Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Time Flies by as Sorrow Returns with Friends
Third Person P.O.V
The six legacies trained hard as the heroes of old tried to find a safe way to get the first set of legacies home safely. Sooner rather than later three years had passed and some of the legacies were starting to lose hope that they wouldn't be out soon. End himself was planning for anything that may keep him from his goal as he searched for other legacies that he could lure into his trap. Two legacies saw some of his travels in his dreams while the other four saw visions from their past or the legacies who are yet to be found. Sammy and Zoë didn't move from the fountain that is until they both found out they can draw water from the air. It was a last-ditch effort on their part when monsters started swarming the fountain leaving them a small path leading to the dark. It was then when Sammy remembered her fire could light her way as she didn't have the blessing yet. She launched herself into the air to throw a fireball seeing a fight happening in the distance. She used the powers that she got from her mother to slowly descend and continue fighting the hoard.
By the time she had heard the sounds of fighting once more, she had gained the blessing that Thalia was the first to receive three years ago. She only heard a person fighting nearby but she didn't risk closing her eyes to sense where they were as the monsters pushed her back. She didn't want to risk a wall of flame burning the person so she kept slashing and stabbing.
Sammy's P.O.V
I was stumped as to who was fighting around me, I could sense them near me but usually when I sense a being my gut would tell me if it's good or bad. I don't have a gut feeling with this person so maybe they're neutral? I shook my head, all the monsters in the area are probably keeping me from sensing who this person is. I almost stabbed them when I felt their back pressed against mine and the monsters surrounding us. I internally groaned as I saw it and a plan started forming, "If you're not fireproof I'm going to have to have you fall to the ground in the count of three," I began as I shoved my sword into a monster's gut causing the gold dust to get over me. "One," I began counting not even waiting for an answer but I felt as if the person heard me and trusted me. "Two," I continued as I built up the flames the same way I used to kill her imposter. "Three," I finished as I released the flames out into the dark arena. They were powerful enough to kill every enemy but not powerful enough to work through a flame immunity. The only thing that was left in the area was gold dust and the stranger behind me who was still standing, unscathed. It got my hopes up but I still brought out a dagger in the case it was a monster acting as her or one of my sisters. "Who are you," I asked as I panted from the use
"Sammy," a voice whispered softly as I felt a pull in my gut as a bubble of water floated above me and exploded. I didn't let it wet me as I didn't know where the water had come from other than the person who used it
"Zoë," I whispered, ending with me spinning around to meet her grey-blue eyes that held surprise and excitement. "Zoë," I repeated in exclamation as I wrapped my arms around her neck, her leather armor pressing against my scar. "Where did you get this armor," I began, "this isn't the one that our fathers put together is it?"
Zoë shook her head, "It just appeared on me one time when I woke up," she began, "you never got any?"
Zoë's P.O.V
I had frozen when I first heard her speak behind me, almost costing me my life but I got out of my stupor quick enough to slice a monster in half. By the end of her count, I was ready for disappointment and death but it was trumped by the pull in my gut telling me that it was her power. I fed into it after it passed me so it wouldn't fade too soon. "Sammy," I breathed as I felt her hold on the fire release and she asked who I was
I used some water I pulled from the air to hover over her head so she could regain some energy but it didn't wet her as I realized her guard was still up. We turned around at the same time. My eyes met her amber ones that held shock and joy as she repeated my name in exclamation. "Where did you get this armor, this isn't the one that our fathers put together is it?"
I got out of my stupor and answered her, my heart falling into the pit of my stomach as she told me that she had to fight against hordes of monsters. If she didn't have the pendant she would've been dead yet again. "So, his goal is to kill you," I muttered as she finished
"It appears so," she began, "but I have everything but my mother in my head so that's something."
"Wait," I began, "Cal isn't in your head," as she answered I tried contacting Annabeth. "I can't reach mom either so he's blocking our connection," I replied once she finished.
