"Beauty is a term to be used with grace."

Ashley followed the blond haired guy through the "camp". She found herself sticking close to him as other people watched them walk past the cabins.

Luke told her to put her suitcase on the porch of a cabin that looked very beachy while being surrounded by all the trees. She did as he said before following after him once more.

"Where-" Her question was cut off by Luke.

"Somewhere you'll like," He apparently didn't need to hear her question to know what she was asking.

Ashley frowned, wondering how he'd know that she would like something, when they came upon the largest stables she had ever seen. And to be fair, she doesn't normally see stables in New Zealand - especially in the town she lives in - and the only massive stables she's seen is the one at Horse of the Year that she went to a couple times.

"Holy, ponies," Ashley gapes as she looks at the stables. There had been carvings put into the support beams, and at first glance they just looked like random symbols, but when Ashley looked closer she realized that she could read them.

Words like "good fortune" and "protection" were the most common that she could see, but there were a few "bravery" and "confidence" spread out through the support beams as well. When Luke opened the massive barn doors, she was only further shocked at the stables.

There were enough stables for millions of horses, which made her have to look down the side of the stables for a moment, and frowning in confusion when from the outside it only looked like there was tweleve at the most stables, "How the fuck-?"

Luke chuckled, "You would believe me if I said it was magic?"

Ashley stared at him after having run back to the barn doors to look in then back to the side of the stables to look at the outside, "I would kind of have to," she answered, still in shock of seeing the stables. There was no logical explanation for it.

Luke chuckled, "Come on, there's someone I want you to meet."

Ashley followed Luke into the stables, "You already said that," she grins when he rolls his eyes at her.

They walked past quite a few empty stalls at first, and Ashley couldn't help herself when she peeked into each stall, before hanging to jog to catch up with Luke. It was a minute later when he finally stopped outside a stall. "Here we are," he opens the stable door for her, and holds it open.

Ashley tilts her head in confusion, but her eagerness to see the horse or pony in the stall makes her walk into the stall.

Luke shuts the door behind her, and rests his arms on the door, "Don't panic when you see her, Ashley."

"Huh?" Ashley turns to face him, confusion on her face until warm air is blown onto the back of her neck.

Ashley moves slowly not to startle the horse, and turns around. Her eyes widen at the mare, a beautiful black mare that looks like she's had anglo-arabian breeding in her, but doesn't look completely anglo-arabian. Oh, and we can't forget the beautiful black feathered wings on the mare's back-

Ashley had to do a double take when she spotted the wings, "Luke, did you put these wings on this horse-?"

Luke covered his mouth as he laughed, Ashley had frozen in surprise and shock when the wings moved on their own. She rubbed her eyes, and the mare just blinked at her as she shifted her wings.

"You're a Pegasus," Ashley gaped.

"I would hope so," a voice said, sniffing insidiously, "It's my body after all."

"Luke," Ashley's voice was nervous as she stepped back from the mare, "I think something's wrong with me."

"How so?" Luke asked her, eyes watching her carefully.

Ashley looked at his, her eyes wide, "I think I just heard the Pegasus speak."

An unrecognizable look crossed Luke's face before it was gone in an instant, "Are you sure?" he asked, and Ashley wasn't sure if the hope she heard in his voice was her imagination or not.

Ashley turned back to the mare, "So what's your name?" she asked, feeling rather stupid.

The mare lifted her chin slightly, "The name I have been given by the two-legged ones is Blackjack."

"Nice to meet you, Blackjack," Ashley smiled, "Is it alright if I rub your face?"

Ashley could've sworn that the mare's face lightened up, "Yes please!" Blackjack almost begged her, "I've had this itch for days, and none of those halflings can understand that I need it gone!"

Ashley laughed, "She says that she's had an itch for a while-" she tells Luke as she scratches Blackjack's head, the mare guiding her towards the itchy spot, and she smiled when Blackjack's body obviously relaxed, "-and she called you a halfling?"

Luke smirked, "That's what we are," he said, "You, me, and the others."

"Others?" Ashley asked, turning slightly to look at him while still itching Blackjack's face, the mare sighing in relief.

"Yeah," Luke nods, "The rest of our family."

"What do you mean?"

Luke gave her a look, "Surely you know by now."

She did. She just didn't want to believe it, but the facts all stacked against the rejection, "We're children of the Greek Gods and Goddesses."

"Exactly," Luke grinned at her.

"But I know my mom and my dad," Ashley argued, "Mom would never cheat on dad-"

"The Gods can take the appearance of anyone," Luke told her simply, just stating fact, "And they can alter the memories of mortals."

"So who's your godly parent then?" Ashley asks, "And do you know mine?"

"Luke Castellan, son of Hermes," Luke introduced himself again, and gave her a smile, "And surely you know who your godly parent is."

Ashley looked at Blackjack who snorted, "You're the child of my lord, of course."

Ashley sighed, her head dropping as her hand left Blackjack's head, the mare stepping back from her, "There's no way that P-" she cut herself off from saying his name, "-is my father."

Luke only gave her a sad smile, "Come on, we should get you settled into the cabin you'll be staying in."

"Okay," Ashley gave Blackjack a smile, "It was nice meeting you, Blackjack."

"Come and visit more," Blackjack nickers to her as Ashley leaves the stall, "You're much nicer than most of the halflings, my lady!"

