…..
Mal supposed it wasn't her brightest idea taking an "extended" nap, she still couldn't believe she had slept till four am. So there she was, trying to sneak out of the dorms because she was full of energy and there was no easy way to do anything when everyone was asleep around her.
Thankfully this is much easier than it seems, I might have to have a chat with Ben about the lack of night guards around the dorms. She thought, finding it quite odd that she hadn't run into one yet.
The purplette looked around the empty hallway in case there was a camera system she had forgotten about, they upped the security after the incident with Hades, and let out a quiet sigh in relief when she hadn't seen a single camera. The questions I would be asked if they saw me. She shook her head, pushing her thoughts away and making her way out into the main entryway.
Mal pulled out a bobby pin as the doors still had old locks on them. Seriously, did they forget about that or something? I'll add that to the list of things that will be upped. She smirked when she was able to unlock them and quietly exited the building. She let a soft smile appear on her face as she looked around. The moon bathed her surroundings in its natural light and she silently thanked whoever was in charge of the moon for it.
Creeping around the building, she saw a nearby pavilion and decided that it was the best place to hide out in. Just in case the guards approach the building. She made it over and looked around cautiously before sitting down. Her gaze lifted up to the night sky and she looked at the moon, wondering what she could do with all of this energy she had.
Somewhere in the near distance, a purple lights filled the sky followed closely by a pink hue that disappeared as quickly as they came. After that came what seemed to be white sparks falling from the sky. Nothing followed the light show, but a light trail of black smoke that nearly blended in with the night itself.
Mal blinked and raised an eyebrow. Okay...That's a bit odd. Either someone is using their magic or they've invented silent fireworks. She thought, standing up while her eyes narrowed. Might as well work off some energy inspecting whatever...that was. She exited the pavillion and followed the smoke trail that was quickly fading, thankfully she had excellent night vision. I should ask someone about that… She pushed the thought away and crept against the dorm hall walls, making sure that she was making little to no sound.
The purplette reached a corner and peaked around it. To her surprise, in the distance was someone doing something in the field behind the dorm hall. She couldn't tell right away who it was or what exactly they were doing, but she knew they had to be the cause of the smoke trail and the early morning firework show.
The person paced around the field a few times before they came to a stop. They waited for a few moments as a strong wind passed. After that, they proceeded to light up the night as yellow flames burst from the palm of their hands. The silhouette throws up their arms, casting the flames upward. They accel pretty high before the person lowers their arms. That causes the flames to combust and dissolve into sparks of white light. As the sparks fall around the shadowed person, Mal gets to catch a glimpse of red hair before all of the sparks touch the ground.
Oh, she knew who that was. The real question was why on earth would she be awake at four am? Mal pondered the thought of interrupting the girl but figured it would probably be best to continue watching for at least a few more minutes. Besides, she was still trying to figure out her night vision weirdness. I swear, if this came from the dragon transformation, I'm asking a fairy. This is so weird. She thought while blinking a few times.
Hazel takes a deep breath and focuses on her magic. Again. It is absolutely intriguing to be able to reach her full potential, but completely dangerous if she is in the wrong mood. She has learned that lesson already. That's why she is out here. With all of the stress and anxiety she has been feeling lately, she needs to let it go. She has to or she may explode.
She has a pair of wireless earbuds in her ears as she practices her magic freely. Her music is on shuffle and it finally comes to one of her favorite songs called Dream Glow.
The song is a slow song. A steady song, so her motions begin to match the beat of the song. The nearby plants away from side to side with her hands as they watch her perform her magical talent before them.
Before she knew it, she was fluently dancing across the field. As she calls on her agricultural magic, her movements become delicate and focused. Then she calls upon her earthen magic, her movements become stern. The small stones and pebbles began to levitate. With a motion of her hand, they revolve around her as they had done with her skirmish with Ara.
Leaving the rocks in the air, her eyes blaze in the dark when she focuses on her fire. She prays in her mind that she won't burn the field down as she brings the flames forth. Her movements change once again; from stiff and stern to agile and grand.
