Epilogue

Many who fear the end, know not of the new beginnings that they bring...

"Things are a little different than they used to be huh, my boy?"

A soft smile wriggled its way onto my face as I stepped onto the veranda. My eyes were drawn to the soft browns of Chiron as I made my way to the seat opposite him.

"Only a little." A soft grunt slipped from my lips as I took my seat. I sighed in relief as I rocked backwards, relishing in the sway of the chair for a few moments. "If I stick around and have another meeting, who would be waiting for me?"

Chiron chuckled softly, his eyes studying me with great warmth. "I think we're both well aware that there won't be another meeting, Percy."

I shrugged slightly, my eyes trickling past the veranda for a moment. "You never know these days. All they seem to want to do is talk."

"A much better alternative to constantly fighting." The old centaur paused for a moment, catching my attention from the side of my eyes as he offered an apologetic shrug, "If I do say so myself."

"As horrid as it may be," I turned to face him again, "I'll stop fighting either the day I take my last breath, or you take yours."

There was a moment.

It was filled with an odd energy. Neither awkward nor comfortable. I schooled my features as I struggled to identify the nature of the quiet plaguing us.

"Then I pray that it be at the cost of my life, my dear boy."

A frown slipped past my façade. I raised an eyebrow, shifting slightly in the swaying seat beneath me.

"Would the Fates answer that prayer?"

Another silence.

Though Chiron was less keen to let it persist this time.

"I'm uncertain whether I'm fond of my decision to make you a learned demigod."

I grinned lightly at his playful frown. "I can only be a boy for so long."

Chiron muttered in agreement as his hands danced through his beard. His eyes shifted over the veranda, prompting me to follow his gaze.

"I'd like to ensure you're properly thanked for what you've done for us, my boy." I sat in silent confusion for a few moments as I shifted my eyes back to the old centaur. He refused to meet my eyes as a small grin formed on his lips. "The moat."

I chuckled as I shook my head. "Long day, forgive me."

"You're forgiven and thanked." I smiled, unsure how to respond, though he saved me from my internal awkwardness. "I also wanted you to know that you're doing a great job out there. You've accomplished something far greater than any before you. You live. Many of your group live. The foundation of a legacy has been forged. Whatever you decide to do at this point, you've already done enough. Far more than it, and I'll always be proud of you."

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat as I silently nodded at the old centaur. His eyes continued to stare off into the distance as I fought desperately to recompose myself. Only after I managed, after many minutes of great effort and failure, he turned to offer me a warm smile that radiated even from his eyes.

As another lump formed in my throat, I decided to leave the remainder of our encounter in silence.

The world seemed voluminous with vibrant energy.

A buzz of excitement hung from the demigods themselves, and their mood was matched by the immaculate sensation of the sun and cool breeze being cast down from the brilliant summer sky.

It irked me to no end.

I bit my lip as I sat on the veranda, watching over the camp. The small children, fresh-faced and hopeful. Excited to be a part of a new world, larger than they could ever imagine. Blissfully unaware of the truth of the dangers which lay on the other side of the boundaries.

I huffed to myself, remembering what life was like for me at that age. Maybe they weren't completely innocent and were just pining to reclaim the childhood they had already lost. Maybe they were tarnished by the world of the gods already, but it didn't mean that it had to be like that forever. A kind of future where demigods could grow old, live carelessly, love freely, die of natural causes…

Yet, the cost of the world was placed on my shoulders.

An ugly rage spread its bitter lips apart and gnawed at my soul.

There would be children, hundreds, thousands, even, who could live behind the walls of New Greece without ever facing monsters. There could be an entire world they could build over generations, one which could rewrite the history of the pantheon in ways aside from the constant waging of wars. They could achieve so much greatness with even one generation of true peace.

Yet, Chrysilla would never get to see it. She would never know what her sacrifice truly meant to the world of the demigods. At least, not with her own eyes, as she should have. As she could have.

As she would have.

The heat of the tear trailing down my face brought me from my reverie. I turned to see that Chiron had left already and quickly wiped my eye. A deep breath and a grunt later and I was stood up, prepared to walk back to my cabin.

I cantered down the stairs, eager to return to my cabin and sink into my despair in private. I walked quickly, keeping my eyes locked on the approaching hearth, biting my lips to keep the tears from spilling over once again.

"Oof, sorry!" I stumbled lightly as something collided with my thigh. I looked to my left, away from the voice and quickly composed myself. I chuckled lightly, a raspy sound that was incomplete and turned. I felt the pitiful attempt at a laugh die in my throat as I saw a small mass of black hair. She tilted her head up, rubbing her shoulder sheepishly as I coughed lightly.

