Annabeth IV

Author's Note: This chapter is set in flashback mode. Annabeth is thinking about what happened.

"Hey, Annabeth?" Piper opened the door slightly to Annabeth's room and poked her head through. Annabeth was in the middle of a fascinating informational book about architecture to get away from her worries. She almost didn't hear Piper tiptoe in.

"Oh, Hey! Piper!" Annabeth said, startled, "What's up?"

"Oh, uh not much," Piper stated shyly, "I'm just worried, that's all."

"About what?"

"About defeating Gaea." The name sent a shiver down Annabeth's back. "There are only seven of us."

Annabeth knew that, of course, but when Piper said it, it finally clicked in. There are only seven of us. There would be more, but thanks to the eidolon, the Greek and Romans may start a war. But what Piper said next made her worry.

"And, um," Piper looked devastated, like she knew something that would hurt everyone. "Isn't there only supposed to be three Greeks out on a quest?" Annabeth's heart hurt. She hadn't thought about that yet. The last time more than three left out on a quest; there was only three remaining at the end.

Annabeth shook that thought out of her head. No. No one was going to die. Everyone would survive. They had to. Annabeth had to think positively or she would lose all hope.

"Don't worry, Piper." Annabeth said soothingly. She didn't know whether she was reassuring Piper, or herself. It was times like these when she wish she had Piper's ability to charmspeak.

"You're right," Piper said defiantly. Everything will be okay." Piper probably didn't mean to, but her words were laced with charmspeak. The words flooded over Annabeth. Everything will be okay. Piper's face fell, like she was remembering something. Annabeth snapped out of the charm, and asked, "Are you okay?"

"No, not really," Piper mumbled, "I really came in here to tell you about a dream." Annabeth frowned. Stupid dreams, always being so depressing.

"Go on." She prompted.

"Gaea was talking to me." Piper looked on the verge of tears. Annabeth felt so bad, she had to give one of her best friends a hug.

"What did she say?"

"She didn't say anything, she showed me something…" Piper sniffed, "We- we were fighting, and all of you were dying but me…"

"Piper, you know that that didn't happen, we are all right here." Annabeth said calmly.

"But, Gaea killed Jason last, and she made it seem like I had the chance to save him, when I- I couldn't." Piper whimpered. Annabeth knew how that felt. She had plenty of dreams where Percy was drowning, and she couldn't save him, but it seemed like she could. Those dreams were the worst. One in particular made her crumble every time she thought about it. But some of Gaea's "visits" weren't dreams.

She was standing in her room, with Percy, reading a book. It was one of those rare moments where she actually thought everything was okay, until Gaea's voice filled her head.

You could be designing those not just reading about it. Gaea's sickly sweet voice purred.

"I am designing! I'm designing the architecture for Mount Olympus itself!" Annabeth retorted back defiantly. Mount Olympus will be gone soon; Gaea chuckled, her voice sounding like dirt grinding into the ground. Annabeth hated this voice. But, if you join me, you can help rebuild the world. Make it better, fix everything. You, Annabeth. I know you can.

Oh that was tempting. This is where Annabeth's fatal flaw came in. Hubris, not hummus (as she explained tomore often than needed to) was the belief that she could create anything better than anyone, even the gods. "Focus, Annabeth" she chided herself. She doesn't mean it. She will destroy the world. "No, Gaea." She said in her steadiest voice. "You will go down; there will be no new world."

Silly child, I am awaking. And when I do, you will lose all hope. Your poor little kingdom you call Olympus will be in ruins. Just you wait, Annabeth, you will die along with it.

Gaea left her trembling. What if she was right? What if they couldn't defeat Gaea?

No, wait, she needed to help Piper at the moment. "Piper, it's not real, but if you need me I'm always here ok?"

"Ok, thank you, I think I'm going to get some rest." Piper sounded exhausted, and her eyes were baggy. She also had messy hair, and a ratty Camp Half-Blood shirt on, but somehow, she always looked beautiful. Annabeth knew Piper hated it. Piper had wanted Athena, or someone else to be her mom, because she was nothing like Aphrodite.

Annabeth decided that that would be a good idea, to get some rest. She had nightmares the past few nights, but maybe this time it will be different….

Authors Note: Sorry it took sooo long for the update! I was really busy and had serious writers block. If this chapter is boring, sorry, but it will get interesting soon!