Second Chances

Chapter 5 - The Prophecy

(Chang's P.O.V.)

The next morning came quicker than I could have imagined, and I was glad to see the sun peak over the camp woods extra early. It didn't really take me very long to get dressed and get all of my gear in order and have myself mentally situated for the day ahead. As I stepped out of my room and started to head towards the dining pavilion for breakfast, I saw a sleepy eyed girl with black hair standing across the hall in what I assumed must be Percy's room. Right before I was about to offer a good morning to her, I noticed that she was half dressed and obviously not awake yet.

"Thalia! Close the stupid door and get back in here.. there are guests in the house!" My face was flushed deep red as the huntress saw me and almost screamed in horror. The door shut and I ran out of the house in a hurry, hoping to avoid either my step-sister's wrath or that of her fiance. Chiron stopped me in the grass just outside the Big House.

"Chang, off to meet up with your Knights before breakfast?" I nodded as a thought came to me. "Yes sir, and please apologize to the lady in the house for me. I don't think she's quite used to having male company stay in the same area overnight." Chiron gave a small chuckle, something in his eyes told me that he had seen her in a similar state at this hour. "I will be sure to give your apologies, and don't worry about it really. Being a Hunter can sometimes make the girls forget to do normal things around camp." I left the thought at that and went down towards the Hestia cabin, where the few Knights I had taken with me were.

I finally reached the cabin door, apparently nobody was up at this early hour. This was always how it was around our camps as well, half of our group woke up early and the other half was dead at this hour. Tajima was the kind to wake up much later than he would ever need too, but I was the early riser. As I reached for the door, it opened and out stepped my Knights. I had made sure to carefully select my early risers, the more we got out of the day the better.

Our Knights are broken into four main types. The ranged, heavy, technical and elite. My brother insisted that I only travel with three, taking an officer from each unit. So I was greeted this morning by a Heavy Knight named Andrew Biha, a Technical Knight named Darien Cade, and a Ranged Knight named Christian Whitney.

"Yo boss! We off to dinner yet?" I mentally facepalmed at the greeting and question. Andrew looked at me curiously with a response to his question before Christian poked him in the side. "You dolt, it's breakfast time, not dinner..." I laughed along with the others as we walked through the camp talking lightly. Andrew was rather rare for a demigod, seeing as he was the son of Hercules. You could say that this made him stand out. The golden blond hair wasn't enough, he was built like a giant. Tajima had insisted that I personally take him, even though it would seriously reduce the strength of his army against the Trojans.

Andrew stood a good foot taller than most of us, he wasn't quite seven feet but he sure seemed to push that fact. We got a lot of stares as the breakfast bell rang around camp. I guess it would be odd to see four strange boys walking around in solid black battle armor. Not many campers had ever encountered us yet, except for a select few from either minor gods or healers like from Apollo. One of the big reasons we had been absent from camp for so many years, is that we guarded the claimed minor Gods kids. At least we used to, before they had cabins added to Camp Half-Blood.

Right before I could sit down to eat, a slightly younger girl ran up to me excitedly. That expression quickly died as I recognized her face. She had dirty blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, that suddenly looked panic as she spoke to me.

"Chang... where's Taj?" I didn't want to answer her. We had met Adara a couple of years ago and would have escorted her to camp then, but Lord Apollo requested she stay with us until the war ended. It was obvious to see why she was one of his favorites, especially after he lost so many in the last battle with the Titans. Unfortunately for her, Adara had fallen into quite a love spell for my twin brother. I wish to say he was immune to Aphrodite's meddling, but they've been a couple for quite some time. No also, unlike the Hunters, we aren't banned from loving or anything.

I faltered in my response to her. "He's... not here..." Such a pathetic reply earned myself a hateful looking glare. "Wait.. why are their only a few of you? Oh no... what's happened to my Tajie?" I whinced at the nickname, and saw the other Knights hold back a laugh. We would all be in Hades if he heard her asking that outloud.

