Nancy looked like she wanted to say something but her shyness won out as she nodded and walked out to go and call Annabeth.
Percy sighed and looked down at Thalia's unconscious form. "Guess it's just you and me cousin," Percy said as he leaned back on his chair. He waited for some time, he mostly spent it thinking about whether this was a blessing or a curse. With Thalia here he didn't have to be the chosen one, but she wasn't strong like him, she wasn't ready to fight them.
The entire world had just changed. Thalia wasn't suppose to be alive, but now that she was this changed the prophecy. Thalia was 15, if you don't include the time she spent as a tree, meaning she was the closest one to filling the prophecy, not him. Kronos now had a way to control the prophecy again, he could use Luke to get to Thalia.
Percy was happy at first, if Thalia was the child of the prophecy that means he didn't have to die. But after some time Percy's mind started working over time and he realised something, Thaila would probably die to moment she even tries to face Kronos.
Percy sighed, he realised that she didn't stand a chance. Percy didn't know Thalia personally, heck he didn't even know her fighting style, but he knew one thing, he was stronger than her. He was their best chance at winning, with Thalia now being the child of prophecy.... Things didn't look so good.
Percy shook his head, things just got complicated, again. Looks like his trip to his mom's just got postponed for the foreseeable future.
Soon several feet were heard coming up the stairs and Percy turned to see Nancy and Annabeth walking up the stairs.
The daughter of Athena had red eyes from crying, it hurt Percy to see that. "Percy why did you-" she stopped midsentence gasping the moment her eyes fell onto Thalia, "-is-is that..."
"Thalia," Percy said, "for some reason the tree opened up and spat her out. I brought her here to be healed, she's alive Annabeth."
The daughter of Wisdom walked towards the bed and slowly touched Thalia's check afraid she would shatter she with a mere touch. She traced her finger along her face and finally when it seemed she wasn't going to crack like a mirror Annabeth fell to her knees in joy.
Percy got up as Annabeth started to cry tears of joy. He walked to the stairs leaving her alone with her old friend.
"Where are you going?" Nancy asked.
"I need some air," Percy said as he walked away.
He left the Big House and walked to the beach. Percy walked along the sand and the water, he had just spent days out there in the seas and though he felt like he should have been sick and tired of all the water he wasn't. The water was part of his domain, it was what made him, him.
Percy sat down on the sandy shores and laid back. It was all moving so fast, the prophecy, his friends not telling him, Thalia.....Kronos.
Percy looked at the sea, the calm waves soothed his anger and his confusion. Just then a flash of light exploded in front of him breaking the sense of tranquility Percy was surrounded in.
Percy blinked away the temporary blindness, he really needed to learn how to protect himself from that, and looked up to see Artemis standing before him. The Goddess looked the same as always as she turned to Percy and smiled.
"Artemis?" Percy asked slowly getting up, "what are you doing here?"
"Hello Percy, I heard you were back. Just wanted to drop in and see how you were."
Percy blinked, "ah, I'm good I guess. I just came back this morning."
Artemis smiled as she sat down next to him, "so how did the quest go?"
"Well, it went well I suppose. I took care of Argo and the base, I had help but we pulled down the entire structure on top of him killing them all."
Artemis nodded, "very good Percy. I'm impressed, not many people could have done what you did."
"Thanks, I guess," Percy sighed.
Artemis raised an eyebrow, "why are you so glum? Did something happen?"
"No, nothing happened," Percy said closing himself emotionally.
"Really? Cause it looks like someone kicked your dog and then spat on it," Artemis said in a teasing tone.
"Artemis I would kick my dog and spit on it," Percy said with a chuckle, "don't forget that mutt and I hate each other."
Artemis shrugged, "I see it more as a work in progress. But I digress, tell me what's bothering you Percy, and don't tell me it's nothing. I can see depression written clearly on your face."
Percy sighed, he shouldn't have even tried to fight it, "it's nothing really. Earlier today I found out my friend was keeping something from me, something important. We had a fight and.....here I am."
"Sounds like there's more to this story," Artemis said, "but you don't have to share if you don't want to."
"Thanks," Percy said as he once again remained silent. The two sat there for a long time in comfortable silence before Percy broke it again, "it's about the Prophecy."
"What prophecy?"
"The one involving a demigod of the Eldest Gods and Kronos," Percy said.
