The end of the Battle of the Labyrinth is approaching. I've had it on my desk for weeks now for references, and I can finally put it away!
…Then
Then grab the next one…
Writing is hard.

I'm pretty sure this is a dream. I feel great, for one. I recently died, so 'feeling great' probably isn't one of the things that I'll be feeling. That and I can fly. And Chiron is a half cow instead of horse. Maybe that was more weight…you know, as proof goes. I soared over a perfect Camp Half-Blood. I could tell it wasn't the present. It was also a dream, so…irrelevant. Still…something seemed off. Everything was too perfect. I looked down at myself, and saw why I could fly. My body was a golden ethereal ghost, like when I turned back time on Mount Othrys last year. But my surroundings weren't frozen. It was as if I was a ghost. I walked up to a camper. I didn't recognise him, but I said,

"Hey. What's up?"

Simple introduction. The guy completely ignored me, as if I wasn't there. I stood right in front of him and waved. Right, no one is that good at ignoring. I put my hand through his face. Nothing. I was a ghost. Thinking back to when this happened before, I had merged with my body, ergo, I needed to find it. Why, I have no idea. It was a dream. But I felt a need, as if it might not be a dream. The second I floated above the ground, however, it latched onto to me. I struggled wordlessly, surprised it could touch me. A tendril of dirt had wrapped around my leg, and it was dragging me back to the ground. I stopped moving. It wouldn't work, and I was slowly sinking to the floor. The moment my foot touched the ground, the dirt released me. I shook it slightly, then took a steady step. Nothing. I walked maybe four steps, before freezing. A massive noise had shaken my eardrums. It sounded like someone inhaling, but it was much too loud. I waited. A second noise sounded out. Exhaling. Something huge, was breathing. I spun around. The noise kept filling my head; I couldn't think. Then my feet moved slightly.

"What the…"

The thing inhaled…and the ground moved. Exhale. The earth seemed to relax.

"The earth is breathing?!"

Then, if I wasn't already a ghost, I would've died of a heart attack. A woman spoke, and the echoing, omnipotent voice seemed to come from underground.

"Yes. The earth is very much alive, little hero."

I wasn't aware of it, but I think I was sweating…or at least, the ghost equivalent.

"I…am resting. But not for long. If my son fails to kill you, well…your life won't be fun. I'd let him. After all, I don't like killing family unless it's necessary…grandson."

I was shaking slightly. My ethereal form kept shuddering into multiple forms, with other copies of my arms moving, shifting out of focus.

"Who…"

I didn't need to swallow…well, I couldn't…but I wanted to.

"…Who are you?"

The woman seemed to laugh. I finally noticed what she meant by 'resting'. Her voice, however powerful or echo-y, seemed slurred, like when you try and talk after just waking up.

The voice didn't answer. In fact, as I shifted my feet under me, the ground seemed more solid…less 'megalomaniac woman lives in me'. Then everything went black, and I woke up.

The first thing that I noticed. Thalia was still sleeping on me. If memory serves, she hasn't moved much. My shirt felt crack, like when something gets wet, then dries naturally. Well, there's no like about it. Looking at Thalia's closed eye's, the red skin around them, it looked like she ran out of tears. The infirmary was empty, and I looked around. My movement seemed to make Thalia stir, and she murmured,

"Go away. I'm sleeping."

I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing. The noise caused another mumble.

"Shut up Fay. I'm trying to go to…"

Then her eyes snapped open. She stared into my brown and golden ones with her electric blue irises. Then I was squeezed so tight I couldn't breathe. She had hugged me so tight; I think she feared that if she let go, I'd sink back through the floor into the underworld. She stayed like that for at least half an hour. I was still drowsy, so it didn't seem that long. Finally, she raised her head, and her face showed pure happiness. It was like Eutychia had possessed her.

"Fay."

That was it. My name. Half of my name. And I hugged her back. I sat up, pushing her slightly back so I had some room, and hugged her. As I pressed my head against her shoulder, I realised she wasn't wearing her hunter's parka. Why? After another short while, I pulled away, and stared at her. She suddenly turned red, and coughed awkwardly. Looking away, I saw her almost have a mental conversation with herself. Her expressions changed multiple times. I touched her arm.

"Thals?"

She looked back at me, blushing furiously. Then she spoke.

"I…I have something to say."

