Dream started with a lot of nonsense. Images changing, blur of colours blending into the one, millions of voices trying to speak over each other until he found himself in a clearing. Around him were seated practice dummies. Some of them were bigger than the others, their armour was varying from one dummy to another. Percy smiled to himself as he felt the familiar weight in his hands, a sword that he has practiced with for as long as he knew. He raised it swinging towards the dummy's.

Slowly, one by one, they were shredded to pieces. They dissolved leaving only one dummy right in front of him. He raised his sword to start attacking when a voice spoke behind him.

"Your skills have improved. Although, I still think that your sword should have been shorter"

Percy turned at the sound of a voice. Dummy swayed as his sword fell on the floor. His eyes widened as he looked at the figure. Darkness engulfed man, swirling around his muscular, almost transparent body. His long dark hair rounding his pale face, his eyes broadening in Percy's. He could only stare in shock.

"Uncle Hades?" he asked unsure. He knew that he was in the realm of Hypos, but he was not contacted by any of his immortal family in a very long time. Ne took a step towards him uncertainly. "What are you doing here?"

He took a step forward. Percy felt as he placed his hand on his shoulder. His dark eyes were looking straight into Percy's soul. His hand tightened as he spoke.

"Hypnoses realm has always been common ground for both immortals and demigods. Ever since ancient times, we've been creating links that would be important for the events to come" Percy narrowed his eyes as he studied his uncle. Hades was analysing dummy in front of him, his eyes going over every single cut or scrape "But, it seems, even despite that, you've been impossible to contact for the last few months"

Percy raised his sword and continued attacking the dummy in front of him. Leather figure swinger under his persistent hits. Hades took his hand off Percy's shoulder and he took a step back. Percy swung his sword one last time taking dummy's head off. Sound of heavy breathing filled the space around them. Percy's jaw clenched. He spoke quietly.

"Why would Zeus want to hunt me down? Why would he cut off any ways of communication with me? What does that insolent prick-" Hades swung his hand and he was suddenly quiet. His eyes narrowed at Hades.

"Watch what you speak, even though we aren't present in his realm, Zeus could sense your invocation, no matter how inappropriate it is." Hades said as he took a step forward. He adjusted the sword in Percy's hand as he instructed "Keep it lower, use your shoulder to move, not your wrist, you wield sword, not a dagger."

Percy took his advice and he started to attack again. His movement became more coordinated as he attacked every untouched part of the dummy. Hades stood silently nodding at his movements. Not even a minute later, dummy was lying on the floor completely in pieces. Percy let his sword fall down. His shoulders slumped as he closed his eyes. He spoke quietly.

"Are you going to explain what is happening on Olympus?"

Hades didn't appear to react to Percy's words. He stepped closer to the dummy regenerating it with a swift move of his hand. Percy turned his head away holding his sword tightly. They stood in silence for several moments. Hades studied Percy. His posture, his breathing, his white knuckles.

"You're not supposed to know about any of it" he spoke in the end.

"What, I'm not supposed to know about the reason why there's an axe over my head?" He raised sword, looking straight at the dummy once again. He could hear his uncle's words replay in his head. Sword, not a dagger. Yet it didn't stop him to hurl his sword. Hades quietly observed the situation. He made no move as Percy threw his sword, but just before it touched it, the world became a swirl of colours. Percy could barely make sense of all of it when scenery changed.

He was now standing on top of the hill. Green grass was tickling his ankles as a light breeze ruffled his hair. He turned around, looking at the forest. Branches were slightly shifting, leaves making rattling noise as they created perfect harmony of nature. Percy could hear fire crackling in the distance. He turned, suddenly stopping as he took the scene in front of him.

At first it looked like a big strawberry field that spread out in front of him, but as his sight adjusted, the scenery changed. Light of a dying fire illuminated the small space around it. Most of it was hidden behind a dark structure, walls. Down in the valley small structures were throwing shadows, making it impossible to see the details. In the middle was an orange flame that illuminated a small section of grass around him. He could see a few more sources of a faint light, but not enough to allow him to see the complete scene.

