It didn't take long for Annabeth to get the map, thankfully the romans seem to decided to stop following after the fort as well as learning of what happen to the chariot as well as to John and the two legionnairs that were with him. The Romans did put up some fight till Emily was off the Argo II and glared at them and told them of what happen and told them off for listening to a complete and total idiot that was hungry for power and told them to either head back to New Rome or risk of being outcast and their tattoos removed to be replaced by traitors of Rome. Emily was unsure she could give the Romans that tattoo or not, but she knows if she was able to and if they went to the underworld that they would go to the field of punishment with that tattoo. But there was a little of damage to the ship when Annabeth directed it to the fort to get to the map as well some damage from the Romans when there was fighting. All of them were standing on the deck at the moment and Annabeth was talking.
"Percy says he talked to a Nereid in Charleston Harbor!" Leo was the one that spoke up.
"Good for him!"
"The Nereid said we should seek help from Chiron's brothers."
"What does that mean? The Party Ponies?" Somehow, Emily didn't think it was the party ponies, that seems unlikely. Sure they could fight and everything but help on a quest, Emily doubted it.
"Not sure. But I've got coordinates. Can you input latitude and longitude in this thing?"
"I can input star charts and order you a smoothie, if you want. Of course I can do latitude and longitude!" Annabeth rattled the numbers off and Leo punched them in.
"That location is in the middle of the Atlantic. Do the Party Ponies have a yacht?" Emily spoke up.
"No they don't. I think it might be the Ichthyocentaur." Leo stared at her. "Never mind, we need to get there."
"Just hold the ship together until we get farther from Charleston. Jason and Percy will keep up the winds!"
"Happy fun time!" Emily walked over to the railing and looked down as they sailed out to sea, as Emily stood there that she heard someone walk up behind her. She expected it to Bucky or maybe even Phil but than the person spoke.
"So, are you comfortable up in the air or even in the water?" Emily looked over at Steve as he spoke.
"Meaning?" Steve looked over at her.
"You are a daughter of Hades." Emily raised her eyebrows when Steve said that, he merely shrugged.
"Adopted daughter of Hades, Steve. But I am fine in the air or in the water. Both of our uncles don't mind that I am in their domain. Poseidon told me that I am one of his favorite nieces. I will admit that Zeus wasn't thrilled when I was adopted by Hades but I wasn't a daughter of Hades by birth so it doesn't bother him as much. Are you forgetting that we are twins?" As they traveled across the sea that she was worried about Hazel of who looked like she was going to throw up. Emily knew that Hazel didn't like boats or traveling across the sea, she assumed part of it was because she was a daughter of Pluto. Emily was still at the railing, while Steve went over to Lauren to talk and Bucky was with him, than she heard Gleeson.
"Valdez, Let me take the wheel. You've been steering for two hours." Emily looked over at Gleeson when he said that to Leo. That sounded odd to hear him speak in a gentle tone like that.
"Two hours?"
"Yeah. Give me the wheel."
"Coach?"
"Yeah, kid?"
"I can't unclench my hands." Emily was close of laughing her head off, Leo should have known to move his fingers by now. Gleeson managed to pry Leo from the wheel, as Leo stepped away that it seemed like Leo might fall over but he didn't. "Just watch for monsters and be careful with the damaged stabilizer. And - "
"I've got it covered. Now, go away!" Leo walked over to his friends, Emily watched him as he staggered across the deck. Percy and Jason was sitting with their backs against the mast, it looked like they could go to sleep than and there. Hazel and Frank were just out of earshot, but it was clear that they were having an argument with each other. However, Emily noticed that Jennifer was watching Leo as he staggered across the deck and Emily smiled slightly. Emily could tell that Jennifer liked Leo, that Leo liked her as well but he seem to like Hazel as well. Emily wanted to smack him on the back of his head, Emily could understand the reasoning behind Hazel being confused about Leo but Leo wasn't helping Hazel very much by being Leo. Emily noticed the fighting stopped when Hazel saw Leo. Frank was scowling.
"No sign of pursuit."
"Well considering that it seems the Romans didn't follow us, it is not a big surprise." Emily walked over as Frank spoke.
"Or land." Hazel looked a little green, Emily knew it was mostly from the ship, as Hazel spoke that Bucky walked over to Emily. There was nothing but ocean around them, sure she might have used a boat before and didn't get sea sick. But she felt nervous about being in the open sea without land, she felt slightly lost since there was no land nearby. Emily figured that was partly because she was a daughter of Demeter and adopted daughter of Hades. Leo turned to Annabeth as Bucky stood next to her.
"Did you find the map you wanted?" Annabeth nodded, Emily looked at Annabeth and felt bad at once, Emily knew that Annabeth was being tested in some way. It was clear that it was not a normal test for demigods, for she was shaken up.
"I'll have to study it, How far are we from those coordinates?"
"At top rowing speed, about an hour. Any idea what we're looking for?"
"No. Percy?" Percy raised his head, he didn't look to good.
"The Nereid said Chiron's brothers were there, and they'd want to hear about that aquarium in Atlanta. I don't know what she meant, but... She also warned me to be careful. Keto, the goddess at the aquarium: she's the mother of sea monsters. She might be stuck in Atlanta, but she can still send her children after us. The Nereid said we should expect an attack."
"Wonderful." Jason tried to stand, of which wasn't a good idea for he nearly fell over. Lucky for Jason that Piper was there to prevent Jason from falling over and he slid down the mast.
"Can we get the ship aloft? If we could fly - "
"That'd be great, expect Festus tells me the port aerial stabilizer got pulverized when the ship raked against the dock at Fort Sumter."
"We were in a hurry, since the Romans were chasing or at least were close of following us."
"And saving me is a very noble cause," Leo agreed. "I'm just saying, it'll take some time to fix. Until then, we're not flying anywhere."
"Fine with me. The sea is good."
"Speak for yourself. We need to go fast. We've burned another day, and Nico only has three more left." Hazel glanced at the evening sun of which was almost to the horizon.
"We can do it. We can make it to Rome in three days - assuming, you know, nothing unexpected happens." Frank grunted.
"Is there any good news?"
"Actually, yes. According to Festus, our flying table, Buford, made it back safely while we were in Charleston, so those eagles didn't get him. Unfortunately, he lost the laundry bag with your pants."
"Dang it!" But Percy doubled over and groaned.
"Did the world just turn upside down?" Jason pressed his hands to his head.
"Yeah, and it's spinning. Everything is yellow. Is it supposed to be yellow?" Emily leaned toward Bucky and whispered.
"Did anything happen at the museum other than those two summoning the wind and stirring up the sea?"
