AN: Well, it's been a while. First off, I'd like to thank my readers, because I now have 1500 views on this story. That's more views than people who even know I exist. The writing is coming along, and I'm trying out something new for this chapter, so please bear with me. Trust me though, there's a lot of information in this one and there's only so many ways I can capture that through Violet's POV.

Other than that, I do all my work on Google Docs, so if anyone wants to be able to read and comment on chapters as they're being written, send me a PM and I'll give you the link.

On with the show!

VANIDADH

This is more like it. This is more like home, like Earth - Real Earth, not this stupid place full of naivety and colors, stuffed full of the weakest sentient race I've seen since… well, they're weak, let's just say that. No wonder there's none up here. It's kind of a relief. With all of the emotions that they insist on displaying and talking about, I'm glad to have only Violet here. At least he's learning a bit about the ways of the world. The ways that are somehow not present in Ponyland. It's getting worse, I know, but still nowhere near the crime or chaos that is -was- New York.

For example, I was living in the Everfree, which to them might as well be the depths of Tartarus - Real Tartarus, not Australlia where these people think it is - just because it was the only place that reminded me of my home, the only place that could keep me busy enough to not think about my situation, my legacy, my torment. My family.

As I absentmindedly tore through the snowy woods I again tried to forget… Violet just reminds me too much of her. Headstrong, capable, and loyal to a fault. I don't even know why he's sticking with me still. His debt is paid, it was paid not long after we got into the pass. He could have followed his threat in the tunnel, and if he did there's no doubt that Rathgur and Dew would be steaming piles of neeva shit by this point. He's perhaps the least useless pony I've laid my eyes on, and after living in Equestria since I arrived here, that's a decent amount. The only explanation I can think of is that he's mentally unstable still. I just need to be sure I don't push him hard enough to crack, as that could be disastrous.

Until we're back in Equestria, I'll have my eyes on him. Watching and training him. The kid has potential with his magic, and he just might be the one to bring me home. Then we'll destroy Morgana, follow her to Tartarus, then destroy her again there. She will never exist again, not for her crimes.

And after that, to see what I can't do about the human race.

VIOLET

"I still believe I would serve you better if I had a weapon." Rathgur stated.

"Maybe if you say that a million more times, I'll actually give you one." I said.

"Truly?"

"Not a chance. You've got claws, those should work well enough for now."

"Why do you not just say that you do not trust me, it is evident."

I whirled around. "I don't trust you. That's why you're down here with me, instead of up in the sky with Dew. I thought it was a pretty obvious hint." I shook the slush off my hooves; with the sun out, the snow was beginning to melt, and with that it tended to pack in my shoes.

"We will be together for a while. It will only get more difficult from here if we cannot work together."

"We can work together just fine." I said as I began walking again. "Doesn't mean I have to trust you." I 'ported ahead before he could reply. I'd seen Dew touch down in a clearing ahead of us, and 'ported again to the edge of said clearing before walking under a snow-laden tree branch.

"What'd you see?" I asked.

"Hello to you too, then." She replied with a paw at the ground. "I heard a screech ahead, I think that Van found them."

"Sorry, we're just in kind of a rush here." I apologized. "And Rathgur's being a bother."

"Am I now?"

I should have roasted this guy, seriously.

"Yes. You are. Dew heard a screech up ahead, go scout it out."

"You don't give me orders."

"No, I don't, but the longer you stand here the more prone I am to forego the clouds and just zap you myself."

"Vi, no wonder he's being rude, you probably started it." Dew said.

"I'll give you three seconds."He took off without me having to count at all, thankfully.

"Why are you being like this?"

"Like what?" I asked her.

"Back before we got to the pass, you were kind." I stared at her. "Kinder at least. You gave me your trust, why not give it to him?"

"Because." I couldn't explain it, I just had a bad feeling around him.

"Because why?"

"I trust you because you help out."

"Oh, and he didn't help against the neeva?"

I snorted. "Remember who healed you, who freed you. Who convinced Van to let you come and find your revenge. Was it Rathgur?"

She looked down. "No."

"That's right." I declared, then guilt hit. "Dew…"

She turned and walked into the forest. "Van is this way. We should keep quiet."

