THEY WERE thrown down onto the swimming deck aboard the Princess Andromeda, with dozens of Luke's monster crew all gathered by the pool to get a good view of their humble "hospitality" they were about to receive.

"So, the Fleece," Luke said. "Hand it over."

He inspected them, poking at Percy's shirt and Grover's pants.

"Watch it!" Grover argued. "I've got real goat fur under these!"

"Apologies, old friend," Luke mused. "All I want is the Fleece, then I'll let you all go back on your merry way. Back on your little . . . Adventure."

"Some old friend you are," Grover protested.

"I'm not sure you heard me correctly," Luke's voice was horrifyingly calm. "Give—me—the—Fleece."

"We don't have it," Percy said. He probably should've kept his mouth shut, but he felt satisfied in smacking the truth in Luke's ugly face. "It's already gone, far away from here. You're too late."

Luke snarled. "Liar. There's no way . . . " His jaw started to shake in rage. "Clarisse?"

Percy nodded, a smug look on his face.

"You gave . . . You put your faith . . . "

"Yup."

"Agrius!"

His giant friend jumped back a foot. "M—my lord?"

"Prepare my steed below, and bring it up. I need to get to Miami Airport, now!"

"But— "

"Do what I say!" Luke snapped. "Or you'll be the next meal out drakon feasts upon!"

Bear-man didn't waste a second after that, scrambling down below. Luke stalked around the deck, cursing and muttering to himself.

All of his crew looked tense. They'd probably never seen their master this unhinged.

Then Percy started to think . . . If he could use Luke's rage to his advantage, get him talking, he could get everyone to hear how insane his intentions were . . .

His eyes turned to the fountains spraying mist from the swimming pool, creating a sheer rainbow. An idea popped into his head.

"This was your plan this entire time," Percy said. "Messing with us, and letting us escape so we could bring you the Fleece without you having do to any of the dirty work."

Luke glared at him. "Obviously, you dimwit! And now, you all screwed it up!"

"Traitor!" Percy fished his final drachma out from his jeans and chucked it at Luke. As planned, Luke sidestepped it, and the coin flew right into the rainbow.

"You fooled everyone!" Percy screamed at him. "Even DIONYSUS and CAMP HALF-BLOOD."

The fountain began to shimmer behind Luke, but Percy kept everyone's eyes on him. He uncapped Riptide to hold their attention.

Luke growled. "Quit the heroics, Percy. Drop your stupid weapon, and your death will come quicker than planned."

"Who poisoned Thalia's tree?"

"Of course it was me," he snapped. "I've already said that. I used elder python venom from the deep pits of Tartarus."

"And Chiron didn't have any part in it?"

"Bah! The old fool would never have the guts. We both know that."

"You call betraying your friends and putting the entire camp at risk, having guts?"

Luke's sword raised. "You don't get it. I was going to give you the Fleece back . . . As soon as I did what I needed with it."

Percy faltered. He must've been lying, but it was hard to tell. But, he knew he couldn't lose his attention.

"It was for Kronos," Percy said. "You were going to revive him."

"Yes! The Fleece would've progressed his progress by a dozen! But you haven't deferred us in the slightest, Percy. We've only gotten just a little side tracked."

"So you planned to kill Thalia's tree, betray her, and you plotted against us— all because you want to raise Kronos to destroy Olympus."

Luke huffed. "You know this already! Why are you asking me again?"

"Because I need everybody listening to hear you."

"What?"

Then his face dropped into a terrible look of rage. His head turned, along with all of his monsters. They all stumbled back in fear.

Shimmering above the pool in the mist was an Iris-message screen of Dionysus, Tantalus, and all of camp surrounding the pavilion. They all watched in stunned silence at the scene in front of them.

"Well," Dionysus said flatly. "This was certainly some unexpected dinner entertainment."

"You heard him loud and clear," Percy called. "Everybody did. Thalia's tree getting poisoned wasn't Chiron's doing."

Mr. D sighed. "I guess not."

"This could all be a trick," Tantalus offered, but his eyes were mostly focused on the pizza in front of him, which is was trying to sneak up on with his hands.

"I don't believe that to be the case," Dionysus said, looking distastefully at his activities director. "It seems I must reinstate Chiron back into his former position. I must say, I do miss our old pinochle games."

Tantalus snatched up his pizza. He stared at it in sheer disbelief, as if it were the largest emerald he'd ever found. "I have it!" He cried.

"Your duties here are no longer required," Mr. D announced.

"Wait, what? But— "

"Goodbye."

"No! Noooooooo!"

He dissolved into ashes, his slice of pizza flopping back onto the plate as he disappeared. All of the campers erupted into cheers.

"Hell yeah!" A voice that was none other than Magnus Arcturus's screamed. "Take that you piece of— "

Luke howled in pure rage and slashed his sword through the Iris-message, but it was already too late.

Percy was in pretty high-spirits, until Luke turned his murderous rage right toward him.

"Kronos was right. You're a loose canon, and you need to be replaced."

Percy didn't know what that meant, but he didn't have much time to mull it over. One of Luke's crew blew a brass horn, and the deck floors dropped. Dozens of warriors flooded on to the pool deck, creating a larger circle around them.

