Pegasus the End of Olympus Read Online Free

  For my family,

those still with me

and those who accept gone ahead.

E'er with much dear.

And for Pegasus—

Information technology'south been an amazing ride, my sweetest friend.

ane

"Keep YOUR RIGHT ARM UP!"

Emily raised her staff college and stood before Diana, panting, sore, and exhausted, awaiting her next assail. When Diana lunged, Emily countered with a tumble and spin maneuver that saw her back on her anxiety and striking Diana'south staff from the side.

In response, Diana dove down low and came dorsum upward nether Emily'south defenses, knocking the staff from her hands. It flew several feet away and crashed to the footing.

They had been training for near of the day, and the fatigue was starting to make Emily sloppy. Her long black hair swept into her eyes, and her hands were slippery from sweat. She was trembling with exertion every bit she retrieved her staff.

They were in the remains of the amphitheater, on what was left of the stage. It would exist some time earlier another performance could exist hosted here, as most of the repairs to Olympus were focusing on the homes. The invasion past the Titans who had escaped the prison Tartarus had caused almost complete devastation, which the Olympians were simply now recovering from.

But while the amphitheater awaited repair, it made a very adept training basis, with footling chance of them being disturbed.

"Higher!" Diana repeated as she attacked over again. She cut down with her staff and slipped easily through Emily'southward defenses, striking her in the side. Emily grunted and went down to her knees, gasping for breath.

"You run across, if y'all do non proceed your arm upward, you get out yourself vulnerable."

Behind her, Pegasus neighed loudly and came forward. He put himself betwixt Diana and Emily and pawed the ground.

"Yes, I know she is tired," Diana said to the winged stallion. "But Emily has a torso now. She must larn to utilize it properly and to protect it. She is an Olympian, and near of her powers are gone. If nosotros always become against the Titans again, she must be prepared to fight in manus-to-hand combat."

Emily looked up at Pegasus, grateful for the brief respite he'd given her. "I'chiliad okay, Pegs. Diana'due south right. I must learn this." However panting, she raised her staff, preparing to appoint the powerful huntress once again.

But Diana didn't motion. "No. Pegasus is correct. I am pushing y'all too difficult. You may take the residual of the day off."

Emily glanced up at the sky and saw the clouds going pink as the sun started to gear up. There wasn't much of a mean solar day left to take off. "Thanks," she said. "Same time tomorrow?"

Diana nodded. "We will first first thing with bow training and so move on to swords." As she started to leave, Diana called back, "Pegasus, brand sure she eats plenty of ambrosia. She needs to go along up her strength."

Emily pulled a towel downwardly from Pegasus's neck and watched Diana get out. "Does that woman ever get tired? Await at her. She didn't even suspension a sweat or mess her hair. I'thousand soaked and injure all over!"

In that location was a twinkle in the stallion's optics, and Emily knew he was laughing at her. "Yes, I know, I've got a real body and I'm non used to doing these concrete things. Only I'm getting stronger. I can feel it."

Pegasus nickered and nodded.

Later she wiped her face, Emily looked around. Scars from the recent battle were everywhere. A whole department of the white marble amphitheater's upper seats was gone completely. The statues along the avenues had all been cleaved and were only now being slowly replaced. Jupiter's palace, containing the apartment she shared with her male parent, Pegasus, Joel, and Paelen was being rebuilt after the Titans had razed information technology to the basis.

When the Titans had poured into Olympus, they'd destroyed everything in sight. Earth hadn't fared much better. She and her friends had gone to Hawaii to look for a power shard that lay deep in the Diamond Head volcano and the Titans had followed them. The Hawaiian island of Oahu had suffered greatly equally the Titans and Olympians had brought the war there—information technology had soon involved Pele and the powerful Hawaiian gods. Were it not for the intervention of the ancient Xan, Emily wondered what would have happened.

Everything had inverse on that one trip. She had changed more than she'd ever imagined possible and doubted if things could ever exist the same again.

Emily pressed her forehead to the stallion's warm neck. "It's all and so dissimilar at present, Pegs," she said sadly. "Await, Joel and Chrysaor aren't here—they're probably holed upwards in Vulcan's forge, doing their best to avert me. Paelen is off somewhere with Lorin. Before, they'd have been here making fun of me and cheering me on."

