Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson
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Emerald Library: It is so big you can google it
Writer's Block: wttJDs62Dy
LAST TIME:
"Actually… I think I can wait a few weeks more. It's the last few weeks of school, so I don't want to miss any appointments Zora and Ryder might have. Just make sure you three come back safely got it," Zoe said with a simple smile, her eyes sparkling mischievously. Seeing this, Hestia and Vesta suddenly blushed even more but didn't say a word as they buried their heads into my shoulders.
"What about-?"
'Shut your mouth. Your wonderful wife is playing a wingman game here. Shut up and just do as she says.' Suddenly, Alpha's voice echoed in my head, and I could not finish my words. I slowly closed my mouth as Zoe's eyes sparkled even more while she beamed at us. Even Hera looked a little embarrassed at her actions.
"I promise we will come back safely," I finally managed to say as Zoe's smile turned into a large grin before she giggled while Hestia and Vesta grew even hotter in embarrassment. Next week seemed to be a bit more interesting than I first thought.
NOW:
TIMESKIP: 1.5 weeks
DATE: Mid-August 2007 (Almost time for school)
LOCATION: TEXAS
THIRD PERSON POV:
Three people could be seen slowly walking through the rain as they passed by several large warehouses and factories that lined this town's outskirts. Several large buildings could be seen wasting away and slowly rusting as nature tried to take back its land. The three continued walking through this rusting world as the rain fell upon them until they finally reached a partially collapsed factory.
"This place is too quiet to be a monster base," Percy mumbled as his spiraling eyes gazed upon the desolate factory. He took in the image of the partially collapsed building before turning to the other two.
Hestia and Vesta stood behind Percy in matching outfits fit for adventure: dark brown cloaks to cover their bodies from the rain. It also made it so that he could only see their glowing scarlet eyes with their hoods up. Underneath each cloak, the two wore simple red-hued leather armor covering their entire torsos and down their arms to their elbows, black denim pants that hugged their curvy hips, and leather shin guards.
Percy couldn't help but stare momentarily as he admired the two 20-something-year-old goddesses' adventurous looks, similar to his own. He was in his typical Ranger attire, complete with his vantablack cloak that hid his entire body with the symbol of chaos over his heart and silver leaf brooch. On the inside, he wore his sleek black Greek armor with red trim over his regular clothes while leaving out his standard helmet. Still, their attire couldn't help but remind him of the times Hestia first started coming with him on his missions as Ranger all those years ago.
'Still… I don't remember her hips being that curvy. Wait… I forgot she used to wrap her body.' A sudden thought crossed his mind with another glance at those wide hips before Percy quickly pushed that thought to the side before focusing.
"Are you sure this is the place?" Percy asked as Hestia and Vesta nodded before pulling out a small book full of the details of all the missions he had been given.
"It says this should be the place. According to Dionysus, one of his children should be here. There were a few monster traces, but they seemed to disappear when we finally arrived." Vesta said as Hestia nodded in agreement and looked around.
"The traces disappear, but this is marked as the right place. If Dionysus isn't lying to us, then this might be a bit more tricky than I thought." Hestia said as everyone paused for a quick few moments.
Even though they found the right place, Percy still couldn't sense the monsters. He couldn't even feel their auras or the water in their bodies like he usually could; something was blocking his senses, frustrating him slightly. His senses were typically top-notch, comparable to a minor god or even a major god when it came to water. Still… nothing was happening.
'You two sense anything,' Percy asked Barbatos and Alpha as he extended his senses further around the factory until it fully encased it.
'Hmmm… How interesting. There is something here, but I am unsure exactly what it is. It doesn't muddle your senses or disguise things like the mist. From what I can tell, it seems to use nature itself. It also leaves traces, but not many. It is almost like a trap.' Barbatos said as he pondered over everything Percy sensed while Percy pursed his lips.
'Whatever this disguise or trap magic thing is, it is of foreign origin. Also, it doesn't act like a barrier. Chances are you can walk right in, but I have no clue if you actually enter the inside of the barrier or walk right back out. That's all I can tell.' Alpha said a few more moments after Barbatos finished speaking. Percy couldn't help but click his tongue a few times, drawing the attention of the twin hearth goddesses' eyes. He couldn't help but notice their gaze before approaching them.
"Barbatos and Alpha say some sort of foreign magic is being used to hide the monsters. But the way the magic is laid out is weird. Both seem sure it is some sort of trap." Percy relayed the information to the two as the two goddesses glanced at one another.
"Let me check," Hestia said as she quickly jogged to the building before putting her hand against the exterior wall.
ZAP!
"Ahh!" Hestia cried in surprise and pain as she quickly pulled back her hand covered with green electricity. It didn't take a moment for Vesta and Percy to appear at her side and go on the defensive side as they stared at the shimmering barrier that let out a few stray sparks of electricity. Focusing on the spot Hestia touched, Percy could also see some strange symbols he wasn't too familiar with, seemingly giving power to the barrier. Yet he didn't have time to decipher them before it faded to nothing.
"Are you okay?" Vesta asked first. Hestia let out a slight hiss of pain and shook her hand, still covered in green sparks. Red flames quickly covered her hand and smothered the remaining green sparks a moment later as Hestia held her hand as her cinder eyes grew brighter. With an angry glance at the building, Hestia looked ready to blow away the building at a moment's notice.
"I'm fine, but I'm about to kick someone's keaster for putting up such a barrier." Hestia cursed as she quickly noticed both Percy and Vesta, who gave her a surprised look.
"What? It hurt! I can curse too, you know!" Hestia complained to them as Percy couldn't help but slightly grin at the situation. Even though he was angry that Hestia got hurt, her 'fancy' choice of curse words somehow drove away his anger a little. On the other hand, Vesta was giggling at Hestia's reaction a little.
