[3rd Person's Pov]

Despite the countless diabolical shenanigans he pulled off, Leo Valdez hated the phrase Crash and Burn.

It's because it was a perfect representation of the single worst accident that happened in his life. The accident that took away the only true family he had—his mother.

He remembered the scene in detail to this very day, more or less thanks to the constant nightmares he had.

The workshop was in a blaze. The sleeping mud lady had vanished with cackling laughter that resonated in the room.

Flames roared in the break room, licking up the wallpaper and engulfing the few pieces of furniture inside.

He recalled crying a lot, and only partially because of the horrid stench filling the area. Even if the fire didn't harm him, the toxic gas from the conflagration certainly did.

He had stumbled over to the workshop door and desperately tried to open it. But it wouldn't budge no matter how hard he tried.

His hand burst in to flame, and everything exploded. The last thing he heard before he went black was a raspy voice saying,

Remember the fire, young hero.

Remember the flame that took away your life!

When he regained consciousness, he was in an ambulance.

The paramedic told him that his mother's workshop burned down—with his mother still inside.

Nobody could tell how Leo managed to survive from the fire. Once the police investigation determined that the fire started in the break room, where Leo was found, everyone assumed he had caused it; whether it be an accident or not.

The most horrifying part to Leo was that he couldn't fully argue against the claim. Maybe he did exploded the warehouse.

Remember the fire.

The voice always hung around Leo's head ever since the accident. It took him a long time to not flinch every time someone lit a match or a candle, and he never, ever dared to activate his pyrotechnics again.

"Νεαρωας," A voice called from behind.

Leo turned around to find a 10ft tall metallic angel looming over him.

The angel folded its bronze wings around the waist as it settled a foot away from him. The two pairs of arms it had was crossed over its chest as it stared at Leo with sympathy.

"Thou are melting the ground again."

"What?"

Leo looked down. Sure enough, a circle of molten metal was pooling around his feet, with him standing ankle deep in the puddle without even realizing it.

"Oh," Leo hurriedly stepped out of the pond that's over 1000c. He shook his shinning feet, scattering sizzling specs all over the place.

As much as he wished he had control over this "Power" of his, Leo couldn't help but heat things around whenever he got emotional.

That was why Leo knew, deep down, that he cause the fire that took down the warehouse. It wasn't the sleeping dirt lady or a 30 ft giant that literally sprang out of the ground—it was him. All him.

"Thou are letting thy thoughts posion thyself again, Νεαρωας," The four armed angel said.

Leo shrugged with his arms wide spred out, "What can I say, I'm an addictive figure! Even to myself."

However, no matter how convincing he put on his mask, it never got under this specific angel. It stepped over the boiling puddle and gestured at Leo to sit down next to it.

Leo complied without much complaint, and one of the four arms combed his curly hair. It reminded him of his mother a lot.

She used to straighten his hair in a similar way, the permanent of her hands as they ran over his head made Leo giggle all the time.

"Thou must not let thy past to decide thy future," The angel said in a soft tone, "Thee shall achieve the utmost greatness in the furture, Νεαρωας. That's—"

"—why you call me Νεαρωας, which means Young Hero." Leo finished the sentence. He stood up, brushing the metal hand away, "I know, I've only heard that only a billion times before."

"And yet, thee doubt my words," The angel fluttered its wings as it stood up.

Leo held back a sarcastic retort—but only because he didn't hate the automaton, even if he doubted its claim that he would end up saving the world.

He couldn't even save his mother from the fire he caused; how on Earth's name could he save the entire world? He was a demon, a Diablo, if you will.

"Why did you fuse, anyway?" Leo asked, smoothly changing the subject, "I prefer it when you are two guys...or one guy and one girl."

The angel frowned; something that still amazed Leo whenever it happened. How can one make a metal statue that madke expressions with such fluidity?

...But then again, he could jump into an oil tank while waving a torch over his head and come back without a scratch, so who's to say what was impossible and what was?

"Thou mean thee prefer when I'm simple-minded and careless," the angel said, "I am trying to help thee, Νεαρωας."

