Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Percy had to admit, C.C.’s Spa and Resort was much different than he had expected. Granted, he wasn’t sure at all what one would have expected of a magical vacation spot in the Bermuda Triangle, but so far the stay had been pleasant. Water tasted better with cucumbers in it, who knew? Plus, the sound of the ocean spoke to the child of Poseidon on a deep level, he felt like he was in the old cabin at Montauk, only notably more comfortable, in a nice soft chair with a glass of lemonade sweetened with a little Nectar. When the door opened, she looked over to see another woman in a carefully draped toga smiling softly.

“Hello dear, I’m C.C. Come on over in front of the mirror here.” Percy barely thought about it, following the order automatically. Looking in the mirror was the same as always, unimpressive 20 something, kinda sloppy, baggy clothes, Percy watched as the smile left his own face. “Oh dear. Well, everyone starts somewhere, and believe me, I’ve worked with worse.” Percy looked at the hostess’s face, who had a soft smile, even though something felt wrong. Then again, something always felt wrong. Huh. Hadn’t thought about that recently.

“We’ll start with just the mirror, alright, I’ll change the image, and you let me know how you feel about it?” Percy nodded, and the image began to shift. He grew taller in the mirror, a well trimmed beard framing his features, strong sharp face lines, bigger muscles, and Percy wanted to vomit straight on it. He bent over, hands on knees, gasping for air as all the cucumber water threatened to leave his body. The mirror looked exactly like she’d been afraid of looking by working out so much at Camp. He’d put more effort into never looking like that than he ever had on his appearance, shaving and showering twice a day most days, emphasizing flexibility over strength in workout time, even as other guys got unreasonably buff, and making sure clothes were never too tight, so he couldn't feel…

“Oh my, not for you, eh? Well, let’s try something else, yes?” the woman said, rubbing his back gently. Percy shook his head to clear it, and stood back straight again, looking back at C.C., whose face looked a bit less wrong. He realized she had looked almost hungry before. Now she looked curious. He nodded at her. He looked in the mirror, thankful it was a normal reflection again, before it began changing once more. The clothes neatened up, the muscles expanded, but not much. The hair became shorter and well groomed. The face was still sharp, but clean shaven at least. It looked like more of a suave, man-about-town. Percy didn’t almost vomit this time, but she couldn’t get the image of one of Gabe’s poker buddies out of his head, just like the beard on the other one had put Gabe himself in his mind.

Percy shook his head, “I mean, it’s not as bad, but… it still doesn’t feel right.” C.C.’s curious look grew more certain, a soft smile setting into place. “Alright, just one more then, dear.” Percy nodded along, anything to end this. The normal reflection looked back again, smiling. Wait, that wasn’t the normal reflection. Normally Percy avoided looking his own reflection in the face, but the smile had drawn his eye. In the mirror, the facial features were not sharp, but rather soft and rounded, completely devoid of stubble. Looking over the rest, the reflection’s clothes were not baggy, hanging effortlessly off the body, which was gently sloping and curving. The exposed arms and legs were as fuzz-free as the face, and looked no less soft. Then it hit.

“A… girl? B-but, I-” C.C. put a finger to Percy’s mouth, silencing the Demigod. “Don’t worry about any of that, just shake your head if you don’t like it, or nod if you do.” Percy could barely look in the mirror anymore. It hurt. Why did it hurt? It felt… like when the Minotaur had grabbed his mom. Sally Jackson, just out of reach, but impossible to get. Percy’s hand reached to the mirror, the reflection staying still to let the hand roam. Managing to look at the face, Percy realized it looked like a variation of her mom’s face in some of her old photo albums. That made Percy smile. She had always wanted to look more like her mom. She knew, intellectually, that her more masculine looks were supposed to look like her dad, Poseidon, but all she could think of when she saw them was Gabe. Gross, smelly, hairy… Oh gods, when did she start using ‘she’ for her internal monologue? Why did it make her smile?

