Reincarnation in the PJO verse: Volume 1

『When the Seasons Change, will you stand by me?』

They landed at Crissy Field after nightfall.

As soon as Dr Chase stepped out of his Sop with Camel, Annabeth ran to him and gave him a huge hug. "Dad! You flew... you shot... oh my gods! That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!"

Her father blushed. "Well, not bad for a middle-aged mortal, I suppose."

"But the celestial bronze bullets! How did you get those?"

"Ah, well. You did leave quite a few half-blood weapons in your room in Virginia, the last time you... left."

Annabeth looked down, embarrassed. Diedre noticed Dr Chase was very careful not to say ran away.

"I decided to try melting some down to make bullet casings," he continued. "Just a little experiment."

He said it like it was no big deal, but he had a gleam in his eye. He was an excellent mad scientist at heart.

"Dad..." Annabeth faltered.

"Annabeth, Percy, Diedre," Thalia interrupted. Her voice was urgent. She and Artemis were kneeling at Zoe's side, binding the huntress's wounds.

Annabeth, Percy and Diedre ran over to help, but there wasn't much they could do. They had no ambrosia or nectar. No regular medicine would help. Diedre tried pouring in some of his Apollo-gifted magical healing powers but Zoe caught his hands, asking him to save his energy. It was dark, but he could see that Zoe didn't look good. She was shivering, and the faint glow that usually hung around her was fading. 

"Can't you heal her with magic?" Percy asked Artemis. "I mean... you're a goddess."

Artemis looked troubled. "Life is a fragile thing, Percy. If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little I can do. But I can try."

She tried to set her hand on Zoe's side, but Zoe gripped her wrist. She looked into the goddess's eyes, and some kind of understanding passed between them.

"Have I... served thee well?" Zoe whispered.

"With great honour," Artemis said softly. "The finest of my attendants." Zoe's face relaxed. "Rest. At last."
"I can try to heal the poison, my brave one."

She saw Thalia and took her hand.

"I am sorry we argued," Zoe said. "We could have been sisters."

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

"Perhaps not all men," Zoe murmured. She turned towards Diedre, wiping the tears flowing down his face and said softly, "Don't cry, Diedre Hayes. You and I were as close as siblings and you definitely were the better part of Apollo. You gave me the experience of having a brother, a good one after a long time."

She smiled weakly at Percy. "Do you still have the sword, Percy?"

He couldn't speak, but he brought out Riptide and put the pen in her hand. She grasped it contentedly. "You spoke the truth, Percy Jackson. You are nothing like... like Hercules. I am honoured that you carry this sword."

A shudder ran through her body.
"Zoe—" Diedre said.
"Stars," she whispered. "I can see the stars again, my lady."
A tear trickled down Artemis's cheek. "Yes, my brave one. They are beautiful tonight." "Stars," Zoe repeated. Her eyes were fixed on the night sky. And she did not move again.

Thalia lowered her head. Annabeth gulped down a sob, and her father put his hands on her shoulders. I watched as Artemis cupped her hand above Zoe's mouth and spoke a few words in Ancient Greek. A silvery wisp of smoke exhaled from Zoe's lips and was caught in the hand of the goddess. Zoe's body shimmered and disappeared.