Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter.
The Ever Twisting Wind: Threshold Breakthrough
Chapter Twenty Two: D.R.A.G.O.N.S. (Delayed Recognition of Achievement and Goddess of Nature Strikes)
Beta: ShadowofAxios
Andi had to admit, being surrounded by over a dozen magical tomes from various ages in history was interesting. Maybe it was her divine mind at work, but it was like she was reading them via proximity alone.
All at once.
It was honestly trippy as hell.
Why was she subjecting herself to this strange experience? Well, blame for that had to be laid at the feet of Ida, the goddess of the Wild's personal consul. The oread having convinced Andi into taking both her O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s at once for certification purposes.
"I'm the goddess of wizardry though!" Andi had whined with what she had thought was a valid argument.
"Then it should be easy to take." Ida had countered with her equally valid one.
And that was how Andi found herself studying at Camp, using the training atmosphere that Chiron's sanctuary exuded to aid her studies. That and making full use of Will, her amazingly supportive boyfriend, and all his help.
He is definitely getting super snuggles later! Andi nodded to herself.
"You do know, while you are free to come here because of your godhood, it's not really your domain, Sister." Dionysus stated dryly as he walked over to where Andi had set up her little study area next to the central hearth, Diet Coke in hand.
"Yeah, well, Father lets me stay in Cabin One as long as I want. Frankly, Camp just has such a learning atmosphere that it helps me study. Honest."
"And it has nothing to do with having a nagging Oread looming over your shoulder all the time back home?"
Andi flashed him a bemused smile at that.
"Oh, don't be such a stickler for the rules Dionysus," Aunt Hestia said from where she was washing the outside of the Pithos of Elpis with ash from the hearth. Why she was doing that was beyond Andi, but she trusted her Aunt had her reasons. "If Andromeda wants to study here, let her."
"I'm just pointing out the rules is all," Dionysus said in what sounded dangerously close to a whine.
"Meh, at least she's improving." Hephaestus said as he walked over, his limp looking just a little more pronounced than usual. He glanced at Dionysus. "Better than some whiners."
"What dragged you away from your new man cave?" Dionysus asked, looking honestly surprised to see the god of the forge.
"Meh, I wanted a break. Plus we're the only gods here. I can actually stand you people." As the crippled god handed some contraption to Aunt Hestia that the goddess of family accepted with an exasperated shake of her head.
"Hephaestus, you know you don't have to give me a toy for the baby every time you see me right?"
"You're the only other fire deity we have, Aunt Hestia. Plus you were always nice to me when I was younger." The grumpy smith replied with a strained smile, as if he wasn't used to doing so.
Aunt Hestia frowned but said nothing, choosing instead to pat the Lord of Craftsmen and Smiths on the back comfortingly.
"You can't stand your kids?" Andi asked, blinking in confusion at what the god of volcanoes was implying earlier.
"For about an hour, sure. More than that? Well, it gets trying. They just talk. A lot." The smith god grumbled, stroking his smoking beard. "I dunno where they get it. I prefer tinkering in silence. Makes it easier to think."
"Oh for crying out loud!" Dionsysus said, palming his face. "I'm an unsociable mess and even I know they're doing it to get your attention!"
"Really?" Hephaestus asked, looking honestly bewildered.
"Why not do a group project with them?" Andi suggested, setting her tomes down and turning her full attention to the conversation. "I mean, you have multiple workers wanting to learn from you. Take advantage of that."
"It'll be a good bonding experience too." Aunt Hestia added.
"Really?" Hepheatus asked, fiddling with his large hands. "It sounds strange."
With a huff and a roll of his eyes, the god of wine walked off.
"You two deal with this lump of idiotium," the god of madness called back as he headed back to the Big House. "I've got paperwork to bug Chiron to do for me."
"Why don't I handle this," Aunt Hestia suggested. "Andi, you focus on your studies."
Andi pouted but nodded.
"Hephaestus, come with me."
