I 04. I

𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔

❝ doves ❞

     ARIADNE DID NOT LET PERCY'S PARENTAGE HINDER THEIR GROWING FRIENDSHIP. Unlike Annabeth, who changed her whole demeanor around him, she would not give up on the boy. Yes, she did not have a particular liking towards children of Poseidon, but that doesn't mean Percy was like them. He wasn't anything like them, which Ariadne was quite grateful for.

But the campers did not have the same goal as her, steering clear of the boy all together. Percy had moved into his designated cabin, no one mentioning the hellhound attack around him, or Ariadne for that matter.

Ares cabin was weary of both kids, due to his father and her newfound powers. Ariadne decided to accompany him to his lessons from now on, keeping an eye on the boy if another attack was to happen.

Ariadne had been on edge, snapping at people who whispered when her and Percy passed by. Annabeth had even started ignoring the girl, the brunette only assumed it was fear, but it still hurt nonetheless.

Her senses were on high alert, the triggering of her powers had caused vines to sprout every so often whilst she trained. This created hesitancy in the other campers, not bothering to spar with her like they usually would. Even Luke hadn't asked, and she couldn't help but wonder if he was afraid she would hurt him.

But on the bright side, Percy and her had grown closer, confiding in the other as they couldn't with anyone else. The two would sit on the dock after lessons, talking the day away while Percy tried figuring out what he could do thanks to his father.

The boy was extremely relieved and grateful that she hadn't abandoned him, especially since she had expressed how she held no fondness for Poseidon or his children, minus him of course.

Percy couldn't help but feel elated every time he was near the girl, a smile always present on his face while she told him about the camp and her years there. He had successfully learned her favorite color, which was blue surprisingly. The boy had questioned why not purple, she quickly shot the question down, saying how everyone expected that.

"Purple's the first color people guess, I love the color but I'm quite tired of it. Blue is calming, reminds me of sitting on the dock and watching the sun set behind the lake."

But Percy loved the color purple anyways.

Ariadne couldn't help but wonder what her dreams meant, they had been showing up even more. The idea that Percy was also meant to help her get a quest could be linked to it, but she wasn't quite sure if that was a good inference.

Her dreams had been filled with lightning and thunder, stormy seas spraying her with salty water while she stood on the sand. Her feet would sink, spiraling her towards a void of darkness with a booming voice, calling for her. The dreams scared her, making her break into sweats when she thought about them.

Thunder erupted across the sky, waves crashing as they tried to reach the heavens. Wind howled in her ears, whipping her hair across her face while she tried moving it. The storm clouds raged, lightning crackling from its finger tips while targeting the water.

Her eyes found city buildings, trees and hills in the distance, farther than what you would find in New York. Ariadne looked around, only seeing sand, water, and storm clouds.

She narrowed her eyes while catching the familiar sea-green she had become fond of, tousled black hair flicking with the violent winds. Her foot stepped forward, only to be blown back immediately. Ariadne stumbled, pushing on as she shut her eyes tightly to make sure no sand found its way into the,.

Once she made it toward him, her hand wrapped around his wrist, keeping them rooted against the wind. Percy looked at her, eyes squinting. "How are we having the same dream?"

"I have no clue." She nodded her head in front of them, "Who are they?"

The boy glanced over, finally focusing on the two men who fought. Muscular, beards covering heir faces and long hair. They dawned Greek tunics, green and blue trim while they pushed and head butted one another.

Ariadne gripped onto him tighter, Percy pulling her close as the wind picked up force and speed. Every time the men made contact, the sky darkened and the sea grew louder.

Water splashed against her cheek, the girl never took her eyes off of the men. Percy attempted to make his way towards them, but he had no luck.

"Give it back! Give it back!" They pushed and pulled, shoving and pushing harshly against one another.

The waves crashed closer to them, sand slipping under their feet. Her eyes burned from the winds, she held her hand up to cover her eyes. Percy grabbed her hand, trying to stop them from fighting.

"Stop it!" He cried out, desperate for them to find peace. "Stop fighting!"

Ariadne and Percy held onto one another as the ground shook, a cold laugh flowing from deep inside the ground. A cold chill rolled over their bodies, the brunette sharing a fearful look with the boy holding her hand tightly.

The voice was an irritable screech in their ears, "Come down, little heroes. Come down!"

