Author's Question: Hey guys and gals, I have a question I need your help with. I have been considering whether to bump this story up from Teen to Mature, in order to allow myself greater freedom with language, descriptions, and potentially scenes in the future. I wanted your thoughts on whether you think I should keep it Teen or make the jump to Mature? I think I am already pushing the limits in terms of language, but wanted your opinion so please leave me a review and let me know.
Chapter 12: Grover Sends Me on a Psychedelic Trip
Grover stopped in front of him, not embracing him in a hug like so many before had. Instead he just stared at him, looking into his eyes with an expressionless face. Then he put his hand over his chest and breathed deeply. The wind picked up around them, and the smell of the sea was replaced with that of the forest. Grover reached out with the same hand and put it on Percy's chest, and suddenly he was overwhelmed with warmth. Sweet fragrances filled his nostrils and the gentle sounds of the forest filled his ears. The air was alive with the delicate perfume of lavender, mingling with the intoxicating scent of jasmine vines that adorned the trellises nearby. These floral notes blended harmoniously, creating a symphony of aromas that embraced the senses. Birdsong filled his ears, a chorus of melodies that were interwoven with the rustling of leaves. The scent of pine needles drifted by, carried on the breeze, evoking memories of peaceful walks through evergreen forests. The woody notes mingled with the invigorating aroma of eucalyptus, offering a sense of vitality and rejuvenation. Grover wasn't telling him he missed him, he was showing him.
When Grover dropped his hand his face broke out into a smile. "Percy," he said, his voice a deep and rich one, not one Percy recognised from their younger days, "You have been gone from this world for too long. The wild yearns to see you again."
Percy didn't remember Grover being so cryptic twenty years ago, and for a moment he questioned if it was even the same satyr. The eyes were the same though, and Percy realised that the years had changed Grover far more than they had changed Annabeth or Clarisse. He had grown into an adult, but not just any adult, the successor of Pan and the Lord of the Wild.
Grover turned and began making his way back towards the forest, beckoning him to follow as he did so, "Come Percy, I want you to see what you helped to build."
Percy was still in awe of what Grover had just done. The feeling of the forest had been so visceral, like he was standing in the midst of the wilderness. He didn't know where his old friend had learnt to do that, but he much preferred this goat to the one he had met in the Boston cafe. He went to follow but his legs gave out from under him, and he crashed back into the sand. His legs felt like concrete, and he barely had the energy to keep his upper half from collapsing to the ground due to the energy he had exerted in the earlier fight against Triton. It had been impressive, but it had also been everything he had. The panic of Triton cutting off his ability to breathe underwater had pushed him to lengths he had not yet experienced.
He was going to call out to Grover but the satyr was already back beside him. He raised the rustic flute around his neck to his lips, and began to play a gentle tune. To Percy, it almost sounded like the flute was imitating relaxing Hawaiin music. Percy felt as though he was thousands of miles away, lying on the beach watching the sun set, drinking from a coconut as the flame of tiki torches waved gently in the breeze. A weight felt as though it was lifted from his body, and when Percy tried to stand there was no resistance. His legs didn't even sway, they held firm and steady.
"You're amazing," Percy gasped, "How did you do that?"
Grover grinned, "Old goat, new tricks. Now come on, here I was thinking a whippersnapper like yourself would be spry enough to go for a walk with my forty year old ass."
Percy couldn't even think of a witty response, he was too busy staring in awe at the satyr. Nonetheless he complied, and this time began to follow Grover towards the forest, marvelling at how he suddenly felt full of energy and life. He thought back to the battle in the Olympian throne room, when Grover had played his tunes on his pipes in order to strengthen Percy's resolve when battling Luke. That had been child's play compared to what he had just witnessed.
The two old friends began a leisurely stroll through the verdant woodland, their steps muffled by a carpet of thick grass. Shafts of sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. The air felt cool and invigorating, carrying the subtle scent of damp earth and the woody aroma of towering trees. Percy inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with the clean and rich air all around them. With each step, their footsteps created a gentle rhythm, blending harmoniously with the symphony of nature surrounding them. Birds sang from the treetops, their joyful melodies echoing through the tranquil forest. The occasional rustle in the underbrush hinted at the presence of small creatures going about their daily activities.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, a babbling brook came into view, its crystal-clear waters winding their way through the moss-covered rocks. The gentle sounds of water trickling over pebbles created a soothing backdrop to the other sounds of the forest, and it was here that they stumbled upon a clearing unlike any other Percy had ever seen.
