Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The 21st December 2005 was for all mortals a normal day. The sun got up and down earlier than most days. However, unknown to them was that on this day the Olympian gods and goddesses do have a meeting between them. Besides, they did not know that to this time the god of the underworld, Hades, and the demigods of Camp Half-Blood were also invited to this meeting.  

For mortals is this all unknown, however, this meeting is for all demigods know and a way of torture. It was the first time them being in Olympus and the gods do not even acknowledge them. They were so obsessed with shouting at each other that the demigods felt disappointed. They thought that this invitation was a good sign. A sign that their godly parents care.  

Standing there and looking at them, they realize that this is not what they wanted.  

The gods were unknown of the misery of their children. Shouting and accusing each other was more important. They were so much into the quarrel, that they almost did not see the light.  

Delete that. It was impossible to not have been blinded.  

A bright light blended all people in the room and when it faded, there stood 2 different kinds of groups. One group consisted of some pre-teenager. Five girls and four boys. Each of them looked different than the other. The most likely oldest of them has black-I-just-woke-up hair and sea-green eyes. He looked like a troublemaker with his bruises and his dark blue hoodie, which obliviously he wore to hide the bruises (but failed). The boy next to him looked like a “Latino Santa elf”, with curly black hair, dark brown eyes, and pointy ears. He also had some bruises and scratches, but they didn't resemble the one which the first person has. Also, the "Latino elf" looked like he had not showered in years. This made everyone think, that he ran away - from what they were not sure. The girl next to him looked beautiful without even trying. She has choppy uneven brown hair - but it still looked good - and her eyes were like the color of a kaleidoscope. She wasn’t harmed in any way like the two boys. Next to her was a sort of tan skin girl with some light splash of freckles across her nose, brown hair, and brown eyes. She holds her hand with an olive-skinned young boy who has messy and shaggy black hair with black eyes. From the gesture and the closeness was is obvious that they were siblings. However, the little boys' eyes were focused on the girl next to him. She was a dark-skinned, beautiful girl, with shoulder-length curly cinnamon brown hair and gold eyes. She was beautiful in her way, but that is not the reason why he was staring at her. Her eyes looked scared and her body was shaking as if she just had seen death. Additionally, her body was kind of seen through - like a ghost. The Asian-looking boy with a babyish face with brown eyes and close-cropped black hair looked also worried and scared at the girl next to him.  

The last two people looked out of place from the whole group because both looked like flight attendants. Both of them wore blue business suits with perfect makeup. The older girl had her black hair pulled back in a ponytail while the younger one has her black hair in a braid. All of them looked confused, and some even scared, around.  

The other group cannot be called a group. It was a whole camp. Everyone was wearing armor and looked ready to fight.  

Nobody moved and then hell broke out. Shouting, screaming, and panicking is what everyone did. Mostly on the side of the gods, as they saw that the two camps, which they tried to separate, are right now in one room. The gods could not think straight anymore. To divide into there to personals. “SILENCE!!” shouted Zeus, as he was holding his head. Every demigod kept their mouth shut.  

The 9 pre-teens were frightened. They did not know what was going on. Their eyes were trained on Zeus. Finally, after a minute, Zeus was about to speak up, when another light blinded them.  

When it faded, nobody moved, too afraid of what was standing there. But not what, who. There stood about 18 people who looked like they were in their pre-adulthood and one Satyr. But this was not the reason why everybody was frozen. No, 4 people out of the 18 were surrounding one person, while the others were lying on the floor or helping each other up. One person stood unharmed at the side and watched the fight with no interest but awareness.  

Suddenly, one person of the 4 charged at the man in the middle. Both swords meet at the middle and then not. Another used the moment to sneak at the back to strike but was easily blocked by the person in the middle. This went on and on, so fast that nobody knows what was happening and who had the overhand in that fight. It was only obvious that this was a 4 vs 1 fight and that the person in the middle handled it with ease. This went for another 10 minutes, till 2 of the 4 persons showed fatigued. The other two still had the power in them to fight the one in the middle person. The person in the middle realized that too, so he takes charge and struck the two fatigued persons. One of the two who still could fight tried to help the fatigued persons, but the man was faster than them and succeeded to overthrow them.  

Only three people were left standing. Nobody moved  

And then the real fight started. The ground of Olympus shook. Cracks started to form. Lightning struck the ground and left a burned trail. The air felt too electrified; too thick to breathe.  

“Zeus! Poseidon! Hades! Stop with this nonsense!” Shouted the goddess of marriage. The three eldest brothers looked at each other and then at the still-standing kids. The shock was written all over their faces but nobody moved. To awestruck by the demigods before them. However, they were not the only ones. Everybody was too shocked to move or even breathe. Those demigods radiate power, stronger than anybody else. And they use it to fight each other — This was something that the big three gods tried to prevent. This was a reminder of the Second World War. But they did nothing to stop their children - Too shocked and awestruck by their power.  

Except for one. The girl on the sideline started to look around after hearing Hera’s voice. A voice she wishes to not ever hear again in her semi mortal life.   

It did not take her more than a minute to realize where and what happened. And it takes her another minute to step out to the 3 figures to break up the fight.  

One figure realized what she had planned, so she shouted: "Stay there Annie! This fight needs a winner!”  

“Yeah Annabeth!” shouted one of the lying figures. The one called Annabeth turned around to him and said to him with a glare: "if you all looked around, you would all agree with me, that there is a bigger problem!” The man on the floor shut his mouth up and turned around. Everybody who arrived new, except for the still fighting figures, looked around and stared at their surroundings. “Why are we on Olympus?!?” shouted one person. To this statement, one of the 3 people looked around while still fighting. Which was a huge mistake. That person got into a shock for some seconds. Still, some seconds were enough to be hit and overthrown by the other fighting figure.  

The girl knew how to not let her guard down while fighting and processing her surroundings. The last boy looked like he did not care about his surroundings. He was more focused on the fight than letting his brain process where he was and why he was there.  

„Percy, Thalia; stop this! We have more problems than fighting to know who is stronger!“ shouted Annabeth. The one called Thalia and Percy halted and looked at each other. Slowly and evenly, they let their power disappear and turned to Annabeth. „Look around you. We are in the past for some reason. So, there is no time to fight. “said Annabeth as she crossed her arms. Percy and Thalia looked at each other and then sighted.  

„You are saying we are in the past.“ said Percy as he looked around. He suddenly frowned and said: „Yeah... we are totally in the past.“ His eyes darkened as he looked around. His presents and power darkened too as his acknowledgment of his surroundings. His eyes drifted from demigod to demigod and finally settled at the gods, where his eye color was almost a dark shade of green-black.  

Percy crossed his arm in front of his chest and asked angrily: "Okey, why are we here? Like did we not do enough? “  

The gods were shocked and offended at his words and ton. Almost every god looked ready to kill him. “You do realize that you are talking to the Olympian gods?!” Thundered Zeus, as he rose from his throne. Percy only raised an eyebrow as the other demigods signed at Percy. “Seaweed brain...” Annabeth signed as she shook her head fondly. The young Greeks and Romans were too stunned to talk. Nobody and they mean NOBODY, would dare to talk like this to the gods.  

“Well, do I not get an answer?” asked Percy impatiently.  

“Why would we summoned you?” asked Hestia kindly, before any of the gods could blast him. Percy's and everyone else relaxed, as their eyes settled on Hestia. Percy's aura of power shrank and his eyes turned to a calm sea-green ton. With a kind voice, he answered: “Because over the years, you only summoned us to use us. So, it only made sense that you summoned us here.” Hestia nodded confused at his word and was about to speak up, however she was interrupted by someone.  

“They did not summon you. We did.” Every eye widened. Materializing next to the flames were the Fades. Looking straight at Percy. His eyes and aura darkened again. But not only his, but every demigod of the future also darkened at the presence of the fates. “And why did you send us in the past?! To let us suffer by seeing the faces of our dead friends?!” his voice was harsh. As much as it fazed every person in the room, excluded the future demigods, it did not faze the fates. “We want you all to have a chance. To help your dead friends out. To change the future from this timeline.” While there was some mumbling behind him, he was still looking at them funnily. “It is not possible to change someone’s fate. And it is not possible to change a prophecy. Or did you forget the oh-so-great prophecy ?” “That’s true. However, if the past and the future interact with each other -““- the prophecy turns to zero.” finished Apollo. Murmurs spread throughout the whole room.   A prophecy can turn to zero, is that really possible? To how does that affect us?   To many more questions. So many questions but no person knows the answer to them.  

 “What does that mean Apollo?” Asked Zeus his son finally. Partly, because he wants some answer too, but also because the murmurs in the room got on his nerves. Apollo turned to Zeus, then to future demigods, and then past and then again to his father. “It means that each prophecy is right now not existing. Which means we start at zero again.” Explained Apollo. Zeus looked more confused by this statement.  How can the prophecy turn zero?   By the looks Apollo received from everybody in the room, he started to explain more: “Because right now we have the past/present and future demi-gods in one room, the prophecy starts to disappear.” “How? And why?” asked Hermes, paying his whole attention to the explanation. His tone was full of confusion, but if someone heard closely you could hear the hope in it. ‘May’ he thought, as Percy averted his eyes from Hermes and thought about Lukes's fate. “Thanks to the loophole the future demigods created by coming to this timeline. Each event that took place during their period of time will not happen here, because just their presents right now in this room - which did not happen in their time - changed the outcome of the future.” After the explanation, some were even more confused than before while others had a knowing look.  

“So...” started Percy. “What you mean to say is that we can save lives because that oh so great prophecy will not take place because the events are changing? Just because the fates have sent us here?” “Yes,” said Apollo.  

“Wait...!” shouted suddenly a girl from the future. “Percy figured something out without any help. Is this the end of the world? "asked a buffed girl from the future. “Shut it, Clarisse.” Grumbled Percy, as the others laughed at him. “Ahh, seaweed brain we are just kidding,” said Annabeth as she circled her arms around Percy's waist. Out of habit, he circled his arms around her shoulder. “Well, I was not kidding,” said Clarisse. Percy, being the mature one, stuck his tongue out, which brought more giggles out of his friends.  

Athena's eyes shot knives to the boy who was cuddling her daughter. Yes, she realized that that was Annabeth Chase, her 12-year-old daughter in her time. And she did not like how her intelligent daughter was all lovely-dovely with an immature boy.  

While her mother had a tumor about her future relationship, past Annabeth was hard blushing because of it. She would never have thought that she would be in a relationship. Don’t get her wrong, she was sad that it was not Luke, but seeing her so happy and at peace in the arms of her future boyfriend made her blush harder. Additionally, she realized that he was the cute boy, who turned up with the other confused ones. Also, most people from camp looked at her and then the future couple which irritated her and made her more blush though this time out of irritation. So, what if I was in a relationship! It is not that shocking... or is it?   

Nobody noticed the blush on one of the clueless kid's faces or that one particular god looked happy to see his future kid happily in a relationship and almost adulthood.  

That mood was suddenly broken when the Fates spoke up: “So that you all know now, that there is no prophecy anymore, do you realize what you need to do?” asked the Fate in the middle. “As much as we like to change the outcome for this timeline, how can we do it?” asked Annabeth. The others mumbled in agreement with her statement. “You will receive some Books about your adventure.” said the Fate on the right. “Each will tell a story of your achievements and quests. Nevertheless, there is a price to pay for meddling the future.” A pretty girl with copped brown hair and a feather in her hair knitted her eyebrows in confusion and asked: “what price?” The three fates turned to her and said simultaneously: “To this, we do not have an answer, daughter of Aphrodite. Even we cannot just do something without a flaw. There will be always a price. What price it is can we not tell.”  

“Very assuring...” mumbled a small Latino guy with brown curly hair and brown eyes.  

The future demigods looked at each other. “Ahh... would it not have been better if we had been asked before sending us here?” asked a boy with curly brown hair and blue eyes with a twinkle in them screaming mischievous. ‘A son of Hermes’ thought the most gods and demigods, except the one from camp half-blood. They realized that he was Travis Stoll, just older and more serious. Which shocked them. Travis Stoll was never serious - what happened in the future? Even Travis himself and his brother were worried about it. 

The other demigods nodded at the question of their friend. “There was no time to discuss something.” answered the fate in the left. They all snorted. Typical...  they thought.  

All three fates turned to Percy again “Now Perseus Jackson, do you accept the untold fate of yours and accept the outcome of it?” Percy turned to his friends and then to the campers.  I could save their fate. No prophecy can stop it now. Slowly, his eyes turned to his friends again, asking with his eyes their opinion. Their facial expression and gesture told him everything. His eyes turned shortly to his father and then to the fates. “Yes, I accept the fate that will behold my friends and me. We are prepared for the outcome of this event.” As he said this, fates faded and left a stack of books behind.  

“Well... I think we should start by introducing our self.” stated an Afro-American girl with brown curly hair and gold eyes. “That is a wonderful idea, Hazel,” said Annabeth. “But first, we need to explain the demigods who do not know of this world, about it.” Her eyes were focused on past Percy and the others. Everyone followed her gaze and nodded. “She is right. If this is before I was at camp then I would right now think I was insane for dreaming something like that” said Percy, as he scratched his neck. “I would not believe any word.”  

Someone cough in his friends' group. “Well, Percy if we state facts then we should tell you that you are insane by just being you.” said a paled, black-haired and black-eyed boy. Everyone laughed as Percy pouted. “Shut it, death breath.”  

After the laughter died down, they went to their past selves and started to explain their world. It had taken some time and many proofs till they all believed it. Mostly because of Percy, Piper, and Bianca. “So, this is really our world?” said a mini-Percy. “And that is really our parents?” asked a mini-Piper. “Yes, and Yes, sadly.” said the Latino elf before he was hit. “Ow! Sunshine, why would you do that?” shouted the Latino elf at a goddess. The gorgeous girl gave him a stare and then looked at the rest. The other tried, and failed, to not laugh.  

 Someone cleared his throat and the laughter died down. Zeus raised an eye brown and said grumbling: “If you all are finally finished, could you tell us your name and parentage?”  

The demigods looked at each other and then Zeus. Finally, a boy with blond hair, blue eyes, and a scar on his lip stepped forward and said: “Before we tell you, there are things you need to know. First, there are kids from the big three, and before there are some accusations, only Hades did not break the oath.” Zeus snaked comment died in his throat as his eyes widened. Hades still looked furious at his brothers. Poseidon looked embarrassed away. “And secondly,” said the boy “the future in our time is messed up, so be not shocked by our parentage.”  

The gods nodded.  

“Okey. Well, then who wants to start?” asked the boy his friends. They all looked at Percy pointedly. “Fine!” He shouted as he stepped forward.  

 As the gods got a better look at him, they realized he was a spitting image of a particular sea god. He had jet black hair in an untamed way and sea-green eyes, who looked like a calm sea right now. In addition, he had a swimmer body, trained but not in a bulky way. He was tall but not the tallest. His posture was serious but also relaxed. And when he finally stopped and looked at the gods, he gave a smile that screamed troublemaker. His eyes sparkled as he spoke. “My name is Percy Jackson. Son of Poseidon.” He did not bow, only crossed his arm in front of his chest and gave them a grin. This earned two glares directed at Poseidon, who only smiled proudly at his son, and some raised eyebrows at the disrespectful attitude.  

“You broke the oath!!” shouted Zeus at his older brother. Poseidon only raised one eyebrow and countered: “Did you forget that they just said? Only Hades did not break the oath.” Zeus sulked back into his throne defeated.  

 Nobody noticed that the younger self of Percy looked at him with awe. Particular because he could not believe that he looked like that in the future and the other part because he could not believe that his dad was a god and that particular god is Poseidon, who was right now smiling proudly at his older and younger self proudly. 

While mini-Percy had that mini tumor, someone else was shocked. She could not believe that her future boyfriend is the son of the sea god. She was the daughter of Athena, for gods sake!  She should not be together with him! So, why was she so love-struck to him. 