Ariadne let out a cry, earth splitting beneath her feet. Soon, it opened under Percy as well, merging with the ones under the girl's. The crack widened, so deep that she couldn't see anything.

They backed away, but the split followed. Percy stumbled, slipping against the sand before falling into it. Ariadne fell as well, keeping her hold tightly onto him as they fell into the darkness, desperately grappling for the light they took for granted.

Ariadne awoke with a start, trying to catch the breath that left her lungs. Her eyes darted around the quiet cabin, only the snores of her brothers filling in the silence.

The girl blinked a couple of times, noticing that the sky was gloomy and grey. She quickly threw the covers off of her body, shirt and shorts sticking with sweat. Her feet touched the wooden floor before grabbing clothes, running into the bathroom as she changed quickly.

Her hand threw open the cabin door, shutting it quiet as to not wake her brothers. But that wouldn't mater anyways, they could sleep through anything.

Ariadne stood outside, noticing how she was probably the only camper up. She scanned ver the camp, lifeless at the early morning. Normally she was not an early riser, but her dream forced her to be.

That dream had been the most vivid and most peculiar that she had had, especially since she shared it with Percy.

She took a few steps, making her way towards the dining pavilion as she was extremely hungry. Vines followed her footsteps, snaking through the grass while the familiar scent of grapes misted about.

The girl stopped, glaring at the plants before seeing them retreat back into the earth. Her throat felt as if she was choking, blinking away the sudden tears. She had no clue why there was a sudden change of emotion, maybe it was from the weather. Yeah, that was it.

Once she sat at her table a Nymph placed a plate in front of her, the aroma causing her to almost drool. Chocolate chip waffles sat before her, steaming with a pile of strawberries and grapes next to it. Her goblet filled itself with water, as she wasn't the biggest fans of orange juice or milk.

She was too hungry to cut her food properly, opting to stab a fork through it and eat it that way. The taste allowing her to smile, her stomach finally finding satisfaction after the upsetting dream.

Only when her eyes cast upwards did she noticed the great big storm clouds hovering over camp, a looming darkness casting a shadow upon the cabins.

Her eyes furrowed, thankfully she finished her meal and stood up, letting the Nymphs collect her dishes while she thanked them. The girl sprinted across the grass, heading straight for the docks where she did all her thinking.

Wood creaked under her, butt thumping against the planks while she laid on her back, staring up at the gray masses. Eyes gazing up at nothing, just a rolling storm that usually never stopped by. But this one had, and it was huge.

She sighed heavily, hair splayed out underneath her, curls tightly knotted. Her fingers played with her hair, letting thoughts skip around her brain while she let time pass.

What had the dream meant?

That was her biggest unanswered question. And she was afraid that it would never be answered, that she would be left in the dark somehow. Ever since Percy had shown up, the camp had gone through a whirlwind of trouble.

First, the hellhound. Next, he was a child of Poseidon, which would prove a problem if he made it to the age of sixteen. And lastly, the dreams. Lightning and sea fighting, only allowing the girl to understand that Zeus and Poseidon themselves were cross with one another.

Her eyes shut tightly, snapping open once the sinister laugh flooded her ears once again. The chills never leaving, veins full of ice as she stopped fiddling with her hair, growing tired of it.

The girl sat up straight, yanking the hair tie off her wrist while placing it into a messy bun. It fell to the side of her face, failing to do its job while she groaned. She eventually tore it down, the curly tresses obscuring her eyesight while she tugged at them. It was times like these where she wished to have thin and straight hair, but alas, that was not an option for her.

"If you keep pulling on it, you'll rip it out of your head." Annabeth's voice cut in, Ariadne pouted, flipping her hair while she stared at the water.

"Yeah," she huffed, "I kind of wished that would happen."

Annabeth laughed cooly, sitting next to her as their legs dangling off the dock. "That would mean I'm the only one with curly hair, we promised we would endure the torture together."

Ariadne cracked a slight smile, it was a true statement. When they were eight they promised to always deal with their curly hair, for the other was dealing with the same thing.

She sighed for the third time that morning, "Why are you up so early? Gods forbid, you do love your sleep."

Annabeth shoved her, both giggling at the joke. "Ha, ha, ha. I couldn't sleep."

"It's the end of the world!" the brunette waved her arms in the air, making a fool of herself. Yet only the clouds, water, and the two girls could see it.

