The Godly Pursuant (A Percy Jackson fan fiction)

5 - Maggie Crowberry

Swordfighting is something that Chiron doesn’t have a sense of humor about.

Ever since that ‘flying’ incident in the arena, he never stopped training me. And the new training sessions are even harder than the previous ones. He never gives me a break.

And Clarisse never let that go. She goes around telling everyone that I flew and fell flat on the ground from a mile up and went away unscathed. I feel like a schmuck. A flying schmuck. And now everyone is telling me to do that again so they can see for themselves. I try hard not to crack the earth up everytime they do.

It is official: being cool is difficult. I’ve never been cool before, and nobody gave me a warning.

We were in the arena that morning. Morning, you hear? He wakes me up very early in the morning to train. He doesn’t even let me get out of my pajamas.

Anyway, we were in the arena that morning when I complained of his training habits.

“Chiron, Hamilton, Dad, Fake Dad,” I used every name on him, “Can I just, like, take a day-off? This is totally driving me crazy,” I slumped on the ground. “I may be a demigod but I am human too. A teenager. My needs are manifesting. I get tired. I crave for human company. I get hungry,” I winced upon saying the H-word. I’ve been trying hard to ignore my hunger since the morning training started. My stomach badly grumbled.

“You have to train,” said Chiron. I groaned. “Maggie, you have to understand. I am trying to feed you everything you have to know for quite a short time. Remember, your father made you a deal.”

My lips turned into a pout. Yeah, Poseidon gave me an agreement that after all the training, I can go and do whatever I want with my life. It was a fair deal, even though I get upset that my real dad is willing to let me go just like that. It’s like, ‘Hey I’m your true dad. There you go. You are free to live in the streets again.’

“I miss Percy. I do. I really do, right now. Even that Blondie woman. Do you hear that? I miss Blondie! Hell. I hate her and all of a sudden I miss her. Thanks to you, old man,” I spattered at Chiron. Honestly. I ain’t able to see anyone for the past few days because I spend all my time in the arena. Sometimes Percy comes in to bring food and lots of bottled water and some inspirational crap, but he got too busy with his life that he doesn’t do that a lot anymore.

“Ah yes, my dear, you had it correct with old man.”

“How long have I been here?” I asked.

“One and a half weeks,” Chiron smiled, “and you’re doing very great. I see progressive improvements every day. I might consider the fact that you do better than your brother.”

“Percy? No, of course not. He’s way better,” I told him and sniffed. No matter how I try, I can’t be as good as him. His mind is full of battle stuff. My little coconut husk simply isn’t.

He looked at me like I’m wrong, and threw me a sword, “Get up, princess. We still have a lot to go through.”

We spent another three hours for training. My stomach was a bad steam engine rumbling inside me. I looked at Chiron like he was something to eat.

“Another day of this,” I caught my breath and threw the sword, “I’m out. I mean it. I’ll leave without telling you. And I’ll steal the Golden Fleece and give it to pawnbrokers for free.”

Chiron laughed.

“Lunch,” Annabeth declared as she came in the arena gate. “Come on, Chiron, Maggie hasn’t eaten with us since she came here.”

“Damn right! Thanks Blondie.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Chiron contemplated Annabeth’s statement with a wise stroke on the beard. I frowned.