Hey peeps! What's up? I feel terrible for not updating in soooooo long. But I have (perhaps? Hopefully) made up for that in my longest chapter yet! (over 1k words) Please forgive me! *dodges snowballs from up north* HEY! THERE IS NO SNOW WHERE I LIVE! (Your tantrum is invalid).

Beryllium Tantalum, this is for you!

Sally's Blessing: (The Last Olympian)

I was minding my own business when suddenly there was a wall of fur in the doorway, blocking my path. "Who put this wall of fur in the doorway?" I shouted.

"Percy?" Sally asked. "Are you here? Are you all right?"

"I'm here!" I hear Percy shout in reply.

I then heard a huge WOOF and heard all the pictures on the walls of the living room be knocked off.

Five minutes later, Mrs. O'Leary situated herself in the living room with her head in the kitchen, where the rest of us were sitting. I got the pitcher of lemonade from the fridge and poured some for everyone, while Sally tossed Mrs. O'Leary a ten pound tube of ground beef.

Percy explained his and Nico's adventures in Connecticut. Afterwards, I was stunned.

"So it's true," I said. "All the talk about monsters, and being a demigod… it's really true." Percy nodded in assurance.

"Sorry about Mrs. O'Leary," Percy said, "destroying the living room and all."

I laughed. "Are you kidding? This is awesome! I mean, when I saw the hoofprints on the Prius, I thought maybe. But this!" I patted Mrs. O'Leary's snout, and I heard a rattling BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, which shook the entire apartment. Percy smiled.

"Thanks for not freaking out," he said.

"Oh, I'm freaking out," I assured Percy. "I just think it's awesome!"

"Yeah, well," Percy began, "you may not be so excited when you hear what's happening."

Percy explained to Sally and I about the gods, Typhon, the upcoming war, and Nico's plan. Nico himself was not talking.

Sally was silent for a bit. I could tell all she wanted was for Percy to stay home, and stay safe.

"Percy, it's dangerous, even for you."

"Mom, I know. I could die. Nico explained that. But if we don't try—"

"We'll all die," Nico finished. "Ms. Jackson, we don't stand a chance against an invasion. And there will be an invasion."

I was in a state of disbelief.

" New York?" I asked. "Is that even possible? How could we not see the… the monsters?" It felt so weird to say that word… monsters. And my stepson, Percy, fights them?

"I don't know. I don't see how Kronos could just march into Manhattan, but the Mist is strong. Typhon is trampling across the country right now, and mortals think he's a storm system." Percy clarified.

"Ms. Jackson," Nico addressed Sally, "Percy needs your blessing. The process has to start that way. I wasn't sure until we met Luke's mom, but now I'm positive. This has only been done successfully twice before. Both times, the mother had to give her blessing. She had to be willing to let her son take the risk."

Sally looked frantic. She felt scared, I realized. Her only son most likely going to his death before the war even starts.

"You want me to bless this? It's crazy. Percy, please—" Sally pleaded.

"Mom, I can't do this without you."

"And if you survive this… this process?" Sally sounded so scared. I wanted to comfort her, but I decided it was the wrong time. Anyway, I've never been in this situation before.

"Then I go to war," Percy said. "Me against Kronos. And only one of us will survive." I could tell that Percy was holding something back, a vital piece of information that could make his mom outright refuse to give him her blessing. Sally's eyes were moist with tears.

"You're my son, I can't just…" I noticed the last thing Percy wanted to do was push her and make her cry. He looked to me for backup. I understood that if Percy didn't go through with this, the world would end. We would all die. The fate of the world rested on Percy's shoulders… literally, as it had in the past.

"Sally." I put my hands on Sally's. "I can't claim to know what you and Percy have been going through all these years. But it sounds to me… it sounds like Percy is doing something noble. I wish I had that much courage." I glanced over at Percy. He looked touched.

Sally clearly went through an internal battle. Finally, she said,

"Percy, I give you my blessing." I was expecting something dramatic, but that didn't happen. Nothing glowed, no special lights appeared. Percy looked over at Nico, who nodded. "It's time."

"Percy, one last thing. If you…if you survive this fight with Kronos, send me a sign." Sally dug through her overly large purse, and finally found her cell phone. She handed it to Percy.

"Mom, you know demigods and phones—" Percy protested.

"I know. But just in case," Sally responded. "If you're not able to call…maybe a sign that I could see from anywhere in Manhattan."

"Like Theseus," I suggested. It was just brought to my mind with what Sally requested. "He was supposed to raise white sails when he came home to Athens." After finishing that sentence, I realized maybe it wasn't the best historical reference in the world.

"Except he forgot. And his father jumped off the palace roof in despair," Nico mumbled. "But other than that it was a great idea." I winced. I probably shouldn't have mentioned Theseus or brought him up because of that.

"What about a flag or flare?" Sally asked. "From Olympus—the Empire State Building."

Percy grinned. "Something blue."

"Yes," Sally nodded. "I'll watch for a blue signal. And I'll try to avoid jumping off palace roofs." I let out a small breath of air that I didn't realize I was holding.

Sally hugged Percy tightly, and I shook his hand. He and Nico then walked towards the doorway of the kitchen.

"Sorry, girl," I heard Percy say. "Shadow travel time again." Mrs. O'Leary whimpered and covered her snout with her giant paws. I still couldn't get over the fact that my stepson had a hellhound for a pet. I concluded that I probably never would.

"Where now?" Percy asked Nico. "Los Angeles?" I felt baffled. So many things in this new understanding of the Greek gods would always leave me that way. Such as the entrance to the Underworld being in a recording studio located in LA. And then don't forget the hellhounds and half-gods in the apartment now.

"No need," Nico replied. "There's a closer entrance to the Underworld." My eyes bulged out of my head. The trio disappeared into the shadows before I had the chance to say, "WHAT?"

PLEASE tell me what you think and any changes that need to be made!

-ClearBear