Too Many Memories

We Kill Some Old Friends

We Kill Some Old Friends

"Festus. You named your dragon, Festus?" I stared in awe.

"Yeah, why?" Leo grinned proudly.

"I know a bit of Latin, and festus means happy. You want us to ride off to save the world on Happy the Dragon?"

Leo jumped on the mechanical dragon."Yeah!"

I sighed in exasperation and eyed the dragon warily. Automatons weren't predictable. Festus could easily turn on us and slice us to bits with his sharp claws, or shred us with his pointy teeth. Plus, he breathed fire, and Leo was the only one incapable of burning to death.

"Well, as long as he doesn't go crazy or stop working in the middle of nowhere, I'm good. Let's get going to Gila Claw, Arizona." Tammy said cheerfully and joined Leo on the back of the dragon. She held out a hand and helped me up in between her and Leo.

Leo whispered in the Festus' ear and we took off into the air. "You guys can sleep, you know. I can control him. Get some rest, and then maybe I'll wake one of you so I can sleep."

I didn't want to sleep, but my body said otherwise. After a mental fight that I lost, I leaned against Leo's back and fell asleep.

~

It seemed like I had only closed my eyes for a second when Leo shook me awake, but he said it had been a few hours. He and I carefully switched places so he could get some rest. It was a calm night. The stars were visible and there was a cool breeze. The heat from Festus kept me warm.

Soon, Festus started to descend and I nudged Leo awake. We had arrived. He guided Festus to land across the road from the junkyard. He quietly sent the dragon away and we crept towards the junkyard.

Gaea was nowhere in sight, but I had a feeling she was watching us. Two familiar monsters stood waiting instead, the Minotaur and Medusa. Quickly, Leo, Tammy and I dove behind a pile of junk at the sight of the snake-haired lady. But it was too late. She cackled, and the Minotaur snarled.

Leo and Tammy looked through the discarded items. Leo picked up a hammer and Tammy held an arrow in her hand. I slapped their hands and they dropped them. "That's how Bianca died. She picked up a figurine for Nico, and it woke Talos. This is the junkyard of the gods. Don't. Touch. A. Thing." I cautioned. They gulped and nodded.

I peered around the junk. Buried in scrap metal behind the monsters was Hylla. She looked fine, unharmed, other than being buried deep within a mound of junk. Only her head was visible.

Wait a second.

Mound.

The end of the war can be found,

Concealed deep within the mound.

That's it! Hylla really was the key to ending the war. I quietly told Tammy and Leo my realization, and my plan. They agreed, and the plan was put into action.

"Hey, Meat-Head!" Leo shouted and waved his arms like a monkey. He and Tammy were to kill the Minotaur, while I destroyed Medusa.

It worked. The Minotaur roared and charged the two demigods. Taking my chance, I ran for Medusa.

Anything would be helpful right now, Percy. A polished shield, perhaps? I prayed as I dashed passed the unsuspecting Gorgon to hide behind another heap of junk, my dagger ready in my hand.

My free hand tingled and an object started to form in it. I paused and watched, waiting to see what Percy had sent me.

A sphere. A green gazing ball. Exactly like the one I had given him when he first killed Medusa. I groaned.

Really, Percy? You couldn't resist, could you?

No, I really couldn't. I can't interfere too much, even though I'd like to. It will work though. It did for me. DUCK!

I flattened against the ground as Medusa's nails swiped the air where my head had just been. I rolled away and stood up, lunging behind a pile of junk, my eyes locked on the mirror-like ball. Medusa looked as hideous as ever.

"Daughter of Athena, come and face me. Why is your aura . . . familiar?" Medusa hissed and searched for me.

"Because I've met you before!" I climbed to the top of the junk pile and stared at Medusa through the gazing ball.

She whirled around and growled. "You! Annabeth Chase. Where's that Jackson boy?"

"He's not here, can I take a message?" I taunted.

"Ha!" A snort came from Leo's direction. How Leo had the time to listen to me taunt Medusa while fighting the Minotaur, I would never know. "Good one, Annabeth. Percy would be proud."

I am.

"You miserable wisdom spawn!" Medusa launched herself at me and I dropped, sliding down the discarded metal. She flew harmlessly above me and I flicked my wrist. My knife slipped through her neck like butter, and her head separated from her body.

I shivered in disgust at the gurgling sound and pushed myself to my feet. I located the body and the head, and kicked Medusa's head next to the junk pile. I pulled on some of the scrap metal until the head was buried beneath it.

I raced over to Leo and Tammy to help them with the Minotaur, but they didn't need any help. Leo was laughing and having fun while riding the Minotaur and whacking it on the head with a hammer, while Tammy strung arrow after arrow and released them. Slowly, the Minotaur disintegrated and the junkyard was quiet, except for the shifting of metal.

"Good job, guys, but I think the weight of all of this is about to kill me." Hylla wheezed.

The three of us tossed discarded inventions aside as we dug her out of the mound. I had no doubt that she was the key to ending the war now.

Her chest and part of her legs were free, so I grabbed her arms and pulled her out. She stumbled and I caught her, hugging her. She stiffened, but eventually hugged me back. Tammy joined us.

"Group hug!" Leo grinned and spread his arms.

Hylla whipped out her knife and pointed it at him. "Don't even think about it." Leo held up his hands in surrender.

"Took you longer to get here than I expected, actually." Gaea appeared. "Did you miss me?"