Time Skip—Approximately Two Years Later

Percy's POV

The war was tough on everyone, especially Percy and Zoë. First there was the labyrinth, where they met Daedalus. There was a long quest; one which involved deep mazes, rather frightening snake-dragon ladies, and insane, obese sons of Poseidon and Gaea. Overall, the quest was a success; they stopped Luke from launching an attack on Camp Half-Blood from the inside, but they really only slowed Kronos down. Percy knew for a fact that Kronos had many more tricks up his sleeve, and that the war was far from over.

Nico convinced Percy to bathe in the Styx (Zoë became his anchor, obviously) in order to become almost entirely invulnerable, like Luke was. Like progressed, as did Percy's and Zoë's relationship. Nearly everyone knew of the relationship between them, and only an idiot wouldn't notice. Since Zoë lacked a cabin, Chiron (reluctantly) permitted Zoë to stay with Percy, and allowed and exception to the rule about a boy and a girl being in the same cabin alone.

They never did anything (Percy had to much respect for Zoë to try something like that), but they would often wake up in the same bed, not really knowing how they got there. Although, neither complained because they actually liked being that close to their other half.

Eventually, the time came.

It started with a search and destroy with Beckendorf—they were supposed to blow up Luke's yacht, the Princess Andromeda. Sadly, they were discovered quickly, and only Percy was able to get off the ship was alive. Beckendorf sacrificed himself to blow up the ship, most likely killing hundreds—maybe even a thousand—monsters with the Greek fire containers that were strapped to the engines. Percy recovered in Atlantis, and was astonished to see what how terrible his father's condition was.

Percy remembered how his usual dark hair was grey and withered, and his sea green eyes were dark and exhausted whirlpools. Percy knew that a god's condition reflected the condition of his domain, so Percy figured the situation with Oceanus was worse that he let on. He had a quick meeting with Amphitrite—she was more interested in his girlfriend than the war itself—and said a quick goodbye to Triton before returning to the surface.

After he bathed in the Styx, Percy and the other older demigods of the camp raced to defend Olympus, while the other Olympians fought to slow Typhon from reaching Olympus. Poseidon fought his own war down in Atlantis, struggling to hold back that massive army or Oceanus that had been amassed over thousands of years, including the lethal Kraken. For the time being, Poseidon was occupied, and would not be able to assist his fellow Olympians in slowing the massive storm known as Typhon.

Percy and the others fought for hours on end against the oncoming horde of monsters and enemy demigods. Percy ended up bribing two river gods, who then sank the incoming ships in Kronos's army.

With the naval threat out of the way, Percy went to one of the bridges, on which Zoë took a poisoned knife for him—one that would have hit his Achilles heel. Needless to say, Percy went on an automated destructive rampage, practically decimating the entire regiment of monsters on the bridge, including the Minotaur. He channeled his ire into each and every strike, making each one more powerful than the last. Eventually, Kronos retreated down the bridge, and a brave son of Apollo sacrificed himself to blow it to smithereens.

Later on, when the group of demigods was about to be killed, Nico managed to convince Hades to rise to their defense. The Lord of the Dead and his skeletal armies drove through the ranks of Kronos's army, destroying large numbers of soldiers. Soon afterward, the Party Ponies arrived, chasing parts of the army away with Nerf guns, silly string spray cans, and paintball guns.

However, their element of surprise didn't last long. Kronos eventually pushed them farther back, forcing Percy and Zoë to retreat to the throne room to defend the seats of power, as well as Bessie, from Kronos. Right before Kronos reached the throne room, Percy sat on Poseidon's throne, risking being incinerated.

Percy couldn't exactly explain—at least not with words—the feeling he got when he sat on Poseidon's throne. The power of the sea seemed to flow through him, energizing him more than he could have possibly imagined. Percy felt like he was having a constant adrenaline rush; his body felt powerful and swift, like he could fight Typhon and Kronos at the same time and beat them both with one hand tied behind his back. As quick as the feeling came, it faded, and Poseidon appeared briefly.

After some convincing, Poseidon agreed to aid his Olympians and let to combat Typhon. After that, Kronos, Annabeth, and Zane appeared in the doorway. The exchanged blows for a while—maybe thirty or so minutes—until both sides stepped back for a breather. Percy decided it was time to show Kronos that he lost. He quickly started and Iris message by using the water from Bessie's aquarium, and told her to show them Typhon.

