Chapter Text
Thalia woke up and decided she hated today.
This was normal for her at this point,ever since Jason died she got into terrible moods and nothing could fix it and she just went back to sleep praying she'd be better tomorrow.
She never was usually.
She was used to sleeping in the wilderness so when she woke up she wasn't surprised.
What she was surprised about was the fact that some people were with her.
Nico and who she guessed was Will lay down intertwined still fast asleep,to the right was Leo and Piper who were both snoring loudly.
Also the fact this place reeked of ancient magic,it was everywhere and made her feel sick.
She also felt younger somehow and looked down to try to find a familiar scar she had gotten from fighting the Furies.
They were still there,but her hands were smaller and her mind wasn't processing the danger quite well,she just had the instinct to check on the others,yes she knew they could take care of themselves and it wasn't a feeling she'd had so strongly since Jason was little.
Great,just great,what else could possibly go wrong?
Nico stirred with a groan then instantly sat up,his hand reaching for his sword and the other instantly hovering protectively over Will. Nico glanced over to Thalia and raised an eyebrow,a silent question and Thalia shrugged in answer.
Nico sighed and roused Will up quickly and gestured for Thalia to do the same for Piper and Leo. Thalia quickly woke up Piper who in reward got punched in the face.
“Sorry!” She squeaked in fright “I didn't know it was you!”
Thalia nods “it's cool,I would be worried if you didn't react like that,mundane waking up Leo real quick?”
Piper nods again and quickly roused Leo up whose entire head burst into flames and he quickly damped it out.
“Sorry,sorry Pipes,you burnt?” He asked worriedly.
Piper shakes her head and gives a small smile.
“I'm good,better question…where exactly are we?”
Thalia shrugs “I've traveled a lot as a hunter and I ain't seen nothing like this,Nico?”
Nico shrugs “never been here before but it almost feels…familiar? I don't know how else to describe it.”
Thalia nods in agreement “I feel the same way-just wanted to make sure I'm not going crazy.”
Piper frowns “it almost feels like…like Annabeth is close or something,I don't know!:
Thalia shrugs “yup,I've spent years growing used to Annabeth's presence but she wouldn't make a strong aura like this,even out of Tartarus.”
Leo stands up and starts pacing in circles,he's got a “im planning something face.”
“Well…Annabeth is good news right? So we should head towards the…aura?”
“It's the only idea we got right now” Will finally speaks up “I say screw it,I want answers as to what kind of twisted quest this is?”
Piper hums in agreement “if it's not Annabeth then it'll definitely be Athena with how much of an aura is being spread out.”
Nico stares ahead “we won't have to walk very long,we're basically there,just one problem.”
“What's up?”
Nico grimaces and stares back at the rest of the group in confusion.
“Recognize anything Leo and Piper?”
Leo frowns and moves ahead to Nico with Piper not far behind and their jaws drop in union.
“IS THAT FUCKING ATHENS!?” They both shout in union.
Will pales and rushes towards the other with Thalia.
“No way…” Will manages.
“Time travel? Really!? This is bullshit!” Thalia declares.
Everyone says words like “agreed”,”yup” and “how the hell did this even happen!?” In response.
“I'm guessing we'll have to head there” Thalia voices everyone thoughts “we might be able to get some help from Athena-if we're lucky or ask around for any trouble in case this is a quest.”
Everyone doesn't look happy but nods.
“We don't have a better idea” Piper sighs,accepting her fate “I've seen weirder things.”
They don't talk for a while as they head to the gates,which is about a two minute walk until a guard stops them.
“What are you kids doing out here? Where are your parents?”
Thalia sighs, “dead sir,we just want shelter please.”
The guard immediately orders the other to go open the gate “of course! I'd head to the temple of Athena for refuge! I fear the punishment we'd have if we turned children away…”
Well that was odd,Thalia would figure that out later. The gate opens and the guard ushers them inside.
“There should be another guard waving a Grey flag around,head to him and he'll escort you to the temple,can't have you little ones getting lost around here!”
“um…thanks?” Leo says after a moment and gives a clear “I don't trust this” look,usually when someone was this nice they were a monster so Thalia had to agree.
They quickly found the man who was waving the flag wildly until they approached him.
“Hello little ones! What are your names?”
Shit,did they make pretend names or just go with it?”
Leo answers that question after some studying of the man,he gives him the “homeless analysis”, which was just to see if he was trustworthy or not.
