Percy Jackson and the Far Side of the Moon

[2BorNotTooBe_2AForever]

"Hurricane," his mom declared. Although he knew it sounded crazy—hurricanes in the early summer were unheard of.

"How is that—"

"Don't talk. Gather your things; we're leaving." She rushed out of the bedroom, in her nightgown resembling a ghost. Something about this seems fishy; he didn't want to consider the supernatural, but now anything was possible.

Could it be a servant?...

He closed his eyes, delving into that part of him he wished wasn't real. Last summer, he dreamt of the sea, a war, and a giant snake. Initially dismissing it as a bizarre fever dream, yet it felt real. He knew it was real when he summoned the sword from his dreams—a jagged blade with no hilt, appearing more porcelain than steel. He couldn't forget that day in the forest near Yancy; with each swing, magic water flew from his blade. It was both exhilarating and sad. During storms, he would gaze at the sky, feeling an unexplainable urge to cry.

Yet, he couldn't feel anything now. The storm was weird but not servant weird . Perhaps it was a form of magecraft, the work of a familiar from a powerful mage. He had encountered one in the museum before—a fast, bat-like creature with a fiery whip. But, as everyone knew, fire types weren't very effective against water types. He recalled the surprise on her face as he decapitated her with a single swing. She probably hadn't expected that. The audacity of that creature. He was a prince—maybe. He would never resort to thievery.

"Percy!" His mom yelled from the living room. That brought him out of his mind; it was only now he heard a voice. Someone was banging on the door, screaming like a maniac; it kind of sounded like Grover, but that's impossible. He never told him about his trips to Montauk. Percy, still in his pajamas, walked into the living room, and there was Grover, dripping wet, panting on the door frame.

"Grover," he said incredulously.

"Searching all night—haha. What-ha were you thinking?"

"Percy," his mom said in shock. "What happened in school!? What didn't you tell me!?" She shouted to be heard over the rain.

This is…

Percy's mind froze; he didn't know how to respond. The fact that Grover was here, the weird weather. It all led to one thing.

Grover was his first friend. In Yancy Academy, you either had to know someone or be very rich to make friends. He had none of that, except for Grover. Grover was a weird kid with a slight limp, probably held back a few grades because he had a goatee, and all the bullies liked to pick on him. Percy was the new kid, kicked out of six schools and constantly seen as the problem. Grover was the one to approach. Percy thought it was a trick at first, but slowly they began to form a friendship. It broke his heart when he was expelled, which meant he could no longer see Grover. He was his best friend. Percy protected him from the bullies, and Grover offered companionship to a lonely boy. Yet he is here now, coming unannounced when he is at his weakest. His mom was just a normal human; she couldn't do anything in the face of the supernatural. She couldn't even stand up to smelly Gabe. He saw it firsthand, the once proud woman he had always admired turned into a quiet, subdued shell of her former self. She is so fragile; he didn't want to think about what would happen if an enemy servant got a hold of her.

Grover was about to say something before Percy glared at him. He flinched, forgetting what words he was about to say.

"Grover," Percy growled.

He was his friend, yet it was all a trick. Grover always felt weird, like something was not right with him. His instincts were screaming at him that he was unnatural, something that belongs to the other world. He ignored it then, but here he is now; instead of human legs, he had cloven hooves and the limbs of a goat. Now he knows why. Grover is a phantasmal, a familiar sent to him by an enemy servant, to befriend him, to discover all his secrets and exploit them. He knows why he's here. He is after his mom, his greatest weakness. To take hostage or to kill, Percy couldn't put it past them. All mages are wicked to the core, and they would do anything to reach the Root . He's seen those people in his memories, monsters, all of them. He didn't want to believe it, he couldn't, but it was staring him in the face. Percy bit his lip and willed the other side of him to take over. Despite it all, he still saw Grover as his friend.

"Percy," she said in a tone he had never heard before. "Tell me na-"

"Mom, stay back!" He screamed, bringing his arm over her for protection.

The traitor opened his mouth. "Percy, I-"

"I don't care what you do to me! But leave my mom out of this!"

His mom took a step back; she had never heard that voice come out of her son. It sounded like pain and anger.

