So, new upload. Yay! Not too long of a wait. Not bad, not bad. Really srry about the short length and the whole bunch of total dramatic nothing that happened last chapter ¯\_("/)_/¯

Alright lots going on in this chapter. Hope you guys like it! Happy New Year (only a couple days late) and Happy readings! Enjoy:)

XII

Jason

Jason had seen temples being built before, but this was different. Sections of the base of the structure were of crumbling, weathered, white stone. Everything else was earth. It was dark, but Jason could swear that he was able to hear the mucky sound of mud and earth moving. Gaea. She was slowly rebuilding this temple, and it was almost complete.

Through the earthy columns, Jason saw an interesting object above a rough stone slab. It was a big black crystal ball. Thick earthy tentacles were jabbed in and held it aloft. The tentacles seemed to run deep underground.

Jason, my little hero, I am so glad you are here.

A shiver went through Jason's spine. He turned to see the goddess herself. Her half lidded eyes made her seem like some complete physico. The darkness didn't help.

"I am not your hero, Gaea."

Her crusty face cracked slightly to allow a small grin. This made her face look even creepier. Anger does kind of give you an authoritative and regal look, dear. You are so much like your father.

Jason bit back a retort. "What are you doing here?"

Well, can't you tell? I'm rebuilding!

"A temple, but whose temple? A temple for what?"

The temple of Artemis Orthia. Spectacular events took place here. Humans gathered here and so did gods. It then fell to ruin, but I will bring it back to its former glory, with my own personal touches of course.

"I am assuming that is one of your 'personal touches'," Jason said, gesturing to the ball.

Yes, but unfortunately for you, Jason Grace, I'm not going to tell you what it does.

Howls were lifted into the air. Jason looked around but couldn't see anything. He knew the howl of wolves, but there was something else mixed in as well, other creatures.

I must let you go. We will be waiting for you, Jason Grace.

The scene faded away. Jason awoke to a light blue sky and the familiar scent of Leo's cooking. He turned his head to the side. He was able to see Hazel and Annabeth in a deep conversation, he made out a form that he guessed was Percy, and Leo was flipping pancakes.

Jason moved upwards and groaned at his stiff side. He felt it throb. The bleeding had stopped, but there was going to be a scar.

"Jason!" Hazel called and ran over. "Here eat this." She gave him a piece of ambrosia. "Does it hurt?"

Jason shook his head. "You guys have got to hear this."

Between bites of pancake, Jason told the three of his encounter with Gaea in dreamland.

"The temple of Artemis Orthia?" Annabeth frowned. "That's right in our path, but of course she knew that."

"We can just go around," Leo suggested, "Avoid the place."

"No, we don't have time," Annabeth said, "Besides, I'm sure she will send everything at us to make sure we go there."

"But it's a temple of Artemis. Shouldn't that not be on Gaea's list of places to go to- especially now that the Athena Parthenos has been returned?" Hazel asked.

"Not necessarily," Jason visualized the place from his dream. "The temple was a ruin. Artemis may not have power there anymore."

"Plus, we are not exactly sure that the gods are healed. Have any of you received a message or see anything in dreams?" Annabeth asked.

They shook their heads.

Annabeth pursed her lips. "What I am also worried about is that ball that you described. I've never heard anything like that. We don't know what it could do.

"We'll have to be extra careful around it," Leo stated.

"Especially since it's at that temple," Annabeth agreed.

"What do you mean by 'that temple'?" Hazel asked, "What exactly went on there?"

"I don't know how spectacular these 'spectacular events' were, but the temple was home to," Annabeth searched for the words, "endurance tests. Lots of blood was spilt there. Human blood."

"Well, isn't that lovely," Jason heard Leo mutter.

"What were the endurance tests?" Jason asked.

