It should come as no great surprise that Percy ditched Grover and the girls as soon as they reached the bus terminal in New York City. Fluttershy and Rarity were a bit angry at how rude he was acting, but they couldn’t really blame him; Grover was freaking them out muttering about how “they” never made it past sixth grade. Whenever Grover got upset, he needed to pee so as soon as they were off the bus, he made the group promise to wait for him and bolted for the bathroom. And naturally, as soon as he was gone, Percy grabbed his suitcase and slipped outside.
The girls followed him as they saw him jump into a cab and give some directions. They couldn’t hear him and the cab didn’t wait for them as it drove away. “Ugh. Great. He could be going anywhere in town by now.” Rainbow growled.
“Not anywhere.” Rarity assured. “I saw his mouth; he told the driver to go to the corner of East 104th St and First Street.”
“How’d you know that?” asked Twilight.
“I read his lips. I’ve found myself getting rather good at it recently.” Rarity shrugged.
“Well, it’s better than nothing.” Rainbow shrugged. “Cmon, let’s get moving.” Quickly, the girls worked their way through the milling hordes of pedestrians on the street, sliding down alleyways and around fire escapes until they reached the intersection, just ahead of Percy’s cab which pulled up at the corner and let him out as he walked toward a certain building, opening the door and making his way in.
“Great. Let’s hope his apartment’s window’s open.” Rainbow shrugged as she looked up the wall. Percy had told them he, his mother, and his deadbeat stepdad “Smelly” Gabe Ugliano lived in this building on a higher floor. Rainbow smirked as she saw the window open, probably to let the smell of cheap cologne and cigars from Gabe waft out of the building. “Bingo.”
“Rainbow Dash, you don’t have your wings, remember?” Twilight reminded. “How are you going to get up there?”
“I’ve been practicing,” Rainbow smirked and ran at an air conditioner sticking out of the side of the building across the alley and bounded off it at the opposite wall, jumping between the walls to climb up until she reached the wall near the window and grabbed onto the drainpipe for all she was worth… just in time to hear a grizzled man – she suspected Gabe – scowl around a cigar.
“So, you’re home.”
“Where’s my mom?” Percy seemed just as disappointed to see Gabe as he was to see Percy.
“Working. You got any cash?” That was a pretty solid depiction of Percy’s home-life; no welcome home, good to see you, how have you been the last six months. Just a gruff old punk who expected Percy to have money for his gambling.
None of the girls knew much about Percy’s father, and that was because he didn’t know much either; all he knew was that his relationship with Percy’s mother Sally was a huge secret – some rich, important guy – and he disappeared on the Atlantic one day, never to be seen again. When Percy was young, Sally married Gabe… and he then proceeded to make her and Percy’s lives a living hell. “I don’t have any cash.” Percy’s tone there was proof enough of that.
Rainbow could almost imagine the eyebrow Gabe raised at that statement as he let out a puff of smoke. “You took a taxi from the bus station,” he remarked. “Probably paid with a twenty. Got six, seven bucks in change. Somebody expects to live under this roof, he ought to carry his own weight. Am I right, Eddie?”
“Come on Gabe, the kid just got here.” Rainbow guessed that was Eddie, and while she admired the sympathy, it was fairly obscured by how much of a sleaze he sounded like too.
“Am I right?” Gabe repeated angrily. Rainbow wanted so bad to just jump in through the window and kick him in the face, but she didn’t want to risk making a scene. Plus, she knew that if she did that, Twilight and Rarity would have her head on a pike.
“Fine,” Percy grumbled as Rainbow heard the sounds of crumpling paper and a hand slamming on a table before he walked toward the window. “I hope you lose.”
“Your report card came, brain boy! I wouldn’t act so snooty!” Gabe yelled after Percy, only for the boy to slam the door between him and the window, which made Rainbow guess this was Percy’s room. Poor kid; stuck with a monster like that for a stepdad.
That made Rainbow’s eyes sparkle as she looked down at the girls who were all struggling to climb up the wall on a lasso Applejack had somehow thrown around something on the roof. “Hey guys, you don’t suppose Percy’s stepdad is anything like Mrs. Dodds, do you?”
