March has finally reached its end! Thank you once again, faithful readers!

I really hope to make your day with my story telling :) Shem is off with Ira to the party after staying a night at Lynx's lair! What will happen next?

Review, and Good luck!

-Olo Eopia03

- Chapter 13 ~ Ken's Reality -

Kenneth Fletcher sat in the sword arena, watching arrows fly and swords clash as he munched on a blueberry muffin about the size of his fist.

He was still thinking of that girl who had been with Shem for a whole day . . . That girl . . . With a guy like Shem . . .

Ken stood up immediately, feeling his heart clench.

He should've gotten to her while he had the chance! Ken sighed, nearly dropping his blueberry muffin in the process while thinking of her.

She was honestly one of the prettiest girls he's ever seen. How could she not be a child of Aphrodite?

A few yells were heard outside the sword arena, and Ken almost dropped his muffin for a second time. If it fell onto the floor, there would really be a harpy problem at Camp Half-Blood. Wouldn't want that at all. No thank you.

"Kenneth!" A number of voices screamed for his name, and Ken's gaze shot to the entrance of the arena in bewilderment. People were calling for him?

What in the world - ?

Ken ran out to check on the scene. Surely if something bad had happened, the campers would've called to Shem Baker for help, but he was not here. They would've asked for Allen Stradwood, but he was not here either.

But Raymond Stone was here. Petra Ashling was here. Mike Park, Zack Sheen, and even Chiron were here to assess any kind of problem.

So why would they call for Ken?

Ken ran to the hill where a crowd of people stood. As soon as he arrived, the crowd parted, only to reveal Shem Baker and Ira Vagler standing side by side.

Ken's jaw dropped open.

Ken felt the shock build up in his throat. Not only did the girl still look absolutely stunning, but they were also here. Here at Camp Half-Blood.

"W-What are you guys doing here!?" Ken asked wildly. Everyone in the crowd seemed to be staring and smiling at him. Chiron, Petra, Raymond, Mike - they were all there too. All smiling. And in the center of the crowd was Shem, with Ira standing by him.

"We've decided to come back to Camp Half-Blood to bring back joyous news," Ken heard Shem's smooth voice reach his ears. "Ira and I are going to get married."

The crowd cheered at the top of their voices at this bit of news, but Ken immediately felt as though he wanted to collapse.

Get married?

Ken wasn't able to prevent a wail of despair from escaping his lips. After a moment, however, he regained his ground, walking forward towards the couple. Ira was practically glowing, her arm linked loosely around Shem's own. Shem smiled warmly at Ken.

"T-The two of you?" Ken stuttered. There is no way this can be happening. "You have a quest, Shem."

"We met a friend along the way there, and when we decided to stay at his place for the night, we realized our feelings for each other!" Ira squealed in happiness. Ken's eyes shot out of his head, unable to contain his shock at Ira's happiness.

"The quest can wait," Shem said. Shem unlinked arms with Ira and walked toward Kenneth. Shem held out his hand to him. "Ken. As a great friend and as a good person, I would like to ask you to be my best man."

Best man.

This time, Ken really collapsed to his knees. Best man. He was going to be the best man. The best man of a wedding that had the most beautiful girl in the world.

And that girl was not his girl.

This was really happening, wasn't it?

He felt arms wrap around his neck, and when he stood up, he saw Ira smiling brightly at him in mid-hug. He was too stunned to say anything.

"Wow, you're probably too happy to even speak, aren't you?" Ira chirped up as she withdrew from the hug to stand again by Shem's side. "I'm so glad that a brother like you would be our best man!"

Another cheer came from the crowd, and Ken wanted to faint.

"Please . . ." Ken said weakly. She had said brother. "Please don't marry him. I'll stop eating those blueberry muffins in the arena. I'll do anything for you to get away from him. ANYTHING!"

Shem chuckled as he put an arm around Ira's shoulders.

"We're getting married tonight before sunset." Shem's voice rung into his ears, and there was another cheer.

Sunset . . .

Ken felt his knees quake from beneath him.

Tonight . . . Before sunset.

The last thing he saw before he fainted were the smiling faces of Ira and Shem, the two of them turning toward each other as though they were going to kiss.

Ken's worst nightmare suddenly became a reality.

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Happy. April. Fools. Day. ;)

If you have been frightened and confused to your very bones, I have done my job well.

Ken would've literally died if this had actually happened, though.

Whether you read this today, tomorrow, or after April Fool's, I hope I never failed to make you smile :)

'Til next time! ;)