Thank you for the review that reminded me about Percy's Earthshaker powers I completely forgot to add them when talking about his powers and Auroras! They should be there now. Onto the chapter now!
Ch.5
Percy stood there, a picture of bewilderment etched across his face, as Artemis called Apollo. "He's so-o-o lazy in the mornings," she muttered under her breath. Still puzzled, Percy inquired, "Why would you need to call Apollo?" Artemis turned to him, her gaze steady, and replied, "Because he's the god of truth. I want him to listen to your story to confirm it, as well as give my hunters a ride to camp before he heads back to Olympus." Percy's confusion deepened once again. "But I thought Helios drove the sun chariot?" Artemis chuckled softly before explaining, "Ah, you see, the ancient Greeks sometimes conflated Apollo and Helios as one entity." Percy nodded, signaling his understanding. "Well, when Apollo drives the sun chariot, Helios does as well.
They mirror each other in that way. Just like Selene and I," Artemis continued, her tone gentle yet resolute, "which is why we are close. We spend every night together, and if for some reason I can't drive my chariot, she will take care of it by herself." Percy absorbed this information, a realization dawning on him. "So the night Selene found me and watched over me, you were driving the chariot by yourself?" Artemis nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I wondered why Selene didn't show up that night, and she wouldn't tell me the following evening either. But now I know the reason was you."
Percy rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, his gaze darting around the area. He couldn't help but notice how the demigods he had saved from the Manticore stood off to the left, separated from both the hunters and the group of demigods he assumed were from the camp Artemis mentioned, positioned to the right.
Aurora, engaged in conversation with Amelia, caught Percy's searching gaze. Sensing his unease, she excused herself from the discussion and gracefully made her way over to Percy and Artemis.
"Hello, milady," Aurora greeted, her voice soft and respectful as she bowed. Artemis offered a gentle smile before gently lifting her from her bow.
"There's no need to bow to me, dear, as you are a maiden," Artemis reassured her. Aurora's eyes widened in surprise before she nodded, a flush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks.
Artemis finally lifted her gaze as she sensed her brother's approach. "Finally," she muttered, her voice tinged with mild exasperation. "Close your eyes while he parks."
Percy obediently shut his eyes, feeling a surge of heat as something substantial landed in front of him. He waited until the warmth dissipated before cautiously opening his eyes to behold a radiant red Maserati Spyder. Glancing over at Aurora, he noticed her seemingly unimpressed expression. "My dad's chariot is better," she remarked casually.
Percy rolled his eyes in response, but Artemis, catching wind of the comment, emitted a snort before retorting, "Don't let him hear you say that. He'll write a haiku about it, and trust me, you do not want to endure his haiku. He's been churning them out non-stop ever since his visit to Japan."
The absurdity of the situation struck them both, and Percy and Aurora burst into laughter. Meanwhile, the driver of the Maserati, having stepped out of the car, surveyed his surroundings before his gaze settled on his sister. With a warm smile, he made his way over to Artemis.
"Little sister, you called?" Apollo quipped as he approached, a playful glint in his eyes.
Artemis, her patience wearing thin, stomped her foot and shot him a glare. "I WAS BORN FIRST!" she retorted with an edge in her voice.
Apollo simply laughed off her annoyance and waved her off. "I'm headed back home, what do you need?"
Artemis continued to glare at him before stating firmly, "I need you to drop off my hunters and the campers at camp. But first, I need to listen to the boy's story."
Apollo turned his attention towards Percy, nodding his head as a signal for him to begin his story. Percy launched into his story once again, recounting his experiences over the past four years up until the present moment.
Apollo listened intently, his gaze fixed on Percy, until the mention of Aurora caught his attention. He glanced over at her for a moment, then furrowed his brow in confusion. "Arty, is it just me, or do her eyes look like Zoe's?" he queried, his curiosity piqued.
Artemis, initially puzzled, turned her gaze towards Aurora once more, freezing as she finally noticed the striking resemblance that Apollo had picked up on immediately. "What was your name again, young one?" Apollo inquired, his tone taking on a more serious note.
"A...Aurora Nightshade, Lord Apollo," she replied respectfully.
With that, both Artemis and Apollo exchanged a significant glance, as if engaged in a silent mental battle. Artemis's smirk suggested she had emerged victorious in whatever internal debate they were having. Apollo, wearing a faint frown, glanced over at his car, then retrieved his keys and clicked a button. They watched in awe as the car transformed into a bus, resembling one typically used to transport students to sporting events.
Turning back to Artemis, Apollo spoke in a hushed tone. "The boy is not lying, but I would figure out the girl's story before making any rash decisions."
Artemis nodded in agreement before briskly walking away to instruct her hunters to board the bus. Apollo, flashing his trademark bright smile, headed towards the transformed vehicle, a tangible aura of interest and intrigue surrounding him as he departed.
Aurora grasped Percy's hand firmly, leading him a few steps away from the bus before she couldn't contain her thoughts any longer. "What does he mean by making any rash decisions?" she queried, her voice tinged with concern.
