The sun was shining with a light breeze this day. A bunch of chairs had been placed in a church-type style, leaving an aisle down the middle. A lot of people were seated in those chairs- in fact, all the year rounders were- except for one. You slowly walked down the aisle, wearing a veil and a long, flowing train. You spot most of the campers crying as you (M/P mortal parent) offers you their arm. You take it and walk down the aisle, spotting a few familiar faces, all sporting weak smiles.

As you reach the front, you kiss Leo on the lips, for the last time. You remain strong, determined not to break down. That stupid Hydra just had  to blow acid at him. He was gone within the hour. 

You take a deep breath, and turn to face the audience. (A/N: Monologue Alert!)

"Long ago, the Greek writer Plato wrote that humans originally had two heads, four arms, and four legs- one half female and the other half male. These humans frightened Zeus, so he split them apart- and since then, humans have always been looking for their other halves."

A tear trickles down your cheek, gone unnoticed because of the veil. "I was lucky. I found my other half."

You bite your lip, struggling to hold back tears. "And today, I lost him again. I know I am incredibly lucky to have found my soulmate, Leo Valdez. I... I just wish it had been longer."

"Leo wasn't the best with 'organic life forms,' as he called them. Yet he was always deeply compassionate- because he knew what it felt like to experience such loss. He could sometimes be really sad inside, but he wouldn't let anyone see, because he didn't want anyone to worry. He hid it behind a facade of cheesy jokes and humor, and I feel privileged to have been allowed to see behind that."

"Leo Valdez was my soul mate, the one who smoothed me out and kept me fine. I know he made much of an impact on many of you today, too, so I hope you'll agree with me when I say Leo Valdez did not deserve to die."

You could hear a general murmur of assent from the crowd and decided that you would go through with your plan. You raised your hand for silence, and called, "And that is why I am going to the Underworld, to trade my soul for his."