SUMMARY:

"A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor." In this story, Percy and Annabeth go through hardships to become the courageous man and woman they are. With Percy's sickening skill, and Annabeth's conniving witts, the two manage to create one heck of a sea ride.

A City Is Born

ANNABETH.

(Age: 22)

Annabeth Andromeda Chase was not an ordinary woman. She an exceptional maiden, brought up in a home filled with strength, pride, and dignity. Failure was foreign to her. She had not many friends, for such a thing was of no importance to her. Friendship would become too much of an obstacle for the maid. Her heart, soul, and mind were set on one goal to achieve. Her destiny was to become the captain of her mother's ship.

It had remained as her top priority over everything. Annabeth was in love with the assembled piece of wood. Her voyaging mother designed it. Ever since she was eighteen, she swore to take the ownership after her mother died, in hope to achieve her almost impossible dream. Almost impossible.

There was only one thing holding her back. Her father, the most well known inventor in all the land, felt her ambition was foolish and childish to think of. He wanted his daughter to marry off to a rich man, have kids to be heirs to their father, and die old. It was churlish for his twenty-two year old daughter to even dare think about leaving the kingdom to pursue such an impossible dream. It wouldn't take long for her to die off young.

Today, he had sent another suitor to convince Annabeth that this idiotic plan was never going to happen-which is what he told her mother years ago. It caused quarreling between the wed couple and so Athena, the mother of Annabeth Chase, left without word.

The Prince of Cyprus, Prince Luke Castellan, was arranged to meet with Annabeth and her family after supper, much to Annabeth's dismay.

As the blinding sunlight poured into her bedchambers, Annabeth stirred, troubled by the unsettling light. She looked to the outside to see that the sun was already rising, causing her to immediately jump out of bed in a hurry.

The maiden rushed to the toilet room, took her bath, brushed her teeth, and got dressed quickly. Her father warned the day before that if she was again late to breakfast, it would be unexcused. Everything must be on time in the Chase household.

When she arrived, she saw that everyone was there waiting impatiently for her. Her step-brothers, Robert and Matthew were violently punching each other, soon silenced by their reprimanding mother, Annabeth's stepmother. Frederick sat in his head chair with a scowl on his face, due to Annabeth's tardiness.

"You are late. Again." His expression made Annabeth's hair stand up. He was furious, an emotion he exposed to Annabeth much too many times. He did not scare her anymore, she was a woman now, so she shrugged in response. This caused his face to turn red in anger.

"I thought I told you to make sure you were on time this morn. Now, I calmly show you that you have disobeyed me and you answer me, nonchalantly? I shall not accept this blase kind of attitude from you just because I have brought you suitors to marry and better your life! I will and cannot have this!" The abrupt slam of his fist on the table caused Annabeth to flinch in surprise. Even the boys ceased their bickering and looked to their angered father. Annabeth glared to Frederick.

"You are not trying to better my life. You wish to marry me into a rich kingdom so you could use the money for yourself. I refuse to stoop down and please to your wants." She noticed she was standing, so Annabeth sat and slumped in her seat, arms crossed. She avoided the look on her father's face in order to stick to her word. Helen, in a fit of rage, screamed to Annabeth, who ignored her. Frederick still sat there, completely calm. It was everyday they argued the same argument. This was the same cycle. About now was the time where the maiden would leave, without excusing herself, to see her friends to escape the turmoil in her home.

Without a word, Annabeth pushed out her chair, and escaped her family.

Outside there was a slight chill in the air and Annabeth cursed herself for not dressing warmer. She only wore a simple gown. While shivering, she saw her best friend Thalia in the public gardens.

In many ways, Annabeth was jealous of her friend. For Thalia was born in a rich family, something she once had. Thalia was one of the many children of Zeus, the overseer of the kingdoms. He was a very wealthy man, along with his two other brothers: Poseidon and Hades.

Hades, the banished brother and man who shouldn't be named, was the forgotten sibling and was off in a foreign land. He was banished because of his treason to the kingdoms. His children were outcasts among the rest of everybody. Even the beggars looked down on them.

Poseidon was the second eldest brother, after Zeus and before Hades. He was captain of the most well known ship in all of Greece, Queen Amphitrite. Those who knew Poseidon saw fit that he was a fair and just man. If he owed something, it would be payed back, three fold-which explained why he was such a fair man. Poseidon was also known as BlackBeard throughout the seas. He was a man who was okay with owing someone else, but you could not ever owe him. If you owed him, you could might as well just leave to the gallows. He would find a way to hurt you, painfully. For those he loved, he loved unconditionally. Nothing good came for those he hated.

For all except for the birth mother of Annabeth Chase.

Athena, daughter of an unknown man, was indeed sworn enemies with Poseidon of Olympia. A grudge between the two started many years ago over a city port to dock their ships.

Many Years Ago…

A wave of unsettlement carried on through the crowd as the two ships came to port. Commoners chatted, uneasily. For it was Poseidon of Olympia, son of the King Kronos. Following him was Athena, daughter of the unknown. It was still a wonder why the two had resentment towards each other. They both were in love with the seas and carried a bold and courageous aura to them. People watched in horror as twenty-six year old Athena approached the twenty-nine year old Poseidon.

