Hayley TT Showbiz: Thanks! And yeah I won't I just don't like to be constantly reminded like that, but I'm glad you're enjoying the story and how I have Percy's personality in it, as for the age I had him at 13-14 ;; I gotta go back and check the previous chapters *laughs nervously *
Lechonguynhnhu: Oh don't worry its fine thanks for the review!
TMD: You sir just gave me a brilliant idea! I'm not involving Kronos but what you suggested gave me a great idea on how I can involve camp half-blood with Tatsuya's problems with the group, so thanks so much for that!
Moonlight Bushido: Lol thanks; Amelia was going to end up telling of them and probably Bianca when she sees her about Nico.
Unknown Lunatic: Thanks for the review and well that's just the feeling I get when they keep review asking me to update four or five times.
Its me: Hades will feel regret eventually but not for a while and yes he remembers Fred I just had Percy see Artemis first. As for meeting with his dad well you'll see and Amelia is just a normal human she can't really 'do' anything to Hades but give him a talking to.
Shinigami: I won't have Percy hating Poseidon but he will question him about a few things (like why he wasn't there when Sally was around or why he never came to see him or take care of him after the accident). Of course, nothing comes easy when it involves Nico lol especially with the heat between himself and his dad. Don't worry I won't have Percy hating the other campers just because of what Bianca and Clarisse did.
Piper2000113: Thanks don't worry Percy will see Fred/Apollo too lol.
ELMtree87: Congratulations you're the first one that's said that the bad guys are based on constellations! Though I'm sure others figured it out and just didn't say anything hahaha. I'm glad you liked the parts of the nymphs and Poseidon will get his talk with percy, ah…you're right about that I'll fix that a bit in this chapter.
Major ed groupie: Yep! Since only half-bloods are allowed inside the came and the baby technically is a half-blood but is inside Amelia the barriers are reading Amelia as a half-blood because of it same with the elevators. Yes percy recognizes Fred I'm just adding that part in this chapter.
"But before that, Percy how could you forget about me!" Apollo whined as Percy turned his head towards the sun god and the half-blood laughed.
"Fred! I'm sorry I saw Tsuki-hime first before I saw you!" Percy apologized as Apollo pouted.
"And why does she get a cool name like moon princess while I'm stuck with Fred?" the sun god grumbled as Percy shrugged.
"She never gave me a name so I just gave her a nickname based on her qualities?" Percy replied sheepishly, "and you told me your name so you're Fred!"
"You could at least call me Apollo since Fred isn't my real name." Apollo huffed folding his arms.
"Alright Apollo, better?" Percy asked while a grin broke across the Sun God's face, as he seemed much happier.
"Ahem!" Zeus said clearing his throat getting everyone's attention once more, "we have business we can save the idle chit chat for later."
"So, how is this going to work?" Percy asked looking at all the gods staring down at him, "although its kind of hard to talk and look up at you at the same time." The half-blood added rubbing his neck.
"I think we should go to a normal height so it'll be easier to converse with them," Athena suggested, "it would be rather painful for them to crane their necks up just to answer us."
Zeus nodded and all of them shrunk down to a few feet taller then Amelia's height and they weren't towering as they had been before.
"Why don't you start from the beginning and tell us how you went from your mother's care to this one here." Athena requested.
"Alright I guess well it started after mom took me to the aquarium for my birthday…" Percy started and continued his story, telling him how he had gotten into Tatsuya and Amelia's care. When he got to the part of Tatsuya showing him his own power over water the gods stared at Percy.
"Weren't you surprised about seeing someone else with abilities like your own?" Apollo asked.
"Sure I was surprised that he could do more then I could with water then I could but I was happy, I found someone that was like me after my siblings were gone." Percy replied.
"When you say siblings are you referring to our children that were with you?" Hermes asked.
"Your kids? Oh you mean Eli, Noah and Josh!" Percy said grinning, "did Joshy finally admit he liked Zach before?"
Aphrodite smiled happily.
"They've been much closer then they were before and my little Zachy looks so happy." Aphrodite cooed.
"That's good I think he's good for Josh." Percy laughed.
