This chapter was edited by Gladiusx.

Percy breathed heavily as he finally gutted the giant Telekhine that had acted as leader of this pack and forced it to the ground. Even in its death throes, the dying monster tried to slash him with its claws, only for Hylla to stab its arm away from him, and Tyson crushed its head with his sledgehammer. The intense heat of the volcano was nearly unbearable for him, yet he soldiered on, even as Hylla and Rachel endured with their regular demigod physique.

The forge itself was smaller than the one under St Helens, yet followed a similar design. A rocky ridge circled the cavern, with a network of metal bridges spanning across it. At the center was a sprawling clearing with all sorts of machines, cauldrons, forges, furnaces, bloomeries, and smelters. There was even a massive triphammer built over a large metallic platform that reminded him of that gigantic anvil under St Helens. Those were just the things he identified, as there were all sorts of instruments that he was sure had names but, to him, looked like alien technology. Multiple ponds of lava were within easy reach, presumably to help with forging, but the Telekhines had used it extensively as ammo.

Percy had taken the lion's share of the enemies as he lured as many of them as possible around the machinery in the forge. It was a tough fight, as he was out of his element. Even his heat resistance was not enough to protect him from the occasional lava thrown at him, but at least he was better prepared, and unlike last time, he had friends with him for support.

"Are you okay, everyone?" He checked his crew, starting with Tyson. The Cyclops had taken the brunt of the attacks at first, when the Telekhines confused him for a regular demigod because of the goggles he wore and threw lava at him. The joke was on them, though, as he simply ran through the molten liquid and smashed them by the dozen.

Hylla had stood her ground well, supporting Tyson and Rachel whenever they needed help, switching between spear and shield, and using her rifle. Her armor was dented in some places, and her left arm was bleeding from where her shield had finally failed her, breaking to pieces, and got clawed by one of the Telekhines.

Rachel had saved her then as she found vantage points and sniped at the monsters. At some point, she ran out of rifle rounds and joined the rest with her revolvers. Percy looked at where she was limping as she got hit by stray lava on her legs, but Tyson was fast enough to wipe it away, though it did leave blisters and burns.

"Yeah, might need a pick me up." The red-haired girl grimaced, and Percy felt bad about what he would have to tell her.

"Sorry, Rachel. It's not safe to consume Ambrosia again so soon since the last time. Tyson, get the medkit out. I think I saw burn cream in there." They were all gathered in an empty clearing of the forge that might have been the sleeping quarters of the Telekhines. After administering first-aid to those who needed it, Hylla being proficient in healing, as well as eating some Ambrosia for himself, they made their way out of the forge.

"Why don't we grab some of those metals for Tyson to work with?" Rachel pointed at the numerous sacks of ore carelessly piled in one corner while trying not to scratch the gauze on her calf.

"You want to steal from a god, Rachel?" The ridiculousness of her comment caught up with her, and she significantly paled.

"Never mind."

They went through the oval door and were greeted by the shining sun. Without a word, Percy hurried to the shore and jumped into the sea. The sheer pleasure and relief he felt from being home was immeasurable. His injuries were healing, and his mind cleared. He knew from experience that the extra energy would fade the moment he surfaced from the sea, so he didn't stay long underwater. After surfacing, he found his crew already boarding the rowboat, and he hurriedly joined them.

"Sorry about that, I needed a quick refresher." Percy shrugged at his crew's exhausted and peeved looks. They were probably just jealous.

"Why don't you take a dip as well, Tyson?" He willed the boat to take them back to the ship and looked curiously at his brother. The two girls were also curious and listened closely.

"I don't get healed from seawater like you." His brother sounded peeved as he idly rubbed a bandage where he was clawed, but Hylla slapped his hand away. "I can breathe, see, and speak underwater, and the pressure never bothers me, but healing? Only if Dad is actively watching." The Cyclops shook his head in disbelief. "You lucked out with that ability, brother. When they say you are Dad's favorite, it's not only because he likes you. The sea itself likes you."

Percy hummed thoughtfully. It was true that he always felt energized and healed any wounds in water, even more so in seawater. He even remembered getting poisoned by the Chimera, yet the Mississippi River cured him. Tyson and Rachel looked awed and slightly jealous, while Hylla looked forlorn. He pitied her, not knowing her mother, who clearly did not care about her or her sister.

