"One on one." Percy challenged. "You and me, Luke."

The warriors that surrounded Percy and his friends hesitated, looking to Luke for orders. Artie was not liking the way things were going. His arms and legs were still bound with bag over his head. Even if he was free, he was certain he would be hard pressed to escape unscathed or even alive for that matter. And if some rare strange reason the fates decided to grant him a reprieve, Artie couldn't very well leave his friends with a clear conscience. Artie's thoughts were interrupted when Argius burst onto the deck with what sounded like a very angry Pegasus. Artie imagined it kicking and bucking to get free, no doubt calling its captors all kinds of vile names and insults.

"Sir!" said Agrius as he dodged a hoof. "You're steed is ready!"

Luke kept his eyes on Percy, "I told you last summer, Percy. You can't bait me into a fight."

"And you keep avoiding one." Percy countered. "Afraid your warriors will see you get whipped."

Artie wanted to remind Percy that Luke was best swordsman in the last hundred years. His mind flashed to last year when he fought and defeated Luke himself. He was hopeful for a moment, maybe Percy had a chance. Then he remembered when 'Leonidas' showed and proved that had it been a serious fight, to the death, Artie would died within the first few seconds. Still, he was sure that for Luke's experience and talent, he couldn't match Artie's speed and agility. The same speed and agility that prevented Luke from being able to land a blow during few sparring lessons.

"I'll kill you quickly." Luke decided. He then whistled to one of his men who tossed him a leather and bronze shield.

"Luke," said Annabeth. "At least give him a shield."

"Sorry, Annabeth." said Luke. "You bring your own equipment to this party."

Artie wanted to scream in frustration as the fight commenced. Here was a golden opportunity. While everyone was no doubt focused on the fight, he was still bound like a hog at a rodeo. That was when he heard the faint fluttering of wings followed by a subtle click - clack of razor sharp talons on polished wood. Artie almost called out Tobias's name right then and there, but he stopped himself. No need alert the bear twins, who were only a few feet away, and have his only chance of getting free thrown out the window. Artie held still as Tobias pulled at the rope with his beak and talons. Artie begged for Tobias to hurry up. From what he gather from the sounds, Luke was not only winning, but he was toying with Percy.

"What do we have here?" asked Oreius. "A little lost bird?"

"Touch him and you'll be begging for Tartarus before I'm done with you!" Artie warned.

Oreius laughed at Artie's warning and started stepping around him as he tried to catch Tobias who instantly took to the air. Artie was beginning to reach his limit. Tobias had been the only creature that even remotely cared for him as he tramped all over Southern America. Often, it was Tobias that saved him from certain death, either luring predators away or providing food when he was severely injured. This went through Artie's mind as he rolled onto his back. He then brought his legs to his chest, knees digging into his throat, and swung his arms under. Now his arms were in front him. Not wasting a second, Artie extended his claws and began working on the thick rope on his wrists. Unfortunately, Tobias was forced to fly off to avoid being captured, or more likely eaten, by Oreius. That was when Oreius stomped on Artie's hands and his chest, driving the air from his lungs.

"Its not very nice, you know, leaving before you've been dismissed." said Oreius putting more weight on Artie's chest. "I think you need a lesson in courtesy."

Slowly, Oreius began pushing harder and harder. Again, Artie was finding it difficult to breath. He also felt his ribs and sternum begin to give way as they bent in an attempt to absorb the amount of force Oreius was placing on them. A small part of his brain, the only part that wasn't blinded by pain and lack of air, told him he had seconds before his bones snapped like dry leaves in autumn. He tried jabbing his claws into the monster's foot, but it was useless. Oreius's hide was too thick to puncture and Artie had nowhere near enough strength to throw him off. He tried bring his legs up to kick Oreius, but like his arms, he wasn't strong enough.

"One thing I want you to watch before you die, Percy." Luke turned to Oreius, You can have your dinner now. Bon appetit."

"He - he, He - he." gloated the bear man as he grabbed Artie by the shoulders and bared his teeth.

That was when all Hades broke loose.

Whish

Artie fell to floor, landing on his rear end. Though he hadn't seen what happened, he had heard that sound countless times before. Someone had taken out Oreius with an arrow. Then heard Agrius call out only to be cut off, no doubt by another arrow or the Pegasus finally got him. That was when heard a wild chorus of war cries and hooves thundering on metal. Artie was too stunned for words, he knew those voices.

It couldn't be them, he thought, What are they doing here?

"Ponies!" cried Tyson with delight.

Tyson, Artie thought with a smile. You have no idea how right you are.

Luke's forces scattered, and quite frankly, Percy couldn't blame them. Facing the hooves of rearing stallion was menacing enough, but when its a centaur, armed with bow and screaming like a Comanche warrior, even the bravest warrior would retreat. Luke tried to rally his forces, but he was knocked into the pool by a boxing glove tied to an arrow. Then the centaurs let loose with a slurry of gunfire from their paintball guns, blinding and spattering them with blue and yellow neon paint. Several tried to run only to slip and fall, taking a few of their comrades with them. Chiron rode out amongst the chaos and plucked up Annabeth and Grover, neatly placing them on his back. Percy tried to move, but the wound on his leg stopped him from moving too much. Percy glanced at Luke who had managed to crawl out of the pool.

"Attack you fools!" he ordered his troops just as an alarm rang below deck.

"Withdraw brethren!" Chiron shouted.

"You won't get away with this, horse man." said Luke before another boxing glove arrow sent down into a deck chair.

