Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or HO.

Efialtis's POV

I sighed as I stood under the dining pavilion. Chiron had insisted that I wait until today, two days after I asked for the quest, so everyone could be prepared. When I asked what he meant by "everyone," he merely smiled, like he knew something I didn't know, which, he probably did. Nico was sitting at one of the tables, seemingly lost in thought. Artemis was sharpening her blades at another table.

After a few more minutes of waiting, Chiron came cantering up, bow slung over his shoulder. He'd probably just finished an archery lesson. Jogging beside him was Jacob, a bronze sword at his side, a backpack slung over his shoulder.

"About time. Why's Ja-" I started.

"I believe your meeting him first was not mere coincidence. I believe he should go with you."

"Right." I turned to Jacob and thought for a moment. "I don't see why not."

Chiron nodded. "That is not all."

I turned to him. "What do you mean?"

Chiron frowned. "Last time the world was on the brink of destruction, seven heroes, four Greek, three Roman, saved it. Even with a goddess on your side, I don't think four will be enough. Therefore, I believe the ones who have volunteered shall suffice."

"Okay..." I nodded slowly. "Who volunteered?"

As if in answer, I spotted movement above the trees, and my jaw nearly dropped. Slowly cresting the trees, headed directly towards us, was a huge flying ship. the oars on its sides paddled steadily, its mast stood proudly above the rest of the ship, and on the side, emblazoned across the celestial bronze surface were the words "Argo III." Flying around the ship was a large bronze dragon, which occasionally spewed fire into the air. The ship flew through the air, stopping only when it reached us, and five people looked over the railing. A ladder was thrown down, and they joined us, allowing me to get a good look at them. Four, I knew. Percy was the first down the ladder, messing with something in his pocket. Jason stood holding Piper's hand as Leo led another woman off of the ship. The woman had caramel colored hair, braided down the right side of her body, and she wore a white, sleeveless Greek dress, with gold trimmings. She had a gold circlet set atop her head. When all of them had disembarked, Chiron turned to me.

"I believe this answers your question."

I nodded, regarding each of them in turn.

"So," Leo was the first to speak, "what primordial are we blowing up this time?"

Jason and Piper glared at him, while Percy just rolled his eyes. The gold dragon roared and blew steam.

"What's with the dragon?" I asked.

"This is Festus. He went with us last time, and he didn't seem too keen on sitting this one out." Leo explained. As if in agreement, Festus blew some smoke from his nostrils and made a couple of clicking noises.

"Right...so we'll be traveling with 'Happy' the dragon?" I asked.

Jason shrugged, and tried, and failed, to suppress a smile. "Welcome to the party."

Jacob stepped forward. "As lovely as this little meeting is, I'm pretty sure we're on a time sensitive mission. We can do introductions later. Right now, we need to get a move on." To accentuate his point, he hoisted himself up the ladder.

Jason shrugged again. "I suppose we might as well head out now."

Chiron started forward, as though he had just remembered something. "Ah, Efialtis, before you go, a word, please?"

I shrugged, and motioned for the others to go ahead without me. When all of them had climbed the ladder, Chiron shifted, turning his gaze to the Big House.

"I...think it would be best if I were truthful with you." He started.

"Meaning?"

"Rachel did not recite the full prophecy. She left some out."

"Why?" I asked.

He sighed, then straightened.

"History altered by his own ways,

Reality by his own decision.

Love of one, thought a friend,

Savior's heart at end shall rend."

It took me a minute to realize he had just recited the last part of the prophecy, and a moment longer to decipher the words.

"I see," I said after another moment.

"Now Efialtis, do not lose heart. Prophecies often have double meanings."

"Chiron, be real," I said, then straightened. "I knew when I left my mother's home that I'd probably not return. This is the price a hero pays. If I'm to die, then so be it. However, I plan on taking Tartarus with me."