The two sat in silence, wind whispering in their ears the conversations of others, from cities it had passed through. Water  flowing beneath them, carrying a steady pace of forgotten truths and secrets of the world.

Their friendship was that, full of jokes and laughs. Teasings and debates, but it was also full of peaceful silences. A mental understanding that they were content and happy with the moment, cherishing what they could have in a life that was full of unpredictability.

What felt like minutes was hours of the two conversing about drama circulating around camp, or the arguments they had overheard, or just about anything that came to mind.

Soon, an Apollo cabin member called for them, saying how Chiron wanted too see the girls.

Annabeth and her shared a look, hope sparkling. Hope that they would finally be receiving a quest, one that took place in the mortal world. Ariadne was nervous, wanting to see what it was like after seven years of being cooped up in the camp, never stepping a foot out of the borders since she crossed them.

Once they made it onto the porch, she noticed Chiron and her father sitting at the familiar table, playing pinochle with two other invisible players. The centaur perked up at the sight of them, "Ah, girls. Great to see you. Hope you slept well."

Ariadne squirmed at that comment, which didn't go unnoticed. "You asked for us?" She spoke up, trying to hide her excitement.

"Yes, yes I did. You both have been asking for a quest for a long time now, and I think you both deserve one."

The two gave a massive grin, hugging each other while Mr. D rolled his eyes. But the god had a hidden smile on his face, quite proud of his daughter.

Once they had calmed down, Annabeth put on a cool exterior which Ariadne thought was pointless for herself to do, since she was a terrible actor. "With who?"

Chiron gave them a mischievous smile, eyes full of amusement. "Well, he's coming shortly. I believe it's best if you hide."

Annabeth took out her baseball cap, placing it on before she shimmered out of view. Ariadne quickly looked for a place to hide, deciding to duck behind a pillar as she waited too see who would lead their quest.

Only, her spirits shrunk a bit. Percy and Grover approached the porch, stepping onto it while she shook her head. Even though the girl was close with Percy, she had expected someone with more experience. Thankfully, he had Annabeth and her, so hopefully he wouldn't die.

Her father glanced up from his cards, "Well, well. Our little celebrity." The sea-green eyed boy waited patiently, "Come closer. And don't expect me to kowtow to you, mortal. Just because old Barnacle-Bear is your father."

Lightning streamed across the sky, the Big House rubbing from the thunder. Ariadne cringed at her father, who swiped his hand dismissively. The man needed to be more careful, sometimes she worried for him. "Blah, blah, blah."

She pressed herself against the pillar, close to becoming apart of it. Grover trembled against the railing, holding onto it as if it was his lifeline. While Chiron investigated his cards, scouring every inch of the while the god continued.

"If I had it my way," he spoke, spewing off nonsense. "I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames. We'd sweep up the ashes and be done with a lot of trouble. But Chiron seems to feel this would be against my mission at this cursed camp; to keep you brats safe from harm."

Ariadne raised an eyebrow at her father's descriptive image, the idea of disposing Percy Jackson seemed to be fresh on his mind. She sighed, peeking out as the boy stood there.

Chiron looked at the god, "Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm." Her father didn't care for the add on, going back to his long speech.

"Nonsense. Boy wouldn't feel a thing." his daughter tilted her head, "But it's deadly foolishness." The man arose, car placed onto the table while the invisible players dropped. "I'm off to Olympus for the emergency meeting. If the boy is still here when I get back, I'll turn him into an Atlantic bottlenose. Do you understand? I have no care for the Great Prophecy that love-obsessed goddess made."

He glared at the boy, "Perseus Jackson, if you're at all smart, you'll see that's a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do." The man held up a car, slowly shifting it into a security card.

Her father snapped his fingers, air folding around him before disappearing, wind wrapped in the familiar scent of grapes. Ariadne smiled slightly at her father's dramatics, she loved that man.

Chiron held his arm out, "Sit, Percy, please. And Grover."

Both boys sat in their chairs, shifting around uncomfortably as the Centaur watched them. "Tell me, Percy. What did you make of the Hellhound?"

"It scared me." He spoke honestly, Ariadne let her mind focus on his next words. "I'd be dead if Ariadne hadn't stabbed it."

