The Lightning Thief – Percy Jackson’s - Quick Adventure
1. Beginning:
My name is Percy Jackson, and I thought my life was pretty ordinary. I was a regular 12-year-old
with ADHD and dyslexia, constantly getting kicked out of schools. But that all changed the day
Mrs. Dodds, my math teacher, tried to kill me. I’m not exaggerating. She turned into a ‘Fury’,
with sharp claws and a freaky tail.
I barely escaped, only to discover that I was no ordinary kid. I was the son of Poseidon, the
Greek god of the sea. Apparently, this made me a demigod, which was great, except for the part
where the gods couldn’t seem to stop throwing life-threatening situations at me.
My name is Percy Jackson and I thought I was an unexceptional kid with ADHD and
dyslexia, until I discovered my heritage! When I realised who my father is, it rocked my
world forever. Only Poseidon - the lord of the sea. That left me: a half blood; in
Manhattan; with an absent father.
2. Build-Up:
So, there I was, trying to figure out what being a demigod meant, when my life took another wild
turn. I was sent to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for kids like me. It wasn’t all campfires and
marshmallow roasting. Instead, I was learning how to sword-fight, dodge monsters, and keep
my head down - especially after discovering that the gods had a serious issue with each other.
I quickly learned that Zeus, the king of the gods, had lost his master lightning bolt - the most
powerful weapon in the universe - and he thought Poseidon had stolen it. So, I was tasked with
a mission: find the bolt, return it to Zeus, and stop an all-out war among the gods.
My companions? Grover, my satyr friend who’s obsessed with being a “Protector of
Prophecies”, and Annabeth, daughter of Athena, who’s smarter than everyone in the room put
together. Together, we were supposed to track down the bolt - except things weren’t as simple
as they seemed.
After I discovered my heritage, I was directly advised to go to Camp Halfblood (a brutal
camp for demigods). The torturous daily activities included: climbing the magma wall;
archery; fighting monsters and battle duelling! Zeus - the king of the gods - had lost his
formidable lightning bolt so I was given the task to find it. My two best friends, Grover the
trash muncher and Annabeth the nerd, were sent with me. Why me?
3. Problem:
Our journey was filled with dangerous encounters. We were chased by hellhounds at a gas
station, had a run-in with Medusa (who turned people to stone - don’t ask), and ended up at a
gateway to the Underworld in Los Angeles. But the worst part wasn’t the monsters or even the
crazy quests. It was realizing that the gods were more complicated than I’d thought.
Annabeth and I uncovered a huge twist. There was more at stake than just the bolt. Luke, a
fellow camper, was behind the whole thing. He’d stolen the bolt to frame Poseidon, hoping to
start a war between the gods and let Kronos, the king of the Titans, rise again and overthrow
them all.
Luke was a traitor, and suddenly, the mission wasn’t just about saving my dad’s reputation - it
was about stopping a Titan war.
Although I was new to the job, I wasn’t gifted with the easiest tasks…
After decapitating Medusa; getting stuck in the Lotus Casino and being chased by
ravenous hellhounds, we finally arrived in Los Angeles - the entrance to the underworld.
My companions and I discovered - in an unexpected turn of events - that we had a traitor
in our midst. Luk the snake! He abandoned the gods in true turncoat fashion to serve
Kronos (the Titan king). He was the puppeteer of the whole cataclysm; framing Poseidon
for stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt. Even the love-struck Annabeth, who was secretly
crushing on him called him “Eris’ pet”.
4. Resolution:
So, we headed straight to the Underworld, hoping we could find the bolt and return it before it
was too late. After some wild adventures and running from Cerberus (the grotesque,
three-headed dog guarding the Underworld), we learned the truth: Luke had planted the bolt in
Hades’ vault to frame Poseidon. But Luke’s real goal was chaos. He wanted the gods to fall, and
he was willing to do anything to make that happen.
With the help of Annabeth and Grover, I confronted Luke. But even though I defeated him in a
huge battle, the real fight wasn’t just about the bolt—it was about preventing the war he was
trying to spark. With my sword, which doubles as a pen (long story), I returned the bolt to Zeus,
stopping the gods from going to war.
When we got to the Underworld, we discovered that not only had Zeus’ lightning bolt
been stolen by Luc but also Hades’ Helmet of Darkness had been swiped by the same
hand. His intention was to instigate World War 3 between the gods. The Ragnarok! We
recovered both missing items (from Luc’s bag), facing enormous challenges and
returned them to their rightful owners. After a failed assassination attempt on me with a
deadly scorpion, Luc ran away like a headless chicken.
5. Ending:
Back at Camp Half-Blood, I thought things would calm down. But that’s the thing about being a
demigod - you’re never really safe. Annabeth, Grover, and I became closer through everything
we’d been through, but we knew that Luke’s betrayal wouldn’t be the last time we faced danger.
So, while the gods may have stopped fighting, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the battle wasn’t
over. Maybe next time, the enemy would be closer than I expected. But for now, I had my
friends, my sword, and a sense that my life would never be “normal” again.
After all, who needs normal when you’ve got an epic destiny?
After the whole imbroglio, we finally had time to breathe. Our friendship cemented, due to
our collective near death experiences. For now, the situation had calmed down.
This time we managed to prevent the war. Who knows what will happen next time…
All I know is that my destiny is in the hands of the Fates.
### **Assessment Criteria for KS3:**
- **Structure & Organisation:** The story follows a clear narrative structure, including the
beginning, build-up, problem, resolution, and ending.
- **Character Development:** Percy Jackson, Grover, Annabeth, and Luke are clearly defined
characters. Percy grows from a confused, somewhat reluctant hero to someone who
understands his role in the world and his connections to others.
- **Descriptive Language:** Descriptions are used to bring action scenes (such as fighting
Medusa or escaping hellhounds) to life, and to develop characters. For example, “turned into a
*Fury*, with sharp claws and a freaky tail” adds imagery to the monstrous threat.
- **Consistent Tone:** The tone remains consistent throughout, balancing humor with tension.
Percy’s sarcastic, humorous voice shines through even in life-or-death situations.
- **Plot Development:** The plot is well-developed with a clear sequence of events that build up
to the resolution. The conflict is introduced, escalated, and resolved in a way that is engaging
for the reader.
- **Dialogue and Action:** Action scenes are described clearly, with dialogue helping to build the
relationship between characters, especially in moments of tension or realization.
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This version of the story is designed to fit with the **KS3** criteria, incorporating structure,
character development, descriptive language, and tone. It also aligns with the narrative
elements needed for a well-rounded and engaging short story.
