Hey everyone! I was reading the previous chapter eleven and wincing at the pathetic state of my writing. I hope I improved from that monstrosity.

This is the former Chapter 23, now become Chapter 11 – the reason have been explained in the AN.

Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Chapter 11: Under the Sea

*Annabeth POV*

Percy was being completely and utterly infuriating.

It was amazing how I could go from wanting to kiss him to wanting to kill him.

Classic Seaweed Brain.

"Percy, please, please can I take this off? I want to see!"

The sly jerk had slipped a blindfold over my eyes and refused to let me see where we were going.

"It'll spoil the surprise," he said seriously, although I knew he was trying not to laugh. "Just keep the blindfold on, Annabeth."

"Percy, it's not every day I get to look around at the bottom of the sea!" I protested. "I know you're probably used to it, but I've never been down here before. It's completely unfair that you're not letting me see."

Percy groaned. "Why do you do this to me, Annabeth?"

He stilled for a minute, evidently thinking. "Okay, but that blindfold is going right back on the moment we get near our destination."

I nodded eagerly and Percy removed the blindfold. I opened my eyes and gasped.

I had never really even swam before. It had been too risky for me when I was younger, considering that Poseidon and Athena didn't like each other. Even when I was just a kid, I would never join in on family trips to the beach.

"What do you think?" Percy murmured softly in my ear, bringing me back to reality.

The ocean was amazing. It was a clear, bright crystal blue, and if I looked up I could see all the way to the surface. We must have been in the heart of the ocean, but it was so vibrant.

Coral reefs were everywhere, and schools of fish swam around, lots of them gathering around us curiously.

I laughed and stretched out my hand. They nuzzled it gently, nudging me with their wet heads, before swimming off. Being in the water was a weird feeling. I could feel it, but it wasn't the sensation of being drenched. It felt more like a cool summer breeze was blowing around me.

That was when an inquisitive dolphin came up to me, tilting its head to the side as if saying what are you doing here?

"It's her first visit," Percy told it. Of course, it must have asked him. "Annabeth, this is Marietta."

I looked at him, puzzled. "You know it?"

"We met a couple of years ago – it's a long story, don't ask. And it's a she, by the way."

"Hello, Marietta," I said softly, reaching out to pet her on the nose. She pushed her head up under my hand, and came close to me. She was a pale blue-grey colour with dark eyes that looked at me curiously. She looked from me to Percy and then back at me again. I had no idea if it was possible, but I could swear that she was smirking at me.

I smiled back at her and she turned, whistling softly. "What is she doing?" I whispered to Percy. "She's calling for her child," he whispered back, just as quietly.

A few seconds later, another dolphin swam up. It was obviously more excited, moving around restlessly as her mother nuzzled her. "This is Caterina," Percy told me, gently stroking the top of her head. "Hey, girl."

Caterina looked like a carbon copy of her mother, with the same pale skin and dark eyes. She nudged me for a minute, before turning her attention to Rainbow.

The two of them started some sort of game of tag, which would have been just fine if we hadn't been sitting on top of one of them. "RAINBOW!" Percy shouted, trying to get his attention. "We'd like not to be thrown off, buddy. Slow down, okay?"

Rainbow stopped immediately, and dropped his head, almost asking for forgiveness. I patted him on the head and turned to find Caterina being 'scolded' by Marietta, who was flapping her fins and swimming around.

If a dolphin could roll its eyes, Caterina would have.

"Guess even dolphins don't have it easy, huh?" I asked. "Apparently not," Percy grinned. "Now, we really have to go."

Both Caterina and Marietta waved their fins at us, as if saying goodbye, as we sped off into the water. I looked down and saw the sandy ocean floor beneath us. It was a golden colour, spreading in every direction that I could see.

I looked up to see blue. I couldn't see the sun anymore.

This was a very surreal experience. The whole of the human population would never be able to make it down this far, but Percy and I were right at the bottom of the ocean.

Alive.

That was when Percy slipped the blindfold over my eyes again. I sighed and crossed my arms. "Are we there yet?"

"Almost," he replied. "We have to walk now, okay?"

I rolled my eyes, although I knew he couldn't see me, and slipped off Rainbow. Percy placed his hands on my shoulders , and gently guided me along the ocean floor.

My hands were outstretched in front of me, a natural reaction to defend myself. I walked until I felt something cool and hard. I gripped it tightly, and it felt like…bars.

A gate.

"Why is there a gate here?" I questioned uncertainly. "You'll see," Percy replied, and I could picture the smug smirk on his face. "I'm starting to hate those two words," I muttered as we walked.

Suddenly, I felt a gust of warmth, almost as if the sun was shining. That was ridiculous. How could there be sun down here?

Percy stepped away, and slipped the blindfold off. "Now, you can see."

I looked up and my hand flew to my mouth in shock.

I was in Poseidon's palace.

*Percy POV*

Annabeth's reaction was priceless.

My dad stepped down from his throne to greet her. He had a twinkle in his eyes, and I suspected he was enjoying this just as much as I was. When I had known the day before that we were going to Camp Half-Blood, I had Iris-messaged my dad, asking him if it was alright for Annabeth to visit his palace. It was Poseidon who had suggested the surprise – something even I had never anticipated.

"Welcome, Annabeth," he smiled and she reciprocated the greeting, still looking around in wonder. I knew she must be thinking about the architectural structures of the place or something equally as boring – hearing her draw up her plans for Olympus had nearly put me to sleep.

