Part 2

The Little Mermaid: Darling It's Better

As Percy swam back towards the palace he noticed the ocean had calmed. Giant waves no longer rocked the sea, but he could still feel his father's agitation thrumming through the current. He coasted over the undersea kingdom, observing the scene below. Poseidon's kingdom was beautiful. In the dark waters, glowfish patrolled the aquatic streets. Grand columns towered on the ocean floor, their pearl white surfaces enchanted to give off an illuminatus glow. Houses, built from shells, coral and stone dotted around the grand palace. A few merfolk lurked about, tucked away inside their abodes either for rest or to escape their lord's wrath.

Percy floated up to the top of the palace. He had no doubt that Poseidon was waiting for him. He wondered how long he could put off the inevitable argument. To prolong that confrontation, Percy wiggled through the window of one of his father's numerous greeting halls. This would be the last place Poseidon would look for him. As he sank into the room he realized he was not alone; a mermaid floated down the corridor. She spotted him before he even sensed her.

"My prince," came the gentle call.

Percy relaxed as he recognized his companion. Hestia, a loyal member of his father's council, swam before him. Hestia was Poseidon's Surface Liaison therefore the only merperson with explicit permission to breach the surface. Her job encompassed keeping an eye on the landwalkers and reporting any concerns to her king. She also happened to be one of the kindest creatures Percy had ever met. He smiled, swimming over to greet her.

"Hi Hestia. Did the two finally calm down?"

"Prince Triton refuses to speak to the King," Hestia said with a sigh. "And your father searches for you. But set those worries aside for a moment. You know it is forbidden to breach the surface Percy, much less come in contact with the landwalkers."

Percy froze at her hushed words. Of course Hestia would know. After all, watching merfolk-landwalker interaction was her job.

"She was drowning," Percy beseeched, "she would have died."

"And what if she saw you?" Hestia asked, her eyes wide, "Percy you know how dangerous that it."

"She was unconscious."

"Not for the entire time," Hestia divulged in an urgent whisper. Percy sucked in a deep breath. "Understand now? Oh Percy you could have been in grave danger, and there was no one around to help you!"

"I couldn't just let her die," Percy said. He could not have watched his landwalker grow weaker, her kicks slowing as she took her final breath, those gray eyes staring unseeing up at him. He shuddered at the terrible thought. No.

Hestia's eyes were sad and kind. "I know."

"Do you have to tell Dad?" Percy asked tiredly. He could not ask Hestia to keep this secret for him, it would not be fair.

"No...but I don't have to," Hestia said gravely, "You called out for him to calm the ocean. He felt you. He knew what you were doing."

Percy winced. Oops. Well, he was in big trouble now. Maybe he could swim over to the abyss and throw himself down to save Poseidon the trouble.

"Perseus."

Speaking of the devil. Percy looked over at Hestia, giving her a brave smile.

"Thanks for the chat, Hestia. Don't worry about me," he said as she opened her mouth. He knew she had a soft spot for the landwalkers, just like he did. But he did not want her getting into trouble on his account. "I'll go see him."

Poseidon stormed through the palace, stopping when he caught sight of Percy. The young prince took a deep breath and swam up to his father. Poseidon's face was dark, and the water around him formed into little vicious whirlpools. No, he was not pleased. Percy bowed his head as he stopped in front of him. He waited for the king to say something.

"I don't have any words to describe how angry I am," Poseidon began, his voice low and dangerous like it got when he was truly pissed. Percy winced, his head still bowed. "You know better. Dammit Percy they're dangerous!"

Percy bit his tongue, resisting the urge to remind Poseidon that his people were just as dangerous. He did not think it would go ever very well now... or you know ever. He still did not look at his father.

"What if they spotted you or the girl woke up? What would you have done?" When Percy did not respond he slammed his trident against the floor, demanding, "Well Perseus?"

"She was dying," Percy tried, looking up for the first time. That apparently was the wrong thing to say.

"Then you should have let her die!" Poseidon snarled, his voice echoing through the water. Percy bristled angrily, ready to fight, as his father continued furiously, "I expected better from you Percy!"

That stilled Percy's tongue. He faltered, angry and confused.

"I expect Triton to be reckless and unruly! I really thought you were above that. You not only put yourself in danger, but our people's entire way of life. I'm disappointed in you, Perseus, very disappointed." Poseidon slammed his trident against the ground, sending shock waves through the water.

