Warning! Tear-jerking ahead! Well, at least I hope so.
Ash fell down on him like twisted snow, the sky still thundered and lightening still struck. Just after New York had been rebuilt, here it was being attacked again. Percy rode through the city on the bike, to engrossed in the mission at hand to pay attention. The city he had grown up in, the city he loved, was burning around him. The streets where littered with abandoned cars, while buildings where filled with worried citizens. They seemed to afraid to leave the safety of their office buildings and cafes, not that Percy could blame them. He had already passed Hawkeye and Black Widow who were fighting off Empousai.
Soon Percy found himself at a rode block of abandoned cars. He gazed down at the borrowed bike, and tried to calculate how long it would take to reach Grand Central by foot.
"The Tour de France isn't on just yet, Fish Boy,"
Percy turned to see Tony land with a soft clank on the road. Percy rolled his eyes and shrugged.
"Need a lift?" Tony stepped forward in the street, raised his hand, and promptly shot a repulser beam at a stray Hell Hound, making it collapse into bronze dust.
"As long as you don't drop me," Percy replied, jumping off the bike. He wrapped his arms around the cool metal of the suits shoulders and gripped on for dear life as he was rocketed up into the air. It certainly wasn't something he wanted to experience again.
"Stark, we have some cannons down on 84th with your name on them," Steve came through the com link.
Tony stopped outside the Grand Central Station, and Percy climbed off. Tony rocketed into the sky yet again, leaving Percy to race into the station. Inside he found many business commuters, teenagers and families with kids standing on the outermost edges of the room while Alligators circled around, as if trying to choose the juiciest one to eat.
"Oh my god it's Gladiator!"
As if recognising the name the alligators all turned to him, looking as if they where smiling. Re-enlarging his sword and shield he gazed at them, trying to find a way to attack them. It seemed though they would be the first to attack. One brave one moved with great speed and attempted to bite right through his calf muscle.
Time to kill me some 'gators, Percy thought as he pushed his sword into the alligators head, right between the eyes. The second one came up and Percy dealt with it the same way. Suddenly though the alligators began shuffling together, morphing until there stood only a malted alligator that stood six feet tall on its hind legs.
"Might morphing alligator, who knew?" Percy asked himself, but during that brief thought the tale whipped around and smashed him solidly into the wall. "and super strength, great,"
Groaning he stood up and shook his head, trying to make sure his brain hadn't decided to mess about with him. Still gripping his sword he watched as the alligator let it's tale swing right above the mortals heads, making them yell and duck.
"Get out!" Percy shouted in his loudest voice. It seemed to work, because everyone began running towards the exit. The alligator attempted to snap up some of the slower people, but Percy promptly threw his shield at it's open mouth. He watched in anger as it bit it in half.
"Not again!" he complained as he pushed through the crowd.
"Percy," someone grabbed his arm, and he turned surprised to see the Stole twins.
"You guys have to go," Percy watched as the alligator attempted not to choke on the piece of the shield it had managed to chew.
"We can help," they said simultaneously.
"I know you want to-" Percy pushed them out of the way, barely managing to miss being eaten "but Zeus won't allow it,"
"Sons of Hermes remember, since when have we cared what others think?" Travis raised an eyebrow.
"Listen-" Percy swiped at the alligators jaws "-I really don't have time to argue! If you want to help, get up to Olympus and try to see if we can get any reinforcements,"
"Righto!" the twins high fived and raced out of the station.
Percy missed being snapped at, but yet again was hit by the tail. Wondering slightly how an alligator could be that strong, Percy tried to pick himself out of the debris he had made- yet again. Turns out he had blasted his way into a supply closet. Gazing at the extremely flammable liquids Percy smiled. In his life he had learnt hat chemicals made the biggest explosions (by accident of course). He started sparks by running his sword across the ground, and in seconds he was holding an extremely explosive bottle of chemicals.
"Hey, crocodile Dundee!" Percy yelled at it, making it swing around and face him "Hungry?"
As if in agreement it came charging at him across the floor. Praying for good aim, Percy through the bottle at the last second, watching as it was swallowed up completely by the reptile. Percy ducked and covered his head, wincing as the muted explosion rocked the floor. He grimaced though as pieces of alligator flesh began to rain down on him.
"Gross," he said as he stood. He began picking pieces off the flesh off himself, frowning at the smell of the charred flesh. Taking off his helmet, he began picking the flesh out of the horse plume, wondering how many baths it would take to get rid of the smell.