“I'm Leo” he says after seeming to think the guy is legit.
“Thalia” she manages.
“Piper” she says quietly,like she's afraid people will jump out of the stands at her name,which makes sense.
“Will!” He replies with a forced smile,trying to hide his nerves.
“Nico” he finally replies wary.
“Strange names,well names have become quite bizarre these days so I won't complain alright this way children!”
They all follow behind him,glancing around for any threats lurking in the shadows,was the Mist still active in Ancient Greece? Or was the whole God's things normal?
They didn't get an answer because Nico suddenly shoves Will away when a figure lashes out with what looks to be a small blade.
Bandits.
The guard was held back by two other guys,warning them not to attack children but they dismiss it while the other five approached them.
“Just give us your money and no harm will come to you” the first one says calmly.
“We don't have any” Thalia snaps,slowly moving in front of everyone protectively.
“Liar,I hate liars” the first one growls and snaps his fingers and the other four guys move forward.
Nico and Will have a battle at who protects who subtly while Leo gets shoved in the middle by Piper with a glare like: "don't even try to be the hero!” Leo gulps and stays in the middle while shoving Will next to him,smart man.
Nico is smug for about one second at winning before a guy jumps at him and tackles him to the ground and Will goes feral,kicking,punching and scratching from behind but it only seems to annoy the man.
Piper pounces on another man before they can even blink and leaves scratch marks then starts talking with her charmspeak,convincing the man he doesn't really want to fight.
Leo dances around,dodging his guys' attacks while taunting him.
Thalia takes two at once,kicking one down below and punching the next in the throat,they both collapse and Thalia knocks them out quickly.
Will's gotten over his panic and karate chops the guy on Nico in the neck and he collapses then shoves the man off and helps Nico up.
Piper starts to look tired until Thalia gets him from behind and he collapses quickly.
Nico sprints towards Leo and jumps on the man's back from behind,irritated probably from being bowled over so easily while Will finds the weak spot on the neck quickly again.
All five demigods turn to find the two bandits who were holding the guard fleeing while the guard stares in shock.
“Where did you kids learn to fight like that?”
“We've been on the run for a while,you pick up some things” Piper supplies faintly,looking exhausted from her charmspeaking.
“Well…I'm sorry you had to do that” the man says sympathetically and they all raise an eyebrow “we should keep going,it's not too far now.”
The demigods nod and let the man lead the way again while Will checks on everyone,much to Nico's annoyance.
Piper's smile is small but she gives a thumbs up,Nico grumbles he's fine just irritated which Thalia can understand,Leo cracks a joke that every ballerina known to live possessed him with those moves and he was peachy and Thalia replies that the men she beat looked far worse and that made her just fine.
The temple is in view and they approach the entrance when the man turns around.
“I,again,deeply apologize for my weakness and will ensure those bandits get the punishment they deserve and the runners will be caught.”
Will smiles and reassures him he did his best and thanked him,even though everyone else tried not to calm him out on his blatant lie and enter the temple.
“Welcome to the temple of Pallas Athena” a priestess calls out, “free beds should be available for you,if not please let us know,hospitality is very important to us!”
Thalia nods in thanks and ushers everyone away towards the floor beds and finds five empty ones and Piper instantly collapses and sighs.
“Thank the Gods,I can finally rest!” She groans.
Leo plops down next to her “better than under a bridge,I'm happy!”
Nico scoffs “The Underworld was worse than this so I'm not complaining.”
Will glares at him but sighs “not as good as the camp beds but I'll take it!”
Thalia crashes,the fight wore her out “I slept on a highway once,this is Elysium compared to that,especially when a truck sped by,always fucking honking!”
Leo snaps his fingers and nods “preach!”
“I wonder if it's just us here” Piper muses “no offence but this seems exactly like the kind of thing Percy would go through.”
“I'm willing to sell my soul in a bet. Percy's here too,which means Annabeth as well.” Nico says matter of fact.
Thalia groans,she can't argue with that but she doesn't want them here at all.
“Hey! At least it's no Gods we have to defeat?” Piper offers.
“Or giants and primordials” Leo agrees.
“Or Titans,angry demigods and minor Gods and goddesses” Thalia adds.
“Cheers to that” Nico says sarcastically.
Little did they know a goddess was watching them very closely,waiting for a time to strike.