The Return (Chapter 33)

(Guess Who's Back! So after a LONG hiatus, I finally got back to WP. I don't know whether to finish this story, or move on, so if this gets enough people reading, I'll try to finish the book for good. Just so it's clear, this is a year after I dropped this, so I may be rusty in my PJ knowledge.)

Quote: "You will never truly know another person, even if you think you do."

I wonder if there is another world where everything was different. 

Where I wasn't a demigod, a person of unleveled proportions. Where me and my friends were your average teenagers that would play and work normal jobs with no monsters or gods. Maybe the gods would have been our parents, and maybe Jack and I would be friends.

A world where I didn't have such crazy, and unbelievable powers.

Maybe I'd still be with Annabeth.

What crazy thoughts I had been dreaming of, but it was worth the thought. 

It was mind-numbing to think about all I have gone and done with the people around me. It brought a smile to my face thinking about all the great people I've met, even the people who didn't like me at all when we met.

Well, it's not worth living in the past, only to work forward, to the future and beyond.

I yawned as I put on a large orange camp shirt and jeans, pretty casual for today. I was feeling a bit pumped since Calypso had been freed, and there was still much to do. 

With all my strength, I was basically the model employee of camp, and I wanted to teach the next generation of heroes to step up and become greater than us, the seven.

Man, I really had grown up since, but I guess Tartarus does that to a guy.

I was working with Chiron on teaching some of Athena's kids some tips of tactics and teaching. I didn't understand the stuff much personally, but I think I appeased Chiron with what I knew.

I also helped with lunch with the campers, generally hanging out with my old friends while I was at it. We played a few games and messed around like old times, despite we were more mature and grown since them.

We sparred, with Jason challenging me to a friendly competition with Frank and Leo, with all three of them against me because then it would be fair. It was fine and dandy, and it was a very close fight.

I mean it was a very, very close fight.

And by that, I mean it was over in the first 10 seconds.

Piper made a bet to see if her charmspeak could convince me to kiss a tree, but I didn't succumb to her trick, but I would admit, she was really good at doing charmspeak.

Eventually, I turned my powers to lower and simmer down, so I could be around my friends and pretend I wasn't all-powerful. I think it made everyone a bit more comfortable and calm, so we had a great time.

I think it was because we all knew of the looming threat of Pontus was soon to come, and we were just laughing at the impending battle, to keep in high spirits. It was a bit eerie, because there was a lack of distress in our heads when it came to Pontus. While the primordial posed a large issue, we had grown plenty since Gaea. 

Honestly, I wasn't sure if we're just cocky or something else, but I felt as though this war would be a lot easier than the last one.

Currently, I was helping some of the campers. With all the commotion lately, I hadn't had much time to introduce myself to the newbies. I wanted to help them, like Luke had helped me a long time ago, except without the whole stabby stabby in the backy backy thing. 

Using Riptide, I was in the middle of training a mixed house of campers in sword training. In Camp Half-Blood, we were using a nice, sunny spot in a clearing near the woods of camp. A natural setting was perfect to train.

"So, when your opponent strikes towards the waist, don't roll or jump. If the strike is aimed too high to too low that you think you won't be able to dodge, do a parry." I said, demonstrating a blocking motion with the blade.

"Always play defensively. Never go for a hit unless you are certain you can make it. Monsters attack ferociously because they can afford to die and reform. You can't. Being a little patient may take up more time and you won't rack up too many kills, but I think it's much more preferable to be alive than dead, right?" I said as I watched the campers train, basing their movements off of mine. 

It was weird, being a teacher. I guess it made me feel old, especially when the students look about the same age as you, or a bit younger. I was visibly 17, and most campers were around thirteen to sixteen.

"Magic is a gamble. None of you will master your abilities until you are older. The Seven heroes and I were lucky to master ours, but we are a special case. For the average demigod, you will struggle to use magic, but do not feel the slightest of shame in it. Feel blessed that you have a talent most people do not." I announced. Most of the people nodded, and continued training with their swords while I gave some insight and hints.

"In combat, use magic as a last resort. It's impossible to predict how much power and energy it takes to use when lacking experience, so I suggest that you rely on skill rather than luck. Don't rush your abilities. They will grow alongside you as time goes on. You can't grow if your dead." I said, but mainly because I was running out of things to say, as I wasn't really good at this whole mentor thing. In reality, I didn't exactly know about everything I did. A lot of my history hinges on luck and accidents...

"I see that you are adapting well, Percy." A voice said behind me. I recognized the sound of galloping hooves as Chiron stood beside me, watching the campers practice with a happy look on his face.

"Yup. Glad to be back at last." I responded.

"It's been quite the journey for me these past few weeks. I can't imagine what must be going through your head, my boy. I imagine the attention of the gods must be stimulating at times." He chuckled and I grinned back.

"It's been up and down. Though, I can't say it's been all bad." I reminisced.

"Ah, I am not even sure if I can recognize the young boy that fled to this Camp half a decade ago. You've truly changed so much, for the better." He said.

