╔═══*.·:·.☽✧    ✦    ✧☾.·:·.*═══╗

ALL TOO WELL

THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH
[ T H E   B A T T L E   O F   T H E
L A B Y R I N T H ]

╚═══*.·:·.☽✧    ✦    ✧☾.·:·.*═══╝

DISTANCE WAS A lot shorter in the Labyrinth. However, Natalia Flynn was certainly not a track star. By the time Rachel got them back to Times Square, Natalia's legs felt like jelly. Her muscles ached. They finally reached above ground from the Marriott basement. Natalia had to adjust her eyes to look at the traffic and the bustling crowds of the city.

She didn't know which seemed less real to her — New York City or the crystal cavern where they had witnessed the God Pan die.

Percy led them to an alley. He whistled as loud as he could six times.

Rachel gasped after a minute. "They're beautiful!"

A flock of Pegasi were descending from the sky, swooping between the skyscrapers. Blackjack, Percy's all black Pegasus, led five of his white Pegasus friends. Natalia recognized three of them as Guido, Porkpie, and Natalia's trusty friend Treasure, who had taken a liking to her ever since he brought her to Mount Olympus last winter. They landed, and Treasure immediately bounded over to Natalia. She pet him on the nose.

"Yeah," Percy said, speaking to Blackjack. "I'm lucky that way. Listen, we need a ride to Camp quick."

All of them began saddling up minus Rachel, who would stay in the city. She couldn't go to Camp Half-Blood with them.

"Well," Rachel told Percy. "I guess this is it."

Percy nodded. He glanced back and locked eyes with Natalia, who raised a challenging eyebrow at him. Percy looked to Annabeth, who pretended to be very busy with her Pegasus. Natalia continued to pet Treasure while she eavesdropped on their conversation.

"Thanks, Rachel," Percy stated. "We couldn't have done it without you.''

"I wouldn't have missed it. I mean, except for almost dying, and Pan . . ." she trailed off.

"He said something about your father. What did he mean?"

"My dad . . . My dad's job. He's kind of a famous businessman."

"You mean . . . you're rich?"

Natalia blinked, sharing an interested look with Treasure. Rachel seemed so down to Earth.

"Well, yeah."

"So that's how you got the chauffeur to help us? You just said your dad's name and-"

"Yes," Rachel cut him off. "Percy . . . my dad's a land developer. He flies all over the world, looking for tracts of undeveloped land. The wild. He - he buys it up. I hate it, but he ploughs it down and builds ugly subdivisions and shopping centers. And now that I've seen Pan . . . Pan's death—"

"Hey, you can't blame yourself for that."

"You don't know the worst of it. I — I don't like to talk about my family. I didn't want you to know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"No, it's cool. Look, Rachel, you were awesome. You led us through the maze. You were so brave. That's the only thing I'm going to judge you on. I don't care what your dad does."

"Well . . . if you ever feel like hanging out with a mortal again . . . you could call me or something."

"Uh, yeah. Sure."

Natalia rolled her eyes. Percy was so hopeless.

"I mean . . . I'd like that," Percy corrected.

"My number's not in the book," Rachel told him.

"I've got it."

"Still on your hand? No way."

"No. I kinda . . . memorized it."

Natalia shared another interested look with Treasure. The horse's eyes were wide.

"See you later, Percy Jackson. Go save the world for me, okay?"

With that, Rachel Elizabeth Dare walked down Seventh Avenue and disappeared into the busy crowds. Natalia glanced over her shoulder at Percy, whose face blushed red under her knowing gaze.

Meanwhile, Nico was having trouble with Porkpie, who kept moving away from him and wouldn't let him mount.

"Go without me!" Nico demanded. "I don't want to go back to that Camp anyway."

"Nico, we need your help," Percy urged.

He crossed his arms and scowled. Natalia walked up to him and held out her hand, offering him to take it. Nico looked at it suspiciously.

"Percy's right, Nico." She smiled softly at him. "Please, come with us."

His expression softened slowly. He took Natalia's hand and held it. Even though his grip was loose, it still made all the difference.

"All right," he decided. "Only for you, Natalia. But I'm not staying."

Natalia squeezed his hand before letting go. When she passed Percy on the way back, he gave her an incredulous look. Natalia winked and bumped his shoulder with hers. She mounted Treasure while everyone else got on their respective Pegasi.

