Artemis and Sylvia both assured Percy that dawn was coming soon, but he didn't look convinced.

Perseus Jackson, do you really think I'd lie to a goddess? One of my favourite goddesses?

Artemis was definitely tied with Hestia for Sylvia's favourite goddess, but she wasn't going to just anounce it. Hera would annihilate her!

Hestia is very pleasant, Fawkes commented, having read Sylvia's inner thoughts. Y'know, those quiet thoughts that are ususally hidden by her louder thoughts. She didn't find that unnerving at all. Not even a little bit. She always gives me a share of the offering she receives. I hung out a lot with her before Lord Apollo sent me here.

So, are you, like, a sacred animal up in Olympus? Sylvia asked.

Mhm.

That's so cool.

Sylvia joined Artemis in staring at the east, waiting for her papa to appear. She honestly wasn't sure what to do. She'd just watched the Hunters break up their camp, knowing they didn't want or need help. 

She side-eyed Bianca, who was talking with Nico. She could tell from his gloomy face that she was explaining her decision to join the Hunt. She couldn't help thinking how selfish it was of her, abandoning her brother like that. Then she shook those thoughts away. She just wanted to be free of responsibility. Sylvia understood that. Plus, Sylvia would be there for Nico. She'd tell her cabin to be nice to him, too. He could use some friends, like Will. They were around the same age, and they'd probably be good for each other. Will didn't have enough friends. (So, basically, Solangelo will happen cuz of her. And she'll be the captain of the ship)

Thalia and Grover huddled around Percy, and Sylvia decided to join them, though she stayed away from Percy. Fawkes followed her, landing on her shoulder when she stopped moving. She was extremely light, so Sylvia didn't mind. Thalia and Grover asked about their audience with the goddess, and Percy told them, with Sylvia contradicting him on details every now and then.

When they told them about the Hunters going to camp, Grover turned pale. "The last time the Hunters visited camp, it didn't go well."

Sylvia rolled her eyes. "It'll be fine. The worst that will happen is they'll try to murder the Ares cabin again. Clarisse would appreciate a challenge, actually, so both sides would be fine with them fighting. It's just the people that have to watch them that won't be okay with it. Plus, you have a crush on half the Hunters (Not her exposing him), Grover. You should be happy they're here."

"How'd they even show up here?" Percy wondered. "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

Sylvia sighed at his idiocy. "Y'know, Salmon Breath, it's almost like they have an entire freaking goddess with them that has the power to take them anywhere she wants them to go! Crazy, right?" (I have no idea where the name "Salmon Breath" came from. It literally just popped into my head and I was like "okay")

Percy rolled his eyes.

"And Bianca joined them," Thalia said, disgusted. "It's all Zoe's fault. That stuck up, no good--"

"Hey, she's an okay person!" Sylvia protested. "Plus, she's another person who hates Percy. That's almost always a good thing."

"Think of all the monsters that hate me," Percy gave her a look.

"Are monsters people?" Sylvia asked. "If my memory serves correct, I said person, not thing."

"Why do you even--" Percy started, but Grover interrupted him, still thinking about Zoe.

"Who can blame her? Eternity with Artemis?" He heaved a big sigh.

Thalia rolled her eyes. "You satyrs. You're all in love with Artemis. Don't you get she'll never love you back?"

"But she's so...into nature," Grover swooned.

"You're nuts," stated Thalia.

"Nuts and berries," Grover said dreamily. "Yeah."

---

Right on time, the sky began to lighten. Artemis muttered, "About time. He is sooo lazy during the winter." Then, after a pause, she turned to Percy. "It's not exactly as you think."

"Oh, okay," he said. "So, it's not like he'll be pulling up in a--"

There was a sudden, beautiful burst of light on the horizon. A blast of warmth.

"Don't look," Artemis advised. "Not until he parks. You can, though, Sylvia."

Sylvia nodded and stared in awe at the glowing golden chariot. Except it was in the form of a gold, convertible Maserati Spyder this time. It didn't just reflect light; it generated it. Light and warmth emanated from it in rhythmic, kaleidoscopic bursts. The rhythm actually sort of reminded Sylvia of the children's song  "Mr. Sun," but she shoved the thought away. She couldn't even look away from the scene. It was stunning. Then the light faded, and everyone else uncovered their eyes.

The heat quickly melted the snow, making Sylvia thankful she was only wearing her dark blue hoodie and a Camp Half-Blood T-shirt under that to shield her from the cold. Still, the dark material absorbed the heat and made her sweat.

The driver--Apollo--got out, smiling. He looked around seventeen or eighteen, which made sense, since it was, y'know, Apollo, the four thousand-year-old. He had sandy hair and outdoorsy good looks. He was tall, and had a bright smile on his face. He wore jeans and loafers and a sleeveless T-shirt with the words This God Rocks on it.

"Wow," Thalia muttered. "Apollo is hot."

