Chapter 5: Sons of Zeus
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I'm glad you all enjoyed the last chapter, now this one brings in some very interesting characters to use in the future both good and bad. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
In town, Medusa was wearing her cloak to cover her face and body as she and Nico were about to go their separate ways.
"Mom, you didn't have to walk me to town." Nico said.
"I know, but with you at school, we hardly have any time to spend together. You always seem to be with your friends. You're not trying to avoid me are you, Nicodemus?" Medusa asks.
"How could I avoid you? It's not like I can hide very well." Nico smirks.
"Not from me at least." Medusa smirks causing him to chuckle. "Anyway, can help me find someone to sell this to?" Medusa reached into a bag and pulls out the demon statue.
Reaching out, Nico feels the little statue. "What is this thing?"
"A little stone statue. Maybe we can make a few drachmas off it." Medusa said.
"Why can't you sell it?" Nico asks.
"Because people are suckers for the whole blind salesman act." Medusa smirks.
"Fair enough. I'll see what I can do." Nico laughs.
"Have a good day at school, sweetie." Medusa smiles.
"Love you mom." Nico smiles.
As Nico walks away Medusa watches until she couldn't see him anymore before heading off.
At Olympian Academy, Andromeda was sitting down when Adonis walks in with the demon statue.
"Uh Adonis, what is that?" Andromeda asks.
"Creative don't you think. Nico told me it's from a new stone carver and I bought it from him for a steal. I'll make a fortune off this thing." Adonis said.
"If you say so." Andromeda said when she looked outside and noticed Icarus counting the drachmas in a sack.
"There's at least 50 drachmas in here." Icarus said.
"Wow, rich people really will by anything if they think it's by someone famous." Nico chuckles.
"Typical, using lies and trickery to get what you want. Disgraceful." Tempest shakes her head.
"This isn't me tricking a normal person this is Adonis. Come on Tempest, even you can't stand him." Nico said.
"He told me women belong in the kitchen, not the battlefield." Tempest growls as Nico picks up his walking stick.
"Ready for your first lesson?" Nico asks causing Tempest to grin.
"A warrior is always ready for battle." Tempest said picking up a bo staff.
"I can't believe Herc is missing this. Where is he?" Icarus asks looking around.
At the front of the school, Hercules was walking in with a sad, depressed look on his face not really paying attention to his surroundings.
Up ahead Tempest was attacking Nico with her staff but Nico was blocking them.
"You can't win a fight by just defending." Tempest said sweeping her legs making Nico fall back.
Leaping in, Nico rolls out of the way dodging the attack before getting up.
As Tempest turned to face him, Nico took a deep breath and as his bare feet felt the ground he listened for Tempest as she moved in for an attack.
Acting quickly Nico moved in to meet her head-on when at the last second Nico leans forward and spins on the top of his foot moving out of the way surprising Tempest and Icarus.
"Whoa mama." Icarus said as Nico whacked Tempest from the sides knocking her to the ground.
Looking up Tempest saw Nico's stick inches from her face. However, instead of anger, a smile appeared on her face.
"You have to teach me that." Tempest said.
"I'm starting to think Tempest would have still lost even if Herc hadn't volunteered." Icarus said as Tempest stood up.
"Impressive skills. You would make quite the warrior." Tempest said.
"Much appreciated Tempest, but no thanks." Nico shook his head.
"Why do you not use your abilities to be something? With your skills, you could win many battles." Tempest said.
"Maybe but for now I'm just fine helping you and Herc." Nico said when Tempest noticed Hercules walking over.
"And speaking of." Tempest said.
"Hey Herc you just missed it! Nico beat Tempest." Icarus said.
"Huh? Wha?" Hercules said snapping out of his thoughts.
"He said it's time for training. You're up." Tempest said tossing Hercules her bow staff.
As it flew towards him Hercules fumbles trying to catch it and the staff hits the ground.
"Herc is something going on?" Nico said.
"You can tell?" Hercules asks.
"You don't need eyes to see you are not in a good mood right now." Nico said.
"It's a family thing. My father wants to see me tomorrow." Hercules said.
"That doesn't sound so bad. I hang out with my dad all the time." Icarus said.