"You'll meet worse, Percy." And Chiron's words were true, he would meet worse thanks to his father. "Far words, before you're done."

"Done? With what?"

Chiron made it seem like a silly question, "Your quest, of course. Will you accept it?" Percy looked towards his Satyr friend, who sneakily crossed his fingers.

"Um, sir," The boy cleared his throat, "you haven't told me what it is yet."

"Well, that's the hard part, the details."

Ariadne glanced up at the sky, worried eyes looking over the storm clouds that fought against the sea. She felt a hand grasp her wrist, already knowing it was Annabeth.

The boy eyed the Centaur once more, "Poseidon and Zeus. They're fighting over something valuable... something that was stole, aren't they?"

"How did you know that?"

Percy became embarrassed, "The weather since Christmas has been weird, like the sea and the sky are fighting." He sighed, "Then I talked to Ariadne and Annabeth, and they'd overheard something about theft. And... I've also been having these dreams. Ariadne was in my last one, like we were sharing it."

The girl blushed at the sparkle in Chiron's eyes, only wondering what he was thinking about that statement. Percy seemed to realize how he had phrased it, his face almost as red as a tomato.

Grover, who seemed to forget that he was speaking, blurted out. "I knew it."

"Hush, Satyr." Ariadne cringed at Chiron's tone, feeling a bit bad for him.

Chiron felt his beard, "Only the Oracle can determine. Nevertheless, Percy, you are correct. Your father and Zeus are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stoled. To be precise; a lightning bolt."

Another question sprung from Percy, "A what?"

Chiron's eyes turned grim, "Do not take this lightly. I'm not talking about some tinfoil-covered zigzag you'd see in a second grade play. I'm talking about a two-foot long cylinder of high-grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives."

Ariadne took notice of the boy's expression, slightly closing her eyes as she sighed. This boy.

Chiron seemed like he didn't want to explain anymore, hesitant due to the rolling clouds above them. "Zeus's master bolt. The symbol of his power, from which all other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclops for the war against the Titans, the bolt that sheared the top of Mount Etna and hurled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt, which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers."

"And it's missing?"

"Stolen." Chiron corrected.

"By who?"

"By whom. By you."

Percy seemed to be taken back, surprised by the idea that he took the weapon.

Chiron sighed, "At least, that's what Zeus thinks. During the winter solstice, at the last council of the gods, Zeus and Poseidon had an argument. The usual nonsense: 'Mother Rhea always liked you best,' 'Air disasters are more spectacular than sea disasters,' etc. Afterwards, Zeus realized his master bolt was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose."

Ariadne furrowed her eyebrows, knowing Percy could not have stolen the bolt, he wasn't even there. "He immediately blamed Poseidon. Now a god cannot usurp another god's symbol of power directly - that is forbidden by the most ancient of divine laws. But Zeus believes your father convinced a human hero to take it."

Percy shook his head, "But I didn't--"

"Patience and listen, child." Chiron cut off, "Zeus has a good reason to be suspicious. The forges of the Cyclops are under the ocean, which gives Poseidon has taken the master bolt, which might be used to topple Zeus from his throne. The only thing Zeus wasn't sure about was which hero Poseidon used to steal the bolt. Now Poseidon has openly claimed you as his son, you were in New York over the winter holidays. You could easily have snuck into Olympus. Zeus believes he has found his thief."

"But I've never been to Olympus! Zeus is crazy!"

She felt a hand latch around her wrist, letting the girl know that Annabeth was next to her. "I'm gonna strangle this boy." The brunette whispered sharply, glancing up at the clouds which never passed by.

Grover leaned close to the boy, "Er, Percy, " he whispered. "We don't use the c-word to describe the Lord of the Sky."

"Perhaps paranoid. Then again," The Centaur sighed, "Poseidon has tried to unseat Zeus before. I believe that was question thirty-eight on your final exam..."

"Something about a golden net?" Percy guessed, hoping it was the right answer. "Poseidon and Hera and a few other gods... they, like, trapped Zeus and wouldn't let him out until he promised to be a better ruler, right?"

Chiron seemed to be impressed, and Ariadne was right there with him. "Correct. And Zeus has never trusted Poseidon ever since. Of course, Poseidon denies stealing the master bolt. He took great offence at the accusation. The two have been arguing back and forth for months, threatening a war. And now, you've come along - the proverbial last straw."

