Just a few important things. There is a time skip, so the date is 1st of July now. Also, the chapter POV's would be random. There is no order whatsoever. The character that will have the POV depends on the situation that is going on. So hope y'all love it!

Chapter 20

Jason's P.O.V.

It was not how people celebrated their 'special day'. Jason woke up on his birthday, feeling sore from head to toe. He'd been on duty last night on the deck, while Percy rested. The Argo II had been sailing through the sky, and since he was the skyman, being the son of Zeus, it became his responsibility to see it sail safely through his father's domain. Of course, it was not the first time he had such a responsibility.

Jason had been doing that for his whole life, especially for the last year. First he led the assault on Mount Othrys, then his Praetor duties, then the quest with Piper and Leo, then the construction of the Argo II, sailing to Camp Jupiter, and now this quest, which indirectly brought the responsibility of the whole world upon his and his crewmates' shoulders. He was getting real happy thoughts on his birthday.

He showered in his cabin bathroom, changed clothes, and looked at the mirror. He could see a boy with cropped hair and blue eyes looking at him. But now, the boy that he had seen last year in the mirror looked much older, even though it had only been a year. He now has bags under his eyes. His looks were now more mature. And most of all, his eyes were now showing much more maturity and seriousness for just a sixteen year old.

Sixteen years, he thought. He could imagine boys of his age going to high school, going out with girls, enjoying their life with homework and exams as the only things to worry about. Meanwhile, here he was, trying to save the Earth from Earth herself. He could have gone to a good high school. He could even have got his driving license. He smiled, because those things looked too good to be true for him. He was just about to crash in his bed and sleep some more when somebody knocked.

He wondered who could be here in his cabin right now. Perhaps it was Piper, coming to see if he was awake or not. He sighed and opened the door. He was surprised to see Natalie standing there, who immediately pulled him into a hug.

"Happy Birthday, flyboy," she said, grinning. "You didn't really think I'd be forgetting your special day, did you?" she said, pulling away.

Jason grinned, the first genuine one after long. "Well, I wasn't expecting anyone, but thanks."

"So, I think I'm the first one to wish you?" she asked.

"Yeah," he told her. "I haven't told anybody, you see."

"And I'm guessing you don't want me to tell anyone either," she raised her eyebrows.

Jason was too used to it when she again guessed what he wanted just by seeing his face.

"Yeah."

"Well, as you wish. Enjoy your day. And oh, by the way, according to Leo, we will be reaching Rome this noon."

Jason nodded. "Alright. Let's meet up in an hour in the dining hall."

"Sure," she said, and went towards the deck, her long braid swaying with the movement. Jason, though he did not know why, had an urge to suddenly say that he had actually missed her more than he knew while at Camp Half-blood, and to also say many other things, as though he wouldn't be seeing her again for a long time. He pushed away the feeling. No, everything would be alright.

Jason bolted his cabin door shut from the outside and went to the deck. Some fresh air would definitely help him. They were in the sea again, and seeing it spread all around, with no sight of any civilization, made Jason wonder if Gaea hadn't already destroyed everything. There would be nothing, just emptiness. Percy and Natalie were chatting by leaning on the railing. Frank and Hazel were with Leo near the Ballista. Coach Hedge was polishing his club, and his expression clearly stated that the old satyr was planning to jump out, yell, "DIE!" and kill a thousand monsters as soon as they docked. Obviously, Gaea would make it difficult for them, but Jason doubted the idea of a thousand monsters waiting for them.

He had always been fascinated by Rome, eager to visit it someday. But now he was going there, he was not sure whether he really had that desire anymore. Of course, it had once been number one on his list of the places to see after retiring from the post of Praetor with Reyna and the others, but now…

Piper came beside him and laced her fingers in his hands. Jason thought she would wish him happy birthday, but of course, he hadn't told her it was his birthday, so how would she know.

"You nervous?" she asked, in the same cheerful tone she had before going to do something nearly impossible.

"Yeah," he said. "A bit."

"I am too. Especially after seeing you, I, Percy and Natalie drowning. I mean, two children of Poseidon/Neptune and still….it just, well, to be exact, terrifies me "

"You're doing a great job hiding it, though," he turned to her. She returned his look with a smile. Jason looked into her beautiful face. Her kaleidoscopic eyes, her hair blowing in the gentle breeze. The world seemed frozen around him as he looked into her eyes and she looked into his. The ship lurched, and Jason was thrown off his feet.

"What was that?" Leo yelled from behind the ballista. "The monster radar isn't showing any monster around us."

"No idea," Jason shouted back, getting up. Annabeth, who had been sleeping as she had a bigger quest alone in front of us, came on the deck.

"What's happening?" she asked, rubbing her eyes. She has huge dark circles underneath her tired eyes, and Jason guessed she had been awake late at night in her cabin.

"Hey, sea experts!" Leo called, getting up massaging his elbow. "Mind checking?"

Natalie and Percy sighed.