"Percy, what's happening?"

"He's here to kill you."

"What!" They both exclaimed. Percy clenched his hands, ready to draw his sword at any moment. When he did, Grover would cease this charade and strike.

"Tell your master they're sick! Willing to use innocents for their own ambitions. She has nothing to do with this!"

"Percy." Grover said in that familiar tone, causing Percy's heart to ache. "I think you've got me confused with someone else?"

"Percy." His mom grabbed his arm, looking at him with frightened eyes. "It's going to be alright; he's not here to hurt me."

It can't be… Is it Hypnosis? How dare they!

He could feel this other side rise up to the surface, moving in tandem with his outrage.

How long was this planned, before or after the change? Was she meant to kill me, both mother and friend murdering me in my sleep? Or even worse… They want me to kill them. They know who I am and want to break my spirit.

Percy felt sick, forced to kill his loved ones. The loss, the pain, he couldn't take that. He doesn't have much in this life; if they're gone, he would have nothing. All that was left would be to take his blade and…..

Percy had to force back the tears. This was sick, all of it. Mages, monsters, all of them. How could they, how dare they. He doesn't know anything about healing or magecraft; he can't break the hypnosis. For all he knows, they could command his mom to take her own life. He struggles with the thought; he is going to lose someone again. The other him was waiting; he is always there in the back of his mind. He doesn't know where he ends, and the other one begins; it is all a blur to him. He doesn't even know if he is Percy Jackson or someone who has taken his place. But he didn't care; these memories, these feelings, are all real. He grits his teeth and lets Percy Jackson fade away; there is nothing left, nothing but Saber.

They all felt it, everyone in the room. There was a change in the air; the rain froze then resumed. Saber opened his eyes; the sea-green turned to amber.

Grover was the first to talk. "Who-"

Saber was ready to strike him down; it wouldn't be painful. A single strike and all would be over, fast and quick as lightning. He was going to do it; all emotion gone, but it would return later and the guilt would consume him. Yet something else happened, a roar so loud the cabin shook. Lightning and thunder raced across the sky.

Grover cowered. "Lord Zeus!? But we haven't-"

Saber knew what this was; he could sense the magic in the air.

It's time.

Saber ran through the door, his pajamas drenched with rain. "Percy!" His mom screamed as he ran barefooted to the beach. The sea was tremulous, but that's what happens in a hurricane. The wind was moving so fast it whistled through the air; the rain was like knives on his skin. It was cold, but he willed himself not to tremble; he should not have come here in his pajamas.

Saber looked to the sky; red lightning raced across the clouds. He could feel them near.

"Percy!" His mom and Grover ran after him. Saber glared at them; the water danced on his form.

"Stay back!" He yelled. "They're here!"

"Who's-" Grover said before red lightning struck the beach. The goat boy jumped and tumbled on his back.

Saber ignored him, staring at where the lightning fell. Sparks of red frizzled and danced along the impact, parts of the sand turned into red glass. Something rises from the crater, the smoke obscuring their form.

"At last." Their voice sounded young.

Saber clenched his fist, prepared to summon his sword.

"I finally found you."

With a wave of their hand, the smoke parted, revealing themselves. They were dressed in black, a fancy silk t-shirt with matching black shorts. A small golden birdcage was hanging on their belt. Weirdly they were wearing a knee-length sock, only on their left leg, the other was barefooted. The most interesting thing, though, was the red cape they had, floating around their neck, glittering gold and red, like the laws of gravity didn't apply to it. It would have looked majestic if the rain wasn't so hard; honestly, if it wasn't for the cape, Saber couldn't see a thing.

"Is that!" Grover shouted as he tried to stand, the rain constantly causing him to slip.

"Percy! Come back!" His mom screamed; she ran to the beach.

What is she doing!?

"Go back inside!" Saber yelled. That didn't stop her; she raced towards him screaming his name over and over.

"Now, where is—" said the enemy servant, their voice clear even through the hurricane. They raised their fist to clench the sky, red lightning and golden light emerging from their hands. The light was so bright that Saber could finally see their face. They looked tired, with lines under their crimson-red eyes, a young boy around ten with wet, golden hair matted by the rain and a black crown. The light dimmed, revealing a golden spear, though calling it a spear would be generous. It was a jagged piece of metal with a menacing red aura.