"Yeah, alright," Leo nodded, though he didn't understand what it was trying to say.

The angel scoffed, "As to answer thy question, I sensed that thou are in distress. There wasn't any imminent threat around, so there is no reason for me to be devided at the moment."

"Distress? I'm not distressed," Leo said defensively. The angel gave him a doubtful look. It didn't need a keen insight to see through that lie.

Leo kept on his confident demeanor, "Why would I be distressed anyway? I made a cool new friend today."

And speak of the devil, said friend came swooping down from the night sky at that exact moment.

"Scree!" Skaw screeched and dribbled a heap of metal scraps stored in her mouth at Leo's feet.

"There's my favorite dragon!" Leo beamed. Skaw trampled from left foot to right in joy, flapping her wings and shooting a dirty look at the angel.

The metal angel scowled, "I do not think thy new friendship is...healthy."

"What are you talking about? Automatons don't get sick."

Leo hopped on Skaw's neck. The dragon outstretched her collar into a slide which Leo slipped down on.

"Thou knows full well what I mean!" The angel erupted in frustration.

It took a calming breath before continuing its argument, "A sentient automaton is dangerous, Νεαρωας. There is a reason why Lord Hephaestus stopped making them after the Bronze Age."

"Dangerous?"

Leo looked down at Skaw, who crunched an entire motorcycle in her jaw and swallowed the mangled piece whole.

"Man, I love it because it is dangerous and strong!"

"Scree!"

Skaw reared on her hind legs and flapped the bronze wings, pushing the angel back a few inches.

The angel sighed, but it fluttered next to Leo nonetheless.

"Whether you like it or not, Νεαρωας, my mistress has sent me to watch over your well-being. And—"

"Why? You're not my mom," Leo blurted out.

A moment of silence that followed made Leo wish he could make a time machine to travel back and punch himself from 10 seconds ago.

However, instead of getting mad, the angel gently took the young boy's hand.

Even though the hands were made of bronze, Leo was surprised when he discovered that the hands were warm, like human skin.

"I am not," The angel agreed, "However, you are in desperate need of one. I may not be the best candidate for it, but I've raised a child before; and she was a hefty one to raise as well."

"Oh," Leo muttered.

Come to think of it, he knew next to nothing about his guardian angel—even though it has been nearly a month ever since it first appeared under the Houston bridge when he was sleeping.

"...Who was that girl?" He asked, tentatively.

The angel smiled. Or at least, Leo could tell that it did; unlike the dragon he was riding, the automaton didn't have any facial expressions at all.

"Her name was Calypso, she was—"

Suddenly, the angel tensed. Skaw stiffened as well, her red eyes widing like dinner plates. She craned her neck up in an effort to look over the pile of junk, nearly throwing off Leo off her back.

"Why? What happpened?" He asked.

"Someone is crying," The angel muttered, "You would be able to listen to it too, Νεαρωας. Listen carefully."

Leo wasn't so sure if he wanted to hear someone else bawling, but he pricked up his elf-like ears and listened carefully.

At first, he couldn't hear anything apart from the faint whispers. The voices of other automatons living in the Junkyard; Those were always present around here.

Then, he heard it.

From a distance, a low, woeful wail echoed throughout the air. The sound was in so much anguish and pain, it made Leo shudder.

Whoever the voice belonged to, he(Leo was positive that it was a man) was in great pain and sorrow.

"We have to go help him!" Leo decided and jumped on Skaw once more.

However, neither the angel nor Skaw seemed eager to spring into action.

"Leo," The angel addressed the boy directly, "I don't think it would be wise to take that dragon anywhere."

Leo tried to argue, but someone interrupted him before he could get a single word out.

"That flying statue is right, kid."

Toffy the Tophuchĕlys puffed gallons of steam from his volcano as he halted in the clearing.

"You are not taking my dragon anywhere."

David jumpped down from the turtle's shell.

[Line Break]

[3rd Person's Pov — 30 minutes before]

"Sorry for being bothersome," Selina huffed, "But why are we climbing this godforsaken mountain again?"

