A/N: Aha! I have finished the first chapter of my mass update! Yay! Be happy for me, I also just finished writing my script (finally) of course now my teacher wants me to finish that movie script and the over the summer write this play into a movie . . . I WILL NEVER GET A BREAK! *coughs* this is why you should like me on facebook! Cuts down on the rants and I can reply to your reviews there (I will!). Find me by searching (you may have to click enter) or using the link on my profile! Anyways, read and enjoy!

As the bells chimed through the city of Athens, Grover and Percy continued on their way to the house of Lord Poseidon. Passing through the main square of the city, they overheard a messenger address the populace that had gathered. Pausing in the shadows to listen, they found some very interesting news.

The messenger announced that in a week's time a feast and ball would be held at the house of Lady Athena. In celebrating of an arrangement, that was not yet to be released, anyone was welcome – as long as they weren't associated with the house of Poseidon of course. Names were rattled off, which soon lost the interest of the two boys. That is, until the name of Dare was mentioned.

Hearing that, Percy's face snapped up to the messenger. His eyes were wide, and his body tense. Once he realized the stat of his friend, Grover grabbed Percy's arm and began dragging him back to his home. Percy strained to get back to the square, but his friend had a good grip and dug his hooves into the earth with every step.

Once back and inside the property (Poseidon's manor was very similar to Athena's but with much more blue and green stone work, several fountains, and located on the coast) Grover forced Percy up to his room and locked the door behind them. Grover quickly looked into the garden to make sure it was clear, then slid the curtain shut. He turned back to Percy and folded his arms.

"You are insane," Grover said. "You cannot go to something Athena is hosting! If you're found out . . . your Dad will be upset, and Athena will probably throw you in her dungeon or something." Percy sighed and sat down on his bed.

"I won't get found out. You heard what was said. It's a masquerade ball. With costumes and masks. No one will see who I am; I'll just show up for the ball half. I won't even make a scene, just observe . . . and stuff . . . I'm not that stupid to get found," Percy argued. Grover rubbed his eyes and regarded Percy for a minute. Finally Grover sighed.

"You humans are so stubborn. Why are you so dead-set on going? Don't answer, rhetorical question," Grover said. "But if you do go through with this, you are not heading into the dragon's lair alone. I'll go with you, and we can see if Lee can go too."

"Fine," Percy sighed. "You guys can come. I don't mind." He paused for a second. "Do you want to go riding tomorrow?" Grover gave Percy a curious look; he knew Percy loved riding on his stallion, Blackjack. Percy just hadn't done it in a while. Maybe this was a sign Percy was finally going back to normal.

"Sure, why not," Grover replied. "Just don't get weirded out when I show up with my donkey again."

Percy gave a humorless laugh. "I've grown used to it. Now can you please go? I want to be alone right now." Grover thought it was an odd request, seeing as his friend had spent the entire day alone in Keyhole Rock just thinking and being miserable. But even though he and Percy were best friends, he couldn't quite say it out loud. When Percy got angry, it wasn't a nice sight, and his father was Lord Poseidon.

"All right, I'll go. Just holler down the hall if you want me . . . actually you'd better look for me in the garden. I'm kind of hungry," Grover said as he trotted to the door. Percy nodded distractedly. Grover sighed and left the room, closing the door behind him. Immediately Percy barred the door, drew the shutters, and snuffed out any source of light he could; then he just sat down in a corner and pulled his knees up.

The next morning was bright and sunny. The air was humid and the sun was blinding. There wasn't a trace of a cloud in the sky. In the courtyard of Poseidon's house a page was holding the reins of a pure black stallion. There wasn't a saddle on, of course. Grover stood near the horse next to a fat donkey. The donkey didn't look very happy.

Percy walked out of the main doors and over to the stallion. He took the reins from the page boy, dismissed him, and stroked the horse's muzzle gently. The horse, Blackjack, nuzzled him fondly and snorted. Percy gave a fleeting half smile before turning serious again. He looked over at Grover.

"Ready to go?" He asked.

Grover nodded. "Yeah, we can leave." Without a word Percy threw the reins over Blackjack's head and swung up onto his back. He watched as Grover mounted his own donkey. Grover nodded to let Percy know he was ready and Percy spurred Blackjack into a canter. In a moment they were cantering out the gates and into the streets of Athens.

Nearly an hour later and well into mid-day, Percy and Grover were walking their horses at a steady pace in the wild lands outside Athens. The olive trees were overgrown on either side of the path and bushes with blossoming flowers clustered around their roots. The sun was high overhead and bright, apparently Apollo was in a good mood.

