percy and Jin remained still and didn't dare blink.
Then they began to laugh. "Well Percy if you must know I have been trained in my family style of karate, and I have also been trained in judo and aikido, now what style do you know?"
"Boxing, Wrestling, umm, what else? My dad is ex-military, and he even hired a teacher to train me." They went up a flight of stairs. Jin nodded, "My grandfather has also hired tutors to 'teach' me. That is honestly why I threw that punch earlier; my tutors usually don't tell me when our training began."
Jin was concerned that this would alienate his new friend; instead, Percy was very understanding, "Dude! My dad is the same way! This morning he woke me up at three in the morning telling me that we were under attack! By the time I got outside he was standing there with a stopwatch and complaining that I took too long!"
Jin smiled, "I was once beaten up in my sleep, and I was even tied down so I couldn't fight back!"
"My dad once had me fight a bear!" Percy said, he then showed the bear tooth necklace he made. Jin laughed, "My Grandfather locked me in a cage with pack wolves and threw blood on me!"
"I was abandoned in the woods and had to learn to survive!"
"Me too!"
Percy and Jin laughed and continued to exchange stories and anecdotes of the training and survival. "Have you ever been buried alive?" Jin asked, Percy then responded with glee. "Only like seven or eight times!" The first time Percy was buried he passed out from running out of oxygen. Never panic kids.
"This is me." Jin stopped before door Six-One-Six. Percy gave Jin his phone number and address. "You ever want to hang out just give me a call!" Percy smiled with his big goofy smile. Jin was very happy to have actually made a friend. "Thank you, Percy Jackson." Percy nodded and headed off. As he reaches the stair, he quickly slides out the way on Jin's kick. They quickly met eye to eye, a slight smile on Jin's face, "Good. That was not a fluke earlier."
Percy's eyes glowed slightly, and the corners of his mouth began to curl. "Now, now, let's at least go on dates first before we get physical with one another, Jin Kazama." Jin agreed, "Of course, Percy Jackson." Jin's black eyes started to glow red.
Then Axel F Crazy Frog began playing; that was Percy's alarm. "I'm gonna head out. Got a 'lesson' at home." They said goodbyes and 'see you laters'. Jin went to his room and watched Percy from his window. His first friend, and he could actually fight. Jin Kazama was looking forward to spending time with his new friend.
Knock. Knock. Jin went to his door, opening it. Two large muscular men dressed in black suits and wearing sunglasses were waiting for him. "Master Jin. it is time for your lesson." the one on his left said. The one his right pulled out a set of spiked brass knuckles. Jin stepped out, "Not on campus. Let's find a proper location."
Line Break.
Percy rides his bike "Beetle" to and from school. It was good exercise, to speed up things he would ride through the woods weaving between the trees. A herd of deer raised their heads thinking 'What the heck was that?' Percy rode through mud splashing his trousers and shoes. He saw the signs his dad posted warning others not to trespass on his property.
"Trespassers will be shot." Percy rode past the tree line and on the yard. He saw the chicken coop and vegetable garden stopped near them and hid. Peeking over he looked at his house. So big, penalty of space for growing a family. Percy had to be careful coming home, some months ago he picked up two strays known as Leo and Nora. His aunt Molly adopted them and usually they hung out. But Nora being the perpetual ball of energy likes to greet Percy with hugs, hugs with the power of a hydraulic press.
Percy stealthy moved across the lawn. He looked around to see if his new teacher had arrived yet. No signs, good. That means the monster he usually brings wasn't here. Even better, Percy could check his room and prevent the she-demon from messing with his stuff. Percy had to choose the right door. Not the back sliding panel, Nora appetite meant she was usually in the kitchen and the front door would be too obvious.
Percy snapped his fingers! The garage! Of course! He quickly made his way and opened it carefully; the door opened and took one step forward. "AAAAHHH!" The force of a cannonball struck his chest and then Percy went airborne. Bouncing across his lawn, stopping about eighty feet away from the door. Stars and birds flew around Percy's head as Nora sang and danced around. "Your home! Your home! Your home!"
