A/N: Finishing The Lightning Thief this chapter. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: All rights go to the man, the myth, the legend Rick Riordan.

Chapter 10

"We gotta get out of here before Luke gets bored of that game!" Annabeth panicked.

The exited the hotel. "Great. Let's return the items before Luke notices." Percy said.

They rushed outside and felt something was off, like the weather would storm at any second. They also heard a mattress salesman yelling, "25% off mattresses this weekend!"

"Weekend?" It was a Monday when they entered the hotel…

They asked someone on the street the date, who checked his phone and replied with "June 20th."

They spent nearly a week in the casino. They had a little over a day left to complete their quest.

-Line Break-

"What do we do?" Annabeth asked.

Percy sighed. "Our only option is splitting up. Annabeth, buy plane tickets to New York City and return Zeus's master bolt. I'll have to go to LA and to the Underworld to give Hades his helmet back."

They agreed. With all the money Annabeth got, they had more than enough to fly there. The problem was Percy. He knew he couldn't take the bus, monsters would come in the meantime. Annabeth was safer waiting in an airport, but Percy would be in the open waiting for a bus. He tried asking taxis, but they wouldn't head out of Nevada. He had to call an Uber.

They cruised along I-15 South silently. He realized: he didn't know where the entrance to the Underworld even was. He was trusting that Hades's minions would go and pick them up, which wasn't exactly reliable. He'd just have to play the odds like he always did.

-Line Break-

They arrived at Los Angles at night. Percy was tired and hungry, so he crashed at an average 3-star motel. When he was showering, he was interrupted by Chiron. Percy yelped and covered his privates.

"AHH! Chiron, you scared me! I'm showering!" Percy shrieked.

"Oops. Sorry." Chiron sheepishly uttered.

Percy stepped out of the shower and dried off. He created a rainbow in the restroom with his clothes on this time. "Chiron, what's wrong?"

"We couldn't contact you for 6 days. Camp thought… you were dead. What happened?" Chiron gravely stated.

Percy paled. He didn't know he caused that much stress in camp. He started recollecting his thoughts about the quest and told Chiron. "…and I'm in Los Angles, praying that Hades will send one of his minions to collect the Helm of Darkness."

Chiron thought about it, then advised, "Send Hades an Iris-Message. He'll accept, because he knows you'll be returning his Helm."

Percy thanked Chiron and said goodbye. He sacrificed a drachma and stated, "O Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, Accept my offering. Show me Hades, god of the Underworld."

The image shimmered and Hades showed up. "Who are you?"

Percy said, "Hades. I have your Helm of Darkness. I've come to return it."

"YOU? You stole it!?" Hades raged.

"No. Someone I know called Luke did. I took it from him and I'm going to return it to you. However, I have no idea where the entrance to the Underworld is… So, if you'd tell me, that'd be great." Percy explained.

"Ok." Hades grumbled, knowing defeat. "It's at…"

-Line Break-

Percy stood at the door of DOA RECORDING STUDIOS. It was the next day; He had less than 12 hours to complete the quest. Percy entered the building and saw who he assumed was Charon, who was reading some paperwork.

"Who are you?" He asked without looking up.

"I've come to return Hades's helmet." Percy stated.

Charon looked up and followed his orders. "Right this way."

They headed into the Underworld. The recently departed souls started at Percy with empty sockets, boring into him. He forced himself not to look. They traveled along the Styx.

Percy headed into Hades's throne room. He looked up at Hades. "I have come to return your helmet."

Hades was expressionless. "I thank you for returning it. However, I'd like to hear what happened in the first place."

Percy told Hades the quest. His face remained the same: a mask with no emotion. He nodded at times, but that was it. When Percy finished, he handed over the helmet.

A slight smile washed over Hades's face. He looked at Percy… but this time with a bit of thankfulness. Percy gave him a small nod, as if he was saying "you're welcome." As Percy went to leave, Hades yelled, "Wait!"