Shit… I followed after her, trying to formulate a way to fix everything. "Dew Drop." She spread her wings and took off, breaking through the forest canopy in a flurry of snow. I shot a fire spell at the closest tree then absorbed the flame into my spear, repeating the process over and again until it glowed just as bright as it had back at the river.

Now suitably armed, I began telehopping through the woods. It's a disorienting experience to say the least.

When a unicorn teleports, he or she is essentially transforming their body into magical energy, moving it to a new area in space, then reforming it back into a complex entity. The incantation is thankfully short for line-of-sight teleportation, though there was a rune for the spell so I simply used that instead. However, skilled magic users can teleport themselves anywhere through a recent picture, a scry, or even a person. There was a tale of a unicorn who could teleport places based on her memory, but any other attempts at that by today's magicians has failed. As it was, I had no pictures and I had yet to add scrying to my arcane arsenal. Instead, I used the runic form of the spell, which essentially just 'ports you to wherever you're looking. Every so often I would need to stop teleporting to let the artifact restore my magical stamina, but that was a miniscule price to pay for nearly effortless travel.

On the downside, it's hard to pay attention when you're constantly popping in and out of reality, and I just managed to hear the slightest shout from Dew. It was enough to throw me off, and I ended up rematerializing a few feet above the ground. As expected, I fell into the snow with a crunch.

Dew landed beside me. "He's right up ahead, I think."

I raised an eyebrow as I magicked the snow off my cloak. "You think?"

She rolled her eyes. "Judging by the dead griffins, yes."

"Did you see him though?"

"No, I didn't."

"He sees you." I nearly jumped right in the air hearing that. Vanidadh laughed and jumped down from a tree right above us. He landed silently in the snow, meaning that my muffling spell was still active.

"So, how'd it go?" Dew asked him.

"I'd guess that because he's here and no griffins are, it went well." I answered for him.

"Very observant." He answered. "And correct, though if Rathgur was right about their numbers then at least two got away. We have to assume they're headed back to the main body of the force for backup."

"Assuming there is an army camped out here for no reason?"

"Better to prepare for trouble…" He began.

"...and be prepared if it does come than be unprepared if it doesn't." I finished.

He raised his eyebrows at me. "So you are listening."

I snorted. "You're better than me at this kind of thing. I'd have to be stupid not to get what help I can get."

A twinkle appeared in his eye and he smiled in a knowing way. "And what would you call 'this kind of thing', Violet?"

I thought for a moment. He's looking for something general, not just related to this instance, that much is obvious. So, look back on everything I've done while with him… Fought the manticore, sold the remains. Monster-hunting? No, because right now we aren't hunting anything besides mythril. We need armor, but I don't think it's actually for hunting monsters. I think he has something else in mind, this globe-trip. What else would that trip be but…

"Adventuring?" I guessed. He nodded.

"Close, but not quite." I never did get to learn exactly what it was we were doing here though, because it was at that point that Rathgur landed.

"Was nobody going to tell me that we found him?" He stated as he began to preen his feathers.

"Yea," I replied with a roll of my eyes. "I was just getting ready to fly up and get you." I turned to Vanidadh. "What's the plan now?"

"We keep going through the pass, get into Gryphus, find some mythril, end the war, and make it back to Equestria without dying." He summed up.

"I feel like it would be faster if we just let them fight it out."

"Think for a second, Violet. You think that the Baron would just stop once he had Gryphus? Why would he stay here? No flight, no sun, no food."

"Nevermind, we're ending the war." I said quickly with a thought of what Equestria would look like over-ruled by griffins. I shuddered at the mental image of seeing Ponyville in ruins, the citizens that live there being enslaved or eaten. Do griffins eat ponies? I had no clue, but swiftly decided I didn't want to know.

"Right we are. Now, we plan the pass."

"What is there to plan?" Dew asked."I'm pretty sure it's as easy as walking until it ends."

"You'd walk right into the Baron's troops. All they have to do is sit at the end and wait for us, and we have no choice but to walk right into a trap." I pointed out.

