Warning: Certain ancient Greek names matches words use of foul language but no foul language was intentionally used. Also if you haven't read them yet read 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Early Adventures' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Titan's Curse' and 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Magical Labyrinth' as well as the one shots 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Stolen Chariot' The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Sword of Hades', and The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Bronze Dragon' before reading this story as stuff that happened in them will be mentioned. Lastly, any one who wants to do a Demigods and Olympian reads story using 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon' is allowed as long as you inform me about it.

The Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Last Olympian

I go Cruising with Explosives

The end of the world started when Pegasus landed on the roof of my car.

Up until then, I was having a great after noon. Technically I wasn't supposed to be driving because I wouldn't turn sixteen for another week, but my mom and my stepdad, Paul, took my friend and me to this private stretch of beach on the South Shore, and Paul let us borrow his Prius for a short spin.

Now, I know what else you're thinking, Wow, that was really irresponsible of my stepdad, blah, blah, blah, but Paul knows me pretty well that the only way for his car to get destroyed with me behind the wheel is if a monster attacks me.

Anyway, Rachel and I were driving along. And no this is not a date, no matter what my mom says. Yes Rachel and I grew close, but I'm still rather confused about my feelings about my childhood friend Annabeth as well and Rachel understands that.

Anyways, it was a hot August day. Rachel's red hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she wore a white blouse over her swimsuit. Normally she usually ratty T-shirt and paint-splattered jeans.

Usually I'm at Camp training or preparing for a dangerous mission that will hopefully get us closer to winning the Second Titan War against Kronos. But since I'm reaching my sixteenth birthday, my teacher for almost nine years: Chiron is letting me spend time with my family and mortal friends (or rather friend since Rachel is my only mortal friend), promising to send someone to pick me up when they need me.

I think it's Chiron's way of making sure I'm well relaxed and happy before I finally face my destiny where the fate of Olympus weighs down on me and my decision to either to save or destroy it that may or may not make me one of the seven greatest heroes of my generation, possibly ever known on the day I turn sixteen.

"Oh, pull up right there!" Rachel told me.

We parked on a ridge overlooking the Atlantic. The sea is always one of my favorite places, but today it was especially nice—glittery green and smooth as glass, like my dad was keeping it calm just for us.

My dad, by the way, is Poseidon. He can do stuff like that. He probably helping me have a good time while I can as well.

"So." Rachel smiled at me. "About that invitation."

"Oh… right." I tried to sound excited. I mean, she'd asked me to her family's vacation house on St. Thomas for three days. I didn't get a lot of offers like that. My family's idea of a fancy vacation was a weekend in a rundown cabin on Long Island with some movie rentals and a couple of frozen pizzas, and here Rachel's folks were willing to let me tag along to the Caribbean.

Besides, I seriously needed a vacation. This summer had been the hardest of my life with the war going on—probably why Chiron recommended this time off before I turn sixteen. The idea of taking a break even for a few days was really tempting.

Still, something big was supposed to go down any day now, and no matter what, I'm always keeping my eye out for the sign.

"Percy," she said, "I know the timing is bad. But it's always bad for you, right?"

She had a point.

"I really want to go," I promised, "It's just—"

"The war."

I nodded. Unlike most mortals Rachel had the ability to see though the Mist—the magical veil that distorts human visions and she knew about the war. Heck, she had to cover for me twice during our freshmen year at Goode High School because I either had to rush out of school to help a friend, and a goddess send my pet Hellhound Mrs. O'Leary to pick me up during winter exams get me.

Rachel put her hand on my arm. Just think about it, okay? We don't leave for a couple of days. My dad…" Her voice faltered.

"Is he giving you a hard time?" I asked.

Rachel shook her head in disgust. "He's trying to be nice to me, which is worse. He wants me to go to Clarion Ladies Academy in the fall."

"The school where your mom went?"

"It's a stupid finishing school for society girls, all the way in New Hampshire. Can you see me in finishing school.

Honestly I don't. Rachel was into urban art projects, going to protest rallies to "Save the Endanger Yellow-bellied Sapsucker" and feeding the homeless and, ever since finding out about my brother Tyson's past before my mom adopted him, helping the young Cyclopes as long as they don't eat her, not that she won't give them a chance. Anyways, I'd never even seen Rachel wear a dress. It was hard to imagine her learning to be a socialite.

But I understand about family problems—well sort of. My friend Annabeth use to have family trouble with her father, stepmom, and mortal half-brothers. She even ran away from home at age seven. In fact, I find it weird that Annabeth doesn't try and get along with Rachel considering they have much in common.

