DISCLAIMER: Don't own PJO/HoO, it's owned by Rick Riordan.

Chapter 8.1: Answered Prayers and Almost-Funerals

Jason's POV

Jason had to say that he is impressed with Percy's swordsmanship. He's all on offense, yes...and because of that, Jason has to shift several times to defensive.

As Percy thrust Riptide, Jason countered the attack. Percy kept pushing Jason forward with combos—slash, duck, thrust, slash again, then followed by a stab—seemingly calculating Jason's actions until he saw his chance. Just as Jason went for a low blow attack, Percy locked it with Riptide and twisted—sending the gladius clattering on the ground. The son of Poseidon got it quickly. And just as swift, using the two swords, one in each hand, he crossed both around Jason's neck. It was close enough that one more movement of Percy's hands could kill the sky god's son.

Jason stood tall and proud as if dying was such an honour, but under the circumstances, it isn't. I am so dead, he thought. Dad? I don't know if you're listening or not, but give me just one more chance to save Perseus before you get an invitation from Uncle Pluto about my funeral. Please?

He kind of knew from the start that Percy was, well, not Percy. It was like when they were possessed by eidolons: same person in physical terms but still a different one inside. And maybe—just maybe—Jason could save the Greek demigod before another horrendous incident happens inside the Argo II.

"Whoa!" Jason abruptly stated. He and Percy slightly staggered; both were finding a position to balance themselves.

Jason noticed that the flying ship was, thankfully, flying upward. His prayers were answered! Thanks, Dad.

I also have to thank Leo after all this, he thought.

Leo's POV

Leo wiped his hands with the cloth from his pocket. He had been watching the fight while trying to maneuvre the ship to go back up towards the sky, and he had been panicking like crazy, especially when Jason lost his sword to Percy.

He might as well be in a mental institute for talking to a flying ship. Leo was muttering words of encouragement to the Argo II for the past few minutes.

"Come on, my lovely ship. I know you can do this. I believe in you. We all believe in you. You know that, right? Y'know, maybe after everything settles down, I might introduce you to my fangirl club. Yes, I have one called Team Leo. Being a seventh wheel is hard, so having that makes me so happy. There are like hundreds of them…" He basically told the ship all sorts of things like that. Leo continued telling the 'fangirl club' story (which was totally false, by the way) to the ship, particularly to Festus' head. It was his was of concentrating on the task at hand.

He then felt a tugging sensation in his gut. His warship had given an almighty heave and flew towards the heavens. By then, Leo ran around and shouted out "THE SHIP DIDN'T GO DOWN WE DIDN'T GO DOWN WITH THE SHIP YES OH YES WE WON'T HAVE FUNERALS BECAUSE WE'RE ALIVE" to no one in particular. He saw Percy lose his balance at first, but he sunk the two blades into the ship's deck. Jason simply flew, getting new-found strength from his home advantage, the sky. Leo observed that the demigod onlookers tumbled over each other, and were being sent below deck by Hazel, yelling something about a party being over and oncoming storms.

Leo sent Frank towards the main mast to scout for any oncoming wind spirits that might add more trouble aboard.

He looked at Percy and Jason again. Jason had found himself a javelin, also made of Imperial Gold, and as long as Leo's Aunt Rosa's longest belt that she had used to discipline him back then. That belt wasn't used anymore. Leo had turned it into charcoal, but that's a story for another time.

He snapped out of his thoughts and saw Jason summon lightning from the sky, and directed it towards Percy. The son of Poseidon pulled out the swords and tried to dodge the lightning, but he wasn't fast enough and it hit his feet. He rolled over and though it hurt a little, he was able to stand up.

Leo was getting scared at those two, honestly. It was like one of them was going to either get thrown out of the ship or be injured badly by their weapons. Neither choice was really on the positive side, so that was what scared Leo out of his wits.

He really didn't know what was going on between them. Leo was able to at least understand that Gaea, through her awful charmspeaking, tapped an unknown hatred and anger inside Percy. To whom those emotions really were pointed to, the demigods, Chiron, and Coach Gleeson had no idea.

When the son of Hephaestus saw Percy's stance, his trend of thoughts was cut off. He knew that position; he had first-hand experience what came after that.

This was trouble. Big trouble.

A/N: Hullo, everyone. So, here's another chapter! As you can see, chapter 8's been halved, just for fun... Well, not really. {It was originally shorter so I made it into two parts, but now it's longer. But I'm still keeping it halved.}

And Leo totally has fangirls, right? ;) Though, I'm not sure if they call themselves Team Leo...I just put that there. And that 'talking to the vehicle' part was inspired by a scene in Let It Snow /DISCLAIMER: the book is not mine\\ (John Green's part of the book).

Anyway! Do you like it? Hate it? Any suggestions, comments, constructive criticisms? Put in in your review! Thanks, and see you in the next chapter~