Alrighty, this is my first fanfic that's more than just a one-shot. I hope y'all like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own most of the settings or the characters you recognize from the PJO stories, those are Rick Riordan's. The other characters and settings though are basically all mine, I did have some help from my friends on Gaia but I mixed them up a little.

Peace!

My life has been a disaster in the making since the day I was born but at the age of ten, everything took another turn for the worst, I had to leave everything I ever knew behind so I could keep my family safe. I didn't know why all these monsters were after me but I did know that if I left, they would leave my family alone. By the time I made it to Camp, I was nearly dead from all the fights I'd been in but I was still alive- Ha, I guess I was born to be a fighter. No one could figure out how I'd made it to Camp, considering I'd had no idea about my heritage let alone about the camp for us, and it wasn't until later that I'd found out my Mother had lead me there. You'd think my life would get easier since I'd finally found somewhere I belonged but it didn't, in fact, it only got worst from that day forward. But I'll explain all that later, for now, we'll start on the day that my life got even more twisted than it already was…

Laying on the lake shore, I read one of my favorite books as sun warmed my skin-using my old leather drawstring bag as a pillow. The sound of the ocean soothing me even though I was a daughter of Athena and the water was her main rival's territory. But who ever said I was a normal daughter of Athena?

The sound of footsteps coming toward me-nearly muted by the sand- broke me from my thoughts, giving me just enough warning to grab my dagger from it sheath on my leg before the person tackled me.

Rolling us over, I pinned whoever it was to the ground and held my blade to their throat before I realized who it was.

"Hey, Ariadne," my best friend said, smiling cheekily up at me and I felt butterflies rise in my stomach like they did every time I saw him. We'd been best friends since our first days at camp-he'd come a few days after me and we'd been stuck together in the Hermes cabin-and hadn't separated since, even when we found out he was a son of Poseidon and I was a daughter of Athena. We'd basically grown up together the past seven years since we were both year-rounders and I'd fallen in love with him about three years ago-a few months after my first(and only) quest-but I'd never been able to tell him… Every time I tried, another person's brown eyes would pop into my head. He was nearly a foot taller than me at six feet with lengthy swimmer's muscles, deeply tanned skin, sharp facial features, clear blue eyes, and raven black hair. His style was very laid back- he wore shirts that fit snugly enough to suggest muscles but not show them off(today blue), loose jeans, and worn out Vans. My favorite part of his appearance, though, was when he smiled-it could make even the darkest days, brighter. The bad thing about the two of us was that we had the same fatal flaw, loyalty- either one of us could be easily hurt by one and other.

"Seriously, Andy? What was that for?" I laughed, rolling off of him and to my feet before putting my dagger in it's sheath and shoving my book into my bag as I picked it up.

"I wanted to wish you a happy seventeenth birthday," he replied, his eyes twinkling as I put the straps of my bag on one shoulder and helped him to his feet.

"And you couldn't have just come up to me and said, 'Hey, Ariadne. Just wanted to wish you a happy birthday'?" I questioned, raising my eyebrows at him.

"Nope, what kind of best friend would I be if I did that? Now, turn around and close your eyes," he commanded.

Rolling my eyes, I did as he said and immediately felt a light weight on my chest.

"Alright, you can open them now," he told me, a smile in his voice.

Opening my eyes, I looked down to the weight on my chest and saw a beautiful silver locket with a clear blue stone embedded into the top and intricate swirls etched around it. "It's beautiful, And, but you know I never wear jewelry, it can get you hurt during fights," I said, turning to face him as I moved my arms up to take it off.

"I think you can make an exception, hold it in your hand and say Νίκη," he told me, smiling knowingly.

Wrapping my hand around the locket, I said, "Νίκη" and a sword immediately appeared in my hand. It was weighted perfectly for me and it's gripped molded into my hand like it was meant for me but what truly amazed me was when I fully looked at it. The silver hilt, like the locket, had a clear blue stone embedded into it with swirls intricately etched all along it while the brightly shining celestial bronze blade immensely contrasted with the pitch black leather grip- it had to be the most beautiful sword I'd ever seen. "Victory," I whispered, still staring down at the sword.

"A very appropriate name, if I do say so myself, considering no one at camp's beat you since you got here," Andy said and I looked up at him again only to see him smiling down at me, causing my stomach to do a complete flip.

"Thank you," I whispered in his ear as I wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug, careful not to hit him with the sword.

