DISCLAIMER: I do not own PJO, HoO, Star Wars, and any other familiar references in this story. All rights belong to their original owners.

Of Royalties and Responsibilities

Chapter Three

Their meetings were never quiet like this.

For the first time since Chiron's Army was established, no one had anything to say. It was amazing how there was no hesitation when Percy (quite frantically) called for an emergency meeting. Now, ten royalties were all seated cross-legged on the floor, forming a circle in the middle of the headmaster's abandoned library-turned-training-room.

No one bothered to comment on the cliché-ness of it all. All eyes were fixed on the red insignia at the center of the group.

Chiron had yet to make an appearance, so it was only a matter of time before Percy said something.

"So…" Clarisse La Rue started. "This is the famous red scythe everyone's been talking about, huh?"

"It looks exactly the same, that's for sure," Jason said.

Leo nodded. "Makes you wonder how many of these things they've got."

Annabeth finally took her turn to speak. "Wait, so let me get this straight. When you found the scythe, there was no note attached to it?"

"None," Jason answered.

"Or any other forms of warning?" Frank Zhang asked.

"Apparently, whoever sent this thinks that this is the only warning we need," Percy said, finally speaking since he first called the meeting. His green eyes were still fixed on the scythe, refusing to meet the rest of the members' gazes. His hand permanently found its way onto his belt where his saber hilt rested, as if he was preparing for anyone to just randomly burst out and attack.

Annabeth sighed. "And what's even more alarming is the fact that the messenger knows where Percy's room is."

"Oh, shoot," Travis muttered. "Oh wow, you're right. The last time, we could easily say that Luke sent the scythe because at least he was familiar with the room assignments. And now…"

Piper visibly shuddered. "It's either Luke sent it? Or—"

"There really is someone in the school we can't trust," Percy said, finally lifting his gaze and staring at his friends.

Everyone knew what they were getting into when they first pledged to join Chiron's Army, but this was the closest they could get to reality. For the first time ever, Percy saw a tinge of fear tinted on everyone's eyes. They've been preparing for this for so long that it was almost surreal it was finally happening.

"Someone's warning us," Percy continued talking. He was slightly shaking, but he'd be damned if he let his friends know he was afraid. He wasn't going to let anyone down, especially not now. He could only hope that he didn't look like he was chickening out. The last thing the members needed was a cowardly leader. "Something's about to happen; that much we can tell. We just don't know what it is. Or when. Or where."

Annabeth nodded encouragingly at him, probably reading his mind and knowing how afraid he was starting to become.

"What do you propose we do?" Piper asked.

"Well… we're going to kick thing's up a notch. We've long ago suspected that there's someone in the academy working for Kronos. This might just be the proof we needed. Right now our biggest concern is finding out who he is and what he is warning us about."

"What? But that's what we've been doing for the past three years!" Clarisse argued.

Percy had to bite back his tongue. Despite being good friends with the members of Chiron's Army in the past years, he's always had a teensy problem with Clarisse's bluntness. Sure, he'd have to admire her bravery and ability to speak out whenever she wanted, but they always ended up with conflicts such as these.

One of Percy's concerns throughout the years was that the members would just start getting tired of Chiron's Army. He'd understand if that was the case, however, because it was hard to just keep expecting an upcoming war if there were no real evidences being put forward.

But he'd formed and found a family with them. And even though some of them might think that what they're training for is a lost cause (ehem, Clarisse), he never got tired of being with these people.

Even with Clarisse, whose tough personality that contradicts that of a usual princess made Piper and Annabeth decide that she was perfect for them. In fact, aside from the original people that fateful night at Chiron's classroom, Clarisse was one of the first members to be recruited, along with Annabeth's brother Malcolm and Jason's sister Thalia. Frank Zhang and Will Solace, who were both good friends with Jason, were few of the next ones.

"No, Percy's right," Annabeth said. "It's hard to create a plan of action if we have no idea what's going to happen."

Piper nodded. "Then we can start with what we can do, at least."

"Such as?"

"Numbers?" Frank suggested. "Like… more of us?"

"That's going to be risky," Will Solace added. "But I think it's a good idea. Who knows what's going to be attacking the school. We don't want a bunch of princesses just screaming and not knowing what to do."

"And this is why there needs to be a curriculum revamp," Piper muttered, rolling her eyes.

Annabeth hummed in agreement. "Mmhm."

"At the same time we don't want princes owning sabers for the heck of it," Percy said.

"So… more members," Jason repeated. "This is going to be ironic. We're going to have to be extra careful since there's someone out there dying to catch anyone of us, but at the same time we're going to have to get more people to know about us."

"Um, I think I know someone," Hazel piped in, speaking for the first time. "My brother. I think he can help us. We can trust him, too."

"Hey, Clarisse, you remember that chick who beat you in arm wrestling?" Travis asked. "Maybe we can get her."

"Oh, right." Clarisse scowled. "Reyna. Well, I'm not talking to her. Someone else do it."

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "I'll do it. She's in the broadcasting team with me."

"Hey, uh, Percy?" Travis started. "I haven't… you know… tried asking my father about Tartarus yet. I just got the guts to do it… like, just now."

