AN

Roy: Hey guys! So I'm back with a new chapter! Some guys loved the last one while some were sad since Talon died well that's the story and just roll with it then. This will get interesting I swear on the Styx.

So we got 65 reviews! Ten in one chapter? Most I've got so far so thanks! M Jake and I appreciate it and we are inspired to write more. So this chapter will begin the more weird twists and stuff and this might end in a cliffhanger so watch out.

Replies:

Eltigre221: Yeah, it was sad but I don't know how they'll react about Talon since it isn't written yet. Thanks for the review!

ImmortalHeroineOfOlympus: Go to Pic manager or Avatar to change your pic.

Pollex: Smarty, just read and see.

To all who wanted Phoebe dead instead of Talon: We decided it this way and just keep reading and I swear this will be fun.

Disclaimer: PJO and HOO are not ours, Rick Riordan owns it and we thank him.

Zoe was silent as the grief and misery still emitted inside the car after the loss of one of the quest members. The huntress had noticed Percy was silently gazing out the window as if he was in thought with his weary pair of eyes. She sighed as Phoebe leaned back and Thalia was silently driving as they came close to a crossroad.

Percy leaned forward and said "Thalia stop,"

The daughter of Zeus braked at the road side, turned to the three of them and said "What?"

Percy looked back and said "I think we need to get a bit of help,"

"For what?" questioned Phoebe,

"For the monster Lady Artemis was hunting," said Zoe as if she was in a revelation. "Perseus if we need this knowledge how could we possibly acquire it?"

"Easy," said Percy, "My father introduced me and my siblings to a friend of his who respects the value of information as much as he does."

"Who is it?" questioned Thalia,

"Nerus," said the two huntresses and the demigod,

Thalia raised a brow and said "Isn't he some old guy who is super smelly and you need to catch him for information?"

The son of Poseidon face palmed and said "Yeah but don't call him that, he's a pretty nice guy."

"So you think he'll just give you the information by walking up to him?" asked Zoe questioningly,

"Pretty much," answered the male with a shrug,

They all agreed as Thalia took a left and drove to the port of San Francisco. The drive to San Francisco had been rather uneventful with the tension and Percy was still weighed with the grief of the loss of his brother. As they drove into the city, people gave them several looks of awe, jealousy and even shock as they saw a vintage car being driven by a fifteen year old. As soon as they got close to the docks of San Francisco, Thalia parked in a secluded area as the four exited the car and as soon as they stepped out, Thalia leaned on the car and said "Not bad for a teen driver huh?"

"Not bad," said Percy with a smile, "But I guess we had no choice but with Zoe being an old lady and everything, she would be more qualified."

Phoebe looked shocked as Thalia laughed, Zoe gave him a glare and said "Scout the area, let's go."

Suddenly the car glowed bright as they covered their eyes to find two cards shimmering on the ground. Percy sighed and picked up the cards as he felt his brother's sword on his back as a snowboard. He had felt that he had to stay strong as Talon would want him to be, not a weakling that he had sacrificed his life to save.

Percy walked alongside Zoe in front while Thalia and Phoebe talked behind them, Zoe had her hands in her pockets as she said "What is with you Perseus? A few hours ago you were as glum but now you are making jokes?"

Percy felt the snowboard as a person looked at him weirdly for lugging around such a thing at this area and said "My brother wouldn't want me to mope around; he'd want me to finish what we started,"

Zoe nodded and said "That is wise Perseus, I too have lost many sisters throughout to centuries I have been in the hunt and I know what you feel, I sense Phoebe does too."

Percy glanced at Phoebe who was speaking to Thalia and said "I already lost one brother. I won't lose another,"

Zoe gave a small smile as Percy raised a brow and said "Your attitude to me, why are you nice? Apollo told me that you hated men and I could tell as well."

She slipped her hands out of her pockets and said "Lady Artemis wanted us to treat you with respect and we shall, also you have been quite the opposite of what I expect with men, you gained my respect, not demanded it."

