The Beginning of the End (J. Grace)

VIII: Percy gets run over by an electric horse

Now, you might be thinking: Elara, why are you always being a dumbass?

And to that, I say... I don't know. I'm just a dumbass, full stop. That is my entire personality, I guess.

Anyways...

I leaped in between the two stampeding horses as Percy and Jason's weapon's clashed: bronze against gold. Sparks flew, the ground trembled and the weapons blurred. I sprung up and grabbed the length of Lightning Boys's spear in one hand and the hilt of Seaweed Brain's sword in the other, pushing them apart and the horses gladly helped, running on -Tempest thundering in protest against and Blackjack flapping his wings against their rider's wishes.

"Stop it!" Piper screamed and I halted, suddenly dazed and confused, then a THUD brought me back to attention and I turned to see Jason fall off Tempest and the storm spirit rear in confusion, then canter away into the sunflowers, disappearing into vapour. "Percy! Jason's your friend. Drop your weapon!"

Seaweed Brain's sword arm dipped, but Lightning Boy got to his feet and roared in anger. Okay... why did he roar? A bolt of lightning arced out of the clear blue sky, ricocheting off his spear and blasting Percy off the pegasus who whinnied and fled into the wheat fields.

Jason charged at Percy who was lying on his back and vulnerable, his clothes smoking from the blast.

"No!" I screamed, dashing over, catching Jason's arm in my hand before he could cause my friend further harm. "Jason, listen to me! Whoever's taken over, fight them! Not Percy!"

His eyes flickered from the gold and back to his beautiful blue, he staggered slightly, but I held him upright.

"Lara," His voice was his own, but weak, hoarse and sounding like it was a million miles away. His face full of pain and fear. "I- I can't- "

They were gold again, he smirked, thrusting his spear into my throat. "We are the eidolons. We will live again." He pressed deeper into my throat, drawing a river of blood, but I did not run, I didn't want his attention to be diverted to Percy or Piper who I could see rushing to Seaweed Brain's side to ensure he was alright.

Electric blue. The spear clattered to the ground and he stared at me in horror, reaching out a shaking, trembling hand towards me, then pulled back a moment before he could graze my skin and the wound and looked back up at me, his eyes full of brimming tears. He opened his mouth to say something, but then the eidolon took over again.

"He must die." And he turned to see where Percy lay with Piper at his side, only, Dove was on her back, and Seaweed Brain on his feet.

He slammed the side of Riptide into Jason's face, forcing him to fall backwards onto the tarmac, but he managed to slow his fall by the powers of the winds, or something. Percy then raised Riptide up, the point over Lightning Boy's chest, ready to strike.

I panicked: fighting him clearly wouldn't be helping. So...

Charmspeak. I need Piper.

I whipped my head around and sprinted to where she was, now sat up and seeming alright, just slightly dazed.

"Charmspeak." I hissed in her ear, keeping a careful eye on the possessed boys.

Percy stabbed down, but Jason moved just in time and his shoulder took the blow, not his chest. He sent up a pain-filled cry. I so desperately wanted to punch Guineapig in the face for that, but that wouldn't help. It wasn't him. It wasn't my friend.

"Stop!" Piper screamed, understanding what I'd meant and pouring charmspeak into her voice as I helped her to her feet.

Percy stopped.