One of the giants looked up and growled, "Kill them!"
A ton of javelins and other weapons shot up into the air. Luckily, the throwers weren't very accurate. Each weapon soared over their heads. Percy was smart enough to drag the grief stricken Thalia away from the cliff. He, Thalia, and Annabeth ran. They ran towards the rocks and passed the insult throwing Titan. They stopped when they saw Artemis.
"Artemis!" Percy screamed. She looked up and acknowledged the trio. Her face was almost a mirror image of Thalia's. Artemis was holding Zoë. She was breathing and her eyes were open but she didn't look well. Zoë's face was very pale. Her breathing was slow.
"The wound is poisoned." Artemis stated, a frown formed on her face.
"You mean Atlas poisoned her?" Percy asked.
"No, not Atlas." Artemis moved Zoë a little bit to show where Ladon had scratched her. The kids could barely look at it.
Zoë took a deep breath before she murmured "The stars... I can't see them."
"Nectar and ambrosia." Percy suggested. "Come on! We have to get her some." Nobody moved. Annabeth shook her head. There was no nectar or ambrosia. They wouldn't be able to revive the Zoë. Kronos' army had just reached the top of the mountain. They failed to acknowledge them and the strange buzzing noise coming from the horizon.
The army of monsters got to the middle of the summit. They could easily attack Percy and his friends. The buzzing noise got louder, Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia looked around for source of the ruckus. One of the giants lifted his javelin, ready to throw. Nothing happened. The kids looked in surprise when a Sopwith Camel swooped down.
"Get away from my daughter!" Dr. Chase yelled in a barely audible tone. His machine guns burst to life. Bullet holes formed everywhere on the ground. The monsters scattered.
"Cowards." Thalia mumbled.
Annabeth was shocked. Her father was actually helping her? "D-dad?" She yelled, not believing that it was him.
"Run!" Dr. Chase yelled. Gun shots echoed throughout the mountain.
Artemis finally came out of her stupor. She looked up at the plane and nodded.
"A brave man." She said. "Come. We must get Zoë away from here." Artemis pulled her hunting horn out of her pocket. She raised it to her lips and blew. The sound rang around the mountain and down the valley. Zoë's eyes were fluttering; her face was paler than before.
"Hang in there." Percy told Zoë. "You'll be alright."
Dr. Chase swooped down the plane again. Giants were throwing javelins at him. A few of them almost hit the plane. Dr. Chase paid no attention to the monsters. After realizing that normal bullets didn't harm the monsters, he decided to switch his ammunition. He had taken some of Annabeth's old weapons, for experimental purposes, and molded them into bullets. Dr. Chase figured they would come in handy at one point or another. He was right.
Dr. Chase shot the new ammunition out of the machine guns. The monsters screamed as a few of them disintegrated on the spot. The kids stared at Dr. Chase in amazement.
"That's... that's my dad!" Annabeth said. There wasn't enough time for everyone to watch the airplane. The monsters were recovering from the initial shock of the celestial bronze bullets. They would cause a lot of trouble for Dr. Chase.
The moon light brightened, and a silver chariot appeared out of nowhere, it was drawn by the most beautiful, silver deer. It landed with a soft thud beside Artemis, Percy, Thalia, and Annabeth.
"Get in." Artemis said.
Percy attempted to get Thalia onto the chariot but he wasn't getting anywhere. Annabeth walked over and helped get her on board. After helping Thalia on, Percy approached Artemis and helped with Zoë. After they set her down, Annabeth wrapped a blanket around Zoë. Artemis pulled the reigns of the chariot and it lifted into the air
"Like Santa Claus's sleigh." Percy murmured.
Artemis looked back at Percy. "Indeed, young half-blood." She said. "Where do you think that legend came from?"
Dr. Chase realized that Annabeth and her friends were safe. At once, he turned his biplane around and followed the chariot.
Some thirty feet behind the group, the angered voices of Kronos' army could be heard. The loudest voice of all belonged to Atlas.
A little after nightfall, the chariot and biplane landed in Crissy Field.
When Dr. Chase stepped out of his Sopwith Camel, Annabeth ran to him and gave him a huge hug.
"Dad! You flew... you shot... Oh my gods! That's the most amazing thing I've ever seen!" She said.
Mr. Chase blushed. "Well, I wasn't bad for a middle-aged mortal, I suppose."
"And the celestial bronze bullets? How did you get them?"
"Well, you did leave quite a few half-blood weapons in your room in Virginia, the last time you..." He paused to find the proper word to use. "Left."
Annabeth looked down. She never realized that her father cared that much for her. She was very embarrassed.
"I decided to try melting down some of the weapons to make bullet casings." Mr. Chase continued. "Just a little experiment." A gleam of pride had formed in his eyes.
