Percy has time. (quite literally)

7. Rome, yey

(I love this song too much I'm so sorry xDDD)

Wow, this was great, it would be better if he remembered a bit more than a girl and nothing, but yeah, you can't always have all you want, uh.

So, the situation.

Gorgons? check. Goddess? check. Voices in his head?

I hate you so much. Like, you have no idea-

Also check.

Perfect!

The tunnels were almost the size school halls, just that with a bunch of electrical cables and ⚠ signs, but the deeper they ran, the place became... older, so to say.

The lights changed to torches, and the plain gray of the walls molded into colorful mosaics. He couldn't pay attention to them, but he was sure he saw at least two of Heracles's works there.

Do you even know where you're going?

... no.

Child, all roads lead there, you useless-

Anyway.

Chatting with his fellow runner was not an option, though the dude (Frank maybe?) did seem a bit worried for the girl, Hazel was it?

Wow, you don't know anything, do you?

The voices were starting to get annoying again. Seriously, couldn't they shut up for a bit?

Haha no.

'Please' Percy thought to himself, 'shutting up is nice, you should try it sometimes-'

Oh, sunlight!

A bow shaped valley sat upfront, white marble columns decorating the structure.

It looked... well, roman...

Stupid idiot, sounded at the back of his mind.

'Shut up', Percy shot back, 'how could I have know? Last I checked, Rome wasn't in California!'

The voices didn't answer, but he had no time to care.

at his front laid a river, honestly, the only thing he was familiar with.

The goddess told him something, but he was tired.

You've sleep around 3 hours in the pass four days, so-

He advanced towards the river, queen of Olympus hanging on his back, she was getting heavier.

Wait, don't

Don't what?

Don't go into the river, you'll die.

What?

For once the voices were being clear... and that's what they tell.

No, listen to me. The river flows with that of the original Tiber, a...

A roman river, right.

Yes, the mark of Achilles will vanish the moment you step in the water.

So, no iron skin?

Exactly.

...

He didn't get it, why would that kill him?

Because of the divinity now flowing through your veins.

What.

Don't ask me. Just know that your body will probably explode into nothing.

So he had two options, Number one, listen and avoid the river. Or number two, not listen and die.

Yes, pretty much-

But hadn't the goddess said something about the world ending if he didn't go where she lead him?

Yeah but-

Nope, he was going in river and taking his chances.

You'll explode.

Correction, 'probably explode'.

Fucker.

He stepped into the water, the Tiber cold as ice, he felt faint, and it burned and scrapped his skin, like it was being peeled of his body, like he was a dam potato about to be fried.

Percy would have fallen on his knees hadn't the threat of world destruction been hanging over his head.

Hazel glanced over Percy's shoulder, her face morphing to horror.

"Frank!!!!"

Oh, the gorgons, yeah, forgot about them.

Haha, shit-

Great he knew what to do, right? Right?

Percy thrust out his hands, a tickling sensation flowing through his body.

Finally, something he actually understood.

The water twisted and raised, molding itself into the shaped of his arm. He grabbed the gorgons, who screeched and scratched.

He did a smashing motion with his hands, and the gorgons met the bottom of the Tiber, and it did it's best to spread the golden dust.

He stepped into shore, the old hippie finally walking by herself.

Color me impressed, you didn't explode.

Yeah, he had just suffered a bunch, no biggie.

Good.

His brain was fuzzy. It felt like someone had forced a cloud on the space between his cranium and his brain.

They may as well have.

Who??????

Gods, Olympians, who else?

Okay...

The Romans were kneeling at the goddess, who had now turned into a 7ft tall queen.

Finally.

She presented him to the Romans, and a very specific girl with a purple cape had, like, 912837192837192387 emotions going through her face, which ranged from 'what the fuck', 'I'm killing this bitch', and 'Oh fuck'.

Is she going to say you're son of Neptune? No, that'd be stupid...

What????

Anyway.

The fuck????

"Juno huh?" Percy spoke ", if I passed your test, can I have my memory and life back?"

As if it'll be that easy.

"With time, Percy Jackson, If you succeed..." she trailed off.

The goddess stared at him, motionless, and...

... creeped out? What? Why?

"With time..." he repeated. What a stupid asnwer, it's like someone asked the police when they'd find their daughter's killer and the police just said that they'd find out over time, waiting for the murderer to-

Will you focus for 5 minutes?

No.

Juno looked away and spoke to the other kids.

"Romans, I present to you a son of Neptune.."

He stopped listening.

What a liar, this is why nobody loves her.

Let's ignore that.

The girl with the cape was talking to him, but he didn't know shit. It was like he couldn't hear, so he just nodded along and hoped that's what they wanted.

What a great day to be alive.