Hey! Sorry about the late update...You know, life has been getting in the way ;) Anyway, here is the next chapter, hope you like it!

Disclaimer- I shall, and never, own PJO...No matter how much I beg, cry, threaten, or scream...;)

Bang!

Clang!

Snap!

There was the sound of heavy breathing and metal colliding together. Thalia pushed her sweaty bangs away from her face, her eyes narrowed in concentration. She stared at her attacker, taking a step to the side so that she was circling around the other person.

"You could never beat me." Luke taunted and she let her face slip into a sneer.

"I beg to differ." she said and launched herself at him. There was a flash of silver and bronze in the sun and another echoing sound of metal striking one another. Luke stepped back as he parried Thalia's attack, his own face shined with sweat. As Thalia persued his face tightened in determination and his sword was lifted higher, ready for his attack.

Thalia smiled to herself, she had him now. As she advanced forward Luke thrust himself forward again causing her to take another step back. She frowned and pushed herself father into him, allowing the blades to shorten the distance between them. Then, With a defeaning rattle Luke's sword flew across the arena and Thalia's own was on the back of Luke's neck, his face inches from her own.

"I won." she breathed with a small smile and Luke would have scowled if he hadn't been staring into her eyes.

"I-It was a lucky try." he muttered his face slightly red, perhaps from the workout or maybe from the fact he was so close to Thalia.

"Oh, I don't think so Luke Castellean. I think I won fair and square." Thalia whispered taking another step closer to him, her breath warm against his skin. "I think you just don't want to admit I'm better than you." Luke's head tilted slightly as he looked at her and he seemed as if he were finding a hard time answering

"Hmm? Is that what you think? Well I think you cheated." he murmured and reached up to grab Thalia's wrist so that the knife wouldn't dig farther into his neck.

"Now how did I cheat?" asked Thalia mockingly, allowing Luke to move her hand and weapon down to her side.

"You distracted me with your good looks." he smirked and Thalia laughed quietly.

"Then you would be considered guilty as well." she smiled and leaned in, her lips gently brushing his. Luke took his own hand snaked it around her waist, bringing her closer to him as he leaned forward to kiss her back.

Zing!

The two of them jumped apart, startled. Thalia looked up to see a sword between Luke and herself and a smirking Percy at the end of it.

"Rule number one: Always expect an attack and never get distracted." he said and looked between the two of them. "Uh...I wasn't interrupting something too important now was I?" he asked bashfully and Thalia let out a low growl before launching herself at him.

"You jerk!" she hissed, too low for Luke to hear, as soon as Percy stepped away to defend himself against her blade.

"What?" he asked innocently his eyes teasing. With a sharp jab he brought back his blade and manage to bring himself forward so that he had the upper hand.

"You know very well what." Thalia snarled her skin crackling slightly with electricty from her anger. Percy rolled his eyes and deflected a strike at his head.

"Oh please." he chuckled "You can't honestly say that you actually like him. You can do better than a weakling like him."

"He's not a weakling!" Thalia objected as she dove to avoid the tip of Percy's sword.

"Is too!" argued Percy.

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!" Thalia yelled and stomped her foot. They both stood with there swords by their sides, the fight forgotten due to the arguement they had been having. Percy smiled and took the advantage, throwing Thalia's blade onto the floor with a clatter.

"You forgot rule number one." he told her "Always expect an attack and never get distracted."

"Ugh!" Thalia yelled "You are impossible Perseus Jackson!" Percy laughed and took a bow

"Why thank you!" he said joyously as if had been told he was the smartest man on the planet. Luke stood off to the side looking uncomfortable as he watched the two of them.

"Uh...Should I go?" he asked uncertaintly gesturing to the exit of the arena.

"Nah," Pery smiled "We're basically done."

"What?" Thalia demanded "We've only been practicing for ten minutes!" Percy smiled warmly at her.

"Yep. Just long enough to get the first rule into your head. See you guys later." he said and walked over to Luke and leaned forward only he could hear him.

"You hurt her and you are dead. Understand Castellean?" Luke looked up at his master's son and nodded mutely before smiling softly.

"I won't" he murmured and Percy nodded and walked over to the exit where a figure stood waiting for him.

"He's insane." Thalia sighed shaking her head in exasporation then turned towards Luke. "What did he say to you?" she asked her voice midly cuorious.

"Nothing." Luke laughed and then grabbed her arm gently, pulling her in. "Where were we?" he asked and then yelped and jumped twenty feet in the air as he got shocked.

"Ha, I'm not that easy sorry." Thalia called over her shoulder as she walked away, twirling her sword by her side.

"Do you like her?" Tyler asked as Percy kicked a shell into the water as they walked down the beach under a grey cloudy sky.

"Like who?" he asked, turning to face him.

"Thalia." Percy smiled.

"Of course I do. She's awesome."

"You know what I mean." At this comment Percy slowed his pace down and looked at Tyler more intently then before.

"No. She's my cousin, nothing more. Keep in mind my past two relationships haven't ended well, I don't think I will be wanting another one soon."

