Percy Jackson and The Olympians:Half-Blood Struggle[PG-13] [Accepting via PM,Started]

[Corvidae]

ooc: Yay he's back!

No, the fight is over.

 

IC: Marissa sprinted into the forest, not stopping until she ran into the group.

'Nikki.' She gasped. Desiree nodded solemnly, before replying, 'But Nikki's tough. She'll find a way out of Alkahest Poisoning.'

She turned to Brian. 'The Ant Hill? You think Pandora's Box will help us save Nikki?'

 

Holly ran up to the two boys. 'Oh my gods! Are you alright?' She asked, while attempting to support Alban, who seemed to be in a worse condition. 'Come on, Dionysus is right at the dining pavilion.' She started to lead them there.

 

Nikki's eyes glanced around the room, desperate to think of a way to escape before the poisoning kicked in. She already felt as if her entire body was on fire, though she was shivering terribly as well. Nikki forced herself to concentrate, it was only going to get worse from here. Water cancels Alkahest... She thought desperately. She managed to get the tape Scathe had put over her mouth slightly looser, and inhaled gratefully. But she was still bound tightly to the chair. Within minutes at best, she'd begin to go numb from lack of blood circulation. Another problem to add to the list. Blood circulation, Alkahest poisoning, my counterparts are both in a very dangerous place, this entire building could go up in flames if Damian chose to make it, there's a ghost running around stealing Alkahest Items... Brian, watch out for Shade. We'll all die if Damian gets both Weapons.

[Jakeronijo]

Yay felix is back! (I was first to welcome felix back but i had to delete my post! im not copying strateigist!) anyway

Ic: Brian shook his head. "No, but it's our last hope" He said feeling atingle on his tounge as he said hope. "we have to continue our quest...but without Nikki.." he realized that maybe she wasn't the one of the prophecy. "Since she couldn't possibly go with us could you come?" He looked hopefully at Marissa. 'But no, we need another weapon. It's the only way to beat damian. Does anyone have any idea where he is. i could get there fairly quickly with the blade. but how much danger would we be putting ourelves in trying to rescue her with the blade in tow. He tried to remember the prophecy.

[Felix Culpa]

Alban limped his way over to Dionysus, even though his injuries were mostly healed. "Mr. D," Alban panted. "I think we found an Alkahest weapon, but there was a drakon guarding it. It's in..."

 

Ajax trotted up, in his peak condition. "It's somewhere. But we're not sure. We just went west from here, and now, our memories are gone. We thought coming here would solve something. I faintly remember a river. And a goddess telling us to drink the water..."

[Jakeronijo]

Somewhere deep beneath the frost

A forbidden box, with hope, was lost

Humble yourself so you can see

what is there for you, and three

though evil is a tad too large

with courage you shall take charge

A hidden secret soon begot

a hope of love will be forgot

Brian snapped his fingers. "'Evil a tad too large'! He quoted. THe weapons make their user bigger. Maybe the box is only the first part of the quest. Maybe we have to save Nikki! "C'mon Lets get that box and then save Nikki!" Brian said. His own sword appearing in his hand as he walked towards the ant hill. Alice didn't feel safe and water floated up to her hands covering them as balls of water.

 

Dionysus looked at the demigods from behind his goblet of um "Diet Coke". "What is alkahest?" Dionysus took another swig of his diet coke before remembering. "Oh yea, that dreaded sword i made with that impatient Hermes...I remember. Wait, why are you telling me if you have no idea where it is? And what business of yours is it to find alkahest? Those weapons were too powerful when we made them so we hid them away.

[Felix Culpa]

"Well, Kronos is searching for them, so he can become more powerful!" Alban said, "You must know that! That's why the campers are out on a quest! I left because I was going to search for my past, but I stumbled upon a very great power, I think it was in Utah."

 

"No, I don't think so. I can still remember Utah," Ajax said. "The drakon was somewhere secluded. Where no one would ever think of going..."