"Well my father is probably different. My father is Zeus." Hercules said causing all of them to pause.
"Zeus? The big guy? He's your daddy? Mr Lighting Bolts?" Nico asks shocked.
"Are you making this up?" Tempest asks.
"Nope, my dad is Zeus. I'm a Demigod." Hercules said.
"Well this certainly explains how he's so strong." Icarus said taking this all in.
"Anyway he summons me and my half brother every once in a while and we compete to earn a special gift from our father and every time I get humiliated while stupid Perseus gets all the praise." Hercules growls.
"Typical sibling rivalry." Icarus shook his head.
"I really don't want to go and deal with him again." Hercules sighs before turning to Nico. "Nico will you come with me?"
"Me?" Nico said pointing to himself. "Can't you ask Icarus or Tempest?"
"You've known Herc longer than us." Icarus said.
"One day. I met him one day before you guys did." Nico said.
"Please. You're my best friend and I could really use your support." Hercules said laying on the peer pressure.
"Just go, he needs this." Tempest said pushing Nico forward annoyed by this.
Sighing Nico turns to Hercules and puts his hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know why but I feel like I'm gonna be stuck with you for a long time." Nico said.
"Yeah you probably are." Hercules smiles.
Up above them on a pillar, Thea was sitting down watching the group.
"So the children for Zeus face off once again." Thea said looking towards Nico. "I wonder if you will make a difference this time."
Hearing a hooting Thea looks to see her owl fly in and nudge her.
"Ugh this again? My job is to watch Hercules and guide him, his friend just happens to always be with him." Thea points causing the owl to roll its eyes.
"Still I wonder what the prize from Zeus will be this time?" Thea asks curiously when she hears the bell ring and everyone headed inside.
The next day, Hercules was leading Nico up a hill towards a temple at the top of it.
"So Herc what's the deal with this sibling rivalry of yours?" Nico asks.
"Well it's hard for anyone to live up to their father's name but when your father is a god it's even harder. I want to be a hero. To prove myself and live up to my father's name, but the problem so does Perseus and every time he looks like the golden boy while I look like the loser." Hercules said.
"Wow, so what's your half brother like? Is he strong like you?" Nico asks.
"No, I got my father's strength. Perseus is a clever one. Every time he and I have faced each other he received an item lent to him by the gods and each time he uses them to beat me." Hercules said.
"Well how many does he have?" Nico asks.
"Right now, four." Hercules sighs.
"And after today it will be five." A confident voice said.
Looking up they saw someone looking down at them from the temple.
He had short brown hair, a white tunic with a pouch strapped to one side, a sword strapped to his other side, a shield on his arm, and a fancy helmet in his other arm. This was Perseus.
"It's been a while Perseus." Hercules growls.
"Hello brother, so good to beat you again. Sorry meet you again, no wait beat was right." Perseus chuckles.
"Not this time, Perseus. I'm a lot better than the last time we faced off." Hercules growls.
"I'm sure." Perseus said when he noticed Nico. "And who might this be?"
"Nicodemus Stone, I'm just here to support my friend." Nico said.
"A spectator? I suggest you turn around; you wouldn't want to witness your friend's humiliating defeat." Perseus warns.
"I think I'll manage." Nico said pointing to his eyes causing Perseus to chuckle.
"This is sad even for you Hercules. Guess it's for the best, he won't see how pathetic you'll look. Come on, best not keep father waiting." Perseus said walking in.
"Alright I'll help, I don't like him either." Nico growls.
"Believe it or not he's actually being nice to you." Hercules said as they walked inside.
Inside the temple, a teenage girl wearing a light white dress with long indigo hair and a blue hair piece that had a jewel in the middle that resembled a light was sweeping the main area where a statue of Zeus looked down at them.
"Today's the big day." She mumbles when she heard footsteps.
Turning around she saw, Hercules, Perseus and Nico approaching.
"Hey dad." Hercules said looking up at the statue of Zeus.
"Hello father, I dedicate this victory to you." Perseus declared as the girl walked over to them.
"Greetings heroes. I am Ellen and Zeus has chosen me to observe this match for him." She introduces.
