(Y/N)'s POV

We arrived in Long Island just after Clarisse, thanks to the centaurs' travel powers. When we got to camp, the centaurs were anxious to meet Dionysus. They'd heard he threw some really wild parties, but they were disappointed.

The wine god was in no mood to celebrate as the whole camp gathered at the top of Half-Blood Hill. The camp had been through a hard two weeks. With the barrier down and Tantalus's terrible supervision, the demigods had barely managed to survive based solely on their battle prowess.

The arts and crafts cabin had burned to the ground from an attack by a Draco Aionius, which I had never encountered but as near as I could figure was Latin for 'really-big-lizard-with-breath-that-blows-stuff-up'.

The Big House's rooms were overflowing with wounded. The kids in the Apollo cabin, who were the best healers, had been working overtime performing first aid. Everybody looked weary and battered as we crowded around Thalia's tree.

The moment Clarisse draped the Golden Fleece over the lowest bough, the moonlight seemed to brighten, turning from grey to liquid silver. A cool breeze rustled in the branches and rippled through the grass, all the way into the valley.

Everything came into sharper focus—the glow of the fireflies down in the woods, the smell of the strawberry fields, the sound of the waves on the beach. Gradually, the needles on the pine tree started turning from brown to green.

Everybody cheered. It was happening slowly, but there could be no doubt—the Fleece's magic was seeping into the tree, filling it with new power and expelling the poison. Chiron ordered a twenty-four/seven guard duty on the hilltop, at least until he could find an appropriate monster to protect the Fleece.

He said he'd place an ad in Olympus Weekly right away. Until then, they used the monster they had on hand, I sat at the base of the tree for a few hours, hoping for some leftover healing. Very proud of myself.

"Now were even." I said to the tree as I sat by it and watched as Clarisse was carried on her cabin mates' shoulders down to the amphitheatre, where she was honoured with a laurel wreath and a lot of celebrating around the campfire.

The air felt different around the tree now, like something was missing, I had presumed it was the poison that had begun to fade from it's roots, It would take me a few days to realise I was wrong.

Nobody gave Annabeth or Percy a second look, I got quite a few, the mist wasn't working out well in camp and I couldn't cover myself forever. Chiron promised that once the tree had fully recovered, I could be next, he said it would only take a few days.

I was too impatient for that. I enlisted some help, annoying help. I was poked in the hand, "Does that hurt?" "No." Then in the cheek, "Does that?" "No..." I sighed, "Trippy. Can you close your eyes and blink?" "Yes." "So, it's just superficial. Did you know your skin is the largest organ on your body, maybe that's why it-"

"Lou Ellen. Can you just fix it?" She shook her head, "Nope. Sorry, I've never shadow travelled, I don't know the process that you've been through, so I can't reverse it." I sighed, "How are your lips?" She asked.

"Numb." I sulked, both at my missed opportunity during paintball, and my recent decision to ask for her help. The mist shimmered, "Oh wow, I saw your whole skeleton that time! So it's your muscles too" She said, before pausing in thought. "You can't feel your lips?" "No."

"So how do you say your 'P's' and your 'M's?" She asked, I thumped the top of her head, "Magic." "Where's Al gone? I'm sure he can think of something." I asked, she shrugged, "I haven't seen him all day, he's been acting strangely, maybe he's in the big house?" I shrugged, "I'll find him later.

After I had just escaped Lou Ellen's constant questioning, I was met with another round and had my weapons stripped from me before I could even say hello.

"Well, you've seen better days." Said Beckendorf as he looked over my weapons. "So have you." I said, pointing to the cuts and bruises that littered his body after protecting the camp. He grumbled something, shrugged and moved on.

"How did the skateboard do?" I shrugged, "Didn't use it much, being on the ocean and all." He sighed; I know he wanted a field test. "Next time. Promise." He nodded, before he could walk away, I ordered something else, which he assured me would be easy as pie.

From there he simply walked away, not even asking about my adventure. Every camper just walked right past me, nobody bothered Percy or Annabeth, even Tyson was left to his own devices. It was as if we'd never left.

In a way, I guess that was the best thank-you anyone could give us, because if they admitted we'd snuck out of camp to do the quest, they'd have to expel us. And really, I didn't want any more attention.

