A/N: I own nothing. Thanks for waiting, the war beings now!

Oaths, Traps, and Natural Disasters

An hour later, twelve armored demigods stood on the deck. Leo and Keenan had not emerged from the depths of the workshop, but the others were content to give them time. The Greeks and Romans were outfitted in their traditional bronze armor, but the Marathon heroes were flashy. Dax and Jenni stood side by side in their red chariot. Dax wore matte black armor while Jenni wore pink. Ryder was decked out in blood red armor. In one hand, he held his crimson sword, but attached to his other hip was a red whip with a black handle. Hopefully that could be ignited too.

The son of Apollo donned gold armor with white designs. He had a golden bow strapped to his back and a chrome dagger on his hip. Next to him stood Skylar, who wore brilliant white armor that matched her hair. She looked like a goddess. Clark had resumed pacing in a circle, twirling a sword that matched his silver armor.

"What, are you guys the Power Rangers or something?" Jason asked.

"Yeah, if you guys had told us style points counted, we'd have picked out our outfits last night." Percy added. "That's alright, Jason. They're just overcompensating for fighting skill."

"Fine. If we're overcompensating, Percy, you can kill the first giant, on your own." Dax shot back with a wink.

"Not fair." Percy grumbled.

The time has come. I hope you are as ready as your words make you appear, sons of the sea.

Dax and Percy shared a glance. The voice sounded a bit more evil than last time. The bow broke through the clouds, and the demigods saw the real Mount Olympus. The mountain was enormous, stretching tall and wide. It was summer, so the forests on its slopes were full and green. A small town had been built at its base. Just outside the town, Percy saw fires and figures of all sizes shuffling about.

"Looks like some of Gaea's monsters."

"Not too many, maybe a hundred. It looks like we surprised them." Frank observed. Dax and Percy looked at each other again.

"Don't get cocky. Let's go kill them." Jason said as he grabbed Piper by the waist and leapt into the winds.

"HIYAAA!" Dax yelled as Ryder and Clark jumped into the back of the chariot. The twin black pegasi took off.

The other five heroes climbed aboard Frank the dragon and took to the skies. "Please keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times. In case of an emergency, oxygen masks will deploy from the wings. If an emergency landing must be made over water, please allow Percy to –"

"Shut up, Jack!" Annabeth yelled over the winds. Hazel and Skylar laughed. Percy was too busy hanging onto Frank for dear life. Flying terrified children of the sea. Zeus and Poseidon's rivalry practically ingrained the fear into his DNA.

From the ground below, a horn sounded and the blurry figures in the distance started moving much faster. Quickly, they closed the distance to the town. Frank descended long enough for his friends to get off his back, and then flapped his wings toward a pack of hell hounds, who evaporated into dust after being burned by dragon breath.

After being taken by surprise, many of the monsters had run back into the town to take cover and regroup. The heroes quickly mopped up the stragglers. They advanced down the main street, where a group of telkhines ambushed them, but were easily defeated.

The town was small, and quaint, with old architecture. No residents were anywhere to be found, and Percy shuddered thinking about what the monsters did with them. It didn't take long for the group to reach the central plaza. In the middle, two small scaffolds of earth rose from a dry fountain. The Greeks and Romans gasped. Nico and Thalia were chained at the scaffolds, their heads hanging.

Before anyone could move, a roar erupted from another side street. The rest of the monsters swarmed the plaza. Behind them, a massive form lumbered forward, drawing Percy's attention. The Minotaur, his old enemy, was glaring hungrily at him and his friends.

"You! Why is it always you?" Percy sighed, "Guys, kill the others and get Thalia and Nico. This one's mine." Percy and the Minotaur charged at the same time. Annabeth wasn't far behind him, wielding her ivory sword.

After learning from his first two defeats, the minotaur elected to outmuscle Percy instead of charging him. The massive battle axe swept towards Percy, who deflected it, but barely. His enemy was incredibly strong.

Diving under the next strike, Percy slashed Riptide and caught the Minotaur in the thigh. His opponent bellowed, but more out of rage than pain. Percy rolled out of the way of the next attack, but wasn't close enough to counter. The Minotaur roared louder.

He's angry. Good. Percy turned and ran towards the nearest building. He burst through the doorway of what looked like an antiques shop. Turning around, Percy watched the Minotaur charge at full speed towards him. The bull-man crashed into the shop without stopping, which brought part of the roof down.

Percy dove out of the way of falling plaster and approached his enemy. The confined space of the shop would limit the Minotaur's wide range of motion and strength. Wow, maybe Annabeth is rubbing off on me.

