TODAY IS THE DAY! WE MADE IT BROS! ITS DECISION DAY! YAY!

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Chapter Four: The Butterfly Effect

Not many people know this, but Nico loves toast. There was something really satisfying about taking Wonder Bread, sliding it in a shoe-box contraption that could burn your skin off, spreading squashed fruit on one side, and calling it breakfast. From living on the streets, Nico learned how to just enjoy the simples of life; simple as life good get, for the most part. As a demigod, the meaning of simple doesn't exist in their vocabulary, nor could they be able to spell it out anyway. However though, whenever Nico takes a nibble, just to enjoy it longer, he could almost say that it's like taking a walk on the beach; relaxing.

Unfortunately, those simple pleasures and relaxation didn't materialize as Nico would of like it. His nightmare, those words, were still putting him at edge. Need more toast.

As he grab another piece of toast and dipped the knife in the jam jar (feeling self-conscious of the memories from being in one) he notice a red haired girl, about 18 or so, practically skipping her way towards the Hades table of one. She was wearing a green shirt and jeans, that looked all worn out and bagged (along with paint stains) as if they were worn all night. Her curly hair reminded Nico of the girl from that Brave movie that the Camp watched during one of their movie nights. To others, she looked like your average, everyday teenager girl, but Nico could sense the old soul that possessed within her; the spirit of Delphi. When the girl finally made her way up to his table, Nico sent a little smile and nod of welcome:

"Morning, Rachel." He greeted, his voice hollow from the lack of sleep he got last night.

Rachel returned the smile. "Good morning, to you too, Death Breath."

Nico snarked at that, as the older girl took a seat across from him and mindlessly started eating the grapes that were placed in the center of the table. The son of Hades wasn't a people person; infact, he could only stand very few of them. The teen Oracle was one of them.

Nico met the redhead when he was eleven, during the time in the Labyrinth. He didn't really got to talk to her much till after the Titan War. It was shocking, how well they became good friends. Let's just say, the Delphi spirit and Hades didn't end on good terms; in other words, Nico's Father was the reason why Delphi was trapped here and never died away. But, after the curse was released, the old Oracle was finally free, and transported her gift of prophecy from Apollo, to Rachel. Short story; it was a complicated friendship.

"I hate this time of the year." Rachel spoke, breaking the what seemed like two seconds of awkward silence between them. "It's no fun when everyone is gone off to their families when I have to stay here!" She said ethusticaly, arms swinging in the air like she was going mad. "Ugh, never thought I said this, but I miss school and its full crowd!" Even though Nico couldn't really say the same, about the school and all, but he felt for her. He too, missed the crowd of life that the other demigods brought.

"Yeah..Camp's not the same without Percy and Jason feuding over who's father is cooler." Nico couldn't help but smirk over that thought, as he continued talking. "Or when Annabeth manages to flip over every cocking guy that called any Athena kid a 'nerd'." That was always fun to watch. "And Piper's food." Nico was a fan of Piper's Vegan Pizza, it reminded him of his home in Italy.

"And….?" Rachel's voice of question brought Nico back from his thoughts of his homeland and flatbread. He stared suspiciously at her as she stared back with a knowing, and kinda creepy, smirk. Like she was about to tell a clever, dirty, joke.

"'And,' what?" he asked.

Rachel bit her lip, sending a quirky smile. "..a certain Son of Apollo..perhaps?"

She giggled as she notice the sudden red that rose to the boy's originally pale cheeks. Nico didn't like to blush, it was noticeable when he blushes. Stupid pale composure, Nico sign in defeat to himself. She had to mention him. He tried to play it off cool, uneffected by the words, but there was no denying the redhead, who kept on laughing.

"Nico likes Will. Nico likes Will!" She sang while clapping her hands along. The said 'Nico' glared back at the Oracle, putting a finger to his lips for the symbol of 'Hush!'.

"Don't say it so loud! People might hear you!" The boy urged the words to a whisper, grabbing the girl's clapping hands to a stop. "Shhhh!"

