Yo! Here is the next chapter. Sorry for making you wait my lovely readers.

Chapter Three: Surprise!

Point of view: Perseus Jackson

By time it's sunset, I enter the garden and the Hesperides meet me at the small arching hedge that leads to where Ladon protects the golden apples of immortality.

"Have you come for the apples?" One asks.

"Or perhaps a test?" Another inquires.

"You once came with our banished sister." The eldest points out.

"You were a little bit younger and a lot shorter. You have grown much." The last one says, the youngest.

"So what is it that you want here?" The eldest speaks again.

"I have come to die." I tell them and they just look at me.

"A glorious death?" The youngest asks uncertain.

I shake my head. "No. Just to die. That is why I came. I don't want apples or honor or glory. I just want my time on this planet to end. I'm dying anyway. Might as well die fighting."

"Admirable. You must have personal loyalty by the looks of the burns and their growth." One of the middle ones smiles warmly.

"That I do. I've lost the use of my left arm, I can barely walk with my right leg, and my entire torso is not there anymore. My insides are toast and I am ready to die. If it's my time, I will gladly go with Thanatos. He hovers over me now. I can feel the creeping feeling crawling up my spine. I know what must happen and Ladon will help it along faster. I die today." I say.

They all share a look and nod at each other and then me. "Follow us then." The eldest says and they all form a line behind her. They walk into the main garden and I follow them in.

"Ladon, sweetie, we have a request for you." The eldest calls.

Ladon blinks open all his eyes on all his heads and lifts them up. He zeroes in on me and all his heads snap.

"This young hero wishes a fight to the death. He does not want the apples. Will you fight him? Will you kill him?" The youngest inquires.

Ladon unwraps from his tree, from what I understand in several millennia, and walks up to me. "You wish death by my claws? My sharp teeth? My venom? Answer hero, and an answer shall be given in return." I hear his deep and resonating voice in my head, but it sounds like it's all around the garden.

I nod slowly. "Yes, Ladon. As long as I die fighting and as long as you kill me in this fight, I wish to die. I don't have much time left and I've resolved to die doing what I've been built up to do. I want to die and I want you to do it. You are my last hope, no one else can fight me and kill me."

He seems to be thinking about it. "Very well, but you must promise me one thing in return." He leans down to my eye level and I meet his many gazes head on.

"Name it and I will abide by the promise I make." I tell him.

"You must promise me that you won't use the tree against me. They say you will not take an apple. Is this true? Promise me you won't take one." Ladon says.

"I swear on the Styx that I won't take any of the golden apples off of your tree, Ladon. But if you knock me into it, don't assume I'm breaking my oath." I respond.

Ladon chuckles. "Then I will not kill you. I will reward you, young hero." He tells me.

"What do you mean?" I ask in shock.

"For your pure heart, I will reward you. Come closer, Perseus Jackson. Brave and noble soul, come here." Ladon speaks.

I walk up until I'm right in front of him. He could easily kill me now. "Why aren't you killing me?" I ask.

"Because you are a rare being. To ask for death, the highest price to pay in ones life, and only because of something that should never have happened to one such as you. And yet, you pay more by granting others a wish they have no right to ask of you. I will give you my blessing. Perhaps it will help you." Ladon says.

"Rare being? What do you mean by that?" I ask stunned.

"Come, sit with me by the tree." Ladon walks back over and wraps around the tree he is guardian of. I sit next to him and he drags me closer so I'm leaning against him. "Never before has one such as you existed. It is why you are the most powerful. It makes you the most vulnerable. Sleep hero and when you wake, your burdens will be lifted and your wounds will be healed. You will be brand new."

The Hesperides come forward one by one and place a hand on my forehead, each time I glow a deep violet color. They start singing to me and my eyes flutter to a close. The song lulling me into the first peaceful sleep since I was twelve.

My eyes peel open slowly and I look down to see I am outfitted in a violet cloak, dark blue shirt, and white hunting pants like the hunters silver ones. My blackened skin is gone and I can use my left arm once again. I'm still laying against Ladon and he stirs as I do. I glow a venom green when he looks at me.

