017. WHAT ABOUT DESTINY?
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍
𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒚?
❛ what is destiny
if not to live ❜
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐘?, 𝕿he closer the car got towards Half-Blood Hill the easier it was for Aurora to take notice three bodies standing right next to Thalia's tree eagerly awaiting for something . . . or rather someone.
"Is that . . ." Annabeth trailed off seating up in her chair to take a closer look.
Aurora's face broke out into a grin, "It is!"
Kaiya, Silena, and Natalie.
Her siblings eyes brightened up when they noticed the arrival of their younger sister. The sun making their faces look as radiant as the last time she'd seen them to bid them goodbye.
The first to run to their sibling and pull her in a hug was Silena. The oldest of the four embracing her little sister as if thanking her mother she was in front of her.
"Hey, Sil," Aurora grinned into her shoulder. "It's good to see you too."
Silena pulled away from her sister and affectionately smiled, "Thank the god's you're okay!" she exclaimed running a hand to smooth out the wrinkles of Aurora's jacket. "Every offering I gave mom was to pray you were alright. I knew you could do it."
Kaiya sidled up with their siblings and grinned, "Look at you superstar. In the past couple of weeks you've been trending more than your superstar of a father," they turned to Annabeth who'd began to walk around them. "Hey, science girl," they called. Annabeth turned and glanced at the group. "Thanks for taking care of my little sister."
Annabeth shrugged a small teasing smile on her lips, "Someone has to keep her out of trouble. Might as well be me."
Aurora's siblings laughed causing the young girl to blush a deep crimson.
Natalie patted her on the shoulder, "Come on," she urged. "The others are excited to see you," she suddenly paused. "Just . . . Don't get upset when you see your room."
"What did you do?"
"We slept in it," Kaiya intervened.
"Why?"
" . . . It's comfortable."
Silena scoffed at her siblings and began pulling them down the hill towards the Camp, "Come on, Rory."
Running past the volleyball court and towards the cabins, Aurora paid no mind to the campers that stopped at stared at the giggling four. She was living on a high, a high that was being surrounded by family—living another day. The feeling of happiness only intensified when she stumbled up the steps of the Aphrodite cabin—her second favorite place in camp and barged inside where her siblings all danced and cheered at her arrival.
Those, oh, so beautiful pride flags on the wall stood proud and tall . . . Just as she remembered. The lavender smell flooded her senses, easing her mind and sending it into the first calm she had been in since the beginning of her quest.
𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒊𝒅𝒆.
For a moment, she desperately wanted to live in that moment. Where her father was fine and safe, where her siblings were joyous, and where she was surrounded by happiness—but she couldn't help but worry.
Percy had still not made it back yet, so she had no idea I'd he succeeded or not. She could only hope he hadn't said anything remotely sarcastically or sassy on the way to Olympus so Happy wouldn't felt the need to drop him on the side of the rode without batting an eye.
With the worrisome thought in her mind and after the celebratory event took place in the cabin, she easily climbed up on the Poseidon Cabin hoping to all gods that the vile god wouldn't strike her down.
The cabin was placed right next to the Canoe Lake, and from her view she was overlooking the beautiful ripples of water without a care in the world.
She must have been rooted in her spot for more than thirty minutes before she heard the creaking of wood next to her, and a body sit down alongside of her.
"Wouldn't he consider this disrespectful?" Percy questioned. He too was looking at the lake. "I mean, you're Aphrodite's daughter."
Aurora shrugged an amused smiled toying on her lips, "No offense to you, ocean eyes. But your father lost my respect a long time ago."
This caused Percy's eyes to grow a category three hurricane and from her peripheral she could notice his fists enclose, "Yeah," he said. "I don't blame you."
Looking to change the subject, she said, "How'd it ago?"
"My mom's back," he began. "With . . . my step-dad."
Aurora sighed in relief at the thought of his mother okay, and couldn't help but smile, "I told you we'd get her back," she playfully nudged him. "And I wouldn't question your mom's decision. From what you've told me she's a strong woman."
"I know," he agreed. "Thanks."