"Percy may I ask you something?" Poseidon asked as the young boy turned to the god of the sea.
"Yes sir?" Percy asked and saw Poseidon flinch a bit.
"You can call me dad you know." The sea god said, Percy didn't say anything at first and Poseidon had thought he had upset the boy but the young half-blood had surprised everyone by grinning.
"Cool! That means I have two dads." Percy happily and didn't understand when Apollo and Hermes started to laugh hysterically but the others and Amelia did as they sighed loudly.
"Are gods usually like that?" Amelia asked a bit dryly as she watched the god of sun and the god of thieves laughing their lungs out while Poseidon groaned and shook his head.
"Usually they're a bit more mature but when something interesting or amusing to them occurs they throw any sense of dignity out the window." Zeus said dryly glaring at them making the two quickly shut up.
While some of the other gods were trying not to smirk at how subdue Apollo and Hermes had become some of them were looking at the other half-blood that hasn't said a word but send his godly parents dirty looks.
"Don't you have anything to say Nico?" Athena asked looking down at the dark haired youth, "you have yet to make a comment."
"Forgive me Lady Athena but I have nothing to say so far especially when it concerns my father and step-mother of all people." Nico replied sneering at Hades and Persephone.
Demeter sent the two dark scathing looks, reminding them they were still on thin ice with her for their treatment of their youngest child.
"I see, just fill free to make a comment when you deem it necessary, we are only here to find out what had happened to young Percy Jackson and his involvement with the dragon." Athena said as Nico folded his arms tightly still scowling while Amelia and Percy looked at the god's faces.
"So you're here to interrogate us about my husband?" Amelia asked cautiously.
"We just wish to know what he's doing here since it is rather peculiar that another god take residence in another's country." Hera said airily.
"Right…" Amelia said not sure where this was going, "I'll tell you what I can but I do have to warn you that my husband may tell me several things but he doesn't tell me everything."
"Lets just see how far we can go, so lets continue where you had left off…you were telling us that Tatsuya had shown you his powers at your orphanage?" the King of the gods questioned.
"Yes sir, that was the day that mom and dad adopted m from the place." Percy said.
"Why is it you never tried pro-creating yourself?" Hera asked.
"Because Tatsuya and I weren't sure we were ready is all and we wished to raise a child from an orphanage first before we had our own and we're happy to say we both adore Percy immensely." Amelia replied hugging Percy happily, "and Nico is a fond addition as well, he takes very good care of Percy."
Nico's lips twitched as he was happy he was receiving praise from Amelia, the look didn't get by the gods which just made Demeter growl even darker at her son-in-law and daughter.
"Uhm…d-dad…uhm father?" Percy said getting Poseidon's attention, "you had a question for me earlier?"
"Oh yes, did you know that Tatsuya is a god of Eastern lore?" Poseidon asked.
"Uh huh, he showed me and Nico when he put a protection spell on us." Percy replied as the gods perked up at this notion.
"A protection spell? Do you know what he did or say?" Athena asked intrigued.
"Not really, the most dad did was concentrate a bit after he showed us his half-dragon form and this glowing sphere left his body and split before disappearing inside our hands." Percy replied.
"Not one word at all?" Apollo asked.
"Yes, it was pretty cool a symbol appeared briefly before it wasn't there anymore." The younger half-blood told Poseidon.
"Does that mean he knows your location?" Ares asked narrowing his eyes, "and what did that symbol mean?"
"Doubt it Tatsuya explained that it was a detection spell. To alert him when Percy and myself were in trouble…" Nico replied before smirking, "like we were a while ago."
"What! What happened!" Amelia exclaimed, "Tatsuya told me the a bit of what happened but he never told me the details just that you were attacked!"
"Well there were five of them that tried taking on me and Nico." Percy replied, "course dad's training really came in handy! My stamina needs work though."
"You fought off several half-blood and managed to take them down?" Ares asked, "how? You barely look like you can hold a sword!"
Percy made a face at Ares as Nico sneered at the god of war.
"He may not be able to hold up a metal weapon, but what he lacks in strength he makes it up with his abilities with the water, Tatsuya has been training us as from dawn to practically night in our elements." Nico stated.
