I haven't updated in over a month. I know, I know, no need to pull out the torches and pitchforks. I was a bit busy, and I do have quite a few fics to update.

CHAPTER FOUR: A PLOT AND A PUSH

The morning brought a heavy mist that clung to the ground like a warning. Percy woke to the sound of distant waves, even though the camp was nowhere near the ocean. He wasn't sure if it was Poseidon's way of checking in or just a cruel reminder of his new reality.

He stumbled out of the Poseidon cabin - he hadn't moved to Athena's yet, despite Annabeth's offer - and made his way to breakfast. Campers were already whispering, sneaking glances at him like he'd sprouted a second head. Word of his dual parentage and the stolen Master Bolt had spread fast.

"Morning, Jackson." Luke's voice cut through his thoughts, a casual smirk on his face as he slid onto the bench beside Percy. "How's it feel being the most talked-about camper since, well… ever?"

"Amazing," Percy muttered, stabbing at his eggs.

Luke chuckled. "You'll get used to it. Or you won't, and you'll lose your mind. Either way, it'll be entertaining."

Percy shot him a glare, but before he could retort, Annabeth appeared, a stack of books tucked under one arm. She plopped down across from him, looking way too awake for this early in the morning.

"You're late," she said, ignoring Luke entirely.

"Didn't realize breakfast had a deadline," Percy replied, swallowing a mouthful of food. "What's with the books? Homework already?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "No, Seaweed Brain. Strategy. If we're going to figure out who stole the Bolt, we need a plan."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "You're assuming Percy here can keep up with one of your plans."

"You're assuming I don't already have a plan," said Percy, electing to ignore Luke.

"Whatever you say, fish boy. Chiron's organizing the quest briefing later," Annabeth continued, leaning in. "We need to be ready. If we don't have leads or ideas, we'll just be wandering west hoping to get lucky."

Luke gave a low whistle. "So, the newbie gets a prophecy, two parents, and a direct line to Zeus's wrath? You really hit the jackpot."

"Yeah, thanks," Percy said, sarcasm dripping from his words. "I feel so lucky."

Annabeth pushed her plate aside, her focus narrowing on Percy. "We're going to need to figure out who could be pulling the strings. You mentioned someone orchestrating this. Any ideas yet?"

Percy hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "Not yet. But whoever it is, they're good. I mean, stealing the Bolt? Framing me? It's all too clean. And whoever they are, they want me heading west."

Annabeth nodded, her gaze sharp. "Then we follow the trail. And when we find them, we make sure they regret it."

Luke leaned back, his smirk fading. "Just be careful. Playing detective with the gods involved? It doesn't always end well."

Percy's grip tightened on his fork. "It's not like I have a choice."

The three of them fell into a tense silence, the hum of the dining pavilion filling the air around them. Whatever lay ahead, Percy knew one thing for sure: this wasn't just about clearing his name anymore. Something bigger was at play.

And if the gods thought they could use him as a pawn, they were in for a surprise.

THE WISDOM OF WATER

It appeared that Percy was the one who was in for a surprise.

Said surprise came in the form of a prophecy via the he reached the steps of the Big House, Chiron was waiting for him, looking unusually serious.

"You're early," Percy remarked, trying to shake off the sense of unease creeping up his spine.

It didn't work.

"We need to get this over with, Percy," Chiron said quietly. "The prophecy is clear, but its meaning is... unclear. The Oracle will speak to you."

"Great," Percy muttered under his breath.

Inside, the attic felt colder than usual, the smell of old books and dust hanging thick in the air. There, seated at the old chair, the Oracle was waiting, her eyes glowing with the green mist that signaled her presence.

Percy took a deep breath. Not a time for being scared.

The Oracle's voice echoed in the room:

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

Percy stood frozen. His heart raced, his pulse pounding in his ears. He felt like the world was crashing in, and yet, he had no idea what any of it meant.

A betrayal? Failing to save what matters most? What was the Oracle even talking about?

Reluctantly, Percy walked back over to Chiron.

"You are not alone, Percy," Chiron's voice broke through his haze. "The prophecy will reveal itself, piece by piece, as your journey continues. But you must understand: the gods will always test you."

"I get that," Percy muttered, his voice tight. "But what do I do now? Just... go west?"

Chiron nodded, his gaze hardening. "Yes. You must confront and find the one who has taken the Bolt. And, Percy…" His voice dropped. "The prophecy may not be clear yet. Do not try to decipher its meaning."

Percy swallowed. The Oracle had said it in riddles, but there was no mistaking the meaning. He wasn't meant to win.

Of course, that didn't mean he was going to lay down and accept his fate. Far from it.

