Months slowly passed, each day feeling like an eternity as the small group attempted to run, hide, rest and like their wounds. They would go out periodically, searching anywhere they could for soldiers to aid them in the battle that was sure to happen.

This was war. A bloody, vengeful war that held no mercy nor sympathy. Kill or be killed. Simple as that.

Percy was fairly certain half a year had passed, despite his companions insisting it'd only been two or three months. He was more agitated and restless than he ever had been. He couldn't stand the thought the he was helpless. He wasn't even allowed to search for possible fighters, needing to heal and sustain his strength more than any of them, as they had said. Percy had huffed, and sulked. But as he looked at the group that had been gathered before him, he felt a sense of pride swelling within him. 

They had managed to collect eleven, all in all, including himself, Luke, Ash and Poseidon, as all intended to fight. 

They were in single file line, and Percy surveyed them carefully, his companions doing the same.

First was a tall girl, with very light blond hair, and intense grey eyes that shone with intelligence. Her tail matched her eyes, black scales dusting her tail, grey on her skin. It was unusual for a Mer-Person to have two different scale colors, and this impressed Percy already. Annabeth Chase. Her mother was a famous teacher. 

The next was a very sturdy and tall man who dwarfed them all. He seemed to be made of all muscle, but his brown eyes where warm. He ran his hands through his dark brown hair nervously, brown tail flickering, pink scales flashing brightly. Frank Zhang. His father was well-known for the fights he'd get in occasionally. 

Then came a girl with fiery, curly red hair. Her tail matched her hair, and the scales dusting her skin matched her light blue eyes. She was rather small, and didn't seem all that threatening. Percy caught sight of what looked to be a typical hair brush, the correctly crafted blue coral resting in her hand loosely, and Percy became weary of her. Rachel Dare. Her parents lived in one of the best houses  next to the palace. 

The next was a smaller male, who looked all bark and no bite. His skin was darker, his hair curly and black, with eyes to match. His tail was a bright red as well, though his scales where brown. Leo Valdez. His father was the only weapons forger of The Waters.

The next was a girl with choppy black hair, and Percy admitted it wasn't the worst he'd seen, appearing as though it'd been cropped off with a harsh piece of sea glass. In the time of war you didn't really have time for hair-care. Her eyes where a deep, interesting blue, her tail matching her eyes. Her scales where a lighter blue, however. Thalia Grace. She had been close to one of the attempted rescuers, Zoe Nightshade, and was going to take over the organization before she died. However, when their camp was attacked she was forced to flee and was thought dead.

The next, if he was correct, was her brother, though they seemed to be complete opposites. He was tall, broad, and had a few similar traits to Luke. A small scar was above his lip, his hair the color of honey and his eyes a bright blue. His tail also matched his eyes, though white scales dusted his skin. Sea glasses were rested on his eyes however. That may cause a bit of a hindrance. Jason Grace. His father was good friends with Poseidon, and Percy remembered him vaguely from his childhood. 

Then came a dark skinned girl, her eyes shinning an almost painful golden yellow, her tail taking on the same color, black scales covering her, her curly dark brown hair floating around her head in poofs. Hazel Levesque. Her mother was the sorceress of The Waters.

Last, but most likely the most fearsome of the group, floated a man, black hair casting a shadow over his features. His eyes where black, dark purple circles visible. His tail matched his hair and eyes, scales a blood red purple. His gaze looked on Percy's and the latter of the two hardly held in a shiver of fear. Nico di Angelo. His father worked at the Grave Beds.

He smiled. They had gathered a small but vicious army, and they would attack, after informing them of their positions and roles in their carefully crafted plan.  A week later, they attacked.

It was odd that Gaea didn't change headquarters. It brought an odd sense of rage and satisfaction to both Percy and Poseidon. The bottom-feeder-food may have been residing at their home, their Palace, but she would learn that not moving for safety could be lethal. 

Annabeth had come up with the majority of the attack. They would split into groups of two and attack in those groups.

Jason ended up with his Ash, Nico with Hazel. Frank with Leo. Annabeth with Luke with Thalia, Rachel with Luke, and Percy was with Poseidon. 

All were careful and quiet as they could hope to be, avoiding the lifeless, sentient creatures to the best of their abilities, though some of them had already been forced to kill before even making it into the stone walls.

Poseidon and Percy had decided on taking the most dangerous root. Through the front entrance. The ancient Greek writing proudly proclaimed the Palace for what it was. Atlantis, Home To The Sea King, it read, the letters carved into the glass carefully. 

They wasted little time in reminiscing. Percy sliced off the head of an approaching Silence, beofre he and his father quickly slipped into the partially opened doors. 

They were met with a empty front room, to their confusion and relief. Poseidon motioned to the left, and then to the right, and Percy nodded, swimming quickly to the right while his father went in the opposite direction. It was simple. Divide and conquer. 

Percy crept along the rooms of the Palace. No beings seemed to dwell in his part, and when he reached his own room he hesitantly opened the seaweed curtain. The sight that met him almost caused him the loose whatever meal he had had previous. There, not two feet from where he had left him was the little boy Percy had taken to his rooms for protection. He seemed he had long since starved to death, and the Hatchetfish surrounding his body were having quiet the meal. 

Percy moved away with jerky movements. He caused that. He was the reason that little boy had died from starvation, slowly and painfully instead of a quick and hopefully painless death that would have been offered by the predators that night. He clamped a hand over his mouth as his mind flashed to the bottom-feeders chewing on rotten flesh and small bones. 

He pushed forward, and hesitated once more before drawing back the seaweed and seashell strings that provided protection from outsiders. His heart surged with panic upon seeing a female figure rush towards him, and Riptide was half raised before it was knocked out of his hand from the speed that his mother had tackled him with. 

He made a little sound as Amphitrite knocked the wing out of him, before he chuckled, and clung back in turn to his mother.

"As much as I'd hate to ruin mother-and-son-reuniting, I'm afraid much more pressing matters have come up," Came a sweet, sticky voice that had both mother and son freezing. 

They turned, only to see Gaea in all her madness. 

"Amp, release him." Gaea ordered, and Percy felt betrayal sweep through him as he mother did as she was told, albeit reluctantly. Gaea quickly swam forward, grabbing Percy's arm and dragging the stunned boy away.

Percy winced as sharp nails dug into his arm, his tail flapping wildly as a burning heat started to crawl up his skin from the point of her nails. He looked down at them. Blood was slowly rising. "What are you...what are you doing?" He asked breathlessly, feeling his struggles slow, his limbs becoming languid. 

She cackled. "Fast-working poison, dear Perseus. Ever heard of it? I keep it on my nails should I ever have to claw at something. Useful little thing, wouldn't you agree? It's temporary, really just a stunner of sorts. But oh so handy. Oh, don't worry about your mother. The little wench should live if she behaves." She said, smiling gleefully and Percy felt his vision blacken, the heat licking at him a crawling under his skin. 

He flopped lifelessly into the rather small cage Gaea had rented him. He curled into a ball, feeling like a giant load of mistakes. He couldn't even keep a little boy safe. Nor his mother, or even himself. He was useless.

~~~

Battle scene, battle scene, I'm not good at writing battle scenes. *Singsong tune*