Next, Annabeth stepped up. As she walked to stand next to Percy, everybody tokes her in. But not in a perverted way. No, they just had not realized, that Annabeth turned into a gorgeous girl over the age. She had long, curly blond hair which flowed past her shoulder and stopped in the middle of her back. Her eyes were still a grey tone, but not that dark anymore. They were right now a soft grey which still holds a lot of intelligence, partly because of her mother. She grew up but was some inch shorter than Percy (which she preferred when they cuddle but do not tell him this). In addition, her body was trained in an athletic feminine way. Not in a bulky body way but enough. When she finally stood next to Percy and raised her gaze to the gods, she spoke in a tone much too similar to her mother. “My name is Annabeth Chase and I am a daughter of Athena.” Her mother nodded in acknowledgment at her daughter, however frowned as her fingers closed around the fingers of the sea spawn. Percy looked down at her with love in the eyes, which nobody could deny. Their past self started to blush even more. You could think their faces could not get redder, however as their gaze met, they started to be a spitting image of a red tomato.  

The boy with blond hair and blue eyes stepped forward. He, in contrast to the others, had a bulky body. But not too much, just so that he could pass as a footballer. His eyes, the gods noticed as he stepped closer, were sky blue. His hair close-cropped blond. He looked like a blond Superman, just that he wore glasses and Superman did not. In addition, he had a tattoo on his arm of an eagle with SPQR and twelve lines - a Roman symbol. His face was kind and gentle and made a bigger difference to his pose. He walked and stood like a soldier. Very serious and ready for commands. He was a regal feature of a Roman statue and spoke as such Roman. “Jason Grace, Son of Jupiter.” The gods shifted shortly to their roman form, while everyone else thought  A Roman with Greeks?!  . Realizing the tension, Jason stood straighter and tenser. Percy realizing this, clapped him on his back and told him something. His posture relaxed and he began a conversation with Percy. Nobody noticed the glare Hera sent Zeus. They only realized that a Roman has a friendly or even brotherly conversation with a Greek. The Roman and Greek camp looked at each other and then at the future people confused. Mostly, mini-Percy and mini-Jason. Both of them could not believe they would be friends. Jason thought that Percy was a Greek demigod and greek and roman should not mix, while Percy thought that Jason was build like a bully and Percy hated those. But maybe both thought wrong. 

The daughter of Aphrodite stepped forward next and nobody could deny her beauty. She looked like a Native American descent, with chocolate-brown hair that was cut choppy and unevenly, and had thin strands braided down on the sides. Her eyes always changed color like a kaleidoscope so that it was hard to make out her precise color. She wore no makeup but was still so beautiful that she drew attention without even trying. Her body had a softly curved physique but was thanks to her tomboy-ed clothes not really visible, which brought a frown to Aphrodite’s face. When she stood next to Jason, she takes his hand and then looked at the gods. As she opened her mouth, with her full and pretty lips, and spoke in a sweet voice, Aphrodite realizes that her daughter got her charmspeak AND a boyfriend. “My name is Piper McLean. I am a daughter of Aphrodite.” McLean?! As the actress? asked many people from the back. She did not answer only frowned. Jason squeezed her hand and she smiles up at him as thanks. „Awwwww!“ Squeezed Aphrodite to the display of her daughter and the handsome son of Zeus. Zeus did not give a facial gesture but had a proud gleam in his eyes. There are not many children from him, who archived a happy ending. Mini-Jason and mini-Piper blushed hardcore - well Piper not so much as Jason but still enough. Murmure was heard from the Roman and Greek demigods. Both camps were not really found that a Roman and Greek demigod were in a relationship. 

Next stepped a punk, pretty girl. She has shoulder-length, spiky black hair and electric blue eyes, which were the same as Jason’s. She also has freckles across her nose and a silver circlet on her head - a symbol of the hunters of Artemis. In addition, symbolizes it her position as the first lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis. Her body was built like a long-distance runner, lithe and strong. Furthermore, she wore the typical clothes of the hunters - silvery parka and camouflage pants. As she stopped next to Annabeth, she spoke with a commanded voice of a leader - which in her situation as the first lieutenant suited her. “My Name is Thalia. I am the full sister of Jason Grace and the daughter of Zeus.” The shock went through the gods and the campers of Camp half-blood. Two of them wanted to race to Thalia but were stopped by Chiron. They could not believe their eyes. Thalia their friend, sister, and for one, even more, was alive and well. Artemis gave a nod in her direction but inside frowned.   What happened to Zoë, her right now lieutenant? “Thalia.... is that truly you?” asked Zeus as he ignored Hera's glare. “Yes, father,” said Thalia. “But how?” asked a confused Zeus. “It is a long story. Maybe it will be mentioned in the books.” was her only answer. Zeus only nodded, as the next person stepped forward. Nobody noticed the mini tumor in Mini-Jasons head. He always had the image and voice of his sister but now she is here... Just some steps away. 

The boy was one of the youngest. He had black, messy, shaggy hair, paled skin, and black eyes. His whole clothes were in a black tone, which made him look like a goth. A Stygian Iron sword was hanging by his side in his chain belt. He wore on his fingers a silver skull ring. It was not really hard for the gods and demigods to detect who his father was. He was the image of how a son of Hades should look like. However, the gods were kind of frightened of how his eyes shinned. Madness and also sadness was reflected in his eyes. Like he had seen hell and back. Which, if his father was really Hades, would be normal. So, why was his gaze so broken? “Nico di Angelo, son of Hades” His voice was stoned and hard, letting nobody leave an argument. Zeus gave a glare to Hades, but after realizing that two of his kids were here, looked away. Hades gave a proud nod to his son but frowned inside.   Where is Bianca? Why is she not with them?    A contrast on his past self, who could not hide his excitement.   He is so cool and he is me from the future, which means I am the son of Hades?!   While little Nico had an inner excitement tumor, his sister was worried. She did realize, that when Nico is the son of Hades that makes her the daughter of Hades too.   But why am I not by his side? And why has he a sad gaze in his eyes?   

Next went the Latino elf with his hand clapped around the hands of the gorgeous girl. As they came closer, the gods realized that the girl was indeed Calypso, the Titanin. She still had caramel hair, braided over one shoulder, dark almond-shaped eyes, and a face that appeared to be timeless. However, as they tried to feel her titan power, they realized that she is a mortal right now. The boy next to her looked like a Latino Santa's elf with curly black hair, dark brown eyes, pointy ears, and a cheerful, elf-like, and lean face. He was not like Jason or Percy tall and did not even reach the high of Annabeth, but was just as tall or even taller than Piper. He had a diminutive stature with a slim and relatively scrawny body. And as he stood among the other and smiled at the gods, they realized that his smile was a mischievous and impish smile, which made them think that he was a son of Hermes. In addition, they realized that his ADHD was seriously more than the others, as his hands and feet could not standstill. As he spoke, his eyes started to let him look like someone who just had a dipole espresso with energy with too much extra sugar. “My name is Super-sized McShizzle Comm-““His name is Leo Valdez and he is a son of Hephaestus.” interrupted Calypso. “Sunshine! I wanted to tell them” Calypso only rolled her eyes and said: "and My name is Calypso. And yes, I am the Titanin Calypso.” Every jaw was on the floor. They could not believe that the Titanin Calypso was free and here and why she was with someone who looked like an elf. Before someone could utter a word, the next person stepped up. 

He had the trades of Apollo. Shaggy blond hair, blue, kind eyes, and an athletic body. He could be the twin of Jason if it was not for the difference in their body build and posture. His body was, in contrast to Jason’s, more a surfer body. Lean and build but not bulky. His posture was kind and radiated a kind of helpfulness. As if he would help each and every person on this planet if he could. As he looked up and smiled to the gods - more like to Apollo - they realized that his smile and eyes radiate kindness which somehow came across as natural. His teeth were white and kind of blinding. He stopped next to the son of Hades, took his hand, and then said in a cheering tone: “Hi. My name is William Solace. But call me Will. I am the son of Apollo.” Apollo beamed at his son, while Hades frowned at the locked hands of his son with the son of Apollo. Not that he had something against it. Just kind of unexpected. The young Nico looked at Will with wide eyes, as if he could not believe it. (In his time being gay was a crime). He was blushing from head to toes. Bianca could not decide which expression she should show. First, her brother was gay without telling her. Second, he shows it in public without any fear of being discovered, and last but not least, HE DID NOT TELL HER BUT HE HAS A BOYFRIEND!!! So, she settled on excitement for her brother. He had finally found people to rely on other than her.  

While the Hades family were happy for their son, mini-Will was blushing from head to toes, like mini-Nico. Don’t get him wrong, he knows that he is gay, but his boyfriend is hot and a son of the big three, which was just awesome but also WOW. He just could not believe someone like him would be with him in a relationship.  

While mini-Will and Bianca had an inner crisis about how they should react to that information, the next Person stepped up. Well, he was not half blood, that was sure because of his horns on his head and his goat legs. He was a tall Satyr with curly brown hair, brown eyes, and a wispy beard. Why a Satyr is among them, is for the gods a mystery but will be solved when they finally read the book they realized. As he shyly stepped up next to Thalia, Zeus realized that he was the Satyr who failed to save his daughter. He wanted to speak up and shout at him but stopped as he got glares from his daughter and nephew (and no he was not scared of that glare). “My name is Grover Underwood and I am a Satyr”. He stepped behind Thalia to escape the stares of the gods, which brought some chuckled out of his friends. “G-man, we were so often on Olympus and you are still shy?” asked Percy. “Yeah, but they don't know me,” replied Grover. Percy chuckled at his friend's behavior. The Romans were stunned that a Satyr - fauns - was standing among the heroes of the future. Mini-Percy and Mini-Grover smiled at each other. Both were relieved that even if the future was messed up, their friendship was still intact. 

Before anyone could go over their shock of seeing a Satyr being best buddy with a son of one of the big three, two boys stepped up. Both of them looked the same, the only difference - so that they could tell them apart - was their high. The most likely oldest of them was the taller one. Both of them had a mop of brown, curly hair which hang in front of their blue eyes. They had both an elvish feature with upturned eyebrows, a sarcastic smile, and a mischievous gleam in their eyes. They all realized that they were the sons of Hermes because they had his trades of mischievous and cunning. They stood proud and serious next to Will, which brought fear among them all because no son of Hermes stood like that. Before anyone could express his fear, they broke into a crooked smile and said “Travis-"“-and Conner -““-Stoll. Son of Hermes.” Nobody could react to what just happened, because the next person stepped up. 

 The pretty girl with brown, light curly hair and green eyes, had a petite, light curvy, tanned body with freckles all over it. In her hair are the same flowers of different kinds and colors. She walks to the two boys with a determined look, which amused the gods, as they realized what she wants to do. She walks so confidently and determined, that Demeter realized that she is Katie Gardner, her daughter. Only she out of all her siblings had inherited her bossiness. She watched as her daughter stands behind the boys and gave them each a punch to their heads. “Ouch! Kates, why would you hit me?! asked Travis ‘Kates' as he turned around to face her. “You and your brother could not stay serious at such a time.” she only sighed and turned to the gods, as she ignored Connor and Travis's protest. “I am Katie Gardner. Daughter of Demeter.” Suddenly, someone from her right cough and said, “and Travis Stoll's girlfriend.” Both Travis and Katie blush but did not deny it. Her mother gave her a proud nod but an evil eye to Travis. A prankster should not be dating her daughter!  Before she could speake up, she was rudely interrupted by mini-Katie who shouted: “I am dating him in the future?!” and pointed at mini-Travis. While Katie and Travis blushed, even more, their friends could not hold it anymore and laugh at them really loud. Travis takes all his courage and looked at mini-Katie and said: “Well yeah, you fell for my cun-“ “I do not know why I even started to date you” Katie said monotonously. “Katie-Kat!” Travis said as he placed a hand over his heart “that hurt, ya know?” Right now, most people were laughing and rolling on the ground.  

“As much as cute this is, I want to get this over with.” said a bulked girl. As she turned around and faced the gods, they could see that she was a daughter of Ares. She was bulked like a football player, but still in a feminist way. Her eyes were dark and she had brown, short thin hair, which was cropped unevenly. She stood in a determined posture as if she would fight any minute and her face was in an unfazed gaze as she faced the gods. As the daughter of Ares, it was only right to stand like that, thought her father. “Clarisse La Rue, daughter of Ares”. Ares only gave her a nod, without any expression. Which was fine by her - he never showed that he cared. She was in the past, so he does not know about her achievements.  

Next to her stood a Mexican boy. He had black hair and brown eyes. His facial future was just like Travis and Connor - an elvish feature with upturned eyebrows, a sarcastic smile, and a mischievous gleam in their eyes, not so much like Travis and Connor but enough to realize that he was also a son of Hermes. He also was bigger than Clarisse. His hand slipped into the hand of Clarisse as he spoke to the gods - which earned a death glare from Ares and a frown from Hermes - “My name is Chris Rodriguez and I am a son of Hermes” Hermes smiled at his son, while Ares glared more at him.  

Next went a redheaded girl. And like every other girl, nobody could deny her beauty. She was attractive with her red, curly/frizzy hair and her emerald green eyes. She was tall with a slim figure who was covered in an oversized t-shirt. Her jeans were full of paint or doodles. She stood next to Grover and fixed her gaze at Apollo. She spoke with a sweet but determined voice. “My name is Rachel Elizabeth Dare. I am mortal but also the Oracle of Delphi.” Apollo’s eyes widened and he smiles so much that everyone was scared that his mouth would fall out. “YES!! My Oracle changed bodies! For some reason, she does not do it now” he said confused. Hades looked away too much in the grief of losing Maria di Angelo. Hermes had a sad look in his eyes as his thought went to Luke’s mom. “That will be probably mentioned in the book,” said Percy to Apollo, who nodded at him as a thanks.  

The gods looked at the last three persons and realized that they are all Romans, which was not hard to realize. They all wore their SPQR tattoo with pride and stood like Romans - serious and proud.   

 The first person of the last three-person stepped up. He was one of the tallest persons in the group. Aditionally, he has a fit body enough to play football. Which would mean, that he was lean but also muscular. He looked like a descent of Asian with his brown eyes and close-cropped black, which reminded everyone of the military haircut. He wore like the other Romans a purple, fitted shirt. As he walked, the observants persons caught on that he was shy. He walked slowly and tensed to the gods, till he stood next to Leo. He did not speak till Leo clasped him on the shoulder. His shoulders relaxed and he finally stood leisurely next to Leo. Before he spoke, he turned to Leo and nodded to thank him, and then turned to the gods. "I am Frank Zhang and a son of Mars - the Roman god of Ares."  

While Ares gave to Frank a proud nod, mini-Frank frowned. He had hoped, that Apollo could be his Dad. He did not think that Mars would be his dad because he was good at archery, not sword combat. He also did not like violence and well, Mars was a specialist in that.   

Chris squeezed Clarisse’s hand lightly when he noticed her sad behavior. Ares always favored his sons more than his daughters. This was a fact she could not deny. But over the years, she started to have his attention, however only because she was 'Clarisse the drakon slayer', more not.  

Before Ares could sense his daughter's misery, the next person stepped up. She had, in contrast to the others, dark-skinned skin, which let many think that she was a descent of an Afro-American. Of course, nobody thought of her as a slave or anything that took place in the past. No, everyone thought that the Afro-American girl with shoulder-length curly cinnamon brown hair and gold eyes was cute and beautiful. She, like the rest of the girls, was toned and fit, however not so much as Clarisse and Annabeth, more like ‘Piper fit’. In addition, the Afro-American girl was one of the shortest demigods, which led to many beliefs that she was the youngest. As she stood next to Frank and took his hand (and let many demigods' hopes die) in hers and faced the gods, she spoke with such kindness and shyness that let many hearths warm. “My name Hazel Levesque and I am a daughter of Pluto, the Roman god of Hades.”   

Before Zeus could speak up and shout at his older brother about how he broke the oath twice (too), Hades interrupted him: “She was born before the oath, like Nico. And also, you cannot talk about how I broke the oath, because there are right now standing two children of yours.”  

As if the last Person sensed the tension between the brothers, she started to step forward. The first thing everyone noticed was her purple, glittering toga – a symbol of being a praetor. The next thing that they noticed, was her poise, which reminded everyone of a sword fighter. Finally, everyone focused on her face and noticed that even if she acted and stood like a fighter, was she pretty like everyone else in their group. She had piercing black eyes, which gave the impression that she could take everyone in a fight, and glossy black hair which was braided in a single braid over her shoulder. Her face was regular and beautiful, but also something screamed ‘Hispanic’. She stood among the others, but still caught everyone's attention. “My name ist Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano and I am the daughter of Bellona.” She was a leader and nobody could deny that. She radiated power and command, and for some reason, it made everyone think to listen to her. 

