Climbing aboard the Amor 01 Percy never thought a yacht with hearts drawn on the side to look intimidating.

"This ship most definitely belongs to Aphrodite. Be very, very careful, Percy. Don't be rude, but don't promise her anything." Annabeth had warned him, but he really didn't know what the Goddess of Love would want with them.

As the questers got on board, they were all tense in the presence of the God of War.

"Oh relax, this is a friendly meeting." Ares waved them off, before settling his burning eyes at Percy. "Trust me, as much as I want your head as a trophy I don't kill my enemies before a lady."

"Why does Lady Aphrodite want to talk with Percy?" Annabeth asked.

Ares turned his head to her and frowned.

"Oh no, not him alone. There's also our new prophecy child." Ares turned to Bianca. "Bianca, daughter of Hades. Old man threw hell of a fit when you turned up." He grinned, chuckling at the memory of that. His teeth looked like those of a savage warrior, only a step above an animal.

"...Greetings, Lord Ares." Bianca nodded neutrally. "And I hope I don't cause too much trouble in the future."

"Oh no, I really hope you do. Really wishing for it." He said with laughter before his expression turned to one of irritation, as they settled on Annabeth. "And then there's you. Oh, she was annoyed when you gave up on love."

Zoe stepped up in front of Annabeth only to find Percy next to her. She blinked in surprise at that, as the boy didn't even try to coordinate with her. He simply saw his friend in possible danger and acted. She ignored him for now and focused on the God of War.

"Annabeth is under Lady Artemis' protection and care. She has nothing to say to the Goddess of Love." Zoe said firmly.

"Your 'lady' isn't exactly here right now, girl." Ares growled, and suddenly the atmosphere seemed to heat up, as Percy could hear a thousand men fighting and dying in the background. "I suggest you choose your actions very wisely right now. I don't like things that make Aphrodite sad, so I'm very good at making six feet under. And its only because she wants to talk to you three," he looked at Percy, Bianca and Annabeth. "That I'm being so courteous right now."

Percy felt his blood pumping, like he wanted to jump in and punch that smug god in the face. He held back, and was about to just call him out on how that didn't work out well for him last time.

"I'll meet her." Annabeth spoke up.

"Annabeth, you don't—" Zoe began, her eyes wide.

"It's fine." Annabeth shook her head. "I already have Lady Artemis' blessing. Aphrodite should have no power over me. Just her words. Not talking to her would be making an enemy that could be easily avoided."

"Her words alone are dangerous enough. They are a weapon that could fell nations." Zoe warned.

"Same with my mom." Annabeth smiled.

"You sure?" Percy asked in concern.

Annabeth smiled widened a bit. "Yeah."

"Huh." Ares' voice broke up the solidary moment. "I can see now why she's annoyed. It's like being baited by a UFC match that's never gonna happen." He shook his head.

"What?" Percy asked, blinking in confusion.

"First you, Jackson, then Chase and finally Bianca." Ares ordered. "And make sure not to be rude, kids. She's not as merciful as I am."

"Wait, you want us to meet her alone?" Annabeth said, now worried.

"She has a different grievances with each of you." Ares said.

"Wait, what about the rest of us? And where's Bessie?" At the sharp wide-eyed look Annabeth have him, and shaking her head, Grover quickly said. "I meant the hippocampus that was leading our boat?"

"In reverse, don't know, don't care. And there's a mini-bar. Go get something to eat or whatever." Ares said and went and stood next to the door of the yacht's suite.

Percy looked at his friends, nodded and went ahead. Grover went to the mini-bar underdeck to eat. Zoe stayed with Annabeth, and Bianca waited for her meeting as well.

Percy entered the suite to see the most lavish room he had ever seen in his life.

A large bed that he felt if he sat in, he'd never want to wake up from. Beautiful décor that he could find himself watching for way longer than a glance. He didn't even care about décor as long as the room was functional. There was the sweet scene of roses, more alluring than even a sea breeze.

And Percy couldn't focus on any of that due to the figure sitting at the far end of the room, sitting next to the glass window, overlooking the river.

"Hello, Percy." The most beautiful woman Percy had ever seen in his life greeted him.

Her voice soft and inviting, as were her emerald eyes. Oddly enough her eyes felt stormy, while not being so. Her face was every beautiful actress he could imagine, and then surpassed with such a gap, so as to make those beautiful woman seem ugly in comparison.