He said thanks as if he were thanking her for more other than the reassuring words she had just given him. It was something more.
Aurora shrugged turning her attention to the sunset before them, "I'm a part of your team, ocean eyes. Whether you like that or not."
He crookedly smiled, "It might take me some time to get used to, but I'm definitely not against the idea."
They laughed and Aurora playfully shoved the boy. A second later they settled in silence.
She turned to him, "Can I ask you something?"
Percy nodded, "Sure."
"Do you believe in destiny?"
Percy thought about it before shaking his head, "No," he said. "I think everyone lives their lives for themselves, not for anything else," he turned to her and noticed her concentrated frown. "Why?"
She washed the expression from her face and replaced it with a smile, "Something I heard once," the sky had darkened now and with a sigh she stood. "See you on the other side, ocean eyes."
"Later."
The day after Percy and the gang were back were full of utter chaos. Everyone was treating them differently since they were the only half-bloods since Luke, to return alive to Half-blood hill.
Despite the chaos, Aurora was excited about the big feast. Where they wore laurel wreaths to the celebration as it was prepared in their honor, then led a procession down to the bonfire, where they got to burn the burial shrouds their cabins had made for them in their absence.
Aurora's cabin was quite the perfectionists when it came down to her shroud. It was an alluring pink color that shimmered in the sunlight. Doves and Myrtles littered the silk shroud making it come together beautifully. It almost made Aurora frown when they burned it.
When Aurora saw Percy's shroud, she doubled over in laughter.
The Ares cabin had volunteered to make his shroud due to the fact that the son of Poseidon did not have cabinmates. They'd taken an old bedsheet and painted smiley faces with X'ed-out eyes around the border, and the word LOSER painted really big in the middle. Aurora wiped an imaginary tear from her eye leading Percy to glare at the girl and lightly shoved her.
"Ha ha," he stated sarcastically. "Next time we do this, Is there any chance your cabin can volunteer to make mine?"
Aurora smirked, "Not a single chance, ocean eyes."
As Apollo's cabin led the sing-along and passed out s'mores, Aurora was next to Silena who pulled Aurora into another tight hug.
"I'm proud of you, rory," she told her. Her voice grew shaky as if she wanted to cry but she bit her lip to stop. "Just . . . try to keep yourself out of trouble, yeah?"
Aurora placed her head on her sister's shoulder with a smile, "I'll try."
From across the fire, Grover and his satyr buddies were admiring the brand-new searcher's license he'd received from the Council of Cloven Elders. The council had called Grover's performance on the quest, "Brave to the point of indigestion. Horns-and-whiskers above anything we have seen in the past."
Even Dionysus's welcome-home speech wasn't enough to dampen anyone's spirits, "Yes, yes, so the little brat didn't get himself killed and now he'll have an even bigger head. Well, huzzah for that. In other announcements, there will be no canoe races this Saturday . . ."
Aurora and Percy went back to having their little conversations by the lake when the Son of Poseidon moved back into his cabin. Both demigods grew closer in their friendship and they were both happy about it.
Both Annabeth and Aurora began to work on a top-secret project that the young stark had thought about. They worked on it when they had the time which was when both girls were not training. At times, Aurora had to sleep in the Athena cabin due to the overwork both girls had to go through but she enjoyed it. She didn't mind.
On the Fourth of July, the whole camp gathered at the beach for a fireworks display by cabin nine. Being Hephaestus's kids, they weren't going to settle for a few lame red-white-and-blue explosions and with the help of Aurora . . . You knew it would be one for the books.
They'd anchored a barge offshore and loaded it with rockets the size of Patriot missiles. According to both Annabeth and Aurora, who'd seen the show before, the blasts would be sequenced so tightly they'd look like frames of animation across the sky. The finale was supposed to be a couple of hundred-foot-tall Spartan warriors who would crackle to life above the ocean, fight a battle, then explode into a million colors.
As Annabeth and Percy were spreading a picnic blanket and Aurora was arranging the food, Grover showed up to tell them good-bye. He was dressed in his usual jeans and T-shirt and sneakers, but in the last few weeks, he'd started to look older, almost high-school age. His goatee had gotten thicker. He'd put on weight. His horns had grown at least an inch, so he now had to wear his rasta cap all the time to pass as human.
