6 months after the events of Blood of Olympus…

Percy and Annabeth were locked in a deadly dance, eyes locked on one another, sweat pouring down their faces. Annabeth gave him a sadistic wink and remarked, "Is that all you got, Seaweed Brain?"

Before Percy could think of a clever response, his foot stepped on hers, causing both of them to fall to the ground in a flail of arms and legs. Annabeth laid there for a moment before laughing. "Well that was a fail."

Percy groaned and rolled his eyes. "Annabeth, I told you that swing dancing was a bad idea!" She leaned up and looked at him with a mock glare.

"Percy! I told you that New Athens will have dancing in the streets! What kind of couple would we be if we couldn't dance together?" Percy chuckled.

"A good one." He muttered to himself. Scarcely had the words left his lips when a dagger flashed by his face, impaling into the ground. He looked back at Annabeth and remarked, "Really?"

"Percy, I told you not to make fun! There are SOME girly and couple things that I like to do. Kill me!"

Percy looked back at the dagger in the ground. "You mean what you just tried to do to me?" The two glared at one another before bursting into laughter. Annabeth stood up and offered Percy a hand, which he gratefully took. She yanked him up and the two headed down from the bluff overlooking the beach, intent on getting dinner.

As if on cue, the signal for dinner rang out across the camp. As the two headed down, hand in hand, Percy couldn't help but smile. Since Gaea had been defeated, lulled back into her slumber, and the forces of the ancient deity defeated, his life had been nothing short of amazing. Annabeth and he were happy, the camp swelling with new and eager demigods, the Olympians had been unusually diplomatic, and the campers, many for the first time ever, had finally come to know peace. As a leader of the camp, it was a harmony that Percy treasured to have and something he knew he would fight to save, without question.

Percy and Annabeth arrived at the dining pavilion a few minutes later, gathered their foods, sacrificed a bit to the gods, and took a seat with Grover, Juniper, Clarisse, and Chris. The six ate heartily and talked at length about life. Jokes were made, stories were told, and friendships were deepened as they sat there and continued to talk, well past the end of dinner and the fall of darkness. While none seemed to notice, a smile never escaped Percy's face. It was the first time in a long time that had been the case.

A few days later, the demigods had assembled together and were conducting drills as a Phalanx. Inspired by his time with the Romans, Percy had suggested to Chiron that the demigods begin additional training, focusing on working together in the famous Greek formation. Chiron had embraced the idea and immediately gave it his stamp of approval. Although the first months had been chaotic and had Apollo's children running back and forth to take care of injuries, the campers had eventually gotten it down, and in addition to their talent alone, the campers now had the ability to function as a group.

"Brace! Push! Strike!" Percy stood at the edge of a phalanx of demigods, striding back and forth, calling out orders whilst watching for any holes in the defense. Spotting one, he drew his sword and slipped forward, practically silent, before grabbing the camper and pulling him out of line. The young man looked up at Percy, his eyes wide through his Corinthian helmet. He was young, perhaps twelve, and had made his way to the camp only a few weeks earlier. He had been struggling to hold his spear and his shield had been sagging.

"The Phalanx depends on you. When you are in the formation, it's not just about protecting yourself. Every warrior standing with you depends on you. You can't let your guard down. Ever." Percy quietly told him. The boy nodded and turned to head back to the line, his head down, eyes looking dejectedly at the ground, when Percy called out.

"Hey. It's okay. I was smaller than you were when I came here. I couldn't hold a sword, let alone a spear. You're going to do just fine. I'd take you at my side any day of the week." The boy nodded and gave Percy a soft smile, but headed back for the line with a little more pep in his step.

Percy walked back and continued to watch the campers perform, while contemplating how he had handled the young boy. He was always kind and swore to himself he would never lose that quality, but also had learned with the Romans that sometimes, for the sake of the whole, a little steel in your voice was a good thing.

As he was going back over what he had said, he heard a commotion from the front of the ranks. Looking up, Jack saw two panicked young men sprinting over Thalia's Hill and for the camp with the kind of speed that only terror provides. A moment later, Percy saw why. Nearly thirty Laestrygonians, led by a Cyclops with black war paint and a massive club, bounded after them.

