Chapter 8: Dance of Aphrodite
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We find ourselves in an open field far from Olympian Academy. On it, we see tons of Spartan Warriors fighting against their enemy and totally destroying them.
"For Sparta!" The leader roars as they kept up their attack.
"For Sparta!" The other troops roared.
Up on the cliff nearby, Wrath was looking down at the soldiers with a smirk on his face.
"You see that Thea? My finest warriors conquering the land and expanding my reign." Wrath smirks as Thea was reading a scroll with a bored look on her face.
"Huh? Oh yeah big army great." She said not really into it.
Annoyed Wrath walks up to her to look her in the eyes.
"When you get it through your head? The only heroes people want are war heroes and that's what I give them. I have an army of fighters in the hundreds who worship me. Your army barely nears the double digits." Wrath said.
"It's not army, it's a team and those are just mindless soldiers." Thea points.
"Exactly, I give orders none of them object. It's perfect." Wrath smiles.
"For you maybe, but I'm looking for true heroes. Ones that will aid those wherever they go and make everyone feel safe." Thea said determined.
"Keep telling yourself that. In the meantime, my army is about to worship me for giving them victory. See ya." Wrath smirks before disappearing.
"Ugh I hate him so much." Thea growls when her owl hoots meaning it was time to go. "Guess we better get back." Thea said as disappeared in a flash of light.
Back at Olympian Academy, everyone was getting ready for the Dance of Aphrodite and love was in the air.
In the main square, several students were lined up as Chiron handed them posters.
"Alright you kids make sure everyone knows about the dance and hang these up. Nicodemus I guess you can just sit this out." Chiron said looking to him.
"Why? Because you think I can't put up a poster?" Nico grabs one from Herc and slaps glue against the wall and slams the poser on it but he ended up pressing the front against the wall making everyone see a blank page.
"Uh Nico." Icarus said while Adonis and a few others students snicked at him.
"It's upside down isn't it? I'll just go sit down somewhere." Nico sighs in defeat before walking away.
"Talk about useless." Adonis smirks as some laugh.
Nearby on the hill, a silver doe spotted Nico sitting on a bench.
Making its way down the doe passed through some bushes and from a small light Luna walks out.
Putting his stick down, Nico sniffles before rubbing his eyes.
"Nico? Are you okay?" Luna asks.
"Hey Luna." Nico said.
"Don't let Adonis get to you. He's not worth it." Luna said sitting him.
"It's not just Adonis being stupid. It's just…look it's hard enough being blind but when I actually realize what I can't do it's not great." Nico frowns.
"It's that bad?" Luna asks surprised to see this side of him.
"People look at me and think just because I'm blind I can't do anything that I have to have others constantly take care of me or that I'm not as good as regular guys." Nico said.
"I know that feeling." Luna frowns surprising him.
"You do?" Nico asks.
"My brother and the rest of my family they look at me and see that just because I'm a girl I can't do things as well as a boy or that I should leave serious problems to the men or that I'm not tough enough." Luna growls.
"Wow guess everyone thinks little of us." Nico said.
"Yeah it stinks." Luna sighs.
"It does…but it's nice to know I have someone who knows what it's like." Nico smiles turning to her.
"Yeah, guess it is." Luna smiles.
"Thanks Luna I really needed that." Nico said.
"It's not big deal." Luna said brushing it off.
"Not to me, thanks." Nico said putting his hand on her hand.
Pausing Luna started to blush feeling his soft yet strong hand on top of hers.
"Uh yeah well…you probably wanna get ready for class and I just remembered I left uh my chariot in my bow. I'll see you later." Luna said running off.
"Hey Nico!" Nico turns as Hercules and Icarus walking over.
"Hey buddy we better hurry Art Class is in a few minutes." Icarus said.
"We don't want to be late." Hercules said.
"Yeah guess you're right." Nico said standing up.
"Feeling okay?" Hercules asks.
"I'll be fine. A friend stopped by and cheered me up." Nico said walking away.
Down another hallway, Luna was leaning against the wall.
"Chariot in your bow? What is wrong with me? Am I under some sort of dark magic?" Luna asks when suddenly she heard a giggle.
"Hardly." A familiar voice said.
Turning around Luna saw a girl with beautiful blonde hair, skin like a polished pearl and pink and purple robes.
