Next chapter there will be a big time skip, and for a good reason... look forward to it.

"Silver."

Aaron turned to Artemis as they approached Camp Halfblood's borders, her single word confusing him. "What?"

"The arrow that pierced your body, they were made of silver. Silver is the only metal that can hurt magical and mortal beings. It channels magic exceptionally well, too well in some cases, that is why you rarely see it used for weaponry in your camp. It is dangerous to use, and a waste in many cases as silver is not a very common element as it is not found in supernatural places but in the Earth as a whole."

"I appreciate the knowledge but why are you telling me this?"

Artemis smiled, reaching out and brushing his hair to the side. "We hurt you and yet you were nothing but respectful. I cannot help but appreciate that. I know you are a seeker of knowledge, I can sense it. I figured that little tidbit of knowledge was the least I could do to offer an apology."

"Consider it appreciated. Deeply so."

"Silver is also great at acting as conduits for purifying spells, a type of magic that can even effect the dead." Artemis' eyes were distant. "I foresee that that will come in handy for you, one of these days. It is not clear when or why, only that it will happen. I hope that is enough to make up for your injuries."

Aaron nodded, holding out his hand which Artemis grabbed and shook respectfully. "Thank you for everything, Artemis. Really, I am glad to not be a Jackelope."

She laughed, a warm beautiful sound. " Pity you have no interest in being a girl, I would love to have you as part of the hunt. If you ever change your mind on that, please give me a call. I will happily oblige."

Aaron flushed a little, genuinely and rarely affected by her words. "As much of a honor as that would be, I have to decline. I like my life too much currently but anything changes, you will be the first to know."

"I hopes so."

Alex, who had been with them, walked over to Aaron and threw her arms around him. " I am going to miss you. Really, you are amazing. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Give Meggy a hug for me and never forget me."

"I could never forget you, this mission was unlike any other." Aaron hugged her back just as tightly. "Don't forget to IM me, if you ever need a friend to chat with, I am always there for you."

She pulled away, her eyes a little teary. "Behave yourself."

"I'll try... well, this is it, I guess... See you both another time." Aaron turned on heel and marched up the hill, feeling the magic of Thalia's barrier brush against his skin as he reached the peak.

"AARON!" Meggy's happy exclamation frightened Aaron as the girl charged him at blinding speeds from her place at the edge of the hill, lifting him into the air and squeezing him tight enough that it actually hurt. " Meggy missed you, so much."

"I miss you too, sissy, but please my ribs can't handle much more." She let him down and he had to catch his breathe before offering her a warm smile. " I missed you too. The Hunters were cold, bar a few. None of them were able to really talk to me bar the girl I saved, your sister Alex."

Meggy frowned. " I don't like the sound of that."

"Neither do I but we can't change anything about it. The best we can do is to move and not piss off the goddess... besides, she paid me back for the attack by revealing that there is a metal I can wield safely. Apparently I will need it in the future.. Silver is the answer to many of my issues but I am vulnerable to it as it hurts mortals and magic."

"Meggy can make you something of silver, but we don't have any silver... we might have to order it."

"Good... I am thinking of a knife, one blessed for purity. That way I am not vulnerable to werewolves and can hurt the undead. A win win really. "

Meggy beamed with excitement. "Meggy will get started right away!"

"So... " Aaron started as they walked down the hill towards the main part of camp. " How has everything been in my absence."

Meggy just shrugged. "Not much happened other then the garden being finished... oh Percy beat Clarisse during Capture the Flag. I would have played too but I think that some of the Demigods might try to actually kill me. I don't want to go to Tartarus.'

Aaron shivered, imaging his beautiful sister going anywhere near that gods awful pit. The mere notion left him nauseous. If he had his way, it would never happen to the girl... Ever.

""'

"Wow, my garden is amazing, you all did great work. I cannot wait to get started, I can already feel the connection to the Dead is so much stronger here. Their presence is so present." Aaron breathed in the strong scent of roses, the mystical presence of the Dead lingering in the form of a light permanent mist that lingered everywhere. "It is going to be great to practice magic here."

Meggy smiled. "I cannot wait to get started."

"I can't wait to get started on our next projects, I have two of them in mind." Meggy looked curious so he moved forward and explained. "Well, your sisters and brother are so behind in their training, they are allowed to do literally nothing during Capture the Flag or training, it puts them in danger and makes them far less useful if we are attacked. I want to better them all.

Second, I want to build an altar to Hades. It hit me when I saw this garden that he has no anything here, it's so no right. He and Persephone deserve better, so I am going to make something for them. Not sure what I am going to make, maybe a gazebo type of thing, it's unclear but something. Thoughts?"