The air felt charged with magic, carrying whispers of enchantment and the faint tinkling of bells. As Percy gazed around in awe, he found that they were surrounded by a host of other beings. Glimmering faeries flitted through the air, their delicate wings shimmering like spun gold. They darted about mischievously, their giggles echoing like tiny silver chimes. Looming among the trees were towering dryads, the ancient spirits of the forest bound to the magnificent oaks and birches. Their bark-like skin glowed with an otherworldly luminescence, and their eyes gleamed with curiosity. With gentle gestures, they swayed to an invisible melody, their branches intertwining with one another, creating a living canopy of natural beauty. From the brook that wound its way through the clearing, water nymphs emerged, their forms fluid and ever-changing. They shimmered with the iridescent hues of the deep sea, their laughter as melodic as the flowing water. Gracefully, they danced and twirled, casting droplets of sparkling water that glistened like diamonds in the air. In a sunlit corner of the clearing, a group of satyrs gathered, some trying to chase after the various dryads and nymphs, but most condemning themselves to simply admiring them from a distance. Some played enchanting tunes on their panpipes, creating melodies that stirred the soul. The forest seemed to sway in response, its very essence resonating with the joyful music.
Percy had no idea what this place was, but it radiated the same energy that he had felt in the labyrinth when they had found the fading God of the Wild Pan. It was nature and magic combined and came to life, and it was beautiful.
He turned to Grover, "This is amazing. What is this place?"
"This is where we started the fight to save the wild," Grover said, beaming proudly across the clearing, "This is where we started to spread the word of Pan, to build again what had been taken away. To fight pollution and global warming, and change the world. This is my life dream manifested Percy, and it wouldn't have been possible without you."
Tears appeared in the corner of Grovers eyes, and he tore his gaze away from the clearing to look at his old friend, gratitude and love on his face, "When you defeated Kronos and Gaea you became a celebrity to mythological creatures everywhere. When they found out I was your friend, that we had found Pan together, nature spirits and woodland creatures of all walks of life came to camp like it was a beacon. This became our holy site, where we began to spread the word to any who would listen to the will of Pan. They believed in me because they knew you believed in me. I believed in myself, because you believed in me."
Percy fought back the tears that were beginning to well up in the corner of his eyes, "Grover…I don't know what to say. You…you did this. You kept hope in the wild even when no one else did."
Grover shook his head, "I kept the faith Percy, I was a prophet of the wild, but you were my missionary. They didn't flock to me because of what I said, they flocked to me because the hero of Olympus vouched for me. They first believed in you, and that brought them here. And once they were here…" he waved his arm out across the clearing, "we began to build this."
Percy looked back out across the clearing and saw it was dotted with a few small wooden cabins and even a miniature amphitheatre. There seemed to be nothing but smiles across the inhabitants faces, and the loudest sound he could hear was laughter. "This is amazing Grover. You have built something special."
Grover stepped towards him and pulled him into a tight embrace, his tears beginning to roll down his cheeks. "I've missed you so much Percy. So many times I thought about giving up. So many times I lost faith. The challenges were too vast, the solutions too impossible. But each time I faltered I felt you with me. You were standing alongside me and I felt I could conquer the world. I was unstoppable because my best friend believed I could do it."
This time Percy couldn't stop the tears, and he gripped his oldest friend as tightly as he could. It must have been a strange sight to a passerby, The satyr and demigod holding each other sobbing, but they didn't know what the two had been through. Grover had found and protected Percy since he was a boy. He had befriended Percy when Percy was alone, and even when he was asked to go to the Underworld to get Percy's mum back he didn't back down. They had fought gods and titans together, survived the sea of monsters and navigated the labyrinth. They found Pan, when all others before them had failed. Neither would be alive if it weren't for the other, and the two sunk in the moment, reunited at last.
They slowly separated and Grover nodded towards the edge of the clearing, "Come on, there's still a couple things to show you."