Rachel gave out one more chuckle before giving in her friend's command. "Alright, alright..jeez, you sure are a conservative little fella are you now?" She smirked. "It's not a crime for liking someone, you know?"

Nico avoided to make eye contact. From being raised during a time when liking someone was a crime, you can't really blame him for being shy about it. Nico wasn't ashamed of who he is, he knows how in this generation, things are different, better even, and Nico finally learned to accept himself for it. Although, he still had trouble when forming relationships, specializing with boys, or in this case: Will Solace.

Nico can't recall when he first met Will; before it was just one encounter after another that Nico wouldn't be able to pick a certain time, but he did know that his...feelings...toward the older boy was during the Giant War, and he was convinced it's when Will's started too. Either way, right now they were just good friends. Or like how Rachel would call it "friends with benefits," whatever that means. Nico sure didn't understood this generation's slang that much. Wonder if Hazel has it worse. His only guess is friends with the beneficial of being together; nothing he would say no to. Why would he? Everyone wants a potential someone to have for the rest of their life, including Nico.

Like toast, the thought of living life with the one you loved...was relaxing.

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After breakfast, Nico and Rachel spend most of the rest of the day together. While Nico was sword training on a dummy, Rachel stayed on the sidelines, cheering on but also talked smack for him to bring his A game. It worked. They ran off the field before anyone ask why the dummy was stuck to the tree with a stick. Later they had lunch and mostly gossip about the absent campers, seeing it was the perfect time when everyone else were gone. Now, they sat in the Hades Cabin. Nico, who sat on his bed, was polishing his sword, removing the dirt from earlier. While Rachel, seated on Hazel's empty twin bed, drew Nico's persona and actions in a notebook. She had a thing with drawing people.

"You know, Annabeth didn't liked me, before."

Nico paused from his work. He looked up toward the sudden female voice. His dark eyes met emerald green. Rachel sat crised-crossed on the twin bed, her notebook was set down on the right, indicating that she was done drawing. Nico only blinked in confusion. "What?"

Rachel swagger slightly before continuing. "Yeah, Annabeth didn't like me at first. Funny, right? I mean, who couldn't love me?!" Rachel pointed to herself with both thumbs. Nico responded with a smirk, "you got me?" he humored his friend before getting serious. "What do you mean, she didn't like you?" He asked.

"I mean, she had a good reason." Rachel confessed, "she thought me and Percy had a thing, you know?" No, Nico didn't. But he couldn't help but feel awkward, knowing where Annabeth was coming from. Rachel went on, "She was mad. She was also mad at Percy. I never could tell if she wanted to strangle me or him. Either way, I knew I was her least favorite person. Funny how we are, like, best friends now. Huh?" She went silent after that, looking like she was just mind blown all over again. Nico, although, felt overwhelmed by this already too familiar story. He knew exactly how Annabeth felt. How painful it was seeing someone you liked with someone else.

How painful it was seeing Percy with someone else.

And of course that someone was Annabeth; though, Nico never hated her for it. Instead, he envy her. But like Annabeth, he too wanted to strangle Percy, not because who he was with but how much Nico felt towards him. Nico hated Percy for it. Which is the worst you can ever put yourself in situation to: hating the person you loved. But things were better now, him and Percy. In fact, Percy has turned to be better than a potential soul mate but more like family. Nico soon realized that his love for Percy was anything but romantic. For one, he is totally not Nico's type. Mostly though, Percy, like Hazel and Jason, were family. Almost everyone in their group were. And Nico couldn't have wanted it any other way. Cause family was forever right? Like how love to a soul mate is. Nico only wished he noticed sooner.

Things for everyone could've been different.

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When it was time for everyone to be back in their own cabin, Rachel and Nico said their goodnights: Rachel left back for her little cave place, leaving Nico alone in the cabin. As he brushed his teeth in the bathroom, he thought of their talk that night. How things would of been different if Nico never had actual feelings for Percy. Would have he run away after the news of Bianca? Tricked Percy into going in the Underworld for the information of his mother? Stayed in camp after the Titan War?

