Percy felt something softly caressing his skin. He imagined that it was Annabeth and smiled at the thought. Then he remembered the fight. They had separated them. She was beyond his reach. He fought recklessly to get to her. They were hurting her. They were going to kill her!

"Annabeth!" he screamed as he woke. His surroundings only confused him more. He was in a room that was far too nice for him to be in. He tried to get up, but his body felt weird and wrong. He heard something break and was surprised to see a black hoof on what had once been a bowl, now shattered. Percy went to move again, when he noticed the hoof move with him. He followed it up and saw a black pegasus' body. He had a weird feeling, like he was outside his body, but wasn't. "Blackjack?" he murmured. He tried to get up again and saw the wings and body flail as he struggled. His mind for some reason could not grasp the idea that it was his body. Like in a dream he forced himself to stand on all fours like a house and turned in a circle, watching the body do as he commanded it. Then he became aware of two others watching him. He turned to meet their gaze. One was a horse that had an almost diamond or crystal look. The other was a blue pegasus with a mane the colors of the rainbow. The crystal pony gave a small shriek and ran out of the room. The pegasus just stared at him. Percy looked back at his body once again and then at the pegasus.

"What in the name of Hera is going on?" Percy demanded of the pegasus. "Where am I?"

"You're in the Crystal Empire." the pegasus replied meakly.

Percy realized his wings were still open, something he noticed Blackjack do when fighting on the ground. Maybe it was a sign of aggression. He forced himself to fold his wings in as they felt stiff and it was his first time trying to.

"What is going on? Why am I a pegasus? Where's Annabeth?" Percy tried again. He was having a hard time controlling a rising panic.

The pegasus just looked at him curiously before seeming to muster some courage saying, "First off, not sure what is going on as you just landed here, as a pegasus, might I add. And with a hoard of creatures attacking our kingdom, which I'm pretty sure has something to do with you." She challenged him with her wings drawn out.

He saw a mirror nearby and went to investigate it. A black pegasus looked back with green eyes and blue streaks in its mane. "I'm a pegasus." he said in awe. He flexed a wing, then folded it back to his side. Flexed both wings and folded them back.

"Well, yeah, what did you think you were?"

Percy turned to look at the pegasus. "A human." The pegasus didn't seem to understand. "You know, walks on two legs. Way smaller nose. Fingers and toes."

"Oh." The pegasus said with dawning understanding. "Twilight described something like that when she talked about visiting another world."

"Another world?" Percy was now alarmed.

"Yeah, she became what you described when she visited it."

"She's a pegasus?"

"Uh, no. She was a unicorn, but she turned into an alicorn."

"A what?"

"An alicorn. You know, has a horn and wings."

Percy shook his head as though trying to clear it. "So, I am in another world, and I'm a pegasus. How did I get here?"

"Good question. All we know is that your streaks in the sky heralded in the monsters attacking Canterlot."

Percy tried to process this. "I fell?"

"We were in Ponyville, which is about fourty miles from here, when we heard a loud boom and two streaks flying in opposite directions in the sky. We came here and found you. My friends went to the other one."

"Annabeth? It's got to be her. I've got to get to her."

"Woah, there. What about the creatures that are attacking Canterlot? Did you bring them?"

Percy didn't answer at first. "These creatures started attacking after we arrived?"

"Uh, yeah."

Percy didn't like it. He had that feeling where his hair stood on end, signaling an attack on its way. "I'll help you fight, but I have to find her." Percy couldn't bear to think that she might be dead, all because he wasn't strong enough to protect her.

"Who is this Annabeth, anyway? That's a funny name."

"She's my girlfriend."

"What's a girlfriend?"

"Uh," Percy blushed. "She's important to me, okay." Percy turned to look at himself one more time in the mirror. He saw the pegasus look down for a moment and was going to ask what was wrong, when the door flew open and something bright pink rolled across the floor then popped up to reveal a pink pony in some ninja stance. A white unicorn charged in afterwards with floating shopping bags trailing behind her.

"Put your hooves up, mister. Who do you think you're dealing with?" The unicorn demanded.

"I'm really not sure at this point." Percy stared at the pink pony.