"Phalanx! Break rank and help them!" Percy uncapped Riptide and charged forward, picking up a spear as he did so. He threw it with all of his might, hitting the cyclops square in the eye, causing him to fall to his knees as he dissolved in dust. The Laestrygonians made it to the pair of demigods, however. While one stayed on the ground, the other, slightly taller and more muscular, whipped a sword out of midair and began to cut down the cannibal tribesman. Percy nearly dropped his sword in shock, seeing that this teen, whoever he was, knew how to fight.

The campers and new demigod made quick work of the rest of the enemies. Breathing heavily, Percy turned to check on Annabeth and Clarisse, who were both fine, and then headed for the two mysterious demigods. The one who had begun to fight was kneeled over his companion, who was on the ground, breathing heavily. The talented swordsman was tall, his long brown hair and tan skin contrasting sharply with his blue eyes. Percy knelt down beside him and introduced himself.

"Hey, man. Where'd you learn to wield a sword like that?"

The swordsman shrugged. "Fight a harpy and enough hungry cyclops and you learn a thing or two. Having a well-crafted weapon helps." Percy looked over him for a moment. He knew he had never been a camper before, and after a brief inspection of his arm, he saw no SPQR tattoo.

"How do you know all of that? About the creatures?" Percy asked, not knowing any better way to phrase the question.

The swordsman was blunt, skipping straight to the point. "Look, you can skip the demigod speech and the whole do-you-know-about-Greek-mythology b.s. I know who and what I am. Now can we get this kid some help? Seems like he took a good fall on the way down the hill."

Percy nodded and waved for Will Solace and some of his brethren to take him to the Infirmary for treatment. After doing so, Percy reached out his hand and greeted the swordsman. "Percy."

The swordsman took his hand in a firm shake. "Jack. Jack Brewer. That kids name is Zander Nixon. Found him on my way over here."

"Where'd you come from?" Percy asked, as the two headed for the Infirmary.

"Kansas. I lived in a little town called Walnut Grove with my mama for my eighteen years, up until about a month ago. We got attacked by some beast from the Underworld. I realized it was time for me to hit the road. I was too old, my scent too strong. Monsters were coming daily. I couldn't keep my mama safe anymore."

Percy nodded, able to relate to Jack. "I'm sorry, man. I know how you feel."

Jack shrugged. "I miss her a ton, but I know that she's safe now. We talk now and then via iris messages. She'll be happy to know that I made it."

Percy nodded and remarked, "I do the same. I try and keep in touch with Mom as much as I can. She lives in the city, so sometimes I can stop by and see her for short stretches of time."

Jack remarked, "What I wouldn't give for mama to be so close. Anyways, I've been on the run, headed for Camp Half-Blood for about a month now. Found this kid a couple of days ago. Said he ran away from home. He gave some lame reason and frankly was kind of annoying, but it didn't take an idiot to figure out that he was a demigod, and a powerful one at that. I took him along with me. The monsters have been chasing us ever since."

Jack chuckled. "I don't know how much power I do or don't have, but I sure as heck know how to cover my scent when moving. I can't say the same for that kid."

They arrived at the Infirmary, and finding Apollo's children busy at work, Percy got Jack a piece of Ambrosia for his minor wounds and some energy bars to eat. They spent the next few minutes talking, waiting for the all clear from Will, which they finally got.

The pair walked in and found Zander rubbing a cut on his forehead that he had gotten when he fell. The young man, looking roughly sixteen, had short blonde hair and blue eyes. His skin was pale and his lips had a snark as he made a comment about one of Will's sisters under his breath. Percy rolled his eyes and Jack clenched his teeth, clearly used to the immature behavior.

Jack stood next to the bed and asked, "Hey kid, how're you feeling?"

The boy glared back and replied, "Don't call me kid. I told you that!"

Jack narrowed his eyes and replied, "Answer the question."

Zander smirked triumphantly and said, "Just a scratch on the head from my first battle." Percy rolled his eyes, as the kid hadn't had the faintest scrape of battle, and Jack bit his tongue.

