Sorry the chapters have been so short lately…..

"I'll go next." Piper stepped up.

"Be careful, Beauty Queen." Leo warned.

"Yeah, watch out for that diamond." Jason said.

"Geez, no one fussed over Frank that much." Annabeth muttered.

"Enough!" Hades yelled. They all fell silent as the two opponents circled each other.

Piper took out Katoptris (her sword), and Hade's black stygian sword was back in his hand.

Hades jabbed experimentally. Piper easily side-stepped, and returned with a thrust. Hades parried her blade and swiped at her left side. Piper blocked, but it was close.

"Why don't you stop fighting?" Piper said soothingly. "I'm sure we could all talk this out…"

"Stop." Hades was shaking his head. "No more charmspeak." He added.

Piper saw her opening. She slashed her knife in a deadly arc, and Hades breastplate became drenched in ichor.

He winced. "You're getting pretty good, girl. But not good enough."

"She's good enough to give you a good sized scar!" Percy taunted Hades.

In a rage, Hades closed his eyes, and two skeletons appeared. They were bigger than most, and you could tell they remembered their past.

"I'm Hercules." One boasted.

"I'm Jason." The second said.

"That's impossible." Piper stuttered. The two ghouls looked at Hades.

"Attack her." He gestured towards Piper.

Piper backed away as the skeletons advanced. She shot a hopeless look at the alive Jason.

"They're dead." He reassured her.

"We are?" The first Jason said, stopping in confusion. Piper's brain whirled, and DING she had a plan.

"Yes." She put all her power into her voice. "In fact, you shouldn't be here. It's not right. The gods will send you to eternal punishment for returning to the living. Unless, that is, if you go back."

"Weren't we just in Euyslim?" Hercules nodded his head.

"I think we were." Original Jason agreed. "Let's go back." The two collapsed into bones.

"Well that lasted a whole 2 seconds." Leo rolled his eyes.

"Nice going Piper." Jason gave her a thumbs up. Bad move.

In a swift motion, Hades brought his sword butt crashing down onto her head while she was distracted. Piper crumpled to the floor.

"So much for all of us keeping our god powers." Annabeth grumbled.

"Are you really worried about that?" Percy gave her a disapproving look. "We don't know if she's okay yet."

"Well excuse me, I didn't know you cared that much." She snapped.

"I told you. STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Jason was next to Percy in a flash, who was bright red.

"Oh brother." Percy muttered.

"You don't think I'm serious?" Jason swung his fist and hit Percy's nose.

"You really shouldn't have done that." Percy was purple with anger. He brought his foot back, then swung it up into Jason's… er… soft spot.

Jason's face was tight with pain. He couldn't speak. Percy smiled smugly.

"You're sooo dead." Jason squeaked finally.

"Guys, don't do this." Annabeth said.

"Yeah, what about Death Breath over there." Leo gestured towards Hades.

"I'll deal with you later." Percy jabbed a finger at Jason's chest.

"While you two TALK it out." Annabeth said pointedly. "I'm going to beat Hades." She dropped into stance, and the battle begun.

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