Sorry for updating so late due to some reasons. By the way, have a good read.
Next day, after supper, all of Athena's crew and Ares's crew met at the port for the game. Percy and Grover were in Athena's team. Both of their Pirate ships were woven together so that one would not escape reminding Percy that Athena was also known for weaving. While the preparations were being done, Percy was sitting next to Grover. Grover spoke up first, "Percy, do you remember when we first met?"
Percy did remember it. Almost 9 years ago, when Percy was 7, he had been kidnapped by Pirates and taken to their ship. There he had met 4 children that were also taken captive. Two of them were Percy's age and other two were around 6 years older than him. They had helped each other escape but they separated. That day Percy somehow returned home but with another person. That had been his first experience with the Pirates. "Yes," Percy answered.
"Well, you know, 2 out of 3 people that with me that day are here," Grover said. Percy was too stunned to answer. "We were separated, right?" Grover continued, "The reason I had come with you because I was supposed to. King Poseidon had told me to." "You knew about it all along," Percy gaped, "Wait, who are those two?" Grover began to answer but the sound of a conch horn made them hurriedly run towards the game.
Percy was given a sword that barely fit him and a shield. He had also expected an armor but wasn't given one. Athena's pirates were disciplined and stood attentively but Ares's crew screamed crazily. Percy had always thought that the 8 emperors of the sea had a crew that barely fit the standards of actual Pirates but maybe, Ares was an exception. "Prisoners may be disarmed but may not be bound or gagged. No killing or maiming is allowed. I will serve as referee and battlefield medic. You have to retrieve your own Jolly Roger from the other team. Arm yourselves!" Athena yelled and Ares blew another conch horn.
Annabeth yelled, "Athena's crew, forward." Percy had almost thought that she had forgotten about him until she specially came to him, "You are on border patrol. Stand on the creek and keep Ares's Crew away. Athena always has a plan." Then she ran ahead. "Okay," he mumbled. "Glad you wanted me on your team."
It was a warm, sticky night. The woods were dark, with fireflies popping in and out of view. Annabeth stationed Percy next to a little creek that gurgled over some rocks, then she and the rest of the team scattered into the trees. Standing there alone, with his unbalanced sword and huge shield, Percy felt like an idiot. The leather grip of the sword pulled on his hand like a bowling ball. There was no way anybody would actually attack him, anyway, would they? Faraway, the horn blew a third time and some whoops and yells were heard.
He heard a manly growl behind him and then a female cheer from his front. Five Ares Pirates came yelling and screaming out of the dark. "Destroy him!" Clarisse yelled. She had 5-foot-long spear with a sharp metal tip. Other only had bronze swords.
They charged across the stream. There was no help in sight. Percy could run. Or he could defend the flag against them. He managed to sidestep the first kid's swing, but they were not stupid like the man he fought in Florida. They surrounded him, and Clarisse thrust at Percy with her spear. His shield deflected the point, but he felt a painful tingling all over his body. His shield arm went numb, and the air burned.
He fell back. Another Ares guy slammed him in the chest with the butt of his sword and Percy hit the dirt. They could've kicked him into jelly, but they were too busy laughing. "Give him a haircut," Clarisse said. "Grab his hair." Percy managed to get to his feet. He raised his sword, but Clarisse slammed it aside with her spear as sparks flew due to friction. Now both his arms felt numb. "Oh, wow," Clarisse said. "I'm scared of this guy. Really scared." "The flag is that way," Percy told her helplessly. He wanted to sound angry, but he was afraid it didn't come out that way.
"Yeah," one of her crewmates said. "But see, we don't care about the flag. We care about a guy who made our crew look stupid." "You do that without my help," Percy told them. It probably wasn't the smartest thing to say. Two of them came at him. He backed up toward the creek, tried to raise his shield, but Clarisse was too fast. Her spear stuck him straight in the ribs. He dodged it but one of her crewmates slashed his sword across his arm, leaving a good size cut. He wanted to remind them that maiming was not allowed but he figured it wouldn't matter.
He pushed Percy into the creek, and he landed with a splash. They all laughed. He figured as soon as they were through being amused, he would die. But then something happened. The water seemed to wake up his senses. Clarisse and her crewmates came into the creek to get him, but he stood to meet them. He knew what to do. He swung the flat of his sword against the first guy's head. Percy hit him so hard he could see his eyes vibrating as he crumpled into the water.
He slammed one in the face with his shield. The fifth one didn't look really anxious to attack, but Clarisse kept coming. As soon as she thrust, Percy caught the shaft between the edge of his shield and his sword, and he snapped it like a twig. "Ah!" she screamed. "You idiot! You corpse-breath worm!" She probably would've said worse, but Percy smacked her between the eyes with his sword-butt and sent her stumbling backward out of the creek. Then he heard yelling, elated screams, and he saw Luke racing toward the boundary line with the Athena's Jolly Roger lifted high.