"That's… not exactly comforting," Percy replied dryly, though his mind was already spinning. He had to do this. There was no other choice. The gods had already put him in the game, and now he was playing their twisted little game whether he liked it or not.

But Percy intended to win.

"Do you have any leads?" Annabeth's voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts, drawing his attention to the doorway.

She was standing there, her arms crossed and her expression determined. Grover was behind her, though he kept a few steps back, looking plenty nervous. Annabeth's gaze never wavered from Percy's face.

"I… just got hit with a prophecy," Percy said, barely able to keep his voice steady. "Something about going west. Safely returning the 'stolen' or whatever."

Annabeth's expression grew grim. "So, it's starting. We'll need to be prepared. For everything."

Grover bleated nervously. "So, no pressure, huh?"

Percy ignored him. "We still don't know who took the Bolt. Or who's behind all this. But I have a feeling it's not just some random thief. Someone's pulling the strings. And I'm the one they want to blame."

"Then we'll figure it out. You're not going alone on this."

Percy frowned, his thoughts whirling. "You can't come with me. It's dangerous. The prophecy-"

"Isn't about me, Percy," Annabeth said, her voice unwavering. "It's about you. And we'll figure out who's responsible. But you're not walking into a trap without help."

Grover didn't seem as anxious. "I'm not sure if it's the best idea to have a satyr going after the Bolt, but… I guess you could use all the help you can get."

"Great," Percy muttered. "A team of three. Who's the lucky third member? Oh, right. Me."

Annabeth's eyes softened, but she still held firm. "We'll figure this out, Percy. Together. No matter what the gods think."

Percy nodded. "Okay," he said, exhaling deeply. "Let's get ready to go west. The sooner we figure this out, the better."

As the three of them walked back out into the daylight, Percy could only hope the Oracle's words weren't as dire as they sounded. If the prophecy was right, this quest was going to change everything. Maybe even cost them more than they could afford.

What fun.

THE WISDOM OF WATER

As Percy, Annabeth, and Grover walked away from Camp, the son of Poseidon and Athena thought long and hard.

The morning mist had given way to a cold, gray sky, the kind of weather that promised rain but never delivered.

He lagged a few steps behind Annabeth and Grover, the crunch of gravel under their feet echoing in his ears. Every so often, he caught his reflection in a stray puddle. One gray eye, one green. The duality stared back at him, a reminder of the gods who had claimed him, Poseidon, the father known for his temper and power, and Athena, his mother, whose reputation was one of wisdom and pettiness.

Would he be the best of both worlds, or the worst, he mused silently.

Annabeth was quiet, though her shoulders were squared as she marched ahead. She hadn't mentioned Percy's new Athena connection for a while, but he knew it was only a matter of time before she brought it up again. Her gray eyes, identical to his in color, were studying him out of the corner of his eyes. She wasn't exactly subtle, but maybe that was just Percy.

It was the doubt that got to him.

He tightened his grip on Riptide, his fingers brushing the cool bronze pen in his pocket. Every so often, he would glance at Annabeth's back, the way her blonde curls swayed as she moved. Did she trust him? Could she?

Two parents. Twice the expectations.

Twice the chance to screw up, Percy thought grimly.

"I can feel you brooding back there," Annabeth called without looking over her shoulder.

Percy frowned. "I'm not brooding. I'm thinking."

"About?"

"How lucky I am to be the gods' favorite chew toy," he said, his tone dry.

Grover bleated nervously. "Hey, uh, maybe don't let Zeus hear you say that?"

Percy sighed. "Relax, G-man. He's got bigger problems than me right now."

"That's debatable," Annabeth muttered.

The conversation lapsed into silence, and Percy's thoughts turned darker. He didn't trust the prophecy. Betrayed by a friend? Fail to save what mattered most? His gaze flickered between Annabeth and Grover. He hated that the words made him question them.

Annabeth was sharp, resourceful, and determined, Percy knew. But she was loyal to a fault. Betrayal didn't seem like her style. Grover, on the other hand, had been his first friend at camp. He was jittery, sure, but he'd stuck by Percy's side even when it would've been easier to run.

Who else could it be?

Still, the prophecy had said what it said.

Maybe it didn't mean them. Maybe it meant Luke. Or someone else I haven't met yet.

Even as the thought crossed his mind, Percy didn't believe it. Prophecies had a nasty habit of hitting close to home.

The stories he was told as a child gave him enough of those.

They reached the edge of camp's magical borders just as the mist began to lift. The path ahead stretched long and straight, flanked by dense trees on either side. Somewhere up ahead, Percy could make out the faint rumble of traffic.