"I understand that Percy's element is water but what is Nico's?" Persephone asked trying to ignore the glaring daggers she was receiving from her mother.
"What else? Earth, underworld, underground…Lord Zeus is the sky, Lord Poseidon is the sea which leaves the element of earth to Lord Hades." Nico spat out not even wanting to call the Lord of the Dead his father.
"Exactly how good are you in manipulating elements? Both of you?" Apollo asked.
"Well enough both Percy and I are proficient enough in it to defend ourselves quite well." Was all the gloomy youth said folding his arms.
"Mrs. Amelia?" Artemis asked looking at the woman.
"Well the two were sparring enough that it woke up the other campers and had them all staring in silent shock." Amelia replied, "even that nice centaur man, Chiron."
The gods looked at each other and eyed the two half-bloods wondering exactly how well trained they were thanks to the dragon.
After that Percy told the Olympians about how he went from the orphanage to where he was now, his time staying with Amelia, going to school, meeting up with Zach and having him tell him all about the twins and especially Joshua.
"So….your husband…is he as loyal to you as you say?" Hear asked stiffly as she eyed her own husband.
"Well he did say that he had a child with a princess hundreds of years ago…" Amelia said thoughtfully, "but I don't ask him about that unless he wants to talk about it, though I'm pretty sure as of a few years we've been together I've been the only one in his life."
"I see…" Hera said as she thought to herself how lucky this mortal woman was to keep her husband who was also a god loyal to her.
Some of the other male gods coughed among themselves before the meeting continued.
"So, exactly what is your 'husband' up to?" Hades drawled making Nico glare up at him.
"I don't know, he just left us instructions to LET ourselves go back to the camp for protection." Nico growled back.
"Protection from what exactly?" Aphrodite questioned.
"And should we be worried for our kids?" Poseidon asked frowning.
"Tell us Nico you've spent a lot of time with the dragon." Hades sneered
"I don't know, he didn't tell us anything Hades." Nico bite back.
"You would do well to respect me boy…" the Lord of the Underworld growled.
"Give me a reason to." Nico argued back but Amelia quickly wrapped her arms around the other teen pulling him close.
"Nico calm down its not going to do you any good to antagonize them." Amelia said hugging the irate youth, "you told me not to say anything to get them angry and you're doing just that."
To the gods shock they saw Nico lose his look of fury and become a bit more demure in Amelia's arms as he slumped a bit and nodded.
"Sorry Amelia." Nico said quietly as the older woman let go of him when she was sure he wasn't going to say anything else to Hades.
"I see…so Tatsuya wouldn't allow Percy or Nico to go the camp unless he deemed them ready himself?" Zeus asked turning Nico's attention from his parents to him..
"Yes but something had come up and he was forced to send us to the camp earlier." Percy replied.
"Exactly what had happened?" Hephaestus asked.
"That's Tatsuya's business." Nico replied curtly, "its something he had dealt with before and handled it fine."
She straightens up a bit and looked at the gods who were giving her surprised looks.
"What Nico means to say is that despite my husband trusting myself, Percy and Nico with certain pieces of information there are just something things he felt safer if they weren't mentioned." Amelia answered, "he had just given us warnings and did his best to protect the three of us when we separated for now."
"I see he likes to plan things a head of time." Athena commented.
"Tatsuya isn't one to just wait for something to happen, he always has a back-up plan in case something goes wrong." The woman nodded towards the goddess of wisdom.
"So you are unsure of what had attacked your husband?" Artemis asked.
"Yes, I was told to stay in the house until Nico and Percy came to pick me up to take to the camp." Amelia said.
"What I don't understand is how could you get through the barriers that keep normal mortals outside of the camp." Zeus said frowning, "unless you're a half-blood or god yourself there really isn't any other explanation."
Amelia turned a bit red at this, coughing a bit.
"I may have figured that out sir," the woman said, "a half-blood is the term you use for a child who has a godly parent and a mortal one correct?"
"That is correct, so are you a half-blood?" Poseidon answered.
