Freedom

~.~.~.~

Part III: Chapter IV

This is War

Two forces…

One greater than the other in size, the other more power in heart than in their numbers. The sounds of dying monsters echoed across the surface of Tartarus skin as forces challenged each other to the death, which was certain. Each demigod that ran towards the oncoming monsters was willing to die to give the world a better chance. Each had something to live for, each had something they were willing to die to protect.

Ashley Evangeline, daughter of Apollo, a firecracker of blinding light even though she was ninety percent of her way into the grave. She accepted her fate, but she was going to die fighting, to make sure that the one she loved had a better chance of living tomorrow.

Piper McLean, daughter of Aphrodite, a soft voice who had been manipulated for years, finally free with an unyielding resolve that pushed her and drove her. She held power in her voice as she wielded Katropis in her hand and her cornucopia. Love was a powerful weapon and it drove her.

Leo Valdez, the young man who had died and brought himself back to life, to get a second chance to correct what had happened all those years ago. He was willing to give up his life a second time to defeat Gaea, and in doing so, he met the love of his life who would no longer be a prisoner cause of his sacrifice and he would do it again to save her from being in yet another prison for the rest of his life.

Frank Zhang had lived a hard life, changed something as stupid as a stick for his entire life but he didn't let it deter him. He searched years for the love of his young life, and he wasn't going to let her go this time. He would go to the ends of the earth to make sure she lived, even if it meant he'd have to let the stick burning.

Percy Jackson. Percy lived with the heavy guilt of being alive for years but waiting in slumber he didn't even know he was in. Percy had to watch demigod after demigod die because of Gaea. And now he had to most possibly fight the love of his life, but she wasn't there anymore… Percy had to live with the guilt he'd failed her, that she had died believing he was dead…

It only fuelled his resolve even though he knew it was challenging.

As the ground trembled, fire, flood, blood from the veins and arteries beneath their feet bashed with an extreme force against the enemy even though the monsters still charged forward. Dust erupted everywhere around them as Percy killed monster after monster, not knowing how long it might take them to return. He just kept pushing forward, his eyes focused on one thing.

Annabeth stood there, eyes glowing intensely yellow as Gaea gave a simple nod to Annabeth who dropped the bow and arrow and dismissed the the cloak she was wearing, still wearing the very same clothes and armor she did seven years ago, a smirk on her face as she drew her sword and stalked forward, no monsters touched him, he killed any that tried.

Annabeth chuckled, her voice almost sounding like a rippling echo, "I look forward to taking your life, son of Poseidon. Long live Gaea, as I bring her your head!" It said as they rushed each other, their swords clashing with an almighty clang that shook Percy's teeth and bones. This eidolon possessing Annabeth was stronger than Percy had expected, and let left an uneasy feeling inside of his soul.

The creature before him had one mission and one mission alone and that was to kill Percy, and it was going to do it with one hand tied behind Percy's back. It was going to kill him using Annabeth's body…

Years upon years reflected through Percy as he met her strike for strike, hit for his, slice for slice. She slashed at him and he avoided it, but he didn't strike back, he only defended. "Annabeth I know you're in there. Please, fight!" he pleaded as he predicted each of the eidolon's strikes. Each one was harder to fight as each time Percy didn't fight, it only seemed to anger the eidolon.

"The daughter of Athena is dead!" It shrieked as it outsmarted Percy on a move, going for an overhead strike which Percy blocked, leaving his abdomen vulnerable and unprotected. It kicked him hard in the chest and slashed, the tip of the blade slashing Percy's cheek as it laughed. "Only I bleed now Percy Jackson… fights me or watch me slit this vessel's throat and watch her soul rot in Tartarus as Mother Gaea has decreed." It said as it held the sword to its own neck. "Fight me, kill me, Jackson. It is the only way you will win this war."

Percy froze as the blood dripped down from the cut on his cheek as the words played in his head.

Percy knew it was a long shot, but the eidolon didn't say Annabeth was dead at that time, only that she would be when it harmed itself. That meant that possibly Annabeth was still inside there, only dormant.