Percy wiped away the tears and followed him, and realising as he did that all the inhabitants of the cleaning were now staring at him. Not in suspicion or curiosity, but in awe. Naiads bowed as he passed and satyrs saluted. The faeries, typically buzzing around unpredictably, hovered in their place, eyes big as saucers as he passed them.
"Um Grover…why are they staring?" Percy asked.
"You helped me find Pan. You saved Olympus and by extent the forest. They know this wouldn't be possible without you. You're their hero Percy."
The attention made Percy feel incredibly uncomfortable. He didn't feel like a hero. He remembered how many nature spirits had died in the battle against Kronos. How many had sacrificed their lives under his leadership. Now those that had survived looked at him like he deserved some sort of praise for it. Not only that, but he was back and would likely lead them into another costly conflict. Guilt bit at his conscience but he managed a smile.
As they exited the main part of the clearing and came upon the edge, Percy realised there was a small fountain. The water glowed blue as a soft trickle of water bubbled out of the top of a bronze trident. At the bottom of the fountain there was a plaque, with the following inscribed in gold:
To the memory of Percy Jackson, Saviour of Olympus and The Wild. Hero to Demigods and Nature Spirits. He died doing what he did best, protecting his friends. A devoted son, a loyal friend, and an idol to all who knew him. Our Brightest Light in Our Darkest Night.
"We made it after you died. We burnt your shroud but…we wanted something more…something that would last. So we built this here, to serve as the heart of the world we were going to build."
Percy lowered himself to his knees and reached out to touch the plaque. This was how the world had remembered him, this was the legacy that he had left when he had gone into the ice. Surely this was what everyone dreamed of, leaving behind something that generations would remember you for. But Percy couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that was refusing to let go of his mind. He remembered a saying from a movie he had watched many years ago, 'You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.' He had died a hero, and now he was returning to herald the greatest threat the world had ever faced. He was going to lead the demigods and nature spirits that looked up to him as a hero into battle like lambs to the slaughter.
He shook his head, "I'm sorry Grover. This isn't me, I'm not a hero. I don't deserve this. I don't save people, I kill them."
Grover knelt next to him, and put his hand on his shoulder, "Percy, you were only a child when you started seeing monsters. You were a child when you started watching your friends die. You were a child when you were forced to lead other children into a war. These were not wars you chose, these were wars that were forced upon you. And when even gods shrunk from the occasion you rose to it. I watched you go to hell and back when you were twelve to save your mom, and I watched you fight a god to do it. You journeyed through the sea of monsters, where almost none survive, just because you knew I was in there somewhere. You held the sky and charted the labyrinth. You helped me find Pan and then, before you even turned sixteen, you rallied the forces of good against the forces of evil and WON. You journeyed to the land beyond the gods and reclaimed the pride of Rome. You jumped into Tartarus, into TARTARUS Percy, to save Annabeth. You didn't do these things because you wanted to, you did them because the world needed you to. The world needs heroes, Percy, and being a demigod doesn't make you a hero, acting like a hero makes you a hero. The twenty years you've been gone have been the most peaceful demigods have experienced. Why? Because monsters were terrified of you. You became a shield around demigods as much as Thalia's spirit became a shield around camp. It didn't matter that you were gone, your legacy protected them."
Percy looked at Grover and saw that his eyes were closed, and his other hand clutching his chest. "I feel it coming, Percy. The greatest evil the world has ever faced." Percy's eyes widened, "I can sense it. I don't know what it is, but we are in the calm before the greatest storm in the history of mankind. And it just so happens that on the eve of the floodgates opening the greatest hero in history returns. That's not coincidence Percy, that's Fate. The world needs a leader, needs a hero. You have a choice. You can run, and leave the world to its annihilation. Or you can do what you have always done from the moment I met you when you saved me from Nancy Bobofit, and be a fucking hero. When you go into this war, I will be at your side, because I believe in you!"
Percy didn't think he had ever heard Grover swear before, and when the satyr opened his eyes he saw a steely defiance in them. Grover said that Percy had believed in him, and now his old friend was returning the favour tenfold. Maybe Percy had doubts, and maybe guilt was festering in his mind, but Grovers words were exactly what he needed to hear. He wasn't going to run, that had never been an option. But knowing he wouldn't be fighting alone, even if it was just him and Grover against the full might of Annunaki, pushed the fear and uncertainty away. No matter what he was going to fight, and his best friend would be with him.
