Chapter 5
Harry's dream swiftly shifted from visions of Choria, Furusia, Annabeth, and Aphrodite naked with the warrior wizard to a plush stateroom on the Princess Andromeda. The warlock had never actually been in the stateroom but had sensed enough of the contents of that chamber to recognize the home of Kronos. A golden coffin contained the remains of the Titan Lord as he was summoned out of the pit piece by piece. Poseidon and the resourceful wizard had surmised that Luke was summoning Kronos with ancient magic that came with demigod's willingly joining the Titan's cause. The perceptive mage had sensed several half bloods throughout the cruise ship before abandoning ship. It was a troubling revelation indeed.
The mage sensed spirits of the dead whispering to beware of the treachery and trickery of the master of that ship. The golden sarcophagus emitted a faint glow.
"You don't have the courage Percy Jackson. You cannot stop me," a cackling deep voice emanated in the dreamer's mind.
Harry waited to see what else would happen in the dream before doing anything. Moments later the cautious mage looked to his right as he sensed another being enter the vision. The dark haired girl was very attractive. She was dressed in punk style clothes, with somewhat spiky hair, and bright blue eyes. Those eyes were a dead giveaway as to the girl's heritage.
"Hello Thalia," the mage greeted Zeus' daughter.
"Well are we going to stop him or what?" Thalia demanded.
"This is quite an interesting dream. Usually when I dream about gorgeous females they have no clothes on and neither do I," the warlock mused before concentrating on his clothes.
The vision was obviously partly in Harry's control because as he willed it his garments vanished and he was standing there in all his naked glory. A blush suffused Thalia's entire upper body as she saw her first naked man. Harry concentrated again but with no result.
"Huh…I guess that's really you isn't it Thalia," the perceptive teen concluded because he couldn't vanish Thalia's clothes.
"Of course it is Seaweed Brain," Thalia muttered as she tapped her wrist.
The silver chains that had been hanging from her wrists changed form, turning into a large full body shield with the face of the Gorgon, Medusa, carved into the front. The warrior mage felt the urge to look away from the intimidating sight but resisted. The young woman drew her sword and made to advance on the sarcophagus.
"Oh no you don't," the powerful sorcerer muttered to himself as he broke through the magical bindings Kronos was using to try to hold the sea god's son in place so the green eyed teen couldn't stop Thalia.
Harry wrapped his arms around Thalia and apparated away, appearing in the Poseidon cabin at Camp Half Blood.
"What's going on? Where are we?" Thalia demanded.
"We're back at Camp Half Blood in my cabin. This isn't really real…well sort of. Kronos summoned us here or at least our minds to this place. It's quite an impressive feat considering your mind is trapped within a tree, probably slowed down to the languid pace that most plants process their surroundings at," Harry grudgingly admitted.
Although if Kronos was a master of time like in the legends then the Titan Lord could simply speed up time for Thalia so she thought faster.
"Who are you?" Thalia questioned. "I called you Seaweed brain back there because I can sense you're a son of Poseidon."
"Just like I could easily tell you are a daughter of Zeus. My name's Percy Jackson," the warlock introduced himself.
"This is so weird…the last thing I remember was dying and now I'm sitting here with my very naked and very attractive cousin," Thalia declared, not meaning to say the attractive part out loud. "Did I just say that out loud?"
The young woman was mortified but Harry smiled gently at her.
"Thalia…we're in a realm of thought. If you think anything here with a large amount of emotion behind it then it will likely be projected loud enough for me to hear. If it makes you feel any better I think you're very attractive too," the mage explained.
"So what did you mean by my mind was trapped in a tree?" Thalia wanted to know as she began to calm down at her handsome new companion's reassurances.
"When you were dying your father turned you into a tree to preserve you," the green eyed male broke it to his cousin gently.
"A tree…he turned me into a damn tree," Thalia muttered disbelievingly.
"Yeah…I get the feeling I don't want to know what goes on inside the heads of some of these Olympians," Harry mused.
"So what happens now?" Thalia questioned.
"Well Annabeth and I…," Harry began.
"Annabeth! You know Annabeth," Thalia perked up at the mention of the daughter of Athena.
"Of course I know her. She's my girlfriend," the sorcerer explained.
"How is she? Is she doing ok?" Zeus' daughter queried.
"She's doing well. She still thinks about you often. She tells me you and I are a lot alike…that we'd either be worst enemies or best friends. Personally I'd like to be your best friend," Harry purred with a sultry grin, the effect enhanced by his nakedness.
"I think I'd like that," Thalia muttered with a blush. "Although I don't see how we can be best friends if I'm stuck as a tree."
"Well if my suspicions are correct then you won't be a tree much longer. Annabeth and I are on a quest for the Golden Fleece. I'm pretty sure Kronos thinks he's being clever and manipulating me into retrieving it so we can heal you. You see somebody poisoned your tree with venom from Tartarus. I've slowed the toxins down considerably. Now that Kronos has showed me how to reach your essence via this dream dimension I can give you more energy to keep you in even better health. Also I can keep up the temporal distortion field Kronos put in place on you to speed up your mind," suggested the muscular wizard.
"How can you do all of that?" Thalia questioned in awe. "And won't Kronos find me here?"
"I'm shielding you from his sight and he's still quite weak. I imagine it took a lot of his strength just to summon us into this dimension in the first place. As for how I can do this…well a guy has to have some mystery to him or you women would get bored," the mage teased with a wink. "Now the energy transfer will work best if you stay here linked to my mind. Feel free to entertain yourself with a bit of reading or other forms of entertainment," the warlock suggested while waving his arm around the cabin and causing a bookshelf full of books, a TV, a laptop, and a fully stocked kitchen to form around the room.
The books were linked to Harry's trunk library which contained thousands upon thousands of books on wizarding and mundane subjects. There were textbooks on all the major subjects along with every work of fiction one could desire. The warlock had slowly been expanding the collection with works from his new universe since his arrival. The laptop was linked with a special computer in the sorcerer's trunk which could link with the teen's mind. It was that link that allowed Harry to surf the internet and his digital archives via mind link. Establishing the magical connection without frying the electronics had been quite the feat of science and magic on Harry's part but the well traveled mage had come from a universe that was quite a bit further along the timeline than the destination he had chosen as his home. The TV too shared a similar link, being relayed through the trunk to the outside world. If Thalia ate food from the well stocked pantry then her energy reserves would be increased all the faster.
"Thank you Percy," Thalia spoke up with a smile. "I would hug you but I'm afraid of what might happen," she added while gesturing at the young immortal's nude form.
"Mmm…I can image," Harry teased with a wink before disappearing from the cabin back to the waking world.
"It's about time you got up," Annabeth announced as she walked into the cabin fully dressed.
"Sorry…what's going on?" The water mage questioned as he reconnected with the Trident, having temporarily lost control of the ship as he worked to conceal his doings from the Titan Lord.
"We're approaching the island of the Sirens," Annabeth declared.
As the couple arrived up on deck from their cabin Annabeth began, "I want to ask you for a favor. We'll be in range of the Sirens' singing soon. They say the sirens sing the truth about what you desire. They tell you things about yourself you don't realize or don't want to acknowledge. That's what makes them so entrancing. If you survive the experience it is said you will become wiser. I want to hear them."
"Ok," Harry agreed easily.
"Just like that," Annabeth queried with one raised eyebrow and a warm smile.
"I love you and would support you in almost anything you want to do. I'm not bothered. I'll keep you safe," the water wizard assured his lover.
