Percy's POV

Pain.

Unimaginable, unfathomable, crippling pain.

That was the only feeling that coursed through Percy's body as his eyes landed on Zoë, with Atlas's javelin protruding from her stomach. He rushed to her side, along with Artemis and Bianca.

Zoë's teary eyes met Percy's, just as he choked out, "No . . . you can't die,"

Zoë gave him a weak smile. "I-It was prophesized . . . I-I can't beat f-fate."

Salty tears began to flow down Percy's cheeks. "I love you."

Zoë flashed him another feeble smile, her energy leaving her. "I l-love you too, even after all these y-years, P-Perseus."

For a moment, the gravity of the situation slammed down on Percy's shoulders, even stronger than the weight of the sky had earlier. For a moment, he let the pessimistic side of him take over, and silently accepted that Zoë was going to die, and he would be left alone once more. But as quickly as it came, it was shoved away by the more optimistic and hopeful side of him. His determination solidified—Zoë Nightshade would not die today.

Percy turned to Artemis. "Can't you heal her?" He asked hopefully, his mind racing to come up with a plan.

Artemis shook her head, her teary eyes focused on her dying lieutenant, and best friend. "No. Well—no, not entirely."

"Explain," Percy prompted.

"I'm weak after holding the sky. I have enough energy to heal the javelin wound, but not enough to expel the poison. Or vice versa. I could only gain enough energy to heal both by a sacrifice—but not just any sacrifice. It has to be something big—something so monumental that it would reenergize me entirely, something like—"

"Immortality?" Percy interrupted quietly.

Artemis's words stopped, and her mouth slowly closed. "Yes, but why—"

Her eyes widened in realization. "You cannot seriously be willing to—"

"I am," Percy confirmed.

Artemis gazed at him worriedly. "Perseus, as much as I want you to heal Zoë, I urge you not to do this. By taking your immortality away, you will become the eldest child of the Big Three. You will become the prophecy child."

Percy nodded. "Anything to save her."

Artemis nodded and closed her eyes. "Perseus, please give up your immortality."

Luckily, Apollo had told Percy what to do if he ever wished to give up his immortality, for whatever reason. He told him to be specific when giving it up, so the energy could be channeled into the correct being.

"I, Perseus Jackson, forfeit my partial immortality to Artemis, goddess of the moon, in order to heal Zoë Nightshade," Percy stated.

The warm, golden glow that usually surrounded Percy faded, and Artemis glowed silver. Her silver-yellow eyes snapped open, pulsing with energy. She let out a rare and bright smile.

"It will work."

Artemis placed one hand on Zoë's wound making Zoë squirm uncomfortably. Percy rested her head in his lap, and slowly ran his fingers through her hair.

"It's okay," Percy whispered, "you're going to survive."

Zoë's volcanic black eyes gleamed with happiness as she gazed at Percy. Artemis placed her second hand on Zoë's chin. She closed her eyes and began chanting in ancient Greek—one of Apollo's hymns to be exact—and Zoë began to glow with silver.

"Now, Bianca," Artemis ordered.

"Sorry, Zoë," Bianca apologized.

Before Zoë could reply, Bianca pulled the javelin out of Zoë's stomach, evoking a painful scream. Percy snatched Zoë's hand and began to trace comforting circles with his thumb, and lightly pressed his lips to her forehead.

"It'll be over soon," Percy told her.

Zoë's body glowed again with a silver light, and the wound slowly shrank, inch by inch. The skin and muscles slowly regenerated, filling the gaping hole in her torso. Percy sighed with relief, already filled with glee at the thought of Zoë being okay.

Artemis was pale and sweating profusely—she wasn't the goddess of medicine, so Percy assumed that stepping into Apollo's domain was really draining her, even though Apollo was her brother.

Artemis then switched hymns, and Zoë began to pulse with silver energy from the inside. Suddenly, Zoë's mouth opened, and green liquid slowly rose out of it and into the air. Deciding to help Artemis, Percy used his control of water to move the poisonous liquid away from Zoë, so it wouldn't drop on her if Artemis lost concentration.

"I don't mean to interrupt," Bianca said, "But the winter solstice will begin soon, Lady Artemis."

Artemis nodded, unable to speak while performing the healing hymn. After a while, poison stopped coming out of Zoë's mouth. Artemis plopped down, breathing and sweating heavily. Her auburn hair was matted to her face, and her hands shook slightly due to her exhaustion.

Zoë sat up experimentally, and a smile grew across her face. First she tackled Artemis in a hug, who laughed and cried at the same time. Then she leaned back, and turned to Percy. Their eyes met, and she flung herself into him. Percy tilted her chin and pressed his lips to hers indulging himself in something he had been deprived of for thousands of years.

His arms snaked around her waist, while she wrapped her arms around his neck. Percy felt Zoë smile in the kiss. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers.

"We're together again," He whispered with smile.

Zoë's eyes twinkled with excitement. They were jolted back to reality when they heard a cleared throat. Percy's blood froze; he had just kissed Artemis's lieutenant in front of Artemis, who happened to be the world's largest man-hater. Percy slowly pulled his forehead away from Zoë, and nervously glanced at Artemis.

To his surprise, she was smiling in amusement. "As disgusting as I think that is, I approve of your relationship. But never kiss like that in front of me again. Ever."

