―vi.

gaea says goodnight 

This Cold Year ― P…

by -tayloryvonne  


―vi. gaea says goodnight

Start from the beginning 

The wheat parted, and the man from her vision stepped
into view. He wore a wide-brimmed hat wreathed in
grapevines, a purple short-sleeved shirt, khaki shorts, and
Birkenstocks with white socks. Naomi could think of about
naomi/annabeth/percy
a dozen insults Drew would have had for the god's abysmal
style.

"Did someone
Write just call me the wine dude?" he asked in a
a comment...
lazy drawl. "It's Bacchus, please. Or Mr. Bacchus. Or Lord
Bacchus. Or, sometimes, Oh-My-Gods-Please-Don't-Kill-Me,
ivory-on-
Lord Bacchus."
the_sun
1
Percy urged
Shut Blackjack forward,cause
i started laughing though
of the
howpegasus
it starts didn't
seem happy about
4mo ago it. Naomi wasn't too thrilled, either.
Reply

"You look di!erent," Percy told the god. "Skinnier. Your hair
leisureteaenvy
is longer. And your shirt isn't so loud."
Naomi is the white cat, Percy is the ginger,
3
The wine god
and squintedisup
Annabeth theatbrown
him. "What
cat in blazes are you
talking 6mo
about?
ago Who are you, and where is Ceres?"
Reply

"Uh... what series?"

"I think he means Ceres," Jason said. "The goddess of

agriculture. You'd call her Demeter." He nodded respectfully
at the god. "Lord Bacchus, do you remember me? I helped
kingvela
you with that missing leopard in Sonoma."
omg yes i was actually thinking of making
Bacchusone
scratched
myself his stubbly chin. "Ah... yes. John Green." a
7

"Jason Grace."
7mo ago Reply

"Whatever," the god said. "Did Ceres send you, then?"

Idontevenknowlollol

percys
"No, Lord definetly
Bacchus," thesaid.
Jason ginger cat you expecting to
"Were 7
meet her
9mohere?"
ago Reply

snorted. "Well, I didn't come to Kansas to party, my

The godekortay
boy. Ceres asked
GONNA me here for a council of war. What with
DIE
1
Gaea rising, the crops are withering. Droughts are
1y ago Reply
spreading. The karpoi are in revolt. Even my grapes aren't
safe. Ceres wanted a united front in the plant war."
ballroomderby7

i'm screaming!
"The plant you have
war," Percy said. smitten
"You're goingon
tothere?!?
arm all the 1
so accurate forassault
them! rifles?"
little grapes with tiny a2

1y ago Reply
Naomi pinched his side lightly. "Percy."
spiderpunks
The god narrowed his eyes. "Have we met?"
OMGGG
"At Camp Half-Blood," Percy said. "I know you as Mr. D—
1y ago Reply
Dionysus."
sundrcplets
"Agh!" Bacchus winced and pressed his hands to his
omg
temples. Hisyes
image flicker, but Naomi missed what he
looked 1y
like as Reply
ago she squeezed her eyes shut against another
pulse of a migraine.
IAmThe1FourthWall
"Stop that!" Bacchus
Girl you demanded.
an angel <3 "Stop thinking about me
in Greek!"
I literally just made a this cold year on
Spotify
"Uh, but—" lmao
Percy started.
1y ago Reply
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to stay focused?
View 1 Reply
Splitting headaches all the time! I never know what I'm
doing orM1Lopez2
where I'm going! Constantly grumpy!"

I absolutely
"That sounds prettylove this!!!
normal for<3 our Percy
you," fav poly pair
said. 1
1y ago Reply
Naomi was too busy reeling from the ache in her skull to
admonish him again.

"If we know each other from that other camp," the god said,
"it's a wonder I haven't already turned you into a dolphin."

