AN This is time skipping a year. Basically yadayada, random boy turned rabbit, Percy becomes Nico's best friend. I don't own PJO and hope you like this chapter... Aphrodite makes an appearance. Literally.
"Oh Princess! When are we leaving for camp?" I questioned Thalia. She smirked at me and sighed.
"Right now kelp for brains." Thalia responded and I zipped my duffel. I was wearing my black combat boots, black skinny jeans, and my silver crop top that had an arrow on it. I finished brushing my hair and threw on my belt full of weapons. Thalia's old chain bracelet was on my arm and I grinned before getting in the silver Corvette. Thalia and I were sent to find out what was causing a massive number of hellhound sightings in Manhattan before meeting Bianca at camp. Turns out it was the climate change. I called driving because I did not want a sun chariot incident all over again. Sure it has been a year but I don't forget. Finally mom gave me my partial immortality when I turned fifteen this year. After driving for at least four hours Thalia turned to me.
"Are we lost?" She groaned.
"Psh...no...maybe. If we were going by the woods I would have been there by now!" I defended myself.
"Take a left here then go straight until it says Strawberry Farm." Thalia sighed and pinched her nose. Dutifully I following her directions and in mere minutes we arrived. Getting out of the car I tapped my inner forearm and the car got sucked up onto my arm, becoming an arrow tattoo. Present from my mom.
I'm so spoiled. I know, I know.
Sprinting to the border I saw Bianca and Nico.
"COUSINS!" I screamed and flung myself at them. Bianca laughed and Nico grinned.
"Hey shorty." Nico teased and I stuck my tongue out. A few months ago Nico became taller than me and I was not happy.
"Hey ghost king! Ready for a full year with your favorite Hunters?" I smirked. Since Nico was turning 15 in a few days we just decided to give him a party then begin training.
"Sure thing...teacher." Nico grinned as I chased him around camp. When Nico looked back to see me I saw he was about to crash.
"CUS! Watch out!" I warned but he didn't hear and ran into a son of Apollo, knocking the boy to the ground. He was the same one from Dr. Thorn incident, I think Will was his name.
"Sorry Solace." Nico mumbled with red cheeks before running back to Thalia. I raised my eyebrow at him before turning to Will.
"Sorry. You okay? Will right?" I asked and stuck my arm out. He smiled and grabbed my arm, pulling himself up.
"Will's the name. No problem about the crash, not the worst thing to ever happen. Cool tattoo by the way." Will commented and pointed to the arm I had used to pull him up.
"Thanks! Well I gotta go. Maybe I will see you at the archery range. Always could use some competition." I winked. In the past year I had been working with a bow and swords more than my daggers. Right now I could use a sword and decided to stick with twin daggers as my main skill. My bow skills were much better, I tried to improve for Zoe. Unlike some half bloods I didn't have condensed weapons and just created sheathes because I didn't want to burden my mom or dad. My bow was strung across my back overlapping the quiver, one of my daggers was sheathed on my belt and the other in my classic combat boots, and my sword was a special gift. Dad gave me an ring that turned into the sword Zoe used to have, Riptide, and since it was her's I decided to wield it in her honor. Shaking off my thoughts I jogged back to where Thalia was. Arriving, I slid up next to Nico.
"So what's up between you and sunny boy?" I whispered and he blushed furiously.
"No-nothing." He stuttered quickly.
"Hmm...suuuurrrrreeeeee." I drew out the last word and Nico glared at me.
"Shut it!" He hissed and I just ruffled his hair.
"Well I am ready for some competition! Who wants to join me at the rock wall?" I announced rather loudly and smiled. Everyone raised their hands and we went.
A crowd surrounded us. I stretched my arms and signaled for Thalia to start us.
"Go!" She yelled and they began to climb. I just stayed in the ground looking at the wall. People groaned from behind me and I heard a person mutter about their bet being for nothing. I smirked and began to scale to wall. When I couldn't find a hand hold I simply took the dagger from my sheath and struck it into the rock. Cheers were heard and I saw all my opponents were still below me. Grabbing the dagger and my other one I started to use them to scale the wall. In five minutes I was at the top waiting for them. Next Thalia came up panting.
"You. Win. Again." She rasped out. I just laughed.
"Good game! Now let's get Bianca and go to the cabin." I smirked and went back down the wall. After saying goodbye to Nico we walked to Artemis' cabin. I took off my Iris messaging necklace.
"Oh Iris accept my offering, show me Lady Artemis on the hunt." I recited and the necklace lit up before a small screen appeared.
"Hi Bianca, Thalia, and Daughter!" Artemis greeted with a small smile.
"Our year at camp starts now mom. See you soon!" I explained and she nodded before sweeping through the message.
"Well she knows we are here. I think tonight is capture the flag." Thalia informed us.
"Which team are we on?" Bianca asked.