Luke smirked. "You are going to die here. All of you."

"ONE ON one," Percy challenged. "What? Scared you might lose?"

Luke's jaw shook. But before he could proceed, a Pegasus burst on to the deck with Agrius in tow. It had pure black fur, and it whinnied in protest.

"My lord!" Agrius announced. "Your steed is prepared for flight!"

Luke's eyes stayed on Percy.

"You can't lure me into a fight, Percy," Luke said. "You know that from last summer."

"And at the same time, you seem to keep avoiding one," Percy shrugged. "I get it. You don't want your monster-buddies to see you get whipped."

Luke looked around the ship, and Percy knew he'd realized he'd been trapped. If he backed away, they'd see him as weak. But if he challenged Percy, he'd lose time in getting to Clarisse.

"I'll spare you a slow death," Luke raised Backbiter. "And get this over with fast."

He whistled to one of his men, and they threw him a bronze shield. He smiled wickedly at Percy.

"Give Percy a shield, Luke," Annabeth said, "make it a fair fight."

"Unfortunately, Annabeth, this party has a strict bring-your-own-equipment policy."

  The shield was going to be a problem. Fighting with a sword in one hand and a shield in the other gives Luke better versatility and defensive strategy over Percy, putting him at a disadvantage.

  Luke slashed at Percy and nearly killed him on the first strike. His blade went through his shirt and grazed his ribs, just barely missing his heart.

  Percy lunged back, then took a strike with Riptide, but it didn't do much. Luke just knocked it away with his shield.

  "Yikes, Percy," Luke said, clicking his tongue. "You're rusty."

  The cut on Percy's side burned as Luke struck again, Percy parrying with his own. Luke easily avoided it.

  Percy leaped behind him and jumped into the pool, feeling a surge of power run through him. He spun under the water, forming a funnel, and broke the surface, launching straight at Luke.

  The force knocked Luke off his feet, waterlogged and disoriented. But, it hardly differed him, because when Percy went to attack, he simply rolled away and was back on his feet.

  Percy managed to nick the corner of his shield, but it hardly bothered Luke. He fell down and jabbed right at Percy's legs. A strong burning sensation erupted in Percy's thigh, so intense he collapsed. He pant leg was torn above the knee. He was hurt, and he didn't know how badly. Percy lunged behind a deck chair as Luke slammed his sword down. Percy tried to get to his feet, but the pain was so severe his leg couldn't handle it.

  "Percy!" Magdalena yelled, struggling against Agrius's grip on her.

  Percy dodged another one of Luke's hits as he sliced the deck chair in half.

  Percy crawled his way toward the swimming pool, knowing he wasn't going to make it. He was fighting the urge to fall unconscious, and Luke knew it too. He advanced carefully, a smile on his face. The point of Backbiter was stained red with Percy's blood.

  "I want you to watch this before you die, Percy Jackson." He turned toward his bear-friends, who were holding Percy friends by their necks. "The meals are yours to enjoy, now. Bon appetit."

  The bear-men lifted up his friends, their maws wide open with their fangs.

  And that's when chaos ensued.

  An arrow flew straight through Oreius's mouth. He fell on the deck with a look of surprise.

  "Brother!" Agrius cried, dropping Magdalena onto the floor. Her head hit the floor a hard conk! Which made Percy wince. He knew that had to hurt. The Pegasus that was being held in the giants other hand flew free out of Miami Bay as soon as his shackles loosened.

  There was stunned silence for a moment, everybody frozen. Then, a loud, chaotic explosion of war cries and hooves clambering against metal erupted, and a dozen centaurs broke into the pool deck.

  "Ponies!" Tyson wailed in disbelief.

  Magdalena spotted Chiron almost instantly, but none of the other centaurs looked him. They all had different coats and accessories on their bodies. Some had bright T-shirts on them with the words PARTY PONIES: SOUTH FLORIDA CHAPTER written on them. They were armed with all sorts of weird weapons as they marched through the deck with such aggression and color even Luke was taken aback.

  Percy honestly didn't know if he such celebrate or prepare for battle.

  Well, apparently the answer was both. Just as Luke went to swing his sword, a centaur shot an interesting arrow at him— one with a large boxing glove on the end of it. It hit him straight in the face and knocked him into the pool.

  Luke's men darted for their life. And honestly, Magdalena didn't blame them.

  "Come get some!" Yelled a party pony.

  Then their paint balls started going off. They exploded Luke's warriors in a sea of blue and red, blinding and covering them all over. Whenever they tried to run, they just ended up face first on the floor instead.

  Chiron scooped up Annabeth, Grover, and Magdalena off the deck and secured them in his back. Percy tried again to get to his feet, but his leg felt like it was falling off.

  Luke was blubbering out of the water.

  "Kill them, you cowards!" He yelled to his army. A large bell thrummed below deck.

  It'd be any moment now when they're overpowered by Luke's second enforcements. His current crew was already getting over their surprise, and starting to advance on the centaurs.

  "Withdraw, brothers!" Chiron ordered.

