(A/N: The first part of this story was originally taken from the book, but somewhere along the way, you will see that there will be some changes, like addition in sentences until it wholly becomes independent from the book.

The Heroes of Olympus is not mine, but Rick Riordan's. Otherwise, maybe Nico and Percy have gotten together or a bunch of other things I want to happen.)

In front of Hazel, the air rippled. The Mist thickened, creating a doorway, and four people stepped through.

Hazel wept with relief. Frank's arm was bleeding and bandaged, but he was alive. Next to him stood Nico, Piper, and Jason – with all their swords drawn.

"Sorry we're late," Jason said. "Is this the guy who needs killing?"

Hazel almost felt sorry for Clytius.

They attacked him from every direction – Leo shooting fire at his legs, Frank and Piper jabbing at his chest, Jason flying into the air and kicking him in the face. Hazel was proud to see how well Piper remembered her sword-fighting lessons.

Each time the giant's smoky veil started creeping around them, Nico was there, slashing through it, drinking in the darkness with his Stygian blade.

Percy and Annabeth were on their feet, looking weak and dazed, but their swords were drawn. When did Annabeth get a sword? And what was it made of – ivory? They looked like they wanted to help, but there was no need. The giant was surrounded.

Clytius snarled, turning back and forth as if he couldn't decide which of them to kill first. Wait! Hold still! No! Ouch!

The darkness around him dispelled completely, leaving nothing to protect him except his battered armor. Ichor oozed from a dozen wounds. The damage healed almost as fast as it was inflicted, but Hazel could tell the giant was tiring.

One last time Jason flew at him, kicking him in the chest, and the giant's breastplate shattered. Clytius staggered backward. His sword dropped to the floor. He fell to his knees, and the demigods encircled him.

Only then did Hecate stepped forward, her torches raised. Mist curled around the giant, hissing and bubbling as it touched his skin.

"And so it ends," Hecate said.

It does not end. Clytius's voice echoed from somewhere above, muffled and slurred. My brethren have risen. Gaea waits only for the blood of Olympus. It took all of you to defeat me. What will you do when the Earth Mother opens her eyes? Especially when one has to stay?

Clytius's laughed echoed from around them. Then Hecate turned her torches upside down. She thrust them like daggers at Clytius's head. The giant's hair went up faster than dry tinder, spreading down his head and across his body until the heat of the bonfire made Hazel wince. Clytius fell and his laughter stopped, face-first in the rubble of Hades' altar. His body crumbled to ashes.

For a moment no one spoke. Everyone was thinking of Clytius' last words. Until Hazel heard a ragged, painful noise and realized it was her own breathing. Her side felt like it had been kicked in with a battering ram.

The goddess Hecate faced her. "You should go now, Hazel Levesque. Lead your friends out of this place."

Hazel gritted her teeth, trying to hold in her anger. "Just like that? No 'thank you'? No 'good work'? Clytius even said that one of us has to stay! And that's all you will say?"

The goddess tilted her head. Gale the weasel chittered – maybe a good-bye, maybe a warning – and disappeared in the folds of her mistress' skirts.

"You look in the wrong place for gratitude," Hecate said. "As for 'good work,' that remains to be seen. Speed your way to Athens. Clytius was not wrong. The giants have risen – all of them, stronger than ever. Gaea is on the very edge of waking. The Feast of Hope will be poorly named unless you arrive to stop her."

Then Hecate turned to Percy. "You know what you need to do, young hero. And now, I give you my gratitude," she said, before dipping her head in an act of thanks.

Then the chamber rumbled. Another stela crashed to the floor and shattered.

"The House of Hades is unstable," Hecate said. "You must hurry. Say your farewells quickly, Son of Poseidon. And the rest, we shall meet again."

Then the goddess dissolved. The Mist evaporated.

"She's friendly," Percy grumbled.

The others turned towards him and Annabeth, as if realizing they were actually there, only to see Annabeth starting at Percy.

"What did she mean, Percy?" Annabeth asked.

It took Percy a few moment to answer, but when he did, no one liked it one bit.

"It's exactly as she meant it, Annabeth," Percy said, then turned to Jason.

"I leave everything to you. You're a leader, Grace, a better leader than I am, no matter what anyone else tell you. You and Frank, both. But you have more experience in leading, so you'll be helping Frank through this. I also trust my Wise Girl to you and Piper. She'll need a great friend through this and someone who can keep up with her."

Then she turned to Frank. "You and Jason will work together. Be the glue that unites all of you. Lead with your sense of responsibility as Mars said. But also think with your mind and heart. Be confident. Speak up. Don't hide. You're a great kid, Frank."

"I know you feel like you've escaped Death because you're here now. But there's a reason you're here, Hazel. You're a hero. No matter what happened before, it doesn't matter. You are who you are today, tomorrow and the next day. And you're powers are not cursed. They're gifts. Don't let them tell you otherwise."

"Piper, I haven't really talked to you as much as I did with the others. But you're a friend, and my friends are my family. But I have to go. So I leave Annabeth to you. I can see how close you two grew. Be with her, and when you meet my mom, be with her too. Because I can't. Not anymore."

"We started off in a rough way, but you're cool Valdez. I was just mad because the biggest chance for the Greeks and Romans o unite backfired. I don't blame you, never did. I guess I just released my anger at you, Fire Boy. But you're really cool. I just wish we had more time."

"You're like my little brother, Death Breath. And when I failed you when I broke my promise of keeping Bianca safe, I really felt like a dick. Then you hated me, at least I felt like you hated me. But I'm sorry Nicks. You're really like my brother. And I have Wise Girl. But as soon as all this ends, go to mom. She'll need you. And I know you'll need her too."

Finally, Percy turned to Annabeth. She haven't moved from her spot ever since Percy started giving short talks, as if he was saying goodbye. But tears were evidently pouring from her face.

"Hey. I know, it hurts. I'm hurting, too. We just got out. We just got our chance to live one more time, especially when we win the war. But I can't. I have to go. I love you, Wise Girl. So much that it hurts to go. I just regretted that I never turned you from Annabeth Chase to Annabeth Jackson."

With his final words, he kissed the daughter of Athena for the final time. When he let go, he slightly pushed her, as if he was ushering her away from him.

"Go."

Annabeth tried to go to him, but Nico dragged her just as Jason and Frank ushered the rest away, leaving the son of Poseidon at the foot of the Doors of Death that materialized once more.

To be continued...