Hello guys, hope you enjoy this chapter. Plans for the quest begin -and next chapter should be fun because it includes the prophecy-and I gotta say it took me ages to write so I hope you all like it when I do post that one.

Percy had a list of experiences that she'd never want to repeat ever in her life-it was a very important list in her mind.

Top of the list was the time she'd nearly been sucked into Tartarus, that had been terrifying and traumatic.

After that on the list had been fighting Ares and then the whole Tunnel of Love debacle when they got the asshole extraordinaire himself's shield back. It seemed now that there would be a new experience on her list, right below nearly being sucked into Tartarus, and that would be taking the Gray Sisters Taxi.

She'd spent pretty much the entire time screaming and clinging to Annabeth the entire time-especially when they'd started fighting and the eye had literally landed in her lap-yeah definitely not a memory she'd ever look back on fondly, though it may turn out to have been helpful-they'd told her and Annabeth that they'd find what they were looking for at 30, 31, 75, 12.

Based on the fact that they knew they were long to the Sea of Monsters Percy had figured out that they were longitude and latitude coordinates which should be helpful-hopefully anyway.

In any case when the ride ended the two Demigods practically tumbled out of the taxi clinging to one another like a lifeline at the bottom of the hill.
Within seconds the seriousness of the situation became apparent-there were clouds of birds screeching loudly visible over the top of the Hill, and Percy and Annabeth exchanged wide eyed looks.

Both of them recognized the screeching-it was hard not to really, and Annabeth's lips twitched despite the seriousness of the situation, flicking her owl shaped locket open, "At least you're not the only one with armor this time."

Percy laughed at that, flicking her own locket open as the pearl armor formed around them. "Together?"

"Oh yeah." and then they were taking off, hand in hand as they sprinted up the hill, Annabeth pulling her dagger out and Percy pulling Riptide from her pocket and uncapping it, letting out inhuman shrieks as they reached the top of the hill.

It was chaos, they both saw that much as they reached the peak, rushing past Thalia's tree-which looked sick, the needles browning and falling dead to the ground.

Percy squeezed Annabeth's hard tight as they moved past it and raced down the hill.

The bulk of the Stymphalian birds were gathered around the Cabins, people were trying to fight them off, the two girls could see that from the top of the hill, but there were a lot of them.

"Noise, we need noise." Annabeth gasped out, drawing a breath from their shrieking, slicing one of the birds out of the air when a few of them wheeled away from the main attack to rush at the two girls.

"I know that Wise Girl but I don't think us screaming is gonna cut it-"

"Chiron's music collection!"

And that wasn't a bad idea actually, Percy had only heard Chiron's music once and as she'd informed her best friend very seriously it had scarred her for life.

If it was loud enough they should be able to scare off the birds.

"Big House then." she could see Chiron in the distance amongst the campers, shooting the birds out of the air rapidly but there were too many of them.

Together the two girls sprinted towards the Big House, slicing the birds from the air when they tried to attack them as they both shoulder barged the door, not bothering to waste time opening it, still hand in hand as they careened through the hallway that led to Chiron's rooms.

They forced their way into the room, Annabeth rushing to grab his boom box as Percy sprinted to his CD collection, grabbing the worst ones she could find.

They got to work quickly, Percy fumbling with the CD case and pulling one out, shoving it into the boombox as Annabeth turned it on, and then they were running again, out of the Big House, Percy guarding Annabeth, since she couldn't defend herself while carrying the precious boombox, slicing birds out of the air as they drew closer to the Cabins where the main attack was happening.

Once they were close enough Annabeth and Percy skidded to a halt, Annabeth almost dropping the boombox in her haste to put it down as she slammed the play button on it.

There was a moment, just a moment where Percy didn't think it would work as she sliced two more birds out of the air.

Then the music started and the air was filled with violins and a bunch of guys moaning in Italian.

The birds reacted instantlyThey started flying in circles, running into each other like they wanted to bash their own brains out. Then they abandoned the attack altogether and flew skyward in a huge dark wave.

Chiron was quick, calling out, "Archers ready!" and unleashing how own arrows on the birds.

Now that they weren't attacking people and making it damn near impossible to shoot them without risking hitting campers the arrows were flying, taking them down in waves.

Within minutes the ground was covered with the bodies of the dead birds and the surviving ones were fleeing.

There was a long moment of shock as the last of them flew away before Percy shut off the boombox and took in the sight.

There were dozens of campers injured, some clutching bleeding wounds, and she could see that Connor and Travis were guarding the door of the unclaimed Cabin-and the youngest of the Campers were peering out from behind them, clearly having been shoved inside so they could be safer from the birds.

Several people turned to look at Percy and Annabeth as they realized that the attack was over, and Chiron let out a relieved breath, "That was a very smart move Annabeth, Percy-" he was cut off by Luke crying.

"Sephie! Annabeth!" and rushing to them, pulling Percy into a hug, squeezing her tight. "We weren't expecting you yet."

"We need to talk to Chiron about some stuff." Anabeth said quickly, meeting the Centaurs gaze, "We might have an idea."

Chiron paused before nodding, "As you wish. Apollo Campers, see to the injured, get them to the infirmary. Lee-"

"On it." Lee Fletcher nodded quickly, barking orders at his younger siblings as Chiron turned to the two girls.

