PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: THE LAST OLYMPIAN
The Alternate Ending

A/N: This is the side story that takes place after Percy's death. This would be the REAL ending of the Alternate Ending. It may contain OOC and OC. At any rate, please do enjoy the finale!

SIDE STORY
I reach the sky again (Percy's P.O.V.)

I open my eyes. It was dark. I could make up some familiar ornaments hanging in the place that I am in. I looked around. On one direction, I saw three lanes where many people were falling in line. On another, I saw a lake of fire, where people were screaming with endless agony. There was also a wide plain, where people are walking freely. And there was also a paradise. I know people who live there are enjoying every bit of it.

I scanned the horizons more. I saw a black river where different items drifted off with it – diplomas, photographs and more. I also noticed a big sink hole, like the one in Guatemala. It might even be bigger, and judging by the darkness there, it would be really deep. Just after that did I remember this place, the Underworld.

I looked back and saw a familiar face. He was wearing a black robe. Faces in torment were embroidered in his clothing. They looked alive, as if these souls were stitched together to form this guy's dress. "Welcome back, Percy"

"Lord Hades", I wasn't surprised to see him. I knew this time would come.

"I was already planning on how I will bring you back here after you escaped. But then, I think I need not to plot to kill you because you yourself had returned"

"Thanks for your warm welcome"

It sounded a bit harsh. My tone was ungrateful. It was opposing the message that I told the god of the Underworld. "You do not sound thankful", the god knew what was inside me.

"No, I'm really thankful that you welcomed me back to your palace", I replied sarcastically.

"Anyway, everybody says that you have died a hero. And although I don't want to admit it, yes, you really died a hero. You saved Olympus. You saved your friends. And you saved me. But there's someone who you failed to save"

"Who?"

"Yourself"

I am really dead now. I even looked at my hands to see if I was translucent, and yes I was. I'm now just a spirit. I would never see my friends again who are still walking on the ground. I would never see Grover, Thalia, Chiron, and most of all, Annabeth, the girl I love.

"Percy, since you died a hero, even if I don't like this, I have to put you in Elysium"

Elysium is the place where heroes and the virtuous live after death. Everyone aspires to be in Elysium. It will be the happiest place in the Underworld. "You look delighted by that", Hades made a comment.

I then realized that I was really in good spirits now. Well, I'm a spirit now but a while ago, I was not really that good. Hades continued talking, "I just want to ask you one question"

"What is it?" I felt frustrated a bit.

"Do you want to be reborn?"

The question struck me. I remembered it, the Island of the Blest! If I choose to be reborn two more times, and live those lives righteously, I will dwell in the Island of the Blest after my third life. That would be the last resort of all righteous persons. That place is even happier than Elysium. I want to be there.

"Thinking? Well, I'll give you time by sharing you something. Luke Castellan, a friend of yours, had already met with me before you got here. He is now dwelling in Elysium. He decided not to be reborn. He chose to be contented at last. You know, he wasn't satisfied with even a thing in his mortal life. He wasn't satisfied with his father's love. And that brought him to his own demise.

"Sometimes, we need to be contented in certain things in our life. Although man will never be contented, we need to be satisfied a bit. We shall not be hungry at everything. We shall not aspire to grasp everything. That would be too bad.

"Well, it's good that in the end, he chose to be the hero of the prophecy. At least, he knew he wasn't really evil. And now, he deserves his choice. He deserves to be in Elysium. How about you? Do you want to dwell with him in the Elysian Plains? Or do you wish to be reborn and to try for the Island of the Blest?"

I pondered a bit after Hades' short speech. I knew Luke even though our friendship was short lived. But if you consider Luke's thoughts, he would try to reach the Island of the Blest. He really had a change of heart now. And I am nothing like Luke. He was better than me.

"Lord Hades, I want to experience earthly life again and do my best to reach the Island of the Blest", I answered with courage.

"You really are brave, young demigod. If that's your choice, I have to grant it. Let's see, how about the future? Do you want to be reborn in the future?"

"Anything you want"

"Good enough"

Hades snapped his fingers. Blue flames surrounded me. It consumed me, as if I was experiencing spontaneous combustion. It was like the time I bathed in the River Styx so that I will be invincible like Luke. But this time, it's as if I'm drowning there. My memories are being reaped from me. Slowly, I didn't know my friends, even my name. That's when I passed out.

I feel nothing.

Years Later

My dad escorted me to my mom's room. I was really excited to tell her all the experiences I had today. I opened the door with force and shouted, "Mommy!"

She was looking outside the window, staring at the marvelous white marble buildings outside. When she heard me call her, she turned her attention to me.

My mom was beautiful. She had blond hair with gray streaks. She had cloudy gray eyes. I jumped to her lap as I told her all the amazing creatures I saw at the water park – dolphins, whale sharks and more.

Daddy kissed her on the cheeks. That's when I started to feel sleepy. I yawned.

My mom carried me to her bed. I was really tired of the trip. I gently closed my eyes when my mom spoke in a soft voice, "Rest and sleep, my baby Luke Perseus"

As I heard my name, I finally drifted into the land where I would dream of the unexplained – Cyclopes, centaurs, monsters – name them all, they're all in my dream. And most of the time, I was holding a bronze sword as my weapon to kill those monsters with the help of the Cyclopes, centaurs and other creatures I didn't know.

I don't know why I'm dreaming of those stuffs. Maybe it's because of those myths my mom and dad always told me to put me to sleep. But still, those dreams felt real, as if I was really the one who killed those monsters.

Oh yeah, mom and dad told me I had the same name as the character who finished off those monsters. His name was Perseus Jackson. That may be the reason why I'm dreaming stuffs like that. And as of the moment, I'm having another dream. This time, I'm riding a black Pegasus. What did mom call it again? Blackjack! Its name was Blackjack.

I soared with Blackjack higher and higher up into the air. I looked forward to the sky above.

It felt absolutely real. For once, in my dream, I didn't look back.

THE END