A/N Howdy readers! This is SUPER late because I was busy with major grades and essays and contests and learning new music and tests and getting my life back into a schedule after break and reading and writing other things and practically everything that could happen. Sorry! FALL OUT BOY IS COMING TO WHERE I LIVE THOUGH SO DOESN'T THAT MAKE WORTH IT?! This will be super long though so no fear! Probably this is the second to last chapter, a few weeks of break for me to collect my thoughts, and then a sequel! I don't think you know how excited I am for this sequel. REALLY EXCITED! One quick thing . . . should Percy get a pairing or not? I'm fine with whatever so please review and tell me what you think. If no one responds I'm just going to go with the flow. Seriously all I need is one person. Though I don't want the story to turn all lovey-dovey. Ugh the shipper in me says yes but the writer in me says no. Anyway I don't own PJO and please read.
"We're off to the Underworld! The wonderful, wonderful Underworld!" I singed as we walked through the -shockingly- empty Central Park. Bianca tuned me out, for she was used to my weirdness, but Nico just stared at me.
"Save your voice. We need musical talent to enter the Underworld. Which is right about here actually." Nico commented dryly as we stopped in front of a giant rock.
"Funny story I cannot sing." I admitted sheepishly while rubbing the back of my head. My "singing" earlier was actually me yelling loudly with a pattern.
"Five seconds ago you were just singing." Nico exclaimed with irritation written all over his features. Bianca stared at the two of us, shook her head, and pulled out a small plastic recorder. The instrument that we all had to learn to play in elementary school. Well that most had to learn.
"I learned the easiest song today so I could open it." Bianca defended as she quickly played- is that hot cross buns? Wow she will never live that one down. Apparently the entrance thought that was enough and opened for us to step inside. Nico then began tom lead us down countless paths until we reached the River. River Styx to be exact. During the quest with Beckendorf, Nico realized that Luke bathed in River Styx to become invincible and Nico needed the same advantage to fight.
"Are you going in Nico Di Angelo?" A scratchy voice asked. I spun around to see Achilles staring at us. He must be here to warn us not to dip in the River.
"I must." Nico replied shortly.
"Fine. Remember what ties you to the mortal world Di Angelo." Achilles finished ominously before disappearing.
"See you when I get out." Nico turned to us then walked into the river. Well he tripped on the way in but whatever.
"What do we do now?" Bianca asked me.
"We wait." I responded simple as I sat down on the ground. We may be here for a while.
\Nico in the River/
It was so dark. All that Nico could see was the faint outlines of his hands. Suddenly pain began to erupt within his chest. His vision was blurred even more. Conjuring up faces of everyone he knows, they quickly faded. The memory of his mom was gone in a millisecond. Bianca's face stopped the pain for a few seconds until it also faded. Nico could hardly even tell when Hades' face appeared. Next was Thalia. She smirked before calling out for someone else.
"Come on don't tell me this is the end of your story." Percy's voice filled his head with a mocking tone. Her face appeared with hair still back in a high ponytail. "If you die then I won't be able to tease you about Will. Speaking of Will, why haven't you seen him yet?" Percy finished then Will appeared.
"Hey there ray of death. Now we can't have a patient dying on my watch can we? Think of a place on your body." Will supplied helpfully. His smile was still as radiant as ever and Nico knew the river couldn't even dull its shine. Using Will's help, Nico thought of the spot on his back between his shoulder blades. Then he pictured a bungee cord pulling him back to the surface and flew up through the water with Will cheering behind him.
/Nico Comes Out of the River (Back to Percy POV)\
"Nico!" Bianca cried and flung herself onto her brother. I was watching a few feet away to let them have family time. I can be compassionate at times. Yet I think I may have to butt in.
"Did you see Will in the river?" I blurted out. Nico's blush was enough of an answer and even Bianca squealed. I knew they were my OTP for a reason.
"Whatever! Now we still have one more place to go down here." Nico changed the topic quickly. My best friend then began to stride away from us. Rude.
