Percy

IV

Percy figured that if things went right today would be the best day of his life. Wrong. Things hadn't necessarily gone right or wrong but it definitely wasn't the best day ever. After all things could've went terribly wrong like he'd feared. The only serious bump in the road was Octavian but somehow this girl Piper had a small power over him. Percy had been at Camp Half-Blood for just about five years and he'd never heard of Charmspeak and he didn't really get it yet but whatever it was he was glad it existed; otherwise things probably would've gone much worst. Percy definitely had a good laugh when Octavian saw Jason come through the ship doors, but he didn't figure on them actually getting into a fight. And Percy was sure that Jason was embarrassed about it or he wouldn't be keeping the reason a secret. Percy knew that the only people Jason would tell would be Piper and Leo. Percy couldn't blame them fully because he knew that if it were him he'd only tell Hazel, Frank, Annabeth, and Grover. He still wasn't sure if he should tell anyone about Hazel's secrets. And throughout the day it was obvious Hazel was watching Leo. It freaked Percy out about how Hazel knew a Leo lookalike with the same last name.

"So, how's the day been treating you two?" Percy asked Frank and Hazel once they left the hospital.

"Pretty good, met some new people…" Frank said.

"…reunited with some old people," Hazel continued dazed.

"Well he's definitely not the same Sammy you once knew. But there may be something," Percy said.

Hazel didn't say anything but just kept walking.

Percy didn't know what this meant for Hazel and Frank but he sensed more drama.

"Well what do you think of everyone else?" Percy asked.

"Everyone's really cool, I guess," Frank said, "As much as I've heard of Jason I didn't expect him to be exactly like you."

Percy was taken back, "What do you mean by 'exactly like you'?" He asked.

"You don't see it?" Hazel asked coming out of her daze, "The only difference is that you have more of a sense of humor and even that isn't too far off. There are Gods and their aspects right? Well Jason's almost like your Roman aspect."

Percy didn't know how to take this. The fact that Jason was just like him was impossible. He'd always saw himself as an individual and that however he was alike someone he'd always be different, but in a good way. So the fact that two of Percy's best friends were calling him identical to Jason kind of ticked him off, "He is not. I think you're over exaggerating."

"We didn't mean it in a bad way," Frank said.

"Well you didn't say it in a good way either," Percy said.

"Oh come on, don't be that way, dude," Frank said.

"I'm not being anyway. I'm not even that mad. It's no big deal," Percy lied, "I think I'm going to go catch up to Annabeth and see if she's okay."

"Why wouldn't she be, all Reyna did was tell her she wasn't ready to let more soldiers go too soon on a quest she hardly knows about," Frank said.

"Annabeth's not used to people questioning her orders. And keep in mind that if Reyna doesn't give up a few if not all soldiers it might cost all of our lives," Percy defended.

"So what you mean to say is that Annabeth is angry because Reyna's just like her?" Frank said.

"Why do you keep saying that?"Percy yelled, "I'm not like Jason and Annabeth isn't like Reyna!"

"Yes she is. You're just worried that when you and Jason are leading this quest you'll say one thing and Jason will say another and that people will listen to Jason," Frank exclaimed.

"Why are you saying this in the first place? I said it was no big deal. Why are we still talking about it?" Percy yelled.

"Because you got mad that I compared Annabeth to Reyna," Frank explained.

"Which you shouldn't have done," Percy said.

"Boys, what is the matter with you two? You're going at it like kids. And this is coming from a 13 year old. Frank stop being a jerk, sure there are comparisons between them but Jason and Percy and Annabeth and Reyna all have their differences and accusing Percy of being afraid to lead with Jason is a little harsh don't you think? And Percy, you shouldn't get so defensive over Frank's opinion however rude it may be. You're forgetting that you two are friends and that the enemy is growing stronger every second. We need to worry about how we're going to convince Reyna to let our soldiers go on this quest." Hazel demanded.

"Should we let our soldiers go on this quest?" Frank asked, "Seeing Jason, Piper, and Leo just reminded me how doomed we are. We don't know who this seventh person is and we can't just expect them to walk right in at the right time. Plus, whoever the seventh person is, how can we trust them? We can't sail to Rome and Greece with a big Army only being led by us six."

Percy couldn't say anything to that, seeing the wise and painful truth, "I'll see you guys later, I'm going to catch up to Annabeth."

He left Frank and Hazel behind and went back to the ship.

The ship was custom made for everyone so there were about 300 rooms. Jason, Piper, Leo, and everyone from Camp Half Blood had designed and decorated their own room. Percy was assigned a room this morning but it hadn't been at all decorated. He found Annabeth in her room going over battle strategies. Her room was very techno. She had a desk with a computer in the corner, a very big bookcase, a television, and battle strategies hanging all over the walls.

