I have been so excited for this story for such a long time, and I'm really happy to finally post it! It's going to be a long one, so hope you all stick around!

Title: Nothing Endures

Rating: T, for some coarse language, violence, and adult themes. No lemons.

Disclaimer: I only own the idea. Everything else is Rick Riordan.

Longer Synopsis: Annabeth Chase knew something was wrong the second she was dragged out of third period Algebra. She just didn't expect that 'something' to be her supposedly dead mother, who explained that Annabeth must undertake a quest to find the secret to the Mark of Athena, a silver coin in which the fate of the world rests. She also didn't realize that this supposed quest would be the key to reuniting her with her ex-best friend Percy Jackson, and that it would spiral into a cross-country trip that would take them to unimaginable places, discovering new things not only about themselves, but everyone around them. But who is really telling the truth on this journey? And what will be the cost to finding the secret? AU, AH. Percabeth, with side pairings of Jasper and Frazel later on.

Updates: I don't have a schedule, but I will try and get chapters out as quickly as I can. However, I will post sneak peeks, extra snippets, and any delays on updates on my Tumblr (link on my profile), so be sure to check that out!

Enjoy!

Annabeth

If there's one thing I've learned from my three years at CHB Secondary, it's that the feedback and crackle of the ancient PA system starting up is never a good thing.

The PA system in my school is viewed as a thing of high reverence, controlled by our lord and master Mr. Dionysius, the drunken and bumbling principal of this fair estate. It signifies all things bad in the world of high school- peppy announcements about cafeteria specials that all taste the exact same, reminders that you can't park your car near the junkyard in the back otherwise it will be crushed, and, most terrifyingly, to call you out in front of everyone and publicly shame you for getting into trouble.

Some people enjoy the sound of the PA system, surprisingly. These two brothers in my homeroom, the Stolls, are already up on their feet by the time the crackling begins, knowing that they've been busted for some prank. Other kids, like myself are terrified of the mere thought of it, as getting paged over the PA system is basically like receiving a death sentence to us.

Which is why, as I'm sitting in third period Algebra II on the balmy April morning this all begins, the sound of feedback causes me to drop my pencil and sit up straight in my chair, looking around to see who could be the guilty party this time. My eyes scan the room calculatingly, looking for people fidgeting as if knowing this call is for them, that they're going to get it for whatever they've done to deserve such a horrid punishment…

"Annabeth Chase to the principal's office, Annabeth Chase."

The PA system clicks off almost mockingly, as every single one of the students in the room swivels around to face me incredulously. There's dead silence, as if everyone's holding their breath, waiting for someone to say that this was all a joke, that we've all just been pranked. However, there's no more sound coming from the white box on the wall, so the room settles for all staring at me with the same bug-eyed, open-mouthed expression. Eventually, the teacher, his face mirroring those of the students, clears his throat loudly, the sound echoing around in the silence. "Well, Miss Chase, get going."

I nod, my hands shaking, as I quickly pack up my spot and push my chair backwards, the metal legs screeching on the floor. Everyone in the room winces for a second, their faces morphing, before reverting back to the same stunned expression as before. I stand, making my way to the door and opening it slowly, before stepping out into the hallway to face my doom. Almost immediately after the door clicks closed behind me, I can see the students start to whisper to one another through the glass pane, all of them gazing at the place where I was just sitting.

I force my legs to move down the empty hallway, each step I take pounding in my head. What did I do? I'm basically the epitome of a model student. I volunteer after school, I get straight A's, and I've never gotten a detention. There must be some mistake. How could I, Annabeth Chase, get into trouble?

I reach the front office and pry open the door, finding the room completely empty with the exception of the secretary, a kind lady named Mellie, and the gym teacher, Coach Hedge. They're talking quietly to one another, in a manner that seems it doesn't involve school, so I quickly slip by them just as they begin making kissy-faces at one another. With a small shudder, I round the corner, a door suddenly looming in front of me.

The sign supposedly read Mr. Dionysius, Principal, at one point, but now, it's been crossed out and doodled on so much that all that's left is a few vulgar pictures and scribbles. I wrinkle my nose at the images, finding a free spot to knock on the door slowly, the hits feeling like a death sentence. The door creaks open, and two figures appear in my line of vision, one standing primly against the wall, the other lounging in his desk chair like a drunken walrus. "Anniebell!" My principal cries out, his words a bit slurred. "Did Mellie let you in?"

