Readers please note that this is a story based on the Disney movie Cinderella but with our favorite characters from the PJO and HoO series. I won't be following the whole plot though because I don't want the characters acting out of character from their main series. I hope you like this Cinderella AU with my little spin on things. Please comment!

Oh, and for my readers of the Tails of Perseus Jackson. I am currently working on the epilogue but I need to try and make it perfect so it wraps everything up, you know? I also decided to write a Percabeth Tangled AU since the votes for Tangled and Cinderella were a dead end tie. I just need more time with that because it is kind of hard to write but what would writing be without challenge? Hope this suits your pleasure right now. And pay attention because throughout both fanfics there will be references to the Tails of Perseus Jackson!

Chapter I

A Fateful Wound

Annabeth slept soundly. She was having a nice dream. Hardly anything made her smile nowadays but the dream was truly enchanting. She would dare not to talk of it though. Her father always told her if you tell a dream it won't come true. That was way back when Annabeth was little when her father was in good health and it was just them. Back when she didn't have to worry about her awful stepsisters and stepmother that worked her nearly to death. She tried with all her might to let this moment last. She wanted to enjoy every last second of this fantastic dream.

But then the stupid clock chimed from the castle.

"Ol' killjoy…" Annabeth mumbled into her pillow. Her lovely dream vanished. Swept away from the sound of the grand clock chiming. Even the clock orders her around. Like her awful stepsisters, Drew and Rachel and stepmother, Lady Hera. But she had to deal with being a slave in her own home by her stepfamily from doing their endless chores, getting fed only so much, and being humiliated every day. For she had nowhere else to go, her mother passed away from the plague that scourged the land when Annabeth was only a baby. Then, her father remarried to Lady Hera and some years later, he passed away as well. She had no other family and was making no income to get out of this dreadful prison disguised as a tattered chateau.

Annabeth decided her stepfamily might yell at her for being late, so instead of getting into trouble, she sleepily rose from her shabby bed. She quickly unbraided her golden hair and stared out of the open window that was a beautiful view of the castle that overlooked the village. Unlike the chateau, the castle was like a pearl in a sea of clams. Beautiful and amazing in architecture, four stories high with gleaming white towers; it was like it was taken right out of a fairytale. Annabeth often daydreamed of waking up in a nice comfy king sized bed with a canopy and servants bringing her breakfast which was usually more than she could eat in a day at the chateau and making sure she is ever comfortable. Royalty sure did have it made. However, Annabeth would probably be happy with a small home in the village.

She started taking off her worn nightgown to take a quick bath in the creaky wooden tub that looked like it was about to fall apart any moment. Luckily, no one could see her taking a bath since her bedroom was in the tower of the chateau. Annabeth guessed Lady Hera put her in a room up here so she would not sneak out. It was quite hard to climb out a window of a tower but if Annabeth wanted to, she could use the vines. Also, another precaution Lady Hera used was locking Annabeth's door at night too. It did feel like a prison sometimes.

"Well, I guess I should get this day over with." Annabeth sighed and put on her raggedy blue dress and wrinkly apron. She then tied her hair back in a blue ribbon and scruffy black flats. She opened her bedroom door—now unlocked by her stepmother—and proceeded down the long stairs. Her sole purpose apparently was to serve her stepfamily and nothing else.

…

Percy woke up excitedly from the sound to the clock chiming. Today he didn't have to do anything prince-related. As rare as these days were, he always looked forward to them. He made sure on these days to get up as early as possible to enjoy each of these days to its full extend. He didn't have to study with Duke Chiron about the affairs and history of the neighboring kingdoms. He didn't have to talk with princesses who barely could spout out anything besides without telling Percy how good-looking he is and how privileged they are to be rich. He didn't have to listen to his mother lecture him about proper princey etiquettes. He didn't have to hold court sitting next to his father, listening to every single problem in the village no matter how foolish. Percy liked a little break now and then.

He shot up from his gigantic bed and pushed the purple covers off of him. He hurried to his dresser and ruffled his raven hair. He took off his night garments and began to dress himself, a freedom he doesn't usually get. He shoved on the most peasant-looking clothing he could find. He didn't like standing out with his obvious royalty fashion the servants make him wear every day. There was a stained white shirt he kept for days like this. He put on his black riding boots and tucked his briefs into the boots. He grabbed his sword, Riptide a sword his father gave him when he turned sixteen which was about four years ago and it's been attached to his side ever since. He strapped it to his belt and proceeded out the grand door that leads to the hallway.

