!DISCLAIMER!

There's gonna be Old/Medieval English in this chapter, and I used an online translator, an just straight up copy-pasted it lol. So, if any of you can speak Old English, and what I write here is completely off, real sorry hehe.

Other than that, enjoy the chapter!

The manticore, going by Dr. Thorn approached Atlas. "The demigods are getting closer, General. What do we do?" Thorn asked.

"Send more skeleton troops to slow them down. We will keep them away as long as we can. It's not like they'll give up or anything." Atlas chuckled.

"Yes. General, Sir." Thorn saluted and went off to plant more dragon teeth.
_

The girls were walking calmly through the Junkyard of the Gods, when suddenly, a creaking sound could be heard from the back of the questers. Zoe shouted, "Who took something?"

Bianca looked at her warily, "Um, I did, Zoe. This was the last action figure Nico didn't have. I figured one small thing couldn't trigger anything massive. I'm sorry." She held up a Hades action figure.

The questers readied their weapons as an automaton, a miniature Talos emerged from the junk. "Hunters, fire!" Zoe ordered the two other hunters.

Thalia slashed her spear wildly at its legs, and Bianca the other one. The hunters managed to make Talos have sticking arrows through his chest. But despite their efforts, Talos didn't seem to be fazed. Zoe eyed the gigantic automaton, and called for Percy.

Perseus arrived a couple of seconds later, Anaklusmos unsheathed. He nodded to the girls who gestured to the automaton, and charged it with his godly strength. What he didn't see, though, was Bianca being right behind it. He managed to stab Talos with the magical blade, and teleport Bianca to Hades just before it crushed her.

He turned back to the four girls after the automaton died out.

"Where is Bianca, Percy?" Zoe asked.

Percy shook his head, "You must continue on this quest without her. She has played her part in the fate of this quest."

The four instantly took this as the death of Bianca, and all of them nodded sadly. Thalia's eyes watered a bit, for she was the closest out of the four girls. Percy snapped his fingers, and a black SUV appeared.

"I normally don't give rides, but I'll make an exception, just for now. Good luck, girls." Percy said.
_

The five questers decided to make one last pit stop at Hoover Dam. They would stay there for a couple of hours, eat up, hopefully find a public shower, and rest for a minute or two. They were currently searching for the snack bar.

"We need to find the dam snack bar." Zoe said.

Phoebe nodded, but Thalia and Vicky snickered. "Yeah." Thalia said, "And I need to use the dam toilet."

The two laughed loudly now, not bothering to tone it down.

"And … and – I need to see the – the dam view." Vicky said between laughs.

"What is it that you find funny, Thalia, Victoria?" Zoe asked.

"Oh, you know. Just the dam jokes." Thalia said after regaining herself.

The hunter trio just looked at them weirdly, then at themselves weirdly, not knowing why they laughed.

"Doesn't matter." Victoria said, "Let's just find it."

A couple of steps away, they found where the dam snack bar was. Zoe prayed for some money to Percy, and after receiving another two hundred dollars, she ordered the five chips, French fries, sodas, and lollipops.

"Wow, you sure you have the money to pay for that, Zoe?" Vicky asked.

Zoe nodded, "Percy gave me another two hundred a couple of seconds ago."

"Hey Vick, wonder if we ask Percy for something? I mean, Zoe's always been his personal favorite, but what if we ask him for money? You reckon' he'll give us some?" Phoebe asked. Zoe blushed at being called Percy's favorite, which was true. He hadn't done much to conceal his favoritism.

"Sure, let's try it out." Vicky answered. The two hunters quickly prayed for some money, any amount of money. A few seconds later a note appeared that read:

'You don't need it now, but I'll give it to you if you need it, Phoebe, Vicky. Remember, I might like Zoe the best, but I care a heck a lot about you guys too. –Perce'

"Great. Zoe gets dollars, we get paper." Victoria laughed. The three of them knew they were all just joking around, and there was no hard feelings towards Zoe.

"Yup, looks like Zoe wins the best hunter award by Percy again. How many years in a row?" Phoebe grinned.

"Shut up. Just eat and let's go." Zoe said, smiling.

After a few minutes, the girls finished their meals, and headed for the exit. The exit, however, was blocked by a phalanx of thirty skeleton soldiers.

"Thalia, Phoebe, distract them. Vicky, retreat and shoot as many as you can." Zoe barked. The girls nodded and proceeded to do just that. Thalia took out Aegis and her electric spear, and Phoebe her hunting knives, since Bianca was not there.

Thalia charged into the group, as Phoebe did the same, forcing them to break their formation. Zoe, Phoebe, and Victoria furiously fired volleys of arrows. Within a few minutes, they had taken down the skeleton warriors, but were quite tired.

