Spoilers: I meant to post this two days ago for obvious reasons, but life got away from me and I couldn't post this until today. Takes place after Blood of Olympus (and for this story a certain demigod did not 'die'). I wrote this years ago but just recently found it again and wanted to rework it. Obvious spoilers are obvious for Hercules (the Disney version). I feel like the two camps hosted a movie night bonding (or at least visit New York) and figured the anniversary of the End of the Titan War would be good.
Chiron stamped his hooves to gather 'his' demigods' attention. Many of the Roman Campers were visiting 'family' in New York and so the camp was very full. Especially considering the date. August 18th. Exactly one year after the First War with the Titans ended, and a few weeks after the Seven returned from Rome. Chiron and Lupa had decided to host a Movie Night so the camps could bond and get over some left-over hard feelings. He looked around and his gaze fell on seven in particular. The dark haired seventeen-year-old had his arms around a blonde as he kissed her hair. He was just glad they were safe now. "The movie has already been decided!" He announced firmly, knowing there would be protests. "We are watching Hercules...the Disney movie, of course. The others are at least PG13." He said, to the younger crowd of newer campers. The older campers protested, as expected but Chiron knew Mr. Disney was popular with demigods of all ages. "I will begin it in a few moments." The campers were all gathered on Halfblood Hill in front of giant screens.
Percy grinned. It was his birthday and now they'd be watching his favorite movie? Awesome! "Oh my gods! I haven't seen this movie in years!" It had been the movie his mom would always put on during his childhood. He smiled, thinking back to it.
His girlfriend blinked "I-I..." She started but soon trailed off. Growing up her dad never let her watch it and seeing the excitement, she feels like she's missed something. She noticed Hazel also seemed left out as the other demigods all talked about the cartoon movie. She remembered begging her dad once not long after Bobby and Matthew had been born and he refused before putting on something else instead. Probably some documentary or maybe even Roman Holiday for its ties to mythology in the Chase household. They never spoke of it again and she'd forgotten about that fight until now. "I've never seen it…"
"What?! What was your childhood like?!" As soon as Leo spoke the words, Percy knew he would do anything he could to take them back. Remembering everything she faced during her childhood before coming to camp, Percy wished he could have shut Leo up before the boy said it. He had tried to joke but Leo knew he messed up.
"Pretty sure she lived it" Jason added quickly "we all have…" he still thought the blonde girl was terrifying, but he figured her history professor father had his reasons. Ever since they came back from the Underworld, Jason noticed nearly all of the Seven gave the couple their distance, except for Hazel.
"Really, this is your favorite movie?" Reyna snorted as Percy shrugged and kept talking about how Annabeth would love it anyway "It's inaccurate, Perseus." He scowled at the use of his full name mumbling about how 'only monsters call him Perseus...and his mom when angry...on second thought? He'd take his chances with the monsters'. Jason shushed him with an elbow to the ribs.
Piper spoke up "Most Disney movies are... I mean Pocahontas? That's like the MOST inaccurate…" she shook her head "Besides lions can't talk and princesses can't turn into frogs..." Hazel blinked at the unfamiliar references.
"Have you met the gods?" Nico argued. "Demeter turned me into a flower!"
Frank laughed and as though to emphasize the boy's point: turned himself into a frog.
Hazel laughs. "I am not kissing you until you become my boyfriend again!" Cue Percy and Piper cracking jokes about kissing the frog to turn him into the prince. Hazel was excited because she'd remembered seeing some of Mr. Walt's movies herself as a kid. Percy and Frank had told her how much things had changed for the movie master and his dynasty. Snow White had been one of her favorites and to be able to see it in theaters had been magical.
"Shut up and start the movie!" The Stoll Brothers beg. Many of the campers murmur in agreement. Chiron smiles as he looks out: seeing the sea of orange and purple t-shirts. He's relieved this is going so well. It had been incredibly rough since Percy and Annabeth had come back. He was just glad they could celebrate their anniversary and Percy's seventeenth birthday safely. Lupa had her doubts this morning but things are well. The campers needed an easy-going children's movie to relax.
"Thank you, boys" He trots over to the giant screens and projectors. The campers, young and old, Greek and Roman, all waited and smiled.
As to be expected the movie was critiqued highly as soon as it began. "Heracles was a jerk..." Percy said quietly as he fiddled with Riptide. He stared at the pen. His thoughts went back to the conversation he had with Zoe many years ago. Annabeth glanced towards him and nestled her head in his chest. He kissed her hair and whispered something the others didn't catch. Piper didn't know Percy's experience with the minor god, but she agreed completely. Her and Jason's meeting with Hercules soured the story for her as well.
"They're singing?! This is a singing movie?"
"Duh, it's Disney!" Leo laughed "You get to hear our mad karaoke skills. McShizzle McRapping, yo"
"He wasn't even Hera's son!" Annabeth protested, sitting up suddenly as her pillow blinked and frowned. Piper and Hazel laughed and playfully threw popcorn at their friend to get her to stay quiet.