"I'm off," he said. "I just came to say . . . well, you know."
Aurora tried her best not to frown. Grover meant a lot to her, and the possibility of never seeing her close friend again began to eat away at her. However, Grover choose to do this, it was his decision and as his friend, she was always going to support him.
Annabeth gave him a hug. She told him to keep his fake feet on. Percy asked him where he was going to search first.
"Kind of a secret," he said, looking embarrassed. "I wish you could come with me, guys, but humans and Pan . . ."
"We understand," Annabeth said. "You got enough tin cans for the trip?"
"Yeah."
"And you remembered your reed pipes?"
"Jeez, Annabeth," he grumbled. "You're like an old mama goat."
Aurora shook her head, "Correction. She's like a mama duck."
Percy looked at her, "What is it with you and ducks?"
"They have more brain than you"
Grover snickered and slung a backpack over his shoulder. He looked like any hitchhiker you might see on an American highway. "Well," he said, "wish me luck."
Aurora wore a sad smile on her face and embraced him in a hug, "I'm going to miss you, grooves."
Grover returned her smile, "I'm going to miss you too, Aurora."
He gave Annabeth another hug. He clapped Percy on the shoulder, then headed back through the dunes. Fireworks exploded to life overhead: Hercules killing the Nemean lion, Artemis chasing the boar, George Washington (who, by the way, was a son of Athena) crossing Delaware.
"Hey, Grover," Percy called.
He turned at the edge of the woods.
"Wherever you're going—I hope they make good enchiladas."
Grover grinned, and then he was gone, the trees closing around him.
"We'll see him again," Aurora assured. She wasn't sure whether she was assuring herself or her friends but nonetheless bit her lip in worry.
The last night of the summer session came all too quickly. The campers had one last meal together. With Aurora and her siblings teasing each other as usual. They burned part of their dinner for the gods. At the bonfire, the senior counselors awarded the end-of-summer beads.
Aurora couldn't deny that she actually loved the new bead. Percy did amazing on his first quest and he deserved every bit of recognition he received. Aurora was proud to be his friend.
The design was pitch black, with a sea-green trident shimmering in the center.
"The choice was unanimous," Luke announced. "This bead commemorates the first Son of the Sea God at this camp, and the quest he undertook into the darkest part of the Underworld to stop a war!"
The entire camp got to their feet and cheered. Aurora stood up and placed a hand on Percy's shoulder with a grin on her face.
All the campers were in their cabins packing up, or running around with brooms and mops, getting ready for final inspection. Argus was helping some of her brothers and sisters haul their Gucci suitcases and makeup kits over the hill, where the camp's shuttle bus would be waiting to take them to the airport.
She wanted to say goodbye to Annabeth and Percy before she had left. Her father must have been waiting already with both Happy and Pepper like always and spending time with her father and her family back home made her giddy.
She slung her black backpack over her shoulder and walked to the Athena cabin. Malcolm Pace emerged with his suitcases packed. When he saw Aurora a smile rose on his face.
"Hey, Aurora! What's up?"
"I'm looking for Annabeth. Is she here?"
Malcolm furrowed his eyebrows, "She's with Chiron and Percy. I thought you were with them."
Now, Aurora was confused, "I was packing all morning."
Malcolm placed his suitcases on the floor, "Aurora, Percy almost died. They found him stun-"
"What?!"
"He's in the big house."
Aurora rushed to care for her friend. Hoping that he was okay.
When she reached the Big House she rushed inside and frowned at what she saw.
Annabeth was sitting next to Percy who was laying unconscious on a bed. She was feeding him Nectar and his right hand was bandaged.
Aurora rushed to his other side and placed a hand on his forehead, "Oh, For Aphrodite's sake! Is he okay?"
"We found him just in time. Chiron healed him. He should be awake soon."
She slid a seat next to him and sat down, "What happened?"
Annabeth looked worried as she glanced at Chiron, "We don't know. All we know is that he was stung by a pit scorpion."