And this is where our story begins once more

"You're beaten, Kronos," Percy said, holding Anaklusmos tightly in his hand.

Kronos stood by Zeus's throne, flanked by Zane and Annabeth, who were sweating from the intense fighting. Zoë stood next to Percy, her knives drawn.

Kronos angrily swiped through the message, causing it to evaporate. Kronos had just seen Poseidon take down Typhon. Poseidon had reluctantly left Atlantis, which was being attacked by Oceanus, and went to help out the other gods. Later on, Percy would learn that Triton valiantly defended Atlantis and defeated both Oceanus and the Kraken.

Kronos gave a roar of anger and charged Percy with his scythe, while Zane and Annabeth moved towards Zoë. Percy parried Kronos's first attack, and the sheer force behind it caused his bones and muscles to groan in pain. Percy experimentally jabbed forward, but Kronos easily swatted away his blade before slamming Percy's head with the butt of his scythe. Percy stumbled back, and hastily threw up Anaklusmos, barely deflecting a blow that would have severed his head from his body. Kronos feinted left, but Percy wasn't stupid enough to fall for that. What he didn't expect was for Kronos to kick him in the stomach as Percy lifted his sword to block Kronos's strike. The power behind the kick sent Percy flying into the throne room walls. He dropped to the floor, pretty sure that he cracked the wall. Luckily, nothing hit him in the small of his back, so he wasn't too severely hurt.

Percy groaned in pain, and sat up on his elbows, blinking the spots from his vision. Then, Kronos laughed: random, uproarious laughter. When Kronos noticed Percy's confused expression, he said, "When's the last time you checked on your girlfriend, sea spawn?"

Percy head snapped to his right, and saw that she was cornered, disarmed. Fear coursed through his veins and invaded each and every thought. After all they had been through, Zoë was just going to . . . die? He was helpless; Olympus was cracking now, causing holes to riddle the marble throne room floor. A long, jagged trench cut the room in half, keeping Percy from reaching Zoë. Annabeth had a cruel and satisfied glint in her eye, like she had been waiting a long time to kill the huntress. Zane was next to her, but he kept glancing at Annabeth, not Zoë.

"Permission to kill, milord?" Annabeth asked Kronos, not taking her eyes off of Zoë.

Kronos chuckled, "Permission granted."

Percy watched in horror as Annabeth lunged, preparing to stab Zoë in the chest. Suddenly, Zoë was pushed aside, and a pained grunt tore through the room. Standing in front of Zoë was Zane, with Annabeth's knife hilt-deep in his chest. All was silent for a moment, and Zane sucked in a pained breath. He turned his head towards Percy, blood beginning to pour from the corners of his mouth.

"Percy . . . I'm sorry," he whispered quietly.

Then, using the last little bit of energy he had, he flung himself at an astonished Annabeth, and tackled her. The throne room was torn apart during the fighting, and there were copious amounts of holes. However, only a few were large enough for someone to fall through. Unfortunately for Annabeth, the biggest hole—one large enough to allow two people to plummet through it—was behind her. Percy watched in absolute shock as Zane tackled Annabeth, and as they fell through the hole in the floor.

Suddenly, Kronos's golden eyes flickered slightly, and a non-Kronos-sounding voice croaked, "A-Annabeth?"
The eyes, flickering from blue to gold, and back again, connected with Percy's green ones. In a disbelieving voice, he whispered, "Annabeth . . . d-dead?"

Luke looked at the scythe in his hand, and dropped it onto the throne room floor. His body convulsed slightly, and parts of his body began to glow with a gold color.

"J-Jackson," Luke rasped, "your sword. Give . . . G-Give me your s-sword. T-True form c-coming. C-Can't hold him l-long."

Percy glanced at Zoë, who was mirroring his confused expression. Luke wanted his sword? For a brief moment, Percy wondered if this was some kind of trick, and that Kronos would immediately start attacking him after he forfeited his weapon. Then, Percy recalled the prophecy line: The hero's soul, a cursed blade shall reap. Percy tossed Luke Anaklusmos, much to the surprise of Zoë.

"Percy, what are you doing?" She whispered furiously.

Percy didn't answer, because he wasn't exactly sure what he was doing either. Luke stared at the weapon for a moment, before he flipped it into a reverse grip. Percy watched as Luke droved the sword into a small spot just under his arm. Luke/Kronos screamed with pain, and collapsed to the floor, writhing in agony. Then, it stopped. In a small pool of blood, Luke Castellan sucked in a shuddering breath.

