Humility - Gorillaz

AS SHE SLOWLY DISSOLVED, Y/N smiled happily. I have the coolest mom ever, he thought. Turning around, Y/N was met with the glowing face of Chiron, smiling earnestly. Behind him, stood Annabeth, who seemed to be holding a large duffel bag. Other campers also milled around, eager to see what he had to say.

"I can see it went well." He mused, a warm smile on his face. Y/N nodded, before turning to Annabeth.

"Sorry to break it to you, Wise girl, but my Mom is WAY cooler than yours." He smirked. Annabeth blushed slightly, before grumpily throwing the bag to his feet. Y/N stared at her quizzically, picking up the bag.

He unzipped the it, revealing some fresh t-shirts and shorts in his size, along with some other toiletries and necessities. Y/N glanced up to Chiron, confused. "What's this for?"

"Some just some belongings you will need." Y/N glanced back to cabin eleven.

"But I thought I already had a cabin?" He questioned. Chiron glanced behind him, suppressing a smile.

"You have been claimed, Y/N. You shall be moving into your own." He trotted up to him, putting a hand on Y/N's shoulder.

"But... she's technically not an Olympian." He murmured, looking down at his feet. "She doesn't even have her own cabin at camp." Chiron raised an eyebrow, gesturing behind him. As Y/N glanced behind, his eyes widened and he gasped loudly.

Emerging from the ground, as if it had always been there, was a beautiful new cabin. It stood gracefully, bathed in warm, inviting light. The cabin's design was unlike any other at Camp Half-Blood. It radiated an aura of serenity and comfort.

Y/N walked over to it, as if in a trance. Chiron followed, grinning from ear to ear.

The Hestia Cabin was constructed from polished cedarwood that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. The exterior was adorned with intricate carvings depicting hearths, flames, and homey scenes that exuded warmth. The roof was made of a golden material that glinted like the flickering flames of a hearth.

The front porch was adorned with cosy rocking chairs and wooden benches, inviting anyone to sit and bask in the cabin's peaceful ambiance. A large bronze hearth, a little smaller than the main campfire, sat in the middle. Small lanterns hung from the eaves, softly illuminating the area in the evening.

As Y/N approached, the cabin's entrance revealed itself. The double doors were carved with intricate patterns of dancing flames, and they swung open soundlessly as he drew near. Inside, the Hestia Cabin was a haven of tranquillity. Soft, warm colours dominated the interior, with plush armchairs and sofas arranged around a central hearth.

The hearth itself was a marvel to behold. It was a living entity, with flames that danced and crackled with life, yet never consumed the wood within. The fire exuded a soothing warmth that enveloped the entire cabin. Above the hearth, a beautiful tapestry depicted Hestia in all her glory.

Each corner of the cabin was adorned with comfortable beds, and soft, handwoven blankets that looked as if they had been spun from the very essence of home and comfort. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with volumes about the hearth, hospitality, and the importance of family.

At the back of the cabin, a fully-equipped kitchen awaited, with a large wooden table and chairs nearby. The scent of freshly baked bread and warm cookies filled the air, even though no one was currently cooking.

The Hestia Cabin was unlike any other, a sanctuary of warmth, comfort, and hospitality. It felt like a true home, a place where any demigod could find solace and respite from the trials of just existing.

Y/N turned to face the entrance, seeing Chiron and some other campers looking in with stunned expressions. He stuck his head in slightly, taking in the surroundings.

"I must admit," Chiron said, impressed. "I did not expect this at all."

As the campers continued to marvel at the cabin, Annabeth's expression remained a mixture of awe and nostalgia. She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the interior with a hint of longing.

"It... smells like home," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. Chiron nodded in agreement.

"It is all thanks to Hestia," he murmured. "No doubt this new cabin will become a place of solace and unity for all campers."

Chiron turned to me, a twinkle in his eye. "Y/N, I believe this cabin is a reflection of your mother's love for you. Make the most of it and use it as a source of strength and inspiration."

Y/N nodded hastily, still a little stunned. "Of course, Chiron." The centaur smiled at him, before turning to the rest of the campers.

"Campers, return to your cabins. I think it's best if we let Y/N have some time alone." Chiron's words hung in the air, and the other campers slowly began to disperse, heading back to their respective cabins. Some still cast curious glances toward the Hestia Cabin, while others simply looked content to have witnessed this remarkable moment.

