Chapter 11 An Old Friend Comes To Visit

Annabeth and Pietro went back down below deck. Pietro called out an all clear as they made their way to the mess hall. She tried to avoid looking at him, which wasn't easy. It was hard to get that vision out of her head.

Piper. Piper was an expert on all things romance. She just needed to talk to her. She could figure this out.

As Annabeth turned the corner, she was met with a bear hug from both a certain blond with glasses and a Cherokee girl with color-changing eyes.

"You're okay!" Piper yelled.

"We were so worried!" Jason said as he and Piper let go, "What you did was extremely irresponsible." He then also hugged Pietro, who looked as if he didn't know what to do.

Annabeth noticed that everyone else was also staring at her and Pietro. Nico looked at her, then at Pietro. He gave her a suspicious look from across the room. She nodded at him and shrugged, "You guys let me do it."

"Doesn't mean we wanted to," Jason told her.

"You sound like a mom," Leo said, standing up from the couch and walking over to the group huddled at the room's entrance.

"Well it's true!" Jason bit back, "We were worried! And besides, you were the one making up wild conspiracies about how they were going to get kidnapped by sharks."

Leo put his arm around Pietro, "Well, I certainly didn't want Annabeth and my man Pietro here to get taken."

Hazel raised an eyebrow, "By sharks?"

"You never know!" Leo shuddered, "They could've jumped on board and eaten them or something."

"Right," Nico said without a hint of sincerity.

"Imagine jumping to conclusions," Jason said, smirking.

"You did the same thing!" Leo said, then rolled his eyes, "Imagine being the mom friend."

"Imagine being a conspiracy theorist."

"Imagine being bad at insults."

The two continued trying to one-up each other. During this, Annabeth saw her chance to discreetly sneak out with Piper and talk to her. She made eye contact with her and motioned for them to leave the room. Piper nodded and the two left. Pietro briefly looked at them and cocked his head. Annabeth mouthed "It's fine" quickly and then hurried off after Piper.

"What is it?" Piper said as soon as the two reached her cabin. Her eyes lit up with anger, "If he tried to do anything to you up there I swear to the gods-"

"No!" Annabeth shook her head violently, "No, nothing like that."

Piper relaxed a little, "Oh. Then what is it?"

Annabeth paused. How did she explain?

"It's kinda the opposite actually," She said. At that, Piper lit up again, but this time with excitement, as if she already knew where this was going. Annabeth continued, "I didn't think…but then I… he…" She took a deep breath. Piper motioned for her to go on.

It all came out in one big long sentence, "I've been thinking for a while that Pietro's pretty cute but I kept denying it and then I talked to him and then I really started liking him but I didn't want to admit it but then we went up there and I saw a vision of what was supposed to be my deepest desire and you guys were there and so was my family but then he was there next to me and he looked at me and then he kissed me and-"

Piper grabbed her arm, "Breathe, girl. I can barely understand what you're saying."

Annabeth closed her eyes. She could do this, "Pietro showed up in the vision from the sirens. And kissed me."

Piper raised an eyebrow, "And how did we feel about this?"

"That's the thing!" Annabeth said, "I'm not sure."

She was sure, actually. She just didn't want to admit it.

Piper smiled, "You're blushing."

"Am I?"

Piper nodded, "Big time."

So the secret was out, "Okay fine. I like Pietro."

"Thanks for finally admitting it!" Piper said.

"You already knew?"

"It was kinda obvious. You always seemed to be in denial when Leo was teasing you. "

Oh. Apparently she hadn't been as careful as she'd thought, "So now what? I didn't know what to do, Piper. That's why I came to you."

"I mean, you know what I'm gonna say."

Annabeth was afraid of that. Every time anyone back at camp had come to Piper to ask about crush advice, she'd always tell them to "just go for it".

"But what if he says no?" Annabeth figured this was highly likely. Why would he like her back? They barely knew each other. Plus he probably had people back home. She'd never been outright rejected before. Pietro was important to her(the sirens never lied). Would she be able to handle that?

Piper began twirling a piece of her hair, "I'm gonna be honest Annabeth, I don't think he will."

Annabeth frowned, "Why not?"

She hesitated, "You know how I can sense people's compatibility, right?"

Annabeth nodded.

"And you know how I have to be touching both people to do so?"

