Chapter 15: A Visit to Nico's Stepmother's Garden

AN: Happy Birthday Percy Jackson! I'm finished with my reread, to make sure I have everything I want in my outline. It's coming together guys. Sorry for the long wait.

Luckily, not many people had noticed the looks on the faces of the three survivors of Tartarus in the room. It was the other big three kids, and those that had seen Percy and Annabeth fall into the pit that saw faces growing even paler than before. Yet, they were unable to do anything. The best person who could comfort the survivors was themselves.

Thalia sighed in relief anyway when she saw Annabeth's tension relieve itself as Percy squeezed her hand. She knew this was going to be as hard for them as it was for her. She wasn't the only one who's secrets were being revealed. She looked over at Nico who was lying on Hazel's shoulder (while sharing looks with Will across the room.) Yes, the five kids of the big three and their friends were a bit broken but getting fixed piece by piece.

Everyone else was still focused on the scene of the falling trio in front of them. Any tension still in the room was removed by the loud echoing snort. "It looks like a cartoon."

"It's not," Carter rolled his eyes.

"Obviously," Sadie imitated her brother (to his annoyance) by rolling her eyes. "But it looks like it. One of those Saturday morning ones we used to watch. They're going to have that real cliché thing happen in a minute. You know the one. They're all screaming and falling and then they're just standing there fine. Still screaming of course."

"This is real life though," her brother reminded her again.

"She does have a point," Magnus told him. "I mean, how much of our lives seem like cartoon or movie clichés? And don't make me take the time to list them all."

Carter sighed with a shrug as he watched the fall continue in front of him for mere seconds before his sister was jumping up and down in her seat. "Ha! I told you. I'm right. See?"

Nico, Thalia and Percy were standing in a dark garden with shimmering flowers screaming as loud as they could.

"Fine, you're right," Carter conceded.

"So, we live in a cartoon?" Hazel asked.

"Or some other type of cliché storytelling device," Rachel said from next to her. She'd heard this conversation before and was planning to shut it down before it went any further. Not that she could stop the gears already churning in Annabeth's brain.

Thalia asked where they were, and Percy said after a second he'd been there before. Nico scowled as he picked up a pomegranate.

"The underworld again," sighed Grover.

Percy looked at him strangely. "Um, dude. You already knew that, right?"

"Yeah, just the pomegranate. Only the Underworld makes ones that juicy," Grover moaned. It quickly turned into a groan when Juniper elbowed him to bring him back down to earth (or in this case back up).

"Right. Underworld, pomegranates. That's a thing," Walt said. "But that's not what would've clued me in."

"So, what would've oh great death god?" Chris teased his new friend. "If not the pomegranates?"

"The gloominess? And caves? And we saw trees like that before in Percy's first quest?" Walt replied. "Not like it has anything to do with being Anubis' host."

"Sure," Carter drawled, as Sadie snickered behind her boyfriend.

Nico noted it was Persephone's garden and warned his companions not to eat anything.

"Sorry, what's with the face? Evil stepmom? Is that another cliché we're going to be seeing?" Piper asked.

"And the pomegranate thing, explain that again, please?" Jaz agreed.

Jaz's question was met with answers from all sides by the scholars of the room or those who just knew the myth. It took a minute for it to become quiet enough so she could hear the answer from a single person.

Meanwhile, the big three kids were talking about the whole evil stepmom thing. All were in agreement that Thalia and Jason had it the worst with Hera. It was Persephone and Amphrite that were the debate. Thalia and Annabeth recounted Percy's complaints when first meeting his stepmother, to which the son of Poseidon became defensive.

"I like Amphitrite. We get along now. She makes me cookies when I visit," Percy informed his cousins.

"Now though," Jason pointed out. "And your half-sister didn't seem to have such a great opinion of you either."

"Yeah, but siblings are a different thing," Nico reminded him. "We're talking stepmoms. Hazel hasn't had issues with her yet, but she turned me into a dandelion. Plus, this whole adventure."

"So, Percy has the best family life at the moment," Thalia declared. "Again."

Percy squirmed uncomfortably. "Only because of you guys. And you know how much my mom loves all of you, so can we not…."

Hazel patted his arm. "Don't worry. I think they're finished explaining the whole thing to Jaz and anyone else who didn't know anyway."

Thalia turned aiming her bow and yelled heads up to her distracted cousins. She was focused on a woman in a pale dress of many faded colors. Her voice matched her dress as she introduced herself as the aforementioned stepmother and welcomed them.

"So, I guess she looks like that in winter," Jaz said. "When she's with Hades, right?"

"Yeah. She's a bit brighter, a little well…. For lack of better words, she's more alive in the summer."

