The mischievous gamer God

The trio had been on the bus for a short time when, at a stop in New Jersey, three creepy old ladies boarded.

Percy stiffened instantly.

His sea-green eyes widened in recognition as a chill ran down his spine. He leaned toward the others and muttered low, "I recognize one of them…"

After quickly telling Annabeth and Grover, the three of them began trying to figure out what to do. Anxiety filled the air like static. Then suddenly—Percy's bag began to grow hot.

"What the—?" he muttered, yanking it open and digging through it.

Inside, the red leather case from Hestia was glowing. Curious and on edge, Percy opened it. One of the action figures inside—shaped like a brown gorilla wearing a red tie—was glowing intensely.

And in that moment… Percy just knew what it was for.

Just like the note said.

Without hesitating, he grabbed the one that looked like a brown gorilla with a red tie.

Annabeth gave him a sharp look. "What are you doing?" she asked, tension rising in her voice.

Percy, keeping his tone calm and confident, replied, "Trust me." He set the action figure down on the bus floor.

The three Furies, now fully transformed in the flickering light of the bus, stared at Percy with confused expressions, as if trying to figure out his plan.

Then the lead Fury—Alecto—snarled, "Whatever. Let's just go get him."

But as they stepped forward, the glow from the figure intensified—blinding white light flashed across the floor, forcing several passengers to shield their eyes.

And then, standing there in place of the toy… was a massive brown gorilla wearing a red tie emblazoned with the initials DK in gold.

His broad chest rose with power, and in his hands he held what looked like a gun-shaped log. He narrowed his eyes—steely and unafraid—at the Furies.

"Okay," Donkey Kong said in a deep, rumbling voice.

Before Alecto could even process what was happening, DK pulled the trigger.

THUMP!

A high-speed coconut launched from the barrel and slammed Alecto center mass, sending her flying backward—smashing into her sisters in a chaotic heap of feathers and shrieks.

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover stared—wide-eyed and slack-jawed—at what they had just witnessed.

Annabeth finally found her voice. "Percy… is that what I think it is?"

Percy nodded slowly, still watching DK with disbelief. "If you think it's Donkey Kong… then yeah. I think it is."

Grover's eyes sparkled with amazement. "Lady Hestia gave us Donkey Kong. This quest just got a lot easier."

The Furies struggled to rise, groaning in anger. Their eyes burned with fury now as they brandished their fiery whips.

They glared at DK, who simply raised an eyebrow and smirked.

Alecto growled, her black wings flaring. "You think that's funny, you damn monkey?!"

The smirk on Donkey Kong's face vanished, replaced by a look of pure rage.

Grover paled. "Ohhh… that's not good."

Percy looked at him, confused. "What's not good?"

Grover replied nervously, "They just called a gorilla a monkey. They really don't like that…"

And to prove his point—DK snarled.

His eyes burned with fury as he let out a primal, echoing roar that shook the bus, beating his chest like a war drum.

Then he charged, leaping high into the air—flipping over startled passengers with stunning agility.

The Furies lashed out with their whips, cackling—but DK twisted mid-air and dodged everything. In mere moments, he landed behind them.

With a mighty smash, DK slammed his giant fist into the rear Fury's back—sending her crashing out the side of the bus window with a shriek of rage and surprise.

The second Fury whirled, only to receive a devastating double-hand clap from DK that slammed onto her skull like a thunderclap—crushing her instantly.

She vanished in a puff of golden smoke.

Only Alecto remained.

DK turned toward her and pointed, grunting and growling in a mix of frustration and mocking tone.

Percy blinked and asked, "Anybody know what he just said?"

Grover scratched his head, looking nervous. "Well… my Gorilla's not great, but I'm pretty sure he said: 'Don't worry. I've got something special for you.'"

DK then reached into his side and pulled out a set of polished bongos.

He gave a wicked grin—and started playing a catchy, energetic rhythm.

Percy, Grover, and Annabeth all tilted their heads in sync, confused by the musical choice…

Only to watch, seconds later, as Alecto's body dropped to the ground—lifeless—before disintegrating into a smoky gold mist.

Percy's jaw dropped. "Did he just kill her… with music?"

Annabeth, still trying to process, slowly nodded. "Uh-huh…"

DK approached the trio with a confident strut and held out his colossal fist toward them, smiling with pride.

With a grin of pure awe, Percy fist-bumped him and said, "That was awesome. Thanks, DK."

Then DK turned to Grover and grunted a few more times, voice low and urgent.

Grover's expression changed to panic. "Guys—we have to get off the bus."

Annabeth blinked. "Why?!"

Grover quickly explained, "DK just said that the bus is about to get hit by lightning—and we need to get off. Now."

Not needing to be told twice, Annabeth immediately pulled the stop cord.

The driver slowed to a halt, and the three of them bolted off the bus as fast as they could.

DK grabbed all of their bags with surprising care and popped off the bus after them. He tossed the bags toward the kids with a grunt, then pointed at them and made a few stern, garbled sounds.