"H-hey, hey N-Nora," Percy wheezed and tried to stand. The hyperactive ginger kept dancing around. Leo handled his camera with a big grin on face, "A new record! Nora sent you flying being eighty two feet! What is your response to your new record?"
"I think two of my ribs are broken."
"Spectacular! Only two broken ribs!" Leo announced. Nora backflipped, she clearly got into the sugar again. Percy looked around, "Are they here yet?" Leo messed with camera, "Oh Taiyang and-"
"Don't say her name! Or else she will appear like Beetlejuice!" Percy warned. "What? Who? Yang?" Nora said. Percy flinched and looked around for bane of his existence. "Don't worry Perc, they haven't arrived yet."
"Besides, why are you scared when Yang shows up anyway, she's cool!" Nora said.
"She is the embodiment of evil!" Percy said, "She devoted herself to making me miserable." Leo waved him off, "You're overreacting."
"Oh! Am I overreacting? What about when she spiked my Gatorade with laxatives? Or when she put superglue on my gamer controller?" Percy began to list off the things Yang has done to him: Shaving cream in his shoes, resetting his alarm clock, changing the passcode on his phone, playing over his saved games! Downloading gay porn on his computer! And the worst of all! A crime so despicable that life in imprisonment would be too good for her!
The worst thing Yang did to him. His mom made a fresh batch of blue chocolate cookies, and she ate them all! Percy didn't even get a single chocolate chip! And his mom was out of ingredients so she could not make a second batch!
"Yang deserves to be sent to the Ninth Level of Hell!" Percy raged on. He marched off to the house and went to get everything ready. He had to make sure that Yang couldn't get the jump on him. Last time she booby trapped his bed to spring up and sent him flying in the wall. "Alright there, calm down," Leo reached into his pocket and pulled out a small camera and wire.
"Is that it?" Percy was unimpressed. Leo smirked and held the device like a snake.
"Trust me," in Percy's room they were looking for the best spot. "Now if we find the right angle then we can know what will happen if Yang tries to prank you again." Nora hopped on Percy's bed and pointed to the air. "How about that?"
"Good girl Nora." Leo praised, he hopped on the bed, he pulled a screwdriver out and removed the vent cover. "Ok, Percy, get on your phone and access your Bluetooth." Percy did what Leo instructions.
"Ok, now switch to the camera and see if it is connected." Percy did so and his screen went from black to fuzzing to getting a ready close shot up Nora nose. "Ok, it's connected."
"Awesome sauce!" Nora bounced off. Percy saw a new angle of his room; now whatever Yang had planned for him today he was ready. "Thanks Leo,"
"No prob, now I think my payment is in order." Leo reached his hand out. Percy rolled his eyes and gave him twenty dollars. Though he still felt uneasy, his father told him to trust his instinct or 'Gut' feeling. Percy knows that Bimbo will find a way around this. He felt anxious, need to relax. His eyes went to his sword, a long crude blade. A gift from the Ork clan,' Da Broken Bonez'
The Percy sword was meant for a over six foot tall green skin beast. From the pommel to the tip was as long as Percy was tall, a barbaric blade with one sharp side with a notch messing from the other side. Uncle Clark was very kind to upgrade it with a special metal, Celestial Bronze. In his nightstand was the tusk of the Traitorous Ork known as Mol. that fight, the blood, the brutality, the sweet, sweet euphoric sense of victory.
The whole reason Taiyang was teaching Percy was that Kratos and Sally were worrying about the influence the Ork's had on Percy. They hoped a new teacher could even things out.
"Guys, I'm gonna do some sword training." Percy grabbed his blade and went to the training grounds. It felt right swinging the blade. It was natural to him. Percy felt the weight connect to him like an extension of himself. Yes, this was him. Percy wished for an opponent to test himself, his father was too strong, Prometheus weapons were fire and his wisdom, Orion the bow, Uncle Clark the hammer and Aunt Molly used magic. Another swordsman to test his skills against.