"Sure you can, little flame. By the way, what was that?" Percy asked as Hestia puffed up her cheeks in anger but quickly let out a sigh. She was going to get him for this later.
"It seems there is indeed a barrier, but only for gods. It is 100% from the Celtic Pantheon, meant to drive out foreign divinities. Percy is likely the only one who can enter since he isn't a god." She explained as Percy and Vesta's eyebrows furrowed before looking at the building again.
"Can't you destroy it and still enter?" Percy asked her as Hestia paused momentarily before shaking her head.
"I mean, I could, but the building would no longer exist if I did. Celtic magic is very different from our own. It uses magic circles to exchange tangible and intangible things for power. They also make use of the lay lines that exist under the earth. Their magic also grows even more powerful with simpler, heartfelt desires that come with bigger sacrifices. From what I can tell, this person must have wished to 'keep foreign gods away' while paying a large sum." Hestia finished with a long sigh as Percy couldn't help but be in awe of her explanation.
'Oh ho. How interesting, this is quite useful magic if you ask me.' Barbatos said the words Percy was thinking right then as everyone stared at the factory more.
"Well… I guess I'm going in then," Percy said with a shrug. Yet before he could move forward, a hand shot out and grabbed his arm, causing him to stop. Turning his head, he met two pairs of cinder eyes as Vesta gripped his arm tighter.
"Be careful in there. We don't know what kind of person put up such a barrier. Escape if you must," Vesta said in a serious tone, and Hestia nodded several times, following her twin's words. Percy couldn't help but give a soft smile before nodding.
"Yes, ma'am," Percy said with a wink as Vesta rolled her eyes and scoffed. That distinct golden hue to her cheeks seemed to lie about her emotions. With that, Vesta relinquished her grip on him as Percy strode forward before stopping at a door leading into the factory.
"What I would give to have Orthos or Tia here to help. Why did I have to give them this month off?" Percy suddenly said with a long sigh as he reached forward and grabbed the handle to the door. As he did, he waited a few moments but found nothing rejecting his entry. He turned toward the two and gave them a thumbs up.
"Just go already; you're taking too long!" A feisty Vesta shouted, only for her to be hit by Hestia as the Roman goddess let out a hiss of pain as she held the top of her head.
"Be careful. We will be waiting." Hestia said with a smile as Percy's lips twitched at the comical display before him. If not for the seriousness of the situation, he would have burst out laughing. Still, he held it together before finally turning the handle to the door and pushing it open.
"Oh? Thank you, good sir. I was just heading out." Suddenly, a small and squeaky woman's voice filled the air. Percy blinked in surprise, froze, and held the door open as one of the weirdest and probably cutest things he had ever seen trotted before him.
It was a small corgi, but not just any corgi. No, this was a valiant… steed? It had a small silver metal helmet decorated with fancy engravings and reigns. It was also outfitted with a brilliantly crafted white saddle with a few rider bags. Finally, it had a small fairy with blonde hair in a greenish gown with butterfly-like wings. She was devilishly cute on top of her mount while she gave Percy a wonderful smile and wave before moving the reins, making the corgi run as quickly as possible.
With the fairy's hair blowing backward due to the speed, the two disappeared in a few seconds as they rounded a corner. As they did round the corner, Percy could feel their presence fade away to nothing, as if they were never there. Yet he didn't seem to care about that as he slowly looked up at Hestia and Vesta, who were both stunned by the situation.
"Oh my! We have visitors, everyone! Bring out the good tea!" A sudden shout snapped him out of his shock. Percy quickly turned back to the door to find a Fairy floating in the air before him with their wings aflutter as they waved right at him.
LINEBREAK: Mini
"I see. That explains a lot," Percy said as he sipped his tea while glancing at the warehouse's interior, which could no longer be called a warehouse. Instead of cold and rusted steel, it was covered in mossy and flowery fields that expanded the building's eternity. Sections of the factory were left for tiny homes for the fairies, though most were built high in the air on the large steel pillars supporting the building or walkways or trusses. Dozens, if not hundreds, of fairies could also be seen playing or flying around the vast factory, having as much fun as possible.
On the other hand, dozens of corgis were also out and about frolicking and playing like the fairies on the mossy ground. Yet right now, they were all conglomerated around a particular Roman goddess lying on the ground, giggling and laughing as the adorable dogs licked her face and hands while happily pouncing on or around her. Admiring the sight of a delighted Vesta, Percy soon turned his eyes to the reason for their visit.
Off to the side of the building was a small orchard filled with grape plants and apple trees. Fairies were flying all about it, helping as they could. Some were picking ripening fruits while others were pruning. In the middle of it kneeled a young half-caucasian half-African American girl who looked 12 to 11 and had a dozen fairies conglomerated around. With a head of curly dark black hair that shone purple in a particular light and a pristine white dress adorning her, she appeared like a nymph with the fairies surrounding her.
If one stared at her long enough, they would be shocked at what they discovered. Her right arm was gone from the bicep down. A nasty and crudely healed scar was all that remained of her appendage. Percy could also see dozens of scars littering her frail body. From what he could tell, they were all from monsters. The worst of all, besides her arm, was the scar running across her mouth and face that had taken a large chunk of her nose and lips.
Even with such terrible scars, the girl appeared as bright and cheerful as she graciously took a grape from one of the fairies and plopped it into her mouth. After chewing a little, she gave a thumbs up to the fairy as the little mythical creature twirled in happiness. Seeing such a sight caused her to giggle with delight as the fairies continued to play with her. Seeing her act in such a carefree and childlike manner made Percy think that it almost didn't seem natural with the state of her body.
