Disclaimer: My initials do not stand for rest and relaxation. PJO is not mine.

A/N: Dionysus's favorite joke: Q. How do you put a elephant in a refrigerator? A. Take all the food out and put the elephant in the refrigerator. Q. How do you put a giraffe in a refrigerator? A. Take the elephant out and put the giraffe in.

Chapter Ten: Χάνοντας Ελπίδα (Losing Hope)

"We're what?" Zoe exclaimed as soon as she, Percy, Nico and Thalia were walking out of the Big House.

Thalia watched Zoe with a deadpan expression. She had changed so much since coming back to life. And the present lieutenant of Artemis knew that checking up on Zoe was half the reason that she had been sent here with the rest of the Hunters. True, it was also in part because Artemis volunteered to lead the embassy up to Uranus's palace. But Thalia could sense hidden meaning from a mile away.

"We're playing a three team game of capture the flag," Percy stated, matter-of-factly.

Thalia sighed. Even Percy had changed.

"Three teams," Nico muttered. "Hunters vs. the Twelve vs. the minor gods."

"It's awful," Zoe said, crossing her arms. She seemed to notice Thalia staring at her. "What?"

"You're just... different," Thalia said, quietly.

The ex-Hunter's face clouded, and she shivered, "I'm making a conscious effort."

Nico noticed that Percy and Zoe were intentionally not looking at each other. The son of Hades frowned. "Well come on Percy, let's get our troops rounded up."

"I'm on your team," Zoe stated. "Better than the minors."

Nico poked her, "Yeah? Thalia would take you in a second."

"I'm not a Hunter," Zoe said. She squeezed her eyes shut. Why did everyone see her some Hunter who wasn't a Hunter anymore but still wanted to be a Hunter? Rachel Elizabeth Dare was more a Hunter than Zoe. The daughter of Atlas looked up to see the red haired girl laughing with the rest of the Hunters off in a distance.

"I've got to get my team ready," Thalia said, half rhetorically. She wandered off.

"Kristen and Jayson are leading the others?" Nico asked.

"Yeah," Percy said, "us, Hope, the Hermes cabin. And Apollo, right. We need thirty..."

"Athena, obviously. Ares, of course. And Hephaestus. And Aphrodite, you know that they hate the Hunters. And what about that Zeus kid, Nathan? That should get us to thirty, right?"

"About," Zoe said. "I'll find Hope. At least she's a girl."

Nico and Percy laughed.

OoOoOoOoOoO

Chiron held up a map of the woods, large enough for the three armies to see. It divided the woods into three sections, the usual border of the creek one side of the triangle, imaginary lines the other two. "As our guests, the Hunters may pick first," Chiron said.

Thalia pointed to the southern most sector, "We'll take that one."

"Children of the Twelve?" Chiron asked, looking at Percy.

Percy ignored Kristen Dean's distinctive mutters of unfair and picked the side that had half the creek in it. Children of Poseidon loved the water.

"No fair," Kristen moaned as they were stuck with the smallest of the three sections.

"Get over it, Kris." One of the children of Hecate said, "We'll still win."

Nico coughed, loudly, and shared a conspiratorial glance with Zoe.

"Because there are three teams, the goal is to capture all three flags, and protect them on your side of the forest for at least ten minutes." Chiron announced. Everyone who was playing was geared up and ready to go. "So even if you have all three flags on your territory for nine minutes, if one gets captured, the game goes on." He finished his speech by yelling, "Hail the game" in Greek.

The three teams roared battle cries and then marched forward in three three-by-ten columns.

"Plan's a go," Malcolm, one of the Athena kids, whispered to Zoe. Zoe caught Nico's eye and winked.

Nico leaned out of line a bit to reach across and grab Kristen's arm. She looked at him, annoyed. "What?"

"If we don't get the Hunter's out early, they'll murder both of us."

Kristen nodded, "I know, leave me alone."