"Let's catch up." Bianca sighed. I agreed and we jogged up to him. He kept a fast pace that made me think that if he slowed down he would lose his nerve. Passing through countless miles of dark landscape, we finally reached what seemed like Hades' Palace.
"Why are we here?" I questioned.
"Help." Nico replied shortly then marched inside to the throne room. I saw Hades and Persephone on matching black goth thrones with Demeter on a throne of . . . cereal boxes? The room was all black with beach white skulls thrown in here and there for artistic reasons. Great contrast. The only thing to make it better would be the eternal screams of the damned and a nice splash of blood. In front of us I saw Hades' lips twitch while Persephone burst out laughing. Demeter's frown lessened and I was quite confused.
"Blood and screams you say?" Hades finally commented. Oh right . . . I forgot that gods can read minds.
"Where did that come from?" Bianca thought aloud and Nico turned to me with a 'what is wrong with you?' look before turning to his dad.
"Father we are here to ask you what your plans are regarding the war that is fast approaching." Nico worded his sentence carefully and lost all of his usual awkwardness around people. Now that's a 360 in attitude right there.
"The war?" Hades sneered. "I plan to let the gods be destroyed then strike the Titan's weak forces. I don't plan to help anyone."
"Ah but Lord Hades that may not be such a good idea." I said and hurried to continue before he could blast me away. "The gods hate you, but if you entered the war now your power would most definitely make them win. If you make them win I think they would owe you . . ." I trailed off to let him consider the idea. He didn't seem to dismiss it immediately so at least there may be a chance that we won't be completely obliterated by the Titans. Bianca stared at me as if I grew a second head. Does no one believe I can be smart?! Luckily I'm not blonde or that would be impossible (A/N I don't hate blondes I actually am blonde I'm just saying blondes are always made fun of and everyone would think she is super dumb because she is blonde please don't hate me).
"Father. Would you allow me to stay in your realm?" Bianca finally asked after a minute of silence. I let out a strangled cry and turned to my cousin. She looked back at me firmly, so I assume Bianca knows what she is getting herself into.
"Of course daughter! Now guests please leave before you wear out your welcome." Hades said forcefully. Ouch. Nico looked at Hades with utter betrayal written all over his features. Not surprising considered he was just called a guest by his own father. I dragged him behind me before we entered Central Park again. His face was still angry and he looked like he was about to stab someone.
"How dare he do that?! Who does he think he is?" Nico fumed as we walked again.
"I'm not sure but get Annabeth and tell her to get the campers to meet me at the Empire State Building. This war is starting." Itod my cousin firmly. I wanted him to go back to camp for two reasons. One so he could gain the camp's trust. Two so he can talk to Will and calm down. He thinks I don't know about what happened in the River. Pft.
"Fine." Nico relied and disappeared.
As he left I jogged to the ESB. That's what the cool kids call it. Just kidding only me. Summoning some water, I report to Thalia and Artemis. What I see surprises me though. Thalia is in the cabin on an Iris Message with my mom.
"-can't let Percy know." Artemis finished and I coughed.
"What can I not know?" I demanded. Not another secret kept from me. Sometimes I envy those in Elysium. No problems.
"Daughter I just-" Artemis began. Thalia looked at me with eyes asking for forgiveness that I nodded in reply to. Obviously mom was the one who made Thalia hide it. "You aren't a Hunter." Artemis finally said.
"But I'm partially immortal! I haven't aged in a year!" I protested and mom continues.
"You have my essence within you. It makes you partially immortal, just enough to tip your mortal core, so you don't age. I should have told you. I'm sorry." Artemis amended. Normally I would be angered but the war is here and I don't know if I'm coming out on the other side. For all I know this could be the last time I see my mom.
"It's okay mom. Now we have a bigger problem. Bianca is in the Underworld to probably sway Hades to join our side. Also the campers are coming to NYC. The war is starting now." I admitted sheepishly, my voice trailing off towards the end.
"WHAT?!" The two asked in unison, and for once I was not grateful to have sensitive hearing. Before they could argue anymore, I swept my hand through the message and sunk to the ground in front of the ESB.
Can we win?
