Final chapter! :O

To Covid-20- (I still can't get past that name!) She's evolving ^_^

To Guest- (you're avocado-art, aren't you? Your reviews are similar) Anyway, chapter 5- Thank you! XD Daughter of Neptune, even better :D This review really cheered me up, I needed it! Thank you ^_^ I remember winekita! Are they still about? I used to read theirs too! Might look them up again :P (Chapter 8) Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I highly recommend! We're still trying to save the show, we're bothering Viacom now to get it renewed :P (Chapter 32) MWHAHAHAHA, NOT LEO! :3 (Chapter 43) Sorry not sorry :) (Chapter 45) The twins were so close, but so far! XD (Chapter 68) Two hours? Good gods, make sure you get some food! And she doesn't meet Leo just yet, that's at the beginning of Heroes of Olympus (which I will be updating the rewrites off to keep up to date with Lou's past, but that's for another day :P ) Here's the last chapter, go write those daydreams! (With credit to me please, much appreciated! :D )

To Anonymous Person Lucky 13- Oh, she's very good at pissing off the Olympians. Comes with practise ^_^ And she still hasn't met her most dangerous adversary yet... her mother. *excited*

To propheciesandbluecookies- Lou is eight and a half, roughly, here. I think she's more worried about breakfast and that they're lazy gits :P

To 8Ball3- I love Athena though, but yes, she's very uppity :O

***FOR EVERYONE*** I think that's all the reviews. If I missed any, just tell me! All reviews on this chapter will be replied to when I post the first chapter to Lou's Past Part Two, (which won't be called that, I'm thinking Nature Vs Nurture, but also Mortal Meets Gremlin, not sure yet :P )

And in terms of my future updating, I will be posting every other day like usual, BUT I will be alternating stories, so I can (theoretically) catch up on writing :/ This will be Lou's sequel and the first Tower of Nero rewrite and maybe some one-shots if I remember :P


Wake up, wake up, wake up, stop doing this to me, wake up, wake up, wake-

"I'm awake."

Yay! Storm bounced joyfully, two bounces, and then shoved her nose into Louisa's face, snorting. You do that again and I'll stomp you into powder.

"Could you do that anyway?"

What? No! Are you OK? You kept mumbling, what happened? Louisa sighed. She tucked an arm around Storm's neck, sitting up. She felt for the bitemark, finding nothing of its existence sans the blood still staining her clothes. Her throat constricted at the sight of it, turning her head away. The coppery scent clogged her nose- there was no avoiding that.

To distract herself, she recounted the dream. Storm listened without looking away from her, not even a blink. "'N' ta top it all off, they don't even know how I'm gonna do it, they just think I might."

Cool.

"Cooler if I knew."

Shouldn't be talking like this.

"I don't care. I'm tired. Some monster thing tried to eat me. Again."

You must be very tasty. Let me try!

"You," Louisa shoved her head away playfully, "bite me more than any monster ever could."

You deserve it. Storm's eyes glittered with a smirk. Anyway, are you feeling better? Killing monsters makes me hungry.

"Everythin' makes you hungry."

Like you can talk. You're hungry too, I bet.

"I was thinkin' 'bout breakfast."

Well, there you go. Come on, up. I want food. Storm headbutted her, in the chest, the head, the shoulder and then the back, making sure she kept moving. Lots of food, please, I'm starving. Practically wasting away.

"Oh, not this again."

Skin and bones, I am.

"The only thing starved about you is ya brain."

What?! Storm whinnied and retreated, staring at her aghast. How dare you! My brain is amazing! Better than yours!

"Mm." Louisa shrugged, unslinging her backpack. She needed a fresh change of clothes. She couldn't stay in the claret soaked ones, her stomach was writhing at the mere thought of it. "Ain't hard, Storm. Ain't that hard at all."


Being thrown a fate of killing the gods- somehow, sometime, somewhere, they continued to be very vague, unsurprisingly- was not as initially shocking as Louisa thought. For three days, she sat and mulled it over, more out of curiosity than anything else. Killing a god? Bit strange. Weren't gods supposed to live forever? She was sure they were, seemed about right for her luck. So, how would she kill one? Theoretically, of course. Would they actually die, if she tried to kill one? Or would they come back like the monsters?

