New Gifts

This story is going somewhere, just to let you all know. Where it is going is explained in chapter 13. The next chapter is important, so wait for it!

The explanation of Aura's swords is in this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO

Stella's POV! [Why is it Stella's? Because I wanted to be random! :)]

Sophia is an awesome fighter with her sword, but can't use archery to save her life. Greg and Tanya have amazing accuracy with a bow and arrow, but suck when it comes to sword handling. Hallie and I, well…if we didn't have our powers, we'd be virtually useless. Hallie told me that her sword feels huge and bulky in her hand, and she doesn't like it. I feel limited with my sword and shield, but I don't know how to get over that.

Hallie and I were sitting on the beach after practice today, frustrated that we can't be as good as the others. Suddenly, a bright light appeared in front of us, so bright that I looked away. Hallie did the same. When we knew the light had gone away, we looked back. To our great surprise, Athena and Zeus were standing in front of us, my grandfather and Hallie's grandmother. They didn't look like grandparents.

"Hallie, you are not as like Poseidon as he first thought. You did get some traits from your mother and me. Let's see how you handle a knife instead of a sword. You may keep your sword; Poseidon refuses to take it from you," Athena said to Hallie, handing her a bronze knife.

Zeus spoke to me next, "I think that you are more like your mother than your father. Instead of the ring and shield, maybe two swords like your mother would work better. It is easier to do than explain, so I will show you how your mother's swords work," he came up to me, "Hold out your hands, palms up."

I did as he said, and he produced two pieces of paper with two different pictures on them. One was of a lightning bolt, the other was of Hades's helmet of terror, "Hades couldn't give you his half of the gift," Zeus explained.

"Why are you giving me removable tattoos?" I asked, confused.

"Have you ever looked at your mother's hands? There is a lightning bolt on each one. That has been there since she was your age. They are permanent, but this is much easier and less painful than a needle," Zeus put the tattoos on each hand, and held his hands on top of them. My hands felt considerably warmer, and when Zeus removed his hands, the warmth was gone. To my surprise, so was the paper. He didn't have it, and it wasn't in my hands.

"So…how do I get the swords?" I asked, still unsure of this magic.

"Clap your hands loudly like a thunder clap," he instructed. I have been able to do that for a long time; I love scaring people by doing it.

I did as Zeus told me, making Hallie jump. A black sword like Dad's appeared in my right hand, the hand that the helmet was on. A bronze sword appeared in my left hand, the hand that the lightning bolt was on. Athena spoke again, "We know that you both are good fighters, because it is in your blood. You just need a different weapon. Practice with these, and I'm sure you'll improve."

"Thanks," Hallie and I said at the same time.

I did this chapter because I thought my characters were turning into Mary Sues (no one told me this, I just thought so myself).