Percy felt like someone punched him in the stomach. Poseidon often was angry with him, but not once had he expressed...disappointment. He held Percy to higher standards. But it wasn't fair.How dare he? The girl was dying,Percy could not just leave her! That would not have been right, and Percy knew he would not have been able to live with himself if he let his landwalker die.

Percy let out a bitter laugh. "Put our people in danger? From what? The girl wasn't even conscious.And what if she was? What would she have done? Gone home and told all her friends that a strange fishman saved her? Nobody would believe her! I put nobodyin danger, so you don't dare put that on me."

"Talk spreads," Poseidon insisted angrily, "You are young and reckless, you don't understand! Talk is dangerous.No, trouble may not have come this time, but what about the next? What if a landwalker sees one of us and puts their story together with the girls? That's all it takes Perseus, for our hard won peace to evaporate."

"She was dying," Percy repeated fiercely. "I won't just sit back and let people die like you."

Poseidon recoiled as if Percy slapped him. Percy knew that was a low blow, something else his father probably expected from Triton and not Percy, but he was too angry to care. Without giving his father a chance to collect himself, Percy darted out the window and into the ocean. With powerful long strokes of his tail, Percy distanced himself from the palace. Such an escape got him into trouble last time, but Percy was not heading for the surface. Instead, he swam to his ship graveyard. The graveyard slowly came into sight, broken masts and rotting wood rising out of the mist in eerie silence. Percy easily slipped through the carnage, heading for his favorite ship.

"Percy!"

Percy twisted around at the frantic call, his eyes capturing a darting figure through the murky water. He sighed as Grover floundered into sight, the nurse shark squeezing through a porthole to reach the merman's side.

"Did my father ask you to follow me?" He demanded tersely, swimming backwards so Grover could not butt against him. Grover hesitated, obviously distressed by his avoidance.

"No!" Grover denied, horrified. "I was - Percy I was worried.They said you went to the surface and rescued a landwalker."

"Sorry," Percy muttered, letting the shark nuzzle reassuringly against him. "And yeah I did."

"Percy!" Grover cried in distress. "They saw you?"

"She was unconscious," Percy protested. Hestia's words niggled at the back of his mind but he pushed them away. Even if his landwalker did remember (which Percy secretly hoped she did), she was smart. His landwalker would know better than to go blabbing her mouth. His anger retreated a little as he grinned dreamily at the shark. "It was my landwalker Grover. She fell off the boat and the waves pulled her under. I saved her and brought her to shore. Gods, you should have seen her. She's even prettier up close."

Grover made an odd noise, somewhere between a whine and a moan. "Oh Percy."

"Quit worrying, my father does enough of that," Percy said, gently whacking his friend on the nose. He settled against the side of his ship, his tail nestling neatly against the railing. He closed his eyes, seeing his landwalker shakily standing up on the shore, looking over her shoulder at the water. "I don't regret it."

"I know," Grover grumbled, nervously circling above the prince's head. "Your father is very angry."

"My father can - " Percy started to retort when the ship gave a low groan. Grover twisted around, swimming closer to his friend as Percy sat up. The ship lurched. Unlike last time, however, the ship did not stop. Percy could hear the sound of brittle wood snapping, the entire ocean seemed to tilt as Percy suddenly found himself sideways, the ship falling into the abyss below.

"Percy!" Grover panicked. The prince snatched his friend, holding the shark close. He lashed his tail out, breaking through the fragile ship's body enough to dislodge himself and propel them to safety. They escaped just in time, hovering precariously on the ledge as Percy's precious ship tumbling into darkness. The ship scratched against the side of the chasm as it fell, creating a terrible high pitch squeal that set Percy's teeth on edge. Boom.

Percy waited, stunned, as the ocean returned to silence. The fall stirred up the mud, turning the already murky water into an almost opaque wall of filth. His ship was gone, swallowed by the abyss below. Grover trembled against him, the shark's tail gently swishing back and forth.

"Is it over?" Grover asked.

"Yeah it's over," Percy said bitterly, releasing the shark. "My ship's gone."

"Don't be too upset," Grover said quickly, "there are plenty of ships here. And the other ones are, ah, quite nice too. They all have those circle thingy you like, what did you call it? Wheels?"

"That was myship," Percy seethed, "Damn it, hasn't he done enough? Why couldn't he leave my ship alone?"

