This won't be so bad, Terralyn thought as she joined a huge line up leading into the courtyard. After long minutes of waiting, she reached the front of the line.

"Name?" the bored clerk asked, his pen poised over his paper.

"Jerome."

"Status?"

"Huh?" Terralyn asked, confused. The clerk rolled his eyes.

"Your job at the palace," he said, by way of explanation. Terralyn blushed and looked at the ground.

"I'm a stable hand," she muttered.

"I'm sorry, we already have more then enough stable hands to manage the horses," the clerk said. Looking past Terralyn, he yelled "Next!"

"Wait," Terralyn said sternly, her blush gone. Her eyes twinkled in furry. "I can fight, too."

"You? Fight?" he looked her up and down and let out a snotty laugh. "Not a chance. You're too scrawny."

"I can fight," Terralyn repeated, more fiercely. The clerk rolled his eyes and scribbled something down on the paper, and handed it to Terralyn.

"Next," he said again, and Terralyn zipped past him. After reading the paper over, she let out a groan. Written neatly in ink near the bottom of the page were the worst possible words she could imagine.

'Assignment: Clean up boy'

O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O

"Explain this to me again, Neptune," Jupiter said lazily, stretched out across his throne.

"I will fight for you, on two conditions," Neptune said, standing with his back to Jupiter and staring out the window. His hands were clasped loosely behind his back, but his stance was tense, like a tiger ready to spring at any moment. "Firstly-"

"You want the girl," Jupiter interrupted. "Are you certain that Mars has her?"

"Not entirely. I can not see her in my scrying bowl- Mars' palace is so coated with magic that it is impossible for me to see. But one of my subjects has admitted to seeing Mercury lurk around the palace the night Terralyn was kidnapped." His frown deepened. "There was also reported sightings of Venus as well, but I have searched your palace thoroughly, and she is not here, so I assume those were false.

"My second condition is very simple; I do not wish to fight against the other gods. Once the heavy fighting starts, I wish to be allowed to leave your service, head back to my home, and not be disturbed. Am I making myself clear?"

Jupiter said nothing, but his eyes twinkled as he contemplated his new recruit. "Of course you know the real reason we- that is, Mars and I- wanted you to join both our sides…"

"The Triton," Neptune exhaled, his shoulders sagging. "So that's what this is all about."

"If you want your human back, that is my condition."

"I see." Neptune stared out the window. "This could cause more difficulty then it is worth."

"Is that so?"

"When a god needs it the most, the Triton will appear." Neptune said. "He who wields it with wisdom will receive only the best results. He who wields it with ignorance will perish."

"Why must you annoy me with riddles?" Jupiter snapped. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"Perhaps you will figure it out someday," Neptune smiled to himself secretively. Jupiter snarled and leaped out of his seat, ready to attack his brother.

"To put this bluntly, you do not want to fight someone who is on your side." Neptune pointed out. Jupiter considered his words, and seeing as he did not lack brains, he collapsed back onto his throne, his fists clenched.

"So… you will allow me to use the Triton, if I find the girl, and let you go home after the war without a fuss."

"Essentially, yes."

Jupiter stuck out his hand. "You have yourself a deal." Neptune glared at him, taking a step closer to the throne.

"Do you swear?"

"On my honor." They shook hands, Jupiter smiling gleefully.

"How will you find her?" Neptune asked.

"All in good time," Jupiter smiled, completely relaxed. Neptune frowned at him fervently. "Don't worry, she's fine."

"You know where she is?" Neptune asked, clenching his fists. "How? It's not possible-"

"Do you think me such a fool that I would not have spies in his palace?" Jupiter spat, standing up, his whole body quivering with rage. Neptune shook his head and held up his hands peacefully, his eyes almost pleading.

"Tell me- how is she?" he asked softly. Jupiter stared at him for a fraction of a second, and then smiled cruelly.

"Venus was right…" he trailed off. "She's fine- in fact she has managed to escape Mars' palace quite easily."

"She escaped?" Neptune looked shocked, but not entirely surprised. "How in the oceans name did she manage that?"

"She joined up with his army," Jupiter spat.

"WHAT?!" Neptune grew a fraction of an inch, and stayed there.

"Precisely. I don't know the exact details- but she left with them a few hours ago, and she's marching with them to the battle field at this moment in time."

Neptune kept his face carefully blank, but his eyes were dark and his fists clenched tightly behind him.

"I may be able to save her when I take the new recruits to the battle field in two days time. I'm sure I will be able to pick her out of the crowd.

"You do not know what she looks like." Neptune pointed out, his fists still clenched. His eyes darkened even more, and then he bowed stiffly.

"May I ask your permission to march with you and your new recruits in two days time."

"You will fight?"

"No."

"As you wish," Jupiter sighed. He studied Neptune carefully. "Do you really love this girl?"

"That is none of your business, brother," Neptune said stiffly.

"You seem to be willing to go to great lengths to save her." Jupiter paused. "She's just a puny human, after all."

"She is not just a 'puny human'" Neptune spat, then stormed out of the room before he could loose his temper.

Jupiter watched him leave appraisingly, and then returned to his throne. He tapped his finger elegantly, thinking about what his brother had just said. "See, what did I tell you?" Venus purred from the darkness behind Jupiter's throne. She slinked up to him and stood in front of him, a smirk carved into her beautiful features. Jupiter smiled absentmindedly at her, but his thoughts were clearly elsewhere.

He'll do anything to protect his little human…

"Of course," he whispered, answering his own thoughts more then Venus' question. He grinned wickedly and Venus mirrored his grin.

"Will you need my help with anything?" she asked, smiling seductively.

Jupiter refused to take the bait. "Not until the fighting starts. But I have a plan for our friend Neptune…"

Venus pouted. "Why do I not get to be a part of it?"

Jupiter smiled. "Actually, you can help me with something. Keep an eye on Neptune. Watch everything he does. I would hate for him to walk out on our agreement."

"Of course," Venus nodded.

"It is almost dinner time, is it not?" he asked. She nodded, and stepped aside as he stood up from his throne.

"Shall we?" they linked arms and waltzed out of the room.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Authors note: Okay I am really really really sorry for taking so long to update. And I know this is my shortest chapter yet- only two and a half pages. GASP! The horror! But, well, I've been reading Eclipse (almost done! I'm saving the last chapter for tomorrow, and the suspense is killing me) and then I was away for a few days and then I was working on my Sandman story…. In short, I've been very very busy.

Thanks to my reviewers!: Technicolor yawn, Bumblebee, Sara, Viva Andromeda, stagflower13, porkypick, Ihaconch, Animals are my LIFE, bordeauxdaffodill, No-way-princess, and Aurora. Also, my fiction press reviewers: Carmel March, Tigerlilium, and Elizabeth Newman. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!! I think this is the most reviewers I've ever had for one chapter!

Alright, here's the big question:

Should Terralyn either

desert the army, which leads to her running into Jupiter's new recruits

fight for Mars' army, but end up getting injured, and is found by Jupiter

Sorry again for the lousy update. Please review!

-teardrop