Arista of the Far East
By: GraceHunter1296
A/N: AAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDD we're back! Thank you so much for the 1,044 views! X3 Sorry if there are inconsistencies (chapter 9 and 10) Lou Ellen was the one who taught Daniel the healing spell, not Will. But maybe they taught him healing arts together? I don't know. XD And for the disclaimer, we have Centurion Hazel Levesque and Praetor Frank Zhang!
Hazel: Okay, without further ado, GraceHunter doesn't own the Percy Jackson series and Heroes of Olympus series. Those belong to Rick Riordan.
Frank: And also, she doesn't own One OK Rock songs that may be included in this fan fic.
Me: And now that we've done the disclaimer, here's chapter 11!
All 3 of us: DOZO!
Chapter 11
The Truth Unfolds
(Arista's P.O.V.)
Holy Amaterasu... how the flip did I end up here?! And what's the deal with Atalanta and a 12-year old version of Frederica in Elysium?! Hypnos must be pulling my leg or something because normal people do not end up in the Greeks' version of Paradise. Then again, I'm a demigod so even dreaming happens in whacked up places. I forgot.
And let's not forget the fact that I'm having a walk with Daniel's sister Atalanta and a twelve-year old version of my best friend. I don't know how to explain this but I feel I need an explanation for me to understand what's going on. If I'm a daughter of Athena, I could easily get my bearings with fewer problems. Unfortunately, I do not have Athena's wisdom. So I'm sandwiched between the two of them until we reached a lagoon. We sat on the side.
"Annou... Dono yō ni watashi wa eryushion ni koko ni kita no desu ka? (How did I get here in Elysium?)" I asked in Japanese. Atalanta just looked at me quizzically. But Frederica did an amazing thing. She answered me in Japanese.
"Watashi-tachi wa anata o koko ni motte Hyupunosu ni tazune takara desu. (It's because we asked Hypnos to bring you here)" she replied. My jaw dropped.
"Wow. How did you speak Japanese so fluently?"
"I watched a lot of animé back when I was alive," she replied.
"Oh. So, why did you bring me here? Is there something you need to tell me?" I asked. Atalanta looked at the child (I can't call her Frederica) beside her and she nodded.
"Arista, isn't it? You and Daniel are on a quest together, right?" Atalanta began.
"Yeah. He's with me. Why?"
"And Apollo gave you a side quest, didn't he?" she questioned.
"How did you know?" I gasped.
"I heard Nico di Angelo talking to a spirit. It's something about the phoenix. I've heard some rumors but I'm not sure which is true," she replied.
"Atalanta, rumors are nothing but false news. But we can both agree on one thing: some of the rumors we've heard are disturbing," her companion spoke. I was focused more on the fact that there are rumors flying around in Elysium than the fact that Nico was here.
"Wait, Nico was here? How?"
"He was looking for your spirit. Apparently, he thought you've died. He was confused when we told him that you were not here. He even searched the Fields of Asphodel just to make sure. Anyway, we might have the information you need. Freddie?" Atalanta said. Frederica nodded and spoke.
"The phoenix has been with you all along." Do you know what a screeching sound of a tire sounds like before the car crashes? That's how I felt when she said that.
"I-I don't understand. What do you mean by that?" I asked, tensed as the answer is laid down in front of me. I've known ever since I had that dream. But my poor mortal brain doesn't want to accept the fact that someone is pretending to be a friend of mine.
"When I was a kid, I met Flannery. She was really hurt so I patched her up. She didn't tell me how she got her wounds so I didn't bother to ask. Anyway, I let her stay in my room. One night, we got attacked by a two-trunked snake lady," Frederica narrated. Oh gods.
"You were attacked by a Scythian dracanae? How did you escaped?" I asked.
"Flannery saved me. She used some sort of fire magic to drive it away. But she got weaker and fainted. That's when I learned I was a demigod," she paused. Atalanta's face betrayed no emotion as Frederica tried to remember that part of her life.
