"Are you going to fight us now, Ares?" I asked, the master bolt sparked electricity in my hand.

"Or are you going to hide behind another pet pig?" Percy asked as well.

"Watch it, kids. I could turn you into-"

"A cockroach," Percy said.

"Or a tapeworm," I said. "We know."

"That'd save you from getting your godly hide whipped, wouldn't it?" Percy said.

Flames protruded from the top of his glasses. "Oh, man, you're really asking to be smashed into a grease spot."

"If we lose, you can turn us into anything you want, and take the bolt," Percy said. I eyed him at this decision, but maybe that would be the only way.

"And if we win," I said. "You give us the helm, we keep the bolt, and you disappear."

Ares sneered and brought out a large baseball bat the size of a club. "How would you like to get smashed: classic or modern?"

Percy and I raised our weapons.

"That's cool, dead boys," Ares said. "Classic it is."

The baseball bat changed into a huge, black, two-handed sword with a large silver skull with a ruby in its mouth.

"Percy, Alaster," Annabeth said. "Don't do this. He's a god."

"And I have the master bolt? So what?" I said.

"He's a coward, that's what he is," Percy told Annabeth.

Annabeth swallowed. "Wear this, at least. For luck."

Annabeth took off her leather camp necklace and tied it around Percy's neck. "Reconciliation. Athena and Poseidon together."

Percy smiled. "Thanks."

"And take this," Grover said, handing Percy a flattened tin can. "The satyrs stand behind you."

"Grover…I don't know what to say."

He patted Percy on the shoulder and Percy stuffed the tin can in his pocket. I took a look at one of my spiked bracelets. I took it off and tossed it at Percy, he caught it in his hands. "Thalia's with both of us."

"Alaster…"

"Don't get emotional on me now, Barnacle Breath," I told him. "We have a fight to win."

"You all done saying goodbye?" Ares came toward us, his black leather duster trailing behind him with his sword resting on his shoulders. "I've been fighting for eternity, kids. My strength is unlimited and I cannot die. What have you got?"

"This," I said, raising the master bolt in my hand. I jumped into the air, turning into a literal lightning bolt. I descended downward onto him, turning back into myself. I swung Hero at his neck, but he blocked it with his own blade.

I jumped back. Percy and I both attacked. We both slashed at Ares, but he was quick. He cleaved the sword downward at our heads, we dodged the blade. I pointed the bolt at him and lightning shot out of it, knocking Ares off his feet and sending him flying back. I held up the bolt before bringing it down, as he was getting back up lightning came down from the sky and right onto him.

Once the dust settled, Ares was back up, he grinned. "Not bad, not bad."

Before we knew it he was right in front of us, swinging his sword. Percy swung his sword at Ares toward his spine, but it was deflected by Ares' hilt. I swung both Hero and the bolt at Ares but he deflected them both and hit me with a kick to the face.

I was sent flying back, tumbling through the air before hitting the sand and bouncing off it about three times before I slid across the sand and came to a stop. My nose felt broken, I felt as if my face was just hit with a cement block.

"Percy! Alaster!" Annabeth yelled. "Cops!"

I looked, cop cars were pulling up. A moment later, a crowd of cops and mortals were looking at us.

"There, officer!" A woman yelled. "See?"

"Looks like that kid on TV…what the heck…" One of the cops said.

But I had to focus on the battle, this battle determines the fate of the world. There's no way I'm gonna let myself die here. I transformed back into a lightning bolt and toward Ares and Percy. Percy rolled to the side as Ares' blade slashed against the sand.

I turned back to myself, the master bolt was now surrounded by electricity. He swung his blade at me, I blocked it with the master bolt. Ares flew back, but his feet stood planted in the sand. I pressed him, I swung my sword, he dodged, swung again, dodged again. Ares swung his sword down on me, I blocked it with Hero. My arm was knocked downward. He lifted the sword up and did the same thing again, again, and again.

I swung the master bolt at Ares, but he grabbed my wrist and kicked me in the stomach, sending me down to the sand, creating a mini crater underneath me. Ares lifted his sword up and once again swung it downward onto me, I raised Hero up to block it.

SHATTER!

As Ares brought his sword down onto mine, the blade of the sword shattered into pieces, my eyes widened and my mouth turned into an 'O'.

He just shattered my sword. This sword was legendary, it used to belong to my brother, Perseus, the legendary Greek hero. And Ares just destroyed it.

"Oops," Ares smirked.

I growled and pointed the master bolt at him but he used his sword to knock it out of my hand and send it flying. He grabbed me by my throat and held me down, he raised his sword into the air. I held my hands up in front of my face and shot electricity at him. His hand vibrated against my throat but aside from that he didn't seem that phased.

Finally, Percy appeared, swinging his sword at Ares' face, but it was deflected.

CRACK!

Suddenly lightning hit Ares, sending him flying to the ground. Percy and I both looked back to see Grover, pointing the master bolt to where Ares was just standing. But just like that Ares was back up, he elbowed Percy in the chest, sending him crashing to the sand and then he kicked me in the face, sending me flying maybe twenty feet into the air.

"Maia!"

Wings sprouted from my shoes and flew toward Ares with full speed. Ares was rushing at Grover and Annabeth, Grover was still holding the bolt. I held out my hand and the bolt went flying from Grover's hand and back into mine. The master bolt surrounded itself with electricity, but then it glowed a blinding bright blue light. I looked back at it once I opened my eyes.

The master bolt was now a sword. A bronze sword with a long blade that had some cracks in it that glowed white, the color of lightning.

Oh, that's cool.

I flew at Ares and we clashed. Percy was back up as well. We swung our blades at him, but he kept deflecting them. He kicked me in the rib and kneed Percy in the chest. He grabbed Percy by the back of his collar and tossed him over himself. Percy landed right at the shore next to the sea.

