AN: Here is the penultimate chapter, hope you all like it!
After this, there should be one more chapter and then potentially a short epilogue. And then it'll be on to part 2. So exciting stuff.
But anyway, for now, I hope you enjoy it, and please leave a review etc. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to PM me.
Another thing while I am at it, is this. I am a part of a discord group, there are tons of others there, plenty of writers, admittedly mainly PJO, but other stuff too, including a growing number of writers from other fandoms. Feel free to pop along and say hi, I'm always happy to chat about the stuff I write. So if you fancy it please do join by sticking this: discord .gg / elibrary into discord, with no spaces, or using the link on my bio.
Thanks for reading and please do leave a review, or feel free to PM me, I am usually much better at answering those!
Betaed by Arch_Angel and Silver
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson.
( - )
(Last Time)
Parking the car along the side of the road as high up the mountain as they could drive, the party of four quickly got out and equipped themselves for the battle to come.
They were now close enough to see the mist shrouding Mount Othrys in the distance.
Sharing a look and a nod, the group of four started walking.
Reaching into his satchel as he walked, Percy quickly withdrew his bow and a sheath of arrows.
Thalia meanwhile expanded her bracelet into a shield and extended her spear, even as the other two strung their silver bows and nocked arrows.
None of them fully knew what they were walking into.
After about an hour, they finally made it into the mist.
This was it.
The end of their quest was almost in sight.
( - )
Chapter 16
( - )
(With Percy)
They had been travelling through the thick mist for some time now.
Zoe was at the front, her hunting knives in hand. Thalia and Percy meanwhile both followed her lead. With Phoebe bringing up the rear.
Looking around at the roiling fog, Percy felt a shiver go down his spine.
It was almost impossible to see anything ahead of them.
The mist was too thick.
It was also cold and wet; he couldn't feel the rejuvenating light of the sun anymore. It made him feel… empty.
It wasn't a pleasant feeling.
Glancing around at his companions, he could see that they too didn't look that happy.
Zoe and Phoebe were both tense.
Thalia, meanwhile, had a frown on her face and was fidgeting. She didn't look nervous, but instead, contemplative, and perhaps a little angry.
It wasn't an atmosphere conducive to idle chit-chat.
Clutching his sword tightly, Percy kept his head down and followed Zoe's lead.
Out of all of them, she looked the most comfortable.
More than that, she seemed to know exactly where she was going.
It was almost like she could see through the mist.
After another few minutes of trudging, they were soon rewarded for their endeavours. When the fog and mist ahead of them started to clear. Revealing a lush meadow of shadows and flowers.
Percy felt his mouth fall open in surprise.
The fabled Garden of the Hesperides.
His eyes widened as he looked out across the glorious fields of wildflowers and lushly waving grass. Before his gaze finally came to rest on the enormous tree that stood at the centre of the garden.
It had to be five stories tall, and every branch was littered with glistening golden apples.
The moment he stepped out of the mist, Percy could almost feel the pull of their power and when the fragrance hit his senses. He immediately knew that one bite of a golden apple would be the most delicious thing he had ever tasted.
"The apples of immortality," He muttered in wonder. "Zeus's wedding gift to Hera."
Thalia gave him a sideways look.
She looked surprised at the fact he recognised the legendary tree.
"You know you're mythology," She said. There was a hint of surprise in her tone.
"No, I know my gold," Percy shot back, a smile on his own face.
Thalia shook her head and let out a soft laugh.
It was the first positive reaction she had had to him since the beach.
Grinning, Percy shifted his gaze down to the base of the gigantic tree.
Coiled around the trunk of the tree was a colossal monster. It was a giant, serpentine, golden dragon with numerous horned heads and far too many gleaming yellow, slitted eyes.
Ladon, the guardian of the golden apples.
The fingers on his free hand began to twitch instinctively, as he shifted his gaze from the dragon and up the tree, before looking out at the rest of the garden.
Before he could do anything more than that, however, he froze as he suddenly felt four presences approaching.
His three companions presumably sensed the same, because, at almost the same moment all four of them shifted their attention from the giant tree and its equally massive guardian to a point several metres in front of them.
Raising his sword, Percy watched cautiously as four figures shimmered into existence.
Zoe seemed to tense immediately at the sight of them.
While he, Phoebe, and Thalia, just looked on warily.
Eyeing the newcomers, Percy watched as four young women, who looked very similar to Zoe, started gliding their way towards them.
The women wore flowing, Greek chitons; and their skin was the same caramel colour as both Zoe's and his own. They also had long, silky, black hair, almost identical to the Lieutenant of the Hunt's. And the same volcanic rock black eyes that both he and she seemed to share.