I nodded my head as a gesture to continue, still very confused.

"I…like you, Fay."

I frowned. "Yeah. I know. We're best friends."

She laughed slightly, and I realised where she was going with this. She spoke again.

"No, you idiot. I mean…I like you. I…I love you. Happy?"

I stared at her. For at least thirty seconds, I just stared at her. Her face had gone so red she looked like a lobster.

"Uh…"

Very smooth Fayden. Very smooth. Thalia suddenly stopped smiling. She looked depressed. She opened her mouth to say something,

"Its ok. Forget I said anyt…"

But I cut across her.

"I love you to."

She froze. A massive smile had stretched across her face. Then she lunged at me. However, the second our lips touched; everything went away. I hadn't felt her lips on mine. I hadn't tasted whatever her lips were like. I opened my eyes, and Thalia was asleep on my chest.

I stared. I tried to touch my lips, but my arm was pinned by the daughter of Zeus. I stared at her. She was in her hunters garb this time. Was it another dream? It had to be. Wait. Was this? I managed to move my hand, and pinched my leg as hard as I could. I yelped slightly, but I felt the pain. I was awake. The noise had woken the real Thalia. She stirred slightly, and looked up at me. I smiled down. Then my head smacked back into my pillow, pain exploding in my nose. She had headbutted me!

"Ow!"

Then arms had gripped my side and she was hugging me again. Yep. I'm awake. It's the real Thalia. She muttered something that I just caught.

"Don't you ever do that again."

I laughed. "Yep. Warning noted. Don't ever die again. Check."

I felt Thalia blush against my chest, and she looked up. I brushed a stray piece of hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. I was expecting some more blushing, but she just stared at me.

"Really Fay? The hair behind the ear thing?"

I snorted at her response, but realised her ears had got redder. She sat up, now sitting on my lap. I coughed slightly, then said,

"So…how long have I been out?"

She shrugged. "I have no idea. I've been…"

She blushed furiously. I don't think that girl can get any redder. She coughed.

"Asleep. I was asleep."

I raised my eyebrows. Oh yes. I'm teasing her. She looked away, then glanced at me. I was smiling mischievously, and my eyebrows were still raised.

"Ok fine! Yes, I fell asleep on you! I was worried. You had just died! Nico even confirmed it. You were…dead. He had to…"

But she had stopped, choking. Wow. So, she did still have tears left. I sat up, coming up right next her. I brushed away the tear, and said,

"Hey. I'm fine."

I patted my body. "See? Perfectly solid and alive."

However, I couldn't help remember my dream. The one where I was a ghost, you idiots. I was trying to permanently ignore the other one. Thalia tried to laugh, but I could tell it was fake.

"Thals."

I said it with such force, she was almost forced to look at me.

"I'm fine. There are probably wounded from the fight, yeah? We need to go help them."

She smiled. "Honestly. You just died, and you're thinking of others."

I frowned. "Uh no. Keep crying over me. I'm amazing. But your tears are annoying now."

She burst out laughing. Her cries of joy made her sink further onto the bed, and she collapsed next to me, still giggling. I smiled.

"Well well well. The great, vicious, Thalia Grace is giggling."

She suddenly stopped. Raising a finger to me face, she started to warn me.

"If you tell anyo…"

I waved her hand from my face. "As quiet as the dead…literally"

She laughed, but said, "Don't joke about that."

Then she sat up. "Although, come to think of it, you have many people who want to check on you."

I raised my eyebrow. "I hope I don't have to let all of them sleep on me. I want to get up some time this week."

She blushed. "Shut up Fay."

Grinning, I swung myself off the bed. My feet touched the ground, and they felt ok. So, I wasn't out for that long. At least long enough to be weak enough to not walk. I stood, and realised I wasn't wearing my hoodie. The plain black T-shirt under it cut off halfway down my bicep, which, if I do say so myself, with Thalia as an eye-witness, judging from her pointed stares, I was pretty ripped. I looked around, and saw it on a hook over by the door. As I pulled it over my head, I heard movement, and when I could finally see again; Thalia had got up and tried to smooth out the massive creases on her clothes where she was sleeping on me. I watched her tighten her laces, and couldn't help watch her lips. That dream. I'm going to give Aphrodite a goddess-sized smack upside the head when I see her. I'd sort of subconsciously noticed this, but as I stared at her, I saw just how perfect she was. You know when girls cover themselves in makeup to make themselves prettier? They use lipstick to make their lips rosier, blush to make their cheeks rosy, gloss to make their hair shine. I knew Thalia used none of it, and she had the rosiest red lips, without it being synthetic. They weren't bright at all, but they were so…makeup-y, but without makeup. I'm really struggling to describe her. Her cheeks had a slight pink tint, perfectly naturally. Her hair was glistening like she had just washed it. The few freckles across her face seemed to make her look younger, which was great. I noticed that she was still biologically 15, technically. A few days from 16, but whatever. I was solidly 17, the same age chronologically, but I was a lot taller now. She coughed. I started, then blushed slightly as she said,