They stood for a moment, catching their breath, before another phalanx of skeletons came, this time twenty warriors. The group sighed, before readying their weapons. Suddenly, the formation of skeletons just froze, luckily, the girls took the hint and quickly killed of the skeletons, letting them turn into golden dust. The girls thanked Perseus for that.

"Hooh." Phoebe sighed, "Thank Percy for that one."

"Yeah. Those skellies weren't that good, but that doesn't mean that I wasn't tired." Thalia said.

The rest of the girls nodded their agreements, and the five continued on their way west. They'd stolen a fire truck, Victoria claiming 'it wasn't used', and went full speed west. They had to save as much time as possible.

Unfortunately for them, the fire truck ran out of gas just as they reached California, so they decided to walk the rest of the way. The group finally came across the Garden of the Hesperides, the first obstacle to get through if they wanted to get to Mount. Tamalpais, and the last obstacle before the mountain. Zoe steeled her nerves and prepared to have her reunion with the family that betrayed her, well partially anyway.

They approached the entrance to the garden, before four figures appeared.

"Sisters." Zoe greeted with a stoic face.

"We do not see any sister. We see three hunters and two half-bloods. All of which shall perish by our father's hand." The four chorused.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Thalia said, "Excuse us, but we need to get to the other side, so just skedaddle a bit."

"Thou may not pass." One said.

"Thou hast no intent hither." Another said.

"What language are you talking?" Phoebe said, "I mean, even Zoe's moved on! What's your obsession with Old English?"

"It is none of thy business." One replied, "As is this garden."

"Move aside, sisters." Zoe said.

"Haply thou hast forgotten, yet we need only to raise our voices for Ladon to wake." A Hesperide threatened.

"Wake him, then. I was never as cowardly as you four." She replied. "LADON!" she yelled, "WAKE!"

"Thou art brainsick, huntress. Thou and thy friends shalt die now, purely out of thy foolishness." One said.

The rest of the questers just readied their weapons, as the Hesperides allowed them to approach the dragon.

"Ladon." Zoe said, switching to Old English, "It is me, Zoe. Thou might not but remember me. I use to feed thou by hand, remember." Zoe spoke softly. She softened her features and her usual harsh glare, and the more she did that, the more she looked like a Hesperide.

Ladon's head shifted uncomfortably, as all of them were unsure who exactly this new, Hesperide-looking girl was. He faintly remembered bits and pieces of memories of this girl feeding him, playing with him, while the others only treated him like a guardian, rather than a companion.

Finally, Ladon fully remembered this girl. She was Zoe, the purest and kindest Hesperide of them all. She didn't only feed him by hand, but also played with him, slept near him, talked to him, even if he didn't understand the human language, he understood enough that she cared about him more than just as a guardian, but also as a friend and companion.

Zoe slowly walked up to him, one hand on her bow, careful to evade and dodge if he attacked, but much to the Hesperide's, and Zoe's own surprise, he jumped at her, sure, but rather than claw her to the death, or eat her head, he hugged her and licked her face like an overgrown dog. Zoe, seeing as Ladon did not want to kill her, laughed and petted the dragon. She spoke to him softly, "Ladon, I hast never forgotten thou. I be sorry I aye left thou."

Ladon replied by slowly nuzzling Zoe's cheek as she smiled. The Hesperides wore a look of betrayal and anger. "Very well, huntress. Thou hast tamed Ladon, now, thou shalt leave." A Hesperide said.

Ladon walked over to the Hesperide and breathed fire near her, just barely burning her chiton. She backed away in fear and the rest of the Hesperides scampered inside the garden. The four questers walked over to Zoe and Ladon cautiously. Zoe said to Ladon, "They are friends, Ladon. They never mean any harm. Do not attack, my sweet." Ladon nodded in turn, a sure sign he understood, and let the questers approach him and Zoe.

"Damn. That was awesome, Zoe!" Phoebe said, as the others nodded in agreement. Zoe blushed and thanked them.

"So, we're taking Ladon?" Vicky asked her. Suddenly, a bright light shimmered, and the Queen of the Gods herself appeared in front of them.

"Queen Hera." The four questers bowed.

"Rise, demigods, hunters." She said in a melodic voice. "You may take Ladon, or keep him here. I would advise you to take him, though. He has not been happy since Zoe left. I would be willing to search for a new guardian for the tree."

Ladon's ears perked up at the mention of being able to leave with Zoe. "Thank you, Lady Hera. I will bring him with me, if you don't mind." Zoe replied.

"I will not mind, Zoe." She responded kindly.

"Thank you, Lady Hera." Chorused the questers.

