A/N: Here is chapter two of Without Your Light, actual story wise. Don't know if anyone is actually reading this, but whatever! This is from Reyna's perspective. In the story, she is president of the U.S. This will include the preparations for Piper's memoir/funeral. They're going to be texting in this chapter. In my end A/N I'll let you know who is who if you haven't already.
Apologies for not updating sooner. School has been crazy, and I'm barely finding time to exist, much less write and publish. I'm working on stories though, and am planning a mass update around Thanksgiving or Christmas time. This might be part of it, not sure though. Also, I've got a slight head cold (not COVID, I already tested) so that's going for me. Anyway, hopefully this will be up in the next week, if not, it will be a mass update, you'll know if it is updated by Nov. 7 that I followed schedule.
Disclaimer: I am not Rick. If I was, Jason wouldn't have died. Also, I would have aged Percy up so he can go to college. And yet, Percy is STILL 17 years old, studying for his SATs, to get into college with Annabeth.
President Ramirez-Arellano was normally put together. Normally. She was getting up, ready to start another day of signing notices, assuring the people she was taking care of it, preparing for her re-election and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. It had been years since it had been legalized and yet, they were still being harassed. As a member herself, she was stopping it for good.
But then Annabeth called. Annabeth was a close friend from high school, and they were still close today, eating dinner together and chatting about new ways to change issues. Reyna was brushing her hair and was working on a braid when her phone rang. Upon seeing the caller ID, Reyna dropped her hair and grabbed her phone. It was Annabeth.
"Reyna, um, I don't know how to tell you this in a 'nice' way" Annabeth began
"What?" questioned the President
"Piper is dead. Suicide. Best I can tell, last night, depressed from Jason's passing. I don't know why she didn't tell anyone but she…she's gone. I.. I went to.. to her house to check, maybe I was interpreting her new lyrics wrong, but her.. her body wa-was on the floor. Blood-Bloodstains everywhere." At this Annabeth's voice cracked. "Piper's new song, Without Your Light...it's updated now. Extended version and everything. The last lyrics were 'So I guess I'll end, I'll end my life tonight'."
Reyna didn't take the news well. She didn't want to that is. But she had to. She was the President, and if what Annabeth said was true, then the whole country would most likely be in hysterics at the loss of Piper McLean, international Pop Singer/Songwriter. Reyna could only respond "I understand. I can talk later, Annabeth." Yet, as much as Reyna hid it, Annabeth heard the tinge of heartbreak and despair in her voice. The people knew too.
Reyna threw her hair into the rest of the braid, put on a decent-looking outfit (A purple t-shirt, black pants, black blazer and her gold-lined purple cloak.) and prepared for her speech. "Citizens of the United States, I am quite upset to announce that Piper McLean, one of the best Singer/Songwriters of this generation, has passed away due to suicide initiated by depression. We will have a memorial service next week. I am aware that this is upsetting news. I was incredibly heartbroken when I heard the news myself. She was a good friend of mine, possibly the best friend I ever had, save for Thalia Grace, leader of Diana's MaidenHood." Many were shocked to hear that President Reyna Ramirez-Arellano was a close friend of Piper McLean and Thalia Grace. "As for other orders of business, yesterday was the 20th anniversary of Jason Grace's passing, and we will now take a moment of silence to mourn him." Then Reyna continued "Now, some positive news! The war with Egypt has been resolved, as well as the one with Scandinavia. That is all for today" Reyna went back to her room and mourned Piper, until she had to start planning her memorial. Reyna messaged Percy, Annabeth, Frank, Hazel, Leo, Calypso, Nico, Will, Thalia, Mellie and Piper's dad, Tristan McLean to come down. Reyna could not get in touch with Piper's mom, but was able to get in touch with her siblings, Drew, Lacy and Mitchell. The message read:
RARA: I'm holding a memorial for Piper. Lemme know if you're coming, and I'll send someone to escort you to my place
Wise_Girl: I'm coming. Percy is too, no matter what he replies.
SeaweedBrain: Yeah I'm coming. Pipes was one of our best friends
McShizzle_Man_Bad_Boy_Surpreme: Will you send a limo? Or what?
RARA: Does it matter? Are you coming to mourn your best friend?
