DISCLAIMER: I do not own PJO, HoO or any of the characters in this fanfiction. Please don't sue me for copyright or anything (although if you did you would be a very troll author).
Set after the battle with Gaea at Camp Half-Blood, where Leo blew up in the Argo II. Before Gaea went back to sleep, she killed Annabeth in full view of all the gods and demigods.
We traipsed into the throne room, where the Olympian Council was already convened. I hung my head and gripped Jason's hand, hard, and he held strong. He knew I needed it. We all did.
So much hardship and fear, and for what? Annabeth was gone. I watched as she turned to dust in Gaea's fist. Her ashes lingered, as if waiting for something, before dissolving into the air. The last thing she saw was my eyes widening, then darkening in dread, then fading in cold grief. I could do nothing.
It seems Athena was right all along, No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't protect her daughter, couldn't keep her alive. She was gone. Lost.
I looked up a little, to the hearth at the centre of the room. The flames dwindled, and Hestia returned my gaze. She was in the form of an eight year old girl again, but her eyes, seeing mine, as she took in my state, darkened to those of an old woman. To my right, Hazel let out a little sob. It reached my ears as a sign of what I was yet unable to do. I had not spoken a word.
Jason opened his mouth a little, and I looked towards him. He seemed ready to say something, but just left with his jaw hanging open, a bit dumbfounded. He looked towards his father, hoping he would say something, anything. I hoped just for silence. I could not speak, utter a word, and language had become meaningless.
Zeus called us forwards. I clung on to Jason for support, Piper at his other side. Tears ran down her face. Down the line were Hazel, and Frank on the end. Five of us left. I understood the prophecy now. To storm or fire the world must fall. Gaea, as the world, fell to Leo, the fire. My world fell to Annabeth and her stormy grey eyes.
Despite tradition, we walked towards the Council together, hand in hand. After all we had been through and all we had seen, and the losses, we could not let go of one another. My empty left hand lingered out to the side, shaky and longing. It should have been filled, and warm, and sure. Instead it was a reminder that I did not belong there.
When we reached the thrones, we knelt before the Olympian Council. My head dropped lifelessly, and I stared at the ground. Jason squeezed my hand. For his sake, I squeezed back, but I could not be helped.
"Rise, heroes," said Zeus. I knew he did not mean me. How could I be called a hero when I failed to protect what mattered most?
Nevertheless, I stood shakily. I met my father's eyes and he looked hurt. I knew the pain I saw in his sea-green eyes could never compete with the brokenness I felt.
I looked round to Athena, and my breath caught in my throat. In her eyes I saw a reflection of Annabeth's last second. Not you failed, as I felt. Not how could you? as I deserved. Only I'm sorry, as Annabeth saw it. She thought it was her fault. My stomach contracted in emotional agony and my fingers spasmed. I kept expecting Annabeth to appear at any second, her Yankees cap in hand, with a sly grin on her face. The countless times we've hoped for that.
I never even said goodbye.
Zeus cleared his throat and continued. "As recognition of your bravery in the battles against the giants and Gaea, we have decided to grant you each one wish. You should know that your friend Leo has escaped to the island of Ogygia, and is alive and well. Calypso is looking after him. He will return with her as part of our proposed amnesty for the peaceful Titans. Jason, you first."
Jason stared at his father. "You mean, anything? At all?"
"Immortality, if you want it. I would wish it upon you to be a god, but it is obviously your choice." Zeus looked proud for a moment, forgetting his impartiality.
Jason looked at Piper. She gave a small nod, confirming her own wish.
"Okay," he said. "And Piper too?" he questioned.
"If that is your desire, Piper?" Zeus replied.
"Yes, sir." Piper looked at her mother, who looked ready to burst with pride. Her joy should have disgusted me, but I felt only emptiness. Dread filled me as I realised I would have to choose next.
"Perseus," Zeus said, almost pitifully. He looked at me like he didn't quite know what to think, like the Lord of the Skies had never encountered such pain.
My father caught my gaze. "Percy." He said nothing more, only my name as a gesture of empathy. I looked at them both, knowing full well that I could never take what they offered. For the second time, they offered immortality, but this time I had no words for them, only a hollow stare. I did so much in vain. I felt the weight of the sky on my shoulders as Artemis battled Atlas, with the hope of saving Annabeth as the only thing holding me up, then almost fell apart when I thought she was going to leave me for the Hunters. I turned down the offer of becoming a god once before when I couldn't stand the thought of being apart. She kept me going as the Styx burned me alive. She was the only person I remembered when I woke up at the Wolf House. We fell into Tartarus together, and dragged ourselves out of the pit with the strength of two souls intertwined to get us out alive. All for nothing.
