Chiron and Mr. D were setting up the fireworks while the campers waited. Piper and Jason were lying on their backs looking at the stars, Frank and Hazel were holding hands under a tree, Nico and Reyna(when did she get here?) were drinking something while they were talking and smiling, which made Percy smile too, because Nico hardly smiled before the war with Gaea, but since the war ended he has been more happier lately. Leo was making hearts out of fire and Calypso kissed his cheek. Percy and Annabeth had their arms around each other while they lied on their backs and looked at the stars. "Bob says hello." Annabeth told the sky. Percy looked at her and smiled,

"I love you Wise Girl."

"I love you, too, Seaweed Brain." He kissed her for a long time. They were interrupted by Chiron announcing that the fireworks are ready.

It was then that Nico stood up in a panic. "Wait, stop, something is wrong. I can sense-" But it was too late. Mr. D already lit the first firework. A high pitched sound, which sounded like broken glass being scratched on a chalkboard, came from the fireworks. Everyone put their hands to their ears and dropped in pain. When Percy finally regained his senses, he drew Riptide. Well there goes my plans for a perfect night, Percy thought. About that time everyone else regained their senses. Percy looked back and saw Jason. Jason gave him a sypathetic look.

When the smoke cleared, he saw black smoky figures.

Percy turned to Annabeth, "What are these things?"

Annabeth shrugged. Everyone was coughing and squinting their eyes trying to see past the dark figures. Even Leo, who was immune to fire, was coughing.

"Manias." said Nico. "They are manias. Demons that form from smoke."

"How do we kill them?" Percy asked Nico.

"I honestly have no clue," Nico coughed. "They usually are peacful."

Great, Percy thought, just when I was getting ready to settle down, I get an army of smoke spirits, it's like the Fates are mocking me. They are probably saying "You just got done with a big war? You want to settle down? How cute! Well how about we give you a whole army of demons, that you have no clue on how to kill, so you can never have a normal life ever!" Percy reached for the ring in his pocket. "I can do this. Finish this for her. For us." He looked at Annabeth. She was looking through the weapons shed with Piper, trying to find a weapon to use, because they left theirs at home. Percy caught sight of Jason trying to blast the smoke monsters with wind.

"JASON!" Percy shouted.

"What?" Jason said, not taking his eyes off the smoke spirits.

"We work better as a team remember?" Jason smiled at him and they then knew what they had to do. Percy and Jason crossed swords and summoned a storm against the storm spirits. It was actually working. But for some reason they were multiplying. Percy didn't realize why till he saw Leo shooting flames at the smoke. "Leo! They are made of smoke, your flames are making them stronger! You can't kill fire with fire!"

"Then what do you want me to do!?"

"Help the campers get back to their cabins."

Leo sighed. "Fine, whatever." Percy could tell Leo was in no mood to argue. Leo walked off yelling at people to go back to their cabins.

Percy focused on summoning the storm again. Just as he almost got rid of all of them. He heard a familiar voice cry out in pain.

He saw the familiar figure fall to the ground, he couldn't clearly make it out with the smoke. Then he heard Piper screaming and she started shooting hams from her cornucopia at the smoke. She knelt down to the figure. The smoke cleared just enough to make out the blonde ponytail.

At that moment the whole world moved slowly around him.

His legs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds beneath him. Percy uncrossed swords with Jason. He let out all of his pain, his anger and his sadness into summoning all of his powers. He screamed so loud that it might have sounded worse than the loud screeching from the fireworks earlier. He made a whirlpool around him just big enough to drown the smoke. When he was done he sent the water into the ground, where it disintegrated and went straight to Tartarus. Then Percy summoned rain to clear out all smoke and fire from the air, just to be sure. When he was done Percy had no strength. His knees buckled underneath him. He cried out for Annabeth weakly. He tried to run to her but his knees felt like a bag of rocks. He had just enough time to see everyone staring at him with shocked expressions on their faces, weapons dropped, before he fell to the floor and blacked out.