Chapter Text
I was having a good time. I could admit that this is the type of normality I used to dream of when I was little, ok so maybe not exactly this but the sentiment is the same. It took some time to get here- I’m almost well adjusted now (yayyy!!!) which by demigod standards is a miracle. I have a great relationship with my immediate family, both mortal and immortal, and a close-knit circle of really good friends, every summer free from college spent in Camp Half-Blood without any threat to my life. I had thought after Gigantomachy that normal life would never be for me matter how much I craved it, what with the constant danger that I’d gotten used to, nightmares from the pit, and my breakup with Annabeth.
Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Percy Jackson and I am 21 years old. I am currently in university studying marine biology, psychology, and social work at New York Uni. Now back to the recap
Let me tell you the last one I really did not see coming, it seems like the time I spent homeless without my memories and my brief time at Camp Jupiter changed me in a way that Annabeth did not understand. We spent all the free time we had after defeating Gaea together but that was not enough to save our relationship. Not that it surprised me four years later, after all, we had only been in a relationship for a few months before my kidnapping, and the year prior was not the best even for our friendship. Annabeth did not take my suggestion to break up well, her hubris refusing to believe that it was unfixable but over time she’d made her begrudging peace with it and we are on good terms again though maybe not as close as we used to be and maybe that is for the best
On the other hand, I grew close with the older campers who while would have been my friends before would not have been my close friends. After the Second Giants War, Apollo cabin decided to test out group therapy with war veteran demigods which I joined after some coaxing from mom and hey! nothing like shared trauma to bring people. Travis, Conner, and Katie were quite curious about my previous quests as the details generally didn't make it out in public. And everyone sharing their side of stories and getting their feelings off their chests was a collective freeing experience and so was bitching about Luke. After spending the Second Titan War close to only Grover and Annabeth, the latter of whom would never hear a bad thing about him, it felt so good to express my feelings about him freely. Drew had some choice words about him that made Travis and Connor cackle madly while Katie looked mildly exasperated. Even Nico joined the group after some nudging from Will and being a part of a group helped break the awkward ice that was formed between Nico & me after the war and allowed us to form a genuine friendship from scratch which was great most of the time.
Keyword being most of the time. It was not great when Nico took to hounding me about sharing what I went through inside Tartarus and that “No one would judge you Percy you know that” and “It's been months and you’ve still not slept a full night peacefully, your health is starting to take a toll because of it” and “I’ve talked to Sally and she agrees that you have to talk about it to at least somebody instead of repressing it and acting like it never happened because clearly,y it's not working for you” “You’ve talked to my mom???” “YEs”. And even though he was so still not sold on the whole idea he decided to fuck it and do it anyway and surprisingly!!!!! they weren’t scared or disgusted like I had thought they would be instead very understanding and some were even darkly amused??… Holy Hades we all really needed a licensed psychologist.
When I asked Katie about it because the reactions mildly bothered me and I was waiting until the other shoe dropped she simply patted my shoulders and said, “Percy, we fought with you in Manhattan when you took the opposite army of around 200 monsters alone laughing like a maniac, you’ve already defeated Titans and Giants, a goddess while not on the list is not as surprising as you made it out to be. And if anyone has to have an ability like Bloodbend I’m glad it's you”
After that, Will promptly cornered me and said that Bloodbend would really come in handy in the infirmary and could save many lives if I decided to use it again, and while not still not sure about it I told him I’d think about it. And I did, I even talked to other people about it and while some were apprehensive, no one was outrightly disgusted which was a total plus in my books.
(On the downside, when Annabeth heard I was considering using it again, to say she didn’t take it well was a mild understatement. There was a full-blown argument in the middle of the camp and some choice words were used by both of us including but not limited to her calling bloodbending and me by extension “unnatural and shouldn't be used” and “that's why I need to be in a relationship with you to control you since you clearly can't be trusted” to me snapping and saying “go back to ignoring me I was having such a good time before you ruined it like you always do. You think you're the smartest person but newsflash you're not, maybe you should work on your fatal flaw and stop poking your nose in my business where you’re neither wanted nor asked” and “Maybe I would still be in love with you if you weren't a control freak”. Like I said some choices of words were good and none of them were good and I do regret some of what I said but that incident fractured something in our friendship permanently)
Even with all the ups and downs life was good and I was so happy.
