Hey, there was someone on the comment section who doesn't like gays. Thoughts and opinions of this person?

"What? Why do you want to send me to Tar... Tartor?"

"Tartarus," Nico corrected.

"Right, that! Why do you want to send me there?"

Instead of responding, the King held up his black sword. It glittered dangerously, reflecting Danny's face.

"I've met spirits like you. You think you can just stay in the mortal world. You don't care that you're the ones causing trouble. Just go back to the Underworld and we can say good-bye in peace."

"Um... okay... can you at least tell me your name?"

Nico's eyes narrowed dangerously. A shiver went up Danny's spine, but he didn't let it show.

"The name's Nico, son of Hades. This here is Percy, the son of Poseidon. And my half-sister, Hazel. Her father is the Roman version of Hades."

The Son of Neptune... Danny glanced at Percy. Even though the boy's face was focused, Danny could tell there was a sense of humor deep down. Hazel looked like a compassionate girl. But there was still one thing Danny didn't understand.

"Why are you the Girl who Died?"

Hazel gaped, eyes wide.

"You can't possibly know that..."

She turned to her brother and whispered something in his ear. He nodded thoughtfully, turning back to the skeleton army.

"Destroy the older one. Capture the younger ghost."

"Not what I had in mind!"

Danny rushed higher as the skeletons began throwing their spears and javelins. Vlad was already retreating, gazing over his shoulder. Danny turned around and fired on the army. The bones disintegrated into dust, but more kept pouring in. Vlad was flying away as fast as he could, leaving Danny to fend for himself.

"Last time I ever help you," Danny yelled.

Vlad ignored him. More skeletons climbed over their fallen soldiers. One threw a net, tying one of Danny's wrists. The ghost boy yelped as he crashed to the ground. Pain shot through his body, but he looked up at Nico defiantly.

"You are evil. You're a pint-sized little demon."

Nico raised an eyebrow.

"Um... thanks? Hey, Hazel, what do you want to do with him?"

She shrugged. Danny focused out his mind, trying to make himself go intangible. He just needed to get out of there. Then Sam and Tucker could help him prepare. Nico turned to Danny, clearing his throat.

"How about a deal? You show us where the portal is, and we'll let you go."

"The portal?"

The Fenton portal? Danny's stomach dropped, a wave of nausea washing over him. After everything his parents had worked for... this little punk wanted to destroy the portal! Nico pointed his sword at Danny again.

"Come on, ghost. I don't have all day."

Danny gulped, looking back up at the kid's face. He was about to tell Nico to go someplace special, when someone cried out. Nico glanced up in surprise and jumped back with a yelp. Jazz was coming at breakneck speed in the Fenton RV. She swerved, almost knocking Percy and Hazel off their feet. Before the trio could recover, Jazz was out of the vehicle and freeing Danny. The net came away easily under her Swiss army knife.

"H-How'd you know where to find me?"

"You're my little brother. I know everything. And a ghostly GPS helps too."

He flexed his wrists, smiling.

"You are the coolest sister ever!"

"Yeah, yeah. Tell me about it when we get back to Amity Park."

Danny leaped into the passenger seat. He looked back worriedly to see Nico helping Hazel regain her position. He wasn't going to go after them? Not much of a cold-blooded move. Jazz slammed the pedal. The tires let out a squeal before the RV shot off down the road.

"Okay, but how did you know I was in trouble?"

"Don't you remember that little deal we had? When I call your cell phone, you answer. If you don't it's either cause you're in trouble or left it in the kitchen. My turn. Who were those people?"

"Their leader is a king with a price on every ghost's head."

"That's good, right? A potential ally."

"He wants to shut down the portal."

Jazz's mouth clamped shut. She leaned back in her seat, letting out a shaky breath. The farther they went, the more they relaxed. Danny gazed out of the window. The fight replayed over and over in his head. He'd have to tell Sam and Tucker about it when they got home... he groaned. Why couldn't life be easier?


Nico collapsed onto the concrete, chest heaving. All those skeletons he had summoned... they were refusing to go back to rest. It was taking all of his strength to make sure they stayed in the ground. Hazel came over, gathering her brother up into a hug. She buried her face into his aviator jacket.

"I couldn't stop them," Nico mumbled. Hazel smiled reassuringly.

"Nico, we defeated the Earth Mother. I think we can handle a few ghosts."

He nodded absently. Percy was back at the bus, trying to calm the people down. No matter what he said, the crowd would start screaming and crying. He jogged over to Hazel and Nico, shaking his head.

"Nothing's working. Hazel, are you sure you can't manipulate the mist?"

"I don't even sense it."

"Alright, let's just regroup. We still need to get to Amity Park. Obviously, this bus isn't going to help... so what now?"

Nico stood, slinging his sheathed sword over his shoulder. He shrugged.

"We walk?"

Percy and Hazel looked at each other. She nodded. Walking it is, then. They slipped away without any of the passengers seeing them. Percy circled around a tree, a frown tugging at his lips.

"I'm hungry."

"Who isn't?" Nico grunted.

"I wish we had Leo's taco-," Hazel paused.

The air grew about a hundred times thicker. Nico bit his lip. He hadn't known Leo for that long... but he could still remember feeling Leo's decent into the Underworld. It'd been unlike anything he'd ever experienced from a spirit before. Out of the three of them, Hazel was probably the one with the deepest connection though. She cleared her throat, squaring her shoulders.

"Come on, let's just get this quest over with."

"Oh, don't stop on my account!"

Their heads whipped up. Sitting on one of the tree branches was Leo. His arm was wrapped around a smirking Calypso.