A/N Again, special thanks to CodeLyokoIsTheBest for the editing work!

Now for my babblings. ^^

It was only after I came up with this that I realized that Rick Riordan came out with another series…in any case, this fiction has been banished to the category of parallel universe. One that went through the first five books but not the second one.

Do you like my new Chapter Name layout? It was supposed to mimic the way a manga sometimes does it. If you have an opinion, you know where to click! (Hint: Bottom of page.)

May as well mention this here…I never wrote romance before. Not direct ones, anyways. So…uh…what do you think?

Disclaimer: Percy Jackson and the Olympians belongs to Rick Riordan and Mabinogi belongs to Nexon. I own absolutely nothing in relation to either works, except for the idea to mesh them together.


I knew I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.

I mean, I know Zeus forbid the other gods from contacting their kids directly even when said kid was about to attempt stupidly dangerous things, like attacking a hungry Cyclops, or challenging the lord of the Titans, or asking out the Girl I Love, all of which I've barely managed to get out of alive. And I also knew that Zeus forbid the other gods from contacting their kids especially when the kid was not in any danger at all, which is totally bogus.

Then again, none of the gods had really paid attention to that rule.

I had to remind myself that Dad was probably busy doing all his godly businesses. I bet his schedule was as full as a lake on a rainy day. He probably had appointments with local river gods, plus he still had to rebuild the undersea castle that was damaged in the last war. He might even have found another woman, maybe I'll even get a sib – okay, I don't think I really want to dwell on that. Summary, Dad was busy, he can't check up on me so frequently, despite any of my whining.

But, it has been a year…

I groaned. It was way past the time for curfew. I needed to go soon.

Yet I still couldn't leave…

So I just sat there for a couple more minutes, toying with the river water, arguing with myself 'He loves me, he loves me not' which sounded really weird even in my head. I sat there with no knowledge of the time and for all I knew my birthday already might be done and over with and Dad will never come. I was torturing myself with the possible fact that I might have wasted my time.

It was only then that I remembered Chiron had given me a watch today.

Chiron, always the practical one. The watch he had given me was apparently "specially constructed for my personal use". I could deal with less formal words, but I still had to admire at the beauty on my wrist. It was all Stygian iron, and could've been a Rolex for all I knew, with all the metal links that was interwoven intricately like spider webs ("Ew," Annabeth had shuddered earlier when I used the metaphor – foil – onomatopoeia – I blame my English teacher) and the majestic rim circling the digital face. It could've been, except of course for the digital face. And the Stygian iron. And the fact that this thing could go under a steamroller with a dragon breathing fire on it at the same time and still come up spotless and shiny as a mirror.

Right. The time. I looked at the face.

00:00:05.

Today – yesterday – was officially the worst birthday ever.


Chapter One –

I Purposely-on-Accident Cheated on my Girlfriend


I stared at my watch dejectedly for two seconds before its face told me to move.

No, it did not suddenly grow a mouth and say "Hey Percy, buddy, mind scooting over three feet?"

It was more accurate to say, what I saw reflected off of its face told me I should move.

I managed to roll away –

Just as a sword thunked into the riverbank!

My assailant wrenched it out of the ground and attempted a side slash – which never happened because I leaped in and grabbed the hilt. In less than a second of twisting the sword was torn out and I attempted a down slash – but my opponent managed to jump back and draw her knife.

Then she leapt in close again, which was bad because she had a knife and I had a sword.

Distance weapons really only work at a distance.

So I leapt back just before she landed and swung twice more – both dodged – then she dived in – I jumped back again – then I tried to stab her with the point – but she managed to parry it with a blade as short as her knife! I overextended, lost a lot of grip and, with barely a tap, the sword was knocked out of my hands.

Though she didn't know I let her knock it out of my hands. And just as I expected, she capitalized quickly, trying for a thrust.

I stepped back and watched in amusement as she realized she stepped on water.

Really, the strongest feeling I had at the point was pure hilarity, as if I had just lobbed a water balloon on someone's head. But, staring at the scene in front of me, I saw a girl desperately flailing her limbs, her eyes promising murder and streaming curses in half-English half-Ancient Greek. In other words, I found the view completely beautiful.

Then I heard that spectacular splash!

When her face surfaced, I laughed. I took her hand, dragged her with me, and pulled her up easily into a sitting position beside me as I stepped off the water and flopped down right beside her. "What's that, twenty to twenty-seven for me?"

"Shut it, Seaweed Brain."

"You're a bit on the stingy side today." I smiled and teased, "I'm sure I'm not that bad of a kisser…"

Annabeth gave me the sweet smile that promised me Judgement Day was coming. "Or it could be because my boyfriend went missing for several hours, I was searching for three, and Chiron was ready to declare a national emergency last time I checked."

Oops.

"Uh, sorry about that."

"You can go apologize to Chiron instead," she snapped.

I gave a sheepish grin. "Gotcha. One dish full of apologies for the Big House residents later." And after a thought: "With a side of 'dry daughter of Athena'."

"Uh, what –"

I swooped in and caught her right in the mouth. I felt her tense a little – but that was probably surprise, the moment passed and she relaxed for two seconds before I parted slightly and whispered, "I told you I'm not that bad."