Grover translated, "Did you already forget the notes saying not to leave your stuff? Well, whatever—just be more careful now."

Then DK gave a short nod. "If you'll excuse me… I'm going to save these passengers real quick."

He turned and ran back to the front of the bus. With a mighty punch to the hood, he destroyed the engine block.

Smoke began pouring from under the crumpled hood.

Seeing the smoke, the driver panicked and immediately evacuated all the passengers.

Moments later, a bolt of lightning crashed from the sky and struck the bus—engulfing it in white-hot energy.

The trio stood frozen, watching.

Then DK walked back over to them, gave them a crisp, respectful salute—and vanished in a kaleidoscope of colors.

Grover just stared at the empty spot where he had been. "That was… awesome. How do you think Lady Hestia was able to do that?"

Percy and Annabeth both shrugged.

"I say we don't question it," Percy said.

Annabeth nodded. "Agreed."

And with that, the three demigods started walking through the forest—bags on their backs, lunch boxes secure, and hearts pounding from what was only the beginning of their adventure.

They traveled halfway through the forest and sat down on a moss-covered log to have lunch. Percy stretched his arms with a sigh and said, "All right, time to test out these new lunch boxes."

He looked at his box with a grin and said confidently, "I want a burger and fries."

A sudden flash of light erupted from the lunch box. Percy blinked, then opened it—his eyes widened in surprise. Inside was a perfectly stacked burger, a neat pile of golden fries, a small fruit salad tucked to the side, and a thermos filled with chilled apple juice.

Percy raised a brow and muttered, "Hey… I didn't ask for the fruit salad."

Grover, already grinning mischievously, leaned in and chuckled, "Maybe this is Lady Hestia's way of trying to keep you from getting fat."

Percy shot him a flat glare, unamused. "Real funny, Goat Boy." Still, he grabbed the burger and took a big bite anyway, muttering something about divine portion control under his breath.

Grover tapped his fingers together excitedly, then told his lunch box, "I want enchiladas… with a side of tin cans." He practically drooled in anticipation.

Annabeth, seated beside them and brushing a leaf from her shoulder, looked at her own box and said calmly, "Chicken wraps and a salad. Just like Percy's."

The two of them got exactly what they asked for, plus a drink that matched perfectly—lemonade for Annabeth, and some sort of fizzy soda for Grover. They all smiled as they began to eat.

The trio happily munched on their lunch as they chatted beneath the filtered sunlight.

Grover swallowed a bite of enchilada and asked, "What else do you think is in the package that Lady Hestia gave us?"

Percy wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and said, "I don't know… but I think I recognized the symbol on the package from a video game or something."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow, her tone skeptical yet intrigued. "That might make sense. We did just get saved by Donkey Kong, after all."

Percy opened the red leather case and looked over the action figures nestled inside. His brow furrowed in concentration. "I recognize a few of them," he murmured, "but I can't make out a couple of the others…"

After a moment, he shut the case again and tucked it securely into his bag.

Once their lunch was packed away, the trio continued their trek through the rest of the forest. Trees thinned, and the light grew brighter as they stepped out onto an overgrown, abandoned road. At the end of it stood an old building—its weathered stone exterior draped in ivy, with eerie, incredibly realistic statues dotting the surrounding grounds.

Some looked like people frozen mid-scream… others like twisted, snarling monsters. There were even a couple of satyr statues, their faces frozen in terror.

Percy and Annabeth slowly approached the building, cautiously taking in the strange scene. Grover stopped in his tracks, his nose twitching as he inhaled sharply.

"Guys… we shouldn't go anywhere near there," he said, his voice low and tense. "I smell monsters."

Percy waved a hand dismissively, though his eyes lingered on a satyr statue a second longer than they should have. "I'm sure it's fine. Maybe you're still just smelling the Furies."

Annabeth crossed her arms and nodded slightly. "Besides, we need directions."

Inside his realm Tet lounged lazily, watching the trio from his living room. He twirled a checker piece between his fingers and muttered to himself, "Well… I guess the Fates are just trying to keep things on track—even if it doesn't make any sense." He narrowed his eyes, glancing toward a cluttered shelf.

"Why am I still letting them run things again?" he asked no one in particular. Then, with a sigh, he turned his gaze toward a dusty box labeled 'Unfinished Projects' and muttered, "Oh yeah. It's because I haven't made true Free Will yet."

He groaned and leaned back. "I really need to get on that…"

Just in time, he turned his attention back to the trio below—only to see them awkwardly posing for a photograph. Their smiles froze as they realized the woman standing before them was no human… but a monster.

They scattered in an instant.

Percy dove behind a crumbling stone wall, breathing hard. After making sure he wasn't being followed, he pulled out the red leather case once more. He opened it and picked up the figure that had begun glowing—its plastic form radiating a warm, almost inviting light.

It looked like a little robot.

He gently set it on the ground, stepping back as the glow intensified—blinding white enveloped the area.

