Champion of Olympus

The Beginning

It wasn't the first thing I wanted on my bucket list. But it was definitely an experience I would never forget. Specifically I'm talking about being flung ten feet in the air by a simple kick from the stomach. Damn these Hephaestus campers have the leg strength to bench elephants. 

During the heat of battle with the red team, I heard a stomping sound to my right as I immediately tried to shift towards the noise. Last thing I remember was Charlie Beckendorf running towards me and then lift off. 

"WHAT THE HELL!" I screamed as I flew through the air. I roll through my fall as I scrambled back to my feet as fast as possible. Luckily, I wasn't too winded from the spartan kick I just experienced. Unfortunately for me though, I now found myself surrounded by the red team as apparently that kick sent me over to the enemy side.

"Well look who we have here, a package right on our doorstep." I heard a voice call out to me, "You fly like a bird with no wings there, hothead." Clarisse pushed through the crowd as the red team start to push closer to me.

"Clarisse! Uh cool seeing you here too," my eyes darted around to find any escape path. "Don't tell me you're gonna fight me like this right? How about you just 1v1 me like we usually do...bro?"

Clarisse kept approaching closer to me as she bashed her spear on her shield, "Not happening this time punk. I'm playing to win and you're gonna be our prisoner" she charged at me along with the rest of the red team.

Damn, I didn't want to show this off since only Grover knew about this, I pulled the lever in my gauntlets as I slammed the ground with my fist. The familiar clink sounded off as a spark lit up and I felt that familiar pull in my stomach. Immediately the flames rushed out of my fist as it roared out in all directions. Yelling and shrieks ran through the crowd as the fire licked them, "What in Hades!?," I heard a familiar voice through the flames. 

The encroaching circle broke apart as I found my way out. A small gap among the campers opened up and I rushed towards it. I needed to escape and this is the best option I got. I sprinted past the red team while punching a couple down. I hope we have fire retardant trees I prayed as I sent more flames back at the red team. 

"Stop Asher! He's going towards the flag!" Clarisse's voice rang out. How kind of them. They told me exactly where to go, I grinned as I kept running. As I pushed back a few more campers I saw right in front of me, the bloody red flag guarded by only a couple Demeter campers. Well this should be easy.

And that's when I made my biggest mistake. In my inner celebration as to how easy this was, I didn't pay attention to my surroundings. An electric shock ran through my nerves as I looked to the side of my stomach. I looked down at my side and there was a six foot length of wood jutting from it. 

"Huh?" was my only thought as I immediately ripped the spear out my side. Probably not the best idea as the blood poured out from the wound. Crap. I fell over down to the floor as I clutched my side. 

"Asher!" Annabeth appeared out of nowhere, "We need to get you some ambrosia now." She said as she inspected the wound. "Luke! Go get the flag, I'll take care of Asher." Luke appeared out from the woods as well and nodded before running towards the red flag.

"Ha ha. I'm a pretty good distraction right?" I coughed. 

Annabeth frowned, "No, you're an idiot. This is why I told you, you needed to wear armor!" She pulled me up and guided me to the side.

"Yea yea, just get me some ambrosia will you before my stomach is no longer inside me." I said through the pain. An Apollo camper named Will ran over and fed me some ambrosia as the color slowly returned to my face. "Here this will help you as I take you back to the infirmary." Will said. "I'll take him from here, Annabeth."