AN: Thank you everyone for the continued support, be sure to read the AN at the bottom too because I'll talk about some stuff about the story. Enjoy!

Percy met his father that night.

He found himself standing on a high cliff overlooking a violent, turbulent sea. The sky was crowded with a mass of dark clouds as the wind whipped around him fiercely. The rumble of thunder shook the cliff he was standing on as lightning started striking the ocean beneath him.

"The sea and the sky are becoming… restless."

Percy's neck jerked towards the voice beside him, and he came face to face with a splitting image of himself. Although the man was taller and more imposing, he had the same tousled, wavy black hair that looked as if it had been perpetually windswept. His smoky grey eyes held the power of the sky within them, and his features were sharp with a strong jawline and high cheekbones giving him an almost regal appearance.

"Welcome, my son," Aeolus spoke, his voice reverberating off the thunder. "I am Aeolus, God of Wind. Congratulations on finally tapping into your powers."

Percy knew his words had to be chosen wisely, the man beside him being a god and all, yet all he felt was a surge of anger. "Why wait until now to claim me? Why did you wait after my mom died?!"

Aeolus sighed. "We gods are bound by the ancient laws, Percy. We cannot interfere directly in the mortal world as much as we'd like to, including preventing your mothers death."

Percy's fists clenched. "So, what, you just let her die because of some stupid law?"

"Percy, you're being immature," Aeolus said firmly. "And besides, that is not why you are here. I carry a message from Zeus; his bolt has been stolen and he needs your help specifically."

Percy's anger, while still present, was overshadowed by curiosity. "Why me? No offence, but wouldn't he prefer a more… important demigod such as Luke?"

"You're the only demigod that has a connection with the sky, so he trusts you the most," Aeolus explained. "And besides, this is a great opportunity to bring recognition towards us 'minor' gods."

Percy knew his dad was right. Even after his claiming, no one did much more than bat an eye towards him. Plus, he was still stuck at the Hermes cabin which he felt was somewhat disrespectful considering he had already been claimed. "Alright, where do I start?"

Aeolus smiled, pleased the boy beside him didn't challenge his words. "Tell Chiron everything I've told you, he'll get you started from there. And Percy," he added as the dream began to fade, "when you wake up, check your hand."

With that, he felt himself being pulled back to the waking world.

Percy awoke with a start, the morning light filtering into the cabin. He looked around, noticing that the bunks around him were neatly made, the usual chatter and laughter replaced by a serene silence. It seemed that everyone else had already gone to breakfast, including Reyna, who was nowhere to be seen in the bottom bunk. As he climbed down the ladder of his bunk bed, Percy felt something strange on his finger.

He looked at his hand and realised he was wearing a bronze signet ring that Aeolus must have given to him while he was asleep. Intrigued, he examined it closely and noticed the symbol of his father was engraved on the surface of the ring, also acting as a small button. Wanting to understand the purpose of said button, he pushed it.

To his amazement, the ring started transforming. A perfectly balanced xiphos made of celestial bronze emerged from the band, reflecting the light that shone through the window to every corner of the room. The weight of the weapon felt just right in his hand, and the blade seemed to hum with energy, as if it was attuned to him.

Percy stood there for a moment, sighing audibly in relief. Finally, he could train with an actual weapon and not the stupid longsword that had led him to be embarrassed during classes. He sent a silent thanks to his father, before retracting the xiphos back into ring form by tapping the bottom of the hilt and heading out of the cabin.

He made his way to the dining hall, the usual morning conversations already in full swing. Spotting his friends at the Hermes table, Percy slid into the corner end of the bench next to Reyna and across Luke.

Reyna glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "You were out like a zombie, we couldn't wake you up for breakfast."

Percy took a deep breath, ignoring her comment. "I met my dad in my dream last night."

Both Reyna and Luke looked at him with newfound interest.

"And he gave me this," Percy continued, holding up his hand to show the bronze ring. "It transforms into an actual decent sword."

Luke's eyes widened with curiosity. "Can we see it?"

"Later," Percy said, waving off the question. "There's something more important. You know how there's been an unusual amount of thunder outside the camp borders? Well, he told me Zeus's lightning bolt was stolen, and he said that I'm supposed to get it back."

