A touch of filler but a really good chapter that I am pleased with. I tie up a great plotline I set up a while ago...

I am also continuing my Cassius Jenkin's story, so look forward to that.

"What are you doing?" Charlie's sweet, soft voice did it's job, drawing Aaron from his peaceful meditation.

Rising from his place in the Earthspring Garden, Aaron looked at his beloved friend. Charlie's potent aura oozed pain, the fear of loss clearly marked. "I am drawing on the Earth and trying to establish a connection to a specific Spirit that can aid me with my pilgramage. Specifically Thalia, if I am being honest. I need her power, her incredible magic to help guide me to my first target." He kept Jason's identity a secret, as promised. As much as he would like to tell everyone of his quest, he was pretty sure Hera would turn him into a bug or something if he ran his mouth.

Frowning, Charlie walked towards him. "I thought you were done with necromatic magics? Invoking the dead proved near fatal to you before."

"I have little choice, besides I know how to handle them and with the talisman you helped to create, I have enough power and skill to ward off those that would do me harm. I am much more prepared and powerful then I was then. Hell, I even know spells to wash off lingering spiritual taint and blessings to ward off parstitic spirits. I will be okay."

"Have you made any progress?"

"Some, not much but some. This garden is linked to Asphodel, not Elysium where Thalia is... it will take longer for her to hear my call, but with her power rushing through me I should be able to set myself on my journey. Until then, it was recommended to me to start practicing shapeshifting... and I have to help train Lydia so she doesn't eat my allies." He looked down to where his beloved Lydia was curled up, having been napping next to him as he meditated and drew on the Earth and tapped into the connection to Hades. Lydia had grown considerably even in the last two days, the magic of Artemis had indeed had a great impact on her even now.

She was big enough to walk on her own, more the size of a puppy three or four months old instead of mere days. She had a cute collar on, crafted by Meggy, that had a small talisman on it that looked identical to the teardrop bone talisman that allowed Aaron to channel the magic of the Dead. It was linked to him, like a leash, so Lydia couldn't escape him by a certian range. The small wolf had already gone missing thrice, to his shame and annoyance.

Huffing, Charlie smiled at him. "You'll get it, I am sure. I'll miss you, a lot... we all will."

"I'll miss you guys too, all of you. Your my family." He shared a smile with Charlie for a minute, the air sort of charged. "So... any guesses on what I chose as my first transformation?"

"A Wolf?"

"Nope."

"Hmm... your practical and smart, so it would be something helpful... probably in escaping or stealth, areas you need more given your mortal status... so I am guessing a bird of some variety?"

Clapping, Aaron nodded. "On the second try, good on you! I plan on turning into a bird, a pigeon probably. They are really common so most people won't think twice about seeing one, they can fly incredibly long distances and have sharp senses. They aren't too smart though, which could be an issue... ravens or crows are my other ideas. My next animal of choice is probably a cat, for escape and stealth again. Did you know that my becoming a shapeshifter, through my own power, I can start to charm and communicate with animals? Like the empathy I developed already for people will expand to beasts, giving me some power over them and through them?"

Charlie's eyes were wide. "No, I never knew that. You really becoming something amazing... what else do you plan to master?"

"Well, I really want to get into Prophetic magics, divination of all sorts... it's not just seeing the future, but seeing the past, present and locator spells. I want to master it entirely. I also want to get better at battle magic and healing. My goal is, when I return, to be strong enough to fight a lesser god and win. If we are going to have a war, it will be needed. I also want to really improve with my potions, so my arrows are more powerful. That Ice arrow potion we made was amazing, and super helpful but I can improve."

"How are you traveling, I mean you don't exactally have money..."

Aaron smirked and pulled out the debit card Hades gave him. "A gift from Hades for taking care of his kids. I have full control over it now, and it has a lot of money. The more I helped his kids, the more money it had. I helped for more then a year, so it has a large sum. I'll be fine."

"Nice... anything I can do to help?"

"Don't forget me... help Meggy and... make this place a beast of defense. Do that and everything will be groovy."

Charlie stopped. "I could never forget you, Aaron. I doubt anyone could."

Despite leaving him flustered, Aaron could not help but feel flattered at the other boy's kind words. He needed to distract himself, less he do something dumb. "Wanna see him try to turn into a bird?"

Charlie laughed. "I'd love to. How do you start?"

"I already meditated, gathering a lot of mystical energy from the Earth... now I just focus on being whatever Bird I want to be... so... I guess a pigeon?" Sighing, he focused his energies and uttered a simple spell. "Ille ego sim, quod in animo est. Quod caro est caro, avis et homo." He didn't need to chant it, to his surprise, as the image of a pigeon washed through his mind and the magic expanded within him in a wave of heat. His muscles ached and his skin tingled, he gasped, and slowly felt himself dissolving, melting until he found himself looking skyward at a very amused looking Charlie.