"Lord Poseidon," she started, "why would you need me to redecorate your palace for you? This place is amazing!"

My dad smiled. "This is simply my courtroom. My palace itself is in utter disrepair. I trust you have the plans ready?"

Annabeth turned to glare at me, although I knew from the look on her face that she wasn't really mad. "Well, I would have brought them down with me, Lord Poseidon, but someone never told me where we were going."

I grinned and pulled the plans out of my pocket. "You mean these plans? You really shouldn't have so little faith in me, you know."

Annabeth's eyes widened, before she started laughing. "How can I be mad at you now, Seaweed Brain?"

"I beg to differ," a voice called from the surroundings - an all too familiar, cocky voice. I groaned mentally. Why did he have to show up now?

Triton stepped forward into the light. He looked at me, but his eyes held no friendliness, just as I had expected. Triton and I were not exactly bitter enemies, but we would never get along.

Annabeth frowned slightly. "I'm sorry, who are you?"

Triton's eyes widened in mock surprise.

"Perseus never told you about me? I am Triton, son of Amphitrite and Poseidon, and heir to the throne. May I ask who you are, lovely lady?"

If he didn't shut up, I was going to throw him to Mrs O'Leary.

Annabeth looked at him with a cool, level gaze. "I am Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, and Percy's girlfriend." I couldn't help but smirk back at Triton, noticing the tightening of his eyes as they flickered from her to me.

His eyes then roamed over her, and my hands tightened into fists. To act like a jerk to me was one thing – I was used to that – but no one treated Annabeth that way.

I stepped forward. "Isn't there someplace you have to be, Triton?"

He grinned at me. "What's the hurry, Percy? I've just met her!"

I was going to let him have it right then, but Poseidon quickly intervened. "Triton, go see if your mother needs any help," he ordered, and Triton had no choice but to swim off, scowling.

"Thank you," I told my father. "Why is he here, anyway?"

"Insisted on saying hello," Dad sighed. "I do not know what is on his mind lately – he has been acting odd. Stressed, I believe."

"Yeah," I muttered. "Stressed over who his new girlfriend is going to be. I can tell."

Poseidon didn't correct me, but sighed and turned to Annabeth, who looked like she was trying not to smile for some reason. "My dear, I have a gift for you."

She looked taken aback. "Lord Poseidon, there was no need to – "

He cut her off. "It's been lying down here for eons, time for someone to have it. Amphitrite refused to accept it – not glamorous enough for her taste – and I believe you should have it."

A naiad swam into the room, carrying a purple cushion. She swam up to Annabeth and smiled, placing the cushion before her.

It was a pearl necklace.

It looked plain enough but there seemed to be a glow around it, as if the necklace was radiating power. "Where did you get this, Dad?"

Poseidon frowned. "I believe it was a wedding gift from a nymph."

The naiad bowed before unhooking the necklace and fastening it around Annabeth's neck. She looked up and down Annabeth's attire before turning to Poseidon and shaking her head.

Annabeth looked uncertain. "What's going on?"

"The nymphs require you to be properly attired," Poseidon explained. "I'm afraid they are very particular about this sort of thing." The nymph dragged Annabeth from the room. She was surprisingly strong for someone who looked so fragile.

I turned to my father. "Are you talking about those ancient toga things you guys wear? Because I'm sorry Dad, but I'm not wearing that."

"No, it's only Annabeth who has to dress up," my dad reassured me. "The nymphs are very old-fashioned, and they consider any breach of the rules to be disrespectful."

I relaxed. Much as I respected my father, there was no way I was wearing what he was wearing. It looked like a dress.

"So, will she like it?" Poseidon asked as we walked toward our destination.

"I'm sure she'll love it," I replied truthfully. "She is Athena's daughter, after all." I was about to say more when the laughter and giggling of the naiads interrupted me. I turned to see Annabeth walking towards me, surrounded by naiads.

*Annabeth POV*

This felt ridiculous.

The naiads had forced me into an ancient Greek chiton, which stopped just below my knees in the front, and flowed out in a train behind me. They had braided my hair and placed a wreath of flowers on it, much as I had begged them not to.

It would take me ages to untangle it, but they were like Thalia; determined to have their way.

I groaned and allowed them to do whatever they wished, although I was dying to know why I was being subjected to this treatment. When they were finally finished, I joined Percy and Poseidon – in a very bad mood.

"Can you please show me this surprise now? Because this dress is extremely loose, and the flowers are giving me a headache," I complained, making Percy laugh.

I nearly smiled when I remembered how he had gotten jealous at Triton for 'flirting' with me. I had been ready to tell Triton where to go when Percy had interjected. I had to admit; it had been kind of hot.

He kissed my cheek lightly. "Actually, I like you in this dress. Can you wear this all the time?"

"In your Seaweed Brain dreams," I rolled my eyes, although I knew I was smiling.

We were at another set of gates, which towered above me, golden and imposing. Poseidon pressed them lightly with his hand, and they swung wide open. We stepped in - into something straight out of a dream.

It was a place I had read about so many times, a place I had wished to go but never thought I would be able to, a place beyond my wildest dreams.

Percy turned to me, smiling, and I understood why he had to keep it a surprise, because I would never have believed him, not in a thousand years.

"Welcome to Atlantis."