WHOOPS I honestly meant to update earlier! Thank you for being patient, and I'll get on with the chapter xD

An Olympian Quarrel

Jason peered as he made out a figure sitting on a rock by the creek. He approached Piper cautiously, and bent down to sit next to her.

"Everyone's wondering where you are." He told her.

Piper sighed. "I can't go to the fireworks. Not with Chris."

"Clarisse didn't go either."

"Where is she?" Piper asked.

"In her... your cabin." He replied.

They were silent for a few moments.

"What happened?" Jason finally asked, realising that Piper was not about to initiate a conversation.

"Everyone keeps comparing me to Silena." Piper burst out. "I don't want to be Silena; I just want to be myself! For once, I can actually belong, but I have to do what everyone expects me to. Why can't I be my own person?"

Jason wasn't sure how to respond. "Nobody expects you to be Silena..."

"Clarisse does!" Piper said angrily. "And I know half of the camp expects me to end up as a traitor!" She spat.

Jason felt a pang of sympathy. "Clarisse isn't ready to accept a new Cabin 10 counsellor yet, but she'll warm up to you eventually."

"When?" Piper demanded. "Clarisse will always see me as Silena's replacement- a girl who can never be like Silena. And even if she changes her mind, what about everyone else? Am I going to be that bimbo counsellor forever?"

"You're not a bimbo counsellor." Jason reassured her. "You're just upset right now, and you need to calm down."

Piper hadn't realised that she had stood up and was breathing heavily. She glared at Jason for a while before slumping back down resignedly.

"I'm just an ordinary daughter of Aphrodite." She said quietly. "I'm not as special as everyone thinks."

Jason smiled. "You're much more special than that."

He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, it's getting chilly. I'll walk you to your cabin."

"Sounds good." She smiled back at him a little sadly.

The two of them walked back to camp in silence, unaware that they had been observed all along.

"Did you see that?" Aphrodite demanded. "Did you see what your daughter did to mine?"

Hecate had the grace to look uncomfortable. "I didn't kno-"

"Of course you did!" Aphrodite snapped, momentarily losing her composure. "How else did your daughter know the body swap spell?"

Hecate shrugged, fighting hard to hide a knowing smile.

However, on Aphrodite's right, Artemis was not having much success containing her own smile. She caught her brother's eye across the room and he winked at her.

Ares turned to glare at Apollo. "This is not FUNNY!"

"SILENCE!" Zeus roared. "This is a peaceful meeting."

Aphrodite pointed an accusing finger at Hecate. "Tell her to change Piper back! I don't want my beautiful daughter stuck in a... a..."

"A what?" Ares growled.

"Your daughter isn't exactly known for being nice." Aphrodite snapped at him.

"My daughter is worth ten of your preening little..."

"Take that back!"

Hephaestus smirked, enjoying the show.

"Maybe we could ask Mr. D to help out." Hermes suggested.

Dionysus looked up, bored. "I think I like them better this way."

Athena was looking at Hecate curiously. "Surprisingly, I agree. This is for the best and will definitely be useful in the future."

"In the future?" Aphrodite looked as though she would tear at Athena with perfectly manicured fingernails.

"The girls will learn something." Athena pointed out.

Ares barked. "What could my girl learn from McLean?"

Aphrodite pointed a threatening finger at him. "Don't you dare insult my daughter."

"Or what?" He sneered.

Apollo interrupted before a full-blown argument could begin. "I agree with Athena and Dionysus. It's only for six more days, if you remember."

"Six whole days?" Aphrodite looked anguished. "That's too long!"

Ares nodded. "I second that. Who knows what Clarisse will-"

Apollo cut him off quickly. "A day's already flown by. It's just six more."

"Are you all just going to stand for this?" Hera spoke up suddenly. "And just allow so much freedom to the demigods? They can't just practice spells on each other."

The rest of the gods fell silent. Zeus's brow furrowed, deep in thought.

"Nobody commands the demigods." Artemis said finally. "They go to camp to train, and meet others like themselves. If they have a problem between themselves, they sort it out."

"But like this?" Hera asked. "Hecate has already interfered- so why shouldn't we?"

"Hecate only told her daughter how to cast the spell." Artemis retorted. "She didn't cast the spell herself."

"I hate to say this, but this should not be tolerated." Poseidon put in.

Athena was slightly taken aback, but she masked it with coldness. "Why would you say that? To mock me?"

"It's not about you." He replied, turning red. "It's not up to Lou Ellen to use a spell on fellow campers. Especially not now, when we face another threat."

"Exactly!" Apollo said triumphantly. "We're facing another threat and all the demigods need to get along."

"And if the camp is attacked when Clarisse and Piper are stuck like this?" Hermes shrugged. "I'm just saying- they won't be able to defend the camp properly if they're in a different body."

"You don't know that for sure." Apollo countered.

Ares and Aphrodite were both silently raging whilst watching this exchange take place.

Zeus had no choice. "I call for a vote. Who votes not to interfere?"

"I do." Athena said immediately.

"As do I." Artemis nodded.

"Me too." Apollo beamed.

"I do." Dionysus said.

"Count me in." Hephaestus rumbled.

"And I." Demeter added.

That made six against, and five for. Everybody turned to Zeus. His brow furrowed. In case of a tied vote, Zeus's vote would be the ruling one, but if he voted against then he would be voting for the majority.

"Decision postponed." He grumbled, unwilling to be the deciding vote.

Hera scowled uncharacteristically. "It's only for six more days." She said sardonically, mocking Apollo's previous statement.

"You can't postpone the decision." Athena agreed with her reluctantly. "We don't have much time."

It was Zeus's turn to scowl. "Very well. I vote against."

Both Aphrodite and Ares darkened. Ares vanished in a puff of dramatic smoke while Aphrodite stormed out, glaring viciously at those who had voted against.

As the gods left, one by one, Hephaestus went up to Zeus. "I hope you know what you're doing, father."

"You voted against." Zeus reminded him irritably.

Hephaestus's face twisted into a grin. "Only to rile my wife. I didn't think you would vote against."

"What does it matter? Six more days and they'll be at each other's throats again."

"Aphrodite and Ares aren't going to sit by idly." Hephaestus warned him. "We're all tense because of Gaia, and the last thing we need is this little spat. I just hope this all blows over."

Zeus looked at him with a newfound respect. "I hope you're right."

AW YEAH I'M DONE

So I have to admit I really enjoyed writing this chapter! :D Always fun to hear from our favourite gods xD This chapter actually ended on an unexpected note, but I quite like it!

Again, sorry for the long wait, I won't be gone for months on end again (I'll do my best x)

Leave a revieeeeeew PLEASE it really means a lot to me! Because I'm not sure how much people like this story, so let me know if you want anything changed, or you have an idea C:

(sh just review anyway)