The Minotaur swung upward with his axe but it rebounded off the ceiling. Frustrated, he dropped his weapon and tried to crush Percy with his beefy hands. Perfect. Percy dodged the next punch and raised Riptide, but before he could finish the job, the Minotaur whimpered in pain and disintegrated.

Annabeth stepped through the golden cloud proudly. "I couldn't let you have all the fun, Seaweed Brain. Come on!"

The couple sprinted back to the plaza to help, but their friends had it under control. Dax and Ryder took down a Hyperborean giant while the last few dracaenas retreated. In a golden flash, Jack cut them down with his dagger and returned to Skylar's side. Hades, he's fast.

Without breaking stride, Percy and Annabeth ran past their friends to the fountain. Percy cursed as Riptide bounced harmlessly off the earthen scaffold. Everyone else's weapons clattered harmlessly against it, even after Ryder ignited his sword. The captive demigods remained unconscious.

"You cannot free them now." A deep voice said from behind them. Porphyrion stood at the plaza entrance, his back to the grasslands. "Surrender and your deaths will be painless."

Dax stepped forward. "Why don't you and your brothers come out now, so we can kill you and get it over with." His lips twisted into a sneer.

Porphyrion's voice darkened. "You may have found a way to surprise the demons we had placed here, but you forget that the Earth Mother can move anything that touches her."

The ground began to shake and the buildings around the giant king started to crumble. Behind him for miles, small sinkholes began forming in the ground. Soon, monsters were thrown out of the holes, which then closed up.

"There must be at least ten- ten- ten-" Jack stammered, trying to count the enemies.

"Well, you're not wrong." Dax replied grimly. When the ground stopped shaking, thousands of monsters had spawned in front of the heroes. Percy noticed that a thick line of clouds had formed in the sky. He smiled.

Porphyrion laughed. "Destroy all these monsters, Mutt, and only then you will have the honor of dying at the hands of my brothers."

"Well, it's a good thing our friends showed up on time for the party." Percy offered.

The giant king laughed, but abruptly stopped when he realized Percy wasn't bluffing. Turning around, he looked on in horror as ships began to poke through the clouds and descend. Ballistae fired and monsters disintegrated. Dragons and griffins took to the air by the hundreds to counter the ships.

"I do not understand the magic you disguised you're ships with, but I assure you it will not be enough. We will see you soon." Porphyrion scowled as he flashed away.

"Shall we?" Dax raised an eyebrow at Percy.

"Ladies first." Percy bowed slightly.

"Okay!" Annabeth and Piper ran ahead of them, followed by Jason, Skylar, and Clark. Jack went supersonic and tore into the monster ranks, leaving nothing but golden dust in his wake.

Dax and Jenni ran back to their chariot and Jenni grabbed the reins.

"Hey, shouldn't the guy be driving? You know, chivalry and stuff." Percy called after them.

"I think chivalry goes out the window when the guy can kill giants." Jenni replied.

"That really was not your best joke. Come on!" Ryder and Percy charged after their friends.

The twelve heroes burst through the monster lines, but there were simply too many to fight. A lightning strike from Jason slaughtered a dozen telkines. Hazel launched slate through a Laestrygonian giant's face. Ryder's flaming whip cracked, sending ten hellhounds to Tartarus. The Flotilla's ballistae cut through hundreds, but for every monster that fell, two stepped up to replace it.

Dax and Jenni's chariot came in low so he could swipe at the heads of taller monsters. A Hyperborean spotted them and launched a massive piece of rock into their path. Jenni saw it at the last second and yanked on the reins, which probably saved their lives, but not the chariot's. The boulder crashed into the bottom and ripped off both wheels. One of the lines securing the horses snapped, and the chariot fell into a cluster of monsters.

"Jason, Frank, go get them! Jack give them some cover." Percy yelled as he attacked another telkhine legion. He couldn't even see half of their squad anymore. Only Ryder, Piper, and Annabeth were still by his side, and they were totally surrounded. "Ryder, Piper, you guys find Skylar and Clark. We are too deep. Fall back to the fountain."

Ryder cleared a path for them with his whip. As soon as the two passed through, monsters closed the gap. Percy and Annabeth were alone, fighting back to back, just like in his dream.

Clark had quickly lost track of most of his friends in the sea of monsters. Occasionally, the chariot would streak overhead or Ryder would send a large ball of flame into the air. Besides that, he, Skylar, and Jack had no idea which direction to even try to move.

