Ch24

Magnus looked at Zoe and then at Atlas and sadly he could see the resemblance, they both had a cold proud look to them but Atlas seemed colder and without any of the sympathy, Zoe had. "Yes we are related," Atlas said smoothly. "Now I will have Luke here take care of you all."

Luke stepped forward his face pained, "Thalia you can still join us. Call the Ophiotaurus it will come. You will become more powerful than the Gods."

Magnus watched Percy shake his head as if forcing himself to not think of Bessie. "Luke," Thalia whispered," her voice was full of pain. "What happened to you? Please let Annabeth go."

"Don't you remember all those times we talked? Our fathers have done nothing for us. We can be together," Luke said before turning to him. "Magnus I know you are different; your father abandoned your mother to the wolves and never has acknowledged you as his son; you can join us too. I know your father and his family usually just abandon people like you and hope they die for their inevitable end."

"Luke you are crazy," He said as he stared at his face which appeared to get paler. "Let her go," he said pointing to his cousin." He thought of disarming him with his voice like he did with Aries but for some reason, his words faltered and nothing would leave his mouth. At that moment he was glad he didn't have powers like Percy or Thalia, if he did he would have summoned a wave to drown Luke or blast her with lightning for hurting her.

Behind Luke he could see the golden sarcophagus begin to glow and a mist emerged from it showing the world in ruin. "We will raise mount Othrys here," Luke said in a strained voice. "Once more it will be stronger and greater than Olympus. Look Thalia and you too Magnus we are not weak."

They all looked to the see and Magnus felt his eyes widen as he gasped in shock. On the side of the mountain was Luke's ship the Princess Andromeda which he had heard from Percy about. But what made his heart sink was the army. There were monsters of every kind and every shape and size along with various half-bloods. There were so many monsters he did not know a lot of them. How can we beat this? His legs shook as he saw the enemy army

"This is only a taste of our power," Luke said. "Soon we will be ready to storm the Camp and then Olympus itself. All we need is your help Thalia, and you too Magnus you both can help us and after we are done with Olympus Kronos said he will help bring the battle to your father and his domain for he has contacts everywhere. With the help of your father's enemies, we will bring him and western civilization will fall and be rebuilt by us."

His eyes widened as he stared at Luke whose eyes appeared to say all he knows I am not a Greek half-blood. "Yes Magnus Kronos has told me many things about you, about your parentage you don't have to pretend anymore," Luke said in a strained voice.

Magnus felt the eyes of his friends on him. Annabeth and Thalia were looking at him in confusion while Zoe glared at him as if waiting for him to make the wrong choice. Artemis stared at him and from her quick glance, he could tell that she knew but he saw no judgment in her eyes; in fact, her eyes showed nothing but welcome and a desire for him to make the right choice. He felt Percy's hand on his shoulder, he turned to his friend and looked into his eyes and nodded at him.

The cold wind passed through him as he met Luke's gaze. "My home is at camp Luke," He said firmly. "I will not let you hurt it or anyone else I love."

"Luke you aren't the one I know anymore," Thalia said shaking her head.

"Please," Luke said in a pleading tone. "Don't make me, he will destroy you and everyone else."

They all exchanged a look; it wasn't a long one but they all knew that they had the same resolve. They knew it wouldn't be horrible to die fighting alongside each other as friends.

"Now!" Percy yelled and with that, they all charged.

Thalia ran at Luke while he and Percy decided to attack Atlas who materialized a javelin in his hand. They both swung their swords but Atlas easily repelled them back. "You foolish children think you can take me on?" Atlas sneered.

Percy raised his sword but his arm was shaking, "Crap not now," he said. Magnus turned to him and remembered Ares's curse that he put on Percy. Shit and now of all times he thought.

"Hey kid now might be a time to use me and the armor," Gram warned

"Not now," he said as he turned to Percy who looked at him.