"Long Island," Percy said, breaking the silence. He turned to Annabeth. "This is your first time outside camp, isn't it?"

"Unless you count coming here? Yeah."

Percy nodded, his fingers brushing Riptide again. If the gods had set this whole mess in motion, it was only fair he got to see their world up close.

The bus stop came into view, a rusted bench beneath a weathered sign that read WESTBOUND 12:45 PM. A handful of mortals waited nearby, oblivious to the demigods approaching. Percy watched them warily, wondering how much danger they'd face before they even got out of New York.

"Bus should take us as far as New Jersey," Annabeth said, glancing at the timetable. "From there, we'll figure out our next move."

Grover flopped onto the bench, his legs swinging nervously. "You know, this might be a good time to, uh, come up with a plan. Like a real plan. Not just a 'let's wing it' plan."

"Relax, goat boy," Percy said, sitting down beside him. "We've got this."

Annabeth snorted. "That's not exactly reassuring, Seaweed Brain."

The bus pulled up moments later, its brakes screeching like a dying monster. Percy watched as the mortals climbed aboard, one by one. When it was their turn, he hesitated.

Annabeth looked back at him, one eyebrow raised. "Coming?"

Percy stepped onto the bus. This was it. The start of their quest. Westbound, toward gods and monsters, betrayal and failure.

Whatever happened next, there was no turning back.

When they walked onto the bus, the group immediately claimed seats at the back.

"So," said Annabeth. "What's something you like?"

"Hmm?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "I barely know anything about you, Mr Mysterious."

Percy frowned. "Well, I like ships."

"Ships?"

He nodded. "Ships. They're kinda cool. Like, a mix between my mom and dad. Strategy and the sea, y'know?"

Annabeth considered it. "Cool."

Grover asked: "What about airships?"

Percy paused. "I hadn't really thought about that, to be honest." He turned to Annabeth. "What about you?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she thought about the question. "Architecture. I want to… build something that will last, to create a sort of legacy, I guess."
"That's… really epic, actually. What about you, G-man?"

Grover looked up from the patch of grass he was fiddling with, his eyes bright. "Me? Well, I- I really like nature, obviously. But I also love music. You know, playing the reed pipes and-" He stopped, noticing Annabeth and Percy looking at him with raised eyebrows. "What? It's a real thing! And I'm good at it!"

Annabeth raised an eyebrow higher but smiled. "Okay, so you're the musical one. I guess I should've expected that from a satyr."

Grover puffed out his chest proudly. "Exactly! Plus, I'm great at finding the best patches of grass and tin cans!"

"Since we're asking questions anyway," Percy said, looking at Annabeth, "what do you like to do?"

"I like to think, mostly. I read a lot, I plan, I strategize," she said, her voice carrying a hint of pride. "I guess you could say I'm more about figuring things out than just diving in headfirst."

"Yeah, we can tell," Percy said, grinning. Annabeth shot him a look but didn't comment on it.

"Okay, but you don't want to hear about me and my endless strategy sessions," Annabeth continued, her lips quirking into a slight smile. "What else do you like?"

"I don't know. I mean, I'm pretty good with fighting," Percy said, his voice quiet as he glanced out the window at the passing scenery.

"Fighting?" Annabeth asked.

He nodded. "My mom enrolled me in a bunch of martial arts classes when I was younger. Grew to like. And our mom made sure I knew how to fight."
"Must be nice getting attention from her," muttered Annabeth.

Percy would rather not ruin a good moment, so he said: "If I see her again, I'll give her a piece of my mind for not giving more attention to my great sister over here," putting an arm around her shoulder. He found he actually meant it.

She let out a genuine smile. "Thanks."

"Anytime."

Grover seemed to pick up on the tension. "So, uh, I guess we're all just kind of figuring out who we are, huh?" He leaned back in his seat, fiddling with another patch of grass that had inexplicably sprouted by his feet.

As they talked, Percy's mind wandered back to the prophecy again. Betrayed by a friend. The words gnawed at him, and no matter how hard he tried to focus on the mundane conversation, they stayed with him. Was someone close to him going to betray him? Was it Annabeth? Grover? He couldn't shake the feeling that the quest, and everything that came with it, wasn't just going to be dangerous, it was going to tear him apart.

Annabeth seemed to notice his silence. "Hey," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "We're in this together, okay? Whatever happens, we stick together."

Percy nodded without looking at her. The unspoken understanding between them was comforting, but it didn't erase the gnawing worry in his chest. Whatever came next, he couldn't afford to lose either of them.

Grover, ever the optimist, tried to lighten the mood. "I'm just glad we're not walking. Do you know how long it'd take to get to the West Coast on foot? I've heard horror stories about that kind of thing."

