Chapter 22: Training Montage
~1 Week into Training~
3RD PERSON POV
The remaining Romans finally arrived at CHB and settled into the temporary quarters designated to them. Athena and Annabeth ironed out the details of where everyone would stay and etc. Percy had to give another rousing speech to the Romans about the training and what is to come, receiving nods from Lupa and Reyna in appreciation. Though Percy mainly let Reyna handle the training and simply watched over.
That is, of course, the weapons and tactics training. Percy still made them all undergo physical strength and endurance training, which made his approval rating hit an all time low; not that he cared. The Greeks were starting to show promise with their own strength and endurance, but not enough for Percy to have them taper off of it just yet.
Most of the Greeks had the basics of their selective weapons down, though some still had yet to master those, but it was only the first week. Percy had decided to give them Sundays off to rest and relax, or train on their own, always offering to help if they wanted it and some did (mostly younger campers and the hunters).
~2 Months into Training~
PERCY POV
I had begun to taper off the endurance and strength training for the Greeks and Romans and used it mostly for punishment now, though some took it upon themselves to maintain it on their own time. Those campers had my respect for that. The campers and hunters alike had made vast improvements to their combat abilities. Most notably, my girls in the Hunt. I had to put in a decent amount of effort when facing off against either of their groups, and got to use my powers if I face off against all six of them at once.
The young campers that were going to serve as support and medics had been improving well too with Chiron training them in first aid and myself assisting with self defense. Nearly all of them used one or two daggers, but a few had bows and arrows. Watching them train always brought a smile to my face and reminded me why I'm fighting so hard.
The Minor Gods at camp served as good sparring partners for my own training, allowing us to cut loose for a bit. Usually, I'd take on Jason one on one, or challenge him and Leo with a few handicaps, like no flashing. They'd been extremely impressed with all of my newfound abilities, but they'd only been a good exercise to maintain my shape and skills with all of my weapons.
I looked forward to sparring with Artemis when we trained with hunting knives in the evenings after everyone had gone to bed far more than the Minor Gods. Artemis was absolutely unreal. For starters, her skills were ridiculous, though with millennia to hone it in, it wasn't that surprising. She'd been taking the time to train me and after a couple months, I wasn't far off from where she was at; at least I thought.
She's the definition of natural beauty. Aphrodite may be the Goddess of Beauty, but she doesn't hold a candle to Artemis. I only noticed it because I barely came to realize that she's in her 20-ish year old form around me far more often. It's safe to say that I've formed a bit of a crush on her. She's one of my best friends… no probably my best friend after traveling with her and the Hunt for a year.
She's funny too, but you'd never guess it. She makes small jokes and her laugh is like arriving in Elysium over and over again. When I joke back to her and she pouts or gets a little angry, it might just be the most adorable thing I've ever seen. I've got feeling something awful, that's for sure.
Now however, I decided to go do my own training, seeing as it's so early in the morning and I can't sleep thanks to Gramps. It was abnormally warm that morning, so I decided to train shirtless since no one was up yet and I wouldn't have to worry about anyone seeing the scars. It turned out to be a bad idea.
THALIA POV
I woke up far earlier than I had anticipated and knew I wasn't going to be able to get back to sleep. As I was in the shower I had time to think. 'It's been two months since we started training. Everyone's improving well, but I can't shake the feeling that it isn't enough. I wonder if Percy feels it too. I haven't talked to him alone in awhile either; not since he got back.'
I finished my shower and got dressed and went to the arena to organize and train a bit on my own. I didn't expect to hear the sounds of someone else training when I got there, but sure enough, someone was. He had raven-hair pulled back into a bun with a few loose strands around and he was shirtless and I gasped.
Not because his physique, but because the copious amounts of scars that decorated his body. He froze and turned his back to me. "K-Kelp-Head?" I whispered with tears in my eyes. "What are you doing up so early, Thals?" he asked back rather sharply and scrambled to put his shirt on. I closed the distance before he could pull it over his head and gently grabbed his arm.
"Is this what they did to you?" I asked softly and he sighed deeply before nodding. "Can I see?" I asked again softly and he nodded. Every spot on his body was marked with a scar. Some overlapped and some seemed to be cut multiple times, but his body was covered. I traced them with trembling hands and tears falling from my cheeks until I got the front.
A blackened "K" was carved proudly on the right side of his chest for all to see. He flinched slightly when I touched it and I looked up at him to explain. "Kronos cursed me. I only get three hours of sleep each night and they're plagued with nightmares," he whispered and I pulled him into a hug crying. Nothing else needed to be said.