"Glad you're okay, kid. Get some rest." Jack told him as he turned and left the infirmary. Zander howled about being called kid, but Will, now standing next to the bed, smirked and pumped a medicine into his system that put him out cold.

Percy followed Jack out and shook his head. "I have no idea how you dealt with that guy."

Jack nodded. "Well, he's probably my cousin, so I couldn't leave him on the edge of the road. Although I would be lying if I said I didn't think about it quite frequently."

The pair of demigods had a good laugh before they headed for the dining pavilion, Percy intent on making it to dinner and Jack following his lead.

An hour later, dinner was starting to wind down. Jack had sat at Percy's table and quickly charmed his companions, his slightly Texan drawl accenting every word. He wasn't the only one to charm, however. Zander appeared a few minutes into dinner and his smile was electrifying. Campers soon gathered around him, hanging on every word he said. The boys were drawn to him because they saw a tough guy and the girls saw a dreamy blonde beach boy. His charm only intensified when, midway through dinner, a lightning bolt appeared above his head, marking him a son of Zeus. Percy was shocked, not believing how different Zander was from only an hour earlier, but Jack simply rolled his eyes and went back to his food, seemingly having expected such from his companion.

Although he didn't know it, Percy's life had forever changed. Zander's popularity and status quickly went to his head, as expected. What Percy did not expect, however, was competition from the son of Zeus. Zander was indeed powerful, adept in combat and quickly skilled in his powers. Percy soon found Phalanx drills disrupted by Zander, war games with increased stakes, and at times, intense duels that were not easily won by Percy.

The camp soon began to turn against Percy, as well. Younger campers were drawn to Zander, who they liked much more than Percy, who as a leader had to be, at times, a disciplinarian. Viscous rumors were spread, siphoning away at Percy's influence. Soon, even worse took place.

It began with Hephaestus's cabin. The sons of the immortal forger experience a massive misfortune when out of nowhere, water was pulled from the pipes of the forgery, ruining the forgery temporarily and putting most of the cabin in the Infirmary.

Next, Demeter's cabin was also hit with a misfortune of water. Katie's precious garden was overly irrigated one night and the plants drowned. Athena's cabin had their blueprints for New Athens dragged through the mud and ruined while they strategized for an upcoming war game. Aphrodite's cabin had their hairdryer cords cut and their makeup doused with water.

The Stoll's, who planned an awesome prank to liven everyone's mood, were caught after a note from Percy was given to Chiron and were relegated to dish duty for the rest of the summer. Will Solace and the rest of Apollo's cabin walked into the infirmary after a war game, ready to treat the wounded, only to find their medicines broken on the floor and their white linens covered in mud.

Each time, Percy was blamed. Percy tried to help rebuild the Forgery with a better cooling system, but was coldly brushed aside. Katie turned down Percy's offer to build her an irrigation canal and spawned poison ivy around him any time he tried to come near her. While Annabeth stayed loyal, Athena's other children turned away Percy's attempts to help them with any plans involving the water and laid cruel traps for him. Percy approached the Stoll's about helping with another prank, but they simply glared and walked away, with Percy noticing his wallet was missing. Apollo's cabin rejected any help of Percy's and refused to heal him any time he needed quick help, with Poseidon's cabin being used for target practice.

Each time something happened, Percy was the first to arrive and attempt to help. Each time, he was given the cold shoulder as he stood there, confused, knowing he would never dream of doing the things he was accused of doing. Each time, he felt the hurt of watching a friendship, forged through years of war, evaporate into the summer sky. The worst, however, was yet to come.

It had been a long day for Percy. Yet another trial had awoken him, this time from the satyrs and nymphs. Nymphs furiously threw acorns at him, angry that Percy had allegedly said they were useless and only good because they were pretty. Percy didn't protest, allowing them to shell out their anger in the form of acorn missiles. He planned to talk to Grover about it at Breakfast, but on arrival, found Grover glaring at him and striding away.

Percy sat down with Clarisse, Chris, and Jack at what was becoming an increasingly small and hated table. He sighed and asked, "Is he mad about what the nymphs think I said about them?"