"Oh gods! Hermes has his hat!" "Percy! Your dad looks like a fish!" "Mr. D! He's purple!" "Hades isn't evil!" "Herc isn't Hera's son! How dare they?!" The mob adds their opinions. Nico and Hazel both grumble about their dad's fire hair but Will and Frank silence them both quickly. "Pegasus!" The campers laugh and cheer seeing the caricatures of their parents.
"The Grey Sisters!" Percy laughed "Almost forgot about them… and their bad driving." Percy joked.
"Like yours is much better" Annabeth teased, though she knew his driving was infinitely better than the Chariot of Damnation. "But here I guess they're the same as the Fates" she asked, skeptically as Percy laughed.
"Scary old ladies on buses with knitting needles are scary no matter what. Mortal or otherwise" He shrugged, holding her close.
Jason glanced towards them, a little hesitant. Since coming to Camp Halfblood, he'd heard about everything Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase had done and how legendary they both were. Then to add on this new Quest and everything they'd experienced together. "Is there anything you two haven't done?"
The couple laughs and shrugs. "We're demigods" they offer but their friends refuse to accept that so simply. Jason is about to ask again when the crowd distracts him, and he's soon sucked back into the movie. Baby Hercules being stolen sounds very familiar to what Thalia told him Hera did with him
"You can't just do that!" "Oh my gods!" "Can they do that? Just curse a baby?" Those that have never seen the movie object but the majority shushes them with quick 'Watch and you'll see'.
Percy nearly laughs when I Can Go The Distance begins. He can definitely relate as can nearly all of the demigods sitting around him. Wanting to find their place, to prove to their parents... He knows his family here at Camp has earned far more than the gods will ever share with them.
"Dude! We could have sang this on the Argo!" Hazel laughs at Leo's excitement as he speaks. Frank furiously shakes his head as the three girls laugh. Reyna hides her smirk because nobody notices Jason's slight blush. There'd been a few times she caught him singing that song to himself when he thought he was alone back in New Rome. "Karaoke, baby!" Leo immediately stands and he grins when Percy joins him. Just before the two boys begin singing, Annabeth quickly pulls her boyfriend back to the grass and he chuckles. He still knows all the words even though his singing hasn't improved.
"They turned Chiron into a Satyr!" "They did NOT!" "Is that actually how you feel? Do you hate training us?" "Chiron!" The centaur manages to keep his campers from becoming too distracted. Hazel notes the annoyed twitching in his tail the more the Satyr appears on-screen.
Percy grins towards his friends "Nah... That guy is much more like Hedge. Like they got Hedge perfectly!" He whispers to Annabeth. "300% Hedge" The daughter of Athena is unable to control her hysterics as she glances towards the satyr, Nellie and their baby. The young couple can feel his eyes on them and eventually their giggles slow due to the frown of their leader. Plus the threat of physical exercise as punishment for the two troublemakers helps motivate their silence.
"No! No! No! That's Chiron!" Will shouts, making everyone laugh as the centaur Nessus appears on screen with the beautiful Megara.
Chiron gives the Head Counselor a stern look but simply says "Mr. Solace, you would do wise to learn your mythology. Nessus was an enemy of Hercules, who was trained by me." Will gives an apologetic grin as his siblings tease him.
"I'm a damsel. I'm in distress. I'll be fine" Meg replies on-screen and Jason grins.
"Sounds like you, Pipes?" He teases his girlfriend and she huffs in annoyance. Though he kisses her as she leans into his arms.
Percy scowls as Hercules faces a few monsters he would rather forget. But he loves watching Annabeth fall in love with one of his favorite childhood movies. She leans into his arms and he wraps his arms around her as they sit, enjoying the calmness and the movie. They needed this, especially today.
They hadn't been back at Camp very long. The nightmares were awful and he was just glad Chiron permitted the couple to break the rules and sleep in the Poseidon cabin. Though he did have Malcolm to thank for that, the son of Athena personally begged Chiron at midnight their first night back. Her half-brother couldn't listen to Annabeth scream and sob in her sleep for one more moment and Percy knew he'd always be grateful that Malcolm was willing to go against policy for them. It was a relatively easy fix that made everyone so much better.
Annabeth smiles seeing how much Hercules loves Pegasus... Just like Percy and Blackjack. Watching Hercules with Meg, puts a smile on Annabeth's face as she snuggles into her boyfriend's embrace. She scowls seeing the kiss interrupted and Percy laughs. "OH, he is SO Hedge. Hedge did that to us just last week." He jokes and kisses her temple. "Though Blackjack absolutely adores you, Boss Lady." He teased, using the title Blackjack calls Annabeth, to get her to laugh. She smiles hearing Piper hum the songs and Annabeth thinks back to their early teenage years. I won't say I'm in love. How right the song was... Both too stubborn to admit it. It took four damn years for her to finally admit to herself. Of course the daughter of wisdom knows love is not foolish at all, no matter how much she tried to convince herself it was. She wishes she had realized there is wisdom in listening to your heart over your head long before she finally admitted it.