"Dad..." Annabeth faltered. She couldn't come up with a way to state her feelings.
"Annabeth, Percy..." Thalia interrupted, her voice was urgent. She and Artemis were kneeling at Zoë's side, binding the huntress's wounds.
Annabeth and Percy ran over to help but there wasn't to much for them to do. There wasn't any nectar and there wasn't any ambrosia. Normal medicine wouldn't help and it was dark out- but not dark enough to see the way that Zoë looked. Zoë was shivering; the glow that usually surrounded her was fading.
"Can't you heal her with magic?" Percy asked Artemis. His voice was very quiet, almost a whisper. "I mean... you are a goddess."
Artemis frowned. "Life is a fragile thing, Percy. If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is very little I can do... But I can try." Artemis went to sent her hand on Zoë's side, but Zoë gripped her wrist, her face grimaced in pain. She looked into Artemis's eyes and an understanding passed between them.
I'm ready. Zoë thought. If the fates see that my time is done, let it be. I've done so much. Have.. Have I... "Have I... served thee well?" Zoë whispered, completing her thoughts out loud.
"With great honor." Artemis said softly. "The finest of all my attendants." Zoë's face looked more relaxed.
"Rest, at last." Zoë said.
"I can try to heal the poison, my brave one."
Zoë shook her head. Annabeth was fighting back tears. Thalia was frowning and Percy had just realized that Zoë was completing the prophecy.
Zoë looked at Thalia and took her hand.
"I'm sorry we argued." She whispered. "We could have been sisters."
Thalia could feel the tears in her eyes. She blinked to get rid of them.
"It's my fault. You were right about Luke, about heroes, men... everything."
"Perhaps not all men," Zoë murmured. She smiled weakly at Percy. "Do you still have the sword, Percy?"
Percy looked towards Zoë and slowly took Rip Tide out of his pocket and placed the pen in Zoë's hand. Zoë grasped it and began to speak again.
"You spoke the truth, Percy Jackson. You are nothing like... like Hercules. I am honored that you carry this sword." Zoë shuddered.
"Stars. I can see the stars, my lady." She said.
A single tear fell down Artemis's cheek. She didn't bother with wiping it away.
"Yes, my brave one. They are beautiful tonight." Artemis whispered.
"Stars." Zoë repeated. Her eyes were glued to the night sky. She didn't move again.
Thalia lowered her head and Annabeth gulped down a sob. Her eyes were watery and tears were beginning to fall from them. Dr. Chase wrapped his arms around his daughter, in an embrace.
The group watched as Artemis began to mutter words in Ancient Greek. Her hand was cupped above Zoë's mouth. A silvery wisp of smoke exhaled out of Zoë's mouth. Artemis caught the smoke in her hand. Zoë's body shimmered and disappeared.
Artemis stood up and said a blessing. She breathed into her cupped hand and released the silver dust. She watched as it floated up in the sky until it shimmered and vanished.
Percy looked at the sky in confusion. Nothing happened. Then Annabeth gasped and pointed up. The stars were brighter and they created a new pattern.
A new, gleaming constellation of a girl's figure with a bow was running across the night sky.
"Let the world honor you, my Huntress," Artemis said. "Live forever in the stars." Everyone mumbled a soft prayer. It could barely be heard because of the lightning and anger radiating from Mount Tamalpais. Artemis was a mess. Percy could tell that she was very upset. Her body was flickering with silver light. If she was to lose control, she'd appear in her divine form and Percy and his friends would get fried.
"I must go to Olympus immediately." Artemis said. "I can not take you but I will send help." She set her arm down on Annabeth's shoulder. "You are brave beyond measure, my girl. You will do what is right." Then Artemis looked at Thalia. Her expression was quizzical. Almost as if she didn't know what to make of Zeus's youngest daughter. Thalia slowly looked up. She caught Artemis's gaze and held it for a moment. The goddess's expression softened with sympathy. After a moment, she finally turned towards Percy.
"You did well," Artemis said. "For a man." Percy's lips moved, ready to protest but he stopped after realizing that Artemis had called him a man.
Artemis mounted her chariot it began to glow and everyone turned away. A flash of silver and the goddess was gone.
"Well," Dr. Chase sighed. "She was impressive; though I must say I still prefer Athena."
Annabeth turned around to face her father. "Dad... I... I'm sorry that I-"
"Shhh." He interrupted and hugged her. "Do what you must, my dear. I know this isn't easy for you." Dr. Chase's voice was shaky. He gave his daughter a brave smile.
The father-daughter moment was interrupted by the whoosh of large wings. Three pegasi descended from the fog. Two white horses and one pure black one.