"You said you found her on the brink of death, Fawn?" Percy asked while turning his gaze to a much older fairy who was sitting at a much smaller table and chair on top of the table Percy was sitting at. Their blonde hair turned white with age, and their wings appeared to be sagging and wilted ever so slightly. Yet even with countless years against him, this old fairy still had a wrinkled face full of life and energy.
"Indeed we did, I think it was perhaps… several months ago? I am not sure us fairies are not the best at keeping track of time." Fawn or the old fairy spoke in a slow tone as Percy nodded.
"May I ask you something?" Hestia said to the elderly fairy as he nodded toward the goddess.
"Was her mind broken when you found her?" Hestia asked the elderly fairy as he looked upon the girl and sighed before sipping his tea.
"It was not, but it was on the brink of collapse. When we found her, she was stabbing a dead Cyclops in the head with a sharp fragment of metal over and over again without rest. We could only assume it was the one who took her arm from her since that wound was the most recent. After a bit, she fainted from exhaustion, and we decided to bring her here. It took a week to bring her back from the brink of death with our magic and medicine."
"Once she awoke, her mind was nearly collapsing in on itself. All she could do was stare at us with emotionless eyes and barely mumble words of thanks. We didn't know what to do; she wouldn't last the evening. That is when our strongest mage, Finnel, suggested something to the girl. She suggested that the girl offer her memories and emotions of her past to perform an old Celtic magic that protects one's home."
"In the end, she agreed. Her mind was wiped clean by the magic. She lost all her memories of who she was and what she did. Left with nothing, the girl was scared, but the fairies quickly helped her through that and helped her begin again. They even gave her the name Esmey. The only worry the girl has now is running out of room in her garden." Fawn finished his tale as Percy and Hestia sat in silence.
"Such a sad tale," Hestia eventually said as Fawn nodded.
"Indeed, but look at her now. Carefree and always having fun. What more could one want?" He asked them as Hestia pursed her lips a little but said nothing. On the other hand, Percy had a similar look but decided to speak.
"Fawn… what will you do if she grows curious about the outside? Or perhaps what her past was like?" Percy asked as the old timer looked up at the boy with curious eyes.
"Then we shall help her as much as we can. She gave up her past so that we could protect ourselves even better. We will never forget such a favor and intend to repay her until the day she passes on." He said as Percy couldn't help but nod, and a small smile graced his lips.
"Then consider me out of your hair. As far as our side is concerned, Esmey has disappeared, and our task is complete." Percy said as he quickly drank the rest of his tea and let out a small burp before turning back to the elder fairy, who gave him a thankful look.
"Percy, manors." Hestia chastised her love quickly. An awkward smile grew on his lips as he gave Fawn a nod of apology, causing the old man to chuckle.
"It is fine. Also, we thank you for dropping in. We rarely get visitors, even more so from a different pantheon. It was nice chatting with you all. Feel free to revisit us if you so wish. Our door is always open to friends, and we have adjusted the barrier so your goddesses wouldn't be shocked again." Fawn said, causing Percy to chuckle and Hestia to blush before giving Fawn a thankful look.
"That reminds me if the barrier is to keep out intruders or gods and such. Then why was I able to open the door?" Percy couldn't help but ask as Fawn gave him a small smile of his own.
"Because the barrier judged you to be righteous in heart and one that would not harm us. If Hestia or Vesta were not gods, they would have been judged similarly." He said Hestia showed a proud smile on her lips, and Percy shot her a wink.
"Well, we must be on our way then. My schedule is booked, unfortunately." Percy said before standing up from his seat as Fawn did the same. Percy extended a single finger toward the tiny being, and the Fairy took Percy's finger with his hand and gave him a shake. With a nod from each side, the two pulled back. Hestia gave a soft goodbye before going toward the mound of Corgis to retrieve her other self.
"Also, Fawn, have you considered moving by chance? This place seems crowded and worn down if you ask me." Percy couldn't help but mention as Fawn glanced at the collapsed side of the factory that the fairies had abandoned.
"It… has been on my mind, yes. Unfortunately, moving so many fairies at once with only the adults knowing how to use Dream Travel and the mist seemingly thinning recently is challenging." Fawn said with a long sigh as Percy waited a few moments before raising his hand. His aura gently flowed from it, and in a split second, an old copper skeleton key manifested from his dark aura.
"Take this. It can be used on any door and opens a portal the size of that door to a place called the Nest. It is a world of its own that only a few can enter and leave. It also has a unique function, like your barrier, to keep out enemies. If you ever need a place to come while you are looking for a new home or even a new home itself, my door is always open to you. Just know that this key can only be used once." Percy said before placing the copy of the Nest's key on the table before the old Fairy.
The old man couldn't help but stare at the key in wonder as he found himself at a loss for words. All he could do was look up at Percy with a stunned gaze as he caught a glimpse of Percy giving him a soft smile before flipping back up his hood. He then strode toward the two goddesses surrounded by fairies and corgis as they chatted happily with the energetic mythical creatures. Yet they never stopped moving as they soon approached the door. They entered as Percy opened it, allowing Hestia and Vesta to leave first.
"Bye Bye! Be sure to come again, mister!" Suddenly, a shout came from the orchard across the factory, causing Percy to freeze as he turned to see the daughter of Dionysus waving at him. Percy's lips revealed a toothy smile as he waved back at her briefly before leaving the building entirely.
'So this was the Ranger of Olympus that Fae had been discussing lately. He is much friendlier than the rumors say,' Fawn thought as he slowly reached forward and touched the key, feeling the remnants of the aura Percy used to create the key. As he did, his eyes narrowed slightly before picking up the key as the remnants of Percy's aura dissipated.
