Archive of Our Own ^beta

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.

Chapter Text

Percy's POV

Somehow this is not even in the top ten weirdest thing that's ever happened to me which will tell you how weird my life can get at times. After I read out Fates’ letter a stack of ten books in a box appeared at my feet. I picked out the first one from it which had a dark image of lightning drawn on it and ‘The Lightning Thief’ stamped on it in gold. Gee, three guesses on what it would be about and the first two don't count

“Well, boy, What is on the book?”, Zeus demanded after a moment of total silence in the room. 

“It says ‘The Lightning Thief’ Lord Zeus, I believe it would be about my first quest during which we got our first confirmation of Kronos rising,” I replied as politely as I could (which wasn’t much)

“If I may Father, we should shrink to normal size and make seating arrangements for gods and demigods alike,” Apollo interjected before Zeus could escalate the situation.

“What is the need for seating arrangements for gods? We are in the throne room hence we will sit on our thrones.”, Zeus raised his eyebrow 

“Apollo is correct Brother. It will not be practical for almost 20 of the Gods from our time and 20 of the Gods of the future to be 10 feet tall, such an opportunity is for us to understand the plight of our children and their struggles and interact with them without the weight of Ancient Laws on us.”, Hestia remarked from her hearth, ever the voice of reason.

Zeus heeded her advice and the Gods shrunk into human sizes and Hestia with a snap of her fingers transformed the throne room into a comfortable-looking lounge room with different types of couches and sofas for gods and multiple beanbags for others. 

Zeus and Hera sat in a loveseat in the middle, while other gods chose a couch and revamped it into their style and as per their requirements for example, Athena refashioned her sofa into a luxurious white vintage wing chair with dark brown wood accents and my dad turned it into a large beige-colored curved sofa with sea shell like headboard and deep sea green pillows fit for around 5-6 people which occupied a lot of space. 

In an unspoken agreement, everyone else dragged their seating in front of their parent/patron’s place which caused some of them to politely ask their parents if they could shift their places like Apollo switched with Aphrodite so Nico and Will could sit beside each other which unsurprisingly neither of them minded much. 

Just as we settled down in our places, a bright light started moving from up to down a few feet away from us as if a laser-cutting machine was breaking the room into two. As our vision cleared we saw that the light outline remained where it was; the other side was full of people. The Gods were together in one portion of the space while demigods sat opposite to them in the other corner, compared to the future the past demigods sat awkwardly away from gods, I guess this is when most of them met their parent for the first time. The other side burst into chatter when Annabeth and Luke caught sight of Thalia alive and well.

I hid a grimace when I observed the younger versions of those who died in the war. A rush of murmuring started as my friends glanced worryingly towards me. I guess I have been unnaturally quiet till now, just observing everything which totally isn't like me at all.

Zeus from my timeline thundered, “ENOUGH, We will all take our seats and introduce ourselves in order of seating and state the year from which the Fates brought us and we will do this civilized manner,” He motioned to Leo to start. 

And so the tedious introductions start, 

“Leo Valdez, Son of Hephaestus at your service from the year 2015”

“Piper McLean, Daughter of Aphrodite”

“Drew Tanaka, Daughter of Aphrodite”

“Clarisse La Rue, Daughter of Ares”

“Frank Zhang, Son of Mars”

This set the gods of the other side into immediate murmurings and chatter while the demigods were confused about the existence of Roman demigods until Zeus silenced everyone and motioned for us to continue.

“Kayla Knowles, Daughter of Apollo”

“Austin Lake, Son of Apollo”

“Will Solace, Son of Apollo”

“Nico di Angelo, Son of Hades”

This set off the Gods again while Hades was shocked to see him out of Casino and without Bianca.

“Hazel Levesque, Daughter of Pluto”

This caused Athena to seethed at the presence of not one but two Romans and possibly.

“Percy Jackson, Son of Poseidon.” 

“Woah Percy grew up hot,” remarked Connor which effectively diffused tension and caused everyone to burst out laughing. 

“Grover Underwood, Satyr”

“Rachel Elizabeth Dare, Oracle”

“My Oracle changed bodies,” Apollo remarked, brightening significantly, “Do you find out why it wouldn’t?”  

“We find out in the fifth book Lord Apollo” Percy replied, shuffling through the stack of books to determine the book number.

“Jason Grace, Son of Jupiter” 

Luke and Annabeth looked at Jason in surprise and then glanced between him and Thalia as the recognition dawned upon them. 

“Thalia, Lieutenant of Artemis” Thalia glanced at Zoe and gave her a nod with a smile which Zoe returned.

“Phoebe, Hunter of Artemis”
“Naomi, Hunter of Artemis”

"Reyna Ramirez-Arellano, Hunter of Artemis"

“Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Athena”
“Malcolm, Son of Athena”

“Chris Rodriguez, Son of Hermes”
“Travis and-” “Connor Stoll” “Son of Hermes”

“Katie Gardener, Daughter of Demeter”

“Pollux, Son of Dionysus” He completed.

“ Annabeth Chase from the year 2006”

“Grover Underwood”

“Percy Jackson”

“Malcolm”

“Chris Rodriguez”

“Clarisse La Rue”

“Travis and Connor Stoll”

“Katie Gardener”

“Pollux”
“Castor, Son of Dionysus”

“Micheal Yew, Son of Apollo”

“Lee Fletcher, Son of Apollo”

“Will Solace”

“Luke Castellan, Son of Hermes”

“Silena Beauregard, Daughter of Aphrodite”

“Charles Beckendorf, Son of Hephaetus”

“Zoe Nightshade, Lieutenant of Artemis”

“Phoebe, Hunter of Artemis”

“Naomi, Hunter of Artemis”

“How much have the fates informed you?,” Hestia asks the Gods .

“All of us were picked from what we were doing by the Fates and they have informed us that we are to be reading books about our future with our future selves who have gone through them to minimize the damage that was done and save lives.”

Hestia informed

“Indeed, the first book is titled ‘The Lightning Thief’. I believe we’ll start on some familiar waters for you. I suggest we convene after 5 minutes to gather ourselves. I believe the young demigods would benefit greatly from it”

As soon as she said it, a door flashed into existence behind us. I looked at my dad and he nodded permitting me.

“Come on guys,” I said standing up from my place. “Let’s go for a walk”

Third POV

Everyone was a little shell-shocked, almost lost in their thoughts. 

Percy cornered Annabeth and Thalia first. 

“Will you both be okay?” 

“I don’t know” Annabeth replied warily, suddenly aging 5 years after the shock of seeing Luke again. “They are from 2006 but Zeus has his master bolt and the campers identified you, that means it must have been after our quest but before he tried to kill you”

“Thals?”

“Maybe this experience will give me closure that I did not have and make sense of the person he became. One moment I was dying telling him and Annie to run, next I was waking up to people telling he poisoned me and wanted to destroy human civilization. I never understood but maybe I will.”

Annabeth and Percy looked at each other and in sync as if reading each other’s mind pulled Thalia into a hug which she seemed to appreciate.

“If they are here before Luke deserted the camp, does that mean it’s the Fates' way of telling us that he can be redeemed? The Fates told me that nothing is set in stone yet some things are. Is Luke’s fate still one of them because well Hermes said that May told him his son would have a dark fate. Does it still hold true?”

“The Fates told you what now?”

“Oh everything happened so fast I forgot to mention it to anyone but the Fates visited me yesterday and told me that they granted me a boon, something cryptic about changing the past but they said they can’t reveal any more I have a choice to either accept or not, and I said yes then they disappeared and I woke up in Olympus. Honestly, I was really worried whether or not I’d accidentally agreed to wake up in my younger self’s body like one of Mum’s books.” Percy shrugged as if horrified by the thoughts

Annabeth shook her head fondly,"Never change Seaweed brain.”

“Besides, we've got each other’s back no matter what. You’re welcome to join me in my bag anytime.”

“This starts with our first quest and the fifth one is about the Battle of Manhattan, so the rest are our quests in between them, I don’t know if it’s strictly quests or our private matter will be aired as well but we should be prepared for the worst” Annabeth predicts almost lost in her thoughts.

