Percy's Pine

AN: Hey this is my first story and some feedback would be great if possible. I have changed some of the ages in this story, deal with it. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

The five of them ran desperately up the hill, hoping to escape the grasp of the huge number of monsters chasing them.

A boy, who looked to be around 12 years old with sandy blonde hair and blue eyes, led them. Just behind him was another boy of a similar age with a rasta hat on his head and the furry legs of a goat pulling along a small girl who was seven, with blonde princess curls and startling grey eyes. Finally, bringing up the rear were two ten year olds, both with raven black hair. One was a girl with electric blue eyes and her hair was short and spiky. The other was a boy with deep sea green eyes and tangled hair that was swept to the side.

"We're almost there. Just keep going!" The boy with the rasta hat yelled.

"They're gaining on us!" Called the raven haired girl. The group of monsters were closing the gap on the small group ahead of them and the hellhounds in the group began to howl at the thought of fresh meat.

Hearing this the raven haired boy sped up until he was level with the leading boy.

"Luke, we're not going to make it." He stated bluntly as he panted from running.

"Don't say that Perce! We can do it." Luke replied. Percy just shook his head as they continued running.

"They're gaining too quickly for us to outrun them. We need a distraction."

Understanding what he was saying, Luke's eyes went wide, "No Percy! I can't let you…"

He was cut off by Percy as he continued.

"They're after me and Thalia and I can't let anything happen to her."

During this conversation the fastest monsters were now only twenty metres behind the group.

"Percy…" Luke began, but again Percy cut him off.

"Promise me you'll keep them safe Luke." He said turning to look directly into Luke's eyes. "Don't let them try to stop me. Get them safe while I hold them off. Promise me." Percy said solemnly, accepting of his fate. Luke looked at him and saw the determination deep in his sea green eyes.

"I promise." He said, barely audible over the sound of the thunder and rain, but loud enough for Percy to hear it.

Percy slowly began to drop back until he was again level with Thalia. As he looked over at her, all doubts that he had previously had vanished. He knew that if he sacrificed himself and Thalia, Luke, Grover and Annabeth survived it would be worth it.

"Percy." Thalia said, getting his attention. "I'm going to hold them off while you guys get to safety." She bravely stated. Percy then looked up at Luke and nodded who saw it and began to drop back. The nearest monsters, the furies were only mere metres away now. It was now or never.

Percy looked directly into Thalia's eyes and stated, "Sorry Thals, but that role is already taken." He then smiled as Thalia looked confused for a second before a look of realisation crossed her face. Luke then swooped in and grabbed Thalia, dragging her away.

"No Percy! You can't! Don't do it!" She cried desperately at him as she tried to escape Luke's firm grip, but was unable to. Percy just looked at her and smiled sadly before stopping and turning to face the enemy.

Noticing what was happening, the little girl called Annabeth, turned and was about to go to help Percy when she was picked up by Grover.

"Put me down!" She screamed, almost hysterically, but Grover would not let go as he carried her up the hill. She had tears streaming down her face as she watched the monsters approach Percy, as he stood defiantly in front of them, blocking the path. He pulled out a standard ballpoint pen and uncapped it, releasing a beautiful three foot long bronze sword, and pointed it at the monsters.

"Come on then you ugly mutts!" He shouted as the nearest hellhound lunged at him. He swiftly stepped to the side and swung down, decapitating the monster and causing golden dust to burst from where it once was.

The other four had now reached the top of the hill and were beginning to move down it, with Thalia and Annabeth still resisting.

One of the furies then hissed, "Perseus Jackson. Son of the sea. Are you ready to die?"

In answer Percy charged at the monster and slashed at her before she could react. Once the golden dust had settled, all the surrounding monsters stared at him as the two remaining furies looked at him with fury etched deep into their faces. With a roar they all attacked.

Percy was fighting back but there were too many and he was tired after running for so long however, the thought of keeping his friend's safe gave him newfound strength and endurance to continue, but even that would not last forever. He carried on cutting through the hellhounds, but there were too many and the furies kept swooping in and slashing at him with their talons. He was bleeding profusely from cuts all over his body.

He tried to sidestep away from the attack of a hellhound, but his foot caught and he fell to the ground. He started to get up, but he was too slow and he felt the slash of claws on his back and he collapsed to the ground. "I guess this is the end." Percy thought as he lay dying on the forest floor. "At least I died doing something good."

"Percy!" The shout echoed around the forest as Thalia stood watching the sight before her in shock. She had managed to escape Luke's grasp and ran back to help Percy, but when she arrived she saw him lying on the floor in a pool of his blood.

She couldn't move as she just looked at him, surrounded by a significantly smaller group of hellhounds. It was then that she had shouted. All the monsters turned to look at her, but all she cared about was the boy on the floor. Percy slowly turned his head to look at her and smiled, but it came out as more of a grimace, before he slowly began to close his eyes. The monsters then began to move towards her, but as they did, a huge amount of water struck Percy's body, which was followed by a bright flash of light.

Once Thalia opened her eyes the monsters were gone, and where Percy Jackson was, there was now a tall pine tree.

Thalia fell to her knees in shock, as the others reached her. The looked around confused, as they could see no signs of the monsters or Percy anywhere. They then noticed the giant tree that had not been there previously and they all seemed to understand.

"It was supposed to be me." Thalia said as she then began to sob. She was soon joined by the others as they all began to cry together and mourn the sacrifice of their friend.