Reach for the golden hidden stars

Descendant from a beautiful sky

Union celebrated in unending

Stolen to the death of the mighty

The knot of the heavens sundered be

"Is this obscurity absolutely necessary? Or are the Gods just all really passionate beatnik poetry lovers?" protested Robin with an annoyed set to his shoulders.

Jason started to snicker and Piper rolled her eyes.

Diana looking patient explained. "There are a couple of reasons for prophecy being ..."

"Like the Riddler's clues when he's been visiting Margeritaville?" protested Robin.

Chiron snorted. "Look kid, they're clues left for the right people for how to solve world threatening problems but generally only the right people have any hope of being successful so the obscurity helps stop the wrong persons from ending up killed, getting involved in something they have no right getting involved in."

Robin still looked dubious. "So you're trying to tell me that the mumbo jumbo doesn't result in misinterpretations that get people killed?"

Annabeth raise one eyebrow towards Chiron. Generations of children of Athena had died going after the Athena Parthenos before Annabeth had suceeded.

Robin wasn't finished ranting. "Clearly communicating expectations, mission parameters, locations and intel is vital. It's basic leadership. What gives?"

"The gods have limited interference rules to prevent all out war. The hints rather than clarity has a lot to do with that," explained Diana. "And potentially some of them just like to watch mortals overcome challenges because they find it amusing."

"Descendant from a beautiful sky seems to be you," spoke Piper. "Goddess of Love and Beauty is Aphodite, God of the Sky and Lord of Heaven is Zeus."

"Could Reach be the Reach and not just reaching for something?" asked Conner.

"Pardon?" asked Chiron.

"The Reach are aliens that have been causing trouble," clarified Aqualad.

"Oh, okay certainly! Proficy and double meanings go together like peanut butter and jelly."

"Stolen to the death of the mighty? So something that could kill Gods if it was stolen?" prompted Annabeth thinking outloud.

Everyone was silent for a while thinking or mostly silent. Kid Flash had a Sonic the Hedgehog lunch box full of snacks and was working on second or third lunch. He kept commenting on the food because thoughtful silence wigged him out. "Goldfish crackers yum. Hey Aqualad I'm eating your buddies. Noooo!" he teased.

Aqualad rolled his eyes.

"I wonder what's in this wrap? Eh,.. tastes like chicken, but doesn't everything just.."

"Will you stop talking with your mouth full!" scowled Artemis, grinding her teeth.

"KF! Wait!" Robin snatched the apple out of Kid Flash's lunch box and sliced it in half with a Batarang. He held it up to show the star shape the seeds inside the apple made.

"I thought immortal golden apples was Norse mythology," protested Artemis.

"There are apples referenced in a lot of cultures. Greek, Roman, Norse, Christian, Irish..." spoke Robin.

"There are two greek golden apple references that come to mind," spoke Annabeth. "Both have to do with unions or marriages, Zeus, Hera, and Aphrodite. The Golden Apple of Discord and the Apples of Hesperides."

"Perhaps someone could enlighten the group on the two myths so that we can evaluate this properly," suggested Aqualad.

Robin volunteered, "Well the Apple of Discord was this golden apple with the words 'to the fairest' engraved on it. This major troll Eris the Goddess of Strife and Discord, throws the apple into the crowd at this big fancy wedding right between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, see? Everyone's all you know, 'hell to the no,' that apple's got my name on it Sister!"

"Well, that started one of the most epic cat fights of all time but finally the three goddesses tastefully discheveled of course, arms crossed, feet tapping, let the dust settle and every last one of them is staring at Zeus. Okay mister I'm the boss, make the call. Who's apple is it? Zeus is all, 'Do I look like a blinking idiot? I don't want anywhere near that kind of action,' so he points at this sheppard kid who's supposed to be pretty wise and declares that guy's calling it."

