Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Eagle's Path || a PJO/AC Crossover

Chapter 15: The Quest Begins

Percy POV:
I've probably said this a whole bunch of times before... Like a billion times. But let me say that demigod dreams are the worse.
***last night***
As I fell asleep after a fast hot shower, I felt more cleaned up from all the sweat and dirt on me after practicing my climbing and combat skills at the bureau. Which after returning from my visit to Olympus and joining the council for the quest, and made a trip to the bureau. Anyways, as I got dressed and went to bed, I looked over at my desk, where my sword, Riptide was sitting in pen form. The bronze colour glinted by the city lights reflecting among my window, and at some times the pen would reappear in my pocket over and over several times a day. And it would start to get heavier and lighter as if desperately wanting to return to it's sharp celestial bronze form, which I haven't used in a long time ever since joining the Assassin brotherhood. I kept thinking about the camp which I have missed after the summer ended, and I joined the brotherhood by living in Manhattan more often. And I thought of all the things I missed about camp, the strawberry field where Satyrs and Dryads picked strawberries as they grew, the smell of the freshwater lake of Long Island Sound, and the shifting colours of our emotions through the campfire after campfire songs. So many things I missed about Camp Half-Blood, that I thought; which life am I living more likely now? As an Assassin newbie, or the demigod known as the saviour of Olympus, twice?
I just kept these thoughts in my mind with no hope of them exiting out of my head, that I just wanted to for once sleep. So I turned the light out and buried myself in my pillows and blankets, and eventually I fell asleep.
*dream*
During my sleep, I kept having more nightmares (can't a demigod get sleep FOR ONCE). And as I looked around I was in the dense woods of what looked like Alaska, as the summer was not yet to come and the mountains were covered in the thick blankets of snow. And amongst the tall pine trees with the smell of pure oxygen, I saw a pack of young girls in silver jackets and were around the ages of 12 to 16 with bows their silver bows in their hands, and hunting knives sheathed at their boots; Artemis's hunters. And amongst the pack I noticed the two faces of the young 12 year old girl known as the goddess Artemis with her silver gleaming eyes and her auburn hair in a ponytail and her lieutenant, Thalia as she wore her tiara and her black spiky hair was flowing in the cool midnight breeze. Artemis and her hunters walked down the dense woods, bows in their hands, and arrows pulled back as they silently walked as if approaching a target for hunting. They looked back and forth, as if keeping an eye out for attempted surprises. And in the corner of my eye, in the shadow of the dark forest, I saw a figure of a man crouched behind the bushes, a hood over his head, and sheathed amongst his belt was a sword, a Desert Eagle pistol, and a hunting rifle was holstered to his back, an Assassin. He silently approached the hunters, still crouching and silently, as though he were a hunter himself. Artemis and her hunters have not noticed the Assassin yet, but as he made another step forward, his right foot snapped a twig on the ground, alerting the hunters as the turned their heads towards the location of the sound, pointing their bows and arrows towards the bush he hid upon. The Assassin knew he had been spotted, as he swiftly stepped back up, and reached for the rifle on his back, grabbing it and aimed the rifle at the middle Hunter, Thalia. Nothing is true he had said, everything is permitted you hunters scum. I wanted to push Thalia out of the way, saving her, but I could not move, or even speak as I tried to yell "THALIA! RUN!!!". Then Thalia knocked her arrow, and that the same time, the Assassin pulled the trigger of his rifle, and as the boom of the hammer struck the bullet sending it shooting forward, I now saw flashes. Screaming men and women in battle, Hunters and Assassins firing weapons and fighting in hand to hand combat. Blood spilt on the ground of the battlefield, both Hunters and Assassins littered the ground with their pale corpses with stab wounds and arrows sticking out from their bodies. Everywhere I look, I saw bodies of the deceased, and in the center of the battlefield, was Thalia, me, and lady Artemis. Thalia had stab wounds to her chest, her electric blue eyes lifeless, and her tiara was smashed to the ground in pieces. The goddess Artemis held her bow in her hand, but with no sign of moving as she had a somewhat broken blade stabbed to her throat, and was made of celestial bronze as she laid dead. And my corpse had my assassin clothing on, my hidden blade worn to my arms, and my chest and shoulder was wounded from the impaling of a few silver arrows, and my hidden blade was broken as the blade was snapped off, stuck in the throat of Artemis. I finally had the feeling to move, as I bent down to my body, and pinched my fingers on a vein of my throat, checking for a pulse.
