AN: I don't know how often I can update after this, so, that being said, this chapter is compensation, it is over 4,000 words long. Please note, this story takes place after Last Olympian, but with no knowledge of Heroes of Olympus. Also, the original oracle is still there, not Rachel.

I hope you enjoy this chapter and PLEASE REVIEW.

Chapter 3: The Quest

Pull. Back. Release. Bulls eye.

Ken smiled as another one of his arrows went straight into the bulls eye of the target. It was one of the things he was very good at. As he pulled back another arrow in his bow, he heard footsteps, trotting behind him.

Pull. Back. Release. Bulls eye.

Ken turned around to see Chiron observing him from. His arms were behind his back as he smiled, observing Ken launch the arrow into the target.

"Chiron," Ken greeted. "What's up?"

"I believe that there is a quest in store for you," came the centaur's reply.

"A quest?"

"Yes."

Ken furrowed his brow and perched his sunglasses on top of his nose. "Why me?"

"The gods work in their own ways," Chiron replied. "But you need to see the Oracle immediately."

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

Ken nodded obediently, but his arrows in his quiver and packed away his bow. "I'm on it."

Heading up to the Big House Attic, where the Oracle was, Ken almost shivered. He'd been on one or two quests, but they were all minor and he only played a small role, but this? A quest specifically for him? What was this?

As he opened the door, the air was dank and stale and he wondered why on earth he was being chosen for this. It made no sense to him. Wiping back his fringe and crinkling his nose at the smell, Ken approached the long dead corpse.

"Oracle of Delphi, what is my destiny," Ken asked as a whips of smoke left the mouth of the corpse.

Six Half bloods shall embark on a quest
Only consisting from the best of the best
A comrade dead, but not by hands of a beast
A missing ally who remains opposite of east
A fools errand to be run
For new era to have begun
A quest to defeat those who remain traitor
But a hero shall perish sooner or later

Ken furrowed his brow and opened his mouth for a moment, before realsing the Oracle wouldn't reply. Who were the other half bloods? Dead? Missing? Who was the traitor? Someone was going to die? The whole thing rattled him just thinking about it. Before he had more time to speak, the smoke came out from the corpse' mouth again.

Two daughters of Demeter shall pursue the dove
A message sent from the goddess of Love
A son of Apollo shall discover his past
A son of Hermes' journey will be his last
A daughter of Hecate shall get stuck in a rut
And a son of Tyche will have run out of luck

Ken squinted. Was this a clue as to who the six half blood were? He was the son of Apollo, that was clear enough. But two daughters of Demeter? A so of Hermes? A daughter of Hecate and a son of Tyche? These gods had lots of kids, who was it?

Leaving the attic, Ken hopped down the stairs quickly and met Chiron.

"So? What did it say?"

"Six half bloods," Ken began. "A dead comrade but not by beast, apparently."

"Hmmm. Not by a beast, not by a monster," Chiron pondered.

"So, by who, then? Or what?"

"Another half blood perhaps. Or just a mortal murder. What else?"

"A missing ally, opposite of east. So...in the west, I'm guessing?"

"Probably California or that general area. Go on."

"A fools errand and a new era. And umm...defeating traitors, I think it was. Or who are still traitor?" Ken tried. "It was a long prophecy, I don't remember it all," he saw Chiron gesturing him to continue on. Ken sighed. This was the part he hoped he didn't have to say.

"A hero shall perish, sooner or later," he quoted the last line of the first prophecy.

The centaur looked glum. As if he expected it, but prayed it wouldn't be true. Ken had to add in another part.

"There was a second part of the prophecy," he spoke. Chiron raised a brow. "Yeah, I think it was regarding who was going to go on the quest. Who were the six, I reckon."

"Go on."

"Two daughters of Demeter, something to do with following a dove and a message from Aphrodite," he racked his brain. "A son of Apollo who would discover his past," he paused. "That's me, I guess. A son of Hermes, a daughter of Hecate and a son of Tyche."

"Anything else?"

Ken's mouth went dry for a moment as he continued and told Chiron what was in the prophecy. "Things seem to go pretty glum for three out of six."

The centaur nodded solemnly. "We must find who goes on the quest...Don't tell them."

"What?" Ken frowned. Most of his friends were in the Hermes cabin. If one of them was chosen...their last journey. "If this quest is the last thing they do, they deserve to know."

