3rd Person's PoV

Annabeth understood, from the moment that she stepped into the new and remodeled Camp Half-Blood, that things would never be the same.

She was hurt when her own mother didn't acknowledged her more than to remember everybody that was her daughter. Nothing more, nothing less. That Chaos, who she never met before than that day had acknowledged her and gave her this responsibility was a gift and a privilege that she'd never see him regret.

The best part in all this, is the time she gets to spend with her Seaweed Brain.

It was as if he didn't want her off his sight. As if she'd fade away the second he turned around. He wasn't Orpheus, nor she Eurydice or Chaos, Hades. This story was gonna be written different, starting with them. Percy lead her into a cave that had carved several images of moons and suns.

"Where are we, Percy?" She wondered to him, looking at the carvings and running her fingers across them, "I thought we were gonna train..."

"And, we are gonna, Wise Girl." He admitted, tangling his fingers with hers, "Unfortunately for you, we don't have the time to train you properly... we'll have to use the Cave of Time."

"Cave of Time? Kind of obvious what it does." That remark was rewarded by a smirk of Percy. "But, my question is... couldn't Father rename it? It wasn't like if he appeared and the cave went all like 'Oh, look at me! I'm the Cave of Time! Step inside and watch time slip away!'" She ended with a sarcastic smile.

"Well, I suggested to change it to DeLorean, but he didn't got the joke..." Annabeth began to crack up, her laugh lifting the spirit of everyone that live in Chaos' realm.

"Good one, Seaweed Brain... good one..." Percy smirked and pulled her hand inside the cave, guiding her inside. She needed her free hand to lift her dress, and not to step on it every time she walked.

"A day inside the Cave is a minute outside, in any realm." He informed her.

"You seem to be quite informed about how this Cave works." Annabeth complimented him, looking around and noticing the stacks of weapons, "Looks like you've been using it yourself..."

"Only when I was in a deadline from Father, I rather wanted the time to go by naturally." He acknowledged. "Which reminds me..." He pulled out her old dagger from his belt and handed it to her. Annabeth's eyes filled with tears, staring at the blade she thought lost. "I grabbed it when I was running away. I couldn't picked anything else-" He was silenced by a sonorous kiss from his newly bride-to-be.

"Don't apologize, Percy. Thanks for it, anyway..." She recognized, smiling at him, "It was more than I could ever ask from you."

"Let's just say that you'll be asking me to stop in a few minutes." Percy dared, with a special gleam in his eyes. Annabeth smirked, placing herself in position. She knew her movements were rusty, but she couldn't be that bad, right?

Annabeth never felt her pride and ego go downhill as fast as they went in the last hour.

As predicted, she was a little rusty and Percy promised her that he'd go slow and easy on her to begin with. But, her pride couldn't handle that he was holding back, so she pushed until Percy wasn't holding back.

Biggest mistake ever.

"Five minutes..." She gasped for air, which was an unconscious activity since they didn't need air anymore.

"You ok, Wise Girl? Man, I shouldn't have let you pressure me like that-" Obviously, Percy's rant gave away how nervous he was with the situation. In the old days, Annabeth remembered how he'd brag about it. Brag and boast himself up. Now, that was all gone.

"Percy, I'm fine..." She soothed him, smiling weakly, "I have nothing else than a wounded ego and a very low pride... maybe a few bruises to go along with it wouldn't be that bad-"

"Don't joke with that, Annabeth." The use of her full name gave away Percy's biggest fear: relive that day all over again, "Just- just don't..."

"Percy, if I don't joke, what's left is crying. And, I don't plan to spend the rest of my immortal existence crying in every corner I find, OK?" Her firm tone of voice was enough for him to pay attention. "Now, don't be afraid of bruising me, but give me a respite every hour or two." Nodding, Percy placed himself again in his battle stand, this time, only with his bare fists. Getting the lead, Annabeth dropped the knife and charged against him.

By the time Percy considered Annabeth was ready, outside the Cave had passed almost 18 hours. More than enough time for Chaos to prepare a surprise for them.

"Perseus, Annabeth, welcome back to the present time.." He greeted them. Both bowed at his presence, smiling, "I assume that you think Annabeth is ready to help you command the army, Perseus? Otherwise, you'd not be out here yet."

"You assume correctly, Father. I taught Annabeth everything you taught me. I couldn't have asked for a better second-in-command." Percy's praises were enough for Annabeth to stand tall. Chaos chuckled in satisfaction.

"I trust your judgement, Perseus. Now, I have some news for you." That caught both of their attention. "The confrontation is coming closer and I'm afraid that I'd not be able to keep up."

"No!" Annabeth got scared at Percy's fear. Holding onto his arm, which was stopping him from rushing forward, she said the only question possible.

"What is going on?"

"I'm wounded, my daughter..." Chaos explained, not taking his eyes off Percy. "In an encounter with our enemy, I was badly wounded and it's one of those wounds that don't heal..."

"You've been dying slowly..." Chaos nodded at her conclusion.

"I won't die, just fade." He reassured them, though Percy looked like he wasn't listening to reasons, "Perseus, look at me." Percy was forced to lift his eyes and face his father, "I know you don't want me to fade and I know you blame yourself for it, but you have to remain strong. You need not to act rashly. You need to think before acting."

"I- I can't do your job, Father..." He admitted, softly. "Give me an army, I can guide it to victory, but-"

"I don't feel ready either, Percy." Annabeth confessed to him, making him look at her, "But, it's our destiny and we'll face it, together."

"As long as we're together." He whispered, his arms sneaking around her.

"It's good to know I made a good choice of my children and heirs, after all." Chaos surprised them, smiling at the scene, "Don't be sad... I've lived eons of life, it was time the next generation took the step up, while I'll step down..."

"We'll try to make you proud, Father." Annabeth curtsied to Chaos, followed by a bow from Percy. Both felt Chaos' hands over their shoulders for the last time.

"I'm already proud of you..." Taking a step back, Chaos closed his eyes, "The Universe has a new King and yourselves and you'll be fine..."

These were the last words spoken by Chaos before fading away... for eternity.

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