Pegasus leaned his head back to her and nickered.

"I know what you're going to say. That I'm feeling sorry for myself. Perhaps I am. Simply it only feels like everything is ending. I know things can't stay the aforementioned, but why exercise they have to change and so much?"

She inhaled deeply and stroked his strong, muscled neck. "At least you're nevertheless here. That's all that matters. You and me—'Team Pegasus' forever."

Pegasus snorted again and lowered 1 of his wings to invite her up onto her back. Without hesitation, Emily climbed upwards. She didn't care where they went, as long as they were together.

The stallion'south hooves clicked on the marble stage every bit he started to trot and and so entered a cantor. He opened his powerful wings and took off. Emily didn't demand to ask where they were going; she already knew.

Her favorite identify in all Olympus—the lake with its smoothen, soft silver sand that went up to the warm waters. Information technology was calm and all the same and always eased her troubled listen.

As Pegasus winged his fashion over the damaged urban center, Emily was reminded of the phoenix legend. Olympus was ascension once again from the ashes of destruction. Alee she saw the Temple of the Flame, with the fire burning brightly in the plinth. It was one of the few places left undamaged. The Titans had recognized its value every bit much as the Olympians did. Their plan was to capture information technology along with Emily, to control her as much as they did Lorin. But they had failed. Now the Flame burned brightly, even if most of Emily'southward powers were gone.

Sometimes late at night when she was alone in her chamber, Emily would examination herself to come across what powers she had left. She could still shoot flames from her hands and hone them downwards into laser flame. If she full-bodied very hard, she could move objects with her heed and could levitate. Merely it wasn't as like shooting fish in a barrel as it had been before, and she would never run a risk trying to fly again. All the powers had seemed and then scary in the kickoff. Now she missed them.

Each day Emily discovered something else she'd lost. At that place were so many footling things she'd grown accepted to that were gone. She was grateful that she still had the power to heal with a touch, but now, when she used her healing powers, she was left feeling tired and tuckered.

Riza said information technology would have time for her to suit to her new life—"Emily Version 2"—as she teasingly called her. And Riza was correct. One of the hardest things for Emily to conform to was non having the gentle Xan'due south guiding voice in her head.

In gild to save them both, Riza'southward begetter had separated them. He'd given Emily her Olympian body and had restored Riza. Riza was now a full, immensely powerful and super-tall Xan living on Xanadu. Ane of the oldest worlds in the universe, Xanadu had become a sanctuary for the people and animals of dying worlds. They were brought at that place and protected by the ancient Xan. Now that Riza was fully back to herself, she remained guardian of the unique sanctuary. Occasionally she would "pop" over to Olympus for a visit, but well-nigh of her time was spent taking care of the inhabitants of Xanadu.

Emily missed her more than she'd expected. Riza had been a function of her for and then long; it was like losing a twin sister, and their separation was painful.

Pegasu

due south nickered and drew Emily from her thoughts. They were approaching the silver lake. As the stallion came lower in the heaven, Emily saw that their beach was not empty. Unfortunately, ane of the visitors to the lake was someone Pegasus absolutely hated.

"Information technology'due south all right, Pegs," Emily said reassuringly. "We don't have to get down. We tin can just fly around for a while."

Pegasus snorted again and connected his descent. He whinnied angrily.

This phone call was answered past another loud, shrill whinny.

"Pegs, no, please, y'all can't fight him!" Emily clutched his mane tightly. "Just leave them lone. We can go someplace else."

Pegasus was trembling beneath her as he touched down on the sand and trotted closer to his clone, Tornado Warning.

The clone was just as angry to run across the original on the embankment. His wings fluttered, his eyes went wide and wild, and his nostrils flared in threat.

"Tornado, terminate," Lorin called. "Calm down. He's non here to harm you." The tall, beautiful blond Titan was continuing at Tornado Warning's head and stroking the angry stallion's muzzle.