"Sisters," Zoe said coldly, clearing up any confusion any of them might have had.
"We do not see any sister," One of the girls hissed back, her gaze boring into Zoe for a moment, before shifting to the rest of them. "We see a half-blood, two hunters and a…."
She trailed off, her eyes locked on him.
She looked… confused for a moment.
Her eyes narrowed imperceptibly, before widening.
"Cousin?" The girl then asked, her head tilting to the side.
At her side, the other three also stared at him curiously.
"Can't be, he feels like a mortal…" Another replied.
"But not entirely mortal, I can sense divinity in his aura. It is faint, but still there," The third sister nodded. "…and growing…."
The other three didn't look sure.
"No, it is impossible. He was usurped, cast into Tartarus, and faded long ago." The final sister said decisively. "If he were free, he would have visited the garden. He would not have wasted his time procreating with a mortal."
"But he is not full mortal though," The third sister added curiously. "His aura…, but it's impossible."
After a few moments, the first sister shot Zoe a dirty look.
"Did you break yet another oath hunter, and spawn a child?" She spat, her lip curling in distaste.
"How dare you!" Zoe's eyes widened in shock and outrage.
Thalia and Phoebe meanwhile both sent him confused looks, even as he took an instinctive step away from Zoe. He was pretty damn sure he knew who his mother was, and it wasn't Zoe Nightshade.
"Err, not sure how to say this, but he's a son of Melinoe," Thalia piped up after a moment, breaking the mounting tension.
"I sense his connection to the underworld," The third sister confirmed, before shaking her head. "But it is faint, barely even there. A legacy maybe, but nothing more than that. He was not born to the darkness, but was instead born to the light."
"An imposter then," The second sister mused. "Worthy company for a traitor."
Thalia and Phoebe both sent him suspicious looks.
Zoe meanwhile continued to glare daggers at her sisters.
"Either way, it doesn't matter," The first sister cut in. "They will all soon be dead."
"Charming," Percy finally said, forcing a smile he didn't really feel, even as all seven girls turned and glared at him.
"Alright, I get the picture," Percy said, taking a step back.
Rolling her eyes at his response, and muttering something inaudible under her breath, Thalia shook her head and glared at the four sisters. "Look you dozy bitches, we're not here for the apples. We don't give a shit about them. We're just gonna walk through it, as we need to make it to the top."
Phoebe's lips curved upwards as she too looked at the four bitchy sisters. "Crass but still accurate. We are not here to disturb the garden; we're just passing through to seek an audience with your father."
The four girls' expressions turned angry.
Despite their seclusion, all four of them seemed to recognize that they were being insulted.
"I care not. No matter what you came here for, you are still intruding." The second sister sneered.
"Yes, you were dead the moment you entered." The third sister added with an identical sneer on her face.
"You may see our father," The first sister smirked nastily. "But first you must get past, Ladon."
"Ladon! Wake!" All four girls yelled at once before any of them could say or do anything.
Moments later the four Hesperides shimmered out of existence again.
"Well shit," Percy muttered, his eyes shifting to the giant serpentine monster as he slowly started to uncoil from around the tree. The more he uncoiled, the larger he appeared.
Unconsciously taking a step backwards, he licked his lips nervously. As the hundred-headed dragon opened its many mouths and sent a chorus of hissing sounds in their direction.
When the rancid smell of its breath hit Percy, he had to stop himself from throwing up.
At his sides, Phoebe and Thalia both gagged.
They both looked scared, and he didn't blame them.
For all his bluster and bravado, he was scared too.
Zoe however, just scowled. "Ladon, stop!"
He didn't stop.
"You remember me right!" She continued, her voice growing stronger as she tried to calm the snarling monster. "I used to feed to you, and sing you to sleep."
In response, Ladon's many heads bared their teeth.
He didn't look like he would be backing down any time soon.
"I don't think he cares," Thalia said, her voice strained as she raised her spear.
"We can't fight him," Phoebe hissed, as she nocked an arrow. "The only one who has ever managed to get past him was Heracles, and he succeeded through guile, not force."
Percy took a deep breath, his gaze surveying the garden.
The four Hesperides had disappeared into the ether. Meaning the strategy of taking one or other of them hostage and either forcing them to make Ladon stand down or using them as leverage against the others, was no longer viable.
His dark eyes flashed gold and his vision enhanced, as his gaze shifted to the tree. The golden apples littering its branches gleamed in the intense midday sun.
Turning his attention to the others, he could see that they were all frozen in fear and indecision.
