So I'm a terrible person. I meant to upload around dinner on Friday, but the chap wasn't done and I hate to upload during the weekend. Just the way I am, can't help it. I was also arguing with myself on where I should end it, hope you approve. I'm starting to get my creative juices flow which is good, so hopefully better writing for you guys in the future. I think that's pretty much it… ENJOY! And it broke 1k words! I'm so proud!

Also, feedback is much appreciated. Not required, but appreciated.

Disclaimer: Don't own PJO.

Percy POV

After a couple seconds of feeling like my face was about to fly off, the blackness cleared and the pressure decreased. Hazel released my hand and I staggered a couple of seconds before I found my balance.

"Wow Percy. Shadow traveling not agreeing with you?" She giggled.

I glared at her while struggling to hold down whatever was in my stomach. Yeah, let's not do that again. "Oh shush. And since when do you know how to shadow travel? I thought that was only a Nico thing."

She sat on a nearby rock and twirled a strand of cinnamon brown hair around her finger. "Things have changed. I had Nico teach me a couple years ago. Or was it 50? Anyways, I figured that it would be a nice skill to have if another war came around."

I had finally regained all my sense and stood straight. "Well, I'll admit. Not one of my favorite methods of travel."

She wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, same. The intense pressure is not fun. Oh, hey. You feel better?"

I nodded. "Yeah, thanks. So, where do you think Nico's lurking?"

She shrugged. "Most likely in dad's palace." She stood. "We should probably get moving."

I followed her along a dimly lit path until we reached the entrance to the underworld. Here, sprits were stuck in a large, slow-moving line waiting to be judged.

Hazel shooed them aside and continued walking. "Darn spirits." She muttered. "Always clogging things up."

As we went farther, a low rumbling sound I heard awhile back got increasing louder. A few minutes later, the fog cleared and there stood a massive three headed dog, growling at various ghosts.

Cerberus sniffed the air and one of his large heads swung around to inspect us. He tipped happily when he recognized Hazel, but cautiously sniffed me. I guess he recognized Annabeth's smell on me because he barked in delight and cocked his head expectantly.

"Sorry, no ball with me right now. Maybe later okay?"

He whimpered sadly and turned back to the line of ghosts, growling at one that was attempting to trade places with another.

Hazel lightly grabbed my arm and pulled me in the direction of the regal black building in the distance. "Ball?" She asked as she pulled.

I smiled. "Long story short, Annabeth used a ball to get us past Cerberus the first time we came here. The dog enjoyed playing fetch."

"Hmm, that could explain the large amount of red rubber balls in his room." She speculated. "I always wondered about that."

Huh, so Nico did decide to play with Cerberus. Hazel led me up to the castle doors that were guarded by two skeletons with AK-47's.

When they saw us, they crossed their guns and chattered angrily at the two of us. I had a pretty good idea that whatever they said was not rated PG.

Hazel kicked a stone with her foot and groaned. "Stupid guards. My dad is Pluto. I've told you this about a thousand times!"

The guards clashed their teeth together, but this time a little less forcefully. They seemed to be uncertain if she was telling the truth.

After much debate, one of the guards let out a puff of white, a sigh I'm guessing, and they both uncrossed their guns and opened the large obsidian doors.

Hazel growled with frustration and dragged me inside, not even bothering to thanks the guards.

We stopped just inside and the doors clanged shut behind us. Lights mounted on skeleton heads dimly lit the main hallway and another set of obsidian and silver engraved doors lay directly ahead of us.

"If Nico's here, he's either in the Throne Room or his personal room. I think we should see in there-" She pointed at the doors "-first."

"Sure, lead the way."

She walked over to the doors and pushed them open, revealing a large room with an onyx throne decorated with assorted precious gems and skulls. Beside it sat a smaller, more delicate throne in the shape of a rose. On the onyx throne, my uncle sat, being debriefed by a couple of British soldier skeletons. A couple of hellhounds sat at his feet and he stroked one absentmindedly.

Hazel went up to her father and bowed her head. "Father." She murmured. "Percy and I were wondering if Nico was here."

He looked up and waved his hand at the skeletons. "I'll talk with you later." He said, dismissing them. They melted into the ground and Hades turned his attention back to us.

"Well he's not here." He said, sweeping his hand around him. "I haven't heard from him in-" he counted on his fingers, "-about two weeks u would say. I sent him on an information collecting mission in Tartarus. I need to know how Circe escaped!" He banged his fist on the armrest of his throne and a skull broke off and rolled to a stop at my feet. He groaned and snapped his fingers, the skull disappearing from the floor. "And Yorick was my favorite."

"So you think Nico is in Tartarus?" I asked.

My uncle shrugged. "He could be." He motioned to one dead soldier to come forward. "See if Nico is in The Pit." He commanded.

The skeleton saluted and melted into the floor.

He nodded to us. "My daughter, nephew. Nico might be in his room. You might want to check there while I wait from news from my servant."

I nodded. "Thank you uncle."

Hades gave a tight-lipped smile. "Learning manners nephew? How refreshing. Hazel, take Perseus to Nico's room. If he's not there, come back here. And both of you don't cause trouble. I have enough on my plate right now." He waved his hand in a 'go go' motion. "Now, off with you."

Hazel bowed her head and I followed suit. "Yes father." She said. "Come on Percy." She turned and walked out of the Throne Room with me at her heels.

We stopped in the Main Lobby and I looked around. "So Hazel, where are we off to?"

She pointed up one long sweeping staircase. "His room is upstairs if I remember correctly."

"Great." I said, sprinting up the stairs. "Let's go talk to, as Thals calls him, a little emo."