disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson & the Olympians

The Faerie Queen

"Yeah. It is a lily. It's huge though. I wonder how it grew overnight..." The short girl looked at Azurana as she cried.

"It's Lily." The steps forward were both the easiest and hardest ones she'd ever taken. So close to the flower, yet so afraid it would disappear if she came near.

"Lily..."

"Az, what are you doing?" Nico's voice sounded faint somehow; her heartbeat was pulsing in her ears. Every noise dimmed as the giant white lily got closer. Then, without warning, she was ripped from it's gaze.

"You will not touch our flower." A boy from the Demeter cabin had grabbed a hold of her, forcing her to turn away from the lily. His brown eyes were piercing into her. There was an anger there that she didn't understand. Why was he angry? He had no reason to be.

"Let go of me."

"Stay away from our flower. Demeter is the goddess of agriculture and that includes flowers. It's ours." The brunette had moved between Az and the flower, determined to keep her away.

"Andy, stop it. It's a gift for everyone. Don't be rude." Another Demeter kid came up to her. What was her name? She was there that first night...Gardner? Katie! Katie Gardner, head of the Demeter cabin.

"I wasn't going to hurt it." Azurana rolled her eyes at Andy and moved to walk around him but he got in her way again.

"That's not a smart place to be, Andy. I'd move out of my way if I were you." This kid was really starting to grate at her nerves. It wasn't the lily that had her attention at all; it was what the lily could be holding.

"You aren't going near it, new girl." Yeah, that comment made it better.

"New girl!? New girl!? Listen, boy, I'm older then you. Not by a couple years either. I'm powerful and getting pretty ticked off. So if you don't want to become ash I'd suggest you move!" The ground beneath Az's feet was starting blacken. This kid was seriously asking for it. He most likely would've gotten it too had Dionysus not stepped into the field.

"Azurana Chrysanthe Minas that is enough! Back up, right now." Having her full name said got the blonde's attention. She frowned but took three steps back, leaving a burned patch of grass in her place.

"I wanted to see the flower."

"You aren't getting near that flower. It's Demeter's and I don't want you burning it or something."

"That's not for you to decide, Alex."

"Andy...my name's Andy." Dionysus and Chiron stepped further into the field. The campers were looking on in both curiosity and fear.

"D, please. Just let me see it...she's in there. I just know it." Azurana looked pleadingly at the god. It wasn't her style but this was important. It was an odd sight to see, for sure. Azurana's long blonde hair was in two very long braids, each reaching just past the small of her back. The black sundress she had on didn't match the child of Apollo look most of her siblings had, but in her defense the sundress did have pops of yellow color. She was wearing flip-flops again too. Most of her brothers and sisters spent their time guessing how she became the way she was.

Children of Apollo weren't into dark colors. That was just the way they were. Most preferred the bright, warm colors to anything. To see the black sheep beg to touch a flower...it was just odd. Made even odder since she had gotten a rep for being a bit of a bitch. Azurana wasn't really, she just didn't want to talk to that many people. There was Percy, Annabeth, the Stoll brothers, Nico, of course, a few wood nymphs and satyrs, and her brothers and sisters. All in all about 10 people outside her cabin. A small group compared to how many were in camp, hence, the reputation.

"Why should I let you?"

"Because it's important!"

"It's a flower. The only one's who it should be important to is Demeter's children."

"Ha!" Oh that Andy kid was going to get beat...

"It's a lily D-"

"Stop calling me that."

"Argh! Will you shut up and listen to me?" A collective gasp shot through the crowd. Surely Mr. D was going to punish her. He was a god...it was just disrespectful what Az was doing.

"Excuse me?"

"It's a lily. That's not a normal lily either. She's inside...please...just let me touch it."

"Who's inside Az?" In the silence Nico's voice sounded much louder then it actually was. Azure eyes turned to meet his own brown ones.

"Lily. Lily is inside." Azurana's eyes turned back to the giant lily behind Andy. So close, yet not close enough. Katie was watching Apollo's daughter very carefully before she moved to the flower and placed her hand on it. It took more then she thought it would for her to open the flower; even then, it stayed sealed. Katie was the strongest child of Demeter. If she couldn't open it then no other kid could.

"It won't open."

"It wouldn't be here unless it could be opened. That's Demeter's most prized possession."

"Oh yeah? And how would you know?" Oh Az wanted to hit him...but she had to practice patience. If not she'd be moved somewhere else and lose Nico. That wasn't an option to her. Not after finally opening up and allowing herself to have a friend again.

"Because I know what's inside. Now cut the attitude or I'll knock it out of you." Azurana's glare stopped Andy from responding. She was intimidating when she needed to be. Dionysus however was getting bored.

"That's enough, everyone to the pavilion. It's time for breakfast." Breakfast wasn't much fun for the daughter of Apollo. Not when she knew her friend was down in the field. The rest of the day was spent thinking of the lily that she didn't get a chance to go near. Everyone was trying to distract her, even Annabeth, who didn't really like her. By the time the campfire came, she had done everything there was to do at camp, except sword fight. She was kept away from the sparing field by everyone that had stopped her.