He wet his lips.
He knew what needed to be done.
"Prepare to run, and stick to the edges of the garden. It is the only way " Zoe said, resignedly taking a step back, even as Ladon reared up, preparing to strike. Her expression was grim and full of resolve. Like a prisoner on death row finally accepting their fate. "I'll try and–"
"No," Percy cut in boldly.
All three of them looked at him.
Two in surprise, one in irritation.
Ignoring the looks, he took a step forward and raised his sword.
"You three take cover and look for an opportunity to slip past. I'll be the distraction or sacrificial goat, or whatever you want to call it." He said with forced confidence.
"Do you know what you're saying?" Zoe asked, her expression complicated. Her normally confident voice was tinged with uncertainty.
"Percy," Thalia said softly, her brow furrowing.
Her blue eyes were shining with an indecipherable emotion. He didn't want to deal with any mushy goodbyes, or cringy emotional shit right now.
He forcibly looked away and focused on Ladon's many horned heads.
He could see the golden scales that covered their throats starting to glow, even as he reared his heads back as one.
Ladon was about done with this shit.
He was about to bathe the entire garden in flames.
Pushing off with explosive force, Percy threw caution to the wind and drew on the endless burning energy of the midday sun.
"No time!" He shouted in response, throwing his satchel to one side. "Just fucking get out of here and save your friends!"
He refused to look back.
He didn't want to see their response.
Instead, he continued to draw on the radiant energy around him. His skin began to shimmer gold, as the pent-up fire inside him began to build up.
He felt like a pot full of water that had been left over the flame too long.
His blood boiled, and his veins bulged and started turning a fiery golden colour.
His head started pounding and his eyes stung.
His heart felt like it had been ripped out of his chest, placed on an anvil, and was being struck repeatedly with red hot hammers.
His every breath was harsh, and hot and heavy.
He could see the air around him shimmering.
Just as the verdant grass beneath him wilted and died.
He closed in on Ladon, reducing the distance between him and certain death with every moment that passed.
His muscles burnt with every step and his bones groaned with reluctance.
Steam started pouring out of his pores.
He ignored it all.
He didn't have time to dwell on what was happening to him.
Instead, he needed to focus.
"Fucking come at me you overgrown newt!" He shouted as loudly as he could.
Internally he knew his posturing was obnoxious as fuck.
Cliché too.
It was the kind of dialogue an action star from a cheesy 80's film might spout off.
But he didn't care.
He didn't have time to care.
After all, the timing was everything here.
If he slipped up for a single moment, he was dead.
A single mistake and the shitshow he called his life was over.
There were no two ways about it.
He gritted his teeth.
No.
Death wasn't a fucking option here.
He hadn't come as far as he had and done all the shit he had, for it all to end here.
He wasn't the hero type; he never had been. And he sure as hell wasn't some self-righteous arsehole whose life goal it was to have an epic last stand.
Selfless self-sacrifice wasn't his thing.
It never was.
His lips curved up into a wild grin, even as he literally felt Ladon let loose a loud roar – his very bones seemed to shake – even as he met Percy's challenge head-on.
The ancient guardian was only two dozen yards away now and was towering over his diminutive form.
Looking up, Percy felt his racing heart clench painfully.
There was no anger or rage in Ladon's gaze.
Just a bored determination to fulfil the reason behind his existence.
Grimacing as he felt the heat of Ladon's rancid breath roll over him, Percy continued his headlong charge. Even as Ladon unleashed a firestorm of fury from every one of his hundred heads. Bathing the entire area in front of him with fire.
( - )
(With Thalia moments before)
Thalia gritted her teeth and clenched her hands into fists, even as a complex mix of anger, fear and worry swirled about in her gut.
What the hell was Percy doing?
Since when has he been the type to pull something like this?
Before today, he had always been very mercenary.
He never did anything without expecting something in return.
It was annoying at times, but very in keeping with his personality.
She had grown used to it.
In fact, she had almost grown to appreciate his pragmatism and bluntness.
He had never tried to hide who he was.
Unlike Luke.
She had appreciated that.
She had appreciated him.
Now though, she didn't know what to think.
She wanted to grab him by the scruff of his neck, drag him to safety and lay into him for being an idiot.
That was the angry side of her.
Another part of her, however, the worried part, wanted to break down and cry for him to come back.
She didn't want him to die.
She didn't want him to leave her.
Her heart clenched painfully at that thought, even as she watched him charge headlong at Ladon.
He didn't look back as he ran.
All she saw was his broad back, and even that was partially enveloped in steam and shimmering air.
