"Are you all ready?" di Angelo asked his partners, for this quest. Will gripped Artemis's bow tighter and nodded his head slowly, but firmly. Clarisse played with her father's spear a bit, before grunting in an affirmative way. Nico took their hands and shadow traveled them to a beach in Greece "We will have to wait a bit before attacking. I am still not strong enough to shadow travel three people across the world, and act as if it was nothing" the son of Apollo kneeled in front of the dark demigod and began emanating a bright light, so the darkness would leave his body faster "Thank you Will".
"You're welcomed" replied the blond one "So what's the plan? We can't just attack the Python and expect to get out alive and triumphant".
"Easy" answered the daughter of war "Death Boy will put on his father's helm and attack the Python, it will be so confused about not seeing it's opponent that it will only focus on him. You'll take that advantage and shoot the beast dead. In the meanwhile, I'll be killing everything that comes your way" both, Will and Nico, looked at Clarisse in surprise "What?!" she barked "Do I have something on my face?".
"That is a smart plan... why does the Ares cabin always lose if they can come out with plans like that?" inquired the blond one.
"Because everyone expects them to be dumb and don't think before charging" answered the son of Hades "When we finish this quest I'll have to talk with all of your siblings..." he spoke to the daughter "... and to my father, so he will talk to Ares".
"Do as you wish!" told him Clarisse, in a fake annoyed tone. But the truth was that she was grateful to Nico for taking concern for her and her siblings, that's something that no one had done before. Cause for everyone they were just noisy, problematic and ugly children of war, that only thought about fighting.
"Ok, I am ready to fight!" announced di Angelo after half an hour. He shadow traveled everyone in front of the cave, where the Python hid "Will remember that you'll have to aim to the forehead" he reminded the son of Apollo, before putting on the helm of darkness and charging towards the beast.
He began slashing the Python with his Efiáltis and dodging its tail when it attacked him. The son of Hades created a nice pattern, that continued for at least an hour. He never thought that it would be so difficult. What is the skin of this snake made of?! Nico exclaimed inside his head I can't penetrate it with my sword! I think that the only thing that I am doing to the Python are tickles.
Luckily for di Angelo they were more than tickles. After an hour of receiving blows from the beast and giving some, Nico was able to exhaust the creature enough to wrap it in stems. When the Python was securely trapped he called out for Will. The son of Apollo finished slaying one of the few minions of Gaea that were left, and shoot to the creature. The son of Hades had seen a lot of horrible things in his life, he was in Tartarus for Olympus sake! But the sound that the Python made as it was killed... he knew he will never forget it.
When Clarisse finished killing all the minions of Gaea, that were there, she sat down on a rock and let, a very worried, Will treat her wounds. However what none of them saw was a big snake creeping behind Apollo's son, ready to attack. But when they noticed it was late already, Nico had placed himself between Will and the snake receiving the bite. The daughter of Ares threw her father's spear and killed the snake, as Solace grabbed a falling di Angelo.
"Nico!" he yelled in distress, trying to save his life "Come on Nico don't leave me! You promised that we would all get back alive!" the blond one cried "Father please help him! He protect me, he returned you your third eye and he saved Olympus thousands of times... please dad. Save him".
"Angel..." the broken whisper of a manly voice caused Clarisse to put herself, between the unknown person and her partners, in defensive pose. However, when she it was Apollo she stopped "Damn it Angel! I told you that I didn't want anyone to die because of this" he cursed angrily. The God took his beloved one away from his son's arms and healed the dark demigod, not caring if his father would punish him for it. When di Angelo was completely safe from dying, from poisoning, Apollo sighed relieved "Thank Olympus" he murmured before kissing the sleeping Italian on the lips.
"Dad?!" exclaimed an astonished Solace "What are you doing?!".
"He he, you see Will. When someone loves another one they tend to express those feeling with actions..." the God's explanation was interrupted by his son's angry shouting.
"I know how does it work dad! But that doesn't explain why are you kissing my friend!".