His mom caught him in a hug, crying or perhaps it was the rain. "It's ok, baby. I'm here; everything is going to be al—" The enemy servant began to move, and Saber didn't hesitate. He grabbed his Mom and jumped away. Red lightning struck where they once stood, and that patch of sand smoked red. If he had been even a single second late, his Mom would be dead.

So, your true colors are revealed. To attack my mother in front of me, such impunity.

He placed her under a tree, the rain barely touching this place. Her eyes were in shock; he never knew his Mom could look so surprised.

"Moth—Mom, you have to leave, take the car and drive as far away from here as possible."

"Far? No—Percy, what's going on!? How did you—"

"There's no time."

"Perseus Jackson! I'm not—"

He did something that caught her by surprise; he knelt before her, holding her hand like he was a knight from a fairy tale.

"I don't know if I can fight him and protect you at the same time. Please….. I don't want to lose you." He sobbed; his Mom was silent.

"I….. I don't know what's going on. But please. Promise me that you will come back." Her eyes were pleading at him.

"I swear."

His Mom shook her head. "No. Swear on the river Styx. Swear to me that you will come back."

The river what?

"Sure…. I swear on the river Styx—" Saber almost choked. Something strong grasped him, like his very soul was held in someone's hands; he could feel eyes watching him. He knew what this was, a Geis; a curse used by Mages to bind their contracts. A simple yet deadly magecraft, unbreakable unless you want to face the punishment, most likely death. The fact that his mother knew this means she is more than just a housewife. He started to see her in a different light, he saw the strength in her eyes as well as the sorrow. The fact that she didn't mention any consequences to the Geis says a lot. It was a non-binding oath, speaking of her trust; she knew he would come back; this was just a formality.

"Percy!" Grover clopped towards them, surprisingly nimble with goat legs. "We have to go! There's a—" Saber grabbed Grover's shirt; his mother yelped.

"Grover Underwood, are you my enemy?" He said in a tone as cold as ice.

"Wh-What!? Percy, it's me!" The goat-boy's eyes were darting from Saber's to his mother's.

Saber manhandled him. "Are you my enemy!?"

"No!"

"Then go with her. Protect my mother. But if I find one hint of betrayal, so help me, I will hunt you down, rip your limbs off and feed you to the crows myself!" Saber could see the blood leave Grover's face; he was so pale he could have been a ghost. His mother held her hands over her gaping mouth, shocked at the anger his voice expelled. Saber let go of Grover as he fell; he took one last glance at his mother before he sprinted away.

I will be back.

He returned to the beach; the enemy servant never left. They looked flustered holding their spear. His cape floated above him, only being held down by the golden chain around his neck.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't know it would do—"

"You want to fight! Prepare yourself!"

With a wave of his hand, he made an arc of water; the droplets coalesced into a sword. His sword, a weapon forged from the tail of a god. Hidden in divine water in the form of a jagged blade. He wields it again; it shines white in the rain. The enemy servant takes a step back; his cape almost hides his form.

"You know what this is." He slashes his blade, the rain around him freezes mid-air. "When a servant meets another, it could only end one way. The weak perish, and to the victor, the spoils."

"B-But I—"

"I expected foul play, but you dare target my mother." He looked at him with such contempt the boy paled.

"It-It was an accident!"

"Enough!" His sword glowed blue. "Face my wrath!" He swung his blade, and a torrent of water erupted from the slash. Fifteen feet tall and racing at breakneck speeds, despite being made of water, it is sharp enough to cut diamond. The little boy screamed as it crashed into him, the impact resulted in an explosion of sand and water. Saber held his arm over his head to keep the sand from his eyes. The cold had started to get to him; he shouldn't have fought in his pajamas. The dust cloud didn't dissipate in the rain; it grew until it was higher than the trees.

Is he dead?.....No.

Within the core of the cloud was a flash of red; lightning expelled from its center.

