TAW Productions

PJO series is for Rick Riordan and not for the TAW so please do not accuse any members of the TAW on Anything…thank you.

In Flight

"Blackjack!" Lexi yelled as she rushed past Percy to wrap her arms tightly around Blackjack's neck. The pegasus closed his eyes and lowered his great, black neck, and came as close to a cat's purr as any pegasus has ever been.

Percy's smile widened as he witnessed the site of the flying horse. He simply couldn't believe his luck that Blackjack had found them in the middle of nowhere, on some abandoned island in the Mediterranean. "How did you find us, Blackjack?" he asked curiously.

"When the Scylla got out of the water I heard it from near Olympus. The one in Greece that is!" Blackjack joked. "Guido said I ought to look into it, said it might be you. What do you know!"

"How is Guido? I miss that guy." Percy asked warmly.

"He says hi, told me to tell you that he wants to visit but his duties keep him busy all the time." Blackjack replied.

"What about you, Blackjack? No duties for you?" Lexi inquired as she let go of his neck and started stroking it with her hand.

"My only duty was to serve the Boss," he said uncharacteristically seriously, looking at Percy. "Once that was over I didn't know what to do. Couldn't believe we beat that evil guy Kr-" he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Yeah, me neither buddy." Percy smiled again after a brief silence. "But I'm not sure you're gonna wanna come with when you find out where I wanna go."

"Not a chance, Boss. You know that. Either you leave with me or I won't let you leave." the great pegasus shook his head, the hairs on his neck ruffling.

"Percy wants to go to Delphi," Lexi interjected, "he wants to find out how to use the black crystal." She glanced sharply at Percy as if irritated by the fact that he didn't say that to Blackjack outright.

"Delphi?" Blackjack asked confusedly. "Black crystal? What are you up to Boss?"

"It's a lot to explain, but if you can fly us to the mainland, I'll tell you on the way. I hope it won't be too far from here," Percy said. "Will you join us? You don't have to, you know. We can always go by sea."

"We? What do you mean 'we'?" Lexi piped, looking incredulously at Percy.

The son of Poseidon stared back at her, confused at what she meant. "Don't you want to -" Percy started but could not finish.

"I've had enough of your makeshift boats, Percy. I'm going with this handsome young horse." Lexi said forcefully.

Percy chuckled. "You know, nobody gets on Blackjack's back unless I say so." he smiled, feeling victorious.

"Oh yeah? Watch me." she walked around the great wings of the pegasus along to its side and mounted him, with Blackjack neighing in pleasure.

"Wow Boss! She's like 100 times lighter than you! You need to lose some weight!" Blackjack said.

Percy frowned. "All right, Lexi, calm down. You don't have to -" Percy started.

"Come on, Blackjack, go!" Lexi yelled.

In less than a second, Blackjack spread his feathered wings, their span more than 25 feet, struck them down towards the shore with a force that could lift an airplane, and leaped into the warm air gracefully, neighing as he flapped them. Percy had no time to react, and was only left with the sight of the flying horse gliding away from him into the horizon, towards Delphi.

"Dammit, Lexi." Percy sighed. He raised his hands again, ready to form a ship.

"Eggs and bacon huh? Looks delicious. I don't miss half blood food one bit!" Tori exclaimed after ogling at Annabeth's breakfast plate. They were the first to enter a breakfast place, and the hostess recommended early bird bacon.

"Don't wanna get fat though," Annabeth joked, "need to watch my weight or else mom would have my head." She threw a piece of bacon in her mouth along with some egg, cheese, spinach, and sausage from the omelette on her plate.

The breakfast lifted their spirits and they momentarily forgot their plight. Old stories came back to the table and joined them in their meal. No war stories, only stories about their time with guys and the terrible dates they've been on.

"He comes to me and says, 'Tori, I know we've only been going out for 2 weeks, but I got you a present!'" Tori said, wide eyed. "When I ask him why he got me a present, he said that it was for our 2 week anniversary!" she shook her head as Annabeth giggled.

"That's so sweet of him! What was the present?" Annabeth was struggling to swallow.

"It was this hideous lingerie set from Victoria's Secret." Tori replied, also laughing. "Good thing the receipt was in the bag he gave me, I returned it and got some push-ups."