"Well, we were chase by ghosts. Frank didn't help very much at all. With Jennifer here and you and Hazel elsewhere, we couldn't do anything about the ghosts. I have no idea of why we didn't bring at least Jennifer for she has some control over the died even with what Jason said earlier about the ghost listening to Frank." Than Piper spoke before Emily and Bucky said anything else.
"Summoning that storm really sapped your strength, You've got to rest."
"Frank, can you help us get the guys below deck?" Frank glanced at Leo.
"It's fine, man. Just try not to drop them on the way down the stairs." Steve and Lauren, as well as Jennifer, also went with the others down stairs, however Phil, Aubrey, Bucky and Emily remained up on the deck. It seem that Gleeson singing didn't help Hazel very much.
"Ugh..." Hazel leaned over and hugged her sides. Emily wanted to hug her own stomach but she stopped herself before she could.
"Don't lean over. Don't close your eyes. It makes the queasiness worse."
"It does? Do you get seasick too?"
"Not seasick. But cars make me nauseous, and..." Leo stopped himself. Emily looked at Leo before looking at Bucky before he shrugged. Hazel straightened with difficultly.
"Cars? You can sail a ship or fly a dragon, but cars make you sick?"
"I know, right? I'm special that way. Look, keep your eyes on the horizon. That's a fixed point. It'll help." Hazel took a deep breath and stared into the distance. Emily was at least glad that she didn't get seasick. "Any better?"
"Maybe a little." There was a pause. "Frank didn't drop you on purpose. He's not like that. He's just a little clumsy sometimes."
"Oops. Dropped Leo into a squad of enemy soldiers. Dang it!" Emily rolled her eyes when Leo said that, as Leo and Hazel spoke that Phil and Aubrey walked over to Emily and Bucky.
"Go easy on him. You and your fireballs make Frank nervous."
"The guy can turn into an elephant, and I make him nervous?" Hazel kept her eyes on the horizon.
"Leo, about what happened at the Great Salt Lake..." Emily wanted to say something but decided against it, Emily leaned against Bucky instead. Emily tried to figure out if Leo was related to Sammy but it was difficult since she never meet Sammy in person. Than Leo pulled out a fortune cookie.
"I'd be willing, I could use the fortune cookie to find your brother." Hazel looked stunned, Emily wasn't surprised that Hazel was stun for Emily didn't expect that either.
"What? No! I mean...I'd never ask you to do that. Not after what Nemesis said about the horrible cost. We barely know each other!"
"So...that's not what you wanted to talk about? Uh, did you want to talk about the holding-hands-on-the-boulder moment? Because - " Hazel fanned herself, Emily smiled slightly, it seem that old habits died hard even if one comes back from the died.
"No! No, I was just thinking about the way you tricked Narcissus and those nymphs..."
"Oh, right. Seemed like a good idea at the time."
"You were amazing, I've been mulling it over, how much you reminded me of - "
"Sammy, I wish you'd tell me who he is."
"Who he was, I've been thinking...I might be able to show you."
"You mean like a photo?"
"No. There's a sort of flashback that happens to me. I haven't had one in a long time, and I've never tried to make one happen on purpose. But I shared one with Frank once, so I thought..." Hazel locked eyes with Leo, Emily wasn't sure if this would work.
"When you say flashback... What exactly are we talking about? Is it safe?" Hazel held out her hand.
"I wouldn't ask you to do this, but I'm sure it's important. It can't be a coincidence we met. If this works, maybe we can finally understand how we're connected." Leo glanced at the helm.
"Okay, Show me." Hazel looked at Emily.
"Do you mind if you come as well." Emily looked at Phil, Aubrey and Bucky, this Bucky spoke.
"Can the three of us come as well." Hazel nodded. Emily gestured for them to go in a circle. Emily was on one side of Hazel while Bucky was on her other side and Leo was on Hazel's other side. It felt like the first time she fought with the avengers. When Emily and Leo took Hazel's hands that the world around them dissolved.
When the world come back that they stood in the courtyard of an old compound, it looked like a monastery. Red brick walls were overgrown with vines, big magnolia trees cracked the pavement and the sun was besting down. The humidity was like two hundred percent, so that it was rather sticky outside, the courtyard was about the size of a basketball court. A old deflated football sat in one corner at the base of a Virgin Mary statue, the windows were open on the building. There was movement in the building but it was rather quiet, as Emily looked around that it looked like they were in the 1940s. Most likely early 1949s or late 1930s, Emily was unsure of when this was, but she has a feeling that she was still at Camp Halfblood in this memory.
"Where are we?"
"My old school, St. Agnes Academy for Colored Children and Indians."
"What kind of name - ?" Emily looked over at Leo when he yelped and saw the reason of why yelped, all of them were ghost like. A bell rang before anything else could be said.
"This is a memory, so no one will see us. Look, here we come."
"We?" From every door, children spilled into the courtyard, yelling and jostling each other. Most were African American with some Hispanic looking kids, some were as young as kindergartners. Some looked like they could be high school age, the girls were wearing dresses and buckled leather shoes and the boys were wearing white collared shirts and pants held up by suspenders. Many wore caps and some of them have lunches, though many didn't. Their clothes were clean but worn and faded, like they have been used too much for some of them have holes in their knees or shoes with heels coming apart. Some of the girls began to play jump rope with an old piece of clothesline, but no one paid any attention to any of the ghosts.
"Hazel, what year is this?" Hazel was about ready to say something but than the Hazel from the past stepped into the courtyard. Emily has her answer than and there, for Hazel was no more than eleven years old, Emily knows Hazel died in 1942 or 1943 at the age of thirteen. So this has to be when Emily was seventeen or eighteen and was still in camp or that was Emily guessing at any rate. It might be getting close to the time that the demigods were getting ready for war and project Demigod was being formed. For this memory was about two to three years before America joined in the fighting in the world war that was happened in the 1940s. Past Hazel was wearing a dark dress so that Hazel stood out like a mourner at a wedding, she was gripping a a canvas lunch bag and moved along the wall as if she was trying hard not to be noticed but it didn't work out.
"Witch girl!" A boy lumbered towards the past Hazel, backing her into a corner. It was hard to tell, for sure, of old this boy was, he could have been fourteen or even nineteen. The boy was big and tall, he was quite easily the largest guy on the playground, he was wearing a dirty shirt, threadbare wool trousers and no shoes. Emily felt her anger rising but she knew she couldn't do anything, for this was a memory even if Emily was alive during this memory. There was no way her past self couldn't have known about this, since she didn't found out till about five years later about the Romans. By that point Hazel was died, so there was nothing Emily could have done to help Hazel in her first life.
"That's Rufus." Emily could hear the distaste in Hazel's voice.
"Seriously? No way his name is Rufus."
