AN
Twista: Hello everyone! Guess who's back? Well if you guessed me and Jake well you are dead wrong because it's just me today!

Roy is still out of it while Jake went with his parents to Hong Kong so I'll be filling in for all of us. I managed to make this as a solo production so those two don't get credit for this hahaha.

Replies:

xRinneandSharinx: Be sure to since he's now a Argo crew member.

Leftover Meal: Sorry dude! We finished the replies and chapter already and we just needed to edit so we didn't make new replies! If it makes you feel any better I'll personally answer it now. True, we really were miffed by the ending. Well straying from the storyline is the point of fanfiction.

Khaotic KrystalFire5: Well keep trying! What's a mission without the impending doom right?

Hippodog: We gave it a fair share of time to write on, I don't feel like we skipped it.

Twista: Anyway that's it for now! Someone like me should do better than those two haha. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: PJO and HOO are not ours!

Piper 3rd Person POV

An hour after Leo had fixed up the ship and had taken off; everyone was around the meeting table within the hull. The room was massive as it felt like the Big House back at camp. The walls were lined with torches and the room had windows that let them view the outside of the boat.

Piper, along with Fecilia and Vorn, sat down on the comfortable oak chairs while Vorn seemed to be either deep in thought or sleeping as his breather was heard as it was ragged under observation as if he had a really bad cold. Fecilia was spinning a frozen snowflake on the lavishly crafted table as she glared at Vorn intently as if she was trying to remove his mask just by looking at him.

Piper pulled out her dagger which was still in its sheath and she pulled Katoptris out slowly and as she pulled out the shiny dagger, she gazed into the clear metal of the blade and her vision rippled to a short man in purple near a sign that read 'Topeka 32' and then her vision turned dim as a silhouette of a horned man which towered over Piper as she looked up in fear. Her vision then became murky as if she was submerged in water and she couldn't breathe as faint laughter was heard as if someone was enjoying her demise and finally, as she was about to sheathe her dagger, she was frozen in fear as from the walls of the room, shadows seemed to creep up and form a shape of a massive being that emanated an aura of fear and terror.

She then quickly sheathed her dagger causing the shadows to retreat and she dropped the sheated weapon onto her lap with her hands shaking. Fecilia took notice of her and said "Hey Piper, are you okay?"

Her vision adjusted as she met eyes with the older woman and said "Yeah…"

"You're shaking," said Fecilia nodding her head to her shaking hands,

Piper took a slow breath and said "I'm just a little cold."

Fecilia shrugged and said "Tell me if anything else like that comes up alright?"

Piper raised a brow and Fecilia said "Because I've been feeling a little bit cold myself…"

Vorn then faced the two girls and said "Where are the rest? I thought this little meeting would have begun by now."

"Late for a date buddy?" asked Fecilia sharply, "If you are you're welcome to leave."

Vorn looked at her and Piper expected Vorn to get angry at Fecilia but he remained silent and Fecilia took that as discouragement and said "Then shut up and wait."

A few minutes later, everyone else came in from the open entrance and sat on the chairs leaving a few of the seats empty. The last one to enter was Leo who was stained with grime and oil as he pulled a chair and sat next to Piper. He nodded and said "How's Jason?"

"Still out of it," replied the Daughter of Aphrodite, "He looks less pale now though."

"Awesome," said Leo, "Soon he'll be up and at it again."

She giggled a bit at Leo and as she was about to speak, Percy cleared his throat and said "Hello everyone, I'd like to formally begin this little discussion so please, focus and listen up."

The Son of Poseidon then nodded at Talon and said "Hazel, Leo, could you report to us who is this guy exactly and how did you meet him?"

"As we said," spoke Leo from his seat, "We met him when we tried retrieving the needed Celestial Bronze for the repairs but we ran into a little trouble."

"Trouble?" asked Zoe questioningly,

Hazel who was still frowning said "We ran into Echo, a nymph. I'm sure you guys read about her?"

"Yeah," said Bianca, "The one cursed to repeat everything she hears."

"Must be really weird to be like that," said Ara openly,

Hazel nodded and said "She wasn't that bad at all, in fact she was really helpful. She showed us where the Celestial Bronze was."

"Where was it?" asked Talon placing his feet on the table,

"Under some small pond," said Leo, "Problem was that it was being guarded by Narcissus."

