For all the people who had followed this story, SO SORRY. This is the actual chapter, the other is not. For all the people who just started this, ignore my rambling and read the story.
So, in one of my 'too sleepy/lazy to get up, too awake to go back to sleep' moments, I started to daydream Solangelo (of course, what else would I do?) and this was born. Please review with what you think of it.
Disclaimer: I don't own PJO/HOO nor do I own Sleeping Beauty
Once upon a time, there was a kingdom ruled by a king named Hades. He had a queen named Maria, and they had a young daughter by the name of Bianca. When Bianca was two years old, it was announced that Queen Maria was expecting again. When the kingdom heard the news, they rejoiced, for Queen Maria was a kind woman with a gentle heart.
When the announcement that the local village would be invited to the feast in honor of the child, they rejoiced even more. Many woman took their daughters to get new dresses for the event, and the men their sons. They could not wait for the event taking place in nine months...
"Maria, was it really necessary to invite the entire village?"
"Yes dear, respect and love from a kingdom is incredibly important. It makes rebellion nonexistent." Hades sighed, he knew his wife was correct, if your subjects liked you, the more peaceful ruling would be. But that didn't mean that if war did come, King Hades would be defenseless. No, quite the opposite, the Underworldia kingdom had the largest army out of all of his brothers and sisters.
You see, back to when Hades was born, the world was ruled by Kronos and his wife, Rhea. But when Hades and his siblings were born, they took overthrew him and divided the land into twelve sections; Hades and Maria ruling over Underwoldia, Zeus and Hera lording Olympus, Poseidon Atlantis, Athena Owlcity (too tempting), Apollo Poetopolis, Artemis Hunt, Demeter Cerealtopia, Ares Bloodax, Hephaestus and Aphrodite Forgesia, Dionysus Grapepeelia, Hermes Flyingshoe, and Hestia Hearthstone. They all had different special abilities to help them rule.
Hades sighed again. "Very well. Beside the village, who else?"
"Well, obviously your relatives."
"Why is that obvious?"
Maria smacked him playfully. "Because they're your relatives."
"If you insist." Honestly, Hades wouldn't mind if he only saw his family once more in his life, and that would only be to rub it in their faces.
"How many plates do we have?" Hades asked. The number of plates was important. If you invited to many people and didn't have enough plates, it could be taken as a sign of disrespect and might lead to war.
"I've done the math. Exactly enough for the entire village and your siblings."
Hades froze. Then, very carefully, asked "What about Gaea?"
The blood drained from Maria's face.
"Darling! Calm down, relax for the baby." Hades rushed to her and gently helped her to a chair.
"What are we going to do? We don't have enough plates for your grandmother!" Gaea was the mother of Kronos, ancient but extraordinarily powerful. Always in danger of starting a war. If she wasn't invited to the feast and she found out, the consequences could be devastating.
"We have no choice but to not invite her. On the invitation say not speak of this to the earth mother."
Maria bit her lip worriedly, glanced down at her stomach, then reluctantly nodded. "I'll arrange the change."
"Maria," Hades whispered. "I don't like it anymore then you do." Maria nodded again sadly.
NINE MONTHS LATER...
"I bless you with eyes drownable in." Queen Aphrodite touched baby Nico on the forehead and glowed a dim pink. On his throne, King Hades of Underworldia rolled his eyes. Only Queen Aphrodite could think of such a shallow blessing to give the newborn prince at the Blessing Ceremony.
Then again, his other siblings weren't that much better. Apollo blessed him with an amazing singing voice, and Poseidon a way with horses. The only interesting ones were Athena's, Artemis', Ares', and his. Athena blessed him with incredible knowledge, Artemis gave him the ability to never lose his way in the wilderness, Ares made him able to use any weapon flawlessly, and Hades gave his son the ability to raise the dead, so that no matter where he was, he would always have someone.
Even if that someone was a decaying zombie. Hey, it's the thought that counts.
The blessings continued like this, the only odd one out was Hera's, the ability to control shadows. Hades grudgingly admitted that it was a pretty cool ability, especially if it meant that Prince Nico could shadow travel, a rare ability.
Hestia-the last Blesser- was just walking up to the cradle in front of the king's, queen's, and princess' throne when the doors to the hall shattered, sending splinters flying. The sound of metal on metal filled the air as men drew their swords. Then yelps as the men sank to their waists in gooey mud.
Rose thorns began to creep out from where the doors once stood. Then Gaea stepped through.
Dressed in a green dress, and bare foot, she might have been mistaken for any old villager, but her eyes set her apart. They held such malevolence that the children whimpered and hid. That and the fact they were pure green.
"A party?" She asked, looking around. "And am I not invited?"
"Grandmother," Hades stood. "I welcome you."
"And yet I was not invited to my great-grandson's Blessing Ceremony. How is that welcoming?"
Hades swallowed nervously. He did not like the way this was going. Not at all. "There weren't enough plates, Grandmother. If you wish, though, you may stay for the rest of the Ceremony."
"I do wish. I also wish to bless the child myself."
