I 033. I

𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔

❝ audience ❞

SHE COULDN'T BELIEVE HER EYES. Before her stood Thalia Grace— alive and well. Which was not possible, because she was dead the very pine tree guarding camp. The same tree which had been poisoned by Luke and the reason for their quest.

It wasn't possible and she definitely knew she was dreaming. Her eyes looked around and noticed they were in a forest, trees whipping in the wind as the raven haired girl gave her a smirk.

"What's up?" Thalia asked with her hands on her hips, seeming to be happy that the girl was surprised at the sight of her.

Ariadne's mouth couldn't say any words, all that escaped were splutters and fragments of letters. "I—wha— how...?"

"Oh," the older girl chuckled, "you don't know?" She saw the brunette's confused look, "We're saving the world."

"We're doing what?!"

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Grab your weapon, we've got a battle to get to." And just like that her chain bracelets twisted and a shielded appeared. On it was the head of Medusa and its eyes burned into hers, and she almost turned away in fright. That thing must be useful in battle. A spear found its way into her hand and she gave the brunette a smirk.

"Let's go."

Ariadne twisted her ring into Lunacy before following her deeper into the woods, the trees growing denser as the sun seemed to lose itself. Her eyebrows furrowed once she realized they were back at camp, the creek being a familiar sight.

"Hey, Thalia," she said warily. "What are we doing here?" Her eyes found Thalia's electric blue ones, the smirk gone from the daughter of Zeus's face.

Her mouth was whispering something that she couldn't hear from her distance. The brunette took a few timid steps forward and could hear what the girl was whispering:

"A half-blood of the eldest gods
Shall reach sixteen against all odds
And see the world in endless sleep
The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap
A single choice shall end his days
Olympus to preserve or raze
Daughter of Vines shall choose between sides
To determine the fates
Of the world to abide"

Ariadne stumbled back— the Great Prophecy. That's what she was saying, and the brunette was apart of it. She gulped before her eyes widened as Thalia crumbled to the ground. Her feet rushed forward but the girl evaporated into dust.

Her fingers scratched at the ground, shouting for the raven haired girl. "Thalia! Thalia!"

"Ariadne."

She snapped around to see Luke. His eyes were gold and full of hate and malice, she shivered under his gaze. The boy gave her a wicked smirk. "Join us, Ariadne."

He held his hands out and everyone she knew followed. Annabeth held up her bronze knife with a fiery glare, Grover with a wooden club. Even her brothers stood at Luke's side with their swords drawn.

A clash sounded behind her and she noticed Percy running from the trees, followed by the twelve Olympians. They looked exhausted and ready to crumple any minute. Her breath was taken from her lungs once she saw the blood covering Percy's face and arms.

Then, everyone she knew followed out of the woods. Annabeth with her calculating grey eyes, Grover with wide eyes that held some fear but mostly determination. Castor and Pollux with a scowl on their faces.

She was confused, "What is this?" she whispered.

Rocks shook all around her as she looked around wildly, the girl stood up quickly with her gold sword in hand. A palm escaped the ground as it opened a ravine between the two sides. "This is your future, Ariadne."

"My future?"

"Yes," it hissed. "And you must choose wisely."

Her thoughts were thrown once she saw Luke point forward with his sword, monsters an demigod's alike charging for the other side. She screamed out, "No! Stop! You can't—"

Percy clashes his sword against the blond boy's with as much strength as he could muster. Both Annabeth's fought one another, both Grover's. The two sets of twins battled against the other.

Ariadne wished she could do something, but the palm quickly grabbed her as the ground tumbled even more. Slowly, she was raised into the air as a body rose from the ground. It was full of molten lava and rocks, gold eyes casting a dark shadow over everything.

Her heart stopped once she saw him scrape his free hand against the ground, sending demigods into the deep chasm she knew as Tartarus.

Those gold eyes looked her in the eyes while she tried not to shake and tremble. "Think, Ariadne. Which side do you choose. The winners," he gestured towards Luke's side. "Or the losers," his hand moved to Percy's.

She helped once her sword fell below, falling for eternity. And then she followed. Her hands grasped at air once she watch Percy's side crumble. The gods were taken by the massive body she knew as Kronos, he turned them to dust.

