A/N: IT'S DONE IT'S DONE IT IS DONE! C'EST FINI! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT I FINISHED A BOOK – 204PGS! Yes this chapter is really short but I tied up the one lose end and everything! I FINISHED A BOOK! THANK THE GODS OF OLYMPUS I FINISHED THIS BOOK WITH TWO DAYS TO SPARE! I had visions of it being new years and clicking the submit button at midnight but they are no more – I AM DONE! *squeal* I HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK!

Percy: Fires of Peace

I woke up oddly early after a good night's sleep in my cabin. I felt refreshed and full of energy. Dawning my usual camp attire I sat on my bunk and stared out my window at the sea while waiting for the conch to signal breakfast. The sun was rising slowly over the horizon and coating everything in a warm, orange-yellow light. It was going to be a beautiful day.

As I sat there waiting, my thought involuntarily turned to what had happened the night before. Everyone was no doubt still edgy about the news. No one wanted to go to war, and after Arthemia had left with her mothers things had still been tense. We may have all been singing and laughing, but there had been an uneasy light to almost everyone's eyes.

I wondered how Arthemia was doing. She had looked uncertain about leaving with her mothers. But when I briefly saw her walking back in, there was something different about her. She seemed a little calmer, but also back to her old angry self. The serious look and mild scowl and permently returned to her face. She had given me and Annabeth a cold look and stiff nod before completely ignoring us.

The conch horn sounded and I rose to my feet. I slipped outside and walked down to the open air dining hall. I sat down at the Poseidon table and waited for breakfast to be pasted around. The other cabins filed in slowly. I noticed that Arthemia actually came to the meal. I was surprised by that. I was even more surprised when she sat down at table number eight. It made sense, but I figured she would be in the Athena cabin, not Artemis. Go figure.

After breakfast I was determined to find out how everything went. Me and Annabeth both walked over to Arthemia. She took one look at us, bared her teeth and hissed. Then she rose to her feet and ran off. I was too stunned by her actions to do anything. When she was gone I turned to Annabeth. She looked worried for a moment, as if not sure how to gauge what she did.

"Well that was weird," I said.

Annabeth shrugged. "She's probably thinking over whatever she learnt last night. I'd say leave her alone for a few days." We were quiet for a moment. Then Annabeth slipped her hand into mine and kissed me on the cheek. "Come on, I have a free period, let's head to the beach." I smiled big and squeezed her hand. Laughing and smiling we both hurried down to the beach hand in hand.

The rest day passed like any normal camp day. I went around from activity to activity and fell back in to the rhythm of things. It felt good to get back to training, especially since I'd need to be in top condition for the upcoming war. I caught up with my friends and contacted my mom and Paul to tell them to news – I just didn't mention the car. They were a little upset that I had gone off on a dangerous quest without telling them, but they were used to it by now.

Everything was peaceful. It felt like a miracle, knowing what was out there and what awaited up. But the first day passed and before I knew it three days had gone by. Things had been going so great I hadn't even realized it. I had time to just be a normal person – well as normal as a training half-blood can be. I tried a couple times over to the days to talk to Arthemia, but she acted really dangerous every time I approached her.

That annoyed me. I thought we might have been on the path to at least tolerance. Anything more was just wishful thinking, but I thought she had gotten past the defensive attack faze. It made me a little sad that after all that had happened she still didn't trust me even a little bit. But I figured maybe she was doing something else that was important (as in, prophecy related) and just didn't want to be near any one.

I didn't let the little things get to me. Okay, they actually did get to me I just did my best to keep those thoughts out of my mind. I trained hard during the day and relaxed with my friends in the evening. It was the recipe for a perfect summer. Things could not be better.

If you ignored camp's latest gossip.

It was, you guessed it, about Arthemia. Her having forbidden mothers and moving into the Artemis cabin had everyone talking. Plus rumors were flying that she hunted in the woods at night and had done dark magic to get past the harpies. I knew that wasn't true – that much was obvious – she probably was using stealth or had figured out the schedule if she was going out hunting. Though I doubted she was going out at all, with her recent mood.

It had been three days since the events in the Amphitheatre. There wasn't much time until curfew and I was heading back to the Poseidon cabin. It had gotten dark a litter earlier than expected so I was walking back from the beach in half-light. The air was cool and crisp as I strolled across the grass.

I was lost in thought when a black shadow darted across my path. Immediately my senses snapped in to action. My ADHD told me exactly what the shadow was. Arthemia.

I sprung after her as she hurried down towards the woods. Thankfully she was going slowly so I could easily catch up with her. A look of fierce determination was on her face.

"Arthemia!" I called. "Wait up; I just want to talk with you!" There was a feral growl from her, but she didn't break pace. I sped up and grabbed her wrist. I dragged her to a stop and she snarled at me. She tried throwing a punch at my head but I knocked it aside.

"I don't want to talk to you!" Arthemia snarled, her face a mask of hate. I felt where I was holding her wrist grow warmer briefly. When I looked down I saw smoke curling off. Arthemia hissed in distaste. "Oh, right, you don't burn so easily. Great." She glared at me with all the menace she had, which was a lot. I didn't look in her eyes but gave her the sternest look I could.