Woods around him were tranquil. One big pine tree was standing only a few steps away from him. Hades was standing so still that he almost blended into the darkness. Percy couldn't see his face, and even if he could, he would never be able to read emotions that played on his uncle's face. He opened his mouth to ask him where they were, but Hades spoke first.

"Olympus is on the verge of war. My brothers are fighting an already lost battle. We Olympians are at chaos. Not even those who are patient could calm the situation down. But, I'm guessing that you already know that, don't you?"

Percy didn't answer. He hung his head, looking at his bare feet. His toes curled around the grass, a tickling sensation covering his skin. He bit his lips, not giving his uncle satisfaction of answering. Hades's thin lips curled into a thin smile.

"Of course you do. Nothing could be hidden from Prince of Olympus"

"Don't call me that," Percy said through gritted teeth. Hades continued to observe him. Percy turned his back toward the valley beneath him, standing completely in front of the other man. He felt as his veins filled up with energy. That nickname started as first as a joke. No one knew who the prince of Olympus was, but they all knew that he existed, the illegitimate child of an Olympian, a bastard that Zeus despised. Yet still, he was proclaimed so called prince. And whenever anyone saw him, they would just assume he was some minor god that no one knew about. He was so known, yet so invisible. He didn't want to be in the spotlight, he's glad that he gets to live a normal life, but one small part of him wants to know why is he hidden, was his father that ashamed of him?

"And so what if I know?" he contradicted, "As I said before, if my head is on the stakes I want to know what's going on. Why are my dad and that insolent prick-"

"I would be careful in your place." Interrupted Hades "That mouth of yours are going to cost you your life one day"

"As if stakes aren't already high!" he snapped. Hades just raised an eyebrow, looking sternly at Percy. He bit his tongue, lowering his head once again. Hades remained silent, observing Percy. His hands were moving restlessly, desperately trying to do something, to release energy that has built up. Both of them didn't react as the scene once again shifted, moving them to a different location.

Wind startled Percy as they landed on a cliff. He couldn't hear his own thoughts over the raging storm around them. Even though rain was pouring, neither of them got wet. Percy silently observed the sea that stood in front of them. Enormous waves clashed in the cliff beneath them, every time taking a chunk from them. The foam was covering every part of the surface of dark waters, salty drops were mixing with rain.

Storm was raging at the same intensity as was the sea. Dark clouds were circling mercilessly on the dark sky only to be illuminated by lightning that were hitting every part of the sea. It looked like nature was fighting with itself, as it wanted to destroy itself. Percy wanted to ask what was going on, what was happening, but before he could do anything, lightning hit the place where they were standing. Crack opened beneath them and Percy was falling, suddenly engulfed in darkness.

"They've calmed down" Hades's voice said, coming through the sudden silence.

Percy's ears started ringing. He placed his hands on his head, trying to release pressure that had built up. He felt his hands trembling, as they were earlier that day. He looked around, trying to find even the smallest trace of light. He made gruelling sound, between moaning and a desperate cry. He tried to get up, but he only managed to get himself leaning on his elbows. He yelped startled as he felt hand on his shoulder.

Hades knelt in front of him, his hands holding a burning torch. Percy's eyes burned as he looked at him. He stood shakily, slowly regaining his footing. He looked around himself, it appeared as if they were in a cave.

"What… what was that?" he finally managed to ask, his voice trembling "It looked as if-"

"As if the sea and the sky were at war" his uncle finished for him. You're correct. As I said, Olympus is on the verge of a war, my brothers are the opposing sides. They are in a constant battle for the past six months, ever since my brother's symbol of power"

Percy felt silent at that information. He felt as his face was suddenly drained of all of its colour. Someone stole Zeus's bolt, and all of the pointers were pointing towards him. He looked his uncle in the eyes, only managing to shake his head. He tried to form words, but his vocal cords weren't responding. He felt as if a cold knife stabbed through him. He placed his hand on his chest, hoping that it would ground him, but before he said anything, Hades spoke.

"I know I wasn't you. Anyone with a little brain knows that, but unfortunately, that's what my brother lacks"

"But why would he-?" Percy tried to ask, his voice hoarse.

