Disclaimer: I do not own PJO.

Travis

Twenty stops is a looooooooooooong time for a bus to be going. That was all that was on Travis's mind for about thirty minutes. Over time, the bus had emptied out, filled up, and emptied out again. Now, Connor and he had managed to grab some seats. Connor had the backpack in his lap, and Travis had Katie. She had been unusually quiet throughout the bus ride, although Travis could feel her stiffen every time the bus began filling up again.

"Hey." Gently, he shook her. "Are you okay?"

"Fine." Katie mumbled. She glanced out the window. "Are we there yet?"

"Not yet, kiddo." Connor answered. He winced as the bus rolled over a pothole, and the backpack slammed back onto his lap.

"Do you want to switch for a while?" Travis asked sympathetically. The backpack was a lot heavier than Katie was.

"Sure." Connor nodded gratefully.

They switched, and Katie settled into Connor's lap without making any fuss. Connor raised his eyebrow at Travis in question.

Travis shrugged. Something was going on with Katie, but he couldn't figure out what it was.

"Are there yet?" Katie asked again.

"We still have thirteen more stops to go." Travis replied.

Katie sighed, as the bus groaned to a stop at a nearly deserted station.

An elderly lady got on. Immediately Travis, being chivalrous, which was a first, stood up so that she could have his seat.

"Thank you." She murmured. Her voice was squeaky with age. "What an adorable little girl you have!"

"Uh, thanks." Travis glanced at Katie sheepishly, who glared at him.

"What's your name, darling?" The lady asked her sweetly.

Katie looked at Travis for permission before answering. "Katie."

"Oh, she listens to her elders! Why, what a wonderful child you are! You remind me very much of my own sister when she was your age, Melinda." The old lady's eyes grew misty in nostalgia. "She was just like you; young, pretty, innocent, with two strong men to take care of her; and of course, a demigod, too."

Connor's arms wrapped around Katie protectively, and Travis froze. "What did you just say?"

"Oh, I'm sure you heard me, son of Hermes."

"Who are you?" Connor demanded, leaping up. He swung Katie onto his hip, and she clutched his arm fearfully.

"Don't you recognize your own sister, dear? I am Lady Persephone, at your service."

Katie

Katie gasped. "You are my sister! Well, half-sister. What do you want?"

"I want nothing, not now. I only come to warn you of the dangers that lay ahead. Lady Hera dislikes this boy that you plan to save, and she will stop at nothing to rid the Earth of him. 'Beware the friend, for the foe is your pal.' At least, I think that's what Apollo said. Anyway, stay cool!" Persephone allowed her disguise to fade away, until she Queen of the Underworld herself stood before them.

"Wait! Do you know how to change me back into myself?" Katie questioned before Persephone could leave.

Persephone tilted her head in confusion. "Dearie, you are yourself."

"No, I mean –" She was gone.

Katie sighed loudly in frustration. She wanted to scream. She had been so close to being turned back into her usual age! Persephone should have realized what she was talking about! Or, at least waited until Katie could explain herself.

"Don't blame Lady Persephone for not understanding, Kit-Kat." Connor warned into her ear. "Somehow, I don't think that chick will appreciate it."

Katie turned so that she could whisper into his ear: "Don't call me Kit-Kat, and shut up!"

Travis rolled his eyes as Connor began a dramatic show of being hurt at Katie's choice of words.

"Oh, Kit-Kat…" He continued his dialogue.

"Okay, that's it. I'm going back to Travis!" Katie announced. She had never thought she would ever say those words in her life. This quest was just full of surprises!