She had a headband gathering up her beautiful red hair, as if to contain her beauty, only to increase it further by teasing what it could be fully let go, to wave in the wind. Her hair style in different braids, reminding him of the Hunters for some reason. In fact, her scarlet hair looked like the Artemis he remembered from his dream, where she took the sky from Thalia.

"Oh please." Aphrodite rolled her eyes. The mood dampened, and Percy wanted nothing more than to make her smile again. "If anything, that child is the one imitating me. Something about 'red being the color of the wild'. Preposterous, it's the color of love." After getting that out of her system, the goddess's eyes softened again. "Please Percy, come sit down. Let's see what the damage is."

Percy went and sat down in the sofa chair opposite to her. He blinked suddenly aware of his action.

She just suggested something and he did it on automatic. He replayed Annabeth's warning in his head. Tried to think on how she would act in this situation.

"Oh you tease." Aphrodite clicked her tongue, as she playfully pouted.

"Huh?" Percy blinked at the non-sequitur, his concentration thrown off right away.

"Honestly, all of that from a stupid, stupid wonderful story game." Aphrodite huffed and looked away toward the river. Cheek resting on her hand, making Percy wanting to wipe that crestfallen look from her face.

Percy shook his head. He needed to focus. Find out what the goddess wants, do it quickly, so he can get back to the quest.

"Uh, agg, ahhh," Percy wanted to ask, why did the goddess want to talk to him.

She chuckled. "You're sweet."

"Beh?" Thank you?

"Tell me Percy, why are you on this quest?" Aphrodite finally said.

"To save Artemis." Percy blinked for a bit before he answered. Was the point of this quest known?

"Artemis, oh, please." Aphrodite rolled her eyes, as she waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. "Talk about a hopeless case. Always on and on about chasing some monster. Hunting some beast. Honestly, if a goddess should be kidnapped, shouldn't they choose the beautiful one?" She huffed. "I'd say let her stay kidnapped. More pity for those poor kidnappers if you think about it."

Percy felt out of his depth here. What was he suppose to say? His mom told him to compliment a woman when they feel bad? Maybe that would work.

"I mean, if they kidnapped you, Lady Aphrodite, they'd be too distracted to achieve their goals, and then you'd just end up commanding them against their leaders in the end." Percy said before shrugging. "So kidnapping a beautiful goddess probably isn't the best idea."

Aphrodite blinked as she looked at Percy. As if really acknowledging his presence now.

Then she laughed.

Aphrodite laughed long and hard, making the most beautiful sound Percy had ever heard. He wanted to stop being a demigod and just be a jester to bring her joy for eternity.

He shook his head, slamming a closed fist onto his knee to focus.

"Oh dear," Aphrodite smiled and sighed. "If I wasn't rooting for your ship, I'd consider taking you up right here and now. Maybe something good did come out of that game."

"Rooting for my what?" Percy blinked in confusion.

"Percy, truly, honestly, why are you in this quest?" Aphrodite asked with a kindly concern.

"To save Thalia," the words left his mouth before he could think them. "To help Annabeth, make sure she's safe." He blinked as he took in what he just said. Honesty felt compelled out of him. "I don't know before we meet again, so its nice to go on one last quest together."

Aphrodite sighed, a sad smile on her face. The river felt darker, less vibrant when he looked at it.

The goddess seemed displeased at his first answer, then grew thoughtful the more he talked.

"This really isn't going how I expected," Aphrodite said. "But," she smiled widely, and the world was brighter again. "This does open up a lot of possibilities. Maybe the game wasn't so bad after all. Harem routes are the most fun after all. lots of joy, lots of love."

"Errr, what?" Percy sat up straight, looked alarmed.

"Yes, that's what I'll do. I thought a single focused romance would be best, but if that's not an option, why not go for one where everyone is happy~!" Aphrodite started to look excited.

"Um, yeah, everyone should be happy, but—"

"Good! We're in agreement." She giggled. "I Bless you Perseus Jackson, with a love that turns into harmony. Go forth and the hero who can make the many girls you love happy."

"Wait! Wait, wait, wait! I don't feel like that, like... like love love to anyone. Yet, I mean, and—"

"It really was nice to meet you Percy. Let's talk again sometime. I'm here if you need any love advice. Don't give up on Annabeth just because the ultra prude got her, okay? Au revoir~."