"Yes and no," Amelia answered as she got frowns and confused looks.
"Yes and no? isn't it one or other?" Apollo questioned.
"Technically I'm a normal mortal," Amelia started before she rested her hands on her stomach, "but as of last month…"
Aphrodite's eyes widen, as did a few others who came to the same realization.
"You have a child that is of your blood and the dragon inside of you so you're still a mortal but since the child is a half-blood the barriers read you as being one." Athena said.
"Pretty much." Amelia replied nodding before smiling gently, "I know its still a long way off but I do hope Tatsuya can be around for when the child is born a baby has to know who their parents are and even if he can't say anything babies are more in tune with people then you think."
Poseidon mentally nodded at this as there were times when Percy was still a baby himself and he would sneak over to check on him. Even though he may not have been there for the actual birth, each time he appeared before Percy the baby would give him a smile making small noises as he held his tiny arms up to the towering god over him.
"Was there anything else you wish to ask us?" Amelia asked.
"I have a question for Nico." Demeter said surprising the son of Hades.
"Er…yes Lady Demeter?" he asked unsure since he never really had much contact with his stepmother's mother.
"Are you happy with Amelia?" she asked.
Nico stared at the goddess of the harvest wondering why she would ask him that but he felt it would be best to answer her.
"Yes, with Tatsuya, Amelia and Percy I'm much more content then I was before. May I ask why Lady Demeter?" Nico asked.
"Just for curiosity's sake, but thank you for answering honestly Nico." Demeter replied leaning back into her throne.
Unlike Nico though, Persephone knew her mother well enough to know that she was up to something, she never questions something for curiosity's sake that was more something that Athena would do. No, why Demeter had asked Nico that had to do with his treatment she herself and Hades had given him and she had a sinking feeling she was in for another verbal lashing.
"If that is all then may we take our leave Lord Zeus?" Amelia asked politely.
"Yes you may," Zeus said nodding.
"Percy before you go," Poseidon said walking up to his half-blood son.
"Yes father?" Percy asked before he was pulling into a hug from the sea god, "dad?"
"I'm so sorry I couldn't find you….I'm surprised you're not angry at me for not being there for you when you lost Sally." Poseidon said quietly.
"I was upset at first, I had overheard the doctors talking about how mom didn't have any family left and that you weren't around." Percy replied scuffing his shoe against the marble floor of the Olympian's meeting room, "but you did try and that counts for something."
"Not enough where I should've been more active in watching what was happening to you." Poseidon said shaking his head as he pulled back but he had a small smile on his face, "do you miss her? I know you seem happy with your new family and all…"
"Yes of course I miss her, Amelia is my mother and I love her a lot but I'll never forget my real mother who gave birth to me, use to make me blue colored food and took me to the aquarium for my birthday." Percy replied firmly.
"Really? That sounds wonderful Percy." Poseidon said smiling as Percy flushed a bit at the compliment and turned shy, playing with his shirt nervously.
"I have pictures of her still in my room uhm…if you'd like one I can ask Chiron to send you one some how?"
"That's really nice of you Percy but I think they'd be safer with you," Poseidon replied thinking about if his immortal wife found a picture of Sally she'd destroy it.
"Oh, okay." Percy replied.
"Percy I have something for you it may help you in your training." Poseidon said reaching into his pocket and Percy watched as the sea god pulled out a pen.
"A pen?" Percy asked as his immortal dad handed it over to him.
"Click the top and you'll see it's more then just a pen." Poseidon replied and chuckled when Percy did just that and let out a surprised yelp when the pen changed into a sword.
"Cool!" Percy said admiring the sword in his hand as he tested the weight.
"Its name is Anaklusmos."
"Riptide that's fitting." Percy murmured as he returned the sword to its hidden state, "I'll have to get Nico or someone to show me how to use it, I've never used a sword before."
"Then what did you use when you trained?" Poseidon asked.
"A trident made out of water, its good for me because my arms aren't that long yet so it'll help me when I'm fighting older opponents…at least that's what Tatsuya told me." Percy replied but Poseidon couldn't help but get a proud look on his face when he heard that.
