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 13: The Next Generation

"Leo's kinda cute, right? I mean, objectively speaking."

Ella giggled as she leaned closer to Hazel. "I think Tyson is cuter."

Now, Hazel also giggled. The two of them were sitting together on the bench, watching Leo, Frank, Cecil, Mitchell, Austin and Tyson play basketball three-on-three. It was fun! Both, watching the boys play and have fun, but also talking to Ella like this. Talking about boys. Hazel had never done that before. She was still young, this was still so new. It made her feel all warm-cheeked to say stuff like this, but it was so cool to have a friend who would whisper with her like this, giggle about them. She never got to just be... girly. She liked being girly, but at home, she always felt the pressure of being something she didn't know how to be. A princess. Heir to the throne and a long line of legacy. Bianca was so strong, she never talked about boys and she was so oriented in what they were all aiming for – to become stronger and return to Pluto. That goal was the only thing that mattered to Bianca. Hazel had never really seen a girl do... girly things. But sometimes, Hazel wanted to do girly things. Wear a pretty dress, talk about boys, not think about the war. And then she would feel selfish for it, because their family was still up there, in danger. But here, in this school, with Ella and Miranda and Lou Ellen, she felt like she just... got to be a kid. Be a girl.

"You guys have weird taste", declared Lou Ellen and wiggled her nose.

"I think Frank is really cute", injected Lacy, giggling a bit. "Like, when he gets all enthusiastic about that game he has been teaching us? The Mythomagic? His whole face lights up!"

Hazel bit her lip and tilted her head. That was true. Frank was all bright and excited. And the game was fun – all of them had started to meet together and play every Sunday. Hazel, Ella, Cecil, Leo, Lou Ellen and Miranda usually and, lately, also occasionally Mitchell, Austin, Lacy and/or Kayla, always depending on who even had time, of course.

For the first time, Hazel made real friends. She had never done that before, because they always had the mission on their minds and they had their identities to hide – not letting people close was the best way to keep them safe and to keep their own identities hidden. But here? She needed to grow closer to those people, they were supposed to become her team.

/break\

Dates were a fun thing. Percy liked them. He'd never really been on dates before. Then again, he never really had a boyfriend before. He figured that kindergarten holding hands and kissing cheeks didn't quite count. Being with Nico was – it was amazing. Just... being. They didn't even have to do anything, simply lay together in silence, Percy running his fingers through Nico's feathers, Nico running his through Percy's fur. Then there was the reassurance. Nico was so – helpful. Whenever Percy felt unsure about his decisions as team-leader, Nico would back him up.

"What are you doing, gattino?", asked Nico curiously.

He approached Percy and sat down right behind Percy, resting his chin on Percy's shoulders and wrapping his wings around them. In front of Percy were papers, a lot of papers.

"...What are you doing?", asked Nico once more, furrowing his brows.

"Research on Neptune. Rhode did tell me... what... places on Neptune people with our patterns live. Migration is... pretty much not a thing on Neptune itself. I mean, like, sure, she can live here on Earth, but on Neptune itself? Neptunians develop according to the environment. Much like... fishes on Earth, you can't just put a fresh-water fish into the sea, you know. So... she narrowed it down."

Nico hummed as he checked the map. "Well, that... doesn't narrow it down too much. That's the capital of Neptune. The most populated area on the planet."

"It's more than I had a year ago", countered Percy with a small grin. "Heh. Just imagine, if I ever actually get to Neptune, going through the city like 'Excuse me, have you perhaps had a short-lived affair on Earth in December 1992...? That's gonna go smooth."

"What do you mean 'if'?", asked Nico with furrowed brows.

He pulled Percy closer, nosing his neck gently, until Percy giggled a little at how much it tickled. "I mean, Neptune's not exactly around the corner. It... is literally the planet the farthest away from Earth in our solar system. The only ones farther are dwarf planets."

"I know. I am the prince of one of them", quipped Nico dryly. "Still, Percy. You... You're going to become a captain. Depending on your career choices, it's fairly likely you'll end up on Neptune at some point. Terra is in an alliance with Neptune and the..."

He stopped himself, turning away a little, not looking at Percy anymore. Making a small sound, Percy turned around so he could face his boyfriend. He wrapped his arms around Nico, resting his cheek against Nico's chest. The war had Neptune pulled in the middle of it all. They were fighting for Pluto and sooner or later, they would be invaded too during this war.

