Wow. I can't believe I'm done with this fic. Thank you all soooo much for sticking with me and my sporadic updates! Warning: GIGANTIC plot twist I highly doubt ANYONE saw coming ahead.

Disclaimer: I don't own.

Epilogue (of a sort)

Unfortunately, after we completely decimated the first wave of monsters, we were worn out. Fortunately, only Dr. Thorn was left. The remaining monsters had ran. Cowards.

Dr. Thorn growled. He put out a hand, stopping the demigods. "Stop! Or she dies!" Dr. Thorn pulled a girl out of the shadows.

"Ruby?" Jason asked incredulously.

Tears had ruined her mascara, and her skirt was torn. "Help me," she whimpered.

"Pathetic mortal," Dr. Thorn sneered. "Now, drop your weapons, or she dies."

I was the first to move. I dropped my knives first, then grabbed my bow. Percy exhaled, then dropped Riptide.

The pounding of feet drew Dr. Thorn's attention away from us. "Guys?"

Percy turned in surprise. There, in the doorway of the warehouse, looking like some sort of extremely confused hero, was Alex.

He squinted. "Is that Ruby back there? What the hell is holding her?"

Dr. Thorn, I thought dully. Before anyone else could move, I shot an arrow into Dr. Thorn's forehead. He crumbled to dust.

You are just that hardcore, Beth. -Percy

Thanks, Percy.

You're welcome, Beth. -Percy

Ruby watched in shock as Dr. Thorn disappeared. "You killed him. You actually killed him."

"Yeah, you're welcome," I snapped. Ruby had done nothing but make my life miserable. I turned to Alex. "How much of that did you see?"

Alex opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water. "I-I think I saw- this is going to sound crazy, but I think I saw a dude with a giant tail turn into dust. Gold dust."

"Welcome, dear Alex, to my world," Percy said, walking towards him. I laughed a bit, relieved that the worst was over.

"My hunter." Lady Artemis was standing, however shakily, and smiling at me. "I must speak with you." She gestured for me to come closer, and stand beside her, something I gladly did. "There is still the matter of the mortal," Artemis said with a frown. "Something about her is off. I sense a powerful monster bringing a powerful force to this warehouse, but the only other life force is the girl."

"But if Ruby is the only one, then that must mean…" I trailed off, horrified at my realization. Ruby transferred to Goode the same time as Percy. Ruby had a weird attraction to Percy, one no other mortal else had. Percy was demigod. Demigods attracted monsters. Which meant that Ruby was a monster. And a powerful one at that, one powerful enough to dim Artemis' powers.

"Puny hunter of Artemis! You shouldn't have been able to do that!" Ruby snarled, turning much more menacing.

Annabeth cocked her head. "How do you know what a hunter is?" Annabeth tightened her grip on her knife, suspicious.

Ruby cackled. "Oh, revenge will be sweet!" Even as she spoke, she changed form. Ruby grew taller, and scales grew on her skin. A forked tongue flickered back and forth from her mouth.

"Enchilada!" Percy exclaimed.

"No, idiot! I am Echidna!"

"Like the anteater?" That was Piper, trying to make a joke while getting ready to fight.

"No!" the monster roared. "I am the Mother of all Monsters!"

"Lovely," Leo muttered, setting two hands on fire, ready to fight.

Echidna pulled out a wicked black bow, and took aim. She let the arrow fly just before Percy and Jason reached her, with the rest of the demigods (excluding me, who was, stupidly, busy watching an arrow fly) close behind. The arrow arced and curved almost in slow motion towards Artemis, who was nursing her wounds, too weak to get out of the way in time. So, naturally, I did what anyone else would do. I jumped in front of the arrow.

So maybe the arrow was poisoned with poison strong enough to weaken a goddess, most definitely enough to kill a hunter. So maybe the arrow went too deep into my gut. It didn't matter, because I saved a goddess in the process of getting myself killed. Totally worth it.

As if watching a movie, I watched Thalia let loose a feral scream and throw herself at Echidna. Somehow, I don't remember how, they finished her off, and rushed to my side, where Artemis was trying keep me there. I don't remember what she was doing, but I remember what the demigods did.

"Nico, how is she?"

Nico just shook his head.

"Nico!" Thalia yelled. "Do something!"

He shook his head again.

"Fine! If you won't do something, I will!" Thalia grabbed the arrow in my stomach, determined to pull it out.

I placed my hand on top of hers. "Did I do well?"

Thalia bent her head down, touching my forehead. "Yes."

"My-my lady?" I asked.

"Beth, you were brave. I would not be here if not for you. Not still this strong. You have done well, my huntress." Artemis bowed her head.

"Beth." Alex looked heartbroken. He had just been introduced to this world of pain and death. "Stay."

"Be strong, Alex. You fight good."

Alex let out a hoarse laugh. That line from Mulan was a little bit of an inside joke between the two of us. It had been our favorite movie when we were younger, and, as we got older, Alex would continually tell me something along those lines everyday.

"My parents, Percy," I told him, my voice barely a whisper. "The truth. Tell them the truth."

Percy nodded.

"And our friends."

He nodded again, tears falling.

It became hard to open my eyes. My eyes fluttered. I heard Nico say something quietly, before I felt a cold hand on my arm. It was Nico. Sort of. He was all wrapped in shadows, and he didn't speak, he just nodded. I sat up, leaving my body behind (not a pleasant experience at all, trust me), and took his hand. Nico shadow traveled me to the Underworld. From there, I breezed past judgement, and into Elysium. Lord Hades was kind enough to let me up to record the story. I guess he thought it was important?

Something about recording the stories of the greatest heroes to sell on eBay. -Nico

Ah. Okay. I'm going to go with that. But yeah, so I went to Elysium after that. It's not that bad. I met Silena and Beckendorf, and Phoebe and Zoe.

We still miss you. -Thalia

Yeah, I miss you too.

That's it, isn't it? The end of the story? -Alex

I think so.

Then that means it's time to go back, Beth. My father was very specific. -Nico

Um, okay. Can I say one more thing, though? Mom, Dad, I know that this is crazy if you ever find it. But it's the truth. I'm sorry, but I had to.

Soph, Josh, Kira, on the off chance you find this, I love you guys to death. Literally, I guess. You're the best friends anyone could ask for. Take care of each other for me, okay? I guess...I guess this is goodbye. At least until I see you in Elysium. So...I'll see you in awhile, okay?

As for you guys, make sure to visit. Elysium is a pretty nice place, and what with your creds, I'm sure Charon would take you across. Percy, I expect an invitation to your wedding with Annabeth soon. Jason, I expect engagement announcements with Piper in a month. Hazel, keep Frank safe and as sweet as ever. And Nico, bring Solace around at some point. I want to meet your boyfriend.

And to all you random people, I just want to say thanks for listening to the story of my death. It actually does mean a lot that you care that much. So yeah. This is Beth, saying goodbye to the living world. Bye.