AN: Characters belong to Rick Riordan. Takes place after BOO with events of TOA. "Victory of the people" is a meaning of the name Nico. I will try to avoid OC's. If I have an OC an asterisk will be next to the name.

Will was awoken by a howl of pain coming from somewhere outside his cabin. Leaping up, he threw on a shirt and ran out the door. He wasn't the only one. All the other head counselors were outside, too, herding concerned campers back to their own cabins. He followed the screams to the Hades cabin. Holly and Laurel Victor, daughters of Nike, were already there, as their cabin was closer than his. The twins were among Nico's "biggest fans", as Percy jokingly put it, and occasionally followed him around like adoring puppies. He pushed them aside and dashed into the cabin.

Nico had woken up due to an ache between his shoulder blades. After a minute or so, the pain became unbearable. He had doubled over, crying out in anguish.

Now Will could see something amidst the scars covering his boyfriend's bare back. Something black and . . . feathery. Not possible.

But there they were, poking out. Small at first, but stretching longer.

Wings.

Black feathers edged in silver. The tips glinted, looking sharp. Each wing was about nine feet long. His wingspan must have been somewhere between 18 and 19 feet.

Nico had finally stopped crying out, but something felt wrong. Will looked concerned, his golden hair tousled, while Holly and Laurel were gaping at him, their faces so similar, but set apart by the scar on Holly's forehead. He seemed to recall Clarisse getting particularly angry during Capture the Flag that past week. "What happened?"

"You need to take us to the Big House right away," Will commanded. "I'd prefer to check you for injuries, but as you don't seem to be a fan of that, it would probably be best you see Chiron. Do you think you'll be able to keep your balance if you try to walk?"

Nico glared at him, but shook his head. He probably didn't like it, but he allowed the three to grab onto him before disappearing into the shadows.

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The shadows flew apart on the porch of the Big House, revealing the four. Nico collapsed on one of the many lawn chairs that littered the deck, startling a chickadee that was perched on the table next to it. The short trip had taken more out of him than it usually would have, although that probably had much to do with his three passengers and the fact that he had already lost a lot of his strength sprouting wings.

Holly bent over to lose her dinner, while her slightly taller sister ran for the bathroom.

"Chiron! Something's happened to Nico!"

"I'm right here, no need to shout." Chiron rolled through the door in his wheelchair. When he saw Nico, he was startled. "Nico, what happened? You look like a younger Thanatos!"

"You mean. . ." Nico reached over his shoulder. His fingers brushed up against. . . feathers? "How?"

"I don't know. This has never happened before. I suppose we'll send you to your father. He'll know what to do, surely."

Nico turned to leave. "Wait. . ." Will reached for his wings, and drew back, startled. "Ow. Your feathers are sharp."

"What is it?"

". . .never mind."

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Nico knelt before his father's, wings folded against his back.

"Why did you come?"

Nico hesitated. "I was hoping you could explain. . . this." He unfurled his wings. The black feathers shone in the light of the torches, and one could see the tips of silver that made them so sharp.

Hades' expression was one of disbelief. "When she told me I didn't believe her."

"Believe what?"

"That you had been blessed by. . . Thanatos."

"You mean. . . like how the McCaffrey's are blessed by Demeter?"

"I suppose. . ."

"What does it mean? Will there be any more. . ." He searched for the right word. ". . .side effects?"

"Quite possibly. You'd have to ask him."

"Why." It wasn't a question; more of a statement. "Why did he pick me."

Hades sighed. "He saw greatness." He was silent for a moment before continuing. "You'll find him in his brother's cave. He tends to rest there when he isn't working."

"Thank you, my lord."