Percy shrugged in response, a hint of apprehension flickering across his features. "I have no idea, but I'm not sure I want to know," he admitted, his tone reflecting his unease.
As they stood there, a tense silence enveloped them, broken only by the distant chatter of the departing demigods. Minutes passed until all the hunters, campers, and rescued demigods were airborne on Apollo's bus. Glancing over Aurora's shoulder, Percy spotted Artemis approaching with another girl in tow. Sensing Aurora's tension heightening after hearing Apollo's cryptic words, Percy instinctively moved to shield her, pulling her slightly behind him as Artemis and the girl drew nearer.
Aurora, catching sight of the approaching figures, turned around, her eyes widening in anticipation as Artemis and the unknown girl closed the distance between them. With Artemis's last conversation with her brother still fresh in her mind, Aurora braced herself, her nerves palpable as she awaited their arrival.
Noticing their movement, Artemis's gaze bore a slight edge, though she remained silent. "Aurora, boy," she began, her voice commanding attention, "This is my lieutenant, Zoe Nightshade."
Both Percy's and Aurora's eyes widened at that revelation. Zoe, sensing their astonishment, furrowed her brow in confusion. "My lady, why are they looking at me like that? Normally I would shoot a boy for looking at me like that, but so is the maiden," she remarked, her tone matter-of-fact.
Artemis couldn't help but smile at Zoe's blunt assessment. "That maiden, it appears, has a connection to you," she replied cryptically, her amusement evident.
Zoe's confusion deepened, and she turned to Aurora, seeking clarification. "What does she mean we have a connection?" she inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Aurora exchanged a knowing glance with Percy, who nodded in affirmation before she gathered her courage and turned back to Zoe. "My name is Aurora. Aurora Nightshade," she confessed quietly, her voice carrying a weight of realization.
Zoe stood frozen in shock for a few moments before snapping out of her daze, her expression a mix of disbelief and dawning understanding. She turned to Artemis, seeking answers. "How is this possible?"
Artemis met Zoe's gaze evenly, her demeanor calm and composed. "Zoe, do you remember thirteen years ago when Atlas escaped for a single day?" she asked pointedly.
Zoe nodded slowly, her eyes widening as she connected the dots. Artemis, noting Zoe's realization, simply nodded in confirmation. "It appears we have found the result of that day," she stated matter-of-factly.
Zoe's disbelief gave way to a mixture of emotions, including anger, directed at Percy. "Of course, my father would escape millennia of torture just to get laid," she muttered bitterly, glaring at Percy as if it were somehow his fault.
Percy met her glare with one of his own until Zoe noticed his eyes, her attention drawn to their peculiar crescent moon irises. "My lady, why does the boy have crescent moon irises?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity and confusion.
"That is because this boy is Selene's child, albeit adopted," Artemis explained calmly, her tone carrying a note of solemnity.
Zoe's eyes widened in astonishment before she turned back to Artemis, her expression a mix of shock and confusion. "Lady Selene has a child? Since when? Why hasn't she told anyone, especially you?" she inquired, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Artemis raised her hand to forestall further questions, her demeanor composed yet resolute. "I do not know, but we will find out once we locate her. For now, we must head to camp to regroup with the hunters and strategize our next steps."
With a decisive wave of her hand, Artemis imbued the four individuals with a soft glow before they vanished into thin air.
Line Break
(At camp)
Artemis and the demi-titans materialized on a hillside, overlooking what appeared to be a sprawling summer camp. As they reappeared, Aurora staggered and fell to her knees, overcome by nausea, while Artemis and Zoe stood nearby, chuckling at her discomfort. However, their laughter ceased abruptly when they noticed Percy standing upright, seemingly unaffected.
"You don't feel the effects of teleportation, boy?" Artemis inquired, her curiosity evident.
Percy simply rolled his eyes, a hint of nonchalance in his response. "No, I've done it enough times that it doesn't affect me anymore."
Despite the glare from Zoe, Percy knelt down beside Aurora, offering his support until the wave of nausea passed. Once she had regained her composure, they rose to their feet, and Aurora's gaze widened as she took in the sight of the expansive camp below.
"WHOA, IT'S HUGE!" she exclaimed in awe. "Way bigger than my warehouse."
Artemis and Zoe exchanged puzzled glances at the mention of the warehouse until Percy filled them in on where Aurora had been staying for the past week and a half before their journey to Maine. Understanding dawned on their faces as they nodded in comprehension.
With Aurora now recovered, Artemis and Zoe took the lead, guiding the duo down into the camp towards a massive house.
As they approached the imposing "Big House," as Artemis referred to it, the front door swung open, revealing a centaur standing on the front porch. Spotting the approaching group, he hurried over and bowed respectfully. "Lady Artemis, what brings you to camp?" he inquired with a hint of curiosity.
Artemis smiled warmly before replying, "I'm here to meet with my hunters and to accommodate these two. They are not to be lodged in the Hermes cabin but are to be given rooms in the Big House. Is that clear?"