"Oh, Perce. Don't you think it's rather early?" His guard, Frank yawned standing at his post. Frank and Percy have been friends since they were little. Frank was an orphan that Percy stumbled upon that was living off the streets. Percy persuaded him to join the knights so he could have shelter and a home so; here he was Percy's personal guard.

"Just going out with Blackjack." Percy explained.

Frank rolled his eyes "So, you expect me to tell your parents that you're spending your free day studying the history of our kingdom."

"You could come with me on your girlfriend's horse, Arion." Percy suggested.

Frank gulped "That horse hates my guts."

"I guess you're forced to catch up on your sleep." Percy shrugged as he walked down the long castle hallway to the stables. He knew Frank had on a gratuitous smile; Frank never got the chance to sleep much with watching over Percy and spending time with his girlfriend, Hazel. Percy went to the stables to fetch his horse, Blackjack so they could ride to their heart's content.

"Good morning, Blackjack. You want an apple?" Percy smiled as he strutted out of the castle to the stables to the shed his beloved horse was kept. Blackjack was gifted to Percy by another prince that Percy befriended since they are neighboring kingdoms. Prince Jason gave him a majestic steed that showed loyalty to Percy and no one else. Percy tried to give Jason a gift in return so he offered swords and shields for the fellow prince made by the finest blacksmith in the village, Leo Valdez. Now Leo complains he has to overwork because Jason asks only for weapons only made by Leo. Guess Percy couldn't make everyone happy.

Blackjack steadily woke up from his nap leaning against the post he was tied to.
He shot his neck up as Percy approached with a pile of apples cradled in his arms. Blackjack neighed happily as Percy gave him one and Percy put the rest in his leather saddlebag for later. He then pulled the satchel hanging on the gate and put it over his head and stuffed food in it he stole from the kitchen. He saddled up his horse and mounted him.

"Okay, Blackjack." He petted his friend's neck. "Let's go." He whipped the reins and Blackjack responded happily and began to gallop. The wind wisped in his ears as Blackjack ran out of the gates surrounding the castle and into the waking village. Percy tried to escape with little notice as possible so people won't know he's actually the prince. This was one day were he could run away from all that. He made his way through the village with a few people outside their homes setting up their shops or transporting goods. Not many villagers knew him by face to identify him disguised as a peasant so he heard a few rude comments while he dashed towards the forest.

…

Annabeth listened to the galloping of hooves passing as she filled her stepsisters' breakfast bowls with porridge. She looked out the kitchen window and smiled fondly. A man on a black horse scurried towards the forest, laughing in enjoyment. She wished she could run anywhere she wanted to. Annabeth wondered what he was going to do in the forest beyond the chateau limits. Possibly hunting or maybe visiting a neighboring kingdom. Wherever he was going, Annabeth wished she could go too. It was better than staying here and being a slave in her own home.

"Guess I should feed the animals now." She finished pouring the porridge and put ten handfuls of feed into her apron and carried it like a bucket. She walked outside to the stables and shouted:

"Breakfast time!" The chickens, horses, cats and dogs scurried to her to try to get first serving of their breakfast. Annabeth took a bit of feed and spread it around so every farm animal could get their food. They made sounds of joy as they were being feed. She spread the last of the feed around. At least there was someone grateful for her work. Then she dreadfully walked into the stables to tend to Lady Hera's favorite animal of all, a cow. Apparently the cow was some sacred cow from India shipped here and Lady Hera loved it. It was as valuable as a diamond to her. But the cow, like her stepfamily, was especially mean to her.

"Hello, Bessie." Annabeth groaned as the cow made a scoffing sound like she was unpleased for Annabeth to be here. "I need to feed you and milk you." She notified the cow before stepping into her stable.

The cow turned around. Butt to face. Annabeth groaned and poured feed into Bessie's trough then got a stool from the corner of the barn.

Bessie mooed angrily.

"Like it or not, cow. I'm milking you." Annabeth put the stool where Bessie's utters were and plopped down. Bessie was not happy at all as Annabeth milked the cow into the metal bucket underneath her.

Bessie mooed again.

"I know you don't like me." Annabeth mumbled.

Then Bessie yanked herself from Annabeth's grasp. Annabeth, shocked, sat on her stool when Bessie turned herself to Annabeth. Bessie lifted her back hooves. She shot Annabeth in her gut pushing her into the water trough.