"Well that's a first, I'm kind of jealous I never had a 2 week anniversary with someone," Annabeth smiled at her.

"That's because it's not even a thing, Wise Girl." Tori teased. "What's the best gift you ever got from a guy?"

Annabeth paused to think. She can't really remember any material things she got from Percy in their relationship. There was one time when they were out "fishing" and he got her some seaweed from the Atlantic for their anniversary.

"Seaweed," Annabeth said to her, smiling. Tori's face contorted to a look of disgust, as she probably imagined the food in her mouth turning into seaweed. She then gave a look of inquiry, and Annabeth smiled again, wider this time, slowly approaching a laugh.

"Percy sure knows how to please you," Tori muttered. There was the slightest hint of jealousy in her voice, but Annabeth either didn't notice it or decided to ignore it.

"I still remember what he said. I scolded him for shooing away the biggest fish and asked him where his mind went. He jumped in the water, saying he'll catch it, and came back with the seaweed, saying 'I found my brain, it was stuck down near the bottom', and I kept laughing until my stomach hurt. I took it back with me to camp and it's still there in the Athena cabin, in the drawer of my nightstand." Annabeth retold the story as vivid images of Percy emerged in her mind and took control of her eyes, and she lost sight of Tori momentarily.

"Well, he never gave me anything, if that's what you're wondering," Tori said almost scathingly.

"I'm sure you've gotten better things than seaweed, Tori, come on!" Annabeth retorted. "Who were you with for the longest? Didn't you have a boyfriend right after we defeated Kronos? I still remember how he looked like."

Tori shook her head, not in denial, but in frustration. "Jason. He was so obsessed with me that he wouldn't believe me when I told him I found someone else and I wanted to break up. Some guys just make you hate being in a relationship. And for the record, Jason gave me a new thing like every month, it's not like I'm short on presents." She put her fork and knife down on the plate, which was still half full, and reached for her napkin.

It was Annabeth's turn to shake her head in disbelief. "Listen, Tori, instead of torturing yourself over Percy, just forget about him. No guy is worth you being like this."

"Why should I forget? So you can have free reigns to swoop into his arms when he comes back?" Tori's eyes suddenly grew aggressive and burned onto Annabeth.

"That's not even remotely close to what I'm thinking. We broke up, Tori. It's over. We're not together anymore. And I doubt we're ever going to be together again. For a couple of reasons. Want me to tell you?" Annabeth stared back into Tori's eyes softly.

Tori didn't answer, but just looked away. There was a silence for almost a minute, until she said, "Why did you end things anyway? I don't get it. I hear different stories from everyone. Percy never told me anything about you."

Annabeth took a deep breath. "Like I said, a couple of reasons. First of all, my mother was furious that I lost my virginity. She wanted me to be the leader of the young Athenians and because I was no longer a maiden I couldn't take on that role," she paused momentarily. "Athena had made up her mind that I was the best of her children. I had more experience than everyone, I was battle worn, and so on and so forth. She wanted me to be ready to lead the next resistance if there ever is to be one."

"Resistance? Against who? Against what?" Tori interjected.

"Who knows? Heroes don't just retire, Tori. Our lives always end somehow in suffering, after living through a lot of tragedy. It's just how it is. So yes, part of the reason was my mother wanting me to focus on becoming the leader of the Athena cabin." Annabeth paused again. "Athena then told me that Percy was the son of the enemy. Poseidon had never forgiven Athena for taking Athens from him. No amount of reasoning with my mom about Percy being nothing like Poseidon convinced her that Percy was not the enemy."

"She's still holding a grudge with Poseidon? I thought that was over millennia ago!" Tori shook her head.

"Those are still stupid reasons. I pushed my mom to tell me the real reason. None of the reasons she gave me were convincing enough. Finally, she said that Percy was not like the other half-bloods." Annabeth stopped.

Tori waited for a couple of seconds and then said, "Well of course he's not like the other half-bloods. I don't need Athena to tell me that."

"Well, yes, but it wasn't what she said, but the way in which she said it. She was in the most grave state than I have ever seen her. Knowing Athena, the goddess of defensive warfare, being that serious, I knew it wasn't just hatred for Poseidon. It was more. Maybe it was even fear of what Percy is capable of. I overheard her telling Hephaestus that he's the most powerful hero since Heracles, and maybe even more powerful than him, because he's mortal, because he cast away the ultimate gifts. This action made him transcend regular mortality." Annabeth finished.

