The Battle
"We headed to New York. When we got there I led us into an alley and whistled loudly five times," said Percy.
"A flock of Pegasus descended, Blackjack in the lead with four of his white friends," explained Annabeth.
"Remember to whistle when we need the Pegasus," whispered Travis to Connor.
"Doesn't work," Nico informed the pair also in a whisper.
"Since I couldn't go to camp, it was time for me to say goodbye," said Rachel "Percy thanked me for coming."
"They couldn't have done it without you," exclaimed Apollo.
"We know. Rachel said she wouldn't have missed it, except for the almost dying part," informed Percy.
"Which was the majority of the time," said Chris.
"I told Percy that if he ever felt like hanging out with a mortal to call me," said Rachel.
"You have two girls interested in you… and you had no idea," exclaimed Aphrodite in frustration.
"Now you understand how we felt," chuckled Annabeth.
"Well a certain Goddess of love wants to make his love life interesting," accused Poseidon.
"Rachel left after telling me to go save the world," said Percy.
"Good I'm finished my part for now," said Rachel moving off the centre couch and going to sit on another couch with Thalia.
"I was having trouble with my Pegasus as it kept shying away and wouldn't let me mount," grumbled Nico.
"The Pegasus were complaining because of Tyson and Nico. Tyson because he was heavy and Nico because he smelt like dead people," said Percy.
"I don't smell," yelled Nico.
"Apparently many demi-gods smell weird, it isn't our fault," explained Percy.
"If we smell, it is their fault," said Chris pointing to the gods and goddesses with a grin.
"Nico wanted us to leave without him, he didn't want to return to camp," informed Annabeth.
"Why didn't you want to return?" asked Hades.
"Because I didn't feel accepted," admitted Nico with a shrug "Because it was the last place I saw Bianca alive."
"Nico refused Percy's request but agreed to come when I asked him. But stated that he was not staying," said Annabeth.
"Camp is the safest place for demi-gods," stated Zeus.
"The camp that is currently preparing for a battle within their borders," protested Athena.
"Percy's group landed in the middle of the cabin area where they were met by Chiron, that potbelly satyr… um… Silenus and me with a couple of my other cabin mates," informed Will.
"Chiron was not that surprised with our news. About Quintus being Daedalus or Kronos rising stating he had feared as much," said Annabeth.
"He was surprised to see me," bragged Nico.
"Silenus demanded to know about Grover's search for Pan," admitted Percy.
"The camp is about to be over-run by monsters and he is more concerned by a search. The camp's occupant's lives are more important," stated Demeter.
"Grover was three weeks overdue and his searchers licence had been revoked," informed Will.
"Grover looked at Silenus in the eye and stated that it didn't matter anymore," said Percy. "He informed Silenus that Pan was dead, that he had passed on and had left us his spirit."
"Bet Silenus wasn't happy to hear that," said Dionysus.
"He wanted Grover exiled for telling lies and said we were all liars and nature destroyers," advised Percy.
"Silenus wanted to discuss the situation then and there but Chiron stated that camp was under attack and that the matter of Pan could wait," mentioned Annabeth.
"They have waited two thousand years, waiting a bit longer isn't going to hurt," said Artemis.
"Everyone was in the clearing around Zeus's fist dressed in full battle armour. The Hephaestus cabin had set up traps," informed Percy.
"There was razor wire, pits filled with Greek fire, rows of sharpened sticks to deflect a charge," explained Katie.
"They were fun to set up," explained Connor.
"Except for that kid who fell and spiked himself," sniggered Clarisse.
"At least we knew that defence could work," protested Travis.
"Beckendorf was manning two catapults already primed and aimed at Zeus's fist," described Annabeth.
"My cabin was the front line," stated Clarisse "and we were ready."
"The Apollo and Hermes cabins were scattered through the woods with bows ready," informed Nico.
"Some of us were up trees," said Travis.
"That's a good strategy, hit them from above," praised Athena.
"The dryads and satyrs were also armed," reported Will.
"Everyone is fighting," said Aphrodite.
"Camp is about to be attacked by the enemy, of course everyone wants to defend their home," barked Ares as he rolled his eyes.
"The Athena campers had set up a command tent and were directing operations with Argus on guard," said Percy.
"I joined my siblings to discuss the plan and strategies they had in place," advised Annabeth.
