DISCLAIMER: I humbly present Mr. Rick Riordan's characters! Though the plot and some of the new ones are definitely mine!

A/N: PLEASE READ!

I realized that a lot of you are horribly confused with the turn of events. I believe that a bit of recalling our history would satiate all your curiosities. If you will observe, the war that is happening between Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter is somewhat similar with the Trojan War. Both camps are fighting for who they believe in, which are Percy and Heracles. Athens and Sparta both sprouted in the same nation, Greece. However, both of them are different in all aspects, upon which the Spartans believe in strength and the power of the body whilst the people of Athens believe in the strength and the power of the will and mind, after being named after their patron goddess Athena. We cannot rightly say that the campers of Camp Half-Blood are wrong and immorally confused but their trust happened to fall upon the strength and power of body Heracles possessed. He may be a jerk, but he inherited what we can say a leader's intellect from his father Zeus, no matter how ill-ridden his attitude may be. Strength and battle-reflexes, he must have, Attitude and personality no one can love. Now, In Camp Jupiter, irony runs deep within their situation since Romans believe that nothing can conquer man without the strength and will of mind. However, Percy must have stood strong in their eyes, even though he blatantly said he was never the brightest crayon in the box. His determination and strength to lead his friends made him an ideal preator, together with Jason and Reyna.

In the situation with the gods, well, we cannot say they have done nothing to help. In these times when their children need help, they'll always be on the speed dial. But, they have reached into a horrible impasse as well. They also have other children on both sides, and being gods, they cannot risk another revolt against them led by their sons and daughters. The Ancient Laws forbid them to favor their children while the others suffer for it. They must have helped INDIRECTLY but once their help was made known, their children will fight for their favor as well, thus arousing even more loathing against one another and leading another war wherein thousands of souls will sacrifice their life so as to help their side reign as victors and achieve the favor of the gods they desire to covet.

"We cannot interfere with our children's lives...", they once said. No matter how unfair it is, I believe I know why it seems to be at best some of the times

See the dilemma? Did I answer your question?

That was simply-horrifying! Campers hurting each other? What happened to our dear ol' camp? Okay, put your swords and spatulas down. Let us meet Percy's NUMBER ONE FANS!

CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

"Jason, you have a visitor." Travis said as he entered the biggest tent with a blue flag.

Connor and I waited outside. I glanced around. It looked like it was a battle station and not a camp for demigod children. But it's not like a battle station that has nuclear weapons scattered all around the place. It was a pranking battle station. There was a huge wooden catapult of blue giant balloons. The campers and a few satyrs were holding unto it as if it would explode if it fell on the ground. It must be it since the Cohorts can be mischievous and all-for-pranking mode when they want to. Many pails filled with some kind of green gooey stuff were placed on ropes that were entwining each other. I could have sworn I saw a giant automaton dragon shooting large fireballs towards some people who were catching it into a huge oval container made of celestial bronze. Many campers were armed with large paintball guns and swords, spears or hunting knives strapped on their waist. I saw Butch, one of the Iris campers, carry a dozen hunting spears in his arms. His muscles rippled, making his My Little Pony tattoo flex. He saw me and made a huge production of throwing the spears down and saluting me. Soon, everyone stared at us in awe and disbelief. Connor didn't seem to mind.

"So, what do you think?" Connor grinned.

"It's great. Lots of pranking opportunities." I mused.

"Yeah, it's the same with the 'other side', if not equal. But they are both tied in the battle. The jerk of a leader is all for brawn while your side goes for the brain." Connor gestured with his hands.

"Are the others there? Katie and Will and everyone else?"

He shook his head. "Not exactly. Leo and Piper and some Hephaestus campers are here, as well as Will and the Apollo cabin, the whole Iris cabin and most of the Hecate cabin. The Morpheus cabin is also here with Clovis in the lead, but, you know..."

"Yeah, they're sleeping all day and night."

"But hey, in their defense, no one can stand a chance against a glass of milk and giant cookies. Plus, no one can also stand upright when they are around when Jason attacks."

I cringed.

Connor smiled apologetically. "Sorry, man. I know you're not used to us speaking like we're on war."

As far as I was concerned, I'd rather not let them speak as if they are on war.

