Hey guys! I hope you enjoy this chapter- in which Percy does not approve of her brothers bad language.
Replies:
Weirdhead: Yeah, poor Hylla, must be tough.
Undeath9087: Yep to all of that- and I dunno, I enjoy Percy regaining her memories if only because Frank and Hazel are just there on occasion like 'What the actual fuck?!'.
The Official Clarisse: Yep, Hylla doesn't want to like Percy but it's hard not to respect her.

Hylla looked like she'd been forced to suck a lemon when she spoke up again "If I could, I would rally our troops and ride to my sister's aid. Unfortunately, my power is tenuous. When I am killed in combat—and it's only a matter of time—Otrera will be queen. She will march to Camp Jupiter with our forces, but she will not go to help my sister. She'll go to join the giant's army."

"We've got to stop her," Hazel said. "Percy came up with a plan and she managed to kill Phineas, one of Gaea's other servants in Portland. Maybe we can help!"

"It's not the same." Percy said, eyeing Hylla with some respect, "Is it?"

"You're right." Hylla nodded, "You can't interfere. As Queen I must fight my own battles or I won't have their respect." she eyed Percy, "You know how that is don't you Percy Jackson? You're a leader too. Not a queen but a leader nonetheless." And Percy decided not to argue with that- though... if she did marry Kronos...

"I wouldn't want anyone fighting my battles for me in your position."

"A good leader then. Besides, your friend has been imprisoned, if I let him go I'll look weak. Either I execute you three as trespassers, or Otrera will do so when she becomes queen."

There was a long moment of dark silence before Hazel spoke, "So all three of us are dead then. Percy and I for the second time."

In the corner cage, the stallion Arion whinnied angrily. He reared and slammed his hooves against the bars, Percy winced, shooting the horse a horrified look as Hylla spoke, ""The horse seems to feel your despair," the queen said. "Interesting. He's immortal, you know—the son of Neptune and Ceres."

Hazel blinked. "Two gods had a horse for a kid?"

"Long story."

"Oi!" Percy whirled on the horse, who had started swearing rather colorfully at them, "Shut it or I'll wash your mouth out with soap- oh don't you call me that-"
"Uh-" Hazel blinked, "Percy-"

"A child of Neptune- I suppose that makes sense." Hylla shook her head, "She can understand him-"

"Damn right I can! And you watch that mouth buddy or I'll find some soap."

"Dear gods." Hylla rolled her eyes, focusing on Hazel and Percy and the horse had a staring contest. "He's the fastest horse in the world," Hylla said. "Pegasus is more famous, with his wings, but Arion runs like the wind over land and sea. No creature is faster. It took us years to capture him—one of our greatest prizes. But it did us no good. The horse will not allow anyone to ride him. I think he hates Amazons. And he is expensive to keep. He will eat anything, but he prefers gold."

"Not that those fuckers give me any I should-"

"OI!" Percy glared at the horse, "Stop with the swearing or I'll show you gold buddy- Hazel you okay?" Because Hazel had knelt to the ground and pressed her hand against the floor- and as she did the stone cracked. A chunk of gold ore the size of a plum was pushed out of the earth. Hazel stood, examining her prize. Percy blinked before grinning slowly, Arion had stopped ranting, and Hylla and Kinzie were staring at Hazel.

"How did you…?" The queen gasped. "Hazel, be careful!"

Hazel approached the stallion's cage. She put her hand between the bars, and Arion gingerly ate the chunk of gold from her palm.

"Unbelievable," Kinzie said. "The last girl who tried that—"

"Now has a metal arm," the queen finished. She studied Hazel with new interest, as if deciding whether or not to say more. "Hazel…we spent years hunting for this horse. It was foretold that the most courageous female warrior would someday master Arion and ride him to victory, ushering in a new era of prosperity for the Amazons. Yet no Amazon can touch him, much less control him. Even Otrera tried and failed. Two others died attempting to ride him."

"I think." Percy said, eyeing Arion and Hazel thoughtfully, "That that isn't going to be a problem. He's not even swearing anymore."

"He- was swearing?"

"Worse than a sailor." Percy declared, "Worse than me when I get angry and I have a real foul mouth when I'm angry."

"You, idiot sister-"

"Hey!"