"Tajima is in battle with the Trojans..." Cade half whispered to her softly, Adara looked like she wanted to cry and kill somebody at the same time. Before she could form a reply a short girl with long, flowing black hair skipped up to the Knights. "Chang, I didn't know you guys were gonna be showing up? You should have im'ed me." The chipper girl earned a death glance from Adara. "Ha... isn't this just peachy! Your boyfriend shows up just fine, Cassidy, but mine is locked in mortal battle who knows where... ugh!"

Adara stomped away frustrated as I had to explain everything again to the daughter of Hecate. Adara and Cassidy never had seemed to really get along that well, and the current situation only seemed to make Adara hate my girlfriend even more. "Let's go eat please... before any more arguments or fights try to break out." I tried to smile as we got to eat at last.

(Thalia's P.O.V.)

The Hunters and myself had arrived in the middle of the night and while they headed off to lady Artemis's cabin, I went to see my adorable boy. Lady Artemis had wanted us to get an early start on all the planning and everything as soon as could be, and due to all of the relationship headaches the last month, we had been camping close to the New York area. I was rather happy to get to spent a few hours with Percy before all hell broke loose in another war. While we honored our promises to Zeus, that didn't mean I couldn't sleep in the same room with him.

He hadn't been sleeping very well the last few nights to be honest, and that meant I slept even worse. I was standing in the door of his room at the Big House, not noticing the door just down the hall opening and the Knight coming out of it. I was really oblivious to how I usually woke up, or what I wore to bed. Staying with nothing but immortal teen girls can do that to you. Percy had woken up, I'm guessing when he noticed I wasn't next to him. What a baby. So there I was just standing in the door frame, wearing a pair of his boxers and a way too small shirt. "Thalia! Close the stupid door and get back in here.. there are guests in the house!"

I snapped awake really fast to see the boy, Chang, rush out of the Big House with a beet red face. I closed the door and pressed my back against it as I tried to catch my breath and not freak out. Percy looked terrible, but that didn't keep him from getting out of bed and pinning me against the door playfully. "Just because the Knights don't have to abstain from love, doesn't mean you can go around flashing their commanders." He smiled at me as he leaned in for a morning kiss. I quickly dodged out of the way, letting his face smack the wood with a thud.

I almost fell onto the floor laughing as I tried to put on an innocent smile for him. "You know it wasn't intentional, and since when did you like to kiss the door so early in the morning? Maybe I should go warn Grover you have a thing for trees." He caught onto my joke quicker than I had, and used it to retort back. "I did fall in love with you after all, but maybe your right. Juniper wouldn't nearly be as life threatening to be with."

Neither of us were properly dressed as I chased him out of the room and down the stairs. He almost tripped over Chiron who threw up his hands in surrender as Percy rushed to the porch of the Big House. "Get back Perseus, or I'll make you really wish that you were dating a tree!" Before I could cross outside after the half naked hero, who happened to be wearing only his boxers, Dionysus caught me by the arm.

"Sister, as glad I am to see the two of you horsing around, you really should think about going outside in that." For the second time this morning I had to physically gulp and force myself to breath slowly. This wasn't Artemis's temple on Olympus or the Hunters camp. "Sorry bro, it's still weird for me, having to worry about what I wear in the mornings and who might see. I'll try to work on being more alert of these things." He flippantly waved his hand, ushering me back upstairs. "Thalia, at least stay dressed in public until after your married." We all snickered at his joke as Percy came back in after me.

Dionysus turned to Percy with a stern look. "And you... stop making me sister chase you around the house practically naked. You damn kids in love, and your lack of common sense." Percy just smiled and headed back upstairs to change also. "I think you're so going to have your hands full." Dionysus said with a smirk to Chiron. I was going to get some proper rest before the big meeting today at noon, and I was forcing Percy to get some as well. I would tie him up if I needed too.

(Percy's P.O.V.)

