In which Percy gets to show off. Everyone is a little stunned and then Luke gets a reality check on the damage he did.
Undeath9087: Chiron was getting suspicious then he was distracted by the 'Oh fuck HADES HAS KIDS TOO?' which is just hilarious to me. He forgets the Percy issue because like, what the hell?! And I love that for him. And yeah the reveal is gonna be fun. Hades is gonna be there like 'Ah at last, some decent entertainment at these things.'
Krypton Writes: Well, Artemis knows. Chiron certainly has suspicions lol.
Wisestriker: She's doing a lot better now. It was just a really scary few days that were insanely chaotic. And yeah, when Percy really lets it hit her Desjardin's death is going to hit her very hard. Like, it sounds stupid in some ways, if Percy actually said 'Yeah, one time he promised to kill me if he had to' it would sound bad. But the fact that he respected her that much? That he cared? Yeah it mattered. And in the aftermath he spent a lot of time supporting her.
Guest: Chiron just like 'Hmmm, I'm suspicious, maybe I should- what the fuck do you mean the other girls HADES DAUGHTER? AND SHE HAS A BROTHER?!'
Guest: Poseidon showed up with a sword and told Chiron he'd know when the time was right. I think Chiron knew, or at least very very strongly suspected that Poseidon had a kid. But he never told anyone else and then one day Poseidon just shut down and he sent a message saying he didn't give a shit about the sword anymore so he was like 'Ah. Well I guess the kid is dead.' so no, no only Chiron knew that until this point. As for her questioning about the prophecy, Chiron's still very much 'Three big three kids. Three big three kids at once. Who of whom are with me right now oh gods this is a mess.

The silence that followed was uncomfortable, but after a long moment Chiron sighed, "I suppose I have no way to dissuade you otherwise. And I can understand your feelings at the very least." He shook his head, "We should focus on the quest in front of you now. On how you three will get to Mount Tam-"

"You mean five." Piper cut Chiron off. "No offence but there is no way in Hades that Annabeth and I aren't going with you." And Percy felt herself smiling very slightly, a soft fondness in her chest.

"Of course." Annabeth scoffed, "We nearly lost you once we're not doing it again-"

"I want to come too-" That came from Thalia. "I thought-" her eyes were focused on Annabeth, "I thought you died. I can't- I can't let you rush off on a quest without me. Not when I've missed you so much. I missed so much of your life-"

"Okay, okay six-"

"What of me?" Zoe started- but Artemis was shaking her head.

"No. No Zoe you will not be coming with us."

"But-"
"No, your father is too dangerous Zoe. I will not have you there-" and father? Well Percy was pretty sure she could figure out who the father was supposed to be. Well that was… surprising. Percy couldn't see that much of a resemblance honestly.

"But my Lady-"

"Zoe this is one Quest I must go on without you-"

"But you are a mortal now, thou must understand… the risks-"

"I do." Artemis gave Zoe an almost chiding look, "Zoe, my loyal hunter this is not something you can protect me from. You will not come to Mount Tam with us. You will not follow me. You will stay here in Camp. That is a direct order." Zoe looked stricken at that, her eyes wide before she whirled around, rushing out of the room.

"Chiron-" Artemis' voice was almost a sigh. "While we are gone-"

"I will keep an eye on her." Chiron nodded, "She wants to be with her mistress, I'll make sure that she doesn't spiral."

"What about me?" that came from Bianca, who's lips were pursed tightly. "I don't want to stay behind."

Percy focused her gaze on Bianca, who looked determined. "You can come." She decided after a moment. After all, Bianca had done well so far, and she was getting stronger and more skilled with Percy's training. She had to be given a chance to prove herself sooner or later and… now was as good a time as any. It was dangerous but she'd be surrounded by other skilled fighters.

"I can?" Bianca lit up, a wide smile spreading across her lips. "Thank you!"

"Well, seven of you." Chiron twitched slightly, "It's not exactly a normal number for a quest. But I suppose under the circumstances this isn't truly a normal quest. Though I hope you don't make a habit of this."

"You could say that again." Luke snorted, "How do we get to Mount Tam this time."