Annabeth quickly kissed her partner as the Trident moved closer to the island of the Sirens. The mage quickly made sure Tyson stayed in the bowels of the boat where a temporary silencing charm would protect the teenage Cyclops. As the jagged rocks around the island came into view the wizard quickly cast a full body bind on his girlfriend while holding her in his arms. He could feel Annabeth's emotions as they both began to hear the beautiful music of the Sirens. Because he wasn't mortal the song of the sailor killers didn't affect the sorcerer the same. The Potter Lord didn't feel the urge to throw himself off the side and drown himself that mortals would feel, not that he could drown due to his heritage.
Annabeth's body didn't move a muscle but the mage could sense her distress and see the change in her storm gray eyes. Then a vision began to play in Harry's mind as he held his lover. There were older versions of Annabeth, Choria, Furusia, and Thalia. Aphrodite looked the same, a beautiful blonde goddess. There were also many small children running around, Harry's children with each of the females present. Everybody was smiling and laughing as they spent an enjoyable day together.
Suddenly the scene shifted to Central Park in New York. In the vision it was a different New York than what Harry was used to seeing. The buildings had been rebuilt with white marble, golden windows, rooftop gardens, and bigger than before. It was Annabeth's vision of the Big Apple. Harry realized he was sharing Annabeth's vision even as he noticed a sandy haired forty year old man as his girlfriend's father. The mortal man, recognizable from some of Annabeth's happier photos, was standing next to a gray eyed blonde woman who was obviously Annabeth's mother, Athena. The Goddess of Wisdom and War was beautiful, just like her daughter.
The shared vision began to evolve as the wizard took in the gorgeous goddess. Annabeth's father was dragged away to play by some of the children until he and the rest of the children disappeared out of the vision altogether, playing out of sight in the large park. Athena turned her gaze on her daughter's lover and approached elegantly. The deity's bearing screamed intelligence and grace. Athena approached the younger immortal and drew him into a searing and passionate kiss. That was when the vision ended as the Trident sailed out of range of the Sirens' song.
The moment Harry removed the full body bind Annabeth collapsed into his arms while sobbing heartbreakingly. The experienced young man simply held his lover and whispered comfortingly into her ear.
"It's ok honey…you're here with me now. Some day we'll have everything we dreamed of," Harry whispered reassuringly.
"I didn't realize," Annabeth whispered back. "How strong the temptation would be," the young woman clarified. "But we'll never have that…Thalia isn't coming back. Plus I don't understand why my mother was kissing you."
"Umm…yeah about that," Harry began, rubbing the back of his neck embarrassingly. "We were sharing that vision. When I saw how gorgeous your mother was I may have accidently influenced the vision."
"Oh…well that's different," Annabeth mused, finding her boyfriend's embarrassment more amusing than his thoughts about her mother. "And what about Thalia…I don't suppose you have an answer for her presence…or Aphrodite's now that I think about it."
"Well…actually I do. Starting with Aphrodite…," Harry explained to his girlfriend about his most recent trip to Olympus. "Now I think there's someone you need to meet or more like be reunited with. She'll explain everything," the warlock announced before looking deep into his best friend's intelligent eyes and drawing her deep into his mind, taking her consciousness into his dream dimension.
The sorcerer let the two young women talk in privacy while he returned to the land of the awake and piloted the ship. A beaming Annabeth was soon reentering her body, time flowing differently in the mindscape supported dream dimension.
"Oh Percy…Thalia is alive! She says you think you can save her," Annabeth gushed. "You were flirting with her too," Annabeth pointed out. "Why am I not jealous of her or Aphrodite? I mean Choria and Furusia are one thing…but these two other women are another matter entirely."
"Yeah…I think that might be Aphrodite's doing. She mentioned how much she is attracted to you and wants to share me with you. I think maybe she's going to be living vicariously through me…doing a lot of the stuff she's restricted from doing by the ancient rules but that I'm not. I have a feeling Thalia is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the flirting we'll be doing and more," explained the warlock.
"Oh…well I should be mad but I'm really not. Aphrodite is gorgeous. Although I think you'll find it hard to seduce my mother. She's never actually been physical with a man before. My conception wasn't exactly normal if you'll recall. I sprang forth from the mental collaboration of my parents, delivered to my father one day by magical means. But besides that we should talk about our fatal flaws. I can see that mine is hubris but what is yours?" The dark haired young woman questioned.
Annabeth's hubris was in thinking she could do things better than anyone else. It was common among young people and was something that could be grown out of with age. She thought she could build cities better than the gods.
"I would do anything to save the women I love and my friends. Nothing would stop me…and it's likely Kronos knows that or will figure it out soon enough," Harry explained while staring at Annabeth with immense love in his expression. Annabeth kissed her partner in everything with equal fervor as the two held each other in their arms. "So what would you think about really building that city?" Harry proposed when the two sat in a conjured loveseat a few minutes later, having enjoyed several minutes of snogging.
"What do you mean? I don't see the gods changing anytime soon. It's so frustrating. The West represents some of the best things mankind has done but also some of the worst. Hunger, disease, cruelty, homelessness," Annabeth vehemently spoke. "It almost makes me agree a little with Luke's concept of tearing the old down and building the new."
"I was thinking of a subtler approach. I agree with you that there's a lot of wrong in this world. But changes need to be made gradually in most cases and with the tools of the old, namely money and influence. To start with we'll need a base of power and at the same time achieve a model of a working proposal that will entice others to our cause. I was thinking it would be best to do this in secret. To that end…hold on…this might get a bit scary," Harry instructed.
Harry willed a powerful protective and invisible shield around himself and Annabeth before transporting them millions of miles away.
"Percy!" Annabeth shouted as the pair appeared in a red sanded windswept wasteland. "Are we on Mars?!"
"Yes…I've got us wrapped in a shield so don't worry. We have our own self contained atmosphere that will recycle our air," the teen reassured his girlfriend. "What I'm proposing is that we build your dream city here on Mars using materials from my old universe. I didn't mention this yesterday but my home universe was very advanced and I made some advancements even beyond that," the green eyed warlock explained as he held Annabeth's hand and led her on a walk along the sandy planes of one of Mar's flatter landscapes, the curious young woman's head swiveling as she took in the amazing sights.
When Harry had begun blending together his magical and mundane education the intelligent young warlock had learned about the idea of an artificial intelligence and the possibilities such an entity brought forth. It didn't take Harry long to figure out how to enhance the runes that governed wizarding portraits to create his first AI. The AI portraits were modeled after Harry himself but could learn independently. They obeyed their creator's will and were able to tap into his immense knowledge base as well as the library the Potter Lord had been collecting in his trunk dimension. The AIs didn't need to sleep or pause in their thought processing due to fatigue or hunger. They could work day and night as long as they were able to draw sufficient magic through their power runes.
The curious warrior wizard set the AIs to developing technomancy based technologies as well as purely mundane and magical concepts that would help him in the future and also satisfy his curiosity. His time teleporter was one such device. The AIs had also helped develop a testable theory of Quantum Gravity, uniting General Relativity with Quantum Mechanics. Harry had slowly leaked that development to the mundane world under an assumed identity and an explosion of inventions and discoveries had followed.
"I like the way you think lover," Annabeth agreed. "I assume you have the ability to teraform the planet?"
