Standing there on the each Percy couldn't believe what just happened he knew going into the fight that he would probably die but he never thought that he would kill a god. Thinking back Percy went over the battle in his mind from start to finish.

(Flash back)

"I don't believe it," Annabeth said. "We went all that way-"

"It was a trick," I said. "A strategy worthy of Athena."

"Hey," she warned.

"You get it, don't you?"

She dropped her eyes, her anger fading. "Yeah I get it."

"Well I don't," Grover complained. "Would someone tell me what's going on?"

"The prophecy was right," I told them. "you shall go west and face the god that has turned.' But it wasn't Hades. Hades didn't want a war someone else pulled off the theft. Someone stole Zeus's masterbolt, and Hades helm, they framed me because I was Poseidon's kid. Poseidon is going to be blamed by both sides, by sundown there will be a war between the big three."

Grover shook his head mystified, "But who would be that sneaky? Who would want war that badly?"

I stopped in my tracks, looking down the beach. "Gee let me think."

There he was waiting for us in his black leather jacket and sun glasses with a baseball bat on his shoulders, and his motorcycle besides him.

"Hey kid," Ares said seeming genuinely pleased to see me. "You were supposed to die."

"You tricked me," I said. "You stole the master bolt and the helm."

Ares grinned. "Well now I didn't steal them personally. Gods can't steal another god's symbol of power, but you're not the only hero who can run errands."

"Who did you use? Clarisse? She was there at the winter solstice."

The idea seemed to amuse him. "Doesn't matter the point is kid that your impeding the war effort. See you were supposed to die in the underworld then old seaweed would be enraged with Hades. Old corpse breath would have the master bolt so Zeus would be mad at him. And Hades is still looking for this…."

From his pocket he pulled out a black ski mask the kind bank robbers wear, and placed it between the handle bars on his bike. Immediately the cap transformed into an elbrat bronze war helmet.

"The helm of darkness," Grover grasped.

"Exactly," Ares said. "Now where was I, oh yeah Hades will be mad at both Zeus and Poseidon not knowing which one stole his helm, then we will have a three way war."

"But there your family," Annabeth protested.

Ares shrugged. "Best kind of war always the bloodiest, nothing like watching your family fight I always say. Anyway in order for my plan to work I need you to die sorry nothing personal."

He snapped his fingers, the sand at his feet exploded and out charged a wild boar. The beast pawed at the sand watching me and waiting for the order to kill.

I stepped into the surf. "Fight me yourself Ares."

He laughed but I heard an edge to it an unease. "You've only got one talent kid running away. You ran from the chimara, and the underworld you don't have what it takes."

"Scared?"

"In your dreams kid," but his glasses were starting to melt from the heat of his eyes. "No direct involvement sorry but you're not at my level."

Annabeth yelled, "Run Percy."

The boar charged but I was done running from monsters, Hades, or Ares, or anybody. As the boar rushed me I uncapped my pen making riptide appear in my hands, swinging my blade once I chopped the boars head off.

Turning to Ares I asked, "Are you going to fight me now or are you going to hide behind another pet pig?"

Ares face was purple with rage, "Watch it kid I could turn you into a….."

"A cockroach," I said. "Or a tape worm, yeah I'm sure that would save you getting your godly ass whopped wouldn't it."

Flames ragged from his eyes, "Oh man you're really asking for it aren't you?"

"If I lose turn me into anything you want, but if I win we'll be taking the bolt and the helm."

Ares sneered and asked, "How would you like to get beat classic or modern?"

I showed him my sword.

"That's cool dead boy," he said as his baseball bat changed into a sword.

"Percy," Annabeth said in worry. "Don't do this he's a god."

"He's a coward," I told her.

"For luck," she said as she kissed me on the cheek.

"Thanks," I said as I felt my cheeks heat up.

"You all done saying goodbye," Ares said as he walked towards me swinging his sword back and forth. "I've been fighting forever kid, I'm immortal and stronger than anyone what have you got?"

A smaller ego I thought as he swung his sword down at me, but I wasn't there anymore. My body thought for me as the water pushed me into the air and I flipped over him, slashing as I came down. But Ares was just as quick he twisted and the strike that was supposed to hit his spine was deflected off the hilt of his sword.

He grinned, "Not bad kid."

He slashed at me again but I side stepped it and got in close to disarm him only to be kicked in the chest and could only watch as he kicked my sword away from me.

"Percy," Annabeth yelled. "Cops."

I was seeing double as my chest felt like it was hit with a truck. Without taking my eyes off of Ares I noticed the red and blue lights flashing up the street.

"There officer," somebody yelled. "See?"

A gruff cop voice said, "looks like that kid on tv what the heck?"

"That guys armed," another cop yelled. "Call for back up."

I rolled to the side as Ares slashed the sand, I ran for my sword and scopped it up and launched a swip at his face only for it to be deflected. Deciding to no longer think but run on instinct I backed up to the ocean.

That's when a police officer said on a megaphone, "Drop the guns."

Guns? I thought only to watch in shock as Ares sword flicked between a shotgun and a sword.

"This is a private matter be gone!" Ares yelled as he swiped his hands making a wave of fire fly at the cops. A couple of cop cars exploded sending everyone running.

Ares laughed with excitement, "Now little hero lets add you to the barbecue."

He slashed once more at me and running on my instincts I blocked with my sword one handed. With my other hand I formed a trident out of water and stabbed him in the chest. As Ares fell to his knees I absently noticed his eyes were wide with surprise as I raised my sword riptide and chopped his head off.

(Flash back end)

As I stood there I knew my life had just changed forever.