“Yes, that sounds more like it. I have made my peace with most of it and at least I’m not alone. I am glad my half-siblings are here although I do miss Tyson”

“We’ll be ok,” Thalia reassured us before leaving to talk to the hunters. Annabeth and I also bid each other goodbye with a quick hug as I went to find Clarisse and Chris. I told them about me hearing Chris on Princess Andromeda which would be brought up in the second book as an early heads up and we talked a bit more before it was time for us to back into the throne room.

As we all settled down I picked up the first one, “Who wants to read first?” 

“I will,” Rachel volunteered from my side, flipping open the first chapter.

“One: I accidentally vaporize my Pre-Algebra Teacher”

Chapter Text

“One: I Accidentally Vaporize my Pre-Algebra Teacher”

Right on the queue everyone in the room cracks up. 

Travis was the first to speak, “How do you accidentally vaporize a teacher?”

“Does a lot of luck answer your question?”

“Not really, Perce.”

“I suppose we’ll see, then.”

(Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood)

“Who does?” Someone muttered. 

The Gods were looking shocked as if someone not wanting to be a half-blood is a novelty.

(If you’re reading this because you think you might be one, my advice is: close this book right now. Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you about your birth, and try to lead a normal life.)

Thalia looked in mock shock and dramatically said, “Percy you can give good advice” 

“Shut up Pinecone Face, I give good advice.”

“Do not”

“Do so”

“Do not”

“Do-” 

“Children,” Hestia interrupted them, looking at them fondly. “Not now”

“Sorry Aunt Hestia,” They both replied unisonly. 

(Being a half-blood is dangerous. It’s scary. Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways)

Jason grumbled sarcastically, “Wow check, check, and check, who knew a demigod’s life is depressing” 

“I knew bro” Percy replied brightly.

“That was sarcastic bro” Jason grinned as he bantered with Percy.

“Of course it was bro”

“Bro”

They both looked at each other and burst into giggles as others shook their heads in exasperation quite used to their antics.

(If you’re a normal kid, reading this because you think it’s fiction, great. Read on. I envy you for being able to believe that none of this ever happened.)

“Did you like know that your thoughts were gonna be turned into books and so you foretold it?” Piper questioned.

“I’d like to remind you that I didn’t actually write it and no I’ve never thought about it either.”

Annabeth piped up, “Maybe it was to create intrigue, or maybe in the future you write it as a fiction series like Harry Potter.”

Percy shrugged, “Both of them sound real enough but we can’t know anything for certain anyway, so I won't dwell on it.”

Malcolm wanted to dwell on it so he commented, “If he wrote it in the future as a fiction series then he’d have to change names of us, because we are real people and some of us are quite famous or infamous in the mortal world.”

“That’s a great point,” Annabeth conceded.

(But if you recognize yourself in these pages—if you feel something stirring inside—stop reading immediately. You might be one of us.)

“ONE OF US, ONE OF US,” cheered The Stolls, Leo and the Stolls

(And once you know that, it’s only a matter of time before they sense it too, and they’ll come for you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.)

“You didn’t warn me though!!!” All the future demigods exclaimed.

Percy hummed as he stroked his chin pretending to be in deep thought, “To be fair I tried to warn Nico but he was too busy thinking about the attack po-”

“THATS ENOUGH” Nico shouted embarrassingly, “You promised you’d never bring it up again.”

“I promised no such thing little man.”“Little Man, why you-”

(My name is Percy Jackson. I’m twelve years old.)

“I thought it was Rachel,” Chris commented innocently earning a few laughs.

Kymopoleia leaned against Percy and mockingly whispered gesturing towards the younger Percy in the room, “Wait you’re actually twelve here, I thought he looked like a ten-year-old.” 

Percy spluttered as both Triton and Rhode snickered, “I looked perfectly fine for a twelve years old thank you very much.” 

“If you say so my dear,” Kym replied as she patted his hair condescendingly.

“Now now Kym, Percy had a respectable height if not on a tiny side.” 

Percy turned to him betrayed, “Triton, not you too! This is why Rhode is my favorite, she never picks on me.” 

Percy settled down staring at Trition with his baby seal eyes while laying his head in Rhode's lap comfortably. 

“I love you too kid, now stop pouting.”

(Until a few months ago, I was a boarding student at Yancy Academy, a private school for troubled kids in upstate New York. Am I a troubled kid?)

“YEAH” “Yes” “You think” “Of course, you are” came various exclamations from his friends.

“Wow, guys feeling the love here.” Percy rolled his eyes.

(Yeah. You could say that)

“Ha! he admits” Clarisse taunts victoriously which earns her a confused look from Clarisse who doesn’t sense any hateful intent from her. 

(I could start at any point in my short miserable life to prove it,-)

Poseidon looked troubled, “Short and Miserable?”

Percy waived him off, “Everything’s fine nowadays, don’t worry about it.”

Zeus interrupted looking quite irritated, “Everyone will stop needlessly interrupting the readings at every interval.” 

Zeus, Hera, and Hera were nodding in agreement, all of them looking very annoyed.

(but things really started going bad last May, when our sixth-grade class took a field trip to Manhattan— twenty-eight mental-case kids….heading to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to look at ancient Greek and Roman stuff.)

“Sounds interesting.” Annabeth and Malcolm commented as Athena nodded her head in approval.

“Sounds like torture,” rest of the campers countered. 

“Right like can you imagine being ADHD and being in a group and having to stay in one place.” Travis voiced.

“And Public Bus.” Connor shuddered.

(I know—it sounds like torture. Most Yancy field trips were)

“See Percy agrees.”

(But Mr. Brunner, our Latin teacher, was leading this trip, so I had hopes. Mr. Brunner was this middle-aged guy in a motorized wheelchair….this awesome collection of Roman armor and weapons, so he was the only teacher whose class didn’t put me to sleep)

Leo breathed, “Woah he sounds awesome”

“I am so jealous, I wish we’d have a teacher like this,” Katie declared, prompting approval from the rest as Percy and Grover shared a sly look barely suppressing smiles.

(I hoped the trip would be okay. At least, I hoped that for once I wouldn’t get in trouble.)

Nico smirked,”10 drachmas that he does.”

“Suckers Bet,” Thalia replied

(Boy, was I wrong)

“Told ya,” Thalia crooned smugly as Nico and Percy both stuck their tongues out at her which she returned. 

(See, bad things happen to me on field trip. Like at my fifth-grade school, when we went to the Saratoga battlefield, I had this accident with a Revolutionary War cannon….. I sort of hit the wrong lever on the catwalk and our class took an unplanned swim. And the time before that . . . Well, you get the idea.)

“Percy you’ve been holding out on us” the Hermes gang along with Hermes exclaimed.

Poseidon lets out a laugh. Loud and strong. Percy's heart lights up and a huge smile takes over his face. 

“The shark pool story was quite infamous amongst the sharks and other sea animals when it happened.” Amphitrite complimented mirthfully while the sea gang all nodded clearly remembering it even today.

(This trip, I was determined to be good.)

“Jinx,” Thalia mouthed at Percy

“Yeah, I know.” Percy mouthed back

(All the way into the city, I put up with Nancy Bobofit….. best friend Grover in the back of the head with chunks of peanut butter-and-ketchup sandwich.)

“Ew, did I hear peanut butter and ketchup?” Drew asked, nose scrunched in repulsion.

Percy responded positively.

“That’s absolutely disgusting”

“You’ll find no argument from me.”

(Grover was an easy target. He was scrawny.)

“Gee thanks Percy” Grover huffed sarcastically.

“You’re welcome” Percy smirked in reply playfully nudging their shoulders together.

(He cried when he got frustrated.) 

“PERCY” Grover exclaimed when everyone started snickering while Percy smiled impishly at him.

(He must’ve been held back several grades, because he was the only sixth grader with acne and the start of a wispy beard on his chin. On top of all that, he was crippled.) 

“WOW just WOW, betrayed by my closest friend.” Grover grumbled while his past self hit Percy playfully on his shoulders.

(He had a note excusing him from PE for the rest of his life because he had some kind of muscular disease…….when it was enchilada day in the cafeteria.)

“Way to blow your cover satyr,” Dionysus commented.

Grover mumbled an apology half-heartedly.

(Anyway, Nancy Bobofit was…….suspension if anything bad, embarrassing, or even mildly entertaining happened on this trip.)

“Where is this girl I just wanna know?” Thalia growled lightning cracking at her fingertips.

“It’s ok, don’t worry about it,” Grover reassured.

(“I’m going to kill her,” I mumbled.

