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After listening to Triton's alarming visions, Percy wasted not another second as he hopped on his hippocampus Rainbow and sped off through the waves in search of Proteus. Triton had told Percy that Proteus no longer dwelt in the Aegean Sea but in the direction of the Americas, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on one of the Azores' islands. As Percy approached the archipelago he couldn't help but think about Triton's dream and ponder what kind of force could be powerful enough to take down his father Poseidon.
Percy reached the strait of islands and looked down at Rainbow and asked, "Where do you think we should start, boy?" Instead of Rainbow's response, a whirlpool began to form around the pair. Percy urged Rainbow towards the shore of the nearest island but the whirlpool must've been seventy-five feet in diameter. From out of the circling pool of water appeared the ugliest sea-creature Percy had ever seen; it was a serpentine-like fish with long rows of sharp teeth. As it lunged for him and Rainbow, Percy unsheathed Riptide and parried it off. Usually, the water was his domain but not against this creature. He tried to draw on the water around him for aid but with one swift swoop of the beast's tail, Percy and Rainbow were pinned. Ever so slowly its head inched closer examining its potential next meal.
Suddenly the swirling water around them began to warm and calm to a halt as if a tropical current suddenly flowed past. Slowly like the coming in of the tide he began to hear a voice and the warm "current" engulfed all the water. The voice was slow and deep as if matching the warmth of the water around him but could see no one responsible for it. "My dear boy, if you're looking for Proteus you're doing a terrible job." The sea creature hearing the voice released Percy and swam for its life back into the depths of the ocean.
Percy was relieved that the creature was scared off and frightened at the thought of who could possibly scare it off replied, "I thank you for your aid even if it is just to finish me off yourself but I will not be stopped by the forces of the trench I will find Proteus." The voice replied, "I am not here to slay my step-grandson..." Percy confused replied back, "Who are you, show yourself?" The deep voice replied, "I am known by Pontus. I am the primordial god of the waters. I am also the father of Amphitrite, wife to your father Poseidon, and mother of your half-brother Triton. I am the life of water itself who comes to your aid when you call and will for it."
Percy thanked his newly acquainted step-relative who explained that the creature he met was Cetus one of the mightiest of the deep but definitely not the deadliest. Pontus told Percy that he could find Proteus on the northmost island of the Azores. Percy thanked him and said, "before you go I must ask, Triton believes a dark evil is to rise out of the ocean one to overthrow Poseidon and your daughter Amphitrite. If this time should come to pass I beseech your kindness once more." To this Oceanus answered, "Percy I shall always be at the aid of my daughter and those who wish her goodwill; I will be there when the hour is upon us." With that, the warmth of the water around Percy cooled to normal and he knew Oceanus was gone once more.
Once more riding Rainbow Percy raced to the Azores and came upon Proteus who confirmed that Triton's suspicions. Proteus had seen the same visions and had already begun calling on any and all of his allies and friends. Proteus then explained, "I know exactly where these dark forces will emerge from and I must talk strategy with Triton. I shall accompany you back to the palace." All of a sudden like a giant wave crashing on the shore, the sound of a conch shell resonated through the water. Proteus called upon his own hippocampus and Percy called for Rainbow and the two raced towards the direction of the conch shell, the direction of Posideon's palace.
Author's Note:
For all you Lightning Thief lovers this is where Percy Jackson makes his debut in my storybook! He's a great protagonist to fill the role of the demi-god who has to do all the slack work like finding Proteus. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Percy, he is a demi-god and the son of Poseidon (his mother being a human). He exists in the Rick Riordan stories: The Lightning Thief where he learns about his divine background and attends a summer camp called Camp Halfblood for demi-god children of the Greek Gods. Percy, due to his half-god blood, is able to call upon the water to his will, breathe underwater, and wield the mystical weapon called Riptide (Anaklusmos). I personally loved all these books and just had to incorporate Percy away from all the drama and craziness of Camp Halfblood or Camp Jupiter (the Roman Demigod camp). I also included "Rainbow" Percy's hippocampus. Hippocampi were created by Poseidon and are half horse half fish beast/pets of the sea; Poseidon is also known as the god of horses.
Now, most of you probably don't know much about Pontus just like I hadn't. Pontus and Oceanus and their lores overlap. They are listed similarly but not the same; both holding the title of primordial god of the sea and but Pontus exists as the sea personified. Oceanus' lore contains more stories about him and his lineage. Amphitrite is descended from Pontus listed as the grandfather and Nereus listed as the father- but both Pontus and Oceanus have Gaia listed as their mother. The thing to note is that during the overthrow of Uranus by the Titans (Oceanus's siblings) he did not take part but regardless was given domain over all the waters of the earth. Then during the Titanomachy Oceanus again did not play a part. So when the Olympian gods overthrew Kronos and the Titans Oceanus did not have to pay for the sins of his siblings. When Poseidon was given control of the seas it was thought he resided in the Mediterranean Sea and so Oceanus is thought to have headed west to the Atlantic.
I decided to take Proteus away from the Aegean Sea which is found near Greece because of the Pontus background that has him in the Atlantic. The Azores are found in the Marconesian sea which is in the North Atlantic. This worked out well to introduce Pontus while still following the goal of finding Proteus. This story was really about building the forces that would come to aid Poseidon and what that might look like.
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