This idea has been in my head for some time now. It's a fun little one-shot. I hope everyone enjoys.
"Thank you for this, Nico. I appreciate it," Annabeth said. She looked over at the son of Hades. Even though they had just shadow traveled, he didn't look too exhausted. A small smile came to Annabeth's face. Nico finally listened to them and didn't shadow travel as much, so it wasn't as exhausting when he did.
Granted, Annabeth wasn't sure how far the Underworld was when it came to shadow traveling. Did being close to an entrance help? Or, was it the same distance no matter where they were? Could it be possible that it didn't matter since Nico was a son of Hades? Annabeth made a mental note to ask Nico later. For now, she just focused on him.
Nico was looking around the Underworld quietly. It was hard to read the expression on his face. Annabeth knew that Nico had spent a lot of time down in the Underworld before he became a critical part of Camp Half-Blood. Now that he was a leader of the camp, he hadn't visited the Underworld as much.
Was it odd for him to return home? Well, as home as the Underworld could get. Or, did he just find her request odd? Annabeth knew that the request was a weird one, but at the same time, she had made this promise so long ago. Before she went to college in New Rome, it just felt right to keep all of her promises and close out this chapter of her life.
Although, Annabeth would never leave Camp Half-Blood behind completely. She would attend New Rome's university for four years, and even though she wanted to spend the summer taking extra classes, she would forgo that to continue to be a counselor at Camp Half-Blood. Sure, the new generation of demigods had dibs on whatever disaster happened next, but Annabeth would still help train them. She was more than happy to share the burden.
"Anytime, Annabeth. Are you ready?" Nico asked. He offered his hand. Annabeth grasped his hand in hers and moved closer to him. Despite all that she went through, she still wasn't too confident when it came to roaming the Underworld alone. She had seen the hell that was in Tartarus and the Underworld, and she wasn't too keen to experience any more of it.
Nico already assured her that the two of them would be safe. Annabeth didn't doubt him, but she was being cautious. As they walked, her armor seemed to clatter with every step. Her hand rested casually against her sword. Her backpack felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.
This was so different the first time they had gone to the Underworld. She, Percy, and Grover all bundled together scared about what they were going to do next but determined to see it to the end. That quest had been Annabeth's first, and part of her wished it had been her last.
This was still better than their first trip into the Underworld. They were forced to ride Charon's boat on the River Styx. It was the only way they could enter the Underworld, and nothing had unsettled her that badly before as riding on a boat with the dead. If Percy hadn't been there, she would not have left the boat.
Annabeth followed Nico along the shore of the River Styx and towards the line of the dead. Everything looked the same as when Annabeth was last here. Still dark, dreary, damning, and full of dead people. Granted, what else did one expect from this place?
But, there was hope to be found here. There was happiness. Places like the Isle of the Blessed and Elysium were the same places that Annabeth and every hero wanted to go. Would Annabeth and Percy go for rebirth though? They had already gone through enough to last a few lifetimes.
Annabeth shook her head. This trip was not about what the future may or may not hold. It was not about the things that were, hopefully, very far away. It was about fulfilling that promise that she made. Back then, Annabeth didn't think she would have been able to do this. Not only because she was twelve and a child. Demigods didn't just walk into the Underworld.
Now wasn't an exception. Although, it kind of was. Nico and Hazel could pop into the Underworld anytime they like. Nico just had to tell Will, and Hazel had to get permission from Camp Jupiter, but it wasn't like Hades could stop them. And if you were asking Annabeth, the lord of the dead owed her a few.
As they made it towards the gates of Erebus, Annabeth focused on the three lines that led into the Underworld. Her gaze moved towards the two lines that were moving slowly. Those were the souls that were going to be judged, and Annabeth wondered how long it would take for the line to move. The third line moved quickly as the souls there would rather go to Asphodel Fields and not the chance of eternal punishment,
Annabeth remembered telling Percy that the judges of the Underworld rotated periodically, and she just hoped that her judge wouldn't hold a grudge against her or Percy. Her boyfriend had angered just as many people as he had saved. But, she also knew that Nico or Hazel would put in a kind word for them though.
They made it closer to the entrance, and the green mist that had been obscuring her view parted. Annabeth studied the three-headed beast in front of her. Cerberus' three heads seemed to be studying lines of the dead. The middle head lifted upwards and sniffed the air. The left head turned towards them, and the right one barked.
"Hey boy," Nico said. He held a hand up for Annabeth to stop and then easily weaved past the dead and towards Cerberus. All three of Cerberus' heads snapped towards Nico and almost collided with each other in the process. Three tongues covered Nico in saliva, but if the son of Hades minded, he didn't say a word. He just laughed.
"I missed you too," Nico said. He did his best to pat all three of Cerberus' heads. "I brought you a friend."
Nico turned towards Annabeth and nodded. Cerberus looked at Annabeth as well, and all three heads began to bark. The dead hissed and stepped away from the large hellhound, but Cerberus paid them no mind. For a monstrous guardian of the Underworld, Cerberus seemed elated to see her.
"Hey Cerberus," Annabeth said. Unlike her first time meeting the hellhound, Annabeth wasn't scared. In fact, she was relaxed. Annabeth carefully took off her backpack and opened it. She grabbed a small red rubber ball from inside. All three of Cerberus' heads cocked, and his tail wagged rapidly.
Nico said something that caused the spirits around them to stop walking and give them plenty of space. Annabeth spoke, "Sit boy."
Cerberus sat, and Annabeth tossed the ball towards Nico. Cerberus started to move forward, but Nico held up his hand. The hellhound whimpered softly but stayed in position. Annabeth carefully pulled out two more rubber balls. She spoke, "On three. One. Two. Three."
Annabeth and Nico threw the rubber balls towards Cerberus' three heads. Each head grabbed its own ball. A small smile came to Annabeth's face. She had spent a month working with Leo to make rubber balls that would not be destroyed the second that they touched the razor-sharp teeth of Cerberus.
They also made a dozen more just in case something happened to them. Nico looked at her and spoke, "We have about thirty minutes before my father will tell us to leave Cerberus alone and have him get back to work."
"I'm not sure if thirty minutes is enough to make up for all the time that he went without someone playing with him," Annabeth commented.
"Well, he is a monstrous hellhound that guards the Underworld. I'm sure he isn't too upset about not having playtime," Nico said.
"Look at his eyes," Annabeth countered. It was true that Cerberus' eyes were wide and looked excited. His right head lost the ball that he was holding onto, and the right head tried to grab the ball in the left head's mouth. The middle head growled.
"Here you go," Annabeth said as she grabbed the ball soaked in saliva. She tossed it towards the right head. Cerberus barked before catching the ball. Annabeth smiled as she watched the hellhound act like a giant dog.
"Thirty minutes," Nico repeated. "I'll try to keep anymore dead from passing by you, but Charon is going to be really upset if we stall the line."
"I've met him. Fun guy," Annabeth commented. Nico smiled and tried to hide it. "Thank you again, Nico."
"Anytime," Nico promised. He turned and snapped his fingers. One of the spirits of the dead seemed to jump. "Yeah. I'm watching you. Get back in line."
Annabeth looked back at Cerberus and smiled. It had taken almost seven years, but she was finally able to fulfill her promise. Annabeth slowly moved closer to Cerberus and reached a tentative hand out. After a moment, Cerberus lowered all three of his heads to allow Annabeth to pet him.
"Sorry it took so long," Annabeth whispered. She scratched behind each of the hellhound's ears. Annabeth smiled and focused on Cerberus. The hellhound licked her, and Annabeth smiled widely. "I'll do my best to visit you again, and maybe, I can bring you a large bone to chew on."