Thanks for all the reviews. This chapter is about the preparations before the quest. You might be surprised…

It was time to pack. The first snowflake had fallen at Camp Half-Blood, and we were getting ready for our quest. I went to Chiron with the good news.

"That's great!" he said. "I'll go tell Thalia and Grover, you can get Tyson."

I went looking for Tyson. I found him in the Hephaestus cabin, talking to Beckendorf. From what I was hearing, he was actually giving Beckendorf tips! And I had thought that Beckendorf was the greatest smith I knew besides Hephaestus himself!

I silently berated myself for eavesdropping. I beckoned to Tyson and led him out of the room, with Beckendorf wearing a rare smile. He was going to try something.

"Tyson," I said. "The first snowflake has fallen. It is time to get ready."

"Get ready for what?" He had forgotten, which I could never do. The pain of losing Annabeth would stay in my heart until I rescued her.

"We're going to save Annabeth, remember? I reminded him. I tried to be optimistic by telling him that, instead of "We're going to Hades to plead for Annabeth's life, remember?" It sounded much more possible.

"Oh yes. That." Tyson said, frowning. "I just remembered! I made you this." All the sadness vanished from his face. Wish I could do that.

He held out another watch. "It's a new shield," he said. "And there's more to it than the other one." He held it out and hit the button, expanding the shield. "Hit it with Riptide."

I uncapped Riptide uncertainly. "Are you sure about this?" I asked him.

He grinned. "Just hit it as hard as you can."

I brought the sword whistling down toward the shield and felt an unexpected resistance. Before I could think, the sword had flipped over in my hands and the hilt had hit the shield, making a deep clang. The problem was, the sharp tip of the sword was inches from my chest.

Tyson laughed hysterically. "All right," I said, annoyed. "What did you do to the shield?"

"I put a," he wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. "I put a magnetic repulse on the shield."

"All right," Usually it was Tyson who was clueless, but that flipped over just like my sword. "What is a magnetic repulse?"

"I built the shield so it would repel celestial bronze. That feature can be turned on and off by pressing this button." He pointed to a smaller button. "Even better, it gives you an edge in battle because it repels your sword, giving it more force and speed in slices and stabs."

I was speechless. This shield was probably worth several thousand drachmas, if I cared to sell it. I didn't. "Tyson, how can I thank you?"

He smiled. "You already have. And one more thing about the watch. It will always return to your wrist, as Riptide always returns to your pocket."

What the heck? I decided to try it out. On none other than Clarisse. This would be fun. Sword fighting class came slowly, but when it did, I was grinning from ear to ear.

She noticed. "What's up, Prissy?" she asked obnoxiously.

I grinned even wider. "You'll see once I bash you to Tartarus."

She was angry now. "Bring it on, Prissy." She drew her celestial bronze sword. I drew Riptide. Now to have some fun…

I opened the shield, which spiraled out like an old-fashioned camera. Clarisse looked mildly impressed, but held her ground. I turned on the magnetic repulse.

I initiated the duel, with a quick slash downward at Clarisse's shoulder. The repulse made it faster. Clarisse just barely blocked it with a sideways thrust with her own sword.

She counterattacked, slamming her sword downward at me. I lifted the shield and repelled the sword with it. Within half a second Clarisse had her own sword at her throat. I also put mine to her throat and said, "Ha. Don't boast to the better swordsman. You must hate yourself a lot to put your own sword to your throat."

Her eyes blazed with hatred. Of course, I didn't care. As always. I walked away in cold indifference to her cursing under her breath, vowing to get revenge.

I sat on Half-Blood Hill, watching the sunset. It reminded me of my last night with Annabeth. I blinked. There was a dark figure standing about fifty yards away, and walking towards me.

As he got closer, I saw that he had olive skin and dark hair. His complexion was inhuman, as was Luke's as he turned to Kronos. At about ten yards I recognized an old friend.

Nico Di Angelo.

His eyes burned with anger when he saw me. He walked faster until he was feet from me. "Nico, where have you been?"

He said nothing. Instead he drew a strange sword, one I recognized in its silver-and-gold glow. Backbiter.

"How'd you come by Luke's sword?" I asked him, trying to keep him on friendly terms.

It didn't work. "It's my inheritance. Kronos gave it to me, and fit it for me. You killed the original owner of this blade, so it would be fitting if this blade would kill you."

"Nico, Bianca's death wasn't my fault! She sacrificed herself to save all of us!" I pleaded with him urgently.

Nico's face became unrecognizable with rage. I instantly drew Riptide and opened the shield. I hit the magnetic repulse button without thinking. He charged with a savage war cry.

He had become stronger, as well. His first blow came flying down my right. I pulled the shield up, but realized too late, the shield repels celestial bronze! Not steel! Nico struck the shield with the steel end. The shield dented, and my arm was thrown back.

Something strange was happening to Backbiter. Nico seemed to realize that my shield repelled celestial bronze, and only attacked with the steel edge. Every time he did, the sword got a little wider. Nico was soon panting. The sword was becoming heavier, too. Too heavy for Nico.

Suddenly, I heard a clashing noise and the two welded swords split apart. We both stared in disbelief. Nico picked up the steel one and attacked furiously. I was slowing down…

I tried every trick I knew, feinting and slashing, then stabbing and slicing, but Nico blocked them all. It seemed that now he was an even better swordsman than Luke. He knocked the shield off my arm. I heard a small crack. My arm had broken with it.

Pain raced up my right arm as I furiously blocked with my left. I couldn't keep this up forever. Suddenly, faster than I could see, Nico's sword winked out and struck my left hand. I dropped Riptide.

Nico had his sword at my throat. "And now," he gestured. "You die."

A voice cut through the night. "Nico, stop!" I knew that voice….

I turned. So did Nico. Nico dropped his sword and ran to embrace the stranger.

Bianca Di Angelo.

A bit too overdramatic maybe? I've only read TC once, so I don't have Nico's personality down very well. How did I do? R&R please!