Percy was exhausted. His wings hurt so much, he thought they would fall off. He rested when he could, but unfortunately that wasn't very often. He hoped that Rainbow Dash would arrive soon. The sooner a unicorn put a shield up, the sonner he could rest. He had picked up a new trick. He discovered that he felt more refreshed when he flew through the coulds. Then he noticed his wounds healed faster inside the clouds. Then he learned how to extract the water from the clouds to help weild the sword.

Spitfire took his flying as some personal insult and kept giving him pointers. It wasn't that he wasn't grateful for the advice, it was just hard to fight and fly the same time sometimes.

Percy had found a rare moment to rest. But shortly after he had just dozed, Spitfire shouted out an alarm. "Pegasi pulling a chariot under attack at four o'clock."

Percy stood up and stretched his long wings. He managed to take off without having to run to get a head start and launched himself into the air. Once Percy had gotten high enough he angled towards the position Spitfire had called out. Sure enough, he saw a golden chariot being pulled by two pegasi. They were being swarmed by Anamoi. He flapped his wings harder and felt the wind rush by him as he sped up. Before long, he recognized Rainbow Dash's blue wings and colorful mane. Percy managed to pull some water from a nearby cloud and extract his sword. He came down on them at an angle where he managed to take out several anamoi at once. He quickly came around, but this time the storm spirits had turned their attention towards Percy and we're headed straight towards him. He roared as he charged at them his sword pointed straight ahead of him. He began spiraling as he flew, and when he crashed with the storm spirits, he managed to plow through them, taking out a good many. Again they swarmed toward him. But he was pleased to note that their numbers were significantly less. Percy saw that the chariot landed safely, and prayed that there was a unicorn on board to set up the shield. Percy fought the anamoi with every last ounce of energy left his body, when he felt a powerful swipe across his back. He screamed out in pain as he fought to keep himself in the air. But every flap was on fire. He managed to steer himself towards Cloudsdale when he felt a 'whoosh' rush past him. He barely landed, if you could call it a landing when you end up tumbling across the ground, er, cloud. Percy lay still, trying to steady his breathing. He was too afraid to move, lest his back would hurt more than it already did.

"Are you all right?" A soft voice asked.

"I think I'll live." Percy quipped, even though everything hurt. "Please tell me that the shield is up." He said as he lay unmoving.

"The shield is up. Cloudsdale is safe." The soft voice answered.

Percy felt himself relax a little. He opened his eyes and saw old white unicorn with a sea green mane that looked like it was moving underwater.

"Are you Twilight Sparkle?" He asked curiously.

" No. I am Mist Mane."

"Do you live underwater?" Percy blamed the lack of sleep. As soon as he said it, he wanted to smack himself.

Mist Mane, thankfully, wasn't offended. Instead, she thought it was funny as she let out a giggle.

"Percy, are you still alive?" Rainbow Dash hollered at him from somewhere to his left.

"Still alive." Percy groaned as he raised a hoof. "Barely."

"That was some fancy flying." Rainbow Dash laughed.

"That was me surviving." Percy defended himself.

"That was the worst flying I've ever seen in my entire life." Spitfire yelled as she stomped over to them.Percy let out a groan. "Keep those legs tucked. Elongate your neck. And for crying out loud, fan your feathers out. You fly like a colt!"

"Technically, I've only had wings for a few weeks." Percy said defensively.

"That's no excuse." Spitfire glared.

"Hey, woah." Rainbow Dash stepped between them. "He's a bit tired from all the monster fighting."

Percyfully appreciated having Rainbow Dash back.

"I quite agree with Rainbow Dash. It looks like our young hero is in desperate need of rest." A calm and wise voice spoke. Percy focused his eyes on a strange sight. He closed his eyes and opened them again. Standing before him another old white unicorn, but this one had on a large brimmed hat with a tall point on it, like a witches hat. It was a dark blue with moons and stars on it. He had a matching garment over his back, covering his legs. Most New Tripoli of all was he had a long white beard that touch the ground. It was such a strange sight that Percy couldn't help but stare. The unicorn sent a pulse of magic from his horn and then began looking over Percy.

"Alright, go crash, while you've got a reprieve." Spitfire admitted. "But seriously, the feathers." She muttered as she walked away.

Percy looked at the wizard and asked, "You're not . . . are you . . . Twilight Sparkle?"

The old wizard chuckled. "No. Twilight has business on the ground and couldn't come. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Star Swirl, the wizard."

"You're a unicorn." Percy said stupidly.

"How very astute."

"Does that mean all unicorns are wizards?"

"Er, no. Some study years and years before they are qualify to call themselves a wizard. Now, how about you get some rest since we now have a shield protecting Cloudsdale."

Percy forced himself to stand up despite the pain shooting throughout his body. Rainbow Dash was right beside him, helping him stay upright. On his other side, Mist Mane smiled softly and said, "I have a nice salve that will get you feeling better in no time."

"Thanks, but you should save it for the others." Percy panted as they began making their way toward the factory.

"How noble of you to put others first," Mist Mane smiled, "but not necessary. I brought plenty, and you look to be in need of it."

"No, you don't understand." Rainbow Dash interrupted. "He's declining it because water alone heals him."

