Percy/ 3rd person

How is it that you can do everything your supposed to do. Everything you know is right. Everything within your power ...and still lose in the end.

Hadn't he done enough. Of corse he had. He had done that and more, yet the fates still wanted more from him. For him to give more. To lose more.

He fought monsters, demigods, battles, Gods and wars. Not just fought them but led them. He had been fighting with every fibre, every bone in his body since he was twelve. Slowly giving up more of himself as he went never asking for anything in return.

And he would do it all again in a heartbeat and more for those he loved. He would spend eternity in tartarous just to keep a smile on their faces.

Because deep down that's all he cared about. Keeping those he loved safe and happy.

But what happens when he fails to do that. When that person he loves more than anything is ripped away from him. When his life is ripped away from him. What's he got left. A hole. An emptiness. Nothing.

The scream of his name sent shivers throughout his body. The voice that always filled him with happiness and warmth now filled him with dread.

—earlier—

Percy/ 3rd person POV

"Another day another war". 'That should be the slogan for a demigod' Percy thought as he stood before the young army ready to lead them into battle. Leo snickered as Annabeth rolled her eyes but tightened her grip on his hand. "We got this" Leo said with his signature smile.

Of corse Percy was making jokes. It's the only way he could see the light at the end of the tunnel. He thought if he could still joke then there was still hope for him. He and Leo were alike in that aspect. It was his way of coping. That and having Annabeth by his side once again.

Percy knew that he was leading some of these young soldiers to their deaths. It was sad to even think as these kids as soldeirs. Percy was one of the oldest there and he was only seventeen.

These kids should be at school worrying about homework and hanging out with their friends, not fighting an evil goddess to save the earth.

He knew he couldn't save everyone this time no matter how hard he tried and it hurt him deeply to think of his fellow campers in pain.

But that didn't mean he wasn't going to try his hardest to save as many as he could. He would carry the world on his shoulders so they wouldn't have to. that's what it meant to be a leader.

Percy had never asked to be leader but for whatever reason the other campers looked up to him. Even the Gods looked to him with confidence. Percy looked at the campers in front of him with sadness doubting his ability do lead them to victory.

Annabeth noticed this and squeezed his hand. "Don't doubt yourself Percy." "We would follow you anywhere kelphead" his friends smiled at him and nodded in agreement. Jason putting his hand on my shoulder and looking at me with a confident grin.

Percy looked to his friends one last time before the fighting began. Memorising their faces. Annabeth, Grover, Thalia, Nico, Hazel, Piper, Jason, Frank, Leo. All of them.

They weren't just his friends. They were family. No doubt about it, closer than blood. He looked into their eyes and saw the fear they felt. He felt it too but they knew that as long as they were together they could pull through. They may be afraid but they were stronger for it. No demigod survives on their own. They were strong together.

Percy would do anything for the people stood before him even without his fatal flaw. And he will do anything for them. Like a wise Goddess once said 'You would see the world burn for a friend'.

The fighting began with a loud battle cry. Demigods together, Roman and Greek alike. Hordes of monsters sped towards the campers with weapons only found in nightmares.

The campers raced to meet them with weapons drawn until they finally met in the centre of the battle field with a crushing clash of metal and bronze.

Percy directing them using the strategies he'd learned over the years and the things Annabeth had thought him, 'man she's smart'.

Demigods, hunters and Gods fought side by side. Blood and gold already across the ground as monsters and ally's fell. Cries could be heard from all sides as well as shouts of anger and triumph.

War wasn't glamorous and heroic it was soul destroying and gruesome. War never changes. It sticks with you. There are no winners in war only survivors.

Gold dust covered Percy as he slashed through two dozen hellhounds and furies. All while keeping Annabeth close by his side. A hellhound managed to bite at his shoulder before he stabbed Riptide through its chest. Percy clenched his jaw and bared with the pain. There was no time to dwell on his injuries, he kept moving forward killing any monster he could. The more he defeated the less others would need to.

As Percy made his way across the battle field he spotted a Chimera coming up behind Nico and the stall brothers. He rushed over there and pushed them out the way of its claws. It caught his arm and made a deep scratch down his arm ending just before his wrist.

'That's gonna leave a scar'. Percy strikes at the monster with riptide but Chimera managed to get it out of his hands using its gigantic paws. So Percy yelled at the campers close by "get behind me!" He felt the familiar tug in his gut. He raises a wall out of water taken from a nearby river. Blood running through the water. He forced it towards the Chimera taking out several other monsters at the same time. Once the Chimera was on the ground Percy picked up riptide and stabbed it into its eye killing it.

"Everyone okay?" He asked looking at the campers behind him. They nodded briefly and went back to fighting. Nico thanks him but looks at the wound with concern. "It's okay" Percy winks at him before running back into battle.

—-Time Skip—

He didn't know how long had past, it could've been minuets or it could've been hours. Time felt different when your fighting to stay alive but he knew he was getting that much closer to Gaea. If he could stop her this would all end. No more blood would need to be spilt. He just had to get there.

Leo and Festus were fighting from the sky raining fire down on monsters from above. Jason occasionally joining him to fend of a Cyclops. Piper and Reyna were fighting together keeping each other close to lend a hand if needed. Piper using her power to make the monsters turn on each other as Reyna uses her bronze sword to cut down monsters she saw. Frank had transformed into a bear and was taking down monsters stupid enough to challenge him.

Percy and Annabeth had found themselves close to Nico, Thalia and Jason. They made a circle and watched each others backs as they worked in harmony with each other. Slashing as someone ducked. Dodging as someone smashed a monster with the bunt of their sword. Tossing a shield to the other when claws got too close for comfort.

They started to get the upper hand and Percy and Annabeth glanced at each other before sprinting forward towards Gaea. Jason, Nico and Thalia keeping the monsters distracted as they headed for the root of the evil they were fighting.

Himself and Annabeth had stayed close since they found each other again. Spending months away from your soul mate does that to you. They tore through the monsters determined to end this. They had nearly reached Gaea. He would end this and save them. He had to.

But he couldn't save all of them. That became disturbingly clear as he herd a deafening scream from the person missing beside him.

The scream of his name sent shivers throughout his body. The voice that always filled him with happiness and warmth now filled him with dread.