//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Daughter of the Gods // by Faded Sky //------------------------------// Chapter 2 Chat The trio stood together, Percy and Annabeth both holding glowing bronze weapons, as Sunset stared into the darkness. A bush rustled, and Sunset jumped. 'Get a hold on yourself Sunset!' She thought angrily to herself. 'Wait...maybe magic exist here!' Filled with hope, Sunset tapped into her magic, projecting it into her horn, running it through several spell matrixes that she held in her mind. She was rewarded with a aquamarine glow on her horn, lighting up the clearing. The bushes rustled, and a figure burst from it. As it was revealed to be a harpy, with snowy grey feathers, it was hit by a blue-green bolt that stunned it long enough for Annabeth to run up and stab it. It dissolved into golden sand. "What was that?" Percy asked, turning around. "A harpy." Annabeth replied absently. "No, not the monster, the thing that hit it." Percy told her, looking around. "Oh, you mean the stun bolt? That was me." Sunset said as the aura around her horn faded. "How did you do that?" Annabeth asked, walking over to sit near the pony. "I've never seen anything like that before." "Well, I wasn't sure if it would work, because it's a different world. Anyway, every creature with a connection to magic has some magic in their hearts, called their Core. As they grow up, they learn how to use it, by either projecting it out through their bodies, or using it to strengthen themselves, including healing. Unicorns learn to hold spell matrixes in their mind, do levitation, and project their magic outwardly. Pegasi learn how to use their magic to stand on clouds, control the weather and fly. Earth ponies learn how to use it to help grow plants and use it in a number of other ways. "All types of magic come with a physical tell. Earth ponies are usually taller than pegasi or unicorns. Pegasi have wings, and unicorns have horns. My mentor was an alicorn, a rare type of pony with all three types and tells of magic. "Anyway, I wasn't sure if it would work in this work because some worlds have low levels of innate magic. Ponies rely on this natural magic to help fuel and spread our own magic. Basically, trying to cast a spell or use any other type of magic without natural magic is like trying to grow a plant without sun, or to surf without waves. It's impossible. "The world I just came from had very little natural magic, so I couldn't have done that spell there. I had no way of sensing the levels of natural magic, so I was afraid it wouldn't work and I'd be left with a large hornache." Sunset finished, looking from one to the other. Percy had a vacant look in his eyes, it was clear he had no idea what she was talking about, while Annabeth looked like she was taking mental notes. "So, you can use magic in any world with enough natural magic, right?" Annabeth asked curiously. "Yes. But even in worlds with little natural magic, if there are any hotspots. Oh. Hotspots are like reservoirs of natural magic often found in places with a little magic." Sunset replied, rubbing her horn. "Are you OK?" Percy asked her, noticing this. "Oh, I'm fine, just need to get used to it. Actually, is everyone on this world human? Because I'd like to fit in." Sunset tilted her head. "Oh. Well, yeah. Mostly. You get monsters and gods and ... other things, but most people are human, and having a human appearance might help." Percy replied. Annabeth nudged him. "Ahem. Percy, are you going to tell her, or am I?" Annabeth gave him a look, the kind of look that meant 'You are going to tell her, because I'm not going to. Percy seemed to get the hint and turned to the amber mare. "Yeah. Well, Annabeth and I aren't human." He told her. Sunset tilted her head in confusion. "What are you then?" "Uhh, well remember we told you about gods?" "Yeah." "Well, sometimes they fall in love with humans. And when that happens, we get a demigod. Annabeth and I are demigods. I'm the son of Poseidon, God of the Sea, and Annabeth is the daughter of Athena, Goddess of Wisdom." Percy said, nervously anticipating how she would react... "Oh. OK." Sunset replied, then went back to concentrating, forcing large amounts of magic through the matrix in her mind and out through her horn. "Wait, you're just OK with that?" He asked, slightly stunned. "Uhh. Yeah. Uh-huh. Just give me a minute, and ... GOT IT!" Suddenly, there was a loud bang and a teal flash, and where Sunset used to be, there was an amber skinned girl with red and gold streaked hair. "Right! That feels much better!" Sunset said, stretching, wiggling her fingers. "Oh, wait. Maybe I can use magic in this form too!" She cried excited. Her hands glowed and she blasted a nearby boulder to bits, resulting in a pretty fireball in shades of orange red and yellow. Annabeth whistled in appreciation. "Nice, but you've just alerted every monster around to our presence. We'd better get to camp. Come on Sunset!" And with that, Annabeth walked off, Percy walking with her. After a moment, Sunset ran to catch up. "So, Sunset." Those words spelled instant death by questioning as a light grew in Annabeths eyes, a light of insatiable curiosity matched with an unexpected fierceness. "Yeah?" "Are you a demigod?" The simple question caught Sunset by suprise, as she stumbled in shock. "Why do you ask?" Sunset shot back, a little defensively. "Because the borders of Camp only let in demigods and half-bloods." Annabeth replied, just as quick. Sunset rubbed her arm, suddenly nervous. "Uhh, well, I ,URGH! I'm pretty sure I'll count as a demigod. I just ... don't really want to talk about my family right now. I'll tell you when we get to camp. I Pinkie Pie Promise." She said, looking at the ground. "Pinkie Pie Promise?" Percy asked, tilting his head. "What's that?" "It's an unbreakable promise. If you break it, you get Pinkie on your case FOREVER! And, trust me. You do not want that. She can be scary sometimes. It goes like this. Cross my hear, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my e-OW!" She said, performing the movements, then yelping as she stuck her hand in her eye. "Sure then. When we get to camp." Percy said with a grin. "If you can even get into camp. Or see it for that matter." Annabeth said, raising an eyebrow. Sunset smiled shyly. "I will, I promise. I'll explain there, truly I will. It's just ... it still hurts." Annabeth and Percy looked at each other, and something happened, but in the battle of hidden strength, it seemed Annabeth won. She nodded. "It's OK. We get it." Annabeth smiled at Sunset, kindness in her gaze.