"The Big House you two."

"I'm coming." Luke said quickly.

"Fine." Chiron nodded, and together the four of them headed to the Big House, and once they were inside, sat in Chiron's office the Centaur spoke.

"As glad as I am to see you both a bit of warning of your arrival may have been nice-"

"The Golden Fleece." Percy blurted out the words quickly, "The Golden Fleece. Could it save the tree." and she saw Chiron's eyes widen in shock.

"I... theoretically yes but no one knows where it is-"

"I do." Percy swallowed hard, "I do know where it is. Everything is pointing to it. I Iris messaged Grover, he couldn't talk to me for long because he's in danger trapped somewhere. He talked about some powerful source of nature magic and he said he was in the Sea of something. And when we took the Gray sisters Taxi here they gave us coordinates for what we're looking for."

Chiron's eyes widened, "If you're right then there is a chance-but it would be a dangerous quest." he said carefully, and Percy could feel Luke's eyes on her and Annabeth as Chiron spoke, "It almost seems to good to be true."

"It is." Luke's voice was low, "Percy what aren't you telling us?"

Percy shifted uncomfortably, swallowing hard, "I don't know what-"

"Percy-"

"Alabaster." Annabeth said quickly, "Alabaster showed up today, it's why we rushed here-"

"You can't be telling me that you're listening to him." Luke demanded, "You cannot trust him-"

"I don't that's not what this is about!" Percy said quickly, "But he's done this to force my hand. He knows we can't just let Thalia's tree die-"

"He wants the Fleece." Chiron's eyes narrowed, "He wants the Fleece and he's done this so that you'll be forced into going and getting it for him."

"He figures that since I'm the daughter of Poseidon I stand a better chance than he does of actually getting it." Percy admitted reluctantly, giving Annabeth a dirty look.

She understood that the other girl didn't want to lie to Chiron and Luke, but it would definitely make them more reluctant to allow them to go on this quest.

"And he plans on intercepting you on your way back to Camp." Chiron predicted, "Whatever he plans to do with the Fleece-to go to such lengths to get it... it's too dangerous the risks-whatever he wants it for-"

"We can't just let Thalia die." Annabeth whispered the words, her face pale, "And Grover needs us too. Please."

"Children-"

"I know it's dangerous." Percy spoke up quickly, "Believe me we both do but we think it's worth the risk-we know he'll be looking for us we know to expect it-"

"Percy, Annabeth... girls I understand that you want to save camp but the risks, both of Alabaster getting what he wants and the risks to your
safety-"

"The risks are worth it." Percy swallowed hard, "Please. We need to something. He can't win."

"They won't be alone." that came from Luke, who was staring at them, a determined expression on his face "I'll be with them Chiron. I'll look after them both."

Chiron turned his gaze to Luke, frowning slightly to himself before nodding with a sigh. "I shall allow it. If you succeed you'll save Camp and I can't refuse you that chance. But you three must be careful. Luke I am trusting you to keep Percy and Annabeth on track."

"Thank you." Luke let out a relieved breath, "Thank you so much Chiron."

"You may pick out whatever you think you need supplies wise-I cannot provide you a boat but I'm sure you shall find a way-"

"We will." Percy nodded quickly, "Thank you Chiron-"

"Thank you!" Annabeth was launching herself at the Centaur, hugging him tightly, "We'll do it. We'll save Thalia I promise."

"I'm sure you will." Chiron let out a breath, his arms wrapping around Annabeth, who was fighting back her tears again. "I have the utmost faith in you, all three of you. I just fear for your safety on quests-you're all so young, especially you two girls, and knowing how your last quest went-and I have no doubt that there are things you held back in the telling on that story-I just worry for you."

"We know, but you don't have to." Percy said firmly, "You worry about protecting Camp and the younger kids."

"Yes, well we have the first set of children getting bags packed already. We plan on sending Clarisse and Chris with them."

"That's good." Percy nodded, "They're both pretty good fighters and with Tyson there they should be able to help fend off most monster."

"I certainly hope so." Chiron looked tired. "Now which of you will lead this quest? You shall need to get a prophecy from the oracle if you can."

Percy hesitated, "Not me. Not this time. I've had my quest. It should be Annabeth or Luke."

"Luke." Annabeth said, "I... as much as I want this quest to be mine I won't... It's too personal to me I'll mess up if I'm the one who has to make all the choices."

"Right." Luke took a deep breath, "I guess I have to go and speak to the Oracle then."

"Good luck." Percy gave a wry grin, "That mummy is creepy as Hades-"

"Yes, well, at least he has permission." Chiron shot the two girls a faintly disapproving if amused look, which made Annabeth flush.

"In my defense I wasn't actually involved in that part of the quest-Percy and Alabaster did that themselves."

"And in my defense I was being manipulated by an evil nasty horrible person who in retrospect I never should have trusted."

"And yet you are planning on going on yet another quest because of him." Chiron sighed, "I don't like this. We shouldn't be allowing him to pull our strings."

"But what choice do we have? The Gods aren't going to intervene and help are they?"

"No. No they're not." Chiron shook his head sadly "Lord Zeus is angry of course but he's not willing to intervene because it goes against the rules-"

"The rules are stupid." Luke scowled as he straightened up, shaking his head, "I'll go and see the Oracle, I'll be back when I have a prophecy."