Percy's POV

I don't remember ever being so terrified. Sure, I knew that I could have died in Tartarus. But that was just me. Annabeth would have made it out safely. It would just be me. Now, here was Tartarus in the mortal world, a threat to all of my ex-friends. I still had to save them. Especially since I knew Annabeth could be quite persuasive when she wanted to. Also because I knew I still had a group of real friends. And the least I could do was warn them.

When we appeared below deck on our ship, I didn't care how we looked. We were pale, sweaty, and clinging to each other, our arms and face littered with spider bites. I knew I was frightened, I knew both Piper and I had broken down a little. But we needed to get to the camp as fast as possible. And this boat just wouldn't cut it. I let go of Piper, making sure she could stand by herself, before shouting out orders. "Let's go! Get out of here. Sail to Hawaii. Hatch is more dangerous than we'd ever suspected. MOVE IT!" My friends and the Eagles stood there. Shock and relief were on their faces, tinted with fear. But they burst into action. Leo ran to the deck and I felt the boat move. Frank and Hazel crossed over to us, forcing ambrosia into our mouths and pouring nectar over the wounds. I waved them off. "Where's Ben?" I asked. Michael shrugged, "He took a helicopter back to the ranch. What happened?" Nico looked pained, "Sorry I was too weak to get you guys away." Piper shook her head, "No. It was a good thing and a bad thing. We learned that Hatch isn't mortal. He's Tartarus." The demigods couldn't keep the fear off their faces. Even the Electroclan showed a hint of terror. Only the Eagles kept listening, emotionless. "B-But it's all g-good, right?" Abigail stuttered, "You survived him before." I nodded at her, "That's just it. I survived. I didn't beat him. I couldn't even keep a hold on my sword. I lost a titan and giant friend to him. I was so rattled, he still lives on in my nightmares. I ran. I abandoned them." I was solemn through everything I said. They didn't yet understand the gravity of our situation. The peril that loomed in a black cloud of death over our heads.

I stared at Nico, compelling him into action, "You need to IM Reyna. Tell her about it. I need to go to Camp Half-Blood because they think we're all traitors. I'm going to bring Hazel and Piper with me. They've got the most trustable faces. Not to mention they're adorable." I grinned teasingly at them. It was a weak attempt, but it helped. No, it didn't. It really didn't. They just kept on looking tense. "So you guys will go to Camp Jupiter because lately, they've been more open to welcoming my friends and me. You tell them about your Electroclan-y science powers and blah blah blah. Then the Tartarus thing, blah blah blah." Taylor motioned for me to stop. "Time out. I'm learning that the evil guy that we're up against is actually a Greek Primordial who's real idea is to take over the world and wipe out the demigods." I nodded, "Yeah, pretty much." Now they really looked scared. So, I decided not to add that he's got a giant monster army that he can raise at his will. I paced, "From what I can figure out, we've got until June. Now it's December. We need to get the camps united and ready for it." Tessa looked up, "Will that be enough time?" I shook my head, "To prepare for Tartarus, we'd need immortal demigods and around forever to prepare. But we don't have forever." I looked at Hazel, "Call Arion. I'll take Piper on Blackjack. When the rest of them convince Reyna, they'll come to Camp Half-Blood. But please, IM first. We need to convince our side." I marched up the stairs to the deck and stood there, sending out a message to Blackjack. Yo, Blackjack, get over here, man. Piper looked uncomfortable, so I grinned. "You know what this reminds me of?" Piper fingered her chin, "You're calling Blackjack, Hazel's calling Arion and we're heading to our doom?" She chuckled, "The field in Kansas." I scratched the back of my head, "Yeah, Blackjack gave me a pretty nice shaped dent in my head." Suddenly, the pegasus landed beside me. You talking about this dashing horse, boss? He asked, And for the record, the pretty girl made me do it. Can I have some donuts? I climbed on top of him, offering Piper a hand. I looked at him sternly as I pulled Piper up, "Donuts? Why not apples? Why is it always donuts?" I looked over at Hazel, mounted on her cursing demon horse. "Meet me outside my old apartment." She nodded, so I took off into the air, Piper's arms around my waist as we spun. I whispered in his ear, "No tricks. We need to get to my mom's apartment as quickly as possible." Blackjack whinnied and flew straight, the wind whistling around us.