Percy swung his sword through three wooden posts, harmony. He remembered he couldn't even slice through one. His mind was at peace, proud of his hard work. But this was the quiet before the storm. He didn't sense her; he was too distracted. Her wicked smile displays proudly across her face, eyes honed her target. So casual with her movement that Percy did not suspect a thing. Her lilac eyes went down and saw a good size rock, her smile grew bigger.
She pulled back her right foot and focused her strength and kicked the rock. Pew! It flew and struck the sword sending it flying out of Percy's hands, his green eyes widened in shock as he watched his beloved sword fly like a helicopter propeller, Whooz! And impaled itself right through a tree. "What?" Percy muttered not realizing what happened.
She found this delicious, making an idiot out of Percy was one of favorite hobbies, beside standup comedy. It was time to get his attention. She spoke her voice like poisoned honey. "Hey Jobber!" goosebumps spread throughout Percy's body at the sound of her voice. Cautiously he turned around to face her. "Yang? You're still not in prison?"
Yang Xiao Long stood there with shit eater grin that rivals Percy's. She was around Percy's age, twelve, just a month older. She had once proudly announced that she was Percy senior and that he should do whatever she commanded, or else. Percy chose 'or else.' When the first time they met Percy was taken back by her beauty; long golden hair, lilac eyes and flawless peachy skin. Now the very sight of her made his stomach flip.
"Oh, I'm sorry Jobber, did I interrupt you LARPing? Were you off to save the princess?" Yang began to move closer. Percy didn't dare take his eyes off her, she was very quick, "Yeah, was to slay the dragon, expect this dragon doesn't breathe fire, she tells horrible joke that make me wanna kill myself.'' If Yang bullying wasn't enough, what was worse was her terrible sense of humor, this girl couldn't tell a joke to save her life. Percy decided to get the sword out of the tree, in terms of hand to hand he could keep up with her, but armed he had the advantage.
"Oh! Speaking of jokes here one!" she pointed at him. "You!"
"HAHAHA!" Percy fake laughed, "That is so funny! Yang, you should write for Family Guy!"
"Of course, you would watch Family Guy, you and Peter Griffin have a lot in common, you guys are both retards."
"And you're still flat chested, don't worry I'm sure you get enough to buy those implants one day."
"If anyone is going to compensate for something it's you! I mean look how big and long your sword is, most guys just usually buy a really expensive car."
The two stood their ground not giving an inch. As warriors in training, they refused to give any sign of submission. In the bushes Leo and Nora watched eagerly, Leo had his video camera rolling and Nora was eating popcorn.
"Alright you two settled down."
Percy was careful to make any sudden movements, common knowledge when dealing with feral animals, especially the blonde ones. "Hey coach." Percy said. Taiyang was dressed in a yellow tracksuit and had a whistle. A tall, powerhouse of a man with Blonde spiky hair, chin scruff, and a deep tan. Despite his imposing figure the guy was a big softie. He already has Pokémon Band-Aids ready.
"And you two out of the bushes," Leo and Nora leap out smiling innocently. "Ok guys today we'll try some new exercises and some grappling techniques, but due to last week's incident." Taiyang's eyes went from his daughter to Percy.
"Percy and Yang you two will not be sparring with each other, now let's have some fun!" Tai gave an enthusiastic arm pump. Yang spun around and poke Percy in the chest. "You're lucky my dad here or I messed up your pretty face!"
Then Yang bopped him on the nose. "Boop."
Percy snarled, "Oh I'm gonna boop you one!" He rolled up his shirt sleeves. Yang had a menacing grin; she had been waiting for this! Taiyang, not wanting to use the crowbar again, picked the two up by the scruffs of their shirts and carried them to the sparring ring.
Now in terms of skills Yang was the highest out of the four, and in terms of strength Nora was the highest, Percy could rival both. Leo usually was the one who needed to have his shoulder reset or a bone popped back in place.
Getting to the ring Percy saw Anthony waiting for them. He was happy to be training with his brother and warned Yang if she did anything to his brother, he would pimp slap the blonde off her. They started with one hundred pushups, one hundred sit-ups and one hundred squats followed by one hundred burpees.