They all shot in the air, and before they knew it, they were over the East River with Long Island spread out before them.

It didn't take them long to reach Camp Half-Blood. The Pegasi landed in the middle of the Cabin area, and the group was greeted by Chiron, the Satyr Silenus, and a couple of archers from the Apollo Cabin. Natalia gave a smile to Will Solace as she got off of Treasure, and he waved in return.

Chiron looked confused by Nico's arrival, but he didn't look surprised by the rest of their news - Quintus actually being Daedalus and Kronos rising.

"I feared as much," Chiron admitted. "We must hurry. Hopefully you have slowed down the Titan Lord, but his vanguard will still be coming through. They will be anxious for blood. Most of our defenders are already in place. Come!"

"Wait a moment," Silenus interrupted. "What of the search for Pan? You are almost three weeks overdue, Grover Underwood! Your searcher's licence is revoked!"

Grover took a deep breath and stood up straight, looking Silenus right in the eye. "Searchers' licences don't matter any more. The great God Pan is dead. He has passed on and left us his spirit."

Silenus' face turned bright red. "What? Sacrilege and lies! Grover Underwood, I will have you exiled for speaking thus!"

"It's true," Percy argued. "We were there when he died. All of us."

"Impossible! You are all liars! Nature destroyers!"

Chiron studied Grover's pained expression. "We will speak of this later."

"We will speak of it now! We must deal with this—"

"Silenus, my Camp is under attack. The matter of Pan has waited two thousand years. I fear it will have to wait a bit longer. Assuming we are still here this evening."

With that optimistic thought, he raised his bow and galloped into the woods. Natalia and the rest quickly followed after them, but soon froze in awe at what they saw.

It was the biggest military operation Natalia had ever seen at Camp Half-Blood. Everyone wore full battle armor, but instead for capture the flag, it was for an actual battle. The Hephaestus Cabin had multiple traps set up at the entrance to the Labyrinth — razor wire, pits filled with Greek fire pits, and rows of sharpened sticks. Charles Beckendorf himself was manning two catapults the size of pickup trucks that were already aimed at Zeus' Fist. The Ares Cabin drilled phalanx formation in the front line with Clarisse calling orders to them. Both Apollo's and Hermes' Cabins scattered across the woods with their bows drawn, many taking positions in the trees. The Dryads were also armed with bows while the Satyrs held wooden cudgels and tree bark shields.

Annabeth had left to join her siblings from the Athena Cabin. A command tent with a gray banner decorated with an owl was set up. They were directing the operations of the battle. Argus stood guard at the door. Aphrodite's children were straightening everybody's armor and offering to comb the tangles out of the horse hair plumes. Natalia didn't see Dionysus, but his twins, Castor and Pollux, were providing the soldiers with water bottles and juice boxes.

"It isn't enough," Chiron muttered.

Natalia knew he was right. However, it was all they could do. She suddenly wished Dionysus was here, but Gods were forbidden to interfere directly when it came to war.

At the edge of the clearing, Grover was holding hands with Juniper as he told her their story. Green tears streamed down her face when he delivered the news about Pan. Meanwhile, Tyson was helping the Hephaestus kids prepare the defenses by piling boulders next to the catapults for firing.

"Stay with me, Percy," Chiron ordered. "When the fighting begins, I want you to wait until we know what we're dealing with. You must go where we most need reinforcements."

"I want Tals to come with me," Percy replied.

Chiron glanced at Natalia for a moment and then nodded. "Very well. She is our star archer, so she will be useful in the attack."

Natalia smirked and tapped her bracelet, slinging her bow over her shoulder once it appeared. "Hell yeah I will."

"I saw Kronos," Percy continued. "I looked straight into his eyes. It was Luke . . . but it wasn't."

Chiron ran a finger along his bowstring. "He had golden eyes, I would guess. And in his presence, time seemed to turn to liquid."

Percy nodded. "How could he take over a mortal body?"

"I do not know, Percy. Gods have assumed the shapes of mortals for ages, but to actually become one . . . to merge the divine form with the mortal. I don't know how this could be done without Luke's form turning to ashes."

"Kronos said his body had been prepared."