Rachel sighed. "He thinks if he does a bunch of nice stuff for me, I feel guilty and give in."

"Which is why he agreed to let me come with you guys on vacation?"

"Yes… but Percy, you'd be doing me a huge favor. It would be so much better if you were with us. Besides, there's something I want to talk—"

"Something you want to talk about?" I asked. "You mean… so serious we'd have to go to St. Thomas to talk about it?"

She pursed her lips. "Look, just forget it for now. Let's pretend we're a couple of normal people. We're out for a drive, and we're watching the ocean, and it's nice to be together."

I could tell something was bothering her, but she put on a brave smile. The sunlight made her hair look like fire.

Too be honest with the stress of the war, I sometimes Iris-Message Rachel about meeting up and either ride on my Pegasus or on my gigantic Hellhound to meet up with her just to get a break, so I guess I owe Rachel at least time to be normal people, even if it's for a moment.

"Okay," I said. "Just a normal afternoon and two normal people."

However it didn't last long as a huge black form swooping down from the sky and landed on the hood of the Prius with four hooves and a WUMP-WUMP-CRUNCH!

Hey, boss, a voice said in my head. Nice car!

Blackjack the Pegasus was an old friend of mine, so I tried not to get too annoyed by the craters he just put in the hood. Good thing my stepdad Paul knows about the truth.

"Blackjack," I sighed. "What are you—"

Then I saw who was riding on his back, and I knew my day was about to get a lot more complicated.

"Sup, Percy."

Charles Beckendorf, senior counselor for Hephaestus cabin, would make most monsters cry for their mommies. He was this huge African American guy with ripped muscles from working in the forges every summer. He was two years older than me, and one of the camp's best armorsmiths.

I knew Beckendorf since I was a kid and it still never seize to amaze me what he could make. He been helping with Annabeth with making some of Daedalus' inventions since last year, including a celestial bronze hellhound whistle for me to use to call Mrs. O'Leary even when I'm not in camp. Not to mention a month before, he rigged a Greek firebomb in the bathroom of a tour bus that was carrying a bunch of monsters across country. The explosion took out a whole legion of Kronos' evil meanies as soon as the first harpy went flush. His latest side project been repairing an Automaton Dragon we found during a game of capture the flag with the help of Annabeth and Silena to help us in the war.

Beckendorf was dressed for combat. He wore a breastplate and war helm with black camo pants and a sword strapped to his side. His explosives bag was slung over his shoulder.

"Time?" I asked.

He nodded grimly.

Rachel looked up at Beckendorf. "Hi."

"Oh, hey. I'm Beckendorf. You must be Rachel. Percy told me… uh, I mean he mentioned you."

A lot," Blackjack said.

"You're not helping Blackjack," I said.

Sorry, boss.

Rachel raised an eyebrow. I told her I could speak to horses Pegasus and any horse-hybrid creature but I guess it still take time getting use too, "So I guess you guys have to go save the world now."

"Pretty much," Beckendorf agreed.

I looked at Rachel. "Would you tell my mom—"

"I'll tell her. I'm sure she's used to it. And I'll explain to Paul about the hood.

I nodded my thanks.

"Good luck." Rachel kissed me before I could react. "Now, get going, half-blood. Go kill some monsters for me."

My last view of her was sitting in the shotgun seat of the Prius, her arms crossed, watching as Blackjack circled higher and higher, carrying Beckendorf and me into the sky. I wondered what Rachel wanted to talk to me about.

"So," Beckendorf said, "I'm guessing you don't want me to mention that little scene to Annabeth.

"Please don't," I said, "She'll kill me before Kronos get the chance if she finds out."

Beckendorf chuckled as we soared out over the Atlantic. Honestly, between Rachel and Annabeth, I don't think I'll ever get my emotions figured out.

It was almost dark by time we spotted our target. The Princess Andromeda glowed on the horizon—a huge cruise ship lit up yellow and white. From a distance, you'd think it was just a party ship, not the headquarters for the Titan lord. Then as you got closer, you might notice the giant masthead—a dark-haired maiden in a Greek chiton, wrapped in chains with a look of horror on her face, as if she could smell the stench of all the monsters she was being forced to carry.

Seeing the ship against twisted my gut to knots. I'd faced death twice on the Princess Andromeda. Now it was heading straight to New York because the remedial sea gods are preventing my dad from destroying it.

"You know what to do?" Beckendorf yelled over the wind.

I nodded. We'd done dry runs at the dockyard in New Jersey, using abandon ships as our targets. I knew how little time we would have. But I also knew this was our best chance to end Kronos' invasion on Mount Olympus before it ever started.

