Wow. It's hard to believe this story has already reached 10 chapters. When I started writing it back in January last year, I never expected it to grow to be more than three, maybe four, chapters. I'm sincerely touched by how much you guys love the story so far, I really am, and if I could hug all of you for being absolutely genuinely amazing people, then I would do so.

Here's another chapter.

Review responses:

hproxx1999 - Yeah, I thought having Percy spout facts about piranha worked a lot better than if it had been the other way around. And thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter.

AutumnLeaves03 - Just have to wait and see, I suppose. I've got some great ideas for the next few chapters. Here's a new one, hope you enjoy!

JustLucky05 - So glad you liked it, enjoy this new chapter!

Swordy10835 - As you wish. Hope you enjoy the new chapter!

Lost-In-A-New-World - Considering my preferences, would the mystery girl really have been anyone else? Heh. I'm glad it surprised you. Yeah, I had a lot of fun coming up with the wishes. I knew Percy would be the one to wish for the genie's freedom though. Annabeth never really struck me as the type to do that with a wish. And thanks, so glad you like Mel (though really, pretty much all of the credit for creating her goes to Swordy10835). Hope you enjoy this chapter too!

LONG LIVE BOOKS - Well, yes. Wikipedia, my own personal experience, and a lot of research about stingray tail barbs (which becomes apparent in this chapter). Enjoy the chapter!

helpfulfred - No, thank you for the Review! Glad you liked the story, hope you like this Chapter just as much!

Disclaimer - I'm not evil enough to leave people with a cliffhanger ending to a story for about a year. Therefore I don't own PJO/HoO.

Melody nodded, turning to a small ledge in the middle of the tank and taking something off of it before turning back to us. In her hand was a slender white piece of a bone-like material, somewhat needle-like in appearance. "Stingrays like Phoebe usually shed their barbs every six months, around the time when new ones grow in. Phoebe shed this herself just a week ago, as a matter of fact".

My blonde-haired girlfriend took the barb in her hands gingerly, running a finger along the smooth surface. "It's not still venomous, is it?" she queried, clearly concerned.

Mel shook her head. "No. You see, the venom is actually in the sheath of skin that covers the barb when it's on the stingray's tail. When the barb falls out, the new one simply replaces it. That's the one that you don't want to get touched by".

"Okay, I guess that makes sense".

"Something else that you probably didn't know about stingray barbs is that they're actually made of dentine, the same material that our teeth are made from" Melody added, grinning.

Annabeth looked surprised. "Seriously?"

The other girl nodded. "Yup, seriously. That little white barb that you're holding in your hands right now is made of the same material as your teeth".

"That's absolutely incredible".

"Isn't it just?"

I squeezed Annabeth's hand slightly, causing her to glance up at me. "I really hate to interrupt you when you're talking about stingrays, Mel, but Annabeth and I still have a lot to see" I said simply.

The girl nodded. "Of course, Percy, I understand completely. Hey, if you see Will, could you let him know that I'm looking for him and that I'm in the stingray pool?"

I smiled, knowing exactly why she wanted Will to meet her. "Sure, Mel, no problem"

My girlfriend and I walked away from the tank towards a short flight of stairs that led down to another corridor. Once we were a decent distance away, Annabeth turned to me. "So, tell me something. Who's Will and why does Melody want us to let him know that she's looking for him?"

"Will Solace is our resident medical expert. Melody wants him to meet her by the stingray pool because she's doing a stingray feeding session and encounter in about forty minutes and she wants him to do a quick check up on the rays just to make sure that they're not getting sick or anything. Honestly, I think the main reason he actually agrees to do so at least once every day is because he actually has a crush on her"

"What exactly is a stingray feeding session and encounter?" Annabeth queried.

I paused, thinking of the best way to answer her question. "It's pretty much exactly what it sounds like, to be honest. People gather around the tank (on the outside of the tank, of course. We don't want to make the rays feel uncomfortable, after all) while she talks about the stingrays and they get to watch the rays being fed".

"It sounds like it would be rather entertaining to watch"

I laughed. "Oh, it is. It always is. Especially the one time three weeks ago where she asked Ryan to join her in the tank for one show so that the audience could see the way the stingrays reacted to having more than one person in the tank with them".

"What did happen?"

I smiled at the memory. "Ryan was feeding Phoebe. Phoebe was in a rather mischievous mood that afternoon, and she jumped up to splash him with her fins, like she usually does. Unfortunately, the sudden addition of a surprisingly-heavy sea creature's weight caused him to stumble. He hit the bottom of the tank and came up gasping for air. We were laughing about it for the rest of the week".

"That sounds kind of cruel to laugh at somebody else's misfortune like that…" my girlfriend said quietly.

"I suppose when you think about it a certain way, it kind of does sound rather cruel. But honestly, he was more surprised than he was actually hurt, and he was laughing about it as well, so I don't really feel as bad about finding it hilarious as I would otherwise. But really, you get entertained, you get to learn things about stingrays, what's not to like?"

"You may have a point there"

"Of course I do. Anyway, down here…"

Grasping my girlfriend's hand tightly, I led her down a corridor to the right. A few minutes later, we reached a strangely-lit tunnel with a black floor that seemed to be divided into sections. I made sure she wasn't looking before reaching out and turning a small switch on the side, causing a quiet humming sound to fill the air. Annabeth looked around in concern. "Hey, Seaweed Brain?"

I looked over at her. "Yes, Wise Girl?"

"What's that humming sound?"

"Oh, that? That's just the conveyor belt. Don't panic. Remember, I know exactly what I'm doing".

I smiled, brushing a strand of blonde hair out of her eyes and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead in reassurance. As I went to pull away, she followed me, pressing her lips to mine tenderly. "Of course I trust you, Seaweed Brain. Any more stupid questions?"

"Just one. How do you feel about being underwater, but somehow still remaining completely dry?"

Before she had a chance to answer the question, I stepped forward onto the closest section of the floor, pulling the blonde-haired girl after me so we stood side by side. Just a couple of seconds later, the section of the floor underneath us started moving, plunging us into the tunnel.

Okay, 43 Reviews in 9 chapters isn't too bad. Do you think we could possibly get another 7 for this Chapter maybe? Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

Also, this week's songs are:

I Have A Dream - Abba

Lemon Tree - Fool's Garden