"You are most welcome, girls." She shimmered out of existence. And with that, the five girls had both a god and a dragon on their side. The girls marched up Mount. Tamalpais without fear.
_

Up in Olympus, Poseidon and Hera were chatting again, Poseidon insisting Hera leave Zeus, but Hera kept her principles as the goddess of marriage, she had to stay faithful. And faithful meant never divorcing her husband. But, during these last few days, Percy had returned, and Hera loved her son way too much to burden him a broken family. She was starting to consider marrying Poseidon and divorcing Zeus.

Poseidon, after all had divorced Amphitrite a few years back, after founding out she was just using him for the power and status. Hera, actually didn't hate her husband having demigod children, as long as her husband showed enough love and affection to her, she was content and happy. Now Zeus, rarely gave her any attention after the first five years of marriage, and had moved on with multiple mortal women. Therefore Hera, who could do nothing against the lord of the Skies, took out her anger and frustration on his demigod children. Was it bad? Yes. Very. She was starting to regret what she did to many of his children, so she avoided smiting his latest demigod child, Thalia Grace, when she was back at the Garden of the Hesperides.

"Come on, Hera. Marry me. I swear if Zeus does anything to hurt you, I'll hurt him more, and I'm pretty sure Percy will agree." Poseidon said.

Hera sighed. She was torn apart by pride and want. She would automatically ruin her image as the perfect goddess who never cheated on her husband, or never changed lovers, but not doing that would just tear her apart more.

Hera finally gave in, "Fine, Poseidon. I'll swallow my pride for this one. But, you'll have to accompany me divorcing Zeus."

Poseidon's eyes beamed with joy, "Thank you, Hera, my love. I will never leave your side. I cannot spend eternity with you, you must understand. But, I swear on the River Styx to be faithful to you for at least one thousand years." Thunder rumbled outside, sealing the oath.

Hera's eyes watered as she smiled, "We haven't even married yet, dumbass. Thank you though, Poseidon."

Poseidon laughed, the first genuine laugh since he found out Amphitrite, his wife for four millennia had only been using him. Hera joined after, and soon, if you took a peek at the Palace of Poseidon in Olympus, you could see two Olympian Gods laughing uncontrollably in the floor.
_

Zoe, Phoebe, Victoria, and Thalia arrived. They arrived at Mount Tam., New Othrys. The place where Atlas used to hold up the sky. Now in his place, Artemis whimpered at the weight of the sky, despite only holding it for five days.

"No!" she yelled, "Do not come near, girls. It's a trap!" she warned the questers.

Atlas laughed, "Hello, demigods. And you, Zoe. How's my little traitor?" he mocked.

"Do not answer him. Do not challenge him." Artemis said.

The questers did as she said, and kept a stoic façade.

"Oh, don't worry. I won't kill my own, yet. And is that Ladon?" Atlas asked.

Suddenly, the sky around Mount Tamalpais erupted, and out of the barrier came Perseus, the god of time, falling rather unceremoniously.

"Ack! How is this possible? The magic wards are impenetrable!" Atlas boomed.

"Well, Atlas. Lucky me called in a favor with Hecate." Percy answered.

"No matter. It will be even, then. Immortal versus immortal. You shall die by my hands, Panischyros Perseus (mighty Perseus)."

"Hey. I forgot I had a title. Meh, nobody's used it in millennia. Let's go, ya big grumpy titan."

"MONSTERS! ATTACK!" Atlas barked.

Hordes of monsters swarmed Mount Tamalpais, Zoe, Phoebe, and Vicky readied their bows and shot volleys of arrows. Bianca took out her double daggers, and Thalia took out Aegis and her electrical spear.

Percy faced Atlas as he summoned his symbol of power, Anaklusmos, the magical blade. Atlas summoned a golden spear, and the two clashed as sparks flew.

REVIEWS

Crywolfseven: Whoops, sorry lol. I saw that in a Pertemis fic once and thought it was kinda good, but sorry if it made you uncomfortable. I'll be sure not to do that in future chapters. Thanks for the review, and I hope you understand :)

Rohan Rodrigues: Yeah man, that could work. Say, maybe a potion of Aphrodite or some sorts, yeah, yeah. That could definitely work. Thanks for the suggestion, Rohan. You've really helped me in this story!

A/N

OK, so Zoe tamed Ladon, and yes I know in some myths, Ladon has one hundred heads, but let's pretend he doesn't. And as for Zoe taming Ladon, I felt like if she use to feed him and play with him, he would've remembered her, don't you think? Meh, it's only my opinion.

Idk about Paniscyhros Perseus, I used google translate for 'mighty Perseus' and it said that lol. If I'm wrong, sorry for those who are Greek or understand Greek.

For this chapter, 2.4k words, without the review replies and A/N. Pretty normal for my new standard of 2k words/chapter.

Thanks for all of your wonderful reviews, comments, and suggestions :)

Bye, see you in the next chapter!

-theseusjackson998