Grover beckoned him once more, "Come on, last thing I want to show you." They left the clearing and followed a well trodden trail winding through the trees. They passed under a rock formation and upon emerging on the other side Percy found they were in another clearing, but this one had a shallow lake in the centre of it. Grover gestured to the lake and Percy frowned.
"You want me to just get in it?" he asked.
"This is a magical body of water. Blessed by the Lord of the Wild…me," Grover said with a cheeky grin, "It allows you to connect with your inner thoughts. To understand yourself more fully."
"Is this an acid trip or something?" Percy questioned frowning, "You became Lord of the Wild and decided to get heavy into the shrooms?"
Grover waved his hands dismissively, "Shrooms are heavenly but no Percy, this is not a drug trip. It is a spiritual lake, and in it you will have a spiritual journey. Now go."
Percy was still suspicious, even more due to Grovers newfound love for psychedelics, but nonetheless he waded into the centre of the water. It came up to about his waist, and was crystal clear. He could see flower petals floating at the bottom, each one more magnificent than the next.
"Lie down," Grover called, "I'll be back in the clearing, come find me when it's over." and with that the satyr clopped his way back into the forest.
Percy took his advice and lay floating in the water, staring up at the sky above him. The shadows were getting longer, and the sun was beginning to drift below the treeline, and so Percy closed his eyes and tried to drift into whatever spiritual journey Grover told him he would experience. He lay there for a while and nothing happened, so he took a deep breath and continued to wait. And then…nothing happened. He began counting sheep, splashing lazily in the water, and attaching shapes to the clouds but still no spiritual journey began. He was still just lying in the water.
"That dumb goat," Percy moaned, and went to stand up again. As he did so, though, a wave of lightheadedness overtook him and black spots danced in his eyes. He fell back into the water and his eyes transfixed on the sky.
Above him, the sky stretched like a vast azure dome, painted with wisps of cotton-white clouds that meandered lazily across the expanse. The sunlight filtered through the breaks in the foliage, casting warm hues upon the surrounding foliage and adding a touch of radiance to the scene. The sky seemed to hold a mesmerising depth, inviting Percy to lose himself in its infinite vastness. He lay there, his eyes locked to the sky, and watched as the world began to change around him. As his eyes adjusted, he noticed the first glimmers of twilight, as the sun began its descent towards the horizon. The sky transformed, transitioning through a palette of colours, with shades of fiery orange and soft pink merging into a canvas of ethereal beauty. As the daylight faded in a matter of what felt like mere moments, the stars emerged, twinkling with a brilliance that captured the imagination. Constellations took shape, forming ancient stories and mythologies in the vast expanse above. Percy found himself tracing the paths of shooting stars, their fleeting streaks leaving behind trails of fire to light up the night sky.
But the true light of the night was the moon, radiant and full, casting its gentle glow upon the clearing. Its luminosity filtered through the leaves, creating a mosaic of silver shadows that danced upon the forest floor. The moonlight seemed to whisper secrets to the night, and Percy felt an indescribable sense of peace and serenity. He remembered the feeling he had felt in the ocean, when he was being drowned by Triton. The moment of peace he had found under the light of the moon. Under its glow once more he found it again.
Amidst the celestial spectacle, Percy noticed the flicker of distant lightning, illuminating the edges of the horizon. Thunderclouds rolled in, their dark forms a stark contrast to the luminescent sky. The air crackled with anticipation as the storm brewed, the scent of ozone mingling with the fragrance of the forest. And then, with a crack of lightning splitting open the sky, the world above him became an ever-changing masterpiece, a living tableau that mirrored a world so distant from his own. It showed him a world he had seen before, one he had witnessed from the top of the pyramid in his dreams.
Figures in rags cowered at the base of the pyramid as angelic figures descended from the skies. They were decked in golden armour, with wings glistening in the sunlight. The one at the forefront reached out his hand, and lifted one of the cowering women at the base to her feet.
"We come in peace," he bellowed, "We come bearing gifts. We are here to bring about a golden age!"
The figures behind him roared in affirmation, and the figures that had once been cowering now looked up at these angels with awe. Some bowed, one even threw themselves at the leaders feet and begged for help. It was then the vision panned around to show that the surrounding of the pyramid was not the majestic city he had witnessed in his dreams, it was a desert, empty beside the endless dunes of sand.