  A palomino centaur reached Percy and hauled him on his back. "Bro, tell your giant friend to get moving!"

"Tyson!" Percy called. "Let's go!"

Tyson dropped whatever warriors he was about to pummel and hopped on behind Percy.

"Dude!" The centaur complained, nearly tripping under Tyson's heavy load. "Have you ever heard of something called a 'diet'?"

The herd of centaurs were already launching off the ship by the time Luke's army was ready to charge. They were fearlessly diving on to the docks and galloping away, hollering and throwing insults at the Princess Andromeda as they ran through downtown Miami.

After a long ride, they winded up in a trailer park on the edge of a lake. They were all surrounded by horse trailers, geared up with gaming systems, TV's, mini fridges and other fun gadgets. They were at a centaur camp.

"Bro!" A party pony yelled. "You saw that over-sized grizzly bear, didn't you? He was literally like: What? I have an arrow totally in my mouth right now!"

The centaur with bunny ears on his head cackled. "It was totally insane! Head slam!"

They ran straight into each other at full speed, knocked heads, then stumbled off with manic grins.

Chiron took a deep breath, setting Magdalena, Annabeth, and Grover on the ground beside Percy. "I do wish my fellow centaurs wouldn't slam heads as they do. They really don't have the brain cells to spare."

"Chiron," Percy said, still looking stunned that he was right in front of them. "You . . . You saved our lives."

Chiron smiled dryly. "Well, I couldn't just let you die, could I? Not after you guys made me a free centaur."

"How did you find us?" Annabeth asked.

"Planning ahead, young one. I assumed you'd end yo somewhere around Miami if you made it out of the Sea of Monsters. Most weird things end up in Miami."

"Oh, thanks," Grover muttered.

"Oh, no, I didn't mean . . . " Chiron sighed. "Nevermind. I am most relieved to see you, Grover. But, the way I was able to find you was because I snooped in on that Iris-message you sent to camp. I had asked Iris herself, whom I am good friends with, to inform me of any concerning messages in the area. After that, it wasn't hard to rally together my cousins to help save you guys."

Percy glanced over towards where Tyson was. He was with three other party ponies who were trying to show him how a paintball gun is used.

"What happens now?" Percy asked. "We let Luke go? Kronos is on that ship, in pieces, mind you. But, he's still forming."

Chiron opened his medical pouch and began to work on Percy's injuries. "I fear that this day has been almost a draw, of sorts. We did not have the manpower to overrun that ship. Luke was no prepared in the slightest to take us on. There was no winner."

"The Fleece is ours now, though!" Annabeth said. "Clarisse has it as we speak, heading to camp."

Chiron nodded, but he was still uneasy. "All of you are true heroes. As soon as Percy is well enough, we will return to Camp Half-Blood at once. You will ride on the centaurs."

"You're coming with us, right?" Percy asked.

"Certainly, dear boy. I am anxious to return. I must speak with Mr. D about plans regarding the rest of summer. We must train, and . . . I want to see the Fleece. I am very curious."

By the bonfire, Tyson notched a paintball out of his gun. It splattered against a centaur passing by, launching him straight into the lake. The centaur breached the water covered in paint, and grinned at the Cyclops, giving him a thumbs up.

"Annabeth," Chiron said, "I think you, Magdalena, and Grover should go supervise Tyson and my fellow brethren before, ah, well, they teach one another some possible bad habits."

Lena met his eyes. There was instant understanding between them.

"Of course, Chiron," Annabeth said. She understood too. "Get a move on, goat boy."

"I don't know. Paintball really isn't my thing— "

"Well, it is now." Magdalena lifted him Grover up off the ground and pushed him off towards the campfire.

  THEY RETURNED to camp barely after Clarisse did, all in thanks to the centaurs crazy traveling time.

  Once they got to camp, the party ponies were eager to see Dionysus. They'd heard that the god was able to throw some crazy parties. But they were quickly disappointed when they saw the wine god was clearly not in a celebrating mood as the campers collectively gathered on Half-Blood Hill.

  Camp Half-Blood had a hard two weeks while Percy and his friends were gone. The activities cabin had been burnt to ashes from an ambush from Draco Aionius, which was basically Latin for giant-lizards-who-blow-stuff-up-with-fire. The Big House had been overflowing with injured campers, and the children of Apollo were working tirelessly trying to heal them.

  But, within the crowd of exhausted campers, Magdalena was only focused on finding one specific one.

  And when she saw him, it felt as if the world had been lifted off her shoulders.

  "Magnus," Magdalena said, her tone one of pure relief. She sounded like she was about to cry.

  Magnus Arcturus smiled, and began to jog over to her, looking like he'd just been relieved of endless suffering.

  "Thanks gods," he breathed out, and as soon as they reached one another, Magnus scooped his sister up in a tight embrace, holding her tight.

  "Are you okay?" Lena asked in the hug. "Did Tantalus hurt you?"

  Magnus shrugged, pulling away from the girl. "Nothing I can't handle," he said briefly. Lena didn't like the sound of that, but she knew Magnus would never admit what he went through. He was just as stubborn as she was, and she knew it.