'Such a unique energy signature. How long has it been since I've felt something so similar? Maybe 12 millennia or 15?... No longer than that, back when the otherworld was just beginning to grow, if I remember. It seems that boy is far more than meets the eye.'
LINEBREAK: half a week later
PERCY POV:
"Finally! Home sweet Home!" I cried out in happiness as I gazed upon a large log home that radiated a comfy and quaint feeling. How long had it been since I had been back to this place? The last memory I had was when I kidnapped Asclepius. After that… things got busy and complicated, leaving me little time to come here.
"It seems the hunters are maintaining this place as we requested. One wouldn't even guess that it was ash and dust not even a few years ago," Hestia said, looking at one of the newly grown trees by the path leading to the front porch.
"They better be. I spent a lot of drachmas on growth supplements for this place. If they didn't work, Demeter would have a new foot up her ass." Vesta mumbled as she inspected several trees as close as she could as if trying to find an issue with them. Hestia simply glanced at her other half and sighed.
"Demeter makes the best Vesta. Stop trying to find something wrong. Besides, the money-back guarantee is only available in the first year of use; you're wasting your time." Hestia said in a tone like a mother chastising a child as Vesta clicked her tongue in annoyance, and I couldn't help but chuckle at her antics.
"Fine, fine," Vesta grumbled as she noticed my gaze, got slightly annoyed, and pursed her lips together.
"What? Who doesn't want to save a bit of money? I spent over 12k drachmas on that growth supplement." Vesta complained as I had to hold back my laugh and instead managed to let out a cough before Hestia butted in by grabbing Vesta's shoulders and marching her toward the cabin.
"Maybe so, but it was a good investment. You always loved the feel of nature around this place, especially those sunrises that peeked through the trees. We would simply sit and watch Apollo begin his rise as Artemis completed hers, a warm cup of coffee or hot cocoa to help us feel more comfortable." Hestia said as Vesta's pursed lips slowly unfolded into a small pout. Hestia buttered her up with good memories.
"Demeter's stuff needs to work, or those mornings will be gone forever." Vesta finally mumbled out in a small voice. Hestia's expression turned into a soft and loving smile of agreement before she hugged her twin from the back.
"You are so cute sometimes," Hestia said in a happy voice as Vesta simply stood there and allowed her other half to hug her. Hestia's bubbliness smothered her once bratty attitude as cheeks flushed slight gold.
"You're right. She is super adorable sometimes. Also, these mornings sound quite nice. Perhaps I can join you two in one?" I asked, walking up to the two hearth goddesses as both suddenly realized I was beside them. Hestia quickly pulled away from Vesta, leaving both goddesses with bright golden cheeks. I gave them a loving smile before coming closer as both glanced up at me.
"I didn't get an answer," I said mischievously as both goddesses blushed harder. I could practically feel the heat radiating off them in their embarrassment. Even a foot away, it was noticeable as my eyes moved between them. Wait, maybe it was their body heat.
"Maybe… if you pass your last checkup." Vesta was the first to regain her composure before quickly glancing at Hestia as the blushing Greek goddess looked back at her. I instantly knew the two were doing their little telepathy skill. It only lasted for a moment or two, but that was enough for Hestia and Vesta's cheeks to turn a bit more gold before they faced me.
"O- Only if you pass your last checkup tonight." Hestia managed to say it as Vesta nodded in agreement,
"I guess if that's all it takes, I've passed all the others already, so I'm feeling confident," I said while flexing my arm and patting my bicep a few times, a grin on my face.
"Maybe so, but this one is special," Vesta said with a small smile and flushed cheeks before nudging Hestia. The goddess was too embarrassed to talk as her eyes darted up to me and then to the ground several times. Seeing Hestia react in such a way, I couldn't help but feel my emotions rise and my cheeks flush as I quickly figured out what they were hinting at. I didn't know why, but their embarrassment, in this instance, was highly contagious.
"Oh… I guess I will have to prepare myself then. How about we head inside first and relax a little?" I managed to say it with a semi-straight face as I felt my face burn. Yet upon seeing my reaction, the twin goddess also blushed more but nodded quickly as they walked toward the cabin door.
"H-How about something to eat then?" Hestia finally managed to eke out some words in a flustered tone as Vesta and I nodded in sync.
'Ugh, why are these two so adorable all the time? My frail heart can not handle all this, ' I cried out internally as I felt the river of love pulse inside my soul as I focused on it. A moment later, mixed emotions of expectation, embarrassment, love, and shyness trickled from Hestia and Vesta's links with me. At the same time, I could feel myself giving off the very same emotions.
As our feelings radiated through the network, I could feel small trickles from the others as they reacted to ours. Mixed emotions of love, fulfillment, embarrassment, and eagerness could be felt, and I couldn't help but smile a bit before retraining my focus on the two stunning goddesses in front of me who were opening the door to the cabin.
Creeeek
"How about some spaghetti to eat-."
THUD! CRASH!
"Nooo! My sheet notes!"
A sudden cry rang out inside the cabin as I saw the biggest mess I had ever seen. Sizable stacks of papers and books dominated the walls and floors of the mudroom and living room. I simply couldn't help but stand in silence and stare at the mess. Thousands of sheet music pages were all I could see, covering the ground in mismatched piles. Some were partially completed, while others were fully completed. It took me a moment to turn my eyes away from the mess and toward the source of the voice as I laid eyes on my darling little sister.
She sat cross legged in a makeshift nest with a small table for writing sheet music and many books for reference. Her hair was in a lazy ponytail and looked like it hadn't been brushed in days. She was in nothing but her underwear and a wrinkled, stained shirt that had seen far better days. Even a small pile of empty snack wrappers and another pile of unopened snacks sat by her side.
