"-Bullshit you did!" Annabeth yelled out.
"Guys we can fight over this later!" Clarisse stepped in, "Percy get us out of here, now!"
Percy nodded and activated his connection to the sea;
You have accessed the power of the sea! You may now control it to varying degrees and also may control vessels or any other items on the sea with great precision!
Percy raised his hands up as suddenly the ship was jerked forward heading straight for Miami.
On the Island;
Luke walked back to the chest area with his head still ringing, 'damn Percy has a hard head.'
As he walked out of the forest and towards the chest he realised something had changed. Hyperion was on his knees bowing, Luke turned to the chest and saw a figure standing on it.
The being was big, bigger than Hyperion. It stood nude in the cold night, the winds didn't affect him at all. He had the body of the perfect man with muscles bulging out and a long flowing beard. His eyes glowed gold like the Golden Fleece that was now tied around his shoulders. The only thing that shattered the image of perfection the being was projecting was his giant grey right arm and left grey leg.
Luke could feel his power all the way from the edge of the forest. Luke's stomach churned, he got a severe case of deja vu, like he had been in this situation before.
"The prodigal son returns," the being spoke and instantly Luke knew who it was. It was the same voice who haunted his dreams, the same one that had started all of this.
Luke walked forward and stopped next to Hyperion before kneeling down, "Lord Kronos, it is an honor seeing you reformed and well."
"I am not reformed," the being spoke out as he looked at his hands, "nearly half of this body is mine, the other is part of that wretched cyclops." He said looking at his deformed right hand and left leg.
"My Lord it is so good to see you after all these years," Hyperion looked up with a smile on his face.
Kronos narrowed his eyes, "yes, it has been so long and yet you never looked for me did you, brother?"
Hyperion stammered, "m-my lord that is not true! I was the one who found your body parts in Tartarus. I-" Hyperion stopped mid sentence as he started to choke on his own words.
Kronos glared at the titan, "you dare speak to me in this manner? Do you think I am weak because I have only just reformed?"
"No my lord I would never-"
Kronos waved his hand over Hyperion cutting the Titan off. Suddenly screams of pain erupted from the titan as he fell down to the ground in pain. Kronos huffed, "the only reason you even searched for me is because Luke told you I was alive. If he had not I doubt you would have even tried."
Luke remained silent as Hyperion whimpered in pain. Kronos turned to Luke, "you went to stop Jackson, I assume you failed."
Luke bowed his head further, "I am sorry my lord. Percy Jackson was too strong for me. The only reason he did not kill me was because he was more worried about escaping with his friends."
Kronos hummed in agreement, the titan stepped out of the chest and onto the Earth for the first time in 4000 years. A shock wave of energy went through the ground as the entire world of Greek mythology felt a shimmer of power.
He walked up Luke, "Jackson may possess amazing powers. But soon you will as well, my champion."
Luke looked up at the titan, "thank you, my lord."
With Percy,
It took them all night but eventually they made it to the port of Miami. Percy had stayed up the whole night making sure no one was following them, but it seemed they had bigger fish to fry.
Last night just as they had been sailing away Percy felt something, and so did everyone else. It felt like a dark cloud had risen over the world, something had changed, the rules had changed. Percy knew why it was and so did everyone else, Kronos had risen.
The boat quickly docked in a private port in Miami away from the city and the eyes of the public. Galen had used the Mist to confuse the owner into letting them use the port and soon all the demigods were off.
None of them looked like they had slept a wink last night, none except Percy, thanks Gamer's body.
Percy turned to the crew, "thank you guys, all of you. I mean it. You helped me a lot on this quest and I got you all into trouble on more than one occasion."
"Oh shut up you big idiot!" Marc cried out with tears in his eyes
The crew laughed as Marc hugged Percy while shouting, 'you're the best little brother anyone could ever ask for.'
Percy smiled and finally broke the hug turning to Galen, "you owe me a rematch."
Galen smirked, "any time kid. Also don't forget to eat your vegetables every single day, or else you won't grow up to be strong like me!"
Percy chucked before turning to Odysseus, "captain I need a favour."
Odysseus nodded, "name it kid."