"It was discussed," Percy assured him. "I think you were just
too lazy to do it." a
1

We're going to die, Naomi decided. a

2

"Lord Bacchus!" Piper cut in. Naomi finally opened her eyes
as the daughter of Aphrodite slipped o! Tempest's back.

"Piper, careful," Jason said.

Piper shot him an I've got this look.

"Sorry to trouble you, my lord," Piper told the god, "but

actually we came here to get your advice. Please, we need
your wisdom."

The god frowned, but the purple glow in his eyes faded.
"You're well-spoken, girl. Advice, eh? Very well. I would
avoid karaoke. Really, theme parties in general are out. In
these austere times, people are looking for a simple, low-
key a!air, with locally produced organic snacks and—"

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Go the extra miles.

SS PP O
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"Not about parties," Piper interrupted. "Although that's

incredibly useful advice, Lord Bacchus. We were hoping
you'd help us on our quest."

Piper told the wine god about the Argo II, their voyage to
stop the giants from awakening Gaea, what Nemesis had
said about Rome being destroyed in six days. She described
the vision she'd seen in her knife, of Bacchus o!ering her a
silver goblet.

"Silver goblet?" The god didn't sound very excited. He

grabbed a Diet Pepsi out of thin air and popped the top of
the can.

"You drink Diet Coke," Percy said.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Bacchus

snapped. "As to this vision of a goblet, young lady, I have
nothing for you to drink unless you want a Pepsi. Jupiter
has put me under strict orders to avoid giving wine to
minors. Bothersome, but there you have it. As for the
giants, I know them well. I fought in the first Giant War, you
know."

"You can fight?" Percy asked.

Naomi closed her eyes, dropping her head against his back.
"Percy, please."

The god snarled. His Diet Pepsi transformed into a five-foot

sta! wreathed in ivy, topped with a pinecone.

"A thyrsus!" Piper said, clearly trying to distract the god

before he attacked Percy. "Oh, what a mighty weapon!"

"Indeed," Bacchus agreed. "I'm glad someone in your group

is smart. The pinecone is a fearsome tool of destruction! I
was a demigod myself in the first Giant War, you know. The
son of Jupiter!"

Jason flinched, probably not too thrilled at being reminded

that the Wine Dude was technically his big brother.

Bacchus swung his sta! through the air, though his potbelly
almost threw him o!-balance. "Of course that was long
before I invented wine and became an immortal. I fought
side by side with the gods and some other demigod... Harry
Cleese, I think."

"Heracles?" Piper suggested politely.

"Whatever," Bacchus said. "Anyway, I killed the giant

Ephialtes and his brother Otis. Horrible boors, those two.
Pinecone to the face for both of them!" a
1

Piper looked like she was connecting a series of dots in her

head. "Lord Bacchus. Those two giants, Ephialtes and
Otis... would they happen to be twins?"

"Hmm?" The god seemed distracted by his thyrsus-

swinging, but he nodded. "Yes, twins. That's right."

Twins snu! out the angel's breath.

Piper looked at her friends. "That's why we're here," she

told the god. "You're part of our quest!"

Bacchus frowned. "I'm sorry, my girl. I'm not a demigod

anymore. I don't do quests."

"But giants can only be killed by heroes and gods working

together," Piper insisted. "You're a god now, and the two
giants we have to fight are Ephialtes and Otis. I think... I
think they're waiting for us in Rome. They're going to
destroy the city somehow. The silver goblet I saw in my
vision—maybe it's meant as a symbol for your help. You
have to help us kill the giants."

Naomi winced as Bacchus's expression hardened.

"My girl," the god said coldly. "I don't have to do anything.
Besides, I only help those who give me proper tribute,
which no one has managed to do in many, many centuries."

Blackjack whinnied uneasily.

"What kind of tribute?" Percy asked.

Bacchus waved his hand dismissively. "Nothing you could

handle, insolent Greek. But I will give you some free advice,
since this girl does have some manners. Seek out Gaea's
son, Phorcys. He always hated his mother, not that I can
blame him. He didn't have much use for his siblings the
twins, either. You'll find him in the city they named a"er
that heroine—Atalanta."

