Chapter 12: The Fun Part

Once they calmed down it was Blitz that frowned. "Wait, you say the dragon's still around."

"Yep," Leo grinned. "We were flying on him before we got zapped here by the fates."

"Isn't that kind of dangerous? It's a beautiful piece of machinery but it seems to be turning on people every other minute. And how on earth are you flying on that thing, it has no wings."

"It didn't," Leo agreed. "Until I attached them."

Piper nodded. "He also fixed the whole going crazy and turning on people problem."

"Because I recalibrated it and did the diagnostics. Unlike some people here."

"Vlacas! Idiot! There wasn't any time!" Annabeth yelled at him. "And I already told you, I'm no mechanic."

"Whatever," Leo pouted.

Annabeth yelled asking how to stop it. Beckendorf said they shouldn't even have turned it on. Automatons go wild after a few years. Percy yelled back that, that was good to know, but how did they turn it off?

A few chuckles and laughs filled the room. Percy shrugged. "Hey, it was a good question, and he didn't really give an answer."

"True," Rachel said from where she sat. "It's just the way you phrased it."

Beckendorf looked around and saw a bunch of rocks. Beckendorf told his friends to run around near the base of the cliff. They should distract the dragon and keep it occupied.

"Um, did he even see what that thing can do? Does he want you all to get fried like those ants?" Apollo yelped looking at Percy and Annabeth in alarm.

"Idiot, what else were we going to do? Run until we led him to the rest of the campers? That's the only way to get out of a situation like this."

Apollo shook his head. "I really disagree."

Percy chuckled. "Who has more experience on this quest thing and being mortal, me and Annabeth or you?"

"Annabeth and I," corrected his girlfriend. "Grammar, idiot."

"You guys," Apollo agreed. "But I still think I have the better methods."

"I kind of agree with him sometimes," Grover said. "I mean, you guys are my best friends, but I'd rather not have to fight everything we come across."

"Gee, thanks Grover."

Silena asked what Beckendorf was going to do. He promised they'd see and yelled at her to go. He ducked behind a tree. Percy looked right at the dragon full of determination. He started to wave riptide around over his head and yelled the dragon calling him lizard lips and telling him his breath smelled like gasoline.

"It still does," Piper wrinkled her nose, scrunching her eyes as if she could smell it at the moment. "With the addition of tabasco and all the other hottest things Leo could find."

"Do you want to deal with an underpowered and cranky Festus?" Leo asked her daringly. "No? Then let me feed him."

"You don't need to feed him those chips you like from Rome either," Calypso scoffed. "Or those things you say are like you? Flaming hot?"

"You feed him Cheetos now too?" asked Chris incredulously.

"And Hot tamales when we have to hold him over for a while. They dissolve inside his mouth, but the taste stays for a while."

"Dude, you have some issues."

"Like you don't either?" Leo challenged Percy next to him.

The dragon somehow started to look angrier. It's nostrils spewed smoke, as it ran toward Percy. Annabeth grabbed his hand, making him look at her in surprise and blush. She yelled at him to run, pulling him along and the dragon followed.

"Percy, really? You're ogling her mid-battle?" Nico asked him.

"Um, have you ever seen Annabeth fight?" Percy said defensively. "It's hot. Her eyes get all stormy and intense, and she just …."

"That's enough, idiot."

Percy grinned at her and shook his head in amazement. "It's just scarily beautiful. It's not like none of you guys don't stare at your girlfriends or boyfriends when they fight."

Everyone in the room who was dating someone or who had dated someone for a while had the decency to look abashed, though one or two of them may have grinned (Alex was one.)

Annabeth yelled that they had to hold it there. All three of them raised their swords. The dragon stopped suddenly as it reached them. It tilted it's head and after a second sent out a burst of fire. The three demigods scattered. Above them Beckendorf was inching onto the cliff, watching carefully. Percy caught his eyes and steeled himself.

"Um, what's the plan here?" asked Magnus.

"Same thing that Carter tried when he told us about that two headed snake thing," Percy said to the alarm of all the Egyptians.

"Which one? Cause there were a few, but if you're talking about the one, I think you're talking about then you guys are even stupider than I thought."

Percy looked at Sadie and held his chest in offence. "Hey, I thought you were all for running in with no plan and no idea what to do?"

"Oh, I am. It's much better than being bored to death with one. But even without a plan I don't do stupid things like that."

