Chapter 3

Percy POV.

"Henry Jones, former centurion of Third Cohort, spy of Gaea, was executed. From this event, I learned that the enemies were strong. They could even turn a loyal Roman into a traitor of humanity. In order to prevent this from happening again, I need you to swear on the River Styx that you will always be loyal to humans and demigods. Always loyal to western civilization, always loyal to the world." I told the legionnaires and the senators.

They all gasped. Then, most of them repeated the words.

"The rest of you, I know you betrayed Rome. Inform me what you've done and swear not to do that again. If you broke your oath, you would be painfully executed by Rome before Lady Styx destroyed you. Legion dismissed." Reyna ended the meeting.

"Where are you going?" I asked her.

"Talk to Tyson, about the Greek fire." She said. I could tell she was lying.

Nothing biggie. I told myself.

"Okay…go."

Reyna POV.

"Tyson, Ella, can I come in?" I knocked on the door.

"Sure, Reyna." Replied the Cyclops.

I opened the door.

"Sit!" Tyson pointed at a seat beside him. I sat down.

"I am making another shield for my brother! He lost the last one in Labyrinth as I remember. I'm giving him a new one! Oh, it's here!" He jumped in joy and showed me the shield.

"Great! Percy will surely like it. Celestial bronze and imperial gold…fantastic. Really, you guys care about each other. Good. Today, I want to know more about his past. Can you tell me?" I asked.

Yes. Straight to the point.

The Cyclops put his right hand on his head.

"What part?" He asked.

"His friends?"

"Oh. You are one of his friends now. Okay. Let's start with the one closest to him. Her name is Annabeth. She's a daughter of Athena."

Great. Really a girl?!

"Athena, Minerva, Athena, Minerva." Ella started singing.

"I know, Ella." I said.

"Okay. She's his girlfriend and…" Tyson stopped himself.

"What?"

The front door cracked open. Outside was Percy Jackson.

"I heard you, Tyson" The half-blood son of Neptune stepped inside.

"Brother, it's true." Tyson said.

"You followed me?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Tyson will tell you my past…right? I want to hear it. Start with that girl."

"Sorry, Brother. Daddy and Queen Hera…"

"Tell him." Juno's voice suddenly said.

Tyson started talking. He told us how Percy met the blonde when he was twelve. How they fought side by side in the Titan War II, the love, the mistakes.

Tears started to fall from my eyes. She was his true love. I could never take her place. I could never have Percy.

Percy's purple shirt was shining now. I wondered why.

"So, Rachel just rejected me?" Percy asked Tyson suddenly.

"No! I mean you love Annabeth, not Rachel." Tyson answered.

"No. She rejected me." Percy said painfully. "I had feelings for Rachel. She rejected me so she could become the Oracle."

"But you loved Annabeth back then!" Tyson argued.

"My mind was not clear back then. Now, when I heard my story again, when those memories came back…I know Rachel was the person I really loved. Annabeth is not my type."

What?! Another girl?

"Okay…" Tyson did not know what to say.

"Annabeth is not my type." Percy repeated, "Her pride, it can ruin everything. Remember what she did on the Arch? She insisted that we should go there and I nearly died."

"Well…" Tyson tried.

"Annabeth is not smart. I have no idea why I called her "Wise Girl" for years. The Arch proved that. She thinks everyone is an idiot around her. The true intelligent people won't think like that. There's always someone better than you in different categories."

"But she loves you!" Tyson yelled.

"The most important part, Annabeth does not love me. She does not love anyone. Now, I hate her for that. She pretended that she loved me all the time. However, just think about a simple thing: Did she love Luke? Of course she did. I could not blame her though. Luke is a hero. What I hate is that she did not admit her feelings towards Luke when he was about to die. That means she never ever truly loved him. Then, she started dating me a few hours before Luke died. What a horrible person is that! So, who do you think she loves, Tyson? She loves famous people. She loves herself! Everyone is an idiot to her. She wants to have everything. Love? Just a tool. She is a natural enemy of Aphrodite." Percy finished.

Tyson was too shocked to respond.

"Poor Luke. He loved her. As a family or lover I don't care. Look what she gave him back, nothing. She had feelings for him. She destroyed it. She let Luke die without even hearing the truth. Her selfishness killed her love feelings. She is way too smart. Sometimes, it's not a good thing." Percy sighed.

"You've changed, Brother." Tyson decided. Now, I could see his tears falling down.

Percy nodded.

"Rome did change me. However, it only made me better. It made me think more. It made my mind clear. I need to thank Hera for erasing my memory and sending me to this beautiful place. I know people better. However, despite those changes, Tyson, you are still my brother. I do not forget what we've been through. You are my family. Don't be mad at me. Think about what I said. It will make sense to you eventually, big guy. You need to rest and process the information now. Reyna, let's go."

Percy dragged me out of Tyson's house.

"A great speech, right?" He asked.

I was really happy, I laughed.

Percy and Annabeth were not a thing now. I had my chance.

"Very good speech indeed, Percy." I replied.

Percy looked at me thoughtfully.

"I saw tears on your face. Be strong. You are a praetor. You are a daughter of Bellona. Rome needs you. Remember this. Do not let your personal emotions control you."

"Yes."

I wondered what he was thinking. Did he just…accept me?

"Go do your work." That was all he said. Well…

I started walking away.

"Reyna." He called.

I turned.

"Don't give up." He said.

I smiled.

"I won't."

He smiled too.

"That's your best trait. I know you will not give up on what you want to get. I await you."

"Challenge accepted." I said in a sweet tone.

Wow! This is a long chapter! I know you probably also need to rest and process the information in your mind. I think Annabeth is what I described. What do you think? That's why I never shipped Percabeth. I might ship Prachel or even Pipercy. But nooooo, I won't ship anyone with Annabeth. I don't understand why Uncle Rick did not ship Preyna, well…maybe he wanted to show all heroes have no absolute perfect life? Anyway, "Challenge accepted" is a phrase that Zeus said to Hera before two of them got married. It's from "Percy Jackson's Greek Gods" series. How about that? Great? Fantastic? Or maybe I am insane? Good or bad, review! Next chapter of this book will come. Then, they are going to war in Argo II. How will it be different from the canon if Reyna joins the crew? Continue reading. I'll update soon. This book will be interesting.

For all Percabeth fans, maybe you could change your opinion or share your opinion of Percabeth to me and see my reaction. Yes, you can do that. I will take all reviews seriously. I really want to know why you like Percabeth.

Praetor Perseus