Author's Note In Response to "Diabolos Aides" Review:

Alaster is more of a mix. Thalia uses mostly electric based abilities and Jason uses mostly air based abilities so I'm making Alaster use both and while the powers he's shown off have been minor but they will continue to get more impressive as we go on with the storylines.

So there we were, Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and I were walking through a dark forest having just escaped from a bus that was just blown up by my father. I wasn't walking as fast because I was limping, my injury from when one of the furies clawed my leg.

And sadly all the Ambrosia and Nectar we had was in our bags…which were in the bus…that exploded. So now I was walking around with a limp.

"Three Kindly Ones," Grover shivered. "All three at once."

"All of our money was back there," Percy reminded us. "Our food and clothes. Everything."

"I still have money, and some golden drachmas" which is what I was going to say, but when I reached into my pocket to get them out, I only felt the mortal I had in there. It turns out the drachmas had all fallen out of my pocket while I was fighting the Fury.

"Well, maybe if you hadn't decided to jump into the fight-"

"What did you want me to do? Let you get killed?"

"You didn't need to protect me, Percy. I would've been fine," Annabeth told him.

"Tin cans…a perfectly good bag of tin cans," Grover said mournfully.

"And we just wasted money on snacks that are now nothing but piles of ashes," I said.

We trudged forward across the muddy ground and after a few minutes Grover was walking next to me. "Hi."

"Hello," I said, I continued to only look forward. "Are you still bummed about your tin cans?"

"Of course I am, perfectly good tin cans wasted," He responded. "But I just wanted to ask you if you're okay?"

"Of course I'm not okay, my entire leg is in massive pain and since there's no ambrosia and nectar I'm gonna have to live with it for the entirety of the quest," I said

"I see. But I was asking you if you're okay, like with what happened with Thalia," He said, causing me to actually look at him.

"What about her? She's gone, I'm sad, that's really it," I told him.

"I was just…are you still mad at me?" Grover asked. "The last time we spoke…it wasn't pretty."

My breath hitched. "Look, Grover. I've been having my own problems since that happened. I haven't really been trying to think about anything that had to do with that. Matter of fact I've been trying to stay away from you, Annabeth, and Luke as much as I could. I don't want to think about it. Sometimes it's better to try and forget, ignorance is bliss afterall."

"Alaster," Grover said. "I don't think that's healthy-"

"Listen, Grover," I said sternly. "You're not my protector anymore, don't act like you know what's best for me. I know what's best for me. And what's best for me is that I go on this quest, get my Dad's lightning bolt, go to Olympus, give my Dad an earful, then go back to Camp and go back to not speaking to you, Annabeth, Luke, or even Percy, again. So just back off, goat boy."

I race-walked, well, race-limped forward. It was a while before we saw something other than darkness, light. It was a neon sign in the far distance. We walked toward the neon sign until we finally arrived. We stopped, the neon sign was on a house. A blue house with vines around it, and stone statues around the front lawn.

I couldn't read what the sign said, because of my dyslexia, but to me it read: ATNYU MES GDERAN GOMEN MEPROUIM.

"What the heck does that say?" Percy asked

"I don't know," Annabeth said

"Don't look at me. I don't have a clue," I responded.

"Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium," Grover translated.

"Oh, wow," I said. "So there's a bunch of stone statues around in a place in the middle of nowhere. So does anybody wanna guess what 'Em' stands for?"

The stone statues varied in appearances. A lot of the human-looking ones looked scared, there were some monster ones too, but also some garden gnomes and other stuff.

"I think we might have stumbled on the wrong place," I said.

"Hey, guys," Grover said, looking at a stone statue of a satyr. "This one looks like my Uncle Ferdinand."

"Children," A new voice appeared. We switched to look where it came from and where we looked there was a woman. She was tall and Middle Eastern, she wore a long black gown that covered everything but her hands, and her head was completely covered in a black veil. "It is too late to be out all alone. Where are you parents?"

I took out my Chapstick spear and took off the cap, I pointed my spear toward her. "Stay back, Gorgon."

"Child, you're injured," She said, pointing at my leg injury.

"Alaster, put it down," Percy lowered my spear.

