Percy stood next to Thalia's tree waiting for his companion for the quest. It was the first time he would be questing with a literal god. Although the god in question wasn't really a god for the time being. But still, he had lived for thousands of years. That had to count for something, right?

Apollo strolled next to him, after a few minutes. Percy hadn't noticed what he was wearing before. The shirt had a picture of a blonde man playing a harp. I wonder who that is…? Apollo also had a bow and quiver was strung over his shoulder. He also carried a backpack with him, though Percy had no idea what he might be carrying.

He had a backpack as well, in which he was carrying some food, ambrosia, nectar and some cash. That's all he really needed on quests. Everything else always seemed to fall into place. Or some god would come through and provide them with uh… some unique items if necessary.

"So you ready, Perce?"

"Uh, sure. Once you tell me where we're headed. Don't tell me we have to go all the way to Greece again" the demigod replied in sudden realisation. I really am an idiot sometimes.

Apollo waved his arms about, "No, no, no. We don't need to go that far. In fact, we don't need to go very far at all. New Haven's our current destination."

Percy nodded with relief. Not that far. "Why New Haven though?"

Apollo shrugged. "I can't say, man" he said. Percy noticed his brow twitched before continuing, "The Oracle's workings cannot be explained to humans. In fact, being the god of Prophecy I can assure you even my fellow gods do not understand." His careless face soured, "If they did, I wouldn't be here after all."

"... I see." Percy got the feeling that Apollo wasn't in the mood to add more.

"Good. Now let's get going" the god said with finality.

Their journey so far was a bumpy one. They had considered taking a train, but certain events at the station, namely a pack of hellhounds, were convincing enough to take a different path. In hindsight, Percy didn't know why he agreed to go on foot with someone like Apollo while he was in mortal form.

As it turned out, travelling with a former god was more of a nuisance than an asset. Apollo could not stop whining about little things, flirted with every girl that spared him a glance, had no 'godly' insight to offer and was barely any different from the Apollo campers when it came to battle. Sure, he was good (really good) with the bow, but that was to be expected.

If he was honest, Percy hadn't even expected that many monsters on the trip. And he had not thought about having to fight monsters he hadn't seen yet. The list of monsters he would see before his death was increasing at every turn of events. These… blemmyae, as Apollo had told him, were a serious pain to deal with. The son of Poseidon had seen monsters of all kinds, some of the nastiest, ugliest and evilest beings no mortal would ever see. But these creatures, they creeped him out more than any of them. Just looking at them made him feel nauseous. Seriously, who has a face on their chests? Killing them was a chore, with the head missing already. It wasn't difficult, per se. Just weird.

"Give me a break!" he cried out. All four remaining blemmyae stopped and looked up at him straight in the eyes.

"For how long?" the one fighting Percy said. What the…

But before he had time to process, they turned to dust courtesy of some quick firing on Apollo's part.

"That was genius, cuz! I forgot we could do that!" he said, approaching the demigod.

"What just happened…"

"... I see you have no idea what you just did. Anyway, these blemmyae are dangerous, but they are extremely thick sometimes" the god replied, crashing on the grass. "They would listen to whatever you had to say, even in a fight. Too polite for their own good".

Percy collapsed on the spot. He could have ended this fight way earlier. His left hand started rubbing a spot on his right shoulder, where a fist had connected with him. He winced. Dam, those guys could hit. "So why didn't you think of it earlier? For a god, you aren't of much use, you know."

"Of course, Percy. Rub it in. Like I am to blame for having my entire sentient being to be restricted in this-" Percy spaced out. Gods, have mercy on me. He then tilted his head, at the figure at some distance from him. Never mind. He internally groaned. With their new deal, Apollo was going to be a regular part of Percy's life. He could only hope Apollo was more sensible once his godhood returned. The demigod wasn't used to not being the idiot on the quest.

Apollo continued his rant for a while before shutting up. He was incredibly sore in all parts of his new mortal body. He wasn't used to this vulnerability and helplessness. His muscles strained from the tedious task of walking all the way to his destination. This would have been easier if he was allowed to just flash away.

