Well, I feel like this is shorter than usual. And not as nicely written. Whoops. I am terribly sorry for not updating sooner, school ya know? Accept my apologies? Yes Allen, it is a different direction, one I dreamt up some time ago. But don't worry; I'll still include a bunch of the things we talked about. So, I hope you enjoy! Remember to leave a review if you want to, I always value your opinions and constructive criticism.

Just a little warning. I have been watching a lot of Game of Thrones, so if my language sounds a bit that show, sorry. I attempted to fix it.

Disclaimer: Don't own PJO.

Percy POV

Hazel, Nico and I sprinted out of Nico's room and down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, we we're receive by a small group of skeleton warriors who were chattering nervously.

A warrior came up to Nico and made a series of short clatters and clanks before thumping his spear on the ground three times and promptly melting into the ground, the rest of his warriors followed shortly behind him.

Nico grabbed Hazel and backed them both against the wall and slightly behind a large statue of Hades, motioning for me to join them.

"Ow, Nico. What was that for?" Hazel grumbled, rubbing her wrist.

"You're going to hurt a lot more of you get caught. That skeleton just informed me that Khione didn't come alone."

"Meaning?"

"Perses and Alcyoneus have just joined the party."

I brought out Riptide and uncapped it. "No problem. We just get a god, poke it a few times-" I mimed stabbing the giant in the leg "- and bob's your uncle, he's dead."

Nico shook his head. "We can't. He wasn't born in the underworld this time. He was born in Cumberland, Georgia.

I groaned. "What an obscure place! Why would- oh." I gasped in realization. "Man, Gaia is evil." I capped my sword and it turned back into a pen. "Evil, mean, spiteful..." I muttered, shoving Riptide back into my pocket.

She rolled her eyes. "You're just now figuring this out? So, what's our game plan?"

"We take them out. Are those our only enemies? Khione, Perses, and Alcyoneus?"

"Hopefully." Nico grimaced. "I don't know how many undead spirits they gathered from Tarturus. Luckily the Furies still have control over the Fields of Punishment."

I shivered at the thought of Alecto and her sisters with their fiery whips and leathery wings. "So, we're not going there. And I think Uncle can keep control of the Underworld."

Nico gave me a look and rolled his eyes like Really, this is the God of the Dead we're taking about.

"Right." Hazel cut in. "So, off to Cumberland." When she heard Alcyoneus had come back, her face paled and she looked on the verge of panicking. And I remembered the first time we faced the giant: lots and lots of ghosts. Not pretty.

Nico studied my face. "Don't worry. I heard all about the Battle of Alaska. But we have this." He produced a small stick, about the size of Riptide. He pressed the top of the object and it elongated into a three-foot-long ivory staff topped with a dark globe of polished marble the size of a baseball and nestled on the backs of three gold Roman eagles. A black orb glowed topped the staff.

"Whoa. What's it do?"

Hazel grinned at me. "Ah, my dear Percy. This scepter holds the power to summon the dead."

"So, good dead people right?" I questioned. "Not, scary 'eat everything in their path including the good guys' people."

He shrugged. "Theoretically. Last time I summoned Roman warriors who fought for us, but I had Frank leading them. This time, we'll be fighting in a forest."

"Lovely." I groaned. "So we need someone who gets along with campers and rangers." I snapped my fingers with a thought. "Coach Hedge."

Hazel covered her face. "No, he would just terrorize the squirrels."

"Fine, no Coach. Nico, do you think you could control the spirits even without Frank?"

He grinned. "As long as they're not Roman." He took Hazel's hand. "Come on cousin. We've got some giant butt to kick." I took Hazel's other hand and the already dim surroundings melted around me.