Artemis nodded, her face was empty of all emotion but understanding, "so you found out."
"I just don't understand why they didn't tell me!" Percy yelled out standing up, "I mean what can possibly happen if they don't tell me? It's not like it wouldn't have come true! If they had told me sooner at least I could have spent more time getting ready! I could have been trained properly!"
Percy could feel his anger take over. He was just about to use Gamer's mind to calm himself down when suddenly Artemis was by his side. She touched his neck as slowly time started to slow down for Percy. He looked into her eyes, those beautiful eyes, and she looked back.
Artemis smiled, Percy felt his cheeks heat up. She tightened her grip on his neck and in one throw threw him over her shoulder and into the ocean.
Percy felt himself flying through the air before crashing into the ice cold water.
You have entered a water body! Due to your parentage you have gained a boost!
+1000 HP
+1000 MP
All wounds are healed
All ailments cured
Water Breathing ability active
+1000 HP(+1000 HP due to necklace of Poseidon) = +2000 HP
+1000 MP (+1000 MP due to necklace of Poseidon) = +2000 MP
"WHAT THE FUCK!?" Percy screamed out as got on his feet, "WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT?!"
Artemis grinned, "you looked like you needed to cool off."
"Oh yeah?" Percy asked as his angry snarl turned to a playful smile, "I think you need to cool of too."
Percy commanded the water and slowly started to lift himself up. Slowly he formed a huge wave and sent it hurling at the beach. Artemis simply watched and stared with an open mouth as the huge wave come for her.
Suresh!
Artemis was blow back as she was covered head to toe with water and sand. Percy landed on the shore and laughed himself silly pointing at the goddess fallen form.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Artemis roared as she got up, "YOU GOT SAND EVERYWHERE!"
"Then maybe you'll think next time before you decide to throw a son of Poseidon into the freaking ocean!"
"I'm going to kick your ass!" Artemis said as she tried to run towards Percy only for the demigod to freeze the ground underneath Artemis's feet causing her to slip and fall on her behind.
Percy smiled, "you were saying?" He began laughing again as Artemis slowly got back on her feet.
"You keep laughing and I'll neuter you!"
Percy tried to control his laughter by putting his hands over his mouth but failed miserably, "I'm sorry! HAHA! Oh God that was funny as hell! You looked like that penguin from Happy Feet! OH GODS! HAHAH!"
"Shut up Percy!" Artemis yelled as she punched Percy's shoulder.
"Damn Happy Feet I think you might have broken my shoulder," Percy teased her as he rubbed his shoulder.
"I'm break your ribs!" Artemis tackled him to the ground and grabbed his arms, "I am going to make you beg for mercy Jackson!"
"Really?" Percy raised an eyebrow, "and how are you going to do that happy feet?"
"Like this," she grunted as she began tickling Percy underneath his armpit and neck causing him to squirm under her.
"Stop it!" Percy cried out laughing as he tried to grab her only the goddess was to fast as she avoided all his grabs making him laugh harder.
"Give up Sea head!"
"Okay! Okay! You win!" Percy cried out, "just stop the tickles!"
"I win!" Artemis shouted out lifting her hands up.
Percy laughed and looked up to see Artemis smile at him. In that moment he swore that she was the most perfect thing in this world, and there was nothing more beautiful than her.
Her face was just inches away from his as her legs straddled his chest. Water dripped across her face and body making her shine like silver under the moonlight. She was warm, unlike the night and water on them. Percy could feel his heart rate increase by the second as he felt something inside himself that he had never felt before. He couldn't place it, he couldn't understand it, but he knew one thing, he wanted to be right here with Artemis.
And just then;
Ping!
You have achieved a new status! Puberty!
Puberty— This status will last for the next three years and will cause;
Hair growth in— face, armpits, limbs and genital area
Voice cracking up
Increase in the size of your genitals
Your emotions will get out of hand
You will have a sexual awaking
Prone to be dressed or hyperactive
You will grow taller
You will care more about your appearance
Tips— Good luck you unfortunate soul. P.s. please remember to wash regularly as you will start to smell more often and none of us want that.
'Oh you have got to be kidding me! Way to ruin the moment asshole!'
"Percy?" Artemis asked causing Percy to blink in surprise, "earth to Percy? To still alive in there or did I tickle the brains out of you?"