"Thalia! Come on!" Phoebe snapped from beside her.
Thalia lurched in response, her eyes watering from the surrounding heat.
Looking sideways, she saw the grim expression on Phoebe's face as the butch Hunter grabbed her hand and forced her to move.
"Right," Thalia said, her voice cracking as she got moving.
"Fucking come at me you overgrown newt!"
Her shoulders tensed as she heard Percy's shout.
He sounded both scared and angry.
Once again it made her heart clench, and her throat feel dry.
She couldn't just leave him to die, could she?
She should be down there with him, spear in hand and fighting by his side.
"Fucking move!" Phoebe snarled. "Lady Artemis and your friend are waiting."
Annabeth, Thalia thought.
Her muddled mind focused on an image of Annabeth.
The vision of her she could see was far younger than she was nowadays. It was the seven-year-old Annabeth, the scared, little girl she had met all those years ago.
Back then she had taken her under her wing and protected her.
Time had marched on since then and Annabeth had grown into a strong young woman. But in her mind, she couldn't help but still see her as that scared young girl who needed protecting. And she would be protected.
She gritted her teeth at that thought.
A single tear trickled down her cheek as she turned from Percy and made to follow the others.
"Skirt around the edges," Zoe said commandingly, her expression hardening. She started sprinting along the tree-line edges of the garden.
Phoebe followed her, pausing only long enough to mutter a single thing. So quietly it was almost inaudible. "Good luck, Perseus."
Watching them go, Thalia started running too, her head down as she tried not to look Percy's way.
If she did, then she knew she wouldn't be able to help herself from charging in to fight beside him. Which would be stupid, and selfish, and completely undermine the whole purpose behind his actions.
"Don't die," She whispered to herself, her eyes scrunched shut as she ran.
A deafening roar sounded from the side.
Looking despite herself, she felt her heart sink into the pit of her stomach as she saw Percy. Who looked far bigger than before with him almost standing at eight feet tall – charging headfirst into the literal ocean of fire Ladon unleashed on him.
The fire was so hot that she could see flecks of white and blue at its core.
She could also feel the heat from where she was standing. Almost a hundred yards away now - as it dried out the skin on her face, singed her hair and made her eyes sting.
Running pell-mell across the grass, she continued following Zoe and Phoebe as the two Hunters led the way out of the garden.
Behind her, she heard another roar and felt yet another explosion of fire.
Hardening her heart, and steeling herself, she pressed onwards, leaving Percy to his chosen fate.
Hopefully, he survived… if not, well she didn't know what she'd do… or think.
( - )
(With Percy)
Biting back a cry of pain as he felt fire lick at his limbs, Percy continued drawing on the ambient heat and light around.
His core felt like a molten ball of fire or a burning furnace.
He could feel it absorbing the radiant heat from around him, even as it then unleashed the stored-up energy into the rest of his body.
He felt powerful.
His clothing had long since been burned away by a combination of both his and Ladon's fire.
Everything was ashes save for his jacket and the sword in his hand.
Looking down, he saw the blade in hand which looked more like a curved knife than the two-foot sword it was.
It was like he had suddenly had a massive growth spurt. His hands were several times bigger than they had been before.
Dropping the sword – it would be useless against Ladon's diamond-hard scales. He moved his gaze upwards as the fire around him flickered and died. He could feel it licking at his skin unpleasantly, but it didn't hurt him. If anything, it empowered him.
As he emerged, he saw the hundred-headed dragon take a step back as if he was surprised.
All two hundred eyes were fixed on him to the exclusion of all else.
Letting out a breath made up of pure fire, Percy harnessed his rage and leapt at the dragon. Powering himself far higher than humanly possible, even as used his 'Meteor' ability to give himself extra thrust.
Ladon snarled in response, his poisoned fangs bared as all one hundred heads lurched forward. Twisting and weaving through the air as they tried to attack him from all directions.
Just one bite was all it would take. The potency of Ladon's poisonous fangs was almost as legendary as the Tree of Immortality.
Growling, he grabbed hold of the tightly restrained fiery energy within him and let it loose.
A shockwave of fire, heat and pure unadulterated power exploded from his body. Propelling him forwards, even as it blasted aside Ladon's many heads. The shockwave sent them smashing and crashing into either each other or the ground. Several of the heads even got impaled on the horns of their fellows. While one or two others got crushed beneath their body's staggering claws. He could see one head had completely lost its lower jaw, even as it weaved drunkenly side to side before falling to the ground limp.
Flying past the dazed Ladon, Percy reached out and grabbed onto a gigantic branch, flipping as he did so. Before landing on an even larger branch below the one he had grabbed.