[ArtemisFowl]

Jecht glanced over at Alice then followed Brian into the ant hill, sword drawn. "Can't give over the Sword. Can't let Nikki die. Pandora's box can't possibly help us in any way." He murmered voicing his thoughts aloud. "They can handle the ants. Can we handle Damian?" He paused for a moment on the edge of the ant hill. "Oh gods, we are completely, tottlay, utterly, undoubtfully, royally screwed." He said saying what most of them were thinking.

[Corvidae]

Dante walked up to Ajax. 'A river? And you forgot? Sounds like the Alkahest Axe, inside the River Lethe. But we already have that one... Or had it, before Damian stole it.'

 

Marissa nodded. 'Nikki's running out of time. There's only one hope, but it's a stretch. And the pain is the best part. Next up is dizzyness. Delusions. Insanity. And finally... Death.'

 

Nikki recoiled as she felt the next wave of sickness wash over her. She suddenly felt dizzy, and her vision began to become blurry. Still, nobody entered the room. Have to work... fast! She thought to herself, forcing herself to think straight. Nikki managed to get a hand near her pocket, and she managed to clasp a small stone that she had inside it. Nikki closed her eyes as another wave of nausea hit her, then steeled herself, and threw the stone from one hand to the other, barely catching it. (Very hard to do when you're dizzy, I should know)

[Jakeronijo]

Brian sighed out loud. "Ever felt trust?" He asked the Demigods. "I have a feeling. This has to work. The quest will have to be completed." Brian looked back at Marissa. "And what hope would you have in mind?" he said walking forward. THe snow picked up, it seemed to have stopped during the fight but Brian sensed the wind would be getting stronger and a Blizzard would be at hand. But that would be the least of their problems. "So do ants 'Hibernate' in the winter?" He asked stopping in front of the ant hill.

[Felix Culpa]

"No, no, it was the Lethe River in the Underworld. Did we die, Ajax?" Alban turned his head, looking at his brother, who scratched his chin questioningly.

 

"I don't believe so, but that would explain why we were in the Underworld. And no, there was no axe. It was farther west then the Underworld. Across the Pacific, or in it. I can't remember!"

 

Ajax and Alban slumped onto the ground and fell asleep suddenly, as if they hadn't in a thousand years.

[Corvidae]

Dante stared at their two bodies.

'I'm not carrying them into the Hermes Cabin.' He declared.

Minutes later, Holly and Dante had carried Alban and Ajax into the Hermes Cabin.

 

'Normally, yes.' Desiree said. 'but it's not a real hibernation. Sort of like bears, they sleep, but can be woken up easily. So we'll have to tread quietly.' She paused. 'Bracas!' She cursed. 'You and three. There's five of us.' She looked at Marissa, and they had a sort of silent conversation, within the span of a few seconds. Marissa turned to the group.

'The Ants will awaken as soon as somebody enters the nest. I've got an idea, though. Me and Desiree can maybe, just maybe, screen two of you while you enter the Hill. It'll be hard, but I think we can do it. We just need to choose one of you three to stay behind with us.' Desiree nodded.

'Humble means not trying to get noticed. Not attention-seeking. Not visible.'

[Jakeronijo]

"Wait, we do have on extra. Me, and three" He pointed to Alice, Jetch, then Marissa. "But desiree maybe you should stay behind, try to get as much info as possible. We have to make sure someone survives." Brian looked into the darkness of the Hill. "Other than that we need to get going."

 

Nick shielded his eyes from the snow as he rode back to camp on his board. The sun was about to set soon and dinner would be any minute. Dionysus would be strengthening the barrier to block out the unwanted snow soon so they could eat, then everyone would be heading indoors until morning. Nick felt there wasn't much to do during the winter. He noticed Dante and Holly dragging two demigods into Hermes cabin and decided to go down to see if they were okay. He pulled up next to the front door and peered in. "Need any help?" He asked.

[BlueEyes22]

Nate was shaking his head. Why now? Why me? Why is my quest falling apart before it's even started? Nate said to Xiaklez and Diana, the only campers still ready to go, "Well, I guess we better go get Dante. And what are we going to do about Marissa, I guess Tiaden went and made her leave the quest, so once again were on person short." He started walking to the Ampitheater, and soon Diana followed, and then Xiaklez.

[Corvidae]

'I'm good.' Dante turned to Nate.