"Sparta had strict laws, especially for the military. In the beginning, men in training were whipped at the temple. People watched this and word spread. More people came to watch and gathered there. Other events were then allowed to happen. Most of them were so men could prove their strength and courage. Soon enough, it was quite popular. Sometimes, those who were brave enough volunteered to partake in the events, so they could prove that they were great. People came from long distances to spectate or to participate."

"'I will bring it back to its former glory,'" Jason whispered, relaying what Gaea had said.

Annabeth nodded. "She will probably try to restart the games."

"And I have a feeling who the players will be," Leo said.

"Us," Hazel said darkly.

A moment past as Jason let that sink in. He met eye contact with Annabeth. "We need to wake the others," he said.

"Help me with Percy."

They split up. Annabeth reached Percy and took his shoulders. Jason took his ankles. He tried not to stare at the damage. Percy's face looked as if he was in pain. Jason didn't know if it was because of his dreams, the physical wounds, or both. They carried him to the ocean. Then, they dunked him.

Percy's eyes shot open, at first desperately searching, then, seeing no sign of a threat, began to calm down. Wisps of red fluttered in the water. Slowly Percy's wounds started to heal. His color began to return.

"What happened," Percy groaned out.

"You got hit really badly," Jason said.

"Yeah, I know," Percy winced, "I meant what happened after that."

"Nico dropped in," Annabeth said.

"Yeah, and we have an arranged fight with Queen Dirtface in Sparta," Jason added.

"Nico? Sparta?"

"We'll fill you in, but we need to get moving," Annabeth said offering her hand.

Percy took it. "The Athena Parthenos has been returned. I spoke with my dad."

"What did he say?" Jason asked.

"That they are still weak. Recuperating slowly, but still out of commission."

Jason's shoulders slumped. He knew that the chances of the gods being instantly revived was very slim. Nothing was that easy. But he couldn't help hoping.

"Jason!" Piper came over. "What's this about Sparta?"

Jason and Annabeth made sure everyone was up to date with everything that happened during the night with a few comments from Leo, Percy, and Hazel.

"I still don't understand why you didn't wake us up," grumbled Frank, "and why are you here?"

Nico looked up at him.

Frank stammered. "N-not that you're not welcome or anything, but-"

"Reyna told me to come back," Nico said smoothly, "The statue has been returned, and she is handling everything very well."

He's lying, Jason thought. He didn't know why, but Jason knew that Nico was hiding something. He saw Percy frown slightly and knew that he was thinking the same thing.

"But what about Octavian and the centurions?" Hazel asked.

"The officers are all fine. Octavian was- ah- dealt with."

"What do you mean?" Piper furrowed her brow.

"Let's just say we shouldn't have to be dealing with him unless Thantos gets captured again."

"Wait, you-"

"Hold up," Percy said and stopped abruptly, staring out straight out in front of him. They were traveling on hills of dirt and the arid wind was clouding up his view, but Jason could see the big lady in blue walking her small dog.

"What is – Oh my gods," Annabeth said, "Is that who I think it is?"

Percy took out his sword. "Yes, it is."

Jason heard Leo mumble something about a blue-jean blimp. "Who is it?"

"Yeah," Frank said, "all I see is a lady walking her Chihuahua… out in the middle of nowhere." He turned his bag into a bow.

"It's not a Chihuahua," Percy said, "It's the Chimera."

The dog howled its shrill bark. With each bark it grew. Its howl turned into a horn of a cruisliner.

"Didn't you meet them in your first quest, Percy?" Nico didn't really ask, his icy sword was out and was very nicely combating the heat.

Percy grimaced, "Don't remind me."

"Wait, the Chimera and Echidna?" Piper said, "I remember hearing about them in school. Isn't she the mother of a bunch monsters or something?"

"That is correct," Annabeth said, "Gods, this brings back memories of the Gateway Arch."

"Isn't an echidna an anteater?" Leo asked.

The Chimera let out another deep howl full of malice and started running towards them, leaving goat prints in the dirt.

"I think you just offended it," Hazel said, pulling out her spatha.

