Shockwave (Percy Jackson/Michael Vey Crossover)

Chapter Twenty Eight

Percy's POV

You really think you know a person after five years of life and death situations, being best friends, and eventually dating. I saw Annabeth when she was at her worst and at her best. I knew how scary she could be, how deadly. I've been through Tartarus and really believed that that would be the lowest point in any demigod's life. I was wrong.

Just over the rise of the hill was Annabeth Chase, her blonde hair flying behind her and golden eyes flashing in the afternoon light. Flanking her on either side were legions of uniform, armed Elgen Soldiers and hordes of hideous monsters that demigods spend their days fighting. In the air, metal gleamed from fighter jets and planes while winged demons blocked out the sun. It was a sight that would strike fear into the bravest of souls and the most powerful of heroes. A sight that may morph into our doom.

I turned to the Greek Campers. A hundred feet away, Reyna and Frank were rallying their own troops. I stood on a crate provided by the Hephaestus Cabin so that everyone could see me. A proper speech wasn't really something I like to give, or ever had the time to prepare, and this time was no different. Still, the words came from my mouth as if I had practiced a thousand times.

"We are the descendants of the gods. We are heroes," I told them, "And we can defeat them." I pointed at the incoming army, my eyes never leaving the faces I would be leading into battle. "It only took forty demigods to defend Manhattan from Kronos's first wave of attacks. When the Ares Cabin added thirty more, not even a Lydian Drakon could stop us. We are the generation that conquered the supposedly unconquerable. A deadly prophecy that was bottled up for years was undertaken by our blades. We defeated the Titan Army. We protected Olympus two times in the past two years. We put the Primordial Gaea back into her slumber, and we will banish Tartarus back to the pit he belongs in. Our forces have only grown, our alliances have only strengthened, and the reasons why we fight have become clearer than ever before." I smiled grimly and motioned over to the Roman Legion.

"They have been helping us all along, even if they didn't know it. Even after their maniac of an augur lay siege on our camp, we have earned a friendship even the gods thought to be unattainable." I looked down at where the Electroclan was standing, in the front lines below me. "Even these mortals, who have been raised for better or for worse, who have been suffering the wrath of Tartarus even prior to the day of their birth have proved themselves. They fought time and time again against an army larger than the world has ever seen. Against the likes of a man who was power-hungry, who wasn't even mortal. And still they stand before you."

I hopped down from my elevated platform and thrust my fist into the air. "Today, we fight for us!" There was an uproar of cheers and a clanging of metal. As it subsided and the campers merged together, I found myself standing before Michael, Taylor, and Piper.

"Dude," Michael sighed, a nervous tremor in his voice, "How are you so calm?" I grinned at the two Glows, who were both so anxious and worn out I almost pulled them out of the battle. But we needed them if any of us were to live. I laced my fingers together philosophically. "The campers need the morale. They will believe that they can win if they see a leader so confident in it, that they cannot possibly lose." I let out a dry laugh. "To give them that courage and belief, I need to be a duck." The three of them stared at me as if I had grown five heads.

"I'm sorry," Taylor said, holding her hand up to her ear as if she hadn't heard right, "Did you just say a duck?" I gave them a toothy smile. "I need to be a duck. Calm and collected on the outside and paddling like crazy where no one can see it." Piper nudged me with an elbow. "And also a little funny looking." I mock-scowled at her and glanced back at the approaching army.

They seemed to be giving us time to prepare. The army had already stopped marching and the planes were going to stall out if they didn't pick up speed or land soon. Narrowing my eyes, I saw Annabeth smirk and lift her hand, motioning with her fingers in the universal sign for 'Bring it on'. And if Annabeth had been in her right state of mind, she might've tacked on a 'Seaweed Brain' at the end.