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It was a scene from a movie. There was something big and black in the sky, firing huge balls of fire, and there were people screaming and running around as the dining pavilion caught fire.

Percy and I got to work immediately. Being the stronger one, he summoned water from the beach all the way to the pavilion, clearing a path to the beach and almost collapsing in the process. Annabeth steadied him.

"I'll find him some water, you just keep putting out the fire!" She said. She pulled his arm around her shoulder and began dragging him out of the dining pavilion as everyone else followed, screaming and panicking.

I remained there, trying my best to remember what Percy had told me about summoning water.

"You'll feel a tug in the gut, and then duck," he'd said. 

But he'd never said anything about summoning water from a distance. I looked around in a panic, then I spotted the drinks table. But there was more fire blocking it. 

Then suddenly, the fires parted at the middle like curtains, giving me a way to get through. I turned and saw Leo, his arms outstretched as if holding open a door. Then I realized he was controlling the fire.

"Go," he said, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead from the effort. I ran to the table and started opening every soda can in sight. After I'd opened every last one, I stood back and Leo closed the fires around the table again. I thought again about what Percy had said. I tried to summon all the liquid from the cans. Root beer, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Sprite, Fanta. 

All the soda burst out from their cans. They formed a humongous multi-colored ball in midair above me. With much effort, I willed it to burst, which it did. The soda ball exploded and many different sodas went a thousand different ways, putting out most of the fire.

"Look out!" cried a familiar voice, and another big wave swept over the pavilion and put out the remaining fires.

I turned to see Percy standing at the entrance of the pavilion from the beach. He was soaked from head to toe, apparently way too tired to dry himself off.

"That was amazing, Y/N," he said as I staggered over, all my energy gone. "I can't even describe how impressed I am. I couldn't do that in two months of training."

I collapsed in his arms, breathing heavily, and he caught me just in time. I was practically hyperventilating, I was taking so many deep breaths. My vision was swimming, and I could faintly hear Percy saying, "Y/N? Talk to me, I'm here."

I heard footsteps, and the next thing I knew Annabeth was there, and the sound of hooves told me Chiron was too. The last thing I saw before I blacked out was Leo's brown eyes, staring down at me, full of worry.

When I woke up, the first thing I heard was Percy saying, "This is bad."

"Really bad," Annabeth agreed.

I opened my eyes and saw that I was back in the Poseidon cabin, on my bed. Percy was pacing in front of his own bed, which Annabeth sat on.

"Do you think she'll be okay in time for the quest?" Percy asked.

"Probably, but you know you can't go with her, right?" Annabeth said. "Chiron said so."

"But why?"

"Because, Percy, Y/N needed your help to put out the fires. She's a little too dependent on you. I'm not saying that's a good or bad thing, but you won't always be around. Y/N knows you're loyal and will help her when she needs it, even if Chiron told you not to. Her going on a quest without you but with two other people is the only way to turn her independent." Annabeth folded her arms, waiting for Percy to argue.

He couldn't. He stuttered a little, then gave up and sat down next to Annabeth. He put his arm around her and she rested her head on his chest. "She's going to be okay, Percy."

"I know," he said.

There was a clip of hooves outside the cabin door, and Grover came inside without knocking. Because that's how best friends are.

"Chiron says to wake Y/N up. She needs to choose who's going on the quest with her," he said.

Then I registered it. Why was I the one going on the quest?

Percy stood up as Grover left. He made his way over to my bed and said softly, "Y/N? Are you awake?"

"No," I muttered, turning to my other side.

"How much did you hear?" Annabeth asked.

"A lot," I replied.

"It's okay, Y/N. Really. But you've got to get up now. Chiron said you have to go on the quest, but he won't say why," Percy said. I sighed and got up from bed. I realized I was still in the dress id worn to the dance, so I kicked Percy and Annabeth out of the cabin and changed into my camp t-shirt, jeans, and a jacket. I left Cabin Three and headed towards the Big House.

Percy was sitting in at the living area when I got there. Chiron invited me to sit down, so I did.

"Now, Y/N," he began. "You may be wondering why I chose you to lead the quest."

I nodded.

"Well, you're the newest child of the Big Three. You're one of the only demigods in this and the Roman camp who isn't exhausted from wars and quests. The quest is not simple. It will take days, weeks, possibly months to complete. 

"Do you accept it?"

I nodded again. 

"Very well. Aphrodite has lost her magic makeup kit somewhere in Virginia. You need to find it."

I looked like a bobblehead from nodding now.

"You may tour the cabins now and pick who you'd like to bring with you, except for Percy, you can't bring–"

"I know who I'm bringing," I said, speaking for the first time. "I'm bringing Leo Valdez."

"And?" He prompted.

"Huh?"

"You don't know that you have to bring two companions? Your second companion can be neither Annabeth Chase nor Percy Jackson," he reminded me.

"I think I'll go for the touring of cabins," I said. 

"Very well. You can go. Percy, you stay. I need a word with you," Chiron said as I got up to leave. 

I left the Big House and wandered around until I found Piper. She showed me around the cabins, introducing me to everyone, until I finally picked this girl named Cheryl Byrnes from the Hecate cabin.

After I informed Chiron of my decision, and got Leo's approval on his coming to the quest with me, I began packing. Percy helped. He gave me some drachmas, ambrosia, and nectar, and I packed some extra clothes, a toothbrush, and toothpaste in a backpack. I also brought some mortal money since I'd probably need it. 

"By the way," I said as I zipped up my backpack. "What was Chiron talking to you about?" 

"He just told me to stay out of your way, even here at camp," Percy said bitterly. "Apparently you're too dependent on me, and without my help lives would've been lost at the dance. It's ridiculous, to be honest."

"You're not in my way," I said. 

"Exactly," he replied. 

Just then the conch horn sounded and we had to go to dinner. 

-Time Skip to the next morning-

"Ready?" Leo asked. 

"Ready," I said.

Percy gave me a big hug before I left and told me to be safe. Annabeth did the same. The rest of the seven (besides Leo) bid me goodbye at the top of Half-Blood Hill.

I took a deep breath, then got into the car. Cheryl climbed in next to me, and Leo was on her other side. 

That was the beginning of my first quest. Here goes nothing.

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