"We will build an empire," the leader yelled to the people, "We will build here a city where all your needs will be met. Have no fear, for the Annunaki are here!"
The figures in rags, maybe twenty of them in total and many looking as though they were on the verge of death cheered, and from them an older man emerged. He looked startlingly familiar, and Percy realised it was because it was the same man who had rescued him from the ice. Chronos fell to his knees, and held out his arms.
"We are the primordials, the caretakers of the domains of earth. We have been lost and hunted in this desert for decades, how did you know where to find us?"
The leader smiled, "We are the Anunnaki, we rule from the stars. You have stumbled across one of our outposts. We saw your plight, and it would be unjust not to answer it. We officially welcome you into the Empire of the Annunaki, and as subjects of said empire you are afforded all the protections of an Annunaki citizen."
Relief washed over Chronos' face and he clasped his hands together, "We will be your humble servants. Please, take care of our sick, they are close to death. And there is a monster in this desert!"
The leader gestured to one of the angels behind him, "This is Enki, my brother and a self-proclaimed genius. He will tend to your ill."
The angel stepped forward, and Percy saw a familiar beard poking out from under the golden helmet. It was the same Enki from his dream that had been speaking to Ninlil. Enki nodded in respect to the leader and made his way over to the huddled mass of primordials. He summoned water from a pouch at his waist, controlling it through the air and placing it against the forehead of the primordial that looked the sickest. Almost immediately colour returned to her face, and her eyes shot open. The figure was beautiful, with hair black as tilled soil and eyes that glowed green. It was with a start that Percy recognised her. It was the same person he had seen in his dreams in the second Giant War, the primordial of the earth Gaea.
A figure next to her, tall and buff with long dark and blue skin cried out in relief, embracing her. Looking at his blue skin Percy could see clouds floating across the surface of his skin, and he realised that this was Ouranos, primordial of the sky and his paternal great-grandfather.
If this dream was true, and Grovers psychedelic trip was showing him what had actually happened in the past, then Percy was witnessing the arrival of the Annunaki to earth. Chronos had described them as brutal conquerors, with a penchant for cruelty and evil. These looked nothing like the monsters he had described and Percy felt a shiver run down the back of his neck as he realised his mistrust of Chronos' version of events was justified. He was being offered a window into what had really happened.
He was shaken out of his thoughts by a roar that shook the ground. The primordials cowered and a few of them cried out in mourning. Gaea buried her head into Ouranos' chest and began to sob.
"What is that?" the leader asked Chronos.
"A monster of Khaos," Chronos replied, his eyes full of fear, "We were born out of the void, but out of the void too came a creature of nightmares. It has devoured everything we tried to create, everything we tried to build. It is relentless and eternally hungry. We have tried to fight it, but we stood no chance. It chased us into the desert and has been toying with us ever since."
"A creature of Khaos you say," the leader mused, "Sounds like a challenge for only our finest."
One of the Annunaki stepped forward without needing to be called by name. He wasn't the tallest of the Annunaki, nor was he the largest or the scariest looking, but there was an air of quiet confidence around him that made him terrifying.
"This is my brother Enlil," the leader continued, and Percy felt his breathe catch in his throat as he saw for the first time the king who had supposedly committed genocide on the first race of humans and who was believed to be Olympus' ultimate enemy, "Enki is our visionary, Enlil is our force of nature. He will deal with your creature."
Chronos didn't seem convinced, "I don't think you understand. The combined might of the Protegnoi could not stop it. It devours all!"
The leader smiled, "You are young gods, you are yet to understand the extent of your powers. You need time to grow into your domains, something the primordial of time should know hmm? Fear not, we will teach you. In the meantime though, let Enlil cook."
Shock joined the mixture of emotions on Chronos' face as the man casually mentioned his domain despite him not having mentioned it. He still hadn't been convinced by the leader that Enlil could handle this threat, but he rejoined his siblings, cowering together and seeming to wait for the inevitable.
Another roar echoed out across the desert, and the ground began to shake. "It's coming!" one of the primordials cried out, their voice filled with hopelessness.
The leader pointed in the direction of the roar, "Enlil…give the beast a taste of Annunaki justice."