I have to- *Woosh*

Something flew past him; it was so close it almost touched his ear. Saber moved then ten more came from the cloud. Saber jumped and dodged; the objects cracked the earth, impaling it with long black swords.

Projectiles? Is he an arch-

Saber was distracted; that was more than enough for his enemy to close the gap. The boy flew out of the cloud, his spear pointed and ready.

He could fly!?

The boy speared him in the shoulder. Pain shocked through his left side; he could feel the electricity race down his arm.

"Ugh, No!" Saber slashed his sword, deflecting the lance skyward, and an arc of blood flew in the air. In battles like these, decisions are made in milliseconds, but if you're not that fast, you must rely on instinct. And Saber's instinct made him twirl; the momentum changed, and the wind was on his side. The blade was poised to slash the boy in the chest. In those precious moments, time seemed to stop. Saber could see the boy's eyes; he knew it too—the blade would rip through his chest from shoulder to torso. The boy's eyes dilated, there was fear there, an all-encompassing fear. Saber was resolute, but the part that was Percy made him angle the blade a few centimeters to the left; his sword hit nothing. A blast of wind escaped from his blade, making the trees waver, and leaves danced in the air. They were both motionless; Saber didn't leave his stance, and the boy was huffing deep breaths. Both were silent, they could hear nothing except for the rain.

Saber grit his teeth and grabbed his shoulder; it was like there was a flower blooming in his skin, growing more and more painful. His arm felt numb, and nerves were on fire.

"Oh, [Divine Water]," he said, and his sword leaked; the liquid raced up his arm until it covered his entire shoulder. This was a power he learned last summer; water not only strengthened him but it could also heal him. Saber could feel the wound close, and the fire die down. He glared at his opponent; the boy was still taking deep breaths, his red cape touched the ground, no longer floating.

An opening, I have to strike.

But Saber couldn't find the will to move his sword hand. In fact, his legs were trembling, and only now did he notice that his body was cold. He wanted to crackle his teeth and shiver.

What's going on, I'm a servant. This shouldn't affect me.

He looked towards his opponent; he wasn't suffering any of those effects. In fact, now that he thinks about it, their outfit was a little ridiculous; something like that would do nothing for the cold, yet here he was shivering in his pajamas.

A mystic code? Of course, that must be it, how could I be so stupid.

He jumps back, then commands the water to coat his body. Suddenly he became warmer, not by much, but it was bearable now. He was about to attack again when he noticed someone else on the beach. This caught him completely by surprise; he didn't sense anyone else enter. His opponent thought the same if his face was any indication. They both looked at the man; he was huge and hairy, wearing a beach towel over his head in nothing but his underwear. He would have looked like a creep if the situation wasn't so dire.

A human—no. It feels odd.

He glared again at the boy.

"Who is this, your familiar!?" The boy didn't respond to him.

This is no ordinary man…. Another phantasmal?

"State your business here!" Saber screamed.

The man huffed then angled his head towards Saber. He felt goosebumps beneath his water armor. The man growled and started to mutate; he could faintly see mist come out of its body. The creature grew tall; the towel turned into a face, long horns rose from its head.

What the? Is that the—

"The minotaur!" The boy exclaimed.

The monster let out a bellowing roar.

"Three hundred attack points. Two hundred and fifty defense. Can be special summoned to return one card to your opponent's hand!" The boy was almost giddy, his cape rising to the air.

It charged at Saber.

This beast!

The swordsman moved; this must have surprised the minotaur because he moved at breakneck speeds. The monster was mid-charge and couldn't turn; at this speed, it should have been impossible to see, but Saber fought beings faster. He twisted in the air, his sword slash gashes on the bull's legs. The creature moans in pain, a normal sword should have bounced off the beast's hide; even celestial bronze would have a hard time. But this was no mortal blade; this is a weapon that killed a god.

It screamed as it fell, blood seeping from its legs. Saber jumped on its back, ready to stab its heart. The minotaur used its arms to push its body off the ground; it quickly twisted its torso, hoping to grab the swordsman. It almost worked; its finger touched Saber for a second, but his watery armor made him slippery. He fell through its hands, his sword slicing along its arms, the monster screamed.