The daughter of Aphrodite looked over hee shoulder. They had already hiked up a considerable amount from the ground level; a hundred feet up in elevation and twenty miles in distance, to be exact.

It wouldn't be an easy walk on the best hiking sites, much less on a mountain made entirely out of garbage.

The two boys were fairing much better than Silena, but Beckendorf was slowing down to match her pace, while Travenon marched forward without any concern.

Beckendorf offered his shoulder to Silena, who didn't hesitate to lean into the broad arms. She was too tired to be embarassed at the moment.

"You didn't have to follow," The son of Hephaestus said in a lower voice than usual.

Silena sighed deeply, fighting the urge to give up completely and focusing her wobbly legs to move.

Still, she smiled at Beckendorf, "I trust your guts, Charlie. If you think something important is up this hill..."

Silena's voice trailed off as she looked up at their odd companion. Travenon was relentlessly making his way to the top without looking back once.

"...What do you make out of him?" Beckendorf asked in a low voice.

Silena glanced at her crush. Beckendorf's expression was hard to read, which was an unusual situatuon for her.

"I don't trust him," She answered, "He came out of nowhere, alone, and called you a sin for exsisting."

"He also called you a princess," Beckendorf reminded her.

Silena wrinkled her nose in disgust, "Oh yeah, add that to the pile of reasons."

She chuckled at her own joke, but Beckendorf remained solumn as they trudged up the slope together.

As the silence settled in between them, the daughter of Aphrodite couldn't help but notice that Beckendorf seemed...daunted per usual.

Sure, he wasn't talkative any time, but there was always an indomitable aura around him that gathered respect from other campers, including Clarisse.

Yet, right now, Beckendorf felt like a deflated shell of what he was. It was as if someone had sucked all the self-esteem out of him with a straw.

"What did you and that guy talk about?" Silena asked.

Beckendorf nervously shifted his feet and nearly tripped over a bunddle of wires circling the mountaintop.

"Nothing much," He grunted.

He turned his eyes from Silena's inquiring gaze and frowned at a small sign proped up over the wire.

[Προσέξτε για ένα θανατηφόρο φίδι]

"Watch out for a deadly snake?" He translated the ancient greek, "What does that mean?"

"Probably nothing," Silena off-handed the warning sign away.

She was more concerned by the fact that Beckendorf was actively hiding whatever conversation he had with Travenon.

What's wrong with that? Her inner-self whispered. It's not like you're being honest with him, is it?

Silena bit her lip and clenched her chest, where the silvet scythe-shaped necklace was hidden. The chains of the necklace felt as if they squeezed around her neck like a pair of cold, unforgiving hands.

'This is different,' She told herself, 'I can't tell anyone about this. It would only make the situation worse.'

Yeah, right.

"Silena, are you alright?"

"Huh?"

Silena blinked to find a pair of concerning eyes looking straight at her.

"Maybe we can rest for a while," Charlie suggested, "Trav-guy won't be able to do much even if he arrive first."

Silena swallowed a small whimper of affection that climbed up her throat.

He was too good of a man to be real, which only made her more furious that one of her half-siblings may have messed with his head.

They needed to talk this out.

"You know, I think I can use some break. It's quite embarassing, but I never climbed this high on foot."

"Hey, neither did I," Beckendorf shrugged.

He led them to a nearby lugage charriot made out of silver. The front seat of the chariot was torn apart as if a huge mouth chomped it away, but the back was suitable for a bench.

"So, what did you and ol' Trave talk about?"

"Well..." Beckendorf scratched the side of his head, "It's mostly a technical mumbo-jumbo. I'm not sure if it's going to be interesting..."

"Try me," Silena offered.

After a brief hesitation, Beckendorf nodded.

"Travenon said something interesting might be in this Junkyard; one of the prototypes of the Bronze Giant Talos."Silena quickly rummaged through her knowledge of Ancient Greek. She recalled the name from one of the stories about Medea."There are prototypes of that thing?" She asked.Beckendorf shrugged, "For each product, there are ten prototypes. Imagine making a 300 feet tall giant automaton. It's not an easy task, even for a god."