Y/N turned to Chiron. "Thank you, Chiron," I said sincerely. "I appreciate everything you've done for me."

The centaur nodded with a warm smile. "You're most welcome, Y/N. But I think it's best to thank your mother, after all, she was the one that designed it."

With that, Chiron also left, making his way toward the camp's main area. As the campers cleared out, Y/N stood there, alone in the warm, inviting embrace of the Hestia Cabin. It was a moment of profound gratitude and reflection, and he couldn't help but feel that he had found his true home at Camp Half-Blood.

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.

.

The next morning, Y/N awoke on the softest bed he had ever felt. It was like sleeping on a cloud, and he couldn't help but smile as he stretched out comfortably. Best of all, Y/N didn't have to share it with anybody. The Hestia Cabin had plenty of room for all his clothes and belongings, and it felt like a personal sanctuary.

As he got ready for the day, Y/N couldn't help but marvel at the freedom he now had at Camp Half-Blood. He could pick all his own activities, call "lights out" whenever he felt like it, and not have to worry about anyone else's preferences. It was an incredible feeling.

And so, Y/N's days at camp began to unfold. He quickly discovered that being a child of Hestia came with its own unique perks. The warmth and hospitality that radiated from my cabin seemed to draw others in like a magnet.

He quickly became one of the more popular campers. Everyone wanted to hang out with Y/N, whether it was by the hearth in the Hestia Cabin, where they shared stories and food, or at various camp activities and training sessions. His training wasn't lonely either. He learned sword fighting from the Ares kids, archery with Apollo, and even Greek lessons with Athena.

Hestia was also right about another thing. Y/N was powerful. He seemed to have an interesting control over fire, able to bend and manipulate it as he wished. A source was still needed, and the  Stoll brothers kept trying to convince him to carry a lighter. Since being claimed, his cooking skills head also dramatically improved, and he was cooking up gourmet dishes that even the Aphrodite girls found impressive, describing his culinary skills as 'sexy', and 'attractive', Which was... a compliment? Y/N's words also had an effect on people, not as potent as charm speaking, as Annabeth pointed out, but effective in diffusing conflicts.

Ge also talked to, 'Lucy', quite a lot, often telling stories about his father and the past. For a goddess, she seemed like one of the most down-to-earth beings he had ever met. Y/N almost felt spoiled by her at times, and he could tell he got some envious looks from other campers.

Y/N also felt incredibly guilty.

Ever since Percy had been claimed, he'd been separated out as if he had some rare disease. Nobody mentioned the hellhound directly to his face, but whenever he wasn't around, it was always brought up. The attack seemed to have scared everybody. It sent two messages: one, that he was the son of the Sea God; and two, monsters would stop at nothing to kill Percy. They could even invade a camp that had always been considered safe.

Y/N made an effort to engage with Percy, trying to act casual and friendly. But it was evident that he was going through a tough time. Campers avoided training with him, and he ended up having private lessons with Luke, the camp's senior demigod.

One morning, Y/N was hanging out with the Clarisse and some of the Ares kids at the deckchairs. They were a rowdy bunch, shouting and laughing, but it felt like a big, boisterous family. There was something magical about the front deck - whenever people gathered there, all conflicts seemed to dissolve. Bonds grew stronger, and the usual rivalries that existed at camp seemed to disappear.

As he sat there with the campers from the Ares cabin, Y/N heard the sound of footsteps approaching. He turned to the right and saw Percy, nervously making his way towards the cabin.

The atmosphere grew tense as Percy neared them. The Ares campers exchanged angry glances, and Y/N could sense their annoyance.

Percy hesitated for a moment, looking for a place to sit. That's when things took a turn. Clarisse stood up, her hands balling into fists.

"Jackson," she spat, her voice dripping with disdain. She stomped over to him, snarling.

Y/N jumped to his feet, standing between Clarisse and Percy. Y/N raised his hands in a calming gesture, trying to prevent any violence from erupting.

"Hey, let's not do this," Y/N urged, his voice firm but soothing. "Percy is one of us. Let's not fight." Clarisse glanced at Y/N, her expression softening slightly.

"Y/N, you're too nice for your own good," she grumbled, before turning to her siblings. "Come on, guys, I don't want to be near this loser."

