Hello everyone! I hope you guys had a great holiday! I hope you all got everything you wanted i no i did. So i apologize for being so late with updating this. You see i went on a skiing trip and there was an avalanch. We got stuck in a cave for three days... and that is complete BS. Come on how many of you guys fell for that? Admit it! Eh i have no excuse. I dont know how to ski although im brilliant at snowboarding...erm on my sled. Hey itll be an Olympic Event some day. They shall call it Surf-Sledding! Ok so like last chapter i will put the spanish translation next to the sentence. Forgive me for any errors although its only one sentence. Um lets put this loud and clear I DO NOT PLAY SOCCER!!!!! AND I NEVER WILL PLAY SOCCER THEREFORE I DO NOT KNOW THE GAME EVERYTHING IN THIS CHAPTER IS DUE TO RESEARCH AND HELPFUL FRIENDS. So please dont kill me if i get something wrong. Um so enjoy the chapter! I think you guys will really like this one.
Disclaimer: There i said it so DONT SUE ME!!!!!!! please...

Oh and since most of you dont read this Authors note i think ill put this message in caps and italics... DRESSES ARE ON MY PROFILE... there now you know enjoy!

Chapter 13:
Soccer and Love

The stadium was crowded with roaring fans. They were all here for one thing: to see Barcelona and Madrid battle it out for the championship. Emotions coursed through the crowd like a current of electricity. Aelia looked around trying to take everything in at once. She had never been surrounded by so many people in her life. It was a little intimidating. People had banners and posters with Spanish phrases written on them. Two groups of guys had gone shirtless and painted their upper bodies; ruby red and white for Madrid, yellow and bright red for Barcelona. Music blared from speakers.

In the locker room it was deathly quiet. The Madrid team dressed in silence. Ash took a deep breath and put on his jersey. He glanced in the mirror. His face was pale and he looked every bit as nervous as he felt. Ash looked around at his team, his friends.

Raúl was putting on his goalie gloves. His muscular body was rigid with tension. Santiago and Andrés, one of their forwards, were kicking each other's shin guards lightly. Pepe, their tiny Sweeper, was gripping the edge of a sink looking green. One of Ash's fellow midfielders, Felipe, was clutching his cross necklace. His eyes were shut and his lips were moving in a silent prayer. Everyone else was sitting on the bench or on the floor.

Coach entered and paced for a few minutes. Then he began talking. He told them that no matter what happened, they were all winners. There was no need to go through the plays. They all knew they would be playing their typical 4-3-3 formation. Four players on defense, three in the midfield, and three on offense. Raúl would be defending their goal.

Before they knew it, it was time to go. They all filed into the tunnel. Everyone heard the cheering, the screaming. Ash knew that somewhere in that mob was Aelia and she would be cheering him on.

The thought filled him up. It gave him confidence. It gave him strength. The butterflies in his stomach evaporated. He turned to his brothers.

"Well, this is it you guys," he told them. "We have worked so hard to get here. We've defeated so many teams. We've overcome so many obstacles. So let them remember us! Let them remember how we defeated them!" The boys yelled in approval. Ash raised his voice and pointed out toward the field. "Do you know what's out there? Waiting beyond that field? A championship title! Take it! It's yours!"

The team roared. They sprinted onto the field. The stadium erupted into cheers. Ash punched his fist in the air and the fans welcomed back their beloved captain. Aelia watched him, her eyes glowing. She yelled at the top of her lungs along with her friends. Suddenly, the other side of the stadium exploded into cheers as the Barcelona team sprinted out of their locker room. The Madrid side of the arena booed them.

The teams lined up on their sides of the field. The Spanish national anthem played. Then the announcer read out the starting players who shook the other coach's hand. The clock was set and Ash and the other captain met in the Center Mark. They eyed each other, but shook hands. The referee held out a coin in his hand.

"Barcelona call it," he said.

"Tails," the other captain said.

The referee tossed it in the air and caught it. He opened his palm to reveal a tails up coin. Barcelona decided to kick off. The sides were picked and twenty two players took their positions. Raúl jumped up and down on the balls of his feet. Santiago smirked and stretched his arms, flexing his muscles, and causing the girls to scream. Ash rolled his eyes and got ready for the kick off.

