AN:

Yeah, I'm not going to keep you waiting. The AN at the end will be long and will discuss everything. I'm sure you just want to keep reading, so go ahead. Hears the epilogue for "The Spartan"

Camp Half-Blood, July 2073 CE

Zoë Nightshade's old bones creaked as she walked back to the Artemis cabin. Even after all these years as a trainer at Camp Half-Blood, she still much preferred the silver cabin to sleeping in the big house. There was something about the cabin that comforted her in the night.

She walked past the campfire, ignoring the singing that was blaring through the air from there. In her younger years as a teacher at Camp Half-Blood, she'd been a staple at the fires. People would constantly ask her to tell stories about Percy, the Ghost of Sparta, the greatest hero who'd ever lived.

It may seem strange, but those times had helped her cope for a while. For a brief time, she'd feel close to him again. When she explained to the new generations of heroes all the great things about Percy, along with all the mistakes he made, she'd feel him watching over her. She did her best to impart the lessons Percy would probably feel the stories should give. It had been therapeutic then, but not anymore.

Now, she simply didn't have the energy to put herself through that anymore. She was old and weak, and she much preferred to sleep rather than to be awake. Sleep was her best coping mechanism now. She missed Percy immeasurably when she was awake, even now, but every night, she'd see him in her dreams. It's what had gotten her through the years honestly.

Walking past the newer cabins, a pang filled her heart, as it always did. They reminded her of Percy, just like everything did. He never got to see the new Camp Half-Blood. The one where every god and goddess was represented, all thanks to the efforts of his pupil, Jason Grace.

There was a lot that Percy had missed, she mused. He'd missed Alex's ascension to godhood. He'd missed Annabeth's completion of the renovations to Olympus. He'd missed Leo and Calypso living happily ever after. He'd missed Piper finally coming into her own as a confident young woman. He'd missed the gods becoming more fair and just than they'd ever been, all in his memory.

He'd missed Hazel and Frank's wedding. Gods were still strictly forbidden from interaction with their children, so Pluto couldn't give Hazel away. Zoë had talked with Percy about it, and she knew Percy had discussed it with Hazel. He'd missed giving away his little sister, and she knew that would hurt him more than almost anything. She'd given away Hazel in his stead, but it hadn't been the same. Everyone knew who should've been filling that void.

More important than anything though, he'd missed his life with her. The one they'd stayed up planning on so many different nights. The one they'd dreamed about. He missed so many moments with her. All those things he missed. And it hurt, because she knew that everyone missed him being there for those moments just as much as she did.

Walking into the original U of cabins, tears stung at her eyes. She waved to the lone goddess tending to the fire in the middle of the U, as she walked to the Artemis cabin. The goddess waved back, a small comforting smile on her face at the gesture. Wishing Hestia a good night was something Percy had always done when he was there. That was another thing Percy had missed. So many little things he wasn't there for. So many little things.

She pushed into the cabin, the familiar interior greeting her as it always did. She got into bed straight away, her old body too lazy and tired to have a nightly routine anymore. She grasped hungrily at the spot next to her. The spot that Percy used to fill. Percy missed these nights too. Gods, she missed him.

Despite his noticeable absence from, well, everything, she still always felt like he was there, in some way. Like a guardian angel, or a friendly Ghost of Sparta, she still felt like a little piece of Percy was inside of everyone he'd ever encountered. Maybe, just maybe, he hadn't missed as much as she thought. The idea put a smile on her wrinkled face.

Reaching up to touch the necklace she had worn for the past sixty-three years; she fingered the cool arrowhead. She turned it lazily in her hands, glad it had survived, even if Percy hadn't. It was a little piece of him preserved for her and only her, along with everything he had left in her heart.

Looking to the ceiling, a broad grin spread across her face. She was too tired to keep her eyes open now, and that was a good thing. She was so, so, so tired. Bone tired. Exhausted even. She'd sleep soon, and that was always the best part.

"See you in my dreams." She whispered to the air, before fading into the night.

?, ? ? ?

Zoë woke up in a field of wheat. It was a strange sensation, waking up in a place you didn't go to bed in. She must be dreaming. The only problem with that was, she didn't see Percy. He was always right there to greet her in her dreams. If he stopped showing up even here, she'd truly be lost.

She decided she'd have to find him. Walking through the tall grain, she let her hand drift through the wheat lazily, dragging it with her before it sprang back into place. The sensation was oddly comforting. As she walked, it felt like her body wasn't entirely whole. It was completely different than any other dream she'd ever had before, that was for certain.