"The fates are unavoidable," Chiron explained. "If say you told the Hermes camper who was on the quest, he might to everything in his power to avoid himself from being hurt. Therefore, the quest may be failed. We cannot afford that."

Ken sighed, sensing the point of the centaur, but his thoughts were heavily laced with skepticism. "So who do we decide goes?" he sighed.

"It's a bit of a puzzle."

"Yeah. I mean, those gods have a bunch of kids, I mean. Who do we decide who's who?"

"We'll have them volunteer. If it's their destiny, then they will want to do it...Unless, of course, you would like to pick?"

"No! No!" Ken answered quickly. "They can choose. It's their fate, not mine...entirely," he cracked a small smile.

"We'll have to gather the children from those cabins. See who's fit to go onto the quest."

Ken nodded curtly. "How soon?"

"Right away."

Fifteen minutes later, every child of Demeter, Apollo, Hermes, Tyche and Hecate was gathered by the campfire, where there was currently no fire. While the prophecy had specified the gender of the half blood, Chiron thought collective input would be handy.

"You are all here, because of a prophecy given to Ken Nakahashi, son of Apollo, by the Oracle of Delphi," Chiron spoke. "The prophecy says that six shall go on a quest to 'defeat those who remain traitor' and rescue a half blood in the west from what we can tell so far," he cleared his throat and gestured to Ken to stand up. "Ken."

"Two daughters of Demeter, a son of Apollo," he almost lost his breath as he glanced over. "A son of Hermes. A daughter of Hecate and a son of Tyche."

"Ken is the son of Apollo, but we don't know who the rest of the half bloods in the prophecy are. It is one of you," Chiron gestured to the seated cabins.

A bunch of kids called out from different areas, all excited to embark on their first quest. But Chiron had a look of wary about him. Like he felt this quest was more than what it seemed. Another great prophecy? Perhaps maybe not that far.

The younger kids were quickly pulled out of the running, they were too young and inexperienced. But that still left a bunch of people volunteering, while others kept their mouths closed.

Chris stood up from his seat, but the noise continued.

55% Chance they'll look over you
15% Chance they'll think you're being arrogant
5% Chance you will be considered
12% Chance you will be rejected
13% Chance you'll be accepted

"Excuse me," he spoke, taking a deep breath as all eyes turned towards him. All of a sudden he felt incredibly self conscious. "I think I should be assigned on the quest."

"Why is that?"

Another deep breath. Stay calm. "I have the ability to manipulate chance," Chris said, trying not to sound shaky. "Would be useful, don't you think?"

And a son of Tyche will run out of luck. Ken remembered the line in the prophecy. 'I hope he can manipulate chance so that doesn't happen.' he thought to himself, standing, looking at Chris.

"What do you think?" Chiron asked him.

Ken forced a smile, praying that if he did run out of luck, he'd be able to foresee it and do something to stop it. "I don't see why not. Welcome aboard."

Chris grinned and joined Ken, in the middle as the remainder of the campers talked amongst themselves. Two slots filled, only four more.

"Chris Hughes, son of Tyche."

A bunch of the Hermes kids volunteered, among them were Charlie Blake and Parker Cruz. Ken felt the bile rise to his throat. A son of Hermes journey will be his last. These guys were his friends, just the idea, the concept of them...not making it past this quest. It made him almost not want to pick them. But to put someone else in their place would make him feel like crap. He'd lost so much in his life already, he couldn't afford to lose his friends too.

But the conflict on the inside didn't show. Ken's features remained as cool and as calm as ever. The conflict in his head blocked out the real world for a moment, before he heard Chiron speak.

"Charlie Blake, son of Hermes."

His friend, one of his best friends. Ken stroked ran his hand down his face and bit his lower lip as he just had time to see an envelope on top of Charlie's head. A hologram. This was fate, the gods had determined it. Had the fates determined that one of his best friends was to die?

"Charlie," he tried to speak. But there was an overpowering noise of the other campers, arguing for the remaining three positions.

Charlotte heard someone sniggering and making a comment about her strength. 'She's too weak, she wouldn't last.' Charlotte couldn't tell who it wasm put it pissed her the hell off. It only caused her to stand up, with her celestial bronze knife clutched in its holster.

"I would like to go on the quest."

Her brother, Daniel's eyes widened her sudden volunteering. Justin was going to be shocked.

"Any objections?"