'These guys, Alban and Ajax, they knew where an Alkahest Item is. But they've got some sort of memory loss, like the River Lethe. I think it's worth finding out about.'

Diana nodded. 'But look at them, they're exhausted to the point of collapsing.'

Dante looked at her strangely. 'How would you know?'

'Some of us actually have anything to do with our parent. God of healing, remember?' Diana rolled her eyes.

Dante stared blankly.

 

Zeus said, 'I'll summon Limos, then. The powers you've put into that parchment are more important than a few demigods.' He snapped his fingers, and an old, evidentaly starving man appeared.

'You summoned me, Lord Zeus?' Limos croaked weakly.

'You remember Harry, God of Shadows?'

Limos shook his head slowly. 'Never seen him before. Except... Wasn't there a party because of some new god? My apologies, Harry, for missing your coronation.' He bowed slightly. 'But I had much work to do with the famine.'

'Yes, yes,' Zeus waved his hand. 'We all know about Peru. But recently Harry says you visited him with a request to enchant a piece of parchment, for me, with a considerable portion of his own power.'

[Luna Lovegood]

"You did, except, you didn't look exactly like you. You were different. Remember? You said "Harry, son of Nyx and Dionysus? I'm Limos. Lord Zeus is creating a document to complete your arrival into godliness, because we haven't had any new gods for so long. The only thing is, we need you to enchant it with as much of your own power as possible. So we can ensure for good how much power you have and what powers you have. By the way, this may leave you feeling quite weak, so I suggest doing it somewhere safe." But wait... You looked young then. How can you be you?"

[Corvidae]

Limos shrugged. 'I prefer to take the form of my power, starvation, but younger? I don't think so. That wasn't me. I missed the coronation, I never even saw you before now. I think you've got the wrong god.' He paused. 'Though since us gods can change form, you have almost no way of figuring out who it was.'

Hermes appeared. 'Lord Zeus! It's Melinoe! Her powers have been drained!'

'WHAT!!?!' Zeus roared, before teleporting the group of gods to Melinoe's Cave, where the goddess of ghosts was floating weakly.

'Melinoe, what happened?' Zeus demanded.

'Phobos.' She groaned. 'Told me to enchant a book, to give Ares a Book of Fear. Needed Deimos and me to help, make the enchantment strong enough. Deimos and Phobos enchanted it somewhere else, though.'

Zeus was already gone.

'Deimos! Phobos!' He roared, after teleporting the group again.

'Yes?' Phobos asked politely. 'Go fish.' He muttered to Deimos. 'Any fives?'

'What's the matter?' Deimos asked. 'Go fish. Twos?'

'You two, as well as Melinoe, enchanted a book of fear, for unstated purposes. Why?'

Phobos stepped away guiltily. 'It was going to be a birthday present for Dad. You know, a new way to kill people. Dad'd like that.'

Daimos glared at his brother. 'I told you we should have asked him!' He gestured to Zeus.

'He was busy! How many times do I have to tell you, he was busy at the time!'

Phobos and Deimos began quarreling again, their friendly game of 'Go Fish!' forgotten.

[Luna Lovegood]

"Guys! I need to know who is doing this. That book or paper or whatever it is is too important to let disappear. I gave it the power of invisibility, and that may also extend to whoever owns it. We cannot let this happen. If Kronos gains this power, he will be able to mount a sneak attack on Olympus, and then all Hades will break loose. Now let's look calmly at the facts:

1) Someone has lied to us.

2) They can change their form

3) They are informed as to the going ons at Olympus

I don't really know what that means. Unless..."

[Corvidae]

Nikki fought off another wave of dizziness. She managed to get the duct tape over her mouth off almost completely; Scathe had done a poor job attaching it. Nikki somehow managed to get the stone on top of her cut, though it was sending waves of searing pain through her arm. Nikki froze as she realized that her vision had been extremely fuzzy, but now she saw, quite clearly, a monstrous beast, walking up to her. Nikki shook her head, willing the delusion she knew she was seeing to vanish, but it didn't.

