I know I've been absent for a while. Sorry. Here's a long chapter (4,400 words) to make up for it, and I posted chapter 12 as well.

Also, I have revised chapter 7. You don't need to reread the chapter. All you need to know is that Leo did not make the deal with Ares to get the helm. I'm sure I had a plan for that at some point, but frankly, I don't remember what it was, so they have not gotten the helm from Ares yet.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson or Heroes Of Olympus series. All of the characters and anything you recognize belong to Rick Riordan, no matter how much I wish I was creative enough to create such an amazing series.

Chapter 11: We're Off To See The God Of The Dead!

Leo had only been in the Fields Of Asphodel a handful of times, but he still shivered when he saw the impossibly wide stretch of yellow land, like an entire field of dead grass, and the crowds of spirits strolling aimlessly, their faces faded and blank.

He still couldn't believe that Hazel had lived here for over sixty years. Every time he saw the Fields Of Asphodel, it gave him a whole new understanding of Hazel Levesque's strength. With her small stature and childish features, it was easy to pass her off as weak or insignificant, but Leo knew that Hazel Marie was anything but.

The four of them weaved themselves into the crowd, and Leo kept his eyes forward, ignoring the chatter of the spirits around him. He tried not to think of some of the demigods, even some of his friends, that had died before having the chance to do anything deserving of Elysium. He didn't want to imagine little nine year old girls with a dagger too big for them or a teenager that had been shielded inside of camp until the war came to him milling inside of the crowd of wandering spirits. He refused to even think about it, much less remember it.

He didn't look at The Fields Of Punishment (he never did, even before time travel), and he didn't even look at Elysium. Sure, it was the place for heroes, the closest thing to paradise, but the people there were still dead, having lost their lives one way or another. Maybe they died a hero, but they also died a person, and having seen Elysium a handful of times on his trips to the Underworld, Leo knew that a good portion of the people beyond those gates were only children when they died, some not even in their teenage years yet.

No, Leo didn't look at any of that. He just kept his eyes trained forward, on their unfortunate destination.

A castle of obsidian that looked over the Underworld.

"It looks a lot scarier than it is," Nico always said. Leo wasn't sure if he agreed with him.

"I suppose it's too late to turn back," Grover muttered as they started towards the palace.

"We'll be okay," Percy stated. He tried to sound confident, but the quiver in his voice gave away his uneasiness.

"Maybe we could look somewhere else first," Grover squeaked. "Like Elysium, for instance."

Leo almost laughed. As if these things were ever that easy.

"Come on, goat boy," Annabeth sighed, and most people would've mistaken her for fearless, but Leo knew Annabeth better than that. She was scared out of her wits. She was just choosing not to give into that fear. Annabeth Chase wasn't fearless, but she was brave.

Suddenly, wings sprouted from Grover's sneakers, and Leo jumped as the wings began to flutter rapidly.

"Grover, stop messing around!" Annabeth ordered.

"But I didn't do anything!" Grover responded before his voice rose into a yelp as the shoes suddenly propelled him down the hill, dragging him far away from the trio.

What the heck? Leo thought. Percy and Annabeth never mentioned this!

Percy lunged for Grover's hand, but by the time Percy hit the ground, Grover was already several yards away, skidding down the hill and tearing through the legs of spirits, who hissed and chattered in irritation.

"Maia!" Grover shouted, but the word didn't do anything as the shoes continued to tug him along.

"Come on!" Leo yelled, which seemed a little unnecessary, but he didn't have time to care as they dashed after Grover, sliding down the hill towards him, but Grover had a several yards head start, so the three of them weren't catching up to Grover as much as they needed to.

Leo instinctively patted his waist and mentally cursed. Of course, he didn't have his tool belt yet. Just when he needed a rope the most…

The hill got steeper, and the path became frighteningly familiar as Leo fought down a shudder at the dark tunnel they followed Grover into. He knew where they were heading, and there was no way he was letting Grover go there. There was no way he was letting anybody go there.

In the end, Leo didn't need to come up with a plan, which was great because he didn't have the faintest idea of what to do, because Grover's left sneaker tumbled off of his hoof, and while the right one continued to tug him along, his speed slowed drastically, and he was able to grab a hold of a larger rock mere feet from the edge of the pit that gaped in front of them like a mouth ready to swallow them whole.

