I've kinda been running out of funny things to say here. Oh well. No one cares. Next chapter…

I piled into the back of a van, squished in-between Connor and Travis, and the Apollo cabin was opposite. The Demeter cabins seniors, Katie and her sister Miranda, were also in the van.

I'm really getting bad with the narration part of my life.

Sigh.

Back it up.

An Iris Message arrived from Percy, to meet him in front of the Empire State Building. Chiron and Annabeth were worried. Apparently, Percy leaving without a word was bad. We had all packed into the strawberry delivery vans. With Argus and two of the harpies (I hated those stupid chicken-woman. Not important), driving, we had all driven down from Camp into New York. I couldn't help thinking about Percy's message. He seemed different. His face was red, but not from anger, embarrassment, exercise, etc. He just looked red, like his skin had decided to be a few shades redder today. He was also panicky, which, combined with his meeting place at the foot of Olympus, I did not see as a good sign.

Finally, the doors slid open. We poured out into midtown traffic, and hurriedly stepped onto the pavement. Percy was standing there, and his redness had died down, now looking like he'd just stepped under a hot shower. He was doing a one over of everyone here. I looked around as well. I was one of the first into the vans, being with Chiron and Annabeth when Percy's message arrived, so didn't see who had come, but I guessed that everyone had, as that's what Percy asked for. Pollux, Silena Beauregard, Connor and Travis Stoll, Michael Yew, Jake Mason, Katie Gardner and Annabeth, all together with nearly every one of their siblings. I frowned. Clarisse, or any Ares camper for that matter, wasn't here. I saw Percy look at us all, and knew what he was thinking. Annabeth had told me what they had discussed during the meeting I'd left after punching Michael: There was a spy among us. But if we mistrusted everyone, we'd all die; I just waited for Percy to speak. Annabeth had walked forward and started to talk with Percy. He finally turned to the rest of us, and said,

"Thanks for coming here, everyone. Chiron, after you."

He had gestured the centaur, who was currently in wheelchair form, but Chiron just smiled.

"I came merely to wish you luck, my boy. I make it a point to never visit Olympus without summons."

Percy looked confused. "But you're our leader."

Chiron shook his head, still smiling.

"I am your teacher, your trainer. That is not the same thing. I will go gather what allies that can be gathered. It may not be too late to call for my brother centaurs for help. You called the campers here, Percy. You are the leader."

He seemed lost, and startled. I frowned, then spoke up.

"Speak for yourself. I do my thing."

I was grinning; it was joke, and Percy seemed more relaxed, smiling, but the rest of the campers had mixed reactions, between glaring at me, and smiling like I was a doofus. Percy breathed in, then exhaled.

"Ok. Something bad is going to happen by tonight. Some kind of trap. We've got to get an audience with Zeus and convince him to defend the city. Remember…no is not an answer."

We all did nothing. Really not much to add to that. I was waiting for him to continue, but he made Mrs. O'Leary stay with Argus, Chiron had a small word, and I turned to see a familiar face looking at me, waiting for me to turn around.

"What do you think's going to happen?"

I studied Noti's face. She was maybe 14? Capable, but younger than me by about 3 years. And she looked ready. I shrugged, not sharing my actual thoughts.

"No idea. Knowing Kronos, something that sucks balls."

She grinned, then trudged off. Percy had started to walk towards the Empire State Building. I caught up as we headed inside.

"Hey."

"Hey."

We stayed silent for a while, then I asked.

"What do you thinks going to happen?"

Percy said nothing, because he had to address the guard behind the desk, who held the key to Olympus. The guy looked up at us.

"School group? We're nearly closed."

Percy just replied, "No. Six-hundredth floor."

He started looking at the group of 41 or so demigods. His eyes were pale blue, and his head didn't have a hair on it, but he looked human enough. He certainly noticed our weapons, so he could see through the Mist.

"There is no six-hundredth floor, kid. Move along."

Percy scowled then leaned across. I could hear him, but other than the guard, no one else did,

"Forty demigods attract an awful lot of monsters. You want us to hang around a bit? Start a new visitor base?"

He stopped, then hit a buzzer, opening a security gate.

"Make it quick."

I frowned, then said,

"You really don't want us to go through the metal detectors."

He nodded, then said,

"Elevator on the right. I guess you know where you're going."

