★ 。＼｜／。★

𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖎𝖙𝖗𝖊 𝖛𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖙-𝖍𝖚𝖎𝖙:
AND FOES BEAR ARMS
TO THE DOORS OF DEATH

★ 。／｜＼。★

TARTARUS HAD SAID that it would be an honor to be killed by him. Belle certainly didn't see how. As she stared up at his dark whirlpool face that was enough to give her nightmares while wrapped up in Percy's arms, she decided that dying in a less memorable way was how she wanted to leave the mortal world. Perhaps dying in her sleep in her eighties, surrounded by her children and Percy by her side after a much calmer life than their teenage years? Yes. That was how she definitely wanted to go.

The question what would Annabeth do? was useless in this situation. Annabeth's tactic was stalling, but right now, Belle couldn't find the words to say. Her mouth was agape and nothing was going through her mind except extreme fear. Belle was vaguely aware of the army of monsters behind her, but they hadn't done anything after their initial roar. In fact, now they were silent, keeping their distance as they waited for Tartarus to act.

Tartarus, God of the pit, flexed his fingers and examined his own polished black talons. There was no expression on his face because it was a giant whirlpool, but he straightened his shoulders as if he were pleased.

It is good to have form, Tartarus said. With these hands, I can eviscerate you.

Belle couldn't help but notice his voice sounded like a recording was being rewinded. It was almost af his words were being sucked straight into the vortex of his face rather than being projected outwards. Now that she thought about it, everything seemed to be drawn to the God's face — the dim light, the poisonous clouds, the essence of the monsters surrounding them, even Belle's own fragile life force. She glanced around for a moment to see that every object on the vast plain of Tartarus' heart had grown a vaporous comet's tail that all pointed towards Tartarus.

She wanted to say something to the God to try and distract him, but everything was telling her to hide and avoid doing anything that would draw more of Tartarus' attention. Besides, even if she was able to move past her fear and say something, what would she say? That Tartarus wouldn't get away with this? Because that certainly wasn't true. The only reason Belle and Percy had survived this long at the moment was because Tartarus was admiring his new form. He wanted the pleasure of physically ripping both of them to pieces. Belle knew that if Tartarus wished he could just devour her existence with a single thought just as easily as he had vaporized Hyperion and Krios. There probably wouldn't be any rebirth from that.

Suddenly, Percy did something that shocked Belle right down to her core. His arms dropped from around her. Belle's eyebrows knit in confusion and turned to see him just completely drop Riptide once his arms reached his side. It just fell out of his hand and hit the ground with a soft thud. His face looked like the complexion of a corpse even though he didn't have Death Mist around him anymore. Her heart filled with concern.

Tartarus hissed again, probably laughing. Your fear smells wonderful. I see the appeal of having a physical body with so many senses. Perhaps my beloved Gaea is right, wishing to wake from her slumber.

He stretched out his massive purple hand. Belle's eyes widened and she stepped in front of Percy, Sunflower raised. The attempt to shield him was definitely futile, but perhaps she could distract Tartarus long enough for Percy to regain his senses.

"Begone!" Bob suddenly interrupted. Tartarus stopped reaching out to the Demigods and Bob levelled his spear at the God. "You have no right to meddle!"

Meddle? Tartarus repeated, turning to Bob. I am the Lord of all creatures of the darkness, puny Iapetus. I can do as I please.

His black cyclone for a face spun faster. The howling sound was so utterly awful that Belle clutched onto her ears again and sunk to her knees. Bob stumbled and the wispy comet tail of his life grew longer as it was sucked towards Tartarus' face. However, Bob roared in defiance and charged right at Tartarus. He thrust his spear at the God's chest, but before it could connect, Tartarus easily swatted Bob aside. Bob went sprawling.

Why do you not disintegrate? Tartarus asked. You are nothing. You are even weaker than Krios
and Hyperion.

"I am Bob," Bob replied.

What is that? What is Bob?