Nico squashed the pomegranate under his boot. And asked how come she had the nerve to welcome him after last time. Percy looked at him warily and tried to say his name warningly. Persephone interrupted him saying it was all right. They'd only had a small family fight.

"Wait," Frank asked. "I know I heard something about the second part before. But Percy, did you just try and make someone else be respectful to a god?"

Percy threw up his arms in exasperation. "C'mon! You've all already seen I can be respectful. Maybe I got a little less forgiving after a god kidnapped me and took away my memory, but I usually like to give people some type of chance at first."

"Still weird to see," agreed Hazel. "Now Nico is the one stopping you from saying anything offensive."

"Was… I was," Nico said. "I don't really care anymore."

"Do you care enough to tell us what the fight was?" Leo asked with a grin. "The whole story please."

"Shut up and you'll hear it anyway."

Nico exclaimed it wasn't little. She'd turned him into a dandelion.

Nico blushed as the whole room started to laugh at the image of the usually sullen or broody boy as a dandelion. Thalia contained a smirk to give him a comforting look of understanding on the matter of being turned into a plant.

"May I ask, why a dandelion? What was this fight about that made such a thing necessary?"

"Reyna, she's a goddess. I don't really have any good answers. I think it's pretty much just the fact I exist that made her do it."

Reyna nodded skeptically but didn't press further.

Persephone continued and said she was welcoming them to her garden . Thalia lowered her bow and asked if she'd sent the gold deer. Persephone agreed saying she sent that, a shadow for nico and the hellhound. Percy asked if she controlled Mrs. O'Leary. Persephone said that she was a hellhound and a therefore of the underworld. All the was needed was the suggestion in her mind to lead him to the park and bring the three of them together.

"I get how she can do the shadows or the hellhound, but how'd she get to the deer?" Percy asked looking at Apollo. "You should know."

"Honestly, no clue. Sometimes we can do stuff like that and sometimes we can't."

Rachel looked around recalling earlier conversations. "No straight answers here, are there?"

"Says the oracle."

Percy asked why and Persephone explained that Hades had a problem and if they knew what was good for them they'd help. She led them to a balcony where they were offered food and drink (all left untouched.) Persephone bemoaned she couldn't greet them properly, like if it was spring.

"So does she have living versions of those servants when she's with Demeter?" Will asked loudly starling everyone. He shrinked back. "Sorry, I said that out loud, didn't I? I really hate ADHD sometimes."

"And again. No straight answers," Rachel said gesturing to the room as a whole.

She stopped and said it didn't matter because Hades was her husband and she'd do anything for him. This time she needed their help, fast for Hades's sword.

"Sword?" Apollo asked. "What sword?"

"Hades doesn't use a sword. None of the big three do," Clarisse agreed. "Not that it wouldn't be cool. That kind of weapon would be so destructive."

"That's not a good thing."

"And only as destructive as any other of the gods weapons," Nico said defensively. "Depending on how they choose to use them."

"Still, what sword?" Apollo repeated knowing full well he'd have his question answered by the scene they were watching in front of them.

Nico said that his dad didn't use a sword, but a staff and his helm of terror. Persephone corrected that was past tense which made Thalia sit up alert. How could he forge a new symbol of power without the permission of Zeus?

Apollo frowned and turned to the children of the big three. "Dad doesn't know about this. Does he? You knew and didn't say anything."

"There were a few more pieces to take into consideration," Thalia said.

Persephone conjured an image of skeletons smithing an iron blade. She explained Hades had to be ready for the coming war with the titans. Thalia protested that it wouldn't be allowed. Zeus and Poseidon would say it unbalanced their power sharing agreement. Persephone said that it would make Hades equal to them. Hades didn't want anything from his brothers but knew they wouldn't give him this, so he did it in secret.

Apollo's frown grew. "I'm still not completely on board with all of this."

"It was like two or three years ago, so you don't need to be."

Percy still watched the image above the table and pointed as something was inserted into the hilt. He asked if that was a key. Nico startled and asked if it was the keys of Hades.

"Not good," Apollo murmured. "Not good at all."

"Could you shut up and let us get this over with?" asked a frustrated Thalia.

Thalia asked what the keys of hades were. Nico explained they could lock or unlock death according to legend. Persephone said it was true. Percy asked how you locked or unlocked death. Persephone said it was exactly like it sounded. It could release or imprison a soul in the underworld.

"So, they're keys to the doors of death?" Jason looked to Nico.

"They're what?" Percy turned to his younger cousins. "Is that true?"

"I don't know. Maybe? I thought they were legend before all of this."

"But they're not. And after this the doors of death became unlocked," Annabeth said. "And this whole thing might have put that into motion."

"It also put closing them into motion," Percy said trying and failing to keep his mind of an old friend. "So, we don't need to think too much about it."

