(A/N: Thanks to the few who reviewed. As for RDevon, you could've expressed more than just two words. Pointing out the stuff you disliked would've been more helpful. Ah, never mind. Read on!)

VI

Nico

After just a few hours, Nico was on the verge of going eternally nuts.

He got kidnapped by Hecate and trapped him on her secret hideout right in the Underworld. Add to the equation are the facts that he and Hazel never really were the only children of Hades but there's actually a whole Legion full of them, there's also that little encounter with Hermes, and of course, the unknown reason why he could perfectly remember everything unlike Percy or Hazel. It was all too much to handle in one day and the sun was barely even up yet.

"You alright?" Jason helped him stand since he felt a little dizzy. They've met a few times and quickly became friends. He felt an important need to be friends with Jason since part of him, for some unknown reason, convinced him so because he was Thalia's brother. Weird…

"I don't know. A little dizzy but okay I guess." He didn't mention that he still remembers everything. He felt that he shouldn't yet.

"Piper, watch them. I'll be right back." Jason said before he stood up and ran off to the Greek camp in the Fields of Mars.

"No…no…it can't be…" Annabeth's voice shrank as she held Percy with her tears threatening to fall any moment. Nico sat on the picnic bench and watched as Jason left probably to get some ambrosia and nectar. "Tell me you remember. Please!"

"Of course I remember you, Wise Girl. I always did, right?" Percy managed a smile. Annabeth sighed in relief and smiled back as they held each other but soon his smile faded. "What I can't remember is what just happened."

"Same here." Hazel sighed as Frank helped her on the bench, still with a confused look in her eyes. "Last thing I remember is leaving the camp. Then after that, blank."

Percy nodded. They both turned to Nico who almost flinched but managed to stop himself. "Uh…yeah, me too. Last thing I remember is waking up."

Annabeth frowned. "How's that possible? It seems like the only memories taken from you are the ones that had anything to do with Nico's disappearance."

Nico sat quietly and flashed back to their audience with his dad.

***xvx***

"Here we are…" Nico breathed heavily as they appeared right in the middle of Persephone's garden. It was rough but he managed to shadow travel all three of them without any problems.

"This'll help." Hazel offered him an ambrosia cube and he took one gratefully. Percy uncapped Riptide and marched through the courtyard straight through Hades' palace.

"Uh, Percy? Shouldn't we try a more peaceful approach?" Hazel suggested but Percy went on. In one swift move, he vaporized the two skeletal U.S Marine guards.

"I know Hades. He wouldn't listen unless you make him." Percy forcefully pushed open the doors. The two of them followed but managed to stay a few meters behind.

Hades' great hall loomed like some cultists' cathedral. Black and silver banners bearing the image of the Helm of Darkness hung on thirty foot high columns, the floors were made of polished black marble that almost looked like translucent glass. The ceiling is a mixture of silver stained glass and glowing teal-colored crystals which were the only light source. His throne, woven out of metallic bones and Stygian Iron, sat at the farthest side. On top of it perched Alecto. Her leathery wings raised and her features were haggish as ever.

"You…" Percy grumbled but not at the Fury but to someone else. A guy about eighteen in dark jeans and hooded jacket was leaning on his back on one of the columns beside the throne. His messy dark brown hair looked a little drenched along with his clothes. A large two-handed sword hung on his back along with a pair of swords hanging on his sides. Nico had that strange feeling again like the one when he met Cera and this time he glanced at Hazel and knew that she's feeling it too. It was like some sort of connection but this one's stronger. Aside from that, he felt another aura. A dark and dreadful one which he first thought was coming from him but then he realized it was emitted by that large blade on his back.

"The sea god's brat has intruded once more!" Alecto screeched and spread her leathery wings but the guy raised his hand and she stopped.

"We're here to talk to Hades. Bring him out!" Percy demanded as he walked towards the throne while eyeing at the other guy warily.

"Alecto, go and tell dad." The other guy commanded the Fury as he walked in front of Percy, stopping the latter in his tracks. Nico could sense that a fight could break out any time and something tells him it's not a fight Percy could easily win. He also realized that the other guy just called Hades 'dad'.