"I choose to be more than Iapetus. You do not control me. I am not like my brothers."

The collar of his coveralls bulged and Small Bob leaped out. Small Bob landed on the ground in front of Bob. He arched his back and hissed at Tartarus. Belle watched as Small Bob began to grow, his form flickering until the little kitten he once was was now a full-sized, translucent skeltal sabre-toothed tiger.

"Also, I have a good cat," Bob added.

Small Bob (could Belle even call him that anymore?) sprang straight at Tartarus and sank his claws into the God's thigh. The tiger scrambled up his leg and ducked straight under Tartarus' chain-link skirt. Tartarus stomped and howled, apparently no longer enjoying his physical form. Bob then thrust his spear into the God's side right below his breastplate.

Tartarus roared and swatted at Bob, but Bob backed out of his reach. The Titan thrust out his fingers and his spear yanked itself free of Tartarus' flesh, flying back into Bob's hand. Belle blinked in amazement. She didn't know his broom had so many useful features. Small Bob then dropped out of Tartarus' skirt and ran to Bob's side with his sabre-toothed fangs dripping with golden ichor.

You will die first, Iapetus, Tartarus announced. Afterwards, I will add your soul to my armor, where it will slowly dissolve, over and over, in eternal agony.

Tartarus pounded his huge fist against his breastplate. Milky faces swirled in the metal and silently screamed to get out.

Bob turned to Belle and Percy and grinned, even after being threatened with eternal agony. "Take the Doors. I will deal with Tartarus."

Tartarus threw his head back and bellowed, which created a vacuum so strong that the nearest flying demons were pulled straight into his vortex face and shredded. Deal with me? You are only a Titan, a lesser child of Gaea! I will make you suffer for your arrogance. And as for your tiny mortal friends . . . He swept his hand towards the monster army and beckoned them forward. DESTROY THEM!

Those word were enough to shock Belle straight out of her trance. She gritted her teeth and raised Sunflower higher, the green hilt seemingly glowing in the dim light of Tartarus.

"Percy!" Belle screamed.

That woke him up. He reached down and picked up Riptide. Belle gave his shoulder the quickest squeeze imaginable before diving straight at the chains holding down the Doors of Death. Sunflower's Celestial Bronze blade easily cut through the left side chains in a single swipe. Meanwhile, Percy drove back the first wave of monsters. He stabbed an Arai and yelped something about stupid curses before cutting down about six Telekhines. Belle lunged right behind him and sliced through the chains on the other side. The Doors shuddered before opening with a pleasant Ding!

Belle looked back while breathing heavily. Bob and Small Bob were weaving around Tartarus' legs, attacking and dodging to stay out of reach. They didn't seem to be doing much damage, but Tartarus kept lurching around, obviously not used to fighting with a humanoid body. He kept swiping and missing. More monsters then surged towards the Doors. Belle ducked and a spear flew right over head. She turned and stabbed an Empousa that had tried to attack her in the gut. Belle then leaped for the Doors as they started to close. She wedged her foot in between both panels and kept it open.

"Percy!" Belle yelled.

He immediately joined her in the doorway. His face was dripping with sweat and blood from several cuts that were scattered around.

"Are you okay?" Belle questioned.

Percy nodded. "Yeah, Beauty, I'm all right. I got some kind of pain curse from that Arai." He paused to casually cut a Gryphon out of the air. "It hurts a little, but it won't kill me. Now get in the elevator. I'll stay out here and hold the button."

"You're joking, right?" Belle asked. She whacked a carnivorous horse in the snout with the butt of Sunflower and sent the monster stampeding back through the crowd. "If I'm remembering clearly, you promised we wouldn't get away from each other ever again. I'm counting on you to keep it!"

"Have I ever told you how impossible you are?"

"Maybe once or twice, but yeah, I love you too!"

