Annabeth came over with Jason to bring him to his first camp bonfire. When they get there, they see the Apollo cabin finishing up a song. Annabeth dragged Jason to sit beside her on the opposite of the Apollo cabin. Once the song ended everyone cheered and the people called for Nia to sing a song.

She started laughing, "No no guys not tonight!"

"C'mon Nia! One song! Carry On!" Someone shouted seemingly from the Demeter cabin.

Will swung his arm around her shoulders, "C'mon sis, only one song. We'll back you up, right?" Will called out to their siblings and received a bunch of agreements in return. Nia was cornered this time and it was clear the majority.

Apollonia rolled her eyes playfully, "Okay fine, I'll sing the favourite, Carry On." She turned around to her siblings to get the quick musical arrangements ready.

"Ooo Jason, you are in for a treat tonight! Everyone loves her voice and she has actually written many songs for artists and soundtracks over the years under another name. You, newbies, are really gonna enjoy this!" Annabeth said giddily for the first time since her boyfriend went missing.

It was nice to see a happy Annabeth for once. Jason found Leo sitting with some burly tough looking people that he assumed were his siblings. He saw Piper sitting and talking with Rachel a few metres away from them, still closer to him than Apollonia was. Jason turned back around when he heard a guitar strum. He saw many of the Apollo kids had an instrument in their hand and he assumed the ones without an instrument were singing along.

He heard a quiet 1,2,3 then the melody began. His breath hitched when he heard a beautiful voice.

There's always going to be some canyon in the way
There's always going to be a river I can not cross
Somewhere along this path, that's chosen me
I know I'm gonna fall down, feel lost, feel weak
But wherever it leads

No one said this would be easy, my love
But I will be by your side when the impossible rises up
We will travel this life well-worn
No matter the cause, no matter how long
We will leave our footprints behind

And carry o-on
Carry o-on
Carry o-on
Carry o-on

Some will ride you off before you ever started
Some will say the journey's just too hard, hum
Somewhere between right here and the other side
There will be fear and doubt in the deep dark night
But we will survive, yeah

No one said this would be easy, my love
But I will be by your side when the impossible rises up
We will travel this life well-worn
No matter the cause, no matter how long
We will leave our footprints behind

And carry o-on
Carry o-on
Carry o-on
Carry o-on

We may fall behind
Lose miles along this road
We will be alright
I will never let you go

No one said this would be easy, my love
But I will be by your side when the impossible rises up
We will travel this life well-worn
No matter the cause, no matter how long
We will leave our footprints behind

And carry on
And carry on

The beautiful harmonies and melody came to an end and suddenly there were a bunch of rowdy cheers and whistling. Jason could tell she lifted everyone's moods up. Hell, she even succeeded in lifting his own. He looked at his friend's faces, Annabeth beside him had the biggest smile he had ever seen her wear, Leo looked like he just finished rocking out, Piper had a small smile on her face, while Rachel beside her was still swaying back and forth as if there was still music, then finally at the main singer herself, she had such a big smile on and he saw her eyes sparkle and light up for the first time— and he fell in love with it.

Chiron came forth in all horse glory smiling while clapping, "Very nice! I want to give a special welcome to the new arrivals. I am Chiron, camp activities director, and I'm happy you have all arrived here alive and with all limbs attached. In a moment, I promise we'll get to the s'mores, but first—"

"What about capture the flag?" someone from the Ares cabin yelled. Grumbles broke out among some of the kids around the bonfire.

"Yes," the centaur said, "I know the Ares cabin especially is anxious to return to the woods for our regular games."

"And kill people!" an Ares kid shouted, making most people smile or laugh. Annabeth and Apollonia just had unimpressed looks.

"However," Chiron started, "Until the dragon is brought under control, that won't be possible. Cabin Nine, anything to report on that?"

He turned to the group Leo was sitting with, Leo sent a wink to Jason's way making the boy smile and wink back playfully. The girl next to Leo stood up uncomfortably. She wore an army jacket that looked similar to Leo's own jacket, " We're working on it," she said.

"How, Nyssa?" An Ares yelled out.

"Really hard." Nyssa snapped back.

