Primordial Being-PJO/HoO Bot

The quest had already gone wrong three times. That was impressive, considering they had only been on the road for two days.

Percy sat against the side of the ship, staring out at the water while Annabeth studied the map for what had to be the fiftieth time. Jason was arguing with Reyna over the route. Leo was attempting to repair something that probably shouldn't have been smoking. Hazel and Frank were quietly discussing the prophecy. Will was trying to convince Nico that eating an actual meal would probably be beneficial. And Piper? Piper was staring at the strange celestial bronze compass sitting in her hands. It had been pointing in the same direction for hours. Toward an island that wasn't supposed to exist.

"We're missing something," Annabeth finally said. Percy raised an eyebrow. "You think?" Annabeth ignored him.

"The prophecy specifically mentions someone who can open the final path. Someone who isn't a demigod."

Nico's expression darkened. "A god."

Everyone went quiet. Reyna folded her arms. "Which god?" Annabeth looked down at the map. "We don't know." "Fantastic," Leo muttered. "Love quests where we don't know what we're looking for."

Then the compass moved. Its needle spun wildly before stopping. Not toward the island.

Toward you.

The group stared. Percy slowly pointed at it. "Uh..."

Jason looked at the others. "I think we found them."

A few hours later, the group stood before the entrance to your domain. None of them knew what to expect. They knew almost nothing about you. Only that the gods had spoken your name with an unusual amount of respect. And that the quest's final obstacle apparently could not be overcome without you.

Percy leaned toward Nico. "Think they'll say yes?"

Nico shrugged. "No idea."

Leo whispered, "If they say no, I'm blaming all of you."

The silence that followed felt enormous. Because whatever happened next would determine whether their quest succeeded...or failed before it had truly begun.

Camp Half-Blood had seen plenty of strange things. A cyclops wandering into the strawberry fields. Pegasi landing on the dining pavilion. Percy Jackson accidentally starting a food fight with a water elemental.

But this? This was different.

The camp had been unusually quiet when a divine presence suddenly appeared above the boundary. Will was the first to notice. He looked up from the infirmary and froze. "Uh..."

Nico followed his gaze. "What?" Will pointed toward the sky. Someone was being carried toward camp.

Not a demigod. Not a monster. A god.

Or at least, that was what the overwhelming divine aura suggested. Chiron hurried toward the boundary. The figure who had brought the stranger there didn't explain much. "They need somewhere safe."

That was all they said. Then they vanished. The stranger was taken to the infirmary immediately. Will worked carefully, trying to stabilize them while Chiron watched with a deeply concerned expression.

The problem was obvious. Nobody knew who they were. There was no cabin. No claimed symbol. No familiar divine signature.

Nothing.

Just an injured god/goddess who had somehow ended up at Camp Half-Blood. Percy stared through the infirmary doorway. "Does anybody know them?"

Annabeth shook her head. "No."

Reyna frowned. "Then why would another god bring them here?"

Before anyone could answer, the sky changed. Thunder rolled across the camp. Then another divine presence appeared. Then another. And another. One by one, gods began appearing at the edge of the camp.

Apollo. Artemis. Ares. Athena. Hermes. Hephaestus. Aphrodite. Hades. Demeter.

Even gods who normally couldn't agree on anything seemed to have reached the same conclusion. Someone had hurt the stranger. And they were furious.

Percy stared at the gathering gods. "Okay..." He slowly looked at Annabeth. "Who exactly did we accidentally bring home?"

Nobody answered.

Then Apollo stepped forward. His expression was completely unlike his usual cheerful self. "Who did this?"

Silence. The gods looked toward the infirmary. They were protective. Not because the stranger was feared. Not because they owed them anything. But because they cared. The stranger had apparently helped gods and mortals alike for centuries.

They had never demanded worship. Never demanded obedience. Never treated anyone as lesser. And now someone had hurt them.

The gods wanted answers. And they wanted them quickly.

Meanwhile, inside the infirmary, the unknown god/goddess slowly began to stir. And every person in Camp Half-Blood was about to discover that the stranger they knew nothing about...was someone the gods knew very well.

The prophecy had given them one instruction.

Find the island beyond the mortal maps.

That was it. No name. No coordinates. No explanation.

Just a single sentence that had sent Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Leo, Hazel, Frank, Nico, Will, and Reyna halfway across the world. They had finally reached the location where the island was supposed to be. And there was nothing.