"I shudder to think what that means. But perhaps it will limit Kronos' power. For a time, at least, he is confined to a human form. It binds him together. Hopefully it also restricts him."

"Chiron, if he leads this attack-"

"I do not think so, my boy. I would sense if he were drawing near. No doubt he planned to, but I believe you inconvenienced him when you pulled his throne room down on top of him." He stared down at Percy. "You and your friend Nico, son of Hades."

Natalia suddenly jumped in to defend them. "Chiron, we wanted to tell you-"

Chiron held up his hand, making her go silent. "I understand why you two did it. You felt responsible. You sought to protect him. But, my warriors, if we are to survive this, we must trust each other. We must . . ."

He was cut off by the ground trembling. Everyone in the clearing paused what they were doing.

"Lock shields!" Clarisse barked.

Then the Titan Lord's army marched out of the Labyrinth.

Natalia was shocked how fast it turned into a full-fledged battle. She spotted a dozen Laistrygonian Giants yelling loudly while carrying shields made from flattened cars and clubs made of tree trunks. One of them bellowed at the Ares phalanx and smashed the whole thing aside with its club.

"Fire!" Beckendorf demanded.

The two catapults fired their boulders. One boulder deflected off a Giant's shield with barely a dent, but the other hit another in the chest. The Giant went down. Apollo's archers fired a volley. Dozens of Celestial Bronze arrows stuck in the thick armor, but some were able to find chinks. Several Giants vaporized at the touch of the precious metal.

Just when it looked like the Giants were going to be outnumbered, about forty Dracaenae emerged from the maze, all wielding spears and nets. They dispersed into different directions. Some hit the traps the Hephaestus Cabin had laid out (one even got stuck in the spikes, which made them an easy target for the archers). Another triggered a trip wire and sent Greek fire spreading, which engulfed several of the snake women. However, more just kept advancing. Argus and the Athena kids ran forwards to meet them, and Natalia spotted Annabeth charging in with a sword. Nearby, Tyson was perched on a Giant's back and was hitting him on the head with a bronze shield, the BONG! BONG! BONG! echoing throughout the forest.

Chiron took down monsters with every arrow he shot. Despite all of the fighting, enemies continued to climb out of the Labyrinth.

It was when a Hellhound that was not Mrs. O'Leary came out of the maze and went straight for the Satyrs that Percy and Natalia joined the fight.

"GO!" Chiron yelled at them.

Percy and Natalia locked eyes. With one simple nod, Natalia took her bow off her shoulder while Percy drew Riptide. They charged into battle together.

Natalia saw some pretty horrible things. She spotted an enemy Half-Blood fighting against Castor, but the enemy stabbed him in the arm and clubbed him over the head with the butt of his sword, and Castor went down. Natalia's eyes widened and and shot an arrow right next to the enemy's foot. He jumped backwards and glanced around frantically. When his eyes locked on Natalia's silver ones, he scurried away, leaving the fallen son of Dionysus alone.

Another enemy shot flaming arrows into the trees which sent the archers and Dryads into a panic. Natalia then saw a dozen Dracaenae break away from the fight and slither towards the path that led towards Camp. If they got out, they could burn down the entire place with nobody to stop them. The only person anywhere near them was Nico, who had just stabbed a Telkhine with his Stygian Iron sword. The blade absorbed the monster's essence until only dust remained.

"Nico!" Natalia shouted in sheer desperation while pointing in the direction.

He looked where she was pointing and immediately understood once he saw the snake women. Nico took a deep breath before holding out his black sword.

"Serve me," he ordered.

The Earth beneath Natalia's feet trembled. A fissure opened in the ground in front of the Dracaenae and a dozen of dead warriors crawled from the ground. They were all horrible corpses from different time periods — U.S. Revolutionaries, Roman Centurions, and Napoleonic Calvary that rode on top of skeletal horses. All at once, they drew their swords and charged at the Dracaenae. Nico collapsed on his knees. Natalia went to run towards him, but Percy grabbed her arm and pulled her backwards towards their main point of focus: the Hellhound.

Percy and Natalia closed in on the Hellhound, who was pushing the Satyrs back towards the woods. The monster snapped at one Satyr who made their way out of the Hellhound's jaws just in time. However, it pounced on another who had been too slow, and the Satyr's shield cracked when he fell.