"Come on." Hazel drifted towards the confrontation, everyone else followed. It felt odd to be floating instead of walking, Emily didn't think that they could touch each other till she felt Bucky taking her hand. Emily looked down before looking at Bucky, he merely smiled, Emily has a feeling they were able to hold hands because she was adopted by Hades. Than Emily turned back to past Hazel and Rufus as Rufus thrust out his hand to past Hazel.
"Lunch." Past Hazel didn't protest, she handed over her bag like this was normal. Emily wanted so badly to punch this kid senseless, even before she was adopted by Hades she would have done it. That was one thing of many thing things she has in common with Steve that she didn't like bullies, no matter where they come from. In some ways that some of the Romans reminded Emily of bullies, she did her best by trying to get the bullies out of there as well as the power hungry people to make New Rome better. For the most part it worked, but at times Emily has to be tough with the Romans to blow their bubble and stop being an idiot or a bully. A few of the older girls drifted over to watch the fun, one of them giggled at Rufus.
"You don't want to eat that. It's probably poison."
"You're right. Did your witch mom make this, Levesque?"
"She's not a witch." Rufus dropped the bat and stepped on it, smashing the contents under his bare heel.
"You can have it back. I want a diamond, though. I hear your momma can make those out of thin air. Gimme a diamond."
"I don't have diamonds. Go away." Rufus balled his fists, Emily knew what was going to happen, she wanted to stop this but this happen a long time ago. So there was nothing that none of them could do. But than another kid stumbled into the sunlight, Emily heard everyone else, but Bucky and herself, suck in their breath when they saw the boy standing there.
"You see?" It was Sammy, he was the same height as Leo and has the same nervous energy as Leo. He was tapping his fingers against his trousers, brushing at his white cotton shirt before adjusting the jockey cap on his hair. Sammy has the very same devilish smile that Leo has, it was odd to see two Leos even though she knows one was Sammy. Apparently Sammy was just scolded at by a teacher for he was holding a dunce cap. Some of the kids backed up when Sammy burst onto the scene, others nudged each other and ran toward him like they were expecting a show. Rufus was still trying to punk Hazel out of a diamond, oblivious to Sammy's arrival.
"Come on, girl. Give it!" Past Hazel pressed herself against the wall, suddenly the ground at her feet went snap. A perfect diamond, the size of a pistachio, glittered at her feet, Rufus saw the diamond.
"Ha!"
"No, please!" That was when Sammy strolled over, Emily wasn't sure what Sammy would do, but if Hazel was right with how much Leo was like Sammy, than she knows what Sammy would do. Sammy put the top of the dunce cap to his mouth like a megaphone and yelled.
"CUT!" He said it with such authority that all the other kids froze for a moment, even Rufus straightened up and backed away in confusion.
"Hammy Sammy." Emily noticed that Leo shivered when one of the kids snickered. Sammy stormed up to Rufus with his dunce cap looking angry, though Emily figured that he was putting on a show. He was waving his free hand wildly at the other kids of who were gathering to watch.
"No, no, no!" Sammy turned to Hazel
"Miss Lamarr, your line is... Script! What is Hedy Lamarr's line?" One of the boys called out.
"'No, please, you villain!'"
"Thank you! Miss Lamarr, you're supposed to say, No, please, you villain! And you, Clark Gable - " the whole courtyard burst into laughter, even Emily and Bucky laugh. Besides Emily, Bucky and Hazel, no one else would really know who Clark Gable was, it was just a funny thought that Rufus could be Clark Gable.
"Mr. Gable - "
"No! Make him Gary Cooper." Emily and Bucky were close of falling to the floor laughing, it was almost like watching Leo when he entered Camp halfblood the first time all those months ago. Where he was waving at the hammer above his heard that made him look like he was on fire. Rufus balled his fist like he wanted to hit somebody but couldn't do it, it was clear that he didn't like being laughed at.
"Right! Mr. Cooper, you say, Oh, but the diamond is mine, my treacherous darling! And then you scoop up the diamond like this!"
"Sammy, no!" Sammy snatched up the stone and slipped it into his pocket in one smooth move, Emily panicked slightly when that happen. She knows about Hazel's curse, that was a no brainier, but Sammy didn't though, than Sammy wheeled around.
"I want emotion! I want the ladies in the audience swooning! Ladies, did Mr. Cooper make you swoon just now?"
"No." It was many of the girls who said that.
"There, you see? Now, from the top! Action!" The last part Sammy yelled into the cap, Rufus seem to be getting over his confusion, he stepped towards Sammy.
"Valdez, I'm gonna - " The ball rang, kids swarmed the doors, Sammy pulled Hazel out of the way as the little ones herded Rufus along with her so he was carried inside on a tide of kindergartners. Soon Sammy and Hazel were along expect for the ghosts. Sammy scooped up Hazel's bag and dusted it off before presented it to Hazel with a deep bow.
"Miss Lamarr." Past Hazel took her ruined lunch, she looked like she was going to cry.
"Sammy...Rufus is going to kill you."
"Ah, he knows better than to tangle with me." Sammy put the dunce cap on top of his jockey cap. He stood up straight and stuck out his scrawny chest, than the dunce cap fell off. Emily shook her head, as past Hazel laughed, Sammy was too much like Leo in every way she could think of.
"You are ridiculous."
"Why, thank you, Miss Lamarr."
"You're welcome, my treacherous darling." Sammy's smiled wavered, the air become awkward, it was like the tension between Hazel and Frank or even between Emily and Bucky before they started dating. "You shouldn't have touched that diamond. It's dangerous."
"Ah, come for me!"
"Bad things might happen. You shouldn't - "
"I won't sell it. I promise! I'll just keep it as a token of your flavor." Past Hazel forced a smile
"I think you mean token of my favor."
"There you are! We should get going. It's time for our next scene: Hedy Lamarr nearly dies of boredom in English class." Sammy held out his elbow like a gentleman but Hazel pushed him away playfully.
"Thanks for being there, Sammy."
"Miss Lamarr, I will always be there for you!" The two of them raced back into the schoolhouse.
"Hazel," he said. "I - I don't - " Suddenly the school yard dissolved into a different scene, they were still in the past but they were standing in front of a rundown house next to a drainage ditch overgrown with weeds. A clump of banana tres dropped in the yards perched on the steps was an old fashion radio playing do junto music. On the porch was a skinny old man gazing at the horizon, Emily tilted her head, this man looked familiar to her. Out of the corner of her eye that she noticed something in the shadows of the house, Emily looked towards what she noticed. It seems that everyone else noticed whatever was in the shadows but the old man. When Emily looked over there that she let go of Bucky's hand and nearly screamed.