Izzie Wate's eyes turned towards Charlie's tall frame and his charming smile. He would be on the quest. True, this was probably dangerous and she wasn't the type to risk everything for a silly little crush...Okay maybe it was a little more than a crush. She had spent most of her life trying to make other people happy, a quest, a quest with Charlie. That would make her happy. Oh hell! She deserved to do one thing to make her happy.

"I would also like to go on the quest."

The quest required two daughters of Demeter, it wasn't as if she would be stepping on Charlotte's toes.

"Any objections."

A few words were tossed around, but nothing that was enough to dismiss the girls from going.

"Charlotte Riley and Izzie Wate, daughters of Demeter."

Five out of six positions filled. One more to go. A daughter of Hecate.

Before he had time to calculate the chance in his head, Chris had already, very regrettably said the words.

"Bree, how about you?" Chris wanted to facepalm himself. He closed his eyes tightly, trying to avoid what an idiot he'd been. 'I am such a moron, I am such a moron, I am such a moron.'

"Bree?" Chiron asked.

After considering it for a moment, Bree nodded. "I'll do it." Sure it'd take time out of her magic study, but a quest, she could learn more spell there than anywhere else.

"Bree Williams, daughter of Hecate."

That was six out of six. All positions filled. They were going on the quest.

As the rest of the campers were dismissed to go back to their regular activities, Daniel headed straight for the armory. Justin was probably working on his sword for another match. He had to tell him what had just happened.

"You will never believe what just happened."

Justin turned over his shoulder, polishing his three foot long celestial bronze sword. "What's up?"

"Your girlfriend just got a quest."

Justin's jaw dropped for a second, but before he said anything he smirked. "Oh...I see what this is. You tell me Charlotte got put on a quest so I'll confess my feelings for her. Ava put you up to this?"

Daniel shook his head. "This isn't a joke, Justin. She got a quest. With five other people?"

"Who?"

"Ken from the Apollo cabin, Izzie, Chris from Tyche, Charlie from Hermes and Bree from Hecate," Daniel answered. "I'm not kidding Justin. I'm dead serious."

"But...but..." Justin decided to stop talking when he realized he didn't know how to finish his sentence. "I need to talk to her," he decided.

"She's probably getting briefed on the details of her quest."

"What did it say? About her fate?" Justin inquired worriedly. He couldn't bear it if Charlotte's fate was to die or anything of that sort.

"I don't know. You'll have to ask Ken Nakahashi," Daniel answered. "He's the one who received the prophecy," he shrugged. "I just thought you ought to know."

"I'll have to ask him," Justin paused. "Thanks for telling Dan, you're a good friend."

"It's no problem. Just do me one favor."

"What?"

Daniel cracked a smile. "When she gets back from her quest...or as soon as possible. Ask her out a friggin date already," he grinned.

Justin laughed and took in a breath. "I guess it's a little late to pretend I don't have feelings for her...You know, besides friendship."

"Little bit, yeah."

Daniel gave hit a pat on the shoulder. "Well good luck with that. Not that you'll need it," he smirked. "Go find her."

On his way towards finding Charlotte, Justin ran into Ken.

"Ken! Ken!" he called out.

"Hey...Justin," Ken furrowed his brow. "What's up?"

"I uh, I need to ask you about your quest."

"Okay. What about it?"

"Um...ah, okay, here goes. I know it's totally not my place to be asking you this question and I know you are totally not obligated in any form to answer this, but in the prophecy...did it specify anything about Charlotte?"

Ken's eyes narrowed a little bit. "Why?"

"Please, I just, I just really need to know."

It wasn't as if people didn't know that Charlotte and Justin clearly liked each other but had kept their relationship to a belief or a friendzone. Ken could see in Justin's eyes that this was not a schooolboy crush that he had. It was something different, the worry in his tone hid nothing.

"Two daughters of Demeter," he quoted the prophecy. "Shall pursue the dove. A message sent from the goddess of love."

"What does that? Aphrodite?" Justin suddenly felt his nervous dial turn up a few thousand notches. "Are the daughters of Demeter going to fall in love on this quest? I mean, I mean, what does that mean?"

Ken shrugged. "Justin, I think you should relax a little. You should go talk to Charlotte. The six of us are gonna leave in a couple of hours."

"How many?"

"Chiron wants us to be out before the sun sets. Three hours, maybe four. We're just going to get our stuff and prep," Ken explained.