"Yes…I could do it with transfiguration but the regular non-magicals of my home universe developed the process on their own in the last couple of years that I was on that world. It involves injecting carbon and other nutrients back into the sand that composes the surface. I'm already building the robots capable of doing this automatically. I can transport them here easily and they'll slowly start this process. This will turn the soil fertile. There are genetically engineered plants that can survive this type of environment and will help draw the toxic gases out of the atmosphere and put them back into the soil. I'll use my powers to bridge any gap between that point and a fertile Earth-like planet," Harry explained his plan.
"How will you hide it from the mortals…or even the gods for that matter?" Annabeth questioned curiously.
"I've already started creating a massive runic array that I can charge myself which will layer the atmosphere with an illusion of the old Mars. The illusion only needs to cover the side visible from Earth so it will rotate accordingly with the planet," answered the mage.
"This is brilliant Percy…I can't see any flaws in your plans. Tell me more," Annabeth urged.
Harry detailed some of his other plans to his best friend as they walked on the alien world. When they returned to the Trident several hours later they found the ship anchored just out of easily visible range of Polyphemus' island. The water wizard knew the Cyclopes was still half blind from the last time his eye had been stabbed out so would not easily spot the vessel.
"Grover here we come," Harry muttered as he urged his ship closer to the island while activating invisibility runes in the ship's runic control array.
The island of Polyphemus was lush with green fields, fruit bearing trees, and white sandy beaches. The trio of Campers expected nothing less from the home of the Golden Fleece.
"Can you feel it Percy?" Annabeth questioned her boyfriend as the two half bloods and one Cyclops set foot on the beach, the power of the Fleece palpable in the air.
A deep ravine split the island, the two sides of the chasm connected by a narrow rope bridge. Dozens of sheep were grazing at the foot of the ravine in one of the green fields. Due to the effects of the magical Fleece the sheep were each the size of a rhinoceros. A narrow path led up to the very top of the canyon, on the edge of which rested the oak tree which held the Fleece. The keen eyes of the phoenix mage were able to discern the glittering object even if he already knew it was present from his many dreams of the island made a possibility courtesy of Grover and the green eyed teen's heritage as the son of Poseidon.
"This doesn't feel right," Annabeth whispered, inspecting the trail and the sheep grazing along the edges of the path. "There should be a guardian of some sort, a dragon or something else."
At that moment a deer decided to emerge from the forest surrounding a flock of the island's sheep. Multiple sheep bleated before charging the startled deer. A mass of wool and stomping hooves were the new arrival's undoing. Fur and blood splattered out for several moments until the sea of white parted to reveal bones picked clean, deer bones.
"Me thinks those sheep want to be piranhas," Harry articulated.
"Should we get the Fleece now or after we rescue Grover?" Annabeth queried her best friend.
"We'll get it after," Harry answered. "If Polyphemus notices it missing before we're ready to leave he might complicate things further."
Tyson was silent as he followed his two friends. The one eyed teen had been cautioned by his favorite brother to be quiet until Polyphemus was aware of their presence. Tyson's voice tended to carry quite a distance when he got excited. The trio found a path through the forest where the sheep were not present. The sheep were primarily arrayed around the Fleece. Polyphemus could protect himself from his carnivorous pets. Unfortunately because the smell of the Fleece was so strong the acute sense of smell possessed by both Harry and Tyson was blocked from detecting Polyphemus until he was upon them. Annabeth walked out of the dense vegetation just before Harry, right into a clearing where Polyphemus was preparing a wedding feast comprised of lamb for his marriage to Grover.
"More food," the monster yelled in delight as he quickly snatched up Annabeth in one hand just as her boyfriend was emerging from the bushes.
Polyphemus made to grab up the dark haired mage with his other large hand but was stopped by the crushing grip of the intended target.
"Tyson get Annabeth," Harry growled while holding back Polyphemus' not inconsiderable strength to keep the old monster from getting away and jerking Annabeth around.
"Give me back my friend," Tyson shouted as he jumped on Polyphemus other arm, prying loose the older Cyclops' grip from the shaken demigoddess.
Harry helped insure Polyphemus didn't move by beginning to channel a full body bind spell into the monster's hand. As soon as Annabeth was free and clear with Tyson her boyfriend gripped Polyphemus tightly and flipped the monster over hard onto his back, knocking the wind out of the elder son of Poseidon. Polyphemus' heritage was the only thing keeping Harry from smiting the sheep lover on the spot. A globe of red energy shot out of Harry's palm and struck the monster directly above its single eye while Tyson was inspecting Annabeth.
"Are you alright?" A very concerned Harry questioned his lover as he rushed over to her.
"I'm…I'm ok," Annabeth answered, visibly shaken as she tried to straighten her torn shirt and wincing as her muscles ached from being squeezed by the one eyed giant.
With a dark expression directed at Polyphemus the mage wrapped his best friend in a warm hug, channeling healing and repairing magic into her body and clothes. The aches faded quickly from Annabeth's being until she was left with a wonderful tingling sensation. It was like she could feel a physical manifestation of her boyfriend's love for her.
"Thanks…I needed that," Athena's daughter gratefully spoke as the couple broke their embrace. "Now let's go find Grover."
It was only a dozen more yards down the path until the trio came to a cave where Harry could sense Grover was secured inside of. A large boulder was wedged in the doorway.
"Give me a hand buddy," Harry instructed Tyson.
"Sure Percy," Tyson agreed.
Although he didn't need the help Harry wanted Tyson to feel included and plus Tyson didn't quite know about the warlock's true abilities yet. Harry loved Tyson but the one eyed teen might let something slip to someone he shouldn't. As the pair rolled the boulder out of the cave entrance the sorcerer reflected on the similarities between Tyson and Hagrid. The thoughts were scattered as a small flock of goats and smaller sheep rushed from the cave. The quick Hallow Master jumped back to defend his girlfriend if the sheep proved hungry.
"These sheepies not eat people," Tyson announced as he pet one of the smaller animals.
"Thank the gods for small favors," Annabeth muttered before following her best friend past the small herd and into the large main cavern. "This place is like a maze," Annabeth observed a few minutes later as the trio walked down bone littered corridors, rooms of sheep skins stacked high and made into various garments along with other sheep products.
"That looks like Medusa's work," Harry observed, recognizing the work of the gorgon the mage had slain the previous summer in a sheep statue.
"I think you're right," Annabeth agreed while following her wizard into the spinning room where they found Grover working on a bridal train.
"Percy! Annabeth!" Grover shouted as he tackled his two best friends in a warm hug. "You heard me and came," the relieved satyr gushed.
"Of course we did Grover," Annabeth answered. "We'd never leave you to get eaten by a Cyclops."
"What about him?" Grover questioned in sudden fear as he noticed Tyson.
"Don't worry about Tyson here. He's a friend," Annabeth reassured the satyr, patting the larger teen's arm.
Annabeth's declaration had both sons of Poseidon smiling. Apparently Tyson's part in rescuing Annabeth helped endear the larger teen to the demigoddess. Of course the fact her boyfriend cared greatly for Tyson didn't hurt matters either.
"Where's Polyphemus?" Grover nervously questioned as he tore off the wedding dress the satyr had been hiding in for days to keep from being eaten.
"Don't worry about him. I took care of him," Harry announced.
"Polyphemus tried to hurt Annabeth," Tyson declared.
"Oh," Grover answered, understanding dawning in his eyes as the human-goat hybrid glanced at the demigoddess and her very protective and extremely powerful boyfriend.
