So it's been a while hasn't it? This story was supposed to be up on Percy's birthday, but my computer wouldn't let me open any files or applications. I was finally able to fix it and managed to save all my files so I could get this up as soon as possible. I spent a while writing this chapter and really hope you guys enjoy it. You could say it's a prequel to the actual story. We'll get back on track with the real thing next chapter, but I felt that this would be an appropriate chapter for Percy's birthday. Anyway, Enjoy!


Chapter 3

"Happiness and strength endure only in the absence of hate. To hate alone is the road to disaster. To love is the road to strength. To love in spite of all is the secret of greatness. And may very well be the greatest secret in the universe."

-L. Ron Hubbard

Poseidon noticed the girl, fresh out of her teenage years. She was beautiful and cheerful. She strolled the streets of Corinth happily, taking in everything around her. He could tell that she was very observant. She had a keen eye for strange eyes around her. It was almost as if she had "The Sight" (the ability to see through the mortal world and into the Gods' world). But that was impossible. Only royalty carried that gift. There was only one person in the entire Earth who wasn't a Royal and had "The Sight". And that was the Oracle of Delphi. Which could only mean one thing. This woman was the Queen of Corinth. The girl he was going down to see for the first time that very day.

If a Royal was placed on the throne before the age of 23, only his/her Senior Advisor met with their city's patron. The Queen had turned 23 three days prior and was due for a meeting with her City's patron, Lord Poseidon.

Sally couldn't wait for her meeting with Poseidon. She had always wanted to meet a God! She'd been counting down to the day for months. And when it finally arrived, she could barely hold in her excitement. She ran around the palace, helping the servants clean up and pointing out designs to the seamstress who was nearly done with her dress. She quickly got ready after trying on her maybe too elegant dress for the occasion. She made her way down to the Sanctuary where all meetings took place. She sat there for several hours before the temperature in the room went up about a 100 degrees. A bright light filled the hall and Sally turned around to avoid being incinerated. When the light died down, Sally turned back around and her jaw dropped. The God in front of her was so… godly. There was no other way to describe his chiseled features. His messy black hair, his defined cheekbones, the killer jawline, and his eyes. Oh, those eyes. The mesmerizing pools of sea green. She could spent days, weeks, even months drowning in his eyes.

"Queen Sally Jackson, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've been looking forward to meeting the new leader of the kingdom."

"Uh… hello, My Lord." Sally mentally yelled at herself for not being able to formulate proper sentences. An amazing first impression that would be.

"Well, what plans do you have for Corinth? How will you help it thrive?"

"I- um- I hope to, uh, form a connection with my subjects. Though I will be sitting on the throne, it's not my city. It's the city of the people. I-uh- want to- um- be an open ear for all their concerns and constraints. I want to help them," Sally said, getting more confident as she spoke. "I will not rule this city as the Queen, but as the mother, sister, daughter, and/or friend of all its residents. I will be accessible at all times in case of any emergency. I won't allow anyone to do the dirty work for me. I made a promise when I was coronated. I will protect this kingdom and its people with my own two hands."

Poseidon listened to her speech with awe. He never expected the Queen to be so strong and powerful. He thought she'd be a dainty little girl who would just pose as Queen while her ministers did all the work. But he was wrong. Her passion was easy to see. This girl meant business. And that's what Poseidon loved.

"That's a wonderful plan, my Queen."

"Oh, thank you. I want to make Corinth a better place. And maybe expand my reach."

Poseidon nodded in approval, "You know, Sally- If I may call you that- you're looking very beautiful today."

And there went all the confidence. It collapsed into a pile of ash and dust.

"Me? I-I… uh… thank you?!" She replied, staring intently at the ground.

Poseidon chuckled and turned away to speak to one of the ministers.

In the meanwhile, Sally looked over the God yet again. She couldn't comprehend his good looks. She'd met Zeus once before in an emergency situation and he was nothing. Absolutely nothing in comparison to his older brother. Both in looks and in manners.

