ONCE UPON A TIME...

The princess waits in the light of the moon, watching time unravel. Eons passed. Battles were won, fates were woven, but still she sits, ever watching. She sits, crying, waiting for the prince that never came.

The setting sun shone on her hair, turning it varying shades of copper. Her sharply defined profile contrasts with the shoreline as wide eyes blink unwaveringly at her task. She glows with an otherworldly beauty, illuminating the beach. It seems a surreal scene almost.

Calypso sighs and stands, wiping her hands on her jeans, gazing thoughtfully out at the horizon. The war with Gaea had ended almost a month ago, and Calypso was still stuck on Ogygia. She had dared hope that Leo might come back, but now, she thinks as she angrily stalks up the beach, she knew that was just wishful thinking. Such things only happened in Fairytales-and her life was anything BUT.

The prince was hurt and lost and sad. He ran and hid from the world, a shadow of his former self, tearing apart the life he had worked so hard to built. He hid the pain, or tried to, but one day he couldn't take it anymore.

Leo chews his nails nervously as he surveys the map again. Two weeks after they had defeated Gaea, Leo had set to work, preparing for his trip back to Ogygia. Leo groans and turns the map upside down. It didn't help one bit.

"I think we're lost," he tells Festus. Leo releases a sigh and sinks lower onto Festus's back. He had headed out as soon as possible, but now he thought the Gods were toying with him. A week at sea, and still no sign of Calypso.

"It's an island," mutters Leo, running his fingers through his hair. "It's not like it can just disappear." But somehow, it had. It was gone, and Leo didn't know what to do.

The Princess wasted away, clinging to the fragile hopes of a prince that never was, of a fairytale that couldn't happen, of a fantasy life that was impossible.

Calypso throws herself on the beach as the sun sets, painting the sky in it's vibrant hues. Without really thinking she started to draw in the sand. She glances down at her picture and drops the stick like it's a hot stove. A perfect replica of Leo's face is drawn in the sand. Calypso almost smudges out the drawing, but she hesitates and decided to leave it.

"Why?" she screams at the heavens. "Why must you make my curse worse?" Calypso raged until her voice died, but her pleas elected no response. She smashed her fist on the shore, it felt good, so she did it again. And again.

The prince fled, from everything and everyone he'd ever known. Until finally he could run no more. As he wept he heard something in the distance. A cry almost as mournful as his. Curious, he leapt to his feet to investigate.

Leo tapped his fingers against his chin, thinking. Suddenly, he knew what he had to do.

"Zeus!" he yelled. "I wish to use the one favor you promised each of the seven! Please, help me find Ogygia and bring back Calypso safely! Free her from her curse!" Leo closed his eyes and prayed. As a reward for saving Olympus, Zeus granted each of the heroes a wish. Was Leo desperate enough to use his now? Yes, he was. Did he love Calypso enough to spend it on her? Yes, he did. Love is something beyond anyone's comprehension.

And above, upon the mighty Olympus sat Zeus. He heard Leo's plea, and obeyed him.

Leo found himself tumbling through the air as he squeezed his eyes shut and prayed for a quick death.

The princess didn't expect to see a young man, nor, by the looks of it did the man expect to see her. Their eyes locked, and the princess felt the air tremble.

"You," she breathed. They stared at each other a while longer, tension thick in the air.

Calypso was laying on her beach again when she heard a crash. Probably another hero, she thinks dully as she dutifully rises to go investigate.

"Who are you?" she snaps. "And what are you doing in my garden?" The figure straitens and Calypso catches her breath. Leo.

finally, kissing. A spark flew and a sense of belonging settled in the princess's heart. He was her prince. She was his princess. All was as it should be.

"First you wreck my dining table, then you wreck my garden!" Calypso rages, although Leo can see a smile trying to wiggle it's way out.

"Good to see you too," he smirks. Calypso scowls. She marches up to him and slaps him.

"That is for taking so long, and for wrecking my garden!" she thunders. Leo gulps. She could be quite intimidating when she wanted to. In a swift motion, Calypso kisses him full on the lips. "And that-" she says, their lips still pressed together, "-is for coming back." Calypso backs away, grinning. Leo felt his pulse begin to race.

"I'm so sorry," the prince mumbles. "So sorry."

"It's quite alright," the princess smiles. "We're together now. That's all that maters." The prince kneels.

"Andriana Kvaschia," he says. "Will you marry me?"

"Of course!" the princess says, laughing. "Of course."

Calypso's face goes back to a solemn expression.

"So," Leo begins. "Ready to start our repair shop?" Calypso laughs, though her heart leaps at the word our.

"But, Leo," she starts. "My curse-"

"Don't worry about that," Leo interrupts. "It's all taken care of." Quickly he explained the deal he had made with Zeus. By the time he finished, Calypso felt like crying. She had never felt so undeserving.

"You did that-for me?" she asks weakly. As Leo nods, Calypso hugs him as tight as she can. "Thank you, Leo," she says softly."

The prince and princess were married the next week. They watched the eons traverse by together, swaddled safely in the warmth of each other's love.

Somehow Festus ended up on the beach. Calypso and Leo packed the necessary items, (like her loom,) onto Festus, and they sat off. As the sun begins to rise, both felt something stir within them. Just as the sunset signaled the beginning of darkness and of cold, the sunrise brought warmth, and the joy that accompanied it. The sunrise signaled hope, joy, and new beginnings, and that was what Calypso and Leo could tell was ahead.

AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER

THE END