"Magnus can you buy me some time? I am going to do something crazy," Percy said.

He smiled and sighed at his friend, "Fine dude but don't keep me waiting."

Percy smiled, "I won't," he said as he turned around and headed toward Artemis.

"Foolish demigod do you think you can withstand that?" Atlas said as Percy helped Artemis with her burden.

Percy be careful he thought as he watched Percy take up the sky and Artemis break free. "Percy you can do this don't give up," he said in encouragement as he turned to face Atlas. "Are you able to assist me?" Artemis asked standing next to him.

"I will do all I can Lady Artemis," he said looking into her eyes.

"Good then I recommend activating your weapon you have," she said pointing to Gram.

"I told you so," Gram said.

"Shut up," he responded in his head. "I understand my lady." He sheathed his sword and pulled out Gram and activated his armor and shield. He felt the black armor encase his body while his face became covered in the helmet. Through the helmet he could see everything clearer; he felt Gram in his hand radiating energy as he stared at Atlas.

Atlas only laughed, "Do not think that your mere upgrade can best me."

"Kid remember you can activate the small swords you have on you and will them by command just think about what you want them to do and they will do it," Gram said.

"Thanks I'll keep that in mind," he said as he gripped the sword.

"Let us go demigod your friend cannot hold it forever," Artemis said taking out a silver knife.

Magnus only nodded as Atlas charged at them. He felt his body act on its own as he charged at Atlas, his body felt quicker and he almost would have guessed that the armor was guiding him in a way. Artemis was still faster though and managed to avoid Atlas's attacks. Magnus came in with Gram and brought it down on the spear. Atlas smirked at him, "Nice try child but your little toy and do little against me," he said as he pushed him off with all of his strength.

Shit good thing this armor took that hit he thought as he coughed. He pulled out some of his short swords and threw them at Atlas. He did as Gram had instructed and willed them to fly at him. Atlas managed to block them but left him open to Artemis who summoned a javelin and stabbed him repeatedly with it.

"Well done children but it is all futile," Atlas said with a laugh. Magnus ran at them as he noticed Atlas tried to stab at Artemis in her blind spot. Artemis noticed and tried to dodge but Atlas tripped her with his leg making her fall.

"No!" He and Zoe yelled. I have to go faster he thought as he put all of his energy into his legs. He forced them to run as fast as they could. Surprisingly the armor did not impede him as he ran. Zoe got in between her father and Artemis but she had no armor on whatsoever.

Is she planning on dying? He thought as he jumped with all of his strength. He pushed Zoe to the ground and raised his sword at Atlas, "Drop your weapon!" He yelled as he swung his sword. His words came out like an order as a burst of energy flew throughout the area. The weapon in Atlas's hand shook and flew out of his hand much to Atlas's surprise.

"What was that?" Zoe said looking at him in shock.

"Saving your life," he said as he retracted his helmet and smirked at Atlas who stared at him in shock. He felt Gram's energy increase as the sword flared a bright green color. Atlas was in shock and for a second he swore he saw fear in his eyes as he swung Gram. Atlas was surprised and walked back and nearly tripped.

Artemis then took her chance to attack at the opening he gave her. She grabbed her weapon and kicked Atlas and sent him flying towards Percy. Magnus turned and saw Percy manage to slip out from underneath the sky just as it fell on top of Atlas.

"NOOO!" Atlas bellowed so hard that the mountain shook. "NOT AGAIN!"

Percy smiled at him and gave him a thumbs up. Magnus smiled at him and turned to Zoe who was staring at him in shock. "Are you ok?" He asked extending an arm.

Zoe looked at him nervously and back at Artemis who nodded. "Thank you Magnus Chase you have saved me," she said taking his arm. He helped her up and turned to see Thalia and Luke, both of them were on the edge of the cliff and Thalia appeared to be gaining the upper hand.

"Don't kill him," Annabeth begged.

"He is a traitor," Thalia said as she pointed her spear at Luke.

