Daddy Hades 2

I own nothing; AU; OOC; Beta'd by the author

chapter 3

"I'm sorry, but the god you are trying to send a message to is busy, please hang up and try again later." Iris's voice chirped out of the white screen surrounded by a rainbow glow. "And if this is Percy, please stop trying until tomorrow."

Percy snapped his skull shaped Iris Messenger device close. He glared at it. The mocking sapphire eyes winked at him. He had tried three times now to call Hades, but each time Iris said he was busy! This was Minotaur dung. Hades always made time for Percy, or he used to.

Percy growled to himself. He gripped the case before he tossed it across the room. It hit the storm cloud colored Basalt wall. Small bits of the wall crumbled off from the impact; the device bounced on Percy's bed. He got up and picked it up. He turned it over and over in his hands. The black onyx skull and sapphire eyes remained intact; it didn't even have a scratch.

Percy deflated as he sighed. He plopped down on his bunk, and slumped over. Hades always used to make time for him, so what changed? Had he made Hades mad by refusing his offer to transport Luke, Tyson, and him to camp? Or was Hades avoiding him because he knew Percy would be mad about Tantalus?

Percy gave a harsh sigh at the thought of that pretentious ghost. He had been a huge suck up at first. Then he found out that whatever he did here, as long as it was in Mr. D's good grace, would have no effect on his sentence. Then he reverted back into the total jerk he is.

Tyson snorted and rolled over in his new cabin cote. He muttered about peanut butter in his sleep.

Percy smiled at Tyson. He remembered when he had first told Tyson he would get his own bed in the Underworld. Tyson had almost hugged him to death, and Tyson had been just as excited to have his own bed at Camp Half-Blood. He had lunged towards the lower bunk bed across from Percy's and broke it, but he refused to sleep anywhere else.

His smile died as he remembered the rest of the week. It had sucked. The other campers made fun of him because Poseidon claimed Tyson in front of the whole camp.

"Percy?" Luke called as he stuck his head into the cabin. "It's time to go."

"Fine," Percy sighed.

He stood up from his bunk. Sand and Basalt fell off his blue jeans. He would need to clean out his bed again. He had to do that every night, and now so did Tyson. Tyson did his best to keep the cabin tidy, but somehow, sand always found its way back in. Percy thanked Tyson every chance he could. (He would have let the cabin get dirty and then clean it in a rush before inspection.) He loved that Tyson kept the cabin clean. But he wanted to keep it a secret; he didn't need the campers asking to borrow his "monster maid."

"Tyson, buddy, it's time to get up," Percy said as he shook Tyson's shoulder.

He dunked Tyson's hand, you only get hit once by a sleepy Cyclops before you learn to dodge. He slapped Tyson's hairy belly. His hand stung from the impact.

Tyson grunted and opened his eye. A big tear rolled down his face as he blinked his brown eye up at Percy. The yellow gunk gathered in the corners of his eye stuck the lids together.

Percy grimaced as Tyson used the blanket to wipe his eye. Had he mentioned he was forever grateful to Tyson for cleaning everyday?

"Whaaat?" Tyson yawned. A fly flew into his mouth, but Tyson seemed unperturbed.

"Breakfast time, bud." Percy held his breath as he said that. Tyson's morning breath reeked.

"Peanut butter pancakes?" Tyson asked as he sat up.

"Yeah, Peanut butter pancakes," Percy said, fighting a smile.

Tyson cheered as loud as he could, or at least Percy hoped that was as loud as he could cheer. Percy smiled as he followed Luke out of cabin three; his ears rang because of Tyson's cheering. He glared at the demigods who whispered and giggled as he and Tyson passed. To tell the truth, he wasn't sure if they were talking about Tyson. But it couldn't be coincidence that each time he lumbered past them; they would giggle and whisper.

"Hey, Jackson!"

Percy frowned as a demigod called him from behind.

"Hey, Jackson!"

Percy kept walking. His hands tightened into fist.

"Jackson! Yoohoo!"