"Narcissus?" asked Fecilia, "Isnt he dead?"

"Yeah," said Hazel frowning "Is now…"

Percy could feel the animosity coming from Hazel directed towards Vorn who had his arms crossed as he silently listened into the conversation. Leo nervously looked in between and said "Narcissus drove us out but Nemesis came to us and…offered some help."

"So you accepted?" asked Annabeth,

"Well we did," said Leo, "Only because we really needed the bronze."

"Gods never give help that easy," said Percy narrowing his eyes, "Leo, did she ask for anything?"

Leo was sweating bullets under Percy's gaze but Vorn then spoke up and said "Nothing but to ask for a hand in tearing down Gaea and her children."

Leo shakily nodded and said "Nemesis then left us with Vorn as a token to help us. We trailed back to the pond and when we got there, well you see-"

Hazel then said "He slaughtered Narcissus, he cut off his head!"

"What?!" asked Talon, "I know Narcissus was supposed to be dead or something but did he really murder him?"

Hazel faced Vorn as the masked stranger said "I wouldn't call it murder, more like collecting dues."

"Enlighten me," said Percy crossing his arms,

"Very well," said Vorn, "I am milady's mortal hand in collecting souls."

"Collecting souls?" asked Frank, "Like Death? Thanatos I mean?"

"I'm nothing like him I assure you," said Vorn, "I am more hands-on so to say."

Vorn stood as he materialized his weapon with his hand raised in the air. He held the glaive horizontally as he said "This is my weapon, given to me by Lady Nemesis herself. It belonged to the previous Herald; the sphere in the center of the glaive is a transport system, a system to the Field of Punishment. I am tasked to deliver all those wicked to the Fields of Punishment but with the return of the evil souls Gaea has released, my search has been difficult. I have sent others to the Fields already such as Midas and Medea."

The weapon vanished in a wisp and Vorn said "I was merely sending him back to where he belonged."

"You were in no place to kill him!" said Hazel, "Echo wouldn't even respond after that! You broke her!"

"It matters not," said Vorn seriously, "All that matters is that I have done my job."

Hazel growled as Frank put a hand on her shoulder and said "Hazel calm down."

She sat down and crossed her arms as Fecilia said "For the betterment of Vorn staying here, I think we should put what happened behind us."

"Percy he's dangerous!" called Hazel, "You're just going to let him go?"

Percy met eyes with hazel as he crossed his arms and glared at Vorn and said "He did his mission, I can accept that but if he personally endangers anyone, he'll deal with me."

Zoe then said "Well where are we headed to again?"

"Woah lady," said Leo, "I got the Argo flying again, but only for a while. It's late and we'll need to land somewhere till I finish repairs first thing in the morning."

"We need to go somewhere near a city though," said Talon, "Just in case those Romans find us."

"They're far off I assure you," said Vorn nodding,

"Well how do you guys feel about Kansas?" asked Piper suddenly,

"Great idea Piper," said Bianca, "Remote and convenient. Just the way I like it."

"That's that," said Percy standing up, "We'll see each other tomorrow. Sleep well."

-Time Skip-

The next morning, Piper woke up with a start when someone was banging on her door.

Quickly shooting out of her bed, she stomped to the door and friskily grabbed the lock, yanked it off the setter and violently ripped the door opened and met eyes with a grinning Leo while Piper scowled and said "What?"

"Woah," said Leo, "Didn't know you were sleeping in Beauty Queen."

She felt her eye twitch as Leo's eyes inspected her and he laughed and said "Nice jammies Piper."

"What do you want Leo?" asked Piper losing her already short and ignited patience.

He probably saw the murderous look I her eyes and said "Jeez! Calm down! I'm just going through everywhere telling we're landing! And yeah, thanks for sticking up for me back there, I'm not sure what Percy would have done to me."

Her eyes let go of its anger and she gave him a kind smile and said "No problem Leo, you're like a brother to me. I've got your back."

"Well then I guess you're my Sis then," said Leo winking, "Catch you later, everyone's heading for breakfast and you should too Sis."

Leo jogged off leaving Piper with a smile on her face as she shook her head. She closed the door and a few moments later came out in her travel clothes which consisted of a pair of orange jeans and a light peach colored shirt that went well with the gems in her braid. Around her waist was a leather belt and sheathe where Katoptris rested.