"The Aphrodite campers were running around straightening armour and the Dionysus kids were providing warriors with water and juice boxes," explained Clarisse.
"Sounds like a pretty good set up," admitted Hermes.
"Except it wasn't enough, when you consider all the monsters we had seen in the arena and the power of Kronos that I had felt," said Percy. "It made me wish Dionysus was at camp for the first time."
"First time ever," chuckled Chris.
"Gods are not allowed to interfere directly," stated Zeus.
"Yet the Titans apparently don't have the same restrictions," mumbled Thalia glaring at her father.
"Tyson helped the Hephaestus prepare by piling boulders next to the catapults. Chiron wanted me to stay with him and then go where reinforcements were needed," explained Percy.
"Is Percy really that good?" questioned Artemis.
"He has won some fights," answered Poseidon.
"He is also the chosen one, less chance he can get into the hands of the enemy if he is with Chiron," said Hera.
"Or maybe we wanted someone to be able to go where needed," stated Annabeth.
"It had always been the plan that Percy and Annabeth would be part of the second wave," advised Clarisse.
"I explained to Chiron about Kronos and Luke and wondered how he could take over a mortal body," informed Percy.
"Did Chiron have any ideas?" asked Athena.
"No, he couldn't understand how he had managed to merge and not cause Luke's form to turn to ash," replied Percy.
"Whatever he did to prepare his body must have stopped that from happening," said Rachel.
"Chiron hoped that it would limit Kronos's power. It confined him to a human body and therefore it could restrict him," said Percy.
"Wasn't Luke going to lead the attack?" questioned Zeus.
"Chiron didn't think he would. We had inconvenienced him when we pulled down the throne room, me and Nico- son of Hades," explained Percy.
"He knew who I was?" questioned Nico as Percy nodded.
"So Chiron realised who Nico was. You should have told him," said Demeter.
"You can trust Chiron. But I can see how you felt responsible for Nico and was trying to protect him," said Hestia.
"I don't need protection," grumbled Nico.
"We are starting to realise that," admitted Will.
"The ground started to tremble so I yelled the command to lock shields," said Clarisse.
"The Titan lord's army exploded from the Labyrinth. A dozen Laistrygonian giants were first, carrying flattened cars as shields and spiky clubs," said Travis.
"One of the giants smashed his club into my cabins phalanx and our entire cabin was thrown aside," grumbled Clarisse.
"Yet those uninjured were soon up and ready to engage again in fighting," praised Katie.
"The catapults were put into action with the first boulder being deflected but the other one took down a giant," said Annabeth.
"We fired volleys of arrows and some of them found chinks in the giants armour and they vaporised,'" described Will.
"We had almost overwhelmed the giants when another wave of monsters, thirty or forty dracaenae in full battle armour burst from the Labyrinth," informed Travis.
"Thankfully some of them got caught in the traps," said Connor.
"One of them got caught in the spikes and was an easy target," reported Will.
"Another tripped a wire and exploded pots of Greek fire that engulfed them and several other monsters," informed Katie.
"Well that was lucky," said Artemis.
"More monsters kept coming so my cabin with Argus rushed forward to enter the fray," said Annabeth.
"Tyson had somehow managed to get onto a giant's back and was hitting him over the head with a shield," laughed Travis.
"Does anyone know how that happened?" asked Poseidon but everyone had been concentrating on not being killed.
"Chiron was taking monsters down with every shot of his bow. It wasn't until a hellhound leaped out of the maze and headed straight at the satyrs did Chiron authorised me to go," explained Percy.
"About time you joined the fight," said Clarisse.
"What were you doing?" demanded Percy.
"I was fighting one-on-one with monsters and those stupid enemy warriors," replied an angry daughter of Ares.
"And doing a great job. She disintegrated a monster just before it could kill me," admitted Katie.
"Those enemy warriors were a problem. One was shooting flaming arrows into the trees," said Will.
"I just managed to jump out, before the branch I was on burst into flames," complained Travis.
"As I was running towards the satyrs I saw one of the Dionysus campers fighting with one, but unfortunately he was no match and went down, and never recovered," said Percy.
"It was difficult for us…." admitted Connor indicating to his brother and himself.
"How was it difficult for you?" questioned Katie.