"With pleasure…my king" Enlil replied, his voice containing an air of youth that Percy had not expected. Lighting flickered around Enlil, different colours of the tendrils criss-crossing his armour and forking out into the air around him. Red… blue… yellow… purple… orange… green. A rainbow of lightning seemed to hum around him as he stretched out his golden wings to their fullest extent. With a single powerful thrust of his wings he was sent flying high above, his multicoloured lightning now illuminating the heavens. He reached an arm upwards, and a purple tendril of lightning spun into existence, growing until he held a twenty foot javelin of purple lightning in his hand. And then…he simply waited.
From the horizon the outline of the monster was becoming clearer. Percy felt like he was looking at Typhon, the Father of all Monsters, except instead of just the face changing into different horrific monsters, the entire body of the creature seemed to be continually twisting into a vision of evil, each more sickening than the last. Its body was scaly, and its eyes, sometimes one sometimes many, glowed red with hatred and insatiable hunger. It let out another roar as the Primordials entered its vision, and it hurtled across the desert in one gigantic leap after another.
As it jumped towards the huddled mass it was met midair by Enlil's thunderbolt, and the crack of thunder that echoed across the dunes dwarfed the creature's roar. The monster was thrown back, and its chest steamed where the bolt had made contact. It was fazed, but it didn't appear as though it had done any sort of substantial damage. It simply let out another roar and continued its mindless drive towards its prey.
Enlil dropped from the sky like a bullet, slamming into the back of the monster and crushing it into the ground. Red lightning flickered around him as he grasped the paws of the beast and launched it upwards. The blood coloured lightning then condensed around his fist, giving Enlil's golden armour the impression that it was covered in blood. Enlil leapt up after the beast, his jump leaving a small crater in the earth, and sent his fist smashing into the jaw of the monster. Thunder boomed as the blow connected, and the monster was sent across the skyline like a comet, lazily floating across the sky before landing in a crumpled heap in the distance.
Enlil lowered himself to the ground and cocked his head, clearly wondering if that had been enough to kill the beast. The blood curdling scream that filled the air indicated that no, it was most certainly not dead. It emerged from the dunes and this time its attention turned from the Primordials to the Annunaki warrior. Its eyes glowed with hate and its form began to shift into something that resembled a snake. It then dug itself into the ground and disappeared. The silence in the aftermath of its disappearance was terrifying, but Enlil simply lifted his leg, brimming with red lightning, and slammed it into the ground. A shockwave erupted from the source and echoed across the sand. Nothing happened, and so Enlil repeated the move, and this time the beast shot out of the disrupted sand and launched itself at Enlil.
The move caught the Annunaki off guard, and he only had time to raise his right arm, this time flickering with green lightning. The beast opened its mouth as it approached, revealing multiple rows of black teeth that seemed to disintegrate and reform every second. It latched onto the arm and began ripping through the armour. Enlil grunted, but punched at the beast's face with his free arm. It did little to distract from the beast's single minded purpose and Enlil's armour began to melt as it was torn to shreds. Enlil tried to throw him off but the beast's teeth seemed locked onto his arm. Orange lightning flickered around his left hand and from his palm a stream of fire engulfed the beast, at first the same orange as the lightning, but quickly turning blue and white as Enlilo increased the temperature. Eventually the heat was too much for the beast, and it released its grip on his arm. Venom from its fangs dripped onto the sand, causing it to dissolve where the drops touched.
Percy looked at Enlil's arm, expecting to see it blackened and dissolving, but the arm remained. In fact, it was completely unscathed. Green lightning crisscrossed up and down his now exposed forearm, and while the armour had been completely destroyed, Enlil was unharmed. Percy couldn't help but be a little in awe of the Annunaki. Even from across the generations Percy could feel the evil energy and massive power radiating from the monster of Khaos, but for Enlil it seemed like it was just an average Tuesday.
The monster merged back into something that resembled a wolf and snarled at Enlil before jumping at him. Before he hit him though he split into two, and each wolf attacked from different sides. Enlil simply waited, now yellow lightning flickering around his feet. As they closed in, he seemed to disappear, moving at speeds that defied physics to grab one of the wolves and launch it at the other, causing the beast to sink its venomous fangs into itself. The two creatures merged and now took the form of a hydra, multiple heads snapping at the air as every set of hate filled eyes focused in on Enlil. In a whirlwind of motion they launched themselves at Enlil, attacking him from every direction. Except…he wasn't there.