"What? You've been staring at me for like five minutes."

Her tone of voice sounded hopeful, but also as if she knew exactly what I was thinking about. So, I coughed and said,

"You've got dirt on your face."

Then walked out. I heard her laugh at my rubbish distraction and she followed me out into the camp. It was the middle of the day. Around 12:48, to be exact. The sun was beaming down on a half-broken camp. Outside the Amphitheatre, the unmistakeable signs of funeral pyres having burnt lay around. I felt sick and sad at the number that had been set out. Some cabins had been destroyed slightly, the walls of the Dionysus cabin caving in slightly. Dirt, blood and ash seemed to be covering the floor outside the woods, and travelling in, but campers were there, sweeping up. The broken defences and traps were being dismantled by the Hephaestus and Hermes kids, Beckendorf leading them. I saw Percy working with the nymphs in the canoe lake to try and wash out the dirt and blood off, well…everything. Annabeth looked like that annoying teachers pet that everyone hated, walking around and giving people jobs. At least she was actually helping them do it as well. I looked sideways, and saw Chiron outside the Big House, I wheelchair form, talking with Mr. D. Campers ran all over the place, jumping between tasks. I even saw the hunters helping, which surprised me. I guess they felt like they needed to…because they fought in the battle. I saw Zoe back up to full health. She was wearing a new pair of joggers to replace the old ones, and she was ordering the other female warriors to do different things. She looked up, and even from across camp, she saw me and Thalia. She waved, muttered something to another hunter, and sprinted over.

"Fayden!"

She hugged me, which shocked me. My arms stayed limp by my side, something she noticed.

"Is something up?"

I shuffled slightly. "Um. I'm kinda, not here."

She frowned and laughed at the same time. "Uh…what?"

I shrugged, then explained, "It's weird. I'm…meh. I really can't explain it. Everything is so… there. It's just everywhere."

Thalia laughed and slapped my back. "Yep. There's Fay for you. Everything is too everywhere."

I grinned, and Zoe smiled. "I have no idea what you mean, but sure."

She fell in beside me, and started telling me everything that had happened since I died. I really can't say that sentence that casually can I? The life of a Half-Blood. I saw Percy sweep up a pile of unrecognisable mess in a wave of water, then he saw me.

"Fayden! Welcome back to the land of the living!"

I waved at him from a distance, and when I saw him walk over, I turned to Thalia.

"Do have to do this with everyone?"

She laughed and punched my arm, and Zoe, who had heard, grinned, replying,

"Human interaction? It sucks doesn't it."

I frowned at her. "No wonder you loved living with Artemis. I hate people checking up on me you big psycho."

She opened her mouth, then closed it again; I laughed, pushing her shoulder. She stumbled sideways, then glared at me, but she was smirking. Percy caught up and clasped my shoulder.

"Dude. I can't believe you had the nerve to actually die. We were all so worried! Especially, well…"

He trailed off, smirking at Thalia, who was almost clutched to my arm, she was so close. She blushed and I laughed, also grinning at Thalia, then saying

"Yeah, I know…how much people missed me…"

I glanced at her again and she quickly changed the subject.

"So…where's Nico? I want to thank him for saving…Fay, here."

I frowned; she had paused before my name. I had a funny feeling she was going to say something else, but she didn't stumble on a word, so I have no idea. Instead, I nodded, saying,

"Yeah, I wanna thank the little emo as well."

And then he appeared right next to me. I jumped and grabbed my chest.

"Jesus. I'm gonna tie a little bell around your neck."

He smiled at me, and said, rather seriously,

"How are you? I've never done that. I wasn't sure I could do that."

