(Percy's POV)

Thalia attacked Luke, which gave me the distraction needed to get out Riptide, cut through the binds on my wrists, and then un-gag myself. Then, I headed straight towards my uncle Atlas.

He laughed when he saw me approaching. A javelin appeared in his hands, and his suit became armor. "Go on then!"

"Percy!" I heard Zoë warn, but I could tell that she believed in me to defeat him.

I frowned slightly as I noticed for the first time that Zoë is pretty much my cousin. I pushed that thought out of my mind. At least she isn't my grandmother (*cough* Poseidon *cough*).

I swung my sword, and Atlas blocked it. We fought for a little bit, but Atlas managed to hit me with the shaft of his javelin. I flew through the air and into the wall, which was not Mist anymore.

"Fool!" Atlas screamed gleefully as he swatted aside one of Zoë's arrows. "Did you think that because you could challenge a petty war god, that you could stand up to me?"

Well, I thought, I did more than just fight Ares. I helped overthrow you all the first time.

I charged him again. The javelin's point slashed toward me like a scythe. I raised Riptide, planning to cut off his weapon at the shaft, but my arm felt like lead. The sword now weighed a ton, but for some reason, I couldn't hold it up, even after holding upon the sky.

"Nephews," I muttered as I dropped my sword and jumped out of the way. I heard Zoë shout out as she saw me without a weapon, wondering why I would just drop it.

Atlas paused, also wondering this. "Why would you do that?" He asked in disbelief.

I smirked. "I have some tricks up my sleeves," I replied. I slid some knives out from my sleeves. "Or rather, knives."

We resumed to fighting.

Ares's curse was that my sword would fail me. And knives aren't swords, now, are they?

But I wasn't as good with knives as I was with a sword, or even a bow (when I'm trying my best, not when I'm trying to miss. Seriously you people, I can't accidentally shoot a bullseye on the opposite target than the one I mean to. I can't even accidentally shoot straight behind me. That only happens when I'm putting up an act. I'm still better with a sword though. Besides, I hadn't practiced with knives in a long time).

I made a mistake, and the javelin hit me. I flew backwards.

"Die, little hero," Atlas said, raising the javelin.

I would've rolled out of the way, but I didn't need to do that as Zoë yelled, "No!" And a volley of silver arrows sprouted from the armpit chink in Atlas's armor.

"ARGH!" He bellowed and turned towards Zoë. My sword still wasn't back. Awesome. I looked at Artemis.

Artemis and I, in a silent agreement, switched positions. I retook the sky without hesitation after quickly breaking her chains, and she let it go (A/N Like Elsa) and went out to fight Atlas.

I felt Riptide return to my pocket.

Great timing, I thought sarcastically.

As I braced myself on one knee and held the sky alone, I thought: holding the sky brings a whole new meaning to air pressure.

It didn't hurt too bad. Believe me, I've felt worse. And I'm used to it, I held it for a few days. And then there's the face that I'm a god. But the fact remains: Tartarus is worse than anything on Earth, even holding up the sky. I remember that time that I fell into the Phlegethon. Don't ask. And even if you do, I'm not telling. I mean, maybe in a flashback or something later, but. . . .

I scanned the fight. Zoë's arrows were only affecting my Uncle like bee stings.

You know, losing to him is really only the universe's way of punishing me for falling into Tartarus. I was out of practice, and so I lost. It all evens out. Ultimately, it was my own actions that led up to me being defeated just now.

And, of course, Ares's curse.

(A/N I'm skipping through a little bit of the battle scene. . .)

Atlas almost "killed" Artemis, but Zoë jumped in the way and shot an arrow through her father's forehead. Atlas bellowed in rage, and he swatted aside Zoë, sending her flying into the black rocks.

We have some serious family issues.

I yelled out to her, but my voice was lost in the sounds of the battle.

Artemis and Atlas had went back to fighting, and now Atlas narrowed towards me, and I loosened my hold on the sky. He smashed into me, and I released the sky, rolling away from the sky.

I used the momentum of the roll to stand up, and I turned to see Atlas barely manage to stop himself from being squashed flat by the sky.

"Nooooo!" He bellowed so hard it shook the whole mountain. "Not again!"

I looked around, trying to remember which direction Zoë was in.

Luke was kicked off the cliff, and the monsters wanted to kill us even more.

In other words, nothing special happened.

Okay, that was sarcasm, considering the fact that ZOË IS FREAKING DYING, PEOPLES!!!

I spotted my niece and holding Zoë in her arms. Zoë was still breathing, thankfully, and her eyes were open.

I ran over to them, and Thalia and Annabeth came along behind me.

I knelt next to them and looked at the goddess and her huntress.

"Where's the wound?" I asked seriously.

Artemis showed me the wound on Zoë's side. "It's poisoned," Artemis said, clarifying my suspicions.

I thought for a second on what I should do. No one gets anywhere by panicking. You need to think.

I tried to clean it the best I could. There was still water in that small pool, and it was clean, since nothing was ever in it, so I used the water the clean the wound as quickly as possible. Then, I tore off a little of my shirt and used it as a bandage.

"This is one of the times that I wish that healing was one of my powers in my long list of them," I muttered as I did.

"I'd need nectar and ambrosia," I announced. "If I don't get that, then that's all that I can do."

I felt Zoë put a hand on my arm, and I could tell that it was all coming to an end.

(A/N Aaand the song 7 years just came on. Ugh.)

Zoë knew that I got what she tried to tell me without words.

"The stars," she murmured. "I cannot see them."

I heard a noise and recognized it as a helicopter. I somehow recognized Mr. Chase, Annabeth's dad. The machine guns on his helicopter came to life, peppering the ground with bullet holes. "Get away from my daughter!"

"Dad?" Annabeth yelled.

"Run!"

Artemis was shaken out of her grief.

We took a ride in Artemis's moon chariot.

We landed at Crissy Field after nightfall. Annabeth and her dad talked, etc, etc. . .

I was sitting on my knees next to Zoë.

Zoë looked at Artemis. "Have I served thee well?"

"With great honor," Artemis replied softly. "The finest of my attendants."

Zoë looked at Thalia and grabbed her hand. "I am sorry we argued. We could have been sisters."

"It's my own fault," Thalia said. "You were right about heroes, Luke, men—everything."

"Not all men." Zoë looked at me.

I leaned down and kissed Zoë. She kissed him back. There was silence as everyone watched, shocked. It wasn't a long kiss, just a short one, but the others were astonished.

And though it may not have been long, this last kiss was still by far the best.

Zoë smiled weakly at Percy, then gazed at the sky.

"Stars," she whispered. "I can see the stars again."

Tears silently fell down my face, and I almost didn't notice them.

Zoë continued to whisper in between gasps for breath. "They are. . . beautiful tonight. . ."

A tear trickled down Artemis's cheek.

"Stars," Zoë repeated. Her eyes were fixed on the night sky. She did not move again.

Thalia lowered her head. Annabeth gulped down a sob, and her father put a hand on her shoulders. I watched as Artemis cupped a hand over Zoë's mouth and spoke in Ancient Greek. A silvery wisp escaped from Zoë's lips and was caught in the hand of the goddess. I watched as Zoë's body shimmered and disappeared.

Artemis stood, did a blessing and breathed into her cupped hand. I walked over and murmured a blessing in Ancient Greek too. Then, Artemis released the silver dust to the sky.

I looked up, and saw the stars; the new pattern in the sky; one that showed a huntress with a bow and a flower in her hair running across the sky.

"Zoë's right," I whispered. "The stars are beautiful tonight."

A/N I hope you like this chapter! *smiles*

Anyway, bye!

~Shatter