Of course, she was not the only one, who radiates power. Each and everyone, except Calypso and Rachel, radiated power and command – like they were crafted for war. Always ready to fight and to win. Which made their parents and past self's worry about what happened in the future?  

Childhood should be filled with happiness and no worry, but these kids were crafted ready for war. Muscles were tensed, fingers twitching to grab their weapon, ready to strike – even kill if there is no other way; minds were working overtime – crafting battle plans and searching for flaws in their surroundings and foes.  

As if sensing their mistress, Percy spoke up and tried to ease the tension in the room: “So... Are we going to start reading?” To his surprise, Athena spoke up: “He is right, we should start reading so that we can finish fast.” The future self-relaxed and exhaled to relief. Hestia only smiled kindly to the children; lifted her hand and suddenly several sofas appear.  

The demigods thanked the goddess of the hearth and set down. The demigods of Camp Half-Blood and the still confused new demigods sat on the sofas to the right. The demigods from Camp Jupiter sat on the left sofas, while the demigods of the future sat on the sofas in the middle. The gods shrank their thrones and their self's to be as tall as their human children. Before Athena could take the first book and start to read it, a letter suddenly appeared. Artemis, who was the nearest person, snatched the letter and read out loud: 

 Dear demigods and gods,   

 Before you start to read, we would like to have the hunters and the minor's gods assemble as well. The books should not only enlighten you of the future and their treats; no, they also should tell you about your flaws and hopefully see that there are many things to learn about these demigods.   

 Sincerely   

 Fates   

 “Well...” started Zeus “Hermes could you get the minor gods and Artemis could you get your Hunters?” Both gods gave a short “Yes, father” before doing what they were asked to.  

When finally, everyone was assembling and explained what happened, Athena picked the first book and started to read. 

Chapter Text

Percy Jackson and the lightning Thief Athena readout.  

“Great...” Percy said grimily, “That book is about my first quest”. This got everyone's attention. Some looked even eager to hear about it, mostly the future demigods, except Grover and Annabeth who were with him at that time. They only got the watered version - This was the big deal. Poseidon looked worried at his son “Your first... There are more?” he asked. Percy nodded at his father “Yes my first quest, and before someone asks, I do not know how many quests I went on. Lost track of them at some point.” He only shrugged his shoulder if it was not a big deal. Poseidon paled and muttered under his breath   He is alright. Both of them are alive and fine.   However, he notices that the younger version of his son had some bruises, but they did not look like he got them from a monster.   So, from where did he got them? Sally would have said/prayed if there was a monster attack.   

Nobody noticed the frown on one Hermes kid or that his face darkened.  

The gods, who had children, looked worried at each other before focusing on Athena, who started to read.  

Chapter 1: I Accidentally Vaporize My Maths Teacher  

“Wait, Wait, Wait, How-” Thalia said as she pointed at Percy “-do you vaporized a math teacher accidentally?” Many demigods, and even some gods, nodded along. It was kind of strange that someone vaporizes a math teacher and that accidentally.  
Percy only raised an eyebrow at Thalia “Easy, when you didn’t know that she is a monster and you have no idea what just happened”. Thalia nodded at her cousin as if what he said made sense, before settling back into her seat next to Annabeth and Grover. 
Athena waited before she started to read again. She was starting to get irritated by so many interruptions in just two sentences. Heck! They were just the title of the book and the chapter.  

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

“Who does...” many half-bloods mumbled. The gods again gave themself a look and worried about their children's health –mentally and physically.   It is not that bad...?  They realized that they will find out about that answer when they have read the books. It was in a point of view of a demigod, after all.  

Percy seeing their faces, thought  Maybe that was a good idea after all.  While someone else thought the complete opposite.  Now they care?  Luke asked himself. 

If you’re reading this because you think you might be one, my advice is:  

Many demigods of the future started to get up and take cover behind the sofas as if they were afraid of something. Someone even shouted “Hide! He gives an advice!” and another one shouted: “Everyone is for themself!”. As much as it amused the gods and demigods of the past, they were confused. “Why do you all take cover?” Hermes asked amused. Travis pocked his head out of his hidden place to answer his father “Because Percy can NOT give advice.” 
“Come on guys, my advice is not that bad,” Percy said pouting. “As much as I love you, Seaweed Brain, you give pretty-shitty advice.” “and shit compliments” his cousin added. “And, as the name ‘Kelp Head’ says, no really useful information” the sister of that cousin enclosed.  
“Gee... Thanks, I feel the love” said a grumbling Percy as he crossed his arms around his chest and pouted. Some demigods of the future started to laugh, but still hid behind the sofas.  
Athena only sighted and started to read again. The laughter stopped, that they could hear what she reads next.  

close this book right now. Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you about your birth, and try to lead a normal life.   

“huh?” came an unintelligent reply of many future demigods, as they came forward from their hidden place. They all looked stunned as Percy looked really proud of himself. “That...” Nico started “That is actually good advice” Slowly they started to sit on the sofa again, still in shock. Percy smiled smugly and gestured to Athena to start reading again. She obliged, but with a growl.  
Everyone else laughed at the looks of the future demigods. The Romans were shocked that they had such a good relationship with the Greeks. They laughed at each other or with the others and teased each other, without a fight. Like they were a big family. Like there was never a battle against each Camp.  

Being a half-blood is dangerous  

“Check!” said all demigods, with experience. The future demigods are finally out of their shocking trance. 

It’s scary.   

“Check!”  

Most of the time, it gets you killed in painful, nasty ways.  

“Check!”  

The gods started to get really worried for their children. How can they say that if that was a normal everyday life? 

Athena shakes her head and made a mental notice to talk to her children, before starting to read again. 

If you’re a normal kid, reading this because you think it’s fiction, great. Read on. I envy you -  

“do we not all?” asked some demigod on the right.  

The gods made a silent promise to talk to their children later.  

-for being able to believe that none of this ever happened.   

But if you recognize yourself in these pages – if you feel something stirring inside – stop reading immediately. You might be one of us. And once you know that, it’s only a matter of time before they sense it too, and they’ll come for you.  

“Dramatic much?” Nico asked, “should that not be Thalia's job?” Thalia nodded along, till she realized what Nico said. “Hey!” she said before she started to hit him. All their friends only laughed at their childish behavior. While Artemis finds it kind of strange that her future lieutenant is on such good terms with  boys , she realized that Thalia only sees them as a family - Well, hopefully. The other gods were thankful for the future demigods. They broke the tension in the room by just being normal children.  

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.  

“You didn’t warn me,” Travis, Connor, Leo, and Nico said. Percy gave them a pointed look, before replying “You both were before me at Camp so how should I have warned you?” then turned to Leo “We both know that I was not at Camp when ‘you know what’   happened.” and finally to Nico. “Sorry Nico that I was too busy saving your life before that monster could kill you or me.”  

All four looked at each other as if there had a silent agreement. Percy rolled his eyes. They turned to him and said “You are forgiven” 

All demigods and some gods laughed at that. The future demigods were just so childish after having seen so much. It kind of relaxed them, knowing that they will not change. 

My name is Percy Jackson.  

“No, it is Athena,” Dionysus said. Athena gave him a glare before focusing on reading again. Hermes and Apollo high-fived Dionysus. The demigods tried to hold their laughter in - Athena was still scary after all. 

I’m twelve years old. 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?  

“Yes!” all friends of Percy said. Percy only rolled his eyes, knowing that they were right. After all, he only sees a monster when he looks in the mirror. It should not be possible to overpower a god – to almost kill one no less. Those are only your thoughts, don’t listen to them warned a voice in his head, that kind of sound like Annabeth’s.   

His friends frowned at his lack of response. Normally he would give a sarcastic response, but he is so quiet.  

The hunters agreed on whole heartily with them. Saying that every boy was. 

Yeah. You could say that.  

“OMG!” Clarisse shouted “You even agree with us” Percy only stuck his tongue out at Clarisse. She did the same in return. That brought a round of laughter from their friend group.  So, nothing is wrong with him they thought he is still the same Percy.   

The gods could not believe, that all demigods from the future could be so relaxed with each other. They didn't care about rivalries or whether they were Roman or Greek. They were friends, maybe they even considered themself as a family. Hestia smiled. Finally, the family is whole  

Mini-Clarisse looked confused at her childish behavior. She is a daughter of Ares for gods sake! 

The Hunters could not believe their ears. A boy – one of the big three no less – accepted his flaw. They looked at Artemis for help, but she was just as shocked as them. She does not know what to make out of this demigod. 

I could start at any point in my short   

Poseidon turned to his son and asked “How old are you, Percy” Percy looked at his father and said “I turned some months ago 17” Apollo looked at the demigod concerned before expressing what is on his mind “How old are you all?” “Some are 13, like Hazel, others 14-15, like Will and Fank, others are 16-17, like Percy and I, and some partly immortal, like Thalia” Jason answered.  

Apollo nodded and turned to Percy “You are 17 and had spoken about the great prophecy. You are the child of the great prophecy, are you not.” This was not a question, just a statement. Percy nodded. The worry was back again for their children. They experience war at such a young age. No wonder that they are so tense.   

"Father-” Athena started “If this is true, then -” she was rudely interrupted when Zeus shouted “IF it was TRUE! Until we have enough evidence, we'll address this problem. But now, we will only read, so case closed” 

The future demigods, who know how the second Titan war started, glared at Zeus. “That is exactly your flaw” Percy stated dangerously evenly, “A flaw which will cost many lives.” Zeus did not want to argue anymore, so he asked Athena to read on. She pursed her lips but obliged. 

miserable  

“You could say that louder” Annabeth mumbled as she snuggled closer to Percy. The demigods still glared at Zeus. (And no, Zeus did NOT flinch) 

life to prove it, but things really started going bad last May, 

“Wait,” Katie says, “What day is it for you?” The demigods of the future looked eagerly and tensed at the gods. “Today is the 21st December of 2005” Artemis answered. The future demigods looked at each other before they started to form a tight circle around Percy's sofa. The only words that they caught were: ...  did not steal it yet...; ...would be today...; …. will be not smitten..., before they set on their seats again, as if nothing happened.  

However, the future demigods realized that today Luke would have stolen the power symbols of Hades and Zeus. Something that had happened in their time and if they can save ALL lives, they will try to save Luke’s as well. After all, he was family before being a traitor. They need to talk to him and the gods, before reading about that.  

The gods looked concerned and confused at their children's behavior before Athena started to read again. They will talk later about that. 

when our sixth-grade class took a field trip to Manhattan – twenty-eight mental-case kids and two teachers on a yellow school bus, heading to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to look at ancient Greek and Roman stuff.  

“Sounds interesting” all Athena kids, Athena herself and some who liked history said, while the others said: “Sounds like tutor” 

I know – it sounds like torture.   

“NOOOOO!” Thalia and Nico shouted. “We thought like Kelp Head! This is the end” The others who said that were too shocked, to respond to that. They just thought like Percy. That was too big a shock for them.  

“Guys, I hope you all still realize that I am still here?” Percy asked pouting. Annabeth teased him further, as she pocked his cheek.  

The gods were concerned. Poseidon was one of the three eldest gods, and also one with much power. In the past, he was considered a temperamental god. If his children inherited that side... Well, it never ended well. But looking at Percy and how he behaves with the others, they realized he did not inherit that side, or he just doesn’t care.  

Most Yancy field trips were. But  Mr. Brunner, our Latin teacher, was leading this trip, so I had hopes.  

“Well, he is the best teacher and had a lot of hope in me.” mini-Percy said matter of fact. After realizing that he said it aloud, he started to blush dark red. Chiron looked happily at one of his favorite students. Percy nodded at his younger self and sent a smile at his teacher “He is the best” and all demigods (who recognize who Mr. Brunner was) started to agree. Chiron felt really loved at that moment, thanks to the demigods. 
Some gods smiled at their friend and others thanked him for being such a good teacher to their kids.  

Mr. Brunner was this middle-aged guy in a motorized wheelchair. He had thinning hair and a scruffy beard and a frayed tweed jacket, which always smelled like coffee. You wouldn’t think he’d be cool, but he told stories and jokes and let us play games in class. He also had this awesome collection of Roman  Armour  and weapons,  

“Cool!” many said, while others said “I wish I had someone like that” 

so he was the only teacher whose class didn’t put me to sleep.

Before Athena could shout at the son of the sea spawn, Annabeth was already hitting him, while saying something like “I hope that will not happen again”. When she finally stopped, Percy could finally say to her, that she knows that he does not sleep in class anymore. Annabeth started to turn red after realizing that he was right. “Ohh... Sorry Percy,” said she as she kissed his cheek. Mini-Percy and mini-Annabeth blushed at the PDA, while Athena glared at the son of the sea and finally said: “How could you sleep in class! You have such an opportunity and you just give it away like that!” Percy turned to her, but Katie started to explain before Percy could. He sent her a ‘thank you’ look. “Lady Athena, we demigods have dyslexia and ADHD. It is really hard for us to stay focus in school and have good grades. The teachers even start to label us as hopeless cases, and when that happens, it is impossible to get out of that view. So, some of us sleep in class, because we get no help when we ask, which means we cannot do our work.”  

Athena was shocked. Such an opportunity of education, even for women, and the teacher do not help the students! That is their job!  She turned to her children and asked: “Is that for you too like that?” Some looked sheepish away as Malcolm answered his mother “For some Mother, yes. As it was said earlier, they label us just like that as a hopeless case. We still try to get their attention with our grades and all, but...” he did not need to finish that sentences.  

There was a heavy silence before Piper asked if Athena could read on. Athena gulped but read on. 

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

“With your luck?” Rachel asked as the others shook their heads. Percy only rolled his eyes but did not deny it. Which worried his father. His younger self looked at the ground before Grover patted his shoulder. He sent a smile at his friend. 

Boy, was I wrong.  

“Figured....” the future half-blood murmured. Mini-Percy turned red, while his older self laughed like it was an inside joke. His father was even more worried. His wife tried to aid him but knew that it was no help. He had a too big heart for his children.  

See, bad things happen to me on field trips. Like at my fifth-grade school, when we went to the Saratoga battlefield, I had this accident with a Revolutionary War cannon. I wasn’t aiming for the school bus, but of course I got expelled anyway. 

Everybody was laughing, some were even rolling on the floor. “Man Poseidon, could I have that child?” Hermes asked as he tried to control his laughter. “No, he is my pride,” Poseidon said seriously. Mini-Percy and Percy were blushing hardcore at his father's words. The other demigods were jealous that Poseidon was such a good father.  

 Soon, they will fall for their own mistake thought Luke   He will bring justice for us forgotten one. For us unloved one.   

Some gods looked sheepish away. Some others looked like they did not care (Hera, Ares, Zeus, ….).  

And before that, at my fourth-grade school, when we took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Marine World shark pool, I sort of hit the wrong lever on the catwalk and our class took an unplanned swim.  

Many were now rolling on the floor and trying to catch their breath. Even Zeus and Hades were not able to hide their smile. 

And the time before that… Well, you get the idea.  

“NO!” Apollo and Hermes shouted. They looked at Percy and asked: “You need to tell us more stories.” Percy smiled and obliged. Athena rolled her eyes and read on.  

This trip, I was determined to be good.  

Some snorted. “And break your record?” Leo asked. Percy pouted and tried to hide his face in Annabeth’s hair. “Even I did not do something like that, and I was a troublemaker too,” Piper said as she shakes her head at Percy. He only stuck his tongue at Piper. She mimicked him. Before they could start their sibling-like quarrel, Reyna asked Athena to read on.  

All the way into the city, I put up with Nancy  Bobofit , the freckly red-headed kleptomaniac girl, hitting my best friend, Grover,  

Everybody looked at the past and future Grover. Both blushed at the received attention.   

in the back of the head with chunks of peanut butter-and-ketchup sandwich.  

“I am going to kill her” mini-Percy, mini-Annabeth and every future demigod mumbled. Percy only laughed at that, which gave him some stares. Annabeth stared at him with her death glare (Some even moved away from her) “Why are you laughing. Grover is your best friend!” Percy gave her only a smile and said “You will see...” 
“Boy, did you really wanted to kill or even punch a girl? "an offended and angry Artemis asked. “No, Lady Artemis. I would only tell her to stop doing it. I was just not on the good side of the principal, so punching someone would not bring me something well.” Artemis nodded at his answer monotony. She could not figure out what to make out of this boy.  

