Night had finally taken over the valley but that didn't mean the day was done, especially for Percy. Looking down at his desk which was littered with mountains of papers that needed his attention, he sighed for what felt like the umpteenth time. Cradling his hand in his hands, he closed his eyes hoping to catch a break for just a moment. A knock on his office door, however, stopped any hope he might have had.

"Come in." He muttered into his hands before looking up to see Jason Grace who had a rather scornful look on his face.

"What are you thinking?! Letting in the demigods of Olympus, are you out of your mind?! We just fought each other yesterday! The blood on the ground hasn't even dried yet and you want to bring these people in!"

Percy's hand draped over his face, causing his eyes to droop as he looked upon Jason. It seemed someone was spilling the beans about his idea to let the demigods of Olympus stay here at camp. A decision that was non to popular among the current residents of the place. He couldn't blame them to be honest. He didn't exactly feel too keen on letting people who had just killed some of his friends inside the camp. But then again, the demigods of Camp Freedom were just as guilty. Accusations, taunts, and half-truths could be thrown every which way but the truth of the matter was that both sides had blood on their hands.

The son of Poseidon was about to respond but the sound of the dinner bell soon rang out throughout the camp. Looking out the window, he could already see droves of demigods walking over there. It seemed it was time for him to give the ultimatum.

"Let's go to the pavilion. There you'll find out why." He said to his cousin, walking past him and out towards the dining pavilion. Jason bit the inside of his cheek but remained silent as he followed behind. There was no need to draw a scene, especially in front of so many demigods. The camp had seen such a quick but enormous rise in numbers thanks to the prisoners they had taken in. Now, Camp Freedom housed close to four thousand demigods. With that brought many new challenges to face but for now, Jason only wanted to focus on one. He didn't like what Percy was offering the prisoners. He didn't want them here, especially nowhere near Piper. The hate that both of them held towards the demigods of Olympus was unparalleled. They killed their child. Their friends. They burnt their home to the ground and dragged them to Olympus in chains. Now Percy expected them to forget about that and let them into the camp they fought, bled, and killed for. The thought put such a bad taste in his mouth that he could feel himself physically gag.

Staring at the broad backside of Percy as the both of them arrived at the pavilion, he couldn't help but feel anger towards him. He felt betrayed. No words could change that.

"What's wrong?" Piper asked from his side as he sat down at the table. She could see his eyes scrunched in anger, something that he rarely did unless something truly bothered him.

"You're about to find out." He simply said as he pointed over to Percy who stood in the very middle of the pavilion. The demigods, loud and rowdy, quickly quieted down as they looked upon the infamous demigod standing above them. His strong stature demanded respect and his eyes held such confidence that no one could dare look away.

"I've brought you all here today not just because it's dinner time." He began, causing laughter to ring out at the small joke before he continued.

"I've brought you here because I'm offering something to those of Olympus." He said, gesturing to the prisoners who had taken up a majority of the pavilion due to the sheer number that they still had. It amazed Percy just how many were still left alive after so many they had killed.

'Now I don't know if what I'm doing is the right choice. I don't know if what I offer will stab me in the back one day. All I know is that I…we, have to be better than the Gods. This land, this camp, is based on that premise. We have to be better than them not because we aspire to be Gods ourselves, but to one day live in a world where we don't have to send the children out onto the battlefield. To one day live in a world where true justice, leadership, and brotherhood will reign supreme."

The crowd remained silent as they took in the son of Poseidon's words. They couldn't help but feel the pride swell in their heart, even to the demigods of Olympus. Those were the qualities any demigod aspired to have. The Camp was built on that very foundation. And the reason they continued to follow Percy was because he displayed those very traits. It was why they would face an army three times the size of their own and still win! Not because he was the strongest demigod the pantheon had ever seen but because he made those around him stronger.

"Which is why I'm offering the prisoners a choice." He announced, raising his voice louder. "Join us. Join Camp Freedom and help it thrive. Help us defeat the Gods so that one day we can live in a world where it doesn't mean a demigod dying before the age of twenty."

Gasps from both armies could be heard throughout the pavilion. Percy could see a mixture of emotions from happiness, relief, anger, resentment, and betrayal. There were so many mixed reactions that he didn't really know how to proceed with his speech. He knew he was going to get an earful from the others later but he could accept that. This needed to be done.

"After all they've done!"

"What the hell, Percy?!"

"How could you?!"

Percy raised his hand causing the yelling to subsist for a moment.

"I know how you feel. Trust me I do. I lost people due to them as well." He said, playing into their emotions.

"But they could say the same thing. We killed people on their side as well. They too have lost brothers and sisters. The truth of the matter is we can play the blame game all we want but at the end of the day, there's blood on all our hands."

"Maybe this all wouldn't have happened if you didn't attack Camp Half-Blood! Maybe my sister would still be alive if you hadn't done what you did!" A blonde girl, a daughter of Demeter, yelled out from the Olympian side of the room.

"It was you lot who attacked us first! You burnt our camp to the ground and put us in chains!" Butch, a son of Iris, yelled back angrily. Soon both sides were at each other's throats. The pavilion was so loud that Percy couldn't even think properly. It wasn't until fist started flying that he put an end to it. Slamming his fist into the ground as hard as he could, it wasn't a second later that an earthquake started happening. The ground shook heavily enough to bring everyone to their knees in an instant. The demigods all turned their heads to Percy whose eyes were glowing a bright, poisonous green.

"Stop." He simply said but the way he said it and the power in his voice left no room for argument. The room was silent as they stared at the son of Poseidon who looked like a God staring down at ants. The only sound that could be heard besides their frantic breathing was an avalanche happening on a mountain in the distance due to his powers.

"I've heard that before. For some reason, you all think I attacked camp. I promise you I didn't but what all led you to believe that." He asked, directing it to the first girl who had yelled at him.

"Annabeth saw you. She swore on the Styx that it was you." She said, causing Percy's heart to race for a moment. How was she still alive if she swore on the river? Was Styx playing games and waiting for the right time? Or was there something in the way Annabeth said it that prevented her from being killed?

"Well, I swear on the River Styx that it wasn't me." He replied. The demigods stared as they waited for him to die painfully but after a couple of minutes, their faces soon turned to shock and confusion.

"But-But-How?!" Was the general consensus from Olympus's demigods but Percy could only shake his head.

"Something or rather someone is behind the attack. I think they wanted to use my image to attack the camp so the war between us could start." He answered. The room was silent except for a few of the demigoddesses crying. This was a huge revelation to everyone. After all, they'd been through. All the people they lost. It was based on a lie.

"It was Zeus. It has to be." Reyna stepped toward him, her posture strong despite the numerous bandages wrapped around her torso.

"He wanted you dead after you left Olympus. He's hell-bent on it. What better way to take you out than starting another war to finally kill you." She said, a mummer of agreement coming from the demigods around them.

Percy sighed tiredly as he looked up to the night sky overhead. This situation, this war, was just getting worse by the minute. He knew it was Zeus behind this. He was always behind the worst things that could happen to him. He just didn't know that the entire reason this war began was because of a false flag attack. That revelation struck deep inside his heart. How many people, how many friends, thought he truly attacked Camp Half-Blood? That was his home. Those people were his family. And they were so easily convinced that it was him.

"Stop it. That's not fair." He told himself. Annabeth had sworn on the river. They had every right to believe that. But that brought another question. Just how? How was she still alive after that lie?

"How is Annabeth still alive after swearing on the river? You all now know I didn't attack camp." He asked to which the demigods shrugged their shoulders.

"Even though it wasn't you, she thought it was. She swore on the Styx on that. That she thought it was you."

"Oh for Gods sake!" Percy said in exasperation. He figured it out. He figured out why she was able to say that and live. Her words had a fucking loophole in them.

"She swore that she thought she saw me. That's why she is able to live. She only thought it was me. She didn't say it actually was."

Once again another round of groans went around the room. Some had to take a seat as they processed what had been revealed. Some were weeping. Some just stared out emptily.

"So this entire time…this entire fucking time we were fighting based on a lie and a loophole." Frank said louder than he intended. Seeing the son of Poseidon nod his head, the son of Mars lost it and smashed one of the wooden dining tables with his bare hands.

No one seemed fazed at his anger. In fact, they too wanted to smash a table into splinters. Percy looked around at the shocked faces of everyone present. He could see just how devastated they were. Too much was lost already. Thousands were dead. Family was split apart. And Zeus was still hellbent on destroying Percy Jackson.

"Now you know. But my words won't change the continuation of this war. Sides will still be picked. Battles will still be fought. People will still die. We're too deep into the shit now to change that."

"But we can change the outcome of this war. You gave us a choice, right? To fight by your side." A son of Apollo asked him, his voice quivering slightly.

"The offer still stands. You can join Camp Freedom and help us win this war. We can finally deal Zeus what he deserves after all he's done to us."

"And what if we don't join you?" Another asked.

"Then we'll send you back to Olympus but know this. I won't offer you the same mercy if I see you on the opposite side of the battlefield again."

That threat quickly made up everyone's mind. After seeing what the son of Poseidon could do, they never wanted to be on the receiving end of his blade ever again. Seeing that no one was leaving the pavilion to stay fighting for Olympus, Reyna was the first to kneel before him.

"I swear on the River Styx to always fight for Camp Freedom and to never betray it." She announced loudly. Looking up at Percy who stood over her, he offered a smile that quickly took her breath away.

"Thank you." He said to her. Soon after followed more and more demigods swearing loyalty to the camp. Before they knew it, Camp Freedom had just gained three thousand new campers. Cheers went up throughout the pavilion as both sides greeted their new brother and sisters in arms. Food was strewn about the tables along with drinks. Music played loudly and dancing was everywhere.

Percy could see though that not everyone, especially on Camp Freedom's side, was welcoming of the newly acquired campers. Jason and Piper were the first to leave the pavilion, not caring to eat or get acquainted. More followed behind them which caused the black-haired demigod to sigh. He knew what was to come wasn't going to be an easy task. Issues will arise among the camp now that the two armies were now one. There was still bad blood between them and nothing could change that. Blood had been split and everyone knows that blood stains no matter how many times you wash it out.

Percy stayed for as long as he could, getting to know the new campers along with greeting old friends. It was nice to see old faces. It almost made him feel he was back in Camp Half-Blood. But as the night progressed, the music wasn't getting any quieter and the dancing wasn't slowing down in the slightest, he took his leave. There was one more thing he had to do before he could rest for the night.

Walking into the hospital, he quietly made his way through the bloodstained hallway, hoping his footsteps wouldn't awaken the wounded. They deserved the rest and so did Will who was sleeping soundly on a chair against the wall. It seemed he was on constant standby in case something went wrong with one of his patients. Percy was glad the camp had someone as great as the son of Apollo.

But as he arrived at one of the beds with the curtains drawled around it, he couldn't help the sneer that came across his face as he pulled it back to reveal a sleeping Leo Valdez. The son of Hephaestus looked pale. His face had numerous ice packs wrapped around it making him look more like a mummy. Percy almost felt bad at the state his friend was in, wondering if he might've taken it too far. But hearing the painful groans coming from one of their campers in the room next to them, that hesitation went away. Leo abandoned them when they needed him most. The result that had befallen him because of that was his own doing.

Sensing that something was watching him, the younger demigod opened his eyes only to find a menacing six-foot-tall shadow standing over him, looking like a demon ready to reap his soul. If it weren't for the bandages wrapped around his chin, the entire pavilion would've been awoken by his screams.

"It's me." Percy said, leaning in closer to let the dim light show his face. Leo felt his breath quicken as he watched the son of Poseidon take a seat next to his side. Every moment, every twitch, Leo watched in case he was going to get hit again but his demeanor made it seem that wouldn't be the case.

"P-Per-ow!" Leo tried to speak but his broken jaw prohibited him. There was no ambrosia or nectar to speed up the healing process either as Will had spent it all on the more severely wounded.

"Don't speak. Just shut up and listen." Percy said. Sighing, Percy weaved a hand through his wind-swept hair before continuing.

"What you did, I-I honestly can't even put into words. It was stupid and reckless. I thought you were better than that too. I thought you weren't the type of guy who would abandon his friends especially when they needed you most."

"Per-"

"Leo. Shut. The. Fuck. Up. You're not gonna speak. You're gonna listen." Percy interrupted, his voice taking on a dangerous edge.

"And you did this all because of a girl? You left your friends, who would die for you, and trust me plenty of them did that day, all for a girl you barely know. A girl who falls in love with any man who lands on her island."

"D-Don't speak about her like that !" Leo gritted out, trying his best to get the threat out. Percy's eyes took on a dark, dangerous gleam at his words. As quick as a bolt of lightning, the son of Poseidon reached out and grabbed ahold of Leo's bandaged jaw, gripping it tightly. The son of Hephaestus couldn't scream out due to the enormous amount of pressure and instead could only look at Percy with a terrified look.

"I'll break your fucking jaw again if you interrupt me one more time. I'm not playing any of your games, Leo." He said before releasing him.

"All I'm saying is that your head isn't in the right place. I get that you think you love that girl but trust me, one wrong move and she'll curse you. She's a sorcerer who will do whatever it takes to get what she wants especially now that you released her from her prison. Trust me on that." Percy said, getting up from his seat and preparing to walk out of the hospital.

"One more thing. You're no longer in command of your cohort. The centurions will elect a new one. Until you can prove that you can be a dependable leader, you'll be a simple blacksmith." He said before closing the curtains.

Sighing in relief that that was now over with, the black-haired demigod stepped outside into the cool night air. Looking up at Zoe's constellation, something he felt he hadn't been giving the attention it deserved, he failed to realize that someone had snuck up on him.

"Um, Percy.' A girl's voice said to his left, startling him back to reality. Looking to where the voice came from, his face immediately morphed into a scowl as he looked at the girl he had just been talking about.

"I thought I told you to leave." His voice cold and callous. Calypso, the girl he had once loved, looked down to the ground. Her hands shook slightly and her eyes brimmed with tears. Percy paid no heed to her damsel in distress appearance as he tried to walk away but the Titaness blocked his path with her body. The son of Poseidon almost growled as he looked down at the girl, remembering the last time he saw her they were the same height. Now, however, he was a grown man. A powerful one too. Calypso couldn't comprehend that this was once the boy she had fallen in love with which was why she slightly shook with fear but she needed him to listen to her. She wanted to stay in the camp not only for her protection but for Leo as well.

"I can't do that, Percy. I'll be hunted down by Olympus. You send me outside these walls and I'll be dead by the week's end." She said shakily.

"That's not my problem. You sealed your own fate a long time ago." He replied, slightly shoving her out of his way before continuing to walk. Calypso bit the inside of her cheek as she tried to keep her tears at bay.

"What did I do to deserve this?! I remember you being a righteous man! What happened to him?!" She cried out, looking at Percy's back. The son of Poseidon stopped moving after her comment, turning back to her with fury in his eyes. Taking broad, angry steps towards her until he was right against her face, he leaned down.

"That man died in Tartarus." He spat.

"W-W…"

"You cursed us when we were down there. When Annabeth needed me most, you set a curse on her that almost got her and I killed! And yet you want me to let you stay here after what you did!"

Calypso let out a strangled croak as she fell to her knees, tears freely flowing down her face now. Percy looked down at her shaking shoulders with no remorse. He didn't care if he was causing her pain. He was only repaying what she did first.

"I-I'm so sorry, Percy. I-I was in a bad place. After you left I was so mad, so angry that I just had to do something to take my anger out. I didn't mean for it to cause you and Annabeth serious pain!"

"Well, it did, Calypso. It almost killed us. After what you did, I can never trust you again."

"And I can never trust you again either but I'm asking you, begging you, to let me stay here."

"Can't trust me?" He asked. The Titaness looked up at him with blood-red eyes that screamed with anger. Anger years old that was just now surfacing.

"You promised. You promised that you would set me free yet you never did. I waited and waited and waited but nothing ever happened. No one came to take me away. I sat on that Godsforsaken island hoping that one day you would come back but…you never did." She finished with a whisper.

"Godamnit, Calypso. I tried, okay? After the war I made the gods swear on the Styx to set you free but you know how they are. They almost never follow up on their promises. If you have anyone to blame then blame them. I did what I could."

"Then let me stay and help you defeat them!" She pleaded, grabbing ahold of his shirt. "I fought them in the first Titan War. I have experience which is something you need in order to win! I can offer you that!"

Percy shrugged her hands away as he debated with himself. She was right in that regard. Her experience in the past war could help them out greatly when they invaded Olympus. Her powers could also help them too. The question remained, however. Could he trust her? If she got mad at him or say Leo would she put a curse on them again? Could she perhaps side with Olympus? She was a very emotional girl who ran on that. That is a very dangerous combination, especially during times like this. Rubbing a hand through his hair in agitation, he realized what needed to be done no matter how much he disliked it.

"Fine!" He spat, closing his eyes tiredly. "But know this. One screw-up and you're out of here. I don't care if you can't survive out there, I won't jeopardize this camp all because you can't control your emotions."

"Understood! I-I won't let you down." Calypso hurriedly said in relief, trying to hug him but Percy simply stepped out of her range before walking away without another word. That ship had sailed a long time ago and he really didn't feel like hopping back on it anytime soon. Mist-traveling to the cliff that overlooked the valley, Percy sat down on a boulder as he tried to relax for a little bit. The soft breeze hitting his face was almost enough to make him fall asleep. The harsh, bright, moonlight, however, stopped him from getting any. Looking at the white object up in the sky reminded him of a promise he had yet to upkeep. Groaning softly, he realized that it was probably time to get that out of the way before it was too late. He had made that promise to Artemis so long now and he could tell that she was starting to get anxious and angry. An angry Goddess, especially her, was the last thing Camp Freedom needed at the moment. Looking up at Zoe's constellation one last time, he smiled softly at the stars twinkling brightly.

"Well, I guess it's time to go find your sisters."