the weight of the world [a pjo fanfic]

chapter seventeen.

thank you to @WarriorsJackson for the question! i really appreciate them.

q: Do you have some Days when you update or do you update when you feel for it??

a: yes i do! i update every 1-2 days, depending on my workload and the intensity of the chapters. usually, it will be one chapter per two days, max. i will never go over 2 days of no uploads, minus special circumstances.

edit: i will be updating every sunday from now on. check out my other account, @skinny-lovee for other books, as i will discontinue new stories on this account.

i will be continuing to have q&as so ask away!

"Guys! Guys! The Oracle has spoken!" A camper yelled. Chiron shot a look of panic at Annabeth. They were just discussing Percy's leave, which Chiron had no idea about. All of them knew that they were nothing without Percy. 

"The Oracle?" Chiron wondered. 

"Yes, Chiron! Let's go!"

--

Rachael collapsed, and Jason caught her as the group discussed the prophecy. 

"Play with the iron and lose the gold. The legend is young, as the fighter should mould, with great coming cost, the past shall die. Break a dove's wings, and tell it to fly. Undefeated will lie the ground. The price you pay, will someday be found. Got it." Piper scribbled it down on a piece of paper.

"What does that even mean?" Leo had been in a foul mood ever since Percy left again. "What?"

"Break a dove's wings, and tell it to fly." Hazel mused. "This makes no sense at all."

"Do you think this has anything to do with Percy?" Frank nervously shifted from foot to foot.

"Probably. All the past prophecies have... had something to do with him."

"Who or what do you guys think the legend refers to?"

"I want to say Percy," Annabeth said, unconvinced. "I mean, he's usually refered to as the legend and all-"

"It could also be a literal legend. But legends aren't young." 

"Right." Piper studied the words again. "Play with iron and lose the gold. Oh, my head is hurting a lot. Do you wanna read over this again tomorrow?"

"Sure. I have a terrible headache." Hazel grumbled and Frank held her forearm for support.

"Alright. We'll come back tomorrow."

--

"I'm back. Ukulwa?" Percy was at the cave again. He had done quite an amount of thinking on his way. About his friends.

I don't owe them anything. Right?

"Ah, Perseus." Ukulwa looked a little pale as he appeared behind him.

Percy didn't say anything. He just watched as Ukulwa brought down the mist. They walked in and Percy sat down again. Ukulwa fumbled around with the teapot and teacups, his hands shaking. "I didn't think it'd be so early. It is far too quick." He muttered to himself, a cup slipping from his hands. Percy lunged to catch it and grabbed the cup in mid-air.

"Ukulwa? Why do you look so distressed?" He set the cup down on the table and Ukulwa uttered a "Thank you."

With trembling legs, he sat down beside Percy. 

"Perseus. I-"

"Percy."

"Right. Percy, uh, while you were taking your leave, your friends-" he said this a little viciously- "had a prophecy delivered to them. By the Oracle." He quickly said. Percy nearly flew out of his seat. "No!"

"Yes. And it is of... him."

"Who is him?"

"This I cannot say. But I will say that he does not have a line in the prophecy.  The deadliest of them all do not live in the script of history, but the image." He wrung his hands nervously. Percy had never seen Ukulwa so agitated. 

"Can you recite it for me?"

"I'll try my best to remember." Ukulwa's eyes glowed and he looked up. A voice seemed to echo from the caves and Percy looked around in wonder.  

"Play with the iron and lose the gold.

The legend is young, as the fighter should mold;

With great coming cost, the past shall die.

Break a dove's wings, and tell it to fly.

Undefeated will lie the ground.

The price you pay, will someday be found."

He looked back at Percy, who had a thoughtful look on his face.

"Does the ground refer to Gaia?"

"Gaia? Well, I suppose. Her awakening?"

"Again?" Percy wanted to scream. He got up and pointed at the cave floor.

"Gaia, it's bedtime. Go to sleep." He spat. Ukulwa would've laughed, but his spirits were crushed.

"This is bad, Perseus."

"I'm aware."

"Why are you not afraid?" Ukulwa was almost shouting. "This is urgent matters, life and death!"

"Ukulwa. I've been in 2 big prophecies and we have defeated Gaia before." He said uncertainly. 

"And you are sure you can do it again?"

"..."

"Just as I knew." Ukulwa paced around, getting increasingly frustrated and nervous. "He will arrive, Perseus. Gaia may think he is a mere instrument, but he is not."

"Where did you get this information from again?"

"My fountain." He pointed to the intricate stonework of the gushing fountain. Percy had never paid much attention to it, but now that he did, he realized that it was incredible. the stone was a fine grey -i don't know my stones pls spare me- and had two small statues of baby eros cherubs on the side, pouring water out of a big vase. the water glittered and the fountain made a shimmering noise, as if on cue. 

"Woah."

"Yeah. Have I ever said that it was a gift?"

"I don't really remember." Percy said truthfully. Ukulwa made a face. "Do you think I could try using it?"

"I don't know... I'm pretty sure it only works for children of Hecate."  Percy sensed something beneath just what he was saying, so he left him alone. "Makes sense."

"We will be starting your training today at dawn." Ukulwa promptly got up.

"What? Training?"

"I promised you to teach you the ways of the son of Poseidon. And I will deliver. In the meantime, practice waterbending." Ukulwa threw him a scroll that he conjured out of air. Percy made an attempt to grab it, but it floated gracefully into his lap. "Uh?" Ukulwa walked out of the cave and snapped his fingers. Before he vanished, his eyes met Percy's. His piercing blue orbs said it all: Study or die. 

"Oooookay."