She looked at C.C. again, and saw the woman smiling at her. Percy nodded. “Oh, excellent! I will handle this makeover myself, I always love the special cases!” The hostess beamed as she began flitting about the room, singing a short verse in Greek that made a variety of clothes march out of a wardrobe, waving her hand at the oddly out of place guinea pig enclosure to make it fly out the window to parts unknown, and summoning a table covered in small bottles seemingly out of the wall. She gestured and it all stopped. “Alrighty, dear, this is my favorite part. What I need you to do is close your eyes, and hope. Hope as hard as you can. Pour your hope for the future out into the world, and I will help it to sing!”

Percy was unsure about this, but then, the woman seemed eager to help, so she did just that. She closed her eyes, and thought back to everything that gave her hope. Her mom’s hugs, blue food, the smell of the sea, Annabeth by the campfire, Grover’s pipes playing, the girl in the mirror… she felt a rush of wind, then a clatter as clothes hangers hit the ground. She heard C.C. breathing hard, like she’d just come out of a fit of extreme dancing, “Go ahead and, *huff*, open your eyes dear.” Percy did just that. She saw the table now held several empty bottles, and most of the clothes had retreated back to the closet, with several hangers on the ground next to the clothes she had been wearing. She nearly panicked at that, until she realized she was still wearing clothes.

C.C. took a deep breath in and stood up straight once more. She gently guided Percy back to the mirror. Giving her an encouraging nod. The mirror was not just an image anymore, she could tell, the figure reacted to her motions too cleanly. The reflection was much like the previous image, cleaner hair, softer skin, rounded edges, certain… other features. She suddenly became aware of her own body, but after a moment of shock it just… settled.

She was fully clothed, a gentle seafoam blue-green tank top, with some padding underneath implying a bra, a sliver of exposed midriff before soft, salmon pink shorts that rose up to cover her, notably larger, hips, and ran low enough to cover about two thirds of her thighs. Smooth legs ran to simple brown sandals, and tan arms ran to painted nails, the same sea green as her eyes. Her face was probably the most different, to her at least. Sure, it still looked like her… but with just a touch more of her Mom than her dad’s normally overpowering features. She smiled, and saw the same in the mirror, her eyes sparkling like low tide at sunset.

“So… what do you think?” Percy had already forgotten C.C. was there. She turned to face the woman and almost fell over. Was the hostess taller? No, Percy was shorter. Not by much, three inches tops, but enough that with the other changes to her body’s shape that her center of balance had been thrown off. Thankfully, as a swimmer, adapting her center of gravity was pretty natural. When she managed to recover, she started to express her glee, “It’s p-” Then the door slammed open, revealing Annabeth. The blonde quickly surveyed the room, and though she barely shifted, Percy recognized the warrior had drawn her knife from the concealed back-sheathe she wore it in.

“Hey, uh, C.C. I came to check on my friend? You know, Percy?” Percy felt offended for only a moment before realizing that she probably looked just different enough. She decided to save everyone some trouble of miscommunication by giving a small wave, “That would uh, be me.” Her voice was a little different, just a pitch or two higher, but still how she normally spoke. Looking at Annabeth she was worried the genius wouldn’t believe her, but then their eyes locked. She looked into stormy grey irises and saw the spark of recognition, and saw her muscles untense as the dagger silently returned to its sheathe. “Percy? I mean, um…” She looked to the side, “I… Circe, is it true?” Circe… why did that ring a bell?

The hostess smiled and nodded. “You figured out my pseudonym, well done, but yes, I helped your friend bring out her true self.” Percy was still kind of confused, racking her brain for why she knew the name Circe. Annabeth rushed forward and brought Percy into a hug, “I’d know that lost and confused look anywhere.” Annabeth mumbled into Percy’s shoulder. This also had the side effect of alerting Percy not only to her new, slightly longer hair, as well as the fact that her new breasts were pressed against her friend’s. Then Annabeth released enough for them to face each other, and she saw something else. Annabeth now had an inch or so on her. Something about that made her insides flutter, and her face heated up. Annabeth released her with a smile.

