Chapter 6: Nico Di Angelo's POV

"Percy!" I cried, "What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean?" Percy asked. He looked down at himself and yelped. "What am I?"

"Well, I thought you knew that you're dead," I said.

Percy touches his chest wound, "I figured I died, but why am I here?"

"That's why I asked," I said. "I didn't summon you."

"I think it was because I wanted to see Annabeth, I wanted to make sure she was alright," Percy guessed.

"Well, she's pretty upset," I replied, "Otherwise she's just fine, some scratches, dirt, and monster dust, but she's just fine." I wanted to say No, she's crying and blaming herself but I couldn't bring myself to.

"Oh," Percy looked down, "I hope she's not blaming herself."

"Percy, you protected her, the new demi-gods, and Grover, I'm pretty sure she's not blaming herself," I lied.

Percy looked like he was trying to read my expression, seeing if I was telling the truth, "Nico, tell me, is she blaming herself?"

I sighed, "I don't want to tell you."

"Nico, is she?" Percy demanded.

"Yes, she is," I replied.

He looked at me, with anger in his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me the truth first?"

"I didn't want you to get angry," I admitted.

He sat down on the ground.

"Are you going to choose re-birth?" I asked to break the silence.

"I don't know yet," He admitted, "I don't want to restart my life, but I have a choice, Elysium or re-birth. If Annabeth dies heroically I want to spend our time together, but also I don't want to wait."

"That makes sense, but why re-birth?" I asked. I know why some people do it, but why Percy?

"So I can re-try life, maybe live a somewhat longer life or somewhat normal, be a mortal, instead of a demi-god," Percy explained.

"I can see that," I agreed. It did seem like what someone would like.

"Well, goodbye, Nico Di Angelo," And Percy left in a cloud of sea-green that smelled like the ocean.

A tear ran down my face, why am I getting sappy? I thought to myself. I wandered back to the Big House and found Chiron standing out on the porch.

"So, what brings you here, Nico?" Chiron asked.

I got up the steps and leaned against the railing, "I saw Percy."

His expression seemed to change into surprise, "What'd he say?"

I explained what had happened. From when he appeared in the graveyard to when he disappeared in a cloud of sea-green and ocean scented wind. I kept what Jason had given Will and me since it was an embarrassing joke.

Chiron's tail swished nervously, "So, he's choosing re-birth?"

"That, I'm not sure. He wasn't sure when I talked to him, I just hope he's making the right choice," I explained.

"I'm pretty sure a lot of us are hoping the same thing if he does have that chance," Chiron said.

"Well, I'm going to get things ready and if you need anything else, just let me know," I said and I walked down the stairs. It felt weird to have somebody relying on me.

I walked towards the dining pavilion and sat down at my table to think. What should I do for his funeral? He should be remembered, not just by Annabeth and his family, but for generations here at camp. I thought about it and still haven't come up with any ideas. It was dinner time by the time I went to go back to the graveyard.

Some campers weren't doing much, just sulking and grieving. I don't blame them, and if I still had a crush on him, I'd be crying right about now, but I just hate that he risked his life.

After dinner, we had the funeral, I came up and gave a speech, "Percy had risked his life for his friends, and two demi-gods he didn't know. He knew what had to be done, and he did it. I understand things are rough, but we'll remember Percy for generations! Not just this year or the next, for years! We can try to make him a special person by making him something in honor. We need to honor him, he saved the world multiple times and he saved Olympus!"

After that others gave speeches, some started as, "Percy, he-he, he helped me through many things and–" They would turn away and start to cry. Annabeth didn't go up, until the very end, "Percy, he was everything. He protected me, he was there for me, and most importantly, he never left my side. Even during those months, he was gone, I knew I couldn't give up on him, and today, I won't forget him," She started to cry, "I can't forget him, even if he chooses re-birth, I hope he has a good life, even in Elysium. I just want him to be happy, he made me happy for years, I can't forget that."

Everyone clapped as Annabeth left the podium and hid. I knew she was crying because some Aphrodite girls were comforting her. Once Chiron gave his speech, we all left.

I went to my cabin and fell asleep.