Sorry for the later-than-usual update. I wanted to post it Friday evening but I was busy and so couldn't get around to it- and the fanfiction was down the whole of saturday so I couldn't post anything! So sorry for that, but here it is now.
Thanks for all reviews, and many thanks to the submissions for the Reyna competition. Some of you were closer to interpreting the dream than others (:p), but I can tell you none of you have got it fully right yet.
The next chapter will be posted after some submissions and reviews. If there's not enough it will be posted next friday/weekend, but if I get quite some, I'll be happy to post it tomorrow/tuesday! So get reviewing, and get submitting ideas for the Reyna competition (details in chapter 1).
Update: I've had some requests, so I'm adding a guide to the legacies here. You can always refer back to it later on in the story :) It has their parentage and age.
The Jackson Family- Percy and Annabeth
Maia- 16, Aria and Adam (twins)- 14, Damian- 12
Zhang Family- Frank and Hazel
Michael-16, Emma-13
Grace Family- Jason and Piper
Amy- 15, Lily- 13, Hector- 8
Valdez Family- Leo and Calypso
Eva- 16, Antonio (Ant)- 14, Adelina (Lina) -12
I just added it as it might come in useful for this chapter, if you can't remember all the legacies yet. This guide is also in chapter 2 (bottom a/n). I most likely won't be posting this in any of the other chapters, so if, for some bizarre reason, you can't remember how old a legacy is, or who their parents are, you can refer to this guide, or the identical one in chapter 2. Their powers won't be here though- this should be evident in the story. If you really wanna know though and can't be bothered to find out while reading the chapter, all their powers are mentioned during chapter 2.
Chapter 7
Aria
Aria stood on the deck, hugging herself to protect her bare arms from the chilly breeze. Ant, who was standing next to her, looked at her.
"Oh, d'you want my jacket?" he asked, blushing.
Aria smiled. "No, it's fine. I'll be warm enough once we start."
"Oh. Okay, then." He paused. "Listen, Aria-"
"Okay, guys," Michael said to the group gathered on the deck. "I know it's cold, but we'll be at Beaver Island soon, and I thought it might be a good time to do some training. You know, as a group. It could come useful on this quest."
"So what are we doing?" asked Adelina.
"Capture the flag," Maia responded.
Michael nodded. "Yup. We'll use the deck as the playing area- it should be big enough. The door will act as a halfway line. And obviously, all weapons have to be rubber, and no harming with powers. I think Eva's got that covered with enchantments?" He looked at her.
She nodded. "Yup. It took some time, but you'll all be safe, long enough for the game at least."
"What are the teams?" Damian asked.
Michael shrugged. "Random, probably. I'm going to hand out a hat. It has six red pieces and six blue. Everyone take one randomly."
The hat was passed round and soon reached Aria. She closed her eyes, and thrusted her hand in the hat, reaching out. She turned over the piece of coloured paper. Red.
"Okay, red on that side and blue on the other?" Adam guessed. Everyone moved to their side.
Aria surveyed her team-mates. Michael was on her team, as well as Amy and Reid. Ant was also here, grinning for some reason. And next to her was her younger brother, a nervous expression on his face.
"Hey." She put a hand on Damian's shoulder. "You'll do just fine. Plus, we need you for strategizing. Thanks to you, we've got an advantage."
Damian smiled weakly, but it was short-lived. "Unless I mess up."
Aria shook her head firmly. Michael cleared his throat. "So, I think we should send one person to get to the flag, while the others try and tackle the rest of the team." He looked at Damian.
Damian nodded. "Just keep them all focused."
"But who should be the person to go for the flag?" Reid asked.
"I think Aria," Amy said. "It would make sense. She's quick."
Damian nodded. "Yeah, but," he turned to Aria, "you shouldn't try and go for it straight away. They'll be expecting that. Wait a bit."
Michael nodded. "Yep. Damian, you defend our flag. Ant, Amy, Reid and I will fight them, and so will you Aria, but when they're distracted, go for the flag. Everyone clear?" Everyone nodded.
"Cool." Michael turned to face the other team. "Ready?" Maia nodded.
Festus, who Ant had programmed to referee the game, started a ten second timer.
When it reached zero, everything turned hectic.