"Ew," Sylvia said. "That's my dad, Thalia."

"He's the sun god," Percy said.

What the Hades? Does he not--what sort of--huh? Sylvia had no idea how to describe how oblivious the son of Poseidon was at this point.

"That's not what she meant, idiot," she settled for saying. "Sadly."

"Little sister!" Apollo called. "What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried!"

Artemis sighed. "I'm fine, Apollo. And I am not your little sister."

"Hey, I was born first."

No, he wasn't, Sylvia thought. Artemis literally helped Leto with his birth.

"We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue--"

"So what's up?" he interrupted. "Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?"

His ego is higher than Zeus's, something I used to think wasn't possible, Fawkes observed.

Artemis grit her teeth. "I need a favour. I have some hunting to do, alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."

"Sure, sis!" Then he raised his hands in a stop everything gesture. "I feel a haiku coming on."

The Hunters all groaned, Sylvia joining in with them.

Please stop him! Sylvia thought. I've heard too many of his haiku in dreams.

Got it, Fawkes said, flying up in front of the god.

"Fawkes!" he said, grinning. "I missed you, girl! And...Sylvia!"

He walked towards her and put his hand on her shoulder, startling her slightly. Not many people did that. "You're so tall now! And you're 15 whole years old! I can't believe my baby's growing so quickly!"

Sylvia sent Percy a deadly glare as he started to snicker.

"How're you liking Sunn--oh, right, you named her something else. How are you liking Fawkes so far? She's staying with you for your entire life, by the way, unless you specifically tell her to leave and never come back, although I don't know why you'd do that, so I made sure to pick someone everyone likes!"

Lord Apollo, most of the gods just tolerate me. Nothing more, nothing less. The only ones that really pay attention are Lady Athena--debating with her is always fun, Lady Artemis, you, Lady Hestia, Lord Hephaestus, and Lady Iris--and she mostly just asks me to try out new R.O.F.L. food simulations.

"Nah, they all love you, and are just too stubborn to admit it. Anyways, you guys said something about transportation? Good timing, I was just about ready to roll."

"And these demigods will also needaride," Artemis said, pointing to the other hald-bloods. "Some of Chiron's campers."

"No problem!" Apollo checked them out. "Let's see...Thalia, right? I've heard all about you."

Thalia blushed, something Sylvia found disgusting, as it was because of her papa. "Hi, Lord Apollo."

"Zeus's girl, yes? Makes you my half-sister. Used to be a tree, didn't you? Glad you're back. I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees." His expression turned sad for a moment. "Actually, there was this one time--"

Sylvia knew all about that "one time." Whenever Apollo came to visit any of his children in their dreams, it was usually to gossip. Every once in a while, he'd start ranting about how unfair his life was for someone as awesome as him. She sort of felt bad for him for that. And Daphne. Especially her.

"Brother," Artemis interrupted. "You should get going."

"Oh, right." Then he looked at Percy, and his eyes narrowed. "Percy Jackson?"

"Yeah. I mean...yes, sir."

Apollo studied him for a bit. "Man, my daughter hates you."

Sylvia just shrugged as people looked at her. It was true. Makes sense, since he was the god of truth and all.

"Well!" her papa said. "We'd better load up, huh? Ride only goes one way--west. And if you miss it, you miss it."

Sylvia looked at the Maserati, which would seat two people max. There were about twenty of them. 

"Cool car," Nico said. 

"Thanks, kid," Apollo said. 

"But how will we all fit?" 

"Oh." Apollo seemed to notice the problem for the first time. "Well, yeah. I hate tochange out of sports-car mode, but I suppose..."He took out his car keys and beeped the security alarm button. Chirp, chirp.For a moment, the car glowed brightly again. When the glare died, the Maserati hadbeen replaced by one of those Turtle Top shuttle buses like some schools use for school basketballgames."Right," he said. "Everybody in." 

Zoe ordered the Hunters to start loading. She picked up her camping pack, and Apollo said, "Here, sweetheart. Let me get that."

Zoe recoiled. Her eyes flashed murderously.

"Brother," Artemis chided. "You do not help my Hunters. You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters. And you do not call them sweetheart." 

Apollo spread his hands. "Sorry. I forgot. Hey, sis, where are you off to, anyway?" 

"Hunting," Artemis said. "It's none of your business." 

"I'll find out. I see all. Know all." 

Artemis snorted. "Just drop them off, Apollo. And no messing around!"

She's more than a goddess, she's a queen goddess, Sylvia thought. 

"No, no! I never mess around."

Then what were you doing every time you gossiped with me? Sylvia wondered.

Artemis rolled her eyes, then looked at the group of mortals. Well, the Hunters were immortal, so it was technically the group of non-Olympians, but whatever. "I will see you by winter solstice. Zoe, you are in charge of the Hunters. Do well. Do as I would do. Sylvia, think about my offer."