Chiron sighed, and looked over at the camp. "Sometimes I question my decision to remain here," He said quietly. He seemed to age a thousand years as he spoke. "Too often have I seen quests claim young heroes' lives. Too often have demigods not returned, simply because it was their fate not to." He sighed again, then turned to look at me. "I was to remain here for as long as I am needed, so I must assume that I am still needed. Elfialtis, I have known you for only a brief time. However, in the time I've gotten to know you, I've seen something in you... and I'm not sure what that is. Have caution, Efialtis. As with Percy before you, and the seven after him, the fate of the world hangs on your shoulders. I wish you luck." And with that, he cantered off. I sighed, and turned towards the ship.

"No pressure, " I muttered dryly. Turning, I came spotted Thalia. She was standing beside the ladder, arms crossed.

Uh oh, I thought.

"Need something?" I asked.

She unfolded her arms and stepped closer, until we were merely a couple of feet apart. "I'm going to tell you this one time, and one time only," She growled, her eyes narrowing, "You protect Artemis with your life. If I find out she was harmed in any way, you won't have to worry about the prophecy, because I will personally end you."

I snorted. "People are real friendly today."

Her eyes narrowed even further. "I mean it."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm pretty sure Artemis can handle any monster that we come across."

"You know that's not what I'm talking about."

I rolled my eyes again. "I'm pretty sure if any of us harm her, you'd be the least of our problems." I stepped past her. She grabbed my arm to stop me. I turned to look at her, and realized her gaze had softened, and I spotted some other emotion in her eyes. Was that fear?

"Please, protect her." She whispered.

I slowly removed her arm from mine, staring straight into her eyes.

"You have my word."

And with that, I climbed the ladder.

~~~~Time Skip~~~~

It was awkward having a goddess on the ship. Though we agreed that she was an invaluable asset to the team, most weren't sure how to address her, especially after watching her take down ten harpies by herself. Very shortly after we embarked, a flock of harpies attacked the airship. Artemis pulled a bow from seemingly nowhere, and took down three of them before anyone could blink. This enraged the harpies, who made a beeline for her, which proved to be a fatal mistake. Artemis merely dropped her bow and drew her hunting knives, and after hardly two seconds had passed, the flock of harpies had been reduced to a pile of feathers.

"Well damn," Jason commented after a moment.

Artemis merely cleaned her blades and sheathed them. Spotting me staring at the feathers, deep in thought, she walked over.

"What is it?" She asked.

I turned to her. "These harpies...they hardly seemed bothered by the magical wards placed on this ship, which are supposed to repel monsters. Also...did they seem bigger to you?"

She thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I don't see harpies very often."

I nodded. the feathers were already scattering in the wind, which helped with cleanup, at least.

I watched as Leo spun his wii remote, which apparently controlled the airship, and saw Jason, arms spread wide as he enjoyed the morning air. Leo had told us when we left Camp Half-Blood, after consulting a few maps, that it'd take two to three days to reach our destination. I wasn't sure what to feel. I knew that in a couple of days, I'd meet my mother once again. I hadn't seen her since the last time I left her house, when she told me where to meet her, and so I was naturally apprehensive. The others were worried for different reasons. However, one thing was for sure. The success of this quest hinged on what my mother told me.

~~~~That Night~~~~

I carefully made my way onto the deck, careful to make as little noise as possible, lest I should wake the sleeping campers. I spotted Jason, who was on watch, standing beside the wheel, looking around to make sure no monsters approached the ship. I approached the starboard (right) side, and leaned forward against the railing, looking up to watch the night sky. The stars shone bright, and the moon was full, casting plenty of light onto the Argo III. I sighed, closing my eyes to enjoy the night air. Movement beside me caused me to open my eyes as someone leaned against the railing.

"Couldn't sleep?" A voice asked.

Glancing over, I was surprised to see Artemis, auburn hair flowing freely in the wind as she looked at me with mild curiosity.

I shrugged. "I don't sleep."

She cocked an eyebrow, looking over at me out of the corner of her eye. "You don't sleep? Is that because you're the son of Nyx?"