Percy smiled softly and said "Thank you Zoe, I once thought as well that the hunters were just a judgmental group of girls who hated men for having a different organ. I was wrong, you had your reasons as I did, my father was a woman beater and you, you were betrayed by a worthless excuse for a demigod."

She gave a slight unnoticeable smile as she said "Right, and to think, you're my first male friend."

"Really?" inquired Percy, "Is that why you hugged me?"

Zoe merely nodded and said "Is that what friends do, is it not?"

Percy looked uneasy as he nodded and was a little disappointed when Thalia said "There's the pier!"

The huntress and the male turned and saw the California shoreline that highlighted the Golden Gate Bridge from this view. Percy nodded as he pointed to an old man sitting alone by a hobo fire trying to keep himself warm.

Zoe started to walk as Percy stopped her and said "Wait, I'll do it. He'll swim off if you do it but I'll need a disguise."

Thalia and Phoebe went silent as they both snapped their fingers and walked over to the nearest trash can and dumped it over Percy's head coating him in smelly garbage. Percy's eye twitched as Zoe and the two girls started laughing.

Percy wiped the grime out of his eyes and said "Thanks I guess, I'll be right back and when I give the signal, follow."

The three nodded as Percy slowly walked towards the old man and when he got close enough and said "Care to share the fire friend?"

The man just meagerly nodded as Percy willed the fire to roar stronger as the older man's eyes widened as he smiled at Percy and said "Perseus, the son of my friend Prometheus, what can I do for you?"

The champion of Hestia set himself on fire as the garbage burned away from his body until he was clean and said "I need some information Nerus,"

The immortal waved his hand over the fire and said "Anything for my friends' son. Especially his favorite, where are your other siblings?"

Percy's expression darkened a bit as Nerus sighed and said "I see, alone on this quest aren't you? Who are your companions son of Forthought?"

The son of Poseidon was about to reply until he just decided to signal to the three irls and as they approached Nerus nodded and said "Tow huntresses and a daughter of Zeus, quite a group. So what is your needed information my friend?"

Percy decided to be polite and gave him a drink of Apple Juice out of thin air and said "I need to know what was the monster Artemis was hunting. You of all people should know and I think it's easy enough for you."

The immortal sipped his drink and said "I do, it's right over there,"

The man pointed by the bay where a half cow half serpent creature was floating. It looked really gentle and docile but the two huntresses and Percy's face darkened as Phoebe said "It can't be,"

"This is bad…This is really, really bad." said Percy,

Zoe nodded and said "The Ophiotaurus. It has been reborn."

"It has," replied Nerus, "You now see the value of the Goddess' hunt?"

Thalia shook her head and said "What is that thing and what does it have to do with all this?"

"Thalia," started Percy, "The Ophiotaurus is a legendary beast; it says that the person who sacrifices its entrails will have the power to bring down the Gods. When it first happened, your dad got lucky and stole away the entrails before they were sacrificed but now it's back and it is very valuable."

Thalia looked shocked as thunder rumbled above the nearby Mount Tam and Nerus nervously looked to the mountain and said "It draws close, you best be on your way. Take this boat across the river, stay safe and good luck my friend."

Percy nodded as he rode the boat with the three girls and as they were sailing off, Nerus shouted at him and said "Perseus! Your brother is-"

The rest was lost in the wind as Percy slammed his fist on the mast in frustration. What did Nerus want to say about his brother? Was it Talon? What about him, isn't he dead? Percy felt uneasy as he was on the boat since he was on Poseidon's territory and he leaned on the mast as the crossed on the boat.

Thalia sat on the side and said "Does Nerus even own this boat?"

"I don't know," replied Percy, "I'll send it back later don't worry,"

Zoe was silent all the way until they were closing onto the Titan Stronghold. When they reached the shore, they got off the boat as Percy touched it and said "Return to your owner,"

The boat sailed away as Phoebe raised a brow and said "What did you just do?"

"I can will it to do anything," said Percy, "It's a Poseidon thing,"

They nodded as they started to get to the road that would lead to the entrance on the Mountain. When they were on the path, Zoe was still silent as Percy nodded at her and said "Zoe, relax"

She held her breath and said "It draws near, my fate."