"It's nice to meet you." Nico said getting her attention.
"My it's very rare we have a guest to the Temple of Zeus, who are you?" Ellen asks.
"This is Nico, he's with me." Hercules said.
"Very well. You will have to stand by my side during the match, you cannot fight alongside your friend in this." Ellen warns.
"Fine by me." Nico nods.
"Before we begin everyone take a knee." Ellen said as all of them turned to the statue of Zeus and kneeled in respect.
"Been a while since I've had to do that." Nico said getting up.
"Stand right here." Ellen said pulling him next to her as she and Nico stood in the middle between Hercules and Perseus.
"Good luck Herc I'm rooting for you." Nico said as Hercules nods in thanks.
"Your friend is loyal but it's in the wrong fighter." Perseus said drawing his sword and shield.
"Remember, no killing so put that sword away Perseus." Ellen points out.
"Wasn't gonna kill him." Perseus mumbles tossing the sword to the side.
"Begin!" Ellen announced.
Making the first move, Hercules charges in but Perseus dodges his punch before elbowing him in the hip causing him to cringe.
"Still just charging in like always." Perseus smirks whacking Hercules with his shield knocking him to the ground.
"Come on Herc concentrate! Use your head!" Nico calls out.
"Hmm." Hercules nods getting an idea.
Perseus leaps in but Herc grabs his arms and headbutts Perseus causing both of them to groan in pain.
"Well I guess that works but I don't think that's what you meant for him to do." Ellen cringed.
"Let me guess, he literally used his head?" Nico assumed.
"For someone who can't see you really know what happens around you." Ellen said impressed.
"Yeah it's called listening." Nico smirks causing her to chuckle softly.
As both Sons of Zeus recover from the headbutt both of them look to each other.
"Sorry brother, but this is where I bring honor to father's name and you embarrass him." Perseus said grabbing his helm and putting it on his head causing him to turn invisible.
"Ugh I hate that thing." Hercules said when he suddenly got hit from behind.
Turning around Hercules swings his arm but just hits air and gets hit in the side.
"What's going on?" Nico asks.
"It's the Helm. A very rare object that can turn whoever wears it invisible." Ellen explains.
"Magical items, just like Herc said." Nico realized.
"You seriously gonna win with this old trick again Perseus?!" Hercules calls out.
"Why not? It's not like you ever learn from it." Perseus mocks hitting Hercules again this time making him fall in front of Nico.
"Herc!" Nico was about to go help him but Ellen stops him.
"You cannot enter the fight." Ellen said as Nico turns to his friend.
"Herc come on! Get up! You can't lose to this guy!" Nico said as Hercules struggles to stand.
"Nico I can't win. How can I beat him if I can't even see him?" Hercules asks.
"That never stopped me. Herc you have more senses than just your eyes, use them." Nico reminds.
Hercules looks up and realized Nico was right. Nico can't see anything but he's always able to come out on top because he uses everything but his eyes.
"My other senses." Hercules pauses as he looks around for any sign of Perseus but found nothing.
Taking a deep breath, Hercules closes his eyes and patiently stood where he was.
After a few seconds Hercules suddenly heard the sound of a foot moving across the tile floor.
Opening his eyes Hercules gets hit in the side but reaches out and grabs something.
"What?" Perseus gasps surprised.
"He found him?" Ellen said gasps.
Using this opening Hercules delivers a powerful uppercut to the air and ends up knocking the helm of invisibility off Perseus' head and lands near the edge of the temple with a huge dent in it.
"Hey Perseus, I see you." Hercules smirks surprising his half-brother.
Slamming his foot to the ground, the tiles shook violently causing Perseus to wobble back and forth before Hercules rammed into him knocking Perseus to the ground.
"Get him Herc!" Nico smiles.
"How is this possible? You have no control!" Perseus asks as Hercules threw a punch.
Acting quickly Perseus raised his shield but the blow from Herc's punches caused him to stagger back.
"I found a great trainer." Hercules said throwing punch after punch knocking Perseus towards the ground as his shield started to crack from the strong attacks.
Cupping his hands together, Hercules slams them both down on the shield causing it to split in half shocking Perseus as he falls on his back in defeat.