The smith god just nodded dumbly and followed the goddess of the hearth, Pithos of Elpis strapped behind her back in its baby carrier, as she headed towards Bunker Nine.
"Man my family is so weird." Andi shook her head with a bemused smile and went back to studying magic.
"It sure is," Will agreed as with the other gods gone, he finally mustered the courage to hand over the tea he'd gone off to fetch for her. "Here's your tea, Andi. But don't you usually prefer coffee?"
"Tea helps me concentrate better." Andi informed him distractedly. "Just put it down somewhere."
"'Kay." Will said as he obeyed. "So need anything else?"
"Nah, just your cute self near me gives me tons of energy!"
Andi was sure he was blushing adorably at that and normally she'd take a moment to appreciate the sight, but she was too immersed in her studies today to do so. She wanted to ace these exams damnit and she was not going to let distractions, even ones as alluring as her lover, sabotage her efforts to do so.
On the first day of her O.W.L.s exams, the N.E.W.T.s beginning a week after the more basic assessments were finished, Andi teleported to Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the American wizarding school. The campus was located on top of the highest peak of Mount Greylock in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. Materializing in front of the entrance to the castle which housed the school, she found herself appearing beneath the two marble statues of its founders, Isolt Sayre and James Steward, that adorned the door.
"Very impressive," Andi whispered to herself as she walked past the statues. "Not quite as storied as Hogwarts but still plenty grand in its own right."
Speaking of Hogwarts, when she'd informed Luna and Ron that she would be doing her O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s her friends had tried to urge her to take them in Hogwarts, but she had refused. There was simply too much history between her and that school for her to even contemplate returning there. Nothing short of a disaster would move her on that front.
She was walking through the castle's entrance hall when she heard a voice calling out.
"Private O.W.L.s candidates, over here please!"
Turning in the direction of the voice, Andi spotted a middle aged wizard that her domain as goddess of wizardry informed her was Professor Agilbert Fontaine, Ilvermorny's Deputy Headmaster and Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor.
He was gesturing to a small antechamber off the castle's great hall.
Offering the Professor an acknowledging nod, Andi followed his directions and entered into the room he'd indicated. It had been set up as a testing center, with individual desks set a good distance apart to make cheating difficult.
It took a minute or two to find her assigned space using the stickers pasted on the upper right corner of the various desks that were emblazoned with each candidate's individual code, but once she did Andi sank into the seat without a hint of hesitation.
Time to get this done. Andi thought to herself as she began laying out her stationery, totally confident that she would be able to do well. Between being the Greek goddess of wizardry and all her studying she was absolutely sure she would do well. To her these exams were nothing but a formality.
It was for this reason that she was one of only a handful of the other private candidates that weren't looking nervous as they took their seats and waited for the exam papers and the only one who was smirking as they began the exam a few minutes later.
It was a confidence that would remain with her throughout the entire month long exam period.
"Andi! Your O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. results are in." Ida declared one morning a month or so after the exams as she entered the dining room of Andi's palace, laden down by the goddess' daily correspondence as usual.
"You're early." Wendy noted as she looked up from her breakfast. "You usually only grab our mail after the morning briefing. Excited?"
"Even I can be excited, Wendy." Ida informed her with a sly smile.
"Well, I'm not." Andi declared with a shrug. "So put it aside for a bit and let us finish our breakfast. We can see how I aced everything then."
"That confident, huh?" Wendy observed with a raised eyebrow.
"I am the goddess of wizardry." Andi reminded her lieutenant.
"Fair, but you could still get an A minus~"
"Not how the grading works, my little Aura." Andi teased the redhead, who pouted.
Eating some of her bacon and polishing off the wooden plate, Andi waited for the wood to sink back into the table, becoming one with it again before finally entertaining Ida. "Alright, pass it over please."
Her servant did so and the goddess opened the letter with her powers and read it over, all in a blink of the eye.
"So how did you do?" Ida asked excitedly as Andi put the results down on the table.
