Hey! I wrote all day and in every class today to bring you guys this. I hope it reaches your levels of expectations. Now for chapter 12, my lovely readers!

Chapter Twelve: At the archery range.

Point of view: Perseus Jackson

Three arrows twang from my bow and thud into three separate bullseyes at the same time.

"Still think he's a terrible archer?" Artemis asks. "My Guardian is a master archer. Do not insult my choice of a protector. Think before you speak, boy."

"Forgive me, Lady Artemis." Malcolm begs.

"This time. Next time you will feel my wrath. Were you not watching him in the image or were you too busy being terrified?" Artemis replies.

"What image?" A camper asks.

"My time down in Tartarus, child." I answer for Artemis.

"Oh, sorry." The camper says.

"It is fine." I wave it off. "Whoever is going to improve their skill in archery, stay here with Phoebe. Touch my sister and you die. Do as she says. The rest of you are with me." I order them.

The entire Apollo cabin stays with Phoebe. Along with a few Hermes kids, a couple Hecate and Demeter campers, surprisingly a lot of Romans, some Athena children, the whole Iris cabin, and a select few from all the other cabins.

Hazel, Frank, and Reyna are on sentry duty at the border. I lead the remaining campers up to the Arena and when they all file in I speculate how I want to proceed. "Those who wish to learn in the ways of the sword stand over there, those who wish to better themselves in the spear to my right, and those who wish to learn something else stay where you are." I tell them. Most go to the sword area, the Hunters but a few go to the spear spot to my right, and there are ten people remaining in front of me who want to learn a different skill set. "Pick your weapon that suits you if you don't have it with you already."

I walk over to the people who want to learn more with a sword. I realize that I know all of them and they look at me expectantly. "Take your stance." I show them the basics all over again and make them repeat the drill over and over. I walk back and forth between the three stations. The hunters rogress faster because they are more eager to learn. The campers are uneasy around me and tend to stress under my teachings. Nonetheless, they all improve in what they chose to work on. The 'special group' of ten has two dual wielders for swords, a trident, a dual wielder for daggers, three sword and shield,  one axe user, and the last two are a sword and a dagger, wielded together.

Artemis seems to enjoy learning how to use a spear with the majority of her hunters. She picks it up the easiest. After a few hours, Phoebe leads the people who stayed behind for bows, into the Arena.

"Time to switch?" Phoebe asks.

I nod. "Water break! Thalia, take over archery for Phoebe. Those who wish to return or start at archery will follow Thalia when ready. Those who just came from archery gather round." I announce and wait for the archery class to get their drinks and come to stand in front of me. "Which style of fighting do each of you wish to learn?" I ask.

Frank and Hazel come in and ask if they can train for the remainder of the day. "Very well. Reyna?" I ask.

"Said she wanted to think by herself and that she was too wired to have people around her at the moment. She insisted on watching alone." Hazel answers.

"Alright then. Skill set of choice for the class?" I look at them.

"Bow." Frank answers.

"Go with Thalia. Hazel?" I say.

"I want to learn how to use a dagger for shortened reach purposes." She replies. I nod in answer.

So it is the same as last time, just with three people in the 'special group.' Hazel with a dagger, another camper with a sword and shield, and a Roman who wishes to learn how to fight in hand-to-hand combat. Interesting. I'll be focusing on him the most then. He needs to have a physical presence to try to hit him. The hunters stay in their groups except for the ones that switched to spear from the 'speial group' and the ones who switched from spear to sword. Artemis stays in spear.

When the conch horn blows, my class has progressed to the level of the last one and some more than them because they stayed. I still spar with the Roman who wanted to fight with his hands. The others head down to the pavilion for dinner. I catch his fist, "Break time, kid. Lets go eat." I say and we walk into the pavilion.

He turns to me before I sit down. "Thank you, Percy, right? I feel better now that I can defend myself without a weapon. I usually use a sword and I end up losing it or getting disarmed all the time." He holds out his hand. I look at it then decide he's never done anything to me because of the one bar on his tattoo for one year of service, I grip his arm.

