In which they make some plans- and things are going to get very crazy soon.
Replies:
Undeath9087: Heh, funny you should mention that, read on.
Jubby1905: Honestly, it's gonna be chaotic enough as it is soon enough.
Guest: Hah, you are not wrong, and I doubt even he could help.

Percy despised the feeling of being hunted down. She hated knowing that someone was chasing after her, generally intent on doing something not great to her. Of course the fact that she was used to it wasn't really comforting but there wasn't actually much she could do about it.

So the four demigods ran for their lives, with the metal ladies who were chasing them screaming loudly- and gods but it hurt Percy's ears. She had to resist the urge to turn around and yell at them to be quiet. Honestly, at this stage it was just rude, in Percy's opinion anyway.

"There!" that cry came from Frank, and he took off, sprinting towards a kind of trench between two earthen walls with a stone archway above. "It's the entrance to the old Olympic Stadium!" he called to them, "It's called the crypt!"

"That is not a good name!" Leo shrieked the words, and Percy couldn't resist the urge to chime in.

"Nah, I think it sounds warm and cozy! Frank why the fuck are we going there if that's where she freaking wants us-" at which point the crazy metal ladies screamed again and Leo bolted, letting go of Percy's hand as he sped towards the tunnel- and honestly her baby brother couldn't half move fast when he wanted to. And she could feel herself struggling- which was ridiculous, there had been a time when she'd have been able to run ten times the distance without so much as having to catch her breath.

But then all three of them- her, Leo and Nico had quietly admitted to one another that they struggled more than they once had.

Nico had speculated that it was because the toxic air of Tartarus had damaged their lungs. Percy had questioned that of course- she seemed worse effected than either of them, but then she'd remembered that she'd been cursed by the arai, that her lungs could have very easily been damaged by Geryons curse. So maybe it wasn't that strange that she was worse off than them. Still it was annoying.

In any case Percy put on another burst of speed at that. There was no way in Hades she'd risk losing Leo, not a chance. She'd rather die than let that happen. She was not losing her baby brother after everything they'd been through.

When they reached the arch Percy heard Hazel yelling "Hold it!" and Percy caught Leo's arm, skidding to a halt, and she doubled over, wheezing, clinging to Leo, who was clearly struggling to catch his breath too- though he was grabbing Percy's shoulder and rubbing her back.

She could almost feel Hazel and Frank's concerned gazes on them. That made sense too- after all the three Jacksons hadn't told anyone about their concerns. They didn't want the others worrying that they weren't up to the fight. And Percy just knew that the others would worry and fuss and there wasn't anything they could do about it so that just felt pointless.

"I don't see them anymore." that came from Frank. Percy lifted her head so that she could look at him-he was peering back the way they'd come.

"Did they give up?" Percy asked as she managed to straighten up, forcing herself to ignore the tight feeling, like a thick band wrapped around her chest.

"I doubt it." Leo's hand moved to her elbow- and Percy knew her brothr. He was trying to steady her without making it obvious that that was what he was doing. "They just did what they wanted to do. They herded us here. And what were those things anyway? The Nikettes, I mean."

"Nikettes?" Frank blinked, "I think it was Nikai. Plural, like victories- listen are you guys-"

"We're fine." Percy said quickly, trying to ignore the fact that her chest was still incredibly tight and uncomfortable feeling. "I just got a little winded is all. Don't worry about us."

"She's right." Leo nodded, "We need to focus on the Nikai's or whatever they are."

"Of course." Hazel nodded, "Frank's right I think." she looked deep in thought, running her hands along the stone archway. "In some legends, Nike had an army of little victories she could send all over the world to do her bidding."

Percy snorted, "Kind of like Santa's elves. Except they're evil, metal and really loud."

Hazel pressed her fingers against the arch, as if taking its pulse. Beyond the narrow tunnel, the earthen walls opened into a long field with gently rising slopes on either side, like seating for spectators. It must have been an open air stadium back in the day.

"Ghosts linger in this place." Hazel announced, "A lot of pain is embedded in these stones."

"Please tell us you have a plan." Leo's voice was slightly desperate, "Preferably one which doesn't involve embedding my pain in these stones. I'm kinda done with near death experiences please and thank you."

Hazel's eyes were stormy and distant, like she was peering into a different layer of reality. "This was the players' entrance. Nike said we have five minutes to prepare. Then she'll expect us to pass under this archway and begin the games. We won't be allowed to leave that field until three of us are dead."

"Pretty sure death matches weren't an Olympic sport." Percy grumbled the words- but hey at least the tightness in her chest was easing. That was a hell of a relief- she did not want to have to fight a goddess while struggling to catch her breath. That was like asking to be brutally murdered.

"Well, they are today," Hazel warned. "But I might be able to give us an edge. When we pass through, I could raise some obstacles on the field – hiding places to buy us some time."