This is when the dance becomes more vibrant as flames erupt from the ground. As the music plays, Hazel has everything under control. She moves the flames around masterfully as if the flames were her dancing partner. The rocks catch fire from the flames which begins to resemble the stars in the night sky. The flaming balls burning millions of miles away.
As Hazel dances in the distance, a familiar flaming butterfly finds its way back to Mal's shoulder.
Mal looked at in surprise and shook her head. Great timing, now is the moment I wish I could tell that thing to go away with my thoughts. She thought, trying to shoo the butterfly off. If that butterfly remained on her shoulder, well, she'd be seen in a heartbeat.
The butterfly had surprisingly good reflexes and evaded her easily. Once each threat was gone, he would make his way back to his favorite spot on her shoulder. If the butterfly was human, he would surely be smirking.
Mal tried her best to refrain from verbally shooing the butterfly, that would most likely get her caught, so instead she stared at it and flared her eyes in an attempt to threaten it. It did not work. Mal's eyes halved and she pinched the bridge of her nose. You've got to be kidding me.
Hazel, on the other hand, had caught a green flash with her eyes. It was alarming. Mostly because she had not been using green flames at that moment. She gasped aloud. When she did, the plants went back in position and all of the rocks fell back to the ground.
As extra defence, Hazel gathered some of her magic into her closed hands and waited. Her hands glowed once her magic was charged enough to release a blast of light at her pursuer. "Who's there!?" Hazel calls defensively still holding back her magic.
Mal turned her gaze towards the other girl and cringed at the light. "Someone who is getting blinded." She said, moving her hand so most of the light was being blocked.
At the sound of the very familiar voice, Hazel sighed. She lowered her glowing hands and stopped calling upon her magic. False alarm. She walked toward the snooping girl until she was able to make out her outline in the dark night. "What are you doing out here?" She asks in tired relief.
Mal moved her hand away and shrugged. "I just woke up and I figured I needed to get out of the dorm hall." She answered, blinking away the dots that were in her vision.
Hazel made a face. It wasn't noticeable thanks to how dark it was. She just inhaled and exhaled. "You gave me quite the scare." She says as she places her hand on her chest in an attempt to steady her frantic heart.
Mal, who had finally got her vision back, grimaced. "Yeah, I didn't intend to do that. I was sitting over in that pavillion when I saw you, or rather your magic."
Hazel nodded in understanding. "Oh, I am so sorry. I had no idea how bright my flames where."
Mal waved off her concerns. "It's okay. Honestly, I had thought they had finally made silent fireworks. I knew I had to check it out." She admitted with a soft chuckle.
Hazel smirked in thought. "Silent fireworks… I might have to look into that…" She says while placing her hand on her hip.
Mal's eyes seemed to glow a bit more as a look of amusement crossed her face. "You'd definitely make a profit here at the school alone."
Hazel looked at her companion in wonder. Her eyes were questionable. Not because of the profits, of course. "Your eyes glow in the dark?"
Mal's eyes halved and she scratched the side of her head. "Apparently, night vision comes with it. I'm thinking it's a dragon thing, you don't even want to know about the enhanced smell." She said, her voice light with annoyance before chuckling. "Weird, right?"
Hazel raised an eyebrow in interest. "As long as you don't growl at me, I am okay with it."
"If I start growling I'll demand for a fairy to fix it...or I'll check out the enchanted lake." She added the last part with a thoughtful look before shrugging. "Oh, and apparently I'm fireproof. Fun." Mal muttered out the last part with a shake of the head.
Hazel smiled, clearly impressed. "That's good. That means whenever the "Hazel alarm" goes off I won't have to worry about you getting left behind in a burning building." She said the last part with light sarcasm.
Mal smirked and looked up in thought. "The only thing I have to worry about is the clothes situation. I'm still trying to figure that problem out."
Hazel shrugged. "I don't know about that. Usually my flaming aura protects my outer garments from the flames." Hazel looked at Mal questionably. "Do you have an aura?"
Mal raised an eyebrow, silently filing the info she just learned for later. She placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head. "Yeah...I don't think so. My clothes always end up smoking."
