Author's Note: This chapter is ridiculously long, but I'm really happy with what I managed to explore. There's a lot of character development in this chapter, so it's a bit of a filler. But I'm happy with how it turned out. The more I write, the clearer my idea is about where I want this story to go. It will start picking up soon, I promise. As always, please read and review guys! :D
Disclaimer: Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympians and all things related are property of Rick Riordan and Disney Hyperion. I am not making any profit off of this work in any way, shape, or form.
Fort Olympus
Chapter 2: Understanding
"How many demigods do we need to be prepared for?" Annabeth asked Nico.
It was the day after they had gotten their gifts, and Nico and she had met in the Big House to work on the plans for Fort Olympus. The gods had left it pretty open-ended for the demigods to design, so they had gotten Nico, Percy, Reyna, and Dakota to help come up with ideas for Annabeth to design.
Nico raised an eyebrow at her question. "How am I supposed to know?"
"You're supposed to become the god of demigods." Annabeth shot back with amusement in her eyes.
Nico rolled his eyes and concentrated. The gods had not made him immortal, yet, but he did have some powers that reflected his future realms.
"There are about 1,000 Greek and Roman demigods around the world, including those we have here right now," he said after a minute.
Annabeth nodded. "Let's say we have roughly fifty or so demigods in each cabin/barracks. That would mean, what? 20 cabins? Yeah."
Annabeth took that note down. "And I'll add five more just to be safe. Chiron, Lupa, have there even been more than this many demigods before?"
"No," Lupa answered stiffly. "In all my years in service to Olympus training heroes, I can't remember more than that many existing at one given time." Thankfully, the wolf goddess had taken human form.
"I'm the same," Chiron agreed.
Annabeth nodded again, taking more notes. "Okay, so that means we'll have to build 25 cabins, a mess hall for 1500 people, an amphitheater, a Coliseum, and leave an extra five acres for everything else. Does anyone know where we're going to build this place?"
The others shrugged, and Annabeth groaned in frustration.
"I do," said a voice at the doorway. Hera walked in and took a seat between Chiron and Lupa.
Percy and Annabeth still had mixed feelings about the goddess, but after their meeting on Olympus, they had agreed to set things aside.
Hera smiled wryly at the leaders of the Greek demigods. "You both still judge against me."
"Well do you expect us to be lovey-dovey to you after all you put us through?" Annabeth asked.
"Annabeth!" Chiron warned.
Hera waved Chiron's comment away. "Her anger at me is not misdirected, brother." Hera turned to Annabeth with a sad smile. "I did what I had to do to protect my family, dear. Surely, after all your recent journeys, you understand the ways of the Fates. Everything has its right time, Annabeth, and you of all people know that I couldn't do anything out of order. That is not the way of the world."
Annabeth looked back at the goddess with uncertainty but nodded. "Yeah, I understand. I'm sorry for speaking out of turn," she said grudgingly.
"You saved me from the wrath of the gods. It is I who should be thanking you."
Hera and Annabeth nodded at each other. Maybe they had no love for each other, yet, but an understanding passed between them to cooperate.
"Now," Hera said, "the gods have two ideas for possible locations of Fort Olympus. But I would like to hear your thoughts first."
"Queen Jun-er, Hera," Reyna interrupted.
"Yes, praetor?"
"What will happen to New Rome? The citizens live under the protection of the legion. If the legion moves, what will happen to the city?"
"That's another thing I'm here to discuss. The gods suggest that a new city be built near Fort Olympus with all of the amenities of New Rome, only for all Greco-Roman demigods. However, it is up to the Senate of Rome to decide whether they wish to move or not."
Reyna rose. "I will convene the Senate immediately."
Hera nodded. She turned to the Greek demigods. "You might want to assemble the War Council, too. There are some decisions to be made regarding your future. Let's in the amphitheater in an hour. I'll work with Annabeth on the plans in the meantime."
Percy nodded at his Patron and left to assemble the Senior Councilors of Camp Half-Blood with Nico and Dakota following him.
"Let's see your plans."
Annabeth opened the scroll of paper on the table. "I haven't been able to do much since I don't know the location. Right now, I just have the cabins placed, temples designed, and a few acres left for training facilities."
Hera observed the designs impassively. "Right now, we're thinking of either tearing down everything at Camp Half-Blood and buying extra land or buying new real estate in Virginia."
"What did the gods decide?"
"Nothing. We decided to leave it up to the two camps. But if the Senate chooses to relocate New Rome to Fort Olympus, your mother suggested that we should have the fort in the New York area to offer our protection as much as we can."
Annabeth thought about this. "How much land will we have?"
"5,000 acres if the city is moving and 2,500 if not."
Annabeth nodded. "I don't know how the Senate and Senior Council will vote, but this helps a lot, Queen Hera. Thanks." She gave a grudging smile to the Queen of the Heavens at this.
Hera smiled back and nodded. "Let's get to the amphitheater. I think the Senate and Council should be assembled now."
The Roman Senate had taken their seats on one side of the amphitheater with the Greek Senior Council on the other. There were twelve chairs at the stage for the ten leading demigods, Lupa, and Hera.
Reyna was addressing the Senate as Hera and Annabeth took their seats.
"Senators, the Twelfth Legion Fulminata is to be relocated."
There were protests, but Frank stood up and talked over them. "It is the will of the gods," he declared. "The Queen of Olympus herself is here to vouch for this. Does the legacy of Rome wish to go against the gods?" He challenged.
The Senators grumbled among themselves but didn't respond.
