Chapter 12: Clarisse.

I ran off with Leo in tow. He was swaying in the background as I grasped him by the shoulder. He wasn't heavy at all. I could imagine him to be the size of an elf from a Christmas movie with his bony figure. It used to be harder to drag him when he put up some resistance. The first time I dragged him away, he went kicking and screaming. Well, I gave him some tough love with some rolling punches to the stomach and he stopped squirming real quick. Training Leo was fun in itself. I get a punching bag for my own amusement, and I could train it to be a slightly stronger punching bag. When life was simple, life was good.

It was good for a while at least. Now my mood has been ruined. I couldn't believe Annabeth. We've buried our hatchet years ago but that started when we carved out our niche. I was the strongest fighter in camp, and she was the smartest. No issue there, but now she thinks she can beat me in a fight. I've seen wise girl up close in a fight. Sure, she has some knife skills and could come up with a good plan sometimes, but when it came to brute strength, she relied too much on Prissy to be deemed a threat.

With the balcony out of view, we both entered the practice range. It was pretty large with four smaller sword fighting arenas and 2 spots for archery. The low ceilings had purple banners and its own balcony showing the other side of the main arena. In one of the arenas was the Stoll brothers fighting each other. Travis was straight schooling his brother when it came to swinging a blade. He should've stuck to that instead of that lame landmine he tried in the first match. Travis must have gotten his brother Conner through security, which wasn't an easy feat. Those centurions took their jobs seriously and knew how to fight. It's like every Roman had a little Ares to them. I would have liked this place more if it was a tad more unruly.

The archery spots were straight abandoned as Thalia was watching the match and Will was tending to the injured. There were some couches near the archery spots that weren't meant for us, but Leo and I stole them away. Leo sat down and pulled two things from his toolbelt. His hammer and a remote that he fiddled with.

"What's the remote for?" I asked curiously.

"It's for my next match tomorrow, I'm not trying to go 0-2. It would ruin my rep." Leo said without making eye contact.

"You already lost that rep when you got clocked by that Hades chick. One of the seven my ass."

Leo turned to me. "Hey, I was awesome on that quest. Mr. MVP right here. I'm the reason Gaea is in the dirt. Well, she is the dirt…you know what I mean."

"Then prove it. Let's go for a few rounds."

Leo looked straight at me. Anybody else would flinch by his change in demeanor, but not me.

"What?" I yelled back at him.

"Annabeth put you on tilt. I can see the gears inside your head. They stopped turning a looong time ago, niña."

"Do you have a point, or should I start beating you now?" I said while approaching him.

Leo put his hands up. "I'm just saying you're wound up too tight lately. Sit down and enjoy the Roman air! Even if it smells like Lares farts and musty praetor capes."

I would've punched anybody else, but I knew Leo had my best interest in mind. I exhaled and sat next to him as Travis beat Conner for the fourth time.

Leo didn't stop staring but he also continued to fiddle around with his contraption. He was a multitask master it seems.

"Sooooooo, what's on your mind, sis? Doctor Leo is ready when you're ready."

I always ignored his jokes, but if unwinding was the answer to fewer headaches and bitter feelings, then I'll take it.

"When did I become the underdog?" I asked Leo. "I'm seeded 11th out of 16 fighters in this tournament. I'm a goddamn powerhouse! WHAT HAPPENED!"

Leo covered his ears after my scream. "Ah, that's the issue. Well, as an eternal underdog, I can sympathize."

"Can you? You've been scrawny forever. You got some flames I'll give you that, but you're no Beckendorf."

Leo frowned. "Your plan is to diss the one guy who got your back this whole week? In the words of another great mechanic, not a great plan."

"What I mean is that I used to be the top dog around camp, now I've been left on the curb. Why is that?

Leo shrugged. He wasn't there when I was at my best. He already knew of my strength from training, but not of my achievements.

"So, what if I missed some end of the world quest. I killed a goddamn Lydia Drakon! I'M A DRAKON-SLAYER." I spat out.

Some spit got on Leo as he wiped it off. "Ok, you killed Lydia, must've been a mean-looking lady, so congrats, but did Annabeth really set you off enough to act like this?"

I gave Leo a death stare, but he continued. Brave little elf.

"I'm starting to sense that you've always been like this. Yikes." Leo realized.

I punched Leo in the shoulder. He grasped it and winced at the pain.

"Ow! All I'm saying is that maybe she wasn't that great back then, but Annabeth's a different person now. She came out of Tartarus alive. Freaking Tartarus, man."

I sat there in silence for a little bit. Leo noticed that Annabeth's words bruised my ego. I acknowledge her as a friend but as an enemy? I couldn't see a world where I'd lose to her. Not one bit.

