Piper woke up as the cab pulled up to the Empire State building. She looked up warily. She could tell it was cold by the fog on the window so she pulled a black sweater over her orange camp tee. She was glad she was dressed in jeans and army boots. The nights were pretty harsh. She stepped out, thanking Argus, and walked in the lobby. It was bright inside and she was greeted with the lobbyman. She didn't exactly know how to approach him. All mortals thought that there wasn't a 400th floor. She decided to wing it.

She cleared her throat. "Excuse me, can you take me to the 400th floor?" she asked innocently.

He frowned at her. "We don't have a 400th floor, miss."

She sighed. She didn't like using her charmspeak on mere mortals. It wasn't fair.

"Sir, can you please take me to the 400th floor" she repeated, her voice dripping with charmspeak.

He immediately let her in the elevator, and there, the 400th floor button appeared out of nowhere.

"Thank you," she smiled, tipping him.

She rode the golden elevator up, feeling dizzy at the speed. Before long, she was met by a small path that led her to a palace.

She was impressed that the Mist was able to hide so much from view. Even she couldn't see what was up there when she was on the ground.

She entered the ivory palace, immediately feeling like an ant when she walked in and saw all the gods at full size. They looked like giants, at least 12 feet tall, and that is when they're sitting down. They were all sitting in their thrones in the shape of a U, just as it is at camp with the cabins. Zeus and Hera at the middle of the U.

They all looked down at her.

"Piper, my dear!" Aphrodite squealed. She got off her throne and shrank until she was human sized.

"Darling, we must talk!" the goddess smiled.

Aphrodite led her outside, away from the others.

"Sweet heart, I heard about Jason, how romantic! He died saving your life" she screeched.

"Yeah Mom, how great," Piper said, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

"And now you're here, on a quest of true love, to save him!" Her eyes were glazed with a dreamy look.

"Mom, I need your blessing. I'm scared I might die and won't be able to save him." she pleaded. That wouldn't actually be that bad. She would have eternity to be with Jason in Elysium. But she would miss her friends and she knew she wouldn't be able to have kids.

Aphrodite softened. "Of course, dear." she said.

"Thank you." Piper said. "I guess I'll be on my way then," she grimaced.

"You don't think you're going to the Underworld with just my blessing, do you" Aphrodite questioned.

Piper looked at her mother quizzically.

"Sweety, have you heard of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice?" Aphrodite had that dreamy look on her face again.

Piper had heard of it from Annabeth but never really focused on her stories. Damn! She should have paid attention.

Seeing the look on her face, the goddess continued to explain. "In short, he was on a quest similar to yours. However, he had had the aid of all the gods in doing so. He got their blessings by singing to them. We were so moved, we all granted blessing, even Zeus!"

Piper nodded. "So I have to sing to all of them to get their blessing?" she asked. She tried to be calm but she was nervous. She knew from when she sang to the half serpents that her singing had an effect on mortals and immortals but she wasn't sure she would be able to convince all 12 gods (10, not counting Apollo and Aphrodite) into giving her their blessing.

"Yes, dear. I know you're scared, but just sing from your heart. That's what Orpheus did," Her mom winked at her.

Piper braced herself. "Okay, Mom"

They walked and continued to talk on their way back to the palace.

She stood in the middle of the room, glancing nervously. She closed her eyes, trying to remember what it felt like to have Jason with his arms wrapped around her as they shot into the sky. She sang about the love they had on the Argo 2 and the confusion she felt when she left him. She sang about the pain she felt when she watched him get stabbed by Caligula. She sang about the sorrow she'd felt the months afterwards. When she opened her eyes, the gods and goddesses were sobbing. Even Ares had to cover his face.

Piper breathed. "Your Highnesses, please grant me your blessings as I venture into the dark to save my prince. All I want is a second chance to make things right with him"

They all looked down at her pitifully.

"I grant you my wisdom," declared the goddess of wisdom herself, Athena.

"Thank you-" Piper started, before being cut off by another goddess.

"I grant you protection," Artemis said. "May the Hunters of Artemis aid you should you seek it"

"I grant you air passage" Zeus boomed.

With that, it picked up, all of the gods and goddesses promising her protection and strength and wisdom.

Demeter shrank and offered her three barley cakes. "Give these to the three heads of Cerberus and he will let you through"

Piper nodded, remembering the tale of Psyche and Cupid when she had to use that trick in order to pass into the Underworld. At least she had listened to something Annabeth said.

Piper thanked all of the gods and goddesses before making her way back down.

Aphrodite teleported Piper back to camp so she could get back to dinner in time.

At camp

Piper appeared in the pavilion with her foot in Drew's food.

Piper winked, "Just like old times, huh" she grinned

Drew glared, "welcome back, Dumpster Queen," she sneered

Piper shrugged and hopped off to join Annabeth, Percy, Calypso, and Leo. Chiron had let them all sit together since he knew this could be her last night there.

They chatted and Piper went off and threw her food into the fire pits of all the gods and goddesses that blessed her.

"Pipes, what happened? Are you okay?" Annabeth asked worriedly.

Piper filled them in on what happened.

Leo wolf whistled. "Damn, Beauty Queen! I knew you were good but I didn't think you were that good" he smirked.

Calypso glared at him, "Leo, this is serious!" she smacked him playfully.

"Sorry, babe," he grinned.

"Anyways, Annabeth, my mom told me that the story of Orpheus and Eurydice is similar to my quest. Do you mind telling me about it?" Piper asked, hoping her friend wouldn't remember that she'd already told her about it.

Annabeth narrowed her eyes. Shit! She thought. "I thought I already taught you about that"

Piper shrugged "Sorry, your stories are usually boring and useless!" she said defensively.

Percy grinned. "I know, right?" he laughed, fistbumping Piper.

Annabeth death stared at him.

Percy swallowed. "But very informational, babe."

They all laughed but Piper couldn't help but feel a little jealous. Out of everyone here, she was the only one that was single. That's because my boyfriends dead, because of me. She thought bitterly. She started to feel bad for Leo when they were on the Argo 2. Surrounded by happy couples while knowing that his significant other was practically on another planet and had no way of contacting them.

Annabeth sighed, "Alright, I'll tell you again, but this time, listen, McLean." She glared

Piper put her hands up in defeat.

"Orpheus was a poet in Ancient Greece. He was the descendant of Apollo and could sing and play the lyre beautifully. Like, so well, that he made trees and rocks move. Everyone loved his music. On the day of his wedding to Eurydice, a nymph, she was bitten by a snake and died immediately. He ventured to the Underworld in hopes of getting her back. He then sang to Hades and Persephone, who were so moved by his heartbreaking song that they allowed him to take Eurydice back to earth on the condition that he be patient and not look at her until they were back on earth. It seemed easy, but she walked behind him, and he couldn't hear her footsteps. He thought that Hades had tricked him. Once he was a few steps away from earth, he looked behind him and Eurydice disappeared, going back to the Underworld, forever." She said, wistfully.

Piper swallowed. "Great story," she choked.

"Pipes, I know I already asked, but are you sure you wanna do this?" Annabeth asked.

She nodded to her blonde friend.

"I have to. I need to get Jason back." she said, determined.

"Okay Pipes, but we're coming with you." Percy said.

Piper shook her head. "No, I have to do this alone. The prophecy said the dove and only the dove."

"Well technically-" Leo started but Piper cut him off.

"Shut it, Repair Boy." Piper pretended to glare.

She wished she could take them with her. She was scared out of her mind, but she knew that they could all die if they went. She wouldn't risk any more lives.

"I love you guys," she said, her eyes tearing up.

They all hugged her.