As they rode, Grover slowly became aware of an odd, out of place, and faint sound coming from somewhere just beyond the line of trees. Due to Grover's heighten, satyr senses, he immediately started looking around trying to find the force of the sound. A minute later Grover pulled his donkey to a halt.

"Um, Percy?" Grover called. Percy stopped Blackjack and looked back at Grover. "This is going to sound weird, but I think someone is out there." Grover pointed through the trees, to where no one but a satyr, nature spirit, or extremely adventurous person would know there was a meadow.

"That's impossible," Percy replied. At that moment there was a peal of faint laughter. It hung in the air suspended. "Stay here," Percy told Blackjack as he slipped off the stallion's side and place his hand on Riptide's hilt. He glanced at Grover. "Who is it?"

Grover sniffed the air. "Girl, I think, peasant-y smell." Grover shrugged. "Don't recognize it."

Percy frowned. "We should go and find out who it is." Grover just nodded and slipped down from his donkey. Percy was starting to act like his old self – the fresh air and prospect of soon meeting Rachel had started to banish his miserable feelings. But of course, neither of them could predict the future.

Percy forged ahead through the trees, closely followed by Grover. Blackjack and the donkey remained by the road, ever alert for a whistle. The tree branches and undergrowth scratched at their clothing and uncovered limbs. Within minutes the two boys were dirty and cut up.

They pushed through the trees for quite a while, until Percy pulled out Riptide and used it to slash their way through. When they did make it through the tree barrior, they stopped and stared in wonder.

They were on the edge of a lush meadow. The tall sharp grass was mixed lilies, roses, and every variety of wildflowers possible. The sunlight shone through the air like a row of diamonds. Butterflies and fat bumblebees drifted through the air going from flower to flower. The smell that filled the air was the most wonderful smell that could never exist in the city. But the most amazing thing was the young girl sitting in the middle of meadow reading a manuscript.

Grover and Percy stared at the girl. They could see her profile as she read. She had tanned skin, and stormy grey eyes that moved fast over the words. She was wearing simple brown dress, with a brown coat-like cloak (I described it before). Her curly, bright blonde hair was pulled back in a rough linen bandana.

There was a moment of shocked silence, the girl didn't notice them, before Grover said, "She is not a dryad." The girl's head snapped up and she glared at them suspiciously. Quickly Percy slipped Riptide into his belt to show he meant her no harm.

"No, I am not a dryad," the girl snapped as she stood up very boyishly. She closed the book and looked at the boys. "Who are you and why are you out here? Nobody knows this place." Percy swallowed, the girl was intimidating.

"My name is Grover," said Grover trotting forward. "This is my friend, Percy." It was safe to use Percy's name, because the public simply knew him as Perseus. "Who are you?"

The girl straightened her shoulders. "My name is Annabeth." Percy stepped forward and Annabeth looked at him. There was a moment of silence as they stared at each other. They were both sixteen, and Annabeth was almost as tall as Percy.

"You're a girl," Percy said eventually. "You're a girl and you came out here alone. There are monsters, it's dangerous." Annabeth gave Percy and Grover a dangerous smile.

"I can take care of myself," was her response. At that moment, there was a hiss from the surrounding trees. Percy pulled Riptide free and held it ready. Annabeth quickly set the book down and reached inside her cloak. There was a rustle.

A Dracaena dressed in battle armour and brandishing a spear burst out of the trees on the left of Grover and Percy. Percy darted forward, and with one expert twist of the sword he disarmed the Dracaena. Annabeth was right behind him, a knife in her hand. She stabbed the she-monster in between the armour straps. The demon wailed as she disintegrated into crumbling golden dusk.

Percy looked at Annabeth in surprise. "You can handle yourself."

Annabeth smirked at him, put her knife away, and folded her arms. "I told you." There was a moment of tense silence. "I'd better get going. I've been out here for way to long." Annabeth whirled away and scooped up her book.

"Wait!" Percy said, stepping after her. "Maybe we could . . . train. I've never met someone that's a girl and as good as you. It'd be . . . fun." Annabeth noticed Percy's flat tone as he said this, like he didn't really mean it. She looked between Percy and Grover critically. Grover was nodding at her.

Annabeth sighed. "Fine. Why not?"

A/N: I told you things picked up! Bet you didn't see this, since it's not in the play! I can still remember the details, a year later! So how was it? Review, fav, alert, whatever let me know! And don't forget, like me on facebook so you can start getting replies to your reviews!