PJatO || Nicercy || PJatO || Nicercy || The Prince of Pluto || Nicercy || PJatO || Nicercy || PJatO

Title: The Prince of Pluto – A Journey to the Stars

Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus

Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Rick Riordan for he created the awesomeness that is Nico di Angelo. And everything else related to Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus. Aside from the Gods, they belong to the old Greeks. This fanfiction and its OCs on the other hand are entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.

Warnings: m/m, scifi AU, aliens, alpha/beta/omega dynamics, hurt/comfort, fluff, pining, explicit intercourse, oral, anal, knotting, f/f, m/f, polyamory (m/m/f)

Main Pairing: Nico/Percy

Side Pairings: Reyna/Annabeth, Nyssa/Piper, Octavian/Luke, Ethan/Alabaster, Jake/Will, Frank/Hazel/Leo, Jason/Calypso, Grover/Juniper, Charles/Silena, Chris/Clarisse, Malcolm/Katie, Bryce/Drew, Paul/Sally, Tristan/Beryl, Maria/Marie, Hades/Persephone, Poseidon/Amphitrite, Thanatos/Triton

Percy Jackson Characters: (by planet/asteroid of origin)

Sun: Will Solace, Octavian Simmons, Austin Lake, Kayla Knowles
Mercury: Luke Castellan, Chris Rodriguez, Travis Stoll, Connor Stoll, Cecil Markowitz
Venus: Piper McLean, Silena Beauregard, Michael Kahale, Drew Tanaka, Mitchell, Lacy
Earth: Perseus Jackson, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, Ella, Ethan Nakamura, Tyson, Sally Jackson, Paul Blofis, Tristan McLean, Beryl Grace, Maria di Angelo, Marie Levesque
Moon: Calypso Nightshade, Zoe Nightshade, Phoebe
Mars: Clarisse la Rue, Frank Zhang
Vesta: Charles Beckendorf, Leo Valdez, Jake Mason, Nyssa Barrera
Pallas: Annabeth Chase, Malcolm Pace
Bellona: Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, Hylla Ramírez-Arellano
Ceres: Katie Gardner, Miranda Gardner, Juniper
Jupiter: Jason Grace, Thalia Grace
Saturn: Kronos (King)
Chiron: Chiron, Grover Underwood, Gleeson Hedge
Uranus: Gaia (Queen), the Giants
Neptune: Poseidon (King), Amphitrite (Queen), Triton, Proteus, Kymopoleia, Benthesikyme, Rhode
Orcus: Bryce Lawrence
Pluto: Nico di Angelo, Bianca di Angelo, Hazel Levesque, Mrs. O'Leary, Small Bob, Hades (King), Persephone (Queen), Thanatos, Olethros, Makaria, Melinoe
Eris: Alabaster C. Torrington, Lou Ellen Blackstone

Summary: The moon-landing had changed the course of history when human made first contact. It opened Earth up to space-travel, exploring the solar system and their now allied planets. Chiron Academy is the leading high school training future space explorers.

Percy Jackson grew up dreaming of one day traveling the stars. When he gets into the academy, he makes a lot of new friends, among them his new crush the half-Plutonian Nico.

Things change when Nico confides in his friends that he is actually the prince of Pluto – and that Pluto is in the middle of a horrible war. Together, the group of their close friends, they decide to ditch school, steal a space-ship and go out into space alone and unsupervised to help.

The Prince of Pluto

A Journey to the Stars

Chapter 3: First Class

Percy was wearing the uniform with pride. It was skin-tight, orange and purple. Breathable and stretchy – and in line with the way the official uniforms of the space-explorers looked. It made Percy feel like a part of it already. He stood straight, chest puffed out, in a line with his new classmates. Nico, Annabeth, Grover, Jason, Reyna – Hylla's younger sister – among many others. They were a class of about two hundred people. This was the most prestigious space academy in the states. People from all fifty states tried to come in here. He had gotten into this academy.

"First, I'd like to congratulate you. Getting into this school is hard. And it's hard for a reason."

