I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians. My sister does (well the books).

Rick owns the characters and I'm not him.

This is a rewrite of my previous story. Named Road Trip. I was not happy with it. Hope this is better.

Road Trip

Chiron had called a meeting in the Big House. Percy Jackson son of Poseidon and Annabeth Chase daughter of Athena walked towards the big house holding hands.

"Do you have any idea about what is going on?"

"No Percy, but only 10 people have been invited to the meeting" Annabeth replied as they made there way into the rec room. They sat down next to Rachel Dare the oracle of Delphi who was talking to Katie Gardener a daughter of Demeter. Also in the room was Clarisse La Rue daughter of Ares, sitting next to her boyfriend Chris Rodriguez. Travis and Connor Stoll sons of Hermes were throwing spit wads at everyone. Will Solace son of Apollo was writing, Percy hoped that it would be better than Apollo's poetry (correction anything is better than Apollo's Haikus). Percy than noticed Nico Di Angelo son of Hades sitting quietly in the corner curled up in a ball.

Chiron entered the room and called the meeting to order.

"Starting in two days time you with Thalia Grace will be going on a Road Trip TOGETHER"

Thalia Grace was the daughter of Zeus and Lieutenant of Artemis' Hunters. They didn't get to see her often so her friends were happy to hear that.

"Where are we going" asked Annabeth.

"You will be travelling to California," declared Chiron. Everyone in the room looked excited. It was not often they got to leave camp half blood without a quest.

"I don't want to go" said Nico loudly over the happy chatter of the others.

"Nico, it's going to be fun, we get to leave camp half blood," Percy said looking over at the younger boy who had uncurled himself and stood up.

"I don't want to go, I could just shadow travel there. Why do I have to go? Why do any of us have to go?"

"Nico that would defeat the purpose of this outing" replied Chiron looking at the young boy "Also the Gods have requested that ALL of you attend this road trip."

"I don't want to go. I can think of four things I would rather do than go," mumbled Nico.

"Shut up, or I'll punch you in the guts" threatened the daughter of Ares who was looking forward of getting away from camp.

"No," shouted Nico. Clarisse stood up to make her way towards him but Chris pulled her back onto the couch they were sitting on.

Chiron was starting to loose his patience with the young boy. "If you don't go you will be cleaning out the stables daily, and I'm sure Mr D can think of some other things for you to do."

"Make that, five things I would rather do." Gasps came from the other demi-gods. No one ignored a request from the gods it was not an option.

"Enough, Nico you are going on the trip. There will be no more discussion on the topic."

Nico glared and turned on his heels. They all heard the door to the big house slam shut.

"I can't believe he doesn't want to go," said a confused Will, he was looking forward to leaving the camp as he hadn't had a quest before. Some of them had only left camp half blood during the Titan war, (the Stolls and Katie).

Chiron sighed, I'm sure he will come around. Thalia arrives tomorrow and you will need to pack."

"What is our mode of transport" asked Rachel who was honoured but shocked at being included in the road trip.

"That will arrive tomorrow. Lord Hephaestus is just finalising certain features, now I suggest you all go and get ready for dinner."

The demi-gods got up and walked out of the big house as the conch horn sounded for dinner. Percy collected his food and scrapped an offering to Poseidon, after eating Percy waited around for Nico to turn up but the Hades table remained empty. Percy sighed and grabbed some fruit before heading towards the Hades cabin.

Percy knocked on the door to the Hades cabin. "Nico, are you in there?" There was no answer. He knocked again.

"Open up Nico, I know you're in there. I brought you some food," Usually that worked but the door remained closed, Percy was now starting to worry.

"Nico, come on open up," Percy hollered. He wanted to break down the door. Was Nico still at camp? Had he shadow travelled away? Percy was starting to panic.

BANG

The noise came from inside the cabin. The door remained closed but Percy knew Nico was still at camp. That eased his worry a little.

"I guess you don't want to talk" Percy paused, he heard no more noises. "I'll leave the food here for you. Good Night, see you in the morning." Percy left, heading to the camp fire to meet Annabeth.

Annabeth came out of the Athena cabin and headed towards the dining pavilion. She hoped Nico would be there as Percy had been very distracted at the campfire the evening before. Percy was very protective of his friends and family, Nico especially. Annabeth was pleased to see Nico sitting at his table when she arrived.

Percy made his way into the dining pavilion and saw Nico. He grabbed a plate of food and made his way to the Hades table. Percy tried to talk to Nico while he ate but Nico remained silent, he was doing all the talking. Nico didn't seem to respond except for some head movements and to glare at him. As he finished eating Chiron approached the table.

"Nico if you could come with me. I think we need to have a discussion on your behaviour yesterday," Nico rolled his eyes,

"You can also tell me your concerns for the trip" Chiron continued placing his hand on Nico's shoulder. Nico jerked away from the hand, and marched towards the Big House with Chiron trotting along behind.

Percy walked up to Annabeth and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Annabeth smiled.

"What were you and Nico talking about?"

"Nothing" Percy replied, Annabeth looked at him.

"Okay… I was talking, Nico wasn't. I STILL don't know what's wrong."

"He'll come around, his discussion with Chiron will see to that," replied Annabeth. "Today we need prepare for the road trip."

"Don't forget Thalia is also coming today. We haven't seen her in ages," said Percy excitedly.

"Percy, it's been two months since we last saw her," laughed Annabeth. Percy just shrugged as they walked out of the pavilion.

Thalia arrived about mid day. Annabeth, Percy, Rachel, Travis and Connor met her at the top of Half blood hill.

"Annabeth, it's been ages since we saw each other," said Thalia as she grabbed her into a hug. She stared at Percy as he burst out laughing.

"That's what I said." Percy said trying to explain why he was laughing.