"Admit it, kids," Ares said. "You got no hope. I'm just toying with you. You can't beat me, not even with daddy's little bolt."

The crowd spectating the battle looked down at us. But it wasn't just mortals watching us. There satyrs, and spirits too. Leathery wings flapped in the air, all three Kindly Ones were watching as well.

"Drop the guns! Set them on the ground. Now!" A cop yelled over a megaphone.

The mortals must've thought we were holding guns instead of swords.

"This is a private matter!" Ares bellowed. "Be gone!"

He swept his hand and a wall of red flames rolled across the cop cars. Only a few cops were able to dive out of the way by the time their cars exploded.

Ares rounded on Percy, slashing his forearm with his sword. I flew at him, swinging my sword. He turned back, swinging his as well. We clashed, I stood my ground-well technically stood my air (I was still flying)-sparks flew off my body and then-

CRACK!

Lightning shot out of the sword and sent Ares flying into the sea. I turned to Percy. "Percy, he's in the water, you'll have to deal with him."

"What? Dude, you can't even beat him with the master bolt," Percy said.

"I'll be in the air, I have a plan. But until then you need to keep him busy. The water is where you're most powerful, so please just do it," I told him.

Percy waited a moment before he nodded. "Fine."

Percy stepped into the water just as Ares got up to his feet. I flew up into the air, I reached high enough to the point where I felt strong enough and where I could still see what's going on at the bottom.

I took a deep breath. I closed my eyes and raised my arms into the air. Focus.

I heard thunder rumbling. I waited for the right time. Then I opened my eyes, I saw a humongous wave of water headed toward Ares, Percy was riding on top of it. Percy jumped over Ares as the wave was about to impact him. Just then I let it all out.

I let out a battle cry, just then lightning bolts, more than I could count, rained down from above and onto Ares as the Water hit him as well.

I flew back down, next to Percy who was now on the shore. "Maia."

Then there was a roar, the sea was blasted back from Ares who was now in a circle of sand that was now fifty feet wide.

Ares was covered in Ichor, the blood of the gods. The expression on his face was complete hatred. Pain, shock, and disbelief that he'd been wounded to this extent. He limped toward us, cursing us in Greek. But then he was stopped.

Something happened. All light faded along with sound and color. There was a cold and heavy presence that passed over the beach, one that was slowing down time. Slowing down time. Everything was beginning to click, why Ares was acting like this, why everything that was going on happened.

But then the darkness lifted not too long after. Ares was stunned, police cars were burning behind us, Annabeth and Grover were standing in shock, people were screaming, and fire trucks and ambulances pulled up as well. Ares lowered his sword.

"You have made an enemy, godlings," He told us. "You have sealed your fates. Every time you raise your blades in battle, every time you hope for success, you will feel my curse. Beware, Perseus Jackson and Alaster Grace. Beware."

His body began to glow. I blocked my sight with my arm. "Percy, look away!"

Ares was revealing his true immortal form, nobody except for the gods themselves can gaze upon their true forms. If anybody else does, it will result in being turned to complete ash.

The light died down. We all looked. Ares was now gone. The tide rolled out to reveal the helm of darkness. Percy picked it up and the both of us walked toward Annabeth and Grover.

Then the three Kindly Ones landed in front of us. The one in the middle stepped toward Percy with her fangs bared. The one to the left, which must've been the one I killed, bared her fangs at me.

The middle one spoke. "We saw the whole thing. So…it truly was not you?"

Percy tossed her the helm, she caught it in surprise. "Return that to Lord Hades. Tell him the truth. Tell him to call off the war."

She hesitated, she ran her forked tongue over her lips and then looked at us. "Live well, godlings. Become true heroes."

Then they took to the sky and flew away.

After that we were able to talk to the L.A. News and explain what was going on. We framed Ares as a kidnapper who abducted us and brought us across the country so that we could do terrible acts for him. Percy and I stole guns from our "captor" and fought him shotgun vs rifle and AR Percy cleared his name. And to the mortals, there was a spectacular explosion which allowed the captor to flee. There were little to no fatalities, there were some that were injured in the explosion. Percy Jackson and his three friends were safely in police custody.

We faked tears as we told our story live.

Percy spoke, pretending to choke back tears. "All I want is to see my loving step father again. Every time I saw him on TV, calling me a delinquent punk, I knew…somehow…we would be okay. And I know he'll want to reward each and every person in this beautiful city of Los Angeles with a free major appliance from his store. Here's the phone number."

The police and reporters passed around a hat and raised money to give us four tickets on the next plane to New York. We had no choice, and thankfully my father didn't strike us down while we were on the plane.

The master bolt had turned from a sword into a joy buzzer, believe it or not. I was still a bit confused, how did the master bolt turn into a sword, and then how did it turn into a joy buzzer of all things? Did it have to do with me? Don't know, and honestly don't care that much. Once we get it back to my father, I won't be able to touch it ever again.

Dodging the press once we got back to New York was a nightmare, we managed to evade them thanks to Annabeth using her invisible Yankees cap.

Percy and I split up from Annabeth and Grover at the taxi stand. Annabeth and Grover went back to Half-Blood hill to let Chiron know what happened. They had to be convinced, but they eventually left. Percy and I hopped into a taxi and headed to Manhattan. We walked into the Lobby of the Empire State Building (it's the entrance to Olympus) and told the guard that we wanted to go to the Empire State Building and that we needed to talk to Zeus. The guard said that we couldn't, we didn't have an appointment.

However I took the joy buzzer out of my pocket and laid it down on the desk, it turned back into the master bolt. That made him give us a key card. "Insert this into the security slot. Make sure nobody else is in the elevator with you."

