This is Me. (Lea Valdez getting to know you!)

The Flame Is Ignited

*Hazle's POV* Hazle has been dead before, and though the pain of revisiting her past with those damned flashbacks. But Leona definetly had it worse. Before the golden eyed demigoddess could think on it any further, the next memory started.

*Memory starts: A now 8 and a half year old Leona appered on a swing set, swinging sadly and all alone. She wore dirty black jeans, messed up converses, and a big black hoodie, with her dirty grey backpack on the side. That is until another child sat next to her. Leona looked up to see a small boy. He wore clean blue shorts, a sea green T-shirt, and green sneakers. He had long black hair that covered half of his face, and reached his shoulders, a large smile on his face , with a bag of blue candy in his hand. "Hi! You want some?" He asked, looking up, allowing Leona to see a striking pair of sea green eyes, filled with sadness.

Leona looked warily at him. "Why is it blue?" The boy seemed surprised. "Oh! My mom works at a candy store, so she gets ALL sorts of free samples, and usally gets all types of blue candy for me. The blue is really just an inside joke between me, her and my sisters." He replied cheekily, still holding the bag out to her. Leona's stomach growled, causing her to blush red. "I'm sorry! I haven't had anything to eat in a while." The boy laughed. "You're so cute! Did you know that? C'mon! My big sister China, is cooking! By the way, my name is Percy! Percy Jackson! How about you?" He asked, pulling Leona along with him to the more cheerful side of the park. "Leona. Leona Valdez." She said quietly. "Leona? Hmm, doesn't that mean 'Lioness' in Spanish?" Small Percy asked, tilting his head to the side. "Yeah. Are you Hispanic?" Leona questioned. "Naw, my sister Aura, she teaches me Spanish and our big sister China teaches us Italian." "Oh. You have any blue M&M's left?" *Memory Pauses*

Piper, Hazle, and Annabeth squealed at the sight if the younger elemental demigod and demigoddess kids. "You two were SO CUTE together! And way to change the subject Lea." Piper cooed, while Frank and Jason teased a very red faced Percy. "Uh, Jay and Zhang, I wouldn't talk. You both seem to forget that I can talk to machines, which means I have dirt on all of you. So you two should maybe, i don't know, shut the hell up!" Leona defeneded her brother. Percy shot her a grateful smile, and Annabeth also smiled at Leona, as if thanking her.

"Who's China? I sort of remeber Aura. But I remeber Casey and Emilee for sure." Annabeth commented. "Aura is in Austrailia, China was in London. Casey is in Brooklyn and Emilee is in Texas. They are all my older sisters, and all have their own lives." Percy told her sadly. Hazle wondered why was he suddenly so sad. Apparently she wasn't the only one. "Why are you suddenly so sad, Perce?" Jason asked imporingly. "Dosen't matter. I'm sure Hera/Juno, take your pick, she's annoying either way, will explain." Percy's tone was light but his eyes sent one message loud and clear: Drop it. The heroes of new all looked forward to resume watching the memory.

*Memory resumes* Percy appeared, still dragging Leona over to a picnic bench. "Mama! Aura, China, Casey, Emmie! I've found a new friend!" He called happily. A woman with long brown hair, bright blue eyes, and glasses looked up from her book. She had a warm, motherly feeling about her, and she wore a blue tank top with darker blue bell bottom jeans and worn down sneakers, and seemed to be in her mid 20's.

"Hello, sweetie. What's your name?" 'She's almost like my mom.' Lea thought in astonishment. "Leona. Leona Valdez ma'am." A loud sqeal cut through the cheerful atmosphere. Young Percy yelped,covered his ears, and glared at the owner. The squeal's owner turned out to be none other than China.

China was was very bubbly. She had long golden hair with bright pink streaks throughout said golden hair. She was wearing a pink and black stripped shirt with a skull in the middle, a tutu like skirt with a silver studded belt, knee high pink boots, knee high black socks, and had bright electric blue eyes, she also seemed about 19."Well aren't you CUTE?" China said happily, turning the grill off. "Hungry chicky?" She asked Leona, whose stomach answered for her. China laughed gently.