The game was over. They had won. He suddenly heard Annabeth's voice from somewhere, "Where did you learn to fight like this?" She came out from behind a tree, and he felt himself getting angry. "You set me up," Percy said. "You put me here because you knew Clarisse would come after me, while you sent Luke around the flank. You had it all figured out." Annabeth shrugged. "I told you. Athena always, always has a plan." "A plan to get me pulverized." "I came as fast as I could. I was about to jump in, but . . ." She shrugged. "You didn't need help."
Everyone retreated and started to mock each other after the game ended. Percy turned angrily. He saw a man climbing onto the ship. He reached the helm and started to turn the wheel. Percy was quick to react. He ran towards the ship and started climbing. Once he was on the top, both the ships had drifted 20 feet away.
He yelled at the crews to notice him and succeeded. "Percy behind you!" Annabeth's voice came. He turned and saw the man lunge at him with the same growl he had heard before. He stumbled backwards almost falling off the ship. Then an arrow zipped past him and embedded itself into the man's chest.
When the ships were sailed near the port, Percy was complimented and congratulated mostly by Athena's Crew. "You have done very well," said Athena, "It is wise to reward you. Tell me, Percy Jackson, what do you want?" "I want my ship and permission to sail without waiting for your messenger," answered Percy. "I would give it" Athena stated, "But it was destroyed in the storm."
"CrazyWiseLadySayWhaattt," Percy blurted, "You said you had saved the ship and just couldn't tell us where it was." "It was the wise thing to do so," said Athena. Percy thought for a moment and then replied, "I want one of your crewmates." "Very well," Athena agreed, "Choose by tomorrow." "And from you," Percy turned towards Ares, "I want a new ship." "Choose something else," Ares shrugged. Percy responded after a moment, "I am open for negotiations." "Then so be it."
Later after the congratulating party, Percy sat down next to Grover. "So who were those two?" "Huh?" Grover said, "Oh, yeah. Annabeth and Luke." Nobody said anything. Percy couldn't bring his mouth to move and reply. "Are you serious, G-man? Why am I told everything later on?" Percy whined. "So who are you going to choose?" Grover asked, "You know due to Mr. D." "Well, I am thinking Luke," Percy answered. "Good choice," Grover agreed.
Next day, Percy woke up happily. He didn't have to spend 5 days extra on Athena's ship. He found Luke first on the ship. Percy told him that he was the one who he had met years ago. But Luke had politely declined by saying that he was too busy. But Percy had noticed that Luke had regretted it as soon as he said it. Percy walked out, confused who to choose now.
"So he declined, huh?" Annabeth asked, "So, who will you choose now?" "I am thinking that too," Percy said. Annabeth was flabbergasted at his stupidness. "Of course me, seaweed brain," she elbowed him. Percy asked her, "Why would I choose you?" "Because you have to go to the Oracle," Annabeth stated. ""Athena is no fan of King Poseidon, but if you're going to save the Olympus, I'm the best person to push you down a couple of steps if needed."
"If you do say so yourself," he said. "I suppose you have a plan, wise girl?" Annabeth asked, "Do you want my help or not?" The truth was, he did. Percy needed all the help he could get.
Percy, Grover and Annabeth were invited on the ship by an enraged Clarisse who kept on accusing Percy of actually contacting the man that almost stole their ships and a teenage boy of Chinese descent with a large and stocky frame. He had a babyish face with brown eyes and close-cropped black hair. His face didn't really work with his burly build and his military haircut, and the contrast made him look like a toddler who'd taken steroids and joined the Marines. He was carrying a bow and arrow too.
"Welcome New Pirates!" Ares grinned at them as if he knew something that they didn't. Percy thought how him and Grover were definitely new pirates but he didn't know when Annabeth had become a pirate. "Ah, yes. You agreed to negotiate for a new ship, am I right?" Ares asked smugly. Percy nodded.
"What about this one?" Ares asked. Percy stood dumbfounded. It was a sailing ship with from three to five masts, all of them square-rigged except the after mast, which is fore-and-aft rigged; a small vessel that is propelled by oars or sails. It was even smaller than the ship Clarisse came to the Grace in. "We are definitely not negotiating for that," Percy said.
"Oh no! That's free," Ares stated, "For the another you may want to do that." He showed a big ship which was almost on par to par with his own. "What do we have to do?" Percy asked. "You will go to Hephaestus to retrieve my shield," Ares told them, "A month ago, I went with Aphrodite there to spend some time. But her husband Hephaestus caught us and kept my shield. You will go there and give me back my shield."