For standing in the shadows was a woman no older than twenty two almost twenty three, she has long wavy black hair that reached her waist. Her eyes were dark gleaming with madness and her skin was pale, Emily managed to choke back the scream as she stared at up her younger self, if that she could say that. She was wearing her usual clothing so no matter which appearance she was in, her brown leather jacket that Bucky gave her, a blue shirt, dark jeans and tennis shoes. As Emily looked at her younger self that she realized something, something that she long forgotten. For she remembered Hera telling her to come here because there was a prophecy concerning a child that was here at this house.
"Where are we? This isn't from my life! Not only that but why is Emily here?" Emily didn't respond, she finally understood of who Sammy was to Leo, it makes sense of why Leo was so much like Sammy both in looks and personality.
"It's Houston, I know this view. That drainage ditch...This is my mom's old neighborhood, where she grew up. Hobby Airport is over that way."
"This is your life? I don't understand! How - ?"
"You're asking me?" Suddenly Sammy spoke.
"Ah, Hazel..." Emily looked over at her younger self, her younger self was looking right at ghost herself, it was almost like her past self knows that she was there. She put her finger to her mouth before mouthing, I am still unsure about this, but you might understood this. Emily shivered slightly, it was almost like up her younger self knew herself from the future was there watching. Emily thought back as she did that she found this memory and thought about it in her mind's eye and realized she sense ghosts somewhere and could tell where they were but couldn't see them. Emily looked at Sammy as he spoke once more.
"I guess we ran out of time. Well..." Emily's heart broke in two, she understood what was happening now that fuzzy memory was there. Though Emily was sure that the others have no idea of who this old man was as they watched him since he changed so much. His skin was leathery, his hair was curly white and gnarled hands like he spent his whole life working in a machine shop. He was wearing a pale yellow shirt with gray slacks, suspenders and polished black shoes, his eyes were sharp and clear, he sat with quiet dignity and looked at peace. He was using Norse code, Emily couldn't understand norse code, but she was sure Leo could though. This the screen door opened, a young woman came out, she was wearing jeans and a turquoise blouse. Her hair was cut in a shirt black wedge, she was pretty but not delicate like she worked in a machine shop as well. Her brown eyes were much like Sammy's brown eyes and shone with the same gleam as Sammy's. In her arms was a baby boy wrapped in a blue blanket, Emily knew at once of who the baby was.
"Look, mijo. This is your bisabuelo. Bisabuelo, you want to hold him?" When the woman spoke that she knew Leo knew of who the baby was and who the woman was, for he started to sobbed. Sammy broke into a huge grin.
"A boy! Mi bebito, Leo!"
"Leo? That - that's you? What is bisabuelo?" It seem Leo couldn't find his voice but Emil knew what a bisabuelo, so Emily spoke.
"A bisabuelo is Great Grandfather." It seem this that everyone realized of who this old man was now, as well as knowing of how Hazel and Leo were connected.
"Oh... Oh, Sammy, no..." Emily could hear the smallness of Hazel's voice and that she was on the verge of tears.
"Ah, little Leo. You'll have to be my stunt double, eh? That's what they call it, I think. Tell her for me. I hoped I would be alive, but, ay, the curse won't have it!" Hazel sobbed.
"Gaea...Gaea told me that he died of a heart attack, in the 1960s. But this isn't - this can't be..." Emily walked over to Hazel and hugged her, she knew that this must be painful for her as well as Leo. Sammy kept talking to baby Leo while his mother looked on with a pained smile, Emily figured that Leo's mother was concern for her grandfather. Sammy shook his head sadly.
"That lady, Dona Callida, she warned me. She said Hazel's great danger would not happen in my lifetime. But I promised I would be there for her. You will have to tell her I'm sorry, Leo. Help her if you can."
"Bisabeulo, you must be tired." She extended her arms to take baby Leo, but Sammy cuddled him a moment longer and baby Leo seem fine with it.
"Tell her I'm sorry I sold the diamond, eh? I broke my promise. When she disappeared in Alaska...ah, so long ago, I finally used that diamond, moved to Texas as I always dreamed. I started my machine shop. Started my family! It was a good life, but Hazel was right. The diamond came with a curse. I never saw her again."
"Oh, Sammy. No, a curse didn't keep me away. I wanted to come back. I died!" Emily held Hazel closer, Emily could understand this too well. Bucky was taken away but unlike with Hazel and Sammy that they never died, even though for a time she thought Bucky was died. Sammy smiled down at baby Leo before kissing him on her forehead.
"I give you my blessing, Leo. First male great-grandchild! I have a feeling you are special, like Hazel was. You are more than a regular baby, eh? You will carry on for me. You will see her someday. Tell her hello for me."
"Bisabuelo." Sammy chuckled.
"Yes, yes. El viejo loco rambles on. I am tired, Esperanza. You are right. But I'll rest soon. It's been a good life. Raise him well, nieta." Sammy handed Leo back to his mother before she went back in the house, than Sammy turned to the shadows where Emily was standing in her daughter of Hades appearance. He spoke softly to where Emily was, though Emily has a feeling that he couldn't see her younger self like he couldn't see the ghosts. Emily noticed that her younger self was looking right at Sammy, almost like she expected sammy to do this. "I know you are out there, I am not sure who you are but I am not sure what brings you here. But I know you related to Hazel in some way, so I must ask you, if you are there to look after her and Leo. Help them try to keep them safe from whatever awaits them." The younger Emily nodded and to Emily's surprise that she spoke.
"I will." Than the younger Emily disappeared from the shadows. The scene faded and they found themselves somewhere else. Emily let go of Hazel and looked around. This place looks familiar to her, but she couldn't place it. They were in some sort of clearing, as Emily looked around that Hazel spoke.
"Where are we now?" It was Emily who spoke.
"I think, this is from my memories." Just this she heard running and everyone turned to look where the running was coming from. Than a girl, no more than ten, ran into the clearing and tripped over a root and the Manitcore came out of the trees behind the girl. Emily grasp as she watched the girl turned around as the manticore roared at her. The girl was wearing tattered clothes that was ripped from running through the forest among other things ans the clothes seem to just hang on the girl. Her long straight blond hair was tangled and dirty, her slightly tanned skin has dirt mixed with sweat on it and she looked scared as she looked at the monster. But there was confusion in her blue eyes like what is this and why is it after her when she did nothing to it. The blond hair girl was a bit small and skinny for her age, she looked like hadn't eaten properly for a few days. Than the manticore screamed out in pain before it was turned into gold dust, the blond girl sat up more properly. Standing where the monster had been was another ten year old girl, but she has long straight black hair, electric blue eyes, fair skin and she stood about the same height as the blond girl. The black hair was holding a bronze sword of which she out back into the belt around her waist before walking to the blond hair girl and held out her hand for the blond hair girl to take.
"Who are those two?" It was Hazel that spoke, but Emily was too stun to say anything, Bucky looked surprised but slight puzzled. It was than that the blond hair girl took the black hair girl's hand, as the blond hair girl took the hand that the black hair girl spoke.
