I love writing with Meggy too, she gives me extra POVs and interesting perspectives and gives a reprieve for Aaron.

"Alright Meggy, let's get you equipped." Aaron led his little sister into the weapons shed, a snug fit given her great size and his own thick figure. That Charles Beckdendorf was with them, and he was not a small boy at all, only added to the snugness. "We have to find something that fits you well, something that will work with your style and desires in combat. Your pretty strong, so you'll have to be careful to not break your sword or whatever."

As they passed a set of Shotguns, Charles sighed. " I wouldn't advise a gun since Celestial Bronze bullets vaporize on contact. I would go with a sword and maybe something that goes to your stronger body. Maybe a club, or bronze knuckles. Something like that."

Meggy frowned. grabbing a club from the wall. " Meggy doesn't like this, it feels wrong. Meggy isn't as strong as other Cyclopes, she's too small... maybe knuckles to make Meggy's punches harder? And maybe a big sword, to fit Meggy's big size?"

"That wouldn't be a bad idea I think." Aaron gestured to a row of bronze knuckles, all on a small shelf. " Try one of these, see if it fits."

Meggy's eyes widened. "Ooh, shiny! Meggy likes these, their like pretty bangles." She placed a few on, or at least tried too but most were too small. Only the largest fit snuggly on her fingers. "Can Meggy make her own, since Meggy isn't done growing and these will be too small soon?"

Charlie laughed. "Sure, Kiddo. That can be our next project, we'll even make it grow with your body. Same with your sword, Cyclopes can change size when their old enough so it would be important for you to have something that can accommodate."

"Yes it would be."Aaron said as he browsed the weapons. " I can't use any of these, since I am mortal, but I wish I could. I have to use Enchanted metals only, or bone I suppose. Or wood. I would like to use your metals but in a way I guess it's good since I cannot be hurt by these metals... yet. From what I gather, eventually my body will become so infused with magic I'll gain the power to touch and be touched by these metals. Not too sure when that will happen."

Meggy frowned. "Meggy doesn't like that idea, your already vulnerable without it. Meggy doesn't want you more vulnerable ..."

"It will happen either way, I just need to prepare for when it happens."

Meggy still didn't look pleased but she nodded, accepting that her brother would one day become infinitely more in danger.

:::

Meggy loved the sight of the Arena, she felt a surge of something wash through her as she walked into the place. She wondered, absently, if it was her mother's powers making her sense this or just her imagination. She often felt things, emotions and what not, lingering in places but only passionate ones. Love, Hate, Fear... and this place stunk with that aura, making her body feel stronger as if she was drinking from them. She mentioned this to her brother, not wanting to hide anything from him, and he just looked at her as did Beckendorf.

"Empathy but it isn't tied to people... maybe it is merging with your connection to construction and creation, so you feel it on places and not just people? That's my guess. What else do you feel?"

"Sadness, a lot of sadness here. Meggy knows bad things have happened here, a lot of pain but a lot of success." She frowned, and looked skyward. "Meggy knows not what powers she got from her Mommy, there are not a lot of Cyclopes like Meggy. Most are Poseidon's children, not other gods but we do exist. I met a Cyclops son of Ares once, he died shortly after Meggy met him...he was angry and sad a lot."

Aaron put a hand on her shoulder. "I am sorry you had to see that, kiddo."

She just shrugged. "Meggy saw a lot on the streets... anyway, what are we doing here?"

"We are going to teach you the basics of swordplay and how to use your Bronze Knuckles. Charlie is really strong and can handle fighting you, so he will be your opponent. I will be just demonstrating what to do and you'll be copying me."

Charlies nodded. "Just don't kick my butt too quickly, I have a reputation."

She giggled there, unable to stop herself... then she froze and turned, just in time to see a pretty black haired girl walk into the Arena. "Who are you, Meggy asks?"

The girl smiled. " I am your sister, Silena. I wanted to see if you needed anything and to see how you fight."

Meggy just barely withheld her hate. "Mommy threw me off of a mountain, why would you help me?"

"Cause that was an evil thing to do, and I love all of my siblings."

Meggy froze, reaching out with her senses, she realized the girl was... not lying to her. A smile crossed her face. "Meggy did always want a sister... okay, Meggy needs more clothes and stuff for her room. Meggy is sleeping in Aaron's room, so can you help me with this nice Sister Silena?"

Silena beamed a smile, approaching them quickly. " I could do that, easily. Now, let's see you fight. Most people underestimate Children of Aphrodite, let's show them how stupid that is!"

Meggy could not help but laugh. " Does sister Silena know about Brother Aaron and Brother Beckendorf?"

Silena blushed a little she she mentioned Beckendorf, implying a crush, but when she said Aaron's name her eyes softened. "Yes, I know of them both. I don't know Aaron was your brother though, though I heard rumors that he adopted you."