Percy tossed him a drachma, which I wouldn't have done, then marched on. As the first load of demigods piled into the Elevator, he turned to me and whispered,

"I think it's Hyperion."

I stared at him. How the fu…He saw my expression.

"I had a dream."

I nodded. Dream buddies it is then. I whispered back,

"Same. It's worse."

He looked at me like I was crazy.

"Worse! Than a Titan! What could possibly be worse?!"

I nodded grimly, replying,

"How about three Titans? Excluding dear old dad."

Percy stared at me; mouth open.

"Wha…How do you…you have to be mistaken. Three Titans?!"

"Yeah. Hyperion, like you said, and his brothers Krios and Koios."

Percy was speechless. He clearly couldn't process this into a plan that would remotely deal with three Titans. Four, actually, counting Kronos. He nodded back to me, but I wasn't done.

"Also, the Minotaur is back."

Percy threw his hands up in the air, accidently hitting a camper in front of him. Hastily muttering an apology, he glared at me.

"Did your dream tell you anything else! Why did yours suck so much!"

I shrugged, deciding to keep the bodiless voice to myself.

"Don't know."

He stayed silent, well, I was grinding my teeth at Apollo's choice of elevator music. I officially hate the Bee Gees from now on. When we arrived up onto the streets of Olympus, it was entirely empty. I looked around. I had only seen it once before. Granted, I had left quickly, but it had seemed so alive. Now, the shops were closed, the parks empty. A saw a lone muse on a park bench absent-mindedly strum on a flaming lute. A out of tune chord rang out, making me wince. A cyclops was sweeping the street by an uprooted tree, and I saw a minor godling sitting on a balcony above us. He made eye contact with me, then quickly ducked inside, closing his shutters. We were closer to the Throne of the gods. I turned. The second party had caught up, and turning around, I saw Percy and Annabeth talking ahead. It made me wish Thalia was here. Zoe and her hunters were probably not even in America. We passed under giant marble statues of the gods, and slightly further forward, I saw some weird flashing. Something blue was fizzing towards Olympus. I heard someone cry out,

"What's that?"

Everyone else had turned. After a few minutes, the blue light, which looked like many fireworks, just fizzed out of existence, having done nothing. We all frowned. Then turned back the palace. I was just wondering who would open the doors, as they needed a god, when I saw they were wide open. No one was guarding Olympus. The room, if it was allowed to be called that (It was as large as Madison Square Garden), was empty except for a middle-aged woman and a snake-bull. The Ophiotaurus, dubbed Bessie, swam happily in her in house-sized floating bubble. Percy said hello, and it mooed in return, but I was more focused on the woman. She stood by the hearth at one end of the Throne Room, poking at the flames with a long stick. I saw they were the same as the flames at Camp. The fire changed colour slightly. This had to be Hestia. She looked around 40, and dressed in a simple brown dress. I politely nodded, and she returned the gesture, smiling, before turning to Percy.

"Hello again, Percy Jackson. You and your friends are welcome."

Percy looked around, and saw the goddess. He bowed, saying,

"Lady Hestia."

Everyone else followed in his example, bowing. Hestia seemed to glance at me. I hadn't bowed, but she didn't even linger on me longer than a normal glance. Her eyes, and I started, having just seen them, glinted. They were flames, like Ares', but while Ares had wild flames, vicious and untamed, Hestia's looked more like burning coals, feeling me with comfort and warmth just looking into them. She spoke to Percy again.

"I see you went through with the plan. You bare the Curse of Achilles."

My eyes went wide, and I stared at Percy. Now, I don't know what that actually was, but judging from Hestia's serious tone, and my knowledge of Achilles, I knew it was something big. The other campers had started muttering.

"You must be careful. You gained much on your journey. But you are still blind to the most important truth. Perhaps a glimpse is in order."

Before I could even mentally scold the god's and goddess's apparent inability to just tell us something when they want us to learn, Percy collapsed. Annabeth cried out and rushed forward, but she barely reached him when he opened his eyes again. His voice sounding croaky, he muttered,

"How long was I out?"

I frowned, and so did Annabeth. She replied,

"You weren't out at all. You just collapsed, then woke up instantly."

Percy seemed surprised, but stood, turning back to Hestia.

"Um, Lady Hestia. We've come on urgent business. We need to see…"

But another voice cut him off. We all turned as it said,

"We know what you need."