"Hi, I am Lauren Huntington."
"I am Emily Rogers." There was grasp from the others when the past Emily said that, Phil looked over at Emily before looking at the ten year old Emily before looking at Emily. Compared herself to her ten year old, that her younger self was more like Steve than she was when she meet Steve after fourteen years of not seeing each other.
"That's you?"
"Yes that was me. And that is Lauren, my best friend and sister in law at ten." Than her younger self spoke.
"What was that?"
"A Manticore. I assume you are not fully aware about the demigods than?" Past Emily looked at Lauren when she said that.
"Demigods, as in the Greek stories?"
"Yes, you must be a demigod otherwise the manticore wouldn't have gone after you. Do you know who your godly parent is?"
"No, do you know yours?"
"Yes, I am the daughter of Zeus. Come on, we better get a move on. There is a place close by that is safe from what I was told about but my guide was killed since he found me but he told me where it was." Emily and Lauren ran as fast they could and the scene faded and changed. It was eleven years later, Emily would now since her past self and Steve were running through a forest, a forest that Emily never forget about and never will. Than Bucky spoke.
"Where are we?"
"Just follow, Steve and myself." So Emily, Bucky, Phil, Aubrey, Hazel ad Leo floated after past Steve and past Emily. They went into the HYDRA base, Emily and Steve kept out of sight as much as possible, Emily, Phil, Aubrey, Bucky, Hazel and Leo didn't have to or need to hid since no one could see them. After who knows of how long that Emily and Steve reached a walkway with the cells below, Emily and the others watched as past Steve and Emily knock out the guards. One of the prisoners from below spoke.
"Who are you two supposed to be?"
"I'm... Captain America. She is is Lieutenant USA." Bucky looked at Emily as past Steve and past Emily walked down the stairs.
"That is how you become Lieutenant USA?" Before Emily could say anything that Phil spoke.
"That seems odd, are you sure that is how you become Lieutenant USA."
"Yes. I didn't expect Steve to call me that, that was indeed how Lieutenant USA was born." Than her past self spoke.
"What did you call me?"
"Lieutenant USA." Emily and the others went down the stairs as past Steve and past Emily reached the cells and one of the other prisoners spoke.
"I beg your pardon?" Emily knew the voices but at the time that she didn't,Emily looked at the prisoners as they were being let by her past self. As Dum Dum left his cell that he was looking at Jim.
"What, are we taking everybody?" Jim raised a card before he spoke.
"I'm from Fresno, Ace." Dum Dum looked over at Emily and than at Steve.
"Are you two dating, if you are than so this a date?" When Dum Dum said that, that the past Emily and Steve looked at each other while, Emily slapped her hand on her face and spoke.
"Some things never change." As Emily expected, her past self spoke.
"No, he is my brother." Than Steve spoke
"Never mind about that, what about Bucky?" Bucky jerked his head to Steve when Steve said that, than he looked at Emily of who removed her hand form her face.
"You went to the base to get me." Emily looked at him.
"Of course we did. I just barely found out earlier that day you were in the army. Besides, I wasn't going let Steve go by himself. Not only that but project Demigod and SSF were the ones fighting HYDRA at the time we went to get you." Than one of the others spoke.
"HYDRA had took Bucky in the back a month ago and we hadn't see him since." Emily and the others followed past Steve and Emily, as they ran that one of the other prisoners shouted at past Emily and Steve.
"Wait. You know what you're doing?"
"Yeah. I knocked out Adolf Hitler over 200 times."
"And I had fight over 200 HYDRA soldiers, not counting this time and make sure you get out of here." All eight of them kept running, though as far as past Emily and Steve were concern it was only two of them. They stopped when Zola came out of a room and ran off in the other direction. Emily and the others followed the past Steve and Emily into the room, inside was Bucky laying on a table Bucky was staring at himself in surprise.
"Did I really look like that?" He said that as Emily and Steve were undoing the knots.
"Yes, you looked like that at that time." As they undid the knots that past Steve spoke
"It's me. It's Steve." Emily grasp Bucky's hand as past Emily and Steve helped Bucky sit up. Past Bucky spoke groggily and he was looking at Steve.
"Steve?" It was past Emily who spoke.
"Not just Steve, but I am here to. It's Emily." Past Bucky looked at her and his eyes seem to widen a little bit and he spoke just as groggily as before.
"Emily, you are alive after fourteen years." Bucky snorted.
"I was not thinking clearly was I?"
"Not at that moment no. I don't think it was till the next day that you were thinking clearly." Emily glared at Bucky and he blushed slightly, he knew what Emily meant by that since their awkward stage was about ready to start. As Emily and Bucky spoke that Emily and Steve managed to get past Bucky down from the table. He looked between the two of them of which was difficult with how dazed and dizzy past Bucky was.
"Come on."
"Steve."
"I thought you were dead." Past Bucky seem to notice Steve's new size.
"I thought you were smaller." Past Emily put one of past Bucky's arms over her shoulders and past Steve put Bucky's other arm over his shoulders. As they walked out of the room that they found Bucky in that Bucky spoke once more. "What happened to you two?"
"I joined the army."
"I learned that i am a demigod."
"Demigod?"
"You know like Hercules or Theseus? Steve is one too but he doesn't know how to his powers yet but I had about the years worth of training to use my powers." Emily and the others followed past Emily, Steve and Bucky as Emily explained the godly world to Steve as well as explain the serum in Steve.
"Did it hurt?"
"A little."
"Is this permanent?"
"So far." They stopped when they reached the top of the stairs, Emily looked at the walkway across to the other side. The past Emily, Bucky and Steve walked towards it, Emily knew what was going to happen next. The elevator doors open on the other side and two men stepped out, one was Zola while the other one was the red skull with his face mask on. Emily and the others made their way to where Bucky and Emily stood as at the railing but Steve walked up to the red skull. The red skull spoke as he walked across the walkway.
"Captain America! How exciting! I'm a great fan of your films!" The red skull looked at Emily and Bucky, the past Emily glared at the red skull. Emily snorted the glare was sad compare to how her glare was now, to put out a good word, one she heard a lot in her lifetime, in front of it that the glare was that it was a puny glare. They watched the exchanged between the red skull and Steve till Zola pulled a level and the walkway started to separated. The red skull on one side and Steve on the other side, Steve and the red skull looked at each other as the red skull spoke.
"No matter what lies Erskine told you, you see, I was his greatest success!" Than the red skull took off his face, unlike last time, Emily didn't want to or feel the need to throw up, instead she wanted to punch him in the face. Past Bucky spoke up.
"You don't have one of those, do you?" Past Emily smiled slightly when Bucky said that but the one guy went on talking as he went to the elevator.
