The last chapter! Is anyone crying yet? Actually, no, you don't need to do that until you read the chapter. So I just want to thank everyone who has reviewed this story because they're really the main reason it exists. So, here goes!
By the way, if you haven't figured it out, I do not own Percy Jackson or any of his friends.

Percy's POV:

There's a blurry light before me. I groan, trying to think.

What do they always say? Don't go into the light?

I'm not given much of a chance as the light engulfs me.

I open my eyes. Someone is standing over me. At first I think that it's Leyna. Then I blink and realize that Leyna was definitely not wearing a dress last time I saw her.

"He's awake," a soft voice says.

"He is? Thank the gods." I know that voice. I sit up, rubbing my head. Annabeth is kneeling beside me with a mixture of concern and amusement on her face. "Hey seaweed brain. How do you feel?"

"Okay," I shrug. My ribs hurt, but other than that I'm fine. "What happened?"

"You passed out on me after you killed the dragon. I think you cracked a bunch of ribs, but nothing nectar can't fix," she says.

I look at the young woman standing beside us. "That would make you... Lux?"

She smiles and reminds me freakishly of Leyna. "Yes, that would be correct."

The resemblance is giving me the shivers so I turn back to Annabeth. "How long was I out?"

"Probably ten minutes." She pulls me to my feet. "Enough time for Lux to resurface and get you and Nico some more nectar."

I look over at Nico. "What happened to him?"

"Overexerted himself. As usual," Annabeth smiles.

I let myself laugh a little. Then I realize what is missing.

"Where's Leyna?"

Annabeth's smile dims. She looks at Lux who just shakes her head. They both look at me sympathetically.

My throat tightens. "She can't have, I mean, no. That's not possible," I stammer, looking imploringly at Annabeth.

She just shakes her head, placing a hand on my shoulder. "She's gone, Percy. I'm sorry." I feel like someone has punched me in the gut.

Lux turns and walks over to Nico. I watch as she kneels beside the boy and starts reviving him.

"But how?" I manage. "She was standing, and talking. She can't have just... died. That's not possible. She was-"

"She was a spawn," Annabeth whispers. I take a step back.

"When Pyralis got word of your existence, she decided to make a spawn," Annabeth starts. "That way the spawn could go bring you to her without her leaving her nice safe haven. But she didn't count on the fact that Lux was still alive inside her. So when Leyna was born, she was half dragon, half demi-god. Weird combination. And after Lux started contacting her, Leyna took a human form and discovered morals. Once Pyralis figured that out, she decided to give her some extra motivation to bring you home and kidnapped Nico," Annabeth pauses. "A spawn dies with it's parent," she tells me softly.

For a few minutes, I just sit in mild shock. Then I find my voice again.

"So this whole time, she knew that when I killed the dragon, she was going to die. And she did it anyways," I say.

"She was the child of Light. She saw things, not just with her eyes. She could see truth, and what was right. Lux isn't just about sunshine," Annabeth says.

I look over at the goddess, who is talking to Nico. Nico has his head buried in his hands. I feel a pang of sadness, not just for Leyna, but for him.

"Come on." Annabeth stands. "We need to talk to the Hunters. They're waiting outside."

"Waiting? That's a new one."

Annabeth cracks a smile. "Yeah. They got here right after you killed Pyralis. We asked them to hold off until you came around so we could explain things..."

The group is standing in the doorway and not looking thrilled about it. We walk up and for a moment there is a tense silence.

Then, out of the blue, Thalia gives Annabeth a giant hug. I'm shocked to see the other hunters smiling.

"Watch the ribs," I mumble as Thalia hugs me too.

"So, you don't want to kill us?" Annabeth asks when Thalia lets go.

"Kill you!" Thalia laughs with the rest of the girls. "More like thank you!"

I look at Annabeth who for once doesn't have the answer.

"You finally killed that stupid dragon! She was getting insufferable. Always asking for more protection, more safety, a better home." Thalia sighs. "It was starting to drive me nuts."

"So why'd you try to stop me?" I ask.

"Because we swore on the river Styx. And we followed our promise. We really did try to protect the dragon to the best of our ability."

"But alas, we were outwitted and beaten," Phoebe sighs dramatically. The others laugh.

"You guys have a way back to camp?" Thalia asks.

"Yeah, I think Lux will help with that," Annabeth says.

"Cool. We need to hit the road," Thalia says, starting to turn. "We'll see you guys at camp sometime." A couple girls groan at that comment, and Thalia gives us a wink before leaving.

"I still can't imagine you staying at one school for so long," Annabeth teases as we walk out of the big house. "Keep it up and you might start looking normal."

"Heaven forbid," I say with a grin. Chiron manipulated the mist to make everyone believe that I left school early for vacation and had planned it weeks in advance. I asked him if he could add a few A's to my report card, but that's where he drew the line.

One of Annabeth's siblings calls her over and she leaves temporarily. I sit down at a bench to wait for her and someone sits down beside me.

It's Nico. He hasn't come out of his cabin since we got back yesterday.

"I don't think I ever said thanks," he speaks finally, his voice slightly hoarse.

I glance sidewise at him. I'm not completely sure what to say to that.

"I mean," he clears his throat. "You could have been killed. And that would have been bad."

"You could have been killed too." I point out. "That also would have been bad."

The son of Hades blinks at me like that thought never really occurred to him.

I hesitate a moment, then quietly ask, "Did you know?"

"About Leyna?" He looks out across the lake. "Sort of. I mean, so much didn't add up. It shouldn't have surprised me."

But thinking back to Annabeth and Luke, I realize that sometimes you just hope something so much that it seems to become real.

I want to say something encouraging to him, but a hand lands on my shoulder before I can think of what.

"Hey Seaweed Brain," Annabeth smiles down at me. "I'm pretty sure you still owe me a date."

Nico leaves and I'm pleasantly surprised to see him smile a little in our direction.

I stand up. "I think we can fix that."

And there's your ending! Yes, I am officially evil. I honestly didn't want to do that, I got kinda attached to Leyna, but it just made sense with the story. Poor Nico.
But anyways, you are allowed to hate me now. But if you do, please tell me in a review or else I'll never know! Please please please tell me what you think of the story, because I'm not so sure about it myself. Please review!