(A/N) This is truly the end, my peeps. I'm sorry for writing such a short story, but I have a few reasons.
With really long stories, inexperienced writers such as myself tend to lose sight of the plot and put it up for adoption. Ugh.
I wanted to write a tightly focused and linear story and have an actual goal.
I simply don't have that level of skill yet.
This story is my first foray into this world, and I want to make the most of it.
I hope you guys have enjoyed reading my story. I hope you have been entertained, and not disappointed. Read on, mates. (A/N)
~oOo~
Percy stood at the gates of Paradise. He was waiting for a certain someone who had promised to return to him again. In the dark, gloomy distance, he could vaguely make out a flash of gold hair.
Annabeth.
For the past few months, Nico had been regularly visiting him and keeping him informed of what was going on in Camp Half-Blood.
'Everyone is devastated, Percy. The girls have been wandering around aimlessly with a hollow, deserted look in their eyes. Their sanity has been . . . crumbling for a few weeks now.'
Percy sat down on a chair on the front porch of his mansion, his head buried in his hands. Even in death, he had not been able to find peace.
Nico glanced uncertainly at Percy. 'Don't worry, man. They are strong people. They are trying to . . . move on.' Percy knew that he should be glad at those words, but he felt like a discarded toy left behind in the dust.
~oOo~
Nico had been visiting him more and more often in Elysium. Percy reflected that he truly was more comfortable amongst the dead. He wasn't called the Ghost King for nothing.
'We won the war, Percy. But the cost of victory was too high.' Percy looked up at Nico. The pale young boy was maturing fast. His long black hair now curled over his eyes. He had shot up in height and put on more muscle, undoubtedly from long hours of training.
Percy was jealous of Nico. He had seemingly been replaced in everything by the boy. He was a natural leader now. Nico said, as though sensing his thoughts, 'Dude, these people will never forget you. No matter how long I shall live I shall never emerge from your shadow. But that's okay. It's where I belong.' Nico had said that simply, as if he really didn't care. And he didn't.
~oOo~
Percy felt torn apart. On one hand, he was excited and really happy. On the other hand, he felt horribly depressed. Annabeth was dead. She was coming back to him. To Percy.
'She- Annabeth -was never the same after your death, Percy,' Nico was pacing agitatedly in front of him, 'We think something snapped inside her after your death. She became suicidal. She began throwing herself into the path of every monster she could find. Cyclopes, dracanae, telkhines- she destroyed them all. But one day we found her lying on the ground near Zeus's Fist. She was bleeding heavily and was really pale. But for the first time in months she looked genuinely happy. She mumbled your name, and s-she p-passed away. S-She should be here any day now. This was immediately after our battle with Kronos. S- She was fearsome during the battle, I tell you. Any monster that came near her was torn to shreds. But I guess she was tired after the battle and was o-overwhelmed in the woods. Maybe she did it on purpose.' Nico sighed, and sat down beside Percy. He frowned, 'Why are you smiling, Percy?'
~oOo~
Percy felt horribly guilty after that. But he felt comforted knowing that her terrible ordeal was over and they could stay together now. For eternity.
'Rachel . . . how do I say this, Percy? Eventually, she moved on. Got married. Had kids. Took over as CEO of Dare Enterprises. At first, her father protested against her new eco-friendly agenda for the company, but he came to his senses soon enough,' Nico chuckled, 'She still works part time as our Oracle, though. She says that she isn't ready to pass on her gift yet.'
Percy felt happy for her. He realised that he did not want her to be moping after him forever. As much as it hurt to admit it, he had wanted her to move on.
~oOo~
Percy recalled his last talk with Nico yesterday.
'Calypso . . . she was not ready to move on. In your memory, she vowed to become an eternal maiden, like Lady Athena and Lady Artemis.' Nico chuckled at the dumbstruck look on Percy's face. 'Yeah, she did that for you. I can tell you that pretty much all the single guys at camp were in for a massive let-down. And the non-single guys as well,' He smirked, 'Also, she has agreed to resume her duties as eternal Queen of Nymphs. She's happy now.' Percy nodded, smiling. 'Oh, and everyone sends their love to you,' Percy raised an eyebrow , 'Yeah, sorry 'bout that, Percy, but I had to tell them that I was still in touch with you. Ah well.' Nico grinned sheepishly. Percy reached up and hugged the embarrassed son of Hades. 'Thank you so much, Nico,' Percy had said, 'This means a lot to me.'
Everyone was moving on. It was time to accept that, too.
~oOo~
Annabeth walked over to Percy, her trademark grin in place and her Yankees cap perched on her head. 'Well, Seaweed Brain?' she playfully punched his shoulder.
'Ow, Annabeth. That hurt.' Percy pretended that his arm stung where she had hit him and rubbed it, pretend-glaring at Annabeth. Looking at her after all these months . . . he felt all tingly inside as he realised that he was in love her. He. Was. In. Love. With. Annabeth. He hugged her tightly, and whispered in her ears, 'I love you, Wise Girl.'
She replied, smiling softly,rubbing his back, 'Same here, Seaweed Brain. Same here.' Percy held up her hands to his lips and said, 'Annabeth, I've had a lot of time to think.' She replied, 'And?'
'I've finally figured out, Annabeth, that I l-love you the best. You were always the one, Wise Girl. Always.'
Annabeth tossed back her head and laughed. 'What? I just told you that I like you the best and you laugh at me? When will you make this sort of thing easy for me, Wise Girl?'
She replied, flinging her arms around his neck, speaking softly, 'I am never, ever gonna make things easy for you, Seaweed Brain. Deal with it.' And she kissed him hard, a moment she wished would last forever. She could taste the salt on his lips, and she liked how hard he held her to him, possessively. She finally felt blissfully happy, free from the pain of the mortal world. She was content.
Suddenly, Percy broke free and grabbed her hand. 'Let's go, Annabeth, I have so much to show you around here,' His eyes were shining, 'You are gonna love this place. Come on!' She let Percy drag her into an architect's paradise, the two soulmates finally together for eternity in the fields of Elysium.
As Percy wandered the place with Annabeth, he reflected on the last two lines of the Great Prophecy.
"A single choice shall end his days,
Olympus to preserve or raze"
As he stared hard at Annabeth, who was blushing from the intensity of his gaze, he thought of how he had made the best choice possible. The very best choice there was in the whole wide world.
(A/N) So that's it, fellas. Do y'all forgive me for Percy's death? Is it safe for me to come out of hiding now? Ahhhhhh thank Zeus. Anyways, I want to thank all of you for your support. It is 'cause of y'all that I have written this fic in the first place. Please review and be on the lookout for my upcoming stories! TheDarkKnight over and out! (A/N)