"Well we should go get the Fleece now," Annabeth suggested as she turned and started pulling her best friend out of the cave, the smell of a Cyclop's lair not engendering good thoughts for the young woman.
"We're going to need this," the dark haired mage declared as he scooped up a wicker basket of raw meat on the way out of the main cave. "Polyphemus uses it to feed the sheep on the other side of the rope bridge."
"Good idea," Annabeth agreed. "Tyson maybe you could feed the sheep and then retrieve the Golden Fleece from that tree," the gray eyed female suggested while pointing towards the Fleece.
"Ok," Tyson agreed happily, always eager to please Annabeth.
"You know…since Tyson and I seem to be so smitten with you I'd almost say it had something to do with our family and yours. But our parents don't seem to get along. But I know my dad adores you," Harry observed casually as the foursome crossed the large rope bridge.
"Really…your dad mentioned me?" Annabeth questioned in surprise.
"When we talked last he told me you were a keeper, queen material," the Hallow Master explained. "I happen to agree very much."
Annabeth was positively glowing with delight at the praise from the Sea God and her immortal love.
"Thank you," the brilliant and buxom teen said before stealing a kiss as Tyson fed the killer sheep the mystery meat.
Tyson finished feeding the sheep before quickly retrieving the Golden Fleece from the oak tree. As Tyson passed back through the crowd of killer sheep Harry made sure the human eaters wouldn't follow by stealthily casting Notice-Me-Not charms on the quartet.
"Let's get back to the boat," Harry urged as he took off at a jog towards where the Trident was moored, his friends quickly taking up the pace.
As soon as they reached the boat the four friends boarded the ship.
"How long do you think Polyphemus will be out?" Annabeth questioned her boyfriend curiously, not eager to meet the older Cyclops again anytime soon.
"A long time," Harry answered as he raised the anchor and started the ship back into the open waters surrounding the island. "I was quite upset with him when I put him out."
"I'm not surprised," Grover muttered.
"Polyphemus bad for hurting Annabeth," Tyson agreed with the satyr.
"Thanks guys," Annabeth told her three male friends with an appreciative grin for their concern.
Exiting the Sea of Monsters proved much easier than getting in. The dimensional barrier only prevented entrance one way. By sailing towards the borders of the monster infested ocean the Trident quickly passed out of the region known to mortals as the Bermuda Triangle and back into normal waters.
"Percy is that Miami we're approaching?" The brunette demigoddess inquired a half hour later as the fast Trident cut through the coastal waters.
"Yep," the warlock confirmed.
"Why are we heading to land?" Grover queried in confusion.
"The first reason is that I don't really want to take the Fleece over the ocean considering Triton has betrayed my father," the mage began.
"He what!" Grover shouted in alarm, rightfully upset.
Triton was older than many of the Olympians.
"It's a long story that I'll get into later. The second reason is that I have a feeling we'll want to be in Miami soon," explained the warlock.
"Ok," Annabeth agreed. "I trust you, love."
"Good enough for me," Grover added.
"Tyson will stay with the Trident and ride it back to Camp," Tyson declared.
"Thanks brother," the mage told his sibling.
Soon the two Godlings and one satyr were walking through the bustling cruise line docks, departing passengers moving everywhere. Taxi drivers were vying for customers loudly while luggage trolleys were rolled about by hurried porters. As Harry walked through the crowded pier he was reaching out with his enhanced senses and detected the threat as it approached. The warlock fed extra energy into the protective necklace he had gifted Annabeth with on their first quest the year before. Although the power runes on the necklace could feed the protective enchantments it never hurt to have an extra storehouse of energy.
"Hello Luke," the warlock greeted the traitorous son of Hermes as the green eyed mage turned around, surprising Luke that he and his group of monsters had been detected in their stealthy approach.
Two monsters that were twins and seemed to be half bear half human moved to grab Grover and Annabeth.
"Relax love and just go with it. I've got things under control," the mage telepathically projected to his girlfriend.
Annabeth put up a fair imitation of struggling as she and Grover were grabbed.
"Hey cuz, welcome back to the States," Luke greeted.
"Luke, what brings you to Miami?" The reality traveler questioned smoothly.
"I wanted to extend my hospitality to you," answered the lackey of Kronos as he gestured towards the nearby docked Princess Andromeda.
The three Campers were guided rather firmly onto the aft deck of the massive cruise ship. Harry had to suppress his mirth at Luke's stupidity when the son of Poseidon noticed a large swimming pool with large fountains shooting misty water jets into the air. Arrayed around the guests were Laistrygonian giants, half snake half human women, and traitorous demigods.
"And so the Fleece, where is it Percy?" Luke began as soon as the group came to a halt.
With a grin Harry answered, "Luke I'm incredibly insulted that you think so little of my intelligence. The Fleece should be back at Camp by now hanging around Thalia's tree."
"You lie," Luke growled as his face grew a dark shade of red.
"It was easy enough for those of us who have a good relationship with our parents. As soon as we got out of the Sea of Monsters I called my father and he had one of his most trusted servants deliver the Fleece to Chiron who was summoned back to meet Delphin," the warrior warlock explained.
Annabeth and Grover were intelligent enough to keep their faces schooled to betray nothing. Delphin was elevated to the status of god of dolphins after helping Poseidon woo his immortal queen Amphitrite. It was not implausible to expect that Delphin might be entrusted with the Fleece. The Fleece was actually safely tucked away inside the pocket dimension of Harry's trunk.
Luke howled in rage, shouting, "You'll pay for this Percy Jackson. Soon enough you won't be necessary for Lord Kronos' plans!"
Harry took the opportunity to summon several golden drachma into his hand from within his trunk dimension. None of the nearby beings noticed the gold appear before Harry disillusioned the coins. Casually the mage banished the invisible currency into the mist over the nearest fountain while mentally chanting the correct phrase to put forth several iris messages; one to Camp, one to Chiron, one to Aphrodite, and the other to Poseidon. It was a little advertised fact that one could make multiple iris calls at once.
"So if I'm no longer going to be necessary clarify some things for me Luke," the sorcerer smoothly suggested. "You've been working us all along to try to get us to retrieve the Fleece."
"Duh you idiot," Luke sneered. "You've gone and screwed everything up!"
"Who was it that did the actual deed of poisoning Thalia's tree, Luke? Did you have the guts to do it yourself or did you send one of your little minions to kill one of your oldest friends," Harry baited the foolish teen.
"No, I did it myself. I used elder python venom, straight from the depths of Tartarus," Luke boasted.
Harry nodded in understanding, now concluding that he would be able to heal Thalia's tree with or without the Fleece since a potion would be able to be made with a sample of elder python venom.
"So Chiron had nothing to do with your little scheme?" Harry probed further.
"Like Chiron would ever have the guts to defy the gods like that," Luke answered with another sneer. "He was as clueless as the gods have been."
"Endangering the entire camp is how you would define guts? Murdering your oldest friend?" The Potter Lord further goaded the scarred teen.
"You're not getting the big picture Percy. I would have let you take the Fleece back to Thalia's tree after I was done with it," Luke explained.
"After you used it to heal Kronos," the Hallow Master clarified for the benefit of the Olympian gods Aphrodite was no doubt projecting the iris message to.
The equivalent of speaker phone for iris messages that could be projected on Olympus would have the entire realm of the gods hearing the message with Aphrodite's power amplifying the call.
"The magic of the Fleece would have increased the rate of Kronos' mending tenfold. You've only delayed us a little Percy. There's no stopping the return of Kronos," the wayward son of Hermes declared.
