Chapter 1 - Annabeth POV
When Percy, Grover and myself charged into the throne room of the Gods we found one of our worst nightmares come to life. There stood Luke gazing around the throne room with a look of malice and a smug smile of victory plastered on his face. This was it the culmination of 4 years of fighting and a 60-year-old prophecy. I tried to see the boy I once loved under all that hate and malice but it's hard. Still, I refuse to believe that there isn't still some part of Luke that remembers the promise he made to me and Thalia and I know if we're going to survive this I need to remind him of that.
"Shall I destroy you first Jackson?" Kronos asked. "Is that the choice you will make - to fight me and die instead of bowing down? Prophecies never end well you know."
What Percy said in response both shocked and impressed me. Shocked because I expected him to reply with his usual sarcastic humour and impressed because his reply was a very smart move on his part.
"Luke would fight with a sword," He said. "But I suppose you don't have the skill." He's trying to goad Kronos into fighting with a sword instead of a scythe. Admittedly Luke was probably the better swordsman (not that Percy would agree, *sigh* boys...) but Percy knew how to handle a swordsman. Unsurprisingly Kronos fell for it and transformed his scythe back into sword form the dual metal blade of Backbiter glinting evilly in the light of the hearth.
I'm not sure why but seeing that sword made everything make sense. It's like getting the last piece of a puzzle and I can suddenly see the fates plan. "Percy, the Blade!" I shouted at him as I unsheathed my knife "The Hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap." He gave me a confused look and clearly didn't understand what I was getting at.
Before I could get a chance to explain Kronos raised his sword and advanced towards Percy. "Wait!" I shouted but it was too late and Percy has no choice than to answer Kronos' sword with his own, engaging in a flurry of strikes so fast I can't tell who's winning. Grover moved back towards Bessy and started to play his pipes sending hope and courage coursing through my system while I put my cap on and moved behind Luke as quietly as possible hoping to knock him out with a blunt force trauma to the head because we had no idea where his Achilles point is. I'd be lying if I said that was my only reason as I still deep down wanted to talk some sense into him. As it turned out it didn't matter because he could apparently 'feel' me coming as he managed to shove Percy back and spin around to meet my dagger before inflicting a shallow cut on my arm and throwing me against my mother's throne.
"Annabeth!" I heard both Percy and Luke shout, Percy moving in front of me and facing Luke who just stood there as if he couldn't believe what he has done while Grover moves to tend to my wounds. I struggled to keep my eyes open and stay conscious but I'm glad I did because for half a second while he shouted I saw Lukes' eyes switch from gold to blue and I knew if I was going to convince him to fight it would have to be now.
"Luke I understand now." I half gasped as I struggled to inflate my lungs. "You have to trust me."
Kronos screamed in outrage "Luke Castellan is dead! His body will burn away as I assume my true form!"
"Your mother," I grunted as I tried to sit up and manoeuvre myself so I could see around Percy and keep eye contact with Luke while ignoring Grover's advice to stay still. "She saw your fate."
"Service to Kronos!" the Titan roared as he began to move towards me freezing Percy and Grover in the process. "this is my fate."
"No!" I insisted through teary eyes and trembling limbs as battled to stay conscious. "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 as he stumbled towards me almost as if he was reluctant to come any closer.
"You won't," I said with a stronger more convincing voice as my chest recovered and I gained confidence in my plan. "You promised. You're holding Kronos back even now."
"LIES!" Kronos screamed as he started to advance again and lift Backbiter intent on running me through.
"Family, Luke. You promised" I said in a whisper so quiet he barely heard it.
"Promise..." He repeated in Luke's voice as he stumbled backwards and shook his head to clear it. "Annabeth you're bleeding..." he murmured in a small panicked voice like he didn't know what to do or think.
"It's alright Luke" I replied in what I hoped was a strong soothing voice."You've made a terrible mistake but you can still be the hero of this story. All you have to do is believe in yourself and us."
