The Lost Princess

by zoe.grant.927

Annabeth Chase has never known who she is - what she is. Separated from her family eight years old by an evil curse cast by Lord Kronos, the only thing connecting her to her past is a necklace with a secret message. 10 years later, she sets out to find her past with the help of two con-men, and embarks on an adventure that will change the course of her life forever...

6. Chapter 6

Gaaaaaaaahhhhh… I really shouldn't be starting this chapter at 11:50pm, but I'm bored. Here goes nothing…

Chapter Six: Princess Lessons

Ethan's P.O.V:

'AAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH! The little brat escaped – that stupid, impertinent Chase!' Kronos banged his head on the rocks, shrieking and moaning.

I sighed. 'You, sir, you should really watch your blood pressure,' I said matter-of-factly, picking up a finger that had fallen off and fixed it back on. 'Stress – it's a killer.'

Kronos was still angry, though. 'The curse! Still not complete – still no revenge, after ten years, Ethan! AGH!'

'Yes, sir, it's very upsetting,' I said, picking up the reliquary casually. 'I guess this thing's broken.' And I threw it as far as I could, hoping it would break or something.

And it would've, if my master with a grudge hadn't intervened. 'You idiot!'

He sprung to his feet, and leap forward, catching the stupid thing just in time. Perfect.

Then he turned to me. 'I sold my life for this, my very existence, my soul depends on it, and you… ALMOST DESTROYED IT!' He grabbed me by the neck, almost choking me, and shoved the reliquary in my face.

'Okay, okay, I get it, you break it, you bought it!' I gasped. Then he flung me across the room, where I landed on my back.

'Oh sure, blame the bat with an eye-patch,' I muttered, 'What the heck, we're easy targets-'

'What are you muttering about?!' Kronos snapped.

I hopped to my feet, and crossed my arms – wings? – across my chest, straightening up. 'Annabeth, sir, just wishing I could do the job for you!' I stated. 'I give her a "hah!", and a "hi-yah!", and then a "woo-ah!", and I'd kick her, sir!'

Kronos smiled evilly, stroking the reliquary. 'Ah, but I have something else in mind, something far more… cruel…'

DUN-DUN-DUNNNNNN! (I couldn't resist doing that)

Annabeth's P.O.V:

I sighed as we walked along the quiet country road, trying to ignore my aching legs. 'Are we going to walk to Olympus?'

'We're going to take a boat at the nearest port,' Percy replied.

I smiled, knowing my next sentence was going to irritate him. 'Ah, I see. So we're walking to the nearest port?'

Percy's face turned sour. Ha – I knew it. 'No, your grace,' he said with what sounded like forced politeness. 'We're taking the bus.'

'A bus!' I said, faking excitement. 'That's nice.'

About an hour later, we arrived at a river with a lovely wooden roofed bridge across it, the water bubbling. It was bright and warm, since the snow had gone away, and it would've been quite peaceful, if it weren't for Grover, who would not shut up about some person named Juniper, whom he'd been rambling on about for the past half an hour.

'Juniper!' he called out, grinning like an idiot, 'Grover's on his way!'

Finally, my curiosity got the better of me. 'Who's Juniper?' I asked.

Grover's smile got even more lovesick. 'Juniper? She's the sweetest, most nature-loving, beautiful thing you've ever met! She's an enchilada after a hard day, a cool breeze in the woods, the most beautiful reed-pipe song ever composed!'

He then took Percy's hand and spun him around, while I watched, trying not to bust my gut laughing. He dipped Percy, and when our faces were close enough I said jokingly, 'Is this a person or a rose-bush?'

Then, letting go of Percy's arm and sending him to the ground, Grover, explained, 'She is the Dowager Empress Hera's stunning lady-in-waiting!'

I was about to reply, but then my mind replayed Grover's words again in my head. Wait a minute…

'But… I thought we were going to see the Empress herself?' I said, confused. 'Why are we going to see her lady-in-waiting?' Then I looked at Percy, who was dusting himself off. 'Percy…?'

Percy looked a little nervous, but spoke anyway. 'Well, no one gets near the Dowager Empress, or any of the gods, for that matter, without seeing their, eh, companions first.'

The words reeled through my mind before the message hit me in the face. No. No way. Not in Hades.

I walked past Percy, trying not to bite his head off for not telling me this first. 'Oh no. Not me, no, no – nobody ever told me I had to prove I was the Grand Duchess!'

'Look, I-' Percy started, bur I was far too mad to stop talking.

'Show up, yes, look nice, alright, but lie?' I said accusingly, getting right up in his face.

