SO THIS IS HEREEEE. Yay! Thank you all for supporting this story, even though I'm a loser when it comes to balancing school and this. Huhu.

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO, HoO, Star Wars, and all other familiar references in this story. All rights belong to their original owners.

Of Crowns and Cookies

Chapter Ten

"There he goes, Your Highness," Hedge told the Queen of Aspyros loudly, head shaking in mocking disbelief and sympathy. "It's like we aren't even here. What have you done to deserve a son like him?"

Percy stopped in his tracks, and turned around quickly. His suitcase made a ruckus as he ran along with it. He headed back a few feet to where he left the ship a few seconds earlier.

"Goodbye, mom," he said, kissing his mother's cheek hastily. Then he grinned, stooping down to her stomach level. "Goodbye, little one. See you next summer. You too, Hedge."

"Yeesh," Hedge snorted. "The last time we dropped you off, you were ready to hop on the next cruiser for Aspyros."

"Things and minds change," Percy retorted, stepping back once more.

"This Annabeth princess must be really pretty if you're this excited for school."

"Oh, she is." Percy stuck his tongue out in a very non-prince-y way. He faced his mother once more. "Try to keep dad from bursting in the courtroom, okay, mom?"

Sally laughed. "Such an impossible task, but I will try." She smiled warmly at Percy. "You be careful, my little prince. Say hello to your friends for me."

Percy bowed slightly, before playfully saluting. "Will do, Your Highness." He turned around finally and walked – ran – in the direction of their dorms, tugging his suitcase noisily behind him. Leo and Jason already called him earlier to say that they were already in their room, and Percy couldn't wait to see them.

He couldn't remember the last time he was excited seeing people, probably because this was the first time he's had any real friends. Heck, even Piper was already someone he considered close; she too had called him over the break to ask him how he was doing.

The giddiness was slightly ridiculous, but he probably sprinted back to the dorms and waved at everyone who smiled at him. Hedge was right; the last time they dropped him off at the academy, he was more than miserable. But look at him now. There was no doubt he already loved the place, and even more so since he was eager to admit that he was ready to do his own laundry if it meant staying here.

He finally reached their room and he scrambled for his keys attached to his belt right next to his saber (which he carried around everywhere now, ever since he proclaimed profuse love for the art of sparring. Poseidon had crafted a special belt for him, one with the Aspyros symbol on it. Percy felt like a knight in shining armor).

Leo must have heard the noise outside their door, because Percy didn't even get the chance to insert his keys. The door swung open, and there was Leo greeting him with the widest grin he's had yet.

"Bro!" The prince of Ceprione cheered. "Hey, what took you so long?!"

"The snow made jumping into hyperspace a drag," Percy explained but he was grinning, happy to see his friend. Leo reached out for him in an arm hug before he grabbed Percy's suitcase, dragging it with him as they both stepped inside.

Jason was busy shuffling three heavy things to place on his bed. They were all covered in brown paper and looked really bulky. He looked up and grinned at Percy. "Well, finally! I was beginning to think you weren't going to show up for the semester!"

Leo snorted. "Yeah right, like this guy's going to miss a chance to see Annabeth."

"Is she in the academy already, too?" Jason asked.

Percy shook his head. "The last time we talked, she was just boarding her aircraft. She'll be here in about an hour, I guess."

"Oh." Jason nodded. "Piper isn't set to arrive until late this evening, she says."

"No!" Leo held his hands up. "This is our manly bonding time before the ladies get here! Enough talk about them! It's presents time!"

He bounced onto his side of the room and grabbed a backpack. He brought out three things that looked suspiciously familiar. "This is from me! Created from the mighty royal forges of Ceprione! I learned how to make them over the break!"

Leo tossed one of the things he was holding to Jason and the other to Percy.

"Is this…?" Jason started.

Percy's jaw dropped. "Bro, is this a saber hilt?!" He bounced his gift on his hands before examining it carefully. It was silver with dark engravings. Where the button should be was the Aspyros symbol, and below it was his name: Perseus.

"Mmhm." Leo nodded excitedly. "Made customizable for the three of us. Of course, I'm not forcing you to use them. And you probably need my help if you want to transfer your saber crystal, otherwise the thing might just explode in your face. It'll be funny, but that's goodbye to saber sparring for you."

"Leonardo Valdez, you are a genius in the making," Jason said, holding up his new saber handle to take a closer look at it.

"Already am, Superman," Leo snorted.

"I probably just slacked off at the palace during the break," Percy mused, impressed. "Man, you learned how to make a lightsaber! Now my gifts pale in comparison!" He stood up and lifted his suitcase onto his bed. Not a few minutes later he produced packages neatly wrapped in blue paper. "My planet's crazy for all things navigation and stuff, but this year they decided to release these gadgets for the navy. Technically we're not supposed to have this, but even my dad thought it was cool. I may have convinced him that three young princes are in dire need for stuff like this."

Leo opened his gift hastily while Jason took the time in being careful.

Leo grinned. "Holo-watches."

"Better. Turn it on."

The three boys clicked the buttons on their respective watches at the same time. Out came shining holograms, each with their faces projected on it.

