Thanks a million to GuestsRuleTheWeb, AsTheDragonFlies, dogbiscuit1967, theGirlwithTheAwesomeUsername, and finally to my best friend KitKatWei. This chapter is also per her request. Enjoy!

P.S.: Don't worry, guys, I read all your reviews and will do them all someday. Thanks to those who requested.

P.P.S.: 101 REVIEWS! I CAN'T THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH! :D :D :D

BLACKJACK

Blackjack pranced around his stall, abuzz with excitement. Around this time, someone usually came in and told him new news—ha, new news!—of his boss Percy, and today he absolutely could not wait. For some reason, he was on edge. He hoped his boss was okay.

"Blackjack?" Someone came in then, someone he didn't recognize. "I have something to tell you."

"What?" Blackjack nickered, but unfortunately the person didn't understand.

"Um, well, Blackjack, buddy, you know Percy? Percy Jackson? Son of Poseidon? Ring any bells for ya, horsey?"

"How dumb do you THINK I am? Of course I know who Percy is! He's my boss!" Blackjack neighed, annoyed, but again the other person didn't get it. He didn't understand horse—speak like his boss did.

"I guess you do. Well, anyway, ya know he went on a quest, right? I don't know how smart pegasi are, but you do understand? Quest? Prophecy? Those words mean anything to you?"

Blackjack was starting to get annoyed. He decided that when Percy got back, he'd ask him to ask Chiron to only assign children of Poseidon to give him updates whenever Percy was away from then on. None of these Hermes kids—that's what this kid looked like he was, anyway, with those creepy elf eyes—understood him like his boss did.

The kid scratched the back of his neck with his hand, looking apologetic. "Blackjack, buddy, your friend Percy and his girlfriend Annabeth got into a big fight with Gaea. You know her, yeah? Big, ugly earth woman? Pretty bad? Well, uh, like I said, she and the Seven…they had a big fight. A battle, ya know? I guess you've seen your share of battles. You're a pegasi, after all. So anyway, they got into this big fight…"

Blackjack whinnied the horse equivalent of "I KNOW THEY GOT INTO A BIG FIGHT! GET TO THE POINT!"

The kid winced. "Ah, yeah. So, during the fight, Percy and Annabeth…" A shadow of pain crossed his face. "I'm new, alright? I didn't know them that well, but they were nice to me whenever they met me. I wish they were still around so I could get to know them better. But they were injured pretty badly during the battle, and, well, we all miss them both tons. I'll give you some privacy, yeah?" The kid promptly bolted, probably glad to be gone.

Blackjack stared numbly at the floor, unable to comprehend what he had just learned. He could see strands of straw spread across the wood panels, but he didn't even care. Normally, being the rather OCD horse he was, he would have immediately swept all the straw back into its proper place and begin complaining to anyone who would understand about how important it was that his stall stay clean—he was a freaking PEGASUS!—but the only person who'd understood horse—speak, besides the horses, was Percy.

Oh, Percy. Blackjack could remember as if it had been yesterday how the brave demigod had saved him from that cursed ship, and given him a cool home and people to fawn over him, too. He'd never forgotten it, and that was why Percy was his boss. He was a good boss. He even refused to be called 'boss'! He was way better than Luke had been at bossing!

Blackjack realized then, in full force, that he would never be bossed by Percy ever again.

The thought tore at his heart. Oh, Percy. He had been brave and strong and kind, and he'd rescued Blackjack, essentially saving his life. Blackjack was grateful, and had tried to repay the debt every single day of the rest of his life. But now? He would never get to. Now, Percy was gone, and Blackjack would never see him again.

The pegasus folded his wings and sank to his knees and silently mourned for the great hero who he would never see again—his boss, Percy Jackson.

Review please!