"Solace" grunted Clarisse, who was as shocked as her partner "I think that Apollo is trying to tell you that he wants to get into Death Boy's pants".
"Why does everyone think that?!" the shout, full of rage, of the God made both demigods shake in fear "Let's get out of here" then Apollo snapped them to Olympus, still cradling Nico to his chest.
"Apollo!" exclaimed Zeus surprised "What is the meaning of this?" every Olympian was gathered to be informed of the new changes that happened last night, all but Apollo. Who just barged into the throne room with three demigods.
"This team had just defeated the Python. Also, they returned to my oracle and to me the ability to see the future. I think that they should be gifted by their great merits" explained the Sun God, before sitting on his throne with Nico still in his arms.
"Zeus I think that Apollo is right" said Hades, before his little brother could open his mouth "Clarisse had guided the Greek armies in both wars and won them. She was the leader of the quest to find the Golden Fleece and is the first one in killing a drakon in almost five centuries. And now she helped defeating a Python, who had only been killed before by a mayor God. Will had saved numerous of lives in both wars, while putting his life in danger, and he had been the one to slay the Python. And let's better not start with my son, that we will stay at least the whole day talking about all the stuff he had done for us. Also, we need new Gods. After all, you took the powers of a lot of Gods and Goddesses".
"They betrayed us in both wars!" Zeus defended himself.
"I know love, but what Hades is trying to say is that we need to turn demigods into Gods so they can occupy those places" Poseidon tried to calm hi lover down.
"Oh... then I think it's a good idea" concurred the King of Gods "Is anyone against that idea" no one raised their hands "Then this demigods will be gifted with godhood. Do you accept it?".
"I will, if when I marry Chris he will be turned into a God as well" replied Clarisse determined.
"I think that..." Zeus looked at his son Hermes, who had turned his puppy eyes on him. Silently begging for him to accept "... that it's a reasonable demand. After all, there are a lot of Gods that took mortal lovers as their spouses".
"I want to... but I can't leave my sibling alone" answered Will.
"You won't have to" the voice of Nico, startled everyone. No one had noticed him waking up "I am being gifted by all my most important merits which are: the Second Titan War, the Second Gian War and the Python quest. That means I have three gifts, which I'll use to give Victoria, Austin and Kayla godhood".
"But what about you?!" demanded to know Solace. He liked the idea of living for ever with his siblings and being able to help so many people with those new powers... but if Nico would end up being affected he won't accept it.
"I will turn into a God when I marry Apollo" everyone stopped talking and looked at the couple in surprise. di Angelo turned to look at the Sun God and smiled at him "By the way, the answer is yes".
"I... Yes!" Apollo exclaimed in joy before kissing the demigod with all his passion.
"This two days had really been memorable... maybe I'll tell Sally about them. She would love to write a book about it" commented Poseidon as Tartarus broke free.
"Take your hand of my son!".
"What the Hades is going on?!".
"Explain now!".
"Pay! I am never wrong when it comes to love".
"This is madness!".
Will and Clarisse looked at each other and asked at the same time "What have we gotten ourselves into?".
-Six months later-
"Are you ready?" di Angelo was asked by his father "If you think you don't want to get married, this is the last chance you have. You can always hide in the Underworld, we will protect you".
"Dad" Nico laughed amused at Hades's words "I love Apollo and I want to get married".
It had passed half a year since Clarisse, Will and Nico had killed the Python. The daughter of Ares was turned into the Goddess of armies and soldiers. Then she got married to Chris, who ended up being the God of mischief and redemption. Will was named the God of medics and family, Kayla the Goddess of singing and dancing, Austin the God of painting and sculptures and Victoria the Goddess of instruments and photography.
On the other hand, di Angelo spent those months getting to know his fiancé better. With each day that passed they fell more in love and discovered amazing things about the other. Apollo had promised his lover to show him the world and all the wonderful things that lives in it, so they will spend their honey moon driving from city to city.
Everything was... perfect. At least, for Nico di Angelo and Apollo.