"That's pretty amazing you're using a trident rather then traditional weapons Percy how good are you at it?" Poseidon asked happily.
"Decent, Nico can still beat me though," Percy grumbled folding his arms.
"Well he has been trained longer then you have, but let me give you some tips since a trident is not only my symbol but also my weapon." Poseidon said chuckling at his half-blood son.
"Really! Thanks dad!" Percy said eagerly as Poseidon patted his head and the two started talking about how to use a trident right in a fight.
"I'm glad Percy is getting along with Lord Poseidon." Amelia said smiling as she looked at how happy her son was.
"I'm surprised Percy wasn't more upset against him." Nico replied shoving his hands into his pockets as he saw the gods talking amongst themselves and keeping an eye on Hades and Persephone.
"Percy's not one to hold a grudge and he understood that Poseidon did try to find him when his birth mother had died." Amelia said, "but he did surprise me as well."
"Nico? May I talk to you and Amelia?" Demeter ask approaching the two.
"Sure Lady Demeter, was there something you wanted?" Amelia asked while Nico stayed silent.
"As you know Persephone is my daughter and since Nico is her step-son that makes me the grandmother." The goddess of the Harvest started, but she made a face at the title of 'grandmother'.
"Lady Demeter stop," Nico sighed holding up a hand already seeing where this conversation was going, "if you're blaming yourself for what your daughter has done its not your fault you can't keep tabs on her actions."
"I taught her better then that," Demeter said darkly, "she seemed to have thrown all that out the window in favor for the other child."
"No kidding…" Nico muttered under his breath before Demeter called for his attention again.
"Nonetheless I wish to aid you. Do you know of "The Olympian Tournament" at Camp half-blood?" Demeter asked now Nico looked confused.
"Not really…" Nico replied trying to recall anything he's heard about the tournament the Goddess of the Harvest was talking about.
"I imagine you wouldn't, since it is held few years, there is never a set date for it and you have only been at the camp for almost two and half years. It is a tournament that allows us to progress the strength of our children and what improvements need to be made." Demeter explained, "There are a variety of courses that each cabin chooses its representatives to participate in to obtain the highest score."
"So it's almost like the Olympics?" Amelia asked making Demeter smile.
"Yes it is exactly like it, I apologize I should've said that in the first place." Demeter replied.
"But that doesn't make sense still, you said each cabin has to participate if I'm participating then that would me I would have to work with my sister." Nico said growling.
"Ah, but this is where it gets interesting. I had asked Athena to lend me a copy of the rules of the games and I discovered a little loophole." Demeter said with a mischievous glint in her eye that would've given Hermes's a run for his own money.
"Yeah? "Nico asked intrigued.
"If a cabin has less then six cabin members they can ask others from the a different cabin to join them." Demeter replied.
"But is that really fair if we enter and we have a variety of half-bloods while the other cabins have their own?" Nico questioned.
"True but the rules state that in the event that kind of cabin/team is formed the participants aren't allowed to be in a even that relies on their specialty." Demeter replied, "this tournament is to test the limits of our children to think outside the box and what they're proficient in."
"I guess that works I'll talk to Percy and see what he thinks but Lady Demeter I thought the gods weren't allowed to interfere with the half-bloods." Nico asked as the goddess of the Harvest rolled her eyes.
"That may be so but there are loopholes like we can't help you directly but we can give a gentle 'push' in the right direction to make our half-bloods have a better chance." Demeter replied, "believe me the others to some extent will do this with their own children."
"Fair is fair right Nico?" Amelia said smiling at the dark haired child.
"Well at least I can show everyone that Bianca isn't the stronger one of the two of us." Nico said smirking at the thought of facing his own sister in the tournament.
"Don't say anything to this to anyone outside your group, Chiron is suppose to announce it sometimes this week or next week so everyone could have plenty of time to prepare." Demeter said.
"We won't say a word Lady Demeter, but thank you for the heads up." Nico replied bowing a bit to the goddess.
"It's no trouble but if you could do one last thing for me?" Demeter asked as she looked at Nico, "please tell my sweet twins and their siblings that if they'd like to train more on how to control plants better ask for Aconite. She'll train them after she sees if they're worthy."