Nico pulled back into their line, a smirk on his face. Percy looked at him, Zoe and the Athena kids in confusing. He had obviously missed out on some planning session. He and Hope carried the flag. They had been voted the best fighters by everyone but half the Ares cabin.

The three teams split, heading to their various spots in the forest. The Twelve group gathered around a pool in the creek, it was a hard to reach spot, wet and watery. Perfect for the two children of Poseidon. Nico, Clarisse and Zoe, the elected leaders besides the obvious choice of invincible Percy.

"Ready?" Clarisse asked, raising her electric spear in the air.

"Now, listen here," Nico said, "thanks to Malcolm and the rest of Athena, we've got a plan that's golden-"

Malcolm snorted.

"-and will assure us the win. Even against the Hunters," He looked at Zoe.

Zoe sighed, "And we've – they've – never lost since capture the flag was invented."

The thirty half-bloods roared and shook their weapons. There was a howl from behind them and most of the kids stuttered, but Nico and Percy said. "Home girl."

Mrs. O'Leary ran off. Obviously pouting.

"Now that the hellhound is gone," Clarisse yelled, with an annoyed glance at Nico and Percy. "We can get going!" She gave a yell that the whole team echoed and everyone spread out. They were the best fighters in camp - except for the Aphrodite kids - and everyone knew what they were doing.

As they spread out in various directions, Zoe sighed. She was still standing by the flag with Percy, Nico and Hope. Right now, the only people she really trusted. Well, she still had her doubts on Hope, but the girl was a good kid. "How did we end up on guard duty?"

They took up a stance about twenty feet away from the flag, Hope and Percy standing in water for greater control. "Um," Hope said, "because Percy and I are the Water Wonders and you and Nico said that this could work out for us to plan?"

"Are you still sure about including me and Hope?" Percy asked.

"Hope and I." Nico corrected.

"Hope and me," Percy retorted. "Compromise."

"This IS no compromise in grammar!"

"It's Hope and me," Zoe said, glaring at the two boys. "And, Percy, the extra people can't hurt, really."

"And you could easily be part of it," said Zoe. "There's ten more faces that I just don't remember."

"But you know it's Nikolai and you're suspicious about Sam?" Hope said. "What about-"

She paused, long enough for Nico to say, "It's just Nico!"

"-Grover? Juniper did say he was acting weird."

"I haven't seen him," Percy said, frowning. "I know he's been avoiding me ever since Annabeth died."

"That was weeks ago," Nico cried. "You should have at least talked about it."

Percy shifted his weight and his three friends dropped the subject. The four of them were silent, watching the forest. In the distance, the four could hear the sounds of war. It certainly seemed like the plan was going good. The Hunters and the children of the minor gods fought while the children of the Twelve flirted in and out, like gnats.

"I've got a bad feeling," Nico stated, sometime later. "Everything is too calm, and it's colder."

Hope tilted her head to better catch the screams and screeches and clangs and clashes from the rest of the forest. "TOO calm?"

Zoe nodded, biting her lip. Both she and Nico were paler than normal.

"What is it?" Hope asked, alert. She looked at her friends, but none of them answered. Percy looked tense and taught. At least more than normal. "Guys?" Hope hissed, when they didn't answer.

Then Zoe jumped to the side and raised her bow. She yelled a battle cry and let fly and arrow. Nico and Percy had their swords drawn and leapt forward to stand at Zoe's side. Hope stared. The arrow had disappeared, into thin air. She blinked, then rubbed her eyes, but all she saw were Zoe, Nico and Percy dancing around in some kind, choreographed dance or something. "Stop it guys," Hope said, as they yelled to each other, apparently coordinating their attacks.

Percy looked up at her, and mouthed, 'Run'.

Hope shook her head stubbornly and drew her sword. Just in case. The three of them did really look scared. Something smacked Zoe in the side and she skidded across the ground and crashed into a tree. A cry of pain came from the ex-Hunter's lips.

Okay. Hope thought to herself, changing her grip on the sword. Something invisible to her was visible by those three? Why?

"Hope!" She heard Percy scream. "Get out of here, please!"