"Blackjack," I said. "set us down on the lowest stern deck.

Gotcha, boss, he said. Man, I hate seeing that boat.

Three years ago, Blackjack had been enslaved on the Princess Andromeda until he'd escaped with a little help from my friends and me. I figured he'd rather have his main braided like My Little Pony than be back here again.

"Don't wait for us," I told him. "We'll summon Mrs. O'Leary if we to get out of there!"

That was the basic idea at least. Due too the chance of us being surrounded by monsters before we can get off the boat, Beckendorf and I agreed to use Blackjack to get on the boat, and once it's rigged, we'll use Mrs. O'Leary to get off. I can even condensed the sea water to where Mrs. O'Leary can stand on the sea water if I have too.

Right, Blackjack responded.

Blackjack folded his wings and plummeted toward the boat like a black comet. The wind whistled in my ears. I saw monsters patrolling the upper decks of the ship—dracaenae snake-women, hellhounds, giants, and the humanoid seal-demons known as telekhines—but we zipped by so fast, none of them raised the alarm. We shot down the stern of the boat, and Blackjack spread his wings, lightly coming to a landing on the lowest deck. I climbed off, feeling slightly queasy.

Good luck, boss, Blackjack said. Don't let 'em turn you into horse meat!

With that, my old friend flew off into the night. I took my pen out of my pocket, uncapped it, and Riptide sprang to full size—three feet of deadly Celestial bronze glowing in the dusk that I got when I was seven. I checked my belt and found my celestial bronze thermos with a coating of fossilize sea shells inside my dad had Chiron give to me for my first quest three years ago still strapped to it and checked my wristwatch that spirals out into a shield my brother made me two summers ago still on my wrist. I was good to go.

Beckendorf pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. It was a photograph. He stared at it in the dim light—the smiling face of Silena Beauregard, daughter of Aphrodite. They started going out last July, after years of the rest of us saying, "Duh, you guys like each other!" Even with all the dangerous missions Beckendorf had been happier this last month than I'd ever seen him.

I won't admit it out loud in fear of angering the gods, but Beckendorf's and Silena's relationship is actually going better than Hephaestus' and Aphrodite's marriage.

I guess this is a good time to explain the whole demigod relationship thing since all Olympians are related and/or married to each other and you would think demigods are related to each other. Well truth was the godly side of a demigod family doesn't count, genetically speaking, since gods don't have DNA. A demigod would never think about dating someone who had the same godly parent, like two kids from Athena Cabin. But Two demigods with different godly parents are not related. So it's not a problem. In fact, history is full of cases of demigods of two different godly parents dating each other and even marrying each other.

"We'll make it back to camp," I promised.

For a second I saw worry in his eyes. Then he put on his old confident smile.

"You bet," he said. "You got the whistle?"

"Right here," I said patting my pocket

This was another plan of ours. In case we get separated and can't get to each other in time, Beckendorf will blow the whistle to call Mrs. O'Leary to get him out of there while I take the sea. Normally I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving my friends to escape on their own, due to my fatal flaw being Personal Loyalty. But I doubt Mrs. O'Leary is against the idea since Beckendorf been making her Hellhound size chew toys for me so she wouldn't chew up all of our practice dummies.

Beckendorf nodded before taking out a jar of some gross substance he made out of the rotting meat we collected while trying to get magical armor and weapons from a Myrmekes den (long story). "Let's cover up our scents."

We quickly opened the jar and man it reeked. We quickly smeared enough on us that it should camouflage our scent. This was actually my bright idea.

See when I was little my mom married this jerk name Gabe Ugliano who smelled worse than his personality. I didn't find out until after I returned home from being on the run with some of my friends that the reason was that his stench was powerful enough to cover a my half-blood scent from monsters. But this stuff stench is far worse from Gabe's. So when Beckendorf and I were assigned this mission, I came up with this plan.

"I hope this plan of yours works," Beckendorf said.

"You and me both," I responded trying not to scrunch up my nose at myself. Too be honest, if it wasn't for the dangers of this mission, I wouldn't have recommended this, but if it does work, Beckendorf I might possibly found the perfect monster repellant.

Once we were done Beckendorf said, "Let's go blow Kronos back into a million pieces."

Beckendorf led the way. We followed a narrow corridor to the service stairwell, just like we practiced, but we froze when we heard noises above us.

"What is that stench?" snarled a half-human, half-dog voice—a telekhine. "It smells like rotting caucuses."

"Maybe the Laistrygonians have left their food rotting again," said second voice snarled.