Nyssa sat back down to a lot of campers yelling and complaining, causing the fire to sputter wildly. Chiron stamped his hoof against the fire pit stones and the complaints came to an end, silence being welcomed into the group.

"We will have to be patient," Chiron said, "In the meantime, we have more pressing matters to discuss."

"Percy?" Someone called out. Jason suddenly felt the crowd's anxiety and knew this guy was huge at the camp if it affected everyone.

Chiron made eye contact with Nia so she stood up and took a deep breath, "Beth and I didn't find Percy" she announced a bit downheartedly but Jason could tell that she tried to stay strong for her peers. "He was not at the Grand Canyon like we thought he would be, but we are not going to give up. We have everyone looking everywhere. Grover, Tyson, Nico, even the Hunter of Artemis. We will find him. Chiron is talking about something different. A new quest, to be exact."

"It's the Great Prophecy, isn't it?" someone called out. Everyone turned to look at the person who spoke. Everyone was surprised when realising the voice was Drew's. Jason could tell that the girl didn't speak out often. She still looked confident even with her now shoulder-length hair, courtesy of Apollonia.

"Drew?" Annabeth addressing the girl, standing up as well. "What do you mean?"

"Well come on—" Drew spread her arms out like the truth was obvious. "Olympus is closed. Percy's disappearance. Hera sends you and Nia a vision then you show up with three new demigods in one day. I mean, something weird is going on. The Great Prophecy has started, right?"

"Wow, that was the first intelligent thing you've ever said. Well done Drew," Apollonia addressed making the tense campers let out some laughs.

Everyone looked to Rachel.

"Well?" Drew asked impatiently, "You're the oracle, has it started or not?"

Rachel's eyes looked scary in the firelight. She stepped forward calmly and addressed the camp.

"Yes," she confirmed, "The Great Prophecy has started."

Pandemonium broke out among the crowd. Nobody noticed that Apollonia's eyes glistened with tears, but Jason did. She shook her head blinking away the unshed tears before clearing her throat, "Get a hold of yourselves!" she shouted making the sound die down before she continued, "Yes, the last Great Prophecy took so much away from us. The amount of destruction it has caused will never be forgotten. This new Great Prophecy is unavoidable and we all know this! The best thing we can do is train harder than ever because, by the gods, we all know a Great Prophecy leads to war! Educate ourselves even more on what's to come and honour those who have bravely passed from the last one by prevailing through this one. Silena, Lee, Michael, Charles, Luke, and so many more... have died so we can still keep on fighting for them. Now sit and calm your minds. For those who have not heard the prophecy–– Rachel?"

Jason looked at the girl in admiration. The girl who looked like she was about to start balling her eyes out, gathered her inner strength to control the anxious and scared crowd and made them even more empowered to prevail and fight their way through another Great Prophecy just shortly after the last one that seemed like it took many loved ones. No doubt the campers want a break before possibly having to lose more family and friends.

"Yes, so for those who have not heard it, it goes like this," Rachel said, getting ready to recite the Great Prophecy.

"Eight half-bloods shall answer the call
To storm or fire the world must fall–"

Jason shot to his feet. His eyes looked wild like he'd just been electrocuted. Even Rachel seemed to be caught off guard, "Jason? What's–"

"—Ut cum spiritu postrema sacramentum dejuremus,
Et hostes ornamenta addent ad ianuam necem."

An uneasy silence settled on the group. Rachel stammered, "You just... finished the prophecy,"

"–An oath to keep with a final breath
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death"

"How did you–" She got cut off.

"I know those lines,' Jason winced and put his hands to his temples "I don't know how, but I know that prophecy"

"In Latin, no less," Drew called out, "Handsome and smart" There were some giggles going around the Aphrodite cabin.

"Quiet, Cabin 10, you are already on thin ice," Apollonia said, shooting them a deadly glare. The cabin quickly shut its patronizing giggles and it went back to silence.

Jason sat down embarrassed and Annabeth put her hand on his shoulder telling him it's alright. Rachel still looked a bit shaken. She glanced at Chiron and Nia for guidance, but they both just stood grim and silent.

"Well," Rachel said, trying to regain composure. "So, yeah, The Great Prophecy. We hoped it might not happen for years but I fear it's starting now. I can't give you any proof. It's just a feeling. As Drew said, some weird stuff has been going on. The eight demigods, whoever they are have not been gathered yet. I get the feeling some are here tonight. Some are not."