Training went well today, but only because Tai made sure to keep Percy and Yang apart, he had no idea why they fought so much. Must be puberty. Taiyang clapped his hands together, "Alright good job everybody, let's take a break and I will make some of my after-training noodles. Anthony, can you give me a hand?"
"Yes Coach." Anthony followed to help get the snack ready. Yang waited to make sure her dad was out of sight. Like many people, especially Americans, Yang practiced the popular hobby known as 'Starting shit'. She went by the cooler and grabbed a water bottle. "Jobber catch." she threw the bottle at him.
"What now?" Percy caught it. "Just want to say good job today, you are getting better each session." Yang smiled. Percy didn't trust that smile. "Thanks, you too." Yang wiped the sweat off her forehead, "Though it is a shame that we didn't spar today, on the account of you being a little bitch." Percy narrowed his eyes. "Can't believe you went crying to my dad, scared to know that I will always knock you down."
Percy drank the water and went "Ahh!" He knew what the blonde was doing and decided to play along, "Well you did freak out like a psycho, which you are, all because I accidentally yanked out a few of those 'Clearly Fake' blonde hairs of yours." he decided to go for the throat.
Yang's smile disappeared, "I am a natural blonde."
"Oh, did I hurt your feelings, well buy some better hair dye!" Percy said loudly, "That ugly ass canary yellow locks of yours aren't even fit for paint brushes!" bloodlust oozed off Yang. her eyes became red. She hated him. He hated her. Yang decides to hurt him, "One Piece is absolute trash."
Percy's eyes widened in shock. What utter blasphemy did he just hear! "How dare you! One Piece is the absolute top tier! It is beyond S-Class! It is entertainment fit for Gods!"
Leo and Nora sat on the sideline, this was basically every training session, very heated banter that led to a fistfight that Taiyang would have to break them up with, something with an actual crowbar.
Taiyang came back with ingredients for his family after training noodles. An old family recipe that included medical herbs to increase recovery time. Tai carried the soup pot filled with ingredients and Anthony carried the firewood. "Alright guys let's-oh come on!" he came to what was best described as a 'Comical fight cloud'. Leo was recording the whole thing while Nora chanted "Fight! Fight! Fight!" Taiyang rushed to break up the fight. Anthony went up to Leo. "How long did it take this time?"
"One minute and fifty seconds." Anthony stomped his foot in frustration, "Dang it!" He then gave Leo five dollars. He betted that those two could last five minutes before getting into another fight.
Line Break.
The next day Jin waited for Percy to show up by the school gate. He saw Percy ride his bike and went to greet him, before he could properly greet him, he stopped when he saw the injuries; Percy had a black eye and a swollen nose with a breathing strip over it and his left wrist hand bandages wrapped around it. He had several bruises and small cuts. "What happened to you?"
Percy limped over and smiled, "I won is what matters!" Meanwhile Yang was saying the same thing to her classmate. Percy then noticed Jin himself had several fresh bruises and bandages on him. "Enough about me, what happened to you?" Jin remembered that he too had been through some 'training'.
"Training." Jin simply said. Percy nodded, "Same." the two smiled, a connection was formed. Two young warriors on the same path on the Road of Strength. "Come on, let's get to class before the painkillers wear off." Percy gave Jin a pat on the shoulder causing his knees to buckle as a wave of pain shot through his body. "Y-Yeah!" Jin gritted his teeth and did his best to remain standing. The two young warriors then limped to class.
Line Break.
In Kratos' study the Spartan sat at his model table painting his newest Warhammer model, an Imperial fist. It was so relaxing. Though he wished he had some privacy, Taiyang came to report the result of his son's training. Sally bought tea and blue crumpets and sat down across from Taiyang. Kratos kept painting his model.
"And I had to cross the crossbar again." Taiyang explained, he sipped his tea. Sally shook her head, she had no idea why Percy was so aggressive around Yang, she was so nice and sweet. Must be hormones. "I'm sorry Taiyang, Percy has been so difficult lately," Sally eye becomes daggers at Kratos, "Because 'Someone' had to leave him in the woods for the whole summer!"
