Percy Jackson: The Gamers

prologue: a gamers gift

Percy Jackson sat in the middle of his classroom listening to his teacher, Mr. Brunner. The wheelchair-bound teacher spoke with a deep voice and enthusiasm that surprised Percy as the subject he spoke about was.....well frankly boring.

Percy's sea-green eyes were glazed as he looked at his notebook doodling away a picture of a trident and not paying attention to what was being said.

"...And hence the Gods lived on Olympus for the rest of eternity ruling over the world," Mr. Brunner finished his lesson closing his book. He looked around the classroom and spotted Percy who was doodling on his notebook, "Mr. Jackson."

Percy immediately looked up in surprise, "Ah-yes sir."

"Tell me Mr. Jackson what is the purpose of us learning about Greek Gods and Goddesses?"

Percy looked around confused. He looked to his side to his best friend Grover, a boy with crutches and a beanie on. The boy shrugged and Percy sighed, "I-ah....don't know sir."

Mr. Brunner sighed, "come now Percy you must be able to guess, think of some reason."

Percy scratched his head and wondered, what were the gods good for anyway? Percy shook his head and said the one thing he could think off, "it would help us passing this class."

The class laughed and Grover gave Percy a thumbs up while holding in his laughter while Mr. Brunner pinched his nose. "Yes, Mr. Jackson I suppose that would be an answer to the question, not the one I was expecting but nevertheless true."

Percy shrugged, "I'm sorry Mr. Brunner, who come on what could the actually answer be? What's the point of learning about some dead gods anyway? Shouldn't be learning something else like say...balancing a checkbook or something?"

The class laughed again but strangely this time Percy noticed Grover was very quiet, he almost looked kind of scared like someone was going to hurt Percy for talking like that.

Mr. Bruner shook his head again and slowly started to roll himself to the front of the class, "while it is true for the present-day world learning about Economics is far more useful than learning about Greek Gods, but it is not more important. The Greeks invented most of the methods we see today in our lives. Their rule of drama forms  the bedrock of our entertainment. Their philosophy, the cornerstone of the Western world. That is why we need to learn about the Greek Gods, Mr. Jackson, to understand where we come from, and what stories influenced the great people who formed our world."

"But I mean come on Mr. Brunner," Percy said with a sigh, "other than being an extended history lesson it's not like they actually have any other use. They don't have any more power in the modern world."

Mr. Brunner narrowed his eyes, "don't be too sure Mr. Jackson."

Percy shrugged and the class continued moving on like nothing ever happened. But unknown to them, three old women were looking at this scene from far away.

These were the Fates. They lived in a cave that is found by no mortal or demigod, but only a divine and only if the Fates themselves wish it. The women looked as old as time itself with hair as white as snow as fingers with marks of a knitter. Next to them was a river of blue yarn extending beyond them further into their cave.

"A gauntlet has been thrown," said one of the three women dressed in grey robes.

"Challenges us the boy does," said another in a tone of anger.

"We are fate, we are always challenged."

"Indeed we are, but this time we must do something about this."

"And why must we? What would we gain by interfering?"

"Indeed, we have nothing to gain."

"Oh but we do. We have everything to gain."