Everyone Deserves to be Happy (Solangelo)

Bravery (Leo)

Her rotting flash glowed green with the power of Oracle of Delphi. And a rasping voice issued from her lips, so unlike his mother's rich tones that it grated on his ears.

"You shall travel east using your cloak of night.

You shall see the dragon in your sights.

Find Solace in your heart,

And hate will finally depart.

Your angel's wings will guide you home

Past the city of ancient Rome.

Until it all goes up in ashes and smoke,

And on your own word, you will choke."

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Bravery is held in spontaneity. The moments when your heart says 'yes' and you don't stop to ask your brain. Times where you actually go through with your heroic plan.

It's easy enough to decide to save everyone, but when you actually do it?

That's bravery.

Or so that's what Esperanza Valdez had always told Leo. Her words had echoed in his mind every time he ran away, every time he abandoned a new set of people. He wondered how he could be brave when he couldn't even stay in the same place for more than a month. But Leo knew, as soon as he stepped foot on Camp Half-Blood soil that this time, he would have a reason to stay. But life never really works out the way we think it will.

So Leo found himself running again. But this time he was running to somewhere, not away from it. Where?, one might wonder. Well, Leo finally had an answer to that.

Everywhere.

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"So we take off with no plan," Calypso said. "No idea where we'll go or what problems await beyond the island. Many questions and no tidy answers?"

Leo turned up his palms, and winked. "That's how I fly, Sunshine. Can I get your bags?"

"Absolutely."

Five minutes later, with Calypso's arms around his waist, Leo spurred Festus into the air. The bronze dragon spread his wings, and they soared into the unknown.

For an hour they simply reveled in their freedom, breaking through the clouds and then diving back own again, gazing at the crystal blue waters below. When they finally thought to look back, Ogygia was faded into the distance, never to be seen again. The curse was broken, and Calypso was finally free.

Leo let out a whoop, and was about to steer Festus into a loop-the-loop, when he glanced back and realized that Calypso's face was a bit green.

"What's wrong Sunshine?" She wrinkled her nose at him, and choked out, "flying" and then proceeded to empty the contents of her stomach into the pristine waters below.

Leo mentally kicked himself. Of course! She hadn't been off that island in gods knows how long and now he was taking her for a ride on a flying dragon.

"We need to find land."

Calypso, who looked marginally better, was at least well enough to use sarcasm. "Ya think?"

"Fine fine. I'm stupid. Happy?"

She smiled. "Yes."

Leo cracked a grin, and looked forward.