"So you've done all of this betrayal all to help Kronos destroy the gods," Harry concluded with a shake of his head, playing the perfect actor like he was truly disappointed in Luke.
It wasn't hard for Harry to play the disappointed elder card considering that a younger version of the wizard had watched Albus Dumbledore use the same tactic countless times.
With a growl of frustration Luke asked, "Why do you keep clarifying points you clearly already know?"
"Because I wanted everybody listening to learn the full truth," the crafty sorcerer explained while nodding behind Luke and his goons at the pool area.
The suddenly horrified leader of Kronos' minions turned and stared in shock at the shimmering vision above the pool. Iris messages depicting a live view of Poseidon, the Camp dining pavilion filled full of Campers and Dionysus, Chiron, and most impressive of all…the Olympian pantheon of gods and goddesses sitting along a large dinner table. As Harry had later learned from Aphrodite, Zeus had long ago instituted a weekly family dinner policy to help promote peace among the Olympian Council. The green eyed demigod had fortunately called at precisely the right time to project Luke's admissions to the entire Olympian Council.
"Well…this is a revelation," Zeus' deep voice rumbled.
With a bellow of rage Luke slashed his sword through the massive message window, dissolving the image.
Turning back to the son of Poseidon Luke growled, "Kronos was correct Percy Jackson. You are too unreliable a weapon and need to be disposed of."
"Which is where Thalia comes in," Harry pointed out. At Luke's surprised look Harry added, "Of course I knew your plans Luke. I figured them out pretty damn early in my quest. Keep underestimating my intelligence and it'll make my job of kicking your ass all the easier."
With a gesture towards one of his minions Luke summoned a dozen more spear wielding warriors.
"Unfortunately for your job Percy you won't be leaving this ship alive," Luke boasted while gesturing towards one of his men. "I want to deal with Jackson myself," the son of Hermes announced while catching a shield the signaled henchman had just tossed the halfblood.
Luke lunged at the reality traveler but was rewarded with a slice to the wrist by a quick flick of Harry's hand. The traitorous half blood hadn't been a challenge the last time he challenged the son of Poseidon. Now that the green eyed mage was even more powerful Luke was woefully inadequate to score a hit against the water mage.
"Get ready to run, love," Harry sent to Annabeth's mind as he parried each of Luke's strikes.
As Harry watched Annabeth grab Grover's wrist in preparation to pull the satyr away the warrior wizard reached out to the water in the nearby pool. The H2O responded to Harry's will and leapt from the large receptacle in a wave that washed over all those on the deck except for Harry, Annabeth, and Grover. The trio took off running and made it to the edge of the ship before Luke was able to wrestle himself to his feet.
"Get them," Luke roared in rage to his goons.
As the enemy monsters and half bloods got to their feet from the tidal wave that had knocked them down the powerful Harry wrapped an arm around each of his friends' waist and leapt over the side of the ship to the pier below, cracking the concrete with the force of the landing. The wizard used his abilities to absorb the inertia of the fall from his companions into his own form which could take the force generated much better than Annabeth or Grover could. The trio watched as the charging monsters attempted to duplicate the mage's feat. As soon as the enemy monsters cleared the side of the ship giant icicles shot up out of the water along the pier and impaled the enemy creatures, causing the monsters to burst into dust. The gangway connecting the ship to the pier was similarly destroyed by icicle spears. It was at that moment that Luke realized he had been played. A horrified look came over the traitor's face as he stared into the bright green eyes of a smirking Harry.
"He could have done that all along," Luke whispered in realization.
With a nod of confirmation to Luke the trio disappeared in what appeared to be a swirl of mist but was actually only an illusion.
"Why aren't they chasing after us?" Grover asked in confusion as the trio calmly walked away.
"I'm manipulating the mist so that they can't really see us," explained Harry. "It's a trick my dad taught me on our quest to save you."
"Cool," Grover declared.
"So how are we going to get back to Camp?" Annabeth wanted to know.
"Money of course," Harry announced as he pulled out his debit card while leading his friends towards a nearby car dealership.
By using magic and lots of money the three friends were soon speeding down the highway towards New York. The couple spent much of the time filling Grover in on the events that took place on their quest to save him. Harry was going well over a hundred fifty miles an hour in the slick sports car he had purchased back in Miami. When Grover questioned how they weren't getting caught the mage again used the excuse he was cloaking the vehicle in the mist so the mortals couldn't actually consciously see them. By that night the car was pulling up the drive leading to the edge of Camp.
As soon as they crested the hill at the edge of Camp where Thalia's tree rested Harry gave an excited Annabeth the Fleece and watched as the gray eyed young woman ran over to her friend's tree and laid the Fleece on the lowest branch. The Fleece's power was immediately evident as the withered and dying tree began to return to life. The entire hillside began to blossom and return to full health, even healthier than before the Fleece's arrival in fact. The sorcerer could detect the wards recharging under the Golden Fleece's power.
In addition to the normal wards arrayed around the Camp, Harry quickly erected some powerful wards around Thalia's tree. If any hostile entity or force approached within two hundred feet of the tree the warlock would instantly know and could apparate immediately to protect the tree. The wards grew progressively more hostile towards ill meaning invaders the closer the intruder got to the magical plant and the Fleece. With the protections in place the mage and his companions trudged into the Camp proper where they were greeted by a recently returned Chiron. The trio explained the success of their mission to retrieve the Fleece.
"I suspected you were triumphant when I got that iris message depicting Luke and his new friends," Chiron announced while distastefully mentioning the traitor's new traveling companions. "You three get some rest. It's been a hard couple of weeks for all of us. Don't worry about the Fleece. I'll set a guard around that and Thalia's tree from now on."
But Harry didn't allow himself to rest and relax yet because there were wounded campers filling up the Big House. A giant fire breathing lizard (not a dragon) had attacked the Camp while the wards were down. The sea mage quickly set about healing the wounded using his water based variation of medical magic.
"Thanks Percy," and, "Thanks Jackson," was spoken many times that day as moderately to severely injured campers were restored to perfect health.
As soon as the group of restored campers in the Big House realized what the quartet's return (Tyson had arrived around the same time as the green eyed wizard) meant the cheering could be heard all over Camp. A feast was scheduled in the quartet's honor. During the feast Chiron announced that the chariot races would be continued since they had been interrupted the previous time. The two previous chariot winners didn't feel much pressure. So instead of training they spent their time relaxing while Tyson tinkered with their chariot a bit.
Since his father had created horses the messy haired warlock was in charge of the chariot's team of steeds. Because of this the teen stayed late at the stables the night before the race to make sure the animals were ready.
"Glorious animals horses are, wish I'd thought of them," a voice declared from behind the teen as he groomed one of the mounts.
"Hello Hermes," Harry greeted the messenger god as he casually turned, not in the least surprised at the stealthy god's arrival. The warlock had sensed the deity from the moment the older immortal had teleported in. "What brings you here tonight?"
Hermes had shifted form to look like a middle aged postal carrier but that didn't surprise the warlock. The Olympian gods and goddesses were all shape shifters after all.
"I see you tried the diplomatic approach with Luke," Hermes commented, having been at the Olympian dinner during the iris message.
"Don't worry…I haven't given up on Luke yet. He certainly isn't making helping him any easier but I have a feeling he will come around in the end. Kronos certainly has a tricky tongue and it doesn't hurt the Titan's cause that Luke has major abandonment issues," explained the reality traveler.