"Really?!" Mist Mane looked a mixture of surprise and curiosity.

"Interesting." Percy thought he heard Star Swirl say. He looked back to see that the wizard was not following them, but instead stood vigil, keeping the shield up.

The moment they walked into the factory, a cheer went up from all the pegasi. The medic ran up with another pegasus. "We'll take him." The medic said. "We have his bath all ready."

Cloudsdale had accepted Percy as a patron. Everytime he returned from battle, they would cheer and then rush him over to a giant swimming pool filled with water. A pegasus had taken to personally making sure the water was just right, and once he found out salt increased the healing factor, he began experimenting with different amounts of salt. Whatever it was he did, Percy moaned with relief the moment he sunk into the water. He was so tired, he sunk right to the bottom, and promptly curled up and fell asleep.

He found himself in his human form inside a fancy building with tall columns and large stained glass windows. He thought he was in a cathedral until he noticed the pictures inside the stain glass. He recognized Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinky Pie among three other ponys. They seemed to be wielding some type of power. There was a growl down the hall that forced Percy to turned his attention away from the stained glass window. He walked further down the hall till he came to room where he had seen the two princesses before, one a brilliant white alicorn with pastel rainbows floating in her mane, chained cruelly down. The black Alicorn with stars in her mane had been brought to the balcony in her chains. Thorne stood over her in his full Manticore form.

"Your sister grows weaker and soon will no longer be able to raise the sun. Bring out the Nightmare, and let darkness reign." Thorne looked over toward a dark corner. Percy followed his gaze and saw the white Alicorn laying in a dark corner, her once brilliant white coat, covered in dirt and grime.

Princess Luna looked tired and worn. "No." She said much to weakly.

Percy moved toward her wanting to help. Her eyes darted toward him and then back to her captors. Percy thought back to their first meeting in his dreams, how she saw him. "We're almost to Canterlot." He whispered. "They are stronger at night. If darkness reigns, I don't know if we can beat them. Hang in there. We're coming.

"Become who you are meant to be, the Queen of the Night." Thorne traced her face with his deadly claws.

Percy saw something powerful but terrifying flash in her eyes. Then it was gone. Luna stared right into Percy's eyes. There was a determination that wasn't there before, a hope. "Nightmare Moon will never return. I will not allow it." She stated regally and with much more strength than before.

Thorne growled and roared in frustration. "Why fight the inevitable? We have almost over taken Equestria."

"He's lying." Percy whispered.

"You're lying." Luna repeated.

Thorne suddenly turned and growled at Percy. "You! I don't know how you survived, but I will deal with you later. Leave us."

Percy woke with a start. He pushed himself out of the pool, startling several nearby ponies. He spotted Rainbow Dash talking toSpitfireand the strange wizard, Star Swirl, and made his way over to them.

"Hay, look who's up." Rainbow Dash grinned.

"We have a problem." Percy blurted out.

"Incredible." Star Swirl walked around him as though fascinated. "You're completely try, even though you just got out of the pool."

"They're trying to convince Princess Luna to bring out something called Nightmare Moon so darkness can reign."

Rainbow Dash stopped smiling. "That's not good."

"We have to attack Canterlot, now. I know that you wanted to free Ponyville, but . . ."

"Annabeth Chase is going to free Ponyville." Star Swirl said, unperturbed.

Percy felt like he missed a step. "Annabeth?"

"Oh, yes, I forgot, what with all the excitement." said Star Swirl. "She wrote a reply to your letter." He reached into the folds of his cloak with his magic and pulled out a rolled up partchment.

"She wrote!" Percy exclaimed.

Star Swirl unrolled the parchment with his magic and held it before Percy.

"Percy,

I am well. I did not turn into a pegasus like you, but I did turn into a pony. I too have my hat and my knife appear on my flank for me to use in battle. I was awake when Thorne recited a chant that brought us here. He placed us both on an altar using our mingled blood to open the portal to this world. I suspect he thought we were dead once the blast from the portal hit us, given our condition. He will have realized his mistake by now, making him more dangerous now than ever. Be careful. I too have been fighting to free the ponies in this land. We have freed and put a shield over all the southern towns, also along the eastern coast. We're headed towards Ponyville, where I understand you're headed there as well. I long to see you again. I am fighting to make it to you too. I don't know how this land is connected to Thorne or any of the others. I just know there's a lot of good here. These ponies don't deserve this fate, and I will do everything in my power to help them. Keep fighting and come back to me, I am doing everything in my power to do the same.

Forever yours,

Annabeth

Percy felt his heart beat faster as he read her letter. He read it a couple of more times, longing to be close to her. "I have to write back and let her know I can't go to Ponyville. We've got to get to Canterlot." Percy said as he fumbled with the partchment in his clumsy hooves.

"Agreed." Rainbow Dash said with a frown on her face."I'll see if Lightning Dust wants to go out again. We need to find Shining Armor and get things positioned towards Canterlot."

"Yeah." Percy couldn't help but feel disappointed. He was so close to seeing Annabeth, but so far away. The longing, alone, to see her felt like it would crush his heart. He told himself that he'd see her in Canterlot. He was going to see her again.