"It won't happen!" said Percy, "I swore on the Styx that you'll survive! I lost one friend here and I won't lose another! I will save you, Allen and Annabeth!"

She was shocked by his outburst along with Phoebe and Thalia while the larger huntress said "What promise?"

"I said that I wouldn't let her die," said Percy, "She said that she will die since it is what the prophecy said that she would die by her parents hand and her father is Atlas, the general."

"What!" exclaimed Thalia, "Your father is Atlas!?"

Zoe glared at her as Percy said "No problems please, she was under Artemis for millennia, I think and trust her enough."

Thalia nodded as Phoebe said "We're here, the Garden of Hersperides."

Zoe looked at the tree on the center of the garden as it was surrounded by a large green dragon. She looked uneasy as she said "Home sweet home,"

The garden was breathtaking and suddenly five figures shimmered in front of us as the tallest one had tears in her eyes and said "Sister,"

Zoe was teary as well as she was hugged and greeted by the five nymphs. Percy, Phoebe and Thalia were shocked as Zoe pulled away and said "My sisters,"

The middle one smiled and said "Hello Sister Zoe, we are glad you have returned,"

Percy raised a brow and said "What am I missing here? Didn't you banish her for violating the rules?"

The smallest one shook her head and said "No, we love our sister very much and it pained us to see her leave but all was caused by Heracles and her immortality was removed due to breaking her oath."

Zoe smiled and said "I have missed you sisters,"

The smiled and said "As did we,"

The huntress looked serious and said "Would you help us take down father?"

The tallest nodded and said "Yes, as you know the entrance is by that tunnel behind Ladon but it is guarded,"

"Can't we sneak past it?" asked Phoebe,

"No" said the middle one, "Not only is it guarded by the dragon, it is also guarded by the Griffon Rider. She is a fearsome warrior and she is not to be underestimated."

The four remembered the huntress Riley and cringed under the thought of the most powerful monster alive and one of the strongest warriors of the opposition guarding the entrance to where they would face an even tougher opponent.

Percy sighed and said "Thank you for the information, we must manage."

The five nodded and hugged Zoe again and disappeared as the said "Good luck sister, please stay safe."

Zoe readied her bow and said "What's the plan?"

Percy scanned the area and said "This is the plan; we can't outrun or sneak past them so here is the best option."

After the plan was explained, Percy started his part and crept to Ladon who was sleeping and evading the sight of its multiple awake eyes. Percy picked two throwing knifes from is belt and said "Hey ugly!"

He threw the two knives and detonated them in front of the beast, signaling Riley who came out of the cave riding her Griffon and crossbow in hand. She smiled at Percy and said "All alone now? So I guess the Sparti managed to kill your friends, shame, I wanted a rematch with the dragon boy."

Percy grit his teeth as Ladon got up and hissed at him while Riley hovered above him. He gripped another knife and said "Now!"

He threw it in the air as the knife exploded like a flash bang, blinding all of Ladon's eyes and the sight of Chain and Riley as it rained arrows. Percy leapt out of the way as dozens of arrows rained on the monster while Chain managed to evade the rain but was struck with a lightning bolt thanks to Thalia causing the monster to roar in pain.

Ladon growled and staggered as the pain kicked in and he lunged at Percy who dodged by rolling and running away with Ladon right behind him. Chain landed to care for his rider but Riley gained her bearings and blocked Thalia's jab of her spear with her crossbow as she kicked her and got down and readied her own spear.

The twirled it as Thalia was flanked by Phoebe and they engaged each other in battle. Riley crossed her spear with Thalia's while she blocked Phoebe's knifes with her crossbow and shot a volley of arrows at her as she dodged.

Thalia gave more force as Riley smirked and slid under to thrust her spear at Thalia's stomach, giving her a deep crescent wound but she held it in and gave her a good head butt that made her off guard and Phoebe tried to impale her with her blades but she twirled and smashed the blunt part of her spear to the huntress' head to knock her aside and she hit Thalia's head with the butt of her crossbow.

