Chapter I: Slash Thrust Shield

Song Choice: Too Late To 'Pologize by One Republic ft. Timbaland

Life can either be accepted or changed. If it is not accepted, it is changed. If it cannot be changed, it is accepted. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Slash. Thrust. Shield.

Classic battle procedures. She'd been learning them for months now, her first months at Camp-Half Blood. She had been excited, overjoyed in fact, waiting for when she would get a quest and get to try them out on real monsters.

She supposed that someone could argue the fact that he was a monster. But for her he was a sight for sore eyes.

Luke.

Though she hadn't expected a cliché, tearful reunion (crying wasn't her thing), she hadn't expected a duel to the death either. And yet here she was with her shield, Aegis, with its gruesome carving of Medusa's head in the center, and her spear in her hands. Slash. Shield. Thrust. Fighting him.

Luke.

She had fought him many times before, but never like this. They had never really been trying to hurt each other, much less kill. But time had changed them, and it hadn't changed Luke for the better.

He was grinding his teeth, sweat dripping from his face even in the cold, December weather. His sword, Backbiter, in hand, he jabbed at her. Slash. Thrust. She pointed her finger at the sky and lightning came down from it, just missing him. She wasn't trying to barbecue him. She knew she couldn't.

"Yield!" she yelled, forcing her shield in front of her, and feeling a tiny bit of satisfaction as he stepped back, wincing from its terrifying aura. "You never could beat me, Luke."

"We'll see, old friend." And he pressed on.

Some friend. At that moment she felt hatred, a deep, strong hatred. She had done so much for him, and this was how he repaid her?

"May I speak with thou alone?" the Huntress asked, her silver circlet glinting as she turned around and headed into the tent, not bothering to wait for an answer.

Oh, how Thalia hated stuck-up brats like her. You'd think 2 thousand years could have taught her manners.

She stepped forward, but Luke grabbed her hand, pulling her back. Electricity coursed through her as she stared into his beautiful blue eyes.

"I don't like this." He whispered to her. "These girls seem like freaks. I mean, who says 'thou', anyway?"

She rolled her eyes. "That might have something to do with the fact that she's 2 thousand years old, Luke. Don't worry; she said she just wanted to talk."

Luke seemed reluctant, but he let go of her hand and nodded.

She stepped into the tent to find the Huntress standing still as stone, watching her with cold eyes.

"Thalia Grace."

Thalia stiffened. No one called her by her mother's surname. No one knew about it, not even Luke.

"Yes?" she replied curtly. Something about this girl made her feel angry inside.

"This boy, Luke Castellan. He travels with thou?"

"Um, yeah."

She sighed and shook her head. "Thalia Grace, how would thee like an opportunity to be immortal, to never age, get sick, never die unless killed in battle. To go around the world hunting monsters, knowing that they will never be able to hurt you as long as you bear the blessing of Artemis."

The blessing of Artemis? Thalia tried to understand what she was saying.

"What's the catch?" she asked warily.

"There is no catch. All thou has to do is swear off boys for good. To be a maiden for good. To be united within the sisterhood of the Hunters."

"What do you mean be a 'maiden' for good?"

Zoë let out an impatient sigh. "Thou must stay a virgin for good."

Thalia felt heat creep up to her face. "Uh…um…–"

"I shall let thee consider the offer, Thalia Grace. But know this. It is a great honor to serve Artemis, to travel with her and assist her in her hunt. She is the greatest goddess."

Thunder crackled after she said that, but she did not seem troubled. In fact, Thalia swore she saw the Huntress smirk as she left the tent.

A Hunter to Artemis. Going around the world slaying monsters, her favorite pastime, without the threat of being killed. The Hunters of Artemis were strong and graceful, with that silvery glow around them. There was no way they could be killed in battle easily.

She thought about the rush she got when she sliced up a monster, that feeling when she had her spear in her hand. What more could she want?

But she knew the obvious answer to that question. Luke.

She couldn't leave him. Not after all this time they had spent together, after everything they had been through together. It wouldn't be fair to anyone, especially Thalia, if she joined the Hunters while she was in love with Luke.

