Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Percy Jackson. Though the plan to steal them was going perfectly until the lemurs escaped...
Percy was somewhere he recognized, though he didn't remember ever being there. Like, being somewhere you dreamed about. He was on a balcony, looking at himself and a girl with tangled curly blonde hair in a rushed ponytail that curled around her shoulder, which was bloody and slightly green, as if it had been infected or… Percy's self cringed as the truth of it hit him. Poisoned.
Literally, the truth hit it and knocked him over. He could see things, he know he shouldn't be able too. Things that should've sensed his presence, but hadn't. He saw Aphrodite- no! Venus. He saw Venus watching the scene unfold happily, smiling at dabbing at her eyes. She looked over at him, at smiled sweetly.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
It took him a moment to respond. "Who… What is this?"
The goddess looked disappointed, and clucked her tongue. "Have you not realized what this is?"
Percy looked down at himself. He seemed… different. Worried, certainly, over the fate of the girl, but that wasn't it. He looked… less burdened? More burdened? He couldn't tell. Then it hit him. (Again, literally) He was younger. This was his past. His recent past, but his past nonetheless. He had received vague images of his past before, but none so clear or precise. Snippets of words, faces, or memories. He remembered a flash of bright blonde hair flying past him, a hint of amusement flurrying across eyes the color of storm clouds about to break into a storm, the clashing of the bronze blade of a dagger against is familiar sword, and the feeling of embarrassment when a smirking face materialized in front of him. But he had no solid memories of this girl.
"That's me, my past. But what…who…" Percy trailed off, not sure what question to ask first.
"Ooh!" Aphr- Venus squealed, "You are too cute! Oh, just watch!"
So he did, but he didn't really comprehend. She… took a knife for me? But why?
"You would've done the same for me."
Would he? I guess I knew the answer to that. Percy thought, Yeah, I would. He didn't really remember her, but… he just knew, okay? He can't really explain it. He just knew. He continued to watch the scene unfold with Venus.
He was invulnerable? That made sense. Percy knew he should have figured it out prior to this, because it was pretty obvious. Suddenly he heard a voice in his ear, "Seaweed Brain" it murmured, before it disappeared.
That was weird, he thought. But whatever. Why had he told this girl is greatest and most secret weakness? Okay, it was useful, since now he knew. But… wasn't weakness a bad thing? You shouldn't show it, right? Sure, it was clear they trusted and cared for each other. Oh gods… He could've blushed, he would. Venus must've noticed his sudden discomfort, because she smiled knowingly at him.
We could just be good friends, Percy assured himself, I mean, it doesn't necessarily mean-
"You're cute when you're worried." The girl ran her fingers gently over his disgruntled eyebrows, and they relaxed slightly.
Now, being trapped inside his own head, he shouldn't be able to blush, but he did anyway as Venus began squealing like… her cabin… Duh.
Well, Percy speculated, that confirms it. It was now a no-brainer that he and this girl were more than friends. He watched himself as he watched the sunset with the girl, holding her hand. Only he could say that sentence and have it make sense. Only him…
As he watched himself leave, Percy's eyes drifted back to the girl, who was sitting there content. Now that the younger Percy had left, the girl let more of her pain show. Her shoulder was obviously hurting her more than she let on.
Maybe he'd imagined it, but Percy suddenly felt pain. Burning, intense pain deep in the dead center of his chest. A flash and it was gone.
"So…." Venus floated nearer, "What do you think?" She looked as if she just might explode if she didn't start gushing right away.
"Is she okay?" Percy blurted. Man, that was stupid. But, to him, it was the most urgent question. He didn't know why, but it was.
"Aww…." The goddess cooed, "That is soooooooooo cute!"
"But is she okay?" Percy was embarrassed to hear the worry coloring his voice.
"Emotionally or physically?"
He looked at the girl, and knew what was more urgent. "Physically."
"Perfect, healthy as a horse. Well, a horse that's healthy, anyhow…" she trailed off, and something in her tone prompted Percy's next question.
"And emotionally?"
Venus looked him right in the eye, forcing his gaze away from the girl and to meet her kaleidoscope-like eyes.
"Broken," she said carefully, "Mending, but far from fixed."
Percy glanced down at the girl, as another with a silver circlet atop her head and punk clothes entered, once more downplayed the seriousness of the injury. She was so strong. What force could possibly break her spirit so?
"How? What… What broke her?"
"I think you know."