Grover tried to calm me down. “It’s okay. I like peanut butter.”)

“Not in your hair,” Aphrodite commented in disgust.

(He dodged another piece of Nancy’s lunch.

 “That’s it.” I started to get up, but Grover pulled me back to my seat.)

Jason whistled appreciatively, “You actually got Percy to listen?”

(“You’re already on probation,” he reminded me. “You know who’ll get blamed if anything happens.”

Looking back on it, I wish I’d decked Nancy Bobofit right then and there.)

“Would you really hit a girl?” Artemis asked with narrowed eyes.

“Um, probably Lady Artemis- she was a really big bully who picked on other kids and never got in trouble because her parents were rich, I’d do the same too if she was a boy instead of a girl,” Percy replied straightforwardly

Artemis nodded and sat back confused but mollified about this boy who’d shown great loyalty to his satyr friend and his future version who seemed close with her future lieutenant and yet her future self did not look bothered, how curious.

(In-school suspension would’ve been nothing compared to the mess I was about to get myself into.)

“Oh boy,” Frank muttered humorously.

( Mr. Brunner led the museum tour. He rode up front in his wheelchair, guiding us through the big echoey galleries……my mind that this stuff had survived for two thousand, three thousand years.)

“Longer than that boy,” Athena commented looking as impervious as over.

(He gathered us around a thirteen-foot-tall stone column with a big sphinx on the top, and……them to shut up, the other teacher chaperone, Mrs. Dodds, would give me the evil eye.)

“But you were trying to listen?” Apollo asked in confusion.

Percy tilted his head as he remembered Apollo is the God of Knowledge and this falls under his domain and truthfully replied, “I don’t think she cared about that”

Nico sat forward in excitement, “Wait Mrs. Dodds isn’t that what you call-”

“Yes,” Percy answered him. 

“Wait is this your first monster?” Travis asked excitedly 

“Yeah, we all thought it was the minotaur,” Conner added.

Percy made a zipping his mouth motion and gestured towards Rachel to continue reading.

(Mrs. Dodds was this little math teacher from Georgia who always wore a black leather jacket, even though she was fifty years old. She looked mean enough to ride a Harley right into your locker. She had come to Yancy halfway through the year, when our last math teacher had a nervous breakdown.)

“She probably gave that mental breakdown,” Nico remarked looking sympathetic.

(From her first day, Mrs. Dodds loved Nancy Bobofit and figured I was devil spawn. She would point her…….., I told Grover I didn’t think Mrs. Dodds was human. He looked at me, real serious, and said, “You’re absolutely right.”)

“Grover” everyone groaned in unison as Grover’s face turned red.

“Satyrs are horrible liars,” Hermes verified fondly, “Pan was the same way”

(Mr. Brunner kept talking about Greek funeral……..louder than I meant it to.)

“Of course it did,” Thalia vocalised fondly.

“It always does,” Chris nodded in agreement.

(The whole group laughed. Mr. Brunner stopped his…….“Perhaps you’ll tell us what this picture represents?”)

“Ten drachmas he doesn’t” Travis and Connor piped up.

“Twenty he does,” Annabeth, Thalia, and Nico countered.

(I looked at the carving, and felt a flush of relief, because I actually recognized it. “That’s Kronos eating his kids, right?”)

Everybody groaned in union. 

“It had to be that one,” Demeter lamented as her siblings nodded in agreement.

(“Yes,” Mr. Brunner said, obviously not satisfied. “And he did this because . . .”

“Well . . .” I racked my brain to remember. “Kronos was the king god, and—”)

“God?” Jason asked while Zeus muttered something about the disobedient and unruly son of Poseidon.

“Percy I love you but please don’t categorize us among them,” Poseidon chortled as he teased his youngest son who just rolled his eyes trying to hide his smile.

(“God?” Mr. Brunner asked……..he tricked his dad, Kronos, into barfing up his brothers and sisters—”

“Eeew!” said one of the girls behind me.)

“Ew is right,” Hera huffed in disgust.

(“—and so there was this big fight between the gods and the Titans,” I continued, “and the gods won.”)

“And the gods won? really Seaweed Brain,” Annabeth chuckled.

“It’s a talent,” Percy flashed her a smile.

(Some snickers from the group. Behind….. paraphrase Miss Bobofit’s excellent question, does this matter in real life?”)

Will tilted his head and wondered out loud, “Woah, foreshadowing for the future?”

His siblings all made a thoughtful hum and Austin answered, “Maybe we should make a note of all instances like it,”

“I’ll point out if there is any other occurrence,” Annabeth supported their idea.

(“Busted,” Grover muttered……anything wrong. He had radar ears.)

“More like horse ears,” Thalia commented. 

“But his upper body is human so human ears,” Jason interjected.

Nico also added, “But if Chiron is half human and half horse and he has six legs, does that technically make centaurs insects?” 

“Please don’t start this again Nico I’m begging you,” Hazel interrupted shooting Rachel a look begging her to continue reading.

(I thought about his question, and shrugged. “I don’t know, sir.”

“I see.” Mr. Brunner looked disappointed……On that happy note, it’s time for lunch. Mrs. Dodds, would you lead us back outside?”)

“Wait why was he disappointed if he knew you didn’t know your heritage, what was he expecting?” Frank asked confused.

“I don’t know man I honestly forgot about this,” Percy shrugged.

(The class drifted off, the girls holding their stomachs, the guys pushing each other around and acting like doofuses.)

“Because guys are doofuses,” Thalia stated receiving nods from Zoe and other hunters, even some girls.

(Grover and I were about to follow when Mr. Brunner said, “Mr. Jackson.”

I knew that was coming.)

“Ooo prophetic Percy, Percy prophetic whatever,” Pollux prattled.

(I told Grover to keep going…..intense brown eyes that could’ve been a thousand years old and had seen everything.)

“You have good observation skills,” Apollo complimented candidly looking at Percy curiously. 

“Er, thanks?”

(“You must learn the answer to my question,” Mr. Brunner told me.

“About the Titans?”

“About real life. And how your studies apply to it.”

“Oh.”)

“The universal Percy answer,” Katie snorts in amusement.

(“What you learn from me,” he said, “is vitally important. I expect you to treat it as such. I will accept only the best from you, Percy Jackson.”)

“And you got the best,” Drew complimented Percy freely.

(I wanted to get angry, this guy pushed me so hard.)

“It does seem unfair to you at that stage but he meant well and only pushed you because he wanted you to do your best,” Annabeth disputed and Athena nodded her head in agreement.

After their quest to Ancient Lands Annabeth and Athena grew closer against all odds. Percy kind of expected their non existent relationship to crumble after that quest but Athena must have talked with Annabeth and gave satisfactory reason and effort for their relationship to grow. Honestly, good for her Percy mused. Annabeth deserved to have a good relationship with her mother as long as Athena didn’t take advantage of Annabeth’s good heart, Percy didn’t have a problem with it.

“I know that now, Wise Girl don't worry,” Percy replied 

(I mean, sure, it was kind of cool on tournament days….I had never made above a C– in my life…..less spell them correctly.)

“You’ve never made above C level, how accurate,” Leo cackled at his joke. 

(I mumbled something about trying harder, while Mr. Brunner took one long sad look at the stele, like he’d been at this girl’s funeral.)

“Observant indeed,” Apollo muttered.

(He told me to go outside and eat my lunch.

The class gathered……massive snow storms, flooding, wildfires from lightning strikes. I wouldn’t have been surprised if this was a hurricane blowing in.)

“Wait that weather had something to do with the Greek world? I had thought it was just some freak weather,” Piper asked curiously.

“It was related to Greek stuff but I can’t explain more because spoilers,” Annabeth gave Piper a cheeky smile.

(Nobody else seemed to notice……thought he was going to give me some deep philosophical comment to make me feel better, he said, “Can I have your apple?”)

Everyone burst into laughter. 

“Never change goat boy,” Travis chortled.

(I didn’t have much of an appetite, so I let him take it.)

“Woah never had much of an appetite, were you ok Kelp Head?” Thalia asked in seemingly genuine concern. Everyone knew Percy had a bottomless pit for a stomach

Hazel even went to mockingly check his temperature to check for fever until Percy swatted her hands away.

(I watched the stream of cabs going down Fifth Avenue, and thought about my mom’s apartment……in six years and I was probably going to be kicked out again. I wouldn’t be able to stand that sad look she’d give me.)

