Hello guys, I really hope you enjoy this chapter- there's much more action and Percy is stepping up massively which will be important later, you shall all see.

"Zoe, you're injured. You're staying here to protect Bianca."

All eyes snapped to Percy, Thalia's almost narrowing, not distrustfully but thoughtfully, Annabeth was nodding, and Zoe, well Zoe looked incredibly annoyed.

"What do you mean?" Zoe straightened up, though she didn't move her hand from her side, "I am coming with you, I have to save Lad-"

"Zoe you're hurt." Percy's voice was sharp, "And Bianca is unconscious right now, do you really want to leave her here on her own at the mercy of Alabaster's army if they find her?" she demanded, "We can't afford to bring her with us, you know we can't, and you're the logical person to stay behind, we need everyone up there to be focused and you're hurt, if you come you with us then we'll be worrying about you."

"You will need me-if what we know is right then my father-"

"Your father will kill you. You told me that much-"

"Percy-"

"Zoe." Percy lurched forward, grabbing Zoe's hands, "You're strong and capable, no one will ever question that-and they'll never question your loyalty to Lady Artemis either but you're in no condition to fight anyone right now and someone needs to guard Bianca since she's knocked out."

"But-"

"Zoe please-"

"This is my quest-"

"I know." Percy's voice was soft, "Gods Zoe I know it's your quest but-what else would you suggest? Thalia and I are the powerhouses here, we're needed up there, and honestly right now who do you think would win in a fight, you or Annabeth?"

Zoe faltered, eyes flicking between the three other girls before landing on Bianca, "But-"

"Percy's right." Thalia's voice was soft but firm, "Zoe you know she is."

"You'll save her?"

"We will." Annabeth nodded, slinging her backpack off her shoulders and handing it over, "I have medical things in there-nectar and ambrosia, you need it more than we do right now."

Zoe closed her eyes-she looked kind of like she'd was sucking a lemon for a long moment before she opened them again and nodded. "I will defend Bianca. Percy, I place you in charge of this quest now. Rescue Lady Artemis, and your mother and the boy. Do whatever it takes." she looked down at their hands, "You are a true friend Persephone, and a true leader- 'tis only a shame that you refused to join the hunt."

Percy let go of Zoe's hands, drawing her into a hug, "We'll be back."

"I hope you're right."

Then Percy was turning to look at the others, "We don't know exactly what we'll find up there you guys-most likely Alabaster and Atlas but probably also an army of monsters. We need to be ready."

"Sounds like fun." Thalia gave a dangerous grin, her shield and spear suddenly at the ready.

"Good luck." Zoe's voice was tight, "All three of you."

"We'll be fine." Percy took a deep breath before she pulled back from Zoe and turned around, looking up at the peak of the mountain-and she could see ruins, blocks of black granite and marble as big as houses. Broken columns. Statues of bronze that looked as though they'd been half melted.

Annabeth grabbed her hand and squeezed tightly.

"The ruins of Mount Orthys."

"Let's go kick some Titan ass." Thalia declared, and Percy nodded, uncapping Riptide as Annabeth reached up, flicking her own locket open, armor forming around her as she drew her dagger.

Then they were all moving, Annabeth on Percy's right and Thalia on her left as they made their way up to the summit.

It didn't take them long to reach it, and when they did few yards ahead of them, gray clouds swirled in a heavy vortex, making a funnel cloud that almost touched the mountaintop, but instead rested on the shoulders of a twelve-year-old girl with auburn hair and a tattered silvery dress: Artemis, her legs bound to the rock with celestial bronze chains.

Percy let out a slow stunned breath at the sight-even if she'd known it was what they'd find-even if she'd known that was their plan. They had trapped Artemis under the sky, and Atlas was free.

It was a terrifying sight-Artemis was drenched in sweat-her expression pained. Percy had never really seen a goddess in pain before-the closest was Ares and he hadn't been that badly injured.