Later that night, as we were roasting s'mores and listening to the Stoll brothers tell us a ghost story about an evil king who was eaten alive by demonic breakfast pastries.

When the others had cleared off Clarisse shoved me from behind and whispered in my ear, "Just because you were cool one time, don't think you're off the hook with Ares. I'm still waiting for the right opportunity to pulverize you. And that twerp Jackson."

"But my dear friend Clarisse. What have I ever done to irk your father? And besides, what makes you think that he's off the hook with me?" She glared at me.

As it turned out, she'd get her chance soon. The next morning, after the party ponies headed back to Florida, Chiron made a surprise announcement: the chariot races would go ahead as scheduled.

We'd all figured they were history now that Tantalus was gone but completing them did feel like the right thing to do, especially now that Chiron was back and the camp was safe. After that night, Chiron assured me that our next trip to Olympus was coming up.

"You mean-" He nodded, "The next time we visit Olympus, you shall come with me and you will earn your reward from the gods." I was ecstatic. Over the moon, I pestered Chiron every five minutes to go, so much so, that he decided to enter me in the chariot race to give me a distraction.

Much to my horror, this also came with a twist of fate that was the second biggest betrayal I'd ever encountered. Tyson wasn't too keen on the idea of getting back in a chariot after our first experience, so he let Percy team up with Annabeth.

"I am shocked and appalled. I see you both betray me the first chance you get. I won't forget this!" I sniffled. "Oh, can it you bag of bones" Percy said. "But Perseus. I thought we had something special!" I whimpered. "And you!" I turned to Annabeth, who was smiling at me. "Me?" She said innocently, pouting.

"First you assault me with paintballs and now you crush my heart! Have you no shame woman?" "You know, just because you start talking like the people who rode in chariots, doesn't mean your driving skills will improve." She smirked.

"Driving skills? I'll show you driving skills!" I stormed off in a fake fit of rage to prepare my chariot. But I was worried driving skills wouldn't be enough this time. I was outnumbered and outperformed.

Percy would drive, Annabeth would defend, and Tyson would act as their pit crew. Tyson fixed up Athena's chariot and added a whole bunch of special modifications. But my biggest problem was, my heart wasn't in it. I was too excited for the future.

I spent the next two days training like crazy. I didn't care about what I looked like, or the prize of no chores for the rest of the month. But I was going to have a busy month anyway. So I didn't care. I just wanted to win for the glory, and I knew this was going to be so much fun.

Percy's POV

Everybody was buzzing about the chariot race, though they kept glancing nervously toward the sky like they expected to see Stymphalian birds gathering. None did. It was a beautiful summer day with blue sky and plenty of sunshine.

"(Y/N)'s out of luck, barely any shadow." I smirked. The camp had started to look the way it should look: the meadows were green and lush; the white columns gleamed on the Greek buildings; dryads played happily in the woods.

As Annabeth and I drove onto the track, I couldn't help admiring the work Tyson had done on the Athena chariot. The carriage gleamed with bronze reinforcements.

The wheels were realigned with magical suspension, so we glided along with hardly a bump. The rigging for the horses was so perfectly balanced that the team turned at the slightest tug of the reins.

Tyson had also made us two javelins, each with three buttons on the shaft. The first button primed the javelin to explode on impact, releasing razor wire that would tangle and shred an opponent's wheels.

The second button produced a blunt (but still very painful) bronze spearhead designed to knock a driver out of his carriage. The third button brought up a grappling hook that could be used to lock onto an enemy's chariot or push it away.

I figured we were in pretty good shape for the race, but Tyson still warned me to be careful. The other chariot teams had plenty of tricks up their togas. "Here," he said, just before the race began. He handed me a wristwatch.

There wasn't anything special about it—just a white-and-silver clock face, a black leather strap—but as soon as I saw it I realized that this is what I'd seen him tinkering on all summer. I didn't usually like to wear watches. Who cared what time it was?

But I couldn't say no to Tyson. "Thanks, man." I put it on and found it was surprisingly light and comfortable. I could hardly tell I was wearing it. "Didn't finish in time for the trip," Tyson mumbled. "Sorry, sorry." "Hey, man. No big deal."