Annabeth seemed irked enough to draw back and glare at me, but I knew she wasn't really mad anymore, so I grinned, at which Annabeth rolled her eyes. Then she seemed to remember what I implied to do and glanced down. Sure enough where moments before she was sopping wet, now her clothes could've come straight from a dryer. Even the ground she was sitting on lacked its previous dampness. She reached out with a finger and gently brushed it, almost like her clothes were surreal. Then she glanced up and saw the blob of water held in my hands.

I knew she was impressed. I was with her long enough to know that though her face was kept in control her head tilted just slightly to my left, as if she was curious how I did it.

Sure enough: "How –"

"Did I do it? Just sucked the river water straight out." I displayed the ball of said water spinning on my index like a basketball.

"When –"

"Did I get this controlled? I've been practicing, remember?" I added to the effect by flattening it and flipping it like a coin.

"Stop –"

"Finishing your sentences for you or else you'll smite me with my own sword? I got something pretty close." And with that, the water was dumped straight on my head.

Annabeth glared again; but then that second was over and she outright laughed. I didn't get wet, but she didn't seem to care.

What a night! The forest beside the camp was rarely this accommodating. (Maybe it was the lack of giant scorpions and the equally dangerous fellow campers.) I could still taste the blueberry muffins we had earlier, but more overwhelming and refreshing was the scent of pine and moss that floated in the air. There were no clouds in the sky, and the space above us was clear of treetops, giving us a perfect view of the constellations. And to top it off – her voice twinkled prettily like the stars. So of course, I joined her.

That is, until Annabeth said "Psych!" and jabbed me hard at my side, which made me double over, wheezing. Dang, I didn't see that one coming.

"That was a dirty trick," I gasped, "if you wanted another duel you could've arranged one."

"Well, I'm arranging one right now, and I'm not stopping for you." And with just a slight tap of her knife to near my heart – it wasn't even unsheathed! That's just insulting! – she declared, "Twenty-one to twenty-seven."

Before I could consider a comeback she kissed me back. Then she drew back, smirked a bit, and asked: "How was your first day at age seventeen?"

"Well, I nearly died when Tyson hugged me."

"I'm sure he wasn't meaning to turn you into your own birthday pancake."

I grinned, and straightened a bit. "Remember when Clarisse crashed the party?"

"Seeing as you trapped her in a bubble and left her dangling outside, I'm not sure how that matters."

"Then there's Travis and Connor…"

"How nice of them to pie themselves in the face."

"That only happened because you decided Rachel's pies worked better as discuses."

"In my defence, they weren't really to my taste…"

I almost didn't hear that, I was concentrating so hard on the ball of water behind my girlfriend's head. "Wasn't it you who said it's the effort that should count?"

"When did I ever say that?"

"When you tried to feed me your cake."

"They weren't that…You got me there. Go on."

"Chiron gave me this watch."

"Was it even useful?"

"Only by telling me Dad never showed up."

Annabeth hesitated; too late, I realized I let too much bitterness into my words.

"He was supposed to see you today?"

"Yesterday," I corrected; and suddenly I was mad. "It's been a year, remember? The last time I saw him was on my last birthday, and you know how that party went with having to fend off Kronos at the same time. A full year went by, and looks like he didn't have time for me when I'm not the hero of the day."

"I'm sure he didn't know you thought that way."

"I don't really care."

Silence. Then, "When did you…I mean, are you sure he was going to come see you? You didn't just ask on a prayer, did you?"

"I'm pretty sure if the strawberry punch turned ocean blue, that counts as a yes from the god of the sea."

Annabeth smiled for a moment. "So that was the story behind that one. I thought your mom might have come over…"

"She was busy working on a story with Paul, remember?"

"So you told me, which is why I was curious about the punch."

I smiled for about half a second. Then I flopped backwards, sighing.

And accidentally dropped the ball of water, splashing Annabeth with cold water again.

"Oops!" I exclaimed, at the same time Annabeth yelled "Ah!"

"Sorry!" was spoken at the same time as "What the –!"

"I got it!" happened to coincide with "I'll get you for that!"

"Don't!" I pleaded just before I drew every miniscule drop of vapour from Annabeth's clothes, letting it flow into my hands again and quickly building it up from marble-sized to a water basketball that will never bounce.

Poor basketball.

That's when I glanced up and realized that maybe I should be more concerned about myself. It's almost funny how I could deal with her knife laughingly, and now when she's shooting daggers at me I totally quailed.

Just when she opened her mouth threateningly – "Please don't slice me into little pieces and stuff me into a plastic bag and then toss it into your trash can and set it on fire!"

Wow. Did I just say that?

According to Annabeth's slight snickering and head-shaking I did just say that. But I seemed to have averted the main danger.

Then she said, "I'll keep that idea in mind."

Drat.

But she didn't jab me in the side again so I let out a small sigh. Then again, maybe she was kidding around to begin with. Regardless I placed my arm strictly at my side.

"Uh…seeing as you aren't going to slice me into little pieces, et cetera…" Dang, now what do I say? I glanced at my hand. "…Wanna play water basketball?" Ugh. Stupid, stupid.