“Mama’s boy,” Ares approvingly said as Hera beamed at her favorite son.

(Mr. Brunner parked his wheelchair at the base of the handicapped ramp. He ate celery while he read a paperback novel…...tired of stealing from the tourists—and dumped her half-eaten lunch in Grover’s lap.)

“Tell me you took care of her Peter Johnson,” Dionysus huffed angrily at the audacity of this mortal to treat a satyr that way.

“Don’t worry Mr.D, she got what was coming for her,” Percy answered him happily.

(“Oops.” She grinned at me with her crooked teeth. Her freckles were orange, as if somebody had spray-painted her face with liquid Cheetos.)

“Ew I’ll never look at Cheetos the same way again,” Nico commented. 

“You are looking very pale, you need to eat more cereal,” Demeter told Nico who along with Hades rolled his eyes.

(I tried to stay cool. The school counselor had told me a million times, “Count to ten, get control of your temper.” But I was so mad my mind went blank. A wave roared in my ears.)

“Does everything in your brain equate things to water-related metaphors?” Katie asked curiously.

“Well yes because water is the best but in this case I meant more literally,” Percy answered.

“Power use?”

“Power use,” Percy agreed.

(I don’t remember touching her, but the next thing I knew, Nancy was sitting on her butt in the fountain, screaming, “Percy pushed me!”

Mrs. Dodds materialized next to us.

Some of the kids were whispering: “Did you see—”

“—the water—”

“—like it grabbed her—”)

“Awesome!” The Stolls exclaimed 

(I didn’t know what they were talking about. All I knew was that I was in trouble again.)

“Gee you think,” Nico grumbled as Percy pouted at him.

(As soon as Mrs. Dodds  etc., etc……as if I’d done something she’d been waiting for all semester. “Now, honey—”

“I know,” I grumbled. “A month erasing workbooks.”)

Percy interrupted Hermes and gang and said, “Never guess my own punishment I know I know.”

(That wasn’t the right thing to say.)

“Obviously,” Hermes and gang muttered.

(“Come with me,” Mrs. Dodds said.

“Wait!” Grover yelped. “It was me. I pushed her.”

I stared at him, stunned. I couldn’t believe he was trying to cover for me. Mrs. Dodds scared Grover to death.

Dionysus nodded his head in approval, this was a brave satyr.

(She glared at him so hard his whiskery chin…..Grover looked at me desperately.

“It’s okay, man,” I told him. “Thanks for trying.”)

“Thanks for trying man,” Percy thanked Grover once again.

(“Honey,” Mrs. Dodds barked at me. “Now.”............The school counselor told me this was part of the ADHD, my brain misinterpreting things.)

“I am not so sure,” Hazel muttered looking at Percy knowing his horrid luck.

(I wasn’t so sure.

I went after Mrs. Dodds.)

Hazel shook her head at the confirmation.

“You have really good instincts, you should listen to it more Punk,” Ares stated. 

(Halfway up the steps, I glanced back at Grover. He was looking pale, cutting his eyes between me and………She’s going to make me buy a new shirt for Nancy at the gift shop.)

“That would have been an appropriate punishment had the teacher very obviously not been a monster,” Athena commented and Apollo nodded his head in agreement to her statement.

That was another thing Percy noticed, the gods are more united than he’d assumed especially the children of Zeus gods. He’d just assumed based on how they interacted with him that their personalities might clash but they’ve clearly learned how to make it work.

“Do I need to have a talk with Chiron on being alert while handling house calls,” Poseidon whispered to his wife who shook her said and replied, “I am certain he’s just feigning it, wait and see how he handles it before making any decisions,” 

But Poseidon did not look satisfied and neither did his counterpart, the only reason he’s not berating Chiron right now is because he knows his son is safe.

(But apparently that wasn’t the plan…….the Greek and Roman section.

Except for us, the gallery was empty.)

“Not good not good at all,” Several people mumbled knowing that Percy was alone with a monster without any weapon.

(Mrs. Dodds stood with her arms crossed in front of a big marble frieze of the Greek gods. She was making this weird noise in her throat, like growling…………………….“You’ve been giving us problems, honey,” she said.

I did the safe thing. I said, “Yes, ma’am.”)

“Since when do you do safe thing,” Thalia asked in bafflement.

“Don’t worry, he used the safe part of his brain on the first day of our first quest,” Grover replied without hesitation leaving Thalia to wonder what story there is. 

(She tugged on the cuffs of her leather jacket. “Did you really think you would get away with it?”

The look in her eyes was beyond mad. It was evil.

She’s a teacher, I thought nervously. It’s not like she’s going to hurt me.

I said, “I’ll—I’ll try harder, ma’am.”)

“In hindsight, that would have been the worst answer you could have given,” Annabeth commented worriedly as she recognized the monster from Percy’s sleeptalking and their bus.

“Gods I know I know right my luck is the worst,” Percy huffed in annoyance.

(Thunder shook the building.

“We are not fools, Percy Jackson,” Mrs. Dodds said………..I didn’t know what she was talking about.)

“You never do,” Reyna said from experience.

(All I could think of was that the teachers must’ve found the illegal stash of candy I’d been selling out of my dorm…………Or worse, they were going to make me read the book.)

“Wicked,” Hermes and his children replied.

“Dude you’re like a drug dealer but with candy instead,” Leo pointed out. 

“Amazing, Percy I can’t believe you’ve been holding on to us,” Connor said.

(“Well?” she demanded.

“Ma’am, I don’t . . .”

“Your time is up,” she hissed.)

“That wasn’t much time,” Frank fretted worriedly.

(Then the weirdest thing happened. Her eyes began to glow like barbecue coals. Her fingers stretched………….and she was about to slice me to ribbons.)

“A FURY,” Poseidon roared in anger turning to his elder brother, “YOU DARE SEND A FURY AFTER MY SON.” 

“Now Poseidon,” Hades tried placating him, “You know why I sent her after him.”

“And if your fury was doing her job correctly then she’d have realized that my son did not know his heritage,” Poseidon snarled at him.

“Dad please everything turned out ok in the end,” Percy tried pacifying his father.

“You’re right my son, I will discuss this with my brother later, for now, let’s continue,” Poseidon breathed out sitting back as Percy tried to hide his exasperation.

“You know this isn’t the last time Uncle H or Z tried to kill me, it’ll happen a lot, you should get used to it and stop worrying Dad,” Percy tried talking to his father quietly.

“Unacceptable, I will keep track of all the times and then yell at them as many times as it requires for them to regret it,” Poseidon silently fumed and Percy also sat back next to Grover clearly recognizing a lost cause.

(Then things got even stranger…….“What ho, Percy!” he shouted, and tossed the pen through the air.)

“Is that Riptide?” Jason asked inquisitively.

“Yep,” Percy answered bringing out his sword and uncapping it, and holding it reverently, showing it to Jason.

Zoe stiffened in her seat when she noticed her sword in a man’s hand, as if feeling her gaze Percy looked up and met her eyes and bowed his head down slightly in respect and Zoe’s blank face gave to surprise. Perhaps she’ll talk to him during the break, so far he’s been loyal to his friend but that could change.

(Mrs. Dodds lunged at me……….My knees were jelly. My hands were shaking so bad I almost dropped the sword.)

“That’s understandable,” Hazel commented weakly almost on the edge of her seat at how 12 yr old Percy survived this.

(She snarled, “Die, honey!”

And she flew straight at me.

Absolute terror ran through my body. I did the only thing that came naturally: I swung the sword.)

“Of course, that comes naturally to you,” Piper commented fondly.

“Does it not to you guys,” Percy tilted his head in confusion.

“No,” Almost half of them replied exasperatedly 

“Then what does?” Percy asked still confused.

“How about screaming,-”
“Or running away-”
“Or dropping the sword-”

“Or all of the above.” The Stolls replied.

“Oh,” Percy replied his face burning from embarrassment.

(The metal blade hit her shoulder and passed clean through her body as if she were made of water. Hisss!

Mrs. Dodds was a sand castle……….were still watching me.)

Poseidon leaned back into his seat, smugness and Pride ozzying out of every pore of his body as Hades’s jaw was dropped in shock and why should he not be, his untrained twelve years old son just killed a Fury in one hit.