"Luke," Percy began, "you guys know he's a spy right?" the captain and the crew all nodded, "well this goes without saying but he's risking a lot to help us. If word got out that-"
Odysseus raised a hand stopping Percy, "relax kid we know. We aren't stupid. We'll keep the kid's secret. After all being a spy for the God's against Kronos? Now that takes guts. " The hero smiled at Percy, "plus you saved my life kid, I owe you one."
Percy smiled back, "it's okay, you saved mine, I think we're even."
Odyssey nodded, "either way, I think you earned this," Odysseus took out a brown bag and gave it to Percy. The demigod quickly opened the bag and found a little necklace inside it in the shape of a Cyclops skull, the same as the one on Odysseus's flag.
Percy observed it finding out it was nothing more but a simple metal necklace. "What is it?"
"The crew and I talked and we all decided that you earned this," Odysseus and the rest reached into their shirts and pulled out a similar necklace, "it's a symbol that you are officially part of our crew!"
Percy's eyes lit up in joy. He opened up the chain and took out the skull before taking out his camp necklace and stringing it like a bead. The skull now sat next to his previous two beads and it shined brightly in the morning sun.
Percy looked at Odysseus and smiled, "thanks captain."
Odysseus grinned, "You're welcome sailor. Oh and one more thing," Odysseus took out a scroll and gave it Percy, "this scroll contains the method I used for creating Yew's Breath. So while I would never depart with my own blade," 'Gollum,' Galen coughed out, "I think you deserve your own."
Percy looked at the scroll and his smile somehow grew wider, "this is so cool!"
Odysseus grinned at Galen, "told you he would love it," the Quarter master rolled his eyes.
"Alright men time to leave!" Galen shouted at the top of his voice getting everybody back onto the ship. Odysseus stayed behind giving Percy a pat on the head before leaving as well. The sailors all waved goodbye to Percy as The Ascension slowly went back to the sea.
"So what's our next adventure captain?" Marc asked as he readied the sails.
Odysseus smiled, "what say you Galen?"
The Quartermaster smiled, "well since Percy's isn't here anymore we don't have to censor ourselves. Let's go do something fun"
Odysseus grinned, "I like the way you think. What say you lads? Want to go to France get us some of that French ass?!"
"Aye! Aye! Captain!"
Percy stood in the port as a cold wind blew across him causing him to sneeze.
"You okay?" Nina asked.
Percy nodded, "I'm fine, I just have this weird feeling like a lot of pent up lust just got released all at once."
Nina gave Percy a weird look, "that was....oddly specific."
The five demigods quickly walked out of the private port and to the main road. "Okay so how are we going to get home?" Clarisse asked.
"We fly," Percy said as he tried to hail a cab.
"Really? You okay to flying?" Annabeth asked raising an eyebrow.
"I think Zeus has bigger things to worry about than me flying in his domain," Percy said as he finally got a cab to stop.
Percy opened the door as everyone got in the back while he sat up front with the driver. "Where to kids?" The driver asked.
Percy looked at the man's name floating above him, "to Miami airport Juan, and step on it."
The man smiled, "si senor," he then took off heading back towards the city and then the airport.
It took them around half an hour to get there, Miami airport was strange. For Percy, a guy who basically lived in New York his whole life the simple Miami airport kind of startled him. They quickly paid the man and walked towards the counter to book their tickets.
"We need five tickets to New York please," Percy said.
The woman across the desk looked at them with a critically eye, "and where exactly are your parents?"
"Away, but look that's not important. We really need a flight to New York ma'am," Percy repeated but the woman was having none of it.
"Now look here young man I cannot in good conscious just sell plane tickets to five teenagers! Hell you might be trying to run away from home and if I sell them to you I would be accused of aiding a crime!"
"We don't have time for this," Annabeth said as she stepped up and snapped her finger causing the Mist to cloud the woman's eyes, "look, you don't' see anything wrong with us. You want to sell us tickets and will treat us like regular passengers."
The woman's gaze became unfocused, "I don't see anything wrong with you, I want to sell you tickets and I will treat you like regular passengers."
"There," Annabeth said as she moved back.
"I was going to do that..." Percy commented before turning to the woman who was now cheerfully smiling.
"Okay so that's five for New York?" Percy and the others nodded, "well let's see here. Oh dear, looks like we might have a problem here."
"What now," Michael grumbled.
