A/N: Wow, I am impressed with the reviews. Seem as I do my best work late at night over breakfast and pondering why I never use enough syrup on my waffles. Once again, thanks for all the great feedbacks. Um...Reviews. You know...well no you don't but I do a lot of stuff all at once and my mind is going faster then I can type. You all might catch a wind of half of a deleted thought. Sorry. This is all raw. I do not and will not go over my work. I just don't have time. On fanfiction under another user name I had a story stolen - mistakes included, so my trust with beta's or anyone else is limited. There is a feeling of betrayal that goes with that, which I cannot seem to shake. For those reasons, there is and will continue to be errors. I make them. You can point them out but I'm not really caring about them 'cause I know they are there. The "quote" mark is actually located differently for me on my keyboard then on others while the 'apostrophe' mark is at the right spot where its easier to keep up with my thinking. That will be staying as well. Its how my fingers flow. I do appreciate all of the great feedback. Even those pointing out my mistakes because I do understand it is to better my work. But...yeah. So there was a mushy question and if that was the direction this story would be going. There is going to be sappy parts...I can see that happening. I am hoping that I do not go over board with it. I am trying to make this story be more then what it is. Love for me isn't all about hugging, kissing, or sexual. Someone once said love was like the peel of an onion. I hope I can prove that to be right in this story - that is my aim. A bit of romance, a bit of playfulness, action is going to challenging for me. You'll see how bad I am at action probably in the next chapter. Sorry for the long author notes, I hate them myself. I never read them but I had some personal messages in my 'inbox' about the above from different people, all addressing the same thing so I thought I'd just send it once like these. Hope you enjoy - cheers!


Juniper Shrub

Juniper was near tears from Thalia's feverish interrogation when Annabeth arrived. The poor nymph ran into Annabeth, wrapping her arms around the tall blonde girl. 'Please! She is threatening to burn my home!' Juniper pointed to her shrub that Thalia happened to be standing too close for the nymph's dismay. 'I told her everything I know!'

'Which wasn't a whole lot!' Thalia growled. 'Seriously for a tree…'

'Shrub! It is a shrub!' Juniper cried.

'You don't know a whole lot of useful information.' Thalia went on, ignoring the nymph.

'Thalia, step away from the shrub and we all will talk through this, okay.' Annabeth held up a hand, a single for peace but the look Thalia didn't indicate that she understood the word.

'Juniper, I am so sorry.' Annabeth went on, ignoring Thalia's eye rolls. 'My friend has a bit too much going on and she isn't very good with social communication.'

'I am very good at communication, it's the hassle of getting information that I…' Thalia started but Annabeth's eyes told her to zip it.

'Sorry. Now for me, Juniper.' Annabeth grey eyes warned Thalia once more to be silence. 'Can you tell me what you know of Eros?'

'Eros did enjoy um…' Juniper searched for the right word.

'Partied. The word is partied. The god of love threw parties with Pan, they invited Dionysus, got drunk like typical men and shagged some shrubbery girls on the side.' Thalia threw her hands in the air. 'Worthless information! I need to find him not know what he does on the side!'

'That is what I am trying to explain!' Juniper's eyes filled up with green liquid. 'All that happened before Psychic and Eros got together. After they married, Eros doesn't pay attention to any of the nymphs. It was long before the time of my forest.'

'Thalia, she's telling everything she knows.' Annabeth gave the huntress an apologetic shrug. 'In all my studies, I never came across any records of Eros having fathered another outside of his marriage. He probably is the only non-cheating spouse up there.'

Thalia clenched her teeth together in frustration. She felt as they were getting nowhere and every minutes that seeped by was a minute she lost in this hunt. 'Than we shall have a conversation with Dionysus.'

'That won't get us anywhere and you very well know it.' Annabeth frowned. 'He would find it all so delightful that you are under his nephew's charm. He will find it quite hilarious! It is just a waste of time.'

Thalia let out a frustrated growl that made Juniper hide behind Annabeth for protection. 'We are getting nowhere with these little educational trips you wanted to explore!'

'You're right.' Annabeth walked over to the huntress, Juniper took that moment to dive into her shrub. 'I'm sorry. I just wanted to be sure we covered everything. Sometimes the most little information could make a huge difference.'