But Percy didn't seem to understand, "But I'm just a kid."

"Percy," Grover spoke up, "if you were Zeus, and you already thought your brother was plotting to overthrow you, then your brother suddenly admitted he had broken the sacred oath he took after World War II, that he's fathered a new mortal hero who might be used as a weapon against you... wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?"

Ariadne couldn't help but imagine Zeus up on Mount Olympus, his toga literally twisted while he became frustrated since he couldn't undo it. The vision was erased from her mind as a flash of lightning and a roll of thunder grew across the sky.

"But I didn't do anything." Percy spoke quietly, a downcast look on his face. "Poseidon - my dad - he didn't really have this master bolt stolen, did he?"

"Most thinking observers would agree that thievery is not Poseidon's style. But the sea god is too proud to try and convince Zeus of that. Zeus has demanded that Poseidon return he bolt by the summer solstice. That's June twenty-first, ten days from now. Poseidon wants an apology for being called a thief by the same date."

Chiron stroked his beard, a thoughtful expression placed upon his face. "I hoped diplomacy might prevail, that Hera or Demeter or Hestia," the curly-haired girl perked up at the name of the fire goddess, "would make the two brothers see sense. But your arrival has inflamed Zeus's temper. Now neither god will back down. Unless someone intervenes, unless the master bolt is found and returned to Zeus before the solstice, there will be a war. And do you know what a full-fledged war would look like, Percy?"

Percy shrugged, "Bad?" Araidne face palmed, taking a deep breath while letting her hand run off her face.

"Imagine the world in chaos. Nature at war with itself. Olympians forced to choose sides between Zeus and Poseidon. Destruction. Carnage. Millions dead. Western civilization turned into a battleground so big it will make the Trojan War look like a water balloon fight."

The boy nodded, "Bad."

Chiron's voice became deadly, "And you, Percy Jackson, would be the first to feel Zeus's wrath."

Thunder rolled once more, causing rain to send bullets towards the earth. Water droplets beating into the soil, campers eyeing the sky with stunned looks, a tense silence sweeping over the camp.

She noticed her brothers stop walking in the strawberry fields, she noticed the looks they gave one another while holding out their hands as the rain continued to pour.

Percy didn't seem to care it was raining, which she knew would aggravate the sky god. "So I have to find the stupid bolt. And return it to Zeus."

"What better peace offering, than to have the son of Poseidon return Zeus's property?"

"If Poseidon doesn't have it, where is this thing?"

Anywhere. She spoke in her head, It could be anywhere.

Chiron sighed, "I believe I know. Part of a prophecy I had years ago... well, some of the lines make sense to me now. But before I can say more, you must officially take up a quest. You must seek the counsel of the Oracle."

Ariadne straightened up, this is what she had been waiting for.

"Why can't you just tell me where the bolt is beforehand?"

"Because if I did, "Chiron reasoned, "you would be too afraid to accept the challenge."

"Good reason."

"You agree then?"

She held her breath, Annabeth tightly holding onto her wrist. So tight she was ready for it to pop off.

Percy looked towards his best friend, the Satyr giving him a look of encouragement before he turned back to his former teacher. "All right. It's better than being turned into a dolphin."

She was ready to cry. Ariadne and Annabeth were finally leaving camp and venturing out into the mortal world.

"Then it's time you consulted the Oracle. Go upstairs, Percy Jackson, to the attic. When you come down, assuming you're still sane, we will talk more."

Percy made his way up the stairs and towards the attic, footsteps becoming quieter as he walked farther and farther. Ariande glanced over at Grover who was fidgety, shifting in his seat with a pained look on his face.

Annabeth grabbed her attention, although, Ariadne had no clue where she was thanks to her cap. The blonde watched her friend look around confusingly, before her eyes landing on the single vine springing from the ground.

The plant twisted with a bright green stem, dark green leaves and a grape sprouting from the middle. It grew taller, the grape growing bigger before the curly-haired girl held her hand out, ceasing it's movement.

She plucked the grape from the vine, allowing the stem to retreat back into the ground. The fruit rolled around in her fingers, it was a perfect round shape and it was inviting her to taste.

Once Ariadne bit into it, she realized it tasted like heaven. Sweet and juicy, but it held a hint of something else. It made her really happy, which she had no clue why.

