Disclaimer: What's that Lassie? You found the rights to PJO? Oh that's right, you can't talk. And I don't own you or PJO. Crap.

The older warrior beckoned him to follow as they walked past the many injured and unconscious Myrmidons, "What is it I could help you with, son of Sparta?"

"I wish to join you in battle. To become a Myrmidon." Percy wasn't sure what to do from this point. Call him headstrong, but he didn't exactly think through everything plans entail, and as such, when a plan was complete he usually improvised.

Of course, there wasn't much improvising against a spear butt to the face.

Percy, shocked at the sudden action, took the full brunt of the force, sending him straight into the rocky terrain. Quickly recovering, he managed to roll out of the way of the next three strikes before returning to a standing position and drawing Anaklusmos.

Assuming it had been Achilles delivering the blow, he was about to question the warrior's sudden attack before he caught sight of the true culprit.

A Myrmidon soldier stood before him completely covered in armor from head to toe as he charged the Hound of War once again with his spear. Dodging the first lunge and batting away the man's spear, Percy cursed at the speed of the second and third as each made their mark upon his sternum, knocking the breath out of him and sending him to his knees. Shifting his weight so the next strike missed entirely, Percy leapt up sent a few quick jabs at the man's legs before finding his own legs swept from underneath him as he smacked his legs with the spear's handle.

Winded, Percy could only watch as the warrior prepared to make a final blow before a sharp whistle stopped him short. Backing up a few paces and bowing, the man left what Percy now realized was an arena of sorts before Achilles reappeared.

"What… the Hades… was… that?!" Percy questioned as air filled his battered form.

Achilles had a calm expression to the breathless warrior's demands as he helped him up from the ground. "That was one of my warriors. The men you defeated earlier were merely militia who claimed Myrmidon descent."

"And the purpose of his attack?"

Achilles cracked a grin, "To see how you fight Spartan." Chuckling at the Hound of war's sputtering he continued as they went through what revealed to be a hidden part of the camp, "If you wish to be one of us, then you train. But first, you have to make it past this."

"Past what?"

Achilles gave him a real smile as they reached a final gate, "This."

With a sharp tug on an unseen chain, both Percy and Achilles were suddenly thrust into the sunlight, blinding Percy for a moment before his vision recovered. When his eye sight was finally clear and he was able to see properly, he barely held in his shock at the sight.

Hundreds of soldiers dressed in the same armor as the warrior he had encountered earlier were standing at attention, spears glistening and horse hair plumes blowing in the sea breeze as they watched the pair move around in front of them.

Achilles raised his voice, ensuring every one of his soldiers could hear him as he spoke.

"Myrmidons! I have brought this man to you. He claims the desire to join us, to become one of us!"

The army stirred slightly and a few whispered words could be heard as he continued.

"This is Perseus, the Hound of War! Slayer of the witch Hecate and the Heir to War! But no longer will he be such! Give him your answer, so that he may have the chance to join us and stand with you as our enemies crash against our shields and bloody themselves upon our swords."

The whispering grew quiet and for a moment, Percy was worried they would reject him and his planning would be for naught. But after a minute, one warrior stepped out from the ranks and raised both arms in the air.

"We accept, but only if he proves he is truly worthy." A roar of agreement sounded from the ranks of the soldiers as they announced their decision.

With a single motion, Achilles silenced them before turning to Percy, who was still shocked at the events playing out before him. He was surprised they had even given him a chance to prove himself. A chance he would not waste.

"They have spoken Perseus. Your training begins tomorrow."

Shaken out of his thoughts, Percy managed a smile as he grasped forearms with the warrior, "Thank you Achilles."

"You won't be thanking me for long."

Ω

Percy wondered if it was too late to take back his thanks.

The training he'd been undergoing these few months had been brutal and unforgiving. To hide his identity, he could no longer use any of his demigod powers or any other abilities that would reveal him as the Hound of War. That included the blessing of Odyne, as Achilles insisted it held a rather unfair advantage in a practice fight, as well as the fact Percy needed to fight without relying so much on his powers in battle if he were to remain hidden when they sailed for Troy.

Achilles had begun teaching him the Myrmidon way of fighting and had insisted he train with him instead of the other soldiers, so as to learn more quickly. While true, Percy had realized immediately that the older warrior was anything but kind in his lessons.

