A/N

I was very happy with this one and I hope you enjoy it. I most likely won't be posting for a few days due to school taking my time right now, I was lucky enough to have a few hours to put this together.

Also, I can understand some peoples confusion with the direction of my story, but isn't not knowing how it'll play out the thrill of a new story?

Once again thanks for the support and hope you have a good week.

We got to a car wash, with thankfully only one other person. Grover and Annabeth used the last bit of change we had on a fine mist spray, which I didn't understand since I could have done it, but whatever. They worked quickly to set up an IM with camp, which of course I had to be 'amazed' by.

"What the hell? My money," I said very obnoxiously I might add. Annabeth, Grover and Luke all looked at me, two with humour and one with surprise.

"Guys, you're okay?" Luke called out to us, "thank the gods."

It was barely there but I could see a slight flare of anger when he said that. Then just as quickly as it came it was gone replaced by a happy go lucky boy who seemed to care for his friends. I looked over and noticed Annabeth making sure her shirt was straight and her hair perfect. I almost laughed because at one point I had done the same with her.

"We...uh I mean...we uh," Annabeth stammered her ears a slight tinge of red as she looked away. It was a little annoying knowing she was never like that with me but I couldn't actually be mad, so I saved her from her embarrassment.

"Yeah, it's great to see you, but where is Chiron?" I asked thankful that my stomach wasn't twisting around like usual. He looked down towards the meadow again before sighing.

"We...we are having a few problems with the campers and Chiron is trying to deal with it," Luke answered his eyes saddening slightly. He may have been evil but I knew that he had always loved other demigods with all the love he had left.

"What issues?"

"Don't worry about it Percy, we'll have it handled soon."

I nodded my head as I thought of what it could possibly be; beside me Annabeth was doing the same.

"So, Percy? Did my shoes help you any?" He asked his smile back on his face. He seemed a little hopeful, and I was actually feeling a bit guilty.

"No, we lost our bags on the first day, sorry."

He was disappointed if his sigh was any indication. Then a loud car drove into the spot next to us, causing Annabeth to go deal with it.

"So, what happened?" Luke asked once again in a good mood.

I explained everything that happened since we left the bus with the exception of my helping Medusa. Thankfully, Grover didn't say anything about it either. Finally, the volume of the music decreased and we could hear each other easier.

"I'm afraid we can't do much from here Perce," Luke said, "But I'll tell Chiron everything, ok?"

I agreed to it and was happy to see him swipe through the message. He may not have twisted my stomach but I still wasn't happy to see him. Annabeth got back right as he left, her earlier mood gone as soon as he was.

"C'mon, let's go find somewhere to pillage," I said with a light chuckle at Annabeth's waiting expression.

I picked a booth a bit closer to the entrance this time, Annabeth was on the opposite side with Grover on the inside of the booth. The waitress came up to us with a bored and slightly annoyed expression.

"Well?" She asked, pretty unkindly but I suppose I would be too if I had to work in a backwater dinner.

"We would like to order dinner," I said this time much more confident.

"Do you have money to pay for it?"

"No!" I said way to happy. She looked at me like I was retarded, which quite frankly I probably did. She was about to say something, most likely to kick us out when a loud rumble outside.

In the parking lot was a huge Harley Davidson with what I still think is human skin as the leather for the seat. The headlight was a blood red that seemed to make want to draw you in, to devour you whole. On the bike was my least favourite god, his body still as large as last time covered in scars. I could see Annabeth was shaking while Grover looked ready to pass out, but not from fear, instead it was from the rage on his face. All around us families started to argue and some even threw their fists. Annabeth herself was glaring at me with more venom then I had ever seen, every step closer to us he took, the more Annabeth seemed to get angry.

Then she rushed me, her dagger sliding into her hand. I grabbed riptide and used it to deflect her quick strike, I summoned gallons of water and used it to chain everyone in the room to the ground. I could even feel my own anger rising, how dare she attack me like that. I was their saviour, I had been in a war and I would never lose to a weakling like her.

I realized my own thoughts were going too far and tried to clear my thoughts, focusing on the calming affects that the warmth inside me provided. I watched as everyone was either collapsed in exhaustion from their rage or their new injuries, and the others fought to attack each other.

The bell above the door ding as the oppressive rage got closer. He didn't react to anyone who tried to get at him or even me, instead, he just sat in our booth and summoned food. I decided it was safe enough to sit by him now. I got in the booth and watched for a moment as he ate some fries. I was brave and perhaps foolish but I took one of his fries right off his plate.

"You've got spunk kid, and a very strong mind thanks to Hestia," Ares rumbled his voice like a hundred bombs going off, "but spunk only gets you so far, be thankful I need you."

I nodded before grabbing another fry and downing it. I don't know why he seemed so much stronger then he had before. Then again so had every god I had encountered so far, maybe the fates played with the power scales?

"What do you need Ares?" I asked in between fries.

