Chapter 7: Solstice Drama
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. Now this one features one of my favorite Greek Myths but I have Nico meet another character who shares his kind of humor. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
Ever since the incident with Circe things have been a little different around Olympian Academy. Of course, Andromeda dumping Adonis was the biggest thing to go around the school.
Needless to say Adonis hated the fact that he no longer had a princess for a girlfriend and would constantly try to impress her and win her back.
But every other guy didn't seem to mind, in fact they enjoyed seeing Andromeda turn him down every time.
Also Tempest was becoming much friendlier and learning to have fun and relax but also know when to be serious.
On some outside tables, Nico, Hercules, Tempest and Icarus were working on their homework.
"Ugh I am not getting this one." Hercules said.
"Here try this one." Icarus said writing down notes.
"I think this is the right answer." Tempest said.
"Looks like you guys got them right to me." Nico said.
"Oh thanks I was…hey." Tempest said causing Nico to chuckle.
"You guys fall for that everytime." Nico smiles.
"So guys on a non-homework subject the Summer Solstice festival is coming up. That means fall is coming up." Icarus said.
"Oh yeah, I love the festival. Lots of things to do." Hercules said.
"Really? What do they do?" Tempest asks.
"Mostly trade crops, eat food, play games and have fun." Icarus said.
"Well I say we go to this social event." Tempest said.
"Look at you. Wanting to go and have fun." Nico said nudging her.
"I guess being around you three has rubbed off on me." Tempest said trying to nudge Nico back but ends up pushing him too hard and knocked him to the ground. "Whoops. Sorry."
"We'll work on that." Icarus said as Nico slowly got up.
"I'll be right back. Need some water. Fall may be coming but it's still hot." Nico said walking away.
Little did he know Luna was watching him from nearby.
This was the final difference.
Ever since Nico kissed her, Luna had been feeling weird especially when she saw him and she didn't know why.
As Nico grabbed a cup of water Luna walks up to him.
"Hello Nicodemus." Luna said getting his attention.
"Luna." Nico said turning to her and when she saw his face Luna smiles softly. "So what are you up to?"
"Oh uh…thirsty." Luna said.
"Oh my bad." Nico said moving out of the way.
"Out of my loser." Adonis said shoving past them with a large vase full of flowers.
"Excuse me." Luna said annoyed.
"What are you doing this time Adonis?" Nico asks annoyed.
"Not that its any of your business but I plan to get my Andromeda back." Adonis said causing Nico to chuckle. "Find something funny?"
"Yeah it's your future. And it ends with Andromeda breaking that vase and ditching you again." Nico said causing Luna to giggle.
"Excuse me?" Adonis glares.
"She is never gonna take you back so here. Let me save you the humiliation." Nico jabs his walking stick through the vase causing it to shatter and all the flowers to spill out.
"Hey that vase cost more than your house!" Adonis said.
"Seriously?" Nico said.
"Why would you waste so much drachmas on that?" Luna asks as Adonis looks to her.
"You must be a commoner to not know that royalty can get you anything you want." Adonis scoffs.
"Excuse me." Luna growls.
"Well if I was as rich as you I could afford some manners." Nico said poking Adonis away with his stick.
"Why you." Adonis growls.
"Adonis it doesn't take working eyes to see that you aren't worth it. In fact, your so desperate to be the big deal it's sad. You want my advice? Try acting like a human being instead of a spoiled brat." Nico said.
While Adonis looked at Nico beyond humiliated Luna was giggling softly loving this. Adonis was a horrible man and Nico was putting him in his place.
"I don't have to put up with this." Adonis scoffs walking away.
"Wow dealing with that guy is becoming a chore." Nico sighs.
"He didn't even have a comeback." Luna said putting a hand on his shoulder before quickly pulling away. "I mean he always has a comeback…wait until people hear about this." Luna blushes.
"Well Luna if you ever wanna talk I'm sure you can find me if you want." Nico smiles walking away.
As he did Luna could feel her heart racing.
"What is happening to me?" Luna asks putting a hand to her heart. "Am I under some kind of spell?"
Outside, Nico saw his friends smiling and laughing.
"Hey what'd I miss?" Nico asks.
"Nico, for the festival Herc is gonna give us a lift on Pegasus. Wanna join us?" Icarus asks.
"Oh no, no, no, no I am not that getting on that horse unless it's staying on the ground." Nico said.