Percy was stabbed through the stomach by Luke, he gasped for breath and blood seeped from the wound. He looked to the falling Ariadne while Luke gave her a smirk. "Choose wisely, Ariadne." They both spoke, before she was catapulted into darkness.

***

"GUYS, WAKE UP."
She spat out salt water before shaking her head, feeling pressure on her shoulder. The girl glanced back and saw Percy asleep while he drooled on her shirt. Her body jumped once another splash hit her face, "I'm up!"

Percy groaned slightly, lifting his head with a groggy expression. "Huh...?"

Annabeth huffed before crossing her arms. She raised an eyebrow at the two with a frown. Ariadne notes that she had take the Fleece back, which was now a gold letterman jacket with a big Omega.

Her eyes squinted in the bright sun before noticing a city skyline. She let out a breath of relief, recognizing the it easily. They were near the beachside highway which was lined with palm trees, neon signs glowing in storefronts, along with a harbor full of sailboat and cruise ships.

"Miami," she breathed out. Annabeth perked up at the fact she knew the area, while Percy just gave her a raised eyebrow.

"The place you lived?"

Ariadne rolled her eyes. "No, Kelp Head, I lived in another Miami, Florida." The boy rolled his own eyes before realizing his arms were still around her waist, he released quickly and both missed the comfort.

"The hippocampi are acting funny Annabeth told them.

They were whinnying and swimming in circles as they sniffed the water. One of them sneezed. "This is as far as they'll take us," Percy said. "Too many humans. Too much pollution. We'll have to swim to shore on our own."

That caused her mood to take a deep dive down. Everyone thanked Rainbow and his friends for taking them this far. Tyson was cried a little. He gave Rainbow a big hug and a soggy mango he had picked up on the island, the hippocampi neighed before they left.

Their white manes disappeared below the water and they swam towards shore. Percy let Ariadne hold onto him, she wished she didn't have too. It was her plan that summer to learn to swim— successfully, this time.

In no time, they were back in the mortal world. Her eyes melted at the sight of the familiar activity: People arriving for vacations, taxi drivers yelling at one another in Spanish, Peterson bustling with carts of luggage— it was comforting for her.

Tyson's eye was blurred into two by the Mist. Grover has placed his cap and sneakers back on. Annabeth ran over to the nearest newspaper box before taking one out and checking the date. It was the Miami Herald. She cursed. "June eighteenth! We've been away from camp for ten days!"

Everyone seemed to stop moving.

"That's impossible!" Clarisse said.

No, it wasn't. Time traveled differently in monstrous places.

"Thalia's tree must be almost dead," Grover wailed. "We have to get the Fleece back tonight."

Clarisse slumped against the pavement. "How are we supposed to do that?" her voice was trembling and the brunette realized this was originally her quest. "We're hundreds of miles away. No money. No ride. This is just like the Oracle said. It's your fault, Jackson! If you hadn't interfered—"

"Percy's fault?!" Annabeth exploded. "Clarisse, how can you say that? You are the biggest—"

"Stop!" Percy snapped.

Clarisse places her head in her hands as Annabeth stomped her foot in frustration. Grover and Ariadne shared a look.

Percy stepped towards the daughter of Ares gently, "Clarisse he said, "what did the Oracle tell you exactly?"

She looked up and took a deep breath and recited:

"You shall sail the iron ship with warriors of bone,
you shall fine what you seek and make it your own,
But despair for your life entombed within stone,
And fail without friends, to fly home alone."

"Ouch," Grover mumbled. The brunette nudged him slightly.

"No," Percy shook his head. "No... wait a minute. I've got it."

He searched his pockets, cursing when he found nothing. "Does anybody have any cash?"

Ariadne, Annabeth and Grover shook their heads sadly. Clarisse pulled out a wet Confederate dollar from her pocket and sighed.

"Cash?" Tyson asked hesitantly. "Like... green paper?"

Percy looked to him. "Yeah?"

"Like the kind in the duffel bags?"

