Disclaimer : I don't own any of the characters in this world. Rick Riordan does! Only the plot is mine...

What Happened on August 18

It was the eighteenth of August. A fair morning dawned, the sun shone bright. Flowers blossomed, the mist cleared and the sky was blue with fluffy clouds. Of course, apart from being a really nice day, it was also Percy Jackson's birthday. His first birthday after the second giant war. "Oh, big affair", you would think, but for the demigods of Camp Half-blood, it was indeed a big day.

It was the last day Percy and Annabeth were staying at camp. Then they would be off to New Rome, to attend college and do all the other 'normal' things demigods were usually denied.

Of course, a see-off party was in order, and what better way to do it than combining it with a birthday party?

Travis and Connor Stoll had taken charge of the fun department, of course. Food could be arranged in a snap. You just had to say it, and you would have it! The decorations were left to the nymphs and satyrs.

Chiron hinted that the gods themselves were going to present him with a gift for saving Olympus along with the Heroes of Olympus. The campers were awed upon hearing this, but they promised to keep quiet about it all and let it be a surprise to Percy.

Percy knew, obviously, that something was going on and he wasn't being told, but he took it in a good spirit and refused to be curious. He would wait until the D-day patiently.

And thus the D-day dawned bright and happy, with preparations going on full-swing and every person looking forward to the evening...

PERCY

Something was definitely not normal at camp. Everyone rushing about, giving me suspicious looks and then rushing away. My mother's insistence that I spend the whole of today with her. She might have spared a thought for me, after all. I would be seeing her every now and then because she was going to shift to San Francisco. But it would be almost impossible for me to visit camp after shifting to New Rome. I deserved to say a proper goodbye to my safe haven.

Anyway, I was not about to spend my birthday being miserable. I was going to eat blue cake, blue muffins, blue biscuits... and well, you get it. I would have a blast with Mom and Paul and enjoy my birthday totally!

With these happy thoughts, I finished my morning training and then packed up some stuff to take home.

A whistle to Blackjack and he was there, my mighty Pegasus, flapping his wings eagerly and bowling me over with all the latest gossip from Pegasi-town. I'd already said goodbye to Annabeth and spent about five minutes wondering why she categorically refused to come home for my birthday with me. Maybe Mom had told her we wanted a family day and being Annabeth, she had obliged readily.

Sighing, I took off on Blackjack and made my way home. I was greeted by my overjoyed mother and a grinning Paul. After the bone-crushing hugs session and a fist bump with Paul, we started our feast. Mom's food was all blue, of course, and I had the meal of my life!

We were chatting, catching up with each other's news when the window rattled open and Jason flew in.

Yes, he actually flew into my house, shouted "Percy's needed at Camp Halfblood NOW!" and pulled me out of the window with him. Paul was staring open-mouthedly and Mom was just standing there, and waving goodbye.

After getting over my shock, the fear began to set in. "Can't we take the subway, Jason?", I asked him.

"No, we can't. We need to get back, and fast!"

Now the fear turned into dread. "Is Annabeth okay? Grover? And everybody else?"

"Yes, everyone's absolutely fine, Percy. Now shut up and be a good passenger, will you?" Jason snapped.

Figuring something really bad would happen if I spoke again, I decided to obey my pilot's orders. We were back at Camp in no time at all (which was like five long days for me) and he dumped me unceremoniously on the ground. I got up and immediately punched him on the nose.

"What happened, and why did I have to endure that dreadful journey?"

Jason simply pouted and replied,"You'll see soon enough. Come on!"

Then he dragged me off to the Big House and shoved me in the Rec Room. Before I could react, he shut the door and bolted it.

I pounded my fists and he gave a shout, "Mischief, thou art afoot!"

"Don't quote Shakespeare on me, Grace!" I shouted to the empty dark space around me.

"Okay, calm down!" I told myself.

First, I had to find the light switch. That done, I sighed in relief as the whole room lit up in a moment. I almost expected a shout of "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PERCY!" but knowing my friends, I suppose that was too much to hope for. The room was well and truly empty and I was well and truly locked in...