"You've been my best friend for seven years, Ari, I'd do anything for," he replied, making my heart stop completely even though I knew he didn't mean it in the way I wanted him to, as he hugged me back before pulling away again. "Now, turn it back so I can show you one more thing."

I smiled, shaking my head slightly at him as I said, "Νίκη." again and the locket was back on my neck.

"Now, open it," he told me and when I did, I saw the picture of the two of us we'd taken at the beginning of spring when the Campers had successfully beaten the Hunters at capture the flag for the first time-both of us smiling widely in our armor- filling the slot on the right while the slot on the left was blank. "I put one picture in it but there's five more slots that you can put whatever you want to into them," he said, taking the locket from my hands and opening all the parts of it to show me the other four slots. "It's like a mini photo album."

"You really out did yourself this year." I smiled at him as he closed the locket again and let it lightly fall back onto my chest.

He smiled back, opening his mouth to reply, when the conch horn blew-signaling it was time for lunch.

"Race you!" we exclaimed in unison then took off, sprinting toward the Mess Hall.

I beat him, as always, and we got our food before saying our goodbyes and heading to our designated tables.

"Happy birthday, Ariadne!" my half siblings yelled as I reached our table, the youngest ones(Jeydon- Jey-, six, and Krystal, seven.) jumping up from their seats and tackling me in a giant bear hug.

"Will you sit next to us?" Jey asked, both of them looking up at me with wide eyes. They reminded me so much of my mortal siblings even though they truly were nothing like and much younger than them- my mortal siblings were eleven now. Jey had wide stormy grey eyes, lightly tanned skin, sandy hair, soft facial features, dimples in both cheeks, and barely came up to my waist while Krystal was a little taller than my waist with lightly tanned skin, a petite frame, delicate facial features, big blue-grey eyes, and soft golden blonde curls falling down her back. My mortal siblings, on the other hand, both had dark hair, light skin, hazel eyes, and sharp facial features.

"Where else would I sit?" I asked, smiling down at them as they pulled toward the place they'd saved me on the bench.

Lunch flew by as I sat in between Jey and Krystal, them telling me all about their day so far and how excited they were about giving me my present tonight. It was time for us to go to the arena with the Ares cabin and their cabin leader's sick which means I get to teach the class all by myself. Fun.

"Alright, partner up!" I yelled, walking through the main entrance-placing my bag by the door- and everyone immediately followed my orders except one girl I'd never seen before.

At first glance, you wouldn't expect her to be a child of Ares- she had jet black hair with bright red streaks in it, ivory skin, delicate facial features, a petite frame, and vibrant brown eyes- but once you saw the way she carried herself and the fire burning in her eyes, you knew. Her style also pointed to being a child of Ares- she wore worn out black skinny jeans with holes in them and a chain connected to the front belt loop on her right side and went behind her, a red shirt the read 'WAR is the new PEACE' across the front in black letters, an old black leather jacket with different things pinned all over it, and combat boots.

"Hi, I'm Ariadne," I said as I walked up to her, nobody else had chose her as a partner- they all know I get the newbies.

"Meridian," she replied, looking me up and down before smirking. First rule of battle, never judge an opponent by what they appear to be.

"Well, Meridian, you're my partner today. I take it you don't have a sword?" I started walking toward where we kept all the practice weapons to see what one best suited her but she stopped me.

"Actually, I do. My Dad gave it to me to protect my Mom when I was younger," she told me and I stopped in my tracks. So that's why I hadn't heard anything about a new camper being claimed, she'd already known when she came here.

"Great, we can demonstrate now then," I replied, smiling light at her as I turned around before putting my fingers to my lips and whistling loudly. "Alright, today we're going to be learning how to disarm. It's a bit tricky but all of you should pick it up quickly, considering who's kids you are. Okay, Meridian, where's your sword?" I questioned and she pulled a black and red clip from her hair, murmuring something under her breath before it turned into a basic sword with black leather on it's grip. The difference between her sword and a normal one: hers had a barely visible red aura around it- Ares's blessing.

"Let's get this over with," she said, smirking at me again and I saw people around us fighting smiles.

"Let's," I replied, smiling back before gripping my necklace and saying, "Νίκη." Her smirk faltered for a moment before returning as I continued the lesson, "So, I'm going to show you guys the move in slow motion then the two of us are going to duel in real time until one of us successfully does the move. Alright, slow-mo first." Turning toward Meridian again, I put my sword to hers until our hilts connected and I twisted. Her sword went flying. "Now, in real time. Ready, Meridian?" I asked.