"At least that explains why this mountain is so high," Silena muttered, "So, you are looking for a prototype of an Iron Giant? Why?"

"There is something special about this specific model. It's..." Beckendorf scratched the back of his head, "...Well, it's alive."

Silena blinked. What did he mean by "Alive"?

"...You mean, like an automaton?" She guessed. However, Beckendorf shook his head.

"I guess the closest example would be Skaw," Beckendorf said, "She is an automaton, and yet she can eat, grow, and even express feelings.

This prototype was also meant to be similar to a living being as possible."

"Meant to be?"

"Hephaestus never finished it."

Beckendorf threw his hands into the air in exasperation.

"No one knows why he disregarded the project, but it was left unfinished. Since then, it has been a passing legend through his children for centuries."

Silena thought about a 300 feet giant that could talk and feel. It didn't seem like such a fantastic idea.

"And you think it's here? In this mountain?" She asked.

"It's a possibility," Beckendorf admitted, "A mountain of metal can't pile this high without something sturdy sustaining it in the core.

If it is the prototype...and if I can somehow complete it..."

Beckendorf mumbled the last few words too small for Silena to pick up, but she had a good guess to what it said.

If I can somehow complete it...my father will finally be proud of me.

The daughter of Aphrodite bit her lip. The necklace seemed to whisper into her head.

Perhaps you can turn him to your side, It said.

You can free him from the puppet show for the gods!

"Charile..." Silena called in a soft voice.

Beckendorf looked up from his hands, riddled with scars and burn marks due to the years of forge-workings.

Silena clutched the front of her shirt.

"...I'm sure you can do it," She said with a smile, "No matter the task, you are the best ironsmith Camp Half-Blood had ever seen."

Beckendorf cracked a smile as well, and wiped under his nose with a forefinger.

"That's a bit if a stretch, isn't it?" He muttered.

"No way!" Silena insisted, "You can ask around anyone in the camp; they'll all agree without hesitation."

"Really?" Beckendorf chuckled. It was an obvious effort to cheer him up, but he appreciated it none the less.

However, before he can properly thank Silena for the encouragement, a sudden rumbling through the earth interrupted their conversation.

Something was unraveling itself from the top of the mountain like an apple getting peeled off.

Travenon gazed up at a long cylinder-shaped automaton towering directly over his head.

Kisshhhaaa!!!

It opened its maw and screeched angrily, making it clear that it didn't want anyone coming closer than the tiny human had dared.

However, the son of Venus merely smirked. He didn't even bother reaching for his sword.

Instead, he stretched his arms out as if performing in an opera.

"Poor puppet of a being, is this the life you choose to live?" His voice rang loud and clear, carrying down the slope of trash and junk, reaching Beckendorf and Silena.

"To serve your creator by how he made you until you die by his bidding? What kind of pitiful life is that?"

"What is he doing?" Beckendorf muttered, "You can't talk down an Automaton. They only act by their protocols!"

Silena was less concerned with Travenon's well-being. She was more worried that his voice sounded very convincing—yet there was no trace of Charmspeak layered on his speech.

But, no matter how convincing his words were, the snake automaton didn't listen to them for a second.

It screeched once more and swung its tail down.

Travenon leaped out of the way at the last second, and the 10 feet long tail smashed into the side of the mountaintop.

Piles on piles of waste rumbled under the pressure until their mismatched link broke, and they cascaded down the steep hill.

The cascade expanded into a landslide of trash in seconds; several tons of time passed, crescendoing down in a huge wave.

Silena instinctively tried to run away, but Beckendorf quickly wrapped his arm around her waist and stopped her.

"We can't outrun an avalanche. We have to hide under it!"

With his other hand, Beckendorf crammed his hammer under the broken chariot, "If we can flip this over us..."

"Charlie, you're a genius!" Silena exclaimed and pushed down on the handle alongside Beckendorf.

