To RandomFanAuthor- Is that a trick question? ^_^

To JasonGraceIsNAPPING- Both. Just in veeeeery different ways!

Abudantia had come to the rescue once more, topping up Leo's wallet with English notes. They paid for their train tickets without issue, although a few askance looks were thrown at the bronze suitcase. It took some considerable manoeuvring to get the sleeping dragon on the train, taking up the majority of their six seat bay, wedged somewhat under the table mounted to the wall. Louisa sat by the window, bouncing her leg as they awaited departure. Leo and Calypso sat opposite, simultaneously wondering how they were going to deal with her in this confined space.

"I'm bored." She announced.

"Train leaves in two minutes." Leo assured. Calypso picked up her pack, retrieving Uno cards, snacks, sketchbooks and pencils. Louisa eyed the assortment, tracing her palms over the edge of the surface. Calypso piled on some more bits- packets of Oreos, colouring pencils, a Rubix cube and the regular pack of playing cards. Leo nabbed some paper and began filling the white space with various ideas, stuff that had been swilling about his brain the last few days. Calypso began eating the Oreos and playing with the cube.

"What's wrong, Lou?" She asked. Louisa hunched her shoulders, sliding one of the sketchbooks towards her. She examined all her previous drawings, keeping her head down. She hesitated on one of the pages. Calypso leaned to the side to see what it was, but the sketchbook was shut hastily. Louisa said nothing more, tucking the book on her lap and leaning back in her seat. The train rumbled underneath their feet, jolting. A ding-dong crackled through the speakers, followed by a lady's robotic voice.

"Welcome aboard the South-eastern surface to London Victoria. This train will stop at Barnham, Ford, Arundel, Amberley…"Louisa was asleep before the lady finished listing the stops, brow creased. Calypso waited a moment, slowly chewing her mouthful.

"Something's not right, Leo."

"I know."

"Do… do you think it's the nightmares she's been having? Do you think they're like yours?" She saw him wince in the corner of her eye, bowing his head. "Should we talk to her about it?"

"That'll be a fun conversation- hey, Lou, we know you've got amnesia, but we keep getting messages and dreams that you're destined to kill the gods and it's our job to try and stop you from doing that, but our chances of succeeding are as likely as me being taller than six foot, so could you not, that's fantastic, thank you."

"Wear higher shoes, problem solved."

"If I fall and break my neck, Cal, it's on you."

"I think I can live with that." She smirked. Leo drew in a horrified gasp, clamping his hand over his heart. She kissed his cheek. "Idiot."

"This is not good." Louisa looked to her right. She was sat with her back to a tree trunk, in the middle of a forest in the dead of night. Beside her, crouching and leaning on a black sword, was a pale boy, a little younger than her, with messy dark hair and darker eyes. He stared at her as if he could see right into her soul, bundled in an aviator's jacket a little too big for him. "What are we going to do, Lou?" She shrugged a shoulder, facing forward.

"Eh, we could try 'n' tame it."

"Do you want your head bitten off?"

"Is that a trick question?"

"No wonder you get in so much trouble."

"Uh, speak for yaself, cuz!" A monstrous cry echoed somewhere behind them. The boy put a finger to his lips, slinking further into the shadows. He glared at her. Need a plan. He mouthed. Louisa tapped herself on the chest and then raised her hand, shaking it to indicate her watch. He rolled his eyes. That's a bad plan. She retaliated with a rude hand gesture, peering around her tree. Shadows were shifting in the folds of the trunks, bushes rustling, a scattering of small creatures as they fled from its approach. The boy hissed at her, sword at the ready. Louisa called on her blade, wincing at the bronze-golden glow.

Silence coated the area. She lowered her weapon, but it was too late. The monster had found them.

A twig snapped, a clicking of mandibles. Leaves twitched around its movements. The boy shifted his feet, preparing to launch himself at it. He watched their right. She watched their left. Cornered on a tree. How cliché.

Louisa didn't have much time to dwell on clichés. The monster, whatever it was, had a tail. A long, gleaming, scaly black scorpion's tail. It banded around their tree, sinking its deadly point straight into her thigh, faster than they could blink. Bones shattered and she cried out. The boy turned to her, not seeing the other end of the monster until too late.

Manticore.

The word sprung to her dream self, but it did little to improve the situation. Her leg screamed white-hot with agony, jaggedly torn flesh, the ruined state of the bone, a venomous agent creeping into her veins as if returning home. The tail point remained in her leg, tilted this way and that. The manticore's snarling, gleeful face was in the boy's, almost nose to nose with anticipation. It raised a tiger's paw to swipe at her companion, the grey fog clouding the dream before it struck. Her leg still throbbed, nowhere near as painful as it had been, twinging sympathetically with phantom ailments.

She saw the same boy. They stood in a cabin of sorts, one probably best suited for vampires.

"I think you should stay." She said, looking around the cabin. "I know the décor sucks, but at least give it a go."