Aphrodite waved her arm, and suddenly a stupefied Percy found himself outside the suite's door. Ares next to him looked amused as all hell.

"Percy!" Annabeth came to him, looking concern and check up all around him if he was hurt. "You look fine, everything okay?"

Zoe stayed behind letting them have their moment, while Bianca walked up to them.

"I..." Percy blinked staring at nothing.

"Everything turned out alright?" Bianca asked.

"I have absolutely no idea." Percy admitted, shaking his head.

"Oh, good." Annabeth let out a sigh of relief. "As long as you didn't do something to make her curse you, or bless you, you should be fine."

"..." Percy let out a low whine like a drowning fish.

"Percy? You didn't piss off the Goddess of Love and have her curse you, right?" Annabeth said pointedly.

"No. No, I'm fine." Percy squeaked. "Wasn't cursed. All good."

Annabeth let out a breath, then smiled and nodded at him.

"Okay. Good. All good then." She nodded. "Guess it's my turn?" Annabeth looked at a smirking Ares. He grunted and gestured for her to get a move on.

Annabeth smiled at the group and headed inside.

Silence filled the air. Percy went to stand at the ship's rail and look at the river. This thoughts running a hundred miles and hour.

"Hey," Bianca came and stood next to him. "She blessed you, didn't she?"

"...Yes." He squeaked.

"Hmm," Bianca nodded. "I have someone I lov—Like! Point is, don't drag me into your mess and I wish you luck in, what most definitely will be, a very interesting love life."

"I don't want an 'interesting love life'." Percy said. "I don't even know if I want a love life."

"There, there, I'm sure it will get better." Bianca patted him on the shoulder.

"Really?" Percy smiled with wide eyes, full of hope.

"No, you're screwed. Good luck." Bianca gave the brutal truth. Percy's expression fell at that. "Probably should tell Annabeth about the blessing soon to avoid any future headaches." She said.

A few minutes later a fuming Annabeth left the suite room. Seeing her safe, Zoe left to get lunch at the mini-bar.

"Hey, everything good?" Percy asked, as Annabeth came to lean on the guard rail next to him.

"Peachy."

"Right," he nodded. He wondered how to tell Annabeth on the blessing thing. "So anyways Aphrodite did bless me. Hopefully it all turns out well, wanna get lunch?" He just said everything quickly.

Annabeth looked at him with pure disbelief.

Then growled.

"So that's a yes to lunch, right?" Percy said, and power walked very quickly to the mini-bar. After a moment Annabeth went after him.

As for Bianca?

"Why wasn't there a Percy X Annabelle Route?!"

"Wow, you really are your children's mother. Not the conversation I expected but I really should have."

"It was so obvious how they compliment each other, that every route I thought, this is the one. But no! They never get together. And even in the Pandóra Route, which was basically the 'make Rachel's harem combination route', they still don't get together, even as part of Rachel's polycule! What was that? Some kind of sadistic romance denial you were making!?"

"Yes, they were too compatible, so we thought to subvert expectation by just having them be good friends. Mister—The Head Storyboarder said he'd make a different storyline from the Pandóra Route where Rachel and Fafnir have Byanka and Arachne in their polycule, where they meet up later on a different adventure and do get together."

"Aaah, yes, subverting expectation." Aphrodite spat out. "I'm starting to loath that trope. Seriously, I think I'm going to curse Hollywood so that any piece of romance media they make with that dumb trope, would bring disaster to whomever suggested it. Any director, or writer, or producer that dares using it from now on, will have to look behind their back in fear of my wrath. There will be superstition about anyone that dare think about using that stupid, idiotic, annoying, no good trope."

Aphrodite did not actually say that last line. She was far more colorful in her swearing.

Bianca of course, extremely wisely didn't tell the Love Goddess to calm down. That it was just a fictional story.

Lest Aphrodite turns her into fiction, or something equally Greek.

"I mean, now there's a lot of interest now on the interest in the route. The writers are likely to make it a big deal later when it finally happens, right?" Bianca said diplomatically.

"Of course there is! As head of the PercyBelle Fanclub, I make damn sure interest in the route never wanes." Aphrodite had Japanese fans. One with the face of Game Percy and one with the fan of Game Annabeth. She was now wearing a shirt that had both faces and an 'X' between them, while they were in a heart.

Of course she was. Bianca deadpanned in her thoughts. And she has merch? WHAT THE FUCK!? Who sold it to her?