An entire phalanx of Cyclopes then charged forwards, knocking smaller monsters out of their way. Belle raised Sunflower a little higher, ready to attack, but Percy gave out a battle cry. A red vein at the Cyclopes' feet burst open and sprayed the monsters with the Phlegethon's liquid fire. The firewater might have healed mortals, but it definitely didn't help the Cyclopes. They combusted in a tidal wave of heat. The burst vein had resealed itself, but nothing remained of the Cyclopes except a row of scorch marks.

"Belle, listen to me!" Percy shouted. "You have to go! There's no way both of us can stay!"

"I'm not leaving you!" Belle cried. "Our story is not over! Now duck!"

Percy didn't ask why. He did as he was told and crouched. Belle vaulted straight over him and kicked a heavily tattooed Ogre straight in the nose. The Ogre stumbled backwards before Belle stabbed Sunflower into his gut. She rejoined Percy in the doorway and both of them waited for the next wave. Percy's trick of exploding the vein had momentarily set back the monsters, but it wouldn't be long until they realized that they were a whole army against only two Demigods.

"You got any better ideas?" Percy inquired.

Belle let out a deep breath. "I wish I did."

They were so close. The Doors of Death, their one and only exit from the nightmarish world of Tartarus, was literally right behind them. But they couldn't use them without someone pressing the UP button for twelve long minutes. If they went inside the Doors and let them close without someone holding the button, the results wouldn't be very healthy. And if they happened to step away from the Doors, the elevator would close and disappear without them.

Like every situation a Demigod could be in, it was just so pathetically sad that it was almost funny.

The crowd of monsters began to inch towards Belle and Percy, snarling and gathering their courage again. Meanwhile, Bob's attacks were getting slower and Tartarus was learning to control his new body. Small Bob the sabre-toothed tiger lunged at the God, but Tartarus smacked him sideways. Bob charged while bellowing in rage, but Tartarus grabbed his spear and yanked it out of his hands. He kicked Bob downhill and knocked over a row of Telekhines.

YIELD! Tartarus thundered.

"I will not," Bob responded. "You are not my master."

Die in defiance, then. You Titans are nothing to me. My children the Giants were always better, stronger and more vicious. They will make the upper world as dark as my realm!

Tartarus snapped the spear in half, making Bob wail in agony. Small Bob leaped to Bob's side while snarling and baring his fangs at Tartarus. Bob struggled to rise, but Belle knew with horrible clarity that it was over. Even the monsters were turning to watch. Tartarus himself killing a Titan was worth seeing.

Percy took a deep breath. "Belle, stay here. I have to go over there and help him."

"No, Percy," Belle protested, grabbing his hand and pulling him back. "You can't. We can't fight Tartarus."

Belle knew she was right. Tartarus was in a whole other class of his own. He was more powerful than the Gods or Titans, even both of them combined. Demigods were absolutely nothing to him. Percy would only get killed within a second if he charged to help Bob. But Belle also knew that Percy wouldn't listen to her. He usually did, but not right now. Percy couldn't leave Bob to die alone. That wasn't the type of person he was. It was one of the many reasons Belle loved him so dearly, even if he was a little annoying sometimes.

"But we can go together," Belle offered. He looked down at her. His sea-green eyes met her blue ones, and she gave him a small smile while squeezing his hand. "It'll be our final battle, but if we go down, we go down together, right?"

Percy nodded. Stepping away from the Doors meant that they would never leave Tartarus, but at least they would die fighting with each other. And if their story ended that way, then so be it. As long as they were together.

"Till forever falls apart," Percy promised.

She smiled gently at him. "Till forever falls apart."

Belle was just about to say now when a ripple of alarm suddenly passed through the army. In the distance, shrieks, screams, and multiple boom boom boom's sounded. Those were too fast to be Tartarus' heartbeat. It was more like something large and heavy was running at full speed. An Earthborn spun into the air. A plume of bright green gas then billowed across the top of the monstrous horde, dissolving everything in in its path. Belle's confusion faded away once she saw the cause of the commotion. She started to smile and let out a laugh of amazement.