"Who?"

"My father, who else," Percy snapped. He floated over the abyss, glaring down into the dark chasm. "That was totally uncalled for. If Poseidon wants to be petty, then fine. Why shouldn't the all mighty king of the sea behave like a child?"

"Percy," Grover warned, his voice tight.

"No, I'm done. I'm through putting up with his little temper tantrums." He paused. "I'm gonna go see if there's anything left of my ship to salvage."

"What?" Grover protested, swimming closer. The shark faltered as he crossed over the chasm, but bravely continued on until he reached his prince's side. "Percy don't be ridiculous."

"I'mnot the one being ridiculous." Percy huffed, crossing his arms. "I'm going down. You don't have to come with me."

With that, Percy plunged into the darkness. After a moment and some moaning, Grover followed.

"You don't have to follow Grover," Percy said kindly, stopping the loyal shark. His anger simmered to a spark as he regarded his friend. Grover did not deserve his ire. "Really, I'll be fine. I'm just upset. You don't have to drag yourself into this too."

But the little shark shook his head, pressing closer to his prince. "Uh-uh. You'll get into trouble without me. I'm here with you."

Percy smiled. "Thanks Grover."

The pair moved on. As they swam lower, their sight all but obscured by the unsettled silt, Percy conceded that he maybe did not think this through. Perhaps it was not his greatest idea, but Percy squared his shoulders and soldiered on. He was not turning back now. There were no other living fish down here, Percy could not feel the hum of electromagnetism along his scales that alerted him to their presences. It was only himself and Grover, sinking lower into the darkness.

Percy reached his hands out, letting the current guide him. The bottom of the chasm, in addition to being pitch black, was icy cold. Grover shivered beside him, pressing close. Percy could feel the ship beneath them, broken and scattered in thousands of little pieces. He sighed, disappointed. There would be no fixing that; he doubted there was anything even salvageable. He brushed his fingers over Grover, opening his mouth to speak to the shark when a glow caught his eye. Surprised, Percy turned to survey the faint light. It came from his left, lower then where the merman and his companion swam. The light bobbed up and down, slowly, mesmerizing, not unlike a jellyfish. Percy frowned, flicking his tail lightly. He got nothing from the light, no tingle down his scales that signified another living creature nearby.

"Hello?" Percy called. The light bobbed. "Is someone there? Don't be afraid, we won't hurt you." The light seemed to move closer. It reminded Percy of an anglerfish with its light bobbing before its giant mouth. But he could feel the life of an anglerfish, unlike this creature before him which he got nothing from. Grover twitched at his side and Percy looked down at him. Was the light afraid of Grover? The thought was almost laughable.

"The shark is Grover, but don't worry he won't hurt you. He's not hungry," Percy called. Then, after a moment of consideration, added, "He wouldn't be able to hurt you even if he were hungry."

"Hey." Grover protested. The light moved closer and Grover ducked behind Percy, burying his snout in the prince's back.

Suddenly, a bright spark ignited. Percy jerked backwards, his body tensing, but no attack came. Instead, as Percy blinked furiously to adjust his eyes, a figure emerged from the cavern and stood in front of the pair. As his eyes adjusted, Percy realized the blinding light came from a staff, a strange orb at the end of a long reed held in the hands of a ... Percy was not sure what.From the waist up, the stranger looked like any merperson. He had broad shoulders with a long beard as dark as the abyss. Atop his head rose what seemed to be two crab arms, small and clicking at the particles around his head. However, he sported not the broad tail of a merman, or the strange double appendages of the landwalkers, but rather a long, thin and spindly tail that flowed behind him. His tail was unlike any Percy had ever seen. It snaked behind him, twice as long as his body, bonelessly twisting and looping behind him, not unlike a sea serpent.

"Prince Perseus," the male said, his eyes wide. His torso dipped as he bowed low to the son of Poseidon. "It is an honor and a privilege."

"Ah," Percy said awkwardly, "Thanks? Just Percy is fine."

"Prince Percy." The stranger repeated in delight, a smile twisted up his face. "My prince, what are you doing in this wretched place? We are very far down, in darkness and the cold. It is no place for a prince."

"Ah," Percy hesitated, mind whirling as he tried to come up with a worthy excuse. My father's pissed at me and destroyed my favorite ship so I childishly followed it down here to spite him?Not his best moment to be sure.