"Anyway, the allies—well, we're all totally on your side, including more of the Ares cabin and Katie and those who fought with you in war, if that is really unbelievable, but they can't talk in their camp. They want to be like Travis and me so they can 'keep your honor' but it was too dangerous. They'll be shunned by their siblings and they really can't lie for their lives. So that's a big no-no. Especially when the new campers from both sides outnumber the old ones three-to-one."

My heart stopped for a while. "Is—is Annabeth here?"

Connor bit his lip. "I'm sorry, Percy. She's kinda on the 'other side'. She's their no. 1 strategist."

I grimaced. "No, it's fine. I'm sorry, too."

Yeah, real sorry.

Connor put his arm around my shoulder in a man-hug. "Perce, Annabeth made a huge mistake—"

"I know. And I still love her… But that's not what I'm here for." I sighed.

Connor stared at me. "Look Percy, about Annabeth—"But he was cut off when Travis peered out of the tent.

He grinned. "They're waiting for you."

I stood up from the bench and walked in, the other two at my side.

"We are outnumbered by fifty campers more or less around the flank. If they send those feces-explosions against us, we don't stand a chance." Jason stabbed his Stabilo marker on some kind of map, his blonde hair waving in the breeze. He looked like a real commander getting ready in battle. Well, less than the armor and arrogant attitude, of course.

Reyna was standing at his right side, twirling her black hair as she studied the map carefully. Dakota, Hazel and Frank were conversing together, occasionally drinking Red Kool-aid from Dakota whose eyes were bloodshot from drinking. The other leaders were here as well, their heads bowed down at the map on the desk. A blonde guy stood on the other side of Reyna, taking notes. With a jolt, it was Malcolm. Annabeth's brother. They looked preoccupied to notice my presence.

I coughed out loud. "Am I allowed to join the party?"

They looked up and gasped. I could have sworn Dakota fell on the floor.

"Percy?" Hazel breathed.

I raised two fingers to my temple. "The one and only."

Hazel shrieked and tackled me in a hug. "Oh Jupiter, Percy! You're alive."

I hugged her back and pulled away. "Yes, and I've heard that line a thousand times already."

I turned to Jason, who was gaping like a fish. "How's it goin' man?"

Jason composed himself and grinned. "I've got to say, all your quests impressed me, but this? This is something."

I shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a magnet for trouble."

Reyna chuckled. "A really big one, don't forget. From what I know about you, I'm not surprised that you manage to wake up after thirty years of coma and still be as sarcastic as you were before. Now, how did you wake up?"

The tension grew as I took a seat across Jason. "I really don't know how I slipped into a coma. After I had the, er, accident," The demigods who were there flinched. "I visited the gods, because…"

"Because?" Malcolm urged. The others leaned forward in anticipation.

I bowed my head down, unable to meet their curious gaze. "I wanted to die."

"Excuse me?" Hazel whispered.

I took a deep breath. I felt my hands shake uncontrollably as I looked at each of them. "I wanted to die because my family was murdered by the servants of Kronos and Gaia."

The air darkened. They all bowed their heads down as they acknowledge the death of my family. That was one of the things I admire with Romans. Even though Greeks also give pride to their people that died, it was different with the Romans. It felt like their commemorating their deaths in a private way. As if honouring a loved one in public was too insincere and a silent mourning was better. And I agreed with them on this one.

I really hope that what I'm doing is right.

Hazel gave me a sad smile, a tear sliding down her face. "I'm sorry for your loss, Percy. Your mom and stepdad are the kindest persons in the world and Ariadne is one-of-a-kind." Frank nodded in the background. Malcolm grimaced.

Hazel and Frank shadow-travelled in the fireplace for some monthly update and met Ariadne who immediately connected with those two. It happens that both of them were on some kind of break and Hazel's house wasn't available because it was still influenced on Gaia's power so it wasn't a good option. And Frank's house is still being renovated after being burned down by some monsters. So I asked them stay with us. Mom and Paul were ecstatic to have to more kids in the same apartment. Paul did not let go of Hazel when she told him all about her 'curse' and Mom had a soft spot for Frank when he mentioned that he was a legacy of Poseidon. Then one time, Malcolm accidentally dialled our number instead of his girlfriend Lacy from the Aphrodite cabin and called my mom 'baby'. Mom was pleased and invited him for a dinner one time. Let's just say he and Paul connected immediately for their brainiac perspective in all things. Paul even got him a scholarship in NYU when he went there.