The blonde leaned closer, "You grew it on happy thoughts."

Ariadne nodded, eating the rest of the grape and admiring how smart her friend was. But Percy walked back down the stairs, forcing the girls to take up their original positions against a post.

Chiron gave the boy an expectant look, "Well?"

Percy was pale, like he had seen a murder. He through his body into a chair, hunched over while he spoke softly. "She said I would retrieve what was stolen."

Grover, who had previously been ingesting a Coke can, spoke up. "That's great!"

"What did the Oracle say exactly? This is important."

"She--" he took a shaky breath, "--she said I would go went and face the god who has turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned."

"I knew it!" Grover shouted.

"Anything else?"

Percy gulped, a shameful look in his eyes before masking it. "No. That's about it.

Liar. Ariadne voiced in her head, Chiron noticed it too, but he refused to speak up.

The Centaur nodded, "Very well, Percy, but know this; the oracle's words often have double meanings. Don't dwell on them too much. The truth is not always clear until events have come to pass."

"Okay. So where do I go? Who's this god in the west?"

"Ah, this Percy. If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to gain?"

"Somebody who wants to take over?"

Chiron nodded, "Yes, quite. Someone who harbors a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was decided eons ago, whose kingdom would powerful with the deaths of millions. Someone who hates his brother for forcing him into an oath to have no more children, an oath that both of them have now broken."

Hades. He meant Hades. The names sent shivers down her spine, Ariadne feeling a pit dwell in her stomach.

Percy seemed to have the same feeling as well, "Hades."

"The Lord of the Dead is the only possibility."

Grover let his mouth drop open, a cling of metal hitting the table that sat at. "Woah, wait. Wh--what?"

"A Fury came after Percy. She watched the young man until she was sure of his identity, then tried to kill him. Furies obey only one lord: Hades."

"Yes, but--but Hades hates all heroes." Grover manages to let out, his voice becoming a high-pitched squeak towards the end. "Especially is he found out Percy is a son of Poseidon..."

"A Hellhound got into the forest. Those can only be summoned from the Fields of Punishment, and it had to be summoned by someone within the camp. Hades may have a spy here. He must suspect Poseidon will try to use Percy to clear his name. Hades would very much like to kill this young half-blood before he can take on a quest."

Percy let his eyes rest on the table, "Great," he mumbled. "That's two major gods who want to kill me."

Grover looked terrified, and Ariadne was too. "But a quest to... I mean, couldn't the master bolt be in someplace like Maine? Maine's very nice this time of year?"

She knew the feeling that he was experiencing, both were better above ground. Ariadne had a thing with getting lost or even just the dark in general.

"Hades sent a minion to steal the master bolt." Chiron told the two, "He his it in the Underworld, knowing Zeus would blame Poseidon. I don't pretend to understand the Lord of the Death's motives perfectly, or why he chose this time to start a war, but one thing is certain; Percy must go to the Underworld, find the master bolt, and reveal the truth."

Grove was eating the pinochle cards by now, which her father would not appreciate and most likely will grumble and complain about it for the next two months. Even if he could create another deck with the snap of her fingers, but her father was known for being dramatic.

Percy gazed at Chiron across the table, a slightly cloudy expression in his eyes. "Look, if we know it's Hades, why cant' we just tell the other gods. Zeus or Poseidon could go down to the Underworld and bust some heads."

"Suspecting and knowing are not the same." Chiron explained to him, "Besides, even if the other gods suspect Hades - and I imagine Poseidon does - they could't retrieve the bolt them selves. Gods cannot cross each other's territories except by invitation. That is another ancient rule. Heroes, on the other hand, have certain privileges. They can go anywhere, challenge anyone, as long as they're bold enough and strong enough to do it. No god can be held responsible for a hero's actions. Why do you think gods' always operate through humans?"

"You're saying I'm being used." Yes.

"I'm saying it's no accident Poseidon has claimed you now. It's a very risky gamble, but he's in a desperate situation. He needs you."

Percy looked conflicted. Sea-green eyes full of emotion, waves tumbling against the rocks along his eyelid. Eyelashes blinking every so often, creating a shady feeling over his eyes. "You've known I was Poseidon's son all along, haven't you?"

"I had my suspicions. As I said... I've spoke to the Oracle, too."