"No matter," the stranger waved his hand. "Come, my abode is right here and you are weary. Take a rest then I can assist your ascent back to your father."

The creature turned, holding the light high, illuminating a cave entrance behind him. Grover shook his head, eyes wide as he stared up at Percy. Don't do it,he seemed to say.

"That's awfully kind," Percy hedged. The stranger bowed, his bizarre tail twitching. Percy could not lie, he was curious. Grover seemed to sense his conviction wavering because the shark rammed his head into the prince's back. Percy sighed. "But I'm afraid we have to -"

"Peace youngling I mean neither you nor your prince harm. I only wish to lighten your burdens." The creature said, noticing Grover's anxiety. "Come inside, so I may refresh you before I assist you."

"Refresh?" Grover repeated, finally peeking out from behind Percy.

Percy rolled his eyes, the quickest way to Grover's heart was through his stomach. Percy, followed by the now eager shark, followed the stranger inside the cave. The cave was as dark as the chasm they left behind, but the creature placed his staff in the center and its light spread throughout the enclosure. A large cauldron sat in the middle of the room, surrounded by strange ingredients and bottles. The creature disappeared and reappeared a moment later, a basket in his arm. Grover locked onto the basket in an instant, waiting perfectly still. The creature smiled and held the basket out to Percy.

"Whatever your prince does not want you may have," he told the shark as Percy took the basket from his hands. Percy peered at the contents, at what appeared to be raw squid and whale blubber.

"You know, I'm not hungry," Percy said with forced nonchalance. "Grover?"

He held the basket out to the shark, who gleefully dived in. Percy released the basket and let his friend gorge himself. While Grover was occupied, Percy turned his attention back to the strange creature before him, who watched Percy closely.

"I don't mean to be rude," Percy said awkwardly, "And ah, thanks for helping us, but I'm not sure...?"

"What I am?" the male guessed with a wiry smile. Percy winced but the stranger just laughed and waved his hand. "Worry not my young prince, I would not expect you to know. Your Lord Poseidon is not fond of my kind." A bitter smile accompanied his words. "I am called Oceanus."

"Pleasure to meet you Oceanus," Percy said, bowing his head as he had seen his father greet members of his court for years. A flicker of a smile graced Oceanus' face.

"Believe me, dear prince, the pleasure is all mine."

"What do you mean my father isn't fond of your kind?" Percy asked. He was only slightly worried. After all, Oceanus had been nothing but kind and respectful. If he wished Percy harm, he would have done it in the dark when Percy had not seen him. And if Percy had learned anything the past few days, it was that Poseidon's prejudices were blind.

"We have a… disagreement on the use of my talents," Oceanus said, bitterness coloring his voice. He gestured behind him at the cauldron. "And of course, the landwalkers."

That caught Percy's attention. "The landwalkers?"

"Indeed. I disagreed with his policies towards them. You see, I do not think the air-breathers are much different than us."

"That's what I tell him," Percy grinned.

"I thought so," Oceanus said, his eyes flashing and a small smirk blossoming in the corner of his mouth. "Forgive me for my impertinence, young prince, but I did see you save the princess."

"Who?" Percy asked, confused.

"Your blonde landwalker. She is a princess on land." Oceanus clarified.

Percy blinked. That actually made a lot of sense. It would explain her regal attire, the reverence in which her companions treated her… It suited her, he thought with a smile.

"That was a very brave thing you did, rescuing her. Her people need her, they would be terribly lost without her. She swears someone rescued her you know." Oceanus whispered. Percy's eyes widened in alarm…and hope. She remembered him?

"Such a shame. I am certain if the two of you could meet, you would be perfect for each other. Complimentary." Oceanus heaved a great sigh. "If only…ah but your father shall never allow it. I'm afraid you'll have to continue admiring from afar."

"If only what?" Percy asked slowly.

Oceanus looked surprised. "Why, if only he allowed you to walk the surface with the landwalkers."

Percy snorted, "Even if Dad didn't hate landwalkers that would be impossible."

He flicked his tail to demonstrate. He could not walk on land even if his father somehow became okay with his fascination with the landwalkers. He stared moodily at his tail. It gladdened him to hear Oceanus thought his landwalker would like him, but depressed him at the same time. He would never know.