"We recognised some of the enemy warriors or their fighting styles," answered Travis.
"I was fighting a telekhine and had just finished him off, when Percy directed me to a dozen of dracaenae who had broken away from the main battle and was heading towards the centre of camp," informed Nico.
"If they get to the centre of camp they could burn it down unopposed," warned Dionysus.
"Were they really heading to the camp?" asked a surprised Clarisse.
"Damn, we hadn't thought of any of them breaking away from the clearing," admitted Annabeth.
"Nico was the only person nearby. He called out and a dozen undead warriors crawled out from a fissure that had opened up in front of the dracaenae," described Percy.
"That would have taken a lot of power," said Hades.
"So Nico saved my life. I would have been stuck crazy, in the infirmary, unable to defend myself if they had burnt the camp down," commented Chris.
"I closed in on the hellhound who had pounced onto a Satyr. I distracted it and it was soon coming towards me. It pounced and somehow I landed near a jar of Greek fire and tossed it into its maw and the hellhound went up in flames," explained Percy.
"Was that one of the Satyrs that died?" asked Clarisse.
"Yes, I think there was a couple of more who perished, and a handful of dryads," sighed Percy.
"A forest fire had started due to the flaming arrows and Greek fire. I was assisting the dryads and satyrs trying to put out the flames," explained Katie.
"It was put out when a huge wall of water rushed from the creek, wetting everything," complained Travis.
"Juniper's tree was in danger," explained Percy.
"I'm glad you put out the fire," said Katie "although it made fighting difficult, in armour and soaking wet."
"We need to add fighting wet into battle training, especially with Percy around," said Annabeth.
"It felt like we were getting the upper hand, I had taken out countless monsters, however there was a dozen of warriors injured," remarked Clarisse.
"As much as I wanted to concentrate on treating the injured, I could only concentrating on downing the enemy," moaned Will.
"It was more like the battle had balanced out, until Kampe shot out of the Labyrinth and landed on top Zeus's fist clutching a ball of string," explained Annabeth as swears were heard from a number of gods and goddesses.
"Kampe was scary. I tried to get away from her and got trampled by a group of hellhounds. I don't remember much about the battle after that," admitted Katie.
"Katie was in the infirmary for two days," informed Will.
"Kampe flew into the air and just missed Chiron's arrow. She landed on the Athena command tent, smashing it flat," explained Annabeth.
"Thankfully no one was in the tent at the time," remarked Connor.
"I found myself running towards Kampe with Annabeth right beside me," said Percy.
"Of course she was," accused Thalia "whenever you are in trouble or heading into battle Annabeth is with you."
"Percy tried to distract Kampe while I went for a strike but she managed to block me and I had to jump backwards to avoid a cloud of poison," explained Annabeth.
"While those two battled Kampe, the rest of us concentrated on the other enemy," stated Clarisse.
"We charged again and managed to dodge Kampe's slashes and almost managed to stab her in the chest. Except a bear's head lashed out from her waist and we had to move to avoid being bitten," said Percy.
"Somehow Percy and I found ourselves on the ground with Kampe holding us down," grumbled Annabeth.
"How did you get away?" questioned Poseidon.
"Mrs O'Leary. She slammed into Kampe, sending her forward. She then stood over us," explained Percy.
"How did she get there?" asked Ares.
"She came with Daedalus, who was fighting his way out of the Labyrinth taking down the enemy as he went. Also with him was Briares," answered Percy.
"The hundred-handed-one had large chunks of rock in each hand and he threw them all at once at Kampe," explained Travis.
"Where Kampe had been was now a mountain of boulders. The only sign of the monster was two green sword points sticking through cracks," said Connor.
"We all cheered but the enemy was informed to slay as all, otherwise Kronos would flay them alive," advised Will.
"That was apparently more terrifying than we were, as the monsters surged forward. One surprised Chiron with a blow to the back legs that caused him to stumble and fall," said Annabeth.
"That was when Grover opened his mouth and the most horrible sound came out. The sound of pure fear," reported Percy. The gods and goddesses gasped.
"As one the forces of Kronos dropped their weapons and ran back into the Labyrinth," said Clarisse.
"The giants trampled other monsters as they tried to get into the maze fist," jeered Connor.
"The tunnel rumble shut. The battle was over," said Clarisse.