"A shield for a ride," He said, I could feel my rage increasing with each word.

I nodded again. I was ready this time, I was prepared to get in and out with no trouble.

"Ok, where is it and how long do I have?" I asked looking towards Annabeth who was snarling at me. Ares looked towards her as well before snapping his fingers causing her to lose consciousness. I looked at him confused, last time we had only got it because of how many of us were there.

"You act like a soldier, so tell me what was your battle?" He asked his voice no longer as destructive as a bomb and instead felt like a bandage. I was again confused, he never acted like this before, he was always a mean-spirited god.

"Don't act so surprised, I am war, I am the bombs that drop, the soldiers that die," He said his voice still low, "but I am also the medicine that fights disease, the therapist who saves the soldier at home, and I am also the medic who fights for my men's lives."

I was amazed by all that, it was actually amazing that I had never thought of that. I wanted to tell him, it was like he was in my mind whispering to me. Instead of telling him I shook my head.

"I...can't," I whispered lowly. He only nodded in understanding, his eyes instead of the nuclear explosions they usually are were instead a bright blue with tinges of red.

"Your war hasn't ended, has it? Nevermind, don't answer that and never tell anyone that I spoke to you like that, understand?" His eyes turned back into the explosions of usual and I was actually happy with the anger, "go get my shield, and I will repay you

I nodded looking at them before standing up, ready to go. On the ground was Annabeth's dagger, I picked it up allowing the familiar burn to settle over my hand.

"Will you keep them safe while I go get your shield?" I asked half expecting him to shrug. I wasn't wrong this time.

"If you don't take too long. It's at a water park a mile west of here on Delancy, check the tunnel of love," He snapped his fingers and I was suddenly outside beside his bike.

I looked back at the dinner before sighing and heading my way.

I reached the water park, which didn't have much water but whatever. I climbed up the fence my pant leg tearing slightly on a spike on the top. I looked around and it was still more or less the same, with no customers and a stockpile of dust. It would've been beautiful at one point but disuse had tarnished any beauty it once held.

I looked at the gift shop where a bunch of dusty clothes hung. I could easily clean them once I got back to the dinner and so I shoved some in my pack, trying my best to get Annabeth's and Grover's right. I was a little sad that the real Annabeth and Grover weren't here because their replacements weren't very fun. All they did was move around with the old me, doing what we had once done and what we will never do again. I watched as Annabeth scolded me for disrespecting Ares. I laughed as Annabeth took the clothes like I just did. I walked along with them as they talked about this or that, mainly Aphrodite and her relationships. Then she pointed at a tunnel marked 'Tunnel of Love'.

At the end of the tunnel was the pool and the items I needed. I looked on as my previous self talked to Annabeth and Grover. I was irritated when I hurt Grover's feelings, I knew he deserved it a little but I had no need to be so harsh about it. I started focusing, no longer watching as they ran down to the boat. Water started to burst out of pipes in the ground cracking the park all over, I used it to grab the shield and scarf before bringing them to me as a gold net started to form over the pool. Mechanical spiders were crawling everywhere in the pool and I could see that they were disappointed when they got no prey.

I watched as I used the water in the pipes to get myself and Annabeth out, all the while spiders crashed down the poolside. It was fun to watch as we barely made it out, with the videos starting immediately after our escape. I let the water propel me forward down the tunnel right beside my past self. Then they jumped out of the seat surviving a deadly crash.

I then watched as I got angrier, angry at a god who had tricked me. It was so easy to see who was bad back then, but now I had to deal with the fact that I was sometimes wrong.

Hanging my head low I walked back to the dinner to talk with the war god.

It was a little while later when I finally reached the dinner to see that it was now empty except my friends and Ares. They were still asleep though which I was thankful for.

I opened the door with a ding, it was one of the loudest dings in my life. The others being the elevator to Olympus and to Hades. I watched as Ares looked up at me, his hand on a sword and wet stone which he was using to sharpen the sword. I pulled the shield from my back, It was extremely heavy for a simple shield.

"As promised," I said before leaning over and picking up the fries on the table and eating some. He snapped his finger and sixty dollars appeared on the table, so did a small meal. I was extremely happy with this development.

"I watched you fight with my daughter, it was extremely good, and I also feel that you will need help in a war soon enough," He said before he whispered, "we all will."

I smiled before thanking him.

"Don't thank me punk, I just need you alive, also here," he said as he handed me a bag, "outside is a ride for you, it will leave in an hour."

Then he was gone and Grover and Annabeth stirred. As they came to I smiled at them and offered some fires.

"What happened?" Annabeth asked with Grover looking over as well.

I smiled slightly the scarf in my pocket slightly warm when Annabeth looked at me.

"Don't worry, a god bought us some burgers," I said then told them about the ride to which they continued questioning me.

They didn't stop trying to pry info from me for most of the hour before we started towards it, and I was very happy with the way our quest had gone so far.