Thalia was walking around when Sal stopped her.

" Hey, Thalia!" He greeted cheerfully. Thalia looked at him curiously. They have been living together in the same camp for a year now so such warm greeting is weird.

" What do you need Sal?" Thalia asked. Salomao just looked at her happily and whispered in her ear. At first, she raised an eyebrow and then her eyes filled with excitement and slight surprise in it.

" Got it?" He said. Thalia just gave a thumbs up. She then ran off and repeat to the hunters what Salomao had said to her. They all got a surprised look and then agreed to the plan.

Sal's eye gleamed in a slight mischievous way. Now all they need is the plan to work out like it is supposed to.

Sal went up to Artemis.

" Hey Lady Artemis, today I feel a little bit like Ares. Would you do the honor of being my spar partner?" He offered.

' This will distract Artemis for a while.' Sal thought.

Artemis agreed and the two went to the sparring arena.

Meanwhile with the Hunters...

" Quick everyone we must do this by tonight! We must also do this silently or Lady Artemis will notice!" Thalia said quietly. The hunters soon quickly went off to where they suppose to go.

" Phoebe, you go and help with the decorations," Thalia ordered.

" What about you?" Phoebe asked noticing Thalia just standing there. Thalia just smirked and grabbed a cookie and started munching.

" I'll just watch." She replied back.

Back at Sal...

He didn't know if the huntresses will do good without him. After all, he only long story short the plan he created just the night before today.

" What weapon are we using. Spears, daggers, or swords?" Artemis asked dragging him back from reality.

" Three rounds. First daggers, swords, and then spears." Sal replied back.

" Alright then let's get-." She was interrupted by a scream. Sal looked incredulously at the direction where the Hunters's are at.

" What the Hades are they doing." He muttered. Artemis was about to run over when Sal stopped her.

He forced a smile on his face.

" Let's continue, shall we. I think they'll be alright. They're your mighty hunters remember?" He said. Artemis looked over and then looked back.

She then hesitated for a second before nodding. She took her stance and the two started to fight with their daggers.

Her dagger met with his dagger. Sparks fly in between as the two continue to hit their daggers together.

Both were strong warriors and prideful ones also. Both warriors refuse to back down and so the intense dagger fight continues.

Back at the Hunters...

" Phoebe stop that firework from exploding! No, Wendy that is a plastic pie for decorations so don't eat that! Zoey don't you dare touch that cake!" Thalia shouted. Right now, she doesn't even bother by her noise level. Everything was chaotic.

Apparently being the watcher or inspector is harder than thought.

The firework shoots up to the sky and exploded spelling out Artemis.

Back at Sal...

He was about to facepalm when he saw the firework. How did that even happen?

Whoever set that off, she is now the new monarch of explosions. Cause Sal didn't think even he would be able to set off a firework on "accident".

Artemis was confused and a little worried of course. First a scream and a loud explosion in the sky. However, she wasn't distracted like Sal was.

So she was able to quickly disarm Sal and place her dagger next to his heart. Sal however smirked.

" Not so fast." He said and out of Artemis's eyes, Sal used his knee to gut Artemis and then backed up. He then rolled away and grabbed his dagger.

He smirked. He felt his body is getting even more excited and more lustful for a battle.

The two continue to slash at each other. Both getting excited and more hyped. It looks like two kid having a sugar rush.

Artemis admits that for a person who's used to using a sword, he's pretty good at dagger. She had heard that he was the best swordsman in 500 years before the whole betrayal thing.

She also had heard he was probably the worst archer in 500 years to see before. So, Artemis was slightly curious about that drastic change since she knew Sal's archery was quite good. But then again his personality also had a drastic change so Artemis wouldn't be quite surprised.

And even though he was quite good with the dagger but still a person who lived and trained for around 700 years can't beat a person who trained for thousands of years.

What do all mortals say back in the days?

Practice is the key to success.

And Artemis had been practicing for thousands of years. Artemis believed that if a mortal who had the determination and the years she has to train, then he or she will be like her. People can grow and change. They don't stay the same and Artemis believe that's what differs them immortals from mortals.

Her blood flow with excitement. She hasn't met a strong enemy who can stand against her for a long time. However, she knew immediately who will be the winner of this round.

She quickly gave him a swirl kick which he blocked. But quickly using her other feet she springs herself off the ground and using Sal's arm to jump behind his back. She then kicked his knee making him go on one knee and kicked the dagger away from him. She then uses one of her hands and pulled back Sal's left arm while using her other hand to place her dagger next to his jugular veins.

