Okay so I love the irony and angst at the end of this chapter because poor Rachel- she has no clue. And I mean, Bob also probably won't be the happiest with Percy- after all it's the arai who told him Percy erased his memories and he had to run through their forest to get to her...
Weirdhead: It's never established but I mean, I doubt their souls get to go to judgement or anything.
Undeath9087: I mean, it's gonna have a hell of an effect- Percy's still gonna have a lot of issues- and it won't make things easy- but at the same time he's dead so that's something comforting for her. Also I might- but it'd just be sorta a oneshot of the reunion that might have been if Hera hadn't been a bitch.
Drizzle: He was very much bleeding out and dying- not fully dead when Percy left but I mean- he can't even move and he's brain dead so he's not gonna be drinking the Plegethon water even if he didn't bleed out. And I know, the Bob and Damasen stuff is heart breaking. And can you imagine how cute it would have been if they'd been able to escape too? And how much help they could be.
Guest: I mean, Percy's literally half blind right now so that's fitting, and yeah poor poor Small Bob.
Jubby1905: It's not something Percy will overly enjoy talking about- the thing is she is a good person, so she's just there thinking 'Am I a monster for not feeling guilty?' so she feels guilty for not feeling guilty basically. And there's definitely going to be effects that will cause fights and issues.
MKDemiGodzilla-Warrior: I mean, he'd have to be rescued and even then he'd be braindead so it doesn't seem likely.
PJ Fan285: It'd be pretty hard for him to survive but I get why you'd say that lol- and I have the Nyx stuff and Percy meeting Hecate all written up. And I hope people like how I handle it- I get why some people didn't like how Rick handled Nyx, it did seem like a waste to have them just trick her like that.

Rachel was not happy. Honestly it had taken her longer than she'd have liked to get to New York- Persephone had pulled them through the shadows once they'd arrived in the beautiful gardens that Athena had ordered them to go to- but still, it took them time.

Especially to locate the Romans, and it was very late in the day when they did, and Rachel had sent an urgent message.

Still, her chest was tight with nerves when she received a response agreeing to meet with them, as long as there were no weapons.

It had taken Rachel almost an hour to convince Ethan to stay behind, and she and Grover had headed out to meet them, Grover sticking close to her side- and Rachel wasn't sure what it was that was bothering him but he'd been worryingly tense for a little while, he was holding something back, but when Rachel asked he wouldn't answer.

In any case, Rachel stood as tall and proud as she could, feeling naked without her weapons as she stared at the array of Romans in combat armor, their Imperial gold weapons and shields glinting in the dark. Rachel recognised Octavian stood to one side, thin and pale, his eyes red-rimmed from sleeplessness or anger, a string of sacrificial stuffed animals around his waist. His augur's white robe was draped over a purple T-shirt and cargo pants. She resisted the urge to punch him just on principal, focusing her gaze on Reyna, who was stood in the center of the line, with her metal dogs Aurum and Argentum at her side.

And Reyna reminded Rachel of Annabeth in a lot of ways- and she could see how tired she was. How tense. She felt guilty for that- it wasn't all on the Romans. She was very willing to blame Alabaster- and she silently spent just a second hoping that he was somewhere getting the ever loving shit beaten into him. Not that it seemed likely. The world was never that kind.

She stood as straight backed as she could as she approached Reyna. "Thank you for responding to my message and agreeing to meet us."

"The message is the only reason you made it this far alive, Graecus." Octavian snapped the words, "I hope you've come to discuss surrender terms. And where are the rest of your lot?"

"Elsewhere." Rachel's voice was more confident than she really felt. "I was sent here to speak to Reyna."

"At least we should search you-"

"No need." Reyna cut him off. "Do you bring weapons?"

"No." Rachel stated honestly, "I made sure not to, even my hairbrush. We're here on a mission of peace."

"And your friend?" Reyna nodded to Grover, "I thought you were coming alone."

"This is Grover Underwood." Rachel declared proudly, "He's a leader of the Council and a hero of Olympus."

"What council?" Octavian demanded.