Looking up, he saw that he had left a large black, handprint in the wood overhead.
Ladon roared in response, his previously placid eyes now filled with fury as he moved his gigantic body around to face Percy. His many heads snarled, before, without warning, several of them started spraying liquid fire at his position.
Off in the distance, Percy could almost hear the hiding Hesperides' cries of shock and fear.
Grimacing as he leapt off his branch, he headed further up into the tree's canopy. He could only watch as more of Ladon's heads gave in to their anger and continued to unleash jets of fire in his direction.
Below him, he could see the bark darken and burn, and leaves catch alight.
The lower half of the tree was entirely on fire.
"Shit!" He cursed, turning intangible as he ran along one of the branches. The air was now so hot, it was becoming a struggle to even draw breath.
Ladon let loose another chorus of earth-shaking roars and lunged forwards. His heads all snapping back and forth as they wove through the burning branches and crashed through the thickets of leaves and past bushels of priceless golden apples as he tried to catch Percy in his jaws.
Several times he nearly did, and it was only Melinoe's power that saved him.
He grimaced.
The not-so-hundred-headed dragon was beyond pissed. It seemed to be completely focused on killing him to the exclusion of all else.
Letting out a ragged gasp, Percy continued running, passing the main trunk he made it to the other side of the tree. Behind him he could hear a cacophony of snarls and roars as Ladon's head tore through the tree, spraying fiery death in all directions.
Shouting, he leapt into the void, his arms outstretched.
He had one chance, and he had to take it.
( - )
(With Zoe)
Firming her resolve as she led the way up the mountain, Zoe couldn't help but tense at every distance roar she heard.
She should have been the one to stay behind to distract Ladon, not Perseus.
But that stubborn idiot had taken the decision out of her hands.
Increasing her pace, she could hear the others hurrying after her.
They were all silent as they ran.
None of them had anything to say.
Instead, all they could do was listen to the sound of their own footsteps and to the distant roars.
Right up until the roaring suddenly stopped, as silence once again reigned supreme.
Looking back over her shoulder, she couldn't help but grimace as she saw the large plumes of black smoke in the distance.
Closing her eyes and sending a prayer to the heavens to look after his soul, before with a sigh she shook her head.
He had been abrasive, rude at times, and less than honourable.
But he'd had a good heart.
Unlike Heracles, he had not fought Ladon for material gain but had done so to help others.
In the end, he'd made a selfless sacrifice and had died a hero.
If they got off the mountain alive, she would make sure his story was told.
Letting out a breath, Zoe forced her gaze forward once more, even as they emerged from the trees and came upon an ancient set of ruins.
"What is this?" Phoebe said warily from beside her.
Zoe frowned in response.
The dark grey stone looked familiar, as did the archaic architecture.
"This shouldn't be here." She said warily.
"What do you mean?" Thalia asked.
Looking over, she saw the daughter of Zeus was pale. There were dark rings under her eyes and a hint of red at the edges of her eyes.
Averting her eyes, Zoe instead looked around at the painfully familiar ruins.
"After the first Titan War, the gods blasted Othrys to pieces. This is where the gods had my father imprisoned. But that was millennia ago. The fortress shouldn't look like this. It's reforming." She explained.
"Your father is Atlas?" Thalia said in response, almost accusingly. "I remember the story. He was the one that was trapped beneath the sky in the ruins of Othrys."
Zoe nodded. "Yes, and he is also 'the General', the Titan that Perseus saw in Washington. Which means he is free of his burden…, which in turn means another immortal being is holding up the sky in his place."
"Lady Artemis," Phoebe muttered.
Unlike Thalia, she didn't look at all surprised.
Then again, she had known Phoebe for centuries and had shared more with her than most.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Zoe nodded, even as she led the way through the outer ruins and up to the summit.
Only for her eyes to then widen as they reached the top of the mountain and the place where Kronos' throne room had once been, and came across a young girl, crouched and bound in chains.
"My lady!" Zoe yelled as she rushed towards Artemis.
"Stop! You must leave. It's a trap." Artemis shouted in a strained voice.
Zoe shook her head as she ignored her mistress' pleas. All that mattered was freeing her, which is exactly what she tried to do as she started tugging at the chains that bound Artemis to the ground.
The goddess' face was slick with gold-tinged sweat, and her arms were shaking as she struggled to keep the sky aloft.
At her side, Phoebe moved to help, even as Thalia looked around, probably searching for her friend, Annabeth.
"Ah, how touching," A familiar voice boomed out from behind them.