"Alright I'll pass the message along, it looks like Percy finished his conversation with Poseidon." Nico added as he looked over to the younger half-blood and saw Poseidon hugging him one more time before Percy ran over to Amelia and Nico.
"Have a nice conversation with Lord Poseidon?" Amelia asked.
"Uh huh! He told me a lot of things I could use to practice with my trident! He even said that he's going to talk to one of the Cyclops to make me a shield and trident!" Percy replied excitedly.
"Well that's great Percy I'm sure you'll get even more practice actually having the weapon rather then make it out of water." Nico said patting Percy's head.
"And Ice, I can make it solid ice now!" Percy replied grinning, "have you thought of what you could try to manipulate as a second level for Earth?"
Nico folded his arms as the three of them entered the elevator to take them back down to Chiron so they could head back to camp.
"I'm thinking either metal or gemstones possibly I'd have to have some in front of me and try to see which is easier to manipulate." Nico replied.
"But aren't gemstones going to be hard to find?" Percy asked.
"Well they're in the ground and in rocks but yeah I don't think there would be any deposits of gemstones in camp half-blood…" Nico said frowning, "where could I get some?"
"Maybe talk to Josh or Zach? They should know where you can get some, maybe even the twins since they're apart of the Demeter cabin and deal with the Earth somewhat as well." Amelia suggested.
"Better then blindly digging holes and hoping for the best." Nico said grimacing at the thought of doing all that work for nothing.
"So what did Lady Demeter want to ask you guys?" Percy asked.
"Oh it's interesting Percy but we'll wait until we're back at the camp before I explain that way I don't have to repeat myself." Nico said.
"You boys do that I'll head back to the cabin to rest," Amelia said, "I'm a bit tired so I could use a nap."
"Okay mom, I can't wait to hear what she told you is it really that interesting?" Percy asked.
Nico grinned back at Percy as he nodded, "Yep we're lucky to get to participate but like I said wait until we get back to camp."
"Awwww…" Percy pouted making Nico and Amelia laugh.
oOo
"MORONS! IDIOTS! IMCOMPETANT FOOLS! YOU HAVE MESSED UP COMPLETELY!" the leader shouted furiously as he clenched his thrown tightly, glaring down at the forms of Scorpio and Aquila who were covered in battle wounds and kneeled down in front of their leader.
"Because of your thoughtless attack on our target he has escaped to somewhere we have no idea! Do you realize how long it took us to find him here in this city! All our work for nothing now!" the leader raged.
"Sir if I may I had assumed-" Scorpio had started but something shot out from the leader and sent the minion flying back, skidding on the carpet as the others didn't even flinch at what happened, Aquila didn't even raise his head.
"Do not ever assume something, the both of you are on severely thin ice…" the leader hissed darkly, "you went behind my back, took several of my men with you, lost to our target, made him disappear to a new location and lost us our side targets!"
"Lord Altair if I may speak?" Aquila said.
"Speak, and it better be good or you are going to wish you had stayed at the beach then return here for what you and Scorpio had done…" Altair hissed.
"This battle has one upside sir." The hawk-man said.
"And what, pray tell would that be?" Altair hissed.
"Our foot soldiers aren't as capable as we thought and are in desperate need of training but during the excursion I had made a discovery. You recall the children that were with the dragon?" Aquila said.
"Yes? What of them?" Altair asked calming down by a few fractions.
"They are not normal children, they are children that have abilities of the elements and can handle a weapon." Aquila reported, "unlike our soldiers they easily defended themselves without the aid of the dragon."
"I see, what else did you find out?" Altair questioned.
"There's apparently a whole camp of children like these, fully trained and ready for battle. My suggestion is finding these children outside of the camp and bring them to our side to use." Aquila said.
"Hmm this suggestion of yours has merit." Altair said, "find a way to capture these children."
"And how should we get them to work under us sir?" Aquila asked.
"The easiest and fastest way, mess with their heads that's what Vulpecula's special abilities for." Altair replied.