The three fought well in tandem. Jack kept larger monsters at a distance with arrows and dispatched any that got too close with his dagger. Skylar did an excellent job of confusing the enemy with her magic, oftentimes causing them to attack each other or walk directly into Clark's blade. Clark himself was able to make short work of most of the monsters. Without thinking, Clark saw his opponents' next three moves before they did, and was able to cut them down.

The Marathon's chariot flew low overhead. Clark heard a crunch followed by Jenni screaming and Percy calling for help.

"I'll be right back guys. Find Percy." Jack said and started to run towards the chariot.

A Hyperborean stepped into his path and growled at them. Jack smiled, then ran straight up the giant's front, notched two arrows, and let them fly into its throat. Before the monster disintegrated, Jack leapt off its head and brought his dagger down on a dracaena. Then he was gone in a golden flash.

Skylar and Clark started to fight in the direction that they'd last heard Percy's voice, but it was harder now. Skylar was never good with hand to hand combat, and Clark wasn't skilled enough to take on all the monsters by himself while watching her back. Luckily, brief flames cast by Ryder led them in the right direction. Clark could hear Piper calling out for them.

A hellhound pounced from Clark's right, and he gutted it midair. He turned to see an empousai ready to claw Skylar. No. Clark lunged with his blade and caught the demon in the chest. With a cry, she evaporated.

A cry escaped Clark's lips as a burning pain erupted from his side. He hadn't seen the other empousai. She extracted her dagger and prepared to finish him off. Clark's side was on fire, but he swung up with his sword and decapitated her, before collapsing.

Skylar cried out and rushed to him. So, this is how I die. Well, it could be worse. Monsters closed in around them. A hellhound eyed the pair hungrily, before being consumed by an inferno. Clark turned his head to see Ryder scorch every monster within a hundred yards. Piper and Skylar each grabbed one of his arms and followed the path Ryder burned for them.

"Fall back to the fountain!" Ryder yelled. The monsters focused entirely on him, but between his whip, sword and flames, none got close. Clark had never been more grateful to someone in his entire life.

Each time one of the girls accidently stepped in a hole, pain flew up his side. This is odd. I shouldn't have this much pain from one stab wound, Clark mused as he blacked out.

Clark woke up when Frank less than gently put him down with his back to the inner edge of the fountain. He was lightheaded and his entire body hurt. Frank leapt back over the fountain to be replaced by Jack, Skylar, and Percy.

"You idiot. Why'd you go and get stabbed?" Jack asked as he ripped off Clark's breastplate.

Clark coughed, "I promised you I would protect my family." Jack paused to smile gratefully at him. Percy ripped off Clark's undershirt.

"Oh no."

Lifting his head to look, Clark saw his wound, and his heart sank. The gash was deep and bleeding, but the worst part was that the skin around the opening had turned a sickly green. Poison. Skylar's eyes were teary. Movement distracted Clark, and his eyes focused on the scaffolds behind his medics.

"Percy… she's awake." Clark raised his hand to point behind the son of Poseidon.

Percy spun around. "Thalia! Jack…"

"Go!" Percy practically jumped up to run to his old friend. Clark could hear the sounds of battle getting closer.

Jack turned back to the injured boy, "Clark…" but he was too choked up to continue.

Wincing, Clark reached out and grabbed Jack's arms. "Jack, it's okay. No matter what, just protect our family."

Skylar was openly crying now. Even Jack allowed a few tears. "No! You're not dying on me now."

"Yes, I am. Please don't make this harder."

"I'm so sorry." Skylar buried her face in Jack's chest.

Clark smiled as he closed his eyes.

An oath to keep with a final breath. As sad as that was, Percy hoped deep down that was the conclusion of three of the four parts of the Prophecy of Seven. Percy didn't think his heart could take any more surprises.

As Percy jumped up from where they had laid Clark, he surveyed the battlefield in front of him. The rest of his friends were beating back wave after wave of monsters, but they were slowly being pushed back. Thankfully, Percy looked out into the grasslands and saw hundreds of demigod warriors streaming out of landed Flotilla ships to attack the monster army. That will take some heat off of us.

Quickly, he called out to Annabeth and ran over to Thalia. He fell to his knees and cradled her face in his hands. "Hey Pinecone Face, how are you feeling?"

Thalia's eyes fluttered open. "Weak. Stupid, Kelp Head, it's a trap!"

"Oh gods, Percy, look at your arm!" Annabeth and Jason stood behind him.

