Evangeline slapped Percy across the face in an attempt to wake him up.

"Evangeline," He groaned.

"Get up," she told him softly.

Percy narrowed his eyes at her as he rubbed his red cheek. "You could've woken me up a different way."

The brunette shot him a look. "I'm sorry,"

There was a sunset behind the city skyline, beachside highways were lined with palm trees while stores glowed red, and neon blue, and the harbor was filled to the brim with sailboats and cruise ships.

"Miami, I think," Annabeth thought out loud, earning the brunette's attention. "That's where Chiron wanted us to go if we retrieved the fleece."

"Plus," she continued. "The hippocampis are acting funny."

The sea creature had been whinnying and swimming in circles.

"This is as far as they'll take us," Percy explained as he rested his head on Evangeline's shoulders. "Too many humans with too much pollution. We'll have to swim to shore on our own."

They slipped off the hippocampi and landed in the water. They swam to the shore and reached in no time.

The satyr ran to the nearest newspaper stand, checking the date. "June eighteenth! We've been away from camp for ten days!"

"That's impossible!" Clarisse stated.

"Thalia's tree must almost be dead!" Grover wailed, quickly sparing the blonde a look. "We have to get the fleece back tonight."

Clarisse slumped to the pavement with her head in her hands. "How are we supposed to do that?" She questioned, gripping her hair. "We're hundreds of miles away, no money and no ride. This is just like the Oracle said. "It's your fault, Jackson! If you hadn't interfered-"

"Percy's fault?" Annabeth spat, standing to her feet. "Clarisse, how can you say that? You are the biggest-"

"Stop it!" Percy snapped, interrupting the daughters of Athena and Ares.

"Clarisse," he said. "What did the Oracle tell you exactly?"

"You shall sail the iron ship with warriors of bone,

you shall find what you seek and make it your own,

but despair for your lives entombed within the stone, and fail without friends, to fly home alone."

"Ouch," Grover mumbled, letting out a visible wince.

"No, no," Percy searched his pockets endlessly before curses slipped when he found nothing. "Does anybody have any cash?"

The three demigods and satyr shook their heads at the son of Poseidon. "Cash?" Tyson asked hesitantly, earning the camper's attention. "Like.. green paper?"

"Yeah."

"Like the kind in the duffle bags?"

"Yeah, but we lost those days ag—"

He stopped himself halfway through his sentence when Tyson pulled out an airtight bag of cash. "T-Tyson!" Percy managed. "How did you-"

"Thought it was a food bag for Rainbow," he explained. "Found it floating in the sea, but only paper inside. Sorry."

Evangeline let out a sigh of relief, "You adorable genius,"

Tyson blushed and looked at his feet. "It's nothing," he mumbled.

Percy hurried over to grab a taxi that was just letting a family out, beckoning the dirty blonde over.

"You can count on me. I won't fail." Clarisse said.

"Not failing would be good."

The daughter of Ares got in the cab and it took off.

"Percy," Annabeth began. "That was so-"

"Generous?" Grover offered.

"Insane," she corrected. "You're betting the lives of everybody at camp that Clarisse will get the fleece safely back by tonight?"

"It's her quest," he shrugged. "She deserves a chance."

"Percy is nice," Tyson said.

"Come on," Percy called them. "Let's find another way home."

The raven-haired boy turned around, only to be met with a sword directed at his throat.

"Hey, cuz," Luke spoke with a smile as his head tilted slightly to the side. "Welcome back to the States."

Oreius, one of the older boys of the henchman appeared from the side as he grabbed Annabeth and Grover by their t-shirt collars.

Evangeline was next grabbed by her hair as she was jerked back into the creature before it attempted to grab Tyson as well. The Cyclops knocked his arm away.

"Percy," Luke let out a sigh. "Tell your giant to back down or, I'll have Oreius bash your friend's heads together and break Evageline's hands."

The monster grinned manically as he lifted the blonde and the satyr off the ground, their feet kicking and grabbing onto his hands as they attempted to loosen his grip.

The creature let go of Evangeline's hair and gripped her hands as it started crushing them.

"What do you want, Luke?" Percy growled.

Luke's lips turned upright into a wicked smile. He gestured towards the end of the dock where the Princess Andromeda was ported.

"Why, Percy," Luke said. "I want to extend my hospitality, of course."

Evangeline was slammed into the wooden deck of Princess Andromeda, she was pulled upright by Oreius. She was not in the mood for another encounter with some wannabe tyrant.

"And so, the fleece," Luke mused as he looked them over, prodding Grover with the tip of his sword. "Where is it?"

"Hey!" Grover yelled, trying to inch away from the sword poking his jeans. "That's real goat fur under there!"

"Sorry, old friend." Luke smiled. "Just give me the fleece and I'll leave you to return to your, ah little nature quest."

"Blaa-ha-ha!" The satyr protested. "Some old friend!"

"Maybe you didn't hear me." Luke's voice became dangerously calm. "Where-is-the-fleece?"

"Not here," Percy spoke. "We sent it on ahead of us. You messed up."

"Luke's eyes narrowed. "You're lying, you couldn't have..." His face reddened as realization hit. "Clarisse?"