Annabeth cringed. She probably had many bruises now on her stomach "Bessie!"

Bessie mooed happily as if she was laughing at Annabeth. Annabeth gathered the milk in the bucket and being soaked and humiliated, she left Bessie be. Annabeth furiously dried herself as fast she could as she went into the kitchen again. She finished the breakfast trays for her stepsisters hastily before the—

Then the ringing of bells started again. Not from the castle this time but each stepsister and her stepmother could pull a string from their bedside and as it was connected to the kitchen to a series of loud annoying small bells to show the girls were getting impatient. That meant Annabeth usually had no time to waste now. Her stepfamily was fully awake now and for the first chore Annabeth needed to perform for them was serving them breakfast in bed. Mind though, she is not allowed the luxury of even having a breakfast.

"I'm coming!" Annabeth shouted to upstairs and managed to carry all three trays at once. One in her left, one in her right, and another on her head. It was a skill she had to develop or she would get in trouble for being late. She walked quickly up the stairs to Rachel's room first since it was the first one in the long hallway and Rachel was usually the nicest one out of the miserable stepfamily trio.

"I hope you made chestnut tea this time. Oh, there's some mending in the pile of dresses over there you need to do." Rachel yawned as she stretched in her luscious pink bed. Her curly red hair was all over the place. For all the prepping Annabeth's stepsisters did, they looked horrible in the mornings. It was like a monster possessed them. Rachel would have her curly thick red hair puff up and stay dreadfully still. Her nightgown was always backwards. And her face looked bare without the tons of makeup.

"Yes, Rachel." Annabeth handed Rachel her breakfast tray and picked up the pile of dresses with her free hand. Rachel's room was so much larger than Annabeth's with Victorian furniture and floral wallpaper that wasn't ripping off the walls. Annabeth sighed and left Rachel's room to proceeded to Drew's room. Believe it or not, Rachel was the nicest and that was actually the nicest orders Annabeth would probably receive all day.

"It's about time, Annie!" Drew pouted as Annabeth walked into the room. Annabeth shivered at her dreadful nickname, she hated it. "I been starving for like ever!" Annabeth gave Drew her breakfast tray and she snatched it away.

"I hope the porridge isn't burnt this time, blonde buffoon. Now, you need to—why are you staring at me like that, hag?"

Annabeth glared at her stepsister. Drew knew she despised the nickname, but what got her goat most of all was being classified as a blonde. It was being called stupid just because of her hair color and Annabeth wasn't stupid. In her free time she always enjoyed a good book even though the words seemed to scramble in her head.

"Ugh, whatever. I'll tell mother about your attitude later. Anyways, my stockings need to soaked, washed, and ironed. And bring them back in one hour, you hear?" Drew pointed her sharp red painted nails to the location of the stockings. Drew's whole look was bossy. From her chapped pierced lips to sharp nose to striking blue eyes. Her black hair was disoriented as Rachel's this time in the morning and her face was as bare.

"Yes, Drew." Annabeth sighed and picked up the stockings with her free hand and proceeded to the final bedroom. Lady Hera's room. Annabeth bit her lip. Lady Hera was one of the scariest women out of the stepfamily. There was a reason why they never hosted any parties or had any guests over. Lady Hera was not a favorite in the community nor is her daughters. Annabeth usually did a take of ten deep breaths before entering her rooms. She opened the grand doors slowly.

"I was wondering when you were going to decide to finally serve me a cold breakfast." The chilling, relaxed voice of Lady Hera said. Annabeth saw she was in the darkness under her large canopy bed. Annabeth hated seeing Lady Hera being so comfortable in that bed. Her father passed away on that bed.

"Sorry, Stepmother." Annabeth said passively. She walked to the bed, her footsteps echoing on the cool tile which was the only bedroom that did not have carpet. Annabeth bent down and Lady Hera grabbed her tray.

"You need to manage your time better, Annie." Lady Hera remarked as she drank from her teacup leisurely.

"Gee, I wonder what I have been doing." Annabeth rolled her eyes.

"Was that sarcasm?" Lady Hera put her teacup down so sharply that the impact shrieked throughout the bedroom. "Very well, Annie. You can scrub the draperies, wash the floor until I can see my reflection, mend my dresses, clean Bessie, and—"

She was not able to finish. All of the sudden, a sound of a horse neighing came from the back of the chateau. But it wasn't regular neighing a horse spouted out now and then. This was full of urgency. Annabeth opened up the curtains with Lady Hera trailing behind her in her nightgown. They both gasped.