"Huh." Percy bit her lip, "Very good question. I can't portal us there. I'm still recovering from a severe case of magical burn out. I came real close to dying. I can't risk it for a couple of days at least."

"Are you sure it's a good idea for you to even go?" Chiron looked concerned, "I mean no disrespect but without your magic…"

"I am not helpless without my magic." Percy's lips twitched.

"I have met several magicians- most of those I have met did rely heavily on their magic-"

"Okay." Percy twirled her new pen through her fingers, "Okay. I appreciate the concern but I am not gonna deal with that. So we're going to some kind of training area and I will prove that I don't need magic to defend myself." She could see the startled look on Chirons face- and Annabeth, Piper and Bianca were all trying to hide grins.

"I- well I suppose-

"Besides I need to test myself with the new sword anyway."

"Who will you train against-"

"I don't know-" she turned to Annabeth, Piper and Bianca. "Any offers?"

"How about no." Annabeth laughed, "I want to watch this time."

"Same here. You're hot when you get all sweaty from fighting, I want a good view-"

"Last time we trained I was aching for three days." Bianca deadpanned. "I'd rather not this time."

"I'm sure she's good but she can't be that good." Thalia scoffed, "I mean come on-"

"Not with a style of blade you're not used to anyway." Luke seemed a little more hesitant than Thalia to write her off- and damn straight he did. Though they'd never truly fought before.

"You two then." Percy declared brightly. "Luke, you get a sword, Annabeth, lead the way to whatever training area you have."
Which led to them gathering, fifteen minutes later in the training arena.

Chiron looked nervous to say the least. "I'm not entirely sure I approve of this, but I will allow it I suppose. No powers Thalia. This is purely a combat test."

"I am most curious." Artemis added, "To see what young Percy is capable of. We weren't able to witness-"

"The answer is gonna blow your minds." Annabeth declared brightly.

And after a brief count down by Chiron the fight began.

Percy was careful at first, testing the weight of her new blade, getting used to the feel of it as she played the defensive, but after maybe five, ten minutes of that she switched it up, turning onto the offensive.

Even if it had been years since Thalia and Luke had worked together they knew each others strengths, Percy could see that as they fought, the two demigods worked together well against Percy. Spear and sword cutting through the air, seeking the chance to catch Percy unawares.

And Percy felt herself coming alive in a way that she always did when she was fighting, when it was just her and weapons, without using magic.

She knew she was good. She was better than good. She spun and twisted and ducked and dodged away from their weapons with the grace of a trained dance, a bright smile forming on her lips as she parried blows and switched from defence to offence with a liquidity that spoke of years of experience in real combat as well as hours and hours spent training until she could barely stand.

And she watched the confidence fade from Thalia and Lukes gazes, saw it be replaced with shock as she singlehandedly forced them back- though it wasn't without effort she could admit. She was exhausted. But she had years of practise in hiding that fact from the world. Years of practise concealing weaknesses.

And she had certain advantages after all. She knew the Greeks fighting styles. She was used to training with Annabeth. But they didn't know hers. They couldn't, it wasn't Egyptian, it wasn't Greek, it wasn't truly like any other style. It was all her own, she plucked her forms and stances out of the air like a child selecting what candy they wanted, doing whatever felt right in the moment.

And it felt like a lifetime before she slammed the hilt of her sword against Thalia's wrist, making her cry out, her grip on her spear slipping as Percy hooked her foot behind Thalia's ankle, dragging it out from under her, turning even as Thalia toppled backwards to block a blow from Luke, twisting her blade just so, forcing his sword to an unnatural angle and swinging the heel of her left palm into his shoulder, jerking it back and forcing him to drop the blade and stagger backwards even as she levelled Riptide to his throat, her breathing heavy, but her hand was steady as it ever was.

There was a long moment of stunned silence before Chiron spoke, letting out a stunned little cough before he did. "It seems that we have our victor." He managed, "Your highness, I- well I think you've proved your point."

"How?" Luke looked stunned as he stared at her, and Thalia was picking herself up from the ground as well. "How did- I mean I knew you weren't a weakling, we sort of fought on the boat but- but that? Chiron used to say that I was the best Swordsman camps seen in years-"

"I'm sure you were." Percy grinned brightly, "But what can I say. I'm just that good-"

"Good's not the word for it." Thalia's laugh was breathless, "Holy shit. You know for some princessy actress you are actually really, really good."