"No it is not," Oceanus said. When Percy stared at him he tilted his head. "Why don't you know? How do you think the mermaid Hestia monitors the landwalkers? She cannot perform her duties from the sea. She goes up on land. With the legs and feet of a landwalker."

"That's impossible," Percy denied, but his mind was whirling. In truth, he never thought too deeply on Hestia's duties. He honestly had no idea how she gathered her information. But legs?

"Difficult," Oceanus corrected, "but not impossible. Come here."

Oceanus floated over to his vat, Percy lurking over his shoulder. Oceanus tipped the contents of a small black vile into the basin, waving his hand as purple haze rose up. The haze circled the basin, coiling in ringlets before smoothing and – Percy gasped – an image appeared. As Percy gaped in disbelief, his landwalker appeared in the haze. Her hair was tied out of her face, but a few tendrils broke free of their restraints and clung to her windblown cheeks. Her clothes were more casual then he had ever seen, but the white symbol object was still on her lap. He smiled at the gentle image, his heart aching. The image expanded and he realized she was at the beach, her bare feet buried in the sand. Her sharp gray eyes scanned whatever was before her and Percy somehow knew she was searching for something.

"This is her is it not?"

Percy nodded, stunned.

"Her name is Princess Annabeth, her mother rules over the air-breathing nation on land. Her near drowning shook the queen deeply, I doubt she'll allow the princess to sail for quite some time."

Annabeth. Percy repeated the name slowly, feeling the syllables out on his tongue. It was simple, but elegant. He grinned; he rather thought it suited her. His face fell as Oceanus' final words registered. With Poseidon's ire, and now Annabeth's accident, it would probably be years before he saw his landwalker again.

"She searches for you," Oceanus said. Percy reluctantly glanced up from the image to find Grover hovering with wide eyes and Oceanus with a smug grin.

"Is she?" He asked in wonder. Oceanus nodded. Percy turned back to the image, staring longingly as his landwalker tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. Percy felt Oceanus creep closer, his strange tail wrapping twice around the vat.

"I can give you what you wish for young prince."

"How?" Percy asked slowly, ignoring Grover's stammering as the shark darted to his side. He pushed Grover away, watching Oceanus instead.

"Like I said, it is difficult, but not impossible. Worth it, if you'd like to be with your landwalker." Oceanus waved a hand towards the image. He pulled his staff against his body, swirling his hand over the orb of light until it too swirled. "This kind of magic does require a sacrifice however, and a condition."

"I don't like this Percy," Grover hissed.

"Like what?" Percy asked, ignoring Grover once more. The shark nipped at his fins in displeasure. Percy brushed him off.

"The incantation will require you to give up something personal - your voice." Oceanus tapped his throat. "Which is a small price to pay for legs is it not? As for the condition, the magic thrives on emotions. For your Hestia, it is her duty and loyalty. For you, love. If your princess," he motioned towards his landwalker in the mist, "Marries another, the spell will break. And by break, I do mean break."

Oceanus met Percy's eyes. "If the spell breaks, your body will not survive the shock, regardless if you are in the water or not. Poseidon himself would not be able to save you."

The space grew cold as Oceanus spoke, the light dimming until only Oceanus' eyes could be seen.

"But, worry not. Once your princess meets you, she will not want any other." The light returned and Oceanus smirked at Percy. "You have naught to be concerned about."

"So...you can give me legs if I only give up my voice?" Percy clarified.

"Simple as that."

"Thanks for your offer, but we really need to be going," Grover pipped up, boldly cutting between Percy and Oceanus. "Percy, come on."

"I'll do it," Percy said over the shark.

"Percy!"

''No, think about it Grover," Percy entreated, "think about it. Dad thinks landwalkers are terrible and dangerous - I can prove him wrong. I can show him they're just like us. He may not believe Hestia, but he'll have to believe me. Especially once he meets my landwalker. Together, we can prove to him that landwalkers and merfolk can peacefully coexist."

"You don't know if she'll even like you," Grover cried. Percy scowled and the shark floundered, "No – not, I didn't mean it like that! What I meant was, you don't know if she'll be okay with you being a merman!"

"She will be," Percy said confidently. "It'll be perfect.''

"A sound plan, my prince," Oceanus cut in smoothly. "And all you have to do is marry the princess."

Percy turned to Grover with a grin. It was a crazy plan, he knew. There were so many variables and things that could go wrong... but it felt right. He could do this. The chance to get to know his landwalker in person – it was like a dream come true.