"Nico really doesn't like flying." Hercules said.
"Don't like flying? What are you afraid of heights?" Icarus asks.
"Don't you actually need to see how high you are to be afraid of heights?" Tempest asks.
"I like the ground okay. When I'm flying I have no idea what's going on." Nico explains.
"Oh like when we were on the boat." Tempest recalls.
"Exactly." Nico said.
"But Nico, Pegasus likes you and it's thanks to you I even have him." Hercules said.
"Hey I like Pegasus too, as long as he's on the ground." Nico said.
"Okay, okay you don't wanna do it." Hercules said getting the picture.
"You gonna be okay being at the festival without us?" Icarus asks.
"Why not? I'm not helpless." Nico said.
"Try not to have too much fun without us." Hercules said.
"Don't do anything crazy." Icarus said.
"How can I? You two are taking all the crazy with you." Nico said as they all chuckle.
Soon the Summer Solstice festival came, but what no one knew is that another big event was going on.
Near the festival grounds, a woman in her 20s with long strawberry blonde hair was walking alongside an older woman with brown hair, a yellow and orange dress with autumn leaves in her hair.
"I can't believe it's been six months." The older woman grumbled while the younger seemed much happier.
"I finally get to see him again." She smiles.
"I never understood why you chose him. You just had to eat the pomegranate." She glares.
"Yes I did." The younger one said.
"Oh geez this again?" A familiar voice said.
Looking over they saw Ellen nearby sitting on some rocks.
"Ellen what a surprise." The older one said.
"Flora always a pleasure to see you. I see Juniper is ready to go back to your in law." Ellen said.
"That man is not my in law he's the man who forced my daughter to leave me." Flora said crossing her arms in a huff.
"He did not force me." Juniper said.
"I always was curious what it was you see in him." Ellen admits.
"We all wonder." Flora said.
Ellen looks to Juniper who mouthed "Help me" causing Ellen to sigh.
'I know it's my thing to help people but I might need some backup.' As Ellen looked at the festival she noticed a familiar blind boy walking to the booths.
'Hmm that's the boy who helped Hercules defeat Perseus.' Ellen thought getting an idea.
Sniffing the air, Nico makes his way to a booth that had loaves of bread.
"I'll take a few of those." Nico said holding out some coins.
"Enjoy." The vendor said giving him the bread.
"I do not know why they would waste their time flying when being on the ground is so much better." Nico said.
"Everyone has their own preferences." Ellen said.
"Huh?" Nico turns around as she walks up to him. "Wait I recognize that voice…you're that girl from the Temple of Zeus, Ellen right?"
"Good memory." Ellen said impressed.
"It's the only way I can remember people." Nico said putting the bread in his bag. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm in need of some assistance. During the match you were very helpful to young Hercules and I was wondering you can help a friend of mine?" Ellen asks.
"What's the problem?" Nico asks.
"Her mother is a little…overprotective." Ellen said.
"I know that feeling all to well." Nico said speaking from experience.
"I'm trying to help but I think I need a neutral party to help with this one." Ellen said.
"Sure uh I'll do what I can." Nico said.
"Excellent and trust me if you can help with this it'll help you along the way." Ellen smiles.
"Boy that girl really likes to help people." Nico said walking away.
In another part, Hades emerged from the shadows and looks around before noticing the sundial.
"Hmm guess I'm a little early." Hades said when someone bumped into him. "Hey can't you watch where you're going?"
Turning around Hades saw he had accidentally ran into Nico.
"No." Nico replies as Hades noticed his eyes.
"Yikes, sorry about that." Hades cringed.
"I'm used to it. You in a rush or something?" Nico asks.
"Sort of. I'm meeting my wife, unfortunately my mother in law is coming with her. I swear that woman will be the death of me." Hades said.
"Yikes bet you wish you didn't have to see her." Nico smirks causing Hades to chuckle.
"Nice to meet someone with a sense of humor." He said.
"What's your name?" Nico asks.
"Call me Daimon." Hades said as Nico nods. "So you being blind. Is that a recent thing?"
"No I was born blind. My mom said the gods took my eyes so I wouldn't need to see the evil and ugly things in the world." Nico said.
"My job is nothing but evil and ugly things maybe I should be the blind one." Daimon said causing Nico to chuckle.
"What do you do?" Nico asks.
"It's mostly a place that's dark, gloomy and well full of dead people." Daimon said.