"You are deluded, Captain. You pretend to be a simple soldier, but in reality you are just afraid to admit that we have left humanity behind. Unlike you, I embrace it proudly. Without fear!"
"Than why are you running away." The red skull didn't respond and he closed the elevator doors. Emily and the others went down to the rail and got quickly across of which was no problem for them since they were floating. Past Bucky and Emily managed to cross the rail just in time, past Bucky grasp Emily's hand just before she would have fell with the railing and pulled her up. Past Steve was still on the other side. "Go on get out of here." Emily knew that her past self wanted to shout out, but past Bucky spoke.
"I am not leaving you here." Past Steve backed up before he went running and jumped across. He barely managed to make it across, they made it out of the base before it blew up along with the other prisoners that they rescued. They stopped when they were far enough away, the eight often watched as the howling commandos cheered of what happened. As her past self out her arms around past Bucky's neck that Emily spoke.
"Here it comes!" Phil, Aubrey, Hazel and Leo looked at her strangely when she said that, but they looked back as past Bucky spin past Emily around a couple of times before setting past Emily down. Past Emily looked surprised of what past Bucky did next, past Bucky leaned forward and kissed her of which made the cheering to up higher. Bucky put his hands over his face as the others looked at him. Than the scene faded, they found themselves back on the Argo II, they were still holding hands with each other. Emily looked at Hazel, despite the last two memories were not hers or Leo's memories but Hazel's eye were puffy from crying. Leo was looking at Hazel and he spoke.
"Hello, Hazel Levesque." Hazel's chin was trembling, she turned away and opened her mouth to say something but the ship lurched to one side. Emily let go of Hazel's hand as well as Bucky's before she grasp hold of the railing.
"Leo!" Festus whirred in alarm and blew flames into the night sky, the ship's bell ran. Gleeson was shouting. "Those monsters you were worried about? One of 'em found us! Valdez, which button blows up monsters? Take the helm!"
Emily looked around trying to figure out where the monster was, Leo was climbing the tilting deck towards the helm. When Emily saw the monster surface, she couldn't move. She would admit that she saw a lot of things in her day even in World War II and the monsters she fought off during that time and in the last seventy years. But it was nothing compared to what she was looking at now and she was sure that she would never be able to forget this monster. The monster was the length of their ship, in the moonlight it looked like a cross between a giant shrimp and a cockroach. It has a pink chitinous shell, a flat crayfish tail and millipede type legs, it looked like it could be the kraken. Than it's head surface, it's pink face was slimy and pink and it looked like a catfish with glassy dead eyes, a gaping toothless maw, and a forest of tentacles at routing from each nostril.
"Come on, Valdez! Take the wheel so I can get my baseball bat!"
"A bat's not going to help." The rest of the demigods stumbled up the stairs, it was Percy that spoke first.
"What's going - Gah! Shrimpzilla!" Frank ran to Hazel's side while Steve and Lauren ran to Bucky's and Emily's side. The monster rammed the ship again, Emily was close of falling over when it rammed into the ship. Emily was gripping on the railing as well as Steve, Bucky and Lauren, Phil and Aubrey were pulling themselves up on one of the railing shields.
"How did it get so close?"
"I don't know!"
"I'm stupid! Stupid, stupid! I forgot the sonar!" The ship tilted farther to starboard, Emily was sure that the monster was going to capsize them.
"Sonar? Pan's pipes, Valdez! Maybe if you hadn't been staring into Hazel's eyes, holding hands for so long - "
"What?"
"It wasn't like that!" It looked like Frank was about ready to say something when Emily shouted.
"Hazel took us into a flashback to show Leo of who Sammy was." Frank looked at Emily, he looked less hurt and angry, he nodded but he was still concerned and worried than Piper spoke up.
"Jason, can you call some lightning?" Jason was struggling to his feet.
"I - " Jason only managed to shake his head, it was clear with the storm he summoned just to make sure the Romans didn't follow them took a lot out of him.
"Percy! Can you talk to that thing? Do you know what it is?" Emily looked at Percy, she wasn't sure Piper didn't think of that. Percy shook his head, it was clear that he was mystified.
"Maybe it's just curious about the ship. Maybe - " the monster's tendrils lashed across the deck so fast that no one had time to shout out look out. One slammed Percy in the chest sent him crushing down the steps, another wrapped around Piper's legs and dragged her her towards the rail. Piper was screaming, dozen more tendrils curled around the masts encircling the crossbows and ripped down the rigging. One of them grabbed Emily's ankle, but she grasp her poppy and slashed at it as it tried to drag her across the deck. After a few feet and slashes that the tendrils let to of her. Emily could hear Gleeson yelling.
"Nose-hair attack!" Gleeson snatched up his bat and leaped into action, it didn't do much good with his attacks. Jason drew his sword as well as the others in board, Emily and Bucky fought together as well as Phil and Aubrey and Steve and Lauren. It seem that the more tendrils they cut the more appeared, it was like HYDRA, no matter if it was the group she fought against in the war or the monster. Annabeth joined in and used her dagger as she ran through the forest of tentacles, dodging and stabbing at whatever target she could find. Frank was using his bow, of which wasn't a big surprise, though Emily knows that he could use other weapons besides the bow. The arrows that he used seem to annoy the monster, it bellowed and rocked the ship, the mast creaked like it might snap off. As they fought the monster that Emily could hear Leo, Hazel and Gleeson in the background.
"Hazel! That box! Open it!"
"Open it! Coach, take the wheel! Turn us toward the monster, or we'll capsize."
"Hope you got a plan!" he shouted.
"A bad one." The monster pushed against the ship, the deck lurched to forty five degrees, they were fighting for their lives, it was hard to fight back when more kept coming. During the process that Frank was knocked over board and Hazel screamed. Emily noticed that Leo and Hazel were holding some vials, but she didn't bother to take a good look at the vials to know what they were or what was in the vials. Suddenly a tentacle grasp Leo and Hazel before they could do much, Emily stopped for a moment as they rose up higher. It was that moment that another tentacle gripped Emily around her stomach and lifted her up like it did with Hazel and Leo. Emily was at least glad that her arms were not pinned down like Hazel's were or at least from what Emily could tell. Emily stabbed and slash at the tentacle, as she hit the monster one last time that it let go of her and she hit the water below.
It felt like she hit a brick wall or something, Emily kept going down and she was struggling to breath. She could feel her lungs burning as she struggled against the currents, pressures and other things of the sea expect for the things that live under the sea. As Emily struggled and went deeper that she felt a hand on her shoulder, than a strange but familiar face hovered in front of her. He looked like Chiron, he has the same curly hair, shaggy beard and intelligent eyes as Chiron, his face was similar as well. But something was off about him and she wasn't sure what it was at first, expect that it wasn't Chiron in front of her. Than Emily saw him hold up a dagger, Emily panicked slightly but the look he was giving her made her hold still. When the dagger touched her head that suddenly she could breath, Emily let go of her sword and it changed into her poppy and she looked at the man in front of her.