She turned and tried to run, but something slimy grabbed her leg and yanked her away from the ground. The thing-whatever-it-was lifted her up about fifteen feet in the air. Hope screamed as the ground swayed below her. The daughter of Poseidon was tossed back and forth, and there wasn't always something slippery and slimy wrapped around her right leg. It was horrifying.

But she wasn't dropped.

Below her, she could vaguely make out Percy and Nico slashing at something with their swords, while Zoe tried to make a stand with her bow and arrows from a distance. But even with the whole world spinning, it was evident that Zoe was in a lot of pain, and that Percy really, really hated his newly smithed sword.

Hope knew what had to be done, but she could hardly open her mouth for fear of screaming her head off from the Bronx to Quebec. "Zo-o-o-e-e! Ri-i-i-p-t-i-i-AAAAHHH!" The beast-thing-whatever tossed her straight up into the air, and didn't bother to catch her.

"WATER!" Hope heard her half-brother scream. She landed in a bed of water and lost all consciousness.

Zoe fumbled with her bow, cursing her awkward fingers in this time of necessity. She managed to grab the pen from the slot on her back. "HI HO! PERCY!" Drawing back her arm, she tossed the pen forward, ignoring how her follow-through jolted her ribs. The girl had lived long enough and had enough injuries that she knew at least two of her ribs where broken, but Nico was to small to do any damage and Percy - no matter how invincible he was - couldn't take on the thing along.

Percy looked up midswing and barely managed to snatch the pen from the air as it almost over shot him and disappeared among the underbrush. He dropped the sword that the Hephaestus kids had made for him and uncapped the pen. The sword - Riptide, Anaklusmos - burst into his hand, glowing with golden power. He swung at the beast, the sword cutting into the scales of the creature.

Nico did likewise, his sword of Stygian iron becoming growing sharper as his energy increased. The two boys, and Zoe's arrows, hacked away at beast. It was a lizard like thing with molten colored scales, completely unlike anything they had ever fought before, even if Zoe had an inkling about what it was. And if she was right, the three of them had no chance.

Claws curling with just a hint of annoyance as Percy and Nico continued to hack away at its scales, the beast roared again. His neck twisted like an owl and his snapped at Percy with three foot fangs, causing the boy to jump back and swing his sword for protection. Zoe let fly another arrow and it clashed against the serpent's neck before bouncing off and landing not far from Hope's soaked body.

Zoe summoned her arrows back, using ancient, ancient, ancient Greek. If the beast really was what she thought it was- Nico was blasted off his feet by a kick from the lizard. He somersaulted through the air and landed against a tree with a crash, going limp. Percy was likewise sent flying, but he was basically invincible, so he jumped to his feet and charged the beast again.

Her lungs thudded painfully against her half-collapsed ribs. Vertigo played with her mind, but the girl pushed through it and continued to send arrow after arrow with the speed only matched by the other Hunters, Artemis and Apollo themselves. Help. Please. Artemis, someone. Help. Please. The world was spinning when it closed around her.

Zoe collapsed.

The remaining human was close to panicking. He threw away any and all regard for his personal safety and only danced away to make sure that the beast couldn't get the small of his back. Lizard and boy attacked each other, wearing away at each other, but Percy didn't stand a chance. He was tossed away over and over but he never gave up. He only went on, fury of his blows never lessening as he fought for his friends.

Only briefly did he wonder where everyone was. They were in the middle of capture the flag. The whole forest should have been packed. But it only crossed his mind once. It was vital he remained focused on the task at hand.

Being the stupid, hotheaded, invincible hero.

Again.

Bleh.

He swung on and on, sword never dulling, tactics never slipping, the very epoch of a good fight. Lizard and boy. A duel not to be forgotten until:

Percy stepped away from the refrigerator, and blinked. Mr. D was eating a piece of pizza and leaning against his beast-containing-refrigerator. Percy had seen it before, when the god of wine had used it to capture a manticore during the quest to rescue Artemis and Annabeth over Christmas break a few years ago.