"You have now been blessed by five beings of power. The Hesperides all increased your ability over the sea and I increased all of your speed, strength, and intelligence attributes. You may now enter the garden whenever you wish. No need to wait for sunset." Ladon tells me. "You are also immune to poison, all kinds of it. And if it's new, my blessing will accustom to it and make you impervious to it. You can even utilize poison as a weapon. Your blood carries both sea and poison in it. Your blood itself is a defense, but only if you feel you are in danger or want it to be. But do not tell the gods of our blessings. Not unless they figure it out on their own. Or if you are bound to one of them you may reveal it."

"How did you heal me?" I ask tiredly and curl up against him.

"I did not, it was the Hesperides who healed you for your golden heart and now I will present you with a gift you have rightly earned." Ladon says and shakes the tree. A golden apple falls right into my hands and I drop it immediately.

"I cannot take it. And besides, I'll be killed for not following my oath. Not that I don't mind dying, but still. I'd rather die from battle wounds than because I accidentally broke an oath." I say, woken up now that the reminder of my oath flashed through my brain.

Small hands pick up the apple and put it back in my hands. "Ladon is willingly giving it to you. It is not breaking your oath." The youngest Hesperide smiles sweetly at me.

"But I do not know what to do with it." I frown at the golden skinned apple.

She looks at me quizzically. "Don't you want immortality? Most heroes don't skip that chance."

"I once gave up godhood for love. Now she's cast me out. I'm not the kind of person to go accepting immortality anyway, especially now. There's no one left to be loyal to." I look kindly at the apple.

"What about your friends and family?" The eldest Hesperide and her two other sisters appear behind the youngest.

"My mortal family...they don't want me. Olympus still has its children and my friends can go on without me. I am not needed. My purpose has long run out." I hang my head and hold out the apple.

"Eat it. You can do so with our permission. Just hang on." The eldest says. "Sisters, hide behind Ladon with him." The eldest commands. Instead, Ladon shifts so I don't have to move just yet. I appreciate that. I pat his side and a deep rumbling sounds deep within his chest.

"O' Iris, goddess of the rainbow, please accept my humble offering and show me the Olympian council on Olympus." The eldest says.

"Who is this?" I hear Zeus's agitated voice.

"My Lord Zeus, my sisters and I, along with Ladon, have a request. But we need your permission to have it done." She speaks with a gentleness.

"What is it then Hesperide?" Athena asks.

"We wish to name a Guardian of Ladon and the Hesperides. He will protect our garden, the tree, and our dragon. He will keep away unwanted company at Mt. Othrys and keep watch over our father. But, he has earned an apple from the tree. We wish for him to eat it so he may be immortal. Then we shall name him." The eldest replies kindly.

"But that would mean twice the power of his immortal being. What would keep him loyal?" Zeus asks.

"He will swear an oath to serve us and Olympus. Do we have your permission my lords and ladies on the council?" She answers.

A few moments of silence pass and Zeus speaks, "Very well. Bring him before the council to swear his oaths."

"It shall be done." The girl answers nicely.

"Wait, where are your sisters?" Artemis asks.

"With the man. He is resting off a major illness and is perfect for our needs. We find him suitable for the task. Do not worry Lady Artemis. He would not dare to touch a woman. My sisters and I are perfectly safe. Especially with him and Ladon around. We will see you tonight. He will eat the apple beforehand." She says and swipes through the image of mist.

"You can come out now." The girl says. Ladon shifts so that we are in view again.

"You want me to be your eternal Guardian?" I ask disbelieving.

They all smile at me. "Ever since we saw Zoë die...we realized how wrong we were about our sister. Me the most. I miss her, I really do. And...you already have her blessing. We have reentered her in the records as a Hesperide. The mortals won't notice the difference. Athena inquired about it, but realized the mistake of taking her out in the first place. We pray for her forgiveness every night." The eldest says.

"Blessing...? Anaklusmos? This isn't full of her power as a Hesperide. It is her immortal essence." I say and uncap Riptide. I tap the trident on the hilt. "It's fueled by the sea. Didn't Zoë lose her power as a Hesperide?"

"Yes, but, it's held in the garden. Waiting for the right person to restore it." One of the middle ones say.

"What if he can?" The youngest says and they all look at me.

