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Annabeth XX

"Annabeth XX," Zeus read.

THE NEW CIVIL WAR HAD BEGUN.

A few people shuddered.

"Geez, 'They didn't make it to the ship', 'The New Civil War had begun', you really like to start your chapters on a positive note, don't you Annabeth." Travis tried to joke.

Annabeth couldn't help but roll her eyes. "It's not like I chose to start off on this." If I had a choice, we wouldn't be reading this at all.

Leo had somehow escaped his fall unharmed.

Hephaestus let out a sigh of relief.

"See? I told you." Leo said, playing with his jacket buttons. "At this point, I'm an expert in falling. I know all the best places to crash into to break your fall: Abandoned warehouses, private mansion property, fruit stands, dining tables," his eyes widened at the sudden slip, Leo hastily added: "Ya' know, the usual stuff."

"I'm surprised Jason's the only one with concussions." Will stated, frowning at his list. How has he not broken anything yet?

Leo's posture relaxed. He grinned. "What can I say? I'm built to survive the Apocalypse!"

He thumped his fist against his chest to emphasize the point. 

Please tell me he's joking. Will deadpanned.

Annabeth saw him ducking from portico to portico, blasting fire at the giant eagles swooping down on him. Roman demigods tried to chase him, tripping over piles of cannonballs and dodging tourists, who screamed and ran in circles.

"And angry mobs." the son of Hephaestus added.

"They're really chasing after you." Jake noted worriedly.

"Yeah, I tend to have that effect on people." Leo joked. "That and someone must've told them I was the one who fired on New Rome."

"Fates." Hephaestus muttered under his breath.The god pinched out flames on his beard.

...In the middle of the courtyard, a full-grown elephant—could that be Frank?—rampaged around the flagpoles, scattering Roman warriors.

"I'm glad he's on our side." Chris said. "Can you imagine him doing that to us?"

"I don't even want to think about it." Katie shivered.

Jason stood about fifty yards away, sword-fighting with a stocky centurion whose lips were stained cherry red, like blood. A wannabe vampire, or maybe a Kool-Aid freak?

"Why not both?" Connor shrugged.

Dionysus winced at the description. His form flickering.

As Annabeth watched, Jason yelled, "Sorry about this, Dakota!"

Thalia perked up. Dakota. She remembered that name. Wasn't that someone who Jason remembered from his past?

I wonder if they're friends... She thought back to Reyna and frowned. Still friends.

The huntress sighed.

He vaulted straight over the centurion's head like an acrobat and slammed the hilt of his gladius into the back of the Roman's head. Dakota crumpled.

Maybe not after that. Thalia winced. She couldn't help but wonder what was Jason thinking as he fought a former ally. Did they talk before Annabeth came? Were they close? How much did Jason remember of this guy?