"I'm…fine."

Nico frowned and turned to Thalia. She sighed and waved her arms, saying,

"He says everything is too everywhere."

She shook her head like I was an idiot, but Nico frowned, saying to me,

"Like you're picking up a new board game, but its really hard and complicated, so you just want to go back to playing Snap with a pair of cards?"

Zoe frowned. "That seems oddly specif…"

But I interrupted her, crying, "Yes! Exactly like that!"

Zoe raised her eyebrows. "I stand corrected."

Nico seemed to sigh in relief. I noticed. "Is that a good thing then?"

The son of Hades nodded. "I guess. I haven't ever done that before. Being a ghost is really simple and relaxing, or at least, according to the ones I've talked to, so it makes sense that coming back to life would be the opposite."

I nodded, and stopped him from walking on, coming to a stop myself.

"Seriously, Nico. Thankyou. You didn't exactly save my life, but…you get the idea."

It was the first time I saw him smile with happiness. "Ha. Yeah, I get it. But, really…Thalia did most of it."

Thalia blanched. "Uh…since when?"

Nico sighed, like talking exhausted him, and explained.

"Right. When a soul leaves the body, it becomes almost blank. All your personality is still there and everything, but your have a burning desire to travel to the underworld for judgement. You don't even know it. You just travel there. You become conscious of your surroundings, and you become 'yourself', again, when you reach an entrance, like for example, Charon's entrance in LA. Right?"

I nodded. Nico continued.

"Right. However, Thalia was crying Fayden's name enough, or with enough lo…"

Thalia had blushed, glaring daggers at the son of Hades. He smirked, then corrected himself.

"With enough care, for Fayden's soul to kind of lose interest in going to the underworld. The part of you that remembered and cared for Thalia wanted to go back to your body. It happens all the time. All the stories that mortals have of bodies moving after death, is the soul trying to get back in the body. I bet you could do human things as a ghost, couldn't you?"

He nodded at me. I replied,

"Uh. Yeah. I could talk. I felt more solid than the other ghosts."

Nico nodded. "Exactly. That's because enough of your soul travelled back to hover around your body, wanting to see whoever you left behind. Thalia did almost everything. All that was needed after that was someone with a strong enough power over death to call your spirit actually into your body, instead of hovering around outside it."

I frowned. "Right. I think I get it. Without Thalia convincing my soul that going to the underworld would suck…you know…by crying my name,"

I nudged against her. She punched me, still blushing like mad. I continued,

"I wouldn't have even heard your voice. I would've sat in Charon's lobby like all the other ghosts."

Nico nodded. "Yeah."

He was back to short sentences. I think he spoke more then than he ever has. Zoe seemed to get it, but Percy looked confused. I swear to god Percy. Before he could open his mouth, I said,

"Right! Ariel aside, who's still as dense as the Dining Pavilion's pillars, anyone else got questions?"

Percy frowned. Then scowled. "Oi!"

We all burst out laughing. Except Nico. He frowned, then said,

"Yes, actually. While you were unconscious, it was actually your soul trying to get accustomed to being in a body again. Like it found an old video game and was trying to remember the controls. So…was it just black? Or did you…dream or something?"

Now it was my turn to blush. I was determinedly looking anyway other than Thalia. Zoe seemed to notice my red face, and where I wasn't looking, and frowned. All I could think about was Thalia saying she loved me and leaning in to kiss me, and I felt my face grow even redder. Nico coughed. I realised I hadn't answered, too caught up in my thoughts. I stuttered, then said,

"I…No. I didn't. The last thing I remember before waking up was…"

Nearly kissing Thalia. Shut up brain!

"…Talking to Charon. Then I woke up."

Now even Percy saw I was hiding something. Thalia opened her mouth to question my stutters and pauses, but I strode on, looking for my other friends. The message was clear: I'm not talking. I saw Annabeth shouting at Connor, I think, I couldn't tell, and then she strode off. Grinning, I turned to Percy, saying,

"So…Say hi to Annabeth after Camps up and running?"

He snorted, and nodded. "Yeah. Unless you want to sweep out the Amphitheatre."

I grinned, and tried to find the one other person I wanted to see.

"Clarisse is at the arena then?"

Percy nodded, then said,

"I've got to get going. Annabeth will kill me if I start slacking. Lucky bas…guy like you…if only I had died."