"I still don't think – " Grover fretted.

"Grover. Trust me."

The shark stared at him, his tail flicking nervously. But he met Percy's earnest and hopeful face...and sighed. "What's he have to do?"

"You've got the easy part," Oceanus said. He drew closer to Percy, his tail sliding passed the prince to grab one of the vibrant bottles behind him. "All you have to do is drink this. Of course, it shall burn on the way down, stealing your voice as it changes your body. Expect a little discomfort."

"Just drink it?" Percy repeated, baffled, "I thought you said it was difficult."

"My dear prince, it is exceedingly difficult to brew. Your father can trigger the change with that delightful trident of his but us others must make due in another fashions. This bottle took me eight months to brew. But of course, if you could enact that little plan of yours, all that trouble would be worth it."

Percy took the bottle from him, nodding solemnly. "Thank you Oceanus. You're doing us all a great service. When I come back, I'll have a talk with my father about your banishment."

Oceanus gave him a thin smile. "Will you now. Well, unless you have any other questions...?"

"No, no," Percy said, looking down at the cold bottle in his hands.

Oceanus looked at him expectantly.

"What, drink it now?"

"That was the general idea," Oceanus sighed, "so I can monitor you and make sure the transformation goes as planned."

"But I won't be able to breath," Percy pointed out.

"We'll get you to the surface in time," Oceanus assured him.

"Oh." Percy brought the bottle up to his face. He uncapped it, wrinkling his nose at the rotten stench that emerged. He met Grover's nervous gaze and put on a brave smile. "Well, here goes nothing."

He tilted the bottle back and swallowed its contents in one gulp. The concoction burned, his throat was on fire. The bottle slipped from his fingers as he grabbed his throat in panic. He curled into himself, burying his face against his scales as he fought back a scream. The fire spread, the terrible burning scorching his gills and then engulfing his chest. He was sure he was screaming by now, but he could not hear anything beyond the roaring in his ears. He clawed at his throat, twitching uncontrollably.

Stop stop! He wanted to cry. He could not breath, his gills were not working. The damn fire kept spreading, his tail felt molten. Gods when was it going to stop?! His entire body was in agony, burning and trembling. Make it stop!

Then he was breathing, deep shuddering breaths as he greedily pulled in air. He coughed, hacking up water and blood and gods knows what else. There was something soft beneath his fingers and he dug in, alarmed to find the surface beneath him give under his clawing fingers. His vision swam with dark spots as his body spasmed. Slowly, his gasps calmed, the coughing receding as his vision returned. He blinked once, twice as he relaxed. He laid there, trembling from residual pain and shock.

He was on a beach, face down in the sand. He turned over, his arms weak and shaky. He pushed himself up into a sitting position, dragging his...legs. Legs! Percy blinked at the limbs below his waist in awe and disbelief. He reached a shaking hand out to poke one of them. Yep, that was definitely his. They were so different from his tail! They were a little shorter and there was a strange knot half way that - oh! - it allowed him to bend the leg. He flexed his leg, watching in wonder as it bent so the two halves actually touched. At the tip, instead of fins, he had two feet. He gave his toes an experimental wiggle and the little digits moved.

Giddiness bubbled up inside him, and he started to laugh. Only, he made no sound. His shoulders shook from his mirth, his mouth was open, yet no sound emerged. Percy brought a hand up to his throat. Right, Oceanus said the potion would take his voice. Still it was unsettling. He tried to make some noise, shout, giggle, anything but to no avail. His vocal cords refused to work. You knew that would happen,he told himself, trying to cover up his frustration. Something splashed in the surf and Percy glanced up to see a fin slicing nervously through the water

Grover.

Percy crawled into the ocean, reaching out to assure the shark he was okay. Grover darted forward and rubbed anxiously against Percy once the water was deep enough for him to swim through.

I'm okay, Percy tried to assure him, grinning down at his friend. He motioned towards his new legs. Look Grover, it worked! To prove his point, Percy heaved himself up, grinning as he placed both feet flat in the sand to stand for the first time. As he straightened, he was alarmed as pain shot up his legs. It felt like someone was stabbing him from inside, starting at the bottom of his feet and carving up his entire leg. He screamed, or at least his mouthed opened in distress as his chest constricted, falling back into the water. Grover was on him in a flash, the shark anxiously butting against him as he tried to figure out what was wrong.