"But how does that help me get my Percy X Annabelle Ship now?"

What are you? A drug addict? Bianca wanted to scream.

"Isn't the satisfaction of getting something you've been anticipating for a long time, make it more rewarding?" Bianca offered as an answer.

"..." Aphrodite looked thoughtful.

"Annabeth is immortal—I mean Annabeth is a story character. And like you pointed out they are obviously compatible, so wouldn't she eventually get together with Percy in one of the many different timelines? It's practically guaranteed!" I'm so sorry Percy. "So... patience will just make the reward better in this case, right?"

"...Yes." Aphrodite said with a sigh. "Maybe I have been too hasty. If they are both immortal then there's no reason their ship can eventually sail."

"Yes." Bianca nodded, hoping this discussion would finally end.

"Now, let's talk about the love I feel inside you, dear." Aphrodite grinned.

"Oh no." Bianca muttered.

"Oh yes~. Because for some reason I didn't know you had a love for anyone till I met you. And wow, that is a lot of beef."

"..." Bianca was looking down, covering her face with her hands, not meeting the goddess's eyes full of mirth. She let out a long whining squeak.

"Oh, I'm just teasing Bianca." Aphrodite said, we she was leaning in while talking to the daughter of Hades. "But really, with all the naughty effort she already did—Yes, I can see that."

"EEEK!"

Aphrodite laughed. "Oh, you're so precious." She smiled. "Really though, why haven't you confessed to him yet? I mean, a love between a demigod and a monster? One that's organically grown? I've never even knew that I wanted this."

"Stoooop!" Bianca whined.

The goddess giggled, but finally stopped teasing the poor demigod teenager.

"But really, you were already so brave, what made you hesitate? You can still call on him even now, so why don't you?" Aphrodite asked with a surprising gentle tone.

Bianca looked between her finger to see Aphrodite look at her patiently. Slowly Bianca lowered her hands, as she looked down thoughtfully.

"He's..." Bianca gathered her thoughts. "Asterios is so much older than me, I thought I should wait until I..." She looked down at her small budding breasts. "Mature a bit."

Aphrodite smiled fondly. "The minotaur is old, child. Old long enough that girls your age and size were the height of beauty." She said, hinting.

"Also, he saw me as someone to look after, I'm not sure if he feels the same way." Bianca looked aside.

"Bianca," Aphrodite spoke with a gentler, but firmer voice. "Love isn't something you should be shy about. It's something to pursue strongly, or you'll just end up living with regret for the rest of your life."

"I think..." Bianca looked up meeting the goddess's gaze. "He might love someone else. There were these notes, and I'm not sure if they were for a sequel game or—"

"Then fight for your love. Your right to be with him. Seek it anyways." Aphrodite affirmed.

"Shouldn't it be that, 'if you love someone let them go'?" Bianca said back.

"Denying your own feelings isn't noble, it's just masochistic for no reason. You should follow what your heart desires." Aphrodite waved her off.

"Isn't acting on your desire without love, just greed or envy?" Bianca pushed back.

"Semantics! Besides I am the Goddess of Love, Beauty and Desire, where one begins and one ends, even I don't know." Aphrodite chuckled and smiled. "Following a desire, leads to passion, leads to love. It is no different in this case." She said. "Also, the seven sins? You should not follow that Biblical system for ethics and virtues as a Greek Demigod. Trust me, it does not end well." She shook her head.

"It's pretty good system, what ethics should I use then?" Bianca asked with furrowed brows.

"Courage, Discipline, Justice and Wisdom. The Stoic system can work, if you want, although only the first two are best in my view." Aphrodite said, looking satisfied yet bring the topic to a close. "Regardless, it's been fun talking to one of the writers of Fate/Téras Konístra. Tell your dear Bullman, that I look forward to his future works, and I expect him to do the right thing." The Divine Beauty said pointedly.

"Yep, yes, definitely." Bianca rapidly nodded.

"Alright then," Aphrodite beamed. "And it seems like we reached your stop. Ta ta~."

The five questers were dropped in the desert in Arizona. There have no idea how they got there, when they were right in the middle of a river.

Look like Aphrodite wasn't all that satisfied with her talk with the three demigods, and let Ares express some pettiness at the end.

AN: Alright. Work on next part right away? ...Naaaah, I'mma go eat then play Black Myth: Wukong. Later.