All three of them whirled around, their eyes widening as they saw Atlas standing behind them in a brown silk suit.
He was as large and as intimidating as she remembered, and his molten silver eyes held nothing but arrogance and confidence. Even as his brutal features twisted into a large, almost friendly smile.
The smile was almost pleasant.
But she could see beneath his genial outer façade and see the twisted monster that lurked beneath.
Standing by his side she could see the traitor, Luke Castellan.
Narrowing her eyes, she gave the traitor a cursory look.
His skin was waxy and pale, and his eyes sunken and tired. The boy didn't look well. He looked like a stiff wind would blow him over.
Shifting her gaze away from him, she instead turned her attention to the gaunt-looking blonde girl at Luke's side.
She too looked tired and worn out. Only unlike Luke, who was armed and armoured. Her hands were cuffed behind her back. She was a prisoner and one that looked to be on the verge of collapsing at any moment.
"Luke," Thalia snarled, her red-rimmed eyes locking on the gaunt boy, even as she pointed her spear in his direction. "Let her go."
Luke smiled weakly in response.
"As nice as it is to see you alive again, Thalia. I'm afraid the decision to release Anna belongs to the General," He replied, his voice still strong, despite his outward appearance. "But I wouldn't worry about her if I were you. Instead, I'd be more worried about fulfilling your destiny, Thalia. I mean, there is a reason we allowed you to get this far…."
As he spoke, he gestured to a nearby fountain, a once beautiful ruined relic from a bygone age.
Within the fountain's murky waters, she could see movement.
"What do you mean, allowed us?" Thalia spat, oblivious to the fountain and what lurked within it.
Luke smiled but didn't reply, as he instead put a hand on Annabeth's shoulder and forced her onto her knees.
Thalia's eyes narrowed to slits, "You're a fucking, backstabbing traitor to everyone you know and love. People have died because of you, good people! You won't survive this day, Luke. I promise you that much."
"So much for old friends," Atlas chuckled at his side, "And you how are you, Zoe? How is my little traitorous daughter?"
Zoe scowled as she tore her gaze away from the ongoing confrontation and instead raised her knives, her gaze once again on her father.
"I will enjoy killing you, little girl." Atlas' smile widened. "And then after that, I'll go after your little troupe. And trust me, their deaths won't be quick or painless. No, they'll be drawn out and painful as I take my turn with each and every one of them. Then after that, I'll let my troops have a go…, and then; after providing comfort to the entire army. Maybe then I'll allow them to be eaten…, alive of course…."
She could feel every fibre of her being rearing up in disgust and anger at his words.
"Do not respond," Artemis groaned from beside her. "Do not challenge him."
At her side, she felt Phoebe take a step forward and lay a bracing hand on her shoulder.
"I do not fear you," Zoe growled.
Atlas' eyes narrowed.
"Then you will die braver than most," Atlas replied darkly, as he raised his hand and summoned a massive black spear in an intense flash of golden light.
Blinking the spots out of her eyes. She quickly refocused and once again saw her father still standing before her, only now he was clad in gleaming black armour.
Shifting her gaze over his shoulder, her eyes widened a fraction when she saw a large cruise ship in the distance. But that wasn't what had attracted her attention. No, what caused her concern was instead the large number of monsters trooping up the mountain. At the head of the band of assorted monsters was the familiar figure of the Manticore in his human guise.
They didn't have much time.
They were already overpowered. Atlas' presence alone ensured that. But if they didn't move soon they would be outnumbered as well. And worst of all, if they wanted to free Artemis, they would have to fight Atlas and get him back under the sky.
There was no other choice.
Still, even from where she stood she could tell her father was barely a shadow of what he had been at the peak of his power.
Millennia trapped under the sky had clearly taken its toll on him, and from what she could see he was far from recovered.
Glancing sideways at Phoebe and Thalia, she firmed her resolve as they both gave her slight nods before without a word she and Phoebe charged straight at the Titan.
While Thalia bolted for Luke.
"As one," Zoe said to Phoebe, as they darted forwards. "Stay out of his reach. We won't be able to overpower him. But we may be able to outmanoeuvre him. Follow my lead."
"Always," Phoebe replied.
"Come on then, if you dare!" Atlas mocked, his spear raised as he set his feet and prepared to fend them both off at the same time.
He wasn't taking them seriously.
In fact, he looked more amused than anything.
It was grating.
Darting forward with her knives raised, she was instantly forced to dodge and weave as Atlas casually swung his spear around.
"Pathetic," Atlas laughed, his eyes crinkling in merriment as he continued to fend her off with contemptuous ease.
