Hey guys, this is my first published story, so here you go, criticize to your hearts content. I'll probably set out the first few chapters pretty quickly, then the rest will come at random. I write at different paces.

Staggering onto the beach, the young boy looked behind him for his attackers. "Oh Peeeeeeercy!" The voice he'd come to hate sounded from behind him. There was nowhere to hide, so Percy took the only course of action he could. He dove into the ocean swimming as fast as he could, Percy dragged himself down, down, down. The one place he knew he was safe.

About half a mile from shore, and twenty yards deep, there was a cave. It was rather large, and for Percy, quite comfortable. Of course, the entrance was underwater, as was most of the cave, so there was no chance of...him finding it. But the best part was the crystals. Ranging in color from red to green to blue to white, the covered the cave. Each one sparkled brilliantly, and they glowed, casting a warm, rainbow colored light around the cavern. Once, Percy had managed to pry one form the wall, but when he took it out of the water it lost it's glow and color. He brought it back when he figured it was useless on land.

The cave had become a safe haven for the outcast. Percy had always been small and scrawny for his age. Trouble seemed to follow him everywhere, and Percy wasn't good at anything. His ADHD and dyslexia made it difficult to focus on anything. The strangest thing about him was his powers.

Percy had an affinity for the sea, and this extended to having control over liquids and the ability to breath underwater. Being twelve, Percy hadn't explored his gifts much, nor did he want to. None of the court physicians had been able to explain it, nor had the train of wizards and wise men. His ability set him apart from the other boys, as it was difficult to hide, and having no one to help him control it. Luckily, word hadn't spread to the rest of the kingdom, for there would likely be a mutiny if the people learned that the heir to the throne was more merman than human.

Percy's father was none other than King Poseidon, the ruler of Pacificantas. It was a prospering kingdom, made so by Poseidons tact and responsibility. Percy was supposed to inherit the throne when Poseidon was unable to rule, and if he was, he would have to get a grip on his powers.

Pondering this in his cave, Percy came to the conclusion that the only way to get control was to practice. And that was exactly what he planned to do. Taking a deep breath, Percy willed the water to move him out of the cave, instead of swimming like he normally did. The water was slow to respond, but gently tugged him out. Percy closed his eyes and relaxed his body, determined to let the sea take control.

Suddenly, he felt a strong grip around his waist and was zooming up at an incredible speed. It was amazing, almost like flying! The water began to get warmer and warmer, until he was rudely tossed out of it and onto solid rock.

"Oh god, oh god, please don't be dead!" Percy heard someone say. He felt a tickling sensation on his face and opened his eyes to see...a girl. "You're alive! Oh god what were you thinking? Just go for a midday swim? Those currents had you pretty hard, I could barely get you out!" She exclaimed in a single breath. Her light blonde princess curls were tickling his face, and the intensity in her eyes made percy want to back away. He sat up, disturbing the girl from her position hovering over him.

"Uh, thanks but…" Percy froze. For the first time, he caught sight of her lower half. Where her legs should have been, there was only one long, blue tail. Exactly like a fish. "O-oh dear." Percy said faintly. "You're a mermaid?"

"You're lucky I am, no human would be able to fight those currents." She said stiffly. "That wasn't very smart, swimming all alone. The ocean can be very dangerous."

"I know that!" Percy exclaimed, fighting back annoyance. The waves crashed a little more fiercely on the rocky island. "I had it under control."

"Yeah right, you were a dead man until I saved you." The mermaid shot back.

"No, I literally had it under control!" Percy extended a hand and a large glob of water flew towards him. It landed in his hand and stayed in it's perfect spherical shape. The mermaid's eyes widened.

"You're an elementalist?" She exclaimed. "Tell me your name." She demanded.

"Er...Percy. An elementalist? What's that?"

"You mean you don't know?" The mermaid asked, as though not knowing something was the worst crime you could commit. "How old are you?"

"Twelve, but…" The girl interrupted Percy. "I'm twelve too, so I don't know anything about it, other than elementalists can control an element, like you can control the water. I know something is going to happen when you're sixteen, but that's it."

"Uh, great." Percy said. He hesitated, waiting to be interrupted again. "I didn't catch your name."

"It's Annabeth."