"Sounds awful," Percy said dryly, half-listening. His mind was still preoccupied with the future. The prophecy had given him no answers, only more questions. Failing to save what matters most. What did that even mean?

He wished he could turn off his thoughts for a while, but it was impossible.

"You have an invisibility cap, right Annabeth?" Percy had a suspicion, but confirmation was always nice.

She nodded.

The bus rumbled on, the steady hum of the engine filling the silence between them. Outside, the landscape slowly changed, the cityscape of New York giving way to the quieter suburbs of New Jersey. The bus began to sway slightly as it turned onto the highway, and Percy's gaze wandered back out the window.

"Percy?" Annabeth asked suddenly.

"Yeah?"

"You said the quest was about finding the thief who stole the Bolt. But... what if we find them and it's not just a thief? What if they're working with someone else? Someone powerful?"

That was exactly what he was thinking. "That's a good point. Whoever's behind this is smart. We're not dealing with some random monster here. There's more to it, and we need to stay ahead of them." He paused, looking out the window. "We'll figure it out. But we need to stay focused on the goal."

"Right," she said, though doubt lingered in her voice.

Grover stretched out and yawned, settling back in his seat. "Yeah, simple. No problem, right?"

Percy looked at his friends, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach. He wasn't sure how this would end, but if there was one thing he was certain of, it was that their journey had only just begun. And no matter what happened next, he couldn't let the prophecy become their fate. Not without a fight.

It was at that moment, while Percy was debating his entire existence, that an old lady climbed onto the bus.

Typically, that would not be anything out of the ordinary.

Typically being the key word here, as Percy's life was anything but.

Grover paled. "Is that-"

"Don't get her attention!" Percy hissed.

'Her' was a demon posing to be an old lady. A Kindly One, or Fury.

Or as Percy liked to call her, Ms Dodds.

The bus door creaked shut behind the old lady as she shuffled down the aisle, her cane tapping the floor with each step. Her hunched back was barely visible beneath the layers of worn clothing, but her eyes, those piercing, cold eyes, swept over the passengers, and Grover shivered.

"Who's that?" Annabeth whispered.

The satyr slouched low in his seat, his eyes wide with panic. "It's her. Ms. Dodds. A Kindly One. We- uh, we really don't want her to see us."

Percy's heart thudded in his chest. He'd hoped they were far enough that they might go unnoticed by the monsters hunting him. But it seemed fate had other plans.

Annabeth's grip tightened on her bag, her gaze narrowing. "What do we do?"

Percy didn't answer immediately. He watched Ms. Dodds' slow, deliberate movements, trying to remain unnoticed. "We stay quiet. Don't make any sudden moves."

But the Fury's gaze suddenly snapped toward him, her eyes locking onto Percy's, and she stopped dead in her tracks. A smile, sharp and knowing, stretched across her face. "Well, well, if it isn't my favorite troublemaker."

Grover looked like he was about to faint. "What did I tell you?"

Annabeth's jaw clenched. "Percy, we can't just sit here."

The old woman took a step forward, her eyes not leaving Percy for a moment. "You've been causing trouble again, boy. Haven't you learned your lesson yet?"

Percy's mind raced. He couldn't fight her here, not with mortals on the bus, and not without risking everything. But if he did nothing, if they let her drag them into whatever she planned to start, they'd be in even more danger.

"Leave us alone," Percy said. "We're just passing through. You've got the wrong person."

The Fury chuckled darkly, tapping her cane against the floor with deliberate slowness. "Oh, I'm afraid I've got just the right person." She raised her hand, and the air around them seemed to grow heavier. "The boy who stole the bolt. And that doesn't change just because you get on a bus."

Annabeth's eyes widened, and Grover's hand twitched, as though he was considering something, but Percy held up a hand to stop him.

"Don't," Percy said quietly. "We don't fight her here. Not now."

"We can't just leave," whispered Annabeth.

"We can't, but you can." Percy said, handing Grover his invisibility cap. He gestured for Annabeth to get her own. "Leave me with her.

"But-"

"Get off the bus."

Annabeth hesitated, her brow furrowing as she glanced between Percy and the Fury, but Percy's expression made her bite back her objections. Grover didn't hesitate for a second, quickly pulling the cap over his head, disappearing in an instant. Annabeth, with a quick, almost reluctant glance at Percy, followed suit, her own invisibility cap settling snugly over her hair.

The moment they were gone, Percy turned back to Alecto, his body tense but ready. The old woman's smirk never faltered, her cane tapping in an almost rhythmic manner.

