Chapter 2

*some time after the last chapter*

As the time went by since Jason's death, a lot had changed across both camps. At camp Jupiter, Reyna had relinquished her position in favor of a spot within the Hunters of Artemis, Hazel and Frank were the new praetors of the camp, and were leading it quite well. And at camp half-blood, Percy and Annabeth were officially the last members of the seven in residence there. All and all, life had started to return to a similar state to what it was before the giant war, of course with this thought, our next chapter begins.

Percy's POV

*Camp Half-Blood Arena*

As I stood to the side of the arena watching the new campers training, I couldn't help but smile at the progress they were making. For most of the campers, they had willingly accepted mine and Annabeth's help, The main exception being Gemini, a new son of Dionysus, who had an unruly dislike for everything to do with Percy and Annabeth. As I was thinking about the new campers, I was drawn from my thoughts by the shimmering of an Iris Message appearing in front of me, and the face of my brother Tyson.

"Brother!" Tyson yelled, fear lacing his voice. "Need help!"

"What's wrong Tyson?" I asked, noticing Annabeth stepping up next to me.

"Big snake is attacking!" Tyson yelled

"Big snake? Do you mean Python?" Annabeth asked, worry showing in her eyes.

"Yes!" Tyson hollered back. "Python wants Apollo! We need help!"

"We will be right there buddy, just hold on!" I said, grabbing hold of Annabeth's hand. "Jane! Go tell Chiron where we went!" I called out to the young daughter of Iris, and as me and Annabeth disappeared into the mist, I saw Jane run off towards the big house.

*Location: Unknown*

A/N: I suck at battle scenes so sorry!

"Tyson where are you!" I called, as soon as we reformed in the new location. Only to be answered by the sounds of a battle raging in the distance.

"Cmon Percy, it's coming from over here!" Annabeth said, letting go of my hand and racing towards the sounds of battle

And as I neared the battle I couldn't help but stop for a split second as I took in the chaos around me. Around the clearing I could see hundreds of different monsters, ranging from hell hounds, to dracaena, and even a few laistrygonian giants. And at the back of the monsters, was one ginormous, close to fifty foot long serpent, who I knew had to be Python. And as I got ready to change into the battle, I noted the location of my friends and how they were holding up, and I attacked.

Now most say that when you enter a battle times seems endless, and I have even been known to think that from time to time, but this battle, from the very beginning was just chaos incarnate, as I rushed at the hellhounds, slashing through them and letting their bodies fade into the shadows, I couldn't help but think that this would probably be one of my more difficult scrimishes. As the time flew by, and the monsters dwindled, I felt a sense of dread wash over me, before being broken out of my battle sense, by a scream of pain ripping through the air.

And when I turned around, I saw a sight I never thought I would see, Apollo on the ground cowering behind Tyson, and Annabeth laying in front of them bleeding from a massive bite in her side, and Python towering over her with blood on his fangs. And as I rushed towards my friends and the woman I love, all I saw was red.

After the battle, when Tyson told me what happened, he said that as I rushed he felt a earthquake so large that he thought that Gaea was rising again, and that as I got closer to Python, water started to be pulled from all around us before being clumped together and changed into an ice like substance, and sent flying towards Python. He said that even with Python's powerful scales and snake reflexes. That some of the spikes still managed to get through, and that when I was between Python and Annabeth, it seemed like Python froze. Before he suddenly burst, and was no more. And then I had collapsed, besides Annabeth's limp form.

And as I listened to Tyson tell the tales of the battle, I thought back to what could have possibly happened, and was able to draw it up a select few possibilities. The first is that for what feels like only the second time ever, I managed to channel my earthshaker powers and used that to throw Python off balance, before calling the water to me and slowing it down on a more molecular level, seeing how I control water, and its forms, but not necessarily it temperature as a whole, but I can speed up the water or slow it down to create heat within the water or create water vapor, or create in essence Ice. And finally, I did something that I had promised Annabeth I would never do, I controlled the blood in Python and caused him to explode.

Annabeth, I thought, whatever happened to her. Before I could ask Tyson, Apollo walked into the room, with a new glow to him, showing me that his immortality had been restored.

"Hey Perce! How's my favorite demigod doing?" Apollo called out with a cheeky grin.

"Fine Apollo..." I started, before being interrupted by the sun god

"You know, I think I have a haiku for just this situation..." Apollo said, before I interrupted him, hoping to spare my ears from his haiku's, and actually being worried.

