Ariana's Trials

Part 27

3rd POV

The women sat in a white room, waiting for the bride to finish her dress.

"This thing is tighter than when I bought it" Annabeth groans, and comes out of the fitting room. Athena smiles, and fiddles with the tiara, a golden owl with its wings spread. Aphrodite, who had just walked in, freezes and quickly leaves.

"I didn't approve of Perseus at first. But when he fell into Tartarus to protect you, I changed my mind" Athena hugs her daughter.

"Time for makeup!" Piper pushes Annabeth into another room. Aphrodite comes in.

"So...I think Annabeth is pregnant," She says "But before you can freak out, I think it's more like how Annabeth became a literal brainchild. The child was made out of the pure and unified love Percy and Annabeth have without sexual intercourse"

"That is so weird," Hazel said

"Agreed" Ariana nods, and Annabeth comes back in with Piper as Ariana stands up "I'm going to go check on Percy" She excuses herself, and walks down the corridor, stopping at a shadowy intersection. Pulling away the cloak that covered her left arm, Ariana stared at the void where it used to be. It was concealed by this cleverly placed drapery, and now she tore it away to face the truth. Repinning it with the gold cinch, Ariana walked to Percy's room, gliding beneath the layers of purple skirt and the deep green cloak. She knocked on the door

"Can I come in?" She called. 

"Yeah!" Jason responded. putting her hand near the handle, she felt the electric current run through it.

"Hilarious Jason. Remove the electricity" Ariana lifted her eyebrow

"Aw c'mon!" He groaned, and the current vanished. She pushed open the door and found Jason wearing a banana-yellow suit. Frank had a tasteful dark brown, Tyson was dapper in black, and Percy wore a navy blue.

"You look good, Percy" Ariana touched her brother's face "I'm glad to see you so happy" She turned, and walked away, her heels clicking with every step on the cold marble floors

"She changed," Frank said. "I remember when she was a bouncy goofball. Now she's so...Queenly"

"It's disturbing how much she changed. When she took her first steps on land, she was euphoric and wanted to see everything. Getting locked up hit her hard, and now she's turned into a cold iceberg" Percy sits on a chair "It's my wedding, and I'm happy. But Ariana, she reminds me that I failed her when I renounced my claim. All I thought about was my life with Annabeth. I didn't think about how my actions affected her"

The vows were said, rings were exchanged, and kisses ensued. When all was said and done, Leo, being Leo, produced a device and wired it to a screen. He finishes with his device

"I FILMED THE PROPOSAL!" He cheers, then flicks the film on

Percy and Annabeth are walking across a lakeside

"When I first met you, Annabeth, I didn't know how to feel" He starts

"Percy...What are you doing?" Annabeth asks

"You seemed like you hated me, and yet you were still one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. I want so badly to be with you through everything, so..." Percy held up his palm and a ring flew out of the lake "Will you marry me? So that we can be together for the rest of time?" The pleading look in his eyes was adorable.

"Yes" Annabeth squeaked "I'll marry you, Seaweed brain"

Ariana stood at the back and smiled as the lines were said. She continued to drink her heart out as people danced, photos were taken and words were exchanged. 

The last of the guests trickled out as Ariana approached the newlyweds

"My gift is something I can't exactly give you, so come with me" The trio stepped out, and Ariana opened a water portal "Close your eyes" They stepped through

"Now open them" Ariana grinned wildly as the pair saw the columned house sitting on the waterfront, a dock jutting out into the calm waters. A large deck had patio furniture, and windows lined the side facing the water.

"Wait a minute. I designed this place..." Annabeth frowned

"IT WAS ALL A PLOT! WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF HOUSE YOU LIKED BEST, SO WE TALKED ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH PERCY WHILE YOU DREW HOUSES! SO YOU MADE THE PLANS AND IT WILL BE PERFECT!" Leo, Piper, Frank, Hazel and Jason all shouted in unison

"Hephestus and Leo spent...2 days on the build? Hephaestus added something to the basement. A training room, I think?" Jason shrugged.

"I have another gift. Whenever you need me in an emergency, Throw this token into the water and I will come" Ariana smiled, and closed her brother's fist around a silver coin engraved with a coral piece.

Ariana's POV

After Percy and Annabeth had walked into their new home, I opened a portal into Central Park, which is not as bad as the last time I opened a portal to nowhere. I chilled on a bench for a while and then remembered something. I text Jack to get over here.

"What is it, Ariana?" he's behind me

"Jack, I've been thinking. I'm going to have to rule the Seas one day, and you can't touch the water. I think we need to stop going out together before the inevitable happens, and we get separated by our fates. We both need to duck out of this relationship as friends before we both get hurt." I feel tiny tears trickle down my face, and I can see them on his as well. He sits next to me

"I-I thought that too" He admits "But I didn't want to hurt you. It seems like the best idea"

"Friends until the end?" I ask.

"Friends" He nods, and we make out for the very last time.