Emily wasn't sure what bothered her most. Pegasus's acrimony, or seeing Lorin and Paelen walking together with Tornado Warning on her hole-and-corner beach—the 1 place in Olympus where she and Pegasus could become to exist completely lone. Emily felt more than a trace of betrayal that Paelen had brought Lorin hither.

She knew Pegasus felt the same seeing Tornado Warning.

Lorin had fallen instantly in love with Pegasus the moment she'd first seen him. Simply knowing she could never possess the free-spirited winged stallion, Jupiter had given her the next best thing—Pegasus's clone, created in the Area 51 laboratory past the evil government agency the Central Inquiry Unit. The CRU had created many clones of Olympians, and although Jupiter promised to take care of them all, there were some that withal acquired a lot of trouble. Tornado Warning was 1 of them.

While he was identical to Pegasus in every way, it was only a physical match. Where Pegasus was an intelligent and respected citizen of Olympus, Tornado Warning was just a flying horse. His behavior was pure equine with none of the grace or elegance of the original.

The one matter they did share was a burning hatred for each other. "It'due south all right, Pegs," Emily said. "Let'due south but get!"

"No, wait!" Lorin called as she stroked Tornado's neck to calm him. "These ii should become friends."

"I do not recollect that is a skilful thought," Paelen warned. "They have a history that is not adept."

"I am sure if they spent fourth dimension together . . ."

"Lorin, no," Emily said forcefully. "You cannot forcefulness friendship on anyone. Pegasus is free to choose who he wants to be friends with. Tornado Warning isn't one of them."

Paelen wouldn't meet Emily's eyes. She could feel his discomfort at existence caught in what was understood to be Emily and Pegasus's private place. "Come," he said to Lorin. "Nosotros should go."

"Why? We were here start." Lorin pouted. "This is our special place. If they practise not like us hither, they can go. But I am non leaving."

Emily felt her own temper flare. Since Lorin had come to alive in Olympus, the tension between her and Emily had not eased. In fact, it had grown. Similar Pegasus with Tornado Alarm, in that location was no fashion Emily and Lorin could ever be friends.

Looking back at Paelen'southward discomfort, information technology was obvious this wasn't the beginning time they'd been here. She watched him closely and could meet the disharmonize in his face. Paelen was loyal to Emily, but he had developed feelings for Lorin and didn't want to disappoint her.

Paelen was a warm, loving person who had been alone for a long time. He deserved all the happiness in the world, and Emily was glad he'd constitute someone. She merely wished it had been anyone but Lorin. Though she couldn't blame him. Lorin was stunningly beautiful, vulnerable, and capable of great kindness—when she wasn't being a spoiled brat. Virtually of all, Lorin adored him.

"No, Paelen, it'due south all right," Emily said. "We'll go." She gave Pegasus a quick nudge. "Come up on, Pegs, permit's just become out of here."

Pegasus was pawing the sand and snorting at Tornado Alarm. Just with Emily'southward gentle prodding, he finally turned abroad from his clone. Only with each stride he took, Emily could feel his hesitation. Despite everything, Pegasus still wanted to fight.

When Tornado whinnied again, Pegasus looked back. "Pegs, delight, I actually need to get out of here now."

Pegasus was quivering as he started to trot and and then opened his wings and took off. Emily understood how he felt considering she felt exactly the same. That beach was their escape. At present that was gone, and it only fabricated her feel worse.

"Let's just become home," she said sadly.

With Jupiter's palace destroyed, Emily and her family were scattered around Olympus, staying with other families. Emily and Pegasus were now living with Alexis and Tom—the ii Sphinxes—on the far side of the metropolis. Her male parent was sharing quarters with Hercules, while Diana had moved in with her twin blood brother, Apollo. Joel was now living at Vulcan's forge, and Paelen—well, Paelen moved around a lot and didn't telephone call whatever one identify home.

When the palace was rebuilt, Emily was certain everything would return to normal. But until then they would have to wait.

Pegasus landed exterior the tall cavern Tom and Alexis called domicile. Despite its wild, rough exterior, when they passed through the archway, the inside was equally opulent as Jupiter's palace. Because they were Sphinxes, Tom and Alexis didn't use chairs. Instead, large, fluffy throw cushions were scattered effectually the carpeted flooring. Tables were much shorter, and dishes, well, they were optional—though Tom was doing his best to endeavor to get Alexis to use cutlery, despite their large panthera leo's paws.