He gripped the hilt of his sword as he raised it and got into his stance.

"If it's a fight you want… it's a fight you will get." He said with a glare as he turned around and slammed his sword into the crusty, earthly ground that was Tartarus's skin and felt the ripple of power in his gut as blood vessels burst and the ground rippled and monsters screamed as Percy watched his friends' fight, only then did he turn and see something he never expected to see.

Before him, was the others. The demigods who had gone on a separate mission, only they had succeeded. Jason flew high in the sky, lightning, wind and thunderstorms disintegrating the monsters to keep them at bay from the temple where the elder light lay. Calypso road on the back of the wounded Festus who breathed fire as he ran on the ground and snapped at the monsters, greek firebombs being thrown by Calypso as they continued to fight.

Hazel Levesque shared powers of which were impressive in that moment, ground and earth moving at her command, an army of the undead following with her. Michael Kahale slashing monsters at his feet, fighting with a fire that only rivaled that of a man fighting to find water. He was determined and driven and it made Percy's heart leap out of his chest.

They had a chance.

They actually had a chance.

Percy heard Gaea's roar of displeasure as she stood from her throne and glared with her glowing green eyes. "KILL THEM ALL AND BRING ME THE ELDER LIGHT!" She ordered Polybotes who rushed forward towards the demigods.

For the moment, Percy forgot about Annabeth and the eidolon possessing her and charged at the giant. As one force, the demigods attacked Polybotes, dodging, and narrowly avoiding the poisonous water that would kill them in an instant.

He was nearly overwhelmed by the numbers that faced him, even if they couldn't kill him, a strike always landed.

Hope, Percy had hope as he watched his friends work together, fight together, live together in the singular moment. Nothing could stop them; nothing could control them or stop their fire as the continued to fight. Percy slashed the backs of Polybotes' knees as Festus bit the giant's knee which caused Polybotes to collapse to the ground.

"I will not bend the knee to any of you." He roared out as he swung his hand and swatted the demigod's back like they were flies. Percy got the brunt of the hit, skittering back painfully against the ground as the wind left him.

He felt blood running from his nose. How ironic… the last time he had a bloody nose, they lost the war.

Percy could hear Gaea laughing in the distance, "Oh how the fates have a cruel way of repeating history for you poor pathetic demigods. The fates signs hold true, mother earth will always win!" She shouted with a laugh as Gaea raised a spear and smiled, "allow me to offer them true blood sacrifice." She said as she looked at the weak Michael Kahale who was barely able to stand but his sword was out the way.

Gaea smirked and threw the spear, her aim dead-on as it soared towards Michael. Percy could only watch helplessly as a scream erupted across the field and Percy watched as Ashley pushed Michael out the way, her ring glowing in a pulsing bright light that was fading as the spear embedded itself in her abdomen.

Percy climbed to his feet and rushed towards Ashley as she pulled the spear from her body, her blood staining her shirt as the light of her ring blasted forwards and hit Gaea right in the face, knocking her down.

Percy was barely able to catch Ashley as she collapsed to the ground. Michael was instantly by his side, his eyes wide and filled with tears as his hands pressed against her abdomen, trying to stop the bleeding although he knew it was futile, he still had to try. "Come on, stay with me you stupid daughter of Apollo." He said with a rough heavy voice as his hands trembled.

Ashley smiled sadly, "MK-47… it's okay… this was always going to be my fate… save a love with a life for a life… you saved my life once… it was my turn to save yours." She whispered as her skin grew paler by the second, her voice softer than the breeze on a cold night.

"Please… fight… don't leave me. I need you." Michael begged as he cupped her face with his bloody hands. Percy had never seen the son of venus more open and vulnerable and afraid than he did in this moment.

Ashley was crying too as her hand weakly reached up and cupped his hand to her cheek, "Somewhere over the rainbow… remember it…"

"Please fight Ashley… please… I love you…" He whispered brokenly as her eyes slowly started closing.