Reyna continued. "All Greek and Roman demigods are to be united at a new safe haven, Fort Olympus, with the Council of Demigods leading it. The Council will have twelve permanent voting members, the ten you see before you and the Augur of Apollo and the Oracle of Delphi, both of whom will be nonvoting advisees. The constituents of Fort Olympus will elect an additional ten voting members every year, five Greek and five Roman, the day before the Summer Solstice. For any action to be passed in Council, it will require the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the whole council as well as a simple majority of the permanent members. This you know already. What I am before you to discuss is the fate of New Rome."
"It is the Twelfth Legion's duty," Frank took over, "to protect the citizens of New Rome. When the Twelfth Legion is absorbed into Fort Olympus, this duty will be passed onto Fort Olympus. However, it might not be possible to fulfill this duty if the fort is not near the city."
"Because of this," Reyna finished, "the three praetors, under the direction of the Olympian Council, suggest that New Rome be relocated from San Francisco to the Fort Olympus. However, for this to be be done, it requires the approval of the Senate."
"Will the new city have everything that New Rome does?" Larry asked.
"Yes," Percy, the third and last praetor, said. "The new city will have all of the amenities and protection of New Rome. The only differences will be the location and that all demigods will be welcomed."
"And Fort Olympus promises to protect it?" Octavian asked with fire in his eyes and venom in his voice.
"Yes," Thalia said smoothly. "The Council of Demigods has agreed that we, as Fort Olympus, will take over the duty of the Twelfth Legion and offer the protection to the citizens and legacies of Rome, and eventually Greece as well."
Octavian opened his mouth to speak again, but Thalia continued, "It was a unanimous vote of 10-0-0," she finished, daring him to challenge her.
After a minute of silence, Reyna asked, "Are there any more questions or objections, Senators?"
No one spoke up.
"Then let a vote be called. Queen Hera, please arbiter this election."
Hera nodded. Percy, Reyna, Frank, Hazel, Nico, and Jason took their seats in the amphitheater.
"All in favor?" Hera called.
Nine hands rose out of the fifteen.
Hera nodded. "It passes. The city of New Rome will be relocated to be better protected by Fort Olympus."
Annabeth rose then and faced the Senior Council. "Counselors, you are called here today because we are working on the layout of Fort Olympus. Right now, there are two suggestions for the location, one is in Virginia overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and the other is right here, at Camp Half-Blood, close to Mount Olympus."
A gasp came from the counselors at this, but Annabeth continued as if she had heard nothing.
"We will, of course, need the consent of the Roman Senate and the Council of Demigods before we choose either, but the gods want to know how the demigods of Camp Half-Blood feel about having their home transformed."
"Annabeth," Connor asked slowly, "Uh, I don't mean to be rude, but how would we even fit all that here?" He asked in confusion. "We hardly have enough place for everyone as it is."
Annabeth nodded, "The gods will be expanding Camp Half-Blood to 5,000 acres to fit everyone. One of the advantages of staying here is that we already have most of the demigod quarters, er, cabins, built. We can just expand the existing ones and add just a few more, and we'll be done. Another advantage is that we have most of the training facilities here as well as most of the infrastructure. All we would need is to add a full harbor on the lake, a field for war games, the temples, create a Council house, and design the city. If we use our existing facilities with just moving some things around to accommodate everything else, Fort Olympus will be up and running within the next few weeks. If we have to start from scratch and transport everyone to the new location, it could take months."
"Show us the designs," Clarisse ordered. Like most of the oldest and consistent campers, she didn't like hearing that the gods were planning to redo their home. But she wasn't completely against the idea, either.
Annabeth put up the design that she had finished while the Senate was deliberating.
The designs showed a full harbor and naval yard in the lake, some of the cabins realigned and new ones added, a city behind the Big House extending into the hill, a large empty field for war games, and four large temples on Half-Blood Hill. An extra building was next to the Big House; this was obviously the Council House with its grand architecture.
"Satisfied?" Annabeth smirked at her friends' awestruck faces.
"Annabeth, it's magnificent," Percy exclaimed, grinning.
Annabeth smiled at her boyfriend's enthusiasm. "So are we, as Camp Half-Blood," she continued addressed the Senior Counselors, "willing to accept this, or are we going to move to Virginia, beyond the protection of the gods?"
A murmur passed through the Greek demigods, but it seemed that they all were okay with the idea on some level.
"Are we ready to vote?" Annabeth asked.
"Yes," Leo called in exasperation. "Let's get on with it already. How can you all stand this slowness with your ADHD? I'm dying over here."
There were a few snorts around the arena at Leo's outburst along with a lot of laughing.
Annabeth rolled her eyes with a smile before turning to Reyna at the head table. "Could you arbiter the vote?"
Reyna looked surprised but nodded with an almost preleased look.
Annabeth, Piper, Leo, and Thalia took their seats, and Nico, Jason, and Percy joined them from the Roman side.
"All in favor of having Fort Olympus be based at Camp Half-Blood," Reyna called.
Sixteen of the twenty-one Senior Counselors raised their hands as well as Chiron.
Reyna nodded. "It passes."
Annabeth came up again and addressed the Senate. "Does the Senate of Rome agree to this, or do they object?"
"How does the Council of Demigods vote?" Dakota asked.
Nico and Annabeth glanced at each other.
"We've not actually voted on this," Nico began. "We wanted to get the views of the two camps before we voted."
"All in favor of locating Fort Olympus and New Rome out of Camp Half-Blood?" Hera addressed the Senate.
All but four of the Senators' hands went up.
"It is passed," the Queen said with finality. "It is time for the Council of Demigods to vote and show their assent or dissent."
The ten necessary demigods came forward and sat at their seats on the head table.