"Do you wanna go for a hunt tomorrow?", asked Percy to change the topic.

"It's a full-moon. Those are perfect for hunting", purred Nico pleased.

Percy laughed softly at the purring sound, reaching out to run his fingers through the soft, black feathers. The purring increased as Nico seemed to melt in Percy's embrace, resting his chin on Percy's shoulder and stretching his wings wide for better access.

/break\

Rhode knew she was growing far too attached to Percy. She could no longer tell whether she genuinely thought that Percy might be part of the extended royal family tree, or if she just really wanted that to be true because she wanted Percy to be a part of her family. The boy knew how to brighten a room when he entered it, he knew how to inspire people, to gain their loyalty. That team of his, they had his back because they trusted him, they knew he could lead them. One day, Rhode knew, Percy was going to be an amazing leader. A captain or general, who knew.

"Excuse me, Miss Rhode?"

"Yes, come in." Rhode looked up curiously, watching her office door open.

She was mildly surprised to see Mrs. Blofis enter. "I... bring you cookies?"

"Cookies?", echoed Rhode, even more surprised.

Laughing sheepishly, Sally put the container with cookies – a big container – down on the desk. "Well, I was... baking. Maybe a bit too much. And I figured, with everything you've been doing for my son in recent months... Have some cookies?"

She offered Rhode a kind smile. The sort of smile that reminded her of her mother and immediately made Rhode miss her home and family. She knew her parents had partially sent her away to be sure she would be safe. The war was closing in on Neptune. Danger was rising. Unlike Triton, Proteus and Kymopoleia, Rhode was not a warrior. She was a book-worm.

"Sit with me, have some cookies?", asked Rhode with a small smile.

"Well, they are very good cookies, I gotta say", chuckled Sally.

She sat down with Rhode and the two each grabbed a cookie. For a bit, Rhode simply watched Sally, observing all the similarities between the woman and Percy that she could spot.

"Can you... tell me anything about Percy's father?", asked Rhode after a while.

"I..." Sally paused, furrowing her brows. "He was a handsome and charming man. He went by the name Don, which... is not as unique as one would want it to be. He had Percy's eyes, you know."

"Green eyes, handsome and only a first-name really isn't much to go by", Rhode sighed.

"I know. It... was on purpose. We both only wanted a... fling. No strings attached. Sharing about our family or past was something we both agreed we don't want to do. Percy... wasn't planned." Sally sighed and made a face. "I always feel like that sounds awful and he is the best accident I could imagine, I would never want to imagine a life without him. But if I had known... This wasn't what I would have wanted for my child. To not know his father."

"For what it's worth, I think you picked him an excellent father", offered Rhode with a kind smile. "Paul loves and supports him. And you love and support him."

Sally smiled, albeit it was a little forced. She knew those things herself, but she still wished she could have given Percy this. Sighing, Rhode reached for another cookie. They really were excellent.

/break\

Beckendorf smiled as he oversaw the hanger. Being a third-year, he usually gave some special classes and tutoring to the younger engineers and mechanics. Maintaining a ship was hard work, some took that too lightly. And regular classes couldn't cover everything.

"You have such dad-genes", noted Silena softly.

She smiled as she kissed him on the cheek, handing him a cupcake. Honestly, he didn't know what he'd do without his girlfriend. Probably starve to death while working on the ship. He tended to have a one-track-mind then and forget everything around him. The amazing thing about Silena was that she understood that – she didn't chide him for forgetting things or make fun of him like some people did. She was always understanding and thoughtful.

"I like helping", grumbled Beckendorf as he accepted the cupcake.

Silena just smiled at him and then turned to follow his line of sight. Jake and Nyssa were working on the Princess Andromeda. The two of them were very hardworking – and excited. They held the same kind of passion and enthusiasm for engineering as Charles did.

"Hey, you guys wanna take a break and a cupcake?", called Silena out.

Both their heads turned at 'cupcake'. After quickly cleaning their hands, they hurried over to Charles and Silena and accepted the offered baked goods. With broad, pleased grins did they sit down on the ground with the couple. This was one of the qualities of Beckendorf's that Silena loved a lot. He took the young ones under his wing, just like Silena did herself on the swim-team.

