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I woke up to find Percy sleeping on my shoulder. His arms were wrapped protectively around me. I blushed at this. I saw a city in front of us.

"Glad your awake, Sunshine." Clarisse said, using the nickname she made up for me ever since I was 7.

I asked.

"Florida. Miami to be exact." Annabeth answered.

"You should wake up Percy." Grover said. "The hippocampi are acting funny."

I slightly turned around. I placed my hand on Percy's shoulder.

"5 more minutes." He mumbled.

I splashed some sea water on him. I giggled at his reaction. He looked around and saw the city in front of us.

"Where are we?" He asked tiredly, while wiping the water off his face.

Percy looked at them since he could actually tell what they were thinking. The hippocampi started to slow down. They started whinnying and swam in circles, sniffing the water. They didn't look happy. One of them sneezed.

I asked.

"This is as far as they'll take us." Percy said. "There's too many humans. Too much pollution. We'll have to swim to shore on our own."

We thanked Rainbow and his friends for the ride. Tyson cried a little as he hugged Rainbow around the neck and said goodbye.

We swam for the shore with help with the waves that were pushing us forward. We were back in the mortal world. Nobody really paid attention to us as we wandered along the cruise line docks. The Fleece tranformed into a red-and-gold high school leather jacket with a glittery Omega on the pocket.

Annabeth ran towards the nearest newspaper box to check the date.

"It's June 18th! We've been gone from camp for ten days!"

"What?!" Percy said.

"That's impossible!" Clarisse said.

Percy looked at me.

"(Y/N), how much time does Thalia's tree have?" He asked.

I estimated the time of the medicine Will used on Thalia's tree.

"How are we supposed to do that." Clarisse asked, her voice trembled. "We're hundreds of miles away with no money, and no ride. This is just like the Oracle said."

Then she looked at Percy with rage in her eyes.

"This is all your fault, Jackson! If you hadn't came along-"

I yelled.

"Clarisse, how could you that? If it wasn't for him-" Annabeth started but then got cut off by Percy.

"Stop it!" Percy yelled.

I huffed and crossed my arms over my chest. Clarisse put her head in hands. Annabeth stomped her foot in frustration.

"Clarisse," Percy said, "what exactly did the Oracle tell you?"

I nearly forgotten that this was still Clarisse's quest.

Clarisse looked up and took a deep breath and recited her prophecy:

"You shall sail the iron ship with warriors of bone, You shall find what you seek and make it your own, But despair for your life entombed within stone, And fail without friends, to ride home alone."

"Ouch," Grover mumbled.

"No...wait a minute. I've got it." Percy said.

I looked at him, confused. He searched for his pocket but found nothing.

"Does anybody have any drachmas?"

Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson shook their heads. My hands went to my pockets. I had a dozen golden drachmas. I left one in my pocket just in case. I handed Percy the drachmas. He counted them and grinned. Then he handed them to Clarisse.

"Percy what are you doing?" Annabeth asked.

"Clarisse you'll go back by taxi. (Y/N), give her the Fleece. Annabeth, hail the Gray Sisters taxi." Percy instructed.

We all looked at him as if he was crazy but did what he said. I handed Clarisse the Fleece as Percy placed the drachmas into its pockets. Annabeth spoke in Greek for the taxi. Clarisse looked at Percy.

"Wait, you'd let me-"

"It's your quest," Percy said. "And we only have enough for one ride for one person. Besides that's what the prophecy meant: you'd fail without friends, meaning you'd need our help, but you'd have to ride home alone. You have to get the Fleece back safely."

Clarisse thought about it first before she agreed.

"You can count on me. I won't fail." Clarisse said as she climbed onto the Grey Sisters taxi.

I said.

The old looking cab peeled away leaving us in a cloud of exhaust. The Fleece was on its way. Thalia's tree will be saved.

"Percy," Annabeth said, "that was so-"

"Generous?" Grover offered.

"Insane," Annabeth corrected. "You're betting the lives of everybody at Camp that Clarisse will get the Fleece safely back by tonight?"

"It's her quest." Percy said.

I looked at Annabeth.

I tried to reason with her.

"Percy and (Y/N) are nice." Tyson said.

"Percy and (Y/N) are too nice...and that's why they're perfect for each other." Annabeth smirked as she saw our blushing faces.

The others laughed at us. I buried my blushing face into Percy's shoulder. Percy laughed and ran his hand through my hair.

"Come on guys," Percy said as he slung his arm over my shoulder.

"Let's find another way home."

And that's when we turned around to find a sword pointing at us.

😁✌