"What is your decision, Council?" Chiron asked. Lupa and Hera just watched quietly.
"All in favor?" Frank asked his brethren. All ten demigods raised their hands. "It is done," Frank addressed everyone present. "Fort Olympus will be based in Camp Half-Blood with the support of both the existing Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood."
"All that's left," Hera said, "Is to determine what your trainers wish. Obviously, they will no longer be teaching separately. Have you two come up with a plan?"
Chiron and Lupa nodded to each other before the she-wolf spoke, "We have, Queen Juno. We ask all of the gods to send their demigods to Fort Olympus to Fort Olympus by the summer after their seventh birthday at the latest. Once we get them, the Greek and Roman demigods will be separated."
Chiron took over when Lupa looked at him to continue. "For the first three years, the demigods will be trained by their natural teacher, Greek or Roman, myself or Lupa, in their natural ways. After that, they will be transferred to the other of us for two years to master the differing methods. After these five years, they will be prepared to become full members of the Fort Olympus, at which time we will hand over their custody to the Council of Demigods."
Hera listened impassively.
"However," Lupa continued in a warning tone, "We will not be able to train our students and the future heroes if the gods do not send them to us before they turn eight. It will be impossible for us to train them in the ways of survival."
Hera gave a wry smile. "It will be done. I assure it."
Lupa and Chiron looked a look of disbelief, which she chose to ignore.
"Where will you train them?" the Queen asked.
"Right here at Camp Half-Blood/Fort Olympus," Lupa answered smoothly. "Until the students are able to become full members of Fort Olympus, we will keep them with us. To facilitate this, we ask Annabeth to design two separate, distinct areas for us to train on opposing sides of the fort. The demigods will spend their first five years with us, learning the ways of both Rome and Greece in these secluded sections, and then they will merge back into Fort Olympus."
"You're creating a school within a school," Hera pondered. "Can you do that, Annabeth?"
Annabeth looked at Hera with a quizzical look, as if to say Of course I can! and returned to the design plans, frantically drawing.
"Then so be it," Hera proclaimed. "In two days' time, after the Council of Olympus approves the designs and proposals I have heard today, Fort Olympus and New Rome will come onto this Earth as it has been designed and supported."
The Queen of Olympus flashed away after this. The Senate and Senior Council quickly disbanded after this, leaving only the ten of the Council of Demigods (Reyna, Frank, Hazel, Jason, Nico, Percy, Annabeth, Piper, Leo, and Thalia), Rachel the Oracle, Octavian the Augur, and their teachers Chiron and Lupa behind.
"Now what?" Thalia asked.
"Now," Nico said with a smirk, "we plan for the friendly war games and Capture the Flag match between the Greek and Roman demigods."
"Done," Lupa said with a smirk of her own. At the surprised look on the demigods' faces, she explained, "Chiron and I figured that it would be unfair if the players themselves knew the design of these games, so we took the liberty of putting them together without your fore-knowledge to challenge both sides."
Chiron and Lupa laughed at the looks on their faces before going off. "Rachel, Octavian, follow us. We need you."
This left the Council of Demigods in an awkward silence.
"Hey, at least it's less work for us, right?" Leo said, trying to break the tension.
They shared a slight chuckle amongst themselves at this.
"Says the kid in his workshop 24/7," Annabeth teased.
"You're one to talk. I can hardly find you when I want to hang out!" Percy complained. "Always working on a new building or designing a new invention. It's like you don't want to spend any time with me at all."
Annabeth rolled her eyes at her boyfriend's antics before kissing him, leaving a goofy grin on his face.
Everyone laughed at that.
"Look, guys," Nico started, "I know we're not all the best of friends here, and I know most of you don't want me here, but it looks like we're going to be working together for a while. So we should probably get to know each other, I think."
The others looked at her brother in shock. "Why would we not want you here, Nico?" Thalia asked.
Nico turned a cold eye on her, but she didn't back down. "I was never accepted," he said, opening up for the first time in his life to so many people at once. "I didn't think you guys would want to work with me, either."
"Nico!" Percy exclaimed, "Zeus only knows how many times you saved our asses these past few years, and you still think we don't want you around? Dude, you've got to stop thinking everyone doesn't like you. We do want you around."
Nico gave him a wry smile. "Do you really believe that, Percy? Do you all really believe that? Is that why Reyna and Frank are looking at me as though they're trying to figure out when I'm going to pull up an army of the dead?"
"Nico," Annabeth said before anyone could interrupt. "You said that we should all get to know each other since we'll be working together for a while. So let's start with you."
Nico looked alarmed but nodded.
"What is this," Leo asked, "Twenty Questions?"
"Actually," Reyna said with amusement dancing in her eyes, "that might be fun."
"Let's not," Nico interrupted. "But what do you want from me, Annabeth?"
"Well, first of all, what did my mom mean when she said you swore off Aphrodite's realm yesterday?" Annabeth asked pointedly and in genuine curiosity. "And why was Jason so worried?"
Piper's eyes widened. "Is this related to what happened in Croatia?" She asked, her mental gears turning.
"Wait, what happened in Croatia?" Percy asked the question on everyone else's minds.
"On our way to Epirus," Hazel explained, "We had to stop in Croatia to pick up the scepter of Diocletian, so we could defend the House of Hades from our enemies when we came to free you guys. Jason and Nico went by themselves, and after they came back, no matter how much we asked them, they wouldn't tell us what happened."
Percy looked at Nico in curiosity; Jason looked at Nico with sadness and concern; and the rest of them watched the exchange between Nico and Jason in anticipation. Maybe now they would learn the secrets they had been keeping for so long.
