Hello. I truly am sorry for killing off some important characters, but it had to be done, so I could keep the major ones. Now in this chapter it's Percy's birthday! Oh dear! What is going to happen? I don't know, well actually I do cause it's my story. Anyways, read on to find out what is going to happen! Review please!

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO.

P.S. If you plan to, but have not read Harry Potter 6 and 7, I would not read this chapter, because I make references.

One Step at a Time

As I tossed and turned in bed, I had no idea that people were in my cabin. I was dreaming that I was a Rockstar, and I was singing Viva La Vida in front of a huge audience. It was a good dream because they actually liked my singing!

I heard someone laugh, and my dream stopped.

When I slowly opened my eyelids, and let out a girlish squeal. Standing over me was Thalia, Annabeth, leaning on her crutches, and Grover, all with a smirk plastered to their face.

"Very nice scream, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth said sarcastically, while sitting on the bed across from me, and leaning her crutches against the wall.

"Oh, and I had no idea that you liked Coldplay." Thalia said with a twinkle in her blue eyes, sitting next to Annabeth.

"What do you mean?" I said red in the face.

"Well, in your sleep you were singing Viva La Vida in a British accent." Grover said maliciously, while sitting next to Thalia.

"Very well I might add." Annabeth said before busting out in fits of laughter, joined by the other two.

"Well, I'm very happy that you all came in here to make fun of me, now get out." I said pointing towards the door.

"Aw, is our little sixteen year old Percy getting temperamental?" Thalia said while pinching my checks.

"Hey! I'm not…hey I'm sixteen!" I said with a huge grin.

"We were hoping you wouldn't be that slow." Annabeth said while rolling her eyes.

"Seriously Annabeth, Seaweed Brain is a perfect name for him." Grover said.

"Well, I am a daughter of Athena. So that means I have to be good at something. Picking out Seaweed Brains is my specialty." Annabeth said while wearing a smirk.

"Ok, ok enough with the 'making fun of Percy' and his brain capacity! What did you all get me for my birthday?" I said impatiently.

"Oh my gods!" Annabeth said rolling her eyes.

"Oh Zeus!" Thalia said, also rolling her eyes.

"Oh my Lord Voldemort!" Grover said heaving a sigh.

Everyone turned to him, giving him a questioning look.

"Ok, what the Hades is with everyone quoting Harry Potter?" Thalia said with an irritated look.

"I'm not quoting Harry Potter; it's a Harry Potter avatar." Grover said indignantly.

"Whatever!" Thalia said exasperated.

"Hey!" I interjected. "You never answered the question. What do I get for my birthday?

"You'll get my fist in your face if you don't shut up!" Annabeth and Thalia said at the same time.

"Ya, ha, ha, ha." I said.

"Fine Percy, do you want your presents?" Annabeth said."

"No, I've just been asking that because I wanted to annoy you." I said sarcastically.

"Well, keep up the great work." Thalia said with a silly smile, and her two thumbs up.

"Well, I got you a wood pipe." Grover said enthusiastically, holding it out for me to take.

"Thanks G-man!" I said forcing a smile. Both of us knew I wouldn't play it, but it's the thought that counts…or so I've heard…

"I got you this, hold out your hand and close your eyes."

I was very suspicious, but I did as I was told. Thalia grabbed my hand, and a huge electric shock went through my body, that made my teeth chatter.

"Ha, ha!" Thalia said laughing in my face.

"I sure as Hades can't wait 'till your birthday. You better watch your back!" I said angrily.

"Well, that wasn't really the present, but…"

"Don't worry," I said hastily cutting her off, "I was just kidding!"

"Gods, you really like presents! Any who, here you go." She said while taking something out of her back pocket.

It was a Green Day CD: International Superhits.

"It's got most of the good songs on there, like Minority, Nice Guys Finish Last and Waiting." She said in a know-it-all tone, that Annabeth usually used.

"Thanks Thalia. This gift actually required real thought!" I said excitedly.

"Shut up!" she said grabbing a pillow and throwing it at me.

"Break it up!" Grover yelled.

Then I turned to Annabeth expectantly, and she laughed.

"Here you go." She said, and plopped something in my hand.

It was a silver chain, with specks of gold intertwined into it. I wasn't usually a 'jewelry man' but this was a 'man chain.' "Wow." I breathed, and looked up at Annabeth. "Thanks!" I said while getting up to give her a kiss.

"Knock, knock." someone said who was at the door.

I looked up, and saw Nico. "Come in." I said gesturing to sit on a bed, like the others had.

"I came to give you this," he said holding out his hand. Sitting on his palm was a ring. It was silver and in the shape of a skull, and it matched the one on his hand. "I have to break our Empathy Link, because I am going to the Underworld, to train with my father. He said if we 

keep the empathy link, it could be very dangerous for both of us. This ring works exactly like an Empathy Link, and if you need to talk to me in person, it will transport you directly there. Same goes to me if I need to find you. But to make it work you have to put a piece of your soul in it."

"Just like a Horcrux." I said sighing.

"Arrrrgh!" Thalia yelled. "We are not a book, Harry Potter is a book. Stop quoting it!"

"Well Thalia, I'm not kidding. Voldemort split his soul into seven pieces, and Nico is saying that I have to split my soul into two."

"Exactly." Nico said. "But we can't do it now because we need the gods help. We have to do it one step at a time."

EXTREMLY IMPORTANT AUTHORS NOTE! I WILL NOT BE COUNTINUING THIS STORY, BUT INSTEAD I AM GOING TO WRITE ANOTHER SQEUAL. IF I HAD OVER FOURTY CHAPTERS, THAT WOULD BE TOO MUCH. I HAVE NOT DECIDED ON A TITLE OR ANYTHING, BUT HOPEFULY THE FIRST CHAPTER WILL BE OUT TONIGHT. KEEP ON THE LOOK OUT, AND THANKS FOR READING!

P.S. THE TITLE MAY BE A CHAPTER TITLE FROM THIS STORY.