He watched Triton look at Percy with newfound respect and slight approval. Both of them would get there

(I was alone.

There was a ballpoint pen in my hand…………..Had I imagined the whole thing?)

“You wish,” Nico stared at Percy with amazement. He of course knew having met Alecto that for her to hate Percy so much, he would have to kill her brutally but hearing about it is different and so much more awesome than his imagination.

(I went back……………“I hope Mrs. Kerr whipped your butt.”)

“Who?” Almost everybody asked mystified.

(I said, “Who?”

“Our teacher. Duh!”)

“How did the mist make a new teacher appear suddenly?” Annabeth asked Grover.

“Oh, she was a legacy of Apollo that Chiron had on standby,” Grover shrugged.

“That makes sense,” Annabeth conceded.

(I blinked. We had no teacher named Mrs. Kerr. I asked Nancy what she was talking about………“Not funny, man,” I told him. “This is serious.”)

“Grover you really need to learn how to lie better,” Hermes commented.

“Don’t worry Lord Hermes, I have improved a bit,” Grover answered respectfully.

(Thunder boomed overhead………… As far as I know, there has never been a Mrs. Dodds at Yancy Academy. Are you feeling all right?”)

“Now Chiron is a much better liar,” Hermes approved.

“Whew, chapters finally over,” Rachel said wearily. “Who’s reading next?”

“I’ll read,” Annabeth volunteered as Rachel passed her the book.

Chapter Text

Annabeth flipped the page and started reading,” Two: Three Old Ladies Knit the Socks of Death” 

“Are all titles going to be this weird?” Silena asked curiously. 

“Knowing Prissy probably,” Clarisse shrugged answering her before quickly looking away.

“I’d like to remind you that I didn’t actually write this,” Percy retorts back.

“Well maybe not but these titles are weird and still scarily accurate which sounds like something you’d do,” Grover chimed in. Percy met Grover’s eyes. Grover looked sympathetic and mildly terrified but just gave Percy a resigned look that said 'Nope, not a word. Let them read it.' Percy grimaced already anticipating his family’s reactions.

“Socks of death?” Leo said, “That sounds fun. Totally not dangerous.”

“No one died at this point. If that helps,” Percy said. The gods, along with a few campers, quickly caught on and stared at Percy in horror. Annabeth just stared at him eyes wide in realization. Poseidon looked at his son resisting the urge to go and get him to his side. His only consolation was that Percy was in front of him, much older than twelve.

(I was used to the occasional weird experience, but usually they were over quickly…………….a perky blond woman whom I’d never seen in my life until she got on our bus at the end of the field trip—had been our prealgebra teacher since Christmas.)

“That sounds horrible,” Piper commented looking quite disturbed.

“Yeah, Chiron basically gaslighted you, dude, not cool so not cool,” Frank added looking mad on Percy’s behalf as everyone nodded in assent.

(Every so often I would spring a Mrs. Dodds reference on somebody, just to see if I could trip them up, but they would stare at me like I was psycho)

“Maybe because you are a psycho,” Thalia grinned at him eyes wiggling tauntingly as Percy flipped a bird in response.

“Yeah, that sucks bro,” Jason sympathised. He had felt like that waking up on the bus.

(It got so I almost believed them—Mrs. Dodds had never existed. Almost.)

“Let me guess, Grover?” Rachel asked rhetorically as Grover retorted back at her, “Why Rachel with observation skills like that no wonder you’re the Oracle.”

Rachel slapped his shoulder lightly in retaliation as they both beamed at each other having grown close to each other after wars as they both care about the environment and are oftentimes seen working together to help conserve it. 

(But Grover couldn’t fool me. When I mentioned the name Dodds to him, he would hesitate, then claim she didn’t exist. But I knew he was lying. Something was going on. Something had happened at the museum)

“Thank the gods for Grover otherwise I would have gone insane,” Percy admitted as Percy nodded while both Grover’s looked on with regret

(I didn’t have much time to think about it during the days, but at night, visions of Mrs. Dodds with talons and leathery wings would wake me up in a cold sweat.)

Grover sat back in remorse, guilt filling his whole body when he felt waves of comfort and assurances coming through empathy bond. He looked up and met Percy’s eyes who was looking worried and waved him off. Percy had always been such an amazing friend to him and stuck by him in Yancy when it would be easier to ditch him rather than befriend him and yet Grover caused his friend stress and nightmares and lied to him and screwed up on talking him to the camp and even through all of that and finding Grover is a satyr, Percy never wavered in his friendship and was always with him through it all. His best friend was really too good for this world and all Grover could do was be the best version of himself that he could be for Percy.

(The freak weather continued, which didn’t help my mood.)

“Could it be that he is deeply in tune with the sea’s temperament,” Amphitrite suggested quietly to her family while observing his demigod son who looked uncomfortable at his tale being read out loud. 

“Before reading his thoughts I’d have agreed but in almost all cases of that happening the demigod at least knew of their heritage, if his emotions were being affected then, not only did he have to be very connected to the sea but also a powerful demigod in his regard,” Rhode commented joining in the conversation.

“If we are here to read about his feats then it is safe to assume he is quite powerful indeed if the defeat of a fury still unsuspecting of his ancestry is anything to go by,” Triton added looking a mixture of pride and disapproval.

(One night, a thunderstorm blew out the windows in my dorm room. A few days later, the biggest tornado ever spotted in the Hudson Valley touched down only fifty miles…………number of small planes that had gone down in sudden squalls in the Atlantic that year.)

"You need to figure out a good outlet for your temper and stop killing mortals." Hades said reproachfully. "So many souls enter my kingdom too early from you idiots."

"And nearly all of them are too early," Hestia glared at Zeus who turned sheepish under her glare.

Hades scowled. “And my domain gets even more crowded. I had to expand.”

“Well, how you feel if someone stole your symbol of power?” Zeus asked Hades.

Hades raised an eyebrow at his younger brother unimpressed as if saying, ‘You’re really asking ME that’ as Zeus flustered.

(I started feeling cranky and irritable most of the time. My grades slipped from Ds to Fs. I got into more fights with Nancy Bobofit and her friends. I was sent out into the hallway in almost every class)

“There is no doubt now that his mood is connected to the sea,” Triton pondered in confirmation.

(Finally, when our English teacher……… an old sot. I wasn’t even sure what it meant, but it sounded good.)

All the demigods burst into laughter and some gods even joined in. 

“Agreed it sounds good but what does it mean?” Leo asked after getting his laughter in control.

“It means old drunk,” Annabeth informed him

“Oh, so basically Mr.D then,” Percy chimed him

“I heard that Peter,” Dionysus snapped from his seat.

“You were meant to… sir,” Percy replied back cheekily as Mr.D rolled his eyes.

(The headmaster sent my mom a letter the following week, making it official: I would not be invited back next year to Yancy Academy.)

“Aw man that sucks” His demigod friends chorused

“But does it? the school and the people sounded dreadful,” Thalia commented.

“I wasn’t super upset about not returning to Yancy but I didn’t want to disappoint my mom,” Percy replied with a shrug.

(Fine, I told myself. Just fine. I was homesick. I wanted to be with my mom in our little apartment on the Upper East Side, even if I had to go to public school and put up with my obnoxious stepfather and his stupid poker parties)

“That doesn’t sound like Paul,” Nico voiced unsure.

“This was before Paul,” Percy replied in a firm voice. Percy could feel waves of calming energy from Grover, his best friend one of the few people who knew about his home life before Camp.

From across the room Percy flinched almost imperceptibly which no one except his immortal family noticed and that too only because they were paying close attention to him. Amphitrite’s eyes flashed in anger at the thought of any vermin threatening the sea’s child especially one that was supposed to protect him and cherish him.

 As if knowing what was going on in her mind, Hera flashed her a reproachful look. Amphitrite smiled at her coldly showing teeth until she looked away. The audacity and preachy nature of the Queen of Olympus grated on her nerves, her marriage with her husband has always been even-footed, they both love and respect each other and they both have dalliances out of each other that have sired children. While most of Poseidon’s children are demi-gods and monsters, hers tend to be sea creatures like seals and dolphins and occasionally monsters. 