I think about Mellie and the Coach, and shake my head a little to clear it of disturbing images. "Um, she was… occupied, so I let myself in. Is that okay?"

Dionysius waves his hand dismissively, as if that's the least of his concerns. "Ah, yes, whatever. Sit down, Annalise." He gestures to a chair, which seems like it's become home to old socks and empty liquor bottles. I perch on the arm, surveying the space carefully. The walls are filled with different kinds of alcohol, and some big oil painting above the wooden desk depicts the exact same image. The floor is a mess, papers everywhere and boxes and food alike scattered in any available space. It looks more like a disgusting boy's dorm room than a principal's office. Then again, this is CHB Secondary, home to misfits and delinquents alike, so I shouldn't have expected too much.

"So," Mr. D takes a swig of some brown liquid, before setting his bottle back down. "Do you know why we're all gathered here today, Annemarie?" I shake my head no. "Well, let me introduce the woman behind me. This lady is-"

"That's enough of that," The woman, who has been watching the scene stoically until this moment, steps forward. She is gorgeous, with long, elegant black hair and piercing grey eyes. Her suit is a dark grey as well, and an owl pin adorns the front of her blouse. "Dionysius, I must ask you to leave so I can talk to this girl in private." I look up, startled and expecting Mr. D to protest, but instead he merely ducks his head and leaves the room, his bottle still in one hand. Whoever this woman is, she must be very powerful.

"Annabeth," The woman says my name softly, walking towards me, and I frown. How does she know who I am? Mr. D hadn't called me by my proper name the whole time she was in here. "Do you know who I am?"

I stare at her, trying to keep myself from trembling. "Are you from the school board?" I manage to choke out, feeling terrified. There's no other logical reason for this woman to be talking to me, unless I'm in some serious trouble.

The woman clucks her tongue, looking a little disappointed. "I must say, I would have hoped your deductive reasoning skills would be stronger. It must be your father's influence coming into play. Fredrick was good at many things, but reasoning was not one of his strong points. Alas, such must be the case for you."

I back up, my body hitting a couple bottles and sending them tumbling to the ground. "What? Who are you? How do you know my father?" This is honestly getting kind of creepy now, and I find myself actually wishing Mr. D would come back in.

The woman sighs, her steely grey eyes boring into my own. Up close, I can see that her hair, although black, is in identical curls to mine, and that her nose is perfectly straight, just like my own. "Annabeth," She whispers, picking up one of my hands slowly. "I am your mother."

I begin to laugh hysterically, backing up further into the corner. "Nice try. My mother's been dead since I was a baby. Who put you up to this? Was it the Stolls? Only they would pull such an immature, Star Wars related prank…"

"Don't be ridiculous, Annabeth," My supposed mother scoffs, letting go of my hand. "Everyone knows that Star Wars is just a clichéd, unrealistic…"

"…completely unscientific way of talking about life forms on other galaxies," I finish with her in unison, gaping at the woman in front of me. This is really freaking me out. Who is this lady, and why does she seem to know so much about me? I've never seen her before in my life.

"You see?" The woman smiles at me, her pearly teeth gleaming as she steps forwards. This must be some kind of prank. Someone must have put her up to this. "You have my mind, Annabeth. You have my eyes, my face, my posture. I see myself in you, and, for any mother, that is such a proud moment. It is especially so for me, however, because I need you. I need your help, Annabeth, otherwise the world is doomed."

I laugh, a nervous bubble of hysteria that emerges from my chest on its own accord. "Am I being recruited for some role-play thing? Is this some kind of sick reality show? Look, I don't know you, and honestly, you're kind of freaking me out right now…" I trail off as the woman pulls out a small wallet, opening it up to show me two identical images. On the right side, there's a picture of a couple on their wedding day, the man with a shock of blond hair and wire-rimmed glasses, the woman looking uncannily like the lady in front of me right now. On the other side is a picture of the same woman, only she's holding a little baby in her arms, a bright red bundle with wispy blonde hair…

"That's me," I marvel, touching the picture on the left. "And… and… that's you! And my dad! Please tell me this is some kind of sick dream! My mother is dead! Gone! She died in a car crash when I was a baby, and left my father alone with me! You aren't my mother!" I'm babbling now, my normally organized mind a swirling disaster.