Kratos grumbled and gruffed. "Don't you use that tone with me!" Sally warned. Kratos grumbled again. Sally turned back to Tai, "I'm sorry about that, the Old Bear usually has an attitude." Kratos looked at his model, "I do not have an attitude."
"Should I leave?" Tai said and sheepishly pointed to the door. "No." Kratos and Sally said together. Tai just shifted uncomfortably in his seat, he got flashbacks when his mother and father would argue. "Well, beside the feud between our children I am to say that Percy and Anthony are exceptional! They are both naturals in the way of martials arts." Sally had a big smile, when these lessons Percy's chances for survival were growing! Her baby! Her oldest son! He could live a good life, get a job, and a wife and children! She will become a grandmother!
Yes, she (currently) had seven children, but it was her goal to see every single one her children grow up, get married and give her grandbabies for her to love and spoil!
Kratos on the other hand was unimpressed, he carefully dabbed a small amount of black paint with the paintbrush and carefully applied it to the Imperial fist. Any Day now Percy could be sent to Camp Half-Blood. A satyr could sense him and take to the camp. And Poseidon was expecting Percy to eventually show up. Kratos gingerly sat down the paintbrush, he pulled over a special lamp to examine the model in the right light and dry the wet paint. Sally and Tai watched as the Spartan placed his giant hand to his great bushy beard and combed it with his fingers. What to do? How much time did they have? How will Perseus do? He still doesn't know he is a Demigod for Chaos-Sakes! His amber eyes went to Taiyang, "Has your wife awakened?"
Sally turned to Tai as well, "Yes, Has Summer woken up?" Tai gave a sad smile, his eyes became tired, "She's responding to stimuli, giving more reactions. The doctors keep telling me, 'Any day now'. Taiyang breathed out through nose, a long-exhausted breath, "Any day now." Sally went over and sat next to him and placed her hand on his shoulder, "Don't give up. She will wake up." Tai just nodded. Kratos feels the sorrow and fatigue from the man deep with his soul. Kratos just wanted to know how the woman had the Silver Eyes of Artemis.
The door burst open; the eyes went to the door where the interrupter came changed into the room. "Daddy time!" Estelle announced. The five-year-old girl went to Kratos and raised her arms to be picked up. Estelle Jackson was the only person in the world who would dare enter Kratos' study without permission and demand his attention. Even Kratos was helpless to stop her. He picked her up and sat her down on his lap.
Sally went over to them, "Estelle, we talked about this, you can't enter a room without knocking." The oldest daughter likes to slam doors open and close. Estelle crossed her arms, "But it's Daddy time!" she whined. Kratos placed his hand on her head and patted her. "My child you must listen to your mother, she is very wise." Sally smiled and kissed his cheek. "Gross!" Estelle stuck her tongue out. Taiyang chuckled, Summer would get affectionate with him to make Yang and Ruby cringe. Kratos continued to pat Estelle's head, pondering what to do with Percy. He began to think about Atreus, his first son, his boy.
Kratos had many, many, many, many regrets; a good deal of those regrets involved Atreus. Should he have told him sooner, what would have happened if he trained more? Why didn't Faye tell him she was a giant? What more could he have done? He stopped thinking, he heard Estelle humming and giggling, she smiled. She lost one of her front teeth. He looked at Sally, her sweet smile always warmed him up. Then Kratos looked at Taiyang, a fellow father and warrior.
"Taiyang, what shall we do?" Kratos asked. Taiyang blinked in surprise, "OH! Well! I am-um, oh jeez," Tai rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, we need to dispute between Yang and Percy, they need to learn to work together with others or to hold back when necessary. But how?" Kratos agreed, a test. A simple mission, something within their control just to examine them.
Kratos got an idea, and he pulled out his phone. "Prometheus, I need your assistance."
Line Break.
The mission was simple. Go find the lost Augean Bull and return it to the Augean Stable. The Augean stables contained three hundred immortal cattle, the stable would relocate itself in a different location every few decades, unfortunately one of those locations was Chernobyl. The cattle all mutated but didn't seem to mind. Two years ago, Orion had located it and Prometheus negotiated with King Augeas, whose soul was bound to the Stables as its rightful owner.