I think about it. "Would it give her another chance at life?"

"Yes." The other middle one answers happily.

"Then I'll do it. If I can get up. My legs are asleep." I chuckle and they giggle. The youngest helps pull me to my feet.

I stretch. I rub Ladon's side. "Thank you. I feel...whole again. I forgot what it was like. I had been sinking into a dark of which I would have never returned from."

"My pleasure young hero." Ladon rumbles peacefully. "Do bring little Zoë back. I too have missed her. My instincts took over when you last visited. I regret my actions." He yawns a big bunch and closes his eyes. He soon starts snoring in a deep sleep.

"Wish I could do that. It would be nice. At least I hope I don't get demigod dreams anymore if I do this." I sigh. "With my luck I'll still get them."

"Eat the apple Perseus." The eldest says and pushes the apple up into my face a little bit.

"And you're sure it's okay." I look at all of them.

"Yup. Just eat it already." The youngest says impatiently.

"I have one question, well, four. Um, your names are Erytheia, Aegle, Hesperia, and Arethusa, right?" I ask unsure.

They all grin. "Not many who come here anymore know that. We are honored and happy you know our names." The eldest says. "I am Arethusa. That's Hesperia, that one is Aegle, and our youngest sister is Erytheia. Zoë was second oldest."

"Got it." I nod.

"Stop stalling and eat the apple already." Aegle tells me.

"Alright, alright." I put my hands up to placate them.

I eat the apple. It tastes like a watered down version of the Plegethon with a mix of Styx. Bleh. "Gods, why do all the pretty things taste like crap?" They all giggle at my statement. "Right, I'll address that issue later. I'm glowing. Why am I glowing? No one else does this!"

They just laugh. "Calm down. It's the blessings reacting to the apple. Do not worry, it is normal for you." Hesperia says and takes my hand. "Come, this way to save Zoë." She starts pulling me off.

They all wear their greek chitons, their silky black hair piled high on heir heads, their caramel colored skin beautiful in the moonlight, and their volcanic eyes taking on a playful light. They lead me deeper into the garden and into a place where a lone pedastal stands in the middle of a small clearing of some sort, a white, glowing orb of power floats. The sphere is blindingly bright.

"What do I do?" I ask.

"Instinct. What do you think you should do?" Erytheia pushes me gently forward.

I keep going until I'm standing over the sphere. I put my hands to the side of it. But then something occurs to me and I reach down to my pocket. I pull out the pen that is Riptide and uncap it. "Anaklusmos. You are vibrating. Is this really what you want?" I watch the blade and it starts to glow sea green. "Then I will return you to your rightful owner." I say and will Anaklusmos to become pure energy. It's a ball of sea green light and I merge it with the white light.

The original sphere stays white, but starts to pulse with power. I pick it up in my hands and look up at the Huntress constellation. "Oh Zoë, please let this work. Come back." I say and I close my eyes.

I concentrate on pulling Zoë's soul from the stars and joining it with her immortal essence. My eyes snap open and the energy orb sails up into the sky. Moments later, a figure comes falling down on fire.

"Holy, Styx." I mutter. I look at the trajectory of the fall and trace it. "Oh gods. Of course. She's going to land next to Atlas. Figures." I take off at the speed of light.

I reach the spot where she should land and I'm standing near Atlas. I watch her as she falls, she seems to be unconscious. "This is going to hurt like Hades." I say just before she slams into me. I slide back in the dirt and come to a stop next to Atlas.

I sit up clutching my head. "It's a really good thing I'm fire resistant. And my clothes are fireproof. Thank Poseidon." I sigh and then look at Zoë, who is staring up at me with tears in her eyes. I let my hand drop onto the ground. "Yo. How are you tonight Miss Nightshade?" I grin widely at her.

Zoë squeals and throws her arms around my neck. She hugs me to death. "Perseus Jackson you son of a sea biscuit! Thank you!" She kisses my cheek.

"Whoa there Zoë, I thought you were against that kind of thing." I say as I chuckle.

"Oh it's fine. You're my only male friend anyway." Zoë laughs freely and looks down at her legs. "I'm a little wobbly. Mind helping me?" She looks back up at me.

