Updating this real quick because I forgot something important. Because I am an evil mastermind I will be extending the space between updates to three weeks instead of two. And before everyone pulls out the pitchforks, it's because I am posting a third story, and a fourth in a couple months but anyways. This one will be PJO/Avatar. Wanted to adopt Sapphire Flame but it got updated so decided to make my own instead. Anyways, here's the summary for it and I will be posting it after the Thursday after the Shadows of Tartarus chapter. So the order will go; Immortalized, Shadows, As Long As We're Together (Avatar), and then eventually an undisclosed fic.

He was the prince of Omashu. She was the princess of the Fire Nation. A stranger in an even stranger war, he was tasked with getting information out of her. Will Percy be able to turn the Jewel of the Fire Nation from her father, or will the world be turned asunder? Fate determined them to be enemies, but Percy was not one to be bound by anyone.

Over the past few years, Reyna had very few days where she could truly relax. She spent most of her time putting out fires or preparing for future fires. So, on those few days she could grab, she enjoyed it fully.

This was not one of those days.

Reyna leaned back in her chair, sipping a glass of nectar. Her leg heavily bandaged and propped up on the table while her chest was padded and wrapped beneath her shirt. Her every movement sent agonizing pain throughout her body. After the battle, they didn't put much thought into the Nemean Lion's victims. It was a monster, but it was just a lion. That was a mistake. It seemed the lion had been… enhanced. It's victims of tooth and claw became poisoned, experiencing unending pain, fever, and all manner of other illnesses. Several of her praetorians in critical condition didn't survive. If it wasn't for her natural hardiness and Percy's blessings as a Herald, she would have succumbed to her injuries the day prior. It became so bad that Percy had to call in a favor to Apollo to help. The god of healing did what he could, but the beast's power was given by a primordial. The best he could do was alleviate the pain of most and ease the passing of others. Even nectar did little to help their conditions.

So, here she was, resting at her desk in her bus and trying not to move. She was not alone though. Over the rim of her glass, she eyed the figure before her with a critical eye. Sitting before her, bearing the belt of Hippolyta, was the Queen of the Amazons. Specifically, she was the third queen that Reyna had had the pleasure of dealing with during her time as consul; her sister, Hylla, having eventually lost the rights to the crown in trial by combat, and her successor suffering the same fate decades later. Now sat before her, was Queen Brianna, her long, braided blonde hair trailed down her back as she sat across from Reyna. Her piercing blue eyes examined the consul carefully. Behind the queen stood her aid, an Amazon warrior named Patty. Her brown hair was cut short, and her red eyes brimmed with cold indifference. Next to the Amazon, stood Hazel, Herald of Percy, her long and curly locks framed her beautiful face perfectly. She gave Reyna a bright, sympathetic smile that she returned.

Reyna though, had her own people with her too. Jason stood to her left and Zoe to her right. Both, along with Liam, had arrived earlier in the morning. Thankfully, Percy had sent them to her location rather than where she should have been. After everything that had happened, the cohort and the praetorians took refuge in a small town in New Mexico to recuperate and figure out what they were doing next. Most likely they would return home early, but Reyna was determined to get to Arizona. She was just thankful that the Amazons had shown up when they did, the idea of being stuck in the middle of nowhere with many injured and all of their transportation damaged was not the best spot she had been in.

"Again, let me extend to you our thanks for helping us, Queen Brianna," Reyna said to break the ice.

Brianna shrugged. "We are allies after all. It wouldn't do me any good to leave you all out to dry like that," she reasoned as she leaned back. "I am also certain your boy toy would not appreciate me leaving his precious consul in the open with a wounded cohort and a half dead guard."

Reyna frowned at that. She was glad Bernard wasn't here. The son of Mercury would not have appreciated the queen making light of their losses. The centurion was surprisingly resilient against the effects of the lion's wounds. He spent much of the past day running around and doing what he could for his guardsmen. She didn't appreciate it either, but over a century of politics teaches one to hide their reactions well. Zoe however, well… she could feel the indignant anger radiating off the young girl. "Yes, well. All the same, it was appreciated," Reyna said in a cool tone. She then looked to Hazel. "Hazel, how have you been? It's been a few months since we last saw each other."

