Chapter 2
"The fuck, Jackson? And you're only now telling me? I could've been spared from going insane!"
Percy grimaced. "Yeah, so some memories should return now within the next couple weeks."
"Gonna tell Grover?" Asked Katie.
"Nah. His fate is too important," said Percy, "he won't be able to handle it."
"And I can? Thanks," said Katie, "I will tell Lou how supportive you are."
"Please not a prank war…"
"Ain't seen nothin yet."
The ride continued in silence. As he remembered, the ride continued in silence but there were no furies to attack them. The bus mysteriously stopped—Percy rushed his friends out before it was struck by lightning.
"What the Tartarus, thunder thighs? I'm trynna get YOUR weapon back, y'know? Sweet Vesta, this guy…"
Thunder rolled but ninety stopped. Katie looked at him worriedly but said nothing. Grover meanwhile looked at him confused and concerned but he waved it off.
They made their way into the woods.
An hour later Katie started to vocalize her senses, stating that she could smell the patties.
"It doesn't feel right, I'm sure of it," said Grover.
Percy bit back a 'oh you have no idea how right you are' and merely said that he felt he needed to go.
"It doesn't feel right to me either but I feel like it is important."
They made their way through countless statues until they saw the sign.
AUNTY EM'S GARDEN GNOME EMPORIUM.
"Medusa," whispered Percy to Katie. Her eyes widened but he held her back.
"You're going to be fine. What would Trav say if you didn't come back safe…"
She blushed at that but said nothing. Grover looked at them, creasing his brow, but Percy went on inside.
"Hello, children! What are you doing out here alone!" Came the familiar middle-eastern accent.
"Hello aunty Medusa. Just her for some food. We will pay as long as you leave us alone."
Grover started in shock and Katie started giggling uncontrollably.
"Aunty M? I believe this sword has killed you a few times," he said, brandishing Anaklusmos, "but all I want is two T-Bone steaks with BBQ sauce and some cheese enchiladas. Twenty drachmas for that," Percy continued casually.
The gorgon sighed and went to the kitchen. He followed her wordlessly.
"Medusa. Stheno and Euryale should be found within Roman territory within the next five years."
"Child, I will ask not how you know this. But why do you help me?"
"I'm not helping you, Aunty M," he said, "I'm just helping my conscience."
"Very well. I will depart tomorrow, Son of the Sea God."
They ate their meal in an awkward silence.
Grover stared at him worriedly.
"Percy, I don't know what is up but you can tell me."
"No worries, G-man. I will get you your license in time, no worries."
"…thanks, I guess." He sighed and left off questioning the son of Poseidon.
"I'm going down to the water real quick," said Percy.
He jogged down to the creek near them and instantly felt a presence.
"Stepmother," he said, "thank you for visiting."
"No worries, Percy, I remember just fine."
"Oh thank Khaos. What do you need?"
She smiled warmly. "Just some time to visit my stepson. I miss your mother already. Tea time with Sally was deeelightful."
He laughed. "Prophecy includes her. All I have to do is get the Master bolt in its rightful hands and all will be well. Right?"
"Right."
In a tree next to the creek, a golden eagle flapped its powerful wings and flew into the air. Seconds later, a powerful owl struck it down.
On Olympus, Athena watched the whole thing.
She marched straight to her fathers throne.
"You spy on my favored demigod?"
"Athena, I—I'm sorry, your what?"
-Ω-
Reyna Avila Ramirez-Arellano woke up suddenly into the most real dream she had ever had.
Hylla was shaking her awake, and was dressed in a white Chiron with a gold circlet.
She herself was dressed quite nicely despite falling asleep on the ground.
She was on Circe's Island.
Thank the Gods of Olympus she knew what she had to do.
Wait. First she had to figure out what year it was. Percy had come there in 2007 so she had to wait at least until he was there to let things progress naturally.
Wait, what did she care about how this dream progressed?
Regardless, she would make it out alive.
"Rey? C'mon Rey, Lady Circe has a guest. Name is Edward Lannestar, smart, grey eyed arrogant asshole."
She got up and followed her sister.
She didn't want this dream to end.
-Ω-
After Percy gave Medusa an address (read: told her to take care of Gabe) and to deal with everyone their except in Friday's and Tuesdays (when Eddy was there) they boarded a train towards Denver. While Katie gushed on about Travis Stoll being an asshole and how Lou Ellen and Connor would help her prank him, he fell asleep again.
He found himself at New Rome training the new two legions—the city had significantly cut down on non-demigod minors in the service on the front lines.
Perseus Jackson, Son of Neptune, Praetor of the Twentieth Legion. The Champion of Mars the Avenger.