"You okay?" I whispered as she looked to be struggling to hold back her embarrassment.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I wasn't looking where I was going."

I smiled softly and gently tapped the top of her shoulder. She flinched slightly at the touch, and I chuckled.

"So, you don't look where you're going while running and you're a liar?"

She seemed taken aback, huffing indignantly as she tried to put her hands on her hips. A wince cut her action off as she caressed her hand. I smiled, giving her a pointed look causing her face to fall into a cute pout.

"Lacy!" I looked over the girl and I bit back a sigh at the sight of a blonde mass of hair and grey eyes which bounded towards us.

"I'm okay, Sophie!" Lacy snapped back. I raised an eyebrow, ready to leave the girl now that her friend had arrived.

"You shouldn't let them bully yo…" Sophie paused as she saw me, seemingly for the first time. "I mean, you need to watch where you're going?"

I chuckled, shaking my head lightly as I stood up fully. "Tell me who and what cabin they're from and I'll make sure they never bully you again."

The girls looked at each other, doubt written clearly over their faces.

"And how would a random guy like you manage that?"

I smiled softly, winking at them. "I know someone in a very high place."

"I doubt that."

"There you two are!" I looked up to see Piper walking over towards us. I quickly backed up from the girls, schooling my features as I waited for the daughter of Aphrodite to reach us.

"I see you girls met Percy." I nodded, smiling without my eyes as she stared at me. She quickly flickered her gaze back to the girls and kneeled before them.

"Percy? As in the Percy Jackson who let Chrysilla die!"

My smile faltered as my eye twitched. "He didn't let her die." Piper managed, a nervous chuckle spreading from her lips.

"But she told me that he would die before her rather than let her die. But she's dead and he's alive!" Lacy spun around, tears in her eyes, "And you called me a liar?!"

I took a deep breath and looked past the little girls. "She's being bullied."

I turned and walked away from the cabins, breathing deeply as my body began teeming with energy.

My mind started to swirl with images of Chrysilla's dead body, her last words. The soft touch that had turned cold. The way her pink smile had been left as a blue grimace and…

"Boss!"

I blinked as I felt a wet snout nuzzling against my neck. I shuffled backwards under the weight of the creature pushing against me.

"I'm so sorry boss! I couldn't be there when you needed me the most! Those stupid campers locked me and the rest of us up! But I'm here! I'm here now and I'm not leaving ever again!"

I felt the tears cascade down my face and bit my lip to keep myself quiet. I pulled myself into Blackjack, burying my face into his mane as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

I wasn't sure how long had passed before I pulled away, but the entire stables were in an uproar. I looked past Blackjack and quickly shushed them.

"Thank you, Blackjack. And all of you, but I'll be fine."

"We know you will be fine, boss. You're just not fine now, and we want to help you like you've helped all of us over the years."

I sighed, smiling softly as I ran my hand over Blackjack's mane.

"Let us join you, boss." I baulked at his words, panic shooting through my body at the thought of Blackjack dying before me. "We're monsters too, don't forget that. We aren't so easy to kill. Besides, if you don't let us join you, we'll start biting the campers and dropping them from the skies in retaliation for keeping us from answering your calls!"

"They did what, sorry?"

Blackjack snorted, pawing at the floor in agitation.

"They started locking us up real good and proper a few days before you called. With celestial bronze chains. I thought it was because I kept sneaking out, but no one else even rides me you know."

I looked past the Pegasus at the gates of the stables and raised an eyebrow at the lack of chains.

"Weird how they're gone the day you're back though, right?"

I nodded numbly. I huffed as I shook my head.

"Something is going on here all right..." My eyes shifted around the settling horses as their eyes stared expectantly at me. I clicked my tongue as the pros began to outweigh the cons. "I'm going to start rallying up the group soon. Before that, I'll come back and release you all. I'll call for you all when we're a few miles from here."

"Awesome! Does that mean the group will be named Blackjack's Bitches now?"

"You were doing so well a minute ago."

"Because you weren't fine a minute ago, but you're less bad now!"

I chuckled at him, "You want to stay here with them, or you'd rather leave now?"

He shuffled lightly, shaking his head. "I'll keep them in check until you come back. Besides, I can't have them pick another one of em as the leader. I'm the only one that will take you to the skies!"

A thin smile spread across my face as he spread his wings in a grand display. Some things never change at least.

"I see you, I see you oh almighty leader of the Pegasi."

"We'll be waiting for you, boss."

I nodded at him, stroking his mane once more before turning and making my way to the beach, deciding it would be easier to get some sleep there.

A/N: There will be a sequel. I have spoken.