I'm back with another chapter. This was only supposed to be a one-shot, but.. Oh well. This should be interesting. ;)
Disclaimer: I'm sorry to say it, but I am not not Rick Riordan. *GASP*
In the elevator, Piper and Leo exchanged looks. Leo shrugged, then laughed as Pipers hair started to comb itself, and her jeans and Camp shirt were flashed into a dress. "You look good, Beauty Queen." Piper looked down in horror, "Mother!" Jason wrapped his arm around her waist. "You're a knockout, Pipes." Piper laughed, remembering when Jason had shouted those exact words out so long ago. Though it had only been a few months since, the time gap felt like a few years. As the numbers flashed what level they were on, Leo's mind wandered towards what his other gift could be. He already had ancient T.P blueprints that were supposedly vital to him, what more could he need? Maybe they fixed the Argo II? It has taken a lot of damage... Then an idea rose to the surface.
No..
What if..
What if Festus was whole again?
Leo's head spun, possibilities bounced around in his head.
How would he of done it? Would Festus be modified? Upgraded? Wish I could of helped. Then, another thought.
Mom.
He shook that one off. She was dead, and there was no changing that. Leo knew not to get his hopes too high, or he'd go insane.
DING. The elevator brought Leo back to reality.
The early morning sunlight reflected off the side of the Argo II, making it look as if it was being bathed in fire. Leo sighed, admiringly, it was beautiful. He really did love his ship. Then he realized, that it wasn't only the sunlight, the entire vessel was glowing. Everyone backed up several feet, except Leo. He was being drawn towards the Argo, which was now radiating golden, powerful, waves of light. Leo's eyes were fixated on the ship, as he took slow, deliberate steps forward. He stretched out his hand when- "Shield your eyes!" Hephaestus shouted, as his hand made contact. Everyone obeyed, and Percy was the first to open his eyes. The scene he took in made him want to know if the Mist was affecting his vision. In the place of the Argo II, there was a pile of machinery parts, including a few still-turning cogs. Leo was standing nose to nose with his father, on his toes. His hair was on fire. "..not so confident on your giving strategies!" He was saying. Hephaestus ignored the outburst. "Have a look son. She's waking up." Leo faltered. He turned around. Rising from the pile was a dark red head. Her short hair floated around her shoulders, different bunches curled upward slightly, with her barely upturned nose. Her lids opened to reveal bright green eyes, almost as sharp as Percy's, but.. Softer. She lifted her head, looking around, like a newborn child.
"This was Aphrodite's idea, I'm afraid." Hephaestus stated, as the girl tried to focus on the world around her. "She claimed you were," Hephaestus made a face, as if trying to remember. "Lonely and tragically adorable." He toke a deep breath and let it out in a rush of air. "I am normally not one to agree with my wife, but.." He turned to look at Leo. Leo wasn't listening, his eyes were trained on the Girl, who was still confused. Her small hand had managed to make its way out from underneath A large metal plate.
"Where is the Argo," Leo whispered, not looking at his father. "Where is my ship?"
Hephaestus looked happy to deal with something he could explain. "Technically, this is the Argo II." He scratched his beard, where a small patch was on fire. "Or at least her spirit. She soul of the ship is here, with us. While the actual boat is back in bunker nine. The reason she looks the way she does is because you made her that way." Leo looked up and turned around. "Me? But I've never seen her before." Hephaestus faced the others as well as Leo. "Well, not only Leo did.
Since you all spent time on the ship, you all contributed to her personality. But the one who cared for her the most.." He looked to Leo pointedly. "Contributed the most." At the moment, a shriek of joy filled the air. Everyone turned to look at the girl. Then averted their eyes in embarrassment. She was completely naked. Except for Leo, who was then smacked on the back of the head by Piper. "What?" He closed his eyes. "Um, hello." The girl didn't seem to notice them at first. She was jumping around holding a single strand of hair in front of her face. "Red! She screamed, "Red! Red hair!" She gasped, looking down. "Feet! Two of them!" Doing a little dance, she spun around, with her hands in front of her face. "Fingers! So many fingers! Oh, this is, this is.." She stopped, looking for the right word but was distracted by somthing else. She felt her scalp. Running her hands all through her hair, feeling every last spot, then stopped, holding the ends. "I'm, I'm a-" she sounded horrified. "a BOY!"
Then she felt groped for her throat. Then sounded relieved. "Not a boy. Not a boy." Then she did a final hop of happiness. "I. am. a. Human!"
Leo listened to her excitement and subconsciously started to get excited. He forgot to cover his eyes. Then she saw Leo. She froze. "I know you.." Her eyes lit up. "Leo!" The next thing he knew, Leo was on the ground, in the arms of some chick he'd never met. Normally this would would be the best day of his life, but a gift from the gods... "Uhh.." Leo tried to peel off the girl while Percy and wJason were falling over laughing.
Even Annabeth was smiling.
"Here.." He offered the girl his jacket, with she looked at quizzically. "What do I do with this... oh." She noticed that everyone else was wearing clothes, so she shrugged and attempted to pull on the hoodie. "Just remember, son, that-"
"You've done enough, Dad." Leo said, glaring at Jason and Percy who were still snickering. Hephaestus opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it and nodded. He disappeared in a flash of light. "Okay," he said, turning to his friends.
"Did I miss something?" Percy wiped a tear from his eye. "It's just that," he hesitated. "you're so bad with girls, dude." Leo winced. "Hey! What are you talking about? I'm great with the ladies." He winked at Frank who scowled. Piper continued, "It is kind of ironic Leo. Considering all the time you spend flirting with girls and as soon as one hugs you," Jason cut her off. "You should of seen your face!"
Everyone but Leo laughed.
Please review! criticism is accepted with hope to become a better writer!