Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Chapter 12: Battle for Olympus Part 1

Percy's POV

We arrived in Olympus and all was pretty quiet. I could see the scaffolds and construction equipment in the distance of the city. I guess with the pending battle all construction work had ceased. Many new temples and buildings had already been completed, the beautiful white marble structures were incredible. The new Corinthian columns gleamed in the sunlight. Annabeth had really done an incredible job in getting the city rebuilt. I felt terrible that all her work could be destroyed by the battle to come.

"Seaweed brain are you alright?" Annabeth said, her voice brought me back to reality.

"Sure, I was just thinking about the great job you've done so far on Olympus." I said trying not to show my concern for the battle to come.

"Thank you, it is beautiful!" Annabeth said. I grabbed her hand and held it, I could see the hurt in her eyes as she thought about the coming battle.

"Percy!" I heard someone yell, I turned around and saw Theseus walking towards Annabeth and I. "There you are!" Theseus said as he stood in front of us. I could tell he was worried by the tired look in his eyes.

"We are camping just outside the interior gate. I want our camp to be near the main gate as this is the only place where an army can move freely." Theseus said.

"The enemy knows that as well so they will attack the main gate." Annabeth said.

"Thats correct, I want all of our forces stationed here, this is where the main battle will take place. The enemy will have the secret to get through the perimeter barrier, but they have get through this gate before they can get to the final city gate." Theseus said.

"So how are you distributing the campers then?" I asked.

"Thalia, the Dionysus and Hermes cabins will take up defensive positions inside the city gate. Percy and the remaining forces will take positions just inside the main protective gate. Our camp will be between the main gate and the city gate." Theseus said.

"Where is the cyclops army?" I asked.

"They will cover your rear flank in case some of the enemy gets passed your forces." Theseus said.

"Sounds like a solid plan. Where are the gods going to be stationed?" Annabeth said.

"Athena and I will be covering the right side of Percy's forces, while Apollo and Artemis cover the left side. Dionysus and Hermes will be assisting Thalia as the last line of defense before the enemy reaches the interior of the city. Zeus and Poseidon will be stationed inside the throne room, they will be the final defensive force. As you know Hestia doesn't fight, but she has agreed to establish the hearth in the main ballroom, that will be the location of the medical triage center." Theseus said.

"Sounds good to me." Annabeth said hopefully.

"Percy, get your forces established. I won't round the clock patrols on the main gate." Theseus ordered.

"Will do!' I said as I lead Annabeth and the rest of our forces into position. I organized our forces as discussed and established sentries along the main gate. They would provide early warning of the enemies arrival, then the rest of our forces could converge on the gate to provide defense.

Once the forces were established I went to the command tent to establish the sentry rotation for the next several days. I needed to make sure there were fresh sentries on the gate, that meant switching out campers every four hours. We would have no fewer than twenty sentries on the walls at any one time.

Theseus and Athena walked into the tent as Annabeth and I completed the sentry rotation. I ordered Will Solace to implement the rotation. He grabbed the plan and strode out of the tent.

"How's it going?" Theseus said as he stood in front of Annabeth and I.

"The sentry rotation was the last item, we're in good shape now." I said.

"Good, both of you have done a great job. Thalia and her forces are set as well." Theseus said reassuringly.

"I have to agree with Theseus, you make a good team, you two." Athena said with a smile.

"Thank you." Annabeth and I said at the same time.

"We've been on Olympus for four hours now and all logistical activities are complete. Our forces are set for the battle." Theseus said, I could see the sadness in his eyes.

"Theseus, don't blame yourself. This battle had to be fought and I do not like fighting fellow demigods either, but it has to be done." I said.

"Percy is right, you need to get over your trepidation and prepare yourself for what's to come, no matter how terrible it may be." Athena said as she hugged Theseus tightly.

Theseus and Athena left to go speak with Apollo and Artemis, leaving Annabeth and I in the command tent. I stood and held Annabeth in my arms and said, "No matter the outcome, I will always love you wise girl." I said sincerely.

I could see the love in Annabeth's eyes as she stared at me. She smiled and said, "I love you too seaweed brain." Then I leaned down and kissed her passionately. My fear and worry of the coming battle melted away. I knew I could face anything as long as she was with me.