The boat continued on its way to the ship, and they were met with the Hippocampi along the way, followed by Blackjack, who had Reyna riding him.

"You're alive! You look like crap, though." Was the girl's articulate greeting, which was met with tired groans. Once they were on the ship and the rowboat stowed away, they all hurried to shower again before they reconvened on the main deck.

"Alright, Hylla. You will need to contact Hephaestus and tell him the good news."

"Are you sure you would rather not do it? You are the Captain, and you were instrumental in taking down half the monsters yourself." The Latina girl had mellowed out a lot since they met a few hours ago. Fighting together on the same side against a vile enemy was among the best ways to establish friendships.

"Positive. Reyna, stand with your sister. I will make a rainbow, and you IM him. You know how it works, right?" At Hylla's nod, he gave her a Drachma and willed some seawater to spray in the air, causing a rainbow to form, much to Reyna's delight. The others had small smiles as well, but they were too tired for any exuberance.

"Oh, Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering." Hylla intoned quickly and tossed the drachma into the rainbow. "Hephaestus, he's expecting me."

The rainbow seemed to blink before the feed switched to the gruesome figure of Hephaestus drinking deeply from a mug of beer in what looked like a divine poker game. Percy could see Hermes, who was trying to steal a card from Apollo, who was serenading a busty nymph with his lyre, only for said nymph to scamper away as she giggled with the god following her. Hermes quickly pocketed Apollo's earnings before vanishing away from the speed he ran.

"Lord Hephaestus." Using the chance where the god was alone, Hylla called clearly. The god glanced at the feed, and for a moment, Percy could've sworn he seemed to…glitch. Like, his image changed from the genial god to a more brutal-looking man with fire in his eyes and beard. Percy blinked, and Hephaestus stared at them strangely before his eyes widened in recognition.

"Well, I'll be. You have found yourself in strange company, Hylla. Considering that, I take it you completed the quest?"

Hylla nodded wordlessly. "I see; give me a minute, and I'll be over." The forge god waved his hand, and the Iris Message ended. Suddenly, a pillar of fire appeared on the island, and they could see Hephaestus walking out of it. He noticed the still-open door of his forge and walked in for a minute before coming back out. Another flash of flames, and he was on the deck, causing Percy to frown slightly. He better not burn his ship.

"My lord, we have completed your quest and cleared your forge." Hylla formally declared with a bow. The god, however, waved her off.

"Don't bother groveling to me, girlie. I won't lie; I didn't truly expect you to succeed when I gave you that quest. I'm glad you've proven me wrong." They looked shocked at the god's words, and Hylla seemed quite pissed, judging by the way she balled her fists so strongly her knuckles had gone white. Yet, her face remained respectful, even when her eyes smoldered with fury. "Then again," the god continued, ignoring their looks. "With Perseus Jackson on your side, I'd bet my money on you killing a titan, let alone a few monsters." Hephaestus gave a nod of respect to him, which he politely returned.

"B-but then, why would you give it in the first place?" Hylla shook in fury, even as she was distraught at the lack of confidence in her.

"Dunno, sometimes, we gods do things that we just can't explain. Even I, who greatly values rational thinking, sometimes do things that are plain irrational." The god looked peeved at the idea of not understanding his actions, and Percy was getting confused by the minute. "Then again, the point of giving impossible quests like this is to test the mortal's resolve and mettle as well as their good fortune. You have passed all the tests and should be honored regardless." The god scratched his beard before looking around. "Don't you have anything to drink here?"

"Of course, Hephaestus." Tyson's reply was excited as the Cyclops rushed to place a foldable table and chair along with a wine bottle that they found in his Dad's personal collection that he left in the Captain's cabin. The god sat and poured himself a generous portion in a glass he produced. Once he took a sip, he nodded approvingly.

"One of Poseidon's collection, eh? I prefer beer, but still good stuff. Old barnacle beard has excellent taste, though I suspect that has more to do with his wife than anything."

