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Chapter Quote:

“Life may knock you down, but it’s your choice to get back up and fight for what’s yours!”

~Unknown

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Chapter 9: I Kick Butt

Shiloh 

For the next month, I practiced sword fighting with Luke.  I hadn’t won once, but he kept me on my toes and on the bright side, it took a lot for him to actually beat me.  One time we dueled for over thirty minutes.  Let me tell you, I have never been that sore in my life.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m in shape, but thirty minutes of slashing, jabbing, jumping, thrusting, blocking, twisting, swiping, ducking, kicking, and hitting will make even the most in-shape person sore.  Luke and I both just plopped to the ground and watched everyone else sword-fight after that.

Furthermore, while I managed to convince him to sword-fight with me, no matter what, he refused to participate in all Capture the Flag games.  He would disappear during that time.  I didn’t know what he did, and he wouldn’t tell me.  I didn’t prod about it though.  If he wanted to tell me, he would.

Currently, Luke and I had broken our dueling record of thirty minutes and were pushing fifty minutes now.  I didn’t even want to think about the pain this was going to cause me.  I mean, I could barely put a shirt on without cringing in pain last time… anyways, by now we had gathered a small group of onlookers, mainly campers that had come here after the war and didn’t really know the extent to what Luke had done.  They’d actually been pretty accepting of him, especially the younger ones (specifically the girls).  He had this charisma about him that attracted them, but I couldn’t blame them.  Have you seen what he looks like?  Hot damn…

I couldn’t get involved with him like that though.  It just wouldn’t work.  So I focused back on fighting with him.  He swung his sword at my legs.  I jumped and in the process, kicked him in the chest.  He stumbled back which gave me just enough time to regain my footing and prepare for his next attack.  When I realized what he was going to do, it was too late for me to react.  His sword hit the hilt of mine and somehow twisted it out of my hands.  As my sword flew out of my hand, Luke watched it clatter to the ground, automatically assuming I was going to surrender.  Boy was he wrong.  I high-kicked his sword, which knocked it clean into the air and far away.  He stared at me with wide-eyes, probably in shock that we were still going and that I wasn’t giving up.  Luke grinned before slamming his shield into mine.  I was forced back.  He did it again, and I noticed almost immediately he was pushing me towards where his sword was laying.  Now understanding what he was doing, I formulated a genius plan.  I went on the offensive, throwing my full body weight into my shield as it hit his.  He lurched backwards, obviously not expecting that.  I went at him again, but this time, feigned the same move before spinning to the right and ending up behind him.  Luke, who had been expecting me to throw myself at him, had flung himself in my direction.  Without me there to block him, he stumbled forward, losing some of his balance.  I slammed my shield into his back, causing him to fall completely to the ground.  I sat on top of him, pinning him to the ground.  Luke let out a sound that was a mix between a groan and a laugh.

“Damn it Shiloh,” he chuckled.

“I win this round,” I said triumphantly.

“I can’t move.”

“That’s because I’m sitting on top of you.”

“You’re light as a feather.  I could easily move you off if I wanted to.  I’m just too exhausted to move anything.”

“Well I’m just going to sit on you because I don’t want to get up either.” I retracted my shield back into bracelet form.  Upon Luke’s request, I undid the strap that held his shield to his arm.  The two of us stayed there for a good half hour, letting strength (and movement in Luke’s case) flow back into our fatigued limbs.  When Luke’s strength had returned, he rolled over, causing me to topple onto my back on the ground.  He proceeded to roll onto me.

“Get off!” I laughed, struggling to push him off.

“Getting a taste of your own medicine,” he bantered.

“I sat on you, I didn’t lay on you,” I protested.  Luke shrugged.

“What in Poseidon’s name is going on?” Percy’s voice queried.  Luke sat up, allowing me to breathe much easier.  I might be light to him, but he sure isn’t light to me.

“Just giving Shi the same treatment she gave to me,” the son of Hermes explained.

“Uh, what treatment are you talking about?”

“Oh, get your head out of the gutter Percy.  What Luke means is I sat on him after I kicked his butt at sword-fighting.  I don’t know how he thinks sitting and laying down are close to each other at all,” I said, sitting up and resting my head on the back of Luke’s armor.

“Right…” my brother eyed me curiously.  I shot him a look that told him to not even think about what he was thinking because I knew what he was thinking and what he was thinking was not right. “Well listen, Shi, I just wanted to let you know that Poseidon, Athena, Hermes, and Apollo are on the same team for Capture the Flag.  We’re still in negotiations with Nike, Hecate, Hephaestus, and Dionysus, so can we have some help?  Pollux likes you so he might agree to fight with us if you talk to him.  Will you be fighting Luke?”

“Percy, no offense, but I haven’t fought in a single Capture the Flag game since I’ve been here.  I’m not going to start now.  I have… things to do,” Luke explained.

“What things are you doing, might I ask?” Annabeth inquired, walking up next to Percy and taking his hand.  He kissed her on the cheek.  My heart melted.  I shipped these two so hard.  They were absolutely perfect for each other.

“It’s a surprise, but I swear it’s not end of the world stuff.”

“Good to know.  But you know we’ll figure it out sooner or later, right?”

“You’ll be the first, Annabeth,” Luke promised.

“I better.  Now I have to go.  I have some more stuff on Daedalus’ laptop that I want to look at.” Annabeth started walking off.  Percy trailed behind her.  They were smiling at each other and I just wanted to squeal.  I’m not child of Aphrodite (I hate her anyways), but gods Annabeth and Percy were just too cute together.