"Oh Rose. Should've known you'd be here for the dance." Luna narrows her eyes.
"Well it does have my name so it would be rude not to show up. I can't believe the day has finally come, you've finally fallen in love with a boy." Rose smirks.
"What? Me in love? Ridiculous." Luna said turning her head away.
"Yeah I guess you have a point. Not like that boy is that great anyway." Rose said.
"Do not speak of Nicodemus that way!" Luna points.
"Ha! Trapped ya." Rose points out causing Luna's eyes to widen.
"Oh sweet Gaea. No this can't be right. I cannot fall in love. I am literally the symbol of female empowerment. I can't be in love with a male." Luna panics.
"The heart wants what the heart wants Luna and right now your heart is telling you—"
"Shut up! I don't want to hear it!" Luna said before running off having heard enough.
"Mmm this dance is already fun for me and the first song hasn't even started." Rose giggles.
In art class, everyone was working on sculptures while their sub Mr. Pygmalion was examining their work.
"Hmm yes, good work. Hmm not bad." He said.
"So guys any idea on who you're gonna ask to the dance?" Icarus asks.
"Uh I don't really have anyone." Hercules admits.
"Yikes what about you Nico?" Icarus asks.
"I might just do a blind date." Nico said.
"Oh that's cool…why do you find the need to keep doing this to us?" Icarus asks causing Nico to chuckle.
"Hey you boys have time to talk you have time to sculpt." Pygmalion said walking over. "Nicodemus what are you making?"
"I don't know what's it look like?" Nico asks.
"How do you not know what it…oh right." He said seeing Nico was blind. "Sorry watch me."
Nico rolls his eyes seeing Pygmalion forgot he was blind again.
By the end of class, everyone put their sculptures in the kilm.
"Alright class, we'll check on those tomorrow." Pygmalion said as most walked out. "Enjoy the dance."
"Hey Mr. Pygmalion can you put this in?" Icarus asks holding out a clay pot.
"Sure." Taking it over they notice a beautiful sculpture of a woman in the corner.
"Oh baby who is that?" Icarus asks.
"Oh that's one of my earlier creations." Pygmalion said.
"She's very pretty." Hercules said as he and Nico walk over.
"I guess I'll just take your word for it." Nico shrugs.
"I call her Galatea. She's the girl of my dreams." Pygmalion said.
"Cool, so where's the real one?" Nico asks.
"There is no real one." Pygmalion said.
"Wait you're in love with a sculpture?" Hercules asks.
"Weird and that's coming from me." Icarus cringes.
"You boys are young, real women are complicated beings. It's hard to fall in love especially at my age." Pygmalion said.
"So you rather make women out of clay than try to find a real girl?" Nico asks.
"I wouldn't say it like that." Pygmalion said.
Walking in, Rose heard this and pauses.
"So he thinks fake love is easier than real love?" Rose asks as the boys leave.
"I wish you were real Galatea. You would be perfect and crazy about me." Pygmalion said before looking away. "Aphrodite, goddess of love please make my Galatea real."
"Hmm wow beautiful and crazy about him. Wow this guy really digs deep. Alright, Pygmalion. One dream girl coming up." Rose said snapping her fingers and a pink light envelops Galatea getting the artist's attention.
"No it can't be." Pygmalion said in awe as Galatea came to life. "G-Galatea?"
"Pygmalion my love." Galatea smiles causing him to smile widely.
"You're alive. Oh thank you, Aphrodite!" Pygmalion smiles when Galatea leaps out and starts kissing him all over.
"Well I give this until the end of the night before he learns his lesson. Maybe I'll go see who else is around." Rose said turning around when she noticed Thea in the distance. "Ooh wise girl. What's she up to?"
Sitting on the steps, Tempest and Pandora were watching as multiple girls were giggling as boys walked around trying to get dates for the dance.
"Boy everyone is trying to find dates for this dance." Pandora said.
"Why?" Tempest asks.
"So they don't have to go to the dance alone." Pandora said.
"So girls are willing to line themselves up like animals so men can pick them out to parade around?" Tempest narrows her eyes.
"Not quite." Pandora said when they heard crying. "Quite often the girl will say no."
Pointing over they saw Andromeda being approached by many boys but she turned them all down.
