The Next Generation: Hades's Helm

Chapter 1: Annabeth

Note: Rights to Rick Riordan for the characters of Annabeth Chase, Chiron, and Lester Papadopoulos. Ally Saven and Joshua and my OCs, though.

Annabeth remembered it like it was yesterday. It was a chilly night, April 9th. She was sitting in the Athena cabin, studying some architectural blueprints. She was technically supposed to be at college with Percy in New Rome, but she had visited Camp Half-Blood. Caligula and Commodus had just attacked Camp Jupiter, and Annabeth wanted to make sure Camp Half-Blood was okay.

Stupid Lester Papadopoulos.

Suddenly, there was a knock on her cabin door. When she opened the door, there stood Chiron, Camp Half-Blood's centaur counselor. He was a white stallion for his bottom horse half, but he was a human, with long brown hair and a stern face for the top half.

"Hey Chiron," Annabeth greeted him. "Did you need something?"

"Yes, Annabeth," Chiron had responded. "There is an urgent matter, and as the Athena head counselor, we need your advice on it."

Annabeth had expected it to be something to do with a battle strategy, there was a battle coming up and they needed a plan. How wrong she was. She got a coat on since it was so cold outside. The coat was technically Percy's, but who cares? She followed Chiron out the cabin door. He led her to the entrance of Camp Half-Blood. She didn't know what she was doing there until she saw something. There was a white wicker basket with a handle, and Annabeth saw something pink and fluffy sticking over the top of the basket. It looked like a blanket, but it looked pretty thin. Anything that could need that, the blanket was too thin to keep anything warm.

"Chiron," Annabeth started. "What's this?"

Chiron had a grim, serious expression on his face. "Go look inside of it."

Annabeth thought this was odd, but she did as Chiron said. She walked over to the basket and peered inside. In the basket was a baby girl, wrapped in a pink, fluffy blanket. The blanket was fluffy, but it was also very thin.

Annabeth was shocked. She was unable to speak for a few moments. When it finally wore off a bit, she picked up the baby girl. She was cold to the touch. That blanket was too thin to keep the baby warm in this weather.

"There's a note in there," Chiron said. "It's addressed to you. I haven't read it."

He was right. There was a letter underneath the baby girl, with the name Annabeth on it, written in fancy handwriting, with a stamp of Hermes on it. A letter from a god or goddess. Annabeth holds the baby girl, who's very small, close to her chest as she bends down and picks up the letter. She carefully opens it and reads it. The letter said:

"Dear Annabeth,

This is my daughters. Her name is Ally Saven. She is two months old. She was born on February 4th. She is my daughter. Her father, Jacob Saven, unfortunately, passed away recently. Please, take care of my baby girl.

From,

Athena."

Annabeth was shocked, to say the least. She looks at the baby girl in her arms. Ally was so small. Annabeth looked at Chiron, who nodded.

"This baby girl is the responsibility of the Athena cabin now," Chiron had said. "Raise her well."

Annabeth carried the baby girl to the Athena cabin, which was empty at the time since the other kids were out doing the day's activities. Annabeth carefully took the young girl and wrapped her in a bit of a thicker blanket to warm her up.

When Ally was a year old, about a week after her first birthday, Annabeth sat with her, trying to teach her how to walk. Ally had learned to talk maybe 2 or 3 weeks previous. She could only say 'Anna' so far, but it was a start. Of course, Ally couldn't pronounce 'Annabeth', but Annabeth figured 'Anna' was good enough. Plus, it was a cute nickname.

On the morning of February 16th, Annabeth was walking with Ally, holding her hands to keep her standing. Every so often, she would let go of Ally's hands, hoping Ally would continue walking without assistance. But, every time she would let go, Ally would fall back.

"Come on, Ally," Annabeth muttered, trying once again. "You can do it. I know you can. You're a daughter of Athena, you can do anything."

Ally fell back again, much to Annabeth's disappointment. Annabeth sighed, picking Ally up and setting her down in the corner. Annabeth had set up a little play corner for Ally. It had a blanket on the ground, so she wouldn't just be sitting on the hardwood floor of the cabin. It had a plushie owl– the gift Annabeth had gotten her for her first birthday.

Ally smiled and picked up the owl, playing with it. Annabeth sighed and sat down on her bunk. Suddenly, the door to the Athena cabin opened. It was another child of Athena, a boy named Joshuah.

"You know," Joshua said, glaring down at Ally with distaste. "This place is so dangerous, she probably won't live long. She probably won't even live till 5. We should just send her out into the mortal world, let a mortal family adopt her."

Annabeth glared up at Joshua. "We can't. She already knows she's a demigod. Her scent to monsters would be stronger."

"Uhhh......" Joshua sounded shocked. "Annabeth?...."

"No," Annabeth was irritated. "She would have less of a chance of survival out there, than she does here. Plus, Athena herself asked us to care for Ally. So that's exactly what we're going to do.

"Annabeth!" Joshua sounded a bit more frantic now.

"No," Annabeth was equally as irritated. "If you have a complaint, take it up with Chiron."

"Annabeth!" Joshua shouted. "Look at Ally!"

Annabeth rolled her eyes and looked over at Ally. Her face dropped in shock. The one-year-old was standing up, still clutching her plush owl in her arms. Ally toddled over to Annabeth, almost falling several times, but catching herself.

Annabeth was frozen in shock. She couldn't get Ally to walk with her help, but now, Ally was walking without any help! Ally stumbles over to Annabeth, still clutching the plush owl in one hand, and hugs Annabeth's leg for support.

"Well," Joshua said. "Guess I was wrong. Maybe she does have a fighting chance."