"We should be against Nico. See his abilities with his powers." I suggested. They nodded and we all went to the dining hall after a conch sounded. All eyes stopped on us as we entered. I shifted uncomfortably, not liking the attention.
"Got a problem?" Thalia snarled and guided us to Artemis' table. Chiron cleared his throat and addressed the hall.
"Girls which team would you like to be on for capture the flag?" Chiron smiled at us and Bianca nodded at me.
"What team is Nico DiAngelo on?" I inquired politely.
"The blue team why?" Chiron answered.
"Then the hunters are on the red team." I replied smirking at a grinning Nico. I heard the Ares cabin cheer and smiled.
Nico was going down.
"I call offense!" I shouted out and a daughter of Ares nodded at me.
"Okay. Can you cover the left flank?" She asked me, I think her name was Clarisse. I nodded my head and the starting horn was heard.
"Take Bianca and Thalia with you." Clarisse told me and we ran off.
"Dibs on Nico." I whispered as we became close to the blue team's flag. Nico and two other boys were guarding the bright flag.
"I call Owl Face over there." Thalia stated and pointed to a grey eyed boy.
"That leaves me with sunny boy." Bianca sighed and we all advanced. Nico looked up and spluttered when we showed our faces.
"They sent you?" He stuttered.
"Yup! But don't you worry, you only have to face me!" I smiled and he just turned paler somehow. Nico shakily prepared the sword his father, Hades, gave him months ago. I took out my own sword and we faced each other. I motioned for him to make the first move and Nico swung his sword in a downward arc. Swiftly dodging I stabbed his side, a move I learned from Cypress (a hunter), and made him roll over. He growled and opened a patch in the Earth. Three skeletons came out and I smirked.
"We're playing the power game huh?" I called out before taking water from the creek nearby and 'drowning' the skeletons, and sweeping away the blue flag discreetly. Nico's jaw dropped and I took the chance to grab his sword. Scowling Nico charged me and I danced to the side, but Nico expected that. Instead of heading straight ahead he pulled back and spun to a nearby shadow. Nico disappeared and I panicked. Using the water vapor in the air I began to feel the atmosphere searching for Nico. Right once I found his location he jumped me. I mean he fell on top of me, you freaks.
Get your head outta the gutter.
"Getting better cousin, but sadly you are still no match." I laughed and transformed into a giant hunting wolf. Nico was thrown off and backed away from my hulking figure. Just as I was about to fight again I heard cheers.
"The red team wins!" Chiron announced and Nico looked around dazed.
"When did you get the flag?" Nico asked us, seeing Thalia restrain a boy and Bianca sit on another. Yes she was sitting on him, Bianca always did have cruel and unusual punishments.
"It's not my fault that the wave I summoned 'accidentally' sent the flag to another team member waiting a few feet away." I said innocently and Thalia laughed. We fist-bumped and then helped the boys up.
"This will be one great year." Bianca smiled and us three went to Artemis' cabin.
It was an average camp day with the beautiful sun shining and people's laughter filled the- no today was terrible. It all started when Aphrodite visited my dream...
Flashback
Dreamscape
I was sitting near the ocean before the world flashed and the disgusting smell of designer perfume clogged my senses. When I could think straight I saw the most beautiful lady ever.
"Lady Aphrodite, a pleasure to meet you again." I bowed slightly but she waved it off.
"No need to bow. Please take a seat!" Aphrodite smiled and a fluffy pink chair appeared. I cautiously sat down.
"Why am I here?" I asked.
"Well...on Olympus it is incredibly boring with nothing to do. So I decided to make you my 'model'." Aphrodite smiled widely and I stared at her blankly.
"Excuse me milady but why now?" I asked.
"Well I always have wanted to but your mom kept forbidding it. She was all like 'you will not dress up my daughter like a barbie doll' and I was all like 'but she would look so cute' then she threatened to destroy my wardrobe so I had to give up. Now though you are at camp for a whole year with no hunters so I can give you a new look!" Aphrodite squealed and I covered my ears. Just when I was about to say no she gave me an offer I couldn't refuse. Hehehe Godfather was a great movie.
"If you do this for me and try one look for the year I will give you my blessing. You can change into a dove, have subtle charm speak, and be able to spot love between people. Also you totally owe me for warning you about the Junkyard."Aphrodite smirked and I grimaced. Sure I was over the whole thing but her words reminded me of what Zoe said. Shaking off my thoughts I nodded.
Hey I really wanted to see if Nico and Will were a thing! Sue me.
"Great! When you wake you will have my blessing and the new 'look'." Aphrodite giggled and vanished.
Dreamscape Over
I woke up to muffled laughter. Thalia was snickering and holding something behind her back.