He looked up at the evening sky. The moon had risen considerably, with the sun providing just enough light to deal with their enemies, but was fading to darkness. Apollo knew his little sister must be watching from above. The fact that her favourite male demigod at the moment was with him must certainly have grabbed her attention, if Apollo's mortality wasn't reason enough.

Said demigod was sprawled some distance away, also taking in the same sight as him.

"Y'know, I noticed your shirt, Perce. It's quite… problematic for me. You sure you didn't know about my situation?"

Percy narrowed his eyes as he looked at the problem. His shirt was black, with the picture of an angel falling from the sky.

"Oh… well, no".

"Eh, no big deal. I would be the first to know otherwise. God of truth, remember", the god replied, "Is that Led Zeppelin? I remember talking to those boys before they made it big. Do you like 'em?"

"Yeah. My mom used to like them. She listened to their stuff back when I was a kid. Still stuck with me", the demigod let out a chuckle, "I always wanted to play an electric guitar. Pretend I was playing one of their songs on stage like a rockstar".

"Hmm… Did you ever learn to play one?" Apollo asked with mild curiosity.

Percy scoffed "Of course not. You guys caught up with me. Never got the time to learn," he let out a breath, "when you're supposed to learn how to kill monsters."

"I see".

Neither of the two had anything else to add. In a while, Percy could hear the sweet sound of a string instrument being played. He looked over at Apollo, who was playing a lyre without any focus. It was beautiful. The tune was quite familiar, though Percy couldn't place where he heard it. Then it clicked. It was LZ, and Percy could understand exactly why the particular song would run through the former god's head. He felt like an idiot for not recognising the riff any LZ fan would get with ease. In his defence, it sounded slightly different on a lyre. Still, it should be easy to tell when somebody was playing this on any instrument.

He allowed himself to rest on the relaxing sound of Stairway to Heaven on the lyre, his chest, eyes and finally his mind giving way to a much needed sleep.

The rest of the trip was quiet, aside from Apollo's occasional performances on his lyre or flute. No monsters, no random mortals turning up while camping. Not even wild beasts. It was the last day they would probably spend outside the city, since they were now closing in on their destination.

As they were walking down some woods, Percy spotted a girl headed in their direction. Percy couldn't help but gawk at her. Her sunglasses obscured her face with the eyes hidden from view, but he could tell she was beautiful, and moved with the grace of someone used to the outdoors. The dark-haired girl stopped to lean against a tree.

Apollo grinned at her, and she smiled back. Percy had half a mind to get him back on track and even contemplated taking out his weapon, but unexpectedly the god turned to look at him, "Percy, would you follow that girl? Trust me on this. Just follow her".

Percy was a bit sceptical, but Apollo didn't look like he was in the mood for games. If he was, he probably would have tried hitting on her. He shrugged and walked over. The girl stood up straight and started walking towards his right. Percy looked back at Apollo who nodded his head in approval. Instinctively, he pulled out his pen, just in case this girl wasn't to be trusted. After all, Apollo wasn't in his right mind in the mortal body.

After walking a fair amount of distance the girl stopped and waited for Percy. He noticed a few squirrels running around her. A deer stopped some at some distance. His grip on the ballpoint tightened. Something was different about her.

"You wouldn't require that pen, Perseus. You should pocket it back", she said with a slight chuckle as he caught up with her. "We don't have much time. I must start by thanking you for assisting my brother on this quest". Brother. His brows shot up.

"Lady-", he stopped after she put a finger on her lips, "I didn't recognise you" he said after hurriedly pocketing his pen. Didn't she prefer a 15 year-old form?

"I do not blame you, Perseus. You should always be vigilant, and it is a good sign that you are. I know my brother is unlikely to be in this state", she replied, with her mouth twitching upwards. "I'm afraid I have to conceal myself to some extent. *sigh* Father will be displeased if he finds out I am interfering. But I have to".

