Divine copyright au part two
One thing that you unfortunately get used to as a demigod is waking up in a strange new place. Well, maybe not used to, but after a few times you learn to recover your confusion fast and just roll with it.
So when Percy felt something like a slimy ribbon brush against his arm, his eyes flew open to see a fish staring down at him. He does a quick check of his surroundings. First thing, he is definitely underwater sitting in a bed of sea grass with an eel swimming away from his arm. Then there is a very plain single strap bag in a bubble next to him. Riptide is in his pocket and he is in normal clothes, thank the gods. The sea floor is sloping upward behind him, which his water powers confirmed was the shore of a large island, and in the distance in front of him he can see it drops down what he guessed was a steep sea shelf.
Sensing no immediate danger, he grabs the bag and use his powers to keep it dry when the bubble threatened to pop. Inside he finds a number of helpful items he would pack if he was on a quest and a few others that are odd. First is your standard stash of ambrosia wrapped in a cloth napkin, a pouch with about twenty drachma, three pearls and a few silver and copper coins he doesn’t recognize in it, and what looked like a water skin. Weird, people haven’t used those in centuries. Then what seemed to be a change of clothing in a rough tan fabric, and a pair of sandals which he will look at later. Underneath that to his surprised delight was the watch Tyson had made him that was destroyed years ago but now was as good as new. Then he found a small pouch and inside he recognized the anti magic vitamins that had turned him back from a Guinea pig on Circe’s island. He shuddered a bit at that memory, and quickly put the vitamins away for safe keeping. Then under the clothes he finds another cloth wrapped bundle which turned out to be dried meat and fruit. And beneath that he finds a horn sitting on a fur bundle. Not just any horn, but the Minotaur’s horn he had snapped off coming to camp years ago. He would know it anywhere. He looked closer at the fur and realized that to was the nemean lion pelt. Huh he forgot about that one, and thought he had given it away. It was odd how nothing in had a modern look to it.
Percy put everything back in the bag and slings it over his shoulder. He knows better then to leave good equipment laying around and stands with concern sinking in his gut. He had all the necessities for a quest and just about every major trophy he had gotten from slaying monsters. Yeah that’s red flag number two, and he is just about ready to punch the next god he sees cause they promised he could retire from quests once he got to new Rome uni- … Eris! Now it all came back to him. She was offering the last recommendation letter he needed and like a seaweed brain he took the bait. Last thing he remembered was the buzzing feeling and flash of light, then poof waking up here!
The waters around him churned rougher as he got angrier. Ripping up bits of sea grass and sending fish scattering for shelter. Oh when he finds that goddess he’s going to do a repeat of the smack down the titans and giants got in both wars.
Suddenly Percy feels the control over the water wenched from him and the sea stills as gigantic figure rises from the sea trench in front of him.
“Well now, who are you, waking me from my nap, whipping up these waters?” The almost amused question rumbled out from the twenty foot tall man with hair a shade of teal that is hard to say if it is green or blue. He wore a sea blue chiton that was pinned on the shoulder with a shark jaw clamped onto the fine fabric that might actually just be condensed sea water. His beard was the same teal as his hair but the most important part to Percy is that this was not someone he had personal ever met. Though going by by how easily control of the water was taken, and resemblance to a few murals he had seen in Atlantis the scant times he had visited this had to be the titan Oceanus.
Oh schist, I just had to tempt the fates by thinking of fighting titans, didn’t I. Percy thought with a nervous swallow.
“Are you not going to answer?” Oceanus asked, with his eyebrow arching and the beginnings of a frown. A sure sign the amusement is wearing thin. Though now it dawned on Percy that the titan was speaking in Ancient Greek. For once he is glad demigods are hardwired for the language even if the dyslexia is a pain to deal with.
“I’m Percy Jackson.” He answered simply. Might as well get the outrage and fight started so it can be done with sooner.
“Perse? I don’t remember having any mortal children by that name.” The titan mispronounced his name in a unrecognizing tone. He stroked his beard and seemed to be lost in thought.
Seriously, how could the titan not recognize him?! And why the heck would he think I’m his?! Percy thought incredulously. No wait, that might be a good thing. Ok Percy, just try and play it cool for as long as it works.
“Uh my mother said my father left before I was born.” Percy answered using the lie Sally had tried to keep Percy safe with before he found out the truth. It was technically true she said that and he swears immortals can smell an outright lie. He takes a couple steps back while the titan is thinking.
Oceanus hummed noncommittally, “It is still odd I don’t remember you.” The titan then reached his hand forward. Percy tried to will the current to push him to shore as he scrambled back. He felt it flutter around him but the titan still held control of the water and quickly plucked the demigod up from the seabed.
“You are powerful. Enough to rival even the strongest neriads I’ve sired.” The titan chuckled as Percy struggled to push the hand holding him out of the way enough to reach riptide in his pocket. But he was about the size of a toy compared to the titan and held firmly from the waist down, he only managed to accidentally kick off his own shoe.
