Chapter 13

POV Change – Grover

Everything here was so natural. Everything was clean, pure, and beautiful. I stared at the water. "It's so clean!"

Percy chuckled. "I know. I wish there were some naiads around. I just learned their language, Triton taught it to me. It's really similar to Sheeakhl."

I blinked. "Shee what now?"

Percy laughed. "Sheeakhl. It means 'Sea'. That's what we call our language. I've called it Sea Tongue for you guys to understand better. Sheeakhl is the proper name for my people's home and language. Like speaking American and speaking English."

I blinked and looked at Annabeth to see if she caught what Percy just said. She did, if her worried look was anything to go by.

Her voice was as gentle as the water we were traveling on. "Um Percy, don't you mean the Mers? You're human. Your language is English. Your people are humans."

He blinked and flushed. "Uh…right. Sorry…stupid mistake." He turned away and focused on paddling. I looked at Annabeth. She shook her head minutely.

I stifled a sigh. Percy had changed a lot from the boy I first met at Yancy. He was still funny, and constantly hungry, but he was older. I noticed how he walked. There wasn't as much spring in his step. He walked as if he was constantly holding the weight of the sky on his shoulders, as if Atlas had never truly removed the burden from him.

I shook my head. Percy Jackson wasn't young anymore. He had been forced to grow up.

"I miss Blackjack. I wish he was here." Percy startled me out of my depressing reverie.

I nodded. "That would be cool."

Percy grinned. "And Festus. I wish both Festus and Blackjack were here in Middle Earth with us."

I shivered. "Um…Percy…"

He turned quickly. "What wrong?" His eyes were searching around as if I had seen a threat.

"Nothing's wrong! I was just wondering if you should say those things."

He visibly relaxed at my words and cocked his head in confusion. "What the hell are you talking about, G-Man?"

I sighed. "You wished Blackjack and Festus were here." I pointed upwards.

He looked up and gave a shout. "Blackjack!"

Everyone heard his exclamation and looked up. Leo gave a joyful howl when he saw Festus' familiar bronze body.

"Festus! Baby!"

POV Change – Blackjack

I was just minding my own business, eating a bunch of apples and donuts, since Boss wasn't around to tell me 'no', and flirting with the mares. But just as I was about to hit first base with this real pretty filly, WHAM, I'm suddenly dropping out of the sky, instead on being on the ground. So, obviously, I whip out my gorgeous wings and try to fly. That works for about five seconds until this heavy, metal monster appears right under me, and I slam into it!

I rear back and push off of this flying junk heap, and start whinnying insults at the thing. However, I don't do that long, when I suddenly sense Boss calling me. Looking down, I see them.

Here I am now, flying to the rescue. Poor Boss, he had to travel on a boat this whole time.

"Yo Boss! How's life? And where in Pegasus' name, am I?"

I settled on the water and floated along the river beside them. Fantasia got it right, ladies. We pegasi are awesome creatures. Bird, horse, and fish!

"We're in Middle Earth, Blackjack. I accidently summoned you and Festus here."

"You mean that flying junk yard has a name?!"

"Blackjack, be nice."

I doubted Boss was very serious about it though, or else, his green eyes wouldn't have twinkled in amusement.

"I am nice, Boss! I'm the King of Nice!"

He chuckled and shook his head. "I've missed you, Blackjack."

I tossed my head happily. I was glad to be around Boss again. I never told him, but all the pegasi loved being around him. He pulled to them. They wanted to follow him around, but he was already claimed by me. No other dared to offer him a ride, because I would have trampled them.

I floated nearer to the boat and nuzzled his ear. Boss laughed. He jumped out of the boat and climbed onto me. His mare called out to him to come back to the boat. I prevented Boss from hearing my thoughts about her. I liked Annabeth enough, but she wasn't good enough for Boss. No mare was. Boss said something about it being fine. I gave a horsey grin.

POV Change – Percy

I was happy to see Blackjack again. I hadn't been able to spend much time with him since the Alliance of Greeks and Romans, and all my training.

I patted his velvet black nose. "I've missed you." I grinned. "Let's fly, Blackjack! Show me how fast you can go!"

He gave a whinny of delight and shot into the air. I whooped. I heard another whoop in echo and realized Leo was flying Festus.

I grinned. "Leo! Bet my horse is faster than that old clunker of yours!"

Festus gave a roar in response to my insult. Leo laughed. "You're on! Where to where?"

I thought for a second. "From the rapids we just went through to where our boats are."

Festus roared again and shot away. Leo shouted. "ONYOURMARKGO!"

I growled. "Come on!"

We shot away. I soon realized that Blackjack was the fastest Pegasus on the planet, both Middle Earth and Earth. We beat Festus and Leo by two, long minutes.

I was laughing. We landed our mounts. Leo was grumbling something about a tune up and an upgrade. I shook my head and chuckled.

I quickly realized that everyone was glaring at us, Leo in particular.

Annabeth marched up and snapped out, "Thanks to Festus, probably everyone in Middle Earth knows that there's a dragon nearby! And who's going to be called in? THE WHITE FUCKING COUNCIL!"

I paled. "Leo, coax Festus into a suitcase form. We have to move. Now!"