"That wasn't my part of the plan," Percy argued. "At least not this time."

"Ah, so you got to do the fun part."

"What the in the nine worlds are you two talking about?" Blitz asked looking between them.

"The fun part, the distraction," Sadie grinned. "But if any of you want reminding of what we said about some of the things Carter and I have done, then ask after. You'll probably remember after you see what the big guy is gonna do there."

"Wait, Sadie," Zia interrupted looking at her boyfriend. "Do you think there might be a way to show our memory of the event later? And the part after, in Cairo?"

Carter groaned. "No."

"You're thinking like a Pensieve in Harry Potter," Frank thought. "Hazel might be able to do something like that."

"It'd be a similar magic to the Hall of Memories or Ages back in the First Nome," Zia nodded.

"Discuss it later," Thalia advised. "This thing is almost done, and I want it over with now."

Percy charged with a battle cry and slashed Riptide downwards as he dove towards the dragon. A talon came off of its foot, making the dragon look at him confused. Then it opened its mouth.

"You're the one who did that to him?" asked Leo. "Because that was the only thing that wasn't normal wear and tear or a Hephaestus camper's trap. The only blade mark."

"What else was I supposed to do?"

"Aim for the head?" suggested Alex.

"No one is hurting Festus," Leo told her angrily.

"It was just a suggestion."

"For something that already happened," Hazel said breaking up the argument.

Annabeth yelled his name in warning. Percy stayed still and told her just another second. She yelled his name again and the dragon reared back ready to strike. Beckendorf jumped forward and on to the dragon's neck. It reared back again, shaking and try to get Beckendorf off of itself.

"So that's what you meant by doing what Carter did," Annabeth remembered. "He told us about that snake monster who poisoned him."

"This was the thing about the secret name you guys explained?" Will asked. "The healing technique?"

"That's not really what it is, but essentially yes, at that moment," Jaz agreed.

Beckendorf held on tight. He looked at the dragon closely and pulled out a panel at its neck, then pulled on some wires. The dragon froze and it's eyes turned off. It stood still, like a statue.

"Wait," Jason asked frowning. "Then how did it turn back on when we got to camp?"

"I actually don't know," Annabeth replied with a frown. She facepalmed. "Now I'm the idiot."

Piper elbowed her and when Annabeth met her eyes Piper raised an eyebrow in reply. Annabeth huffed and pushed her friend in retaliation. Leo decided to be safe and scooted away from both of them. "You were right about Beckendorf."

"About what?"

"That I would have liked him. That he was smart, and one of the best heroes out there." Leo grinned but it didn't have its usual warmth and mischief. "That thing with the control panel, genius. He knew what he was doing, and he wouldn't have even had time to get a good look at Festus's mechanics."

"I really wish you could have met him."

"I guess that's the good part of this thing," Leo said. "It's giving us a chance to see the other heroes who don't get talked about enough. For all the things you and I did with great prophecies, the others are just as important."

"Sometimes I think they're even more important," Percy agreed.

Beckendorf slid down from the dragon and collapsed as he gasped for breath. Silena called his name and hugged him giving him a big kiss on the cheek saying that he did it!

"Were they dating yet at this point?" asked Piper.

"Not officially," Annabeth explained. "As most the airheaded idiots in your cabin would say. They were a thing but hadn't made it established."

"Either way, everyone knew both of them were off limits," Clarisse snorted. "Like the two of you."

Annabeth came over and squeezed Percy's shoulder asking if he was okay. Percy said he was fine, or at least he guessed. Annabeth said that he was great. Percy agreed she was as well and asked what they should do with the automaton.

"That counts as you complimenting him."

"So, I can stop calling everyone idiot?" Annabeth asked Grover, sighing in relief. "Not that I don't enjoy it at moments, but it was getting a little annoying."

"A little?" Magnus asked her incredulously. She grinned back at him, and Magnus felt the need to glare, but just shook his head after a moment. Having Annabeth back in his life was worth all this craziness.

Beckendorf looked to be thinking, as he wiped his forehead. Silena was looking at his injuries which was distracting him. He frowned and the after a moment said he didn't know. Maybe they could fix it, it could take months, but they could get it to guard the camp.

"And what happens if you can't fix it?" asked Reyna.

"At that point, after the Labyrinth, we needed all the help guarding camp we could get," Will told her. "So, fixing the dragon wasn't a bad idea."

"But it could still go crazy and hurt everyone," Blitz said with a stern look, almost sure he was right.