"Hey!" Percy shouted.

The Hellhound turned. It snarled at them and leaped.

"Percy!" Natalia yelled.

They fell to the ground. Suddenly, by some form of luck, Percy threw a jar of Greek fire into the Hellhound's jaw. The creature went up in flames. Natalia scrambled backwards with her chest heaving up and down. She shared a glance with Percy, one that said thank you. He nodded back at her.

Then they both noticed the Satyr who wasn't moving. Natalia got up and ran towards it while Percy went to help Grover with the forest fire. She knelt down next to it and shook the Satyr's shoulders, but it was no use. Tears filling her eyes, she summoned moonlight in her hand. She sprinkled the glimmering particles — a blessing of Artemis - over the Satyr and he turned into a beautiful patch of wildflowers.

Water suddenly doused her, and she turned around to Percy with a clenched jaw. He had managed to put out the forest fire, but Natalia didn't necessarily like to be completely soaked.

Percy winced. "Oops. Sorry, Tals."

Grover blew a spout of water out of his mouth. "Thanks, Percy!"

"No problem!"

Percy pulled Natalia up, and they ran back into battle with Grover and Juniper behind them. Grover had a wooden cudgel in his hand while Juniper carried a stick, looking awfully angry for a peaceful Dryad.

Everything seemed to be going well. The battle looked to be balanced out, and for once, Natalia truly believed that they stood a chance.

Naturally, that's when everything went wrong.

An unearthly shriek echoed out of the Labyrinth, one that Natalia unfortunately recognized. The horrible monster Kampê shot into the sky with her bat wings fully extended. She landed on top of Zeus' Fist, surveying the battle with evil glee. The mutant animal heads that were around her waist growled while the snakes that swirled around her legs hissed. She held a glittering ball of thread — Ariadne's string — in her right hand, but she put it in a lion's mouth by her waist and drew her twin scimitars that glowed green with poison. Kampê screeched in triumph.

"Oh, fuck," Natalia whispered, her eyes wide.

Some of the campers screamed while others tried to run, only to get trampled by Hellhounds or Giants.

"Di immortales!" Chiron yelled.

He aimed an arrow, but it was no use. Chiron's arrow flew harmlessly her head as Kampê took flight with amazing speed.

Tyson had untangled himself from the Giant he was pummeling earlier, who was now unconscious. Stand! he yelled while running past the army lines. Do not run from her! Fight! However, a Hellhound leaped onto him, and the two went rolling away.

Kampê landed on the Athena command tent and smashed it flat to the ground. Percy and Natalia ran after the monster. Annabeth suddenly joined them at their pace, her sword ready.

"This might be it," Annabeth announced.

"Could be," Percy replied.

Natalia felt as if her heart was going to beat out of her chest. "It's been a honor to be both of your friends. I couldn't imagine going on crazy quests with anyone else."

Annabeth smiled. "You've been one hell of a best friend, Natalia Flynn." She then turned to Percy. "Nice fighting with you, Seaweed Brain."

"Ditto," Percy agreed. "And Moon Moon?"

"Yeah, Fish-Boy?"

He smirked. "Let's kick some ass."

Natalia's eyes glowed silver. She nodded at the two of them and together they leaped into the monster's math. Kampê began to hiss and slice at them. Percy dodged to try and distract her while Annabeth and Natalia went in for the strike. However, Kampê merely blocked Annabeth's sword and flicked Natalia's arrow away. Both of them jumped back to avoid the cloud of poison, but being near it was just as bad. Natalia's eyes burned and her lungs seemed to give out. She knew they couldn't fight her for much longer.

"Come on!" Percy shouted. "We need help!"

No help came. They were all either fallen, fighting for their lives against monsters, or too scared to face the wrath of Kampê. Chiron fired three arrows into her chest, but the monster only roared louder.

"Now!" Annabeth ordered.

Together they charged once more. They dodged Kampê's slashes and managed to get inside their guard. All of them were so close to stabbing Kampê in the chest, but a huge bear's head lashed out from her waist. They stumbled backwards to avoid getting bitten.

Slam!