Chiron Brunner stepped up to them, arms crossed behind his back. Percy tried very hard not to grin like a manic fanboy, but this is Chiron Brunner. He had basically brought the concept of space-academies to the states. He had helped build the first academy. This academy.

"Now, I want you to look left and right of you. Look the people next to you in the eye."

Percy obeyed, finding himself looking at Nico on his right, who grinned at him, then looking at his left at Annabeth, who managed to look absolutely serious and excited at the same time.

"One of them will not be there anymore in half a year." Muttering went through the rows. "Statistically, a third of our recruits will drop out by the time the first semester ends. I am not saying this to scare you. I'm saying this to make you face reality. Congratulations, you got into the academy, but that was not the hard part. That was only the beginning. Don't think you can lean back now because you got in. It's only going to get harder from hereon out. Brace yourselves for what's about to come and pace yourselves. Are you ready for this?"

"Yes, sir", chorused all two hundred of them at once.

"Good. You've all received your schedules. Now off you go to your first classes."

"What's your first class?", asked Percy immediately, looking at the other two.

"...Math", muttered Nico put out. "That's... anticlimactic, somehow."

"Sorry for your loss", grinned Percy amused. "I got biology."

"Same", stated Annabeth. "Wanna head there together?"

"Oh, wait for me!", exclaimed Grover and caught up to them.

Percy's grin turned softer as he fell into step with Annabeth and Grover. Sure, this was going to be hard. But it was going to be so good too. They were going to do this together.

/break\

Percy hadn't stopped blushing for the past twenty minutes. They really didn't waste any time here. Biology dove right into alpha/omega dynamics, heats, ruts, pheromones. It made sense. Most public schools barely scratched that topic, coming fresh out of middle school they really only knew the most fundamental terms. But this was different. They were living together. Young, hormonal alphas and omegas living just a few rooms apart. To make this living and working arrangement here possible, productive and safe, they had to draw some lines in the sand and explain to everyone. Because humans like Percy, betas who lacked those instincts, they needed to understand what was happening around them too. Don't get into the way of two alphas fighting when they were in a primal headspace. Don't ever get in the way of a feral omega.

That was the first new thing he had learned here, because to the larger human public, the impression was that omegas were... well, submissive, soft, weak, non-threatening. Alphas were supposedly the strong and threatening presence. Turned out that what alphas had in brute force, omegas had in agility and when really pushed, omegas were far more dangerous than alphas.

And while utterly interesting, it was also kind of embarrassing to listen to this middle-aged woman teach them about ruts and knots. The school was under no illusion that they could prevent four hundred hormonal teenagers from having sex at all. It was going to happen, they all knew it. What they could do was teach them safe sex, prevent on campus pregnancies and injuries. Because it turned out that yeah, knots were actually a thing – part of Percy kind of thought that was a fib – only omegas had the capabilities of taking a knot. Don't be reckless and try the physically impossible, had been the warning. Percy's head was very red at that point.

They were first years, which meant that the majority of the alphas and omegas in their class hadn't yet presented. Which was the big angle of today's class, and supposedly of class for the next three or four weeks. Prepare them for what is physiologically happening when presenting, not just for themselves but also what is happening to those around them.

"Prejudices are rooted in a severe lack of understanding. We're here to correct that. You will have to understand your own bodies, and the bodies of others. Any form of bullying is reason for a suspense and, if repeated, reason for expulsion. Our hope here is that if you understand what is happening on a biological level, you will think twice of making fun of others for it."

That seemed like a good approach. Percy, having been bullied before as a young child, knew that people liked to make fun of those who were different in any sense and of those things they didn't understand. The other kids didn't know what dyslexia or ADHD were, he was just the jumpy weirdo who couldn't read properly. If someone had explained it to them, just maybe things for Percy would have been different. Percy also remembered from his last year in middle school, when one of the girls had already developed quite the boobs and got picked on by the other girls and got lewd remarks from many of the boys, who simply parroted what they heard in TV or heard older kids say. Education wasn't going to end bullying, but it sure seemed like the right step to decrease it.

