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 9: Natural Hunter, Apex Predator

Rhode was growing very attached to Percy Jackson. He was such a sweet boy, in some way he reminded Rhode of her nieces. Energetic, greedy for knowledge, kind, gentle. It also felt oddly nice to be the one to teach a young Neptunian the ropes like this. She never wanted kids of her own, but this was one of the things he had envied Triton and Proteus for.

"You have to straighten your legs, keep them together and spread out your tail to line up with your legs", instructed Rhode gently. "It should do the rest automatically – on instinct."

Percy furrowed his brows doubtfully but did as instructed. The two of them stood together in the academy's private lake. After having presented a few days ago, Rhode now wanted to show Percy how to use his body properly, how to get used to his own body. He had needed some time to fully come into it though – presenting wasn't a one evening kind of thing, there were hormonal changes and physical changes that needed to settle first. Today was the day – and in this case, Rhode was very glad for her brothers, because she had seen the way they had first taught their kids to hunt.

"Woah! That's weird. Okay", grunted Percy surprised, jumping a little.

"The 'fur' isn't just fur. In the case of our tails, they can latch onto our legs to stabilize them. There is a reason fishes only have one tail and not two limbs. This helps streamline our body in the water for maximum speed", explained Rhode gently. "Now we're going to dive and hunt."

"Hunt? Wait, isn't that too soon? Shouldn't we, I don't know-", started Percy worried.

"Come on, you like to get a head-start on things, don't you? Dive right in. So let's do that."

With that, she did just dive in, leaving Percy behind, staring after her in surprise. He was nervous about this. Swimming was one thing, but diving to the bottom of a lake? He was still doubtful if he could really do that. Rhode said he could. Closing his eyes, Percy jumped down and followed. Once under the water, he carefully opened his eyes. Everything was – clear. Not like his normal, human under water vision. It was clear like the water wasn't even there, like he was above the surface. He could see so far ahead, could see the fishes and plants and ground so clearly. And Rhode.

Percy startled when she made chirping sounds. "Come along, Percy."

Okay. So the new funny things his vocal cords could do actually translated to language under water? That was interesting. The vibrations reached his ears and he could actually understand them. Rhode had explained this before, how his brain was wired to translate the vibrations into his mother tongue. He slowly started swimming toward her, having a bit trouble because he instinctively wanted to part his legs and swim human-style. Rhode smiled encouragingly at him as soon as he was close enough and took his hand to guide him. It was weird, but it reminded him of his childhood, of how he had first learned how to swim, his mom had the same warm smile, trying to calm him down while instructing him.

"You're doing good. Take your time. Just like learning how to walk. You crawl slowly first before you can run. You need to get used to it, and you will. Now, try copying my movements, okay?"

Percy nodded, not trusting his under water voice just yet. He watched her closely, the way she moved her legs and body and then he tried to copy her. It was harder than expected and he somehow ended up sinking onto the bottom of the ground, making Rhode laugh softly.

"It's okay. You're doing fine, Percy. Take your time."

/break\

"He's pretty amazing, isn't he?", whispered Reyna.

Annabeth furrowed her brows in confusion for a moment before following Reyna's line of sight. The two of them were studying together, in the library up high with the perfect view on the lake. A small smile found its way onto Annabeth's lips as she saw the blue form of Percy swimming in the lake. Him and Miss Rhode had been in the water every day after class, Rhode teaching Percy how to swim, how to communicate under the water, how to spot and hunt prey. Percy was an eager student, as he was with anything he was invested in (not so much math, literature and the other basic subjects, those he required some help from Annabeth and others, but that's why they formed study groups with each other, having those exceeding in one subject take on about three who were weaker in that subject and thus lifting each other up).

"He really is", agreed Annabeth, voice soft. "School alone is already too much for many – we've had over thirty drop-outs already. Taking on extra curricular like the swim team? And on top of that learning that he's not actually human, having to learn his body? If I'd only now be learning I'm Palladian and if I'd have to learn how to use my camouflage abilities now..."

She still remembered how her mom had taught her, with a simple trick. A cap that Annabeth needed to concentrate on, using it as her trigger for her abilities. When she put it on, she turned invisible. Not because of the cap, but because concentrating on that helped her focus and manifest her abilities. By now she could easily do it without the cap, but especially as a kid whose thoughts and concentration were all over the place, this had really helped her with when to turn invisible. Aside from visiting dams and museums, that had been her main bonding thing with her mom on her weekends over. After all, it was something her dad and stepmom couldn't help her with.