"Chiron needs to know about this," Luke said, his voice low. "Zeus' lightning bolt being stolen is really bad news—he'll be framing his brothers for stealing it and war could break out."

Percy wasn't actually aware that the lightning bolt going missing was actually that big of a deal, and he started having second thoughts about accepting such a major responsibility. However, Reyna, confident as she is, made the decision for him, saying that they should go see the centaur immediately. So, after he took two bites out of his pancakes, they made their way to the Big House.

-Line Break-

The trio arrived at the Big House, finding Chiron and Dionysus deep in conversation on the porch. The centaur had a serious expression, while Dionysus looked his usual disinterested self, sipping from a goblet of wine. As they approached, Dionysus glanced at Percy and smirked lazily.

"Oh wow, is that the last airbender?" Dionysus said sarcastically, raising his goblet in a mock salute.

Ignoring Dionysus' snarky remark, Percy turned to Chiron and began to recount his dream. "I met my dad last night. He told me that Zeus's lightning bolt has been stolen, and he wants me to find it."

Chiron wasn't surprised, having already received the news from Dionysus. Yet, he still listened attentively. "Are you sure you want to do this, Percy?"

Percy nodded.

"Then it's time you consulted the Oracle," Chiron said. "Go upstairs, to the attic. When you come back down, we will talk more."

Following Chiron's instructions, Percy walked up the stairs of the building before pulling on a trapdoor that was placed above the last step. He entered the attic and was greeted with the scent of mildew and rotten wood, causing him to gag in disgust. Scanning the attic for the oracle, he eventually found it by the window and it was not a pretty sight. It may have looked to be a girl, but it was completely shrivelled out after having been dead for decades. She wore a tie-dyed sundress, lots of beaded necklaces, and a headband over thin black hair. The skin of her face was thin and leathery over her skull, and her eyes were glassy white slits, as if the real eyes had been replaced by marbles.

Looking at the oracle sent chills up Percy's back, and they only intensified once the mummy sat up on her stool and opened her mouth. A green mist poured from its mouth, coiling over the floor in thick tendrils. Percy tried to get to the trapdoor to escape, thinking that this was a trap but it was slammed shut. Suddenly, inside his head, he heard a voice.

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

Percy, gathering his courage, asked, "How do I retrieve the lightning bolt?"

"You shall go west, and face the god who has turned,

You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned,

You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend,

And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end."

At first, Percy was too stunned to say anything, but as the mist retreated and the glowing from the oracle's eyes started fading, he cried, "Wait! What do you mean? What friend? What will I fail to save?"

But it was too late as the oracle had already returned to its rotten, unalive state. Knowing he wouldn't get anymore information, Percy exited the attic and went back to the poarch.

"Well?" Chiron asked him once he made his way down, wanting to hear the prophecy.

Percy slumped into a chair. "She said I would retrieve what was stolen."

Reyna sat forward. "That's great!"

"What did the Oracle say exactly though?" Chiron pressed. "Every detail is important."

Percy's ears were still tingling from the reptilian voice, his mind feeling violated. "She… she said I would go west and face a god who had turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned."

Chiron didn't look satisfied. "Anything else?"

There were still the lines about being betrayed by a friend, and also failing to save what matters

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

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

Percy got the feeling he knew he was holding back something bad, and Chiron was just trying to make him feel better.

"Okay," He said, anxious to change topics. "So where do I go? Who's this god in the west?"

"Ah, Percy, I think you already know the answer," Chiron said. "Zeus will immediately frame his brothers. He is already occupied with Poseidon, so the only god left is Hades."

"Well, how do we enter the underworld?" Reyna asked.

Luke stepped up, answering her question. "I've heard the entrance is somewhere in Los Angeles, although I'm not sure specifically where. We'll just have to improvise," he hesitated, before facing Percy. "Assuming you'll take us with you?"

Percy nodded. With Reyna and Luke being his closest friends in camp, he knew he wouldn't be betrayed.

"Well, with that settled, be prepared to leave tomorrow morning."

"Pssst. Percy!"

The whisper came from the bunk below him, cutting through the silence of the cabin. Percy, who had been lying awake, turned to see Reyna's face peeking up from the bottom bunk.

"What is it?" He whispered back, trying not to wake the other campers.

"I can't sleep," Reyna said. "Let's get out of here."

