I know I said it was a one-shot, but here :P
The judges had given him nine months.
Luke had been named a hero, the savior of Olympus. He'd been awarded with Elysium, and he'd asked to be reborn. In nine mortal months, Charon would arrive to take him and a few others to the River Lethe to begin the process of reincarnation. He had nine months to say goodbye to everyone he'd loved.
He started with his mom. She knew he'd died, somehow. He told her about his plans for rebirth. Her last words to him were, "See you later." And Luke knew that he would.
He tried to appear to another friend of his in a dream, but he tried for four mortal months and couldn't make contact. It was like she was purposely blocking out thoughts of him. He didn't blame her.
Then he roamed the Fields of Asphodel. So many deaths that were all his fault. Beckendorf. Ethan. Silena. He'd search Elysium for these spirits later, but for now, he had many to apologize to. Almost all of the demigods who had been on the Princess Andromeda were there – Alabaster Torrington was missing, as were a few more. None of them remembered Luke, and they just chattered meaninglessly when he introduced himself, but he said goodbye anyway.
None of the demigods who'd invaded Manhattan had died. Percy Jackson had spared every last one of them. He was grateful for this. As Kronos, he would have done anything to bring about the downfall of the gods. But as himself, he was glad fewer lives had been lost.
Luke made a detour on his way to Elysium and spit into Tartarus, hoping the saliva landed on Kronos's ugly, chopped-up face.
More than he would have thought imaginable were in Elysium. Beckendorf, Silena, and Ethan weren't present. Many, many others were, though. And all of them were surprised to see Luke. One tried to step on his ghostly foot. He hugged the ones who were happy for him, smiled at those who weren't, and was on his way.
The judges had given him a house in West Elysium to wait for Charon. After almost nine months, he sat on the bed and thought over the final day of his life above. Annabeth had said she'd never loved him. That had hurt. It was obvious that she'd loved Percy, and that he loved her. Ever since Annabeth was eleven years old, Luke had considered her... a bit more than a little sister. When she was twelve, Percy had come along. For a few days, he was just another patient. Probably the hero of the Great Prophecy, but still just a patient. Then he had woken up, and Luke had known he was done for. Beaten by a twelve-year-old before either had admitted that they'd liked her. At least Annabeth got to be happy. If it came down to it, that was what he wanted.
He didn't know how long it took. Maybe he slept. Maybe not. But eventually, the knock on the door came. He donned the ceremonial black robes – apparently the ceremony had changed recently – and walked to the river with Charon and four other spirits. When they reached it, Charon gave each of them a small paper. They were to take off their robes and read it aloud. Luke went first.
"My name was Luke Castellan," he read. "I was twenty-one years old. I was the savior of Olympus. I give up the old life and accept the new."
The tallest ghoul was next. "My name was Charles Beckendorf. I was eighteen years old. I was a hero of the Second Titan War. I give up the old life and accept the new."
"My name was Silena Beauregard. I was seventeen years old. I was a hero of the Second Titan War. I give up the old life and accept the new."
"My name was Ethan Nakamura. I was sixteen years old. I was a hero of the Second Titan War. I give up the old life and accept the new."
There was only one that Luke didn't know: a young girl with olive skin and a silky black braid. Her robes were silver rather than black.
"Miss," Charon said to her, "you know that Hunters automatically receive the first Isle of the Blessed. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Of course," she replied. "My name was Bianca di Angelo. I was twelve years old. I sacrificed myself to save my friends from a defective automaton. I give up the old life and accept the new."
Beckendorf and Silena shared a quick kiss. Ethan and Luke shook hands. Bianca whispered something that sounded like, "I'm sorry, Nico. I love you." And together, they stepped into the waters of the Lethe.
He couldn't breathe. He felt a sharp sting of pain across his stomach and was suddenly wailing. Everything was so dark – he couldn't open his eyes. He was set down in someone's arms and felt a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"What are you going to name him, Evelyn?" someone asked.
Another voice, unknown but somewhat familiar, impossibly soft, said, "Luke."
Thanks for all of y'all's reveiws on Chapter 1. I might be adding more on this later.