~4 Months into Training~
3RD PERSON POV
Four months into Percy's training and the progress was astounding. Everyone was leaps and bounds above from where they all started, but none more than Percy's little ones from the hunt. They could easily handle themselves against the older members of the hunt and a majority of the campers that weren't veterans from both wars. Percy couldn't have been more proud.
Four months and some change into the training found Percy and Jason sparring full force in the arena. The remaining Minor Gods helped put up a barrier of godly energy to contain the damage. The two were demons going back and forth, but there was a distinct difference that only went noticed by Artemis and some of the Hunt.
"Geez. These two are beasts," Clarisse said from the seats near Artemis, Thalia, and Percy's girls. "I wonder if Prissy has what it takes to beat the Minor God that had roughly the same amount of fights in him as a demigod," she continued. Artemis and Thalia smirked, but didn't say anything, but the little ones frowned and turned towards her.
"That's not it," Estelle said to Clarisse, making Clarisse frown. "What do you mean, Squirt?" Clarisse asked and this time it was Lora who said, "Big Brother is holding back." Clarisse narrowed her eyes, "How can you runts tell?" Jessica spoke, "For starters, none of his weapons are coated with ice or fire which means he's only using his powers for a last second shield of evasion." Then Kiani, "And he's been making sure to get ample time with all of his weapons."
As they turned back to the fight, Percy had decided to put away his dual swords that he started with and opted for his ax. He made Jason leap back as he hefted it from the crater in the ground to his shoulder. "Jeez man. How many weapons do you have?" Jason asked, but closed off warrior Percy didn't give him an answer.
The battle slowed a bit, Percy lost speed in exchange of power, but he overcame the gap by simply picking when he countered extremely carefully. Jason was certainly feeling the strikes as he grunted every time he blocked or parried a blow.
"He's getting bored again," Rebecca said this time without looking away from the fight, but Clarisse looked at her. Rebecca just pointed to the arena and Clarisse turned back to see Percy sheathe his ax and draw his katana. The speed shot up again as he and Jason became blurs. Lightning trailed behind Jason and his strikes and flames behind Percy and his.
Jason was getting pushed back by the technique and onslaught that Percy obtained from his years of training with the blade and he knew it. Before he could completely overwhelm Jason, Percy withdrew one more time and summoned his trident instead. The battle began again with renewed vigor and Percy's attacks amplified his birthright powers.
Everyone had figured out by now that Percy was toying with Jason except Jason himself. "He's going to make the odds even again and switch to his hunting knives since he has the least experience there," Leah spoke and Artemis and Thalia were smirking and snickering during the entire interaction. Clarisse looked among the hunters incredulously before back to the fight and they were right; Percy switched to his hunting knives.
Percy's speed as a result was brought up even further and Jason was entirely on the defensive. Luckily for him, the attacks didn't hold nearly as much weight as Percy's previous ones, but the speed increase made up for it. The end of the spar drew near and Jason was littered with dozens of small cuts all over his body. He overextended for the last time and Percy sliced along his arm further damaging it and making him drop his sword.
Percy's knives were covered in ichor as he brought them hilt first to Jason's temples and knocked him out. Percy was breathing rather heavy and had some minor cuts and scrapes, but summoned some quick nectar and ambrosia. Luckily his shirt wasn't in tatters so his scars were mostly unseen to those who didn't already know.
The crowd roared and the day went on like it had been for the past four months and Percy was haunted in his dreams again.
~Dream Sequence~
PERCY POV
I woke up in my cell in Tartarus again. Chained to the wall again as the door swung open ever so slowly. I didn't look up. I knew who it was going to be. The only people that haven't appeared in my nightmares are them after all.
"My baby boy. Why didn't you save me?" my mom said as the knife dragged across my back. "I can't believe I had to put up with you, just like Gabe did. You're lucky I didn't BEAT YOU LIKE HE DID!" Paul roared and kicked me in the ribs. "But I guess I can correct that now, can't I?" Paul spat smugly as he broke my arm. "You were always more trouble than you were worth, baby boy. Such a bad kid and a bad son," my mom said.
The tears were flowing non stop as all this happened. They cut me, broke my bones, but worst of all: they berated me. Called me useless and blamed me for my failure to save them and screamed at me that I would let Estelle down too.
The dream lasted for hours as they tore me apart and beat me down. As I was waking, I heard the faint sound of Kronos' laughter.
~Dream Sequence End~
I didn't scream or convulse upon awakening; I didn't even sweat. Only the tears silently fell as I got up and went to the one place I always do: the beach.
ARTEMIS POV
I finished my evening duties and returned to camp. Percy was tired from the spar so we took the night off from training. It was a beautiful night and I sought to enjoy it at the beach only to find someone special already there.
