Please enjoy the last chapter of the Minific! And then it shall be onto the next Fic, though I'm on holiday at the moment so it's not my number one priority, I'm having a much much needed break. But hey who knows, on days with bad weather I might be able to write and update we shall see.
Replies:
InfiniteShadow3: Just imagine little things slipping out on occasion and getting people just like 'Wait- wait that's a joke right?' and Percy just like 'What? Oh no, no not a joke I did actually swim in the Rio Grande-' Meanwhile Annabeth is like 'Seaweed brain they're talking about you beating a God in a fight in his own territory-'
'What, like it's hard?'.
Undeath9087: Yeah Luke is just there at home horrified like 'No! No oh gods no-' while Piper and Annabeth just cackled with laughter before going all heart eyes when Percy started going off. And honestly, look at how people are over young actors and actresses, the speculation about teenagers love lives, not to mention the fact that kids are frequently oversexualised. It seemed like something gossip mags and shows would do after all.
Guest: Not a terrible suggestion, but I will point out that I doubt Thalia would ever even consider acting as a future occupation considering her mom.
Guest: Honestly, Hades, Anubis and Osiris are still the ones that have the most contact in terms of gods- since their domains are so closely linked, but I mean, Apollo and Artemis are definitely getting closer to the Egyptain's in the terms of Brooklyn House lol.

Brooklyn Academy for the Gifted was rebuilt in a record time, all things considered. It had been completely devastated by the fire- Greek fire was a different beast entirely. But the rebuilding was being funded by the Kane family, and if they'd hired a few magicians to help the work along.. well no one needed to know did they?

So the rebuilding was finished three months after the fire. Impressive by any standards, though several of the Brooklyn House kids pouted about having to return to school.

Still it was good for Percy- she got to hang out with Drew again, the other demigod forcing her way into Percy's group despite the grumbles of Piper and Annabeth.

Thalia had been one of those who was unhappy about starting up with school. That was understandable- she hadn't been to school since she was nine. She'd been home schooled and helped to catch up by Chiron and everyone at Brooklyn House.

If there was one thing to be said about Brooklyn House's inhabitants it was that they didn't just let one of their own struggle, and since Thalia had been brought in by Percy she was formally one of their own, just like Luke and Tyson.

And Artemis, Zoe and Apollo were honorary members of the extended found family they all had.

And May.

Percy hadn't spent that much time in the infirmary- by some miracle she'd avoided any major accidents which would lead to her going there for a while so she hadn't seen the woman.

And she hadn't seen Luke that much either- he spent most of his time with his mom and Jaz, though she had seen him and Jaz leaving Brooklyn House together one evening.

She'd been glad about that, the smile he'd had was a wide genuine one that was unburdened by his past. Clearly their friendship was good for him.

And when she did see May, four days after that she could see why he looked so much happier.

The woman looked better than she had- before she'd been… well, Percy hated to say it but she'd looked kind of nightmarish, pale, gaunt and as if she was constantly being electric shocked, her hair standing on end.

The May Percy saw sat with Luke outside early in the morning, watching the sun rise looked worlds away from that May.

Her hair was washed and brushed, falling to just below her shoulders, and she looked a little bigger, like she'd gained a bit of weight, and that was just what Percy could see from behind, when Luke spotted her and gave a little wave to show he'd seen her May twisted, and Percy was startled by how healthy she looked. Her cheeks had color in them, and they were no longer gaunt. She was wearing clean clothes now too, the usual linens of magicians.

The biggest difference was her eyes. There was a clarity in them that there hadn't been before, a warmth.

"Hello. You're Percy aren't you? I know we met before but I wasn't really very well at the time."

"Yeah, yeah I am and we did." Percy shot Luke a surprised look and he gave a small nod.

"Percy's the one who decided to bring you here." Luke told May. "She has a habit of that I think. Finding people who need a bit of help."

"Well I want to thank you." May stood up. "My son's told me all about what you did for him-"

"There's no need."

"T-there is." May's expression was strained. "I-" she twitched a little- which made Percy's heart clench.

May was doing better but she wasn't fully healed. And she could see Luke watching May worriedly "May- you really don't need to thank me." She moved forward, grasping the womans hands firmly, trying to draw her focus.

"I couldn't." May's voice was a whisper, "You did what I couldn't."

"It wasn't your fault mom." Luke's voice was pained as he whispered that and May shuddered, closing her eyes tightly.

"It- I hurt- I hurt you. Those things- I still- I still see-"

"I know." Luke was on his feet and moving to grip her elbows, to steady her. "I know mom." He met Percy's gaze, his smile a little more strained. "The healers at the First Nome have been amazing and so has Jaz. They can't- they can't fix the full damage-"

"But they managed to ease it." Percy finished as Luke gently guided May to the chair, pressing a small bottle to her lips so she could drink it.

"It's better than I thought I'd ever get." Luke told Percy as he rubbed May's back and she tried to regain her composure. "It's amazing."

"I'm happy for you." Percy told him softly. "I really am Luke."

"Good girl." May murmured the words, "You're a good girl. He'll come for you- he- those eyes." May whimpered a little, shivering. "Could have been my baby could have… but- no. No he- I-"

"It's okay Mom-"

"It's fine May. I can look after myself. I'll be fine."

"Fine- fine… princess- queen… it swirls around you." May's gaze focused on Percy, almost glowing once more, "Swirls red and gold red and gold-" she was swaying almost rhythmically. "Twist and writhe, serpents battling-" Percy shuddered at that- she had an understandable thing against snakes.

"Mom- mom can you hear me?" Luke's voice was soft.