This thinking kept her awake, so she was grateful for that. By sunrise on the fourth day, she began to realise something.

Did the gods keep giving her jobs and things to find to stop her from killing them? Making her too busy to plot murder? Did they not realise that she had already imagined battering them with said lost objects on numerous separate occasions? Should she warn them? Did they already know?

She grimaced at that, rummaging in her backpack for breakfast. Storm sighed in her sleep, rolling onto her side and kicking her legs. Louisa scooted away from the hooves and continued rummaging, continued thinking.

There was Ma Gasket and Polybotes to consider. Seeking her out for something more, beyond the gods. Ma Gasket had said she had orders. Did her orders come from the giant? Louisa rubbed at her forehead, grimacing. It was all tied together, she was sure of it. Tied together in a massive, confusing, flip-flopping web that no-one really understood, but had still cost her friends their lives. Anger coiled in her chest, hands shaking as she upturned her backpack, getting frustrated with the lack of edible results.

Arnie, Raijin, Huxley and Ruby- they had all died because of her, because of what she could do, what she may do, what the gods feared she would do and what their enemies wanted her to do. It brought no comfort, knowing the reason behind everyone's interest in her. None whatsoever. If anything, it doubled the anger in her chest, forming a tight knot amongst her ribs that would not relent.

Her friends would have gotten on well together. Arnie would have teamed up with Raijin to bully Huxley's ribs. Ruby would have found his eyes fascinating, the two different colours they were. Huxley may have dragged Arnie into to help with food, seeing as he was clearly the better chef between him and Louisa. Not a top notch chef, not of any degree. Just a better one than whatever disaster she classified as.

Storm awoke with a jolt, head springing up and looking around blearily.

I didn't eat the bridge. She assured.

"I'm sorry?" Louisa puzzled. Storm looked at her for a moment.

It was an apple bridge. You told me not to eat it.

"You were dreamin', Storm."

So… if I was to go back to it… and you told me not to eat it… it's not the real you, so I wouldn't get in trouble?

"Guess so." Louisa shrugged a shoulder. Storm whickered delightedly, lying back down. "No, sleep later. We need ta move again."

But I want to eat the bridge!

"I'm sure it'll be there later."

If it's not, I'm going to eat you.

"Fair."


It was getting closer to summer, now in that funny time between spring coolness and summery onslaught. Louisa was waist deep in a river, wading in further, leading Storm across. The water was blissfully cold. Louisa willed away her waterproofing for a moment, relishing in the relief. She looked back at Storm, puffing hair from her eyes. "We could've just flown over."

And mess up my feathers? No way!

"So walkin' through a river is better for your feathers than air?"

Yes. No. Uh…

"Mmph. Ya needed a bath anyway."

Did not! Storm protested, biting her rider's sleeve and tugging sharply. The riverbed vanished from under their feet, cold water splashed around Louisa's face. She kept a hand in Storm's mane, kicking. Storm huffed beside her. Maybe flying would have been better.

"Mm. Should listen ta me next time."

But I don't want to.

"Then don't whine."

I'm not whining. Louisa looked back at her disbelievingly. I'm complaining. It's classier.

"How?"

Whining is for horses. Complaining is for super cool, gorgeous pegasi. She gave a little head wobble, quite proud of herself. Louisa squinted at their surroundings, looking over one shoulder and then the other.

"Huh." She said. "Can't see any of them round here."

I don't know why I bother with you.

"Food."

That might be it.

They reached the other side, Storm shaking herself to dry before Louisa stepped in with her water-repelling abilities. Storm pretended she hadn't forgotten about them and trotted off, spreading her wings. Can we fly now? She asked, looking back innocently. Louisa refrained from throwing something at her head- maybe an apple, just to really rub salt into the wound- and nodded. Storm whinnied, delighted and hopping excitedly. It took a moment to calm Storm down long enough for Louisa to climb up, but they were flying soon enough. Yay! Storm bobbed in the air, hooves skimming the treetops. Can we go higher?