Evangeline stared at him blankly, the son of Hermes seemed to fully realize what they had done. "You trusted... you gave... Agrius!"

The older twin bear flinched. "Y-Yes?"

"Get below and prepare my steed. Bring it to the deck. I need to fly to Miami Airport, fast!"

"But, boss-"

"Do it!" Luke screamed. "Or I'll feed you to the Drakon!"

The monster quickly fled down the stairs, nearly tripping over himself while doing so. The son of Hermes continued to pace in front of the pool cursing in Ancient Greek which Evangeline's mind translated pretty quickly.

"You've been toying with us all along. " Percy broke the silence. "You wanted us to bring you the fleece and save you the trouble of getting it."

Luke turned and scowled at him. "Of course, you idiot! And you messed everything up!"

"Traitor!" The son of Poseidon threw a drachma at Luke, but the blond boy dodged it easily. "You tricked all of us! Even Dionysus at Camp Half-Blood!"

Evangeline heard the sound of a sword unsheathing. "This is no time for heroics, Percy," Luke sneered at the boy. "Drop your puny little sword or I'll have you killed sooner rather than later."

"Who poisoned Thalia's tree, Luke?" Percy asked.

"I did, of course," Luke snarled like he was proud of what he had done. "I already told you that. I used the elder python venom, straight from the depths of Tartarus."

"Chiron had nothing to do with it?"

"Ha! You of all people should know he would never do that. That old wouldn't have the guts."

Percy frowned. "You call it guts? Betraying your friends? Endangering the whole camp?"

Luke raised his sword. "You don't understand the half of it. I was going to let you take the fleece... once I was done with it."

Percy hesitated, a look of realization hit his face. "You were going to heal Kronos," he said.

"Yes! The fleece's magic would've sped his mending process by tenfold. But you haven't stopped us, Percy. You've only slowed us down a little."

"And so you poisoned the tree, you betrayed Thalia, you set us up—all to help Kronos destroy the gods."

Luke gritted his teeth. "You know that! Why do you keep asking me?"

"Because I want everybody in the audience to hear you."

"What audience?"

Then his eyes narrowed. He looked behind him and his goons did the same. They gasped and stumbled back. Evangeline furrowed her brow and titled her head and caught sight of it.

Above the pool, shimmering in the rainbow mist, was an Iris Message vision of Dionysus, Tantalus, and the whole camp in the dining pavilion. They sat in stunned silence, watching the scene unfold.

"Well," said Dionysus dryly, "some unplanned dinner entertainment."

"Mr. D, you heard him," said Percy. "You all heard Luke. The poisoning of the tree wasn't Chiron's fault."

Mr. D sighed. "I suppose not."

"The Iris Message could be a trick," Tantalus suggested, but his attention was mostly on his cheeseburger, which he was trying to corner with both hands.

"I fear not," Mr. D said, looking with distaste at Tantalus. "It appears I shall have to reinstate Chiron as activities director. I suppose I do miss the old horse's pinochle games."

Tantalus grabbed the cheeseburger. It didn't bolt away from him. He lifted it from the plate and stared at it in amazement as if it were the largest diamond in the world. "I got it!" he cackled.

"We are no longer in need of your services, Tantalus," Mr. D announced.

Tantalus looked stunned. "What? But-"

"You may return to the Underworld. You are dismissed."

"No! But-No!"

Luke bellowed with rage. He slashed his sword through the fountain and the Iris Message dissolved, but the deed was done. Luke turned and gave Percy a murderous look.

"Kronos was right, Percy." He snarled. "You're an unreliable weapon. You need to be replaced." He turned towards the brunette.

"I'm not being his understudy." She scowled.

They all looked at her weird. A dozen warriors began pouring out from the deck doors that had been flung open, making a circle around the half-bloods, cyclops, and satyr. Luke smiled at them. "You'll never leave this boat alive."

"One-on-one," Percy challenged, a cocky grin slipping onto his feature. "What are you afraid of?"

Luke's lip curled but was luckily saved by Agrius racing onto the top deck leading the most beautiful pure black pegasus Evangeline had ever seen. "Sir!" The henchman called as he dodged the pegasus' attacking hoof. "Your steed is ready!"

But his eyes were too focused on Percy. "I told you last summer," he explained. "You can't bait me into a fight."

"And you keep avoiding one," Percy noticed. "Scared your warriors will see you get whipped?"

Luke glanced at his men, and he saw Percy had trapped him in a corner. If he backed down now, he would look weak. If he fought Percy, he'd lose valuable time chasing after Clarisse.

"I'll kill you quickly," he decided and raised his weapon. Backbiter was a foot longer than Riptide. Its blade glinted with an evil grey-and-gold light where the human steel had been melded with Celestial bronze. Luke whistled to one of his men, who threw him a round leather-and-bronze shield.

"Luke," Evangeline said. "at least give him a shield."

"Sorry, Eve," he shrugged as if killing Percy was the easiest thing on his to-do list. "You bring your own equipment to this party."

Luke lunged and almost killed Percy on the first strike. His sword went under Percy's arm, slashing through his shirt and grazing his ribs.