"Why did you bring me all the way here?", he said, looking around. He had come quite farther from where they saw her. It wasn't different or special in any way.

"Ah, yes. You would have to go a little further. I cannot take you there myself. If you follow those squirrels," she said, pointing to a pair of rodents looking at them with full concentration, "you will find a bow and an empty quiver. Hand them over to my brother, he will know what to do. They are of great importance on this quest. You might be unable to defeat our enemy without them."

Percy nodded. Content, she leaned back against the tree. "So, how have you fared till now, Percy?"

Is she going to make small talk now? Percy was a little surprised by how casual she was. "Uhhhh… fine?" he was unsure what to say.

She smirked, "I'm certain my brother has been really annoying so far".

Percy grinned and shrugged, "Well, he has. He whines a lot."

She chuckled fondly, "I knew he would. He cannot stand the mortal form. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to, either. But he has a habit of getting on everyone's nerves", she looked quite mischievous as she took a dig at him. Percy didn't know she could.

Artemis straightened, "I should get going. Keep my brother safe, will you?"

"I'll try".

She gave him a warm smile, and even without looking into her eyes he could tell it was genuine. Gods, she is beautiful. "Thank you, Percy. Goodbye". She said, walking away, with Percy's eyes fixed at her form until she disappeared. His head moved to the left to see where the chattering he heard below was coming from. The pair of squirrels were twitching various parts of their bodies excitedly, one appearing to bounce. "Let's go, I guess", Percy said awkwardly.

Complying, they started running straight deeper into the woods, chattering as fast as they moved. Percy had to run to keep up with them. The squirrels stopped where he came across a bow and quiver just as Artemis had told him. He looked back at the squirrels who were now climbing the tree. The golden bow had an intricate design, with a rope-like spiral covering it all the way. It definitely was something special.

Grabbing the things he ran off looking for the man who it belonged to. He walked along, taking in the trees he saw. Wildlife seemed to have sprung once Artemis departed. He could see some deer, squirrels, and birds. He remembered Pan's blessing from all those years ago, on his third quest for Artemis. Percy had started appreciating nature ever since. Grover was the most pleased once he found out, and often coaxed him onto some trips where his power of water was needed. He would go out on his own choice if he could, but he rarely felt like wasting his time leaving the city only to be fighting monsters which would undoubtedly find him in the open. He was still a pure New Yorker, so it didn't bother him much.

"What did my sister say?", Apollo asked once he got back with him.

"Nothing much. She just told me to give these to you", he said, holding out the bow and quiver.

Apollo looked at the bow and bit his lip.

"Thanks, sis" he muttered under his breath as he took the bow from his hands. He held it and did some weird shenanigans Percy didn't understand. Then the bow and quiver shrunk before his eyes. Whoa. It shouldn't have surprised him, but the little things managed to amaze him to this day.

"Tomorrow we're going to be in the city, and hopefully end the quest." Apollo remarked. "Get some rest. You're going to need it." Percy could swear the god was nervous. He wondered what could be so dangerous to make a god feel that way. Taking his advice seemed to be the best option in the state he was in.

The next day, the god led his accomplice to the opposite end of the city, finally taking him to the outskirts out to a valley between some large hills. Percy's heart was beating as he realised they were nearing the monster. He could feel it. The dread it projected could be felt from where he was. Apollo looked the most anxious the demigod had seen him yet.

And there it was. He could see a structure not unlike the Greek ones he was used to. It was huge. The questing pair looked at each other and proceeded towards what was obviously the end of the quest. Apollo took out his special bow. The quiver was still empty, but Percy figured it must have some use. Obviously. He took out his pen without uncapping it.

"Listen, Perce", the god said, "that sword wouldn't be of much use against Python without targeting the right areas".

"I figured. What's the plan?"

Apollo stroked his chin. "What you'll need to do is distract him. Hitting his body will bring some pain, especially with that Celestial Bronze sword, but it won't kill. Make sure to keep evading him. All I need is one clear shot that could kill him".