"Well, well, Percy Jackson," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "You think you can outrun your fate? Hiding behind a couple of magic hats? You've crossed paths with monsters before. You should know better by now."

Percy straightened up, his hand subtly brushing the hilt of Riptide in his pocket. "I'm not hiding," he said. "I'm just not stupid enough to fight you on a bus full of mortals."

The Fury's eyes glittered. "Clever. But it won't save you." She leaned forward slightly, her gaze never leaving his. "You think you're special, don't you? The hero of the prophecy. The boy who could save Olympus. But you're just another pawn in a game much bigger than you."

Percy clenched his fists. "What prophecy?

The Fury's laughter was cold, hollow. "Oh, they didn't tell you. You're out of your depth, child. The gods may have their plans for you, but so do we. And we've got all the time in the world to make you regret ever stepping foot in here."

Percy didn't flinch. He was used to threats. But the way she spoke about the gods, about his fate, made something twist uncomfortably in his stomach. Something was off.

"I don't know what game you're playing, but I'm not your target," Percy said. "If you want me, you'll have to catch me first."

The Fury's expression darkened, and in a flash, she raised her hand, the temperature on the bus dropping. "You really don't understand, do you, Percy?" she hissed, her voice now low and dangerous. "You are the target. Always have been."

Percy's hand tightened on Riptide, ready to draw it at the first sign of attack. But before anything could happen, the bus lurched, the sudden jolt throwing everyone off balance. Percy's eyes darted to the front, spotting the driver's hands gripped tight on the wheel. The bus swerved, heading toward the shoulder of the road, as if something, or someone, had taken control of the vehicle.

"Great," Percy muttered under his breath. "Just what we need."

Mortals were evacuating the bus at a frantic pace, their faces contorted with fear as they scrambled to the exits. Alecto's smile widened.

But Percy had a plan.

Not a smart, or particularly wise plan, mind you. More so the type of plan that got you arrested, killed, or both.

Probably both.

Percy closed his eyes, and the pressure in the bus seemed to increase. He could feel his breath hitching, the ground shaking, the bus groaning.

Alecto lunged at him, and the son of the Earthshaker shouted something in Greek before the bus exploded.

The last coherent thought that Percy had was that if he survived this, he'd really have to stop cursing fate.

That's a wrap! How'd y'all like it?

Quick question: what of the pairing? Most of the time when I write fics, I have strong ideas of the pairing. For this one, I have no idea honestly. So... suggestions would be nice. I could put up a poll.

Anyway, review responses:

Anaklusmos404: Thanks! I'm glad you liked the chess bits and the claiming. Your thoughts about Annabeth's cap were spot on. I agree that Percy should be able to wield almost any weapon and be good with hand to hand combat, considering the whole Goddess of War thing. Thanks again!

Robotdocter: Percy and Clarisse's dynamic is fun to write, I can't lie. And yes, rare pairs are goated, end of. Glad you liked the chess bit, gotta show Percy's brains somehow lol. So happy you enjoyed the claiming, it was so fun to write. Thank you for your kind reviews!

PhantomFuryJP: Thanks!

Lohm-21: To be honest, maybe? If I was to introduce her during the SoM, I could. Would be hard to write, but I'd manage. Great suggestion nonetheless!

Ronnie R15: True, but if you want I do have a Pertimis fic.

Vallier2417: A game of chess indeed! Haha, glad you like my works!

Jay: I'll keep that in mind.

Guest: All of your questions are answered in this chapter.

Tom: Nice.

Ginger man: Honestly, I kind of agree with both points. I should probably update The Son of Sobek, you're right lmao.

anaklusosdude16: Basically having both of their powers, y'know? It's explained more in depth in chapter one.

Eothr Si'lan: No, you're all good lol, you're not obligated to review on every chapter. Glad you like Percy and Annabeth's relationship lol. I totally see the vision with Percy/Reyna, but I don't really know how to write in Zoë. If you have any suggestions, that'd be great. I really do not know how to implement her pre-TTC. Thanks for the review though!

Walter: Thanks, and I'll make sure to remember that.

Fathom: Thank you so much! Really glad you like it that much.

smirks-and-sarcasmic: Honestly, not a bad take at all. I was kinda just throwing it out there, y'know? I do like your Perlia idea tbh. Thanks for the suggestions!

CourtMageMerlin: Cool!

iron-slayer-dragon: Thanks!

DevilishSlipper: I love your review more!

That's about it. I have pairing ideas being flung at me left right and centre, but if you have an idea for a pairing, explain how it would work and how I could feasibly introduce the character during either TLT or SoM.

Anyway, thank you all for the support, see you in a week!