The campers began to stir and mutter among themselves, looking at each other with nerves and anxiety, until a drowsy voice in the crowd called out, "I'm here! Oh... were you calling roll?"

"Go back to sleep, Clovis!" someone yelled, causing nervous laughter to ring among the group.

"Anyway," Rachel started again, "We don't know what the Great Prophecy means. We don't know what challenge the demigods will face, but since the first Great Prophecy predicted the Titan War, we can guess that the second Great Prophecy will predict something at least that bad."

"Or worse," Chiron muttered darkly. Maybe he didn't mean for everyone to overhear, but they did. The campfire immediately turned dark purple.

"What we do know," Rachel said, "is that the first phase has begun. A major problem has arisen, and we need a quest to solve it. Hera, Queen of the gods, has been taken." Shocked silence took over for a few seconds then fifty demigods started talking all at once.

Chiron pounded his hoof again, but Rachel still had to wait before she could get back on track. She told them about Annabeth and Apollonia's vision from Hera and the incident on the Grand Canyon skywalk– how Gleeson Hedge had sacrificed himself when the storm spirits began to attack, and the spirits warned that it was only the beginning. They apparently served some great mistress who would wipe all demigods. Then Rachel told them about Piper passing out in Hera's cabin.

Everyone got startled when Apollonia suddenly threw a dagger that lodged itself in the wood of the benches beside Drew's head and her friends who were mocking Piper. They froze and put their attention back on Rachel. Jason found it admirable that she stuck up for a girl she barely knew– again. Then again, he assumed that she would take any opportunity to do something like that to someone like Drew.

Finally, Rachel told them about Jason's vision in the living room of the Big House.

"Jason," Rachel said, "Um... do you remember your last name?" He looked self-conscious but shook his head.

"We'll just call you Jason, then," Rachel stated, "It's clear that Hera herself has issued you a quest."

Rachel paused giving Jason a chance to protest against his destiny. Everyone's eyes were on him; Jason felt all the pressure on him, yet he had a look of such braveness and determination. He set his jaw and nodded, "I accept."

"You must save Hera to prevent a great evil," Rachel continued, "Some sort of king from rising. For reasons, we don't understand just yet. It must happen by the winter solstice, only four days from now."

"That's the council day of the Gods," Annabeth said, "If the gods don't already know Hera's gone, they will definitely notice her absence by then. They'll probably break out into a fight, accuse each other of taking her. That's what they usually do."

"The winter solstice," Chiron spoke up, "Is also a time of great darkness. The gods gather up that day, as mortals always have because there is strength in numbers. The solstice is a day when evil magic is strong. Ancient magic, older than the gods. It is a day when things... stir."

He said it so darkly that the campers began to become nervous and unsettled.

Apollonia scowled and glared at the centaur, "Okay, thank you, Mr Ode to Joy. With what is going on, I agree with Rachel. Jason has been chosen to lead a quest–"

"Why hasn't he been claimed?" an Ares kid cut her off, "If he's so important–"

"He has been claimed," Apollonia snapped back annoyed. 

Chiron stepped in, "Long ago. Jason, give them a demonstration."

He stood up then glanced at Piper, and she nodded encouragingly. She mimicked the action of a coin flip. Jason reached into his pocket. His coin flashing in the air, and when he caught it, he was holding a lance– a rod of pure gold about seven feet long, with a spear tip at one end. Annabeth and Rachel stepped back to avoid the point, which looked as sharp as an icepick.

Annabeth was confused, "Wasn't that... Didn't you have a sword?"

"Uh, it came up tails, I think," Jason said, "Same coin, long-range weapon form."

"Dude! I want one!" someone from Ares cabin yelled obnoxiously.

"Better than Clarisse's electric spear, Lamer" one of his brothers agreed.

An idea flashed through his mind, "Electric," Jason mumbled like it was such a great idea, "Back away," he told Annabeth and Rachel who were close enough to be in range.