"At least you have 3 people to go with." Pandora said.
"I do?" Tempest asks confused.
"Yeah Hercules, Icarus and Nicodemus. Just ask to go with one of them." Pandora suggests.
"I'm not sure. I'm a fighter not a dancer." Tempest said.
"You don't have to dance, just maybe try going so you can be with your friends." Pandora shrugs.
"Maybe." Tempest said.
In the air, Thea's owl flew by and landed on the roof before spotting Nico.
"Hoo hoo hoo hoo." It said before flying down.
"Huh?" Nico said when he suddenly felt the bird land on the tip of his walking stick. "Oh hey little guy. What are you doing here?"
"Hoo." The owl said.
"Is Thea around?" Nico asks when he hears some footsteps. "There you are Thea."
"How did you know?" Thea asks as Nico turns.
"I can hear you." Nico said pointing to his ears.
"You are something else you know that?" Thea giggles.
"So I've been told." Nico chuckles.
"It's amazing people put this much effort into a dance than anything else." Thea said looking around.
"They just want a break from everything. My mom actually allowed me to stay out late for this." Nico said.
"You're going to the dance?" Thea asks interested.
"Yeah will you?" Nico asks.
"Well…I might." Thea shrugs.
Up above, Rose was looking down at them and giggled.
"Oh this is too perfect. Two goddesses, good friends no less. In love with the same mortal. Oh thank you Zeus. This just became the best day ever." Rose giggles.
"So uh Thea if you're going to then maybe we can…" Nico said nervously.
"We can what?" Thea asks.
Nico was about to finish his sentence when he heard a noise.
"Nico! Nico!" Looking to the right they saw Icarus running over.
"Icarus what's wrong?" Nico asks.
"You're not gonna believe what we found out! It's crazy!" Icarus said.
"What's crazy?" Nico asks.
"Come on I'll explain on the way!" Icarus said grabbing his arm and yanking him away.
"Whoa! Uh see ya later Thea!" Nico calls out much to her disappointment.
"Guess we'll finish this talk at the dance." Thea sighs.
That night, students were all over the main dance floor as Nico was sitting with Hercules, Icarus and Tempest as they looked at Pygmalion walking with Galatea.
"How did Pygmalion get a woman like that so quickly?" Hercules asks confused.
"Word is he didn't he made her out of clay." Icarus said.
"How is that even possible?" Nico asks.
"Clearly an Olympian saw Mr. Pygmalion and grabed his wish to bring her life." Tempest said.
"Must be Aphrodite then." Hercules said.
"Still it's a little weird." Nico said when Andromeda walks by shutting down more dates.
"Look I'm sorry boys but I am just not interested in dancing right now." Andromeda said when she noticed Pygmalion and Galatea. "Wow Mr. Pygmalion quite the date you have there."
"I know, she's amazing isn't she?" Pygmalion asks.
"She sure is, you really found a great guy. We all love Mr. Pygmalion." Andromeda said causing Galatea to twitch.
"Is that so?" She asks.
"Oh yeah best teacher in the world." Pandora adds.
"He's the best." Another girl said.
"Alright you little brats get lost." Galatea said shooing them away.
"Galatea calm down. It's just my students being nice." Pygmalion said.
"I don't like the way they look at you. I'm the only one allowed to do that." Galatea said.
"Uh sweetie?" Pygmalion said confused by the change in attitude.
"Nicodemus there you are." Thea said walking over.
"Thea, sorry about running off." Nico smiling.
Nearby Luna was by the snack tables and noticed Thea giggling with Nico.
"What's Thea doing with Nico?" Luna asks narrowing her eyes.
"Hey Pygmalion you gotta tell us how you did it." A male student said.
"Yeah you're the best." Another said.
"Oh thank you." Pygmalion smiles loving all this but Galatea was losing it.
"That's it!" She snaps grabbing a table with ease and threw it scaring everyone as it smashed to the ground.
Screaming in horror everyone ran for their lives as Galatea went mad with jealousy.
"Stay away from my Pyggy!" Galatea yells attacking everyone as she turned towards Andromeda when at the last second, she was hit in the head with a familiar walking stick.
"Huh?" Andromeda looks over to see Nico had saved her.
"Don't just stand there! Run!" Nico said leading her away.
