Percy Jackson: The Secret Sibling Rescue

I'm a huge, huge, HUGE fan of Percy Jackson and after reading many fanfictions I decided to make one of my own. Please review and critic.

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Author: Ni (Me) 

Fandom: Percy Jackson & The Olympians by Rick Riordan

Rating: G

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Disclaimer:

I don't own PJO, no matter how awesome it is. Stealing the rights from Rick Riordan is practically impossible. I realised too late that his house is protected by the Gods. Unless I want to be pulverised by Zeus's Master Bolt, I rather not try again. 

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Summary:

Keri Lee knew she was different but never understood how different she was until Percy Jackson came into her life. Things become stranger when it becomes an unexpected family reunion and her best friend's life is in danger because of who Keri is. 

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Chapter 1: Finn Rips His Pants Off

When I asked the Universe to get me adopted by a nice and normal family, Camp Half-Blood was not on my list of choices. It didn’t come under normal - or nice for that matter - it came under brilliant. 

I made that wish 3 days ago when I was crying alone in my bedroom. Usually my roommate and best friend, Cassie, would be here but she went missing yesterday. My throat catches every time I think about it. I was enjoying being a sour puss - I had the right to - when Finn bursts in.

Everything went wrong the moment he banged opened my bedroom door. One, he wasn’t allowed to be in the girl’s dormitory. Two, he was holding a pair of plastic feet and had hooves where his feet were suppose to be. He yanked me from under the covers where I was still shocked and horrified from Cassie’s mysterious disappearance. I quickly slipped on my slippers. 

Clutching my wrist and dragging me out to the hallway he warned, “ Run, Keri! RUN!” 

I had never ran so fast in my life. Despite always missing gym and walking with a limp, Finn sure can ran faster than anyone. I had no idea what was going on and I was in no condition - physically & emotionally - to be running in PJs and bunny slippers. 

I screamed in confusion, “What’s going on?! Please, Finn!,”

Hss. Hss. “No point running demigod, your smell is strong”, came a raspy voice, which you could barely hear, from behind. 

I didn’t bother looking, the hissing sounds of snakes troubled me enough. I looked towards the end of the hallway where we were heading. At the end was a door reading something like Hoof Hoss, blame my dyslexia. We ran straight for it, swinging it wide open. 

Hsss. Hsss. HSSSS!  The snakes were getting louder meaning they were closer now.  

Running up the stairs in bunny slippers is not a situation you want to be in, unless you want to stumble as your death keeps coming closer. That exactly happened as I tripped on the stairs with a thud. 

“Get up, Keri! She’s getting closer with have no time!”, Finn said desperately. 

Too late. The door opened with incredible force and I glimpsed down looking at a nest of live coral snakes on an ugly face. What’s about to come next is either out of panic or bravery, you choose. I threw one of my bunny slippers right between her eyes. Fortunately, it momentarily disoriented her. Finn looked at me with that are-you-crazy-woman?! look. 

“It was slowing us down anyways, we didn’t need it,” before I continued running up, out of breath. 

I opened the next door and we were out on the roof top of the orphanage. The hissing sounds were back. We needed to find a hiding spot but the roof was bare except for a few plants and a water tank. We headed straight for behind the tank.  As the hissing got louder and closer, my panic started rising too. 

“Finn, what’s going on. Please, jus-”, I had so many questions but I couldn’t finish them since he covered my mouth. Then he put his finger to his lips. 

“Stay here. I’ll buy us time for them to come” he whispered yet I can hear the fear in his voice too. Then he ran off to the dark, leaving behind plastic human feet. 

Hss. Hss. Hss.

That sound was back and I peeked out of the water tank. Something blew the door open off its hinges and then I laid my eyes on the ugliest woman I’ve ever seen. She was like a life-sized paper mache doll with thin, green, papery skin. She had red slitted eyes and two, large fangs. All I really noticed though was her hair, or what was in place of it, coral snakes. They hissed and moved around as if they were fighting for space. 

“I didn’t wait for eons to play games, Child! Show yourself!” 

She looked around in the dark, confused. She might’ve been fast but her eyesight gave her away in the darkness. 

“Luckily, I can smell you!”, and she ran towards the water tank. 

 Just then Finn appeared on the other side of the roof. 