What he didn't expect though was for someone to echo that statement. Spinning on his heels he saw a girl of maybe eight flicking alligator flesh from her hair. Eyes widening in alarm he gazed from the helmet to her young freckled face. He then gazed outside, but was grateful to see everyone had cleared out. Minimising his sword he began over to the girl.
"You're cuter then I expected. I thought you'd have scars and stuff," she commented.
"Thanks?" Percy let that to hang in the air for a moment "listen, you can't tell anyone what I look like, its really important. I don't mean like just plain normal important, I mean like really, really, really-"
"You talk a lot," she gazed up at him.
Percy blinked a couple of times in surprise "I suppose…."
"I won't tell," she played with a lock of her hair "if you let me ride on your horse,"
"Blackjack?" Percy questioned in surprise "he's injured, how about on my dog?"
"Deal,"
Chucking on his helmet he called into Nico.
"Get Mrs O'leary for me," Percy said "I'm too slow on foot and Blackjacks out of commission,"
"Do I look like a kennel service?" Nico asked.
"Just get her," Percy sighed.
In under a minute Mrs O'leary was there and panting in full. Percy lifted the little girl onto her, just below the neck, before hopping on.
"Point out your parents to me, okay?" Percy said to her.
The group of people from the station were being ferried towards a building with a large enough basement. Percy caught onto the tale of the procession, and lead Mrs O'leary through the crowd.
"There," the girl pointed towards a very flustered looking mother.
He reined Mrs O'leary in and stopped besides the women. Jumping off his dog he lifted the girl off and held her out to the mother.
"Thank you,"
Percy was surprised to be enveloped in a hug by the mother. He went stiff as a board as she did it, and she soon seemed to realise his awkwardness and released him. Percy stood there awkwardly surrounded by people for a moment before nodding.
"No problem," he shrugged before climbing back onto Mrs O'leary.
"Gladiator, sir," a policeman said while the people around him where shuffled into a building.
"Percy, it's getting quiet out there," Thalia broke in his ear.
"For you maybe," Percy muttered.
"Pardon?" The cop asked.
"Not you, the com link," Percy tried to explain.
"Kelp Head, I'm serious," Thalia growled.
"I know you're serious!" Percy barked back.
"Are you feeling okay?" the cop asked, rather embarrassed.
"Thalia, shut up, I'll get to you in a minute," Percy ordered into the com link before talking to the cop "sorry, com link, what did you want?"
"We've gotten almost everyone into safe positions, but we have no hope against those creatures," the cop gazed around the ruined city "our bullets just go straight through them,"
"I'll see what I can do," Percy gazed up at the sky "Thalia, if it's silent out there send some Hunters to help the cops,"
"We've got to hold ground here-"
"I'm heading over, just fifteen should be enough, that's all I'm asking," Percy held up a finger to the cop.
"You owe me," Thalia grunted.
"Think of it as a return for all those Hamburgers I've brought you," Percy smiled to himself before saying to the cop "you've got fifteen Hunters coming, I recommend having a girl lead them,"
"Meet at the Empire State Building, monsters have just dropped off the map. It isn't normal," Steve came in his ear.
"Got it Captain," Percy dig his knees into Mrs O'Leary's side and lead her down the street.
At the building he saw Thalia talking to her crowd of remaining Hunters. Thor was close by, staring warily at the giant green Hulk, while Tony just landed and Nico climbed off his back. Clint and Natasha drove in on motorcycles (Percy doubted they'd return them). Steve came in last, and at the sight of him the group moved forward to hustle it in.
"They can't have just disappeared," Nico stated from behind his eerie skull visor. "I know the ghosts haven't returned to Hades,"
"What is she waiting for?" Tony asked.
"Maybe she's trying to play with our heads," Percy shrugged.
"Or maybe she was just waiting for the right opportunity,"
The voice wasn't warm or even cruel….it was almost melodic. The person whom the voice belonged to was about 5'11, with long scarlet hair and daring blue eyes. Dressed in a draping robe of purple it swirled around her like twisted mist. Next to her were two hounds, though that seemed to be the least of their problems. Behind her stood a full armada of ghosts and monsters.
"Position three!" Thalia called to her Hunters, who instantly had arrows pointed at the same angle.
"Thalia, you know the ancient rules. If we don't challenge her, she can't challenge us," Percy said in return "she wants us to,"
"My, my Percy, you're smarter then I first thought," Hecate rolled her eyes to the heaven "but I think I'm just a little higher up then you on the IQ table,"
With a click of her manicured fingers, two monsters came forward, someone hanging between them. Percy knew who was straight away because of that golden blonde hair. He didn't even have to look twice. Anger bubbled within him as he noticed the long cut across his girlfriend's cheek.
