The Next Generation: The Beginning

Helen's POV

I gave Mia one last look.

"Be safe," I whispered, my throat choked up. She nodded, turned around, and jumped into the abyss that is Tartarus. I stood there for another second before sprinting back to the palace. Along the way, I ran into Lucas.

"I'm ba- hey, where's everyone?" I sobbed.

"Joey and Mia fell into Tartarus." The color drained from his face and his expression showed pure horror. We ran to the entrance, bursting through the double doors, and barged right into the throne room where Hades and Persephone were sitting.

"Miaandjoeyfellintotartarusandshetoldmetocomeandtellyouandidontknowwhattodoandimscared." was rushed out in one breath, between sobs, making it nearly impossible to understand. Hades looked at me, perplexed.

"Say that again, child." I took a deep breath.

"Mia and Joey fell into Tartarus." Hades got paler if that's even possible.

"She told me to come here and give you this so you could message them." I handed him the golden disc.

"Follow me," he said seriously. We walked behind him until we got to a room with a big fountain making a large wall of mist. He threw the coin into the mist.

"Mia Solace-Di Angelo, Tartarus." A fuzzy picture started to appear on the curtain of water.

"Locating." a voice said. We just stood there and waited. Finally, about 30 minutes later, a voice cut through the silence.

"Grandpa?"

Mia's POV

I felt the wind whistling past my ears as I was swallowed by the darkness. I hit the ground with a very loud and very painful thud. I stood up and gathered myself. After letting my eyes adjust to the dark I looked through my backpack. Fortunately, I found a flashlight. I switched it on and started searching.

"Joey?! Joey?!" I called out his name. I walked around when suddenly I heard something behind me. I turned the flashlight off and got out my weapons.

"Hello?" Darkness was the only response. "Joey?" That was hopeful thinking. I took a step closer. That's when I heard a growl and two big red glowing eyes popped open. Hellhound. I ran. I could hear it following me but I just wanted to get out of there. I ran until I couldn't anymore. When I finally stopped, I was standing alone in the dark, surrounded by nothing. The faint rush of water could be heard in the background but other than that, it was silent- not comfortable silence but an eerie silence. I had my bow and arrow ready to release at a moment's notice. A twig snapped behind me and I whipped around. Nothing, just more darkness. Squinting my eyes to look closer, I cautiously took a step forward. With a snarl, the Hellhound sprang into the "light". I let the arrow go and ran again. The creature hissed and bounded out of the shadows after me. I looked over my shoulder to see it getting closer and tripped, scattering my bow and arrows. I drew my dagger and flipped onto my back as he crept closer, ready to pounce. His mouth twisted in a snarl as he lunged. He was over me, jaws agape when it exploded into a cloud of dust. Joey was standing over me, out of breath, with his sword in the air where he had just stabbed the hellhound.

"Joey!" I leaped up and hugged him. Screw no physical contact. I just jumped into hell after him and he just saved me from a demonic Mrs. O'Leary. He hugged me back.

"Mia?! What in the name of Poseidon are you doing here?!" He held me at arm's length

"I came to get you."

"Are you f***ing insane?! I let go for a reason!" I twisted the ring from Apollo on my finger. That hurt a little.

"I couldn't let you go through this alone. Besides, considering I eat, sleep, and breathe the underworld and death, you have a better chance of surviving. And I know you would have done the same for me." He sighed.

"As mad as I am at you for following me," he pulled me into another hug. "I'm so glad you're here, ghost girl. And you're probably right- I'll most likely live with you here." I laughed.

"Oh and thanks for stabbing the angry dog back there, bubble boy." He laughed.

"You're welcome." All of a sudden a bright, white light shone through the darkness, and I saw a familiar figure.

"Grandpa?" Hades turned to me with a relieved expression.

"Mia! Oh, we've been trying to contact you for a half-hour!"

"Mia! Joey!" Helen jumped up from somewhere and appeared on the screen.

"Helen! Thank you for getting my grandfather. She nodded.

"Of course. What are friends for?" I smiled and turned my attention to the god in front of me.

"What are we going to do?" He looked hesitant.

"Well, I don't know much... but I think you could try to shadow travel out of there." My heart sank and soared at those words. An easy escape, but a potentially deadly one for me. I'm much more experienced than I was last year in the rainstorm, but traveling from Tartarus to Camp Half-Blood; that's really far, even for someone as experienced as Hades.

"How would I be able to do that?" I could hear thunder on the other side of the mist. Zeus.

"To do it safely, you would need to rest up tremendously, and then after saving all of your energy, attempt to travel. This may take around 4 days." More thunder. "I can't say too much, but that's your best bet on living." I nodded.

"I have to go now."

"Tell my fathers I love them and we'll be home soon."

"And tell my mom and dad that we'll stay safe and not to worry." He put an arm around me. "We have each other." I looked up at him (he's like four inches taller than me) and smiled. He smiled back. Hades nodded. I turned to the slowly fading picture.

"Hey, Nonno?" He looked at me.

"Yeah Mia?"

"I love you." And that was true. He was my grandfather, but he was more than that; he was my first friend, he looked out for me, and I knew that despite his harsh exterior, he truly cared about me. He just nodded. I wasn't expecting him to say it back; I just wanted him to know.

"Now stay safe!" and the picture dissolved- we were truly on our own.

Of course, Zeus has something to do with it, that mofo is always messing with people's lives! *cue being struck by lightning*