"This match is over. The win goes to Hercules!" Ellen announced.
"Yes!" Hercules smiles feeling so happy. He finally beat Perseus.
"You did it buddy." Nico smiles walking over and instantly Hercules pulls him into a bone crushing hug. "Herc too strong!"
"It's official you are my best friend in the whole world!" Hercules smiles giving Nico a noogie.
"Hey cut it out!" Nico laughs.
"Interesting, with just a few words and strategy he was able to help Hercules win." Ellen said when she noticed the dented helm by her feet.
Groaning Perseus stands up.
"Hey Perseus, how's it feel to lose? That's how I felt for years." Hercules asks.
"Stinks doesn't it?" Nico smirks.
Perseus growls in anger but his anger wasn't towards Hercules, it was at Nico.
This blind boy came out of nowhere and turned his klutz of a brother into a potential hero and humiliated him by destroying half the prizes he won over the years.
"Don't get cocky. Next time things will be different." Perseus said.
"Herc I don't think you'll have to worry about him beating you anymore as long as you got me around." Nico said.
"I can see it now, Nicodemus trainer of the Great Hercules." Hercules smiles causing them both to laugh.
'Not if I have anything to say about it.' Perseus thought glaring at Nico before leaving the temple.
"Congratulations Hercules, you are the winner and as such you shall receive your father's gift." Ellen said gesturing to the statue.
Nico and Hercules turn to the statue and suddenly a bolt of lighting shot down from the sky and a bright light shined in front of it, blinding Hercules and Ellen.
"How are you not affected by this?" Ellen asks.
"Another perk of being blind." Nico smiles.
From the light, a neighing sound echoed as from it a white horse, with a beautiful man and large wings emerged.
"Sounds like your dad got you a horse." Nico said.
"Not just any horse, a horse with wings." Hercules said slowly making his way towards it. "Uh hey there. I-I'm Hercules."
Neighing the horse slowly walked towards him.
"Hmm I'm gonna name you…Pegasus. You like that?" Hercules asks as Pegasus neighs happily and nuzzles him. "Okay Pegasus it is."
"Those two will do just fine together." Nico said as Ellen walks up to him.
"You're an interesting one." Ellen said.
"What do you mean?" Nico asks.
"You can't see, but it's like you found see more than what many others see." Ellen said.
"Lots of practice I guess." Nico shrugs.
"Even so, with you helping your friends who's there to help you when you need help?" Ellen asks.
"Well my mom helped me a lot but no one I've mostly been helping others." Nico admits.
"Then I guess I make one. If you ever need help you can always ask me." Ellen said.
"Really why?" Nico asks surprised.
"I'm like the little light in a dark tunnel for some. I help people who are lost." Ellen smiles.
"Thank you, that's very nice." Nico said as Hercules climbs onto Pegasus.
"Hey Nico get over here. I'll give you a ride home." Hercules offers.
"Uh no thanks, I like being on the ground." Nico said but Hercules grabbed him and yanked him on. "Herc!"
"Come on! It's because of you I even have him. Alright Pegasus show us those wings of yours." Hercules said.
Grinning Pegasus spread his wings and Nico gulps.
"Please Herc no I don't like being in the air please I beg of you—AAAAGHHH!" Nico screams as Pegasus took off into the air with Hercules screaming with joy and Nico screaming in fear.
"Those two make quite a team." Ellen smiles when a light shines from behind her. "So what did you think?"
Walking up next to her was a man with long curly brown hair, a beard and white toga, this was Zeus.
"I'll admit I was impressed with how Hercules performed. This is the first time I've ever seen him with control over his strength." Zeus said as Ellen picks up the helm.
"I know someone who will be happy to have this back." Ellen said holding out her hand and the dent magically was healed. "You should probably give it back to him."
"Ugh do I have to? Hades is still mad at me for wagering this in the first place. Plus, I really don't want to listen to his "Dead" jokes." Zeus groans.
"Stop being a baby visit your brother for once." Ellen rolls her eyes as Zeus took the helm.
"What about you? What is it with you and that blind mortal? You really offered your help? He's a lost cause." Zeus said.
"Lost causes are my specialty." Ellen smirks.