The two girls got back up to see their opponent smirking and said "I have to spare you Zeus spawn but the huntress, well, she can die."

Phoebe roared as she charged at Riley with renewed vigor while Thalia lunged back in with equal determination. Meanwhile, Percy ran through the garden with Ladon on his tail and demolishing anything in his way.

Percy leapt over a large rock that Ladon smashed through and Percy kept running while Zoe led him to their vantage point. Zoe stood in between two large rocks and said "Perseus! Here!"

Percy nodded and waved to Ladon and said "Hey ugly! I've seen a way better dragon than you and his name is Talon!"

The dragon roared as Percy leapt in between the rocks to land on Zoe and Ladon was stuck in between. The monster struggled as the rocks started to crack and Zoe pushed Percy off her and said "Now Perseus! Whatever you have in mind make it count!"

Ladon snapped and reached for them as Percy and Zoe crawled back with the rocks starting to crumble. Percy took two cards from his pocket and threw it in the air above Ladon's head where a cherry red Ferrari appeared and smashed on top of Ladon's head knocking the monster out cold. Percy sighed as Ladon fell unconscious with its large reptile tongue out while Zoe helped him up and said "Good plan,"

Percy gazed at the sleeping reptile and the smashed Ferrari beside it and said "Waste of the car though, Talon would have loved it."

Zoe nodded as she spotted the two girls being defeated by Riley and said "Perseus! We need to help!"

Percy and Zoe rushed in with their weapons ready as Riley's eyes widened as she ran towards a rock, vaulted over it and leapt as she was caught by her mount and she flew away.

"She got away," said Thalia as she struggled with her injury,

Phoebe nodded as she grasped her broken arm and said "We nearly didn't make it there, she was way too skilled."

Zoe looked concerned and then relieved as Percy healed their wounds and they sighed in relief. Percy looked serious as he said "Come on! Let's go."

The group of four crept inside the entrance as Thalia saw the Goddess and said "Lady Artemis,"

The Goddess was struggling underneath the weight of the sky and Percy drew him blade and said "I'll get you out of here Lady Artemis,"

The Goddess looked at us and said "N-No! T-Trap!"

"What a surprise!" boomed a voice, "They made it past Ladon and Riley, I must commend you on that but sadly you all must die."

Lights blared on as the general, Atlas, stood with his Greek clothing beside Luke who had a cape on his back as his sword gleamed on his side. Beside him stood the Manticore and the Minotaur who were beside Allen and Annabeth who were both in chains.

Allen was on kneeling position as his clothes were ripped and dirty and his wound was still open while he looked close to dead. His glasses were broken while his wrist was his shield and on the other was his bow. Beside him was Annabeth who was trying to tend to his wounds but proved to be ineffective.

Percy growled as the general said "I'm sorry but now it's time to die,"

Luke stepped forward and said "Thalia, come with us, you know the Gods have always hated us, we can bring them down, with the help of the Ophiotaurus we can do it. Just will it to appear."

Thalia looked uneasy as she nervously looked at her companions and she glared at Luke and said "No Luke, this isn't right."

Luke looked crestfallen as he said "I'm sorry then,"

He drew his blade as the Minotaur and Manticore flanked his sides. Percy gripped his sword and said "I need to get Allen; we need another powerful warrior here."

He nodded at Zoe who drew her bow and the general said "Ah my traitorous daughter, here to save your mistress huh? Good luck, Luke attack!"

Luke pointed his sword at Thalia and charged as six Dracanea fell from above and joined the fight. Phoebe and Zoe quickly engaged the bigger monsters while Percy was tailed by the six Dracanea. Thalia had sprung Aegis from her wrist and was now locked in deadly combat with Luke.

The Titan laughed as he said "A good show, run demigod, run!"

Percy leapt and propelled himself forward like a rocket by launching the fire from his wrists making a distance from the monsters and he landed in front of Annabeth who was trying to treat Allen.

