Jason

In Levittown, New York, Jason sat, throwing a sweatshirt over his freezing body, in a tent. An odd combination of people sat to the sides of him. Nico DiAngelo, a disturbed demigod who continuously ran away from problems sat to his right. Thalia Grace, a demigod turned tree turned immortal huntress sat to his left. And finally, Percy Jackson, demigod who lead two mythical wars and literally crawled out of the depths of hell sat in front of him.

They all sat with an air of excitement. Percy Jackson was going to walk on his own for the first time in months. Well, they thought months. Thalia asked when his leg had been broken, and he had given a very vague answer. It was clear from a lot of his answers that he was not willing to explain further.

"You guys don't all have to watch this." Percy said uncomfortably.

"I did not nurse you back to health to not watch something come of this." Thalia snorted. Percy rolled his eyes and stood up. It was clear that it was a great deal of effort already. His skin had dropped in color and his legs were shaking. He gingerly put weight on his wrapped up leg and tested standing. When he deemed it to be suitable, he took a step.

"It's alright, Percy. Just a few more." Thalia murmured under her breath. Percy listened and took another few steps. He seemed unsteady, but gained confidence. He walked across the tent, then turned around, and repeated the action. His smile grew the more steps he took. Finally he turned and looked at them, smiling.

Nico, Jason, and Thalia burst into a round of applause. Percy smiled again.

"Now I'm ready for any fight." He laughed. He then reached into his pocket and brought out the pen form of Riptide. He uncapped it and Riptide sprang out, broken in half. The celestial bronze was shattered, only the base of the blade and a diagonal line remained. Jason felt his smile falling from his face. For some reason, it hadn't occurred to him to think about what had happened to Percy's loyal sword. But seeing it broken like this only reminded Jason of what Percy had been through.

Percy's smile faded as well as he saw everyone else's faces. "It's fine. It happened a while ago." He capped Riptide and put it back in his pocket. "It still comes back to me though." He gave a small smile, hoping to return to the joyful mood.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Jason asked carefully.

"Come on, guys. Let's just keep going back to camp, okay. Then I swear I'll tell, I... I just need to figure some things out." Percy lowered himself back into a sitting position. Everyone nodded, the air beginning to feel anxious.

"Seriously, it's fine." Percy said again, more forceful this time. Everyone starting talking again, changing the subject to things immature and irrelevant.

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Piper

Annabeth, Leo and Piper all stood on the hill overlooking Camp Half-Blood. They had been standing there for nearly twenty minutes without any movement. Frank and Hazel, who had arrived at camp too late to join Leo and Piper on their quest, were also on the hill with them.

After seeing Annabeth arrive, they had run up the hill, hugging her and crying. Annabeth had told them she missed them too, then started her silent staring. No one else had said a word since. No one suggested they go down to camp. They all just stood.

Leo glanced at Piper, worry in his eyes. Hazel looked at Piper and mouthed "is she okay?" and jerked her head towards Annabeth. Piper shook her head no. Frank fidgeted with his bow string, uncomfortable to be standing still for so long.

Leo walked up to Annabeth and put his arm around her shoulder. "How about this? How about Hazel and Frank go down and distracts everyone, then I sneak you into the Big House. That way you don't have to talk to anybody you don't want to. Okay?" Leo looked back at Piper, and she nodded encouragingly.

Annabeth nodded, a large lump in her throat. Leo lead her down the hill carefully, Piper on his heels. Frank and Hazel went in an opposite direction.

Leo and Annabeth walked down the hill of Camp Half-Blood, the hill where Thalia had died, towards the Big House, arm and arm. The entire time, Annabeth was standing directly ahead of herself, not looking around at the camp, her once home.

They finally entered a room off to the side. Chiron was standing there and turned at the sight of her. He wordlessly went up to her and enveloped her in a tender hug only a father could give. Leo and Piper left the room and Annabeth's sobs followed them out.

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Percy

He was finally alone for the first time since coming back. The second Nico had left the tent to go with Jason and Thalia for supplies, Percy breathed deeply with relief. He laid back and closed his eyes, allowing his face to rest on whatever expression it wanted without the pressure of the appearance of "fine". He finally opened his eyes to see his hands shaking.

He wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the broken Riptide. He brought the hilt to his forehead and rested his face on his hands.

"I'm falling apart." He said to Annabeth. He hadn't talked to her in a while. He knew she wasn't real so he refrained himself from speaking to her around company. He could not let them think he was crazier then he actually was. Even though Annabeth wasn't real, she was a friend. Imaginary Annabeth said exactly what he needed to hear. She was with him through everything, right by his side, holding his hand.

"You're acting exactly how everyone expects you to be." Imaginary Annabeth was sitting next to him.

"I want to be fine." He turned towards nothing. "I am fine. I'm out of Tartarus. I'm with friends. I'm safe...ish. I am completely fine."

"But you're not!" Imaginary Annabeth exclaimed. "You're not fine and that is fine. Nobody expects you to be the same."

"I do." He muttered. "I want to be for when I see you."

"I love you no matter what. I will never leave you." She said simply.

"You still love me, but will Annabeth?" Percy closed his eyes again.

Silence, then, "I am Annabeth."

Percy turned to look at her. He saw her and remembered every kick to the ribs, every jolt of pain that had flared through him, every time he had curled up in a ball and wished to die. He saw her eyes as he drifted off to death and saw her eyes as he was painfully pulled back. Her face was a year of terrible memories. In Tartarus, she was a symbol of hope. He talked to her hoping to one day return to the real her. Now he was nearly a day away from her real self, and her imaginative state was only a reminder. Staring at her face, he realized the tiny details that a year of time had differed her face from the real Annabeth. This was not Annabeth.

With shaking hands, he went to touch her face and felt nothing there.

"No you're not." A tear fell from his eyes.

She looked at him for a long time, then smiled sadly. "Go find me."

She was gone. Percy was left with his arm outstretched and staring at nothing but the canvas of the tent.

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Leo

Leo sat on the front porch of the Big House, elbows on his knees, head in his hands. He was thinking furiously about what was to come. Chiron appeared on the porch, along with Piper, Hazel, Frank, and a furious Calypso. She stormed towards him and pushed his arms away and gave him a strong hug.

"You didn't tell me you were back?" She demanded.

"Sorry Sunshine." Leo said, but it was clear his heart wasn't into it. Calypso's angry face melted into concern.

"What happened? Did you find her? Is she here?" Calypso knelt in front of him.

"Yes, Annabeth arrived and is resting in another room. We will alert the other campers tomorrow. She needs rest." Chiron answered for Leo. All Leo did was nod.

"Is she going to be okay?" Hazel squeaked out.

"She'll be fine. She's Annabeth. She just needs time." Piper crossed her arms.

"Unfortunately, I don't think we have time." Chiron turned to Leo and Piper. "Before she went to sleep, she was saying some concerning things."

"What things?" Frank asked.

"An army is coming here tomorrow." Leo closed his eyes to avoid their reactions. He heard them anyway.

"What!?" Hazel yelled.

"Here?" Calypso demanded.

"Oh gods!" Frank exclaimed.

"How does she know?" Hazel asked.

"She overheard monsters talking. Some force released a bunch of monsters from Tartarus. We think that's what Jason and Nico went to investigate. If it is, they probably should be headed back here." Piper answered.

"So what do we do?" Frank drew his bow.

"Get ready." Was all Leo said. Tomorrow, Camp Half-Blood would be under attack once again.

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