Finding You Always
Also on Fanfiction.net and A03
Chapter 215: The Adventure Begins
Dione caressed her sleeping daughter's face, as her husband stood behind her and held her close.
"She's been through so much…" Dione mentioned.
"I know...and much of it is my fault. I am sorry, my love...I failed you and our precious daughter," Zeus apologized. It sounded incredibly foreign coming from him, because Zeus was not known for apologizing to anyone for anything. But Dione was different. He had been a different man with her and without her had become something she didn't recognize.
"I forgive you and it's not all your fault. We know now that there were those determined to hurt our daughter, simply due to their hatred of us and desire for the power I gave her," Dione responded.
"Where is Hera now?" Zeus asked the Goddess of the Underworld.
"In Underbrooke...as you can imagine Hera has much unfinished business," Nyx answered.
"I don't care...bring her down here. I want judgement!" Zeus hissed, but Dione stilled him.
"She will receive it...but our daughter deserves to confront her with all that she has done to keep her from her true love," she reasoned. Zeus' anger dissipated slightly and he conceded her point for now.
"The Collector...is he in Underbrooke as well?" Dione asked.
"He is...sitting in the cushy Mayor's seat. If you'd like them both brought down here...it can be arranged," Nyx said.
"Yes...they will face my daughter when she awakens and then receive judgement," Zeus replied.
~*~
Flashback
Aphrodite hummed to herself, as she passed her time in her mother's garden. Now that she was gone, she was determined to take care of the flora her mother loved so much, especially since Hera had no interest in it. Her mother's chalice sat atop a pedestal in the center of the garden, surrounded by the most beautiful display of flowers one could ever imagine.
"Aphrodite…" Blue said, as she appeared and the blonde smiled. The Blue Fairy, loyal to her father, had always been kind to her.
"Hello Blue," she greeted.
"I think I have found a pair worthy of your mother's chalice," Blue revealed in excitement.
"You have?" Aphrodite asked.
"Yes…I will show you," she replied, as she took the young Goddess' hand and brought her to the viewing pond.
"Did they have a spark?" Aphrodite asked.
"A spark?" Blue asked in confusion.
"Mother said that I would know the pair to bestow the chalice to when they shared the first spark of true love. It is very rare and only happens to the truest of loves. It is sparked and creates life, usually in the form of a true love sapling," Aphrodite explained, recalling her mother's stories.
"Oh...well, I don't know about that, but I assure you that this pair is deeply in love like I have never seen," Blue lied, as a couple appeared in the waters.
"Oh...who are they?" Aphrodite asked.
"The man is an explorer named Sirius Clayton and the woman is from a noble family from Thebes. Her name is Beryl Tsaoussis," Blue replied.
"Can I meet them?" she asked.
"You know how leery your father is of you interacting with mortals. You are the Goddess of beauty. Mortal men and Gods alike clamor to make you theirs," Blue warned.
"But I must meet them if I am to determine they are my champions," Aphrodite insisted.
"But I can be the messenger for you...and present the chalice to them," Blue offered.
"Ohh...you don't know, do you?" Aphrodite asked.
"Know what, dear?" Blue asked.
"Mama feared that some would try to take advantage of the chalice's power, so she put protections on it," Aphrodite replied. Blue frowned.
"Protections?" Blue questioned. The blonde beauty nodded.
"Besides Daddy and me, only those I choose as my champions can touch the Chalice. Anyone else will be incinerated, because mama knew that some would seek its power and if it fell into the wrong hands...then evil would reign and doom the entire realm," Aphrodite replied. Blue was seething inside. This was a complication neither she nor Hera had foreseen and the latter would be livid as well.
"But now that you've brought them to my attention, I can observe them for a spark and if they're the ones...I will deem them my champions, just as my mother would want," Aphrodite declared. Blue forced a smile and nodded.
"Of course dear...I will go now and observe them from afar as well," Blue said, as she shrank into her fairy size and left Olympus. Hera would be furious when she learned of this complication in their plan and they would have to come up with a way around this road block.
~*~
Present Day
Rose closed the book and sighed, digesting all that she had read. Her husband looked at her, as he had been reading along with her.
"I had no idea the Collector's family went back so far," Fandral mentioned.
"It makes sense though. His ancestor was promised the power of the chalice and he obviously never got it," Rose said.
"Yes...that would explain Clayton's obsession with it," Fandral agreed, as she put the book aside for the night.
"I had no idea Blue's deception went back so far and so deeply. I almost fear to learn what she did to Aphrodite, but I know we must. She deserves justice," Rose said.