Van shrugged. "I walk into traps all the time. Throws them off. "

The group just stared at him. "What?" He exclaimed. "I've yet to meet an inanimate object that was a match for me, and there's a short list of animate beings that can defeat me too." As curious as I was about who could beat Van, I didn't ask.

"Okay, so I guess we do just walk through the pass until we get to the end then, except let Van go first. " Dew said.

"You aren't faster than him." Rathgur said. Despite him not saying who he was talking about, I think Van just assumed.

"Tell you what, party-pooper. I'll race him when we get there. I'll even let you wave the flag, if you're nice." The griffin growled at that, but nobody really cared.

"I say we split up."I stated. "In case the griffins decide to sweep the valley."

"Sweep the valley?" Rathgur asked.

"It's what I'd do. Spread out the force within hearing distance, and go from one side of the valley to the other. Odds are, they'd find what they were looking for."

Van stepped back and folded his arms across his chest. "Wouldn't we be weaker if they did find us? Shouldn't we stick together and keep our strength?"

I could see in his eye that he was expecting something. "Our strength is that so far, they only know that Van is here. As far as our enemies are concerned, Van's on a killing rampage for no other reason than killing. We can work with that later."

"I've got a few ideas. So what happens if they find you three instead of just me?" He questioned.

"Rathgur will be going with you. It's fair to say that you two are our best physical fighters, and they already know that you both exist. You'd be able to fight your way out easily. Dew and I will stick to the river, running by the story that we have relatives in the country somewhere and we're on our way to visit."

"The border's closed." Rathgur stated.

"Nopony told the blank-flank Nut Buster that." I said with a smirk.

"Nut Buster?"

I pawed my hoof on the ground. "Who knows? Maybe they'll take me to Myth Buster."

Rathgur laughed. "Not before cutting off your horn they wouldn't. Practicing magic is forbidden in Gryphus without a permit from the Baron himself."

"So I won't let them see me use magic."

"Violet's plan works. We'll meet at the fort, and if you're caught, run. No heroics, no craziness, just move quickly and quietly."

I nodded my affirmative.

"Violet, come over here." Van waved me over with him as we walked through the trees, leaving a puzzled Dew and irritated Rathgur behind. He knelt down to be eye level with me.

I saw no hint of emotion in his grey eyes, just intensity.

"Don't die. I didn't sense it coming, but you're more important than you know. Even if you have to choose between you or her, pick yourself."

"Yea, I don't plan on dying anytime soon." I said with a chuckle.

He put his hand on my neck. A red alert went up in my mind on the contact, something off, something different about Vanidadh, but the feeling passed as instantaneously as it had arrived. I was left feeling only slightly uncomfortable. His eyes widened briefly, but that too was gone so quick I wouldn't be able to tell if I'd imagined it when I looked back on the memory. "I'm serious, Violet. I want you to make a promise that, no matter what, you'll hold your own life first and foremost."

"I promise." I figured that would be a given. There was only one thing I valued more than my own life and that was Moon Beam. She's nowhere close to Gryphus now.

"Good. Also, don't get her pregnant."

"Yes, dad. Any other obvious advice?"

He placed his hands on either side of my head and stared me in the eyes. Regal purple met stormy grey and I was unable to look away, had I even wanted to."Do. Not. Die."

VANIDADH

Violet's one of them. I could tell, instantly. As soon as I put my hands on him, felt that connection. No mortal being is as in tune with death as I am, and to sense emptiness inside him… Most people, I sense either impending destruction, or inner peace (usually destruction). With Violet I felt nothing. That's almost a sure sign that he's the 'deathless one' mentioned in the prophecy, however if he's to be one of the three for this quest, we need a lot of training and preparation time. Until we find the fallen hero, we've got nothing to do but train anyways.

It's a predicament for me. So far I haven't seen a hint of the Gods influence here. I assumed long ago that they were not here, not in this world. If that were true, I shouldn't have the power that I do. Death is a force across every plane. Does that make me the God of Death here? I certainly hope not, there's no underworld. That'd be the most boring job ever. hell, there isn't even an Olympus here I'm pretty sure, and I'm usually very good at getting off track. Where were we? Ah yes, Violet Shimmer, the Deathless One.