"Hey. Why don't you sing that song from last night Az?" Nico was sitting next to her, like always. It had been a long time since she'd sang at all, much less in front of people. How would she get their attention when her brothers and sisters could sing too?

"Chiron? Can Az sing a song?" Easiest way, I guess.

"Uh, sure. Go ahead." Azurana looked at Nico, who nodded encouragingly. She took a deep breath and started to sing The Faerie Queen again. During her song the lily started to glow, growing and opening up it's petals. No one knew because everyone was at the campfire. An olive skinned girl fell out onto the ground. She looked like a fairy from story books with the way her dress and hair were. The wavy brown hair was put up by flowers and vines. Her dress was green and tattered at the ends. Flowers were woven into the fabric to match those that were in her hair. Deep brown eyes opened up to see a charred spot of grass a few feet from her. The girl blew softly toward the burned area, a soft wind blowing through the grass to the spot. Within a few seconds the darkened earth was flush and green once more.

Her hair flowed down past the teen's shoulders as she sat up. The place where she fell out wasn't the same place where she went in. She had moved. Everything on the Earth was connected so the gods only knew where she was. How long had it been since she had gone in? How much time had passed by her...how much of the world had changed? It had to have been awhile; even the ground beneath her felt different. Slowly, the girl stood up and made her way, barefoot, toward the sound of music. A voice she hadn't heard in ages was drifting to her from a fire up ahead.

"It couldn't be..." Az had finished her song by the time their new guest got to the campfire. At first no one noticed her, at least, not until she spoke.

"It is you! I heard you singing...you remembered the song." The tan demigod looked up at the voice and jumped up.

"Lily! You were in the flower. I knew it!" Half a second later, Az went from standing next to Nico to hugging Lily tightly. The brunette was caught of guard but hugged back anyway.

"You sang for me, why wouldn't I come? Oh I have missed my sun." A small laugh escaped from Azurana as she pulled back.

"And I've missed my Lily. I can't believe you're here."

"I've only been gone a little while, you act as if I've been gone forever." Lily smiled softly at her friend. She always was hyperactive.

"A little while? Try 3822 years."

"That long? Well, at least I know why the ground feels different. Why was I gone so long?"

"The counsel agreed. Everyone was locked up. I've been tossed around all this time. They wouldn't let me be locked up. It was too nice for a punishment. I've been awake this whole time." The dark eyed girl held onto Az again, afraid she'd start to cry. Chiron cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

"Well I think that is enough for tonight. Good night everyone. I need the head of cabins to meet in the big house for a meeting. You two, come with me." In a matter of minutes the heads of the cabins, Rachel, Chiron, Dionysus, Azurana, and Lily were in the Big House.

"My, my...Victor and Oliver have been busy. Look at this place. The architecture...oh! look...lights without candles or fire. Ingenious." Amazed eyes glittered as Lily looked around the room. A small giggle drew her attention away from the objects.

"What is so funny Azurana? This wasn't around when I last walked the Earth...or sailed around it. Humans did this?"

"Uh, yeah...they've gotten smart." Percy cleared his throat to get the new girl's attention.

"Excuse me, but, who are you?" The look she gave Percy was very similar to the one Az had given him her first night here.

"You smell like the ocean...Poseidon had another child? Even after what the last one did?"

"He's had a lot more since that one."

"There's so many smells...I don't like it." Lily turned up her nose and moved to where her friend was sitting.

"Yeah...you get used to it."

"Uh, you didn't answer my question. Who are you?" Percy felt a little offended. Did he smell bad or something?

"Lily Satori, daughter of Demeter and maker of lilies." The tan teen noticed the surprised and confused looks on everyone's faces. So much time had past most people probably didn't know the flower's origins.

"It's why they're named lilies. Lily created them as a gift to Demeter...can we go now?"

"No. How did you know she was in the giant flower?" Dionysus, for once, was actually interested in what was going on. Odd...

"I saw when she was put in. Demeter keeps a close eye on it at all times. If she wasn't allowed out, she wouldn't be. Can we go now?" So much had changed since Lily was in the world, she wanted to show her everything...and introduce her to a few friends. Juniper in particular.

"No. So she's supposed to just stay here at camp too?"

"That would probably be the best theory. She'll stay in Demeter's cabin like I'm in Apollo's. Can we go now?"

"I said no! Caitlin, is there room in Demeter's cabin?"

"It's Katie, sir, and yes...we have a few open bunks. Hi. Katie Gardner, head of Demeter's cabin."

"Sister? I have a sister?"

"More then one Lil, you have sisters and brothers, one of which I want to toast for not letting me near your flower earlier."