Percy made eye contact with Luke. Luke's blue eyes warned him to keep his cool. Tantalus would use any excuse to punish him. He breathed out his nose.

"Jackson!"

Percy yelped and stumbled over a helmet that sailed between his feet.

"Brother, are you okay?" Tyson asked.

"Percy, you alright?" Luke asked at the same time.

"Fine," Percy muttered as he turned around to see a son of Ares, who smirked at him as he swaggered over.

"You think your dad will claim more monster siblings for you?" He asked.

Percy glanced at Tyson, who bit his lip and looked between the two demigods. Then he turned back to the child of Ares.

"Well, your dad claimed you, didn't he?" Percy said.

Percy smirked as the boy's face turned the color of a beetroot. Served him right for attacking Percy's little brother.

"At least my dad doesn't pawn me off to some other god who doesn't even want me," the boy snapped back.

Percy's smirk faded away. "What are you talking about?"

"You think everyone hasn't heard," the boy mocked. "About how you keep trying to reach out to Hades, and he never answers. How does it feel to be abandoned a second time?"

Percy's insides went cold. He couldn't breath. Hades wouldn't abandon him, right?

"Shut up," Luke said as he stepped in front of Percy. He threw the helmet into the boy's chest. "Before I make you."

The boy took a step back before he addressed Percy. "What's wrong, Jackson? Did I strike a nerve?"

"What's going on here?" Clarisse stomped over. "Didn't I tell you to go put up your helmet, Clayton? We are not participating in those lousy footraces Tantalus set up."

"Yes, you did," Clayton yelped. His brown eyes wide "I was just–"

"Being a dick," Luke said.

Clayton opened his mouth to argue, showing off the gap in his teeth. Clarisse slapped him upside the head.

"Just do as I say and put up your helmet!" She barked.

The boy grumbled as he turned away.

Clarisse growled and glared at the boy. He scrambled away.

"Ever since Tantalus showed up, I've been having to deal with disobedient maggots like that." Clarisse spat out a green gob.

"Ew," Luke grimced.

"Get over it princess." Clarisse snapped.

"I thought you already had to fight your siblings every day just to keep order." Percy interjected. He didn't want another fight. He walked with Luke, Clarisse, and Tyson to the pavilion.

"I do," Clarisse said, "with a couple of them, but overall they know the pecking order and they listen to me. I kick their butts if they don't. Then Tantalus showed up, and now most of them feel that it's better to listen to him than to me. Those traitors."

"I know what you mean," Luke said. "I've had to get onto more than one camper for talking trash about Percy.

"I appreciate what you guys are trying to do, but it's not helping," Percy said. "Maybe if I ignore, it they'll stop."

"Doubtful," Clarisse snorted.

"And if you think we're going to stop, then you don't know us very well," Luke said. "Besides, this is more than defending the honor of a fellow Hero."

"One that help me stop Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades from going to war," Clarisse said. Her grin would fit more on a cat that had caught a bird, a mouse, and had a bowl of cream all in one morning.

"Right," Luke said in a deadpan voice. "Anyway, we need to establish order within our cabins. Chiron used to be in charge of camp activities. He never interfered with camp politics. Tantalus is trying to. He's messing with the order. By all rights you should be the most respected camper here."

"Respected, right," Percy snorted. His sneakers hit the marble steps leading to the dining pavilion. "Maybe I need to put the fear of Hades and Poseidon in them."

"A few, yeah," Clarisse said. "But the rest are just uneasy about Tyson. Anyway, if you have a way to I would put Tantalus in his place."

"I can't control ghost," Percy said. "I can summon the dead and use the shadows to travel, but controlling ghost is a no go."

"So what are we going to do?" Luke asked.

"Have you tried contacting your dad?" Clarisse asked.

"Just about every day this week," Percy said. "He won't pick up."

"Ah, if it isn't Master Percy Jackson."

Percy shivered as that slimy voice oozed its way down his back. He turned around to see Tantalus in his usual orange jumpsuit with the numbers 1054 stitched on.

"I hope you have a," Tantalus glanced at Tyson, "monstrous appetite."