I remember the prophecy, word for word. Two of us will have to go to Tartarus, which I'm already going to say will be Violet and I. Violet, because he's apparently immune to dying, and me because, well, that's where Dad lives. Then six will rise. Six what's will rise? I've been thinking on that for way too long, and still have no answer.

"Human!" Rathgur shouted after me but I paid him no heed, continuing on my course through the winter forest. Briefly reminds me of that time Artemis and her Hunters came after me, except the griffin is a hell of a lot slower. I could outrun him without even using my hands, though I quickly decided that I should slow it down a little bit. So I did, not enough for him to catch up but enough for him to keep the pace. I figure the more tired he is, the less I'll have to deal with his whining. Sure he'd be less effective in case of a battle but I'd be able to handle most anything short of… well they don't have those here, so we'll be fine.

I'm actually surprised at how willing Violet is to partner up with me. I presume he will continue to be, until I tell him the prophecy. There's some nasty stuff in there about him, figure I'll wait quite a while before he gets to know. At least until it would be a decent fight if it turned ugly.

That reminds me to take some time after we get back to train him to use that javelin properly, or form it into a weapon he feels more comfortable with. He's good enough with it for now, but there's always some improvement to be done.

I just can't help but have a feeling that there's more to him than even I know.

VIOLET

"I hate this damned mud." I grumbled, pulling myself to all fours for the third time in ten minutes. Tele-hopping was a disaster; the melting snow on the riverbanks had completely saturated the ground. I couldn't teleport without falling, and even walking was a hassle. I'd been tempted to jump in the river earlier to clean off, but I was bound to get more dirty anyways and the bloody thing was freezing. At least I'd made my spear into a necklace, saving me from having to carry it the whole way. Yea, it was heavy, but when you compact that much metal into that small of a form, it's bound to be.

Dew was flying overhead. She stayed up and out of earshot, but thankfully she stayed with me as I trudged my way downstream. So, mud-covered and shivering, I continued on. In my mind I thought of the fort as a nice, warm house with hot chocolate waiting for us by the fire. There will be beds with warm blankets and we can stay there for a week to rest up, safe from anything that might hurt us.

It was that hope that kept me going so long. I lost track of time, just putting one hoof in front of the other, the only thing on my mind being the fire at the end of the river. You know that feeling where you're walking along and blank out and when you finally check back into your head, you find yourself impossibly far from where you started? Yea, that was me, except by the time I zoned back in, I'd say we had under an hour before sunset fell.

That wasn't my first thought though. My first thought when I returned to the land of the not brain-dead was that Dew was yelling. My second thought was how much the mud sucked. My third thought was to figure out why Dew was yelling, so I looked up.

She was locked in an aerial pursuit with three neeva. Those bastard goats were trying to corral her in and divebomb her from above. I wanted to help, to protect her, but she was too far away for me to launch any accurate spells without the risk of hitting her.

So I just teleported her down to the ground. A little part of me laughed when she slipped and fell in the mud, but that part was quickly silenced. I heard the bleat of a goat and I thought back to when we just left the pass. I'd taken out four or five of them then, what's three more now? Even as the first swooped into a dive I launched a fire spell. The neeva twisted around the torrent of flame, breaking off its attack in favor of its life. The two regroup- wait, two?

I whirled around just in time to see Dew get rammed from the side, sending her splashing into the river. I made a mental note to expand my arsenal of combat magic, then launched another fire spell. This time my foe caught the brunt of my attack, but I cut it off quickly. I needed these creatures incapacitated so I could go after Dew. Oh Celestia, please let her be able to swim.

With that I shot a couple of lightning spells into the sky in the neeva's general direction. They bugged off right quick, as they should. I guess they're used to lightning hitting everything but them or something. Already regretting my decision to do so, I leaped into the river too.

I was assaulted by the coldest thing I've ever felt. The water felt like liquid ice, and while I know that's technically all water, this stuff would likely freeze if it was stillwater. As it was, the cold ripped right through my heavy cloak, the weight of the sodden garment dragging me down into the swirling froth. I kicked my legs desperately, fighting against gravity and the forces of nature that dragged me down, but it was no use. As heat left my body, so too did my energy, until it was all I could do to just stay conscious. My lungs ached, and I had to fight my bodies instinct to gasp for air. I knew as soon as I did that, it would be the end for me, and likely Dew as well, if she wasn't already gone.