"Well if you think you're going to hurt Rainbow Dash, you have another think coming."

"Rainbow Dash." Percy looked at the pegasus with a rainbow mane.

"Cool it." The pegasus calmly stepped between them. "We were just talking."

"But the crystal pony was near hysterics." The white unicorn insisted.

"She was just startled when he woke up. All he did was flap his wings. Geesh."

"Sorry, I didn't realize." Percy apologized.

"Don't sweat it." Rainbow Dash said coolly. "These are my friends Pinkie Pie and Rarity."

Percy went to extend a hand, then realized it was a hoof and put it down. "Uh, hi, I'm Percy Jackson."

"Percy Jackson?" Rainbow Dash looked like she wanted to laugh, which Percy wasn't sure why, as he had never before heard a sillier name than Rainbow Dash.

"Percy Jaskson." Pinkie Pie said the name as though she were feeling it around her tongue. Then she started hopping around the room saying it over and over. "Percy Jackson, Percy Jackson, Percy Jackson. It kind of rolls off the tongue after a while."

"I thought I had ADHD problems."

"Don't mind her. I think it's a wonderful name." Rarity gushed as she inched closer.

"Yeah, well, I guess it makes sense you having such a foreign name since you're from another world." Rainbow Dash exaggerated each word. This stopped everyone in their tracks.

"Another world?" Pinkie pie and Rarity chorused.

"Where he's human and has a girlfriend, who Twilight and the others are probably meeting." Rainbow Dash again exaggerated each word.

"You're a human? Wow you must have been so confused when you first woke up." Pinkie Pie began to rant. "Like, 'woah, what is this body and why is it so weird.' I wonder why it's a pegasus and not a unicorn, or even a pony. I wonder how you got here? How did you get here?"

Everyone's eyes landed on him in the quiet after Pinkies rant. "Um, I'm not sure. The last thing I remember was fighting an army of . . . of monsters. I was looking for Annabeth, when I was overrun. I don't remember anything after that."

Everyone kept looking at him expectantly as if hoping for more. "Well, maybe Twilight will know more. She has, after all, been a human." Rarity broke the silence.

"Well, if we're headed back to Canterlot, we we should join Shining Armor. I am fairly certain that's exactly where they are headed." Rainbow Dash reasoned.

"I have no idea what a shining armor is, but as long as we're moving, I'm for it." Percy's wings ruffled without him realizing.

"Maybe we should sneak in a flying lesson too. You might want to know how to use those bad boys." Rainbow Dash said with a glint in her eye.

"Sounds good to me. I need to get used to moving around as a pegasus." Percy looked at himself in the mirror again and marveled as he spread his wings to their full length.

"First we need to see Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor." They led him out of the room and into a long hallway. They followed it until they came to a complete stop at a set of double doors. Rarity used her magic to open the doors and led them into a large hall with thrones at the end of it. Percy focused on keeping his wings shut and not tripping. Princess Cadence was a light pink pony with yellow highlights in her mane. Percy noticed that she had a horn and wings. Prince Shining Armor was a white unicorn with a royal blue mane. He looked strong and formidable. Percy could sense Prince Shining Armor sizing him up as well.

"Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor," Rarity began with a flourish. Percy couldn't help but think how she would fit right in with the Aphrodite cabin. "I'd like to introduce you to Percy Jackson."

The prince and princess looked at each other then Percy, as though they were confused.

"He's from another world." Rainbow Dash supplied.

"Oh." They both said, as if this explained everything.

"How many off worlders do you get?" Percy rolled his eyes.

"You're the first I've met." Pinkie chirped.

"He said he'll help fight the creatures." Rainbow Dash continued.

"I said I would help fight on the way, but my first priority is my girlfriend. She was hurt last I saw her." Percy interrupted.

"We appreciate any help." Shining Armor nodded. " Unfortunately, it takes time to mobilize an army. We won't be able to leave until tomorrow morning."

"That's perfect." Rainbow Dash declared a bit too enthusiastically. "It'll give us time for a flying lesson." Rainbow Dash then began pushing Percy toward the door.