When she looked at him that she realized of who it was, or sort of at least, she knew what he was at the very least. Swimming in front of her was an Ichthyocentaur, Emily heard and read about the Ichthyocentaur but she never meet or talk to one before. It was difficult since they kept to themselves and Emily was it a daughter of a sea God or even a legacy of one. From the waist up, he was human just like a Centaur, expect for his blue skin and the lobster claws on his hands. However he has the forelegs of a horse but his hind legs were actually a fish tail with a V-shaped tail fin. The Ichthyocentaur was rather large, he reminded Emily a bit of Arnold Schwarzenegger but with a fish till and horse legs. But his strong resemblance to Chiron kept her thinking from how much he looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Emily was sure if Arabella was here she would most likely have a panic attack. Unexpectedly, the Ichthyocentaur bowed to her, the last thing she expected was an Ichthyocentaur to bow her. Than he spoke in a calm and gentle voice.
"Princess Rachel or Emily I should say, we have long to meet you." Emily was surprised to be greeted like that, true she was the princess of the underworld and heir, but she never gave it much thought after she gain those titles. The only ones who used her titles were usually the furies or anything under the command of Hades, unless if there was something formal going on. Not only that but the avengers were unaware of her statues in the underworld or most of them anyway. They knew she helped in the underworld was adopted by Hades but that was all they know. Not only that but she didn't even think that she would be known to anyone under the sea expect for Poseidon and the ones who help run his kingdom.
"You know me?"
"Yes, princess. We helped in World War II and we heard stories of Emily rogers of who become Rachel Blackthrone of who revealed herself to the world just over two years ago during the battle of the avengers and the aliens. Even through you never be to our camp, you are one of the many heroes that the Mer-people look up to. We were informed by Poseidon about your two names and appearances. Come with me." Emily followed the Ichthyocentaur, as they swarm deeper down into the ocean as they swarm that Emily spoke.
"What is your name?"
"I am Aphros, princess."
"Aphros."
"Yes, princess."
"You can call me Emily, you don't need to me Princess or anything like that." Aphros looked back at her in slightly surprise, Emily shrugged. "I know I am the princess of the underworld and a hero in World War II and all that, in many ways I see myself as Emily, daughter of Demeter and adopted daughter of Hades." Aphros raised an eyebrow when emily said that. "I am odd like that, I wasn't born a child of Hades or as the one to rule the underworld. That thought never occurred to me till when Hades made that offer to me."
"I can understand your reasoning, princess. But as for Camp - that you would be called Princess." Emily could only stare at him when he said the name of this camp, of where he was apparently leading her to.
"Aphros, I can't pronounce that. I never heard of that camp before. Do you mind if I call it Camp Fishblood."
"Since you can't say the name, I guess you can call the camp, Camp Fihsblood. Well, I am surprised you haven't heard of the camp since we trained many Mer-heroes." Emily looked at him when he said that. She had struggle across a couple of stories in her reading about some of the merpeople but there were not very many stories."
"I think I heard some stories of Mer-heroes but there are not many though. Like Triton and I believe it is Glaucus, I think that is how you say it." Aphros nodded when she said that.
"How much have you heard?"
"Not much really, there small stories I read when I was looking thought the different stories and heard them up in camp. I also looked through other stories and myths of other gods besides the Romans and Greeks. I am not even sure of how accurate the information is though."
"That is quite all right, you heard enough. Come on I am sure the Mer-People would like to meet you."
They went on swimming once more till finally she could see lights of some kind and when they were closer to the lights that Emily grasp and stopped swimming. Below them was an entire town of Greek style buildings, on the sea floor no less, the roofs were tiled with mother of pearl. The gardens were filled with coral and sea anemones, hippocampus grazed in a field of seaweed. A team of Cyclopes was placing the domed roof on a new temple using a blue whale as a frame. Swimming through the streets, hanging out in courtyards, practicing combat with tridents and swords in the arena were mermen and mermaids. Emily heard stories of the Mer-people but she never saw one up close before or even this close. They looked fierce and not at all human, their eyes glowed yellow. Their teeth were sharp and their skin were leathery and in different colors ranging from corps red to ink black.
Emily managed to keep moving forward after shaking the surprise off, as she neared the town with Aphros that the Mer-people stopped what they were doing and looked up. They all pointed and looked up in awe, when they reached the town that Emily shifted her position so that her feet were to the ground. She lowered herself so that her feet were touching the ground, it felt nice to being able to touch the ground even if she was under water. The Mer-people gathered around her talking excitedly, one of them moved forward and the merman bowed and the rest followed suit. Emily looked at the merman, he has a warrior's build, not the build that Aphros has but more like the kind she usually saw in the Roman or Greek camps. In one hand that the merman was holding a trident and there was a sword stripped to his back, he has green leathery skin. The merman's eyes were glowing a yellowish greenish color, and his hair was a similar color to his leathery skin. But his hair went past his shoulders and over his torso was old Greek armor or at least the breastplate.
"Your highness, it's a honor for us that you graced us with your presence." When the merman said that, that Emily was close of groaning. She got use to hear in Lady Emily or my lady from the furies or Thor, but they never called her princess or your highness. With the furies, that was because they serve Emily as well as Hades, with Thor it was in his nature to call woman that, as long it wasn't his mother or Jane. It was rather unnerving, sure the demigods know her status of princess but they never address her as such she never acted like a princess and she doesn't intend to. Emily was used to being called Ambassador from the Romans, for she had seventy years to get use to it.
"Thank you. This is the first time I ever been down here. I was unaware about this place till now. Who are you?"
"I am Bill, your highness." When he lifted himself from the bow as well as the other Mer-people that the look in his eyes made Emily feel even more unnerved. Emily got the feeling that this merman has a big crush on her. Before Emily could say anything that Aphros spoke.
"Bill, take Princess Emily to one of the quarters while I check on our other guests." Emily looked at Aphros when he said that.
"Other guests?"
"Yes, Princess. Four from the quest you have been helping with, even if you are not one of the eight, are down here." Emily sighed in relief, she knew Frank was all right, but she wasn't sure who the other two were.
"One of them is Frank, who are the other three."