"Sure." I nod and lift her into my arms as I stand up with her.

"Oh my Artemis! You're taller. Way taller than I thought you were. And muscly. What is this? You have more muscle than Heracles." She frowns.

"Yes I'm taller and it's just my build. I filled out over the last last three to four years. I don't really notice it, it's nice to have though." I laugh at her and she smiles.

"Perseus Jackson. Want to take the weight of the sky again?" Atlas grumbles behind me.

"No thanks there Rocky. I'm good. You keep up the hard work and I'll go relax somewhere while you suffer in your eternal punishment." I tell him and carry Zoë away from her screaming father.

"Zoë!" Her sisters scream in delight and happiness.

"Sisters!" Zoë exclaims from my arms.

They run up to me, all of them crying. "Thank you Perseus!" They all hug Zoë and I. I set Zoë down on her feet and let her cling onto my arm until she steadies. Then her sisters hug her together.

"I heard your prayers. You are all forgiven. I won't rejoin the Hunt, I will stay here and resume my duties as a Hesperide. It's time I restore my honor as one." Zoë puts a hand on her hip and uses the other to grab my arm to stay upright.

"Gravitational pull different than up in the sky?" I chuckle.

Zoë looks at me stunned. "How did you-?"

I chuckle again. "There's a lot about me no one thought to know about. When you met me dear Zoë, I was merely playing the fool."

She grins evilly. "You little devil. How did you find out about the sky though?" She asks confused.

"Hmm, my dreams. Mine are always different than everybody else's. Normally they can wake up, but I never can. Which is why I don't sleep in, I'm caught in my little vision. I have them more frequently than the others. I learned about Lord Ouranos quite a while ago. Around the time before Hera took me, gods it took forever for the side effects to wear off. I think I was out for a week after the last battle when Hera let me sleep it off naturally. Makes me hate her guts, but I forgive her now." I answer.

"Dreams? There is no way those are demigod dreams." Zoë looks at me and studies my face. "Locked into your sleep." She mutters.

"Chiron, the centaur who can ride right off a cliff for all I care, said that some demigods have this, but none more strongly than me. I asked him about it once." I tell her grudgingly.

"What's wrong with Chiron?" Zoë asks.

"Am I allowed killing the trainer of demigods or is that considered an offense and betrayal to the gods? He's just another monster, might as well run the son of a bitch through." I mutter and stomp over to Atlas.

"What do you want demigod?" Atlas grumbles.

"I was wondering, do you approve of your role in the second Titan War?" I ask casually.

"Of course I do. I deserve to be sitting on a throne up on Olympus." Atlas barks at me.

"Maybe not. See ya." I wave and return to the Hesperides.

"Did you just cuss?" Zoë raises an eyebrow.

"I did. Forgive my bitterness, but I hate that horse with a passion. Gods, it's so hard not to stick a sword up his behind. Proud idiot." I mumble.

"Percy, since when did you use that language?" Zoë is trying not to smile.

"Since I lost pretty much everything. I'm not a happy person. I don't enjoy being betrayed. Bunch of imbeciles running that camp, Tartarus, I could just ride in there on a horse and take them down one by one. Don't take anything seriously, always messing around, beating up friends on false pretenses, harassing the nymphs and satyrs, blocking passage both ways for demigods because they are blind for some stupid reason. Someone needs to shove a cork up all their butts and see how long it takes for them to explode and realize their mistakes. Never going back unless absolutely necessary." I rant, then turn toward the direction of camp. "Hear that?! Good luck trying to find someone who's dead in the mortal world!" I yell across the expanse of ocean.

"They can't hear you Percy, calm down." Hesperia touches my arm.

"Oh, they can hear me. The sea will carry my voice all the way to the shores of their beach. Probably think it's haunted or Poseidon is ticked off at them. Maybe both. That'd be cool." I say.

"Wait a minute. Percy, why are you here?" Zoë asks and puts her hands on her hips, raises an eyebrow, and wears a stern expression.

"Oh Hades. Screw it all to Tartarus." I look at the sea as I turn pink. Then I look at Zoë. "I came to die."

Her jaw drops and she slaps me. "What?! Why?!" She screeches.