While she has no love for his demigod children it is more due to the fact that they tend to think of themselves as self-important and arrogant as kings and fail to show deference and respect to her as the Queen of the seas and therefore their Queen and monarch in Atlantis. It has been an age since a demigod child of her husband charmed her so and won her approval and her future self seemed close with him which makes him intriguing. Her stepson looks anxious and uncomfortable to be around so many gods and uncertain of the way he fits into his skin while his future self is not only at complete ease but also radiates an aura of power, confidence, and surety his younger self lacks but would grow into.

“I didn’t know he had a stepfather before Paul,” Nico murmured to Grover.

“For good reason,” Grover murmured back which caused a slight sense of worry to Nico and Hazel was sitting between both of them.

(And yet…there were things I’d miss at Yancy. The view of the woods out my dorm window, the Hudson River in the distance, the smell of pine trees.)

Demeter nodded her head in approval noting the appreciation the boy had for nature. 

“Not one word Thalia,” Percy dared her seeing the mischievous look on her face.

“I didn’t say anything,” Thalia immediately fires back.

“I could feel you thinking it,” Percy sassed her with narrowed eyes.

“It’s just I am touched you think so highly of me,” Thalia announced dramatically slumping in her seat with her hands on her heart. 

“Fuck off,” Percy grumbled suppressing a smile as they both looked at each other caringly as everyone watched their interaction in either confusion or fondness.

Annabeth and Luke looked at Thalia in awe and confusion. They still didn’t believe she was alive in the future and frequently stole glances at her so that she didn’t disappear. Annabeth wasn’t surprised much by seeing Percy and Thalia interact. Having gone on a quest with Percy, she had internally noted that they were incredibly alike each other and there were moments where Percy was so Thalia that she almost called him that once, it left her feeling both nostalgic and melancholic especially with the prophecy looming over his head. 

She was however confused and unsettled to see a future version of Luke not with them. She was also not blind to the looks everyone in the future gave Luke, some nostalgic but most of them of anger, bitterness, and sadness which left her with a feeling of foreboding. The Gods except Hermes looked ready to smite him right there and his father looked at him with dejected and mournful eyes. ‘Oh,  Luke what did you do.’

Luke meanwhile was not having a good time and having an existential crisis. His head felt lighter than it had in years but he couldn’t think much about it because he was almost a decade in the future and the fucking Gods looked as well as they could and his future version was not there. If looks could kill then he’d be already fucking dead with the way most of the future looked at him. So not only is he dead but he also failed. His jaw clenched in anger every future Hermes looked at him with that expression. The same expression he wore around Luke when they talked the first time and he informed him that he has a dark future ahead of him and then did not fucking elaborate. 

Seeing Thalia alive was a balm to his heart. He knew Kronos’s plan to resurrect Thalia because Percy was too resilient and he was glad she was well with the Hunters though he couldn’t help the stab of hurt when she did not look at him often but when she did looked at him with dejected sadness yet calculatingly as if discerning how off the rails he has gone already. Seeing her banter and joke around Percy looking more carefree than she did when she was 12 made him feel a little envious. 

It’s not like he has a problem with Percy especially the younger one. Initially, he only was so forwardly friendly because Kronos asked him to (not that he doesn’t welcome every new camper) but it’s impossible not to be endeared by him. Percy was different from what Luke was expecting. He had been expecting a miniature Thalia and in a way, he was with his stubborn nature and his near absent brain-to-mouth filter but there was still an innocence clinging to him that Thalia didn’t have at twelve, hell even Annabeth didn’t have that at seven. Even after the Quest, Percy projected an aura of a baby seal where every adult just wants to wrap him in a blanket and he sincerely hopes that Percy joins him but judging by the fact that his older self has not glanced at Luke even once and was looking at everywhere but him evokes a sense of uneasiness in him. He hopes Kronos didn’t order him to harm Percy because he could not ignore an order but he really didn’t want to harm Percy. 

Percy was the least of his problems though, if there are ten books total then he should expect his betrayal to be revealed to everyone in his time and the pushback he would receive. Luke knows this is going to be a bad week and things have only just begun.

(I’d miss Grover, who’d been a good friend, even if he was a little strange. I worried how he’d survive next year without me.)

“To be honest you are technically correct, I wouldn’t have survived the next year without you,” Grover mused aloud getting a hum of agreement from Annabeth. 

“That’s another foreshadowing moment,” Annabeth voiced to Will and Austin from Cabin 7 who were making a list.

“Aww G-Man happy to help, you were too young to be married anyways,” Percy replied cheekily while Grover playfully shoved him as Clarisse and Annabeth discreetly covered a laugh while others looked in confusion.

(I’d miss Latin class, too—Mr. Brunner’s crazy tournament days and his faith that I could………..I wasn’t sure why, but I’d started to believe him.)

“Good,” Poseidon murmured looking at his son, he needs to have a talk with him and introduce him to his other family.

(The evening before my final…..circling my head, the letters doing one-eighties as if they were riding skateboards). 

“Ugh hate when that happens,” Travis moaned as if feeling it happen.

“Is this what dyslexia is for demigods and does it happen often?” Apollo asked his children who all nodded in agreement. 

“It’s a bit better for us because we’re your children but not by much. Most of the time reading will give us a headache,” Kayla answered on behalf of all demigods present and future who all agreed with her to her father, who looked thoughtful for a moment deep in thought.

“If you want a copy of any books in Ancient Greek anytime, consult everyone and list it on a paper and burn it during dinner when you give out offerings,” Apollo announced to the whole room while his past self nodded in acceptance. 

(There was no way I was going to remember the difference between Chiron and Charon)

“Well I know now,” Percy replied brightly while Annabeth and Grover hid their snickers and Hades sighed long sufferingly.

(or Polydictes and Polydeuces. And conjugating those Latin verbs? Forget it.)

“You were pretty good with Latin when you lost your memory,” Reyna noted puzzled as both Frank and Hazel nodded their head in assent.

“That shouldn’t be possible unless you’re a Roman legacy from your mother’s side?” Hermes asked Percy who looked mildly uncomfortable when everybody turned to look at him.

“I don’t know man, my mother’s side of the family is a mystery to me, my grandparents died when she was little,” Percy answered Hermes' question with a shrug

“I could look into it if you want me to,” Hermes offered sincerely to which Percy smiled and said yes, please.

(I paced the room, feeling like ants were crawling around inside my shirt. I remembered Mr. Brunner’s serious expression, his thousand-year-old eyes. I will accept only the best from you, Percy Jackson .)

‘Another observation towards Chiron’s age, how very curious,’ Apollo noted again with interest.

(I took a deep breath. I picked up the mythology book. I’d never asked a teacher for help………..his exam. I didn’t want to leave Yancy Academy with him thinking I hadn’t tried.)

“I am sure he’d never think that,” Grover reassured Percy who looked at him in amusement before replying, “I know that now G-Man.” 

(I walked downstairs to the faculty offices. Most of them were dark and empty, but Mr. Brunner……….. Grover’s said “…worried about Percy, sir.” I froze. I’m not usually an eavesdropper, but I dare you to try not listening if you hear your best friend talking about you to an adult.)

“You are such a little shit,” Grover said.

“And a liar, you’re totally an eavesdropper,” Nico continued and Luke discreetly nodded his head in approval supporting the son of Hades, Percy was a huge eavesdropper from personal experience.

“If only people would start telling me stuff, I wouldn’t need to eavesdrop,” Percy retorted back.

“That is not an excuse to spy on people’s conversation,” Amphitrite admonished him gently.

“It is to me,” Percy shrugged unabashedly.

(I inched closer. “…alone this summer,” Grover was saying. “I mean, a Kindly One in the school! Now…….“We need the boy to mature more.)

“You’ll be waiting forever then,” Thalia deadpanned causing Percy to lightly kick her. 

Thalia shocks him in retaliation and Percy douses her in water. A minor scuffle breaks out and is put to an abrupt stop when Annabeth starts reading over them loudly. 

(“But he may not have time. The summer solstice deadline—”.........Mr. Brunner insisted. “The Mist over the students and staff will be enough to convince him of that.”)

“The only thing it convinced me was that I was surely going fucking crazy,” Percy mumbled quietly going largely unheard except by those closest to him which caused Poseidon to tighten his grip on his trident in indignation. His son was too kind and forgiving, Poseidon made a mental note to have a talk with Chiron later.

(“Sir, I…I can’t fail in my duties again.” Grover’s voice was choked with emotion. “You know what that would mean.”)

“You did not fail,” Thalia replied firmly daring anyone to disagree with her.