“But you need to practice control and precision. Don’t need to attract another gods ire because a tempest blows up anytime you lose your temper. Chaos knows Posiedon would never let me hear the end of it. ” the titan grumbled the last part and turns. “Deeper water would better hid such storms until then.”
Percy’s heart beat in his ears. If he doesn’t figure out an escape now, he might never get away from this senile titan. Dang it if he had just done a regular quest instead of taking Eris bait- wait that’s it!
“I’m on a quest!” Percy shouts and to his relief the titan stops and lifts him closer to eye level. So he continues. “I’m on a quest to deliver three important letters. I had already delivered two and was on my way to collect the third when I met Eris in disguise. She tricked me into touching some magic crystal and in a flash of light I ended up here. That’s why I was mad, but I really need to get back and finish.”
“Ah Nyx’s trouble maker.” Oceanus said with a scowl. “Though sending you this far out is a little extreme, so that letter must be important.”
“So you’ll help send me back?” Percy asked as Oceanus looked at him a lot closer. It felt like the titan was trying to examine his soul.
“Hmm, whatever magic she used to send you here has vailed both the path and your past.” Percy was disappointed by Oceanus’ answer but not entirely surprised. Nothing is ever that easy for him. Then the Titan turns and moves towards the shore and continues speaking. “I can’t send you back directly, but I give directions. To the north of the island you will find a port. You will be able to get a ship to take from there.”
“Really? Thank you.” says truly grateful as the titan sets him on the beach. Honestly this is the more help than he really expected from the titan. Though now he feels the hot sand through his sock but he wasn’t going to push his luck going back for his shoe when he remembers there are sandals in the bag he still has.
The titan took a few steps back and nodded. “I realize now that you are not one of mine. Though it is disappointing I did not sire one with your power, I am more interested in how the kroinid I passed the throne of the sea to managed to beat the curse. May you have success on you quest little godling.”
Percy watched as the titan seemed to melt into water and disappear, puzzling over the cryptic words. He must to have meant Posiedon for the sea’s throne, but why not just say his name? Curse? Godling? Ugh how many times is he going to have to turn down godhood.
With a shrug Percy turn and begins trudging along the beach to a foot path he sees leading up to the top of the bluff. Though he stops halfway to put on the sandals after he reaches the end of the sand and has a rock dig into his shoeless foot. At the top of the bluff he stops by a crooked tree and looks at the landscape sprawled out ahead. There are wide open fields, vast groves of trees, and on a rise in the distance is a cluster of buildings with smoke rising from chimneys.
“Disgustingly picturesque isn’t it.” a feminine voice in the tree branches above startles him. Percy jumps back pulling out uncapping hi pen to change it to sword form in one fluid motion. He’s not getting caught without it again, today. Seeing who it was sliding down from the branch he growls at his new most disliked goddess. “Eris, what am I doing here? You swore on the Styx!”
“That I wouldn’t cause trouble for you or anyone else in THAT universe. But I didn’t say anything about other universes.” The goddess sing-singed back at him. Curling around him like a cat that had crippled prey.
“Other Universes?” Percy repeated shocked. He really didn’t know what to say. Was that why Oceanus didn’t recognize him? He’s in another universe?
“Just as there are many islands in the sea, there are many universes scattered throughout the cosmos.” The goddess answered with a wicked giggle. “The hardest part was getting Chaos to allow me to travel outside of my own. But lucky for me this universe is a little broken and Chaos agreed it needs a some outside help.”
She looked at him expectantly. Percy racked his brain thinking of any clues what answer she seemed to want. “Would that be the curse Oceanus mentioned?”
Eris smile sharpened. “And they call you a seaweed brain.” Percy glowered at that. Only Annabeth could call him that. It sounded wrong coming from anyone else.
“Yes, that curse is the main difference between here and where you’re from. See right before he was defeated Kronos cursed all those who fought against him that all their children would die before their first breath or be born a monster.” Eris replied before summoning a chair and table with a cup of tea on it. She sat and then continued. “Fortunately for myself and the titan you just met those who were neutral in that family spat were unaffected, but it has left this world devoid of such lovely chaos causing demigods.”
She took a sip, and made a displeased face like the tea tasted bad. “And having no demigods around has only made things stagnant and boring. Even wars aren’t that interesting.”
She suddenly turned to smoke and swirled around behind him reforming uncomfortably close curling her clawed hands onto his shoulders. “But now that I brought some new star talent, the show will liven up again!”
“Yeah, no. I’m not doing that.” Percy shakes out of her grip and turns around to face her. No way he is going on endless quests as this world’s only demigod. “Send me home or I’ll find someone else to do it.”
Her affronted look quickly disappeared as she broke out into sharp laughter. Percy ducked to avoid her hand as she tried to pat his head like a little kid. “Oh good luck with that! As soon as one of this world’s childless gods get a good look at you they’ll have you locked in a gilded cage before you can even blink. Ha! You might want to be careful whose names you say unless you want to be stuck treated like you’re made of fine glass the rest of your life or forced into godhood.”