"J-Jackson," Luke said.

Percy knelt by his side, while Zoë was still stuck on the other side of the room, staring at Luke with an awestruck expression.

Luke grabbed Percy's forearm. "T-The minor g-gods: the ch-children. M-Make sure they g-get recognized. N-Neglect fueled m-me. Make th-them see that. P-Promise me, Jackson."

Percy nodded slowly. "I promise."

As the son of Hermes let out his last breath, the gods arrived in the throne room. Hermes let out a sob and fell to his knees next to his dead son.

Percy took in a shaky breath. "We need a funeral pyre for Zane Waters and Luke Castellan. They will both be remembered as heroes."

Dionysus frowned. "But they were—"

"Heroes," Percy completed, glaring at the god of wine for being so insensitive in front of Hermes and Zeus.

When Dionysus noticed the steadfast look in Percy's eyes, he decided not to argue it further.

Zeus nodded, an upset expression present on his face. "Yes . . . they will be remembered as heroes of the second Titan War."

Percy turned and smiled at Zoë, and she returned it. Somehow, he knew everything would be okay.

Just as long as Zoë was by his side.

Time Skip—Two Days Later

Percy's POV

Percy paced in his cabin, his heart thumping erratically and anxiously. What if this went wrong? What if he messed it up? What if—

"You're going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep pacing like that," a voice said.

Percy jumped, startled, but relaxed as he felt to familiar arms wrap around him from behind. Percy tried to wipe the nervous look off his face, and then turned to face his girlfriend of about two years. He buried his face in her hair, trying to suppress the nervous feeling rising in his chest. Gods, why was this making him so upset and nervous?

Zoë seemed to sense his discomfort. "What's wrong, Percy?"

Percy gave her a forced smile. "Nothing," he said. His pocket felt heavier now that he was thinking about it. Hades, he needed to stop overthinking it.

Zoë frowned, but didn't push him. "Okay. You can tell me anything, you know."

Her voice sounded hurt. Percy seemed to snap out of his anxiety, and gave Zoë a soft kiss. "I know. I trust you more than anyone else in the world. Nothing is wrong, okay?"

Zoë nodded and she gave him a small smile. "Okay."

"You want to go for a walk on the beach?" Percy asked.

Zoë raised an eyebrow. "It's almost dinner now."

Percy shrugged. "We can skip it and eat later, right?"

"Alright," Zoë agreed, following Percy as he walked out of the cabin.

Percy slipped his hand into Zoë's lacing their fingers together. They reached the beach, and they took off their shoes so they could walk barefoot. They joked around and talked casually a while, until Percy stopped walking, causing Zoë to pause as well.

"Zoë," Percy started, "do you ever feel like there is something in your life that means much more than anything else?"

Probably sensing what—or who—he was talking about, a tinge of pink appeared on Zoë's cheeks. Before she could reply, Percy continued.

"Well, I do. And I know we have only officially been together, but I have loved you for thousands of years, Zoë. And . . . I-I—"

"Percy," Zoë said, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning against his chest, "You don't have to tell me all this. I love you, Percy. You don't have to continue."

"N-No," Percy said, "I have to. You don't understand, Zoë."

Zoë frowned. What was he insinuating?

Percy inhaled again, and softly pushed Zoë away from him, so he could look her in the eyes. He rubbed the back of his neck slightly, something he only did when he was incredibly nervous.

"Listen Zoë, I can't imagine living my life without you. I know we are physically young, but we have been alive thousands of years. I love you with all my heart, body, and soul, Zoë Nightshade," Percy stated, "So what I'm trying to say is . . ."

Percy let go of Zoë and got on one knee, before producing a small velvet box. He opened it up, revealing a beautiful diamond ring.

"Will you marry me?"

Zoë's jaw dropped, and her breath hitched. He . . . he wanted to marry her? She . . . she couldn't even form coherent thoughts.

"Yes," was the only word Zoë managed to breathe out before she flung herself onto Percy, kissing him furiously. When she leaned back, he was crying.

"Percy?" She asked worriedly. What had she done?

Then she realized he was smiling. "This is the best day of my life!" He shouted gleefully.

Zoë kissed him again, and Percy then knew for sure; everything was definitely going to be okay.