Percy shook his head, "no...no I was just...never mind."
Artemis looked worried but shrugged as she got off Percy causing the demigod to sadden from the loss of warmth. She helped him up as Percy dired them both off using his moisture control.
They sat down next to each other looking at the ocean and the moon overhead. Percy's shock his head as he once again read through his new status, 'this is complete bullshit.'
"You okay Percy?" Artemis asked again, "you seem very distracted."
Percy blinked, "oh, well it's nothing," Percy closed the box, it was a problem for another time, "anyway, thanks."
"For what? Kicking your ass?" Artemis asked giggling.
"Ha-ha, very funny, icy foot" Percy said with a smile.
"Do you want me to hurt you again sea brain?"
"Sea brain? That's horrible nickname, shows a complete lack of imagination."
"Lack of imagination? I have 20 different ways to attract a guy, if that doesn't take imagination then I don't know what does."
Percy and Artemis laughed as the two slowly simply sat there enjoying the other's company.
"Thanks Artemis, I was in a runt and you helped....so thanks."
Artemis smiled, "what are friends for."
Percy nodded, "friend's, right. Anyway I don't even know why I was upset. After all I'm not the 'chosen one' any more, the prophecy isn't my headache now."
"Wait what? What do you mean? You are the only demigod alive of the Eldest Greek Gods Percy."
The demigod shook his head, "not anymore. Thalia, the girl who Zeus zapped into a tree, is back."
"What?!"
"Yeah, I guess the Fleece did a better job than expected, it brought her back in full," Percy said, "she's recovering in the Big House right now."
"Percy I have to go," Artemis said getting up and drying herself off, "Olympus needs to know this right now."
Percy was disappointed, he wanted her to stay longer but he understood. "Well okay then, bye I suppose."
Artemis nodded and flashed away leaving Percy all alone. The demigod sighed as he laid flat on the sand looking up at the stars in the sky. A lot had happened, but in the end it did nothing but test his determination.
The journey ahead is probably going to be filled with danger and betrayals, Percy may to have to become a person he doesn't want to be, but in the end this little crisis of identity, this battle in his head served to only prove one thing, he was going to protect those he cared about, even if they hate him.
Percy soon got up and walked back to the Big House, it was a long and tiring day and it wasn't over yet. Percy needed to tell Annabeth that he forgives her, he needed to forgive his friend. He also eager to meet Thalia, after all it was thanks to her that everyone in camp is still alive.
But as Percy was walking back to the Big House the wind from the sea stopped blowing setting Percy's senses on edge. The wind never stopped blowing around these parts, never.
Percy took out his blade as slowly the darkness around his slowly gathered from the shadows in the trees and bushes to form a mirror directly in front of him.
Percy slowly leveled his blade in front of him, he activated his Body From, 8.0 Eyesight and Speed Demon perk just in case and waited for the black mirror to do something.
Just then an image formed on the surface of the mirror and Percy saw Hades looking at him through it.
"Hades?" Percy asked surprised, "wh-what the hell?"
"Ah, nephew, always a pleasure," the God of the Underworld sneered at Percy.
Percy ignored the clear sarcasm and continued, "what do you want uncle? Persephone using the chains again?"
"No," Hades growled out. Last year Percy had given Persephone the chains of Hephaestus to bind Hades and basically make him her slave. She used that power and basically tortured Hades for months before she got bored and released him. Hades basically became the laughing stock of Olympus and for some reason he blames PErcy for that.
"So what do you want? I assume this isn't a social visit."
"It's not," Hades sighed, "look I'll get straight to the point, I need you to do something for me."
Percy raised an eyebrow, "you want to give me a quest?"
Hades sighed again pinching his nose, "yes. It's very important and it needs to be handled delicately, normally I would give the job to Alecto, my most trusted lieutenant, but as you know she seemed to have a change of heart," he glared at Percy for the last part.
"Oh yeah I remember that," Percy said, "it was around the time you sent her to kill me and kidnapped my mother. Tell me why exactly do you think I would even help you?"
Hades raised an eyebrow, "do you really want to piss me off by saying no?"
"Haven't I already pissed you off?"
Hades sighed again, "fine, you may not want to do this quest for me, but I know you will accept, it is in your nature."
Percy raised an eyebrow, "really. Okay I'll bite, why do you think I will accept this quest?"
