Hey again, everybody! A little epic Nico stealth this chapter. Next chapter is Hazel POV, and her love triangle is finally solved (not really)!

Disclaimer- Rick owns all

I've come up with the ending for my story. And it is going to be DEPRESSING. Sorry, but I hope you'll understand! Rick has never killed anyone important in PJO, which is one of the requirements for a good story- a tragedy. But it's still a while away. For now, ENJOY!

THANK YOU ALL FOR 200 REVIEWS! OMG I NEVER THOUGHT MY STORY WOULD BECOME THIS POPULAR! Submit questions for more Q & A!

To all you history/military geeks like me, in case your wondering, the Roman army in my HoH is Pre-Marian reforms. Hastati, Principes, Triarii, Equites, those dudes. Do you all want a modern version of the Marian Reforms to happen in my story? If so, the First cohort becomes a Praetorian Guard/Eagle bearers, 2nd and 3rd assume the positions of stand Legionary Cohorts and Praetorian Cavarly. 4th and 5th become all the other units- auxiliary, archers, meat shields (poor 5th) and those guys. Otherwise, 1st cohort are Triarii, 2nd and 3rd are Principes, and 4th and 5th are Hastati, archers and equites. Also, PM me with your rants an opinions on history :D.

So everyone, if you don't like author's notes, don't read them. All my author notes will have chapter names. Somtimes, I may make one about my life or a a video game or movie or something. Simple as that.

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XI

Nico

It was one of those times when Nico was extremely grateful for the training Camp Half Blood had given him. Chiron and the Stoll brothers had taught him to be extremely alert at all times, even when in a presumably safe haven or asleep.

His eyes shot open. Nico heard something like dolphin flippers flapping on the ground, as well as human footsteps.

He quietly got out of bed, making zero noise, and crouched in a shadow. Something was definitely wrong. Using his ears, he guessed the dolphins were about 10 feet away from his/Percy's cabin.

Another door opened, followed by a brief, quiet shuffle and a muffled scream from Hazel. Then a Nico heard a thump, and a dolphin chatter briefly before grunting. These guys, although obviously trained in raiding, had zero talent in stealth.

He waited a few moments. The footsteps got closer.

The door opened quietly, and Nico edged into the corner of his room. The shadows blended with his black clothes, making him invisible to anything more than 3 feet away. Then a guy came in.

He had a golden mask, and seemed human. Flanking him were 2 dolphin-human hybrids carrying spears. Nico remembered the story Jason told him- about Chrysaor and how Percy had beat him with Diet Coke.

One of the dolphins said in a slippery voice, "There's no one in this cabin or the girl's, lord. They were taken by the Abyss."

Chrysaor snapped, "I know! But Mother Earth told me of a son of Hades onboard this ship. He may reside in this cabin. But I guess he must be somewhere else. Search the whole ship for him. After he is found, loot this hunk of metal and then destroy it."

"Yes, lord."

The 3 figures left and closed the door. Nico stood up and crept forward. Fortunately, the dolphin man didn't close the door completely, so opening it wider made no sound.

Nico snuck out, crouching low, following Chrysaor. His eyes sharpened as adrenaline rushed through his body and his battle reflexes kicked in, ready to respond to an attack. Chrysaor headed down the stairs to the lowest level, where the storage and statue were. The 2 guards following him stopped and turned around.

Nico smiled. It was time to try out one of his newfound talents. He had always been able to shadow travel, sometimes with 1 or 2 people holding his hand. After years of honing the skill, now he could sometimes teleport things in shadows just by focusing.

He did so on the 2 dolphins, thinking about the Underworld. For a moment, nothing happened.

Then the guards, stupidly standing in the shadows, fell through on a one way ticket to hell.

Nico's eyesight blurred for a moment, but he instantly refocused and moved on.

The son of Hades barely made a sound as he headed down the stairs. Nico quietly thanked Leo for not making the Argo II's floor creaky. Nobody else barred his way as he moved down to the lowest level.

*20 minute writer's block right here*

He crept through the corridors toward the storage where the Athena Parthenos was, stabbing an unfortunate dolphin-man with his Stygian Iron sword on the way. The door was open when he arrived.

He peeked in and took in the scene. All the other demigods aboard the ship were either on the floor unconscious or tied up and gagged. A dozen warriors watched them. Chrysaor himself paced around the storage room, examining the cargo and Athena Parthenos.

"Greek fire, cannon rounds, oh! Drachma!" He muttered to himself. A dolphin came over and chattered something to him, but Nico somehow understood it.

"My lord, we've searched the whole ship. No sign of the Hades spawn, my soldiers tell me."