/break\

"That... sure was an experience", muttered Annabeth, rubbing her forehead, cheeks red.

"I mean, honestly, it was rather interesting?", offered Grover. "Chiron – the asteroid, my home, not... uh, our principle – doesn't have alpha/omega dynamics either. All I knew was from like... TV shows. And I think we covered a lot of important stuff, even on this first class?"

"Ye—eah. She crammed a lot of knowledge into two times ninety minutes", agreed Percy. "Much only on the surface for now, but I'm curious to hear more."

"Well, it's different for the two of you because you're betas. I just...", sighed Annabeth and shook her head. "I'm an omega. I have the genetic disposition of an omega, so I'll be presenting as one."

"See, and now Grover and I know how to react and how to help you if it happens all of a sudden in like... class or something", offered Percy with a grin.

It was relatively simple. Get an omega who was presenting first away from alphas, then out of public. Cooling down, if possible, get the closest teacher. It kind of made sense, now that he knew it, but he didn't know if he'd thought of it on his own. He'd probably be panicking because he didn't even know what happened. Now he knew the signs of an omega presenting.

"Let's all keep our fingers crossed that I won't present in class", grunted Annabeth with a glare.

Percy laughed and wrapped an arm around her. "Of course, Chase. You'll be fine."

"We're going to get lunch now, right?", asked Grover hopefully.

Annabeth and Percy eagerly agreed to that and the three made their way to the cafeteria. After filling their plates, they went looking for a table – and spotted Nico, Jason and Reyna sitting together. Jason was Thalia's brother, but he didn't seem to take after the Selenian side of the family.

"Hey, Reyna", greeted Annabeth with a nearly shy smile.

Oh, she had done the doe-eyed expression this morning already, but Reyna had barely joined them for ten minutes before their breakfast table had dissolved. Percy grinned to himself while eating his Martian penne. Which, very spicey, but also rather yummy.

"We didn't really get to talk much this morning. So, what's your story?", asked Percy curiously. "I'm Percy. Born and raised on Earth, both parents human. Always dreamed of coming here."

"Grover Underwood. Also born and raised on Earth, but my parents are from Chiron. I always did want to travel, but as an explorer, not a fighter", offered Grover next.

"Uh. Annabeth. My mother is from Pallas, I... I really want to travel to other worlds, gather knowledge", continued Annabeth, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"I'm from Bellona. Me... me and my sister, we stowed away, after our father died. Traveled to Earth. I want to travel, in the name of the planet that took us in when we had no one. Gives... life a purpose", replied Reyna after a moment. "I've been working hard to get here."

"Haven't we all?", chuckled Jason. "Man. Did anyone else find Mister Brunner really intimidating this morning though? One third are gonna drop out."

"Well, that one third comes from a different table then", declared Nico.

/break\

"So, how was your first day at school?"

Percy grinned as his mom sat down with him. She 'happened' to come and pick Paul up from work and figured she'd drop by at Percy's dorm-room. She may just be the only person more excited about this than Percy himself. Folding his legs beneath his body, Percy leaned back.

"Easy. I think that's on purpose. To ease us in. Just a couple... regular classes. Drills and training start later in the week", offered Percy, pausing for a moment. "So... I've been thinking..."

"About what?", asked Sally, sounding concerned.

"I don't know. I just... I know you, and because of you Paul, don't live on campus because of me. Because of my middle school. But... now I go here... and I was just wondering, are you gonna... move here too?", asked Percy slowly, wiggling his nose a little.

"We... are thinking about it. It'd make life for Paul easier", replied Sally. "And... I admit, I'd feel better being closer to you too. Call me a helicopter parent if you want, but I worry."

Percy smiled and leaned into his mom, hugging her. He had to admit, he would prefer having her close too. Even though he seemed to do quite alright making friends now, he still felt like his mom was going to be the strong backbone who had brought him here and would help him through it.