Annabeth and Rachel got the message. Apolonia and Chiron didn't move from their spots; they just stared intently at him. Jason raised his javelin, and thunder broke open the sky. Lightning arced down through the golden spear point and hit the campfire with force similar to that of an artillery shell. When the smoke cleared, the ringing in everyone's ears subsided, the campers except Apollonia who looked annoyed, sat frozen in shock and covered in ashes. A burning log had impaled itself a few inches from a sleeping Clovis, who hadn't even stirred.

Jason lowered his lance, "Uh... sorry"

Chiron brushed some burning coals out of his beard. He grimaced as if his worst fears have been confirmed, "A little overkill, perhaps, but you've made your point. I believe we all know who your father is."

"Jupiter," Jason said with no hesitation, "I mean, Zeus. Lord of the Sky."

Everything broke into chaos, with dozens of questions and comments until Annabeth raised her hand in defiance.

"Hold it!" she said, "How can he be the son of Zeus? The Big Three... their pact not to have mortal kids... how could we not have known of him sooner?"

Apollonia made eye contact with Chiron and she pursed her lips before opening them, "Well, Beth, we all know that so-called pact is loads of bullshit anyway." She said trying to derive the topic away from her and Chiron a bit.

"The important thing," Rachel said, sending a small smile to Apollonia, "Is that Jason's here now. He has a quest to fulfil, which means he will need his own prophecy."

She closed her eyes and fell off balance. Travis and Conner rushed forward to catch her. Someone from the Nemesis cabin went to grab a bronze three-legged stool. They eased Rachel onto the stool in front of the ruined hearth. Without the fire, the night was dark but then green mist started swirling around Rachel's feet. When she opened her eyes, they were glowing green. Emerald smoke flowed out of her mouth. The voice that came out was raspy and ancient– the sound a snake could make if they could talk.

"Soulmates under lightning and sun, beware the earth,
The giants' revenge the eight shall birth,
The forge and dove shall break the cage,
And death unleash through Hera's rage"

On the last word, Rachel collapsed, but her helpers were already there to catch her. They carried her away from the dark hearth and brought her to the corer for her to rest.

"Is that normal?" Piper asked. Everyone looked at her, "I mean... does she spew green smoke a lot?"

"Gods, you're dense!" Drew sneered at her, "She just issued a prophecy– Jason's prophecy to save Hera! Why don't you just–"

"Drew!" Apollonia snapped, "If I remember correctly you fainted the first time it happened so I wouldn't talk if I were you." Apollonia embarrassed her while rubbing her own temples from a headache.

Annabeth decided to step up, "Piper asked a fair question. It's her first day. Besides, something about that prophecy definitely isn't normal. If breaking Hera's cage unleashes her rage and causes a bunch of death... why would we free her? It might be a trap, or–– or maybe Hera will turn on her rescuers. She's never been kind to heroes."

Jason rose again, "I don't have much choice. Hera took my memory. I need it back. Besides, we can't just not help the queen of the heavens if she's in trouble"

Nyssa stood up, "She's right, you know. You should listen to Annabeth. Hera can be vengeful. She threw her own son– our dad– down a mountain just because he was ugly."

"Real ugly," someone from the Aphrodite cabin snickered causing a few giggles from the siblings.

"Shut up!" Nyssa growled, "Anyway, we've also got to think– why beware the earth? Plus, what's the giants' revenge? What are we dealing with here that's powerful enough to kidnap the queen of the heavens?"

Annabeth, Apollonia, and Chiron had a silent exchange. That seemed to be going a little like this:

Annabeth: The giants' revenge... no, it can't be.
Apollonia: Yes, how unfortunate for us
Chiron: Don't speak of it here. You'll scare them.
Annabeth: You gotta be joking with me here, guys! This is just great!
Apollonia: I really am not in the mood to fight in another one thanks
Chiron: Later child. If you told them anything, they would be too terrified to proceed.

Annabeth took a deep breath, "It's Jason's quest," she announced, "So it's Jason's choice. Obviously, he's the child of lightning. According to tradition, he may choose any two companions."

"I think this one calls for four!" Someone yelled out.

Someone shouted out, "Well, you obviously. Annabeth or even Apollonia. You've got the most experience."
"No," Annabeth retorted, "First off, every time I've tried, she's deceived me, or it's come back to bite me later. Forget it. No way. Secondly, Apollonia and I are leaving first thing in the morning to find Percy."