In the distance, she could see a massive sprawling town, with a glittering lake in the middle. It was gorgeously designed in perfect Greek and roman architecture. If Annabeth saw it, she'd geek out for weeks. It was even more perfectly built than the new Olympus, and that was saying a lot. Annabeth wasn't made the goddess of architecture for nothing.

She decided the city in the distance was as good a lead as any, so she started to trek towards it. Something in her gut was tugging her towards it. She hoped it was Percy. He'd never made her find him in her dreams before; but forcing her into a game of hide and seek to mess with her was totally something he would do.

As she walked and walked, the pull got stronger. She started to speed up, almost at a full sprint, desperate to reach the city. It was as if the city itself was a magnet attached to her core, beckoning her to join the citizens in the paradise. The town was reeling her in, like a fish on a line. As she ran, faster and faster now, something caught beneath her foot, and she was sent tumbling into the sea of wheat. She lay there for a few moments, groaning in annoyance.

Rising slowly, and dusting herself off, Zoë saw that she wasn't in a field of wheat anymore. Instead, she was by a small pond, surrounded by a thin group of trees. Through the tall oaks, she could still see the city on the horizon, but investigating this little oasis was too intriguing to pass up.

Walking towards the water, she eyed her reflection in the cool pool. What she saw shocked her. Staring back at her wasn't the face she knew now. It was a ghost of her past. She was looking at Zoë Nightshade in the height of her beauty. She saw herself as she was when she was with Percy. Beautiful, young, smiling, happy, and in love. Gods, she hadn't realized how much she'd missed that version of herself.

Looking down at her hands, she saw that her skin was smooth and soft, like it had been then. In fact, her joints no longer felt old and weak. She hadn't even thought about it, but she'd been running. It was like she'd drank from the fountain of youth.

This whole place seemed magical. It barely even felt like a dream. Everything was so vivid. Every sensation was so real. Every image so clear. It was so concrete. There was no fog like a normal dream. She wondered if her old age and her longing for Percy had finally driven her bonkers, or if this was something else entirely.

"Where the Hades am I?" she mumbled to herself in wonder, shaking her head.

Behind her, she heard a rustling. A twig cracked beneath someone's foot. She whirled around, coming face to face with a shocking sight. A vivid color greeted her, more vibrant than anything she'd seen in decades. Swirling pools of sea green stared back at her. Two words. That was all it took.

"You're home."

AN:

Holy absolute shit, it's over. I can't believe I made it this far. I can't believe you guys tagged along with me. Hopefully, despite these last two chapters, you enjoyed the ride. If I killed it for you, I understand. I knew that by killing Percy, I was running the risk of losing fans, favorites, reviews, and getting flamed massively, but honestly, I don't care, I think I gave this story the perfect end.

I know it was incredibly depressing, but honestly, this is everything I wanted it to be. From the start, I knew I wanted Percy to have this end. It's a happy ending if you think about it. All his life, Percy searched for some greater purpose. He lived for his duty, but he always lived to fight another day. The entire point of this story was Percy's personal growth. He went from someone obsessed with servitude, with no one he loves, to someone who made the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect all the loved ones he finally had. I think it's wonderful he finally had people in his life that made stopping Gaea the way he had to worth it. Plus, he reunited with Zoë in the end. Soon, the rest of their friends will join them (especially Hazel, God, I love that brother/sister relationship SO MUCH). I think that's a perfect ending. Hopefully you agree.

With this end, I wanted to draw to a close all the major plot points of the entire story. Percy was finally able to get over the death of Cyrus. He finally came to terms with using his powers when he needed to. He finally found friends, family, and love. I told you at the beginning that everything was connected, and I meant it. I had a plan for this story I wanted to see through, and I finally got there. I'm incredibly proud of myself for that.

As for what's next. For those of you that don't now hate me for killing off the most popular character in the entire fandom, I have another story in the works. Be on the lookout for it, although it may take some time. I had this idea gestating in my head for a while before I started writing, so it was easier to just jump into it. This time around, I want to do lots of planning. Not to mention, the idea I have in store for you will be a complete AU, totally removed from canon, but still totally awesome. (I hope.) That means it will take longer to formulate because I have no pre-establishes story to leach off of.

Finally, to my readers. I want to give you all the biggest thanks I possibly can. You've all been so tremendously supportive, and even if you all turn on me, I'm thankful for you joining me on this journey. All the support, via review, favorite, follow, or even just turning the pages, was amazing. You're all truly great people in my eyes. Please, leave a review letting me know how I did with this ending. Or PM me, I will answer you. I'd love to chat ideas or comments if you'd like, and feedback you give me will go into my next story, because I want to know what you guys will enjoy, as ultimately, what I write is for you. See you in story #2! One last time I get to say, Until next time,

Peace.