His friend laughed mockingly at him. "That is one way of doing it, you look great." He leaned down and picked up Aaron, bringing him close to his face. "You a darker grey then a normal pigeon and your eyes are still yours in color... you look adorable."

Huffing, Aaron turned his head and saw himself in the watery pool of the fountain of the Earthspring gardens. He did indeed look like Charlie said, only he was a bit bigger then a normal pigeon. He had streaks of grey and what almost looked like purple around his feathers. 'That's so weird, I can actully feel a pull towards the North... I geuss that is really why pigeons are so good at homing in... awesome, this is a useful skill! Now I just have to make it so I don't need the spell, that I can turn into this form automatically... I wonder how long the actual transformation took, I know it felt instant but with magic you can never tell...now time to turn back.'

Closing his birdy eyes, he imagined himself as human. He felt his magic swirling, his still very human soul seeking to return to his true form. Breathing out, he felt the 'Hook' of the magic holding his transformation and just pushed it away. Almost instantly he felt himself expanding, his senses shift. His eyes weakened, his hearing increasing and slowly he was back as a human...

Just very dizzy and tired and in the arms of Charlie, who was laughing. "You look beat."

"That was easy, shockingly so, but draining... how long did each transformation take?"

Charlie frowned. "It took a few minutes each, with the first transformation taking longer. Why'd you ask?"

"It felt almost instant... I wonder why that was so easy? Well, I guess I am used to casting spells and I am a lot stronger... and I did use a verbal spell to guide the magic... I need to work on it, to make it instant otherwise what use is it?"

"Still, that you've come so far as to be able to transform like that...at all is a huge accomplishment. I know your body is less fluid and changable then a Demigods, so really it's a real accomplishment."

"Your sweet... I am far too tired to try again, but at least I know how to start... and I wasn't stuck as a pigeon, so that is a huge plus. That would be a huge problem if I was. Anyway... I guess I am free for the day, wanna just hang out?"

"I'd love to."

"""

"Are you sure, Lady Hera?" Silena gaped at the beautiful goddess, garbed in white. She had just appeared before her, as she entered the weapons shed, out of nowhere startling the poor daughter of Aphrodite. Then, without warning, she made her an offer... one that would change everything.

Hera smiled at her, warm and friendly and loving as only a mother was able. "I am. You have made mistakes, but you are the perfect candidate. If I wish to become more involved in the world, Aaron suggested that I make a group like the Hunters. You have experience, skill and power. You are loving, you understand sacrifice and change. You would make a perfect Liutenant."

"Then I would be honored, my lady... though, I need to know of the conditions."

"Naturally. Well, this is what I have come up with so far. Not unlike the Hunters, you would be functionally immortal so long as you serve me and do not die in combat. Your purpose would be to guide and protect demigods, as Aaron has been doing. You would educate them as you take them to wherever they are meant to be, acting as mother, healer and teacher. You would be blessed with increased physical powers, empathy, the power to conjure food and any other powers a demigod of mine could potentially have.

You would not have to be a virgin, but you would have to swear that if you do create that loving connection to be loyal to your lover. I do not tolerate cheating or abuse. You would answer to me, and we will travel the world seeking to aid those in need. Actually, I mispoke before. Demigods are not the only ones we will aid. Young Cyclopes, Mortals with Clearsight, Nymphs who desire change or saftey from abusive gods and mortal... anyone that proves themselves wanting. I want to make real change, to serve my people, I always have. I am queen and I will act the part."

Touched, Silena kneeled. "As I said before, I would be honored... but my punishment?"

Hera laughed. "Your deeds as my head Matron fufills your debt. You are finding, saving and aiding the world, giving back through charity work of sorts." Hera leaned in. "I actually have a few others that wish to join us... a few demigods, legacies and... a few mortal siblings and parents of demigods. If all goes as I wish it to, we will be a large group rivaling the Hunters and I would wish for you to lead that group."

Nodding, Silena stood tall. " How do I get started?"

"Accept my oath... I pledge myself to the Goddess Hera. I swear to uphold the values of her majesty, to guide and nurture those in need regardless of birth. I seek to expand and protect the kingdom of Olympus, now and forever."

Silena recited the oath and in an instant felt a warm white light wash over her. She shuddered, and when she opened her eyes she saw the world born anew. " Wow... I... I feel amazing."

Hera's smile was brilliant and so warm it actually was hard to look at. "Thank you, my dear... you have no idea how much you... " She actually choked, the Queen of the Gods choked on her words. "Thank you...from the bottom of my heart. You may tell your friends what has happened, but we start our Journey together when Aaron leaves for his pilgramage."

"Thank you for the warning... I hope to make as big of an impact as possible."

"I can foresee that you will my dear."

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

Let me be, what I intend to be. Flesh to flesh, man to bird.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.