“So…” Percy snapped, “Oh! Circe from the Odyssey! Turned the crew into pigs except for… well, except for Nobody, I suppose.” Annabeth started to chuckle before snapping her head to Circe, who was not restraining her laughter at all. The hostess recovered and waved off their concerns casually. “Oh, those were the days. You know, I laugh now, but Odysseus and his men were… quite cruel actually.” She shook her head. “But, well, to address your concerns, I haven’t done any malicious transformation since… well, I suppose the enclosure that was in this room, the crew of the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Captain Teach was just about as mean as they come.” Percy thought for a moment. “Oh… guinea pigs. I get it.” Annabeth rolled her eyes, while Circe nodded emphatically, “Indeed. Very cute, and far easier to maintain! We went vegetarian a while back, and once we stopped eating the pigs it… became a problem.”

Annabeth shook her head again, “Wait, so then why are there no men on the island?” Circe rolled her eyes this time. “Because they suck.” Percy almost got offended, but the mental image of Gabe and memory of her new shape kept her from correcting. “I mean, we give everyone who wants it a spa treatment, but women get the choice of staying here, while men have their memory of how they got here removed, and get sent back out with a false memory.” The demigods considered this briefly, but neither detected falsehood, and Circe had made no sudden moves, nor called for reinforcements. “Being perfectly transparent, I was going to do the same to you, but, well, things became clearer and here we are.”

Something occurred to Percy, “Wait, does that mean…?” Annabeth perked up, realizing what she was asking, as they both looked to Circe, who nodded, “Oh absolutely, you two would be welcome here! Food, space, medical care, plenty of company and activities. Might I recommend personally taking my magic lessons. Most of the girls here do, and it really is quite helpful.” Percy seemed awestruck. Looking at Annabeth's calculating face made her realize what a huge offer this was. “Wait, we’re here to save Camp Halfblood, and my friend Grover!” Circe quirked her head. “I can probably help with that. Tell me about it.”

Percy thought it sounded like a good idea, but it always paid to double check big decisions with Annabeth. Turning to the Wise Girl once more, Percy saw a cautious optimism form. The blonde nodded, then looked to Percy to begin.

“Okay, so, there were these really loud birds…”

Chapter Text

“... and then the raft washed up here.” Circe chuckled. “You demigods never do anything by halves, I’ll give you that.” She got up from the chaise lounge she had alighted upon to hear the story. She looked out the glass door for a moment, before turning back to the demigods side by side on a plush couch. “Well, I can give you quite a lot of help with that, actually. Namely, with information and transport.” Circe reached behind her back, causing Annabeth to tense, but pulled out of seemingly nowhere a roll of paper. “So, here I have a map of our little corner of the ocean.” She laid it out on a table, and beckoned the other two to see. “We are in the center. I maintain the magic preventing most mortals from entering the Triangle, and the Sea’s Mist congregates around my spell. This happens to put me in the perfect position to monitor the area. This map and its copies are accurate, and mark their own location for ease of navigation.”

Annabeth looked like she had about a million questions, and Percy probably had one or two, but Circe was not finished. “Your friend is most definitely here.” She indicated an island with a drawing of a sheep and one eyed shepherd on it, labeled ‘Polyphemus’. “There’s only one cyclops so blind and isolated enough to mistake a satyr for another of their own kind, the crazed giant blinded by Od- well, blinded by Nobody.” Annabeth smirked, and Percy felt weirdly proud, remembering she had made the same reference earlier. It was fun to be in on inside jokes, who knew?

“Now, with this young lady’s empathic connection to the satyr, I could probably pull him right through into the room with us…” Percy felt a swell of hope, “... but he is a man.” Percy deflated again. Circe looked very serious, but then smirked. “Of course, he is also not human, so I suppose it would be alright.” Percy felt like she was being yanked around, and a muffled snort from the Wise Girl next to her all but confirmed it. “That being said, you would be better served in your mission going there yourself, as Polyphemus is actually in possession of the very Fleece you seek.”

Percy had a question immediately, but Annabeth struck first. “Could you send us through the connection instead?” Circe tapped her finger on the table. “Only your friend, it's her link not yours. Also, I wouldn’t be able to bring her back… normally.” Percy saw where this was going, but Annabeth beat her to it, as usual. “What do you want?” Circe raised an eyebrow. “Bold. A bit foolhardy, but then, I suppose you’re rather used to divinities requiring everything but the kitchen sink for their favors.” Percy felt like she was missing something, “Wait, you’re a goddess?” Annabeth smacked her on the back of the head, causing her to wince.