I see it.

Its neck was defenseless; one slice, and it would be over. Saber arced his blade before he was caught by surprise; the beast headbutted him. Saber blacked out for a moment; his eyes seeing stars. In this moment of weakness, the monster finally grabbed him, with both hands, he squeezed the swordsman. It was so painful the water around him fell limp. It gave a mocking smile; its task was over, then it was struck by lightning.

"Sorry, I-I have to be the one to fight him." With a wave of his hand, the boy summoned four golden staffs. They twisted in the air, creating mini vortexes, the boy shot them at the beast. The force was so strong it knocked the monster in the air. It released Saber from its hold; he jumped off the monster's belly and landed on the beach. The water armor returned; Saber could feel himself slowly heal.

"Is this your friend?" The boy asked.

"No," he said immediately.

"I see." The boy pulled out his birdcage, and it let out a little ring. Blue fire danced in the cage, and the ground started to shake. From the shadows, a giant dinosaur skull emerged; it looked like a triceratops. The minotaur just started to get its bearings before it was caught in the skull's beak. It struggled to pry open the dinosaur's mouth; it would have escaped if the boy didn't keep ringing the birdcage. It roared as its entire body was crushed; in a single snap, the monster exploded in glitter. That caught both of them off guard.

"Was that someones familiar?" The boy flapped his cape, hoping to remove the dust from his clothes, but it didn't help much in the rain.

"Could be a servant or it was probably another mage."

"But isn't this war supposed to be a secret?"

"Yes."

It was amazing they could hear each other; the rain was coming down like there's no tomorrow.

It could be a scouting familiar? Then why was it so strong? I could try and—wait a minute!

Saber jumped, making as much distance as possible. He let his guard down again; the boy could have easily skewered him. He gripped his sword tight; the minotaur could have been a ploy. As though he was out of a trance, the enemy servant flew in the air, their lance glowed a brilliant gold.

"You are Saber, correct?"

"Archer." Saber grumbled.

The enemy servant huffed, a small smile appeared on their face.

"Well then Archer. I hope you don't mind if I fight from a distance. That is your specialty right?" He twirled his lance; it made a circle as it rotated. Lightning sparked off its form as he rotated it faster and faster.

"Then let me be the first to use my Noble Phantasm!" He rotated it above his head; it was so bright Saber squinted his eyes.

"Answer my call, Meslamtaea! Know the blessing of Kur!" A thunder clap was heard, it pulsed through the landscape.

Saber's instincts screamed at him to run, but nowhere felt safe. The boy was too high for him to stop. In a panic, he desperately looked for anything until he stopped at the ocean.

Oh, of course!

He ran as fast as his legs could carry, water armor trailing behind him.

"Appear, O scorching shrine!"

Saber jumped in the air; the ocean opened up ready to embrace him.

"This is [Kur Ki Gal Irkalla]!" The boy plunged to the ground; his lance stabbed at the earth. Fire erupted from fissures; they raced towards Saber. He touched the sea, a huge wave crashed to the shore smothering the flames. But the Noble Phantasm refused to be denied; the fissures continued underwater. Saber could see cracks glowing on the seafloor; he swam like it was second nature, in fact, he moved faster in water than on land. He was far away when the ground exploded, water and red energy rose up combining into a huge waterspout. It sent shockwaves through the water, a huge flow of bubbles temporarily blinded him. It caused building-size waves to engulf the beach, trees and the cabin were crushed under its weight. Some secret war this was supposed to be; people could see that for miles. When it was done, nothing was left but a huge whirlpool.

That was close. If he wasn't in the water, that attack would have surely killed him, if not seriously maimed. His head popped out to the water's surface; there was a huge cloud hole in the sky. He dipped down again when he saw his opponent fly over. Now that he thinks about it, he didn't need to breathe air; in fact, he could see clearly underwater even if it was the dead of night. He didn't need his armor anymore; he had the home field advantage.

Water… Of course. If he could just drag his opponent underwater, then it would all be over.