"Oh you're one of those funeral guys?" Nico assumes.
"Yeah something like that." Daimon said.
"Well everywhere I look is dark so how bad can this place be?" Nico asks causing Daimon to laugh.
"You're alright kid. You got a name?" Daimon asks.
"Nicodemus Stone but my friends call me Nico." Nico said.
'Hmm so this must be the boy Thea was talking about.' Daimon thought.
"Daimon!" Looking ahead Daimon saw Juniper causing him to smile as she ran over and they hugged.
"Juniper. I've missed you so much it was crazy." Daimon smiles.
"Sounds like you were dying to see me again." Juniper smirks causing Daimon to hug her.
"This is why I love you so much." Daimon said.
"Wow a girl who loves dead puns like you? Dang Daimon." Nico chuckles causing Juniper to notice him.
"Who are you?" Juniper asks.
"I was keeping Daimon company until you showed up." Nico said.
"Turns out Nico really appreciates my sense of humor." Daimon said.
"I guess someone has to." Flora scoffs as she and Ellen catch up. "Never thought you would show your face."
"Uh hi Flora, you're looking well." Daimon said.
"And you look like a corpse kidnapper." Flora said.
"Mother." Juniper glares.
"You're still mad about this?" Daimon asks.
"Yes." Flora glares causing Nico to flinch.
"What's going on? What am I hearing?" Nico asks.
"This is why I need your help." Ellen said.
"Who is this?" Flora asks.
"A neutral party." Ellen said.
"This is what you needed my help with?" Nico asks.
"Look Juniper's mother Flora has hated Daimon ever since they got married because of a few…complications." Ellen said.
"Complications! He forced her to leave me!" Flora said.
"No I didn't." Daimon said.
"Ma'am don't you think you're taking this a little too hard? I mean every kid has to leave home eventually." Nico said.
"Leave by choice is one thing. This wasn't by choice." Flora said.
"Every time." Daimon sighs. "This woman is gonna be the death of me."
"And another thing. These death puns of yours are so annoying. Can't you ever talk seriously?" Flora asks.
"Maybe because he needs a reason to laugh or his work would drive him crazy." Juniper said.
"Laughing helps a lot of things." Nico admits.
"But it doesn't make your daughter leaving you any easier." Flora said.
"Sounds more like this is less about Juniper and more about you." Ellen said.
"Because it is. She hated that I left home and even more that I married him." Juniper said.
"But why can't you give me a chance?" Daimon asks.
"If you ask me you could do worse than Daimon for a son-in-law." Nico said.
"Thank you." Daimon said.
"What would you know?" Flora asks.
"Well my mom was pretty overprotective too. I mean she wouldn't let me leave home until she was 100% sure I could handle myself. I had to do so much just so she would let me go to school." Nico said.
"So you know what I'm dealing with it." Juniper said.
"I think so." Nico said.
"And Flora are you really in a place to complain? You get to see her whenever you want." Ellen said.
"Every 6 months." Daimon said.
"Doesn't sound like being captured. In fact quite the opposite." Ellen said.
"Miss I understand you might not like the person your daughter married but clearly you overlooked something big." Nico said.
"What's that?" Flora glares.
"It wasn't your choice, it was hers. Daimon may not be the perfect guy but he clearly loves your daughter." Nico said.
"She's my Queen." Daimon smiles causing Juniper to put her hands to her heart.
"I just don't understand how she could love someone like him." Flora said.
"Because I see something you don't. I look at him and I see the man I love. I love him and I love you mother, I just wish you would see that." Juniper said.
"I just don't want to lose you." Demeter said.
"Mother, you never will." Juniper said hugging her.
Hearing this Nico couldn't help but see a bit of himself and his mother in these two.
"I'll be back in 6 months." Juniper said.
"Be safe." Flora said as she slowly let go.
"Well that wasn't so bad." Nico said.
"Nah this time she's not telling me to drop dead." Daimon said.
"Yikes." Nico said as Juniper walks over to Daimon.
"See you around Nicodemus." Daimon smirks.
"Don't work yourself to death Daimon." Nico smirks back as Daimon and Juniper walk away.
"Work myself to death. I'm gonna have to remember that one." Daimon chuckles.
"Who would have thought you would be able to make a friend?" Juniper smiles.
"Heh the kid makes me laugh." Daimon shrugs.
"Still a blind person who with great control. Reminds me of a certain lucky goddess I know." Juniper said.