Percy's brain was fried. There were three of the Great Emperors of the Sea in the same sentence where they were not ideally good. "Gossip of the last 10 years, leave it," Grover murmured in his year. "There is an objection," Annabeth said. "We are on a important mission. We can't go all the way to Alvarado and then come back to the ship. And by the way, how will we go till there?"
"Right and why should I care about your mission?" asked Ares. "It could decide the Olympian Civil War's future," Percy blurted not realizing Ares could figure things out. But he didn't seem to care, "Nothing more lovely than seeing a war between a family." Percy gritted his teeth. He was so not liking this guy. "We will humiliate Hephaestus too," Percy said. Annabeth and Grover nodded.
"Hephaestus has humiliated you many times, hasn't he?" Annabeth continued, "We would like to return the favor on your behalf." Ares seemed to consider it. "You know what? I am curious," Ares agreed. "You can take the ship. But Zhang my quartermaster shall accompany you. And you shall give the shield to him at Alvarado and continue your journey. He will find a way back."
"What if once we take the ship, we forget about the promise?" Percy raised his eyebrow. "Zhang is enough," Ares smugly retorted, "And if he isn't then I'll hunt you and you shall face my wrath. Follow up on you vow properly." Percy and Ares shared a handshake. They were looking in each other's eyes as if saying to each other, if you try anything you will find out who I am. After a minute, Grover spoke up, "I think handshakes shouldn't be this long." They retrieved their hand and turned.
"Let's go!" Percy told Annabeth and Grover. "A trio, well that will work," Ares muttered. "Ares, we'll leave early," Percy stated. "I can't stand being here any longer." "Well, the negotiations in your favor," Ares said, "You better respect me. That is all I ask as a friend." "We'll see about that," Percy responded.
Percy, Grover, Annabeth and Zhang climbed onto the ship. Grover came up to Zhang and introduced, "My name is Grover, and this is Percy and Annabeth." "Frank," he introduced himself. As soon as Ares as out of sight, Frank collapsed attracting everyone's attention. "I can't stand the tension in the air on his ship," he muttered, "So you all look like a nice bunch."
The ship was loaded with weapons. "All this for a shield? That doesn't seem quite right," Percy said. "Tampico is on the way to Hephaestus's ship," reminded Annabeth, "We'll definitely go there." Percy nodded. "So, you're going to keep your promise?" Frank asked. "Although that could cause problem between me and Hephaestus. We are going to return the shield to you," Percy stated.
By the end of the day, they were again sailing in Atlantis's Territory. Percy tried to keep his eye on the mainland which was actually cared about unlike Florida. They were always sailing not far from the shore which was slowing them down, but Percy insisted so.
"Let's go to sleep in our cabins," Grover suggested. Percy agreed, "Let's stop the ship here on the shore for the meanwhile." That night, nobody was able to sleep. They were all so invested in their thoughts. But they didn't notice they had forgotten to anchor the ship. The ship was waved towards the sea which they would only later realize.
Leo was swept away by the sea. He thought he was going to die. He had almost lost his will to live but suddenly a thing came and captured him. He hurled out of the sea and saw he was being held by a lever attached to a giant ship like a crane. "Who are you? Could you come in help?" A man aboard the ship asked. He had a rugged beard and small eyes which degraded the quality of his face exponentially.
"Can I ask you, your name?" asked Leo. "I am Hephaestus, one of the Emperors of the Sea," The man replied. Leo asked, "The one who was banished from nobility for being ugly? "Many humans remember me for my inventions," stated Hephaestus, "But I guess, you are not a human but an ignorant brat." "Can I atleast touch ground now?" stated Leo.
"Lord Hades! Prince Nicohlas wants to have a word,"
"Let him in," Hades replied. Prince Nico came in and bowed. "What are the updates?" Lord Hades asked. Nico spoke up, "Their ship is being swept by the sea and they are going off-course. We need to save them or the deadline will be passed." "The do so," Lord Hades ordered.
Percy woke up to Annabeth yelling at him furiously, "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" "What happened?" Percy asked nonchalantly. "Our ship drifted back half a day," Annabeth said. Percy jumped out of his bed, "What? How?"
"You forgot to anchor the ship!" Annabeth exclaimed. "It wasn't my duty to do so," Percy replied, "I am not experienced in this field, yet I was chosen due to my privilege. Besides, half a day doesn't matter, right?" "You're right, it doesn't! What bothers me is that due to high wind at night, we should have been swept more," Annabeth explained.
"Oh come on," Grover spoke up, "Why are you shouting over a good thing?" "Something helped us," Frank chipped in, "It is the only way." "After seeing last night's events, we should allot some duties to everyone," Annabeth suggested. "I am not doing the toilet!" Grover and Percy yelled together.