 

Desiree shook her head. 'You need me and Marissa. Otherwise the myrmekes will kill you. One of you three has to stay behind. And Brian should go on, he has the Sword. Plus it was his prophecy. So Alice or Jecht.'

Desiree froze, swaying slightly. 'Oh gods, not already!' She clutched her head in her hands.

 

'A god.' Hermes finished his sentence for him. 'But who would be clever enough to decieve all of you?' His eyes widened, as he realized what he had just said. 'Apate's the goddess of deception, but...'

Zeus had already summoned Apate, who was now in the form of a young, strikingly beautiful Asian girl.

'Yes, Lord Zeus?' Her voice, quiet and melodic, had a slight lilting accent, much like Nikki's. 'What is it?'

 

Tiaden stopped, halfway between Camp and Zephyr's house. My sister hates me. My only real friend is on a quest that'll take her months to complete. Zephyr cares more about Xaiklez than me. Dante'd be happy to kill me. I'm alone. Nowhere to go. Nothing to do. No way to live. He bit his lip, a bad habit that he shared with his sister. No, a small voice in his head said. There's one other place.

'No!' Tiaden yelled, shaking his head, arguing with himself. 'I'm never going back to that place! Never!' Nowhere else to go. Nothing else to do. No choice. I should. 'I won't!' I must. 'I can't!' I will...

Tiaden spun on his heel and started walking towards the place he swore never to go back to.

 

'Well, well. Tiaden Nakron. I didn't think we'd ever see you again.' The man's voice was like a spear through Tiaden's heart.

'I survived.' Tiaden's voice was brusque with barely contained loathing.

Damian grinned maliciously. 'Good.'

[BlueEyes22]

"Well," Nate chipped in. He had been quiet until then. "We could try and help restore their memory, if thats possible. I don't think we can do it, because it's not exactly healing...But its worth a shot, right?" He looked at Diana, who seemed to be thinking either the same thing, or that Nate was a complete idiot. "But until then, we should take them inside the Big House and let them rest, maybe give them a little nectar and ambrosia."

[Corvidae]

Xaiklez looked puzzled. 'I'm confused. Who are you talking about?'

Dante took her off to the side, and explained to her about Alban and Ajax, while Diana nodded at Nate's statement. 'It's not healing, so I don't know how good I'll be, but we should let them rest in the Big House until they're well enough to tell us what they do remember. But we're going tomorrow... I don't think we'll be able to stay long enough to heal their injuries.;

Dante shook his head. 'With Marissa gone, we can't go at all. Now generally, I say that if somebody drives away a quester, they go get her back. But Tiaden just came, got rid of our fifth quester, and left. I'm starting to wonder about his actual intentions.'

'Shut up.' Xaiklez snapped. 'You just hate Tiaden because he tried to kill you.'

'And what about you? You'd be perfectly happy making friends with some idiot who tried to kill you?'

'I would after I found out why. Tiaden tried to kill you to - to protect me. He thought that you were going to kill me, alright? Because you told Zephyr you already had!' Xaiklez was obviously getting very distressed. 'So don't talk to me about getting attacked.'

As their argument mounted, Diana walked over, next to Nate, and she said, in a low voice, 'See, this is why Aphrodite's children and Artemis' hunters don't mix well. Keep a weapon ready in case they try to settle this the old-fashioned way.' Diana slowly drew her bow.

[BlueEyes22]

"Well, if we stay another day, it might be worth it to get that extra information, and besides, if we can help them, we should. And why are you saying 'me'? I can heal a little to you know." He cleared his throat and said, "I don't know anything about Alban and Ajax either, other than their name and that they know about Alkahest. So dante, do you think you could give us all a lesson about them?"

[Corvidae]

'Campers.' Dante said, still glaring angrily at Xaiklez. 'They're sons of some river god. Brothers. They fought in the battle for the Sword, with Titin. Disappeared shortly afterwards. Nobody's seen them since, 'till now. Nobody's certain, but there's a story that they came back from the dead.' He grinned. 'That makes five of us. Me, them, Desiree, and Marissa.'

'Seven.' Diana said quietly. Dante looked at her in surprise. 'If you count Damian, it's seven.'

Dante raised an eyebrow. 'Five plus one makes six, Diana. Not seven.'

