Thanks for pointing out the Percy Aaron typos from the last chapter, I went back and fixed them.

"Wow!" Aaron gaped, looking at the Shrine before him, he was used to feeling Hades' power but damn it was always impressive. Covered in bones, it looked like a larger gazebo then he had personally constructed for the God in question's Greek Half. "You can feel his essence so purely here, so exactally... you respect him more then Neptune that's for sure, it allows his presence to be here more conciously."

Jason shivered. "We fear him too, but yeah in a way he is more respected."

Aaron stepped right into the shrine and drank in Pluto's essence, feeling his faint connection with Thalia magnify a hundred fold to the point he was sure he could summon her with a thought. It was that potent here, Pluto's essence. Aaron placed his hand on the shrine and fed it some of his power, as he had for Neptune. "Lord Pluto. allow me please the right and privleage to summon the Spirit of Thalia Grace... Sister of Jason Grace, who has served his people so nobly for so long."

There was no response at first... and then the earth trembled ever so slightly, so slightly only he would notice it. The power rumbled through his body, into his soul and he felt Thalia rise through the Earth into his body... she was in him, part of him... and somehow he knew what to do. Turning ot Jason, he grabbed the boy's shoulders and planted a kiss on his forehead, allowing Thalia's essence to flow into him.

Jason recoiled, shivering and pale. "I can feel her, how... what... what happened? What did you do?"

"I Summoned her essence, through my connection with her and gave it to you. I can no longer tap into her essence, you are tied to her through blood and dormant memory. You will be able to speak to her once, tonight, in your dreams... and then she will fade back to Elysium."

"I... I see." Jason sighed, sitting down against the Temple. " Thank you, Lord Pluto. I'd offer something, but there is nothing I can give you now... later though, I will return with something."

Bowing low, Aaron smiled at the beautiful temple. "I will be back as well, someone has to give you the respect you deserve, might as well be me." He pulled off his talisman, washed clean of magic, and placed it on the steps of the shrine. "I offer this, cleaned of magic as it is, it was crafted of fine power and sacrifice. It should still be a conduit of power for you, and to the dead since it was made of HellHound bones. That much hasn't changed... actually you helped me get it, so you should already know that. Thank you for your help...I offer you this final product, and thank you for the guidiance that led me to crafting it."

The only response was a small shadow washing over the talisman, taking it away, presumably to Hades. Aaron felt accomplished, and sort of sad... like he had lost a piece of himself, but in a needed way. Trimming the fat, as it were, allowing himself to grow stronger without it.

"Aaron!" Aaron and Jason both turned in time to see young Alex skipping happily towards them. "D'Anthony sent me, he said it was time for Muster soon. You don't want to be late." Together, Jason and Aaron immediately hurried and left following the young Spirit, who eagerly chattered at them. "So, what'cha doing at the Temple of Pluto, Aaron?"

"Channeling the dead and offering my old Talisman to Lord Pluto."

"Oh, wow! Maybe you can actually learn the necromatic styles here, so many people are afraid of death here that there is little done with the tomes on the subject." Alex beamed a smile. "When your probatio status is done, I'll show you where they are!"

Aaron couldn't help but chuckle. "I'd love that, thank you Alex."

"Hehehe."

Lydia barked, "What a cute ghost boy, I think I am going to like him."

"Probably."

"""

Aaron ended up standing with a bunch of guards. There were dozens of kids, two hundred to be percise, all standing next to each other in various rows each representing a cohort. Aaron was stunned to sense such a mass of mystical energy, the power of the Divine rushing through these kids' veins was a hefty burden and source of strength. The Lares were the last ones to fall in, adding their potent necromatic magic into the air. Their purple forms flickered as they jockeyed for places. They had an annoying habit of standing halfway inside living people, so that the ranks looked like a blurry photograph.

Octavian, standing at the front alongside D'Anthony, shouted, "Colors!" The standard-bearers stepped forward. They wore lion skin capes and held poles decorated with each cohort's emblems. The last to present his standard was a random boy, the legion's eagle bearer. He held a long pole with absolutely nothing on top. The job was supposed to be a big honour, but he obviously hated it. He felt the embarassment ripple through the camp at the sight of it. On the way over to Muster, Little Alex told Aaron all about the missing Eagle and the failed Quest to Alaska to fulfill the Quest of the Seven, carved into Jupiter's Temple. The embarassment of that must have been strong, for those that cared for such things like the Romans seemed to.

'Romans!' D'Anthony suddenly announced. 'You've probably heard. Today a Sorcerer approached our Camp. Juno herself guided him here, and proclaimed him a potential ally." The kids in the back rows craned their necks to see Aaron, it was actually kind of funny, especially with Young Alex beaming a smile at him cutely. "He seeks to join the legion," D'Anthony continued. 'What do the auguries say?'

"I have read the entrails!"Octavian announced, as if he'd killed a lion with his bare hands rather than ripping up a stuffed bear. "The auguries are favourable. He is qualified to serve!"