"You know, Nico," Jason said softly, trying to sound comforting, "you said that we should learn to work together. You're our patron now. Why don't you set an example?"
"That's easy enough for you to say, Grace," Nico retorted, "You don't have to live under the curses of a thousand lifetimes like I do. You don't need a goddess to take away the pain you feel inside." He coughed to hide his sob.
Reyna stood up and walked over to Nico. Putting a hand on his shoulder, she said, "Nico, what happened in Croatia? You know you can tell us."
Nico shook his head. "I can't," he whispered. "I'm supposed to be protecting you guys, now, that's what the Council gave me as my gift, not the other way around."
"Nico," Hazel said in a firm voice, taking his hand, "You don't always have to be strong alone. We're here for you. Come on," she ended on an almost pleading note.
Nico closed his eyes for a moment, maybe trying to force down the tears. It didn't work. A few leaked out of his eyelids and started rolling down his cheeks.
"I faced Eros," Nico said finally, his eyes flickering to Jason. An understanding passed between the two of them.
"That's it?" Percy laughed. "You faced the god of love? That's your big secret? What, did he make you reveal an embarrassing crush or something?"
The ground started to vibrate as Nico's anger rose. His shadow grew longer, and the sky darkened.
"Percy," Jason interrupted. "It's not as easy as you think—"
"Yes, Perseus Jackson," Nico growled, "I did have to reveal an embarrassing crush. Thanks for judging me before you know everything. I appreciate it."
Nico pounded the table, cleaving it clean in two, and stormed off, an aura of darkness following him.
Jason glared at Percy before punching him in the gut. He tried to go after the Ghost King, but Piper stopped him.
"I'll go talk to him. I'm the Love expert here, right?" She said softly. She turned and followed the retreating shadow.
The rest of the Council of Demigods watched in shock at what had just transpired.
"Jason," Annabeth said softly, "what happened in Croatia? Why is Nico like this? What did Eros make him do?"
Jason turned to her sadly. "It's not my story to tell, Annabeth. I'm sorry."
"Jason, he swore off all love yesterday," Annabeth said, angrily, "And now he just said he faced the God of Love on our quest. And you punched Percy for saying that he had to own up to an embarrassing crush. Something's not right here. What happened?"
Jason glared at Percy one last time before looking at Annabeth.
With a sigh, the Son of Jupiter began, "Look, I can't tell you everything, but I'll tell you what I can. Cupid, Eros, whatever his name is," everyone was shocked with the venom Jason said Love's true name, "was guarding the Palace of Diocletian. It used to be the entryway to his palace before Diocletian took it over. When Diocletian died, his scepter, which can call forth ancient Roman armies, went into Cupid's archives. He kept it and protected it. In order to get it from Love, both Nico and I had to 'conquer' him. We had to own up to all of our history and present."
Jason's eyes flickered to Reyna for a second before turning back to address Annabeth. "Cupid said that Love only yields rewards after great sacrifice… and the truth."
"So what?" Thalia asked in confusion.
Jason looked tired. "I can't tell you what Nico had to go through. It's his story to tell. But to give you guys an idea of how cruel Cupid is, I'll tell you what I had to admit as the truth."
Jason looked at Reyna once again. She was wearing normal clothes for once, without any armor or formal Senate wear. She just had on a purple t-shirt and blue jeans. Her hair was up in a ponytail, and her eyes were as cold and calculating as ever. Yet, when Jason looked at her, he couldn't help but think that she had never looked more beautiful. But, she had sworn off love yesterday, and he was sworn to another.
Jason looked down at the table again. "To get the scepter of Diocletian," he said in almost a whisper, "I had to admit to Cupid that I was doubtful about whether I had met true love, yet, or not. He made me admit all my insecurities about Piper and my past with just one sentence. And the worst part," Jason had tears rolling down his cheeks at this, "The god of Love laughed at this," he finished with a shout.
The faces on the table looked shocked.
"So you see, Percy," Jason said, heartbroken and venomously, "it was not nearly as easy as you think. And compared to Nico's secret, mine is a walk in the park," he finished, laughing bitterly.
Percy looked shocked at what Jason had said. He'd faced Aphrodite numerous times, but she had never been that cruel. Love was supposed to be calm, soothing, faithful… He glanced at Annabeth and appreciated once more how lucky he was. More or less, the gods had given him a happy love life. Sure, there were ups and downs with drama here and there, but he was able to live with and groom his love for her without much opposition or struggle.
"What was Nico's secret?" Thalia asked Jason gently, squeezing his shoulder from her position standing behind him. It was hard to believe that the brother and sister, once separated in age by almost a decade, were the same age now.
"I believe that is my story to tell," a voice said from behind them. They turned to see Nico and Piper returning. He still looked like he had faced down an army of empousai, but he looked better. More than anything, he looked sad.
Nico knew someone would follow him. He expected it to be Jason, so he was surprised when he saw Piper of all people on his tail.
"You know," she said in a huff, "I liked you better as a fourteen-year-old. Now that you're sixteen, you're faster and stronger. I can't keep up with you anymore."
Nico couldn't help it. He laughed at Piper's flushed remark. "And why would I want you to keep up with me, anyway?" he said in an almost teasing voice, forcing his feelings of anger down within himself.
Holding grudges is a fatal flaw for children of Hades, his sister had warned him a long time ago. If he was going to live a meaningful life and do his duty to protect the demigods, he had to learn to let go of his anger. That was the only way.
"What do you want, Piper?" He asked stiffly.
Piper looked at him sadly. "I know," she said quietly.