Yet the way she looked was another story. Her eyes had large bags under them as if she hadn't slept in weeks. Yet those bags of exhaustion didn't hide the shock in her eyes as she watched the tower of sheet music by the door collapse and knock over a few more stacks before finally coming to a stop. I then watched her shock turn to anger as those eyes darted at the door, only for that anger to dissipate immediately.
I watched in silence as her whole body froze in place while those once-angry eyes took on a whole new emotion… fear. Yet that fear was not directed at me. Instead, it was directed to the two hearth goddesses before me.
"Tracy… Helling… Jackson." A tone that made the air grow cold filled the air as Hestia's once lovey-dovey mood was erased. Replacing it was the most feared mood I knew she had… angry mom mode. I knew that mood far too well and couldn't help but step back a little and give the goddess a bit of space; let's just say my many years as a messy boy put me in Tracy's situation more than just a few times.
Hestia was the goddess of the hearth and home. A messy home was not acceptable to her. If a home was overly messy, Hestia was eager to confront the person or people who made the mess. Tracy, on the other hand… was a very messy girl like my younger self. At nearly every point in my life, I don't think I had ever seen Hestia not get on Tracy about her room being dirty. Right now was no exception.
"W- Wait! I can explain!" Tracy begged as hard as she could, but nothing stopped the now livid hearth goddess as she began to march across the sheet music as the room temperature rose contrary to her frosty gaze.
"You best explain! Is this how you treat your family home!?" Vesta suddenly shouted as she marched behind her twin. It seems that Vesta held the same opinion about messes as her twin. Two goddesses then headed right toward my panicking sister. Seeing their warpath was in her direction, the girl looked ready to run. My darling sister then looked my way, and her eyes instantly begged me for help, but I simply avoided her gaze and slowly closed the door behind me.
"Get off your butt! Put on some pants! And start cleaning this mess immediately!" Hestia's commanding shout could be heard through the door as I grimaced. Memories of Hestia, Chaos, and Sally all yelling at me about messes filled my head, but I pushed them away as I stepped from the door. I could hear Tracy trying to talk to Hestia and Vesta, but her words fell on deaf ears as they continued to nag at the girl.
"What order do you want these organized in? Alphabetical? Genre? Year? A mixture!? Don't give me those teary eyes! Hurry up and decide, or you'll be grounded even longer!" Vesta's shout could be heard as I prayed for Tracy until I finally got far enough away from the house for the shouts to grow muffled.
"Percy?" Just then, a familiar voice filled the air. I turned to see Phoebe walking my way with a large box in her arms.
"Hey," I said with a slight wave as Phoebe stared at me momentarily before her eyes glanced at the cabin and back to me. I could feel the nervousness she was radiating internally as she walked forward.
"So what brings the Ranger of Olympus here?" she asked as I stared at her for several long seconds. That seemed to make a bit of sweat drop down the side of her head as she readjusted her grip on the box she was holding.
"Well… this is my family home. I thought I would stop by for a little and enjoy a few days in the forest. I just got done with a massive chore list. I mean, a quest list from the gods. You know, the usual, chasing down Nymphs and giving them sigh gag orders, hunting down certain monsters, rescuing demigods, killing mortals, spray painting a god logo on a certain temple, trying to find an old tailor to make a flag, chasing down a party pony chapter and making sure they get their hooves trimmed." As I continued listing the list of things the gods had me do, Phoebe continued to nod, and I watched a bit more sweat gather on her forehead.
"Anyway, I thought I needed a day or two after working so much for them, so I figured I would come home and relax. Maybe chat with the hunter chapter in the camp nearby. See how well the rebuild has come along." I finished as Phoebe nodded a little. I kept my eyes trained on the huntress as she tried to find words to say.
"I see… well, maybe you should see the girls first? I bet they would enjoy your company. We have a few recruits that you haven't met yet. Hailey and Brittany are there as well. They haven't seen you in years." Phoebe said as I put a thoughtful look on my face as I remembered the Tyche twins. It had indeed been a minute since I had seen them. Artemis said they had the makings of great huntresses. Maybe I should visit them… later, though.
"That does sound like a good idea, but I'm afraid it will have to be later," I said as Phoebe's hopeful face fell apart just in time for the cabin door to open, revealing Vesta. The goddess was now wearing an outfit made for cleaning. A bandanna held back her mousy brown hair, which was now in a ponytail. Her armor was long gone, replaced by a simple shirt hidden by an apron with a chibi flame wisp on the front, her denim jeans, and fuzzy slippers.
"You best get your butt in here and help clean, Phoebe." She ordered as Phoebe's face turned into fear as she looked at me. I gave her a small salute. The 6' 2" huntress, who looked ready to wrestle a bear at any given moment, now looked like a rabbit caught in a trap. She couldn't help but hang her head as her feet begrudgingly took one step after another until she made her way inside.
"Hmph! Go and help Tracy organize her music! Hestia even conjured up some file cabinets to help! Don't drag your feet! What sort of huntress shies away from cleaning?"
Cleaning Sounds Intensify
TIMESKIP: 2 hours later
"Much better!" With a brilliant smile, Hestia said as she took the bandana off her head, letting her curly hair free. The house now looked spotless, maybe even better than new. Two magical file cabinets sat off the side of the living room, housing all of Tracy's sheet music. A desk was even added to the living room for her to work at.
"It looks amazing, love," I said, kissing Hestia quickly. In return, the goddess gave a confident look, and her cheeks turned slightly gold.
"Hey, what about me? I helped," Vesta said while tugging on my sleeve. I turned to the Roman goddess, who had a small, pouty expression.
"Thank you, love. I didn't realize Ajax soup worked this well on floors." I said before giving the Roman goddess a quick kiss. She revealed a beaming smile and smirked at Hestia.