"From the ashes like a Pheonix." May grabbed at both Luke and Percy, her eyes wide, "From the ashes- ashes ashes, into the swirling red into nothing- from the ashes return from- from the ashes, from the sea shall return the storm, the twins come to aid it- the fury of the Earth-"

"She-" Luke cast a lost look towards Percy. "It still happens- they can't stop it."

Then May turned her head, her gaze clearing a little. "The Lord of the Dead makes right his wrongs. You should be there."

"The lo- are you talking about Hades I-"

"Curses are tricky tricky things- tricky. The Fates weave and weave their tapestries. To break a curse before it's time… sacrifices- a lovers last piece in exchange."

"A-" Percy knew one curse Hades would be wanting to break. He'd had to go to the Fates? That- even the gods feared the Fates. For Hades to have gone to them for a favor… "Lovers last piece?" she couldn't help but ask, even if she knew that May probably wouldn't be able to answer. The glow was almost gone and May was slumping, if Luke wasn't there she'd have likely fallen off the chair.

"She's not going to say anything else." Luke's voice was troubled to say the least. "I- was that-"

"I think she was seeing something." Percy nodded at him, meeting his gaze. "I'm not going to stress out trying to make too much sense of it. That never ends well. Look what happened when your dad obsessed over the things she saw."

"He fucked things up worse." Luke whispered the words, "I guess you have a point." His brows furrowed, "What was she talking about with… with Lord Hades?"

"Something I have to look into. I think I know what she's talking about and I need to go to Camp."

"You want me to tell the others after I get mom to my room?"

"You can tell them but I'll head there alone." This was something between her and Hades. And May was right she should be there, which was why she ran back inside, ignoring the startled teens that she barged past, all in various states of readiness for the school day ahead of them.

She ran straight to the roof, to the stone sphinx. It hadn't been used for a few days so Percy was pretty sure it would be fine to use it now, and sure enough when she reached it and opened the portal to the statue she kept in her cabin it worked, and she didn't even wait for the portal to fully close before she was rushing out of her cabin, sprinting past campers, not stopping to greet them even as she got some surprised looks.

Instead she ran. She ran to the Big House. And there was a small crowd of Demigods outside, and she could hear some of them whispering about Lord Hades showing up at Camp.

She pushed past them, rushing up the steps into the big house and through the halls and up the stairs that led to the attic- and she could see Chiron pacing just outside of the trapdoor and ladder that led up to the attic.

He turned his head when he heard her footsteps, speaking before he'd even fully turned to look, "I told everyone to stay outside! I thought Mr. D was keeping-"

"Mr. D never does what anyone wants." Percy gasps the words. "Uncle Hades is in the attic?"

"He's only just- how did you-"

"May told me."

"May-"

"Castellan." She saw Chiron's eyes widen in shock but she didn't give him much time to respond, scrambling up the ladder into the attic. Which was incredibly creepy, largely because it was exactly as it had been in her dreams.

And there was the mummy, the Oracle sat where Percy had seen her in that dream, just as creepy as she had been then.

And Hades was stood a few foot away from it, his back to her. "Leave-" he didn't turn his head, "I care not for-"

"Oh shut it uncle H." and that startled Hades. He turned, his eyes focusing on Percy, shock obvious in them.

"Percy- what are you doing here how-"

"How did I know?" Percy shifted slightly, "May Castellan told me- don't look so shocked." Percy shook her head, "She- she's a little more sane now. Not entirely but the healers at the First Nome did a pretty good job on her. Apparently she's still somewhat prophetic though because she knew about this."

"She did?" Hades voice was soft, "And you came."

"She said I should be here. And I think she was right." Percy hesitated, "You had to go to the Fates?"

"I did." Hades gave a tiny nod.

"May said you had to sacrifice something."

"It was nothing-"

"You got a favor from the Fates, it was something uncle Hades."

There was a long beat of silence before Hades spoke again. "Maria's pearls. They were the only item of hers I kept and I have kept them close at all times for years. To get the Fates to allow me to break this curse before it's time I had to sacrifice something of great personal value."

"Uncle-"

"It is fine." Hades expression softened slightly. "Maria would have never wanted this." He waved his hand at the Oracle, "The girls soul is trapped along with the spirit of Delphi. Has been since she died. Maria would say it was cruel and unjust."

"Well that's true. But still it's a big thing to give up. It matters. If I had to give up my Flounders I'd be devastated."

"It is not all I have of Maria." Hades remarked, "Thanks in no small part to you I have my children back. Safe and happy and healthy." He shook his head. "What I did to the Oracle was wrong, You were right. And it is only right that I fix my mistake."

"You're not alone."

"I know." Hades chuckled lowly. "I do appreciate that niece. Can I hope that I'm forgiven?"

"Most definitely."

"In that case-" Hades turned and closed the gap between himself and the Oracle, placing a hand on her forehead.

The mummy glowed a bright shade of green- the same shade as May's eyes had earlier. And a fog billowed out of her, swirling around violently, writhing.

And then Hades was there, closing his arms around Percy and pulling her into his chest as the light got brighter, forcing her face into his robes, shielding her eyes from the light.

Then it faded and Percy let out a breath as Hades released her, her gaze turning towards the Oracle… which was gone, crumbled to dust.

"Uh-"

"What?" Hades looked startled, "I- the Oracle was freed from the Curse but the mummy shouldn't have disintegrated until someone took the Spirit I don't understand."

"I-" Percy blinked before smiling slowly, a hopeful smile. "I think I do. I think we're going to want to return to Brooklyn House to go fetch Luke and May. I think Apollo might be here soon to meet his new Oracle."