"Please don't call me that," Ashley's cheeks went red, "But I promise to visit."

Luke looked slightly smug, and slightly amused when she turned to face him, "I thought you'd like her."

Ashley, very childishly, pokes her tongue out at him and he laughs.

The cabin that Ashley would be staying in apparently was the Poseidon cabin that matched the one at the camp that Luke and most of the demigods and demigoddesses had stayed at before it had been destroyed.

There must've been magic evolved when they were making the cabin, Ashley decided when looking around it, it was much bigger on the inside than it was on the outside.

She could see at least five beds that had already been claimed, but no one else was in the cabin, and she was thankful for that as she hid her stuffed dog in a drawer with her three pairs of shorts. What? The cold never really bothered her, and Ashley would rather be cold than hot. It was easier to warm up than it was to cool down.

So Ashley ended up having plenty of time to sneak around the cabin and have a look at the details that were implanted to the theme of the cabin. There were a couple min-waterfalls and by each bed, there was a small "lake" that had been put on the bedside tables.

And so, Ashley ended up lying on her bed, frowning as she tried to figure out the wifi password to the network called "The Golden Ruler". She quickly found out the password was "Kronosrulesalltime".

How she managed to figure it out, she would never tell a soul.

She jumped onto Wattpad and read through all the new updates that she had gotten since she left Auckland. She was done within ten minutes - that was how good she was at quick reading - and opened her chat with 'Drag0nRider201'. Sending a quick hello, she waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

And some more...

And even longer waiting...

More time waiting...

Just keeping waiting...

And waiting....

Anytime now...

Her phone vibrated and Ashley switched it back on at lightning speed, her smile dropped when she just realized it was a text from her annoying little brother saying that he had bet her high score on Subway surfers.

She murdered him in Minecraft after blowing up his mini-village that he had spent over a year building.

Her phone vibrated again, and Ashley grinned as she switched over to Wattpad.

Drag0nRider201: Sorry for the delay, had to get settled in our hotel. The flight was killer.

Ashley smiled, her fingers already moving across the screen of her phone: No worries. Only just settled in where I'm staying as well.

Drag0nRider: Speaking of, where are you for the holidays? I'm somewhere in the labyrinth that is Queens. I think.

Ashley paused for a moment, having to remember where Luke had driven them: I'm on a cruise ship, I think we're at Port Washington?

Drag0nRider201: At least you have some idea of where you are XD I'm lost in this place!

Ashley snorted, already typing her response: I only know cuz I spotted a sign on the way in. Don't ask me how we got here from the airport. XD

Drag0nRider201: Wait...isn't that in New York? Are you in New York???

Ashley blinked: Yeah? New York City in New York state?

Drag0nRider201: I'M IN NEW YORK

Drag0nRider201: SILVER

Drag0nRider201: I'M IN BLOODY NEW YORK

Ashley gaped at her screen for a few moments, before managing to collect herself up enough to reply: wtf, really?

Drag0nRider201: DO YOU REALLY THINK I AM??? I'M FLIPPING SHAKING

Ashley blinked, before amusedly typing her response: Lol. Apparently fate likes us.

Drag0nRider201: UIHEQabBZR HOW CAN YOU BE SO CALM

Ashley chuckled, even if she was screeching on the inside: Cuz someone's gotta be the crazy calm one in our relationship?

Drag0nRider201: That's not how it works and you know it

Lol :Ashley didn't even hesitate to type: I know. XP

Drag0nRider201: If I see you, I'm tackling you

Ashley laughed: I really don't doubt that. XD

Drag0nRider201: Good, because that would be stupid

Ashley snorted: We both know how stupid I can be. XD

Drag0nRider201: Primus~

Ashley scowled in embarrassment: I was referring to the riddle you made about Planets- but whatever. XD still helps my point.

Drag0nRider201: You're never gonna live that down though

Ashley rolls her eyes: I know. Meanie. XP

Ashley looks up as her name is called by someone she is yet to meet, a disappointed look spread across her face for a moment, "Yeah, that's me."

The girl that looked only a couple years older than Ashley herself looked her up and down, "Luke sent me to get you," the girl explained, "The name's Jenn, daughter of Ares."

"Nice to meet you," Ashley said politely, moving to stand up.

Jenn gave the phone that Ashley held in her hand the evil eye, "How have you not died yet?"

"What do you mean?" Ashley couldn't help but ask. Confusion evident on her face.

"You've never been found before by monsters, have you?" Jenn asked her.

"Um, no?" Ashley gave her a look. Monsters?

Jenn gave her a weird look, "Anyway, I'm sure that's something Luke will talk to you about. But anyway, it's time for dinner."

"Okay," Ashley nodded, "Should I leave my phone here, or can I bring-"

"Please, leave it here," Jenn didn't even let Ashley finish.

"Okay," Ashley nods, "Just gimme a moment to text my friend?"

Jenn crossed her arms but nods.

Ashley sighs when realizing that Jenn won't leave without her: I gotta go. She typed into her phone: Time for my first dinner in New York!

Drag0nRider201: Awwwh. Oh well. Have a good night! Speak soon?

You too :she messages back: And most definitely. No one's gonna stop me from chatting with you.

"Done?" Jenn asked Ashley as she hid her phone.

"All done," Ashley nodded, "Let's go."

Jenn led the way out of the cabin with Ashley following behind.