Set in the crazy world created by Rick Riordan and inspired by the unconventional ramblings of livetolaugh.

Chiron In a Wedding Dress - Part Three

The noise failed to subside throughout her entire sprint to the big house. She neared the building and saw a crowd of orange shirted campers clustered around something or someone. The laughter had largely died out, replaced by an awkward silence. No one knew what to do. No one moved.

Annabeth looked around and saw the Connor and Travis give each other worried glances. Resentment flared up in her chest. They never said this would happen.

She dived into the crowd and pushed her way to the front row. Her breath hitched at what she saw.

Chiron, her wise, ever dignified mentor stood shifting his weight from hoof to hoof (something centaurs often do when embarrassed). In place of his normal T-shirt was a white wedding dress.

A wedding dress complete with a long bridal train that draped over his hindquarters, pooled about his hind feet and a snow white veil that covered his hair and much of his back. Chiron yanked at the veil, but it failed to budge.

His cheeks were colored a bright crimson, whether from embarrassment or as a result of the dress's outrageously tight waistline, it was impossible to tell.

"Chiron,what happened?" Annabeth asked in a small voice.

Chiron paused, letting his hands flop down to his sides.

He shrugged, helpless. "I don't know Child," he said.

Regaining some of his composure, he turned and ran his eyes over the assembled campers.

"Whoever is responsible," he began, his voice terse, "will be on muck duty for the duration of the summer!"

"Hear, hear!" agreed a new voice. The campers turned, and saw Dionysus strolling towards them. His eyes were focused squarely on a can of diet coke; he took some time to notice Chiron's new attire.

"I see you're finally seeing things my way old bo-" Dionysus cut short his sentence as he looked up from the can. His head jerked up and down as he tried to comprehend the scene before him. Then he laughed. His pronounced belly wobbled and shook as he doubled over, shaking with unbridled mirth.

The campers flinched. Dionysus's laughter echoed through camp sending the now celebrating nature spirits scrambling for the nearest available bush, stream, tree or lake. Everywhere over a two kilometer radius birds took flight, startled by the sudden explosion of noise. After a minute or so of unbridled hysteria Dionysus pulled himself back together and straightened up.

"I needed that," he confessed, wiping tears from his eyes.

The campers said nothing. They merely stared at him, incredulous expressions on their faces.. What did I just witness? Accurately summed up their collective thoughts. Dionysus scowled, his customary demeanor returning.

"Get lost you pests. Shoo!" he yelled. Many of the demigods legged it, none of them keen on spending the rest of their lives in a gardening pot, decorating the big house's window sill. Some remained but were sent on their way by Chiron.

Dionysus watched him gather up the bridal train about his hind legs. Out of pity Dionysus clicked his fingers, willing the dress to dispensary. The dress glowed a brilliant white before reverting to its previous hue.

Dionysus clicked his fingers with more force. He frowned as the dress failed to detach itself from Chiron. Hmm. Most unusual. Unfazed, Dionysus took Chiron by the arm and led the hapless centaur towards the cabins.

"May I ask what you are doing?"

"I'm walking you down the ais-" Dionysus was cut short by Chiron's pointed glare

"Where exactly are we going Dionysus?"

"Cabin 10! I'll stake another year in this miserable camp that the Aphrodite brats have a solution to your er… problem," Dionysus replied, ignoring the lack of deference in Chiron's tone.

He continued in what he judged to be a convincing tone, "In fact, I swear it on the river Styx!"

Chiron raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by Dionysus's promise or the clap of thunder that followed it.

"Why do I not find myself filled with confidence?" he said dryly.

"Stop having such a negative outlook on your situation," Dionysus chided him.

Chiron raised another eyebrow at the wine god.

"Have you ever enjoyed a sustained conversation with yourself?" Chiron asked.

"Whatever," Dionysus huffed. "I'm going to teleport, close your eyes or get fried."

The warning was still ringing in Chiron's ears when the pair materialized on the porch of cabin ten.

"Was teleportation really necessary?" he asked.

"What? Need I remind you that this is running into my nap time?"

Dionysus approached the cabin, and struck the door with his fist. Seconds later a frightened girl opened the door.

"May I help you l-lord Dionysus?"

"Get me your head counselor, now!"

The poor girl slammed the door shut and scampered back into the depths of the cabin. The door was soon reopened by a smiling Silena Beauregard.

"Fix him," Dionysus said.

Silena walked to Chiron's side. She held a section of the fabric in her hand and muttered a few incantations. For a few seconds the material glowed bright pink. For a few tense moments the dress appeared to dissipate.

Then, the pink glow faded to reveal the unchanged dress. Inanimate or not they couldn't help but think that the dress was mocking them by its survival. Selena frowned and tried again, to no result.

"I'm sorry. This is not Aphrodite's work," she concluded. "In fact I'm not sure who did this. There's a concealment charm mixed into the spell."

"No!" Chiron and Dionysus cried.

"I would ask the Stolls. Remember how they decorated the Athena cabin for Halloween with live spiders and cobwebs? Or when they tampered with our heating system?"

"Don't. Just don't," Dionysus groaned, recalling the amount of paperwork that had followed each event. Suddenly remembering his sentence at camp was now extended. He sank into a deckchair on the porch, his head in his hands. Silena bid Chiron wait outside and re entered the cabin. She reappeared her lips colored bright red.

"Trust me," she said before Chiron could ask any questions. They left Dionysus to lament his fate and headed for cabin eleven.

Unable to shake the feeling that he was engaged in a wild goose chase Chiron stepped onto the porch and knocked on the door. Travis was the one who answered it. A bright, innocent smile decorated his features.

"Hello Chiron. Something wrong?" he asked, still smiling sweetly.

Chiron was not amused. "Remove the spell Travis."

"What spell?"

Chiron's teeth grated together. Silena advanced on Travis, rapidly reducing the distance between them. Travis stumbled backwards but Silena grabbed him and pulled him towards her. Before Travis could react she pressed her lips against his. She pulled back quickly, guilt distorting her normally serene expression.

"You can ask him what you want now," she mumbled.

Resolving to talk with her later Chiron cleared his throat and faced Travis. His pupils had dilated. He stared vacantly at them, a dreamy smile on his face.

"Come on Travis, remove the spell."

"Okay!"

He stepped out of their sight and returned clutching a leather pouch in his hand. He tossed the pouch at Chiron.

"Sprinkle it on clothes and they will be back to normal."

"Thank you Travis. Go and rest."

Travis nodded obediently and disappeared inside the cabin. Chiron opened the pouch. He took a handful of the dust inside it and sprinkled it on the dress. This time, the dress dissolved. Chiron was left wearing a normal T-shirt. He let out a deep breath.

"Thank you Silena. But please, never to try that on another demigod. Promise?"

Silena nodded.

"How long does that trance last anyway?" Chiron asked.

"Not long," Silena said. Smiling at the thought of the Stolls cleaning up after her Pegasus for an entire year, she headed towards her own cabin to spread the good news. Chiron continued on, eager to decontaminate his wardrobe.

Meanwhile, back in cabin eleven Connor emerged from his hiding spot behind a bunk bed. He pressed a button on the mini video camera held in his hand and pointing at the spot recently occupied by Chiron. Grinning from ear to ear he pocketed the camera's memory card and went off in search of his brother.

"Oh Travis! Look what I found."

Poor Chiron! I have a feeling the Stolls are not going to let that footage go to waste. Just an epilogue to go before this story is completed. Feel free to leave your thoughts on the story.

I would like to thank all the writers who have taken the time to review the story. You have all motivated me to continue on with this story. Again, thank you!