Percy gulped and then nodded frantically.

Artemis smirked. "Good. Now we have a winter solstice to get to. And gods of Olympus, someone wake up Phoebe!"

Time Skip—Percy's POV

"I want them dead. They are a threat of Olympus. And Hades broke the pact."

Poseidon bristled with anger. "You have broken the pact twice. And actually, Hades didn't break his oath. They were in the Lotus Hotel and Casino. They were born in the 1940's brother. You are the only one at fault."

Zeus glared at the god of the sea. "Did you not hear me? They are a threat to Olympus!"

"So if you kill Nico and Bianca, you will have to kill your own daughter, plus Percy," Apollo said, "would you truly want to murder your daughter just because she is powerful?"

Zeus faltered. The demigods in the center of the throne room watched the argument like a tennis match, all anxiously awaiting the verdict. Percy clutched Zoë's hand like it was his lifeline—in a way, it was—and Bianca began to sweat nervously. Thalia was glaring at her father, waiting to hear his answer to Apollo's question.

"Yes."

Silence.

"I want them rewarded, not killed," Artemis stated, "if we kill our saviors and children, we are no better than the Titans. Kronos is rising, and we need our children, no matter how much you wish you didn't, father. They are necessary for our survival."

Hermes nodded in agreement. "I second that. The heroes should be compensated for their bravery, not executed."

Zeus sighed. "A vote, then. All in favor of not killing the demigods?"

Artemis and Apollo raised their hands in unison. Poseidon's went up next, followed by Hermes and Demeter. Ares lifted his hand without hesitation, giving Percy a slight nod of acknowledgment.

"All in favor of executing the threats?" Zeus asked next.

Poseidon rolled his eyes at the word "threats." Dionysus and Hera raised their hands just after Zeus. Hephaestus raised his hand next.

"Aphrodite?" Zeus asked.

"I'm tweeting. Don't bother me," she ordered without looking up from her IPhone.

Poseidon smiled triumphantly. "The heroes will live!"

The gods who voted for them to survive cheered happily, while the other rolled their eyes of huffed in annoyance and defeat.

"Now," Zeus said, "will someone recount the quest? Please do not leave out any details."

After Percy finished explaining the quest, Zeus looked flabbergasted. "My son has betrayed us?"

As Zeus began to vent and curse his son, Percy heard Athena mutter, "My own daughter . . ."

The meeting went on afterwards; it was mostly about Kronos, and the gods were splitting up tasks among themselves in order to prolong the period of time in which Kronos was not in his true form. Finally the meeting came to a close.

"You are dismisse—" Zeus began.

"Wait," Artemis interrupted, "I have one more matted to discuss."

Zeus looked peeved about being interrupted, but nodded for Artemis to go on.

"I am in need of a new lieutenant," Artemis said.

The gods and goddesses looked at her confusedly. Athena pointed at Zoë.

"She's right there."

"Yes, thank you for pointing that out, Athena," Artemis said with an amused smile.

The other gods chuckled at Athena's pink cheeks.

"It seems my lieutenant had discovered love. And because of that, I need a new one. And the first girl I would like to ask is Thalia Grace," Artemis continued.

Thalia's electric-blue eyes grew so wide with surprise that it was almost comical. "Milady?"

Artemis smiled and then looked at Zeus. Zeus looked peeved again—probably because his daughter was being "stolen" by his other daughter—but sighed.

"Thalia, dear, would you like to join the Hunters of Artemis as their new lieutenant?" Zeus asked her.

Thalia nodded enthusiastically. "Yes."

Thalia quickly recited the hunters' oath, and she glowed silver. The silver light left Zoë as well, making Percy smile lovingly. She was all his now . . .

Zeus looked around. "I suppose no one else has any more to say? No? Okay. Well, Perseus Jackson, I wish you luck as the child of the prophecy. I knew I should have killed you when Athena found you . . . whatever. Goodbye."

The gods flashed out. Poseidon remained, and gave Percy a tight hug.

"You did great Percy. I'm sure you'll make a great child of the prophecy. You'll make the correct choice," Poseidon said as he released his son from the bear-hug.

"Thanks dad. Can you flash us back to camp?" Percy asked.

Poseidon nodded, and they were soon back on Half-Blood Hill.

Time Skip—Percy's POV

Percy and the others were practically mobbed when they returned, so he and Zoë hadn't got a moment alone. They stayed by each other, ignoring the questioning stares of the campers. Finally, the others headed off to bed, but Percy left Zoë to the beach.

Instead of saying something, Percy just pulled Zoë into a kiss, trying to convey his feelings that way. Needless to say, Zoë understood.

"Percy," She said, after they finished the kiss, "I never got to formally thank you for saving my life . . . I don't think anyone else would have done that, knowing they would become the prophecy child. Th-Thank you," she whispered, tears forming.

Percy pulled her to his chest. "You don't need to thank me."

She shook her head and pushed him away slightly. "N-No, I do. You have always protected me, and I-I've never done anything to deserve it, and—"

"Zoë," Percy interrupted, his sea green eyes shining brightly in the moon lit night, "I love you. And you love me. That's all I need as thanks. Okay?"

Zoë nodded, and Percy hugged her once more, burying his face in her neck. "We'll be okay," he whispered, "we'll make it through this prophecy."

And he truly believed it.