After feeling no sign of a vein throbbing, I felt like this was actually, REALLY me. Suddenly as fast as a bullet, the corpse of myself moved on it's own, gripping my arm as I felt like almost having a heart attack. And through my body's dead glare, it spoke a voice in a voice much older and tempered. This, is your fate, Assassin it spoke. This voice was not that much as evil as Kronos', or not even like Gaea's, because the voice sounded mortal. And from the corner of my eye, I saw Thalia's body move, but her face still lifeless. Why would you do this to us Percy? Why?!? She spoke in her normal voice. Thalia's body dropped once again, and then Artemis's body has moved slightly, lifting her head up and saying this is what you have caused to the hunters and yourself, BOY! And her body dropped as well. And I heard small whispers close to my ears, whispering 'Assassin, Killer, Villain, Death of Olympus'. "No... NO" I thought, "this is not my fate! This is not who I am". Suddenly all of the corpses of the Hunters and Assassins started to move lifeless like ghosts and all stared at me, speaking in unison "you have brought fear to the demigods amongst your presence. You were the cause of Kronos returning his presence from the pit. Your blood has awoken the Earth Mother. And you have betrayed you love for Annabeth Chase. This is what your fate leads to... Assassino". "No" I thought, "NOOO..."!!!
And like a boom of thunder, I awoke in my room. The sunlight gleaming through the window, my alarm clock read 10:56 A.M., and my the room felt drowsy of being closed all night. I was panting heavily with every look throughout my room made me think back to the dense woodland area of which the Hunters and Assassins laid dead, and I just surely hoped there really were no dead bodies in my room my body either. But still thinking about that nightmare, I thought, 'is that really my fate? Does my choice of being in the Assassins really cause that? And if I really stay with the Assassins, does everyone around my die, because of me'. But I also thought what the voices of the dead said about me betraying the love of Annabeth. I had to accept that part, because she'd said we'd keep in touch by I-Ming, and that we would keep messaging each other, but I've now fallen for Emily during since a few days ago. I haven't thought of Annabeth after that, that I've think I forgot about what I said to her before me and Annabeth plummeted into the depts of Tartarus before defeating Gaea; "we're staying together. You're not getting away from me, never again. As long as we're together". I vowed that to her after that, but since Annabeth and her family moved to Italy, I was thinking if that vow was, or already was broken. I felt like crying there and now, thinking about so much of that, but I had to let these thoughts out of my head, at least for now. Thinking too much of that would force me to try and to alter the prophecy. So I agreed to myself to keep it a secret from my friends (and Leo). And I breathed less heavily, a caught a whiff of hot eggs, pancakes, and bacon. "Percy"! My mom called, "breakfast is ready"! I smiled at the scent I felt like I was already forgetting the nightmare. Wait a minute... Well, I just remembered it again. I felt like not giving a care for it again, as I put on a fresh new pair of jeans, socks, a white t-shirt, grey hoodie, and I grabbed my bag for the quest later. And before I left out of my room, I looked back at my desk, where both of my items from camp laid there untouched, my beaded necklace, with my five clay beaded necklace, and the pen form of Riptide. I almost forgot about those, bringing back memories at camp and fighting monsters. And I thought of the Assassins too much that I almost forgot to pack my monster fighting weapons, that I packed my Assassin weapons only. So I grabbed my sword, and my necklace. And made my way out of my door. "Coming mom" I replied, and went to the table to devour my breakfast.
***later***
Well, after I was done digging into my mom's amazing cooking, the clock read 11:35 A.M., which gave me a bit more time before returning to Olympus to begin our quest. But before I went, I had to make a fast stop towards the Bureau, only taking a cab, paying the fare, and looking around to make sure there was nobody around as I entered the Bureau through the elevator. While on the way down, I thought of what would happen on the quest. What would Artemis do to me if we failed to return the bow? I was just afraid if I did fail this, she would turn me into a Jackalope and hunt me down with a huge bullseye painted on my back. "Oh believe me boy, I will" I heard the Artemis say in my mind.
