Congratulations to everyone who answered the question last time! Orion was killed by a giant scorpion, (but there are a few variations as to who sent the scorpion). The winners are:

Smarties

WingDawn98

and OptemisticBrat.

Good job you guys! Enjoy the chapter, it's extra long and just for you!

When Annabeth woke, no one talked to her, she didn't find any secret plans, she didn't hear anything about Percy, and everything was boring and painful. In fact, the only thing worth noticing was a fight between a sphinx and a hellhound, which happened a few hours later.

"Why do you keep staring at me?" the sphinx had grumbled.

Annabeth figured that monsters didn't enjoy being cooped up on a mountain guarding a half blood they would really like to eat.

The hellhound growled at the sphinx, showing its huge teeth. Annabeth shuddered. She had hated hellhounds ever since Luke had summoned one into the camp.

"Wrong answer!" the sphinx shouted triumphantly, "Now I may eat you!"

"No you fool," the wolf beside them grunted, "All three of us have to watch the half blood, so no eating one another."

Since when did wolves talk?

The sphinx turned to the wolf, narrowing its eyes. "This thing all things devours: birds, beasts, trees, flowers; gnaws iron, bites-"

"Time," the wolf grunted. "You told that one to the ogre."

The sphinx growled at the wolf, but then turned back to the hellhound.

"You didn't play fair, but I will give you another riddle, since the first was only a question. I can run, but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?"

The hellhound did nothing, but the wolf seemed to be thinking.

"Is it a stream of water?" the wolf asked.

The sphinx turned upon the wolf. "NO ANSWERING MY RIDDLES UNLESS I ASK THEM TO YOU! And no, it is not a stream of water."

She turned calmly back to the hellhound, tapping her fingers together eagerly.

"I got it!" the wolf howled, "It's a nose!"

The sphinx whirled around and raked her claws across the wolf's nose.

"Time's up, and you didn't answer the riddle," the sphinx fussed. She lunged for the hellhound, but the hellhound sat back and the sphinx landed on the rocky ground. The huge dog picked the sphinx up in his mouth and shook her around like a huge dog toy. When the sphinx was loosened, she sat up, spitting.

"You'll pay for that," she promised, and sprang onto the hellhound's back, tearing at him with her claws.

The wolf watched calmly as the sphinx and the hellhound battled, and finally pulled them apart.

"No fighting, how many times must I remind you?"

"You can't get to me that easily mister wolf, now tell me this: You use a knife to slice my head and weep beside me when I'm dead. What am I?"

The wolf sighed. "Maybe a sphinx? Just get over there."

"NO!" the sphinx cackled. "Wrong answer, no deal. I will eat you now!"

The sphinx attempted to jump on the wolf, but the wolf calmly batted her out of the air and sat between her and the hellhound.

"The answer is an onion I think, now stay here and be good."

"Hey," Annabeth called to the sphinx, "If I answer a riddle, will you let me out?"

All three monsters turned to her, and the hellhound growled.

"No," the wolf said, putting a paw over the sphinx's mouth, as she began "In a marble hall white as milk."

Annabeth couldn't keep track of time when she was chained. There really wasn't a difference between night and day on that mountain, the clouds were so thick you couldn't tell if the sun was there or not. She didn't suppose there was any moon.

Luke and Atlas appeared and disappeared regularly, it was if they were checking on Artemis and the other monsters.

Finally, Luke appeared and unchained her from the pillar. Annabeth was about to kick him in the shins and roll under his legs, but she felt his sword on the back of her neck, and decided against it. She couldn't see anything from this position!

With a crack and another swirl of wind, Atlas was beside them.

"She is close," he muttered. Just then, the clouds around one side of the mountain swirled away, and Annabeth saw Thalia, Percy, and Zoe scrambling up the mountain. Zoe was obviously hurt, she winced with every step she took, tearstains were on the side of her cheek, and there was blood on her side.

Annabeth's heart leapt for one second, but it plunged down to her stomach as she tried to convince herself that their situation wasn't as bad as it looked.

When they caught sight of the ruins, they all blinked.

