Chapter .4.


"What helicopter?" Percy asks

Harry digs in his bag and pulls out a miniature helicopter.

"We need a place for my to enlarge it. Like a private airplane field", Harry says

"There is a field behind this pier", Zoe says

"Lets go then not long to look for Artemis and Annabeth", Harry says

They quickly go behind the shopping centre and they saw the police arrive.

"That was bound to happen. But I wiped everyone's memories and replaced them with a shooter on the rampage", Harry says as they get to the field

The field was just big enough to fit a helicopter in and take off.

"This place is perfect", Bella says

Harry puts the helicopter down in the middle of the field. Rose made sure there was notice-me-not charms around the area so nobody could see the helicopter.

"Engorgio!" Harry says waving a hand over the helicopter

The helicopter immediately begins to glow and grow. It was large by the time it was done.

"Ok everyone in. Bella and I are flying it", Harry says opening the doors

Percy, Thalia, Groover, Bianca and Zoe see the large interior. There was plenty of room to fit everyone in plus more. There was also a little bar fridge and cupboard. The chairs were made of black leather and were padded so they were so soft. Each seat had seat belts.

"How?" Thalia asks

"Space within space. It was difficult to work it but we did. The fridge has refreshments. Through the back door is an infirmary with all medical gear we could need including nectar and ambrosia and any potions we would need. This helicopter also has guns made of celestial bronze, imperial gold, stygian iron, titanium acid-etched steel bullets and some bombs too. We have shields that will protect us from missiles or anything that wishes to harm us and makes us invisible. The propellers are also silent. So everyone buckle up", Harry says getting into the pilot seat with Bella in the co-pilot seat

Rosemarie, Jasper, Leah and Seth take seats and help the other demigods and Satyr into theirs. They make sure Thalia didn't have a window seat since she was scared of heights. They feel the propeller start up faster.

"Invisibility shields are a go", Bella says flicking a button

"Are flight path is clear. Lets get going", Harry says taking off

"I don't get it. Why do we have to get there at sunset?" Percy asks

"The Hesperides are the nymphs of the sunset. We can only enter their garden as day changes to night", Zoe replies

"What happens if we miss it?" Bianca asks

"Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice. If we miss sunset tonight we would have to wait until tomorrow evening, And by then, the Olympian Council will be over. We must free Lady Artemis tonight", Zoe says

"And we will. Have faith Zoe we will be there soon and we will free my Artemis", Harry says as he flies the helicopter

"Who was the hero that hurt you Zoe?" Percy asks

"Percy", Harry says in warning

"No Harry they need to know. It was Hercules. I helped Hercules with his quest for a golden apple in the Hesperides Garden. I helped him trick Atlas and gave him my hairpin that transformed into a sword. When my sisters discovered this they exiled me. Hercules ultimately gave me no credit for my help and abandoned me to my fate. Then I joined Lady Artemis and I had a home again and a mother figure who I love dearly", Zoe says

"Hercules is still a asshole Zoe. He doesn't even claim his children. Most live where I live and only their parents because I can tell who's parent is whom", Harry says

"So where exactly do you live?" Thalia asks

"An island in the Caribbean. Most beings come there for peace and we live in harmony. I tell any demigod that comes who there parent is", Harry says

"Who . . . is my parent?" Bianca asks nervously

"Do you what to know?" Harry asks

"Yes", Bianca says, "Nico needs to know soon too"

"Tell her. Tell her I put her and her brother in the Lotus Casino to protect them and so Zeus wouldn't kill them. Tell her, her story", Hades thinks to Harry

"Your fathers is Lord Hades, King of the Underworld, the dead, subterranean regions and riches. Also known as the Rich One, the Silent One and the Hospitable One", Harry informs her and the helm flashes above her head

"Hades is her father!" Percy exclaims

"Don't judge Lord Hades. He is the best parent out of all the gods", Harry snaps

"Why did he leave me then?" Zoe asks

"You and Nico were born in Venice to Maria di Angelo and Lord Hades before the beginning of World War II. So Hades never broke his oath. You moved around a lot from Venice to Split Croatia to Washington DC. That was when Lord Zeus found out about you and your brother and struck the hotel you were in with a lightning bolt. Lord Hades was able to save you by erecting an impenetrable wall of black energy to shield you both from Zeus's bolt. However Lord Hades was unable to shield you mother in time. Afterward in grief Lord Hades ordered fury Alecto to take you and Nico to the Underworld and bathe you in the River Lethe to wipe your memories. Then take you to the Lotus Casino where you wouldn't age till he felt it was time you left the Casino", Harry explains

Bianca had tears in her eyes hearing the story.

