A/N: I love this. I have so much fun writing it. And thank you for all the feedback! I feel special. Keep reading! It's not over with yet!

Percy's Thoughts: italicized

Jason's Thoughts: Bold and italic

Artemis/Diana's Thoughts: Italic and underlined

Percy/Jason/Artemis POV (Mental link), selective Third person POV

Time froze.

I know it did…WHAT THE-? I CAN HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS?

I froze it, Jason.

Diana? What's going on?

I am here to warn Perseus of the coming events.

What coming events, Artemis? Why did you stop us from fighting?

Perseus…though it pains me…I must inform you that…you are destined to die in this battle.

That's hardly fair, my Lady! What about me?

You, fortunately, may live. Perseus, however, must be…killed by Ares.

Percy and Jason stood in confusion. Percy's heart sank. Barely months after he saved Olympus, he had to die in battle?

Why must I die, Artemis?

I'm sorry. But it is the only way to satisfy Ares long enough for you to return.

Return? How will he return?

He must escape Elysium.

The catch being that no man or woman has ever escaped Elysium. Ever. In the history of the Gods.

How the hell am I supposed to escape Elysium?

That is a question I cannot answer, boy. You must find out for yourself.

There has to be a reason for this! Why does he need to die? What does he need to accomplish by going to Elysium?

In Elysium lies the key to Ares' defeat. Before you ask, no, I do not know what the item is. But it is essential in defeating the ever bloody and power-hungry God of War.

Percy had to sit down. He didn't want to die. He didn't want to end up like every single hero in Mythology. He wanted to be better. But again, just like Hercules, he was forced to fight for what he thought was right, only to be killed in the process.

OK. I…I'll let him kill me.

Percy began to walk off to face Ares, when the unthinkable happened. Artemis grabbed unto Percy's bicep, somewhat forcefully, and did something neither he nor Jason had ever expected Artemis to do in a hundred years: she hugged him.

There is a terribly slim chance you will make it out of Elysium alive. And if that is the case, then I will miss you, Percy Jackson. You are a good b—a good MAN.

Jason stood, baffled. It wasn't even an hour that these two demigods knew each other, and already, the Son of Poseidon had gotten Artemis to show care towards another male?

Percy slowly let Artemis off of him, and walked somewhat proudly to Ares. Jason stayed in the same spot, watching on as his new friend walked towards his death.

It was nice meeting you Jason, in case I don't come back.

It was nice meeting you too. You're a good guy, man.

As soon as Percy positioned himself, Artemis reluctantly snapped her fingers and vanished, leaving Percy to the wrath of Ares.

When time reverted back to normal, Percy dropped his sword and let Ares strike him, sending him crashing to the dirt, and covered in blood. Annabeth, Nico, and Jason rushed to Percy's aid, slashing and lunging at the God. Ares, being who he was, easily overpowered them and knocked them unconscious. Ares then slowly walked over to a battered and bruised Percy Jackson.

"Just like me," Ares said over his panting body, which was kneeling down in a pool of blood. "You asked for this. I trusted you. Thought you could handle it. And like a tissue, you allowed me to use you and throw you away. I pity you."

Percy, who was now kneeling before Ares, had been forced into that state, obviously. His clothes were tattered and his face was covered in beads of sweat. He was practically begging for salvation, hoping someone would swoop in and slay the monster in front of him. But it wasn't always a monster. It used to be a man he trusted.

When Percy failed to answer, Ares harshly kicked him and threw him around, causing the pools of blood to grow more and more. The camp watched in horror, but could do nothing.

"I WAS A FOOL TO TRUST YOU!" the man yelled, his voice breaking. "I WANTED TO HELP YOU! I ONLY WANTED TO HELP! BUT INSTEAD, YOU CHOSE HER! THAT SPAWN OF ATHENA! SHE MAKES YOU WEAK! LESS OF A MAN! PRAY I DON'T KILL YOU NOW!"

The Son of Poseidon lay silent on the floor. He was on the verge of death now, and had no more energy to fight. He looked over his shoulder, gazing at his surroundings. Though no words came out, he wanted to scream to the heavens when he saw her: an almost lifeless body lying opposite him on the other end of the room, her blonde hair messy and her gray eyes barely open. Annabeth.

Around her laid a shorter boy, with black messy hair and olive-tinted skin that grew paler with each passing second. Nico.

Finally, a tanned boy with tattoos on his arms laid silent, but still barely moving. Jason. He was crawling towards the other two, desperate to save them from death before him.

Percy turned his head back to the other end of his body, and tried to get up.

"I-I am n-nothing l-like you," he croaked, gripping the silver pen that lay beside him. "I-I trusted you t-too. YOU failed m-me."

"You are EXACTLY like me. I TAUGHT you that way. And now you know NOTHING else. I made you…the perfect warrior."

"BY HURTING THE PEOPLE I LOVE! YOU ARE NO MENTOR OF MINE!"

"You stole my girl. Remember THAT?"

"SHE kissed ME. I wouldn't do that to y-you. I love ANNABETH." The boy pointed to the unconscious blonde girl on the floor.

"Well, an eye for an eye. You take mine, I take yours…literally."

Ares raised a blade and grabbed Annabeth by her neck, earning an outburst from Percy. "NOOO!" he yelled, activating the silver pen, which transformed into a silver trident. Intercepting Ares' swing, the boy managed to release his grip on his lover, and the two held their weapons in place, locked and in each other's faces.

"LAY A FINGER ON HER, AND I RIP YOU APART WITH MY BARE HANDS."

"Go ahead. I dare you."

Without warning, Ares kneed Percy in his gut, causing him to fall to the floor again. Defeated, he dropped his trident and lay there, caressing Annabeth firmly in his arms as he awaited punishment.

"She'll wake up in HELL," the God of War spat, raising his blade. "Goodbye, Perseus Jackson."

Percy looked down at the girl, tears streaming down his cheeks now. "I'm sorry, Annabeth. I promised you, and…I failed. Forgive me, please…

"Forgive me…"

The last thing Percy Jackson felt was a pain in the small of his back, and then everything went dark. Annabeth had disappeared from his view, and all he now saw was a dim white light, as if he had woken up from a dream, and into one of his nightmares.

Déjà vu.

A/N: Yes. That earlier dream DID mean something. Like the plot twist? I knew you would. BUT IT ISN'T OVER YET. Read & Review!

– Chris