The death of a hero

1

Percy was never truly free. He couldnt escape his fatal flaw even if it meant his death. So, one day, he was at Central Park with Annabeth and their 8 year old daughter, Zoë Bianca Jackson. Percy and Annabeth were in their middle thirties and enjoyed being able to live as freely as they could as halfbloods. But,... today was the day that changed everything. It began with a distant roar. Percy recognized immidiately because He had faced this very same monster already 2 times. The minotaur. They managed to make it to their car which was parked nearby and he drove as fast as he could to get Annabeth and Zoë to safety. Annabeth and Zoë were sitting in the back, Zoë clinging to her mom and Annabeth trying to sooth her. Percy had a kind of dejavu from this. He had been the frightened kid about 20 years ago and his mom had been driving. At this point, he began to realize how this would eventually end. But he refused to think about it and just drove. Same as all those years ago, they nearly made it to Half-Blood Hill when a problem arose. They had run out of gas. Percy got his wife and daughter out of the car and kissed both on the cheek. "Anni, please remember that I love you. And Zoë..... remember me. I'm so proud of you and I will always be. Remember that I love you two!" With that he concentrated and formed a water bubble around them. To protect them and to restrain them from throwing themselves in between. As now the Minotaur approached, Percy felt relatively sure, he could manage him. They went at it with sheer force and power, neither wanting to yield. But the Minotaur used nasty tricks and had not only come again but he wasnt alone. Although he wasnt very smart, he now knew that he couldnt defeat Percy. But together with a Partner...... Very managable. He just needed to make sure that Percy was occupied enough that his accomplice could come nearer and nearer until..... the snake sank his fangs in Percys arm. Percy had been doing some sort of backflip but immidiately collapsed as soon as he was bitten. It was one of the snakes that Polybotes had shaken out of his hair. Extremely dangerous and most importantly in this case, extremely poisonous. Percy knew these were his last seconds so he turned his head to Annabeth and Zoë and smiled. He died smiling at his loved ones and he couldnt be happier about it........
When Percy finally found peace his shield around his wife and daughter exploded so viciously that both Minotaur and snake were pulverised. Annabeth was sobbing and her daughter just blankly stared at Percys lifeless form that would again run with her through the garden or go cycling with her or.... Grover who was in Camp felt the empathy link snap as Percy died and shouted: "Percy is in danger! We have to help him!" Everyone stopped in their tracks and followed Grober who was sprinting up the Hill with tears in his eyes. Because deep in him, he had already felt Percys death. He just had to make sure he really was...... So, when the entirety of Camp Half-Blood including Chiron and surprisingly also Mr D came pooling over the Hill, Grover broke down when saw the unmoving form of his best friend and his crying family a few meters apart. He ran so fast he was sure he would Fall but never hit the ground. When he reached Percy, he shook him and when he didnt get a reaction, he scrambled to hear for a heart beat. But, all hope was lost when he heard the deafening silence inside his mates chest. At this point, all the campers had reached the scene. And one loud voice boomed over the others: " Kneel people. This is a real hero and we should pay him his earned Respekt!" And to everyones surprise, Dionysos had spoken these words. Not Chiron, not Annabeth, not Grover. Dionysos who had always hated Percy with all his heart. And the first to kneel was Clarisse La Rue, she was there to check on her sibling, and directly after her Nico di Angelo and Will Solace who had just decided to stay in Camp for the rest of their lifes. After them everyone followed, and lastly, even the god kneeled down. After a Minute of silence they rose and mumbled to himself: "We need a shroud. For the son of Poseidon." As he had heard him, Poseidon appeared and had tears in his eyes. With a snap of his fingers, he elevated Percys corpse and together they marched into Camp with only one thought: We lost one of the greatest heroes we ever had.