“And he hasn’t tried to actually kill him yet?” Applejack asked seriously. “Pfft, no way.”
“Well, let’s just say he is. You think there’s any way we could get our hands on that sword-pen thing Mr. Brunner threw to Percy at the museum?”
“Considering how far away we are from him? Not likely.” Twilight returned.
It was then that the group heard a voice through Percy’s door. “Percy?” That had to have been his mom, so Rainbow glanced through the window as best she could without getting made, and there she was in the doorway; Sally Jackson, probably the nicest-looking lady Rainbow had ever seen. She only wished she could meet her properly, as she probably would’ve welcomed them as friends of her beloved son, whom she hugged tight. “Oh Percy, I can’t believe it. You’ve grown since Christmas.”
Rainbow couldn’t help but smile; in a strange way, Sally reminded her of her own mother… just not quite as hovering, but still as loving. Still, the last time Windy Whistles brought home candy for Rainbow was when she was around Percy’s age, and that was years ago. And even then, she asked for more colors than blue. Mm, must’ve just been a thing Percy had. Either way, the team watched and listened from the window as Sally asked Percy to tell him everything he left out of his letters. She didn’t even say anything about his most recent expulsion.
Unfortunately, the heart-warming scene was ruined by Gabe yelling from the living room. “Hey Sally, how about some bean dip, huh?”
The girls grit their teeth at the exact same moment as Percy. Pinkie glanced across at Rarity and smiled. “She’s too good for him.”
“Oh, obviously.” Rarity returned without skipping a beat.
Finally the discussion reached the museum trip, which is where Percy started trailing off. “What? Did something scare you?” Sally asked comfortingly.
“No, Mom.” Rainbow could tell he hated lying to his mother, but she also knew he couldn’t tell her about Mrs. Dodds or the ladies at the fruit stand; she’d think he was crazy.
Sally didn’t want to push her son, so she smiled. “I have a surprise for you,” she said. “We’re going to the beach.”
Immediately, Percy’s eyes lit up. “Montauk?”
“Three nights; same cabin,” Sally assured.
“When?”
“As soon as I get changed.”
Rainbow smiled and turned to the others. Applejack instantly reacted with concern. “Oh no, Ah’ve seen that look before. No way, Dash.”
“Come on; when’s the last time we went to a beach?” Rainbow countered. “Besides, I really wanna meet this lady face-to-face; not just spy on her and her kid through a window. It feels wrong… and kinda creepy.”
“Can’t argue with that.” Twilight shrugged. “Besides, after everything, I think Percy’s gonna need some friends.”
“Well, that’s fine but where’s Montauk?” asked Applejack.
“Way out at the end of this skinny little part of the state.” Pinkie answered looking at a map of New York state… which she apparently had.
“Where did you-?” Twilight asked.
“Bus station.”
“Figures.”
Unfortunately, it was at that moment that Gabe materialized in the door. “Bean dip, Sally? Didn’t you hear me?”
“Ooh, I wanna hit this guy.” Rainbow scowled quietly.
“You and me both,” Applejack assured.
“I was on my way, honey,” Sally answered simply. “We were just talking about the trip.”
“The trip?” Gabe seemed angry at the idea. “You mean you were serious about that?”
“I knew it,” Percy muttered. “He won’t let us go.”
“Of course he will,” Sally said evenly. “Your stepfather is just worried about money, that’s all. Besides, Gabriel won’t have to settle for bean dip. I’ll make him enough seven-layer dip for the whole weekend. Guacamole, sour cream, the works.”
Rainbow could feel herself salivating at the sound of that; she didn’t know what it was, but it sounded awesome. And it appeared Gabe agreed with her as he softened up a bit. “So this money for your trip… it comes out of your clothes budget, right?”
“Yes, honey.”
“And you won’t take my car anywhere but there and back.”
“We’ll be very careful.”
Gabe scratched his chin. “Maybe if you hurry with that seven-layer dip…” he remarked. “And maybe if the kid apologizes for interrupting my poker game.”