"From Tartarus?" Aurora questioned.
Annabeth only nodded solemnly.
Aurora sighed and ran a hand through her hair. She knew how dangerous those scorpions were. They resided in the Underworld but most specifically in Tartarus. It was a miracle ocean eyes was alive.
Annabeth took a closer look at her friend, "Why are your eyes red?"
Aurora bit her lip, "They are? I didn't notice. I must've got something in my eyes while running here."
Annabeth kept her calculating eyes on her friend, almost observing her. She knew Aurora better than Aurora thought she did.
Thank the gods Percy woke up about ten minutes later. His eyes first landed on Annabeth, "Here we are again," He turned and looked at Aurora barely noticing the beauty. "Oh. You're here."
It wasn't supposed to sound disappointing. Percy was genuinely surprised the beautiful girl was seated next to him, worried about him.
Aurora retracted her hand with a blush of embarrassment on her cheeks.
She frowned, "Why does trouble always seem to find you, ocean eyes?" She bit her lip. "I was worried."
"I know. I'm sorry."
Aurora looked up at Annabeth, "You said he was green," she turned and flicked the boy over the head. "You were green, Percy! Last I checked that isn't a very good sign!"
"Now, now," Chiron's voice said. "Percy's constitution deserves some of the credit."
He was sitting near the foot of Percy's bed in human form. His lower half was magically compacted into the wheelchair, his upper half-dressed in a coat and tie. He smiled, but his face looked weary and pale.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Like my insides have been frozen, then microwaved."
"Apt, considering that was pit scorpion venom. Now you must tell me if you can, exactly what happened."
Aurora grew furious, "Never mind that! Who did it? Was it Clarisse?" She stood from her chair in anger. Her ears turning pink. "Any of the Ares k—"
"Luke."
This made Aurora falter. Her pacing froze and her expression stony, "What?"
Percy sighed, "Luke did it."
Between sips of nectar, Percy told them the story. How Luke betrayed them and did what he did. The story made panic seize Aurora's bones and her breathing to grow deeper. All she could do was remember what Pepper thought her: think of a happy memory.
The memory that instantly came to mind was of her father and her seven-year-old self embracing each other after he found out Aurora was safe after she had ran away. It was her happiest memory because even though her father might have flaws, the relief she saw on his face when he saw her made her realized how much he actually loved her.
After Percy finished his story, the room was quiet for a long time.
"I can't believe that Luke . . ." Annabeth's voice faltered. Her expression turned angry and sad. "Yes. Yes, I can believe it. May the gods curse him . . .He was never the same after his quest."
"This must be reported to Olympus," Chiron murmured. "I will go at once."
"Luke is out there right now," Percy said. "I have to go after him."
He went to sit up but Aurora shoved him back down, "Not like this you're not!"
"Aurora," he tried to argue.
"Percy, look at you—"
"I have to go—"
"No you don't! You can barely move without hurting!"
"But he's out there!"
"So what if he is?! Look at what he did to you!" She cried. "If he's capable of this imagine what he'll do now."
"So what? I stay here and do nothing?!" He snapped. "I have to go after him."
Chiron shook his head, "No, Percy. The gods—"
"Won't even talk about Kronos," Percy snapped. "Zeus declared the matter closed!"
"Percy, I know this is hard. But you must not rush out for vengeance. You are not ready."
Aurora placed a hand over his bandaged one, her eyes softening, "He's right, ocean eyes. When you go down that road, you can't come back."
Percy only shrugged her off, "Chiron . . . your prophecy from the Oracle . . . it was about Kronos, wasn't it? Was I in it? And Annabeth? Aurora?"
At the mention of the girls, they glanced at each other.
Chiron glanced nervously at the ceiling, "Percy, it isn't my place—"
"You've been ordered not to talk to me about it, haven't you?"
His eyes were sympathetic but sad, "You will be a great hero, child. I will do my best to prepare you. But if I'm right about the path ahead of you . . ."
Thunder boomed overhead, rattling the windows.
"All right!" Chiron shouted. "Fine!" He sighed in frustration. "The gods have their reasons, Percy. Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing."