They were all in position on their side of the field. The first line was made up of the two forwards Andrés on the left, Ramiro on the right. Santiago, who was the best scorer on the team, played Striker; between the two forwards. Next came the midfield. Felipe played left midfield while Rafael played right. Ash was playing center midfield. It had been his position since the beginning of his soccer career. It was a good position for him because he was good at analyzing the other team's defense and directing his own team's offense. The third line was set up a bit differently. Pepe stood a little in front of the fullbacks Antonio and Carlos. Miguel, the Sweeper and last line of defense, stood a little behind them. And of course Raúl paced in front of the goal, shouting and pepping up the team and the crowd.

However, instead of kicking off, the Barcelona kicker tapped the ball forward an inch. Madrid's offense rushed them, but one of their forwards had already gotten possession of the ball. Instantly, Santiago stole it and began dribbling down the field. He passed it to Ramiro, but a player on the other team jumped up and used his head to bump it to another teammate.

The ball went back and forth across the field. No one came close to scoring and the clock ticked away. Little Pepe would always come out of nowhere and steal the ball. There was one moment in which Barcelona had a breakaway. The player got passed the defense and kicked the ball at the goal. Raúl dove to his left and caught the ball on the tips of his fingers. He jumped back up and yelled in triumph before throwing the ball to Antonio who kicked it to Felipe.

The fans watched the game eagerly. Only Raimundo understood what was going on so he had to explain what was happening. Aelia couldn't express the pride she felt every time Ash stole the ball from the other team. Her and Catalina were screaming and jumping up and down together.

Towards the end of the first half Barcelona pulled a dirty trick. Ramiro had the ball. He was within scoring range. He went to kick the ball when a player on the other team collided with him. He fell to the ground clutching his knee as he cried out in pain. The arena was filled with boos. The referee blew his whistle.

"Hey what the hell was that!" Raúl yelled from the goal along with some other incomprehensible Spanish.

The entire team gathered around their fallen teammate. Ash and Santiago knelt on either side of him.

"My knee, I think it's busted," he moaned.

Raúl turned around and tried to pounce on the guy that had hurt Ramiro. Quickly, Antonio and Carlos grabbed him and were holding him back. The guy was smirking.

"Let me go! I'll knock that smirk right off his face. LET ME GO!" he yelled.

Then the coaches came out. They helped Ramiro up and off the field. The crowd applauded. Alejo took his position as left forward and the game continued. Ten minutes later the first half ended. The score was 0-0. They filed into the locker room, desperate to see how Ramiro was.

"How are you man?" Ash asked.

Ramiro looked up dejectedly. "I dislocated my knee and screwed up one of the muscles in it. I'm going to need surgery to fix it and even then I might never play again…"

"Damn it!" Raúl yelled punching a locker. "I'll kill that son of a-"

Ash stopped listening. He was one of the few people on the team that knew that Ramiro couldn't even afford the surgery. He pulled out his cell phone and made a call.

When the Madrid team sprinted back out of the tunnel, they were ready to avenge what had happened. Ramiro limped out on crutches to a standing ovation from the crowd. He smiled and waved to them. His knee was completely healed, the crutches were just a show.

In the stadium, Aelia and Catalina made their way back to their seats. Aelia wobbled a bit and her vision went blurry, but Catalina steadied her and they reached their seats quick enough.

"Where have you been?" Raimundo hissed.

"In the locker rooms," Aelia replied.

"How is he?" Kimiko asked catching on quickly.

"His knee is all healed. He'll be playing soccer in no time," she said pleased.

The game continued. The players ran up and down the field chasing the ball. The collisions got worse. A few of the Barcelona players got yellow carded and Raúl almost got thrown out when he charged one of their players. It took all of Carlos and Antonio's strength and Ash telling him it wasn't worth it to calm him down. It didn't get better after that. The closer it got to the end of the game the more desperate each team got to score first.

Finally, in the final seconds there was a breakaway. Santiago had obtained the ball. He swerved past the defenders. It was between him and the goalie. He went to kick. Suddenly, out of nowhere an opponent appeared. He slide tackled Santiago, taking out his ankles. The whistle was blown. Ash knelt down next to Santiago thinking, Oh no not again.

"Hey Santi, man are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah I'm fine. He kicked me in the shin, but I'll live," Santiago said standing up.