"If you need protection in race," he advised, "hit the button." "Ah, okay." I didn't see how keeping time was going to help a whole lot, but I was touched that Tyson was concerned. I promised him I'd remember the watch.

"And, hey, um, Tyson..." He looked at me. "I wanted to say, well..." I tried to figure out how to apologize for getting embarrassed about him before the quest, for telling everyone he wasn't my real brother.

It wasn't easy to find the words. "I know what you will tell me," Tyson said, looking ashamed. "Poseidon did care for me after all." "Uh, well—" "He sent you to help me. Just what I asked for."

I blinked. "You asked Poseidon for...me?" "For a friend," Tyson said, twisting his shirt in his hands. "Young Cyclopes grow up alone on the streets, learn to make things out of scraps. Learn to survive." "But that's so cruel!" He shook his head earnestly.

"Makes us appreciate blessings, not be greedy and mean and fat like Polyphemus. But I got scared. Monsters chased me so much, clawed me sometimes—" "The scars on your back?" A tear welled in his eye.

"Sphinx on Seventy-second Street. Big bully. I prayed to Daddy for help. Soon the people at Meriwether found me. Met you. Biggest blessing ever. Sorry I said Poseidon was mean. He sent me a brother."

"Bully on Seventy-Second street huh? I don't like bullies." Said (Y/N) as he pulled up beside us in his full battle getup again. He winked at me, then smirked at Annabeth, "Dinner is so on you." He said, she stuck her tongue out. "You wish."

I stared at the watch that Tyson had made me. "Percy!" Annabeth called. "Come on!" Chiron was at the starting line, ready to blow the conch. "Tyson..." I said. "Go," Tyson said. "You will win!" "I—yeah, okay, big guy. We'll win this one for you."

I climbed on board the chariot and got into position just as Chiron blew the starting signal. The horses knew what to do. We shot down the track so fast I would've fallen out if my arms hadn't been wrapped in the leather reins.

Annabeth held on tight to the rail. The wheels glided beautifully. We took the first turn a full chariot-length ahead of Clarisse, who was busy trying to fight off a javelin attack from the Stoll brothers in the Hermes chariot.

"We've got 'em!" I yelled, but I spoke too soon. "Incoming!" Annabeth yelled. She threw her first javelin in grappling hook mode, knocking away a lead-weighted net that would have entangled us both.

(Y/N) and the Apollo's chariot had both come up on our flank. Before Annabeth could rearm herself, the Apollo warrior threw a javelin into our right wheel. The javelin shattered, but not before snapping some of our spokes.

I saw (Y/N) lean over the front of his chariot and somehow the ground around us seemed to become slick, with what I'm not sure, but I saw the Apollo chariot having trouble too.

Our chariot lurched and wobbled. I was sure the wheel would collapse altogether, but we somehow kept going. I urged the horses to keep up the speed.

We were now neck and neck with Apollo and (Y/N). Hephaestus was coming up close behind. Ares and Hermes were falling behind, riding side by side as Clarisse went sword-on-javelin with Connor Stoll.

If we took one more hit to our wheel, I knew we would capsize. "You're mine!" the driver from Apollo yelled. He was a first-year camper. I didn't remember his name, but he sure was confident. "Yeah, right!" Annabeth yelled back.

She picked up her second javelin—a real risk considering we still had one full lap to go—and threw it at the Apollo driver. Her aim was perfect.

The javelin grew a heavy spear point just as it caught the driver in the chest, knocking him against his teammate and sending them both toppling out of their chariot in a backward somersault.

The horses felt the reins go slack and went crazy, riding straight for the crowd. Campers scrambled for cover as the horses leaped the corner of the bleachers and the golden chariot flipped over.

The horses galloped back toward their stable, dragging the upside down chariot behind them. I held our own chariot together through the second turn, despite the groaning of the right wheel. We passed the starting line and thundered into our final lap.

"You think you're getting away from me!" (Y/N) called as javelins of shadow began to rain from the sky, I could see now the Ares and Hermes teams were stuck in what must have been a puddle of shadow.