Percy gripped Riptide tighter, forcing back the urge to run forward, turning her head- and to the side were half a dozen dracaena bearing the golden sarcophagus of Kronos, and eleven skeletal warriors-and beside them were four other figures that made Percy's heart jump into her throat.

Atlas was tall, muscular with dark slicked-back hair, and grey eyes like stone, clad in a brown silk suit. He had the same regal expression as Zoe, except his was much more cruel.

Stood next to him was Alabaster.

Percy let out a slow unsteady breath, her eyes narrowing. He was clad in golden armor-Percy resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the showy nature of it, his brown hair swept up and away from his face. His nose was slightly crooked- Percy wondered which one of them had broken it, her or Annabeth. Either way there was a thrill of satisfaction at the sight.

And next to him-Percy's breath caught in her throat and Annabeth's grip on her hand tightened.

Next to him was Leo and her mom, both of them were cuffed, though her mom had managed to get her arms around Leo and was holding him close protectively, standing tall despite the blade pressed to her throat and the gag in her mouth. Leo had a streak of gray in his hair, though Percy couldn't see his face where it was pressed into her moms chest.

Their momentary advantage was lost a moment later- Artemis spotted them, and while she didn't make a sound her eyes widened in shock and concern, and both the General and Alabaster turned their gazes to look in the direction Artemis was looking, so Percy stepped forward, holding her head up high.

"Princess." Alabaster spoke up first, a gleam in his eyes, "I knew you'd come to me-though it would have been better if you came alone." and her mom was letting out a panicked muffled noise, shaking her head as her eyes filled with tears. "Where are the rest of your little band of heroes?"

"They'll be here soon." Thalia brandished her spear at him, "So don't get any funny ideas you little witch-"

"Let Miss Jackson and Leo go." Annabeth added-and Alabaster shot her an especially hateful glare.

"That would be the General's decision." Alabaster gave a small shrug, a slight smirk on his lips, "But really-I'm glad it's just you three-the two potential children of the prophecy and-" he sneered, "Little miss perfect-"

"Oh get over yourself." Annabeth sneered back at him, gripping the hilt of her dagger tightly as she let go of Percy's hand "This whole jealousy thing is out of hand."

"This is all unimportant." The General-Atlas, spoke. His eyes were flicking between Percy and Thalia. "The daughter of Zeus and the daughter of Poseidon-are you really all the gods have to send after me-and tell me, where's my foolish daughter-"

"Your daughter is far better and braver than you are." Percy surged forward, ignoring Annabeth and Thalia's hissed warnings.

"How amusing." Atlas laughed. "How very sweet, defending her-tell me did she die-I had hoped to kill her myself-"

"Percy-" Annabeth grabbed her arm, "Don't let him bait you."

"I know what I'm doing." Percy snapped, pulling her arm free, "You aren't going to touch her, not now, not ever. We're going to make sure you take up your old post-"

"I see why Torrington thinks that you're special, you certainly have spirit, and yet-" his gaze turned to Thalia, "The daughter of Zeus is older- so, the question now becomes, which one of you is it."

"It's Persephone. I've already told you." Alabaster's voice was sharp. "Princess-" his eyes were glued to Percy, "I know it's supposed to be you. You and me-you can feel it too can't you-"

"Can't say I can." Percy snapped, "I think I'd genuinely rather die."

"Please Percy. We know that you have a connection with the Ophitaurus-the manticore and Atlas believe it's following Thalia but I know it's you- we can summon it here. You can summon it here-"

He waved his hand, and next to him a pool of water appeared: a pond ringed in black marble, big enough for the Ophiotaurus.

"No." Thalia's voice was panicked, "Percy-"

"I'm not going to." Percy gave Thalia a reassuring look before she stepped forward, "Now let's be honest here-we all know that this is going to end in a fight so let's cut to the chase and get this over with."