"Walk with me?" I said, Annabeth gave me her hand and we walked down to the main gate. The gate was beautiful, instead of the white marble of the city gate and Olympus itself the main gate was made of a beautiful gray granite with flakes of silver in it. I noticed that Malcolm was on top of the gate with twenty other demigods. He looked rather bored, it had been a pretty quiet day so far, too quiet for me at least. I knew the enemy was on its way, I could feel it. I didn't want to alarm anyone so I kept these feelings to myself, but I could tell when I looked into Theseus's eyes that he had the same feeling.

"Annabeth, Percy how's it going?" Malcolm asked.

"Good little brother, you look bored." Annabeth said, I could tell she was amused by his boredom.

"Come on Annabeth, nothings happening." Malcolm said, I could see the impatience in his eyes.

"Malcolm, be careful what you wish for, you might just get it." I said as I gave him a look of warning.

Malcolm gave me a hurt look and then I heard it. The sound was soft at first and then slowly became louder. I ran up the steps to the top of the gate, Annabeth followed closely behind me. As the three of us looked toward the main entryway that led from the Empire State building to Olympus I could see shadows and dark objects moving. The noise became louder and louder until the dark objects became visible. The first part of Hera's army to come forward were the demigods, followed closely by a hundred monsters of all varieties, then I saw the titans led by Hyperion and Atlas, then I saw Hera and the three other former Olympians, and lastly I saw something that made me freeze in place. The last part of Hera's army was comprised of at least two hundred automatons, but that wasn't the reason that I froze. The reason was that standing in front of the automatons stood twenty celestial bronze bulls, these bulls were at least twelve feet tall at the shoulder and at least thirty feet long. They were breathing flames from their nostrils. Hephaestus had created all of these monsters, but the bulls were his most prized creations and he had allowed them to join the army. I couldn't believe that, but I had no time to dwell on it.

"Malcolm sound the alarm!" I said excitedly. Malcolm ran to the large bell on the top of the gate and began to ring it. A few seconds later I could hear the bell ring on the gate of the city wall. The warning had sounded and I knew that the battle would begin soon.

I saw Theseus and Athena appear on the wall near Annabeth and I. I could see the anxious look on Theseus's face as he looked out toward the enemy army.

"All heroes on the main wall, they will attack with the automatons first." Theseus ordered. Suddenly, Annabeth and I were directing our fellow campers to take positions along the wall.

"Position yourselves along the wall in the most favorable position for archery. I want all of the heroes that have bows to attack the enemy forces as they approach. Those without bows will defend the archers from close combat." Athena said.

I saw Theseus disappear from the wall and reappear near the cyclops army. I saw him talking to Tyson about something. Their conversation must have been about position because the cyclops army broke into a left and a right flank. The flanks were on each side of the main road that led from the main gate to the city gate. The cyclops army would directly engage the automatons. I also noticed that Theseus did not leave after his conversation with Tyson. He was going to engage the automatons as well. Then I heard Theseus in my head say, "Percy, I will assist Tyson. I want you on the wall with the heroes, thats an order." I grudgingly acknowledged his order and prepared my bow for the battle.

I heard a loud horn blast and felt the ground shake as the automatons came forward to attack the main gate. The twenty giant bronze bulls were in the lead, I could see the flames flare from their nostrils. It only took a matter of seconds for the force to hit the gate. The impact on the gate was tremendous, a few unlucky campers were thrown from the gate and were trampled to death by the automatons. The giant bronze bulls broke through the gate and were immediately engaged by the cyclops army.

I saw Tyson and his cyclops brothers attack the automatons ferociously. The cyclops army used their clubs and sticks to batter the metal automatons. The bronze bull flames could not hurt the cyclops, but they could still batter and bludgeon cyclops mercilessly. All of the campers were firing arrows. The arrows proved adequate against the normal automatons, but the bronze bulls were another matter. One bull charged Theseus and a split second before the bull hit him, Theseus flew into the air. I noticed his eyes glowing orange and the orange aura around him. He was clearly using the power he inherited from Oranos. Annabeth and I continued to fire arrows until we exhausted our supply. After that all we could do was watch the carnage below us.

All of the automatons were destroyed except the twenty bronze bulls, they were too strong. The cyclops army had been devastated, only about thirty cyclops remained. Tyson was still with them, I could tell he was exhausted. Athena disappeared from the wall and joined Theseus on the ground in order to engage the bulls, suddenly a golden light appeared next to them. When the light faded, Apollo and Artemis were there clad in their armor.

