1. Victory (?)

Third Person (omniscient)

After the Titan War

Percy stood in the middle of the throne room. The gods still stared at him in shock. A mere mortal had refused immortality! But Perseus Jackson stood firm. As he explained his wishes, the gods began to understand. They granted his wishes and watched as the son of Poseidon walked down the rows of Cyclopes. He was smiling. Why shouldn't he?

He had saved the world.

A year or two later…

After the Giant War

Percy stood amongst his fellow demigods. He felt Annabeth's hand entwined in his.

Annabeth smiled. What had she done to deserve the handsome, talented, kind-hearted, loyal, and completely amazing man before her?

Percy wondered if the reason his luck was so terrible was because the Fates had used it all up for when Annabeth became his.

Jason and Piper stood beside them, their smiles small and understated. They had sacrificed a lot. All of them had sacrificed a lot.

Frank and Hazel stood in the corner with Leo and Calypso. Calypso had finally been released from her prison, but no one was in the mood for celebrating. Too many had been lost.

Percy's smile faded as he remembered his best friend Grover's last words; Hey, man, don't forget all our good times, right? You're still my best friend, and you better not forget it. Okay?

Tears filled his eyes. Grover had been his best friend since he was twelve. Now he was just another laurel tree in the Olympian gardens. At Percy's request, a headstone was placed at the foot of the tree. It said: To Grover, the bravest satyr ever and the best friend a hero could have.

Too many were lost. , Nico… Grover…

Too many.

The Son of Poseidon was crying. Tears streamed down his cheeks.

Annabeth saw and was shocked. The deaths had affected her, especially Grover's, but Percy was sobbing. His breath hitched in his throat. He panted. And still he gazed silently forward, watching the funeral pyres burn.

Percy, Annabeth thought, what's happening to us?

It was almost as though he'd heard her. He turned to face her, eyes wet, yet burning fiercely. He grabbed her and hugged her tightly, almost as though he was making sure she was there. She hugged him back.

He pulled away. "You're staying here, right?" he asked, wiping the tears from his face.

Annabeth nodded, puzzled.

"Promise me," Percy insisted.

"I promise, Percy."

"Don't put yourself in harm's way."

"Don't worry, Percy, I'll be fine."

"Promise."

Annabeth sighed. "Percy, I swear on the River Styx that I will not put myself in harm's way purposely."

Percy nodded, satisfied.

When the last pyres had been burned, the remaining campers drifted back to their cabins. Romans and Greeks were mixed, but no one cared. The war had made the Greek/Roman rivalry seem pointless, worthless.

Percy dropped Annabeth off at the Athena cabin. He gave her a goodnight kiss. As he pulled away, Percy caught her smile.

As soon as everyone was gone, Percy went up to Half-Blood Hill. He looked out over the road and imagined his future. He would be forever plagued by nightmares. Every time he looked at a camper, he would be reminded of one who had fallen. He'd have Annabeth, of course. He'd have his other friends. But every time he looked at a satyr, he'd remember Grover.

And that was something he couldn't bear.

Percy was in chaos. He didn't know what to do. Stay and be plagued by sorrow, despair, and misery for the rest of his life? That would be pretty much the same thing as torturing himself for the rest of his life, and Percy, despite all his strength, was not strong enough for that. Kill himself? No, that was a coward's move. Or leave and do… something?

"Should I leave and find my own path?" Percy asked aloud.

"What an excellent question, Perce."

Percy wasn't particularly surprised. He suspected she would be here.

"Hey Thalia," he muttered. His voice was flat.

"Percy," another voice said. This one startled Percy. It was a voice he knew. However, it was one he had never expected to hear again.

Turning in shock, Percy saw none other than Nico di Angelo smiling at him.

"Nico… you're alive?"

He laughed ruefully. "Don't I wish. No, I died, Percy. You were there. But before I reached the Underworld, I met someone."

"What?" Percy was having trouble understanding what was going on.

"Just listen, Seaweed Brain," Thalia said to me. "Nico has explained everything to me."

Nico gave her a grateful glance, then turned back to his stunned cousin. "Percy, I met someone very powerful, more powerful than the gods, more powerful than the Titans, more powerful than the giants, more powerful than even Gaea and Tartarus themselves." Nico took a deep breath. "I met Chaos."

The name echoed from his mouth.

Chaos.

"Creator of all," Percy said, awe in his voice.

Thalia smiled. Seeing Percy in awe was rare. Also, in this case, it was rather comical, for Chaos had spoken of Percy in that same tone.

"Yeah," Nico said, agreeing with Percy. "So, anyways, Chaos comes to me and says, 'Nico di Angelo, I've been waiting for you. Would you like another chance to live?' And I say, 'Sure, what the hell.' Next thing I know, I'm renamed Delta and I'm one of Chaos' adopted children."

Percy stared at him. "You're kidding."

Thalia shook her head. "Here's the thing, Perce. He's not kidding. Chaos came to me and offered me a chance to make a better world. I accepted. Now I'm Alpha, another one of Chao's adopted kids, or maybe apprentice would be a better word."

Percy nodded slowly. "Okay… why do I need to know this?"

Nico grinned. "We just thought you could use a little warning."

Percy was about to ask what he need to be warned about when a musical voice said, "Perseus Jackson."

Percy spun around. Before him stood a beautiful woman with coal black skin, hair like nebulae in space, and eyes filled with stars.

"Chaos," Percy said.

The woman nodded. "Yes, Perseus. I am Chaos. And I have a proposition for you. It's a way for you to stay sane while still helping demigods find their way here. I wish for you to become my third apprentice. More, actually. I want you to be my champion."

"Oh, so Percy gets to be your champion and we're just apprentices?" Nico muttered. He probably would have said more had Chaos not fixed him with her dangerous death stare.

Turning back to Percy, she asked, "So? Do you accept?"

For a moment, Percy hesitated. He would miss the friends he had here- those who were left, anyway- and he had responsibilities. Not to mention Annabeth. What about Annabeth?

But then the thought of Grover struck once more, as well as Reyna and Dakota and Will and Connor and Malcolm and even Clarisse, and Percy knew that Camp Half-Blood was no longer his home. Annabeth would survive without him. In fact, Percy had a strong suspicion that he would only burden her. Him leaving would give her more choices. She would be free.

"I accept," Percy decreed.

A clap of thunder followed this statement. Chaos nodded, eyes glittering with ethereal light.

"Perseus Jackson, thou shalt be known as Omega, Champion of Chaos. However, never forget your beginnings, or that you are the Son of the Sea."

Percy knelt at the feet of Chaos. Lightning flashed. A swirl of golden energy floated into him. There was a moment where all noise ceased. All that was heard was the sound of his body accepting the golden dust, of his soul accepting the responsibility of being the champion of Chaos. Then the sounds of nature returned.

When Percy stood, he felt different. He felt free.

"You have gained many powers," Chaos explained. "In the grand scheme of power, you are second only to myself. You are the second most powerful being in the universe, Omega, and you can do anything."