Chapter 13

Fleur POV

It didn't take us much effort to find the Mystic Oasis, it seemed as if the forest was guiding us there.

Terry hypothesised that it was because it was sacred demigod ground, and it sensed our part-godly blood.

Once we got there, I couldn't believe my eyes. It was even greater than they had described!

Everyone went off to their own corners of the Oasis, and I immediately headed for the shimmering lake.

I ran my hand across the top of the lake, and smiled. "This place truly is beautiful." I said, as Cedric sat down next to me.

"Yeah, it is. We try to make a point of coming here at least once a month."

I nodded in contentment, and took the golden dragon egg out of my bag.

"Still trying to figure that thing out?" He asked.

"Of course. The Second Task is in two days, and I'm going to win it in the name of Bellona."

"You can try. I'm going to win it in the name of Aphrodite!" He smirked.

"Not if I win it in the name of Mars first!" Vicktor sat down on a fallen tree, next to Cedric.

Nothing wrong with a bit of friendly demigod competition!

"Where's the Camp demigods?" I asked Cedric.

"Patrolling somewhere, I think."

"Cool, cool."

Suddenly I heard a shout behind me. I turned just in time to see Draco slam into me.

I nearly fell into the lake, but grabbed Cedric's arm in time.

I glared at the boy who had slammed into me, and his sister, who was apparently responsible for him not looking where he was going.

"DRACO, LUNA!" Cedric shouted. "WHAT HAVE I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT?!"

"Ummm… watching what's going on around us when sparing?" Luna asked.

"YES, and WERE you?!"

"No." Both of them said, looking down sheepishly.

"I didn't think so." Cedric seethed. "Now go do something else." He growled.

I went to pick up my Golden Egg, and gasped. It wasn't there!?! What could've happened to it!?!?

I glanced towards the lake. Dear Jupiter! It fell into the lake didn't it!

"Fleur? What's wrong?"

"My Dragon Egg fell in the lake." I growled.

"I'll get it." Vicktor offered.

"No, no. It's my egg, I'll get it." I shook my head. This wouldn't be fun.

"Wait!" Cedric cried. "I'll make Draco, and Luna do it. It's their fault after all." He smirked evilly. "Cabin 6!" He called.

Both kids came running over. "Yeah, Cedric?"

"You knocked Fleurs Dragon Egg into the lake." Cedric smiled, and the siblings paled. "Yup, you are going to go get it."

They walked to the edge of the lake, and exchanged a glance. There was a shimmer of gold at the bottom. Easily accessible, except for it being dark, and cold.

"I-uh-um-wha-?" Draco rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Ok… -uh? Luna, you go get it." He pointed to the lake.

"No, no, Draco, I'mma let you take this one."

"I wouldn't take the great honor of retrieving beautiful Lady Fleur's Golden Dragon Egg away from you!"

"Flattery won't work Draco." I commented.

"Darn." He cursed.

"Here's an idea." Cedric came up behind them. "Why don't you both go get it!" He shoved them in, causing them to shout in surprise.

They glared at him, but swam down. Draco tried to lift it, but it was too heavy, so Luna had to help him.

"That boy has no muscle." Vicktor muttered.

"Yeah, I bet Luna could carry that by herself." I responded.

"Oh, she most definitely could." Cedric commented.

The siblings broke the surface seconds later, both looking extremely surprised.

"Thank you very much." I said, grabbing the egg back from them.

"The egg sang." Luna said.

Everyone in the vicinity turned to look at her.

"It did!" Draco shouted. "Mermaids!" He said. "They stole something special from you guys!"

The three Champions blinked, and started to back up slowly.

"S-sure, Draco…" Cedric smiled, unconvincingly. "Marcus! Bring the ambrosia!"

"What? Why?" He jumped down from a tree and adjusted his bag.

"Draco, and Luna went into the lake, and are now talking CRAZY!"

"We're not crazy!" Luna barked.

"Yeah! Go underwater with the egg, and you'll hear them too!" Draco cried.

The Champions exchanged a glance.

"...Ok… couldn't be worse than facing Gaia could it…?" Vicktor said unsurely.

"Alright…" I shook my head. Vicktor was right.

I dropped the egg in the lake, and dove in. Cedric, and Vicktor weren't far behind.

And… and I heard them! The mermaids! They were singing! WHAT THE HECK!?!? Then they sang about taking something important to us.

I turned to the boys to make sure I wasn't going insane. They were both wearing looks of surprise, and confusion on their faces.

I swam back to the surface, and conjured a towel for myself, Marcus conjuring one for Vicktor, and Lavender conjuring one for Aphrodite.

"What just happened…" Cedric asked, after he thanked his sister.

"I… I think that we just heard mermaids…" I said.

"Oh, great!" Marcus shouted, throwing his hands up. "Relatives of Percy! Just what we need!"

"See!" Draco yelled. "We're NOT insane!"

"Of course." Vicktor shook his head, ignoring Draco. "They must have stolen something from us, and the challenge is to get what they stole back from them. We must have to get whatever 'it' is from the bottom of the lake, where the merpeople live."

"Of course." I nodded. "Though how we're going to do that is beyond me."

"I might have an idea…" Neville spoke up. Everyone turned to him, and he pulled a book out of the bag he had been holding.

He flipped to a page, and showed it to us. "Gillyweed. It allows you to breath underwater."

I nodded. Sounded like just what we needed.

"Very good idea, Nev, just one problem. Won't it be suspicious if we all use the same thing for the Challenge?" Cedric commented.

Oooooooooo… that's a good point. "I can help with that." Seamus cracked his knuckles. "The day of the tournament I'll make it look as if Vicktor transfigured himself into a shark-"

"Really! A SHARK?!" Vicktor interrupted him. "That is such a stupid idea!" He muttered.

"Sorry, Vick. It's the best I got."

"DON'T CALL ME 'VICK' YOU IDIOTIC SON OF HERMES, AND FOLLOWER OF HECATE!" Vicktor shouted, angrily.

Seamus shrugged, and moved on. "I'll make it look as if Cedric used a bubble head charm, and I won't alter Fleur."

"Sounds like a plan!" I smiled, this'd be fun.

Dennis grabbed Pansy's, and Draco's who were standing next to him, hands, and pulled them towards everyone else. "Go team demigod!" Oh he wanted to do a weird cheer thing, that people do before executing a plan. Alright.

Everyone put their hands in the center. "Go team demigod!.?" Everyone started, and stopped at different times, and in different volumes, making it sound REALLY WEIRD!

"Good enough!" I shouted, enthusiastically.

Second Task here we come.