"But you might."

"Sorry," scoffed Percy "But I'm not all that into self inflicted pain." Tyler rolled his eyes and they continued walking in silence for a moment before Percy spoke again.

"So what do you think?" he asked and picked up another shell, flinging it out into the waves.

"About what?"

"Tyler." Percy said in an exasperated voice and Tyler rose his hands in defeat.

"All right, all right. Sorry." he bit his lip as they continued on before saying "I don't know Percy...I mean I just can't see myself on your side."

"Well you have three days to decide." Percy replied solemnly; his eyes trained on the horizon.

"Three days? Why three days?" Tyler asked pushing his hair from his face and rearranging his arm so that the scars and bruises that were not yet healed weren't as exposed.

"Bacause in three days we are going to camp half-blood. We're going to turn into another base." he said this all nonchanlantly and Tyler just stopped walking and stared.

"And the demigods?" he asked his voice cold.

"Can either join us or go away."

"What do you mean by 'go away'." At this the earth trembled slightly and Tyler knew he had trespassed on a sensitive subject.

"Tyler." he said quietly "We are at war. I don't know if you fully understand that at times. War. People die in war, that's how it is."

"You're going to kill them." Percy sighed and looked at the ground.

"I'm mainly going to try to knock them out. So that when they wake up I can talk them into seeing sense. If I do have to kill...I guess I will. Besides its not like they are going to be trying not to kill us."

"Us? Since when is it us?" Tyler demanded his face slightly red.

"I didn't mean to refer to you." Percy replied coolly "I mean 'us' as in my people and I. Listen, the half-bloods who are supporting the gods will try to kill us. I'm not going to let anyone on our side get hurt just to protect them ok?"

"So it's true then." Tyler said with an air of surprise.

"What's true?" Percy asked, confusion clearly written on his face.

"Your fatal flaw." Out of no where there was a slamming sensation upon Tyler's chest and he felt the sand beneath him rise. Percy had the tip of his blade under his chin and was literally on top of him.

"What do you know about my fatal flaw?" he demanded and Tyler blinked.

"You mean you don't know?" he asked and Percy's scowl deepened measurably.

"No. Which is why I would like to know how exactly you found out." Tyler scoffed and pushed the sword away from his throat.

"You didn't think you could keep me a secret did you? Kronos found me and we had a little chat."

"W-what? He told you?" Percy sputtered "But...but I asked and he...and he..." Percy's lower lip came out and hurt was written all over his face. "How could he tell you and not me?" he finally asked with a slight tone of envy.

"Well..." Tyler said cautiously "He just it would be a good idea for...you to have someone to talk to."

"Someone to...? Gods!" Percy yelled now annoyed. "You have got to be kidding me! You aren't even offically on out side! Why would he tell you to...And even if...How could he...Ugh!" he snarled and stalked off, forgetting about Tyler completely and leaving him alone in the sand.

"Poor dear..." a voice spoke and Tyler whirled around to find himself face to face with a strange looking girl. She was a ghost clearly but there was something different about her...He could see the color of her skin was pale with freckles sprinkling across her face. Black hair fell past her chin and framed chocolate brown eyes. She looked at Tyler and smiled at him.

"What are you?" he asked taking a step back and the girl frowned.

"How rude." she commented "'Who are you?' would be much more polite." she told him "and I am Layla. The old Oracle."

"The old Oracle? But the curse...?" Layla laughed and shook her head.

"No silly boy. The oracle lives inside my body while my soul does not. I am just a mere ghost now with the power to make a prophecy every centuary or so."

"So...You are going to make a prophecy now?" Tyler asked overwhelmed.

"No" Layla said shaking her head "I am here to tell you the one I made earlier is coming to a close. Ask Percy. He will tell you. In the meantime though there is something you must know."

"And what might that be?" Tyler asked unsure on what exactly was going on at the moment. The girl, Layla smiled at him reassuringly and he attempted to smile back.

"A group of demigods will play a major role in the war coming. You will be one of them along with Thalia, Percy of course and some you have yet to meet."

"What are you saying?" Layla laughed and her form grew faint.

"I am saying that you have one hell of a war coming up. Keep in mind this though 'Time is precious, no matter how much you have'"

"What does that mean?"

"A new Era is coming, Titans nor gods will rule."

"WHAT?" Tyler shouted but her form and voice was faint.

"Good luck." she whispered and all was gone. Tyler sat there staring at the waves. Titans nor gods will rule? How does that even work? He swallowed hard and blinked a couple of times, trying to decide whether or not this was all just a bad dream. He swallowed hard and looked down at his hands which were shaking slightly.

Layla had said something to him that made him think though. Time is precious, no matter how much you have.

"Percy..." he muttered and ran off down the beach to find his new ally.

Yeppp...So that is all! I will try to update as soon as I can! If you have any questions feel free to PM me or review. Which reminds me! Please review...Please? Preety please? You will get virtual cookies! I really want to make it to 230 if I can and if I get there I will literally cry with happiness!

Lots of love,

Bookgirl333