Nico calculated on the possible results. If he have stayed after Bianca's death, he wouldn't have met Minos, and being tricked and caught from Luke's army. He also wouldn't hold the title Ghost King. (Or would he? Minos was only consider the Ghost King until Nico turned sixteen, liked his father said. To see if Nico would live that long at least.) One thing for sure, he wouldn't have given up his childhood game, Mythomagic.

If Nico didn't trick Percy into going to the Underworld, Percy wouldn't have bath in the River Styx...wouldn't be immortalized in battle...which would of coast the whole Titian War to a lost. Then there wouldn't be no camp that he wouldn't leave in the first place anyway…..Yikes

Who knew the world's existence depended on the hormones of a twelve year old?

(A/N: omg FORESHADOW! WAaaA?!)

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Putting the whole idea behind him, Nico took his last few waken seconds on meditating. He does that to help clear his thoughts and emotions before heading to bed. Also, it was custom for the Ghost King to catch any possible spirits that might pass by. He must instruct lost ones where to go for the afterlife and hear some prayers, giving the spirits closer before what is to become of them. If not, spirits left behind and confused become aggressive and anxious, which could affect the living. Every heard of haunted houses or demonic possession? Yeah. Frighting.

Without even looking at a clock, Nico could sense with the darkness that it was around eleven o clock. When he was about to turn in, a faint whisper brushed past his ear.

Sovrano

Nico took in a breath of surprised. The words sounded like they were coming out of an old vintage recording. He wonder if he might've access to an Ancient spirit that dwelled here in Camp. But why did it say 'King' in Italian? Surely the Ancient spirits around here didn't know how to speak it unless they were in Italy. If Nico was looking for an Ancient Spirit here, the possibility of it would be something Native American. Nico didn't took a history class since the fourth grade, but he knows for sure that the Natives didn't speak Italian.

"Who is there?" Nico's shoulders tensed, he might as well try to communicate with the intelligent spirit. He already figure it was harmless: its aura was steady, and also what felt like a moment of relief and pure shock, like some lost puppy after it finds its master.

He waited what felt like ten minutes, but the spirit didn't say anything more. It wasn't the first time for this to happen. Ancient Spirits were unpredictable, they could come out and tell their whole story to complete silence in a second. It was disappointing; Nico wanted to know why an Ancient Italian spirit was doing all away out here. Maybe it was lost?

And made its way all away here to America? He found it hard to believe that such spirit would last after that far distance of ghost travel: America from Italy. Ancient Spirits would just dwell in one area, for even manifesting was already such a hard chore already for them. Even Nico barely made it in one piece…then again, ghost wouldn't be dragging along a 50 something feet marbled goddess, the leader of the Camp Jupiter, and a hungry-for-war satyer. Highly doubt it.

But, something was very off with this spirit. Because for one thing for sure, Nico still feels its presence lingering in the cabin…

And didn't seem to be leaving any time soon either.

Tbc

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PICK A PLOT HOLE!

What should Nico do with a presences of the Ancient spirit?

Plot 1: Nico tries to communicate with the spirit

Plot 2: Nico accepts the spirit's presence

Note: Remember, each plot has a relevant meaning behind it. Don't worry about choosing the wrong plot hole; for each one will have a shared focused. So, if you ever see a plot that looks obviously better than the other one, just know that both are equally going to give you a good perspective of the story. Like I said, CHOOSE WISELY! You might regret it later.

Anyway, if you are a guest and want to see more, send a review under this chapter with your vote for either Plot 1or 2.

The Polls are open NOW! And will close prob on Sat Morning (eastern time)...JUST FOR THE FIRST POLLING then it'll be up to its original schedule of 7 days. So don't get used to it. Its just so we can have a nice start and an actual story builded up before we get in to deep. More people, meaning more VOTES, will start coming in that way. IT'S ALL GOOD BUSINESS

SO GO AND VOTE MY CHILDREN! and a review would be nice.