All King Augeas wanted was someone to help keep the stable clean. Clark built several Automaton to collect the magical manure. Prometheus then would sell the manure as fertilizer. That's right, Team Kratos was now in the fertilizer business and the money was good! One interesting thing was also that King Augeas had no idea who Kratos was. This helped with a theory that Prometheus had created, that Olympian's had gone through extreme methods to erase Kratos from their history.
Orion took the head bull thirty miles away from the stables and placed it in the desert; the stable's current location was in the middle of Arizona. He left some clues behind so it can be tracked. "Ok, he's out here. Sending you the location and placing the tracker." Orion took the tracker and placed it on the ear tag. He patted the mutant immortal bovine on the head, "Alright Prime Rib, you just wait out her and a ragtag team of misfits will bring you back home."
"Moo." The Bull walked to some spiky cactus and began eating. Orion disappeared without a trace and the bull began to enjoy it alone, finally some personal time away from the herd, even cows needing some 'Me-time' and for the next hours, things were nice and quiet and there were plenty of cactus to eat. Then its ears twitched as he picked some human voice, arguing mostly. Then the voice came from above.
"So, how are we going to do this?"
"What if he asked him nicely?"
"I don't think he speak English,"
"What about Spanish?"
The bull ignored them and went back to his cactus, he heard another voice and sense aggression from the group, then he heard one person yell the 'Pussies," then the sound of people falling. The Bull felt three weights land on his back, it didn't bother him. It did bother Percy, Leo and Nora.
"AGH! The smell!" Leo gasped for air! The scent of the bull was horrendous! Nora turned a light shade of green. Percy growled and shook his fist at Yang who was grinning from above. She held onto a tree that was growing off the side of the cliff. "Hahahahahah! I can't believe you fell for that! Oh Wait! You did! Hahahahahaha!"
"Yang you bitch!" Percy leaps off the back of the Augean bull along with Leo and Nora. "You could have gotten us killed!"
"Oh, don't worry, I understand the 'gravity' of the situation." Yang grinned. Even the Augean Bull cringed at that joke. Yang swung from the branch and bounced off the walls of the canyon. She stuck the landing with her arms up. "All right ladies let's get Babe here back to the ranch, I got things to do," Yang said. "Hmmm, he looks more like a Humphrey to me." Nora patted the beast who kept eating the yummy cactus. "Ok, the ranch is north," Leo nodded, "How are we going to get this guy back." Nora ran behind the bull and smacked the back leg, "Giddy-up!" Humphrey the Augean Bull didn't move. Percy went in front of the Bull, "Come on big guy, time to go home." nothing. Yang grabbed a piece of Cacti and waved from a distance, "Come on this way!" She waved high. The Bull raised its head and opened its mouth, its tongue shot out and grabbed the piece and reeled it back into its mouth.
Leo pulled a rope out his bag and tied it around the horns, with the freakish strength of Percy, Yang, and Nora, they could at least encourage the Bull to move. "One, two, three, pull!" Leo ordered. Percy, Yang, and Nora pulled with all their might, nothing.
"One, Two, Three, Pull!" Leo ordered. Percy, Yang, and Nora pulled with all their might, nothing. "One, Two, Three, Pull!" Leo ordered. Percy, Yang, and Nora pulled with all their might, nothing. "One, Two, Three, Pull!" Leo ordered. Percy, Yang, and Nora pulled with all their might, nothing.
The Bull slightly moved its head. Percy, Yang, and Nora were flung forward and crashed on top of Leo. "Agh! This is your fault, Jobber!" Yang shoved Percy. "How?" Percy shoved back. Yang pointed at his biceps, "You're weak! Scrawny! Does your mother even feed you?"
Percy flexed his arms, "Weak! I do a thousand push-ups every morning!" Yang flexed her arms, "Oh yeah? I do ten-thousand push-ups every day!"
"Guys! Get off me!" Leo complained. Nora rubbed her head, "Ow," The Augean Bull ignored them and went to another patch of cactus and dragged the four pre-teens between him. "AGGH!" the four yelled being dragged a few feet. "Oh crap!" Percy winge as the rope tightened around them. "This isn't good!" Yang couldn't move her left arm.