"And the other children are nice to you?", asked Sally, cupping his face.

"Mo—om. We're not children. We're sixteen year old nearly adults", grumbled Percy.

"Sweetie, you're my sixteen year old child", chided Sally, kissing his forehead.

Percy grumbled some more at that. He was practically an adult, really. Three short years and he was going to graduate, be eighteen years old and leave for the stars. Three years was nothing.

/break\

The second day was harder than the first. Every second day had hard physical training in the schedule. Three days a week they were going to be run into the ground. The running drills alone left Percy feeling as though his lungs were on fire. He stared at the Mercurians who didn't even break a sweat. Physical disadvantages of being human.

"Hey there. Here, drink something, you're wheezing."

Percy turned toward Nico who was offering him a bottle of water. Gratefully, he took it and nearly emptied it. Groaning, he emptied the rest of the bottle over his head before collapsing backward onto the ground. He spread his arms out and stared up at the clouds.

"If this is... going to happen... three times a week... I... I may just die", gasped Grover out.

"Oh, you'll live. Don't give up that early", offered their classmate Chris.

"Easy for you to say, you literally flew over the tracks!", exclaimed Grover.

Chris was a Mercurian and his winged ankles had let him soar and be one of the first to cross the lines. Chris laughed as he landed next to them, offering Grover a bottle of water to pacify him.

"C'mon, you're gonna have the advantage when we're going out climbing", offered Chris.

"That is true. For now, I will have to suffer this course though", grunted Grover.

"When it burns, that means it's working", offered Percy with a bright grin.

"...I don't think that's right. That doesn't sound right", argued Nico disturbed.

"Shush. That's science and I'm right", grunted Percy, throwing the empty bottle at Nico.

"We got until Friday to sign up for clubs and activities. Did you guys all choose something already? It is already Wednesday, after all", asked Grover curiously after a moment.

"Swi—im te—eam", exclaimed Percy in a drawn-out way.

"Yes, yes, we know", huffed Grover teasingly. "I've decided on the gardening club."

"...Gardening? Seriously?", asked Nico doubtfully. "Uh. No offense, but... what's it good for?"

"We can't learn all plants from all planets in biology and herbiology. Gardening club is to specialize on identifying and caring for plants. The first time we crash-land on a different planet and y'all are hungry, you'll be grateful I was in the gardening club, I tell you."

"Fair point. Very fair point. Who's gonna join the club that makes sure I also get meat?", asked Percy hopefully, looking around. "Because I can not live off of plants."

"We're gonna have to get someone into the archery team for that", offered Nico.

"Good, good", nodded Percy thoughtfully. "Something tells me Annabeth already has it all planned out. She strikes me as the kind of person who... does that."

"Has what planned out?", asked Chris curiously.

"Our team", replied Percy with a grin. "We've decided that we're going to form a team."

"That... is only required at the beginning of the second year though", noted Chris.

"Su—ure. But if we plan ahead now, that's gonna make us more efficient then", offered Percy.

A team usually consisted of about ten people. Starting in their second year, they would be required to work together in such a team, formed on their own account. Because the most important part in their line of work was going to be teamwork and learning how to work together, how to apply each other's skill-sets and be efficient at problem-solving was something that had high priority at the academy. People who think they can do everything alone were not fit for this job.

"I'm getting into navigation myself", offered Chris after a moment.

"Ni—ico. What about you? Be useful", asked Percy, nudging the Plutonian next to him.

"I'm... I was considering getting into magic", replied Nico after a beat.

"Like... card-tricks?", grunted Percy confused, staring at the other.

"No. Matter-manipulation", explained Nico. "But... it's still wildly referred to as magic."

"And you can do that?", gasped Percy out, eyes wide.

"It's something some races, predominantly those from Eris, can do. I... can do a little bit but not much. Maybe I can hone my skills and learn more that way", elaborated Nico tentatively.

"That's cool, man", noted Grover, eyebrows raised.

/break\

"Hey, you're friends with my roommate Annabeth, right? I'm Piper."