Maybe I spoke too soon because dear gods coming home to The Fates in your room is not an experience you want to have (speaking from experience). I totally did not yell loud enough to wake up the dead and totally did not stub my foot to my bed frame, I totally did not do that even though it would have been a normal reaction to hypothetically have. After a minor heart attack I collected myself and bowed slightly before them, “My ladies what brings you here?” and before you could think Who are you and what have you done to Percy Jackson, I would like to remind you that if there is someone you should bow to it is the people who are in charge of your life literally, rather not give them a reason to increase my downs in life after such a good past few years.
“Perseus Jackson,” The middle one said reverently. “We have been watching you for the last few years and we are impressed.”
“We’d come to an agreement that we would offer you one boon whether you accept or not is up to you,” The left one said. “We could not tell you what it entails or how it is to be done, only that it would be painless and you would not be alone and the past would be better because of it”, the right one finished.
“Do you not mean that the future would be better because of it?” I asked hesitantly.
“Your past and your future would be better because of it,” The left one said. “Nothing is set in stone and yet some things are. Life is both uncertain and certain in a way. The Moirai are timeless” the middle one continued. “Nothing more we can divulge, it is your adventure and your decision. Decide fast, Perseus Jackson.” The right one finished.
I can't say that the idea of changing the past (if that's what they meant from this cryptic conversation) is not appealing to me. But on the other hand, I have no idea what this entails. No nada zilch, totally clueless.
“My friends would be doing whatever it is that I’m going to have to do and we’ll be in no danger doing this quest?” I asked because what could it be except another quest?
“You are correct godling,” All three of them said at once.
“Then I agree”
“Very good” “We will collect you and the others when it is time” “Good luck Perseus Jackson, try not to cause too much chaos”
And then in a flash, all three of them disappeared and I breathed out wondering what in the name of Tartarus I just agreed to. Hopefully, it's not time travel because I really do not want to deal with that bullshit again. Knowing my luck (Did my mum jinx me when she decided to name me Perseus for good luck??? It really wouldn't surprise me but hey at least I haven't been brutally murdered yet. The bar is lower than Tartar Sauce) I should prepare for waking up in my 12 year old body or something.
Well, Shit.
Good news, I did not wake up in my twelve year old body. Bad news, I woke up in an unfamiliar place (again).
It took a few moments to process the blinding white I was seeing. I woke up in the throne room in Olympus, wonderful. I looked to see all the Olympians present and staring at me, 10/10 do not recommend it.
“What is the meaning of this?” Zeus bellowed in a mixture of confusion and wariness, which rude but ok. I was about to answer him and hoped not to get smote but before I could we were interrupted by a portal thingy opening and a group of people coming through which included almost all my friends. Just as I see Zeus preparing to yell another flash occurs and Lady Persephone, Lady Amphitrite, Triton, Kym, and Rhodes appear along with them a letter falls and lands in my hand. I read it out loud
Dear Gods, Demigods, and Companions,
We are gathered here to read about the two great prophecies that occurred in the past decade in hopes that we learn from our history and make sure it never happens again. But for that to happen the immortals must learn the full extent of what has occurred.
Time would be frozen starting from the moment the first book starts till the end of the tenth book. Use the chance given to you wisely.
P.S. In a few minutes, the throne room of Olympus would double in size and the other side would be occupied by members from the past as to make sure they don’t repeat the same mistakes and maybe learn a few things from the future. You would not be able to cross into their time and vice versa though you will all see each other and can interact without the line being breached so seat accordingly.
P.P.S. T he first five books shall be about the Second Titan War while the rest five are about the Second Gigantomachy. Be sure no demigod comes into harm during this experience and remember not to spoil any future events for the people of the past.
Regards,
Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos
The Fates
Well at least I’m not personally time travelling.