I had one last idea, and only just enough time to execute it. As the darkness crept in around the edges of my vision, I was going through an incantation groggily in my head. I wouldn't have a chance to try this again if I failed.

Just as I was ready to cast the spell, the current slammed me into a rock. The impact caused me to lose focus, and the spell was released before I had a chance to finish. I disappeared into the void with more fear than I'd been feeling under the water, but I had no time to feel it as I soon emerged back into reality. I was high above the river, higher than any pony had ever been before, and I was still going up. Maybe using myself as a projectile for a teleportation shot was a bad idea?

Regardless, I was far above the clouds. I could see the tips of the mountains now, and soon I was above them too. I heard clinking as my soaked cloak began to snap-freeze, but I was more amazed than anything. This must be what it's like to be a pegasi, except for that I can't steer, only ride it out. I felt my upwards momentum begin to slow, and got myself ready. I'd need to time a teleportation spell perfectly if I wanted to survive this, and for that I needed to have the magic ready.

I felt very odd when I got to the top of my arc through the sky, like I had just lived through the prime of my life and was on my way to doom. It was weird.

Then I realized I wasn't falling. I was floating in the air, suspended by Celestia knows what. I looked around frantically, trying to figure out just what the hell was going on, when a clap of thunder sounded right beside me. The sheer volume stunned me, and I raised a hoof to clean my ear when I saw it in my peripheral vision and turned my head to get a good look.

For a split second it looked like a giant neeva, then my confused brain began to notice the differences, like the fact that this creature wasn't goat-like at all, besides for its curling horns. That was where the similarities ended.

It was essentially a giant bird, bigger than my house, though its lightning blue eyes were far too intelligent for it to be a dumb beast. It was mostly a dark grey colour, though it had a yellow crest and a stomach to match its eyes. It had three long tails, of yellow, blue, and grey. It's wickedly curved beak opened just enough for me to see rows of razor sharp teeth. Around its neck rested hundreds of glowing snakes writhing in a disgusting mass. It's gigantic wings weren't flapping at all, instead held aloft to either side of it, yet it was floating all the same. There was serious magic at work here, confirmed when the bird blinked.

Sheet lightning spread across the sky like a blanket, disappearing again when the bird opened its eyes. Part of me would rather be in the river than frozen up here, but you can't go back in time so I'd just have to deal with it.

Whatever it was.

"Erm…" I began, not sure exactly what to say to a giant magical bird that was holding me way too high off the ground. I looked around, taking note that for some reason the horizon was curving. I directed my attention back to the bird, certain that its powers were beyond legendary. This creature just curved the Earth. Who knows what else it can do? "Hello there, Sir…"

I am not a male.

I shouted in surprise. "Was that you?"

Yes.

Okay, so I can talk to it, though the way it was staring at me was putting me at unease. I felt like it was staring into my eyes, through all my thoughts and memories, into my soul, then out the other side at whatever was behind me. This was no ordinary creature, of that I was sure.

"If you don't mind me asking, what are you?"

YOU DARE?! The bird opened its mouth and screeched. All I heard was a popping sound, then nothing at all. I am the Lord of these lands, these skies, these waters. I am the THUNDERBIRD!

I opened my mouth to talk, then noticed I couldn't hear myself speak. I widened my eyes in panic before I clapped my hoovers together right beside my ear. When I heard nothing, my fear turned to anger. "Fix it, now." I told the bird, though I don't know how it sounded. No wonder deaf people don't talk. It just feels.. off.

You cannot make demands of a God, pitiful creature. You entered my domain, my sanctuary. Your punishment is just and fair, and you should be thankful that you will live to see the next day. Should you dare to come here again, I will not show you mercy.

"Here's my counter-offer." I thought I said. "Fix my hearing, and we can talk about this."

There is nothing to talk about.

"Says you."

I am always right.

I scoffed. I took off the Stygian Iron necklace and pumped a healing spell into it until it glowed green, then made the thing into a tiara of sorts and set it on my head. With another popping sound, my hearing was back, and I noticed every little sound. The wind whipping my cloak about, the rustling of the Thunderbird's feathers, even the sound of my own sniffles (shut up, it was cold up there!).