“Oi! Gorgon! Eons in Tartarus didn’t make you any prettier did it?”

Great distraction for someone with a bruised ego. Unfortunately, she changed directions and ran towards Finn instead. Meanwhile, in the most fabulous way possible Finn rips his pants clean off. I didn’t get to cover my eyes but all it revealed was fur. He took out his flute - correction reed pipe -  at a time like this and played a lazy tune. Green runes shaped like Ancient Greek letters flowed out of the pipe, attaching on to the plants. Slowly, the plants crawled out of their pots. The roses spun in place, shooting out thorns like bullets. The thorns did nothing but annoy her as they bounced off her skin. Creepers alongside the walls crept onto the legs of Ugly making her unable to move. 

But it didn’t hold her off for long. She broke free of most of the creepers and stepped towards Finn, cornering him off. I couldn’t stand there doing nothing. I was not a damsel in distress. I will not lose the only other friend I ever had. I already lost so much. My panic was quickly replaced by anger. I gave her everything I got. I threw my bunny slippers at her head. Ugly’s talons were barely touching his face. This time I aimed for her back with the plastic feet. That got her attention.

“Want to go first young Demigod? You should be honored. You’re my first dinner in eons!”, the brief distraction got Finn away and she headed for me. Good.

I didn’t know what to do. I really didn’t think this through. Despite all the anger I felt, I was shaking with fear. I made my stand, held my hands in front of me and did the only logical thing. 

I yelled, “STOP!” 

I felt a tugging sensation in my gut. My arms tingled. That’s when 50 gallons of pressured water shot out her. 

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If you made it this far, thank you so much for taking time to read. Please review and critic. I need a beta reader, so if you know anyone please comment below.

Ni 

Ukulele Diary: Meet Sunny Phillipa, My Ukulele

Originally, I planned to get a TGM soprano ukulele. TGM is a local Singaporean ukulele brand that's well known and reliable. It's a good, cheap beginner ukulele that has got many great reviews. It was everything I wanted from a ukulele but it was missing something. I was just about to get it but a little voice in my head told me to keep looking. So I did. Then I came across this ukulele made by an unknown brand, Sunny Phillipa was named after the sunflower surrounding the sound-hole. She wasn't actually the ukulele I intended to get but she's better!

She's better for me because she's got character that suits me better. A TGM is all good but it lacks a certain cuteness and it isn't as unique. There was only one of Sunny Phillipa (as far as I know) in that shop. At first I doubted Sunny Phillipa when I got her but in the end it was the right choice.

Moving on...

Sunny is made by Mantic. I don't know the brand. I should've asked but I'm real lucky that they made Sunny a good uke. Despite being a no-name budget brand it comes with good geared tuners and... here's the awesome bit... Aquilla strings. Yep. The real deal, with the Aquilla tag and everything. The uke itself was SGD50, which was right on budget. Unfortunately, I forgot to include a gig bag in that budget. The gig bag was SGD25 so in total it costed me SGD75. A pretty good deal. I got Sunny at Davis Guitar Music Centre. You can know more about Davis Guitar Music Centre and buying a ukulele in my last post.

The strings took about 2 weeks to get itself well adjusted to the ukulele. Any new stringed instrument takes time for it to adjust to the body of the instrument. It needs to get used to being stretched and tightened.

Quick Tips:

• Don't settle. Look for a ukulele that looks as good as it sounds and suits you.
• Remember the budget includes the ukulele and essential accessories. These include a gig bag and tuner. If you're lucky you'll get them as one packet.
• Strings take time to adjust so it's ok if it doesn't stay perfectly tuned every time.The key is too keep playing. 

Ni 

Tumblr World Map

From my brief acquaintance with tumblr by babysitting by friend's blog I somewhat understand a bit of the tumblr empire. This map is actually quite accurate. It's amusing really.

Source

Ni

How to Capture a Lost Fangirl

Fandom, it consumes you. It's your blood and soul. The one thing that keeps you alive and breathing no matter what heads your way. And escape? Do not even question escape. Escape is impossible. Fandom is a maximum security prison, which keeps you sane but every prison has a weakness, no matter how strong. A few weeks ago, I lost my fandom. I was stripped of my life force. I just kept questioning myself, HOW COULD THIS POSSIBLY HAPPEN TO ME?! Yet remember, you can't escape fandom. Eventually I knew I would've come back and I did but it took me a very long time. 