"Nothing like a good jest to start the battle, I've always said."

"Right," Hazel held out the I, "any pointers on how to defeat this thing?"

The monster was almost upon them.

"It's strong, breathed fire, and is poisonous. Also, mind the snake."

"Any weak points?" Frank asked drawing back his bow.

"Not exactly sure, but try his mouth," Percy said.

Frank let loose his arrow, but the beast just swatted it aside like a fly. Jason brought out Juno's gladius. "Plan?" he asked.

"Don't die," Percy said.

"That's always a good one," Jason got to say before a blast of fire spewed from the giant dog's mouth.

Everyone rolled away except for Leo who just stood there and got covered in the flames. When the Chimera thought its first victim was thoroughly roasted, it stopped. However, Leo still stood there alive and well. The Chimera looked bewildered. Jason smirked. The mutt was not notified of all of their powers.

"Woo! Man, that's actually pretty hot," Leo said and lit up both of his fists, "Now, let's see if that furry hide of yours can resist Uncle Leo's flames." He threw two balls of fire like baseballs.

The Chimera dodged them, and the snake tail took a strike at Leo. Nico knocked it aside with a cut that should have sliced off the poisonous snake head, but the sword didn't seem to have any effect. Jason took the air and started slashing from above, effectively splitting the attention of the monster. But all they were doing wasn't really doing much; the dog was just getting frustrated. It decided to take a strike at Jason. It leapt up, and its powerful legs boosted it quite high. Jason barely evaded the sharp, gleaming lion teeth, but it wasn't going to be that easy. The head turned and breathed fire.

"Jason!" Piper yelled.

Jason fell roughly to the ground and quickly patted down the fire on his pants. "I'm fine," he said through gritted teeth. The wound from the fire and from the ghost goddess stung like Hades.

"Sonny!" Echidna had gotten within range. "Heel."

Jason pushed himself up, but had to have Frank's support as black spots flashed before his eyes.

"Echidna," he heard Percy say, "I see you are still charming as ever."

"Perseus Jackson," the lady hissed, "I see you haven't changed at all. Still trying to be a hero?"

"I think I got the hang of it already, thanks. How are you?"

"Don't be so big headed with me," Echidna spat, "I am still undefeated by you. You and you puny demigods are no match for the earth mother and me, the Mother of Monsters!"

"Speaking of the earth mother," Piper said, "We have a scheduled meeting with her, so if you would pl-"

"Hahahahahaha!" The women crackled. The Chimera paced around behind her, its serpent tail whipped side to side, as to show that it too was amused. "That's right. Her project." She grinned, flashing her pointed teeth. "Are you ready to aid her great awakening?"

"What is it? What does it-"

"Don't you try to charmspeak me, girl. I am too great for such a feeble trick."

"What are you here for?" Annabeth asked, "We are headed to the temple, and it seems stupid for her to send you here to stop us from going."

"Ah," said the snake lady, "I'm here to discourage you from going. See, if you go you will have to deal with her and I, however, if you don't go, she will send me after you. You will have a better chance of defeating me alone, though I seriously doubt the outcome will be different. Besides, don't you want revenge, son of Poseidon? You will be called a true hero if you defeated me, even if that won't happen."

"Thanks, but I will have to decline," Percy stated dryly.

The monster narrowed her eyes. "Choose wisely, Perseus Jackson, for you will not get another warning." The Chimera let loose a howl, and they both vanished in a column of flames.

"Um, what was the point of that?" Leo asked.

"I think she was trying to make us nervous," Annabeth said, "Trying to break us by showing a bit of their power. Those guys are really old, experienced, and powerful. Plus, we will have to deal Gaea and everything else they have. She was trying to kill our drive."

"Well, it's working," Hazel said, "We couldn't even make a scratch on that thing."

"Yeah, and if the woman from last night is there, we are even more screwed."

We just have to keep doing what we always do," Percy said, "We keep moving forward, no matter what. We will win, because we have to."

