CHAPTER
FIVE

I START A FOREST FIRE IN MAINE DURING WINTER

    ONCE THE BRIGHT GLOW had calmed down I felt a hand tug me away from my seat. I immediately registered that as 'an overexcited Nico who wanted to meet Apollo.'

"Imagine if he's like a super amazing healer, healers are so cool!" Nico exclaimed and he dragged me.

I nodded, raising my eyebrow and when I noticed when the grass under my feet instead of snow. Nico stopped in his tracks, looking like a fangirl who got to meet her favorite celebrity as someone got out of the car.

The car by itself was beautiful, a red convertible mesarti Spyder. Percy, who happened to be beside me, looked excited at it. Though I would've preferred it to be a black mesarti spyder. Then again the convertibility won't be that useful during winter.

My attention was torn away when the driver got out of the car.

"Wow. Apollo is hot," Thalia and I said in unison. We glanced at each other before nodding in understanding. Now the joining the hunt idea in my head wavered once again.

He looked about seventeen or eighteen, which was too old for me but a girl could dream, can't she? He had gorgeous blonde-hair along with a bright smile. Overall, he's very good-looking and had some sort of bright playful, and lighthearted charm around him.

"He's the sun god," Percy said.

I sighed, "Not what we meant."

"Little sister!" Apollo chimed, while Artemis shook her head dismissively. "What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried!"

The goddess sighed, "I'm fine, Apollo. And I am not your little sister."

"Hey, I was born first!" Apollo protested.

"We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue—"

Who was born first? Or were god births different and they were born at the same time? Is that even possible, eh, I should just think anything is possible by now.

I glanced down at Nico, he was holding a little notepad. "Immortal... Siblings... Argue like... Mortal... Siblings," He mumbled to himself, writing down every word, I sighed.

"So what's up?" Apollo asked. "Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?"

"I need a favor. I have some hunting to do, alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."

"Sure, sis!" Suddenly he stopped as dramatically as a person, technically a god, could. "I feel a haiku coming on," Apollo gasped.

Now I was thinking whether or not Apollo broke into songs or haikus every day like he was in a musical. From the hunters' reactions, he definitely did say a haiku or two when he visited them. They all groaned, some glared at them also.

"Green grass breaks through snow. Artemis pleads for my help. I am so cool," The god said very poetically. He grinned, Nico and I started applauding slowly but we stopped after a few seconds, finally getting the awkward tension in the air.

"That last line was only four syllables," Artemis commented.

"Was it?"

"Yes. What about I am so big-headed?" Artemis suggested which made me, and a few others snicker.

"No, no, that's six syllables. Hmm." He began mumbling some things to himself, trying to figure out a better line.

Zoë turned to Percy and company, explaining something but I didn't hear her that well.

Then something clicked in Apollo's head and he dramatically looked back up at the group. "I'm so awesome. That's five syllables!" He exclaimed triumphantly, Artemis and a few hunters simply sighed.

"And now, sis. Transportation for the Hunters, you say? Good timing. I was just about ready to roll," Apollo said.

"These demigods will also need a ride," Artemis said, pointing to the small group. "Some of Chiron's campers." It was weird being referred as a demigod, by now I completely believed them but it was still unusual being referred as one.

"No problem!" Apollo exclaimed before looking over the group stopping at a certain ebony-haired girl, "Let's see... Thalia, right? I've heard all about you."

Thalia's face went pink. "Hi, Lord Apollo," she said.

"Zeus' girl, yes? Makes you my half-sister-" I really hoped I wasn't Zeus' kid, "-Used to be a tree, didn't you? Glad you're back. I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees. Man, I remember one time—"

It took me a few seconds to register that Thalia used to be a tree.

"Brother," Artemis interrupted, "You should get going."

"Oh, right," Apollo muttered before looking at Percy his eyes narrowed, "Percy Jackson?"

"Yeah. I mean... yes, sir," Percy said awkwardly. They both stood there for a few seconds, Percy looking as awkward as ever and Apollo studying him.

Then he looked at me and Nico for a quick second, subtly raising an eyebrow, before looking back at the group. "Well!" He said, "We'd better load up, huh? Ride only goes one way—west. And if you miss it, you miss it."

I looked around the group, there were around twenty of us here. Then I looked back at the Maserati, it could probably have three or four people in it, including the option of people sitting on other people's lap. Not including that option, only two max could fit in there.

"Cool car," Nico said

"Thanks, kid," Apollo said.

"But how will we all fit?" I asked, tilting my head slightly in confusion.

"Oh," Apollo seemed to realize that this type of car wasn't the best for around twenty kids. He sighed disappointedly, "Well, yeah. I hate to change out of sports-car mode, but I suppose..."

He grabbed his car keys and a bird-like sound came from the alarm. It was like chirping.