"I heard your team was doing really well on the weekend challenge", noted Silena.

"Ye—eah. It's because we got a pretty competent captain", declared Jake with a grin.

"I mean, each member of our team is competent. But... Percy brings us together? Perfect cogs but someone's gotta set them right", offered Nyssa after a moment.

"Good leadership is what makes or breaks a team", agreed Beckendorf.

"So... anyone know who the little runt is who keeps sniffing around here?", asked Nyssa slowly.

She jerked her head toward where some scrawny little first year was trying to sneakily make his way from ship to ship, thinking he had gone unnoticed so far. Beckendorf huffed amused.

"Hey, kiddo. Come get a cupcake", called Beckendorf out.

The kid froze on the spot, before slowly turning around, pointing at himself as though to ask whether they were talking to him. Rolling his eyes, Beckendorf nodded and motioned at the cupcakes. After another moment of reluctance did the kid approach them.

"Uh... I... I know first-semesters aren't allowed into the hanger...", drawled the kid.

"Can you look any more like a kicked puppy?", snorted Nyssa amused. "We're not gonna tattle on you, you know. It wouldn't make you much of an engineer if you didn't try to get in here."

"Yeah. All the best of us did it in our first semester", declared Jake proudly. "Here. Cupcake."

He threw a cupcake at the first-semester, who caught it with a startled look. "I'm Nyssa. This is Jake and those are Beckendorf and his lovely, very talented girlfriend Silena. Cupcakes courtesy of said talent. Who are you, kid?"

"I'm... I'm Leo Valdez, it's nice to meet you all."

"You're adorable", noted Silena with a smile as she handed him a second cupcake. "How are you liking the academy so far? Is your roommate nice to you? Have you made friends?"

Leo looked a bit overwhelmed by the questions and the now two cupcakes that he was holding. "Uh... my roommate Frank's cute – I mean cool. He's pretty cool. And... I guess I made a couple friends? It's... nice. I'm... I'm liking it here, though it's kind of... a lot."

"Ye—eah, it is", huffed Nyssa and stretched out. "Wait till you get a girlfriend, your schedule will be even more packed. Though, gotta say, worth the juggling."

She grinned and wiggled her eyebrows at Leo, laughing as the kid blushed awkwardly at her words. Silena huffed, glaring chidingly at Nyssa for flustering the poor first semester. Nyssa simply shrugged unapologetically and reached for a second cupcake.

"You're welcome to join and observe, when there is no school instructor around. But you need to be careful not to let anyone catch you and I can't let you work on anything, because if something happens, well", drawled Beckendorf. "That sound good to you, kid?"

"Yes!", exclaimed Leo enthusiastically, eyes large. "I already know my way around a garage! My mom runs one! She taught me everything. Well, about cars. But I'm a quick study."

"I'm sure you are", grinned Jake and reached out to ruffle Leo's curls.

/break\

Clarisse smirked pleased as she had Percy pinned to the mat again. He glared up at her in defiance, as he always did when he lost. Granted, their matches were relatively even. What Percy lacked in brutal force, he made up for in swiftness and, though Clarisse would never admit it, brains. The boy was pretty clever. Quick on his feet. He could judge a situation and conclude what to do with it within split-seconds. It was what made their matches so very engaging, because they had different approaches to fighting. Grunting pleased, Clarisse leaned back.

"You win this round, but I'll win the next", declared Percy with a pout.

"Sure thing, kitty-cat", snorted Clarisse and grabbed two water-bottles.

She threw one over at Percy, who quickly caught it. The two sat up against the wall, watching the gym. Hylla and Reyna were going head to head with each other, the sisters never pulling their punches with each other. The only others in the room with them were two first semesters.

"The big guy, I've seen him around you a lot", grunted Clarisse.

"Tyson. He's a Neptunian. Rhode introduced us in the first week and it seems like he... is as excited about meeting another Neptunian as I am. He's a good kid though."

Clarisse hummed at that. That was where Percy's truest strength laid – he was a brilliant judge in character. He saw... potential in people. Clarisse huffed when the two first semesters landed on their asses, her laughter attracting their attention, both boys looking embarrassed.

"C'mere, you two. Take a break. And then we split up and Jackson and I are gonna teach you a thing or two, okay?", called Clarisse out. "We have cooled water."