Natalia's eyesight went black. The next thing she knew, her, Percy, and Annabeth were on the ground. Kampê had her forelegs on their chests to hold them down. Hundreds of snakes hissed above them, almost as if they were laughing. The monster raised her green-tinged scimitars. Natalia knew they were done for.

"Well, shit," Natalia muttered, her voice strained. She turned her head to the side to see her silver bow laying discarded next to her. "I'm sorry, mother," she whispered.

Something then howled behind them. A wall of darkness suddenly slammed into Kampê, sending her sideways. Natalia gasped for breath as she sat up on her forearms. The friendly Hellhound, Mrs. O'Leary, was standing over the three Demigods, snapping and snarling at Kampê.

"Good girl!" called a familiar voice.

Daedalus, wielding his sword, fought his way out of the Labyrinth. He was slashing monsters down left and right as he made his way towards them. Next to him was a familiar Giant, each one of his hundred arms holding a huge chunk of rock.

"Briares!" Tyson cried.

"Hail, little brother!" Briares bellowed at Tyson. "Stand firm!"

Mrs. O'Leary leaped our of the way. Briares launched his volley of boulders at Kampê. They seemed to enlarge as they flew through the air. And all at once, the boulders landed with a BOOOOOM!

Where Kampê had once stood, there was now a mountain of boulders, almost as tall as Zeus' Fist. The only sign that she had ever even existed were two green scimitar points sticking out from the cracks. A cheer went up from the campers, but apparently the death of the most terrible monster probably ever wasn't enough to stop the enemies.

"Ssssslay them!" one of the Dracaenae yelled. "Kill them all or Kronossss will flay you alive!"

With one last desperate attempt, the Giants surged forward. One gave Chiron a blow to the back of his legs, making him stumble and fall. Six Giants cried out in glee and rushed forwards at the Centaur. Natalia grabbed her bow and scrambled to stand up, despite her being too far away to help him.

"No!" Percy screamed.

Then the most fucking insane thing happened.

Grover opened his mouth and expelled the most horrible sound Natalia had ever heard. When she listened, she heard the sound of pure fear. She watched Grover with wide eyes and an agape mouth.

The forces of Kronos dropped their weapons all at once and ran for their lives. Giants trampled over Dracaenae, trying to get to the Labyrinth before they did. Telkhines, Hellhounds, and enemy Half-Bloods scrambled after them into the tunnel. It sealed shut, and with that, the Battle of the Labyrinth was over. The only sounds that were left in the clearing were fires burning in the woods and the cries of the wounded.

Percy helped Annabeth and Natalia to their feet and they ran over to Chiron. The Centaur was laying on his side while trying to stand up.

"Are you all right?" Percy asked.

"How embarrassing," Chiron muttered. "I think I will be fine. Fortunately, we do not shoot Centaurs with broken . . . Ow! . . . broken legs."

Natalia shook her head. "I can get Will Solace from the Apollo Cabin. He'll help you."

"No. There are more serious injuries to attend to. Go! I am fine. But, Grover . . . later we must talk about how you did that."

"That was amazing," Percy agreed.

Grover's face blushed a light shade of pink. "I don't know where it came from."

Juniper hugged him tightly. "I do!"

Before she could say anything else, Tyson called, "Percy, come quick! It is Nico!"

Natalia's head snapped towards the Cyclops and immediately ran in that direction. She dropped to her knees and gasped at what she saw. Smoke was curling off of Nico's black clothes. His pale fingers were clenched tightly in a fist and the once green grass around his body had turned yellow. Natalia, her eyes full of worry, rolled him as gently as she could. She placed a hand on his chest. He felt ice cold and his heart was beating very faintly.

"I need nectar!" she demanded.

An Ares camper hobbled over to her, giving her a canteen. Natalia trickled the Godly drink into Nico's mouth. After a moment, he coughed and spluttered. His eyes fluttered open.

"Hey, Nico," she said softly, brushing a piece of hair away from his forehead. "Can you tell me what happened?"

He nodded weakly. "Never tried to summon so many before. I — I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, Nat."

She gave him a small smile. He had never called her Nat before. With the help of Percy, she helped Nico sit up and they gave him some more nectar. He blinked at all of them before focusing on someone behind Natalia.

"Daedalus," he croaked.

"Yes, my boy," Daedalus responded. "I made a very bad mistake. I came to correct it."