The Maserati shined, not as bright as before but still glowed. Once the glow had stopped it revealed what the car had changed into, it fitted this group much more. It was one of those shuttle buses that I've never personally been in, to be honest, I don't think Westover Hall even had one of those. The whole school was somewhat medieval themed.

"Right," Apollo said. "Everybody in."

After Zoë had the hunters start going in, one by one the bus began piling up. Then I realized something, "Nico do you have my backpack?" I called, looking for him.

The boy came running at me, a mythomagic figurine hanging out of his front pocket and him struggling to hold both backpacks. I thanked him before grabbing my backpack.

The hunters really did get everything, my assignments that were going to be due yesterday but that's kind of useless, my mythomagic cards and figurines, a few books, and school supplies. I checked my pocket and I made sure I had my pocket knife.

I took it out, before that, I never focused on it much. I don't know why, I just didn't. It was sharp and flexible like most knives but the different thing was the color, it was a deep black.

I sighed, placing pocket knife in my pocket and putting on the backpack.

I looked back up and Artemis had already left.

"So," Apollo started, the car keys jingling on his finger, "Who wants to drive?"

I quickly put down Nico's hand for him, Maine would go up in flames if he did.

Everyone was in the van by now, all the hunters were in the back including Bianca. I couldn't help but frown when I sat beside Nico, usually on a bus all three of us would cram into one seat. Of course, at certain times it got annoying but now that she probably wouldn't be doing that anymore and I missed it. Nico wasn't focused on it, he was too busy admiring the vehicle.

I was sitting beside Nico, "This is so cool!" Nico exclaimed behind me, I was fifty-percent sure he was jumping up and down from excitement.

"Is this really the sun? I thought Helios and Selene were the sun and moon gods. How come sometimes it's them and sometimes it's you and Artemis?"

"The Romans started it. They couldn't afford all those temple sacrifices, so they laid off Helios and Selene and folded their duties into our job descriptions. My sis got the moon. I got the sun. It was pretty annoying at first, but at least I got this cool car."

"But how does it work?" Nico asked. "I thought the sun was a big fiery ball of gas!"

Apollo laughed and stole my usual move, ruffling Nico's hair. He did a very long explanation which I, for the most part, tuned out but just nodded

"No," Nico said while shaking his head.

"Well then, just think of it as a really powerful, really dangerous solar car." Nico seemed to understand this much more and so did I.

"Can I drive?" Nico had asked and I don't think I've ever turned my head so quickly.

"No. Too young," Apollo denied. I sighed of relief but Nico looked disappointed.

"Ooo! Ooo!" Grover raised his hand only to be rejected.

Apollo shook his head and waved his hand dismissively, "Too furry." Grover looked a bit upset but forgot about it, and was now looking at the hunters quite wistfully.

Nico grabbed my hand and began swinging it in the air, he immediately stopped after I glared at him. Unluckily Apollo had taken notice of my involuntary hand waving.

"How old are you?" Apollo questioned.

"I d-" "She's fourteen, turning fifteen in March. I'm sure she's a great driver," Nico smiled mischievously trying to ignore the glare I was giving him. Apollo looked at me skeptically her murmured the word, "Fourteen?" Before sighing.

"Her hairs too long, it'll get in the way of her vision."

I sighed of relief and Nico immediately looked at Bianca. It looked like he was holding back a glare, he mouthed a few words and Bianca looked surprised he was talking to her before raising an eyebrow before reaching towards her hair and throwing something at him. Nico caught it with a goofy smile on his face, "What if she ties her hair up?" Nico asked, swinging the black hair tie on his finger in front of me.

Apollo, who was just trying to convince Thalia to drive turned to Nico. Quickly Nico began pulling my hair up into a messy ponytail, ignoring my protests. "Yeah! Maria can do it!" Thalia exclaimed.

"But Thalia's the daughter of Zeus! She would do much better in the sky!" I protested with a bit of a nervous laugh at the end. 

"What would be more of an honor than learning to drive in the sun chariot?"

"You would be much better than me, I'm still underage."

"I'm underaged also! Plus, you're still undetermined for all we know you could be a daughter of Zeus!"

"But I could also be a daughter of Hades and I'm sure Zeus wouldn't mind blasting me if I was!"

"There's a little to no chance your a daughter of Hades, he wouldn't break the oath Zeus already has."

"Then what about Poseidon! Right?" I looked at Percy, who looked like he didn't want to be apart of this conversation. "If I was the daughter of Poseidon, Zeus would easily eltrocute me? Right?" He thought about it before shrugging.

"Probably," He said.

Thalia sighed, "There's basically no chance, besides I was a tree for years! My legs would probably just stiff up the second I begin driving. You'll need some practice for when you get your learners permit, come on Maria."