  "I'm . . . I'm just glad you're alive," Lena said with finality, swallowing hard.

  "I feel like I should be the one saying that to you," Magnus said, raising an eyebrow. "You definitely have a lot to tell me about."

  Magdalena laughed. If only he knew.

  Percy and Annabeth caught up to Lena after she'd broken off from them when she saw Magnus. Magnus grinned at them when they approached, flashing a peace sign.

  "What's good?"

  Annabeth stared at him for a moment, before out of the blue, rushing up and crushing Magnus in a hug so tight she nearly broke a rib of his.

  Magnus stumbled back from the force, but also a little out of shock. He was pretty sure him and Annabeth had never hugged before. Not in any of the six years they'd known each other. But, he regained his composure quickly, and didn't hesitate in wrapping his arms around her just as tight.

  Annabeth lurched away from the hug almost as fast as she'd initiated it, and she gave Magnus a grudging look. When she did this, Magdalena finally seemed to realize that Annabeth had been just as worried for Magnus as she had been during this quest. She just never showed it.

  "I'm sorry for making you stay behind," she said quickly, like she was ripping off a bandaid. It was obvious she'd been wanting to say that ever since they'd left.

  Magnus just smirked a little and shrugged. "All good, Einstein. I'd say I'm a pretty tough cookie."

Annabeth's face dropped, and she rolled her eyes. "Not even Tantalus can take away your idiocy," she muttered, but she still couldn't hide the relief on her face from seeing him alive.

Magnus smirked wider. "It'd take something a lot scarier to do that."

Percy smiled at Magnus, embracing him in a quick embrace. "It's good to see you," Percy admitted quietly as they pulled away. He meant it, too. He'd been worries about the guy just as much as his other quest mates. And he'd also felt the same guilt Annabeth had been feeling— like he'd made a terrible mistake in leaving Magnus at camp.

Magnus nodded, giving Percy a half-smile. "Ditto."

  They all surrounded the tree as Clarisse draped it over the lowest branch. It was as if the moonlight got brighter, turning into liquid silver. A cold breeze swept across the valley. Slowly, the needles on the pine tree began to turn from their sickly yellow color into green.

  The entire camp cheered. It was a slow process, but it there was no doubt that the Fleece was healing the tree, excreting the poison form it.

  Chiron announced there will be around the clock guard duty upon the hill until he found an appropriate monster to guard it.

  And in the meantime, Clarisse was paraded back to her cabin on her siblings' shoulders, and was honored in the amphitheater by being given a laurel wreath and tons of celebration in her name.

  Nobody even spared a glance at Annabeth, Percy, and Magdalena, like they'd never even left in the first place. That was probably for the best, since they would be expelled at once if they admitted to sneaking out of camp. And to be honest, none of them wanted any attention. It was nice to just be a regular camper for once.

  As the night went on, they roasted s'mores by the campfire and listened to Connor and Travis tell everybody a spooky ghost story about a cowardice king who was devoured by demonic breakfast deserts.

  Magdalena and Magnus sat with the Stolls, Connor's arm draped loosely over Lena's shoulders as he talked. He had been more than sick in worry about Magdalena when he discovered she'd snuck out of camp and gone on the quest with Percy and Annabeth. Of course, when he saw her earlier that day, he practically WWE-slammed her into hug, sending them flying to the ground. Then he'd scolded her for ever even thinking of disappearing from camp without telling him. He tried to stay mad at her for the rest of the day, but it was practically impossible. He gave up after an hour.

  Percy gazed over in their direction from across the campfire, a weird feeling churning in his stomach. He noticed the way Connor kept Magdalena close to him, looking at her with such adoration that it made Percy feel weird. He tried to tell himself that he didn't know what that feeling was, but he was just lying to himself, and he knew it.

  It was jealousy. And he knew that this was going to be new problem for him.

THE PARTY ponies left the next morning, just after Chiron had made the big announcement that they would continue to reinstate chariot racing. They and all figured that they'd go away just as they had before after Tantalus got removed. But, since Chiron was back at camp and they were all in the clear, they felt that it was only right to be continued.

Magdalena and Magnus both mutually agreed that they weren't too anxious to get back into a chariot after they both almost got ran over by one the first time. But, they both agreed that they'd help Percy and Annabeth construct their's. Tyson also agreed that he thought it was better he didn't get back in a chariot again. Percy was the driver, Annabeth defender, and Tyson, Lena, and Magnus were their pit crew.

The night before the race, Magdalena and Magnus were sitting down by the beach, just relaxing in the peace and quiet. It was nice to not have to worry about impending doom for once, finally being able to sit comfortably without having to keep their guard up.

Magnus was talking about something that the Stolls and him had done a few years ago to the Apollo cabin, when his voice suddenly trailed off, and his eyes narrowed on something beside his sister.

Magdalena turned. "What is it?"

"Look," Magnus said, gesturing to the spot beside her. Next to Lena, the air was beginning to shimmer, almost like there was a small cluster of stars forming right beside them.

There was a small blast of light, and then, out of thin air, Astraeus himself was standing in front of his children, looking down at them.

Magnus blinked. "Dad?"

