Rise of the Forgotten

Part I: Never Let Your Guard Down

Never Let Your Guard Down

Chapter I

Leo

I stood at the brow of the Argo II looking over at the camp, smiling tiredly. It was finally over, no more fighting for my life (for a while at least), no more accidental trips to Tartarus, no more evil Mother Earth or her baby giant minions. I just wanted a year of peace-hopefully longer-before there's another threat.

My name is Leo Valdez, although I am also known as the Supreme-commander-of-the-Argo-II. I used to be the jester of our ragtag team of seven, also known as the seventh wheel, of course I still made jokes and was obviously the most ADHD of us but I had grown more solemn- serious. But then-we all had.

I started when I felt a hand rest on my shoulder and I whirled around to meet the haunted sea-green eyes of Percy Jackson. I blushed and relaxed. "Sorry Percy," I sheepishly greeted the Son of Poseidon who had grown to be one of my closest friends even though in a roundabout way, it was my fault that he and Annabeth had fallen into Tartarus, not that he blamed me of course, I blamed myself even if he didn't. "I didn't hear you come up. You scared the Hades out of me."

Percy smiled knowingly and leaned over the ship's rail. He was dressed in jeans and an orange T-shirt, the colors of Camp Half-blood. Neither he nor Annabeth had opened up much to us about Tartarus-not that we didn't understand-and both of them were recovering. I could hear him scream out at night sometimes, plague by a monster that he couldn't forget. "That's okay. I probably would have decapitated someone-I should have announced myself. I know I still jump at a mouse." He looked gloomily at me and I patted him on the shoulder.

"It's normal, Percy, just give it time." I reassured him and he smiled briefly before looking back out to the Camp and I copied him motions. "Gods, I hope they don't like… blowtorch us out of the sky." I muttered and Percy chuckled drily.

"Hope. Yes, we need to ho-" Percy was interrupted by Festus who made a whirring and clicking sound. I listened to him, and then smiled.

"Alright then, Festus, hopefully the Romans won't try to kill us." I replied perfectly understanding the mechanical dragon.

Percy blinked in confusion. "What did he say, Leo?" He asked, tilting his head curiously.

I smiled widely. "Festus? Oh, he said that its time to descend into Rome. I hope Beauty Queen can convince everyone that I wasn't me."

Percy blinked at my choice of words, and then he shrugged, laughing slightly.

Reyna

I warily watched the Argo II land. The last time the Seven were together, the Greek puer had blowtorched our camp. Then Octavian had led an attack on the Greek camp and we nearly killed everyone much to my dismay and anger. I had learned that the Greeks were strong fighters. The ship landed in the lake outside of New Rome with a soft splash.

Of course, the Greeks where living here now. When we had attacked the camp Jason and Leo had sent an Iris Message (or something like that) to stop us. It worked (after Piper and Nico got on screen) and Jason suggested that we join together to protect the mortals. We did but the Greek's camp got razed due to us and Gaea combined. There were no hard feelings however-well, except between Octavian and Rachel, something about prophecies-and everyone wore the signs of the war. There were several on crutches (although a few of the stubborn ones hobbled around on a cane) due to broken or twisted or just sprained ankles. Some wore casts, others, arm slings. There were also several bandages.

The door opened and the seven stepped out.

I immediately noticed how different they looked from just one and a half months ago. I wondered how they were the same-but there was that spark of humor in Leo's eyes. I blinked in surprise. Leo? Why Leo? The previous seven that I had met seemed to be… young when compared to this set, but not in a bad way completely.

They looked battle weary that was for sure. There was definitely a shadow of fear in all their eyes-Percy and Annabeth especially. Annabeth's stormy eyes seemed to scanning everyone like always, but there was a hint of wariness in her eyes. All of them seemed to be older, which technically they were. And more mature-even Leo.

Why is it always Leo?

They all looked different as well. Piper's kaleidoscope eyes flashed colors more quickly than before. From blue to brown to green, even gold and grey sometimes. They were pretty but intimidating, which was new for me. Her once choppy brown hair was even and hit the small of her back and she wore jeans, a green T-shirt and sneakers. For some reason, she gave an aura of warmth, which I was sure was new.

I looked at Hazel and smiled as her brown eyes seemed to fill me with ease. Her short brown hair was braided back somehow, and I figured Piper must have figured out how to do it. She smiled back at me and I felt her aura of regret.

Frank still had the bizarre baby face, but it seemed older. His hair was no longer buzz, cut but shoulder length, probably from not cutting it and I wonder how it got so long in just a month and a half, but then Jason, Percy and Leo's were the same length. Plus, it looked like he had actually grown into his muscles…. He had an aura of suffering but joy as well.

Annabeth was different from the others. Like Piper, her blond hair was down but unlike Piper it was to her shoulders and slightly choppy-as if she had cut it with a knife. Her stormy eyes were analyzing things as well, so nothing changed there, but there seemed to be an edge to it, as if her life depended on it. She gave an aura of strength.

