That night at the campfire, Apollo's cabin led the sing-along. They tried to get everybody's spirits up, but it wasn't easy after the bird attack. Everyone sat in a semicircle of stone steps, singing halfheartedly and watching the bonfire blaze while the Apollo guys strummed their guitars and picked their lyres.

The bonfire was enchanted, so the louder the campers sang, the higher it rose, changing heat and color with the mood of the crowd. On a good night, it could go as high as twenty feet high, bright purple, and so hot that the front row's marshmallows burst into flames. Tonight, the fire was only five feet high, barely warm, and the flames were the color of lint.

Dionysus had left early. After suffering through a few songs, he muttered something about how even pinochle with Chiron was more exciting. Then he gave Tantalus a distasteful look and headed back toward the Big House.

When the last song was over, Tantalus said, "Well, that was lovely!"

He came forward with a toasted marshmallow on a stick and tried to pluck it off. Before he could touch it, the marshmallow flew off the stick. Tantalus made a wild grab, but the marshmallow committed suicide, diving into the flames.

Tantalus turned back, smiling coldly. "Now then! Some announcements about tomorrow's schedule."

"Sir," Percy interrupted from the back. All eyes turned to him.

Tantalus's eye twitched. "Our kitchen boy has something to say?"

Some of the Ares campers snickered, but Percy refused to be silent. He stood and looked at Annabeth. She stood up alongside him.

"We have an idea to save the camp," Percy said. One could hear a pin drop, but it was obvious that it had drawn attention because the campfire burned bright yellow.

"Indeed," Tantalus said bluntly. "Well, if it has anything to do with chariots-"

"The Golden Fleece," Percy said. "We know where it is."

The flames burned bright orange. Before Tantalus could stop him, Percy blurted out his dream about Grover and Polyphemus's island. Annabeth stepped in and reminded everyone what the Fleece could do. It sounded more convincing coming from her.

"The Fleece can save the camp," she concluded. "I'm certain of it."

"Nonsense," said Tantalus. "We don't need saving."

"Oh, that's bullshit and you know it," (Y/N) said. "Or did you forget about the Stymphalian Birds you were so hasty to blame Percy for? Or the Eidolons that got into camp a while back?"

Everyone looked at Tantalus and stared until he started looking uncomfortable.

"Besides," he added quickly, "the Sea of Monsters? That's hardly an exact location. You wouldn't even know where to look."

"Yes, I would," Percy said. Annabeth turned and whispered to him something that (Y/N) couldn't make out.

"30, 31, 75, 12," Percy said.

"Ooo-kay," Tantalus mocked. "Thank you for sharing those meaningless numbers."

"They're sailing coordinates," Percy replied. "Latitude and longitude. I, uh, learned about it in social studies."

Even Annabeth looked impressed. "30 degrees, 31 minutes north, 75 degrees, 12 minutes west. He's right! The Gray Sisters gave us those coordinates. That'd be somewhere in the Atlantic, off the coast of Florida. The Sea of Monsters. We need a quest!"

"Wait just a minute," Tantalus said, panicking.

But the campers took up the chant. "We need a quest! We need a quest!"

The flames rose higher.

"It isn't necessary!" Tantalus insisted.

"WE NEED A QUEST! WE NEED A QUEST!"

"Fine!" Tantalus shouted, his eyes blazing with anger. "You brats want me to assign a quest?"

"YES!"

"Very well," he agreed. "I shall authorize a champion to undertake this perilous journey, to retrieve the Golden Fleece and bring it back to camp. Or die trying. I will allow our champion to consult the Oracle! And choose two companions for the journey. And I think the choice of champion is obvious."

Tantalus looked at Annabeth and Percy as if he wanted to flay them alive. "The champion should be one who has earned the camp's respect, who has proven resourceful in the chariot races and courageous in the defense of the camp. You shall lead this quest... Clarisse!"

The fire flickered a thousand different colors. The Ares cabin started stomping and cheering Clarisse's name.

Clarisse stood up, looking stunned. Then she swallowed and her chest swelled with pride. "I accept the quest!"

"Wait!" Percy shouted. "Grover is my friend. The dream came to me."

"Sit down!" one of the Ares campers yelled. "You had your chance last summer!"

"Yeah, he just wants to steal the spotlight again!" another said.

Clarisse glared daggers at him. "I accept the quest!" she repeated. "I, Clarisse, daughter of Ares, will save the camp!" The Ares campers cheered even louder. Annabeth protested, and the other Athena campers joined in. Everybody else started taking sides, shouting and arguing and throwing marshmallows.

It looked like it was going to turn into a full-blown war until two people shouted, "Silence, you brats/idiots!"

Tantalus and (Y/N) stared at each other, amazed that they had agreed on something. Tantalus tried to say something, but (Y/N) beat him to the punch.

"Percy, Clarisse, over here, now," he said, in a tone that the Stoll Brothers recognized. It was the tone he was using when he was threatening them.

"And why should she listen to you?" an Ares camper asked.

"Because of this," (Y/N) replied, pulling out Tentazione in its pistol configuration and pointing it at the camper's head. "Any further questions? No? Good. Over here, now."

Percy and Clarisse complied as Tantalus began telling a ghost story to the remaining campers, a story which (Y/N) was more than happy to ignore. When they had reached the edge of the amphitheater, (Y/N) put Tentazione back into his jacket.

"Right, apologies for the heavy-handed tactics," (Y/N) said, "but I was really getting tired of the shouting. Now, Clarisse. I understand you wish to bring glory and accolades and all which that entails to your cabin, which I can understand. However, and while I understand that your father isn't the greatest at this, you must also think. Do not blindly follow your ego, Tantalus is playing a game. Whether chess or checkers, I do not know."

"He's right, Clarisse," Percy said. "Let me-"

"I'm getting to you, Jackson," (Y/N) said, annoyed at how Percy had taken over. "Actually, you know what, no. We'll do it live. Not everything is about you and your friends, Perc. You're not Jesus, not every problem at this camp needs to be solved by you. And let's not forget who's after you. You know, that titan lord? The one that commands all monsters? But no, I'm sure it's a wonderful idea for you to sail into a Sea full of them! You may be the son of the sea god, but I'd still consider that to be pretty hostile waters, mate."

"Who do you think you are, demon? I should-" Clarisse started, but (Y/N) cut her off as well.

"I'm not telling you not to do it, Clarisse," (Y/N) explained. "I'm just telling you to think of all angles. Make sure you actually want to do it. And Perc? You stay here because every other angle ends badly from what I've seen."

"I'm sure," Clarisse said. "This quest is mine."

"Alright," (Y/N) said. "If you're certain, then I'm sure the Oracle is waiting."

(Y/N) and Percy returned to the campfire just in time to catch the end of it. "Let me remind everyone, no one leaves this camp without my permission," Tantalus said. "Anyone who tries... Well, if they survive the attempt, they will be expelled forever, but it won't come to that. The harpies will be enforcing curfew from now on, and they are always hungry! Good night, my dear campers. Sleep well!"

With a wave of Tantalus's hand, the fire was extinguished, and the campers trailed off toward their cabins in the dark. (Y/N) was one of them, returning to the Hermes cabin. He changed into his sleeping clothes and tried to get some sleep, but something was bothering him. Something didn't sit right in his gut.

He wasn't sure how long he had been pondering it, but it was interrupted by a knock at the cabin door. He got up to answer and see who it was since he was the only one awake. At the door was Clarisse, carrying a backpack.

"Good, it's you," she said. "Makes this faster. Pack your shit, devil, you got mentioned again. We ship out as soon as you're ready."