Tidalwave - A PJO fanfic (COMPLETE)

I Adopt A Seven-Year-Old

"Come out, come out, wherever you are,"  I sand, poking through some trees.  

Two hours later and no luck.  Nothing, not any sign or clue, not footsteps or noise.  She must have left a long time ago.  There was nothing but trees, bushes, sky, and a roaring sea.  At first I wondered how she managed to get off the cold rock, but she could probably teleport or something.  

"So, you're obviously gone,"  I muttered.  "Cause I've searched this place at least seven times.  Guess I'll go try and stop Reyna from waging war."  

But right as I was about to snap my finger and mist-travel, I heard a noise.  Something got snagged on a nearby thorn bush and footsteps ran off.  I wandered around until I found a piece of dark fabric caught on a thorn.  

Small foot imprints ran in the opposite direction, and I ran after them.  Someone breathed heavily-someone who wasn't me.  I continued running, ducking under shark branches and careful not to slip and fall into the ocean.  

But I tumbled over my own feet and rolled into something too big and soft to be a bush.  When I finished rolling, I looked to find a girl around seven, with curly black hair and moon-pale skin, her eyes swirling and changing colors like Piper McClean's.  

"River!"  She said, seeming delighted.  

I was taken back.  "Hello?"  

"Finally, I've been waiting hours!"  The little girl exclaimed.  "It's me, Asaka."  She looked and my confused face and seemed to understand.  "I was trapped in the glowing bubbly cage.  Then I was full grown, but I don't have enough energy to hold that form, so my body is around the size of a seven-year-old.  So is my mind at most times, too."  

"Ah, okay, sure,"  I said, surprised.  "And uh, out of curiosity, what brought you out of your slumber and turned you into a seven-year-old?"  

"Well, you did,"  she said simply, grinning.  "See, I'm both Roman and Greek.  Aphrodite wanted an interesting "love story" so she summoned Pluto and, well, I'm the result.  I'm both feared and greatly respected by the gods, both Greek and Roman.  My existence is based off the peace between Roman and Greek demigods.  Since they've been at war with each other for so long, I've been asleep.  

"But you and Nico, you're Roman, while he's Greek.  You two share a bond that was powerful enough to wake me up, though not powerful enough to put me back into my full form.  So, my mindset and body are equal that to of a seven-year-old mortal."  

"Oh.  I see."  

I stared at her, not being able to imagine that she was the goddess I'd been looking over.  A rush of protectiveness fell over me for the young goddess, which made me think I was going absolutely crazy. 

"Well, Asaka,"  I said.  "We need to go to-"  

"New York and stop the Romans from attacking the Greeks,"  she finished, looking up at me and smiling, her image flickering.  "Of course.  My ability to stay awake so close to their violence may weaken, and if that's the case you may need to carry me."  

"No problem,"  I said, smiling at her.  

I picked her up and snapped my fingers, landing us in the middle of the street in New York.  Taxis drove by and cars honked as I hurriedly ran out of the street, carrying Asaka on my back.  We made it to the sidewalk and I helped her off.  

"I just need to get something to eat, okay?"  I told her.  "I haven't eaten in a while."  

She nodded and grabbed my hand eagerly.  Geeze, she really was acting like a child.  We walked down the sidewalk and I searched for some place I could get a snack, maybe a sandwich or something easy for on the go.  

But we came up to a candy store and Asaka pulled me in, and I didn't recognize the Saing saying Sweet on America Candy Shop until we were inside, and I recognized the place.  I racked my mind to remember if mom quit her job or not.  

"Let's just be quick, okay Asaka?  Asaka?"  

In my moment of panic, Asaka had let go of my hand and was looking at the big glass storing candies.  There was a collection of blue candies that caught my eye and I smiled, remembering Percy's obsession with blue candy.  

"What can I get you, dear?"  A familiar voice asked from behind the counter.  

I froze.  So, she did still work here.  I didn't have to turn around to know that was my mother's voice, it was engraved in my head.  She seemed to be talking to Asaka behind me, who was saying how she wanted everything in the shop.  

I cleared my throat, knowing there was no way I could get out of this.  "Asaka, we can't buy out the whole store."  

"Why not?"  She whined, while my mother gasped.  

I forced myself to look up and finally meet her eyes, which were the same sparkling blue ones I'd always known.  There were shadows under them, but she seemed happier than when Smelly Gabe was around, even though a wave of worry had washed over her features that seemed almost permanent.  

"River?"  She gasped, a hand covering her mouth.  

I smiled sheepishly.  "Hi, mom."  

She ran forward and hugged me, squeezing the air out of my arms.  Even though breathing was difficult in the moment, it felt nice.  She was kind of like a blanket of warmth and peace, one only a mother's embrace could provide.  

"I know you probably don't have much time,"  she started.  "But please, tell me everything."  I noticed how she kept glancing between me and Asaka, trying to figure out how old the tiny goddess was.  

I filled in the gaps I never wrote in the two letters I'd given her and brought her up to date on the current situation.  Except I may have left out ever being in Tartarus, or Percy and Annabeth falling dramatically into Tartarus.  

I can't worry her too much.  

"When will I see you and Percy again?"  She asked anxiously as I stood to leave.  

Oh, you'll see Percy, I thought.  Maybe at his funeral...heck, if I survived Tartarus, Percy is going to survive it-somewhat-fine.  

"I don't know,"  I mumbled, looking down.  "I...don't have much of a plan after trying to convince Rome not to attack the Greeks."  

"You're more than welcome to come back home,"  she said, taking my hands.  "You can meet Paul."  

I smiled slightly.  "That would...be nice.  Maybe."