Percy’s eyes widened as he realized just how bad a situation he is in. He didn’t know what was worse. The idea he had of endless quests, or the sheer horror of being smothered like the goddess was suggesting.
“Tut tut, such a face.” She cooed in mock sympathy, before her ever cruel grin returned. “Fine just so no one can say I’m unfair I’ll give you a chance and make a bet. Besides yourself there are thirty nine other children of the gods from your world in this universe scattered around. Find and bring all of them to Troy before the end of the war and I’ll send you home. But if you fail I get one act of service, anything I choosing and you can’t refuse.”
Oh no, he’s not the only one in danger here. What if one of them is Annabeth?! Oh who is he kidding. Knowing his luck she probably is, though he would be lying if he wasn’t a little relieved knowing she would likely see her again. And there is a way home so there’s that.
Percy could feel himself desperately wanting to latch on to the hope. But this goddess had already burned him with her ticks once, and - wait did she say Troy? As in ancient Troy destroyed in the famous war? Was he in the past? “What year is it in this universe?”
“Oh you are learning quickly. I believe it would be called twelve fifty eight BC. Time doesn’t move at the same rate in each universe, so this one is a bit behind. Though I’m guessing you’re more interested in how long the Trojan war has been going on.” Eris answered with that same smug smile that Percy is really getting tired of. He just rolled his eyes and nodded. “The war started eight years and nine months ago.”
So if things go like the myths he read, he would have about a year to win the bet. It was a small chance but may be the only one he might get. But gods don’t like to lose and she has already proven tricky so he will have to be careful with his words.
“So I just to be clear. I would have to travel across country and gather thirty nine demigods together, and bring them to a war zone, before the war ends, which may or may not be in about a year, all while avoiding the gods attention?” Percy asked to make sure he understood the terms.
“Correct” she said with that same grin he wants to smack off.
“And you would swear on the Styx that you would not interfere with the war and will send me and all of the other demigods back home to the universe we came from?” Percy got the satisfaction of seeing her grin twitch down into a thoughtful frown for a second. But she came to a decision quickly and nodded. He will make her actually say it before he accepts.
“Then I have two more conditions.” Her eyebrow quirks up but she rolls her hand in a go on gesture. “One you can’t tell any other gods about me or the other demigods, cause that would be cheating. Two if I win I get to punch you and you will still send us home.”
Her smile returned, “Well what’s a bet without stakes. Besides the odds aren’t really in your favor anyway.”
“Ok swear on the Styx, and I’ll take your bet.” Percy meet her eyes with the impertinence he is known for.
“Ah you learned to well. Alright I, goddess of mischief Eris, sware on the Styx that I will not interfere with the war at Troy or tell any of the other gods about the presence of demigods, and should you gather all thirty nine to Troy before the war’s end I will send you to the universe you remember.” She stopped and held out her hand for him to shake but Percy just held her gaze for a moment before she sighed “and I will let you punch me if you win the bet. There, happy?”
“No, but I know that’s all I’m going to get.” He grumbles and finally takes the handshake. Weird for a god to shake on a bet, but he guessed she wanted to use a gesture from his world he would recognize.
“Good, now you might want to get going since you don’t have much time to waste.” She said disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Percy pulled his hand down his face wondering how his day could get any worse. Before starting the long walk to the town he sees in the distance. It is nearly sunset and he is about halfway there when the small sound of footsteps coming from around a rocky bend in the path ahead catches his attention. He grips riptide in his pocket ready to draw it when a ghost he thought was left in his past peeks around the bend.
“Um, Hello?” Called Luke Castellen, and Percy’s vision went red.
Meanwhile, Oceanus swam toward the gate of a deep underwater city more towards the center of the Mediterranean. He ignored the tense guards and focused more on Posiedon and another swimming out to meet him. Hmm, oh now he remembered, Poseidon had a son before Kronos curse while he and his Olympian siblings had been gathering strength and making weapons for the confrontation with the tyrant titan.
“What is the meaning of this unexpected visit?” Demanded gruffly. Which is to be expected. Even if he was neutral in the fight with Kronos and even gave up kingship of the seas the younger gods did not really trust any of the titans.
Oceanus holds out the strange footwear he had picked up from the sea floor. “Curiosity and congratulations. I do wonder how you managed to hide beating the curse for so long.”
“What madness do you speak of such impossibility?” Triton exclaims in outrage, but Poseidon is frozen, eyes locked onto the object in Oceanus’ hand.
Triton notices his father’s unexpected behavior and quiets down.
Posiedon reaches out and takes the footwear with a shaky hand clearly noting the essence of the boy who had been wearing it.
“My apologies, It would seem I was wrong in my assumption that you were keeping it a secret.” Oceanus responds to the obvious surprise and shock that was all over the younger God’s countenance.
“A survivor? How- where did you find this?” Posiedon snaps out of his stupor, desperately searching Oceanus face for any fulsehoods.
The titan was mildly offended the rudeness but brushed it off as he himself would act such a way had he been afflicted by the curse for centuries only to be surprised by a miracle. “The coast of Sardinia, but come, there is much more to tell you.”