After a few seconds of hesitation, he said "You're right Annabeth I've been a fool. I don't have a lot of time so listen carefully and act quickly, my weak point is just under my left armpit" as he talked he undid his breastplate "Strike now while I still have some control!" he finished looking exhausted as he battled to keep Kronos at bay. Percy didn't waste any time moving with speed and precision he managed to disarm Kronos and send backbiter skidding behind him to the other side of the throne room. Unfortunately Luke apparently ran out of energy because Kronos was back in control and he looked afraid standing there with no weapon or armour and his weak point exposed.
As Percy advanced on him fear turned to panic turned to desperation and I'm reminded of that saying that you should never corner a wild animal. He held out his hand and began to chant in a language I've never heard before. Slowly a black and gold vortex began to form to the left of Percy and pull him in. He tried to move faster towards Kronos but it was hopeless, his feet pulled out from underneath him flail in the air as he tries to grip the throne room floor with his hands.
"Percy!" Me and Grover scream in horror as he slowly slides towards the portal. After a couple of seconds of resistance, he's sucked through the portal and disappears in a flash of light. For a second all is silent as we struggle to comprehend what just happened. While I sat there frozen in shock the throne room suddenly grows very cold and dark a feeling of foreboding settles over the room with Kronos looking around with a fearful eye. But after a few seconds, the throne room returns to normal and Kronos begins to rise his fear vanishing and smirk of victory on his face once again.
This is it we've lost. Neither I nor Grover are in any state to fight and Percy is gone destroyed or sent away to Gods know where. Kronos having retrieved backbiter is moving towards Hestia's sacred Hearth. Once he gets within a few feet of the hearth he raises his scythe shouting "This is the dawn of a new age!" but before he can bring it down there is a blinding flash of light and Kronos is thrown backwards. After the spots in my vision clear I see a tall muscular man in his mid-20's with windswept black hair and sea green eyes that for half a second looked like the calm ocean but as his gaze settled on Kronos the calm ocean became a typhoon containing nothing but cold fury. He reminded me of an older version of Percy, perhaps another son of Poseidon but that was impossible... wasn't it? But then he spoke and his choice of words only confused me more. "Hello Kronos, I've been waiting a very long time for this..."
"No... That's.. That's impossible!" Kronos shouted in obvious panic. "You can't be here their's no way you survived all those years never mind finding a way to return!"
"You were warned what would happen if you broke the rules. You didn't think you'd be able to do that and not face any consequences did you?"
"I don't know how you returned here but it makes no difference. You couldn't defeat me before and you can't defeat me now. What chance did you ever have against the Titan King!?" Kronos roared
"But you're not the Titan King, are you. Not really. What you are is the soul of a Titan trapped in a half-bloods body with some very limited powers over time after that stunt you just pulled. You don't even have the thousands of years of experience over me anymore and now it's time for you to return to Tartarus where you will spend the rest of eternity regretting the day you messed with fate." He said drawing a sword that looked exactly like Riptide. Kronos never stood a chance he was already exhausted and this stranger moved with unparalleled speed and grace. Within seconds backbiter was sent spinning into the air and the stranger caught it using it to stab Kronos in his weak spot.
"Ahhh!" Kronos screamed before he briefly flashed golden his spirit being purged from Luke and dragged back down to Tartarus.
I crawled my way across the room with the help of Grover and the stranger stepped out of the way to let us say goodbye. I wanted to ask him who he is but I know Luke doesn't have much time so I realised my questions would have to wait.
"Annabeth I'm so sorry" Luke whispered.
"Shhhh it's okay it's not your fault," I said in what I hoped was a soothing voice. "You're the hero Luke just like I said you'd be. You'll reach Elysium."
"You think so?" He replied in a weak uncertain voice.
"I know so" is all I said with as much conviction as I could muster.
"Grover?" he said weakly.
"Yes, Luke?" Grover replied in a guilty voice with tears in his eyes. It was clear he somehow blamed himself for this. He'd once confided in me that if he'd been a better protector and saved Thalia then Luke might not have turned to Kronos. I thought I'd managed to get that out of his system but from the look in his eyes, I'd clearly failed.
"I just wanted to tell you you're the bravest Satyre I ever knew and I'm honoured to call you a friend. I made my choices and theirs was nothing you could have done to alter my fate." Grover simply nodded blinking to clear the tears but you could see the relief in his eyes in response to Lukes words.
