Check out Naomi's gift by MikaRauch on Wattpad to see an awesome Original Story I am writing. Here is the Synopsis.
Cursed with mortality among a sea of demigod and legacies, Naomi struggles the shine. Desperate to matter, to gain a fraction of the power and influence of her peers, Naomi applies herself to become a heroine unlike any other. One powered by ingenuity and strength of character instead of divinity and nepotism. She seeks the only form of immortality available to mere mortals like her,that which came from being remembered forever in the stories of men. Nothing will get in her way,... except maybe her nephilim brother and those that see that her place was as a breeder for the gods.
In six months, Nico was strong enough to overpower Minos, a son of Zeus and a Judge of the Dead, who had taken a lot of power, become almost alive and had many soldiers of the dead. I think Aaron, having trained for so long, would be strong enough to do what he did. If only barely...
"Interesting." Dylan said, having transitioned into his mortal self after they offered Zeus a sizeable offering of deer meat as tribute to his ego. He was a tall mixed race Latino man, a rugged sort of man with a handsome beard and a rakish smile. Unlike Lycaon, his wolfish features added to his beauty, it did not detract from it in the slighest. "I feel different as... whatever I am now. I no longer think we are true werewolves, but something entirely different. My wolf form is smaller and grey now, I feel weaker then I was... as if by turning our curse into a blessing, we are no longer as powerful. " He turned and looked at his fellow wolves, and noticed many things about them, one thing stood out. " They appear more dog then wolf, tamed..."
Aaron felt pride in that fact as he patched up his wolf bite, it had stopped bleeding thankfully but even with his magic and unicorn draught being drank and poured onto it, the wound refused to heal in the slighest. "I think that is a good way to explain it, the magic feels less rugged and more human. I think I literally tamed the magic. Like I said, I could not destroy it, I don't even think Zeus could anymore. The magic was too powerful for that... but I think that changing it was possible, through my will as you put it."
The man smiled. "I am okay with that. A loss of power as cost for freedom from Lycaon's rage and insanity. I wonder if we will still go to Tartarus when we die... We shared his immortality, only as long as he was on the Earth to act as our anchor. If he was dead, and then we died, we would perish forever. Now we are tied to you, I can feel it, but what does that mean for us. Have you inherited Lycaon's immortality now that you have dethroned him?"
" Not a clue... I feel... like time is slower, if that makes sense but I still have a soul, so I am not a monster. I think, if I have to guess, that we are more like a Hunter of Artemis then anything else."
"That is because you are."
The wolves all leaped into action, growling and staring at the voice. A familar voice that made Aaron sigh, then bow. "Lady Juno."
The Goddess was garbed in a silvery set of armor, to his shock, she looked like a gladiator or Athena's sexier sister. She sighed and approached him, kneeling and waving her hand over his leg wound. The wound sizzled, then sealed up. "My husband is not pleased... but he will get over it. Legally he is bound, he gave you a quest and you completed it. He is bound by his own laws to leave you alone, and to reward you even... which he has done by allowing me to explain a few things.
For one, you are now like a Hunter of Artemis in a way. The blessing grants you powers, but not immortality. You are still technically mortal, human I mean, your just a mortal with an extra power... like the legacies of Periclymenus, who are gifted the power of shapeshifting like their anscestors. You can turn into a dog at will and your senses are stronger... but as the curse has been changed into a blessing, changing your fate, taming the wild magic you have lost a lot as well. All metals hurt you, not just silver. You are bound by mortal rules still, all of you are, your souls have been returned to you so you can go to Hades now.
The connection that once bound you to Lycaon has changed as well. Aaron, as your Alpha, is bound to you all through what is essentially an Empathy link. He can feel your lifeforce and emotions, if you die he will feel it as if he was dying himself, but he can also channel his power through you. He is the taproot of the magic, the connecting force and for that he will gain strength and suffering. The Fates themselves have declared this to be so, and it was by their grace that you were allowed to do this, to weave a new future for yourself. Be grateful, all of you, such a thing is rarely allowed to happen..."
Juno's judgey tone made the wolves bristle their fur, but Aaron just sighed. "Thank you for that information. I know you are not meant to be a messenger, but can you tell Camp Jupiter this so they don't kill me on the spot?"
She laughed, to his shock. "I am able to do that, and I will. You have done a great deed... oh and you and Lyacon are now linked. He can take back his wolves, if they choose to follow him, and you can do the same to him if they choose to join you. Never forget that,... I must leave. Do not linger away from Camp Jupiter for long, child, you have a mission to fulfill."
With that, she vanished in a soft swirl of light.
"That was informative." Aaron managed to stand, feeling stronger now that his pain had faded. "Let's see what I can do... how do I turn into a dog?"
Dylan's smile was almost feral. "Before it was a surge of rage... but now, it is a desire to be free. Channel that desire, let it become you, and you should be able to transition with ease. Try it out!"
Aaron did as he said, channeling emotions was a big part of magic, and so easily felt himself transition into a dog... a large dog, one that towered over Lydia, who had been sitting next to him contently. He looked around, amazed at the change in his senses. His muscles almost ached with power, the urge to move and run and hunt... it was intense, a chaotic force burning within him. He managed to turn back just as easily, a natural extention of himself.