Hazel giggled a bit before turning her attention to the butterfly on Mal's shoulder. Then she turned her attention back to Mal and says, "So, do you need anything from me?"
Mal thought before nodding. "Actually, I do need something."
Prepared to walk off, Hazel turned to Mal in surprise. "Really? What might that be? Is it about the butterfly?" She asks pointing to the flaming insect.
Mal looked at the butterfly and quickly shook her head. "No, it isn't that. Though I am wondering why you are still there…" She directed the last part to the butterfly.
The iridescent insect looked at Mal then shrugged. It, once again made itself cozy on her shoulder as if it lived there.
Hazel's confusion deepened as she looked at Mal. "Okay, so...what is it?" Her gaze wonders to the stubborn butterfly.
Mal inwardly sighed before looking at her. "What's been going on?" She asked, frowning a little while she chose to ignore the butterfly for now.
Hazel blinked for a whole ten seconds before she considered an answer for that question. So much has been going on lately that she didn't even know what Mal was referring to, but she had a hunch...and she didn't like it.
"W-what do...what do you mean?" She asked out of reflex. Not one of her best defensive questions, but she was surprised she could talk at all at this point.
Mal folded her arms. "The impromptu trip, that Amora girl, the fact you didn't call or answer your phone...You returned looking like you just went through hell." Her voice dropped a little at the end, but she kept her gaze on her. "Everything."
"Shit." She thought. She tried to think of a valid reason or excuse, but all of her thoughts jumbled together as Mal looked at her expectantly. Even worse. Her eyes were changing colors more than a 70's disco ball! Her mouth opened and closed for a period of time before settling on something. "I-I-I can't say." She stutters turning her gaze away from Mal hoping that would help the situation.
Mal's eyes narrowed at that before she paused in thought. "Can you tell me one thing? Just one, it's been on my mind for a bit." She asked, her voice coming out softer than she had intended.
Hazel turned her eyes to her in curiosity. In fearful curiosity. Instead of saying anything, she had nodded and hoped Mal had seen the gesture. She was so close to breaking. She knew if she opened her mouth, then she was going to spill everything. This must be how Dude feels…
Mal bit her lip, her eyes glowing brightly as she saw Hazel's nod. "I...lost track of Hades. Is he responsible for anything that you aren't telling me?" She asked, feeling anger form at the idea of that man doing anything.
"Are you referring to my return?" Hazel asked seeking confirmation.
Mal shook her head. "Not just that, I'm wondering if he is the reason you all left or if he is the reason that Amora girl showed up. I even questioned if he was the cause of you all not contacting. I suppose he could have also done something concerning your return. I need to know if he did anything, anything at all."
Hazel sighed heavily feeling wetness form in her eyes. "If I were to tell you that, I would have to tell you everything!" Hazel looked down to the ground for a few moments. "I will tell you if you answer this one question."
Mal considered this and reluctantly nodded. "What is the question?"
Hazel, once again, averted her eyes and focused on the butterfly. She felt more content staring at the flaming insect at this point. "Do you still care about me? I just want to know if you care." She keeps her gaze firmly on the butterfly.
Mal blinks for a few moments. Then her confused face turns into a smirk as she looks at the other girl, who is apparently stressed out beyond belief. She ponders her words before speaking then says, "Why would you even ask that? Of course I do." Mal thought a little more before saying, "I know I have been on edge lately because of...recent events, but that's all because I care. If I didn't then Hades could pretty much do whatever he wanted. All that to say the answer is yes, Stutter Butter." She finished.
Hazel perked up at the sound of her nickname and the slightest smile formed on her face. Of course it was gone as fast as it came when she thought of her part of the deal. "Okay, I will tell you the truth. What do you want to know first?" She says while taking a seat on the grasses below, indicating that there is much to discuss.
Mal joined her on the grass and knew immediately the first thing she wanted to ask. "Who is Amora?" That single question practically drove her insane and she was relieved that she would finally get an answer.
Hazel looked up at her worriedly before taking a deep breath. "This might not be the answer you were expecting, but everything I say from this point on is true and it's real." She stated, knowing that what she is about to say is farfetched. "Amora...is not from our world. We call her Heidi. I stumbled upon her in the halls and she explained that she was hiding. I took her back to my dorm where she explained that she is Hades daughter in her dimension and she was checking the Underworld before taking the wrong exit." Hazel didn't know how Mal would take the information so she just sat and watched.
Mal was silent for several minutes before she let out a sigh. "I...I tried to attack someone who wasn't Hades?" She groaned and closed her eyes, realizing now that the "Hades" she saw wasn't acting like how she knew he acted. He's sarcastic, annoying, and prone to rage fits! "She didn't act like him one bit." She mumbled, shaking her head. Mal knew a bit about the Underworld, she had a reason to learn about it, and she did read about the strangeness of it. Heck, when Hermes subbed he went on and on about how he kept getting lost!
Hazel remained peaceful as she looked at Mal. "It's okay, really. The fact that she is not from her and looks just like him…" Hazel shook her head. "Don't beat yourself up. It would've fooled anyone."
Mal opened her eyes and frowned. "I'm guessing she's the reason you all left for Olympus." She stated, looking at the other girl with question in her eyes.
Hazel gave her a half-hearted smile. "She wanted to go on her own. Ara wanted her to go on her own. I volunteered to take her there. To get her home. Her ember is broken. Without it, she can't reopen the gates." She took another breath. "In Olympus there is someone who can fix it. So I made a plan to sneak out and head for Olympus to ensure Heidi's safety and ultimately our own. Dimensional travel is dangerous." She looked down at the grass below with clouded eyes. "That was before I...I failed them."
Mal regarded her with a confused look, taking in all the other info she had said before tilting her head. "What do you mean?"
Hazel's eyes did not move from the grass as she spoke. "Dimensional travel is dangerous. It causes many side effects that have different forms. These side effects can affect the traveler, the natives, or both." She explained before continuing. "I wasn't thinking straight. I was in the worst mood I had ever been in. Our dimension is unbalanced and it causes me to be demanding and aggressive and quick to anger." She took another breath. "Ara had told Heidi something that I wouldn't have told her in a million years. It was for my benefit, but at the time I couldn't see that. I was only focused on my anger." She finally looked up at Mal with a saddened expression. "Long story short, me and Ara had a really bad fight. Ara was using the most of her magic and so was I. I mean, I made fireballs rain from the sky! We destroyed a whole forest! I was terrified of myself! Thankfully, Hestia calmed us down. We were going to kill one another if she didn't. After that, I couldn't take it anymore. I fixed the forest and returned here, but I couldn't fix my clothes. After all of that, my magic was depleted…" She finished, and starts to twiddle her thumbs.
Mal took a minute to understand everything before smiling gently. "It's okay...If I understand correctly, and I did listen to a bit of rambling on Dimensional Travel from Hermes, the effect that it had on you is not something anyone can consider as being normal. This is all one big accident that has led to more and more accidents along the way." She looked up at the sky. "I mean-I told the entire royal guard to keep an eye out for Hades and to attack on sight, all over a simple accident on my part. This will all clear up soon." She paused and her eyes widened. "Oh no...The guards are still on attack on sight!" She exclaimed, panic filling her voice. "I've got to tell Ben as soon as possible." She said mainly to herself, wondering what the exact time was.
Hazel looked to the sky as if it was instinct. She saw that it wasn't as dark as it formally was. The looked to the opposite side of the sky to see the moon hanging low. "It's going to be sunrise soon." She stated.
Mal let out a sigh of relief. That means I can tell Ben sooner. I have to make sure that those guards aren't going to attack that woman. She thought, feeling quite guilty over the fact that she had gone so far to attack what turned out to be a completely innocent individual.
Hazel shrugged. "What's the big deal about the guards anyway? I mean, They should be reaching the wall today. After that, everything will go back to normal." She says while looking at Mal in confusion.
Mal shook her head. "The problem is...most of the guards are at the wall right now. That's why there aren't many around here. We…" She took a deep breath. "We armed many of them with weapons the gods gave Auradon over the years. We thought that they could actually harm Hades in the event that he passed near the wall." She explained while frowning. "You would be surprised how many weapons there were, I know I was."
Hazel's heart stopped beating in her chest. "Oh no." She stated. As she thought more she became more frantic. "No...no...no. I've got to get to them!" She says referring to her friends.
Mal closed her eyes. "That would be the only way of halting the attack. If I could I'd simply call for Hermes, but Olympus is still on lockdown. I'm so tempted to fly there." She muttered the last part, knowing well that Ben would tell her not to do it.
Hazel, still in her mind, utters. "This is bad. This is so bad! Those guards are from here. They definitely won't let Ara cross without checking the RV. Not only that, if they find out about Heidi she could be killed! Our world will fall apart!" Hazel suddenly feels woozy at the thought. "Disaster…" She says as she covers her face with her hands.
Mal opened her eyes and looked at Hazel. She stood up and looked at the sky. "No flying after Hades request be damned." She stated, referring to what Ben asked her not to do. "I can reach the wall, I have to. This is all my fault." She let out a snarl at her foolishness. "Why was I so determined to get him?" She asked herself.
Hazel peeked one eye over her hand. "I may not be a rocket scientist, but I think you and Hades have history. Your vendetta is too deep to be anything else."
Mal looked down at her, her green eyes filling with silent anger. "Let's just say he did something that will be hard to forget." She said, her voice laced with more venom than she had intended.
Hazel knows many things including when to keep her trap closed and drop a potentially harmful conversation. So she refocuses her attention to the lightning sky. "I can teleport us both to the forest I rebuilt. That is the last destination I have been, so that is the closest I can take you." She brings her eyes back down to meet Mal's.
Mal, who was calm once again, nodded in thought. "That could work, I'd just have to fly the rest of the way there and hopefully reach the wall before they do. They'll stop if I tell them to."
Hazel nodded. "I will do the same and try to reach my friends. I have to make sure nothing goes wrong. The situation is too delicate."
"Got that right." Mal said to herself before closing her eyes for a moment.
Hazel took this moment to ask, "When do you want to leave?" She looks around the field before her eyes land back on Mal.
Mal opened her eyes and looked at her. "As soon as possible. We can't waste anymore time." She shook her head. "If we hang around here for too long we might be too late."
Hazel nodded again. "Okay. I am ready if you are." She looked at her with a face of determination.
Mal looked at her hands before nodding. "Let's go."
Hazel smiled sheepishly and held out her hand for Mal to take. "To teleport people other than myself requires physical contact. Heh, magic laws." She shrugged, keeping her smile.
Mal chuckled and took her hand. "Magic, gotta love it."
Hazel's smile widened. She rolled her eyes as they both disappeared in a flash of white light.
88888888
Ara is in her usual position atop of the RV with a look of concentration on her face. By the calculations of the GPS, they should be arriving at the base of the wall in the next three hours.
For Ara, that is not good enough. She has waited for about a week to get to this wall. She was getting quite restless. She wanted to get this over with. The faster she can get Heidi over that wall, the better.
With that being said, she wanted to reduce the time. The boys were doing a wonderful job keeping them on course. They have been focused on the road and have almost completed their mission, but there is no chance of persuading George to drive faster.
He is a very safe driver and refuses to speed. He refuses to get a ticket and ruin his perfect record, which is nice, but a huge inconvenience.
Ara rolled her eyes at the thought before something came into her view. It was in the far distance. She crouched low and uses her hands to block out the early morning sun. It was the wall. She could see the structure blocking the horizon. It looks small from afar, but Ara had a feeling that it would get bigger as they get closer.
A smile forms on her face as she looks at the distant landmark. All of this is finally almost over. The drop off spot is a few minutes after the wall. After that, they can go home and take a well deserved rest. She was looking forward to that, but also excited for Heidi.
She teleports back inside of the vehicle and stretches. George was fully prepared for the burst of wind that travels throughout the RV when Ara enters. He had his coat at the ready.
Triple G took time to make sure his blanket was on tight before she came. Unfortunately, her breeze was so strong that it penetrated through the blanket. He involuntarily shivered and envied the sleeping cats for being engulfed in layers of fur.
Ara took a look around. Then she called for Heidi, not feeling like looking for the woman. "Heidi? Are you around here?"
There a soft chuckle before Hestia appeared in a fiery column, holding onto a rather disoriented Heidi who blinked dumbly the entire time. "She is just recovering from a powerful sleeping dust." Hestia answered with a smile.
Ara placed her hand over her chest. She took time to slowly inhale and exhale before speaking. "Good gravy… Hestia, we have talked about this. Your dramatic entrances are not good for my health!" She says while trying to steady her frightened heart with gentle breaths.
Hestia cocked her head to the side as if she was confused. "Dramatic?" She repeated the word, adjusting her hold on the younger goddess. "I always enter like that."
When Ara had finally calmed herself. She blinked a couple times. "So...what were you saying about that sleep dirt?" She figures that dropping the other conversation would be best for her brain.
Hestia blinked before nodding. "The sleeping dust I obtained from the god of sleep is powerful enough to put my brothers to sleep. It's managed to knock them unconscious even during their moments of rage."
Ara smirked. "Wow, that's some strong knockout sauce…" She looks up in thought.
"It is. I saved a bit in case my brothers turn to their rage when Heidi talks with them." Hestia paused, a mysterious smirk appearing on her face. "All of my brothers."
Ara smiled, not minding Hestia. Mostly writing it off as god stuff. The usual. "Hmm, you have thought of everything. Good to know that Heidi is in good hands." She points to the front window and says, "Look! We can see the wall in the horizon. I wanted to tell Heidi that we are almost there." She chuckled and continues, "I guess you will have to relay the message for me."
Hestia chuckled and summoned a vial full of a green liquid to her hands. "Not to worry, I asked Apollo for access to his "stuff" and I managed to find this. Cures all that plagues an individual, they just have to sniff it. I also borrowed some of his "special bandages" as he calls them." Hestia demonstrated by popping the cork off and waving it under Heidi's nose.
Heidi stopped swaying and grimaced. "Why the hell would he make something that smells like feet?" She said in disgust, backing away from an amused Hestia.
Ara shrugged. "Doritos smell like feet. You don't hear anyone complaining."
Heidi muttered something under her breath before shaking her head. "Got a point there."
Ara's smile returns. "I was just talking to Hestia about the wall. We are almost there and getting closer by the minute. In a couple more hours you will be outta this RV and to Olympus." She stands proudly as her smile grows.
Heidi smiled ever-so-slightly at that before frowning as soon as she saw the golden bandages on her arm. "Hestia...These are Apollo's favorite bandages, they are as bright as the sun. You didn't give him the look, did you?"
Hestia blinked innocently, remaining silent as if she did nothing wrong. This reaction only caused Heidi to groan in exasperation and mutter. "You did."
Ara's eyes halved. "The one thing I am not going to miss is all of this god stuff that I don't understand." Her eyes grow tired looking. "It's like a history lesson everyday…"
Hestia chuckled and avoided Heidi's accusing look. "Well, the only god you will be seeing after this will be Hermes. Rumor has it that he has taken quite a liking to Auradon Prep."
"After all of this, I think I am happy with only seeing Hermes." Ara shuddered and said, "All of this has given me a form of PTSD. No offense, Hestia. You're actually pretty cool." She says looking to the older goddess.
Heidi shook her head. "Eh, you might actually see her again. You'd be surprised how often I've found my universe's Hestia gallivanting around Auradon City posed as a little girl." She folded her arms in thought. "Hell, I've even seen her on the Isle once or twice."
Ara's mouth was agape in shock and surprise. "Wait you can turn into a… You saw her as a…" Ara's smile returned tenfold. "I can see that. We might cross paths again. As long as I don't get anymore history lessons or thrown into anymore perril, I am okay with it."
Hestia smiled and closed her eyes. "I only give lessons to those who need it."
Heidi's eyes halved as soon as she heard that. "Oh? So I constantly need lessons? Figures…" She muttered before looking at Ara. "If you ever see a little girl with orange eyes and this Hestia's hair along with a huuuge red cloak that practically drowns her, you've found a wild Hestia."
Ara hums and nods. "A wild Hestia, hm? I will...keep that in mind." She stores the information in the back of her mind for later. It may come in handy even if she thinks it's a tad farfetched.
Heidi flopped on a nearby couch and closed her eyes. "Oh, by the way, I think Hestia favors you. She doesn't admit that kind of stuff, unlike Hermes who will literally announce it to the heavens, but I know my aunt." She said a little bit too casually. "I can tell when she likes a human, she stays in her adult form. Most times she'll hide as a little girl since no one will notice her that way."
Hestia blinked at that before smirking and teleporting away in her column.
"See what I mean? Doesn't admit it." Heidi said in a laid back manner.
Ara took a moment before the information sunk in. "Hestia favors me…" That's when she began to spark in hyper excitement once again. "Hestia favors me! I am fangirling to the max! Wahoo!" She shouts while running throughout the base of the vehicle, releasing some of her energy.
Triple G dove out of the way before she was cooked on sight. "Careful, Ara! Try not to blow us up, okay!?" He told her as she ran around giggling like a young child.
Heidi didn't appear bothered as the girl ran past her, shocking her a bit in the process. Truth be told, she had been hit head on before with a lightning bolt so this was nothing.
As for the rest of the passengers, they took cover. The cats woke to the sound of Ara's cheering and took it upon themselves to get the heck out of there. Chester hid under the couch while Deuce evaporated. Triple G stayed clear of water or any conducting metals.
George saw this coming. He dug in a bag beside his seat and pulled out a rubber jacket. He traded his current jacket for the jacket that would insure his safety.
Triple G frowned at him in slight jealousy. "Show off…" He audibly mumbled.
Heidi opened her eyes and chuckled, patting down her hair that had been defying gravity since she got zapped. It wasn't like she was immune to electricity, the weekly smiting by her loving uncle still hurt, but stuff like this was so low in comparison to the amount of power released by Zeus that it didn't even harm her. Hm, I guess she took it better than I thought. She thought in amusement.
Ara returned by sliding on her knees. She laughed for a moment before looking at her hiding friends. "Too much?" She asked them.
"Don't mind us. We're just not lightning proof." George states.
Ara smiles sheepishly and says, "Sorry. I guess I got too excited?" She scratches the back of her head.
Chester calls from under the couch. "Don't worry about it. You're just an Ara. That's what Aras do."
Ara chuckled and shook her head. "I guess…"
Heidi shrugged. "No harm done to me."
Seeing that no one was toasted by her sudden burst of energy. Ara put her smile back on her face and sat on a barstool. "Don't worry Heidi. We are almost there." She says while looking out of the window.
"Oh, I ain't worried about that. I'm worried about the thunder and lightning that's gonna come with me stepping on the outskirts of Olympus." Heidi said, rubbing her chin as her eyes narrowed.
Ara looked over to her. "Maybe that Zeus guy will be occupied? There is a good chance that you will be fine."
Heidi suddenly smirked. "Zeus could sense me from a hundred miles away. My magical signature is practically identical to my father's, save a few differences, and Zeus smited me as soon as I entered Olympus because he thought I was Hades."
Ara blinked. "Magic has signatures?" Feeling overwhelmed by everything she has learned over the trip, she cradles her head. "My poor, poor mind…"
Heidi rubbed the back of her neck. "Not many people can detect it, it's pretty much only the gods now, and it's almost like feeling you know someone even if you can't see them. You just...feel them. Like, I mean my dad has a cold feeling to his and Mal's feels like fire. My skills are spotty though, so I can't really be trusted on the subject. Don't worry about it." She explained before smiling gently.
Ara thought for a few seconds before saying, "Wow, I wonder what I would feel like? I hope I won't feel wet...or cold. Or cold and wet. That's kind of uncomfortable. I would want to feel like something awesome." She rambled aloud.
