II.

Percy

There were too many casualties. Too many dead friends. I can't stand it. This war has taken too many lives. I have to end this.

"Thalia, we need to talk. We have to confront him. We should make our final stand at the gates of Olympus," I said.

"That might work Perce. It will be touch and go through. Do you have a plan for Typhon? And what about the army. Not even you can go through that," she replied.

"I will make do Thals. My father will help with Typhon, and Nico is trying to get his dad to come with the army of the dead. We have to hold. Tell the cabins to retreat to the Empire State Building. We will hold.

(45 minutes later)

Annabeth

"Percy!" I yelled. "It's Thalia. Sh- She saved me, took a knife in the neck. She... she is dead!" I did my best to look sorry.

Percy gasped. "No! She cant be... be dead. She is too strong to die now. We need her!" he teared up.

"Do... do you have her body? I want to bury her before we confront Kronos," he said after a pause.

"I brought the body with me. Here," I said, laying down the body bag from the back of our van.

Percy went over to her and undid the shroud around her face. It was covered in blood from her stab. He looked at the wound, and his eyes narrowed at the sight.

Shit. How could he know?

I brought my knife in a lethal arc, aiming for the back of his head. On instinct, he rolled out from under, kicking out at the same time, sending me stumbling. He drew Riptide, and I knew I couldn't win. But I could hold on for the moment. Percy lashed out with his sword, aiming for the inside of my thigh. I stepped back to dodge the blow, but it cut a thin gash down my leg. Just then, I saw Nico di Angelo step into the room. He saw Thalia's body and gasped, his message for Percy dying in his throat. I smirked. Unknowingly, he had given me the perfect opportunity. I stepped around Percy and threw my knife.

"Too late again, Percy. You will never be able to protect the ones you love. You are too foolish."

Nico cried out in pain as my knife stuck into his chest. Percy turned on me with newfound fervor. I knew he cared about the kid, but this was a surprise. All the better to rip him apart. He slashed quickly across my chest, and I knew he was done playing. I would be dead by the turn of the hour, but it didn't matter. Percy was hurting too much to win. I had played my part. He drew Anaklusmos back once more, and sliced through my throat. The last thing he said was "You won't kill anyone else."

Percy

After I killed Annabeth, I sprinted over to Nico. He was in bad shape. He was much paler than normal, and his eyes were closed. "Nico…" I spoke. "Can you hear me? Come on bro, do something!"

He didn't react.

I quickly checked his pulse and found it to be waning. I needed to heal him, and fast. I pulled a flask of nectar out of my bag and poured a little around the knife, letting it seep inside and staunch the bleeding. I summoned some water from the air and held it above the wound. I pulled the knife out and directed the water inside to clean the cut. Luckily, it missed most of the major organs, but it punctured a lung and severed one of his arteries. Not good.

Blood was flowing freely into his lung; I directed the water to close the block the hole and close the artery. I had minimal experience healing others with water, but something inside me knew what to do. I poured my power into the water, and it lit up with a soft green glow. I held it there for a couple of minutes until I was satisfied with the result. I quickly shaped the water into and icy needle and tube and injected it into my vein.

I created another needle and attached it to the first. I let my blood flow into Nico's veins and kept it for a minute or so. I hoped that the transfusion would be enough. I knew that my blood would match his, being an o-, but I had only made one transfusion before, saving Annabeth. I took the needles out and let the water heal my, then I healed him. "He should live, but it will be touch and go," I thought. I picked him up and walked to the van. I made a bed for him from water and channeled some power into it. Then I hopped into the driver's seat and drove to the Empire State Building.

Will

When the van pulled up outside, I thought that Annabeth and Thalia had returned from their preparations, but when Percy hopped out alone and made his way to the back, I knew something was up. He opened the van doors, and his face lit up with an ethereal glow. He gathered someone shrouded in water in his arms and walked toward the door, ignoring the others. Malcom gathered his wits and asked "Where are Thalia and Annabeth?"

Percy's answer shocked us. "They are both dead. I will explain more later, for now, we have a building to defend."

When he looked up, his eyes were much different than normal. Instead of the kind, cheery green they were normally, they were dark and hopeless. I had never seen him so broken. It was clear there was much he had left out.

I spoke up. "Who is that?"

"This is Nico, the Son of Hades. I did what I could, but I am not a healer. He lost a lot of blood. I gave him some of mine, but he is not waking up. I- I... I just hope he lives," his voice cracked. "I am going to take him up to Olympus, and find a spot near water. My blood in him should help him recover without me there. Then I am going to go kill Kronos."

"Alone?" I questioned. "Isn't he all Achillis'd up?"

"No, it wore off," Percy replied. Then he walked off. "By the way Will, I would appreciate it if you could be his caretaker. I know he wanted to talk to you, he might appreciate a friendly face.

I opened my mouth to say something, but I closed it, realizing that I wanted to get to know the son of Hades.

Percy walked away, and we milled around thinking on what he had said until he came back, fifteen minutes later.

Percy

As I arrived at the bottom of the building, I noticed the campers immediately stop talking when they noticed me.

"Alright guys. We have to win this last battle. This is Olympus's last chance. If we lose, there is no-one who will continue our fight. I can take the titans, and the majority of the army, but you need to kill the stragglers. Also, Apollo, Athena, Hephaestus and Hemes cabins need to set up traps around the entrance of the building, and near the elevator."

