A/N- Here we go! It's about a week later than I hoped to put it up, but here it is: the first chapter (well, prologue) of Logical, the untold story of Malcolm, son of Athena. It's the first in what will hopefully become a series of untold stories and also my first full-length story. I'm going to apologize in advance for slow updates, but hey, homework comes first and it's no longer winter break.

It slightly bothers me that Malcolm has no background. So, I wrote him one.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians, or Rachel Elizabeth Dare, or Malcolm.

And without further adue...Logical, the untold story of Malcolm, son of Athena

PROLOGUE

Some things in life, Malcolm had long since decided, just weren't logical.

Exhibit A: The fact that he was at a stupid camp party, celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Titan's defeat, on August 18th, instead of mourning like he should have been. It had been exactly a year since the death had been confirmed, and he was here. Celebrating.

It just wasn't logical.

"Celebrate the day

Heroes defeat the Titans

One short year ago," said Will Solace, reciting a commemorative 'haiku'. Malcolm snorted.

"Like father, like son, eh, Malcolm?" David whispered to him. Malcolm glared at his half-brother.

"Don't insult the Apollo kids. They're doing their best."

"Um, thanks, Will, for that…erm…interesting haiku." Percy Jackson, as master of ceremonies, took Will's place at the front of the dining hall. He beckoned to Annabeth to come up and join him. She left the Athena table, vacating the seat next to Malcolm running up and taking Percy's hand.

"Everyone here is a hero," Annabeth began, and Malcolm could tell she was nervous. She had stayed up late last night writing this speech, thanks to a certain Seaweed Brain's last-minute decision that this portion of the party needed an introductory speech.

"Our victory against the Titans was a great victory- a victory that will become legendary. But as with any great victory, it came with a heavy price. Between the battle of the Labyrinth, the war of Manhattan, and all the combat missions, we lost dozens of demigods. They died heroes, and it's time we honor their loyalty." After Annabeth finished describing both battles, she gave up the microphone to Percy.

"We're going to read the names of every demigod we lost in the Titan war. After I read each name, we ask that you pause for a moment of silence to remember the life that was lost." He cleared his throat.

"Lee Fletcher, son of Apollo."

Malcolm closed his eyes and grimaced. He would not cry. Not in front of the entire Cabin Six. Not in front of the entire camp.

But there were too many names.

"Castor Brewer, son of Dionysus. Melanie Smith, undetermined."

Percy finished reading the list of campers that had died in the battle of the Labyrinth and passed the mic to Annabeth.

"Charles Beckendorf, son of Hephaestus. Silena Beauregard, daughter of Aphrodite."

The son of Athena bit his lip and braced himself.

"Michael Yew, son of Apollo."

That was it. He couldn't take it anymore. Glancing around, Malcolm poked David in the shoulder.

"I'll be back later," He whispered, his voice trembling.

"Where are you going?" David asked. Malcolm didn't answer- he couldn't answer. He stood up from the Athena table and ran, ran past the cabins, into the woods, until he couldn't see the dining hall anymore. The boy sank to the ground at the base of Zeus' Fist.

It was only then that he allowed himself to cry.

He stayed like that for what felt like forever, choking back tears and trying to forget- forget the lives that had been lost, forget the pain that it had caused.

"Malcolm! Malcolm, I know you're out here." Malcolm heard a familiar-sounding voice call. He lifted my head up, looking around.

"Malcolm! Where are you? Are you just going to leave an innocent mortal out here at the mercy of whatever freaky monsters are in these woods?" Aha. Rachel Elizabeth Dare.

"Rachel, I'm at Zeus' Fist." Does my voice really sound that weak?

A head of red hair appeared in the brush. "Malcolm, what are you doing out here during the party?" The Oracle of Delphi- no doubt, the most annoying one there ever was, Malcolm thought- stood accusingly in front of him.

"None of your business, Rachel."

She rolled her green eyes. Kneeling down beside him, Rachel leaned in and inspected his face.

"Malcolm, were you crying?" She asked, and Malcolm could tell that beneath her mask of sympathy, she was still slightly amused.

"Rachel, go away," Malcolm growled. He didn't even know why she had come after him. She was more Annabeth's friend than his- he barely even knew her.

"Look, Malcolm…"

"Rachel, go away." He clenched his teeth and sent a grey-eyed glare in Rachel's direction.

"Oh, take a chill pill, Malcolm." Rachel tossed her wavy red hair. "Here's the deal. You're obviously upset about something, and I'm not leaving until you tell me." She shifted her position so she was leaning back against Zeus' Fist. "What are you doing out here?"

He raised an eyebrow. "I could ask you the same thing. Why did you follow me?"

Rachel sighed. "Fine. I'll tell you." Her eyes fixate on a point off in the distance. "Percy and Annabeth were holding hands and acting like a couple and everything-"

"Well, they're together, aren't they? It's only logical," Malcolm pointed out.

"Would you let me finish?" She said, exasperated. He nodded for her to continue. "Anyway, I was just starting to regret the whole Oracle thing, and once I saw that you left, I thought I had a good enough reason to leave. So I followed you," Rachel finished.

"Okay. Fair enough."

Rachel elbowed him in the rib. "Okay, pay up. I told you why I followed you, now you have to tell me why you're upset."

He felt his mood immediately drop. "I've never told anyone," He said slowly, his voice low.

"All stories have to be told at some point. Yours can't stay untold forever," she countered.

Malcolm looked away, refusing to meet Rachel's eyes. He felt her place her hand on his shoulder.

"Malcolm, I'm probably not the first person you would choose to talk to, but I'm here, aren't I? You can't keep whatever's bothering you inside. You've got to tell somebody." There was note of sincerity in Rachel's voice that wasn't there before. Malcolm turned around to face her.

"You have to promise not to tell anyone," He warned. She nodded.

"My lips are sealed," She promised, flailing her arms about dramatically. "I'm a closed door, a locked safe, a sealed envelope-"

"Rachel…"

"I won't tell anybody, okay? Just stop stalling and explain to me why you're out here!"

"But you wouldn't understand. You're just a mortal," Malcolm mumbled.

"A mortal who happens to be the Oracle of Delphi. " Rachel cracked a smile." Try me."

"All right." He took a shaky breath and allowed himself to flashback, back to a memory that Malcolm hadn't allowed himself to remember for a long time. The son of Athena closed his eyes and began. His story, told at last.