-Somewhere in Alaska; Before Tartarus Showup up at Camp Half-Blood-

~Xander's (Percy Jackson's) Point of View~

"Quit distancing yourself and go home!" Chaos yelled in anger.

"You told me my home was with you, Lord Chaos." I calmly stated.

That seemed to have broken something in Chaos. "Percy Jackson, Son of Poseidon, stop your running. You are only hurting yourself." Silence followed.

Then the water from the beach exploded reacting to my sudden whirlwind of emotions. "Never call me that again." I quickly disappeared in a sea mist.

I slowly huffed out a breath, watching it as the cold air condenses it. Hearing Chaos call me by my birth name in front of everyone made my fight-or-flight response kick in. Of course, I chose flight. Perhaps Chaos was right in saying I distance myself. It can be difficult being around the head commander and the unit leaders as they knew an illusion of a would-have-been verison of me. They don't know me.

...but they could get to know me...

I sighed. That traitorous voice in the back of my head spoke again. Reminding me that there is a piece of me who is still seven years old. The child who was kidnapped by a primordial god. Taken away from my mother. A mother that now has another child. How cruel are the fates...

"Xander." A familiar voice greeted me from behind.

"Tartarus." My voice was unwavering, however, we could both hear the slight emotion in it. It seems my emotions will not be staying hidden for much longer.

He moved towards me, looking out to the view in front of us. "Why Alaska?"

"The land beyond the gods." I answered.

The primordial of the pit hummed. "He's taken over the pit."

My heart stopped and I felt a piece of it break. "He wants to finish this now?"

"So it seems."

"Will everyone be okay?"

He looked over at me. "Shouldn't you be more worried for yourself?"

"No." The answer came so easily. The waters slowly became rough as the sea reacted to my bubbling emotions. "I don't care what happens to me. As long as the rest of the army, the demigods, and the Olympians make it out alive, I do not care for what is to happen to me."

"You're unraveling." His comment was unnecessary.

"I know." I pulled back my hood and removed my mask. The cold air stung the scarring on my face. My black hair was ruffled by the wind. "I'm counting on it."

Tartarus sighed. "Then I guess I won't be able to stop you. I will go inform Chaos-"

I gasped, clenching my chest as pain shot through my body. "Come to me, Perseus. This ends today. Either by you coming to me willingly or by force. Choose."

"Xander?" My body relaxed as the pain stopped, his presence leaving. I closed my eyes and steadied my breath.

"I'm good." I reply with a dry mouth. "He sent me a challenge and a warning." I looked to the one who held me. "Please let Chaos where I will be."

Tartarus nodded. "Of course. Once I am able to, I will rush back to the pit."

I smiled weakly. "Thank you." I slowly stood up with his assistance. "I will be going now."

He stepped back, nodding again. "I will be seeing you again, Xander."

I smiled, dissolving into sea mist. "Percy." I heard his breath hitch at my reply before I left completely.

This will be the end of me. One way or another. This all ends today.

"I couldn't agree more, Perseus." Was said in lieu of saying hello when I reappeared in the depths of Tartarus.

"Hello, Erebus." I greeted the being who ruined my life.

He smiled. My hands grew clammy at the sight of it as memories tried to assault me. One smile brought up a painful past that I tried running from. And yet...I have run from those who tried to help me move past it. "Are you ready to end this?"

"Yes." I dug into my pocket and brought out a pen. Once I uncapped it, I held a sword I had never used before. It was previously owned by the first unit leader, Hesper, back when she was Zoe Nightshade. She allowed my illusion to use it after he won her favor. I hope to end this and live up to those heavy expectations of a scorned maiden. I laughed a little on the inside. Zoe has grown to trust the other leaders of Chaos' Army. She has learned to trust Nyke. Maybe there is hope for me as well. Perhaps Chaos was right.

"Do you truly believe you will be able to defeat me?" Erebus taunted, creating a sword out of shadows. From experience I know that it has similar properties to Stygian Iron.

