I don't hate this chapter! It's very exciting. I'm really proud of this, and it really ended up taking a different turn than I had planned. Also, I can't remember who, but someone was worried I'd abandon this story!
But don't worry, I have no plan to. Regardless of how little I like some chapters, this story is my baby. Updates may become more infrequent because I'm working on my own original writings.

Percy awoke just as he was shoved off the boar. Before his eyes were even open, he had his attacker pinned against the ground by their neck.

His eyes snapped open and he snarled—that is, until he realized he was staring into the eyes of Zoë Nightshade. The demigod immediately released his hold and jumped back.

"Oh gods, I'm so sorry!" He said with his eyes wide as he brushed dirt off his jeans. He extended a hand to help Zoë up, and she took it.

She fixed her circlet which had been dislodged. "I'm not waking you up again." She scoffed. "But impressive."

Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Whatever. We have to find a way to get farther west."

Percy looked around the area and sighed. The only establishment in sight was an abandoned taco truck. "Damn. I wanted a taco."

Thalia stifled a laugh, but it was fruitless. Percy gave her a quick smile, instantly lightening the impending feeling of doom around them.

The revving of the car engine came from behind them, a bright pink limo speeding closer. When it was in clear sight, Percy realized there was no driver.

It came to an abrupt stop and a burly man exited the side door. Percy's instant feeling of hatred clued him in on the fact that the war god stood in front of him.

Ares looked peeved. His arms were crossed and he was glaring at the demigods. "You," He pointed towards Zoë lazily, and she scowled, muttering something about worthless males. "She wants to talk to you."

"Who?"

"You'll see." The god said, gesturing for her to enter the car.

Percy took a step forward, eyebrow raised. "Excuse me?"

The god cleared his throat and glared at the son of Hestia. "Tell your girlfriend to get in the car."

Percy's mouth dropped and his bow materialized in his hand. He quickly fired an arrow at the god of war, but he was not the only one to do so. Phoebe looked ready to attack, but Zoë had already fired three arrows. Annabeth's dagger was drawn and Thalia's spear looked ready to snap in her vice grip.

"Get out." Phoebe growled, Annabeth and Thalia's matching expressions of disgust agreeing with her.

Before Ares could attack, a woman's voice permeated the tension. "Now, now. No fighting." Her voice was sultry and she tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear as she exited the car.

"Aphrodite." Zoë said with even more distaste than Percy thought possible.

The goddess didn't seem to care, or notice, her tone. "I must talk to you, huntress."

She shook her head, and the goddess' eyes hardened.

"Get in the car." She charmspoke.

The hunter didn't move a single muscle, and Percy grinned. Zoë was strong-willed and he wasn't surprised she could resist Aphrodite's charm.

"Leave, goddess." Phoebe instructed, form still and precise.

The goddess of love huffed but made no move to leave. Her mouth was pressed into a thin line as she looked to the group of demigods in front of her. Ares was leaning against the car and gazing lazily out into the horizon.

"I think Zoë was very clear." Thalia snarled. She may not like Zoë, but Aphrodite had no reason to talk to one of Artemis' hunters.

Aphrodite's thin expression turned into a conniving smile. "Don't you want to know why, Zoë?"

Zoë cocked her head, confusion spreading across her face. "What?" She didn't want to think about what the goddess was inching towards—it was far too preposterous.

Her smile grew. "You are not a fool, don't pretend to be."

Annabeth was the only other who seemed to catch on, and she gasped. The goddess turned her eyes to the daughter of Athena, and chuckled. "Yes, the daughter of Athena understands. Isn't it so funny, really?"

Annabeth shook her head vehemently. "Lady Aphrodite, it is time for you to leave."

The goddess sighed and pulled out a nail file, furiously checking her nails. "You may be right."

None of the demigods dared to speak. If Annabeth was going to get the goddess to leave, that was enough. Aphrodite was far more cunning than people gave her credit for—she was here for a reason. And in nearly all cases, demigods never enjoyed the gods' reasons.

"But, huntress, I remind you: I have sworn to stay out of your love lives. I cannot meddle with you, and you'd be smart to remember that." Aphrodite added, turning away from them. "And Zoë," She looked back at her. "Everything is not as it seems." She smiled, disappearing in a puff of pink along with Ares and the limo.