"Ehh, not too badly. Everyone who was hurt, well, it wasn't too badly. I mean Jake was as excited by Festus as the rest of us by the time we took off on the Argo."

"What does not being hurt too badly consist of?" asked Sam suspiciously.

"You know, full body cast and wheelchair. He was fine."

"You and everyone else have very different definitions of fine," Percy told Leo.

Percy said that was worth trying. Beckendorf asked if they'd seen the treasure in the ant hill. It could really help them. All the magic weapons and armor. Silena's eyes widened in agreement as she said the necklaces and bracelets too. Percy shuddered and said that was an adventure for later. It would take an army of demigods to get close.

"More like a now mortal god and some music," Apollo said puffing out his chest. In his Lester Papaldalous form it just looked foolish.

"You didn't bring back the treasure," Nico reminded him.

"But I got close to it," Apollo bragged.

"We'll just bring Hazel over," Leo said looking at the Roman demigod. "Miss Metal detector can get the good stuff and replace it."

"I'm not really sure."

"You're due for a visit when all of this is done anyway," Nico told her. "And it'd be a good way to learn more control over that part of your powers. Not that you don't already."

"I can try."

Beckendorf said maybe. But it was an awesome treasure. Silena looked at the dragon, and then at Beckendorf telling him that him jumping on the dragon was the bravest thing she ever saw. Beckendorf blushed and swallowed stuttering until he managed to ask if she would go to the fireworks with him.

"I thought you said they were already a thing?" asked Frank.

"Yeah, but it's not official until the fireworks. When you come with someone to the fireworks that means its real," Will answered. "We had fireworks after the war, when Camp was finally fixed and rebuilt. We couldn't during the actual fourth of July that year. It was right after you guys left."

"Which was when he and Nico became a thing," Thalia muttered.

Silena said of course, calling Beckendorf a big dummy, saying she thought he'd never ask. Beckendorf was looking happy and said they should get back. Capture the flag was probably over. Percy kicked off his shoe and pulled off his sock, the acid had soaked into it. Percy leaned against Annabeth and they limped through the woods, behind Silena and Beckendorf who held hands in front of them.

"Why does it hurt now?" Percy complained rubbing his throbbing foot.

"Because the adrenaline rush wore off? You can bare it."

"You take such good care of me," Percy replied to Annabeth sarcastically.

"After that one time when you were sick? I'm never taking care of you again."

"Wow. Thanks."

Percy was looking pretty awkward as they walked. Annabeth said to him that what Beckendorf had done, it wasn't the bravest thing she had seen.

"What of all the crazy things you two have done on your quests would be?" Piper asked her curiously.

"I think I'll save that for myself."

Percy asked what she meant as they stumbled into a creek.

He stopped rubbing his foot and sighed. "Wow. Water. Cold, fresh, amazing water. Why didn't you just let me stay in there?"

"You know why."

"So, the whole thing was a distraction tactic?" Percy asked her probingly.

"I'm not telling."

"Please?"

"I've already told you several times, I won't be telling you a thing."

She told him that he stood up to the dragon so Beckendorf could jump on it. That was brave. Percy challenged it was probably more like stupidity.

"That's not false," Grover agreed.

"Hey!"

"You know it's true. You said so before."

"I thought you were supposed to be my best friend G-man."

"I'm leaving complimenting you to Annabeth."

Annabeth said he was a brave guy. He should just take the compliment. It wasn't that hard. Their eyes met, they leaned in closer together. Percy said, he guessed Silena and Beckendorf were going to the fireworks together. Annabeth agreed.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" cheered Sadie starting off a cheer around the room. The only one not cheering, besides Percy and Annabeth, was Clarisse.

"I swear, if they kissed again and none of us knew, those punks are gonna get it," she grumbled under her breath.

"You care too much for someone who pretends not to care at all," Chris said wrapping an arm around her shoulder, or as far as he could around it. He wasn't scared to admit his girlfriend was more buff than him.

"Don't you dare say that out loud," she challenged him.

"I think everyone might already know."

Percy continued, saying about that—in mid-sentence he was interrupted by three of the kids from the Athena cabin bursting out of the bushes with a grin.

"Now? Really?" Nico asked.

"We were almost all saved a lot of pain," Will agreed. "A second more and he would have asked her."

"It would have been official," Juniper nodded.

"Guys, we're together now, for almost a year in a half."

