Connor stood with his brothers and friends watching the children of the kronides. He kept his gaze locked onto Ariadne as the girl was practically bouncing on her toes. The armor that Silena and Beckendorf crafted her was form fitting Her hair wasn't even in her signature buns. It was instead flowing down her back with flowers, pearls, and rubies weaved within in it.
Connor could almost see the bloodlust in her eyes.
He said nothing as the five of them all subconsciously straightened. Clearly the gods could see them now.
When the battle cry wrung out, Connor kept his eyes locked onto Ariadne as she looked to the heavens before walking off. The rest of them followed discreetly as the others moved closer. It was like a slaughterhouse with how Sparta and Athens were cutting each other down.
The ground started to rumble under their feet even as the air around them felt charged up. The shadows grew longer stretching outwards. It was as if Zeus struck the ground with is master bolt.
Because suddenly, Ariadne was in the middle of the masses cutting down anyone that stood in her way. Percy and Thalia were tearing through the Spartan armies while Nico and Katie handled the Athens. As usual, the enemies hit the ground with life threatening injuries that wouldn't kill them if treated quickly.
Connor looked back towards Ariadne and tracked her trajectory. His heart clenched as he realized the direction she was headed.
Maybe Travis and Percy were right. Maybe it was time to let her go. She'd never notice him. She never did except out of the one kiss that they shared. First it was Luke and it was all kinds of awkward watching her determinedly avoiding a ghost. Then it was his father. Though the two of them swore up and down that it was just a friendship, Connor could still remember the dazed and shy look on her face after one of their adventures. And finally, there was Apollo.
Connor could remember the exact moment her hatred started to turn into love. He could remember crying in his cabin and not knowing if it was from grief, survivors' guilt, or just plain heartbreak.
His feet took him closer right as she kicked the prince's opponent away. The two stared at each other as the battle continued around them. He was too far away to hear what was being said, but from the look on Ariadne's face… it wasn't pretty.
When the prince sneered and pointed his sword at Ariadne, it took everything in him to not leap forward. Ari could handle herself. Which why it wasn't so surprising when she surged forward herself.
Connor could only sit back and watch the show.
Ariadne snarled, blue eyes look as bottomless as the sea, as she pressed the sword to the prince's throat, "Tell me, your highness, what makes you worthy of the sharpshooter's love when I am not?"
The hue of Hyacinth's eyes darkened with fury, "I have my love for him and his best interest at heart. If not wanting me makes him happy, I'll oblige by his rules. What do you have for Apollon's best interest that's not yours?"
The Eurotas' river exploded around them. It swirled around them brining in high winds. The prince and the princess stood before each other in the eye of the storm. Ariadne lowered her sword slowly. He could not harm her in her father's element. She was in control here.
The gods were staring down from Olympus at them both. This was not something they could predict. This was not fate. "What do I have for Apollon's best interest? What do I have to give to him? I offer him my heart, my body, and my soul. I offer him my past and my truth. The truth of my heart. I offer the light of my spirit. I never knew love until Apollo."
She stared him down. She didn't know what he saw, but she could see the realization in his eyes. He may be the son of Clio, but Ariadne had the blood of Olympus running through her veins. She wasn't just the daughter of the god of storms. She was the storm itself. "I would go to the Fates myself and sacrifice my life thread if it meant that he was never to hurt again, because if I could spare him the pain, I would give him everything I have to offer and then some. This is not some silly worship, boy. This is love in its purest forms."
"I love Apollon, and I will not step aside for you. I do not fear you, daughter of the sea." Narrowing his eyes, he readied his sword to the sound of some of his men falling to the might of the Athenians.
Ariadne sneered at him, "Then you will die braver than most." She leapt at him and their swords met right in the middle. Twisting around, she aimed for his throat. He managed to block her again. Left to right then right to left the two continued their dance. They were oblivious to the lives being taken around them. The only thing that mattered was proving their superiority to the other.
Ariadne's eyes flashed. Storms began to gather around them. The water out the very air became a weapon as the fight turned fiercer. The wide arcs of the slashes became hasher. Ariadne could feel the strain from continuous use of her sword. Her trident sung to her.
Hyacinth wasn't a slouch either. Being the prince of such a warrior kingdom and the lover to the god of Archery made him a formidable opponent. Unfortunately for him, she trained with two gods. Three if one counted the sparse visits from Artemis.
Ariadne jumped back, twisted her wrist, then slashed her trident through the air. The battlefield became flooded as she stood atop of a hill. There was no life to her eyes. The blue hue twisted into the darkest shade of the night. Her trident was gripped firmly in her right hand as her hair flowed through the air.
She looked powerful.
She looked like a warrior.
She looked like a princess.
Two blurs appeared at her sides. Two boys with curly hair and twisted smiles. The taller one with small vines twisted into his hair whispered something into her ear. Ariadne stiffened before she turned her gaze to the heavens.
Apollo felt as if she was looking directly at him.
There was a small pause before she looked back at Hyacinth. "You are fortunate, your highness. I have other matters to attend to, but be warned, boy, I will gain Phoebus' heart even if I have to incite the wrath of Gaia upon you and your kingdom."
Ariadne placed her hand into the shorter one's hand, and the three of them disappeared.
The only sign that she had been there was the ongoing storm.
A pair of blue eyes gazed upon the steps leading to the temple of Poseidon. The owner turned slightly when the sound of marching reached their ears. A mocking smile twisted on their lips, "You pathetic and worthless Athenians always did make the wrong choice. If you were wise, you'll leave now while you still have the chance. If not, may Uncle grant your soul reprieve because I am shall end you."
The soldiers paused as they took in the young girl standing on the steps. Jet black hair flowing through the wind with bangs the color of blueberries framed her face. Her eyes were a piercing blue just like the sea before the storm. Many recognize her as the warrior that fought against the Prince. Others saw her as a princess playing dress up.
She smirked slightly twirling her dagger through the air.
One brave or simply idiotic man took a step closer.
"I'm about to fuck up this man's whole career," she sang mockingly before immediately springing forward. Her dagger elongated into a sword before transforming into a trident then a spear then a staff before turning back into a dagger. No one knew what weapon to expect as she twisted and turned. Bodies hit the ground like raindrops as she tore through the forces with pure skill. It didn't take long for her to be the only one left on the battlefield.
Turning her head back to the temple, a male replica of her walked out. The only difference was the color of his eyes. "Having fun, sis?" He had sacred scrolls attached to his belt. The kind of scrolls that only those of Poseidon's legacy could lay claim to. Tilting her head to the side, she smiled sharply showing off her elongated teeth, "Why, yes I am. Thank you for asking."