Zoë stepped back inside of the tent, and this time was accompanied by Artemis.

"Well, young maiden? What is your decision?" she asked.

Thalia took a deep breath. "No." she spoke so quietly she was barely heard.

"What?"

"No, thank you. I…don't think I want to become a Hunter."

The goddess stared at the Daughter of Zeus, scrutinizing her face. "Very well," she said at last, "if that is what you wish."

Thalia nodded and left the tent. She felt someone grab her arm as she started back to where she, Luke and Annabeth had made camp.

"Thou has made the wrong decision, half-blood. It would be an honor to serve my goddess." It was Zoë.

Thalia started to get angry. "I bet it would, but as you can see, I'd rather not join your little group."

The Huntress narrowed her eyes. "Watch thy tongue, Thalia Grace. Perhaps thou doesn't know what it means to insult a goddess."

"I do, thanks. Now could you please let go of my arm."

"May I know thine reasons first?"

"Do I have to have reasons? I just don't want to, okay? Tell your stupid goddess that she can't make me."

Zoë's eyes flared, and she gripped Thalia's arm harder. "Impudent half-blood. If Artemis was here, she would have turned thy into a jackalope. Never speak of her like that again."

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Zoë gave her a cold smile. "He will let thou down, eventually."

"What?"

"This boy, Luke Castellan. He will disappoint thou sooner or later."

Thalia freed her arm from the Huntress's grasp. "Shut up. You don't know anything. Just because your dumb goddess and the rest of your little cult think boys are unreliable doesn't mean it's true. Luke will never let me down."

Zoë smirked. "As thy says." She turned around and headed back into the tent.

If only she had accepted then. If only she had believed Zoë before. How different she was now then she was back then.

But Artemis and Zoë were still wrong. Boys weren't unreliable.

Luke was.

She just realized that they had backed away from the main battle while they were fighting. They were just at the edge of the cliff, and she could barely see Percy or Zoë fighting in the distance.

She held up her shield and prepared for the blow of Backbiter. It never came.

Cautiously, she lowered her shield. Luke stood there, with Backbiter on the ground and his hands in the air.

"Please, Thalia," he pleaded, "I just want to talk."

She didn't let go of her weapons. "Talk." She spat.

He sighed. "You always were so stubborn," he muttered. "Thalia, I know you think I betrayed but just hear me out, okay? The gods never did anything for me. Hermes left me and my crazy mom all alone, he never even told me what was wrong with her. What use do I have for such a father? Why does any kid in the world have to suffer with having such parents?"

Thalia sneered at him. "Is that the speech you give all your new recruitments?"

"You're not a recruitment, Thalia. You're my friend, my best friend, and –"

"Was!" she yelled, getting all up in his face. "I was your best friend. That was until you betrayed me, Annabeth, and just about everyone else at camp!"

He got angry, and raised his voice as well. "I'm doing all of this for everyone at camp! When Kronos is in power and all of those stupid gods -thunder crackled in the sky above- are gone we'll all have better lives!" He took a moment to catch his breath. "Please, Thalia," he pleaded again,"Don't you remember all those times we talked? All those times we cursed the gods? Our fathers have done nothing for us. They have no right to rule the world!"

Thalia eyes filled with tears as she shook her head. "I–"

She never got the chance to finish, because then, Luke crushed his lips to hers, and she forgot everything. Everything but him.

Slowly, she relaxed in his arms, as the sounds of battle melted away.

He stopped kissing her and pulled back. "Join me, Thalia. Soon we will be able to storm Camp-Half Blood, and then Olympus itself. All we need is your help."

Thalia hesitated. She loved him. She still loved him, even after all he had done. But love wasn't enough for her to betray her friends like he had done.

Her eyes full of pain, Thalia whispered, with all the voice she had left, "You aren't Luke. I don't know you anymore." And with that she leveled her spear and struck. He stumbled, caught off guard, but managed to regain his balance before he toppled over. His shirt had been ripped open, and there was a bloody gash on his chest.

"I'm sorry Thalia." He whispered.

And then they started again. And as she slashed, thrusted, and shielded herself against Luke's blows, Thalia couldn't help but think about how Zoë had been right after all.