I twisted so I could talk to Piper over my shoulder. "Sleep," I told her, "I've got this. You're going to need all the rest you can get." She nodded and leaned against my back. I mentally urged Blackjack forward, As fast as you can, buddy. Go all out. Blackjack suddenly sped forward. Not Arion fast, but still amazing. I could barely hear his words through the noise, even if they were just in my head, I expect a box of donuts for this, boss. I screamed back, If we make it through June, have all the donuts you want. This only made him fly faster, and within eight hours, we had made it to my mom's apartment. When we landed, Blackjack was breathing hard, his chest heaving, and foaming at the mouth. I patted his mane, "Go find Grover," I said, putting a sack of drachmas around his neck, "Tell him to get you some donuts." If pegasi could smile, Blackjack would be beaming as he took off. I opened the door for Piper. "Let's go in." As expected, Hazel was lounging on my couch. With a bag of chips. She smiled, "Eight hours. Not bad for a pegasus." I stuck out my tongue at her. "How'd you even get in, anyway?" She shrugged, "Nico gave me the key." I growled, "Of course he did."

Then I sat down. "Alright, here's the plan. Piper's going to go in first. Tell them that you found me in the woods with Riptide in my gut. But only after they ask. Hazel's going to send me in as my twelve-year-old self, and I'm going to be Peter Johnson." Piper interrupted me, "Isn't it obvious that it's you?" I shook my head, "No. Because you're going to show them Riptide." I handed her the pen. "Don't lose my pen." Piper stared at it like I handed her a bag of gold drachmas. "I'll guard it with my life." I shook my head, "Please, not with your life. Just don't lose it." Hazel leaned forward, "And what's the point of this whole thing?" I smiled, "To mess with Annabeth. To find out who is really on my side. To be a little boy with no worries again. Take your pick." After I sent Piper on my way, I just sat. And hoped. I really, really hoped.

Piper's POV

I can't believe Percy gave me Riptide. I was stunned. I mean, it had gotten him through a duel with Ares. A fight with the titan lord. Through Tartarus. I know it was only temporary, but I was honored. So I promised to guard it with my life. And he denied the offer.

After walking through the woods toward the camp for about an hour, I found Blackjack munching on a box of donuts. I pet his mane and spoke to him, even though I wouldn't be able to understand his response. "How many donuts did Grover even buy you?" He shook his mane and whinnied. I might have been hallucinating, but if a pegasus could laugh, he would be rolling on the floor with laughter. I climbed onto him and whispered, "Camp Hald-Blood, please." He took off into the air, his wings flapping, and within minutes I could see Camp Half-Blood.

We landed next to Thalia's Pine Tree, where Peleus lay protectively at its roots. I jumped off of my ride and thanked him, although he was already in the air, so far away he looked like a crow. Some demigods rushed to me, checking me for injuries and welcoming me home, but others stood, giving me the evil eye. When Jason walked towards me, his arm around the Hermes girl, my knees almost buckled. He sneered, "Did you find the sea scum, Aphrodite Spawn?" I stared defiantly at him, "Yeah." Annabeth approached, hand in hand with Brayden, "Oh really, McLean? I don't see him anywhere." I tilted my head, "Do you want to know why, Chase? I found him in the woods, Riptide in his gut. He committed suicide. Because when you cheated on him, it crushed him." Annabeth's normally calm and collected gray eyes wavered for a second, and only got progressively worse. If she hadn't been the reason for Percy's fake death, I would have felt bad for her. Brayden laughed, "He's too chicken to commit suicide. He probably just sent you here to tell all of us that." I rolled my eyes, "What do you know about bravery? Mr. I-Killed-A-Hellhound-Without-Training. Percy Jackson killed the minotaur without a weapon. Without anyone besides an unconscious satyr. Without any training whatsoever. And then, the following week, defeated Ares, god of war. Of course, how would you know? You only swiped his girlfriend and killed his mother." Brayden chuckled nervously, "Fine. It's only for the better that that piece of nothing died. It's not like he was important or anything." Rage flared white-hot behind my eyes, and it was all I could do to not break out Riptide and cut his head off. I balled my hands into fists, my nails digging into my palms so hard a trickle of blood dripped to the floor. I turned away, "I can't stand the sight of you." I marched angrily to my cabin, slamming the door. It would all be better when Percy got here. Please hurry.