"You didn't make sure she was safe?" Percy asked his team.
"She was at the tower," Clint fingered the arrow he had knocked on his string.
Percy enlarged his sword yet again and began to advance forward, but Steve grabbed onto his arm, easily holding him back.
"How do we know she isn't some projection?" Steve asked, ignoring the struggling Percy.
"Simple," she pulled a jewel incrusted dagger from her belt, and in one smooth movement slid it easily into Annabeth's stomach.
"No!" Percy, Nico and Thalia yelled at the same time. Annabeth's own yell of pain was muffled by the gag tied around her mouth.
"Position Omega, fire at will!" Thalia roared in her fury, already charging up electricity in her spear.
While volley's of arrows shot towards Hecate, Nico grabbed his sword from its sheath and slammed it into the ground, making a large fissure appear in the ground. It kept growing and growing until monsters and ghosts alike were scrambling to get away from it.
"Polemistés tou Ádi̱ , gia na af̱xi̱theí o Lórdos sas!" Nico roared in Greek, and the Avengers watched slightly disgusted as skeletal warriors began climbing out of the hole.
Fire hydrants on the street burst to life, while water from the sewers bubbled up onto the street. The ground shook and the seas rose, making near tsunami sized waves. Gripping his sword he ran towards the goddess of witchcraft, ignoring the arrows that pinged off his armour. He was about to strike a blow, she suddenly disappeared, leaving only purple tendrils behind.
Percy was too concerned about Annabeth to care. He cut through the monsters holding her easily then cut through her bonds. Laying her gently down on the ground he stared at the dagger, feeling hatred burn inside of him just at the thought of it. His hands ghosted over the blood that was beginning to cover her front.
"Percy," blood bubbled out of her mouth.
"Try not to speak," Percy gripped her hand "you'll be okay, got it? I promise,"
With his free hand he gently caressed her soft cheek. Tears pulled in his eyes and dripped down off his cheeks, landing against her blood stained shirt.
"Apollo!" Percy yelled up to Olympus "APOLLO!"
But there was no response, not a single ray of sunlight broke through the thickening clouds. If Percy wasn't so caught up in his anguish he would've noticed how the clouds began to swirl around in a vortex pattern, as if trying to open. Rain finally began to fall, and Percy did his best to cover her.
"Percy…" Annabeth sighed.
"APOLLO! Come on! Anyone?" he yelled in anguish up at the sky.
Around him the fighting continued. He ignored the arrows, soldiers and monsters, he only had eyes for Annabeth. If he took out the dagger would she bleed more? But if it was poisoned it meant more was getting into her system.
"The sky…." Annabeth's grey eyes were focused on the sky.
Percy turned his gaze up to see the clouds had cleared away in a circle, giving him a clear view of a city so fantastic it was hard to describe. It gleamed brightly and shined as if made of gold, buildings taller then sky scrapers could be seen. It looked like a higher tech Olympus.
The wind spirits began zooming into the vortex, and Percy saw a flash of purple disappear into it as well. Thor obviously knew what that place was though because he zoomed into the hole as well. As he turned his gaze down to the ground Percy saw that Annabeth's beautiful grey eyes had closed.
"Come on Annabeth," Percy stroked her face "open those pretty eyes for me, come on,"
As he didn't get a response, he grew more frantic.
"Come on Wise Girl, don't do this to me," his bloody hands ghosted across her face "you're everything to me, don't leave me,"
The battle seemed to have finished. Tony had already flown into the air, following Thor, leaving the rest of the Avengers (minus the Hulk who was having fun smashing some skeletons) circled around him.
"She's not gone yet," Nico knelt next to her "soon, but not yet,"
"We can call in SHIELD-" Steve offered.
"They won't get here fast enough," Natasha cut him off.
"APOLLO!" Thalia yelled up to the sky. Her tears mingled in with the rain "Get your sunny arse down here right now!"
"Come on Apollo!" Percy echoed the yell.
"Tina, get up to Olympus right now and get Apollo down here right now!" Thalia yelled at one of her Hunters before taking Annabeth's over free hands "I've already lost Luke,"
A ray of sunshine did finally break through the clouds. Percy gazed up at it through his tear filled eyes and watched as Apollo touched the pavement. Without the bright smile and happy blue eyes, he didn't look like the same sunny god Percy had met all those years ago.
"You owe me big time, Cousin," Apollo said as he pushed through the circle and gently picked Annabeth up "now go and win us another war,"