Authors note: Hey anybody. I just spent the entire Christmas break reading Percy Jackson fan-fics and decided to create my own. This is my 2nd fiction story anywhere so please review. I want feedback! Also, on to the story, this is a re-write of the Tartarus storyline and I'm not 100% fluent on the real backstory of the other books so I may mix something up here and there. Don't know how many chapters yet but I hope to continue. Anyway, Enjoy! I don't own Percy Jackson

Falling…

Percy couldn't tell how long they had been falling but he could feel the wind becoming harsher as it turned from a cushion of air to what felt like tiny daggers cutting into his face. It also became warmer and began to smell acrid and faintly liking rotten eggs.

Just as he was about to close his eyes again a dim red light became visible.

As Percy turned his head to see clearer he felt Annabeth do the same. What he saw underneath them turned his blood cold and he could feel the pinpricks of fear all through his spine. They were unimaginably high up and plummeting fast to what he could only guess to be a painful end.

So this is how it's going to end. After all I've done to put monsters back into Tartarus, I'm going to end up here in my final moments. Fitting I suppose…

Percy hugged Annabeth closer and spoke into her ear. "I love you… I love you…" as a single tear flew off of his face in the wind.

Still looking down Annabeth yelled back. "Percy! The river!" with a purpose in her voice that made up for Percy's lack thereof.

Percy turned to see a river that wound around for who knows how long and understood her point. With no time to doubt the implications Percy thrust out his right hand with his left still firmly wrapped around Annabeth and closed his eyes. For a split second he couldn't feel anything and then it was as if his mind was swirling in a sea of pity and self doubt. He began to close his hand but then Annabeth squeezed him even closer and he remember what he was doing giving a great shout and feeling that pull in the pit of his stomach as a wall of murky water shot towards them.

Percy hit the water first and lost his grip on Annabeth but he sent one last burst of energy towards her to keep her afloat. Percy turned towards the surface from the bottom but then began to hear voices of sorrow and misery, the same voices he had in his head when he controlled the water.

You should just sink. You let Annabeth fall into Tartarus. A demigod of the big three, but you aren't that powerful. You couldn't even climb over a simple ledge.

The voices continued as he slowly made his way to the surface and gradually he began to agree with them.

Annabeth spotted Percy just underwater right as she began to hear the voices telling her all sorts of lies.

Some architect, you haven't even completed a single project yet. You dragged Percy down here and now he's going to die too. Your pride caused this and nothing else.

Annabeth tried her best to brush off the comments as they came, her pride deflecting some of the lies as false. Annabeth could see percy still swimming towards her but then he began to falter and slow down. She knew he was hearing this too and was beginning to give in.

Percy saw Annabeth plunge all the way underwater and became confused. Why would she come to save me? This is all my fault. Annabeth grabbed him by the arm and began to haul him to shore as best she could. Something inside Percy told him that he should help so he made half hearted efforts to pull themselves to the surface.

As the two broke the surface of the river Annabeth scanned the horizon for the shore and spotted it about three yards away. As she began pulling them to shore she heard Percy behind her moaning "This is hopeless. We can't make it." Annabeth could feel him slipping and realized with a jolt that she couldn't make it the last two yards without his help. Kicking harder she turned to Percy and spoke straight to his eyes lost in sadness "Percy, I need you to swim for me. Can you do that? We can make this." Percy just looked back at her with the same blank look but she could feel the current pulling them to shore. Maybe there is still a part of him in there even now. She thought.

Reaching the shore Annabeth dragged the two of them until their feet were just out of the water and layed down. Annabeth's brain began to work in overtime as Percy came to. Okay. I need a plan. She thought.

stock and assess the situation:

We've fallen, into Tartarus, and are still alive

My ankle is extremely raw and difficult to walk on

We only have Riptide as a weapon and the clothes on our backs

on a course of action:

We need to get to the Doors of Death

Nico promised Percy that the Seven would be waiting there

We need to get there fast without any food or water to speak of

the plan into action...

By this point Percy was beginning to come around and take stock of the situation as well. He saw Annabeth deep in thought and immediately leaned over to her. He reached out and grabbed her shoulders bringing the two close and gave her a hug. He leaned back and gave her a kiss and whispered, "Thank you." and then louder "Ironic isn't it? A daughter of Athena just saved a son of Poseidon from drowning." His crooked smile touched his lips as he said the last part.

Looking him straight in the eyes Annabeth said "Are you sure that you aren't concussed? We're in the middle of The Pit and you're cracking jokes?" with a wink and a slight smile.

Percy looked back at her with his grin fading away, "So what are we going to do now?"

Annabeth looked back with a frown "We're going to get out of Tartarus."

AN (Hope you enjoyed and please review. Criticism accepted/desired.)