"You see there are two planes going to New York today, the first is in one hour but only has one available seat while the second one is in two hours but has 8 seats free."
Percy turned to the others, "what should we do?"
Annabeth started thinking before speaking, "Clarisse," the daughter of Ares looked at her friend, "you take the earlier flight and the Fleece and get to camp as soon as you can."
"What?" Clarisse asked, "why me? Why not Percy?"
"Because this is your quest," Percy said as he opened up his inventory taking out the Fleece and giving it to Clarisse.
"And remember the prophecy you received," Annabeth reminded, "'And Fail without friends, to fly home alone.' It means that you were supposed to fly back alone, without us."
"But what if we wait for the second flight? Wouldn't that be safer than just me going?"
Percy shook his head, "that would be equivalent to challenging the prophecy, and believe me you do not want to pick a fight with Fate. If we do try to board the same flight then something else will happen to make sure the prophecy comes true. Maybe the plane will crash leaving you the only survivor or maybe we all die suddenly by a struck of lightning before boarding leaving you the only one alive."
Clarisse started to shake in fear. "Great Percy I think you broke her," Nina said as she wrapped her arms around Clarisse comforting her.
"No, no he's right," Clarisse said nodding at Percy, "I go on the first flight alone. Make sure you guys are on the second one okay?"
Percy and the others nodded and they quickly bought their tickets. Percy went to an airport store and bought a bag for Clarisse to put the Fleece in before they sent her off. The remaining demigods then went to eat breakfast at the food court and soon it was time for their flight.
Since they didn't have any check in's and only carry on's, they got through security fast. Luckily anything suspicious mortals might have seen them carrying was quickly covered up by the Mist.
Percy entered the plane and took his seat in the economy section with Nina to his left and Michael on his right. He strapped himself in and started taking deep breaths calming his running heart.
"Nervous?" Nina asked with a smile.
Percy nodded, "it's my first time flying."
"What?" Michael asked, "How can it be your first time?"
Percy shrugged, "never really flew before that's all plus you know son of Poseidon and all, I think I just had a natural fear for flying."
Michael raised an eyebrow, "didn't you always say you loved the feeling of running because the wind in your face made you feel like flying?"
Percy nodded, "yeah but that was like flying, this is actual flying. Totally different."
Soon the flight started as slowly it went towards the long runway. Percy gripped his seat tightly, tight enough to form a small crack in the handle, but luckily no one saw.
The plane started moving faster and faster until suddenly Percy felt a lot of force push down on his body. Percy closed his eyes and waited for it to get worse, only nothing happened.
"Relax Percy that's it," Nina said, "you can open your eyes now."
Percy opened his eyes and sighed, "that was...kind of easy actually. Heck I think I could probably run faster than this plane."
Michael nodded, "yeah you probably might. So how do you feel?"
Percy smiled, "not bad, I could get used to this whole flying thing." Just then the plane hit turbulence, it was almost like a warning from Zeus not to get too comfortable, "Or not,. should have kept my mouth closed."
"Maybe," commented Annabeth from the row behind them.
Percy sighed and slowly sank back into his seat. Suddenly his ears started to pain, "ah guys my ears are-"
"It's the extra pressure," Annabeth said, "don't worry you'll get used to it."
"Thanks Annabeth," Percy said only for the girl to ignore him.
Percy sighed, she was still angry he hadn't told her about Luke. Percy didn't know what to do, he felt so bad, he should have trusted Luke before, but at the same time he knew he didn't do anything wrong, it's not his fault that back then Luke had acted in such a manner that Percy didn't feel like trusting him.
The demigod sighed again, his mind slowly drifted back to his first quest. Everything was simpler back then, he only had to worry about one thing, saving his mom. Percy laughed remembering the good times he spent with Luke and Grover. He made so many mistakes back then, he used to be so.....quick to anger? Sure he wasn't any better now, but at least he learnt from his mistakes. Like last time when he forgot Grover, boy was that a mistake he never wanted to repeat again. Hell Grover was pissed for weeks......wait.
Percy's eyes shot open, "GROVER!"
Odysseus ship,
Grover walked out of the sailors' quarters rubbing his eyes. He finally changed out of that stupid dress and into a nice set of greek armor one of the sailors had leant him. He turned around and took a deep breath of the sea, the whole ordeal with the Fleece was finally over.
