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This is a one-shot in response to the One Shot - One Kill Challenge on the Forum Gazing Into the Mist. Please check the forum and the other stories on it.
Warning: There are spoilers for Trialls of Apollo so read under your own consideration!
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Who Runs the World?
For a few months after Apollo went back to Olympus, both camps moved on with their lives, foolishly thinking they'd now find peace.
Spoiler alert: They didn't.
The cyclops were now forming an army with the objective to destroy the gods and avenge their mother, Gaia.
The Three Fates had given the demigods the task of going to the Underworld to bring back three demigods to life. Those six demigods would be of paramount importance in the battle against their enemy.
There was one condition, though. All six of them had to be male.
To say the girls'd taken offence would be an understatement.
Finally, Luke Castellan, Jason Grace and Charles Beckendorf were chosen to come back with them and now, Leo Valdez, Nico di Angelo and Travis Stoll were on their way towards the Door of Orpheus in Central Park.
Or so they were, until they set out camp on their first night by the woods outside Manhattan and were ambushed by three cyclopes.
Travis looked at them with an annoyed frown as they sauntered smugly amongst their stuff, examining their weapons and laughing at the size of their clothes.
He wished his hands were left free so he could free himself and the others but the three of them sat with their backs against a tree, tightly tied down with the thick ropes they had brought for their quest.
If he had known he was going to die that day, he'd have eaten more chips. Perhaps even pull a prank on his companions for a last laugh.
"Hey, how are you cooking us?" Leo suddenly asked, smiling innocently when one of the cyclopes glared at him. "I could give you some pointers, if you'd like."
"What is he doing?" Travis mouthed at Nico, exasperated by how calm the Son of Hades seemed to be. "Dude, you're aware they're going to kill us, right?"
"He's gaining time, obviously." Nico replied boredly. He rolled his eyes when Travis raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "Relax, will you? We're not going to die."
Travis wished he had his hands free so he could strangle Nico. It had been the Son of Hades's fault, too. If he hadn't fallen asleep during his guard, this'd have never happened.
Not for the first time, Travis wondered whether the gods had chosen right. He thought of what Annabeth, Katie or Clarisse would have done in this situation.
Travis shook his head. They're far too focused to be caught in a problem like this.
"You know how I'm best friends with Reyna, right?" Nico suddenly whispered. Travis nodded imperceptibly, leaning over to hear better. "She's actually back at Camp Half-Blood with her pegasus, Guido. It also happens that I have an empathy link with her. I sent her a message over twenty minutes ago."
Travis paled. "But that means that she is coming too."
Nico grimaced understandingly. "I'm sorry, mate, but what was I supposed to do? I'm still too weak to shadow-travel us away. I wasn't about to let us die."
Travis looked away, now more anxious than before. He kind of wished they're going to die.
Meanwhile, Leo was still chattering away. "Are you sure you want to put so little salt to the stew? Believe me, there's nothing worse than a tasteless stew and that's what you'll have if you don't add more condiments."
The smaller cyplop nodded thoughtfully. "How much do you think I should add?"
"Well, it depends on the quantity. I can show you, if you want." Leo replied, his voice charming as ever.
The cyclop moved towards the demigod to untie him but it was then that the leader of the pack of cyclops chose to intervene. "That's enough! Now, you'll shut up, you abominating rat, or I'll bowl you right now!"
Ignoring his companions pleading eyes, Leo opened his mouth to argue back but then, a spear was thrown right through the leader's heart and he vanished in a puff of ash.
The three boys looked up.
Help had arrived.
Katie Gardner jumped from Guido's back and immediately got into fight with the smallest cyclop while Reyna attacked the other one from the air with her sword.
Cyclops were worthy opponents but truthfully, they were nothing in comparison to those demigods.
Five minutes later, the monsters were no more and the three boys were untied. Travis hesitatingly looked at the girls as he rubbed his wrists. "Thank you for coming."
Katie glared murderously at him. She punched his arm before pulling him into a tight hug. "You're an idiot, Stoll."
"Gee, way to spread the love, Gardner."
Reyna rolled their eyes at the pair in amusement before turning to Nico. "Are you okay? I was afraid we wouldn't get here on time."
Nico nodded with a small smile. "Your timing was perfect. However, I think I'm too weak to continue this quest. I still can't shadow-travel, after all."
Reyna frowned before glancing at Katie. "Katie?"
The daughter of Demeter sighed before nodding. "Yeah, I'll step in. Someone needs to look after these idiots."
Travis rolled his eyes in exasperation but Leo slowly looked between Reyna and Katie as if seeing them for the first time. "Wait, so Rara, you came for Nico and Katie, you came for Travis. Are you telling me no one came for me?"
"We can leave you here to wait for somebody to come for you, if you want." Katie deadpanned as she took Nico's backpack and surveyed their rations.
"Also, I dare you to call me Rara to my face, again." Reyna threatened him from her place by Guido while she waited for Nico to climb onto the pegasus.
Leo paled, his voice lowering to a mumble. "I'd rather not."
Reyna and Katie exchanged a sufficient look before helping the boys retrieve their possessions.
The fates'd be damned. The girls were needed as much as the boys were and no one could say anything about it.