Astraeus smiled softly. "My children," he said, sitting down in front of them. "I have been meaning to see you both."

Magdalena stared at him. "Wh . . . What are you doing here?" She asked, stunned. He hadn't visited them in over a year, and that was when he'd informed the both of them about their quest they took last summer.

"I need to speak to you, Magnus, Magdalena," he said, his tone soft, but serious. Magdalena already felt like she had a feeling on what he was going to say. "First, I want you both to know that I am very proud of you. As my children, you have managed to impress me with everything you endured in these recents weeks."

Magdalena and Magnus both blushed. Despite how absent their father was, it still felt so rewarding to know that they had made him proud. Despite everything, they always wanted to impress him. They wanted their father to see them succeed.

"Thank you, dad," Magnus said.

Astraeus smiled. He was extremely handsome, from head to toe. His image never changed when he appeared to them— pitch-black hair, deep blue eyes, tanned skin that was dusted in stardust. He wore a loose white button down and linen pants that seemed to gleam like stars of their own.

"You both have started to see your powers developing," their father continued. "And those are not the last of what you will discover within yourself. You both were made with very powerful capabilities, but you have only unlocked very little of it. With more training, you will continue to see your strengths grow."

Magdalena frowned at her father. "What sort of training?" She asked. "Just the normal training here at camp? Or . . . " her voice trailed off, and the look her father gave her confirmed her suspicions.

"Your quest last year confirmed what I had suspected," Astraeus said gravely, but there also seemed to be a hint of pride in his tone, almost like he was happy that was happening. "The prophecy that was written in both of your names has begun to unravel. And now, I believe that the two of you know that must happen from this point forward."

Magnus swallowed, his heart thumping in his chest. "You're saying we must continue to go there?" He asked. "We have to train with them?"

Astraeus nodded. "It will not be permanent," he reassured them. "And you will continue to come back to Camp Half-Blood every summer. Staying here is very vital to what you two are written to do within your prophecy. But, you must continue to establish trust within the other world beyond us. You both are the gateway between our worlds."

Magdalena let that sink in. "Why must we connect our worlds?" She asked uncertainly. "We have been divided for a reason. Why are we to change that now?"

Astraeus sighed, shaking his head. "I do not know, my dearest," he said quietly. "Even as a god, I cannot see our future. But . . . I can feel the tides changing. It has been slow, and it will coming to move at that pace, but there is something coming. Something beyond Luke's army and what he has intended for us. I do not know what it is, but I know that my children, the two of you, can help to prevent it."

Magnus and Magdalena looked at each other, then back at their father. "When do we leave?" Magnus said.

"You will know," Astraeus said vaguely. "The universe will know when the time is right with every time you must go. You both will continue to live at home, go to school, and live your normal lives outside of the godly world. But, you will also have this responsibility to adhere to."

Magdalena frowned, her finger drawing patterns in the sand. There was a heavy feeling that rested in her stomach. It was the weight of responsibility that her father had just placed upon her and her brother.

"We understand, dad," Magnus said, nodding slowly. His eyes were planted on the ground in front of him, and Magdalena knew that he was feeling the same weight on his shoulders as she was. "We won't disappoint you."

  "I know you won't," Astraeus said, reaching forward to put a hand on both of his kids' cheeks. He smiled kindly at them, as if he hadn't just placed a slow-ticking bomb in front of the both of them. "You are my children. You have never failed me, not once. I know that will not change."

  Magdalena bit her lip, managing a small smile. "Thanks, dad," she whispered.

  Astraeus gave his children one final smile, and just as fast as he appeared, he vanished in a shimmer of stardust, leaving the two demigods sitting alone in the same, with a new weight hanging above them, waiting to drop.

THE FOLLOWING morning, the entire camp was buzzing with excitement for the chariot race. But, there were definitely a good amount of nervous glances at the sky, like they were expecting to see a dark mass of Stymphalian birds dive bomb them from the sky. Luckily, that wasn't the case. The sky was clear and it was a beautiful day, the sun shining brightly. The camp had started to look more like its normal sled again— with green meadows, blooming with fresh flowers, the Greek white columns glowed in the sun light, and dryads bounded through the woods gleefully.

  And, while all of this should've made Magdalena happy, all she could feel was dread as she walked through camp. She kept thinking about her dad's appearance to her and Magnus the night before, and what he now expected of them. It was weighing her down more than ever.

  Despite this this feeling of impending doom that she couldn't shake, she kept a good game face as she walked with Annabeth and Percy toward the track, Magnus with her as well.

  And, she must admit, her, Magnus, and Tyson had done a pretty freaking awesome job on the chariot.

  The chariot glinted with bronze defenses. The wheels were aligned with enchanted suspensions so it would ride smoothly. The rigs for their horses pulling the cart were so balanced that their team spun and turned at the slightest yank of the reins.

  Tyson had also created Annabeth and Percy two specially made javelins, both with three buttons on the shaft. The top button readied the stick to explode on impact, releasing sharp barbed wire that would ensnare and ultimately destroy an opponents wheel. The middle button a soft, but still quite painful, bronze spearhead created to launch the driver out of their chariot. The third and final button released a grappling hook that was destined to attach onto another chariot or grapple it out of the way.