It was then that Hephaestus took a look at the ship and the rest of the crew. Like last time, the god smiled gently at Tyson and gave him a nod of approval. The Cyclops looked ecstatic, like a fanboy meeting his idol. Hephaestus gave a soft smile to Reyna as well before his gaze landed on Rachel. His face, which had a gentle smile so far, scowled in annoyance, causing the girl's eyes to widen in shock as sweat gathered on her head. Percy stood protectively in front of her, his hand holding Riptide in pen form, and glared right back at the forge god, causing the winds to get agitated and the sea to rock the boat. The warning was clear, but the god chuckled in amusement.

"Oh, calm down, Jackson. I won't blast your friend just because my dear mother took a shining to her." He waved his hands, and several seats appeared around him, "Sit. Let us finish this matter first."

They looked at each other, but everyone waited for Percy to make the first move. As the Captain of the ship, he understood the responsibility and power he held over his crew and took a seat right across from the god. Rachel joined him on his right, with Tyson on her right, while Hylla sat on his left with her sister on her left.

"So, first things first, Hylla." The girl on his left stiffened and stared at the god as he idly sipped from the wine glass. "I am a god of my word. You have cleared my forge, regardless of the help you recruited, and now I am offering you either a boon or a way to the mainland. What will it be?"

The girl's mouth opened and closed several times before she looked at the god with determined eyes. "I believe you told me you could provide a home for me and my sister. A place for us to belong and feel safe."

"You seem to have found that place all by yourself." The god shrugged as he waved his hands carelessly at the ship. "It is not easy to gain the trust and friendship of someone like him." Hephaestus pointed at Percy with his chin, causing him to frown, yet he remained silent. He would not rise to the bait and let the god finish his piece. "Yet the lad is infamous for his loyalty to loved ones. Some on Olympus even wonder if it is his fatal flaw, and fear he would rather watch the world burn than sacrifice his friends."

The Son of the Sea God stared at the God of Fire intently. Is that what they believed of him? Percy would easily agree that he would do whatever it takes for his friends, but would he allow for, say, Olympus to be burned, so his friends could survive?

"It's too bad that not many on Olympus have deigned to gain my friendship, then." He almost regretted saying the words after they left his tongue. There was no need to look for trouble with a god – especially one usually genial to demigods and mortals.

"Heh, cheeky brat." Thankfully, Hephaestus didn't take offense and opted to sip from his wine glass instead.

"But… what if we don't plan to stay with Percy? What would be our options?" Hylla still looked lost and slightly confused, but the sooner she learned that the gods are not, in fact, rational beings, the better.

"Simply put? A new lease on life." Hephaestus shrugged, face impassive. "I could create new IDs for you and your sister, new social security numbers, an entirely new identity and background if you wished for a different name, along with some cash. You're nineteen, right?" At the girl's nod, the god continued. "It would be beyond simple for me to set you up for a new life in a house for you and your sister. A city of your choosing so long as it's in the continental United States, a possible good future, a new career, or maybe you would like to go to college? A letter of recommendation, all of this is beyond simple for me."

Percy could hear the but coming since before the god started speaking. Sure enough, Hylla asked.

"But?"

"But you are still demigods. Powerful ones at that. You would attract monsters aplenty, no matter your choice of life. Sure, I can send you to Camp Half-Blood, but we are in the middle of a war now, and the camp just suffered a devastating attack. Would you risk yours and your sister's life in a war that could destroy the very fabric of our world?"

Hephaestus' words struck a chord with Percy. He had not been impressed with the god during their meetings, what with his belief that people, whether mortal or immortal, were unreliable, and it's better to be alone and surrounded by unliving machinery. Yet here he was, making sure that Hylla understood perfectly what he was offering and what she was getting into if she agreed. Any other god would not think twice before giving a half-hearted boon and washing their hands from the matter.

"… No. I will not fight some war for people I don't even know. For a mother who never bothered to check on us." Hylla's response was firm, but she still gave a hesitant look at him, and Percy knew what she was worried about.

"Don't worry. You and your sister will always have a place on my ship, at least until we're done with our quest. I can't promise it would be completely safe, but as Lord Hephaestus said, nowhere is safe these days." The older girl gave him a relieved smile, and it was the first time she looked so relaxed since they met her.

"Heh, smart choice." The god turned to Percy and gave a strange look. "What I'm confused about is what you are even doing here, of all places."

"Quest," Percy repeated simply.

"Certainly not an Olympus-sanctioned one."