And he did. Just watching that last moment, stolen from his memories, what could break her. As he watched the two girls interact, he could quite literally see the difference. It was difficult to explain, but there was a certain light, a certain magic that existed between him and the girl that did not exist anymore. There was one thing that could break her.
He could.
"But… What did I do?" Percy asked uncertainly, "Did I hurt her?"
Venus smiled kindly, "No, young hero. I don't think you could. Your separation was due to forces outside of any mortal's control. You see," Suddenly the scene before him disappeared and he was looking at himself asleep, surrounded by maybe half a dozen people, including the girl, and the goddess continued, "you simply vanished. She was quite worried."
"But… I'm here now, right? So, I just wake up and she'll see I'm fine, right? Problem solved?" Percy was full of questions lately! Could he be certain of anything? No, of course not, because that would be too easy. He had to be utterly clueless.
The grand lady giggled in girlish glee, "Oh! You are so cute I could die! So naïve… I'm afraid I couldn't make it that easy. That would take out all the fun! No, no, no! You had to work for it the first time, you'll have to work harder the second time."
Percy stifled a groan. Of course…
"Not to mention…" she pursued her lips. "But that won't be a problem much longer if I have anything to say about it."
"What?" Okay, he was begging now. It was pathetic, but he didn't have any other options if he wanted his questions answered!
"Well, she is quite concerned about the state of your memory. And she has reason to be. You have no memories of her, except this one."
That made sense. He hoped he would remember her soon. She seemed almost like a mystery, or a puzzle. She fascinated him.
"Well, I should take my leave. Olympus is supposed to be closed, you know."
"Just one more question."
"Yes?"
"What's her name?"
0~O~0
Percy awoke with a start, with a pair of misty gray eyes looming over him, and catching his sea-green ones.
"Annabeth?"
A/N: Okay, so thanks to everyone who reviewed! So far, that has been:
NLA: You were my first ever review! I wish you weren't anoymous so I could return the favor!
trangaha: Thank you. I tried to have a few diffrent perspectives, which was difficult because I write best in first person.
PJO Fan 1: Thank you for the well-rounded review! I don't mind you being a 'Grammar Nazi', but if next time you could be a bit more specific as to what you found spelled incorrectly. Try as I might, I cannot seem to find them! So, if you could point those out to me I would really appreciate it.
AnimalBuddy32: Your review made my day! I looked you up, and really enjoyed your stories as well. I'm glad you liked the 'alphabet' thing so much!
booklover484: Thank you! I'm so happy you enjoyed my story. I hope I can keep your intrest as the plotline thickens and the story progresses. Talk to me if you have any suggestions!
me: First off, I love the 'me' because it's such a creative idea, by doing the basics! Second, I'm honored you were so affectected by the cliffhangers! I was honestly afraid no one would care. Third, thank you for your suggestion! I think I will do that. Maybe not the 'true love' right away, because I prefer the slower relationships, but I will certainly have a girl for him. I already have one in mind!
Eleos: I hope you enjoyed that! I wasn't sure I got the character quite right, but I suppose I must have done something at least okay! I checked out your stories, and think your a wonderful writer. Percabeth Prevails!
myth freak: I'd glad you 'love this story!' Thank you so much. I'm afraid I'm rather fond of cliffhangers. Writing them, not reading them. But sometimes they can be good. It inspires you. Thanks to the cliffhanger at the end of the lost hero, this story was born. Try to use the annoying lingering questions to create something of your own. It doesn't have to a story. It could be a piece of visual art, a song, a poem, or just fuel your adrenline for your next soccer game! Make the cliffhanger work for you. Good Luck!
cheyennelowe: Thank you for the please, it was refreshing after reviews like, "Update!" And, wow. Your favorite story? I hope I don't dissapoint as I continue! Let me know when you post something, because I'd love to read it!
jackp123: Thank you! It really lifts my spirits to hear something like that. I wasn't sure what kind of reviews I'd get and so far I've been quite pleased.
I haven't gotten any flames yet, so I hope that continues! Thanks again to everyone who reviewed. And to everyone who favorited and alerted? THANKS A TON! I seriously feel honored that so many of you had taken your time to do that, and that so many of you enjoyed my story! I'll try to write as quickly as I can. Oh... And um... If anyone in the midwest of the United States of America has seen any loose lemurs... Just contact me, okay? Stay calm. There trained to steal creative rights, not to harm you.
Peace, Love, & Life
PLKBerry