Ducking under his mentors' first strike, Percy lashed out with one of his own using a Myrmidon sword as he attempted to land at least one blow upon him. Achilles merely smacked the blade out of his way before slamming the shaft of his spear against the Hound of War's hand. Percy grunted as the bones in his hand and wrist fractured with an audible crack before the butt of Achilles spear caught into his chin, lifting him off his feet and sending him into the dirt a few yards away.

Achilles sighed as Percy struggled to right himself. He had made good progress thus far in tactics as well as basic fighting techniques, but when it came to the more complex forms, the Hound of War was struggling. It was apparent the problem lay within his fighting style as a whole.

While it was flexible enough to allow new forms and a few techniques, the style Perseus practiced was rigid and disciplined for the most part. He was clearly a Spartan, and had been raised to fight just like one. But Spartans as a whole fought as a unit, matching strike for strike with their brothers in arms, while Myrmidons could both fight as a whole unit and as single soldier. Percy had made up for that by trying to incorporate more forms to add fluidity, but it would not do him any better should he find something incredibly valuable to add to his fighting.

It would take time to break him out of his way, and Achilles knew he didn't have the time to continue on this path if the Hound of War was to be ready by the time the forces of Greece set sail for Troy.

It was time for a new strategy, and Achilles had just the thing.

"That is enough Perseus. Come, I must speak to you."

Nodding his head in acknowledgement, Percy rose with a sigh as he reclaimed his sword and followed in his teacher's footsteps. As he caught up with him, Percy wondered what Achilles fought for. He seemed honorable enough, but the Hound of War seriously doubted that was what drove the warrior. Money and glory were obviously false, seeing as how he and his brothers in arms lived outside of the city and far away from anyone who would seek to glorify them. Maybe a loved one? Was it possible he fought for the same reason Percy himself did?

True, if he was called to lay down his life for Sparta the next day, he would do it without a second thought. But as much as he had come to love the home of the Spartans, he would choose Zoë over all. He had sworn to protect her, and he had no doubts that when he drew his last breath, his thoughts would be for her only.

Hades, his thoughts right now were for her! The way her hair glistened in the moonlight, how her obsidian eyes shined with pride and amusement when he saw her, how-

"Perseus!"

Snapping his head in the older warrior's direction, Percy could see the annoyed look on his face as they took a seat within his tent. Orders and war strategies were laid out upon the table on the far side of the enclosure as Achilles grabbed one from its place before handing it to Percy.

"This is for you. If you can keep from falling into Hypnos's realm while I speak." At the other warrior's embarrassment, he sighed, "Open it."

Muttering an apology, Percy opened the parchment with a careful hand before he recognized the seal. Frowning for a moment, he went on to read the document before a scowl crossed his face. Turning to Achilles, he was surprised to see a calm expression upon the older warrior's face.

Before he could speak, Achilles cut him off, "Yeas I know what the document is about, and no, you cannot refuse it."

Percy clenched his teeth as he felt his blood heat, "Agamemnon is a fool for sending his soldiers into the Python's lair, even if he is king of Greece. Even in death, the serpent's venom still lingers, and if the greedy fool wants to send his soldiers to lose their minds in madness, then that his problem."

"Regardless, he asked for your aid in this matter, and as your king, you must go." Achilles looked to the side and muttered, "Even if he is a fool."

Composing himself, he continued, "And seeing as how our time in Greece lessens and I cannot teach you anymore than I already have, this will be your final test: find the soldiers in the Python's lair, and you will become a Myrmidon. You will join us in war."

At his students look of anger, he laid a hand on his shoulder before sighing, "I know this isn't something that comes easily to you. The sea has always been restless, and being claimed by Ares did nothing to increase your love of servitude. But these are orders from your commander, and before all things, you are a soldier. You will come out of this alive. This, I am assured of."

"…Thank you. I'm glad you could train me, and I would be glad to follow you into battle." Percy gave the warrior a salute before leaving the tent to gather his weapons and armor, leaving Achilles alone in his tent.

Once the Hound of War was out of sight he sighed, "Indeed, you will survive. But I have no doubt you will be changed forever by what you find…fates guide you Perseus, and may you find more than just the soldiers you seek in the serpent's lair."

Ω

Appearing outside of the cave, Percy could already smell the stench of decay that hung over the entrance. A clear and obvious warning if he had ever seen one, telling of what would happen in this place should any mortal enter. At least it would have been more intimidating, had he been a mere mortal.