"The day I died on a car accident, Flannery and I were on our way to camp. She was so heartbroken but she was determined to get to camp. So she marched in to Camp Half-Blood and my godly parent claimed her," she frowned. "Then she started calling herself Frederica."
I felt like kneeling on the ground. Freddie… why? Why did you lie to me? I was still in disbelief when all of a sudden, I started fading. I panicked a little.
"You're waking up, Arista. Remember, you need to protect Flannery. Whatever happens, promise me you'll take care of her. Don't let anything happen to her. And by the gods, please don't let her fall into enemy forces. If that happens, we're all doomed!" Frederica warned. When I woke up, it was already morning. I spotted Winter and Frederica (not the real one, mind you; The real Frederica is in Elysium). They appear to be arguing with intent to pummel each other. I can hear it in their voices.
"I can't believe you lied to all of us! How could you?" Winter shouted in anger while Frederica (should I call her Flannery? Gods, this is one hell of a mess) is crying. Okay, this situation is getting out of hand. I better step up.
"Hey, Winter. What's the fuss?" I asked. But he didn't answer me. Instead, he walked past me. I quickly rushed to the crying girl in front of me. I still can't figure out what to call her then realized it's not the issue here. So I tried to console her as much as I could. However, she keeps on crying.
"He knows. He already knows I lied to him. Gods, why? Why does it have to be like this? Why do I keep hurting the people I love?!" she lamented. I had the sudden urge to march to Olympus and curse every Olympian with rhyming couplets for a year. She has suffered long enough. What in Apollo's name are those stupid kami thinking? If they find it funny seeing my friend cry, I'll fire my Celestial Bronze arrows on their sorry podexes.
"Freddie- er, I mean Flannery- Winter just needs some time to adjust to the truth. This is quite a shock to him," I advised. But she didn't stop crying.
"Arista… I'm sorry… I-I didn't want things to go this far. I was just scared that you'll get mad at me. I was just trying to preserve Frederica's legacy. I want her to be known and remembered as a brave demigod. She… She was taken from this world too early. That's why I pretended to be her in order for her to have a legacy. I prayed to Athena so she could claim me. Only I brought nothing but pain," she's been rambling by this point. I think a bucket of ice-cold water would sober her up.
Before I could do that though, Winter approaches her and in one swift motion, carried her like a sack of wheat on his shoulder. Flannery was kicking and screaming but the son of Ares wasn't fazed. My jaw dropped. What the flipping sheep?!
I was too dumbfounded to speak until Daniel came along with a smug smile on his face. He looks like a proud father whose son will date a girl for the first time.
"Let me guess. Winter had a change of heart because of you," I said with sarcasm.
"Nope. Actually, I threatened to turn him into a girl and let some dudes harass him until he reconsiders," Daniel grinned evilly. My eyes widened. I thought he was a gentle soul. I shook my head in resignation.
"Anyway, I had a dream last night. It was weird. I talked to Atalanta in Elysium," he began. I looked at him, trying to read his body language but he didn't offer additional details. I remembered the fourth line of the prophecy: "And see a ghost crying through the years". Maybe he saw her crying in Elysium or something.
"And? What happened?" I asked. He stared at me… which made me blush.
"She said I must protect the ones I valued the most. And she warned me about something but I can't remember it," he said. I nodded in understanding. After two minutes, Winter and Flannery were back. Aphrodite's hair brush! They are holding hands. The son of Ares is grinning while Flannery is smiling sheepishly at us. I couldn't hold it any longer. I screamed like a deranged fan girl.
A/N: I'm sorry for not updating sooner! School just started last week and I have tons of assignments. But I will never give up. I'll finish this story so don't worry, okay?
Frank: Hey GraceHunter, you're a senior in college, right?
Me: Yeah?
Frank: What are your plans?
Me: Hmm… to be honest, I want to be a freelance writer after graduation. But I guess that won't do since I have to work for my younger brother's education.
Frank: Well, whatever your plan is, we'll stand by you.
Me: Thanks, Praetor.
Hazel: Please leave a review, okay?
3: Bye!
~GraceHunter1296, Daughter of Athena and Legacy of Olympus