"Which you weren't around for part of."

"We're together," Percy said again. "That's all that matters."

One of the campers cheered Annabeth's name, telling her good job. They could get these two to jail. Percy stared and asked about the game, it wasn't over? The Athena camper laughed and said not yet, but now that he was captured, soon.

"I don't understand. It was a long time. The game is over," Tyson frowned.

"I wish, buddy."

"It seems like longer than it was," Hearth signed.

"A half hour," Ella bobbed her head in agreement. "Mymerke poison lasts a half hour."

"And they got to him before that," Rachel translated. "Plus, all that time chasing the dragon and it chasing them."

"And there were pauses when we spoke," Jason pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. "So, it's a lot shorter than it seems."

Beckendorf protested and said they were sidetracked by the dragon and the ant hill attacking them. An Athena guy looked at him as if he was lying and told Annabeth she did a job distracting them. It worked perfectly. Did she want them to take over now? With a grin Annabeth moved away. Percy almost collapsed in relief looking back towards their teams side of the creek then she pointed her dagger at him. She said she and Silena could do it. She said to move it.

"I mean, you really do need to see all this stuff to believe it," Juniper frowned. "I've heard all the stories. We nymphs like something to do, we can't really leave camp for long, and gossip is good. But I understand why he didn't believe you."

"I'm more confused by the inference that Annabeth had planned all of this as a distraction. How did any of that work out perfectly?" Walt asked her.

"I keep saying, if it shows, maybe I'll share the secret. Unless that happens, none of you are getting it out of me."

"I just like that Percy thought you were gonna let him go," Nico laughed.

"As if," Thalia agreed. "It's Annabeth and they're playing capture the flag. And trust me. She can get as competitive as me and Percy."

"Almost like Nike at times," agreed Percy whispering to Leo. "Which is terrifying."

"I don't like remembering that," Leo agreed, "But you're right. Not to mention she's terrifying to begin with."

Percy stared at her and asked if she'd planned this, the entire thing, to keep them out of the game. She rolled her eyes and asked how she could have planned it. The dragon, ants and everything else. She couldn't have figured that out ahead of time. Percy looked at her skeptically as she and Silena exchanged glances, holding back laughter.

"What are you guys laughing about?" Grover asked. "You almost died!"

"That'd be part of the secret."

"You think I'd tell Percy?" Grover complained.

"We all know how good you are at keeping things from him."

"Not like you," Percy said to her, jokingly. "I still don't know the truth about this, and it's been like three years."

Annabeth's eyes glinted as everyone turned to look at her. "What?"

Percy tried and failed to think of an insult, protesting with Beckendorf as they were led to jail. When she put them there, she looked at Percy asking if she'd see him at the fireworks.

"Why is she always the one to take initiative?" questioned Jaz.

"Because he's Percy and he's oblivious," Rachel shrugged. "Any other obvious questions I can answer?"

"I tried!" Percy protested. "Then we were ambushed!"

"Just admit it," Rachel told him. "You need a lot of prodding to make a move."

"What does that mean?" Hazel asked her. "You're not just talking about Annabeth, are you?"

"Can't tell you that. I'm the oracle. I tell pieces of the future. Not the past," Rachel winked.

Percy gaped as Annabeth disappeared with a wink. He hadn't answered. He gulped and looked at Beckendorf asking if she'd just asked him out. Beckendorf shrugged saying who knew with girls. Give him a haywire dragon any day.

"Agreed," Leo said. Many of the men in the room looked the same way. Then Leo frowned, not just from the glare Calypso was glaring at him. "Wait, that's it?"

"For that little side quest, yeah."

"How did you not realize she was asking you out?" Piper demanded.

"She's Annabeth! She thrives on being cryptic!"

"That wasn't cryptic," Annabeth told him.

"Cryptic is not telling any of us if you planned that or not," Magnus protested looking at her seriously. "I'm your cousin. Tell me at least."

"No way, butthead."

"Mature."

"She planned it. Or something like it. Never bet against Annabeth," Thalia interjected.

"No, she and Silena were probably just going to distract the boys with the whole fireworks thing," Will argued.

"Like they'd do that. Even Princess is better than that. And Silena wouldn't have resorted to that for something stupid like that either," Clarisse grunted.

"Can't you just tell us?" Jason turned to ask Annabeth, but she had disappeared.

"Great. She doesn't have her hat, does she?" asked Grover.

"Honestly man, no clue."