"It's Annabeth. That's kind of impossible."

Nico started to say if one of the keys was in the sword. Persephone interrupted and finished that the wielder could raise the dead, or kill anything with just a touch of the blade. They all looked at each other silently for a moment before Percy said it was wicked sword. Thalia thought it would make Hades unstoppable.

"So why didn't you say anything?" Apollo asked again.

"Because he didn't use it for anything bad," Thalia said. "And it's not finished. Wait until the end before bothering me about it."

"Fine," Apollo pouted.

Persephone agreed that was why they had to get it back.

"He lost the sword?" Jason asked turning between his sister and cousins.

"Not exactly."

"But it's gone," Jason tried again. "Right?"

"Yeah. Now can you watch or do I have to have Piper charmspeak you into doing it."

Jason settled back into his seat all while still exchanging mock glares with his sister and Percy.

Percy repeated what she said. Persephone explained that the blade was stolen as it was almost finished. She didn't know how but possibly a demigod servant of Kronos. And if the blade fell into Titan hands. Thalia interrupted her saying it was her fault that Kronos probably already had it. She allowed the sword to be stolen. Persephone replied by turning Thalia's bow and arrow into plants and giving her a warning that even though she was Zeus's daughter and Artemis' lieutenant but this was Persephone's home. Thalia slowly and angrily asked for her bow back. She was acquiesced with a wave.

"Okay, so if it was gone it was obviously the Titans but why a demigod?" Leo asked.

"Remember the first quest," Calypso reminded him. "Only a demigod can steal an item of power."

"So, was it Luke again?"

"He's Kronos at the moment, so no," Chris answered.

"Oh. Right."

Persephone told them to sit and listen. The sword hasn't left yet. The other keys were used to shut everything down. Nothing would get in or out and he was doing all he could to locate the thief.

The three who were on the quest tried hard not to snort or make other derisive noises as they shared glances under Annabeth's annoyed glare.

"So why do they need you?" Samirah asked. "If the god is locking down the realm, then there's not much they can do that the god and his servants can't, right?"

"Yes. In most cases," agreed Thalia. "This was a bit different though."

Thalia asked why they were needed.

"As if we needed more proof of the similarities between you two," Annabeth said.

"Not so much. After all, Thalia doesn't like heights or flying. Samirah does though," Jason said. "We're on for that race, right?"

"It would be interesting," Samirah said slyly. "Fine. We'll race at some point. I cannot promise one now."

Blitz stopped himself from sidetracking them further by replying to Hearth's comment on how often they talked about random things that had nothing to do with what they were watching at the moment. Though it would be funny if he had.

Persephone explained that looking for the sword couldn't be common knowledge. They locked everything down but didn't say why and no one could know why. The blade couldn't be known about until it was finished and so they couldn't know it was missing.

"That doesn't make sense," Reyna said with furrowed eyebrows. "I thought Hades was using all of his resources?"

"Look, just watch if you want an explanation. It's not like I understand the woman at all," Nico said in annoyance.

"Nico was the one to explain if I remember," Thalia said. "So it's not like he's getting out of answering your question."

"No," Percy whispered. "He kind of is."

Nico said that if Hades' servants knew there was trouble they might desert him to join the other side. Persephone moved on and said that the thief had to be a demigod. Even Kronos had to follow the rules about an immortal stealing directly from another. There was still a demigod here somewhere and to catch him they needed three demigods.

The three who had been on the quest could tell that everyone was sensing something wrong with the situation, unlike them at the moment under the stress of the situation. Yet if they tried to explain it was likely the fates would stop them from spoiling anything like before.

"I still think this whole thing is fishy," Apollo said.

"I agree. It's just stupid excuses for a stupid battle plan. What's really happening here?"

Percy looked to his other cousins behind him and sighed. "Look Clarisse, I wish I could tell you. But if I try then—"

"I still don't understand that. Or any of this. Why am I here again?" Clarisse grumbled leaning onto Chris' shoulder.

Percy asked why them?

Everyone looked at him incredulously. He rolled his eyes and shrugged. In hindsight it was obvious. The three kids of the big three were the most powerful demigods at the time.

Persephone explained that it was because they were the kids of the big three and it would show that their fathers could unite and shouldn't protest Hades' new weapon because their children trusted him. Thalia protested that they didn't trust him. Percy agreed and said why should they do stuff for Hades? Or give him a super weapon? He looked to Nico for assurance.

"Don't say anything!" Percy said defensively as all of his friends gave him a look. "I know. I would do the same thing as him for my dad."

Grover looked at him strangely. "You kind of did, or something similar? Either way, as scary and as bad as Hades is, it's better than the Titans. Just do it. And having the Big Three united wouldn't be a bad thing."