"Annabeth, please," The woman snaps, looking frustrated. "Calm yourself. From what I've heard, you seemed to be a very intelligent young lady, although I'm not seeing that in this bumbling mess you're acting like now. My name is Athena. I am your mother. I need your help, and you will help me, otherwise everything you know and love will cease to exist. I faked my death in that car, but it was for your own good. I need you to hear me out, alright?"

My head bobs up and down of its own accord, although my mind is still wary. This is crazy. I'm going to wake up in a few minutes, in my nice, warm bed, with my alarm blaring behind me and my half-brothers jumping on me. "Alright," I say, my voice shockingly weak. I clear my throat and try again. "Alright, I'll listen to you. But only because I know this is all in my head. You aren't real, and this is just a dream."

Athena clucks her tongue disapprovingly, obviously unimpressed by my logical reasoning skills. "Fine. Believe whatever insane fantasy you want. You'll see the truth soon enough. Annabeth, what I'm about to entrust you with is important, my life's work. You must promise to follow my instructions exactly. Can you do that?"

I nod, still disbelieving, just as Athena tosses a coin in my direction, the metal surface glinting in the dim office light. In a split second, it's resting in my palm, although I never made a move to go and catch it. "What's this?" I marvel, curious in spite of myself. The item I've just been handed is silver, an owl imprinted on one side. There's letters scratched around the edges messily, in an unfamiliar language.

"This is the Mark of Athena," My supposed mother, if possible, stands up even straighter. "Annabeth, I need you to avenge me where I have been wronged. Follow the Mark. Find the secret. By 10:55 tonight, you must begin your quest, keeping the coin with you at all times and watching for the signs that will help you along the way. Do you understand?"

I snort incredulously, before catching myself. "Sorry, sorry. But that's awfully specific, isn't it?"

Athena sighs, placing a hand on the bridge of her nose as if she couldn't believe that I was her daughter. Trust me, I was having trouble seeing the family relation too. "Annabeth, this is serious," She tosses a bag at me, and I quickly reach a hand out to catch it. "All you need is in there. I have taken the liberty of also providing you with some of my own creation, ambrosia, which heals any wound quickly. Don't underestimate anything that could happen on this journey."

My eyes widen for a second. This is feeling more and more surreal by the second. "Wait, so you're sending me, your supposed child, on a quest where I will get hurt? What kind of parenting is that?" This cannot be reality. This kind of thing only happens in cheesy novels.

"You are special," Athena's gaze grows hard. "That means that you will experience great loss and heartache, as all heroes must endure. It is what the Fates say, and I know enough not to disagree with their word. One last instruction, before I leave you. You must take two companions with you on your journey. This is too hard of a task to undertake alone."

I sigh, relieved that she hadn't asked me to throw myself off a cliff or something to prove my worthiness. "Well, that's easy. I'll take-"

"Companions that I have selected," Athena sighs impatiently. "I assume you are familiar with Grover Underwood?" At my nod, she continues, "He will be your first companion on the quest."

I sigh resignedly. Grover was a shy kid in my Science class, who had been born crippled. We had never really talked before, but there were worse people, I suppose. "Alright, and who's the second one?"

At this point, Athena's face turns even sharper, her bottom lip curling slightly in distaste. "The next companion is an idiot, however, he is the one that will aid you the most, in the end. But you must promise to not be distracted by his foolery. You are on this quest to avenge me, and that will not happen if you are not focused. Do you understand?"

I bite my tongue, more than a little worried about what's going on. Athena seems dead serious about all of this quest business, and the fact that she knows so much about me and my life is freaking me out. Either this is some elaborate scheme or she's actually telling the truth, although neither one seems completely logical in my mind. "Okay…" I say warily, unaware of where this is going. "Who is it?"

Athena's eyes look like steel, cool and unbreakable. She steps back from me, holding her polished briefcase to the side as she pulls open the door. "Percy Jackson, of course. What did I tell you before about logical reasoning?"

With that, she leaves the office, letting the door click shut as she goes.

Dun dun dun... we're getting straight into the action here! I really hoped you all enjoyed, as I worked really hard on this. Next chapter will be out soon!

Reviews are greatly appreciated and loved, so please leave one on your way out! It only takes a couple seconds to make someone's day.

Thanks for reading,

-Jace ;)