"You don't fear much do you Percy," Hermes mused at the use of Kronos' name. The Titan Lord's name had the same stigma in the warlock's new universe as Riddle's fake name had held in the mage's previous reality. "Do you ever feel like your father abandoned you?"
"Not really," the warlock answered with a casual shrug. At Hermes' doubtful look the warrior wizard elaborated, "I try to put myself in my father's shoes. He's immortal and mortals probably live such short life spans that it would become hard after a few centuries to connect with anyone who would end up dying. Emotionally it would be really hard to get close to someone and then just sit back and watch them die. Then there's the resentment that can develop between any two beings that have an imbalance of power between them. Lastly there are Zeus' laws that restrict all but the most basic of contact. I don't blame my father for anything Hermes. I'm simply grateful he's kept his asshole brothers from smiting me."
Hermes gaped for a second before cracking up laughing. The Olympian god managed to get out between guffaws, "I like you Percy Jackson. I haven't laughed like this in years. You're definitely wise beyond your years," the deity declared as he slowly sobered up. "But anyway I really came to just thank you for trying with Luke. You talked to him and showed him that Kronos isn't all powerful and that he can be thwarted. In time I hope my son will realize that he can break free of our grandfather's influence. Now you'd best get to bed or the harpies will be after you."
At that moment the conch horn blew in the distance to signal curfew.
"Don't worry about me Hermes. I can handle a few harpies," the warlock assured his cousin.
"I believe you can Percy. Goodbye for now," the god spoke even as he began to glow brighter, about to reveal his true form.
The teen averted his eyes for the sake of some of his secrets and Hermes was gone in a pulse of white light. The green eyed mage decided to take Hermes' advice and return to his cabin where Annabeth, Choria, and Furusia were waiting for him. It was great to be him was his final thought that night before he drifted off into a post coital dream that continued the activities he had used to relax in his last waking hours.
Chapter 6
The next day dawned brilliantly with perfect weather for the race. The horses were pumped while the chariot was in perfect shape thanks to Tyson's efforts.
"Here Percy, I made this for you," the one eyed son of Poseidon informed Harry as the taller teen handed his brother what appeared to be a wristwatch.
The wizard sensed the magic on the item immediately and probed it with his magical senses. The skilled sorcerer detected a magical shield concealed within the watch.
"Thanks brother," the warlock told Tyson before hugging the mechanically inclined Cyclops.
"Didn't finish it in time for the trip, sorry," Tyson mumbled.
"It's no problem my favorite brother," Harry assured his friend. "It'll really come in handy in the future."
Tyson beamed at the praise and added, "If you need protection during the race hit the button."
Harry glanced at the indicated button that was actually a magical trigger for the enchantments on the shield watch, nodding his understanding. With a last grin for his brother the warlock walked over to the Poseidon and Athena cabin chariot and hopped onboard.
"You ready, love?" Harry inquired of his girlfriend.
"Totally, I'm ready to win," the gray eyed young demigoddess answered with a grin.
Harry took up the reigns moments before Chiron blew the conch horn to signal the start. The horses took off as if the hounds of Hades were chasing after them. Annabeth clung to the rail tightly from the force of the acceleration. As the warlock's slick transport took the first turn Harry and Annabeth were an entire chariot length ahead of the dueling Clarisse and the Stoll brothers.
"Incoming," Annabeth warned as she threw an enchanted javelin Tyson had fashioned.
The javelin expanded into a grappling hook and drug down the lead weighted net the Apollo cabin's charioteers had just flung at the leading chariot. The enemy chariot pulled alongside quickly and the enemy defender/attacker took advantage by throwing a javelin into the wheel of the powerful couple's transport. The javelin shattered and had no apparent effect, surprising the enemy charioteers greatly. The green eyed teen and his gray eyed girlfriend exchanged a quick grin. The dark haired wizard had charmed every piece of the chariot unbreakable during Tyson's refit. The surprise of the Apollo campers allowed Harry to spur his steeds on more, gaining a slight amount of distance on the other chariot. The Hephaestus chariot was pulling up right behind the two leaders while one of the Stoll brothers was fighting blade to blade against Clarisse in the rear.
"You're both mine," a cocky first year Apollo camper yelled.
Instead of answering verbally Annabeth drew another enchanted javelin. The daughter of Athena held her own bottomless backpack in the bucket of the chariot, a gift from her lover. The backpack currently held dozens of enchanted javelins. Tyson and his magical brother had crafted many of the tools together with magic and muscle. Annabeth's aim was perfect as the javelin grew a heavy tip and impacted the driver in the chest which sent him tumbling back into his teammate. The two campers fell out of the back of the transport before the horses headed towards the stands. The chariot flipped with the horses running towards their stables. In the next several moments the sorcerer piloted his chariot around the second turn and entered into the final lap as the transport passed over the finish line.
The Hephaestus cabin was coming up behind the two recently returned questers. Beckendorf's grin was positively feral as he activated something on his built in control console. Steel cables were propelled out of the front of the Hephaestus cabin's automaton steeds and caught onto the back rail of the Poseidon-Athena cabin chariot. A winch system began working to pull the two chariots closer together.
Annabeth drew her knife and tried to cut the cables but they were too thick for her small blade. The warlock mentally made a note to enchant his girlfriend's blade later with runes to keep the blade ever sharp along with runes to channel a cutting curse at the very edge of the blade.
"What do you want to do Percy?" The young woman questioned her telepathic boyfriend knowing he could easily snap the cables with his mind but that such an action would look odd to say the least.
"One moment love," Harry answered as he closed his eyes for a second and reached out with his magical senses.
The horses were guiding themselves as they had learned the route from their master's mind. Harry could probe the molecular and atomic structure of the cables with his senses, picturing the vision in his mind's eye. The water wizard caused the water vapor in the sea air around the racers to condense on the cables, clinging to the metal. The mage made the water freeze as the atoms slowed down in their vibrations. Thick ice permeated all throughout the metal at a point just behind where the lines were attached to the Athena-Poseidon chariot. Getting the idea Annabeth hacked one more time and watched in satisfaction as the line shattered now that the metal was brittle.
The Hephaestus chariot's driver made to pull alongside the lead chariot but Harry had another trick up his sleeve. If Beckendorf could use automatons to propel the Hephaestus chariot then the son of Poseidon felt no remorse in using his powers to enhance the Poseidon-Athena cabin race team. The warlock used a recently discovered aspect of his abilities. Working with Poseidon the mage had learned that instead of just being able to manipulate only water the skilled teen could manipulate all fluids with the aid of his telekinetic wizarding abilities. The green eyed teen put this ability to good use as he increased the flow of specific hormones to certain parts of the horses' physiology. The effect was apparent when the horses lurched forward just as they reached the second turn. With the aid of his abilities the reality traveler managed to keep the chariot upright during the turn. As their transport shot out of the turn well ahead of the Hephaestus transport, the two half bloods within concentrated on bringing home the victory.
Annabeth made sure the Hephaestus, Ares, and Hermes cabins didn't pull any tricks. Her caution was prudent because a moment later an object was hurtling at her, tossed by Beckendorf. Annabeth's enchanted necklace, which Harry had charmed the summer previous to provide protection, alerted her boyfriend to the danger of the sack of Greek fire hurtling towards his girlfriend. With the speed of an immortal the mage used a switching charm to replace the correct amount and shape of air surrounding his lover's wrist with the watch Tyson had just gifted him with.
"Hit the button love," Harry's mental command rang clear in the mind of the brilliant demigoddess.