"Do you think they got mom back somehow," Sammy asked her voice full of hope
I shook my head then shrugged, "I'm not sure," I began, "we've been here for about three years with barely any food and if it wasn't for those blessings," I paused. "We wouldn't know how long we've been here for," I looked at her, "we need to find the others and get out or help our parents find out where we are."
Her eyes held worry but I saw a little determination in them as she nodded, "I think mom saw where the portals were," she began, "there's a chance that she possibly led them there so that can at least help them figure out how to bring us back."
"But there's a little problem with that," I began, "how would we know when the portals are open? How far are we from when we entered this hellscape?"
"I don't know but if those visions are true I would rather get out of here as soon as possible," Sammy remarked making me freeze
"You're getting those visions too," I asked and she nodded, "this is concerning."
"How so," she began just as a snarl echoed off the unknown walls of the arena
"Explanation while fighting," I asked, "here's some water so you can regain your energy faster."
She nodded as she let the water hit her, her clothes now appearing wet, "One more thing," she said before pulling me closer and kissing me. "Don't die on me Jackson," she said with a smirk
"Aren't I supposed to say that to the woman who has no armor," I asked with a chuckle, "I don't plan on it," I said tapping her pendant just ask acid hit us
Thalia's P.O.V
I have been considering End's offer for the entirety of training in this hell hole. What is taking them so long to camp as well, everything is infuriating that I just want to fire an arrow into the darkness to see what it hits. It's been three years; he hasn't talked to me and I haven't seen anybody so I don't know whether they are dead or alive. Things started getting even more tiring when the monsters started pushing me out of the area that I have used for the past three years. I have been using the earth's power more often considering there is more of it around me than the water. I can also sense people or animals walking by the vibrations of their footsteps. The swarm of monsters that pushed me away kept me from sensing the person fighting behind me until I was pressed up against their back. I had almost considered them an enemy at one point until I used my power over liquids to realize they weren't attacking me but the monsters that surrounded us. I cursed as I noticed their number increasing. I sighed as I closed my eyes and imagined stalagmites sticking up from the ground around us. "Whoever you are I hope your footing is good because I'm going to shake things up in three," I paused to stab at a hellhound, "two." I ducked out of the way of a hybrid serpent whose head I quickly sliced off. "One," I finished before letting the earth shake. I saw some monsters fall onto the stalagmites but most of them stood their ground so I increased the strength causing more to fall but my energy was draining. As I was about to release control I felt a gust of air fly past me as more and more fell by the minute being pierced by the earthy spikes. I panted as I released control of the earth having the spikes sink back in. "I don't know who you are but thanks for the help there," I began as I turned around. "I was about to pass," I froze as my smile disappeared when I noticed the dagger pointed at my throat and the person holding it, "out."
"I swear to the Fates above if you're not Thalia then I'm slicing you in half," Bianca growled as she glared down her dagger at me
"B," I began as I saw the exhaustion in her eyes, "it's me."
Bianca's P.O.V
To say I was hesitant would be a long run, I was both hesitant and hopeful would be more like it. "How can I know for sure," I asked as I looked into her eyes, "I've had monsters mimic you terribly but they've attempted to."
"Have they ever said that I'm your Shining Light and you're my Sweet Flower," she asked making me freeze
The first time we met we were in a field picking flowers as I told her facts about each one. She giggled as I came up with new names with flowers which names seemed obnoxiously long. "Thalia," I breathed as I dropped my dagger, "it really is you."
"Told you I was going to come up with a nickname for you," she said with a lopsided grin, "so the wind is your strong suit?"
I nodded, "I have practiced with the other powers but I find the wind to be the easiest to work with as well as when I'm hiding in the shadows."
She smirked, "I wanna see."
"You want to see me being sneaky?"
"Hell yeah," she said with a grin as I felt the bracelet reappear
"I guess I can manage that," I said as I felt something in the distance. "Lucky for you I have a target."
"Do your thing B," she said with the grin as I smirked and willed the shadows to take me behind the figure
"Thought you could sneak up on me," a familiar voice said causing me to freeze
"Nico," I began, "what are you doing here?"