Hazel smiled brightly at Reyna, "It has been good, looking forward to seeing Frank though. It has been too long since we could have any quality time together."

Reyna returned her smile. "Yeah. Between the war and having to supervise Ares, you two haven't had the most time together. But hey, maybe this week you two can make up for lost time."

"The love life of your ambassador aside," Brianna interrupted them with evident distaste. "Let us get onto the business at hand. Someone has launched a personal attack against you."

Reyna shrugged. "This is war, and I am a key target, as are all of the heralds," she explained easily. "It isn't that complicated to figure out."

Brianna hummed in seeming agreement. "And yet, the lion was specifically enhanced to prolong the suffering of you and those directly under you. You yourself almost died from the aftermath. This seems a little more personal, like someone didn't want to just kill you, but failing that, demoralize you."

"Well," Reyna began before taking another sip of nectar. Warmth spread through her and eased the pain. "They are going to have to try harder than this."

Brianna scoffed. "In the state you're in, you'd die at the hands of a baby telekhine. Much less some of the beasts they have been sending after you." She glanced between Jason and Zoe. "Let us hope this little girl is up to the task."

Zoe glared at the queen. "I bet I could kick your ass into the next county," she shot with venom, having had enough of the Queen's unsubtle needling.

"Zoe!" Reyna hissed at her daughter, disappointed that she would take the bait. "Watch your mouth." She then turned to the queen, her frown deepening. "My daughter is not your concern, Brianna. Nor is your scrutiny appreciated."

The queen held up her hands in mock surrender. "I meant no offense," she claimed though absolutely zero people in the room believed her. "However, even if the girl is capable, it seems rather illogical for one so young to be entrusted with a task of this importance, especially considering her rather unique lineage."

It was now Reyna's turn to glare at the queen. A fierce and dangerous look that promised pain and misery to those that caught her ire. "Zoe's loyalties are not in question, and I will not stand for you insulting my daughter that way. We appreciate your help, but if there is nothing else then I will have to ask you to leave."

Brianna chuckled as she rose to her feet. "Fine, fine. You have my apologies," she said, but whether she meant them or not, Reyna could not tell. "The workshop should have your buses repaired within the day. Then you can go on with your apparent suicide mission. We will be heading to New Rome now for the games. Good luck." And with that, she left, quickly followed by her aide and Hazel, who spared them an apologetic smile.

Once they left the room, Jason released a puff of breath. "Well, that went better than expected," he said lightly.

Zoe continued to glare at the door. "How could she possibly question my loyalty or my abilities? What do I have to do to prove to people that I do not work for Nyx?"

Reyna sighed heavily. "Zoe, there will always be those that question you. Ignore them. All that matters is your friends and family believe in you," she told her daughter, her tone taking on the motherly tone she used when teaching Zoe a life lesson. "I for one am glad you are here. I could use the extra firepower you can bring to bear, and it is always nice to have my daughter around." Since their heart to heart after the incident, Reyna had tried to take every chance she could to refer to Zoe as her daughter. Both because she had waited so long to do so, and to reinforce to Zoe that she loved her and believed in her. "Now, why don't you go find Liam and make sure no one has slapped a collar on him?"

Zoe chuckled briefly before nodding. "Will do," she agreed as she made her way to the door. Opening the door, Zoe turned back to Reyna. "Love you, Mom."

"Love you too, Zoe," Reyna replied with a smile. Once Zoe closed the door, she turned her head to Jason. "I wish Percy hadn't sent her here. You and Liam? Fine. I don't like it, but it doesn't provide the risk that she does here."

Jason raised an eyebrow at her. He walked in front of the desk so they could both look at each other better. "What are you talking about?" he asked in confusion. "What could be bad about having her here hunting for a titan?"

"Because I am not hunting a titan," Reyna answered him. "I am hunting something much more dangerous than any titan or giant."

Jason seemed to think about it momentarily before it dawned on him. "You're going after Annabeth?" It was more of a statement than a question.

Reyna nodded. "Nico found her months ago and has been tracking her movements. We don't know everywhere she goes, but she frequents an apparent stronghold near the Hoover Dam in Arizona. By Nico's estimates, she should return there within the next couple days, which should give us enough time to go there and set up for an assault on the base."

The son of Jupiter watched her with disbelief. "I can understand not telling the senate, the legion, even Zoe about this. But why didn't you tell us?"