"Th-tha-thanks," Percy stuttered, his shoulders slumped forward.

"I wish I didn't have to do it," Mr. D said, rolling his eyes. "Tootles." He tapped the top of the refrigerator and disappeared. Percy barely noticed the audience of tree nymphs.

"Get Chiron, please," Percy muttered. Anaklusmos felt heavy in his hands. He capped it and returned it to his pocket. He'd give it back to Zoe later. Looking around the clearing, Percy located Nico across the stream, a huddled mass at the bottom of a tree. Hope was half in and half out of the water, unconscious, or, Percy's fight dulled and exhausted mind tried to tell himself something, but he couldn't comprehend was it was saying. And then Zoe was the opposite direction from Nico, another mass of not-moving flesh.

Percy's knees buckled out from under him.

Being invincible made one very, very, very tired.

He was asleep before his head hit the ground.

OoOoOoOoOoO

The refrigerator arrived in the center of the thrown room of Olympus.

Zeus was on his thrown, engaging with a conversation with Hera. Besides for Hera and Zeus, and now Dionysus and his refrigerator, the room was empty. He looked down at his son and the refrigerator with disdain, "You aren't allowed up here Dionysus."

Dionysus glared at his father. "Call a counsel meeting."

"You do not presume-"

"Father!" Dionysus snarled. He patted his refrigerator. "The Xoac is out. Unless you don't care about that." Hera paled. Zeus glared at his son, and then at the refrigerator, before yanking a bell cord next to his throne.

Apollo appeared first, "Da-ad! This is our, what, like fifth counsel meeting in three days? Can't you give it a rest?"

Zeus pointed at Dionysus, "He's to blame.

Dionysus snorted and lounge against his refrigerator. He seemed to realize he had a half finished pizza in his hand, because he blinked at it for a few seconds before stuffing it into his face. One by one, expecting Aphrodite and Ares who came in together, the twelve gods arrived alone.

Hestia appeared at the hearth, but no one said anything about it. She was ALWAYS there anyways.

Once Poseidon arrived, Zeus waved for Dionysus said. The god of wine swallowed, "Well, Friday is when those stupid campers always have their game of capture the flag. It so happened that your two children," he nodded to Poseidon, "the Hades kid and the daughter of Atlas," he looked pointedly at Artemis who didn't respond, "were together when they got attacked by the Xoac."

"There's three Xoacs," Artemis said, eying the refrigerator.

"Which Xoac?" Athena said, cocking her head to one said in a contemplative kind of way.

"THE Xoac," Dionysus said, tapping his refrigerator. "If that annoying little hero Percy Jackson-"

Poseidon glared hurricanes at Dionysus.

"-hadn't been invincible, all four of them would be dead. Anyhow, the Xoac is in here, waiting your judgment, father."

"Open it," Zeus commanded.

Dionysus let down a few of the protective barriers around the beast so the other gods could see it. He rolled out of the way as Zeus shot a lightening bolt at it and blew the refrigerator to Tartarus and back again before leaving it in a smoldering heap on the floor. One barbed claw remained.

"Take that to Percy Jackson," Zeus commanded. "Spoils of war." He was about to say more when the doors to the thrown room opened and three old ladies stepped inside.

All twelve of the gods froze.

"The Moirae," Zeus said, standing, "what hails your visit?" He spoke in Greek, but everyone could understand him.

The first old lady stepped forward and pulled out a ball of thread. "Wound around is the fate of all," she said, in a chanting voice, "string for a kitten's play."

"Time is ending," said the second woman, coming to stand beside the first. "But then a new dawn will come."

The third woman clicked her scissors in a menacing kind of way.

"Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos," Zeus said, using their rarely used named. "Please explain yourselves."

"Your age is ending," Atropos danced around with her scissors in the air. "Ending. Ending. You will all die. Die. Die."

Clotho and Lachesis said, "The time of Olympus is ending. The Sixth Age brings a new dawn."

The only sound was a click of the scissors.