Tying her shoelace in the hall, she felt a cold shiver pass her and she felt as if someone was watching her. From the dark distance of the hall, Piper heard steps and turned to hear hollow breathing and from the hall came Vorn who had his hands in the pockets of his pants. He passed her with him saying "Fine Morning to you."

Piper couldn't find the voice to reply because of the eerie feel he gave but he didn't seem to mind as she followed him to the deck where everyone had some food with them from the small table set on the deck.

Zoe wasn't eating anything as she was with Leo on the steering asking about what each button did. She may have been millennia old but technology was always something new to her. Percy was speaking with Frank and Bianca while Fecilia and Hazel were leaning on the railing as they looked over the sides of the Argo 2 to see the Kansas area below. Piper picked up a bagel from the table while Vorn was leaning on the mast as he was looking up at the clear blue sky and as she walked away from the table, wind zoomed past her as Talon swooped down and picked up a Turkey leg and perched on one of the sails as Asteron landed on his shoulders and they shared the meat.

As she was about to take a bite, a swift hand swiped the food out of her hands and Annabeth held it up and said "Whoops, morning Piper!"

"Hey Beth," said Piper grinning, "Its fine, didn't want it anyway."

"Suit yourself," said Annabeth as she bit the bagel,

Piper shook her head, picked up a glass and raised a pitcher only to find the water within not filling the glass. She raised a brow and turned and called "Ara!"

A giggling was heard as the Daughter of Poseidon walked out from the corner and said "Okay okay I'm sorry haha!"

The water then proceeded to slip out the container to the cup and Piper took a long sip as she smiled at Annabeth and Ara who were laughing. In her time at camp, she found a teacher in Fecilia while she found good friends in her mentor, Ara and Annabeth. They always hung out in and out of training and despite being new and inexperienced, they helped each other learn and they helped Piper become a fierce warrior in the months of training.

"Very funny Ara," said Piper shaking her head,

"Well Piper," said Percy approaching them with Frank and Hazel, "What's the plan? We're here in Kansas."

"We found a good place to land," said Leo, "Hold on,"

"Wait!" said Piper, "Land near Topeka 32, we need to check it out."

Percy raised a brow while Zoe and everyone else listened in as Piper explained her vision on the purple shirted man with vines in his hat. Percy tilted his head as soon as she finished and said "Dionysus? Well he's a friend as far as I can tell; we were actually on good terms."

Frank then said "We came here to see Bacchus?"

Leo went to the beeping command deck and said "Uh-oh"

"Why say Uh-oh?" asked Fecilia,

Talon descended from the sail and landed next to Hazel as Vorn raised his arm and a crow landed on his arm as he said "Monsters surround the area, a great amount of them. The Roman eagles are closing in as well, if we're going down then we'll someone down there to be able to fend off the monsters or at least know how to get around them and drive and stall the eagles."

"Jason would be good for holding the eagles," said Piper, "He can control the wind."

"So can I," said Fecilia curtly,

"My smell masks most demigod smell since I am really good with the cover up monster odor." Said Talon to add,

"I guess we have a team then," said Percy stepping forward, "hopefully you two resolve your matter on this escapade. Piper, you'll head down to ask help from Dionysus while we guard the ship. Fecilia and Talon will go and protect you."

Piper expected the two to argue but like good siblings and soldiers, they nodded and said "Understood!"

Ara watched as four crows rose from Vorn's back as they flew off and he said "My crows will be back in a few hours with the next report. Good luck; I sense something, something dangerous."

Fecilia nodded as Talon nodded at the two girls and said "Well ladies, let's head down. Grab my arm and we'll go."

He spread his green scaly wings into the open air as Fecilia shook her head and frowned as she said "I'll take the ladder down."

The white haired woman then stomped off to the other side of the boat leaving Talon with a sad look on his face as Piper said "She's still mad?"

"Yeah," said Talon, "She won't forgive me for lying to her."

He then shook his head and gave his face audile slaps from both sides as he said "Don't worry about it; it's not your problem it's ours."

"We'll we all forgive you for lying," said Piper with a smile, "It wasn't your place and she'll forgive you soon."

"I sure hope so," said Talon smiling as he extended his hand, "Hang on Little Miss."

Piper then got on Talon's back as he dashed to the edge of the Argo 2 and leapt off the floating warship as he clipped his wings and proceeded to dive towards the Kansas area below at an alarming speed.