Rainbow knew she and Percy were thinking the exact same thing right now; kick him in the soft spot and run, but the look in Sally’s eyes told them both not to say anything to make Gabe mad. “Why does she put up with this guy?” Rainbow whispered to the others.
“I have no idea.” Twilight shrugged.
Percy sighed as he leaned on the wall. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I’m really sorry I interrupted your incredibly important poker game. Please go back to it right now.”
The girls tried their best to hold back their giggles as they watched Gabe trying to process that sarcasm. “Yeah, whatever,” he remarked finally and left.
“Nice guy,” Rainbow remarked as she finally noticed something; the screws holding the drainpipe to the wall were coming out of the brick. “Uh-oh.”
Applejack noticed something else; her rope was fraying. “Uh-oh,” she noted and turned to the others. “Ev’rybody back down, now.” No need to tell them twice; the girls quickly rappelled back down to the alley floor and Applejack pulled her lasso off the building as they hid and waited.
An hour later, they watched Gabe lug Sally’s bags to the car, groaning and griping about he was going to be without her cooking and his car for the weekend. He glared at Percy as he loaded the last bag. “Not a scratch on this car, brain boy. Not one little scratch.”
“Oh please, as if he’s gonna be the one driving,” Rainbow remarked quietly.
No one on the street heard her, as Gabe lumbered back to the door. Then Percy did something unusual; it was the same warding gesture Grover did on the bus. And somehow, the screen door slammed shut so hard, it hit Gabe in the butt and sent him tumbling up the stairs. “Whoa. Guess that ward really works like a charm, huh?” Applejack remarked.
“No kidding.” Rainbow agreed as she saw the confused look on Percy’s face. It quickly faded as he shook his head and jumped in.
“Step on it, Mom.” the girls heard him say as the car drove away.
“Well, there they go.” Applejack remarked. “You figured out how to follow ‘em yet, Twilight?”
“Well, we certainly can’t walk; it’d take us at least a day and a half,” Twilight noted from her calculations on the map.
“And the sun’s already going down,” Fluttershy remarked at the golden gleam forming on the clouds on the horizon.
“So what do we do; catch another bus?” asked Rainbow.
“After last time? I don’t think so.” Rarity assured.
“She’s right; something even crazier might happen.” Pinkie agreed. “Like maybe Mrs. Dodds will come back with identical clones and blow it up!”
“I’d say that sounds crazy, but with more recent events in mind, I don’t think we should rule anything out.” Twilight agreed.
“Then our best bet is either flying or we grab a car,” Rainbow remarked. “I would say we go with the latter, but I’m pretty sure my idea is illegal and none of us know how to drive.”
“And you don’t have your wings, so that’s both our ideas gone.” Applejack reminded.
“Great. Just great. Now what?” asked Rarity.
It was then that Pinkie saw a small van approaching and an idea immediately shot into her mind. “TAXI!!” she yelled as she catapulted herself off the curb, sprawling on her back in the middle of the road, the truck stopping inches before it hit her to the fear of her friends.
“Pinkie, are you nuts?!” Twilight asked seriously as she ran out to her friend.
“Relax, I’m fine. I’ve done that tons of times.” Pinkie assured as she stood up and brushed herself off.
“That doesn’t make it better!” Twilight countered.
“Hey!” the driver of the van called to the girls. “Did you girls want me to stop or what?”
“Huh? Oh yeah, listen; you goin’ to Montauk?” asked Rainbow.
“Matter of fact, I am.” the driver answered. “Why?”
“A friend of ours is headin’ up there and we ain’t got a ride.” Applejack answered honestly. “Ya mind?”
“Sure, hop in the back.” the driver shrugged pointing the rear doors of his van.
“Thank you, darling.” Rarity smiled as she moved to the driver’s door. “I’m afraid we haven’t much money on us, but you can have this.” She reached into her pocketbook and handed him a few 10-dollar bills.
“Thanks, kid. Get in.” The girls quickly climbed into the back of the van and slowly fell asleep as it rumbled along.
Finally, they were roused by a sudden jerk from the van as it stopped. The driver knocked on the dividing wall between the cabin and the back. “We’re here!” he called back to them.