I offered a shaky smile. "Anyway, guys, I need your help."

They grew tense. "What help?" Jason asked.

"I need to talk to Chiron."

He hesitated. "Perce—Did Travis and Connor tell you what is really happening here at camp?"

I nodded. How could I forget?

"It'll be hard to penetrate their defenses, what with 24-hours of patrol around the Big House and they have Peleus on their side. Not virtually impossible, but very difficult." Jason summarized.

"I know. But it's very important."

Jason was about to answer when Reyna cut in. "How important?"

I shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, it concerns me, the whole world and maybe even the universe." I wasn't telling the whole truth but it's a start.

Frank whistled. "Wow. That bad, huh? And it's about you? Again?"

"Tough luck I have, right?" I rolled my eyes.

Hazel rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't even think about being you, ever."

I let out a small smile and turned to Jason. "Tell me more about the 'other side'."

"Well, we outnumber them by three to one but they use their strength. Combat range. We are more of a melee type because most of us are archers. We have more of Vulcan's kids but we can't tell them to make automatons. They are highly unpredictable and very dangerous. But the Hephaestus' cabin is important for their camp since they aren't holding back one bit."

Wow. This is bad. I never thought I would be in the middle of some conflict between camps I recently made friends with. How in the gods' name did this happen?

I didn't realize I said that out loud but, to my surprise, Malcolm answered. "I guess it was my fault. I heard rumors that you hurt Annabeth behind our backs, aside from the incident in the Throne Room, and I grew mad and encouraged Heracles' hate towards you. He was, let's say, mad and made the other cabins do everything he wants to happen. Then the rest is all history."

I sighed. "Dude, it's not your fault. Heracles is just a jerk who doesn't know the meaning of 'back off'. And if it makes you feel better, I never treated Annabeth—"

"Yeah, I know. I was stupid to believe that. And from your little show in Olympus, it just made me even more suspicious."

The room grew silent. The others were staring back at each other, silently urging the other to speak. But I was lost in my thoughts.

How could Heracles stoop that low? Using other's siblings just to make him the better person? How could that make you better? Heck, he's even worse than those politicians that use his money to make people love him then use the same money to build casinos and all those drug cartels to make his money grow bigger.

Pathetic.

"Okay," Travis coughed and clapped his hand. "Now, that the awkward moment is gone, what're we going to do now?"

One of the leaders with jet-black hair nodded. He looked slightly familiar but I couldn't point it out. "What do you propose, Mr. Jackson? Are we supposed to do some reconnaissance with our spies or are we to attack with the infantry?"

I was stunned. "You're asking me what to do?"

He nodded and a small smile appeared on his tanned face. "Yes sir."

Jason chuckled. "Close your mouth, Perce. You look like a fish. A half-naked fish, that is." I blushed as he glanced at my naked torso. Reyna and Hazel blushed beet red.

Travis cracked up and gave me a blue shirt. It was a simple shirt and looked nothing out-of-place. But what caught my attention was the logo in front. It was my father's trident surrounded by white light. If I didn't look closer, I wouldn't have seen that the light was moving like ripples of water. I turned the back around and saw two words written in the middle.

For Perseus.

It was like a mirage. Greek for a second and then Latin. With a jolt, I realized that everyone in the room was wearing the same shirt with a few accessories of their own.

Hazel must've noticed my thunderstruck expression and laughed. "Like what you see, Perseus?"

I rolled my eyes and put the shirt on. Suddenly, I was surrounded in a white light. For a second I panicked, thinking that my time was up and Chaos is transporting me to gods know where. I closed my eyes and waited for the pale, sparkly red-eyed dude of the Universe to show. As the light waned, I peeked my eyes open and saw them staring at me with amused expressions. I looked down and squeaked. They laughed hard.

"Ah! Oh my gods, you contacted Aphrodite for this?"