Leo ignored the bad memories that fought to surface as the three of them grappled with Grover, struggling to maintain their footing as the pull of Tartarus attempted to latch onto them.

The pit seemed to sigh as the four of them sprinted back the way they came, not wanting to be any closer to that pit than they had to.

Grover, Annabeth, and Percy were having a conversation, but Leo wasn't paying attention as he glared at the cave. He already knew what was down there, and it wasn't good. Not even close.

Leo had seen the palace before, so he didn't even flinch at the sight of the terrible deaths on the door. Not because they weren't terrible, but because he was used to it, and he'd seen things that were even worse than what was engraved on that door.

"Persephone's garden," Annabeth whispered.

"I remember that myth," Leo interjected. "Don't eat anything."

Two skeleton soldiers stood by the door, and Leo winced. Seeing those guards reminded him of Nico. His Nico, not the one from the Lotus Hotel. His Nico was terrifying and gloomy but loyal and even funny at times. Nico was his friend, and Leo missed the emo Death Boy more than almost anybody. Except for maybe Harley.

But maybe this way, Nico would get a chance at a happy childhood. A chance he never got before.

"You know, I bet Hades doesn't have to worry about door to door salesmen," Grover piped up, trying to lighten the mood.

"Should we… knock?" Percy inquired, which seemed like both a stupid and an excellent question.

A burst of wind blew the doors wide open, and Leo merely blinked.

"Does that answer your question?" Leo asked with a slight smirk as he stepped over the threshold with barely a moment of hesitation, and the others soon followed.

Leo walked purposefully through the palace, eyes forward, and he tried to slump a little because he was sure the others were wondering why he didn't seem uneasy about meeting the god of the Underworld on his turf. It wasn't like he could say, "Oh, I'm not nervous at all because I've been here before. Many times in fact." That was just asking for a lot of questions Leo didn't want to answer.

Leo actually shrunk back at the sight of Hades. He had met the god before, but that was after Nico had mellowed him out a bit. Leo knew that parenthood changes a man (not personally, but who knows? Maybe if he survived both of these wars and somehow made sure that the world didn't end…). What he didn't know was that parenthood could also change a god.

Hades always looked intimidating, but no where near as scary as he looked, towering over them at over ten feet tall with robes of shadows and shifting spirits and his menacing eyes displaying a Level Nine Death Glare. The only reason it wasn't ten was because if it was, the four of them would be a pile of ashes on the floor.

"You are brave to come here, son of Poseidon," Hades boomed. "Very brave indeed. Or maybe you are just foolish."

Man, Nico was right. He is a drama queen.

Hades stiffened and turned towards Leo a little too suddenly for Leo's liking.

Oh, right. Gods can read minds. Shutting up now, Leo thought.

Hades stared at him for another moment before turning to Percy once again, and Leo swallowed the urge to sigh in relief. That would look suspicious.

Percy stepped forward, standing tall, which was impressive considering even Leo, who had met Hades before, was fighting the urge to cower under the aura of fear and power that rolled off of Hades in waves.

"Lord and Uncle, I come with two requests," Percy announced.

Hades raised an eyebrow. "Only two requests? You arrogant child. You've taken enough."

Percy flinched, and he was silent for several moments until Leo nudged him and Annabeth prodded him in the back, shaking him out of his state. Leo couldn't blame him for being speechless when you're staring down the god of the underworld.

"Hades, there cannot be a war between the gods. That would be…" Percy paused as though searching for the right word. "Bad."

Yes, Percy, Leo thought, sarcastically. World War III would cause destruction, mayhem, and tragedy in every corner of the Earth, but bad describes it perfectly.

Leo could've sworn he saw Hades's lips twitch, but it could've been a trick of the light.

"Really bad," Grover added.

Yeah, Grover, that's so much better.

"Return Zeus's master bolt to me," Percy begged. "Please, sir, let me carry it to Olympus."

Hades's eyes flashed with palpable anger. Leo could feel the temperature in the room drop a few degrees.

"You dare keep up this pretense, after what you have done?" Hades demanded.

Leo tried to look confused, and he resisted the urge to glance at Percy's backpack. He was pretty sure Hades would notice that.