"So, Thunderbird. How do you like being a God? I mean, it must be nice, being the one in charge." I thought on what little Van had told me of Gods. Mainly, every God thought he or she was the greatest thing since chocolate-covered almonds. "Having all your subjects to worship you, pamper you."

Godhood is incomprehensible for mortal beings such as yourself.

"Wait a minute, are the griffins your followers?"

They are made in my image, of course they worship me.

"Actually, they hate that they can't fly anymore, to tell you the truth. They think that their land is cursed."

Cursed?! I will show them cursed!

"Hold on a moment." I still have no idea how it forgot about my so-called punishment, but it probably thought I was still deaf. "If you want worship from your subjects, why would you curse them?"

I am testing them, to see if they will still worship in the face of hardship.

"Am I correct in assuming you migrated to this land about two years ago?"

Time is nothing for me. Centuries pass in the blink of an eye, and seconds can last millennia if I wish them to.

"But did you?"

That is when I awoke from my slumber, yes.

"That's what the griffins consider the Fall of Gryphus." I'd never heard anyone say that once, but it sounded tragic and that's what I was going for. "To not let them fly when flight is half of their culture… no wonder they despise you."

Watch your tongue, mortal.

"Sorry, Mr. Thunderbird, I didn't mean to offend you. i just think that if you want love and worship from the griffins, a good first step would be giving them their flight back."

You know nothing, mortal.

"Compared to your excellence, nothing at all." It's demeanor changed in an instant. I smiled, knowing that I'd found my defense against this thing

What… What would you suggest?

"First off, let them know you exist. They can't praise you if they don't know what to praise, can they? Besides, your feathers are so clean and well-preened, you'd have to be crazy to not show them off."

Yes… Yes! I am magnificent! Thank you! For your service, I will grant you a quick death.

"Wait, what? Why are you killing me now, I thought you said I got to see another day!" I stepped back.

You removed your own punishment, thereby voiding the deal. Besides, I can't have you telling anyone that you told me how to be a good God. It's bad for publicity.

"So is killing people who help you!" I tried, but the deity would have none of it. Lighting began crackling around its body, at first just the stray zap of a static jump, then it built up to full-blown bolts of lighting being thrown from everywhere on it's gargantuan body. Its white tail reached up and grabbed one of the serpents from around its neck, and the snake coiled up into a ball.

Are you prepared to die, Violet Shimmer?

"Not today, bitch." My voice wavered as I said it, but I meant it. There's no way in Tartarus I'm going to lose to an over-sized chicken with self-esteem issues. Not when Dew Drop still needs me.

Meanwhile, in another dimension.

"Goooooooood morning!"

Percy awoke to a bright fluff of pink in front of his face. His hand was already grasped around his magical pen-sword, Riptide, before he remembered the events of the day prior. So instead of defending himself with Celestial Bronze, he pressed his hands to his eyes and groaned. When he removed them, the fluff had vanished from his sight. All he could see above him now was the dark driftwood that was tasked with protecting him from the upper bunk.

"Pinkie-Pie, it's rude to wake somepony up when you're in their house."

"Well I was awake, and really happy, and no pony else was as happy, so I knew he'd be happier than-"

"It's not mine, I just live here." Percy quipped with a lopsided grin as he swung his legs out of bed.

"Nevertheless darling, you have our apologies." said the white one as the pink one hmph'd.

"They aren't needed, it's almost time-" Percy was cut off by the sound of a reveille. "-to get up anyways." He finished after the blaring horn faded to silence.

He could hear the sounds of the other campers getting roused from their slumber: opening and closing cabin doors, the general noise coming from Ares cabin, the music beginning to stream from Apollo's children, shouts and laughs and everything one would expect at summer camp.

"Okay, everyone listen up quickly and I'll give you a run-down before we get today started. But before that, I'm going to see if I remember your names. If I get it wrong, just let me know, and I'll have them down by the end of the day, I promise."

"Ooo! Ooo! Pick me! Pickmepickmepickmeeee!" The pink one squealed, bouncing around the room like a rubber ball.