"I thought I told you to go somewhere else, Kelp Head. This is my spot." The crowd gasped as she jabbed a finger in his chest at every syllable she used in her last statement. Instead of getting guards to take her away, he laughed.

"Really Birdy? Kelp Head?" He continued to laugh and pushed her to the side. "Oh, and this isn't your spot. I own it. I am a prince after all." Athena glared in anger. This silly, good-for-nothing, rugged, and foolish son of the useless king would not get the best of her.

"I told you to never call me Birdy again after that night."

"Are you really still on that? I mean come on, it was just Aphrodite. She came onto me." He reached out to touch her but she smacked his hand in absolute rage.

"And you let her! Now move this ship! I wish to converse with you no more!" Her sudden outburst caused Poseidon to be taken aback. Though he faked his blank expression on, he was still indeed, surprised.

"I'm not moving." As he said this, she sighed in desperation and exhaustion.

"Even the people could agree that I deserve this spot more than you. For I, a bastard child, have never had anything to call my own but this ship and the crew I have. You, prince of Olympia, own all in this kingdom. Including every single port. Why can not you, oh great one," She curtsied to him mockingly. "use any of the which to your liking, and leave me, a humble farm girl," She turned to the crowd and pointed to herself sadly. "use this one?"

Her reasoning caused mumbling of agreement throughout the crowds. This resulted in a weary eyed Poseidon. Being exposed by a commoner in public was embarrassing, but being exposed by a commoner woman was the biggest disgrace a royal could receive. There was no way he would go down in this argument to a woman. He raised a trembling finger, causing the order in the crowds.

"I beg to differ." Athena smirked and crossed her slender arms, ready for a pathetic excuse of a reason.

"My ship and shipmates," He motioned behind him to the large wooden boat floating in the water. "are tired and exhausted from a long expedition to Egypt. Here, in this town, I have found refuge. For it was the nearest port for a long journey. Surely you good people will respect that."

This caused Athena to worry. His point was valid and made perfect sense, much to her own dismay. She would have to set him in a trap with her words-one thing she was very good at.

"If you say you journeyed to Egypt, why did you not stop at another port along the way? Surely there were other stops. Am I correct?" This only resulted in a grumble from Poseidon. He would and could not meet her eyes.

"So what do the people decide?" Athena yelled to the crowd with a smile on her face, already knowing she won this argument. She raised her hands in victory as the crowd of commoners chanted her name over and over. When she glanced at Poseidon, she saw he was glaring hard at her, enraged at her smart antics. Athena calmy sauntered over to him, a smirk on her face.

"So what do you think I should call the name of this port, Kelp Head?" He looked out to his ship.

"Leave me, if you must. I thought I already apologized for my adultery, but it just appears that you are still just a sour and bitter woman." In shock, Athena struck his face with her hand, tears rushing down her face.

"And you, you are just a fool! A cheating, lying, and scheming fool!" She didn't mean for it to come out so harsh, but it did. And there was no what she could take it back. He laughed bitterly.

"For you, I tried to escape my ways," He spit to her feet. "Next time we see each other, we will be enemies on the battlefield." At the last word, he stomped to his ship and left to another port.

"I couldn't agree more." Her whisper was silenced with the wind.

Later that day, the people begged her to name the city, due to the reason that they had not one. So Poseidon would never forget this argument, she named the city after herself. And thus, Athens was born.

Back to present…

Annabeth walked over to Thalia who was laying in the garden, gazing out to the rising sun.

"Good morning Thalia." Annabeth approached her and lay next to her best friend and she too watched the sun. Thalia just sighed sadly.

"Another fight?" Annabeth nodded. This was also part of her usual morning routine. She and Thalia always stayed here, in the public garden to talk. As Annabeth looked to Thalia, she saw her eye makeup was running. This caused Annabeth to sit up in alarm.

"Thals? What's wrong?" Thalia shook her head and began to cry into Annabeth's shoulder as she held her best friend.

"It's-it's Jason. He's a missing."

Jason was another child of Zeus. He was the younger brother of Thalia, who loved him dearly. A few years ago, he turned to age eighteen and joined the army. Due to his excellence in sword fighting, he easily came to be the second highest ranking officer in the army. First, being the king automatically. Recently, a portion of the soldiers, including Jason, went out to sea to find resources. Only a few returned, reporting the rest of the fighters missing. According to Thalia, Jason was one of the many.

Annabeth patted her back lovingly.

"That's horrible, Thalia. But we know Jason. He'll find a way to come through. He will. You just wait." Annabeth was trying to comfort herself as well.

Jason was very much like a brother to her, like Thalia was almost like a sister. She would hate for anything to happen to any of them.

Thalia stopped crying and grinned.

"You think so?" Annabeth nodded to answer her question.

"I know so."

…

So. I decided to write another story. I prolly wont be able to keep up with Miss Me? so well because of this one.

I just fell in love with this plotline as soon as I thought of it.

I really hope you like this story so far.

MAKE SURE TO REVIEW. THANKS.

-AMT