Percy knew for sure that Annabeth was doing the exact opposite of what he told her to do. If almost injuring two girls during pre-finals wasn't indication enough, then restraining two more till they used their safe words in the finals was definitely a sign.

Annabeth was too harsh on the girls.

He thought it would irritate him when she rolled her eyes at him and openly disobeyed a fairly fair rule but truth be told... there was something about a girl fighting for you that was satisfying.

They were in the 10-minute break between (hopefully) the final match of the day. Percy was pretty sure Annabeth would win and take home three wins and a title (however insignificant.) Pfft, she had fought guards and defeated them. The girls were no match for her.

Tyson took out his phone and turned back to Rachel. "What about checkers then? Come on. One game."

Rachel sighed and nodded. Percy, not having anything else to do, leaned over to see the game. He put one arm around Rachel's chair without touching her and crossed his legs. Rachel did an okay move but unfortunate for her, Tyson was a good player.

Tyson grinned as Rachel tried to touch a piece. Percy wasn't ready to give his brother the satisfaction. He softly moved Rachel's hand and did another move.

Rachel shrugged. "That wasn't bad."

"Hey!" Said Tyson. "That is cheating. Only one person plays!"

Sally asked. "Where is your sister?"

Tyson pointed to where the Selected were sitting. "She didn't want to leave. I couldn't stay." He looked at Percy. "Too much talk about you." Tyson gagged.

Rachel laughed. Percy hit him playfully and focused back to the game. "Hello? My Selection." He hoped Rachel didn't notice that he had shifted his hands to her shoulder.

Or well, he hoped she didn't mind.

"You both are pretty competitive." Rachel noticed, referring to the game.

Sally laughed. "True. I keep telling Percy he should compete with someone his own age."

They all laughed. Percy took his chance to make the next move. Tyson glared at him. "Are you playing or not?" He asked Rachel.

Percy and Rachel looked at each other before replying, "we're playing."

Once the match started, they paused their game. Percy removed his hands away from Rachel and placed it on his thighs. In front of them, Reyna walked into the ring and took her stand. Percy watched as Annabeth mirrored Reyna's pose and stood her ground.

Rachel said. "Reyna is pretty fierce. I'm expecting a good match."

Percy looked at her questioningly. "Annabeth has undergone the guards training twice. She has an advantage."

"So does Reyna." She said.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

Percy saw it before she said it. Reyna's strategy was different. She attacked with force instead of waiting out the initial attack like the classes on Camp. Annabeth tried to dodge it and move randomly every time. Reyna swung her leg out of the blue and Annabeth fell. Reyna slid forward using her momentum and used that opportunity to grab Annabeth's sword.

Rachel turned to Percy, "And you were saying?"

"The match isn't over yet." He told her.

Annabeth crawled away from Reyna.

At this point, Percy was slightly concerned. She wasn't hurt, was she?

Of course, Wise Girl wouldn't be the kind of person to give up a good fight just because she took in a few scratches.

They both got back up. Annabeth took a defensive stand and Reyna had both their swords crossed together. Annabeth went in for a punch to Reyna's torso and Reyna defended but last at the last minute, Annabeth slid down between Reyna's legs and dragged one of Reyna's feet with her.

Reyna balanced on her right forehand instead of falling down completely but the momentum dragged one sword away from her. Annabeth quickly climbed on Reyna's legs, pinned her down and grabbed the sword. The fight continued.

Percy smiled and turned to Rachel, "What were you saying?"

Rachel pointed at the ring. "That."

Reyna had chosen to attack again and Annabeth stood her ground fiercely. She slashed, kicked and did anything you could imagine to stay clear of Reyna's attacks. Once when they both clashed their swords (now opposite swords because Annabeth had grabbed Reyna's instead of her own), they looked at each other in the eye as a challenge. Reyna kicked Annabeth's leg just then. Annabeth doubled back and winced.

Percy realised that Reyna was breaking a conduct rule when it came to swordplay but then again, the finals was about winning, not technique. Annabeth would be really bummed if she lost the game. She had told him that she had won every game with the Selected before.

Clearly, Reyna was trying to get Annabeth mad and mad Annabeth she got.

Reyna swung as if she was going to attack Annabeth's left side. Annabeth slashed her sword at Reyna instead of defending. Reyna, at the last minute, threw her sword from right hand to her left and attacked Annabeth on her defenceless right side.

While Annabeth was too busy stumbling back, Reyna jumped, flipped mid air and grabbed Annabeth's neck between her legs. The momentum dragged them both down and Reyna didn't waste a moment before kicking away Annabeth's sword. She intertwined her legs around Annabeth and pinned her down with her weight.