  They really did look to be in great shape, and Percy figured they had a high advantage over the other racers, but Tyson made sure to warn him. He had to careful, because he knew the other teams definitely and similar tricks and traps planned.

  Before Magnus and Magdalena went to go to the stands to watch, Lena stopped Percy.

  "Good luck, Shark Boy," she said with a smile. But Percy noticed that she looked exhausted. There were dark circles underneath her eyes, and her posture was tense, like she was carrying some sort of pressure on her back. There was definitely something wrong, but Percy had no clue on what it might be. In the moment, they really had nothing to worry about. All of the hard work was over.

  "Thanks, Sunshine," he said, choosing to not voice his thoughts. He figured now wasn't the time to grill Lena on her personal problems. They'd done enough of that on their quest. "But, I don't think I have much to worry about. I never pegged you to be such a skilled mechanic."

  Magdalena smiled, shrugging. "Like I said, there's a lot of things you don't know about me."

  Percy grinned boyishly. "And, as I said, I think I need to start figuring some of those things out if we're going to be spending so much time together."

  Lena laughed, which, once again, made Percy feel like his brain was getting put under a broiler. "I haven't forgotten about your offer, you know," she said. "About your door always being open."

  Percy's cheeks were dusted a light shade of pink. "O—oh," he said. He'd almost forgotten he said that. "You haven't?"

  Magdalena's smile faltered. "No," she said, a little uncertainty in her tone. "Is that okay? If not— "

  "No!" Percy blurted out, shaking his head rapidly. "No, oh my gods, no. I— I didn't mean it like that. I just— I figured you would've forgotten about it by now, I guess."

  Lena's face scrunched. "Why would I do that?"

  Percy blinked. His face was definitely the color of tomato soup by now. "I— I don't know," he admitted. "We were in the middle of the ocean, on a makeshift raft floating to our death. I guess I just assumed it would've blown over your head."

  Magdalena's smile started to return. "Well, it didn't," she said, to which Percy smiled back. "So, I hope you and your mom like cherry scones, because I'm going to bring you some next time my mother makes them."

  Percy chuckled and nodded his head. "My mom will like anything you bring her," he said. "You could bring her a dead rat and she'd still love you more than she loves me."

  Magdalena smirked, and rolled her eyes. "I doubt that."

  "I certainly don't."

  "Hey! Dumber and Dumbass!" Magnus yelled over to them from where him and Annabeth were setting up the chariot. "You gonna stand there all day or am I going to have to drive this thing?"

The look Annabeth gave him after he suggested that basically confirmed her thoughts on that idea.

  Magdalena and Percy just looked at each other and laughed.

  "Knock em' dead, Sharkie," Lena mused, nudging him with her elbow.

  Percy gave her a look of distaste. "Okay, Sharkie is not happening."

  "We'll see about that."

  "No, there's no discussion over this," Percy said as Lena began to walk away from him. "Sharkie is not a new thing!" He yelled after her, but she just waved her hand at him dismissively, not sparing him a glance back.

  Percy's just stood there, probably looking like a complete idiot with the dorky smile on his face, and then he turned and walked over to Tyson, who was waiting for him by the chariot.

  Magnus and Magdalena watched beside Chiron and Tyson as Percy and Annabeth's chariot rolled up to the starting line. As soon as they got in position, Chiron sounded the whistle, and the games began.

  They shot down the track almost immediately, and Percy would've flown right off if his arms weren't wrapped up in the reigns. The wheels spun like they were weaved with silk, gliding across the track with ease. The swung around the first corner already having a huge lead over Clarisse, who was caught up trying to fight off a javelin-massacre from the Stoll brothers in their own chariot.

  "Watch out!" Annabeth screamed. She launched her first javelin, putting it into grappling hook mode and slamming away a heavy lead-knitted net that would've wiped both of them out of the race. Just after that close call, another javelin was sent from Apollo's cabin, planting itself right into one of their wheels. Annabeth hadn't had time to rearm herself with another javelin before it happened. Their cart wobbled, the balance now offset. Percy was almost positive their wheel was going to fly out, but they miraculously kept going.

  Percy knocked his reins, urging the horses forward. They were tied with Apollo, with Hephaestus quickly coming up on their tail. Ares and Hermes were farther behind, as they were still locked in a personal sword fight with each other.

  They couldn't afford any more hits to their wheel. They'd completely swerve out of control if they did.

  "You're toast!" Apollo's driver cried out. It was a first-year camper. He was definitely confident, and a little too cocky, and Percy didn't even know his name.

  "In your dreams!" Annabeth taunted.

  She grabbed her second javelin, which was definitely risky since they still had full second lap around the track to get through. But she speared it right at the driver anyway.

  She had insane aim. The dulled spear-point emerged from the top of it and caught the driver straight in the chest, sending both him and his partner sailing out of their carriage in a slow-motion backflip. The horses went out of control when they felt their reins unleashed, and they rode straight for the stands. Demigods ran for safety as the horses bounded straight into the bleachers and the chariot did a somersault, capsizing into the stands. The horses, now free from their duties, ran off toward their stables, the chariot dragging along behind them.