Percy's lip curled.

"You will be participating in today's activities, I hope," Tantalus said. "It's Foot Races to the Death. You run as fast as you can against the nymphs and other campers, and the loser gets beat by the other cabins."

"What's the point of that?" Clarisse glared at Tantalus as she crossed her arms.

"I'm not surprised. Your small children's brains can't understand the finer intricacies of my activities, So I'll try my best to dumb it down for you." Tantalus smirked. "Demigods have to run fast to escape big, bad, monsters, so they don't get hurt. This activity will simulate that by giving off real consequences."

Percy's stomach turned. He didn't want to think about what Tantalus had in store. "I think it's time we get to breakfast, sir."

"Hmm, yes, yes, of course," Tantalus said. "I'll be at the head table if you need me, I hope you don't, but if you do, bring some food for me."

Percy grimaced. "Right."

He led Tyson over to Poseidon's table. Food already sat steaming in the morning air. The seashell encrusted table scrapped against the back of his hand as he grabbed a plate. He filled it with bacon and eggs courtesy of the Nymphs. He laughed at Tyson, who filled his plate with pancakes, before he went to the sacrificial fire.

"For Hades," he said as he tossed in a handful of bacon.

He tossed in another handful. "For Poseidon."

He waited as Tyson made his sacrifice.

"Thank you for letting me stay with you, Hades. And thank you for letting me stay in your cabin, father, and thank you for Percy." Tyson smiled at Percy as he lumbered over.

Percy ignored the giggles of some female campers behind his brother. He led Tyson over to their table. As he ate his eggs and bacon, he watched as Tyson layered his pancakes with Peanut Butter. Then he poured a whole bottle of syrup on them.

"Good?" Percy smiled as Tyson nodded while he hummed.

The sound of a knife hitting a goblet filled the air. The demigods quieted as they turned to look at the head table. Tantalus stood there up at the table. He was the only one. Mr. D showed up to the pavilion less and less the longer Tantalus remained in camp.

"Another beautiful day in Camp Half-Blood," Tantalus said. His hand chased a jelly doughnut around a plate. "Last week we all had a wonderful time playing Volleyball together. Though, I do wish the losers had tried harder to feed me. Really, holding on a baloney sandwich should not be that hard."

Percy raised an eyebrow. Tantalus should know by now that there are no loopholes. Sure, Persephone fed and watered him once, but Hades allowed it to try to win her favor.

"Anyway," Tantalus said as his hand inched over to a cup. The cup hopped away, splashing its water across the table. "The week before we had some riveting gladiator fights. However, thanks to Mr. D those will no longer take place."

With good reason, Percy thought as he looked over to the vine wrapped table. Pollux glared at Tantalus. What had happened to the Dionysus kids had sent the god into a quiet rage. They had to work in the strawberry fields for days, forbidden from doing anything else.

Percy smirked at Tantalus tried to mop up the water droplets with his fingertips. The water gathered itself and rolled away without a trace. Percy stifled his giggle at the water rolled itself all the way to the sacrificial fire.

Tantalus cleared his throat. "We shall be having Foot Races to the Death."

The demigods groaned.

"Dad said no more 'to the Death' activities." Pollux wrapped around his brother's shoulders. Castor huddled against Pollux; Percy wondered if he still had nightmares of that day.

Tantalus laughed. "The label 'to the Death' is just to make it more exciting. No one will die. The losers will just be tied to one of the many columns and beat."

Percy joined the demigods in their booing. Tyson looked around his mouth filled with peanut butter pancakes.

"Alright, alright," Tantalus said. "Ungrateful brats. They'll be tied to a column and have rotten fruit thrown at them."

Percy frowned. That sounded marginally better, but he still wished Chiron was here. Or that Mr. D cared enough to put a leash on Tantalus.

"Now let us eat!" Tantalus lunged for a plate of scrambled eggs; it jumped off the table, and hopped over to the Athena table.