"How?" is all Luke said turning to look at the stranger staring at him with a look of disbelief.
"That's a long story Luke and you don't have a lot of time." He replied in a very sombre tone. "I tried to find a way to destroy Kronos without killing you but it's impossible. As soon as you accepted Kronos' spirit into your body your fate was sealed."
"It's alright. I made my choices and the only person I have to blame is myself." Luke replied in a very resigned tone. It's clear he made peace with his death a long time ago.
"Don't worry Luke your sacrifice won't be in vain. I won't let the Gods continue to abuse and neglect their children. The minor gods will get the respect they deserve this I swear on the river Styx!" My eyes widened in shock as thunder boomed in the background sealing the sacred oath. How could this man be so sure he'd be able to change the minds of Gods who are far older and more powerful than himself. My surprise at his oath was nothing compared to how I felt to Lukes response.
"Thank you Percy" He said, his eyes closing and last breath leaving his body. It took a moment for my brain to register what he'd just said and I immediately turned to face the newcomer with astonishment. At first, I refused to believe it instead coming to the conclusion that Luke was delusional in his last moments but the more I thought about it the more it made sense. He looks exactly like an older version of Percy and his sword is identical to Riptide because it is Riptide. I played back what he said to Kronos when he first arrived "Hello Kronos, I've been waiting a very long time for this..." and the Titans response "You can't be here their's no way you survived all those years never mind finding a way to return!" Kronos is the Titan of time after all and it's possible that he has the power to turn time backwards. But wait if he could do that then why didn't he do it earlier in the war or way back when his children first rebelled. The stranger's next words surfaced from my memory "You were warned what would happen if you broke the rules." Of course! The Gods and Titans are governed by laws even older than themselves and not changing the past must be one of the.
Realising I've been staring at him for some time now I asked in a tentative almost fearful voice "Percy?"
"Hello WiseGirl" He said with a warm smile but his eyes showed a little nervousness. "for you I guess it's only been a few minute but for me, it's been a very long time since we last saw each other".
At the sound of my nickname, I launched myself at him as best I could despite my injuries burying my face in his chest lightly sobbing as everything that happened today suddenly caught up with me. My Injuries, Percy's death, Luke's death, Percy coming back to life. It was too much. I just wanted it all to end and go back to a time when life was simpler.
"I missed you too" is all he said before gently engulfing me in his massive form. I heard him and Grover exchange a few words but I wasn't really paying attention to what they said. All I heard was the surprised bleat of Grover being pulled into the group hug.
We all jumped apart as a massive crash came from the other end of the Throne room the doors wide open revealing the gods in all their glory. I saw their eyes take us in then move to Luke's prone form before suddenly returning to us and focusing on Percy.
They all stood frozen for a second before Zeus thundered (sorry couldn't resist) pointing his Masterbolt at Percy "What happened here and who in Tartarus' name are you?!" who instead of looking terrified had a slightly amused smirk on his face.
"Hello Uncle, don't you recognise your favourite nephew?"
A/N
Hi, people what do you think of my first chapter of my first story? I'm not sure I did a great job of conveying Annabeth's emotions but I find evaluating my own work difficult so please leave a review and tell me what you think. I also need a name for my story and my only idea at the moment is "Begin Again" so if you think you have a better idea put it in the comments and I'll give you credit.
I already have the second chapter mostly written but I won't release it until next week because I want time to work on the overall plan of the story and by letting chapters build up a little I have a safety buffer for weeks when I don't have enough time or if I hit writer's block.
I'm not sure if I want to do an AU of the HoO timeline or go in a completely different direction. If I do go with HoO I already have a basic outline of the path the story will take and good source material to fall back on. On the other hand, I'm more likely to get bored and lose interest if I'm just rewriting a plot line I've read many times through the original books and various fanfictions. Let me know what you think.
If you check out my profile you'll find a bunch of other ideas for storeys that I may or may not get around to writing.
I'm also going to recommend one story every chapter and this week it's "Forbidden Child (ID: 11007617)" by "universalstraw242". This is easily my favourite fiction on this site and has what I believe to be the most in character portrayal of Artemis in a Pertemis story.