But no one was there. Then a god shimmered into existence next to Hestia, and we all looked back. Looking mid-twenties, curly salt-and-pepper hair, and weird elfish features. He wore a military pilot's flight suit, with tiny birds' wings flapping around in his helmet and his black leather boots. Under his arm, was a long staff, entwined with two living snakes.

"I will leave you now."

Hestia bowed to the newcomer, then vanished. Looking closely at the god, I knew why she wanted to leave. Hermes did not look happy. He completely ignored the rest of the campers, saying,

"Hello Percy."

I noticed he was glaring at Percy, but I wasn't sure if was just glaring, and happened to be looking at Percy. The son of Poseidon bowed awkwardly.

"Lord Hermes."

Strange hissing sounded out, and I stared at the snakes. Looking at Percy, he seemed to understand them, because he said,

"Hello George. Hello Martha.

George and Martha? Really? Whatever I don't really care. Percy looked back at Hermes and said,

"Um, Hermes. We need to talk to Zeus. It's important."

Hermes' eyes grew cold. "I am his messenger. What is your message?"

Percy shifted slightly, then turned to the rest of the demigods, me included.

"You guys. Why don't you do a sweep of the city. Check the defences. See who's left on Olympus. Meet Annabeth and me back here in thirty minutes."

Silena looked confused. "Why?"

Annabeth rushed on. "That's a good idea. Connor and Travis, you two lead."

Now that wasn't good idea, but the two seemed happy about it, and ushered everyone but me out. Percy scowled at me, and I just stared back, face completely blank. I noticed Annabeth glaring as well. I turned to Hermes, and the god also wanted me gone, by the look on his face. I just put a face of determination on, clearing challenging the three of them. Make me. Percy and Annabeth sighed, but now I know that Hermes was glaring at me, not just in my direction. Annabeth spoke up,

"My lord. Kronos is going to attack New York. You must suspect that. My mother must have foreseen it."

Hermes looked exasperated. "Your mother."

He scratched his back with the caduceus, and I could hear George and Martha in my head now, muttering,

"Ow, ow, ow."

The god continued. "Don't get me started on your mother, young lady. She's the only reason I'm here. Zeus didn't want anyone to leave the front line. But your mother kept pestering him, 'It's a trap, it's a diversion', blah, blah, blah. But Zeus wasn't about to let his number-one strategist leave his side when battling Typhon. So, naturally, he sent the expendable one."

He gestured happily to himself. I frowned.

"It is a trap! I saw what's coming in a dream! Is Zeus blind!"

Thunder boomed overhead.

Hermes gazed at me. "I'd watch the comments, demi-titan. Zeus is neither hearing-impaired, or blind. He has not left Olympus completely defenceless."

Percy butted in,

"But those blue lights…"

Hermes interrupted.

"Yes, yes. I saw them. Some mischief by that insufferable goddess of magic, Hecate, I'd wager, but you may have noticed they aren't doing any damage. Olympus has strong magical defences. Besides, Aeolus, the god of the winds, has sent his most powerful minions to guard the citadel. No one save the gods can approach Olympus from the air. They would be knocked out of the sky."

Percy coughed, and Hermes looked at him.

"What about that materialising/teleporting thing you guys can do?"

"That is a form of air travel as well, Jackson. Very fast, but wind gods are faster. No, if Kronos wanted to attack Olympus, he'll have to march through the entire city with his army, and take the elevators! Can you see that?"

Yeah, Hermes was right. I could just imagine the Minotaur's bull head scrunched to his chest by the elevator roof, and a bunch of Dracanae bobbing their heads unknowingly to 'Staying Alive'. I spoke up, finally.

"Why don't just some of you come back? Surely Kronos is as powerful as Typhon?"

Hermes shook his head, impatient.

"No, Half-Blood."

I noticed he wouldn't call me by my name. He probably still didn't want me here. Or maybe read my mind and wasn't happy with the many ways I had imagined killing his son/my dad, Kronos.

"In the old days, Olympus was almost overthrown by Typhon. He is the husband of Echidna…"

I had to hold in a hiss, and Percy also winced. Hermes noticed and nodded, hoping we'd understand, before continuing,

"...and the father of all monsters. We can never forget how close he came to destroying us all…how he humiliated us! We were even more powerful back in the old days. Now, especially with Poseidon fighting his own war, Hades doing nothing, and Demeter and Persephone following his lead, it will take all our remaining forces to oppose the storm giant. We cannot spare anyone, nor wait till he gets here. We have to fight him now. And we're making progress."