"That's enough. Dionysus, it's late. Let's call it a night and if need be, meet again in the morning. Miss Satori can stay in Demeter's cabin tonight." The god sipped his diet coke before shrugging and agreeing to Chrion's suggestion. Most of the kids left immediately to go back to their cabins and tell everyone about what was going on. Connor and Travis introduced themselves to Lily before leaving, happy to have another girl in camp. As they loved to put it 'you can't have too many girls'. Percy, Annabeth, and Nico stayed behind with Katie to properly introduce themselves to the newcomer.

"Lily I want you to meet Percy and Annabeth. They're dating so don't mind Annabeth's miffed demeanor." The confusion in Lily's eyes only got deeper.

"But...he's a son of Poseidon. She's Athena's isn't she?" Azurana nodded. She could understand the befuddlement that her dear friend had. After all, she had had the same reaction.

"Gods don't see their children anymore...not really. I'm not sure why but they don't. I'm fairly sure that's how that happened but...who knows. Maybe times are changing."

"Maybe...Well, it's an honor to meet you." The brunette bowed slightly to them. Her friend's face brightened significantly when she moved to show her the third demigod that had stayed behind.

"And this is Nico. My favorite person in camp." Lily's nose wrinkled the moment she got near him.

"Hades. You found a child of Hades?" Nico looked down, well that wasn't good. The disdain in her voice made him a little awkward...most people disliked him because of who his father was. Did he smell that bad?

"The only one in existence." Azurana said it so proudly that it brought a smile to the dark haired teen's face. At least she didn't mind his smell.

"The only child of Hades on the Earth? You seek them out like bees to flowers."

"Actually this one found me. Isn't that fantastic?"

"Azurana, children of Hades get you in trouble. Lots of trouble. Or do you not remember Egypt?" A pout formed on the golden child's full lips.

"But life is always better-"

"When a child of Hades is near. I know. You love them dearly but Az, be reasonable. You've gotten in more trouble with Hades' children then you did with Poseidon's."

"Hey, that trouble was worth it."

"Egypt was worth it? Atlantis was worth it? What about Babylon?"

"Demeter forgave me for that! And Babylon was Ari's fault, not mine."

"You set fire to the entire city! And what you didn't burn, Natalia killed. Then Cadan leveled the place with a mudslide. Az, you get into trouble when you have them around. You and the Big Three just don't mix peacefully."

"But Nico keeps me out of trouble! He's a great friend and I think you'd like him. You adored Natalia and Cadan even with all that stuff. He's the only one around and he's a big part of why I'm me again. I haven't felt halfway normal in centuries...just don't judge before you see ok?" Lily rolled her rich brown eyes and sighed.

"Fine...but if you destroy one more sacred place I will bind you into a tree."

"Yes ma'am. Goodnight Lily."

"Goodnight Az." Katie and Lily went off toward Demeter's cabin just as Percy and Annabeth headed to theirs. The blonde teen looked down and smiled at Nico but he wasn't near as happy.

"She doesn't like me."

"She's looking after me is all. Come on, I'll walk you back to your cabin."

"She's one of your friends right? The ones that were taken away? Why doesn't she like children of Hades?" Azurana sighed and stopped near the campfire, sitting down on one of the logs.

"She's protective. Lily was the first of us to be born and in being that became very motherly toward all of us. Even Victor sometimes. She knows everything about me, including my knack of getting into trouble. Most times when I got into something I shouldn't I was with my best friend in the whole world. No one was closer to me then Natalia...not even Cadan. Natalia is Hades' daughter. She was so full of spunk and mischief; very different from the children of Hades in more recent years.

"You're more like her then any of the others were. My father always said that Natalia acted a lot like Hades used to. Back around the time of the first Titan war. He was lively and fun to be around. Over the years, the Underworld got to him and he turned into the god he is today. We used to get into so much stuff. Lily just worries I'll start repeating what happened with Natalia.

"You're more level headed then she was. You keep me from getting into mischief. She'll come to like you. You have to understand, Lily loves nature, and death? Let's just say it's not her favorite scent. She was good friends with Natalia. All of us were friends with each other...it may not sound that way from what you've heard but we were like a family. We had our ups and downs."

"You really miss them, don't you?" Nico had noticed the tears building in his friend's eyes. He felt bad that he couldn't do anything to help her. But what could he do? Go on a quest to release all her friends? The teen doubted that would go over very well with the gods.

"Yeah...but I have you. And Lily's here now so everything will be just fine. Come on. We gotta get you back to your cabin. Az put her arm around Nico's shoulder as they walked to Hades' obsidian cabin. She leaned her head on his as they walked.

"You're a great friend Nico...you have no idea how much you've helped me."

"Uh, thanks? Night Az...and...I'm glad you're my friend." He gave her a small hug before heading into his cabin. The blonde smiled and nodded.

"Me too. Goodnight dear Nico. Sweet dreams." Azurana's aura glowed a bit as she walked away, humming an old song the world had forgotten. Nico didn't know it, but he was the reason Lily was released...he was the reason the daughter of Apollo was singing again. And he was the reason something was waking deep within Tartarus. Something that the gods prayed never would.