His body adorned a few scratches that were bleeding golden oil. Despite them, he looked better than the most of the army. Mrs. O'Leary was standing behind him, making Daedalus' hair stick up funny from licking the wounds on his head. Next to him stood Briares, who was surrounded by awed campers and Satyrs. He looked bashful while signing autographs on armor, shields, and t-shirts.

"I found the Hundred-Handed One as I came through the maze," Daedalus explained. "It seems he had the same idea, to come and help, but he was lost. And so we fell in together. We both came to make amends."

"Yay!" Tyson exclaimed while jumping up and down. "Briares! I knew you would come!"

"I did not know," the Hundred-Handed One replied. "But you reminded me who I am, Cyclops. You are the hero."

Tyson blushed at his compliment.

Percy patted his Cyclops brother on the back. "I knew that a long time ago. But, Daedalus . . . the Titan army is still down there. Even without the string, they'll be back. They'll find a way sooner or later, with Kronos leading them."

Daedalus sheathed his sword. "You are right. As long as the Labyrinth is here, your enemies can use it. Which is why the Labyrinth cannot continue."

Annabeth blinked at him. "But you said the Labyrinth is tied to your life force! As long as you're alive—"

"Yes, my young architect. When I die, the Labyrinth will die as well. And so I have a present for you."

He took a leather satchel off his back. When he unzipped it, it revealed a sleek silver laptop that had a blue Greek Delta triangle on the lid. It was one of the ones from his workshop.

"My work is here. It's all I managed to save from the fire. Notes on projects I never started. Some of my favourite designs. I couldn't develop these over the last few millennia. I did not dare reveal my work to the mortal world. But perhaps you will find them interesting."

Annabeth took the laptop from him and stared at it like it was solid gold. "You're giving me this? But this is priceless! This is worth . . . I don't even know how much!"

"Small compensation for the way I have acted. You were right, Annabeth, about children of Athena. We should be wise, and I was not. Someday you will be a greater architect than I ever was. Take my ideas and improve them. It is the least I can do before I pass on."

"Woah," Percy interrupted. "Pass on? But you can't just kill yourself. That's wrong!"

Daedalus shook his head. "Not as wrong as hiding from my crimes for two thousand years. Genius does not excuse evil, Percy. My time has come. I must face my punishment."

"You won't get a fair trial," Annabeth warned. "The spirit of Minos sits in judgement—"

"I will take what comes and trust in the justice of the Underworld, such as it is. That is all we can do, isn't it?"

He looked at Nico.

Nico's face darkened. "Yes."

"Will you take my soul for ransom, then?" Daedalus asked. "You could use it to reclaim your sister."

"No," Nico replied. He looked to Natalia for a moment. "I will help you release your spirit. But Bianca has passed. She must stay where she is."

Daedalus nodded approvingly. "Well said, son of Hades. You are becoming wise." He then looked to Percy. "One last favor, Percy Jackson. I cannot leave Mrs O'Leary alone. And she has no desire to return to the Underworld. Will you care for her?"

Percy glanced at the Hellhound. Mrs. O'Leary whimpered pitifully while still licking Daedalus' hair.

"Yeah," Percy agreed. "Of course I will."

"Then I am ready to see my son . . . and Perdix," Daedalus admitted. "I must tell them how sorry I am."

Annabeth's gray eyes were shining with tears. Daedalus turned to Nico expectantly.

Nico drew his sword. "Your time is long since come. Be released and rest."

Daedalus' face broke out into a relieved smile. He froze like a statue, and his skin turned transparent, revealing the bronze gears and machinery that powered his body. Daedalus turned to gray ash and disintegrated into the air.

Mrs. O'Leary howled painfully, making Percy pat her head in effort to comfort the Hellhound. The Earth rumbled in an earthquake that was probably felt in every major city across America as the ancient Labyrinth finally collapsed. Natalia hoped
somewhere that the remaining Titan strike force was buried.

Percy looked back at the weary faces of his friends. "Come on. We have work to do."

★彡

apparently I have decided to give natalia a pegasus. everyone meet treasure, who appeared in the "mount tamalpais" chapter!!! treasure won't appear in the doa series bc it will be a little hard to change everything, but nat wouldn't want treasure to face their quest anyways 🥺