Then something amazing happened. The referee called for a penalty kick. The player that slide tackled Santiago got in his face and started yelling at him. But the referee wouldn't have any of that. Much to the delight of the Madrid team, the referee red carded him and the boy was removed from the field. Then the two teams lined up on the outskirts of the penalty box. Ash was given the kick. Although Santiago was a better scorer, Ash was smarter.

He stared at the goal analyzing every inch of it. He looked at the positioning of the goalie. The crowd held its breath. Up in the stands Catalina squeezed Aelia's hand. They were both staring intently at Ash. He wiggled his shoulders and took a few steps backwards. The whistle was blown again and Ash charged forward. He swung his foot back and kicked. The stadium was quieter than a graveyard as they watched the ball sail through the air. The goalie lunged, his fingers outstretched. But, impossibly, the ball sailed over them, curling into the net.

The stadium exploded in cheers. Ash dropped to his knees and raised his clenched fists to the sky. His team tackled him, hugging and patting and congratulating him. Kimiko kissed Raimundo who was shouting with joy. Aelia and Catalina had their hands locked and they were jumping up and down shrieking. Omi and Clay were yelling. On the field the Madrid team was going ballistic. It was perfect.

"I'm not coming out!" Aelia yelled from inside the bathroom.

"Aelia you get your ancient butt out here right now! I did not spend all that time on your hair for nothing!" Kimiko screamed back. Next to Kimiko, Catalina rolled her eyes.

"Come on Aelia we're going to be late for the party!" Catalina yelled.

"No! Go without me!" Aelia shouted back.

Catalina sighed angrily. In order to celebrate the boys' winning, the city was throwing a festival. It would be all over the town, but mainly in the Parque del Retiro. Everyone had dressed up for the occasion. There would be music and dancing and food. Catalina sighed again and smoothed out her dress. It was red-orange. The dress was deep V-neck and hugged her body. It reached her knees and the bottom had angles. Her long hair was parted on the side and straightened. Black heels completed the look.

"Come on! I promised Rai I'd dance with him!" Kimiko screamed. She kicked the wall with her silver heels in frustration.

Kimiko was borrowing one of Catalina's dresses. Kimiko's gown was a backless halter dress. It was black and cut so that one side of the front ended mid thigh while the rest of it angled down to her opposite ankle. The part where it began to angle was slightly ruffled, as was the back. Kimiko's hair was left long and wavy.

"Any luck?" a heavily accented voice asked.

The girls turned around to face Señora Jimenez. She was smirking. Since Aelia was so tall she had to borrow one of Señora Jimenez's old dresses. The girls had spent a lot of time on her thick hair. It went all the way down to her waist so they were able to do a lot with it. However, once her hair was done she had excused herself into the bathroom to put on the dress. And now she wouldn't come out.

Señora Jimenez knocked gently on the door. "My dear please come out. No one will laugh at you and if you really hate it then you can take it off."

"Promise?" Aelia asked.

Señora Jimenez chuckled. "I promise."

They heard a click as the door unlocked. It swung open and revealed the dragon of magic. The girls gasped. Señora Jimenez said, "¡Ai qué linda!" (Oh how beautiful!)

Aelia looked at them shyly. She was absolutely stunning. Her black, knee-length dress fit her perfectly, revealing unexpected curves. Half of the halter part was a thick silver band with three silver balls on each side and the rest was a black velvet strip of fabric. The chest area sparkled with silver sequence. There was a single long ruffle that ran the length of the dress in the front. At the bottom of the front of the dress it opened in an upside-down V. Her hair was up in a French braid bun. There were two crowns of French braids wrapped around her head, then the braid continued into a bun that had lily of the valleys twisted into it.

"I feel ridicules. Can I change now?" Aelia announced.

"Aw come on girl you look great!" Kimiko cried out.

"Really?" Aelia asked. " 'Cause I feel like a clown."

"Nah come on! We're late," Catalina yelled grabbing Aelia. "Bye Mom!"

"Bye Señora Jimenez!" Aelia and Kimiko chorused.

As soon as they hit the street they were absorbed into the party. It seemed to be everywhere. People were dancing and laughing and having a great time. It was only a five minute walk to the park. The park was stunningly beautiful. All the trees and bushes were lit up. Music flowed from unseen speakers. By the time they found Ash they were in the party mood. He was wearing jeans and his soccer jersey, now clean, and he looked pissed.

