Hey guys! I was away this weekend, so I'm actually surprised I was able o post this, but I made it! I would like to propose a challenge. If I get three reviews (that's not too demanding), positive or negative (but longer than "Hi" or "! $*%") on any chapter, I'll write up a storm - (procrastinate on my homework) - to change my update dates from Sunday to Saturday. Sound like a plan?

Now on with the Chappie...

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians, nor do I own the Heroes of Olympus)

A wall of force pushed Pria and her followers backwards. I don't know who I expected to immerge from the shadows, but it certainly wasn't the betrayer of evil Skia. Now, I've had a lot of experience with people dying but not really being dead and when Skia had simply vanished after us knowing her for no more than an hour, I didn't know what to think. Now, as much as I hate to say this, I hadn't really been worried, too caught up in everything else, yet curiosity burned in my veins.

I was thankful for her stopping the others from leaving, but my blood chilled when I realized she had simply materialized on our side of the border, when even gods couldn't get in.

She looked at me with her good eye, and gave me an almost imperceptible nod. Before turning in a motion almost too fluid and heading towards the mess hall. All the demigods along the border looked at each other. Pria looked as if she was about to say something, but then simply shrugged. We all did the logical thing; we followed to see what Skia was up to.

Gods, that woman walked fast. Her stride was as even as ours yet by the time we got to the dinning pavilion, she was already sitting down on one of the benches, eyeing everyone critically. Some campers had ceased their aimless meandering to look at her, but they said nothing.

When we got there Skia looked at us, then stood. She closed her good eye and began murmuring incantations in ancient Greek while raising her arms. The dejected crowd didn't even bat an eye when normally we would have charged at her so she couldn't curse us. Luckily my demigodishness allowed me to get the gist of what she was chanting. It was a story. A hero named Perseus (coincidence?) was drowning in the river of despair until an invisible hand pulled him out. He later learned that it had been the spirit of hope Elpis itself. The fates had sent Hope because it wasn't Perseus's time to die.

Everyone got a dazed look on their faces. I felt my mind go into a neutral state. I was no longer plague by thoughts of things beyond my control. Then there was the pain.

It was as if someone tore the skin from my body, a pain not unlike Kronus' scythe. But it also felt like a weight was being lifted, as if my flesh had become too cumbersome and I was glad to be rid of it. No one cried out, no one else even seemed to feel it, and then it was over.

"Despair had a tight grip on you, but it's hold has be severed. Rejoice for you and you alone are now in control." Skia spoke in a normal voice. She brought her arms down and stared at all of us. Assessing like the first time we had seen her. No one moved or made a sound, but the tension seemed to have gone out of everyone's shoulders.

Skia began to speak again:

"You are not heroes because you have the blood of gods in your veins. You are legends not because of how you fight but because of why. No mortals know you exist or even recognize that you have saved the world many times, yet you forge on. Not to be rewarded, but to follow the primal instinct that fuels all demigods, to spread good in a world that otherwise has nearly none. Remember this as you fight the corruption of your minds."

Then without warning, she looked down at her outdated garments and gave a sound of disgust. She snapped her fingers and her dress became a black t-shirt and black jeans. She nodded like that's better. She looked expectantly at all of us. Before anyone could utter a sound, Lacy came running up. I thought there had been an attack on camp. That was not the case. The daughter of Aphrodite began to bounce around asking a stream of questions without even pausing for a breath.

"Can you change into any clothes? Does it have to be black? Can you do the same for others? Oh, can you change perfume too?"

I heard an odd noise that I hadn't heard in a long time. Laughter, I realized Annabeth was laughing. It was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard, and I began to laugh too. Lacy took absolutely no notice as she continued her questioning.

Suddenly, I heard singing too. The children of Apollo were singing a campfire song. Their voices rose above the silence beautifully. The sun god's taste in music may be questionable, but his children had amazing voices. Soon everyone was singing, well everyone except a few Aphrodite campers that were still marveling a Skia's wardrobe trick. Demigods with bandaged arms and bruised faces were laughing and dancing under a sky that had never lightened. Whatever enchantment the daughter of darkness had cast had done its job. Campers were back to normal.

Eventually the songs were replaced by one I hadn't heard before. I think Will Solace had just made it up:

Pray tell, what is the meaning of life?

Why go through good times for the bad

Or see carnage destruction and strife?

There is no answer to be found or had.

The goal of life is simple to keep on living

Enjoy it or hate it, but still survive

The world is constantly taking and giving

But what a wonder it is to be alive!

What a wonder it is to be alive!

All the half-bloods took up the chant. "What a wonder it is to be alive!" Annabeth began to say it as a battle cry "We will keep on living! We will keep on living!" I heard Clarisse cry out in jubilation, and whoops and hollers from the Hermes cabin. I had never felt so far from death as I did in that instant. Alive! What a great feeling.

Leo, who had been so depressed before was pumping his fist in the air. It was on fire, matching his shouts of "Flame on!" Nico even cracked a smile. Jason came up behind me and for a split second I was afraid he'd try to murder me. He only clapped me on the back and started singing along with everyone else. A girl in wheelchair was beside him. She had a hood over her head, so I didn't recognize her until she tilted her head back and smiled. Piper. She caught my look and said: "Don't worry Percy." Her charmspeak worked. She had only sprained her ankle and she would be fine.

Finally the celebration died down. Some people had been shouting so hard the had lost their voices, while others' feet hurt from dancing. Everyone was sitting at random table in the mess hall. Skia was sitting at one of the head tables, her outfit now a black cat costume with a toga. I decided not to ask.

"Isn't it weird that the main character in her story was Annabeth?" My Wise Girl asked. All our friends looked at her.

"Wasn't it Grover?" G-man inquired. Woah. Her spell made us all hear our own names. Cool.

I heard silverware clink on glass. All eyes turned to look at Skia simultaneously. She was clinking a fork against her goblet. Her outfit was back to normal jeans and t-shirts.

"Remember hope is the only thing stronger than fear."

"Isn't that from the Hungers Games?" Someone shouted.

"Hunger games?" Skia looked so confused it may have been comical. I realized she spoke modern tongue, but she must not be too in touch with human business.

"Never mind." Said the same voice. The slayer of scary stuff still looked confused, but she continued what she had been saying.

"It has come to my attention that you are in need of a leader. I -"

"You would like to lead us? You've only been here an hour!" It was a son of Ares, some of the regular hostility had returned to his voice.

"No." Skia remained neutral "I would like to propose that Percy Jackson becomes your temporary leader"

Everyone was silent. I looked over to Jason, but he gestured for me to stand up and accept the position. Annabeth tried to push me up, but I was too stunned.

"Why?" A daughter of Athena had the guts to inquire.

"Because he is the one who would feel the worst if something bad happens to any of you" Matter-of-fact, as if this was the most obvious and important reason, not, you know, my experience or awesomeness or anything like that.

People started saying "Percy! Percy! Percy!" I pulled Annabeth with my and we stood in front of everyone who were cheering. Skia stepped aside and began clapping slowly while nodding her head. I felt empowered. Nyx, you can't break us, no matter how hard you try, we will keep fighting back.

Then, a butterfly fluttered on to a nearby table, and I screamed. Not a daughter-of-Athena-with-a-small-spider scream, but an Annabeth-with-a-giant-hoard-of-large-really-hairy-spiders scream. And there went my instant of pride.

Au revoir!

Wishsight