"Calm down. I just want to talk, that's it," I said. "What gotten into you?" Arthemia growled.

"I don't want to talk to you, or to anyone! Just leave me alone!" She screeched. She tried to pull away but I jerked her back.

"No." I forced her to face me. "You've gotten so mean these past few days; I thought you might be at least somewhat civil to me now! It's like you don't trust me!"

"I don't!" she hissed.

I blinked in surprise. "Well . . . why not? You know I don't betray people or anything!"

"How can I be certain?" Arthemia screamed. "Just leave me alone, you don't know what it's been like for me! I have a god constantly popping up to talk to me and I can't trust anyone! You think I can trust you? I can't."

I looked at her seriously. "Why not?"

"Because," she growled quietly, "it's a little hard when my own father knew I was demigod and still left me. No one can be trusted. Now let me go!" She kneed me in the stomach and jerked her wrist away; using the surprise I had to escape. She hissed at me before running off. I quickly shook away my surprise and chased her.

Lunging forward I gripped her shoulder and pulled her back to me. "Mia stop," I said. "I don't want us to fight anymore. I'm sorry for what's happened, but it's not my fault so don't take it out on me. You can trust me, so just stop being like this."

"Why should I?" she growled. "I never wanted this life, and you're just an immature idiotic boy!" I released her shoulder and folded my arms. She didn't run away but stood there tense and angry.

"I know I'm not the smartest person out there, but I do care," I said. "Don't push away someone who wants to help. If you think like this you'll – you'll end up like Luke." Her face snapped up to glare at me. "You're leaving yourself open to being manipulated by evil. Can you please just forget your anger and try and get along? You're part of a prophecy now, and you have to keep that in mind. You can't let your emotions get in the way. I know. If you're going to help save the world, then I'm the best person to keep you from messing up."

Arthemia snorted but looked up at me, the anger slightly less in her eyes. "What are you trying to say? I should pass over the responsibility to you?"

I shook my head. "No, of course I'm not suggesting that," I told her. "But I don't want us to be enemies. You're different and I respect that, but you can't distance yourself from everyone. You need someone who understands. And I think I might – we've gone through the same things and we both know how they affect us. You – well you –"

I took a deep breath and shook my head. "Look, what I'm trying to say is, stop resisting. Okay Mia? Stop trying to push everyone away. You don't deserve to go through this alone. Please." I held out my hand. "Can we be friends? And I mean it; can we trust each other from now on?" Arthemia looked at me, anger gone from her. She was in shock. "Please Mia, let's be friends."

Arthemia held my eyes for a minute. It was the first time she wasn't scowling or anger. There was a different light in her eyes. It was kinder, gentler; she looked like a different person. She stared at me and swallowed; as if unsure of something but going through with it all the same. I knew she could read the sincerity on my face. She raised her hand and clasped mine. Her face twitched. "I'd like that," she said quietly. The corners of her mouth trembled and turned upwards. She smiled, a real genuine smile – the first I'd had seen on her. "I'd really like that." Her smile grew. And it was that one, true, shinning smile from her that made everything I had gone through all worthwhile.

A/N: So how was it? Did it live up to your expectations? Please tell me! Oh my gods I still can't get over it! My heart is beating like crazy and I can't breathe! I finished my first book – A BOOK! *takes deep breath* Okay, here's the gang.

Annabeth: I think I might call Chiron to check on you.

Me: What? Why? At least wait until I tell everyone the truth!

Arthemia: *head snaps up* You were serious about telling them?

Me: Duh, of course I was!

Percy: That's not a good idea.

Me: To bad, I'm telling them! So here's the truth; this all happened a while ago (no duh, the published books happened a while ago) and recently camp decided to share the books – so I volunteered and wrote them and all. And these convos have actually happened. I send the gang a copy of the chapter to read and invite them into my cabin where I record it all in case I don't get it down fast enough! See guys? No big deal!

Arthemia: You've been recording us? *knocks arrow*

Me: Um... I BANNED THOSE SO PUT THEM AWAY - ... we're not inside my cabin... uh...

Percy: You do realize you just told everyone the truth – you're crazy!

Annabeth: That was a little rash.

Me: They deserved to know. I finished the first book – and this is my quirky personality. I'll be doing the same for the next one so calm down. Just be glad I only brought in you guys for this book *laughs* that would have been interesting.

Arthemia: Permission to knock her out for counselling?

Percy & Annabeth: Granted.

Me: Help! I don't need to go! Um, bye everyone! This book is finished, I'm going crazy, and now I have to go. Please tell me what you thought about the book in any way – you know the drill! I probably won't post the next book till February so I can get a few chapters done and update weekly. Good-bye my beloved fans – you're what makes a writer tick. Good bye while I go annoy random demigods and mortals with my happiness! *screams like crazy and runs off waving* ((that was me, Annabeth, typing since our writer friend really did run off))