Chrysaor snapped towards him. He took a step forward, and his lieutenant backed away. "He's on this ship! If you didn't find him, SEARCH AGAIN!" He bellowed. The dolphin nodded rapidly and chattered into his radio.

Nico took the chance and leapt into the room just as both Chrysaor and his lieutenant turned away. He quickly ducked behind a tall crate of ballista bolts.

Nico needed a distraction. There was no way he could take on Chrysaor and all the dolphins. He couldn't summon skeleton warriors because they were flying. Fortunately, Nico didn't have to wait long. Just a few moments after he ducked behind the crates, something slammed into the Argo II viciously.

The mother warship tipped dangerously to the side, sending crates sliding across the floor. Then the ship righted itself.

Festus clicked and whirred, but nobody seemed to notice except Nico and Leo. Leo's eyes widened, and he screamed, but the gag muffled him. None of the guards paid him any attention. Chrysaor muttered something about a bad autopilot and continued on.

Nico swore. He had counted on whatever hit the boat to send the dolphins into disarray. Nico prayed for it to strike again.

It did. This time, the dolphins started to notice something. Chrysaor frowned upwards. He called all of his dolphins to come with him except his lieutenant, which Chrysaor ordered to watch the prisoners.

As soon as Chrysaor left, Nico crept out behind the crate. Leo caught his eye. He quickly looked away so the dolphin wouldn't notice Nico.

The stygian iron sword went through tissue and bone like a hot knife through butter. Instantly, the sword's target dissolved into yellow powder.

Nico quickly cut the bonds of his friends, and fed some ambrosia to Frank and Hazel, who were unconscious. They woke up quickly, and Nico ushered everyone up. "Come on," he hissed. "Chrysaor is distracted by a monster attacking the ship. We have to hurry."
Leo whispered, "Dude! Hurry up then! I really don't want to have to put down and repair AGAIN! Besides, we don't want to lose the statue!" Nico threw everyone a sword and shield from a weapons bucket nearby and they headed up.

LIIIIIINEEEEEEEEBRRRRRRRRREE EEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKK YOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Up on deck, chaos reigned. The dolphins were being attacked by a huge lion like creature. It had the head and body of a lion, with a goat head sticking up from the middle of its back. Its tail was a snake serpent. The goat head was spitting poison at the dolphins, while the lion head breathed fire, and the serpent tail bit any dolphin to close.

Nobody noticed the demigods as they finished climbing the stairs. "What is that?" Piper muttered.

Nico recognized the monster. He swore. "It's the Chimera. Percy told me he once was attacked by it on the St. Louis Arch and only survived by jumping into the Mississippi."

Jason groaned. "Great. If HE couldn't beat it, how can we?" Nico was surprised Jason just said Percy was better than him. Being a son of Jupiter, you usually want to be the best.

"WE have to get under it," Frank said. "There's no protection there. If we try to attack it from above, one of those 3 heads will bite us, poison us, and then set us on fire."

The dolphins were panicking by now, and some were jumping overboard into the Atlantic below, despite that the ocean was about 2 miles below. Chrysaor stalked right past Nico. Fortunately, he seemed to realize a Chimera was a bigger threat then the demigods. "STAND YOUR GROUND, COWARDS!" He roared. His golden mask turned to face Chimera.

Chrysaor raised his sword and started attacking the Chimera. They exchanged fire, bronze, teeth and poison. Then, Chrysaor made a mistake trying to attack the lion head. He dodged a burst of flame, and thrust at the lion, when the goat head suddenly opened his mouth and spit a line of acid straight into the pirate's face.

Even Nico couldn't help but feel bad for Chrysaor as his mask melted instantly, screaming in pain as the acid burned his flesh. He turned around and Nico saw his face for a moment.

Chrysaor looked disturbingly similar to Jason. They both had similar features. It was almost as if they were related. The pirate lord's face was scarred terribly, extremely horrible. Then Chrysaor flailed away from sight, jumping overboard.

Nico didn't have time to think, because just then, the Chimera turned its sights on the demigods.

"Umm, guys? I think we should run," Nico said.

Jason backed away a few steps. "Good idea."

And run they did.

Why such a late update, you ask? Well, one of my dozens of ideas just floating around in my documents section hit me an inspiration, so I started writing it. The next update will be Saturday again, sorry! But I will post the one-shot with chapter 12 (I hope). Or, I may just make an extra good chapter 12

Quote of the chapter- Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, then speak and remove all doubt.

Song of the Chapter- Fireflies by Owl City

Entertainment of the Chapter- Halo 4 (even though I never played that game :P)