"Where are you going?"

Ken was a little unnerved with all the questions and was hesitant to answer. But Justin was a good guy, so he put the feelings of uneasiness aside and decided to answer.

"We're splitting into two groups. Me, Chris and Bree in one. Charlotte, Izzie and Charlie in the other. There are two main parts to the quest so we're splitting up to get things done."

Justin could think of nothing of which to reply.

"I'm sure she'll be okay," Ken said. Truthfully, it was Charlie he was more worried about. 'A son of Hermes journey will be his last.' He was worried of something happening to one of his best friends. So Ken could relate to how Justin felt, although Justin's feelings were honestly of a more romantic variety.

"From what I've heard Charlotte's pretty strong. She'll be tough to hold down."

Justin smiled at Ken's effort. "Thanks. I'll uh...I'll go find her."

"Charlotte!" Justin ran up to her, just outside the Demeter cabin.

"Justin? What's up?" she furrowed her brow. He looked worried.

"I ah, I heard you got a quest."

"Yeah, we're about to leave in a couple of hours. What's up?"

"I just, ah...I just," Justin felt his mouth go dry and he ran his hand down his face, trying to think of what to say. "I just wanted to know where you're headed," was what came out of his mouth.

"There's a school where a satyr is trying to track a half blood," she explained. "Three of us are supposed to check it out, see what we can find."

"Like...Like what?"

She shrugged. "I wasn't the one that received the prophecy."

"Well um..." Justin began to feel really stupid for starting to stammer his words. He seemed to have run out of things to say, "Well...good luck. Not that you'll need it. You're just about the toughest girl I know."

Charlotte smiled at him, he returned the sentiment.

"Thanks Justin."

"No problem."

"I should get packing," she said, gesturing towards the cabin.

"Yeah, yeah, of course. I'll, I'll see you later, then?"

She nodded. "Sure."

As soon as she entered her cabin, Justin turned away and kicked himself mentally. "Coward," he muttered to himself.

'She thinks I'm an idiot, she thinks I'm an idiot, she totally thinks I'm an idiot.'

He was walking, yet somehow his leg was shaking. He just needed an outlet for all the nerves. He found Bree studying magic by a small garden area in camp, probably built by the Demeter cabin.

"Bree?" he called out. 'Okay, you said her name, she heard, there is no going back on this.'

"Yeah?" she had a slight amount or irritation in her tone, but nothing that shouted 'piss off'.

"Can I, um, talk to you for a second?" Chris asked.

"Sure, I guess."

"Alright," he took a seat next to her on the ground. "I-I li...was wondering if..." he glanced down and buried his face in his hands for a second. "Okay, I have to just come out and say it," he took a deep breath. "When we get back from this quest, do you wanna go out...on a date."

"A date?"

"Yeah...with me."

Too many variables involved.
Chance calculation too inaccurate

"I'd like that."

For a moment he thought she was joking, or talking to someone else. But he looked at her, at her unique violet eyes and realized that she was answering his question. His. That was when he couldn't stop the stupid grin coming on to his face.

"Awesome. Shall we set a date?" he asked.

"How about...a week after we get back from the quest."

Bree Williams had just agreed to go on a date with him in the not so distant future. The same girl who had thrown a knife at his head. Wow. Maybe miracles really do happen.

"One week after the quest," he nodded his head. "I'll hold you to that," Chris smiled.

A few hours later, the six half bloods were set to embark on their quest. The plan was that Charlotte, Izzie and Charlie would head to a boarding school in Washington, where there were a prominent number of half bloods being tracked by satyrs so they could be safe. While Ken, Chris and Bree were to go to California to investigate the 'missing ally, opposite of east'.

Ken still felt a great deal of unease sending his best friend in another directions when the prophecy claimed that a journey would be the last for a son of Hermes. But he followed Chiron's instructions and said nothing.

It was three o'clock in the afternoon when the questers left. It was five thirty pm when Justin Lawytes caved.

While the other campers went on with their routine activities, Justin stuffed some clothes, drachmas, mortal money, ambrosia and of course his trusty sword into a duffel bag and prepared to sneak out while everyone gathered at the pavilion for dinner.

"Do you honestly think you can pull this off?" came a voice.

Justin turned around from where he was and caught sight of Daniel with his arms folded, smirking inside the Athena cabin. The sun was setting of Camp Half Blood as he crammed in what he could.

