Sorry I didn't update yesterday, I was busy. So this chapter is the battle. Dun Dun Dun! I really don't have that much to say, so on with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own diddly squat. (Hehehe I love that word!)

In the Ayer.

There are some things that you begin to think about while you are lying on top of soft sheets like an invalid, while the war is coming closer and closer with every breath you take. I began to do the one thing you are not supposed to do before something big happens: think negatively. I wondered what would happen to me if I died. Where in the underworld would I go? Would my mom still get married? And, who else would die with me? I begged to every god I knew that Annabeth would still live. Somehow I didn't think they were listening.

Occasionally I think that Chiron should replace Apollo as the god of prophecies. This was one of those times. At 12 o'clock exactly on April 17th, Chiron blew the conch shell. I hadn't fallen asleep, so I just hopped out of bed and suited up my amour. I picked up Riptide, and I put it in my pocket. Then I dashed out the door.

I was the first one to reach Chiron. "What is it Chiron?" I whispered.

"Look out into the horizon. The Princess Andromeda is the ship we will be fighting. I thought that the monsters would see fit to acquire a new ship, since Kronos is no longer in control." He replied.

I did as I was told, and I saw a black silhouette, in exactly the same spot the Flying Dutchman had appeared in. Then a thought struck me: "Chiron where is the Flying Dutchman?" I asked quizzically.

"Well child, I instructed Mr. Turner to keep his ship under the water, and attack when he saw necessary." He said, still staring at the ship that was looming ahead.



"Oh, ok." I said, while turning my attention to the gathering campers.

"Chiron?" a girl from the Athena cabin said timidly.

"Yes child?" Chiron replied.

"Annabeth was wondering if she could come out."

"Percy, maybe she will listen to you, tell her that, no, she cannot come out. She is not allowed to fight at all." Chiron said in a harsh voice.

I nodded, and ran off to cabin six.

I didn't wait for an invitation; I just pulled open the door, and walked in. Annabeth was sitting up in her bed, so I walked over to her, and sat on the end of the bed.

I guess she could tell by the look on my face that she wasn't allowed to fight, because she picked up a book and started to read it. I think it may have been to hide the tears that were staining her face.

"Annabeth…" I began.

"Percy, if I can't fight…whatever. But that means I can't watch you. Please be careful." She said, cutting me off.

I pulled her into a hug, and stroked her golden hair. "I'll be ok, but please, for my sake, don't try to fight."

"Ok." She said weakly. "But now is your turn to be the hero I know you are. Win this war for me."

I kissed her lightly on the top of the head, and left her room with a feeling of dread. Would I ever see her beautiful face again? I shook myself out of those horrible thoughts, and walked back to my place beside Chiron. Next to me was Nico, then Clarisse, and next to her was her boyfriend Chris. They all had a fierce look in their eyes, and a sword drawn.

Behind them were Beckendorf, and the Stoll brothers.

Everyone was ready for the battle, no matter what the outcome was.

Moments after I took my position next to Chiron, a loud bang echoed throughout the camp. Apparently the Flying Dutchman saw a golden opportunity, because it had shot a canon from the depths of the ocean, and it hit the Princess Andromeda.



I thought the ship was done for, but the sea gods who were protecting it saw differently. The ship miraculously stayed afloat, and the ship edged closer and closer to the base of camp. We all knew that they wouldn't be able to cross the boundaries, but their weapons could easily.

As the ship drew nearer, we finally got to see what was on the ship. There were manticores, Minotaurs, laistrygonians, dracaena, cyclopses, and telekhines. There was also a bunch of monsters to gruesome to name.

Some had bows drawn, while others had spears in hand, waiting for the perfect time to throw them.

The Flying Dutchman was still desperately trying to bring the ship down, but with no luck.

While every eye was on the ship, something was coming up from behind. I felt something tap my shoulder, and I turned around, with my sword at their neck.

"Chill out!" said Thalia. She was smiling broadly, and behind her were all the hunters.

Then someone shouted "Look!"

We all turned our head in the direction they were pointing in. Two heads were emerging from the water, and they were not normal sized. We got ready to attack. However, when their bodies were fully emerged, everyone sighed in relief. It was Tyson, my half brother, and Braies, a Hekatonkheries.

When Tyson saw me, he ran up to me and nearly crushed my ribs in a hug.

"Heroes to arms!" Clarisse bellowed.

That brought my attention away from my brother, and I turned around. The Princess Andromeda was only meters away from hitting the edge of lake.

Then, without warning, the arrows were in the ayer. (A/N: no that was not a typo. If you read what the chapter title was you will understand.)