Hey guys! This is my third story up here on FanFiction, and my first multi-chapter story. It will eventually contain themes of self-harm, bullying, and other topics similar to those, so do not read if it makes you uncomfortable, or triggers you in some way. Sorry that this first chapter is mostly just ranting, but it mostly serves as a sort of Prologue. Also, this story is pre-written, so I'm sorry that I will most likely not be able to take up any suggestions that you give me. The reason for this is that this story was originally my English CPT, so yeah. My friends claimed that the idea was overly depressing, but I don't. Without further-a-do, I now present you my story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson. Rick Riordan does.

Chapter One

(Percy's POV)

"Once upon a time..." the practical, basic introduction of the majority of fairy tales out there. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, all the famous short stories that we grew up listening to, were all lies. They make every single child out there have false hope that one day their prince charming, or knight in shining armor, will come along and swoop them off their feet. Slaying all the mighty dragons and villains that come along and ruin your life, making it miserable. Although, in the end, the hero always comes along and makes life better again. Then the prince and princess will happily ride off into the sunset, looking forward to a better life ahead. The ending? Always, and I mean every single time, "... and they all lived happily ever after. The end." Though, I tell you, there is no such thing as a happily ever after! That is one of the many lies that fairy tales feed to young, naïve children. After all, happy endings do not exist. Not now, not ever. Someone once said, "every hero has a tragic ending." No matter what you do, even if you save the world a million times over, the gods will just use you as a pawn, and once they're done with you, and they deem your services not needed anymore, they forget and ignore you faster than you can process what is actually happening. After all, the Greeks practically invented tragedy. If you even think about it, what hero actually had a happy ending? They may have had sad beginnings, happy middles, but the ending? Tragic. Whether it's death or deceit, something always comes along and ruins your life, forever. Now I may be biased based on my own life, if my reality can even considered as living, but that is what I believe. It doesn't matter if you're famous, rich, poor, pretty, smart, or athletic, nothing matters when it comes to fate. The worst part about fate is that you cannot change it. When you're born, even maybe before that, your life is already very carefully constructed by the Fates or some higher supreme being. Even when you think, "Oh, maybe I defied fate," you are most likely very wrong. For all you know, everything was already planned out for you. All the struggles, hardships, ups and downs that you may experience, were probably all deliberate, so that one way or another your life shapes up to what it's supposed to be. Sometimes you feel as if the Fates are against you, I feel that way at least, but then again, fate is on no one's side.

Have you ever wished that life was all just a dream and that you'd wake up five again? Carefree, joyful, energetic, innocent, optimistic, and completely oblivious to the horrors of the world around you? Back when you were still blissfully ignorant? Don't you ever wish that you could go back to the days when the saddest thing you ever experienced was when your favourite crayon broke? When the worst pain you ever felt was when you'd scrape your knee or get a paper cut? Back when no one got judged or even cared about what you looked like? When the most rebellious thing you ever did was stay up past your bed time? Back when a "crush" was just a drink? Or when love was just what you felt for your parents or an adorable puppy? Back when the only electronics or technology you "needed" was the latest "Hot Wheels" model? When showing off was just for Show n' Tell? Back when you could hold someone's hand without feeling embarrassed? When swearing was scandalous and completely forbidden? Even in that situation, the worst word you would ever say was "stupid," "dumb," or "idiot." Back when getting in trouble was only because you wouldn't share your toys? When your most favourite thing in the world were bubble baths? Back when popularity was based on who had the better crayon pack? When friends would always stay by your side, and that you'd promise to be BFF's, when you didn't even know what that stood for?