Piper could feel the wind blasting her face and her tunneled vision began to see the ground and before she could call out over the wind, Talon spread his wings and they jolted up and began to slowly land on the ground.

Once Talon's feet touched the ground, he crouched down as Piper got off since he was really tall. He wrinkled his nose and said "Well im surprised you didn't freak out, normally anyone would start screaming their heads off when facing the threat of going splat on the ground."

"Well you can't scare me anymore, I guess Jason taking me flying has gotten me used to it," said Piper grinning,

The half dragon scoffed as he sniffed the air and grunted and said "That Vorn guy was right, monsters are everywhere but my presence will keep them away."

Piper looked up to see the Argo 2 and squinting he eyes, they saw Fecilia climbing down. Piper then said "Hey Talon, where's Asteron?"

"The Lizard?" asked Talon raising a brow, "He's around, said he's looking for some fresh meat."

Piper shivered at that and Talon then said "Piper, don't tell Fecilia this because she's going to hate me even more for it but in all honesty, I trust the Vorn guy."

"What?" asked Piper suddenly remembering what stories she heard from Leo and the creepy feel the guy gave off,

"Call it instinct," said Talon, "He smells familiar, a scent of someone powerful for all I know. That's one thing monsters like me will understand, power deserves respect and I can feel he has a lot of that."

As soon as he finished, a thud came to the ground as Fecilia landed on kneeling position and she got up, swept her white hair leaving the purple highlight next to her snow blue eyes as she said "Sorry for the wait Piper, let's go find that highway."

Soon enough, the trio needed to remind Leo to park a little closer since they had trudged half a mile before even reaching a road marker that said 12.8km. Talon rolled his eyes and said "8 miles?! Seriously?"

Talon faced the two girls and said "Screw this I'm done, we'll get there in a few minutes by flying."

Fecilia raised a brow at him while keeping a stoic face and said "Fine, take Piper I'll take Blissa."

"You don't have to call Blissa Fecilia," said Talon, "I can take both of you."

She hardened her face and said "I said I'll take Blissa."

"Fine," huffed Talon as Fecilia gave a audile whistle as from the distance, Piper saw a faint figure approaching and as it got closer, Piper saw a snow white Pegasus complete with a saddle and equipment.

The horse trotted in front of Fecilia as she caressed the horse's mane and said "Good girl that sure was fast."

Fecilia mounted the horse and said "Follow me alright?"

She kicked as Blissa spread her snow white wings and flew off into the air. Talon then sighed and said "Alright Piper get on,"

The half-dragon then zoomed after them at a moderate pace and after a few minutes, they arrived at the thirty-two mile marker where the trio landed and Piper glanced around saying "I don't see him."

"Bacchus right?" asked Talon sniffing the air,

"Excuse me but I'm over here," said a voice,

Piper, Fecilia and Talon quickly turned as Fecilia stepped back in surprise. Their eyes fell on a short man in a purple shirt and khaki shorts. He looked like he was in his early thirties and he had a bit of a pot belly.

"Did someone call for me?" asked the man in a lazy tone, "I'm waiting for Ceres, have any of you seen her?"

"That's Demeter right?" asked Fecilia in a whisper to Piper,

"We think you mean Demeter Bacchus," said Talon, "Do you remember me? Talon West? Brother of Percy Jackson?"

"Who is that?" said Bacchus, "Are you Ceres' emissaries? Where is Ceres then?"

"We're you expecting Lady Ceres here?" asked Fecilia hopping off her horse,

"We're not from her," said Talon nodding,

"Have we met?" asked the God to the two older heroes,

"Yeah," said Talon with a grin, "Don't you remember? We're buddies in Camp Half-Blood."

The God then roared in pain and grasped the hairs on his head as he flickered back to his more familiar look of a leopard shirt and back to the purple shirt. He winced and said "Stop thinking of me in Greek! It hurts too much!"

"This is what milady meant," muttered Fecilia,

Piper then dashed off to the God and said "Lord Bacchus, we are not here form Lady Ceres; we have come here to ask for help."

"My aid?" asked Bacchus, "My head is splitting but I do remember my friend Percy, if he asks for it, then I shall help him."

"We were hoping if you could help us on our quest," said Fecila seriously,

"We need your help," said Piper, "We can't kill Giants without a God."