"He did. Can you be their friend too?"

"I already am Charlies' friend, but I would be happy to be Aaron's friend too." She held out her hand, shaking Aaron's hands softly. " It is nice to meet you Aaron, I hear you are training with Will Solace. Is it hard?"

"Very." The boy said, smiling. "But worth it. I look forward to being as helpful as possible."

" I imagine you will be, what with your magic and your skills as an archer and swordsmen. I've seen you practice before, your better then some of us Demigods, but you doubt yourself. Not everyone of us has natural battle skills, so you have some fair competition you know." She beamed a smile, then turned to Meggy. "Let's see what you can do."

'''

Silena, as it turned out, had a natural knack for pointing out flaws in their combat style. It turned out that children of Aphrodite had intense visual acuity, making it easy for her to pick out flaws and see possibilities in many things from relationships and makeup to combat. Though she wasn't a great combatant herself, Silena understood combat and could make great points. Aaron felt himself getting better from just a few minutes of her fair pointers.

"You should try pegasi, I think you would be a good rider." Silena said, to both Aaron and Meggy. "Both of you really. I am the best equestrian in the camp, I would be happy to teach you both."

"I would be happy to learn, but I am a bit afraid of falling and getting hurt." Aaron admitted, not at all ashamed. "I can't deal with the injuries you all can."

Meggy's sister nodded. "That's fair, but the Pegasi are great with their riders. They'll keep you afloat, promise.

"We might have to try it out then... some time, I have a really tight schedule but I will make time. It would be a useful skill, no doubt."

Silena ended up staying the entire hour they practiced, only leaving when they did saying she had to go teach her next Horse Riding class. "I'll see you all later." She kissed Meggy's check and wave at the rest of them before sprinting off.

Aaron realized, in that moment, he had made a big mistake. " I really shouldn't have isolated myself like I have. Now I have three friends and three really good allies... who would have guessed?"

Meggy and Charlie both smiled at him, both clearly happy for him.

"So what's next?" Meggy asked.

"I get to practice Archery. I don't think we have a bow strong enough for you. Most would break under your strength... pity, you would be scary with a bow."

Charlie shrugged. " I could make her one, or help her make herself one."

"Either way, it would be fun. I could show you the basics and get you familiar with a bow, so you can learn when you get your bow."

"That will have to be just you lot, I have a class to teach. See you later." Charlie smiled at both of them before rushing off to go and teach whatever class he was bound to.

Aaron smiled at the boy, as he ran off, happy to have made so many good friends. It was such a foreign feeling he was almost unsure of how to deal with it. "Alrighty, sis, to the archery area we go."

"""

That nigh, Aaron and Meggy sat together at the top table, digging into their food happily. Both were happy, content and smiling as they chatted about various random subjects. Meggy mostly ranted about projects she was interested in, like what kinds of Jewelry she could make and so on. Aaron was happily ranting about the magics he would learn and the lessons he had planned for Will when he came to practice the next day. It was fun, and only added to the warmth of the Meal.

Eventually they finished their food and the campfire started. Aaron and Meggy both found Percy, who they had unintentionally ignored over the last day or so. Percy didn't seem to mind, smiling at them when he saw them. "You've been busy, I haven't seen you once since I came to camp."

Aaron shrugged apologetically. "I was getting Meggy used to camp. She is fitting in well, really well. She's made a lot of friends so far, which is nice. She is also showing promise with a sword and her bronze knuckles, you should spar with her."

Percy chuckled. "Maybe not now, I just beat the Apollo cabin by myself. It wouldn't be a good idea to fight her just yet."

"Maybe not but eventually. Anyway, since your here, you want to hang out. I am trying to be more social, I guess I isolated myself a lot so I am trying to make amends.

"I figured you might." Percy smiled, turning to Meggy. "Are you enjoying camp?"

Meggy nodded. "Meggy Loves it here, everyone has been so nice. I met my sister, Silena today... oh, I said I! I guess my speech is getting better..." She smiled as she stretched out the I, taking pleasure in the word. " Anyway, Meggy is having fun. Iiii feel like this is going to be a good place for me, a good home. What about you, are you staying Percy Brother?"

"Only on the weekend, but I will be back. Aaron was right, I have been slacking. I noticed a serious drop in skill when I was fighting the Apollo cabin. I hate to think what would happen if Luke was here..." he all but whispered Luke's name, as if he was afraid to bring his name up around the others.

Aaron realized he never explained Luke to Meggy, so the poor girl was very confused. "I'll explain later, sis."

And he would, it wouldn't do for her to be confused and exposed due to a lack of knowledge, knowledge that could be easily used against her...

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was fun, I loved it.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.