Hi guys! Working on the last chapter now. Just did another side story, so here it is! You can consider this an early extension to chapter 9, and the last part a continuation of chapter 17. Enjoy! As always, feel free to leave a comment below. :)

Camp Half-Blood.
Two weeks after Hick's council with Olympus, one week before her entrance into the portal.

"Hey, Leo! Is that you?" a voice called out.

Leo turned to see Hick, all decked up in khaki shorts and a white collar blouse – the standard waitering uniform for the country club. The legendary Lone Warrior, serving drinks to regular demi-gods. She made what seemed like the gayest Indiana Jones get-up actually look decent. He could see why some guys kept pestering her with drink orders in their attempt to hit her up. Beside her stood Nico in the same costume, carrying a heap of the country club's blue beach towels.

Leo scratched his head in frustration and glanced back at the girl he was trying to impress – Calypso. And then he looked up at Hick and Nico. Are they seriously that thickheaded?

Go away! he mouthed at them. And then he he started swatting his hand at them as if they were pesky flies.

All they did was stare blankly at him. "Is he telling us to get lost?" Nico whispered to Hick, squinting at him. Hick shrugged.

"Oh! Isn't that Hick Valkyrie? The Lone Warrior? She's your friend?" Calypso asked him.
"Yeah…" Leo reluctantly admitted.
"You should go up there and say hi," she urged him.
"Sorry, this will be just a moment?" he told Calypso and delivered a small peck on her soft lips. The girl blushed and nodded with that sweet smile of hers. Leo didn't want to leave her side for a second. The way her wavy brown locks frame her demure face and petite frame, and how her dark brown puppy-dog eyes just emanate such innocence and sheer adorableness… he reluctantly teared his eyes away from her and stood up to approach Hick and Nico.

"Stupid Hades kids," he muttered under his breath.
"S'up buddy," Nico grinned at him, as he approached them.
"Just hanging," Leo replied, a disgruntled expression on his face.
"Wait, you're with someone?" Hick exclaimed, looking over his shoulder. Calypso, who had been watching them the whole time, waved at her. Hick waved back smiling. "Well, isn't she nice!"
"Yeah, we're kind of going out? Dating?" said Leo, in a slightly whiny voice. Take a hint! Take a hint! he tried to channel the message to them telepathically.
"Wha - ?! And you just left her there?" asked Nico.
"Yeah, what are you doing here, talking to us?" exclaimed Hick.

They didn't take the hint. Seriously? Were these Hades kids kidding him?

"Well I wouldn't have if you hadn't called me over!" he retorted. Out of frustration, he slapped Hick in the back of the head since she was the one standing closest to him of the duo.
"Ow!"
"Alright, alright! Get back there, we shan't keep you lovebirds apart any longer," Nico chuckled, shoving Leo playfully in the shoulder.
"Thanks!"

Leaving it at that, Leo quickly headed back to the lemon yellow beach seats and his girlfriend. Then there was a metallic shrill and a couple of static cackles. Much to his consternation, Hick's voice blared out in echo-y announcement. "Please let your lady friend know that this conversation was entirely about her," the redhead announced through microphone, before proceeding to lapse in a series of snorts and guffaws with Nico.

While embarrassment was what he felt, Leo couldn't help but let a sheepish grin graced his lips, as he caught sight of the blush on Calypso's cheeks.

"Your friends seem funny," she had said, trying to contain her embarrassment.
"Yeah, they're fine," Leo murmured, glancing at her. Their eyes met and Leo immediately averted his gaze. He could feel the heat creeping up his neck to his cheeks.
"Uh… I'll go get some fruit punch. You want one?" Leo asked Calypso.
"S-Sure!"

With the work of a few brush strokes, several shades of blue, yellow and orange intermingled to form a sun-lit azure blue sky. The wall painting was completed. Hick stepped back to look at her artwork. It was all redbrick edifices, old west shop signs and dusty roads. She tried to make the painting seem as life-like as possible, as if it just might jump into the real world and have cowboy gunshots fill the air. The end result wasn't perfect, but she liked it all the same. She cast a glance at the clock and took a double-take. It was 8.57 pm! Isn't the party suppose to start at 9?

Hick ran to her closet and proceeded to tug off the paint-stained apron. But for some reason it wasn't coming off.

"Darn it!" Hick muttered, as she heard footsteps approaching her room.

The door swung open and Hazel's face emerged from behind Hick's bedroom door. "You're not ready? Jason's going to be here any second!" the flustered girl exclaimed. She entered the room, all dressed up in a Cleopatra get-up. For the first time, Hick got to see how Hazel looked like with heavy eyeliner, golden-glittered cheeks and burgundy lips. She bet the gold satins, rubies and emerald jewels were the real deal. That's one perk for being a Hades kid.

