I dedicate this chapter to Straberrie Blondie, because without her, I wouldn't be sitting here typing this.

Love you girl!

A tall, willowy woman strode into the cavernous room quickly and surely. Her ashy blonde curls were pinned up into a neat bun, and her body was draped in a flowing white dress that swished as she walked. She surveyed the room as she moved gracefully amongst the regal thrones. All of them were different, and yet they all exuded the same frightening power. But she was entirely used to this power, and it did not intimidate her in the least.

"Athena," a voice boomed to her right.

"Father," she answered formally, watching the man who had just entered to room. He wore a simple charcoal suit and neat black tie, giving off the appearance of a banker or a businessman. His dark brown beard was trimmed carefully, and his hair neatly combed. The only thing that set him apart from an average person was the lightning bolt he gripped in his left hand. It was shooting out sparks and emitting a bright blue light.

"I am sure you are wondering why I summoned you here," the man said as he strode over to the biggest and most intimidating thrown of them all, placing the bolt in the arm of the chair and then carefully sitting down in the golden seat.

Athena snorted quietly. "Another war you'd like me to win for you perhaps?"

The man practically crackled with electric energy, his bright blue eyes looking angry enough to smote the woman on the spot. "You will watch your tone."

Athena, although quite sure she was right, replied, "My apologies, Zeus." Then she proceeded to bow her head and kneel down in front of him.

He sighed. "You may stand. I am sorry as well, I know I've been asking a lot of you lately. The monsters that were destroyed in that last war are all starting to reform again. I guess we all were getting used to the break." Athena nodded sympathetically. It couldn't be easy to be the king of the gods. Zeus continued, "And yes, there is a minor war I would like you to break up. I tried to get ahold of Ares but the gods only know what he's up to. Actually, even we don't know. Anyway, it's just a small spat between Egypt and Israel. The Israelis have been camping out in the sphinxes territory, and you know sphinxes. They're starting to attack and it's becoming quite a problem for everyone. So if you could just pop down there and-"

Suddenly, another man burst into the throne room. His lean physique and blue track suit made him look like your stereotypical marathon junkie. He had a shocked look on his face and held a compact silver phone up to his ear even as he sprinted up to Zeus's throne. He kneeled hurriedly, still listening keenly to the person on the other line and nodding profusely.

"Yes. Yes, I'm already here. He's actually sitting right in front of me. Yes. I'll tell him immediately. What? Oh, alright. Thank you." He pulled the cell phone away from his ear and snapped it shut quickly, leaping to his feet. "My Lord, I have groundbreaking news. I didn't expect this at all; I don't think anyone did. What this will do to all the young demigods I can't even imagine-"

"Hermes!" Zeus exclaimed, sounding frustrated. "Will you PLEASE just tell us what's going on?"

"Yes of course, sir, sorry, sir. The news is just so shocking."

Zeus glared at him, and Hermes shifted uncomfortably.

"Well? Care to share it with us?" he asked grouchily. Athena held her breath in anticipation.

Hermes's face was grave. "There's a new prophecy. The oracle at camp revealed it to Chiron this morning. I expect you'll want to hear it?"

The three Olympians gazed at each other sorrowfully. Zeus recovered capability of speech first.

"The camp is finally getting back on its feet. We cannot have that all crumble due to another dreadful prophecy. They cannot assign a quest. No one may volunteer or be sent out until the Oracle directly bestows the quest upon a camper. We will try to postpone this grave foretelling for as long as we can. It is the only way."

Athena nodded. "For once, I agree with my father. This is too soon. The demigods need to stay safe and continue training inside the boundaries of camp for now. It is the best decision given the circumstances."

Hermes nodded slowly. The three powerful beings bowed their heads silently, pondering the misery and tragedy of prophecies, and praying that this one, just this once, would disappear.

Miles away from the Olympian throne room, a girl named Brooke Lyre was about to be engulfed in flames.