Quickly, she tried to twist one of Annabeth's hands, held the other down with one of her legs and pointed the sword's tip to Annabeth's eyes.

Annabeth struggled for the next fifteen seconds but Reyna won.

"Wow." Rachel said. "I wasn't expecting that."

Percy mock glared at her. "I thought you supported Reyna the whole time?"

"No, I mean, that move."

Tyson frowned too. "In real battle it gets you hurt. If you had real swords then Annabeth would have the best shot at wounding her opponent. It is not very clever."

Percy thought about it. "Annabeth probably didn't expect it though which made it a pretty clever move."

Tyson glared at him. "Take a side!"

"I'm not supposed to! Not yet!"

Sally laughed.

Daedalus spoke in the mic. "Lady Reyna and Lady Annabeth are tied for the title which calls for a second match unless one of them backs off now." The two girls glared at him. "That is what I thought. Next match in 15 minutes. Good luck."

Rachel asked. "You think Annabeth could lose?"

Percy thought about it. "Not when she has fifteen minutes to plan strategy."

Annabeth couldn't lose, right?

He was surprised that there was a chance she could lose. Annabeth and losing didn't happen too often.

Tyson tapped Percy, "um... is she angry?"

He pointed to Annabeth who was walking up and down. She had a glucose drink in her hand. Percy chuckled.

Rachel said. "Anyone would be. Everyone thought she was unbeatable."

Tyson frowned. "That is because you're all new. A fair fight is making Annabeth and Jason fight."

"Yes." Percy said. "Because I'm better than her. She loses when she fights with me."

Tyson said. "Ah, no she doesn't."

Sally clarified. "He means she kicks his butt till he says stop."

Tyson laughed.

"Mom! I thought you're supporting me!" He pouted. "Whatever, she threw me around enough yesterday. I think I got my weekly dose."

Rachel frowned. Tyson asked. "You two were training?"

Percy gestured aimlessly. "Yeah... something like that."

He gagged. "No. I don't wanna know."

"No." Percy said, looking at Rachel. "I mean... we had a bet."

Sally looked surprised, "And you won?"

Percy blushed in embarrassment. "That is not the point!"

...

Annabeth was furious. She didn't know why. Was it Rachel? Was it Reyna? Was it Percy?

Was it herself?

Whatever the reason, when Reyna and Annabeth walked into the ring again, she was determined to win. Annabeth slashed; Reyna dodged, she attacked; Reyna defended, she sliced, Reyna hit her sword down. They were at it for a good minute when Reyna finally switched to offense thinking Annabeth must be exhausted now.

She wasn't.

Annabeth didn't have enough data or time to interpret all of Reyna's moves but she caught enough to crack her basic strategy. Reyna fought first willingly. She gave her best shot at defeating Zoe and Amber. She gave herself a timeout and gained back some strength as she waited to attack Annabeth at her weakest point.

Annabeth was already tired from all the matches and doing three matches together is hard even for her. Besides, her mind was preoccupied and hooded with things outside the Championship.

So what if Reyna lost with Zoe?

That is because Zoe is actually an okay opponent. Annabeth had observed this fact around the third or fourth day on camp when Zoe successfully defended all of Annabeth's attacks without a sweat.

So, Annabeth's counter attack was simple: she would fall right into Reyna's imagination, strike, play offense and pretend to be tired. She would attack sloppily.

Reyna caught the bait like a Percy to blue food.

Annabeth knew she'd get one- maybe two - good shots at this before Reyna realises her plan. When Reyna slashed for the first time, Annabeth defended weakly and stumbled back purposefully.

Reyna smirked.

She attacked again and Annabeth moved away. She hit Reyna's sword arm using her sword's base. Reyna winced. She didn't stop though. They slashed once, twice, before Annabeth tricked Reyna with one of her openings. Reyna didn't fall bait for it which was exactly what Annabeth expected her to do. Instead, Reyna attacked. Annabeth ran towards her opponent and brushed past her shoulders and hit Reyna on her back. Reyna stumbled and Annabeth kicked her knees. She feel on her stomach, Annabeth climbed on top of her, held her torso to the ground and put her entire weight on Reyna's thighs.

Reyna struggled to get up but Annabeth held down one hand with her foot. As a final show of dominance, she forced Reyna to look up by twisting Reyna's arm upwards, pointed her own sword to Reyna's neck and sneered.

Reyna cried out in pain.

Chiron blew the whistle and the game ended.

Annabeth had won.

She had won the championship.

The crowd was flabbergasted. They were as silent as a priest in a meditation hall.

