Ella Jackson- Apollos legacy

10

I felt... normal again.
It was me and Percy laying in the sand on a beach. It was our favorite thing to do together.
Percy was always an amazing swimmer, now I know why, but he was the best, most fast learner for anything water related - which made him a really good and annoying teacher. He taught me how to swim without a safety vest, taught me how to go underwater for more than 30 seconds, how to dive to get things at a bottom of a pool, and how to make the best sandcastles! He would always win with how sturdy he could make them- All the kids his age who would make them would have the funniest faces when theirs fell over from the water but Percy's ;Percy's almost got stronger.
We would spend hours at the beach during the summer. Our mom would take us almost every day just to make us happy..
I looked at Percy and he just had his eyes shut. He actually looked not happy to be on a beach. You could see his cuts on his face, his hair dry at the ends of his waves, and had purple under his eyes. This wasn't the Percy I remember.
I didn't like having to be a half blood anymore.
I knew my dad finally, but that was it. Everything else just made our family sad or gone.
"Percy?" I asked quietly just in case Annabeth or Grover was close by.
He shifted his body to face towards me.
"Yeah?" He said almost like his throat was dry.
"If we can finish this.. can we still be family?"
He sat up.
"Ella what do you mean? Of course you will always be my little annoying, attached to my hip, sister! Why wouldn't you?" He laughed but also had a straight face.
"Because of my dad... He doesn't seem to be very happy with me being his kid for being a "happy" god and if you have both mom and your dad, where would I fit in?"
I wanted to cry now. I didn't know why I said those things.
"Ella. You're MY sister. I love you forever and will protect you against any monster.. me and mom will always be here for you, even if your dad shows up or even if he doesn't. You're stuck being a Jackson."
He smiled as I wiped my nose.
He pulled my head into his chest and put his chin on top of my head. His heart was beating fast but this was the closest I felt to my brother since we started the quest.
"Hey guys?" Annabeth said while me and Percy jumped as we weren't expecting her right behind us.
Percy looked up at her and looked to where she was pointing.
Huge clouds were forming and almost looked like they could reach the sand.
Then a Boom.
And the God of War was standing right in front of us. Probably 20 feet away with a sword the size of him by his side.
Percy stood up and gestured me to stand and get behind him. He pulled the sword pen out of his pocket and I swore I could hear it ring.
Percy held his sword pointing to the God who only showed a smirk of amusement.
"Single combat." Percy said breaking the Gods enjoyment.
"Percy! No!" I said while I grabbed his green flannel shirt.
"Let him do it, Ella. He needs to." Annabeth whispered as she put her hand on my shoulder and made me step back to her. Percy looked back at me. He seemed stronger than what he did just a minute ago. He no longer had purple under his eyes. He looked bigger too. Stronger.
Then in a blink of an eye, my brother and a God started fighting.

The fight lasted awhile. Ares meant business while fighting and didn't show Percy any mercy. It was hard not to fight back but I hung onto Annabeth's  hand and cheered my brother on in my head.
It seemed like he could hear it because once I said I need you to win, he used an even better power than his sword. He dropped his sword as Ares laughed and my brother slowly raised his hands. As he did, the water behind him also rised. Ares the god of war didn't see my brother coming because his face went straight.

Percy sent all his water to the god to push him over and won. I laughed loudly while I jumped up and down while clapping. Annabeth and Grover  laughed too. Her braids went side to side with Grover shaking her shoulders with excitement. Percy spun around pretty beat up but with a smile as big as the Jokers.

As we all looked at each other, I saw Ares with the most angry face I have ever seen. It looked like he could kill us in all one blow. But then his expression changed when he saw me looking at him.
He mouthed to me "I'll be back." And winked.
Then Annabeth yelled "Don't look!" We all turned around quickly and a huge hum lite up the sky and then the god was gone. All that was left in his spot was Hades golden helm.

We had everything we needed to bring to Zeus. Now it was just our courage to get to Zeus. Me and Percy went to the Empire State Building back in NYC and asked to go to the top floor. My heart was racing as the elevator went up more and more. Me and Percy were silent the whole time. This was the moment we were not looking forward to on this quest. To face the most powerful and well known god was a scary thing to think of happening. I thought of our mom, how she would feel about us doing all of this.. she would probably say we were too young but proud. That she never wanted us to do this, but happy we did it together but most of all, wished she could have done it instead of us. I know her heart would have been racing too, but she would have done it for us and for Percy's dad. I was scared this was not going to work and that he would zap us as soon as he saw two blonde kids walk up to him.
I looked over at Percy again. I wish I could hear what he was thinking.. it was probably close to what I was thinking. If we could get through smelly Gabe's babysitting, we could get through the Father of the Gods.

The elevator doors opened and then we saw something we would have never thought of. Huge buildings that blinded everything but even more surprising was a man standing back to us in front of the thousands of buildings and bridges. Golden curls shined through the light until he turned and showed his face. He was tall with a long face, big green eyes and an upturned nose. His curls went over his forehead and he had not quite a smile and not quite a smirk. He looked like he was glowing but at the same time just a normal man. He was skinner not super fit, and wore a white short sleeve shirt that hung down a little on one side. Along with the shirt, black shorts with gold stripes along the sides. As I looked him up and down, I knew who this man was.

"Dad?"