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

Chapter 15

"I can't believe that you're willingly going there." Thalia said, patiently sitting down on Annabeth's bed as Annabeth packed the last of her things in a suitcase.

"I'm going on a diplomatic mission." Annabeth said, dumping the last of her books into her suitcase. "Okay, I think that's everything."

"Annabeth, sweetie, what about clothes?" Thalia asked, noticing that all Annabeth had packed was books.

"Right... Might need those." Annabeth said, grabbing four books that she knew she was going to take with her as she put the others back, grabbing some clothes from her closet.

"Are you excited to be alone with Percy?" Thalia teased.

"What are you talking about?"

"Romanacus is a two days flight away from here. That means that you and Percy are gonna be resting together for a night by yourselves. You two are gonna be alone."

Annabeth gave Thalia a confused look. "How do you know how far away Romanacus is from here?"

Thalia froze. "I... Read a map. Look, that's not the point, Annabeth. My point is that you and Percy have extreme chemistry. Am I expecting nothing to happen between you two on this trip?"

"Thalia, we're just friends."

"Yeah, friends who always hang out together and friends where one gave you an entire freaking library!"

"Thalia..." Annabeth groaned as her mother walked into the room.

"Now Annabeth, you know that I didn't like it last time you left without us knowing." Her mother said, crossing her arms. "And I like this even less because you're gonna be alone with the prince."

"Mom, we're gonna be fine." Annabeth said, closing her suitcase and putting a guidebook in the bag at her side.

"Just promise me that you'll be careful."

"I will." Annabeth said, grabbing her suitcase. "But I really have to go. Prince Perseus is probably waiting for me at the edge of Halfling."

"Of course..." As Annabeth's mother left the room, Annabeth gave Thalia a cautious look. "Promise me that you'll run the library like I would?"

"I promise, now go get your man." Thalia said jokingly.

"Thalia..."

"Go!" Thalia said, pushing Annabeth out the door as she flew towards the edge of Halfling.

Percy turned around, smiling at Annabeth. "Thank God. I thought you were abandoning me."

"Nope." Annabeth said, shaking her head.

"What did you do, pack a bunch of books and forget to pack clothes?"

"Are you ready to go or not Seaweed Brain?" Annabeth asked exhaustedly.

Percy turned back, looking at Halfling sadly. "Did you feel scared and nervous when you first left Halfling?"

"A little," Annabeth said honestly. "But then the overwhelming terror of dying by Titan took over."

Percy laughed. "Well, we don't have to worry about Titans now. It's broad daylight."

"Yeah." Annabeth said happily.

"Let's go!" Percy said, lifting off of the ground.

"Right!" Annabeth said as the two flew across the ocean.

After spending the entire day flying, Annabeth pointed out a small cave for the two to take shelter.

"Okay... We're in a cave." Percy said as Annabeth gathered some sticks. "Are we just gonna sleep or..."

Annabeth handed Percy a couple sticks as she grabbed a rock. "Hold these."

"Okay?" Percy said as Annabeth started hitting the rock against the sticks, making them set on fire as Percy tossed them on top of the other sticks. He nodded. "Where'd you learn how to do that? A book in the library?"

"Clarisse, actually." Annabeth said, sitting back as she dug into her bag. "Figured out that trick after the mermaid situation."

"Right." Percy said, laughing happily. "Sometimes I forget that you've been out here before."

"Not this far though." Annabeth said, pulling out a small sandwich and handed it to Percy. "Here's food."

"Thanks." Percy said, eating a small bite of the sandwich. "Okay, would you rather never visit a library again or have to deal with Titans for the rest of your life?"

"Obviously the Titans." Annabeth said, scooting a little closer to the fire. "Don't think I could live without reading."

"Right..." Percy said, laughing a bit. He carefully looked over at Annabeth's wings, tilting his head. "Okay, I have a weird question."

"Shoot."

"Is anything harder with wings as big as yours?"

"Everything except flying, reading, and organizing." Annabeth said, sighing heavily. "You make to make sure people stay far away from you so you don't accidentally wack anyone in the face. I used to have my bed against the wall, now my bed is in the exact center of the room because if I kept it the way it was, my wings would hit the wall and I couldn't sleep. I'm scared that every time I sit down I'll accidentally hit someone or block someone's view."

Percy cackled. "I mean... That's not the best thing, but it is kinda funny."

"I guess..." Annabeth said uncomfortably. "It's been a struggle to adjust. I think I have it figured out, but knowing me I'm not even close."

"What makes you say that? You're right about a lot of things."

"Not everything..." Annabeth said nervously. Despite the constant teasing from her friends, even Annabeth had to admit that she had developed a bit of a crush on Percy, though she never wanted to admit it.

"Name one thing you don't know." Percy said teasingly.

"Politics." Annabeth said off the top of her head. "I have so many books on politics in my suitcase. I had a lot more, but you already guess what happened to the rest of them."

"Trust me, all you gotta do is be yourself." Percy said, laying down on the ground. "Besides, maybe all those crystal fairies need is someone to be a friend."

"Maybe..." Annabeth said uncertainly, grabbing a book from her bag. "Are you going to sleep?"

"Yeah. You gonna stay up and read for a bit?"

"Yeah. I'll go to bed in a while."

"Okay." Percy said, laughing a bit. "Night."

"Night." Annabeth said, pulling out the orb from her shirt and lifting it up so she could clearly see the pages.

"You're still wearing that orb?" Percy asked, smiling to himself.

"I never take it off. Makes a good reading light." Annabeth said, not taking her eyes off the page. "If it's too bright, I can always-"

"No, it's fine. It's just... Homey."

Annabeth smiled. "It really is."

"Just make sure you get some sleep, okay? We're getting to Romanacus tomorrow."

"I will, just go to sleep." Annabeth said, sighing heavily. Tomorrow, she felt, was going to be an exhausting day.