"Terry! Destroy their wheel!" (Y/N) cried maniacally as his ghost buddy took aim at our damaged wheel. Before he could he was secured around the waist and his ghost faded into the floor.

Beckendorf grinned as he pressed a button on his command console. Steel cables shot out of the front of his mechanical horses, wrapping around both (Y/N) and our back rail.

Our chariot shuddered as Beckendorf's winch system started working—pulling us backward while Beckendorf pulled himself forward. Annabeth cursed and drew her knife. She hacked at the cables but they were too thick.

"Can't cut them!" she yelled. The Hephaestus chariot was now dangerously close, (Y/N)'s chariot crushed in between us and them, "Beckendorf I'll get you for this!" (Y/N) cried as he was entangled and helpless.

"Switch with me!" I told Annabeth. "Take the reins!" "But—" "Trust me!" She pulled herself to the front and grabbed the reins. I turned, trying hard to keep my footing, and uncapped Riptide. I slashed down and the cables snapped like kite string.

We lurched forward, but Beckendorf's driver just swung his chariot to our left and pulled up next to us. (Y/N) fell behind, but was slowly gaining. Beckendorf drew his sword. He slashed at Annabeth, and I parried the blade away. We were coming up on the last turn. We'd never make it.

I needed to disable the Hephaestus chariot and get it out of the way, but I had to protect Annabeth, too. Just because Beckendorf was a nice guy didn't mean he wouldn't send us both to the infirmary if we let our guard down.

We were neck and neck now, Clarisse coming up from behind, making up for lost time. "See ya, Percy!" Beckendorf yelled. "Here's a little parting gift!" He threw a leather pouch into our chariot. It stuck to the floor immediately and began billowing green smoke.

"Greek fire!" Annabeth yelled. I cursed. I'd heard stories about what Greek fire could do. I figured we had maybe ten seconds before it exploded. "Get rid of it!" Annabeth shouted, but I couldn't.

Hephaestus's chariot was still alongside, waiting until the last second to make sure their little present blew up. Beckendorf was keeping me busy with his sword. If I let my guard down long enough to deal with the Greek fire, Annabeth would get sliced and we'd crash anyway.

I tried to kick the leather pouch away with my foot, but I couldn't. It was stuck fast. Then I remembered the watch. I didn't know how it could help, but I managed to punch the stopwatch button.

Instantly, the watch changed. It expanded, the metal rim spiralling outward like an old-fashioned camera shutter, a leather strap wrapping around my forearm until I was holding a round war shield four feet wide.

The inside soft leather, the outside polished bronze engraved with designs I didn't have time to examine. All I knew: Tyson had come through. I raised the shield, and Beckendorf's sword clanged against it. His blade shattered.

"What?" he shouted. "How—" He didn't have time to say more because I knocked him in the chest with my new shield and sent him flying out of his chariot, tumbling in the dirt.

I was about use Riptide to slash at the driver when Annabeth yelled, "Percy!" The Greek fire was shooting sparks. I shoved the tip of my sword under the leather pouch and flipped it up like a spatula. The firebomb dislodged and flew into the Hephaestus chariot at the driver's feet.

He yelped. In a split second the driver made the right choice: he dove out of the chariot, which careened away and exploded in green flames. The metal horses seemed to short-circuit.

They turned and dragged the burning wreckage back toward Clarisse and the Stoll brothers, who had to swerve to avoid it. But another problem arose, our friend had learnt a new trick apparently.

As I was sure the wreckage would block our competition, (Y/N) travelled straight through it, like smoke, his horses, his chariot, even himself. "LET'S GO!" He bellowed in challenge, steaming towards us.

Annabeth pulled the reins for the last turn. I held on, sure we would capsize, but somehow she brought us through, our two chariots were neck and neck until the final turn, where (Y/N) lost control of his and flipped his, skidding along on his back. "NO!" He shouted.

I didn't have time to worry about him now, I spurred the horses across the finish line. The crowd roared. Once the chariot stopped, our friends mobbed us. They started chanting our names, but Annabeth yelled over the noise: "Hold up! Listen! It wasn't just us!"

