A/N: Okay, I thought that it might be a bit longer before I updated again, but it looks like I was wrong. A big WELL DONE to the GUEST to whom this chapter is dedicated, however, as I do not have a way to contact you, I can't really arrange details of a demigod, but, this chapter is for you! The correct answer was… just read on and find out :P

P.S. it is going to remain in ALYSSA'S POV for the duration of the tournament, enjoy!

I was watching the arena intently for any movement as soon as Lady Artemis stepped out into the field, but as far as I could see, there were still no changes. Squinting to focus, I did another sweep of the arena, but there was still nothing, so I lent over and poked Ice in the ribs, immediately grabbing his attention.

"Hmm?"

"Why is nothing happening, you said that the match started as soon as the fighter entered?"

I don't really get the joke, but as soon as I finished speaking, both of the Assassins beside me cracked up. It made me feel like I had just said something stupid, a feeling that I really did not appreciate and I'm pretty sure that I started scowling as the teens quickly shut up (either that or it was the growls coming from the gods behind us… my guess is the latter.) Without another word, Karma just grinned and pointed towards the floor. I can't say for sure, but I think that she was pointing at the shadows, though I don't know why she would be. My face must have remained blank as she soon sighed and explained.

"It's Shade. Looks like he decided to go first!"

Again, noticing my completely confused face, she pointed more forcefully at where Artemis' shadow fell close to the stands elongated by the light of the setting sun so that it was much taller than the 12 year old form of the goddess, but something seemed off about the shape. I just couldn't place my finger on it though…

"We don't get our codenames for nothing you know!"

It was the words of Ice that helped me finally place what was wrong. The shadow was too long, from the angle of the sun, the darkness shouldn't stretch that far. I heard a gasp from behind me, looks like my mother had just noticed it too. I remained sitting there, gapping at the shadow and trying to figure it out wile the two beside me went back to laughing, the note book in my hand completely forgot as I tried to work out why this technique could possibly be useful, but before I could get to any conclusion, Apollo quickly rose to his feet and started yelling.

"SIS, DON'T LET THE SHADOWS MEET!"

At first I didn't understand what he was on about until I saw that the strange shadow was getting longer, stretching towards the patch of shade beneath the stands, reaching out as though it wanted to be joined with the larger patch of darkness. As I worked this out, I felt a chill run through me, although we didn't know exactly what would happen if they did touch, the stillness of everyone around me suggested that we all knew it would be bad. Quick as a flash, Artemis looked our way, noticed the problem and she was off, all you could see was a patch of silver blurring around the arena. We all breather a collective sigh of relief, at least that danger was gone.

Looking a little perturbed, Zeus lent forwards and touched Nenyo's shoulder.

"What was that, and what would have happened if they had met?"

Oh, yeah, Nenyo was a son of Hades, he should know about darkness magic, but that thought just made it all the scarier when his face paled.

"I-I don't know… it looked like something I've read about, but I don't think even dad could do that spell, it is really, really dangerous…"

We lost him to his mutterings after that, but thankfully, Ice picked up where he had left off, and evil look dancing in his eye.

"If you're thinking of Shadow Manipulation, then you're right kid. That's Shade's main method of fighting. If a person using that spell touches a part of your shadow, they gain control over that part of the body, which is why he was aiming for the head, then he could have made her 'kill' herself. Now… well, now I guess we are going to have to watch them fight it out!"

He seemed almost ecstatic at the thought, but just then, Artemis stopped. Glaring around herself she suddenly shouted into the shadows next to Chiron.

"Get out here now child, I can sense where you are and this game of hide and seek has gone on for far too long. Show yourself and fight with honour, none of these cheap tricks!"

Oops, looks like she switched into Diana mode, but it did the trick. A collective gasp came from the audience as the hooded figure of Shade seemed to materialise out of the shadows, making Chiron almost jump a mile. Still, the boy just grinned from what I could see, as he strode out to meet the angry goddess. Though his limbs remained tense as though he was ready to run, he held no weapon in his hands which were raised, palm up as he spoke.

