You'll Learn to Love Me (Leo Valdez x OC)

Chapter 82: A Father's Blessing

Laylana knew then that she was going to die. And not in the way she was hoping she would have. She pictured her death to be a sacrifice indeed, but not for the sake of the giants. Standing with her friends in a defensive ring, surrounded by giants... This wasn't it. She had much more she wanted to do. After she dies, she would get resurrected by the Physician's Cure, and maybe her and Leo would make up. Maybe in ten years she'd be putting their first child to bed, and the two of them would be re-telling them of all their adventures during this time. How their mom and dad and aunts and uncles defeated the giants in Athens. Then, they would tell that same story to their grandchildren. And their grandchildren would tell the story to their children. It could be passed down for generations upon generations. They wouldn't believe her at first, until she showed them the very same scars that she received on her journey overseas. She would have the life she wanted, a family of her own without anymore worries of death. She would have Leo, her Leo, by her side until the very end. 

But she was still in Athens. Nothing could have prepared her for what would happen next...She looked up as the clouds parted over the Acropolis. Instead of blue skies, she saw black space spangled with stars, the palaces of Mount Olympus gleaming silver and gold in the background. And an army of gods charged down from on high. Before she could process it, the ground shook underneath her feet and shadows etched up from the dirt. It was too much to process. 
There was supersized Zeus riding into battle in a golden chariot, a lightning bolt the size of a telephone pole crackling in one hand. Pulling his chariot were four horses made of wind, each constantly shifting from equine to human form, trying to break free. For a split second, one took on the icy visage of Boreas. Another wore Notus's swirling crown of fire and steam. A third flashed the smug lazy smile of Zephyrus. Zeus had bound and harnessed the four wind gods themselves.

On the underbelly of the Argo II, the glass bay doors split open. The goddess Nike tumbled out, free from her golden net. She spread her glittering wings and soared to Zeus's side, taking her rightful place as his charioteer.

"MY MIND IS RESTORED!" she roared. "VICTORY TO THE GODS!"

At Zeus's left flank rode Hera, her chariot pulled by enormous peacocks, their rainbow-coloured plumage so bright it gave Jason the spins. Ares bellowed with glee as he thundered down on the back of a fire-breathing horse. His spear glistened red. In the last second, before the gods reached the Parthenon, they seemed to displace themselves, like they'd jumped through hyperspace. The chariots disappeared. Suddenly Laylana and her friends were surrounded by the Olympians, now human-sized, tiny next to the giants, but glowing with power.

The thing that happened next surprised not only her, but also the Gods themselves. The shadows rose from the ground and took form beside Laylana, in the shape of a human. Then, the shadows went "poof!" and there, in all his glory, was her father. Erebus held a black staff that radiated darkness and power. His eyes bore into his daughter's, and he smirked at her. 

Jason grinned at his best friend as she looked up at her father in admiration, shouted and charged Porphyrion. Laylana and the others joined in the carnage. The fighting ranged all over the Parthenon and spilled across the Acropolis. Out of the corner of her eye, Laylana saw Annabeth fighting Enceladus. At her side stood her mother, Athena, in all her glory. Together, Athena and Annabeth drove Enceladus back into the nearest wall of metal scaffolding, which collapsed on top of him.

On the opposite side of the temple, Frank Zhang and the god Ares smashed through an entire phalanx of giants – Ares with his spear and shield, Frank (as an African elephant) with his trunk and feet. The war god laughed and stabbed and disembowelled like a kid destroying piñatas.

Hazel raced through the battle on Arion's back, disappearing in the Mist whenever a giant came close, then appearing behind him and stabbing him in the back. The goddess Hecate danced in her wake, setting fire to their enemies with two blazing torches. Laylana didn't see Hades, but whenever a giant stumbled and fell the ground broke open and the giant was snapped up and swallowed.