A/N: Real quick, I just want to inform you all that I updated the rating from T to M. Don't worry, this isn't going to mean there's going to be any gratuitous violence or harsh language, in fact, nothing's going to change until the very end of the story. I only increased the rating because there's going to be a rather, ahem, intimate scene between Hecate and Aita at the very end that some of the younger viewers (if there are any) might not be comfortable with.

Lightwalnut64: what does Sorus mean? or Aita for that matter?

They don't really mean anything. Aita came from the Etruscan word for "Underworld" and Sorus comes from an old Italian deity that was worshipped as a sort-of war god back before Rome was founded and they adopted and renamed the Greek pantheon.

Thisisaname42: The gods revived a roman form because the romans worshiped them but no roman has worshipped Aita so he shouldn't have roman form.

The way in which the Roman gods came to be isn't exactly specified, so I can only assume that they were just a manifestation of the aspects that the Romans respected most like strength, courage, honor, discipline, etc. Since the Roman demigods were praying for help, those traits in Aita were brought to the surface and they formed a conscious of their own.

The Forgotten One

Chapter Seven: The Other One

Polybotes and Sorus circled each other slowly; trying to determine the best method of attack. Around them, the legion shifted nervously, watching the combatants. Polybotes roared and swung forward with his trident, but Sorus caught it with his shield. He thrust his spear, but it bounced harmlessly off the giant's breastplate.

Sorus leapt back gracefully, avoiding the giant at each step. Polybotes thrust his trident, but Sorus evaded and surged forward. He drove his spear into the giant's throat. Basilisks fell, but Sorus extended his hand and they burst into flames. Polybotes fell to his knees, one hand clutching his neck.

"C'mon," said Sorus and he slowly circled the giant. "you can do better than that."

"DIE!" Polybotes roared as he sprung to his feet and jammed his trident into the spot where Sorus had just been. This song and dance continued for several minutes: Polybotes would attack, Sorus would either dodge or strike back, leaving the giant bloody and disorientated.

Polybotes was slow and clumsy, while Sorus was fast and agile. While Sorus was certainly slowing the giant down, he was doing little more than annoying the big blue bully. Most of the demigods were too injured or frightened to help, and Reyna was busy battling the gorgons above them with her Pegasus.

"Romans!" She called. "Rally to the eagle!"

Everyone turned. Barreling toward them on a hellhound was Percy Jackson, a golden eagle clutched in his hand.

"What is this?" Polybotes demanded. "What is this?"

Percy raised the eagle and shouted, "Twelfth Legion Fulminata!" Jets of electricity surged from the standard, frying any monsters nearby. The legion cheered. Jackson handed the standard to another officer and approached.

He raised his sword, but horns sounded over the fields. Another army appeared over the northern hills: dozens of girls dressed in black and gray camouflage. For a moment Sorus thought that they were Diana's Hunters, but then he noticed that they all seemed to be in their upper twenties, all too old for Diana.

They charged down the hill and rammed through the monster forces. Polybotes roared in protest. Percy Jackson stepped forward. "Do I know you?"

Sorus nodded. "We've met. I helped guide you here."

"That was you?"

Sorus shrugged. "You could say that."

"Enough!" Polybotes said. "I will destroy both of you, here and now!"

"You can try, ugly," said Percy Jackson. "You wanna help me kill a giant?"

Sorus grinned. "Let's do this."

They charged. The battle was relatively short. Polybotes tried to skewer Percy, but Sorus caught his blow with his shield and stabbed at the giant's knee. Percy leapt up, using Sorus' shoulder as a launch pad and stabbed the giant in the forehead. All that was left was seaweed, reptile skin, and poisonous gunk.

Around them, the battle had ended. The Amazons and Romans crowded around them. They began to chant: "Percy! Percy!" and mobbed him. They raised him up on a shield and the chant changed: "Praetor! Praetor!"

As they led him away, Percy searched the crowd for the one who'd helped him, but found nothing. Meanwhile, from a spot on the senate house, Sorus watched with pride as the Romans carried their new praetor back to Camp Jupiter.

-o-

The Feast of Fortuna went off without a hitch, much to Sorus' pleasure. Amazons mingled with Legionaries, and the new Praetor was invited to practically every table. After hours of feasting and partying, the two groups settled down for the night and New Rome fell silent under the watchful eyes of Terminus.

Sorus sighed as he looked over the quiet city from atop the highest level of the colosseum. It was jarring, to be sure, but it felt…nice…to be in a comfortable place. He'd remained there for several hours, and had no intention of moving unless absolutely necessary. He held his spear in one hand, his helmet tucked under the other. His shield was on his back, resting comfortably. Aita was quiet, deep within their shared mind; perhaps the transformation had been so traumatic he still needed time to recover.

"Well, this is certainly a surprise," said a voice from a few feet behind him.

Sorus turned and found a woman in a golden sundress looking at him, her face a mix between curiosity and amusement. He placed his helmet on the shaft of his spear and knelt. "Lady Dies"*

The goddess raised an eyebrow. "While I appreciate the respect, I prefer to remain in this form."

"And I prefer to speak with a Roman goddess," he said before he could stop himself. When he realized what he'd said he winced. "My apologies. I didn't mean to sound so disrespectful."

Hemera was quiet for a moment before she sighed and rolled her eyes. For a moment her form blurred and changed. Her sundress was replaced by golden armor over golden robes. Gauntlets and greaves were over her arms and legs, respectively. Her honey-colored hair changed from free-hanging to a fishnet braid over her left shoulder. Placed over her forehead was a golden circlet inlaid with sapphires that matched her eyes. The hilt of a golden sword poked up over her right shoulder.