She got up and glared at everyone. The Selected looked at her either with fearful expressions or admiration, Annabeth couldn't say which. Percy was frowning at her and Rachel looked like she had seen a ghost. Tyson's face was blank. Sally wasn't there in the crowd anymore.

Annabeth wanted to lash out. She wanted to wail. She didn't know what got into her but she shouted. "Jackson? You remember the bet we had?"

Percy opened his mouth but Annabeth didn't give him space. "My side of the price, I get to battle you in front of everyone here." She raised her eyebrows.

Percy smirked like he was amused and it angered Annabeth. Everything about Percy angered her these days. It was like she was in a continuous rollercoaster ride with her emotions.

"Why?" She leaned forward and leaned on her sword. "Scared?"

Percy knew she could kick his butt but he didn't care. He laughed, asked Chiron for a sword and stood in the ring.

For some insanely stupid reason, he was smiling.

Annabeth tried to attack but Percy just ran away. "Catch me if you can." He laughed more, backed up, and tricked Annabeth with each of her moves.

Annabeth felt pissed off. She thought about Rachel, Reyna, Calypso and everyone else Percy spent his time with. She attacked.

She thought about their kisses and how it meant nothing more than what every other kiss meant to him. She attacked.

Drew and her perfect -. Attacked.

Rachel's overconfident look. Attacked.

Calypso's smug smile. Attacked.

Percy. Attacked.

One for every time she felt like crying over the last month. Attacked.

When Annabeth pushed him harshly away from her, Percy frowned, losing his carefree attitude. "Whoa, Wise Girl, we don't wanna kill."

Annabeth pushed his sword further down and Percy winced at the angle. He looked at the murderous look in Annabeth's eyes.

Annabeth thought about that bar, the stripper, the idiot who forgot that he sent a 143 and attacked.

Percy defended strongly this time. His sword cut through the air to hit Annabeth's knee. She defended it and Percy pulled her by her shoulders towards him. Her back crashed to his front. He mumbled angrily, "Annabeth, what is this?"

Annabeth punched him on the stomach with her elbow and freed herself. "Fighting. What does it look like?" She snapped.

She cried out an UGHH and their swords clashed harshly.

He scowled. "No, you're not."

"Well maybe you should get another eye then." She sneered. "Or another brain."

He tried to calm down. "Tell me what is going on."

"Yeah?" She said. She felt like crying. "What will you do then?"

He gritted his teeth. "Annabeth..."

"Let me guess. Fool around with another Selected?"

His face hardened. "I'm not fooling around." He caught Annabeth by her shoulders. "Not with anybody."

Annabeth stilled. She felt something inside her wail like a broken cry. Her eyes watered. "You're right, Jackson. You're absolutely right."

She put down her sword and left the ring. Percy stared at her, wide-eyed. He had no idea what he did wrong. She had left the place without looking back.

Finally, Percy turned to the Selected. "We call it a draw. Good game, everybody."

...

Percy was walking back to his guards after all that drama from the tournament.

His phone buzzed off again when he reached the guard's hallways. He remembered that he had forgotten to get Jason's gun back. He wasn't supposed to have it when he was off duty.

"What do you want?" He snapped at the caller.

"Percy?" A voice said. "Where are you?"

Percy didn't know how he knew with all that robotic voice thing going on but he knew it was Jason and not Luke.

"J? I'm walking to your room. Why?"

Jason cursed. "Just... stay where you are and just... be quiet. We're on our way."

"Who? Why?"

He saw the answer before Jason said it.

"Red." Said Jason.

About 50 feet ahead of him stood someone.

That someone was holding a gun...

The intruder shot. It brushed past Percy's right shoulder. Either this guy was a bad shooter or he had got lucky. Percy didn't want to stay long enough to find out which. He ran into his nearest turning. The intruder chased him hastily.

The one time I wish my guards were here...

He took random turns and hoped to lose the intruder but he was too quick on his feet. Suddenly, someone pulled Percy into another hallway.

It was Jason. He had his shield and two swords. Percy grabbed him and they ran. "Where is your gun? The one time you get to use it and this is what you prefer?"

Jason didn't look pleased. "Yeah well next time, get attacked when I'm not in suspension. Or you know what? Next time don't suspend ME instead of sacking the twins!" He passed one sword and the shield to Percy.

Percy grinned at him and Jason pushed him forward, falling back.

Percy, still running: "How did you -"

Jason cried out in pain.

Shit.

Percy turned back to look at his bro clutching his shoulders. He looked back to see that they were still being followed. "We need to head to the tunnels. Oh for Gods sakes, why didn't we keep wa-"

Jason stood still. Percy turned back around to see another guy with a gun.