"We can't just sit back and do nothing," Percy said.
"We will not sit back," Chiron promised. "But you must be careful. Kronos wants you to come unraveled. He wants your life disrupted, your thoughts clouded with fear and anger. Do not give him what he wants. Train patiently. Your time will come."
"Assuming I live that long."
Aurora shook her head, "With me on your team, you'll live ocean eyes. I've been through too much to stop now."
"Even if trouble seems to find me?"
"Even then."
Chiron smiled at Aurora and put his hand on Percy's ankle, "You'll have to trust me, Percy. Aurora is correct, you will live. But first, you must decide your path for the coming year. I cannot tell you the right choice, but you must decide whether to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round or return to the mortal world for seventh grade and be a summer camper. Think on that. When I get back from Olympus, you must tell me your decision."
"I'll be back as soon as I can," Chiron promised. "Argus will watch over you."
He glanced at Annabeth and Aurora. "Oh, and, my dear . . . whenever you're ready, they're here." He turned to Aurora. "Your father is here too, Aurora."
"Thank you, Chiron."
"Who's here?" Percy asked.
Nobody answered.
Chiron rolled himself out of the room. Aurora heard the wheels of his chair clunk carefully down the front steps, two at a time. Annabeth studied the ice in Percy's drink.
"What's wrong?" Percy asked her.
"Nothing." She set the glass on the table. "I . . . just took your advice about something. You . . . um . . . need anything?"
"Yeah. Help me up. I want to go outside."
"Percy, that isn't a good idea," Aurora stated.
"I'll do it myself, Aurora," he warned.
Aurora scoffed and groaned.
Either way, Percy slid his legs out of bed. Both girls caught him before he could crumple to the floor.
Aurora rolled her eyes, "I told you . . ."
"I'm fine," He insisted.
Percy managed a step forward. Then another, still leaning heavily on Aurora. Aurora glanced at Annabeth and nodded towards Percy's other side, basically telling her to help her. Annabeth nodded and did as told. Argus followed them outside, but he kept his distance.
By the time they reached the porch, Percy's face was beaded with sweat. The camp looked completely deserted. The cabins were dark and the volleyball pit silent. No canoes cut the surface of the lake. Beyond the woods and the strawberry fields, the Long Island Sound glittered in the last light of the sun.
"What are you going to do?" Annabeth asked him.
"I don't know," He replied.
Annabeth pursed her lips, then said quietly, "I'm going home for the year, guys"
Aurora hesitantly nodded, "O-Oh. You didn't tell me."
Annabeth sighed, "We were too busy working on the project."
Percy stared at her and wondered what the project could be that they were talking about, "You mean, to your dad's?"
She pointed toward the crest of Half-Blood Hill. Next to Thalia's Pinetree, at the very edge of the camp's magical boundaries, a family and two men stood silhouetted—two little children, a woman, and a tall man with blond hair. The other two men were people he recognized, Happy Hogan and Tony Stark. Happy wore his suit that he last saw him in, and Tony also wore a suit with sunglasses over his eyes. They seemed to be waiting. The man with the family was holding a backpack that looked like the one Annabeth had gotten from Waterland in Denver.
"I wrote him a letter when we got back," Annabeth said. "Just like you suggested. I told him . . . I was sorry. I'd come home for the school year if he still wanted me. He wrote back immediately. We decided . . . we'd give it another try."
"That took guts."
She pursed her lips, "You won't try anything stupid during the school year, right? Both of you," Aurora rolled her eyes. "At least . . . not without calling?"
"I thought we couldn't use phones?"
Aurora rolled her eyes, "Demi-gods can use Stark approved phones, ocean eyes. And Annabeth just so happens to carry one."
"When I get back next summer," she said, "We'll hunt down Luke," she glanced at Aurora who clenched her teeth in anger. "We'll ask for a quest, but if we don't get approval, we'll sneak off and do it anyway. Agreed?"
Aurora grinned, "All while using my dad's funds."
"Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena," He turned to the pretty girl. "And a Stark."
She held out her hand.