If this tragic and terrible event has happened to you, I'm here to say it's ok. Come here, I'll give you a hug. *hug*. I don't usually hug strangers because for all I know they might be pedophiles but for you I'll make an exception. I know the pain. Sure, she’ll come back but capturing a lost fangirl is as infuriating as waiting 14 years for the Doctor. 

But I’ve made it simpler for you guys to capture the lost fangirl. 

Materials needed:

• Internet
• Other fangirls
• Minimal art skills
• Sleep Deprivation
• Will To Live

Steps:

1. Prepare for no sleep.  Fangirling takes everything you’ve got, so don’t be shocked if you don’t get any sleep from the all those marathons and fanfiction. Cover yourself with a blanket or jacket.  Supply yourself with food on hand, just incase you forget to feed yourself. Make sure the room temperatures right. Then lie down on the bed/couch to make yourself comfortable.
2. Have a hardcore marathon. If it’s a book,  break your back rereading it everywhere, on the couch, on the bed, while brushing your teeth. Same goes with a tv series or movie except invite a fellow hardcore fangirl. Don’t stop until you’ve read/watched every single book/episode/movie or listen to every song. Basically get your hands on every single piece of the fandom basics.  
3. Don’t stop there read some fanfiction. You must feed your thirst for more because rereading and watching it again isn’t enough. 
4. Draw your favourite characters or OTP. This goes especially for book fandoms, visualizing them means your one step closer to becoming them living in their world. If you lack art skills or just positively suck then do this anyways to prove your love.
5. Surround yourself with fellow fangirls. If you’ve fangirl friends, great! If you’ve just friends then pester them 24/7 anyways. If you’ve no friends, pester other people using tumblr. Either way tumblr’s a great way to breathe in the fandom.

With these simple steps you’re on your way to becoming a fangirl (again). 

Good Luck

Ni 

Unfinished Skull Drawing

Here's just a skull drawing I never got around to finish that I did sometime ago...

If you like it, I can show more of my drawings...

Ni

Ukulele Diary: Buying a Ukulele

You've done your research and have all this information about which kind of ukulele you want to buy when BAM so many choices in your face when you get to the store. Then there's this little voice in your head going:

What to do?! 
What to buy?!
OH MY GOSH THAT'S SO PRETTY!

The Store

Hold up. I get it you can get all googly-eyed but no, no, no don't be fooled by the number of choices. The #1 thing to keep in mind when going to buy a ukulele for the first time is to go to a store that specialises in ukuleles or has good knowledge on it. Depending on where you are, do a little research on which stores are good ukulele stores around your area. I live in Singapore so I can recommend two stores in Singapore:

• Davis Guitar Music Centre 
  Address: 3 Coleman Street #B1-40/41
  Peninsula Shopping Complex
  
  This is a great store for those who are just starting the ukulele. They've a good range of budget ukuleles, sopranos starting from SGD29. The staff was very helpful, friendly and had good knowledge on the ukulele. Peninsula Shopping Complex itself is packed with stores that sell great ukuleles, so do some looking around in the area as well. Some stores even offer free gigbags (the soft case which you store your uke in) and chord books.
• Ukulele Movement
  Address:
  Address: 66 Kampong Bugis, Level 5, Kallang Rivergreen Building
  
  Personally, I've never been there but, it's where it all started in Singapore. It's THE ukulele place. I've looked around their website and they offer workshops for all ages. THE store to start off the whole journey. I didn't go there since: a) It was too far from my house and b) they don't sell the cheap ukuleles I was looking for

Looking Around

When you look around keep these in mind:

1. Ask for help but don't pretend you don't know shit. 
2. Try out different size ukuleles to see which one feels right in your hands. Maybe you were going for a soprano but right now a concert feels better in your hands, then go for it. A concert really is not as different it just has a higher range of notes and (as the store staff told me) a lower, fuller tone. 
3. Keep an open mind. You might've a particular brand that you're ready to buy but remember to see what the store already has. They might even have something better than your original plan. 
4. Look around at other stores ,if possible. This store might have the one you've been searching for but if something in your gut says to look around ,go with it. 
5. Make sure your budget includes a ukulele and essential accessories. These accessories include a gig bag and tuner.

