(Time skip---- a few million years later)

(Heracles's POV)

I walked towards the Garden of Hesperides.

I had to get one of the golden apples. This should be easy.

There was a bright flash, and I looked away. When I looked back, there was a young boy with raven black hair, sea green eyes, and a serious expression.

"Why are you here?" I asked. "And who are you anyway? By the looks of you, you are a demigod son of Poseidon, so you should be bowing at my feet."

Instead of the reaction I had expected, the boy just smiled and laughed.

"I am no demigod, but I am not a mortal like thou either." The boy looked at me. "I'm Perseus Jackson, but thou will call me Percy." He held out his hand like he was waiting for me to shake it.

I wrinkled my nose. I wasn't going to shake hands with someone lower than me.

"And why would I do that?" I asked. I smirked. "If I don't will you call your little daddy Poseidon?"

"Poseidon is not my father," he said. "I never liked my father. He tried to eat me once. He's dead now. Killed by thine father and myself. Well, as dead as an immortal can be."

"So you are a demigod," I smiled triumphantly. "I was right."

"No," Percy said, "I'm not."

"But you just said your dad is immortal," I said. "He's a god."

"First of all, he was not a god," Percy said. "Second of all, my mother was immortal too."

It took me a second to register what he meant.

But how could this kid be a god? He's not even impressive.

"You're a god?" I asked. "What are you the god of?"

"Oh, thou know, water, loyalty, the betrayed, respect, the Garden of Hesperides, weapons time, earth, heroes, secrets, lies, honesty, guilt, insanity, pain, and some other stuff. I let some other people take control of my domains like Apollo for truth and stuff, but I still more control than them. I have come to tell thee not to try and take one of the golden apples."

"It's the only way I can redeem myself," I said, trying to go from the guilt approach. "If you don't let me, I will never be able to."

"No," Percy said. "I can't let you. Just don't try, okay?"

I hesitated, then nodded.

Percy nodded and flashed away.

That's the good thing about the gods. They're gullible, even the god of lies and truth.

(Percy's POV)

I flashed away to the Garden of Hesperides. I appeared in front of all of the Hesperides.

They were singing as they tended to the garden. I smiled and joined in. We were always good at singing together.

When the song was finished, they looked over at me and smiled.

I smiled back.

All the Hesperides left, knowing who I wanted to talk to.

I walked over to the remaining one, Merope. The other Hesperides were the only ones who knew we were together. Most people didn't know that I existed. I hadn't told any of my brothers or sisters.

Merope ran over to me. I kissed her.

"What brings thou here?" Asked Merope.

My face turned serious.

"There's a man outside, Heracles son of my brother, Zeus," I told her. "He agreed not to come, but I don't believe him. Can thee make sure to keep an eye out, please?"

"Sure," Merope replied.

"Thanks," I said. "Bye."

"Please, stay a while longer," Merope said.

"I can't," I said. "I know that we need to spend more time together. I love thou. But I need to go, I have to go."

"Then take me with thee!" Merope said. "Please."

I held her hands and kissed her.

"I'm sorry, Merope, but I can't."

I started to glow and Merope closed her eyes.

(Heracles POV)

I watched the whole thing. I would be an awesome super spy.

I have a plan.

(Merope's POV)

Percy just left again.

I walked out into the garden and got back to tending to it. Then I saw a man walk into the garden.

I walked up next to him.

"Hi," I said, startling him, "are thou Hercules, son of Zeus?"

"Yes I am," Heracles said. "I need to get a golden apple from the tree. It's the only way to redeem myself."

My curiosity spiked. "Redeem yourself for what?"

"Hera, the queen of the gods, took control of my mind and made me. . . like a puppet. She made me kill my family."

I gasped.

I gave him a comforting hug.

"Sorry, though," I sighed. "I can't help thou."

"I bet a you can," Heracles said. "Like, how do I defeat Ladon?"

"No, it's that I can't." I looked up at him. "If I do, then I will be betraying my sisters and Percy."

"Think about it," Heracles said. "Has he ever brought you on any of his trips?"

"No," I said.

"Does he ever tell you where he's going?" Heracles asked.

I bit my lip. "No."

"How do you know he's not betraying you?"

At those words, my heart stopped.

What if he had been betraying me?

"Help me out," Heracles said. "I will be loyal to you."

"When you are done and you have the apple, will you let me go on your adventures?"

Heracles thought about it.

"Yes."

"Then I will help you."

(Time skip--- a few minutes later)

"Take this," I told Heracles. I pulled out a pin from my hair. "It contains my immortal essence. Take it and make a weapon. Just remember--- do not kill Ladon."

Heracles took it and it formed into a sword.

Anaklusmos.

Riptide.

(Time skip--- Heracles fighting Ladon)

He had cut off ninety nine of the heads. There was one left.

I watched in horror as he chopped off the last one too and took a few of the apples.

I ran up to him.

"I told thee not to kill Ladon!" I shouted.

"Sorry," Heracles said. "I don't take orders from you."

"But will thee still let me come with thou?" I asked desperately.

"I have no need for you," Heracles said. "You would only slow me down anyway." He raised his sword and was bringing it down at me.

I closed my eyes and braced myself for the impact.

It never came.