Thalia woke up softly, letting me know that it was about time to get our forces and plans together. I was nervous about this for many reasons. One of the main ones being that Annabeth would be participating in this. The Knights would be participating in this meeting, as would the Hunters and Nico, who had been granted Godhood like I had. We had been told that Tyson would also be leading a small contingent of giants and some cyclopes with him, and my father told me that at the best he could spare us about 500 of them. I went through the numbers in my head and knew that we would need Nico's skeletons to really have much chance.

Introductions were made at the beginning of the meeting and we wasted no time getting into the plans for our formations and strategy. The second Titan's war had been a strategic mess, and really was formed on the fly and very last minute. I knew that the Trojan army would be much more experienced and going into this with half a strategy would get us all killed. I began by asking Chang what his thoughts were for strategies.

"I think you should divide up the cabins into what they specialize at best." I glanced Chiron who looked at myself and Mr. D. Nobody had seemed to have an opposing argument before Annabeth spoke up. "Divide up the cabins? By what, who gets along best... That's a ridiculous plan. If we're really going up against the Trojan army, then we need can't be splitting up the already small amount of forces we have."

Nico cut into the discussion when she finished. "Actually, with my skeletons and the Centaurs and whatever Tyson can bring along we would have quite enough to break off into smaller groups." He smiled across the table at me, but it wasn't a good enough reason for Annabeth. "We have no automatons or any real outside help. If we split into smaller groups, we'll be crushed like bugs." She had placed her hands on the table firmly to accent her point, Chang was obviously growing slightly annoyed at her now.

"So, you think that the Hunters of Artemis or Knights of the Dawn are worthless groups? I've seen the armies of Troy first hand little girl, and the kind of formations and waves they attack in would encircle a bulk type of formation that you cling to." I thought he would stop there, but his point hadn't been made yet it seemed. "My brother is trying to hold them off with under 1,000 men. If he were to make a tactical error like not dividing up his forces, we would arrive to find him dead! These aren't brainless monsters, these are some of the best military minds from ancient Greek times."

He took a deep breath and rested back into his seat, but Annabeth wasn't defeated yet though. "So you plan on splitting us up based on what we are right? That means that us campers will get slaughtered, since we have the least numbers and fighting experience." I looked nervously at Thalia, getting her nod of approval before I cut back into the argument. "If we add Nico's skeleton army directly to the campers, it would give them the largest force. The Knights can operate independantly, I presume.. and the Satyr's, Centaurs and Tyson's force will form the other group."

Everyone seemed to agree with this division, almost everybody that is. "So do Thalia and the Hunters just stay back and watch? Or are they too precious now for you to try to risk them in combat, Gods forbid that anything happens to them." Annabeth spouted in frustration. Thalia almost jumped out of her chair quick as lightning. I placed a hand on her shoulder before she could make an outburst and I detailed the basic plan that was in my head to the others.

"I believe that in light of the situation, we will go with these formations. Nico will have command for the campers group, Thalia, Chang and Tajima will have the Hunters and Knights, and Chiron and Tyson will lead the others. We can get a more detailed strategy once we can confer with the Knights and Tajima, but for now we should prepare as Chang thinks best." Annabeth sighed dejectedly as Chang told how our forces should look and prepare.

"We essentially need three types of units for each group. A frontline fighting unit, that we Knights call our heavies. A fast moving, and precision based group, we refer to as technicals. Lastly, we need our healers and archers, and any sort of magic inclined fighters, who will be our ranged group." I noticed something missing from his formations and brought it up to him with a smile. "I think in light of the Centaurs, we should use them as our cavalry." He seemed to have forgotten about them initally as his face lit up at the comment, this made Annabeth roll her eyes at his oversight.

"Each group will be required to maintain an appointed officer within the command tent at all times. I believe Tyson, Chiron and Grover represent their group well enough, which leaves our other two. I think you and Tajima should switch out back and forth, along with a third officer." I told Chang before continuing along. "As for Nico's group, I need people with some knowledge of the Knights. I would prefer if you use Travis Stoll and a camper of Apollo, Adara Markas. If you need a third, Clariss would be my ideal choice." Clarisse grumbled a simple whatever, but I knew she would rather be on the front lines any day than talking strategy in a cramped tent.