"Well, it is stronger than Greece." She said with a knowing smile as her joke hit its mark. I couldn't help but roll my eyes along with Hestia at the joke, yet one of the girls lying face down on the ground chuckled as our eyes turned to them.
"What do we do about them? Send them back to camp?" Hestia asked, motioning to Tracy and Phoebe as they lay on the ground in exhaustion. Leave it to Hestia and Vesta to work two huntresses into exhaustion by cleaning alone. I had to hand it to them. They live up to their domain of home 100%.
"They are fine. They can rest here tonight. It is too late to send them back anyway, plus I want to speak to Tracy about this mess in the morning if I can. This whole thing has demigod powers written all over it." I said as both goddesses nodded. At the same time, a sigh of relief fell from the two huntresses' lips. Seeing neither was making an effort to move, Hestia and Vesta seemed to share thoughts momentarily as Hestia snuck her hand into mine.
"What about… us?" Hestia quietly asked me while squeezing my hand three times. At the same time, Vesta gently tugged my shirt three times. It didn't take a genius to realize what they hinted at. It seemed like I was still in need of that special checkup.
"Well… don't you two have a cabin nearby?" I quietly asked with a glance as the two paused before quickly nodding. It seemed our destination had been set, and with that, the three of us began walking out of the cabin, leaving the two exhausted hunters by themselves. Yet I swore I could hear the two chattering with my improved hearing, something about drachmas and a bet.
"Come one, slow pokes." Vesta urged us forward faster with my hand in hers as we reached the small path leading to Hestia's cabin. As she did, I could feel Hestia's body warm up a bit, and her heartbeat began to race. I couldn't help but give her hand three squeezes. It seemed to help, albeit only a tiny amount.
"Slowpoke?" I asked as I tugged at Vesta's hand in mine, causing the goddess to snap back and twirl right into my arm. With her hand in mine and my warmth wrapped around her back, the goddess had nowhere to run.
Instead of the ever-bratty and confident Vesta, I was used to, I met the gaze of a woman in love. Shy, delicate, and embarrassed. It didn't take me a moment to kiss those delicate lips, their softness and warmth, gods their warmth. Vesta also eagerly sought my lips, letting out soft mewls as if begging for more. Yet this time, a new hunger I had never felt from her with this kiss made my heart race.
I almost didn't want to stop, but I begrudgingly gave up her lips and pulled away from Vesta's as she let out a soft mewl of disappointment. Staring down at her dazed, lustful, and begging face. She looked stunning, with a golden blush crossing her dark olive skin tone and her divine, soft, adventurous, and loving beauty. I almost dived in for another kiss but knew I couldn't… at least not yet.
"Let's take our time. What's a few more minutes? I don't want to rush this; I want to savor every moment." I whispered in a husky tone as Vesta's face became a sheet of gold. Steam began to roll off her head as her body heated up before giving me a shy nod. At that moment, I felt another hand tighten in mine. A grin spread across my face before I gave a tug to my hand that held the other Goddess.
With a delicate eep, Hestia twirled around and was put in the same position in my arms as Vesta. After overhearing my earlier words of embarrassment, her cheeks were far more gold than Vesta's. Yet it only enhanced her soft and loving beauty to the point I couldn't take it anymore. I sealed her soft and fiery hot lips with mine as she let out a muffled mewl of delight. The goddess' lips soon pressed harder against mine, and her emotions grew.
Hestia's emotions of lust and primal hunger were less prominent than Vesta's, but her display of love was like that of an ocean that threatened to explode. After several moments of listening to her sweet mewls and delicate gasps, I forced myself to pull away from those trembling lips. I couldn't help but gaze down at a dazed and golden-faced Hestia as her cinder eyes radiated shyness and love. I couldn't help but feel my heartbeat quicken as I saw those wanting eyes stare into mine.
"Is that alright with you?" I asked Hestia. She gave an equally shy nod as a poof of steam began to roll off her head, and her body heated up as well. With a smile, I unraveled both steaming goddesses from my arms as their hands tightened in mine.
"Shall we go get this checkup started?" I suggested as my face heated up a bit before I began to lead the two hearth goddesses by the hand toward their cabin.
LINEBREAK: Please see chapter 42.5 for that delicious lemon
THIRD PERSON POV:
LOCATION: …Camp half-blood (What a twist!)
"Come on! Just one more time! We can't stop now!" Several voices complained toward Annabeth as the girl let out a long sigh and let her head fall to the table where she was sitting. Several of her siblings and even children from Hephaestus' cabin stood around her. All of them had glimmering eyes staring directly at her while excitement filled the air, yet Annabeth was exhausted.
How many hours had they been at this? She simply didn't know, having lost track a while ago. All she could do was run a hand through her short hair before letting out another long sigh. Slowly sitting up, the room quieted down with all eyes on her. Her two exhausted eyes scanned everyone before looking down at a small wooden figurine right before her. Around the figurine were several dozen pieces of paper with notes and drawings depicting a squarish device.
"Fine, but this is the last time today! I'm going to need the fleece if this keeps up." Annabeth grumbled as everyone quietly nodded as she extended her hand toward the figurine. At the same time, she picked up a small needle from the table, and with a slight wince, she pricked her index finger, causing a small drop of blood to pool on it.
"Great Heroes, heed my call, arise from Elysium, and walk the earth again. I request those who claim they have the brightest minds." Annabeth quietly spoke as her aura began to channel itself into the droplet of blood for a few moments before it started to glow a stormy gray as nearly all her remaining energy was absorbed.
"The chant is new." Mumbled Malcolm as he observed the drop of blood. Annabeth's cheeks grew a bit red before letting out a slight cough.