Annabeth nodded again. Where was this going?

"Well," Now Piper seemed to be the nervous one, "I've had an alarm going off in my head ever since Pietro opened that cabin door. The connection between you two… it's stronger than anything I've ever seen. I don't have to be touching either of you to feel it. I've been able to sense it this whole time. Like..."

Annabeth's heart beat faster, "Like we're meant to be together?"

"Yes! But even more so," Piper continued, "I've seen soulmates before." She gestured in the direction of the mess hall, "Like Frank and Hazel have one of the highest I've read. But this… this is even stronger than that. I don't know how to explain it, but I just know. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think us meeting Pietro was Fate, in more than one way. He gets along with the group so well- Jason and Leo already invited him to come back with us after we find the lyre to meet everyone at Camp. I know you and Jason were talking about how you felt something was missing in life. Maybe this is it."

Annabeth said nothing, trying to process everything Piper had just said. Could she be right? Could Pietro be the thing she'd been looking for? It seemed cliché, but...

"The best thing to do would be to talk to him," Piper said, "communication is always key." She winced, "But maybe don't start out with the whole soulmate thing. That tends to scare people off."

Annabeth laughed at that as the puzzle pieces finally began clicking and her worries drifted away. She had a plan now; she just needed to find time to talk to Pietro.

And even if he said no, then at least she wouldn't keep wondering.

Someone knocked on the door. Annabeth turned as Leo opened it.

His eyebrows were crinkled up in worry, "I know I'm interrupting a very important girl-talk, but I think we have a problem."

"What?" Piper and Annabeth asked in unison, all thoughts of romance immediately getting set aside.

"Should we be concerned that the pirate ship from Circe's island is following us?"

Oooooooooooooooooo

Leo had been minding his own business talking to Festus on the top deck when he noticed the pirate ship. Honestly, couldn't they catch a break? It seemed like every time he turned something else had to go wrong.

He led the two girls up to the deck. By the time he returned, all the boys were already there, staring at the ship.

"What do you think they're doing?" Jason asked.

"I don't know," Nico said, "but I have a bad feeling about this."

Leo tried to get a better look. It was similar in size to the Argo II with a stereotypical black pirate flag seated atop its mast.

"Should we attack?" Leo suggested, "I've got plenty of defense methods littered around the ship, and-"

"Wait!" Pietro said, squinting down toward the water, "There's a rowboat down there." He pointed at it.

Leo looked down. Sure enough, a small rowboat was crossing the waves toward the Argo II. It was nearly impossible to see. How had Pietro even noticed it?

That was a rabbit trail to follow for another time.

Once the boat got close enough, Leo could make out two people: one a man with close-cropped blond hair and the other a pirate from Circe's island. Judging from his coat and hat, he was probably Blackbeard.

"Ahoy!" yelled the pirate from the water, "May we come aboard?"

Leo looked at everyone else also staring over the ship's railing, "Well, what do you guys think?" Annabeth had turned a deathly shade of white.

"You good, Wise Girl?" Pietro asked, subtly reaching for her hand. Leo resisted the urge to smirk. Wise Girl?

This pirate ship apparently wasn't the only new ship in the vicinity.

After everyone agreed to an extent to let the two up, Leo threw the rope ladder over and the two men climbed up. The group took a few collective steps back to allow them some space.

Nico immediately pulled out his sword, "Who are you and what do you want?"

The blonde guy held up his hands, "Relax. We just came to talk."

Annabeth, who seemed to have regained some of her color, though not much, stepped forward, "We thought you were dead! I thought you were dead!"

Leo frowned. Why would she care so much about a pirate they'd rescued from a witch's island?

He then realized she was talking about the other guy. Along with the blond hair, the guy had steely blue eyes. He was a few years older than Leo, probably early to mid 20's. Why was Annabeth so freaked out? The only freaky thing about the guy was the nasty scar across his eye.

The man smiled, "Annabeth, it's good to see you again. It's been a while."

"Where have you been, Luke?" Annabeth trembled. "Where have you been all these years?"

So apparently Annabeth knew the guy. Leo thought the name was familiar but couldn't remember why.

Wait. Wasn't Luke the guy that had disappeared from camp years before he even showed up there?

Luke dismissed the question with a wave, "Another question for another time. I believe you all are on your way to retrieve Apollo's lyre, yes?"