"No problem kid. Enjoy your food. Word to the wise. In the game tonight, be aware of everything around you or you might regret it. You'll see what I mean when most of the boys fall over." I tell him and sit by Thalia after sacrificing some of my food.

"That was really fun Percy. How did you manage to make it that way?" Phoebe asks, she's jumping in her seat with excitement.

"I know what most people like and suited it to their learning process so everyone would prgress at much the same rate. If I didn't know you, I would analyze you as an individual a tweek my curiculum based on what was wrong with whatever weapon you chose to use." I answer her.

"Okay, get out of teacher mode brother." Thalia punches my arm playfully.

I chuckle. "I won't be out of it for awhile. At least not until after the game. We are so going to win, but I want to see how everbody does in whatever weapon they are using tonight. You guys using your new skills or going with marksman?" I ask, looking at my sisters.

"We will start out with our bows, then if we get the chance we will use our other weapons." Artemis states.

"Are you participating, my lady?" I ask Artemis.

"No. I wish to watch you all in action. I want to see how great you guys are after three years of not playing this game of theirs." Artemis replies.

"Okay." I nod. "What's the plan?"

"You get the flag of the Romans and I get the Greeks. The rest of our sisters defend and snipe. Basic plan for this game. It's all we'll need." Thalia says.

"Sounds good. Where is our flag?" I ask.

"Atalanta is getting it. Two others went to get their camp's respective flag." Joslyn tells me.

Then, Reyna comes running upto me, out of breath. "Hill...monsters...Nico. Help." She gets out and points at Half-Blood Hill. I see bones flying up into the air and their bright white color against the setting sky.

My eyes widen. I will keep my promise. I take off at full speed with the rest of the camp and Hunters tailing behind me. I reach the crest of the hill and see Nico di Angelo surrounded by monsters, his skeleton army falling left and right. I rush into action and become a catastrophic forc of pure death. I see a monster sneak up behind Nico and I'm blocking it in a flash of celestial bronze. Sword versus trident.

Nico turns, surprise clear in the features of his face. "Watch your back, Death Breath." I say and kill the sneaking monster.

"Percy?!" Nico exclaims and cuts down a few monsters.

"Do I look like anyone else?" I ask, false hurt in my voice.

"Explain." He demands and slashes at another monster. Why such a big group?

"All in due time." I tell him and mow down the last of the monsters. "For now, get within camp borders." I say and nudge him towards camp.

Once in, he whirls around and stops me abruptly. "Tell me. Now." He's putting his foot down, eh? Good for him.

"I see you've grown." Is all I reply with and smile at him.

"Stop avoiding the subject." Nico says seriously.

"I only commented on your growth rate, no need to be hasty. C'mon, before you get too feisty. I shall explain. I'll be in the game, don't worry milady!" I call to Artemis, who is already back into the pavilion. She waves her arm to know she heard.

"Where are we going?" Nico asks suspiciously.

"Would you relax? The Big House." i answer and haul him to the living room inside the place.

I tell him everything. Down to the last detail. He listens intently and pales further every seond until I tell him anout my new life in the Hunt.

"So, you joined the group my sister did? Is it nice?" Nico asks.

"Very. They are wonderful people and treat me like one of their own. I thrive in the Hunt, like I was meant to be in it. I really wish your sister was here to share in the enjoyment. Zoe too." I sigh. "I would give anything to restore their lives to them."

"Glad to hear you say that, Perce. I don't think I can be mad at you over your disappearance. I should be arguing with Thalia as to why she hasn't told me." Nico smiles.

"The Hunt cut off almost all ties unless we are called upon. They did it for me, even though I told them not to. The only visitors we ever get are Apollo, Hera, and Hestia. Now I must train these kids." I say.

"I guess I'm not older than you now." Nico chuckles.

"You are in a sense. Different era, Nico. You are old-fashioned, whereas I'm just tired old." I say and rest my arm on the back of the couch.

"I know what you mean. But why didn't you contact me? I was concerned, Perce." Nico tells me with a worried look set upon his face.