"Um ... Uncle," Percy said, voice unsure. "You keep saying 'after what you've done.' What exactly have I done?"

The palace shook, and Leo planted his foot to keep from falling over, and if he didn't know that Hades wouldn't attack them, his dagger would already be in hand. Debris tumbled from the ceiling, luckily missing them, and skeletal warriors marched in, blocking every exit. Leo didn't like not having an escape, but he tried to remind himself that this was supposed to happen. Hades has a dramatic flair, and he looks a lot scarier than he is.

It didn't help very much.

Hades bellowed, "Do you think I want war, godling?"

"You are the Lord of the Dead," Percy spoke up, treading carefully, and Leo almost couldn't believe that there was a time when Percy Jackson knew when and how to tread carefully. "A war would expand your kingdom, right?"

"A typical thing for my brothers to say! Do you think I need more subjects? Did you not see the sprawl of the Asphodel Fields?" Hades snarled, and Leo couldn't help but agree. Nico told him about the piles of paperwork and what a nightmare it was; Nico often had to help his dad in the Underworld because Hades was beyond swamped. People die ever day, and the Underworld isn't getting any bigger, and Hades may be a god, but he's still only one being. I guess no one ever really thinks about it like that.

"Well..." Percy began, but Hades interrupted him.

"Have you any idea how much my kingdom has swollen in this past century alone, how many subdivisions I've had to open?" Hades ranted. "More security ghouls. Traffic problems at the judgment pavilion. Double overtime for the staff. I used to be a rich god, Percy Jackson. I control all the precious metals under the earth. But my expenses!"

"Charon wants a pay raise," Percy blurted, and Leo resisted the urge to smack him. So much for treading carefully.

"Don't get me started on Charon!" Hades yelled. "He's been impossible ever since he discovered Italian suits! Problems everywhere, and I've got to handle all of them personally. The commute time alone from the palace to the gates is enough to drive me insane! And the dead just keep arriving. No, godling. I need no help getting subjects! I did not ask for this war."

"But you took Zeus's master bolt," Percy stated.

Leo rolled his eyes. If only this were just a quarrel between the gods. If Hades stole the Master bolt, it would be bad, but much easier to avoid than the war with Kronos and later, the war with Gaea.

"Lies!" Hades shouted, the ground shaking once again as Hades stood, and Leo subtly leaned back. "Your father may fool Zeus, boy, but I am not so stupid. I see his plan."

"His plan?" Percy asked

"You were the thief on the winter solstice," he said. "Your father thought to keep you his little secret. He directed you into the throne room on Olympus, You took the master bolt and my helm. Had I not sent my Fury to discover you at Yancy Academy, Poseidon might have succeeded in hiding his scheme to start a war. But now you have been forced into the open. You will be exposed as Poseidon's thief, and I will have my helm back!"

"But ..." Annabeth spoke, slowly, and Leo could see the pieces coming together in her head. "Lord Hades, your helm of darkness is missing, too?"

"Do not play innocent with me, girl. You and the satyr have been helping this hero-coming here to threaten me in Poseidon's name, no doubt-to bring me an ultimatum. Does Poseidon think I can be blackmailed into supporting him?" Hades demanded.

"No!" Percy stammered. "Poseidon didn't-I didn't-"

"I have said nothing of the helm's disappearance," Hades snarled, "because I had no illusions that anyone on Olympus would offer me the slightest justice, the slightest help. I can ill afford for word to get out that my most powerful weapon of fear is missing. So I searched for you myself, and when it was clear you were coming to me to deliver your threat, I did not try to stop you."

"You didn't try to stop us? But-" Percy began, scrambling for answers, but Hades barely let him get a word out as he continued his speech.

"Return my helm now, or I will stop death," Hades threatened. "That is my counterproposal. I will open the earth and have the dead pour back into the world. I will make your lands a nightmare. And you, Percy Jackson-your skeleton will lead my army out of Hades."

The skeletal soldiers all took one step forward, making their weapons ready.