The crowd didn't want to be quiet, but Annabeth made herself heard: "We couldn't have done it without somebody else! We couldn't have won this race or gotten the Fleece or saved Grover or anything! We owe our lives to Tyson, Percy's..."

"Brother!" I said, loud enough for everybody to hear. "Tyson, my baby brother." Tyson blushed. The crowd cheered. Annabeth planted a kiss on my cheek. The roaring got a lot louder after that. (Y/N) walked up, taking off his helmet.

"What no second place prize?" He asked, making a kissing face. The whole camp seemed to pause, they all knew what was coming, Chiron covered his eyes, he knew what was coming.

As (Y/N) closed his eyes, I knew what was coming, as Annabeth shook her head, the whole camp knew what was coming, by the gods I think he knew what was coming.

But he didn't stop her, as expected, she punched him, he tumbled down and started laughing. "I'll get you next time." he told Annabeth, "Sure, after you buy me dinner." She laughed. Kissing him quickly on the cheek too.

The entire Athena cabin lifted me and Annabeth and Tyson onto their shoulders and carried us toward the winner's platform, where Chiron was waiting to bestow the laurel wreaths.

(Y/N)'s POV

That afternoon was one of the happiest I'd ever spent at camp, and not just because of the kiss I couldn't feel, which maybe goes to show, you never know when your world is about to be rocked to pieces.

After I had my appointment with the Fleece had returned me to my former glory and I packed a bag to depart for Olympus, Grover announced that he'd be able to spend the rest of the summer with us before resuming his quest for Pan.

His bosses at the Council of Cloven Elders were so impressed that he hadn't gotten himself killed and had cleared the way for future searchers, that they granted him a two-month furlough and a new set of reed pipes.

The only bad news: Grover insisted on playing those pipes all afternoon long, and his musical skills hadn't improved much. He played "YMCA," and the strawberry plants started going crazy, wrapping around our feet like they were trying to strangle us. I guess I couldn't blame them.

"You know G-Money, I loved that song. Until you played it." I teased as me and Annabeth departed to scene of him butchering it. "You don't appreciate art!" He called after us, "And you don't appreciate my eardrums!"

We made our way down to the training area, "Ready to be a loser twice in one day?" She joked as we prepared to scale the climbing wall. "I'm always ready to be a loser...wait no!" I said in confusion, followed by an absolute destruction of my pride.

I got demolished, even worse than the chariot race. "Six...sixteen...seconds...how..." I said with heaving breaths as I collapsed to the floor. "You are definitely part satyr." I said as she towered over me, smirking.

"I'm taking that as an acknowledgement of skill. Thanks Lady Helen." She said, I shot up, "Not you too!" I glared at Clarisse, who was laughing at the other side of the training area.

"Who do you think taught Clarisse to climb so well when she first got here?" I rolled my eyes, "Chiron." She elbowed me, "Don't be a jerk, it's unbecoming of a lady." She smiled. Speak of the devil.

Chiron then interrupted to tell us some sad news, good news, but sad news. "We have to say goodbye!" I insisted, but he shook his head, "I am afraid it is too late." We looked at each other, and nodded.

Before we left I asked, "What, no second place prize?" jokingly, she frowned at me, "Don't push it ghost boy." I sighed, "Ghost man!" I said as we set off.

Percy's POV

I was happy for Tyson, the campers treated him like a hero but as we were sitting on a sand dune overlooking the Long Island Sound, he made an announcement that completely took me by surprise.

"Dream came from Daddy last night," he said. "He wants me to visit." I wondered if he was kidding, but Tyson really didn't know how to kid. "Poseidon sent you a dream message?" Tyson nodded.

"Wants me to go underwater for the rest of the summer. Learn to work at Cyclopes' forges. He called it an inter—an intern—" "An internship?" "Yes." I let that sink in.

I'll admit, I felt a little jealous. Poseidon had never invited me underwater. But then I thought, Tyson was going? Just like that? "When would you leave?" I asked. "Now."

"Now. Like...now now?" "Now." I stared out at the waves in the Long Island Sound. The water was glistening red in the sunset. "I'm happy for you, big guy," I managed. "Seriously." "Hard to leave my new brother," he said with a tremble in his voice.