She smiled victoriously.

" I believe I win." She said. Sal just sighed in defeat but at the same time with relief. Artemis was too focused on the fight to notice all the mistakes that her hunters have created. First, there was some electricity spewing out of where the Hunters were.

Also smoke was a little bit too much in the air. He also saw Thalia trying to ride the moon chariot "secretly" while closing her eyes tightly at such height. Phoebe was screaming trying to tell Thalia to control the chariot and go to Apollo's palace and not China.

Sal swears if Tracy wasn't there, the Australians and other countries in the Southern Hemisphere will actually see Santa Claus.

Then another explosion came following along with Thalia yelling.

" Why did you do that Apollo!" Thalia yelled. Artemis tilted her head. Apollo? Why is her brother here? The sun wasn't going down anytime soon and Artemis was already tempted to go and see.

Sal became slightly panicked. He needs to give them just a little bit more time. Then he had a great idea.

He focused on a source of water. He felt a tugged and before he knew it, Artemis was soaking wet.

" What did you do that for?" Artemis said shaking because it was cold and she was angry.

" Revenge for pulling back my arm." He replied with an innocent look.

Artemis glared at him before going to her tent to shower. She was dripping wet from top to bottom.

" Maybe I overdid it a little bit but that should give them a little bit more time to prepare," Sal muttered and just waited outside at Artemis's tent.

A while later Artemis came out. She glared at him and then huffed heading towards the Hunters' direction.

The two walked in silence. Sal was smiling silently. He didn't know if she'll like it or not but at least he tried.

" What-." Artemis began.

" HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" The hunters yelled. Artemis's eyes widen. There she saw Apollo, Athena, Hermès, Zeus, and many other gods. Some demigods were there also.

But then she saw her...

She quickly runs over and hugged her tightly. Tears started to come out. It has been thousands of years since she saw her.

Leto.

" Mother." She whispered to herself. Apollo stood by watching the scene. He had nearly the same reaction but probably even more tearful than his sister.

There were other titans as well. Helios, Selene, Metis, and other peaceful titans. However, they all distanced themselves away from Zeus to avoid any awkward meetings.

" Happy birthday Milady!" Thalia said brightly. She didn't realize that it was Artemis's birthday at first until Sal told her.

" Everyone is in a happy mood. So it will even be happier if I did a haiku!" Apollo said. He cleared his throat.

" It is our birthday. Little sis is very happy. I am so awesome!" Apollo said. The hunters groaned. 500 years and he still haven't changed.

Still a very terrible haiku poet.

Sal smiled at the scene. No one had greeted him yet but that's fine. Just a few more years he'll have to leave.

It's better if they start to go back to before he came. That way it is better to cope with pain if they ever will miss him.

" Alright let sing happy birthday to the twin Artemis and Apollo!" Sal announced.

" Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to Artemis and Apollo! Happy birthday to you!" They sang and cheered.

Phoebe looked up at the sky. It was still daytime. But they were planning to celebrate till night.

Even though it is day but Phoebe still thinks Zoë might be able to see.

" It's a good day today Zoë." She muttered.

Night Time...

She didn't know what to do. Seeing her old friend from far away from celebrating her birthday is quite weird.

It has had has has has been a while. The feeling of warmth still lingers around. Her smile when she hunts...she will never forget it. But they're enemies.

She forgot her. There was anger, sadness, hate, and other mixed feelings. But when she saw her once again, the feelings were gone. There was no negative feeling. But a feeling of just saying happy birthday to her.

But then again all this hate all started because she stole her job and her fame among the Greeks leaving her an unimportant goddess.

But just right now, she'll forget about those and say, " Happy birthday Artemis."

As she watches another firework shoot up to the sky.

Another Meanwhile...

It is only the month of July and the forest is green and lush. Full of richness and life.

However, among the trees of the forest where they play capture the flag, a tree was losing its leaves. Its leaves were red and yellow like it was autumn.

Its branch droops down like it is sad. The wind blew and leaves fall. Slowly and slowly the leaves will fall until none remains.

Looking closer, you'll see the mosses and bacteria growing on it. Funguses eating away the bark and into the wood. The tree once stood with a meaning is starting to decay. Soon the whole tree will fall and the tree will be gone.

End.

" While I thought that I have been learning how to live, I have been learning how to die."

- Leonardo Da Vinci