"Better?" the goddess asked.

Sorus nodded but remained on his knee. Dies rolled her eyes and said, "Rise, son of Jupiter."

Sorus did so. "What are you doing here? If you don't mind my asking, that is."

Dies took a step closer. "I came to see you."

"Really?" Sorus asked, eyebrows raised.

Dies nodded and looked him over like he was a magnificent trophy. "Oh, yes. My other half and I were quite surprised by your emergence. We didn't expect you to even exist."

Sorus nodded. "I did not intend-or know-that I would come out. I didn't even know there was a me until this afternoon. Neither of us did."

Dies was silent for a moment. "How is he?"

Sorus turned around and looked over the city of New Rome. "He's fine. I can feel him, deep inside the recesses of our mind. My coming out was highly traumatizing for him, he'll need some time to recover."

Dies stepped next to him and looked out over the city. "Do you understand his mission?"

Sorus nodded. "Despite my mistrust of the Greeks and their history with my people, I know that Gaea is the greater threat, and I'll do my best to aid Aita in his task."

Dies nodded. "Good. You can't afford to let yourselves become divided. If we fail, hundreds will die."

"I won't let that happen," Sorus said with determination in his voice.

"Good," said Dies. She glanced at Sorus.

"What?" he asked.

Dies smiled. "Nothing. I was just taking note of the differences between yourself and Aita."

Sorus looked down at himself. The differences he shared with Aita were miniscule, but still noticeable. Personality wise, they seemed to be relatively the same: cheerful, serious, and loyal to a fault. It seemed that Aita was Roman enough to begin with. As for appearance, that's where most of their differences lay. Sorus was roughly a foot taller than Aita, with larger muscles and a body that was better suited for close quarters and agile combat, as opposed to Aita's slimmer body which favored stealth and mobility. They had the same eye and hair color, though Sorus' came down just passed his shoulders whereas Aita preferred to keep his hair short and tidy.

"Do these differences disturb you?" he asked.

Dies laughed. "Oh, on the contrary, I very much prefer them. It makes it so much easier to enjoy your company, no matter what form you take."

Sorus smiled. "I'm glad I could be so amusing."

Dies turned on her heel and began to walk away. "Good night, Sorus."

He turned his head to look over his shoulder. "Good night, Lady Dies."

-o-

The Amazons left the next morning before most of the legion rose, but Sorus saw the female praetor give the queen a hug before they departed. Most of the senate was gathering to discuss the approaching Greeks. Sorus watched as the new praetor-Percy Jackson, he seemed to recall-and his friends argue in favor of letting the ship approach while the blonde augur screeched and squealed about why they shouldn't.

Sorus scoffed in disgust at his nephew's paranoia and xenophobia. There are more dangerous things rising, boy, he thought. You'll need the Greeks if you want to make it to the end of this war.

Sorus suddenly looked up when he felt something descend from on high. A massive wooden ship was coming through the clouds, a blonde boy in a purple toga at its head. Percy Jackson led a beefy boy and a dark-skinned girl outside, following the other centurions and senators to meet the ship. All over New Rome more citizens came out to gawk and point at the massive contraption.

Don't do anything stupid, came a voice in his head.

Good morning, Aita, he thought back. Have a nice rest?

He thought he heard a scoff (if that was possible to do in one's mind). Don't patronize me. Just be on the lookout. If Gaea were to try anything, now would be the time.

Sorus nodded. I agree. I'll do my best to make sure nothing unpleasant happens.

It was quiet, so Sorus assumed Aita was satisfied with his answer. Suddenly the ship stopped descending and remained stationary. After a few moments a rope ladder was dropped over the side and four individuals climbed down.

The first one was a blonde-haired girl with gray eyes. The next one was the boy in the purple toga. Next to him was a girl with messy brown hair and a dagger at her side. The final one to descend was a boy who constantly fumbled with things in his toolbelt and seemed to twitch every few seconds.

The legion parted before them until they met Reyna and Percy. They chatted for a few minutes before the blonde girl charged Percy, who rushed to meet her. They kissed and Sorus felt a twinge of jealousy spark within him that he felt Aita shared as well. It had been so long since they'd been with their beloved that it was almost painful to watch others be happy.

The girl promptly flipped Percy over her shoulder and exchange a few words with him before she let him up and all the assembled forces set up shop in the forum and began to eat. The augur and the two (three) praetors exchanged some back and forth before the twitchy one took the augur aboard the ship. The blonde boy and the one with the dagger left soon after and praetor Reyna led the blonde girl away to speak in private.

Things are going well, Aita said.

I agree, Sorus said back. But I'm still keeping my eye out for trouble.

Good. If Gaea tries anything we need to-

BOOM!

Sorus' gaze snapped up as the warship began to fire on New Rome. He was paralyzed with shock as the Romans quickly began to mount a defensive. A large dragon quickly soared into the sky with two demigods in its clutches. At the ladder, more demigods were climbing as quickly as they could as the augur reached the bottom, screaming for blood.

"Dies," Sorus said, panic in his voice, "we've failed."

* Yeah, Hemera's Roman form is Dies. Weird, right?

A/N: Sorry for being a day late everyone, but I hope you enjoyed. If you have any questions, or suggestions for some cover art, please PM me and I'll get back to you. Please leave your thoughts in a review because they help me get motivated to make more chapters. Follow and favorite if you want to be alerted to when I next update.