As soon as the elevator closed we slipped the card into the slot and a new button appeared on the console, a red button that had "600" on it. Percy pressed it and we waited.

I took a deep breath and turned to Percy. "You're about to meet the King of Gods."

"You're about to see your dad," Percy responded.

"Yeah…I guess so," I said. "Been a long time since I've seen him."

"You gonna talk to him? You know, about being unclaimed?" Percy asked,

"I don't know," I told him. "You can't really make the gods do anything. I doubt me telling him to claim me will do anything."

Ding!

The doors slid open and we stepped out. We were in Olympus. In front of us were white marble steps that wound up the spine of a cloud and into the sky. We walked all the way up to the peak of a mountain whose summit was completely covered in show. Clinging to the mountain side were dozens of multileveled palaces-a city of mansions-all having white-colimned porticos, gilded terraces, and bronze braziers that glowed with a thousand fires.

This entire place was just above New York City. It was almost crazy to think. I couldn't imagine what Percy was thinking.

We walked through Olympus for a little while before we finally entered the throne room. There were massive columns that rose to a domed ceiling, gilded with moving constellations. There were twelve thrones that had been built for beings that were the size of Hades. However, there were only two gods in the throne room at that moment. One of them on a throne to the right, the other on a throne to the left. There was no doubt who these two gods were.

My father, Zeus, wore a dark blue pinstripe suit. He sat on a throne of solid platinum. He had a well-trimmed beard, marbled gray and black like a storm cloud. His face was handsome and grim, his eyes switched between three colors: Electric Blue, Sky Green (green as the sky would look like before a tornado; just like mine), and Rainy Gray. Air crackled around him.

Next to him was his brother, Percy's father, Poseidon. Poseidon…wasn't dressed like how I expected him to be dressed. He wore leather sandals, khaki Bermuda shorts, and a Tommy Bahama shirt with coconuts and parrots all over it. His skin was deeply tanned, his hands were scarred like an old-time fisherman's. His hair was black like Percy's and his face had a brooding look. His eyes were a sea green color, just like Percy's. Poseidon sat down on a throne that looked like a chair that a deep-sea fisherman would have. It was a black leather seat with a built-in holster for a fishing pole. Instead of a pole, the holster held a large bronze trident that flickered with green light around the tips.

The two brothers weren't moving or speaking, but there was tension in the air, as if they just had an argument. Percy bowed first to his father. "Father."

"Should you not address the master of this house first, boy?" Zeus spoke to Percy's left.

Percy kept his head down.

"Peace, brother," Poseidon said in a surprisingly calm voice. "The boy defers to his father. This is only right."

"You still claim him then?" Zeus asked menacingly. "You claim this child whom you sired against our sacred oath?"

Hypocrite. He did the same thing. Twice, in fact. Potentially three, but we'll get back to that later.

"I have admitted my wrongdoing," Poseidon said. "Now we must hear them speak."

I stepped up. "Father, Lord Poseidon."

"Speak, boy," Zeus said. "I shall listen. Then I shall make up my mind whether or not I should cast you both down from Olympus."

"Perseus, Alaster, look at me," Poseidone said, we did as he said. "Address Lord Zeus, boys. Tell him your story."

I raised the master bolt. Zeus opened his palm, the master bolt flew into his hand, just like it had done with me. The metallic points flared with electricity, until he was holding what looked like a classic thunderbolt. It was a twenty foot javelin of arching, hissing energy.

"I sense the boys tell the truth," Zeus muttered. "But that Ares would do such a thing…it is most unlike him."

"He is proud and impulsive," Poseidon said. "It runs in the family."

"Excuse me," I said. "Ares didn't act alone. Somebody else came up with the plan."

I told them everything, the dreams I've had, something tempting me. Percy spoke up too. We also spoke to them about a breath of evil that seemingly stopped the world, and made Ares stop fighting us.

"In the dreams we've had," I said. "A voice was telling us to bring the bolt to the Underworld. Ares hinted that he was also having dreams. I think he was being used like we were, to start a war."

"You are accusing Hades after all?" Zeus asked.

"No," Percy said. "I mean, Lord Zeus, we've been in the presence of Hades. This feeling on the beach was different. It was the same thing I felt when I got too close to that pit. That was the entrance to Tartarus, wasn't it? Something powerful and evil is stirring down there…something even older than the gods."

Zeus and Poseidon looked at each other and spoke in ancient greek. I couldn't understand much. I mean, I can speak and talk in Greek. But when I say ancient Greek I mean ANCIENT GREEK.

I was only able to understand one word: "Father."

Poseidon tried to bring up something to Zeus, but Zeus wouldn't listen, when Poseidon pressed further Zeus held up his hand angrily. "We will speak of this no more. I must go personally to purify this thunderbolt in the waters of Lemnos to remove the human taint from its metal."

He rose and looked at us. "You have done me a service, boys. Few heroes could have accomplished as much."

"We had help, sir," Percy said. "Grover Underwood and Annabeth Chase-"

"To show you my thanks, I shall spare your life," Zeus said. "I do not trust you, Percy Jackson. I do not like what your arrival means for the future of Olympus. But for the sake of peace in the family, I shall let you live."

"Um…thank you, sir."

"Do not presume to fly again, Percy Jackson. Do not let me find you here when I return. Otherwise you shall taste this bolt. And it shall be your last sensation," Zeus turned to me. "Alaster, my boy. You have done well. None of my other children have accomplished the victory you've had. I am…I am proud of you."

Thunder shook the palace and with a blinding flash of lightning, Zeus was gone. I…I didn't feel anything. My father just told me he was proud of me after not seeing me for 11 years of my life. I thought it'd feel better. But I guess, I really didn't need his approval as much as I thought.

