Zeus figured that it was about time he patched things up with Artemis. What was he going to say, you may ask? He had no idea. He figured that it would end horribly any ways. After all, this conversation was a good millennia overdue. Needless to say, it was about time. He knocked on Artemis's door, nearly shaking. His daughter could be a bit horrific. Artemis opened the door, looking surprised. The last thing she expected was to see her father on her doorstep.
"Can I come in?" Zeus asked.
"Uh, sure." Artemis muttered, stepping aside, allowing Zeus to enter the silvery-blue walls. He couldn't help but admire how nice her room looked. A large crecent moon, was painted gold and was right above her bed. Her bed looked cozy, with a series of blankets and pillows. Zeus sat down on the bed, and took a deep breath. He hadn't apologized to anyone in years...
"I'm sorry." He finally managed to mutter. Artemis sighed, yet sat beside him.
"Why did it take you so long?" She asked.
"I've been avoiding it, to be completely honest however I always knew you were upset with me." Zeus admitted, feeling guilty.
"Yeah, I figured. I don't know, this may sound stupid...but I always wanted you to be around more, and...oh gods, I sound like a demigod." Artemis shook her head.
"There's nothing wrong with wanting that, Artemis." Zeus ran a hand through her hair.
"I'm sure Thalia and Clary want the same thing." Artemis muttered.
"Probably do, yeah." Zeus agreed. "And I would...if it wasn't for...everything."
"Did you ever try to help Thalia's mother?" Artemis asked.
"I did, yes. Thalia was seven...but it ended horribly, as you can probably tell." Zeus confessed.
"But you tried, no? You're not completely terrible." Artemis smiled, Zeus laughed.
"Thanks, I think." Zeus said back, smiling.
"Did you try to protect Thalia from her?" Artemis asked.
"Well, yes as much as I could. I tried a lot." Zeus said.
"Then you're not terrible at all."
-Troubled Olympians-
The night of the dance was quiet an event.
Zeus and Hades were arguing on who would get to dance with Poseidon, which was the weirdest thing all the gods, and demigods have ever seen.
"Can you believe those three?" Percy asked, as he sipped on his juice at a table, with Thalia and Nico. Annabeth was running late.
"They're absolutely ridiculous." Nico agreed.
"Well I'm bored." Percy announced. "Why is Annabeth taking forever?" Percy was dressed up as Poseidon (Shocker), holding a trident and wearing a tuxedo.
"Good gods, Kelp head. She'll be here." Thalia said, rolling her eyes.
"In the meantime, Thalia want to dance?" Percy asked.
"Percy, she's kinda my girlfriend." Nico pointed out, Thalia blushing at the word 'girlfriend'
"She's kinda my best friend." Percy retorted.
"Best friends don't slow dance together."
"Who says?"
"Me."
"Since when?"
"Since now."
Thalia groaned and pressed her cheek on the table. Annabeth (finally) came in, disrupting the fight. Percy thought he was going to faint. She. Looked. Gorgeous. She was dressed as Athena (this really should not be a surprise), wearing a simple, yet gorgeous grey strapless dress, and an owl necklace. Her hair was up in a fancy bun, and her diamond earrings gl eamed in the dim light of the dance.
"Wow..." Was all Percy could say. Annabeth blushed.
"Not so bad yourself, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth grinned.
"Oh thank gods you're here. Kelp Head over here asked me to dance, as friends of course, and Nico went all over-protective on me, and started arguing with Percy." Thalia said, and hugged her best friend. Thalia was dressed as Artemis, her costume was nearly the same as Artemis's, but with a black dress instead of blue.
"Well then, I think me and Percy can dance now, shall we?" Annabeth grinned, and took her boyfriend to the dance floor.
"You look...nice." Nico said, once they were alone. Thalia raised an eyebrow.
"Well...you always look nice...so more than nice," Nico muttered shyly "Much, much, much more than nice." He breathed. Thalia laughed lightly.
"Is the word you're looking for beautiful?" Thalia asked, her hair was longer now, and were curled (Thanks Annabeth). She really put more effort than she normally would. Nico chuckled.
"Yes, I believe that would be it." Nico smiled, offering his arm out for a dance. Thalia gladly accepted.
The other side of the room, Athena was glaring jealousy at Poseidon. Out of all the girls he could've asked, he asked Hades. And obviously Zeus was offended that Poseidon hadn't asked him. Despite Aphrodite's speech, she wasn't going to fight this battle, she was just going to let it fade out. Slowly, and painfully, yes. But she had been through worse.
