Beyond the Shining Lights (Percy Jackson Barbie's Mariposa AU)

Chapter 2

Luke flew down to the bottom of Halfling into a small cave. Once inside the cave, he flew to a giant purple cauldron and started stirring the mixture inside, making sure that everything was going okay. "What do you do when everything's been stolen from you...? You take revenge, that's what!"

Luke grabbed a blue vial from his bag and started pouring the evil looking red solution inside. "So long, King Poseidon, for this ball will be your last!"

Meanwhile, at the party, Silena, Piper, and Clarisse were flying inside with Annabeth and Thalia close behind.

"I can't believe you found all that thistleburst." Annabeth said, attempting to hide her bag from Thalia's view.

"I can't believe that it only grows in swamps!" Thalia complained. "The whole place smelled like feet!"

"Annabeth, Thalia, make sure you two stay close behind in case we need anything." Silena said as Piper and Clarisse already started flying inside of the room. Once she noticed they were gone, Silena quickly turned around and yelled, "HEY!"

As Thalia started flying in, she noticed that Annabeth was staying put on the ground. "Hmmm... Let me guess... You want to sit this one out."

"Do you mind?"

"Annabeth-"

"I know, but I'll come in... Eventually. I only have 50 more pages left in my book." Annabeth pleaded, getting her small book out of her bag. "I'll stick around the palace if you guys need anything!"

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Oh fine. I'll see you when it's over."

Thalia flew inside, and Annabeth's attention shifted over to a fairy wearing what looked like royal clothing, addressing a group of fairies surrounding him. "And so I took that rapscallion, gave him the ole one two, and then saved Halfling from complete and utter destruction."

"That would be amazing," Luke said, flying next to Annabeth as he landed, shouldering his bag as he chuckled at the man and all the cheering fairies around him. "If it actually happened. Lord Chiron always has a flair for over exaggeration."

"You mean it didn't actually happen?" Annabeth asked, laughing a bit.

"Oh please." Luke said, rolling his eyes. "He may be the head of King Poseidon's royal guard, but Lord Chiron's never seen battle before. His toughest decision: what to have for breakfast."

The two laughed for a second, just like what they did when they were kids, when Luke shifted the conversation. "So... You gonna head in?"

"Not tonight."

"Annabeth-"

"Luke, I'm just not comfortable with that, okay?"

Luke sighed. "Fine, but just remember, stick with me, and I'll get you-"

"Everything I've ever wanted, I know. You've only been telling me this since we were kids."

Luke smiled, then started flying away, when a small blue bottle fell out of his bag. Annabeth saw the bottle rolling on the ground as she quickly ran over and picked it up. "Hey, Luke!"

Luke turned around, a look of shock growing on his face when he saw Annabeth with the bottle. Annabeth, none the wiser, held up the bottle with a smile. "You dropped this."

"Thanks." Luke said happily, winking at Annabeth. "I can always count on you."

As Luke flew into the part, Annabeth flew higher on the outside of the castle, looking for a place where she could sit down and read in peace. Certain that nobody was coming, Annabeth pulled out her book and started reading while she was flying. A couple seconds later, she bumped into somebody, the book clattering out of her hands. Annabeth looked at the person she bumped into, a boy with olive skin, messy black hair, and sea green eyes, wearing dark blue pants, dark blue shirt, and a dark blue vest that matched his ocean colored wings. The two stared at each other for a second, and then the boy, noticing that Annabeth's book had fallen, quickly flew down and caught her book before it completely clattered to the ground. He held the book out as sort of a nervous peace offering. "I believe that this is your's?"

"Oh my god, I am so sorry." Annabeth said quickly, grabbing the book and clutching it tightly. "I wasn't paying any attention to what I was doing-"

"It's fine." The boy said, holding up the book that was in his hands. "I was doing the same thing too."

"No, it's not." Annabeth said as the two flew onto a landing. "I'm such a klutz, and I should've been watching where I was going, and- Wait a minute... Are you-"

"N-No, I'm-"

"You are! That book you're reading! The Tale of Antonio Andreas. I'm reading the same thing."

The boy looked between the two books, a look of understand growing across his face. "Oh... You're right!"

"How are you liking it so far? It's my all time favorite book."

"Really?"

"Yeah!"

"Mine too! I've read it nine times!"

"Ha! Ten!"

"What's your favorite part about it?" The boy asked excitedly.

Annabeth sighed, looking up at the stars behind them, only the brightest lights being shone while the smaller ones faded away. "Well... It's not safe to leave Halfling. But when I read, I get to go all over."

"That's what I like about it too." The boy said, sitting down at the edge of the landing. "You know, most other butterfly fairies I've met aren't interested in what lies beyond the lights. It's... Refreshing to see someone who has those same ideas."

"Yeah. It really is." Annabeth said, sitting down next to the boy at the edge of the platform.

"So... Are you here for the party?"

"Sorta. I work for two of the fairies that got invited. I don't do well with big crowds, and I just don't feel like I can handle parties. Is that bad, because every other person I've talked to calls me crazy for feeling that way."

"I don't think you're crazy."

"You don't?"

"No. I feel the exact same way."

"You do?"

"Yeah."

Annabeth set her book down between them and held out her hand. "I'm Annabeth."

"I'm... Eh... Antonio." The boy said, grabbing Marinette's hand firmly and shaking it.

"Antonio as in Antonio Andreas?" Annabeth asked, laughing a bit. There was no way that that could actually be his name based on how he hesitated. "The hero in the book?"

"Exactly! Maybe that's why I like it so much..." Antonio said awkwardly.

"Annabeth!" Annabeth heard Silena yell.

"Oh, duty calls." Annabeth said, quickly getting up and starting to fly away.

"ANNABETH!" Piper joined in with Silena's shout.

"I really have to go..." Annabeth said, flying back towards the party.

"I hope I see you again!" Antonio said, standing up as well.

Annabeth turned around, smiling at Antonio. "I hope I do too!"

"Bye..." Antonio said, looking down at the ground to see Annabeth's book still laying next to him. "Hey, you forgot-"

By the time Antonio thought to look up, Annabeth was already gone, attending to whoever she was working for. Antonio held up the book, starting to fly in the opposite direction. "I guess I'll just have to track her down tomorrow."