Deciding The One

So you've taken a look around now when it comes to the right one I just have one important tip, go with your gut. Go. With. Your. Gut. Nothing more. A sales staff can stuff so many options down your throat that you drown in them but once you see the one that feels right you'll it in your gut. Of course other tips include:

• Stick to your budget. No matter how much you want that ridiculously expensive ukulele it's only worth it when you get better. Plus, if you find that the ukulele is not the instrument is for you at least you didn't dig your piggy bank a grave. I can't stress this enough. 
• Avoid ukuleles with fancy shapes and detailing. A little bit of colour and design is good but is too much is just a distraction from playing. The flying-v shaped ukuleles should be avoided for beginners since they poke you and is just plain uncomfortable.
• You can play it. Yes, seriously. If the edges are rough and the strings sound pathetic but it looks good then it's not worth it (unless you're buying just for that).
• The fretboard doesn't have the metal things stick out. 
• The strings sound good.
• The tuners are geared. You can buy friction tuners but they tend to get out of tune quickly (as the store staff said) and unless they're quality friction tuners get geared ones. Friction tuners (like on violins) rely purely on the friction between string and pathetic peg of wood for it to be in tune. Gears (like on guitars) rely on the tiny gears plus the metal pegs. 

A Mini You

Not exactly a mini you but a representation of you. There are so many ukuleles out there that you bound to find one that represents you. The cuteness and the look really encourages you to play it more often. It's like the wands in Harry Potter, the uke choose you. *dramatic music* No two are the same! Ok... that's taking it too far, but you get the idea. This is one of the greatest thing about ukes is that unlike other instruments you can actually customise and find one that suits you.

Ni

Forever Alone... For Now

If it was two weeks ago, I wouldn't post this since well... I was rejected by someone.
Yes, I'm a human being so naturally I was sulking like the teenage girl I was.
All that I was left with was this quote:

I didn't get it at first. I thought it was just another thing, I had to cry over.
Then, EPIPHANY.
I did a double check on my age, yep. Still 13. Ok, I'm good to go.

That's the thing see, my friends, my world, expect me to find someone or have someone at this age. At the start I thought I needed to follow that trend, be the person I'm supposed to be, this is where it gets all wrong. We are constantly having this fight between ourselves, our observed identity and our inner identity. Our observed selves follow these secret rules and regulations that society expect us to blindly tag along to. We rarely check these rules and regulations if it's fair and just.  Mostly people expect this from our observed identity, the part of us that people think they know. Then our inner selves have different opinions, maybe we rather bend the rules or skip them all together. When I say rules I'm talking about stuff like wearing make-up, talking in one way, listening to the "right" music, etc.

So I come the across the quote again and I think "I get it now". I shouldn't mull over this like a deranged person that has reached rock bottom (don't worry I'll get there someday). Instead I should smile at this experience behind me. Even laugh at it. 20 years from now, when I actually find that someone (I hope I will, I'm not that hopeless), I'd probably forget about this.

Got rejected. Check that off my list. Now smile! :)

So all the ladies out there my age, don't get too hung up. We still have light years ahead of us. And right now, it's ok being "Forever Alone". No one really is "Forever Alone". You have your best friends, your family, your siblings who you love to pieces because a someone doesn't mean to have a boyfriend/girlfriend. Just right now, you don't need a that kind of a someone to ride on a f-ing steed with polished armour and hand you roses. So I'm here to tell you that it's perfectly normal. I thought I was weird too when I wasn't like my friends who wanted a someone, but I now figure it's normal. The most important thing right now is to show that inner identity of yours. You've this observed identity, a person which others stereotype people into. You wear dark clothes, conclusion, emo. You're too happy, weird perky kid. You're all about sports, jock. Well, people are more than just 2 dimensions you need to know them completely to love them. This term, love, is used so freely nowadays that we barely even know the true meaning of it anymore...

Ok, back on track from that.

 Just have fun with yourself. And maybe you do want a someone, that's perfectly fine too. Just remember and think "Is this what people expect from my observed identity or is it something my inner identity wants?". The worst thing about the whole of this kind of a mess is liking someone because your friends teased you into it or you're expected to like that person.

Ni