At least this stuff actually worked.

When the Telekhines were out of hearing range, Beckendorf pointed downstairs. We descended as quietly as we could.

Finally we came to a metal hatch. Beckendorf mouthed the words engine room.

It was locked, but Beckendorf pulled some chain cutters out of his bag and split the bolt like it was made of butter.

Inside, row of yellow turbines the size of grain silos churned and hummed. Pressure gauges and computer terminals lined the opposite wall. A telekhines was hunched over a console, but he was so involved with his work, he didn't notice us. He was about five feet tall, with slick black seal fur and stubby little feet. He had the head of a Doberman, but his clawed hands were almost human. He growled and muttered as he tapped on his keyboard.

I stepped forward, and he tensed, probably smelling the scent of dead carcasses, which wouldn't belong here. But before he could figure it out I cut clean through him, and he exploded into dust.

"One down," Beckendorf said. "About five thousand to go."

He tossed me a jar of thick green liquid—Greek Fire, one of the most dangerous magical substance in the world.

Then he threw me anther essential tool of demigod heroes—duct tape.

"Slap that one to the console," he said. "I'll get the turbines."

We went to work. The room was hot and humid, ad in no time we were drench in sweat.

The boat kept chugging along. Being the son of Poseidon and all, I have perfect bearings at sea. Don't ask me how, but I could tell we were 40.19 degrees north, 71.90 degree West, making eighteen knots, which meant the ship would arrive in New York Harbor by dawn. This would be our only chance to stop it.

I had just attached a second jar of Greek fire to the control panels when I heard the pounding feet on the metal steps—so many creatures coming down the stairwell I could hear them over the engines.

"Ignore them, they might pass," Beckendorf said.

I did so and thank gods they did. I guess the monsters thought of noting about the smell of rotting carcasses in the engine room. Either way it gave Beckendorf time to started with the wiring.

"Done!" Beckendorf said, "Let's go!"

I nodded and we snuck out finding a big enough place to whistle for Mrs. O'Leary because if we call for her in a room that doesn't have enough space and she cause enough ruckus that might draw in some curious monsters. We couldn't do it in the engine room because—well, you should know by now.

We reached the promenade, a big shopping mall that took up the whole middle of the ship, which would have been perfect place to call for Mrs. O'Leary if it wasn't for the ten-foot-tall crab in the fountain.

I'm not joking about the size, this thing was huge, bigger than the fountain which it stood up from when it saw us. Its shell was mottled blue and green, its pincers longer than my body. Its mouth was foamy and gross with whiskers and snapping bits. What's worse was that its eyes were on Beckendorf and me, glaring at us with hate. I doubt us smelling like rotting carcasses helps either.

"FFFFfffffff," it hissed, sea foam dripping from its mouth. The smell coming off it was like a garbage can full of fishsticks that had been sitting in the sun all week.

"We need to get around it," Beckendorf said.

"Let me try something," I stated.

I doubt being a son of Poseidon will win points from this guy, but it doesn't hurt to try.

"Hey, crabby," I inched around the edge of the courtyard. "My name is Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon—" The crab glare seem to have grown. "—yeah so if you let my friend and me go, that would be great."

Unfortunately, I was right about me being a son of Poseidon winning points from this crab, because it scuttled out of the fountain and came straight at me and Beckendorf, pincers snapping.

"Dodge!" Beckendorf said.

I didn't need to be told twice as I dove into the gift shop, plowing through racks of T-shirts. A crab pincer smashed the glass walls to piece and raked across the room.

"Hey!" Beckendorf yelled the crab turned to him and chased him.

At least Beckendorf gave me breathing room, but with the noise this crab was making, I had no doubt we got a lot of attention.

I tried to remember anything from the old stories about this thing. If I remember correctly, Hercules fought it and crushed it under his foot. Well that won't work.

Then I remember when my mom and I had brought Paul Blofis to our old cabin in Montauk. Paul took me crabbing—which I didn't take much participation since I didn't like anything like that. But I did learn about the chinks in a crab armor, right in the middle of the belly. That's when I got an idea.

I extended my hand and focus—concentrating on the water, and the fountain exploded. Water sprayed everywhere, three stories high dousing the balconies and elevators and the windows of the shops. The crab didn't care. He loved water. He ignored Beckendorf and came at me sideways, snapping and hissing and I ran straight at him screaming, "AHHHHHH!"