"Blackjack!" Percy called out in recognition.
Yo boss! Blackjack answered. You managed to stay alive without me?
It was rough. Percy thought.
I brought Guido and Porkpie with me.
How ya doin? The two other Pegasi spoke in Percy's mind.
Blackjack gave Percy a concerned look, and then he checked out Dr. Chase, Thalia, and Annabeth.
Do you want us to stampede any of these goons?
"No." Percy said out loud. "These are my friends. We need to get to Olympus fast."
No problem. Blackjack said. Except for the mortal over there. Hope he's not going.
The mortal, Dr. Chase, isn't going. Percy thought. He looked over at Dr. Chase.
Dr. Chase was staring at all the Pegasi. He was in awe.
"Fascinating," he said. "Such maneuverability! How does the wingspan compensate for the weight of the horse's body, I wonder?"
Blackjack cocked his head in confusion. What? He thought.
"Why, if the British had had these pegasi in the cavalry charges on the Crimea," He continued. "The charge of the light brigade-"
"Dad!" Annabeth interrupted.
Dr. Chase blinked and looked at Annabeth. He managed to smile. "I'm sorry, my dear, I know that you must go." He hugged Annabeth one more time before Annabeth turned to climb onto Guido.
"Annabeth, I know... I know San Francisco is a dangerous place for you," Dr. Chase called. "But please remember, you always have a home with us. We will keep you safe."
Annabeth didn't answer. Her already red eyes turned even redder. As she turned away, Dr. Chase began to say more. He opened his mouth and closed it again, thinking better of speaking. He raised his arm and waved in a sad farewell and trudged away across the dark field.
Thalia, Percy, and Annabeth mounted their pegasi. The horses leapt and soared across the sky. Thalia fell asleep on Porkpie's back. Annabeth and Percy managed to stay awake. Their pegasi were flying side by side.
"Your dad seems cool." Percy told Annabeth.
Annabeth frowned a little bit. She turned her head back towards California.
"I guess so." She answered. "We've been arguing for so many years."
"Yeah, you said."
"Do you think I was lying about that?" Annabeth said in a voice that sounded like she was going to challenge Percy. She spoke her words halfheartedly.
"I didn't say you were lying. It's just... he seems okay. Your step mom does too. Maybe they've, uh, gotten cooler since you saw them last."
Annabeth hesitated before answering. "They're still in San Francisco, Percy. I can't live so far from camp."
Percy thought about his next question for a moment. He debated asking it in the first place but he finally opened his mouth and asked. "So what are you going to do now?"
Annabeth was silent for a little bit. She looked at the view from Guido's back. They were passing over a town. The only visible lights came from the buildings. The view didn't last for long though.
"I don't know." Annabeth admitted. "Thanks for rescuing me."
"Hey, no big deal, we're friends after all." Percy said.
"You didn't think I was dead?" She asked.
"The thought never ran through my mind."
Annabeth hesitated. "Neither is Luke, you know. I mean... he isn't dead" She said.
Percy stared at her. Is she crazy? He thought.
"Annabeth..." He said slowly. "That fall was pretty bad. There's no way he could'v-"
"He isn't dead." Annabeth insisted. "I know it. The same way you knew about me." Percy frowned. He didn't like being compared to feelings about Luke.
The pegasi continued to zip past towns and cities. The sun was beginning to rise and everything was getting lighter. New York was just ahead of them.
How's that for speedy, boss? Blackjack asked. Do we get extra hay for breakfast or what?
You're the man, Blackjack. Percy thought. Err, the horse, I mean.
"You don't believe me about Luke." Annabeth scoffed. "We'll see him again, Percy. He's in trouble; he's under Kronos' curse."
The angry monster in the back of Percy's mind began to take over. How can she still have feelings for that creep? Why does she make excuses for him? He deserved to fall. He deserved to die. Bianca and Zoe didn't deserve to die. Luke can't be alive. It isn't fair.
"There it is." Thalia said with a yawn. She was pointing towards Manhattan. "It's started."
Percy shook his head, getting rid of the thoughts he'd just had.
"What's started?" He asked. Percy looked towards where Thalia was pointing. High above the Empire State Building, Olympus was lit up.
"The Winter Solstice," Thalia answered. "The council of the gods."
The pegasi landed in front of the silver gates to Olympus. Thalia, Percy, and Annabeth got off the horses. Percy stepped forward to knock on the gate but they opened before his fist reached them. The pegasi flew off. After taking a deep breath, the trio walked forward. They couldn't get rid of the feeling of déjà vu. Percy felt as if he, Annabeth, and Thalia had stood in front of a building, unsure of what would happen to the three of them. It seemed as if it had happened millions of years ago. They stood side by side and entered the throne room.