Percy noticed nobody touched that plate. Both he and Tyson finished their breakfast, and left for the day's event. Sadly, as much as Percy tried to avoid the "Foot Race to the Death" he found that he couldn't. All demigods had to participate or face kitchen duty.

"Heroes!" Tantalus yelled from on top of a lifeguard's chair as he gestured to the gathered demigods. "Welcome to today's first annual Foot Race to the Death!"

Percy curled his lip at the shimmering ghost. He wished he had the power to control the dead. Suck up Tantalus had been insufferable, but drunk on power Tantalus is deplorable.

"This race will be a free for all," Tantalus said. "The starting line is on that end of the arena." He pointed to the left side of the arena. "The finish line is on that side of the arena." He pointed to the right side.

"The rules are thus: each cabin will have two runners, both runners must reach the finish line for them to win. The last cabin to reach the finish line will face the punishment. Now places,"–he clapped his hands–"chop, chop. If you move any slower it will be dinner time before we get started then where will we be?"

Percy trudged along with the other demigods to the left side of the arena, Tyson ambled along behind him. He just knew Tantalus would do something horrible. He crouched leaning forward. He could see the other campers straining to get an inch ahead while staying behind the starting line. He'd need to sprint to avoid being last. Tyson tried to get into the same position, but his arms and legs tangled together.

"It's okay, Buddy," Percy said. "You just run as fast as you can. I'll be right behind you."

"On your marks," Tantalus said. "Get ready,"–the demigods tensed–"set, Go!" He kicked the back of a demigod to get them to blow the horn.

Percy shot out away from the starting line. He sprinted forward, his breath heaved, his fist hit his sides. His shirt sounded like a ship's sail in the middle of a storm. The ground shook under Tyson's thundering footsteps. All those days chasing after an overexcited Cyclops had come in handy. Percy leaped over a fallen camper with Tyson close behind.

"What are you doing?" Tantalus said. "Get up!"

Percy looked over his shoulder. Demigods staggered to their feet; siblings glared at him. He glanced over at Tyson, and shot him a smile. Tyson grinned wide showing off a few of his missing teeth.

"Stop that Cyclops!" Tantalus said. "Extra dessert for the ones who stop the Cyclops!"

Percy panted. He could taste victory on his tongue. The finish line bounded closer and closer to him with every second. Then he heard something that made him skid to a stop.

"Augh!"

Percy whipped around. Tyson lay on the ground celestial bronze wire wrapped around his legs and arms. Two sons of Hephaestus laughed as they ran by. Tyson tried to wiggle his way up, but fell back and bellowed as some demigods trampled over him.

"Stop it!" Percy rushed over to Tyson drawing his sword. He swung it at the other demigods, who dodged with a laugh, before he fell to his knees besides Tyson. He clawed at the wire.

"Don't worry, Tyson," Percy said. "I'll get you out."

"Hurts," Tyson said as small pearl shaped tears gathered in his eyes.

"I know," Percy said. "I know, just hold on."

The horn sounded once more. Percy looked up. At the finish line, panting demigods stared back at him. Slow clapping came from behind him. Percy looked over his shoulder. Tantalus smirked at him before he pulled out a remote and pressed its shiny red button. Celestial bronze wires shot out and wrapped Percy up in a metal cocoon.

"Hey!" Percy struggled to get free.

"Hey is for Pegasi, Master Percy," Tantalus said. He turned to the other demigods. "Pick them up or drag them, I'm not particular, to the columns so that we can tie them up."

Feet surrounded Percy. "Let me go!"

Hands grabbed him, laughter and jeers filled his ears, and hefted him up. Over the din of noise Tyson's cries rose along with the protest of Luke and Clarisse.

"What the Hades? Put him down!"

"Take it up with the camp director, Luke."

"Tantalus! Stop this!"

"They lost the game, Miss La Rue. They must pay the penalty."

"Chiron would never allow this."

"Chiron is not here, I am, Castellan."

Warm marble pressed against the back of Percy's neck. For a moment he's free as the wire loosened, but that moment ended as soon as it began. The wire wrapped around the column, trapping Percy. His arms dug into his stomach from when he had tried to push the wire away.