"So I go first?"

Apollo nodded, "Just be prepared".

Percy nodded in understanding. He moved ahead, stopping in front of the temple. It was truly majestic, reminding the demigod of the temples on Olympus. The exterior was painted a faint peach colour instead of the customary white, with various carvings all across its surface. The doors were gigantic, with a golden shield in the centre, etched with the image of a snake and an archer battling. "How do we open this door?"

"That shouldn't be difficult", the god replied, looking about before stopping next to an unlit torch. "You got a lighter?"

"Well, here is one," he said, putting down his backpack. "I don't smoke but I keep one around, you know…", he fished out the required object, "they come in handy sometimes". He threw the lighter at the god.

Apollo grinned, "Great. Now look at this." He flicked the lighter, which released a small flame. Soon, the flame grew larger as Apollo closed the lid.

As the torch lit, all the other torches seemed to light up sequentially. With dusk approaching, the light was proving to be useful. The gigantic doors rumbled as they opened up, creating some noise in the otherwise quiet valley. The inside of the temple was dark. Percy was about to enter when he heard a loud hiss and some more rumbling.

Both men gulped and backed away from the temple.

"Apoll-lo", a booming hiss, "I wasss hoping to meet you again, my frrriend", the voice said as a huge, purple figure slithered out of the temple.

"Python!", the god in question called out, "I, the god Apollo, demand that you set the spirit of Delphi free. If you do not, I will be forced to send you back to Tartarus and cover my temple in Olympus with your skin for all to see!" Percy shuddered. Apollo's words were a bit brutal for his taste. But this seemed to be good old-fashioned banter.

Python let out a laugh, shaking the valley to its core. Percy let out another involuntary gulp.

"Big wordsss from you, Apollo. Did you forget I have control over the ssspirit? Or that you aren't a god right now. I am assurrred of victory" he said.

"I don't care if you are assured of victory, you giant snake," Percy interjected, "You will die like the Titans and Giants before you."

The snake bore his eyes into Percy's. Percy was truly intimidated. He never thought he would say this, but its eyes were magnificent, maybe even beautiful, with power and intelligence shining in those yellow, fiery slits.

"Perseus Jack-ssson. Consssider it my honour to ssee you here. Feasting the grreatesst demigod of all time and an Oll-lympian would restore my desstroyed reputation".

Percy didn't like the idea of turning into this snake's lunch. He uncapped his pen and stood ready for anything Python would throw at him, The giant figure slithered out of the temple. It was much too small for it, destroying some of the outer workings of the temple. The torches were still lit somehow.

Apollo nocked an arrow, but before he could do anything Python's giant head lunged towards him like a whip. He managed to successfully dodge the attack. Percy quickly charged its body to distract it as planned. The head whipped towards him in an instant before he could do anything.

Percy could only roll under its head before Python turned him into another snack. On instinct, he slashed where Python's head was, but his sword only managed to slash air. It was gone.

He heard another loud hiss in the sky, noticing it looking at him from above. Percy was terrified, as the two lamps on Python's head took note of him with intelligent eyes, probably thinking how easily it would digest a son of Poseidon. The head snapped to its left, and Percy noticed an arrow cross the space the monster had occupied. It moved so fast, the whole head. It hissed again. The tone was clearly mocking.

Percy needed to distract it somehow. Python was too strong, too large and too fast to kill alone. Riptide in his hand, he charged at the monster again. Python's head snapped towards him again. This time he sidestepped and slashed in a predetermined manner. The blade managed to connect with the side of Python's head, leaving a small cut. The monster made a pained sound which was a mix between a hiss and a screech on steroids. Percy's eardrums could barely stand it, but he had to move. Python now charged him with all its fury, but Percy had run off to its gigantic body. He hacked and slashed at it, eliciting wilder screeches.

Without any warning, Python's whole body snapped like a bowstring, launching Percy like a football across the field. He landed with a solid thud. Luckily, the ground wasn't too hard. His body can act like a whip. Perfect.