"Cloven Elders, man." Grover's voice was confident, and he was clearly resisting the urge to glare, "Seriously. Don't you Romans have nature and trees and stuff? I've got some news you need to hear. Plus, I'm a card-carrying protector. I'm here to, you know, protect Rachel."

Reyna looked like she was trying not to smile, "But no weapons."

"Just my flute." Grover's hand moved to the pocket where he kept it, "Percy always said my cover of 'Born to be Wild' should count as a dangerous weapon, but I don't think it's that bad."

"Grover- I say this with love but it is that bad." Rachel tried not to laugh, though her smile faltered when Octavian spoke again, and he did so with a sneer.

"Another friend of Percy Jackson. That's all I need to hear."

Reyna held up her hand for silence. Her gold and silver dogs sniffed the air, but they remained calm and attentive at her side.

"So far, our guests speak the truth," Reyna said. "Be warned, Rachel and Grover, if you start to lie, this conversation will not go well for you. Say what you came to say."

"Annabeth Chase sent me here with a message for you Reyna. She was sent a dream from her mother. We managed to retrieve the Athena Parthenos-" she saw Reyna's mouth drop open in shock at that, "And we have it on the Argo II. But Lady Athena has told her that her part of the mission is done. That a Roman has to deliver the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-blood. That will heal the divide-"

"That-" Octavian was almost spluttering, "Are you insane?!"

"It has to be you." Rachel forged onwards. "Annabeth is sure of it- or she'd have never sent me here. You know yourself that Annabeth and I are dating- are in love. She'd have never risked me if she didn't really truly believe it was important. And if it was a trick- well you can ask your dogs."

The metallic greyhounds didn't react. Reyna stroked Aurum's head thoughtfully. "The Athena Parthenos…so the legend is true- but... to think she actually managed to do it-"

"Reyna!" Octavian cried. "You can't seriously be considering this! Even if the statue still exists, you see what they're doing. We're on the verge of attacking them—destroying the stupid Greeks once and for all—and they concoct this stupid errand to divert your attention. They want to send you to your death!"

The other Romans muttered, glaring at Grover and Rachel, and Rachel tensed, her eyes narrowing.

"I understand that you don't want to believe me but don't you dare call it a stupid errand." her fingers balled into fists. "Don't you dare-" Her voice cracked and she felt grief welling up in her chest.

And Grover wrapped an arm around her as she pressed a hand to her mouth, blinking rapidly to fend off tears.

"What is it?" Reyna frowned, "What happened?"

"I-" Rachel's voice cracked, "I let her go- the price of the statue- I knew she'd-"

"Rache-" Grover's arms around her held her not collapse as the grief and guilt rolled over her. And Grover swallowed hard, taking over, "Arachne was guarding the Athena Parthenos in a cavern over the pit-" there was some nervous muttering at that. "Annabeth Chase outwitted Arachne, but as an act of revenge the monster attached some silk to Annabeth's ankle- we arrived when the cavern started to crumble, but the silk nearly pulled Annabeth into the pit." he was staring straight ahead, recounting it in a monotone voice- and Rachel felt guilty for the fact that he was having to do it. "Percy Jackson managed to cut the thread and save Annabeth from falling but she fell herself, and Nico Di Angelo and Leo Valdez jumped after her. We know that they're alive but as of right now they are trapped in Tartarus attempting to make it to the Doors of Death so that we can meet them on the other side."

There was a moment of stunned silence at that- everyone looked shocked- and even Octavian didn't look like he was wanting to celebrate.

"T-they-" Reyna looked like she'd been struck. "They're in Tartarus but- how are you so sure they're alive."

"Because of me." Grover's voice was firm, "I'd know if Percy was dead. We have an empathy link- it ties us together."

"And me." Rachel lifted her head slightly, forcing herself to straighten up again. "I have a gift with prophecy-" she ignored Octavian's narrowed eyes, "I always have- I saw Percy's defeat of Kronos almost one year ago now, I saw our current Oracle receiving her gift, and I saw Percy's fall into the pit- and I also saw that she'll make it out. As will Nico and Leo." Rachel was proud of how steady her voice was. "So when you- when you dare dismiss this as a stupid errand- this is not a stupid errand Octavian. This is so much more.
Percy and our friends are in the pit because of it."