Sylvia nodded. Zoe straightened. "Yes, my lady."

Artemis knelt and touched the ground as if looking for tracks. When she rose, she looked troubled. "So much danger. The beast must be found."

She sprinted toward the woods and melted into the snow and shadows.

Apollo turned and grinned, jangling the cay keys on his finger. "So," he said. "Who wants to drive?"

Sylvia honestly really wanted to. It was the sun chariot, for Zeus's sake! When would she ever get another chance like it? Only problem was, she was sort of underage. She was pretty sure, anyways. She didn't actually know the age limit for where she lived.

The Hunters piled into the van. They all crammed into the back so they'd be as far away as possible from the highly infectious boys. Sylvia could understand them wanting to stay away from Percy. Bianca sat with them, leaving her little brother to hang in the front with the other demigods, which seemed cold--heh, something being cold in the sun chariot--but Nico didn't seem to mind. 

"This is so cool!" he said, jumping up and down in the driver's seat, Fawkes on his shoulder. Sylvia was pretty sure Fawkes had already adopted him. "Is this really the sun? I thought Helios and Selene were the sun and moon gods. How come sometimes it's them and sometimes it's you and Artemis?"

"Downsizing," Apollo said. "The Romans started it."

Of course they did, Sylvia thought.What didn't the Romans start?

What's your problem with the Romans? Fawkes asked.

Annabeth. Sylvia felt her heart pang. It hurt, physically, how she didn't know where the daughter of Athena was, or if she was even--

Don't think about that, Fawkes told her. Instead, try to answer my question. Keep your mind off of her.

Right, she said. Her dad kept on talking about the sun, but she didn't pay attention. They did some really barbaric things. Burning Christians--that was someone related to Apollo, sadly. Emperor Nero, I believe. Glad he's gone now. (...heh) 

We had multiple wars against them, she continued. But I'm sure you know all of this.

Yes, I do, Fawkes agreed. I was alive then, actually.

"What about you, Sylvia? You'd be the perfect person!" Apollo said, and she blinked, confused.

"Perfect for what?"

"Driving my chariot, of course! Although, that conversation with Fawkes was very interesting. Man, I used to hate Emperor Nero. Still do, actually. And, as you said, I'm glad he's gone. And Python. It'd suck if either of them came back." (Well, he's the god of prophecies for a reason, ig) "But, of course, I'd take them down if they did." (Or not) "Anyways, you gonna drive?"

"Of course!" she grinned. "If I kill anyone, I'm sorry. Unless it's Percy."

She hopped into the driver,s seat, Nico taking her old seat.

Here, shift it into drive, Fawkes directed. She did as the phoenix said.

"Speed equals heat," Apollo advised. "So start slowly, and make sure you've got good altitude before you really open her up."

"Does it have a name?" Sylvia wondered out loud as she listened to both her papa and Fawkes's directions.

"Oh, that's a good idea. I'll think of one for the next time I see you," Apollo promised.

"Got it." Sylvia wished she'd stayed quiet. She really didn't want to have to hear a corny pun name for the sun chariot the next time she saw Apollo in her dreams.

* * *

Everything was going great until Apollo said it was Thalia's turn to drive.

She was terrible. She gripped the wheel so tight her knuckles turned white, and had only one speed: faster than Hermes, the literal god of speed. She was pale and stiff the entire time, and she almost burned the entirety of New England down.

"Brake," Apollo said as they neared Camp Half-Blood.

"I can do this," Thalia repeated for the billionth time. Sylvia's arms were around Nico so he didn't fly out of his seat.

"BRAKE!"

Thalia slammed her foot on the brake, and the sun pitched forward at a forty-five-degree angle, slamming into the Camp Half-Blood canoe lake with a huge FLOOOOOOSH! Steam billowed up,sending several frightened naiads scrambling out of the water with half-woven baskets. The bus bobbed to the surface, along with a couple of capsized, half-melted canoes. Fawkes, who'd gotten out of the chariot almost as soon as Thalia hit gas and flew next to it, somehow keeping up with the speed, landed on one of the nearby trees.

"Well," said Apollo with a brave smile. Sylvia unwound her arms around Nico, although she did grab his hand. Whether she did that to stabilize herself or him, she wasn't sure. "You were right, my dear. You had it under control! Let's go see if we boiled anything important, shall we?"

I love Apollo sm. 

Anyway, that happened. Not very proud of it, but I updated at least. Took me forever cuz I kept getting distracted by YouTube notifications until I eventually turned on do not disturb, tho. Also, sorry, this is unedited (again). If you see any typos or anything, pls call me out on them so I can fix them.

Thoughts?

QOTD: Who's your favourite OC in this so far?

A: Probably Lux. That's also cuz I'm planning a lot for them, tho. As of right now, they haven't really done anything yet. So, in this part of the story, it's prob Finn. Fae's just great.

Cya later

-Eevee