"Ignore him. Do you know what is going on? Did Lady Artemis tell you any details? Why are we going?" Annabeth interrogated Thalia in an attempt to get some answers. She hated not knowing answers.

"Got no answers for you daughter of Athena. Lady Artemis said that at the request of the gods I had to come to camp half blood to take part in a road trip. I got no more information," Thalia responded as Clarisse, Chris and Will made there way up to them.

"Hello Thalia, Chiron said to make our way up here to receive our mode of transport," said Will.

"Are you looking forward to the trip?" Asked Thalia.

"Yes,"

"I think everyone is except Nico, the little punk wasn't impressed" said Clarisse.

"Nico….? What happened" Thalia asked looking at Percy and Annabeth.

"We were told about the trip," started Percy.

"When Nico suddenly stated that he didn't want to go," added Katie.

"He then said that he could think of four things he would rather do," continued Connor.

"I wonder what the four things were?" said Travis getting off topic.

"Anyway in the end Chiron said he had to go and he stormed out of the big house," Annabeth continued and Percy finished,

"He didn't come to dinner last night, and has refused to talk since. Last I saw him, he and Chiron were going to have a talk."

Thalia was as confused as the rest of the group. Movement coming from the big house, Nico was stalking his way up the hill slowly.

A flash of light the on the road caught everyone's attention. There was there transport. Travis and Connor were disappointed. It was an ordinary white people mover van. You know the one that you see mothers dropping their children off at activities in. They had wanted something flashy, red like a sports car or a chariot. Something with style, but no they got a boring white van. The group made there way down to the road to check it out. The van sat eleven people. In the front were the driver and passenger. Then three rows of three seats in the back. They all knew that there was probably going to be arguments on who would sit where.

On the driver's seat was an envelope. Annabeth picked it up and read the letter enclosed inside.

"Dear Demi-god children, you have been chosen to take part in this special road trip. You have to fit into the mortal world."

"Well that's not hard we do that everyday at school," said Percy.

"Yes but not all of us go to school and not eleven of us all together," said Thalia.

"Can I finish reading the letter?" asked Annabeth glaring at the two cousins before continuing,

"The rules of the trip are as followed. One: You have a budget for the road trip; no extra money will be given. Two: Males and Females must have separate sleeping arrangements- No sharing beds, rooms, tents etc. "

"Oh bad luck Chris, Clarisse, Percy and Annabeth" said Connor laughing until Clarisse punched him in the guts. Annabeth continued after giving Connor a death stare.

"Three: You must follow mortal law, which includes driving."

"We have to follow mortal law. No fair," complained Travis.

"More information and tasks will be revealed on the way. Good Luck from the Gods of Olympia." Annabeth yelled to be heard over Travis and Connor who were complaining about the last rule.

"Shut up. I'm sure you two will break the last rule. You break all the rules at camp anyway so we won't expect miracles on this trip," said Will.

"The last rule says we have to follow the driving laws of America. That means those who drives have to be sixteen years of age or older," Said Rachel.

"I agree with Rachel the driver will be expected to be sixteen years or older," said Annabeth. That meant Nico and Thalia were definitely not allowed to drive.

"No fair, I have to trust your driving skills. Who of you can drive?" asked Thalia looking at the other's in the group. Percy, Clarisse, Chris, Travis, Rachel, Connor, and Will put up there hands.

"Connor you failed your test," said Travis looking at his brother "Remember you almost took out that old lady when you ran that stop light, and then took out the two parked cars and freaked out the instructor," continued Travis ignoring the death glare and silent shut up look he was receiving from his younger brother.

"Okay maybe the question should have been, who has their driver's licence?" asked Percy as he noticed the quick look of fear pass across Nico's face. Everyone put their hands up again except for Connor who just pouted. He was a little disappointed he wouldn't be driving (but it wasn't a sport's car so he wasn't too upset).

"Can you show them to us," asked Katie looking at the others, not sure if she believed that Travis was deemed competent of driving. Percy pulled out his licence as did Rachel, Clarisse, Chris, Will and Travis. Thalia grabbed Travis licence from him and inspected it.

"What it's not a fake, I did get it honestly," said Travis as he noticed Thalia inspecting his licence with Katie and Annabeth looking over her shoulder. "If you want I can take the van for a test run to show you all I'm a good driver." The girls looked guilty that they were questioning Travis but none of the others.

"Okay we have our drivers, Percy, Clarisse, Chris, Rachel, Will and Travis," said Thalia as everyone started to head back to camp to pack and participate in their cabin activities.

Thalia looked towards her younger cousin who had sat down halfway up half-blood hill. Percy was sitting next to him so she went and sat on the opposite side. They sat in silence for a while watching the road until Thalia decided to talk.

"Hello Nico, How are you? I'm fine, thanks for asking," Thalia said looking at Nico as she realised he hadn't greeted her when she arrived.

"Hello Thalia, are you looking forward to this stupid road trip?" answered Nico.

"It's not stupid," Percy butted in "it's just unexpected and strange."

"I take it you don't want to go on the trip Nico. Why don't you?"

"I just don't. I know I know, I have to, but why now?" answered Nico and then whispered "He has forgotten."

"Why are you so upset?" asked Percy gently placing his hand on Nico's back.

"I don't want to talk about it" shouted Nico getting up to leave. Thalia grabbed Nico to stop him running off. Nico fought to get out of the iron grip that Thalia had on his arm.

"Okay we won't talk about it any more, but remember Thalia and I are here when you want to talk. We care about you," said Percy just as Nico managed to slip out of Thalia's grasp. Both Percy and Thalia looked at each other as he ran off.

"What the Hades is wrong with him?" asked Percy as Thalia shrugged.

"I don't know, but expect tears, tantrums and fights on this trip," answered Thalia.

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