I turned to Poseidon. "Uncle, I have an idea of what was in the pit."

"What was in the pit?" Percy asked me.

"Have you not guessed?" Poseidon regarded Percy.

"It was Kronos," I said.

"The King of Titans…" Percy said.

Poseidon gripped his trident. "In the First War, Zeus cut our father Kronos into a thousand pieces, just as Kronos had done to his own father, Ouranos. Zeus cast Kronos' remains into the darkest pit of Tartarus. The Titan army was scattered, their mountain fortress on Etna destroyed, their monstrous allies driven to the farthest corners of the earth. And yet Titans cannot die, any more than we gods can. Whatever is left of Kronos is still alive in some hideous way, still conscious in his eternal pain, still hungering for power."

"He's trying to come back," I said.

"He's healing," Percy added on.

Poseidon shook his head. "From time to time, over the eons, Kronos has stirred. He enters men's nightmares and breathes evil thoughts. He wakens restless monsters from the depths. But to suggest he could rise from the pit is another thing."

"That's what he intends, Father. That's what he said," Percy said.

Lord Zeus has closed discussion on this matter. He will not allow talk of Kronos. You have completed your quest, children. That is all you need to do.

"But…as you wish, father," Percy said, arguing wouldn't do us any good. There's no use arguing with a god.

A faint smile appeared on Poseidon's lips. "Obedience does not come easy to you, does it?"

"No…sir."

"I must take some blame for that, I suppose. The sea does not like to be restrained," Poseidon rose from his throne and took his trident. His physical form turned into water and shrunk down and appeared in a much smaller form of himself, he was the size of a regular man. "You must go. But first, know that your mother has returned."

"My mother?"

I blinked twice. His mother was back? Did Hades put her back?

"You will find her at home. Hades sent her when you recovered his helm. Even the Lord of Death pays his debts."

"Do you…would you…" Percy said, probably about to ask if he wanted to see her.

Poseidon looked a bit sad. "When you return home, Percy, you must make an important choice. You will find a package waiting in your room/"

"A package?"

"You will understand when you see it. No one can choose your path, Percy. You must decide."

Percy nodded. "Your mother is a queen among women. I had not met such a mortal woman in a thousand years. Still…I am sorry you were born, child. I have brought you a hero's fate, and a hero's fate is never happy. It is never anything but tragic."

Some silence for a bit, then Percy spoke. "I don't mind, Father."

"Not yet, perhaps. Not yet, but it was an unforgivable mistake on my part."

"I'll leave you then," Percy and I bowed to him. "I-I won't bother you again."

We began to walk away. "Perseus."

We stopped and turned. Poseidon gave us a look. A look of pride. You did well, Perseus. Do not misunderstand me. Whatever else you do, know that you are mine. You are a true son of the Sea God. And Alaster, despite your heritage you've proven yourself to be a true hero. I am not like my brother, I give you permission to be in my domain. Your father might not have claimed you, but to me you are also a champion. A Champion of Poseidon."

A full smile almost broke out on my face. But I tried my best to lower it to a smirk. I bowed. "Thank you, Uncle. I'm eternally grateful."

We walked back through the city of gods. The inhabitants all looked at us with faces of respect and gratitude.

"So…your mom's a queen amongst women?" I teased him, a smirk on my face.

Percy looked at my face and it looked like he guessed what I was about to say. "Don't say it. Don't you say it."

"You have a hot mom, Percy," I smirked.

He covered his ears. "I told you not to say it!"

I laughed. Once we got back on the streets of Manhattan, Percy and I separated from each other. I told him that I'd see him back at camp. So Percy went to his mother's apartment and I took a taxi back to camp. I reached half-blood hill and was right next to Thalia's three.

I smiled. "I did it, Thals. I helped save the world. And, I made a new friend. Grover and Annabeth, I've grown a lot closer with them on this quest. I think it's time that I try to do the same thing with Luke as well. Time to pick up where we left off, you know? But the quest was crazy, we met gods, Percy and I fought the god of war. And I saw Dad, the first time in a long time. He said he was proud of me…and then Uncle Poseidon claimed me, not as a child, but as a Champion. I've come back as a different person."

I looked at the clothes that I was wearing now. "Hey, Thals. I love you, and no offense, but I think it's time that I find some new clothes."

I put my hand on her tree before I walked down the hill, passed the Big House, and back to Camp. When I walked into Camp everybody was cheering and clapping. Percy wasn't here yet, but I was willing to bet that he'd get his own standing ovation.

I was going to walk closer to everybody…but I couldn't. I was stuck. I kept trying to walk, but I still couldn't move. I was beginning to freak out. The cheering and clapping died.

"Calm yourself, Alaster," Chiron spoke up. "You are not in danger. Look."

I looked below myself. At my feet small sparks of lightning flickered.

"Alaster," Annabeth said. "What are you doing?"

"I'm not doing anything," I responded. Suddenly lightning from the ground started coming up, the lightning quickly running up my body, then it completely engulfed me. It kept going upward until it was right above me.

BOOM!

A burst of lightning went out into the air, and above it formed something…a man that was holding a lightning bolt, raised into the air. No way. Did my father just…

Chiron bowed first, then it was followed by everybody else. "You have been claimed by Zeus. Lord of the Sky. God of Sky, Thunder, Lightning and Kingship. Father of Gods and Men. Hail, Alaster Grace, son of the king of Gods."

Just then I looked down at the one black spiked bracelet on my left wrist. It was surrounded by lightning. Then suddenly there was a bright white light. When I opened my eyes, there was now a white spiked bracelet with silver spikes on it, it was on my left wrist.

"What the…" I said.

I took off the spiked bracelet. It glowed and then turned into something. It turned into a bow. The bow was completely bronze. The string of the bow was gold. I pulled on the string and suddenly there was an arrow on it, an arrow made entirely out of lightning.