"Tell the nice girl I want more. Tell them to let her give me more or I'll fucking trample those bitches who locked me up."

"You are literally locked up you can't trample anyone." Percy glared at Arion, "And watch the language- Hazel he said he wants more gold."

"I would feed you more, Arion." Hazel glanced pointedly at the queen. "But I think I'm scheduled for an execution."

"I'll fucking bite off their arms if they come close! Sister get me out or I'll fucking kill them all! I want to leave with the metal girl."

"The metal girl has a name. Hazel, and I can't actually force them to let you go! And stop with the swearing!"

Queen Hylla looked from Hazel to the horse and back again before her gaze flicked to Percy. "Unbelievable."

"The prophecy," Kinzie said. "Is it possible…?"

Percy could almost see the gears turning inside the queen's head, formulating a plan. "You have courage, Hazel Levesque. And it seems Arion has chosen you. Kinzie?"

"Yes, my queen?"

"You said Otrera's followers are guarding the boys cell"

Kinzie nodded. "I should have foreseen that. I'm sorry—"

"No, it's fine." The queen's eyes gleamed—the way Hannibal the elephant's did whenever he was unleashed to destroy a fortress. "It would be embarrassing for Otrera if her followers failed in their duties—if, for instance, they were overcome by a couple of outsidera and a prison break occurred."

Kinzie began to smile. "Yes, my queen. Most embarrassing."

"Of course," Hylla continued, "none of my guards would know a thing about this. Kinzie would not spread the word to allow an escape."

"Certainly not," Kinzie agreed.

"And we couldn't help you." The queen raised her eyebrows at Hazel and Percy. "But if you somehow overpowered the guards and freed your friends…if, for instance, you took one of the guards' Amazon cards—"

"With one-click purchasing enabled," Kinzie said, "which will open the jail cells with one click."

"If—gods forbid!—something like that were to happen," the queen continued, "you would find your friends' weapons and supplies in the guard station next to the cells. And who knows? If you made your way back to this throne room while I was off preparing for my duel…well, as I mentioned, Arion is a very fast horse. It would be a shame if he were stolen and used for an escape."

Percy's lips twitched, "You know Hylla, I feel like we could be good friends some day."

"I-" Hazel looked stunned, "Queen Hylla Percy might be a good fighter but I'm not-"

"Oh, there are many kinds of fighting, Hazel. I have a feeling you're quite resourceful. And if the prophecy is correct, you will help the Amazon nation achieve prosperity. If you succeed on your quest to free Thanatos, for instance—"

"—then Otrera wouldn't come back if she were killed,"

Hazel said. "You'd only have to defeat her…um, every night until we succeed."

"Easy peasy." Percy declared brightly. "You can do it, and we'll be freeing Thanatos as soon as we can anyway."

"I'm sure you will." Hylla held out Percy's necklace and she took it quickly, fastening it around her neck, "The sooner you succeed the better."

"We'll do everything we can as long as you do everything you can." Percy told Hylla firmly. "Right Hazel?"

"Of course." Hazel gave a determined nod. "Thank you Queen Hylla."

Then Hylla turned her head to look at Kinzie. "This conversation never happened, take our prisoner to the cells and hand her over to Otrera's guards. And, Kinzie, be sure you leave before anything unfortunate happens. I don't want my loyal followers held accountable for a prison break."

The queen smiled mischievously, and Percy grinned back at her despite herself. "Oh I like you."

"I suppose you're not so bad yourself." Hylla's eyes flicked up and down Percy, "That doesn't mean I've forgiven you though Jackson."

"Wouldn't expect you to."

"Goodbye Hazel Levesque, Percy Jackson. If we all die tonight- well, I'm glad I got to speak with you both first."

And with that they were being led away by Kinzie.

The cells were at the top of a storage aisle, sixty feet into the air. Kinzie led the two girls up three different ladders to a metal catwalk and then tied their hands loosely behind their backs and pushed them along past crates of jewellery.

A hundred feet ahead, under the harsh glow of fluorescent lights, a row of chain-link cages hung suspended from cables. Frank was in one of the cages, looking incredibly nervous, though he shifted as he saw Percy and Hazel, his eyes widening. Next to them on the catwalk, three bored-looking Amazon guards leaned against their spears and gazed at little black tablets in their hands like they were reading using what Percy could only assume were kindles.