The girls all stood up and stretched as they climbed out of the van, finding themselves in a small seaside hamlet with a lighthouse at the end of a large rocky point. “Wow. Nice place.” Rainbow smiled.
“Thanks again very much for the ride.” Twilight smiled at the driver.
“Hey, don’t even mention it; you’re doin’ me a favor.” the driver assured. “Nice change from haulin’ fabric. See ya round.” With that, the van rumbled away leaving the girls on the sidewalk.
“Nice guy.” Applejack remarked. “Question is where do we start lookin’ fer Percy?”
“We’re looking for a cabin by the beach with Gabe’s car parked near it; that shouldn’t be hard to miss.” Twilight theorized.
“Found it!” Pinkie called, pointing down toward the beach. The girls followed her finger to see a pastel-colored box of a place, partially consumed by the sand. And sure enough, through the fading evening sun, they saw the car and made out the outlines of Percy and his mom walking near the tide.
“Good eye, Pinkie.” Rainbow smiled as she kicked her shoes off.
“What are you doing, Rainbow Dash?” Rarity asked in confusion.
“What; you want sand in your shoes?” Rainbow countered.
“Touché.” Rarity conceded and slipped out of her heels, the other girls following their lead as Spike climbed out of Twilight’s bag before they all stepped onto the cool evening sand and started moving toward the cabin.
“Yo Percy!” Rainbow called out to catch his attention.
And when he saw the girls, he seemed more than a bit surprised. “Girls? What’re you doing here?”
“We didn’t tell you? We were planning on a beach trip for the summer.” Twilight smiled as she walked over. “Great minds think alike, I guess.”
“Friends of yours, Percy?” Sally asked in surprise.
“Sure ‘nuff are.” Applejack smiled as she tipped up her hat. “Ah’m Applejack, n’ this here’s Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Twilight n’ her pup Spike.”
Sally smiled. “Oh yes, Percy told me about you when he got home. I wondered what the nicknames were about, but I think I understand them now.”
“Well, ours aren’t exactly hard to figure out,” Rainbow noted as she pointed between herself and Pinkie.
“Definitely not.” Sally nodded. “Cmon over, join us.”
“Thanks, ma’am.” Twilight smiled as she and Spike moved to the small firepit they had set up near the tidal line, with several small bags of blue food nearby.
“Dude, not that I'm complaining, but what’s up with all the blue?” Rainbow asked in confusion.
“Ah, it’s kind of our thing.” Percy shrugged, pointing between himself and Sally. “My stepdad had an argument with Mom once; said there was no such thing. Mom’s been determined to prove him wrong, so we eat blue all the time; blue cakes, blueberry smoothies, blue chips, and candy, the works.”
“And you still go by Jackson?” Rainbow asked Sally, receiving a sly smirk from the older woman. “Ho-ho-ho, I like you already.”
Soon enough, the sun disappeared so the group roasted marshmallows over the fire as Sally told stories about her past; how her parents died in a plane crash when she was five, all the books she wanted to write someday. Then Percy got up the nerve to ask her. “What about my dad?”
Sally’s eyes went misty as she looked at the fire. “He was kind, Percy,” she answered, Percy listening earnestly as if he’d heard it a thousand times before. “Tall, handsome, and powerful, but gentle too. You have his black hair, you know, and his green eyes.” She fished a blue jelly bean out of her bag and popped it into her mouth. “I wish he could see you, Percy. He would be so proud.”
Twilight glanced over at Percy, almost hoping to see some pride on his face… but all he saw was disappointment. She figured he was probably wondering how his father could be proud of a dyslexic, hyperactive kid with a D+ report card who’d been kicked out of school for the sixth time in as many years. “How old was I?” he asked. “I mean… when he left?”
Sally just watched the fire. “He was only with me for one summer, Percy. Right here on this beach. This cabin.”
“But… he knew me as a baby.”
“No, honey; he knew I was expecting a baby, but he never saw you. He had to leave before you were born.”