Percy looked sceptical. "Progress? He nearly destroyed St. Louis."

"Yes. But he only destroyed half of Kentucky."

I wasn't really sure if that was a good thing.

"He's slowing down. Losing power."

I wanted to point out the obvious fault in that, but Hermes didn't seem to be telling us more than convincing himself. Annabeth spoke again,

"Please, Hermes. You said my mother wanted to come. Did she give you a message for us?"

The god looked bitter. "Messages. It'll be a great job, they said. No effort, lots of worshippers. No one cares what I have to say. It's always other people's messages."

I was going to reply 'Yep, get on with it', but looking at his face, I decided I'd be more help in this war fully functional instead of being a pile of ash. Annabeth was doing her 'big pleading grey eyes' thing. I have no idea how that worked; one moment deadly stare, next and adorable 'Puss in Boots' stare.

"Hmph. Your mother said to warn you that you are on your own. You must hold Manhattan without the help of the gods. As if I couldn't tell you that myself. Why they pay here to be the wisdom goddess…"

I frowned. "Wait, someone pays you to be a god?"

He looked pissed at being cut off.

"It's a figure of speech!"

Annabeth hurriedly asked,

"Anything else?", while glaring at me.

"She said you should try plan twenty-three, and that you would know what that meant."

I watched Annabeth's face pale. Clearly 'Plan Twenty-Three', isn't a popular plan in the strategist's general repertoire of useful plans journal. Hermes turned to Percy.

"Last thing. She said to tell Percy: 'Remember the rivers.' And, um…something about staying away from her daughter."

I barely stopped a snicker as the two blushed deep scarlet.

"Thank you, Hermes."

I could tell Annabeth was nervous.

"And I…I wanted to say…I'm sorry about Luke."

Boom. Hermes switch just got flipped. The atmosphere instantly changed. Hermes' glare hardened; Annabeth gulped; I stood there silent, and Percy looked half annoyed, half worried for Annabeth.

"You should've left that subject alone."

Annabeth stepped back slightly. "Sorry?"

"SORRY doesn't cut it!"

I saw the snakes curl toward the caduceus, which shimmered, and changed into something that looked a lot like a high-voltage cattle rod.

"You should have saved him when you had the chance."

Hermes was growling.

"You were the only one who could've."

Percy, being Percy, stepped between them, retorting,

"What are you talking about? Annabeth didn't…"

"Don't defend her Jackson!"

Hermes had pointed the cattle prod at Percy. My had immediately to my keyring. It hummed slightly under my hand, ready to be released.

"She knows exactly what I'm talking about!"

Hand still on my sword, I rounded on Hermes.

"Maybe you should blame yourself! If you gods actually acknowledged the existence of your kids!"

Hermes glared at me with such venom, I was convinced I was about to explode.

"Shut up. You didn't even know my son, you pathetic, arrogant little Titan-spawn."

My hand shot around my keyring, and it immediately elongated into my 1.2 metre katana. I raised it, fairly certain I was about to die, and replied, calmly,

"Titan-spawn? Say that again, I dare you. I don't need to know your son, Lord Hermes…"

I said 'Lord', like it was an insult,

"…All I need to know is he surrendered to Kronos. So, it's either his fault, or yours. Pick one, you coward, and stop blaming other people."

My eyes flared gold, and Hermes' matched in silver. His next trick, I couldn't copy; he grew to over three feet, and his cattle prod crackled with energy. Just before I became smudge on the floor, the snakes seemed to whisper something in his ear. Hermes, to my surprise, smirked. He shrunk, then looked at me.

"Well. It looks like the Fates hate you. It's not time for you to die right now."

His whole body flashed gold, then returned to normal.

"But of you ever, speak to me like that again…"

I had just been told I had a 'Fates Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card', so replied,

"Yes, I'm sure you'll spank me very hard with your staff. Don't you have a war to fight."

His face actually morphed, looking more monstrous than I'd seen him before. He vanished, but just before he disappeared, an invisible force slammed into me, and I flew backwards into the wall on the opposite of the Throne Room. I had just enough time to think of switching to my armour as I was slammed into the wall, my head snapping back, and the metal on my helmet clanking against the stone. Percy and Annabeth ran over as I stood up, shaking my head slightly. Annabeth looked shocked and angry, while Percy looked shocked, however, he was grinning.

