Fate Withstands

Chapter 1

Nico was sitting in the Fields of Asphodel, back against a poplar tree when he saw Percy Jackson for the first time. He hadn't known Percy's name or godly parent then, but he knew that boy was important. Dark hair, orange shirt, green eyes too bright to be one of the dead. He carried a carnation and walked with a girl who was also living.

Living...why were they down there and living?

Nico stood up from his position and started to follow them. It had been years since he moved, maybe even a decade. He couldn't remember much. Ever since that old ghost taught him English, the years had passed too quickly.

"So," the boy said, not noticing his new stalker. "How's immortality treating you?"

The girl rolled her eyes. "It's not immortality, Percy." Percy. His name was Percy. "You know that. We can still die in combat. It's just...we don't ever age or get sick, so we live forever assuming we don't get sliced to pieces by monsters."

"Really? That's possible?" Nico's question made both of them jump and turn around. Percy drew his sword while the girl drew her bow. "Are you a minor goddess?"

Judging by their faces, both could tell he was different from the other shades immediately. But that didn't let them lower their guard.

"Who are you?" the girl asked. "What do you want from us?"

"And how long were you listening?" Percy wondered.

Nico looked into those green eyes and felt warmth for the first time since he died. "I...I saw you walking and saw that you weren't dead. What are you doing down here?"

The shades had started to close in. Before the two could answer, Nico took their hands and started to run. "Hurry before they get you!"

They stumbled after him. He could hear Percy's voice, low and almost a whisper. "We don't have any other choice, Thalia. And he seems to be helping us."

Nico couldn't hear much else. It was hard to hear lately. Maybe he had spent too much time blocking out the moans of the shades.

He finally stopped when they were clear of most of the shades, on the outskirts of the Fields. He let their hands go. "What are you doing down here? And where do you need to go?"

Percy held the flower out. "We need to follow this flower. Persephone has us on a task-"

"Persephone does?" Nico scowled at the name. "And you listened to her?"

"Percy, don't say anything else. We have no idea who this kid is." Thalia looked to Nico. "Tell us who you are. You're dead, aren't you? Why are you different from the other ghosts?"

Nico looked at the flower some more in curiosity. "Yeah, I'm dead. I thought that was obvious."

Percy couldn't help but grin. "Most obvious things fly right over her head-"

Thalia slapped Percy on the back of the head before turning her attention to Nico again. "Answer the rest of my questions. Why shouldn't we just ditch you and continue on?"

"Cause you're two people that have never been in the Underworld before, I'm guessing." Nico looked them both over. "And you're both alive. I know my way around, I can help you out. And the other ghosts don't mess with me."

"Because you're one of them-"

"Because I'm their boss." Nico smiled proudly. Damn, he had to stop his childish side from leaking through in front of new people. It had just been so long since he had someone to talk to...

"Huh?" Percy stepped back. "Are you a god?"

Nico shook his head, his heart sinking. "Don't be afraid. I'm not gonna hurt you. I...My dad runs this place. I shouldn't say his name, though. If he sees I'm out of the Fields, he'll be mad."