"All Os as expected."
"Os?" Wendy asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Outstanding. It's the highest possible grade." Andi explained. "And according to the International Confederation of Wizards' Educational Office, I've got the highest scores in recorded history. Full marks for everything. In all subjects."
Ida shone with pride at that and Andi couldn't help but roll her eyes at the oread. Sure, it was quite an accomplishment but again Andi was the goddess of wizardry! If she couldn't do this much then she wasn't worthy of the domain.
"I betcha your old wizard friends will be so jealous of you when they find out." Wendy commented offhandedly as she picked up the clipboard she used as a reference to deliver her daily reports.
"I guess." Andi shrugged, trying not to think back on that too much. Her first thought was about how jealous Hermione would be and that just reminded her of how that friendship had fallen apart. Something that still stung a great deal.
"Such an achievement is worthy of celebration." Ida declared as she jumped to her feet. "I'll start organizing a party immediately."
"A celebration?" Andi frowned. "Over this? Nah. It's too minor."
"It's still worth celebrating." Wendy insisted. "But maybe not party worthy though. How about some kind of celebratory date with Will or something? It'll add a new dimension to your next date at least."
"Hmm… That actually sounds like a good idea." Andi said, perking up at the suggestion. "Yeah, I'll do that instead. Sorry, Ida, but no party."
The oread sulked a little at that but nodded.
"I understand."
"Good. Then let's start today's briefing." Andi formally declaring the start of work in their household for the day.
"Wow! This place feels familiar. It's like I stepped back into Hogwarts or something." Andi giggled as she eyed the restaurant that Will had made reservations for. "It even has authentic wizarding paraphernalia! You sure this place isn't run by wizards?"
"Don't think so. Can you sense any?" Will asked her.
"Nope! That's what makes it so weird!"
"The owners are wizard-born, my lady." The waitress showing the two to a private table in a corner of the establishment said in a whisper as they walked through the crowded dining area.
"You know what I am?" Andi asked the younger woman with a raised eyebrow.
The young South Asian woman blushed and nodded. "The bosses told us. They would be here to wait on you personally, but they were sure you wouldn't want the extra attention that would've gotten so they let me handle it instead. Are you really a goddess?"
"Yes," Andi replied, letting a minute fraction of her divine power flow into her voice as confirmation. It was the least she could do considering how accommodating the staff were being.
"Oh! Whoa! I've, uh, never served a goddess before." The flustered woman said as they reached their table and she gestured for Andi and Will to take their seats. "Can you sign something for us before you leave? I think the owners would flip! Man, a real life magical goddess. Crazy what things are hidden in the world."
"Not sure you'd remember any of this, we have ways to prevent you from knowing about our existence, but sure." Andi acquienced easily enough. "Your bosses should remember just fine though. Their wizard blood will help."
"Aw, fiddlesticks." The waitress pouted but perked back up. "Oh well, ain't the first time. So here are your menus, let me know when you want to order. First though, drinks?"
"Coke please." Will said.
"I'll have butterbeer." Andi informed the older woman.
"Gotcha!" The waitress said enthusiastically as she passed them their menus. "I'll be back with your drinks in a bit, in the meantime take your time looking through our menu. Order whatever you like. It's on the house today."
"That's generous of you."
"The bosses said it's the least they could do for their goddess." The waitress said with a bow as she retreated to arrange their drinks.
"I didn't know you had worshippers among the wizards already." Will asked once the woman was out of earshot. "When did that happen?"
"Since I got the domain." Andi told him with a shrug. "All of the wizards who still worshipped Hecate, even nominally, got a burst of divine revelation about me. Sure got a lot of doubting Thomases to change their tune about us gods too. Plus as a mortal I was known too, so that helped."
"You gods can do that!?" Will asked, blinking in surprise.
"How else would people know about new gods that just suddenly appeared? Though it does depend on the people though. Not everyone can hear our divine pronouncements and we can't exactly do it all the time either, Ancient Laws and all that. The thing with wizards is likely a one-time thing for example."
"Huh, neat." Her blonde lover stated as the waitress delivered their drinks.
"Thank you." Andi said before the couple placed their orders for a few wizard themed dishes from the menus they were looking over while they had been chatting.
They weren't quite the wizarding dishes they were billed as, but considering the lack of some of the magical ingredients intrinsic to so much of wizarding cuisines they were nonetheless pretty good approximations. At least Andi thought so based on their descriptions in the menu.
Nodding, the waitress headed to the kitchen.
"To your phenomenal exam results," Will said lifting his glass of Coke for a toast.
"Thanks," Andi lifting her own mug of butterbeer and tapping it lightly against Will's drink.
They both took a customary sip of their drinks before placing them down.
"So how were the exams really? Any different from a mundane one?" Will asked, and began a conversation about the differences between the magical and mundane education systems that would last the couple the entire time they spent at The Cauldron Magical Pub.
"That restaurant was great Will." Andi told her lover honestly as they walked through the small park that was Hanover Square near the pub. They were arm in arm, Andi snuggling close as they walked the streets of New York. "You are the best boyfriend, I swear."
"Thanks." Will said with a grin. "And it was great, huh? Especially when the owners came out at the end to thank us for stopping by. They were so nice. Guess they would be, you being their goddess and all."
"Yup," Andi agreed. "I'm totally blessing them so their next few descendants are all powerful wizards."
"You can do that?"
"I'm a goddess, Will. Of course I can." Andi reminded her boyfriend with a giggle.
They were just passing the Andaz Wall Street hotel when things got strange. Out of nowhere, the usual background noise that permeated the city abruptly vanished.
Andi tensed immediately, pulling away from Will and summoning Skyline. Her boyfriend was only a second behind her as he too released his bow and quiver from their disguise as the glasses case for his aviators, which conveniently settled on his face as part of the magic that released his weapons. They still weren't exactly in tip top fighting shape, not with Will still dressed up in a suit and Andi in her sky blue slim waist knitted top and sheath skirt.
"What do you think it is?" Will asked as he got back to back with Andi and they tried to spot whatever had brought on the unnatural silence. "And think you can change us into something we can fight better in?"
"No idea. I can't sense what it is. Just that something is coming." Andi replied. "About our clothes. If it comes down to a fight, yeah, but it might not come to it. Better to not jump the gun. If this is a friendly visit, looking nice might help."
Sadly, that hope was dashed when a barrage of plasma bolts suddenly hurtled their way from all directions down the various narrow streets that surrounded them.
"Technodjinn!" Andi hissed even as she conjured a protective cocoon of air that shielded them from the initial assault and simultaneously used her power to change Will and herself into simple but functional outfits consisting of cargo pants and Camp tees.
"Indeed." Alarak said from where the Technojinn war god was riding atop one of the dozen quadruple walkers armed with massively oversized four barreled plasma cannons that walked towards them, blocking off every street. "Hello, Bane. I was operating in the area and sensed your presence, so I decided to come give you a taste of my Vanguards' power."
"How nice of you," Andi said with a feral grin revealing that reacting to her mood, her teeth had transformed and became as sharp as a predator's. "It saves me the trouble of having to hunt you down. Now let's deliver your scrap to Heph."
"You can try! Vanguards, destroy her!"
As one the walkers unleashed another salvo of their plasma bolts. Andi was having none of that however and sent whirlwinds sweeping towards them. Her magical winds picked up both bolt and machine, and slammed the former into the latter thus destroying the walkers with their own firepower. All within seconds.
"Wow!" Will said, shocked by what appeared to be an easy victory.
Sadly, things weren't quite over yet.
"Tsch! Looks like they'll need a little upgrading." Alarak said from where he stood, seemingly unfazed by the destruction of his minions. "Oh well. I'll have to try harder next time."
With that he leapt onto the roof of a nearby building and began to make his getaway.
"Like fucking hell I'll let you run away!" Andi snarled as she squatted down like a beast and leapt at him. "Will, head back to Camp. I've got a Technodjinn to blue screen!"
"Andi, wait! I can he-"
"That's an order!" Andi shouted back as she continued the pursuit across New York's skyline as both she and her prey leapt from one rooftop to another.
She was sure this was some kind of trap. Alarak wouldn't have retreated so easily otherwise. Even knowing that though, she wasn't about to let this chance to get rid of one of these pesky robo gods go to waste.
The chase had taken Andi all the way into an industrial area in New Jersey and straight into a war zone. Smoke and fire filled the area around a factory that presumably was Alarak's base, Andi's sharp eyes easily saw through it and what it hid had her baring her teeth in anger.
"The fuck are with the clay freaks? Some Power Ranger minion rejects?" Andi asked as she spotted dozens of unfamiliar giants. They stood seven feet tall, had six arms and looked like clay statues. They were also busy hurling large, sharp rocks they conjured into their hands at an mixed army of Alarak's familiar black and red machines.
"Gegeines actually." Alarak said as he leapt into the heart of a pack of the unfamiliar monsters and unleashed a shockwave of red energy that reduced them into their constituent atoms. "They are servants of the rising Earth Mother."
"Wait! What?" Andi shouted in confusion as she fired a salvo of her wind bomb arrows that destroyed hundreds of both Alarak's minions and the Gegeines. "So that's why you dragged me here? I thought it was a trap?"
"Who said it isn't?" Alarak said just as he teleported away, leaving Andi alone without her quarry and surrounded by enemies.
"Why do you have to be such a prick?!" She roared and stared at the horde of clay and robotic monsters. "You know what? Fuck it!"
Inhaling deeply, Andi let out a piercing wail far greater then her old mortal lungs could ever hope to achieve.
Her Canary Cry shook the very landscape around her as monster and machine shattered due to her vocal prowess.
Standing in the wake of her victory, Andi could only survey the battlefield feeling confused.
"What by the Pit, was this all about?" Andi said, giving voice to her frustration.
"I think Andi," Hecate said as she teleported next to the younger goddess. "The Technodjinn did this to inform you about the Protogenos of the Earth's awakening."
"And they couldn't, I dunno, just ask Alice to tell me? I mean, I get along with her. Mostly."
Her superior just shrugged. "Who knows what goes through the robots' processors?"
"And she is rising?" Andi asked, careful not to mention the name of the Earth Mother and accidentally invoking her. "Since when?"
"We are uncertain. But definitely since the end of the Second Titanomachy."
"Is Father and the Council doing anything?"
"Last I heard, they are still planning out our response. Until they make a decision, I advise you to focus on containing the Technodjinn. Olympus cannot fight on two fronts."
Andi frowned but nodded.
"Alright." She said reluctantly. "But I'll be kept in the loop about our war planning?"
"I'm sure you will." The goddess of magic assured her. "But focus on the task at hand."
"Gotcha. I'll get started on seriously hunting down those tin can wannabes ASAP. I just hope it's enough."
"It will have to be. So long as we all do our best, it will have to be." Hecate said ominously. "Or we are all doomed."
Done and done! Thanks to Nameless and Axios as always!
Ah, and so all the pieces are coming together. The O.W.L.s/N.E.W.T.s, the date and the Puddies, I mean the Gegeines. Yeah, them. So Alarak is still being a tool of a douche-bot, but that's par for the course. Let's hope Andi gets more snuggles out of this, I fear they might be limited soon~
Nameless: So this should be the last filler chapter for the time being if I remember our notes correctly. It was basically designed to set up the last arc which is Andi v. Technodjinn with Gaea's looming threat as an ominous backdrop. Hope you guys are looking forward to it. I know I am, since we have so many interesting ideas we want to introduce in this arc.
You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!