"'Transcend regular mortality?'" Tori said softly. "You mean to say that the sheer act of rejecting the ultimate gift of vanity made him something greater than even Heracles?"

Annabeth didn't answer right away. She looked at Tori with a serious look and said, "That's what Athena said."

A silence ensued. Annabeth resumed eating slowly, munching on the remaining bacon. It was cold now, almost too cold to continue eating. Besides, she had lost her appetite. Thinking of the moment of the separation with Percy was still a thorn in her back.

"I'm surprised you listened to your mother. If Aphrodite told me to break up with my boyfriend I'd tell her to go screw herself." Tori finally said after a couple of minutes.

"I don't know what came over me. Percy couldn't believe what I was saying when I told him we had to end it for my sake and his." Annabeth swallowed the bacon gingerly. "He couldn't believe that he was even in the same class as Heracles."

"Speaking of Heracles, I met him once." Tori said mysteriously.

Annabeth frowned. "How did you meet him? How did you meet him I should say?"

"Well, he visited me." Tori answered succinctly.

Annabeth waited for her to continue, and when she didn't she had to prod her on. "And?"

Tori smiled slightly at the prod. "Well, you know, he said he's been watching me and stuff."

"What in the hell? Are you serious? That's so creepy." Annabeth burst out in laughter and disbelief.

Tori shrugged and uttered, "I don't know, I was blushing so hard I couldn't even look at him."

"What did he look like?" Annabeth asked, curious. She had never seen him before, even when they went to Olympus, where he supposed to be greeting them at the doors.

"Like the best thing you can ever dream of. He's so Greek it's terrifying. Muscles harder than the hardest material in the universe, a beard golden with braids, and shoulder-length brown hair to boot. Every girl's dream." Tori looked dreamily to the ceiling of the restaurant.

Annabeth chuckled. "Heracles himself hit on you and you're itching over some half-blood son of Poseidon. You make me laugh sometimes, Tori."

"Oh shut up, Annabeth. You'll never guess what he did though..." Tori started.

With the boat formed, Percy jogged back to the shack to check if there's any supplies he can take with him. On the way back, he saw another figure by the boat. It was a man, dressed in a white robe, with golden edges where it met his right shoulder. His huge muscular arms extended from his boulder-like shoulders towards his mammoth hands. His hairstyle was in a short ponytail with some braids on the sides.

Percy drew his sword silently. The man didn't move.

"Son of Poseidon," the man greeted him in Ancient Greek. It was undoubtedly the voice of a god. "I see my old sword is of no use to you anymore."

Percy frowned and sheathed his sword.

"Quite a boat you have there. Conjured up from thin air! Never knew the children of Poseidon have mastery in naval structures," the god continued. He was taller than Percy by half a head. "Do you know who I am?"

Percy didn't answer immediately. He looked at the god's face. He had white eyes, the color of lightning, and in his demeanor was something not like the Olympians. "Son of Zeus," Percy acknowledged, nodding his head at Heracles. "You've never come to me before. What brings you to Greece?"

Heracles chuckled. "I have never had reason to. Well, actually, that is not true. I have always wanted to see you in the flesh, Perseus Jackson. I only wanted to have a quick chat."

"Well, I'm not sure if you noticed, but my friend already made her way with my pegasus to the Greek mainland and I'm pretty behind. So if you don't mind, I'd rather - " Percy started.

"Your friend can wait. No doubt she cannot enter the site of the Fates without your aid." Heracles interrupted calmly. "I have a couple of questions for you."

Percy sighed. "Hit me, then."

Heracles raised one eyebrow, as if Percy meant what he said literally. "Poseidon told me that I was your favorite hero. I would like to know why."

Percy frowned deeply. "Heracles, can't we save this for later? I really have to be on my way now."

"No, Percy. And please, I would like it if you do not force my hand," the eyes of the god started sparkling.

Percy stared back at Heracles, wondering what was the real purpose of his visit. It could be that he was just doing what Zeus told him to do. In any case, he didn't want to waste anymore time. "It was because I thought you were the only one that would understand my pain. The things you went through, the labors, you know, it made me feel as if I wasn't alone in my plight."