Grover was an easy target. He was scrawny. He cried when he got frustrated. 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. He had a note excusing him from PE for the rest of his life because he had some kind of muscular disease in his legs. He walked funny, like every step hurt him,   

“Gee...Thanks, Perce for that beautiful description” Grover said as he rolled his eyes at his best friend. Percy only gave finger guns at him. Mini-Percy smiled sheepishly at his friend next to him, who rolled his eyes but had a smile on his face.  
“I wonder how you will describe the rest of us...” Connor wondered while Percy sweated at the stares he received. He, too, would like to know but has no idea what exactly they will be described at.  

but don’t let that fool you. You should’ve seen him run when it was enchilada day in the cafeteria.  

“Way to blow you cover Grover,” mini-Annabeth said at her best friend. Grover blushed, while everybody laughed at him.  

Anyway, Nancy  Bobofit  was throwing wads of sandwich that stuck in his curly brown hair,  

Many growled at that 

and she knew I couldn’t do anything back to her because I was already on probation. The headmaster had threatened me with death

“WHAT?!” Poseidon shouted while standing up. “Dad, the sentence is not finished, let Lady Athena read till the end.” a calm Percy said, while his younger self blushed at the affection his father showed to him. His father cared.   

The jealously of the others got not better after this. However, the future demigods knew that Percy needed that affection. He deserved it, after everything. 

“Oh, read Athena” Athena growled but read on. Not because he commanded her, no because she was the one with the book – her job to read right now. 

-by-in-school-suspension if anything bad, embarrassing, or even mildly entertaining happened on this trip. „I’m going to kill her,’ I mumbled.  

“Oh, that is what you meant,” Annabeth said to her boyfriend. He smiled down at her and then turned to his friend and said smugly “You all just thought like me” They were too shocked to answer, so Athena just read on.  

Grover tried to calm me down. ‘It’s okay. I like peanut butter.’  

“Yeah, but not in your hair,” Piper said frowning. Grover only blushed but does not try to address the problem. It would only end in and quarrel, where his friend tries to tell him that he is more than a fraud and so on... (He still blames himself for Thalia's death) 

He dodged another piece of Nancy’s lunch.  

‘That’s it.’ I started to get up,

“Do it” Ares and his children shouted. Frank only felt embarrassed that this was his father. Mini-Frank stared at his Greek father in shock and kind of disgust. He was never the violent one, and here he has a violent father.   What cliché....  he thought. 

but Grover pulled me back to my seat.  

“Aww, let him fight that battle” Ares complained to the book. “Ahhh... Ares” Apollo said “You know that you are talking to a book” He looked at Apollo dead serious and said, “Yeah, so what?” Artemis mumbled something like ‘idiot’ and Athena found that as the perfect moment to start reading again.

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

Poseidon paled and looked at his sons, to make sure that both were alright. The demigods of the future only shook their heads at Percy. He only shrugged his shoulder. After all, he was used to this world and her mess.  

Mr. Brunner led the museum tour. 
He rode up front in his wheelchair, guiding us through the big echoey galleries, past marble statues and glass cases full of really old black-and-orange pottery. It blew my mind that this stuff had survived for two thousand, three thousand years. 

“Longer,” all gods and some demigods said.  

He gathered us around a four-meter-tall stone column with a big sphinx on the top and started telling us how it was a grave marker, a  stele, for a girl about our age. He told us about the carvings on the sides. I was trying to listen to what he had to say, because it was kind of interesting,  

Annabeth looked proud at her boyfriend and kissed his cheek. He smiled down at her and brought her closer to himself. She nestled herself almost into his lap and started to play with his hand, as he began to play with her hair.  
Thalia, being Thalia, asked shocked “You were interested?” All his friends laughed at her reaction. Chiron looked proud at mini-Percy, who in return smiled at his teacher. Mini-Annabeth looked shocked at mini-Percy, without his notice, and then at her older self, who was so close snuggled up at her boyfriend. She could not fight the blush, which was threatened to come.  
Athena, who wanted to kind of complimented the boy for showing interest in history, now received a glare. It does not matter how much he takes interest in that field trip. He should not be so close to her daughter! 

but everybody around me was talking, and every time I told them to shut up, the other teacher chaperone,  Mrs. Dodds, would give me the evil eye.  

Chiron, Athena, and Poseidon frowned. All for different reasons. Athena frowned because no teacher should insult or disturb a student who was interested in learning, even if that someone was a son of the sea god. Chiron frowned because he had suspected that Mrs. Dodds would be a monster and that was proof enough. Poseidon frowned because his son did not do anything wrong and still got on the bad side. He does not like that. 
“A Monster?” Will asked Percy, who nodded. This got everyone's attention. They wanted to know which kind of monster that was and how it got dealt with 

Mrs. Dodds was this little maths 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 maths teacher had a nervous breakdown.  

Hades, Nico, Hazel, and Persephone frowned. They knew Mrs. Dodds for some reasons.  

From her first day,  Mrs. Dodds loved Nancy  Bobofit and figured I was devil spawn.   

“No, that is Nico,” Reyna said. “Yeah..., wait, wh-” Everyone laughed at that. 

 Again, the gods realized that the future demigods could easily destroy the heavy tension in the room. They just wonder,  how can they talk about this so easily?  

She would point her crooked finger at me and say, ‘Now, honey,’ real sweet, and I knew I was going to get after-school detention for a month.  

“A MONTH?!” the Hermes kids screamed. No surprise here, because troublemaker knew about punishments more than anyone else. Travis, Connor, and Chris turned to Percy with new respect and that made Percy nervous. You can never know about a son of Hermes.  
“Honey...” Nico mumbled to himself as if it would help to recall memories.

One time, after she’d made me erase answers out of old maths workbooks until midnight, I told Grover I didn’t think  Mrs. Dodds was „human. He looked at me real serious and said, ‘You’re absolutely right.’  

“Grover!” mini-Annabeth and Thalia shouted. Both Grovers decently looked away. Chiron just shook his head.  

Mr. Brunner kept talking about Greek funeral art.  

Finally, Nancy  Bobofit  snickered something about the naked guy on the stele, and I turned around and said, ‘Will you shut up?’  

“Five drachmas that it came louder out than he meant to?” Leo asked the Stoll's brother. “You are on” They all gave the Drachmas to Katie, who would give it the winner at the end.   

It came out louder than I meant it to.  

“Whoop! Mister Hot Stuff always wins! Pay up losers” Leo said. Katie gave him the Drachmas, as the Stoll’s sulked in their spot. Travis looked pointily to Percy “If we make a bet next time, warn us” Percy only smiled cruelly and said, “It would not be a bet, without a risk.” Hermes nodded at his words. 

The Hunters only rolled their eyes at the childish act of the boys.    

The whole group laughed. Mr. Brunner stopped his story. 
‘Mr. Jackson,’ he said, ‘did you have a comment?’ 
My face was totally red. I said, ‘No, sir.’ 

For some reason, Percys face started to feel red, which unsettled him out. He struggled it off and focused on the reading. 

Mr. Brunner pointed to one of the pictures on the stele. ‘Perhaps you’ll tell us what this picture represents?’ 
I looked at the carving, and felt a flush of relief, because I actually recognized it. ‘That’s Kronos eating his kids, right?’ 

“It has to be this one, doesn’t it?” Hera asked, as Zeus tied to aid her by patting her hand. He was happy that he was not eaten by their cruel father. He did not want that Memorie.  

‘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 – ‘  

“GODS!” Zeus thundered. “I think, Lord Zeus, that I will be correcting the young demigod.” defend Chiron mini-Percy, who was frightened in his seat. Older Percy only rolled his eyes at Zeus.  

‘God?’  Mr  Brunner asked.  

Zeus nodded at that in satisfaction, while his brothers rolled his eyes at him.  

‘Titan,’ I corrected myself. ‘And… he didn’t trust his kids, who were the gods. So, um, Kronos ate them, right? But his wife hid baby Zeus, and gave Kronos a rock to eat instead. And later, when  Zeus grew up, he tricked his dad, Kronos, into barfing up his brothers and sisters –’  

‘ Eeew !’ said one of the girls behind me.  

“Yes, ‘eww’ describes it well.” Demeter said. 

‘– and  so  there was this big fight between the gods and the Titans,’ I continued, ‘and the gods won.’  

A shocked Athena turned to Percy and said “You just summarized a long war into ‘there was this big fight between the gods and the Titans and the gods won’” Percy only shrugged, while Rachel said “That is a gift of his.” Athena could only nod before starting to read again.  

Some snickers from the group.  

“Why? you were right.” Katie asked. Nobody gave her an answer.  

Behind me, Nancy  Bobofit  mumbled to a friend, ‘Like we’re going to use this in real life. Like it’s going to say on our job applications, “Please explain why Kronos ate his kids”.’  

Hermes turned to Apollo and said “Let's do this” Apollo nodded with a mischievous smile. All gods moved a few meters away from them. Athena started to read again, for her and everyone’s mental health. You never know with them.  

‘And why,  Mr  Jackson,’ Brunner said, ‘to paraphrase Miss  Bobofit’s  excellent question, does this matter in real life?’  

“Busted” Frank muttered. 

‘Busted,’ Grover muttered.  

Frank and mini-Frank turned red as Leo shouted: “Frank thinks like a Satyr!” 

Athena ignored the laughing demigods and started to read again. 

‘Shut up,’ Nancy hissed, her face even brighter red than her hair. At least Nancy got in trouble, too.  Mr. Brunner was the only one who ever caught her saying anything wrong. He had radar ears.  

“Close, Seaweed Brain” Annabeth murmur, as she snuggled closer to Percy. She was right now in his lap, with her head on his shoulder. His head atop of hers as he started to live patterns with his fingers. Always in a rhythm, which made Annabeth think of Mors code. She started to concentrate on his pattern.  

I thought about his question, and shrugged. ‘I don’t know, sir.' 'I see.’  Mr. Brunner looked disappointed.   

Chiron turned to Mini-Percy “I had hoped you would realize that the Greek and the Roman world exist” Mini-Percy smiled rescued at Chiron “No worry, Mr. Br- I mean Chiron” Chiron smiled at him  

‘Well, half credit,  Mr. Jackson. Zeus did indeed feed Kronos a mixture of mustard and wine, which made him disgorge his other five children, who, of course, being immortal gods, had been living and growing up completely undigested in the Titan’s stomach.  

“How is that even possible?” Connor asked, “How big was his stomach?” The sons and daughters of Kronos looked at him funnily but gave him no answer. Katie sighed before hitting his head. “Don't ask such a personal question” “But Katie, he has a point” said Chris. Clarisse looked at her boyfriend oddly “Not you too”  
Athena having lost her nerves, started to read again.  

The gods defeated their father, sliced him to pieces with his own scythe, and scattered his remains in Tartarus, the darkest part of the Underworld. On that happy note, it’s time for lunch. Mrs. Dodds, would you lead us back outside?’ 
The class drifted off, the girls holding their stomachs, the guys pushing each other around and acting like doofuses. 

“Like always,” Zoë said as she rolled her eyes. “Hey!” some Campers shouted. Percy looked at Zoë before answering “You now, at some point you realize that not all boys are like him  ” 

Zoë, being in too much shock of his comment about him, could not counter back, so Athena started to read again. The other Hunters looked at their lieutenant concerned. Artemis looked at Percy as if to read his thought.  

Grover and I were about to follow when  Mr. Brunner said, ‘ Mr. Jackson.’ I knew that was coming.   

“Oh, really?” Rachel asked Percy. He stuck his tongue out at her 

I told Grover to keep going. Then I turned towards  Mr. Brunner. ‘Sir?’  Mr. Brunner had this look that wouldn’t let you go – intense brown eyes that could’ve been a thousand years old and had seen everything.  

Observant  Athena thought. 

‘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.’ ‘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.’ I wanted to get angry, this guy pushed me so hard.  

“For your own good,” Annabeth said as she snuggled closer to Percy. She deciphered the paddle of Percy as ‘I Love You's and she could not be any happier. Percy smiled lovely at her before saying “I know” Aphrodite shrieked out at their affection.  
Mini-Percy smiled sheepishly at Chiron before apologizing. Chiron only shakes his head and told him not to worry about it.  

I mean, sure, it was kind of cool on tournament days, when he dressed up in a suit of Roman armor and shouted: ‘What ho!’ and challenged us, sword-point against chalk, to run to the board and name every Greek and Roman person who had ever lived, and their mother, and what god they worshipped.  

“Cool,” many children muttered. 

But  Mr. Brunner expected me to be as good as everybody else, despite the fact I have dyslexia and attention deficit disorder and I had never made above a C- in my life.   

Athena looked up from the book and stared at her daughter. “and you are dating someone like that?” “Yes, mother,” Annabeth said “because Percy’s strength does not lie in school and their work. No, his strength lies in his heart and how much he gives to others. And also, his grades started to get better, still some C- but also some B and B+.” “Thanks to you,” Percy said as he kissed her temple. Athena was stunned. Her daughter defended the son of Poseidon against her. She was so much in shock, that Zeus needed to ask her to read on.  
Poseidon gave a smug smile in Athena’s way and a lovely and proud smile to Annabeth. She smiled in return to the sea god. 
Mini-Annabeth was shocked at herself. She justified a son of the sea god and that against HER mother. She still does not know what really Percy did for her, but made a decision as she stood up. She made her way to him and set on the other side of Mini-Grover. Both gave her a glance but said no more, while the others stared at her funnily mostly her brother, sisters, and her mother. She ignores them.

No – he didn’t expect me to be as good; he expected me to be better. And I just couldn’t learn all those names and facts, much less spell them correctly.  

“Sadly, I almost know all of them now,” Percy muttered. Some, who heard him, gave him an odd look but said no more.  

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. 

“Probably” Chiron sighted. The demigods and some gods gave him a sad smile. 

 
He told me to go outside and eat my lunch. The class gathered on the front steps of the museum, where we could watch the foot traffic along Fifth Avenue. Overhead, a huge storm was brewing, with clouds blacker than I’d ever seen over the city.  

The gods gave Zeus a pointedly look. “What?” asked he. “Why are you so angry?” Demeter asked in return. He shrugged his shoulder and looked at the demigods from the future for some information. They only said “It will be mentioned in the book” and said no more. The gods looked grumbly for not getting a straight answer but obliged.  

I figured maybe it was global warming or something, because the weather all across New York state had been weird since Christmas. We’d had massive snow storms, flooding, wildfires from lightning strikes. I wouldn’t have been surprised if this was a hurricane blowing in. 

Now the gods and some demigods looked at the god of the sea and the god of the sky. They both looked concerned at each other.  Why were they angry?   

 
Nobody else seemed to notice.  

Hecate pursued her lips. Why would she strengthen the mist? 

Some of the guys were pelting pigeons with Lunchables crackers.  

The Hunters rolled their eyes.  

Nancy  Bobofit  was trying to pickpocket something from a lady’s bag,  

"Your kid?” Apollo asked Hermes. He rolled his eyes and said “She TRIED. My kids would have already succeeded.” while smiling at his children. Everyone but Luke smiled back. Hermes frowned at his son and looked sadly away.  It was to save him...  he tried to persuade himself.  

Luke could right now not look at his father.   His  voice is too loud in his head. He cannot longer ignore  his  will. But can he really steel two powerful weapons? 

and, of course,  Mrs  Dodds wasn’t seeing a thing.  

“Like always...” many demigods mumbled. The gods were more upsetting that their children teachers paid no attention to their children. 

 
Grover and I sat on the edge of the fountain, away from the others. We thought that maybe if we did that, everybody wouldn’t know we were from that school – „the school for loser freaks who couldn’t make it elsewhere. 
‘Detention?’ Grover asked. 
‘Nah,’ I said. ‘Not from Brunner. I just wish he’d lay off me sometimes. I mean – I’m not a genius.’ 

“understatement” Piper said teasily. “Hey!” Percy said as the rest laughed. 

 
Grover didn’t say anything for a while. Then, when I thought he was going to give me some deep philosophical comment to make me feel better, he said, ‘Can I have your apple?’ 