My eyes widened. I aimed it up to the sky and shot it. A lightning bolt arrow shot into the sky. Okay. That was kinda cool.

Then I was taken into the infirmary where my nose was bandaged. I wore it for a while but I was able to take it off before the end of summer.

When Percy returned to Camp it was time for a proper celebration. It was Camp Tradition, the four of us had to wear laurel wreaths to a big feast prepared in our honor, then led a procession down to the bonfire, where we got to burn the burial shrouds our cabins had made for us in our absence.

Annabeth's shroud was made out of gray silk and had embroidered owls on it. She punched Percy in the arm when he said it seemed a shame not to bury her in it. Percy and I didn't have cabin mates since we were the only children of the Big Three. So Hermes Cabin made my shroud and Ares Cabin made Percy's shroud.

My shroud was made of yellow silk, it had illustrations of lightning bolts, swords, spears, a bow, and one singular pine tree in the center. All the illustrations were painted beautifully. Percy's shroud was just an old bed sheet that had a painted smiley faced with X'ed-out eyes around the border, and the word LOSER was painted really big in the middle.

Apollo's Cabin led the sing-along and passed out s'mores. I told Percy that my father ended up claiming me after all and I showed him my new weapon. How do I feel about being claimed by my father? Don't really care actually. I've learned something, I don't need to be claimed so I can be a hero. Not being claimed by your godly parents doesn't make you any less of a hero.

The Council of Cloven Elders awarded Grover. Everything was great. The only ones who weren't happy were Clarisse and her cabin mates. As time moved on, so did I.

I got some new clothes that I replaced my old clothes with. I now wore a yellow and black long-sleeved plaid shirt that was open so you could see the orange Camp t-shirt visible underneath it. I was wearing light-blue jeans and I was still wearing my winged shoes. My white spiked-bracelet was still on my left wrist. Percy gave me back my black spiked bracelet but I didn't put it on, it's now resting in my drawer back in Cabin One.

I even decided to start talking to Luke again. We bonded, trained together, all of that. It was nice. I used to think that being around Annabeth, Grover, and Luke would only bring back painful memories. But being around them now, it only brings back happy memories, I'm grateful for those times we had together with Thalia.

On the Fourth of July, everybody in camp was setting up for the firework show from Hephaestus Cabin and barbecue. While Annabeth, Percy, and I were spreading picnic blankets, Grover came up to us to say goodbye. He was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers. In the last few weeks he began to look much older.

Satyrs age a lot slower than humans do, while Grover looked like he was twelve he was actually in his late twenties. Now Grover looked like he was high-school age. He had a thick goatee, he put on some weight, his horns grew an inch, and he was now wearing a rasta cap to hide the horns from humans.

"I'm off," he said. "I just came to say…well, you know," Grover said.

Grover got his searcher's license after the quest, which means he has permission to go out into the world to find Pan, the Great God of Nature, Satyrs, and the Wild. Satyrs when they get their searcher's license go out into the world to find Pan, and they never return. This might very well be the last time we see Grover…and if it is, I'm glad I was able to reconcile with him.

Annabeth gave him a hug and told him to keep his fake feet on, I patted him on his shoulder and told him that he'll be the satyr to find Pan and bring him back into the world. Percy asked him where he was going to search first.

"Kind of a secret," Grover said, looking embarrassed. "I wish you guys could come with me, but humans and Pan…"

"We understand," Annabeth said. "You got enough tin cans for the trip?"

"Jeez, Annabeth," he grumbled. "You're like an old mama goat."

He didn't sound annoyed though. Grover gripped his walking stick and slung a backpack over his shoulder. "Well. Wish me good luck."

He gave Annabeth another hug, he clapped Percy and I on the shoulder and then headed back through the dunes. Fireworks exploded to life over us: Hercules killing the Nemean lion, Artemis chasing the boar, George Washington (who was a son of Athena) crossing the delaware.

"Hey, Grover," Percy called.

He turned at the edge of the woods.

"Wherever you're going-I hope they make good enchiladas," He told him.

Grover grinned, and then he was gone, the trees closed around him.

"We'll see him again," Annabeth said.

July passed. It was August. Everyone at camp has been given a new bead to put in their necklace: A black bead with a turquoise trident on it. And I couldn't help but think of the prophecy the Oracle told of.

"You will face the hardships of the past. Test of resistance, if your will can last."

Check. Denied Kronos' temptation to recruit me by bringing back my siblings.

"Battling a powerful opponent to return what's stolen."

Check again. Battled Ares with Percy to return the Helm and the Bolt.

"Making the wrong decision will leave you broken. One decision will determine how your life ends. Choosing wrong will result in no family, no camp…no friends."

That hasn't happened yet. What decision did I have to make? Denying Kronos again? I really don't know.

In the last few days of summer I was training with Luke in the sword fighting arena. But we stopped when we noticed Percy staring at us.

"Percy," Luke said.

"Um, sorry," Percy said. "I just-"

"It's okay," I said. "We were just doing some last-minute practice."

Percy looked at his sword. Luke had a new sword. It was half bronze and the other half was plain regular steel.

"Oh, this? New toy. This is Backbiter."

Backbiter?

"Backbiter?" Percy asked.

Luke turned the blade in the light. "One side is celestial bronze. The other is tempered steel. Works on mortals and immortals both."

Oh…that's weird. We're not supposed to harm mortals with our weapons…

"I didn't know they could make weapons like that," Percy said.

"They probably can't," Luke agreed. "It's one of a kind."

Luke slid his sword into his scabbard. "I was just about to come looking for you. I wanted to speak with you both. What do you say we go down to the woods one last time, look for something to fight?"