Because really, everything I ever did was for her. She was not here. Not by my side, not holding my hand. I would say that she didn't belong there, in the realm of the dead, but in actual fact I was the one who did not belong.
Everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Nothing was gained under the sun.
An idea began to form in my mind. A hope, a star among the dying. I lifted my head and opened my eyes fully. Zeus looked at me quizzically.
A gift was still being offered. My choice. I turned around and faced the Lord of the Dead.
Hades sat on a small wooden chair next to the hearth. His eyes were questioning, but his smile showed he knew what I was about to say. Despite his aura of death, he seemed alright, and confident next to the Olympian Council. I only hoped there weren't Ancient Laws or something breaking my wish. I breathed deeply, then spoke.
"Annabeth."
The first word I spoke since she died, and hearing her name in my voice filled me with hope. Hades' expression turned into a grin. My heart leapt as my idea was confirmed, that he was able to bring Annabeth back from the Underworld. Hades stood, and faced Zeus. I looked at Jason and Piper by my side, both with faces of joy and anticipation. Hazel was nearly crying, and Frank looked like he wanted to wrap me in a massive bear hug.
"I can bring her back. Chances are she's still in the queue, not yet judged. She would make Elysium, for sure, but if that is Percy's wish..." Hades paused.
"Go," cracked a voice from the far side of the room. Athena sat upright, but her face looked almost broken. "Find my daughter. Bring her back, Uncle." Hades flashed out of the throne room. Athena, the only goddess I think I ever truly feared, addressed me like a son.
"Thank you, Perseus. I- I-" For once, Athena was at a loss for words. "I only wish to express my, erm, regret. Never have I seen such pain as yours, and trying to keep you away from my daughter as I have done all these years was, frankly, ridiculous. I give you my blessing. You are more than deserving of my daughter's hand, and I will support and guide you, together, as I have done for Annabeth since her birth. I hope you two are happy."
I bowed to her in gratitude, my eyes wild and alive. My father looked gobsmacked, but smiled all the same. He was happy for us.
At that moment, Hades flashed back into the throne room. I jumped to face him, bursting with hope. From behind him came a girl I once never thought I'd see again. Her stormy, piercing grey eyes lit up with joy. Her blonde hair fell loosely across her face, and she surged forwards, towards me. I started to run. We closed the gap in seconds, our bodies colliding into one. I buried my face in her hair and wrapped my arms around her back, holding her tight. She smelled of lemons and honey. She looked up to me, her eyes stinging.
"If you ever leave me again," I started, "I swear to all the gods-" She giggled. I pulled her close to me again and put my forehead on hers. Her eyes were shining. "I watched you die, Wise Girl. I saw you turn to dust. It killed me." My voice cracked at the end.
"I watched you die, too. Don't think that didn't hurt, ever."
Zeus cleared his throat again. "Annabeth, we welcome you back." She held on to me tight, but turned her head towards the Council. "As one of the Seven, you too are awarded one gift. We offer you immortality. Percy too, as to try to split you two up again would most likely result in the overthrow of the Olympian Council."
Annabeth looked at me. I smiled, and gripped her hands with both of mine. She nodded, with tears coming into her eyes. I wiped them away and whispered to her.
"I love you, Wise Girl."
"Love you too, Seaweed Brain." I giggled quietly.
A/N: That is the end! This is my first ever fanfiction, so please rate it! I wanted to start with a one-shot, just to get my writing style, but I will most likely write longer fanfics as time goes on. Most of my ideas come from AU/canon daydreams, but not too different (i.e. always AUs with adapted plotlines, no genderbending/non-demigod worlds). I'd also maybe like to do a gods/demigods read fanfiction, but please comment/review my suggestions for how improve my writing style, ideas and grammar/technique.
Also, I know that this story is quite cliche, and probably very predictable, but I don't like fiction with sad endings. All my stories will either have happy or sad-but-satisfying endings (as in everyone's sad but they have clear hope for the future).
Thanks so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed! Again, please review so I can see where I go right and wrong. Also, I give away toasted marshmallows (not cookies, sorry - although my name is fire-related anyway) for spotting references - in here there is one(ish) line from Mark of Athena, and another from Ecclesiastes. Marshmallows for those who spot them!
~ FlamesOfHestia