Nico POV

"Are you really saying you've been pulling our leg this whole time?" I asked, still half in shock from what she'd just said.

"Oh please," Eris scoffed. "It wasn't really a prank, more like an awesome strategy thought of by me. Remember, it's all in the name of Strife…" I didn't even care about being sarcastic. Right now, I was nervous, excited and scared, all at once…

I followed Eris through the twisted corridors of her chaotic palace, my mind still reeling from the news she had just dropped on me. Eris had made me hate her, until she dropped the bomb on me earlier, revealing the news. It couldn't be true… could it? My heart was torn between hope and skepticism, and I tried my best to keep my emotions in check. Eris seemed to revel in my uncertainty, leading me through a maze of shifting walls and confusing passageways. The whole place felt like a nightmarish puzzle, designed to keep me on edge, but through it all, I couldn't shake the feeling that she was leading me to something important.

At last, we reached a simple wooden door, and Eris pushed it open with a flourish. I'd been here many times before. It was the door to the kitchen, only this time, something was different. My heart skipped a beat as I saw what lay beyond.

In the kitchen, standing with his back to us, was none other than Perseus Jackson, the God of Time in the flesh. He was wrapped in bandages, and he held his staff tightly in his hand. My breath caught in my throat, and I had to blink several times to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

"Percy?" I whispered, unable to believe my eyes. With an agonising slowness, the god turned to face me, an idiotic grin plastered on his face.

"Nico, what's up?" When I didn't say anything, he rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, don't look so shocked. Did you really think I'd die that easily?"

"H-how?" I spluttered. "Eris said you died. I watched your funeral from this palace?"

"Come on," Percy groaned. "And you said my acting was terrible."

I stared at Percy in disbelief, my mind struggling to process what he was saying. He faked his death? How was that even possible? My thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and relief, and I found myself feeling a mix of emotions – anger at being deceived, yet overwhelming joy that Percy was alive.

"How?" I finally managed to ask again, my voice still shaky. Percy chuckled, his grin widening.

"It's a long story, but here's the short version. When Gone stabbed me, the weird barrier from his orb thingy around us blocking my godly powers went down, so I took the opportunity to freeze time. With the help of Eris, I created a clone with the mist to take my place and moved away from the scene. I was seriously hurt, but I managed to find a safe spot to heal up."

"You froze time, even with multiple stab wounds?" I repeated, my eyes wide with awe and disbelief. "That's... that's incredible!" Percy shrugged modestly.

"Well, you know, being the god of time has its perks. But I have to admit, it wasn't easy. It took a lot of energy and concentration to pull it off."

"You're crazy, you know that?" I said, my disbelief giving way to a smile. "I can't believe you actually tricked us all like that." Percy grinned.

"Hey, I had to do what I had to do. If Gone want's to trick us into thinking he's been defeated before launching a counter-attack, well who's to say I can'?" I nodded, understanding his reasoning.

"I get it, but still, you scared the Hades out of us."

"Yeah, sorry about that," Percy said, looking genuinely apologetic. I shook my head, a small laugh escaping my lips. "It's okay. Just promise me you won't do something like that again."

Percy held up his hands in surrender.

"Deal. No more faking deaths, I promise. Well, at least until next week I promise. I have been thinking of a good prank to pull on my dad…"

Just as we were starting to feel a sense of peace, Eris's voice interrupted our conversation. "Hate to break up this sappy reunion, but Gone's heading back to Olympus." Percy's face turned serious, and I could see the determination in his eyes.

"We can't let him get away with this. We have to stop him once and for all." I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
"Agreed. Let's show him that he can't mess with Olympus and get away with it." Percy grinned, the mischievous glint back in his eyes.

"You know, I missed this. The two of us, wreaking destruction left, right, and centre."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"You were gone for like three days, stop exaggerating it now. However, I must admit, it's good to have you back, Percy." With that, we both stood up, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Percy's return had given us hope, and together, we were determined to protect Olympus and all that we held dear.

The battle ahead would be tough, and the odds would be against us, but together, we were a force to be reckoned with. As we faced Gone once again, I knew that this time, we wouldn't let him get away. Percy had come back from the dead to fight, and he had brought with him a strength and determination that was unparalleled.