"Does everybody except Zeus know about the lyre?!" Pietro yelled from next to Leo. Leo glanced at him and raised his eyebrows. It was a fair point.

"Apollo has never been good at keeping secrets," Luke explained, "But anyway, before I go through with threatening you all with death and everything, I'd like to give you a couple of options."

Nico laughed, "As if we don't have the upper hand here."

Jason nodded, "You don't want to mess with us. We're some of the most powerful demigods in the world."

Luke said nothing. He merely smiled. It was a cold, calculating smile. Just who was this guy? Leo vaguely remembered people at camp saying he was a great leader and friend. How had he turned into a creepy side antagonist?

"And see, Blackbeard here tells me your powers aren't working. He saw what happened at Circe's," Luke said, "So what it looks like to me is seven demigods against me and my crew."

"Because you and a couple of pirates are so strong," Pietro muttered.

Luke raised his eyebrows playfully, "Oh? You think that's all I have? Do you know what a horde of starving feral harpies can do to human flesh? Do you know the force that a cyclops can punch with? I do." He pointed out in the distance to the large ship getting frighteningly close, "I've been collecting monsters for years building my army, waiting for the time to strike."

"For what?" Annabeth said, "Luke, what is all this? This isn't you."

He laughed, "Oh, it's me alright. It just took me too long to find myself." He paused, "And I want you to join me. In the revolution."

"What revolution?" Frank asked.

"The turning of an age," Luke explained, even though that explained literally nothing, "A chance to take our turn at the top. To bring down our parents."

He was met with silence.

"And…what makes you think you will be able to do that?" Nico wondered.

"Well, the lyre is a good start. I've heard it wields unimaginable power. I'm sure Poseidon is desperate to have it." Leo barely noticed it but Pietro seemed to shrink back at that. Before Leo could think too long about it, Luke continued, "But who cares about him? He'd be no better at ruling than the other Olympians. Unfair, unjust, unworthy of the title. But we can be better."

"Okay, Luke, my dude, I get what you're saying," Leo said, "But do you seriously think you can defeat the freaking Olympians with a few monsters and a shiny harp? I mean, I dunno about you, but-"

"I have other methods." He said, "There are forces beneath our feet stirring, begging to be released. With their help, the gods don't stand a chance."

Once again, Luke was met with silence.

"Well?" He asked when no one said anything.

"Look," Leo said, "I don't really feel like waking up any primordial forces today. So I think we're gonna have to pass."

The others agreed with him.

"So you're all against me?" Luke said, raising his voice, "Even you, Annabeth?"

Leo glanced over at her again. Her eyes were red and a stray tear fell down her face, "Please Luke, don't do this. I don't know where you've been, but this is insanity."

"Sometimes insanity is the only logical solution," He reasoned, "But, if you all refuse to cooperate, I'll just have to dispose of you myself." He drew his sword, "Tell me where the lyre is and maybe I'll let you live. Like I said, I have hundreds of monsters willing to fight for me, so I wouldn't test my patience too far."

Leo glanced at the others, "This guy for real?"

He held out his hand and sparked a flame. It was only about half the size Leo had intended it to be. Oh well.

"Fine." Luke sneered, "Don't tell me then." He stepped forward, sword held at the ready.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Pietro drew his bronze sword.

"Cuz you're so great," Luke said, "Who are you anyway?"

"Someone you don't want to mess with," Pietro said. Leo took a step back.

"Is that so?" Luke said, though he sounded more unsure this time, "Then bring it on."

Hazel tried to jump into the conversation. "Wait shouldn't we talk about this first-"

She was ignored as Luke and Pietro began swinging at each other. The deck slowly spiraled into chaos. Blackbeard pulled out a sword and started advancing. Leo flung a fireball at him, but it didn't do much other than make his hat start smoking. A harpy flew overhead, dropping a ten-foot-tall cyclops onto the deck. It then swooped down toward Frank, who stood there in concentration for a frighteningly long second before turning into a bear and swatting it away. Nico then lunged for it with his sword and sliced it clean through. A cannonball came out of nowhere, narrowly missing the ship and landing in the ocean with a large splash! Jason, Piper, and Hazel fought with the cyclops. Frank had turned into a falcon and circled overhead shooing away more harpies. Luke and Percy continued fighting one-on-one Obi-Wan/Darth Vader style.