Frank frowned. "You mean like on the Field of Mars – trenches, tunnels, that kind of thing? You can do that with the Mist?"

"I think so," Hazel said. "Nike would probably like to see an obstacle course. I can play her expectations against her. But it would be more than that. I can use any subterranean gateway – even this arch – to access the Labyrinth. I can raise part of the Labyrinth to the surface."

Percy instantly tensed, and she felt Leo tensing beside her.

"No." Percy couldn't help the sharp snappish tone in her voice, "Hazel no way. Not happening-" and she felt Leo's grip on her elbow tightening and she wondered if it was to steady her or to stop her from lashing out.

"She's right." Leo's tone was calm, he was clearly trying to calm things down. "Hazel- I know you told us about what you did when you were fighting to get to us- but you do not know the Labyrinth. Not like we do."

"You have no idea what it was really like down there. Hazel it drove Chris- a guy from camp, it drove him insane, like, literally out of his mind insane. Will fell into a coma because of what happened to him down there. Leo and I wound up blasting out of Mount St Helens-"

"Percy-" Hazel's expression was serious, "We don't have a choice. I need you both to trust me. We've only got a couple of minutes now. When we pass through the arch, I can at least manipulate the playing field to our advantage."

"It's not about trusting you." Percy gritted her teeth, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "But- but fine I guess we don't exactly have much of a choice in the matter." She tilted her head back, exhaling through her nose. "You know, I've been forced to fight in stadiums and arena's twice. Not including stuff I actually agreed to do at Camp or in Elysium. I hate being forced to play stupid games for other peoples amusement."

"You know-" Leo smirked slightly, "Both of those examples you gave, do you remember how they both ended."

"Hmmm." Percy's lips twitched, "I killed the people responsible for putting me in said arenas."

"Exactly. Given your track record with this sort of thing I think we have nothing to worry about."

"That's comforting." Frank muttered the words, "Because I do not feel as confident about this as you guys do."

"We're going to need to put her off guard if we want to stand a chance." Hazel informed them, "I say we pretend to fight until we can neutralize those Nikettes – ugh, that's an awful name. Then we subdue Nike, like Juno said."

"Makes sense," Frank agreed. "You felt how powerful Nike was, trying to put us at each other's throats. If she's sending out those vibes to all the Greeks and Romans, there's no way we'll be able to prevent a war. We've got to get her under control."

"And how do we do that?" Percy asked. "Bonk her on the head and stuff her in a sack?" she paused, "Actually that is a very fun idea-"

"I'm sure it is." Leo snickered, "And as much as I'm sure you could totally manage that I think I may have a better idea." he had one of his mad genius smiles spreading across his lips. "Though you're not far off."

Then he was reaching into his tool belt, and Percy felt herself grinning slowly. "Tell me my darling little brother. Have you brought us some toys to play with."

"However did you guess?" Leo's grin was playful.

"Is this gonna be like that time during Capture the Flag.

"The only time your opponents have asked you to just use Riptide." Leo agreed, "That was a fun game- and really it wasn't fair for Chiron to ban me from using my inventions during those games."

"Oh I agree entirely. Clarisses expression when you used the dye bomb was just-" Percy made a chef's kiss gesture.

"You two." Hazel looked exasperated. "We're running out of time can you please focus!"

"Right, right sorry." and Leo got to work, pulling out a selection of his gadgets- and he quickly ushered Percy and Frank closer, launching into explanations of what they'd need to do when the time came- and Percy was willing to admit that part of her was looking forward to the chance to experiment with them, It could be very fun.

And whilst Leo lectured them Hazel stood staring at the stone archway, muttering under her breath.

Percy wasn't sure how she felt about that. She hadn't really commented on the fact that Hazel was using magic now but, well, it made her uncomfortable. She had plenty of reason not to feel comfortable with that fact. But she wasn't going to say anything to Hazel about it. What right did she have to say anything? It was Hazel's choice.

But still, Percy couldn't help but feel uncomfortable, knowing that Hazel was using magic- knowing the things that Alabaster had once used magic for. Knowing how it had been used to trap her, like a caged bird.

She pushed away those thoughts before they had the chance to grow and twist unpleasantly as she was sure they would given the chance.

She turned her gaze away from Hazel entirely- and she caught Leo's eye and his gaze flicked towards Hazel, a look of understanding on his face as he gave her a faint gentle smile, reassuring.

Clearly he could tell where her mind was going, and a gentle elbow to her side drew her attention back to her brothers lecture. He was right she needed to focus.

And then- half way through Leo explaining to Frank how to avoid getting decapitated by his Archimedes sphere the sound of trumpets echoed through the stadium and Nike's chariot appeared on the field.

The Nikai arrayed in front of her with their spears and laurels raised, and Percy took a deep breath.

"Well, looks like we're out of time. Good luck."

"Begin!"