The walls of the cavern were draped in tapestries with woven images showing Olympus in its celebrity. Near the dorsum of the cave were several statues that had been saved from destruction. When the restorations were complete, these would be returned to Jupiter's palace.

Off the main cave were several secondary caves. These served equally bedrooms, and one was used every bit a small-scale kitchen area.

Emily slid downwards from Pegasus's back and patted the stallion. "Nosotros'll find somewhere else to go walking."

"Walking where?" Tom padded out from the kitchen area.

He was still a sight to see, and in all honesty, Emily was surprised by how much being a Sphinx suited him. His upper torso was muscular and blank and his head and face were the same, though he was letting his hair grow long like a panthera leo's mane. Later on that, everything about him was dissimilar. He had a massive set of eagle's wings folded neatly along his king of beasts'southward trunk. His arms and legs were those of a lion, with paws instead of easily or feet, and he had a long tail that swished with every movement.

Looking at him, Emily could hardly remember what he'd looked like as a homo—allow lonely a CRU agent. In that location was one affair that was obvious: He was happy. When Alexis appeared beside him, his face lit with joy.

Emily felt like an intruder in their home. They had only recently been joined in an Olympian matrimony ceremony, and she hated to disturb what was essentially their honeymoon. But both Tom and Alexis had insisted that she and Pegasus stay with them while the palace was being rebuilt.

"How did the grooming with Diana get?" Tom asked.

"Fine, I judge," Emily answered softly. "If y'all don't listen being tortured by a female Attila the Hun."

"I'k certain she's not that bad," Alexis said.

Emily held upwardly her arm where a new bruise was coming to the surface. "Oh no? Even my bruises have bruises."

"Well, I've fatigued you a nice hot bathroom," Alexis said. "We still accept some time before supper. Why don't you accept a break?"

• • •

Emily lounged in the bath, trying to ease her stiff muscles. It had been and then long since she'd had a torso, she'd forgotten all the little things that could hurt.

Laughter filtered in from the other part of the cave, and she could hear Pegasus nickering lightly. She w

as glad they were happy. She just wished she could share it. But as she lay dorsum, her long black hair billowed effectually her.

Black hair, instead of the auburn she'd always had. Her legs were much longer besides. And her fingers—they seemed impossibly long and fine. Everything had changed.

When she finished bathing, Emily climbed from the tub, jumping when she caught her reflection in the mirror. She nevertheless wasn't used to seeing the stranger that was now her.

Emily walked closer to the glass and studied her new face. Her optics were now a deep sapphire blue with white specks. Riza had given her those specks past slipping some of herself into the mix when her father created a new body for Emily. The pare was polish without a mark or blemish on it. She was and then much taller than before and perfectly proportioned. Everything about her new body was beautiful and perfect. So perfect, in fact, that Emily hated information technology.

Information technology was hard to admit, simply Emily hated everything about her new life. Her new body, her limited powers, and especially the way everyone looked at her. Inside she was still the same, merely the outside had changed, and she missed the person she used to exist.

But if she couldn't accept herself, how could she await others to accept her? It made no sense. "Emily Version II" was stunning. Alpine and cute, she was a younger version of Diana, with all of her grace and elegance. Just still, Emily would have traded anything to accept her onetime body back, with all its faults.

"Emily, are you lot finished? It's time to consume," Tom'due south voice called.

"Be correct there." It was unbearable to hear her voice coming from that perfect person reflected in the mirror. "Break all the mirrors," she said softly to herself. "That's what I'll do. Problem solved."

She dressed and walked into her bedroom. Tom was there with a sympathetic smile on his face. "Emily, sit down for a moment. I'd like to talk to y'all."

When she sabbatum, he sat down on the floor abreast her. "Yous know, in all of Olympus, I think I'chiliad the one who understands most what you're going through."

Emily had been trying to hide her feelings from everyone. But the fashion Tom was looking at her, she knew she'd failed. "What do you lot mean?"

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