A/N- So even though I got like 2 reviews, if that, for the last chapter I did get some positive feedback for it, and no negative feedback so that is good and I am very happy about that. Now, I know that a lot of you wanted capture the flag, so that is going to be this chapter, but it is not going to be a very long or detailed part, so sorry about that... Haha, not sorry. BTW, I want to give a shout out to everyone on Wattpad, they have been very very supportive of me since the start, and the people on there are very kind and liking to me, thank you guys. Wattpad is like Canada, everyone on there is just sooooo nice. People like Silver Fang, and silversword12, and goldenmp, thank you so much to you three! I can only count the people that reach out to me (or leave reviews) on a short list, so please, if you enjoy the story, please tell me about it.
However, you AO3 guys need to step it up though, because I haven't heard a peep out of any of you since September, would really appreciate if you all would give me some more feedback!
I hope you guys loved the last one, I tried my best and it was probably the most action-based chapter yet, and there was a lot of flashbacks... I originally wanted it to be longer, but I stopped at 5K because I knew that I wasn't going to be able to push myself to write any more than that, and the way I ended it I couldn't have seen myself ending it any other way.
You guys might have already noticed that Atalanta is becoming a big part of the story, and that is by design, she is going to have a large part in the story, and she is going to do a lot (like I have already mentioned a few hundred times:)
Hope you guys like this one, big surprise ending.
A few hours later
The speech was long and sorrowful, but Atalanta was happy that she did it. She was happy that she told that story, and she was even more happy for the support she got from everyone. Natalie and Grace had chatted with her for a good half hour afterwards about that day, they reminisced and told stories about what they should have done differently, or could have done better. All the things that could have gone wrong but didn't... They asked her about how on Earth she cast magic like that, to make a shield for them, something that they never realized at the time... A question that she had to answer more than a few times today already.
"It is because that my mother is Hecate, the goddess of Magic. I can do a few simple things, and even fewer more complicated things, I don't use it very often, I prefer the way of the huntress, bow and knives. Artemis did not teach me how to use magic, she taught me to be a huntress, so why would I ever need the magic?"
"But even though she does not use it very often, she has saved many huntresses lives with it, on and off the field of battle." Artemis said as she walked up to them, Percy following closely behind her, and Atalanta noticed that her lips were slightly bruised... Hmm.
I have never seen her use her magic before, she isn't lying about not using it often... I wonder if Hecate is pleased or disappointed by that, that Atalanta inherited this power and does not use it unless she absolutely needs to, hmm. Percy thought to himself with an impressed face, standing behind Artemis.
Atalanta, please go find Thalia and tell her to gather the hunters in front of the Artemis cabin, we need to leave as soon as possible, but first we have to play capture the flag.
"Yes, My Lady." She replied quickly, getting up and running off to go find the other hunters.
"Listen up everyone, we have beaten the campers 56 straight times at capture the flag, and we are going to make it 57. We are far outnumbered this time, since we lost many hunters in the wars recently, however we have never let that stop us... Atalanta, since this is your day, you will be the team captain for the game, sorry Thalia, I hope you understand?"
The position of team captain had always been reserved for the Lieutenant, so she was kind of disappointed, but she understood very well... especially after that heart breaking speech of hers.
"Of course, My Lady, she deserves this anyways, lead us to victory Atalanta." She replied, looking at Atalanta who was sitting across from her at the table.
"I will do my best," she replied, holding her head up high and looking like she has had one of the best days ever. But just as she finished, Chiron came over to tell them that it was almost times for the games to begin, each of the teams only got a single hour to prepare for the games because that time was so short. They were ready to win.
"Me and Percy will be cheering from the side, make this a quick win, sprint right for the flag and annihilate any campers that stand in your way, but don't hurt them... As usual, this is a friendly game, we have to get on the road soon, so make this quick."
The hunter's all gathered in front of the clearing that held the rock with the flag, a silver pole and a grey-silver flag that had a bow and arrow painted on it. They decided that they would split into three different teams, an assault team, led by Atalanta, Phoebe, 8 other girls and Thalia... A support team of all archers that would follow behind them that was made up of 16 hunters, and one to defend the flag that consisted of the rest of the hunters.
The camper's team was split up into five separate squads, just like last time, if Artemis remembered correctly... Two for defense, and three for offense. The biggest threats as usual were Clarisse, Nico, the stole brothers, and Piper as well as a few others that weren't exactly worth mentioning. The camper's flag was in Zeus's fist as usual, which was located exactly half a mile from the location of the hunter's flag, but the forests around them were huge, so it would be a difficult task for the normal person. But the huntresses were not normal people, however the campers did have the advantage of home turf, as usual.
