Welcome everyone to chapter 33!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I still feel evil *evil grin and chuckle*
I hope you enjoy and let's get right into this!
Leo sighed heavily as he followed his friends across Olympus.
After Chiron told the Olympians that Tartarus had been defeated, the gods had summoned the eight demigods and the Alagaesian to Olympus. Assuming it was just for another congratulation speech, they agreed and made their way to the home of the gods.
"Hey. How're you holding up?"
Leo looked up from his thoughts to see Piper beside him with a worried look on her face. He shrugged and plastered a smile on his face.
"I'm all good Beauty Queen." He lied. Piper didn't look convinced.
"Y'know it's okay not to be strong sometimes, right?" She reminded, her voice quiet. "It's alright to miss her. I do too."
Leo felt tears threaten but he held them back and nodded. He felt her wrap her arm around him in a side hug and he returned the gesture with a sad smile. The two stayed like that until they made their way into the gods' throne room where the Twelve Olympians and Hades waited.
"Heroes." Zeus's voice thundered. "The Gods of Olympus thank you for your defeat of the primordial Tartarus."
"You know we're not the ones you should be thanking," Percy immediately argued, ignoring Annabeth's warnings to be quiet.
"That is true but it appears obvious that Amira Moraow is unable to receive our thanks." The god responded with a sigh. His expression showed that he figured Percy would say something.
"She was a hero! She gave her life to save a world she didn't even belong to!" The half-blood argued.
"Which she would not have had to do had she not helped him in the first place." Athena pointed out with narrowed eyes. Percy had to physically bite his lip and clench his fists to avoid back-talking. Annabeth placed her hand on his arm.
"Mother, Percy is right. Amira made mistakes but she also fixed them, just like Luke did." She reminded.
"Y'know, she's got a point," Hermes told his father. "You forgave Luke for what he did. Why's Amira different?"
"Well for one, she's not from this world and had no right coming here." The demigods exchanged confused looks at Zeus's words.
"Wait, you didn't bring her here?" Percy frowned. He received head shakes in response. "But… if you didn't then who did?"
"I'm afraid we don't know the answer to that. We've looked into it but couldn't find anyone who was strong enough to bring someone from a different world to this one besides us." Poseidon told his son as he played with his trident. There was a moment of silence.
"Leo Valdez."
Leo looked up in surprise when he heard his name. He walked forward so he faced the gods.
"Uh, yeah?" He answered.
"Your act of strength brought an end to Tartarus and prevented his rise," Zeus told him but Leo was shaking his head before the god had finished.
"I didn't do anything; Amira's the one who saved everyone. All I did was cry and murder my friend."
"By ending Amira Moraow's life you also made the primordial unable to maintain or create a physical body," Hera tried to explain. Leo shook his head again.
"Leo, don't argue and just accept our thanks," Hephaestus told his son, obviously not wanting to be there. The young Latino sighed but remained silent; he had a feeling he knew what was coming up.
"By acting as you did, you saved this world as well as others. In return, the gods shall allow you one wish," Zeus announced, confirming what he had figured.
The demigod didn't need to think. He knew what he wanted, who he wanted. It felt like she had been gone for so long… he wanted her back even if only for a moment.
"Bring her back. Bring Amira back." Leo's voice cracked when he said Amira's name. The gods looked at each other before all turning to where Hades stood.
"Hades?"
The god of death sighed.
"I can't. As I have said many times, it is against the laws of death." He explained. Leo felt his heart deflate. "Neither I nor anyone else can bring the dead-"
"And what are your rules of death here?" Murtagh interrupted, surprising everyone there. "From what I know of this world, your laws are different than those of Alagaesia."
"I would guess so," Hades admitted reluctantly.
"But seeing how Amira is from Alagaesia and not this world, would you not agree that the rules of death from our world would apply to her as that is her homeland?"
Leo re-inflated and hid a smile as he realized what Murtagh was doing.
It made sense: yes, Amira died on Earth but this isn't where she was born or where she lived in life so it would be unfair to force her to follow Earth's laws.
"I, for one, agree with Murtagh Morzansson," Athena announced. Everyone turned to the goddess. "Amira Moraow was brought to Earth against her will meaning she knew nothing of anything from here, including our laws of death. If she had been brought here knowing those laws, it would be different."
Hades looked confused like he halfway agreed with what Athena but also halfway didn't and wasn't sure which side to listen to.
"Please, Lord Hades? Please, I need her back." Leo begged. From the corner of his eye, he saw Aphrodite use a hand to hide her smile. After a long and tense moment, Hades threw his head back and groaned.
"Fiiine! But do not expect this to happen again, any of you!" He growled, pointing at the group of demigods. Leo had to hold himself back from jumping and shouting.
The god of death waved his hand and there was a flash of light in the throne room that caused momentary blindness to everyone, including the gods.
Then the light dimmed and they could see again and there, lying on the floor before the gods, blood still staining her clothes, was Amira Moraow.
