The god that they met next was so familiar to them that everything that stood foreign to them was washed away. It was surprising not keen-eyed Hermês nor swift-footed Iris coming to demand them to stand before the gods.

To their immense surprise, it was a god that was very similar to their camp director.

Dionysos. (Except— he was not born yet. So, who was this?)

Ariadnê had been working in Silena's Eatery helping Katie with the backlog of orders that were flowing in from their guests. She was also playing security because she could easily see those Spartan emblems. It was a little confusing to her because Rachel had informed them of the neighboring kingdom preparing for war. They didn't need to waste time with them.

(And it would be a waste of time to send so many down the river just to get to them. Not when Percy and Ariadnê could sink the ships before they reached home.)

Nevertheless, Ariadnê didn't let it bother her. She just continued to move through the tables as if she was walking across water.

It was when she was headed back to the kitchens when she saw him. No matter what timeline, she would recognize the madness to those eyes anywhere. She slipped into the kitchen immediately catching Katie's attention.

"Mr. D is here," Katie gasped, peeking through the door to try to see their director. He looked nothing like how he looked in their time. He was much slimmer. Ariadnê sneered a little. His hair was longer and curlier than hers. Being a deity was starting to look much more appealing. At least he didn't have to worry about split ends and cutting hair when a knot just won't come loose.

At least he was wearing a chiton. Apóllōn and Hermês had enough paintings in their temples with them dressed in just chlamys.

Katie slapped her upside the head before hastily fixing the younger girl's clothing and hair. "Go, you must be the one to serve him. Let no other grace his presence unless he deems it so."

Ariadnê scowled as the menu was placed in her hands alongside some appetizers. "Who do you think I am? Chase?"

Taking a deep breath, the child of the sea made her way to the table of the youngest Olympian. His eyes burned brightly as she neared him. She almost stumbled from the intensity. Castor and Pollux had always stated that something had changed in their father as he was reborn. It was written in sacred texts that only his children knew where to find. Apparently, Dionysos had kept writings from his time as a godling to when he was reborn as a demigod then turned Olympian. But there was a big difference.

Madness. The twins always smiled happily and crazed whenever they spoke of it.

Here, it was clear that he hadn't been ripped apart by titans yet. Ariadnê had the passing thought of whether she should do something about that before she slammed down the mental walls around her mind. She didn't know how powerful this version of their camp director was, but she wasn't inclined to find out.

(But she remembered the whispers the twins of madness spoke… she remembered the look in those mulberry colored eyes when she visited the Netherworld to see Nico. Zagreus was dangerous in the same breath as Dionysos. For Zagreus was the first-born son of Ζεύς who was seated on the throne of heaven by his father as a babe and armed with thunderbolts. The Titanes, incited Hḗrē, snuck into Olympos and offered the boy a collection of toys, tricking him into setting aside the lightning. They then seized and dismembered him with their knives. Ζεύς had Athênê recover Zagreus' heart and made it into a potion for Semelê to drink which would then lead to the birth of Dionysos as a reincarnation of the first.)

"Gods blessed, welcome to Silena's Eatery. How may I serve you?" Ariadnê was of the sea. It took a lot of focus for her to be able to confine her speech patterns to one that resembled the netherworld. Her only saving grace was that her new york accent managed to cover what she couldn't change.

Dionysos-Zagreus-whoever looked over the menu slowly before raising his eyes back to hers, "I shall have a taste of each of your finest ale alongside the Castor combo."

Ariadnê felt her heart clench. He didn't even know he was eating a meal consisting of his future deceased son's favored foods. It was a struggle to keep a blank face, but she somehow managed.

"Tis a fine choice. It would usually cost twenty gold drachmas, but for you, mi 'lord, it shall be free of charge."

The god smiled and laughed in delight. A shiver ran down Ariadnê's back from the power of divinity in that sound. "Ah, a good eye that you have. Not many can tell when they are in the presence of deities and yet, you managed to pick me out."

Ariadnê smiled a little bashfully. Unlike her brother, she had always been better at recognizing gods. Though just like her brother, she was never as respectful as she should have been. "With only a glance, I knew that you were not meant to walk alongside us mere mortals. There had been something otherworldly about you."

He hummed as he looked her over. Ariadnê fidgeted just a little before she bowed before him, "Permission to be excused, mi 'lord. I shall have your order ready for you almost as swift as the herald."

The god smiled as if he gained all his answers in one, "You are a very curious being, demigod. Before you take your leave, I shall know your name."

Her lips curved into a slow smirk, "I am Ariadnê of Castellan."

With that, she turned away.


Zagreus would become a frequent visitor of land after that. At this point, every member of their little excursion has managed to meet him at least twice. He showed interest in the grapes that they were growing.