Despite everything, including the battle with a legendary pirate Leo was currently caught in the middle of, he noticed Annabeth standing in the same position she'd been before. Leo doubted she'd barely even blinked; she was a statue.

And a harpy was flying right for her.

"Annabeth move!" Leo yelled. She finally seemed to snap out of it as she looked up, but she wouldn't be able to get away fast enough. He turned to run for her, but the only two people close to her were Luke and Pietro, who were locked in a deadly duel. No one would be able to get to her in time.

Then in a blur of motion too quick for even Leo to comprehend, Pietro stepped back, pushed Annabeth out of the way of the harpy, sliced it into gold dust, and blocked a strike from Luke, all in the matter of a few seconds.

Leo stood in awe for a moment before realizing that he too was in the middle of fighting. He turned to find Blackbeard standing in front of him, sword ready to swing down-

The sword disappeared from his hand. Blackbeard looked up in confusion as a falcon flew past.

"Thanks, Frank!" Leo called.

Leo ignited both his hands and held them at the ready. Blackbeard gulped and looked around, as if trying to see if there were any makeshift weapons nearby.

"Not so tough now, huh?" Leo said.

After a moment, Blackbeard held his hands up in surrender. Leo grinned. Surprisingly, so did Blackbeard.

Then he jumped off the side of the boat. Leo blinked. That was not what he'd been expecting.

He ran over to the side and looked down. Far below in the blue waters, he saw Blackbeard sitting on the back of what appeared to be a mermaid-horse. Merhorse? Seapony? Whatever.

Hippocampus, he realized.

Leo let go of the railing, figuring there were more pressing matters at hand. Pietro had Luke up against a corner. He seemed to be doing just fine.

The others, however, seemed to be struggling against the increasing swarm of monsters boarding the ship. So, with that, Leo ran over to help them.

Ooooooooooooo

Percy held Riptide steady at Luke's neck. The man had nowhere to go, "What were you saying about being unstoppable?"

It hadn't been terribly hard to take him. Luke was good with a sword, yes, and Percy was used to other weapons like tridents, but after having trained for something like this for eight years, it wasn't exactly a close battle.

(Although it was really hard to not just grab a wave from the ocean and wash the guy overboard. But that kinda would've revealed who he was to his friends.)

Percy expected him to surrender, or frown, or at least do something in defeat, but instead Luke smiled. And it wasn't a happy smile. It was one of those smiles that sent chills down your back.

"You know, I haven't fought anyone who could come close to beating me in a sword-fight in a long time," He said, "What's your name, kid?"

Percy fought the urge to roll his eyes at that. He wasn't a kid, "And why do you care?"

Luke held a hand up innocently, "I just want to know the name of the one who bested me in combat."

After thinking about it for a long time, Percy finally muttered, "Pietro Mendoza."

"You know, Pietro," Luke began, "I don't know if I've seen anyone fight quite like you."

"Thank you?" Percy said, unsure how to respond to a compliment from someone who'd just tried to kill him.

Then Luke laughed, "It's a shame, really. Such a unique style, all put to waste by loyalties to so-called all-powerful beings who don't give a shit about what you want."

Percy may not have been working for the Olympians, but he was still working for a god. Luke may not have realized it, but the words still cut him.

"You're a pawn, Pietro Mendoza," He said, "Join me and you can live up to your true potential."

In a way, Luke was right. Percy knew it. He was a pawn. His father told him exactly what to do and when to do it. He'd been forced on this quest to betray a group of demigods and help his father take back Olympus.

For what? So his father could fix his stupid little power-complex?

Percy looked at Luke. He had no intention of joining him. Maybe the gods weren't perfect, and maybe Percy didn't know the stories all that well, but some of the things Luke wanted to do couldn't make the world better than it already was. Most of them would probably destroy it instead.

But at that moment, something did click. The decision he'd gone back and forth on pretty much since the whole expedition fell into place.

Percy wasn't going to take orders from anyone anymore, including his dad. He was going to make his own choices.

And that meant staying with his new friends.

His new family.

Of course he'd have to figure out the whole "Son of Poseidon" thing at some point, but he could work that out later. At the very least, wasn't going to betray the crew of the Argo II.

