I love writing Aaron. Powerful, Smart and wicked to write... I love his complexities and willingness to be be critical.

"Who would have guessed poodles could be so helpful?" Aaron grinned at a still flush and happy Grover. The other boy hadn't stopped grinning at him since he woke up, revealing that Aaron had spend his watch cleaning the field they had rested in. The lack of trash on the ground and quick offering to Pan to help the area more then smoothed over their spat from the night before. He may have meant what he said still but that didn't mean he was okay with being rude to the people he was questing with.

Said fellow Quester, Grover, beamed a shy but proud smile as he cuddled back into his seat. "Who would have guessed we'd get enough money to travel so far? I like this train."

They had spent two peaceful and relaxing days on the Amtrak train, heading west through hills, over rivers, past amber waves of grain. It was a wonderful thing, feeling safe and happy. Keeping a hand on the money and having stored food in his bag from both Camp half blood and Medusa's shop, they had managed to save enough money for the entire group of them to travel instead of just three of them. Relaxing for the first time since they left the Camp, they each actually had a full night of sleep.

It was fun watching the others, noting their behavior and just relishing in their peaceful expressions. Percy drooled something fierce, Annabeth snored louder then the entire train and Grover was known to bleat and moan about food.

Since he was a borderline insomniac, a trick from years living on the street and surviving six attacks from territorial hobos, he spent most of his time reading his book and boy had he learned a lot though all of it was just basic level information. None of it particularly useful at the moment bar one little paragraph on dreams, he was amazed to learn that magic wasn't just spells and potions. It was about having a fundamental knowledge on countless subjects from dreams and prophecies to each of the elements and how they affected the world on a physical and spiritual level. There were sections of knowledge on each of the three realms and how they were tied philosophical, cultural and practical purposes which also went on to explain the Big Three were so domains intersected with so much everything that it infused them with connections of all types!

Of course there was more bad then good at the moment...

Percy was forced to keep a low profile because his name and picture were splattered over the front pages of several East Coast newspapers. The Trenton Register-News showed a photo taken by a tourist as they got off the Greyhound bus. Percy had a wild look in his eyes, something fierce and potent that scared the other mortals apparently. Riptide was a metallic blur in his hands. It might've been a baseball bat or a lacrosse stick or any number of things.

The picture's caption read:

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson, wanted for questioning in the Long Island disappearance of his mother two weeks ago, is shown here fleeing from the bus where he accosted several elderly female passengers. The bus exploded on an east New Jersey roadside shortly after Jackson fled the scene. Based on eyewitness accounts, police believe the boy may be traveling with two teenage accomplices. His stepfather, Gabe Ugliano, has offered a cash reward for information leading to his capture.

"Don't worry," Annabeth had said. "Mortal police could never find us." But she didn't sound so sure.

Aaron hadn't been too happy about that, but he agreed with Annabeth on some level. " Destiny gave us this task, Percy. The literal fates, surely they wouldn't risk such an important quest by allowing us to get arrested?"

The rest of the day Percy spent alternately pacing the length of the train or looking out of the window forlornly… it was actually quite sad, watching how pained he was by Gabe's monstrous actions and the blatant lies they all knew he was spewing from his farthole.

Not having any real power to help his brother, beside hugging him once and agreeing that they were going to castrate Gabe with a dully rusty spoon, he settled back to read... which continued even to this point.

Currently he was the only other person awake, they were two hours away from their second to last stop in Saint Louis, Missouri and so the others decided to take a nap before they were set to stop. Unable to sleep during the day, he lay back in his seat and continued to read as he had done for the majority of the trip.

Chapter Fourteen- The Power of Choice and Magic

"Oooh, interesting... I wonder what this is going to be about." Eager and happy, he ate some of the nacho chips he had stolen from Medusa and dug into the book further.

A true mage is not defined by power but skill and the ability to choose what path to walk. It is true that a countless many, be they demigod or mortal, believe that true power was something you were born with, this could not be less true. So many have altered their paths by making powerful choices, opening one door or closing another. Take making the Hunter's oath, just that one decision grants a girl immortality, nymph status and a great many powers that makes them formidable warriors and hunters. Great forces that have shifted the very path of the world in their own right.

It is the power of choice that has allowed those that practice magic to become great. An example of this can be seen between Asclepius and Medea. Asclepius, God of Healing and Son of Apollo, actually managed to surpass his father in healing and craft a potion to resurrect the dead due to choosing the path of being a healer over all things. Medea, a legacy of the Titan Helios, actually nearly rivaled his powers in healing through use of dark magic such as invoking the tears of infants and ritualistic sacrifice. Medea, a mere legacy actually rivaled someone literally born to heal and was destined to become a God of Healing and Asclepius managed to surpass his Olympian father in an area that was vital to his identity.