Leo was starting to get nervous. Percy hadn't told him too many details, just the basics. They'd gone to the Underworld, found out Ares stole the helm and the bolt, and returned to the world, but they were forced to leave Percy's mother behind in the Underworld until she was later returned by Hades. Leo fingered his dagger inside of his pocket. He wouldn't attack until he was sure something hadn't gone according to plan. He'd rather not fight a god and an army of skeletons, but he wanted to be ready in case it came to that.

"You're as bad as Zeus," Percy snapped, sounding offended, and Leo rolled his eyes at Percy's inability to keep his mouth shut.. "You think I stole from you? That's why you sent the Furies after me?"

"Of course," Hades said, as if that should be obvious.

"And the other monsters?" Percy wondered.

Hades curled his lip. "I had nothing to do with them. I wanted no quick death for you-I wanted you brought before me alive so you might face every torture in the Fields of Punishment. Why do you think I let you enter my kingdom so easily?"

"Easily?"

Leo had to admit. It did seem kind of easy. The Underworld was full of skeletons and hellhounds and who knows what else, and they just waltzed right in. It did seem a little strange how easy it was to walk into the Underworld and enter Hades's palace. Anyone else who dared to step foot in this palace would've been turned to ashes the second their shoe touched the floor.

"Return my property!" Hades roared.

"But I don't have your helm. I came for the master bolt," Percy stated, sounding a lot more confident than Leo thought he would be. Percy Jackson was brave, but Percy Jackson was also a twelve year old on his first quest like a toddler just learning how to walk on wobbly legs.

"Which you already possess!" Hades shouted. "You came here with it, little fool, thinking you could threaten me!"

"But I didn't!" Percy protested.

"Open your pack, then."

Oh, no, Leo thought, probably sounding like Baymax from Big Hero 6 with his gross understatement. This is going to be hard to explain.

Percy shifted the backpack on his shoulder before slinging it to the floor and unzipping it to reveal the Master Bolt, plain as day, thrumming with electricity.

Remember, Leo, this is supposed to happen. Don't freak out and make things worse than they already are, Leo told himself, but it didn't help the apprehension that sat in his stomach like a ten pound weight.

"Percy," Annabeth murmured, stunned. "How-"

"I-I don't know. I don't understand," Percy replied, confusion and fear whirling together in his eyes.

"You heroes are always the same," Hades sneered. "Your pride makes you foolish, thinking you could bring such a weapon before me. I did not ask for Zeus's master bolt, but since it is here, you will yield it to me. I am sure it will make an excellent bargaining tool. And now ... my helm. Where is it?"

Realization was beginning to make its way into Percy's stormy eyes, and Leo tightened his grip on his dagger. His fight or flight instinct, heightened from months of fighting monsters and trying to survive just one more day when there was no safe place left for the few survivors, was in full swing, but Leo pushed it down, and he forced himself to loosen his grip on his dagger.

"Lord Hades, wait," Percy pleaded. "This is all a mistake."

"A mistake?" Hades thundered.

The skeletons aimed their weapons, and the Furies swooped down from above them, teeth glinting maliciously in the dim lighting of the throne room.

"There is no mistake," Hades said. "I know why you have come-I know the real reason you brought the bolt. You came to bargain for her."

A ball of light appeared in Hades's palm, and he pushed it outward, allowing it to splash onto the steps and take shape to form a woman with curly hair, a woman Leo had only met a few times but still recognized her to be Sally Jackson.

"Yes," Hades said, disturbingly pleased. "I took her. I knew, Percy Jackson, that you would come to bargain with me eventually. Return my helm, and perhaps I will let her go. She is not dead, you know. Not yet. But if you displease me, that will change."

Leo resisted the urge to throw an insult or two, and he ground his teeth, clenching his fist and attempting to cool his rapidly rising body temperature. A person's family was not something you messed with.

"Ah, the pearls," Hades stated after staring at Percy intensely for a moment. "Yes, my brother and his little tricks. Bring them forth, Percy Jackson."

Percy withdrew three pearls from his pocket and cradled them in his hand, eyes desperate and afraid as he was reminded that they were two pearls short.

"Only three," Hades said. "What a shame. You do realize each only protects a single person. Try to take your mother, then, little godling. And which of your friends will you leave behind to spend eternity with me? Go on. Choose. Or give me the backpack and accept my terms."