The horn sounded at exactly mid-day and the hunters were off, the defenders set up in the trees and hid around the clearing, the offensive team led by Atalanta, Phoebe, and Thalia, all took off immediately in the direction of the flag, they went in a circular direction with the intent of doubling back and coming at the flag from the side. This was a tactic that they had never used before, they usually just split into two teams, one for defense and one for offense, but this time they split into three teams, two for offense and one for defense (because they all knew that most of the campers had a hard time working together, so why focus all their resources on defense?)
To their surprise they encountered little resistance along the way, it seems that the camper's teamwork was at an all-time low. it probably had something to do with Thalia and Percy not being there for them, last time the campers almost beat them because of those three. But now since Thalia was on their team, and Percy was watching from the sidelines supporting the hunter's, they had a big advantage...
Needless to say, the strike team easily captured the enemy flag and brought it back to their own flag and blew the victory horn.
Meanwhile- Arty and Percy
"So what do you think? Do you think we are going to win this one?" Percy asked her.
"Of course! The hunters never lose, I am sure they are seconds away from winning already."
"Awfully confident..."
Just like me...
"That's what happens when you have won fifty-six times in a row!" She exclaimed.
"What did you think of Atalanta's speech?"
"The same thing I think every time she tells it, that I wish I had been able to do something about it... Been able to help her, but all I could do was watch as one of the girls that I could call a daughter... Fought for their lives, usually to help someone else, I know someone else that died that way."
"You and me both... Artemis, come here." He replied, putting his arm around her shoulder as she instantly leaned right into him, and he kissed the top of her head. She really did make everything better; his life was so much better now that he was with her... It was amazing.
"What are we going to do after this?" Percy asked her, running his hands softly through her auburn locks. He always thought that it was pretty ironic that the goddess of the hunt and the formerly most sworn man hater and virgin goddess, had red hair. But of course he would never dare bring that up to her... Oh, hell no.
"We set off for the Roman camp, it is much bigger than camp half-blood as you know, and also a lot farther away... It will take us about a long time to get there."
"Lovely..." He groaned.
"I know, I am not excited about it either... But the Roman camp is located all the way in California, and we are in New York. So it is going to take us a while to get there, but..."
"But that is another week, with you." He finished, as he lovingly kissed her on the top of her head.
"You are such a romantic, Percy..." She commented and kissed him on the cheek, oh yes, they would make the best of this.
Afterwards-
The hunters all cheered with their hands up in the air to celebrate their 57th victory over the campers, there was no trophy for the millennia old competition, but they all knew who the winner was in their minds, and they had bragging rights.
"Girls, I know this is a short lived victory, but we have to get on the road for the Roman camp. So Thalia take the hunters back to Cabin-8 and get packed up, we leave in an hour."
"Yes, My Lady." She replied swiftly and led them all back to the Artemis cabin, to pack for the long journey.
"Well, thank you Lady Artemis for your stay and thank you for being kind to the campers, thank you for training them and for all of the information. On my behalf and that of the camp, I wish you a happy fare well and good luck on your journey." Chiron said to Artemis as they walked out of the camp to leave for the Roman one.
"Thank you very much Chiron, I wish you the same, I hope we will see each other again before this is all over... gods help us."
"Indeed, it will be a bloody few months, that is for sure, but we will be ready for it. Fare well Percy, it was nice to see you again, I hope you are happier in the hunt that you were here."
"Thank you Chiron, I am very happy, the hunt is my family now. But you have always been my favorite teacher, and friend, thank you Chiron, be seeing you again soon."
"You too Perseus, fare well." He replied, waving to them as they departed from the camp half-blood grounds. Percy had said goodbye to all his friends, like Piper, the Stole brothers, Katie, and quite a few others as well... They all had one thing in common though, they all were worried they would never see each other again.
XXX((()))XXX
"Are we seriously going to walk the entire way there?" Percy groaned to Artemis as they walked along, they were about two hours into their journey.
"Of course, the hunters of Artemis do not take conveniences, we cover a lot of ground every day, and we will make it in time..."
"But why not just take a train? Or a plane? It would be so much faster."
She contemplated for a moment, that would take a lot less time, and they did have to travel to the other side of the United States. They had never taken a train or a plane before, or even a bus, because that just wasn't how the hunt operated... But then again, they also didn't usually make long trips like this... Suddenly, her train of thought completely stopped as a black portal opened in front of them, startling them all, some of the hunters even drew their weapons and stood like they were ready to fight... Percy did too.
"I believe I might be able to help with that," came a familiar and sweet female voice, they all watched as their friend Nyx stepped out of the floor, wearing her totaling revealing apparel as usual, and Artemis fought off the urge to look at Percy and see if he was eyeing Nyx or not, because even Artemis had to admit that the Primordial was pretty fucking hot.