'Yeah? How about five plus two? I died too, you know. Damian killed me, Zelkiax revived me, and Nikki saved me.' Diana shot back.

Xaiklez stiffened as she heard Zelkiax's name, and Dante stared at Dian. 'Nikki?'

Diana nodded resolutely. 'She enchanted my hairband. Made me immune to charms. Like Zelkiax's revenge powers. He... Oh gods, it was not pleasant. I had... I guess I still do... I should have told you guys this before you let me come on the quest, but... well, if we run across Zelkiax... I'm going to have to help him kill you.'

'What!?!' Dante demanded. 'Why!?'

Apparently, if you save a life, you own a life. And Zelkiax is son of the balance goddess, so... so I owe him until Damian dies. He said that I had to repay my debt by killing Damian. I think that also mean's I'm free as soon as Damian dies... But he has the Axe! How can he die now!?!'

[BlueEyes22]

"So, do you want to wait to go on the quest?" Nate asked Diana. If Diana would be forced to kill one of us, who knows what could happen. "Wait, on second thought, tell me later, because we should go move Alban and Ajax to the Big House now if they are that exhausted." Everyone looked at Nate. He blushed and said, "Well, thats what we should do...right?" Diana agreed and they went to go get the brothers from the Hermes cabin, and take them to the Big House.

[Corvidae]

'But wait.' Holly had been listening silently to the others, as they all began carrying Alban and Ajax's limp forms back to the Big House. 'Damian died. I killed him.'

Diana shook her head. 'He's back. I don't know how, but he's back. And I think that means that I'm screwed.'

Dante raised an ewebrow. 'Not if Zelkiax isn't there. Technically, if we can get moving soon enough, Zelkiax won't be able to find us. And it's not like he can decide like, 'Okay, Diana Kindred is now going to walk three steps forward.' If Zelkiax ain't there to tell you what to do, he can't tell you what to do.

Xaiklez shrugged. 'Damian's revival isn't your fault. Zelkiax can't pin it on you. Holly, on the other hand...' She trailed off.

'I know, I know.' Holly said sadly. 'I have to avoid Zelkiax for fear of turning into his slave.'

[Jakeronijo]

Alice looked down at her hands. The water began to run off them hitting the floor. Brian looked up alarmed. "But Alice is really good at her water control. Whether or not her parent is who she says she is can be dealt with later. But for now maybe it would be best for her to come with us. But I also know how Jetch feels about Nikki so maybe they both should come, But..." Alice shook her head. "No I'll stay, There probably isn't much water down there anyway." Brian opened his mouth to say something but there was no arguing.

[Corvidae]

' 'Kay.' Desiree nodded, and the boys began running towards the Ant Hill. As soon as the others were out of hearing distance, Marissa turned to Alice. 'Why do you try to hide your parent? You know we can't be decieved. Any more than you can drown, daughter of Poseidon.' At this time, Marissa used her own illusionary powers to make everyone else hear 'Amphitrite.' instead of 'Poseidon.'

Desiree was silent, focusing on hiding Brian and Jecht from the Myrmekes that would surely notice them soon.

 

Tiaden walked briskly through the small cottage Damian was using as his headquarters. Zelkiax had said that the campers would likely mount an attack on Damian's base, so everybody was getting ready for battle. Mace was examining a gauntlet that supposedly was immune to celestial bronze, Scathe was trying to fix his rocket pack in his power suit, and Damian... Damian stayed locked up in a room, a strange golden light shining through under the door. Zelkiax told Tiaden,

'Check on the prisoner.'

Tiaden nodded, and started walking downstairs, his scimitar drawn, just in case. His shield also activated, appearing on his arm suddenly. When he walked into the room, Nikki quickly managed to put up a weak illusion, barely strong enough to hide the fact that she had removed the tape Scathe had so poorly put over her mouth, and the rock she had balanced on the back of her hand was gone, too.

Tiaden took a step back, surprised, and in the belief that this girl was in fact his sister, he was saddened by the fact that she was going to die.

'I'm sorry.' He said, imagining that he saw a reproachful look in her eye. 'I have nowhere else to go.'