Looking down at his arm, Percy realized he had been wounded in the fight. A long gash had opened on his right forearm and blood was flowing from it. Percy tracked the trail of blood as it left his arm and fell to the ground, where it was absorbed into the rock.

"Gaea will rise when the blood of Olympus is spilled." Dax had joined their small group.

They all turned and looked at the battlefield as the demigod army crashed into the monster lines. Amazons drove forklifts into gorgons, the Roman eagle launched thunder at giants, Greek chariots ran over hellhounds, but each fallen hero strengthened Gaea.

"We need a distraction. Something that will let us regroup and come up with a plan." Percy said.

"I have an idea, but it's going to hurt." Dax offered. When no one offered another option, he continued, "Alright, Jason, Percy, come with –"

The Marathon's shadow encompassed the gathered demigods and a large hatch in its hull opened. A huge form fell from the opening and crashed in front of the fountain. Leo and Keenan walked towards them as the dust settled, revealing their final project.

"Sorry we're late. I want you all to meet the new and improved Festus." Leo bowed.

The monstrosity stood at least twelve feet tall and was as wide as the Minotaur. Festus' head sat atop a body of off color and mismatching parts. Festus creaked and oil leaked out of its knee.

"Leo, its…" Percy began but couldn't find the right words.

"Ugly, for starters." Dax said without compassion.

"Hey, if you wanted it to be pretty, you should've put Beauty Queen in charge. He totally kicks monster butt, so shut up!"

"Didn't Festus, you know, blow up? And what's on your head?" Percy asked eloquently.

"We recovered him before we rescued you." Leo pointed at his head and grinned, "Oh, this? This is my rally cap, like in baseball. It is the ninth inning after all. Don't worry, we reinforced them with some metal."

Leo wore thin bronze armor, but on his head was something that at one point looked like a baseball hat. Keenan wore one too. The hats were inside out and covered in grease, with huge sweat marks. Leo looked at all of his friends and saw defeat written on their faces.

"What did I miss?"

Quickly they explained Clark's death and Gaea's trap.

Leo rolled his eyes. "Oh that's it? All we have to do is try even harder not to die."

"Enough talking! Jason, Percy, we need to go now! Leo we could use you too. The rest of you guard the fountain." Dax said.

"Let's go." Annabeth said.

"Annabeth –"

"Seaweed Brain, do you think that I'm going to let you go into the middle of a monster army without me? Don't make me kick your butt in front of your friends. That offer extends to all sons of Poseidon." She glared at Dax, who swallowed nervously.

"Okay, let's go then."

The five of them ran over to Ryder. Quickly, they explained to him and the others about Clark and the blood on the ground. Everyone looked horrified.

"It's okay, I have a plan. Ryder, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Dax said.

"Oh gods. You remember we slept for a week after last time?"

"It's fine. Leo, Percy, and Jason will help out. It'll be easier."

"Wait! Dax, you're talking about Panama, aren't you?" Jenni looked like she was about cry.

He walked over and grabbed her hands. "It won't be anything like last time. I promise." Dax kissed her and ran towards the army before she could stop him. The other five charged after him.

With only one thought in mind, the six heroes plowed through the army without breaking a sweat. Monsters exploded as flames, water, and lightning scattered their ranks. Jason rose into the air and stopped them when they reached the middle of the monster ocean.

"Now what?" Percy asked.

"We are going to summon a tornado of fire and water. Percy, I need you to help me call every ounce of water up from the ground and out of the air. Leo, summon whatever fire you can with Ryder. Jason, spin the winds as fast as you can and add some lightning to the water. Annabeth, hang onto something."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Percy concentrated with all his might as he felt Annabeth tightly wrap her arms around his waist. The wind started to pick up and whip at his face. The air heated up around him, but the water wouldn't come. Percy closed his eyes and prayed. Dad, if you're listening, please, help us. This is our only chance.

Nothing happened, but Percy concentrated harder. He opened his eyes and saw fire leap into the air in front of Leo and Ryder. The winds were spinning the flames into a spiral.

"Come on, Percy!" Dax yelled over the wind.

In his gut, Percy felt a familiar tug as he sensed all the water in the area rush towards them. Percy willed the water upwards, and the ground around them split apart. Water reached hundreds of feet into the air and stayed up. Fire leapt up to join it. Slowly, the winds picked up in intensity and lightning struck the walls of their storm. The vortex spun faster and faster.

"Push!"

Percy willed the water to go away from them and destroy the monsters. He felt Annabeth's grip tighten around his waist, which strengthened him. Percy pushed with all his power, and the vortex exploded.