The Darkness Is Coming

Blackjack Strikes Again

Percy burst out of the woods, sprinting for the stables.

"Percy!" Chiron galloped after him. "Where are you going?"

"To find a way to end this!" The son of Poseidon bellowed back.

He could hear a frenzied whinnying coming from the stables as he neared it.

The pegasi picked up on his restlessness and anger, and were reflecting it. He could hear the waves pounding on the beach as well.

A son of Apollo was in the stables, trying to calm the horses down. Percy rushed in and pushed right past him, unlatching Blackjack's stable.

"Percy, it's not-"

"I need him, shut up!" Percy leapt onto the agitated black pegasus' back and urged him out of the stables.

Where are we going boss?

Percy didn't even bother correcting the horse. "Empire State Building, fast as possible."

You got it boss!

Blackjack spread his wings and shot into the air. Chiron watched them go, praying to all the gods he could think of to keep the boy safe on his reckless journey.

What's wrong, boss? You're all tense and stuff. Blackjack asked.

"There's been some bad stuff happening, Blackjack. I want to find an end to it."

Are doughnuts involved?

"Maybe. Depends how fast you go and how I feel after leaving Olympus."

Double time, you got it boss!

Percy grunted. "Blackjack, stop calling me boss."

Whatever you say, boss.

The son of Poseidon sighed and slouched forward, ignoring the view of the city he was getting.

Well, he ignored it until he saw the hurricane.

In the middle of a park.

"Blackjack, to the park! Quickly!"

But boss, you said Empire State-

"I know what I said, listen to what I'm saying now and get down there!"

Okay, boss!

The black horse landed at the edge of the park and Percy dismounted.

Whoa, boss, is that you?

"Nope."

Who is it then?

"Percie, probably."

The mean, girl version of you?

"Yes."

Can I bite her?

Percy snorted. "Just don't let her hurt you, okay, bud?"

You got it boss! Blackjack took off, flying above the park and around the hurricane.

Percy dug in his pocket and pulled out Riptide, uncapping the pen and letting elongate into his sword. 

Hearing screams, he began to run towards the hurricane.

Percie was skipping around, cackling like a madwoman and attacking anyone who got within arm's length of her.

Percy growled when he saw her.

"Percie!" He barked, hoping to pull her attention away from the innocents fleeing. 

His plan worked partially. Percie's head twisted sharply and her eyes locked with his.

The people around him also turned at the sound of his voice. Seeing a figure who wasn't running and was facing the threat, they began to cluster behind him, wanting to know what was going on.

"The Hades is this, Percie, a free-for-all?" He focused on her.

"No, no, never! It's a massacre!" Percie grinned and shot one hand out as if pushing something towards him.

Ice spikes flew and people dropped to the ground to try and save themselves from them.

Percy waved his hand and a wall of water stopped and melted the spikes.

"Oh, you're no fun." Percie pouted.

"Where's Piper?" Percy demanded.

"Oh she's fine, don't worry! Resting up at the camp."

"Give her back!"

Percie laughed, her eyes alight with a madness that made Percy shiver. "I don't think that's gonna happen." Her eyes suddenly narrowed and she clenched her fist in front of her.

Someone behind Percy screamed and he turned to see a dark haired woman clutching her hand, where a small spike of ice had been shoved into her wrist.

"Percie!" He snapped. "Stop this!"

"No thanks!" She giggled. Percy lunged for her sword first.

Percie's eyes widened for a moment, then she formed a sword of ice and matched his attacks.

"We're the same, Percy, you can't beat me." She hissed as they fought back and forth. The hurricane above them was joined by a second one that raged against the first and the bystanders finally decided that it would be a good time to run.

The two black haired teens locked swords and began to push back and forth, their respective hurricanes doing the same.

"I can hold you off for long enough." Percy retorted.

"Long enough for what? The gods won't help you, we're mere demigods. And you have no way of contacting the camp at the moment. Even if you did, they'd never get here in time."

"Who said I needed to call the camp?" Percy raised an eyebrow and added a large burst of strength, sending Percie stumbling backwards.

Just as the mad daughter of Poseidon regained her balance and started towards Percy with a snarl on her face, a black hoof collided with the back of her head.

Percie collapsed.

Percy felt a sharp pain at the base of his skull. The last thing he heard as he dropped to the ground was Blackjack asking if he was okay.

[A/N fight fight fight!]