Sorry for going MIA on you guys! Thanks for being so patient!

Nico di Angelo's first Happy Meal Adventure

Nico didn't just pop out of the Lotus Casino knowing exactly what everything was in the modern world, obviously. It took time to adjust, but eventually, he got used to it. He frequently ran into building with a playground attached, off to the side and a happy clown outside the main entrance. For the longest time, he'd wanted to go inside and see what wonders awaited him. He wanted to be like those kids playing in the playground, laughing and having fun, while their parents watched over them, talking to other adults.

Once, he asked his older sister Bianca to take him inside, but she refused.

"I don't know what that place is or what it's purpose is," she said with total authority. "I don't want you getting hurt."

Nico couldn't help but stomp his foot and groan. "But Bianca," he said, dragging Bianca's name out for a few seconds. "How will you ever know, if you don't ever look inside?"

Seeing Nico's big brown eyes widen, growing soft, she almost said yes. "Let's go to the park area thing and see what that's about. Then I'll decide if we go in through the entrance, okay?"

Hyper with excitement, Nico jumped up and down, smiling wide. "Thanks, Bianca! You're the best! Y'know what? You're so awesome, I'll even give you my myth-o-magic trading card of Dionysus. A lot of people say he's really lame, but he's actually really powerful if you play him at the right time!"

The older child of Hades smiled, hugging her little brother around the head lightly. "C'mon, let's go see."

Once they got closer to the park, they both saw children playing and burning off energy (which would be great for Nico) and a place for parents to sit down and relax (which would be great for Bianca) and most importantly—food. (Which, would be heaven for both children, as they hadn't eaten for weeks.)

Both children felt their stomach growl. It was really tempting. In fact, they would have gone in, had a strange man with one eye not looked directly at them, scaring the youths' hunger away.

After Bianca's death, Nico ran away from Camp Half-blood in a rush. He didn't stop running until his feet were sore, panting heavily. He looked around at the unfamiliar city of Manhattan, New York to find one familiar face—the creepy clown from that one place.

For Bianca, he thought as he opened the door to the McDonald's restaurant.

He was greeted with the thick, warm smell of grease and fatty food. To his left, there were a bunch of tables and booths, a few of them occupied. There was a college student with a cup of coffee and a lap top, a girl, reading a book in the corner, a stash of French fries in front of her, and a mother with her two children. When he saw her, he felt bitterness fill his mouth and suddenly, he wasn't in the mood to do anything but sit in the far right booth alone.

Looking around, Nico was surprised by how few people were inside McDonald's. The last time he came here, it was packed. But then again, he mused, that was a long time ago during rush hour. He wanted to go up to the front counter and order a huge burger the size of Zeus's Fist, but he had no money.

It was then that the mother of the two small children walked up slowly. "Excuse me," she said in a soft voice, almost like a whisper. "You look tired and hungry."

He grudgingly looked up at the older woman. "What gave it away?" He faked a laugh, but if the mother noticed the hateful scorn in his tone, she didn't show it.

"Well, I was just wondering where your parents were," she sat down, leaving about a foot of space between them. "Because a young boy like you shouldn't be left alone in such a busy city."

That struck a nerve. A few nerves, actually. It took almost all of Nico's will power to not punch the old lady, but he imagined Bianca's horrified-angry-disappointed face she made when he did something wrong. Finally, unable to contain his feelings anymore, he began to cry. It was soft at first, but then grew louder and louder, until the mother was holding Nico in her lap. It felt weird to have a stranger show so much concern and loving care, but Nico couldn't fully register it, because he was feeling too depressed and empty inside. "I'm all alone," he managed to hiccup in a raspy voice finally.

Then, the elder lady did something Nico would never forget. She gave him five dollars. "It's all I have," she said. "But it should be enough to cover a happy meal and a large drink. I have to go now, but I wish the best of luck." She kissed Nico on the cheek, before leaving with the children of her own.

A happy meal… I could use a little happy in me.

Then, it happened. The moment that changed Nico's diet forever and one of the many reasons Demeter hates him so much—he paid for a happy meal.

After three free refills of Coke and a happy meal, Nico was on the verge of explosion from all the sugary, fatty goodness he'd been missing out on all these long years, wasted.

He took no spare time to jump up and down, play on the play ground and have crazy amounts of fun with his first happy meal toy—a My Little Pony doll he named Princess Sparkle Butt. (The cashier said they were all out of boy toys, but Nico didn't care. He had a pony! Beat that, Jackson, he thought. I have a princess pony and you don't!

Slowly but surely, the sugar high wore off and Nico had to leave, but before leaving, he left Princess Sparkle Butt hidden in the corner, waiting.

Now I have a reason to come back again.