"Bring him to Olympus he is more useful to us alive," Annabeth said.

"Is that what you want Thalia? To please your dad?" Luke sneered. Thalia glared at Luke and appeared to have hesitated a bit when Luke made a desperate attempt to grab her spear. Thalia reacted swiftly as Annabeth shouted for her not to. But it was too late, Thalia quickly kicked Luke who lost his balance and fell down the cliff.

"No!" Annabeth screamed as he and Percy went to her and undid her bindings. They then all stared over the cliff at the army of monsters. There were so many of them that even Artemis appeared to be in shock as the army advanced towards them.

As the army of monsters advanced toward their position. They noticed an airplane in the sky, a really old one. "Get away from my daughter and nephew," Uncle Frederick said as he fired a machine gun at the monsters.

"Uncle Frederick!" He said in disbelief as he looked at his cousin who was equally shocked.

"A brave man but we must go," Artemis said as she summoned a silver chariot drawn by deer. "Get in," she said. They all did not need to be told twice as they quickly entered her sleigh and the deer flew off into the sky next to Uncle Frederick's plane. They heard the sounds of Atlas and countless other monsters cursing them as they flew away.

They landed next to a field where his uncle stepped out. Annabeth immediately jumped out and ran towards him. "Dad that was amazing."

"Well not so bad for a mortal I suppose," he said with a smile. He walked up to his uncle and cousin and he noticed his uncle look at him. "Magnus thanks for everything you did."

"No problem Uncle Frederick," He said as he ran and hugged his uncle and cousin. He felt at peace and a part of him wished that the moment would not end as he felt the joy of being with his family.

"Dad how did you get the bullets?" Annabeth asked.

"Oh you and Magnus left some celestial bronze stuff the last time you um left," Uncle Frederick said trying to avoid using the word ran away. Annabeth's face turned red as her dad patted her head. "So I melted them and experimented with them a bit."

Magnus decided to give his uncle and cousin some privacy as he went to see Percy and Zoe. "How are you both doing?" He asked as he patted Percy on the back.

"It was crazy dude but I made it out alive," Percy said with a smile. "You were great too that sword is awesome."

"Indeed it was," Zoe said looking at him. "Thank you for saving me Magnus Chase. It appears as if I was wrong about you. Forgive me for my past comments and for questioning your loyalty."

"Um no problem it was nothing," he said as he felt his face flush red. My body is pretty sore though that armor will take some use getting used to.

"Don't worry kid you will get used to it with practice," Gram said. "You did a good job today kid, I am excited to be your partner."

"Thanks we will have more fights in the future." He looked at his sword and smiled, he could get used to learning how to use him.

"Indeed your assistance was valuable, both of you did very well for men," Artemis said with a smile. "Now I am afraid we must go to Olympus."

Magnus and Percy both nodded as they heard the sounds of wings as a group pegasi descended down on them. "Blackjack," Percy called as he greeted his horse. There was a horse for each of them. Magnus went up to his and stroked its hair of the Pegasus that nuzzled up to him.

"Well I guess we will part here," Uncle Frederick said with a sigh.

He turned around and saw Annabeth look at her dad with a sad expression. "Dad," she said sounding as if she did not know what to say.

Uncle Frederick smiled at both of them. "Both of you know that you have a place at my home and are always welcome to return. I know San Francisco isn't the safest place but my door will always remain open to you both.

Both of them looked away and Magnus felt his heart rate increase. "Thanks we'll try and visit sometime."

"Yeah dad I'll see what I can do," Annabeth said. They both gave Uncle Frederick one final hug before getting on their horses and soon they were off flying towards Olympus.

"Magnus," Annabeth said as they flew through the sky.

"What is it?" He asked looking at his cousin. She appeared exhausted as she rested on the horse's neck. "Thank you for saving me, you and Percy did a good job."

He smiled at her. "Anything for you."