Heidi shrugged. "It's not like I can actually sense your magic. The only people I can do that with are my family members. Hell, I still mess up on a few of the god's every now and then." She chuckled and leaned back. "I'm not good at that little trick."
"I might have to ask Hazel, then. She described something similar when we first met. Honestly, I thought she was crazy, but now I see what she was talking about." Ara says. She is also glad that her sister is sane after all.
Heidi tilted her head. "That'd be pretty cool if she could sense yours through the family bond. That's how I can sense differences in my father's magical aura, that he somehow still possesses, and I how I can tell when good Ol Zeusy is gonna hit me with a bolt." She chuckled in amusement before shaking her head. "Works with all the family members."
"Well, at least you have a heads up. I feel that you'd be fine." She says as her smile falls. She looks at the ground in thought. "I can't believe it's the end already. I am relieved, but pretty messed up." She says with a sad smile. "It might ne these stupid nee emotions, but I am really going to miss ya."
Heidi nodded, her smirk falling as she thought over the words. "I will miss you all as well. Can't say I'll probably do anything like this ever again and, despite all the problems, it has been strangely nice." The goddess scratched the side of her head. "I haven't hung out with anybody this long besides Mal and her group and Audrey."
Ara gave Heidi her full attention. "Man, it sounds like you're pretty lonely in your world." She continues, "That kind of sucks because you are so charismatic."
Heidi's eyes closed at that. "The last person I met that actually treated me like a normal person and not the crazed daughter of Hades was Gil. Too bad he's stuck on that stupid place." She said sadly, sighing as she frowned even more.
Ara's frown deepened as well. She grappled in her mind for anything that could lighten the mood before she thought of something. "Well, if you ever need me, any of us, we are just through the mirror." She refers to the magic mirror sitting on it's glass covered resting place.
"I think...I'll leave the mirror here. Audrey has hidden Evil Queen's mirror down in my workshop by now and probably asked for one of the gods to make sure only her and I could get down there." Heidi shook her head at the thought and smiled softly. "Besides, I'd only mess up the connection if I took that thing. I'll stick with the risk of getting a lecture with a princess about theft."
"That means...we will still have a way to talk to each other! You're the best!" She exclaimed before realing herself back in. "Jeez. This overly excited Ara is going to be the death of me."
Heidi laughed and her smile widened. "Well, Hestia is a damn good therapist if you ever need an ear. She put up with my father's fits and mine as well." She paused and tilted her head. "And, I mean, what's a little mirror gonna do to get me in trouble? Hermes destroyed the dimensional walls a while back and he got a slap on the wrist after he fixed it."
Ara smiled but before she could say anything Chester's voice called out his spot beside George. "Two hours remaining!"
Ara perked up when she heard that. "Well, I should attempt to make breakfast. You can't face the gods on an empty stomach." She turns her attention to the kitchen.
Most of the time I face them like that. Heidi thought in amusement, sinking further into the couch.
"I have been taking lessons from Hestia. You better watch out! I'm a flavor master!" She exclaimed while holding a spatula in one hand and a knife in the other.
Heidi raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Oh? My aunt has been giving cooking lessons?"
"Yep. If not, we would have died of food poisoning a long time ago." She admits with a scratch of her head.
Triple G says, "Ya got that right."
Ara squints her eyes at him then returns to her current mission. "Now. I know as much as a master chef. Prepare to be amazed!" She says with confidence.
I probably shouldn't tell her that Hestia is the least experienced out of my three aunts. Heidi thought with halved eyes, knowing well that Hestia had actually learned from Hera and Demeter rather than having it as a natural talent.
Ara giggled and said, "Who wants to be my taste tester?"
Chester pushed Deuce and Triple G out of the way immediately. "Me! I am the most refined. I have the best suggestions. It's as simple as that."
Ara thought for a minute. "Oh, that sounds legit. You're hired!" She says while Triple G and Deuce pretty much have rain clouds above their heads. "C'mon, Chess. Let's get to it." She says as they both go off to work ln breakfast.
Almost to the wall dudes! Are you excited? You're not?! Awesome!
Lol just kidding. Stay tuned!
SuperNova out⭐