…

Percy was riding down the familiar forest trail. He was only riding when all of the sudden he moment of pure, sweet freedom had to end. He heard ruffling in the bushes as he raced. At first, he thought it was just an animal but the ruffling kept continuing. Percy did the most stupid thing and he regretted it the moment he did. He pulled Blackjack's reins to a halting stop.

"What is—" His question was answered. It happened so fast. Percy heard a whisk of wind and then suddenly felt a sharp pain in his right side. He screamed out, same with Blackjack, and he slipped off his saddle and fell straight to the ground.

"This is our territory, peasant!" A male voice said.

Percy blinked to keep himself from passing out "What?"

"You hear that." Percy saw the owner of the voice standing right above him, a double-edged sword to his neck. The man that looked some years older than Percy with a strong jaw and menacing look on his face stared down at Percy. The thing that made him so intimidating was the long scar from the curl of his lips to his corner of his left eye. He was dressed in rags. Were they robbing him? Percy gulped and tried to reach for the hilt of his sword.

"Ethan! Look over his horse!" The man shouted behind him, looking away from Percy. Percy took the chance and mustered all the strength he had and grabbed Riptide. He unsheathed it and pulled tightly upwards on the sword at his throat. It sent the man flying.

"Luke!" A black-haired man with an eye patch came from the bushes. He unsheathed his sword to Percy, excepting a battle. But unlike Luke, Ethan—Percy guessed that was his name—held his sword wobbly and imperfect posture.

"I warn you, we have an archer. She'll shoot!" Ethan warned.

"I know…" Percy groaned and grasped the wooden arrow that was shot through his side but Percy knew there much be a way around conflict. These people were dressed in rags. They must be desperate for money. "What do you gentlemen intend to do?"

"Kill ya!" Luke shouted, sitting on the grass. He held his head with both hands. Probably still dizzy from the unforeseen flip he did earlier.

Percy's predictions weren't correct "Why would you do that?" There was a little voice saying he should keep them talking.

"Why do you think? Thanks to the assassination of King Zeus in Olympus, the kingdom's in anarchy!" Ethan explained and Percy's eyes widened. "Everyone turned on the royal family! Luke and Thalia used to be—!"

"Enough, Ethan." A new voice spoke and Percy saw a woman jump down from hiding in the trees. She still had an arrow nocked into her nice polished mahogany wooden longbow bow. She had spiky black hair with lighting blue eyes and her face lightly sprayed with freckles. She wore a bejeweled silver circuit around her hair and a torn dress that was now at her knees probably to run faster.

"Thalia?" Percy gasped.

"Hello cousin." Thalia put her bow down and leaned it against a tree trunk. "Can you tell me why you're dressed like a peasant?"

"Oh… um… I…" Percy honestly didn't know how to explain. "More importantly, where's Jason? Assassination of King Zeus?"

"Wait, this is Prince Perseus?" Ethan looked at Thalia in shock. "We were about to kill the prince?"

"I'll explain everything when we return back to the castle." Thalia's calming voice put an ease to both Ethan and Percy. "But we have to do something about er…"

Percy almost forgot that he was shot from everything that was happening "Oh, Hades! If Mother sees me… shot ow… touching it hurts… she'll kill me before the wound can!" Percy cursed.

"Sorry 'bout that." Thalia winced. "There's been so many people trying to kill us, we couldn't be too careful."

"Well… I can't afford my parents to see me like this…" Percy grimaced.

Thalia nodded "We need to get to the castle immediately and warn your father. But I do see an estate nearby. Maybe you can ask for help and make up a story about what happened here."

Percy looked to see the dreary outline of Lady Hera's chateau. Percy needed to know all his subjects and Lady Hera and her daughters were the few that Percy really didn't want to know. The gossip in town told him enough of the hubris family. But he was losing blood. Percy almost fainted looking at the huge red stain on his white shirt for the arrow. He needed help but Thalia and her husband, Luke Castellan needed to warn his father. Luke and Ethan helped him on his horse for the short, painful ride to the chateau for immediate medical care. He knew one thing now; he never wanted to be on his cousin's bad side. That was the last thing as he rode Blackjack, everything became very hazy until darkness took over.