"Perce, please it's not a fight you can win." Alabaster's voice was pleading, "Please princess, join me-together we could be so strong-look-"

He pointed toward the ocean, and Percy's heart fell. Marching up the side of the mountain, from the beach where the Princess Andromeda was docked, was a great army. Dracaenae and Laestrygonians, monsters and half-bloods, hell hounds, harpies, and other things that Percy didn't even recognise- hundreds of them, many more than she'd seen on board last summer. And they were marching toward them. In a few minutes, they would arrive.

Percy could hear Annabeth and Thalia's horrified gasps.

"This is only a taste of what is to come," Alabaster said. "Soon we will be ready to storm Camp Half-Blood. And after that, Olympus itself. All we need is your help. Percy please, I'm begging you-"

Percy turned her gaze to Annabeth and Thalia, both of whom looked horrified and incredibly grim, and they all nodded at each other.

"Never." Percys voice was firm. "Thalia, Annabeth-"

"There's worse ways to die." Thalia gave a tight smile, and Annabeth nodded.

"Together-"

"You two take Alabaster and his monsters. We need to do this before the army arrives-"

"But-"

"Percy what are you doing?" Alabaster demanded, "What-you can't actually be considering-"

And Alabaster didn't finish his sentence because Percy was charging Atlas-and out of the corner of her eye Percy saw Annabeth and Thalia rushing at Alabaster and the Dracaenae.

Percy knew what she was doing of course-knew that it was suicidally stupid-but after everything that had happened Percy didn't care anymore, if she had to die she'd die fighting, even if it was fighting a Titan she had no hopes of defeating-she hadn't stood much of a chance against Ares either and she'd beaten him.

She forced herself to ignore her mom and Leo's terrified screams as she sped towards Atlas, who laughed as she approached. A huge javelin appeared in his hands. His silk suit melted into full Greek battle armor. "Go on, then!"

Percy swung her sword, and Atlas knocked her aside with the shaft of his javelin. She flew through the air and slammed into a black wall. It wasn't Mist anymore. The palace was rising, brick by brick. It was becoming real.

Percy staggered to her feet, eyes flashing as she surged forward and Atlas' gloating laughter filled the air, "Foolish little girl! You think that you can defeat me as you defeated that petty war god? You think that you could stand a chance against me?"

Something about his words jarred Percy and the javelins point slashed toward her like a scythe. Percy raised Riptide, planning to cut off his weapon at the shaft, but her arm felt like lead. Her sword suddenly weighed a ton.

And she remembered Ares words-how he'd cursed her on that beach after she'd defeated him, throwing a tantrum like an angry child.

Her sword was failing her.

She dropped it, dropping and rolling, just barely avoiding the javelin that would have hit her and thrown her backwards, lurching to her feet, mind racing as Atlas surged towards her-her eyes flicked to the pool as she focused, drawing every drop of water from it-and just as she had with Ares she sent it straight at Atlas, splitting it in half, one half of the water encasing his feet and solidifying while the other half wrapped around his arms, hardening and forcing them to his side-though she knew it was only because she'd taken him by surprise that she'd managed that much.

Still, she knew even without her powers she didn't stand a chance against the Titan.

But a god might-her gaze was drawn towards Artemis and she was taking off towards the Goddess as the Titan bellowed in rage and fought to free himself from his restraints.

"Lady Artemis!" she skidded to a halt on her knees next to the goddess, "I can't fight Atlas but you can-"

"What- you cannot be serious child-" but Percy was already slipping her hand into her pocket-and sure enough Riptide was there, and she pulled out the pen, uncapping it and slicing through the chains holding the goddess.

"There's no time to argue it's a do or die situation Lady Artemis! Give me the sky and face Atlas!" Then Percy stepped next to her and braced herself on one knee—holding up her hands—and touched the cold, heavy clouds. For a moment, Artemis and Percy bore the weight together. It was the heaviest thing Percy had ever felt, as if she were being crushed under a thousand trucks. She wanted to black out from the pain, but she breathed deeply, closing her eyes and forcing herself to focus as Atlas broke free from the restraints now that her concentration was solely on the sky.

She met Artemis' stunned gaze for one brief moment and the the goddess slipped out from under the burden-and Percy was alone.