Annabeth Chase and the Bronze Dragon

Part 1 - The Game Begins

I was really looking forward to capture-the-flag today.

On a daily basis, its always fun, but this game promised to be extra fun.

For once, Poseidon and Athena were on opposing side. Hephaestus had the flag and they'd allied themselves with Apollo, Hermes and Percy. My cabin held the other flag, so we had everyone else - Ares, Demeter, Dionysus and Aphrodite. I was the captain of the red team, so it was up to me to make the strategy.

I knew that Percy was the danger of the blue side so I had to find a way to get him out of the game.

"How do you distract a boy from war games?" I asked Silena Beauregard, head counsellor of Aphrodite's cabin.

She smiled knowingly. "Give him another focus."

I knew that Percy would side himself with Charles Beckendorf, head counsellor of Hephaestus's cabin, captain of the blue team and not-so-secret admirer of Silena. Not that all the attention he gave her went unnoticed or unwanted. If she was honest, I knew that Silena would admit that she liked him back.

Give him another focus. Why did boys love war games? Because of the danger and fighting. So I had to find something more dangerous with a lot more fighting involved.

I started smiling. I knew the perfect place.

When I put forward my proposition to her, Silena readily agreed to it, only the tiniest bit concerned. It was unusual for a child of Aphrodite to look forward to war games, but I supposed love was a powerful motivation.

Before the games could start, I found Percy doing a last minute training session with his magical blade, Riptide. Not like that was going to help him.

"Hey, Seaweed Brain,"I said, walking up to him.

He looked good in armour, his breastplate fitting his chest snugly and his helmet covering his messy black hair. Not that I would ever tell him that, of course.

"Will you stop calling me that?" he grumbled, although I could sense him struggling not to smile.

"You know you love it," I said, bumping him playfully with my shoulder.

He winced as my armour hit him, probably harder than I intended. Not that I wanted to hurt him, yet.

I couldn't help but think about the fireworks on later that night. I'd always gone to them, but never with a date. I was hoping that this time was different, but knowing Percy, I doubted that, unless I took the initiative. Seriously, the guy, as awesome and amazing as he was, struggled to open a chip packet. Sometimes I wondered if he knew I was even a girl.

"Tell you what," I said, lowering my voice and casting my mind back to concentrate on the game. "We're going to crush you tonight, but if you pick a safe position . . . like the right flank, for instance . . . I'll make sure you don't get pulverized too much."

"Gee, thanks," he said, smiling easily at me, "but I'm playing to win."

I smiled. Too easy. "See you on the battlefield."

I jogged back to my teammates, who grinned at me and gave me high fives.

"Did he fall for it?" one asked.

"Hook, line and sinker," I answered. "You all know the plan. Let's move out!"

My team started cheering and raced off into the woods. I waited behind until Silena caught up to me. She wore the strangest set of armour I'd ever seen. It was completely pink, with an occasional red or white spot or strip. She looked more ready to go shopping than to war.