"Alright! Let's remain calm!" Leo said, he looked at the bull, it stopped and began eating, "Let's move closer and loosen the rope but he will move on to his next meal." The rest agreed and did their best to get up.
Murphy Law: if it can go wrong, it will. This will be a law the four have no choice but to live with for the rest of their lives. Especially Percy. As the four moved to loosen the rope around and Bull continued to eat, a lizard, a foot long with orange and black scales crawled from the cacti and hissed at the bull. This was a Gila Monster, native species of venomous lizard's native to desert areas of America. Despite its reputation the Gila Monster were harmless unless provoked. Eating its home was provoking it. The Gila Monster growled its last warning, Humphrey the Bull ignored it and ate another piece of cacti, The Gila Monster Home.
As the Augean Bull went for another bite, The Gila leaped up and bit the bull tongue. "MOOOO!" The Gila monster flung up in the air and landed on a tree branch unharmed, it watched from down below. The Augean began freaking out.
"NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" Percy, Yang, Leo and Nora panic watching the beast begin thrashing and the rope begins to tighten around them. The Bull rushed forward, "AAAAHHHH!" The four screamed as they dragged behind it. The Gila watched as the bull and four screaming humans disappeared. Satisfied it crawled down and back home.
Line Break.
When the four Nitwits never returned to the Augean Stables everyone got worried. Kratos was half convinced that Percy or Yang had finally killed the other and now was trying to hide the body. Orion led them back to the spot. "Ok right! left the bull, right here!" Orion gestured with his arms wide to the area. It was nighttime with the moon and stars out. Prometheus examines the area, "Well, look like they went this way."
Kratos groaned. What a mess. It was a simple mission; find the bull and bring it back. Orion led them following the trail, "Huh, they were dragged behind it." Kratos and Prometheus themselves were excellent trackers and all three picked the clues. They walked for twenty minutes until Orion stopped. Orion mechanical eyes scanned the area, "What?" Clark had upgraded his eyes and enhanced them. The Giant hunter looked around, "Well, this isn't good." he knelt down, the tracks stopped.
"What's wrong?" Kratos asked. "The tracks stopped." Prometheus scanned the area, he detected something. Kratos did not sense any traps. Maybe a giant bird caught it and flew off with them. Prometheus found the item and picked it up, "Hmm, mushrooms." the titan looked at the three dried up mushrooms in his hand. These were enchanted, well they were. What purpose they served was done and the magic was lingering.
"What did you find?" Prometheus showed, "Mushrooms?" Orion took one, "Are these the fun kind? You know about 'Spiritual journeys?"
Prometheus shook his head, "I am afraid not. What do you guys know about the Fair Folk?" Kratos just sighed. Orion tilted his head, "What about them?" The Hunter has encountered plenty of Fairies, Pixies, and elves plenty of times. Prometheus walked around and unfortunately, he was right, the mushrooms formed a massive ring. "This is a Fairy Ring, the Fair Folk use it for many purposes, including transportation." Orion realized the gravity of the situation, "So? Where are they?"
Kratos groaned loudly, "Anywhere. They could be anywhere!"
Chapter End.
Next time.
Nora ran across the beach. "LEO! LEO!" Percy was trying to calm down, he stared at the beautiful blue water and then vast green jungle behind him. How the hell did they get here? He saw the back of a prehistoric beast swimming through the water. It was as long as a school bus and could bite one in half. "LEO!" LEO!" Nora ran in front of him. "Oh shit! Leo!" Percy called out, "Yang!" no responses.
"Moo." The Augean Bull was eating coconut. Percy walked to him, "Well, at least we didn't lose the bull." he patted it trying to reassure him that everything was fine.
"Yup, everything is going to be ok." Percy said to himself. He looked around and saw a sign, curious he walked to and read it, "Welcome to…Neverland!?" He looked up from the sign baffled, "Like in the Peter Pan movies!?" At least Percy knew where he was.