"Sorry, but I'm going to have to decline your offer," He said, then pushed the sword closer, "Now you and your little army need to get off this ship before I count to three. And don't go looking for that lyre."

Luckily, Luke did not seem the martyr type, because he nodded and whistled. Almost immediately, all of the monsters on deck jumped overboard and the harpies flew away.

"The lyre is yours then. We have other methods of gaining power anyway. I do hope you reconsider," Luke said, "But until then, I guess this is goodbye, Pietro Mendoza."

Luke jumped off. Percy looked down to see an entire herd of hippocampi just beneath the surface. Luke and the monsters bolted away and the pirate ship slowly melted into the distance.

Percy frowned. It almost seemed too easy. If the guy was dead set on overthrowing Olympus, why give up so easily?

He shook his head. That didn't matter right now.

Ooooooooooooo

That night, all of the demigods sat around the table eating dinner. For the first time in a while, Percy actually felt like eating. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits, despite their earlier near-death encounter. The only one who seemed out of it was Annabeth. Percy wondered why. She had recognized that Luke guy from somewhere. But where? And was that what was bothering her? Or something else?

"So," Jason said, setting down a half-eaten piece of pizza, "What else do you guys think will try to kill us before we reach Wadelisle?"

"How much longer anyway?" Hazel said, looking a little green, "The sooner we get there the sooner we can head home and get off this stupid boat."

All eyes turned to Percy. He closed his eyes and mentally located where they were and where the island was, "tomorrow night. That's when we'll get there."

Leo sighed, "Finally. Not that I don't like hanging out on my dream project with you guys, but the constant attacks are getting on my nerves."

Piper nodded, "Today was close."

Had it been? Percy couldn't really remember. He'd been so focused on fighting Luke that he hadn't seen what the others were all doing.

"Dude!" Leo yelled, jump-scaring Percy out of his thoughts, "That one move you did was crazy! You like jumped through the air and twisted around and blocked that Luke guy's attack while also saving Annabeth-"

Annabeth slammed her fork down. Everyone looked at her. She seemed to realize what she'd done and turned red before standing up.

"I…" She said, voice shaking, "I need a minute." Then she ran out of the room.

"She okay?" Leo asked, pointing toward the hallway.

Piper held out a hand and waved it in a so-so motion, "I don't really know. I'm pretty sure Luke was a guy she knew from camp, but he left long before any of the rest of us got there."

"How long was Annabeth at camp before you guys got there?" Percy asked.

"Years," Jason said, "She practically grew up there. She arrived when she was seven. The rest of us didn't show up until we were like fifteen."

Seven?

Percy shuddered trying to picture being a seven-year-old and finding out who he truly was and the world he was a part of. It'd been scary enough as a middle-schooler, but as a first grader?

"Should someone go talk to her?" Frank wondered.

"Piper, you should go check on her." Nico suggested.

She shook her head, "No. Pietro should."

Percy blinked. Had he heard her right?

"…Why?" Nico asked, anger seeping into his voice. Percy, for once, agreed with him.

"She clearly trusts you," Piper explained, "And besides, I think it'd be good for you guys to talk to each other."

Percy paused. What did that mean?

Whatever it did, Percy did want to make sure she was okay. He stood up and made his way to the hallway and to her cabin. As he walked by, Leo smirked and said under his breath, "the ship is setting sail". Jason gave him a look that said, "not the time."

Percy walked down the hallway to Annabeth's cabin. The door was only partially closed. Percy knocked anyway.

"What is it?" Annabeth asked from inside the room.

Percy hesitated. He'd never been great at this sort of thing. Why had Piper convinced him to do this? "Just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Annabeth was silent. Percy frowned and thought about returning to the mess hall when he heard a quiet "Come in."

Percy opened the door enough so he could enter the room. Annabeth sat on her bed, legs curled up to her chest. She held a small wooden picture frame in one hand. She looked up from it as he walked in and set it down next to her. Her eyes were red and puffy.

"Sorry, I didn't know it was you," Annabeth said, "Thanks for saving me, by the way."

Percy pointed back to the door, "Yeah, of course. But if this is a bad time I can leave-"

"No!" Annabeth shook her head, "I mean, no, it's fine."

Percy rocked uncomfortably back and forth on his feet, "So, can I ask what's wrong?"

