𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐈𝐈.
where's the trophy? he just comes running over to me

ᯓᡣ𐭩

𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐆 was Maisie's idea of fun. Fighting when she wasn't running for her life was exciting to her. Maybe that had something to do with the fact that her mother was the goddess of war. Or maybe she was a masochist.

She had been training with Annabeth, the younger girl shouting out orders and helping her teammates, when she spotted Luke.

He was with the new kid, Percy, showing him around. Maisie knew Percy would be on their team for Capture The Flag and she was stoked. Annabeth was confident about Percy, so, so was Maisie.

"Annabeth's the head counselor of the Athena cabin. She's led our team to three straight wins. Been a long time since anyone's won a fourth," Maisie heard Luke say, feeling a sense of pride for her younger sister.

"And that's Maisie. Also daughter of Athena. Don't get on her bad side," Luke introduced her. He noticed her watching them so he motioned for her to join them, which she did.

"I'm starting to think I shouldn't mess with any Athena kid," Percy said.

"Yeah, it wouldn't end well for you," Luke said, smirking at Maisie when she arrived.

"Don't listen to him," she told Percy. "We're on the same side." Maisie offered her hand for Percy to shake, which he accepted.

"Annabeth was there in the bathroom," Percy said once their hands dropped. "She said she'd been waiting for it to happen."

All three of them turned to look at Annabeth, who was still training her teammates. She noticed their looks and sent a small smile their way.

"Annabeth sees the world differently. Always six steps ahead of everyone else," Luke offered. "You should cut her a break."

"Whose side are you on, anyway?" Percy asked.

"Oh, hers, always. She's my little sister," Luke responded. Maisie could see the confusion in Percy's face at Luke's statement.

"Maybe I should back up," he continued.

"You think?" Maisie teased. Luke elbowed her and started guiding Percy away to offer him an explanation.

Maisie went back to Annabeth with a smile on her face.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

The first conch shell sounded, indicating that the game was starting.

"Heroes... it's time," Chiron confirmed. "The game begins."

"Let's go," Annabeth instructed her cabin, leading them all towards the forest, where the game would be held.

Maisie quickly found Luke, guiding Percy to the "battle field". He hadn't put on his armor yet, which Maisie saw as a great opportunity. She sneaked up behind him and tickled his sides, causing Luke to turn around abruptly and catch her wrists.

"Stop that, smartie," he said, smiling despite himself.

"How about no," Maisie replied, attempting to tickle him again, but his grip on her wrists was too strong.

Luke laughed at her futile attempts and pressed a quick kiss on her forehead.

"We have a game to win, Luke," Maisie teased, smirking.

"I know. You're my good luck charm."

His words brought blood to Maisie's cheeks, which she tried to hide, in vain.

Luke smiled and squeezed her hands before letting go and leaving her.

"I didn't know you were together."

Maisie turned around to the source of the voice, seeing Percy standing a few steps behind her.

"Oh, did he fail to mention that?"

Percy shrugged. "It's the ADHD, I suppose."

Maisie smiled at that. "Probably. Come on, let's win this thing."

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

"As always there will be no maiming and no killing. I trust these rules will be respected. Any magical items you may possess are permitted as well," Chiron explained. "Every camper who is not injured..." he went on.

Maisie noticed Percy shift uneasily at the mention of magical items.

"It's okay," Luke reassured him. "Let her rip," he said, tilting his head.

"I still don't even know what my job is," Percy said. "Maybe I won't even need a sword."

Maisie smiled at his ignorance.

"Let the games begin."

The opposing team yelled and banged their weapons on their shields, causing an annoying amount of noise.

"I'm gonna need a sword," Percy decided.

Their team did their own round of battle cries. Right after, Annabeth approached them.

"Alright. We have twenty minutes before the second conch and game on. You guys know what you're doing?" she asked the older pair.

"Yes ma'am," both Luke and Maisie said simultaneously. They looked at each other, suppressing their laughter.

"Hey," Annabeth said, making them turn back to her. "Today feel like a winning kind of day to you?"

"I'll see you on the other side," Luke said.

Maisie patted Annabeth's shoulder once before leaving with Luke. Percy started following them, as no one had told him what to do.