"Let's head to floor 600 and get ready." Nico ordered our army of campers. They obeyed without hesitation which actually surprised me. It seems Annabeth managed to get them on our side. I jogged to catch up with them and we all went through Olympus to the throne room. The only thing that worried me so far was that Thalia hasn't shown up but she probably has to round up the hunters.
"Percy?" Annabeth nudged me softly as we entered the throne room. I snapped my head up and saw Hestia. Before I could question anything, my vision was clouded with what looked like a picture of an alley. A small Annabeth had a mortal hammer in her hand and was glaring at two blurry shapes in front of her. As the picture gradually focused I recognized one as Thalia. The other was the blonde haired boy from the Smithsonian. Luke. Our enemy. The two laughed at Annabeth and Luke gave her a dagger that I knew was the one she still used to this day. The vision ended and Hestia disappeared, bringing back my sight of the world. All the campers turned to Annabeth who had been looking teary eyed at the hearth.
"Are you okay?" I ask soothingly and she shakes me off with a nod. Liar. There's nothing I can do though, if she doesn't want to tell me she doesn't have to. I glance at her one last time as a light filled the room. Great another surprise. This time it turned out to be Hermes. Luke's dad?
"Campers! Check out Olympus and report any enemy activity. Meet at the Muses Park in thirty minutes. Percy, Annabeth, and Will say behind." Nico called out calmly before he faced Hermes with a bow. We three did the same. Hermes may normally be calm but today he seemed a bit antsy. Not to mention angry.
"A message from Athena." Hermes explains and snaps his fingers. A small screen with a hologram of Athena appears.
"Annabeth: initiate Plan 23. It's our only hope to try and defend Manhattan. Nico: don't let your fatal flaw get in the way. Grudges are never good and only weigh others down. Percy: if you're hearing this then I hope you make your mom proud." Projection Athena said in a dull monotone that seemed to make her words ominous. Make your mom proud? Where did that come from? Does she mean my birth mom or Artemis? Annabeth seemed to pale at the words "Plan 23" and Nico was stoic, not a good sign.
"Listen Hermes about Luke-" Annabeth started to speak but faltered out at the god's glare.
'Don't talk about Luke to me!" Hermes snarled. "If you had paid more attention to him he never would've had a chance to go to Kronos' side!" Hermes was practically yelling at this point.
"Listen here Mr. Almighty-Perfection-God!" I stalk forward and suppressed a smirk as the angry god moved back. Insult my friends and you get my wrath. "None of this is Annabeth's fault and you would do well to know that! If we had to pin the blame on anyone beside Luke it would be you. You never acted like he was your family." I growled towards the end but it seemed like Hermes got his bravado back.
"What do you know about family? Your mother is dead, your father only spoke to you for the first time two years ago, and you spend most of your life following around Artemis like a groupie! You don't have a family!" Hermes had stepped closer and now was shouting in my face. I stumbled backwards and Nico steadied me. Will watched with hatred in his eyes, which was quite odd for the cheerful son of Apollo. The god's eyes flashed in regret before he faded out. Annabeth was looking at me with worry. Sending her a small smile, I ran towards the park. Everyone was there but Annabeth, Nico, and, Will. The Stoll brothers saw me first and waved at me.
"Hi Percy." The two spoke in unison.
"Hi boys." I grinned at them. "The others should be here soon." I explained.
"Gather round!" A voice yelled out and as I walked forward with the Stoll brothers I felt my bow charm burn. A call from the Hunters.
"I have to go." I shouted to Nico who nodded but let me transform into a flacon and fly off into the sky. What does Thalia need?
A/N Crappy ending I'm so sorry but there is another chapter coming before February! Also let me repeat what I said in the first A/N One quick thing . . . should Percy get a pairing or not? I'm fine with whatever so please review and tell me what you think. If no one responds I'm just going to go with the flow. Seriously all I need is one person. Though I don't want the story to turn all lovey-dovey. Ugh the shipper in me says yes but the writer in me says no. BTW the last few sentences are screwed up because of my laptop. Ugh. Bye bye!