The Maeonian Drakon spread its frilled collar and hissed. Its poison breath filled the battlefield with the scent of pine and ginger. The Drakon shifted its hundred-foot-long body and wiped out a battalion of Ogres with a flick of its dappled green tail. Riding on its back was a Giant with red skin and flowers spotted in his rust-colored braids. A lance made of green leather and a Drakon rib was in his hand.

"Damasen!" Belle exclaimed.

The Giant inclined his head at her. "Belle Adair, I took your advice. I chose myself a new fate."

What is this? Tartarus hissed. Why have you come, my disgraced son?

Damasen looked straight at Belle. The message was clear in his eyes: Go. Now. Belle squeezed Percy's hand a little tighter.

He turned towards Tartarus while the Maeonian Drakon stamped its feet and snarled. "Father, you wished for a more worthy opponent? I am one of the Giants you are so proud of. You wished me to be more war-like? Perhaps I will start by destroying you!"

Damasen levelled his lance and charged at his father. The monstrous army swarmed around him, but the Maeonian Drakon had that covered. It flattened everything in its path, sweeping its tail and spraying poison. Damasen jabbed at Tartarus with his lance and forced the God to retreat like he was being cornered.

Bob stumbled away from the battle with Small Bob at his side. Percy gave them as much cover as he could by causing more blood vessels in the ground to burst. Some monsters were vaporized with water from the Styx, others collapsed and weeped hopelessly with water from the Cocytus, and some stared blankly around them not knowing who they were with water from the Lethe. Bob finally limped over to the Doors. Golden ichor was flowing from the wounds on his arms and chest, his janitor's outfit was in tatters, and his posture was twisted and hunched. Despite all of that, he was grinning with his silver eyes bright in satisfaction.

"Go," Bob ordered. "I will hold the button."

"Bob, you're in no condition—" Percy began.

"Percy, I know you don't want to, but we have to," Belle replied, her voice breaking at the thought of letting Bob do this. "We have to go."

"Belle, how can you say that? We can't just leave them!"

"You must, friend," Bob cut in. He clapped Percy on the arm and nearly knocked him over. "I can still press a button. And I have a good cat to guard me."

Small Bob the sabre-toothed tiger growled in agreement.

"Besides, it is your destiny to return to the world. Put an end to this madness of Gaea."

A screaming Cyclops that was sizzling from poison spray sailed over their heads. About fifty yards away, the Maeonian Drakon was trampling through monsters, its feet making sickening squish squish noises. Damasen was yelling insults and jabbing at Tartarus from its back, taunting the God of the pit further away from the Doors.

Tartarus lumbered after Damasen, his iron boots making large craters in the ground. You cannot kill me! I am the pit itself. You might as well try to kill the Earth. Gaea and I — we are eternal. We own you, flesh and spirit!

He brought down his massive fist. Damasen merely sidestepped and impaled his javelin in the side of Tartarus' neck. Tartarus growled, seemingly more annoyed than hurt. He turned his swirling vortex face towards the Giant, but Damasen got out of the way just in time. A dozen other monsters were sucked into the vortex and disintegrated.

"Bob, don't!" Percy protested, his eyes pleading. "He'll destroy you permanently. No coming back. No regeneration."

The Titan shrugged. "Who knows what will be? You must go now. Tartarus is right about one thing. We cannot defeat him. We can only buy you time."

On Belle's foot, the Doors tried to close. Belle flipped Sunflower in the air and clipped it back on her belt loops. She didn't need it right now. Not if she was saying . . . goodbye.

"Twelve minutes," Bob voiced. "I can give you that."

"Hold, the Doors, Percy," Belle told him.

Percy put his foot in the Doors. Belle then jumped up and wrapped her arms around Bob's neck. She let out a sob and kissed his forehead a couple times, something that Percy would often do to make her feel better. Her eyes were so full of tears that everything was blurry. Bob's stubbly face smelled of cleaning supplies, and for some reason, it made Belle feel comforted.

