Chapter Text
Time Itself; Prologue
Characters: Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Piper McLean, Thalia Grace, More to be Added
Ships: Percabeth, More to be Added/Expanded
Description:
Time has been shifted; history rewritten. The Fates can feel their plans and designs failing for the first time in the entirety of the world. There is only one creature powerful enough to effect such change, Kronos stirs again, and from the depths of Tartarus he’ll change everything. Percy, Annabeth, and the rest of The Seven and their allies had finally caught their break, finally gotten a chance to have a semi-normal life, so why does it not seem to last, and why do they have two sets of memories inside their heads?
Disclaimer:
This is the first long form story I’m trying for Percy Jackson, I’ve seen a number of reading the book fanfics, and well I’m inspired to say the least. I do not own Percy Jackson & The Olympians, or Heroes of Olympus, I’ve ignored Trials of Apollo as I haven’t read them yet. Please don’t sue me!
Percy and Annabeth’s Dorm, New Rome University, New Rome [2015]
The black haired young man with sea green eyes had a lopsided grin spread across his face. He was dressed in a black suit and white shirt, a striking silver-grey tie smartly tied at his throat. He cut a lean figure in the clean well pressed clothes, surprisingly not a wrinkle in sight on them. His hands were covered in calluses. There were a few white marks that decorated his neck and cheeks, even one on his forehead. His eyes tracked towards the slight click of heels.
A young woman, roughly the same age as the man, stepped through into the main room. A strapless silver dress that hugged her curves revealed her similarly lean figure, as well as the white shadows of scars on her shoulders. A sparkling grey see through fabric is wrapped over her shoulders and falls down past her waist, secured there by a golden cord. Around her neck was a leather clay bead necklace, a college ring and a red coral pendant attached to it. Her blonde hair was pulled and worked into an almost wavy updo and bun at the back of her head, her bangs fell to frame her face and starkly brought out her sterling silver eyes. She let a bright smile slide onto her face and gave a slight twirl as the man stood there his jaw flopped open like a fish.
“Oh come on Seaweed Brain, please tell me I haven’t broken you yet? We still have the gala to get to.” The girl’s laugh fluttered like notes to a song and she closed the distance between them. Her cheeks warmed at his unabashed stare and the happy glaze over his eyes. Her hand reached out. “Percy?”
“Annabeth.” He answered, and he took her hand. A spark spread between them, flashed over their skin, the colours of the room seemed to melt, fade, and disappear through the floor like it was a sewer grate. Annabeth’s hair was a little messier, and the shawl like cloth didn’t hang properly off her shoulders. More scars decorated her bare arms, and when Percy’s gaze rose he was met with blank eyes, the grey orbs he’d fallen in love with covered in a milky sheen. Percy’s hands rose unbidden and adjusted Annabeth’s dress. A twinge of pain shot through his left leg and he bit his lip. The brace is acting up again , Percy’s eyes fell to the brace that encircled his left knee. A hand snagged his arm, while another curled around him.
“I can’t see Percy,” she whimpered. “I… I just remember being able to… what happened. Percy!”
“I’m right here.” He tightened his grip on her and pulled her flush against him. He felt tired, more worn out. His leg felt like it was on fire, and Annabeth’s weight didn’t help. “Beth? Wise Girl, I need you to lean back, my knee…”
The end of his sentence was lost to a sharp gasp of pain. Annabeth recoiled, her weight receded from him as he fell back into the chair he’d waited for her in. Their fingers still intertwined, linked in Annabeth’s darkness and Percy’s pain.
Annabeth’s free hand rubbed at her temple, she could distinctly remember it, dressing herself and getting ready for New Rome University’s Winter Solstice Gala. She could remember her reflection in the mirror, how she’d spent almost an hour curling, twisting, and fighting her hair into its bun. She could remember knowing Piper and Jason were waiting for them. Equally present in her mind was the sound of Jason's death, how he’d been stabbed by Octavian during the Greco-Roman Demigod Civil War, she remembered the murderous scream that twisted from Piper’s lips as she Charmspoke Octavian into killing himself. She remembered the last thing her eyes had seen, Percy’s anguish filled face as he rushed for her in the middle of Manhattan’s embattled streets, then all she saw was an inky black and the sounds of battle were overtaken by the roar of waves. Her hand tightened around Percy's, his warmth wasn’t like it should be, he felt colder like back when they were in… that place . His fingers responded and felt a tug, she let him pull her into his lap. She knew what he looked like, what he was doing, she’d seen it all before, she could picture in her mind’s eye, but all that her eyes took in was darkness, an unending black that still sought to swallow her like Tartarus once had.
Percy grimaced as the memories assaulted his mind. The arrow that had pierced his knee, nearly ruining his leg, all because he refused to take a dip in The Styx. He remembered working with Annabeth on learning how to live without sight. He remembered not remembering, his almost sleepless and pained trek across country to Camp Jupiter pursued ruthlessly by The Gorgons. He remembered the weighted tug as Tartarus swallowed him, and Annabeth’s heartbeat in his ears. He remembered Thalia as she channeled lightning that took out an entire Roman Cohort as Octavian ran Jason through. He remembered the funerals, so many funerals.
“What…” his throat closed on the rest of the words, and locked them from the little space between them. Annabeth’s head was tucked to his shoulder, while one of his arms curled around her back.
“Perce, we have to go. We need to keep The Camp’s spirits high, we need to stay strong.” Percy saw a flash of light, Annabeth’s eyes didn’t even blink. The pair of Half-Bloods stood in a dark room, blue strings threaded around like a spider’s web, Percy decided to keep that analogy to himself. His eyes adjusted and he caught sight of Piper, Reyna, Thalia, Hazel, and Nico. Each was dressed for The Gala, it was supposed to help celebrate the peace between Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood, but he distinctly remembered Camp Half-Blood’s destruction and how they had fled to Camp Jupiter, apparently Oceanus hadn’t been as defeated as they had thought. Now the gala represented a final hope as The Titans and Roman Imperials seek the destruction of the Demigods and Demigoddesses who had stopped their original plans. Percy grimaced and growled, his mind swam with memories and He couldn’t keep straight which was reality and which wasn’t, though he certainly had a preference of which he wanted.
“Percy Jackson, Thalia Grace, Hazel Levesque, Nice di Angelo, Annabeth Chase, Piper McLean, Reyna Ramirez-Arellano. We The Fates call on you. Time itself has been twisted, history rewritten, you must return, you must help change the past, to save the future.” A woman’s voice came from the darkness.
“Kronos stirs and acts, he seeks his vengeance, he will destroy Half-Bloods and Gods alike. Only united, truly united, will this destiny be averted.” Another woman’s voice echoed.
“A price must be paid to change Our Design. Kronos paid his dues, you will have to pay yours. We will gift you proof, evidence not even The Olympians can dispute. Convince them. Stop Kronos. Unite.” Came the last voice, suddenly the light from the strings went out and the gathered Half-Bloods were left in darkness.