"Was born ready," she replied then lunged at me.

I easily dodged her strike and counter with one of my own to gage her strength and, I have to admit, she's good…really good. But I was better. We fought for a few minutes before our swords connected and I saw my opportunity. My hilt connected with hers and her sword went flying once more, mine at her throat.

"Very good," I told her and she smirked as I continued "Just one pointer. Always expect the unexpected from your opponent." then knocked her feet out from underneath her. Better she learn that lesson here than out in the real world. "Alright, everyone, I wanna see you working your butts off on this move! Back to work!" I yelled and the crowd dispersed. "You alright?" I asked Meridian, holding my hand out to her.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, taking my hand and letting me pull her to her feet. "Thanks." She smiled at me.

"No problem," I said, smiling back.

"How'd you know I didn't think you'd be hard to beat?" she questioned as I handed her sword.

"The look on your face, I could tell you underestimated me from the moment you saw me," I told her.

"Huh, my Mom does always say I get too cocky for my own good," she mused and I laughed.

She smiled lightly, about to reply when Jey ran in-him and Krystal trained with me one on one since they were among the youngest at Camp and year-rounders, "Ari! Ari! Andy got into another fight with Elliot."

"Alright, little guy, can you take me to where they are?" I questioned and he nodded, grabbing my hand and starting to pull me out of the arena.

"You guys are dismissed!" I yelled, grabbing my bag as we went through the front door-Meridian close behind us- before murmuring, "Νίκη." and feeling Victory return to my neck in necklace form.

Jey lead us to group of people who were surrounding two very familiar guys. One with raven black hair and blues and the other with charcoal black hair and warm brown eyes.

"Ariadne, I keep trying to get them to stop but hey won't," Krystal said, her lips trembling as a tear slipped from her eye.

"It's alright, sweetie, I'll get them to stop," I told her, kissing her head lightly and dropping my bag by them before walking straight to the center of the circle.

Kicking Andy's feet out from underneath him and placing my foot on his chest to hold him there then yanking Elliot up from where Andy had knocked him down and holding him in place by his shirt, I said coldly, "We had a deal. You don't fight, we stay on decent terms. You broke the deal and whatever chance we ever had of being friends again."

"But Ari-," he started, his familiar brown eyes filling with sorrow.

I almost broke and gave into his brown eyes like I would have three years ago but then I thought of all the things he'd done to hurt me and Krystal's tears when she told me she couldn't get them to stop. "No, I don't want to hear your excuses. Get out of my site," I hissed, pushing him away from me and watching as he stumbled before catching himself and walking away from the remainder of people still circling our little group-most of them had disappeared when I broke up the fight. Meridian, Krystal, and Jey were among the few left.

Taking my foot off Andy's chest, I bent down and yanked him to his feet. "Are you alright? What am I thinking, of course you're not-a black eye's already starting to form around your left eye," I said, pulling him over to where my bag was then grabbing one of the vials of salt water from it before placing it's straps over my shoulder once more and handing the vial to him. "Here, this should help. It's not bad enough to need ambrosia or nectar."

"Thanks," he murmured, using his powers to extract the water from the vial and gently hold it to his eye.

"What was it over this time?" I asked in reply.

"Nothing," he told me, not meeting my gaze.

I looked over to where Meridian and my two siblings were still standing before replying, "I'll find out eventually but you're off the hook for now. Just try not to do it again. You're always the one that ends up getting hurt."

"I'll try," he said, smiling softly at me.

"Good, now, I'd like you to meet Meridian, daughter of Ares. Meridian, this is Andy-son of Poseidon," I introduced the two of them.

"Hey," he greeted, his eyes lighting up like I'd never seen them before... Like he'd finally found what he'd been looking for after years of searching.

"Hi," Meridian replied, smiling almost…shyly at him.

"You want me to show you around camp, I doubt anyone has yet considering you just got here?" he asked, smiling at her.

"Yeah, that'd be nice," she replied, smiling back more confidently now, before turning to me. "Do you want to come with us Ariadne?"

"No, I think I'm just going to take Jey and Krystal back to our cabin. You guys go ahead, though, I'll catch up with you later," I told them, faking a smile.

"Alright, I'll see you later then?" She smiled lightly at me, not knowing how much pain she'd inflicted just by being here.

"Yeah, I'll see you two later," I said, taking Jey and Krystal's hands and letting them lead me away as Andy and Meridian walked in the other direction.