They continued walking for the next three hours without much difficulty, only once spotting a harpy flying above a restaurant. The amount of people decreased the closer they got until they were the only ones there. It was eerily silent. No people, no dogs, nothing. The sun was high in the sky.

"Where are all the people?" Piper said, looking around at the ghost town they were walking through.

"Hopefully taking a nice little vacation," Jason said.

In the distance a wolf pack started to howl. "We're getting close," Nico stated.

They could hear the monsters before they made it to the gate. Jason picked out sounds of certain monsters, harpies, dracaenas, hell hounds, and wolves. Then came the booming voice that made Jason stop in his tracks. "Where are they? You said they were on their way. You better not have killed them, woman!"

"Porphyrion," Jason breathed.

"You think the statue did the trick?" Leo asked, shooting a glance at Nico.

"I guess we're about to find out," Percy said and continued onwards. They were spotted before they even made it to the fence. Three empousai and a harpy guarded the gate. Once they noticed the eight demigods the harpy instantly took off, and the other three monsters took out their weapons. "Let's make this quick," Percy said.

Jason was already forcing the winds to bring the harpy down. It fell down with a loud squawk. Leo flung two fireballs. One of the empousa dodged the fire. The other was not so lucky. It caught her straight on her face, she exploded into yellow dust. Annabeth caught the third one with her sword, and Frank brought down the one that had evaded Leo's fire with two arrows.

Leo's fire had burned a sizeable hole through the fence, so they past the fence.

"Watch it!" Nico yelled suddenly. Five hell hounds jumped out from a thicket of shadows, barking like crazy.

Jason rolled to the side to avoid one and stuck out his sword, scraping it as it past. It whimpered at the wound, then snarled fiercely at him. It ran at him again, but this time didn't fall for the same trick. It jumped over Jason's sword and tried to snap at him. He fumbled backwards, and took a wild slice which made a measly cut on the beast's nose. Next to him a wolf jumped out at him. Jason kicked off the ground and cut the beast from above. The wolf turned to the golden powder. Trying to use Jason's distraction against him, the hound sprung at him. Jason pointed his sword at it. Lightening blasted from it and rammed into the beast.

Jason quickly took in his surroundings. The fight had led them straight to the temple. It was how Jason remembered it in his dream. The temple was reconstructed out of earth. The mysterious, obsidian colored ball loomed in the center. Next to it, with his spear and white eyes was Porphyrion. He had grown at least ten more feet since Jason had saw him last, if that was even possible.

"Jason Grace!" The titan bellowed. "Have you come to join us?"

Jason willed the winds to lift him higher so he was near Porphyrion's eye level. "No," he said flatly.

Porphyrion's eyes glowed brighter as he grinned broadly, showing his not-so-pearly whites. "Good." He lifted his spear and jabbed it at Jason so fast, Jason barely had time to avoid being stabbed. "Ha! You gods are too weak! The earth mother will awaken, and when she does she will reign all! Give up now, demigod! Let me spill your blood, and sacrifice you to Gaea!"

Jason was too busy trying to stay alive to think of a witty combat. All he was able to say was, "Uh, in your dreams, big guy." Jason followed that statement by a curse as the spear came too close for his liking. In the corner of his eyes, he saw Frank fall down a small tunnel that he hadn't noticed before with a couple of armored dracaena clambering in after him. Nico followed them in, but was also closely followed by a group of monsters. The last he saw was Percy and Annabeth squeezing in, before the king of giants took his entire attention once more.

Later, Jason would make the futile mistake of directing a bolt of bright lightening to the giant. That was when the mystery of the dark crystal ball was revealed.

YAAAAAY! Chapter duuuneeeee! Shouldn't be too long until the next one. Next up will be percy with a whole bucket of awesomeness.

cas-the-unicorn, percy will definetely continue to be totally hot in the upcoming chapters...

Review with comments, question, concerns, or any jumble of understandable characters! see ya!