"Because I have to be the one who defeats her," Reyna said with such conviction, that Jason believed that she believed it. "And it is not from some twisted desire to keep Percy for myself. I know I have his heart as he has mine."

"Then why? Why does it have to be you?"

"Because I failed her," Reyna answered as tears prickled in her eyes. "She was my friend, my responsibility, and I sent her on a quest she was underprepared for, with inexperienced quest mates, and no support whatsoever. And when she returned, despite the odds stacked against her, I failed to protect her. She gave everything for us… everything." She jerkily took another sip of nectar. The divine drink did nothing for her this time as pain welled up within her. The consul took a ragged breath. "And when she returned, I had my chance to set things right. If I had killed her then, she could be at peace for the first time in over a century. But I hesitated. I let my own guilt distract me from doing what needed to be done."

She quickly regained control of her breathing through sheer will. "I will not make that mistake again. I will kill her and send her soul back to Hades where she belongs."

Jason shook his head at her. "This is not a burden you must carry alone, Reyna," he said softly. "What happened to Annabeth, both in her first life and this one, was not your fault. You could not have protected her anymore than Percy could have. And there is no shame in hesitating to cut down a friend."

Reyna laughed lightly. "If that was my only concern then I wouldn't have this issue. There is also Zoe to consider."

"What does this have to do with Zoe?" he asked.

Reyna breathed deeply. "Percy and I sent her to Artemis with the hope that she would be as far away from Nyx's influence as possible. Artemis is the goddess of the Moon. Her connection to the night would allow her to keep a closer eye on Zoe while Percy and I dealt with this. Almost all of the monsters and immortals we are fighting work for Tartarus, so that is where Artemis has been focusing her efforts. They were supposed to be far away from Nyx, but now…"

"Nyx has found her anyways," Jason finished for her. At Reyna's nod he continued, "So what's the problem then? If she is not safe with Artemis then the best place would be with you, no?"

"The safest place for her should be her father," Reyna said sourly. "He is becoming too reckless. He is letting his past cloud his judgement and all I can do is minimize the damage it will do. Zoe should not even be within the same state as Annabeth. Her signature is like a beacon in the darkness to the forces of Night. Yet he sent her to me anyway, most likely because he is about to do something stupid."

"What could Percy do that is stupid enough that he doesn't want her around?" Jason asked.

Reyna shrugged, the movements painful. "Knowing him, probably something crazy that he knows I'd beat him senseless for."

Jason sat down in the chair, rubbing at his face. "I still don't understand. What exactly do you think is going to happen if you let Zoe near Annabeth?"

"You never met Annabeth, but she was the smartest and most cunning demigod I have ever met," Reyna explained to him. "Now she has lost all sense of morality and has a singular desire to make Percy hers. It is like Nyx took out everything that made Annabeth, Annabeth, and turned her love for Percy up to eleven. She will do anything to achieve her goals, and I am not putting Zoe into her crosshairs if I can help it."

Jason gave her a skeptical look. "Annabeth still works for Nyx, and by all accounts Nyx wants to turn Zoe to her side. Surely Annabeth would not hurt her, right?"

Reyna shook her head. "She has her own designs, which is no surprise," she explained. "Children of Athena can hold grudges, and Annabeth is no different. To her, Zoe is an insult to everything she's ever wanted with Percy. It will make her reckless, but also dangerously unpredictable."

"So, you're scared that Annabeth will find out a way to take Zoe out from under you?"

Reyna nodded, "I am sure she will try something, and I am not exactly in a position to protect Zoe while I am on bedrest."

Jason snorted. "Yeah, and that's why you're in a chair instead," he jested, and at her look he decided to change the topic. "I'll watch her," Jason promised Reyna sincerely.

Reyna's eyes softened minutely. "Thank you, Jason. For understanding."

The son of Jupiter shrugged. "What are friends for?" He rose from his seat. "I'm going to go see how the repairs are going, and make sure Zoe hasn't picked a fight with an amazon."

"I am sure I do not need to tell you that Annabeth stays between us?" Reyna called out to him as he reached the door.

Jason nodded. "I understand, Consul," he said before exiting. The room was left silent, except for the sound of Reyna's anxious thoughts spinning through her head.