"Knock, Knock," He said as he entered.

"Who's there?"

"Percy."

"Percy who?"

"Percy Jackson."

"Oh I think I've heard of him," she said, "That really cool and handsome demigod?"

"Yea I guess," Percy said.

They laughed for a short while and then turned serious.

"Are you okay?" Percy asked.

"Yeah, I guess I just didn't expect it to be like this. Percy, we can grow up and live our lives here if we wanted. Their soldiers survive way more than ours."

"You make it sound like they're better than us," Percy said.

"Well they're more trained, if you think about it, everyone here has gone through a test of strength. If we did that we'd have all of about 50 campers. We have 50 good fighters and they have 200. We need them. That girl Reyna is the one keeping us from working together." Annabeth said.

"Reyna isn't holding us back. Reyna need to think about her decision. I know and you know that we need them but Reyna doesn't. Even with this place in full war yesterday they still don't get the seriousness of it all. They are running low on supplies and campers therefore they need all they've got here." Percy explained.

"Whose side are you on?" Annabeth asked.

"I'm not on anyone's side. Why are you being like this? I'm pointing out the fact and you're being ignorant to the Romans." Percy said, "Why is everyone being so unreasonable today?"

"Unreasonable?" Annabeth asked, "Who else is being unreasonable?"

"Frank," Percy explained the whole argument.

"What'd you say next?" She asked.

"I couldn't say anything. He's right. We don't know this seventh person is, there are only six of us leading this quest, and we're expected to have another war. I don't know if I can do this. Plus the Gods aren't even helping this time. Hera said that it would take us sailing to Rome and Greece for the Gods to see and join us and we can hardly come together ourselves." Percy explained.

"Percy, you've led a war before on your own it should be easier with five or six other people." Annabeth comforted.

"That's just it. I don't know if I can lead with Jason." Percy said.

"Why, because people won't listen to you?" Annabeth asked.

"Maybe," Percy said.

"This is giving us all a chance to build better teamwork and communication skills. You're learning flaws about yourself that you didn't even know about." Annabeth said.

"I guess." Percy said, "I can do this if you're with me."

"Of course, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said before kissing me.

Two minutes later a knock interrupted their kiss. When Percy opened the door it was Drew, one of the new campers that Percy had hardly gotten to know.

"That Reyna girl wants to see you Percy." She said.

Percy looked back at Annabeth sympathetically.

"Go do your thing Captain Jackson," She said wryly.

"Explain to me what's going on," Reyna said when they reached the Principia.

"Explain what?" Percy asked.

"Explain everything you know. Explain your opinion on everything. Explain what we need to do," Reyna exclaimed.

"I really don't know where to begin. I explained a lot earlier about how Juno switched Jason and me from our camps in order to gain each other's trust. Now that we've gained trust the real work begins. We have to work together and sail to Rome to close the Doors of Death then sail to Greece to actually fight the war with the Giants. The Gods aren't on board yet but they come in when we all work together. They're blinded and being kept in order by Jupiter but once Jupiter sees us working together he'll let the other Gods come to our aid. Even my dad hasn't helped and we're about as close as a mortal and a God can get. I know it seems impossible with all the obstacles in the way but we'll get through it. As you saw yesterday, only a demigod and a God together can kill a Giant therefore it's crucial the Gods help meaning that it's also crucial for us to get along. This much I'm betting you get but it's the working together part that's fazing us all. All of us have secrets that in some way affect us all. But the fates have chosen me, Jason, Piper, Leo, Frank, and Hazel and all of us have proved our worth. If you want my opinion we need to sail to Rome and along the way build teamwork and trust."

Reyna took this in for a while, "But the camp. Who will stay and defend the camp? And how many soldiers does this quest call for?"

"I say we get an old praetor from New Rome to help and while the legion is sailing all the old soldiers can stay and defend if necessary." Percy said.

"But that isn't fair. They have families and loved ones now and lives away from all of this. They're required to serve ten years and then they have the choice. They're veterans and they aren't going to listen to us most likely," Reyna said.

"Then we need someone they will listen to," Percy said.

"You can't mean—"

"—Lupa? Yes I do mean Lupa." Percy said.

"And what makes you think Lupa will be on our side and agree with this plan?" Reyna said.

"Lupa has her opinions and I think she knows what's at stake. Her job is to keep Rome alive right? I have a feeling if we don't do this then there won't be any Rome left," Percy explained.

"And how do we get her here?" Reyna asked.

"We don't. We go to the Wolf House." Percy said.

"Who's 'we'?"Reyna asked.

"Me, you, Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Leo, Hazel, and Frank," Percy said, "We need to show her that we have a plan and an order."

"When?"

"Right after Jason is released from the hospital," Percy said.

"Good," Reyna said, "Then it's a plan."