"And she will have it. The Blue Fairy will not evade me forever. Zorro has enlisted Maleficent's help to track her," he replied. She smiled at that.
"Can you believe that Zorro had a child with Maleficent and didn't even know it?" she asked. He chuckled.
"With Zorro...yes, I can believe that. He considers himself quite the catch," he joked. She looked at him slyly.
"Perhaps, but for me...you are the ultimate catch," she said, as she climbed into his lap and straddled him.
"I am the man I am, because of you, my angel," he assured her, as she kissed him passionately.
"I love you...so much," she breathed, as their lips parted briefly, before meeting again. He took her in his arms and gazed up at her with love shining in his cerulean eyes. Their lips met again and passion consumed them well into the early twilight hours.
~*~
They boarded the Jolly Roger early the next morning. David stood at the side of the ship, with Snow in his arms, still brooding a bit about everything that had happened, while the agents brought the two prisoners they had taken into custody on board.
"Ugh...travel by sea. I guess we should expect nothing less from such cretins," Malina complained.
"Hook...can you show them the brig, please? If I have to look at either of them more than necessary, it won't bode well for their health," David said.
"Aye mate...this way," he said to the agents.
"Your attempts to be menacing are weak at best, Prince Charming...you'd retch if I told you half the things I've done to people," Dr. LaGuerra leered.
"Ah...and you, fairest one. I would enjoy making you scream…" he continued. Charming snapped at that and his fist connected with the sick doctor's nose at that, knocking him head over heels.
"You...uncivilized brute!" he cried, as blood gushed down his face.
"You broke my nose!" he accused.
"You're lucky that's all he did, mate. In my days as a pirate, I would have tossed your bleeding arse into shark infested waters for much less than what you just did. Trust me...threaten one of ours and you will meet a gruesome end," Hook warned, as he led the agents and their prisoners below deck to lock them in the brig.
David's glower on the monster of a man continued until he was out of sight and Snow gently caressed his face, regaining his gaze on her, which instantly softened.
"Letting a monster like that keep breathing is looking like a worse idea by the moment," he feared.
"He can't hurt me...you'd never let him," she said confidently.
"People in this circle have hurt you before...and I couldn't stop it. Clayton...Dr. Facilier…and Jekyll," he rambled, but she stopped him with a finger to his lips and shook her head.
"No...you always saved me and I know you always will. You're my hero," she said, as she kissed him tenderly and pressed her forehead against his.
"You're my Prince Charming...and when I am in your arms, I know that I am safe and loved. Please know that...please know how safe you make me feel. How loved, how beautiful...only you, my love," she added, as their lips met again, with more heat and passion this time. He relaxed a bit, as Hook took them into open waters and Snow rested her head against his chest, reveling in the feeling of his arms around her as always.
~*~
"Hey...you okay?" JJ asked, as Summer cast a glance at her parents. She smiled at him and nodded.
"Yeah...just a little worried about Daddy. We're not really used to seeing him angry. I mean, not that he'd ever take it out on us or Mom...I'm not worried about that. It's just hard to see him and grandpa at odds," she mentioned. Nora snorted nearby.
"If that's your biggest problem, sweet cheeks, then you're more privileged than I thought," Nora commented.
"Maybe I haven't experienced the hardships you have, but my family has been through a lot," Summer said defensively.
"So when you had a bad dream when you were a little girl...what did you do?" Nora asked. Summer blinked.
"I...I went into my parents room and Daddy would lift me into bed with one arm and put me between him and Mom. She would dry my tears and cuddle me close, while Daddy would light a candle to chase the nightmares away," Summer answered.
"Wow…" Nora scoffed.
"That's even more perfect than I thought it would be. If your Dad is mad at your grandpa and that's your biggest problem, then you're doing better than ninety nine percent of people," Nora said, as she walked away. JJ sighed.
"I'm sorry about her," he apologized.
"She had a bad childhood?" Summer asked.
"Yeah...her parents were drug addicts. The state took her away from them when they went to jail when she was ten. She came to live with me and my Mom. Things were good for her then, but she never really got over those first ten years. She's had a chip on her shoulder since then," he explained.
"Wow...no wonder my problems seem stupid to her," Summer said.
"Hey...that's not true. She still doesn't have the right to dismiss your problems, no matter what. Besides, it's not really that. Nora just has that kind of complex. No matter who it is, she'll make a case that she's had it ten times worse," JJ replied.
"Maybe…I still feel bad for her though. I mean, I have great parents and I'm so grateful for that," Summer said.
"And you should be and I think it's really sweet and wonderful that you still worry about them when they're facing adversity," JJ replied, as they shared a smile.
