What If?

Calypso shook her head. "I told myself I would not even speak of this. I would let you go without even offering. But I can't. I suppose the Fates knew that, too. You could stay with me, Percy. I'm afraid that is the only way you could help me." Calypso looked down, waiting for my answer.

I reached my hand toward her, then pulled it back. I didn't want to cause any more pain for her. I wanted to help. Really, I did. But I also wanted to go back. Back to camp, my friends, Annabeth. Back to the war, my prophecy, the end of the world. My thoughts went in circles, debating the possibilities.

Images flashed in my mind. My first view of Half-Blood Hill. Annabeth's face when I woke up from the Minotaur attack. Grover and Tyson. Our adventures. My first view of Ogygia. Calypso's face when I woke up from the volcano blast. The gardens and songbirds. Our walks on the beach.

The seconds ticked on. Such a big choice. I had to say something. Finally, I knew what I had to do.

"I'll stay."

Calypso looked up, a smile stretching across her beautiful face. "I never thought it would happen," she murmured, then continued louder, "But, I suppose even the Fates are wrong at time." She took my hand and began to pull me up the beach.

I hesitated. "Just a minute. I need to do something first."

Calypso nodded, smiling gently. She began walking away, singing softly to herself.

I walked to the edge of the water and stared into the first light of dawn. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and summoned sea creatures to me. I felt a pull in my gut. I opened my eyes when a whinny broke through the silence. A hippocampus was splashing in the waves.

I waded a few feet into the lake. The hippocampus swam up to me. I rested my hand on its nose. "Tell them of my passing," I told the water horse. "Tell them…" I swallowed, a lump forming in my throat. "Tell them Percy Jackson is dead."

The hippocampus neighed sadly. It shook its mane, then dove into the waves, splashing me with lake water. I saw its the scales of its silvery tail glittering in the sunlight far off shore. Then it was gone.

With that last splash of the hippocampus' tail, I sealed my fate.

I turned and walked up the beach to where Calypso stood waiting. She reached for my hand, smiling gently.

"They will not suffer anymore, now that they know," she said gently.

I nodded, gazing into the rising sun. "They will not suffer anymore," I repeated.

x x x

I gazed longingly into the ocean. Waves crashed against the sand. Water washed over my bare feet. "Oh, Percy," I murmured. "Where are you?"

"Annabeth?"

I jumped at the sound of my name. Then I rolled my eyes. Could I not have a few minutes of alone time? "Coming, Malcolm, just a minute!" I shouted back.

"Okay!" My half-brother called.

I sighed and turned back to the water. I willed with all my might for Percy to appear out of the waves. I closed my eyes and sighed again.

I heard splashing just off shore. My eyes snapped open. Percy! My gaze scanned the ocean.

A hippocampus neighed and waved its silvery tail at me. It tossed its head and gaze a shrill whinny.

I groaned and dropped my head into my lap. "Oh, go away," I muttered, annoyed. I lifted my head and stared at the water horse with skeptical eyes. "I don't suppose you know where Percy is, do you?"

I could have sworn the water horse nodded its head. It swam closer, then stopped and neighed, tossing its head up and down.

I leapt to my feet. "Stay here!" I shouted at the hippocampus. Then, barefooted, I ran toward camp.

"Whoa!" Malcolm shouted as I nearly ran him over. "Where are you-"

"I'll explain later!" I shouted back. My breath came out in quick gasps. My feet pounded the earth faster and faster. The sword fighting arena grew gradually bigger and bigger.

Bursting through the entrance, I shouted, "Chiron!"

The campers stopped mid swing. Everyone froze and stared at me. I stood by the entrance, gasping for breath.

Slowly, Chiron turned around. "Annabeth? What is it?"

"You have to come here!" Then I began talking so fast, the only words I could even distinguish were: "Beach-hippocampus-Percy-quick!"

Chiron nodded. "Alright, Annabeth, I'll come with you."

I nodded back eagerly. Apparently he had heard and understood my frantic speech.

Chiron grabbed my arm and swung me onto his back. We galloped through camp. Half-bloods dove out of the way to avoid being trampled.

When we were almost at the beach, I jumped off Chiron's back. Sprinting to the edge of the sand, my eyes raked across the water.

The hippocampus whinnied loudly. It swam closer, waving its tail in my direction.

"There!" I shouted at Chiron, who had just arrived. I pointed frantically toward the water horse.

He waded into the water and went up to the hippocampus. It gave a low, nervous whinny. Then it flicked its head and began neighing at Chiron. It almost sounded like the water horse was… talking.

I waited impatiently, arms folded, foot tapping against the sand.

Finally, Chiron splashed back onto the sand. The hippocampus dove into the water and swam away.

My heart plummeted. The expression on Chiron's face was one of pain, suffering, and loss.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "No!" I shouted at him. I ran away, back toward camp. "No, no, no, no, NO!" I screamed as I ran. Once I was in my cabin, I flopped onto my bed, sobbing into my pillow. "Oh, Percy, why did you have to die!?" I pounded the mattress with my fist. "Why, Percy, why!?" I shrieked into my pillow. And then I cried myself to sleep.

The next morning was the funeral. I had cried myself out the night before, so I was at least somewhat composed.

Chiron began solemnly, "Percy was a great camper, one who will be missed by all. I have asked his best surviving friend to do the final honors." He motioned with his hand for me to proceed.

I stepped forward, holding Percy's burial shroud. I held the beautiful green cloth over the fire. The color matched his eyes. Then, with a deep breath, I let it go.

It was as if part of me had dropped into the flames with the cloth.

I turned to face the audience. "He was probably the bravest friend I've ever had. No, not probably. Definitely. He never gave up, no matter what he was facing." I blinked and a tear trailed down my cheek. "I'm going to miss him a lot. I'm pretty sure he's in a happy place now. I know he would have done everything he could to make it back. But I guess even the strongest heroes fail sometimes. " My voice broke at the end. I took a deep shuddering breath, tears running freely down my face now. I turned to the dying remains of the fire. "Goodbye, Percy. We'll miss you." I love you, I added in my thoughts. With that, I turned and walked away.

Behind me, I heard Chiron and the other campers putting out the fire and leaving the amphitheater. I walked back to my cabin and collapsed into tears.

Later that night, as everyone was going back to their cabins to prepare for bed, I went back to the amphitheater. The ashes of the fire were still in the pit. I stared into the cinders, tears pooling in my eyes. Then, a flash of green caught my eyes. Bending down, I noticed a small scrap of the shroud that had not burned. On it was one of the tiny trident designs that had been the border on the shroud.

I picked the scrap up and held it against my heart. I stood like that for a few minutes, then walked down to the beach. Sitting in the sand, staring into the setting sun, I took the scrap of Percy's burial shroud and tied it onto my camp necklace. I would carry it with me always. A reminder of Percy, my best friend and love.

I don't know what would have happened between Percy and I if he was still alive. I had never gotten to tell him how I felt. But one thing was certain. For the rest of my life I would be thinking about him. He would always be my biggest what if.

x x x x x x x x x x

Well, what did you think? I'm working on a second chapter (and maybe a third)… Hint, hint. Subscribe maybe? Review please, check out my other stories, and stay tuned for more on this one!

-Ivy