"You're not a child of Athena. You can't be here," Justin argued, desperately trying to conjure up an excuse.

"Lady Athena will forgive me, I think, if I save one of her sons from getting killed on a quest he wasn't assigned to," Daniel countered. "Justin, I'm sure Charlotte's fine. You don't need to worry about her," his tone growing softer.

"It's not that I don't think she can take care of herself, she's the toughest girl I know. Tougher than most of the Ares kids I reckon," he answered. "But I just have this awful feeling...I can't put my finger on it, but I have to go find her."

"She halfway to Washington, how are you gonna do that? Hitchhike?"

"I dunno," Justin shook his head. "But I have to go."

"And do what?"

"I don't know!" he shouted. Realizing what he'd just said, put his hand on his forehead, it wasn't like him to be so hot tempered, he was so cool and easygoing... this...he didn't know what this was.

"I'm sorry," he whispered loudly. And then in a normal volume: "I don't know what I have to do, but I have this feeling in the pit of my stomach...something bad is going to happen and I can't let it."

Daniel glanced down at his friend. This was a side of Justin he'd never seen before.

"Well, I suppose I can't talk you out of it...But you're not going alone."

"I can take care of myself!" he answered quickly. Justin, as much as he loved his friends didn't like help. It wasn't that he was being arrogant, but it made him feel inadequate. Like he couldn't tale care of himself.

"You're my best friend, Justin. I'm sure as Hades not going to let you take on this quest by yourself," Daniel spoke in a tone that left no room for argument.

"Fine. Pack, quickly. I wanna be out of here ASAP," Justin conceded.

"Where to?"

AN: If I were mean or a TV show I'd end it here and leave you guys hanging. But I'm not evil. So...

Justin and Daniel quickly turned around to spot a pair of hazel eyes eyeing them. The tanned skin and lean built, it was Parker Cruz. This wasn't supposed to happen. Not now, not here.

"Umm..." Justin turned to Daniel.

"Uhh..." Daniel turned to Justin.

Justin's bunk, was very unfortunately, fairly close to the entrance, which means anyone could have walked in. First Daniel, now Parker. Lady Athena was going to be so pissed.

"Oh gods. Mother, please don't kill me for letting others here," Justin muttered to himself.

Parker waved off the comment and his eyes drifted towards the bag on the floor. he gazed at it for a few moments before it finally sunk in.

"You're going on the quest!" he pointed fingers.

"No! Not 'going' on the quest," Justin argued quickly. "More like keeping tabs on the questers."

Parker furrowed his brow and turned to Daniel. "And you?"

"I'm trying to make sure he doesn't get killed."

"You're a good friend, Daniel," Parker nodded his head in understanding.

"Thanks."

"And I wanna be a good friend too. So I'm coming with you," Parker smiled.

"Parker, we really appreciate the sentiment," Daniel began.

"But two is really all we need for this. I mean, it's by no means official in any capacity. In fact, only one is really required," Justin muttered the last part.

"You can't look me over on this!" Parker fought back. "Justin, c'mon man. You know that I'm great with a sword. You know I can do this," he said. There was a look of pure determination on his face, one stating that it was impossible to steer him away from this.

Justin gave in and sighed. "Pack, both of you. We leave in one hour."

AN: Ta da! There is chapter 3 (officially) for you guys. The quest is on its way. I think this is a good way to have all of the characters involved in some form on this quest. Also, prophecy wise, I had to make it two parts to narrow down who was going and I did try my best with the rhyming bit.

However, if you do think that I should just make it a usual quest of three people, tell me in a review or if you think having lots of people is a good idea, tell me also and I can decide how to proceed from there.

Also, a bit of darker news, at least one of these characters has to die on the quest. Technically, prophecy wise, two people have to die, but I do want to keep the killing off of main characters to a minimum. If your character does get killed off though, don't take it personally. Who knows? I may pull something out of a magic hat that enables them to live again!...I really don't know.

I'm back to school next week, so I don't know how much I can update then. However, until that time comes, here are some things youc an expect next chapter:

-The characters progression on the quest
-Justin's reason for wanting to keep tabs on the quest (I know it seems weird now but trust me it'll make sense)
-Budding romances on the quest
-Charlie and Izzie getting more 'screen time' (I don't know what it technically is in fanfic. Word space? I dunno.)

Thanks for reading and PLEASE REVIEW.