Perseus couldn't help but sigh at the situation they all found themselves in.

You'd think after winning a game of capture the flag against the Hunters for the first time they'd all catch a break and find some time to rejoice or celebrate or anything. But nope, the camp counselors, Mr. D, Chiron, and Zoe and a few of her Hunters were sitting around the ping pong table in the rec room discussing the ominous prophecy given by the oracle who was back in her place at the attic after Percy so graciously offered to levitate her back there.

What fun.

Also, the prophecy? Even more fun.

Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,

One shall be lost in the land without rain,

The bane of Olympus shows the trail,

Campers and Hunters combined prevail,

The Titan's curse must one withstand,

And one shall perish by a parent's hand.

Hearing those somber words had snuffed out any feeling of celebration left amongst the campers. Everybody was tense, Dionysus had called all the cabin leaders for a meeting to discuss the quest that was undoubtedly going to happen. Zoe had immediately wanted to go with her Hunters the moment she heard the prophecy but Chiron had reminded her of the line saying campers and hunters must work together.

So, it was then decided that three Hunters and two campers would go since it was only fair that more of the Hunters look for their goddess. Zoe was obviously one of the three with Phoebe and Bianca accompanying her. Phoebe was the Hunt's best tracker and Zoe had thought it important for Bianca to gain experience. Now, the campers that were going? Surprising yet unsurprising.

Thalia and Perseus. Originally, Zoe hadn't want the latter to come but Percy had been adamant about being able to join the search in order to look for Annabeth.

"I know plenty more spells then what I showed today, many of them may prove useful for tracking and hiding" Nightshade shook her head "you're a boy, I won't have a boy traveling with my hunters."

Leaning back on his seat, the son of Poseidon sighed "listen, I get you're reservations about that but this isn't the time for you to hold your ground because of tradition or whatnot, your goddess is missing, one of my best friends is missing, we need the best people on the job and this isn't me being arrogant but I have magic that's proven to be very useful in a quest."

"Also, if the reason you're so hesitant about me coming is the whole swearing off boys things and you don't want me attempting to woo your Hunters or whatever the fuck then there isn't much to worry about because I frankly don't give a shit about sex or romance so I swear on whatever you want me to swear on that there will be no funny business from me" everybody seemed taken aback by Percy's exclamation.

".. You know, he is the most logical option other than me to go. And you heard it from the man himself he's probably asexual or something so what harm can he do right?" Thalia shrugged.

"He's right Zoe, it's your decision at the end of the day but I do believe Perseus will be able to greatly aid you in your journey" Chiron says softly and Zoe narrowed her eyes.

"Fine" the words were filled with scorn "but I swear boy if thy come near my hunters I will cut of your manhood and feed it to the wolves."

All the males in the room winced except for Percy who merely brushed of the very real threat to his person "trust me Miss Nightshade, the only person who is in this camp at this very moment who I might be attracted to is Beckendorf" the dark haired boy winked at the son of Hephaestus who laughed wholeheartedly along with the other campers present.

"Love you too Perce" Beckendorf grinned.

After the meeting, Percy ate a quick dinner before going to his room. Grover came by for awhile as and watched his friend pack his magical pack for the quest "it's too bad I can't come with you. It would've been amazing if I could help with finding Artemis" the son of Poseidon raised his brow "and Annabeth! Obviously I would've loved to help with finding her too."

"Yeah I think you might get your wish buddy" Percy had seen the look shared between the Stoll Brothers during the council meeting when they had given Zoe the t shirt to give to Phoebe. He had absolutely no doubt that the girl will be somehow be incapacitated by the next day (the only reason he didn't say anything was because they'd find a way to have their fun somehow, plus if the fates weren't complaining why should he?).

He wondered how the quest would go. There was no doubt that there will be some clashing between everybody but they were all reasonable enough to know to set aside differences when it came to conflicts of the godly scale. People were going to die in this trip, Merlin Percy could be the one to die in this trip and wouldn't that be disappointing? All those plans his father so meticulously laid out in front of him gone. And of course, he wouldn't be able to see Draco, to see Annabeth anymore. Perseus spent most of the night planning and laying out emergency plans in case anything went haywire. He meditated, making sure his mental boundaries and his magic was as strong as ever.