Keeping her temper, Zoe shot forward, side-stepping a spear thrust with preternatural skill. Even as she lashed out with her silver knives. The keen edges tasted golden ichor, as she used her naturally enhanced strength – courtesy of Atlas himself – to pierce his thick skin, as she cut through his hand and ripped them away before they were stopped by his vambraces
Snarling, Atlas lashed out and clipped her shoulder, even as she tried to dodge past him.
She went flying with a cry of pain as an explosion of pain shot through her body, centring on her shoulder. Only to hit the ground a few meters away with a heavy thud, the air leaving her lungs in an instant, even as she turned her fall into a roll.
"Zoe!" Phoebe shouted.
Making it to her feet, she was just in time to see Atlas appear in front of her. There was a sneer on his face as he raised his spear and prepared to impale her.
Her heart sank at the sight of her impending doom.
Only for Atlas' strike not to come as he instead staggered when a few silver arrows found a chink in the armour he wore. The barbed shafts clearly dug deep, even though they bought her enough time to leap back and away from him. She needed to create as much space as she could so she could recover her breath.
Wincing at the pain emanating from her busted shoulder, Zoe kept her gaze on Atlas as he recovered. His molten silver eyes had shifted to glare murderously at Phoebe, before turning back to her.
She had thousands of years of experience fighting and hunting and had strength far beyond even that of a child of the Big Three. Her agility and speed were also enhanced way beyond the norm thanks to her connection with Artemis.
She wasn't quite at Heracles' level in terms of strength, but she was closer than most, and she was far faster than him too.
Yet despite all her strengths and experience, she was completely outmatched.
Glancing over her father's shoulder, she could see Thalia beating Luke back, her spear a bronze blur as she used its reach to her advantage.
She at least was winning her fight.
Though for how much longer that remained to be seen, as even now she could see Atlas' reinforcement storming up the mountain towards them.
Returning her gaze to Atlas, she was just in time to see him make his move as he lunged forward with inhuman speed.
Leaping into action she deftly avoided his attempt to impale her as she moved in close. The knife in her right hand shot out as she slashed at some exposed flesh on the back of his knee.
As she made her move, Phoebe continued firing arrows. Several of them ricocheted off his armour, but a couple found chinks in his defences.
One even managed to land in his armpit, causing him to let loose a roar of irritation.
Continuing her assault, she dodged her father's wild swings, scoring as many slashes as she could.
She couldn't beat the Titan of Endurance in a battle of attrition, even while he was weakened.
But if she could immobilize him for a while, she could buy Thalia the time she needed to finish off Luke and come assist her.
A powerful bolt of lightning might be just strong enough to knock him over, and into Artemis. They just had to get him into the right position.
Darting to the side, several flecks of golden ichor splashed against her face as Phoebe landed another silver arrow. Only this time it struck him in the neck.
Grimacing, she moved in again.
She was a hit-and-run fighter by nature.
That style of fighting came hand in hand with hunting.
A straight-up fight against a significantly stronger foe just wasn't her thing as she lacked the overwhelming elemental abilities that demigods like both Thalia and Perseus had.
Unfortunately, she didn't have a choice right now.
Which was especially bad as her father was her worst possible match-up.
He was an indomitable monster that didn't tire, and he could ignore wounds that would kill lesser beings.
Ripping the barbed arrow out of his throat, Atlas didn't miss a step as he turned and hurled his spear with as much force as he could.
From where she was standing, she could only watch as the black blur of death tore through the air and struck Phoebe mid-step.
Artemis let out a strangled sob as she sank even lower beneath the weight of the sky.
"Phoebe!" Zoe shouted, her voice breaking.
Her long-time friend didn't answer.
But the spray of blood and the sound of her body hitting the ground was all the answers she needed.
Atlas' spear had torn a gaping wound straight through her chest.
Fury filled her very being as she saw the blood pool around Phoebe's deathly still form.
She didn't think, she relied entirely on instinctual rage as she charged straight at Atlas.
"Killing you will be an act of mercy," Atlas growled, his voice far harsher than normal due to the damage done to his throat.
Summoning a javelin, he snarled as he moved to fend her off.
Zoe didn't reply to him and instead just focused on attacking.
Her knives were a blur of silver as she ignored the agonizing pain in her shoulder and the way her heart ached.
All she felt at this moment was pure, unadulterated rage.
Laughing, Atlas met her attacks head-on, his javelin a blur as he fended her off. Only for his laughter to soon peter out she continued to dodge his counterattacks. With every moment that passed, her father seemed to be growing more frustrated.