"Yeah. Percy. Nice to meet you. So, you're here to join the swim-team too?"

Piper nodded. Her eyes were pink, blue and purple at the moment. They were gorgeous. The natural shapeshifting ability of a Venusian. They couldn't fully shapeshift into, say, a cat or a dog. But as long as the base-form was humanoid, everything was game. In the past four days, Percy had seen Silena with five different hair-colors – blonde, brunette, black, red and currently neon-pink.

"Hello, guys. I'm Silena Beauregard, second year and current captain of the swim team. For introductions, we're going to have a little race. Five laps in the pool."

Silena clapped once and all first years lined up before jumping into the pool. Percy closed his eyes as the water enveloped him. It always made him feel serene to be in the water. Swimming was something he could do on autopilot, it was the most natural thing. When he broke the surface next, he was surprised to see the rest of the newbies at least half a lane behind him.

"That... was very impressive, Percy", noted Silena, looking just as surprised.

It wasn't that Percy didn't know he was fast; he had always been fast. But this school? It was filled with the best of the best. He had never been under any illusion that he'd even make the top ten swimmers at this school. Not with so many people with clear physical advantages over him.

"Okay, you gotta tell me where you're from", panted Piper breathlessly. "I used fins and gills and you beat me by five seconds. That's insane."

"I'm just... human. There's nothing... special about me, or my heritage", offered Percy softly.

"Well, that ain't right", countered Piper. "You're definitely special."

Percy grinned and ducked his head at that, before Silena had them all line up again. Special, huh?

/break\

Nico was trying very hard not to be special. Sure, him and Bianca were the only Plutonians at the school so that set him apart quite some – even among a bit over four hundred students, they were the only Plutonians. But that was it. He couldn't afford to draw more attention to himself. Still, Percy had been so enthusiastic about them becoming a team and having specializations, he had kind of slipped. He hoped he could somehow... cover it up. It was public knowledge on Pluto, maybe not on Earth though, that the royal family had matter manipulating powers.

He took a deep breath and looked into the mirror. All he saw was his father's face looking back at him. They had always looked similar, his mom had said it was because they had the same sharp cheekbones and charming, dark eyes. He closed those eyes and took another deep breath. He missed them, he missed them so much. He missed Pluto so much. Earth was so different, so strange, he was so tired of being treated like an outsider for his wings and 'weird' eyes. With every day, his memories seemed to fade more. All he wanted was to get back to Pluto, get back to his parents.

He knew though. He knew that this school was his only hope of getting back home. To get back home and change something. His knuckles turned white as he clawed at the sink.

"Dude? You okay in there? Because I'd like to get ready for bed too any time soon."

Jason knocked on the door. Nico took another couple of breaths before he unlocked their bathroom door and let the other alpha into the bathroom. The blonde gave him a curious look as he passed him and Nico forced a smile. He... liked Jason. The guy seemed alright. But making friends was not what he was supposed to – was not what he had wanted to do. Because letting people other than his moms and Bianca in meant actively lying to people. How could he get close to them and still lie to them? It had been easy the first time around, when he had just met Percy. Now, however? It had been five days since he had met them and he was growing attached to them and lying to them made him feel bad. Because they were being honest with him. Jason had told him about his absent Jovian father, his mother's drinking that had only gotten better after she met Jason's stepdad. How Jason's father was a big-shot general and Jason wanted to be better than him.

How could Nico look him in the eyes and lie about how his moms were just normal middle-class immigrants from Pluto, how Nico just wanted to go and be able to visit Pluto. Sighing softly to himself, Nico collapsed onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He knew he could never tell them the truth and get any of his new friends dragged into his mess. He couldn't.


Author's note: We have officially entered the part of the fic where we'll branch out into other POVs; I've never been one to only write from one POV. But the introductions felt important to all focus on Percy. Now that we're a bit more settled, let's dive into the others. And next chapter, we're gonna dive into history class - specifically, the history of Pluto. ;)