Such is the power of choice, in this case choosing to dedicate yourself to your goals and tasks. Be it in battle, in enchantment or potion making, healing or casting the darkest of curses, this hold true. Never forget it for this is the center of magic.

Choice, Dedication and Knowledge.

Shock still, a smile carved it's way onto his face. 'I can do this... even me, a mere human, the son of a repugnant mortal monster can become great.' The feeling warmed his soul and he stood, walking away from his friends with chip bag in hand to the closest restroom.

Quickly he summoned a flame in the sink and tossed in a few chips.

"I know this isn't a great sacrifice, but I just wanted to say thank you... for the power and the path I am walking. I didn't really think I could accomplish much as a mere human... I know better now, so thank you."

""""

When he returned, his brother and Annabeth were awake and chatting. "So," Annabeth ask him, looking up to smile at Aaron as he slipped by them. . "Who wants your help?"

"What do you mean?" Percy looked at her like she was crazy.

"When you were asleep just now, you mumbled, 'I won't help you.' Who were you dreaming about?"

Unable to stop himself, as he was in a rare good mood, Aaron ribbed the girl in the ribs. " So, you like watching him sleep?" She flushed... and then Percy revealed the contents of his dreams, stopping his good mood where it was. "Wow... heavy stuff Percy."

Annabeth was quiet for a long time. "That doesn't sound like Hades. He always appears on a black throne, and he never laughs."

"He offered my mother in trade. Who else could do that?"

"Actually, I can answer that." They both turned to him. "My book actually has a whole section on the Underworld, just the basics as it explains how all three realms are tied into magic. Anyway any god or mortal with necromantic magics can trade a soul, Hades is one of them but so is his daughter Melione, his son Zaggerus, wife Persephone and a whole host of other gods and people. It's actually the most basic form of necromancy, the summoning and control of souls. Next would be control of undead beings."

"Really, can you do that?" Annabeth looked intrigued, her eyes drifting to his book.

"Not yet, but I will learn it. Not for the resurrecting part so much as the defeat of undead creatures. Their are a lot of them and a lot of poisons are tied to the Underworld. Having some necromantic powers will allow me to become a better healer."

Percy didn't seem to get that. "Isn't necromancy like the literal opposite of healing?"

"Aren't poisons the opposite of antivenoms, but the poison is used to create the antivenom so... yeah. Anyway from what your dreaming about, I am not thinking it's Hades at all. It just doesn't sound like him... I am not sure who or what it is, but it sounds like whatever it is it hates the Gods, all of them and if his Helm is missing I cannot see him taunting you in your dreams. It wouldn't be smart since anyone with a brain knows your just going there to get Sally anyway."

Annabeth nodded. "He makes a good point, more though if he already had the Masterbolt then he wouldn't need you to come at all let alone bring it to him. Much as I hate to admit it, It can't be him..." Her eyes darkened and she gasped. " No, it has to be him... no one else would..." She actually starting shivering.

"What, what has you so upset?"

"There is only one other person who would want it and a war with the gods... and they would be in the Underworld, deeper actually." The girl's mind was working a million miles a minute, he could see the wheels turning in her brain. "But it can't be him."

Percy leaned forward, eyes wide. " Who?"

She just shook her head. "It can't be him... anyway you can't be willing to barter for your mom. It makes you easy to use."

"What would you do if it was your dad."

"Easy, I'd leave him to rot."

That stunned both of them, Aaron though understood. "I'd do the same, for both of my parents. Mom kicked me out at eleven to live on the streets and beat me for years, Dad is a monster who gets off on hurting people. Why you though, if you don't mind sharing?"

"Yeah, please." That was Percy.

Annabeth's gray eyes shifted, pain and raw anger took place for only a moment before cold logic burned through and she became an unfeeling automaton. "My dad's resented me since the day I was born, Percy," she said. "He never wanted a baby. When he got me, he asked Athena to take me back and raise me on Olympus because he was too busy with his work. She wasn't happy about that. She told him heroes had to be raised by their mortal parent."

"But how …" Flushing a little, Percy asked what Aaron himself want to know. "I mean, I guess you weren't born in a hospital..."

"That's a good point, how did the virgin goddess have a child with a mortal?" They looked to him, stunned. " What, I only know what I've read or been told. I have no idea how that works... I know Hecate has kids via magic since she is also a virgin goddess, but how would your mom have them... I mean she is technically a Goddess of Magic too so... is that it?"