"I'm not alone anymore." As I spoke, I felt the bonds that Chaos created for me strengthen. While Erebus is alone in his war against me as he had to keep a low profile to hide from Chaos, I had more than enough allies on my side. Being at Camp Half-Blood, connecting the memories I gained from my illusion to the real life people and places has strengthened my resolve to end this...childish fighting.

"You will always be alone." He charged towards me to slash at my scarred abdomen.

I smiled a little, feeling relaxed. Childish was right. The primordial god of darkness abducted me for something I was going to do. I blocked his sword with mine. I felt the power humming in the three foot blade.

"I don't have to be anymore." I thought of Kasey. A daughter of Demeter who could see the hurting seven year old in me. I thought of Nyke's past. He ran away from home and ran into other demigods who took under his wing to protect.

Nyke's fate was intertwined with mine when he met a daughter of Zeus and a seven year old. Kronos' rise of power started then. Because of Kronos, Gaea was able to start to wake again after Hazel stopped her in Alaska. After Gaea, Erebus was fated to begin his chance to rise to power. I was the one destined to stop him. Ironically, Tartarus was supposed to help with Erebus' downfall.

The primordial of the pit is very misunderstood. Just like a certain god of the big three.

I pushed back against Erebus, then began my own counter. He was able to block most of it, but his footing was shaky. I used that against him.

Hades has to be one of my gods. He chose to save two of his demigod children, hiding them away in a place that stopped time for them before having them brought to a mortal school where they would be found by a satyr. Hades wanted one of his children to be the hero of the prophecy. His choices were questionable but he was acting like a parent wanting the best life for their children. Bianca and Nico chose their own paths. They found happiness in the end.

Erebus quickly regained his footing and went for my right shoulder. I ducked, backing away to giving myself some room.

I thought of my mother. She married a horrible man to protect me. I haven't seen her since I was seven, however, the memories of what she did for herself. She used Medusa's head to take back her life. Now she's happily married to a mortal man with a little girl. Mom is going to ground me for being away for eleven years. I'm looking forward to it.

I launched forward, breaking my emergency water reserve, and sent the water to blind Erebus. He coughed as the water hit him. I quickly slashed at his chest.

I have a lot of explaining to do to so many people. I have to apologize to my dad. I have to apologize to Chaos. I have to apologize to Nyke. Milos actually wasn't the one who drank all of his "special drinks," it was really Coke from Earth, I was. I missed the taste of an Earth beverage but I wasn't able to bring myself to come back.

"Argh!" Erebus grew angry when my sword hit its mark. "I will kill you!" He sent attack after attack at me.

I wonder if Milos would get the courage to reveal himself. The other unit leaders wouldn't have much of an issue. Although, Charis might not reveal herself to everyone, only to a select few. I know that she and Vernandos revealed themselves to each other. Milos and Nyke would be the only ones not to as they feel they don't deserve this second chance. I didn't think I deserved this second chance either. Being here now, looking back at my life and the life that could have been, makes me want to fight for both. Fight to protect the army and to forge bonds with the ones that are connected to my illusion.

"I won't die." I stated calmly. My body slowly started to feel light as if I was floating. I don't think that was a good thing.

I want to live. I want to live to for my mom, my dad, for Chaos, for the unit leaders, for Nyke, for the six remaining of the seven of the second great prophecy, for Camp Half-Blood, for Camp Jupiter which I haven't seen for myself yet, for the gods of Olympus. For the forgotten and pushed aside gods and their children. I want to officially meet Nico di Angelo, the grown up version of the kid brother that Bianca once knew. I want to meet Thalia and her brother Jason. I want to not feel alone as a child of the big three.

"Ah!" The previously closed wound on my abdomen opened up. Pain hit me. My vision blurred. I thought of Luke. And a pit scorpion.

Erebus laughed as if he already won. His blade moved right as mine did. Blood gushed out of a wound. There was a clear victor.

Nyke...you were the better choice of Head Commander...

I hope we can meet again...Luke...

3...

~MsPenguingirl1234.

Published: June 21, 2023.