A/N: I wrote this while wearing a Santa hat. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! ~Meg

When I got down to the Big House all I saw was a swarm of orange. All my siblings were there yelling. I pushed my way through the crowd to the front and saw Aaron on the porch with Chiron. Aaron motioned for me to go stand with him. I ran up the stairs and stood next to him.

"Children," Chiron called. No one stopped yelling. I saw kids from other cabins joining the crowd. "Hey! Be quiet!" Chiron yelled. He stomped his hoof. Everyone stopped talking. "As you all know, I just received an Iris Message from Apollo. The serpent Python has returned. She has captured Apollo and is holding him hostage until a worthy opponent fights her. Apollo asked for two of his children and a friend to fight her. He has asked for the twins. Aaron, Stephanie, do you accept this quest to save your father?" Chiron said.

Aaron and I looked at each other. This came to us so fast. I looked back at Chiron, then over the crowd. Everyone was watching us, they were all silent. All of camp had gathered, Apollo's cabin infront watching us intently and the Ares cabin floating off the back of the crowd. I looked back to Aaron, who gave me a look as if to say, accept the quest. I nodded. Chiron opened the door to the Bog House and led us inside, not coming in right after us.

"Are you sure?" I whispered to Aaron.

"We have to save him." He whispered back.

"Yeah I know, but Chiron is probably gonna tell us we leave tommorow, on our birthday. Then we'll have to find him, wherever he is."

"I know, but Chiron probably has more information than what he led onto outside so he doesnt freak everyone else out."

The door opened and closed, Chiron stepping in.

"Your father is in worse danger than I let on. Python is going after Artemis too. She belives its an act of Hera again." Chiron said.

"Why the freak would Hera do that?" I asked.

"Well, Hera has never enjoyed Artemis and Apollo. Or any other childern of Zeus's that werent hers. Python has been recollectiong in the depths of Tartarus for quite some time now, and has gained much power. Hera recently got into a fight with Artemis about her virginity. Hera, being the goddess of marriage, wishes for Artemis to wed. Artemis forbids it, wants nothing of it. They began yelling about how Artemis will never have a bigger family. Artemis says 'all I need is my hunters! And Apollo inst that bad ether.' The fight proceeded, Artemis winning. Hera was enraged, so she awoke Python and sent her out to kill them. Python went after Apollo first, because of what he did after his mother, Leto, could not give birth in peace. And seen how Apollo is not able to drive his chariot across the sky for sunset, this might be the longest day of the year. Unless Artemis finds it and flys it across the sky." Chrion said.

"What if Artemis is attacked before she finds the chariot?" Aaron asked.

"Well," Chiron was pacing and wringing his hands. "we could disturb the balance of nature and never see the night again."

"Well... that's just. Wow." I mumbled.

"Chiron?" A voice said. I turned around. A girl about my age was standing on the calling end of and Iris Message. She looked to be my age, with auburn hair and silver eyes. "I have found the chariot. Later on today, I shall fly it across the sky. What time shall I lift off?"

"Artemis? Oh thank Gods your okay. Lift off around six forty-five, the recorded time of sunset today. Artemis, this is-" Chiron was cut off.

"Stephanie Cassandra and Aaron James." She smiley lightly. "I haven't seen you two in quiet along time."

"Uh. What?" Aaron said.

"Aunt Artemis. Last I saw of you two was the day you were born. I suspect you will be meeting me tomorrow with your third companion?" She asked.

"Um. It, and you. Message?" Aaron said pointing at the Iris Message.

"What?" Aaron and I said at the same time. He elbowed me in the ribs.

"Stop copying me." He said.

"I think it was you copying me." I said hitting him. He hit me back.

"It was totally you!" I hit him again.

"Ít was not!"

"Was to!"

"Was not!"

"Was too!" I yelled.

"Was not! He yelled.

"I was neither of you! It was me! Problem solved!" Chiron said. Artemis was smiling.

"Its like Apollo and I when we were younger." She said. "But tomorrow I will arrive after breakfast to get you. I suspect you will be ready?"

"I'll get them set Artemis. Remember take off at six forty-five." Chiron said. Artemis nodded and waved a hand through message. Chiron looked at Aaron. "You must receive your prophecy now. Up in the attic, talk to the Oracle of Delphi." Aaron nodded, looked at me the walked over to the attick and climbed up.

"Why Aaron?" I asked.

"The leader of the quest goes, seens how both of you are leading, its the eldest." Chiron said.

"Its only 15 minutes.." I mumbled.

"Yes I know. You two are so much like Artemis and Apollo when they were younger. So help me Gods I might go crazy..."

"Really?" I asked.

"Oh yes, Neither of you are exactly like one, but a mix. You have a little more of Artemis's matureness than Aaron. That is one of the larger reasons I sent him up there. I belive that if he sees that other people belive that he can be mature, he'll show his it more. I do belive that both of you are undiscribably like your father though..." There was a thump from upstairs.

"Should we go check what happened?" I asked.

"No. Let him do this. Hes got it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Do you know who your going to ask to accompany you on the quest?" He asked.

"We didn't talk about it, but I was thinking Evan." I said.

"Hes a good kid. I would have been surprised had you said somebody else. Now about sending you out on your birthday."

"I understand it. Not wanting to take the chance of anything more."

"I wouldn't want you two to worry about your dad on your birthday, and I'm sure you would want your father there."

"Hes missed every single one. Wouldent make a difference now..." I mumbled. I looked up. "Sorry. That was selfish."

"Don't worry. Everyone has the right." There was another thud.

"Whats happening up there?" I asked.

"Well, you can change after you talk to her. You can come out fine. Or you can come out mad trying to figure out what the lines of the prophecy means."

"Aaron can go crazy?"

"Yes, but I haven't seen it in quiet a long time. Don't worry."

"Well that's gonna be hard now." There was a crash. I looked at Chiron.

"I'm not kidding now."

"Neither am I. Lets go."

I ran to the stairs and stopped. Aaron stood there with a blank expression staring at nothing.

"Aaron?" I said.

He just stood there. Not saying anything.