Thalia nodded her head; acknowledge the truth within her friend's wisdom. She couldn't refute it. Having all the facts could very well save lives, which was something Thalia did not want to be on her shoulders. 'Did you find anything from the beauty queen squad?'

'No, she didn't have anything. It seems Eros doesn't visit his siblings unless it is to prick them with a dagger.' Annabeth hooked her arm with Thalia, leading her out of the woods. 'However Clarissa had ran into Eros.'

'You told her!' Thalia barked unleashing her arm out of Annabeth's.

'No.' Annabeth quickly shook her head. 'I swore I wasn't going to tell anyone about your…condition. She just knew there was some kind of quest and on finding out that it involved an arrow of cupid's, she backed out. Not that she was ever in it.'

Thalia's eyebrows shut up. 'Clarissa backed out of a quest?'

'She didn't want to go against Eros. Apparently once was enough in her life time.' Annabeth gave a shrug.

'Oh I need to find more on this story. Clarissa does not back out of a quest. There is so much more to this story.' Thalia started to head towards the direction of the area, a logical place to find Clarissa but suddenly stop when she came abruptly face to face with Percy. He gave her an awkward finger wave, she glared and Tyson patted her on the head. Thalia backed out of Tyson's head pat, muttering something about low intelligent of boys.

'We got some good news and some bad news.' Percy grinned at his girlfriend, choosing wisely to ignore Thalia. His smiled faded slightly. 'Scratch that. We just have the bad news but a funny little story about Clarissa and her brother's visit.'

'You know why Clarissa doesn't want to go on this quest?' Thalia looked at him curiously now.

'Clarissa is coming?' Percy looked as if he found at he drank poison instead of blue punch.

'No.' Annabeth shook her head. 'Tell us the bad news and then maybe this other story will lift our spirits.'

'Tyson spoke with some of his Cyclopes brothers.' Percy started.

'They are working really hard and miss me but are happy to be taken a peanut butter break.' Tyson explained.

'Yeah. And he asked them about this passage way to get to Eros' place and it's not good for us.' Percy shook his head with a frown.

'Only daddy can open it with his trident.' Tyson pretended he was blasting rocks with an imaginary trident his father carries.

'And before you think about it, No.' Percy looked sternly at Thalia. 'We cannot 'barrow' dad's weapon. That's like dying without an escape plan.'

Thalia turned on Annabeth. 'Your plans aren't working.'

'Thanks for telling me. I hadn't noticed!' Annabeth bit back.

'But with Clarissa.' Percy smiled wickedly, doing his best to keep the girls from bickering. 'Well not just Clarissa but about half of the cabin are under the influence of Eros' darts. Apperently, if you are tagged with a dart, you are only under his powers for a short while. I guess that's why there are short love affairs.'

Tyson held up his hand to hold back a giggle. 'Tell them about the toads!'

'I'm getting there.' Percy smiled broadly at his brother. 'The Aries cabins were going on and on about which of their godly siblings were worse to come across. Foolishly, they were mocking about Eros and about him not being a threat to anyone as surely he was Aphrodite's son more so then taking after their father's personality.

Eros got wind of it and now if any of Aries cabin sees a toad; they make charming little poetic love poems before giving the poor creature a kiss.' Percy and Tyson gave each a high five, clearly enjoying the idea of armored Aries' kid going around kissing toads.

'That's horrible!' Annabeth looked at both of the boys with a shocked expression.

'For the toad.' Percy argued.

Thalia just walked away, talking to herself about how she was going to kill herself if she ended up with a neanderthal as a love interest.

'It was funny!' Percy explained.

'She's gone mad.' Tyson watched Thalia stock off still having a conversation with herself.

'Come on.' Annabeth tugged Percy by the sleeve to follow their friend. Tyson naturally followed behind, a bit more leery. It was never a good thing when Demi-gods spoke to themselves.


Rachel Dare's cabin

Out of all the campers, Rachel was more adapt of having the god Apollo stop in for a chat. He loved the girl's personality as well as her art work. He already promised her that he would let her do the honors of portraying him into one of her pieces, once she receives more practice. He wanted to make sure he looked his very best and that would be only by the skill of the very best.