The Centaur must have been talking about the two Great Prophecies. She knew neither of them, only Chiron and the gods knew.

"So let me get this straight. I'm supposed to go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead."

"Check."

"Find the most powerful weapon in the universe."

"Check."

"And get back to Olympus before the summer solstice, in ten days."

"That's about right."

Grover was pale, eyes glazed while munched furiously on the playing cards. "Did I mention that Maine is a very nice this time of year?"

"You don't have to go," Percy reasoned with him. "I can't ask that of you."

Ariadne's heart swelled, a small smile crossing her face as she watched the boy comfort his best friend. Annabeth watched her best friend, a slight smirk on her face once she saw a small vine pop out from the ground.

Grover seemed hesitant, "Oh... no... it's just that satyrs and underground places... well..."
He stood up, hands wiping away the metal bits and playing cards off his body. "You saved my life, Percy. If... if you're serious about wanting me along, I won't let you down."

A grin spread across the demigod's face, "All the way, G-man." The boy twisted towards Chiron, who sat patiently across from them. "So where do we go? The Oracle just said to go west."

"The entrance to the Underworld is always west. It moves from age to age, just like Olympus. Right now, of course, it's in America."

But Percy didn't get the memo, "Where?"

Annabeth watched as the grave vine shriveled slightly, twisting along with the grimace on Ariadne's face. The brunette was not a great teacher, she obviously hadn't informed him about how Olympus moved around.

Chiron seemed to be surprised, "I thought that would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles."

Percy raised an eyebrow, "Oh, naturally." He spoke with a hint of sarcasm, "So we just get on a plane—"

Grover paled, "No!" His eyes were wide while looked towards his friend, "Percy, what are you thinking? Have you ever been on a plane in your life?"

The boy shook his head, hunching over with embarrassment. Ariadne's eyes softened, feeling a bit bad for him. Her heart tugged slightly before she shook the feeling away.

"Percy, think. You are the son of the Sea God. Your father's bitterest rival is Zeus, Lord of the Sky. Your mother knew better than to trust you in an airplane. You would be in Zeus's domain. You would never come down again alive." Chiron spoke, eyes narrowed while they focused on the bashful boy.

Lightning struck down, creating a bright flash and a roll of thunder cracked up above. Annabeth and Ariadne shared a look, Zeus wasn't happy, that wasn't a good thing.

Percy seemed to understand now, "Okay. So, I'll travel overland."

Chiron nodded, "That's right. Usually, on quests we allow to companions to accompany you. Anymore would risk exposure to monsters. But, I had spoken to the Oracle and she informed me that one other will go with you."

Ariadne tilted her head, a questioning look over her face.

"So you will have three. Grover is one. One had volunteered and the other was handpicked by myself and Mr. D."

Percy seemed to feign surprise, sarcasm lacing his tone, "Gee. Who else would be stupid enough to accept this quest?"

Ariadne stepped out from behind the post, arms crossed with a raised eyebrow. "Calling me stupid now, Kelp Head?"

The blonde next to her have a sharp shove into the brunette's rib cage, "Ariadne and I have been waiting a long time for a quest, Jackson." She shifted her feet, "Athena is no fan of Poseidon, but if you're going to save the world, we're the best people to keep you from messing up."

Percy glances over at Ariadne, she shrugged. "Its true. You'll need all the help you can get, especially when you have a brain full of kelp."

The boy have her a deadpanned expression, but he knew she was joking. "Alright, Curly Fry."

She groaned, "I told you to stop calling me that!"

"Then stop eating them."

"I will hit you."

The boy ignored her, turning his attention back towards Chiron. "A trio, plus a walking grape, this could work."

Ariadne let her mouth drop open, purple eyes narrowing at the boys cheeky smirk. "You are so going to get a shoe up your—"

Chiron cut her off, "Excellent." Percy knew he had won, eyes teasing the girl who huffed dramatically. Annabeth and Grover watching them with shared amusement. "This afternoon, we can tale you as far as the bus terminal in Manhattan. After that, you are on your own."

"No time to waste." Thunder tumbled loudly, shaking the ground while rain poured from the sky. Chiron eyes it warily, "I think you all should get packing."

Ariadne and Percy looked up towards the sky, not even noticing the doves flying above, watching them with close eyes. Narrowing in on their interlocked pinkies, both gulping at the sound of thunder.