I sighed again. "Partly. But after spending as long as I did in Tartarus, I've learned other avenues of restoring my energy."

She looked at me quizzically. "Such as?"

"Night. Just being awake at such a time fills me with energy, and I've learned to harvest that energy, for use during the day. While I was in Tartarus, well..." I pulled out the small sword replica. "...there are other ways."

She looked at the small sword then back to me, confusion clouding her gaze. She shrugged, and her eyes cleared. "Very well. Just be warned. You are critical to the success of this quest. If you were to be injured-"

I cut her off. "I was aware of the responsibility that has been placed on my shoulders." I sighed once more, turning my gaze back to the night sky. She followed suit.

"Ever wonder what it would be like, living as a human, ignorant of the precarious war that rages around you?" I asked, turning my gaze downward, spotting a city as we flew above it.

Artemis sighed. "I have lived for many millennia, and that thought has crossed my mind every day."

I nodded. "I wish, more than anything, for that."

She turned, regarding me. "Why?"

"In that world, the world doesn't hang in the balance. You don't have to live in fear, afraid that this will be the day you die. You don't have to worry about whether you were good enough to reach Elysium. In that world, I could spend time having fun..." I trailed off, sighed, and spoke one more time. "In that world, I wouldn't be so broken."

She tilted her head, confusion once more taking a prominent position on her face as I turned to her.

"I mask my uncertainty, hide my doubts, cover my shortcomings. I pretend that I know what I'm doing, when in reality, I'm barely managing to scrape by. When I first came to the surface, I wept with joy, for I'd never seen the sky before. I stood for an hour, just admiring the grass, which is so different from that which I had seen. The sun, which was blinding, caused me to rejoice. The moon, the stars, everything, they overwhelmed me. I knew then where I wished I could be. I knew then what it was I wanted, more than anything. I wished to live on this earth, to eat of her fruit, to smell of her fragrance. But I knew it could not be."

I paused, drew a breath, and looked away, wiping my eyes on my sleeves, trying desperately to rein in my feelings. I hadn't cried since that first morning, when I saw the sky.

She was staring at me in surprise. After a moment, she asked, "Why can you not live here?"

I turned back to her, and sighed once again. Looking out over the earth below us, I answered, "I do not belong. There is a reason Nyx made her home in Tartarus, and also why many of her children make their abode their. Zeus himself, when Hypnos put him to sleep, feared attacking him when he fled to Nyx, fearing her retribution. Nyx, by herself, gave birth to many gods, even the Fates. Nyx is feared amongst the gods, and rightly so, for she is one of the eldest, and most powerful beings. As such, being a direct and immediate descendent, I have inherited much of that power. And so, I am feared. My life will forever be spent in the shadows, dwelling forever in the night. When this is over, I will disappear from the pages of history, and there will be no record of me ever being here, and that too, is rightly so. Again, there is a reason Nyx does not make a habit of bearing demigods. Even more so than children of the Big Three, I have the power to shape the worlds destiny."

After a moment, Artemis nodded. "I see. That is how you feel. But I do not believe that to be so. In the short time I've known you, you've proven to be a valuable ally."

I regarded her for a short while, then gave a mirthless chuckle. "But that's just it, isn't it? You don't know me. If I were to speak of the things I did in Tartarus..." I turned to look back over the side of the ship. "Go, rest. I will take the next watch."

Despite her protests, and inquiries about what I meant, I would divulge no further information, and so she reluctantly headed below deck. After I had sent Jacob below to rest, I stood guiding the ship, recalling my days in Tartarus with vivid clarity.

It was the first time since I stepped foot on the surface. I wept.

End Notes: I apologize for the incredibly long hiatus. I'm facing a lot of personal issues at home right now, so I can't get the chapters out like I want to. I'm hoping the issues will resolve soon, so that I may continue working on these stories I've grown so attached to. Please, although I can't be on as often as I've been, leave a review. I'd like to improve, and the best way for that to happen is for you to tell me how you think I can. So please, R&R! RayTheZoroark Out for an indeterminate time!

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