"Hmm... Mr. Hades has been very nice to Aaron, so Meggy would like to help with that. Plus I like making pretty things, I can't see it being not appreciated. But will Mr. Zeus let you do it? This camp is owned by him and he does not permit Mr. Hades from having a cabin, he might not let you."

"That's a really good point. I am going to have to ask Zeus, maybe request an audience. First stop, Mr. D!"

:::

"Hmm... my father may have a problem with this, but if you think it is worth it then I would support you." Dionysius nodded towards the boy and his adopted cyclops. "Hades is hated and feared by many, my Father may see this as Hades reaching for more influence and power and see it as a threat."

Aaron frowned. " This wasn't even his idea, it was mine. I just realized that for someone so important there is no shrine or center of respect towards him. I think it would take away the stigma against Underworld Demigods and make it easier for them while also helping integrate Hades. No one should be that alone, besides I like him, and he has been nothing but respectful and kind towards me."

Dionysius tried to withhold he jealousy, not liking the kind tone the boy held towards Hades. " I am shocked, most people loathe and fear him. Why do you not?"

"Other the kidnapping Persephone, which wasn't uncommon or frowned upon way back when, he really didn't mess with humans or make our lives hard. I have to respect that. Besides, his job is so important and valuable it feels wrong he isn't given recognition. Same with you actually, people don't realize what you represent."

Interested, Dionysius leaned in. " And what is it that you think I represent?"

"Freedom and pleasure, the positive byproducts of everything else. War and crafts and family and love all involve hard work and struggle but you act as the reward and the potential to over do it. You act as the balance to your families more strenuous effect on the world."

"Never have I seen someone genuinely understand my purpose." Dionysius smiled, a rare radiant smile that showed a fraction of his true beauty. "If only the heroes could understand that, or my own family at times." He tried to hide his bitterness.

Aaron seemed to sense it though and smiled softly. " Showing more kindness to innocent kids might help, taking your pain out on them makes it harder for them to respect you. Actually I imagine it makes it harder to respect all of the gods as you are the only god they get to know."

Dionysius wanted to argue against that, but the logic was too sound and all he could do was pout. "I will speak to my father about your project... and you are right, I will try to be ... kinder." he tried to not sound disgusted, but he was.

Aaron's radiant, warm smile made it worth it though...

"Thank you, I truly appreciate it."

"Bah, now... go away and leave Chiron and to our game. You've interrupted it long enough."

"""

Will, Silena and Charlie all hugged Aaron as they saw him, each filling him on the various going on of the camp. Will went on and on about the people he healed, the injuries from Capture the Flag and the Climbing wall, Silena on the lessons she taught and dealing with her bully of a sister Drew, and Charlie about his various projects and his time working on the garden. It was refreshing to have them catch up with him on them, as if hew as never gone to begin with.

He gave them his own tale, of saving Alex and meeting the Hunters and making sort of friends with Artemis. They listened with rapture as he explained how he killed Andrea, though he did not mention the specificity of her brand of abuse, and how he suffered from an arrow to the shoulder. They were angry at the Hunters, disgusted at Andrea and proud that he was alive and successful.

Finally he mentioned his ideas he had, both for Aphrodite's cabin and Hades' shrine... that shifted the air around them.

Silena was still and sad. "Your not wrong, and your not the first to mention it...we need to do better. Since I am in charge, I think I will enforce it better, make sure their training it better. It is the least I could do to prevent any abuse of my siblings. As for the Shrine, I say go for it. Seriously, we all are going to die, why not honor the Gods in charge of that."

Charlie nodded. "I agree. I never got the hate towards Hades, it never made sense to me."

"Same here." Will said, frowning. " I hate bias, it's stupid."

Aaron felt warm, looking at his wonderful friends. "Well if all works out, we can get started by next week... It would be a grand project, and one that I think will really help with the relations between us and the Underworld."

""

Silena barely hid her happiness as she realized something... Aaron was doing what Luke promised, but better. He was preventing deaths, saving lives and helping the so called minor gods. It wasn't super quick but it was more then Luke had managed, it was tangible...

'If he continues to do this... I... I might forfeit my ties to Luke entirely. Only time will tell...' Still, since she was not yet decided, she kept her mouth shut and focused on listening in and helping her beloved friends. 'Helping my siblings become better fighters, helping the minor gods get respect... this is something I can do to make up for my sins... screw you Luke, I won't be your puppet for ever.'

'''

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

This was beyond fun, look forward to a time skip.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.