Percy's POV

I rubbed my hands together, "Alright, Hazel. Make me younger. I still want my powers and stuff, just make me younger." She shrugged, "I'll try my best." I felt the Mist wrap around me, and I felt like I was shrinking. I went into my room and changed into some of my old clothes that my mom wasn't able to donate. I walked back to Hazel, who had her hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing. I felt more energetic, but less sure of myself and more immature. When I tested my voice, it was an octave higher than usual. I lit a flame on the tip of my finger and made the water fly around in the sink. I nodded, "Alright, I think I'm good. Let's get to camp."

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I ran around the woods directly outside the camp for awhile to attract monsters. I eventually got a cyclops, a hellhound, a gorgon, and the Minotaur to chase me. How he keeps respawning so fast, I have no idea, but it'll increase Peter Johnson's street cred. I ran to the Camp entrance screaming really shrilly."HELP! SOMEONE!" I pretended to trip when everyone on the border was watching me and rolled in the mud so no one would be able to see my face yet. As the Minotaur pounced on me, I brought up my hand in defense, a flame shooting out and disintegrating him. I stared at my palm in amazement, wiggling my fingers and shouting, "THAT IS SO COOL!" I punched at the hellhound when it was still a couple of feet away and forced nothing to happen. I let the hellhound scratch my cheek and the cyclops to bash a club into my stomach, sending me flying. I landed in next to a puddle of water and stood up, seeing the demigods rush to my aid. I grinned to myself. They wouldn't reach me in time to stop me from showing them all of my powers. The hellhound latched onto my arm, and I screamed in pain, batting at it ineffectively with a fist. The water formed a fist and punched the hellhound into golden dust. I could hear the demigods' amazement and I turned to them, "ARE YOU EVEN SEEING THIS? I AM THE AVATAR!" I backpedaled away from the cyclops and 'accidentally' shot it with a bolt of lightning. I finally face the gorgon. I tilted my head, "Hi, scary snake lady. Why does your hair look like snakes?" She leaped towards me, her fingernails slicing a nasty cut on my chest and I crumpled to the ground. When she tried to slice at me again, the ground opened up beneath her and she died at the bony hands of a skeleton army.

The demigods that had been running up to me cheered. I didn't want to face them just yet, so I pretended to faint. I felt someone carrying me, probably to the infirmary, and wondered how beat up I looked. Come on, I couldn't look that terrible. I mean, I have that natural charm. I drowsily opened my eyes, seeing Will Solace treating me. I put my hand to my head, "Oh, I feel really terrible. I had this really weird dream that I was being chased by a dog, and a snake lady, and a giant with a tree that had spikes. Oh, and there was this really bad part about a bull that stood up on his hind legs in only his underwear. It was scary. I think I'm gonna-" I abruptly stopped talking and crashed back into my pillow, my eyes closed. I heard Will call two people in. From the wheels squeaking, I could only assume it was Chiron in his wheelchair. He gasped, "Annabeth, correct me if I am mistaken. That looks like Percy when we had first met him." So the other person was Annabeth, just my luck. "He'll be alright. A cut to the chest, nothing too deep. One broken rib and a slash at the cheek. He woke up a couple of seconds ago, uttered some things about the battle, then fell back asleep." That was Will, giving the usual doctor's diagnosis about Peter Johnson's injuries. "He's surprisingly perky. But did anyone notice all of his powers? I mean, first I thought he was a child of Hephaestus, a fire user, you know? But then he broke out some water and lightning and skeletons. It was crazy. What do you think? Not to mention he looks just like Percy. Five years ago." Annabeth choked a little, "How is this even possible? Why does he look so much like P-Percy?" Hearing her so rattled made me happy. Well, in an evil kind of way.I sat up again, "Woah! Where am I? Is this like, some magical building of-" I looked down and screamed in fake surprise, "AH! What's wrong with my arm? Why does my chest hurt? Why does my face hurt?" Will spoonfed me some ambrosia that immediately filled my mouth with the taste of my mom's blue cookies.If he thought that would shut me up, he was wrong, "WHY DOES THIS CAKE TASTE LIKE SPAGHETTI?" Hazel's magic really does its wonders. I grinned at the assembled trio, "Hi. I'm Peter Johnson. My mommy told me not to talk to strangers, but this nice man fed me spaghetti cake, so just don't tell her, okay?" Chiron chuckled, "You sure are energetic, especially considering your injuries." I nodded frantically, "I know, right? They hurt! I'll offer you a deal. If you tell me your names, I'll be your friend!" Will gave me another bite of ambrosia, and I felt my rib knitting back together, along with the gash on my chest closing up. I squirmed, giggling, "Wow, that tickles." I pointed at Annabeth, "What's your name?" Annabeth looked shocked I was even talking to her. Her mouth moved for a moment before saying, "Annabeth." I shrugged, "I've never heard that one before. Are you sure it isn't Annie?" Annabeth looked really offended at that. I'm so proud of myself.