…

Annabeth and Lady Hera ran down the stairs to the backyard. Usually her stepmother would try to look presentable before going outside her room but what they both saw, needed urgent care. Annabeth couldn't believe it. Early this morning she saw a man riding on his horse laughing in enjoyment and now he had an arrow through his side with his horse neighing for help, it was like they were two different. Annabeth didn't know what any of them could do though. Annabeth was no doctor, same with rest of her stepfamily.

"I want you to bring him inside, Annie!" Lady Hera commanded. "I'll set up a spot on the couch." Annabeth was shocked. She's never seen her stepmother so concerned for other before. Annabeth only nodded and darted out the door leading to the garden in the backyard. She raced to a black horse that was neighing repeatedly to get attention with his rider slung over his side, fainted.

"I'll take him from here." Annabeth petted the horse's nostril so the horse would calm down and he did. Annabeth went to the saddle where the rider was slung over. The tip of the arrow was sticking out his side. Annabeth took his arm, surprised how much muscle his arm was for a lean figure. She hoisted him off his horse, trying her best not to topple over. The man weighed a ton and was a few inches taller than her but she took his arm, slung in around her shoulder and proceeded inside.

Lady Hera helped her carry the man and they both gently set him on the couch in the living room. Annabeth saw Lady Hera also got towels and a bucket of water. It was surprising. Maybe there is a beating heart in her stepmother's chest after all.

"I need to get my daughters. You get that arrow out of his side." Lady Hera's tone was serious.

"Why do you need to get Rachel and Drew?" Were they actually going to help Annabeth with something? Her stepmother was doing very unpredictable things today.

"He's a man, of course!" Lady Hera said if it was obvious. "With him in debt for saving his life, he can marry one of my daughters." All respect for Annabeth had for Lady Hera shattered at that moment. This poor, poor man. When he wakes up he has to choose between cruel and crueler. It wasn't his fault that he got shot with an arrow.

The man groaned unconsciously.

"You work on that arrow. I need to prep my daughters." Lady Hera scurried upstairs. Annabeth rolled her eyes. She studied the man. Sweat glistened on his forehead, probably from the pain. He had windblown jet black hair, noble nose, and smile lines near his mouth. Despite his wound he looked… peaceful. Annabeth was entranced by his looks. His perfect olive skin, to his muscular but lean build, to the way his biceps pressed against his shirt, to—

The man groaned again.

Annabeth snapped herself back to reality. She focused on the wooden arrow lodged into his side. She needed to pull it straight out. But the tip of the arrow would probably cause more of a wound. Annabeth needed to cut it so it was just merely a stick. She saw attached to the man hip was a sheathed sword. She pulled it out, aweing at its beauty. She never had seen a weapon so close before her without it being a drawn picture in a book. It was bronze and glowed with immense power. It reminded her of a sword named Excalibur. She gripped the hilt and sliced both ends of the arrow, and then she put the impressive sword back into its place. She gulped and gripped the stick of the arrow. This was probably going to hurt.

She pulled the stick out quickly with a quick yelp from the man. Annabeth immediately applied pressure with both her hands as blood spilled from the wound. She read in a book once that was what to do. After waiting a few minutes she reached for a towel and applied pressure with that and then eventually wrapped it around his waist. It would have to do for now. Maybe she could convince Lady Hera to get a doctor to patch him up the right way.

Annabeth returned to soaking his forehead with cool water as new droplets of sweat formed on his head. She wondered who could possibly do this. He was so… handsome. She brushed away a lone strand of hair that was impeding on his face. It was like ruining a perfect masterpiece. She could not help but fix it.

But then the strong hand of the man sharply gripped her arm "Wha—?" He said dazedly.

"Uh…" Annabeth didn't know what to say. "I got the arrow out."

The man repeatedly blinked until her stared directly into Annabeth's gray eyes. Her breath left her instantly. He had a brilliant shade of sea green eyes and they looked at her. Her, of all things to look at. A dirty slave of her stepfamily. Annabeth couldn't help but think of the multiple strands of hair hanging out of her hair. Or her chapped lips. Or the bags under her eyes.

There was nothing but silence for what seemed like forever but then the man finally spoke "Well, it… certainly feels like you got the arrow out…" He smiled as he gripped his side. His voice seemed so deep and mature but yet lighthearted. His smile also made Annabeth melt on the spot.

"Why are you just staring at me?" The man raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, um… sorry…" Annabeth mentally kicked herself.

The man laughed "It's okay. I guess I was doing it too. You are beautiful."