"Does Dad really love me and Nico?" Bianca asks

"Yes he does and so do you siblings", Harry says gently

"Who? We never heard of other children of Hades", Thalia asks

"They are on my island there is 14 of them. From 19 to 5. He sees them. It is only at Camp Half-Blood that he can't see his children. We have cabins for all gods on the island with their Greek and Roman side sharing a cabin. Each child has their own room and can move out of the cabin at 18 and find a house or have a house built on the island if they want to stay", Harry explains

"I would like to met my Dad", Bianca says

"I will take you and Nico to my island to meet Lord Hades and your siblings after the Winter Solstice meeting", Harry says

Suddenly the helicopter thrashes around and lightning was flashing around. Both Harry and Bella were keeping the helicopter steady.

"Shields! Now Bella", Harry orders

Bella flicks a switch just in time for a lightning bolt to hit them.

"One may perish by a parents hand. He decided to kill me!" Thalia says outraged

"It is the energy up here Thalia. Not Lord Zeus's hand", Bella says

"There is too much different energy up here coursing electrical storms. Hence the lightning. It is both to do with the Mist both magical kind and natural kind", Harry says as the bump around in the air

"Activating stabilizers", Bella says flicking a button

They near Mount Othrys and Harry lands close to the garden of the Hesperides. They all climb out of the helicopter. And Harry reshrinks it.

"Why does everything smell like cough drops?" Percy asks

"Eucalyptus", Rosemarie and Zoe say pointing at the trees

"The stuff koala bears eat?" Percy asks

"And monsters. They love chewing the leaves. Especially dragons", Zoe replies

"Dragons chew eucalyptus leaves?" Percy asks shocked

"Believe me. If you had smelt dragon breath, you would chew eucalyptus, too", Zoe says

"So this is the Mountain of Despair?" Percy asks

"Yes", Zoe says tightly

"Why do they call it that?" Percy asks

"After the war between the Titans and the Gods, many of the Titans were imprisoned here punished and imprisoned. Kronos was sliced to pieces and thrown into Tartarus. Kronos right hand-man, the General of his forces, was imprisoned up here, on the summit, just beyond the garden of the Hesperides", Zoe says

"Look!" Leah says looking at the ocean

"A big white ship. Docked near the beach. It looks like a cruise ship", Seth says

"Luke's ship?" Thalia asks Percy

"Yes", Percy says

Harry could feel that Artemis was close. He hoped he could free her soon he didn't like feeling her energy level so low.

"We will have company than. Kronos's army", Zoe says grimly

"They will make a tough army to beat but we have advantage", Jasper says

"What?" Bianca asks

"Let you know soon", Harry says

They quickly make there way up the mountain. Zoe had ran on ahead. Harry couldn't stop Percy from yelling out.

"Zoe!" Percy shouts

"Silence. Fool! Do you want to wake Ladon?" Zoe hisses

"You mean we're here?" Percy asks

"Very close. Follow me", Zoe says

"Remember Zoe you are better then them", Harry whispers in her ear

"Thank you", Zoe whispers back

The sheets of fog were drifting across the ground. Zoe stepped into one of them, and, when the fog passes, she was no longer there. Thalia, Percy and Groover look at each other.

"Concentrate on Zoe", Rosemarie advisors

"We are following her. Go straight ahead into the fog and keep that in mind", Harry says

They enter the fog and the fog cleared they were still on the side of the mountain, but the road was dirt. The grass was thicker. The sunset made a blood-red slash across the sea. The summit of the mountain seemed closer now, swirling with storm clouds and raw power. There was only one path to the top. Directly in front of them. And it lead through a lush meadow of shadows and flowers: It was the Garden of Twilight.

If it wasn't for the enormous dragon, the garden would've been the most beautiful place they'd ever seen. The grass shimmered with silvery evening light, and the flowers were such brilliant colours they almost glowed in the dark. Stepping stones of polished black marble led round either side of a five-storey-tall apple tree, every bough glittering with golden apples.

"The apples of immortality. Hera's wedding gift from Zeus", Thalia says

"Don't concentrate on the smell that is how they trap you", Harry warns everyone

The shadows in front of them began to move. There was beautiful, eerie singing, like voices from the bottom of a well. Percy, Bianca and Thalia go for their weapons but Zoe stops them with her hand. Four figures shimmered into existence, four young women who looked very much like Zoe. They all wore white Greek Chitons. Their skin was like caramel. Silky black hair tumbled down their shoulders.