"What's wrong with you?" I whispered to him. "She's a monster. She has killed people."

"I'm afraid you're mistaken, half-bloods," Medusa said. "I am Medusa, but I am not a monster."

Annabeth took out her bronze knife and stood next to me. "Would you care to explain these stone statues then?"

"Bullies, all of them," Medusa said.

"Don't make us try to sympathize with you," I told her. "You are a monster."

She hardened. "You do not know everything, son of Zeus. I have not seen a child of Zeus in a long while, but I can still see it. That sense of bleakness in you, your insecurities. I really do not want a fight. Come in, demigods. I can help."

She walked back into the house.

"I think we should go," Percy said.

Annabeth, Grover, and I snapped our heads toward him.

"Are you crazy?" Grover said. "This place is weird. She's weird."

"You have a head full of kelp," Annabeth said

"What could possibly make you think that going in there with her is a good idea in the slightest?" I said to him.

"I don't know, I just…my Mom used to tell me her story, and if she can really help us then shouldn't we take that chance?" Percy explained. "What about your leg? What if she has something to heal your leg? Plus we don't have any food, we barely have any money left. What if she has money or food?"

The more I thought about my leg the more it hurt. "You really are a Deep Sea Doofus, but maybe, just maybe…you're just a little bit right."

"Annabeth? Grover?"

Grover didn't say any words, but he walked forward toward the door, and so did I. Annabeth stayed back for a few seconds before she followed us too.

We entered through the door.

"I'll meet you four in the dining room, it's just over there," Medusa said.

We walked into the dining room, and it surprised me what was on the table. Burgers, fries, and some pizza. But in the center was a plate filled with ambrosia squares.

"Guys," I said. "She had ambrosia."

I limped to the plate and took a couple. After just a few bites I was starting to feel better, I looked at my leg and my injury was starting to heal up, it was still a bit visible, but it didn't pain me anymore. "Well that's the end of that."

"Told you," Percy said

"You were right about one thing, Barnacle Breath. Whether you're right about everything else is to be determined," I said

"Percy," Annabeth spoke to him. "You need to know that this isn't an easy thing to do. Just walk into a monster's lair. It's not safe. Especially for Alaster and I."

"Are you concerned that I harbor a grudge against the both of you?" Medusa walked in. "Because you are a daughter of Athena? And you are a brother of Perseus? You shouldn't be. We are not our relatives. Please, sit down."

Percy and Grover sat down at the table, Annabeth and I on the other hand remained standing.

"You say that you're not a monster," I said. "So what are you exactly?"

"A survivor," Medusa said

I mentally rolled my eyes. Yeah, right.

"You said that everyone and everything outside in the front was a bully?" Percy asked as he took a burger into his hands.

"Yes," Medusa said. "They come here to harass me, whether they are aware of my true identity or not. They taunt me with my own past. With the fate that the gods bestowed upon me."

"You did that to yourself," I said. "You're the reason that you're the way you are. With your curse."

She looked uneasy. "You are wrong. I've learned that what was given to me is not a curse. It is a gift. A gift that the gods bestowed on me that will allow me to silence those bullies."

"What my mother did to you wasn't a gift," Annabeth spoke up. "It was a curse. Because you disrespected her."

"You are loyal to your mother, that's nice," Medusa said. "But you should not mistake loyalty for blind faith. The gods did me a great service, but they are cruel."

"You're the cruel one!" I yelled. "You're a murderer. A cold blooded killer. That's why Perseus killed you, so you wouldn't hurt anyone!"

"Perseus brutally killed me in my sleep!" Medusa yelled back, standing up. I had my spear pointed straight at her. "He was not a hero. He is the true monster."

"He was a hero!" I stepped toward her, prepared to strike but Percy got in the middle of us.

"Alaster," Percy said. "Cut it out!"

"Move out of my way Barnacle Breath," I gave him a look of warning. "Before I make you."

We glared at one another a little while.

"I think it's time for us to go," Grover said, standing up. "We don't really have all that much time to waste."

"He's right," Annabeth said. "We need to go."

"Guys-" Percy was going to speak but he was cut off.