"Y-You saved me?" She said surprised.
"Yes now get going before she buries you in clay." Nico suggests.
Grabbing a sword from the wall, Tempest and Hercules attack slicing off her arms.
"Sorry lady but you're out of control." Hercules said when Galatea's arms grew back surprising them. "Uh oh."
Firing two powerful strikes Galatea knocks Hercules and Tempest sending them crashing into a table.
"Now this is my kind of dance." Tempest said eager for battle.
"Hey freaky clay lady!" Icarus yells throwing plates like discus at her but they flew threw Galatea not hurting her at all.
Growing she throws a large ball of clay knocking Icarus to the ground.
"Huh guess she's not hungry." Icarus groans.
Nico tries hitting her in the head with his stick again but the stick right through her chest.
Gulping Nico tries to pull free when Galatea punches him in the face knocking him to the ground.
"Nico!" Thea gasps running over to him.
As Galatea tries to attack again Thea yanks Nico out of the way.
"Quite the dream woman you got there." Tempest growls as they hid behind a few tables for cover.
"Mr. Pygmalion what exactly happened when you Galatea came to life? What kind of woman did you ask for?" Nico asks.
"That was she was crazy for me." Pygmalion said.
"Yeah we can see that, and?" Hercules asks.
"What do you mean?" Pygmalion asks confused.
"Seriously? That's all you wanted your dream girl's personality to be?!" Thea snaps.
"Guess Philosophy wasn't your favorite class." Icarus said.
"Oh like you boys would wish for anything different." Pygmalion said.
"Hey we actually thought we could find REAL girls not make one." Icarus said when Galatea throws the tables away.
"Found you! No one will take my precious Pyggy from me!" Galatea snaps.
Flinging her clay arms forward Thea drew her shield getting in front of Nico but the attack knocked her back.
"Thea?!" Nico said surprised as she grabbed his hand and they ran.
"We need to stop that clay lady." Thea said.
"I know but how? We tried everything but the clay absorbs it." Nico said.
"Well then maybe you should try going for the clay rather than the girl." Thea suggests.
Pausing Nico got an idea. "Thea you're a genius!" He smiles.
"I am? I mean yeah I am." Thea smiles when Nico grabs her shield. "Hey that's mine."
"I promise I'll bring it back!" Nico said running off.
"What is he up to?" Thea asks curious.
As Galatea was going on the rampage Hercules threw a bench that smashed into her.
Growling she turns only for Tempest to throw a spear through her but that did nothing.
"Nothing's working." Tempest growls.
"You won't get in the way of my love!" Galatea yells attacking them.
Moving in Nico blocks it with Thea's shield and it suddenly glowed deflecting it.
"Nico?!" Icarus gasps.
"Come on! We need to get to the Art room!" Nico said.
"You got a plan?" Hercules asks.
"Hopefully." Nico said.
"Good enough for me." Tempest said as they ran for their lives.
"You can run but you can't hide!" Galatea said chasing after them.
As they ran down the hall, they panted heavily looking for which way to go.
"Over here." Looking over they saw Andromeda running over.
"Andromeda babe. What are you doing here?" Icarus asks.
"First never call me that." Andromeda said glaring at him.
"Sorry." Icarus said.
"Look Andromeda we really need to get to the art room and fast or clay lady is gonna make us into sculptures." Nico said.
"But if she's chasing you guys how are we gonna trap her inside?" Tempest asks.
"I can help with that." Andromeda said surprising them.
"Seriously?" Hercules said when Galatea smashed a giant hole in the wall nearby.
"No time to argue run!" Nico yells
"Found you!" Galatea said rushing in.
Once Galatea enters the room, Andromeda comes out of hiding and slams the door shut trapping her inside with them.
"Icarus light'em up!" Nico yells as Hercules smashes a wider hole in the kiln allowing Icarus to toss tons of wood into it causing the flames to burn.
"Hey Galatea, Pygmalion is the worst!" Tempest yells.
"What?!" Galatea growls turning to the heroes.
"Yeah I mean that guy is the worst. He didn't even give you a personality, talk about shallow." Nico said.
"And sexist." Hercules adds.
"Not to mention stupid." Icarus said.
Growling in anger Galatea rushed in.