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Piper hesitated. "You mean Atlanta?"

"That's the one."

"But this Phorcys," Jason said. "Is he a giant? A Titan?"

Bacchus laughed. "Neither. Seek out the salt water."

"Salt water..." Percy said. "In Atlanta?"

"Yes," Bacchus said. "Are you hard of hearing? If anyone can

give you insight on Gaea and the twins, it's Phorcys. Just
watch out for him."

"What do you mean?" Jason asked.

The god glanced up at the sun, which had climbed to

almost high noon. "It's unlike Ceres to be late, unless she
sensed something dangerous in this area. Or..." The god's
face suddenly went slack. "Or a trap. Well, I must be going!
And if I were you, I'd do the same!"

"Lord Bacchus, wait!" Jason protested.

The god shimmered and disappeared with a sound like a

soda-can top being popped.

The wind rustled through the sunflowers. The horses paced

in agitation. Despite the dry, hot day, Naomi shivered. A
cold feeling... hadn't Annabeth and Leo mentioned a cold
feeling?

"Guys, I think Bacchus is right," she said. "We need to lea—"

Too late, said a sleepy voice, humming through the fields all
around them and resonating in the ground.

Naomi knew that voice—Gaea.

She climbed o! of Blackjack, stepping up next to Piper as

she summoned Asphodel and Hemlock. Percy and Jason
drew their swords as well.

Naomi could feel Gaea everywhere. The sunflowers turned

to look at them. The wheat bent toward them like a million
scythes.

Welcome to my party, Gaea murmured. What did Bacchus

say? A simple, low-key a!air with organic snacks? Yes. For
my snacks, I need only two: the blood of a female demigod,
and the blood of a male. Piper, my dear, choose which hero
will die with you.

"Gaea!" Naomi snarled. "Quit hiding in the wheat. Show

yourself!"

Don't worry, my love, Gaea hissed. I have not forgotten

about you. Sleep while we sort this out. You could use the
rest. a
19

"What—?" Naomi started, but the road around her feet

cracked. A crop of red poppies rose up from the asphalt, far
larger and taller than was possible. Naomi opened her
mouth to question it, but as she breathed in the suddenly
overpowering floral scent, she stumbled.

"Naomi!" Percy yelled, but his voice was distant.

"Na—!" Piper started as Naomi fell to her knees, eyelids

drooping.

And then it was silent.

It felt like only seconds had passed before Naomi felt

herself being shaken. She let out a quiet groan, feeling
groggy. Her headache raged like an inferno in her skull.

She managed to open her eyes, seeing Piper hovering over

her with glassy eyes, with Blackjack's head right next to
hers.

"What—?" Naomi started to say.

"Oh, thank gods!" Piper said.

With her help, Naomi managed to sit up. "What happened?"

Naomi asked. Blackjack nudged her head, and she reached
up to pet his snout.

"You passed out," Piper said, which wasn't news to Naomi.

"And then Percy and Jason, they started fighting." Okay,
that was news. "These things—eidolons—they possessed
them, and they almost killed each other before Blackjack
and I managed to stop them."

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Don’t pass on unsurpassed motor oil.

SS PP O
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"Eidolons," Naomi repeated. She'd heard of them. They

were evil spirits of the dead that could possess the living.
"Percy and Jason, are they—?"

"They're okay," Piper assured her. "Knocked out, but okay."

Piper helped Naomi back to her feet, and Naomi took in the
damage. The road had cracked in a few more places.
Tempest was nowhere in sight. Just like Piper said, Percy
and Jason were unconscious on the road.

"I'm so sorry, Piper," Naomi said. "I don't know what

happened."

"It wasn't your fault," Piper said, scrunching her eyebrows

together. "Gaea knocked you out."