Back when your parent's would only scold you for eating dessert before dinner? When stealing was only from a cookie jar? Back when the only thing you'd watch and listen to, was Disney? When you could act like a complete goof and no one would mock, laugh, or judge you? As a matter of fact, they might even join you? Back when the scariest thing you ever experienced was from a Jack in the Box? When your parents would still tuck you into bed and give you a bed time story? Then they'd give you a little kiss on the forehead, tell you to not let the bed bugs bite, and then they'd turn on your little Bat Man night-light? Back when monsters were the imaginary creatures lurking underneath your bed? When you could get in trouble and the worst punishment you ever gotten was a time-out? Back when tears were only shed because your goldfish died? When you would wake up early on Christmas Day because you wanted to see what "Santa" got you? Back when you would play in the snow for hours, only to come home to hot chocolate?

When lying was only used to say who ate the last cookie, or if you cleaned your room? Back when the most "wild" parties was at Chuck E. Cheese? When getting "high" was on a swing set? Back when drinking was only from juice cartons or Kool-Aid? When smoking was just for a barbeque? Back when our knowledge of guns and shootings were from Nerf? When the only tattoos we got were either fake or drawn on our skin from pens or smelly markers? Back when an addiction was what you felt towards candy? When War was just a silly card game? Back when you'd see a dead body and think that they were just "sleeping?" When you still believed that the world was made up of cotton candy clouds, and that there was always a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow? Back when you still thought that superheroes were real? When nobody had such high expectations of you? Back when the only time coffins or blood crossed your mind was because you were thinking of vampires? When you still thought that you could do anything and achieve the impossible, without actually thinking about the technicalities? Back when the only thing we did on the internet was play childish games? When we would always chase after the ice cream truck, once we hear that all-too-familiar music?

Back when we would always slide down the stairs no matter how much it hurt? When we could dress up in ridiculous costumes because we felt like it? Back when competing was only for who could swing the highest or reach the tree first? When you would still play during recess instead of just standing around, talking, trying to act "cool." Back when you would skip everywhere you go, humming to the tune of The Wizard of Oz, without worrying about being made fun of? When you would eat whatever you wanted, without worrying about gaining weight and getting "fat." Back when we'd always get awestruck by the simplest of things? When we still thought that magic was real? Back when we still thought that kissing was "yucky" and that girls still had cooties? When we'd splash in puddles and dance in the rain? Back when "pretty" was used to describe a flower? When "hot" described the temperature outside on a warm summer day? Back when we didn't have the need to impress anyone?

When we were absolutely fearless, yet secretly scared at the same time? Back when our parents still gave us piggy-back rides and allowed us to sit on their shoulders or lap? When we didn't have the need to "fit in" because everyone just did so naturally? Back when you were completely afraid of rain storms and car washes? When you still believed the fact that your pet "ran away?" Back when we would sneak around the house, pretending that we were James Bond, hum along to that tune, and we'll have our fingers shaped like a "gun?" When our biggest accomplishment in life was learning the whole ABC's song? Back when we always thought that we won, not knowing that our parent's purposely let us win? When it never mattered if we had skill or talent? Just as long as we participated and tried our best? Back when a pinky promise was the most serious oath we could make? When we promised to be forever, not knowing how short forever really was? Back when all our day consisted of was eating, playing, and taking naps? When someone would be rude to us and the worst thing we could ever say to them was "meany?" Back when we were allowed to tell our teachers or parents anything, without worrying about being a "tattletale?" When we were allowed to be immature? Back when you still believed that life was a fairy tale... Now, I won't start ranting about how I absolutely loathe them, and that they are very misleading, and completely and utterly false, but I will tell you this. My life, though far from a fairy tale, all began with a "once upon a time..."

I hope you liked it so far! Sorry that the paragraphs are really long. It was originally just two, but I decided to break it down a bit, so it might be easier to read. Also, there isn't really any dialogue, or a drastic change in topics, so...yeah. Does anyone else miss being a kid, or is it just me? Since this story is pre-written, the next chapter will be up shortly. I still have to proofread it for the nth time, and stuff. If you find any mistakes, tell me. My English teacher didn't really look for any grammatical errors. Also, sorry if some sentences, or parts of sentences, were a bit awkward. It's just my style of writing. So yeah, until next time!