"Fail boy, and I'll hang your Jackalope head over my fireplace at my palace".
"I understand lady Artemis" I thought to her. "You better understand Perseus Jackson. If you do anything to harm Thalia, you'll pay dearly for it, Assassin". And with that, Artemis's voice exited my mind. I heard the elevator 'DING', and the doors opened up, and I walked into the Bureau. Walking down the hall, I was welcomed back by my Assassin brethren, Alex D'mica, Mary Laure, Mallory Isaac, and the many other Assassins I recognized as I walked down the hall. I passed by Alex, but stopped and asked him "is Master Tabai in his office"? He nodded, "yeah but he's on the phone with a client, you'll have to wait a little while" he replied. I didn't feel like waiting too long, either by my ADHD, or that I'd end up late for the quest (not like my ADHD told me I had to). But while I was here, I wanted to go and tell Emily I had to leave. "Well where's Emily? She here"? Alex shook his head. "No, left about twelve hours ago", I looked at him confused.
"What"?!
"Yeah, master Tabai sent her and Elizabeth on contracted mission, to Jerusalem". I couldn't believe what I heard. Emily left? And she didn't even want to say a last goodbye to me before she left. It was only a few days that we fell in love and she already left, but yet it felt like forever with Ann-... No, I don't want to think about the relationships, not now, and not again. "Well, good for her". I said, "can I go see Master Tabai for a sec"? Alex nodded, "sure, but if you interrupt him during his call, he'd throw you out of his office you know". I scoffed, laughing. "Yeah, I know". I walked away and up to his office, luckily He wasn't on the phone anymore, so I knocked, walked in, and I saw Master Tabai writing some new documents on his laptop. "Yes"? He asked, without looking up at me. "Master Tabai, may ask for a favour"? He nodded, and said "of course. And what would that be"? I collected my thoughts, thinking of some sort of lying excuse to give, and I thought of one. "I am having a trouble with my family at the moment sir, family troubles with my mom and other relatives. If I may so stay with my family for a probable month at the moment"? Master Tabai exhaled, looking exhausted from the work. Sometimes I swear, that'll be me in forty years. But luckily Master Tabai bought that excuse, as he said "of course. Take all the time you need for your family matters. But I'll expect you soon after that". I nodded in acceptance, and replied "thank you Master", and walked out of the office.
And as I walked down the hall, I passed Alex again, sharpening his favourite boot knife, and said "see you in a month or so". "Yeah" he replied as he kept eyeing his knife and file, "see you soon or whatever" he said with a tone of no care as to it. I entered the elevator and resurfaced up on the 3rd Avenue street. I swear, I don't understand how Nico, Hades, or gods even Persephone could stand being underground for so long, let alone the Assassins. And I've survived through Tartarus, so that's WAAAY beyond what they're going through.
I read my digital wristwatch, which read 12:03. Only about twenty-seven minutes until I have to reach Olympus. So as a cab came driving by, I called it over and told the driver my destination, Empire State Building, 350 5th Avenue.
***twenty-four minutes later***
As the cab pulled over by the curb at the front entrance of the Empire State Building, I got out and paid the driver my fare. Walking into the building, only a few people were sitting in the central lobby, and the same security guard was sitting at the front desk reading the newspaper. He looked up at me, and returned his gaze back down at his paper. "Strange to see you still here" he quietly said to me, "and I thought lord Zeus would've blasted you out of Olympus yesterday".
"Oh I know for a fact you would've loved watching that" I replied.
"Believe me kid, I sit here almost everyday since I got the job, I don't care if I even have to see a street juggler to get entertained. Here".