Annabeth glanced down at the picture. Percy wondered what it waa.

"It has to do with that Luke guy, doesn't it?" He asked.

Annabeth nodded. Percy, feeling weird standing in the middle of the room, moved closer to her. She didn't tell him to move or anything, so he sat down next to her, "If you don't mind me asking, how did you know him?"

Annabeth picked up the frame and showed it to Percy. Inside was a picture of three kids. One was most likely a much younger Annabeth, with those blonde curls and gray eyes. Next to her was a guy who looked very similar to Luke and a girl Percy didn't know with short black hair. She had the same electric, almost inhuman blue eyes as Jason.

Annabeth took a deep breath, "My dad remarried not long after I was born. My stepmom didn't like me. Long story short, I ran away when I was seven."

Percy's eyes widened. Jason had said she'd been at camp at a young age, but it was because she ran away? "You were that young?"

"Yeah. I probably should've died pretty soon after that. But two kids found me: one was my friend Thalia-she's a hunter of Artemis now-" Percy didn't know what that was but nodded along anyway, "And the other was Luke. The three of us stuck together on our own: fighting monsters, running from CPS and the like. We formed a bond; we were a family. We were eventually found by a satyr named Grover and brought to Camp Half-Blood. But even there we were inseparable. Thalia and I were best friends, practically joined at the hip, despite her being so much older than me, but Luke- I started to see him differently. I looked up to him, I…" She trailed off.

"You liked him, didn't you?" Percy asked, immediately feeling like he was invading a very personal conversation.

Annabeth smiled weakly, "Yeah. I did. It was just a stupid crush though. He's like five years older than me. Would've been weird if something did come of it."

Percy shrugged, "True."

Annabeth looked away, "But, after a couple years, he got sent on a quest. No one knows exactly what happened, but he came back completely different. He started becoming distant. He was colder, less friendly." She paused, "Then one day he disappeared altogether. We all figured he was dead, but…"

Percy thought back to how pale she'd been when she'd seen him. A tear rolled down her cheek. Percy instinctively reached for her hand. She didn't pull away.

"I don't even know why it affected me so much," She said, "It's not like I still like him or anything, and I haven't seen him in so long-"

"Yes, but he was important to you at some point. Like you said- he was your family. Seeing someone you were once close to…" He paused, searching for the right word. He wanted to say "betray" but it felt too harsh, "Turn on you like that can be really jarring."

"I guess so." Annabeth said. She glanced down at Percy's hand. He started to pull back but she grabbed it tight, as if clinging to a lifeline.

Annabeth sighed, running her other hand through her hair, "This is so stupid. I'm getting all upset over nothing."

"It's not nothing," He said, "It's just shock, that's all. It's okay."

Annabeth hummed. She glanced down at the picture of her, Thalia and Luke again.

"Pietro?" She said.

"Yeah?"

"Can you promise me something?"

Percy's heart beat faster, "What?"

She looked him right in the eyes. Percy simultaneously felt the urge to look away and also keep staring into them forever at the same time, "Promise me that you're not using us."

Percy frowned, "What?"

"It's just something Nico's been going on about. Something about ulterior motives" Annabeth explained quickly, "And I…I don't think you are. At least, not anymore. Maybe at first, but not now." She paused, "But I just wanted to ask, because Nico's suspicions keep finding their way to me. I–" She stopped, "I mean, we all really care about you and want you to be a part of our friend group. So just promise me that he's wrong."

Percy's mind went blank. How did he answer that? He'd already decided that he wasn't going to follow his dad, but that didn't mean he wasn't still keeping secrets from them.

"I…I promise I would never do anything to hurt you." He said, then realized how that sounded and added, "Or any of you guys," He smiled at her, "You guys are the best friends I've ever had, and I wouldn't do anything to screw that up."

Annabeth nodded. Then she frowned, as if trying to remember something, then shook her head. Percy wondered what that was about.

"Thank you." She ended up saying.

Then she hugged him. Percy didn't initially know how to react, but fell into it pretty quickly. A random corner of his mind commented on how nice her hair smelled. He ignored it. Even if Annabeth did care about him, the chance that she liked him as more than a friend was highly unlikely. He had to keep telling himself that.

But it didn't matter either way. He'd made a promise. Now he had to keep it.

It was time he talked to his dad.