The Quest for Peace (A PJO fanfic)

Always Have a Companion Who Can Play Music

     The story starts on a cold winter night. I had always loved shadow-traveling in the dark. Maybe it was because I was still trying to get the hang of it (even though I had shadow-traveled many times) and would always pop up in random places.

     "Oof!" I exclaimed as I had hit a wall for the millionth time that night. I looked around in the dark and came face to face with an ancient-looking wall.

     "Oh my gods, not the Great Wall of China again! Why's the thing gotta be so huge?!" I yelled, staring at the massive wall in front of me.

     "I swear, if I land in Spain or England or somewhere other than the entrance to the Underworld again, I'm going to die."

     I promptly turned around and silently swept into the shadows.

     So, did you die?

     Fortunately, no.

      When I materialized again, I was standing right in front of the entrance to the Underworld.

     "Finally," I muttered, staring at my watch,"Twenty whole minutes spent just on shadow traveling. Man, what a waste of time."

      I was currently standing in front of a huge rock.

      Now I just had to find someone who could carry a note.

      Yippee.

      So why did I pick this entrance if I couldn't sing? Because it's better than the other one in Los Angeles. The one thats run by Charon doesn't suck, but, well, I just hate being near people, alive or not. It makes me feel uncomfortable. Besides, all the dead stare at you really creepily, like they're begging you to take them outta that place, which, by the way, you can't unless you want to see the wrath of my dad.

      Did I forget to mention that my dad was Hades, lord and ruler of the Underworld?

      Back to the story, I stood face to face with the rock. I didn't have an ounce of music in me to make the rock move aside. I'm not kidding. If someone forces you to hear me sing (which is unlikely), cover your ears unless you want to faint.

     Huh, I probably should've sang in the war with Gaia, then. Imagine Gaia being deaf and having to learn sign language!

     "Um, uh, open sesame?" I stammered out, still trying to open the stupid rock blocking my way.

     Obviously 'open sesame' hadn't worked.

     I sighed. Unless I wanted to stay here forever, I was going to have to think of someone or something to play music.

     I couldn't summon Grover (god knows where he is), and I didn't really know anyone else who could play music.

     Luckily for me, the trees around me began to rattle.

     'Tree nymphs' I thought, as one came outta nowhere.

     "Nico?" It cried out,"What are you doing here?"

     "How do you know my name?" I asked, confused. I was 100% sure I had never introduced myself to her before.

      She laughed. "It's me, Juniper, silly."

     "Oh...."

     How could I have not recognized her? She looked the same as she always had. The same amber hair and bright green eyes.

     "So what are you doing here?" Juniper asked, staring at me.

     I blushed under her stare.

     Now before you go all 'He likes Juniper?!', it wasn't like that. I just always managed to blush whenever people stared at me a lot. Besides, Juniper was Grover's girlfriend, and I'm definitely not the kind of person who would date his girl behind his back.

     "Well, I was trying to get into the Underworld, but I need music, and I can't really sing, so....."

     "Oh!" exclaimed Juniper,"Maybe I can help!"

     She opened her mouth and sang a beautiful melody. It was mesmerizing.

      Maybe she could sing Gaia to sleep while I made everyone else deaf.

     Soon enough, the rock began to move and the entrance to the Underworld was in view.

     "Thanks, Juniper."

     "No problem! Oh! I was supposed to meet Grover in five minutes!" she exclaimed,"I've gotta go now, bye!"

     And with that, she disappeared into the forest of trees.

     I soon began walking down the steps into the Underworld.

     Home, sweet home.

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Thanks for reading, everyone!