Reluctantly, the Ares campers followed Clarisse away from the front porch, grumbling and shooting resentful glances at Percy. Y/N turned back to Percy, offering a reassuring smile.

"Don't mind them," he said with a reassuring smile. "You're welcome here anytime." Percy nodded, his gratitude evident in his eyes as he finally found a seat.

As we sat in a comfortable silence, Y/N decided to offer Percy a drink. He got up from his chair and headed over to a particular magic water pitcher that Hestia had given him. Filling a cup, Y/N turned to Percy and asked, "Want a drink?"

He nodded, a sullen expression still on his face. Y/N poured him a cup, and a familiar caramel liquid flowed from the pitcher, splashing into the cup. Y/N raised an eyebrow quizzically and couldn't help but smirk a little.

"Never thought of you as a Coke guy," He teased with a playful smile. Percy seemed a bit embarrassed but took the cup gratefully.

As he took a long sip, he seemed lost in thought. Y/N sensed that something was troubling him deeply, so he decided to take the initiative.

"Something bothering you?" I asked gently. Percy looked a bit startled but then settled back into his chair. He nodded miserably.

"I hate it here, Y/N," he confessed in a low voice. "Just when I'd started to feel accepted, to feel I had a home in cabin eleven and I might be a normal kid, I got claimed. Now everyone either hates or is afraid of me."

Y/N nodded sympathetically. "You know, I don't hate you," He assured him.

He rolled his eyes jokingly. "Yeah, only because it's basically your job to love everyone," he said with a half-smile.

Y/N chuckled softly. "Well, that may be sort of true." He admitted. "But I'm not talking to you out of pity or obligation. I genuinely want to be your friend."

Percy seemed taken aback for a moment, and then a small, grateful smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Thanks, Y/N. That means a lot." Y/N returned the smile, taking a sip of his own hot chocolate.

As they sat in a comfortable silence, Y/N heard a faint clopping sound coming from the Big House. Grover walked up to them, clearly a little flustered. As he reached the front porch, Y/N smiled, gesturing to the seat beside him. Grover smiled warmly but shook his head, looking worried.

"Mr. D wants to see you, Percy," Grover informed him, fidgeting with his hands.

Percy's brows furrowed in confusion. "Why?"

Grover hesitated for a moment, his expression uneasy. "He wants to discuss something with you. I'd better let him explain."

Y/N couldn't help but feel curious about the situation. "Can I come?" he asked excitedly. Grover pondered this for a moment before giving a reluctant nod.

As he gazed up at the sky, Y/N noticed a strange phenomenon. Over Long Island Sound, the sky looked like ink soup coming to a boil, and a hazy curtain of rain was moving in their direction. Y/N questioned Grover if they needed an umbrella.

"No," he said. "It never rains here unless we want it to."

Y/N pointed at the storm. "What the heck is that, then?"

Grover glanced uneasily at the sky. "It'll pass around us. Bad weather always does."

But this storm... this one was huge. The campers seemed tense, and their eyes were fixed on the approaching tempest.

Grover, Percy, and Y/N walked up to the front porch of the Big House. Dionysus sat at the pinochle table in his tiger-striped Hawaiian shirt, holding his Diet Coke, just as he had on Y/N's first day. Chiron sat across the table in his fake wheelchair. They were playing against invisible opponents-two sets of cards hovering in the air.

"Well, well," Mr. D said with a wry smile without looking up. "Our little celebrities."

"It's good to see you, Sir," Y/N greeted him warmly. He seemed to ease up a bit, sitting comfortably in his chair.

"Polite as always, Y/N," he replied. Beside me, Percy stiffened, waiting.

"Come closer, Peter," Mr. D said. "And don't expect me to kowtow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle-Beard is your father." A net of lightning flashed across the clouds, and thunder shook the windows of the house.

"Blah, blah, blah," Dionysus said dismissively. Chiron feigned interest in his pinochle cards, and Grover cowered by the railing, his hooves clopping back and forth. "If I had my way," Dionysus continued, "I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames. We'd sweep up the ashes and be done with a lot of trouble. But Chiron seems to feel this would be against my mission at this cursed camp: to keep you little brats safe from harm."

"Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D," Chiron interjected.

