A/N: Continuing with the Disney theme here. Hope you guys enjoy!

Prologue: Some say they would like to be ghosts. It would be fun, floating through walls and haunting people. But Nico would give anything to be human. He just grew up a ghost, being created by the devil for company and all. Hades was a nice father, sometimes, but he didn't rust Nico at all, and it bothered the Hera out of the both of them. All Hades wanted was for Nico to be protected, and all Nico wanted was to be free. Maybe some day...

-/\-/\-/\-

Nico was flying down the street, chasing Mrs. O'Leary as fast as he could. For a hellhound, Mrs. O'Leary sure was lively. Nico had to fly threw people and walls, which he would normally try to avoid, to keep up with her. The puppy seemed to be chasing something, but he had no real clue. He scooped the puppy up as she finally slowed down, the both of them panting. They were in a small alley, seemingly empty and harmless.

"This is why we don't take walks on the Surface," Nico huffed softly, scratching the pup's head affectionately. "Let's go." He turned around to find a human standing in front of him. The human had perfectly curled gold locks tucked behind his ear, his body was perfectly tanned and muscled, and his eyes were a perfect pristine blue. He was staring at Nico, even though Nico was sure he was invisible to humans... Maybe he was one of the psychics Nico sometimes talked to on the surface, like Hazel Levesque or Lou-Ellen "the Magical". Nico backed away slowly, not knowing if he could trust the blonde.

"Wait!" he called, stopping Nico. "I'm not going to hurt you. I can help you!" Nico shook his head and shrugged.

"Nothing left to help," he admitted, smiling wryly. The blonde pursed his lips and spread his hands apologetically.

"I tried my best," he declared, "I'm Will Solace, by the way." Nico cocked his head, recognizing the name.

"Hey, you help Lou, right? Lou-Ellen 'the Magical', I mean?" he asked, leaning in closer. He let his feet touch the ground and he walked around the other boy, setting Mrs. O'Leary down as he tried to remember.

"Yeah," Will said, picking the puppy back up. "And who is this?" Mrs. O'Leary barked giddily and licked his face, making the boys laugh.

"That's The Misses," Nico said jokingly, "Mrs. O'Leary. We have to go though, sorry." Will handed the hellhound back to it's owner and Nico grinned. "I'm Nico." He shadow traveled to the underworld, leaving Will staring into space, thinking about the incredibly hot ghost boy.

-/\-/\-/\-

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Hades demanded, face red with rage. Nico didn't look up, but bit his lip nervously. "You went to the Surface again, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU?" Nico looked away, furious.

"I was just taking Mrs. O'Leary for a walk. It's not like anything happened!" he protested, clenching his fists.

"You could've been seen, Nico!" Hades reminded him, pointing at him angrily. "Next time you go to the Surface, I'll- I'll-" he sighed, his anger fading. "Just stay away from the humans. They're dangerous and they'll take you away from me, okay?" Nico nodded reluctantly and shadow-traveled to his room, hiding in the secret room under his bed like he always did when he was sad.

"I just want to be human..." he whispered, sighing to himself. Little did he know, someone else was listening...

-/\-/\-/\-

"Oh, that poor unfortunate soul!" Persephone cried sarcastically, cackling as she thought of the perfect plan. "Maybe I could help..."