Nico raised his eyebrow. "You might be the daughter of Aphrodite, Piper, but I doubt you know who I had liked and what I had to do in front of Eros."
Piper shook her head. "I don't know that, Nico, but I do know how cruel Love is." Her voice sounded so bitter that Nico felt sorry for her.
She was in a relationship with a guy she had false memories with, and from their encounter with Cupid, it sounded like Jason doubted himself in this department anyway. Maybe he still had lingering feelings for Reyna.
Maybe Piper did understand what Nico was going through.
"That's why Athena offered you protection from my mom's realm, isn't it?" She asked softly.
Nico looked confused, "What?"
"Athena herself falls in love," Piper explained. "She has demigod children even though she's a maiden goddess. Since she's the wisdom goddess, something tells me that she wouldn't hold her Champions to a different standard than she holds herself."
Nico looked at Piper in a new light.
"And she said that you would be just like one her children. But her children fall in love all the time."
Nico smiled wryly at that, thinking of his Patron's most favored child.
"So why did she do it?" Piper turned to Nico.
Nico laughed bitterly. "It was part of her blessing. I'm the first Champion she's taken on since Odysseus, four and a half thousand years ago."
"Huh? What do you mean, 'her blessing'?"
"She's doing something for me that I want."
He stood up abruptly. "We should probably go back."
Piper stood up, too, and faced him. "Nico, I don't know what you faced in Croatia, and I'm not going to pretend that I know you or have an idea of what you had to deal with in your life. I don't. But I want you to know that we're here for you; all of us. You might be our protector, but we are here to protect you, too. We're going to be working together for Zeus knows how long. We should trust each other."
Nico looked at her carefully. "Maybe you're right," he admitted. "If I'm going to be the patron god of all demigods, I guess I should start by being one myself."
Piper nodded encouragingly. They had returned to their friends by now.
"What's Nico's secret," Thalia asked Jason.
Nico interrupted before Jason could respond. "I believe that is my story to tell," even to himself, Nico sounded dejected.
They took their seats. Jason was looking at Nico in concern. "Nico, you don't have to tell us—"
"No," Nico cut him off. "There's no use hiding. We will all be working together for the next ten years at least, and we need to learn to trust each other."
Thalia walked over and sat in the seat next to him. It was hard to believe that they were all roughly the same age now. He still remembered being in awe, watching Thalia zap monsters with lightning and push Percy back into the creek in Capture the Flag. She grabbed his hand in comfort.
"I promised your sister before we went on the quest to save Artemis three years ago," Thalia began. Nico closed his eyes, pushing down the anger and trying to block the pain and tears from coming out. "I promised her that I would protect you. I have failed," Thalia whispered though everyone heard. "I'm sorry."
Nico looked at her, pain in his eyes, "You did what you could, Thalia," he said firmly, "You were not responsible for her death." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Percy flinch and resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "It wasn't yours, either, Percy," he said curtly. "Bianca made her choice. It was her Fate. It was her future and her decision." He turned back to Thalia. "Thank you for trying to protect me. You did all you could. I appreciate it. But now, it's my turn. Now, it's my responsibility to protect you, all of you," he said, turning to face them all, "It is my duty to protect all of you from harm."
"Nico," Reyna interrupted from behind him. A part of him found it funny how Reyna always found herself behind the demigod needing comfort most. "You don't have to do it alone," the praetor continued. "Trust me," she said bitterly, "I of all people know what it is like to lead on your own and swear your life to protect something. But you don't have to. Maybe you're the one destined to be the god of demigods. Maybe you're the one who will represent demigod interests on the Council of Gods in the future. But you're here for now. You don't have to do it alone."
Annabeth nodded at him from across the table. "You protected us for a year on your own, Nico. My mother told me what you did once you took on the patronage of Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter. Without your protection, we couldn't have prepared for the war. Thank you," she said in all honestly. "But we're all together now. You're not alone, and you don't have to act like it."
"I promised to Grover and Annabeth," Percy spoke for the first time since Nico's return. "after the quest to save Artemis that I would protect you, too. And I made the gods promise after the Titan War last year to accept Hades and Hades' children. And I promised I would, too. I'm sorry, Nico. I tried to protect you, too. I failed miserably. I wasn't able to protect you from anything but the Great Prophecy, and I didn't even keep my promise."
Nico just looked at Percy in pain. "I'm used to it, Percy. No one has ever kept a promise to me, and no one has ever kept it to a child of Hades before. I'm not an optimist; I'm a realist."
Everyone flinched at this.
"It doesn't mean—"
"Percy, just stop," Nico cut him off. "It doesn't matter. The past is the past. There's nothing we can do about it. We need to look to the future, now."
"How old are you, now, Nico?" Frank asked, looking at the 6'3" demigod in wonder.
"Sixteen," Nico answered. "Athena aged me so that my birthday would fall today."
"The same day as me," Thalia commented.
Nico looked at her and nodded.
"Are you ready to trust us now?" Reyna asked him.
Nico closed his eyes for a moment and then reopened them. Once again, he had an emotionless visage with cold, dark eyes.
"When I faced Eros, he forced me to face all my worst fears and secrets," Nico began truthfully, "He told me that for Love to yield rewards, the seeker had to give everything, especially the truth. He asked me to reveal one of the main reasons I avoided both camps as much as possible, even though I was protecting them. He asked me to accept my identity in the open."
Nico sighed and shared a look with Jason. The Son of Hades hated to admit it, but he and Jason had developed a bond with their shared experience of conquering Love. It wasn't fun, and it wasn't what he wanted to do. And he most certainly didn't want to have a bond with the Son of Jupiter of all people.
