Once Upon A Time A Percy Jackson AU

Chapter Four: A New Home

Leo was starting to hate caves. He'd been waiting right outside with Calypso. Even with a torch illuminating their surroundings, the forest was empty and the closest thing they'd get to sound were made by animals.

"Are you sure about this?" asked Calypso, her brown eyes twinkling in the firelight. Leo flashed her a grin, hiding all his worries behind a simple smile. "Sure as day Sunshine,"

Just then, an Iris message shimmered into view, Percy on the other side. "Leo!" He exclaimed "Where are you? You and Calypso didn't come back yet." "Sorry Perce, just waiting for a friend." Percy raised an eyebrow "A friend? Leo-" "No it's not another walking table although he is amazing. I'm talking about my friend Piper, who just saved me against her boyfriend-slash-teammate. So I guess she should know about our plan." Leo interrupted.

"Well I hope you know what you're doing Leo, we can't afford another betrayal." Said Percy warningly. "I know what I'm doing Perce" I hope. "Now you IMed me for a reason right?"

Percy nodded "Yeah, we got a message from one of the nature spirits that three hunters just IMed their kingdom to share a map of our sources." Leo visibly paled "Give me an hour, I'll be back by then." "You better. See ya." The IM shimmered away.

"The kingdom's getting bolder," Calypso whispered, "They could destroy this whole place and not even bat an eye." Leo winced, honestly, now that the other side knew his location, he wouldn't be surprised if he died early.

"Leo!" Piper called, spotting them and running over. "Piper!" He called back, waving her over. "I don't wanna be 'that guy' but, did you come with anyone?" Calypso questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Nope, I made a dramatic exit and came here after a story about Leo." Piper said calmly.

"Oh cool, what was your exit like-WAIT WHAT?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN STORY ABOUT ME?!"

Piper snorted, "Pfttt. Best. Reaction. Ever." "Story, now please." Leo demanded, ignoring Calypso's cries of laughter.

Piper spilled, about some dead daughter of Hecate named Aria telling her and her friends Leo's backstory. Leo imagined Aria finding her mission out in the underworld, it probably went something like this:

Aria: *doing whatever dead people do*

Hecate: *poofs in front of her* Hello child I never really payed attention to.

Aria: AH! Gods, what are you doing her mom?

Hecate: I'm just gonna bind your soul to this book and whenever it glows, you appear there and tell the openers the story on the book.

Aria: Wait what?

Hecate: Abra cadabra, poof!

"Well then," Leo clapped, "Let's get going shall we? You coming Pipes? This is a final decision."

"Yes!" Piper agreed. "You don't need to of course-"

"Leo" Calypso interrupted, "She said yes." Leo pouted, "But I had this whole speech." Piper laughed "No need for that, Repair boy, I'm pretty mad at my friends for not having any sympathy. Sometimes they can really have the emotional range of a teaspoon."

Leo's grin widened, (which he thought was physically impossible.) "Let's go then!"

"How will we get to wherever you're taking me, it's pitch black out there!" Piper pointed out. Leo pretended to put on some shades "Well then Ms. McLean, you forgot that your friend here gains some pretty cool night vision when I transform. Now if you'd please look away, I'm afraid you might faint from my amazing transformation." Piper rolled her eyes but looked away nonetheless. Calypso looked at Leo, giving a subtle nod.

In reality, Leo was a bit sensitive about new people seeing if he transformed. He closed his eyes and concentrated, imagining himself as a dragon while trying not to think of Festus. Gone, somewhere in Mitolohiya.

When Leo opened his eyes, he shook his tail in relief, there he was, Leo the amazing dragon.

Piper turned to face him and smiled. "Wow Leo, you look amazing."

Aw Hades yeah I am!

Leo crouched down, gesturing for the girls to climb aboard. Once they did, he bounded out of the cave and flew into the night sky. As they were flying to camp, he listened as Calypso and Piper were talking to one another, slowly becoming close friends.

When they finally arrived, Calypso explained to Piper how to get in.

"So basically, you can get in if you say these lines 'Come and accept me, my new home. The fields and sand there I will roam. Protect this place till my final breath, Keep this land safe from death.' But in return, this camp will bind your soul with a plot of land in this forest, so if that place dies or is harmed, you die too or feel the pain it experienced."

"So I'm soulmates with a plot of land."

"Basically, yeah."

"Okay, let's do this,"

"Come and accept me, my new home,
The fields and sands I will roam.
Protect this place till my final breath,
Keep this land safe from death."

A piece of parchment flew up and slapped what Leo hoped was Piper's face.

"Lover's Lake." Piper groaned, "Thanks mom!" She yelled at the sky.

Leo snorted a plume of fire before promptly diving down.

Calypso stayed silent.

"VALDEZZZZZZZ!"

Leo landed on the ground in front of Percy, Nico, and Hazel.

As the four of them introduced one another, Leo changed back once Piper and Calypso got off.

Percy patted Leo's back. "You brought a good one Leo, I can practically smell the sass from her.

Rachel walked over, "Hey guys! Who's this?" She turned to Piper. "Piper McLean, Daughter of Aphrodite." Piper introduced.

Rachel smiled warmly, "Rachel Elizabeth Dare, I-" green smoke started to rise from her mouth and her eyes glowed a bright green.

"Words of past will be revealed,"
"the call of war no longer concealed."
"Many could experience death,"
"Unless a relic takes it's final breath."