"Move you two." Kinzie ordered very loudly, getting the attention of the guards as she prodded Hazel in the back with her sword.

Percy's mind was racing as they approached the enemies, and she noticed that Hazel had slowed down- they were probably both trying to come up with a plan- and she noticed when Hazel froze- giving the other girl a questioning look.

Hazel gave a small nod towards the crates and Percy followed her gaze. They was stood by a pallet of crates marked 4-CARAT BLUE TOPAZ RINGS, then
another labelled SILVER FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS. An electronic display next to the friendship bracelets read: People who bought this item also bought GARDEN GNOMESOLAR PATIO LIGHT and FLAMING SPEAR OF DEATH. Buy all three and save 12%!

And Percy thought about Hazel's powers, Hazel, the girl who could summon precious metals from the ground.

And oh but that was a very positive thought. She gave a tiny nod, telling Hazel to go on with her plan, whatever it was. "What is it?" Kinzie hissed. "Keep moving! They'll get suspicious."

"Make them come here," Hazel muttered over her shoulder.

"Why—"

"Please."

"Hazel has a plan." Percy's lips barely moved as she hissed the words, "And I don't, other than chopping shit up, so Hazel's plan is probably better." as she hissed the words the guards were frowning in their direction.

"What are you staring at?" Kinzie yelled at them. "Here's the other prisoners. Come get them!"

The nearest guard set down her reading tablet. "Why can't you walk another thirty paces, Kinzie?"

"Um, because—"

"Ooof!" Hazel fell to her knees and tried to put on her best seasick face. "I'm feeling nauseous! Can't…walk. Amazons... too... scary."

Percy blinked before shrugging very slightly- other than the terrible acting it wasn't the worst plan- and Percy knew how to improvise- she clutched her head, stumbling backwards so that Kinzie had to grab her to stop her from falling over. "My head- gods my head I- hurts- fuck- I- I don't remember- can't think."

"There you go," Kinzie told the guards. "Now, are you going to come take the prisoners, or should I tell Queen Hylla you're not doing your duty?"

The nearest guard rolled her eyes and trudged over, followed by one of the others. That was something, admittedly it left one of the guards back watching Frank but hey, it could have been worse.

The first guard grabbed Hazel's arm. "Fine. We'll take custody of the prisoners. But if I were you, Kinzie, I wouldn't worry about Hylla. She won't be queen much longer."

As she said that the second guard grabbed Percy and pulled her away from Kinzie- and Percy stumbled forward, knocking into the girl, letting out a pained groan, her eyes fluttering as she clutched at the girl, "Think I'm gonna be sick." she choked out the words, and she could see the concerned look on Hazel's face when the other girl glanced back at her, and she managed a sly wink as she was hauled up straight as Kinzie glared at the two guards.

"We'll see, Doris." then Kinzie whirled and walked away, and Percy flopped limply against her guard, letting out weak whimpering noises as the guard tried to start to drag her away, and out of the corner of her eyes Percy saw Hazel's guard pulling on her arm.

"Well? Come on."

"This one's even worse." that was Percy's guard, who sounded annoyed, "She can barely even stand."

"Not... feeling so good." Hazel's voice was a groan.

"You are not throwing up on me," Doris growled. She tried to yank Hazel to her feet, but Hazel went limp, like a kid throwing a fit in a store. Next to her, the boxes began to tremble.

"Lulu! Help me!"

"I've got this one Doris!" Percy caught Hazel's gaze, and the tiny jerk of her head told Percy to drop- which she did, feigning her legs giving out completely, yanking herself free and flattening herself against the catwalk just as Hazel did the same thing.

The entire pallet of jewelry exploded with a sound like a thousand slot machines hitting the jackpot. A tidal wave of silver friendship bracelets poured across the catwalk, washing Doris and Lulu right over the railing.

They would've fallen to their deaths, but Hazel wasn't that mean- though Percy personally would have probably not been so nice. She summoned a few hundred bracelets, which leaped at the guards and lashed around their ankles, leaving them hanging upside down from the bottom of the catwalk, screaming like lame little girls.

Percy met Hazel's gaze, a grin spreading across her lips, "Want me to take on the other one?"

"Sounds like a plan." Hazel grinned back.