Hi guys! This is the first time I'm posting on Fanfiction so I hope you enjoy! I will be making it fairly long. feel free to leave reviews and constructive criticism is welcomed! I hope you all have a great day!

-justadamdemigod

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson (sadly)

Leo's POV

"Where's Jason?" I asked, looking around at the others. No one made eye contact. I saw Piper hiding her face, a shadow covering her light brown skin, but I knew she was trying not to cry. Meg had her hands behind her back looking at me with a worried expression, her neon green dress and bright yellow tights stood out against the dullness in everyone's mood. Lester stood there, shoulders slumped, looking at the ground.

His arms were crossed and the sleeves of his red hoodie covered his hands so you couldn't see them. Coach Hedge, Mellie, and Baby Chuck were there too. Chuck was in Mellie's arms, she was rubbing his head, brown curls hid his little goat horns. She and coach Hedge looked deflated. A sad aura hung in the air.

Panic rises in my chest. I look around frantically. "Where's Jason?!" I said with more urgency. No one moved a muscle. Behind me Festus made a worried creek. I fell to my knees, grief overcoming me. I slid my hands through my messy, curly hair. "No, no, no, no." I muttered to myself. He can't be gone, he can't. After all we've been through.

He can't. I looked up again hoping that the others would spring out and say "Surprise! It was all a joke, he's right here!" But no one did. Piper broke down in tears and ran to me hugging me in a weak embrace. Tears pooled in my eyes, I wrapped my arms around her neck, hugging her tightly. I tried not to cry in front of everyone, but stubborn tears came flowing down.

I let out a heart wrenching sob, all the happy memories with Jason flood back to me. The scar on his upper lip from when he tried to eat a stapler when he was three, I always used to tease him about that. Once, on the Argo ll, I made my magic tool belt conjure up a bunch of staplers and served that to him for a snack. His reaction was priceless, and the rest of us, Piper, Percy, Hazel, Frank, Annabeth, and I, were laughing so hard. Or that time when I was supposed to be steering the Argo ll but something was happening up on the deck, so I went to go see what all the commotion was, but right as I stepped outside I got drenched with a giant wave and after a little storm cloud hung over me, drenching me even more.

Jason and Percy were responsible for it, of course. That day ended with us having an epic anime battle—water against fire—no one won but it was the most fun I'd had in days. Those memories took no effect in comforting me, they just reminded me that there will be no more of them. I held on to Piper as we cried into each other's embrace. She sobbed out the whole story, and I buried my face in her neck, disdain flowing through my body like a drug.

Festus blew fire into the sky mournfully. After a few minutes she lifted her head to look at me.

"I never got to say goodbye." I choked out, my white shirt was covered in tears and snot, Piper's looked no better. her face was red and puffy from crying.

Her brown hair looked almost copper in the sunlight. It also hung in a messy ponytail, a feather attached to the hair tie. She took a shaky breath and said in a groggy voice,

"We will get through this, Leo." I smiled sadly and let go of her, bringing my arms to my side. I stood up, wiped my eyes, shook my hands, and put on a brave smile. Piper gave me a weak smile and said, "that's my news...what about yours?" I looked at her with wide eyes, "Who cares about my news after that!?"

Piper scowled, "Leo."

I sighed sadly, images of battle flashing through my head.

"We managed to stop the emperor's attack, barely, but...it took a turn for the worse." I looked at everyone's sad and tired expressions, not wanting to make the grief even worse. I took a deep, shaky breath and said,

"the emperor's army was almost more than we could take, a lot…a lot of good people were.."

I shook my head, not allowing the tears to come flooding back up. Then I snapped my head up quickly,

"Hazel, Frank, and Reyna are all alive… you don't need to worry about them. That's the only good news though. The emperors will be back with more troops, stronger troops." Everyone looked discouraged, Mellie rocked Chuck in her arms to keep him quiet, he looked like he was on the verge of a meltdown. I hope I'm not the cause.

"For the emperors this seemed more like a setback than a defeat, so Camp Jupiter needs as much help as they can get." I continued. Lester nodded,

"I'll see what I can do, it won't be much judging from my appearance," he grumbled. Meg rolled her eyes.

"Me and Meg are heading over there anyways." he stated. Piper shuffled restlessly on her feet,

"Well we better get going, I'll be fine with coach Hedge and Mellie—"

"Oh, no you don't, you're not getting rid of me that easily!" I smirked at her confused face, I laughed and made jazz hands towards Festus. "You just earned yourself a first class bronze dragon ride to Oklahoma!" I exclaimed. Festus blew fire into the sky. She laughed,

"Leo, I don't think that's necessary." I grabbed her arm and said,

"Well too bad, Beauty Queen, you're coming with me!" she turned towards the others,

"Is that okay with you guys?" She asked, Mellie smiled and said,

"Of course, dear!"

"Yeah, go have fun!" Lester added. I smiled at Piper and said,

"C'mon Beauty Queen!" She rolled her eyes, "Alright, alright!" Festus creaked happily. I hopped over to Festus and patted his hot metal head. Creak Festus said joyfully. Piper walked over to us and I held out my hand, "Ladies first." She rolled her eyes and took my hand.

she climbed onto Festus's back, and I sat in front. She wrapped her arms around my scrawny waist and festus started to beat his wings. I smiled,

"Oklahoma here we come!"