"Did you get your three hours already, Sea Sponge?" I asked cheerfully as I approached him, but didn't get any response. "Percy?" I asked quietly and worried, especially because his scars were on full display. He turned slowly to face me and my heart leapt to my throat. His face was completely expressionless, like it usually is when he's fighting. But the difference was the silent tears that dripped down his face as if he was completely unaware of them.
I rushed to his side in an instant and wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled his face into my shoulder as we both collapsed to the ground. He made no sound that indicated he was crying; I just felt the tears drip from his chin onto my shoulder. So I sat there with him, with tears pricking my own eyes for 30 minutes until I couldn't feel his tears anymore.
"Nightmares?" I whispered and he nodded numbly. "M-My parents," he said, hardly audible and a few stray tears left both of our eyes. "P-Paul told me that he should've beat me like Gabe… Mom told me I was more trouble than I was worth… Both of them told me I'd fail Estelle…" Percy somehow got out and I reached up to wipe the tears from his eyes.
I gently grabbed his hand and laced my fingers through it gently. 'So strong, but so gentle,' I thought before I spoke up. "You know they're just nightmares," I said softly as I stroked the back of his hand with my thumb. "Your actual parents are very proud of you… just like your father and Hera and Hestia are… Just like how I am," I continued. "You've trained hard, taken lives to protect those you care about, raised Estelle and her sisters to be strong and capable warriors and women… We both know they are proud of you and love you even more from Elysium."
I heard him take a deep breath and I squeezed his hand for comfort. "You can't let these nightmares dictate your life… I know it's hard and the last thing you deserve, but you're far too strong and loyal and kind to let some measly dreams beat you," I told him with a small smile. We were both quiet for a long time just enjoying the company.
After the silence, he took a deep breath and spoke. "Thank you, Artemis. I really don't know what I would do without you," he said softly and gave my hand a squeeze in return. He then pulled me into another hug that was so full of compassion and care that I felt my face flushed and my heart thundered into my chest.
After another comforting silence, he asked, "How are you doing? With Apollo and everything else?" I decided to indulge him because I wanted to talk and I could tell he didn't want to talk about him anymore. "I'm fine, I guess. Apollo still hasn't made a decision, though I imagine he's waiting for this war to blow over or he made up his mind to never see me unless he needs to," I finished bitterly. Percy started playing with my fingers that were interlaced with his and I realized we were still holding hands and I blushed furiously but didn't let go.
"I think he's waiting and thinking still. He's too stubborn to forgive you right away, but he's going to. I can tell," he said and brought a small smile to my face. "I wonder what Zoe and Phoebe would say if they could see me know. Holding hands with a male and worrying about whether or not my brother is going to accept my apology," I said bitterly and looked at Percy who blushed and let go of my hand in record time. 'Gods dammit, I didn't want to let go,' I thought.
"Sorry about that," he said sheepishly and I just rolled my eyes, but smiled at him. "I think they would be proud of you for admitting you were wrong. I don't think they would be super excited about Apollo being around more as a result of your better relationship, but they would understand. And they'd most definitely try to castrate me for holding your hand and hugging you shirtless," he said and it was my turn to blush like a tomato.
After a brief silence, we both chuckled lightly, me still red and embarrassed and he getting there. "That they would," I said in between chuckles. One last comfortable silence set in and I got up and helped him up. He hugged me one last time and said, "Thank you again, Arty." I pulled away and grabbed his hands in mine and stared into each other's eyes. "Thank you, Percy."
I was feeling a little bold, so I reached up very quickly and kissed him on the cheek. I was as red as my brother's cattle and Percy wasn't any better. I let out a shaky laugh and flashed away before he could say anything and smirked as he stood there, mouth open with his hand on his cheek.
PERCY POV
'Does Artemis like me too?!' I thought like a lovesick puppy.
~6 Months into Training~
3RD PERSON POV
The Greeks and Romans were all gathered at the pavilion. "Greeks. Romans. We have trained for six long months to prepare for this war. I have taught you all I can, and now, it is up to you to further yourself and remember who and what you're fighting for. May the Gods be with us. FOR OLYMPUS!" Percy roared over the crowd that echoed his call with one of their own.
Percy looked at Artemis and winked casually. She rolled her eyes and sent him a mental message. 'Don't do anything stupid, Sea Sponge. I'll drag you out of Elysium if you do,' she said to him and it was his turn to roll his eyes. 'When have I ever done anything stupid, my dear Moonlace,' he replied.
It was time for war.
AN: Chapter 22 done! Until next time. Review as always.