"Ignore Nora. She could be in the room with a victim of the most unspeakable crime and she'd make a case that she somehow has it worse," he explained.
"She's not very nice...but I still feel bad for her. I hope she can find love someday," Summer said. He smiled at her.
"You're probably the kindest person I've ever met and I hope that for her too, but she has to stop getting in her own way," JJ replied. Summer nodded.
"Well...my parents did eventually win over the Evil Queen and helped her learn to love again, so I wouldn't count them out yet," she said. He smiled.
"I hope you're right...but Nora is a piece of work," he replied, as they continued talking and getting to know each other.
~*~
"Wow...that guy is a huge douche-bag," Leo commented, as he saw his twin shiver.
"He's pure evil...I always hoped I'd never meet the man on the other end of those screams we heard in Atlantis," Eva said.
"He even looks at Mom again...then I doubt he'll live to see another day," Emma replied.
"You think Dad will forgive gramps?" Leo asked.
"Of course he will...he just needs time," Emma replied.
"Are you angry at him?" Eva asked.
"I mean...he could have helped you get to Dad sooner," she added and the blonde shrugged.
"Not really...I mean, yeah he probably could have. But if he defied Clayton...he also could have died," Emma said.
"Dad will see that...and soon, I'm sure," she added.
"Yeah…Mom has her ways of getting through to him," Eva agreed. Leo sighed.
"I can't believe we're headed for Peru. You think this Cibola really exists?" he asked.
"We're the children of Snow White and Prince Charming. I think at this point we need to be asking ourselves what's not real, because that's a way shorter list," Emma replied.
"Of all the things Clayton found though...it was never this," Leo pointed out.
"Maybe he didn't have the right key," Eva mentioned, making her siblings look at her.
"What do you mean?" they asked, almost in unison.
"Well...okay, so there has been a few books and movies on this subject in pop culture and in some of them, there has always been a key or puzzle of some kind that needs solved," Eva explained.
"In the 1980's, there was an anime about the cities of gold, which was loosely based on a book called the King's Fifth. And in the anime, there were two special medallions that were needed to open the gates," she explained.
"So you think the reason he never could find it was that he never had the right item or key?" Leo asked. She shrugged.
"Could be. I mean in the movie National Treasure, they needed an ancient map in the form of wooden, carved planks and in the Road to El Dorado, they needed a legendary map as well," Eva replied.
"Do you think that quipu Natalie wanted so badly is the key?" Emma asked.
"It's hard to say, but quipus usually store information. It's more likely that it's directions to a map or key of some sort," Eva replied. Leo looked around and stepped closer to his siblings.
"Have we considered that the chalice might be the key?" he asked in a hushed tone. His sisters looked at him in surprise.
"I guess...it's definitely possible," Emma surmised.
"Everything always comes back to it...and we know Clayton was obsessed with the chalice," Eva agreed.
"Which means, once again, Mom and Dad are going to be in the middle of this crap again if that turns out to be true," Leo sighed.
"It would make sense if only those deemed worthy could find it or enter it," Eva agreed.
"Okay...but none of us, least of all Mom and Dad, care about gold or riches," Emma said.
"Which probably makes them worthy," Leo reasoned.
"True...but my point is that we're going to stop Junior from murdering people for this information. That's the whole point of this mission," Emma said.
"And?" Leo asked.
"I think she means that we carry out that part of the mission and be done. We stop him from hurting people, neutralize him and our wayward Aunt we just found out about and then we're done," Eva replied.
"Exactly and we get permission to take the quipu back for safekeeping in Milo and Kida's museum. If it's really the key to some kind of treasure, then it should probably be locked away somewhere that it can be protected," Emma said.
"I like that idea...none of us need treasure and usually that kind of treasure just breeds trouble," Leo agreed.
"We know that if that quipu reveals that the Chalice is the key that Junior will do whatever he has to in order to force Mom and Dad to find that treasure for him. I say we shut it down and stop him cold," Emma said.
"Then we better hurry. The Jolly Roger is fast...but they still went by plane. They're going to beat us," Leo replied.
"Yeah...but not by much. I'll see if I can offer some more magic in the sails," Emma said, as she went to tell her husband their plan.
"I just hope we're not too late to help the people he's after," Eva fretted.
"We'll make it...like Emma said, this ship is almost as fast as a plane would be," Leo offered. She nodded and decided to call Paul to give him an update, while Leo decided to do the same with Elsa.
~*~
Flashback
"This is a disaster!" Hera raged, as she stormed around her Temple.
"I know it is a setback, but I have already informed our subjects that they will have to meet directly with the Goddess and be very convincing," Blue said.
