Authors Note-

"A Couple days ago I was on a wicked long and incredibly boring car ride with my family, heading to my grandma's house (I'm pretty sure we actually went over a river and through the woods, but being in a constant state of boredom can have adverse effects on the brain, who knows?). The landscape didn't change much, between the mountains and the long expanses of flat dry land and noxious ranches raising hundreds of smelly cows that made their stretch of highway smell like we'd entered a previously undiscovered circle of hell. But when I wasn't watching Deathly Hallows part 2 (and crying) or drowning my boredom induced sorrows in rest stop vending machine M&Ms (and crying some more), I came to the realization (not for the first time) that I should (AND WILL!) continue this fic. It might have been the middle-of-nowhere delirium, but I made the New Year's resolution to not be lazy (the real reason I haven't updated in…2 years? Though I blamed the delay for awhile on the fact that Heroes of Olympus stole my 'Gaia is the bad guy' idea). But I totally have a big and better idea of where I want this fic to go, and hopefully my writing style has improved, and maybe this fic can be better than I ever intended it to be (pushing it, but whatever) because it'll actually have direction. That being said, I haven't read Twilight in years, and while I've kept up with Heroes of Olympus, I haven't read the original Percy Jackson series in awhile either. I don't really have any intention of reading them again anyway, but if any of you notice and inconsistencies or errors that I would have caught had I read the book, please don't hesitate to tell me in reviews. If I have enough of these problems, I might read them again, but I just thought to put the disclaimer out there before I pick this up again.

Thank you to those who read my fics during my absence, and those who kicked my ass by reviewing and making me feel guilty. A lot of my tastes in what I may write about have changed and grown, some fandoms I'll be leaving behind (like Twilight), some I'll probably stick with (like Percy Jackson), and there are countless other fandoms that I hope to contribute to! Thanks in advance for those who read and review, and enjoy!"

- My authors note before I re read my fic and died a little on the inside. I forgot I had to write the capture the flag scene…. And I made so many sucky decisions in regards to this fic….. oh god, what have I done….

Edward

We couldn't take our eyes off the field when Bella stepped on it. It was like seeing all over again that Bella, My Bella could hold her own against an army. That was the third time that that notion had struck me since finding out her secret, and the twisting feeling I felt in my chest had not gotten any easier to bear. I felt like one of the reasons I had been put on this earth, my destiny, had been ripped away from me. I was supposed to protect Bella, wasn't I? It was a role I had accepted graciously, to look after the fragile girl with the chocolate colored eyes that loved me regardless of what I was. But now, seeing her as a fierce hunter with a commanding visage comparable to that of a vampire, I couldn't help but feel a stab of sadness that I understood, but couldn't suppress.

She was decked out in old jeans that I'd never seen her wear before. They were covered in countless rips and splattered with countless stains and smudges of paint. I guessed that she kept them at camp for purposes like this, because they seemed a size too small and hugged her curves snuggly. I guessed that she'd had them awhile and didn't want to waste money on another pair to dirty up. Just like my old Bella, sensible. Practical. But taking in the rest of her appearance, I was painfully reminded of how just un-Bella she was being. She had on the trade mark Blue Team camp shirt underneath a gleaming bronze chest plate, bronze shin guards and wrist guards poking out of the windbreaker she was wearing. Under one arm was the helmet of the blue team, her weapon necklace dangling around her neck. I couldn't help it, taking in everything about her. I was transfixed, staring at the low pony tail she'd put her hair into, and the tight set of her mouth as Percy spoke to her, brandishing maps of what looked like plans of the woods.

Alice tugged at my sleeve. 'We need to go to our tents. They'll think we're spying.' She thought at me. I rolled my eyes but followed, glancing back at Bella one last time before tearing my eyes away in search of where we needed to go. It wasn't that hard to find, a small field not far away bathed in the red of the supply tents. They had divided up the Cullens who weren't half-bloods so that not one team had any sort of advantage over the other. I didn't know yet how they were doing it, but I knew I had Alice on my side.

Or not. I could feel Chiron approaching me from behind. "Edward. It has been brought to my attention that you have a certain gift?" I knew where this was going, and frankly, I was happy. "Yes, I can read other's minds." He frowned slightly "Then I think you understand why I'll have to pull you out of tonight's game?" "Of course, sir. Is there anything I can do instead?" "Well, since you'll have a better handle on the course of the battle than I probably will, you can help referee. Point out wounded campers; see where the action's going. But you mustn't interfere." Well, I knew what he meant by that. And it pained me to do it, but I nodded. I followed him to the middle ground between the two encampments. He blew a horn, and dead silence seemed to spread thick around the armies like molasses. Both groups clamored over to form a circle around Chiron and myself, their weapons and helmets clinking together as they went.

"Another exciting game is upon us!" he began, cheers went up and the clanging of armor and weapons increased a dynamic. "…But tonight is a special game, and I think you all know why. First of all, we have our guests from Washington. Alice, Carlisle, and Esme will be on the red team," a clamoring of weapons again, "and Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie will be on the Blue team!" an even louder smattering of noise. "…and Edward will be helping me referee. Now, the red team will be captained by Miss Clarissa and the Blue captaincy jointly, by Bella and Percy at Percy's request."

I heard Percy mumble a few feet away, "It's just because you suck a little less at this than I do. And you've done this before." I looked over, and Bella was smirking at him.

Chiron continued, "Now, I know you all are wonder why it is that you are playing capture the flag in the off season, instead of dealing with the pressing matters at hand," he gave a wry smile, "but just because we have some difficult tasks before us, doesn't mean we could use some team building, some practice, and some fun!" everyone roared with triumph at this end of the speech, with the accompanying sounds of shields being bashed together in triumph and excitement. Someone with less bionic hearing would have been near deafened by the noise, but it didn't seem to faze the campers.

And with that, Chiron signaled for the teams to back off to their respected areas. After a quick huddle, the red team swarmed the trees, off to hide their flag. After the mortals heard the sound of a horn through the trees, the blue team took off charging. I watched Bella dip her head over a map, was studying it with Percy and Jasper as she entered the woods, and couldn't help but feel a sense of longing and a fierce need to keep every camper with a weapon from getting within 100 yards of her.

I was really starting to hate this game.

In hindsight, this chapter seems kind of short. It seemed longer when I was working on it, I swear! I'll publish the capture the flag chapter in its entirety once midterms are over and I can stop gently weeping and wallowing in self loathing as I write my term paper

My only request is that you R&R, my lovelies :) thanks again!