And with that, he walked off. Zoe was next.

"Yeah. I've got to make sure the hunters are packed up, ready to leave."

I froze. "Wait, leave?"

Zoe smiled sadly, getting my hidden message.

"Yeah. Artemis let us stay for the battle, but we have to go."

She turned to Thalia, who was still standing right next to me.

"And you. You need to get ready."

Thalia stuttered, looking up at me. "But…I…"

Zoe smiled, but her eyes looked like she was perfectly happy to put Thalia in detention. I have no idea what that means in the Hunt, but I don't want to know. Thalia did know, apparently, and scowled, sighing.

"Fine. Bye Fay."

She turned, and hugged me, almost breaking my ribs. With the last ebbs of oxygen, I replied.

"Bye Thals. See you soon?"

She broke free, and looked at Zoe. The lieutenant's face told her that the Hunt probably planned on a long break form Camp, but she had the graces to smile and say,

"Sure. See you Fayden."

Then they both walked off. Watching Thalia go, I felt like someone had removed my arm and run off with it, but maybe I was being a tad dramatic. I headed to the arena to find the girl I saved by killing myself, however accidental that had been. She saw me as I entered, and immediately sheathed her sword, running over. She threw herself into my arms. I was shocked. Did Clarisse just do that? Clarisse?!

"Uh. Who are you and where is Clarisse?"

She laughed, pulling away.

"Idiot. I can't believe you killed yourself to save me."

I shrugged. "It was that or your father kills me for letting you die."

Clarisse laughed, then pointed at her sparring partner. I looked over, and saw a large Hispanic dude twirling his sword, waiting for Clarisse to come back. I frowned. He looked familiar.

"Wait. Is that Chris? Rodriguez?!"

Clarisse looked like a high school girl. "Yeah! Dionysus healed him!"

She looked so happy, I smiled, and patted her shoulder. "That's great!"

I was glad to see her happy, but I was rather distracted. She noticed, then saw the hunters all moving about behind the arena. She 'ahhed', and said,

"The hunters leaving?"

I started. "Huh?"

She rolled her eyes. "Should I be more specific? Is Thalia leaving?"

I nodded, wordlessly. Clarisse shook her head.

"Honestly, dude. You suck at hiding your feelings. I'm positive Annabeth knows, and Percy's doubting it, but…"

I frowned, knowing perfectly well what she meant. My poke face sucked.

"Your poker face sucks Fayden."

Thanks Clarisse. The demigod continued.

"So…you like a hunter of Artemis? Risky."

"Clarisse, shut up."

She laughed wrapping her arm around my shoulder.

"Don't worry, Fayden. When Artemis tries to flay you alive, I'll be the first to watch and laugh."

"I feel so loved."

She kept on laughing, before saying, wide grin still on her face,

"Do you actually, like…like her."

I groaned. "Yes! Happy?"

Clarisse laughed and punched my shoulder. "Oh, you're so dead."

She noticed my unimpressed look, and tried something else.

"You know, she likes you as well. I can see it. I mean, she fell asleep on you."

My eyes snapped to hers. "Wait really?"

Clarisse doubled over in laughter. "Oh. My. God. You really fell for her, didn't you?"

"Shut up, Clarisse."

She stopped laughing, still smirking. "Seriously though, she likes you too."

I nodded. "Thanks."

I meant it. Until she replied.

"If only there wasn't a massive man-hating temperamental goddess in the way of your true love."

I sighed, then turned around. "Bye Clarisse."

Her laughter could be heard ringing across the arena as I walked off. I decided to check on Chiron, then I'd help tidy Camp.

And boom. My version of Battle of the Labyrinth is over. Next chapters will be The Last Olympian. Then this fanfic is over. Don't worry! Fayden will return in The Heroes of Olympus, but it'll be a different fanfic. And Trials of Apollo…well I haven't actually decided if he should be a secondary main character, or just like Leo or Percy, helping out for a bit because he's settled down. Let me know. I don't think he should be in all five. That's definite. But maybe he'll be in the last two or three. Or maybe the last one and the first one. Something like that. I don't like saying this but you guys are depressingly silent otherwise…Αναθεώρηση! Search it up. Then do it. Although it shouldn't be too difficult to deduce what I'm saying. Unless your like, really stupid or something…and I'll shut up now. Peace.