"Hey! They fought the Titans like us!" Everyone is in good spirits as the movie continues. But the central battle had been forgotten until the movie showed the Underworld and they didn't realize how it would affect the birthday boy or his girlfriend.
"Cerberus" Percy grinned. "I wonder if he still likes fetch or if he'd remember you?" he joked seeing Annabeth's expression. Jason glances over to them and so do the rest of their friends. They all know better than to playfully tease the couple because of what is coming next.
Annabeth winces and buried her face into Percy's shoulder as the hero makes his way into the underworld. Chiron glances towards the two, wondering if turning off the movie would help or hurt. He was just about to hit pause when he saw Percy smile and whisper something before Annabeth smiled. Percy holds her close and whispers "You go. I go" he promises, closing his eyes tightly to block out the memories. Since coming home to camp, the couple learned they had to be sleeping next to one another to avoid the nightmares...not that Chiron was too pleased by their new sleeping arrangements.
"As long as we're together" She whispers, her voice breaking. He just holds her tightly, knowing this would lead to nightmares for both of them tonight. How many times had they whispered that phrase to one another, just to stay sane.
To make her smile, Percy adds "Now if Tartarus looks like that in real life.. with the shiny blobby lake... I might not mind going back" he jokes. She laughs and kisses him. They needed one another more than anyone else would ever hope to understand.
The hero's welcome. Percy nearly grimaces, remembering this time last year and the time they traveled to Olympus. A year ago. He squeezes Annabeth's hand tightly and she lays her head on his shoulder. She blinks back tears feeling as helpless and scared as Meg looks. Though it's just a cartoon, she remembers those fears. How incredibly real they were. Percy smiles as Hercules makes the right choice. "A life without Annabeth...even an immortal one... Would be empty" he whispers along with the movie. She smiles and laces her fingers into his, thinking this is truly where they both belong. He kisses her deeply.
"WHAT?!" "But that's so foolish!" A Roman speaks up as the movie gets paused. The Romans all speak up "Who in their right mind would turn down godhood for some girl?" They knew about the battle and the war but not necessarily the outcome or the promise made. They didn't know all those who were lost that would be honored at a sunset ceremony later tonight.
"Shut your idiotic overly-disciplined, practically robotic mouth!" Malcom snaps as he rushes to his feet. He's ready to fight before most of camp has registered what happened. The normally mild-mannered boy is furious. The rest of his siblings quickly stand to defend their sister. They'd seen her crying enough over the past few months to know how badly the time apart affected her. The Romans stand to help their own. The Greeks do the same. There's chaos and fighting. The Greeks are out for blood. The spell of the movie has been broken.
"Watch it! Wiseguys!" Clarisse yells trying to hold them back with a few of her siblings. Nearly all of the Greeks get angry and so do quite a bit of Romans as well.
"What?" Asks another Roman girl, not understanding why even Jason looks so angry. She didn't get it. In her mind nobody would turn down godhood. All of the Praetors look furious; Reyna, Jason, Frank and especially the son of Neptune. Chiron stands and demands order. Stamping his hoof as Lupa growls. He's just thankful everyone had handed their weapons up. Percy has a dangerous look in his eyes and Annabeth has one to match. Their expressions scare some of the younger campers because their gazes look so much like a monster's.
"Percy!" Someone yells. "Percy did it for Annabeth! Today!" A year ago. A year ago today he made the choice. The entire hill falls silent. The demigods stare at one another. Not many Romans knew and yet all of the Greeks did. Even the Camp Halfblood campers that weren't on Mount Olympus had heard of how the son of Poseidon had declined godhood for the daughter of Athena. Exactly one year ago today.
"I-I didn't know..." The Romans whisper their apologies. It takes a few minutes before the anger gets let go. They hadn't meant to strike a nerve. Chiron, Lupa, and a few of the satyrs quickly maintain order and calm the tensions. He hopes it keeps the fighting at bay. As the credits roll, the demigods calm and things go back to the happy 'movie over' feeling.
Percy smiles at Annabeth and kisses her before whispering "I made the right choice. From now and forever. I will always defend what I did." He says for only her to her as she wraps her arms around him. They head off to IM with Sally. "Happy anniversary, Wisegirl." Her smile is worth all of the hell they faced.
"Happy birthday, Seaweed Brain."
Chiron glances over as the camps have once again been united. His family is whole again. He just makes a mental note to remind Lupa that the next time they have an intercamp bonding, perhaps the next movie should be something different without an ending that might set off a war. Though he's satisfied the camps both enjoyed Hercules. He knows he enjoyed the take the two sons of the Muse of Music had on Greek Mythology however inaccurate. He smiles thinking back to the partnership those two forged over their summers at Camp Halfblood and how it eventually led to countless movies and entire careers working together. He never thought that all those years ago his Greek history lessons with Ronald Clements and John Musker would inspire something like this. But Chiron was sure glad it did. Their bond helped unite both Greek and Roman decades after their camp days.