"Catalina what are you wearing?" Ash yelled when he saw her.

"It's a dress stupid," she said shaking her hips.

"I don't want my sister walking around in that!" he argued.

"Every other girl is wearing it. Most are wearing less than me!" she yelled back.

Ash opened his mouth to yell again, but Raimundo interrupted him.

"Kimi! Don't you look dazzling!" he said giving her a hug and a kiss. "Where did you get that dress?"

"Oh Catalina let me borrow it," Kimiko said before dragging Rai onto the dance floor.

"Exactly how many of those dresses do you own?" Ash said, his protective big brother feelings rearing up.

"Just a closest full. But stop wasting your time yelling at me. You've got someone waiting for you," Catalina told him before prancing off to join her friends.

Ash looked around confused. What on earth was his sister talking about? Then he saw it. She was standing in the shadow of a tree and she looked absolutely beautiful. She also looked confused and uncomfortable. Ash looked around. He spotted Andrés dancing with a girl he recognized. Her name was Lita Rivera. She was tall and pale with brown eyes. Her brown hair was highlighted with red and pulled back into two braids that reached her waist. Ash made a mental note to ask Andrés when they had started dating. Rai and Kim were salsa dancing center stage. Clay was devouring the food. Omi was trying to dance with a girl that was his height.

"Hey," he greeted her.

"Hi," she replied softly.

"You look great," he told her.

"Thanks, you don't look so bad yourself," she smiled.

"Do you want to dance?" Ash asked.

"Oh no, no. I don't know the steps," she said shaking her head.

"Alright, well why don't you come talk to Santi and Raúl?" Ash suggested.

"Ok," she said. They walked through the people until they came to a table.

"Hey babe!" Santiago said raising his glass to her.

"Hey Santi," she said. Ash pulled out a seat for her and when she sat down pushed it back in like a true gentleman.

Raúl handed her a drink. "Well drink up," he told her. Aelia looked at him suspiciously. "It's not alcoholic I swear. See, even Ash is drinking one." Aelia nodded and drank. It tasted like cherry soda with a hint of orange juice. It bubbled and tickled as it made its way down her throat. After a few more of them she had loosened up. Aelia was laughing and joking with the boys. Then she appeared.

They had just finished laughing at a story of one of Santiago's failed romances when Ash felt someone tap him on the shoulder. Ash turned around as Aelia looked up. She almost dropped her glass. Behind Ash stood the most beautiful girl Aelia had ever seen and that included the legendary Helen of Sparta, the girl who started the Trojan War.

She was as tall as Ash, taller than Aelia. Her silky black hair was pulled back in a low bun. Green ribbons hung from her bun and a reddish pink flower was placed behind her ear. Her emerald eyes, outlined by black eyeliner and light green eye-shadow, sparkled in the torch light. Ruby red lips smiled revealing a row of perfect, dazzling white teeth. She was as tan as Aelia, but that was the only similarity between the two girls. The girl had long legs and luxurious curves. Her black Flamenco dress was made to emphasize those curves. It was skin tight and backless. Green ruffles flowed out from the bottom of it creating a short train. Her heels and nails were the same emerald green as the ruffles.

"Ana Maria!" Ash gasped standing. He hugged her gently. "How have you been?"

"I've been dong fine although I've greatly missed you," she cooed. Across the table Raúl rolled his eyes. "It's so good to see you again. You were amazing at the game!"

"Thanks, but I got lucky. That goalie almost got the ball," Ash replied, humble as always.

"But he didn't. You never give yourself enough credit," she laughed. It was a light musical laugh that reminded Aelia of wind chimes. "Do you want to dance?" she asked, emerald eyes pleading.

She looked so divine that Ash couldn't say no. He got up as if in a trance and took her hand. They walked to the dance floor.

"Who is she?" Aelia breathed.

Raúl rolled his eyes in disgust. Even Santiago was shaking his head.

"That would be Ana Maria," Raúl told her.

"She's Ash's ex-girlfriend. He broke up with her when he had to leave for the temple," Santiago explained. "She's a beauty and she knows it. She uses it to her advantage."