When the light faded, what stood before him was a compact white robot with a cylindrical base, a boxy torso, and two flexible arms with claw-like grips. Its head was square-shaped with glowing eyes set inside a black visor. The robot emitted a faint hum as it powered on, its arms raised slightly in greeting.

It was R.O.B.—the Robotic Operating Buddy. Originally a peripheral for the NES, now fully animated, alive, and unmistakably here.

(Author note.No Percy doesn't know that I was just worried my description sucked)

Percy stared, mouth half-open. "…Okay, that's new."

The little robot tilted its head as if in curiosity, then extended one of its claw arms forward—as if waiting for a command.

R.O.B. looked up at Percy with his glowing red visor eyes, tilting his square head ever so slightly in anticipation. He gave a few curious beeps, awaiting instructions.

Percy hesitated, blinking. "Uh… protect me from Medusa."

R.O.B. let out a series of enthusiastic beeping noises that almost sounded like cheerful chirps. Then, in a smooth mechanical motion, he rotated in place and rolled toward the incoming threat.

As soon as Medusa came into range, R.O.B.'s optic sensors flared. Twin beams of intense energy shot from his eyes, blasting her with searing light and sending her flying backward with a shriek of pain. The scent of scorched fabric and stone filled the air.

Snarling in rage, Medusa scrambled to her feet, her serpent hair hissing and snapping. She charged at the little robot with supernatural speed—only to get nailed again by a fresh barrage of laser blasts. The beams struck her square in the chest and shoulders, frying away bits of skin.

Annabeth sprinted up to Percy's side, skidding to a stop and blinking in disbelief. She took off her cap, revealing herself and her storm-gray eyes were filled with awe. "Is that a robot?"

Percy, eyes wide and jaw slightly slack, nodded. "Yeah… that's a robot. And look—he's winning."

Annabeth narrowed her eyes, analyzing the situation with razor-sharp precision. "Look closer, Percy. He's doing damage… but I think he can only hold her back. Look—she's healing even while he's hitting her."

Sure enough, Medusa's skin was slowly knitting itself back together, scales regenerating beneath the burns.

Annabeth's expression turned grim. "We're going to have to find an opening and cut off her head."

Percy tightened his grip on Riptide, jaw set. "Got it."

After a few tense minutes of coordinating a strategy between quick whispers and silent signals, Percy and Annabeth crouched behind a pillar, waiting for the perfect moment.

R.O.B. suddenly charged up his optical cannons, unleashing a particularly powerful laser blast that sent Medusa reeling with a screech of fury.

"Now!" Annabeth shouted.

Percy bolted forward, Riptide shining in the dim light. With a roar, he slashed clean through Medusa's neck. Her head tumbled to the ground, eyes still glowing faintly even as her body crumbled to dust.

A moment later, after catching their breath and trading a short exchange with Grover about what to do next, Percy carefully wrapped the severed head and said, "Alright. Time to ship this to Mount Olympus."

R.O.B. made a joyful series of beeps and bloops that almost sounded like clapping. It was clear he approved of Percy's decisive action.

Percy smiled and nodded at the little robot. "Thanks for the help, little guy. You're pretty strong."

R.O.B. beeped again—this time, a happy electronic tune—and then disappeared in a flash of golden light, his work complete.

Percy sighed and shook his head. "I wish some of them would stick around. Having a robot with us would've been pretty cool."

Annabeth folded her arms and glanced at the red leather case. "Don't they just return to the case?"

Percy gave her a wry look. "No. I already checked. I guess they're one-use only."

Annabeth huffed, clearly disappointed. "Well, that sucks."

After looting the cash in the register, the trio turned back toward the forest. Dusk was settling in, and the trees cast long shadows across the path.

As night fell, the group decided to make camp. Percy had just started laying out his sleeping bag when the leather case began to rumble slightly and glow again.

Percy blinked and said, "It's going off."

He opened the case and pulled out a blocky action figure—it resembled a tiny man with a square head, wearing a white and blue shirt and denim pants. Curious, he set it on the ground.

As the glowing intensified, light spilled across the clearing. When it faded, a man made entirely of blocks stood before them. His face was blank but oddly expressive in its simplicity—just two eyes and a mouth. Without a word, he started pulling blocks from seemingly nowhere and assembling them at rapid speed.

The trio watched in stunned silence as the man—Steve—worked with lightning-fast precision. Within minutes, he'd constructed a full-sized, block-shaped log cabin, complete with windows, a door, and a gently sloping roof.

Inside the cabin, the group found three cozy beds, a rug made of pixelated wool, and a flickering fireplace already lit with a welcoming flame.

The strange man turned toward them and gave a stiff, square-armed salute—his best approximation of farewell. Then, without any sound, he disappeared.

Percy stood in the doorway, completely done with trying to make sense of things. "Way too tired to figure out what just happened. Good night, everybody."

He flopped down onto one of the beds with a heavy thud and closed his eyes without another word. The others, just as exhausted, followed suit moments later.