"The ruins of Mount Othrys," Thalia said, with disbelief.

"Yes, it was not here before," Zoe said, frowning. "This is bad."

"What's Mount Othrys?" Percy asked, being the stupid seaweed brain that he was. They hadn't caught sight of us yet.

Zoe explained to him what Mount Othrys did, but suddenly she stopped, clutching her side.

"You're hurt, let me see," Thalia insisted. Wow, Annabeth never thought she would see the day when Thalia was worried about Zoe.

"No, it's nothing." Zoe insisted. It was obviously not nothing, but Thalia let it pass. "As I was saying, in the first war, Mount Othrys was blasted to pieces."

"But how is it here?"

"It moves in the same way Olympus moves," Thalia continued. "It always exists on the edge of civilization. But the fact that it is here, on THIS mountain, is not good."

"Why?"

"This is Atlas's mountain, where he holds-" Zoe stopped, as she caught sight of Artemis. "Where he used to hold up the sky," she choked, as she ran toward Artemis.

"Stop, it is a trap. You must leave now," Artemis commanded weakly.

Zoe burst into tears, trying to rip Artemis's chains from the ground.

"Ah how touching," Atlas said, in his cold voice. They all turned, and caught sight of me.

"Luke," Thalia snarled, "Let her go."

"That is the General's decision, Thalia," Luke said, "Nice to see you again."

Thalia spat.

Atlas sniggered. "So much for old friends. And you, Zoe, it's been a long time. How is my little traitor? I will enjoy killing you."

"Do not respond, do not challenge him," Artemis warned.

"Wait a second, you're Atlas?" Percy asked.

"So even the stupidest of heroes can finally figure something out. Yes, I am Atlas, the general of the Titans and terror of the gods. Congratulations. I will kill you presently, as soon as I deal with this wretched girl." Atlas narrowed his eyes at Zoe.

"Now he is really going to get it," Annabeth thought. "No one calls my seaweed brain stupid except for me. That cold blooded son of a- you know, I'm really not in the name-calling-life-threatening position right now."

"You're not going to hurt Zoe. I won't let you," Percy said. Thank goodness Annabeth wasn't the only one feeling that Atlas was being a little too cruel by going for the weakened one.

"You have no right to interfere, little hero. This is a family matter."

Percy and Thalia frowned in confusion, but Annabeth already knew what he meant of course.

"Yes," Zoe said, and her voice was terrified and determined at the same time. "Atlas is my father."

"Let Artemis go," Zoe demanded, taking a step closer to the goddess.

"Perhaps you'd like to take the sky from her?" Atlas asked. "Be my guest."

Zoe was about to do it, but Artemis called out for her to stay away.

Atlas laughed at her. "You see daughter? Lady Artemis likes her new job. I think I will let all the Olympians take turns carrying my burden, once Lord Kronos rules again, and this is the center of our palace. It will teach those weaklings some humility."

Annabeth motioned toward Luke with her head, trying to tell them he was too weak to hold off for long. If they freed her and gave her a knife, she had a plan. She'd been working on it all this time, it would work; she knew it would work if only they would free her.

"From holding the sky," Thalia said thoughtfully. "The weight should've killed her." What were they talking about? The cut on her head? Or maybe they thought she was going crazy.

"I don't understand. Why can't Artemis just let go of the sky?" Man, Percy was stupid.

"How little you understand, young one," Atlas said, "This is the point where the sky and the earth first met, where Ouranos and Gaia first brought forth their mighty children, the Titans. The sky still yearns to embrace the earth. Someone must hold it at bay, or else it would crush down upon this place, instantly flattening the mountain and everything within a hundred leagues. Once you have taken the burden, there is no escape. Unless someone else takes it from you."

He took a step closer to Thalia and Percy, analyzing them like he had done to Annabeth. "So these are the best heroes of the age, eh? Not much of a challenge."

"Fight us. And let's see." Percy is such an idiot.

"Have the gods taught you nothing? An immortal does not fight a mere mortal directly. It is beneath our dignity. I will have Luke crush you instead."

"So you're another coward."