He watched in amusement as Will and Nico played a more version of Mythomagic that was catered more so towards the demigods of their future. [Ariadnê would never not be filled with pride when her card was not only rare but was also incredibly powerful.] He was quickly taken by the game and sometimes showed up during important meetings with the dryads and satyrs to demand a game. Even when others were traveling from other kingdoms to visit the lands, they stopped what they were doing to cater to his attention.

The twelve of them learned to work around him. With their help, they made sure that the kingdom was running smoothly for Nico to have time for himself. Ariadnê laid claim to being a part of his retinue, unwilling to trust his protection to anyone that was not the twelve.

The king of ghosts, when he wasn't working on things for the kingdom, spent his time guiding wandering souls to the opening of Erebus.

Thalia and Will swapped knowledge as she increased his skill with the bow and he taught her medical herbs and paste to remember for when she inevitably leaves.

Katie, like her sister before her, spent her time in the fields picking fruits and vegetables and weaving flowers together. She decorated the kingdom prettily, drawing smiles from all that could see them. They knew that Aphrodítē Kyprogenês had turned her attention to the kingdom that resided on the lands of which was birthed. She made sure the kingdom was as beautiful as only one worthy of the goddess born from sea and sky. She planted what she knew to be the goddess' sacred flower around her temple, the sweet aroma drawing attention to it.

(And those that stole away from Sparta or from the lands of Kyprus ventured to the kingdom drawn by the scents of love and they stayed to be the goddess' priestess. And the power spread further throughout the land drawing in the attention to the other gods and those that bore fear to Háidēs were ensnared by the beauty that was Death and thus the strong- lord Polysêmantôr gained followers who courted death.)

With each visitor and the watchful nature of the Spartans, Annabeth and Clarisse sparred in front of them while their paramors watched to make sure that they did no kill each other. And when others requested to join Castellan's army, they trained them until their might and honor would go unchallenged.

It irritated Annabeth that she could not tell the world who her mother was, but if no other child had yet to be born…that made her the first. And her pride would not sit aside as she forced the shadows she cast too big to be overcome.

Her siblings would never be better than her.

The Stolls had fitted their store to be the biggest of it all. They had already wrangled promises out of Ariadnê to venture the kingdoms with them to find products to bring back. They knew how much she adored the place.

Rachel was sitting in a trance in front of her easel one day when Ariadnê stumbled over her. The painting showed two opposing armies facing each other in battle. The child of sea bit back a gasp when she recognized herself facing off one of the men.

With furrowed brows, she said, "Rachel, what is this?" Her eyes traced over everything that she could see yet her gaze continued to be pulled herself seeing a rage in her expression that she hadn't recognized since the death of Lee.

The mortal girl hummed in response as her hand moved absently across the canvas. Ariadnê's gazed locked onto the symbols of Sparta and Athens. Her eyes widened in shock. Was she really going to be here to witness the legendary war? The war in which the Spartans beat Athens to the ground? It was only her favorite tale ever right after the Trojan War.

And Ariadnê knew how much Clarisse loved it.

But her brow furrowed when she looked back at the image of herself fighting someone wearing the Spartan emblem.

"War is upon us," the oracle spoke. She turned to look at Ariadnê who just looked back at her.

"We must tell the others," the child of the sea declared.


It was easy to gather them all into the grove. It was the time when Nýx covered the sky and most of their guests had fallen into their beds or were going for late night strolls under the Astra. (It was very romantic thing. Percy and Annabeth went on many late night strolls, awe feeling in them at how the greek fire danced alongside the jewels of the kingdom and the sweet aroma of the flowers that only bloomed under Selene's power.)

The twelve of them were situated in the grove as they talked over this new occurrence.

"What are we going to do," Katie demanded. "We are not supposed to take part in their wars!"

Ariadnê kept her gaze focused on the temples across the river. Her heart squeezed just a little to think of Apollôn with his other most famed lover. Her lips curled into a snarl as she thought about someone else gaining his affections.

She was not interested in sharing her beloved.

"We fight," she declared. "We either go now and assert our dominance or the winner will come for us. This war is at our back door. With either Sparta or Athens as the victor, they will set their eyes on us next. So, we fight. We win. And we make them think thrice before challenging us."

Ariadnê didn't have to look at Clarisse to know the other was smirking, "Putting them against four of the children of the kronides would definitely make them pause. We'll be on standby in case you all need any help which I highly doubt."

Turning around, the princess of the sea smiled almost cruelly. "Well, let's do this."

Chase nodded her head, "Alright, here's the plan."


The four children of the Kronides stood side by side as the armies of Sparta and Athens came to a standstill. It had been surprising to them all to realize that they were on Kyprus and not the mainland as they had originally thought. They had quickly overtaken what would one day become Trachonas.