"What?" I snapped nervously. Thalia just pulled her hand out from behind her back and gave me a mirror. I gaped as I looked at myself. My usual wavy raven black hair that hit my shoulders now was stick straight, reached the middle of my back, and had random electric blue highlights. I also had lost my freckles and looked down, afraid of my outfit. Luckily Aphrodite understood I still had to be active and didn't put me in a skirt. Instead of black skinny jeans they were silver and I had an electric blue crop top that matched my highlights.
"So what happened to you?" Thalia asked me smirking.
"Made a deal with Aphrodite." I grumbled and stuck my tongue out. Thalia just laughed and I hopped out of bed.
"Bianca and I are going to the Archery field. Have fun barbie!" Thalia sniggered and walked out the door. Searching the cabin, I began to look for my shoes. I couldn't find my combat boots but there was a pair of silver converse by my nightstand and a note.
To Percy,
Hope you like the new look! I got rid of your combat boots, you're welcome, but you can still get them if I approve the outfit or you wear makeup. I blessed you in your sleep so have fun. Aren't your highlights so fab?!
BTW You totally need to work on the weapons, this isn't the apocalypse! I am having Hephaestus get them condensed. Sorrynotsorry!
XOXO,
Aphrodite
Well at least she helped me with the weapons. I put on the converse and ran to the archery field. I needed to calm down.
Flashback end
Now here I am. Alone, annoyed, and abusing alliteration. The whole way to the field people kept staring at me. I had put my long hair in a high ponytail and people kept looking at me. The worst thing was the only weapon Aphrodite left me was my official hunter's bow, not even my preferred bow with the different types of arrows! Finally I snapped and turned into a dove. It was better to fly rather then get ogled all day. After a few minutes in the air I spotted Thalia. Smirking I transformed back into a human next to her. Also there I saw Will, Nico, and Bianca. I smirked and tried to find any emotions between Nico and Will. On the surface I could feel friendship, but before I could search anymore Will came up to me.
"Wanna have that archery competition you promised?" Will smiled and I grinned.
"Only if you aren't afraid to lose!" I teased and grabbed my bow off my back. We raced to the two furthest targets and Thalia began to speak.
"Here are the rules! We will go to 15 targets! Bullseye is 50 points and each ring further than that is minus 10 points! The twist is if the arrow doesn't hit the target then you get minus 10 points from your score. Would you two like to have punishments if the other one loses?" Thalia spoke and turned to stare at us. Will and I nodded. I motioned for Will to go first and he smirked.
"If one of us wins the other must do one thing the winner wants. No exceptions." Will looked at me and I glared. Bring it.
"Well this is intense! Archers may begin! But first do you both swear by River Styx to agree to the bets?" Thalia announced.
"We swear by River Styx to follow the rules of the bet." Will and I repeated in unison before pulling back our bows. I went first and got a bullseye. Will laughed and hit one too.
50 to 50.
We each brought back our bows again and we kept getting bullseyes until target 8.
Will hit the ring right outside the middle and only got 40.
I continued to get bullseyes. All was going great until when I was aiming on my tenth shot I hit the ring where Will did earlier. We both continued to get bullseyes and glared at each other when it was over. We tied. Suddenly Aphrodite spoke in my mind. "Hello Percy! Your weapons are in your cabin along with combat boots, but if you wear the boots don't be surprised if you have makeup as well. Sorry about the competition but better luck next time."
"Well that was odd." Thalia whistled.
"What should we do?" I questioned. Maybe I could at least get to order Will around to do one thing.
"I suppose you could each make each other do one thing that doesn't last longer than a day." Thalia offered. Will and I nodded.
"I'm saving mine." I said and Will just smirked.
"Me too."
Yeah today wasn't a good day.
"Percy you can't be a wolf all day." Thalia sighed as she stared down at me. I simply huffed and ignored her.
"Come on! Today is Nico's birthday. Don't you think he deserves to see his cousin and not an animal?" Thalia persuaded me and I transformed back, scowling.
"I likes being wolf because then Will won't be able to notice me. Not to mention look at what Aphrodite made me look like." I huffed. Thalia held in a laugh and Bianca just smiled apologetically at me. I was wearing my black combat boots, black jeans, Thalia's old chain bracelet, my light gray v neck shirt, a dark blue hoodie, and my hair was in a thick side braid. Since I wore the boots my makeup was black winged eyeliner, red lipstick, and dark mascara which made me look like a fancy punk.
Not fun.
We walked to the arena and all hugged Nico. Also there to celebrate was Will, Travis, Connor, Annabeth, Katie, Clarisse, and Silena. He shook us off, but I could tell he was happy we were there. I started messing with my bracelet from Aphrodite when my necklace started buzzing. Confused, I pulled it off my neck and let everyone crowd around. On the screen was an unknown figure.
"Have fun in the labyrinth children." The figure laughed menacingly before swiping through the message.
"Happy birthday?" I offered before sighing.
This was about to get difficult.