Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Story: Guardians of Light and Justice
Chapter 19: The Golden State Battle, Part 2
San Fernando Valley, California
Third Person's POV
Athena, Annabeth and Malcolm came out of the command tent; they looked confident, but reserved. They walked toward Thalia's position as the hunters parted to let them through.
"Thalia, how goes the preparations." Athena asked.
"Not bad, the guardians are with the gods helping them prepare." Thalia said.
"I better go help the other demigods get ready." Malcolm said as he walked back into the heart of our makeshift camp.
"Lady Athena, I have some news, I sent out a handful of hunters to reconnoiter the enemy's forces. It looks like Tartarus emptied out all the monsters from the underworld, and sent them to the Hand's army. Also, they saw Garuda, and nine other creatures that they could not identify. The army is being led by Chronos (primordial god) and Nemesis (goddess of revenge and daughter of Erebus and Nyx)." Thalia said.
"Is that all the immortals that they have?" I asked.
"No, Erebus is there along with Atlas, Prometheus, Eris, Moros, Ananke, Theia, Astraeus, and Perses." Thalia said.
"They certainly have many titans and primordials. We still have some advantage, but I'm afraid that their monsters, and especially Garuda tip the scales in their favor." Athena said.
"How many monsters do they have, Thals?" I asked.
"One hundred hellhounds from the pit, fifty Cyclops, the minotaur, twenty Laestrygonians, fifty Draconae, fifty Empousa, the Hydra, forty Telekhines, Kampe, and Ladon as well." Thalia said.
"They have Ladon and Kampe?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yes, I'm afraid so." Thalia said.
"The odds aren't good, but we'll have to do our best, and use our advantages." Athena said.
"What advantages?" Thalia asked.
"The immortals will fight the other immortals, so that is a given. The guardians will take on those nine beasts that you could not identify, while also slowing down Garuda. The demigods will have to face these monsters, our advantage here is long range weaponry. We will need all campers that can use a bow as well as hunters to try, and even the odds. Annabeth, you and your brother will have to lead the ground forces on quick strikes against the enemy where they are weakest. The satyrs will be there to help, Grover is here marshaling them into a fighting force. Just remember we are buying time for reinforcements, especially those from Shiva." Athena said. Thalia and I nodded in agreement. "One last thing, there is that abandoned winery a mile away, move the infirmary there, we may have to abandon camp in the middle of the fight."
"Yes mother." I said as Thalia and I ran off to prepare.
Three hours later Thalia, and I were standing in front of our groups of demigods and hunters. Grover stood thirty yards away with his force of satyrs. My mother and the gods were thirty yards from Grover. Will Solace and the other guardians stood in the front of all of us. Our forces were as strong as they were going to be for the moment. We all hoped that we could buy sufficient time until Shiva's support arrived.
"I was broken away from my thoughts when I heard loud noises, and felt the ground shaking lightly. We looked down the valley from our hilltop position. The first thing to come into view was a massive creature unlike anything I had seen before. It was a giant bird that was human-like, it stood on two taloned feet, and it had to long arms that had hands equipped with massive claws. The creature had the head of a Raven, it was large with a very sharp and pointed beak. The black wings that extended from its body were massive, and the creature itself was huge. Garuda stood at least three hundred feet tall with a wingspan that seemed to be at least a thousand feet. Its eyes glowed with a beautiful golden color that appeared to brighten as it looked around. This creature looked highly intelligent.
Behind Garuda were nine much smaller birdlike creatures, and then I realized that they were smaller versions of Garuda. They were the size of a man with the same claws and talons as Garuda.
"Guardians attack" Will Solace yelled as the guardians extended their wings, and flew towards Garuda, and his minions. The demigod army screamed in support of the guardians as they flew into battle.
"Archers assemble." I yelled. Fifty demigod archers and twenty hunters came forward, and took positions in the front of our army, readying their bows.