"My Dad and Hera seemed to approve of it enough." He shrugged and noticed the god's face darken at his mother's name, though he sighed afterward.

"Fair enough. It would explain why my mother would take an interest in you." The god looked at Rachel this time. "You do not truly understand the implications of my mother turning a mortal, even a clear-sighted one, into a demigod. Essentially, all but declaring you to be her daughter with all the benefits and curses it pertains."

"She what?!" Rachel's voice sounded like a squeak, and Percy could understand. So Hera really was the one to bless his friend.

"Oh yes, just look up if you don't believe me." Hephaestus poured himself another glass of wine, and they looked above Rachel's head just in time to see a lotus staff symbol shining brightly for a few seconds before fading away.

"Huh," all Percy could do was blink smartly at the red-haired girl.

"Huh, indeed." The god agreed with him. "Mother dearest doesn't trust me to meet her favorites." Hephaestus sighed tiredly, and Percy felt bad for him. He could never imagine Sally Jackson treating him with such suspicion and disdain. "Now, back to the matter at hand. I suppose you will all want to be rewarded for helping me out. Here." He waved his hand, and a fireball appeared in front of him, spitting out a golden shield that flew to Hylla, a massive booklet that went to Tyson, and finally, a shining blue crystal that went to Percy. The crystal was beautiful, and Percy could feel immense power from it.

Hephaestus stood up and drained the last of his glass, though he took the bottle with him. "I made that shield at the behest of the woman who raised and took care of me when my mother abandoned me. When its owner passed on, It returned to me. Take good care of it, girl, and it will serve you well."

Hylla nodded rapidly as she held the massive Hoplon shield that shone a brilliant gold in the sun and showed plenty of different images engraved on it. It looked heavy, but the older girl managed to lift it well enough.

"My dear Cyclops." The god turned to Tyson next, who was already reading the booklet that, even in his large hands, looked large enough to cover half the table. "These are some of my notes and designs for products I envisioned but either failed or didn't have the opportunity to make. I know, impossible for the god of forges to fail in his inventions, right?" He added bemusedly, "you mortals have come up with two phrases that I sincerely like: Failure is the mother of success, and Necessity is the mother of invention. I wonder who the lucky bastard who bedded both Failure and Necessity?" Hephaestus asked suddenly and had a far-off look on his face before shaking his head. "Never mind, I've lost count of the number of gods and goddesses that popped up over the millennia. Anyway, as a god, it's hard for me to fail and even harder for me to necessitate anything. I have learned that sometimes, a mortal's touch and mindset, as well as the struggles they face in their short lives, could be what is needed to make the difference."

"But, I'm a Cyclops," Tyson said sadly. "Does that mean I won't be able to succeed either?"

"Nonsense, my boy." The god placed a comforting hand on Tyson's shoulder. "You have all the good qualities from being raised as a mortal combined with your Cyclops blood that gives a lot of advantages in forging. I believe in you, Tyson." The Cyclops looked beyond ecstatic and held the booklet in his arms like a sacred text, which, for all intents and purposes, was one, considering a god gifted it.

"Finally, you, Perseus." Hephaestus took his time to gaze at him curiously. "I do not know what your quest is, but considering where we are and our last meeting, I can easily guess. Calypso is a hell of a lass, and I would have done anything to wed her instead of my slut of a wife." They looked awkwardly at the blatant insult to the goddess of love, and Percy hoped she wouldn't try to punish him for remarks he just happened to listen to. "Do you have a plan?"

"Sort of," Percy shrugged. "I know I will be able to get to Ogygia. Getting Calypso out, though… I'm still working on it."

"Well, you will have more time to think this through this time." The god shrugged as he made his way to the railing and waved his hand, causing a portal of fire to form. "My advice to you is the same as last time. Oh, and be careful with that stone. It's incredibly powerful and might be useful in the future. I figured since you like blue baubles, you would appreciate this, but that thing has as much power as one of old thunder-beard's bolts."

The god laughed when Percy freaked out and nearly dropped the suddenly more ominous-looking crystal and walked into the portal, which disappeared with a final statement.

May you live in interesting times, Perseus Jackson.