"I am ready! Look, I'm a painter!" Hick protested, twirling around for Cleopatra's inspection. Her Royal Highness was not happy.

Just then, there came the chimes of Cabin 13's doorbell. Hick recognized the tune. It was the first three seconds of the X Files theme song.

"I'll get it," Hick exclaimed, dashing off. "And remind me to murder Nico the next time he changes our doorbell again."
"Take off your apron! You'll get paint on the furniture if you walk around in that!" Hazel called out.

Hick stopped short at the doorway and sulked at her sister. "But I can't get it off! See, it's stuck!" she whined, tugging at her apron in vain.
Her sister gave an exasperated sigh. "Just go answer the door! I'll see if I can put together an outfit for you."

As soon as Hick opened the door, what seemed like a whole legion of pumped up teenage demi-gods stampeded into the Hades cabin. Who could blame them? Ever since Nico built their own country club and Hick had erected their mini waterpark in their backyard, the Hades cabin had turned from a depressingly somber abode to a hangout place high in demand. At the end of the crowd that rushed in was Jason and Piper, still standing at the porch. Jason held up a carton of bottled alcohol.

"We brought wine coolers," Piper announced, grinning at Hick. Until she realized Hick's ashen grey face. She traced Hick's gaze, looked over her shoulder and realized Hick was staring at Percy, who had Annabeth by his side. Piper tugged at Jason's sleeve and he quickly realized the situation.

"Oh. Oh yeah and we kind of invited Annabeth and… Percy," Jason said, his voice trailing of at the last syllable.
"Well, turns out you guys aren't the only surprise guests here. Ss you can see," Hick gestured at the other demi-gods making their way to the underground nightclub.

To her relief, Annabeth had grinned back. "Didn't Hazel say it'd be a small gathering?" the daughter of Athena laughed, holding on to Percy's hand.
"It was suppose to be. I'm blaming it all on Nico. He must have spread the word because he knows it'd rake in cash," Hick shrugged.
"You brought some drachmas, didn't you?" Nico called out from the kitchen. He had on an enormous Elvis Presley wig and a horribly glittery open blouse shirt.

Hick squinted at him through the durchreiche. Was that beef patty he had flipped? Hick thought he was kidding when he said he wanted to open a burger joint. She wasn't so sure anymore.

"Drachmas? Even for the waterpark rides?" Piper frowned.
"You can't go on the waterpark rides unless you insert 10 silver drachmas in the meter," Nico replied.

"I hope Hick's not upset I brought Percy," Jason told Nico, as he handed the sole son of Hades a wine cooler.
"Yeah, this is going to be a total disaster," Nico sighed, adjusting his Elvis Presley wig.
"You look fabulous by the way," Jason commented, taking a swig of beer.
"Oh yeah? Don't let Hazel see you like that," added Nico. "She was serious when she said no regular clothes for the Halloween party."

A white silken toga was all Hazel could find at the last minute in her closet. Hick was still struggling with the tight knot that kept her apron stubbornly tied round her waist. Why did she have to fasten it on so tight? "Hey… Is this a good time?"

"Ugh, I just can't untie this! I am this close to actually cutting it off," Hick groaned, turning in the direction of the voice. "Sorry, could you help me - " Hick stopped short.

It was Percy. There he was, standing at her doorway. No costume. Just the regular orange camp shirt and a pair of worn out jeans. He strode over to her, much to her consternation, and moved her hands aside to try and untie the knot.

"I hope it's okay I came," he said.
"Oh yeah, of course. I mean we've got a cinema, a bowling alley, that water park I think you might like actua – "
"I came to see you."

A deafening silence took over, and several footsteps could be heard thumping across the Hades cabin's floorboards at varying rhythms. The booming beats from the underground nightclub could be felt pulsating beneath their feet. Hick shifted uncomfortably. Something about Percy's words unsettled her. He must still be mad at her for that portal incident.

"Oh," was all Hick could say.
"Since you wouldn't see me, and you just disappeared and kept avoiding me around camp."
"I didn't disappear, I've just been hanging out at the country club with Nico, manning the bar. Trying to have a little normalcy… something human world-ish amidst all these… mythical… craziness."

She felt the apron loosen and immediately stepped away from Percy. There was a certain seriousness to his gaze, like he was thinking hard about something or struggling with some thoughts in his head. Hick wasn't sure, but it made her fidgety. She just could never understand him. He confused her. What was it really? Did she say something wrong? Was he still angry with her? Did he come to apologize? Is he demanding an apology from her? Hick wasn't sure what she should say, so she just stared at him.

It appeared his train of thought, whatever it was, broke. "You've changed your hair," realization flickered across his eyes.