"Oh, it's just like that sanctimonious bitch, Dione, to pull something like this," Hera hissed.
"Yes...it appears she foresaw something like this. But giving it to her naive daughter is foolish and we will prove that," Blue assured.
"We had better. Without it...I cannot dethrone Zeus and gain full power over the skies," Hera said.
"You will be supreme Queen and Zeus will fall. And the best part is...that we'll use his precious daughter to orchestrate his demise," Blue replied.
"Go...make sure nothing goes wrong during their meeting," Hera urged. Blue obeyed and shrank into her fairy size, before returning to Thebes to do as instructed.
Beryl and Sirius kissed passionately, as Aphrodite observed them in the woman's home.
"I cannot tell you what an honor it is to host you in our home, Goddess," Beryl gushed, as she poured them more wine.
"You have been a very gracious hostess," Aphrodite agreed, as she tried to discern the feelings she was getting from them. On the surface, they seemed very in love and genuine...but there just seemed to be something off that she couldn't quite put her finger on.
"Oh mother...please give me your guidance," Aphrodite prayed silently.
"We plan to get married in the garden in just a few days...would you honor us by attending?" Sirius asked.
"I would love to attend, but I must be perfectly honest with you. There has been no spark between you. While I don't doubt your love...there must be a spark to take on the mantle of my champions," Aphrodite replied.
"Oh...you mean a sapling?" Beryl asked. Aphrodite was surprised by her knowledge. No one but she and her parents were aware of the true love sapling, save for Blue, of course.
"You created a sapling?" Aphrodite asked.
"Yes...it was the most extraordinary thing. We were in the gardens and it grew before us. Would you like to see it?" Sirius questioned.
"I would very much like to see it," Aphrodite said, as they led her into the garden and to a baby tree and had clearly just been planted. Her heart sank and she felt that she had been made a fool. They must have thought her to be stupid and that she wouldn't know the difference. Mother had warned that there would be those that would try to deceive her for power and that she would instantly know an imposter from the real thing. But she did not let on yet.
"Extraordinary," she lied, as she looked at them and saw the hunger for power in their eyes.
"So...we can be given the Chalice, correct?" Beryl asked. Aphrodite nodded.
"There are some preparations I must do...but we can meet tomorrow for the formal presentation," the Goddess replied.
"Excellent...we shall see you then," Sirius said, as Aphrodite disappeared in a puff of orange smoke and then reappeared in her father's Temple. He was away at the moment, with Hermes, to another realm. They were observing some other Gods, one named Odin, and his battle to lock his destructive daughter, Hela, away and stop her slaughter. She couldn't rely on him to help with this one and therefore, she had to expose them herself. Fortunately, her mother's looking glass would help her gather the Intel she needed and if they really were imposters, then it would not take them long to show their true colors.
~*~
Present Day
"You know, I should have known," Tink mentioned, as she looked up from her copy and she lounged in one of the comfy chairs in Rose's library.
"Should have known what?" Rose asked, as she looked up from her copy.
"Wow...you're further along than me," Tink mentioned. Rose smirked.
"I read...a lot," she said.
"You have a point. Anyway, I mean that I should have guessed that at least part of Blue's hatred stems simply from being found out by Aphrodite and being denied power," Tink replied.
"It certainly looks that way. She tried to create her own true love couple to get the chalice and I imagine it ended up blowing up in her face," Rose said.
"It's all starting to make sense. This has to be why she tried to worm her way into Snow and Charming's good graces back in the Enchanted Forest," Tink replied.
"That does make sense. Without the curse, they would have ruled two Kingdoms in Misthaven. And she would have been an adviser, trying to use and manipulate them at every turn," Rose surmised.
"Thankfully...her lies about the wardrobe made Snow and David doubt her or she might have retained her place of trust at their side," Tink said.
"Hera could have ended up being a problem too. Never thought we'd thank Seth for that small favor," Rose replied. Tink scoffed.
"That's for sure. I still say Snow should have just left her as a garden gnome. We'd all be better off," the blonde said.
"Is that so?" a voice said, as Blue appeared in the room and they jumped up.
"Well...come out of hiding finally, murderer?" Tink asked snidely.
"You always did have a wicked tongue," Blue hissed back.
"Oh, she's not the wicked one...that's you," Rose assured.
"You're going to give me those books now," Blue demanded.
"It's too late to stop the truth from coming out. Aphrodite and James are finding out everything they need to know in the Underworld right now," Tink boasted. Blue frowned and she became enraged, as she used her stolen wand to vault blasts of magic in their direction. Rose dodged, while Tink countered with her own wand.