"I can safely teleport you and your hunters to Camp Jupiter, it would save you weeks of time." She explained, crossing her arms like she couldn't care a bit in the world and all she wanted to do was go home and sip some wine.
"Thank you, Lady Nyx, we gladly accept, please teleport us all to Camp Jupiter." Percy replied, not disregarding Artemis's input, just taking the initiative. He was pretty sure that everyone trusted her at this point and teleporting there immediately had to be a lot more convenient than taking a plane, train, calling Apollo, or definitely walking.
"Yes, would you please teleport us there? Lady Nyx?" Artemis asked almost seamlessly after Percy, if she was irritated that he took charge, she didn't show it. She let him take charge in the bedroom, and they were equals when they were alone or when they were with just the hunters that knew him well, but around someone like Nyx? Or out in public, he never attempted to act as the authority figure, because he certainly didn't want to be the authority figure, and that wasn't his goal when he took charge like that just now... But he wouldn't mind it if Artemis would leave him in charge from time to time. Which she is yet to do, by the way, and he doesn't know if that is because she doesn't trust him or if that is because she doesn't trust the hunters leaving a male figure in charge instead of the lieutenant, or at the very least a female figure.
Nyx looked pleased and opened a portal, assumingly it was to the Roman camp Jupiter, and said: "I wish you the best of luck in the roman camp, I hear that Reyna is already expecting you, so you won't have to do the honors of introducing yourselves very much, I will take to you all when you return." She waited for them all to enter the portal and pass through, and then she opened her own back to Olympus, or wherever it was the Primordial goes to.
"AHHHHH!" Artemis screamed as soon as they passed through the portal, falling down to her knees and clutching her head frantically as if she just got the worst headache known to mankind...
"Artemis!" Percy exclaimed, bending down on one knee and holding her protectively.
"It's alright, Percy." Phoebe ensured him, walking up to them, "We are in Rome now, technically, her Roman side is taking over and trust me it doesn't hurt, not in the physical sense at least, it is just that her mind is at war with itself right now, ultimately in the end Diana will win out and she will take over... There is no way to peacefully abdicate possession of ones mind, not here at least, so she could be like this for a few minutes."
That wasn't a very nice explanation of it, but he did understand, he should have known that Diana, her Roman side would take over when they passed through that portal, and Artemis must have known as well, so she must have been trying to keep control and when they passed through it sent her mind into a clash with itself harshly.
"Ahhhhh yes, finally, I get to take control for the first time in ages... Isn't it nice to finally have a backseat view of everything like I do, Artemis? Now your little boyfriend is mine!" She, Diana, snarled... Percy wasn't an expert, but he figured these two probably didn't get along very well.
"What?" Percy asked, being a totally comical genius as usual.
"Oh, wait, did I say that out loud? Percy my name is Diana, I am just a different personality of Artemis, we are one in the same if you will. But I am much prettier, don't you agree?" She purred, walking up to him and putting her hands on his chest to steady herself.
"No, you aren't, and stay away from me," he warned, backing away from her, "I assure you I am not going to fall for that."
"Diana, leave him alone," Phoebe told her, apparently Phoebe did not have the same respect for Diana, as she did for Artemis, because she did not use the "Lady," to address her.
"Yeah, Percy is loyal to Artemis, he won't acknowledge you the same way, so don't even try." Thalia and Atalanta said as they walked up, determined looks upon their faces. Percy really was thankful for all the support, he saw the hunters as his sisters, and apparently they saw him as their brother.
"I second that motion, leave him alone." Atalanta commented from the side, waiting patiently for the party to GET THE FUCK GOING.
"You all have some nerve talking to me like that," she declared, putting her hands on her hips, "and I will do what I want." She added, and in a split second she leaped at Percy and locked her lips with his.
XXX((()))XXX
"mmmhmmm, Percy, your lips taste wonderful as usual..." The woman moaned, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Percy frantically pushed her away, "What the hell? I told you NO!" He yelled at her, rubbing his lips with is hands to try and get the foul taste off of his lips... But, it actually tasted good.
"Percy, it's me, Artemis. I pushed as hard as I could against Diana and when she kissed you it finally let me take back control of my body, good job." She cooed, walking back up to him to kiss him again, and wrap her arms around his neck again.
"H-how?"
"I just told you how," she told him, facepalming, and some of the others did too.
"I, I'm glad your back, I didn't know you could just take back control like that, but I am happy that you did."
"I am too Percy, come, I think we've given the girls enough of a show for the day, let's go meet the Praetor," she said and he followed her as they started walking, the rest of the hunters falling in behind them, some whispering, and Phoebe, Thalia, and Atalanta still looked shocked.
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