Since we just stood there, our mouths hanging wide open, the little girl sighed then skipped over to an empty chair.

"I suppose I should explain…" she said to us. "My name is Joy. I am eons older than any of you."

"But your, like at most, five." Damon said to Joy, dubiously.

"Yes, I know that." The small girl said contemptuously, "Although I appear to be no older then six year of age, I am older than you all. I was cursed. You, see my father offended Hebe, goddess if youth, and she displayed her wrath upon me. While my mind matures and grows, my body is trapped in the form of a child."

"So you're…lemme see- a gazillion year old, correct?" Shane said sarcastically.

"I've been around since the Roman Empire was at its peak, child." Joy clicked her tongue, distastefully.

"You're calling me, child? I'm like four feet taller than you!" Shane burst out.

Arissa glared at him, "You know, it's going to hurt when I kill you."

Shane winced, "Okay on to subjects other then tearing out my guts…"

I rolled my eyes at my boyfriend, "So you're the Boss?"

"Yes! Is that so hard to believe?" Joy huffed indignantly.

"Um," I stuttered, unsure how to respond.

"Well…" Sadie and Damon both mumbled.

"Maybe," muttered Shane evasively.

"Yeah…" Arissa finally said, "I mean you're all little and cute like Andromeda." Damon and I nodded.

"Stupid, half- godlings!" she raged for a moment, "Any how, I should clear up the matter. Luna, the automon is not your father."

I let out a small breathe of relief. Well, if I came for a robot that makes everything even more complicated. I mean, I really wanted to check if I still had a belly-button, as childish as that is.

"This," Joy said tapping something into a high-tech keyboard, "Is your father, Luna."

The screen flashed to show a picture of a man. He looked like he was in his mid-thirties and was beaming down at me. He had unruly, curly, dark hair and pale blue eyes identical mine. Same almond shape, color, lashes…everything.

"Henry Di Pirreo, he died of lung cancer shortly after your were born. From what we know, Artemis never told him and it wasn't a real relationship."

I felt a little let down. Nico, Thalia, Damon, Hero, Arissa, and, Andromeda were more than enough family for me, but it would've been nice to have a real live Dad. At least now I knew he didn't just drop off the face of the Earth or flat out leave me. Next to me Shane's hand found mine.

"Guard!" the girl's voice rang out. Then the Hydra, a scaly, slimy snake- she devil slithered in.

We all picked up our weapons and charged at the demon. Sadie was carrying, or more aptly dragging, an unbalanced sword- unbalanced at least for some one of her stature. Damon and I strung and shot arrows at the snake- woman, blinding her.

"What do I do?" Sadie shrieked, "Its heads grow back!"

"Go for the body!" Shane called slicing off some greenish scales.

Hopelessly, Sadie thrust the sword at it, only making it even more furious. Angrily, now, she tossed the heavy sword at it. Amazingly, the blow stuck and the Hydra crumbled.

"Well, so much for an epic battle…" muttered Damon.

"So, back on topic…" Joy said sickly sweet as if nothing had happened, "Will you all join?"

"No!" I growled staring back at her.

"Not good enough!" she shrieked picking a bronze edged dagger and throwing at my head. I yelped and flung myself toward Arissa and Shane, the knife nearly decapitating me. I pressed myself against the metal wall, breathing hard.

"No way in Hades!" Damon said harshly, "Not after the way you tried to kill my cousin!"

Before he could lunge at the immortal five year old, I grabbed his feet and pulled him back. "Not worth it."

"I suppose the answer is mutual?" Joy said quietly balancing another dagger in her hand as Shane and Sadie nodded vigorously. "Or," she whirled to Arissa, "Are we feeling some hesitation?"

I twisted to stare at my best friend. She was pinned to the control board's panels, shaking. Arissa had paled several shades from her olive complexion and her starling blue eyes bugged out. She chewed on her bottom lip, carefully.

"You want power don't you, child? Just like your parents." Joy crooned. "They had choices…they didn't take the choice that would've benefitted them more…Pity isn't it? Let us not make the same mistakes…"

"I-I-" Arissa fumbled over her words, licking her lips anxiously. "I don't-" She suddenly scowled then said firmly, "No."

"No?" Joy echoed, "No? You said-"

"No. I get it." Arissa whispered to her. "Goodbye now."

"What?" Joy thundered.

Arissa stomped, hard, making the ground crack open and the undead seep out. Joy floated over a black abyss with skeletons swarming beneath her. Joy's eyes froze, wide with fear.

"To Tartarus, may it have mercy on your distorted soul!" Arissa hissed, venomously. "Oh, and say hi to Gramps for me. Well, bye now!"

She snapped and Joy felled into the void and the Earth melded together, eating her whole. She slid down to the ground after this, all of us staring at her.

I sat down next to my friend, "I-I think this quest has changed us."

"That's right," Damon said hollowly, "I see things different now. Arissa isn't some all powerful, indestructible super human without a heart. Luna's not a quiet kid who I just happen to live with. She's my cousin. My brother-" Damon swallowed hard, "My twin doesn't have all of his leg any more. We've been a long way together. We're like family, now. Shane and Sadie are, too."

Slowly we all linked hands, making a chain. There were parts missing, I knew, but that was okay for now.

Arissa looked close to tears as she choked out, "Forever."

"Forever." We repeated in unison.

I know, a bit melancholy at the end. But this story really did change the whole gang. Review, please?