I imagine that he must have been used to training students that went awry or lost their way. I guess seeing the fruits of his labor was very nice for a change.

"Yeah...we've all changed." I spoke.

A moment of silence passed as the both of us watched joyfully at the campers using their swords and newfound skills on the straw dummies that were laid throughout the field. 

"Percy Jackson." Another voice this time, but I knew that bitter tone from anywhere.

"Jack..." I looked towards him, and he too had changed much from the first time I saw him.

He was wearing a light steel plated armor with metal pads and a dark pair of boots that matched with his eyes and hair. He even had a dark red cape that seemed to belong to an emperor, but on him...it made him look silly. All jokes aside, he looked somewhat more of a man than before, but that wasn't exactly saying much.

Chiron looked between us, and shrugged.

"I'll take my leave." He said as he galloped back to the Big House, probably to finish some other business. This left the Jack and I to our own devices, and I was shuddering as I expected him to say something only he would be capable of spewing.

"..."

"I can't believe it." He growled in a low tone. Judging from his obvious angry demeanor, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy. 

"Believe what?" I asked, putting my arms behind my back in a patient stance.

"You attained all that power...without even trying! How is that even possible? Why must it be you?" He mustered, and I scowled sourly at his tone.

"It's because the plot- I mean, I worked hard for this power. This doesn't belong to just me alone, but the friends that gave their lives so I could do what they couldn't. You are only fighting for yourself, so why should you be given anything in return?" I said, hopefully ignoring that first part. 

"Because I made a promise to my mother! You really think I did all this for myself? She wanted me to bring glory to demigods, and to usher in a new era of peace! If only you didn't exist..." He muttered bitterly, and I snorted.

"Glory? You nearly got everyone killed for Zeus's sake. If your mom was here right now, what would she say about that?" I snapped.

"Don't act like you know what she was like..." He threatened, and it was in a growled tone. I raised an eye until I realized that I actually didn't know much about Jack's family other than we had the same dad.

"Say...who is your mom?" I questioned. I was surprised I didn't know, but I did remember Dad saying something about her.

"Like I would ever tell you. Go to Tartarus." Jack retorted.

"Well...your loss. Been there, done that." I quipped, and I saw Jack's expression begin to steam, until a hand reached behind his shoulder. It was Annabeth, as I recognized that blonde hair instantly.

Her hair was now tied back, and her clothes were a bit prestigious for someone like her. She looked somewhat more mature than when we were younger, but you know, complications tend to change how I viewed her.

"Pontus has now enlisted the Leviathan. There's been several hurricanes in Florida, so he's testing his new toy." She told Jack, almost completely ignoring me like a fly.

"The Leviathan? Seriously? What a pain..." I commented, and Annabeth scowled at me. A part of me hated seeing her unhappy, as I used to remember her great smile when we were together. Although, that was just a part of me, because a lot of me found her scowl very pleasurable.

"One problem after another..." She rolled her eyes.

"Tell me about it." Jack added on, and I put my hands in the air in confusion.

"Dude, you're the one who started talking to me. Now you're saying I'm annoying? You can't have your cake and eat it too...you knucklehead." I said. Something about saying "knucklehead" to Jack was really satisfying, because it was such a degrading word, but we both know he can't do anything against me for saying it.

"Ass." Annabeth said plainly, as if tired of these conversations as I was.

"Hey, watch your language. This is a camp for teenagers and kids you know, Counselor Annabeth." I said in a child's voice, and I started to really annoy them good.

Jack looked like he was about to say something, but Annabeth grabbed his arm and started to pull him away. I had a grin on my face as I watched them walk away, taking satisfaction in my morale high ground.

I probably shouldn't be as happy as I was, messing with my status like that, but I think Jack and Annabeth are the exception for this case. 

"A camp for teenagers and kids..."  I thought, and I wanted to laugh at how ironic that was. 

I looked on at the campers training with their swords and axes, witnessing the great leap forward that we had made. Pontus may have an army of mindless beasts, but we're smarter than them. Monsters may outnumber us 20 to 1, but if we work as a team, we can take them all on at once.

The sun seemed to shine brighter than usual, as if adhering to my words. Maybe I really was a god, or maybe Apollo was just messing with me as usual. I couldn't help but feel in higher spirits today, and I imagined that I could take on the world if I wanted to.

I whispered to the winds quietly.

"Pontus...game on."

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Author's Note: Alright! So this is a bit weird, because I'm split between finishing this Fanfiction for good (hopefully) OR releasing pre-made chapters for a new Fanfiction of a completely different media I just got into, which I have written much more sensible than this one.

If you've read the first few chapters of this book, it's eughhh. Horrendous.

Either way, I'm going to release a new story about something else. I might release the new fanfiction as of right now, but if "The Lost Legend" gets enough reception, I'll finish it first, and release the new story after. I can't do both at the same time, obviously.

I can't pick a side, so I'll let you have a say.

So...what do you guys/gals want to see? 

P.S: Sorry if I made anyone upset that I left this story really abruptly. A year goes by in the blink of an eye. Ouch.