Heracles seemed more interested now. "You think we are alike?"

"Clearly not physically. You're the strongest hero that ever existed, you used a club and I use a sword, and so on, but our lives are very similar, Heracles." Percy insisted. "I guess you could say that I looked up to you."

"Well, I don't know about how our lives are similar either. You defeated the Titan himself, while I only killed monsters and common rabble, cleaned out feces from stables." Heracles shook his head in disagreement.

"Well, I don't think-" Percy started.

"And you didn't kill your wife and kids with your bare hands." Heracles interjected again. "We are nothing alike, hero. I ascended upon Olympus so that Zeus himself would save me from suffering, and offered me immortality. You know the rest of the story."

"You're the greatest hero ever, Heracles. Literally everyone says that. I'm not sure what you're saying." Percy protested.

"I am a fool, Perseus. A club headed, good for nothing fool. I am strong, yes, but so are you. Other heroes of old didn't have to be strong. Achilles, Hector, Sarpedon, Paris, Aeneas, and the like. I am the only one not to know the peace of death. And you, the next hero to be offered a place, a seat beside the gods, as one of them, you refused! You, a mere mortal, their puppet, refused! How shocked I was when I heard this." Heracles' voice grew more menacing.

"Why are you so shocked?" Percy asked, confused.

"Because you refused, for Zeus's sake! You refused to stand by our side." Heracles said. "I'd like to know why."

Percy stared hard at Heracles. "I don't want to be a god."

"But why? What the reason?" Heracles asked, almost pleading.

"Because I don't want to see all the people that I love die while I live on forever, not able to see them again," Percy replied.

"Do you know what you have done, son of Poseidon? You have no idea." Heracles shook his head and turned away.

"What are you saying, Heracles? Get to the point will you? I don't have time for this!" Percy said angrily.

Heracles raised his head to the blue, cloudless skies. "I am not revered on Olympus, Percy. I am less than the floor to Zeus and the Olympians. When I am among men I am great. Among gods, I am frail. But you are different. The gods were afraid of you. Can you believe that? Zeus, Hades, Poseidon. The most powerful gods were riddled with fear when you were before them in Olympus. You are different."

Percy remained silent.

"I feel my power waning. I draw my strength from the minds of the men who call upon me in times of need, when they need strength, when they need hope, when they want to endure pain. But no longer. Ever since you refused immortality, I feel that I have become weaker and weaker." Heracles said softly. He turned around and looked Percy in the eyes. "I was a god among men! The hero of all heroes! And now I am the sellout. The coward Heracles who was afraid of death. Killer of women and children. What a name I hold!" Heracles' voice became sorrowful.

"I'm sorry, Heracles. If you think that I did everything I did just so I can take your place, then rest assured, you are mistaken. I did not want your place on Olympus. I don't want a place on Olympus. I simply want to live out my life and pass away into nothingness; to no longer be conscious, to no longer be involved in the meanderings of the Olympians." Percy said poetically. His Ancient Greek was better than he thought.

The mighty hero looked at him. He didn't appear to convinced of Percy's words. But what else could Percy say? There is a reason that he is going to Delphi. And that reason can't be that he wants to harm the doorkeeper of Olympus.

"You seek the Fates." Heracles said after a silence, after looking back to the cloudless skies.

Percy shook his gaze off the hero. "Yes. There is a weapon of curiosity and power that I found within Hephaestion, and it is something even Chiron does not know well enough about. It can only be that the Sisters of Fate have the information I seek. Why else would Hephaestus hide it if he doesn't know what it is used for?"

"Careful, Perseus. The Olympians are not the only gods in the universe. There are those that came before them. And before even the Titans. We have asserted our dominance...for now. It still remains to be seen if we will be in the same position after you have discovered such a trinket. What is it?" Heracles asked cautiously.

"A stone that may not be of this Earth." Percy replied. "Black crystal is what Chiron calls it."

"Black crystal...never heard of it. However, I will do well not to ask around Olympus, lest you have an Olympian on your tail." Heracles looked at Percy curiously. "I will not reveal your plans, Percy." He took out his hand.

Percy took his hand and shook it. It was like shaking the hand of a stone statue: it wouldn't budge when squeezed. "Thanks, Heracles. I won't forget this."

"Don't mention it. Now, you were making a boat?" He sniggered.