Percy wasted no time in getting to Nico's side. Nico was furiously attacking the man who called himself the lieutenant of the army of Kronos.

"Minos!" Nico roared. But Percy could tell that Nico was no match for Minos. "You serve my father. You will serve me!" he said as he struggled to hold his own against Minos.

"You have much to learn in the way of politics, young prince. No one is truly loyal. Everyone is only interested in themselves. Take yourself for instance. You were perfectly fine with destroying an entire city as long as it gave you the revenge you wanted against Percy Jackson." He disarmed Nico and knocked him to the floor. "I allied with with you only as long as you were useful. Now you are in my way."

Percy wasted no time in intervening and stopped the sword that swung down to end Nico's life, and quickly went on the offensive. Minos knew how to use a sword, but Percy wasn't alone. Nico was quick to join him and fight by his side. Minos grunted from the effort of fighting two swordsmen.

"Nico," Minos sneered, "he led your sister to her death. How can you join him?"

Nico glanced at Percy before glaring at Minos, "Because he's right. Taking his life did nothing to take away the pain of loosing Bianca. It only made it worse. And destroying a city of innocents. . ." Nico shook his head. "I can't do it. I won't let you do it." Nico growled and attacked with renewed ferocity. Percy helped were he could, and made a good distraction as Nico landed a final blow. Percy blocked Minos' sword and held it as Nico impaled his sword through Minos' stomach.

"Please, your highness." Minos pleaded.

"Now I am 'your highness' again?" Nico questioned. "You're right. I don't understand politics. But I know I don't trust you." Nico sneered as he withdrew his sword from him. With that Minos fell.

Percy realized at this point that several other troops, besides the one he brought down, were finishing off the last of the army. He looked frantically around for Annabeth and Rachael.

"I've got to go." Nico interrupted his search. "I can't be seen here. It would bring war between Ephyra and Athens. Percy, listen. The army in the north is a decoy. Kronos will march against the capital of Olympus from his hidden army in the south. You must stop him." He turned to leave.

"When?" Percy grabbed him.

"Soon." He turned again.

"Nico, " Percy called out to him, "your sister would be proud."

"Thank you . . . for giving me a second chance."

"You're a good kid. Remember that." Percy nodded.

Nico turned to hide his face, nodded once, then ran out the way he came.

"Jackson!" a voice barked at him. He turned to see General Bracca storming toward him. "What is the meaning of this?"

"We located the Greek fire as Princess Annabeth informed us, and commandeered it." Percy reported.

"Commandeered it? It needs to be destroyed, immediately." Bracca roared.

"Well done, Jackson." Another voice interrupted. "We will use this Greek fire against our enemies in the battles to come." Percy saluted to General Philiuppieus. "Find your way out of here. Let others who didn't fight clean up this mess."

"Yes, sir." Percy saluted again and made his way past Bracca, who looked very displeased.

Percy scanned the scene carefully, looking for any sign of Annabeth. She wasn't anywhere around the main pillar, where he'd last saw her. Even more alarming, neither was Kelly. Then he spotted Layland, the soldier he had assigned to guard Annabeth. His wounds were being tended to by a medic.

"Layland, what happened?" Percy asked.

"I was so focused on protecting. . . I got blindsided."

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes, sir." His voice was strong, and was that respect in his eyes? "She is really fast." He said in a lower tone.

"Headstrong too." Percy mumbled. "Get better." Percy said in parting.

Percy looked everywhere, but he couldn't find her anywhere. Maybe she got out, he thought. He hoped.

The tunnels were full of soldiers. As he walked toward the exit, he couldn't help but feel like the soldiers were staring at him as he went by. Percy shook off the feeling and climbed the ladder. At the top, he was greeted by Athena and more surprising, Annabeth.

"Well done Staff Sargent Jackson. All of Athens owes you a great debt."

Percy tried to not act surprised, but he had just seen Annabeth in full battle armor just a moment ago, and now she was in a nice dress with her hair done up and surrounded by her escort. It was truly impressive. "Uh, thank you, your majesty, but I can't take all the credit. The men . . ."

"Yes, they will be fully rewarded." She interrupted him. The way she looked at him made him very uncomfortable. He instead turned his attention to Annabeth, who was giving him an entirely different look that he couldn't make out. " In the meantime, I want a full report by tomorrow morning. You are dismissed."

Percy saluted smartly. Percy and Annabeth locked eyes as he moved to leave. He gave her a confused look, and she gave him a small smile that clearly said that she had a secret that they shared. Percy had a feeling that this wouldn't be the last time she would don on the armor and fight by his side. And yet he was strangely alright with it.

As he made his way to his bunk, he got several stares, a few claps on the back, and an occasional applause. He changed his course halfway toward his bunk and instead made his way toward the blacksmiths.

Tyson was just leaning over his forge when he saw Percy. He burst into a huge grin and ran toward him. Percy may be older, but Tyson was definitely bigger and Percy hesitated as Tyson enveloped him in a bone crushing hug. "Percy! I was so worried."

"Yeah, sorry about that. Are you alright?"

"The day after you disappeared, your bunk was ransacked. It was a big mess. Do you think it was . . . You know?"

Percy nodded in affirmation. "He probably didn't find what he was looking for." Percy looked at Tyson knowingly.

Tyson shook his head violently. "I'm glad you're back. I missed you."

"I missed you too. You still need to keep an eye out. Gabe is still around."

Tyson nodded gravely. "What will you do?" He asked nervously.

Percy took a deep breath. "Well, I'm not paying him."

"Are we leaving?" Tyson asked intently.

"We?" Percy said with surprise. "They're not after you. You can stay."

"You're my brother. Where you go, I go." Tyson stated this as though it were obvious.

Percy felt tears prick his eyes at this statement. He sighed and took a look around him. Once again, his eyes lingered on the palace. "We have a war to get through first. We'll see what happens. Stay alert."

Tyson nodded.

Percy next made his way into town where he saw Rachael sitting next to the town fountain as if she had been waiting for him.

Percy sat down a distance away from her and without looking at her said, "Thanks for your help. I'm glad you got out okay.. We couldn't have done it without you. "

Rachael had a huge smile on her face. "it feels good to know that I helped. "

"I wish I could give you more credit for it. "

"As amazing as that would be, I'm okay. Thank you for an amazing adventure. "

Percy sat there awkwardly.

"Our time in Athens is almost over. Father wants to leave in a couple of days."

"Where to?"

"The next town, Olympus."

"Will I see you again?"

She shrugged, "Maybe we'll cross paths again. I'm sure you're going to be busy, legend."

There was that word again, he was about to ask what she meant, when a voice shouted out her name.

Rachael's eyes snapped to who called her name, and let out a small groan. Her father stood across the square. "See you around, Percy Jackson." Rachael threw him a small smile and left to follow her father.

Percy watched her go with mixed feelings.