"No, Travis, that's all right." Percy felt like his insides were going to burst from being too overwhelmed. "You guys… this is great. I'm just—"

"Don't start getting emotional on us, ocean boy," Leo warned, snickering. "We've got this, yeah?"

Percy finally grinned. "Shut up. Yeah, we got this. I'm proud of you guys, really. Just promise me we're all going to be careful."

"Hey now, Percy, are you crying?"

"What? No!"

"You do look like you've got something in your eye," Piper joked.

"I am not crying!"

Annabeth laughed, leaning over so she could kiss his cheek. "Not yet."

"Hey, um, I've got a question," Will stated. "So you got the same red scythe when Luke last visited, right?"

"I was wondering the same thing. Where's the old one now?" Hazel asked.

Shoved it at the back of my closet so no one would find it. "I hid it," Percy answered. "Wouldn't want any of the authorities finding it."

"What a bunch of losers," Clarisse snorted. "They're not even aware that a war's under their noses."

"Huh," Leo muttered. "I'm actually agreeing with you. This is a first."

Piper smirked. "I can't wait for them to come crying to us when this whole thing blows up in their faces."

Annabeth's face was apologetic, but it was obvious she was trying not to laugh. "You guys are forgetting that it's Kronos and his army we're up against."

"Eh." Travis shrugged. "I'm always in the mood for butt-kicking, whoever's butt it is."

No one seemed to disagree.

He could not find Connor anywhere.

And it would have been fine, really, if it weren't for all the people staring at him. Everyone knew who he was—Luke Castellan, cousin to crown prince of Pherena Connor Stoll. Oh, and yeah… everyone knew his father, right-hand man of King Hermes, just died.

If people were going to throw him looks of sympathy, they might as well just talk to him, too. He was getting a little lonely, after all. No one wanted to sit with him, and he'd be damned if he suddenly got the courage to talk to someone else and ask to sit with them at their table.

He sighed. Week one in the academy and the only friend he had was his cousin.

Who was still missing in action, by the way. Connor sat with him during the first week of orientation, but now that school was finally starting, it was as if they saw each other less. He couldn't blame Connor, really; the guy had other friends, too. He wasn't going to be a parasite and just be a whiny younger cousin.

The door to the mess hall opened once again, revealing more students with their respective group of friends.

Still no cousin in sight.

If people-watching was a sport, then he'd easily be MVP at it. That was all he ever did these days. Unfortunately, it gave him the opportunity to compare himself to the rest of the student body.

Perhaps the reason he felt so left out was… well, he wasn't exactly like them. These people were destined to become kings and queens one day. And him? He was third in line to the throne.

It shouldn't bother him, really, but then—

Connor's face suddenly popped out from where he was dozing off. "Hey, Luke! Sorry I took so long."

"That's okay. Where's your tray?"

Connor smiled apologetically as he sat down across. "Oh, uh, I already ate with the guys earlier. Just came by to check on you."

Check on him? "You don't have to do that, Connor."

The other boy shrugged. "I don't mind."

"No, really. You've got friends and other things to do. I'll be fine on my own. I promise."

Connor stared at him for a second before chuckling nervously. "Hey, um, the guys and I were planning to go to the gym later for some sparring. Maybe you'd like to join us?"

Get a grip, Luke, you're not going to be a clingy burden to your cousin. "That's okay. I've got…uh…-" his eyes searched the room until it landed on one of the posters plastered on the walls. He squinted to get a good look. "—broadcasting auditions later."

Connor raised an eyebrow. "Broadcasting auditions?"

"Yeah." Luke nodded, hoping he didn't look terrified as he formulated his last-minute plan in his head. "It looks cool. I've got stuff to do, too, so you don't have to worry too much about me."

The brunette considered this.

"If you say so, cousin."

Luke could only hope his forced smile was convincing.

Percy barely got to say a word to Chiron when Jason suddenly burst into the headmaster's office.

"Holo-cast," the blond prince told them. If the bewildered look in his eyes didn't deliver the message enough, then the urgency in his voice did.

Chiron raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He lifted a remote from his desk before pressing a button. A screen on one corner of the room suddenly illuminated. Annabeth's voice was then heard.

"…live footage provided by the planet Gianov, the planet whose orbit is closest to Tephus. It appears that the kingdom is undergoing a sudden attack from an unknown legion. No other forms of communication have been received from Tephus as of twelve twenty-nine this afternoon. On the one hand, nearby kingdoms have sent their respective armies for Tephus' aid. We have received news that…"

Flashes of orange and yellow were filling the screen. The princes tried not to cringe at the sounds of explosion.

"Is there anyone from Tephus in the academy?" Percy asked, eyes still on the holo-cast.

Chiron nodded solemnly. "We do. Remind me to talk to Ethan Nakamura after this. The poor boy must be terrified right now."

"Hold on," Jason suddenly said, pointing to the screen. "Percy… that's—"

"Oh my gods," Percy whispered, noting what Jason saw.

A red aircraft suddenly made its way into the footage. The plane was swooping down on the planet, evidently attacking it with large silver bullets escaping one of its openings.

Except that wasn't the worst part.

Percy tried to control his breathing, and it looked like Jason was doing the same.

Chiron's eyes widened in realization as he watched the aircraft, whose insignia was no other than a red scythe.

End of Chapter Three