It was Luke.

Percy frowned and anger bubbled inside him. Had Luke planned this all along?

It explained a lot of things: How the intruder knew where Percy was, how they managed to catch him without his guards around, How the intruder had a gun...

Luke shot.

The bullet hit the intruder on his chest.

Luke looked angry. He turned to Jason, "How did YOU know he was here?" He turned to Percy. "AND YOU! Who told you to go ANYWHERE without one of us?"

Percy opened his mouth in shock.

Luke had just saved his life.

Saved our lives.

"Forget it! We need to get you back to your room through the tunnels." He told Percy and turned to Jason. "And you're NOT coming until you tell me how you found Percy."

Jason winced. "You forgot your phone in my room. I heard the warning from Beckendorf."

Luke glared at Jason. Percy rushed them to the nearest secret passage. "You two work with your communication later. Get out of here first."

...

Queen Sally had called Prince Percy to her room late that night. Percy knew what was coming: advice, concern, maybe bit of anger...

Okay, fine, maybe a bucket of anger.

He stepped inside the room to see Jason, Luke, Leo, and the Queen.

Fortunately, Jason's wound wasn't deep so he got out of it with a few stitches and a minor procedure. Unfortunately, he couldn't finish his advanced shooting training with that arm. (Or say, swing a sword for a while.)

Sally looked red with anger. "Sit." She said authoritatively.

Percy put his head down and went forward to sit in front of his mother.

"Do you have any idea how dangerously close you were to getting SERIOUSLY hurt today?" She spat.

He looked away.

Jason dared to say, "It was not his fault."

Sally challenged. "Yeah? Exactly like how it was a mistake YOU lost him in a BAR?"

Percy said. "Mom, we've been throu-"

"NO WE HAVEN'T!" She shouted. "Percy, how do you think ANYONE knew exactly WHERE you were? Not many people expect a Prince to visit guards wards by themselves! How is it that NO ONE, LITERALLY NO SINGLE GUARD was inside to help you?"

Percy was dumbfounded. He had been wondering the same things.

"BECAUSE!" She pointed to the door.

Percy looked back to find Annabeth standing next to the door.

WHAT?

"What- mom- what is she doing here?"

Sally picked up papers from her desk and pinned it to Percy's chest. When he looked at his mother, her eyes flared with anger and something else he couldn't understand.

She looked at the door and the guards pushed Annabeth in. Percy scowled at them. Annabeth had her head hung down. She stood next to Jason.

"What?" Sally asked Annabeth. "You thought I'd never find out? I'm the QUEEN!" She hit her table in rage. Annabeth flinched.

"Mom- Will you please just tell me-"

"And you!" She pointed at Percy. "You knew she had the phone! You should have told her to return it the MINUTE you knew that!"

Percy's eyes widened. The incognito phone...

Annabeth had used his granny's phone for 3 days to talk briefly or send messages to him. He knew his mother wouldn't like that idea. He was specifically told by her to not tell anyone, including Annabeth. Jason had his own phone. Only he was cleared for it. Percy purposefully avoided telling Luke anything until the absolute last minute.

Sally spoke. "What is the only thing you always carry around?"

Percy wanted to make a joke and point to his Camp Half Blood necklace but he figured that wasn't what his mother wanted to hear.

"Exactly!" She snapped. "Leo says it is possible to track your location through it."

Percy glared at Leo.

He flinched. "What? It is the truth. Really difficult but not impossible."

"Wait... I thought the technical department said that the phone itself is untraceable." He said.

"Yes." Said Leo. "But say I knew it existed and had access to one of the phones, password and everything. It is really hard and complicated but I could trace where the other phones are if you give me, like, um... a week?"

Percy shook his head. "How?"

"Well, ah, I need a good support base. A few testers. Almost create a mother board. Create invisible VPNs, connect it to a router and then there is the bandwidth problem-"

Percy scowled. "English."

Leo sighed. "Blah blah blah. Create a hacking app. Blah blah blah. Get, say, your phone for about 20 minutes. Blah blah blah. Send a missed call from one phone to every number stored in it. Missed calls don't appear on the phones by the way so you'll never know. BIG Blah blah blah. Wait. BIG Blah blah blah. Match your everyday routine and find out who you can be." He shrugged like it was nothing.

Sally stood in front of Annabeth. "I especially told Percy to NOT get one for you because your room is not protected enough. Lady or not, I don't remember you being so irresponsible!"

Annabeth looked down.