"Now you have to deal with the wounded and the dead," said Hades with a sigh.
"Everyone had some type of wound and every cabin had lost someone," admitted Will. "Chiron had broken back legs."
"All those who were able to, passed out canteens of nectar," said Travis.
"Nico was found with smoke curling off his clothes, the grass around his body had turned yellow and died," said Percy.
"What happened to him?" asked Demeter.
"I tried to summon too many of the dead," admitted Nico.
"Nico has a habit of disregarding how much effort using his powers take," accused Will.
"Twice, I have ended up in the infirmary," argued Nico.
"And how many times have you needed care outside of camp?" questioned Will.
"I know of at least five times," added Annabeth ignoring the pout from the young demi-god.
"Why was Daedalus fighting with you?" asked Athena.
"Daedalus admitted that he had made a mistake and had come to correct it," said Percy.
"You usually regret things if people double cross you," stated Hephaestus.
"Apparently Daedalus had run into Braires in the maze. They had both been planning to come help, so they came together," said Annabeth.
"I got an autograph from Braires," bragged Connor.
"You weren't the only one – the Ares cabin have armour signed by him," said Clarisse.
"We have a signed shield hanging up in our cabin," admitted Katie.
Daedalus realised that while the Labyrinth was around the enemy could use it. Therefore it couldn't continue," said Annabeth.
"But the Labyrinth is connected to his life force," reminded Hera.
"Daedalus had decided that it was time for him to pass on," said Nico.
"He handed Annabeth one of his laptops that he managed to save from the fire," informed Percy.
"It contained his work. Projects he hadn't started, his favourite designs. It was so interesting," said Annabeth.
"That is priceless," exclaimed Athena.
"He told Annabeth to take his ideas and improve them. She would someday be a greater architect than he ever was," said Nico while Annabeth blushed.
Daedalus admitted that he was wrong to hide from his crimes and that he must face his punishment," said Percy.
"He won't get a fair trial – Minos sits in judgement," argued Thalia.
"He decided to trust in the justice of the Underworld," explained Annabeth.
"That is all he can do," admitted Hades.
"Daedalus offered his soul as ransom, so I could reclaim Bianca," said Nico quietly.
"Nico refused saying that Bianca had passed and had to stay where she was," said Annabeth.
"Someone is becoming wise," praised Hestia.
"Daedalus asked Percy to look after Mrs O'Leary. He couldn't leave her alone and Mrs O'Leary had no desire to return to the Underworld," commented Nico.
"So that's how you got a Hellhound for a pet," said Artemis.
"Nico drew his sword and stated for Daedalus to be released and rest. Daedalus froze like a statue before turning to grey ash and disintegrating," informed Percy.
"The earth rumbled as the ancient Labyrinth collapsed," said Annabeth.
"Hopefully the remains of the Titan's strike force have been buried," proposed Zeus.
"That night was the first time I saw camp burial shrouds used on actual bodies," admitted Percy.
"Not something you want," said Aphrodite.
"There were a number of dead campers, about fifteen. Lee Fletcher from the Apollo cabin had been downed by a giant's club. Pollux the twin brother of Castor the son of Dionysus killed by the enemy warrior, was the one who lit the funeral pyre," said Annabeth.
"With the couple of enemy bodies who had been left on the battlefield we dragged them as far away from camp as possible and buried them in a ditch," said Connor.
"You buried the enemy's dead?" questioned Hera. Most of the demi-gods also looked surprised.
"We could name some of those bodies, one was a son of Ares, a son of Hermes, and a few were unclaimed campers that had resided in our cabin when they had been at camp," admitted Travis.
"At least monsters disintegrate and we don't have to worry about monster carcasses," said Clarisse.
"The next day was spent treating the wounded and the satyrs and dryads worked on repairing the damage to the woods," said Percy.
"And the Council of Cloven Elders had an emergency meeting," stated Annabeth.
Author's Note:
I found writing this chapter difficult. It made me realise how difficult doing the Last Olympian is going to be.
Why? Because we see the battle through Percy's eyes. What about the other demi-gods (Clarisse, Will, Katie, Travis and Connor). I hope I have done justice to the story.
I added the aftermath of the battle in this chapter, although it is in the next chapter of the book. (Two more chapters of this story to go).
Please review, tell me what you thought. Please, please, please.