(“You haven’t failed, Grover,” Mr. Brunner said kindly……. worry about keeping Percy alive until next fall—” The mythology book dropped out of my hand and hit the floor with a thud)

“I was in shock, my best friend and teacher were talking about keeping me alive ok,” Percy defended himself when Hermes and all his children looked at him with frustrated expression.

(Mr. Brunner went silent. My heart hammering, I picked up the book and backed down the hall…… wheelchair-bound teacher, holding something that looked suspiciously like an archer’s bow)

“Chiron must be really worried about another attack if he gave up on his disguise and is out in the open,” Katie commented as Grover released a sigh, “You have no idea.”

(I opened the nearest door and slipped inside. A few seconds later I heard a slow clop-clop-clop, like muffled wood blocks, then a sound like an animal snuffling right outside my door………… Grover said. “But I could have sworn…” “Go back to the dorm,” Mr. Brunner told him. “You’ve got a long day of exams tomorrow.” “Don’t remind me.”)

“Did you or Chiron not detect Percy there?” Annabeth questioned Grover who shook his head and explained, “Percy’s been there the whole year so his scent was everywhere at Yancy so it was really difficult to detect if it was because he had already been there or he was actually there.” 

(I waited in the dark for what seemed like forever. Finally, I slipped out into the hallway and made my way back up to the dorm. Grover was lying on his bed, studying his Latin exam notes like he’d been there all night.)

“Not a good liar but a good actor, maybe there is hope for you yet,” The Stolls commented looking at Grover critically.

(“Hey,” he said, bleary-eyed. “You going to be ready for this test?” I didn’t answer. “You look awful.” He frowned. “Is everything okay?” “Just…tired.” I turned so he couldn’t read my expression, and started getting ready for bed.)

“That won’t work on him Pingo,” Mr. D commented looking up from his magazine 

“I know that now,” Percy replied sighingly wondering how many times he’d have to repeat that.

“Actually Mr.D, Percy’s emotions are always difficult to read for all satyrs though no one knows why,” Grover said.

“That would be my fault I’m afraid,” Poseidon interjected. “The sea is always ever-changing, you cannot predict it or control it. The sea does not like to be restrained.”

(But one thing was clear: Grover and Mr. Brunner were talking about me behind my back. They thought I was in some kind of danger.)

“Gee, you think,” Nico muttered.

“When are you not,” Rachel snarked.

(The next afternoon, as I was leaving the three-hour Latin exam, my eyes swimming with all the Greek and Roman names I’d misspelled, Mr. Brunner called me back inside)

"Good gods, three hours?" Leo asked in shock as every demigod looked horrified to sit in a single place for three hours

"Yes Leo, it was a long test, but not all students were like Percy. They could sit through it." Grover explained 

“Is it time for a Chiron pep talk?” Katie grimaced as Percy replied positively.

All the campers groaned in unison which did not fill Poseidon with confidence.

(For a moment, I was worried he’d found out about my eavesdropping the night before, but that didn’t seem to be the problem…….but the words still embarrassed me. Even though he was speaking quietly, the other kids finishing the test could hear. Nancy Bobofit smirked at me and made sarcastic little kissing motions with her lips.)

Poseidon’s eye twitched in outrage and his lips tightened in displeasure. He wasn’t alone though, his wife and children were all looking quite displeased while Percy ducked his head in embarrassment.

"Gods have mercy," Katie groans through her fingers.

"I didn't have to deal with a Chiron pep-talk ever That's rough, dude."

"In front of everyone, too."

(I mumbled, “Okay, sir.” “I mean…” Mr. Brunner wheeled his chair back and forth, like he wasn’t sure what to say. “This isn’t the right place for you. It was only a matter of time.” My eyes stung.)

Poseidon looked ready to blow a gasket and it was only his wife’s calming hand and the way his son refused to even look at him that kept him a little calm.

“Perhaps I’ll join you in your talk with Chiron, husband,” Amphitrite meanwhile hissed to her husband.

Rhode smiled as she started to pet his hair to comfort him and he melted under her touch

(Here was my favorite teacher, in front of the class, telling me I couldn’t handle it. After saying he believed in me all year, now he was telling me I was destined to get kicked out……….Mr. Brunner said. “Oh, confound it all. What I’m trying to say…you’re not normal, Percy. That’s nothing to be—”)

“Dam right you’re not normal,” Thalia commented causing Grover and Percy to burst into giggles.

“Will we ever learn of your this inside joke?” Annabeth asked exasperated.

“Third book,” Thalia promised.

(“Thanks,” I blurted. “Thanks a lot, sir, for reminding me.” “Percy—” But I was already gone.)

“That was so painful oh gods,” Travis said.

Percy’ s face was bright red while Annabeth, Grover, and Luke grimaced. 

“That was terrible,” Luk e summarizes

“Brutal," Conno r agreed 

Annabeth sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “We have got to get him to be better at pep talks, honestly.” 

(On the last day of the term, I shoved my clothes into my suitcase. The other guys were joking around, talking about their vacation plans…………….Their daddies were executives, or ambassadors, or celebrities. I was a nobody, from a family of nobodies)

The gods all shot Percy a look that looked like 'what the heck dude this disrespect' before Percy rolled his eyes and sarcastically replied, "Wow it's almost like I didn't know you existed yet or something like that.” 

“Besides aren’t we all nobodies at the end of the day,” Clarisse added sharing a conspiratory look with the celestial trio while smiling secretively.

(They asked me what……..have to get a summer job walking dogs or selling magazine subscriptions, and spend my free time worrying about where I’d go to school in the fall.)

“You were twelve!” Poseidon scowled, “Those are not the things you should ever worry about.” 

Percy grimaced at the book praying it didn’t reveal anything too much about Smelly Gabe before answering his dad, “Everything’s fine now πατέρας μου, you worry too much.”

“I worry appropriately for my trouble-prone υιός”

(“Oh,” one of the guys said. “That’s cool.” They went back to their conversation as if I’d never existed)

“Hate them,” Rachel exclaimed as Piper nodded in agreement enthusiatically both having experienced with dealing with those people regularly.

(The only person I dreaded saying good-bye to was Grover……..ticket to Manhattan on the same Greyhound as I had, so there we were, together again, heading into the city. )

“Stalker,” Connor sang stretching the word.

“I am not a stalker I was his protector,” Grover protested.

“Stalker Protector, potato potahto,”  Travis replied making Grover blush in indignation and embarrassment.

(During the whole bus ride, Grover kept glancing nervously down the aisle, watching the other passengers……..there was nobody to tease him on the Greyhound. Finally I couldn’t stand it anymore. I said, “Looking for Kindly Ones?” )

Everyone burst out laughing while Grover grumbled playfully, “Looking for Kindly Ones he asks, almost gave me a heart attack.” 

“Bet Grover went through all five stages of grief in two seconds,”
“Suckers bet,”

(Grover nearly jumped out of his seat. “Wha—what do you mean?” I confessed about eavesdropping on him and Mr. Brunner the night before the exam. Grover’s eye twitched. “How much did you hear?” “Oh…not much. What’s the summer solstice deadline?”)

“No,” Hermes whined, “Don’t confess.”

Hermes was rewarded with a small chuckle and a thumbs up from Percy who smiled at him.

“Oh not much he says, just the start of conversation barring five words,” Grover was still a little bit salty about this ride, just a bit.

(He winced. “Look, Percy…I was just worried for you, see? I mean, hallucinating about demon math teachers…” “Grover—” “And I was telling Mr. Brunner that maybe you were overstressed or something, because there was no such person as Mrs. Dodds, and…” “Grover, you’re a really, really bad liar.”)

“True dat,” Nico snapped his fingers in agreement as Percy barked out laughter.

(His ears turned pink. From his shirt pocket, he fished out a grubby business card. “Just take this, okay? In case you need me this summer.” The card was in fancy script, which was murder on my dyslexic eyes, but I finally made out something like:)

“Dionysus,” Poseidon warned as Mr.D started grumbling but still agreed to change the script. Nobody wants an overprotective Poseidon on their tails after all. 

(Grover Underwood Keeper Half-Blood Hill Long Island, New York (800) 009-0009 “What’s Half—” “Don’t say it aloud!” he yelped. “That’s my, um…summer address.” My heart sank. Grover had a summer home. I’d never considered that his family might be as rich as the others at Yancy.)