Percy shook it.
"Take care, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth told him. "Keep your eyes open."
"You too, Wise Girl."
Annabeth pulled her best friend into a hug and whispered in her ear, "Keep me updated, Rory. I mean it."
Aurora sighed, "I'll try not to forget with all the other things I have going on," she stated teasingly.
Annabeth pulled away but kept her hands on her best friend's shoulders while giving her a look, "You Stark's and sarcasm."
Aurora grinned. "It's one of our more redeeming qualities. Take care, science girl. I need you back healthy as ever if I find myself in trouble."
"Just call."
"I will."
Both Percy and Aurora watched her walk up the hill and join her family. She gave her father an awkward hug and shakingly shook hands with the very infamous Tony Stark. Tony then told something to Annabeth's father receiving a smile from Annabeth one that eased her anxiety. Her family looked just as shocked that Tony was there, but Annabeth didn't mind. She looked back at the valley one last time. She touched Thalia's pine tree, then allowed herself to be led over the crest and into the mortal world.
Aurora turned to Percy, "Don't miss me too much, ocean eyes."
Surprisingly, Percy weakly smiled, "Oh, I definitely will. My heart already broke."
Aurora grinned, "Take care of yourself, ocean eyes. I mean it. You can't go out looking for trouble when I'm not around. It'll just end in chaos."
"I won't go looking for trouble," he said. "I usually don't have to."
He turned to Half-Blood Hill where he could already see Tony Stark and Happy Hogan bickering. Aurora followed his gaze and smiled fondly.
"Promise me something, water boy," she said. "Even if you find yourself in trouble. Promise to call."
"I can do that."
"Great," she wrapped her arms around him tightly, like she was scared to lose her newfound friend. "I'll see you later, ocean eyes."
Percy wrapped his arms around her waist hugging equally as tight, "Yeah."
Aurora pulled away and kissed her two fingers. Percy cracked a smiled and turned his cheeks expecting the action. She placed her fingers on his cheek and turned to walk towards her family.
"Aurora!"
She turned with her eyebrows raised, "Yeah?"
"I believe in you too!"
It took a short moment to walk up Half-Blood Hill in the direction of her family. Tony's face lit up at the sight of his daughter. His arm was still in a sling due to the altercation with Obadiah, but that didn't stop him from wrapping his good arm around his daughter and ruffling her hair . . . Knowing it was a big pet peeve of hers.
"Dad!" She groaned. "Not the hair!"
"Hey kid," Happy spoke to her right. "Have fun at your monster camp?"
"For the love of god, it's not a monster camp. It's a Demi god camp," Tony argued.
"It's still a monster camp because every time I see her she's covered in monster dust. It's a monster camp by default."
"Happy"
"I don't want to hear it, they come here to fight monsters. Monster camp."
Aurora rolled her eyes at their bickering and took that as a chance to embrace with Pepper whom soothingly ran her hands through the younger girls hair, in comfort.
"So," Pepper smiled knowingly. Her red hair fanning her face, looking brighter at the angle the sun was glaring down on them. "How was it?"
Aurora glanced down at the Big House. Percy was still on the porch steps, a hand around his waist to steady himself. It wasn't until he caught Aurora's eye that he lifted his hand into a small wave, to which Aurora returned with a smile of her own.
She turned to face Pepper while glancing at the two men still bickering before shyly lifting her eyes to hers . . .
"I met a boy."
AHHHHH, WE'RE DONE WITH THE LIGHTNING THIEF!!! SCREAM WITH MEEEEEEE!
question of the day. If you could describe Aurora in one word, What would it be? And why?
BTW, I will be making POST-CREDIT SCENE'S like Marvel but they will be about Aurora and only about five hundred or four hundred words long.
❛ allure me. ❜ ༢ ͎۪۫ ༊*·˚ ╱
❪ the prodigy, 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅 book. ❫
༢ ͎۪۫ ༊ ❛ ©CELESTIALAPHRODITE 2023. ❜ ¨. ༢ ͎۪۫ 。𖤐
❪ 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 ❫ ©CELESTIALAPHRODITE, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅
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