"But I want to make things. Weapons for the camp. You will need them." Unfortunately, I knew he was right. The Fleece hadn't solved all the camp's problems. Luke was still out there, gathering an army aboard the Princess Andromeda.

Kronos was still reforming in his golden coffin. Eventually, we would have to fight them. "You'll make the best weapons ever," I told Tyson. I held up my watch proudly. "I bet they'll tell good time, too." Tyson sniffled.

"Brothers help each other." "You're my brother," I said. "No doubt about it." He patted me on the back so hard he almost knocked me down the sand dune. Then he wiped a tear from his cheek and stood to go. "Use the shield well."

"I will, big guy." "Save your life some day." The way he said it, so matter-of-fact, I wondered if that Cyclops eye of his could see into the future. He headed down to the beach and whistled. Rainbow, the hippocampus, burst out of the waves.

I watched the two of them ride off together into the realm of Poseidon. Once they were gone, I looked down at my new wristwatch. I pressed the button and the shield spiralled out to full size.

Hammered into the bronze were pictures in Ancient Greek style, scenes from our adventures this summer.

There was Annabeth slaying a Laistrygonian dodgeball player, me fighting the bronze bulls on Half-Blood Hill, Tyson riding Rainbow toward the Princess Andromeda, the CSS Birmingham blasting its cannons at Charybdis.

I ran my hand across a picture of Tyson, battling the Hydra as he held aloft a box of Monster Donuts. I couldn't help feeling sad. I knew Tyson would have an awesome time under the ocean.

But I'd miss everything about him—his fascination with horses, the way he could fix chariots or crumple metal with his bare hands, or tie bad guys into knots. I'd even miss him snoring like an earthquake in the next bunk all night.

"Hey, Percy." I turned. Annabeth, (Y/N) and Grover were standing at the top of the sand dune. I guess maybe I had some sand in my eyes, because I was blinking a lot.

"Tyson..." I told them. "He had to..." "We know," Annabeth said softly. "Chiron told us." "Cyclopes forges." Grover shuddered. "I hear the cafeteria food there is terrible! Like, no enchiladas at all."

"I'm sure he'll manage." Said (Y/N), "Tyson's a tough cookie." Annabeth nodded, "Come on, Seaweed Brain. Time for dinner." "Blue Pizza anyone?" (Y/N) asked. "Vegetarian of course" He added for Grover's sake.

We walked back toward the dining pavilion together, just the four of us, like old times. For the rest of the day, all I could think about was my brother and how I'd miss him.

A storm raged that night, but it parted around Camp Half-Blood as storms usually did. Lightning flashed against the horizon, waves pounded the shore, but not a drop fell in our valley. We were protected again, thanks to the Fleece, sealed inside our magical borders.

Still, my dreams were restless. I heard Kronos taunting me from the depths of Tartarus: "Polyphemus sits blindly in his cave, young hero, believing he has won a great victory. Are you any less deluded?" The titan's cold laughter filled the darkness.

Then my dream changed. I was following Tyson to the bottom of the sea, into the court of Poseidon. It was a radiant hall filled with blue light, the floor cobbled with pearls.

And there, on a throne of coral, sat my father, dressed like a simple fisherman in khaki shorts and a sun bleached T-shirt. I looked up into his tan weathered face, his deep green eyes, and he spoke two words: "Brace yourself."

I woke with a start. There was a banging on the door. Grover flew inside without waiting for permission. "Percy!" he stammered. "Annabeth...on the hill...she..." The look in his eyes told me something was terribly wrong.

Annabeth had been on guard duty that night, protecting the Fleece. If something had happened— I ripped off the covers, my blood like ice water in my veins. I threw on some clothes while Grover tried to make a complete sentence, but he was too stunned, too out of breath.

"She's lying there...just lying there..." I ran outside and raced across the central yard, Grover right behind me. Dawn was just breaking, but the whole camp seemed to be stirring. Word was spreading. Something huge had happened.

A few campers were already making their way toward the hill, satyrs and nymphs and heroes in a weird mix of armour and pyjamas. I heard the clop of horse hooves, and Chiron galloped up behind us, looking grim. "Is it true?" he asked Grover.