"You can't win against me…" Blue said smugly, as one of her blasts hit Tink, knocking her down.
"No!" Rose cried, as the fairy turned to her.
"I guess I'll be adding you to my kill list, Rose Red, unless you give me that book," Blue threatened. Rose was silent in her refusal and Blue raised her wand.
"Then so be it," she hissed. Rose gasped and closed her eyes, but the blast never came, as Fandral deflected the magic expertly with his sword.
"Drop the wand, gnat…" Fandral warned.
"Or what?" she challenged.
"Or we'll find out if your magic is a match for an Asgardian warrior," he responded. She smirked.
"Magic is always far superior to brute strength," she boasted.
"Oh, I'd put my money on Fandral in a battle, but we don't want you dead," Zorro said, as he surprised her by sneaking up from behind and pouring squid ink on her.
"You tricked me…" she realized.
"I didn't like it when my lovely angel suggested that she be the bait for you...but as always she was right and it worked," he said, as he put his arm around Rose's waist.
"She is a genius, as usual," he boasted, as they shared a tender kiss. Tink walked up to her with a smug smirk, took her wand, and put a magic suppressing cuff on her.
"Enjoy prison...because you're never getting out," she promised.
"You hope," Blue growled, as she was led away by Fandral's men.
"Well...now that she's finally caught, I'll keep reading since I'm behind and let you two enjoy this victory alone," Tink said, as she made her exit.
"You were amazing, as usual, my love. Always my hero," Rose boasted, as they shared a tender kiss.
~*~
There were choked sobs in the room, as Johnny used his fists on the man. Things had started off peacefully when they arrived in a small village near Cusco, the village of the Golden Condor, which was tucked away in the Andes Mountains and on the path to the famed Machu Picchu. Ancestors of the Inca dwelled there, but none still spoke their dead language. None but one teenaged girl. A prodigy in many languages, including the one of the Inca people that was very nearly lost for all time.
Natalie had tried to peacefully persuade her family to allow her to translate the quipu, but the girl's father had seen right through her and knew exactly what she believed the quipu to be. A path to an ancient treasure that, if it belonged to anyone, it would be their family and people. When he refused, Johnny had stepped in, despite her protest, and began to use his grotesque methods to force them into submission.
"You can make this very easy, mate...all your daughter has to do is translate the damn knots and strings for my lovely companion and we will be on our way," Johnny said. The man coughed up blood, while his wife cowered in the corner, holding their crying teenage daughter.
"Never...you could never be worthy of the secrets of our ancestors," he refuted, earning him another vicious punch to the gut and more crying out from his family.
"Johnny stop...this is sick. He's not going to tell us anything," Natalie implored. He smirked.
"You're right...let's go right to the source," he said, as he grabbed the young girl's arm. Her mother cried out and tried to grasp her daughter, but he pulled her away.
"You are quite the young beauty," he mentioned.
"Now...all you have to do to keep your parents alive is translate this for us," he said. She looked at him fearfully and then relented, as she took the quipu in her hand. She spread it out on the table and studied it for a moment.
"Well?" Johnny asked impatiently.
"It's very complicated to translate. I need time," the girl replied.
"Well...we don't have a lot of time and neither do your parents if we don't get this translation," he warned.
"Easy...she's right. These things are not easy to read or there would be more people that could do it. And she's just a kid," Natalie chided. He was silent, as the young girl tried to decipher the hidden message. She gasped, getting their attention.
"What is it?" Natalie asked.
"Um...this quipu was created by an ancient Inca Princess...one that I'm named after," she revealed.
"And of what significance is this?" Johnny questioned.
"This Princess...she left our homeland for another and became a Queen. The Dragon Queen," she revealed. The greed practically bled from Johnny's eyes at that point.
"Then...this is it. This will lead us to a massive treasure, yes?" he asked. Before she could answer, a portal appeared and Snow and David walked through. Thalia drew her gun, but Regina tossed a fireball at her, causing her to drop it and she found her wrists restrained in zip ties with a wave of the former Queen's hand.
"Don't move," David warned, as he leveled his gun at the Collector's son, while Emma confiscated his gun. Rumple restrained him as well and Xander approached Natalie, as their eyes met.
"You gonna tie my hands too?" she challenged.
"Only if we need to," David interjected, as Snow turned her attention to the young girl and her family. The girl looked at her in astonishment, as she set the chalice down.
"Don't worry...we're here to help," Snow said.
"That...that's the chalice of Venus!" she said.
"You know what this is?" Snow asked. She nodded.
"My family...we are descended from the Inca Princess that left our homeland to become the Dragon Queen…" she revealed, as Eva knelt beside the man she assumed was the girl's father.