P*O*D

Hylla sat by the massive cannon on the bow of the ship, listening to the sound of the Cyclops working on the deck, fixing the flooring from the bird attacks. She inspected the massive golden shield that the god of forges rewarded her. It was a beautiful thing, completely round except for two sockets on each end to lean a spear on… or a rifle. It was made from the same material as her spear, though of much higher quality. Like an extremely high quality that even comparing the two was a ridiculous notion. There were many intricate engravings in each corner, and she inspected one of them that had the earth, seas, and heavens, the sun and moon, and the bright constellations in the sky.

Even she, with her middling knowledge of art, knew every single one could easily be considered an artistic masterpiece.

There were more images and carvings on the other quarters of the shield that Hylla didn't recognize but could understand well enough. They were scenes of peace and war. Her knowledge of Greek myth wasn't the best, as she had been cloistered with Circe since she was twelve, and the witch, while generous and knowledgeable, never taught them anything. It's been almost seven years since that day, the day her sister was forced to kill their father, and they ran away.

She shook her head and swept that train of thought from her mind. Hylla leaned her new shield on the cannon and closed her eyes, enjoying the wind as the ship followed the Hippocampi towards the setting sun. It was unfortunate that the shield didn't have a transforming enchantment like the Captain's sword or a collapsing mechanism like his shield, but she was still delighted with the gift.

Thinking of Percy Jackson gave her conflicted feelings. On the one hand, he was the cause of the misery they had to endure over the last year, yet she would also acknowledge that she never agreed with Circe's methods. Hylla had pretended that everything their patron did had a purpose, that the men she turned into animals were all evil, and for the most part, they usually were. However, were they truly? Or did they turn the way they were due to the long, unjust imprisonment by the witch?

On the other hand, she had grown by leaps and bounds over the past year, thanks to that strife. The eldest member of the crew questioned the forge god's words, however. He believed that she and her sister were powerful. Hylla had thought Teach was the most powerful demigod she had ever met, but seeing Percy Jackson in combat had made her truly question her worldview.

Which brought her back again to the main crux of the matter. Percy Jackson… Hylla honestly couldn't bring herself to hate the boy, as he had proven good-natured at heart. If there was anyone whom she believed did not deserve Circe's treatment, it would be him. The former attendant was the one who first greeted him and his friend at the spa, after all, and she still remembered how weary and grief-ridden they were. Hylla later learned from Rachel the details of that quest of theirs, which was one of the reasons she had also accepted Tyson's presence, despite his monstrous form.

It also helped that her sister had taken a shine to him, and Reyna was a better judge of character than her. Then again, he did save her life without thought, just like a hero… Hylla feared that her sister had grown a bit of hero worship for their new captain. The thought brought a smile and then an unbidden chuckle out of her.

Footsteps behind her broke her thoughts, and she opened her eyes, noticing that the sun had long set, and the moon was shining down on her. There were no sounds on the deck, so Tyson probably finished the repairs. Hylla stretched and yawned after the impromptu nap, then turned her head to find the red-haired girl, Rachel, approaching with a grin and a six-pack of Dr Pepper.

"Thought you would want a drink and maybe share what's so funny?" She accepted the chilled can in gratitude and popped it. Rachel sat next to her and bumped her can with hers before they drank deeply and watched the moon.

"Just fearing that my sister is getting a bit of hero worship on our captain." Rachel giggled, and Hylla smiled along with her.

"Percy does that sometimes. For the life of him, he could never leave anyone in distress without helping them." That was something she could respect. An intrusive thought wedged into her mind, what if Percy was there to help them before they met Circe? The thought went nowhere, as the boy would barely be nine years old at the time.

"Is that how you met him?" The older girl looked curiously at her new friend, whose smile had turned wooden.

"The first time we met, he tried to cut me in half with that sword of his." Hylla was glad she wasn't drinking, or she would have choked on the liquid.

"He what now?" From there, the discussion devolved to Rachel's first meeting with Percy, to their future meetings, and how she joined them on their quest in a massive labyrinth. It culminated with her getting blessed by the queen of the gods and joining him on this quest.

"Wow, you've had more excitement in the past few weeks than I did in a year."

"I supposed so, I can't deny that I'm having the time of my life." The green-eyed girl's face gained a wicked smirk, "the adventure, the constant fighting, the explosions… I feel alive for the first time in my life."