"Sure," I said. Still kinda weird, I felt an off feeling coming from Luke. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I didn't like it.

"You think it's a good idea?" Percy asked. "I mean-"

"Aw, come on," Luke rummaged through his gym bag and pulled out a six-pack of cokes. "Drinks are on me."

There weren't any mortal sodas at the camp store. The only way he could get it is if a satyr gave it to him.

"Sure," Percy said. "Why not?"

We walked down to the woods and kicked around for some kind of monster to fight. We found a shady spot by the creek where Percy was claimed in the last Capture the Flag game. We sat down on a big rock, drank our Cokes, and watched the sunlight in the woods.

After a little while Luke spoke. "You guys miss being on a quest?"

"With monsters attacking us every three feet? Are you kidding?"

"Not really. This quest was a lot more stressful than my last one," I said.

"You had a quest before?" Percy asked me.

"Yeah, just had to retrieve something from somebody and give it to Hephaestus. Not that hard compared to our quest," I said.

I know I've been saying that Luke is acting weird, but also looks weird. His whole demeanor has changed. He looked weary, and angry. His blond hair turned gray in the sunlight. The scar on his face looked even deeper than it actually was.

"I've lived at Half-Blood Hill year-round since I was fourteen," he told us. "Ever since Thalia…well, you know. I trained, and trained. I never got to be a normal teenager, out there in the real world. Then they threw me one quest, and when I came back, it was like, 'Okay, ride's over. Have a nice life.'"

I remember that, that was the quest Luke came back from with that scar. He was pretty messed up for a little while after that.

Luke crumpled his Coke can and threw it into the creek. That took me aback a bit, we're not supposed to litter at camp. The Nymphs, Naiads, and satyrs would get angry if we did.

"The heck with laurel wreaths," Luke said. "I'm not going to end up like those dusty trophies in the Big House attic."

"You sound like you're going to leave, Luke," I said.

Luke looked at us and gave us a twisted smile in response. "Oh, I'm leaving. The reason I brought you two here is to say goodbye."

A small fire burned a hole beneath the ground beneath Percy and I. Out crawled two things that were the size of my hands. Scorpions. Not just any scorpions. Pit Scorpions! Scorpions from the Underworld. I started to go for my highlighter.

"I wouldn't," Luke said. "Pit scorpions can jump up to fifteen feet. Its stingers can pierce right through your clothes. You'll be dead in sixty seconds."

"Luke, what-"

Then it clicked. Luke was at Olympus with us while we were on the trip. Ares found the person that stole the bolt and persuaded him, tricked him, into helping start a war between the gods. It was him. Luke stole the bolt.

"You," I said. "You stole the bolt."

Luke stood calmly and brushed off his jeans and looked down at us. The Scorpions were focused on Percy and I, not Luke. "I saw a lot out there in the world. Didn't you feel it-the darkness gathering, the monsters growing stronger? Didn't you realize how useless it all is? All the heroics-being pawns of the gods. They should've been overthrown thousands of years ago, but they've hung on, thanks to us half-bloods."

"Luke…you're talking about my parents," Percy said.

Luke laughed at us. "You think that's supposed to make me love them? Their precious 'Western Civilization' is a disease. It's killing the world. The only way to stop it is to burn it to the ground, start over with something more honest."

"You're just as crazy as Ares," Percy said.

"Ares is a fool. He never realized the true master he was serving. If I had time, I could explain. But I'm afraid you won't live that long."

One of the scorpions crawled onto Percy's leg.

"Alaster," Luke said. "I'm giving you a choice. Your father, he's ignored you, made you feel less for years. Ever since you got to camp he hasn't treated you with the respect that you deserve. My master has offered to give you everything you could ever want. But you still denied it. I'm giving you one more chance, a chance to rethink your decision."

"What do you mean? Alaster, what is he talking about?" Percy asked.

I looked at Luke, then at Percy. "During our quest, I was having dreams. Similar to yours, you know that. But in my dreams, Kronos was trying to recruit me, I guess. He wanted me to betray the gods, to give him the master bolt, to help him rise from Tartarus. He tried to get me to join him, saying that he'd bring back my sister and my brother…I denied him. And I do again. I'm never joining him."

The pit scorpion began crawling up my leg.

"Kronos got you to steal the master bolt and the helm," Percy said. "He spoke to you in your dreams."

"He spoke to you too, Percy. You should've listened as well. It's too late for you, Percy. What are you waiting for Alaster? Choose."

"Luke, he's manipulating you, like he was trying to do with me," I said.

"You're wrong," Luke said. "He showed me that my talents are being wasted. You know what my quest was two years ago? My father, Hermes, wanted me to steal a golden apple from the Garden of the Hesperides and return it to Olympus. After all the training I'd done, that was the best he could think up."

"That's not exactly a quest," Percy said. "Hercules did it."

"Exactly," Luke said. "Where's the glory in repeating what others have done? All the gods know how to do is replay their past. My heart wasn't in it. The dragon in this garden gave me this"- he pointed angrily at his scar-"and when I came back, all I got was pity. I wanted to pull Olympus down stone by stone right then, but I bided my time. I began to dream of Kronos. He convinced me to steal something worthwhile, something no hero had ever had the courage to take. When we went on that winter-solstice field trip, while the other campers were asleep, I snuck into the throne room and took Zeus' master bolt right from his chair. Hades' helm of darkness, too. You wouldn't believe how easy it was. The Olympians are so arrogant; they never dreamed someone would dare steal from them. Their security is horrible. I was halfway across New Jersey before I heard the storms rumbling, and I knew they'd discovered my theft.

"So why didn't you bring the items to Kronos?" Percy asked, the scorpion now on his knee.