"Where is Annabeth? Is she ok?" I asked, worried about where she could be.

"Annabeth.." Apollo said slowly.

"Yes," I said irritated, "Annabeth, you know the girl who helped save Olympus twice and just saved your sorry butt!"

Apollo shifted uncomfortably "Well, you see Percy.."

"APOLLO!" I yelled, "where is Annabeth?"

"Percy, you have to understand that Python's venom doesn't have an antivenom" Apollo started.

"What are you saying Apollo?" I said getting worried.

"And Annabeth's wounds were very severe.." Apollo continued, before getting interrupted by a cold voice

"She's dead" Athena said, stepping through the doorway and giving me a cold stare, "my daughter is dead."

I froze, it took me a moment to comprehend what she was saying. "Dead...." I whispered.

Athena just nodded in conformation, before her gaze softened, "It saddens me to know, that you are her won't be together, I had actually started to enjoy the thoughts of having you for a son in law, and not just my cousin and an annoying son of Poseidon."

And as I sat there processing what I was told, I couldn't help but break down. I don't know how long I cried, and neither Athena nor Tyson said anything, though Apollo must have snuck out at some point. But as I regained my bearings, I asked the next question that was on my mind.

"How long was I out?" I asked Athena.

"Close to two weeks, Annabeth's funeral was a week ago, and I motioned for the council to build a proper memorial for her in honour of everything that she had done, and Hades agreed to give her immediate access into the Isles of the blessed, saying that she did more in this life, than most could do in three." Athena responded sadly

"Well... " I said slowly, thinking how I missed my own girlfriend's funeral, "at least she will be happy. And no one will ever forget what she had done." I tried for a smile, but it must not have been too convincing, considering the look Athena gave me.

"We decided that you should have this." Athena said, pulling out a familiar cap from who knows where. "Annabeth would want you to have it." She continued, placing on the side table that I just noticed was there.

"Thanks." I mumbled, staring at the cap

"And her sword is also yours." Athena said, referring to the Drakon bone sword that Damasen had given us in tartarus. "We decided to enchant it so that it can be easier to store." She continued, though she never handed over any item.

"Where is the sword?" I asked, thinking I can honour Annabeth by fighting with her sword and protecting anyone that I could.

"It is in your pocket." Athena said, though when I reached in my pockets, I only found riptide. "We decided to merge them for easy storage, When you uncap riptide, the other sword will appear in your other hand." She continued. "And if you just want to fight with one sword, just will it and the swords will merge into one. Half drakon bone, half celestial bronze, and the sword can't be broken, much like how riptide is imbued with Zoe Nightshades immortal essence, We worked some magic, and imbued the new sword with some of Annabeth's essence."

I just sat there in silence, taking this all in, before I uncamped my pen, and saw the two swords appear.

"What will you call the sword?" Athena asked

"For the drakon bone, I will call it Κυνηγώντας τη σοφία" I said as the inscription magically appeared on the before mentioned sword

"Chasing wisdom, interesting, and for the combined swords?" Athena prompted.

"I'm thinking Η Σοφία της Θάλασσας" I said, willing the swords into one, and watching the name appear. "Sea's Wisdom, to show the uniting of wisdom and the sea, the uniting of me and Annabeth." I continued sadly.

"Interesting names." Athena mused, before we were interrupted by Tyson sniffling

"Hey Tyson, what's the matter?" I asked "Annabeth is in a better place, she will be happy."

"But it's my fault Annie is dead." Tyson sniffled, "if I hadn't called for help you never would have showed up."

"Tyson, don't think like that. We knew there were risks in coming, but me and Annabeth accepted those risks, it's not your fault buddy, and Annabeth would judo flip you and then me if she knew you were thinking it was your fault. No one is at fault except for Python ok buddy" I said, trying to bring a chuckle out of my brother, and trying to convince myself of the matter.

Before Tyson could respond, we were interrupted by a flash under the door, before Hermes walked in with a grim expression.

"Athena" Hermes said with a nod, before turning towards me. "Percy, you and your brother are wanted in the throne room."

And by the tone of his voice, I knew it couldn't be anything good. 

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I hope to have chapter three out sometime this week. If you have any suggestions for the next few chapters, please let me know and I might take them into consideration. I hope you all have a good day, and I will write you all next time