Hylla looked at her friend strangely, though the thought did strike a chord with her. "I will admit that I have also enjoyed the power and the excitement that came over the past year. Perhaps my only fear was Reyna's safety, and that's why it was subdued." She finished her can, crushed it, and put it aside before grabbing another one.

A comfortable silence descended upon them as they enjoyed their drinks. "So, how are you holding up? Have any problems with your room or the beds?"

Hylla looked at the younger girl strangely. "I haven't tried the beds yet, Rachel."

"I guess you haven't, huh? So, are you still annoyed at Percy?" Rachel smiled awkwardly as she fingered a hole in her jeans.

"Nothing of the sort." Hylla smiled at her drinking companion. "I've accepted that Percy had no choice in the matter, and what happened was a series of unfortunate events. What's important is that Reyna and I are safe and have a place where we don't have to look behind our backs all the time." She waved her hand at the ship, accidentally spilling a bit of soda, "I like the ship; it's almost magical. I'm sure with time, we could call it home." She drained the last of her drink before crushing the can and eyeing another Dr Pepper for a second but decided against it. The Latina girl could already feel her stomach protesting.

"I know, right? The ship just doesn't make sense sometimes. Besides, you have yet to see the gaming room." Hylla almost cricked her neck as she turned swiftly to her new friend.

"There's a gaming room?!" Rachel's sly grin as she nodded had her on her feet in excitement. "Well, what are we waiting for? It's been forever since I watched TV."

Before they could head to the galley, they heard splashing sounds from the water and horse neighs. Looking at the sea, they were surprised to find a wall of mist and fog stretching beyond the horizon. Hylla could have sworn that there was nothing of the sort a minute ago. Even at night, the full moon and the star-filled skies had the whole sea illuminated. The Hippocampi had stopped short of the mist and looked confused to them.

"Let's call, Percy. I think we've arrived."

.

.

.

"Well, I can certainly confirm that I have no clue if there's a sea beyond that mist, or it's the end of the world and we're gonna fall over to Khaos."

It's been a couple of hours since they came upon the mist and woke Percy from sleep, and they were all gathered at the bow, staring at the mysterious wall of mist. Reyna was yawning from being awakened from her sleep as well, while Tyson was handing out coffee and tea for those who wanted. Hylla gratefully took a mug of tea, as she wasn't a fan of coffee, and sipped on the dark liquid's warmth as Percy returned from exploring the mist.

"But you were still capable of sensing where we were, right?" Rachel was also looking strangely at the mist, and from what she understood of her clear sight, it was possible she saw things they just could not perceive.

"Yeah." The Captain was pacing on the deck with a deep frown, "I was in there for over an hour, and it felt like I was swimming in the same spot. The fact that I could feel where the ship was, and thus the exit, confused the hell out of me." He paused as he looked curiously at the red-haired girl, "Do you see something?"

The clear-sighted demigod gripped the railings as she glared at the mist intensely. "It's… strange. I think I do see something, but it's hidden. Like…something is obfuscating them from me." Rachel shook her head in frustration. "I have a strong feeling that if I could see it in its entirety, I would be able to plot a route through the mist."

Reyna chose this time to yawn loudly. "Why don't we wait for morning, then? I can barely see the mist as it is, anyway."

Percy froze at her sister's words for a full minute before slapping his forehead with a groan of frustration. They all looked strangely at their Captain, who moved quickly to her sister, causing them to flinch, before grabbing her by the shoulders.

"Reyna… You are an absolute Genius!" The sheer joy in Percy's face stopped Hylla from her instinctive reaction of drawing her dagger at the boy. She huffed inwardly; looked like she was still jumpy.

"Uh, what? What did I say again?" Reyna, on the other hand, took it in stride and stared confused at their Captain.

"It's simple; even Hephaestus told me about it." The son of Poseidon let go of her sister and turned to a boggled Rachel. "There's a path, but you can't see it because it's nighttime. Last time I was in Ogygia, I had to wait for dawn to leave."

Understanding finally bloomed on Rachel's face, "So we just need to wait for dawn, and I should see the path?"

"Hopefully, I could still be wrong." Percy shrugged before clapping his hands. "Nothing for us to lose. Alright, crew, it's three in the morning, and sunrise is in three hours. Anyone who wants to nap, go ahead, and I'll wake you up. Or if you have another suggestion…"

"Aye, aye, Captain!" Rachel raised her hand, waving it excitedly before placing it on Hylla's shoulder, causing her to flinch. "Hylla here hadn't had the pleasure of exploring the entertainment room yet. I suggest we wheel in that 100" screen and have a movie night out in the open-air."