"It must have been hard for you", murmured Annabeth with furrowed brows.

Reyna was beautiful, but kids could be cruel especially of the things that were different – and Reyna's red skin made her different. She offered Annabeth a smile and shook her head.

"I have tough skin", replied Reyna. "Literally and figuratively. Nothing school kids could throw at me could compare to what home life had been like."

Annabeth averted her eyes at that, looking guilty. Both Reyna's parents had been soldiers, Belloneans who had been sent as reinforcement to the alliance during the war against Saturn and Uranus. Reyna's mother had never come back and her father Julian... he had only come back physically, not mentally. His trauma was so severe, he couldn't handle it and wasn't willing to confront it either. Annabeth knew. In the past eight months that she had known Reyna now, the two had grown very close. Aside from Percy and Piper, Annabeth considered Reyna one of her best friends. Deep down, she actually considered her more, but – Annabeth was awkward with feelings.

"He'll be fine though. Right?", asked Reyna, voice low and worried. "He's shouldering a lot. He really does think he has to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders all alone."

"He does", sighed Annabeth. "Thinks he has to personally solve every problem too. But that's what he's got us for, doesn't he? A team. Friends to rely on to have his back and help out. Though admittedly, I'm... a little lost as to how to help him with... this."

"I don't think we can", offered Reyna back. "I just... He has to learn how to do this with Rhode and there is no cheat-code for it. All we can do is... help out in all other aspects, right?"

"Piper's helping him with the swim-team. They're going to be co-leaders starting next year and Piper does not take shit from anyone", chuckled Annabeth fondly. "She'll not allow him to take it on all on his own. And the team... Okay. Actually, while we're sitting together..."

She got out her folder for that very thing and put it out between the two of them. Reyna tilted her head curiously and reached for it, flipping through it. Profiles from everyone from their grade. Everyone. And yes, not quite legally but Annabeth was a very good hacker.

"We got you, me, Jason, Nico and Piper as fighters", whispered Annabeth. "That's five. Grover and Juniper as nutritionists. Seven. Rachel as our navigator and Will as our medic. Nine. Chris is our pilot. And... captain Percy, preferably also as our pilot."

"Basically, we're still looking for mechanics then?", asked Reyna thoughtfully.

"Yeah. Here's the list of all the people exceeding in mechanics."

Annabeth flipped a few pages to pull them out for Reyna. Personally, she was really eyeing Nyssa for the job, knowing that Piper was sweet on the Vestan. Though she'd prefer more than one mechanic. Sadly, due to the size of their team already, they would only at max get two mechanics – around twelve meant eleven, twelve or thirteen members. Not more. And admittedly, their team was not as well-balanced as one would have for an official team, however for the purpose of their exercises, their bonds of friendship mattered and would positively affect the outcome of their final exam. After all, they wouldn't be going on an actual dangerous mission just yet.

"You think Calypso made the right decision?", wondered Reyna. "I mean, we asked her to join our team, since we've... become friends. I understand her reasoning that she didn't want to be on the same team as her boyfriend, however... I also understand, say, Grover and Juniper, who love each other and work well together because of that. I think... it depends."

"She's on a team with Malcolm, Katie and Connor, among others. I think she's doing well herself. Connor's a good pilot, according to her and I know Malcolm – a brilliant strategist", shrugged Annabeth. "I really do understand the concern of working with each other."

"So... you... wouldn't want to date someone on the same team...?", asked Reyna carefully.

"W... What?", whispered Annabeth surprised and wide-eyed. "I uh... I don't know... Maybe?"

She could feel herself turning slightly invisible – oh dear, she hadn't done that in a long time. But it was basically the Palladian way of blushing. Embarrassment turned them invisible on instinct. Closing her eyes, she tried to calm herself. Oh dear. She really had a huge crush on Reyna. She wanted to talk to Percy about this ask his help, but she also knew how busy he was these days...

/break\

"A date? Like, an actual real date-date?", asked Nico surprised, looking at Will.

"Screw you", grunted Will and threw a shirt at him. "Yes, I have a date."

Connor – Will's fellow omega roommate – laughed at that. "I was as shocked as you, di Angelo."