"What about any kids from Athena?" It took me a moment to realize who was asking, Katie Gardner. "Until further notice, no." I glanced at Annabeth sternly as I said this. "The only people that should be in the command tent will be the immortals we have, and those specially appointed. I would rather avoid any unnecessary complications by campers or others with mixed emotions or a limited information source."

Dionysus stood up from the back of the room, and clapped his hands loudly a few times. "Don't think this is Perseus's decision alone, due to the Gods having no way to assist in this upcoming battle, we decided previously that information could be passed back and forth without interfering. This is only possible though, if the command is limited to just immortals." Everyone nodded in understanding as the meeting was dismissed. Annabeth purposefully stayed back to catch my ear about somethings that I'm sure didn't sit well with her. Thalia caught notice of this and waited with me. When she seemed to notice that Thalia wasn't planning on leaving, she resigned herself to approach us.

"I dislike this plan entirely, it's doomed to fail.. you know that?" I sighed and tried to not get frustrated at her. "Is your pride really hurt so bad that you won't even accept this battle is bigger than us?" Thalia asked her with a questioning look. "My pride... my pride? You're sure one to talk, you up and stole my boyfriend and turned him into a God." I would have responded then and there, but Rachel came down into the meeting with a green mist all around her.

Everyone who leaving rushed back in to see the Oracle stop in front of Chang, his Knights and the three of us. Rachel lifted a hand up at Chang, pointing with an eerie glare, and the slithery voice broke the silence.

"The brother enslaved must fight without pause,

An immortal decision will rally a cause.

Peace to the heavens that depends on a choice,

And a heroes last hour will lend him no voice.

One love to be lost for one love to endure,

Fate's eternal engagement makes true hope obscure."

The room was deadly silent as Rachel collapsed onto the ground, Chiron having some others scoop her up and take her to the infirmary to rest. He looked at me worriedly for a moment before speaking his mind. "Percy, you need to take the Hunters and campers and leave before nightfall. It might take a little bit, but I'll head out with Grover and Tyson's armies when they are all arrived and gathered." I nodded as I understood, then walked over to Chang.

"You alright man?" He looked sickly pale before shaking it off wearily. "Heavy man... heavy..." Was all he could really manage to reply as the Knights left the Big House. I turned towards Annabeth and sighed. "You're a dear friend, even with what you did to me..." I paused before looking at Thalia a moment and continued. "I need you to think like yourself, whatever issues you have with us, we need to put them on pause. Your friends, brothers and sisters need your help the most." She nodded slowly and walked out, giving me a small okay in reply.

"This just got a lot worse, didn't it?" I said looked at Thalia and Chiron with worry. "Percy, whatever we all face in this coming battle... I have a bad feeling that both Dioscuri won't be around to see the outcome." I paled visibly and noticed the lack of people now in the room. "Do you think history will repeat again, that one of the twins will actually die soon?" He slowly nodded yes, and I gulped down the frustration and bit of fear from the immenent feeling of loss. "They're sons of Hestia... I hope this doesn't have any bad effects on all our hope..."

Thalia grabbed my arm and pulled me up the stairs in haste. "You need to get ready to leave, it's gonna be a long journey and your not even ready yet." She smiled at me, but I still looked like somebody was dancing all over my grave. I pulled her in for a small kiss and then turned to get ready. "We have to do whatever it takes to survive this... not just you and me, but all of us." I said as I felt her hug me from behind. "I know we do... and we will." It took just a few hours for everyone to get ready, and we all headed through the woods to the ocean shore. It was a small group to travel on just one ship, seeing as Nico would summon the skeletons after we arrived and the others would show up later. We had all finally boarded and set sail, it wouldn't be long until we would be in the middle of a new war and quest. I couldn't help but wonder if this was the start of something much bigger, or the end to all of our previous troubles with the Titans.