"Let me go," Percy said. He strained against the wires.

Tyson hiccuped from beside him. "Per-Percy, it hurts."

A volcano erupted from within Percy. "Let him go!"

Tremors marched their way through the ground. Campers stumbled into one another. Tantalus, unaffected, floated over to Percy and slapped him. The tremors halted.

Percy stared wide eyed at Tantalus. His cheek stun. He's been chased by monsters. Gods had threatened to kill him; but he hasn't been slapped around since he was a little kid. His vision blurred. Tantalus disappeared, and in his place stood Gabe.

That vision broke as Tantalus said. "If you continue such a disreputable display then you will face disciplinary actions."

Percy's chest heaved against the wires. His wide eyes rolled from the watching campers to Tantalus. The tears that had gathered on his cheek shot towards Tantalus. They passed through him without effect. Percy gritted his teeth. He glared at Tantalus and then spat on the ground before him.

Tantalus sneered. "You'll be on kitchen duty, tonight."

"Demigods," Tantalus called as he waved his hand. "You will pelt these monstrous losers with rotten tomatoes."

The Harpy cleaning ladies flew over carrying baskets of overflowing, mushy, tomatoes. The stench of the sun baked, mold covered, tomatoes took over the sweaty smell of the demigods. Percy scrunched his nose, turned his face away from the basket nearest to him, and coughed.

"Well, come on," Tantalus said once the baskets were in place. "Toss some fruit."

Percy squinted at the demigods. They shifted in place, silent, looking at each other.

"You have permission to do this," Tantalus said. "How many times will you get to do something like this?"

Travis and Connor Stroll stepped forward, but Luke yanked them back with a glare. Percy had to fight a smile. As much as the demigods hated Tyson, they hated Tantalus more.

"Will none of you come forward to administrate the proper punishment?" Tantalus asked.

The demigods may as well as been statues.

"I guess I'm going to have to pick someone," Tantalus said. He pointed at a daughter of Athena with brown hair and braces. "You."

The girl shuffled forward until she reached one of the baskets.

"Well?" Tantalus waved his hand to the basket. "Pick up a tomato."

The girl plucked a rotten tomato from the basket. She stuck out her tongue and scrunched up her face as the tomato leaked out from between her fingers.

"Now throw it," Tantalus said as he jabbed his finger in Percy's direction. "Or else end up on stable cleaning duty for two months."

The girl furrowed her eyebrows and nodded at Percy with lips sucked in.

Percy nodded back; his heart weighed down. "I forgive you."

The girl cocked back her arm and set the tomato flying. It splattered against Percy's chest, soaking his orange camp shirt. Before it slid down and plopped onto the ground.

A few demigods giggled. The girl backed up fighting a smile.

Percy grimaced. He would have been laughing too if it had been someone else. Getting hit with rotten tomatoes wasn't the worst punishment, but it still sucked it was him.

Tantalus grinned. "That was delightful, a very good throw, lets see if anyone else can beat her. Aim for the head or the heart, and gain extra dessert."

That got demigods moving. The only ones who didn't participate was those from the Ares cabin and the Hermes cabin. Luke's and Clarisse's glares enough to keep them in line.

Before long tomato juice soaked Percy from head to foot. A few had aimed at Tyson. But Percy would whisper a request to the shadows around Tyson to transport any tomatoes to him.

"Very nice, very nice," Tantalus said. "But I notice that some of you are not participating."

He floated in front of Percy and Tyson. "Look at this Cyclops he's barely been hit."

"His name is Tyson," Percy said. His words rumbled out of his chest much like an earthquake.

"Whatever"–Tantalus waved his hand–"Clayton, why don't you come up and toss a few tomatoes at Tyson."

Clayton stepped forward. Percy's foot throbbed as it remembered Clayton's helmet had hit it when he had tossed it in Percy's way.

"Don't you dare!" Clarisse said. She scowled at Clayton.

"Oh, don't listen to her," Tantalus said. He floated over to Clayton and mimed putting his hand on Clayton's shoulder.