Circe let out a bark of a laugh, “HAH! Oh my. You two are a treat!” She composed herself again. “Yes, I am, but I don’t blame you for not knowing. My mother, Hecate, still holds dominion over magic, my induction as goddess of magic is mostly a title and responsibility to take over should mother no longer be able. I did manage to carve out my own little dominion though.” She held out her hands grandly, “I am, by hook and crook, goddess of the Sea of Monsters, the Bermuda Triangle, The lost at Sea, and… well, the other one isn’t really official.”

Percy was curious, but remained focussed on their mission for the moment. “Okay, but really, what would we need to do to get your help?” Circe waved casually. “Only one thing dears.” Circe stepped forward slowly and placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “I want you to take my offer seriously. I will help you get there, save your friend, get the Fleece, and get back to Camp Half-Blood. I just want you to really think about it. You would be welcome here, and I would even go so far as to say a lot safer, with a community not quite so… heavily tied to Olympus.”

Annabeth and Percy shared a look. Annabeth quickly said, “Could you give us a moment to discuss?” Circe nodded, “Just ring the bell on the desk when you’ve finished.” With that, the… minor goddess? Goddess Lite? Goddette? Circe stepped out, closing the door behind her with a quiet click. Annabeth quickly pulled Percy to the opposite side of the room. “But really, are you okay Seaweed Brain?” Percy felt that flutter again as Annabeth looked ever so slightly down at her with a worried look the Athenian rarely wore. Percy nodded, and swallowed hard. “I… Well, I’m still processing, but… I think I might be really, truly okay for the first time.”

That got her another hug from the Wise Girl. She could get used to that. This one didn’t last as long, as the other girl quickly let go. “Got a new name?” The freshly transformed girl wasn’t sure how to answer that. She hadn’t had her body long, and was already sure she didn’t want to go back. But was she still Percy? She could be. It’s not like she disliked the name. Plus it could always be short for another name, like Persephone. She liked that idea, but it also felt a bit wrong.

“I think… I think I would like to be called Estelle.” Annabeth looked a bit surprised, but left her room to continue. “I never knew my grandma, but it was her name, and it's Mom’s middle name. Feel like I want a name from the human part of my family…” She shrugged, “Think my mom would be a better role model than a Greek hero or whatever.”

Annabeth nodded. “Nice to meet you again, Estelle. Est? Stella? Nah, you’re still a Seaweed Brain.” Estelle laughed at that as she punched Annabeth in the arm. “Yeah Yeah, whatever Wise Girl.” Annabeth punched back, “Shut up, you love it.” Estelle laughed a little, but made no comment, save the blush that graced her face.

Annabeth turned and rang the bell, mostly so Per- Estelle wouldn’t see her blush. Gods but she didn’t know she liked girls before about 2 hours ago and she was already a mess. Circe came in shortly thereafter. “So?” The two demigoddesses nodded. “We’ll take the deal.”

Circe smiled and clapped. “Excellent. So, I will provide you with a ship, you can take your pick of those docked. I will also give you a copy of the map, I only ask you not to share it with people at your camp. I will even give you these…” From her dress, which most certainly did not have pockets so goodness knows where they actually came from, she produced a mirror and a perfume bottle. “The mirror is magical, if you say the name of one with another like it, like me for instance, they will appear and you may talk, a bit more privately than an Iris Message.”

After handing it over, she held out the perfume bottle as well, “This, on the other hand, is my patented No-Scent Scent! Good for avoiding bloodthirsty monsters, and bad BO days!” Estelle took the mirror, already knowing something else she could do with it, while Annabeth took the perfume, looking like she wanted more than anything to know how to make it, but restrained herself from asking.

It wasn’t long after that the demigods were led out to the docks, now with C.C. Resort branded tote bags, with the gifts they’d already gotten from Circe, as well as nail care kits, skin care products, and bottles full of cucumber water. After happily selecting the Queen Anne’s Revenge, Estelle and Annabeth set off to save their friends, their camp, but with more on their mind than they expected…