The Quest to save Apollo

Chapter 5 - The weight of the sky

Percy's POV
Percy lead Nico who led Will towards the mountain. He'd really hoped after what happened up there that he wouldn't have to revisit the dam place. Nico stopped and held out his palm. "We should shadow travel up, that way we can avoid the dragon." Percy had almost forgot about the dragon until Nico had reminded him.
"Yeah I think that's a good idea." Percy took Nico's hand but before they could shadow travel Annabeth came out of the local coffee shop. "Is that?" Percy let go of Nico's hand and waved at Annabeth. "Annabeth?" he yelled. She stopped and did a double take.
"Percy? Nico? Will?" She walked over beside Percy. "What's happening?"
"We're-"
"Going to catch up." Nico interrupted quickly, Percy frowned he didn't like to lie to Annabeth.
"And," Percy said looking at Nico then back to Annabeth "I'm helping them with their quest."
"Oh okay." She said. "Will?" She asked looking at Will's eyes. Annabeth had spent so many years at Camp Half-Blood before he had arrived that he didn't really know who were Annabeth's friends but the concern in her voice made Percy think Will was a close one. "Gods Will are you okay?" Will felt for her and gave her a hug.
"I gots a curse." He said.
"I know the feeling." She said. "Can I help at all?"
"No we got it covered anyway your break will be over soon better get back to college Wise Girl." Percy said pecking her cheek, in the corner of his eye he saw Nico glance at Will. Annabeth glanced at the three demigods then back towards camp as though she was trying to decide. "I don't want to leave you guys if you need help especially since Will helped me in the battle with Kronos."
"He did?"
"When I took the knife for you, Will was the Apollo child that helped me he saved my life I have to help."
"I appreciate your offer Annabeth but we're even, you're a great friend but I really think we're good." Will answered. Percy almost felt bad it was like they were telling her to get the hades out of here.
"Okay..." She said reluctantly.
"See you later Wise Girl," Percy gave her a long kiss, "I love you Annabeth."
"I love you too." She said giving him one last quick peck before hopping off the curb towards Camp Jupiter.
Percy turned back towards Nico. "What?" Percy said registering Nico's glare.
"Why couldn't you play along?"
"Oh c'mon I just wanted to be truthful." Nico held out his hand for Percy, it just occurred to him that he hadn't let go of Will's apart for when he hugged Annabeth. He took his hand and melted into a shadow.
The mountain top was pretty much the same apart for the ruins of Kronos' throne no longer were here nor were they building themselves so Percy took that as a good sign. A few feet in front a man was kneeling on one leg and one was propped up in front of him his hands and arms were extended above his head and the veins in them were popping out on the surface. The man looked familiar, of cause, Percy had met him a couple of times both not so pleasant. He looked like he was made out of marble and he had an inane amount of muscles. Atlas. The Titan who had the bad luck to be cursed with the burden of holding up the sky and trust Percy when he says that is not a curse you want. He lifted his head to look at the new arrivals and he smiled cruelly. "Well if it isn't Perseus Jackson son of Poseidon, hero of Olympus, twice." He added on the end, Percy wasn't sure how he knew about the prophecy of the seven and how Percy was involved but his guess was the earth probably told him being one of the son's of the earth. "Atlas an insane Titan who made my friend hold up the sky, a goddess and me."
"Annabeth is more than a friend, no?" Percy blushed. Nico interrupted before the Titan and hero could start arguing.
"Are you two done?" Atlas and Percy stared at each other but didn't say another word. "We need your help Lord Atlas."
"Lord Atlas?" he sneered "Please if that's supposed to butter me up you must be kidding yourself."
"Just hear him out?" Will stepped forward and stumbled towards the Titan blindly until Nico came to his aid and helped him towards Atlas who still stared at Percy and he did the same back. "Actually," Percy said hatefully, "You probably can't do what Bob could do." Percy's voice broke a little on could maybe the Titan had lived but even so he was stuck in Tartarus with monsters.
"Bob?" Atlas asked intrigued but he still stared into Percy's sea green eyes.
"Iapetus." Nico corrected "Ummm remade into Bob."
"Iapetus." Atlas grumbled.
"Our point is can you cure a curse?" Atlas let out a howl of laughter.
"Cure your curse? I can't even cure my own." He glanced up at the sky.
"Heal me?" Will asked sitting in front of Atlas.
"Why? I can't just give you this gift when you put me here anyway." The Titan's eyes stared coldly at Percy still not breaking their long staring match. "I can heal this, but why should I?" He said.
"For Zoë." Percy said flatly, the Tian's eyes softened slightly then went back to hard and cold.
"If you can hold the sky for five minutes I will heal this boy."
"I'll do it." Percy said determined.
"Oh no not you, your fatal flaw is extreme loyalty I know you have the drive to hold the sky because your flaw will fuel you but..." Atlas broke his staring match with Percy and looked at Nico. "Son of Hades you are alone I'm not sure what drives you I'd like to find out." His voice strained under the pressure. Nico looked a little shocked and then he regained his self.
"I hold the sky for five minutes and you swear on the river Styx that you will cure Will."
"I give you my word."
"Say it."
"I, Lord Atlas, swear on the river Styx that if Nico Di Angelo can hold my burden for five whole minutes, I will cure Will Sollace."
Nico knelt beside the Titan ready to take the weight. "If you fail we'll all be crushed by the weight of the sky."
"Geee thanks for the confidence boost." Nico chided.
Nico took the sky and almost fell flat before he ushered his strength. Atlas came out from under the sky and stretched. "Ahhhh." He said clearly relieved to be free. Percy watched the Titan sit beside Will. Nico went white with effort and he'd only been holding the sky for 45 seconds. "Nico you need to find something to fight for!" Percy encouraged. Nico lifted his head and concentrated on Will and it seemed to work as five minutes came Atlas put his finger to Will's forehead and muttered a few Greek words. Will fell back when his vision cleared obviously the sight of a Titan in your face was not something you wanted to see. Atlas rose and headed straight at Percy, upon instinct he got Riptide out and uncapped it the blade sprang to life. "Easy son of Poseidon. I wanted to tell you that I am truly sorry for what happened to my dear daughter I loved her I can assure you but she betrayed this family more than once, first with Hercules and then with you."
"So her death was justified?" Percy shouted at the Titan.
"Of cause not... Sometimes I look up to the sky and I see her and maybe because I killed her that is my punishment."
"Artemis created a constellation of her to honour her service, your daughter was loyal but she was smart." Atlas stood still for a minute wavering until Nico cried out.
"If you don't hurry we'll all be crushed!" Atlas knelt beside Nico and waited for the weight of the sky. Nico slipped out and Will tackled him with a hug the two tumbled on top of one another and then Will released Nico and stood up Nico slightly flustered and blushing. "Son of Hades I think you know what drives you now." Nico nodded slowly and Percy realised too it was Will that drove Nico.