Artemis POV

As we stood at the gates of Olympus, I couldn't help but feel a gnawing sense of fear and uncertainty. Gone's presence loomed over us like a dark cloud, and the memory of his merciless attack on Percy haunted my every thought. Percy, the hero who had become a dear friend, was now gone, and the weight of his absence was almost suffocating. My heart ached with grief and regret. I wished things could have been different between Percy and me. He had been the one mortal I had allowed myself to get close to, the one who had shown me that not all men were as cruel as I had once believed. But now, he was gone, and I couldn't help but blame myself for not realising my feelings for him sooner, for not allowing myself to love him fully, and for messing up every chance I had.

Amongst the other gods, I saw a mix of emotions reflected on their faces. Zeus, ever the stoic ruler, stood tall and resolute, his thunderbolts crackling with power. Poseidon, on the other hand, looked haunted, his eyes filled with grief and rage. I could see the pain etched into his features, and I knew that he, too, was mourning the loss of his son. The campers and hunters, brave and fierce as they were, held their weapons with trembling hands, their expressions a mix of determination and fear. They had faced countless battles before, but this one felt different, more ominous, with the memory of Percy's sacrifice fresh in their minds.

As we waited, I found myself looking towards the sky, seeking solace in the moon and stars. The night had always been my refuge, a sanctuary where I could find peace and clarity, but now, even the night couldn't shield me from the pain and uncertainty that filled my heart. I missed Percy's laughter, his courage, and the way he always seemed to light up the room with his presence. He had been a beacon of hope and joy, and now, without him, there was an emptiness that I couldn't ignore. I wished I had been braver, that I had allowed myself to let him in, to see the depths of my feelings for him.

As I looked back at the other gods, I saw determination in their eyes, a united front against the darkness that threatened us. Gone may have taken Percy from us, but we would not let him take Olympus. We would fight, not just for Percy's memory, but for the future of this sacred place.

"Prepare yourselves," Zeus said, his voice carrying authority. "He is coming." Just as my Father spoke those words, someone from the back of the crowd shouted, "The elevator is moving up!" Sure enough, one by one, the numbers on the top of the elevator began moving up. I didn't know how Gone was planning on bringing an entire army up through those elevators while listening to its cheesy music, but then again, I didn't know how anyone would've killed the literal God of Time, so here we were.

After an agonisingly long period of silence and tension, the elevator doors finally slid open with a ding, and there he stood: Gone, the embodiment of malevolence, his mask hiding whatever lay beneath, and his sword gleaming with an aura of darkness. My heart pounded in my chest as his menacing presence sent shivers down my spine. There was no sign of Percy anywhere, and the reality of his absence hit me again like a tidal wave.

Gone's sinister smile spread across his face as he surveyed the gathered gods, campers, and hunters.

"Isn't it touching," he sneered, "how you all come together to mourn the loss of your beloved hero? But let's face facts. Like me, he's gone, and now there's no one left to save you." Zeus stood firm, his expression resolute as he spoke.

"We will not surrender to you, Gone. You may have taken Percy from us, but we will not let you destroy Olympus."

"You can say what you want," he chuckled. "But it doesn't change the fact that I am far greater than all of you in strength, standing here as a force to be reckoned with. Athena stepped forward, her eyes narrowed. "You're nothing but a sadistic villain," she declared. "You've caused pain and suffering, and for what? Power?"

"Power, revenge, chaos—it's all the same in the end," Gone replied, his voice smug. "But enough about me. Let's talk about you, Artemis. How does it feel to know that your little crush on Percy was all for naught?" My cheeks flushed with anger, but I refused to let him get under my skin.

"You know nothing about my feelings," I retorted.

"Oh, I know more than you think," Gone taunted. "I've seen the way you looked at him, the way you cared for him. And yet, you pushed him away, convinced yourself that you were incapable of love." I clenched my fists, the memories of my past mistakes rushing back.

"That's none of your business," I snapped. Gone chuckled again, clearly enjoying the effect he was having on us.

"You see, that's the thing about me. I always know where to strike to hurt the most. And you, Artemis, you've got a heart as vulnerable as any mortal's." Ares stepped forward, his anger palpable.

"Enough of this," he growled. "Let's end this farce and start the fight."

