Spinning through space, I wondered if I made the wrong choice. What was going to happen once I got where I was going?

I materialized, and immediately beheld a horrifying sight.

Aphrodite and Ares kissing each other passionately was not something I ever wanted to see. They were in their mortal forms, but my eyes still seemed like they were burning. I looked away from the odious couple, and noticed we were in an Olympian room (yeah, I can identify those on sight now.)

"Emily!" Aphrodite exclaimed, pulling apart from Ares, who didn't look happy about the disturbance. "You made your choice?"

I nodded. "Artemis deserves whatever we give her."

"That she does." Aphrodite said, smiling broadly. "This is a very pleasant turn of events.

Let me show you something. Ares, would you?"

Looking grumpy, Ares held out his arm.

'He won't bite,' I thought to myself, and, using every drop of willpower, I grabbed his elbow, lightly.

Suddenly, we were shooting through the air. I could see Ares next to me, looking bored, but I couldn't see Aphrodite.

We landed in what looked like a hunting lodge, and I noticed a bunch of teenagers chilling around the place.

I immediately tensed and looked for an exit when I recognized Adrestia, Anteros, and the two Aphrodite girls whose names don't matter. Seamus was, unfortunately, absent.

When they saw Ares, they all leapt to their feet and saluted. When they saw me, however, they did not respond nearly as kindly. In fact, most of them reached for the nearest weapon. I saw a lamp, a remote control, a ping pong paddle, and an antler of some kind.

Ares chuckled, and his eyes shone with pride at his kids. "Stand down kiddos. This special little flower is under my protection. No playing."

There were a couple groans, and they returned to their previous positions, with the exception of Adrestia, who remained suspicious.

"I have a couple questions," I said, relaxing a tad. "First of all, why are you guys here?"

Ares chuckled once, almost disbelievingly. "You don't think we can just march in there and grab Artemis, do you? Her pesky little hunters are like thorns in my side, but Aphrodite has specifically said no maiming, so I called my kids in. They are going to distract the Hunters while we deal with Artemis."

I frowned. I had forgotten about the Hunters. "But you won't hurt them right?"

Adrestia looked up at Ares for a brief second with a question in her eyes. "Of course not. We detain, nothing else."

I smiled awkwardly, not believing her for a second. "Okay. That's good. Hey, is there any bed I could rest in? I've had a rough couple of days."

Adrestia snorted. "'A rough couple day's? I fought a grizzly bear and a lion at the same time, and then made it back to camp in time to win Capture the Flag."

"That's impossible. Lions and grizzlies live in different hemispheres. If you are going to lie to try to impress your dad, at least make the lie believable." I said, smirking at her.

A bright crimson glow surrounded her. Man, one minute and somebody already wants to kill me. New high score!

Ares jumped in front of us, reluctantly.

"Aphrodite won't care about her for much longer. Hold your temper for a couple days." he told Adrestia, who growled and flopped down on the couch.

I couldn't resist one last parting jibe. "That growl was impressive. Did you learn it from your fictitious battle with the kraken? Oh, fictitious means fake."

She leapt to her feet, but before she could get to me, Ares grabbed my shoulder and teleported me to a bedroom, where he proceeded to backhand me in the mouth, making me bleed.

"Fghr yue!" I yelled, spitting the blood out of my mouth and onto the white carpet, hopefully staining it forever.

"Be grateful it isn't worse. If you mouth off to any of my kids, they will break you. I taught them everything they know." he boasted.

I was literally a second away from saying "So, you taught them nothing? Great job", but he strode out of the room before I could.

Which was probably a good thing.

I collapsed on the bed, holding my mouth. This day had gone from cringe-worthy, to awful, to panic-inducing, to slightly more awful.

Suddenly, it hit me! Apollo's ring!

I reached into my pocket and pulled it out, cradling it in my hands.

Grinning, I slipped the ring on, inhaled deeply, and... realized something was wrong.

I spun the ring around frantically, but nothing happened. The ring was cold, and I grimaced.

This is bad. Very very bad.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

I was in the process of pacing back and forth, when the door opened. I had tried it earlier, so I was kinda surprised when it opened.

Aphrodite walked in, followed by Ares.

"Okay. It's decided. We are going to attack tomorrow. All we need now is the location of the camp."

I sat down on my bed. "About that... I'm not sure that I want to do this."

Ares stepped forward with a dithyrambic expression on his face. "I could torture it out of you, if it would help any."

"No Ares. Don't make me make you wait outside." Aphrodite admonished him.

Ares smirked. "I'd love to see you try, babe."

I shuddered, bringing their attention back to me.

Aphrodite smiled at me, like I was a little kid who didn't know what I was talking about. "Okay. So, you want Artemis to continue to abuse you without any consequences whatsoever?"