Percy looked at Annabeth, then Grover, then Leo, eyes searching for an answer, but he knew there was no right or wrong answer. He would have to make a choice, and he would have to live with it. And Leo could only imagine how terrifying that was for Percy. Actually, he didn't have to imagine it. Thinking of the fortune cookie and the price he paid for saving Hazel and Frank lingered heavily on the edges of his mind.

"We were tricked," Percy realized. "Set up."

"Yes, but why?" Annabeth asked. "And the voice in the pit-"

"I don't know yet," Percy responded. "But I intend to ask."

"Decide, boy!" Hades yelled, growing impatient.

"Percy." Grover placed a hand on Percy's shoulder "You can't give him the bolt."

"I know that," Percy replied, grim acceptance in his voice.

"Leave me here," Grover told him. "Use the third pearl on your mom."

"No!" Percy adamantly refused.

"I'm a satyr," Grover pointed out. "We don't have souls like humans do. He can torture me until I die, but he won't get me forever. I'll just be reincarnated as a flower or something. It's the best way."

"No." Annabeth drew her knife. "You two go on. Grover, you have to protect Percy. You have to get your searcher's license and start your quest for Pan. Get his mom out of here. I'll cover you. I plan to go down fighting."

Did they forget that two people have to stay behind? Leo wondered.

"No way," Grover disagreed. "I'm staying behind."

"Think again, goat boy," Annabeth snapped.

Leo never thought he would see two people argue about who gets to stay behind in the Underworld for eternity. Leo opened his mouth to speak, but Percy cut him off.

"Stop it, both of you!" Percy commanded.

Percy turned to his mother, sadness creating a storm in his sea green eyes.

"I'm sorry," Percy told her. "I'll be back. I'll find a way."

Hades frowned, almost looking nervous. He clearly hadn't been expecting Percy to make that choice. "Godling ... ?"

Percy glanced between the three of them, pearls heavy in his palm, and Leo smiled, reaching forward to close Percy's hand around the pearls before he stepped back.

Percy needed to be the one to defeat Ares. Annabeth and Grover would be on the beach with him… and Leo would stay here. It was supposed to happen that way, and Leo knew it.

"Leo," Percy began.

"Percy, I'm not even technically apart of the quest," Leo pointed out. "You three received the quest, and you need to be the ones to finish it. You can't stop this. We'll see you each other again. I can feel it in my gut, and after all these years of running from monsters, I've learned to listen to my instincts. Good luck."

Leo wasn't sure how Percy found the strength, but the son of the sea nodded and turned to Hades, who's head was swiveling between Percy and Leo in bewilderment. Whatever he'd been expecting, it clearly hadn't been that.

"I'll find your helm, Uncle," Percy promised. "I'll return it. Remember about Charon's pay raise."

"Do not defy me-" Hades grappled for control, but Percy didn't let him finish.

"And it wouldn't hurt to play with Cerberus once in a while. He likes red rubber balls."

"Percy Jackson, you will not-"

Percy shouted, "Now, guys!"

The original trio smashed the pearls at their feet. For a terrifying moment, nothing happened, and Leo's heart skipped a beat.

Hades yelled, "Destroy them!"

The army of skeletons rushed forward, swords out, guns clicking to full automatic. The Furies lunged, their whips bursting into flame.

Just as the skeletons opened fire, the pearl fragments exploded with a burst of green light and a gust of fresh sea wind. The three demigods were encased in milky white spheres, obscuring Leo's friends from view as they floated clumsily towards the celling before they disappeared through the floor and were gone.

The skeletons froze, as though not sure what to do, and Leo turned to face a very confused and enraged Hades.

Leo smiled, cheekily. "Well, let's talk about Di Angelos, shall we?"

Leo Valdez never thought he would see the day when Hades was shocked, much less be the one who sent him into a state of pure surprise, but Leo Valdez was known for doing the impossible.

I hope you enjoyed chapter eleven! Please leave a review!

I can't remember who suggested Dakota, but he will be appearing briefly in this story and then I'll try to give him another appearance in the Sea of Monsters.

Note: Hazel Marie was intentional. I imagined Hazel's middle name to be Marie, and I thought it was canon, but according to Wikipedia, Hazel is never given a middle name, so I guess that's a headcanon of mine now. I just wanted to point out that it was intentional.