I've always wanted to write one of these.

Once upon a time, there was a twelve-year-old girl who had just moved to a new state and a new school. While at the library one day, she picked up a very interesting book called Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. I'd say it was love at first sight. That girl, obviously, is me.

Percy Jackson changed my life in so many ways. I write fanfiction because of it. I know random details about Greek mythology. It was my gateway fandom. Over the past five years, I have changed in many ways. I act. I sing. I even dance every now and then. Maybe Percy wasn't responsible for all of that, or maybe he and Annabeth were. I've let them live inside my head for so long, I can barely tell my voice from theirs.

They were the first couple I ever shipped, the first time I looked at a relationship and thought I want something like that. I now have unrealistic standard for guys, but hey, who doesn't?

I've been in and out of many fandoms since then. I have an OTP list of ten now. I moved again, and I'm about to be a high school senior. In a year, I'll be out in world, conquering my own monsters. In ten, I may very well be reading about Percy Jackson to a child of my own, hoping that they understood as much as I did what being a hero truly means. If Rick Riordan is still writing about Percy, the Kanes, Magnus, and everyone else, I'm sure I'll still be buying the books.

This story took over three-and-a-half years to finish. This obviously means I lied in the afterword of the last chapter. Believe me, it took a lot of soul-searching to realize I just couldn't do this story or you justice anymore. I do sincerely apologize for the huge gaps of time in between the later chapters. I will admit, that's probably because, even at this moment, I haven't read a Percy Jackson book in months. Other fandoms have taken control, and I've met new characters who I'll cherish just as much. But Percy and the gang will live within me forever.

It has been an honor and a pleasure to write this for you. I thank every one of you who took the time to give me reviews, some of them critiques, some of them suggestions, others just plain encouragement. Although they were not face-to-face, I cherished every little moment of interaction. According to the charts provides, this story has had 122,264 views in twenty-three different countries and 142 followers. You have no idea how big of a deal that is to me. To every single one who has stuck by and read this, thank you. Thank you so, so much.

I don't know how long it will be before and if I publish another work about Percy. Maybe never. But if that chapter of my life is coming to a close, at least I know that it was one of the most dazzling chapters because of this fanfiction. Until we meet again, I love all of you 3000.