Leo didn't wait for my response. "Listen, Clarisse, you're with your other family right now and it wasn't an end of the world quest that brought us together this time. Enjoy it. I know I will."

"I didn't know Elves were wise." I muttered.

"I didn't know Ogres could be demigods. You learn something new every day."

I punched him again. This time he dodged it. Lucky bastard.

"I can tell that you're in a bad mood, so I'll end it there. Here, I got something for you."

With a smile, he extended his hand, and in his palm was a scroll. I looked at it as he gave me a wink. I snatched the scroll from him with ease.

"What's in the scroll Valdez?"

Leo got up and walked away. "Just know it's a video scroll. Had to pull some strings to get it. Consider it a thank you for training me."

"Hey! This gift does not mean the end of our training session. Come back here, Valdez!"

"Thank you for your training, sensei! Gotta go!"

With swiftness, Leo ran to reunite with his girlfriend. I watched him run away with cautious curiosity. I looked back at the scroll and opened it up with no hesitation.

When it opened, a video started playing. The background had an administration building and college students walking up and down the streets. The sun was shining harshly, and the grass had a golden hue like it hadn't been watered in days. In the front of the shot was a face I knew well. A face I grew to love. His curly hair was being blown away by the Arizona breeze. His brown eyes were like caramel, just a few shades darker than his skin. My boyfriend, Chris Rodriguez.

My hands were covering my mouth in shock. I haven't seen him for a few days, but I was already homesick. Leo didn't even know him, but he must've got wind of it from someone, maybe Will or Chiron.

Chris started to speak. "You're missing an exam you know? I got you covered for a few days, so you better win this whole thing, Clarisse. You're the strongest demigod I know."

Chris looked down at his feet. Embarrassed by what he'll say next.

"You saved me from my own madness. I would've fought at Luke's side if it wasn't for you. I know you can do it, so believe in yourself and get it done. I'll be here to celebrate with you when it's over."

With one last smile from Chris, the screen faded, and the recording stopped. I didn't cry or anything sissy like that, but I was relieved. All that anger I carried inside me was gone. I didn't want to win for my ego's sake anymore. I wanted to win and bring that victory home. I had to win. There was no other option.

Before I could replay the recording, I saw both Annabeth and Thalia enter the practice range with Percy behind them. We all made eye contact as Annabeth ignored me. I didn't stop staring. I wanted to psych her out. For her to be intimidated. That didn't work. Instead, I fixated on their activities. Thalia already showed Piper the art of archery but now she was giving Annabeth a lesson. That's weird. Annabeth was already decent with a bow, so she must've asked Thalia to teach her something new, something advanced. Hmph, she'll need more than bows and arrows to take me. Is that her plan for the next match? If so, I got nothing to fear. Now with the confidence that Chris gave me, I was unstoppable. Plus, she didn't know it, but I still had my ace in a hole. The one thing that would guarantee me a victory. Just you wait, Annabeth. I'm coming.

My thoughts were interrupted by a large crash. It could be heard from the main arena. My irritation got the best of me and I got up quickly. Whoever interrupted my happiness was going to get it. The sound came from the practice range's own balcony. From there, I saw a fight going down between Nico and Katie Gardner, and what a fight it was.

From one side was pure death, as skeletons marched on the battlefield. The skeletons all wore different army uniforms. Some from recent battles and others from years passed. I even saw some wear civil war uniforms from both sides fighting as one. At the back of his army was Nico di Angelo commanding them all with his stygian sword. His face wasn't bruised but he had lashes over his body. Vine whips. Katie was doing a number on him.

The other side of the arena was far more bizarre as Katie stood in the middle of a mini jungle. Her gardening skills were all over the place as she had plants of all kinds at her beck and call. There were plants of every kind on her side. Poison ivy and sumac, daisies, roses, and even a Venus flytrap. What shocked me was Katie herself. She had wooden armor pieces and a Greek helmet, but no weapon to speak of. No swords or bows or even a small knife. She was relying solely on her power.

Katie wasn't the strongest camper by any means. Honestly, I'm surprised they didn't pick her sister Miranda instead, but Katie has been seen as an OG leader of her cabin. She's been in the same Titan war as I and pulled her weight. However, I had no clue that her power set expanded this much. Usually, it would take three or more campers from the Demeter Cabin to create this jungle, but Katie was doing it all by herself.

It was working too. Nico's offense of skeletons didn't even make it to Katie. They were slowed down by weeds and vines pulling them towards the ground or towards the sky as the skeletons were caught in vines and dismantled. Some skeletons had flowers and weeds coming out of them as multiple florals were growing at an alarming rate within their bones. A skeleton head was laying on the ground with a nice rose coming out of its mouth. Cute yet disturbing.