This brought another round of laughter as both Grovers blushed. Mini-Grover even tried to apologize but mini-Percy said he should not worry about it. 

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

“What?! But you eat so much!” Hazel said as the others laughed, while Percy and min-Percy blushed. The others could understand why she was shocked, after all, Percy eats for like a whole army. “I have never seen you without an appetite,” Nico said. “Don’t forget that one winter.” Thalia reminded him. Annabeth’s eyebrows closed as she tried to remember that specific winter. Finally, she gave up and asked “Which winter?” Percy’s grip on her got stronger, as he recalled the memories “The one where you got kidnapped.” “He was so worried; he did not even touch his food. We needed to force him to eat.” Will said as he gave a pointed look at Percy. “Percy!” Annabeth shouted, “You should take care of your health!” Piper cleared her throat “Like you are the one to talk, Annabeth. Don’t forget the time when Percy got kidnapped” Annabeth blushed as she settled herself against Percy again. Percy only chuckles at his girlfriend before planting a kiss on her head.  
 
The gods and past demigods gave them a disoriented look but knew that asking would not bring them further. So, they concentrated on reading.  
 
Poseidon and Athena only sighed, but could not shake their worry away. Why were their children kidnapped? 

 
I watched the stream of cabs going down Fifth Avenue, and thought about my mom’s apartment, only a little ways uptown from where we sat. I hadn’t seen her since Christmas. I wanted so bad to jump in a taxi and head home. 

 
“Whimp,” said Ares. Percy only gave him a cold look “Yeah, so what. I am proud to call me a mamma boy” The others nodded. Some even said “With Sally, I would too.” which kind of shocked some gods and demigods. Now they were impatient to know more about that woman.  
Poseidon only smiled at his son and his friends. He knows how they fell; Sally was a special person.  
Mini-Percy, however, looked at them curios “Have you all meet my mom, or how do you know her?” Surprisingly, Clarisse answered him “Yeah, we have met your mother. Her apartment is kind of a safe house for us demigods. And as you know, she likes to help.” Mini-Percy nodded at her words, while the other demigods gave him a jealous and gleeful look. Jealous, because not all parents are like her and gleeful, because one demigod got a nice parent.  

She’d hug me and be glad to see me, but she’d be disappointed, too. She’d send me right back to Yancy, remind me that I had to try harder, even if this was my sixth school in six years  

Someone whistle “You have won” Travis said, as his brother nodded. Percy only rolled his eyes. 

and I was probably going to be kicked out again. I wouldn’t be able to stand that sad look she’d give me. 
Mr Brunner parked his wheelchair at the base of the handicapped ramp. He ate celery while he read a paperback novel. A red umbrella stuck up from the back of his chair, making it look like a motorized café table. 

Leo, mini-Leo and some Hephaestus kids started to take notes of that description.  

I was about to unwrap my sandwich when Nancy Bobofit appeared in front of me with her ugly friends – I guess she’d gotten tired of stealing from the tourists – and dumped her half-eaten lunch in Grover’s lap. 

“Oh, that girl gets killed,” Thalia said as her knuckles turned white for having a too hard grip. All future demigods and some past demigods who know Grover agreed. Even Luke, who was for some reason too quiet, that some even forgot he was there. His sibling even exchanged a worried look over the reading. Luke was never quiet. 
 
Both Grovers blushed. Mini-Percy and Mini-Annabeth moved even closer to him. 

 
‘Oops.’  

“OHHH.... I am going to take your ‘Oops’ and shove it yo-” “Thalia, there are children” Katie tried to remind her, but that did not stop Thalia. She only changed the language to ancient Greek. Wich did not help the Greek demigods.  

She grinned at me with her crooked teeth. Her freckles were orange, as if somebody had spray-painted her face with liquid Cheetos. 
I tried to stay cool.  

His friends roll their eyes “As if you could stay calm, while a friend of yours get bullied.” Percy shrugged his shoulder, knowing that they were right.  

The gods exchanged a look. Maybe he got the impulsive side of Poseidon. Amphitrite rolled her eyes. Of course, his children inherited his impulsive side. The sea does not like to be restrained, as he likes to say. 

The school counsellor had told me a million times, ‘Count to ten, get control of your temper.’ But I was so mad my mind went blank.  

“So, you are saying that your mind is not always blank” Thalia asked innocently. Percy stuck his tongue out at her, as the others laughed. 

A wave roared in my ears. 
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. 

“Monster...” many People mumbled.  

Some of the kids were whispering: ‘Did you see –’ 

‘– the water –’ 
‘– like it grabbed her –’ 
I didn’t know what they were talking about.  

“Like always” Rachel said. Percy ignored her and the rest as they giggles.  It was good to be normal again, he thought as he snuggled closer to Annabeth.   

All I knew was that I was in trouble again.  

As soon as  Mrs  Dodds was sure poor little Nancy was okay, promising to get her a new shirt at the museum gift shop, etc., etc.,  Mrs  Dodds turned on me. There was a triumphant fire in her eyes, as if I’d done something she’d been waiting for all semester.   

Chiron sighed. He should have known from the beginning.  

‘Now, honey –’ 
‘I know,’ I grumbled. ‘A month erasing textbooks.’ 

“NO!” Hermes and his children shouted. Hermes looked at Percy before saying “Never guess your punishment. That is rule 9.” Percy being too stunned to talk because of that outburst of Hermes, and his demigod children, only nodded.  

Luke did not know what came over him, but this story got all his attention for some reason. Like it wants to tell him something.   Great, I am going as insane as my mom...   

 “  Wait, you have a book with rules?” Apollo asked amused his brother. “Yes, why do you ask,” Hermes asked. “Well, why should your kids listen to rules? Should it not be the other way around?” Hermes snorted. “Do you really think they would have read the book?” This only confused Apollo and some more, but he knew that talking further would not bring any light to his confusion.  

 
That wasn’t the right thing to say. 

Hermes and his kids nodded. 

 
‘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. She glared at him so hard his whiskery chin trembled. ‘I don’t think so, Mr Underwood,’ she said. ‘But –’ ‘You – will– stay – here.’ 
Grover looked at me desperately. 
‘It’s okay, man,’ I told him. ‘Thanks for trying.’ 

“Really, thanks for trying” Percy said to his best friend. Grover blushed but smiled at him.  

 
‘Honey,’ Mrs Dodds barked at me. ‘Now.’ Nancy Bobofit smirked. 
I gave her my deluxe I’ll-kill-you-later stare.  

The demigods of the future, except Percy, shivered. This caught the attention of the past people. “Why were you shivering?” Silena asked the future demigods. “Percy’s ‘I’ll-kill-you-later' glare is scary,” Leo said while clinging to Calypso more. She in return only looked half annoyed. The rest nodded along as Percy smiled in satisfaction. “Even you, Annabeth?” Silena asked, again. It was kind of strange that her boyfriend would give her that stare. Annabeth nodded “I was the first person from us all to get that stare. After all, Poseidon and Athena have a rivalry” Silena nodded.   It made sense  she thought  but that also means that they went from enemy to lovers. Mom did well.  She smiled up at her Mother, who winked at her.  

I then turned to face Mrs Dodds, but she wasn’t there. She was standing at the museum entrance, way at the top of the steps, gesturing impatiently at me to come on. 
How’d she get there so fast? 

“That did not ring any bells?” a worried Hazel asked Percy. He shakes his head “I had no idea that monsters existed”  

 
I have moments like that a lot, when my brain falls asleep or something, and the next thing I know I’ve missed something, as if a puzzle piece fell out of the universe and left me staring at the blank place behind it. The school counsellor told me this was part of the ADHD, my brain misinterpreting things. 
 

“No, that would be the mist” Hecate said. 

I wasn’t so sure. 
I went after Mrs Dodds. „Halfway up the steps, I glanced back at Grover. He was looking pale, cutting his eyes between me and Mr Brunner, like he wanted Mr Brunner to notice what was going on, but Mr Brunner was absorbed in his novel. 

“Chiron!” yelled a pale Poseidon. Chiron shakes his head and looked at Percy “I am sorry that I did not notice your situation.” Percy only said to not worry, and that everything went well.  

 
I looked back up. Mrs Dodds had disappeared again. She was now inside the building, at the end of the entrance hall. 
Okay, I thought. She’s going to make me buy a new shirt for Nancy at the gift shop. 

“I wish...” Percy mumbled, which got everyone's attention. Everyone was now curious to know which monster he had fought first. 

 
But apparently that wasn’t the plan. 

“It never is...” Chris muttered.  

 
I followed her deeper into the museum. When I finally caught up to her, we were back in the Greek and Roman section. 
Except for us, the gallery was empty. 

“Of course, it was...” Piper mumbled as she snuggled closer to Jason, who gripped her more, to get her closer. As much as he loved Piper, he was not used to showing PDA, so both of them try to tone it down. Sometimes it works, and sometimes not.  

 
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. 
Even without the noise, I would’ve been nervous. It’s weird being alone with a teacher, especially Mrs Dodds. Something about the way she looked at the frieze, as if she wanted to pulverize it… 
‘You’ve been giving us problems, honey,’ she said. 
I did the safe thing.  

The future demigods laughed at that. The gods and past demigods looked at them funnily. Why would someone laugh at such an intense situation? Will remarked on the confused looks and started to explain “Percy is a person who never does a safe thing. It is just an irony to us that he did a safe thing” The gods and past demigods nodded at the explanation, while mini-Percy blushed at the attention. 

I said, ‘Yes, ma’am.’  

Now every future demigod was surprised. “You...” Travis started “... were just...” Connor continued “...respectful” Chris finished. “I can be respectful” Percy stated. Annabeth rolled her eyes “After they earned his respect, they got his” she explained. Thalia snorted “Explains why you are never respectful to some gods” Percy smiled smugly “Thy need to earn it, and still today some did not. So, they do not archive my respect” Poseidon looked more worried at his son, but knew how he felt. After all, that was his kid.  
While some gods looked at him like they wanted to kill him. The others looked amused at him like they could not believe someone just said that. 
 
Athena asked herself for the hundredth time, why her daughter is dating someone like that.  

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. 

“Too much hope” Clarisse grumbled. “I know” Percy replied. 

 
I said, ‘I’ll – I’ll try harder, ma’am.’ Thunder shook the building. 

“Zeus?!” Poseidon shouted. Zeus only shrugged his shoulder. He does not know why he was so angry. Maybe he knew that Percy was Poseidon's son, but then there would be more monsters after him (do not tell that Poseidon). So, he settled on “Future” and asked Athena to read on. Poseidon still glared at his younger brother and so did some of his sisters.  

 
‘We are not fools, Percy Jackson,’ Mrs Dodds said. ‘It was only a matter of time before we found you out. Confess, and you will suffer less pain.’ 
I didn’t know what she was talking about. 

“When do you?” Jason asked his cousin playfully. Percy only punched his shoulder.  

 
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 room.  

Leo, Travis, Connor, Chris, and the past Hermes children looked at Percy with respect. “How much did you make?” Travis asked “Travis!” Katie shouted at her boyfriend. Percy thought for a moment before answering “35$” Chris, Leo, Connor, and Travis high five Percy, while the girls rolled their eyes at the boys.  

“It is sad that you are not one of mine,” Hermes said as he looked pleadingly at Poseidon. “No, for the last time” Hermes sighed. Luke shakes his head at his father's behavior.  He has enough kids but wants another one  said a voice in his head   He does not love you all.   He knew that he should not hear the voice, but he was right. He should steel the lightning bolt and the helm of darkness.  

The hunters rolled their eyes at the boys. They could not believe that they thought that he was different.    

Or maybe they’d realized I got my essay on Tom Sawyer from the Internet without ever reading the book and now they were going to take away my grade. Or worse, they were going to make me read the book.  

Thalia stared at her best friend “Why are you not shouting at him?” she asked. Annabeth smiled at her “I made him read it” Thalia nodded at her and seated down in her seat again. Athena nodded proudly at her daughter, while mini-Percy pouted at his future girlfriend. Mini-Annabeth only rolled her eyes at him. 

 
‘Well?’ she demanded. ‘Ma’am, I don’t…’ 
‘Your time is up,’ she hissed. Then the weirdest thing happened. Her eyes began to glow like barbecue coals. Her fingers stretched, turning into talons. Her jacket melted into large, leathery wings. She wasn’t human. She was a shriveled hag with bat wings and claws and a mouth full of yellow fangs, and she was about to slice me to ribbons. 

 
“YOU SEND A FURY AFTER MY SON?!!” shouted an angry Poseidon at his older brother. He only replied “Yes, it seems so” which made the situation not any better. Percy, being Percy, tied to rescued his Uncle “Dad, I am here and alive. And don’t forget that this did not happen in your time, so your Percy will not experience something like that” Poseidon looked sadly at his son “You are my son too. I will worry, even if you are not from my future” Percy blushed at his dad's statement, feeling more loved than ever. The other demigods felt more jealously at that. Why could their parents not be like Poseidon? 
That did not stop Persephone to yell at her husband for sending a fury after a CHILD!! 

 
Then things got even stranger. 

“How?” many asked but did not archived an answer. Piper snorted "With you everything is strange" "Says the one with strange hair for a daughter of Aphrodite" Percy countered. Piper was about to retort but Jason asked politely to read on. 

 
Mr Brunner, who’d been out in front of the museum a minute before, wheeled his chair into the doorway of the gallery, holding a pen in his hand. 

His friend started to relax after realizing what that pen meant. “A pen?” Ares asked “What should he do with that? Write some notes?” he asked Chiron. Chiron only smiled at the god of war and asked Athena kindly to read on.  

 
‘What ho, Percy!’ he shouted, and tossed the pen through the air. Mrs Dodds lunged at me. 
With a yelp, I dodged and felt talons slash the air next to my ear. I snatched the ballpoint pen out of the air, but when it hit my hand, it wasn’t a pen any more. It was a sword  

“Oh,” Ares said dumbly. Percy and his friends snickered at his look but composed themself as they received a glare from Athena.  

– Mr Brunner’s bronze sword, which he always used on tournament day. Mrs Dodds spun towards me with a murderous look in her eyes. 
My knees were jelly. My hands were shaking so bad I almost dropped the sword. 

“Whimp” Ares and some of his kids said. Clarisse wanted to join in but realized how good Percy is with that sword, which made her shut her mouth up.  

For some reason, Percy’s leg felt strange and his hands were sweating more than normal.   Just as the book described it...  he thought. He shakes his head. He needs to concentrate on the story and maybe later think about that 'prize'. 

Annabeth looked at him with those curious eyes and he shakes his head and whispered “later” she nodded. Later they will talk.  

 
She snarled, ‘Die, honey!’ And she flew straight at me. 

 
Poseidon was now paler than pale at that point. It kind of made Percy worry about his father. If he will be worried about just the beginning (not even the quest itself) then how can he learn about the pit or the wars? 

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

 
“How is that naturally?” Piper asked. Percy shrugged his shoulder “Reflex?” but his answer came more out as a question than a statement. Ares too asked himself that question. Not even his children would have won this battle without any experience.

 
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 in a power fan. 

 
“No way,” Hades and Ares said astronautic. Most gods were just like them in shock. A demigod just killed a fury without any training.  
The Campers, Roman and Greek alike, cheered at his win. (Except Octavian and his minion, they still don’t trust the Greeks. But they are at the presence of the gods – they need to behave) 
Poseidon and his wife looked proudly at Percy and Mini-Percy. They both realized that Percy is/would be a powerful demigod. 
Percy’s friend hit him or congratulate him. They did not want to push his ego, as Thalia explained.  

  She exploded into yellow powder, vaporized on the spot, leaving nothing but the smell of  sulphur  and a dying screech and a chill of evil in the air, as if those two glowing red eyes were still watching me.  

Percy had the urge to turn around and search for these red eyes, even that he knows that they would not be there. 

 
I was alone. There was a ballpoint pen in my hand. Mr Brunner wasn’t there. Nobody was there but me. My hands were still trembling. 

 
His hands started to tremble. He exhaled a long breath. If his guess was correct, then there will be a lot of pain and worry. He does not need that. 