"They're your wings." Louisa reminded her, holding onto her mane. Storm snorted determinedly and began to rise, beating her wings. Louisa leaned to the side. "Why are you runnin'? Ain't no ground to run on up here?"

Why'd you move your arms when you walk?

"Yeah, OK, I'll take that." She looked down. They were flying higher than they had before, almost reaching three times the height of the tallest tree. Storm levelled out, shaking her head and sighing contentedly.

I love flying.

"Ain't too bad. Just don't drop me."

No promises.

It was nice up here. Cool, quiet, away from everything below. Comforting being on Storm's back, feeling her wings move either side of her, watching her head bob as she galloped in the air- Louisa still didn't understand that, although the mental picture of Storm flying without moving her legs was rather amusing, albeit odd. Storm careened one way, then the other, thoroughly enjoying herself. Louisa hung on, squeezing with her knees and keeping a careful, but firm hold on the pegasus's mane. She dived and then rose, dived again and rose again, weaving through the air like she had done so all her life.

Louisa let Storm steer them wherever she wanted to go. There was no rush to get to the camp. She had been trying to get there for a few months shy of four years now- it wasn't exactly going anywhere, was it? It could wait a little longer. Besides, Storm was having fun, now finally big enough and strong enough to fly. Louisa wasn't going to break the novelty for her by reminding her of their stupid destination, a destination of which she might not even be welcome in because of her father.


It was one such day, in late July, they were flying over the sea. Louisa had seen signs to a beach, could not resist. During the day, however, it was packed with people, all enjoying the summer heat and splashing in the ocean. They waited until night fell, when it was quieter and she could conceal a pegasus under the dark sky. She was hardly worried about Storm dropping her now, less so when they were racing through the air above the ocean. Breathing in the salty air calmed her, soothed her headache, made her feel marginally better, but still better than she had felt in a long time. Storm flew along. Louisa had leaned forward, lying against the pegasus's neck, closing her eyes. She filled her lungs, a mix of ocean, fur and apples, an odd sense of relief washing through her mind with each breath.

Storm swept to the left, angling herself for a moment and then straightening out. Hey, Lou? They had been flying for almost half an hour by this point. Louisa opened her eyes, but refused to move. She was comfortable. Lou?

"Yeah?"

I think we're in trouble.

"Ugh, why?"

This dude looks really mad.

"What dude?" Louisa rolled her head, scanning the area on their right. The sea sloshed below them. A buzz passed over her skin and she looked up. Storm clouds were blotting the night sky, gradually deepening. She hardly flinched as thunder rolled, somewhere in the distance. She didn't see the really mad dude, not at first. Storm was looking for him, ears twitching.

He was just here, I swear.

"Is it Dad?" Louisa asked, one eye on the impending storm clouds.

No.

"No?" She didn't know anyone else that could do what her father could. She didn't want to know anyone else that could do what her father could- one sea-faring, stormy god with a fickle 'kill-the-daughter/don't-kill-the-daughter' mindset was more than enough for her.

Then she saw him.

Didn't have much of a choice when it came to seeing him.

The water exploded in front of them. Storm shrieked and reared, Louisa yelped and clung on, the pegasus batting her wings desperately. A hand emerged from the gloom, as big as a house, streams of water spilling from the fingers in roaring gushes. It swung at them, Storm dived. Louisa ducked, the little finger less than a foot over her head.

What the hell is that?!

"Bad! Go!"

I'm going, I'm going!

The hand came back. It slammed into them, a backhand that sent them flying the length of a football field. Louisa crashed into the water, a whiteout of bubbles blinding her, gasping and winded. She kicked and swiped at the sea, fighting to right herself.

Storm was gone. Storm was gone, where the hell was she? Ice slammed into her chest and she whirled around, calling for the pegasus, screaming in her mind for the only friend she had managed to hang on to.