"I'll take that as a yes. Mom, can you start making plates? I'm going to go get Aura, Emmie and Casey." "Can I come with you? I gotta use the bathroom anyways." Percy asked, and got up with his sister. "I'll be back Leona. You can have the rest of my candy with Mama!" He smiled and began talking to his sister. Percy's mom smiled at Leona. "Okay, before the rest of my army of kids comes back, what would you like, sweetpea?" "Uh, some of everything please. Uh, miss?" "Oh! Sorry. My name is Sally Jackson. You can call me either one. By the way, are you alone?" Sally questioned, making two plates.

'Even though, they're complete strangers, their like mi familia back in Texas. Percy is like Maya, and Ms.Jackson is like mi mamì. I feel as if we've known each other our whole lives. I used to be able to tell mama EVERYTHING! I guess I can tell Señorita Jackson.' "Sì, Señorita Jackson. I am all alone. I ran away from the orphanage, just a few days ago. I can't go back to the damned orphanage. She'll do much worse to me than before. Mi mamì was killed in a workshop fire, and mi hermana was killed by her psycho father." Leona finshed a tear falling down her face. Ms.Jackson's face was sad. "Oh! Honey, I am so sorry. I know what its like to lose those you love. Well, I'm not going to leave a child alone at night, especially in New York. Do you wanna stay with us for a while?" Sally questioned, handing the baby her plate. "Oh, no! I've already burden you enough! I can't do that any more!" Leona blushed bright red and waved her hands around.

Sally's bells that she called laughter echoed throughout the room. "Nonsense! I'm sure the girls will love you, Percy already adores you, and, you are just a child in the middle of a big world. I promise you aren't going to be a burden." Sally smiled motherly at Leona. "Okay. Thank you so much ma'am." Her heavy Spanish accent stood out as she smiled weakly. "Now, c'mon, let's eat before my kids come back." Sally joked, and both girls began eating. *Memory pause*

Everyone looked at Percy, who was smiling wistfully at his mother. "You do realize that she's going to kick your ass when she sees the tattoo, right?" Piper joked. Percy chuckled, thinking about his mother. "Thanks, Piper. Yeah, but that's if- uh, never mind. Can we just finish this memory?" Percy pleaded. Leona felt bad for her brother.

*Memory resumes.*

That's when Percy snuck up behind Leona. "Boo! Leona, I want you to meet some more of my sisters!" A girl about 13 came up and smiled. She had long black hair that its ends had dark purple streaks,into large pigtails, one strand into a braid. She wore a purple and black semi-ripped shirt, and purple leggings, with black boots.

"Well! You must be our new little sister!" She spoke with a Brooklyn accent. Leona nodded shyly, laying her head on Ms.Jackson's shoulder. "Yessum." "Well, welcome to our family! Name's Casey!" She seemed like a very loud person. "Yeah, I'm VERY loud, sweetie. Hope you're okay with this!" Casey smiled, tilting her head to the side. "Well, I used to be with a bunch of machines 24/7." Leona offered. Casey, China, and Percy laughed at her.

"You're so CUTE!" A new voice chimed. Leona looked over to see a 17 year old girl, with her hair in a ponytail, with mostly blues and purples in her hair. She wore a black and purple dress, purple leggins,black boots, sunglasses, and a head band. Her voice had a Texan accent, one Leona felt more than comfortable with. "Howdy, cher. It'll be good to have another girl around the house. Is the food good?" Her voice questioned gently. "Yes, the best dang food I've ever had in a while!" Leona smiled, and her eyes lit up. Another girl around the age 15, came over and gave Percy a noogie.

"'Ello, love! Aura's mah name! I'm the queen of extreme, and recklessness is mah game!" She exclaimed. Aura wore a red and black shirt, pants, and black heels. Her hair was dyed in half. Just like Cruella Devil's hair. With a streak of some other color, amd red heels. All of the girls shared the same blue eyes as Sally's. (No, they are not Sally's by birth. By law. Will be explained.) "Well, Leona! This is your new family!" Percy jumped, up and down on the bench. 'I think I'm going to like this arrangenment.' Leona thought happily.
*End of this chapter!*

Hey guys! Mae here, and i deeply apologize for this taking forever, school, work, family problemas, and now basketball tryouts comin up, has been driving me crazy lately, and I assure you guys, that I will be posting when I can. I am also losing inspiration for this story, so any one have ideas, don't hesitate. @centara243.