| The Rising Moon: The Awakening of a Demi-Goddess |

█▓▒­░⡷⠂ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ɪᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ⠐⢾░▒▓█

Leo Valdez had been through a lot. First it had been the battle of Gaea, where he had sacrificed himself to save the others, thinking he was worthless. Now he was going into battle with some freaky goddess of chaos whose top general was aboard his ship.

So, yeah. The odds weren't in his favor. 

Or, that's what he wanted everyone to think. 

He had noticed Celestials strange behaviors. The way she had avoided eating food. How she constantly tried to annoy everyone on purpose, as if trying to get on their bad side. The way she looked at Nico sorrowfully when the son of Hades didn't notice; as if regretting her actions.

And the way she cleverly hid her notebook in her backpack. Now the thing was- no good engineer would ever think inside the box.

So Leo installed security cameras in her room without her noticing. He hoped to find at least a bit of information from it.

And information he did find.

He felt pity for the white haired girl. She had frequently woken up in the middle of the night silently screaming, throwing away her food, and even hurting herself. But even in the middle off all of this pain; all of this stress; there was one thing she guarded closely.

The diary. He bit his lip. Celestial had constantly been writing in it, checking off things and updating her secrets. There was something in there. Something big. It was either really good, or really bad. 

So he constructed a plan. Right now the others were just about to speak with Celestial, telling her some made up excuse on why there were going away for a bit, when in truth, they were going to get a truth serum to use on her. He would sneak into her room, steal the notebook, and see what was so important. 

He perked up, hearing the thudding of of steps and the creak of an opening door. She just entered the room. Go time. 

Leo wasn't a very good thief, but when he was dedicated; holy Hera he could do anything. He creaked open her door and rapidly searched the room for the black backpack she usually stuffed it in. One minute. Two.

Where is it? I'm screwed if she comes in now! Three. Four. While searching the bed, he felt something hard under his foot. He bent down and saw the notebook, slightly peaking out from under the bed. Gods, yes! He knew he couldn't read the whole thing before she came, so he stuffed it between his jacket and hustled out, hoping he would get something good out of doing all of this.

And yes he did.

Celestial bit her lip. Just like she had prophesied, things were already going off track. Leo hadn't interpreted the message yet, which would give her the signal to leave. Instead, the others were 'going out' for a bit to restock on supplies. She didn't buy it.

And her powers still weren't working. Her stupid gloves wouldn't get off, so she knew she was stuck for sure. Mentally dying, she climbed below deck, only to be stopped by...

"Valdez? What do you want?" She asked tiredly, rolling her eyes. Was it just her, or did Leo look a bit more rattled than usual.

"Come. Me. With. Now," The words were rocky as he then pulled her hand above deck and into the engine room. What on Earth?! She confusedly followed as he locked the door behind them and threw down a notebook. Her notebook.

"Where did you- you didn't- no. Nononononononon-" Her head started to spin. He must have read it all. And he told the others. Soon they would know about her plan. They would stop her. She collapsed, digging her fingers in her hair. All the sacrifices she made would have been for nothing. All because of Valdez. Stupid, stupid Val-

"Woah, calm down Snow head. Breathe," He said calmly, giving out his hand for her to grab. She flicked it away and clenched her fists at him.

"Who gave you the right to-"

"I did, seeing that you're our prisoner. But, Celestial. This plan.. it's... it's....."

"I know! I know, I know, I know! You think I didn't go over this thousands of times in my mind? You think I didn't question my very life, Leo Valdez?" She screamed at him, tears starting to roll. Leo gave her a pitying glance- she hated that, and she stood up ruefully, snatching the book.

"It's brilliant, I mean. Tricking a goddess? How did you even manage to- off point. Anyways, you can't do this, Celestial. It's too-"

"What, dangerous? We're demi-gods, Leo. Our lives our made just to be toyed with by the gods! You better not breath a word about this to the others unless I'm dead," She breathed shakily. Leo looked uncertain, like he wanted to listen to her, but couldn't.

"Or else..." Her eyes brightened, a small spark of hope forming. "You'll break your oath on Styx," She added slyly, a small, sad grin forming on her face. He frowned, giving her a questioning look.

"Styx? What do you mean swear on-"

"Remember the truth or dare? How you owed me an oath on Styx. I use it. Right. Now. You do not speak, tell, or interact with anyone or anything about this conversation. Understand?" She asked, angrily begging. Leo gave her a sad look, and for a moment, it was just the two of them. Her, emotionally damaged, and broken, and him, unsure and unable.

Slowly, he pulled something shiny out of his pocket, and she flinched pulling back. Without warning, he tossed it to her, and her reflexes quickly reacted, catching it immediately. It was the-

"Wha..?" The hexagonal device. The moment her hands touched it, her gloves immediately loosened and started to slip out. She looked at Leo in bewilderment, who didn't meet her in the eye.

"I'll the others you fought me and disarmed the gloves, making you escape. Then I'll alert them about... the battle. They should be able to make it to Camp Half Blood in a day, so be quick," Leo instructed. Celestial's heart melted. Before Leo could react, she hugged him, murmuring a thanks to the gods.

"Thank you. You- you don't know how much this means for me," She whispered, picking up the notebook and glancing at it. He gave her a sorrowful look.

"Yeah- I know what it's like. To sacrifice yourself, I mean," He commented. She looked at him, then back at the notebook, and placed it in his hands.

"If I- when I... when I die... I want you to show this to the others. There's a will in a secret compartment. Don't read it until my- my funeral, okay?" Her voice cracked. Leo let out a breath, and swallowed. He gently tucked the notebook in a compartment in the engine room and opened the window for her, handing her her backpack.

"You didn't need to use your oath on me, by the way," He said quietly. She knew. And started to lean out the window.

"Leo... tell Nico.... tell him I'm sorry," She whispered, a tear glistening at the corner of her eye. Leo gave her his final glance, before nodding.

"I promise."