Daughter of the Big 3

Chapter 10 : Ashley - Training

The formatting of this is messed up. Sorry idk what happened. :/ thanks for reading!!!

Chapter 10 : Ashley - Training

We have been training all morning and I'm exhausted. I didn't really have to work on controlling water. It just comes naturally. Wind on the other hand, not so much... But finally, after a few hours of practice, I was able to fly. Percy and Jason also helps me with my sword fighting skills. I'm not as good as Percy, but I'm okay I guess. Finally, we take a break.
"You're getting pretty good." Says Piper, who had joined us while her cabin was busy doing their hair. I had never really liked those types of girls. The ones who are all about shopping and boyfriends. It's just so... Superficial.
"Thanks. But not nearly as good as you guys." I say back.
"Yeah well you didn't spend months on a battleship training like I did. But don't worry. You're picking it up way faster than I did." She says.
We get up and walk over to Percy and Jason who are arguing... Again...
"But she HAS to learn!" Said Percy.
"He will NEVER agree. Plus he's never at camp. How do you even know he's here?"
"Chiron told me he's staying here for a few weeks. Hades orders."
"Do you really think it's a good idea? I know you're just trying to be protective and all
But... is Nico really the best person to help her?"
"Who else is going to? Hazel? She's in San Francisco"
"Okay, whatever Percy. She's YOUR sister"
"What's going on?" I ask.
"Uh, we're gonna go see if we can get Nico teach you how to control the dead and stuff." He said.
As I walk up to the cabin, I'm able to get a better look at it. The whole thing is made out of black materials such as Obsidian rock and stygian iron. To be completely honest, the cabin kinda scared me. I knock on the door.
"Go away Percy." Said Nico from inside.
"Uh, it's not Percy. I'm Ashley." I say.
The door opens and I'm able to see inside, except that it's so dark, there's nothing to see. Nico looks the same as he did last time I saw him, during capture the flag. Pale, skinny, and sleep deprived. The same dark circles are under his eyes, making his skin look exceptionally pale.
"What do you want?" He asks.
"Well, I need some help with learning about my powers." I say, suddenly aware that I wasn't exactly sure I wanted to do this. Percy and Jason had gone off to find Leo, so I had come alone. Nico steps out of the doorway and closes the door behind him.
"What do you need help with?" He asks.
"I'm not exactly sure. Percy said you were really good at controlling the dead and shadow traveling and stuff, and since I'm not as closely related to hades as I am to Poseidon, it's harder to figure out what I can do. Percy said you were the best person to come to." I say.
"Percy said that?" He asks curiously.
"Well yeah. Why?"
"Nevermind."
"So are you going to help?" I ask.
"No." He says plainly.
"What?!? Why?"
"Percy and I... I guess you could say we aren't exactly on the best terms. I can't help you right now Ashley. I'm sorry" He turns around and goes back inside his cabin, despite it's time to go for dinner.

I head over to the Mess Hall to meet Percy for dinner.
"So how'd it go?" He asks as we sit down at our table.
"How do you think it went?" I say with a scowl. He opens his mouth in response but gets cut off by Chiron.
"Campers, due to recent events involving a flaming boy and a wave, Mr. D has decided to cancel the weekly bonfire this week." A loud groan comes from the campers. "Instead, you may all do whatever you wish tonight until lights out." Once the food arrives and we are sitting down again, Percy tries to get me to tell him what happened earlier with Nico.
"Will you PLEASE tell me what happened?"
"He said no. That's all" I say. I'm getting annoyed now.
"But why?"
"He said you guys weren't on the best terms. So he couldn't help me. So technically, this is your fault." I say. I pick up my plate and walk over to Jason, who's sitting at his on table, all alone. every cabin has their own table, but since I am a daughter of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, technically, I can sit at either of the three tables. The best part? Percy can't follow me.
When I sit down, Jason doesn't say anything, just continues eating. I know he was eavesdropping, so I don't bother to talk to him either. Slowly, as people begin to finish their dinners, everyone leaves, to go do what they want. Once I'm done, I walk over to where Jason, Percy and I had practiced sword fighting earlier. Surprisingly, nobody is there.
I slip off my bracelet and toss it into the air. It expands into a beautiful stygian iron sword, as dark as the night. I pull out one of the practice dummies and practice some of the moves Percy had taught me earlier today. After a few tries, I still couldn't get it right. Suddenly, I hear a voice from behind me.
"You're doing it wrong." Said the voice.
"Go away Percy." I say as I try again.
"Still doing it wrong." Says the voice again.
I turn around to see Nico emerge from the shadows. How does he do that? I ask myself. "Oh it's you." I say. "What are you doing here?"
"You heard Chiron. We can do whatever we want."
"So you happen to want to go around creeping people out by emerging from the shadows and criticizing their sword techniques?" I say.
"Actually, I came to help you learn how to shadow travel, but if you want me to help you with that too..."
"I thought you didn't want to help me."
"I don't. Not really anyways. And by the way, you need to get a better grip on your sword. That's why you aren't getting it. And loosen your wrist."
I try again, this time gripping my sword a bit tighter and loosening my wrist a bit. This time, it worked.
"Uh, thanks" I say.
"Now try it on me." He replies.
"You're kidding right?"
"Do I look like I'm kidding?"
I draw my sword and try to disarm him, but instead, he ends up disarming me. He picks up my sword and takes a look at it.
"Nice sword." He says as he hands it back to me.
"Thanks." I say as I turn it back into my bracelet.
A few hours later, we are sitting next to Zeus's fist, after having shadow traveled there. Nico hasn't really said much all night, other than when he was telling me how to do things. After sitting for a few minutes trying to regain my strength, I get up and walk back towards my cabin. I hear a whoosh, and Nico is gone. I don't know how he does it so easily, it's exhausting. When I reach the cabin, I go straight to bed. Percy isn't here yet, and I'm glad. I don't really want to talk to him right now. I could tell he was annoyed that Nico hadn't wanted to help train me because of him, but I didn't know why. And I don't think I'm ready to ask him. I get ready in the dark, because I don't want Percy to see the lights on in the cabin and come inside. I slide into my bed, and I'm asleep in a matter of seconds.