Annabeth shook her head. "Not at all. My mother merges her mind with the men she loves, mortal ingenuity and divine thoughts to create a child. Shortly after I was born I appeared on my father's doorstep, in a golden cradle, carried down from Olympus by Zephyr the West Wind. You'd think my dad would remember that as a miracle, right? Like, maybe he'd take some digital photos or some-thing. But he always talked about my arrival as if it were the most inconvenient thing that had ever happened to him. When I was five he got married and totally forgot about Athena. He got a 'regular' mortal wife, and had two 'regular' mortal kids, and tried to pretend I didn't exist."

Once again Aaron felt it, the urge to defend the human that seemed to have been screwed over by the gods. Not wanting to isolate himself from the others or piss off her very powerful mother, he had to center himself a few times before he could not blaspheme. "Annabeth...playing devils advocate but maybe he was right to be upset... Hold on, hold on. " He raised his hand at her angry expression. " I am not saying it was right, but think about it. Did he know that you'd be made if he was with the VIRGIN Goddess in anyway that wasn't sexual. I mean he was essentially abstinent with her, why would he expect the burden of a child, especially one that would bring monsters onto his life and all of the stresses of a divine child? For anyone that would be hard but for someone who never even had time to prepare... I can't imagine it would be easy... I am not saying that you have forgive him but think about it, kay?"

Oddly enough, despite her rage, Annabeth nodded. "Okay... I... you make a good point." She looked small, almost like a young child as she turned into herself. "I never thought about it like that. But I am sure that he doesn't care about me," she said fingering the ring he now noticed was attached to her camp necklace. "His wife-my stepmom-treated me like a freak. She wouldn't let me play with her children. My dad went along with her. Whenever something dangerous happened-you know, something with monsters-they would both look at me resentfully, like, 'How dare you put our family at risk.' Finally, I took the hint. I wasn't wanted. I ran away."

"How old were you?"

"Same age as when I started camp. Seven."

"That's when you found Luke and Thalia, right?" Percy said. "Aaron and Grover told me the story, but I didn't realize how young you were."

Nearly two hours later, towards the end of their second day in the train, the group passed through some golden hills and over the Mississippi River into St. Louis. Annabeth craned her neck to see the Gateway Arch, eyes wide and filled with something that bordered on lust.

"I want to do that," she sighed.

"What?" Percy asked.

"Build something like that. You ever see the Parthenon, Percy?"

"Only in pictures."

"Someday, I'm going to see it in person. I'm going to build the greatest monument to the gods, ever. Something that'll last a thousand years."

He laughed, a soft but uncruel sound that made Aaron smile. "You? An architect?"

Her cheeks flushed and it seemed that she read too much into his laughter. "Yes, an architect. Athena expects her children to create things, not just tear them down, like a certain god of earthquakes I could mention." There was a moment of silence but before Aaron cold scold her, still tired of their bickering, Annabeth let out a long sigh. Sorry," Annabeth said. "That was mean and Aaron is right. We aren't are parents and we shouldn't carry their grudges. Why did you laugh?"

"I just can't see you sitting down that long. Your ADHD is worse then mine at times."

She flushed. "Oh, well... " She may have stuck her tongue out at him, making the three of them laugh.

Aaron kissed her cheek then, the moment Percy turned away to look back outside, whispering "I am proud of you, I know that's hard." Making her smile as bright as the sun.

"""

Eventually the train pulled into the Amtrak station downtown. The intercom told us there would be a three-hour layover before departing for Denver.

Grover stretched. Before he was even fully awake, he said, "Food."

"Come on, goat boy," Annabeth said. "Sightseeing."

"Sightseeing?"

"The Gateway Arch," she said. "This may be my only chance to ride to the top. Are you coming or not?"

"No!" Aaron sighed at their looks. "Annabeth, I love you dearly now but we cannot risk anything. We need to stay put and keep our guard up. I swear If we survive this I will take you to see this myself. Hell I am almost certain that there is some place in the Godly world to sell Potions and I plan on doing that, So I will actually fund the trip, just not now. Please be wise about this and just... calm down. Let your brains beat your emotions here. Please." He held out his pinky, begging her with his eyes.

His puppy eyes seemed to work and he got a long sigh from the wise girl. "Fine... just please, keep your word." Then wrapped her pinky around his own.

"I always do, If it is possible." They shared a pinky promise, binding them together for at least one more adventure as they made their way out of the train and waited. Then he stole her hat, smirking at her for a minute as she gaped at him. "Keep watch and wait. I am going to get us the money to get to L.A." He whispered before he vanished.

He may or may not have picked the pockets a few people, a skill he picked up from years on the streets.

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was fun and powerful to write. There would have been no Echidna actually, since Zeus is on their side now due to the oath on Styx from an earlier chapter.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.