"I figured it might help with the summoning." She said as several of her siblings nodded in understanding the best way to use one's powers was to figure out their limits. Annabeth then carefully smeared the blood onto the figurine as the wood greedily absorbed the blood after a few moments.
"No visit this time?" Annabeth mumbled upon realizing her mind wasn't pulled into the dream space like the last several times to meet the hero. Seeing her chant might have been effective, she quickly took a mental note of it. Soon, the wood figurine started to shake, morph, and mold into a new form.
"Oh, ho? What an interesting sight." Suddenly, a new voice filled the room as the wooden figure took its final shape: a miniature Albert Einstein. Though the figure wasn't as detailed as Odysseus, the details were enough. It even had the crazy hair he was known for.
"Yes!" Several children of Athena cheered and high-fived as the Hephaestus cabin shared the same sentiment. Annabeth also let out a smile, but her exhaustion caught up to her and prevented her from truly enjoying the moment. Had she been in total energy and not nearly a whole day into using her newfound power, she would also have been very eager to talk to Albert Einstein.
"Haha! What a rambunctious group! I like you all already! So tell me, why was I summoned? I feel one wouldn't request the brightest mind for a specific reason." The miniature Albert matched the children's energy before turning to Annabeth, who had to blink away the sleepiness and focus.
"We are working on something that can be used for Demigods to better communicate than an Iris message. We came up with a few things, but we haven't quite figured out any for sure designs or details. We need help getting an idea in place before school starts again. What is better than summoning one of the best children of Athena to go down in history?" Annabeth said while sliding several papers in front of the figure as he glanced down at them with eyes of interest.
"I see… Well, you have made an excellent decision. I feel this body won't hold for more than an hour and a half, so let us begin!" His words were straight to the point and just what everyone needed to hear. With one last hooray from everyone, the work began as Annabeth quietly excused herself from the demigod huddle.
"Annabeth, are you okay?" Suddenly, a soft voice called out to her, causing her to turn to see Beckendorf standing outside the huddled demigods as he gave the daughter of Athena a worried look.
"I'm…"
YAWN
"I'm… exhausted. I just need a 48-hour nap, and I'll be good as new," she said while giving him a tired smile. Beckendorf continued to stare at her for a little longer before nodding, and with that he joined back into the huddle as he easily pushed his way through the excited and sleep-deprived demigods.
Annabeth then started on her way outside the big house she had been cooped up in for far too long. After going through a few doors and hallways, she finally reached the main door and quickly exited the building. As she did, a cool breeze found its way to her. The feeling of the calm wind stopped her in her tracks, and her constantly busy mind took a moment to cool off and relax. It even cleared her sense of the drowsiness that had been accumulating.
"Up late are we? You know school starts next week, so it's best to get your sleeping schedule in order." A calm voice suddenly spoke to her that nearly made her jump out of her shoes. She quickly turned to see her favorite centaur instructor sitting on the porch, reading through a newspaper. Yet his intense brown eyes were locked onto her as she gave him an awkward smile.
"I didn't mean to. They are the ones who kept me up." Annabeth quickly shifted the responsibility and blame for her current situation to her siblings, and Chiron lifted an eyebrow before chuckling a little.
"I don't know if I believe you on that. The Annabeth I know loves researching as much as, if not more than, any child of Athena." He quickly pointed out as Annabeth gave a nervous chuckle as Chiron hit the nail on the head. If she had more energy, she would still be in there with them right now, but after the quest… she decided to watch her limits for a bit.
"Hmm… would you walk with me for a bit?" Chiron suddenly asked. Annabeth blinked in surprise before unknowingly nodding, and the centaur gave her a soft smile of thanks. The next thing Annabeth knew, she was walking beside Chiron through the silent camp. The cool breeze blew past them as Annabeth looked up at Chiron, who had remained quiet. Yet she could see a particular look in his eyes that signaled to her that he had something on his mind.
"So… did you want to talk to me about something?" Annabeth questioned as Chiron glanced down at her before nodding a little.
"Yes, I do. After hearing about what happened to you on your quest, I have concerns about your… mental well-being. I have also noticed that you have been less of yourself lately. During the camp activities, you always seem distracted or tired. You haven't been eating nearly as much as you used to, and I have even had a few of your siblings tell me about your recent sleeping habits." Chiron spoke slowly and calmly as Annabeth felt a cold sweat covered her body while her emotions began to tumble inside her.
"I don't…" She wanted to refute his words, but upon looking at his eyes, it was like a parent worried about his child. Any argument or words she had prepared dissolved into nothing. She couldn't find the willpower to argue with him as Chiron had shown a huge amount of concern for her. She couldn't help but grab one of her arms and rubbed it up and down.
"I know it is difficult to accept, but even the greatest demigods require council. Take young Perseus, for example. He even has things that weigh on his mind and has come to me several times to discuss them." Chiron continued to speak, causing Annabeth's grip on her arm to loosen, and a smiling Percy appeared in her mind. She couldn't help but pause for a moment as her thoughts gathered.
'Even… Percy,' Annabeth internally mumbled to herself as that image of Percy further solidified in her mind before she began to imagine him coming to her and speaking about his issues. She then imagined them bonding as they exchanged their worries and concerns. Even going as far as to lean on each other's shoulders for support and maybe even holding hands… Just imagining it caused her face to turn slightly red.
"I-Is that so…" Annabeth managed to mumble out as she realized she had caught up in her mind for a moment as Chiron nodded, unaware of the girl's internal thoughts.
"Indeed, he has quite a few things on his mind, believe it or not. He was the one who suggested that Mr. D and I start talking to demigods about any concerns or worries they have. We planned to start having demigods visit Mr. D for a talk about their mental health, and he would decide if they needed further visits." Chiron said as Annabeth froze in place. She quickly looked up at Chiron to see if he was joking.