"Thank you...", drawled the other boy. "Uh. I'm Frank. That's Tyson."

"Frank, that's Percy! I told you about him!", exclaimed Tyson excitedly.

Clarisse snorted amused at that, while Percy high-fived Tyson. The two boys sat down, completely exhausted and grabbed the chilled water. Those two really needed to train a lot; they lacked stamina. First semesters, really. They gotta start training before signing up for the academy.

"You, kid", grunted Clarisse, jerking her head toward Frank. "You drop your guard too much and your stamina sucks. Don't worry, it's gonna kick in when you come into your heritage fully."

Frank made a bit of a face. "Can't wait for it. Training is... killing me."

"Oh, not with that attitude", warned Clarisse pointedly. "If you want me to teach you, I need you to want this like you never wanted anything before in your life. Got that, Fritz?"

"Frank", protested the boy, voice cracking a little as Clarisse glared. "Or Fritz. Fritz is fine."

"Clarisse, if you're being mean to the first year, I'll tell Silena", snickered Percy.

He knew that was the only threat that worked on Clarisse, who now glared at him for it.

/break\

Ella was a bookworm. She loved the library. Back home, the other kids always thought her weird for spending so much time at the library, preferring books to playing. Now? Here? People were grateful for her knowledge, they sought her out. Or they would actually go with her to the library! To study together! Her older cousin Rachel had been the one to push for Ella to go to the academy, Ella's parents had thought it wasn't the right place for Ella – because it was much about fighting and physical training. But they also needed strategists. Brains behind the operations.

"Hey, Ella. You done with homework soon?", asked Hazel softly.

Ella blinked owlishly and turned toward her roommate. "Yes?"

"Great! Wanna go on a flight with us? Come on!", declared Hazel with a bright grin.

Hazel was amazing. She was kind and sweet and friendly. She didn't think Ella was weird for preferring books and even though Ella said 'no, thank you' three out of four times, Hazel never got annoyed with Ella and she still kept asking and including Ella, so that one out of four times that Ella did want to do something, she could, because she was still being invited. Smiling at Hazel, Ella packed her books away and grabbed her bag to follow Hazel out of the library.

"You will be a very good team-leader", declared Ella.

"Huh? Where did that come from?", asked Hazel with a small, surprised laugh.

"You're... kind and understanding. You know when to lead people and when you shouldn't push people. You will be our team-leader when we enter our second year", elaborated Ella.

"We're barely halfway into our first semester! I think you're getting ahead of things there", argued Hazel, looking a bit flustered. "I don't know if I am cut out to be a leader..."

"Yes, you are", stated Ella, not leaving room for arguments. "Besides, cousin Rachel says that it is important to keep your goals in clear sight if you want to make it here. If you don't have your goals set and go in with an attitude that you can do it... what is the point in trying? We are going to make it into our second year and then we will become a very good team, with a very good leader."

The smile on Ella's lips was so optimistic, it even had Hazel believe it, despite not really seeing herself as a leader. She had always seen the leadership qualities in her older sister Bianca, she was a regal princess, who could one day be a great queen, but Hazel? She was the youngest sister, not in direct line for the throne, really. But she liked that attitude. What's the point of trying if you don't believe you can do it? She smiled as she took Ella's hand.

"Hey, girls. Glad you could make it. We were about to take off without you."

Bianca smiled at them in a welcoming manner as Hazel and Ella reached the other winged campus members. There were regularly scheduled group flights, organized by the school – as both a bonding and a training exercise. Those with wings, they couldn't be grounded all the time, they needed to spread their wings, quite literally. Hazel huffed amused as she saw Nico and Percy, holding both of each other's hands and nose-kissing.

"It's so cheesy, make them stop", sighed Hazel, grinning.

"I think it's cute", chimed Leo in. "Hello, Hazel."

He offered her a small smile and she bit her lip, her eyes finding his leather dragon-wings. They were magnificent. She loved flying with him. Bianca cleared her throat, gaining their attention and tearing Nico away from his Percy too so they could take off as a group. Hazel grinned as she found herself between her brother and her sister. She loved that free feeling of flying with them.


Author's note: Aaand we're closing in on leaving the school/Earth arc of this story! One more chapter to go on that ;)