Percy turned his head around. "Yeah?"

"You're the son of Seaweed?" Hades asked.

Percy thought about it. He was, but wasn't. However, that moment of indecision was all Hades needed.

"Come with me." It wasn't a request.

Percy paled. Did Hades know he wasn't Poseidon's son? Did that moment of indecision blow his cover? He considered his options: running or following him. This was Hades's territory. He lost his bargaining chip in the helmet, so unfortunately, following was his only option. He followed Hades to wherever he wanted to go.

Hades led Percy to the bedroom. He locked the door behind them and then picked up a cup filled with clear white liquid that made Percy sleepy. Hades waved his hand, and the room shimmered for a second.

"I won't beat around the bush. Are you Hera's son?" Hades pressed.

Percy paled. He considered lying, but that wouldn't help. "Yes."

Hades nodded and put the cup of liquid down. "I've always wanted to meet you. Hera told me about the plan, and about how you were key to my spot on Olympus."

Percy was stunned. He just realized Hades was in on Hera's plan, which meant he had to swallow his pride and to admit he was underrepresented. That was unheard of for any god. He had always thought of the Lord of the Dead as mean, merciless and cruel, but hearing this, he was out better than he had originally thought. Sure, he wasn't exactly nice, but fair for certain.

"How'd you know it was me?" Percy asked.

"Well, Hera told me I would get the feeling." he explained, "I brought the Lethe water. I also shielded this room from the gods' vision with a Mist barrier."

"Anyway, I didn't call you here for no reason. I need to give you a mission. I'm going to teleport you to the New York airport. You will have to wipe Annabeth's memory and make her forget about Luke's thievery with this Lethe water." he held up the cup.

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Hades responded with, "Luke is crucial to Hera's plan. If you don't wipe Annabeth's memory, she will expose Luke and his traitorous ways. He'll be exiled or killed, and Hera's plan will be foiled."

Percy was skeptical. "How do I know you're not with Kronos?"

Hades stated without hesitation, "I Hades, god of the Underworld, dead and riches, swear on my immortality that I am not working with Kronos or on his side. I am in on Hera's plan."

Percy paled. He thought Hades would swear on the Styx; swearing on your immortality was that much more imposing than swearing on the Styx.

"After you wipe Annabeth's memory," Hades continued, "say the words ad infernum demergeris. You will be returned to the Underworld. You will then pick up Luke and head back to Olympus."

Percy agreed to follow Hades's plan. He took an eye dropper full of Lethe water and Hades transported him to JFK Airport.

-Line Break-

Percy felt he had just sprinted. He was tired, but not spent. The sign read: FLIGHT 506 NOW ARRIVING IN TERMINAL 28. Percy waited for about 15 minutes until Annabeth came out of the terminal.

"Percy! How are you here?" Annabeth questioned.

"Because Annabeth," Percy started as he walked toward her, "Hades gave me a mission." He figured he shouldn't lie, because lying is bad. And pointless in this situation.

Annabeth looked confused. Before she could do anything about it, He dropped the Lethe water on Annabeth. Her expression turned blank. Percy then picked her up, sat her down on one of the terminal waiting room chairs , and uttered, "ad infernum demergeris!"

-Line Break-

The tiring sensation swept over Percy again. He formed back in the Underworld.

"Did you do it?" Hades asked.

"Yup." Percy stated. "Oh, and out of pure curiosity, what will Annabeth remember?"

"She'll remember that she has the master bolt, which Ares stole along with my Helm of Darkness. She's returning the bolt to Zeus, while you and Luke are in the Underworld, returning my helmet back to me." Hades replied.

Percy nodded. "Thought it through?"

Hades laughed. "When Persephone isn't here, I have all the time in the world to think about my chi- orders."

Percy nodded. He felt bad for Hades; it must be boring down here without Persephone. He didn't even notice Hades's near slip-up.