"It's connected," Piper blurted out, "You know that's true, don't you? This whole business, your boyfriend's disappearance– it's all connected!"

"How?" Drew demanded, "If you're so smart, how?"

Piper tried to form an answer, but she couldn't. Annabeth decided to save her, "You may be right, Piper. If this is connected. I'll find out from the other end– by searching for Percy. As I said, I'm not about to rush off to rescue Hera, even if her disappearance sets off the rest of the Olympians fighting again. But there's another reason I can't go. The prophecy says otherwise"

"It says who I pick," Jason agreed, "The forge and the dove shall break the cage."

"Makes sense," Chiron said.

Jason continued, "The forge is the symbol of Vul– Hephaestus."

Under the Cabin Nine banner, Nyssa's shoulders slumped, as if she'd just been given a heavy anvil to carry "If you have to beware the earth," She said, "You should avoid travelling overland. You'll need air transport"

"The flying chariot is broken," Nyssa continued, "And the pegasi, we're using them to search for Percy. Maybe the Hephaestus cabin can help figure something out else to help. With Jake incapacitated, I'm a senior camper. I can volunteer for the quest." She didn't sound too happy about it.

Then Leo stood up, "It's me," he said. His cabin mates stirred. Several tried to pull him back into his seat, but Leo resisted them, "No, it's me. I know it is. I've got an idea for the transportation problem. Let me try. I can fix this!"

Jason studied him for a moment. Then he smiled, "We started this together, Leo. Seems only right you come along. You find us a ride, you're in."

"Yes!" Leo pumped his fists in the air.

"It'll be dangerous," Nyssa warned her new brother, "Hardships, monsters, terrible suffering. Possibly none of you coming back alive"

"Oh," Leo didn't look too excited anymore. Then he remembered everyone was watching him, "I mean... Oh cool! Suffering? I love suffering! Let's do this!"

Apollonia smiled at him before turning her face stoic to look at Jason, "Then Jason, you only need to choose the next quest member. The dove–"

"Oh, absolutely!" Drew jumped to her feet, flashing Jason a smile, "I'm a child of Aphrodite. Everybody knows that the Dove is my mom's symbol. I am totally yours."

Piper had her hands clenched, "No."

Drew rolled her eyes, "Oh, please, Dumpster Girl. Back off."

"I had the vision of Hera; not you! I have to do this," she seethed.

"Anyone can have a vision," Drew said, "You were just at the right place at the right time," She turned to Jason, "Looking fighting is all fine, I suppose. And people who build things..." She glanced at Leo in disdain, "Well, I suppose someone has to get their hands dirty. But you need charm on your side. I can be very persuasive, I could help a lot."

"Oh please, Drew, you can't even fight to save your life," Apollonia said rolling her eyes, "Jason, please choose any other Aphrodite kid but her," Apollonia said using full charm speak.

The campers started murmuring among themselves about who should go.

"Well..." Annabeth said, "Given the word of the prophecy––"

"No!" Piper's voice sounded strange in their ears–– more insistent, richer in tone, "I'm supposed to go"

Jason can see Apollonia slightly smirking as if she knows something.

Then the weirdest thing happened. Everyone started nodding, muttering that Piper's point made sense too.

Drew looked around, incredulous. Even some of her siblings were nodding.

"Get over it!" Drew snapped to the crowd, "What can Piper do?"

Piper tried to come up with something, but couldn't.

"Well," Drew said smugly, "I guess that settles it."

"Just hold up one second, it's coming," Apollonia said, smirking. Then suddenly there was a collective gasp. Everyone stared at Piper. There was a reddish glow around her.

"What?" She demanded. She looked above herself, then she looked down and let out a yelp. She was adorned in a beautiful white sleeveless gown. Delicate gold armbands circled her biceps. An intricate necklace of amber, coral, and gold flowers glittered on her chest, her hair was perfect. She even had makeup on.

"Oh god," she said, "What's happened to me?"

A stunned Annabeth pointed at Piper's dagger, which was now oiled and gleaming, hanging at her side on a golden cord. She unsheathed Katoptris.