"You tell an Assassin to leave the shadows and fight with honour? But you managed to escape my trap so I guess I will indulge you in this for your reward."

For a few seconds, they remained thus, both of them staring down the other, Artemis' hands clamped around the handles of her silver hunting knives and Shade's hanging loosely by his sides. A faint breeze blew though the open door of the arena and then she struck. Moving faster than any mortal would be able to follow, the goddess of the moon darted forwards, blades aimed at the boys chest and head with a momentum that would be impossible to block, but just before they found their target, her enemy vanished into smoke.

Confused, she paused for a minute and we all saw a figure step out of the darkness behind her, but her reflexes were sharpened from many years in the hunt and she heard his approach, spinning round just in time to deflect the pitch black blade of a sword that had been aimed at her heart.

This carried on for a long while and it didn't look like it was going to end soon, every time it looked like one side would take the upper hand, something would happen to bring them back level:

Shade was stumbling back towards the outer edge of the arena when Artemis' foot slipped in the wet earth.

Artemis lost control of one of her daggers as she whirled around, but Shade's robes had caught in the edge of the arena, giving her the time it took to recover her grip.

Again and again the two figures collided, sparks flying from the metal on metal contact before the force of their own momentum pushed them away again, only for them to spring back together for another shot. All the way through, Karma and Ice didn't stop laughing, but I couldn't blame them, it was very intriguing to watch, but even as the time went on, it became obvious that Artemis was tiring. Every step she took held less and less of her former grace and, when their blades clashed again, one of her knives went flying off to the far end of the arena, leaving her with only one 6 inch knife against a meter long sword. The desperation in her next move was clear as day.

Moving so fast that not even a blur could be seen, she ducked under his arm, extended for the lunge she had just dodged, clasped it above the elbow and used Shades own momentum to flip him over onto his back, sending his blade clattering across the floor away from him as he hit the ground heavily. I winced, that had got to hurt!

Smirking slightly at her victory, Artemis stepped forwards, brandishing her knife in preparation to deliver the finishing blow of the match, but she made the mistake of pausing to push her hair behind her ear with her free hand so that she could see better. That one second was all that he needed, moving almost as fast as she had before, Shade arched up onto his shoulders and kicked the blade out of her hand, sending the silver dagger straight up into the air where it span and started to descend back to the earth at a deadly pace. But he was waiting for it. While the goddess was still in shock at what had happened, the assassin had regained his feet and shot out a hand to clasp the weapon. A fraction of a second later, the cold silver was pressed up against the owner's neck while her back was pressed up against the wall separating the field from the stands.

A breath second of silence filled the arena as everyone took in the scene in front of them, the Olympians were particularly shocked. Artemis had fought her hardest yet the son of Chaos had not even broken a sweat by the looks of it. Suddenly remembering his role in the whole match, Chiron shook himself out of his stupor to announce the end of the match.

"It looks like this fight is over… the winner is Shade!"

With those words, it was like a dam had burst, finally letting all the noise out that had been held back by surprise. As the crowd roared with appreciation for a good fight, I watched the assassin return the daggers to the fuming moon goddess before fading back into the shadows. When Artemis returned, her brother slipped an arm around her.

"Sooooo, how'd it go?"

With a yelp like a puppy, Apollo fell to the ground clutching his… yeah, and Artemis took her seat. Turning instead to stare pointedly at the door where the next Olympian stepped out into the field, giving me, and most other people a shock. No one had been expecting this turn of events that's for sure. Behind me, the 11 other Olympians grinned.

A/N: Okay, same rules as before, only this time, you have 11 names to go at instead of 12. Yet another well done to the guest who guessed Artemis. I wonder who is going to get the chapter next time? (A note of warning however, this one is rather hard. Think of the gods that don't like fighting, it may help you out a little!)