"I…I got overconfident. Zeus sent out his sons and daughters to find the bolt-Artemis, Apollo, my father, Hermes. But it was Ares who caught me. I could have beaten him, but I wasn't careful enough. He took the items of power and threatened to bring them to Olympus and burn me alive. Kronos' voice came to me and told me what to say. I put the idea of a great war between the gods into Ares' head. I knew he was hooked. He let me go, and I returned to Olympus before anyone noticed my absence."

Luke brought out his new sword, Backbiter. "Afterward, the Lord of Titans…h-he punished me with nightmares. I swore not to fail again. Back at Camp Half-Blood, in my dreams, I was told that two heroes would unknowingly help and be tricked into taking the bolt and the helm the rest of the way-from Ares down to Tartarus. One was already at camp, a child of Zeus, and the other was foretold to arrive in the coming years. Once you both were here, everything fell into place."

"You summoned the hellhound, that night in the forest," Percy said.

"We had to make Chiron think the camp wasn't safe, so that he would send you both on the quest. He was already contemplating sending Alaster, but when the hellhound attacked you, Percy, it made him send you too. We had to confirm his fears that Hades was after you. And it worked."

"Those flying shoes were cursed. They were supposed to drag me and the backpack into Tartarus," Percy said.

"And they would have, if you'd been wearing them. But you gave them to the satyr, which wasn't a part of the plan. Grover messes up everything he touches. He was even confused the curse."

"Take that back, Luke," I gave him a threatening glare. The pit scorpion was now up to my knee.

"You both should've died in Tartarus. But don't worry, I'll leave you with my little friends to set things right," Luke looked down at the pit scorpions.

"How could you do this? To me? To Percy? To Thalia? She gave her life to save us! Which she wouldn't have had to do if you-""

"DON'T YOU SPEAK OF THALIA!" Luke yelled. "The gods let her die! That's one of the many things they will pay for. Look at yourselves. What have your fathers ever done for you? Kronos will rise. You've only delayed his plans. He will cast the Olympians into Trtarus and drive humanity back to their caves. All except the strongest-the ones who serve him."

"Call off the bugs," Percy said. "If you're so strong, fight us yourself."

Luke smiled. "Nice try, Percy. But I'm not Ares. You can't bait me. My lord is waiting, and he's got plenty of quests for me to undertake."

"Luke-"

"Goodbye, Percy and Alaster. There is a new Golden Age coming. You both won't be part of it."

He slashed his sword in an arc and disappeared in a ripple of darkness. I smacked the pit scorpion off me. Percy did the same and brought out his sword while I brought out my bow. The scorpions jumped at us, Percy slashed his in half but when I slashed at mines it went over my spear and it stung me in my leg.

"Alaster!"

I shot the pit scorpion with a lightning arrow. I looked back at Percy, and saw that he has a huge red welt that oozed with yellow substance. "Percy…"

My vision went blurry, it was getting harder to stand every second. All noise was blocked out. I had to get to safety somehow.

The air. Maybe if I go into the air it could save me. "M…Ma…Ma..M.."

I could barely talk, Luke said we had sixty seconds. But we had to get back to camp, but I could barely walk or see. But we had to try. Percy and I stumbled back to camp, I was able to see some silhouettes but by then my body had crashed down to the ground, and all I saw was black.

When I opened my eyes again there was a drinking straw in my mouth. I was sipping on nectar. I sat up in the sickroom of the Big House. I looked, Percy stood guard in the corner, Percy was in the bed next to me, he was up as well and Annabeth was next to him holding a nectar glass and dabbing his forehead.

I looked to my right and next to me was a girl. She was pretty, she had long red hair that was tied into a high ponytail with a hair tie (she also had a red and blue hair clip), pale skin, and eyes the color of honey. She had three beads on her camp necklace.

"Are you okay?" Her voice was soft.

"Um…yeah," I said.

"Here we are again," Percy said.

"You idiots," Annabeth said, despite what she said I knew that she was happy that we were alive. "You were green and turning gray when we found you. If it weren't for Chion's healing…"

"Now, now," Chiron said. "Percy and Alaster's constitution deserves some of the credit."

Chiron was in human form and now between our beds. He smiled.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"Like my insides have been frozen, then microwaved," Percy said.

"Vengeful," I said, taking off my blanket, in the area where I was stung by the pit scorpion, it was bandaged.

"Alaster, calm yourself," Chiron said. "Now tell me, what exactly happened?"

Percy and I explained everything. When we were done, the room was quiet for a while.

"I can't believe that Luke…" Annabeth's voice faltered. Then her expression turned angry and sad. "Yes. Yes, I can believe it. May the gods curse him…He was never the same after his quest."

"This must be reported to Olympus," Chiron muttered. "I will go at once."

"Luke is out there right now," I said. "I need to go after. I need to stop him."

"Alaster, I know this is hard. But you must not rush out for vengeance. You aren't ready," Chiron told me.

"Of course I'm not ready, I don't have any of my stuff," I said, standing from my bed and walking to Chiron, trying not to fall onto the floor. "You don't know what I'm feeling right now. Everything was going great, I finally came to terms with everything. I was actually trying to just live my life after feeling like I was trapped in limbo for five years and then this happens. Luke betrayed us, he betrayed me. After all that we've been through. I want nothing more than to take him apart, piece by piece."

I heard the sound of thunder booming.

"Calm yourself, Alaster," Chiron said. "You are getting out of control. We don't want to repeat what happened all those years ago."

My fists relaxed after I subconsciously balled them up. "Fine. I'll wait. But when I see him again, don't tell me to calm down."

"Chiron…your prophecy from the Oracle…it was about Kronos, wasn't it? Was I in it? And Annabeth? And Alaster?"