"It's okay...I can heal you," she assured. He looked wary, but then nodded, as she healed his minor wounds. He looked at her in amazement, as he felt instant relief from the pain.
"You are the ones the legends speak of…" the girl's mother said. Emma sighed.
"Boy...you were on point with this one," she told her sister.
"Believe me...I wish I wasn't," Eva said.
"Your ancestor was the Dragon Queen?" Snow asked curiously. The girl nodded.
"Can you tell us about that?" she asked.
"We can...but not with them," the girl replied, as she looked at the others, mostly Johnny. Snow smiled.
"Don't worry...that's why we came. To stop them from hurting you and stealing a legacy that doesn't belong to them," she said.
"I'm Snow White," she introduced herself.
"My name is Zia. Zia Ramos," she replied, as she was instantly trusting of Snow's warmth and kindness. She stood up and started to stumble, but felt someone catch her. She looked up, seeing a boy about her age.
"Careful…" Bobby said. She smiled.
"Thanks," she replied, as they shared a long gaze.
"We'll put these three in the brig and then come back. Then you can tell us about the legend," David said.
"Wait!" Natalie called, as they looked at her.
"I've searched my entire life for Cibola...I deserve to hear this," she said.
"You deserve it? The same way they deserved your harassment and assault?" David countered.
"Believe it or not...I protested that part of it," she insisted.
"If you stand by while he abuses people, then you're no better than him," David argued.
"Wow...it must be so nice up there on your pedestal. I thought you at least understood that things aren't always so black and white," she countered.
"She's right...she's not part of them. She's part of us," Xander interjected. David scoffed, but didn't protest further, as he felt Snow slip her hand in his.
"Well...that didn't take long. You've known you're a Charming less than a day and you've already betrayed me," Johnny accused.
"I'm not betraying you...but if this is real, I need to see it, even if I can't touch any of it. Trust me...they clearly don't want me," she replied.
"Natalie…" Thalia started to say.
"Save it mother...you're not changing my mind," she said. Rumple waved his hand and Johnny and Thalia disappeared, having been sent to the brig aboard the Jolly Roger.
"Okay...now you can speak freely," Snow said. Zia nodded.
"These are my parents, Santo and Irina," she said.
"Thank you...for saving us," Irina said. Snow smiled.
"I'm just glad we got here in time," she replied.
"This is my husband David. Our children, Emma, Leo, Eva, Summer, and Bobby. And these are our friends," Snow said.
"There is somewhere we should show you...since you are the Queen's successors," Santo said.
"Yes...it is a bit of a trek, if you're able," Irina added.
"That shouldn't be a problem," David agreed, as they followed them through their village and onto a mountain pass way. It would seem that their journey here had just begun.
~*~
Flashback
"You were right," Sirius said, as he poured a drink.
"She bought our story," he said, as he sipped at the amber colored liquid.
"Just don't mess this up or let your guard down. Zeus is away for another day or so. We must get the chalice before he returns and becomes wise to our plan. He'll know instantly that you could never be worthy of his precious dead wife's chalice," Blue said. Sirius smirked.
"So Zeus knows of me...I must be doing something right to have such a reputation," he boasted.
"Oh he knows of you and doesn't approve of anything you do. Fortunately, he lets mortals have their free will," Blue replied.
"And if he were to find out? I imagine the penalty for deceiving his precious little flower would be horrific," Beryl said.
"That's why he can't find out," Blue replied.
"Don't worry...everything is going according to plan," he said.
"Now...if you'll excuse me, I have another deal to tend to," Sirius said.
~*~
Aphrodite watched through her mother's magic looking glass, seething the entire time. She was watching Sirius Clayton, the man that claimed Beryl was his one true love, kiss a random woman he had met in a tavern that evening. But that wasn't the full scope of it. Thanks to her mother's looking glass, she had discovered Blue and Hera's plot to obtain her mother's chalice by deceiving her with this mortal pair. If she chose them as her champions, then they would have access to an incredible power that would rival her father's. He would be furious when he found out and likely punish all involved in the plot. But not before she had her own say in their punishment by confronting them.
She disappeared in a puff of orange smoke and reappeared at the entrance to the tavern, before bursting inside.
She drew instant attention, of course. She was the Goddess Aphrodite, after all, and was well revered for her beauty and kindness in Thebes. But she was not feeling kind at the moment, as she stormed over to Sirius Clayton's table.
"You must take me for quite the fool, Mr. Clayton," she hissed.
"Goddess...this isn't what it looks like," he stated.
"Oh, I think we know it's exactly what it looks like. Don't play dumb...I know all about your plot with the Blue Fairy and my devious step-mother," she growled.