"If you hit the Cyclops in the eye, you can have extra dessert for a week," Tantalus said. "And I ask the cooks to make your favorite. Tell me what is your favorite dessert."

"Plum pudding," Clayton said. "I haven't had that in years."

He pulled back his arm.

"Drop it!" Clarisse ordered.

Clayton scowled. "I'm not a dog."

He tossed the tomato at Tyson. Tyson clenched his eye shut as it hit him. The tomato fell to the ground as the juices dripped down Tyson's face.

Percy cursed Clayton out as Clarisse tackled him and pounded him into the ground.

The campers gathered around chanting. "Fight, fight, fight."

Tantalus stood on the outside of the ring. "Stop, no, you shouldn't do that."

Percy glared at Tantalus's smirking face.

"Percy," Luke said as he slid behind him. "I'm going to get you and Tyson out of here."

"He's enjoying this," Percy said. The cool edge of Luke's pocket knife brushed against his flesh as Luke cut him free.

"I know," Luke said. "But we can't do anything about it."

Percy rubbed his wrist as he turned towards Tyson. Once free, Tyson wiped at his face.

"Percy," Tyson said.

"Yeah, Big Guy?"

"I don't like tomatoes," Tyson said as he lumbered after Luke.

"Me neither," Percy said.

"Where are we going?" Tyson asked.

"The Big House," Luke said. "We can hide out there."

"Sounds good," Percy said. "Even a grumpy Mr. D is better than Tantalus."

"There you are," Clarisse said as she marched into the living room.

Percy peeled himself off of the couch, so he could lean up enough to peek over its back. A drop of sweat hung from his bangs before it fell into his eye. He wiped at it. He knew they kept a fire lit in the Big House in honor of Hestia, but he wished the fire would keep its heat to itself.

He stared at Clarisse as she leaned against the back of the couch.

"You have a–" He snapped his mouth shut at her glare.

Clarisse scrubbed at the smear of blood on her chin. Blood beaded on her lip. A purple bruise made itself at home on her cheek.

"We have to find a way to get rid of him," Clarisse said.

"Who?" Luke looked up from picking his nails.

"Tantalus," Clarisse said. "Who else?"

Luke shrugged as he fought down a smile.

"How?" Percy laid back down on the couch. Sweat danced its way into his ear. He grimaced and rubbed his ear against his shoulder.

"I don't know," Clarisse said her hands splaying out as if to materialize the answer out of thin air. "But there has to be some way."

"Well," Luke pushed off of the wall and sat on the floor next to Percy's head. "What do we know?"

"We know Tantalus is an asshole." Clarisse rested her cheek on her hand as her other hand drew circles into the back of the couch.

"We know that Thalia's tree has been poisoned by Annabeth," Percy said.

Luke winced. "Yeah, and that Chiron is getting blamed for it. So what can we do?"

"Fix Thalia's tree," Clarisse said. "Obviously."

"How?" Luke looked at her. "I don't know about you, but I don't have a magic tree cure all in my pocket."

"Magk sep," Tyson said, his voice muffled against the rug.

"What was that buddy?" Percy turned his head towards Tyson.

Tyson repeated himself, his head still planted in the white threads.

"Uh, I still didn't get that, can you remove your head and say it?" Percy said as he lifted himself up a bit to better see Tyson.

Tyson sighed and lifted his head from the carpet. "Magic sheep."

"Magic sheep?" Clarisse asked. "What the Hades does that mean?"

"Magic sheep?" Percy said to himself as he sat up. "Magic sheep. Magic sheep? Oh! Magic sheep!"

"Care to enlighten us?" Luke rested his elbow against the leather couch.

Percy wondered how his elbow missed the puddle of sweat he must have left there, but ignored that thought. "Magic sheep is what Tyson calls the Golden Ram. The one that saved those two kids."

"The Golden Fleece," Clarisse said.

"Yeah!" Percy nodded, so fast his brain rattled.

"The Golden Fleece has been lost for centuries," Luke said. "We have to find another way."