"Very well then. You may leave," Medusa walked us all the way to the front yard. "Oh, but before you leave, would you mind posing for a photograph?"

"A pose?" Annabeth asked warily.

"For a photograph?" I asked, equally as warily.

"Yes," She said. "I will use it to model a new statue set. Children are so popular, you see. Everyone loves children."

Annabeth and I looked at one another, very suspicious of what's going on.

"I don't think we can. Come on, Percy-"

"Sure we can," Percy cut off Annabeth. "It's just a photo, Annabeth. What's the harm?"

"Yes, Annabeth," Medusa purred. "No harm. Now, Annabeth in the middle, Grover and Percy on either side, and Alaster next to Percy."

We did as she told us.

"Not much light for a photo," Percy remarked.

"Oh, enough," Medusa said. "Enough for us to see each other, yes?"

"Where's your camera?" Grover asked.

Medusa stepped back, as if to admire the shot. "Now, the face is the most difficult. Can you smile for me please, everyone? A large smile?"

Grover looked at the stone satyr next to him. "That sure does look like Uncle Ferdinand."

"Grover," Medusa chastised. "Look this way, dear."

She still didn't have a camera. I have a feeling I know what's about to happen.

"Percy-" Annabeth said

"I will be just a moment," Medusa said. "You know, I can't see very well in this cursed veil."

"That is Uncle Ferdinand!" Grover gasped.

"Don't look at her!" Annabeth shouted.

I shut my eyes tight and scattered.

"Run!" Grover bleated. "Maia!"

I took a deep breath. Focus…focus…listen to the air. The air is your ally.

I felt something. I felt as if I could see her, but I couldn't see her, if you know what I mean. I charged at her.

I felt a shift in the air coming at me, I knew where it was coming from and how to avoid it. I ducked under the scratch or punch or whatever it was and thrusted my spear. I heard a hissing noise which sounded like pain.

I dodged another attack and thrusted my spear at her again, but it was knocked out of my hand when I attacked again, I must've gotten too close. I ducked under another attack. I prepared for my next attack, I felt tingles in both my arms and heard sparks coming from them.

ZZZZZZAAAAAAPPPPPP!

I shot electricity out of my hands, I heard a hiss and a loud thud. "Did I get her?"

"Ohhhh you got her," Percy said

"Do it now!" Annabeth yelled

I opened my eyes and saw Percy running at Medusa-

Shlock!

In a single slash, Percy separated Medusa's head from her body.

"Maia. Oh, yuck. Mega yuck," Grover said as he floated downward over to the body, I walked over to it also after picking up my spear.

"Don't move," Annabeth said. She knelt and draped the monster's head in a black cloth; then picked it up, it was still leaking green juice.

I grabbed Percy by the shoulder and turned him around. "You happy now? You almost got us killed!"

"Well excuse me if I thought she could help us!" Percy shouted at me. "I bet it didn't help that you and Annabeth kept insulting her too!"

"You know if this wasn't a quest I would've electrified you so hard that by now your blood would've turned into electricity itself!" I yelled at him.

"I dare you to try, Lightning Rod!" Percy shoved me. I pointed my spear at his chin.

Clap. Clap.

The three of us looked to Grover who was clapping repeatedly.

And then…he started singing. "Oh, golly, the road's gettin' bumpy 'cause I got me some friends who just can't get along oh dear! When the team's gettin' grumpy the trick to gettin' through it is singin' this song-"

"Shut it, goat boy," I said sternly.

"Don't talk to him like that," Percy said, pushing my spear to the side. He looked at Annabeth. "Why didn't her head evaporate?"

"Once you sever it, it becomes a spoiler of war," Annabeth said. "Same as your Minotaur horn. But don't unwrap the head. It can still petrify you."

"So what are we going to do with this thing?" Percy asked

"We can send it to Olympus," I said.

We walked back into the house where Percy looked through a drawer and found a Sharpie marker along with twenty dollars in mortal money and a few golden drachmas. Meanwhile I got a ziploc bag and went back into the dining room to fill the bag with all the ambrosia that was on the plate.

I then went back to the kitchen.

