Percy raised his shield and deflected the sliver arrow aimed at Annabeth's back, throwing knife already making a beeline towards the hunter, who backflipped out of the way and launched another arrow before she even hit the ground.

Percy deflected that one two, managing to hit her this time, the girl cursing as the green paint stained her clothes.

Leo's invention's, the Festus Rocket, had taken out about a third of the hunters, splattering them with green paint before they could fire more then one round at the Guard, with Apollo Guardians had taken out a dozen more by firing arrows from the cover of Elena's Mist shield.

Now they were about even in terms of numbers and the guard had rushed their advantage as they were close to midrange fighters for the most part, whereas few hunters could stay the same.

Thunder rumbled and Percy braced himself, knowing that either he or Clarrisse would be struck, as they were high-value targets in this game, as officers always where.

The lightning hit Clarrisse this time and Thalia crowed her victory, already moving her next target.

Clarrisse swore violently and stalked off the battlefield, verifiably soaked in silver paint.

"Parkour!" And there went Jazz, cackling like a psychopath as always, using hunters as a springboard, knives coated in paint. Why did Percy let her join again? Oh yeah, she was the most talented magic caster since Circe.

Screams of terror as Nico got involves.

A blast of heat as Leo, aboard Festus, took out more.

Insane cackling from the mages.

All in all, the demigods we're having fun.

The guard was far more suited to an open field then the hunters, which was where the wizards had insisted the battle take place.

They were watching from the sidelines, outside the barrier that was most definitely not the wizards' idea. If they got any closer, the illusion of the paintball fight they saw would dissolve to show the full-contact battle that was in progress.

"Duck!"

A Guardian was hit in the face with an areow adorned with a silver rubber duck, it's archer laughing at the disgusted look the Guardian gave her.

A flare of power and Percy dropped to the ground, arrows flying where his head had been as the moon goddess herself entered the fray.

Annabeth deflected the hit, only for the arrow to lodge itself halfway through her shield and stain her armor.

She swore and stalked off the field.

The battle was was nearing its end, only a dozen guardians and seven hunters still fighting it out.

"Hello, Percy." The goddess said, aiming her bow. "Shall we wait until our subordinates are clear? I would hate for us to accidentally hurt someone beyond what has already happened."

"Only ichor will be spilt tonight." Percy agreed, taking a defensive position.

They stareed at each other for a long time, watching the final skirmishes between their troupes from the corner of their eyes, not dropping their guard for a single moment.

The skirmish ended with three guardians remaining, breathing heavily but still in the game.

Percy signaled them to stay out of the fight, and they did, having seen Percy and Artemis go at it before and having no desire to be caught in the crossfire.

The wizards were shuffling uncomfortably as they watched, some getting impatient as Jazz, Elena and three Hunters reinforced the barrier as only children of Hecate could do, stopping any divine energy from getting out and affecting the mortal.

One of the last Guardians standing, Yuki , daughter of Kihone, tossed her shield in the air and ran for it.

When it came down, the gods collided, crashing into each other with the force of a thunder crack, making Yuki grateful she could run as fast as she could, getting clear of the fight before it began, diving through the hole Elaine was holding open.

The sky rumbled as it began to rain, only to clear as the moon broke through the clouds, the dieties's moving at a speed impossible to keep up with the naked eye, both begining to glow with divine light, although they mostly kept it contained, Percy through sheer stubbornness, Artemis through millennia of practice, protecting their own.

And the wizards. They were important too. Definitely.

The duo slammed into the Barrier, once,twice, three times, skidding along the ground and leaving long trenches in their wake.

And then it was over.

Artemis was standing over Percy, arrow aimed at his eye as his sword rested under the edge of her armor.

"Tie!" Someone yelled. "Which means the Guardians, as last ones standing, is the victor."

Artemis helped Percy up and shook each others hands. "You've gotten better."

"If I didn't Annabeth would put me into the ground every day instead of every few days."

Artemis laughed and retrieved her knives while Percy inspected the damage done to shield.

There was a footprint denting the metal and it wasn't dragon's shaped so it was either him or Artemis.

He compared the dent to his foot and resolved to melt it later so Leo didn't find out so he banished it to his tent.

"Bring down the barrier and collect everything loose!" Percy yelled. "Back to the island."

"Whoo! Party!" Someone yelled, the others taking up the cry.

Percy ran up the Quidditch field walls and stopped a few feet away from Dumbledore. "Headmaster, I invite you and your headmistress to Guardian Island tonight to welcome the Hunt to Hogwarts."

Dumbledore glanced at McGonagall and nodded. "We will be there, my boy."

Percy sighed. "Please remember that I am older then you. Despite appearances to the contrary."

For some reason Mcgonagall shot Dumbledore a smug look.
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"If you like Pina Coladas!" Some one sang. Percy didn't wait long enough to confirm their identity before they were vanishing back into the crowd to avoid the knives the Guardian leaders threw at him.

"Gods I hate that song." Annabeth snarrled.

"Amazing Grace!" The same someone sang.

The sky rumbled and a moment later a pair of Guardians were carrying their fallen comrade to the Infirmary while others held off an enraged lightning demi-goddess.

Percy and Annabeth exchanged a look and shrugged before returning to their food. They dug their bed, they could lie in it.

You would think being around for a few decades would lead to maturity and growth. No. Eternal teenager means eternal teenager. Comprende?

"Professor Mcgonagall?" Annabeth said, pointedly ignoring Dumbledore, which was annoying the man and extremely amusing. "I was wondering. I heard tale that a patronus takes takes the form of the caster's soul. I was wondering if anyone you knew or have heard of anyone who possesses a patronus that takes the form of a bubblebee?" She asked, still ignoring Dumbledore.

Percy was however, old enough to have a bit of self control. Not much, mind you, but enough not to burst out laughing at Dumbledore's split second annoyed face.

Parties with both the Hunters and the Guardians usually ended up having archery competitionn that translated to random objects being thrown in the air, and being brought down by a dozen arrows.

"Are you done?" Percy asked, Dumbledore, turning to his plate.

Before he could answer the plate was airborn, shattering in midair.

"My shot!" Six people yelled.

"Do not cite the deep magic to me, witch!" Someone, probably at Jazz, who go extremely technical when she had too much wine, screamed. "I was there when the were written!"

"No you weren't!" Someone else yelled. "You were still hung over from the victory party the night before."

"Shut up!"

Percy grinned and drank his necter. Tomorrow Dumbledore's army would come for their first lesson, which would be fun.

For the Demigods.

"You didn't have to stab him." A guardian said, arm slung over her half-sister's shoulder.

"You didn't hear what he said to me." The hunter protested.

"What did he say?"

"'What you gonna do? Stab me?"

"She has a point." Another guardian inputted.

Percy laughed as Thalia started a mosh pit, not noticing Dumbledore looking pleased as Percy finished his goblet.

But Annabeth did.

She signed. She would get him checked at the infirmary later. He'll be fine.

Right?

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The plot continues. Bum bum buuuum!