"Nonsense," Dionysus retorted. "The boy wouldn't feel a thing. Nevertheless, I've agreed to restrain myself. I'm thinking of turning you into a dolphin instead, sending you back to your father."

"Sir, please..." Y/N pleaded.

"Oh, all right," Dionysus relented. "There's one more option. But it's deadly foolishness." Dionysus rose, and the invisible players' cards dropped to the table. "I'm off to Olympus for an emergency meeting. If the boy is still here when I get back, I'll turn him into an Atlantic bottlenose. Do you understand? And Perseus Jackson, if you're at all smart, you'll see that's a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do."

Dionysus picked up a playing card, twisted it, and it became a plastic rectangle. A credit card? No. A security pass. He snapped his fingers. The air seemed to fold and bend around him. He became a hologram, then a wind, then he was gone, leaving only the smell of fresh-pressed grapes lingering behind.

Chiron smiled at Them, but he looked tired and strained. "Sit, Y/N and Percy, please. And you, Grover." They did. Chiron laid his cards on the table, a winning hand he hadn't gotten to use.

"Tell me, Percy," he said. "What did you make of the hellhound?" Just hearing the name made Y/N shudder. Percy seemed to think for a moment, before answering.

"It scared me," he said. "If Y/N hadn't killed it, I'd be dead."

"You'll meet worse, Percy. Far worse, before you're done." Chiron replied solemnly.

"Done . . . with what?" Percy questioned.

"Your quest, of course. Will you accept it?" Percy glanced at Grover, who seemed to be crossing his fingers.

"Um, sir," He said, "you haven't told me what it is yet."

Chiron grimaced. "Well, that's the hard part, the details." Thunder rumbled across the valley. The storm clouds had now reached the edge of the beach. As far as Y/N could see, the sky and the sea were boiling together.

"Poseidon and Zeus," Percy said. "They're fighting over something valuable . . . something that was stolen, aren't they?"

Chiron and Grover exchanged looks. Chiron sat forward in his wheelchair. "How did you know that?"

Percy seemed embarrassed, the tips of his ears turning pink. "The weather since Christmas has been weird, like the sea and the sky are fighting. Then I talked to Annabeth, and she'd overheard something about a theft. And... I've also been having these dreams." Percy explained.

"Same with me, actually." Y/N added. "Not the dreams, but I've been talking to my mother." Y/N shot Percy an apologetic look. "She mentioned something about how, 'Zeus has been extra angry lately'. And that, 'something important was taken from him'."

"I knew it," Grover said. "Hush, satyr," Chiron ordered.

"But it is his quest!" Grover's eyes were bright with excitement. "It must be!"

"Only the Oracle can determine." Chiron stroked his bristly beard. "Nevertheless, Percy, you are correct. Your father and Zeus are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise: a lightning bolt."

Y/N laughed nervously. "A what?"

"Do not take this lightly, Y/N." Chiron warned. "I'm not talking about some tinfoil-covered zigzag you'd see in a second-grade play. I'm talking about a two-foot-long cylinder of high-grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives."

"Oh."

"Zeus's master bolt," Chiron said, getting worked up now. "The symbol of his power, from which all other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclopes for the war against the Titans, the bolt that sheered the top off Mount Etna and hurled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt, which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers."

"And it's missing?" Y/N questioned.

"Stolen," Chiron said.

"By who?"

"By whom," Chiron corrected. "By Percy." Percy's mouth fell open. "At least"-Chiron held up a hand-"that's what Zeus thinks. During the winter solstice, at the last council of the gods, Zeus and Poseidon had an argument. The usual nonsense: 'Mother Rhea always liked you best,' 'Air disasters are more spectacular than sea disasters,' et cetera. Afterward, Zeus realized his master bolt was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose. He immediately blamed Poseidon." Chiron explained.

"Now, a god cannot usurp another god's symbol of power directly-that is forbidden by the most ancient of divine laws. But Zeus believes your father convinced a human hero to take it."

"But I didn't-" Percy protested.

"Patience and listen, child," Chiron said. "Zeus has good reason to be suspicious. The forges of the Cyclopes are under the ocean, which gives Poseidon some influence over the makers of his brother's lightning. Zeus believes Poseidon has taken the master bolt, and is now secretly having the Cyclopes build an arsenal of illegal copies, which might be used to topple Zeus from his throne."

"The only thing Zeus wasn't sure about