"Could say the same about you." He remarked, crossing his arms. "How many times have you turned down your marks now?"

"I dunno, dude," she shrugged, "eight? Nine? Don't matter."

"It does matter. You fit better there than you do here."

"Cuz, I don't fit anywhere. I just turn up, cause havoc 'n' run off laughin'." He scoffed, as if to say no duh. "Look, give it a couple of weeks here. I need ta know ya gonna be somewhere safe, asshat." The boy paused, frowning at her. "What?"

"Is that why you don't do it?"

"Do what?"

"Stay with the Romans?"

"Not followin'."

"You don't stay with the Romans… to make sure I'm safe?"

"Don't think too highly of yaself, will ya, cuz?"

"Oh my gods… Lou! I can take care of myself!"

"I'm well aware of that, but at the same time… ya dumb. Like straight up, fuckin' dumb as, well, you. Ain't no other comparison really. Ah, don't interrupt me, ya little shit. If not for me, when was the last time ya had a proper meal? Some sleep?"

"I don't get sleep with you around, I get migraines!"

"Still get ta lie down in a darkened room, don't ya?"

"Not the point!" He fumed. "I don't need babying!" Louisa placed her hands on her hips and he glowered. "Don't do that." She raised a brow. He hunched his shoulders. "Don't." He warned. She leaned forward a fraction, staring him down. If he could have shrunk into his jacket, he would never have come back out. "Fine. I… am grateful you help me. But that doesn't mean I am incapable of helping myself." She tipped her head back slightly, not taking her eyes from his face. "Love you too." He grumbled. "Still an ass though."

"Takes one ta know one, dipshit." She grinned, messing his hair. "Lunchtime, I'm starvin'."

"You're always starving."

"It's a crime, really." She threw an arm around his shoulders, trapping him to her side and marching him out. The dream changed on the other side of the door and the boy disappeared. She stood in another cabin, pink and perfume-clogged, net curtains on the windows and beauty products everywhere. Both hands were clamped over her face, glaring accusingly at a brown-skinned girl with feathers in her hair.

"Oh, Lou," she laughed, "it's not that bad in here."

"That's the fumes talkin', Pipes. They mess with ya brain."

"Well, it's not like your brain could get any worse." There were more kids in this cabin. Their faces were blurred and indistinguishable, but Louisa found she wasn't that concerned about them. It seemed she only knew them by sight, except for this Piper. Piper was one of the faces in her sketchbook, which meant Piper was important. "Give me two minutes and then we'll go, OK?" Piper smiled, patting Louisa on the head. "Don't kill Drew while I'm gone."

"No promises." Louisa said. Piper smiled and disappeared into a room at the back of the cabin. Louisa opened the door behind her, the door to the outside, as soon as Piper was out of earshot. She stepped outside, onto the porch, closing the door quickly and breathing in cleaner air.

"It's not a gas bomb, Lou."

"Does a damn good job of one, Sparky."

"Don't call me Sparky."

"Sure thing. Sparky." She smirked. Jason scrunched his nose at her. "Ready for another ass-kickin'?"

"Pretty sure Piper just sets these up so she can ogle at you."

"Me? You're her boyfriend, dude."

"Not with you around." Jason huffed, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Stop trying to steal my girlfriend." Louisa smiled sweetly and he elbowed her. "How're you sleeping?"

"Sleepin'? What's that?"

"Still insomnia?"

"Nah, just feel like starin' at the fuckin' ceilin' all night. Don't get a twin brother. That has a magic connection. That no-one can explain. Like, seriously, I've asked Dad about it, like, a bajillion times 'n' all I get is 'needs must' or 'you'll understand when you're older'. Bullshit, that's what that is. Bet he don't even know himself." The door opened and Louisa held her breath.

"Are you ranting again?" Piper asked bemusedly. Louisa shook her head, feigning innocence. Piper cast her gaze skyward, kissing Jason's cheek in greeting. "Right, we'll get Leo and then you can teach me."

"Teach you?" Jason echoed.

"Yes." Piper nodded sternly. "Problem?" He started, shaking his head and smiling, proud.

"That's my girl." He grinned.

"Ugh," Louisa groaned, "if ya'll gonna be as mushy as Percabeth, I'm gonna bury myself under this porch."

"Why my porch?" Piper pouted.

"Can't be bothered ta walk anywhere else."

"Can't argue with that." Piper shrugged. "Alright, we'll try and minimise the 'mush'."

"Thank you."

"Only if you let me play with your hair though."

"Ugh, fine. Just this once. No mush." Louisa jabbed a warning finger in Piper's face. "One bit of mush 'n' I shave ya'll bald."

"I could pull off bald waaaay better than you ever could." Piper teased, pinching Louisa's cheek.

Calypso shook her head, cramming the last Oreo in her mouth. Leo pouted, flattening his hands on the table in defeat. "I'm waiting to hear your great ideas, mamacita."

"Maybe," she huffed, "we can try and figure out what will cause the bad paths."