Jason was not different though. Like Frank, his blond hair was shoulder length and his electric blue eyes seemed to spark (no pun intended) with electricity. His arm was wrapped around Piper's waist and his aura made me feel braver.

Percy was even more interesting than the others. His sea-green eyes seemed to bore right into my soul. They were filled with memories and his stare, even if it wasn't a glare, wanted to make me cower like one of Lupa's new born pups. But his eyes held warmth, even if there was a shadow behind them, and they seemed to be filled with good memories. I remembered the laughter of my comrades and I shook my head. His black hair was still the same though, even if it was just a bit wilder and longer and he gave a feeling of outmost loyalty and… hope.

The strangest was Leo though, and I felt strangely attracted to him. His brown eyes were filled with warmth and my eyes were drawn to them, they reflected humor (as always) but sadness as well. His curly hair was just slightly shorter than the others and I wondered what it would feel like if I could touch it. I was reminded of family by just looking at him and I felt a surge of warmth.

They had a few things in common though. The battle weariness was in their eyes, Percy's especially, and all of them had injuries. Annabeth was on crutches, Percy had a bandage around his head, Jason had a bandage around his wrist, Piper had an arm sling and Leo's upper arm was bandaged, Hazel also had crutches and a cast around her knee while Frank seemed to just have Band-Aids everywhere on him he looked a bit like a band-aid mummy. They all had haunted expressions, Percy and Annabeth especially and I remembered that they fell into Tartarus. But the trust in their eyes was so deep that I knew nothing could shatter it, and besides their auras had one thing that was the same. The lost of loved ones.

All of them seemed to be growing awkward under our stares and Leo shuffled. "Is there something on my face Piper?" He asked in a loud enough voice for us to hear. I felt my lips twitch.

Piper turned to him incredulously. "What? No, Leo. Nothing that I can see anyway…" She grinned at his affronted expression.

Percy rolled his eyes at their bickering although he was smiling. "We're back." He said cheerfully.

There was a pause (even Piper and Leo stopped their bickering) and everyone looked at Percy. Then they surged forward and the seven was soon being patted on the back, hugged, tackled (a faun tackled Percy) or just shaking their hands.

I ended up next to Leo who was shaking a very energetic Gwen's hand. I smirked and greeted, "Welcome back, hero."

Leo looked up in surprise and he smiled. I returned it. "Thanks Reyna. It's good to be back." I realized his voice had deepened in slight surprise. He continued shaking Gwen's hand and it looked like she wasn't about to let go.

"What's up?" I questioned, determined to make conversation with the idiot.

And then I instantly regretted the wording when Leo's lips twitched up into a cheeky smile. "Well… the skies, the moon, Uranus, planes, birds, stars, the sun, the Argo II-Oh wait forget that one and it's in the lake."

"Leo," I muttered, letting my cold mask down for once and letting a genuine chuckle escape my lips. Gwen looked at me like I had grown two heads while Leo just looked surprise. "Even though that is true, you know what I mean."

Leo blinked and Gwen backed away. "LEO!" Several feminine squeals sounded and Leo's eyes widened in horror.

"Oh gods… Reyna, I wasn't here. Why are they still chasing me?" He ducked behind me and I twisted around and he disappeared into the crowd. Several nymphs appeared (literally out of thin air) and I jumped.

"Where is he? Where's my baby cakes?" one of them asked taking me by the shoulders and shaking me. My eyes narrowed and she stopped.

"Uh… he went that way." I pointed left and several squealing nymphs raced off squealing something about Narcissus. Leo appeared at my shoulder and I raised an eyebrow.

"Thanks." He offered sheepishly. I raised an eyebrow. "It's a long story." He added earnestly.

"Really?" I retorted with so much sarcasm that Leo winced.

"Yeah… see Hazel and I was trying to find lime for the Argo II after being attacked…" Leo began chuckling nervously. I listened as he told me about Nemesis, Echo, the nymphs and finally how they tricked them.

"Seriously? Hot stuff, Flame Boy? Seriously?" I asked in slight awe at his genius and stupidity and Leo laughed.

Notes

Hey everyone, how are you? Anyways, this is my first story on here and I have to say I'm rather proud of it. It's 65k at the moment, but I'm still working on it and I'm only on the 3rd arc out of... 8. The first part will be focused on Leo and Reyna with background Percabeth. The second will be Percy's time at Chaos, the third will be when Percy comes down to fight against Void and the fourth will be the beginning of actualy fighting Void. The fifth will be when Percy is captured and held hostage and he looses his memories and then book 6-8 will be recovering and fighting back at Void.

I'm going to try to update every other Wednesday, but I have a tendency to... forget to update it so... it'll be around there.

Anyways, hold on people! This'll be a long one :D