  Percy was somehow managing to keep his chariot in good shape as they went though the second turn, choosing to look past the screeching noise that came from their broken wheel. They sailed through the starting line and continued into their second lap, feeling more hopeful as they continued.

  The loose wheel was causing them to slow down slightly, even when the horses heeded to every order Percy gave them, working like a well-oiled machine.

  Percy turned back and Hephaestus cabin was still nipping at their heels, getting dangerously close.

  Beckendorf grinned wickedly as he pushed one of the buttons on his main console in front of him. A dozen steel cables bursted from the head of his mechanical steeds, latching on to the back of their chariot. Percy and Annabeth's cart groaned as Beckendorf's highly technical winch system was put into use— dragging them in reverse while he yanked his chariot forward.

  Annabeth swore and pulled out her dagger. She attempted to cut through the cables, but they didn't budge.

  "I can't get them off!" She yelled.

  Beckendorf was now extremely close to them their horses just about to stomp right over them.

  "Swap with me!" Percy demanded. "You steer!"

  "But— "

  "Have a little faith!"

  Annabeth huffed, but complied, and pushed herself up to where Percy was and took hold of the reins. Percy lurched around and kept his feet planted as best as he could, unsheathing Riptide.

  He whacked down hard on the cables and they broke apart like sewing thread. They thundered forward, but just then Beckendorf's driver as veered his chariot to their left and had them right beside each other. Beckendorf raised his sword. He took a swipe at Annabeth, but Percy blocked his blade away.

  They were approaching the final stretch. The last turn. Percy knew they'd never make it. He had to disable Hephaestus's carriage to knock it out of the race and out of their path, but at the same time, he had to watch over Annabeth. Sure, Beckendorf was a nice guy, but Percy also knew that didn't mean the boy wouldn't have them both sent to the infirmary as soon as they put their guards down.

  They were side-by-side. And Clarisse was now quickly catching to them, making up for all her lost time.

  "Bye bye, Percy!" Beckendorf yelled. "I have a parting gift just for you!"

  He tossed a sewn leather bag onto the floor of their chariot. It stuck itself on the wood instantly and green smoke started to emit from it.

  "Greek fire!" Annabeth exclaimed.

  Percy cursed in frustration. He knew what Greek fire would do once it detonated, and he did not want to be near it when it did. They had maybe ten seconds before it went off.

  "Toss it!" Annabeth yelled, but he couldn't. Hephaestus's carriage was still neck and neck with them, waiting for when the fire was just about to detonate to watch their little gift do what it needs to. Beckondorf was keeping Percy's full attention with his sword, continuing to jab and swipe at him. Percy knew the second he let his guard down to handle the Greek fire, Beckendorf would slash at Annabeth and they'd crash regardless. He attempted to kick at the pouh with the toe of his shoe, but it was no use. It was locked on the floor.

  But that's when Percy remembered his watch Tyson had given him right before the race.

  He had no idea what help it'd give them, but Percy was out of options. He desperately hit the button, and instantly, the band changed. It grew, the outside metal rim spiraling out like an old camera shutter, and a leather belt wrapped around his arm— and now, instead of a watch, Percy was holding a circular war shooed four feet long, padded with leather on the interior, and polished bronze with descriptive designs on the outside.

  Percy almost wanted to laugh out of sheer shock. Tyson had pulled through. He raised the shield over him as Beckondorf's sword was about to crash down on him, and the blade bounced off it. His entire sword fell to pieces.

  "What?" He shouted. "How— "

  He was starkly cut off when Percy slammed his chest with his new shield, sending the poor guy sailing out of his carriage and into the dirt.

  Just as Percy was about to slash at Hephaestus's driver, Annabeth screamed, "Percy!"

  The fire was starting to shoot sparks. Percy crammed the top of his blade underneath the bag and flipped it up like a spatula. The bomb finally released itself and landed right into Hephaestus's cart. The driver yelped.

  And in that moment the driver made a very wise decision: he launched himself out of the chariot, which veered off and blasted into green flames. Their metal horses broke down, and they were spiraling out of control toward Clarisse and the Stolls, who both barely dodged getting slammed head first.

  Annabeth yanked the reins for their final turn. Percy was gripping onto the carriage for dear life, almost positive they were going to capsize. But somehow, Annabeth got them through it and the horses went straight through the finish like. The crowd erupted into cheers.

  Magdalena and Magnus were the first to reach them, shit-eating grins on both of their faces as they hugged and congratulated them. Lena had ran herself straight into Percy, tackling him with a hug that almost sent them flying to the ground. Percy was too excited to blush.

  They were mobbed soon after Lena and Magnus got to them. Everybody began chanting their names, but Annabeth made sure she was heard: "There's no way we could've done this without a few others! We would've never won this race or even gotten the Fleece, or saved Grover, none of it! We owe our lives to Magdalena, Magnus, and Tyson, Percy's . . . "

  "Brother!" Percy shouted, making sure everybody heard him. "Tyson, my baby brother."