"And how do you suppose we're going to do that? Pop into a soothsayer in London? I don't actually know any soothsayers in London, Cal, don't take that seriously." Her expression deadpanned and he grimaced apologetically. "I know, I know, I just…" He scratched at his head. Louisa was still asleep, hugging her sketchbook to her chest. She was not muttering or twitching per her usual nightmares, her frown more confused than upset. "I wish I could just… pop her brain out and fix it up, this is so annoying. Stupid organic lifeforms."

"Um… thanks? What about your holo-scrolls?"

"Still nothing. No IMs, definitely not trying the phone again and definitely definitely not going to let Lou try to get a raven again."

"Why a raven? Is that important? Surely she would have more luck with a seagull." Leo hummed in mild agreement. Calypso tossed the empty Oreo packet onto the table. "This is getting us nowhere. Someone must be able to tell us more. We can't piece together something like this, no matter how brilliant your ego says you are."

"My ego never lies, shut up."

"Maybe I can help." They looked up. Taking a seat beside Louisa, was a woman, perhaps in her late thirties, early forties with greying blonde hair and fierce hazel eyes. She wore a pinstripe pencil skirt with a suit jacket to match, white blouse impeccably ironed and collar tidily stiff, plain black tie in a perfect line. She set a briefcase by her feet, neatly folding her hands in her lap. "I am Postverta." She turned her head stiffly to consider Louisa, frown lines pulling at the corners of her mouth. "I am the goddess of the past."

"Why are you on a train to London?" Calypso blurted.

"I enjoy train rides." The goddess replied matter-of-factly. "They are soothing. I am surrounded by people, but have time to myself." She sighed, rolling her shoulders and wincing. "As goddess of the past, I am often called upon to settle many, many squabbles between all manner of immortals. It does get rather… taxing at times."

"OK," Leo said carefully, "but why are you on our train?" Again, Postverta looked to Louisa.

"She dreams of her past, caught in recollections she does not know. I am rare to be of assistance to a demigod, but it is also rare for a demigod to hold such power over us deities." She faced them again, composing herself and giving Leo the impression of a lawyer. "You seek answers in Louisa's future. I cannot help you there. However, some answers lie in her past and that is where I specialise."

"What's the catch?" Leo asked.

"Catch?"

"We've met one goddess that helped us without asking for anything in return. I don't think we're so lucky to meet a second like her."

"You are quite right, Leonidas Valdez."

"Leonidas?" Calypso snorted. Leo smiled tightly.

"Not now, sunshine." He insisted from the corner of his mouth. Calypso filed away that information- if she could not make good enough use of it, Louisa most definitely would. "So," Leo cleared his throat and focused on the goddess, "what's the catch?"

"You head to find Louisa's friends in England, correct?"

"Yes ma'am." Calypso nodded.

"They will shed more light once you find them, but they will not tell you everything."

"Typical." Leo grumbled.

"Be cautious, son of Hephaestus. Flippancy will endanger you. Louisa has strong ties in England and they must remain strong."

"Or what? She'll go bad?" Postverta stayed quiet. She was watching Louisa, a line appearing in her forehead. "What is it?" Leo pressed. "You're… you're the goddess of the past. Could you, like, zap her memories back or something?"

"No. She is safer in this state." The goddess touched Louisa's cheek. "The catch." She said. "I can help deter you from one of the paths, but you must complete a task for me first." They watched her expectantly. "I believe my sister dwells in your destination, hiding from me. The future is far more complicated than the past and it… unsettles her. Find her. Send her home."

"How do we find her?"

"Well, if you require specifics…" Postverta smoothed her skirt. "She is more likely to find you. There are multiple versions of every possible future, it addles the mind. And with a future, or futures, as potent as Louisa's possible outcomes, she will be sure to seek you out. Do her no harm, just send her home. Only then, will I aid you."

"Um… if you don't mind my asking, ma'am," Calypso piped up, "aid us how?"

"I cannot and will not restore Louisa's memories. I can point you in the direction of her companions once my sister has returned, but remember what I said. Strong ties." She paused. "Your friend's history is muddled and bloody. It is probably best you do not know all the details and better that she herself never finds out. Things may come to your attention, her attention," she nodded at the demigod beside her, "but you cannot let her fall to them. Is that clear?"

"What kind of-?"

"Is that clear?"

"Clear."

"Clear."

"Good." She gathered her briefcase, rising and tugging at her suit jacket. "Keep your heads. The future of Olympus depends on you." And with that, Postverta turned on her heel and marched away. Another passenger stood after she had passed them, momentarily blocking their view. When the passenger returned to their seat, she was gone.

Louisa awoke with a snort.

"Wha- where-?"

"You're on a train to London, Lou." Leo reminded her, voice monotone. Calypso nudged him and he coughed, resetting his voice. "You OK?" Louisa nodded vaguely, peering out the window. Her eyes flitted back and forth as country landscapes swept by them, thoughts lost to time she did not know.