"Not you sunshine. You're with me," Annabeth told him, making him follow her.

"She's gonna eat him alive," Maisie commented once they were out of earshot of the younger kids.

"Oh, definitely. She's my plan to toughen him up," Luke agreed, making Maisie let out a laugh.

"You're evil."

Luke smirked at that. "Maybe. Come on," he said, placing his hand on her back and guiding her into the forest.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Maisie was slashing with her daggers, anywhere she could find an opening.

She was fighting two of their opponents, while Luke and Chris were both fighting one at a time. Maisie made a mental note to make fun of him for that later.

She was still dodging their blows and fighting back when the one Luke had been fighting declared their surrender.

"I wanna move quick," Luke said, pulling Chris up. "Straight through the woods to their flag."

"Clarisse hunts in those woods for the first few hours, you know that," Chris argued. "She's gonna cut us down."

"Annabeth's got a plan. Percy's on it."

Chris was visibly unsure of that plan.

"When it's time, he's gonna be ready. I know it," Luke said confidently. Maisie hoped that were true.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

As they were walking through the forest, on their way to the opposing team's flag, Maisie spoke.

"Let me get this straight. Annabeth's plan for Percy is to let him distract Clarisse, so we can get the flag?"

"Exactly," Luke confirmed.

"Meaning Percy is out there right now, probably fighting for his life against Clarisse, who has a huge grudge against him, because she thinks he's a fraud?" she continued.

"Probably."

"Oh, he's so screwed. I'm gonna go find him," Maisie said before turning to leave the boys.

"It's your funeral," Chris commented.

"Be careful," Luke shouted after her. She turned back and gave him an encouraging smile before leaving them.

Maisie believed Percy would be able to handle himself. She just wanted to give him some help, since no one had done so so far. And Clarisse could be ruthless when she felt like it.

She finally found them by the water, fighting. Truthfully, it was mostly Clarisse attempting to kill Percy and Percy dodging her blows. He either got lucky every time, or was genuinely really good, but didn't know it yet.

Maisie stepped forward to get out of the woods, when an invisible force pulled her back.

"What the-"

"Shh!" sounded Annabeth's voice and Maisie visibly relaxed.

Her younger sister took off her Yankees cap and became visible again.

"Don't interfere. At least, not yet. He can do this," she told her.

"How long have you been out here, not helping him?" Maisie asked in a low voice, careful not to be heard.

"A while. I have a hunch, okay? Trust me on this one," Annabeth said in the same hushed tone.

Maisie did trust her sister. Normally, she would have given up after a day on some other new kid, but she seemed certain about Percy.

So she stayed back. They watched the Ares' kids fight Percy relentlessly until Clarisse's spear broke. Maisie hissed silently, knowing what was about to come. Clarisse was very serious about her spear.

Clarisse screamed at Percy, who looked terrified. She grabbed him, ready to kill him with her own eyes, when battle cries of victory echoed everywhere.

Maisie saw Luke and the rest of their team running to place the flag on the ground.

After Luke slammed the flag in the sand and celebrated with Chris, his eyes started roaming around the beach, looking for hers.

When he finally spotted her, he took off his helmet, letting it fall to the ground, and made his way to her.

Maisie's helmet had already been discarded when she and Annabeth were hiding behind some bushes, watching Percy's and Clarisse's fight.

Once Luke reached her, he pulled her in by the bottom of her chest plate and kissed her. Maisie placed her hand on the back of his neck, pulling him closer.

They pulled away shortly after, knowing they'd get told off if they kept it up for too long.

"What is wrong with you?" Percy shouted, causing everyone's heads to turn towards him. Apparently, Annabeth had pushed him into the water.

"Oh, boy," Maisie whispered, making Luke let out a laugh.

Suddenly, Percy's wounds from the fight with Clarisse started to heal. Percy noticed too, because he looked at them confused.

Maisie connected the dots before the sign appeared above his head.

"I don't understand," Percy said, his brows furrowed.

That's when they saw it. A trident had appeared above Percy. A symbol of his dad. Poseidon.

"Your dad's calling," Annabeth said, a smile on her face.

───────

dear reader!

I've been wanting to write this chapter ever since I first thought of this fic idea!! hope you enjoyed!