"First of all, Ladon refused to kill me like I wanted and instead I got something I think is much better than trying to get my old life back. And second, because I had nothing left to live for, so I decided it was die painfully because of my fatal flaw or die fighting with the dignity I had left." I tell her as I move my jaw around and it sets back in place. "Nice backhand there Zoë."

She smiles a little bit despite herself. "When I get my hands on them-"

"Oh no you don't. My fight and mine alone. Besides. It'll be nice here with you guys and Ladon. Atlas I could do without, but there's really no avoiding it." I interrupt her.

"What do you mean?" Zoë asks.

"We've decided to make him ours and Ladon's Guardian. As well as the tree's. He will protect Mt. Tamalpais and keep an eye on father and Mt. Othrys. The garden will be even more safe with him around. He is taking his oaths tonight in front of the council. He has already ate an apple Ladon gifted him with." Aegle tells Zoë happily.

"So, you're with us forever eh? Not bad if I do say so myself. Awesome." Zoë smiles.

"Nice English there Miss Nightshade." I laugh and she blushes dark red.

"Shut up. Lord Ouranos insisted I learn modern day English. I can still talk like I used to." Zoë smirks but leaves the topic alone.

Zoë places a hand on my forehead and I glow deep violet again. This time it settles into my skin. Zoë is just looking at me. "I did not know you could sing. Will you sing for us?"

"Uh...I normally don't sing for people. No one has ever heard me before." I blush crimson.

"Come on, you can sing with us and to us. We do it all the time. And if you're going to be here forever, then the sooner you do it the better." Arethusa smiles warmly.

"I know there's something in the wake of your smile.

I get a notion from the look in your eyes, yea.

You've built a love but that love falls apart.

Your little piece of heaven turns too dark.

Listen to your heart

when he's calling for you.

Listen to your heart

there's nothing else you can do.

I don't know where you're going

and I don't know why,

but listen to your heart

before you tell him goodbye.

Sometimes you wonder if this fight is worthwhile.

The precious moments are all lost in the tide, yea.

They're swept away and nothing is what it seems,

the feeling of belonging to your dreams.

Listen to your heart

when he's calling for you.

Listen to your heart

there's nothing else you can do.

I don't know where you're going

and I don't know why,

but listen to your heart

before you tell him goodbye.

And there are voices

that want to be heard.

So much to mention

but you can't find the words.

The scent of magic,

the beauty that's been

when love was wilder than the wind.

Listen to your heart

when he's calling for you.

Listen to your heart

there's nothing else you can do.

I don't know where you're going

and I don't know why,

but listen to your heart

before you tell him goodbye.

Listen to your heart

when he's calling for you.

Listen to your heart

there's nothing else you can do.

I don't know where you're going

and I don't know why,

but listen to your heart

before you tell him goodbye." I chose to sing 'Listen to Your Heart' by Roxette. Don't ask why. I just felt it was appropriate.

They are all smiling warmly and the scent of mint on the wind has grown stronger. "The garden loves your voice." Erytheia takes a hold of my hand and I wrap my fingers around her small and slender hand.

"I don't know about that. I'm not very good at it." I smile kindly at her.

"That's a lie. It's beautiful when you sing, like a whole other world envelopes you." Hesperia informs me.

I start to turn red, but smile despite my embarrassment. "So, how are the gods going to not recognize me?" I ask and look around at them.

"Have you seen yourself? No, I suppose not. Zoë made the finishing touches with her blessing. Though, it will change a little bit when you become our Guardian and Ladon's, but not by much I hope." Arethusa muses.

"Huh?" I ask confused.

Aegle pulls out a hand mirror for me to see what I look like. My skin isn't tanned anymore, it's a snowy white and takes on the resemblance of a cream texture. Weird. My eyes have turned crystal white and my hair is still black, but more volcanic than purplish raven.

"Oh boy. Who's breaking the news to the gods that Percy Jackson died at the hands of Ladon?" I ask.

"I'll do it. They won't expect a dead girl to announce the news." Zoë grins.

"Sounds good." I smile.

"Your green eyes were very pretty, but I like the crystalline look your white ones carry. They sparkle." Erytheia says admiringly.