My lunch must’ve been contaminated with magic mushrooms  

The Stoll’s snickered.  

or something. Had I imagined the whole thing? I went back outside. It had started to rain. Grover was sitting by the fountain, a museum map tented over his head. Nancy  Bobofit  was still standing there, soaked from her swim in the fountain, grumbling to her ugly friends. When she saw me, she said, ‘I hope  Mrs  Kerr whipped your butt.’  

“Who?” many asked. Percy chuckled at that.  

 
I said, ‘Who?’ 

There was some laughter, but nobody ‘dared’ to break the tension.  

 
‘Our teacher. Duh!’ 
I blinked. We had no teacher named Mrs Kerr. I asked Nancy what she was talking about. 
She just rolled her eyes and turned away. 
I asked Grover where Mrs Dodds was. 
He said, ‘Who?’ 

“let me guess” Will started “He could not foul you?” Percy nodded as Grover and mini-Grover blushed. Hermes muttered about ‘how Satyr’s could not lie’ and ‘they need to learn’ 

 
But he paused first, and he wouldn’t look at me, so I thought he was messing with me. „Not funny, man,’ I told him. ‘This is serious.’ Thunder boomed overhead.

"You really need to learn how to lie," Hermes said to Grover. "On it, Dad," said Travis, while Connor writes that down on their 'To-do'-list. Hermes sends them a proud smile, which made them blush. 

 
I saw Mr Brunner sitting under his red umbrella, reading his book, as if he’d never moved. 
I went over to him. He looked up, a little distracted. ‘Ah, that would be my pen. Please bring your own writing utensil in the future, Mr Jackson.’ 
I handed it over. I hadn’t even realized I was still holding it. 
‘Sir,’ I said, ‘where’s Mrs Dodds?’ 
He stared at me blankly. ‘Who?’ 
‘The other chaperone. Mrs Dodds. The maths teacher.’ 
He frowned and sat forward, looking mildly concerned. ‘Percy, there is no Mrs Dodds on this trip. As far as I know, there has never been a Mrs Dodds at Yancy Academy. Are you feeling all right? 

“Now that is a good liar” Hermes praised Chiron, who faintly blushed in return. 

Poseidon furrowed his eyebrow together “But why would you lie to him?” Chiron too looked confused at that question. “I don’t know, Lord Poseidon” The future demigods gave no answer, so they knew that it will be mentioned in the book.  

Athena held the book up in the air and asked “Who wants to read next”. “Before we read next” stated Percy “I would like to discuss some things – Important things” 

This got everyone's attention.  

Chapter Text

Athena held the book up in the air and asked, “Who wants to read next”. “Before we read next” stated Percy “I would like to discuss some things – Important things.”

This got most people's attention. 

“What do you mean, son?” Poseidon asked.

 Percy fidgets with his hands before answering: “Well, for one I think I have figured out what the prize is.”

Everyone stopped breathing.

“You figured it out?” Clarisse asked stunned. Percy only nodded grimly.

“Well...” he started “I was the only one who could have undergone it, till now”

His friends looked at him frightened and terrified.

If Percy was intimidated by that ‘Price’ then they need to be concerned about it. 

Percy took a deep breath before explaining: “When something is described, like how my legs are shaking, my physical body will suffer the same description. This implies that each description about our physical well-being in the book will make us feel the same in our real body.” Most all people of the future started to get pale.

“Oh, gods...,” said Reyna. “Does that imply to everything?”

“Till now, I cannot say...” Percy started “We have only read one chapter.”

Everything was for a moment quiet till suddenly Annabeth grasped for Percy's hand. “Is ‘You know where' in one of those books?” she asked it as if her existence was on the line, which made some people anxious. If Annabeth feared something in those books, then that means that the future is fucked up. The other future demigods looked scared and terrified even more. 

Percy looked down before his gaze shifted to the pile on the floor. Slowly, he stood up and went to them. His hands were shaking as he reached to the first book and then the next, till he stopped at one book. Everyone could see his tensed shoulders and his shaking hands. 

As he opened that book everyone had held their breath.

“No...” Percy mumbled.

“What...What is it, Percy?” asked Jason scared.

Percy turned to them with fear in his eyes. “It’s here. We... We are gone to endure it again. But not only Annabeth and me. The perspectives are changing. It is going to be about you all too.” Percy declared.

Now every one of the future was shaking or looking like they have seen a ghost.

As the others watched with worry, Poseidon finally found his voice and asked what they were scared about. But nobody of the future gave him an answer.

He looked at the other gods as if they had an answer, but everyone struggled their shoulders.

While the gods looked lost, every demigod looked nervous and panicky at the future demigods. Why would so many good trained demigods look so scared of some books? As amusing as it sounds, it was their future. This means they are going to relieve this.

Luke looked worried at his family. Well... Future family. Why are they so scared? He does not understand it. Was it because of him? he asked himself. He only shook his head. Thinking will not bring him further, only reading it. He was about to ask to read on when Athena voiced his idea, with the logic that reading on will bring them ahead.

As the future demigods nodded still in shock, Artemis took the book from Athena and started to read.

Three Old Ladies Knit the Socks of Death

"Oh, gods," Percy whispered as he paled. Grover bleated while starting to eat the furniture, which was a sign that he was nervous. Annabeth slowly turned her gaze from Grover to Percy. "Percy," she started "what did you not tell me?"
"That I love you?" he tried. Annabeth only signed as she shook her head. She will find out when they will read on. Aphrodite signed happily, while Athena tried not to barf.

Mini-Annabeth and mini-Percy blushed at his words. They still could not get over the fact that they were dating. 

I was used to the occasional weird experience,

"It is kind of sad that we agree with you," said Piper. Percy only rolled his eyes while his friends agreed. 
Mini-Percy tried but failed, not to blush as the present demigods looked at him. 

but usually they were over quickly. This twenty-four/seven hallucination was more than I could handle. For the rest of the school year, the entire campus seemed to be playing some kind of trick on me. The students acted as if they were completely and totally convinced that Mrs Kerr – a perky blonde 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 maths teacher since Christmas.

"Oh, that must have felt like you went insane," Chris declared. Many demigods nodded along. "Yeah, I constantly believed that they played some trick on me. Like that a cameraman would jump from the nearest bush and shout: `Surprise, it was a prank! `" Percy said.

"Dude," Conner said as he turned to Travis "We need to do this!" Before both could discuss their plan for this prank, Katie turned to Artemis and asked her to read on. Everyone ignored the whine of the Hermes cabin and Hermes himself.

Every so often I would spring a Mrs. Dodds reference on somebody, just to see if I could trip them up,

"Would not work, “ said Hecate. Percy only rolled his eyes while his younger self blushed.

but they would stare at me like I was psycho.

"Sorry, to break your bubble, Percy," Clarisse said "You are a psycho." Percy only rolled his eyes while his friends laughed. 

While older Percy laughed with his friends, younger Percy tried to hide into the couch and behind his friends. I am a psycho, he thought. As if his seat neighbor sensed his mistress, they reached over to pet him on his knees or shoulders. Annabeth and Grover even reached for his hands. 

It got so I almost believed them – Mrs. Dodds had never existed.

"Almost?" younger Katie asked. Luke, younger Annabeth, and all future demigods groaned out. "Grover!" they shouted. Grover and little Grover turned red as everyone laughed. Even the Romans and some gods cracked a smile.

Almost.

But Grover couldn’t fool me.

"Satyr's need to learn to lie," Hermes said as he shook his head. "Why should they lie, if they could have cereal," said Demeter. Hades and Persephone groaned. Artemis started to read before Hades and Demeter could get into a fight.

When I mentioned the name Dodds to him, he would hesitate, then claim she didn’t exist. But I knew he was lying.

Chiron shook his head. He knew that Grover had some problems with Mrs. Dodds. Just that he had hoped he would be better at hiding it.

"Sorry Grover," mini-Percy said, "You just can't lie, and I know you only half a year." This brought some more laughter. Hermes signed and was about to say that he should join one of his lying lessons however, his children got him before he could open his mouth. All children of Hermes of the past were surrounding Grover as if their life depended on it. Even Luke. But he was for a different reason there. He tried to tell them that he had many talks and lessons with Grover, but nobody wanted to hear from it, so he just seated himself next to Annabeth. Mini-Annabeth blushed at his closeness, while mini-Percy pouted (out of jealously, which brought some more laughter from the future demigods and a blush to Percy's face).

Something was going on. Something had happened at the museum.

Piper snorted unladylike (Which brought a frown on Aphrodite’s face and a smirk at Artemis). "You think?" Percy was about to retort, but Annabeth put a hand over his mouth and asked Artemis to read on. 

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

"Oh, that is a strange feeling," Percy said as he examined his hands and then his body. "So," Will started "Even some little details will be going to affect us." He concluded. Percy could only nod. After that, the future demigods were all in deep thought, worrying about the details of the books.

The freak weather continued ,

"Why are you both so angry?"  Amphitrite asked. Both brothers shrugged. "It's in the future, how should we know" Zeus replied.

One night, a thunderstorm blew out the windows in my dorm room.

"ZEUS!" Poseidon shouted as he stood up "If you harm my son..." he let the threat hang in the air as he sat on his throne down. Mini-Percy and Percy blushed at their father concerning words, while Triton rolled his eyes. His father loved to protect his mortal children but gave no second thought about his immortal children. That is why Triton never liked his father's children. Zeus gulped and looked at Artemis, as to sign her to read on.

Every other demigod looked jealously or angry at the gods. Why could they not be like Poseidon? they asked themself.

That is why HE wants to help, a little voice in Luke's head said. Nobody but mini-Percy noticed the tensed shoulders of Luke, so he did not even think about it as he grabbed Luke's hand. Luke being brought out of his thought looked down at the other hand and then at mini-Percy's worried face. He smiled at him and waved him off. Do not look suspicious, a voice in his head said so he turned to Artemis as she read on.

A few days later, the biggest tornado ever spotted in the Hudson Valley touched down only fifty miles from Yancy Academy. 

"Oh, dear" Amphitrite's sighed worriedly.

One of the current events we studied in social studies class was the unusual number of small planes that had gone down in sudden squalls in the Atlantic that year.

"Zeus!" many gods and demigods (mostly the future demigods) shouted at Zeus. He only groaned and tried to hide in his throne more. Hades, Persephone, Hazel, and Nico sighted. They know that the Underworld was full but now it needs a new extension.

I started feeling cranky and irritable most of the time.

"I hate those books" Percy grumbled. Every demigod and even some gods gave him a pitying look, but he just waved it off. Annabeth leaned more into him, which he was grateful for. He loved it when she was so close to him.

My grades slipped from Ds to Fs.

Athena paled as she heard that sentence. "And you are dating him?" she asked her daughter. Annabeth looked sternly at her mother before answering: "Yes mother, I am dating him. And his marks are not so bad anymore. Still some C's but mostly B’s, “ "Thanks to you," said Percy. Annabeth smiled at him.

Athena was too stunned to respond, so Artemis started to read again.

Even some Demigods were too stunned to even say something. Annabeth was an obliged child. She would never speak to Athena like that - not to her mother. So, they wondered what happened.

I got into more fights with Nancy Bobofit and her friends. I was sent out into the hallway in almost every class.

Finally, when our English teacher, Mr Nicoll, asked me for the millionth time why I was too lazy to study for spelling tests, I snapped. I called him an old sot.

Suddenly, all educated demigods - mostly the Romans, the Athena cabin, and the future demigods - laughed.

"What?" asked a confused mini-Travis. Mini-Katie rolled her eyes "It means heavy drinker." Gosh, she could not believe that she was dating him in the future. What was her future self-thinking?

She looked over to her future self and was blushing immediately. Do they need to be so close and does his hand needs to be so low on her back? she asked herself.

"So..." Hermes started "a Dionysus". Artemis started reading as she ignored the one-sided fight between Dionysus and Hermes and the laughter of some demigods.

I wasn’t even sure what it meant, but it sounded good.

All friends of Percy started to chuckle. "Only you Percy," Leo said as he high-fived Percy.

Mini-Leo and Mini-Percy looked at each other. Percy smiled shyly at him while Leo gave him one of his sarcastic smiles. Mini-Percy rolled his eyes but had his troublemaker smile on. Before anyone knew it, both were becoming friends.

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

Mini-Percy sighted. He knew that this was coming, but he still hoped that he would not be expelled.

All of the sudden, someone grabbed his hand. His eyes followed the hand till he finally looked at someone's face. He could not suppress his smile and blush. Annabeth was holding his hand. A light blush rested on her cheeks, but she did not give any sign of letting go and he was kind of hoping she would not. 

Grover being in the middle of the two was kind of embarrassed and annoyed. Great, he thought I am going to be a third wheel. Still, Grover could not drop his smile for his two best friends. 

Luke looked over at Annabeth as she shifted her weight and could not cover his smile either. His best friend/sister could find happiness in the future. However, he remembered that Percy is the child of the prophecy and that means she will be in a lot of worries. He looked over at her older self and his eyes softened. She is right now content in Percy's arm and has a soft smile on her face as Percy whispered something in her ear. If Thalia could see that, he thought. At once, his heart clenched. His eyes drifted to the hunter of Artemis and he felt like his heart was all over breaking again. He does not know why she is a Hunter of Artemis, because he thought that he and Thalia had something going before she was turned into a tree. Maybe, my heart brook too and the Hunters rescued me, said a little voice in his head that kind of sounded like Thalia's. He shook his head and focused on the reading. He could later ask her - If she let him. 

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,

"Wimp," said Ares. "Yeah, so what" Percy countered "That only shows that I at least respect my mother, not like you". Ares was fuming and about to stand up to beat that disrespectful Punk up, but one look from his mother and he took his seat again. Why is she glaring at me? I AM HER SON! he thought angrily in his head. Percy smiled smugly at him, while his friends snickered or shook their heads at Percy. 

Chiron shook his head, too. Percy, he sums up, was like his father. A rebel, who shows only respect to people who earned it.  

While Chiron was amused and scared for Percy, Mini-Percy was stroking his head at the spot where Mini-Annabeth had hit him. She started to fuss over his rudeness for the gods, but he easily countered that a) her future self was just as impolite as him to the gods, and b) that was his future self. She growled at his logic and set down again. However, while they bickered, she never let go of his hand and he did not either. 

At the same time, many members from the Ares cabin crave to beat up Percy themself, but Chiron gave them a stern look and they stopped, grumbly. 

While Camp Half-Blood took that kind of shock at the disrespect well, Camp Jupiter was afraid for their lives. They learned from the beginning that you need to be respectful to every god, and here they witness the future demigod being disrespectful to the gods. Even Jason, the son of Jupiter, did nothing to prevent that insolence to the gods. What the Pluto, they thought. 

"Should you not blaze them?" asked someone from the Roman. All heads turned to that person, while all Romans shushed him. All demigods from the future looked coldly at that Roman. "You, Octavian, should keep your mouth shut." said a deadly Reyna. He was about to protest or say that this question was directed at the gods, but many Romans around him shushed him again. However, Poseidon wanted to answer that question. "Why should we blaze the demigods from the future, who served us well? They put themself in danger for our sorry ass." Many gods wanted to protest that they do not need that help, but Artemis saw that as her cue to read so she started to read again. 

The future demigods smiled at Poseidon, who smiled back at them.

even if I had to go to public school and put up with my obnoxious stepfather and his stupid poker parties.

"Paul plays Poker?" Rachel asked Percy. Percy's hands turned white from clenching them too hard. "No, that was before Paul," he answered deadly calmly. All future demigods wanted to ask more but one look from Percy and they let the question fall. They hate Percy's stare. It was not as scary as his glare but could let any subject hang in the air. So, they hoped that the book could answer their question.

While older Percy could let the subject drop, younger Percy ignored the question stares and asked questions. His hands clenched till they turned white. He even forgets he was holding Annabeth's hand till she whimpered. Abruptly, he let go of her hand and turned pale. He tried to apologize and she even accepted it, but he did not take her outstretched hand. He was too scared to hurt her again. He did not see the hurtful face of Annabeth, as he turned away.

Poseidon seeing his son's reaction to that person clenched his hands on his throne. Sally would have told him, he reminded himself. As he looked at his younger son, he thought again of his bruises. Maybe, it was that Person... He did not want to finish that thought in fear for his son's well-being.

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,

Poseidon and Amphitrite smiled at that. Even Triton gave a small smile at that.

the smell of pine trees.