"Oh yeah, those two would get a long great." Daimon chuckles before holding her close. "I am gonna enjoy these next 6 months together."
"Me too." Juniper smiles as they walk away from the festival and when they leave her dress changed to black and dark purple as they both walked down into the underworld.
Nearby Flora watched them both until she could no longer see her daughter and sighs.
"Never gets any easier seeing her leave me." Flora said before leaving as well.
"Well that was interesting." Nico said.
"Hope your family isn't like that." Ellen said.
"Lucky for me no." Nico asks as she walks up.
"I must say you handled that very well." Ellen said.
"Oh uh thanks." Nico said.
"It helps to have a few extra friends and I knew you and Daimon would appreciate a new one." Ellen said.
"I guess so. Thanks Ellen. You're living up to that promise you made." Nico said.
"You remember?" Ellen asks.
"My light at the end of the tunnel. How about I get you a snack as a way of saying thanks?" Nico offers.
"Hmm an offering? I guess it would be rude to refuse." Ellen giggles.
"It's not an offering, it's a thank you." Nico said.
At a stand, Nico offers Ellen a peach which she happily accepts.
"Here a gift from me to you." Nico said.
"Why thank you." Ellen said when she noticed Nico feeling around at the other items. "I must say your sense of touch is very impressive.
"Well this is how I see. Between this and smell it's the only way I can tell the difference between food." Nico said.
"How did you train yourself to acquire these heighten senses?" Ellen asks interested.
"Well being blind isn't exactly ideal but my mom always told me that when fate deals them something bad complaining about things never get far and that it's up to you to find a way to work with it, so I decided to stop complaining and try to find something I could do even without my eyes." Nico said.
"Not many would choose the hard path." Ellen said interested.
"Well I guess I'm not normal." Nico said leaning against the stand but his hand slips on some oranges causing him to stumble causing Ellen to giggle.
"No but lucky for you I like the unique. Maybe we can see each other again." Ellen said before she realized what she said. "Oops sorry."
"It's okay and yes I would enjoy meeting with you again." Nico smiles.
Ellen smiles when she makes the same mistake as Nico and when she leans against the stand her hand slips on the fruit and stumbles. "Whoa!" Ellen yelps falling into Nico but he catches her before she fell.
"Whoa, that was close." Nico said.
As Ellen looks up at his face she had to admit she enjoyed this as he lets go of her.
"Enjoy the festival Ellen. Talk to you again sometime." Nico said walking away.
"Yes, yes we will." Ellen said liking the idea more and more before taking a bite of her offering.
That night, Nico put down a decent amount of bread and fruits he got from the festival.
"I know you can't tell Nicodemus but you got some very good ones." Medusa smiles sitting down.
"Thanks Mom." Nico said sitting down next to her.
"You know I was surprised that you wanted to go. You never seemed interested in social events before going to school." Medusa said ripping off some meat and holding it up to her snakes in her hair who silently ate it.
"Well lately I've been making quite a few friends." Nico said before thinking about Flora and her daughter's relationship with Daimon. "Hey mom can I ask you something personal?"
"Of course, sweetie." Medusa said.
"Say if someday I…I meet someone. How would you react?" Nico asks causing Medusa to almost choke her drink before gulping it down.
"Nico where is this coming from? Are you seeing someone?" Medusa asks.
"Well, not yet. Today I made a friend but he had a hard time dealing with his mother-in-law because she thought he wasn't good enough for her daughter. The way she was so protective kind of reminded me of how you sometimes are around me." Nico said.
Hissing the snakes look to Medusa who gets up and sits next to him.
"All mothers are protective of their children it's our job." Medusa smiles.
"Thanks mom but you didn't answer my question." Nico said.
"Well it depends on what kind of person you meet and whether she's the right person. I don't want my son falling in love with the wrong kind of girl." Medusa said.
"Wrong kind for me or wrong kind for you?" Nico smirks.
"Just don't be in too big a rush to find someone alright." Medusa said.
"Okay." Nico smiles.
"But if you ever do meet a girl and she breaks your heart I will personally hunt her down and make sure she rues the day she hurt you." Medusa said as her snakes hiss in agreement.
"Mom sometimes I think you'd turn into a monster if I wasn't around." Nico said.
"Sweetie you have no idea." Medusa chuckles pulling her son in for a hug and even the snakes smile enjoying this.