Saber jumped to the water surface; he landed on the waves. The ocean was turbulent, giant waves and howling winds. This was perfect weather for him. He began to walk, then run on water, the wind gathered around him. He readied his sword; he could see his opponent in the sky. He used a wave as a slingshot; the wind propelled him higher than ever before; he was on top of him. He swung downward, the boy blocked him with his lance. Powerful gales of wind escaped from their clash. Saber could see the struggle in the boy's face; he was drifting downwards.

"Let go!" Red lightning charged in the boy's lance. Saber kicked himself off the spear; he dived straight into the water. Red lightning followed him in the deep, that too was followed by golden staffs. But he was faster in the water; he emerged far away then swung slashes of water at the boy. The child barely dodged them before he was blown away by a gust of wind. He almost fell, just inches over the ocean.

So close.

Saber jumped; four black swords pierce where he once stood. The boy surrounded himself with black swords, they danced around him as he drifted to the sky.

"You dare! Face the might of Kur!" He shot those swords like a gatling gun. Saber thanked the rain because none of his shots hit; he ducked and weaved through the waves. Each sword made a splash of water with each impact. The boy must be getting frustrated because he started shooting lightning at him. Now that was hard to dodge; Saber may be fast, but he's not as fast as the speed of light. Saber had to hide behind waves and do crazy acrobatics to avoid getting hit.

This is getting nowhere.

He dodged another lightning bolt, inches close to his face. He tried to climb another wave, but a quick bolt and a few swords stopped that from happening. Saber retaliates by swinging water slashes and wind waves, but just as he is fast in the sea, the boy is faster in the air. This has become what he dreaded, a battle of attrition, and he doubts the kid is tiring himself floating in the air. He's going to lose if he doesn't think of something fast.

Saber swung his sword and jumped on top of a wave.

If I can't beat him here, then I just need bigger waves.

He fled to open waters, the boy right behind him, throwing swords and lightning bolts in his wake. He eventually got lucky and hit the wave he was riding on; Saber crashed to the water's surface.

"Ugh!"

"I'll end this now!" The boy twirled the spear; lightning circled around him like a tornado. Even underwater Saber could feel the power he was gathering; he dove deeper into the sea. As he reached the seafloor, his body stilled, fissures and cracks covered it for miles. It glowed brighter and brighter, ready to explode. Saber knew he was trapped, the lightning above and the magma below. His only hope was if he could swim fast enough from the epicenter.

Where is he getting this much magical energy!

The cracks grew over the entire seafloor, going from horizon to horizon; the amount of ecological damage this could bring would kill thousands of sea life. Somewhere inside him, he did not want that to happen. The only choice he had would be to stop him before he finished his Noble Phantasm. There was one thing in his arsenal that could help, but for some reason he can't remember its true name . The ocean glowed so bright it could be seen above water; he didn't have much time. He was going to do something risky; it is possible to use a substitute name but it might not even work. He could swim away, but then a lot of things would die; it could reveal the entire war. Saber gulped, he was wasting time. He positioned himself upwards, angling his blade to the growing power above the water's surface.

It's now or never.

He whispered the sword's name, and the sea began to move. A vortex of water gathered around his blade; it glowed brighter as the water moved faster and faster. The water sheath scattered, revealing the blade's true form. Jade green, rugged and symmetrical, it possessed a rough beauty. It is the sword of heaven, a divine construct that can give a mortal the authority of a god. Whether it be for destruction or salvation, it's up to him to decide.

"O sacred water."

The sword glowed blue, snakes coiled around his arms.

"Trickle. Flow. Rush to the sea as a star."

The ocean itself listens, collating around him.

I hope this works.

The tension was building; it just needed a single command to spring.

"[Special Technique - Currents Strike]"

That wasn't its name, but it worked all the same, though less powerful and not as complete. But he didn't need power, just speed. Saber was coated in a watery vortex, like a viper he sprung to the surface at impossible speeds. Out of the water came a giant snake; though it would have been impossible to see with the naked eye, it was just that fast. The watery snake climbed in the air and opened its jaws to devour the enemy servant. The boy couldn't even scream; he didn't comprehend what was even happening. Within the serpent Saber grabbed the boy by his chain, and the snake dove down into the water.

