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Lorenmar: I'll try my best to put your ideas into the story. Thank you for your reviews!
After the Second Prophecy
Chapter Six: Difficult to Hate
Reyna woke up feeling refreshed.
She entered the bathroom and glanced at herself in the mirror. She definitely had a good night's sleep. Her face was flushed, as if she had killed the monsters a few minutes earlier. Her eyes were bright, and she felt awesome.
Did you sleep well?
"Yeah," Reyna said.
She showered quickly, washing off the monster gunk.
An hour minutes later...
Percy and Jason were gathering the leaving Campers on the Fields of Mars.
Reyna finished off her bagel quickly and walked over.
"All right, people! Listen up! We're going to be leaving soon, and as said before, there will be no bathroom breaks! So, do you guys have everything?" Annabeth called.
There were mumbles of agreement.
Do you want to go as well?
"Sort of," Reyna admitted. "But I have to stay here,"
Must you? What about Jason?
"Gods, stop talking about Jason!"
All right, but what about your fellow campers? Fights would break out left and right without a Roman leader to watch them...
"Wait!" Reyna yelped.
Everyone seemed to swivel their heads to glance at her.
"I would like to go to Camp Half-Blood as well," Reyna said.
"What?" Jason looked astonished. So did Piper and just about everyone else.
"I think it would be a good idea for one praetor to go to Camp Half-Blood, to prevent arguments and such." Reyna explained.
"Octavian might stir up some troubles of his own," Annabeth countered.
"Ah..." Reyna said.
Take Octavian with you.
"Well, you won't have to worry about Octavian! He's coming with me!"
"What?"
Octavian was trotting down the sidewalk, chowing down a wedge of cheesecake while slurping coffee messily. His augur's robes were smeared with random bits of cream. He looked up indignantly when he heard his name.
"Yes, Octavian," Reyna said, "I am going to Camp Half-Blood to take care of the Romans, and you are coming with me. I can't afford to have you making trouble again,"
Octavian's face turned into a ridiculous shade of purple as he began to make a strange noise, somewhere between a complaining whine and a squawk.
Reyna didn't hesitate. She covered the distance quickly as she grabbed Octavian's shirt collar and dragged him over. A half-eaten cheesecake did a face-plant on the sidewalk and the fresh green grass was watered by coffee. The nature spirits probably wouldn't like it, but hey! It was an accident (sort of)!
"All right, then," Annabeth frowned vaguely. She grabbed a fistful of drachmas and denarii and tossed them on a gray patch of ground. The ground seemed to melt, and suddenly, a train appeared.
The train wasn't like a normal train. It seemed as if it was made of grey smoke.
"Oh no, not the One-eyed, One-toothed psycho triplet ladies," Percy groaned loudly.
"The Grey Ladies?" Piper guessed.
"Let's get up there, everyone!" Annabeth called.
"Do we have to?" Percy whined. Reyna forced down a chuckle. It seemed as if only Annabeth was immune to those baby-seal sea green eyes.
"Yes, you have to, Percy. They're the fastest way. There aren't enough pegasi and eagles to carry half the camp over." Annabeth explained.
Reyna glanced at Octavian. He stood up and boggled at the train.
"The Greeks are letting us into a trap! We're all going to die! We have to fight back!" Octavian screeched, bobbing his scarecrow head.
"Shut up," Reyna groaned.
"We need to..."
Reyna promptly clubbed Octavian over the head. Octavian crumpled to the ground.
"Let's go!" Reyna said cheerfully.
She grabbed Octavian's left foot and dragged him through the grass. When she climbed up the stairs up the train, Octavian went "Ow, ow, ow, ow," as his head bonked the stairs.
"You're going to yank his leg out of its socket," Percy noted.
"Yeah, I hope he doesn't mind if his left leg is two inches longer than his right," Reyna grumbled. Percy cracked up.
"Let's bet," Percy suggested. "At Camp Half-Blood, we can borrow a measuring tape from the Hephaestus cabin. If his leg really is two inches longer than his right, you owe me a six-pack of Coke,"
"If his leg is the same length, you owe me..."
"Guys!" Annabeth hissed.
"Oh, sorry," Percy and Reyna hopped out of the way, as they were blocking the entrance when they were betting.
Reyna sat at the front of the train. The Seven (except for Hazel and Frank) were scattered everywhere, to keep the tension down.
