Chapter 1: The Preparations

Zoë's P.O.V

"It's time to wake up, Smart Guppy," her voice said as the smell of cinnamon by a campfire came to my nose followed by the scent of flowers.

My eyes snapped open to be met with amber eyes filled with hope and happiness as her hair was up in a braid similar to her mother's and a toga also similar to it but with orange specks. "Sammy," I breathed as she smiled softly, "Sammy," I repeated bolting up from the grass I was laying and taking her into a hug

A giggle escaped her as I took her to the ground and soaked in her comfort and aura, "Zoë," she said into my chest as I wasn't planning to let her go anytime soon. "Zoë, please," she said once more and I parted from her

"Was this the thing that Naomi thought Chaos was planning?"

My Brave Embers grinned before nodding, "She had a feeling that was her plan especially when she was putting together the pieces of when I was first in her head."

"You have something to say about that meeting," I began, "don't you?"

Sammy nodded as her lips thinned into a line and she looked at the horizon of the field of flowers we were in. "I don't want you to ever discredit her for anything," she began, "I may be in her head and I may be able to control her but I don't want you to keep her from any of this. If she gets hurt then that is fine," Sammy paused as I watched the clouds float over the sky. "I will do whatever I can to help her out just as Annabeth did everything to help you out. We will still have each other even if it's not the way you planned it I will still be with you."

I bit my lip as I looked into her amber eyes, "You're mad at me for doing that aren't you?"

Sammy shook her head, "I am a little irritated but I'm not mad," she began, "you should've seen me when the Fates showed themselves in the throne room. I was fuming in Naomi's head as they had told me that Chao's was an imposter whereas End wasn't."

"Did they ever let you explain?"

Sammy shook her head once more, "They said that I'll have my chance to explain myself in time," she paused. "I have a feeling they were being controlled when they were punishing me the first time around. I think this type of punishment is something that can't be undone anytime soon," she sighed as she looked at the sky. "That's probably why they gave me the ability to control Naomi and speak to her as our parents spoke to us. This battle against Chaos's brother just doesn't make sense though."

I arched an eyebrow, "The fact that we're fighting the brother of the creator or the fact that we're also going to fight two beings who weren't supposed to be back in our parents' lifetime?"

Sammy bit her lip, "All of the above, Jackson," she began, "it is slightly understandable if the Olympians are losing power but that still doesn't make any sense when it comes to Gaea and Kronos."

I sighed, "No it doesn't," I whispered as I found her hand and held it

"I want you to do two things for me," Sammy whispered, "it can help you make sure Naomi is safe and you too."

"What is it," I asked as I closed my eyes and took in the scent of the area

"The first is that I want you to tell mom of what Chaos's gift is if she doesn't know already along with taking care of her," Sammy began before pausing

"Those two are a given," I began, "what's the second thing?"

Silence fell between us before Sammy spoke again, "I want you and Naomi to get the Achilles Curse. You can take Bianca and Stephan with you but please promise me that you two will get it first."

I froze, "I was already considering it," I began, "I thought you would be against it considering how much pain a person goes through with it. What makes you suggest this," I asked confusion filling my mind

"I can see you two the leaders of the war if I'm not physically involved," Sammy began, "for some reason, I feel that Naomi is going to be the bait for you many times around. I don't want to take the chances of her dying from any torture that they may inflict on her for whatever reason. I don't know what'll happen when she dies if I am still in here but I'd rather that not be sooner than we had hoped."

I nodded, "The question is where would our curse be?"

I shifted so I was looking straight at Sammy who had just opened her mouth to answer, "Remember the places that were hard as Hades for anybody to reach on your father and Luke."

My eyes widened, "Dad's place was easy to reach," I began, remembering that point in the book. "I don't know if you ever got to read the books but in the last book of the first series, mom had blocked dad's Achilles Curse. Someone was going to stab him in the back with a poisoned knife and she took the blow for him without even knowing where the curse was."

Sammy bit her lip, "Then that would mean we'd have to take Luke's idea," she whispered and I nodded, "who would know about it?"

I sighed, "Your mother would know by looking through memories," I began, "Kronos would know because that's who made Luke get the curse in the first place. My mother would have to know because she would feel the pain coming from the river. Everyone who was involved in that war would know where his curse was."

"How are we going to change it up," Sammy asked as I thought

"I could pull aside mom and dad to see which armpit Luke used for his curse so Naomi and I could do the opposite but that is after I get her approval," I muttered and Sammy nodded

"You wouldn't want to inflict that pain on anyone without their approval," she said and I nodded, "that means you'd need to talk to Bianca and Stephan about it too."

I sighed, "I might as well get everyone rallied in Bunker 9 who would know about the curse and see who would take Naomi and me."

"I believe Neeks wouldn't mind taking you," Sammy began before thinking again, "but who else?"

I chewed on the inside of my cheek as some people came into mind, "I have an idea but they won't like it," I began as the sky darkened

"Who," Sammy began as her eyes glanced up, "if it's short then tell me now or wait until you meet up with Naomi."

I chuckled, "I think it's time for a Monster Meeting."