"They're not going to like that," Grover warned. "They'll think you're impertinent."

Next second the package that Percy was holding disappeared with a pop. "I am impertinent."

"Come on," Annabeth said. "We need a new plan."

"Finally, we can get out of here," I said.

The night was pretty miserable. We ended up camping out in the woods, hundreds of yards away from the main road in a marshy clearing that was clearly being used for parties. There was nothing but flattened soda cans and fast-food wrappers.

We had taken food and blankets from Aunty Em's, but we didn't light a fire. We didn't want to risk attracting anymore monsters. The Furies and Medusa were more than enough for one day.

We also decided to take shifts to keep watch. Percy volunteered to take the first one. I fell asleep not long after my head hit the pillow. When I opened my eyes again I was standing in a dark cavern, looking down at a gaping pit.

Oh..this is definitely a new dream. Gray creatures made out of mist swirled around me, tugging on my clothes, pushing me back. But for some reason that only possessed me to go forward. The pit was so wide and so dark that it looked like nothing could possibly be inside of it. As I got nearer, I felt a chill, a cold feeling washed over me. An evil feeling. One that I've never felt before, I've fought monsters, some scary monsters, but they've never had an aura that felt like this.

"Little hero," It was that voice. That same ancient voice I heard in my dream.

"You again," I said. "What is this place? What are you? Who are you?"

"A wronged being," The voice said. "One that's been betrayed and banished to eternal punishment."

"Eternal Punishment?" I questioned. "Then that means you're in the Underworld. You must've done something pretty bad then."

"I was betrayed by my own spawn. A spawn that I had nothing but high hopes for. One that I was proud of creating. And he repaid me by banishing me here."

"Who are you?" I asked

"I need you to help me. I have been waiting for a hero like you. The perfect hero to finally release me from the pain and suffering and loneliness that I have been feeling long since you were born. I can give you want, son of Zeus. Help me rise."

The more it spoke the more hungrier its voice got.

"Help you rise? You keep avoiding my question. Who are you? Who is your child? Maybe if I actually got a direct answer from you then I can find a way to help you," I said

"The gods have misled you, my boy," the voice said. "The bolt. Bring me the bolt."

"So that's what you want. You want the bolt. So the gods wrong you, huh? You wouldn't be the first one," I said, my hands balled up into fists.

"I've watched for years of your life. I've seen how they've wronged you. How they have failed you. When you needed them the most at your most soul crushing hour, they refused your call for help. Son of Zeus, you know how it feels to be ignored by the gods. By the arrogant King of Gods himself. Why refuse the call for help from one who needs it?"

"You want the bolt-"

"To reinvent the world. Fix what the gods have done. Surely you know the legends. The gods are cruel, they have done cruel things, despicable things. Become my Agent and strike a blow against the gods, and you will be a part of a much bigger and better world. I promise you."

"I…can't. I-I-"

Two images shimmering in gold light suddenly appeared before me. A boy and a girl. The girl was my age, wearing the same clothing. She had spiky hair and electric blue eyes. This was my sister. Thalia. Next to her was a boy, he looked not much younger than me, maybe a year or two younger. He had blond hair that had been cut short, a blank purple t-shirt, and blue sweats, he also had the same electric blue eyes that Thalia has.

Was this…Jason? Is this what he would look like if he was alive today?

"It can't be," I said, I reached out and I touched his face. "This can't be."

"I can give you everything you would ever want. A throne in this new world, Immortality, power beyond the imagination of the gods themselves. And your brother and sister right beside you."

Tears were coming out of my eyes. "You can bring them back? Both of them?"

"I can bring them to you. You can be together again. A happy family. Bring me the bolt. Strike a blow against the treacherous gods. Gain your revenge against the Lord of the Dead for taking away your beloved sister."

Just then Thalia and Jason started to shimmer away.

"No! Don't leave!" I tried to grab a hold of them, but their bodies went right through me, and they disappeared. "Bring you the bolt? That's all I have to do?"

"Yes, child. I await you in the Underworld. Do not fail me…"

The next thing I knew I was up. And I was thinking.

If I bring whoever that was the master bolt, then I could get Jason and Thalia back…