The campers gave a shout: 'Ave!'Hail!

D'Anthony motioned the senior officers forward – one from each cohort. Octavian, as the most senior centurion, turned to Aaron.

"Recruit,'he asked, 'do you have credentials? Letters of reference?"

"A Literal goddess approved of my entranec. Diana herself blessed my Familar, I think that speaks more then any letter."

Octavian wrinkled his nose. "No letters," Octavian said regretfully. "Will any legionnaires stand for him?"

Jason and Alex both stepped forward. "I"ll stand for him." They both said, sharing a look of shock from each other.

Little Alex spoke first. "He is a kind boy, powerful and with a rich past serving the gods. Why ask for anything less then acceptance?"

Jason nodded. "He allowed me to speak to my sister, long desceased... and he has proven to be even more capable then Octavian in reading the Au- I mean the Haruspex, which is the true name for sacrifices. He can commune with the dead, touch the Lares and who knows what else? We would be fools to ignore his skill and power. I will stand for him, to allow him the chance to prove himself."

"Very well," D'Anthony announced. "Jason Grace, you may stand for the recruit. Does your cohort accept him?' The other cohorts started coughing, trying not to laugh. Aaron only knew vaguely why, thanks to Alex... Jason pounded his shield against the ground. The other members of the Fifth followed his lead, though they didn't seem very excited.

Jason shared a look with a pretty girl, clearly of Demeter ( or Ceres) bloodline with her potent earth based aura. They both nodded. "My cohort has spoken,'Dakota said. 'We accept the recruit."

D'Anthony nodded. "Congratulations, Aaron Mathews, Lydia Mathews" He smiled at the barking wolf cub. "You stand on probatio. You will be given a tablet with your name and cohort. In one year's time, or as soon as you complete an act of valour, you will become a full member of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata. Serve Rome, obey the rules of the legion and defend the camp with honour. Senatus Populusque Romanus!" The rest of the legion echoed the cheer.

'Centurions,' D'Anthony said, 'you and your troops have one hour for dinner. Then we will meet at the Collesium for War Games! Good fortune!' A bigger cheer went up – for the war games and for dinner. The cohorts broke ranks and ran for the mess hall.

Aaron rushed over to Jason, with Lydia at his side. "Thank you." he said. "Um, what exactly does it mean – your standing for me?'

"I guarantee your good behaviour," Jason explained. 'I teach you the rules, answer your questions, make sure you don't disgrace the legion.'

'And … if I do something wrong?'

"Then I get killed along with you, Alex would be banished which would essentially mean a fate worse then death without our essence to leech on. "Jason said. "Hungry? Let's eat!"

""""

Aurae – waited on the campers and seemed to know exactly what everyone wanted, even Aaron who they never met before. They blewplates and cups around so quickly the mess hall looked like a delicious hurricane. If you got up too fast, you were likely to get beaned by beans or potted by a pot roast. Aaron had a delicious chicken filled spinach salad and blue soda, taking a toast to his brother and Sally who he missed.

"I miss you guys, I'll see you guys later." He said, as he took his first sip.

The mess hall seemed especially noisy tonight. Laughter echoed off the walls. War banners rustled from cedar ceiling beams as aurae blewback and forth, keeping everyone's plates full. The campers dined Roman style, sitting on couches around lowtables. Kids were constantly getting up and trading places, spreading rumours about who liked whom and all the other gossip. To his confusion, the Fifth Cohort took the place of least honour. Their tables were at the back of the dining hall next to the kitchen.

He barely got two bits in, watching Lydia dig into her raw meat platter, before he was all but tackled by an enthusiastic Alex. "Your here!" He giggled, and Aaron finally got a good look at the boy's face. The blur of the purple energy, Alex was a strong Lar, faded enough to see through. He used to be tanned, resembling Jason quite a bit actually. Even his aura was similar... Aaron realized then that he was dealing with a son or legacy of Jupiter.

Smiling, he nodded. "Are you going to watch me kick butt at the Gladitoral games?"

Alex nodded excitedly. "I can't wait to see you fight! I had people get you weapons, their waiting for you at the Collesium."

Unable to stop himself, Aaron kissed the Ghost boy's forehead. "Your a literal angel, you know that?"

"Yes!" He giggled. "Can Lydia fight yet?" He brushed her forehead, making her sigh as she ate her food.

" No, not yet, but in a few weeks we can start teaching her. She's growing at a supernatural rate you know. Diana's gift."

Alex nodded. " I can see her aura, the blessing is clear. A moony aura around her... I like it."

"So do I."

After a while longer of eating and chatting in peace, D'Anthony stood. 'The games begin!" He announced. The campers Cheered and rushed to collect their equipment from the stacks along the walls. Aaron just followed everyone as they left, to go beat some ass in the Gladitorial games. It really was going to be fun... he rarely liked showing off but in this instance he was looking forward to it. It was time for everyone to see what he could do.

This was going to be fun.

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

This was fun.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.