Inside the train... everything was grey as well. Grey seats, grey windows, grey floor, grey seat belts that looked like dead skin. For some reason, there were grey pails beside every seat.
Reyna's arms ached. The scrawny scarecrow was actually heavier than he looked.
Reyna tossed Octavian on the seat beside her. Soon, the demigods were all seated and ready.
"Welcome to the Grey Ladies' transportation," a raspy voice blared through the intercom. "Please buckle your seat belt and have a pleasant journey,"
Immediately, the train bucked. The scenery blurred dramatically, and everyone puked.
The Grey Ladies were horrible drivers.
(Unfortunately), they had forgotten to turn off the intercom, and everyone could hear every single word of their arguement.
"No, I need the eye!"
"Where's the eye?"
"Don't look at me!"
"Oh! Here it is!"
"Gimme the eye!"
"I can't see where I'm going!"
"Hold it, we're running towards a mountain..."
"Yikes!"
The train swerved, and Reyna crashed against Octavian.
"What?" Octavian leapt up, and screamed when the train twisted.
Suddenly, Reyna could see what the pail was for. Everyone had retched what they had eaten, and the smell of sick was sickening.
Octavian grabbed the pail and puked.
Reyna gagged at the stench of rancid coffee and moldy cheese coming from the pail. She felt like throwing up too.
"Hello, everyone!" Piper warbled. She held a microphone. "Congratulations! Only five hours and fifty-five minutes to go!"
Only five minutes had passed?
"This might be a little difficult, but..."
Piper's comment was cut off by a shriek as the train did a 360 degree turn and the pails upturned.
Reyna closed her eyes and tried to remain sane.
12:00 noon, Camp Half-Blood
In the end, the journey wasn't as bad as it seemed.
After the train did the 360, Piper charmspeaked everyone to go to sleep, so that ended the problem.
With the help of Chiron, the demigods were sorted into cabins. Those whose parents have no Greek counterparts (such as Pompona and Bellona... Reyna included) slept at the Big House or under the stars.
Once that was done, everyone trooped to the Dining Pavilion.
Most campers choked down saltine crackers and other bland foods. Surprisingly, Reyna managed to eat a sandwich.
Tours were given, and the Romans felt right at home.
Reyna made sure Octavian was carefully locked up in the Big House, and made him promise on the River Styx that he wouldn't cause any trouble or stir any rebellions.
It was a sunny, pleasant day. Why shouldn't she enjoy it?
6:00, in the evening
During dinner, Piper, of all people, was kind to her.
As the only daughter of Bellona, Reyna had pretty much nowhere to sit. During lunch, she ate on the grass. Now, a couple of new tables were sent in, and everyone had a seat except for her.
"Come sit with us!" Piper suggested.
Reyna stiffly sat down.
Someone brought over a plate of pizza. It was pepperoni and olive with extra cheese. Delicious.
Reyna stood in line as she scraped a few slices.
"For Bellona," Reyna said quietly. "Help me get used to this, please,"
After dinner, Reyna sat down on the grass. She pretty much didn't bring any clothes, except for an extra pair of jeans and a Camp Jupiter T-shirt. She brought some toiletries, but that's it, really.
"Hey," Piper padded over. She had a pillow and a sleeping bag in her hands, along with a few extra shirts and lingerie.
"Thanks," Reyna was astounded as Piper handed her the materials and helped her spread the sleeping bag on the grass.
"No problem," Piper said kindly. Her beautiful eyes swirled with dozens of color, but they were all filled with affection.
Reyna suddenly wanted to cry. She had seen Piper as a bad guy, but in reality, Piper was too kind, the nice heroine. Reyna didn't deserve the kindness.
Reyna was tempted to tell Piper, apologize for wanting Jason, but what came out of her mouth was, "Thank you,"
"That's the second time you said that," Piper said, smiling. "Good night,"
"Good night," Reyna echoed.
It'd be better if she was easier to hate.
"Shut up," Reyna said to the voice. "You're always wrong. Piper isn't bad,"
But it still would be better if she was...
"Zip it!" Reyna yelled, startling a nymph who disappeared with an angry glare.
A few minutes later, Reyna wondered.
Would it be better if Piper was easier to hate?
Sorry, guys, this chapter might be a little long.
Please R&R, and I'll update as soon as possible. I'll try to add more action in it.