"On it," Natalie said, jumping off the railing. Percy followed. Now, the Argo II was a big ship. Jumping from that height was not at all recommended by any intelligent person, but both of them, being children of the sea god, had no problem doing it. Jason went towards the railing and leaned on it, peering below where both of them had jumped. The water rippled near where they had hit the water, but it was so dark that Jason could not see where they were.

After about five minutes, water rippled. A column of water rose up to the railings height, Natalie standing on it.

"Bunch of sea spirits. We're working on it. Keep the ship moving," she said, then jumped back again.

"Well, so much for just a nice little moment," Piper said.

(Line Break)

Everyone was seated in the Dining Hall, even Coach Hedge, who had found today's meeting so important that he had readily missed the latest episode of his famous martial arts tv show. With his club on his lap, he looked like one of those stout retired military generals. The mood was grim. Only Leo was trying to cheer up everyone with his jokes, but no one seemed to find them funny. Occasionally, they gave him a sly grin, but nothing could have gotten rid of the tense moment inside the hall. Annabeth sat, thinking as usual. Finally she looked up.

"Okay. Leo, how long is it gonna take to reach Rome?"

"I've oiled the engines, so we can now go faster in the air. We'll be there in about two hours."

"Good," she said, by which Jaso thought she meant, Great, now we're gonna head for our doom even faster. "We will split up. That's the fastest way we can get the work done. We'll send one search party to Rome to find Nico. And the rest will guard the ship. If we're going to Rome, we might as well guard our only way of transport nicely. And then, I'll go and follow the Mark of Athena alone."

"Wise girl," Percy said, putting his hands over hers. "Are you sure?"

Annabeth nodded. "Yeah. I have to do this alone. Anyway, I think Hazel should go to find Nico."

Hazel nodded in agreement.

"I'll go with her," Frank stood up. Hazel smiled at him.

"I'm coming with you too," Leo said. "I need some time out. Besides, you saw Nico is somewhere underground. If there's a secret lock or something, I can help you guys open it. Hot mechanics are dead useful, you know."

"But Leo, you should be here with–,"

"–the ship. Yeah, I can, but there's no need for me here. I am trash with all that fighting stuff, in case monsters ambush the Argo II. All I'll be able to do is occasionally conjure up small fireballs, which is great, but I doubt it's gonna do any good here. As for the ballista, Coach Hedge knows his way around them just as me. And you gotta agree, that I really might be useful if we're going on some hunting."

Jason turned to Annabeth. "He's right. Let Leo go. Besides, he's been on the ship longer than any of us. Let him get some fresh air too."

"Alright, so Frank, Leo and Hazel will go to find Nico. I'll begin my search. And the rest will stay on the ship or scout around." Annabeth said. Jason agreed with her. And so did everyone else, because everyone left one by one to get on with the preparations.

Two hours later, as the Argo II descended to land inside a small park, Jason could feel the thick mist around them. It must be hard work, hiding a ship that big, he thought. All of them were on deck, looking out as the city of Rome spread out in front of them, beautiful and enchanting. People were walking by their business, children were playing in the park. The mortals didn't have any idea what exactly might be happening today, that probably he, Jason and his friends, a teenage gang would probably be triggering the end of the world.

The ship landed with a graceful thump on the ground. Coach Hedge looked disappointed to not see any monsters nearby. He grunted, then went near the ballista and started observing it.

"I think we should go now," Annabeth said. "Well, good luck to everyone. May the Fates be in our favour."

Jason nodded. "Same to you."

Hazel, Leo and Frank parted with them, saying goodbyes casually, but they all knew the meaning behind the word. Annabeth started towards the ladder when Percy grabbed her hand.

"Wait, Annabeth. Let me come with you," he said.

"Percy, you know you can't–,"

"Yeah I know you have to do this alone. But I can still come to, you know, like, drop you. I promise I'll go only till where I can and I'll return from the point you have to go alone. But please."

Annabeth stared at him, smiling. "Alright."

Percy grinned back. But there was a hint of sadness in his smile. It wasn't the usual, cheerful one.

"Annabeth," Natalie said, taking her hand and placing something on it. "Take this. It's my way of wishing good luck. And it has worked out before too."

She glanced at Percy. When she removed her hand, Jason saw what it was. It was her pendant, the one she wore all the time. Jason knew the story, Natalie and Ben had had the same pendants, the last gift from their mother.

Annabeth looked at the pendant in her palm. Then she put it around her neck. "Thanks. I'm sure it will work out this time too," she said, hugging her.

"Good luck, and be safe," Natalie told her.

Annabeth hugged Piper. "Yeah, best of luck."

"Thanks."

She shook hands with Jason. Then Annabeth and Percy went down the ladder. The three of them followed them with their eyes until they were just miniature dots consumed by the crowd and hustle-bustle.

"Well, what are we supposed to do now?" Natalie asked, taking out a wristwatch from the pocket of her denim jacket. "It's 11 right now. We have, like, the whole day, maybe."

"Dunno, let's just scout around. See if there's something we can find."

That's when Jason spotted the Hydra.