Percy Jackson and the Emerald Pearl; Thalia Grace and the Mirror of Aphrodite

The Mission

Thalia Grace and the Mirror of Aphrodite

     The message appeared on my mirror after my shower. I'd just gotten out, and put my towel around me. I walked to my hairdryer to dry my hair, when I saw it. The whole mirror was steamed over, except for 7 finger-drawn words: Meet me by your pine tree. ~With love, Aphrodite <3.

     Seriously? Had one of the Aphrodite kids played another trick on me? Last week, they replaced all my black shirts with pink, red, and purple blouses, and exchanged my black leather pants with blue skinny jeans. Lastly, they'd switched my black hairbands with pink polka-dotted ribbons. After they had done that, I had went around camp trying to find every single one of those brats to shocking them. Most of them are still in the infirmary.

     But if that hand-drawn message really was a summons, I'd better get changed and go to my pine.

     I was waiting by the Camp Half-Blood entrance when a brilliant pink glow came from my tree further down the hill. I walked toward it, and found the breath-taking woman standing in front of my tree. Her hair changed from straight black, to curly chocolate brown, to wind-blown blonde. Her crimson red gown changed to a night-blue blouse with skinny jeans, then that changed to a hot pink tanktop and skirt. She was beautiful, but not enough to make me jealous, as Annabeth had said. "Um, I guess you're Aphrodite?" I asked.

     "Why I certainly am, Thalia Grace!" Aphrodite answered cheerfully.

     "Why'd you summon me? Do you need a favor or someth--"

     "Yes, I do need a favor, actually ! Listen closely. I need you to go on a quest--"

     "Of course,"I muttered sarcastically.

     "--to find my mirror!"

     That caught me off guard. "Did I hear that right? Did you say I need to go on a quest to find your mirror? Sorry, I do quests for important things, not for petty little mirrors. Why can't one of your kids do it for you?"

     "Well, you're one of the only Big Three kids here! Nico di Angelo's at Camp Jupiter, and he's too moody. Percy Jackson is in Atlantis with his girlfriend on a mission for his dad. Therefore, you're the only one available! Besides, you can bring 2 friends to help you! One has to be from my cabin, and one has to have a good eye, as well as a good nose...maybe a satyr!" the goddess explained.

     "Okay, fine, I'll go on the quest...No, sorry. Actually, I'll only go if you give me something in return," I bargained.

     Aphrodite was taken aback. "What do you want?"

     "I'll tell you after the quest," I told her. She started to walk away, when I realized something. I sprinted after her, and cried, "Wait!"

     Aphrodite turned around. "Yes, darling?"

     I chuckled. "1) Don't ever call me darling, and 2) Where did you last see the mirror?" I inquired.

     "Oh! Last time I had it I was at a wedding reception in a cathedral in Times Square! Brought tears to my eyes." The goddess summoned a tissue and dabbed her eyes. "Now you know where to go. So, assemble your team and retrieve that mirror!"