Grover could only nod, his expression dazed. I tried to ask what was going on, but Chiron grabbed me by the arm and effortlessly lifted me onto his back. Together we thundered up Half-Blood Hill, where a small crowd had started to gather.

I expected to see the Fleece missing from the pine tree, but it was still there, glittering in the first light of dawn. The storm had broken and the sky was blood red. "Curse the titan lord," Chiron said. "He's tricked us again, given himself another chance to control the prophecy."

I felt a shimmer next to me and saw (Y/N) appear at the top of the hill, holding his sword, but as he appeared it clattered to the grass. I heard a crack of thunder and a cry of pain echo across the hill from his lips.

"Di Immortales." He said dropping to his knees, he turned to Chiron. "He knew it would happen. He planned it. He's played us all." "What do you mean?" I asked Chiron.

"The Fleece," he said. "The Fleece did its work too well." We galloped forward, everyone moving out of our way. There at the base of the tree, a girl was lying unconscious. Another girl in Greek armour was kneeling next to her.

Blood roared in my ears. I couldn't think straight. Annabeth had been attacked? But why was the Fleece still there? The tree itself looked perfectly fine, whole and healthy, suffused with the essence of the Golden Fleece.

"It healed the tree," Chiron said, his voice ragged. "And poison was not the only thing it purged." Then I realized Annabeth wasn't the one lying on the ground. She was the one in armour, kneeling next to the unconscious girl.

When Annabeth saw us, she ran to Chiron. "It...she...just suddenly there..." Her eyes were streaming with tears, but I still didn't understand. (Y/N) approached us.

"I can't go near her to check just in case. I could kill her or she could kill me...again." (Y/N) looked worried, very worried. " Chiron, what does this mean for my-"

He stopped himself, "No, I shouldn't think of myself right now. I'll go Iris message him, tell him she's back." He said, pulling out a gold drachma.

He looked to Chiron and said "She shouldn't be here. I thought she had passed. How-" Chiron raised a hand to him. "There is no need for the message. Prepare yourself child. We leave for Olympus tonight." Was all he said to (Y/N), who nodded, "Well, at least he'll be happy."

He sighed as he picked up his sword, looking back to the tree sadly, "That poor girl." I was too freaked out to make sense of it all. I leaped off Chiron's back and ran toward the unconscious girl.

Chiron said: "Percy, wait!" I knelt by her side. She had short black hair and freckles across her nose. She was built like a long-distance runner, lithe and strong.

She wore clothes that were somewhere between punk and Goth—a black T-shirt, black tattered jeans, and a leather jacket with buttons from a bunch of bands I'd never heard of.

She wasn't a camper. I didn't recognize her from any of the cabins. And yet I had the strangest feeling I'd seen her before.... "It's true," Grover said, panting from his run up the hill. "I can't believe..." Nobody else came close to the girl.

I put my hand on her forehead. Her skin was cold, but my fingertips tingled as if they were burning. "She needs nectar and ambrosia," I said. She was clearly a half-blood, whether she was a camper or not. I could sense that just from one touch.

I didn't understand why everyone was acting so scared. I took her by the shoulders and lifted her into sitting position, resting her head on my shoulder. "Come on!" I yelled to the others. "What's wrong with you people? Let's get her to the Big House."

No one moved, not even Chiron. They were all too stunned. Then the girl took a shaky breath. She coughed and opened her eyes. Her irises were startlingly blue—electric blue. The girl stared at me in bewilderment, shivering and wild-eyed.

"Who—" "I'm Percy," I said. "You're safe now." "Strangest dream..." "It's okay." "Dying." "No," I assured her. "You're okay. What's your name?" That's when I knew.

Even before she said it. The girl's blue eyes stared into mine, and I understood what the Golden Fleece quest had been about. The poisoning of the tree. Everything. (Y/N) had said it exactly, Kronos had tricked us.

Kronos had done it to bring another chess piece into play—another chance to control the prophecy. Even Chiron, Annabeth, and Grover, who should've been celebrating this moment, were too shocked, thinking about what it might mean for the future.

And I was holding someone who was destined to be my best friend, or possibly my worst enemy. "I am Thalia," the girl said. "Daughter of Zeus."