'Apollo.' Rachel smiled, quickly bowing to his presence. He smiled down at when she raised. 'It is so good to see you again!' She always had to lay it on thick to please the god.

'And you my little oracle.' Apollo looked around at her cave dwelling. Of course it wasn't much from the outside but the inside was luxuriously decorated, as he liked it. 'I have a message I want you to deliver. Naturally Hermes would do it however, I want this kept a secret. It is to help my sister, though she would not ask me for help. Give this to Annabeth for upon seeing it, she shall know what to do. This will start the official motion of the quest.'

Rachel nodded her head in understanding, also knew not to press for information from the sun god. They only shared what they offered and no more. As quickly as he appeared, he vanished and Rachel quickly set out to find Annabeth.

It didn't take long for she spotted the group approaching her cave, most likely knowing that they needed her to initiation the quest. She waved at the group before going into a jog to meet them half way. They all gave their morning greetings, Annabeth filling Rachel in on what they were about to do. Thalia felt she could trust the girl so she let Annabeth carry the conversation to the end.

'Well that would explain some of this.' Rachel handed Annabeth a parchment. 'Apollo gave this to me to give to you. Said it was to help out his sister.'

'I knew Artemis would help out!' Thalia smiled broadly.

'Well, Apollo said Artemis wasn't to know he was helping her.' Rachel looked a bit skeptical.

'She wouldn't ask for his help but obviously she is searching for a way to help me so he is stepping in.' Thalia explained.

'It's a map.' Annabeth held the parchment out for the others to view. 'A sky view map of Eros' domain.'

'Air?' Percy groaned and Tyson patted his back.

'It looks like it is on some kind of island.' Annabeth pointed to the surround sea. 'Doesn't explain where though or how to get there.' She turned to Rachel with the map. 'Did Apollo say…Rachel?'

Tyson immediately closed his eyes and covered his ears.

Rachel went into one of her far off lands while the oracle took over in the eerie voice.

'The sudden fallen error

Bestows within the heart of grace

While the soaring twin arrow

Finds home within darkness of the race

The lost will be a win

Those that have not

Will have it again

When the Quest is at an end

It won't be an easy path to mend

As it has been said in times of before

It shall be said once more

For greater power succeeded once again

It will be Love that conquers all in the end.'


Chiron's dwelling

'What do you think it means?' Annabeth asked eagerly, waiting on the edge of her seat for the cleverness of their mentor's wisdom to be spoken.

The four campers and the centaur all sat at a small, round wooden table with glass of lemonade in hand and ginger snaps to indulge in. Not a perfect combination but at camp, it was a treat.

'The oracle is always a riddle that we never know or understand until the act has come to pass.' Chiron explained. 'You all have been on several quest to understand that.' He placed his glass down gently on the table. 'The first part has come to pass. It's clear enough. The error which the oracle is speaking of is that of the arrow. It was a mistake that Thalia got struck and not Artemis. That is the error. That is also where the arrow lies. In the heart of Thalia Grace. '

'It says that in the end, Love will conquer all.' Thalia whispered. 'Does this mean the quest will be in vain?'

'I cannot say.' Chiron gave the girl a sympathized look. 'In many different ways has Eros won battles. Not all has to do the company of another. Your goal might not be the goal in the end.'

'I want that arrow.' Thalia stated. 'That's the only goal I am searching for.'


Still at Camp but Later in the day

'Okay, we got everything right?' Annabeth glanced once more over their traveling bags.

Tyson stood next to her nodding his head. Yes, they did have everything, he thought. Nectar and bandages, he packed those last night with the peanut butter. Water bottles and tasty little cakes, they were always good to have along on a trip. Marshmallow just in case there was a campfire. The map, Annabeth kept that with her, not trusting anyone else with it. A quick tent, which belonged to Thalia. The boys had to bring their own which wasn't as nice. And some of those little ketchup packages, because things that tasted bad sometimes tasted a little better if you add ketchup. They were all set.

'I've contacted Nico.' Percy came up behind Annabeth, wrapping an arm around her waist while peering down at her check off list.

'Are you sure this is a good idea to involve him?' Thalia asked.

