Nico's POV

As the sun set on the hill casted a shadow over us. I took a deep as I took one last look at the Argo II and its' crew looking down on Reyna, Coach Hedge, and I. With the Athena Parthanos strapped on my back and I held Reyna's hand then we melted into the shadows. When I looked up I guessed we were somewhere in France but I felt like I'd just ran a marathon and then some so I took off the straps and sat down.

Right now Reyna's hair was in a braid over her shoulder; she was back in her armor and was wearing her praetor cloak. Her brown eyes were alert as she searched the area, it was all clear.

Reyna looked at me, "Are you okay Nico?" I nodded wearily, "Yeah but I don't think I could fight off any monsters." Hedge crossed his eyes, "Okay cupcake, I'm going to get fire wood. If you two pull something on me-""Go." I said to him.

In less than a minute Hedge was back and had started a fire. Reyna sat Indian-style, "Nico, back at Camp Jupiter I don't think we got off on the right foot…I apologize." I rolled my eyes, "Everyone says that, I just want to get this thing back to Camp Half-Blood and get this war over with." Reyna didn't let up, but thank the gods that Coach could sleep through anything, because he just might have to.

"You weren't always like this Nico, what happened? I know you don't want to tell me, but we're going to be on a long journey and we need to have trust." I sighed, "Let me just warn you it's not a very happy story." She raised her eyebrow, "I know dome pretty sad stories." Then I began to tell her about I used to be a happy (almost) carefree kid into Mythlomagic, then along came Percy. I told her how I believed that he'd keep my sister safe and the betrayal I felt afterwards. Then I told her about the Labyrinth, the battle for Mt. Olympus, and my time in Tarturas.

The most surprising thing was, well, Reyna didn't seem surprised, but she did say. "Okay that's a pretty sad story." I already knew about her story, about how she used to work for the sorceress' Circe. Percy came along and ruined that for her (well that's not so unusual) so she had to learn how fight. The rest is history.

Reyna laughed, "Well it's seemed Percy's messes up a couple times." This time I laughed, "That's an understatement." Though I think that came out bitter, how he's made mistakes yet has done amazing things and everyone praises him. When I do one thing everyone scolds me, yet I still liked him…

I rubbed my eyes, "Do you mind taking watch first, and I have seriously got to get some sleep." She nodded, as I laid down on the cold ground. This really reminded me about when I first ran away from Camp Half-Blood. The next morning I woke up to the smell of eggs cooking, I groggily got up and Gleeson frowned, "You done with your beauty sleep cupcake?" Reyna got up to, "How Leo deals with you is a mystery." Notice she only said, Leo. She didn't mention Jason or Piper, something gave me the idea that she wasn't over Jason.

I used my Stygian Iron sword as a cane as I got up and walked over, Hedge glanced uneasily at the sword, and "Can you put that thing away?" I rolled my eyes as I put it on the ground and Hedge frowned, "Like cover it up, I mean." I scowled and threw my aviator jacket on it. Under it I was wearing my worn down skull T-Shirt. Reyna smirked, "I don't think I have ever seen you without either a black toga on, or that jacket." "Well now you have." Hedge slid eggs to us on flat rocks, well it wasn't gourmet dining, like the pizzas on the Argo II but it was better than nothing.

I asked Hedge, "Are you like a vegetarian or something?" Hedge frowned at me, "Cupcake that's like asking if you eat people, OF CORSE I'M A VEGARTAIAN!" Yell a little louder why don't you? I thought to myself, I held up my hands defensively, "Okay, gods Hedge." Hedge pointed at me, "Don't push your luck cupcake." Reyna suppressed a smile.

After that I got up and looked over the horizon, not but two miles was a horde of monsters headed our way. I ran over and put on my aviator jacket and Stygian sword, "Monsters not far off from here." Hedge got up and looked like a giddy child, "OH YEAH! Let's fight us some monsters!" Reyna hushes him, "Let's go." I strapped the ropes on and held Reyna's hand Hedge muttered about sissy cupcakes under his breath as he unwillingly held my other hand.

In less than seconds we were in the shadows, having done this hundreds of times this didn't faze me. Hedge on the other hand looked like a scared little kid, and Reyna's face was a mask that I could never figure out. Then we were in a cave.

I couldn't really take in my surroundings because I was whooped, I sat down. Reyna didn't look at me, "Gleeson, stay here while I go scout out our surroundings." With that she strode away, Hedge curled up and said, "Stay here, I'm going to get firewood." It's not like I can go anywhere.

"Go back with the statue!" I heard Reyna yell to him, and I almost laughed. If anyone can get that old goat under control it was Reyna. He came back with a face that was bright red; I could see that even in the dark. "Romans." He muttered and I crossed my arms, "I know."