Percy kneeled and said "Annabeth, step aside please."

"Who are you?" asked the Daughter of Athena,

"Perseus Jackson," replied Percy. "Stand back,"

He swiped his blade at all four chains and they shattered like butter. Percy knelt down and started to treat his brother who, in a few seconds, opened his eyes and gasped. Percy sighed as he hugged his brother but Allen picked a knife from his waist and threw it behind him to kill a Dracanea who would have sneaked up on Percy.

Allen smirked and said "Hey Perce, thanks for coming."

Percy looked at him with a smile as he treated Annabeth and said "I need you two to help against the Minotaur and Manticore, the general won't join until we defeat his minions unless he sees fit."

Allen and Annabeth nodded as she drew her dagger while Allen felt his side pocket and said "Oh no,"

Percy tossed him the lighter and said "I think this is yours, come on!"

The three charged at the five Dracanea and destroyed them all in seconds. Percy had severed two in half and decapitated them at the same time while Annabeth had swiftly dealt with one by stabbing its neck while Allen, in full strength, engaged the remaining two and defeating them swiftly with some good sword moves.

The boy pressed his broken glasses up and said "That's done, we better help them."

Percy nodded as Allen and Percy charged to the Manticore while Annabeth went to help Phoebe with the Minotaur. Percy glared at the Manticore and said "Get ready to be destroyed monster,"

The monster's right eye shone a bit as he said "I doubt it half blood."

He shot three spikes at Percy who blocked it with his sword while Zoe ran and delivered a swift swipe to the monster's knees and crippling him while Allen ran forward with his blade and smashed his shield on the monsters face knocking him back.

The Manticore growled as he lunged at Percy who dodged and cast a fireball that burned its stomach. The monster winced as Allen came from behind and slashed down as the monster's tail came off.

The Manticore fell forward with the loss of its main weapon and Allen said "A weaponless monster is a dead monster,"

The Legacy of Athena kicked the monster in the face and stabbed his sword in its chest making it disappear into golden dust. "Good Riddance," said the Legacy,

Zoe nodded and said "Perseus, we need to help Lady Artemis,"

He was about to reply until Atlas got up in full battle armor and readied a javelin in his right, Percy cursed silently as he said "We need to take care of Atlas first, he'll kill us all."

Zoe nodded as Percy rushed beside Atlas and the Titan said "Demigod, have you come for your death?"

Percy got into fighting position and said "Nope, I guess you have."

Percy swung his blade at Atlas who blocked it with his javelin and Percy cast a wall of fire in front of the Titan who fearlessly went through it and tried to impale Percy but he deflected it with his shield and swung his blade again to be blocked once more.

Atlas chuckled and said "Pretty good for a demigod but is this all this generation has to offer?"

He overpowered Percy and knocked him forward and he raised his javelin but red and silver arrows pierced the chinks in his armor, enraging the titan to see Allen and Zoe with their bows drawn.

Phoebe and Annabeth were still against the Minotaur while Atlas leapt at the two bow users and swung his javelin. Allen had blocked the strike with his shield but still flew back but Zoe had been hit with a punishing blow causing her to fly back to some reoacks and they fell on her.

Percy looked shocked as Allen got back up and tried to dig Zoe out while Atlas chuckled and said "Shame,"

Percy roared and attacked Atlas with renewed vigor actually landing blows and damaging him but the Titan fought back as well and Percy impaled his right thigh with the shadows causing him to stagger and Percy leapt to slash his face but Atlas was still too strong and knocked him aside with his hand.

Percy got back up and coughed up blood as he saw Zoe out of the rubble not looking too good while Atlas was distracted by Phoebe and Allen who were raining arrows on him while Annabeth tried to tend to Zoe.

The son of Poseidon spotted Artemis, ran over to her and said "Give me the sky My Lady,"

"No boy," replied Artemis, "It will crush you,"

"Never mind that please," said Percy, "Save my friends, it is all I ask."