"All monsters are eternal," Belle said, her voice choked up. "You and Damasen are the best Titan and the best Giant. We'll remember you two as heroes, tell our children, keep the story alive . . . and I know some day you'll regenerate."

Bob ruffled her hair like Belle had done to him earlier, smile lines crinkling around his eyes. "That is good. Until then, my friends, tell the sun and the stars hello for me. And be strong. This may not be the last sacrifice you must make to stop Gaea." He pushed Belle away gently, making her sob again and tears roll down her cheeks. "No more time. Go."

Belle grabbed Percy's arm and dragged him into the elevator. Her last glimpse of the hellish place of Tartarus was the Maeonian Drakon shaking an Ogre in its fangs and Damasen jabbing at Tartarus' legs.

Tartarus pointed at the Doors of Death. Monsters, stop them!

Bob winked at Belle as Small Bob the sabre-toothed tiger crouched and snarled, ready for action. "Hold the Doors closed on your side. They will resist your passage. Hold them—"

The panels of the Doors of Death slid shut, separating Belle and Percy from the fight that was going on.

"Percy, help," Belle pleaded.

She pressed her entire body weight against the left door and pushed it towards the center. Percy did the same on the right. The panels didn't have any handles or anything to hold onto. As the elevator car ascended from Tartarus, the Doors shook and tried to open, threatening to spill the Demigods into whatever was in between life and death. Belle's muscles shook and her shoulders ached. It certainly didn't help that the elevator was playing The Piña Colada Song.

"Beauty, we left Bob and Damasen behind," Percy croaked. "They're going to die for us. We just—"

"I know," Belle let out. Her eyes filled with tears and she let out another sob that was building in the back of her throat. "Oh Gods, Percy, I know."

She was glad that the jobs of keeping the Doors closed was distracting her. The terror that was racing through her entire body kept her from completely dissolving into utter misery. Leaving Bob and Damasen had been the hardest decision she ever had to make.

Growing up at Camp Half-Blood, Belle had never wanted to go on a quest. She was just a daughter of Demeter. Who wanted a girl that only liked to read and grow plants to join a quest? But she had been suddenly thrown into that quest in the Labyrinth. The things she'd been through had taught her a lot. But most of all, especially represented in the Battle of Manhattan, the most important lesson she learned was that not everyone she loved could be protected. Life as a Demigod was short. Not everyone survived. Belle blinked back her tears.

Suddenly, the panels started to slide apart. The scent of either ozone or sulphur filled the entire elevator.

"Percy, the Doors," Belle warned. "We have to keep them closed."

He pushed on his side furiously and the crack closed. Belle looked up at him to see Percy's eyes blazing with anger. She hoped he wasn't mad at her, but if he was, Belle couldn't blame him. Besides, if that anger was the one thing keeping him going, Belle decided to allow him to be angry.

"I'm going to kill Gaea," he promised. "I'm going to tear her apart with my bare hands."

Belle nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, okay."

She only said that to help motivate him, but Belle knew better. Tartarus had boasted he couldn't be killed, and neither could Gaea. Even Titans and Giants were hopelessly outmatched against their power. Demigods stood no chance. Belle also remembered Bob telling her that leaving him and Damasen behind would not be the last sacrifice they would make to stop Gaea. She felt that truth deep in her bones.

"Twelve minutes," Belle muttered. "We only have to hold this for twelve minutes."

Belle prayed to Demeter that Bob would be able to hold the UP button for that long. She prayed for strength to keep her going. Belle wondered what they would be met with once they reached the top of this elevator ride. If their friends from the Argo II weren't there to control the other side . . .

"We can do it, Belle," Percy added. "We have to."

"I know," Belle agreed.

And the two of them held the Doors of Death shut as the elevator shuddered and music about piña coladas played, while somewhere below them a Titan and a Giant sacrificed their lives for them so they could escape.

— [ ♡ ] —

bob and damasen </3

gifs by 1-800-SIMPINGFORSEB !