"As you say, my liege." Alecto flew off. Nico wondered why she didn't show him that much respect.

"You should've left when you had a chance, Percy Jackson. As for you Nico and Hazel…" He nodded at the two. "You've both grown powerful. I'm really considering the two of you to join."

Nico and Hazel exchanged puzzled looks. Percy gripped Riptide and spoke coldly. "Who are you anyway?"

"The name's Ashton Silverbay, son of Pluto, Praetor and Enforcer of the Black Legion." Ashton shrugged. "I should've killed you as you came if it weren't for dad's orders not to."

Many of the words didn't sound familiar to Nico particularly the Enforcer and Black Legion part but he didn't give that much thought since he still hasn't gotten over the fact that he's actually face to face with another live son of Hades.

"Wow…you're our brother?" Hazel breathed in awe. Even Percy was a little taken aback.

"How is that?" Percy lowered his sword. "We never heard of you or the Black Legion before."

"We've been operating in secret for centuries, beneath the eyes of both Roman and Greek demigods, doing service to Olympus, stuff like that. Nico and Hazel here would've joined us but they were taken in by your camps before we had the chance. They also played a large part in your prophecies." Ashton explained. "We've been watching all of you too. I should've known you were that Percy of the Titan War. That was a nice water trick back there. Pretty good with the sword too but you need more work on defense."

"So that means you're on our side?" Hazel asked and he nodded but his eyes narrowed a little when she mentioned the part of him being on their side. "But why did you attack us?"

"Well, that ah- was a complete misunderstanding." Ashton scratched his head. "We've been on the search for Hecate's hideout and we didn't expect to find you guys there. Our orders were to kill every single living thing we find, monster or demigod, since they might be serving Gaea. Sorry about that."

"Are the other members our siblings too?" Hazel lit up.

"A hundred percent. There's twelve-" He stopped suddenly as if remembering something. "I mean thirteen of us at the moment. There's always room for two more you know but I don't think dad would approve."

"That means that girl with Nico earlier…Oh, Styx! I'm so sorry!" Hazel's face turned sour with realization. "Is she alive?"

"You mean Cera? Heck, there's more to her than her looks. She the toughest girl I know." Ashton chuckled. "And she isn't mad or anything. She's even interested in your geo-kinetic powers."

Nico just stood there staring at him the whole time. His mind was just like 'whoa…' while Hazel eagerly continued with the rain of questions with Percy also asking occasionally. They were interrupted when Hades appeared in his throne in a wisp of mixed black and purple smoke. He looked rather irritated but a little strange today. As if he found something he lost for a long time. Ashton stepped back and proceeded to stand beside their dad.

"I see that you've all been introduced. Yes…yes…that's great." Hades feigned interest and looked like he wanted to end the conversation as soon as possible. "I presume that you came here to find out why my Black Legion attacked you. My son here had probably explained everything already. Correct?"

Ashton nodded but remained silent. Hades waves his hand dismissively at Percy. "I have an audience at Olympus in a few minutes so I better send you on your way. No one got killed. Your hellhound's illness has been cured. I forgive you for destroying my guards. Thank you for saving Nico. Blah blah blah and all that. I have no further concerns with you. Goodbye."

He said it all in one breath and just like that, as quickly as he came, he was gone.

"That was fast…" Percy said after a few seconds of silence. He didn't even have the chance to talk back. Nico was imagining cricket noises.

"I guess you should go. We'll meet again someday." Ashton eyed Nico and Hazel. He opened his palm and a specter of a man in a suit shimmered in front of them. He then told it. "Take them to their hellhound."

"As you wish, master Ashton." The specter nodded and stood beside Nico, ready to lead the way the moment they decided to leave.

"I gotta run. Lots of new stuff had been happening lately and most of them are bad. See ya." Ashton walked towards the nearest column and vanished in a dark blur with a woosh sound. Nico couldn't help but smile to see someone else shadow travel aside from him. The idea of the Black Legion also filled his mind and he could sense that Hazel was also thinking the same. A group of people who are finally like them in every way, who accepts them freely, where they really felt they belonged.

These thoughts lingered all the while as the specter led them outside of the castle grounds to a large storage shed where Mrs. O'Leary was. It didn't occur to him that the Black Legion was supposed to be secret and Hades just gave it away like it was nothing.