Percy looked down from the top of the crystal palace's tallest tower. "That sure is a long way down." Percy tried to act cool. "Are you sure about this?"

"Course, I'm sure." Rainbow Dash had a look in her eye that reminded Percy of the Ares kids right before a battle. "Just spread your wings."

Percy did as was instructed.

"Do you feel the wind?" She asked.

He could feel the breeze tugging on his wings, wanting him to lift off. "Okay, I feel it. Now what?"

"Now, jump!" Rainbow Dash pushed him off the tower.

Panic seized him as he fell.

"Spread your wings!" Rainbow Dash called from his side. She looked completely calm as he hurtled to the ground.

Percy forced his wings open. He felt the wind tug on them and lift him into the air, so he was gliding.

"There you go." Rainbow glided next to him. "Now flap a little."

Percy did as instructed and felt himself climb higher. "This is amazing!" He yelled.

"Now, time to turn." Rainbow Dash yelled back.

"What?" Percy could feel the panic rising again.

"To turn right, turn your wings like this." Rainbow Dash ignored his objection and demonstrated how he should move his wings.

Percy tried it and turned to the right. He was a bit slow the first several times, until he got comfortable. Bit by bit he got better at it. Then he tried turning the other way, and was pleased when he made a successful left turn.

"Nice." Rainbow Dash commented. "Now, can you do this?" She sped up and wove back and forth between the lampposts expertly.

Percy tried it, but at a much slower pace.

"Come on! Pick up the pace." Rainbow Dash yelled.

Percy had a sudden image of Rainbow Dash in a coaches uniform with a whistle around her neck. He thought that she would get on great with Coach Hedge. Percy sped up a little and tried weaving through the lampposts again. He got a thrill of exhilaration when he succeeded and laughed.

"All right!" Rainbow Dash cheered. "Now for the hard part: landing."

"Don't you get close to the ground and start running?" Percy questioned, as that was how Blackjack did it.

"Sure, if you're a foal." Rainbow Dash had that look again.

"Hello, novice flyer here." Percy tried to warn her.

"The spot on landing requires incredible wing strength." Rainbow Dash continued as though she hadn't heard him.

"I don't think I have that, yet." Percy pressed.

"Watch what I do and follow suit." And with that Rainbow dash took off into the sky, dove toward the ground, and a few feet before crashing, spread her wings out wide, practically stopping her in mid air, and touched down softly. "Now your turn."

"Are you sure?" Percy asked doubtfully.

"Of course, I'm sure. Have I strayed you yet?" She called back.

Percy had to admit, that while her method of teaching was akin to his first fight with a fury, she had not been wrong. He took a deep breath and dove. He watched the ground speed up to him and then spread his wings out, probably sooner than what Rainbow Dash had done. He strained to keep them steady as the force of air pressing against them was beginning to hurt. He was a few feet from the ground when one wing gave in, and he spun out of control and crashed spectacularly. When Percy felt like moving again, he took stock of the damage. Didn't look like anything was broken, but his wing was extremely tender.

"Woah, are you alright?" Rainbow Dash flew up to him.

"I think so." Percy groaned as he got up. "Wing's a bit tender." He tried flexing it again, but stopped when he felt a shoot of pain go through it. He made a hissing sound to express his discomfort.

"Huh. Guess your wings just aren't strong enough, yet." Rainbow Dash observed.

"You think?" Percy grunted.

"We'll get some water on it. Water heals you, right?"

"Yeah, how did you know?" Percy felt off balance with a stranger knowing what he considered personal information.

"That's how they healed you so fast. I guess you were in pretty bad shape when you got here. When they went to clean you up, the water helped close the cuts. Gave everypony a good shock." Rainbow Dash explained.

"Huh," Percy processed this. "I'll bet. Actually, do you have a shower or bath, or even a lake or ocean nearby. That would be better."

"Um, no ocean, no lake, and what's a shower?"

"Uh, never mind."

"But the Crystal Empire does have a pretty awesome spa. They've got a big tub there."

"As long as there are no man hating sorseress', I'll take it."

"What's a man hating sorseress?" Rainbow Dash asked as she led him to the spa.

"Long story." Percy moaned as he followed Rainbow Dash.