Annabeth pushed the button and was rewarded with a well built magical shield spiraling into full existence, the straps on the inside wrapped around her arm just as the watch strap had been. The shield was carved with scenes from the recent quest of Annabeth, Harry, and Tyson courtesy of the one eyed teen. The well trained warlock had also sensed an adhesive on the outside of the Greek fire sack. Because of this threat, a piece of magic called a repelling charm flared into existence over the surface of the shield. Harry would later carve the runes into the shield to permanently add a repelling charm, set to activate when the shield's wielder desired it. But the temporary charm cast by the Hallow Master did its job and hurled the bag of Greek fire away from Annabeth just before the sack would have touched the surface of the shield…straight back into the Hephaestus chariot. As the enemy chariot burst into flames just after the charioteers had abandoned the transport, Harry and Annabeth crossed the finish line in first place.
As the crowd cheered Annabeth's voice rang out clearly over the noise, a subtle and less powerful than normal sonorous charm working its magic.
"It wasn't just us," the demigoddess announced. "We couldn't have won this race or saved Grover and retrieved the Fleece without Percy's brother, Tyson!"
Annabeth's unexpected praise caused Tyson to blush, with the Cyclopes still harboring a bit of a crush on the amazing daughter of Athena. The gray eyed young woman then planted a kiss firmly on her boyfriend's lips, causing the crowd to cheer louder. The three winning charioteers were lifted upon the shoulders of the Athena cabin campers as the cheering procession advanced on the winners' platform and the subsequent presentation of the laurels by a reinstated Chiron.
The rest of the day for the victorious couple was spent with those they cared about; Grover, Choria, and Furusia. The satyr had been granted permission from the Council of Cloven Elders (the ruling satyr council) to remain at Camp for the rest of the summer. It impressed the old satyrs that the young Grover hadn't died where so many others before him had and had even managed to clear the way for future generations of Searchers.
"I can dissolve that empathy link now Percy," Grover announced as the group sat lounging along the beach of the lake, soaking up some sun.
"Don't worry about it Grover," answered the demigod.
"It's dangerous Percy if I get in trouble again. Your life would be at risk," protested the half goat half man.
With a roguish grin and a glance at his friend Harry queried, "Do you honestly think that I would allow anything that threatens my life to remain intact for this long?"
"You mean the link can't hurt you?" Grover's surprise was written all over his face.
"Nope, so don't worry. My father has been teaching me all kinds of new tricks," the green eyed teen told a half truth.
While it was true Poseidon had been teaching his son many things none of them had anything to do with the empathy link. The warlock just wanted to divert Grover's attention away from his immortality. Keeping the link in place would assure an easy way of tracking Grover should problems arise again.
Now that he had some down time the powerful Godling took the time to do some damage control in the mortal world. The incident at Meriwether still had the police searching for the young Percy Jackson. A few teleportation trips around New York and a couple of memory charms served to straighten anything out with the authorities. The sorcerer also took the time to stop in and see his mother. The pair had been communicating via various means all throughout the summer thus far so it wasn't a long awaited reunion. It was still nice for the teen to see his mother.
The party moved out onto the actual beach of Long Island later in the evening. The three water lovers couldn't get enough of the ocean water and Annabeth enjoyed showing off her bikini for her lover. Harry certainly wasn't complaining. It was while the group was playing in the serf that the Hallow Master remembered a message his father had asked him to relay.
"Oh Tyson, I almost forgot. When I saw dad he asked me to tell you he'd like you to internship in the Cyclopes forges at his palace for the summer. What do you think about that?" The warlock queried.
"Sounds like fun," Tyson announced with a grin before his expression dropped a moment later. "But I'll miss you and Annabeth."
"Don't worry Tyson, you'll see us soon enough. Summers aren't that long. You'll get a wonderful opportunity to see so much history and great architecture," Annabeth declared wistfully while staring off dreamily at the thought of the palace of Poseidon.
Harry shared an amused look with Grover before flicking his finger and causing a wave to wash over his girlfriend, dousing her daydreaming.
"Percy Jackson! You're going to get it for that," the gray eyed teen growled before tackling her best friend.
The seriousness of Tyson's departure was broken up as the friends played. But the one eyed teen did depart later that night for Poseidon's palace.
That night was a special night; the phoenix mage could sense it. Harry and Annabeth both volunteered to take the guard duty after dark around Thalia's tree.
"You're sure it will happen tonight?" The brunette beauty questioned her boyfriend anxiously as she stared at the tree with the Fleece hanging from the lowest branch.
"Yes," assured the warlock. "In fact," Harry mused before trailing off as a smile slowly spread across his handsome features. Stepping up to the base of the tree the wizard announced, "Here we go."
At that moment there was a golden glow about the size of a human coming from the middle of the tree trunk. A human resolved its shape from the glow and proceeded to fall towards the ground. Harry intercepted Thalia on her way down and caught her gently in his embrace.
"She's really here…really alive," a stunned Annabeth whispered with growing happiness beginning to come over her.
"I told you she would be," Harry pointed out as he began to walk towards the Big House with Thalia cradled in his arms.
"Yeah, I know. But it was just so hard to believe until now. I've known Thalia was dead for years Percy, never coming back. But now she has," Annabeth explained her feelings while picking up Thalia's hand. "She's so cold."
"Yeah she is isn't she," the water wizard mused as he channeled more of his phoenix healing powers into the daughter of Zeus.
By that time the couple plus one had reached the Big House. Annabeth got the door for her friends and preceded the pair in.
"Chiron," Harry shouted.
There was a crash followed by the clumping of horse hooves on hardwood before the ancient warrior opened his door.
"What is it…," Chiron trailed off in disbelief at the sight of the teenage girl cradled in Harry's arms.
"The tree healed her," Annabeth declared. "Thalia is alive!"
"Kronos…he tricked us again didn't he. Another chance to manipulate the prophecy," was the only response Chiron could formulate in his surprise.
"Never mind that now. The important thing is helping Thalia adjust. She's been stuck as a tree for many years and is obviously older than when she was turned into a tree," the dark haired sorcerer pointed out.
"Of course, of course Percy…How is she?" The centaur queried as he trotted closer to examine Thalia.
"Well she's going to be fine. The Fleece healed her injuries before it disgorged her. You might want to send someone else to protect the Fleece although it's fine for the moment. Zeus' gaze is heavy on the Camp at the moment and it would be foolish for any enemy to approach at this time," the warlock declared as the sound of thunder rumbled around the magical borders of the Camp.
"Yes, I believe you are correct Percy," Chiron agreed.
"We'll take Thalia to her father's cabin. She'll be safest there. When she wakes we'll explain everything to her. We'll stay with her for the night," Annabeth suggested.
"That would be a good idea. She's in good hands," Chiron pronounced as he smiled down at two of his favorite campers. "I'd best go wake Mr. D and tell him the news. This is going to shake the Camp."
As Harry and Annabeth turned to leave the Big House the warlock whispered, "You have no idea my dear centaur, no idea."
As the couple stepped off the porch of the Big House Thalia chose that moment to awake.
"Hello Percy, Annabeth," the girl muttered as her electric blue eyes shifted around nervously. "So that wasn't just a dream," Thalia whispered with a shiver.
"No it wasn't but you're safe and with those who care about you now Thalia," Annabeth reassured as she squeezed her friend's hand.
"Thank you," the young blue eyed demigoddess whispered as they reached her new cabin.