"I love you too…" She said in a whisper as her eyes closed, a tear running away from her one eye as her chest stopped moving and her hand fell from his and her eyes remained closed.

The roar of anguish Percy heard from Michael reminded him of the pain he felt inside over Annabeth… nothing stabbed worse than the loss of someone you love. "Retreat!" Percy yelled as he grabbed Michael's shoulder, "Take her, run to the temple. Go now!" Percy ordered as he ran to help up Hazel.

They all ran back, the ground erupting around them, the bloody geysers erupting around them as the ran to the temple. Jason was there first, wrenching the temple doors open as they all ran inside and Percy was the last, his eyes staring down Annabeth and Gaea as he and hazel used their different powers to create a large crater around the temple, keeping everyone at bay.

Percy slumped against the door, knowing they couldn't stay sheltered in here for long but as he looked at them, Percy knew they were fighting a losing battle.

Everyone was wounded, hurt, and in pain. Calypso and Leo were holding each other, tending to their wounds, the same with Jason and Piper and Frank and Hazel. But all eyes were on Michael as he held Ashley in his arms and sung the song she used to sing quietly to himself.

"We can't win this… can we." Calypso whispered as she looked up at Percy.

"We made it to the elder light… we don't know what to do with it… but we have that to our advantage." Percy said as he took a few heavy breaths as he looked at all his friends. "We have lost so many… so many have died. But we have to keep fighting." He whispered with a heavy breath as he looked around this temple.

"How can we figure out what, where and how to use this stupid elder light if the only person that might know how to use it is dead, and we have a bloody army outside waiting to slaughter us all," Jason muttered in an exasperated breath.

"We need a distraction of some kind," Hazel said as she held her gladius in her hand.

Percy looked all around them. There was only one clear way to cause a distraction and Percy stood up as he looked at them. "Find out how to use the elder light… I know what I need to do." He said as he looked at them all.

"It's a suicide mission Percy." Frank said glumly.

"Only if I choose to see it that way." Percy said as he ate some ambrosia to prepare for what he was about to face. "I have to try… it may be suicidal but I have to try. She has to still be in there." Percy whispered as he looked towards Michael as the son of Venus looked at Percy. "We fight for the world and for the ones we love…"

"She's gone, Percy… I can't feel her life force in any shape or form." Hazel pressed but it didn't change Percy's mind.

"You would do it if it was the person you loved… even if it meant you die fighting for a hopeless cause." He said as he felt his strength restoring as Percy took a deep breath. "Find a way, don't give up, never surrender." He said as he looked at them all. "We are children of the gods. We defy the impossible. Find a way." Percy said as he opened the door and rushed out.

Gaea instantly noticed Percy and laughed, "Percy Jackson, the one who was supposed to be dead but is still somehow alive. Make no mistake, this will end quickly." She said with a smirk.

"You and I both know dirt face this ends two ways… but I have a proposition for you." He said with a smile as he raised his sword. "Champion vs champion, to the death, for your entertainment." Percy said with a heavy breath as he gripped the hilt of his sword.

"I could strike you down with my thumb… but I like the idea of watching you suffer… so my champion is your lovely partner, the daughter of Athena." Gaea said with a smirk as the Eidolon Annabeth stepped forward and walked towards Percy on the open battlefield. "No one moves. I want to watch the show." Gaea said with a smirk as Percy looked to the sky.

"Father, give me strength," Percy whispered to himself as he readied himself as the eidolon charged forward to Percy and the battle for the right to live or die commenced…

To be continued…

KDOH: I know it's short and not exactly the greatest but I am sadly missing all my plotted plans an ideas for this chapter so it was a sad and tragic filler to the big chapter that shall happen next. I hope you are excited because now we find out… is Annabeth really gone? Can Percy kill the woman he loves in order to save the world? Will our heroes have a happy ending? Find out in the next chapter. And once again, thank you everyone for continuing to follow this story as we continue towards the finish line of Freedom. See you soon everyone with the next chapter.