His head submerged, he could hear Grover's panicked voice: "Oh gods, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Percy sat up, gasping as he remembered he could no longer breathe underwater. He ran a hand over his trembling legs. They looked okay. No blood, no twisted bones. Yet the former merman knew what he felt. He reached out to gently pat Grover's head, trying to calm the shark down. Let's try this again,Percy thought. As Grover hovered nervously, Percy shakily tried to stand. Pain shot through him again and he collapsed face first in the water.

"Oh no, something went wrong, something's not right," Grover fretted. Percy sputtered, sitting up. He waved the shark off. Maybe his legs needed to adjust to holding his weight? It should wear off right?

"Are you alright?"

Percy's head snapped up. Hurrying towards him across the sand, looking exactly as she had in Oceanus' cave, was his landwalker. Percy gaped at her as she took a few steps into the surf, eyeing him in concern. Her eyes met his, widening slightly as they ran over his face. Annabeth was here, in front of him, fully conscious. Percy could not believe this was real. A grin found its way up his lips and he beamed at her.

"Are you hurt?" Annabeth asked, her brow furrowed as she took in his smile. Behind her, two landwalkers hovered nervously. One of them, a thin wiry male with black hair and a curious patch over his eye, assessed Percy distrustfully.

"M'lady," He called, his face pinched unhappily as he waded in after her, "he could be dangerous, please let us handle this."

"Or he could need help," Annabeth shot back, glaring at the male over her shoulder. "I think he's hurt."

I'm fine,Percy tried to say. He forced himself to his feet, wincing as pain laced up the new limbs again. As his knees buckled, Annabeth darted forward, wrapping an arm around his waist to keep him up. The male made a noise of protest, but she paid him no mind. She managed to keep Percy up as he bit his tongue, trying to breathe through the pain. It sliced up his legs once more, from the sole of his feet all the way up to his thigh. Even after swaying on his feet for a few moments, it showed no sign of letting up. But he found he could not care less; his landwalker was holding him. He gave her a weak smile and a crease appeared between her eyes as she assessed him. He could not believe she was so close to him, he could feel her breath against his face. He tilted his head to try and get a better look at her face, wanting to see those eyes again.

"I don't see where you're injured at."

Percy waved his hand. Even if he could speak, how could he explain that the pain came from inside because his legs just formed? Annabeth frowned.

"Where did you come from?" She eyed him critically, searching his face, "were you ship wrecked?"

Percy stared at her. Ship wrecked? Well, that was as good excuse as any. He could not very well tell her he was a merman off the bat, so he nodded. She looked satisfied, turning to level a 'I told you so' glare at the male hovering before them.

He scowled. "We should get him ashore then. We can drop him off at the village doctor and - "

"Absolutely not," his landwalker cut in. "We'll take him to the palace."

"M'lady - "

"That's final Ethan," Annabeth commanded. The male, Ethan, closed his mouth with a snap, displeasure flashing in his eye.

"Drew, come help me."

The second landwalker, a tall and beautiful female, although not as beautiful as Annabeth, wrinkled her nose. She heaved a great sigh, looking extremely put upon as his landwalker glared at her. She splashed into the water, her eyes flashing in a way that told Percy, even without words, that she totally blamed him for ruining her outfit. She ducked under Percy's other arm, supporting the former merman as they stumbled towards the shore. Annabeth steadily ignored Ethan's angry glare as they set out across the sand. Percy twisted around and looked at the ocean. The waves rolled calmly against the sand, catching the sunlight perfectly and gleaming like a brand new pearl. He could see Grover's dorsal fin cutting through the surf. They were leaving the ocean. Every painful step he took transported him further away from the only home he had ever known.

"It's okay, we're almost to the carriage." Annabeth said.

Percy reluctantly tore his gaze away from the water to peer at her. She gave him a half-smile, a simple halfhearted upturn to one side of her face but it stole his breath. He grinned in response, and did not look back at the water again. They hobbled across the sand and onto a path. A large white carriage awaited them but Percy froze when he spotted the pair of creatures that were attached. They were large, almost taller than him, with long noses and a mane of shaggy hair running down their necks. They were beautiful. He was so busy gawking he barely even realized the angry girl, Drew, released him and left him leaning solely leaning against Annabeth.