"Your friends who fired on us-"

"We did not!" Rachel snapped the words, "It is a misunderstanding." she declared.

"Do explain how we could have-"

"Alabaster Torrington is alive!" Rachel shouted the words, "He is a Greek but he is our enemy as much as he is yours. He is the one who attacked Percy on the day we arrived, and we weren't aware but he enchanted the ship to attack. Percy and Leo stopped it as soon as they could."

"Satur- Kronos' host?" Reyna looked shocked, "Percy told us of him-"

"I bet she did." Rachel scowled, "He's insane and obsessed. I'm only glad he can't reach her now-" and Rachel felt Grover tense- and she turned her head slightly, eyes narrowing at the way he shifted nervously- and okay. She'd need to interrogate him about that shortly. "Listen- we didn't want this anymore than you do. We want to fix it and Annabeth believes that this is our best chance. Not just to stop the war but- we need to reconcile the gods' Greek and Roman sides. We have to work together to defeat Gaea."

Octavian stepped forward to speak, but Reyna shot him a withering look.

"According to Percy Jackson," Reyna said, "the battle with Gaea will be fought in the ancient lands. In Greece."

"That's where the giants are," Rachel agreed. "Whatever magic, whatever ritual the giants are planning to wake the Earth Mother, I sense it will happen in Greece. But…well, our problems aren't limited to the ancient lands."

"Yeah." Grover spoke up, "Before I joined the others on the Argo II- mostly for Percy, I'd been talking to satyrs and nature spirits across the continent. They're all saying the same thing. Gaea is stirring—I mean, she's right on the edge of consciousness. She's whispering in the minds of naiads, trying to turn them. She's causing earthquakes, uprooting the dryads' trees. Last week alone, she appeared in human form in a dozen different places, scaring the horns off some of my friends. In Colorado, a giant stone fist rose out of a mountain and swatted some Party Ponies like flies."

Reyna frowned. "Party Ponies?"

"Long story," Rachel said. "The point is: Gaea will rise everywhere. She's already stirring. No place will be safe from the battle. And we know that her first targets are going to be the demigod camps. She wants us destroyed."

"Speculation," Octavian said. "A distraction. The Greeks fear our attack. They're trying to confuse us. It's the Trojan Horse all over again! This mortal claims to have a gift for Prophecy- why should we be-" his mouth shut, his eyes widening- because- Rachel's eyes widened in shock as she realised that she was surrounded by an aura of bright warm light suddenly- and Grover sucked in a sharp breath at that, and a golden laurel shone between her and Octavian before fading.

Then there was silence- and Rachel blinked rapidly because what the fuck? What was that?

No one spoke for several long moments, but Rachel saw Reyna's expression shifting as she twisted the ring around her neck. "Marcus," she said, "bring Scipio from the stables."

"Reyna, no!" Octavian protested.

"I will do this for Annabeth, for the hope of peace between our camps. But do not think that I take the insults to Camp Jupiter lightly. It was still a Greek who fired on our city, traitor or not. We are not the ones who started the war."

"Oh believe me." Rachel spoke firmly, "We want Alabaster Torrington dead- but if it helps with peace we can hand him over to you once Annabeth, Luke and I are done with him."

"I will hold you to that." Reyna's voice was firm, "Leave us now. I will meet you below." Reyna's voice was firm, "You will escort me to the Argo II yes?"

"Of course." Rachel nodded.

And as soon as she and Grover were outside she whirled to face the Satyr, her eyes wide.

"Why did you react like that?"

"React like what?" Grover was not good at playing innocent.

"When I said about Alabaster not being able to rea- you did it again! What aren't you saying?"

"I- managed to make contact in a dream-" Grover blurted the words, "And she got separated from Leo and Nico and Alabaster's in the pit with her and she's stuck with him or she was and the last thing I heard before she woke up was her screaming and I- I know she's alive but I can't get through."

Rachel stepped back slightly, her heart sinking to the pit of her stomach.

Percy. Percy was in trouble and she couldn't get to her, she couldn't help- Alabaster had Percy.

Rachel felt her heart breaking.

"She'll break. He'll break her."