"Eros made me admit that I had no friends—"
"Nico," Annabeth said, murder in her voice, "If you believe that for even one second, Child of Hades or not, I will kill you. You always had friends."
Nico chuckled without humor. "Aren't you the one who ostracized me more than anyone else, Annabeth? Because you assumed I had a crush on you?"
Annabeth snorted. "Obviously my suspicions were wrong. But you have friends, Nico. Don't ever say that again."
Nico just shook his head and picked up his story. "Eros made me admit that I have no friends. He made me admit that I hated being a Son of Hades. He made me admit that I hated not being from this century. He made me admit all my insecurities and reasons I hated myself. And in the end, to finally take the scepter from him, he made me admit that I was gay…"
Everyone but Jason looked shocked. Jason looked at Nico worriedly. "Nico—"
"Save it, Jason. Athena's blessing protects me from her wrath and his stupidity, anyway. Eros made me admit that I once had a crush on Percy."
The table was dumbfounded.
"You… what?!" Percy exclaimed.
Nico rolled his eyes. "You're a dimwit, Percy Jackson. How I liked you, I have no idea."
"Don't I know it," Annabeth muttered, just loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Hey!" Percy pouted as everyone cracked up, the tension at the table immediately evaporating.
"That's the big secret."
"You seriously expected us to judge you because of that?" Thalia asked him with a raised eyebrow. "Nico, you know the myths better than any of us. You know that all the gods have had and continue to have numerous same-sex lovers."
"Yeah, Apollo doesn't really hide his little secrets," Nico muttered.
"So that's why Athena said you had to foreswear romantic love yesterday, isn't it?" Reyna questioned. "She was trying to help you out."
Nico nodded. "Thankfully, Athena's patronage now protects me from all romantic love; past, present, and future. So no, Percy, you egotistical maniac, I don't like you anymore."
"Hey!" Percy cried in indignation, but there was amusement in his eyes. "Seriously, man, you thought we were going to judge you based on that? You know nothing about us if you really thought that. We're all family here. We love each other. The least we can do is help each other out."
"A dysfunctional family," Nico muttered, which caused everyone to laugh freely, and even Nico allowed himself a small smile.
"Well, who's next?" Jason asked briskly.
"I vote Thalia," Annabeth said, looking at her friend. "Who did you fall in love with?"
Thalia's hands crackled with sparks for a second as she got her anger in control. "I didn't fall in love with anyone, Annabeth, but I knew that my time to leave the Hunt had come. The only reason I joined was to escape the Great Prophecy." Thalia looked apologetically at Percy. "I'm sorry, Percy, but after what happened on Mount Tam, I didn't think I would make the right choice. I was a coward, passing on such a burden to you when you were so young." Nico squeezed Thalia's hand; somehow, she had never let go through his explanation.
"It's okay, Thalia," Percy said softly. "It all worked out okay in the end."
"You would have been the same age Percy was when it happened, Thalia," Nico pointed out. "Hell, except for Hazel we're all the pretty much the same age now."
Hazel flushed and glared at her brother whose eyes shone with mirth.
"Yeah, Hazel's the baby in this family now," Jason laughed. "Ow!" A gold bar had hit the former praetor in back of his head.
Everyone laughed at this as Hazel smirked. "You're not a praetor anymore, Jason. You're my equal now."
Jason pouted for a minute before Piper kissed him, effectively brightening his mood.
Thalia grinned at her brother's predicament before turning serious again. "I didn't fall in love, but I was thinking too much about the man whom I used to love," she admitted.
Understanding dawned on Annabeth's face. "Luke?" She asked gently.
Thalia nodded, blinking back the tears. Nico rose and pulled her into a hug. "He got into Elysium, you know," he said softly into her ear though he was sure everyone heard anyway. "He died a hero's death by making the right choice in the end."
Thalia nodded into his chest. "I know. Thank you."
"No problem," he smiled at her, trying to give her comfort that he had never gotten when his sister had died. "He's waiting for you before he goes for rebirth."
The two sat down, hands still clenched. Maybe there was nothing romantic between them, but they did have their friendship.
"Okay, Percy and Annabeth," Reyna turned to the two in question; "It's your turn. What made you two like Hera all of a sudden," the praetor demanded.
"She's not so hard to understand once you get past the bitterness," Annabeth answered smoothly.
"Yeah," Percy agreed, "She isn't too happy about being forced to stay married to a guy who never stops cheating on her."
Thunder rumbled. "Oh, shut it, Dad," Thalia screamed at the sky. "You know it's true." That effectively shut the sky up.
"And besides," Percy continued, chuckling, "She's actually a good mother to her family when you get to know her. As much as she doesn't have love for demigods, she doesn't hate us, either."
"It isn't in her nature to hate us," Annabeth said, "She's a goddess of the family. Whether she likes to or not, she still watches over our family."
"Alright, Reyna," Thalia said, "Let's hear it. Why did you ask Aphrodite to leave you alone?"
Reyna's face took on her famous poker face, the one that no one could read. She looked at each of the demigods around her in turn. "My first loyalty is to the men and women under my command. It is my duty and role as a leader in the Roman army. It is my life, my mission, and my goal. Once before, I was distracted from this path. It led me to emotional despair that caused me to go into reclusion for a week."
Jason closed his eyes, trying and failing to block out the grief that filled him at these words. He didn't know that his disappearance had effected Reyna this badly.
"I had left my people at the mercy of a manipulative and power-hungry augur. I was helpless, and I was unable to lead. I never want to take that chance again. My soldiers swear on their lives to serve me. It is only right that I do the same to them. They are my life, my duty, my honor, and the reason I live. I will never turn my back on them again. I cannot."