"You and your impostor fiance will never touch my chalice or have its power. And when my father returns...he'll most surely punish all of you for your attempted coupe," she said angrily, as she disappeared in a storm of orange and reappeared on Olympus, where her step-mother sat in the Throne that once belonged to her mother.
"I know everything…" Aphrodite said angrily.
"So it would seem. Do you plan to tattle to your father?" Hera challenged.
"That you're plotting to get my mother's chalice and overthrow him? How can I not?" she questioned hotly. Hera smirked.
"That's unfortunate," she said.
"I'm sorry...but my father must know the woman he has married," Aphrodite replied.
"No dear...I meant unfortunate for you," Hera said, as Blue appeared and distracted the younger Goddess.
"And you...father trusted you, but I will make sure he knows where your loyalty is. And you will never have the power of my mother's chalice," Aphrodite warned.
"Don't cross me, you little tramp. If I can't have that power...then I'll make sure you suffer...eternally," Blue growled. Aphrodite saw the sneak attack out of the corner of her eye, but it was too late to dodge it.
Hera hit her with a massive blast and she screamed, as she fell from Olympus and to the Earth. Blue and Hera looked down to where she fell with pleased smiles.
"What if she survives?" Blue asked.
"Oh, she'll survive, but she won't remember the last few days. I laced that spell with the evaporated waters of Lethe. She'll awaken confused and when Zeus returns, he'll retrieve her. We can blame her peril on the mortals in Thebes. Zeus will react with fury and ask questions later," Hera said.
"And what of the chalice?" Blue asked.
"There will be another opportunity. She'll choose her champions eventually and we'll do everything we can to manipulate them. We will have the chalice," Hera replied.
~*~
Aphrodite whimpered, as she lay semi-unconscious at the bottom of a mountain in the Greek countryside. As she opened her eyes, a shadow fell over her and she looked up to see a handsome, shaggy haired man above her.
"Help…" she croaked, before passing out again. The young man put down his shepherd crook and lifted the beautiful woman into his arms, before carrying her back to his farm to get her the help she needed…
~*~
Present Day
Snow and David trekked along the mountain pass, following the other family, hand in hand.
"You seem a bit more relaxed," Snow said, as she nudged him and he smiled over at her.
"Well…Johnny Clayton is locked up, which means the world is automatically safer," he replied.
"And you didn't lock your sister up," she mentioned.
"No...Dad did that. I would have," he replied.
"Mmm…I know you better than anyone, Charming. You love your family...and she is your blood. That means you're going to help her when she needs it," Snow countered. He sighed.
"What if she doesn't want this family? What if she doesn't want my help?" he asked.
"It's obvious to me that she has a bit of an obsession with finding this supposed fabled city...but she doesn't seem like she wants to hurt anyone to do it," she replied.
"No...she's content to just stand by and let her evil boyfriend do the dirty work," he complained.
"David…" she chided.
"She made bad choices, but I know you...and you want to show her a better way. That's all she needs," Snow reasoned. He sighed.
"You just can't let me be mad and brood a bit longer?" he half joked. She smiled and kissed his cheek.
"You're not an angry person. You have to try really hard to stay mad...even at your father and while the brooding can be sexy, I think it's time all come together," she said.
"Think about it...if we're the only ones that can access this mysterious place, then that means we have the power to give a piece of ancient culture back to the people it is intended for," Snow said. He slipped his arm around her waist and kissed her hair.
"No one is as good as you...and the fact that you're mine still humbles me every day," he whispered.
"If I'm good...it's because I have a man that loves me so deeply and incredibly that it still takes my breath away on a daily basis," she replied, as they stopped and he took the opportunity to kiss her passionately.
"This is it," Santo said, as they arrived at a flat plane along the mountain path, which had oddly shaped rocky outcroppings.
"And...what exactly are we looking at?" Leo asked, not seeing anything of significance.
"We cannot see it...but the Chalice of Venus will reveal it," Irina replied.
"Our Princess, Zia Troyano, was the Inca's brightest star. She was set to bring peace to our people and out of our bloody past. With her as Queen, the Inca would have become peaceful. There would have been no more war or conquering of other tribes," Santo said.
"But then the conquistadors came and the Inca were conquered. Her father, King Upanki, used the secret sorcery of the Inca to force Zia to escape this land before they were overtaken by Pizarro's army," Irina explained.
"Let me guess, that secret sorcery was a portal," Eva deduced. She smiled.
"You are very bright and correct," she praised.
"So that's how the Dragon Queen ended up in our home realm," Snow realized.