"Thank you. But yours are prettier." I smile warmly at her and she hugs me and giggles.

"You guys aren't allowed to leave here though." I frown.

"We are on occasions such as this. We have permission from the council. So we can leave this one time. Getting there, however, is a different story." Arethusa sighs.

"Oh, I can take care of that. I'll just drop us off outside the doors." I say.

They all look at me. "Vapor travel works naturally for me. I've got a gift for it apparently. Not many demigod sons of Poseidon and Neptune get it and as easily as I do at that." And they just smile and nod.

"It feels like being pulled apart from the inside out and then put back together in the opposite way. Don't worry, it's completely harmless. I've perfected it." I say and they breathe a sigh of relief.

I hold out my hands and they hold them and each other's. I breathe deeply. "Gods, this is going to be draining." I say and we turn into water vapor.

We zip to the streets below the Empire State Building. I reform us quickly and stagger back from the sudden loss of energy. I catch myself and stand straight. "Ugh, big groups suck in long distances. Wasn't as draining as I thought though. That's good."

"You okay?" Zoë asks.

"Peachy." I smile at her.

"More like cheeky. Now come on. We haven't got all day to stand around waiting." Arethusa says.

"Ever the impatient one." Zoë chuckles in her accent.

I open the door for them and they walk through with their heads held high. Zoë is dressed just like her sisters. Black hair piled high and a white greek chiton. I'm still in the outfit they put me in while I was sleeping on Ladon gaining his blessing.

I follow them in and the guy at the desk just hands me the key at the sight of the Hesperides. "Eyes off of the ladies." I snap at him and he goes right back to reading his magazine on fashion models.

The girls giggle and we step into the elevator. Once the doors close and no mortals are in with us, Zoë presses the button after I twist the key. "That was very sweet and protective of you Percy." Hesperia laughs.

"Speaking of me, what the heck am I supposed to call myself? I can't exactly be Percy Jackson. One, he's dead. Two, I look completely different. And three, I'm done with that life and starting a new one." I say.

"Okay. How about...Katharós?" Aegle asks.

"Pure?" I ask uncertain.

Aegle nods. "You are the purest soul ever." Erytheia agrees with her sister.

"Oh alright." I consent and they all smile.

The elevator doors open and I look at them, they are all waiting for something. "Do you know all the greek songs?" Arethusa asks me.

I nod slowly. "Yes, what are we doing?"

"Gracing Olympus with our voices. Yours will intertwine with ours wonderfully. Let music from our garden once again fill the streets and halls of Olympus." Zoë grins.

I nod and they start singing. I join in once we start walking, I lead them through the streets. Everybody turns and stares at us and I feel self-conscious but their presences make me feel at ease with my voice. The Hesperides all touch me and speak in my mind as we sing. 'Do you know the songs Josh Groban sings for the movie Troy?' I nod. 'Will you sing one and we will accompany you with different accents to the song. Flow into it as soon as this song is over. It will be near the end once we are through the throne room doors, so that they will know we are coming and that we are here and that we have arrived.' I nod again and we share warm smiles as we sing.

As soon as the song is done, I start to sing the best song on the soundtrack for that movie. 'Remember.' "Remember, I will still be here

As long as you hold me, in your memory

Remember, when your dreams have ended

Time can be transcended

Just remember me

I am the one star that keeps burning, so brightly,

It is the last light, to fade into the rising sun

I'm with you

Whenever you tell, my story

For I am all I've done

Remember, I will still be here

As long as you hold me, in your memory

Remember me

I am the one voice in the cold wind, that whispers

And if you listen, you'll hear me call across the sky

As long as I still can reach out, and touch you

Then I will never die

Remember, I'll never leave you

If you will only

Remember me

Remember me...

Remember, I will still be here

As long as you hold me

In your memory

Remember, when your dreams have ended

Time can be transcended

I live forever

Remember me

Remember me

Remember... me..." The girls and I finish out the song and come to a halt in the middle of the throne room, with them surrounding me.

Our heads are bowed and I kneel on the ground as the girls fan out to either side of me. "Is this the man you have chosen then?" Zeus asks.

Tell me your thoughts! Rick Riordan owns PJO/HOO. Till we meet again my lovely readers!