"Ground forces in formation." Thalia yelled. The demigod army all two hundred strong formed up their ranks with their weapons at the ready. I looked to my right to see the gods forming ranks behind Athena, she would lead the immortal forces into battle. A loud noise could be heard from down in the valley. Garuda and his minions were flying in circles as they battled the guardians. The guardians using my moms tactics kept their enemy on their toes with sudden attacks then retreats. Providing sufficient distraction to the massive monster and his smaller subordinates. I didn't have time to register that fight as I was too busy with the dozens and dozens of monsters that marched toward us.
"Thalia, now." I yelled. Our archers let loose their first round of celestial bronze arrows. The arrows flew straight and true until a few dozen monsters evaporated into cloud of dust. A second round of arrows were fired with similar results, but there was no time for a third round as the first group of monsters approached the top of the hill.
"Attack" I yelled as our demigod army attacked the monsters full on. The sounds of battle were deafening, and I had no time to contemplate on the condition of our other forces. I took out my dagger, and a shield that my mother gave me, and fought the enemy. I fought an empousa first sending her into oblivion with a quick strike to her throat. I slipped under a club thrown by a Cyclops, as I clipped its ankle with my shield sending it to the ground. I lunged on top of the creature sinking my blade into the monsters skull. I felt someone hit my back, I turned slightly to see Thalia with her back against mine.
"Like old times, huh Thals?" I asked.
"Yeah Annie, old times." Thalia said as she sunk her spear point into the eye of a draconae turning the monster to dust.
Will Solace POV
The enemy picked a perfect day to attack, the sky was full of clouds, and the sun wasn't visible in the sky. We would be at our weakest without the sun, but Lady Athena's plan had to work. We just needed to distract Garuda, and use the technique from Shiva to destroy the smaller versions of Garuda. We watched in awe as Garuda walked towards us making the ground shake with his immense size. The nine smaller versions of Garuda flew around his head. I looked back at my fellow guardians; I wish Percy and Nico were here, but they had their own battles to fight. I raised my sword into the air, and prayed to my father, Apollo.
"Guardians attack" I yelled as I extended my wings, and led my brothers in arms into battle.
"Michael and Pollux, you're with me. The rest of you take on those smaller creatures, and remember the plan." I said as I flew toward Garuda with Michael and Pollux at my side. I watched the other guardians fight the smaller monsters, they would conduct quick strikes then separate to make the enemy split up and follow. I just hoped that they could keep it up long enough for our plan to come together.
I waved my hand to Michael and Pollux as we dove down, and slashed our swords around the eyes of Garuda. I could feel the intense anger and hatred coming off the monster, as it flailed its arms at us uselessly. Shiva was right, our speed was a big advantage for us. We darted in and out with quick slashes and stabs as we avoided the giant's claws. We slowly navigated Garuda towards the other guardians who were busy fighting the smaller monsters. I sent a mental message to all the guardians initiating our plan. Suddenly, we all broke off into a corkscrew formation, spinning and flying in a tight pattern. The smaller monsters grouped together, and Garuda was right behind us. We flew straight up into our formation just as Garuda was about to hit us, instead Garuda took out three of his own small monsters. The remaining six monsters followed us up into our ascent. We reached our height limit, and then split into groups of two as we dove down. The six small monsters split and followed our three groups as we dove straight towards Garuda. We dove at an incredible speed until we veered off at the last moment. The six small monsters couldn't change course fast enough, so they crashed into Garuda with a loud explosion, the giant monster fell to the ground. All the small monsters were destroyed, and Garuda was down, but not out.
Athena's POV
I'll have to give our guardians credit they did a magnificent job initiating my plan. We all could feel the ground shake as Garuda fell. I knew he wouldn't be down for long, our only hope was Shiva, but I was too busy to ponder that at the moment as Nemesis attacked me with her spear. I had my spear and Aegis in hand battling the goddess of revenge. I had to give her credit she was a magnificent fighter. She sent a her spear toward my head at incredible speed, I was just barely able to deflect the blow with Aegis.