"Sorry but I don't do quests," said Bacchus, "I'm a God now."

"No offense," said Talon leaning on Blissa, "But do you even fight?"

The God met Talon's eyes as a weapon shot out of the ground into his hand and he bonked Talon in the head with it as the half-dragon's eye twitched. Piper smirked a bit as Fecilia kept her face on straight while Talon said "Don't do that."

"Behold the thyrsus," said Bacchus, "A mighty weapon that has slain Giants."

"Giants," said Talon scoffing, "More like the Squirrel Patrol."

Bacchus did it again as he bonked Talon in the head with the weapon and Talon growled under his breath and he swiped the weapon away from Bacchus' hand, snapped it with his bare hands and said "Seriously."

The God merely pulled out another one from the ground and hit Talon in the head as Fecilia and Piper burst out laughing. Talon pushed it away form him but smiled a little seeing Fecilia smile and he said "Look I'm sorry I doubted its awesome power but how I dint know you fought."

"Well I did," said Bacchus lazily, "I was the one who defeated Otis and Ephialtes. Horrible Giants, pinecones in the faces swiftly dealt with them."

Piper had a sudden though and asked "We're they twins?"

"Why yes," said Bacchus, "They were, it explained why they were kind of alike."

Piper faced the two and said "Guys! I think they have Nico and Riley! I had this vision of what could be both of them lifting up this jar form a hole and remember what Ella said? Twins snuff out angel's breath."

Talon's head seemed to be electrocuted a she said "She's right!"

"That means we need to get there sooner," said Fecilia,

"That means you're a part of our quest!" said Piper, "You're a friend of Percy's! You can help us!"

The God shouldered his weapon and said "I'm sorry but I can't. Friend or not I cannot help unless given a proper offering and no one has achieved that in centuries."

Piper's face dropped as Fecilia then said "What kind of offering?"

"If you want some good wine I can pretty much get anything for you," said Talon suggestively,

The God shook his head and said "I appreciate it but I believe it is out of your reach. I will give you information though for the sake of your troubles. If you seek Phorcys, he always despised his mother and never liked his siblings. He could probably help you; you'll find him in Atlanta."

"Phorcys?" asked Talon, "Why does that sound so familiar…"

Dionysus glanced up and said "Be weary of him though, I must now leave…Ceres isn't coming and I sense something here."

He vanished in a blink leaving a bush behind leaving Piper, Fecilia and Talon looking at the bush as if Bacchus will just come back. Talon kicked the bush and said "Dammit he's gone."

"We got some good information though," said Piper,

"That's a plus," said Fecilia nodding and smiling at Piper, "We should head back, I feel a little cold."

"Cold?" asked Piper as Talon nodded and said "Yeah, my spine's been shivering."

Piper's eyes winded as she said "We need to leave. Now."

"You are far too late," said a tired and sleepy voice,

The wind picked up as Talon and Fecilia faced what seemed to be a field of wheat as Piper followed their gaze. The two members of the Forethought summoned their weapons as the male one bared his fangs, growled and said "Show yourself Gaea!"

A frost crept around the area as Fecilia said "Stop hiding!"

"Shame it wasn't Grace or Jackson so I guess I'll leave one of you dead and one of you broken." Said Gaea with some mirth, "I'll even let you choose Piper McLean."

"You're nuts!" said Piper, "I'm not choosing anyone!"

"But you don't have a choice," laughed the voice,

Piper faced her two friends as they seemed to freeze up and Piper noticed something. Their eyes weren't theirs. Talon's usual bright, orange, reptilian eyes were now solid, gold orbs and Fecilia's snow blue were the like Talon's.

"Guys?" asked Piper, "What's going on?"

The area seemed to grow dense as killing intent erupted from both warriors. Talon readied his lance while Fecilia went to a ready stance on her spear. From Fecilia's side, frost started to creep violently and the air felt dead while from Talon's side, Piper could feel a primeval power coming along with an uncontrolled amount of rage.

"One will die," said both at the same time, "And one shall be broken."

Piper screamed as the two charged with weapons meeting in midair causing sparks to fly and the ground to shake.

AN

Twista: That's it for now! I'm alone and there sort of a delay so I'm sorry! Tell me what you think! Leave a review, follow and favorite below! It really helps us out! Sure hope Roy gets better soon, Jake's coming back so don't worry!

This is Twista Etervo signing off!