Leo's Return

What the Hades?

(Frank's POV)

We take off towards the clearing, zipping around through the trees. We dash past the cabins, peeking inside for Annabeth, Percy, and Nico.

We hear swords clash in the arena, and run towards them quickly. It might be one of them!

We burst into the arena and see Annabeth hacking the life out of a dummy. "Annabeth!" Piper shouts.

She turns around, then gasps and drops her sword.

"Leo? You're alive?" She says, coming up to us quickly.

"In the flesh!" He says with a grin.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! EVERYONE HAS BEEN GRIEVING FOR TWO MONTHS AND NOW HERE YOU ARE. GET OVER HERE!" She shouts, pulling him into a rough hug.

"Where's Percy?" Jason asks, and Annabeth turns around.

"PERCY GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!"

We all look up to see a dark shape descending from the clouds.

"Wha-"

Blackjack bursts out of the clouds, with Percy dangling off his back on a rope.

"BLACKJACK! SLOW DOWN OR I AM GOING TO DIE!"

We all laugh as Percy flails around in the air, desperately trying to take the reigns.

Blackjack whinnies at him, and Percy rolls his eyes.

They land a few feet in front of us, Percy landing on the ground with a thud.

"You okay, Perce?" Leo asks with a laugh. Percy shoots up to his feet in surprise.

"Leo?! B-but how?"

They bro hug and Calypso steps behind him. "Hey Percy."

"Calypso? How did you get off of Ogygia?"

"Wel-"

"It was me! I have done the impossible!" Leo interrupts triumphantly.

Annabeth raises an eyebrow. "Percy, you know her?"

"It's good to see you, Percy," Calypso says, offering him an awkward handshake. He takes it and they have a quick conversation with their eyes before grinning.

Calypso puts and arm around Leo, and Percy says, "I think I saw Nico over by the pavilion!"

We all run off, and Annabeth drops back by Percy and asks him a few questions. Hazel and I exchange a smirk and keep running.

We hear Nico before we see him. Once again, he is arguing with Will about shadow traveling.

"Nico, you promised! No more shadow traveling."

"Will, just one more time! I know I can do it! I can handle myself!"

"Nope. Not happening- doctor's orders."

I hear him growl in frustration, and then Leo runs up over the hill.

He falls in place next to a stunned Nico.

" 'Sup Di Angelo."

"What the Hades?!"

Leo laughs. "I'm baaaaaack!"

"Is this real?" Nico asks, dumbfounded. I laugh, and Percy replies.

"Oh, yeah. It's real alright."

"Leo!" He says high-fiving him and smiling. Then he speaks again. "I HAVE BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR YOU- WHERE THE HECK HAVE YOU BEEN?"

"CHILL OUT! I don't know, I was in the underworld for a few seconds, then a bright place of nothingness for a few minutes. Then I was back with Festus!"

Will clears his throat. "Sup Solace!" Leo says with a grin.

"Oh my gods, you really are back! So now, I'm serious. No more shadow traveling," he says to Nico.

"Okay."

And with that, they all ran back to camp to give the announcement.

Leo Valdez is alive.