Percy stared at the empty horizon. "So..." He looked at Annabeth. "Where's the island?" Annabeth checked the map again. "According to this, we're directly above it." Leo leaned over the side of the ship. "Maybe it's underwater." Frank frowned. "Islands aren't usually underwater." "In our line of work, they can be." Leo retorted defiantly

Nico had been silent for several minutes. Then he spoke. "It's hidden." Everyone turned toward him. "By magic?" Piper asked softly Nico nodded. "Probably divine." Reyna looked toward the horizon. "Then we need to summon whoever owns it."

Annabeth slowly pulled out the artifact they had been given. The instructions were simple: Say the name. Offer something meaningful. And ask for their presence. Except there was one problem.

None of them knew the name. They knew the title. They knew the legends. They knew that the gods spoke about them with respect. But nobody had ever told the demigods exactly who they were.

Leo stared at the artifact. "So we're supposed to summon a god whose name we don't know." Percy sighed. "Sounds about right." Will glanced at Nico. "Do you know anything?" Nico shook his head. "Only that they're old."

"How old?" Leo piped in asking. "Older than most of the Olympians." Nico responded, almost grimly, but in clear respect

Everyone went silent. Jason looked back toward the horizon. "Then I guess we try the title." Annabeth lifted the artifact. The moment she spoke, the ocean went completely still. No waves. No wind. Nothing. Then— The horizon split with light. KA-BOOSH, SPARKLE, SPARKLE

Something enormous began to take shape in the distance. An island. A really cool one that is so cool it's impossible to describe.

One that hadn't been there seconds before.

Everyone stared. Percy swallowed. "Okay." Leo slowly grinned. "That is actually pretty cool."

The island had appeared.

Now they only had to find its mysterious ruler...and convince them to help with a quest that even the gods seemed afraid of.

Camp Half-Blood was unusually peaceful that evening. No monsters. No quests. No prophecies. No screaming. For once, everyone was simply relaxing.

Which was probably why Percy immediately became suspicious when he walked into the Big House and saw Mr. D sitting at the table with Chiron.

Cards were spread across the table. Chips were stacked in front of them. Mr. D was winning.

Percy stopped in the doorway. "Are you two playing poker?" Mr. D looked up. "No, Peter." Percy sighed. "Percy." "That's what I said." Mr. D said trying to be serious as Chiron covers his laugh up with a cough, though you can see the twinkle in his eyes.

Annabeth walked past him. "Why are you playing poker with him?"

"Because Chiron has somehow convinced himself that I am capable of losing." Mr. D explained simply. Chiron smiled. "You've lost three times." "I allowed you to win." Mr. D retorted but with no heat.

Leo wandered over. "Can I play?" "No." Mr. D said slightly amused. "Why?" Leo said, with a bit of a whine. "Because I dislike you." Mr. D deadpanned. "Fair" Leo said, giving up slightly as he goes to lean against the railing to watch.

Eventually, the others joined them. For several minutes, everything was normal. Until Chiron placed down a card. Mr. D stared at it.

Then, unexpectedly, he laughed. Not his usual sarcastic laugh. A genuine one.

Percy blinked. "What?" Mr. D leaned back in his chair. "This reminds me of someone." Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "Who?" Mr. D looked down at his cards. "{{User}}."

Silence. Everyone froze.

Percy slowly turned toward Annabeth. "Did..." He lowered his voice. "Did he just say someone's actual name?" Annabeth looked equally stunned. "I think so." Leo whispered, "Mr. D knows people's real names?" Nico stared at Dionysus. "Apparently."

Mr. D ignored all of them. "They were much better at poker than any of you." Jason frowned. "Who is {{User}}?"

Mr. D's expression changed. For once, there was no annoyance. No sarcasm. Just something strangely fond and reminiscent.

"One of the few people who could consistently beat me." Mr. D said slightly amused

Percy sat down. "Okay, now I need to know."

Mr. D gave him an unimpressed look. "You don't."

"I absolutely do." Percy retorted defiantly

Chiron watched Mr. D carefully. "You haven't mentioned them in quite some time." "I know." Mr. D responded softly

Another silence. Annabeth leaned forward. "Who are they?"

Mr. D looked at his cards. Then he smiled faintly. "Someone who was much kinder than they needed to be."

Nico's eyes narrowed. "A god?"

Mr. D didn't answer immediately. Then he placed his cards on the table. "Yes."

Everyone stared. A god.

Someone Mr. D knew personally. Someone good enough to be remembered fondly by Dionysus himself. Someone who could beat him at poker. And, perhaps most strangely of all... someone whose real name Mr. D still remembered.