"You're Pinkie Pie. There's not a chance I'll forget that one, especially not when you're completely pink."

"You're good…" Pinkie muttered, sliding to a stop and sitting in front of him. Percy found the constant staring a bit disconcerting, but continued nonetheless.

"You're Applejack." He looked at the orange one in the cowboy hat. "Also pretty easy to remember."

She covered her flank in response.

"The shy one is Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash is kind of a rainbow."

"Hey!" the rainbow shouted, but a knock on the door interrupted all of them.

Percy opened the door cautiously, keeping his body in between whoever was at the door and his guests. He knew that the whole camp had seen them, and that there was really no need to hide them, but he couldn't help feeling like some of the campers wouldn't like these.. ponies. Luckily, it was just Piper.

"Morning Percy." She said, yawning with a stretch.

"Good morning. You get a good sleep last night?"

"Sleep? What sleep?" She leaned in to whisper in Percy's ear. "I was with Chiron and Lou Ellen the whole night."

"And?" He whispered back.

"He wants them to stay in here for now. He'll come get you when it's time."

"Time? Time for what?"

"He didn't say." She pulled away and peered over Percy's shoulder. "Morning everyone!"

She was answered by a chorus of replies. "Does anyone need anything right now? We'll be getting you out of here soon enough."

"How about some breakfast?" Dash blurted out.

"Dashie, where are your manners?" Rarity exclaimed. "I'm sorry dear, some ponies just have no sense of class."

"Oh, I'll give you a class alright." Dash muttered, though she flapped her way back to her bunk.

Piper giggled. "Not to worry Rarity. I've dealt with many more unpleasant people than Rainbow Dash here."

"What's breakfast today?" Percy interceded.

"Bacon, eggs, toast, brown beans and hashbrowns. Do you think they can eat meat?"

Applejack slammed a hoof over Pinkie's mouth before she could make an exclamation. That didn't stop her from trying, though the cow-pony merely talked over the muffled mumbles. "No, we can't."

"5 Vegetarian combos and a Big Three Breakfast, coming right up!" Piper let off another giggle. "See you all soon!" The door swung shut behind her, and Percy turned to see his normally peaceful cabin more full than it had ever been. All five ponies were looking at him expectantly.

"Alright, you're Rarity. That's all of you, now-"

Applejack finally took her hoof off of Pinkie's mouth and let out the cacophony. "Where's TWILIGHT?!" the pink mare bellowed.

Percy's heart caught for a beat. These ponies were his responsibility, and if anyone else found her before he did, or even tried to hurt her…

"Stay right here. When Piper comes back, just say I went for a swim. And don't leave this cabin!"

"But-" Rainbow Dash started, but Percy was gone, leaving the 5 of them alone.

-T-

Twilight Sparkle was a mare with a conscious. From time to time she'd mess up and not really clue in to if and when she's hurting someone, but she would never do it intentionally.

Which is why she spent her night overlooking the lake, thinking about the catastrophe she had brought upon her and her friends. Not to mention losing the Elements of Harmony somewhere along the way. Even if she managed to return to Equestria, Celestia would be so disappointed in her. She had to find them, and make her way home as soon as possible. With her magic being ridiculously strong in this world, she at least had a bit of an edge. She knew she'd need it; if there was a camp this big, with so many people in it clearly training for battle, then it must be a dangerous world.

How was she going to make it home? A pang of despair made its way through her, of guilt and remorse. She felt her eyes water, before a tear slid down her cheek. That was soon joined by another, and tried as she might Twilight could not hold back the flow. She wept for what she'd done, and amid the tears pledged to make things right.

However, seeming as the sun was rising, she made the choice to end her sorrow and head back to the nautically themed cabin. Rising to her hooves, she turned to see the monke- no, they were called humans- named Percy, arms crossed across his chest.

She turned her head back to the lake, but it was too late - he'd already seen her tears.

"I like to come out here too, whenever I need to think." She heard the crunch of his footsteps in the grass as he took a seat beside her.

"I was just researching the lake, trying to find out why we ended up here of all places." She said, looking away from him.

He shrugged. "I'd just be glad you did. There's no telling what would happen if the mortals had found you before we did."