Letting out a growl, Atlas started forcing her back, his thrusts and slashes getting faster.
Holding back a snarl of her own, she tried to keep up.
Her shoulder was throbbing with pain, and her muscles were screaming in protest. Yet at the same time, she couldn't give in, as giving in now would be akin to betraying Phoebe and Perseus' sacrifices and abandoning Lady Artemis.
With that thought in mind, she pressed on.
Her father was wounded, his right thigh was slick with golden ichor from where she had wounded him, and his upper body was likewise bleeding from where Phoebe's arrows had found their mark. Including the blood still bubbling from his wounded throat.
He was far from down, but he was bloodied at least.
Shifting her gaze past him, she was just in time to see Luke cry out in pain as Thalia's spear blade slashed him across the face. Disorientating him enough for her to then press forward and kick him square in his armour-clad chest.
With a cry of shock, pain and anger, Luke fell backwards off the cliff edge leaving Thalia the undisputed victor.
Annabeth, her arms still cuffed behind her back, was now on her feet.
Zoe felt a faint flicker of hope.
Hopefully, now Thalia had ended the traitor she could free her friend. Which was exactly what they needed her to do, as Thorn and his monstrous companions had finally reached the summit of the mountain.
From just a glance she could see that there were dozens of them, all armed with weapons, claws and fangs. All hungry to unleash their primal fury on the spawn of the very gods that either cursed or created them.
Raising her knives, Zoe's eyes widened as Atlas feinted an attack to her left, forcing her to dodge. Only for him to swiftly change tack – she was beginning to slow down as her wounds took their toll on her – and unleashed a powerful kick to the torso.
Pain exploded across her chest.
Several ribs were cracked.
Hitting the ground hard, she rolled a few feet before stopping just in front of Artemis.
"Run Zoe," Artemis groaned. "You will not be able to defeat him."
Looking up at those words, she felt her heart sink.
Artemis, her goddess, her mentor, her friend.
For the first time ever, she looked defeated.
Looking back at Atlas as he slowly strode towards her with his javelin in hand. Zoe closed her eyes and prayed to every god she could think of, even Apollo, for help.
As if to answer her prayers, Thalia chose that moment to intercede as with a war cry she slammed into the oncoming Atlas, with her spear – crackling with lightning – thrust forward.
( - )
(With Percy)
Pulling on a spare pair of jeans and some scuffed boots he had salvaged from one of his old victims, Percy let out a soft sigh.
Not far away he could still hear Ladon rampaging and the wails of the Hesperides as their garden and the sacred tree they were sworn to protect burned.
Chuckling to himself as he stood, Percy dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out a shining golden apple.
It was ironic really, the very monster that had been placed there to protect the tree, had, in the end, been the one to destroy it.
Rolling his shoulders, he looked up at the black plumes of smoke and shook his head.
The apple in his hand was likely the last one in existence.
Which only increased its intrinsic value.
Not that he was going to be selling it.
No, he had invested too much time and even risked his own life several times to acquire this apple.
Throwing it up in the air, he caught it again.
There was only one place this, the last Apple of Immortality was going, and that was in his stomach.
Once he had aged a few years that is.
Early to mid-twenties would probably be the ideal age to stay locked at. It would be substantially better than being stuck as a teenager for the rest of his existence.
He smiled at that thought, even as he reclaimed his satchel and started ambling back down the hill. Away from the burning garden and the ruins of Othrys.
As he headed down the hill, Percy's ears perked up as he heard a distant bellow.
This one didn't sound like it had come from either Ladon or the four bitchy sisters in the garden.
Frowning, he turned and looked up the mountain.
Narrowing his eyes, he felt them flare up and turn gold as he used his enhanced vision to see through the smoke, clouds and scattered trees.
His heart clenched and gut twisted.
"Well shit," He muttered, his brow furrowing as he tore his gaze away from the peak of the mountain and instead looked over at the sweetly beckoning city of San Francisco in the distance.
"Shit."
( - )
AN: So a bit of a messy situation. The Party is in a worse situation than in canon, especially since Annabeth's dad isn't flying around strafing the hordes of monsters. It'll be interesting to see what happens next. Especially now Percy has what he wants. All he needs to do now is hightail it out of there, contact Alecto and get his reward. Simple stuff you would think.
Let me know what you think might happen.
Also, I am on discord with a load of other writers, so if you fancy popping over to ask questions or offer suggestions about this story, or any of my other ones, or to find new authors you might not have come across yet, please feel free to use the link in my bio.
Thanks for reading and if you have any suggestions or questions feel free to PM me or find me on Discord.
Catch you later.
Greed720.