Before I could respond, Annabeth had punched me square in the face. My head slammed back into the stone wall behind me and I cried out. She started yelling at me.

"What the hell were you doing! TRYING to die!"

I clutched my bleeding noise, keeping my armour on, just in case.

"He insulted me!"

Annabeth screamed in anger, then raised her hand to my face again. I flinched away as she yelled,

"HE'S A GOD! He can do WHATEVER HE WANTS!"

I finally had the gall to smile.

"Apparently, he can't kill me, so…"

Annabeth actually tugged my hair, as Percy laughed at my brave stupidity. The daughter of Athena rounded on me again.

"That's because the Fates hate you! How the hell did you piss off…the fucking MOIRAI!"

I swallowed, then said,

"That's um. That's a funny story, actually."

Annabeth fumed.

"Really?! Why don't you regale us with the tale of your supreme idiocy?"

I opened my mouth, but I didn't really want to tell the them the story of how I completely reversed time. It was kinda like a thing between me and Thalia, how I'd tried so hard to save her life, I'd disregarded the ancient laws of the universe. So, I closed my mouth and shook my head. Annabeth stared at me, open-mouthed in shock, and Percy roared with laughter, gasping out,

"Dude! You are dead!"

Annabeth's voice was deadly calm. "No?"

I nodded, then walked out of the Throne Room, leaving a speechless, furious Annabeth, and a son of Poseidon, gasping for breath. Now, knowing Annabeth rather well, I knew that if she was angry, no one was allowed to be happy around her. And sure enough, without me to have a go out, I heard,

"Shut up Percy! What are you laughing at?!"

Ringing from inside. I burst out laughing as the laughter stopped, and Percy obviously realised I'd just played him.

"Wha…? Oi! Fayden!"

Before I could get all the humour out of the situation, Connor ran up, and said, hurriedly,

"You need to see this. Where's Percy and Annabeth."

I gestured behind me and he ran over, while I headed to where the other campers were leaning over a guardrail on the edge of the mountain. Binoculars, like for tourists lined the entire rail. Every one had a camper peering through it. I jogged over, and leaned over. From up here, I could see everything. The East River and Hudson flowing the shape of Manhattan, the lights of the skyscrapers, the giant rectangular expanse of Central Park, dark with no mad-made light. Everything seemed normal, but it wasn't. Even at night, I should have heard millions of voices, and cars driving everywhere. The hum of a giant, living city. It was deadly silent. It should never be this quiet.

But it was.

I looked around, and grasped an empty pair of binoculars. In the streets below, all the cars had stopped. Pedestrians were lying on the ground, or curled up, as if they'd suddenly dropped. All of New York had decided to stop everything and pass out.

I heard Silena gasp as she looked through, then, in awe, ask me,

"Are they dead? Fayden?"

I felt the same as when solid gold had coated me on Mount Othrys two years ago. Annabeth had told me the prophecy that involved Percy:

A half blood of the eldest gods

Shall reach sixteen against all odds

And see the world in endless sleep

The Heroes soul, cursed blade shall reap

A single choice shall end his days

Olympus to preserve, or raze

I was drawn to one particular line: And see the world in endless sleep. I thought back to my one encounter with Morpheus, trying to steal Apollo's horse, Pyrois. He had wanted me asleep during the war. Apparently, he had wanted everyone to be asleep during the war.

"Fayden?"

Silena had put her binoculars down, and stared at me. I saw Percy and Annabeth look through the binoculars themselves. Percy made angry noises to himself. I swallowed, then looked at the daughter of Aphrodite.

"They aren't dead. Morpheus as put the entire island of Manhattan to sleep. Kronos' invasion has started.

The Battle for Manhattan has started! Yeah! Yes, I know. Quite a lot of the lines and stuff was copied, but I wasn't feeling particularly creative, so bite me. This fanfic's almost done! . I'm not sure if I want to take a break from Fanfiction and write an actual book, which I have the plans for, or just completely finish Fayden's story, in Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo, before writing something else. You guys tell me how much you want Fayden in Heroes of Olympus and I'll decide if I'll start the moment this has finished.