The bulls charged the four gods and proceeded to attack them. The four gods were too quick for the bulls and easily evaded their attack. I saw Theseus fly into the air again this time with his celestial bronze club. He landed on the back of one of the bulls and proceeded to beat the head of the bull until it exploded. Theseus flew into the air again and proceeded to attack another bull. Artemis and Apollo fired their arrows at the same bull until one of the arrows entered the bulls mouth. The bull stopped abruptly and then exploded. A bull approached Athena, she took out her spear and at the last minute threw the spear into the mouth of the bull. The bull stopped, turned its head and then exploded. The four gods proceeded to repeat these attacks until there were ten bulls remaining. I could tell that Athena, Artemis and Apollo were exhausted from the battle, but Theseus still looked energized. I then realized that when all the heroes were cheering and fighting courageously it seemed that Theseus's strength increased.

"Annabeth, keep an eye on Theseus. Watch what happens when the heroes cheer or as we attack." I said.

I saw Annabeth analyze the situation and then I saw one of her eye brows raise. I knew she had figured it out.

"He's gaining power as the heroes cheer and as we fight the enemy." Annabeth said.

"Yes, it makes sense, he's the god of heroes. Therefore, as our strength and adrenaline increase so does his." I said proudly.

I looked back towards the battle and all but one cyclops was standing, it was Tyson. There was only two bulls remaining. Theseus was fighting both of them by himself. I noticed one bull distract Theseus while the other one charged. I didn't even have a chance to warn him through our mental link, but then I saw Tyson charge the bull. He hit the bull at full speed on its side. Somehow Tyson ruptured the side of the bull and it exploded. When the smoke cleared Tyson was on the ground and he wasn't moving. Theseus saw this and flew under the bull he was attacking. He picked up the bull and flew into the air. He rose to about a hundred feet in the air and dropped the bull onto the stone floor below, when the bull hit the ground it exploded into a million pieces.

"Do you think the flying and incredible speed of Theseus has to do with the strength he receives from the heroes around him?" Annabeth asked.

"No, the orange eyes and glow gave him away. I think Oranos gave him a gift, some of his power." I said.

I could see Annabeth process this and then she looked at me concerned.

"So he has to be pretty powerful then." Annabeth said.

"As powerful as the big three I suspect, except he doesn't have a special weapon like the lightning bolt or trident." I said.

"Does anyone else know about this?" Annabeth asked.

"I suspect Athena knows something." I said.

"I wonder how powerful he would be surrounded by heroes then?" Annabeth asked, I knew she didn't expect me to answer, but I couldn't help saying, "Incredibly powerful I suspect at least for a short period of time.

I looked back down to the battlefield and I saw Theseus standing next to Athena, Artemis and Apollo. Then suddenly Hephaestus appeared in front of them. His face was bright red. I could see the anger and hatred in his eyes.

"How dare you destroy my creations." Hephaestus said.

"How dare you attack your family." Athena said angrily.

"Athena go to Hades!" Hephaestus said.

"I think you should apologize to your sister, cousin." Theseus said as the orange glow began to pulsate around his body. I could tell Theseus was angry now.

"I'm not afraid of you!" Hephaestus yelled.

"Then your a bigger fool than I thought." Apollo said.

"I hate all of you!" Hephaestus said and then he charged toward Theseus, that was a big mistake.

He threw a punch at Theseus who caught his fist and then I heard the scream. I could tell that Theseus had crushed Hephaestus's hand. Hephaestus fell to his knees sobbing and then Theseus punched him in the face at full strength, I knew by the strength of the blow that Hephaestus's jaw was broken. He hit the ground with a thud and was clearly unconscious.

"Apollo, Artemis take your brother to the prison cells that we created. They will hold your foolish brother until the battle is over." Theseus said.

Apollo and Artemis just shook their heads not believing how stupid their brother was. They grabbed Hephaestus and carried him to the prison cells. I saw the orange power subside and Theseus was back to his normal self. He put his arm around Athena and then yelled to us on the wall, "Heroes you are needed down on the battlefield take defensive positions. The monsters will attack next."

All of us ran down to the battlefield and proceeded to arrange ourselves into defensive formations. I kept the Apollo cabin as archers and positioned them behind the ground forces.