"Yeah, but we lost those bags days a-g-g—"

He stuttered to a halt as Tyson looked through his saddle pack which he had made for Rainbow as he pulled out an airtight bag full of cash from the duffel bags Hermes had given them. "T-Tyson!" Percy said. "How did you—"

"Thought it was a feed bag for Rainbow," he told them. "Found it floating in the sea, but only paper inside. Sorry."

The boy handed the cash bag to Percy. Fives and tens, at least three hundred dollars. He ran towards the curb and grabbed a taxi that was just letting out a family of cruise passengers. "Clarisse," he yelled. "Come on. You're going to the airport. Annabeth, give her the Fleece

Ariadne as frozen in her spot with wide eyes. Percy took the Fleece from Annabeth, tucking the cash into the jacket's pocket and placed it into Clarisse's arms.

She stumbled over her words. "Y-You'd let me—"

"It's your quest," he said. "We only have enough money for one flight. Besides, I can't travel by air. Zeus would blast me into a million pieces. That's what the prophecy meant: you'd fail without friends, meaning you'd need our help, but you have to fly home alone. You have to get the Fleece back safely."

A grin spread across the brunette's lips as her amethyst eyes watched the interaction. Clarisse looked so happy, happier than she had ever seen. "You can count on me," she said strongly. "I won't fail."

"Not failing would be good."

The cab left in a cloud of exhaust. She didn't even try hiding how big her smile was.

"Percy," Annabeth started. "That was so—"

"Generous?" Grover ordered.

"Insane," she corrected. "You're getting the lives of everyone at camp that Clarisse will get the Fleece safely back by tonight?"

It's her quest," he said. "She deserves a chance."

"Percy is nice," Tyson said with a nod.

"Percy is too nice," Annabeth grumbled.

Said boy looked to Ariadne who hadn't said anything. But when he noticed her large grin, he blushed. Her eyes also held a twinkle of some sort, which he couldn't decipher. "Come on," he went on. "Let's find another way home."

He turned around to lead them back to the ocean but was met with a sword point at his throat.

"Hey, cuz," Luke said. "Welcome back to the States."

The bear-like thugs appeared on either side of them. One grabbed Annabeth and Grover by their t-shirt collars. Tyson was about to be grabbed but he knocked the other twin into a pile of luggage before roaring at Luke.

"Percy," Luke said calmly, "tell your giant to back down or I'll have Oreius bash your friends' heads together."

Oreius gave a grin before raising Annabeth and Grover off the ground as they kicked and screamed. Ariadne gave him a mighty glare until a hand grabbed her arm, pulling her in close.

Luke held his sword to Ariadne's throat while Agrius yanked her ring off her hand. Percy gave him a hard glare and a look of rage as the girl struggled. "Why, Percy," Luke said, "I want to extend my hospitality, of course."

***

HER HEAD SLAMMED INTO THE WOODEN DECK. She growled slightly as she lifted herself up from the aft deck before the swimming pool with sparkling fountains spraying into the air. A dozen of Luke's assorted goons— snake people, Laistrygonians, demigod's in battle armor- had gathered to watch them be tortured before dying.

"And so, the Fleece," Luke mused. "Where is it?" He looked over at them before prodding at Percy's shirt and poking Grover's jeans.

"Hey!" Grover yelled. "That's real goat fur under there!"

"Sorry, old friend," Luke smiled. "Just give me the Fleece and I'll leave you to return to your, ah, little nature quest."

"Blaa-ha-ha!" Grover protested. "Some old friend!"

"Maybe you didn't hear me." Luke's voice had an edge to it, which caused her body to tense up slightly. It was similar to the voice he used in her dream. "Where—is—the—Fleece?"

"Not here," Percy said. "We sent it on ahead of us. You messed up."

Luke narrowed his eyes. "you're lying. You couldn't have..." his face reddened, "Clarisse?"

The demigod boy nodded.

"You trusted... you gave..."

"Yeah."

"Agrius!"

The bear giant flinched. "Y-yes?"

"Get below and prepare my steed. Bring it to the deck. I need to fly to the Miami Airport, fast."

"But, boss—"

"Do it!" Luke screamed. "Or I'll feed you to the drakon!"