I growled. She really knew how to rankle my pride. "Of course not."

"Then help us. It's the only way you'll get any justice."

My conscience was battling fiercely with my pride, until I made my decision. "The camp is 9 miles west of Cedarville. That's somewhere in Canada. There is a massive tree right outside the camp, the biggest one for miles, and a small creek runs along the southern edge. That's all I remember."

Ares and Aphrodite grinned at each other. "Thank you for the information."

"I have one request though. I want to be there. Give me a bow or something."

Ares shrugged. "Sure. But you should know that your arrows won't hurt Aphrodite or I."

I smiled sarcastically. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Aphrodite left, quickly pecking Ares on the cheek.

"Okay. We are leaving tomorrow. Get a good nights sleep. You'll need it." And he left, turning off the lights to the room.

I laid back in the bed, trying to ignore the guilt that was tearing at my stomach.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

"Rise and shine. It's time to bring Artemis down." Aphrodite said, popping in my room.

I had just dozed off into an uneasy slumber when she had woken me up, so I didn't respond as quickly as I normally would have.

"You have ten minutes. Here's some food. And fix your hair." she snapped her fingers and a plate of eggs and bacon appeared, along with a brush.

"Thanks," I mumbled, wondering if the guilty pangs in my stomach would let me eat.

She left, and I dug in.

The eggs were delicious, but brushing my hair was the second hardest thing I had ever done (bowing to Artemis was the hardest).

During my travels, I had accumulated leaves, dried blood, popcorn, cornflakes (yeah, I have no idea), and more dried blood, all in my hair. It required all of my arm and back muscles to pull the brush just once.

Finally taming my hair into a more manageable disaster, I walked out, unable to look at myself in the mirror.

All of the Ares and Aphrodite kids were dressed in full battle gear, and the effect wasn't comforting.

Ares and Aphrodite scanned over all the troops, making slight adjustments here and there.

He tossed me a bow, a black, ugly thing, and a quiver of arrows and a gray hoodie, which I hurriedly slipped over my t-shirt.

"Hit any one of our kids and you'll be worse off than Artemis, I swear." Ares said, threateningly.

"Okay everybody remember. Watch your back, try to engage them in sword fighting. Let's do this!" Ares shouted, and all of the campers roared in unison. Ares and Aphrodite snapped, and suddenly, we were all in the middle of the Hunter's camp.

I was conveniently placed in a tree, so I started sniping.

Aiming for the ground, I almost convinced myself that this was just another target practice where I had to avoid limbs.

Until someone grabbed my foot and yanked me out of the tree.

I landed heavily on my back, and felt someone's sword at my throat. my hood had fallen over my eyes, and I was too scared to remove it.

"What kind of coward snipes during a battle? And your aiming sucked!" my attacker snarled. "Who are you? A child of Aphrodite?"

"That was below the belt!" I said indignantly as my hood was ripped off my face.

"You..." Thalia said, taking a step back in horror. "You were a spy for Aphrodite the whole time?"

"No! Of course not! I would never do that!" I insisted, shocked that she would even think that about me.

"That's kinda what it looks like! You have 2 minutes-" There was a loud crash, followed by a increase in the battle yells. "Make that 1 minute. Go."

I took a deep breath. "Aphrodite appeared to me in a dream a couple days ago and promised to make Artemis pay for all the thing she did to me. She gave me a coin to tap and it teleported me to her. It was right after she had said that none of my tasks counted and I was really, really mad. Then I was with them and it was too late to turn back and I told them where the camp was, but it was really stupid and I've regretted it ever since! I had no idea that they were going to bring all their kids!" I concluded with an gasp for air.

For a second, Thalia looked torn.

"Curse you to the darkest depths of Tartarus, Emily! Gah! Fine. Stay here, and if you snipe any one of my hunters ever again, I'll shoot you through your heart."

She ran off, leaving me alone, my guilt intensified tenfold.

Naturally, I followed her to see how the battle was going.

Short answer: bad.

Long answer: .

Most of the Hunters were seriously injured, but they were bravely holding off the A/A kids.

Artemis and Thalia were fighting side-by-side against Aphrodite and Ares, so I decided to join the fray.

I slide-tackled Ares legs, or, at least attempted to.

My legs crumpled against his armor and he shot a blast at me without even looking down.

Skidding to a stop about 15 feet away, I looked around.

Then, I heard it.

"Hey Artemis?" said Aphrodite in mid-battle "Guess what? It was me. I made you break your vow. It was-" she swung at Artemis, who had been standing there, open-mouthed. Thalia leapt in front of the blow, and it blasted her sideways about 40 feet. "right after we defeated the titans the third time, and you were drunk. It was me! And now, you are going to be destroyed, once and for all." she cackled evilly, and I couldn't believe what I had just heard (except for the destroying part. That fit in pretty well with the setting.)