Poseidon once again directed his gaze to Sally.

"I would like to speak to you alone, My Queen. I've received permission from your advisors," he said, giving a sharp look in the ministers' direction. They quickly scurried away, scared of incurring the God's wrath.

"Sally. Sally Jackson. You will make a wonderful Queen. I pulled you aside to speak to you about a blessing. Ask for anything you wish and you shall receive it. Well, not anything. Even us Gods have our limits. Ask for anything within my reach."

Sally's surprise didn't come as a shock to Poseidon. She was a very humble girl. "Oh, Lord Poseidon, I have everything I could ever wish for. There is no need to present me with any further gifts."

"Oh, but I certainly wish to do so. It does not have to be a material object of any kind. What is the one thing that you have yearned for your entire life?"

"There is nothing that I could possibly want, My Lord. But thank you for your kindness."

"You are very modest dear. Whenever you ever need me or my help, I'll be there. May you reign with kindness and fairness and be loved by all your subjects. Good luck, Queen Sally. I will now take leave of you."

Poseidon nodded a farewell to Sally's advisors and flashed out of the group. Sally took a breath and collapsed onto the sofa behind her. "Oh thanks the Gods that went well. I was scared out of my mind."

Just a few years later

"Queen Sally, the ministers and I have discussed and we have decided that it is the right time for you to start looking for a King," Sally's most trusted advisor said, bowing to his Queen.

"And why is that so Minister?" Sally replied, knowing the direction in which the conversation was headed.

"We- uh… well, we want you to have secured an heir to the throne in case of any possible threats to you or your life, my queen."

"Well, in that case, I want to marry Lord Poseidon," declared Sally, hiding her smirk.

The minister, unaware of Sally's actual plan, was taken aback. "B-but, milady, how? With all due respect, that cannot be done. Lord Poseidon owes his allegiance to Lady Amphitrite. Even if he were to love you were much, he could not stay for more than a year."

"Oh, I am but merely teasing you, sir. I would really prefer to not get married until I am respected more than I currently am. At this point, if I marry, my potential husband will take control and run the city, and I would absolutely dislike that. I am just beginning to come into play as the Queen. My people are very traditional and are confused by the thought of a female ruler. I hope to overcome that confusion and get to know my people before I find myself a partner. If it's an heir that you are concerned about, I can take care of that. I'm not going to involve myself with a God like the rulers of neighboring kingdoms. King Frederick of Athens got a baby delivered to his doorstep, King Tristan of Sparta had to have his memory erased, and parts of Lemnos were burnt down because of Queen Esperanza and Hephaestus. I'd rather not meet with unfortunate circumstances. Lord Poseidon promised assistance if I ever needed it. I will give him some DNA and he will definitely be able to create a child with his powers. I shall speak to him and see that a child is borne to me."

The minister was rendered speechless, and simply nodded before rushing off to share the news with the others.

Sally knew that the truth had to come out some way or another, but she was glad that she didn't have to say it quite yet. She had been seeing Poseidon for several months and had been blessed with a child. She was due in 7 months and was overjoyed. But she decided that she would not marry until her child was old enough to understand everything. She would raise this child on her own, with all the love he or she deserved. Her child would respect their father and never see him in a bad light. Not that he wanted to leave them, but that he had to. It was decided. There was an heir to Corinth, and the kingdom would prosper.

7 months later

On August 18, Queen Sally Jackson of Corinth gave birth to a healthy baby boy, named Perseus Jackson. The kingdom of Corinth celebrated for weeks together on end for their future king was the son of a strong, brave queen and Lord Poseidon himself. And every night for the next 10 years, Sally would tell her son the story of his father who sat in Mount Olympus and watched over them constantly.


Hope you all liked that! Be sure to review, favorite, and follow!

Love,

AnnabethGinevraJacksonPotter