Agrius gulped before turning towards the stairs, as he placed a foot onto it, the blond teen cleared his throat. The bear-man turned around hesitantly. "Yes, boss?" he asked weakly.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" When the man didn't reply, Luke gave him a withering glare. "The ring." He held his palm and only closed it once Ariadne's gold ring was placed into it. Agrius lumbered down the stairs. Luke paced in front of the swimming pool, cursing in Ancient Greek, gripping his sword so tight his knuckles turned white.

The rest of his crew looked unnerved, never seeing their boss like this.

"You've been toying with us all along," Percy said. "You wanted us to bring the Fleece and save you the trouble of getting it."

Luke scowled. "Of course, you idiot! And you've messed everything up!"

"Traitor!" Ariadne watched as Percy dug his last old drachmas from his pocket and threw it at Luke, the teen dodged it. She narrowed her eyes. "You tricked all of us! Even DIONYSUS at CAMP HALF-BLOOD!"

She realized his idea. Genius!

The fountain behind the blond teen shimmered, but everyone kept their attention on Percy who uncapped Riptide. She wished Luke hadn't been smart enough to take her sword from her, or else she would have had the boy on the ground in less than five seconds.

Luke sneered. "This is no time for heroics, Percy. Drop your puny little sword, or I'll have you killed sooner rather than later."

"Who poisoned Thalia's tree, Luke?"

"I did, of course," he snarled. Man, did she wish she could punch him right now. But that would ruin Percy's plan. "I used elder python venom, straight from the depths of Tartarus."

"Chiron had nothing to do with it?"

"Ha! You know he would never do that. The old fool wouldn't have the guts."

"You call that guts? Betraying your friends? Endangering the whole camp?"

Luke raised his won sword in challenge. "You don't understand the half of it. I was going to let you take the Fleece... when I was done with it." Percy seemed to hesitate at what he said, but he was back in a split second.

"You were going to heal Kronos," Percy said.

"Yes! The Fleece's magic would've sped this mending process by tenfold. But you haven't stopped us, Percy. You've only slowed us down a little."

"And so you poisoned the tree, you betrayed Thalia, you set us up—all to help Kronos destroy the gods."

Luke gritted his teeth, a habit she hated because she had picked it up from him. "You know that! Why do you keep asking me?"

"Because I want everybody in he audience to hear you."

"What audience?"

the blond's eyes narrowed and he looked behind him, his goons following. They gasped and stumbled back. Ariadne grinned at the sight of her father, Tantalus, and the whole camp in the dining pavilion. They sat stunned, watching them.

Well," her father spoke dryly, "some unplanned dinner entertainment."

"Dad, you heard him," Ariadne told her father, standing tall next to Percy. "You all heard Luke. The poisoning of the tree wasn't Chiron's fault."

Her father sighed. "I suppose not."

"The Iris-Message could be a trick," Tantalus suggested, but he was more focused on a cheeseburger which he was trying to corner with both of his hands.

"I fear not," Her father said, staring at the man with distaste. "It appears I shall have to reinstate Chiron as activities director. I suppose I do miss the old horse's pinochle games."

Tantalus was able to grab the cheeseburger.It didn't bolt away from him. He lifted it and stared in amazement, as if it was a priceless artifact. "I got it!" he cackled.

"We are no longer in need of your services, Tantalus," Her father announced.

The man looked stunned. "What? But—"

"You may return to the Underworld. You are dismissed."

"No! But—Noooooooooo!"

He dissolved into mist, the fingers once clutching the cheeseburger helplessly tried bringing it to his mouth. But it was too late. He vanished and the cheeseburger fell back onto its plate. Campers exploding with cheering. And she saw her brother jumping around, which made her heart lift slightly.

Luke was full of rage. He slashed his sword through the fountain and the Iris-Message dissolved, but the deed was done. He gave Percy and Ariadne a murderous look. "Kronos was right, Percy. You're an unreliable weapon. You need to be replaced."

One of his men blew a brass whistle, the deck floors opening. A dozen more warriors poured out, creating a circle around them, brass tips of their spears inching closer.

Luke smiled at them. "You'll never leave this boat alive."

authors note:

we are nearing the end!

I have decided that Percy and Ariadne's ship name with be...

PERCAIDAN!

I love you guys! Comment and tell me your favorite part so far!