The hellhound greeted them happily. Hazel became fond of her on the spot. Mrs. O'Leary had been having a fever lately caused by intense shadow traveling while looking for Nico. This made him feel guilty. After a few minutes, they were all set but not before unexpectedly meeting another god.

"Hello there, young heroes! Going on quests so early?" Hermes greeted them as he appeared out of nowhere in his chiton plus winged helm and sandals.

"Lord Hermes…" The three of them bowed and said in unison except for Hazel who referred to him as Mercury.

"Good to see at least some of you getting along." Hermes rubbed his chin. He then held out his palm and a small plastic bottle appeared. "I was just passing by with some deliveries. Here take this one. Free of charge since it's nearing its expiration date anyway."

"Thanks a lot!" Percy took the bottle willingly. He seemed already familiar with it.

"What is it?" Hazel eyed the bottle curiously.

"The ever-popular Hermes' multivitamins! Take it as a free sample, young Roman." Hermes stood by and waited for us to take one.

Percy popped one in his mouth eagerly and he and Hazel soon followed. It tasted weird but familiar. That kind of thick bitter flavor he had tasted long ago, way back then, even before the Lotus Casino. He could sense that he wasn't the only one who's trying to keep a straight face after taking one out of respect to Hermes. The stuff was just plain nasty.

"Well, I'm off. Good to see you again, Percy." Hermes nodded in satisfaction before waving goodbye and disappearing in a liquid-like blur.

"Ugh, nearing its expiring date? It's long overdue if you ask me." Hazel muttered long after the god had disappeared.

"It didn't taste like that before. Forget it, I'm tired. Let's go back to camp." Percy climbed on Mrs. O'Leary and the two of them followed. "Annabeth still has a death sentence waiting for me."

***xvx***

"Earth to Nico, earth to Nico, please come in." Piper's voice brought him back from his thoughts. She handed him a canteen of nectar and he took a few sips. "You've been staring at those two for a full minute. Jealous much?"

Nico realized that he had been staring at Percy and Annabeth absent-mindedly all this time. He really hates it when that happens. He coughed and his face burned. "I was just thinking. That's all."

"Right…" Piper didn't sound so convinced. They both spotted a group of Roman kids flashing them cold stares while eating pink cotton candy which totally ruined their chances of being any more intimidating than a little kitty cat. "We better get back to camp. We're not so welcome out here."

"You guys go on." Nico stood up and stretched. "I have to visit some place first."

"Here you go again with your oh-so-mysterious trips." Hazel rolled her eyes. "Next thing we know, you'll be chained down on Tartarus or something. Good luck getting yourself out."

"Relax. I'm going to Camp Half-Blood." He assured her.

"Visiting Rachel perhaps?" Piper hinted and giggled.

Nico groaned. She's an Aphrodite girl alright. "I'm going to visit Clovis at the Hypno's cabin. Try to see if I can get my memories back." He lied.

"Good idea." Annabeth nodded as she helped Percy up. "Maybe you can retrieve them this time unlike back then when Hera personally took them. Very rude if you ask me." She more or less spat the goddess' name.

"Uh, she had a good reason for that." Percy said, a little nervous as if expecting a bloodthirsty rampaging peacock to spring out of nowhere and rip his girlfriend to shreds.

"I'm out. See ya guys at dinner." Nico turned and shadow travelled away. A part of him wanted to go back to the Underworld and try to find out more about this Black Legion and maybe try to convince his dad to let him join. But that would have to wait.

He had lied about visiting Hypno's cabin to get his memories back but he did intend to go there. Except that it's the opposite, his very own little experiment that might backfire big-time but he really had to find out if it works or not.

He's going to have a few drops of Lethe from that poplar branch.

(A/N: By now, I could say that I'm an Underworld fanatic. Seriously, it's the most interesting part for me in the world of Greek myth. Anyways, this is the longest chapter I've written so far for this story and I hope the next one wouldn't be so long. I got a very long and busy month ahead but I'll try to update as much as I can. I also need to give some attention to my other stories. I'll just see how it pans out. Tune in next time! Iron Raven out…)