He passed me the golden keycard, and I entered an empty elevator, and pushed the keycard in the slot, and the new red button appeared. I pressed it, and waited for a minute as 'Another one bites the Dust' played in the elevator. Seriously, you'd think Apollo would've changed this music by now. And within minutes, the elevator made a 'DING', and the elevator opened up, revealing Olympus. I walked through the street and looked in awe of the great floating city of immortals, and could not help but admire it. Walking up the steps of the council temple, and I stood in front of the big golden doors, and I inhaled, gathering my courage to walk in, prepared for another quest once more with the seven. I exhaled, and muttered to myself, "okay... Here I go". And I pushed the doors in, and walked in as I saw my friends again, Leo, Hazel, Frank, Jason, Piper, and Annabeth with their luggages and weapons, standing in a group, and they were all speaking to Leo gracefully, glad to see him again, and alive. Jason and Piper were talking to each other, so were Hazel and Frank. The Olympians and Hestia were as well standing in another group, speaking silently. Zeus gave me a deathly glare, but re-continued his conversation. But the only goddess I did not noticed was not standing in their group was lady Artemis, and Thalia wasn't with the others. But I didn't complain, I grabbed my luggage, and awkwardly walked to the group. Annabeth first noticed me, as she walked up to me and greeted me with a peck to my lip. "Glad you're not late for once Seaweed Brain" she said as she hugged me, but I also noticed how Athena gave me a deathly stare at me, trying to ignore it. "Since when am I ever late Wise Girl"?
"Do you really want me to answer that"?
"Good point".
And at that same time, Artemis and Thalia have flashed in the palace, and Thalia was preferably wearing her infamous Death to Barbie t-shirt with am Barbie's doll head covered in blood, and her favourite leather jacket with her buttons of Green Day, Billy Squier, KISS, and other punk band names I barely knew. "Good" Zeus said, looking towards his two daughters, "now that we are all here. Let us discuss your requirements. Do you all have your clothing"? We all nodded. "Weapons"?
We again nodded. "Cash and Drachmas"? None of us nodded. "No? Alright then" Zeus said as he snapped his fingers, and in each of our hands, we were given a Ziplock bag full of $150 in American cash, and 50 gold Drachmas which we counted. "Now are you all now well packed"? All of once again nodded our heads. "Good. Now Hephaestus will lead you to the back of the temple, for he will assist you with transportation. May you bring the best of luck to yourselves, yada yada yada... You are all dismissed". All of us carried our luggages and bags with us as we followed Hephaestus towards the back entrance of the council room. "Well Seaweed Brain" Annabeth said next to me as we walked, "ready for one last quest together, and spend our lives together again"? I smirked, "whenever you are Wise Girl". As Hephaestus lead us to the back, I kept thinking of what he prepared for us; some flying bus, a helicopter, a couple of flying taxi cabs. But when the transportation came into view, all of us, mostly Leo were dumbfounded as our transportation, was the Argo II.
"No... Way...."! Leo said to himself. "HOLY FRICKING OLYMPUS!!! It can't be! FESTUS?!?! Is that really you"?! The masthead squeaked and whirred, speaking to Leo. "Yeah, I'm glad to see you too boy. But how did you rebuild the ship dad? It was badly damaged when we defeated Gaea". Hephaestus crossed his arms, smirking impressed at his work. "Fixed the ship up for you while you were gone with Calypso, with Festus as your masthead once again. And it's actually an Argo 2.2, cause I fixed up some broken items on it, so you don't have to worry about seeing Dwarfs faces in the dining hall again. And the front of the ship opens up for Festus to be freed. Consider this your sixteenth belated birthday present". I could tell Leo wanted to kneel on the deck of the Argo 2.2 and kiss the floor boards all day. But he kept smiling in awe of seeing his good friend "Happy" the dragon II. Leo stood on the gangplank of the ship, holding a mast rope, and said "ladies and gentlemen... Welcome back aboard the Argo II". We all smiled, glad to see Leo being Leo. We all walked aboard, but Thalia stood there, sort of shocked, and muttered "we're flying on there"?! I looked at her and I told her "well If you're gonna feel air sick during the way... Make sure you vommit on any monsters flying around". "Thanks, that makes me feel so much better" she replied. And after me, Thalia and Annabeth walked on board. Leo picked up the Wii controller, and flicked his wrist to the left, and the gangplank retracted into the ship, and I noticed a hundred oars opening up from the sides of the ship, and the sails lowered. "Remember what I told you earlier boy" I heard Artemis say in the back of my head. "Of course. I promise that".
"YOU BETTER", and she left my head. I felt the ship lifting up from the ground, as the oars rowed faster at intense speed, and Argo 2.2 sailed up. "Crew members" Leo commanded us, "let's find us a bow". The Argo II sailed through the clear afternoon skies.