Atlas's eyes burned with hate. He turned to Thalia. "As for you, daughter of Zeus, it seems Luke was wrong about you."

"I wasn't wrong," Luke said. He sounded strained, like he was going to be forced to jump in a pool of boiling acid if Thalia didn't go along with his plans. "Thalia, you still can join us. Call the Ophiotaurus. It will come to you. Look!"

He waved his hand, and a black marble pool appeared. Man, Annabeth really needed to learn how to do this magic stuff. And what did he mean by Ophiotaurus? Ugh, she hated being in the dark.

"Thalia, call the Ophiotaurus. And you will be more powerful than the gods."

Annabeth was glad she hated him already, because Thalia looked as heartbroken as she would have felt.

"Luke…What happened to you?" she croaked.

"Don't you remember all those times we talked? All those times we cursed the gods? Our fathers have done nothing for us. They have no right to rule the world!"

Thalia shook her head, her jaw set in determination. "Free Annabeth. Let her go."

"If you join me, it can be like old times. The three of us together. Fighting for a better world. Please, Thalia, if you don't agree…"His voice faltered. "It's my last chance. He will use the other way if you don't agree. Please."

Oh, so maybe Luke was going to be forced to jump into a pool of boiling acid if she didn't agree.

"Do not, Thalia. We must fight them," Zoe warned.

Luke waved his hand again, and a bronze brazier with a flame appeared.

"Thalia," Percy warned, "No." He said what Annabeth was thinking, for when Thalia's face is unreadable, well, you can't tell what she's thinking. In this situation, that is a bad sign. Luke was obviously trying to convince Thalia to do something she wasn't supposed to, and even though Annabeth had no idea what it was, she knew it couldn't be good.

"We will raise Mount Othrys right here. Once more, it will be stronger and greater than Olympus. Look, Thalia. We are not weak."

Luke gestured toward the ocean where monster upon monster was marching up the mountain.

"This is only a taste of what is to come. Soon we will be ready to storm Camp Half-Blood. And after that, Olympus itself. All we need is your help."

Thalia looked at Luke, and her face was readable once again. "You aren't Luke. I don't know you anymore." Funny, that sounded exactly what Annabeth had said to herself when she decided that she hated him.

"Yes, you do, Thalia. Please. Don't make me… Don't make him destroy you."

"Now," Percy said, and all three of them charged at Atlas.

How stupid of them! They couldn't possibly defeat him. Annabeth heard a clang behind her, like someone had dropped a great metal box, and suddenly Thalia attacked Luke.

It was horrid, being literally in the middle of the battle and not being able to fight. Thalia's spear and Luke's sword flashed and smashed against each other. Percy dodged Atlas's blade, and Annabeth prepared herself for the brilliant performance he'd shown when fighting Ares, but suddenly it was as if he couldn't lift his sword.

"NO!" She yelled, but it was lost in the sound of battle. Percy seemed to realize that he couldn't beat Atlas, and suddenly he did something very surprising to Annabeth.

Percy abandoned his sword, rushed to Artemis's side, and with a quick glance at Annabeth, took the sky.

He took the sky.

Annabeth couldn't believe what she was seeing, but it was true. Percy was holding the sky. He wasn't doing well. Sweat rolled down his forehead like someone above him was wringing out a washcloth, and his knees shook. She wanted to somehow free herself from her chains and rush to help him, but she knew that was impossible. She couldn't get the chains off without a hairpin, and she couldn't rush into the middle of a battle unarmed and falling over her own chains if she wanted to survive. She sort of did want to survive.

Annabeth had at first only concentrated on how Percy was doing, but when she saw Artemis, she realized how smart that had actually been. Percy might not be so bright when it comes to policies and history, but when it comes to battle tactics, he can invent nine crazy but successful ones in ten minutes. She'd actually seen him do it during a training session, but that was a different story.

Artemis was whirling and dodging, slashing at monsters with her knives and saving the day at least twenty three times per minute.

That's when Annabeth noticed Zoe. She was fighting Atlas, and losing. With one great blow, Zoe flew through the air, and Annabeth turned away before she landed. That definitely did not look good, she would just wait and see how that fight had turned out later.