"Mortals?"

Percy grinned. "That's something for Chiron to explain."

Twilight simply nodded as she stared out across the water. Percy waited for more questions, or anything from the Princess, but there was nothing. At least her crying had stopped, though she still looked upset.

"Drachma for your thoughts?"

"That's your money here?"

"Not really, but close enough."

"I... I feel like this is all my fault." Percy neglected to mention that from what he'd heard, it pretty much was. "I was just trying to do something nice for my friends, and now we'll never go home again..."

"You don't know that for sure. You've only been here for one night. Who knows? You could be sitting on your throne in your castle by the end of the week."

She giggled sadly. "I lived in a tree."

He shrugged again. "Some people live in weirder places. If you feel more at home in a tree, then I'm sure we could work something out."

"It's not because it was a tree. It was the town library, and... I love books."

Percy grinned again. "Let's head back to my cabin, and when we go see Chiron later, I'll ask if we can give you a book or two from our library. I bet you'll find them pretty interesting."

"That's not it, Mr.."

"Jackson, but just call me Percy."

"Alright Percy. Thank you for the offer of books, but I need to focus on getting us all home. We have friends, family, and nobody knows where we went. Celestia's probably worried sick."

"And we're going to help you get home. Things have been quiet for quite a bit, I'm sure everyone will be glad for something to do. But we've gotta get back, Chiron wants to talk with you all."

The Princess sniffled then rose to her feet. "Lead the way, then."

-P-

He'd managed to get Twilight back to the cabin before Piper returned, but people had seen him escorting her back from the lake. It was only a matter of time until Chiron found out that Percy, the son of The Lord of Horses, lost a pony. However, that wasn't his concern. No, what he was truly worried about was the ponies. They were something different, something not of this world, and he hadn't the slightest inkling of where to start helping them home.

Luckily, that part wasn't up to him. It was up to Chiron, Mr.D, and maybe Lou Ellen if she can get over her jealousy. His part was to keep them safe while they were here.

"Are we there yet?" Pinkie Pie asked as she literally bounced along.

"Just a bit longer, we're going to the Big House."

"What's that?"

"I'd bet it's probably a house. One that's pretty big." Dash snarked, but Pinkie was unfazed.

"Ooo, you're good."

Piper let out a chuckle. "It's pretty much HQ for Camp. Chiron and Mr. D live there."

"Chiron was the half-human, half-pony, correct?" Twilight inquired.

Percy explained. "He's a centaur. Half-human, half-horse. I'd suggest not calling him a pony to his face."

"What's a horse?"

"Let's just save the questions for when we get there, shall we?"

Luckily, the walk to the Big House didn't take too long, though Percy found himself anxious none the less. Annabeth was back in New Rome, waiting for him, and he had to go and swear on the River Styx to get these ponies home. Part of him wanted to send her an Iris-message, see how she was doing on her latest project. Frank wanted a monument to the war against Gaea and Annabeth took the challenge, saying something about too much being lost and her needing to create something to restore that balance and give some closure. Since she took up the job, her time and mind had been divided between the two, and she'd found herself thinking about work when she was with Percy and thinking about him while she was working.

Percy made the idea to go and visit Camp Half-Blood and see how things were coming along, as a way to let his girlfriend concentrate. The way he figured, the sooner she was done with the monument, the sooner he could go back to New Rome.

Chiron awaited them outside of the Big House, Nico Di Angelo and a small boy with him. When the centaur saw them approaching, he whispered something to the son of Hades, who glanced over at them and nodded. Percy waved at him, and watched as Nico and the boy walked right through the west side of the building. That's a fairly normal thing from Nico, so Percy took it in stride. Twilight, however, found it very odd.

"How did he teleport without casting a spell?" She asked him.

"More explaining for Chiron to do." Percy said, walking up to the centaur. "Who was that?"

"Nico found himself a new brother."

"No way, another son of Hades?"

"That's right, Piper. Now, shall we take our guests inside?"

"What's his name?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"The taller one was Nico." Percy answered. "He's a nice guy when you get to know him. I haven't met the new guy yet."

Chiron coughed. "His name is Vanidadh. Vanidadh Noslakov."