Chiron glanced nervously at the ceiling. "Percy, it isn't my place-"

"You've been ordered not to talk to me about it, haven't you?"

"You will be a great hero, child. I will do my best to prepare you. But if I'm right about the path ahead of you…"

Thunder boomed overhead, rattling the window.

"All right!" Chiron shouted. "Fine!"

Chiron sighed in frustration. "The gods have their reasons, Percy. Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing."

"We can't just sit back and do nothing," Percy said.

"That's what I'm saying," I said.

"We will not sit back," Chiron promised. "But you must be careful. Kronos wants you both to come unraveled. He wants your lives disrupted, your thoughts clouded with fear and anger. Do not give him what he wants. Train patiently. Your time will come."

"Assuming we live that long," Percy said.

"You'll both have to trust me. You will live. But first you must decide your path for the coming year. I cannot tell you the right choice. Percy, you must decide whether to stay at Camp Half-Blood year round or return to the mortal world for seventh grade and be a summer camper. Think on that. When I get back from Olympus, you must tell me your decision. I'll be back as soon as I can. Argus will watch over you," He turned to Annabeth. "Oh, and, my dear…whenever you're ready, they're here."

"Who's here?" Percy asked.

No one answered. If I am assuming correctly…Annabeth is gonna go back to stay with her father?

"What's wrong?" Percy asks Annbaeth as she studies the ice in his drink.

"Nothing," She said, setting the glass on the table. "I…just took your advice about something. You…um…need anything?"

"Yeah. Help me up. I want to go outside."

"Percy, that isn't a good idea."

Percy slid his legs out of bed, Annabeth caught him before he could fall to the floor.

"I told you."

"I'm fine," Percy insisted.

The girl who was beside my bed walked to me, it looked like she was going to ask me if I needed help, "I'm good."

"Okay, if it's okay, Chiron, I'm going to go back to Cabin 7," She said and walked out.

We reached the porch of the Big House, it was dusk outside and the camp looked to be completely deserted. The cabins were dark and the volleyball pit was silent. No canoes cut the surface of the lake.

"What are you going to do?" Annabeht asked him.

"I don't know."

He told us that he had the feeling that Chiron wanted me to stay year-round, to put in more individual training time. He said he didn't know if that was what he wanted. He said he'd feel bad about leaving us alone with only Clarisse for company.

"I'm going home for the year Percy," Annabeth said quietly.

"You mean, to your dad's?" Percy asked her.

Annabeth pointed toward Half-Blood Hill. Next to Thalia's pine tree a family stood. Two little children, a woman, and a tall man with blond hair. The man was holding a waterland backpack, the one Annabeth got from home. "I wrote him a letter when we got back. Just like you suggested. I told him…I was sorry. I'd come home for the school year if he still wanted me. He wrote back immediately. We decided…we'd give it another try."

"That took guts."

Annabeth pursed her lips. "You won't try anything stupid during the school year, will you? At least…not without sending me an Iris-message?"

"I won't go looking for trouble. I usually don't have to," Percy said while smiling.

I smirked. "I make no promises."

"When I get back next summer," She said to us. "We'll hunt down Luke. We'll ask for a quest, but if we don't get approval, we'll sneak off and do it anyway. Agreed?"

"Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena," Percy said. We shook hands with each other.

"Take care Seaweed Brain," Annabeth told him. "Keep your eyes open."

"You too, Wise Girl."

Annabeth walked up to me and wrapped her arms around me and gave me a hug. I hesitated for a bit…then I returned it.

"Take of yourself," Annabeth said, she sounded like she really meant it.

"You too," I responded.

Annabeth then walked up the hill and joined her family. She gave her father an awkward hug and looked back at the valley one last time. She touched Thalia's pine tree and then walked over to the crest and into the mortal world.

After a minute, Percy turned to Argus. "Argus, can you take me down to cabin three? I want to pack my bags for home."

And Percy did just that. When he was done packing I went with him up to Half-Blood Hill. The sun was almost fully set by then.

He turned to me. "I hope you're not mad at me. For wanting to go back home and all."

"I don't care about that, Percy," I said.

"But you don't really have anybody here. Annabeth isn't here, Luke isn't here…you'll only have Clarisse."

"I've put up with Clarisse for five years at this point, Percy, I can handle putting up with her for another summer," I said, giving him a smile. "Plus, I think I need some silence after what we've been through."

"Yeah…" Percy sighed. "I promise, I'll be back next summer. I'll survive until then."

"Of course you will," I said. "You're a child of one of the Big Three. We don't go down easily."

"Percy!"

We looked down the hill, next to her car was Percy's mom.

"Well, looks like I'm leaving," Percy said.

"Yeah," I punched him in the arm and smiled. "See you next summer, Barnacle Breath."

Percy punched me in the arm back just as hard and smiled back. "Right back at you, Lightning Rod."

Percy walked down the hill to his mom and I walked down the Hill and back to Camp. Everything is going to change after this. Luke is gone, he's going to start some serious trouble. But I'll be ready for it, for him. Luke didn't fight me then, but when we meet again he'll meet the tip of my lightning arrows. I used to see him as a brother, but after what happened I remembered something: My brother died a long time ago.

I'll be ready. With Percy, Annabeth, and everybody else by my side.

Kronos and Luke can try to break me down. But that won't work.

Because I'm Alaster Grace. The only living demigod Heir of Zeus.

END OF LIGHTNING THIEF STORYLINE!

And just like that we have wrapped up part one of Alaster's story. I am really glad that I made this rewrite of Alaster Grace. I love how I ended this part of the story way more than I did before. I love how I improved the story in general.

Anyways, like I said, this is the end of the Lightning Thief Storyline. Stay tuned, soon we'll delve into the Sea of Monsters storyline, and we'll get further than we did before.