"Wow... that was fun. I guess I should get used to that... but I wonder if my powers were affected any, my mystical abilites. They don't feel different, I am not stronger for this ordeal or weaker... I think other then my new form and extended senses, I am basically the same. That's... good I guess. At least I am not harmed by this, not too much anyway. We should make our way to Camp Jupiter. I know you have no interests in serving the gods, but you can serve me as a guard of sorts... and friends. I will not abuse my power and rule over you. This is not a dictatorship, this is a democracy with me as president but we all have a say, no matter what. We all vote on things... does that seem fair?"
The other wolves all nodded, looking pleased. Dylan especially so. " Thank you, you honor the oath of freedom you gave us... I wonder how running through the Tiber will affect us. I doubt it will change us at all, the magic too intergrated into our very souls. Shall we go now?"
"I think so."
"""
The scent of burning deer soothed Jupiter's rage, a fact that annoyed him as much as it helped him. "How did the boy manage such a feat, it should not have been possible for him to overcome my curse." His grumbles filled the Throne Room of Olympus, he wanted to rage about and blast the boy into Hades for this insult but he could not... The Fates had told him no, and in fact were looking at him coldly. "Daughters, please explain yourselves?"
Lachesis stepped forward, the middle of the triplets and their leader. "The boy, though we allowed him, did this on his own. Magic is not all about Might, Father, you know this. Will power is a large part of magic, and the boy's will is nearly without equal among mortals, be they of divine blood or not. Even many gods pale compared to his will. For the one moment, his Will overpowered your Hate filled curse. More over, your curse destroyes the soul, turning the victim into a monster. As a witch, his soul is far stronger and he is able to channel his will more purely then even a demigod would be able to. These two factors combined gave him the advantage he needed to overcome your magic, even if only by taming it.
Is he a massively powerful force, no... though he has the potential to be, it is a path had may walk one day, but at the moment no. However he, without divine blood, held up the Sky and has mastered a great deal of magic. He is not to be considered a minor figure and you should not allow your paranoia to ignore the greatness and support he brings to us all."
Atropos approached next. "The boy has rendered a most dangerous Monster obsolete for quite some time, stripping him of much of his power and agency and created a powerful force for the good of the world. The boy is not your fan, you know and sense this, but he does serve the greater good which means he is not a threat to you and your reign."
Then it was Clotho's turn to speak. "Father, the boy has more then earned this favor from us for the good he has done for us all. Shrines built to the gods, saving several demigods from certain death, killing Lycaon, saving Artemis and holding the sky up, finding a way to free Kronos' goodness... no, in this we will not budge. He will not be harmed for this, he has more then earned this reward from us, as minor as it truly is..."
Sighing, Jupiter realized he had no choice but to accept his daugher's proclomation. "Very well, I will not act against him... I still do not trust him but so long as he behaves himself and serves Greece and Rome, I will not act against him."
"That is all we ask." They said as one, making him shudder as their power filled the Throne Room, reminding him how much stronger even one of them was when compared to him.
It was a cold reminder, one he needed every so often it seemed...
His daughters vanished then, in a swirl of white mist, leaving him to sulk in his own inferority and paranoia for quite a bit longer.
""""
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the returning hero." Terminus' voice was warm welcome to Aaron as he and his dogs approached the entrance of Camp Jupiter, the Caldott tunnels. The Statue, for some reason, was at the entrance instead of any legionares. "Lady Juno told us you'd be here, and with your new allies... I admit, I wasn't sure which rules this broke, but according to her it was being allowed by the Fates themselves."
Aaron smiled at the statue, for some reason enjoying him. "I am not a natural rule breaker, as you'll find out Terminus... am I allowed back into Camp?"
"Of course you are, you succeeded in your quest and you did well. Please, by all means, come in. Just keep your dogs in check. They are carrying no weapons as I can sense, only fangs and claws." He turned his head to the Wolves. "Please do not hurt my people."
Dylan, who had turned back into a dog, returned into his mortal form. "We have no intentions of hurting anyone, we just wish to serve our alpha and live our lives in peace while we still can."
The God sighed. "That is a relief... now, carry on if it pleases you." The world shifted then, in a swirl of purple energy and before Aaron knew it, he and his dogs were on the otherside of the Little Tiber, in front of a crowd of Armed Romans.
Smiling, he raised his hand. "Hi, there! Guess who killed Lyacon!"
To his shock, a cheer shot through Romans as they praised his success. None of them seemed to upset that he was now... whatever he was called.
Little Alex shot through the crowd and crashed into him, hugging him tight. "I saw your lifeforce fading... I am so glad you are safe."
"I am too, Alex... I am too."
Pulling away, Alex beamed a teary smile at him. "Welcome home, Pontifex!"
""
It took all Octavian had not to scream as his fellow Roman charged and cheered for Aaron, like he was some sort of hero and not a mortal freak. 'He was supposed to die, Lord Apollo, not get stronger and come back with an army!'
To his shock, Apollo actually sighed into his head. 'Not one of us saw this coming... it was as unexpected for us as it was for you. There is little you can do about it, just adapt and succeed. You made me an oath, you promised to make me that greatest of the gods. Fulfill your oath or I will take my blessing away."
Octavian sighed, barely able to keep his cool. 'I will do what I can,.. and I will not allow this boy to overshadow me. I will succed in my goals, I will be remembered for making you the most powerful of the gods!'
Apollo's satisfaction flowed through him and Octavian knew he was in the right... as he usually was.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This chapter was so much fun!
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.