Hick immediately touched her low pigtails, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

"Yeah, like a week ago. But you know, that's not the only thing I've changed," she replied, nodding at the wall she had painted as she tugged off the apron. She couldn't bring herself to meet Percy's gaze. Her heart was racing for some unknown reason, probably out of fear, and she just felt uncomfortable around him. She had to get away.
"I can see that," Percy replied, as he surveyed her room, the paintings on one wall, the stacks of red bricks making up the other three walls. As Hick grabbed the toga and headed for the door, he followed after her.
"Hey, can we talk?" he said. "I've been meaning to explain my reaction at the portal and – "
"You know, I would love to, but I got to get going. Hazel would be furious if I don't change soon," Hick replied, shaking off his grip. Leaving it at that, she hastily disappeared behind the door.

Percy sat in the kitchen alone, staring blankly ahead. The party had long started but he still felt too down-in-the-dumps to have fun.

"You look sad, sitting here all on your own," came Hazel's voice, and Percy turned to see Hazel sitting right beside him and Nico and Jason just behind. There they were, all lined up in a row at the kitchen counter while the rest of the party got to causing ruckuses all around the cabin. He pinched the bridge of his nose, a habit he had acquired from Hick whenever she felt stressed. "Do you think Hick's ever gonna talk to me again?" he asked Hazel.

"She just did, didn't she? When you went to her room?" Hazel replied.
"To be honest, you haven't exactly been very nice to her the past two weeks since we came back to camp after the trip from Olympus," said Jason.

Percy had a gut feeling Jason was right. A groan escaped his lips and he slammed his face down on the kitchen counter, much to the other's surprise.

"Oh. That must hurt," Nico winced.
"Percy. Just make up with Hick already," Hazel sighed.
"No… I can't… She shook me off when I tried to talk to her first. She obviously still hates me. So... So why should I have to apologise first?" Percy suddenly burst out, slamming his fist on the kitchen counter. He obviously regretted that, because he was grabbing his throbbing fist in pain.

Hazel exchanged glances with Nico. They probably thought Percy was being stupid.

"You know, you and Hick may be legendary heroes when it comes to saving the world, but both of you are such children when it comes to disputes," said Jason, as he took a sip of some cool yellow liquid. Hazel grabbed the mug from him and sniffed it. Her face immediately scrunched up in disgust. "Is that beer?" she exclaimed. "Nico, I specifically said no alcohol!"

"Hey, don't blame me! Jason brought them over!" Nico exclaimed.
"The Dionysus kids prepared them, and a couple of other drinks," Jason shrugged as he snatched back his mug and took another swig. "They share their dad's love for alcohol, nothing I can do about that."
"This is your fourth mug, how are you not drunk?" Nico frowned.

In that very moment, Hick found herself hating Hazel with a passion. There she was, being plucked and combed and powdered by a flock of fussing Aphrodite girls. Chemical fumes clouded the air as the several hands worked on taming and styling her tangled mane with hairspray and heated tongs.

"Guys you don't really have to – "
"We're here for you, Hick. Should you be in need of a lip-gloss, or eye shadow, we're here for you," one of the Aphrodite girls crooned, pressing her hand to her chest. Hick gawked at the pretty face that stared back at her pitifully. Was that a subtle insult?
"We're almost done! Quick, get the shoes!" another Aphrodite girl ordered.

Once Hick slipped into the high platform sandals, the Aphrodite kids guided her to Hazel's full-length mirror. She saw what the Aphrodite kids called a 'waterfall braid'. Tiny flowers of all sorts were embedded in her glossy curls that cascaded down her shoulders. What scared Hick a little was the makeup she had on. The tones were earthy and natural, but the girls managed to turn her into an entirely different person. Especially with the high platform sandals drastically elevating her height.

"Your welcome," the Aphrodite girls sang in unison.

Of course, Hick knew she was nowhere near as pretty as the surrounding descendants of Aphrodite. But still… the drastic change was incredible.

With just one step into the shadows, Hick had teleported herself right into the living room. The place was empty except for one person sitting on the sofa, all by himself. It was Percy. Hick cursed and headed back toward the shadows.

"Valkyrie! Hey!" Percy called out. Hick stopped in her tracks and look at the son of Poseidon. Was he drunk? Where was Annabeth? Well now she couldn't just leave him alone, could she?

"Okay, I think you've only been here for a few minutes? How many of those have you had?" she asked, watching Percy down what was definitely a glass of gin and tonic.

Percy stared at the glasses cups in front of him. "Three? Four!" he decided and grinned up at Hick. Hick stared at him. There was interestingly a kind of child-like innocence to his drunken smile. Drunk people usually looked perverted and crazed to Hick.

