Hey guys! I am the new girl and I want to try making a PJO fanfic, since I love the stories I read here. I learned the ropes here so this will definitely be a love story since that is my specialty (as that's what my friends say). I didn't get this inspiration from anywhere but it had random ideas with strings attached to it, which is classified info, but I will alter it to my own version, of course...This is in the olden times; I am a huge fan of those stuff. And if I copied any ideas, I am super sorry, I did not know. So read, enjoy, review, and no flames! ~~~thatasianwritergirl

P.S. : This story is AU. Some characters would be OOC.

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters of PJO, all credits and copyright go to Rick Riordan. I only own my plot and my OCs (if ever I should include any). Also the plot of Mulan, I don't own it, but I MIGHT get some ideas out from there.

The Matchmaker

(Annabeth)

It was the usual morning at the countryside at Atalanta, an off-the-islands territory of Greece, so we have a few Greek influences as well as our own traditions. I sighed as I worked in the kitchen; since I had to brew up my father's medicine. I wore a blue peasant blouse, a burgundy skirt, and a pair of black rubber flats. I am seventeen years old, usually I am supposed to be married off this time, like my friends, but I don't think it's happening anytime soon. Here in Atalanta, tradition says a father is supposed to pick a fiancé for his child, but if he is unable to, a matchmaker may intervene or unless an official in the high rank of the army would take you as a wife.

My family is middle-class, since my father is the district's philosopher, also known as the town's teacher and a retired army soldier, so we don't have much connection anywhere. My mother died when I was little in an invasion of the island, she was the smartest strategist in the army, for a girl, they say. I live at the south western district of this island. My dad remarried, but my stepmom once again, died, but this time, during childbirth, so she left me with two stepbrothers, Bobby and Matthew, she was too young to die, considering she was ten years younger than my dad. So technically, I am left with all the house chores. My older brother, Malcolm is in the army, fighting off invasions, so he lives in Greece but he has his days here too in Atalanta. We are pretty close since we talk about architecture and battle strategy, which I study during my free time, so I miss talking to him a lot. Our family lives in a small one floor cottage farm, just in the outskirts of the town of the south western district.

I continued my chores and I decided to feed the animals. I donned an apron and pulled on rubber boots over my flats and went to the farm, our source of food and our trade in the black market. I fed the chickens and horses, milked the cows and goats, and picked some apples from the tree. To keep my mind and hands busy, I made the milk to cream and cheese to trade in the market tomorrow. It was a long and tedious process, but when I was done, I put the fruits of my labor into the basket and went back inside, removing my apron and boots in the process. When I went in, I saw Acantha, the town's matchmaker, and my father talking. No, this can't be good…are the words that are on my head. When the matchmaker visits, she has something to tell you about your fate, good or bad.

My father turned to me and said. "Annabeth, come, Acantha wants to see you."

I sat on the chair and my father sat straight. Acantha looked at me with sympathetic eyes and she stoked my cheek.

"My, Annabeth, just like your mother, but I am sorry for what you are about to hear." She said.

I got confused until she sat up and started to speak.

"Well, Frederick here, has asked me to find a fiancé for you, but apparently, I couldn't find you one decent enough, Luke Castellan is nice, but he is married to your friend, Thalia and it seems I couldn't find you one, I think you were meant to be an old maid like me all your life." She said.

I didn't know what to feel when she said that a part of me wanted to say thank the gods another part wanted me to say What? No, it can't be possible!

"I am sorry, my child."

"Acantha, there must be someone out there for my daughter." My father said.

"I am afraid not at the moment, Frederick, but keep your hopes up." She said.

I stood up and said. "Father, I am going to visit, Thalia, if you mind."

"I don't mind, just be back soon, the boys are going to wake up sooner or later."

I nodded as I got my cloak from the coat hanger and darted off. I walked through the dusty roads to the Castellan homestead, just near the south eastern district. I looked around my surroundings, it was quite peaceful today, with the sight of the mountains, the cold breeze blew against my face and hair. I needed to visit Thalia to keep my mind off things. She has a happy home with Luke, whom her father chose for her since he knew she loved him; she had two kids and was expecting a baby in months' time. I reached her cottage; it was beautiful and quite isolated. I knocked on the door and Thalia opened it. She was um…bigger than the last time I saw her.

"Annabeth! I wasn't expecting that you would come to call! Come in! It's quite lonesome here." She said.

I came in and saw their furnished cottage. I also saw her boys, Jack and Plato, playing on the floor. I smiled, if only I could have a home like this, someday.

"Where's Luke? Isn't he here with you?" I asked.

"Sadly, he isn't, he's recruited to join the army, they need more soldiers, and they might reach your district anytime soon," she said in a voice with a tone that says I miss him. "Well, Annabeth, why have you come here? Your dad had a matchmaker for you?"

"Yes, Thalia, she said I won't be able to get married, which is partly a good and bad thing." I said.

"Don't worry, you'll find someone someday, just give time."

"I don't think so , Thalia, every boy in the south western district only cares about looks."

"That won't happen when you find the right man; you just have to keep your eyes open." Thalia said as she smiled.

"What happened to the rebellious Thalia, that I once knew?" I said, laughing.

"She became a matronly mother." She laughed heartily.

We continued to talk until from a distance, Thalia and I heard the sound of a gong.

"Annabeth, you better go, the gong is coming from your district," Thalia said with a sad but haunting look. "I'll see you sometime."

I nodded, hugged her goodbye, and I ran as fast as I can for miles, hoping to reach the district before it's too late.

So how was it? review if you want me to continue