"She's the biggest flirt in all of Madrid," Raúl spat.

"And you guys don't like her," Aelia said.

"Absolutely not, she's no good for Ash. She doesn't have a heart," Santiago said with emotion.

Aelia watched her dance seductively. She was all over Ash and he was enjoying it. Aelia felt something raging inside of her. At the same time, though, she felt something rip. Suddenly, she felt sick. She excused herself from the table leaving Raúl and Santiago to glare at Ana Maria in disgust. Once out of sight she ran for all that she was worth. She sprinted through the gardens and fountains and ponds. Finally, she stopped and sat down on a bench. She folded her hands in her lap and cried.

"My dear why are you crying?" a woman's voice said softly.

Aelia looked up into gentle gray eyes that she knew were normally fierce and blazing.

"Lady Athena," she gasped, "what are you doing here?"

"You are in pain my daughter," she said wrapping her arms around her.

Aelia returned the hug. "What's happening to me?"

"I think you know the answer to that," the wise woman told her.

And Aelia did. She was falling in love. She shook her head to clear such thoughts. She couldn't, not if she were to join Lady Artemis one day. Aelia felt a wave of home sickness wash over her. She tightened her grip on Athena.

"I wish I had died all those years ago," she said with feeling. "I don't belong in this world. I miss my friends: Atalanta, Perseus, Helen, Hercules. I miss them all. I miss Greece the way it used to be. I…"

"I know that you feel as though you don't belong. The Age of Heroes is long over. The ancient world has disappeared. You are the only person who knows that the gods exist. We feel your pain. Our temples lay in ruins, our altars are filthy with cold ashes. The world my great-grandfather created is no more. You are the one thing that remains of it," Athena told her.

Aelia was silent for a long time. Finally, she said, "How did you do it?"

"How did I do what?" Athena asked.

"How did you avoid love?" Aelia asked softly.

"First of all, Aphrodite fears me. But you are wrong. I did love a man once. He was of great intelligence."

"Odysseus?"

"Yes, my dear I did love him. I fought ten years to see that he returned home to his wife and son," Athena said.

"And what about Lady Artemis? How did she give it up?" Aelia wanted to know.

"Her love of the wild and the hunt kept her safe, but even she fell in love once," Athena explained.

"With who?" Aelia asked eagerly.

"The hunter Orion," Athena said. "Do not despair my daughter. You will achieve your hearts desire."

"But My Lady…" Aelia protested.

"I must be going now, you know we cannot interfere with you for long," Athena said. "But I shall send you some company and I will have a word with my dear sister about confusing you with her love magic."

Aelia averted her gaze as the goddess revealed her true form. With a bang she was gone. When Aelia looked on the bench next to her she saw a single white owl feather. She picked it up smiling.

"Aelia?" a voice asked.

She looked up. Ash was standing there with his hands in his pockets.

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?" he inquired. He took Athena's place on the bench and put an arm around her. She leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"You really do look beautiful tonight," Ash told her.

Just then a cloud moved, revealing a full moon. Its light lit up the little area. It turned Aelia's gray eyes to liquid silver and made her skin glow. Ash shivered as he realized how much she resembled the two beautiful goddesses from the cave. Slow music drifted into the garden setting the perfect mood.

"Do you want to dance?" Ash asked for the second time that night.

This time she nodded. Overjoyed he pulled her gently to her feet. She put her arms around his neck as he put his around her waist, pulling her close to him. They swayed back and forth while they starred into each other's eyes. All Ash's thoughts about Ana Maria left his mind as he gazed at this ancient beauty. Even when the music stopped they continued. And they danced the night away, surrounded by flowers in this garden under the stars.

Come on everyone say it with me AWWWWWWWWWW. You had to admit that was pretty cute although note to self push Ana Maria off a bridge into a pond. How dare she dance with Ash. How dare i make up a character that does such things. Ya no its chicks like her that give women a bad name. So pictures of the dresses and Aelia's hair is on my profile. The girl wearing Catalina's dress is pretty much what she looks like except younger. And for Kimiko its the black dress. Yay they won the championship! Haha Raul almost got thrown out. Um i dont have much to say except HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! See yall next year! Have fun! Drink responsibly! And whatever you do dont take the fancy sports car that shows up to the party. Bye!!