Percy severed her chains and took the weight of the sky while Artemis got up and drew her hunting knifes. Percy felt like he was being crushed by a thousand loaded trucks but he held his breath and carried the weight as his vision blurred.

He could see Artemis kick Atlas away from the demigods and engage him with her hunting knives ready. She growled as Atlas said "The huntress again?"

"It won't end up like last time Titan," said Artemis, "Demigods, aid me."

Allen and Phoebe readied their weapons as Artemis lunged at Atlas swiftly with her knifes, dealing some damage while Allen blocked a javelin swipe and stabbed his leg and Phoebe leapt over him and shot three arrows that sunk in a chink of Atlas' armor.

The fight was going well enough until Atlas quickened a bit and slammed Allen away into Phoebe as they crashed back. They were fine but unable to join in again as Artemis engaged Atlas with ferocity in her movements.

She delivered blows to him in a graceful and majestic manner while Atlas blindly swung around. Percy felt the weight of the sky becoming unbearable as he got onto one knee and grunted.

Atlas got a lucky blow and made Artemis fall down. She talked to me in my head and said "Ready Perseus,"

I didn't know what she meant until Atlas raised his javelin and said "First blood in the new war!"

She then smirked and spun around and got up kicking Atlas off balance as he staggered towards me, I smirked as I was knocked out of the sky's weight locking Atlas under there.

"No!" shouted the Titan, "Not again! NO!"

Thalia had defeated Luke and he saw that the plan had failed; he ran out of the mountain and leapt off to be caught by a brown blur. Thalia growled as she looked at us with relief.

Artemis sighed and looked scared as she saw her fallen huntress on Annabeth's side. Zoe was coughing blood as Percy, Artemis, Thalia, Allen and Phoebe approached her. Annabeth looked at them sadly and said "She won't make it,"

"She's right," said Allen with a solemn expression, "Broken ribs, hemorrhaging, internal bleeding, crushed lungs, it doesn't look good."

Percy and Atremis fell on their knees as Artemis put her best friend's head on her lap and said "Zoe, I'm so sorry."

"No my lady," said Zoe, "It was not your fault, we did all we could and we did save you as the quest asked for,"

"At what cost," said Phoebe, "You and Talon? The losses are too much Zoe!"

At the moment Allen herd that he froze and looked at Percy with a sad expression as Percy nodded. Allen's eyes widened as head dropped his head in grief while Zoe had tears in her eyes and said "It doesn't matter, we have completed out mission."

Artemis was now crying along with everyone else as Zoe closed her eyes and gave her last breath. Artemis put her finger on her head as she started to glow until Percy said "NO!"

Artemis looked shocked as Percy knelt at Zoe and said "I promised she would survive this! I swore on the Styx and I will deliver!"

Artemis' eyes widened as Percy put his two hands on her chest as his hands glowed golden and started to glow. The area grew warm as Percy started to glow and he said "I lost my brother here and I won't lose another friend."

The Goddess was silent as everyone watched Zoe glow like Percy and the light died down. Artemis was crying as she said "Perseus you mean well but she is gone, she will have her own place in the stars."

Percy sighed and lied on the ground breathing as a voice said "I don't want to leave yet milady, I don't want to be with Orion up there."

Everyone gasped in surprise as Artemis and Phoebe hugged Zoe and Allen helped Percy up to sitting position. Artemis was crying tears of joy as she said "H-How?"

Percy shook his head and said "I do not know Lady Artemis; I just tried to heal her."

Zoe smiled as she sighed but Artemis had a skeptical look on her face as she said "Z-Zoe, my blessing. It's gone."

AN

Roy: OOOHHHH! How was the blessing gone? All will be explained next time by the Titan of Forethought himself during the Olympian Council next chapter.

How were the fights? Please like them and I think it was pretty good too anyway especially with Ladon, I laughed there.

Allen is back, Zoe is alive but how? Phoebe is alive, Annabeth is too and Thalia is alive but Talon is still gone. What will happen on the next chapter? Stay tuned and find out!

Reviews will help us write faster! Please review!

This is Roy Markov signing off…