Annabeth turned her focus back to the fight between Luke and Thalia. Thalia had finally won, and that was no surprise. Luke could never have beaten her. Her spear was at his throat. His face was paled and beads of sweat rolled down his face.

Suddenly Annabeth realized what they could do with Luke as prisoner. He knew so much about what Kronos was planning, and if they only had him with them, they could find his memories or something like that. Besides, Annabeth owed him for saving her life. She knew he did, even after all the times he betrayed her, and she didn't want to owe him in the middle of a battle.

"Don't kill him!" she screamed.

"He's a traitor," Thalia trembled. Annabeth knew exactly how she felt.

"We'll bring Luke back to Olympus. He'll be useful," she called.

"Is that what you want Thalia? To go back to Olympus in triumph? To please your dad?" Luke said. Man, he was good at confusing people.

Suddenly he made a grab for Thalia's spear. "NO!" I screamed, trying to warn Thalia, but she instinctively pulled on her spear and kicked Luke away. Annabeth was relieved for half of a split second, but then she realized that Luke had fallen off the edge.

"NOT AGAIN!" Atlas moaned, and when Annabeth looked back, Atlas had the sky again, and a very weary (but still conscious) Percy was trudging toward Artemis (who was holding Zoe).

Annabeth ran over to them, tripping on her chains. Thalia realized her troubles and split the metal with one deft stroke, but she seemed distracted and sad, like she hadn't meant to kill Luke after all.

Zoe did not look good.

"The wound is poisoned," Artemis explained. Poor Zoe.

"Atlas poisoned her?"

"No, not Atlas." Percy and Thalia's eyes widened with shock and horror as Artemis pulled Zoe's torn shirt aside and revealed the bloody, greenish, gash on her side. Annabeth figured that the dragon, Ladon, had done that, but that didn't make much sense, since the dragon knew Zoe.

"The stars, I cannot see them." Zoe whispered, her eyes far away.

"Nectar and ambrosia, come on! We have to get her some!" Percy yelled franticly. Percy always seemed to think that wounded demigods needed nectar and ambrosia in the next three seconds or they would die.

As the army of monsters neared them, Annabeth heard the buzz of a Sopwith camel. Annabeth would know what one of those sounded like, because her dad had one. Suddenly the front line of monsters burst into dust as the biplane shot, and Annabeth looked up at the sky in shock.

"Dad?" she said, amazed. "That's my dad!"

Artemis looked up at the sky gratefully. "A brave man. Come we must get Zoe away from here." She blew her hunting horn, and a silver sleigh came sailing down from the sky. It looked like Santa Claus, minus the reindeer.

Everyone jumped in, but neither Percy nor Thalia used the doors. Annabeth thought she might have been crying, but she couldn't tell. Thalia gripped Annabeth's shoulder tight and closed her eyes, and as Artemis's chariot sprang into the air, Annabeth wondered if Zoe's sacrifice had been worth it.

Author's Notes: Well, the contest worked great. Thanks to numba435spiritsong for reviewing, even though you didn't think you could answer the question.

I hope you all like the extra long chapter I have here. Originally, Percy wasn't supposed to come rescue her until the next chapter, but without Annabeth dreaming in this chapter, it was too short. See, I planned to use my Titan's Curse book for this chapter and copy the quotes out of it, but lucky me lost the book right before I needed it.

So here I was, stuck not knowing how to write the chapter, and having set a schedule of a two day update. Luckily, I was able to look up the chapter about the fight on the mountain online, and I decided to scrap the idea of Annabeth dreaming about the Ophiotaurus and skip ahead to this.

AND I am able to write the next chapter easily, because I am an extreme Titan's Curse fan, and I have the last two chapters memorized. Well, almost. Close enough.

AND NOW...

The next contest! The prize is the same, but this time, you are allowed to use Google and Wikipedia and whatever else you want to use to get the answer. This one is tough. There can be more than one answer, but I think the answer will be obvious if you do the question correctly.

I am Annabeth's mother's mother's father's successor's son.

Who am I?

(Again, you may look this up. I will be impressed if someone gets it.)