A palomino centaur hoisted Percy onto his back, "Dude, get your big friend!"

"Tyson!" yelled Percy. "Come on."

Tyson dropped the two warriors he was about throw overboard, and jogged after them. He then jumped on top of the centaur, who nearly buckled under the weight.

"Dude," he groaned. "Do the words 'low carb diet' mean anything to you?"

Artie managed to get to his feet during the commotion, but he was knocked aside as the centaurs retreated the way they came. He managed to roll out of the way to avoid being trampled and began trying to crawl to safety, but it was proving difficult with the bag blinding him and the cords on his limbs restricting his movement. He got to his feet again, but was knocked into the safety railing. It wasn't enough to throw him up and over the railing, but it was enough for him to groan in pain. That was when he felt a pair strong hand grip his waist and lift him into the air.

"Room for one more, Timmy?" asked a voice.

"Just throw him on," ordered Timmy, "James, I've told you a thousand times to stop calling me that! Its just Tim."

"I like Timmy." said James

"Then I'm calling you Jamie."

"Dude, that's a girl's name!"

"Eu não quis interromper," said Artie. "But you could continue this later? Like, after we escape?"

Tim began to ask, "Was that — "

"COME ON!" yelled a female centaur as she galloped past them.

Tim and James ducked as a volley of arrows and spears flew overhead.

"Coming, Kelly." said Tim as shot down the running deck.

"Wait for me." shouted James, following close behind.

Once he felt they were safe, Artie readjusted himself on Tim's back. He then extended his claws and began working on the cords on his wrists. It took roughly a munte before they fell off in pieces and sliced through the cords on his ankles. Artie then heard the familiar screech of Tobias. Artie ripped the bag off his head and accepted the pair of cheap sunglasses Tobias clutched in his left talon as well as his quiver, which Luke had taken from him before they herded aboard the cruise ship. Artie gazed ahead and saw that most of the herd was several feet ahead of them. If this was the same chapter of the Party Ponies that he thought it was, then he wanted to see an old friend.

"I'm gonna go on ahead." Artie told them. "There's someone I need to talk to."

"No can do," said James. "Slowpoke Tim here is slowest of all us. To be honest, I'm only here cause Timmy here doesn't like being alone."

"Hey," protested Tim.

"Point is," continued James. "Unless you can run faster than Tim, you're stuck with us until we stop."

"Good to know," said Artie. "Thanks for saving me and my friends."

"You should really thank Chiron." said James. "He was the one who organized everything."

"I'll do that." promised Artie. "See you around."

With that Artie hopped off Tim's back, landing into a roll to avoid hurting himself. Tim and James were so surprised that they completely forgot to stop running. They looked back and saw a cloud of dust where Artie had landed. Then something emerged from the cloud, rapidly catching up with two centaurs. Artie came in and out view as he blurred past them and sped off towards the rest of the herd. Tim and James watched as Artie disappeared between thier fellow Party Ponies and made his way to the head, Tobias following overhead. It took Artie a little over two minutes to reach the head of the herd, occasionally waving to several surprised looking centaurs. When he reached a golden stallion with a pink ribbon in its tail, he smiled and hung back. He looked to his left and saw Annabeth and Grover on Chiron's back. He smiled and motioned for them to be quiet.

The centaur with the ribbon alongside Chiron, Kelly, asked Chiron, "So, Chiron. How's Artie doing?"

Chiron saw Artie just behind Kelly, but said, "Artie?"

Kelly nodded, "Yeah, I kinda grew attached to the little guy."

"You know Artie? asked Annabeth.

Kelly nodded again, "I met him almost three years ago. Stumbled into our camp. Half dead from a tangle with a manticore."

"He fought a manticore and lived?" asked Grover, not believing what he had heard.

That was when Artie ran alongside Chiron, "So this where you were hiding all along Chiron. I hope you've had your fill of partying, cause we need you back at camp."

Kelly just stared at the demigod keeping pace with a herd of centaurs like it was nothing, "How is he keeping up? . . . . . . only he could . . . . . . Artie? . . . is that you?"

Artie smiled, "É bom para você também, Kelly. Espero que você não se esqueceu português já."

Kelly squealed with delight as she picked up the young demigod and embraced him, all while not slowing down. "Lembro-me de muitas, seu malandro pouco."

Kelly released Artie and he slipped onto her back. They continued talking in rapid Portuguese, much to confusion of Chiron and his passengers, until they reached what looked like a trailer park. They were undoubtedly trailers, but they were horse trailers. And they all had been modified for more comfortable living, namely televisions and mini refrigerators. Artie smiled as he some of his old friends. Duncan was still wearing his signature googly eye glasses as he butted head with Jack.

"Did you see that bear guy?" asked Duncan,"He was like : Whoa, I have an arrow in my mouth."

Jack laughed," That was awesome. Head slam!"

Artie chuckled,"Nice to see you haven't changed much."

Kelly laughed,"Wish I could say the same about you. Interesting choice of hair color by the way."

Artie looked a strand of hair, newly streaked with silver, and frowned slightly,"You wouldn't believe what happened after you left Camp Half Blood."

Kelly looked to Chiron,"Is there something we need to talk about or — "

Chiron cut her off with a wave and a smile,"By all means, Kelly. Go and catch up. I suspect you'll enjoy what stories Artie has to tell."

Kelly, with Artie on her back, walked a trailer on the far end. "So, Artie. Did you find out who your godly parent was?"

"Yeah," he answered. "But before we get into that, can we get something to eat? I could eat a horse."