I was pretty confused why Thalia was so insisted on this. Is she scared of height? But she's the daughter of Zeus. I looked at her, my face scrunching up from confusion. I was too busy studying her that I forgot to give my counter argument.

"So Maria it is!" Thalia exclaimed, sighing a bit with relief.

I slumped in my seat while Apollo just grinned happily and placed me in the seat. "Can I use the I am only fourteen card?" I questioned and Nico shook his head.

"You'll do great kid, don't worry," Apollo ruffled my hair. Immediately my thought began thinking about head ruffles. Is that how Nico always felt when I ruffled his hair? His hair is really soft- My thoughts were cut off by Apollo.

"Speed equals heat," Apollo advised. "So start slowly, and make sure you've got good altitude before you really open her up."

I listened to every word, I wasn't too keen on torching Maine. I stepped on a pedal which jerked everyone forwards, "We're in the sky," Nico said in awe as he looked out the window.

Immediately it started to get stormy when everything went into havoc. "Why's it storming? It shouldn't be storming, It was just clear," I ranted in panic, "I said Thalia would've been better at this." I gripped the steering wheel harder.

The sky turned a murky dark color and heavy rain started pouring down. I could hear Apollo behind me muttering, "Zeus.. Not the best time."

I was fine with flying, but flying in a storm was one of my worst nightmares. I continued driving, still in panic "Lighten up!" Thalia yelled her face turning slightly green and her knuckles turning white while they were clenched into fists.

"I'm trying," I yelled back, causing another jerk, Grover almost fell out of his seat and the storm wasn't helping. The second I saw a lightning bolt I jumped, then started flooring the pedal. I heard groans from the back of the bus and a few thuds.

"Calm down!" Nico exclaimed, "Calm? Yeah calm, calm is perfect. How do I get calm?" I asked, very close to hyperventilating.

I think this was the moment where Nico realized it wasn't a smart idea to have his sister drive the literal sun. "We need to veer south for Long Island," Apollo said. "Hang a left."

I had no idea what 'hang a left' meant but I just assumed it meant turn left. Once again everyone almost fell out of their seats from me jerking the bus. "Just calm down a bit love," Apollo said, his voice sounded like he was trying not to be nervous. I would've blushed over Apollo calling me love but I was too busy screaming for my life.

"Maybe a bit higher," Apollo told me, his calm voice sounded forced. "Am I burning Maine? I knew I was going to torch Maine, poor Maine it didn't deserve this," I ranted, gripping the wheel until my knuckles turned white.

"Why are we going into the sky, oh my Hades we're going into the sky," Thalia repeated, now she was hyperventilating.

Now we were heading straight up into the dark clouds. The rain was pattering on the wind much harder than before. "I was too close now I'm too high! Why is this thing so confusing!" I screamed, jerking the wheel. I heard a large thud.

"I'm fine!" Percy called.

"We're going down, down down down,!" Nico repeated in excitement and fear, "Mia, I think you started a forest fire in the northeast, during winter!" I would've been worried why there was any excitement in his voice but I was too busy burning Maine.

The sky had cleared slightly, I caught from the corner of my eye was Thalia praying most likely to her father. I'd have to thank her later and I wonder what problem Zeus has with me.

With the clear sky majority of anxiousness had cleared aswell. I even heard Apollo gasp in relief.

"So... That was fun," I said nervously.

"We have very different definitions of 'fun'," I heard Percy say.

"There!" Apollo pointed. "Long Island, dead ahead. Let's slow down, love. 'Dead' is only an expression."

"I'm, I'm good, yeah I can do this," I muttered to myself.

I saw a glimpse of the place they called 'camp' it looked beautiful from this standpoint at the same time it looked like your average camp, with cabins, woods, beach, and more. I definitely didn't want to torch that place so i calmed down in the peddle even more.

Next was a fairly smooth landing, if you count burning the docks along with probably
blinding and boiling some campers."I did it!" I shouted in relief.

"Well,"Apollo started, getting up from his seat. "Everything was fine–" He was cut off by Thalia running out of the bus. Grover looked out the window and quickly looked away.

"At least she didn't throw up in the bus," Apollo murmured glancing outside.

I think I heard one of the hunters gag.

NOTES.

so selcouth reached 1k reads!! and 100 votes!!! thank you all so much for reading this, i will be writing a special spin off chapter to celebrate this accomplishment! hopefully it should be out by this weekend!

again thank you all so much! here are some dedications

-dead-rxses-
Anemxia
06QUEENIE13
FlowerSackPotato
-MAXIM0FF
and everybody else reading this!!

also if you have any thing you would like to see in the spin-off chapter just comment here!

(example. you might like to see peria/maria x percy's future children)

oh and in percy's pov he still noticed thalia had a fear of heights because of how she was so adamant about not driving

word count > 2843

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