Sally turned to Jason. "And you left him in a bar where they were having illegal weapons trade! If any ONE of them had recognized Percy..." Her voice broke. "I'm making Luke Head Guard." She turned to Percy. "Permanently."

Annabeth looked up at the Queen. Percy wanted to tell her to just shut up but she spoke, "Sally, I'm really sorr-"

In a flash, the Queen turned to Lady Annabeth. "That what, Annabeth?! That something YOU did nearly got MY son a bullet through his head? If it was anyone, ANYONE, but you then I would have THROWN her out of the palace and the Selection this minute!" She roared.

Annabeth stilled.

Percy shouted. "MOM-"

"What?" She turned to Percy. "You know it is true!"

"SALLY." Someone standing next to the door said in a commanding voice. "That is enough!"

Edward walked over and put one arm on Percy for balance. Being the eldest royal, he had the right to speak like that to the Queen. "I think we've all had long days, yes?" He spoke calmly. "Go back to your rooms."

As soon as he said it, Annabeth rushed out and Percy thought he saw her bring her hands to her face. Edward looked at Percy. "Take Lady Annabeth to her room."

"But...-"

Edward pushed him weakly. "Do it."

He walked out immediately and just before he stepped out, he turned to Luke. Luke didn't look very pleased with the Prince either. Percy knew Luke wouldn't say anything against him but something in the back of his mind told him that he deserved a scolding from Annabeth's ex-guardian for making her run off like this.

"Thank you," Percy said and bolted.

He caught Annabeth in the third floor. He didn't ask her to stop or wait. He just rushed in front of her and grabbed her by her shoulders. Annabeth looked down.

"Hey... Wise Girl." He tried to make her look at him. "Forget it. It is not your fault." He locked her head with both his hands and made her look up. Her eyes filled with tears.

"Look, it could have been me, alright? I was in that bar for Gods know how long. I had my phone with me. I took it to the trip." She tried to look away but he followed her gaze. "Mom didn't mean that and even - even if she did, I would never take you out of the palace. Or the Selection."

Annabeth sobbed and tried to push Percy's hands down. "You don't get it! The fact that I did something that could've -" She looked at him like he was holding a thousand gemstones.

"-could have happened with anyone." He finished for her. "Don't beat yourself up for this, Chase."

She looked away and he frowned in concern. He sighed and brought her closer. She didn't say anything. She just put wrapped her hands around him and looked far away.

Percy asked softly. "But Annabeth, what was that in the tournament? Tell me."

Annabeth smiled sadly. "Don't ask so I won't lie."

She pulled away and walked to the stairs.

His mind was torn between saying what he wanted to say and saying what he should say. He let her go.

They needed time.

Sure, Percy wanted her to talk.

But, he didn't ask again.

Just like he didn't ask anyone else.

...

DID YOU SEE THAT COMING? WHEN I SAID THIS CHAPTER WAS INTENSE DID YOU THINK SALLY WOULD LASH OUT ON ANNABETH?

I BET YOU DIDN'T.

Percy's blue cookies are safe.

Okay, don't hate me.

I know the temptation is too much.

But hey, I was right when I said that this chapter was a emotional roller coaster, wasn't I?

sees every reader in tears or anger or both*

Okay yeah. *runs away*

Before you decide to comment on how I completely changed Sally's character; I want you to keep in mind that she is the Queen and that it was her son, the prince, who was at gun point less than 4 hours ago. Percy is the only one in the family with the original royal bloodline. If anything were to happen to him, the kingdom is gonna get affected. A royal's life is not easy. She has to make strong decisions.

Read on if you want some stuff to make more sense:

Credits to myself and my friend for coming up with (what I thought was) a funny but sensible topic that sheds light on Annabeth's feelings from last chapter and this chapter.

Friend: *after reading Annabeth's feelings and Percy being 'friendly' with Rachel* Deep breaths, calm down, no need to punch a wall.

Me: *encourages you to punch a wall* A certain Percy wall.

Friend: Show me the Percy wall and I will beat that wall up untill my fists are bleeding and the wall is just a pile of dust.

Percy: You're on.

Annabeth: WHAT? NO. Mortal, you stay AWAY from him or I'll personally make an entire fandom hate you.

Annabeth: He is MY wall.

Fandom approves. Thinks it's normal behaviour for Annabeth.*

Memes approve. Hell, even the Seven plus Nico and Reyna approve.*

Even those who don't approve still understand where this is coming from.*

Meanwhile, author: And you all wondered why I made Annabeth get so jealous.

If you have any thoughts, theories, doubts or if you're just bored then have fun leaving a comment. I love reading your comments guys. Best feeling ever! It makes my day and keeps me motivated to write.