“Aww,” Thalia gushed "Even then you missed me. Thanks, Kelp Head." Percy rolled his eyes at his cousin, while others looked confused at that statement. 

I’d miss Grover, who’d been a good friend,

“Thanks, Percy” Grover and Mini-Grover said to both Percy’s. Both smiled at Grover in return.

even if he was a little strange.

“Hey!” Both Grover shouted as everyone laughed.

I worried how he’d survive next year without me.

"Thanks, Percy," Mini-Grover said to Mini-Percy. "That meant a lot." "Anytime, Grover" Mini-Percy said as he fist-bumped Mini-Grover. While older Grover sighted. "You and your loyalty." All friends nodded at that. Percy only smiled at them.

Hestia stared at both Percy's before smiling at him. “You are very loyal to your friend, aren’t you.” Mini-Percy blushed at this while older Percy smiled back. "It is after all my fatal flaw." She nodded at this. Even Athena nodded at this statement. She had concluded that this would be his fatal flaw.

I’d miss Latin class, too –

Chiron smiled at that.

Mr Brunner’s crazy tournament days and his faith that I could do well. As exam week got closer, Latin was the only test I studied for.

Athena gagged at that but did not say anything. Both Annabeth's did it for her. While Mini-Annabeth was more violent at Mini-Percy, older Annabeth did not let him get so easily off the hook. Even if his marks have improved. In the end, Percy just kissed her forehead and told her he would put more effort into it, whereas Mini-Percy just took her hand again. Her anger decreased till she only huffed and set down. Mini-Percy sighted out. He was really scared for his life. 

His friend, present and future, laughed at both Percy's defenselessness. Even some gods laughed at their childish act.

I hadn’t forgotten what Mr Brunner had told me about this subject being life-and-death for me. I wasn’t sure why, but I’d started to believe him.

“Good,” many mumbled.

The evening before my final, I got so frustrated I threw the Cambridge Guide to Greek Mythology across my dorm room. 

"HOW COULD YOU !! NOT MANY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY OF EDUCATION SO BE THANKFUL!!" Athena shouted at bot Percy's. Mini-Percy tried to hide behind Grover while older Percy takes her outburst calmly. "I know. However, it is, as we have explained before, really hard to read a book or even concentrate. So could you please excuse my outburst?" He apologies. Athena was too stunned at the son of Poseidon's politeness, so she only nodded. Annabeth beamed at him before kissing his cheek. He grinned at her. At the same time, his friends have a hard time progressing with what happened. "Percy was politeness." Piper voiced out what everyone thought. Percy grinned at her his troublemaker smile. "Close your mouth McLean, before flies fly in" Piper, as well as the others, closed their mouth. "You little piece of -" Jason turned to Artemis and asked polity if she could read on. All Hunters started to shout at how disrespectful that boy was to their Lady, but Artemis started to read on anyway.

Words had started swimming off the page, circling my head, the letters doing one-eighties as if they were riding skateboards.

"Huh," Travis said dumbly "That kind of is a good description." Many nodded along, even some Romans, while Katie rolled her eyes at her boyfriend. "Not all have you problems," Frank grumbled. "Don't be so angry at that," Leo complained "If I have Lactose intolerance instead of Dyslexia, I would be so pleased" "But you all can eat Ice cream while I can't" Frank said sadly. Leo considered his con-argument before nodding "Yeah your right. I could not live without Ice cream" Frank looked even grumblier than before, which brought some laughter and a blushing mini-Frank. 

There was no way I was going to remember the difference between Chiron and Charon, or Polydictes and Polydeuces.

“Well..." Annabeth started "I hope you know them now." Percy rolled his eyes at his girlfriend "How could I not after meeting them?"

Poseidon looked strangely at his son. "You have met them?" he asked. Percy looked like he was caught in the act of something forbidden. His friend laughed at his attempt of trying to explain to his father that: "this is not what I mean". His father looked even paler than before at the end, so he just asked Artemis to read on.

And conjugating those Latin verbs? Forget it.

"But..." Hazel started "You could speak and understand Latin when you were at Camp" Percy only shrugged at that. Even the gods looked puzzled at that statement.

I paced the room, feeling like ants were crawling around inside my shirt.

Suddenly, Percy was shaking himself. "This," he started "is the worst feeling"

I remembered Mr Brunner’s serious expression, his thousand-year-old eyes.

Predictable or observant, Athena thought as she looked at Percy.

I will accept only the best from you, Percy Jackson.

I took a deep breath. I picked up the mythology book.

I’d never asked a teacher for help before.

"Yeah because you only ask Annabeth," Rachel said. Percy flashed her off.

Maybe if I talked to Mr Brunner, he could give me some pointers.

"Of course I would help you," Chiron said. Mini-Percy thanked him, as mini-Annabeth squeezed his hand.

At least I could apologize for the big fat ‘F’ I was about to score on his exam.

Many laughed at that. "Sorry," both Percy's apologized to Chiron who frowned.

I didn’t want to leave Yancy Academy with him thinking I hadn’t tried.

Chiron smiled at that. Percy, he thought was one of his favorite students. To know that he tried… Chiron could not conceal his smile anymore. He was really pleased to hear that.

I walked downstairs to the faculty offices. Most of them were dark and empty, but Mr Brunner’s door was ajar, light from his window stretching across the hallway floor.

I was three steps from the door handle when I heard voices inside the office. Mr Brunner asked a question. A voice that was definitely Grover’s said, ‘… worried about Percy, sir.’

“Great…” Grover mumbled. Percy only smiled at him sheepishly, but Grover waved him off. 

I froze.

I’m not usually an eavesdropper,

"You sure?" Nico asked Percy "Because I could swear that-" before he could finish his sentences, there was a hand on his mouth. Artemis took that as her cue to read on.

but I dare you to try not listening if you hear your best friend talking about you to an adult.

"You have a point," Thalia said. Many nodded along. They would have done the same. The Hermes cabin without a reason as the others, but still  would have done that.

I inched closer.

‘… alone this summer,’ Grover was saying. ‘I mean, a Kindly One in the school! Now that we know for sure, and they know too –’

‘We would only make matters worse by rushing him,’ Mr Brunner said. ‘We need the boy to mature more.

"Well, that failed," Clarisse said. Percy only stuck his tongue out at her, which proofed her point and brought more laugher.

But he may not have time. The summer solstice deadline –’

“What will happen there?” asked Apollo. Nobody answered him, so Artemis read on.

‘Will have to be resolved without him, Grover. Let him enjoy his ignorance while he still can.’

‘Sir, he saw her…’

‘His imagination,’ Mr Brunner insisted. ‘The Mist over the students and staff will be enough to convince him of that.’

‘Sir, I… I can’t fail in my duties again.’

"You did not fail, Grover," Thaila said. Zeus wanted to disagree, but one look from his daughter and he shut up. "Yeah, Grover" a new voice said. All eyes turned to Luke. "It was my fault." Luke's eyes were trained on Thalia, but she could not meet his eyes. Sensing the tension in the air, Percy said: "You are right, Luke. Grover is the bravest Satyr to be known" Only Grover and Annabeth realized the double meaning. Luke smiled at Percy and agreed.

Grover’s voice was choked with emotion. ‘You know what that would mean.’

‘You haven’t failed, Grover,’ Mr Brunner said kindly. ‘I should have seen her for what she was. Now let’s just worry about keeping Percy alive until next autumn –’

The mythology book dropped out of my hand and hit the floor with a thud.

"NO!!" Hermes and his children shouted. "You gave your position away" Hermes whined, as his children looked disappointed at Percy. "You lost my respect," one of Hermes' children said. Mini-Percy blushed from their looks while older Percy only laughed. "We will see if I lost that respect," he said. This caught all Hermes kids and Hermes' interest.

Mr Brunner went silent. My heart hammering,

Percy grumbled as he rubbed his chest. Annabeth kissed his cheek, which in his opinion made it bearable.

I picked up the book and backed down the hall.

“Good” Hermes mumbled while all other gods rolled their eyes at him.

A shadow slid across the lighted glass of Brunner’s office door, the shadow of something much taller than my wheelchair-bound teacher, holding something that looked suspiciously like an archer’s bow.

All gods and many demigods raised their eyebrows. "And what would be your explanation if he saw you like that?" Athena asked her friend. Chiron blushed at that. "I must say, that my.... uh, future self did not think about that." Suddenly, laughter erupted and it took some time till everyone calmed down.

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. A large dark shape paused in front of the glass, then moved on.

A bead of sweat trickled down my neck.

Percy tried to wipe the sweat from the back of his neck. He was getting annoyed at those books. Stupid fates, he thought.

Somewhere in the hallway, Mr Brunner spoke. ‘Nothing,’ he murmured. ‘My nerves haven’t been right since the winter solstice.’

‘Mine neither,’ 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.’

The lights went out in Mr Brunner’s office.

I waited in the dark for what seemed like forever.

"Good, wait till you know that you are alone," Hermes told Percy. Percy was about to argue that it already happened but thought better of it. So, he only nodded.

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.

‘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,

Satyrs can read emotion, Peter Johnson," Dionysus said. Percy rolled his eyes.

and started getting ready for bed.

I didn’t understand what I’d heard downstairs. I wanted to believe I’d imagined the whole thing.

“I wished you would have done that,” Grover said. Percy scratched his head as he smiled guiltily at Grover.

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.

Mini-Annabeth's grip on Mini-Percy's hand got firmer, for the fear of losing him. Mini-Percy squeezed her hand back to reassure her that he will not leave. Still, Annabeth sat more tensely in her seat. I just want something permanent, is it so much to ask? she asked herself as she looked at mini-Percy.

The next afternoon, as I was leaving the three-hour Latin exam,

“THREE HOURS?!?!” many demigods shouted. Travis and Connor turned to Percy. "My respect just increased for you" Travis announced as Connor said: "Are you sure that you are not a god in disgust?" Percy rolled his eyes at the two brothers "No Connor, I am sure that I am only a half-blood." "How did you then manage those three hours?" Connor asked curiously. Percy only asked Artemis to read on.

my eyes swimming with all the Greek and Roman names I’d misspelled,

“Oh…” Connor said.

Mr Brunner called me back inside.

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. ‘Percy,’ he said. ‘Don’t be discouraged about leaving Yancy. It’s… it’s for the best.’

All people who knew Chiron cringed at those words. "Chiron," said Poseidon "You cannot give for your dear life motivational speeches. You just... uh, you aren't good at them" Poseidon concluded. "Like you could talk" Athena countered. Poseidon was about to go into a disagreement with her (again), but Artemis started to read again.

His tone was kind, 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.

“Ohh, she is dead,” Thalia said and all demigods, who Percy was close to, agreed.

I mumbled, ‘Okay, sir.’

‘I mean…’ Mr Brunner wheeled his chair back and forth, like he wasn’t sure what to say.

Chiron sighed. He knew that he was not so good at giving those speeches. Still, he hoped that Percy would understand.

‘This isn’t the right place for you. It was only a matter of time.’

My eyes stung.

Percy blinked his eyes quickly, to keep the tears in. Stupid books, he thought.

Here was my favourite 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.

"Oh," Chiron said, as he finally understood why Percy was near tears. He was the worst to not have realized it before. He turned to Percy and mini-Percy to apologize, but both already looked at him as if they were already forgiving him. There he realized something else. Percy was a merciful person when you have his loyalty.

‘Right,’ I said, trembling.

Percy tried to hide his shaking hands from Annabeth, but it was without any avail. After all, he was just now cuddling with her. Annabeth, being the awesome person she is(Percy's thought), takes his hands in hers and kissed his cheek. Man, how did I get so lucky, he thought. We all wonder how she feels in love with you sometimes, Grover said in his head. Percy only stuck his tongue out at Grover, which confused some people. Those who knew of the empathy link laughed. Artemis looked for a short moment confused, but then thought that those are boys, so she does not need to think about it much.

‘No, no,’ Mr Brunner said. ‘Oh, confound it all. What I’m trying to say… you’re not normal, Percy.

Piper snorted (which brought a frown on Aphrodite’s attractive face). "No kidding. Percy you arent normal as far as I know" Percy showed her his middle finger.

That’s nothing to be –’

‘Thanks,’ I blurted. ‘Thanks a lot, sir, for reminding me.’

Chiron flinched. He needs to learn how to talk to children urgently. Mini-Percy frowned. He knows what Chiron means, still it kind of hurts to hear that from his favorite teacher. Annabeth squeezed his hand as she sensed his inner tumor. He thanked her, as he squeezed her hand back.

‘Percy –‘

But I was already gone.

Chris whistles softly before turning to Percy. "Man, that must have stung," he said sadly. Percy just nodded, not meeting anyone's eyes. There was just not more to tell how that had hurt. Poseidon frowned when his son did not even meet his eye. Both of his sons wouldn't meet his eye.

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. One of them was going on a hiking trip to Switzerland. Another was cruising the Caribbean for a month. They were juvenile delinquents, like me, but they were rich juvenile delinquents. Their daddies were executives, or ambassadors, or celebrities. I was a nobody, from a family of nobodies.

"I wouldn't say that we are nobody, nephew" Zeus thundered. "Well..." Percy said as he meets the eyes of the king of the gods "For me, most of you are nobody, to tell the truth,"

Suddenly, everyone was in silence, waiting for Percy to be smitten for insulting the king of the gods. Till laughter erupted. In the beginning, it was Percy's friend group, which let the gods and present demigods believe that they went all crazy. Then it was some gods, like Poseidon, Hermes, and Apollo till more people laughed. Immortal and mortal laughed at the boldness of that half-blood and the face of the gods (mostly at Zeus' faces). "Enough" Zeus shouted, embarrassed that a half-blood insulted him and his family only laughed at that. "Artemis," Zeus said when finally the laugher died down "read on" Artemis obeyed, but not without a confused look. Why would a father not smit him? she asked herself. Because it would cause a war against Poseidon and her father, Apollo answered in her head. She rolled her eyes at her twin, before starting to read. As Artemis read on, Mini-Annabeth leaned over to mini-Percy and whispered "you have a death wish" he only shrugged.

They asked me what I’d be doing this summer

"That was nice of them," Hestia told as she pocked her coal from her hearth. Percy only grimaces at that.

and I told them I was going back to the city.

What I didn’t tell them was that I’d have to get a summer job walking dogs or selling magazine subscriptions,

"Why?" one of the Roman demigods asked. He was suddenly hushed by the other Romans for asking a personal question, till Percy told them that they should not do something like that. "If he has a question, let him ask. We will tell you all if it is too personal or not." Then Percy turned to Dakota and answered: "My mother and I had that time financial problems, so I wanted to help her by having a summer job" The Roman demigods frowned, while the greek demigods nodded grimly along. Some of them had the same problems while others knew what it is like. "Had?" Mini-Percy asked. Swiftly, all eyes turned to him. Mini-Percy blushed at the attention but still asked "You said that we had financial problems, like past tense. So, we do not have any more in the future?" Percy smiled and winked at his younger self. "Well, let's find out about that since my whole life will be described in those books till I reach 16, hopefully," Mini-Percy nodded. 

and spend my free time worrying about where I’d go to school in the autumn.

‘Oh,’ one of the guys said. ‘That’s cool.’

They went back to their conversation as if I’d never existed.

Hestia frowned at that. "Sorry, didn't want to disappoint you in humanity," Percy said "but not all people, mortal, gods and half-blood, are as nice as you lady Hestia" Hestia smiled at Percy and was about to respond to him but was interrupted by the lord of the sky "Did you call us awful?" Zeus asked. Percy looked him dead in the eyes and answered "Should I list all wicked things you and the other gods did or do you remember it  yourself?" Zeus fell silent at that.

That boy, Artemis realized, has a death wish as she started to read on.

The only person I dreaded saying goodbye to was Grover

As Grover hit Percy on the shoulder, younger Grover sniffed his nose. "Thanks, Percy. That meant a lot to me" mini-Percy smiled at his best friend "Anytime," he said.

but, as it turned out, I didn’t have to.

“Huh?” many said dumbly.

He’d booked a ticket to Manhattan on the same Greyhound as I had, so there we were, together again, heading into the city.

“Isn't it stalking?" Travis asked Grover. "No! I needed to protect him," Grover denied it. Connor hummed "I think that is more stalking than protection" Grover only huffed.