I saw Thalia land heavily, and not get up, and then it hit me. Artemis was going to lose.

Then, I did the thing I should have done at the beginning of the battle: I turned the ring on

my finger.

Warmth flooded through me, and Apollo appeared a second later, in full battle gear, thank the pandas.

"Hey, niece. I was just practicing my-" he noticed where he was, what was happening, and with a terrifying roar, charged into Ares.

Apollo's appearance appeared to encourage the Hunters, and they started to drive the A/A kids back. I started crawling along towards Thalia, who wasn't moving.

I crawled around the fighting gods and goddesses, who were moving too fast for me to see what was happening, and I eventually reached Thalia.

I placed my hand on her neck, and, after a few seconds, felt a weak, but steady pulse.

"You're okay, you're okay," I muttered, pulling her farther into the tree line.

My legs weren't working so well, and my energy was depleted, leaving me unconscious on the forest floor.

-/-/-/-/-/-

I awoke to the sound of birds chirping, which was oddly peaceful.

Yawning widely, I looked around. I was in a white, sterile looking room that I didn't recognize.

I was on a bed with a light blue blanket, which wasn't covering my legs in the slightest.

My legs were wrapped in heavy bandages and held up with some sort of hammock contraption, which actually was pretty comfortable.

There was a long tube leading into my arm, and I could see a clear liquid seeping into my veins. Old-Emily (pre-Ms. Lynch attack) would have freaked out (and maybe even Post-Emily too) but I was too sleepy to care at this particular moment.

My hands were handcuffed to the sides of the bed, which confused me.

Until the police officer walked in.

"Ah. Ms. Wolf. You are finally awake."

He said. He was wearing the typical, blue cop uniform with a radio and what looked like a gun at his belt.

"Yes. And why am I handcuffed?"

"You are under arrest for a severe case of underage driving. You apparently fled school after an altercation with a teacher and drove off, illegally, colliding with a tree. You have the right to remain silent..." he continued reading off my rights, and my brain froze at the thought that everything had been a dream. Artemis, the Olympians, everything.

I looked at the officer carefully. There was something off about him...

"I don't remember anything, Officer... Apollo!"

His smile froze, and the world melted away, becoming the Olympian room I knew so

well.

Apollo stood there before me, grinning.

"You jerk," I laughed, trying to sit up. My legs were taped to what looked like giant Popsicle sticks. "You actually had me going there for a second."

He laughed and lounged in a cushy chair. "What gave me away?"

"Your officer had glowing golden eyes."

He chuckled. "I knew I forgot something. So, how are you feeling?"

I shrugged. "Not bad, not great. How is Thalia?"

"Thalia is fine," he reassured me. "She's resting up nicely in the room right next to this one. You can visit her later."

"Why are my legs taped like this?" I gestured to the Popsicle stick arrangement.

"Well, that's actually my fault. You broke both your legs when you collided with Ares, and that ring I gave you started healing you, with your legs in the wrong positions. That would have been awful to rebreak."

I winced at the thought, and then asked a question more troubling.

"How is Artemis?"

Apollo didn't answer me for a couple seconds, and I sat there in guilty silence.

Finally, "Well, I don't really know. After we disintegrated Ares and Aphrodite, she immediately took off running. I stayed behind to start the healing processes. But, is it true that you led them to camp?"

I hung my head in shame. "Yes."

He walked over and laid a hand on my forehead, which happens to me a lot.

Every other mind reading attempt had hurt like Hades, but I think he was making a huge effort to be gentle.

He emerged out of my mind, shaking his head. "Oh Artemis. Why do you do the things you do?"

"I usually have good reasons." a voice (of course it's Artemis's) said from behind him.

I didn't flinch like I normally would have. I deserved whatever she did to me.

"Leave us, Apollo."

Apollo left, giving me an encouraging (I think that's what he was trying to convey) smile.

Artemis sat down, looking at me.

"You betrayed me. You betrayed Thalia, and Phoebe, and everybody." The words were icy daggers digging into my heart. "You led to Thalia's almost death. I almost was sent into Tartarus because of you. Do you have any excuse for yourself?"

I shook my head, holding back my tears.

"Well, I do. I am an awful person. I led you to violence. This was completely my fault. I don't blame you."

At those words, I exhaled mightily. "No, it's my fault. I made a stupid deal with Aphrodite and it led to everything going wrong."

Artemis smiled. "That was the best thing that could have happened. Think about it! I know why I broke my vow now! I checked it all out. People said they did see me leave with Aphrodite, heavily intoxicated. Your dad was the first person we saw on the street. And then you happened. The heavy drinking is why my memory is so bad. Of course, when she rematerializes, I'm going to tear her into shrewd and then eat them, but for now, I'm content."