As she stormed out of the room, Chiron looked at her, sighing. Then he smiled warmly at me, "Hello, m'boy. I am Chiron. You are in the Camp Half-Blood infirmary. What do you remember?" I grinned, "A lot of things, actually. When I was four, I made a marshmallow tower. When I was five, I made a macaroni necklace." Chiron shook his head politely, "No. I mean about what just happened." I nodded my comprehension. "Oh yeah. So I was taking a hike with my class, but then I saw a pretty blue butterfly. So I followed it, and a dog started to chase me. And then a man with one eye, and a lady with a snake on her head. And a bull in fruit of the loom underwear. I think that was the worst one." I shivered, "Yeah. Then, I was running, and I saw a tree with people and a dragon so I ran there. I tripped and the bull dude tried to jump on me. So I put my hand out, and POOF! Sparkles everywhere. It was amazing. Fire came out of my hand. And then the dog and the man really hurt me. So the dog bit me but the water beat it to dust. It was SO COOL! Right? So I hit the man with lightning and he went poof and whoosh! Then, the snake lady growled at me and I fell on my butt. But little skeletons came out of the ground and protected me!" I gasped, "Am I the Avatar?" Chiron shook his head, "No. You are a demigod." I tilted my head, "A demi what now?" Chiron shook his head, "Never mind. Just know, that everyone here is a descendant of the Greek gods." I bounced in my seat, "COOL! Who's my dad? I mean, I don't think that my mom's a god, but she's nice enough to be one." Chiron motioned for me to follow him, "Come, Peter. Let me get you a guide to show you around camp." I trailed him out of the infirmary and he called, "Annabeth! Show Peter around camp." Annabeth nodded reluctantly and jerked her head to the side, walking away.

I skipped beside her, "So I'm Peter. And you're Annabeth. That's a long name. Why are you ignoring me?" Annabeth shook her head, "You remind me of someone." I kept skipping, "Oh yeah? Who?" Annabeth's eyes were distant, "I don't want to talk about it." I waved at the people staring at me, "Okay." Suddenly, the bell for dinner rang.

It was time to show them who I really was.

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Percy's POV

I sat at the Hermes table, Connor and Travis on either side of me. Nico had managed to convince Reyna that Tartarus was rising, and he walked into the Mess Hall during dinner, the whole Electroclan and the rest of the demigods from our group behind him. Chiron stood in centaur form, clapping his hands, "Ambassador Nico Di Angelo has brought along with him a group of potential demigods, and please welcome Peter Johnson, who's heritage is unknown as of now. I stood up and joined the Electroclan. "Actually, my name isn't Peter. I'm Percy Jackson." A gasp was heard from the whole Mess Hall. Even Chiron's eyes were shocked and relieved. Brayden stood up, "I thought that brat died. What a shame that you claim to be him, runt." I snapped my fingers, and the Mist revealed who I really was. Katie, the Stolls, Chris, Will, and even Clarisse leaped up to give me a hug, although Miss La Rue punched me in the gut afterward. At least I fared better than Leo.

"This is the Electroclan. They're mortals with a demigod's powers. The power of fire, healing, mind reading, and electricity. Along with the usual strength and brains." Brayden approached us, and they took up defensive stances. He turned and announced to the Camp, "They're trying to take our power! Maybe we should just kill them all." I narrowed my eyes, "You're going to have to get through me first, Brainless." His face turned a dangerous shade of red. "You think you can stop me, Jackson? My father is the king of the gods. I'm bigger than you. I'm stronger than you." I took a step closer, glaring, "That's all good, but if you touch a hair on their heads, I'll be angrier than you." Michael nodded, "He's crazy. He'll hurt you."