The young teen didn't remember falling asleep but he certainly remembered the dream he had that night when he woke up the next morning covered in sweat and panting as if he just swam from fucking London to Long island.

Annabeth was in chains kneeling beneath a dark mass.

Luke running to her side, a deep voice at the very edge of his dream pushing Artemis who was bound up with heavy celestial bronze chains "she will die soon Goddess, you can save her".

Annabeth. All Percy could see was Annabeth and how her arms and legs trembled and her weak sounds of protests. Her eyes were filled with pain and yet she was still willing to sacrifice herself. But Artemis saved her, taking whatever that heavy burden was on her own shoulders.

She was being used as bait. The both of them were. Luke and whoever that being was knew they were coming but at this point who gave a damn? Percy would do what was necessary to save Annabeth.

It was just then, as Percy stumbled out of bed to put on a clean shirt that he heard the pounding at his door. Grabbing Riptide from his bedside table the boy slowly crept towards the front of the cabin "who's out there at this ungodly hour?"

"Open the door! I promised the hippocampus that I'd come and get someone to help with some things going down by the beach" the voice didn't spoke out loud, Percy realized that the words sounded as if he thought them himself. A horse then? They were the only animal who Percy could speak to that actually walked on legs. He opened the door slowly, ever cautious and alert. He wondered why the voice sounded so familiar...

What stood in front of the cabin was a pegasus. A big black pegasus that was currently flapping its majestic wings in an excited manner and shifting from hoof to hoof in a way that can nearly be described as nervous.

"Heyyy boss" the pegasus spoke slowly and lo and behold it was Blackjack, the very same horse who Percy thought was still in the stables back in the Riddle manner. Except, well, he had wings.

"Blackjack? How are you here? Why do you have wings? Aren't you just a normal horse?" Percy leaned against the door frame in confusion and pocketed riptide, how the hell didn't he knew that the horse that had been with him for a good amount of years was a Pegasus? Didn't seem like the thing anybody would miss now would it.

"I know it's a little sudden but lord Poseidon gave me to your father when I was just a foul to be your companion when you were younger, he hid my wings and I rarely get to fly and let me tell you it feels awesome right now! " Percy sighed and rubbed the sleep from his suddenly tired eyes "that doesn't answer why you're here though."

"Oh well the big boss found out that you were going on a quest so he sent me to come with you to camp! Man it's been ages since I've met others like me. Anyway, there's some trouble down the beech and I promised I'd get you to help."
 
"Fine, I'll go and help. Just let me change and get my stuff" the boy muttered before going back inside the cabin because hey if he was going to be up this early in the morning might as well get ready for the quest too right? Plus, his loyal companion who he had thought was just a normal horse turning out to be a Pegasus that Poseidon sent to watch over him when he was younger was certainly not the strangest thing he has ever experienced. At the end of the day, the Pegasus was still Blackjack. If anything, it might just be a good thing now that he had a winged steed..

He had a feeling his capacity to accept bullshit was just gonna get higher and higher over the years.

Riddle changed quickly into some black combat pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Both pieces of clothing were fire repellent which might be life-saving on a quest. He made sure he had both of his wands, his pendant, and even the snake brooch portkey in case of emergencies.

Slinging his pack over his shoulder he took one final look around the room at all the empty bunk beds and the beautiful fountain that Poseidon made.

He had a feeling it might be awhile before he ever came back into this room, heck maybe even this camp.

Don't look back, it's easier that way.

Abrubtly twisting around, Perseus walked out of the Poseidon cabin and not a moment later he was high in the air on the back of a pegasus soaring towards the beach.

*Edited a day after it originally was published to fix the blackjack thing*

Also, I'm considering to change the way I write this fic. So far, I've just been going chapter by chapter according to the actual book and I think that's really not time effective and I'm not really having fun or happy with that? So I'm just going to kinda compress it I guess you can say. So basically things that happened in a span of multiple chapters in the actual books might happen in one over here. I'm just not happy with the way I've written it now and I'm always trying to improve my writing so I hope that's fine with you guys if I change things up from time to time!

This chapter isn't completely edited so changes may be made.

Anyway, stay happy and healthy, have a good day :)

-ThatBookFanatic

Song rec: I don't wanna Dance - COIN

Don't fall in Love - Danko James

Simple Romance - COIN