"That's what you do for the ones you care about," Harry replied as Annabeth opened the door.
Thalia actually smiled at that declaration as the handsome hero set her upon her new bed. The trio stayed up late into that night talking. When they were finally tired enough to sleep Thalia, Harry, and Annabeth shared the same bed to provide more comfort for the time displaced daughter of Zeus.
That summer flew by for the friends as Harry and Annabeth helped Thalia adjust to being back in human form. The wealthy warlock drove the beautiful daughter of Zeus into New York the day after she arrived and purchased her a full wardrobe even over her protests. Annabeth came along of course, unable to pass up a shopping trip at her lover's expense. The trio stopped by to visit with Harry's mother. That was a rather uncomfortable time for the sorcerer as the women talked about him as if he wasn't even there, but he took it all in good stride.
Plans were made for the summer's end. Thalia had no family left due to her mother's passing two years previous. The blue eyed demigoddess found out about her mother's death via the internet connection she had access to while still in Harry's dream dimension cabin. Ms. Grace had died in a car accident due to drinking. Thalia didn't want to discuss her mother so neither friend pressed her for details about her past. Thalia possessed some powerful gifts from her father which included the ability to manipulate electricity and channel immense static shocks into people. Chiron also thought the young woman might have aerokinesis, the ability to manipulate air, due to past children of Zeus having the ability. The problem was that Thalia was deathly afraid of heights. Harry set about to correct that problem one night when most of the Camp was asleep.
"I don't think this is a good idea Percy," Thalia declared as she and the reality traveler were sitting on top of his cabin.
"Come on Thalia…I won't let you fall," Harry assured his friend. "You trust me don't you?"
Thalia looked intently at the green eyed handsome teen. The blue eyed young woman wasn't afraid to admit to herself that she harbored a serious crush on Percy Jackson; most of the females at the Camp did after all. As one of his constant companions that summer Thalia had learned that Percy and Annabeth weren't monogamous but in fact had relations with the two Naiads, Choria and Furusia. Thalia suspected more females might be involved but wasn't sure. The daughter of Zeus honestly wouldn't mind partaking in such activities herself now that she had gotten used to having an older body. But that wasn't the point of what her friend was proposing at the moment the hormonal teen reminded herself. He was asking if she trusted him. So far Percy Jackson had never let Thalia down, keeping his word in every circumstance. The demigoddess would have been lost without Percy and Annabeth as she adjusted that summer.
"With my life," Thalia answered confidently.
"Then close your eyes and come here," Harry directed.
Thalia did as instructed and allowed herself to melt into the powerful male's embrace. Because of her eyes being closed Thalia did not see as two large feathery red wings sprouted out of her friend's back. Poseidon had helped his son get in touch with the multiple cores contained within the reality traveler's being; including Fawkes' power core. Because of this the dark haired mage found he could take the form of a phoenix. Due to Poseidon's malleable shape shifting abilities, which most of his children inherited, Harry could stop at any state in between his phoenix and humanoid forms. The Hallow Master was also learning how to change size in either form like all Olympian gods could do. Because Poseidon could change into water the sea god could become much bigger than a standard Olympian deity. The sea ruler's child could do the same with training.
With Thalia cradled in his arms the warlock leapt from the edge of the roof and flapped his wings hard. The pair rose up into the air several hundred feet quickly and began to fly circuits around the Camp. Thalia held on tightly as she felt them move rapidly.
"Focus on me Thalia," Harry whispered encouragingly. "I'll never let you go."
Thalia did as asked, focusing all of her attention on the demigod holding her. He smelled of the sea, powerful and untamable. It was a pleasant smell that sent good shivers throughout the demigoddess. Percy was her savior, the man who had rescued her from an eternity as a tree and nursed her back to health with his girlfriend's help. The dark haired son of Poseidon was also the most powerful demigod Thalia had ever encountered. His charisma and power were intoxicating. She could stay in his arms forever. That's when Thalia opened her eyes and stared into Percy's intense green eyes. They held compassion and caring for her that made the young woman's heart flutter. On impulse Thalia leaned up and kissed her savior chastely.
Harry deepened the kiss and Thalia responded in kind. Their tongues dueled as their bodies became equally aroused. The sorcerer was aided in shifting his grip on Thalia thanks to his telekinesis, not allowing any part of her to sag. The agile phoenix mage rolled them over in midair so that he was flying facing up. A phoenix flew with more than just aerodynamics, relying just as much on magic. As their passion rose Thalia began to grind her groin against the bulge her handsome companion was sporting. So focused on her friend was she that the daughter of Zeus didn't even think once about their aerial location.
A Smut Scene was Here (See hpfanficarchive or ficsite for erotic version)
"Actually Thalia the walls are already soundproof," Harry began, sharing a look with Annabeth.
Thalia stared curiously at the two.
"You know if I didn't know better I'd say you two were telepathic. It seems like you can have a whole conversation with a glance," Thalia mused.
"Well the glance makes it easier. I progressed beyond requiring eye contact to use telepathy years ago beautiful," Harry purred in both of his girlfriends' minds.
"What are you?" The daughter of Zeus inquired after several moments to contain her surprise.
Annabeth and Harry took turns filling their lover in on Harry's life, in that universe and his previous one.
When Harry and Annabeth were finished Thalia's first statement was, "Well that explains a lot. I knew your hands were simply too magical and everything was way too painless for my first time. Magic definitely explains why that was. So does this mean you'll have enough stamina to keep all the lovers you're collecting satisfied?"
"That and then some sister," Annabeth answered for her boyfriend. "So are you interested in keeping this a permanent arrangement?"
In answer Thalia kissed first Harry and then Annabeth soundly.
"Gods I love my life," Harry announced with a wide grin.
"Men," Annabeth declared with an eye roll while Thalia smacked Harry playfully with a pillow.
"Totally," Thalia agreed.
The frisky trio spent much of the rest of the night playing and talking. It was a truly magical night.
Over the course of the rest of that summer letters were received inviting each camper and many a prospective camper to a new school on the outskirts of New York City. Unlike Camp Half Blood this school was designed to work with the mortal school system in order to prepare demigods and demigoddesses to enter the real world some day. The school was appropriately named New Olympus and was a boarding school. The boarding school gained much attention from the campers because such a place meant they wouldn't have to go back to dealing with hordes of mortals while not being allowed to see their hero and heroine friends for an entire school year.
The New Olympus School for Half Bloods also offered to transport students to and from their homes every weekend so that the students and families could spend time together. This transportation was accomplished through a portal system that was similar to the Floo system in Harry's old universe but worked with water instead. A student would appear and disappear from a shower or bathtub in their home. It was something the water wizard and Poseidon had worked out during their daily training sessions. Poseidon also provided backing for the school along with Aphrodite, making the green eyed mage and the children of Aphrodite the ones to ask about the learning institution.
The Aphrodite campers could actually answer the questions too because the goddess of love had been making a concerted effort to visit with each of her children on a regular basis and show them how much she cared. The love goddess and sea god fielded any questions about the new school with the Olympian pantheon so that the reality traveling wizard could concentrate on getting the school ready. The warrior wizard found the process challenging yet exciting. With Annabeth and Thalia's help the school would be ready in time for the start of term on September 1st. With a school year spent with his two favorite and lovely demigoddesses to look forward to life had never seemed better for the warrior warlock that had traversed the veil between universes to start over. Whether his name was Percy Jackson or Harry Potter the green eyed teen was glad to be alive.