Leo stared in shock; after days that felt like years…
He moved to rush forward but Percy and Jason grabbed his arms, holding him back. He glared at them but the son of Poseidon quickly put a finger to his lips and chin-nodded in the direction of the gods. Understanding came to Leo and he nodded.
Hades snapped his fingers.
Amira's purple eyes instantly snapped open and she jerked to life, gasping air for the first time in days. She lay unmoving for a moment before her hand moved her to her upper abdomen. She winced horribly and a moment later sat up. Her gaze traveled throughout the room but she froze when she saw the thirteen giant gods.
Her expression showed absolutely nothing but her purple eyes betrayed her, telling her nervousness and fear. After all, helping Tartarus almost rise and destroy the worlds wouldn't exactly go unpunished.
"Amira Moraow. Come closer." Zeus's voice again thundered through the room despite not raising it.
Amira slowly stood. She tried to take a step but her legs gave out and she collapsed to her knees with a wince and gasp of pain. After a couple of deep breaths, she got back to her feet and managed to remain standing. She slowly walked closer to the twelve gods, her hands on her side.
Her face paled with each step she took; it wasn't considerably noticeable but Leo saw it and looking to his left, he saw that Murtagh had as well. If you gave him a glance, you would think the Red Rider was calm and watching but looking closer would show that he was ready to jump if anything happened to Amira. Leo was the same but the purple-haired Alagaesian hadn't noticed any of them yet so they stayed silent where they stood.
"Amira Moraow, what you have done is unforgettable." Zeus announced. Amira hung her head in shame, wincing. "Your actions nearly destroyed Olympus, Earth, and everything on it. But you also prevented his rise and corrected your actions. Although you fixed your mistake, a punishment must still be enforced."
Amira bowed as much as she was able.
"I shall accept any punishment you deem worthy, my Lord, but if my words mean anything then I now apologize to you all and to this world itself." She apologized, her voice surprisingly strong despite its hoarseness.
"Thank you. Amira, if you were given the choice would you remain here on Earth or would you return to your homeland?" Hera then asked.
For a moment, Amira said nothing as she gathered her thoughts. Leo felt himself unconsciously leaning forward, unknowing that Murtagh was doing the same. Then Amira brushed a strand of purple hair from her face and took a deep breath.
"Against many desires that I have… I would not choose to remain in this world." She decided. "I mean you no offense, my Lady, I have enjoyed meeting those here and seeing the things of this world but Alagaesia is my home and that is where I belong."
"Good. Now that we know of your strength, the gods have agreed that you are too dangerous to remain here on Earth and so you will be returned to your homeland."
Leo felt like he had been kicked in the chest. He knew Amira was probably happier in Alagaesia than on Earth but he didn't want her to leave! She was back now! He could hold her in his arms again.
"Will there somewhere be the ability for myself to rejoin those here for a period of time?" The gods frowned, apparently not sure what the Alagaesian had said. Amira noticed and gave a small sigh, clarifying. "May I come back later?"
"Unfortunately, no." Poseidon shook his head. "Sending you back will require the power of all of the gods. Once you have been sent back, neither we nor anyone else will be able to bring you here to Earth again."
Disappointment was visible in Amira's purple eyes but she gave a small bow, wincing as she moved her side. Leo guessed her ribs hadn't been healed from when Murtagh broke them during their battle.
"As you command, my Lords and Ladies. When shall I be returned?" She asked quietly.
"We will give you and your fellow Alagaesian until sundown," was Hera's answer. The gods obviously liked the respect and flattery Amira gave.
"That gives you time to say your goodbyes," Aphrodite added with a smile, gesturing behind Amira to where the half-bloods and Murtagh stood.
With a wink to the purple-haired teen, the love goddess flashed away and the other gods followed her suit until the Riders and demigods were left in a room of silence.
Confused, Amira slowly turned around. Her purple eyes widened when she saw the nine people facing her and she instantly started towards them. Leo couldn't hold back any longer and ran to meet her. She nearly knocked him over once they met, jumping onto him to throw her arms around his neck and hug him tight.
There was a long moment where neither said anything before Amira pulled back just enough for Leo to press his lips against hers. The Alagaesian's eyes widened in shock for a moment before her purple eyes closed and she returned his kiss. Leo could hear his friends laughing but it was all a muffle.
His mind must have been having an early New Year's party because sparks and explosions were going crazy, the feeling of Amira's lips pressed against his almost unbearable. He never wanted that moment to end; Amira was back and his shattered heart was beginning to mend, her slim body in his arms was making him feel complete once more. Breaking their kiss, she smiled.
"I missed you, Leo." She whispered, loud just enough for him to hear.
Leo chuckled softly. Saying he missed her didn't come anywhere close. The guilt and pain that had plagued him the past two and a half days had nearly been too much to handle. He had been the one holding the dagger, stabbing the blade into her, holding her lifeless body in his arms as he cried.
"You have no idea." He told her and kissed her again.
And that concludes the thirty-third chapter of A Strange and Different Land!
Thank you all for reading and I hope you chose to continue the story. Please feel free to leave a review. Criticism, advice, compliments, or corrections are welcome.
Have a good one and I'll see you later!