There was silence at this, respect at Ryena's strength and actions.
"Wow, Reyna," Piper breathed, "I admire your courage and strength."
Reyna looked at the Daughter of Love in appreciation. "Thank you, Piper. I give my life to the men and women under my command. I will never be lead astray by the whims of the heart again."
She glared at the table after finishing, almost willing it to go ablaze.
"Frank, Hazel, you're up!" Nico said.
"What?" Both asked.
Nico rolled his eyes, and Piper responded. "Why did you guys ask the gods to leave Percy and Annabeth alone and ask them spend more time with their children?"
"Because we're family," Hazel responded smoothly. "We have to stick together."
Frank nodded. "These adventures have taught me one thing: As much as my family annoys the hell out of me, dad, we have to stick together, because if we don't, we have already let our enemies win."
"Okay, Leo, you haven't said anything so far. Let's hear about Calypso," Jason addressed his friend.
Leo glared at him halfheartedly. The truth was that he didn't want to talk about Calypso. Poseidon's words yesterday had made him incredibly sad, and he didn't really want to deal with Percy's reaction.
Percy had stiffened at the name of the sorceress. He pulled Annabeth closer to him, just to make sure that the curses hadn't gotten her again. He controlled the urge to cause an earthquake at the anger boiling within him for what Calypso had put Annabeth through in Tartarus.
"You all know the myths," Leo said defiantly, a fire in his eyes, "The gods promised to free Calypso, but they didn't. I'm just going to fulfill that promise."
Piper looked at him sadly. "Leo, just be careful, alright. You never know with immortals what their true aims are."
"And don't think Calypso is the forgiving type," Percy warned. Leo resisted the urge to strangle the Son of Poseidon at this. "She cursed Annabeth and me in Tartarus. Be careful, Leo, I don't want you to get hurt, too."
Leo looked at the table at nodded. He didn't really feel like cracking a joke right now.
Percy turned back to Piper. "You're the last one, Piper," he said with a smile. "What's your secret?"
"Well, my dad's a famous actor, my dad never talks to me," she began rattling off, "I love a guy whom I have fake memories with, I wish my mom wasn't so manipulative, I hate Drew, I'm known as a kleptomaniac…"
All of the demigods assembled were laughing, even Nico and Leo, as Piper listed off all her worst 'secrets' that they had all already known as though they were items on a grocery list.
"I hate the Wilderness School, I think Coach Hedge is slightly insane, I thought Gaea was beautiful in a deadly I'll-destroy-everything-you-love way, I never thought I'd see Annabeth defending Hera, oh and I still have no idea how Nico survived Tartarus on his own and what the hell Athena meant when she said that he's both Greek and Roman and how the hell he became Champion of Hestia and all those other insane titles she said." She finished with a pointed look at Nico.
The laughing immediately died down at this, and they all turned to Nico.
He flinched, but looked at Thalia, Percy, Hazel, and Annabeth before responding. "In Tartarus," his voice was filled with pain, "you have to focus on the one thing that ties you to the mortal world to survive. You have to stay rooted in sanity, or else you'll lose your sanity."
"Nico, Annabeth and I went through Tartarus together for two and a half weeks. How the hell did you survive for two whole weeks down there by yourself?"
"I focused on the one happy memory I have. I thought of the time in Westover when Bianca told me that she loved me and that I could be anything I wanted to be when I grew up." He closed his eyes, trying to keep the tears from falling.
"Wow, Nico," Annabeth whispered, "You're so powerful and brave. I'm proud of you."
Nico looked at her gratefully. "As to how I am both Greek and Roman, I don't know," he said bitterly. "I overheard Alecto and Dad talking about it before the Titan War. Alecto explained to dad that the reason I couldn't be the child of the Great Prophecy was that I wasn't completely Greek. When Hades came to my mom the second time, he had somehow come as both his Greek and Roman forms."
"That's why you were able to go to both camps without problems," Reyna commented.
"Yes," Nico nodded, "And it's why I can speak fluent Latin and Greek."
"But why did the legion not follow your orders in Epirus?" Frank asked in confusion.
"Two reasons: I am not a ranked member of the Roman military, and I am more Greek than Roman. My dad said that it was about a 60-40 ratio within me of Greek to Roman."
"What about all those titles that Athena and Zeus said?" Piper asked. "When and how did you get all of them?"
Nico smiled sadly at her. "I got them through hard work and studying. I was the first child of Hades in a hundred years to learn how to shadow travel. The shadows just like me, I guess," the bitterness at his strange power was not lost on his friends, "Dad made me Master of Shadows. Percy and Annabeth know why and how I'm the Ghost King."
The said duo nodded subconsciously with their eyes darkening at the memories of the Labyrinth.
"That's a long story I don't feel like telling right now. As to how I become Prince of the Underworld, Champion of Hestia, and Heir to the Sacred Hearth… Hades and Persephone have no immortal children. And according to Alecto, I'm the most powerful Child of Hades of all time. Listening to them, if Bianca had lived, she would be even more powerful. I was never formally given the title 'Prince of the Underworld', but I guess it's just what the gods and the dead call me since I'm the closest person to Hades' throne after Persephone."
Jason whistled in appreciation. "Dude, you're fucking insane."
"As the Champion of Hestia and Heir to the Sacred Hearth… After I left Camp Half-Blood the first time, I sought out the protection of Lady Hestia. She accepted me; I became her vassal and Champion. She became my patron. I protected her hearth and spread her message around the world, and in return, she protected me. And again, Hestia has no immortal children, and I am the first Champion she has ever taken on. I guess that's how I'm Heir to the Sacred Hearth."
