We took a train. Percy said this was kind of like his first quest. He and his friends had to go to the underworld and they took a train. The only problem was, I got motion sickness on trains. I hadn't told Percy or Will yet and I had a feeling this was going to be a long ride. "Uh, Percy I have to tell you something. But I also have a question." "Sure sis. You can ask me anything." "How did you get back from your first quest? I think that will be important." I faltered at the answer he gave me. "A plane? That is dangerous for a child of Poseidon. Plus, the FIRST line of the prophecy is Child of water, beware of the sky. Do you think we would be able to get back any other way?" He thought for a minute then got this goofy grin of his face. "I got it. We could shadow travel." When he saw the confused look I gave him, he explained that shadow travel was something his friend Nico DiAngelo could do, being a son of Hades and Mrs. O'Leary, Percy's dog could do, being a hellhound. I chose Nico, mainly because I didn't want to ride a dog. Then I excused myself to the restroom. Hopefully the boys couldn't hear me in there as I suffered through my motion sickness. When I came out, Will was up and we had almost arrived. Will got his concerned look on his face and asked me if I was alright. "Yeah. Why?" "You look pale, Ari. Do you get motion sickness?" I hesitated, and then admitted I did. "But as far as I know, it's only on trains. I have never been on a plane. Listen, I'm tired. I'm going to get some rest." I hate being in high places, so a plane being miles in the air would've been too much. I didn't really think I could sleep, but I leaned on Will and fell asleep fast. I dreamed of Tyson, in my father's underwater palace. "Hey Tyson! It's Ariadne." "Sister? Where sister? I miss you." Hey. I am on a quest, in a train. We are probably in New Jersey by now. We are about to get off, but tell Dad hi for me!" Then I woke up. We got off at a train station in New Jersey. How did I know? We had to go somewhere called Auntie Em's Garden Gnome Emporium. Percy looked nervous, but kept going. I think he had been here before. When we walked in, this lady with her hair wrapped in a towel and her eyes covered by dark sunglasses greeted us. Percy looked at her like he was remembering what happened on his first quest. I was wary of her because of Percy. But when she spoke, I relaxed a bit. Her voice was soothing. She told us to go outside so she could take a picture. Then Percy stiffened and said, "Actually, we just need directions." "Oh, no dears. It is no trouble to take a simple picture," she said. But while every nerve in my body was telling me to run, I stayed. "Percy, what is going on? Who is this lady?" "It's Medusa. I fought her before. We can't look directly at her." He uncapped riptide and I took out my sword. "Now dears, there is no need for weapons. I only want a picture." Her voice was amused, not scared. I said, "You don't fool us. Now let's get this over with fast." I swung my sword and cut her head off, but I had to use the ocean water to scatter the remains as they started to reform. Percy and Will just looked at me. "Wow Ari, that was better than any girl I have ever met, other than Annabeth. Right Percy?" "Yeah. My baby sister can fight!" I was pretty sure I was blushing, but we left with the head, and a blue and green pearl that was beautiful. We got on a bus and rode for a while, but stopped at a hotel to rest. The next morning we were off. I iris messaged Chiron and told him how our quest was going, and about medusa. He didn't seem surprised at all about medusa, but more at the sight of my sword. He had known this sword's previous owner. I thought that was strange, because this sword didn't seem like the oldest sword ever. But then again, neither did Chiron and yet he had trained Hercules. We said goodbye to Chiron and I grabbed Will and Percy's hands and pulled them to the nearest convenience store. I was craving some candy. "Okay, we have a limited amount of time before we have to move on, so buy what you want fast," I told them as I headed to the candy isle. Percy followed, and got a fun dip and Snickers. I got a Kit Kat and a fun dip. After we checked out, and ate our candy, we got on a bus to southern New Jersey. We talked about a plan for the remainder of the quest, and I got bored and went to sleep.
Percy's POV:
After we talked about our plan, Ari went to sleep fast. "How does she do that? She is 15, not to mention active. Seriously, I am starting to wonder if she bathed in the Styx. I sleep a lot too, but I am invincible." Will nodded his head. "Yeah. But it's cute how she puts her head on my shoulder and cuddles." I just laughed. "Yeah, but if she's anything like me, she will drool. But it would be cute if she did that to me, since I am her brother." Then she opened her eyes, and said, "Did what to you Percy? Lean on your shoulder when I sleep? And what's that about drooling? I do not drool." "How long have you been awake?" "The whole time. Why?" "No reason." Man, she is a good eavesdropper.
Ariadne's POV:
So I faked being asleep. Whatever. When we got to our stop, we got on a train to Las Vegas. This time we got seats that didn't have armrests. It was long ride so I laid down on the empty side and went to sleep. My dreams were not pleasant, so I will not bother telling you what they were. When I woke up, Will was asleep and Percy was looking bored. "Hey Percy. How far away from Vegas are we?" "Oh, about an hour or so away. So how did you sleep?" "Ok I guess. But the dreams were bad. This lady made of dirt was talking to me as if I was her servant. But I was like, 'Why would I follow you? You're made of dirt.' So yeah she got out of my dreams then I woke up. But altogether I slept pretty good." Percy gave me a strange look, but said, "Ok, well you were asleep for a few hours, so I slept a bit and Gaea spoke to me too. She said you were her servant for a while. I don't know where she got that idea." Then a scene flashed through my mind. "Oh gods, not another flashback! I hate these!"
I was in my room, and my parents had just said goodnight. I heard thunder, and then a guy was in my room, a foot away from me. I wasn't complaining, because he was hot, but he was in my room without permission. I knew who it was though. "Apollo, what do you want? I was about to go to sleep." "Sorry Ariadne. I'm here on orders from your father and uncles. They have to tell you something important." "Isn't that Hermes' job?" "Hermes was busy. Besides I need to take you to them. Want a sports car or a chariot?" "Gods Apollo, you know I hate the chariot. I am terrified of heights. I can't stand being higher than a couple of stories off the ground. It isn't safe either." "As long as you are with me, nothing can hurt you. We need to go now though sweetheart. There is a deadline. But we have enough time for me to come up with a poem! Let's go sweetheart." "Apollo! Do not call me sweetheart. Now let's get to the sports car." "OK. Are you driving or should I?" "Uh, you drove last time. It's my turn." Then we drove into the sky.
"Gods, Will and Apollo are so much alike. I can't believe the resemblance." "What?" Percy looked confused, and Will woke up. "Nothing Percy. Just a flashback."