"Well, the only other way I can think of is to ask my dadd–I mean my step-dad." Percy ignored Luke's and Clarisse's shared looks at his change in title towards Hades."Won't answer my calls. The only other thing that we could do is preform an exorcism and I don't think that would work."

"Fine," Luke said. "I guess tonight at the campfire we'll do our best to convince Tantalus that we need a quest."

#

Sweat rolled down Percy's neck. His mask that protected him from the heat steamed with every labored breath he took. He scrubbed at the dish in his hand before he dipped it into the lava.

"Why's it got to be lava?" He said as he licked his cracked lips. "What's wrong with normal hot water?"

"The lava removes stains and leaves the plates sparkling clean." One of the harpies said from behind him.

Percy winced. Their voices stabbed at his eardrums. He wished they had a lower voice both in volume and in tone. Anything would be better than the metal fork scraping over a glass plate sound.

"Right."

Percy scrubbed the dishes as fast as he could. He often had to go back and redo a few because there was a spot left on them that only the harpies could see. When he finally got out the sing-a-long was almost done. His orange shirt stuck to his skin as he sat down next to Luke in front of a small purple flame.

"This isn't going well, is it?"

"What was your first clue?"

"Well, the fire's low and a dark color," Percy said. "That's never a good sign."

"Tantalus wants a chariot race tomorrow," Luke said. "Then he started talking about how we're all doomed, and how it's Chiron's fault. Then he told us how lovely the Underworld is."

"He deserved everything he got," Percy said.

"No arguments here," Luke said.

"So what's the plan?"

"Get a quest."

"Yeah, but how?" Percy turned to Luke.

Luke shrugged as he pulled his burning marshmallow away from the fire. "I've been trying to look for an opening to get permission, but one hasn't appeared yet. I have to say though it is a bit amusing how Clarisse looks like she's about to explode."

Percy looked over at Clarisse. Her rutty face and vibrating body did make it seem like she would explode any minute.

"Well, if you can't find an opening," Percy said. "Create one."

He stood up, rubbing his hands together. "I'm gone for one night, and you all act like someone died!"

"Poor choice of words, Jackson," Luke said as the flames dipped to blue embers.

"What I'm saying is," Percy looked at the grim faced demigods. "We need something to lift our spirits."

"And what would that be?" Tantalus asked. "I've already suggested a chariot race, and yet everyone seems to be against it."

"What we need," Percy said. "Is a quest."

The embers brightened until a small yellow flame burned. The demigods whispered to each other. Percy suppressed a smile. He had their attention.

"There's no need for a quest." Tantalus reached for a marshmallow, which swan dived off of a stick into the fire.

"No need?" Luke appeared next to Percy. "You just said that our camp is doomed because Thalia's tree has been poisoned. We need a quest to fix her."

"We've tried fixing her," Grover said. "We have no way to do it."

"There is one way," Clarisse said. "The golden fleece."

The campers fell silent.

"The golden fleece hasn't been seen for centuries," Clayton said. "It's a fools errand."

Clarisse stood up. "Maybe we need to be fools. What do we have to lose? The camp barrier is already weak, and we don't have enough campers to protect the boarders at all times. We need Thalia's tree. We need the barrier. We need the golden fleece. We need a quest."

"We need a quest," Percy said.

"We need a quest." Luke pumped his fist in the air.

The campers took up the chant. The flames rose until it reached the same height as a cabin roof. The campers bathed in the liquid gold light.

Percy could hear Tantalus trying to squash their rebellion, so he bellowed out.

"For Camp Half-Blood!"

The campers cheered and screamed in response.

"Fine!" Tantalus glared at the demigods. "Fine!"

The campers quieted down, and stared at him.

Tantalus cleared his throat. "I shall choose the hero who will lead this quest. Since from what I heard Percy Jackson, Luke Castellen, and Clarisse La Rue had been a part of the last quest. They will be disqualified from leading this quest."

"What?" Clarisse's voice echoed around the campers. Her hands clenched at her side.