Percy glanced at the window, then back at Reyna. Normally, he'd tell her she was crazy and to go back to sleep, but tonight he couldn't sleep either as his thoughts were keeping him awake

"Alright, let's go."

Reyna slipped out of her bunk with practised ease. Luckily, because they were in the back of the cabin, they had easy access to the back window. Percy followed her as she carefully opened the window, minimising the screeching sound to the best of her ability. They climbed out and eased themselves onto the grass below. The camp was eerily quiet, with only the distant sounds of crickets and the occasional rustle of the wind in the trees.

They made their way to the fighting arena, where the moonlight cast long shadows across the field. The space, usually bustling with activity, was now deserted and peaceful. Reyna led the way, and they found a spot to sit down on the edge of the arena, where they could look out over the open space.

"Couldn't sleep?" Percy asked, to which she nodded.

"Me neither."

Reyna picked at the grass on their feet, twirling the blades with her fingers. "I mean, I can't help but think about all that could go wrong. Luke's pretty experienced, but we both have barely been here for a week. What if we're just not cut out to do this?"

"I mean, Reyna, you're literally the best fighter I've ever seen. Plus, I've got wind powers now, and a new sword, so I think we'll be fine." Percy said, reassuring the both of them.

Reyna's eyes flicked to his ring. "Speaking of that sword, do you wanna test it? You've been complaining all week about the sword you were using before—let's see if that was just a bunch of excuses." She challenged, her eyes playful.

Percy raised an eyebrow. "You don't even—oh my gods, Reyna do you sleep with your sword?!"

She smirked. "Come on, it'll be good practice. Plus, it's not like we're going to wake anyone up."

Percy hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

They moved to the centre of the arena, taking their places. Reyna drew her gladius from its sheath, and Percy tapped his ring, activating his xiphos. The balance felt perfect in his hand, and he was already boosted with newfound confidence knowing he'd actually be able to put up a decent fight this time.

Once their weapons were out, Reyna advanced quickly, her golden blade gleaming in the moonlight as she aimed for Percy's unguarded sides. Percy, however, managed to easily block her attack, knocking her sword away before launching his own flurry of attacks. Percy realised how much faster he was than before, training with the heavier sword having allowed him to increase his strength and speed now with a lighter weapon.

For several minutes, their blades clashed in a series of rapid strikes and blocks, none of them managing to gain the upperhand. But then, Percy saw his opportunity. As Reyna lunged towards him with a powerful overhead strike, he took a deep breath and focused. He thrust his hand forward, channelling a controlled gust of wind. The sudden blast caught Reyna off guard, the force of the wind blowing directly into her face.

She stumbled slightly, her eyes blinking rapidly to clear the disorienting rush of air. It wasn't enough to make her fall, but it was enough of a distraction. Percy seized the moment, stepping in with a swift counter-move. He used the flat of his blade to tap Reyna's leg, making her lose her balance. Before she could recover, he pushed her forward into the ground, Percy getting down with her as his sword pointed at her chest and his face centimetres from hers.

Before he could react, Reyna grabbed him and pulled him close, pressing her lips against his. Percy was momentarily stunned as felt he was in heaven. His hormones took over as he tried to deepen the kiss, wanting more of her but in that split second, Reyna used her legs to kick him away, forcing him to lose his balance. As he stumbled back, she quickly rolled to her feet and moved behind him.

Before Percy could regain his stance, Reyna wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, expertly manoeuvring him into a chokehold. Her grip was firm, and Percy found himself caught in the hold, unable to break free. Finally, he tapped the ground with his free hand, admitting defeat. Reyna let go of him and stood up, lending a hand to Percy to which he gratefully took.

"Damn, you're good" He grunted, his head still dizzy from her method of distraction.

"At kicking or kissing?" Reyna teased, playfully swatting his arm. Percy turned bright red, and she laughed.

As he looked up at her, he realised how beautiful she looked under the moonlight, her brown eyes sparkling with a mirthy gleam, cheeks slightly flushed from her exertion and laughter.

Percy didn't want to admit it, but deep down, he knew he was falling for Reyna.

Percy was rudely awoken from his slumber as he felt someone shaking him roughly.

"Percy, we have to go meet Luke. Come on. Get. Up!"

