I do not own Percy Jackson nor Heroes of Olympus, they belong to Rick Riordan.

Chapter Twenty-Nine - Alyx

She opened the door to her room.

She loved the Poseidon cabin. Located by the ocean, built like a two story house with three rooms downstairs a two rooms upstairs for her parents. The outside was nice, like the cabin in Montauk that her family took trips to before or during summer.

Her bed was neatly made. Her desk had notebooks, books and coloring tools. The cork board with pictures of friends, Camp Half-Blood and Jupiter, and her family were just the way she left them. A candle that smelled like the morning mist burned by her bed. She pulled off the pin and pulled off the picture the week before she disappeared.

"Annabeth was in here day and night while you were gone." She turned to see her dad and Scott in the doorway, soft smiles on their faces. She looked at them before turning her head to the picture. She sat in the middle, Bianca next to her, her arm around her shoulder. Scott was on her right, her arm also around him. Hank, Fiona, Jasper and Phillip stood behind her. The triplets were on the left, Leon and Caleb on the right. Jay, Gray and Wally were on the right of Bianca. Jasmine was next to Scott.

"Where's Jasmine?" She asked.

"She's in the forest with Grover and Juniper. She's resting."

"Did she give birth?"

"She's due sometime tonight." She set the picture down.

"I'm going to see her."

She ran through the forest, remembering where Grover and Juniper's hut was. Along the way, she heard whispers from nymphs and dryads, such as 'She's returned'. She got into the open space, the hut's windows flickering with light. She ran up, knocking gently. Grover opened the door.

"Alyx!" He hugged her, and she hugged back, extremely worried.

"Where's Jasmine?" She asked.

"This way." He led her into the bedroom, where Jasmine lay. Her belly was huge, sweat beaded on her forehead, her hair pulled back in a bun. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her breathing ragged. Juniper stood from her spot, Grover gently waving at her. She went to Jasmine's side, gently taking her hand and laying her hand on her forehead. She let out a pant and slowly opened her eyes. She blinked a few times.

"A-Al…?" She coughed.

"I'm back…" She said, stroking her hair.

"W-Where h-have you been…?"

"It's a long story…" She lifted her eyes to Juniper's. "How long has she been in labor?"

"Hours." Grover said. "Where's Phillip? He should be here."

"Uh…" She said, rubbing her neck. "About that. He's currently down with an injury."

"Phillip is hurt…?" She asked.

"Infection from an arrow." She looked down. "I'll explain everything later…"

"O-Okay…" She suddenly lurched forward, a scream piercing the room.

"Get the nurses!" Juniper said. Grover ran out, nurses from the Apollo cabin running in.

It was painful to watch, but she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Mariam, the head nurse, laid the baby in Jasmine's arms after cleaning her up, and then cleaned her up well.

"She's so cute…" Juniper said.

"She looks like you." Alyx said. Jasmine laughed, tears of happiness in her eyes.

"I think she looks more like her dad than me." She stroked her cheek. "We'll name you as soon as your dad is well, okay, baby girl…?" The baby cooed, her fists curling and kneading the blanket.

She stayed until Jasmine fell asleep, then got up and left, heading to the infirmary. She walked the long way through the forests, the small growls and grunts of monsters reaching her ears. She didn't really care, and kept on. She made it and quietly snuck in, quietly opening Phillip's door. He lay in bed, his skin pale in color, sweat beaded on his forehead. His shirt was off, showing the blood stained bandages around his shoulder. She quietly closed the door, taking off her sweater and laying it over the chair, pulling off her gloves and setting them on the bedside table. She still had her arms wrapped in bandages, but she decided to leave them on until her shower. She took a breath and laid her hands on his shoulder.

"Therapévo." She mumbled. A bright blue light appeared under her hands, his body relaxing. She lifted her hands, grabbing the scissors and snipping away the bandages, throwing them. The spot was healed, no scar visible. She laid her hand on his forehead.

"Sleep well, Phillip."

She got back to the Poseidon cabin and slipped in quietly. She stripped slowly, unwrapping the bandages on her body and looking at herself in the mirror. She slid her hands up her hips.

Every mishap, whether little or big, every tattoo, scar, bruise and trial has gotten her to where she stood today. Not to mention the people. The magicians, the Romans, the Greeks, the Hunters, the Amazons, Tyson, heck, even the gods. Even Akira.

She took a breath and stepped into the water, closing her eyes and tilting her head back.

If she did take the throne to rule Tartarus that meant giving up her life in the mortal world, and ruling a world full of monsters that could change any moment, taking the throne meant leaving her parents at seventeen and pursuing a role that could either corrupt her mind or help her be a better person. She doubted the second.

She pressed her forehead to the wall.

Sure, she couldn't ask Athena for a blessing since she was locked up somewhere, but maybe… No, that'd be stupid. Her mom just had twins, and was still resting from the birth and stressing over her disappearance. She hadn't even explained the entire story to her, much less telling her about becoming queen.

My lady.

She jumped, nearly slipping but the water grabbed her wrists like a person without her command.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.

What the Hades, Rei?! She covered up. Are you watching me in the shower?

No, Highness. I-

Don't call me that. I haven't decided.

You need to decide quickly. Akira's coronation is in three days.

What? I thought it was in a week?

No. His second advisor convinced him to move it up in order to gain the benefits of the crown.

What's so special about this crown?

It has a power that the crystals possess.

What? I thought we got all of them.

No… There was one left. Athena.

Oh, great.

Please, make haste.

She glared at her feet.

"Ugh!" She yelled, punching the wall.

"Go to sleep!" She heard her dad yell from upstairs. "And stop punching things!" She scratched her head, grabbing the shampoo bottle and squeezing some onto her hand.

She finished her shower and dried off then got dressed, crawling into bed and pulling on socks. She snuggled under the covers, the scent of fresh sheets relaxing her muscles and mind.

With a clear mind, she fell asleep.

"Alyx! Wake up!"

"Shut up… I've had a long week…" She turned her head away from her dad's hand, who huffed.

"It's important!"

"What could be so important at-" she lifted her head, "five in the morning?!"

"The others have been kidnapped."

To Be Continued...