"It's got your information on it," Percy explained. "So it's kind of like an ID. Also, since it's originally for the navy, it processes a map of where you are. It's also supposed to detect other bodies around, something about detecting high thermal energy; I don't really know. There are other things, too. I just haven't fully explored with it yet."

Leo clicked another button. Sure enough there was a rough map of their room with three red dots on it, showing the three occupants inside. "I feel so… so ninja. Dudes, we could be secret agents or something! Heck, this would be perfect for sneaking out! It can tell you if the dorm manager's right outside the room for inspection!"

"This is amazing," Jason commented. "Can the air force have something like this, too?"

"Can you imagine?" Leo was saying excitedly. "Once we're already serving in our planets' armies, we have these pretty bad-ass watches to be invincible!"

"Getting way ahead of yourself, Valdez," Percy snorted. "We'll have to graduate first to be eligible."

"We're awesome generals in the making, that's what we are."

"Right, and since I don't want to discuss that impending duty…" Jason walked over to his bed where the three bulky things sat unnoticed until now. "…these are from me. And like Percy – since I like to think you guys are bad influences and I think I'm also accustomed to breaking the rules now – this also hasn't been released to the rest of Olympus yet."

"My, my," Leo teased. "You are getting better with every passing day."

"What are they?" Percy asked. He and Leo both walked to where Jason was standing.

Jason ripped the covering in a very un-Jason-y manner. He grinned at the expression on his friends' faces.

Leo shook his head disbelievingly. "Holy—"

Percy's eyes bulged out. "—hoverboards," he choked out. "Are those—"

"The new ones, yes." Jason nodded excitedly. "But I'm afraid I don't know how to use them. So you guys have to teach me."

"Bros." Leo looked like he was in awe, like he just discovered something amazing. "Matching saber hilts. Matching watches. Matching hoverboards. We have the bromance story of a lifetime!"

Percy stared at his new hover board impatiently. "Can we just head out to the field already?"

No one argued.

The rest of the hour was spent in teaching Jason how to balance on a floating board. Once he got the hang of it, the three princes didn't waste time in racing around the school grounds (and showing off, really). They weren't bothered by the number of ships landing and revealing more royals for the new semester. And they certainly weren't bothered by all the other stares that came with having a cool (and not to mention, never before seen) hoverboards.

Suddenly Leo whistled in the middle of floating in midair. "Heads up, Percy. We've got a silver cruiser with the Mylita emblem!"

Sure enough there was a new ship landing. Percy didn't doubt the excitement he felt.

A few minutes later, guards donned in grey were exiting the aircraft, followed by the Prince of Mylita. Malcolm surveyed the school grounds with his head held high, a serious expression on his face. Percy could count the number of times Malcolm actually looked like the serious prince raised by the (snobby, oops) Queen of Mylita, and this was one of those moments. For once, Percy actually remembered that Malcolm was just a few months away from graduating, and a few years away from being king.

But the prince in question caught sight of Percy and his friends on their new hoverboards, and Malcolm broke into a boyish grin.

Percy was pretty sure Malcolm wanted to run to their direction, but he was stopped when a rather tall woman exited the silver ship.

She followed Malcolm's stare and her eyes zeroed in on Percy. She raised her eyebrow liked she actually recognized him.

"That's Queen Athena," Jason piped in unhelpfully, staring at Percy with an amused expression on his face.

"Future in-law's kind of scary, Perce," Leo snickered.

Malcolm waved at them, and Percy probably had to force his arm to wave right back.

Thankfully Annabeth chose this moment to disembark the ship.

And Percy couldn't help it. Despite the scary queen (sorry Your Highness) staring at him, Percy smiled at his best friend.

"And there he goes, ladies and gentlemen," Leo muttered, rolling his eyes.

Malcolm and Annabeth looked like they were saying goodbye to their mother. It wasn't long until the ship started taking off again, and it wasn't long until both siblings approached the three boys in hoverboards. They were both still tugging their suitcases behind them.

Malcolm's first reaction was to stare at the hoverboards in awe. "What are these things?"

"Only the greatest inventions of all time," Leo said. "Please don't tell me you don't know what a hoverboard is."

Malcolm smiled, shaking his head. "If you haven't noticed, my mother is quite scary."

Jason laughed. "I think Percy's still in shock."

Percy scowled. "I am not," he said before facing Annabeth. "Hey, welcome back."

He was surprised when Annabeth let go of her suitcase and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "I missed you, Seaweed Brain."

Malcolm coughed.

"Aw, Princess," Leo whined, jumping off his floating board. "Didn't you miss me, too?"

"Hardly, Leo," she said, but held out her arms for him anyway. Leo grinned and gave her an arm hug. Jason did the same.

"I've got to get my stuff back to the dorm," Malcolm said. "Do you need any help with yours, 'Beth?"

"I got it," Percy offered, already reaching for Annabeth's luggage.

The princess huffed. "I think I can handle my stuff on my own, thank you."

Percy raised his eyebrows at her, telling her that, no, he insists.

Leo faced Jason. "Well, brother. That's one down because of women. Our manly bonding time is definitely over."