Jack, who had become a good friend, sticking by Percy through all things, shook his head and replied, "No…someone told Grover that you said he and all other Satyrs were weak cowards and failed at their job of protecting demigods."

Percy exclaimed, "What?! There's no way Grover can believe that, right?!"

Jack shook his head. "Sorry, Perce. Looks like he does."

Percy shook his head, ignoring the glares from almost every other camper not sitting at the table. "I don't get it, guys. Who's doing this? Why?"

Jack shrugged. "I've tried finding out who. Their trail is clean, other than the little tidbits they leave hinting that it was you. I'm sorry, bud."

Percy shook his head. "Not the start I needed to the big day."

Jack nodded, knowing his plans. "Did Nico find you a good rock? Girls love the good rocks."

Percy slid the ring out under the table and showed it to Jack. Jack whistled softly. "That's one big diamond, Perce. Glad you didn't have to pay for it." The two laughed, Percy silently thanking the gods for his friend sticking by him through it all.

Late that afternoon, Percy walked along the beach, headed to meet Annabeth at their special spot along the shoreline, when Zander appeared beside him. Zander whistled and remarked, "My, my, Percy, you just keep outdoing yourself."

Percy glared and replied, "I didn't DO anything. Someone is doing this to cut me down."

Zander replied, "I believe you, Percy. I do."

Percy stopped and looked at his counterpart in surprise, knowing how much the son of Zeus couldn't stand him. "You do?"

"Well of course I do, Percy. I mean, after all, you're too nice to do any of this! Of course, your friends don't believe that, which is by design."

Zander summoned a wind and made it push over a stray canoe, smiling as he did so. "All your friends needed was a little push…"

At that moment, everything clicked for Percy. "You mean…"

Zander chuckled wickedly. "Ah, yes, Percy. It was all me. All of this. I took your precious little camp from you. I brought you to your knees. You are NOTHING anymore."

Zander raised his hands to the sky and said, "This is all mine. And now you'll never be able to take it back."

Percy, seeing red, drew Riptide and attacked with a roar. Zander drew his blade and responded, briefly going blow for blow with the Champion of Olympus. Percy's rage fueled him, however, and after knocking the sword from Zander's hand and slicing across his face, Percy threw his sword to the side and rained blow after blow on the son of Zeus, his fists connecting with the pale face time and time again, screaming in rage as he did so.

"Percy?" A timid voice called out. Percy looked up from Zander and felt the blood rush away. Standing there, looking at him in shock, was Annabeth.

Percy was frozen, realizing what he had done, and in that moment, Zander struck the final blow. "Annabeth! Thank the gods. Percy grabbed me from behind and told me I was to confess for all that stuff he did so that way his friends would like him again! And when I said no, he attacked me! Please, help!"

Percy looked at Annabeth, desperation in his eyes. Annabeth looked at him and coldly asked, "Percy, is this true?"

"It's not, Annabeth, I swear! I'm innocent in all of this!"

Annabeth shook her head. "Percy, I've defended you time and time again. I've fought for you. But maybe being Champion of Olympus has gone to your head. Something happened to you Percy. I can't do this anymore. Zander was right about you."

Percy stood there in shock. "You've been talking to Zander?"

Annabeth nodded. "He told me the things you say, what you've done when other aren't around. I didn't believe him. I told him he was lying. I thought he was fishing for power. I told him Percy Jackson would never do any of that…but it looks like I was wrong."

Annabeth sighed, and Percy watched a tear slowly slip down her cheek. "I think it's time you leave, Percy."

With that, Percy felt a knife slam into his gut. Tears streamed down his face, but he offered no argument. He had no words left. He simply said, "And so it is."

With that, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the elegant black box, dropping it on the sand, and walking away.

(Hey guys! So, hope you liked the chapter! Leave a review, and tell me, how do you like the paragraph for every time someone talks? Would you prefer that or block? First person or third person? Let me know! Also, one last thing, Jack Brewer is Leo Howard with long hair and Zander Nixon is Niall Horan. I like working with a specific image in mind, so I try and draw off of pictures. Hope that helps! I'm really looking forward to continuing this story and would LOVE to read some of y'all's reviews. Have a good evening!)