(Ariadnê and Annabeth had pointed out that at least with them there… they never had to worry about the land becoming conquered by Ancient Egypt. Though Annabeth did want to travel and study the pyramids with her argument being that aside from her hair color… she would blend right in.)

It was boring waiting for them to get into position.

Nico was tapping the tip of his sword to the ground, bringing up the remains of deceased animals. He smiled to himself as a little mouse ran around him in circles. Twisting his head to look at his cousins, he noticed Katie tapping her finger to some unheard rhythm. With each finger tap, a flower bloomed and changed shape around her wrist. Her brow was furrowed as she looked over the armies.

Thalia was calmly gazing over the forces as she tossed a ball of lightning between her hands. She cut her hair back into its pixie cut keeping it out of her face as she leaned slightly on her feet ready to attack at a moment's notice.

His gaze slid over to the twins who were speaking quietly to each other. The words were too smooth and tangled for him to be able to understand anything before he realized they were speaking the song of the sea. Percy was using Riptide as a walking stick while waving his other hand around. Ariadnê was rolling her eyes as she twisted her bracelet around her wrist.

(Nico remembered that Percy admitted to having issues with his sword. The older boy had admitted that if Hēraklēs had not yet been born, then it may have something to do with Zoë owning the original. The power was weakening, but he could sense his own replacing what was leaving.)

An unseen force washed over them, capturing their attention and straightening their spines. The veil that had been covering them receded in a way not unlike the Mist. The hair on their skin stood to attention as power clamped down onto them.

They had gained the interest of the gods.

"Earth Mother. Corn Mother. Mistress of Food. Hail, Katie, daughter of Dēmḗtēr Hôrêphoros. Lady of the Harvest. Lady of the seasons." The voices of Klôthô whispered into their minds. Katie's power activated on their own as the blades of grass swirled around her forming into the shape of a sickle.

"M-my daughter? HOW? I do not recall conceiving her."

Katie really did not want to know about her mother's sex life.

Atropos spoke fondly as she announced , "The Rich One. The Silent One. God of Riches and God of the Dead. Hail, King Nicholas of Castellan, son of Háidēs Nekrodegmôn."

Nico smirked lightly. From the ghost king to the king of castellan. It was a nice upgrade though it was still weird to hear his full name. His sword seemed to freeze the air around them as he swung it around lazily. The skeletal animals rubbed against him as if they were mere pets.

"He will grow to be a fine warrior. When he is ready, I will make him the general of my army."

"I honestly never thought I would be saying this, but the boy needs to eat more, husband. He needs more grain in his diet. What are they feeding him in that kingdom?"

If only the Persephónē of his time could hear herself now.

Thalia stood to attention when she felt the heated glare of her stepmother on her skin. It wasn't even a new feeling if she was being honest.

Lakhesis stated calmly, "King of the Gods. King of Olympos. Father of Gods and Men. Hail, Thalia, daughter of Ζεύς Hypsistos."

"You shall claim her for your hunt. She has the build of an archer and the look of a huntress."

Thalia smiled to herself at that. Soon, she would be back with her sisters and mistress.

"Planning on becoming a huntress to escape fate again," Nico mocked. Thalia twisted her spear in-between her fingers as she gazed upon the younger child. "Yeah, I am leaving. But I'm done running from fate. I'm gonna take whatever they throw at me this time."

Ariadnê tilted her head to the side as she listened closely to the words of the Moirai. "Earthshaker. Storm breaker. Father of Horses. Hail, Perseus and Ariadnê. The Twin Swords. Children of Poseidón Pelagaios."

The Twin Swords? It had been a while since the twins heard that. Percy rose a brow at her as spun Riptide through the air. She smiled at him as she twisted her sword charm.

Their eyes were drawn back to the armies when one of the Spartan warriors yelled out a battle cry before charging. Ariadnê turned her gaze upwards towards the heavens. She imagined she was looking each of the Olympioi directly in their eyes filled with the challenge to try to stop her.

"Let's do this," Thalia stated as she charged up her spear. Each of them held their weapons steady before turning to the armies. Ariadnê could feel the need for bloodshed rise within her. "I don't care what you all do. Just leave his royal highness to me."


Word Count: 2,938

Words to Know:

Poseidón Pelagaios - Poseidón Of the Sea

Ζεύς Hypsistos - Ζεύς, the Supreme/ Most High; basically, Ζεύς, the King of the Gods

Háidēs Nekrodegmôn - Háidēs, the Receiver of the Dead

Dēmḗtēr Hôrêphoros - Dēmḗtēr, the Bringer of the Seasons

Aphrodítē Kyprogenês - Cyprus-Born Aphrodítē

Polysêmantôr - Ruler of Many, Homeric epithet of Háidēs


Comments from the Author:

Ayo, disney. Are you reading fanficton because I literally had a similar idea in the original version where the characters had their own mythomagic card? I got my eyes on you, mouse.