"It's only fair," Tantalus said. "Someone else should get the chance to lead a quest, now who would like to go on this fools errand."
The campers stayed silent. They avoided Tantalus eyes.

'Figures,' Percy thought. 'They all want the glory, they all want a quest, but not a one is willing to do what needs to be done.'

"No one?" Tantalus asked. "Well then, I guess I'll have to pick one."

He hummed and tapped his chin. "Clayton of the Ares cabin. You will head this quest."

"Me?" Clayton held his hand against his chest.

The Ares cabin, except for Clarisse, chanted his name.

Clayton's chest puffed out and he yelled. "I will take this honor, and bring back the Golden Fleece!"

Percy scowled as Clayton strutted by him to go to the Oracle.

"I don't trust him," Percy said.

"Neither do I," Luke said.

"We're doomed," Clarisse said.

"What are we going to do?" Percy stared after Clayton. Fireflies hovered around the path he took.

"There's nothing we can do," Luke said. "Not right now at least."

He sat down and speared another marshmallow.

Percy and Clarisse shared a look before they too joined him.

"Where's Tyson?" Percy asked as he looked around.

"I invited him," Luke said. "But he wanted to stay in his cabin."

"Mind if I take him some marshmallows?" Percy reached for the bag.

"Knock yourself out," Luke said.

Percy grabbed the bag and headed off to his cabin. Fireflies blinked around him. Their flashing bodies caught Percy's eye each time they got too close. The sound of crickets surrounded him. Until, he reached his cabin where the sound of sobbing drowned them out.

Percy hesitated. Maybe Tyson wanted to be left alone? Percy decided that he couldn't leave him like this, so he knocked on the cabin door.

"Hey, Tyson," he cracked open the door and peered into the darkness. "I got marshmallows."

"With peanut butter?"

"No peanut butter this time," Percy said as he turned on the lights. "But marshmallows are still good, even without peanut butter."

"Oh." Tyson sniffed. His red eye followed Percy as he sat down on the broken bed next to Tyson.

"You sure you don't want a new bed?" Percy asked as he opened up the bag.

"I like this one."

"You sure?" Percy handed Tyson a marshmallow. "I mean, you kind of broke it you first night here."

"I want this one." Tyson said as he chewed on the marshmallow.

"Alright, just don't jump on it anymore, okay?" Percy said as he ate a marshmallow.

"Okay," Tyson said.

They sat in silence eating marshmallows together for a few moments.

"Why does everyone hate me?" Tyson asked.

"What?" Percy turned to Tyson. His brother stared at the floor and refused to repeat himself.

"Well," Percy shifted as he stared holes into the sand dollar walls. "Demigods and monsters don't usually mix. We're not used to kind ones. So they judge you because they're scared of what others like you did to them before."

"But I'm not mean," Tyson said.

"I know buddy," Percy patted him on the shoulder. He stood up. "Let me clean my bed of sand, and then we can go to bed. Tomorrow will be better. Promise."

"I already did," Tyson said. "I cleaned the whole cabin."

"Oh, well, thanks," Percy rubbed the back of his neck. "You know you didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to," Tyson said. "You're so nice. I want to help out."

Percy smiled at him and gave Tyson a one armed hug. It was really nice of Tyson to do that. He just hoped that no demigods saw him. The last thing Percy needed was demigods accusing him of having a monster maid, or worse, asking Percy if they could borrow Tyson like he was property.

"Well, then, I guess we better get to bed." Percy said. He climbed into his bed. "Night Tyson."

"Night, brother."

Percy laid in the dark staring at the ceiling. He chewed on his lip.

"Tyson," he said.

Tyson grunted.

"I tried to protect you," Percy said. "I'm sorry I couldn't."

"It's okay," Tyson said. "The tomato didn't get in my eye, and as long as your here. Everything's going to be okay!"

Percy wiped at his eyes.

"Yeah, and I don't plan to go anywhere, Big Guy."

I took a while, but here it is! Please review. Tell me what you think of the chapter, the story so far, what you like, or how I can improve.