A fox like woman stepped forward and bowed to the leader.
"I am please you are confident in my abilities sir." Vulpecula said.
"Do not disappoint me especially you Aquila, take Scorpio away his face disgusts me." Altair said as he stood up and walked out of the room. Once the grand doors slammed behind him the group started to disperse.
"Wasn't Aquarius in that area where the battle took place?" Lyra asked Cygnus.
"Yes but with the result of the battle I'm not surprised she wasn't a part of it." Cygnus replied shaking her head.
"You two got lucky." Pisces grunted as he aided Aquila to bring the unconscious Scorpio to the infirmary.
"I am lucky I am keen on my observations." Aquila said.
"That saved your behind more then you can count but do you think you can find a way to find those children, there are plenty of them in the city." Pisces stated frowning, "there will be problems if children start disappearing left and right."
"Don't worry about that I'm not going to do something like that I just need to do a bit more scoping out the city and make notes." Aquila replied as they left.
One figure had left quickly as well, heading to his room but not giving out any sense that he was up to something. Once he was safely in his room he looks around and made sure that it was clear before pulling out a small conch seashell from his pocket and holding it up to his mouth and started to record a message. Once he finished the shell was enveloped in a bubble before it disappeared before him as he let out a sigh.
"I hope you get the message Lord Ryujin." The man murmured before leaving the room.
oOo
"So what did you want to talk about?" Josh asked as he and Zach sat in a circle with the Demeter twins, Nico and Percy.
"Your mother told me something interesting." Nico said looking at Eli and Noah who looked surprised.
"Really? What did mom say?" Eli asked.
"Well she told us about a tournament that's held here every few years and that each cabin is going to participate, they don't give an exact date because they want to surprise the campers." Nico said.
"Oh yeah I remember those, my cabin never wins." Zach said grumbling, "hard to believe it's already been another three years."
"So how was the tournament?" Josh asked.
"Eh its actually pretty interesting, its used to evaluate the camp status and make notes on what needs to be done or changed here." Zach replied as Nico nodded.
"Pretty much but she told me something that I think all of us would like, it seems that if a cabin has less then six people residing, they are allowed to either form their own team with members of other cabins." Nico said.
The groups' eyes widen.
"So, you're saying that since your cabin and Percy's cabin only has between one and two people you're thinking of forming your own team?" Josh said.
"Nope, I'm thinking we…joining Percy's." Nico replied smirking.
"EH!"
"M-my team! But Nico you, Josh and Zach are older and would make better leaders then I would!" Percy sputtered.
"Can't squirt, from what Nico said since Zach and I are part of Apollo and Aphrodite's cabin we have enough so we can't do that so that leaves only you and Nico." Josh said.
"And since we all know that Nico wants to avoid Bianca as much as possible and take this opportunity to show Bianca how stronger he really is." Zach surmised.
"You hit the nail on the head so, what do you guys think?" Nico asked.
"We wanna be apart of Percy's team!" the twins declared instantly, "I think it would be awesome that we can team up with him!"
"I don't see a problem, my cabin has enough people so I won't be missed." Josh added.
"Count me in, I rather not be part of my cabin for something like this." Zacharias said dryly shaking his head.
"Great well then Percy you're going to be the leader." Nico said turning to the son of Poseidon.
"I'll do my best to lead us!" Percy said determined, "b-but do you think we should get others to join us? I-I mean I'm happy that you guys want to join my team but it would be best to spread out a bit wouldn't it?"
"Well we can worry about that when Chiron makes the official announcement okay?" Josh said patting Percy's head.
"Yeah I guess so," Percy replied.
"Alright so why don't we relax and play a nice game of soccer?" Zach asked standing up and held up the said sports equipment.
"You guys go ahead I need to do something…oh wait, Eli, Noah there's something I need to ask you." Nico said stopping as he stood up as well.
"Yeah?" the twins replied.
"Do you have any idea where I can get some gemstones or metal? I want to try manipulating them like I do with earth." Nico asked.
"Dunno…you could try the Hephaestus cabin." Eli suggested before Nico groaned and smacked his forehead.