"You were there at the winter solstice," Hades said, his figure unmoving. Flames in his hand were flickering, playing orange light on uneven walls of a cave "You were gone for a certain part of it-"

"Yes because all of you made me leave" Percy protested, but Hades continued as if he wasn't interrupted.

"But, according to Zeus, it was the perfect time for you to steal a bolt for your father. I think you know well enough about the rivalry history that those two have"

Percy laughed, shaking his head. He felt as dark eyes of his uncle were following him, but he didn't acknowledge it.

"Of course, Aunt Hestia was right, he always needs someone to blame, not-"

"Hestia you say?" Hades spoke over him. Percy's mouth shut immediately, eyes widening. If he gathered anything from his aunt's visit, it was that she was not supposed to be in their apartment. Hades's reaction confirmed that.

"I knew it" he said "My assumptions were justified. Hestia did not visited a camp, she went to Jackson's household"

Percy's eyes narrowed as he heard about the camp. He heard adults talking about it, but he was never able to extract anything about it. If the times were any different, he would have tried it again, but now he had other things to worry.

"Don't tell anyone, please uncle. She didn't mean anything bad I wasn't even supposed to hear about that"

"So you were eavesdropping, Perseus?" Percy's ears reddened "But, Zeus already knows, he just can't prove it. There was a fight between them, but I know that he would not listen to Hestia at all"

"So what now? Zeus's bolt is gone, he's blaming me" Percy said, turning his back towards Hades. As he spoke those words, he suddenly stopped, his eyes widening "Why are you here then?"

Hades remained silent. Scenery shifted into a throne room in the Underworld. Percy has been in the palace only two times, both of them accompanied by his father. Even though gods are territorial about their own realm, there always were exceptions. Percy stood at the bottom of a small staircase that led towards the throne. Hades sat there, on his black throne surrounded by countless skulls. Percy's eyes narrowed as Hades sat there, silently looking at him.

"Bolt is not the only thing that went missing that day" he said at last "My helm of darkness vanished. I didn't tell anyone, not wanting to gain any attention, but I know it is time to get it back"

Percy silently nodded, confirming his thoughts. Of course there was a catch. If it wasn't for Hades's own symbol of power, he would have never told Percy about everything. He tried to bite back his frustration, but control was slowly slipping through his fingers.

"You'll go on a quest" he said "And I'll give you instructions"

"Of course, because that's the only thing you know how to do! Make others to resolve your own mess, very praiseworthy"

"Be grateful that you at least know what you're dealing with"

"What? To be grateful why Zeus hates me? Yeah, I feel very grateful now"

He turned around, trying to find something to punch. Hades only observed him quietly, not making a move. Before he knew it, his fist went to the column near him, but it disappeared in the puff of smoke. Sword materialised in his hand as he started swinging around him. It took him several moments to calm himself down. Hilt of his sword was still firmly in his grasp.

"You finished?"

Percy's hard breathing was ringing through an enormous room. Green flames flickered, as if someone just passed near them. He closed his eyes, as he listened.

"Two demigods and a satyr will be sent on a quest to get back the bolt. It will be on you to follow them, to find out what has happened and to get symbols of powers back"

"I'm guessing to bring your first?" Percy asked through gritted teeth. Hades didn't answer, but it was enough for Percy. He was getting his first quest, whether he wanted it or not. "Do I even have a choice"

"You can always decline, but you know the stakes"

He didn't answer. He wanted to desperately say no, but something in his uncle's voice left no room for protest. With a lack of an answer, Hades nodded approvingly.

"Rest for a bit longer. You'll know when you need to start, I'll give you a sing"

Before Percy could ask what he meant by that, Hades made a swift movement with his hand and Percy's world was engulfed in darkness.

Here it is! As I promised, another chapter! I can't promise that next one will be published soon (under a month) but I can promise you that you'll most definitely hear from me next month! Story's starting, I'm wondering if you can guess where the story will go from here. I hope you all will enjoy a little canon divergence!

PS- I'm still looking for a beta reader so if you know anyone who would be interested or if one of you readers is willing to be my beta reader I would be very grateful! I'm aware that there are grammar mistakes, no matter how hard I try and I really need someone to point them to me. I hope that mistakes don't repulse you to the story.