The first thing that happened was that Maia raised her hands, and a wave of water swept over their side and crashed into them. It didn't do any damage, but Aria was now soaking wet.
Aria was about to retaliate, but Reid raised his pan pipes to his lips, and immediately sea vines started to creep out from the water, tying themselves around Maia.
Michael took the opportunity to race forward, sword raised, but Lily immediately uttered a command, slowing him down with her charmspeak. Eva drew her dagger. Even a dulled Michael could still be a threat.
While the fighting ensued, with Ant, Leo-style, drawing a hammer out, and charging towards Adam, Aria noticed that Adelina was about to use her fire powers to destroy the vines. Aria drew an arrow, the tip dulled to rubber, and fired it. The bow was exhilarating, and the mark was true, and while it didn't harm her, it knocked her off balance. Before she could try again, Amy charged forwards, the air crackling around her. Lina shot a blast of fire, trying to slow her down.
Maia managed to break free of the vine, and continued to use her water powers, managing to soak Damian. But Reid continued to retaliate, and soon they were engaged in an intense combat.
She noticed Lily was starting to creep forward, and Aria immediately shot an arrow, dazing her. Aria immediately had to change target. Maia, who was starting to overcome Reid, faced an arrow hurtling towards her.
Ant was managing to throw Eva, who was still battling with Michael, off balance with his hammer, but Adam was slowly beating him back with his sword strokes.
Aria realised this was her chance. She ran forward, but at the same time noticed Lily was advancing towards their side. But Aria had no time to stop her- Damian would have to deal with it. Plus, she was certain she could make it to the flag in time, it was completely open, with everyone else preoccupied.
Aria lunged forward, her fingers curling around the pole of the flag. She smiled in triumph. No one had even noticed her, she could make it back to her side in time.
She had only just started running, when she was knocked sideways, by- by an eagle?
Emma! She had forgotten about her, who had transformed into a bird early on amid the fighting, guarding the flag.
Aria rolled forward, dodging another strike. Emma transformed back into human.
Aria could see Damian fighting off Lily, who hadn't managed to get the flag yet. Michael was recovering his senses, but Maia's water strikes were affecting him too. Eva continued to spar him, while at the same time dodging Ant's blows, who was getting beaten back by Adam. Lina was engaged in close combat with Amy, the crackling electricity sparking the fire. Everyone was focused.
Aria knew what to do. She had to make it to the other side, she was so close.
She leapt forward. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Emma, eagle once again, swooping towards her. But Aria could make it, she had to make it…
Suddenly there was a loud BOOM! and Aria and everyone else were thrown sideways, as the ship grinded to a halt.
"What just happened?" Amy asked.
Aria looked around. She could see an island not too far away- Beaver Island.
"Why have we stopped here?" she asked.
Ant frowned, as he listened to Festus creaking. "There's some kind of magical force. The ship can't go any further."
"Then how are we going to get to Beaver island?" Eva said urgently.
Lily pointed over the side of the ship. "I would guess by that."
Aria was ready to climb down the ladder. Michael nodded at her.
"You'll be fine. Maia will be controlling the currents to help you go faster."
Aria nodded. Michael, Maia, Eva, Adelina and her were the only ones left on the deck. Everyone else had gone below deck, preparing for the shudder.
Eva started to descend the ladder. As soon as she crossed the magical barrier, the ship shuddered. Aria had to balance herself.
She was next. She was about to start climbing, when Ant hurried up the deck.
"Oh, Aria! Wait!" he ran forward to her. Aria looked at him. He held his palms out. Lying on it was on of her blue-feathered arrows. "I found it. Take it."
Aria smiled. "Oh, thanks."
Ant hesitated. "Good luck," he said, before hugging his sister, wishing her the same, and walking back below deck.
Aria descended, and she could see the ship shake as she passed the barrier.
She dropped down on the raft, a wooden log square. It was amazing it was floating. It had appeared when the ship had been stopped.
Eva smiled at her, as Lina also came down. "Ready?" she asked them. They both nodded, and with Maia's current pushing them faster, the raft started to move towards the beach island in the distance.
Did you like the whole training/capture the flag scene? I had a lot of fun writing it, showcasing everyone's abilities.
Next chapter after reviews and submissions for Reyna competition! Thanks!