I moved my spear into a short hand hold, and used that flexibility in control to send short jabs at her when she would thrust forward with her attack. I knew we were both equals in strength and speed, but I could always out think her. With her last spear thrust, I jabbed my spear point into her side just under her armor causing a massive amount of blood loss from her wound. She staggered back, and gave me a dirty look. She suddenly began to glow with energy as she unleashed a burst of power, I blocked the blast with my shield, and recovered quickly. She was angry now, and I knew this fight would soon be over. She charged at me quickly as she thrust her spear toward my face, I moved upward with Aegis deflecting her strike into the air knocking the spear from her hand. I used my upward momentum to push my spear upward sending the blade deep into her throat. She choked, and blood gushed from her wound. Her eyes closed as her conscious mind shut down. She wasn't dead, but it would be a long time before she recovered. I inspected the battlefield. I saw Ares and Hermes fighting two primordials, and the other gods were doing the same. Atlas and Prometheus were battling Artemis and Apollo. I looked around for Aether, and then I spotted him. He was in a heated battle with Erebus, it appeared that they were dead even, and began to run over to help him when someone stood in my path.
"Athena, since your father decided to stay on Olympus, I guess you will have to suffice." Chronos the primordial god of time said as he stood in my path.
"I don't need my father's help taking you down." I said. Chronos laughed menacingly.
"Good, you do have spirit, but you will soon feel my wrath, child." Chronos said as he emphasized the word child. I raised my shield and sword, while Chronos took out a long pike with a massive axe head, the axe head itself was three feet long, and the pike was at least eight feet in length. He definitely had a reach advantage with that thing, and he knew it. He lunged forward quickly, and I just moved out of the way in time. I felt like I was moving in molasses, he had to be manipulating time as we fought. This fight just became a lot harder than I thought. He lunged again, but this time he swung the pike, the axe head clipped the inside of Aegis, and he pulled the shield out of my hand. I helplessly looked on as we were fighting with weapons only.
I didn't dare try an offensive maneuver as I knew it would leave me defenseless. He thrusted forward with the pike, I spun to avoid his stab, but then he swung backwards with a spin of his own sending the axe blade into my right side, I felt two ribs cut in half, and the blade hit one of my lung. I fell to the ground in excruciating pain, my head was spinning, and I knew I couldn't fight anymore.
"The great goddess of wisdom, well I warned you. Now I know I can't kill an immortal goddess, but I can cut you to pieces, and let you reform in a few decades or so." Chronos said as he gave me an evil grin. He raised his pike with the giant axe head in the air, and was about to cut me in half when his blade was caught in midair by a dark glowing sword. I looked to his left to see my uncle the god of the dead standing over me.
"I don't think I like my nieces being cut to pieces." Hades said. Chronos stared at the big three god before him; his face showed a look of pure surprise.
"You should be ..." Chronos said, but was cutoff by Hades.
"Fighting Thanatos and Tartarus in the underworld." Hades said. Chronos nodded in agreement. "I've already won that battle, now for another." Hades pushed the pike backwards with incredible strength sending Chronos backwards on to his heals. I'd never been happier in all my immortal life to see my uncle.
Thalia's POV
Annabeth and I fought back to back just like old times. I sent a blast of lightning directly into the skull of a Laestrygonian turning him to dust. A large blast of Greek fire exploded near our position separating Annabeth and I from each other. I had no time to react as three Cyclops attacked me, I was barely able to move out of the way as three massive clubs came down on my position. Those dirty bastards were going to pay for this. I held my spear like a javelin, and sent it flying into the eye of one of the behemoths. The creature turned to dust immediately. I turned, and deflected a strike with Aegis, but I didn't see the second strike until I felt a massive blow to my back. My armor protected me, but I was sent flying into the ground about twenty yards away. I tried to get up, but I think my leg was broke. When I tried to stand an incredible pain shot through me. I turned, and sat up to see the two Cyclops heading my way. I pulled Aegis in front of me to give me some protection. I heard a spear strike, and then monster dust covered me and Aegis. I peeked over my shield to see one last Cyclops with his back turned toward me, suddenly his head flew of his neck, and rolled passed me on the ground. The monster's body exploded into dust, and standing in front of me was Nico, smiling happily.
"Hey beautiful, miss me." Nico said jokingly, but my warm cheeks made me realize that his words meant more to me than just a joke. He gave me a strange look as his cheeks became red as well. Damn, I can't believe I'm feeling this way now, but I knew that I would have to work these feelings out eventually.
AN: More battle to come next chapter.