Wow. My entire life happened to exist because my dad felt like he needed a walk.

"I don't know what to say," I said (heh), shaking my head.

"Well, I do. Emily, I am offering you a full-time membership with the Hunters of Artemis. It's yours if you want it."

I thought about all I had been through. The torture, the cold, the lynxes, all of it, just so I could be included in the Hunters. And now here is my opportunity.

"Thank you, Lady Artemis, but I respectfully have to decline." (Raise your hand if you called that.)

She sat there, flabbergasted. "But, why? And if you say it's because of Ward, I will ground you into the next century."

I laughed, surprised at my own decision. "It's not Ward. It's just, I haven't lived my life yet. I still have adventures to go on, things to see. I know I would have a lot of experiences with the Hunters, but I just feel like it's not for me. Maybe in a couple years, when I learn to control myself a little better, but not now."

Artemis shook her head. "I think you were hit harder than you think. Oh well. Get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a big day."

"But I'm not-"

She tapped me on the forehead, and I passed out immediately. Dang it.

-/-/-/-/-/-/

The next morning, I woke up and was greeted by Thalia and Phoebe, and even Willow (remember the satyr from the beginning? Just checking.)

After a lot of hugging and laughing, Thalia had to go rest, and Phoebe had to go help the other Hunters who were injured in the battle.

Willow and I talked for hours, laughing and tearing up (okay, maybe a little bit if crying. But only a little) in turn.

Then, Apollo walked in.

"Ready to see your dad?"

"Yes!" I said enthusiastically.

Apollo smiled, flashing his brilliant white teeth. "Well, the handsome, majestic doctor says you check out, so you're free to go. Take my arm, if you please."

I stood up and took his arm, feeling a little light-headed.

We spun through air, and I focused on not passing out, which was a real struggle.

Landing in my dad's living room, I noticed, to my surprise, that it was put back just the way it had been.

But that didn't matter. My dad and I were together again.

Without speaking, we sprinted and hugged each other fiercely.

During our little display of affection, Artemis had wandered in, followed by... Ward.

My dad reluctantly let go, and I turned to look at Ward.

He was smiling and I rushed to hug him.

Artemis remembered in time to lift the shock, and I could hug him fully for the first time.

Then, my dad ordered pizza, and we had a little party, watching Clash of the Titans and mocking how awful it was. Apollo and Artemis sporadically teleported out of the room to check on the injured, but they were usually back within ten minutes or so.

Having Artemis ask me to pass the popcorn was literally the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me.

Finally, Apollo headed back to Olympus (I think he had a girlfriend there), which left Artemis, Ward, my dad, and I.

"Emily?" Ward asked, after we had faded into a comfortable silence. "Do you want to go get some coffee?"

There was a coffee shop only one block away, but it occurred to me that this was almost a date. Huh.

"Sure. If that's okay..." I looked at my dad, then Artemis.

They both nodded, so we left.

After a great hour or so of laughing and telling stories, the coffee shop closed, so we headed back.

Stopping in front of my door, he reached in to give me a hug good-bye.

And then we were shocked apart.

"It was a one-time deal." Artemis said, opening the door. "You are too young to date."

I turned to look at her. "I'm fifteen! Sixteen in March!"

Artemis glowered at me. "That's no excuse. Not until you are out of college. Maybe later."

"You're ridiculous!" I said. Ward left, laughing, but I hardly noticed. "Just because you went thousands of years without a date doesn't mean I have to!"

"Abstaining from boys taught me a lot about self-control and my priorities."

I laughed derisively. "'Self-control'? You practically erupt if anyone annoys you!"

"Watch it. I will still hurt you."

I turned around and stormed into my room, probably waking up my sleeping dad.

"You're impossible!" I shouted, throwing myself down on the bed.

Then, I was laughing. My heart felt free for the first time in ages. Everything worked out, and I didn't even get murdered in the process.

Of course, Aphrodite and Ares would be back for another round later, but that's a tale for a different tale.

The End.

AN: The time I spent writing this was very great, and I hoped you enjoyed my story about the little girl from cabin eight.

AN2: So, my loyal readers, we have reached a parting of ways. You guys have been the best readers imaginable, and I hate to end it here. It's been a long 18 month journey, hasn't it? Between long hiatuses (hiatusi?) and my terrible writing, it almost didn't get done. But, it had to end sometime, and I thought 25 was a good way to do it. It's kinda odd. When I started this story off, I had no idea that Thalia would enter, or I would meet Morpheus, or any of it. But this doesn't have to be sad (in fact, for some of you its probably a relief). All I'm asking for is one last review about, well, whatever. The story, the weather, whatever. Well, I just wanted to thank you for all your reviews. It's making me sad, but I won't update for a very, very long time. So, for old time's sake, thanks and gods bless.