Pernico After Tartarus

Finding Out Where Nico Is

Skylar, Nico, Percy, Annabeth, Piper, Jason, Leo, Frank, Luke, and Hazel, had graduated from Half-Blood High. It was 2pm on the first Saturday of summer vacation as high school graduates and Skylar hadn't seen her brother, Nico, since this morning. She had an uneasy feeling that he was in danger. Skylar went to find her friends: Percy, Annabeth, Piper, Jason, Leo, Frank, her boyfriend Luke, and her half-sister Hazel. Skylar had her friends split up and search Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter to try and find Nico. They came back about an hour later with news that Nico wasn't at either camp. Skylar got really worried about her brother. Then Chiron came and asked to speak with Percy and Skylar.

"Skylar, I got word from Thanatos on where Nico might be. You and Percy need to pack your bags, you have a 5:30 a.m. flight to L.A. out of J.F.K airport," Chiron explained. Percy went to his cabin. Chiron pulled Skylar aside and said, "I need you to pack this bag with a bunch of food, the white windowless tent, and the comfortable rescue furniture that is used when there are long rescue quests. This bag will be able to fit everything and will only weigh about 2-3 pounds. It's a magic bag that can fit an endless amount of stuff without weighing that much. Once you figure out where Nico is, you'll need this bag. When you go through security at the airport, it will look like a bag with clothes, it's the bag's magic to make it look like a normal bag. NOW GO PACK!!!" Chiron explained. Skylar just shook her head and went with the bag to pack what Chiron told her and the things that she'll need.

Once they were packed, it was about 6:30 p.m.; Percy and Skylar were on their way to the airport. It was about 8:30 when they got there, they stayed in the airport hotel that night and got their early morning flight.

*******

They checked into the hotel. Once they were settled in their two bed hotel room it was about 9 p.m. and Skylar wanted to talk with Percy to try and calm her nerves.

"Percy, I'm scared. I've had this feeling that he's been in danger all day, I thought it was nothing at first. But when I realized that I hadn't seen him all day, I knew he was in trouble. I'm afraid he's in Tartarus..." Skylar said in a scared tone.

"Skylar, I'm scared too. Nico is an amazing person. I want to help you feel better and save him from wherever he is. Also, I already told this to Annabeth, my mom, Paul, and Chiron, and I want to tell you," Percy explained.

"Percy, whatever it is you can tell me and I won't judge," Skylar told him. Percy looked down at the ground and took a deep breath.

"I told this to Annabeth right before we broke up. It didn't change our friendship, but it was why we broke-up. The day I told her was the day we broke up," Percy explained, avoiding what he wanted to tell her. Skylar could tell Percy was afraid to tell her what he wanted to tell her.

"Percy, I can tell you're nervous and scared, but you can trust me. I'm going to tell you something that Nico told me and asked not to tell you, but I have a feeling that this might help. As know he's gay; he came out to Hazel and I separately. The reason I'm explaining how he came out to me is because when he was coming out he did it almost the same way you are doing it. He explained a lot first before he officially told me he was gay. When he told me, he looked ashamed and embarrassed. When he came out to me; this what I told him, 'Nico, there is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. You're still you right? You being gay, is a part of you. That doesn't change how I'm going to treat you. I'll love you no matter what your sexuality is. You're amazing no matter what your sexuality is, I'll be here to support you and I guarantee everyone else will too.' Percy, my point is you have nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about what you're going to tell me," Skylar explained. She laughed when she saw Percy's shocked face.

"I meant everything I said in that crazy little speech," Skylar explained. She watched as Percy relaxed and saw that he looked like he was more comfortable telling her what was on his mind (A.K.A coming out to her).

"No one else except Annabeth, my mom, Paul, and Chiron knows this," Percy explained, taking a deep breath.

"Percy, I want you to know that I know you're coming out to me and I'll support you and be here for you no matter what," Skylar explained, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder to let him know that she would support him.

"... I'm Bisexual," Percy said. Skylar smiled and gave his shoulder a squeeze.

"Percy, can I be honest with you for a moment?" Skylar asked and Percy nodded, "I kind of figured. Now before you ask how, I'm going to tell you. I remember the way you looked at Annabeth when you were younger and before you started dating her and while you were with her. I've seen that same look when you were looking at Nico and a little of it at Jason. Here's my point; that doesn't change how I'm going to treat you. I'll be here for you no matter what your sexuality is. You're an amazing friend and your sexuality doesn't change that. I'll be here to support you and I guarantee everyone else will too. If you want me to be there when you tell everyone else, I will. I would suggest coming out to Hazel first because she said pretty much the same thing I told Nico when she found out," Skylar explained, Percy smiled and gave her a hug. He was happy to have Skylar's support.

"Percy, there's something you should know about Nico. If he was here, he would be really mad at me and probably push me so hard I would fall off the bed because he specifically told me to tell you," Skylar said and Percy looked at her with a very confused face, Skylar laughed at his face. When she was done laughing, she got very serious, "Nico has a crush on you. He's had a crush on you for a while. When Will found out, that's why he broke up with Nico. Will was afraid that Nico would follow his crush. Will didn't know that Nico isn't the person who does that. He is very loyal to those cares about," Skylar explained. Percy was shocked to hear about the crush and why Will broke Nico's heart. Skylar told Percy a very important thing about the quest and the backpack (the magic bag).

"Percy, if Nico is in Tartarus; my dad won't let me go after him, you'll have to do it. I have an emergency magic bag that can hold anything and only weigh like 2-3 pounds. When we go through security it will look like it's full of clothes. I'm telling you this because you'll have to take the bag to find him. It has enough food and water to keep two people from starving for four months, a windowless and almost soundproof white tent, and the emergency comfortable rescue furniture. When you find him, tell him to close his eyes and take deep breaths, once you say that, set the tent up. All of the furniture will look small. The tent has a switch and labels for all the furniture. Put the furniture where the labels are, once they're there flip the switch. The tent has lights, but the lights won't go on until you flip the switch. The switch will turn on the lights and make the furniture go full size. DO NOT THE LIGHTS ON UNTIL ALL THE FURNITURE IS IN PLACE. You'll have a flashlight that is bright enough for you to see the labels," Skylar explained, "I also have a label in there and on your flashlight about turning on the lights." Skylar explained as Percy looked over at the clock.

"IS THAT THE TIME!!??" Percy looked at the clock that said 11:30 p.m. Skylar and Percy got into bed. The morning came early.

*******

Soon enough they were on the plane to California. As soon as they landed they took a cab to get them as close to the Hollywood sign as possible so they could get to the Underworld. They were in the Underworld by noon.

Percy and Skylar had little radios so they could talk if Percy had to go alone. Skylar talks with Thanatos about Nico and he tells her to ask Hades. Hades comes in and sees them. He goes over to Skylar and gives her a hug because he knows she's scared. "Dad, where's Nico? I'm scared and want him to be okay." she said before she started to sob softly. Percy went over to comfort her seeing that this was hard and he knew that Skylar cared for her brother a lot.

"You're not going to like the answer... He's in Tartarus..." Hades said calmly. Skylar screamed and cried harder. She knew that Percy would have to after Nico. She couldn't stop crying. She was scared because she knew that this was going to be hard for Percy to find him.