Strength

Chapter 1: The Quest

Author's note: Hi. So this is my first story. I can't write very well and I apologize about that. I start school in a few dys so I won't upload often. Hopefully I will once a week. I also suck with titles.

It's been a month since the events at Camp Half-Blood, and Nico is finally content. Nico lay on his back, staring at the ceiling on his coffin like bed. He never did get around to changing it. The bed was pretty comfortable, so he really had no reason to.

Tap, tap, tap. There was a soft knock at the Hades Cabin door. Nico was about to get up and answer it until Will Solace walked right through the door. It's gotten harder for Nico to hide his feelings for Will. With Percy it was different, nobody knew his secret. Now they all did.

"So Nico, I was thinking," Will began, "since Percy went back to school, and Jason can't be here often, maybe you should take up the position of sword instructor. I mean you are pretty good with that thing." Will pointed to the ground next to Nico, where his Stygian Iron blade lay.

Nico tried hard to hide his disappointment. He was sure Will felt the same way. Piper, being the child of Aphrodite supposedly could sense feelings, said that he did. "Oh, okay." Nico said grimly, "Yeah I'll do it."

"Awesome!" Will stepped in to give Nico a hug, but he tensed up. "I'll see you later, Nico." And just like that the son of Apollo was off.

The next day Nico woke up with a letter slid under the door. It had Nico's new camp schedule. A lot had to be changed around because he is now teaching. Well at least he's thorough. Nico thought. If he cares so much why won't he just tell me! Nico took a deep breath and unclenched his fists. This happens quite often. Nico can't express his feelings very well, or even at all, and ends up becoming uptight.

Nico looked at the digital clock that was sat on his dresser. The time read 10:37. "Crap!" Nico yelled aloud. "Ugh!!" He was suppose to be at the arena at 10! He also skipped breakfast, shocker. Nico yanked clothes off the floor not caring if they were clean or not, and ran into the bathroom.

"Nico di Angelo!" A large voice boomed, it was Clarisse. "Where in Hades's name have you been?!" I had to take over the class for you! Next time actually be here. I've got stuff to do!" Every soul in a 30 mile vicinity probably heard her.

Will ran over to Nico to see what the problem was. "The problem is that little boyfriend of your's not being responsible enough to be on time!" Nico felt the blood rush to his cheeks. "Clarisse, I'm sure we can work this out." Will pleaded while setting his hand on her shoulder. It's always a surprise that she never breaks his arm for doing that, but Will has always been able to calm people down easily. Except for Nico.

"Look Will, Clarisse, I am sorry. I jut didn't get much sleep last night." Nico for some reason felt the need to apologize like crazy. Like he did something so wrong he was going to be sent to the Field of Punishments.

Nico's apologizing stopped as he heard the canter of a horse getting near him. "Nico, something has happened. Your father he, he needs you to see him right away." Chiron seemed anxious.

"Wait! What?" Will chimed in quite worried.

"Will if you would excuse us, this is a personal matter. Nico, to the Big House, yes?" Chiron pointed to the blue farm house at the other end of the camp.

"Okay, we're here would you please tell me what's going on." Nico pleaded.

"Well, Nico after everything that has happened over the summer, I'm afraid something has come up." Chiron seemed hesitant in what he was saying. "Someone is very sick, close to death. They need a special plant that grows in the Underworld-"

"Who? What plant?" Nico blurted out quite anxiously. He was excited to finally be able to do something, yet did not want to face his dad, Hades.

"I am not at liberty to reveal the name of this person, but they need pomegranate seeds." Chiron calmly explained.

"Wait, what? If they eat the pomegranate seeds they will be trapped in the Underworld even if they do get better! Plus, I have some right here." Nico pulled six emergency pomegranate seeds out of his pocket.

"Yes, Nico, I and the person who needs them, are fully aware of the repercussions that comes with them. Also, the seeds need to be directly from the fruit its self." Chiron hunched his back in his wheelchair and held the frayed ends of the blanket that was draped over his fake legs. Nico is guessed he was probably as anxious as he was.

"Do you understand what you have to do?" Chiron asked as he bowed his head to Nico.

"Um. Yea- yeah. Go into the Underworld grab a pomegrante, and bring back here. Easy peasy." Nico was weary about the quest.

It's not even a real quest, Nico thought to himself. No oracle, no prophecy. I can do this.

"Go back to your cabin, collect your things. You leave in the morning. You have exactly one week."

Nico was up all night contemplating how he would enter the Underworld. "I can do it. I can open up the ground. I'm strong enough."

"Who I'm kidding I can't even wake up at the right time."

The next morning was horrendous. Nico relived everything that has happened over the last year. Everything from Tartarus to the Death Trance in Rome to his confrontation with Cupid. All of that caused Nico to enter a delirious state of mind with a pounding headache. Not so much fun.

He grabs his bags and was about to leave his cabin when Will Solace strolled through the door with a backpack slung over his shoulder. "You think you're going alone. Ha! What a funny thought!" Will shook his in amusement. He spun around and began to walk out only to realize the son of Hades wasn't following him.

Will's amusement disappeared from his face. "Aren't you coming?" Will furrowed his eyebrows and titled his head

"Will come on. I have to go alone. You've never been there before. I've been there countless time-" Nico tried to explain before Will cut him off.

"I don't care! I have already talked to Chiron. You are not healthy enough to go alone, and besides it's okay to have help."

Nico tried to think of a reason why Will couldn't come, but then he realized Will was right. I am not healthy enough for this. "Okay, fine. We go together." He agreed.