Chapter 2- War games

"So, Wise-girl, how are we going to do this?" Percy asked, pulling Riptide out of his jeans pockets. He was so grateful to be back in normal clothes. Togas were a bit old fashioned.

"Um… you've been here, Seaweed Brain. What are their strategies like?"

"Violent, not afraid to maim anyone. Er… kinda like the Ares cabin, but not as temperamental."

"Shut it, Prissy." Clarisse snarled.

"That could count as compliment." Percy said simply. Clarisse glowered at him.

The three, along with Piper, Grover, Leo and the rest of the Ares kids, along with a few Hephaestus kids, were up against the fifth cohort and the praetors. They were slightly outnumbered, but with different fighting styles. Plus, they had a daughter of Athena on their side. Annabeth frowned in deep thought.

"Clarisse, take two siblings and Piper up onto that ridge there- try and take out defences on the east side." Clarisse nodded. "Percy, Grover and I will try and get round to the flag- Percy, water cannons?" Percy nodded grinning. "Leo, take the last of the Ares kids and… two siblings onto the west side. The rest of us will try and get the flag."

"Oh, and watch out for Reyna. Her mom's a war goddess. Bellona, I think." Percy added, mumbling uncertainly. Annabeth smiled. "OK then, we good to go?" They nodded. "Right then, shoo!" Percy waved his hands in a shooing motion, gaining some brilliant death stares from the Ares kids. "Come on then you lot." Percy led them underneath the walls of the warzone, occasionally setting off water cannons and washing out members of the fifth cohort.

"Percy, isn't this a bit… well, easy?" Percy looked back at Annabeth. She was right.

"JACKSON!" Percy looked out of the trench. Reyna was flying low over the mostly clear battlefield on Scipio. None of the Camp Half Blood demigods were anywhere to be seen. Percy grinned, but ventured forward. "PERCY JACKSON, SON OF NEPTUNE! SHOW YOURSELF!"

"Poseidon, its Poseidon…" Annabeth muttered. Percy's grin broadened at her.

"Not here, Wise-girl." Annabeth shot him a trademark glare.

That's when the burst of lightning caught Percy's attention. He and his group crouched, looking out for trouble. His eyes swivelled to the nearest water cannon and the thing exploded shooting water in various directions in powerful jets.

Jason glared around, holding his magic coin ready to flip it. That Jackson kid could be anywhere. Jason frowned in concentration and lightning cracked the ground to either side of him.

"PERCY JACKSON! COME OUT AND FIGHT!" Jason shouted. He flipped his coin, gaining an Imperial gold sword. He would have preferred the spear, but never mind.

"Percy, what are you going to do?" Grover asked, gripping his reed pipes nervously. An idea popped into Percy's head.

"Grover, have you gotten better at woodland magic?" Percy asked slowly. Grover nodded, confused. Annabeth cottoned on.

"That will work, right?" Grover understood and pretended to look offended.

"Do you doubt my woodland magic, Oh daughter of Athena?" Annabeth narrowed her eyes at him. "Fine then." Grover looked at Percy. "I have gotten better." He insisted.

"Go for it, G-man." Grover smiled gratefully and began to play his reed pipes. The dry ground cracked as vines of various lengths and thicknesses shot from the ground. A few lashed around Scipio and Reyna, others twisted and danced around the arena's supports distracting the fifth cohort.

Jason wildly slashed at the plants, straining his ears. He could hear some music, but he wasn't sure where from.

Scipio whinnied in alarm as the vines pulled him and his rider down. Reyna had drawn her sword and was hacking at the plants, but more replaced them.

"Percy, while they're busy." Annabeth touched his arm. Percy smiled wickedly and clambered out of the trench, Riptide at the ready.