Chiron, the centaur, appeared puzzled but nodded in understanding. "It shall be done, my lady. Also, your hunters may be in a foul mood in your cabin," he added hesitantly.
"What happened." Chiron grimaced before responding. "Lord Apollo may have let Thalia drive and they crashed into the lake." Her expression darkened as she glanced skyward before turning her gaze back to Chiron. "I will deal with my brother and his reckless actions. Thank you for bringing this to my attention," she said firmly before striding off towards the glowing silver cabin.
Turning to Percy and Aurora, who remained before him, Chiron's demeanor softened into a welcoming smile. "Welcome to Camp Half-Blood, young ones. I am Chiron, the camp director, alongside Mr. D, who is currently inside engrossed in a magazine about grape shortages," he chuckled lightly. "May I ask for your names?" he inquired, extending his hand in greeting.
Percy responded first, shaking Chiron's hand firmly. "Percy Jackson, sir," he replied respectfully.
Aurora followed suit, also shaking his hand. "Aurora Nightshade," she said with equal politeness.
Chiron raised an eyebrow at Aurora's introduction, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he turned his attention back to Artemis's retreating form. Percy could sense the centaur's intelligence, realizing why Artemis had insisted on Aurora not staying in the Hermes cabin. Smart centaur, he thought, impressed by Chiron's perceptiveness. And could this be THE Chiron from ancient myths? The legendary trainer of heroes?
Gathering his thoughts, Percy couldn't resist asking, "Are you the Chiron from ancient myths?"
Chiron turned to Percy with a warm smile before nodding. "Indeed I am, young Percy. After training some of the most famous heroes in history, the gods granted me immortality so I could continue to mentor their children."
Percy nodded thoughtfully, considering the weight of Chiron's millennia-spanning existence. "Is it hard watching the heroes you train grow up and eventually die, time and time again?" he ventured, his curiosity evident.
"Percy!" Aurora interjected sharply, delivering a playful smack to his head. Chiron, however, simply chuckled at the interaction.
"It's okay, Miss Nightshade," he reassured her with a gentle smile before turning back to Percy. His expression softened with a hint of melancholy. "Yes, it is hard. But after millennia, you grow accustomed to it. Immortality can indeed be both a blessing and a curse," he admitted with a sigh.
And with that, Chiron turned around, gesturing for Percy and Aurora to follow as he led them on a tour of the camp. He showed them the training area, the beach, and the impressive rock wall, which Percy found particularly noteworthy due to the lava flowing down its surface. They explored the various cabins, each marked with a symbol denoting the god or goddess it belonged to.
Finally, Chiron guided them to the Dining Pavilion. Percy and Aurora gazed around in astonishment at the rows of tables, each adorned with a symbol representing a different deity.
"Tonight at dinner, everyone gathers here to eat, and it also gives the gods a chance to claim their children, should they wish to do so," Chiron explained.
Percy turned to him with a furrowed brow. "What do you mean 'if they care to'? Everyone here seems to be claimed."
Chiron shook his head sadly. "The Hermes cabin is where the unclaimed children are housed, as Hermes is the patron of travelers. Notice how their cabin has far more campers than the rest? That is why. Many times, the gods simply do not care enough to claim their offspring. So these children end up in the Hermes cabin until they are either claimed, become accustomed to feeling unwanted, or choose to leave and fend for themselves in the mortal world."
As Percy seethed with anger at the thought of children feeling unwanted and leaving the safety of camp, the ground around him began to tremble. Sensing his distress, Aurora quickly intervened, gently grasping his face in her hands and speaking softly to him until the shaking subsided and Percy regained his composure.
Chiron, observing the interaction between the two, raised an eyebrow in curiosity until he realized that Percy was the one causing the ground to quake. His eyes widened as he started to suspect the identity of Percy's godly parent.
"Percy, are you alright?" Chiron inquired with genuine concern, his tone gentle and compassionate.
Percy nodded in response, his anger dissipating. "I'm okay, thank you, Chiron. If it's all the same to you, I'd like to go settle in at the Big House until dinner," he requested politely.
Chiron nodded understandingly. "Of course, Percy. Go ahead and get settled. We'll see you at dinner," he affirmed before watching Percy and Aurora make their way towards the Big House.
As they departed, Chiron's thoughts raced, contemplating the implications of Percy's abilities and appearance. The shaking would imply that Lord Poseidon is his father, but Percy's silver hair and eyes contradicted that theory. If I didn't know any better, I would assume his parents were Artemis and Poseidon, Chiron mused to himself. He also pondered Aurora's parentage, intrigued by her last name and its similarity to Artemis's lieutenant.
Breaking out of his train of thought, Chiron shook his head and redirected his focus as he left the Dining Pavilion. He headed towards the archery range for his next class, unaware of how close he had come to unraveling the truth of Percy's parentage.
Another chapter down. Let me know what you guys think. Is the flow good, is it too fast, too slow, or right in the middle? Should I Keep Percy and Aurora's relationship slowly building up like I am now, or should I slow it down/speed it up? Let me know how you guys feel. Chapter 6 will be out later today when i wake up lol