"Katie's performance is unprecedented. Her game plan is solid as well."

I looked behind me and saw Annabeth, Thalia, and Percy. All watching with piqued curiosity.

I grumbled at their appearance. "What kinda game plan is that? She doesn't even have a sword."

"We both know that Katie is rubbish with one, and she can't take a hit for the life of her. Her plan is purely defensive."

"Defense? Wait, with the plants? But they're plants for Gods sake. Not shields. PLANTS!"

Annabeth didn't react to my yell. "Trust me, it's effective. Mother Nature is as harsh as any warrior."

Thalia slumped on the balcony railing. Looking depressed by the match.

"I can't believe he was seeded higher than me. He's losing to flowers." Thalia said.

"Didn't you almost lose to Will? You know, the healer?" Percy instigated.

Thalia barked back. "Please, all you would do against Katie is water her plants."

Percy frowned. "Well, they didn't match me up with her, so I guess we'll never know. Such a dam shame."

Thalia grinned. "Well, at least you got to use the dam restroom."

Percy and Thalia started to laugh as Annabeth and I both told them to shut it.

Nico had sweat rolling down his chin. I knew I missed the start of the match, but I didn't think Nico would be on the ropes. He was seeded 3rd for this whole tournament, and now he was losing to a bottom-five seed. Annabeth was right. I knew the girl couldn't take a hit and sword fighting was out of the question for her. So, she planned to have great defenses with her plants and whittle down her opponents. I wouldn't be surprised if that was her only plan.

Many of the skeletons that Nico summoned were either being broken apart or were fading into the earth. Nico was losing power quickly. He even looked sleepy for some reason.

Katie didn't look fazed. She sat near a bevy of flowers. Making sure not to crush them by sitting. She looked relaxed even. The laurels on her head had daisies, roses, and uh, some other flowers. I wasn't an expert on wimpy plants.

Katie yelled out. "Just say uncle already. You can't touch my defenses. Also, I think we're boring the crowd."

On cue, boos could be heard from all sides of the arena. I had no clue how long this match was going on, but apparently, it was long enough.

Nico coughed and wiped the sweat off his face. It was at that moment where I saw it. The look that meant victory. Nico concentrated and formed a small smile. So small that most didn't see it, but I did. As a child of Ares, I knew the outcome of a fight moments before victory or defeat. It was in my blood.

Nico had no witty remark. No verbal comeback. Only the comeback, as he disappeared from our sights in an instant. The entire crowd turned to Katie as she got up from her flower bed and looked around to see where Nico was. Unfortunately for her, everyone else besides her already knew. Nico shadow traveled a few feet above the ground and was falling at lightning speeds. Katie had no time to react as Nico fell towards her and used all the force gravity allowed him to punch Katie square in the face.

THUD

Katie fell as Nico rolled to avoid falling on top of her.

Katie was knocked out on the ground. Without her, the jungle she created was falling apart slowly. Nico got up from the ground and put his hand in the air. Signaling a victory. He fell over instantly. Even from high up, I could hear him snoring. He was out cold. The crowd clapped knowing the fight was finally over. Thalia and Percy laughed while Annabeth studied him. What was she planning?

Chiron's voice could be heard all over the arena. "The winner is Nico di Angelo! It is time for the last match of the night. Who will enter the top bracket and who will fall into losers? From Camp Half-blood. Clarisse La Rue and Annabeth Chase.

I turned around to Annabeth. "Ready to lose? You got nothing on me, Chase."

Annabeth stared me down for a second before ignoring me entirely. She walked off without any hesitation.

I screamed at the top of my lungs. "You think you're better than me wisegirl? I'll break you! I'll make you wish you never left Tartarus! Any monsters you faced over there can't hold a candle to me. I would make those monsters look friendly by comparison."

Annabeth stood in place. Her face was stoic as ever. Even Percy had a more serious look.

"Friendly monsters, huh. All right Clarisse."

Annabeth turned to me. Her face was red with anger.

"Fine then. I'll end that hideous ego you had since day one."

"Bring it, Bitch."

With my final words, I smiled back at her and walked to the arena downstairs. It was time to finally get mine.

I was going to skip Nico vs Katie, but people asked for it. The reason I wanted to skip it was because I had major writer's block. Because of that, I chose to make it a backdrop for Clarisse's beef against Annabeth. Last chapter was full of Romans, and now we got a bunch of Greeks. Next fight will end off Part 1 of the story. Clarisse vs Annabeth.