Nico peered at the two strange-looking boys, one stranger than the other. The older one had white hair with ice blue eyes and pale skin while the younger one had golden blond hair with grey-green eyes and a nice tan. They both had brown pants on, no socks or shoes, but both had a hoodie, the older one had a blue one while the younger one had green. Besides that, they looked about as different as summer and winter, and yet here they were, looking like they could take all of Camp Half-Blood together. Peter and Jason faced them, both a bit taller than the older one, but neither of the newbies seemed bothered by it as they glanced up with a bit of mischief sparkling in their eyes.
Jason crossed his arms, "So, Jack Banning is a son of Boreas and Peter Banning is a son of Zephyrus. How do you already know this?"
Jack shrugged, "I did some research, based on our powers, it's what makes sense." As if to prove his point, he tapped the ground with his bare foot and snow appeared. Meanwhile Peter just grinned and began to float as flowers propped up from where he once stood. Everyone who had gathered to witness the spectacle glanced at each other, only Jason and Peter didn't take their eyes off of the two newbies.
"So, Peter . . ."
"You can call me Pete, Jack does, and there's another Peter here."
Jason glanced at Peter, nodding with relief, "Yes, true, anyway, how did you find Camp Half-Blood?"
Pete shrugged, "I flew over it, I think my dad was directing me here so me and my brother can get here safely." Nico glanced back and forth between the two brothers, they really didn't look that much like brothers, but with different fathers, it was possible. Almost like Jason and Thalia, actually, though they technically did have the same father.
Peter however nodded, speaking for the first time since the two arrived, "Well, now that you're here, there are several rules you will have to abide by." The Bannings glanced at each other and shrugged.
"Fine by us," reported Jack.
"When do we get to start going on missions?" asked Pete.
"When we think you're ready," stated Edmund, standing up next to his brother.
"What do we have to do to be ready?"
"Know how to fight, mainly," stated Jason. Jack and Pete grinned at each other.
"Can we show you how good we are?" Jason, Peter, and Edmund glanced at each other quizzically.
"Um, I guess . . ." began Jason.
"Great, where's the fighting arena?"
"Hold on, does anybody want to spar with these two?" Peter turned and asked the audience.
Edmund raised a hand, "I'll take one."
Peter nodded, "Alright, I can take the other."
"I'll referee, but I'll need an extra person. Can someone help?" Jason glanced around the audience, Nico knew what he was looking for.
Sighing, Nico stepped out of the shadows and raised his hand, "I'll do it." Jason grinned with relief. Nico was the only other one who had practised enough with the Pevensie to know their style and tactics, and had even picked up a few styles himself.
"Alright, to the arena!" Everyone cheered, they certainly did like a good match, but they had never really seen the Pevensies in action and the Bannings were new, so this should be a match to remember. They filed into the stands while Jason and Nico led the opponents to the arena and helped get them set up, Jason with Jack and Peter, Nico with Edmund and Pete. When they were ready, they walked back out into the arena in their two groups. Jason explained the rules, including a rule for not flying, which the Bannings moaned and groaned about, before announcing them ready for battle.
"Ready, set . . . go!" Peter and Jack slowly circled each other, watching each other intently. Edmund and Pete were circling each other as well, but they went at it before Peter and Jack. Nico watched them dumbfoundedly, they seemed to be equally matched, parrying each other with ease. He dared a glance at Peter and Jack, but they had stopped to watch their younger brothers duel it out. Every swing was met perfectly and expertly by the other's parry. The swords clashed over and over, the clanging of steel against steel was the only sound in the whole arena for the entire time. Fifteen, twenty minutes passed, Nico wasn't sure. All he could hear was the rings of steel that matched the rapid beating of his heart. He could feel excitement flooding his veins, a good ole one on one sword fight was always fun to watch. This one in particular because it looked like they were masters of the sword and its ways. Suddenly, a loud thunderclap boomed over the arena, startling everybody. Pete shot a glance up, but Edmund knew better and looked at Jason.