Nico turned to side-eye the younger Stoll. He knew they nearly lost Will to Connor's team, what with them being roommates and having become friends through that. Thankfully, apparently, Nico had the better offer – or Will didn't want to constantly sit on his roommate, metaphorically speaking. Alabaster and Ethan, who were also on Connor's team, assured him that they'd find a different medic. Apparently Katie Gardner, who was their nutritionist, also doubled in medical herbs so she qualified for both positions. Which was clever and something Nico planned on suggesting to Juniper (Grover was way too focused on food and also cooking, beyond just plants too).

"Okay, so, who's the date with?", asked Nico as he got comfortable on Will's bed.

Will kept showing Nico and Connor different shirts, trying to find what to wear. "Jake Mason. He... asked me out earlier this week. Wants to go to the end of year dance with me. And, well, wants to date me before the dance too. So... We're gonna... uh... go on our first date tonight."

"Congrats. And pick the green shirt", nodded Nico amused. "Don't forget to woo Jake into joining our team, if he doesn't have one already."

"Don't sell me out like a cheap whore", warned Will pointedly.

"What about you, di Angelo?", asked Connor curiously. "Handsome, presented alpha like you must have omegas flocking around you? Especially with that... mysterious aura of yours or whatever."

"Or whatever?", echoed Nico, snorting softly. "I'm not interested in dating."

"I can hear the hearts breaking", sighed Connor dramatically.

Nico smiled a little as he rolled his eyes. What he said was true, he wasn't interesting in dating. That didn't mean he wasn't interested in an omega though. Percy, ever since Percy had presented, it was like Percy's scent was all over everything. He now regretted how often Jason and Nico housed the others for studying, because Percy always ended up on Nico's bed and now very often, Nico's bed smelt like Percy's, which was just... counter productive.

"Nico is a diligent student who only focuses on graduation and not on the pretty omega giving him the heart-eyes all the time", sighed Will and shook his head. "Honestly, Percy's a saint for being so patient. If someone's giving me that cold a shoulder, I'd move on, focus on a more available option instead. I like you, Nico, I like you a lot, but you're a damn fool for ignoring that piece of ass."

"...Damn, you're so right", whispered Connor after a moment. "Percy really has a great ass."

"I mean, he also has pretty eyes and a sweet smile and he's kind-", stated Will.

"-naturally all of that, also very athletic. But like, that ass", nodded Connor seriously.

"Screw you both", growled Nico annoyed, eyebrows drawn together.

"Just saying, it's a very pretty ass and Percy has far more to offer than just that so... he will have other options soon enough and at one point, he will grow tired of waiting for you", stated Will seriously.

Nico growled, lifting his wings a little in a threatening manner. He was well-aware of that. He knew what a catch Percy was, all around, and he knew that... Percy liked him like that. He knew if he'd ask Percy out, Percy would say yes. He also knew at one point, Percy was going to grow tired of waiting for Nico. However, Nico also knew that he couldn't ask Percy out, he couldn't start dating Percy while lying about so much – about his own identity. That wasn't fair on Percy. Percy deserved to date someone who would be honest with him, someone Percy also could be happy with, because Nico... Nico was going to leave Earth after graduation. Percy deserved to be able to make plans, not have a relationship based on lies that was also on a time-limit.

/break\

"Okay. You see the big one over there? Think you can catch it?"

"It's... moving fast. I... don't know", replied Percy shakily.

Talking was one thing, but talking under water was very different. He was still struggling with expressing himself, but him and Rhode had been going to the lake nearly every day for the past two weeks, Rhode teaching Percy everything about moving under water, orienting himself under water, communicating and now, hunting. On the first day, she had been more joking, had had her fun watching Percy try to catch a fish with absolutely no chance of actually catching it. Right now though, she was very serious about this. He should have the rudimentary skills to do it now.

Closing his eyes for a moment, he took a deep breath. Which was also still weird, that he could breath under water. When he opened his eyes again, he had a single-minded focus on the fish Rhode had pointed at. His movement was swift – fast and without hesitation, fluent and quick. He had gotten good at that, it came naturally after the first few times of stumbling his way through it because his brain was still wired for human physiology. Snarling, he sank his fangs into the fish.

Holding it in his mouth in a way he assumed looked like a proud kitten, he turned to look at Rhode like the proud hunter he was. Rhode laughed softly as she swam up to ruffle his hair.

"Well done. You're a natural predator and you're getting good at honing your skills."

Percy perked up at the praise, smiling proudly. He knew exactly what he was going to do with this fish. Well, not just this one. They were far from done with today's lesson, after all.