'Percy and I were talking about the line in the oracle where it mentions about darkness of the race.' Annabeth explained. 'We think that maybe going in the underworld will speed things up.'

'I don't like the underworld.' Tyson whispered. 'Scary people live there.'

'Oh yeah. A lot of scary things live there.' Percy agreed. 'But it will be okay because Nico knows that part of the world like a map.'

'So off to the underworld.' Thalia sighed, picking up the traveling bag. The stuff was light and they each agreed to take a turn carrying it.

'He's meeting us near the stream where it divides.' Percy lead them ahead.

Upon reaching the stream on the meeting spot, Thalia looked around with a hand in the air. 'Where is he?'

'He'll be here.' Percy sat down on large stone that was still soaking in the last of the sun to wait. Annabeth sat next to him while Tyson examine a crumple of something on his shirt.

'Does he know this is an emergency quest?' Thalia asked while staring down at the dark haired boy.

'Yep. It's because he knows it's an emergency that he agreed to help. Have some faith in your friends, Thalia.' Percy the latter in a whisper but if Thalia heard, she didn't reply.

Thalia was headed towards the stream, maybe to spear a fish, when she was bodily pushed to the forest ground. 'Ugh! Get off, Nico!'

'Sorry!' Nico jumped off the Huntress, lending her a hand to help her up.

'Don't you look before you…do that shadow stuff?' Thalia angrily brushed off the leaves sticking to her Huntress Outfit. It had been a few years since she saw him but the changed was different. He was a lot taller then she last seen him. Of course, that's what happens when you are allowed to grow up.

'When I looked, there was no one standing in the shadow.' Nico pointed down to the shadow a large maple tree was casting on the ground, the very one Thalia had just walked into. 'I shadow travel, everyone knows that.'

Percy whistled softly on his nice, non-shadow rock he was sitting on. Thalia glared over at him.

'Great, you are here! Now we can go!' Annabeth hurried over to the boy, trying to dilute a possible argument between Thalia and Percy. She faced the shadow the tree was casting and looked nervously over at Nico. 'How do I do this? Do I just run into it?'

'If that's what you want to do but a warning first.' Nico held up a finger of warning. 'The impact is going to hurt. '

Annabeth raised her eyebrows in questioning. 'Percy said he only got a bit nauseated.'

'Well Percy had help from his doggy.' Nico reminded her. 'This isn't Harry Potter where you run into something and come out somewhere else. I can't take this whole group on a shadow trip.'

'Then how…' Percy asked, beating his girlfriend to the question.

'I know another way.' Nico rocked on the back the heels of his shoes, clearly happy with his discovery. 'I actually had help finding it. Strange actually.'

'How so?' Annabeth asked curiously, folding her arms in front of as she often did when learning something new.

'I was out in the open, trying to find a connection that would get everyone in safely and hopefully back out when out of nowhere a small boy appeared.' Nico explained. 'He was clearly a god of something, I'm not sure and I was doubtful about accepting his help.' He turned to look at Percy. 'But you mentioned that Apollo was helping on the quest, in a secret way. So I think that's who sent the kid because he appeared in this ray of sunlight.'

'Probably Troilius. Apollo most likely made him a demi-god after his death.' Annabeth explained. 'It had to do with the Trojan war, Troilius was to be Apollo's son.'

'Maybe.' Nico shrugged. 'I hadn't heard his name mention in the underworld.'

'So this child of Apollo appears in a ray of sunshine…and?' Thalia urged the story quickly.

'I'm not the one interrupting my story.' Nico glared at the huntress. 'So the kid tells me about this door way on top of a mountain. We can take a bus most of the way there. I went through these doorway but its only one way which is kind of how things work in the underworld. The kid didn't stick around to explain how to get out.'

'So we'll just borrow some of those pearls of Persephone.' Percy shrugged it off. They had an 'in' plan and an 'out' plan.

'Yeah we can do that! Because my step-mother loves to adore me with pearls daily so my friends can visit.' Nico replied. 'Percy, she turned me into a potted flower and didn't water me for a week. Do you really think she is going to give me her jewelry case? No. We'll need to find another way out.'


** Troilius may be or may not be the son of Apollo and there is no record that he was ever made a god. I blurred the later to fit my story.