Percy groaned, feeling the weight of exhaustion from last night's spar. He regretted staying up so late now, feeling his body aching and his eyes heavy. "Just five more minutes," he mumbled, trying to pull the blanket over his head.

"No way," Reyna insisted, yanking the blanket off him. "We have a quest to start, remember? Luke's probably already waiting for us."

With a sigh, Percy dragged himself out of bed. He quickly dressed and grabbed his already packed bag, trying to shake off the lingering tiredness.

When they arrived at the hill, their meeting point, they found Luke already waiting for them, looking alert and ready. "Morning guys! Ready for this?"

Percy half-heartedly nodded, while Reyna responded with enthusiasm.

Luke had come prepared. He pulled out a wad of cash from his backpack, borrowed from the camp's bank. "This should cover our travel expenses for a while," he explained. "Since we're heading to LA, we should probably get moving fast."

They made their way out of the camp's boundary before starting their trek to the city, where taxis would be available. However, much to the trio's shock, a taxi started passing by them halfway through the forest, to which Luke quickly signalled for. The taxi pulled over, and the three entered the backseat. The driver, an older woman with sharp features and a friendly smile, greeted them. "Where to, kids?"

"West," Luke replied, giving a general direction. "We'll let you know specific stops along the way."

The initial stretch of the journey was uneventful, Luke and Reyna choosing to remain silent so not to bother the driver, and Percy just wanting to catch up on his sleep. The cityscape gradually gave way to open roads and rolling hills, and after failing to fall asleep, Percy chose to stare out the window, his mind wandering to the quest ahead.

But as they drove further, He began to feel a nagging sense of unease. The driver's eyes, which he caught glimpses of in the rearview mirror, seemed to glint with something more sinister than friendliness. He dismissed it at first, but the feeling only grew stronger.

"So, uhm, how'd you end up in the middle of the forest? I'm guessing there aren't too many customers over there," Percy said, trying to build conversation. Despite his effort, the driver didn't respond, instead continuing to stare ahead at the road with an unnerving grin. He looked at Reyna, who seemed to share his suspicions based on her puzzled expression.

It wasn't until they reached a more secluded area in the middle of nowhere that the driver's demeanour shifted entirely. Her smile now twisted into something menacing, and her eyes glowed with an eerie light. "I hope you've enjoyed the ride, demigods," she hissed.

"RUN!" Luke shouted, and the pair didn't need to be told twice before they immediately bolted from the taxi, their instincts kicking in. They ran as fast as they could, not wanting to engage in combat. However, the driver was inhumanly fast, quickly catching up and brandishing two blades of her own.

The woman's friendly facade had completely vanished, revealing that her sharp features had become even more pronounced, her eyes glowing with an eerie, malevolent light. Her skin took on a sickly, almost scaly texture and her grin revealed a set of sharp, predatory teeth. Her hair, which had appeared neatly styled before, now writhed like a nest of serpents. The dual blades she wielded were long and wickedly curved with a dark, metallic sheen that seemed to absorb the light from the midday sun rather than reflect it

Percy tapped his ring and drew his sword, his heart pounding as he realised they wouldn't be able to outrun this monster. Reyna and Luke followed suit, each brandishing their respective swords. The woman laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the deserted road.

"Who are you?" Reyna demanded, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.

"I am Echidna, the mother of monsters," she proclaimed, her voice dripping with malice. "And you, my dear children, are about to become my prey." With those words, she charged at the trio.

AN: So this chapter was originally supposed to cover stuff much further into the quest, and I've written around half of it but it's kind of become too long already, and I don't want to rush it since it's 2AM and sacrifice the quality.

So if you haven't noticed, this and the next possibly two chapters will be on this quest which is a remix of the lightning quest. It won't be the same however because that's just boring, all the fights and stuff will be different. And if you don't want to read a copy of the PJO quests, don't worry because spoiler alert this will be the only quest Percy takes that is related to the canon PJO universe; none of the Sea of Monsters and stuff. Also, that airbender part was a bit of a joke because I've never actually watched the show but diving into the wiki of it's abilities, I realised how much of it can be translated to Percy so be prepared for that because Percy will become OP in the future.

Lastly, thank you to everyone who's reading and consider following if you're enjoying because I'll update basically everyday. Hope you've enjoyed!