"Geez, you'd think he'd never seen a horse before," she grumbled as she stormed away.

Percy reached a tentative hand out and the large creature tossed its head a little before pressing its nose against his palm. It was cold and wet and if Percy could have, he would have laughed. He turned to Annabeth with a broad grin. She stared at him, her brow furrowed.

"It's just a horse," she said slowly, leading him to the carriage the 'horse' was attached to. "Come one, we need to get you checked out."

They're magnificent, Percy wanted to say, reluctantly letting his landwalker drag him away. She stepped inside the carriage behind the horses. Ethan stepped up to Percy and begrudgingly helped the former merman up.

"To the castle," Annabeth demanded. "Make haste."

The carriage lurched and suddenly they were moving forward. Despite Annabeth's protests Percy leaned out the window, watching in amazement as the horse easily pulled the carriage. They're like the dolphins that pulled Dad's carriage, Percy thought in wonder. He let Annabeth pull him back inside, still grinning widely.

The princess kept a firm hand on Percy's arm, preventing him from leaning out the window again. Instead, he craned his head and gaped as they rode through what must be a landwalkers' village. Their houses were tall, made out of the same material their ships were, but the tops were pointed. Landwalkers ran around, supported upright by their twin legs, coming and going in the busy marketplace. Percy eagerly watched them jump, dance, and do all sorts of incredible feats of acrobatics Percy never thought possible above waves.

He felt the landwalkers in the carriage watching him and he shifted uncomfortably, finally tearing his gaze away from the outside world to blink at his three companions. Drew gave him an open look of disbelief, her pretty face twisted in an ugly sneer. Ethan just stared at him, obviously puzzled. By his side Annabeth frowned, a slight pucker on her brow as she examined him.

He titled his head, what?

"That's the village of York," Annabeth said finally, breaking the awkward silence. "It is our most flourishing village and resides right outside our castle."

Percy peered out the carriage again and, sure enough, he could see a castle looming before them. Annabeth's castle however, looked nothing like the underwater one Percy lived in. This castle towered over all the houses, towered over all of York in fact. It was perched high on a hill, far above the bustle of town and the waves of the shore. Great stones made the foundation, gleaming brightly in an almost blinding white.

Beautiful, Percy thought.

"I didn't catch your name," Annabeth said slowly, bringing Percy's attention back to her.

Percy blinked slowly, unsure how to respond. He opened his mouth to reply, and even though he knew it was futile, tried to speak. Predictably, he made no sound. The three landwalkers stared at him, waiting. Percy flushed, unsure how to communicate that he could not talk. He pressed a hand to his lips and shook his head.

"You can't tell us?" Drew demanded icily.

What? No,Percy made a face and shook his head again. He opened his mouth, pointing at his throat. He shook his head again, hoping Annabeth would catch on.

"You can't," Annabeth deduced suddenly, "you can't speak. He's mute."

Percy beamed; he knew she would get it. Drew snorted, turning away. Ethan still wore a distrustful expression but Percy did not care. Annabeth seemed disappointed. Percy could not understand why. He did not like the frown she wore earlier, or the disappointed expression she wore now. He did not want to upset her. He tried smiling again, hoping it would put her at ease. To his surprise and delight, the corner of her mouth turned up the slightest bit.

Annabeth's face smoothed out, shoulders squaring and sitting straight as she peered out the window. Even with her windblown hair and damp clothes, she looked more like a child of a monarch then Percy ever did. She was perfect. The facade broke slightly when Percy grinned at her, the tiniest hint of a grin appearing on her face. Then the carriage came to a stop. Ethan jumped out, stepping aside to let Drew do the same, before holding a pale arm out to help Annabeth down.

Annabeth held her hand out to Percy in turn.

"Don't worry about being mute. We'll work around it. But for now, let's get you to the doctor to get checked out okay?"

Percy grinned and took her hand.

A/n Have you ever lived at some place for so long your surrounds just kind of blend in and you don't appreciate them? Then someone with a new pair of eyes comes in and is amazed by the world around you, so you take a closer look and remember all the incredible things around you? That's what happening here. Percy is amazed by the surface world and it surprises everyone. I hope this chapter was not too long, it kind of did not want to stop, or boring. Thanks to everyone who favorited, followed, and especially to emeraldz23 and Brabbit221 for their lovely reviews. You guys keep me going. I hope you enjoyed ~ *