"What? Why . . ."
"Time's up."
"But we don't have a winner!"
Jason shrugged, "We don't have to, besides, we've all been watching you. Time for Peter and Jack to have a turn." He nodded in the direction of the other duelists. Peter held his sword with that kingly air he had about him, Jack leaned on his like it was a staff.
"What, but I want to fight some more!" Pete whined.
"But it's perfectly clear you are on equal footing with Edmund."
Pete pointed his sword at Nico, "What about him?" Nico blinked, Pete wanted to duel him? He glanced at Jason to see what he thought.
Jason shrugged, "If he wants to."
"But I'm nowhere near as good at Edmund."
"Then it'll be over pretty quick," grinned Pete. Nico scowled in return, Pete's happy-go-lucky attitude was starting to get on his nerves.
"Let Peter and Jack go first," he growled.
Pete shrugged as he stepped to the side, "Fine by me. Go for it big brother!"
Jack grinned as he took the sword out of the ground, "You bet on it, little brother!" This time, the two didn't hesitate, they went right into it. Right away, Nico could tell that that they were just as equal as Edmund and Pete were, each swing was met perfectly with an expertly timed parry. As with the first duel, this one was starting to turn into a dance, their feet danced around while their swords sang beautifully. Jason caused another thunderclap to resound when the time was up, neither Jack nor Peter being declared the winner. The crowd was still quiet when another pair of swords clanged out.
"Hey, that wasn't fair!" shouted Edmund as Nico ran to the center of the arena to get some kind of leverage against Pete's furious swings. When he turned back around, he just about fell back. Pete's face had gone from it's usual cheeriness to dead serious. Nico was starting to get worried, what did these guys want? He managed to parry Pete's attack, but had to resort to rolling and dodging the blade. It came after him, like a furious wasp, trying to sting him. Pete kicked him and sent Nico's sword clattering across the ground.
A malevolent grin spread across Pete's face, "You're going straight to Tartarus."
Nico's eyes widened, his dry mouth croaked, "No! Edmund, Peter, Jason, help! Ah!" He closed his eyes and raised his arm, hoping to protect himself from the blade that was bearing down on him
"Nico, snap out of it!" Nico opened his eyes, and sniffed with relief. Five familiar faces peered worriedly into his own. Lucy knelt at his feet, holding her cordial, while Peter and Edmund were at his sides, rubbing his arms. His head was nestled in Susan's lap, and Jason leaned over Lucy, relief flooding his face when Nico opened his eyes. Jack and Pete, though they were a bit worried, didn't seem to be at all surprised by what happened. If anything, it seemed like they knew more about what was going on than anyone else.
"W-what happened?" he asked shakily as he sat up.
"You fell asleep, Ed and Pete caught you. When the rest of us got here, you were thrashing about and shouting in your sleep."
"No, you didn't even call up skeletons," muttered Peter when he saw Nico checking for damage. Nico glanced at him with surprise.
"Weird, we know. This is getting serious. Time to head back to Clovis." Jason glanced at Jack and Pete. "Sorry Jack, I know you wanted to duel me too."
Jack shrugged, "That's alright, looks like you have more important things to take care. Besides, Pete still wants to duel Nico, right, Pete?"
Pete nodded, "Yup, so you get better soon so I can clobber you." He winked before walking off with Jack.
Peter sighed, "Well, at least they're taking it well. Come, let's get you back to your room." The five helped Nico up and out of the arena. Jack and Pete stopped to glance at the leaving group.
"It's really bad, isn't it?"
Jack sighed, "Yup, if we don't do something soon, Pitch will have him for sure." Jack glanced around, most of the audience had already left, and those who were still around weren't paying too much attention to the brothers. "I have an idea. Come on, let's follow them."
Pete grinned, "We forgot to tell them, big brother, we're already on a mission." Jack grinned back as the two took off, flying close enough to hear everything, but far enough to stay out of sight.