They glided through the ocean at a breakneck million miles per hour, Saber dragging the boy across the seafloor. The boy screamed bubbles as his head collided with rocks, sand, shipwrecks, dead coral, and underwater mountains. Saber doubted the boy could even breathe underwater. After a relentless two minutes, they returned to their starting point near the waters of Montauk. The boy lay motionless, resembling a floating piece of flesh. It was remarkable that he maintained a humanoid shape. To an onlooker, he might have appeared lifeless, but Saber knew better; he was alive but faint, the servant's energy feeble. They ascended to the surface, and Saber stood on the water's edge. The ocean still raged, the rain relentless and intensifying. Holding up the enemy servant, his hand clenching the chain, His clothes were tattered, his once-magnificent cape now a soaked rag. He had lost his lance somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic; his limbs dangled like meat in a locker. Golden hair covered his face, his head bleeding profusely, blood dripping down to Saber's arm. The only thing intact was his crown, seemingly magically glued on.

Saber shook the boy.

"I know you're still alive."

The boy didn't respond.

I have to end this now.

With his other hand, he drew his blade, leveling it to the boy's neck. The jade of the sword shimmered in the rain. Lightning and thunder roared in the sky; the waves reached astonishing heights. He stood there in silence, holding the boy skyward; it felt like an eternity before he moved his sword.

I just have to…..

His hands trembled, not from the cold.

I need to……

Saber huffed deep breaths. He had done this countless times in another life. He steadied his hand; he needed to do this. The war couldn't continue if no one died.

"The weak perish, and to the victor, the spoils." He said it like a prayer. He arced his arm far back; he needed to do this in one swing.

"Bi……" The boy weakly uttered.

"What!?" Saber had to scream to be heard through the storm. His arm came back down, and he shook the boy.

"What did you say!?"

"Ba-bi."

"What did you say?"

"Bianca."

Bianca? Who-

"Bianca." The boy was crying, tears fell to his hand. "Save me." He sobbed.

Percy couldn't do it; he lost the will to move. The amber returned to sea-green. A boy even younger than him was crying for his sister, mother, it didn't matter. His blade disappeared into thin air; he lowered the kid down, his grip loosened. He was about to kill someone; that single thought shattered his entire world. Nothing was right; up was down, north was south.

What am I-

Like a meteor, something crashed between the boy and Percy. It made him skipped like a rock and crashed beneath the waves. It took a second for Percy to swim up and gasp for air. That's when he noticed the silence. The rain had stopped; no more lightning or thunder, even the waves were gone. He looked at the sky, the stars illuminating the entire night; living in New York, this was an impossible sight. Something bright and golden caught his eye; it was a golden light just above the water's surface. Intrigued, he swam to it; as he got closer, it started to take a familiar shape. Floating above the water was a golden sheep, its wool fluffy with equally golden horns and legs. Instead of a face was a blank mask with two dots.

"So, you're the servant?" The sheep had a soft voice.

"I-Ah?"

It didn't float; it pranced in the air. Its body emitted a soothing light that made him feel sleepy. Percy noticed the boy on top of him. His body lay over the sheep's wool, bleeding terribly, yet the blood didn't stain the wool.

"I congratulate you on your victory. But know this servant. Though the boy is young, he has quite the potential, and one day." The sheep's voice took on a deep tone. "He will destroy you."

The sheep flashed a blinding light; Percy had to cover his eyes before a great wind blew. The sheep was gone; in the distance, he could see a shooting star disappear into the horizon. Now he was alone in the middle of the ocean; he swam back to the shore, his pajamas stuck to his body like a second skin. As he walked back, his legs felt heavy; it was like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. The moment he stepped out of the water, he began to tire. Struggling up the beach, he almost collapsed on the grass. The cabin was nowhere in sight; debris and fallen trees were the only remnants. He sat down beside the only wall still standing, hugging his knees, and started to feel drowsy. Wet clothes clung to his body, and he shivered, huddling close to the wall. The sounds of Gabe's car echoed; its exhaust had a recognizable popping sound. He closed his eyes as sleep began to take him; his teeth rattling in the cold. Before he succumbed, one thought passed through his mind.

Why am I even in this war?