Why yes, this one-shot is written by the wonderful Neri/Kelpie (Asteria_Thalassari )! She's written plenty of one-shots and short stories for the magazines so far, so show her love and appreciation in the comments!

Hazel Levesque's past is one of the most tragic, in my opinion, but also one of the most admirable. Her mother has to be the most psychopathic mortal parent of them all, using her child practially as her and Gaea's person slave. Honestly if you think about it, it's truly horrible. But let's see what her mother actually thinks...

Marie Levesque watched, horrified, as her daughter feebly attempted to stand up to the Earth Mother. She wanted to stop her, to help, anything, but was still too weak, helpless in the face of the danger as Hazel risked the life she'd tried so hard to build for her.

She was a terrible mother. She'd let herself get possessed, she'd lead Hazel into a trap. It was all her fault, her wish for riches, the resulting tragedy.

This wasn't supposed to happen. She was going to sacrifice herself, and Hazel would have been safe. Olympus might fall, sure, but her daughter would have been okay, at least for a little bit longer.

Her daughter was her pride and joy, and it had been her own greed that had forced the curse upon her. Wasn't it only fair that her death would be the repense?

Hazel's eyes glistened with tears, the cavern shuddering with Gaea's rage. She kneeled next to her, grasping each other's hands. She remembered saying something, the words falling from her mouth in a flood of pain and regret.

Hazel had nodded sadly, before rising to stand, facing the rocky wall as if trying to talk to the primordial.

The possession had left Marie dazed, faint. She couldn't make out the words Hazel said as her voice rang clearly through the cavern, but she heard the conviction in her tone.

Emotions fought for dominance, roaring in her heart. Grief, shame, pride. She wished she could have saved her daughter, that she'd never fallen down this horrible path, but was so proud that Hazel had the courage to stand up and fight whereas she'd already fallen to her knees.

The earth shuddered again, but this time it was less constrained, wilder and free. Hazel's eyes gleamed gold, godly power shimmering under her skin.

She was going to bring down the cave.

Marie fell to the ground, her already trembling legs giving way as rocks tumbled down from the walls. Hazel rushed towards her, collapsing beside her as they embraced.

Warm arms wrapped around Marie, thick curls brushing across her face. The cove crumbled around them, the ground splitting apart, rocks tumbling from walls threatening to crush them at any moment as the small island was reclaimed by the wild waters of the sea.

"Hold on, mom. It'll be over soon." Hazel whispered in her ear, a tear dripping down her cheek and splattering on Marie's bare arm.

Mom. Hazel hadn't called her mom in months... not since the possession had happened.

She'd failed. She was supposed to protect her daughter as she grew, but instead, here she was in a collapsing cave, cowering as Hazel comforted her.

"I love you. I'm sorry..." Her voice was cut off by the sound of crumbling rocks and a soft sob. She was sorry for everything. She had so much to apologize for she couldn't even begin.

They pressed their bodies against each other, pebbles and debris striking their vulnerable backs and drawing blood as they crouched low to the ground. The ceiling collapsed, and the soft light of the moon illuminated Hazel's bloody, tear-streaked face.

"I love you too, mom."

Marie Levesque closed her eyes as the avalanche of rock and dust closed in on the pair, swallowing them until they were no more significant than ants crushed beneath a boot.

Sometimes a little angst to put some hair on your chest is a good thing! Really! Be a good neighbor and give this author some love in their other works!