During the whole bus ride, Grover kept glancing nervously down the aisle, watching the other passengers. It occurred to me that he’d always acted nervous and fidgety when we left Yancy, as if he expected something bad to happen.

Observant, Athena remarked again.

Before, I’d always assumed he was worried about getting teased. But there was nobody to tease him on the Greyhound.

Finally I couldn’t stand it any more.

I said, ‘Looking for Kindly Ones?’

"NOO!" Hermes and his kids shouted scaring everyone in the room. Hermes was about to lecture both Percy's but interrupted by his children "Percy! We told you to never confess! That was rule 6!" Travis, Connor, and Chris shouted at older Percy while the present demigods of Hermes scowled Mini-Percy with their own rules. Even Luke was scowling Mini-Percy, which made Hermes really happy. Artemis could not anymore take that, so she started to read on. 

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.

"Percy..." all kids of Hermes sighed. Percy only smiled guiltily while mini-Percy blushed.

Grover’s eye twitched. ‘How much did you hear?’ ‘Oh… not much. What’s the summer-solstice deadline?’

"Percy..." Travis, Connor, and Chris sighed. "Do we need to study all rules again?" Chris asked while Clarisse and Katie rolled their eyes at their boyfriends and Connor. Percy ignored them and asked Artemis to read on.

He winced. ‘Look, Percy… I was just worried for you, see? I mean, hallucinating about demon maths 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.’

"He is right," Will said. Mini-Grover and Grover turned pink as some snickered.

His ears turned pink.

This brought more snicker as both Grover’s turned redder - if this was an effect from the book, nobody had a clue.

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,

Athena turned to Dionysus "Why would you do that?" she asked her half-brother. Dionysus hides behind his magazine as he answered: "Because I like to see them try to read them," Before Athena could scowl at him, Hera interrupted her "You will change that." she declared. Dionysus looked at her funnily, before agreeing. Even all demigods of the future looked at her strangely. Hera hates demigods, so why would she do that? they asked themself. Hera ignored the strange look everyone gave her and asked Artemis to read on. She completed, but not before giving Hera also a strange look.

but I finally made out something like:

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.’

"Oh, bad idea," Rachel said. "Why?" asked one of the Demeter's cabin. "Because Percy hates rich people, Miranda," explained Katie her sister. Miranda nodded at her older sister.

My heart sank. Grover had a summer home. I’d never considered that his family might be as rich as the others 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?’

"Ouch!" shouted Percy and mini-Percy as they stroke the spot where their friends hit them. "I did not mean it like that!" Percy defended himself. "We know," Nico said "We just wanted a reason to hit you" Percy rolled their eyes as his friends, "I think I need a new friend group" he mumbled to himself. "I don't think you can find better friends than us," Thalia stated. Percy deadpanned "I think I can find someone better than you, for starter" Thalia was about to hit Percy again but he moved out of her way. Artemis rolled her eyes at their childish way and began to read again. She just wants to finish reading that chapter.

It came out harsher than I meant it too.

"See!" Percy gestured. "We know," Hazel told him "You are too nice for your own good," Percy frowned at that "What do you mean?" he asked "For starters," Will began "You like to help in the infirmary," "You help every sea animal, even if their problems are small," Jason continued to enumerate. Before Percy could say anything else, his friends started to count more things, like the way he liked to accept every new child of one minor god, and so on. Finally, he shouted "Fine! I see your point, Hazel, but all of you like to help. Hazel, you help me and the others with the horses and like to encourage all new campers. Frank, you are the nicest Praetor that ever exists. You help and support every demigod and their problems. You cannot say no, even if you have so much work going on. Jason, you promised to build temples and whatnot to minor gods and even help out in both camps. Piper, when someone cries because they feel depressed about something - mostly because your half-siblings haunted them -  you help them to love themself. Leo, you like to help your younger siblings, and if someone has a request for a project, you work immediately on it. Nico, you help all demigods to accept the dead and help them recover from their dead friends and family members. Will, you like to attend to every injury, even if it is the smallest injury. Travis and Connor, you mostly prank with or without some campers just to bring some laughter to camp after those wars. Katie, I have seen you smuggle some strawberries to the younger campers because they were sad or had a bad day. Clarisse, you help every camper with their training, and when they want to stop you motivate them to go on. Chris, you help every person with their dreams and their trauma of the wars. You even speak of your own experience, even if that is still a fresh mark on you. Rachel and Grover, you both help mother nature and the wildness in your own ways. Rachel, you even go against your father for that. Reyna and Thalia, you both are leaders of your own group. You both help them in each aspect, being it personal or not. That list of your kindness is even too long to count. Calypso, you of all people were always nice. You accepted all injured men on your island and helped them to recover, even if you knew that they would leave you. Right now, you are even helping the Demeter cabin, the dryad, the satyrs, and every other wild nature creature to preserve and save nature. Last but not least, Wise girl, you like to build a new cabin for every minor god in the way their children would like it. You try to make it as near as possible to their ideas and you also like to help every new camper when they are too scared to voice their opinion. Every one of you is nice in their way, not only me," As Percy finished his rant every Person - immortal and mortal - was silent and too much in shock. At that moment, Percy realized that he had just rambled and tried to apologize for it but his friend did not even let him. They tackled him into a hug which he gladly accepted (he loved hugs). After they finally let him go, Artemis was asked to read on, as the silence was killing them.

Still in shock, the goddess of the moon read on, but not before her thought wandered to that boy and his rant. As she looked at her hunters, she realized that she was not the only one confused about how a boy could compliment his friend so casually. She made it her mission to keep an eye on him.

At the same time, Mini-Annabeth and Mini-Grover were hugging mini-Percy as close as they could. Compliments were rare for both of them, and when they heard older Percy rant about it, they almost cried. Well, almost in Annabeth's case. Mini-Grover was already crying on Mini-Percy's shoulder while Mini-Percy patted him on the back. Even Luke patted Grover on the back as he continued to cry on Percy's shoulder.

Everyone else was either in shock of that rant or embarrassed - only those who were named were embarrassed - by that rant. They all made a mental note to talk to Mini-Percy later. Even Jason, Frank, and Hazel wanted to talk to him. It was not every day to see a Greek compliment a Roman.

Poseidon smiled at his son proudly. Even Amphitrite could not hide her smile.

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.

All year long, I’d gotten in fights keeping bullies away from him. I’d lost sleep worrying that he’d get beaten up next year without me.

"That was kind of you," said Hera to the son of Poseidon. Percy only nodded confused at her. Nobody noticed the look Dionysus gave Percy.

"Thanks, Percy," Grover said to Percy, as mini-Grover cried on Percy's shoulder. Percy smiled at him his real smile "Anytime, G-man,"

"Why would you protect a faun?" Octavian asked. Every demigod that wasn't a roman looked venomously at him. "Because Octavian, " Percy started coldly "Fauns/Satyrs are our friends." Octavian was about to retort that they were for nothing good, but one look from his right know Praetor and he shut his mouth.

And here he was acting like he was the one who defended me.

"Yeah, but this time not from bully's" Calypso stated. Grover sighed "He still protected me from them too," he told her. She looked confused for a second - who wouldn't; Percy is right now 12 years old - but remembered that this is Percy freaking Jackson, so she settled on an "Of course, he would," and asked Artemis to read on as she snuggled closer to Leo. Leo being too focused on his project and on 'automatic mode' (as Piper and Percy described it) just swung his arm around her without breaking his twinkling.

‘Grover,’ I said, ‘what exactly are you protecting me from?’

"Monster, gods, titan, giants ..... The list goes on. Should we show you?" asked Travis as his brother searched for something in his jean pocket. Eventually, Connor held a notebook up and announced "Here!". Percy just shook his head at those two children of Hermes.

Meanwhile, the gods looked shockingly at the demigods of the future, mostly at Percy. "You fought gods, titans, and giants?" asked a scared Poseidon. He is scared for his son and his well-being. Before Percy gave his father an answer, he shot the two sons of Hermes a glare and said: "Let's just read on." which did not help Poseidon and his panic attack

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.

After a few minutes clanking around in the engine compartment, the driver announced that we’d all have to get off. Grover and I filed outside with everybody else.

We were on a stretch of country road – no place you’d notice if you didn’t break down there. On our side of the highway was nothing but maple trees and litter from passing cars. On the other side, across four lanes of asphalt shimmering with afternoon heat, was an old-fashioned fruit stand.

Percy was suddenly shifting uncomfortably on his couch which draws the attention of his friends to him. They imminently knew that something important will come up. Eagerly they set more forward.

The stuff on sale looked really good: heaping boxes of blood-red cherries and apples, walnuts and apricots, jugs of cider in a claw-foot tub full of ice. There were no customers, just three old ladies sitting in rocking chairs in the shade of a maple tree, knitting the biggest pair of socks I’d ever seen.

Many gasped for air. "The fates," Athena mumbled as she looked at the son of Poseidon, confused about how he is still alive.

"Percy...," Annabeth utters as she clung to him more. "You never told me that you have seen the fates" Percy looked guiltily at his girlfriend "I forgot," he replied. Abruptly, Percy was rubbing his head on the spot where Thalia had hit him. "How could you forget something like that?!" she shouts at him as she tried to hit him again. He dodged her before trying to explain: "Sorry, I was trying not to die the last couple of years. It kind of slipped my mind to tell you guys" Piper heaved a sign "It still is a shock that we needed to read a book to find it out," Many of his friends nodded along with her words. Percy sighted "Can we talk about it later?" He asked his friends. However they did not want to talk about it later, but one look of Percy and they obliged.

Meanwhile, Mini-Annabeth, Luke, and Mini-Grover had a hard time letting Mini-Percy go. Grover started to cry again on his shoulder, while Annabeth clung to his hand more (he was scared that his hand would break, but did not say anything). Luke was sending Mini-Percy one of those pity looks that annoyed him. So what if I saw the fates, he thought, but even to his ears, it kind of sounded dumb.  They still cried on, even after Mini-Percy explained to them that he was alive and right now 17 years old. However, it did not help much so he just accepted his fate.

At the same time, Apollo was attending Poseidon, who had a hard time breathing. But who could blame him, after hearing his only mortal child will die. Even Amphitrite and Tritons words of rescue did not help him. Percy will die, were his thought. His son with Sally will die. He was meant to die from the beginning. Why could he not  - "DAD!" Percy shouted at his father and finally was successful in bringing him into the real world again. Poseidon looked glassily at his son "I am fine" Percy stated "I am 17 right now. I had seen the fates at 12. However," Percy said as his father was about to go again in a panic state "the fates did not show me my string. They showed me the life string of the hero of the prophecy." As Percy finished, Poseidon looked fine again, not in a panic state but also not in his usual mood.

Finally, he nodded at Percy's words and tried to relax again. The silence that followed Percy and Poseidon's monolog was interrupted by Hermes. "What do you mean it was not your string?" he asked Percy, who for some reason could not meet his eyes. "The fates showed me the string of the hero of the prophecy. I was never meant to be that hero, just the child of the eldest gods. Nothing more nothing less. I needed to understand that, so they showed me that string." Percy explained while his eyes were trained on the ground. Athena was about to speak up and ask her question, but one look from Annabeth and she stopped. Percy took a long breath before saying "I cannot and will not answer a question right now, about our hero. Let's just read the book" Artemis started to read again, pitying the boy.

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 middle held an enormous basket of electric-blue yarn.

The gods looked at that confused. They knew that the color of the string would represent the mortal. So, why would they show Percy an electric blue yarn. They know that that color represents Zeus' children more than some other gods' children. However, Thalia - who is right now a tree - and Jason are sitting alive before them, so which demigod yarn is it?

All three women looked ancient, with pale faces wrinkled like fruit leather, 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.

Many glances were stolen at Percy, who looked more and more annoyed the more people looked at him.

However, as Annabeth clung more to his side, his annoyance sank a little.

I looked over at Grover to say something about this and saw that the blood had drained from his face. His nose was twitching.

"Oh," Grover suddenly said dumbly while holding his nose. "This is a strange feeling," Everyone looked at Grover strange except those who realized what was described. "So," Will started "Even supporting actors are affected." After Will's release, the demigods of the future looked, even more, frightening than before. Which frightened the demigods and gods of the present. What did they face that scares them, they asked themself.

‘Grover?’ I said. ‘Hey, man –’

‘Tell me they’re not looking at you. They are. Aren’t they?’

‘Yeah. Weird, huh? You think those socks would fit me?’

"Ow!" Percy shouted as he rubbed his shoulder where Annabeth had hit him. "Be more serious in those situations" she shouted at him. Percy was about to retort that he had no idea who they were, but one look at Annabeth's swollen, red eyes and he shut his mouth. Instead, he reached out his arms to hug her. As she settled into his arms, did he realized what an idiot he was. Annabeth was always left alone by her loved ones. First, her father, then Thalia, then Luke, and then Thalia again. At some point, he unintentionally left her too, for 8 months. Idiot, he thought. He made her cry again. He hates it when she cries and hates it, even more, when he is the reason for her tears.

‘Not funny, Percy. Not funny at all.’

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.

As did everyone else in the room. Percy rolled his eyes but did not say anything as he hugged Annabeth closer.

‘We’re getting on the bus,’ he told me. ‘Come on.’

‘What?’ I said. ‘It’s a thousand degrees in there.’

‘Come on!’ He prised open the door and climbed inside, but I stayed back.

"Idiot..." many of his friends said. Hades turned to them and told them: "If the Fates wanted Percy to see that, then they would follow him, till he sees it."

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.

More more caught their breath. They could not believe that someone had survived it.

Her two friends balled up the electric-blue socks, leaving me wondering who they could possibly be for – Sasquatch or Godzilla.

“Only you Percy,” Nico said as he shook his head. His cousin stuck his tonguage out at him but did no move to let Annabeth go.

At the rear of the bus, the driver wrenched a big chunk of smoking metal out of the engine compartment. The bus shuddered, and the engine roared back to life.

"Consequences?" Travis asked. "I think not" Connor finished. Some snickered at that, but the tension was still there.

The passengers cheered.

‘Darn right!’ yelled the driver. He slapped the bus with his hat. ‘Everybody back on board!’

Once we got going. I started feeling feverish, as if I’d caught the flu.

"I hate those books," Percy grumbled. Annabeth started to giggle but still did not let go.

Some of the campers looked at older Annabeth as if she was an Alien. Because their Annabeth never giggled. Wonder exists, some thoughts.

Grover didn’t look much better. He was shivering and his teeth were chattering.

‘Grover?’

‘Yeah?’

‘What are you not telling me?’

“Everything…” Poseidon mumbled.

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. 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.

Again with his right observation, Athena thought confused. She does not understand how he knew/guessed right.

He said, ‘You saw her snip the cord.’

‘Yeah. So?’ But even as I said it, I knew it was a big deal.

“Percy…” many mumbled. Percy rolled his eyes, while younger Percy blushed.

‘This is not happening,’ Grover mumbled. He started chewing at his thumb. ‘I don’t want this to be like the last time.’

“Grover,” Thalia grumbles “This was not your fault, understood?” Grover nodded, while his younger self looked guiltily away.  

‘What last time?’

‘Always sixth grade. They never get past sixth.’

‘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 sighed at that. “Let me guess,” Katie said, “He dumped you the minute you turned your back.” Percy smiled guiltily while Grover shook his head at him. “Percy,” his friends groaned. Many demigods laughed at them, as the gods wondered how they could cut the tension so easily.

This seemed like a strange request to me, but I promised he could.

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

“Which flowers did you choose?” Nico asked seriously. “Lily” Grover answered as serious back. "innocence? Damn, that suited" Nico complimented Grover. "Thanks," Grover answered back. "Could you all, I don't know, stop talking about my funeral flower?" asked Percy, as his friends started to laugh.

Artemis cleared her throat before holding the book up "I finished the chapter" "Finally!" Apollo shouted as he stretched on his throne. "I thought we would never finish." Many people nodded along. Hestia smiled at Apollo before speaking to the rest of the family "I think we need a break. The demigods look like they could not sit anymore." At her words, the gods noticed the fidget with their feet or hands. "You are right, Hestia," Demeter said. Zeus cleared his throat before shouting "We will take a break of 15 min and then start reading again" At his words, many demigods sprung up and went out.