"What was that?" Percy asked, beyond confused. He hadn't exactly understood exactly why the goddess had singled out a huntress. Especially one so against the ideals of love such as Zoë. Yes, she had Percy as a friend—but that didn't change anything. Aphrodite had even seemed to imply that Zoë was in love, and the thought made Percy uncomfortable. Knots pulled at his stomach, and he shoved them away.

Zoë didn't say anything, and looked away. Her eyes fell on the horizon's edge, where she could see a massive junkyard. "There." She said, expertly changing the subject. "The junkyard."

"It must be Hephaestus's." Annabeth added, understanding the hunter's need to change the subject. If she was Zoë, she wouldn't want to talk about it either.

Zoë and Annabeth started walking simultaneously. The three left behind looked at each other curiously, but followed. If they weren't going to talk about it, then they might as well get on with the quest.

"Don't take anything." Annabeth advised when they were all together. "It is defective in some way." They nodded and followed.

The scraping of metal echoed through the junkyard. Heavy, thundering footsteps shook the earth.

"Holy Hera!" Percy cried, noticing the large automaton. "Is that…"

Thalia nodded weakly. "Talos."

"It's far too small, it must be a defective model." Annabeth commented, and the automaton stomped his foot in anger.

"I don't think it likes being called defective." Phoebe said, bow drawn. She and Zoë fired arrow after arrow, yet they did nothing.

The automaton clambered closer. "Who took something!" Thalia cried, but everyone shook their heads.

Zoë growled. "Must have been Aphrodite. This is her husband's machinery."

Talos charged at Zoë, who barely made it out of the way. Phoebe kept firing arrow after arrow, while Thalia and Annabeth tried to distract the machine.

Percy, however, knew that the automaton had some sort of hatch. He had learned a little about machinery from his time with Hestia, as she would occasionally visit Hephaestus in his workshop. He spotted it under the machine's foot as the machine moved to stomp Thalia under its foot. She made it out just in time, but it was far too close.

"Annabeth!" Percy shouted, approaching closer. "Get it to lift its foot."

The daughter of Athena didn't bat and eye and nodded. They needed some sort of escape, and Percy had it.

Percy turned away and immediately focused on the automaton, waiting for the perfect moment.

When he saw his opening, he ran for it. He slipped inside in seconds, making quick work as he climbed into the machine. He made it to the control panel, quickly controlling the machine to get as far away from his friends as possible.

Zoë screamed as she realized what he was doing, and Thalia paled considerably. Annabeth's jaw went slack and Phoebe clutched her sister's hand.

The automaton turned away from them, punching itself in its face. It quickly got out of sight. Zoë collapsed to the ground as she realized that this was exactly as the prophecy was meant to go. Phoebe sat down next to her, her arm wrapped around her friend. Zoë hugged her knees and attempted to brush the streams of tears from her eyes.

Thalia and Annabeth had collapsed next to them, eyes watery. "This cannot be happening." They stood up, knowing that Zoë and Phoebe needed to be alone, Annabeth turned back to the group. "We'll find a car or something."

Zoë's body wracked with sobs. Phoebe held her tightly. Nothing needed to be said between the two.

"It's okay." Phoebe comforted. "You can weep for him; he was your friend." Neither of them wanted to acknowledge Aphrodite's words.

She nodded, brushing Phoebe's comforting arms as she stood up. "I will miss him." She said with determination. Her eyes still shone with tears, eyes puffy. "But he wouldn't want us to wallow."

Phoebe's smile was forced but she was still proud of her friend.

"We found a car." Thalia said, reappearing in a beat-up car. "Let's go." The two nodded and got into the back, and the car speeded away.

Percy felt the stinging feeling of loneliness as he controlled the rusty machine. The automaton was falling apart at each step, and Percy had to get as far away from his friends as possible.

The machine finally gave out long after he could no longer see his quest mates behind him. It crumbled and Percy quickly fire travelled out of the machine—his final burst of energy spent. He lay near the wreckage, praying that someone could heal him.

His eyes slowly began to shut, but not before he saw a familiar blinding smile and sunny face. "Hey kid. Need some help?"

Percy somehow managed a chuckle as he drifted into unconsciousness.