Seven bars were on his arm at twenty five years of age. But now, all of his work since he had gone back to Rome after his senior year, the elimination of the child army, his complete takeover of Roman politics and subsequently of Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, had been tiring but he had to redo it all over.
His dreamscape became more vivid, he saw himself barking orders. At his side was Katie Gardner and Michael Kahale. The two first Cohort centurions evaluated their troops. Katie would soon be sent back to Long Island and Kahale had a honeymoon with Leila to get to. The first Cohort of the Spears of Mars Ultor drilled, their different maniples in the legion formation flashing by.
Spatha and Gladius, pila and scutum, pugio and hemlock and nightshade coated arrows.
He saw Reyna and Nico approaching, the boy scowling while the huntress ruffled his hair. They brought McDonalds and Double-Stuf Oreos.
Suddenly he woke up.
Anaklusmos and Strychnos extended. Grover looked at Strychnos curiously.
But in his neck he felt his pendant. It was a black trident formed the same way as Strychnos-without the uniformity Anaklusmos and Strychnos had. It was a battle trident, diverging with a curve with enough space to safely parry and trap most weapons. A thrust would be devastating.
It was black and silver with some blue accents.
"Vicesima VV," he said, completely blanking out. Katie looked at him with eyes glazed over. Grover was now extremely confused that they had woken up at the same time with the same emotions but again didn't comment.
They saw the arch in the distance: Percy winked and Katie begged to see it. He whispered to her and Grover and the two set off ahead of him. He had a plan for the formidable monsters there.
On the Arch
He saw the old woman, her chihuahua, and a slutty high schooler.
Rubika, an elder Empousa.
No charmspeak for whatever reason, but a wicked left hook, poison sickles, and a penchant for skinning her enemies.
"I'm sorry ma'am, can I help you?" He asked of the Mother of Monsters.
"Hoho no, not at all youngling. My Sonny and I were just going down after seeing the arch. You wouldn't happen to know what it is like up there then?"
"I'm sorry, Echidna," he said, "But my friends just cleared this place of mortals. It's just us three."
He fingered his polearm before yanking it. A millisecond later and it was in the stomach of the Consort of Typhon.
He withdrew it and threw it straight at the Chimera, who had expanded to full size. It briefly pinned the monster to the wall next to the elevator. Riptide and Nightshade wove a deadly dance together. He did not hold back; he felt the presence of Echidna pushed back and watchers, deceased or not.
He swung left but was swiftly disarmed. Her bronze leg kneed him in the stomach.
He rolled backwards swinging Riptide wildly, shaving off her goat fur.
She swung down with both sickles and he blocked with both Riptide, Nightshade swiftly returning to its place in his pocket.
The blackened bronze swung overhead and seconds later she was decapitated.
She burst into golden dust, leaving only a bronze leg that morphed into a pilum, before becoming a Mexican Two dollar coin.
He pocketed it and turned to face the now free chimera.
He was knocked back by a blast of fire, but swung Strychnos at its face, scratching it. The lion roared, the snake striking him wildly. He realized instantly that he was teetering in the edge of the arch.
He withdrew his pila and threw.
And then, he jumped.
He landed in the river, the water catching him before gently lowering him down onto the river bed.
The familiar form of his stepmother appeared in the water.
"Percy," she said, "it has been a while."
"Amphitrite," he replied easily, "I haven't seen you since eighteeen hours ago."
She laughed at that but said nothing at first. Finally, she remarked, "Your friends await you. But one thing, Percy. You have not felt Greek for a while. Don't feel you have to choose. When this war is over, go to Rome. Meet Lupa on Olympus first. Also, I have found out that your friend Reyna likely remembers, as does Hazel Levesque, confirmed by Merope. Thalia Grace is likely, as the dryads report the tree has been stirring and redoubling its efforts to protect the camp. And finally, Nico Di Angelo attempted to escape the Lotus Casino."
He was surprised but pleased. If Reyna remembered he could go to Rome earlier than he thought.
He wasn't surprised at how much she knew; Amphitrite and Salacia had the latest information on everything that fell under the warmth of Hemera or the mantle of Nyx. She was the quiet, supportive friend who took in all of the gossip. Plus, she just gave him a way to cheat the new life.
Bianca could stay alive. Nico would start off on good terms with him, and would already be a brother to him if he had his memory—but he couldn't verify: the butterfly effect could be very potent.
All he could do was wait; and wait he would. The thrice damned motherfucking son of Ouranos had all the time in the world: but no patience. Percy would win at least in that aspect.
AN: Open to suggestions on here or Reddit. Follow, Favorite, Read, and Review. Anyway, four weapons and only two are named. This, this needs to be fixed. Also, Percy will be a staple in the Roman camp after the second Titanomachy—and maybe during, who knows?
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