HERE'S THE STORY I'VE PROMISED YOU ALL FOR SO LONG! ENJOY, COMMENT, FAVORITE, AND FOLLOW!
"They're on their way," said Percy. "You've lost."
"I haven't even started!" Kronos declared.
He advanced with blinding speed. Grover--brave stupid satyr that he was, tried to protect Percy but Kronus tossed him aside like a ragdoll.
Percy sidestepped and jabbed under Kronos's guard. It was a good trick. Unfortunately, Luke knew it. He countered the strike and disarmed him using one of the first moves he'd ever taught him. Percy's sword skittered across the ground and fell straight into the open fissure.
"STOP!" Annabeth came from nowhere.
Kronus whirled to face her and slashed with Backbiter, but somehow Annabeth caught the strike on her dagger hilt. It was a move only the quickest and most skilled knife fighter could have managed. Percy was shocked how she found the strength, but she stepped in closer for leverage, their blades crossed, and for a moment she stood face-to-face with the Titan lord, holding him at a standstill.
"Luke," she said, gritting her teeth, "I understand now. You have to trust me."
Kronos roared in outrage. "Luke Castellan is dead! His body will burn away as I assume my true form!"
Percy tried to move, but his body was frozen again. It was amazing that Annabeth, battered and half-dead with exhaustion, had the strength to fight a Titan like Kronos?
Kronos pushed against her, trying to dislodge his blade, but she held him on check, her arms trembling as he forced his sword down her neck.
"Your mother," Annabeth grunted. "She saw your fate."
"Service to Kronos!" the Titan roared. "This is is my fate." Were there tears in his eyes or was Percy imagining it?
"No!" Annabeth insisted. Her eyes were tearing up, but Percy wasn't sure if it was from sadness or pain. "That's not the end, Luke. The prophecy: she saw what you would do. It applies to you!"
"I will crush you, child!" Kronos bellowed.
"You won't hurt me, you can't. You're holding him back even now."
"LIES!" Kronos pushed again, and this time Annabeth lost her balance. With his free hand, Kronos struck her face, and she slid backward.
Percy summoned all his will and managed to rise, but it was like he was holding up the weight of the sky again.
Kronos loomed over Annabeth, his sword raised.
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She croaked, "Family, Luke. You promised me."
Percy took a painful step forward. Grover was back on his feet, over by the throne of Hera, but he was struggling to move as well. Before either of them could get anywhere close to Annabeth, Kronos staggered.
He stared at the knife in Annabeth's hand, the blood on her face. "Promise."
Then he gasped like he couldn't get any air. "Annabeth..." But it wasn't the Titan's voice. It was Luke's. He stumbled forward like he couldn't control his own body. "You're bleeding..."
"My knife." Annabeth tried to raise her dagger, but it clattered out of her hand. Her arm was bent at a funny angle. She looked at Percy, imploring, "Percy, please..."
Percy could move again. He surged forward and scooped up her knife. He knocked Backbiter out of Luke's hand, and it spun into the hearth. Luke hardly paid him any attention. He stepped toward Annabeth, but Percy put himself between them.
"Don't touch her," Percy said.
Anger rippled across his face. Kronos's voice growled, "Jackson..." His whole body was glowing, turning gold.
He gasped again. Luke's voice: "He's changing. Help. He's ... he's almost ready. He won't need my body anymore. Please-"
"NO!" Kronos's voice bellowed. He looked around for his sword, but it was in the hearth, glowing among the coals.
He stumbled toward it. Percy tried to stop him, but he pushed him out of the way with such force that Percy landed next to Annabeth and cracked his head on the base of Athena's throne.
"The knife, Percy," Annabeth muttered. Her breath was shallow. "Hero ... cursed blade ..."
When Percy's vision came back into focus, Kronos was grasping his sword. Then he bellowed in pain and dropped it. His hands were smoking and seared. The hearth fire had grown red-hot, like the scythe wasn't compatible with it. There was an image of Hestia flickering in the ashes, frowning at Kronos with disapproval.
Luke turned and collapsed, clutching his ruined hands. "Please, Percy ..."
At that moment, unbeknownst to the demigods, the gods had made their way to the archway leading to the throne room. As they went to join the fight, Zeus unexpectedly stopped them.
"Wait, stay and let the heroes do this. The prophecy will be fulfilled by them, not us. Only they will defeat Kronos." So the gods watched as Percy struggled to his feet and ran towards Luke with the knife.