In a flash of yellow lightning, Enlil dashed through the heads and began to tie then together, making ribbons out of the necks. He made a mistake though, and his foot slipped in the sand giving one of the heads enough time to try and engulf his head. He reacted quickly though, and green lightning criss crossed his head. His helmet was ripped off, but his head remained intact, and as Percy looked at it he couldn't help but think that that was probably the best thing that could happen for the world. Enlil was gorgeous, by just about every standard. Blonde hair waved in the air, framing a face that could have been sculpted out of marble. Solid silver eyes glowed with mirth and a grin graced his face. What caught Percy off guard the most was how young he was. He couldn't have been older than sixteen.
Enlil rolled away from the hydra as it began to transform into something that more closely resembled a humanoid figure. In fact, Percy couldn't help but think now it looked an awful lot like Typhon. He glanced at Gaea and wondered if that was where she got the idea of a monster that could destroy Olympus. Despite the giant figure bearing down on him Enlil didn't seem fazed, he just blew a loose strand of golden hair from his face and began to charge red lightning around his fists. As the beast went to punch him Enlil met the blow, and a shockwave exploded across the desert. The two seemed locked in for a moment, each channelling all of their power into their fist as they attempted to overwhelm the other. When Enlil began to smile again Percy knew who would emerge victorious. A second shockwave emanated from the point of impact and the monster was thrown backwards.
This time, Enlil didn't give the creature the chance to react. Yellow lightning flashed around his feet and in a heartbeat he was upon the monster. He launched the beast upwards in a flash of red lightning and then flew up after it, purple lightning trailing from his wings. He caught the creature by the throat midair, and held it there for a moment. Orange lightning began to flicker around his silver eyes, gathering force and energy. His eyes began to glow, emanating the heat of the sun, and as he stared into the blood red eyes of the creature a beam of white fire erupted from his eyes, at a temperature that made the air around it sizzle, ripped through the creature. The creature's red eyes were annihilated and its body began to dissolve under the immense heat and force of the beam. In mere moments the creature was gone, and Enlil was alone amongst the skyline.
He slowly floated back down to the ground, and rejoined his companions and the Primordials. The Primordials looked at him in wonder, mixed with a healthy dose of fear. The leader of the group merely stepped forward and clapped him on the back.
"And that, my new friends, is my little brother." he said with a grin.
Enlil lowered his head in respect, "Thank you for the opportunity my king, I hope I did not disappoint."
The leader bellowed out a chuckle, "Disappoint? Please, at this rate you'll be coming for my job in no time. You are in a class of your own Enlil. We just have to work on you taking your job a little more seriously. Now…" he said, turning back to the Primordials, "...with the monster of Khaos dead, it is time to expand from our little pyramid outpost. A city befitting the empire of the Annunaki must be a magnificent one, so let's get started."
Enki, who had been busy tending the injured, stepped forward, "I can create a race of beings to help," he began, "There are humanoid apes on this planet, I can play with their DNA to make a strong and powerful population to inhibit our new kingdom."
The leader nodded, "That would be most wise. If we are to create a paradise on this planet, what is the point if there will be no one to enjoy it. We should have a name though, what shall we call them?"
"It is my first time creating a race of beings, my king, if it is okay with you, I would like to name them the First Men."
The leader clapped his hands in approval, "Wonderful, the First Men. Let us build an empire worthy of their love and adoration. And you…" he continued, pointing at the Primordials, "...will learn the true power of your domains, and help to guide them."
Ouranos left Gaea's side and stepped forward, seeming to represent the Primordials, "We thank you for saving us, and we pledge ourselves to your empire. But I must ask, what is your name, my king?"
The leader removed his helmet, revealing another familiar face from his dreams. He, like his brother, was incredibly handsome, with dark hair and a youthful complexion, complimented by mirth shining in his silver eyes, "No need for the formalities, we're all friends here. My name is Marduk, and I bring with me the hope of a prosperous future."