"Yes...she left for a short time and returned periodically to tell her story to those that remained. She became a legend and used the power of the chalice to conceal our people's remaining knowledge and treasure," Irina said.
"So...this is where the city is? Inside this mountain?" David asked.
"No...but the answers are likely here, in the place she called home when she was here in this realm," Irina replied.
"And once inside, I can read the quipu," Zia added. Snow and David raised the chalice and it glowed. They all watched in amazement, as the rocky outcroppings formed a gate with a giant golden colored bird above it.
"Her husband's symbol may have been the Dragon, but hers was a golden condor," Santo said, as the gates swung open. They walked through the gates and found themselves in a luxurious castle. Among the items with an ornate, golden Throne were shelves filled with scrolls, stone tablets, and various other artifacts, including dozens of quipus.
"And...you've never seen any of this?" Snow asked.
"N...no," Irina said in amazement.
"This is...all thought to be lost to our people," she uttered.
"She was protecting it from conquerors and outside governments," Regina realized.
"This is amazing…" JJ mentioned. Summer smiled at him.
"I mean, I thought it was cool when you said you'd been to Atlantis, but this is better," he said, as they looked at the collections of jade statues. Summer smiled.
"Trust me...it is. Atlantis could have been great if Clayton hadn't made it into a prison," Summer said.
"But this...is better," she agreed.
"But it's still not Cibola...so what's in that quipu?" Natalie asked impatiently.
"You can't have any of it...it's not yours," David countered.
"Doesn't mean I still don't want to see it," she said.
"This stuff isn't going to fulfill your life…" he warned.
"Oh...so you have a sister for five minutes and I'm already getting the big brother lectures," she said sarcastically.
"He's right...you have a family. One that's willing to fight for you," Xander said.
"That's rich, coming from you," she countered.
"I made a lot of mistakes. I'm trying to make up for them with David and I'd like to do the same with you," he confessed, as she gave him a long look.
"No need...I've gotten along just fine without a father and a brother. I want to see it and then we can be done," she replied.
"I'm with her. Let's get this over with. This story will get me a decent payday once I report it," Nora said.
"If we let this get out, people wanting a payday will come out of the woodwork," Belle reasoned.
"She's right...and that begs the question on what your government will do for this, Major Donovan. We know that it has killed for far less than this," Rumple interjected, as they looked at Patricia.
"He's right...they can't be in on this," David said.
"David...it's not that simple," she argued.
"It is that simple. I'm willing to help you take down people like Clayton. I will not have you or anyone else destroying a culture that doesn't belong to them," he replied. She sighed.
"Well...it sounds like I can't get to any of this without the chalice, so there's no need to report any of it," she relented.
"Are you serious? If I can't report any of this...then why the hell am I even here?" Nora asked.
"Good question," Leo deadpanned.
"Go ahead...no matter what, we have ways of protecting you," Snow assured the girl, as she spread the quipu out on the floor and began attempting to decipher it once more.
"To be read only in the presence of my successors. Only those chosen by the Goddess Aphrodite can be trusted with the legacy of my native people and will make sure the treasure is protected," she recited.
"When the Conquerors were coming, we used the ancient sorcery of our people to conceal the city. Only those chosen by true love can find it among the ruins of the lost island of Mu. The island was destroyed by an evil man, bent on collecting the culture for his own and used the powers within the vast city of Atlantis to destroy most of the island," she recited.
"Clayton...or his ancestors," David realized.
"But some survived and I sustained them with magic. Only the chalice can reveal it," Zia said, as she looked up.
"The quipu has coordinates," she added.
"Then I guess we're going to this island. Can you translate the coordinates?" Snow asked.
"Yes…I just need something to write it down with," she replied. Regina poofed her a pen and paper, which she proceeded to use. When she was done, she handed the paper to the former Queen, who then handed it to Hook.
"I need a map…" he said, as Rumple conjured one for him and he used it to plot the location.
"Here…" he said.
"In the middle of the Pacific ocean?" Emma asked.
"There are no landmasses in this location, at least that can be seen," Hook replied.
"It must be hidden like the quipu said," Regina surmised.
"We encourage you to go...if our Queen entrusted this to you, then we trust you as well," Irina said.
"Yes, unfortunately, we are needed here and cannot go," Santo added.
"But Papa...we have waited for something like this for a very long time," Zia argued.
"And that's why you can go with them...this is your destiny, little one, though we will worry endlessly," Irina fretted. Snow stepped in.
"We'll take care of her and bring her back unharmed," she promised and the other mother nodded.
"Then we should go and get back to the Jolly Roger. Looks like this adventure has just begun," David said.