Percy jumped back, then counter-attacked with Riptide, but Luke slammed the blade away with his shield.

"My, Percy," Luke chided as his grin grew. "You're out of practice."

He came at Percy again with a swipe to the head. Percy parried and returned with a thrust. Luke sidestepped easily. When Luke lunged again, Percy jumped backward into the swimming pool-his best chance at fighting. He spun underwater, creating a funnel cloud, and blasted out of the deep end, straight at Luke's face.

The force of the water knocked the son of Hermes down, spluttering and blinded. But before Percy could strike, Luke rolled aside and was on his feet again. Percy attacked and sliced off the edge of his shield, but that didn't even faze him. Luke dropped to a crouch and jabbed at Percy's legs.

Percy collapsed and Luke gave him no time to breathe hacked downwards and Percy rolled behind a deckchair. He tried to stand, but his leg wobbled, unable to support his weight now.

"Perrrcy!" Grover bleated.

Percy rolled again as Luke's sword slashed the deckchair in half, metal pipes and all.

Evangeline couldn't reach her necklace, and her hands were being crushed above her head. She looked around for any kind of distraction but couldn't see anything of use. But she did see that Orieus was dangerously close to her.

She took that as an opportunity and kicked backward hitting Orieus in the stomach making him let go of her hands and dropping her. She pressed the snake and her sword came to be. She slashed her sword, slitting Orieus' arm.

"Orieus," Agius said, momentarily letting go of the pegasus's reins go long enough for the black creature to kick him in the head and fly away free. For a moment, the ship was deadly quiet as the crew seemed to realize what just happened.

At least, until war cries and thundering hooves filled the air. "Ponies!" Tyson cried with delight as their attention was pulled to the dock.

Evangeline and Annabeth pulled Grover and Tyson to the side as the centaurs stormed the deck, Chiron leading the charge among his relatives. For a moment, even the army of Kronos was stunned by their arrival until Luke snapped out of it first.

The blond raised his sword but was met with an arrow custom-made with a boxing glove smacking him into the pool. "Come get some!" A party pony yelled as he chased after a warrior.

While his brethren let loose with paintball guns against Luke's warrior, Chiron made his way to his campers and quickly placed Annabeth and Grover on his back.

Chiron turned to get the brunette but she was on the other side of the boat in a second. She was running towards the son of Poseidon who was struggling to get to his feet.

The problem was she couldn't make it to him as Luke grabbed her ankle and yanked her back. Luke had finally made his way out of the pool and began ordering his men. "Attack, you fools!" He bellowed, an alarm bell thrumming throughout the ship at his words.

"Luke, let go !" She yelled, turning towards the son of Hermes. Luke pinned her down and held his sword against her throat, his blue eyes staring down at her as she struggled. "Evangeline, you can still join us."

Evangeline stopped and looked at the blond not recognizing him at all, the Luke she knew had been turned into a henchman. A monster. "You can get anything, you've ever wanted." He whispered. "The gods will pay for what they did. You, Annabeth, me, and even Landon can join us."

"Like you care about Landon," she snapped.

Evangeline wasn't sure if it was hatred or hurt that flashed across Luke's face but whatever it was, it wasn't good and she knew she had struck a nerve.

Percy furrowed his brows and he looked around as his centaur kept galloping. He saw Annabeth and Grover on Chiron's back and saw Tyson fighting some warriors but no sign of Evangeline, then he caught sight of Luke holding a sword against her throat with her pinned down saying something to her... Percy was about to get off but the centaur kept galloping ignoring his yelling.

Evangeline ignored Luke's words and moved her eyes and caught sight of her sword she extended her hand and spread out her fingers in an attempt to grab the sword, the first few times it was a failure but then her index finger landed on the obsidian, she pressed it and it turned back into a necklace.

She grabbed the chain and pulled it into her hand she then hit Luke's temple with the pointy tip of the snake pendant causing him to get off her and stumble back. As Luke stumbled back, Backbiter fell and sliced a cut on the brunette's shoulder.

"Withdraw, my brethren!" Chiron's voice was heard over all the fighting, only angering Luke more.

"You won't get away with this, Chiron!" Luke shouted as he stood up, his sword raised as he prepared to take off in the direction of the centaur. But Evangeline threw a right hook sending him backward into a deck chair that flipped upon impact.

A party pony then came and told her to hop on, she climbed on and put her necklace back on, and she looked down at the blood dripping down her left arm. It didn't look that bad. The blood was making it look like a big deal but it was not.

"Dude," another centaur called. "Get your big friend!"

"Tyson!" Percy yelled. "Come on!"

The cyclops looked disappointed as he dropped the two warriors he held, quickly jumping onto the centaur's back who made Percy him. "Dude!" The half-man half-horse groaned at Tyson's weight. "Do the words 'low-carb diet' mean anything to you?"

Finally, Luke's warrior's senses had come together and began organizing themselves despite the chaos. But they had been too late, the party ponies had already galloped to the edge of the deck and jumped. When the centaurs hit the asphalt with no casualties, they took off down the streets of Miami as they cheered and taunted the followers of Kronos.

The buildings and streets blurred as the centaur picked up speed.

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