Just before we collided I hit the ground baseball-style and slid on the wet marble floor straight under him. It was like sliding under a ton armored vehicle. All the crab had to do was sit and squash me, but before he realized what was going on, I jabbed Riptide into the chink in his armor, let go of the hilt, uncapped my thermos and summoned another water blast that hit the wall nearby and pushed myself out the backside toward Beckendorf.

The monster shuddered and hissed. His eyes dissolved. His shell turned bright red as his insides evaporated. The empty shell clattered to the floor in a massive heap.

"Percy, call Mrs. O'Leary before it's too late!" Beckendorf said.

"Right," I said reaching for my whistle.

"Oh. But it's already too late."

We looked up and saw that monsters and demigods were coming down the ramps toward us.

"Capture them alive!" A dracaenae yelled. "Kronos would want to speak to them."

"Any plans?" I asked.

"Surrender for now," Beckendorf said.

"But…" I said.

"Just do it!" Beckendorf told me.

I nodded reluctantly.

…

Well, we were taken prisoner, which meant we were disarmed of any known weapon, including my thermos. I'm seriously considering of getting a padlock on it next. Anyways there are two things they either forgot to check or take. They forgot to check my pockets and make sure my sword and whistle wasn't taken, and our detonator.

They also were fooled by the fake jar trick. See Beckendorf brought extra Greek fire jars and materials so that if we get captured trying to escape they think we haven't finish setting them up yet.

They took us to the deck where Luke was waiting—cross that out—where Kronos was waiting. See, last year the titan lord had somehow taken possession over Luke's body. At first you probably wouldn't think he was the Titan of Time. He wore jeans, a white T-shirt, and flip flops like a normal college-age guy with a thin scare on his face. But his eyes told a different story since they were gold.

"You're late. We've been expecting you for days," Kronos said. At first he sounded like Luke, but then his face twitched. A shudder passed through his body like he'd just drunk something really nasty. His voice became heavier, ancient, and powerful—Kronos' real voice. "Come, bow before me."

Laistrygonian Giants, Demigod archers, and hellhounds came out and line up. Next to Luke was a demigod in full armor and wearing an eye patch: Ethan Nakamura.

"I see you're still adapting to Luke's body, Kronos," I said, "How about do us a favor and release yourself from his body?"

Kronos' weapon appeared in his hands—a six footlong scythe, half Celestial bronze, half mortal steel. Just looking at the thing send chills down my back.

"We knew about your operation for some time thanks to our spy," Kronos said. "It be a shame to kill you two before we destroy Olympus though."

Kronos held out his hand and dangled a little silver bracelet with a scythe charm—the Titan Lord's symbol.

"A communication device," I said.

Kronos chuckled. "You can't count on friends. They will always let you down. Luke learned that lesson the hard way. Now surrender to me, or die."

I look around, we were surrounded. If I take out the whistle now they will know we're in trouble.

Suddenly there was a large yelp as a gigantic hellhound pounced on the deck attacking the monsters.

"Mrs. O'Leary," I said.

"How did she know to come here?" Beckendorf asked.

"AROOF!"

"Stop that hound!" Kronos yelled.

Mrs. O'Leary didn't' give the monsters a chance to attack and the demigod archers were running.

I quickly got Riptide out of my pocket and used it to knock the two guards out. I searched their pockets and got out my thermos and wristwatch. Beckendorf got his sword from the other guy.

The archers had started to regain their positions.

"No!" I responded while thinking. "Ocean, help me."

Sure enough with a tug of my stomach a huge wave came up from the ocean and knocked out the archers.

"Beckendorf, get on Mrs. O'Leary and get out of here!" I told Beckendorf, "I'll hold them off."

"Percy, we're out of time! If you try and dive through the water, you won't get out of here in time!" Beckendorf said.

"Just do it!" I said as I whistled. Mr. O'Leary came close to us.

Beckendorf got on Mrs. O'Leary and gave her the command

"Stop them!" Kronos tried to commanded.

"Now!" I said as I willed the water on the deck into my hand and formed a javelin. I threw it with my whole will. The water-Javelin hit Kronos only to bounce off his chest. Then I summoned a slashing wave of water at the same time Beckendorf ordered Mrs. O'Leary to run into the wall. Again, the wave didn't do anything to Kronos, but it did give me time to jumped overboard into the water just as Beckendorf hit the button on his wristwatch.

I was only able to get two hundred feet before the Princess Andromeda blew up from both sides, a massive fireball of green flame roiling into the dark sky consuming everything.

Despite willing the currents to carry me away fast I didn't get far enough in time as I was hit by the shock wave of waves and heat and was knocked out while sinking into the bottom.

A/N: The one who send Mrs. O'Leary will be revealed later.