"I know." Percy didn't seen any point in modesty at this point. "My dad started training me when I was like, six years old. He wanted to make sure I'd be proficient in our usual forms of weapons and other forms- so I learned with both the Khopesh and the normal style of blade. I admit I haven't got as much experience with one of these." She twirled Riptide, "I haven't even held one in a while, but some things just don't disappear you know?. It's like riding a bike-" she span, Riptides blade catching Annabeth's dagger, a slow smirk spreading across her lips, "Wise girl, attacking when my back's turned? Now that's low-" she dropped down, dodging a strike from Piper- and within seconds they were a whirling storm of blades, out of the corner of her eye Percy could see Luke and Thalia dragging themselves to their feet and moving backwards but she didn't care. All that mattered was her, Annabeth and Piper. They knew each other's styles, knew the way one another fought in a way that meant that when they did fight it could last for hours, though Percy could tell that she'd likely lose this bout because of her exhaustion.

Or maybe not- though that wasn't necessarily a happy thought, she could see Annabeth's right hand twitching- and she knew that twitch, she'd seen it often enough- she dropped, twisting down and under Piper's strike, catching Piper's arm with her hand quickly,
"Break!" she called smoothly, "Break time-"

"What-" Piper looked startled, "But-"

"Wise girl- hand." She gave Annabeth a look, and the other girl winced, looking down at her hand, and even as she did it cramped and she sucked in a sharp breath, dagger slipping from her grip.

"Annabeth-" Piper's eyes widened, "Shit you've been wearing it for over three hours-"

"Wearing what?" That came from Thalia, who looked, concerned as Percy and Piper crowded around Annabeth, Piper scooping up Annabeth's dagger.

"What's going on?" Luke sounded worried too, and Percy saw him stepping forward only for Chiron to block his path, and Bianca was doing much the same to Thalia. After all she knew about the bracelet.

"I lost track of time." Annabeth grimaced slightly as Percy unfastened the bracelet and eased it off the other girls wrist, gently sliding the rings from her fingers and thumbs as she did.

"And how long's it been hurting?"

"Started part way through the fight." Annabeth admitted, "I didn't- I was having fun I wanted to ignore it."

"You know for a genius you can be real dumb sometimes Wise girl." Percy pressed her lips to Annabeth's cheek, and Piper snorted.

"This coming from the queen of dumb decisions Miss I'm going to grind the rail down the steps leading up to Brooklyn House."

"Okay, okay but you have to admit that was epic and I pulled it off." As Percy spoke she was massaging Annabeth's wrist and hand.

And she knew what Piper was doing- distracting Annabeth from the pain.

"You broke your ribs, your wrist and you dislocated your hip Percy." Annabeth huffed the words, "You're insane."

"Yeah but it was so fun. How's it feeling now?"

"Not hurting anymore."

"What's not hurting?" that came from Luke, "Annabeth what's going on."

And Percy met Annabeth's gaze, and at the silent little nod she released Annabeth's hand and stepped back so that the daughter of Athena could turn to Luke.

"I survived the scorpions venom." Her voice was steady but cold, and Percy felt a surge of pride, one she was sure Piper shared based on the look on the daughter of Aphrodite's face. "But you can't have honestly thought that it didn't do any damage at all."

"The bracelet." Chiron spoke up, "When you mentioned what happened- I saw the bracelet and I thought it had to be enchanted."

"I don't-" Luke's brows were furrowed, "I don't understand."

"Percy managed to keep the venom in my hand, to stop it from spreading through my system and killing me before a healer could arrive. But it was in my hand, doing damage for a time before help arrived. It did a lot of damage to my nerves and my muscles. Damage that they couldn't heal. Though Sally and Jaz did their best. I was lucky to survive it. It would have been too much to ask for to expect not to come out of it with something lost." She held up her right hand, showing the way that it flopped limply. "Percy made a bracelet that allows me to use it again for about three hours at a time before it starts hurting. But without the bracelet…" she shook her head, "You might not have killed me Luke. But you cost me my hand."