A/N: Let's hear it for my beta Neko Kuroban!
What was Annabeth like before she met Percy? What's up with her and her mortal family? How does she get along with Athena? Why won't she give up on Luke? How did she develop hubris? What does she want more than anything else? Why did she want to join the Hunters? Why didn't she?

To seek the light of truth, while truth the while

Doth falsely blind the eyesight of his look.

Light, seeking light, doth light of light beguile;

So ere you find where light in darkness lies,

Your light grows dark by losing of your eyes.

-William Shakespeare, Berowne, Love's Labor's Lost Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 72-79.

If these questions are yours, then read "Light Seeking Light," the story of Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, and her journey to Camp Half-Blood, adventures within, and adventures without. To continue through pre-Lightning Thief until The Last Olympian- completely In Canon.

Light Seeking Light

Chapter One:

Wisdom's Price

Chase Household, Virginia January 1st, 2000

Dr. Frederick Chase POV

It was two o'clock on the New Millennium when I lost my daughter.

"Kate, where's Annabeth?"

My wife looked up, concerned. "I guess we lost track of her at the block party." Then she remembered who, exactly, Annabeth was. "Oh, God! Is she all right?"

"It's okay. We'll find her, Kate." We have to, I thought fiercely. If anything ever happened to her, I didn't know what I'd do with myself.

But many hours later, there was no trace of her anywhere on the street. We finally trudged back to the house to search her room.

We searched her closet to find her sneakers and hiking boots gone. A few key clothes items and her teddy bear were missing too.

I was still in shock. Hadn't I told her time and time again that it was dangerous to go out alone? Didn't she know how important she was to me? That she'd been my best surprise ever? Hadn't we sat just a week ago in her chair reading a book on wartime destruction of national monuments?

My face was ashen, I knew it. Kate was crying.

I prayed, expecting no answer. "Lady Athena, please tell me if our daughter is all right."

"She's fine, Frederick. No thanks to you," said the goddess of wisdom coldly, having just popped in to take my daughter away forever. Kate knew who Annabeth's mother was, but she still gasped in surprise.

"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion.

"You failed to give her the wisdom she deserved! Such potential and importance in that child, and you couldn't even send her to private school!"

Money had been tight, it was true. And that had seemed so unnecessary since I'd met Kate... "She's six and a half years old!"

"No. Her birthday was today."

"What?" I sputtered.

"That's why she ran away. You forgot."

"But..." I trailed off. My heart turned to lead. While we'd been celebrating the New Year, my baby's heart had been breaking.

Kate tightened her grip on my hand, hot tears running down her face.

"I have pointed her towards the path the Fates have set out for her. She will be a great heroine."

"She's barely seven years old! How can you do this? You told me I was to raise her!"

"And a great job you'd been doing of that. Wisdom has a price, Frederick."

"Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to cry, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself," I whispered through my heartbreak.

A frown tugged at the goddess' lips. "Interesting, as always. I will watch over her. She will reach her refuge safely."

"On the River Styx?" asked my wife.

Athena frowned at Kate. "If you so insist. I vow upon the River Styx that she shall be safe until you see her again."

My heart leapt, but before I could ask, Athena was vanished as silently as she had come.

Kate gasped in pain suddenly.

"Frederick!" she cried. I knew it then, though how I'm not sure- her contractions had started. The baby was coming.

I was torn. I had Athena's oath that I would see her again. But this felt like a betrayal.

Then I saw Kate's desperate, doubtful face and carried her, depsite her protests, down to the car.

A Few Hours Before

Annabeth POV

"Who are you?" I blinked up at the lady whose eyes were remarkably like mine.

"I am many things, among them your mother," replied the lady.

"Wait- but Daddy said he didn't think my mom would come for me for a long time, 'til I was old enough for grown-up shoes."

"Does your Daddy always remember everything?"

I blinked again, looking up at her.

"Almost. He forgot my birthday."

Athena pursed her lips in distaste, but she offered a challenge rather than sympathy.

"How do you feel about an adventure, Annabeth?"

"I don't know," I said truthfully. "I don't even know your name or if you're really my mother."

A smile tugged at the corners of the stranger's lips. "Then know this. I am Athena, goddess of wisdom, warfare, and crafts. I love you,, and, and I will protect and guide you. You will be safe."

I knew who Athena was from the books that Daddy had read to me, from the monsters I'd seen, and from our identical eyes. "Can I have something to remember you by?"

She smiled again. "Yes, my daughter." She kissed my head, and I felt myself actually grow s a little bit stronger. A few inches taller. Wiser. Braver.

"Thank you, Mother," I heard my voice say, though it sounded different. I looked down to see I was wearing a Yankees T-shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers. How strange, I'd been wearing a pink skirt a few minutes ago. I touched the owl pendant around my neck hestiantly.

"It is my blessing, just as I gave to Odyessus. It will help you on your journey. If you can walk up to the center of town- which you will- you can find a girl with raven-black hair and electric blue eyes and a boy with blonde hair walking alongside each other. Help them, and they will help you in return."

"I will," I promised.

"Once you reach the hill, tell them you are mine. The centaur will know you. Do all you can to save the boy you have accompanied from temptation."

"I will."

"Train hard, be kind but firm with all you meet, do your best not to make enemies or rash judgments, but do not shirk from warfare when it comes."

"Yes."

"It is too much for you now, but it will make sense later. I must go. Shield your eyes."

I did so as she vanished in silver light. The owl pendant around my neck felt heavy, but in a good way.

I was a daughter of Athena, and I was going where I belonged.

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