Naomi glared at the poppies, which were now dead and

scattered across the pavement. "But why?" she demanded.
"What game is she playing with me?" a
2

Piper squeezed Naomi's shoulder. "I don't know," she said.

"But we'll figure it out."

Naomi sighed, nodding.

She and Piper checked on the boys, who were both

breathing steadily. There was a large knot forming on the
back of Percy's head, where Piper told her Blackjack had
had to kick him.

"We have to get them back to the ship," Naomi told Piper.
"Blackjack, think you can call a friend?"

The pegasus bobbed his head in confirmation.

It didn't take long for another figure to appear in the sky,

sailing down toward them on gray wings. The second
pegasus, Guido, landed gracefully on the road.

Together, Piper and Naomi managed to get each of the boys

onto the pegasi's backs. Naomi climbed onto Blackjack
behind Percy, and they took o! for the ship.

The others were more than a little surprised when Naomi

and Piper came back on two pegasi with a pair of
unconscious demigods. While Frank and Hazel tended to
Blackjack and Guido, Annabeth and Leo helped Naomi and
Piper get the boys to the sickbay.

"At this rate, we're going to run out of ambrosia," Coach

Hedge grumbled as he tended their wounds. "How come I
never get invited on these violent trips?"

Annabeth ignored him, handing Naomi a square of

ambrosia. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked so"ly,
looking Naomi over for signs of injury.

Naomi ate the ambrosia, relieved as her headache subsided

and the ache in her le" side from hitting the pavement
dulled. "I am," she promised. "Just a little groggy and
freaked out."

She wasn't sure Annabeth bought it, but she nodded and
returned her focus to Percy.

"Leo," Piper said, "are we ready to sail?"

"Yeah, but—"

"Set course for Atlanta. I'll explain later."

"But... okay." He hurried o!.

Annabeth didn't argue with Piper either. She was too busy
examining the horseshoe-shaped dent on the back of
Percy's head.

"What hit him?" she demanded.

"Blackjack," Piper said.

"What?" Annabeth asked.

Piper gave them a rundown of what had happened while

Naomi was out—how the eidolons had possessed the boys
and forced them to nearly kill each other before Piper and
Blackjack could subdue them.

All the while, Coach Hedge applied some healing paste to

the boys' heads. Naomi had seen plenty of healer satyrs
and fauns, but the coach didn't necessarily strike her as the
nurse type. Apparently, he knew what he was doing,
though. Either that, or the spirits that possessed the boys
had also made them extra resilient. They both groaned and
opened their eyes.

Within a few minutes, Jason and Percy were sitting up in

their berths and able to talk in complete sentences. Both
had fuzzy memories of what had happened.

When Piper described their duel on the highway, Jason

winced.

"Knocked out twice in two days," he muttered. "Some

demigod." He glanced sheepishly at Percy. "Sorry, man. I
didn't mean to blast you."

Percy's shirt was peppered with burn holes. His hair was
even more disheveled than normal. Despite that, he
managed a weak laugh. "Not the first time. Your big sister
got me good once at camp."

"Yeah, but... I could have killed you."

"Or I could have killed you," Percy said.

Jason shrugged. "If there'd been an ocean in Kansas,

maybe—"

"I don't need an ocean—"

"Boys," Annabeth interrupted, "I'm sure you both would've

been wonderful at killing each other. But right now, you
need some rest."

"Food first," Percy said. "Please? And we really need to talk.

Bacchus said some things that don't—"

"Bacchus?" Annabeth raised her hand. "Okay, fine. We need

to talk. Mess hall. Ten minutes. I'll tell the others. And
please, Percy... change your clothes. You smell like you've
been run over by an electric horse."

uhhhhh y'all want a naomi/annabeth/percy playlist??

a
13

(idk how sharing playlists works so if that doesn't work

you can just search 'naomi/annabeth/percy' on spotify)

Continue to next part

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_I_am_not_Cute_

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