But seeing the slightly apologetic look on his face, she instantly knew he wasn't joking. She suddenly felt worried about all of the demigods in Camp Half-Blood. Even though Mr. D had… softened up a bit, he was still the grouchy and unenthused god she was used to. Sure, he had been nicer to the demigods lately. The rumor was that Percy was the one to thank for that, but she still had concerns.
"I know what you're thinking. Even though he doesn't look reliable, Mr. D is the god of madness and can understand someone's mind incredibly well. He is far more qualified than you imagine him to be with such things. Thankfully, he is there only for the initial assessment of each person he sees. I would handle any demigod requiring repeat visits, sessions, or more delicate proceedings requiring parental approval." He said, causing Annabeth's worries to dissipate a little as Chiron inserted himself into the equation. Seeing the relief across her face, Chiron chuckled as the two approached Thalia's tree on the hill.
"Most demigods won't be happy speaking with Mr. D about what bothers them, but it is for the best. So much has happened because… we simply did not listen. A mandatory visit will be required at the start of the camp opening during summer vacation and the end. Of course, non-mandatory visits are encouraged. It will give him something to do besides loiter around and do nothing. Also, you will be the first to see Mr. D tomorrow morning; he has already been made aware." Chiron finished speaking, but Annabeth's mouth was agape at his words.
"W-What?" She sputtered out, as Chiron acted as if he didn't just drop an info bomb on her. She wanted to yell at the old centaur. Yet she managed to hold her tongue as her concerns about her mental health began to cloud her mind. The nightmares of what happened in the sea of monsters had plagued her for the last two weeks. She was losing her appetite by the day. Her mind had begun to lose its sharp edge like never before. She even began to find herself distancing herself from others.
"Fine… but he better not call me a name. I swear on your name! I will give him a 0-star review!" After a minute of finally coming to terms with her emotions, Annabeth agreed. Upon hearing her agree, Chiron gave her a thankful smile as the girl lightly glared up at him before letting out a hmph.
"Those terms are agreeable," Chiron said as Annabeth let out a frustrated sigh, her eyes tearing themselves away from her frustrating mentor before landing on Thalia's tree.
"It looks a lot better now," Annabeth said to nobody in particular as she looked at the now vibrant tree. If someone had seen the tree two weeks prior, they would not have believed the current tree was the same, from withered and rotting to the healthiest pine tree around. It was all made possible by a shimmering fleece of gold resting on one of its branches.
"Indeed, I was aghast when I saw it upon my return. Thankfully, Clarisse made it just in time," Chiron said, and Annabeth nodded in agreement. Her thoughts began to wander as memories of her time spent with Thalia began to return. Those precious memories filled her mind, and a tiny smile graced her lips.
HUFF
"Huh?" Suddenly, a burst of hot air hit her face and snapped Annabeth out of her thoughts. She blinked rapidly to find the face of a horse-sized dragon standing a few feet in front of her. Its yellow eyes stared down at her with a hint of curiosity. On the other hand, Annabeth was so spooked she couldn't help but stumble back a few steps, only for Chiron to catch her.
"No need to fear, this is Peleus. He is the new guardian of Thalia's tree and the fleece. He just arrived today." Chiron said as Annabeth's frantically beating heart pounded in her chest, forcing herself to take a few breaths as she scanned over the small dragon. Its copper-like scales glistened in the moonlight as it finally turned away from them and returned to the tree's base.
"Y-You could have told me sooner. You nearly scared me to death." Annabeth complained to Chiron as the old Centaur gave her an awkward look.
"I did earlier today. You and everyone else were so focused on your project that you probably didn't hear me." Chiron said as Annabeth's lips twitched.
"Nevermind," Annabeth strained before she regained her footing. Her eyes couldn't help but follow Peleus as he acted like a large dog and circled the tree a few times before finally sitting on a large mat she hadn't noticed before.
'Are all dragons like dogs?' She thought to herself, staring at the yawning dragon, when she suddenly noticed something strange with the shadow of the tree next to Peleus. Tilting her head to get a better look, she finally saw a pair of legs of someone leaning up against the tree.
"Looks like someone fell asleep out here again," Annabeth said, causing Chiron to notice what she was looking at, causing him to sigh.
"Not again," he mumbled as the two of them circled the tree to figure out which demigod was about to be put on dish duty for the rest of the time here at camp. Annabeth began to wonder just who was daring enough to sleep outside their cabin. She and Chiron finally circled the tree enough to see exactly who it was.
Yet the moment Annabeth laid eyes on the person, her whole body froze, and the tiredness that filled her body was blown away. A moment later, her legs gave in as she fell to the ground, her body began to shake, and tears began to well up in her eyes. One hand grasped at her mouth while the other shakily extended toward the person in front of her. Yet it stopped a hair short of touching them as if the figure would dissolve into nothing at any moment.
"By the gods, this shouldn't be possible," Chiron whispered as his eyes widened.
"T-Thalia…" Annabeth managed to cry out, and even more tears and snot began to run down her face. Her hand finally touched the girl's arm. This caused the quietly sleeping face of the punk rock daughter of Zeus, Thalia Grace, to move as her eyes slowly opened, revealing their long-forgotten electric blue shimmer.
A/N: Tis done! Finally finished up, sorry it took so long my peeps. But sometimes life calls and sometimes I get a little lazy… don't yell at me please lol. But I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I will try to get the Cough good stuff out here soon hehe. Please leave a review and tell me what you think! Thank you for reading!
E/N: It is Sidus back at it again! This dude is trying to get rid of me at this point. The flow of the story still feels fantastic and he is making way less errors that I am seeing. Anyways, I think this was a great chapter and I hope you all agree! Till next time! - Sidus