With their strength combined, they managed to lift the bronze chariot from the pile of rubbage it was stuck in.

Beckendorf quickly flipped it over their heads and tucked in just as the landslide crashed into them.

After a tremendous rumbling trampled over their heads, Silena and Beckendorf peeked out from the chariot.

The snake automaton was lashing out with its fangs fully extended. Travenon ducked under the chomping maw and disappeared under the slithering mass of glittering metal.

Then, he reappeared almost immediately, gracefully standing on one of the countless scales of the automaton.

The snake swerved around, hissing in rage and frustration, and blew a column of white fire onto its body, determined to blowtorch the intruder.

Travenon slid down the sleek body before the fire engulfed him, "If that's your choice..." He muttered with a sigh.

The snake bared its fangs and shook its body whole, threatening another landslide of junk as it tried to shake the pesky human off its body.

Travenon was unaffected by the attempt until he chose to leap off the skin by himself. In mid-air, he finally reached for his sword and sliced the air.

The automaton suddenly froze in its place.

Then, with a loud creaking noise, its head tilted sideways and fell off the body.

Then came the neck, body, and tail.

Within seconds, chunks of what used to be a 50ft long machine were scattered among the mountain.

"Pitiful," Travenon scoffed as he sheathed his weapon. He looked down at the severed head with a frown and kicked it a few feet down.

"Hey, don't be too harsh on automatons. They are simply following their programming," Beckendorf chided.

The son of Hephaestus inspected the snake's head, which was slightly bigger than his whole body, and pulled out a small computer panel the size of his hands combined.

"What's that?" Silena asked as Beckendorf carefully pocketed the panel.

"It's the main frame of the automaton. I'll have to shrink the size first, but I'll be able to make it a new body."

Travenon barked out a laughter, "Why bother? It was a simple machinery. Such detestable beings."

"He's trying to save it!" Silena retorted, but that only made him sneer.

"Save it," He said, "I never knew your kind fussed over meaningless objects."

"Your kind? We're both demigods!"

Travenon waved his hand at Silena as if she was an annoying fly buzzing near his face. He turned to Beckendorf and pointed over his shoulder.

"Well, le lutin, I'm sure your prize is at the top. If that machine had any purpose, it was to guard something valuable.

"Beckendorf reluctantly glanced between Silena and Travenon, worried that by the time he returned, one would have murdered the other.

Silnea took a calming breath, "It's fine, Charlie. I can take care of myself."

Travenon smirked as if she said a joke.

Silena put all of her efforts into not snarling at the pretentious prick next to her as Beckendorf sulked to the buried statue.

An ackward silence settled between the two children of the love goddess. Silena mindlessly reached for an item, and picked up a mirror.

With a grunt of discomfort, she threw the artifact down the hill. Of all the things she could have picked up...

"It had to be something related to beauty."

Travenon stepped back as Silena whirled around with a slap. He raised his hands to indecate that he meant no harm, but Silena didn't believe him one bit.

"What do you want?" She asked furiously, "Why are you helping us?"

"Do you really want to know?" Travenon smirked, "It's because you are different, la demoiselle. You see, I detaste my siblings more than everything else in the world."

Silena tensed, Her hand creeping over her weapon.

But Travenon showed no signs of aggression. On the contrary, his grin widened as if he found her action indearing.

"Our siblings are idiotic toddlers who only know how to whine for what they want. They don't strive to achieve anything, much less bother to work for it."

"That's not true," Silena tried to argue. However, even as she voiced against the claim, she could think of dozens of examples back at Camp Half-Blood.

"Am I? Am I really?" Travenon started to circle Silena, "You'd know what I'm referring to better than anyone else, counselor."

"How do you—"

A blade swiped Silena's shirt faster than she could blink. She yelped and hurriedly covered her chest, only to realize that her necklace was gone.

Travenon flicked his sword and caught the necklace in his left hand.

He inspected the silver scythe and glanced at Silena, who was freaking out silently, with vast amusement.

"How is Luke doing? He went out of touch ever since I left—such a shame."