"Nonsense." Annabeth waved a hand. "Percy will be right back, I promise."

And that's when she grabbed his hand and started pulling him away to the direction of the girls' dorm.

Leo was yelling behind them. "Don't do things I wouldn't do!"

"So," Annabeth said once they were out of earshot. "How was your break?"

Percy laughed. "You sound like I didn't talk to you every single day, Princess."

She shrugged. "Amuse me."

"Why," Percy joked. "Everyday without you was a struggle, Your Highness! It's amazing I still live today despite the constant agony I had to go through in the past few weeks!"

"I thank the gods you don't actually sound like that," she snorted before smiling. "And your mother and the baby? Doing okay, I hope?"

He hummed in affirmation. "Yes, except my dad's kind of being overdramatic. He won't let her out of anyone's sight."

"Well, it has been fifteen years since the last time," Annabeth chuckled. They reached the girls' dorm by then. She hurriedly entered the lobby, approaching one of the empty couches and motioning for Percy to set her luggage on it. Percy did what he was told.

Soon she was unzipping her suitcase. "I got you something."

He stared at her. "You didn't have to."

"Yet, you got me something, too, I'm sure."

Percy laughed. "Guilty." He reached for something in his pocket and felt the cold surface of his gift. He's had it since they left for the field, hoping that he'd be able to give it to her immediately when she arrived. "I go first."

He took her hand and opened her palm for her. "You can't find this elsewhere in Olympus," he explained, suddenly going nervous. "Uh, I mean. It's from Aspyros. And it's not much, and you probably get other stuff like this a lot, but I wanted to get you something that's kind of… I don't know? From me, really. Like, at least no one else is going to give you this thing exactly—"

She shook her head, a playful grin on her face. "Can I see it?"

He slowly placed a necklace on her hand. She held it up for better inspection. It was a short silver chain, and it held a silver owl pendant with tiny blue stones for all the other details. It glinted under the dorm lights.

But her smile was probably brighter.

"Percy," she said. "This is beautiful. Are the…?"

"The stones are from Aspyros, yeah," he finished nervously. "There's an ocean right next to the palace, and my father says that's the only place you can ever find—"

She laughed lightly, cutting off his rambling. "Put it on for me?"

She turned around and held up her long hair up. Percy took a step closer and took the necklace. He tried to ignore his trembling hands as he carefully placed the necklace around her neck. She put her hair down again once he was finally down, and he looked over her shoulder to give him a soft smile.

"Thank you," she told him. "You didn't have to, but thank you. Now I think my gift pales in comparison."

He chuckled nervously, hands still slightly shaking. "I doubt it."

"I didn't know what to get you," she admitted, moving near the couch to where her suitcase was on top. She fumbled with it for a few seconds, before she finally produced a small zip lock bag. Percy's eyes widened when he saw what was inside. "What do you get a prince, right?"

"Did you make that yourself?"

He was staring at a bunch of blue cookies, and he was positive his smile was getting wider by the second.

"They might be bad, I know," she defended herself. "And I had to get up early in the morning so I could finish this on time today for the trip. It's also why we arrived a little late—"

It was his turn to catch her off-guard. He moved so quickly that her eyes widened when he suddenly hugged her.

"Thank you, Princess," he said sincerely, taking a step back. He got that same feeling again, the one he always got when talking to Annabeth and especially when it felt like she actually felt the same way he did.

He must've been the luckiest prince in Olympus.

His warm smile was replaced by a mischievous expression.

"But you'll have to be honest," he continued. "Did you burn the palace kitchen while making these?"

Her playful laugh partnered with a punch on the shoulder further proved that, yeah, he really was the luckiest prince.

Percy probably froze on the spot once he and Annabeth returned to the field.

Because right next to Leo and Jason was a blond prince that Percy didn't expect to see.

"What's Travis doing here?" he asked no one in particular. They were a few meters away from the mingling princes.

Annabeth gave him a confused look. "Why wouldn't he be here?"

Percy ran suddenly, momentarily forgetting that Annabeth was behind him. He felt nervous and he didn't know why, and he would've been lying if he said he didn't have a tiny feeling of hope in him.

"Travis!" he cried out once he was within hearing range. "Hey, man, welcome back! I thought for sure you weren't coming back for the semester!"

The new crown prince of Pherena looked just as confused as Annabeth. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Luke talked to me over the break," Percy explained, grinning. "Does that mean he's here, too? That you guys talked some sense into King Hermes into letting you continue studying here?"

Silence.

"Percy," Travis said slowly. "Let me get this straight. Luke talked to you?"

The Aspyros prince nodded. "Yeah… where is he? What's going on?"

"Percy," Travis said again. "Luke ran away last winter. We haven't seen him since."

End of Chapter Ten

Pitchforks and the occasional questions and criticisms are allowed. Also, I'd just like to remind everyone that there's already a plot written out for this story. If the updates come in slow (huhu and I'm really sorry they are), it's not because of writer's block. You can totally blame college and my inability to handle procrastination.

Thank you all for reading! Until the next chapter!

-YJ

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