Leo whistled, "Whew beauty queen, aren't you a knockout"

"Piper looks like you can be on the quest you so desperately wanted to go on," Apollonia smiled at her.

Drew's face was full of horror and revulsion. "No!" She cried, "Not possible!"

"This isn't me," Piper protested, "I– I don't understand!"

Chiron folded his front legs and bowed to her, and all the campers followed his example.

"Hail, Piper McLean," Chiron announced gravely as if he were speaking at his funeral, "Daughter of Aphrodite, Lady of Doves, goddess of love"

"No, this can't be happening," Piper mumbled to herself while slowly sitting back down.

"Now, Jason, there is one more. Soulmates under lightning and sun whatever that means," Annabeth said confused.

"It means he has a set soulmate," Lucy from the Aphrodite cabin spoke up timidly.

Jason was just as shocked as everyone else, he looked at Chiron finally realising why he was asked that odd question.

"Sun... Your soulmate is a child of Apollo," Annabeth came to the realisation.

Everyone looked over to the campers sitting under the yellow banner. They in turn all looked at their lovely older sister, Apollonia, immediately throwing her under the semi-truck. She was frozen on the spot. It looked like she was curling up on herself trying to make herself look small.

"There is only one with a set soulmate from a child of Apollo," Will said, smirking at Apollonia.

"Apollonia, dear..." Chiron trailed off apologetically.

"What if it's Will, not me? A soulmate is a soulmate, everyone secretly has one! Can't I have one break?!" Apollonia snapped fiercely, regaining her composure and looking up to the skies at the last part.

Jason felt hurt by her statement, he put the final pieces together and knew it was her. He knew based on her reaction earlier that she knew too. Why didn't she want him? What's wrong with him? Was he too ugly? Was he not enough? He opened his mouth to say something but just ended up closing it. He was too hurt to say anything to her. His gaze fell to his feet. His lip quivered, barely visible, but one person caught his reaction.

"Apollonia we both know it's you, my dear. Don't use your siblings as a scapegoat, He is your destined soulmate, you need to accept that," Chiron chided her softly.

"No, no, no! It can't be someone like him! I can't–– Y-You don't understand––" Apollonia cried, tearing up, losing her composure and falling back a bit into Will who immediately jumped up and steadied her against his side keeping her on her feet. Jason just felt plain miserable now, he made his soulmate cry just by being him. He wants her. He knows he does, he already feels the soulmate bond tugging him in deep.

He suddenly remembers what Juno said, she needs to fall for him, it's essential for the Great Prophecy. So he looked back up at her and put up a determined facial expression. He decided he's gonna fight for her, he was who she was destined for, and he was going to do his best to show her that.

Piper spoke up, "Apollonia we need you on the quest, you're mentioned, he needs you."

Apollonia whipped her head towards the girl with a scowl, "Don't you dare use your charm speak on me, girl. I too have that gift, yours is weak next to mine," she snapped in a rich tone. Making Piper sit back down beside Annabeth who quietly comforted the girl and defended her best friend's actions softly.

"If not for me... Your soulmate... do it for the Hera, for the gods," Jason finally spoke up quietly, "We need you on the quest like Piper said, you're mentioned in the prophecy..."

Apollonia looked like she was going to break down with all the sudden pressure on her to not only go on the quest, but if she fully rejects him, she'll look like a major ass in front of not only the campers but by the gods who are probably watching this for pure entertainment. The lightning lit up the sky with loud thunder. Zeus was not happy with her. Apollonia looked like she wanted to faint once Zeus made his opinion heard.

"Fine, I'll go," Apollonia said shakily, trying to regain her composure but utterly failing, "Be ready at dawn, the three of you, Leo make sure you have that transportation ready. We are already short on time and I will not allow my Chara to fly miles carrying four people." She stated before whipping out of her brother's arms to go back to her cabin. Jason just guessed, it wasn't really to sleep but to get out of the attention, she was done for the night.

"Well... you three heard her, at dawn, she's right. You are on a time crunch," Chiron said after a few silent moments, "Now, the important stuff is out of the way, who wants s'mores?"

Finished my last exam! Oops, why does she not want Jason🤓

I absolutely LOVE the song she sings! The song is Carry On by Olivia Holt. It's from DisneyNature Bears 💚