"Apollo was working with my "PTSD"." I put air quotes around the healthe term. "I wasn't allowed to trigger my past a whole lot. I asked hades about you when I got back, I thought he woud tell you." I shrug.

"I'll talk with him later then. I understand. Do you feel any better? I figure you're tired of that question, but humor me. I haven't seen you in three years." Nico reminds me.

"Yeah. I feel great. The Hunt loves me and I them." I tell him.

"Percy. That's not what I asked. Your aura is...wavering uncontrollably with emotions." Nico tells me.

"Hold out your arm, Nico." I whisper.

He looks at me questioningly, but does as I ask. I lean forward and clasp my hand onto his arm and he grips mine in return.

"I'm going to let you feel what I do. I will use Hestia and Hera's blesings. Brace yourself. You will not like my swirling emotions." A white glow emits from my hand and different colors surround Nico. After a few minutes, I let go and he lets his arm fall.

"That was...weird. So you're joyous, yet upset. Angry and strained. But you are excited and nervous. That is just messed up. Why are you so mixed?" Nico wonders.

"Because I'm at camp, yet I'm here with my sisters. The better emotions extends towards you and them. The others just sit there and simmer because I'm back in this place. I do not like the constant flood of memories pouring into my head every time I look at the tiniest detail or a familiar person in general." I explain.

"So I see. What game? Capture the Flag?" Nico asks, leaning back into the couch like I am.

"Yeah." I answer.

"I'm abstaining, I will not fight against you with those idiots." Nico states.

"How much taller are you?" I ask out of curiosity, it finally got to me. He looks to be about, well a lot taller, more muscular, he's a little less pale, tired-looking, and seemingly happy in my presence. He looks like what I do, but with the characteristics of Hades and his hair is in much the same state as the last time I saw him.

"I don't know. I hardly notice. I'm like seventeen now or would it be like eighty-four? My best guess is over a foot." Nico shrugs.

"You don't remember how old you are?" I ask in disbelief.

"I was frantic in my search for you. I lost count. It felt like forever, plus the constant demands of my father screw with my brain. I get so confused sometimes. It's been hetic without you Percy. At least you helped me when I needed it." Nico says.

"Yes, well I consider you my little brother and I promised Bianca. Not to mention you're about the only friend I have outside the Hunt. Anything I should know?" I tell him.

"Well, if it means anything to you, Hazel and Frank are livid with everbody from the Greek encampment. All the Romans are. And Reyna is right up there with them." Nico informs me.

"So I noticed. It's why I don't speak to them like I do the others." I say.

"Good. Hazel helped me for the first year, but then Reyna called her back to be like her lieutenant. So her attention was demanded elsewhere. Frank would've helped, but he is the other praetor. His duties were scattered over the country trying to find Roman demigods and quests and everything. I tend to spend my free time with those three at New Rome rather than here. Reyna was on a rampage fpr months trying to find you after she almost killed Jason. Piper got her to stop after receiving a black eye. I help the Romans with tasks now and then. It's why I have one year of service." He shows me his tatto with one mark and the symbol of Pluto on his skin.

"Sounds like paradise for you, other than the searching for me part. Yep. Been with the Hunt since I got back." I say.

"Yeah. We need to hang out now that I know you're safe. I'm sorry about your parents Percy. My dad told me and I myself dug into Minos and tore him apart. I can deliver a message to them if you want." Nico offers.

I perk up at this. "Really?"

Nico smiles. "Yes. You can even write it down so I won't forget anything." He says.

I hug him. "Thank you!" He hugs back.

"No problem, Percy." Nico pats my back.

I pull away and the conch horn signalling the game is about to start goes off. "That means I got to go. I must help my sisters. Maybe Artemis will let you side with us this once. Come on!" I drag him out of the Big House.

YAY! Chapter done! The next two days at school for me are easy peasy days, so I will write my hand off for you all. Well, hands. I can now write left-handed as well. It's slower, but it works. Thanks for reading this if you did! You are officially awesome in my book! Rick Riordan owns PJO/HOO. Until next chapter, my lovely readers!