This is so not in. I was wearing the traditional one-shouldered Greek chiton with gold and sea-green trimmings that matched my eyes. It was so white that it was impossible to ask the nearest dry-cleaner store to make one like this. I could live with the top thing, but not the bottom ones. I was wrapped in some kind of leather skirt that ends on my knees. A man-skirt, my eyes widened in disbelief. A leather belt was tied on my waist. It even served as functionally as the old time can with inside pockets on the side. I knew it was holding Riptide, the cell phone Chaos gave me and some things I rather not tell.

Malcolm snorted. "Actually, Piper did. But not to her mom but to Apollo. She thought that you would look great in this."

"Piper did this?" I know the Aphrodite girl is many things, but not a fashion extraordinaire. And this is not the fashion I was talking about.

Reyna shrugged. "Yeah. As a sign that she's supporting us all the way, she tweaked our entire wardrobe a bit with the help of Apollo and Aphrodite."

Hazel smiled. "Apollo did the design thing and must've thought that you need to look like your namesake, the Perseus."

"Heracles was furious," Connor cackled. "I mean, no one can get this amazing with a snap of a finger." He gestured to me.

"Um, Connor? You know that you're a dude and I'm a dude right?" Connor blushed.

"Of course. I just wanted to point out that Aphrodite wouldn't give her utmost blessing to a jerk named Heracles." He defended.

"Well, now the completely unnecessary man skirt is out of the talk—"I said as I sat down.

I looked up on the mantle behind Jason and gulped. I only have half an hour before my time ends and Chaos would contact me. I sucked a sharp breath. I forgot to ask him how it works!

Jason frowned. "Who are you talking about, man?"

Oops. I said it out loud. "Nothing. It's just—my time is running out and I really need to talk to Chiron immediately. Can you make a fifteen-minute diversion so I could sneak in?"

"You're leaving?" Hazel asked.

I nodded.

"Why? You just got here." Reyna shouted.

"The prophecy." Malcolm said as his face contorted in a thoughtful frown.

"Oh." She bit her lip.

I sighed. "Look, I'm sorry I'm leaving. But I have to face this, whether I like it or not." Seeing their curious stares, I hastily replied. "And you'll learn it soon and you'll be really freaked out about it, but as of now, you just have to trust me."

They nodded. Jason grinned and motioned for his seat. "Your turn now, cousin."

My eyes widened. "Oh no. I couldn't take that. It's yours—"

He smiled. "It is yours in the first place." I shook my head and he shrugged and sat down.

"Why are you all doing this for me?" I stared at them in confusion. It would make sense if they would be suckered up by Heracles, but by me…

"Don't you get it?" I jumped and saw Dakota seated in his chair, a Kool-Aid in his hand. He has a very weird intuition of knowing where the conversations stop when he enters. And I'm sure even if he's unconscious; he knew what was happening since he's not surprised with what I'm wearing.

"All of us owe you. Most of us here were saved when the giants break though the barriers of Camp Jupiter. You also saved so many campers that you didn't care for yourself. You can ask some of us why they're on your side and they'll answer that you saved them or you saved someone they loved," He glanced at Reyna. "And we are grateful that you changed our beliefs towards the Greeks and made us work together. Even though you are Greek, you will always be the praetor of our Roman camp." Dakota finished with flourish as he transferred his drink in a Sippy cup.

"That's what you think of me?" I whispered.

Jason smiled. "At first, I felt threatened by you when my people prefer you as praetor than me or Reyna but I know you deserved that position so we made you our honorary praetor. And not only that, but you save my sister, Leo, Piper and my butt hundreds of times so I guess, I owe you hundreds of times too."

"Yeah, Percy. We should be much more thankful for all you've done to Camp Half-Blood. But they got caught up with Heracles' fame and adventures that they forgot about what you've faced since you stepped on camp." Connor nodded.

I felt the urge to tear up but that would make me look like a baby so I settled with a smile. "Thanks guys."

"No prob, cous. By the way, Thalia wants you to know that she will punch you to Tartarus for leaving her to face Heracles, unconscious or not."

I shuddered. "Thanks for the heads-up."

"Look, I really don't want to break the moment but I want to prank now, ok?" Travis raised his arms in surrender. Same old Travis.

"Fine. Jason, you'll plan. I'll go and take a look at their camp and come back to get ready." I said.

He nodded. "Be careful, Percy. Those Athena campers are clever."

I nodded and went out. For the first time, I hoped that no Athena camper would see me...For their sake.

And mine.