"Thalia, we need reinforcements from the city wall. Establish defensive support formations near Percy's forces." Theseus yelled to Thalia, I saw the city gates open and Thalia and her heroes ran forward and setup positions around our forces. Dionysus and Hermes joined Theseus and Athena near our main battle line. They would provide additional support against the enemy when we needed it. Then I saw Theseus walk over to Tyson and touch. Theseus and Tyson dissolved into a golden light. He must be taking Tyson to Hestia for help.

Then I heard the screams and the roars as the monster army stormed through the gate. The Apollo cabin filled the sky with arrows and many monsters were destroyed. About a quarter of the monsters fell to the barrage of arrows. The remaining monsters engaged my force of heroes. A few monsters made it passed our ranks, but were immediately intercepted by Thalia and her forces. Then Echidna stormed into view, she was too powerful for most of the demigods. The other gods were holding their own with the monsters. Echidna attacked several campers and I saw them fly threw the air. I charged forward and as I came closer to her she charged with a mighty blow that I barely dodged. I struck forward with riptide and I could feel the blade tear into her flesh. She swung wildly with her arm catching me in the side. I went flying across the battlefield and landed against the city wall. The wind was knocked out of me, but I wasn't hurt. Then I saw Echidna running toward me. I froze, I was trapped with my back to the wall then suddenly Hades and a group of campers flashed in front of me. Hades saw Echidna and fired a tremendous blast of hell fire that incinerated her. Then I noticed Katie and the other Demeter kids. Demeter and Persephone were standing behind Hades.

"Thank you, Uncle!" I said gratefully.

"I couldn't let that witch Echidna kill you, at least not yet." Hades said with a sarcastic smile on his face.

"Hades, where is Nico?" Persephone asked.

"I thought he was with us." Hades said worriedly.

Then a gigantic cyclops came into view. Hades tried to burn him, but the Cyclops was immune to the fire. Then I heard howling and out of the shadows stormed Cerberus and Mrs. O'Leary. They charged the cyclops and attacked it viciously. The battle between the three only lasted a few minutes and then I heard a sickening crunch as Cerberus crushed the throat of the cyclops. The cyclops dissolved into golden dust. Then I saw Nico come out of the shadows and run towards his father.

"Dad, sorry we were late." Nico said.

"No bother, you were just in time." Hades said.

I looked around and with the destruction of Echidna, our forces were now in control, but I wondered how long that would last.

"Where are my brothers?" Hades asked worriedly.

"They're in the throne room." I said.

Hades disappeared with Demeter and Persephone. I wish they had stayed because we would need them, I feared. Nico ran over to me and helped me up. Then Thalia and Annabeth ran toward us. Thalia tackled Nico to the ground and I laughed out loud, but before I could make a snide comment Annabeth tackled me equally as hard and I hit the ground.

"Good to see you too wise girl." I said, trying not to wince at the pain of the bruises on my backside.

"Sorry, I was just worried when I saw Echidna hit you." Annabeth said, I could hear the relief in her voice.

Then I heard screams from outside the main wall and then a familiar voice yell, "Charge!" it was Ares. The enemy demigods were attacking. Nico, Thalia, Annabeth and I reformed our force. We prepared for the coming onslaught; I prayed to the gods that we would live through this battle.

The enemy demigods stormed through the main gate and attacked our force. We were outnumber more than two to one. Ares was there with Aphrodite, but I did not see Hera at all. I knew something bad was going on, but I didn't have time to ponder that. Out of the darkness came the remaining titans, led by Atlas. Annabeth was next to me and she named off the titans one by one; Coeus the titan of wisdom, Phoebus titaness of the moon, Themis the titaness of nature, Eos the titaness of the dawn, Astraeus titan of dusk, Perses titan of destruction, and Lapetus titan of mortal life.

"Annabeth, where is Hyperion?" I asked.

"I don't see him." Annabeth said.

I had a bad feeling about this, we were outnumbered and now we had titans to deal with. Where was Theseus? I thought, but I didn't have time to think further as six enemy demigods attacked Annabeth and I. I tried to contact Theseus through our mental link and then he appeared next to Ares and Atlas. I looked at Annabeth and smiled a little, maybe we had a chance after all. Then my hopes were crushed as a group of ten minor gods appeared before us led by Phobos, Deimos and Enyo the children of Ares.

Sorry a little cliff hanger, this was a hard chapter to write, but I hope its alright.