Rainbow couldn’t help but feel a bit ticked off at that; all that talk about how great Percy’s dad was and he didn’t even stick around to see his son being born? Still, she had the feeling Percy was trying to square that with something, like he remembered something about his father. “Are you going to send me away again?” he asked his mother. “To another boarding school?”
Sally pulled a marshmallow from the fire. “I don’t know, honey,” she said heavily. “I think… I think we’ll have to do something.”
“Because you don’t want me around?”
The girls could scarcely believe he could say that. “Dude, are you kidding? Look at her; what makes you think she doesn’t want you around?” asked Rainbow.
“It’s for your own good, honey. I have to send you away.” Sally assured, small tears welling in her eyes.
Percy seemed to remember the last time he’d heard that; from Mr. Brunner before he left Yancy. “Because I’m not normal.”
“In my opinion, normal is overrated.” Twilight shrugged.
“Exactly.” Sally nodded. “You don’t realize how important you are. I thought Yancy Academy would be far enough away. I thought you’d finally be safe.”
“Safe from what?” Percy asked, eyes locking with his mother. Then he froze, as if he remembered something. Oh, how Twilight wished she had the magic power from Sunset’s geode pendant; then she could see what Percy was remembering.
“I’ve tried to keep you as close to me as I could,” Sally explained. “They told me that was a mistake. But there’s only one option, Percy – the place your father wanted to send you. And I just… I just can’t stand to do it.”
“My father wanted me to go to a special school?” asked Percy.
“Not a school. A summer camp.”
The girls were surprised and confused; why would Percy’s absentee dad – who had never even stuck around long enough to see him born – talk to Sally about a summer camp? And if it was so important, why had Sally taken so long to mention it? “I’m sorry, Percy,” she said sorrowfully. “But I can’t talk about it. I- I couldn’t send you to that place. It might mean saying goodbye to you for good.”
“For good? But if it’s only a summer camp…” Percy stopped when Sally turned to look into the fire; it was clear to the girls from the look on her face that if Percy pushed it any further, she’d start to cry.
That night, the girls were trying to sleep in and around the small cabin as a storm raged, watching as Percy kicked and muttered in his sleep from a fairly intense-seeming nightmare. “No!” he yelled as he woke with a start, a massive thunderclap resounding around the area that woke up Sally.
She sat up, her eyes as wide as dinner plates, and said only one thing; “Hurricane.”
The girls were terrified, and more than a bit confused; from what they’d heard, this area never got hurricanes so early in the summer. Clearly, however, the ocean had forgotten. A distant bellow over the wind made everyone’s hair stand on end. Then another noise, near the door; almost like hooves in the sand, which confused Twilight until they stopped and were replaced with fists pounding on the door, a familiar voice yelling over the wind as best it could. “Is that-?” Twilight didn’t get a chance to receive an answer as Sally leaped from her bed in her nightgown and flung the door open, revealing Grover of all people, his back to the pouring rain… and his pants-less legs appearing not entirely human. In fact, they looked more like goat legs with cloven hooves than anything else; something that surprised the girls more than a bit.
“Searching all night,” he gasped for breath. “What were you thinking?!”
Sally glared straight at Percy and the girls in terror – but not of Grover; of what he’d brought with him. “Percy, what happened at school?!” she shouted over the wind and rain. “What didn’t you tell me?” Percy was still dumbstruck as he looked at Grover.
“O Zeu kai alloi theoi!” he swore. “It’s right behind me! Didn’t you tell her?!”
The girls weren't sure what surprised them more; that Grover just cursed in what sounded like Ancient Greek, or that they had understood it perfectly.
Then Sally looked straight at Percy and scowled in a tone he’d clearly never heard before. “Percy. Tell me now!”
Percy stammered something about the old ladies at the fruit stand and Mrs. Dodds, the girls filling in any of the blanks he left as Sally stared at them, her face deathly pale in the lightning. Without a second to waste, she grabbed her purse and tossed Percy his rain jacket. “Get in the car. All of you. Go!”
“What? Why; what’s goin’ on?” asked Rainbow. But somehow, as she watched Grover trot toward the car with great hurry in his steps, she knew she wouldn’t like her answer.