Seeing his ally go down, Apollo fired a special arrow that hit what was supposed to be the throat of the monster. Python exploded in a screech, and both Apollo and Percy had to cover their ears at how loud it was.

"Do you trul-ly believe you can kill me, Apollo", Python hissed over the rumbling caused by it slithering towards the god. Its purple scales were glistening in the moonlight that had taken over the sun's light. "I am stronger than I ever wasss, and you are at the weakesst you have ever been". The snake was closing in on the former god, who was slowly moving away from it. "Your arrowss cannot kill me, god of prophecy".

Percy got up and concentrated. The ground rumbled even louder than it was with Python's slithering.

"You will sssuffer, as I did in my reformation", the snake continued "I shall control the gates of prophecy and you and your fellow gods will be unable to stop me as I form a path for myself. I will have my vengeance." And with that he let out another hiss/screech before whipping its head towards the god. Apollo managed to evade rolling away at a speed Percy wasn't expecting. Apollo kept dodging with great agility. But he knew Apollo wouldn't be able to do much.

Percy got down one knee and felt a familiar tug in his gut. The moonlight seemed to be getting more intense, and Percy felt himself getting more powerful. He focused, until he connected with water at considerable beneath the surface. He willed the water upward, forcing it through the ground. At last, a geyser erupted from the ground, right below Python. It did not lift the monster, but blocked its vision and got in between it and Apollo.

"What iss thisss?" it boomed. "No matter. The water cannot aff-fect me, child of Poseidon. I was formed in a flood. The greatesst flood of them all. This is my element as much as yours".

Percy stayed in his position. Soon enough another geyser broke through next to him. Getting on his two feet, he felt another tug. Controlling the geyser, Percy jumped onto it and used it as a spring to launch himself back onto Python. He steadied himself, as he landed in the centre, at a height from the ground. Quickly uncapping Riptide, he stabbed into its reptilian skin. The monster writhed in pain, its body shaking uncontrollably. Percy was knocked off balance, not expecting an earthquake-like reaction. He grabbed its body with both hands like a log and held on. He was unable to hear anything but a deafening screech at such proximity to the source.

Down below, Apollo had already nocked an arrow. This was his best opportunity. He pulled, and let go. The arrow landed in one of the lamp-like slits on the monster's head as intended. Python was now completely out of control, hissing, screeching, growling, shaking, jumping and whipping about. Percy couldn't hold on to the snake in that state of motion. He finally let go. Something told him that the last blow was fatal. He crashed on the ground for the second consecutive time that day, but this time the ground itself was shaking. Even Apollo couldn't stand properly with the ground reacting to Python slamming itself repeatedly with it and collapsed just some feet away from the demigod's sprawled figure.

The smell of sulphur followed the quiet that came with the disintegration of Python. The ground stopped shaking, and the atmosphere calmed. Percy's head tilted towards the temple that had held their recently disintegrated foe. The torches were still aflame, and the platform seemed to have repaired all by itself. The golden shield was glowing in the light of fire, and truly the whole temple looked beautiful and majestic.

Apollo started laughing like crazy, and Percy joined in with him. Percy didn't realise how terrified he had been of the monster until it had died. They laughed for a while until they could. Percy could make out some sounds belonging to the female gender in the background, but he couldn't be bothered to check. He was tired, and he gave in to his body's wishes, drifting into unconsciousness.

Finally, here's the update. I spent the better part of this day working on the chapter, and I hope it is satisfying and can make up for the long delay.

The Python part, like the breakup last chapter, was one I had originally intended to skim over since it's not relevant to the romance and takes the attention away from the Maiden in the title. But I thought, why not? Why shouldn't we have some action? Granted I'm pretty terrible at it, but 'practice makes perfect', y'know?

I would also like to state that I am not from the US, so the geography in the story is imaginary. I am fully aware that I mostly made a lot of mistakes there.

Anyways, leave your ideas as always. What do you think? Was it good, bad or simply filler? Constructive criticism is always appreciated.