“I’m glad she’s happy,” Luke said thoughtfully, smiling after his old friend.

“I am too.  And I’m glad Percy’s happy.  They deserve each other.  All right buddy boy. I need to go help out with some negotiations, so get your butt up.” I shoved him lightly.  He stood up and offered me his hand.  I gratefully took it.  How on earth was I going to have enough energy for Capture the Flag?  Clearing my thoughts, I said, “I’ll see you later, okay?”

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Luke 

I watched Shiloh walk away to go help out Percy for Capture the Flag.  The game was only an hour away.  Annabeth probably already had an attack plan for everyone on her team.  I decided to go work on my secret project.  I’d managed to work on stuff in the attic.  Not that there was anything in there that I could actually use, but no one went up there in anymore since Rachel, the new Oracle, moved to a new place (rumor is it’s a cave.  Still haven’t figured out if this is actually true…).  But back on track, the attic now housed all my projects.  They weren’t major things, just small things, like flat screen TVs for each cabin, new nightstands that were doubled up so that technically there were two meaning there was one for the lower bunk and one for the upper bunk (does that make sense?), bookshelves for storage, and those small lamp things that attach to your bed so the light doesn’t bother anyone else?  You know what I’m talking about?  The improvements were small, but I just remembered always wishing I’d had these when I’d been here.  My time was almost up at camp.  I only had a week left before my judgment day came, and I knew for a fact that the majority of the campers still did not want me here, even though I’d tried my hardest to gain their approval.  I’d accepted the fact that this wasn’t going to end well for me, and to be honest, I was at peace with the thought.  I’d gotten to spend more time with Annabeth, I’d redeemed myself with Percy, and I’d met Shiloh.  To be honest, she made this whole ordeal a lot more bearable than I think even Percy or Annabeth could’ve pulled off if it had only been them helping me out.

I double-checked to make sure all the lights worked until I was sure that no campers would catch me doing all this work.  My only problem I encountered (which I really should’ve realized this before I built all this stuff) was moving all this down to the cabins…

Well Tartarus…

“Need a hand?” a voice asked.  I whirled around, expecting Chiron or maybe Percy since it was a male voice, but I did not expect to see my father leaning against the doorway staring at me.  I thought I’d sent him away for good after the way I’d talked to him that day Shiloh nearly got killed.

“Dad!” I exclaimed.  I started to kneel but Hermes stopped me.

“How many times do I have to tell you not to kneel to me?” he mused, giving me a tired smile.

“Um, what are you doing here?”

“I came to talk to you, seeing as how you’re much calmer and you’re actually alone and not hanging out with Miss Carter.” My father grinned. “Do you fancy her?”

“She doesn’t date anyone so it wouldn’t matter if I did.”

“She has her reasons, but I wouldn’t give up if I were you.  Now, do you need help?” Hermes motioned at my project with his caduceus.

“Yes, sir, but why would you want to help me?  I’m not trying to sound impertinent, but it’s just that first off, you’re a god and probably have tons of other things to do, second, you never really were there for me before, and third, I don’t deserve your help.”

He grimaced, as if my words physically caused him pain. “I wasn’t allowed.  I knew your fate long before it happened, as did your mother.  It caused her to have her episodes.  I tried to prevent you from doing what you did in every way possible, but in all honesty, I believe I just made you hate me more.  I cannot see the outcome of your fate with this thing Midas has created for you, meaning there is a possibility that you will remain here on earth, which I pray is what happens.”

“Gods pray?” The question slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.

“Yes,” my father chuckled, “they pray.  But just in case this is your last time on earth, I would like to spend a little father-son time.  Will you accept my offer?”

I pondered it for a moment.  I was still mad at my dad for practically abandoning me when I needed him most when I was younger, but I was finally starting to comprehend that he really couldn’t have help me, he was forbidden to.  Therefore, I agreed to let him help me.  He transported me to each cabin along with the chosen items.  It took us thirty minutes to place everything in their correct spot.  I had to admit I was proud of the work I’d done.  Boy would everyone be surprised (at least I hoped they would).  Hermes, with a wave of his caduceus, even cleaned up each cabin so that it was spotlessly clean.

“Thanks dad,” I said, facing him when he brought us back to the attic.

“I’m glad I could be of help to you finally.  I must be going but I promise you that if you stay here, I will visit you more often.  You were always my wayward son, but perhaps we can repair our damaged relationship?”

“I’d like that.”

Hermes smiled.  He walked up to me and gave me a tentative hug, one I returned after the shock disappeared.  When he pulled away, I shut my eyes and waited for a few seconds before opening them.  He was gone when I did.

“Nice seeing you dad,” I murmured.  With that, I walked downstairs and back outside.  By now, the game had finished and the campers were returning to their cabins.  I eagerly wanted to see what they thought of their new furnishings.

The first reaction I heard was: “Oh my gods!”

The second reaction was: “This is freaking awesome!  Who would think double nightstands could actually be created and actually be useful and functional?!”

“Who cares about the nightstands,” an Ares kid retorted, “We have flat screen TVs!”

As the campers gaped at their new additions, I happened to look over where Shiloh was standing.  She was in as much shock as everyone else.  Her eyes met mine and they asked quite blatantly if I had done this.  I winked at her as I raised a finger to my lips, silently telling her not to breathe a word about this.

Shiloh smiled, and I knew my secret was safe with her.

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So this is Luke’s secret project.  What did y’all think?  Review! :)