“Oh I am so stupid, why didn’t I see how you would react when I said it, it explains so much,” Grover face palmed at his foolishness, he knew how famously his best friend hated rich kids, especially at Yancy.

(“Okay,” I said glumly. “So, like, if I want to come visit your mansion.” He nodded. “Or…or if you need me.” “Why would I need you?” It came out harsher than I meant it to.)

“I’m sorry man,” Percy apologized to Grover guiltily who just waved it away, he knew even then that Percy did not mean it that way

(Grover blushed right down to his Adam’s apple. “Look, Percy, the truth is, I—I kind of have to protect you.” I stared at him…….that he’d get beaten up next year without me. And here he was acting like he was the one who defended me.)

“I didn’t know you lost sleep over me,” Grover looked at Percy in wonder knowing how big his best friend’s heart was yet surprised every time to be the recipient of his care especially when back then he used to have a very low esteem and the fact that his charge cared for him and defended him was so heartwarming to him. He sent waves of love and gratitude to Percy through the empathy link and Percy smiled brightly at him in response.

A defender, Artemis thinks. Apt.

(“Grover,” I said, “what exactly are you protecting me from?”)

“Just about everything in the Greek Pantheon,” Annabeth replied wryly.

(There was a huge grinding noise under our feet. Black smoke poured from the dashboard and the whole bus filled with a smell like rotten eggs. The driver cursed and limped the Greyhound over to the side of the highway………. was an old-fashioned fruit stand. )

“That’s odd,” Hermes said, looking questioningly at the younger satyr.

“Seems like a good place to paint." Rachel noted. Hazel nodded at her. 

(The stuff on sale looked really good: heaping boxes of bloodred cherries and apples, walnuts and apricots…….knitting the biggest pair of socks I’d ever seen.)

“The fates…” Hades breathed.

Poseidon stilled. He looked broken as a tiny “No…” escaped his lips. Poseidon turned white.

Percy gave up on trying to talk to his dad into not panicking and reminding him that this was nine years ago and wrapped his arms around his dad and he squeezed. Tight.

It seemed to ground Poseidon. At the very least, he relaxed a little bit and Percy’s ribs were no longer in danger of breaking. 

"It can't be," Apollo breathes.

"What?! What, what, what is it?!", Hazel demands, head swiveling around at the horrified faces. "Who are they?!"

"They’re the fates." Annabeth choked out horrified. "You never said...!" and suddenly everyone was in the throne room was talking over each other and all over places

“Guys guys,” Percy tried to calm everybody, “Guys listen, GUYS!” 

Everyone stopped and stared at him, “Everything is fine, this was nine years ago no need to panic, I am still alive yet and they didn’t come to show me my string but someone else’s. I can’t explain the spoilers but please don’t panic.” 

All of them settled down in their places calmly while Percy still remained seated with his father who was still hugging him.

(I mean these socks were the size of sweaters, but they were clearly socks. The lady on the right knitted one of them. The lady on the left knitted the other. The lady in the……silver hair tied back in white bandannas, bony arms sticking out of bleached cotton dresses. The weirdest thing was, they seemed to be looking right at me.)

Poseidon bit back a whimper and looks at his older self who still has both arms around his son looking like he would do anything that came to harm his son and his arms twitched in longing. He is talking to his son as soon as this chapter is over. He can’t do this for too long.

(I looked over at Grover to say something about this and saw that the blood had drained from his face………“Not funny, Percy. Not funny at all.)

“Not funny at all,” Leo muttered though he could appreciate Percy and his humour trying to lighten the situation. It is definitely something he’d do.

(The old lady in the middle took out a huge pair of scissors—gold and silver, long-bladed, like shears. I heard Grover catch his breath.)

Everyone collecting caught their breath, air filled with anticipation.

(“We’re getting on the bus,” he told me. “Come on.”...... open the door and climbed inside, but I stayed back) 

“Now is not the time for your stubbornness Percy,” Annabeth almost yelled looking like she may pass put from the stress.

"Get on the bus, Percy," Thalia urges.

(Across the road, the old ladies were still watching me. The middle one cut the yarn, and I swear I could hear that snip across four lanes of traffic)

Thalia's eyes flood with grief like she's just watched Percy die on the spot. Annabeth looked back into the book, eyes flying over the lines. This can't be right. It can't be.

The entire room was filled with silence.

(Her two friends balled up the electric-blue socks, leaving me wondering who they could possibly……….., the driver wrenched a big chunk of smoking metal out of the engine compartment. The bus shuddered, and the engine roared back to life.)

“ That is not how the bus works,”  Beckendorfspluttered indignantly looking insulted at the book.

“The Fates wanted him to see it and he would not be able to leave without seeing them if they did not want him to,” Athena reasoned as Apollo nodded his head in agreement with her reasoning before adding, “For the Fates to show him a thread that is not his, the thread must have been woven with Percy’s thread, meaning someone very important to the future” before looking at Percy to ascertain the validity of his deduction.

Percy pondered upon the statement before replying, “Kinda, you’re not wrong, you are actually very close.”

(The passengers cheered. “Darn right!” yelled the driver. He slapped the bus with his hat. “Everybody back on board!”.......“Grover?” “Yeah?” “What are you not telling me?”)

“Literally everything,” Rachel replied looking stressed as fuck.

(He dabbed his forehead with his shirt sleeve. “Percy, what did you see back at the fruit stand?” “You mean the old ladies? What is it about them, man? They’re not like…Mrs. Dodds, are they?” His expression was hard to read, but I got the feeling that the fruit-stand ladies were something much, much worse than Mrs. Dodds.)

“You were correct he’s very perceptive, unnaturally so for someone completely in the dark about our world,” Athena informs Apollo telepathically who looks at Percy wondering if he has the gift of prophecy.

(He said, “Just tell me what you saw.” “The middle one took out her scissors, and she cut the yarn.” He closed his eyes and made a gesture with his fingers that might’ve been crossing himself, but it wasn’t. It was something else, something almost— older)

“Very few people notice that, you’re smarter than you look after all Peter,” Dionysus commented looking impressed against his will. 

(He said, “You saw her snip the cord.” “Yeah. So?” But even as I said it, I knew it was a big deal)

Apollo shook his head in wonder and confusion, Percy was truly something special.

(“This is not happening,” Grover mumbled. He started chewing at his thumb. “I don’t want this to be like the last time.” “What last time?” “Always sixth grade. They never get past sixth.” )

“Grover man, not to interrupt your panic session but you’re going to scare Percy,” Leo commented.

"He did Leo. You'll see soon enough."

Thalia just groaned. "You did something stupid, didn't you." 

It was more of a statement than a question, but Percy smiled sheepishly anyway. 

(“Grover,” I said, because he was really starting to scare me. “What are you talking about?” “Let me walk you home from the bus station. Promise me.”)

Grover glared at Percy who smiled sheepishly and muttered an apology.     

"Clarisse, 20 drachmas Percy ditched Grover."

 "I'm not taking that bet, Stoll." Clarisse had known Percy for long enough to know that he'd never sit still and wait in a situation like this- the boy could barely sit still long enough to eat dinner not to mention the way Grover is freaking out.

(“Is this like a superstition or something?” I asked. No answer. “Grover—that snipping of the yarn. Does that mean somebody is going to die?”)

Those unnaturally sharp instincts again. How could he have known that, Athena asks herself. He has no knowledge of these things. For all his dumb facade, the boy is extremely clever. Is that what it is, then? Is that where his worth lies? Or is it some other force at play? Does he have the domain gift of prophecy that his father use to hold before Apollo.

(He looked at me mournfully, like he was already picking the kind of flowers I’d like best on my coffin.)

“That’s the end of the chapter,” announced Annabeth, closing the book sharply and setting it on the arm rest.

There were a few minutes of tense silence as everyone absorbed what they had just read.

“You were definitely not helping, Grover.” Annabeth said. “But I totally get why you’re freaking out too.”

 “Yeah.” Grover nodded, “I’d never heard of the Fates cutting someone else’s lifeline for you and it really made me fear the worst outcome.”

“I know,” Percy said with a grin.

Jason whistled, leaning back. “That was… a lot.” 

“You’re telling me,” Percy muttered. 

"We will take a break before moving forward. Everyone come back in 10 minutes." Zeus announced at the behest of his brother.