Naomi's P.O.V
Everything was coming at me so quickly but yet so slowly it was hard to process everything. At one point I found myself shooting arrows from the small hill that I had started with and the next I saw myself shooting arrows in the air. By the time I had figured out how to get back down, there were more waiting for me causing me to get out my close combat weapons which I didn't favor. Reluctantly I started off slicing and dicing soon feeling myself being pushed backward as I dodged attacks coming left and right. I failed to notice the person fighting near me so I almost stabbed them once their back was pressed against mine as I felt the heat radiating from them which gave me an idea as I noticed the circle of monsters closing around us. "I can tell you're a fire user so bear with me on this and fly up in the sky if you're one of my siblings," I called out as I leaped into the sky using the winds to carry me. I dropped my weapons and brought out the bow. "Help me spread the fire once this arrow reaches ground level," I said as I pulled back the string and lit the arrowhead before releasing it into the crowd of monsters trying to catch us for their next kill. Soon enough the ground was on fire killing every single one of them. "Thanks for the help I thought it was a goner there," I said once we touched the scorched earth
"What can I say," his voice began, "gotta help my sister's one way or another"
Stephan's P.O.V
"Stephan," Naomi exclaimed as she ran into my arms, "I missed you, little bro."
I chuckled as her small frame barreled into my side, "I missed you too older sis."
"I hope Sammy is doing okay," she said after a minute of silence
"You and me both," I said as I heard some fighting in the distance. "What the Hades is going on over there," I muttered as I noticed rings of fire appearing haphazardly
"I don't know," Naomi began, "you wanna go and check it out?"
I smiled, "Sure," I began, "they look like they need some help."
Sammy's P.O.V
I was starting to get real tired of monsters pushing me out of places and not giving Zoë and me time to talk in peace. Zoë and I were fighting back to back as an arrow appeared in the skull of a monster to the left of me and others started incinerating from ropes of fire
"It looks like backup has arrived Sammy," Zoë said with a chuckle
"Yeah," I began as I felt the ring of fire strengthen, "and it's in the form of siblings."
"Did you feel your ears burning sis," Stephan began once I saw him, "Naomi and I were just wondering whether or not you were still alive."
I chuckled, "You and I both know it takes more than that to take a Valdez down."
"Say that to your armor which is still repairing itself from the acid," Zoë grumbled as an arrow went through the last monster
"Acid," Naomi exclaimed as Stephan's eyes widened, "I haven't faced a Hydra here."
"Well as I have figured," Zoë began causing me to shoot a glare at her. "We figured," she corrected, "that man wants her dead for some reason and I am going to strangle him once I get the chance."
"I wouldn't blame you Zoë," a familiar voice called out in the darkness, "being protective of your partner is something both Percy and Annabeth have. Hell, even Annabeth almost tore through the earth once Percy went missing."
"Nico," I called out, "what are you doing here?"
"That's what we asked but he gave us no answer," Bianca began as she appeared next to him as well as Thalia who looked a little grumpy for some reason
"I'm here to take you all home because there is a very important visitor who needs you back in camp," Nico began causing me to smile
"How did you get here," Zoë asked, "did it take three years to figure it out?"
"Unfortunately, yes it did but Cal helped us by showing us where the portals were and I sat there trying to find the right thread of magic to know where to go," he explained with a shrug
"While taking care of yourself I presume," I threw out there, "you're not gonna tell me that Will didn't nag you to take care of yourself while doing that."
Nico sighed, "Yes Sammy you're right he did," he pouted, "now circle up everyone and no touchy he's my husband."
"We don't do that," Zoë began, "besides she's mine."
"I'll second that with B," Thalia exclaimed making me smile
"That's awesome," Zoë and I remarked, "now you two gotta find someone."
"Only time will tell," Nico said with a chuckle as Naomi and Stephan blushed. "Don't hold your breath," he said before my world was turned to black and pain erupted in my chest.
The next thing I knew I was in Zoë's lap with a black arrow sticking out of my chest.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone