Percy's POV

It's about time! My stomach was growling so loud it could rival a hellhound's. I haven't had anything to eat after the cookies and pancakes. They didn't last in my stomach very long. It's probably because they weren't blue. That makes sense.

I think these people have problems. The first dish that came out was a pile of leaves. I picked at it with a fork. I looked at the Electroclan, who were all digging into the leaves. Leaves are extremely scarring, especially since I spent a nice hour as a guinea pig, and all they fed me was leaves.

So I just sat there my stomach begging for attention. Finally, Jack groaned, "Ugh! Perce, are you not gonna eat anything?" I did my best to look offended, "Are you not just realizing that these people are feeding you leaves?" McKenna put one on her fork and waved it in my face, "This is a salad. Have you never eaten anything healthy in your life?" I puffed out my chest, "Excuse me? Pizza and Blue Cookies are healthy! You know what's gonna poison me? Leaves. And also Akhlys, but that's not important." Ostin and Ian stifled a snort. McKenna kept on taunting me with the leaf. How rude. Suddenly her arm knocked over a cup of water, splashing it towards me and Zeus. We were sitting in the middle of a bench, so Zeus had nowhere to go, and he let out a very manly squeal. Very manly. Does no one hear my sarcasm? I watched as the water shot toward Zeus, and with a very subtle flick of my wrist, sent it back at McKenna.

She giggled as it splashed against her arms and face, the council members looking over. They gave us a look and Nichelle shrugged, "The klutz just spilled her water." They continued their grown-up conversation, the waiters coming out with a steak. Finally. Some real food. How do they even live off leaves?

I dug into my steak, finishing it before the others even picked up their knives. Their eyes bugged out. "Dang, Jackson," Nichelle said, "How do you eat that fast?" Ostin burped, "You eat faster than I do!" Michael laughed, "That's saying something, man." I grinned, "Do these people serve burgers? Or pizza?" My eyes widened, "What about cookies?" Taylor rolled her eyes, "And those things are all unhealthy. It's a wonder why your mom never made you eat vegetables." I shrugged, "I eat healthy sometimes. I ate a Brussel sprout once! Plus, I work out." I flexed my arms and winked. Tessa and McKenna looked down, and Taylor pressed closer into Michael. I'm not quite sure that's a good thing.

The waiters came out again, this time with... I blanched. How dare they! These monstrosities! The plate was set before me, and this time, I stayed quiet. I think I'm scarred for life. Jack asked with his mouth full, "Hey man, you alright?" Abigail swatted his arm, "Swallow, Jackson." I managed a weak smile, "What's there to swallow?" Abigail laughed, "Not you, Percy. Only Nichelle calls you Jackson." Ian looked over, "Why aren't you eating? Aren't you hungry?" I choked on my words, pointing at the fish. The FISH! How do these people eat FISH? Fish are FRIENDS, not FOOD! How DARE they?

I folded my arms resolutely, "Fish are friends, not food. They should not be eaten." I put my hand on Taylor's shoulder. Plus, they talk. They're very interesting. I met Nemo once. He was nice. Oh, and Dory. She was amazing. Taylor laughed, covering her mouth with her hand. "Someone's been watching too much Finding Nemo," she said. I scoffed, "No such thing as too much Nemo, Taylor. But don't worry. Finding Dory's coming out. I don't know why, though. She was okay the last time I saw her." The Electroclan laughed.

Jack moved to eat another bite. "You traitor!" I said, mocking disbelief, "How can you eat that? That's almost cannibalism, young Jackson!" Jack shook his head but ate what was on his fork anyway. I looked up at the sky, muttering, "I'm sorry, dad."

The rest of dinner passed with nothing out of the ordinary. Although, the council did stare at me after I downed my fifth pizza. Oh, I'm sorry. Did you think I meant slice? Pizza. Like, the whole pizza. I don't see what's wrong, though. At camp, me and Thalia had a food eating contest. She ate like, ten pizzas. But I still beat her. It took a lot of monster fighting to work that off.

When the chicken came out, I excused myself, taking the best parts with me without anyone knowing. I sent the gods a lot of food while I was in the rainforest, but ever since I met the Electroclan, I hadn't sacrificed anything. Lightning started to crackle in the clear night sky. I looked up, setting my hands alight with fire. "Jeez, Drama Queen," I muttered, "Just give me a sec." I burned the chicken wings, watching the smoke drift up to the stars. I whispered, "Bob says hello," feeling my eyes watering. I watched the constellation of the hunter racing across the sky. These stars remind me of all the friends I couldn't save. Bob, Zoe, Beckendorf, Silena, Michael. Even Leo. But at least he came back.

I heard a shuffling in the sand. I turned around to see Abigail, Taylor, and Michael standing behind me. Michael raised an eyebrow, "What were you burning?" I shrugged, discreetly drying my tears, "Just some chicken." Abigail nodded, "I noticed that the best parts were gone." I shrugged again, "For the gods." They murmured their understanding.

I walked past them. "I'm not hungry anymore," I said, "I think I'll just go to sleep." I strode to my bedroom, not quite sure where it was. I found a door that said guest and crashed on the bed. I wasn't a part of the Electroclan, not really. I was just a broken demigod playing hero again. I don't even know how long I lay there, pitying myself. It might have been all night. I don't remember going to sleep. But I do remember all of my memories, all of my adventures. And none of them helped my mood.