"Sisters", Zoe says

"We don't see any sister", one girl says coldly

"Don't listen to them your have better family then them", Harry whispers in Zoe's ear, "Artemis, the Hunters and me. They are no family for you anymore"

"We see 5 half-bloods, a hunter, a vampire, a satyr and two other beings that are not demigods. All of whom shall soon die", another girl says

"You've got it wrong", Percy says, "Nobody is going to die this day"

"I agree I would die before anyone hurts any of my family", Harry says sternly

"Perseus Jackson", one of them say

"Yes. I do not see why he is a treat", another says

The first Hesperid glanced behind her, towards the top of the mountain.

"They fear three. They are unhappy that this one has not yet killed thee", the Hesperid says pointed at Thalia

"Tempting sometimes", Thalia admitted, "But no thanks. He's my friend and family"

"There are no friends or family here, daughter of Zeus. Only enemies. Go back", the girl says

"Not without Annabeth", Percy and Thalia say

"Not without Artemis", Harry says

"And Artemis" Zoe says at the same time as Harry, "We must approach the mountain"

"You know he will kill thee. You are no match for him", the girl says

"Artemis must be freed. Let us pass", Zoe insists

"You have no rights here anymore. We have only to raise our voices and Ladon will wake", the girl says

"He will not hurt me", Zoe says

"No? And what about thy so-called friends?" the girl asks

Zoe does something they are all not expecting.

"Ladon! Wake!" Zoe shouts

The dragon stirs, glittering like a mountain of pennies. The Hesperides yelped and scattered.

"Are you mad?" the Lead girl says to Zoe

"You never had any courage, sister. That is thy problem", Zoe says

The dragon Ladon was writhing now, a hundred heads whipping around, tongues flickering and tasting the air. Zoe took a step forward, her arms raised.

"Zoe, don't. You're not a Hesperid anymore. He'll kill you", Thalia says

Harry was waiting for the last second to rush in he takes off his gloves that cover some marks. So do Bella and Rosemarie. They were all waiting for the right moment.

"Ladon is trained to protect the tree", Zoe says, "Skirt around the edge of the garden. Go up the mountain. As long as I am a bigger threat, he should ignore three"

"Should", Percy says, "Not exactly reassuring"

"It is the only way", Zoe says, "Even all of us together cannot fight him"

Thalia, Bianca and Jasper went left while Leah, Seth and I went right. Harry, Rosemarie and Bella didn't move.

"It's me, my little dragon. Zoe has come back", Zoe says to Ladon

Ladon shifts forward, then back. Some of the mouths closed. Some kept hissing. Meanwhile, the Hesperides shimmered and turned into shadows.

"Fool", the voice of the eldest girl says

"I used to feed thee by hand, Do you still like lamb's meat?" Zoe asks

The dragons eyes glint.

'Any second now', Harry thinks to Bella and Rosemarie

Percy, Thalia, Bianca, Leah and Seth were halfway round the garden. Ahead they could see a single rocky trail leading up to the black peck of the mountain. The storm swirled above it, spinning on the summit like it was the axis for the whole world.

Then something went wrong. Harry could feel it.

"Hedwig!" Harry calls as Ladon lunges at Zoe

Hedwig appears in a flash of white and her talons grip Zoe and flash out and to the stone path of the garden. Zoe had been knocked out by the force. Ladon roars in frustration.

"Look Ladon", Harry says showing his Dragon Rider and Dragon Friend mark

The same with Rosemarie and Bella.

"If you want to stay alive I suggest you let us pass. Our Dragons are waiting on our call", Harry says

Ladon roars in frustration knowing he couldn't beat a lot of dragons and the power that these three let of he stood no hope. So he backed away.

"Ladon what are you doing?" the Hesperid asks

"He recognised we are more powerful then him", Harry says

"Who are you three?" the Hesperid asks

"We are dangerous beings to make angry. And you have by trying to kill Zoe. Be warned next we cross we might kill you and your pet dragon. Zoe is family for my Artemis and her hunters and I will not stand anyone hurting or trying to kill her. Pass that on to your father and Kronos. But I have a feeling I will be facing them both up that mountain am I right?" Harry asks

The Hesperid remains silent and Harry smirks so do Bella and Rosemarie.

"Well then we better not kept them waiting", Harry says leaving the garden with Rosemarie and Bella

The others were gathered around Zoe. Who was rubbing her head.

"What happened?" Zoe asks

"We got you out of there before Ladon could kill you. But it looks like he got a little bit of poison in you. Hedwig!" Harry says to the beautiful snow phoenix

Hedwig lands on the wound and cries tears on it. Zoe felt the fire in her veins leave her body and her wound heal up.

"Thank you noble snow phoenix and your bonded", Zoe says looking at Hedwig and Harry

Hedwig trills in pleasure.

"Our pleasure. Now lets get up this mountain", Harry says offering a hand

Zoe takes it and they begin walking up the mountain weapons drawn…


Author's Note: What do you think? Please review:)