"Two is your half sister Hazel and Jennifer, the other is Leo." Emily panicked slightly, Emily knows she was safe in the water, mainly because of her uncle but she wasn't as sure about her two half sisters. Before she could question Aphros any more that he swam away while Bill placed a hand on her shoulder and lead her to one of the houses. When they reached the house that Bill opened the door for her, she looked at him, for no one opened the door her since the 1940s. It was expected back than but Emily changed with the times for the most part, Emily wanted to say something but decided against it and went inside. Emily was stunned of what she saw the inside of the house, it was mostly made of mother of pearls but there other things there including the floor being a garden. Emily knelt down and touched one of the plants, she stood up and she used her Demeter powers. Sure enough the sea plant grew under her touch, Emily never tried that before with the sea plants before.
"I had no idea that you could do that with sea plants." Emily jumped, of which caused the sea plant to grow back to how it was, and turned around. It was Bill, he followed her inside the house, she didn't expect that, she thought he would leave when she entered the house.
"Neither did I." Emily wasn't sure what to say, but it seem Bill did.
"I am curious, do you know the ways of a merperson?" Emily raised an eyebrow when he said that.
"Not really, I heard some stories about the merpeople but not a lot. Why do you ask, I mean, it's not like I am going to be trained here since I am already trained. I am not a mermaid either. Besides I have a life up above the sea."
"I ask because well, I always had the biggest crush on you." Emily raised an eyebrow when he said that. Emily guess that from earlier. "I was hoping when I meet you that you stay down here and become my mate." Emily shook her head when Bikl said that.
"Bill, I can't do that. I don't belong here. I may visit again but live here no. Like I said I have a life above, besides. As you put it, I already have a mate." Emily held up the hand with her engagement ring and wedding ring. "See this, that is the symbol of uniting two people from my world." Bill looked down trodden when Emily said that. "But I wouldn't mind be friends at least." Bill smiled when she said that.
"I believe I would be fine with that." Just than a merman spoke from the outside.
"Bill, come on. We need to go to the arena." Bill seem slightly surprised.
"I forget, I will see you again, Princess." Before Emily could say or do anything that Bill left the house. Emily spent the whole night there, she couldn't sleep for there was too much in her mind, for she couldn't help but worry about the other four. Not only that but the others above must be worried about them, she knows Aubrey, Bucky, Steve, Lauren and Phil would be the ones that would be the most worried about Emily. When morning arrived that Bill came to get her, when he greeted her that they went to where Leo, Hazel and Jennifer were. As they went through the camp that they got stopped many times and she was asked if Bucky and Steve have mates. It was all the mermaids that asked those questions and Emily told them yes, thankfully she didn't have to answer that question about herself or Lauren. Emily wasn't sure if they knew about Lauren but she has a feeling Bill told the mermen that Emily was off limits. Of which Emily was glad of but the mermen did tell her visit the camp sometime. When Emily saw the other four that it seem like that Leo and Hazel seem past that odd stage and seem to become friends. But it seem that Leo and Jennifer were flirting, since Jennifer was blushing like crazy or at least as close to blushing as one can get when one was under the sea. When they saw Emily that they looked happy to see her, before they could say a thing that a new voice of which made Leo flinched.
"There you are!" Another Ichthyocentaur was swimming with Aphros with Frank between them, he looked pale but looked fine otherwise. "You are free to go." The second Ichthyocentaur gave their supplies back to the four of them, expect Emily since she has her things. As Leo put his tool belt around his waist that the second Ichthyocentaur looked at Emily and bowed like the merpeople and Aphros did earlier. "Greetings princess. I am sorry I didn't get to meet you yesterday. I am Bythos." The second Ichthyocentaur was smaller and was green instead of blue. Emily put her hand on her face and spoke.
"Doesn't anyone around here that doesn't address me as princess or your highness." Emily than looked at Leo, Hazel, Jennifer and Frank. "Other than you four."
"I can't think of any that doesn't refer to you as such. However." Aphros looked between the five of them before going on. "Tell Percy Jackson not to worry. We have understood your story about the imprisoned sea creatures in Atlanta. Keto and Phorcys must be stopped. We will send a quest of mer-heroes to defeat them and free their captives. Perhaps Cyrus?"
"Or Bill."
"Yes! Bill would be perfect." Aphros turned to Bill. "Do you mind if you lad the quest?"
"I will be glad to." Bill swarm away and Aphros went on.
"At any rate, we are grateful that Percy brought this to our attention."
"You should talk to him in person, I mean, son of Poseidon, and all." Both Ichthyocentaur shook their heads when Leo said that.
"Sometimes it is best not to interact with Poseidon's brood. We are friendly with the sea god, of course; but the politics of undersea deities is...complicated. And we value our independence. Nevertheless, tell Percy thank you. We will do what we can to speed you safely across the Atlantic without further interference from Keto's monsters, but be warned: in the ancient sea, the Mare Nostrum, more dangers await."
"Naturally." Bythos clapped Frank on the shoulder.
"You will be fine, Frank Zhang. Keep practicing those sea life transformations. The koi fish is good, but try for a Portuguese man-of-war. Remember what I showed you. It's all in the breathing." Frank looked embarrassed, Emily tried her best of trying not laughing.
"And you, Hazel, as well as Emily and Jennifer, come visit again, and bring that horse of yours! I know you are concerned about the time you lost, spending the night in our realm. You are worried about your brother, Nico as well as your sister, Arabella ..." Hazel gripped her sword.
"Is he - do you know where they is?"
"Not exactly. But when you get closer, you should be able to sense their presence. Never fear! You must reach Rome the day after tomorrow if you are to save them, but there is still time. And you must save them."
"Yes. They will be essential for your journey. I am not sure how, but I sense it is true."
"As for you, Leo Valdez, stay close to Jennifer, Hazel and Frank when you reach Rome. I sense they will face...ah, mechanical difficulties that only you can overcome."
"Mechanical difficulties?"
"And I have gifts for you, the brave navigator of the Argo II!"
"I like to think of myself as captain. Or supreme commander."
"Brownies!" Emily nearly burst into laughter when Aphros said that, partly because of how proudly he sounded and partly because she has an image in her mind of Chiron saying it the same way. Aphros shoved an old fashioned picnic basket into Leo's arms and it was surrounded by a bubble of air. "In this basket you will also find the recipe. Not too much butter! That's the trick. And I've given you a letter of introduction to Tiberinus, the god of the Tiber River. Once you reach Rome, your friend the daughter of Athena will need this."
"Annabeth... Okay, but why?"
"She follows the Mark of Athena, doesn't she? Tiberinus can guide her in this quest. He's an ancient, proud god who can be...difficult; but letters of introduction are everything to Roman spirits. This will convince Tiberinus to help her. Hopefully."
"Hopefully." Bythos produced five small pink pearls from his saddlebags, he threw a pearl at each of them in turn as he spoke.
"And now, off with you, demigods! Good sailing!" Five shimmering pink bubbles of energy formed around them. They began to rise through the water, they started to gain speed and rocketed toward the distant glow of the sun.