Michael's POV

I remember Thalia saying something, like "When Percy doesn't eat, there's trouble. The guy eats like a satyr. His stomach is like a bottomless pit. If blue food doesn't cheer him up, nothing will." When Percy pushed past us saying, "I'm not hungry anymore", the alarms went off in my head. Nevertheless, we walked back to the kitchen to finish up the feast.

Tessa looked up, "Hey guys, where's Percy?" I smiled, "What's with the interest, Tessa?" She reddened, "He saved my life. I should get to know where he is." I wiggled my eyebrows, "And that's the only reason?" The color of her face rivaled the color of the ripe tomato in her hand. She managed a strangled yes and took a bite of her tomato. I chuckled to myself.

Ostin grinned, "So where's Percy." Taylor shrugged, "He said he was going to sleep." Jack smiled, "Well get that boy back down here! They put out the blue cookies!" Taylor, Abi, and I laughed. I expected to hear a muffled thump and a couple of crashes, maybe an explosion, before Percy appeared, wide-eyed, in the door way. But it never happened.

The walls were really thin at the ranch, so I knew he'd heard, especially since Jack wasn't particularly quiet. Something was really wrong. I took a couple and put it onto a plate. I knocked on the door before entering the room, seeing a lump under a blanket in the guest room. I whispered, "Hey, Perce. I've got some blue cookies." The lump quivered almost imperceptibly. I grinned, "Come on, you know you want some. There's a whole banquet downstairs." He stopped moving. I finally sighed, sitting down on the bed. I yanked the blanket up, "What's bothering you, man?" He sat up next to me. "I really don't know what I'm doing here. Why don't I just let the Elgen kill me? Hades, why don't I just ask one of you to do it? It's what I want."

I looked over at him, surprised. After all we'd been through, I was actually shocked. He's still a mystery. I handed him the plate, deciding it was time for some mushy gushy stuff. Good bye, dignity. It's time to spill my heart out to a guy I've known almost a week. Such fun.

I looked over at him, "You know, it's so hard to be a leader. I know you probably already know this, but it seems so easy to you. I don't know how I could ever hope to live up to what you've done. I half expect the rest of them to ignore me and make you their leader. That'd actually be a little of a relief because I don't really know what I'm doing either." He shook his head, starting to say something but I cut him off, "Those Greeks don't know who they're dealing with, 'cause you're awesome. A total powerhouse! I bet you could beat them all at once!" He grinned, "Not if they have you-know-who. They'd totally send me to Uncle H." I laughed, turning solemn.

"But you've jumped off cliffs, turned down godhood, fallen into literal hell. Not to mention your great personality. Plus, you're a total girl magnet." I chuckled, knowing it surprised him. He's so dense. "I wish I was you. Or at least like you. Some things you can only dream. Just know. You're the Electroclan's role model. We'll always need you." Even though he said "I'm not a hero", that seemed to cheer him up, because Percy took a bite out of a blue cookie. I reached for one, and he swatted my hand away. "Hey!" he yelled, "My cookies. Go away, meanie!" I laughed. He's such a little kid.

I walked back into the kitchen, feeling good about myself. I helped Percy. I helped a hero. I took my seat next to Taylor, who leaned against me. He's better. Just needed a pep talk. I said in my mind, letting my self-pride seep through. She smiled, eating a bite of cheesecake. She whispered, "That's good. Stop feeling so good about yourself, Vey." I put my arm around her, "Why? It can't get better. I have a girlfriend way out of my league, my friends, and a superhero right upstairs. But the best part, is..." I trailed off, thinking the last part, I've got a banquet full of food. Taylor giggled, shoving me.

Its been a while, amigos. But the time skip is back! The next day when the group is going to board the plane...

Percy's POV

I smiled sadly as Mrs. Vey fussed over me. She patted down my newly patched up shirt. "Make sure you have all of your things. I packed a lot of blue cookies in your backpack for the journey. Don't eat them all at once. Stay alive." I grinned, my first real smile at her since I've known her. "Don't you think you should give your son a little attention?" I asked, "I think Mikey's getting jealous." That was totally not true. Michael was talking to Taylor with a huge smile on his face. He looked up when I mentioned him, though. She laughed, "Are you kidding? If you don't stay alive and well, how are you going to save my son's bacon?"

The Electroclan laughed. I heard a rushed tapping of feet. I stopped laughing. "Hey guys," I said, "I think there are people coming." Mrs. Vey nodded, "That could be Grace and Tanner back from their mission." I raised my eyebrow, "Who are Grace and Tanner?" Jack rolled his eyes, "The people who are coming. Duh." I chuckled. That was the Seaweed Brain answer. I walked right into that one.

A girl and a boy appeared in front of the plane, breathless. "Wait!" The girl yelled, gasping, "Don't go yet!" The boy collapsed, "Yeah. We've got some new intel." They took a minute to collect themselves and Grace, the girl, beckoned us to come back inside with them. I complied, wondering what was so important that it would stop us from leaving.

The Electroclan crowded around the computer, watching as Grace did something. I couldn't see it. Me and computers don't go very well together. I'll attract all kinds of monsters. Taylor waved me over, "Come on, Perce! Why aren't you over here?" I started twitching and twirling my fingers. "Well, you see-" I was cut off by Jack and Ian dragging me over. They put my hand on the computer's enter key. Uh oh. Atomic bombs are gonna fly. "Was that so bad?" Abigail asked in a mocking tone. McKenna laughed, "Yeah! What could happen?"

A roar split the air. I sighed while they all gulped.

"That."