"He, he left the Camp a year ago," Silena stammered. She tried to reach for the necklace, but Travenon quickly stepped away from her desperate hands.

"Give it back!" Silena shouted in desperation, dosing her command with Charmspeak.

However, the son of Venus snorted in mockery and tutted his tongue.

"Now, now, you are much better than that," He admonished, "Isn't that why you became a traitor? To prove that you are something more than a simple trophy wife?"

"I'm not! I, I'm trying to save people here!"

Travenon scoffed, "In that case, you already failed horribly."

Silena halted in the middle of her struggle.

"What do you mean?" She demanded.

Instead of answering, Travenon turned to the half-buried head. Silena swung around to look at the giant statue.

The metal giant started to vibrate, shaking the entire mountain collected over its body as it was reactivated.

Then, Silena heard it scream.

A low, woeful cry so loud that it almost made her deaf, yet her ears caught a second layer of voice under the huge wail of the giant.

"Charlie," She whispered. Her brain caught up with the situation a second later.

"Charlie!"

Silena screamed in terror as the giant—The prototype of Talos wailed, engulfed in horrifying anguish from being thrown away for countless years.

She tried to climb up to the head, but a firm grip yanked her aside."Now, now, I cannot let that happen, can I?" Travenon said with a grin.

"You—"

Silena swung her short sword, but Travenon blocked her by the arm and twisted it around her back, disarming her.

Travenon pinned her to the ground.

"I can leave you here and let you get buried to death, salope," He whispered in a low growl, "But luckily for you, I still have some use for you."

"W-what did you do to Charlie..." Silena grunted through the pain. She tried to kick Travenon off her, but the effort was futile.

"What did I do?" Travenon laughed, "I didn't do anything. That imbecile wanted to make the greatest artifact to appease his father.

And I gave him a chance to do so; by becoming the one automaton Hephaestus himself failed to make—the sentient Giant, Zonos!"

The giant groaned again, reacting to its name.

"You're insane!" Silena screamed.

"Silence!" Travenon snapped back, and Silena felt her mouth snap shut.

"Now, get up, and follow me without any resistances. I need to get my hands on the other sentient automaton before I leave this wretched place."

Despite trying her best to oppose the order, Silena found her body obeying the command. She marched down the crumbling hill with Travenon right in front of her.

The giant's wailing and cries became quieter and quieter. Silena couldn't look back to see what was happening, much less check if Charlie was alright or not.

She glared at the back of Travenon 's head, furious beyond belief that this was all she could do.

Thick tears splashed onto her feet, but they didn't slow down even for a moment.

She had never felt so helpless ever before.

She hated to admit it; she was supposed to be someone who could do anything.

A succeeding daughter for her father.

A responsible counselor for her cabin.

A sweet girlfriend(hopefully) for her love.

She pulled all off them miraculously.

For the most part.

There was one person who looked through her acts.

"What a sad puppeteer you are."

Zoë Nightshade had said to her, right after the council meeting for the quest.

Unlike most of their prior interaction, that sentence had an odd sense of kinship.

It made her wonder if the lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis carried a similar sense of pressure.

Yet when Zoë returned to Camp, the huntress no longer seemed to hold the same weight.

Silena couldn't ask what happened, not with the chronic rivalry between the Hunt and Cabin 10.

But she had a guess.

And that guess was her only hope left.


A/N:

I swear, I'm trying to get these out more frequently than once a month.

I can't thank everyone who still acknowledges this fanfic. You guys are the sole reason why I could find the strength to continue writing when I was at my lowest to date.

I hope I haven't lost my touch from the long gap, and you all had a fun time reading.

Before I leave, there is a nice question asked in the review, so I'll answer it here.

c55Crucio18 asked:

This just occurred to me, if David's parents are both Gods, is he still a half-blood?

A:

Yes.

Despite having Ares as a father and Hecate as a mother, David is a demigod.

It's because when David was born, Hecate didn't lend him any of her "Godly genes" for the lack of better word.

So, even though David is Hecate's son, he doesn't have any traits of one.