'You don't know it's a lie!' Percy protested. 'What if it's true?'

I stalked past him, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back. 'Okay, so there's one more stop on the road to figuring out who you are, but I just thought this was something you had to see through to the end, no matter what,' he said.

I pulled sharply away from his, grasp, and gestured at the rags I was wearing. 'But look at me, Percy – I am not exactly Grand Duchess material here!'

I walked off towards the bridge, where Grover was standing, and slumped against the railing in despair. Grover, who had finally shut his mouth about Juniper, stood beside me, holding a delicate-looking rose, which he handed to me.

'Tell me, Anya,' he said. 'What do you see?'

I looked at my reflection and sighed – same plain old me, with my plain hair and plain eyes, and a frown that never disappeared. 'I see a skinny little nobody, with no past, and no future,' I sighed, throwing the rose into the water.

Grover smiled gently. 'Really? Because I see a fiery and intelligent young woman, who, on a number of accounts, has shown a regal command equal to any royal in the world!' He stepped closer, so we were face to face, and whispered, 'Trust me, I have known my share of royals. You see, I was a member of the Council Of Cloven Elders.'

I smiled at the way his face lit up when he said that, full of pride. I wondered why he'd left the council.

Just then, Percy strode up to us. 'So, Anya, are you ready to become the Grand Duchess Annabeth?'

Seriously?

Me and Grover both sighed in annoyance, and I walked to the other end of the bridge. Maybe I should just go back…

'There's nothing left for you back there,' Grover said, as if he'd read my thoughts. Well… satyrs are good at empathy. 'Everything is in Olympus.'

I paused for a moment, thinking. Did I want this? Well, of course, but… how could I pull it off? Then I thought to me and Grover's conversation. A fiery and intelligent young woman… Equal to any royal in the world…

I turned around to face them. 'Gentlemen, start your teaching.'

(And cue ridiculously cheery song!:) I've changed the lyrics a bit to fit the PJO side of the story, but it's mostly the same)

G: I remember it well.

You were born in a palace by the sea,

A: A palace by the sea?

Could it be?

G: Yes, that's right.

You designed buildings when you were only three?

A: Architecture?

Me?

G: And the buildings,

P: They were great,

G: You made faces and terrorized the cook!

P: Throw him in the brook!

A: Was I wild?

P: Wrote the book!

G: But you behaved when you father gave that look,

P: Imagine how it was,

G: Your long-forgotten past,

G & P: We've lots and lots to teach you and the time is going fast!

A: Alright, I'm ready!

G: Now, elbows back and stand up straight,

P: And try not to walk, but float,

A: I feel a little foolish,

Am I floating?

G: Like a little boat!

P: Now give a bow,

A: What happens now?

G: Your hand receives a kiss,

G & P: Most of all, remember this!

G: If I can learn to do it, you can learn to do it!

P: Something in you knows it,

G & P: There's nothing to it!

G: Following my footsteps,

Shoe by shoe,

G & P: You can learn to do it, too!

G: Now, elbows in and sit up straight!

P: And never gulp the smoked plaice,

A: (dramatically) I never cared for plaice!

G: She said that like a Chase!

P: The Samovar!

G: The caviar!

A: Dessert and then goodnight?

G & P: Not until you get this right!

G: If I can learn to do it! (if he can learn to do it)

You can learn to do it! (you can learn to do it)

Pull yourself together!

And you'll pull through it,

Tell yourself it's easy,

And it's true!

G & P: You can learn to do it too!

G: Next, we memorize the names of royalty!

Now here we have Lord Hades,

P: Hates Lord Ares,

G: Not Lord Hermes,

And foolish Zeus would cheat on Hera,

P: Got it, Anya?

A: No!

G: The Lady Artemis!

A: She was…

P: Short!

G: Lord Hephaestus

A: Had a…

P: Wart!

G: Lord Apollo,

P: Never cared for hats,

G: And never once has gotten fat,

A: And I recall a yellow cat!

G: I don't believe we've told her that.

A: If you can learn to do it,

I can learn to do it,

G: Don't know how you knew it,

A: I simply knew it!

Suddenly I feel like someone knew…

G & P: Anya, you're a dream come true!

All: If I can learn to do it,

You can learn to do it,

Pull yourself together,

And you'll pull through!

Tell yourself it's easy,

And it's true,

G & P: You can learn to do it,

A: Nothing to it!

All: You can learn to do it too!

Ugh… it's2:19am and I've only just finished this now?! Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter. Read and review, goodbye!:)