The Unsung Hero (An HoO Fanfic - Nico di Angelo) DISCONTINUED

Prologue

Trapped in a giant aquarium with a koi the size of a teenage boy was not what Percy had hoped would happen when Coach Hedge had informed them that there was something "fishy" about Kate, the aquarium worker! But then again, demigod hopes are always useless... 

The old sea god, Phorcy, who was supposed to give them insight on Gaia and the Twins, ended up imprisoning Percy and Frank in a large aquarium with only a plastic diver for company. 

Both of them tried their best to free themselves. The goldfish-Frank swam around the tank and reported no exits. The top was covered with Celestial bronze mesh, which Percy tried to cut through with Riptide but could to make a dent. He also tried to smash the glass wall with his sword hilt, and several of the weapons lying at the bottom of the tank, only to fail. Finally he tried to control the water. He wanted it to expand and break the tank, or explode out of the top. But unfortunately for the son of Poseidon, the water did not obey. 

Suddenly, Frank cried telepathically Look! 

Outside the glass, Keto was leading Coach Hedge through the amphitheatre, lecturing him on something while the coach nodded and admired the stadium seating. 

Coach! Percy yelled before realizing the coach could not hear telepathic yelling. Frank bumped his head against the glass. But Hedge didn't seem to notice as Keto walked him briskly through the amphitheatre, looking at the far end of the room. 

Percy realized he had only a few seconds before the coach would be gone. Dropping Riptide, he used both arms to swim after them. Coach and Keto were only five feet from the exit, when Percy, in desperation, scooped up a giant marble and hurled it underhanded like a bowling ball. 

It hit the glass with a sound not nearly loud enough to attract attention, but the satyr ears of Coach Hedge heard it, and he glanced over his shoulder. On seeing Percy, his expression went through several changes in a matter of milliseconds - incomprehension, surprise, outrage, and then a mask of calm. 

Before Keto could notice, Hedge pointed towards the top of the amphitheatre. As she turned, Coach promptly took off his fake foot and ninja-kicked her in the back of the head with his goat hoof. Hedge ran to the glass, as Keto crumpled to the floor. 

Percy pointed frantically to the coach to break the glass.  

He counted on his fingers. One, two, three! 

Frank turned to a human and shoved his shoulder against the glass. The coach did a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick with his hoof. Percy used all his strength to slam a giant marble into the wall, but he did more than that. He called on the water to obey him and fifty thousand gallons of water responded. 

The glass wall cracked. Fracture lines zigzagged from the point of impact, and suddenly the tank burst. Percy was sucked out in a torrent of water. He tumbled across the amphitheatre with Frank, some large marbles and a clump of plastic seaweed. 

Alarms blared as they fled the exhibits. They ran past the Nereids' tank and the telkhines. 

Help! 

Percy froze in his tracks. Frank and Coach Hedge kept running for a few seconds, before realizing that Percy was not with them. 

'What happened?' Frank demanded. 

'Can't you hear it?' Percy asked. 

'Hear what?' 

Help! 

Percy again heard the voice and realized it was inside his head. Frantically he looked around. The Nereids, telkhines, they were all drugged and sluggish and there was no way they could've called for help. That's when he saw it. In a tank, they had previously missed - though how they could miss it, Percy had no idea - was a girl, a human around 14 years of age, banging on the glass and telepathically yelling Help! 

Without losing another second, Percy ran towards her. 

'What are you doing, Jackson?' Coach barked. 

'We've got to help her,' he replied, uncapping Riptide. 

'No time,' Frank shouted, running after him. 

'Can't leave her.' 

At the count of three, Percy stabbed the glass with Riptide, Coach Hedge kicked and Frank slammed against it. Like before, Percy summoned the water to explode outwards. Much to his surprise, the water obeyed him easily, as if an invisible force was already pushing it towards the glass. 

'Percy Jackson!' Phorcy's voice boomed over the sound system. 

The glass shattered and the water gushed out, carrying the girl with it. She fell to her knees, coughing. As Percy helped her to her feet, he realized she was completely dry.