Nico finished with annoyance. He hated thinking about all this titles. It just made his head spin and hate his life. Why did he have to be so complicated?
"Nico," Annabeth asked cautiously, "Just how powerful are you?"
"You said," Piper added, "That Percy is the most powerful demigod you've ever met… Why do I feel like you were lying?"
Nico laughed bitterly. "Oh, don't worry, Piper, I wasn't lying. The Son of Poseidon is the most powerful demigod I've ever met, no offense Thalia, sorry Jason."
The Grace siblings shrugged. They knew when to accept the truth.
"But Perseus Jackson is not the most powerful demigod alive," finished a female voice behind Nico.
Nico recognized that voice. He got down on one knee before the goddess. "My Lady," he said respectfully.
"No need to show so much respect, Child," Hestia smiled warmly at him, patting his head. For once, she was not in the form of an eight-year-old. She had taken the form of a grown woman in her late twenties. She approached the table.
"Lady Vesta," Reyna said, and she, Jason, Frank, and Hazel bowed in respect. "Our patron, keeper of the home and hearth and Protector of the Flame of Greco-Roman Civilization."
"You flatter me, children," the goddess said, "but there is no need."
"To answer your questions, Annabeth and Piper," Hestia turned to the two, "Yes, Percy Jackson is the most powerful demigod that Nico has ever met. And it is absolutely true that Percy will go down into the history books as the greatest hero of all time."
Percy's face reddened at this high praise from a goddess.
"But greatness and ability are two different things," she continued.
Nico looked down at this lap. He really didn't want to hear this, but he knew that his friends deserved to know.
"Nico di Angelo has the powers of the two oldest Olympian gods and the goddess of wisdom and battle strategy. He has accomplished more than any demigod alive, save Percy Jackson. He has saved Olympus from itself, but in this sense, he is a lot like me."
She squeezed Nico's shoulder at this to comfort him.
"Percy Jackson, you have saved Olympus from its enemies many times. You will rightfully be remembered for that for all time. But Nico has saved Olympus from itself just as many times. But he will not be remembered for that. Just as I will not be remembered soon, because I saved Olympus from its inner demon of civil war, Nico will not be remembered for keeping Olympus from destroying itself with inner conflict and personal grudges."
She gave a sad smile to the demigods.
"I will change that, My Lady," Percy said with determination.
"It is what is woven by the Morai, Percy," Nico said softly. "There is nothing you can do."
"No," Percy glared. "I promised Lady Hestia that I would make sure her contributions to civilization will be remembered forever. I will do the same to you. It's not hard to fight enemies… But it's impossible to keep those you love from fighting themselves."
Percy looked at Ananbeth sorrowfully, both of them understanding what he was referring to.
"I once said that you were the greatest Olympian, Lady Hestia," Percy said, "I will see to it that you are honored forever. And Nico, I'm not the greatest demigod of all time."
Percy got up, uncapped Riptide, and knelt, proffering his sword on hand, "You are. You saved Olympus from destroying itself. You saved us from destroying ourselves. You kept the two demigod camps safe when the gods could not. You will be remembered forever. I swear it."
Nico and Hestia looked at Percy in half amusement and half sadness. "Do not make promises you can't keep, Percy," Hestia said earnestly before flashing out, leaving the demigods alone once again.
"Percy, get up, and stop. You can't take oaths you won't be able to keep. Seriously. You look ridiculous," Nico said.
"You will not be forgotten. I assure you."
Nico just looked sadly at him before shaking his head, muttering under his breath. He would never learn when to stop letting his fatal flaw from controlling him.
"On that happy note," Annabeth said, a gleam in her eyes, "It's time for war games. Romans, leave!"
"Who gets Nico?" Thalia asked.
"Greeks," Reyna answered smoothly. "I understand that he is on the Roman side of the Council of Demigods, but he is still mostly Greek. Let him fight for the Greeks."
With a smirk, Reyna led Jason, Hazel, and Frank away.
"I vote we make Nico the captain," Annabeth said.
Everyone looked at her in shock. Annabeth was always leader and chief strategist of the Greeks.
Ananbeth rolled her eyes at the incredulous looks she got. "What? He's beaten the Romans before, and besides, I'm not going to argue with my own mother if she says that he's a brilliant strategist."
"Good luck!" Jason yelled back.
"We'll cream you!" Percy yelled back.
The Greeks laughed before turning inward to create their offensive strategies. Today, they would be attacking and Rome defending, tomorrow Greece would be defending with Rome attacking, and on the third day, the same day the gods would create Fort Olympus by magic, the two sides would end with a friendly game of Capture the Flag.
For once, it was good to be a demigod.
Author's Note: This ended up being way longer than I had originally anticipated, but I'm really happy with the way it turned out. As always, please let me know what you guys think by leaving a review! :)
Review Replies:
unangepredateur: (Chapter 1) Thank you for your kind words! :) As for why Athena did what she did, it was to make Nico reflect his true knowledge and wisdom.
Swimchick37: (Chapter 1) Hahaha it's okay! I'm a grammar Nazi myself, so I like well written fics myself! And funnily enough, Nico was never my favorite character! It was always, and still is, Annabeth. But I felt like Nico needed some loving after all he's been through. And I love Leo! Actually, I love all the characters. XD I have mixed feelings about Jason, but other than him, I love all of the main characters!
Matt: (Chapter 1) Thank you for your kind words! After reading The House of Hades, I developed a newfound appreciation for Nico myself.