Taking a deep breath of the pure air around him, Percy dropped into the cave and was almost overcome by the now heightened stench of rot. He resisted the urge to light his hands or summon Hecate's torch; if he were to come from this a Myrmidon, a different man, he would enter and defeat whatever lied within using his skills with the sword and as a warrior only.

Walking through the shadow filled place, Percy could feel it. Something primal and full of power seemed to seep into the air around him as he trekked deeper and deeper into the Python's lair. It felt as if it were suffocating the Hound of War with its presence, and Percy could have sworn he heard a whisper.

Fool

He had heard that for sure, and as the word slithered throughout the cavern with a dull hiss, more of the words appeared.

Betrayer

Traitor

"Stop." His own voice sounded weak in comparison as more and more of the venomous words stringed together, and images seemed to form from the mist as he clenched his head. Shaking it to clear his mind, he made it a few more feet before falling to his knees once more as a familiar shape appeared.

His mother walked to him, her dark eyes hollow and cold as she spoke, "You were such a strong boy Perseus. How could you let me die? How could you leave me to the fire?"

"No, that's not true!" He pushed forward, walking through the mist of his mother's form as he continued. A few more feet passed by before the mist thickened, wrapping around his throat and pulling him to the ground, choking and coughing.

She walked out of the mist this time, the proud look he loved so much now aimed at him, "You thought I loved you? For what, a 'new chance at life'? How much of a fool are you?"

"Get out of my head!" He drew Anaklusmos and with one swipe, the image was blown away. Breathing heavily, Percy walked farther. Just as he saw the end of the cave, Percy felt the air tighten around his legs and drag him to the floor. As he struggled, the air shimmered before him and he was meet with a boot to the face.

His father stood above him, a sneer scarring his face as he looked down on him with cold contempt, "I gave you everything. I trained you, fed you, cared for you, and this how you repay me? With lies? Betrayal?!"

"Father, I-"

'Enough! I have heard enough of your lies, son of none! I disown you!" The air around his hands formed into a massive sword, its skull hilt grinning and ruby eyes glowing madly as he raised it over his head, "It is time I did what should have been finished long ago!"

Percy knelt, fresh tears falling from his face as his mind was filled with the words and actions of the people he loved most. As the sword arced down, a light flickered in his mind. A bastion in the storm as Percy remembered the one thing that could save him now.

He raised Anaklusmos, blocking the strike with both hands as he stood. As the god of War made a massive swing once again, Percy ducked underneath the blow and shoved the bronze sword into his gut, tearing through the armor with ease as Percy leaned next to his ear and whispered quietly the truth.

"You accepted me when no one else would. You pulled me from the ashes of Sparta and made me something more. I am Perseus, son of Angelos. But I am Patroclus, glory of the father. Glory of you."

As the form of his 'father' disappeared into the mist in the air, Percy could have sworn he saw the image smile before fading. Shaking his head, the Hound of War looked up to find the end of the cave as well as the source of his troubles.

The massive form of the Python lay before him, the scales and bones of the massive corpse rotting and filling the cave with its vile stench and venom. But as Percy walked to its head, the remains turned to dust, bone and skin alike flowing into the air, until only a massive fang remained.

Smiling to himself, Percy leaned down and grasped the spoil of war before the sounds of groaning caught his attention. Quickly dashing over to the far side of the cavern, he spotted the moaning and pained filled soldiers he had been sent to retrieve rolling on the floor in agony.

Coming to a conclusion quickly, Percy placed the monster's fang on the men, instantly silencing their groans and setting them off to sleep. Gathering them all together, he flashed them to where he assumed Agamemnon's camp was before flashing himself back to the Myrmidons, leaving behind the fetid air and the stench of madness to the dust of the Python.

A/N: Okay, If you hate this chapter, I won't blame you for it. I hate Volkswagen Bugs, math, and bad singing, but I have realized I hate filler chapters more than anything else. So if you hate this chapter, just know that I hate it more.

Hoping to get this behind me,

Faultypercy12,

P.S: Yep, Percy's Myrmidon name is Patroclus, which means 'glory of the father' in Greek. How perfect did that turn out to be, right? Anyway, if you were wondering about the Python, it was dead already because Apollo killed it way earlier. So I decided to take liberties with its corpse.