I shoved him back to his table, "I didn't come back because I wanted to. I came to warn you." Jason snorted, "Warn us not to trust a traitor like you? A little late on that one, sea scum." I shrugged, "No. I came to warn you that Tartarus is rising." Protests were heard around the Mess Hall. I shouted over them, "It's true. Starxource is run by an evil man named Hatch, who the Electroclan had faced in the past. It powers the whole world. As soon as Hatch has gained world domination, he will turn to us. Not because we are the only ones not using his power, but because his name is not Hatch. It is Tartarus. He has an army of mortals." Brayden rolled his eyes, "Even if that ridiculous story was true, mortals can't hurt us." Nico stepped forward, "They can. But we can't hurt them back. Raise your hand if you have a single weapon with mortal steel." No hands shot up. Everyone only held in their possession Celestial Bronze, or in Jason's case, Imperial gold. "Every time we've gone to war, it has been against monsters and demigods. But Tartarus is smarter than Kronos and Gaia. He will advance upon us this June with an army of mortals, whom we can not hurt. And if we even get past that first wave, he has hordes of monsters at his disposal, and then Tartarus himself. He doesn't care for the lives of his troops. Only that we and the gods will be wiped from existence," I declared, "If you decide to trust me, then we can prepare. If you don't, I will help Camp Jupiter fend off the attack, and leave you trapped in your little bubbles of false security." Everyone who'd claimed to be on my side announced so. Chiron looked worried, however, and he announced that a councilor's meeting must be held immediately. I looked at the Electroclan, "Let's go, guys."

We entered the Big House, where I had to face Annabeth from across the Ping Pong table. Chiron folded his hands, "So. Electroclan, is it? How did you come to discover Hatch?" Michael stood, "He created a machine that messed with our cells, making them more electric than an ordinary person's. Of the babies that were being born in a week's timeslot, only seventeen survived. Hatch spent fifteen years locating and containing the Electric Kids, and finally succeeded when he kidnapped my mother, luring me to his lair in California. Since then, we have acquired his kids to our side and stopped him time and time again, trekking all across the globe. When we met Percy, we had our doubts, but he proved valuable, saving our lives time and time again." I fist bumped him, shooting grateful looks at the whole Electroclan. Chiron nodded, "And how did you come to discover that Hatch was Tartarus?" Ostin piped up, "Actually, Hatch had five remaining Eagles, as he calls the Electric Kids, until three turned on him to save the life of one of his top ranking officials. Our intel source demanded that we in turn rescue them, in hopes of converting them to our side. As you know, after Percy joined us, he was a very strong fighter, a very calm and collected person as a whole, and bringing with him charisma and a certain amount of spirit that we had lacked." Ostin sounded like he was talking to some judge in a court and not to a half horseman around a ping pong table. "Later, his friends, Piper, Nico, Leo, Frank, Hazel, and Calypso joined us, and helped us rescue the Eagles. Nico had shadow traveled six of us to Hatch's prison, and could only bring seven back with him. So Percy and Piper stayed because we had assumed, with Hatch being mortal, that he would not be able to torture them and that his devices targeted specifically at Electric Kids would not affect them in any way whatsoever. We were sadly mistaken." Ostin paused for effect.

"Hatch had revealed himself to them after a significant amount of torture time, although by then, Percy had already put two and two together, a feat which he could not have accomplished in simple addition." I chuckled and punched him lightly in the shoulder, "Nice one, Tex. But now's not the time. He nodded, "Of course. Percy shadow traveled back to the ship, where he directed us toward Camp Jupiter to warn them of the incoming threat and keep us, the newcomers, safe. He thought that since he had been outcasted by his own family, his new friends might not be accepted. And right he was. We hadn't even spoken when death threats were being thrown left and right. And now we are here, hoping that you will not allow a massacre to take place simply because you cannot trust your greatest hero and savior." When he finished, my head was whirling. I put my fingers to my temples, "Whoa. Next time, talk down to us." Ostin nodded. Apparently, Chiron understood because he said to the councilors, "We have always looked to Percy as our leader, until but a few months ago when we had turned against him without a cause. I find no reason now that we should not trust his judgment. What say you?" Katie stood, "I think we should prepare. Percy deserves our respect, and I, for one, will never stop giving it to him." The Stolls stood up as well, "Percy's our pranking partner. If he goes to New Rome, no one else will join us. We prepare, he stays." Clarisse shrugged, "I always loved a good preparation to beat the newbies into shape."

By the time the votes were in, it was a tie, and only one person hadn't answered. Annabeth. Of course it was Annabeth. Her stormy gray eyes looked like they were calculating every possible future, every outcome, while taking a trigonometry test. If I had that much information in my head, it would literally explode. Annabeth twiddled her thumbs, unable to decide. Finally, she nodded, "I think, that we should prepare for the worst. We spend every day of our lives preparing for monsters, and this is something new altogether. It'll be a little more rigorous, so we might as well."

I grinned and pumped my fist in the air.

"Yeah! Let's get to it!"