"Also, take this. You'll know when to use it. Our time is over. Good luck. It was nice to meet… Hera's son." Hades said.

Percy exited the Underworld with a new impression of the Lord of the Dead. He was a lot better than he originally thought.

-Line Break-

~A day later

Percy, along with Luke and Annabeth headed to Olympus to meet with the gods. All was well on Olympus, at least for now. They walked up to the throne room.

"Well. Our heroes have returned." Zeus boomed.

Percy looked around for his dad, Poseidon, and his mom. Hera. He smiled at the sight of both. He looked at all the Olympians. Ares didn't look happy, but he looked… scared? Also, was it him or did Hestia look different?

Zeus had his master bolt and the quest was complete, but Luke and Percy had yet to meet Zeus, so they were here.

Zeus started to drone on about a speech of the Olympians and the heroes' bravery. Percy pretended to listen for the most of it, but he was staring at his mom the whole time. She seemed so warm and nice. He didn't know why people said she had a bad temper. She smiled, and looked so kind, like she'd never hurt a fly.

Zeus finished his speech and concluded the meeting. Percy ran over to his dad and said hi. He wanted to see his mom, but that would blow his cover. However, when Percy saw Hera go by, he gave her a wink. She blushed.

-Line Break-

Summer passed by. The rest of June, July and August was a dream. Camp was nice, Percy had made tons of friends and he was having a blast. He had almost forgot about Hades's objectives. Almost, if not for the vial he kept in his pocket. It was enchanted like Riptide to always return to his pocket. Every time he touched it, he was reminded what "the right time to use it" meant.

On the last day of Camp, Percy was in his cabin contemplating wither staying year-round or just for the summer when Luke walked up to him.

"Hey Percy, wanna go on a walk for me?" Luke asked.

His instincts warned him not to, but he thought of Hades's quest… nothing interesting had happened with Luke for the rest of the summer. He assumed this was his chance. Plus, his vial would protect him.

He accepted and rushed after Luke.

Percy and Luke walked out to the woods. They were in the middle of talking about camp when Luke started getting riled up. He ranted on about the gods cruelty and how he hated them. Percy knew all of this; he was preparing to pull out the vial.

As if on cue, Luke summoned a scorpion. It hissed and shook its tail. Percy acted on instinct. He sliced the scorpion in half. Suddenly, an unbearable pain coursed through his body. He felt himself getting weaker… until he pulled out the vial and ingested it.

Percy gradually felt his strength return to normal. Luke's eyes widened and he started to run.

Percy didn't know where it came from, but he yelled, "LUKE! WAIT! I-I'm on your side."

This got Luke's attention. "What?"

"I agree with you. The gods need to be overthrown. But… I have a different way." Percy explained.

He told Luke about the prophecy, and how he could overthrow the gods and make Olympus a unified council.

Luke considered this. "What's your point?"

The idea came out of nowhere, but he answered, "I want to replace Olympus with a unified council. I'll create a resistance group with demigods, nature spirits and maybe even gods. We can train them and they'll be our own personal army. We'll leave those who don't want to join unharmed, but those who join my group will be rewarded when the prophecy inevitably comes true."

Luke looked impressed, but a wave of doubt evidently washed over his face. "How do I know you're not lying?"

Percy sighed. "I Percy Jackson, swear on the River Styx that the prophecy I said is true."

Luke looked at Percy, long and hard, his eyes boring into Percy. Finally, after a length that was short enough to not be monotonous, but long enough not be be abrupt, he said "I'm in."

They shook.

A/N: Lightning Thief Done!

Readers: I need your opinion on something. Should Percy stay at camp year-round? If he does, then I'll probably skip Sea of Monsters or replace it with something else. (that's the worst Percy Jackson book IMO)

FYI: If he goes back to the orphanage, the Sea of Monsters will happen. (with changes, of course.)

Have a nice day.