"Well, the sheppard kid, who's name is Paris is standing there like a deer in the headlights all, 'who me?'. At this point, Hera decides to try and bribe the guy with power which sounds pretty awesome to Paris but then Athena decides to bribe him with a gift of incredible wisdom and battle strategy and Paris is going back and forth: door number one or door number two. By now he's completely forgotten about who's the fairest and it's all about the signing bonus then he gets this unfortunate little thought. He hasn't heard from Aphrodite. So he looks to the Goddess of Love and well... He's a teenager and a guy. So, lust and the promise of the hottest chick ever wins the day because unfortunately that's just how most teenage boys are wired. The hottest chick ever was Helen of Troy and the whole mess resulted in the Trogen war and the fall of Troy. I think Paris kicks it in the end."

Wonder Woman was staring at Robin looking kind of horrified just how he'd told the ancient tale.

Robin gave her kind of a sheepish look with a tentative smile of apology.

Jason, Piper and Annabeth were pretty near rolling on the ground laughing.

Chiron rolled his eyes and sighed. "Yeah, that is sort of what happened. Very colourfully told Robin. Would someone else like to share the story of the Apples of Hesperides?"

Princess Diana glared in everyone's general direction and summed up. "They were a wedding gift from Aphrodite to Zeus and Hera in celebration of their marriage. The golden apples grant immortality when eaten. They grow on a tree in the Garden of Hesperides. Heracles was tasked to steal them."

"Well," spoke Kid Flash. "That's not nearly as exciting as the last story but those apples probably fit the prophecy better. The Reach making a bunch of bad guys immortal with stolen wedding apples sounds like bad news."

"Sooo..." drawled Robin. "Is that it for the helpfulness of prophecy?" He looked predictably dubious.

"Herperides is in Portugal," offered Annabeth.

"So we head to Portugal and hope for the best?" asked Robin rather incredulous about the sketchy mission parameters.

Chiron, Jason, Piper, and Annabeth just kind of nodded resignedly.

"That's about the gist of it," admitted Jason. "You also need to decide who's going. Demigod quests are always pretty ... ehh"

"Just wander off in a general direction, play it by ear and hope for the best," spoke Piper a little bitterly.

Robin and Aqualad briefed Batman. Wonder Woman respectfully explained that once the quest began she would have to pull out because her status with the Greek gods required non-interference for political reasons. Things had settled down between the demigods and the team.

Batman wasn't exactly happy about that but he understood. Batman wanted to talk to Robin alone again.

The cowl was again removed. "Dick, there can't be two Robin's and Robin needs to be seen in Gotham right now."

Dick peeled off his mask looking confused. "What do you want me to do?" He unclasped his cape trying not to look hurt. It was very late and it had been a long day.

Bruce closed his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh. "Richard..."

A bolt of lightening shot from the sky through open hatch of the bio-ship and onto Robin. It turned the heads of the entire camp. The light was so bright that even across the display screen Bruce was forced to avert his eyes momentarily. It was alarming but Dick hadn't been consumed or hurt in anyway. He was standing where he'd been all along but now instead of red, black and yellow his costume was all black with a stylized imperial eagle on the chest in royal blue. Dick hurriedly put his mask back on as concerned friends and family rushed to see what had happened.

Batman's cowl was already on again when he growled out, "What happened?"

Jason, looking at Robin smiled. "He didn't have to do that but he did."

"Who? What?!" demanded Aqualad.

Wonder Woman was smiling. "Zeus claimed kinship to Robin," she explained.

"Looking smoking dude!" exclaimed Kid Flash.

With a soft gust of cologne, the outfit lost a little of it's imperial look, the cape turned into a flutter of yellow rose petals, the abs were accentuated, the kevlar tighted around the buttocks area and Robin hair fluffed and styled into a fashionable disheveled look. The mask restyled slightly to emphasize flattering cheekbones and a rogue-ish sort of devilishness.

"And Aphrodite added her two cents," laughed Piper.

"Is it improper that I think he looks hot?" M'gann asked Artemis blushing embarrassed.

Conner growled and Artemis smirked.

"Rob them abs are toned and I had no idea your cape was hiding that fine, fine caboose," Artemis teased.

Robin showing his age blushed furiously. "I don't think I'm quite old enough for this outfit."

"Yeah," agreed Piper with a huff of frustration. "Grandma has some odd ideas at times."

"Thanks Grandma!" called out Piper sarcastically. "My twelve year old son really wanted to look sexy!"

Artemis and M'gann giggled. Batman growled.