Hades glanced nervously at Maria, who shook her head the slightest bit. Next to her sat Bianca, who must've been scared out her mind, but was acting calm. A surge of pride welled in Hades, and turned back to Gaea. Unfortunately, she had noticed Maria's disapproval.
"You would deny me the chance to bless the child?" She sounded incredulous. "My own great-grandson?"
No answer.
"Very well." Gaea snapped her fingers, and everyone standing up-so basically everyone but Queen Maria and Princess Bianca-sank to their shoulders in mud. "If you deny me my right to bless the child, I'll simply curse him."
"No!" Maria cried, and ran toward Gaea.
With a look of contempt, Gaea waved her hand and thick roots burst out of the ground, wrapping around the queen.
"Maria!"
"Oh, do shut up, grandson. You're all talk and no action."
"No action? Gaea, I assure you, if you so much as think about cursing my child, I guarantee you war."
"Hm," she glanced at him. "I'll have to take you up on that offer." Gasps rolled across the hall. Nobody declared war with somebody in their own hall. Normally the guards would already have the person in chains. Unfortunately, the guards were currently busy trying to dig themselves out of holes in the ground.
Gaea strode to Prince Nico, who blinked up at her with wide eyes. "So innocent. Yes, I have a nice curse in mind." Gaea opened her hand over Nico, and as she spoke a white ball with hints of green appeared. "I curse you, child, to a short life. You shall abandon your family, and die without saying goodbye." She started to blow the ball over to Nico, and it was almost to him when a cry filled the room.
"NO!" Bianca ran forward and intercepted the curse. The room exploded in the same color the ball was. When the light faded, Bianca, eyes wide with terror, collapsed into a heap. Only the rise and fall of her chest showed that she was alive.
"What have you done?!" Queen Maria wailed. Gaea blinked in shock, but quickly recovered.
"She took the curse to save her brother. Pity," Gaea nudged Bianca's unconscious form. "She could've had a long life."
"Grandmother," Hades' voice was heavy with grief. "You cursed my child. Please. Take your leave."
Gaea looked back up at him. "Ah, but I came here for that one." She pointed at Nico. "This one," now at Bianca. "Simply got in my way. Let's see, can't give the boy the same curse now. That would be boring." She turned to Hera. "You gave him the power over shadows, did you not?"
Hera didn't answer.
"Well, you did." She turned back to the prince of Underworlia and began her curse. Hades struggled against the dirt, but it was like swimming in syrup. "I curse you to forever be an outcast, to wander the earth alone. On your fourteenth birthday, your use of shadows shall backfire and you shall be consumed by the very power you control. You will fade into oblivion."
"Grandmother, I beg of you, do not do this to my child, he has done nothing to you." Hades pleaded with her. Gaea, about to blow the curse at Nico, paused.
"You beg of me?" She sounded amused. "The king of Underworlia begs it of me?"
Hades glanced at Queen Maria uncertainly. She nodded. "Y-yes. I... beg it of you to spare my son."
"Very well." Hades' eyes widened. This was not like Gaea to be merciful.
"On his fourteenth birthday, he will not immediately fade away. If his true love-be it of the past, present, or future- kisses him before sundown on that day, he will live." Outraged gasps filled the air. Allowing the prince a mere day-no less then a day for his true love to come, that was impossible. The curse descended on the young prince, and the room flashed again.
Gaea swirled around, and walked back to the remains of the door. As she stepped through the doorway, roots slammed up from the ground, curled around her, and pulled her underground.
Silence fell upon the hall. The earth solidified again, though nobody moved, stunned.
Finally, Hestia pulled herself up out of the ground. She walked silently over to King Hades and offered him a hand. Staring numbly at where his children laid, he took it, allowing himself to be pulled out of the dirt by his oldest sister.
"I cannot save the girl," Hestia spoke, barely more then a whisper, but the words rolled over the silent hall.
"And I cannot revoke the boy's curse. However," Hades whipped his head to her, eyes wide with hope.
"However, I can lessen it."
"Lessen it... how?" Hades voice was weak and slightly desperate.
Hestia walked slowly over to the cradle.
"Child. My Blessing to you is this: instead of a mere day for your true love to find you, I now extend it to seventy years." A ball appeared, but instead of white and green that gave off a malevolent vibe, it glowed a cheery orange, like the flames of a warm hearth.
"Please," Hades whispered. "Do something about the outcast part."
Hestia nodded sadly. "You will only become an outcast when," she sighed heavily. "When your sister passes away, and it shall be revoked on your fourteenth birthday, while you struggle between the world of the living and the world of the shadows. This is my Blessing." Instead of a bright flash, the hall's temperature rose, not uncomfortably, but warm enough that the cold hate from Gaea's visit faded some.
Hestia turned to Hades. "This is the best I can do."
Hades nodded. "Thank you sister." He turned to the children, who were beginning to stir.
"We have things to prepare."
BOOM! First chapter! Tell me if this is worth continuing. Please?
(Sorry again for any confusion)