A face appeared before her. Louisa kicked away, heart thudding. A pair of glowing yellow-green eyes glowered at her, the light of a smirk twisting through them. Each one was easily as big as her missing pegasus, staring at her as though they had been waiting for her. His hair swarmed in the currents, thick dark tangles, with a beard to match. There was something in his hair, something else that moved, but not with the forces around them.

He smiled at her, a brief brighter spot through the murkiness. He pinched the scruff of her shirt, rising. Louisa kicked and yelled, she was pulled above the surface. The man continued to rise, up and up and up, higher than Storm had flown. It was raining now. Another clap of thunder.

"Put me down!" She demanded, drawing her sword. The man began to laugh, bewildered at first, and then deep booming amusement. His skin was deeply tanned, pulled taut over muscles, clad in bronze armour decorated with sea monsters and swirling patterns. She squinted up; crab claws rose from his head, like horns, pinching at the dark, thunderous stretch above. She slashed upwards, determined to catch his wrist. Her blade sparked uselessly off his gauntlet. His snickering dwindled and he poked her, curious.

"You aren't what I was expecting." He mused. She stabbed at his finger, a single bead of golden blood blooming on his fingertip. "Ow." He deadpanned. He dipped his finger in the water, re-evaluating it at moment later. No trace of the wound.

"STORM!" Louisa bellowed, swinging in his grip, fighting to turn around and search. "STORM!"

"Stop that." He demanded, shaking her. She stabbed at him again. He caught the blade between his thumb and finger, plucking it from her grip like an annoying splinter. He examined it for a second, gave a little hmmph and tossed it over his shoulder. "Do you know who I am?" He inquired. Louisa glared at him, clenching her fists. "Mmph. Demigods today. No respect. I am Oceanus. I ruled the sea before your upstart of a father came along." He heaved a sigh. "The gods imprisoned us Titans. They think us defeated. Well," he smiled at Louisa, giving her a little shake again to make sure she was paying attention, "they won't keep us down for much longer."

"Where's Storm?"

"You aren't listening, are you?"

"Where's Storm?" Louisa didn't care what this giant man had to say. She didn't know what or who the Titans were, she didn't know or care what they were planning, she didn't want to know- she had to find Storm. That whack could have seriously hurt her, could have killed her. Louisa had to find her.

"Oh, you little brat." Oceanus snarled, lifting her closer to his face. "You have the gods' fate at your fingertips and you're worried about some stupid horse?"

"SHE'S NOT A HORSE, SHE'S A PEGASUS!" Louisa threw her hand out. The wind snapped around her, blasting his head with a hurricane. Oceanus growled, swatting the bluster away.

"Stop this childish nonsense!" He fumed. "Polybotes saw potential in you, but you have only shown yourself to be as worthless as all of Neptune's spawn!" He shook her again, hard, chattering her teeth. "I am giving you a choice, to be far greater than any that have come before you! Join us! Rise to your fate, help us take down those infernal gods!"

"Shut up!" Louisa held her hand out, wanting her sword back. The waves churned beneath her, the clouds rumbled. He didn't give her a second to concentrate on her weapon, pinching her arm. She screamed as the bone snapped, clutching the broken appendage to her chest. Hot tears seared on her cheeks, falling away and mixing into the rain. Vomit boiled on her tongue. She swallowed it, summoning a glare for him.

"You are disappointing. I was promised power in you, but all I see is a scared little girl crying for her horse!" Heat slammed into Louisa's chest, firing under her skin. She looked up at him, at his stupid face and stupid crab claw horns, green light bursting across her palm.

"I'm my own power."

He stared at her for a moment, disbelieving. Acid seared her throat as she screamed. Thunder shook the sky, the wind howled. Green energy erupted from her, encasing all she could see. A roaring unlike anything she had heard before swarmed everything on a tide of her light. Oceanus bellowed in pain, dropping her. The sea rose up to meet her, a flurrying mess of grey, dirty water that crashed into itself, furious and hungry. It swallowed her in an explosion of bubbles, slowing her descent to a drift. She hardly noticed, unconsciousness folding over her as determinedly as the waves.


The End

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