Percy sighed. "Yeah. It's just not the way it should happen. It shouldn't have to be because of a thief or a war or some grand action."

Nico didn't reply so Percy prompted him again. After another second Nico said he had to do it. Hades was his dad. Thalia protested that there was no way Nico could think this was a good idea. Nico looked at her incredulously saying it wouldn't be better in Kronos's hands.

"See?"

"No one argued," Thalia said to Grover. "We get it. You're right. You are the one here with the most common sense most of the time. Get over it."

"I will when you start listening to my advice," Grover grumbled.

Percy and Nico looked at each other. "We do listen to you."

"Sometimes," Nico interjected.

Grover looked at the two boys he'd played protector too and sighed, deciding it would just be better to give up at the moment and just keep watching.

Persephone told them time was going. The thief would be looking for a way out. Percy frowned saying the realm was locked. Persephone said no prison, even the underworld was inescapable. The sword had to be found before it left the underworld.

"Are there really that many ways to get out of the underworld?" Leo asked looking at the two underworld experts in the room. Then he frowned as he focused on Hazel. "I mean, I know it was different with the doors of death open. The proof is sitting right here. But could you do that stuff even now?"

Nico took a deep breath. "Look, I just don't want to get into that right now. Yes, there are ways to get out of the underworld. That doesn't necessarily mean alive. You could be haunting or anything else. If you wanna have a long in-depth conversation about it, well we'll see how I'm feeling about talking about all of this."

Thalia asked even if they wanted to how could they find the thief.

"Yeah. The underworld is huge," agreed Annabeth. "And I don't think I ever got that part of the story."

"It wasn't such an important detail," Percy told her. "And obviously there's going to be an answer."

In answer to Thalia's question a yellow flower appeared in a pot on the table. Persephone said it would guide them. Percy asked if it was a magic carnation? The goddess of spring told them the flower would face the thief and the petals would fall if the demigod got closer to escaping. A petal turned and fell just then.

Frank looked at the Greek big three kids. "So like Beauty and the Beast?"

"Pretty much."

"Where is that in Beauty in the Beast?" Hazel asked her boyfriend.

"The Disney movie," he told her. "It's on your list of culture to catch up on."

Hazel gave a small oh as others laughed at the cute moment and the comparison of the Beast's flower to this ugly yellow carnation. Hazel hid her face in Frank's shoulder, or fur as he turned into a giant St. Bernard to cuddle with her.

Persephone said when all the petals fell the flower was dead and the thief was gone so they'd have failed.

"So exactly like Beauty and the Beast," Piper decided.

"We already established that," Thalia said. "Can we move on yet?"

"When you do. It's your quest after all?"

Percy and Thalia looked at each other unsure. Then Percy turned to look at Nico whose face was set in determination. Percy's face hardened then as well as he turned to Persephone.

Nico nudged Percy's leg forcing his cousin to meet his eyes for a moment as he communicated his thanks for taking the quest with him and helping his misunderstood father, even when they didn't have the best relationship. Percy nodded but his face stayed still and hard to read. All Nico could tell was that if he needed his cousin, he'd be there.

Percy gave a condition if they did this Hades had to swear on the Styx never to use the sword against the gods.

"How is it possible that many times you forget to make such ultimatums? One should always get an agreement that both sides can be bound by. It is the first rule when dealing with gods," Zia said sternly.

"I'm usually more focused on other things," Percy shrugged. He didn't want to blame his ADHD, but he had a feeling that was a factor as well. And it wasn't like the gods always stuck to their word with these things anyway. The consequences weren't as severe for them as for others.

Persephone said she wasn't Hades, but she was sure he would do this as payment. Then another petal fell. Percy turned to Thalia who still looked unsure. He smirked as he asked if he could hold the flower while she beat up the thief. She sighed and agreed they should go catch the jerk.

"Is that really all it took?" Reyna raised an eyebrow at Thalia. The hunter shrugged.

"I wasn't going to let these two idiots go off alone." She smirked as her comment got two identical protests from her cousins.

Annabeth nodded in agreement as well but looked at Thalia. "Still, if there was a way to get you to do things for people, well, I think Percy might have found it."

Jason snorted. "Percy found it? I think she's always been like that. It's protect or attack. Or both."

"And is there a problem with that?" Thalia asked her eyes sparkling with mirth as her brother grinned at her. "How would I get you to do stuff? Just ask? And then you'd listen like the good little Roman brother you are."

Jason tried to wrestle her off as she mussed his hair which had gotten almost as shaggy as Percy's. She zapped him in return and pulled his head into a crook of her elbow. Electricity flew from her knuckles as she gave him a noogie, making up for some of the years of sibling torture they'd missed.