Hey, everybody! Enjoy this next chapter! :) Disclaimer: RR owns all, unfortunately.

Annabeth's POV

Going back to sleep after my realization about Percy was difficult, but eventually sleep claimed me. As always, dreams plagued me. This time, though, my dream was different.

It started the same. I was running through a long stone corridor, laughing as a tall boy, about six in age, chased me.

"You're it!" He hollered gleefully, managing to brush my shoulder with his fingertips. In my dream I frowned, turning to the boy.

Even though I'd dreamed this dream as long as I could remember, looking at the boy still made me freeze. He looked… well, like me (minus being a little boy, of course.) Wide gray eyes stared back at me, and his tussled blonde hair stuck out in a typical six-year-old fashion. Somehow, in my dream I knew his name.

"But Malcoum," I pouted, unable to pronounce Malcolm properly in my dream-toddler state.

"I tagged you, you're it," he grinned. "That's the rules." A tall armor clad guard standing a few feet away grinned down at us, chuckling quietly to himself.

"Tag me again, then," I ordered him, spinning around and running off again.

Then things began to change. I'd had this dream dozens of times before- normally, my dream-self ran into a huge throne room, laughing. I'd grin up at a regal-looking blonde woman, and then I always woke up.

Not this time, though. For the first time in almost 13 years, my dream changed. The hall I sprinted through faded to darkness, and I was falling. An unexplainable feeling of fear rose up in me, and I screamed.

"Annabeth!" Called a voice that sounded similar to the little boy- Malcolm's- voice, only older, deeper. "Come home! Stop running!"

"No!" I gasped, my hands flying up to cover my ears. "No, I won't! You aren't my family; I'm not one of you! Never!"

"Annabeth!" Cried the voice, but even that faded into the darkness. I was alone, falling, terrified. Always alone- my own birth parents had sold me to slave traders, after all.

A choked sob escaped me and I screamed again, from the fear, the feelings of abandonment that I kept bottled up deep inside me, where no one could ever find out how much it hurt.

Then, suddenly I slammed into something solid. Stone. I was on a stone floor, miraculously unhurt. The room had no door, only a lone looking glass hung on the wall. I stumbled to my feet, walking slowly over to the looking glass. A tall girl in worn down peasant clothes stared back at me, gray eyes wide and curly hair thrown into a quick ponytail.

"Fascinating invention, this looking glass," Commented a voice from behind me, making me jump. I spun around to see a kind looking man with thinning hair and a slat-and-pepper colored beard.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice sounding strange even to my own ears.

"You used to know me as Captain Brunner," the man said, a small smile flashing across his face. "Although I have many names."

"Where am I?" I asked, confused, but no longer afraid.

"Look back at the looking glass," Captain Brunner ordered, ignoring my question. I obeyed, turning back to the lone object. The same forlorn image stared back at me.

"No, child. You must really look," he pressed. I frowned.

"I am looking!" I insisted.

"Annabeth, look. Focus," the captain ordered, and I gave a sigh of frustration. Staring at the looking glass intently 'till my eyes watered, I looked. To my surprise, my reflection began to change.

My long, curly blonde hair fell loosely around my shoulders, styled in delicate ringlets. Dark makeup framed my silvery eyes, making them pop. A flowing dress made of what looked like expensive emerald silk accented my curves and contrasted with my fair skin. Resting against my forehead, a silver tiara reflected the light elegantly. I looked… beautiful.

"This isn't me," I said softly, looking at the image in the glass almost sadly. This girl probably had no worries. She probably had the money to keep her family from starvation.

"Keep looking," Captain Brunner said gently, ignoring my comment. As I watched, the girl in the glass moved. She was smiling, waving to someone. A moment later, another figure joined her. I glanced behind me, but the room was empty except for the Captain and me. I turned back to the mirror where the two figures now stood.

The new figure was a tall man with cool blue eyes and blonde hair. Despite the scar that marred his face, he was definitely handsome. He grinned at the girl, and she smiled back, her cheeks flushing a faint pink as he slipped his hand into hers.

Suddenly, from the girl's other side, another man stepped into view. With a gasp, I recognized Percy. He wasn't dressed the same- he was now wearing a royal cape and regal gold crown- but there was no mistaking my friend.

The girl in the mirror looked equally confused to see him. She frowned, her mouth moved as she said something that I couldn't hear. She was angry- he wasn't supposed to be here. Percy just looked at her, an expression on his face I'd never seen before. His eyes were gentle as he looked at the blonde girl, and he began talking, interrupting her.

As before, I couldn't hear what he was saying. But whatever it was, it made the girl freeze, wide-eyed with shock. He was begging her to understand something, begging her to stay. On her other side, the blonde man piped up, looking angry.

Percy slipped his hand into my reflection's free hand, and the girl looked torn. On one side, the blonde man held her hand possessively. On her other side, Percy held her hand, wanting her to come with him.

"I believe that's enough," Captain Brunner said, and the image disappeared. My regular reflection stared back at me.

"Who-what-" I began, and Captain Brunner held up a hand to interrupt me.

"Either way, life will never be easy for you," he told me gently. "No matter what you choose. Old family or new family. Old love or new love. But when the time comes for you to make your decision, remember that other people will be effected by your choice."

"What choice?" I asked, baffled. "New family? Love? What in the twelve kingdoms are you talking about?" The Captain looked at me sadly, like he was disappointed I didn't understand.

"Goodbye, Annabeth Chase," he told me, turning away.

"Wait, what? No! What did you mean?" Too late- the Captain had disappeared.

"Chiron's alive!" Echoed a voice. I blinked in confusion. What?

I sat bolt upright, panting, my dream still fresh in my mind. Across from me, Percy looked at me, pure joy on his face.

"Chiron's alive!" He said again.

"What?" I asked, my sleep numbed mind still a bit slow. "What are you talking about?" Despite my confusion, I couldn't help but feel a bit giddy. And no, it had nothing to do with Percy's adorable grin. "Where are we going?" I asked, watching him pull on his boots.

"Actually," he said, "We're going on kind of a hunt."

"A hunt? What are we looking for?"

"Not what," Percy corrected. "Who."

"Who are we looking for?"

"Chiron," Percy told me, making me more confused.

"Who's Chiron?" I asked.

"Long story," Percy said evasively.

"Well, at least tell me what he looks like so I'll recognize him," I said, becoming a bit irritated.

"Hm," Percy hummed, thinking about how best to answer me. "Lets see. Last I saw him, he had this gray and black beard, and brown eyes that crinkled when he smiled. His hair was kind of thinning in the front…" Percy's voice trailed off as he saw the look on my face.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"Nothing," I said hesitantly. "It's just… that sounds exactly like Captain Brunner."

Review please! :) –PepCo and Qwerty