They nodded and immediately started to work. The four aforementioned cabins began to set up traps with Greek fire and spears. The others began suiting up for battle. I grabbed an extra sword so I could use two weapons as opposed to just Riptide. I strode out of the doors towards Kronos' marching army, confident that the others would be fine with the preparations. I knew they would get the job done. In the meantime, I needed to get towards the water so I could kill Kronos when the time came. I reached out to the river and gathered the water with my senses, drawing it towards me. I felt the river respond, and the water came swirling around me in a hurricane of water. I called on my power, and flew towards the enemy.

The enemy army was massive, with over 1000 monsters of all varieties. Leading the army, however was the problem, or should I say problems. Hyperion, Iapetus, and Kronos were leading the army. I could sense their power, and knew that I would have to split them up. I was confident in my ability to two v one Hyperion and Iapetus, but Kronos would be a problem. I sent a group of water automatons to occupy Kronos and closed in on Hyperion and Iapetus.

I hardened water around my body like armor and charged. My hurricane expanded and tore the monsters trying to reach us apart. I raised riptide to block a wild slash and reached out with the other sword, putting Hyperion on the defensive. Iapetus stabbed out, but I rolled under his strike, lashing at his legs with both swords, sending him stumbling. I quickly jumped up and kicked him square in the chest, and he fell down.

On instinct, I ducked and felt another slash fly over my head. Hyperion drew his sword back and lased upwards towards my chin. I called the water and flipped backwards away from his strike. As I landed, I hardened some water into an icy spear and drove it through Iapetus's leg. He cried in pain, and threw his spear. I ducked and kicked out his legs. Iapetus's spear Impaled his brother through the throat, Hyperion having been caught off guard. Hyperion slowly fell and dissolved, leaving only a downed Iapetus. I brought my swords in a graceful arc and chopped his head off.

Kronos had disabled three of the water soldiers, and was defending against the others with ease. I made the split-second decision to bring the water back to me, and added it to my armor. Kronos glared at me, and swung his scythe around, aiming for the back of my legs. I hopped over the gleaming blade and ran towards Kronos, swords drawn. He instantly converted his scythe into Backbiter, parrying riptide and dodging the other sword. He made to cleave me in half, but he instead hit me across the leg with the flat of his sword, breaking my knee. I buckled, and that was all the time he needed, and he whipped his sword around and drew a long gash on my chest. It wasn't very deep, but it burned just like the last time I got hit with the cursed blade. I fell onto my back, and Kronos kicked me in the ribs, then plated his foot firmly on my chest.

"You fought well for a child, hero, but you will never beat me without held from my sons. I cannot be defeated by a mere son of Poseidon," he bragged.

"I might not be able to beat you in hand to hand, or sword to sword, but with the water? I would beat you every time," I said, before controlling my aquatic armor and covering Kronos with it. I called upon the river once more and directed as much water as I could at Kronos's face. I pressurized it and nailed him right down the nose. Once inside, I pushed the water into his lungs forcefully, filling them up with the coldest water I could create. Using his distraction to my advantage, I pulled back the bonds and forced the water to fan out into knives. I directed them through his body, and he crumpled into dust. The lord of time had died.

I collapsed on the ground; my energy spent. I felt some of my friends run up to me, yelling out. Poseidon and Hestia flashed to me, followed quickly by the other gods. I saw Apollo lean over me, trying to revive my helpless form. And I heard Thalia's voice echoing through my head.

"This is not your time kelp head. You have to hold on. I will see you again. I promise. But not today. Hold on for Nico. He needs you."

My mouth tried to form the words I wanted to say, but I couldn't. I thought one last thing before my eyes finally closed. "Thalia, I- I am so sorry..."

"Percy... it is okay."

And I blacked out.

Hades (Present)

My siblings and the other Olympians were shocked at his overwhelming display of power. I noticed Zeus gripping his bolt tighter than ever, clearly thinking about striking him down. I spoke to him, determined to stop him from making an unwise decision.

"Brother, stop. He is not our enemy."

"But he is too power-," Zeus tried.

"We would have lost without him. Not only did his plan kill Typhon, but he took out our greatest threat in eons. He will not betray us. If you kill him, Poseidon will bring war, and I would support him," I responded. "We are no better than the Titans If we kill our greatest assets."

Zeus' grip loosened, and he stowed his bolt, backing down.

Perseus spoke: "May I leave now?"

Zeus pulled out his bolt again, his face morphing into anger once again. "You are too dangerous to be released. You could be a threat to Olympus in the future."

Percy rolled his eyes. "Paranoid much?" Zeus growled. "Okay fine. I swear on the Styx to never betray Olympus." The gods gaped, but I just smirked. "Now, can I leave?" Percy finished.

"I- well- oh fine," Zeus spluttered. "Do you need transportation?"

Percy smiled knowingly. "No Lord Zeus. I think I will be just fine." Percy snapped his fingers and disappeared into a cloud of mist.

I would swear that he winked at me right before he flashed away completely.

AN.

I am sorry for the delay. My earlier cockiness thinking that achapter or two a week would be feasable was foolish. I am rather busy with school, so I will instead aim for two chapters every three weeks. During the summer, I should be able to churn out more work, but for now, that is probably the best I can do.

I also wanted to add that the first chapter is completely done and I will not change it anymore. I will make sure to finish each chapter completely in the future before posting.

I am also wondering how some authors get black lines across the page. If someone could tell my how to do that, it would be great.

Thanks, theeternal09