"Of course it was obvious urgh I'm an idiot." Nico grumbled.
Zach laughed as he patted Nico's back, "We all have our moments don't worry about it."
"Anything else?" Noah asked.
"Yeah actually, your mom said to go to the nymphs in the forest and ask for a nymph named Aconite," Nico replied, "if you talk to her and prove yourself she'll teach you how to better manipulate plants, she said to tell your cabin as well."
"Really! Coooooll!" the twins said looking excited, "we'll go as soon as we kick Joshy's butt at soccer."
"Keep dreaming brats." Josh said dryly as he took the soccer ball from Zach.
"We will defeat you!" Noah said determinedly.
"Yeah yeah, I'll see you guys later alright?" Nico said as he headed off the Hephaestus cabin as Percy was on the twins team since they had a better chance against the two older teens.
Nico walked pass several campers and cabins until he came to the one he was looking for. He stood in front of a what looked like to be a small metal works factory as there were chimneys billowing smoke from them.
"Well it's now or never…" Nico muttered to himself as he pressed a button by the entrance and a rather large bell sound rang inside the cabin.
It didn't take long before someone approached and it was actually a daughter of Hephaestus that came to the doorway.
"Yes can I help you?" the girl asked, "you're Nico right, do you need something?"
"Yeah, would it be too much trouble if I could ask if you had any spare gems or metal you're not using?" Nico asked.
"Exactly what do you need them for?" the girl asked.
"Well…did you see the spar I had with Percy this morning?" Nico replied.
"Who didn't see that fight but what does that have to do with you needing spare metal and gems?" she asked.
"Basically I'm trying to figure out a higher form of earth manipulation like how ice is the next step after water for Percy. The conclusion I got was either gemstones or metal." Nico explained.
"That's actually a pretty good assumption since they both come from the earth." The girl said rather impressed, "I'm Nyssa by the way, wait here I'll get you those gems and spare metal, we should have plenty in our scrap pile."
"Thank you Nyssa." Nico said relieved, he wasn't sure if he would even be given the materials but he was thankful that Nyssa didn't seem to mind.
She came back a few minutes later with a small bag that jangled with gems hitting against each other and some broken metal swords and other scrap metals in large leather satchel.
"Here you go Nico, good luck." Nyssa said smiling as she handed the items over.
"You sure your siblings won't mind?" Nico asked as he shouldered the leather satchel.
"Yeah its fine, we usually just melt those down to make something else and the gemstones we have an abundance of." Nyssa stated waving Nico's concerns away, "just tell me if it worked or not okay? After your display of earth manipulation I'd love to see how you do with gems and metal. So promise kay?"
The Hades child was surprised that a camper was open and friend with him but he nodded.
"I promise, I'll see you later." Nico said walking off feeling elated that he had the materials he wanted and quickly ran back to Percy's cabin.
He hoped that he was allowed to still enter it and took a careful step inside. When he didn't feel any sort of repulsion he walked inside quietly since he could see Amelia taking her nap on the bed. Making sure that his items didn't spill out and make noise for the women he made his way out of the cabin and back to the field where he had left Percy, Josh, Zach, and the twins.
When he got there he had to stop and stare at the scene. Apparently the twins had gotten bored of just playing normal soccer, either that or Josh kept beating them and the twins were now commanding an army of flowers to trip Josh and Zach up. Only they took it to a different level and whenever one of them would trip and land on top of the other.
The sight that greeted Nico was Josh and Zach running away from said army of flowers so they wouldn't trip, as Saphir and Celeste chased after the flowers wanting to eat them, the twins chasing after the dogs to stop them from eating their minions and Percy on the ground holding his stomach laughing himself to tears.
"Run faster you damn magician!"
"I'm going as fast as I can! Its not like I'm a Hermes' kid with winged shoes!"
"Noooooo! Don't eat our minions! Celeste! Saphir get back here!"
"Catch those dogs! We can't have our army get eaten!"
"Ahahahahaha! Oh this is too much! My sides are splitting!"
Nico shook his head but there was a grin on his face.
"And this is completely normal for these guys." He chuckled to himself as he decided to join the fray.