As she got closer, Nico's eyes sharpened. "Now!" Nico yells as they jump out of the way and Galatea crashes into the kiln.
"No! No!" Galatea roars trying to get out as the heat from the flames caused her to harden making her unable to move before turning back to clay and shatter.
"This is why I do not have a girlfriend." Icarus said.
"Yeah, that's why." Nico rolls his eyes.
"Are you guys okay?" Andromeda asks walking in.
"Yeah thanks for shutting her in. We owe ya one." Nico said.
"Think of it as thank you for saving me life back there." Andromeda smiles.
"Wow Princess, who knew you had such a cool side?" Nico chuckles causing Andromeda to giggle.
"More to me than meets the eye." Andromeda said before gasping. "Oh my Gaea I'm sorry."
"Relax." Nico brushes it off.
Soon everyone was trying to clean up the damages so the dance could resume.
"Well this was eventful." Rose said watching all this.
"You did this didn't you?" Rose looks to see Luna glaring at her.
"Hey the old man thought he could just make love with an object. That's my thing." Rose said.
"Still don't you think you might have gone a little overboard? She almost hurt Nico." Luna said.
"What about the other mortals?" Rose smirks.
"Uh yeah them too." Luna blushes softly.
"Oh this is funnier to watch than the crazy statue lady." Rose giggles.
"Shut up." Luna snaps.
"Well I'm sure by know Pygmalion has learned his lesson." Rose said looking over at him.
"Baby come on! Come to life Galatea this time you don't have to be crazy for me." Pygmalion begs trying to sculp a new woman.
"You were saying?" Luna asks.
"Then again maybe some mortals just never learn." Rose cringed.
Back at the dance, after all the damage was cleaned up everyone was at the dance enjoying themselves.
"I can't believe a living sculpture lady almost kicked our butts." Hercules said.
"You mean your butt. You kept getting hit." Tempest smirks handing him some ice.
"At least we weren't as desperate to find girls for the dance like Mr. Pygmalion." Icarus said.
"Wait what?" Tempest asks confued.
"Yeah it's a little silly. We didn't want to come to the dance by ourselves so we tried to find girls to go with." Hercules admits.
"Well why didn't you ask me? I am a girl." Tempest points out.
"Well yeah but you're a friend. Wouldn't it be weird?" Hercules asks when Tempest bonks him on the head. "Ow! What was that for?"
"Last time I checked friends help each other, even with dumb things like this." Tempest smirks before grabbing his arm. "Come on you."
"Hey wait I—" Before Hercules could finish Tempest led him inside.
"Man guess I'm going stag for this one." Icarus shrugs before walking in.
Outside the dance, Thea was looking around for any sign of her helmet.
"Glad that's over." Thea said when her owl spots something.
"Hoo!" It said as she looks to see Nico walking over with her shield in his hands. "Nico?"
"Hey Thea. Here's your shield back." Nico said holding it out.
"Thank you." Thea smiles strapping it to her back.
"Well your advice to use the fires from the kiln really helped." Nico said.
"You might not believe this but not many wanna take my advice." Thea said.
"Why not?" Nico asks.
"Well people think I'm a bit of a know-it-all." Thea said.
"Saved me and my friends. So I guess being a know-it-all is pretty helpful." Nico smiles
"Guess so." Thea smiles.
Little did both of them know Rose was sneaking by looking at them with interest.
"Listen uh Thea. I don't know if you had any plans but earlier today I was trying to ask you…would you like to go to the dance with me? I've never really been to one before." Nico asks blushing nervously.
"Me neither." Thea blushes. "I'd love too."
Grinning Rose flicks her hand a stone brick under them both breaks causing them both to fall in and kiss each other on the lips.
Eyes widening Thea was looking Nico in the eyes as both of them separate.
"Hoo hoo." Thea's owl hoots with his eyes up meaning he was enjoying this.
"Uh…" Both of them pause bright red.
"So…wanna dance?" Thea asks breaking the silence.
"Sure." Nico said as they walked away, but slowly Thea reached out and held his hand as they walked to the dance.
Looking at him, Thea then looked to Tempest, Hercules and Icarus before smiling seeing what could be her squad of heroes.
Nearby Rose was looking at this and giggling. "Ooh something tells me I should stick around. This is could be my greatest love story ever." Rose grins thinking of her next plan.