He apparently must have caught her observing him closely, because his smile vanished and he had scrunched up his face, trying to appear nonplussed. "Aww don't worry I'm FINE!" he said, screeching at the last syllable.

Hick's lips trembled uncontrollably as she tried her hardest not to laugh. Drunk Percy was way better than normal Percy. But she couldn't help feeling concerned. "Is something going on?"
"A PARTY!" Percy said, a little too loudly. He gestured at the closed door that separated he and Hick from the party crowd. "In case you hadn't NOTICED!"
"Yeah… I think you need coffee. I'll go get you some coffee," said Hick, heading back to the shadows. For someone almost wasted, Percy sure moved fast because he managed to grab onto her arm before she could leave. "Wait! No! Don't shadow travel me!" he exclaimed.
"Percy, you need coffee to sober up," said Hick, swatting his hand away. "Now stay here! I'll be back!"
"Hick! Listen! There's something I've – "

She was gone. With a sigh, Percy plopped himself back on the sofa and scratched his head in frustration. It's never gonna happen, he thought to himself. Something soft brushed against his hand. It was a piece of rose. Probably one of the flowers that fell out of Hick's hair. He picked it up and twirled it between thumb and index finger. And then he squeezed his eyes shut. His head hurts so bad.

The moment she entered the kitchen, Hick met with the sight of trays of cookies and cupcakes lining the entire kitchen counter. Probably the work of some Hestia kids.

"Hey! You look great!"

Hick turned in the direction of the voice. It was Annabeth standing near the fridge.

"Thanks! The Aphrodite girls made this magic happen. Anyway, you're timing is perfect! I found Percy in the living room just now. You might want to check up on him," Hick said, starting up the heater in the coffee machine.
"Oh, so that's where he went. It was so dark in the nightclub. I lost sight of him. So I came up here alone for some fresh air," said Annabeth.
"Yikes. I told Nico to turn up the lights a little in there," Hick sighed, taking out a mug from the upper cabinet. "Sorry about that."
"No, it's fine! That's just how night clubs are," Annabeth replied. She stared at the quirky mug collection in the open cabinet. They had eclectic designs like cartoon owls and anorexic kittens, but mostly lame puns like 'I know it's cheesy, but I feel grate" and "Need an ark? I Noah guy!"

Ever since Hick moved in, Cabin 13 had turned from a somber haunted house to an eclectic mansion straight out of some Budapest suburb. For once, Annabeth thought being a Hades kid wouldn't actually be all that bad. She never thought she'd see the day the other cabins actually become more acceptive of cabin 13.

"I should go check on Percy," she told Hick.
"Oh, yeah! But before you go, would you mind just taking this black coffee to him? He'll need it, trust me," Hick said, holding up a mug of freshly brewed black liquid.
"I don't mind. Sorry for making you go through all the trouble."
"Not at all. He should sober up with that," Hick replied, dumping a couple of dirty dishes into the dishwasher. "Tell him to take his time. You should too! Don't strain yourselves trying to have too much fun."
"Alright," Annabeth laughed, exiting the kitchen. She was really starting to take a liking to Hick.

The crowd was starting to thin out, much to Hazel's relief. But the cabin was still packed with people. She headed out of the cabin, and found Hick sitting on the bench just leaning against the white picket fence.

"I see the Aphrodite girls did a really great job on you. Penny for your thoughts?" she called out as she made her way to Hick.
"Mmh… great party?" Hick replied, moving aside to make space for Hazel.
"Would've been better if there wasn't the extra crowd," Hazel laughed. "It's just crazy in there."
"I don't know. It's kind of nice to have that many people around. Didn't you see? Everyone was having a blast, doing their own thing."
"You think so?"
"Yeah. You know… camp spirit."
"Well, I'm glad you love it. You deserve a break after all that's happened," Hazel replied, staring up at the twinkling lights in the vast beyond. "Look at that. It's beautiful, don't you think?"

Hick nodded in reply, and rested her head on her sister's shoulder.

"You know, I've always wanted a sister like you," Hazel added, taking Hick's hand in hers.
"Aren't I already?" Hick replied, chuckling.
"Hee! Let's keep it that way! Sisters forever!"
Hick raised her head and met Hazel's gaze with a smile. "Sisters forever? I like the sound of that."

The present.

Hick stared at the casket that contained Hazel's body. She was gone. Hick had killed King Gorger, but the rat's death did nothing to bring Hazel back. Tears didn't flow, but the heart was without a doubt heavy with grief. So heavy, and so painful, Hick thought for a moment that she could just seize breathing and die where she stood, right before the casket.

The words came back to her.

Let's keep it that way. Sisters forever.

"Sisters forever? I like the sound of that."

End.

Stay tuned for chapter 18, the final chapter. Don't worry, I will release more side stories as I revisit writing on The Lone Prophecy.