Annabeth touched the water basketball and then flung it to the side. She failed miserably at it, because I let out the water control too early and her hand ended up going through the water. She wiped off her hand on her sweater, grabbed my hand and hoisted me up. "Percy, it's getting late. I'd think it's smarter to play a game called 'Avoid the Harpies' instead."

I grinned. "You mean, of course, 'Be the First One to Sneak Back into Our Respective Cabins before the Harpies Find Us and Devour Us'."

Annabeth shrugged. "Too long. But you got the meaning clear."

"Then on three…"

"Two…"

"One…"

"Go," both of us agreed, and we dashed into the woods, away from the river, and totally disregarding the Sneaking bit.

And I ended the race prematurely when I crashed into someone hidden in the darkness, inadvertently locking lips with the person before we fell with me on top.


When I realized what just happened, my first thought was, 'Oh Zeus I hope she's female.'

Then I thought about Annabeth's wrath, and my second thought was, 'Oh Zeus I hope he's male.'

Then I thought over that comment again, and thought, 'Oh Zeus I hope it's just a bear.'

And then I remembered there was no bear in the forest. 'Zeus, just kill me now.'

I finally got off her – 'Oh no, it's a female' – she happened to be none other than Rachel Elizabeth Dare, a girl friend and definitely the most likely one to invoke Annabeth's jealo –

A quick look at Annabeth's face told me fury was a better word.

In truth, though, it was a mix of jealousy, fury, amusement, and uncertainty, not necessarily ordered greatest to least. Me, I was torn between laughing out loud and apologizing profusely. What sound I tried to make came out like a strangled squeak, and suddenly Annabeth seemed irritated. Now I wished I could go back in time. Ares, Polyphemus, Atlas, Luke, Kronos – any of them I was now willing and eager to face.

And then I suddenly thought – We've been only dating for a year. I am NOT going to end it like this.

Problem is, as soon as I opened my mouth another squeak came out.

I cleared my throat and tried again. "S…sorry?"

"Percy –"

"I know this looks bad, but this is really not –"

"Um –"

"– told you I wasn't such a bad kisser –"

"Percy –"

"– me the pain, you're dumping me aren't you –"

"Percy –"

"– conclusions! What makes you think –?"

"Percy!"

"What?"

"Look!"

And when I spun around that totally knocked the blabbering out of me.

Rachel was full-Oracle mode. Green mist, check. Creepy voice, check. Stupid prophecy, coming in as I speak.

Stride into the silent stream of souls,

To battle against monster and animal dolls

Accompanied by two new lazy friends

Into the prison's unstable and clever end.

Glimpse the wing of the evil crown,

All to help a goddess not your own.

And just like that, Rachel collapsed.

I found my voice first.

"What the heck?"

"I'm sorry, Percy, but that's all I can help you with."

I whipped around.

I was sorely disappointed.

Sandy hair. Blue eyes. Hardened, unusually determined face. A white T-shirt, but with two leather armguards stretching from his knuckles to above his shoulder. He still had his blue jeans, but they were padded at the knee. And sandals. If there were such things as combat sandals, he had them. They looked surprisingly, and wickedly, dangerous with its green and black stripes and seemed dense enough to take out Chuck Norris with a kick.

The defining details. Golden bow and multiple golden arrows in a quiver, both slung over his back by a cord that ran diagonal across his torso, showing tight-packed muscles that I never noticed before.

Definitely not Dad. And he was a few years older than the last time I've seen him. But this person in front of me was unmistakably the god of sun, Apollo.

"What –"

"Let me make this short. You're needed somewhere, but not here. I can transport you there. Are you ready yet?"

"Wait, what?" Annabeth yelled.

At the same time, I blurted out, "What about your car?"

Both looked at me until I added, "Who's driving it?"

"It's on autopilot!" Apollo was definitely a bit on the anxious side today. When I first met him, he was making terrible haikus and flirting with several girls at once. Not now. He was serious enough to be pronouncing a death sentence.

I hope that was not a bad sign.

"Look, Percy, I'm already breaking multiple of Zeus's orders just coming here today! I was only able to sneak out because Zeus was too preoccupied holding Poseidon and Athena back. He could be here any second!"

"Wait, Dad? He wanted to come –?"

"I said, he could be here any second!" Apollo looked at me directly in the eyes. I was struck by just how solemn, how fierce, his expression was at that moment. "Pay attention, Percy Jackson. This is bigger than just you. This is bigger than what any one world can hold."

What was that supposed to mean?

"Ready or not," Apollo said, raising his hand at me.

"Wait, what? I'm not reeeaaaaaaaaaaaaa –"

I was being dragged! I glanced behind, and saw what appeared to be a blurry hole sucking me and Annabeth up.

"Percy!" she cried as I went in first.

Darkness. It was darkness everywhere, and I couldn't penetrate it with my eyes. I was alone, and falling, falling really fast.

My second day as a seventeen-year-old and I'm already hating it.


Chapter Two will be up...not very soon. I'll try to get it done quickly, but even with summer vacation, meh, dunno.

Please remember to leave a review!