"Oh, but the fun is just getting started," Gone mused "Don't you want to know more about what it's like to kill Perseua Jackson? It felt so good hearing that knife sink deep into his shoulder, hearing him howl in pain…" Zeus's eyes flashed with rage, but he remained composed.

"Tell us what you want, and be done with it," he demanded. Gone feigned consideration, as if contemplating his next move.

"I want you to suffer," he finally said, his voice low and menacing. "I want you to see everything you hold dear crumble before you." Zeus's expression hardened.

"We will never surrender to you," he vowed. Gone's grin widened, and I could feel the weight of his malevolence pressing down on us.

"Oh, don't worry, Zeus. I won't kill you all… yet," he said. "But I will make sure you witness the fall of Olympus." Suddenly, the ground shook beneath us, and the elevator doors opened. Gone stepped back, allowing the full view of the descending army of monsters. I didn't know how he'd managed to fit that many monsters in, and I didn't want to know.

"Welcome to the end," he said, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "The end of Olympus, the end of your little hero Percy Jackson, and the end of hope. Indeed it is I who revels in the darkness."

Percy POV

My heart pounded in my chest as we sprinted through the corridors of Olympus. Eris had used her power to teleport us into the side-roads of Olympus, and now we were racing towards the source of the chaos. Nico was at my side, his eyes filled with determination, and Eris kept pace with us, her mischievous grin never leaving her face. The sounds of clashing weapons and roars of monsters grew louder with each step we took. We turned a corner and came face to face with a group of Itegras, their red eyes glowing with malice. Without hesitation, I froze them, quickly summoning a wave of water and sending it crashing into the beasts, knocking them back.

"We're getting closer," Nico said, his voice tense. Eris giggled.

"Oh, isn't this exciting?" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I've always loved a good fight."

"Stay focused," I warned, scanning our surroundings for any more threats. By now, the battle must've been in full swing, Olympians and monsters clashing in a fierce struggle for control.

As we ran, I couldn't help but think about the last time I was here, the battle against Gone. It felt like a lifetime ago, and yet the memories were still fresh in my mind. Artemis, the hunters, the gods… I had fought alongside them all, and now, they were facing him again without me.

Finally, after minutes of frantic running, I stood at the edge of the cliff, my heart pounding in my chest as I looked down at the chaotic battlefield below. The ground was a swirling mass of monsters and gods locked in fierce combat. Explosions of elemental powers and bursts of light illuminated the dark sky, creating a mesmerising but deadly spectacle.

"Here we are," Eris said with a wicked grin. "Isn't it a beautiful sight?" My grip tightened on my staff, my mind racing with a mix of determination and fear. It was time to fight, to face the one who had tried to end me, and in doing so, hopefully save Olympus. Nico turned to Eris.

"What are you going to do now?" he asked. "You're going to help up, right?" Eris chuckled, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"Why, I'm going to watch from above," she replied. "I haven't seen a fight so violent and intense in a long time. I'm not going to miss it." Before I could say anything else, Eris vanished, leaving Nico and me standing alone on the cliff. The weight of the upcoming battle settled on my shoulders, but I knew there was no other choice. I had to confront Gone and put an end to this madness.

With a deep breath, I let out a powerful roar.

"GONE!" I yelled, my voice ringing across Olympus The battlefield froze for a moment as all eyes turned to me, confusion and shock evident in their faces. My voice echoed with conviction.

"You tried to kill me, and even without my powers, you failed!" Now, some of the people were starting to recognise who I was.

"Per-Percy?" he heard Artemis call out, her voice laced with uncertainty. Gone on the other hand had his eyes wide open, mouth agape.

"No… It can't be?" he stuttered. "I-I saw you die in front of me. What sorcery is this!?" I stood, unwavering, my robes rippling in the light breeze.

"You can't die when Thanatos himself fears you," I chuckled, before hardening and glaring at the monster.

"Like Lazarus, I have risen, and now it's time for the world to witness your…"

"...Obliteration."

Hehe 69... funny number. Anyway, this was by far a fun chapter to write, and I hope everyone enjoys it as well! That's it for me this week. Got a wedding to attend and my birthday tomorrow, so updating might be tough next week. Enjoy!