McShizzle_Man_Bad_Boy_Surpreme: Put me on the list of attending RARA
RARA: Don't call me RARA, Valdez
McShizzle_Man_Bad_Boy_Surpreme: Why Not RARA? It's your user.
SeaweedBrain: Leo's got a point
RARA: Do you want me to throw you in a dumpster as your transport? I will
McShizzle_Man_Bad_Boy_Surpreme: Fine…..
SeaweedBrain: ^
Ghostking1932: sure
: Why wasn't I informed sooner?
RARA: look in the Heroes group chat. Or watch my daily updates. Or ask anybody on the street
: I'm coming. Pipes and I were close. Or at least, we spent time together
MissMist: WHA? Okay absolutely I'm coming.
ChangelingLord: Definitely.
McLeanT: Oh, Piper. I didn't know.
McLeanT: Ya I'm coming. It's my daughter's Funeral after all
The Island Girl: Count me there!
Silver Pine Tree: I'll take some time off. Don't worry about transportation for me, I'll come myself.
RARA: How are you taking this Thals?
Silver Pine Tree: Not well
Wise_Girl: Do you want to meet at Gaea's? before the memorial?
Silver Pine Tree: I'll be fine Annie. Just, well, so close to Jason's…
RARA: It's okay if you can't come
Silver Pine Tree: I'll be there
Cabin10Counselor: I never liked Piper. Why would I WANT to "Mourn" her?
Lacy: Because she's your sister. And yes, I'm attending
Cabin10Counselor: She's no sister of mine. She is in the same pit as Silena in my book'
Lacy: Heroic? Amazing? Beautiful? Sacrificial?
Cabin10Counselor: A traitor
SeaweedBrain: So on the Tanaka ship then?
Cabin10Counselor: I'm offended. Silena was never me. And neither was Piper
Lacy: Honestly, that's a good thing
SeaweedBrain: ^
Wise_Girl: ^
Ghostking1932: ^
Silver Pine Tree: ^
RARA: Are you coming Drew?
Cabin10Counselor: were you even paying attention? I'm not coming to that slut's funeral!
Silver Pine Tree: TAKE THAT BACK THIS INSTANT!
Lacy: ^
Wise_Girl: ^
RARA: ^
RARA: I'll just put you down as 'not coming' Drew.
RARA: So, to clarify, the only one not coming is Drew?
Ghostking1932: Seems right, but don't ask me
: Just read through and Drew is the only one who isn't coming
RARA: What about Mitchell?
Lacy: I don't know. He's over at my place right now though
Lacy: Oh Yeah, he's coming
RARA: Okay, that's everyone, I'm logging off now
Reyna logged off and began to schedule the flights, as well as resolving the Triumvirate Holding fiasco. That was still happening, and some reports have seen that Dylan was part of a gang, who's leader was in direct cohorts with Caligula, one of the three leaders of Triumvirate Holdings. Caligula wanted Jason dead, and Reyna was determined to discover why and destroy the company, after of course, mourning Pipes. After that, Reyna turned off the computer to look at some bills she had to sign or veto. There were only 3 and she wrapped those up pretty quickly. Reyna hadn't realized how much time had passed until she looked at the clock. It had been 10 hours since she logged off chat. She heard a knock at her door and saw that Thalia had arrived.
"Thalia? What are you doing here so early?" Reyna asked her
Thalia walked over to Reyna "To help you. This is how I mourn. I help the ones whom the passed loved most. Now, lets get you ready for bed" Thalia helped Reyna change into her pajamas and get in bed. Reyna didn't even realize when her eyes shut and she fell into a deep, easy sleep
A/N: Chapter two done! And for once you actually know what the heck is happening! Here is who is who for the chat scene, it might help you make more sense of it:
RARA-Reyna
Wise_Girl-Annabeth
SeaweedBrain-Percy
McShizzle_Man_Bad_Boy_Surpreme-Leo
Ghostking1932-Nico
-Will
MissMist-Hazel
ChangelingLord-Frank
McLeanT-Tristan McLean
TheIslandGirl-Calypso
Silver Pine Tree-Thalia
Cabin10Counselor-Drew
Lacy-Lacy
That's it for this update! Next chapter is Thalia's POV. I'm debating whether or not to do Theyna in this story. I'll be happy to answer any burning questions you may have as well…..