"Honestly, I think I nearly died of Aphrodite's perfume today." Artemis said as she popped a chip into her mouth, sitting across the table from Athena.
"I think we all did." Athena said, turning her attention back to Artemis.
"She's such a brat, Aphrodite." Artemis turned to glare at Aphrodite who was sitting with Ares, Apollo, Hermes, and Hermione (Strangely enough, since she was terrified of Hermione.)
"Wait, you guys haven't made up?" Athena asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh, No. What did you think?" Artemis rolled her eyes.
"It's been months!"
"You and Poseidon have been fighting since the beginning of time." Artemis pointed out.
"That-that's not the point! Besides, we've been fighting...less now." Athena countered. "I, and the other Olympians are just about done with this crap." Athena then got up and walked towards Aphrodite, before Artemis could protest. Aphrodite was being dragged by Athena in less than a minute.
"What are you doing!" Aphrodite cried.
"Make up!" Athena said, plopping Aphrodite on a chair, gesturing towards Artemis. Aphrodite groaned. "Now!"
"Artemis...I'm sorry for not respecting your opinions and being mean." Aphrodite muttered.
"Thank you." Artemis said coldly. Athena glared at Artemis.
Sighing, Artemis began to mutter her apology. When she was finished, Athena nodded.
"From now on forward, you two have let go of the past, and are getting along." Athena ordered. Artemis and Aphrodite sighed, but didn't protest.
Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon stopped fighting and decided to admit that they were dateless. They sat at a table, while Hades and Zeus were glaring at Thalia and Nico.
"I can't believe she chose your son..." Zeus mused.
"I can't believe he chose your daughter." Hades agreed, Poseidon shrugged, deciding he may as well piss both of them off.
"I think they're cute."
Zeus and Hades turned to give Poseidon a confused look.
"They'd be disastrous." Zeus retorted.
"Now you're exaggerating." Poseidon pointed out.
"I don't approve." Hades muttered.
"I don't think they really care about your approval. Percy and Annabeth sure as Tartarus didn't." Poseidon shrugged. "If they truly love each other, which may I add, they totally do. Just let them be happy, for once don't ruin things."
"We don't ruin things for them!" Zeus protested.
"You're a god. Of course you do." Poseidon retorted.
"You sound like Aphrodite." Hades rolled his eyes.
Poseidon shrugged.
"Yolo, Hades. Yolo." Poseidon said 'wisely'
"Yolo is not the way to go, Poseidon." Hades pointed out.
"That's the point. Yolo it out."
"Okay, well the mortal culture is really rubbing onto you, Poseidon." Zeus observed.
"IDGAF." Poseidon said.
"What?"
"Never mind."
While Zeus tried to figure out what IDGAF meant, Thalia was constantly stepping on Nico's feet.
"I'm so sorry." Thalia said over and over again.
"It's fine,really." Nico said, his arms around Thalia's waist.
"I really haven't learned anything from the dance unit." Thalia muttered.
"No, not really." Nico chuckled. Just then Thalia tripped, luckily Nico caught her.
"I'm horrid at this..." Thalia groaned.
"I don't care. I think it's kinda cute, actually." Nico admitted, Thalia laughed lightly.
"You think everything I do is cute."
"That is true."
Thalia felt as if she was finally, finally happy. After so long. She could live a normal life. She laughed as Nico spun her around, and caught her flawlessly. But then, her world crashed down, as if a wrecking ball ripped apart her soul. From here, on the dance floor, she could just make out, Greg. Entering the room. Blood roared in her ears, panic overwhelmed her, like a tsunami. He said he'd leave her alone. He had to. He promised. Thalia excused herself, and went straight up to Greg, who was grinning.
"Damn, lookin' fine, Thals." He laughed.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Thalia hissed angrily. "You're supposed to leave me alone."
"So?" Greg shrugged.
"So!" Thalia anxiously looked around the room. "You leave me alone!"
"Hey Thals," Percy said, with Clary, Annabeth, and Nico in tow. "Isn't that...the guy?"
"So I have a nickname." Greg retorted.
"Back off, you disgusting little cockroach!" Clary spat.
"Woah, watch your tongue little girl." Greg laughed.
"Does it look like a give a fu-" Annabeth cut Clary off with a look.
"What are you doing here?" Thalia asked.
Greg grinned,
"I'm here to do what I promised."
He fired the gun. The screams began.