The moving tableau above Percy in the sky began to fade, and the thunderclouds that had heralded its beginning began to move away. The last look Percy got of the past was Ouranos bowing to his new king, and Marduk lifting him up, shaking his hands in a 'We don't do that here,' kind of gesture. The moon glowed with an ethereal light and suddenly Percy felt himself splash back to reality in the middle of the lake.
It was the middle of the night, and the forest was alive with noise as mythical and mundane creatures alike went about their business amongst the trees. The clearing itself was empty though, and Grover was gone, leaving Percy alone with his thoughts. A million questions immediately rushed to his mind. In his dream Enlil had been king, but in his vision Marduk was? The Primordials had been saved by the Annunaki, they hadn't been enslaved by them? The First Men, the same ones that Chronos claimed Enlil had wiped out, had been created by Enki to help populate the planet? They were supposed to enjoy prosperous lives, not be worked to death in gold mines as Chronos had claimed.
Most of all though, he thought of Enlil. He had appeared so young, younger than him, which perhaps was just a godly Annunaki thing but still. And the power he had witnessed was immense. Marduk had called him a force of nature, and that was exactly the performance that Enlil had delivered. Fast, strong, invulnerable, and with an arsenal of powers that would put the Olympians to shame. If that was what was coming to destroy earth, what was Percy supposed to do in the face of that? He could train with Triton for centuries, and he was fairly certain Enlil would still squash him like a bug.
His head buzzed with unanswered questions and the revelations that had been unveiled. The image of Gaea and Ouranos, holding each other as petrified lovers as the monster boar down on them seared itself into his mind. Seeing Gaea as a real being, a person with feelings and emotions and people she cared about was in stark contrast to the uncaring goddess of earth he had faced twenty years ago.
Chronos was a liar, that much Percy knew for certain. What he had lied about, and the extent to which he lied Percy didn't know for sure, but that feeling in his gut that Chronos had not been telling him the truth had been right, and so if Percy was going to trust anyone or anything from now on, it was going to be his gut. He didn't know what to believe now, but regardless, the Annunaki and Enlil seemed like they were coming back to destroy the world and kill his family, and for now that was all he needed to know.
He waded to the edge of the lake and began to make his way back through the forest towards the initial clearing that Grover had shown him. When he arrived he spotted Grover sitting in an old wooden rocking chair, playing a calming melody on his flute. He walked over, and Grover gestured to the spare rocking chair to his side.
"You really are becoming an old man." Percy said as he took a seat.
"We satyrs age differently," Grover answered, pausing his tune, "We grow up slower but wisen up quicker."
"I saw something while I was in there, a vision of the threat that's coming to us."
Grover nodded, "The lake helps you understand yourself more fully. You are beginning to understand your destiny. Only time will reveal more secrets."
"Yeah well time is a lying piece of shit," Percy replied. Grover frowned at him, but Percy waved off his questions, "It left me with more questions than answers though."
"The closer we get to the truth, the more confusing everything seems to be. You have more pieces of the puzzle, but you don't yet know where they go. Give yourself time, you're smart, for having a brain full of seawood."
Percy shot him a joking glare and Grover chuckled. The two friends sat watching the clearing long into the night, swapping stories and enjoying one another's company. The moon was high in the sky when the two finally parted, sharing one last embrace for heading their separate ways.
Percy made his way back to camp and headed towards the Poseidon cabin. There was a sense of comfort in the familiarity of the long, solid grey stone cabin. Bronze hippocampi hung from the ceiling where Tyson hand added them as decoration, and the fountain gurgled softly in the corner. It seemed completely untouched from the last time Percy had walked in, even to the point of his minotaur horn hanging next to his bed. It seemed like his dad hadn't had any kids in the time he had been gone.
He stripped down to his boxers and crashed onto the bed, exhausted. He had thought about showering, but decided to make that a morning problem. His mind was still reeling with questions from what he had seen earlier, but tiredness won out against curiosity, and it wasn't long before he drifted off to sleep.
Author's Note: I wanted to say that this has been the most fun I have had writing a chapter. It gives a taste of the kind of stuff to come and has a fun mix of action, emotion, and worldbuilding. I am currently up at 3:30 AM finishing this because I started hours ago and couldn't stop. So I hope you enjoy it and if you do please review, there is no better motivation for me writing than reading your guys reviews so, not to beat a dead horse, but Please Review!