  Tyson looked like he was about to cry. The crowd cheered. Magdalena then placed a kiss on Percy's cheek, and the crowd went absolutely ballistic.

  Athena's entire cabin hoisted the four demigods and Tyson into the air and paraded them toward's the winner's platform, where Chiron was happily waiting for them to bestow the laurel wreaths. 

  LATER THAT night, after a day full of celebration and excitement, Percy woke up from his nightmare to a loud banging on his door.

  Grover and Magnus bursted inside without warning. "Percy!" Grover blurted out. He looked terrified. "Lena . . . Annabeth . . . On the hill . . . They— "

  The look in both Magnus and Grover's eyes told Percy something was horribly wrong. Annabeth and Magdalena had been on guard duty for the Fleece that night. If something happened to them—

  Percy yanked the covers off his body, his blood cold as ice in his veins. He struggled to throw some clothes on while Grover attempted to explain the situation, but he was in too much shock. "One of them . . . Lying there . . . I don't know which one . . . Just lying there— "

  Percy sprinted through his door and across the main courtyard, Grover and Magnus right beside him. Dawn was hardly rising, but the entire camp seemed to be disturbed. Word was spreading fast that something had happened. People were already starting to gravitate towards the hill.

  The clomping of hooves behind them signaled that Chiron was approaching.

  "Is it true?" He asked Grover.

  Grover only managed a nod, looking entirely checked out.

  Percy attempted to ask what was happening, but Chiron plucked Percy off the ground and on to his back, thundering the both of them up towards Half-Blood Hill, where a slow-growing crowd was gathering.

  Percy had fully intended to see the Fleece stolen from the tree, but it was still glittering in the dim light of dawn, unharmed.

  "That cursed titan lord," Chiron said. "He has fooled us once again, giving himself another way to control the prophecy."

  "What are you talking about?" Percy asked.

  "The Fleece has worked too well," he said grimly.

  They raced forward, everybody clearing a path for them. At the base of the tree, a girl laid unconscious. Two other girls in Greek armor knelt beside her.

  Blood was roaring in Percy's ears. He couldn't even think straight. Lena or Annabeth were attacked? And the Fleece was perfectly intact?

  Thalia's tree seemed to be healthy, still being powered by the Fleece.

  "It cured the tree," Chiron said. "And its poison was not the only thing it discarded."

  That's when Percy noticed is wasn't Annabeth or Magdalena unconscious on the ground. They were the two in armor beside the girl. When they saw Chiron, they rushed over toward them. "I don't even . . . She just . . . Suddenly there . . . "

  They both had tears in their eyes, and Percy was still confused. Percy leaped off Chiron's back and charged toward the girl under the tree. Chiron called: "Percy, wait!"

  He crouched by her side, Magnus on the other. He looked like he was staring at a ghost, and tears were beginning to well up in his dark eyes.

  The girl had cropped black hair and freckles dotting her nose. She was lean and strong, wearing clothes that seemed to reside between goth and punk— a black shirt, black ripped jeans, and a leather jacket with buttons from random bands.

  She wasn't a camper. Percy didn't recognize her. But yet he had the weirdest feeling that he knew her from somewhere . . .

  "It's true," Magnus whispered, still staring at the girl. "I can't believe . . . "

  He backed away from her in shock.

  Nobody else approached them. Percy placed his hand on her head, feeling ice cold skin beneath.

  "She needs nectar and ambrosia," Percy said. It was obvious she was a half-blood, camper or not. He knew it from just a single touch. He didn't understand why everybody was acting like she was some sort of monster.

  Percy lifted her by the shoulders and propped into a sitting position, resting her head against his shoulder.

  "Come on!" He demanded. "What's your guys's problem? We need to get her to the Big House!"

  It was as if everybody's feet were planted into the ground. Not when Chiron moved. They were all too stunned.

  The girl shuddered, and inhaled a shaky breath. She coughed and opened her eyes.

  They were a startling blue— electric blue. Similar to Magdalena's, except they were more bold.

  The girl studied Percy in bewilderment, wide-eyed. "Who— "

  "I'm Percy," he said. "It's okay, you're safe."

  "I had . . . Strangest dream . . . "

  "You're okay."

  "Dying."

  "No," Percy reassured. "You're alive. What's your name?"

  And that's when Percy knew, before she even said it.

  Her blue eyes stared into Percy's green ones, and he now understood what the quest of the Golden Fleece had really been for. The tree getting poisoned. Everything made sense now. Kronos had done this to add another chess piece into the game— another way to change the prophecy.

  Even Chiron, Annabeth, Magdalena, Magnus, and Grover, who should've been celebrating, were stunned into silence, thinking about how their future had just flipped upside down. And Percy had someone who was destined to be a close from of his in his arms, or a possible worst enemy.

  "My name is Thalia," she said. "Daughter of Zeus."

ANNA'S NOTES!
Y'all are abt to be SICK OF MEEEEEE I'm a little too ready to write ttc😅😅 I've alr pre written the first 5 and I'm itching to post them

But like hi Astreaus??? He shows up just to tell his kids that they actually are a part of some major prophecy and that they need to continue doing what he says or else!!! Father of the year ts