/break\

"It is dark and it is chilly. Why are we out here?", asked Annabeth, rubbing her arms.

"Here", grunted Reyna, shrugging out of her jacket to put it over Annabeth's shoulders.

"Are we even allowed out this late?", asked Piper concerned. "I do not wanna get written up."

"Mh, I pecked you for more of a rebel, McLean", teased Nyssa amused, before motioning with her head. "Besides, Mister Blofis is here, so... we have... teacher supervision?"

Grover, Juniper, Jason, Nico, Rachel and Chris were with them too, as well as Sally Jackson. Craning her neck, Annabeth could see some of their upperclassmen approaching them too – Clarisse, Silena, Beckendorf and Luke. This was a very strange line-up...?

"Thank you all for coming, even if it is late on a weekday. However, this is a very important rite of passage for my people, so we have special permission from the principal."

As they stepped closer to the lake, they could make out Percy and Miss Rhode, who offered a kind smile. Annabeth turned on her phone's flashlight to see better, noticing the pile of fire-wood, with longer, thicker logs arranged in a circle around the fire place.

"Nyssa, if you'd please?", requested Percy, motioning at the wood.

Nyssa shrugged and easily sparked the fire, offering them all both light and warmth. When Percy motioned at the long logs, the others sat down on them in a circle, all attention on Percy and Rhode.

"After presenting, a Neptunian goes on their first hunt and shares their bounty with their tribe. For... all intends and purposes, you are Percy's tribe. Naturally, we would eat them raw but we know that doesn't... go well with most of you, so I suggested a barbecue", explained Rhode.

Annabeth, Reyna and Piper exchanged a look at that. They had heard of this in class with Miss Rhode, that this was a huge rite of passage for young Neptunians, after all they were apex predators and to celebrate their first hunt was a big deal. They felt honored that Percy wanted to share this with them. Without a second thought, Annabeth went to hug Percy tightly. Grover nudged her out of the way to get in there too and both stepped away sheepishly when Percy's parents came.

"I'm very proud of you, sweetie", whispered Sally gently, tucking Percy's hair behind his ear.

He smiled and ducked his head, cheeks red before he went to sit down, his mom on one side of him and Miss Rhode on the other, while all of Percy's friends were lining up along with them.

"Uh, I also caught some... vegan options for you, Juni", offered Percy as they sat down. "Rhode showed me which seaweed makes for good... salad. Because I want you to eat something from my hunt too, but I know you don't eat fish, so..."

"That's very sweet of you, Percy", smiled Juniper amused. "You are a mighty hunter indeed."

There was teasing in her voice as she accepted the salad, because yes hunting seaweed was not exactly apex predator levels, however the fact that he hadn't forgotten and had tried to find a way to incorporate Juniper's diet into this Neptunian tradition was touching for her.

"Any words before the meal or do we just put it all on the fire and eat?", asked Luke curiously.

"Oh no. No words", grunted Percy and shook his head. "Just... thanks to all of you for your... for your support. You all really helped me with finding myself and with... learning this stuff and finding my place here. Thank you, you guys are amazing. Now have yummy fish!"

Percy grinned broadly, handing out fish on sticks to be held over the fire. The first one he had caught however, he handed to Rhode, surprising the other Neptunian. She recognized the fish.

"Oh no, you should give that to your dad-", argued Rhode gently.

"No. I mean, you taught me that the first catch goes to the tribe's eldest and... and you're the only other Neptunian I know and you taught me everything I know about being a Neptunian, the way the elders do and why they earn the first catch, right? Out of gratitude. This is me, being grateful to my senior Neptunian for everything you taught me."

Rhode's eyes felt watery as she accepted the fish, her heart swelling. Percy Jackson was a good boy and really, Rhode would have loved to give Percy a true rite of passage celebration, the way they held them on Neptune. She also would love for her siblings to get to meet the boy. Percy was the kind of kid Triton would absolutely adore – Triton often helped out at the training summer camp.

She had plans on talking to her siblings about Percy once the semester was over, because she was very determined to find his biological family for the boy – even if Percy didn't want to contact them after all. Whoever his biological father was, the man was missing out by not being a part of Percy's life and once he learned about Percy, he would absolutely realize that.


Author's note: Look at our kitten doing well! Now, next chapter we're gonna take a huuuge step. In the romantic department. ;)