the weight of the world [a pjo fanfic]

chapter twenty-eight.

IMPORTANT: TODAY IS A DOUBLE UPLOAD! this is the second upload of the day. check the date! if it is november first and this is the first chapter you clicked on, go back and read the chapter before this!

He was so small. He was tiny, compared to the chaos, compared to the blades and the axes and the giants.

Yet he was huge. Something intimidating radiated off him. His eyes were still the green that they once were, but this green wasn't playful or go-lucky. They were a sage-like colour, one of the earth and the sea. One that embraced all the ugly of the world, while marvelling at its beauty. They were wise, and burdened.

"Gaia." His voice was low. No fear could be heard through it. He met her hollow eyes, an understanding passing between them, for just a moment.

"Percy?" Annabeth refused to believe her eyes. Is this Percy? Who was he? The demigod cast his eyes at her, his face dropping a little.

So you've come. Disappointment. It was evident in her voice. Wasn't this what she wanted?

"Almost wish I hadn't, huh?" He replied, seeing straight through her.

Almost isn't enough.

"Almost will be enough this time." He sighed sharply and the titans raised their weapons defensively, watching him stride across the border.

You are stupid.

"I know."

You will never win this.

"I know."

...You don't care.

"I know."

Jason studied his form. His body didn't look much more different, his hair a little longer. His face looked worn, yet from nothing particular, and he pulled Riptide out with ease. It was slow, everything slow, hesitant but sturdy. Gaia's eyes never left the demigod, until she murmured softly, Sorry.

"Don't be. I would've done this again, and a thousand times more."

I know. Gaia raised her arm, and blood shot out of every single monster's body. Annabeth scrambled to cover the campers' eyes as the wretched things shrivelled up and let out squeaks of pain, collapsing and drying. Blood drizzled out of their bodies, rising to merge with the bigger clouds hovered over their bodies.

"Don't do this, Percy." Ukulwa stood at the shadows of the camp border, his eyes crazed. "Don't do it. You'll regret it." He wasn't prepared. He would never forget the traumatizing sight, for years to come. It wasn't Percy that would regret it, but Ukulwa who already did. Percy's arms hung limply at his sides, the blood dripping down onto the grass. Gaia's arms tensed, and she opened her mouth, the blood from the creatures flowing into her mouth and down her throat. Her skin tone yellowed, turning from a green to a pale brown.

"You're wrong. I'll never regret this." Giving Ukulwa one last look, he lunged into the air as they stared in dread, water forming under his feet and creating a small disc. He flew around the air and Gaia raised more beasts, unleashing them on the demigods struggling to fight them off. The gods of Mount Olympus watched uneasily, hope flickering in their chests. Percy could win this, right?

He always did.

"Should we..." Athena started, but Zeus promptly cut her off.

"No."

"But—"
"You fool, Hera. Can't you see? She's trying to bait us into coming out and fighting for ourselves." He snapped.

"Why shouldn't we?"