"Uh, what? Rachel, you don't–"

"An excellent suggestion, Officer Dare. Tyson, please bring what the good officer has asked. Reyna? Want to join me in the kitchens to prepare yet another feast?"

"Heck yeah! See you in a while, sis."

Before Hylla could even ask which movie they would watch, everyone rushed to do their orders, and it was only her and Rachel on the deck.

"Looks like your sister is also excited. Wasn't she all yawning and complaining earlier?" The redhead grinned at her as she set up a table on the deck. Hylla sighed in exasperation and helped her with the chairs.

"We never had a movie night before."

"First time for everything, aye?"

"Whatever you say, Officer Dare."

The sound of their laughter echoed out to the sea as the rest of the crew gradually returned to deck.

.

.

.

"It's time."

Hylla flinched as Percy woke her up. She looked around, finding herself sleeping on one of the lounge chairs with Reyna at her side. Tyson was clearing up the screen and equipment, and she remembered falling asleep midway through The Little Mermaid after they watched Princess Bride. Apparently, Reyna couldn't stay up for long, either.

After waking up her sister, Hylla followed Percy to the bow, where the sun had just started to rise. Rachel was staring intently at the mist.

"I can already see a difference; a path is clearing up, but I need more light."

Percy hummed while Hylla looked at the unchanging mist. It didn't matter; she trusted Rachel knew what she was doing. It was a few minutes later, when they were all gathered at the bow and the sun's rays shone behind them, that Rachel gasped.

"There! There it is! Just follow my directions."

"You got it, Rachel." The ship suddenly came alive as the air was filled with whistling sounds of ropes being snapped taut, canvases unfurling, and the long chain of the anchor retracted into the ship. Splashing sounds behind her had her turn to find that the three Hippocampi had jumped onboard and joined the black Pegasus.

They sailed through the mist, and Hylla still could not see anything, yet the Captain followed the Clear-Sighted demigod's directions closely. It must have been an hour later when they finally exited the mist, and what she saw had her jaw drop in shock.

It was paradise… there was no other way to describe the island ahead of her except for it being heaven. Hylla had thought Circe's island was beautiful, yet it looked like a junkyard compared to Ogygia. The island wasn't large, but it wasn't particularly small either. She could see both ends of the island from where the ship approached, and it looked to be at least five miles across.

Speaking of the ship, Percy was grinning like mad, and the vessel sped through the clearest waters that Hylla had ever seen. So clear that it couldn't be seawater, as the bottom below could be seen as if they were looking through a crystal mirror, full of large and healthy marine life. Her eyes returned to the island, where she could see three forested hills and luscious green woodland of cedar, neat bushes of flowers, and birds of paradise.

None of that could hold a candle, however, to the vision of sheer beauty that stood on the shore with a look of pure, unadulterated shock on her timeless face.

Percy was right; you had to see Calypso to judge her beauty.

Failure and Necessity are actually two goddesses in Greek myths that are usually forgotten, Eris and Penia. It's just a cool trivia I put in. Kudos to anyone who recognizes whose shield Hylla is using, Hephaestus will regret giving it away so easily once it's gone forever.

I always wondered why aren't there more characters who used guns in the books? As far as I know, the only instance of any usage of guns was the cannon on the Argo II that was only used to attack New Rome. Against monsters and baddies, though? Annabeth's dad with his flying plane, who has shown that even a mortal can kill monsters, yet it was never replicated later on, which was a huge shame.

It felt like Riordan pretended guns didn't exist when they could have killed Kronos with a sniper rifle a mile away using a Celestial Bronze round. Most likely to keep the books fit for children, or some other inane reasoning, like him being an anti-gun Liberal. None of this bullshit here, this is the real-world kiddos, and One Piece won't run on anime troupes either.

I'm basing Ogygia off the real-life island of Gozo, close to Malta. It's traditionally been associated with Calypso's island, so it only seemed fitting to use it as a basis here.

Editor's note: And today is the day… when we almost get to meet Calypso. Cya next time lads and lasses.

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