Chapter 26.
Flashback:
Over at the gingerbread fortress, inside one of the homes this one which is owned by Helena the Gingerbread Witch. Is sat down on a chair in her living room near her fireplace which has a small fire burning for warmth for the cold nights. All the while in the shadows lies a being one that she would be connected with forever.
"You can come out from the shadows," Helena spoke bluntly yet still sounding polite. The figure then walks out of the shadows. As Helena gets out of her seat and faces in the direction of her 'guest'
"Impressive," The guest said.
"What can I say I'm very observant," Helena says.
"You're also quite the troublemaker, Helena Salvatore, which I normally find very entertaining. But as of right now I kind of need you to stay in the sidelines for a couple of decades." The guest tells her with a grin that was both creepy, yet rather goofy to Helena.
"I don't particularly like the sidelines or like being told what to do especially by some stranger in horrible, gloomy robes for clothes," Helena responded.
"Feisty, just peachy, but my sweet warrior there is one detail your missing. I'm not just a stranger, I'm a god!" The guest snaps his blue fire turns orange and grows in size almost hitting the ceiling. Helena just rolls her eyes.
"Watch, where that fire goes I spent hours on that ceiling. Just because you're a god doesn't mean you get to damage my house." Helena snapped.
"I would be more concerned Helena, what I would do to you, if you don't heed my words," Hades tells Helena.
"If you wanted me dead, I would be and that begs question, Hades what is it about me that concerns you so much?" Helena first points out before asking a question.
"I have a lot of big schemes in the work, and Rumplestiltskin is a big part of it. And in order for him to be useful, he needs to be breathing you see the issue now." Hades said.
"So, you just expect me, to let a serial killer of children be free because of your plans." Helena snipped.
"Of, course it's not that difficult, you just avoid him," Hades tells Helena.
"I'm not really wired that way Hades, I suggest you leave now before I lose my temper." Helena threatened. Hades just laughs before responding.
"My temper's a lot worse I'll tell you what I'll give you a couple of days. Call it being a gentleman," Hades responds before vanishing.
A few days passed and no sign of Hades being near Helena's home. This actually surprised Helena. The Lord of the Dead didn't seem to be the man who wouldn't just forget their conversation. Tonight is supposed to be the night where a massive ball is taking place to celebrate the wedding of Princess Aurora and Prince Philip. A night that is supposed to celebrate true love. It was decided that you have to come as someone from Ancient times or well-known myths. Helena arrives, wearing a Greek style, white dress with gold bands. After arriving and being announced, she compliments the newly-weds before snatching a drink from one of the waiters. She then spots an acquaintance well old friend.
"Josette, or should I say Fairy Godmother?" Helena asked.
"Always Josette when it comes to you old friend." Fairy Godmother responded.
"Ah, I see someone is expecting," Helena commented noticing the small baby bump, Fairy Godmother has.
"Almost twelve weeks now, I admit I was surprised to learn about my pregnancy, I always wanted children but not when Rumplestiltskin, is around." Fairy Godmother confessed.
"That's understandable, Josette and nothing to be ashamed of. But don't you worry about your child. I'll make sure that Rumplestiltskin won't get his filthy hands on he or she." Helena tells Fairy Godmother.
"Still, there are many enemies of the kingdom still at large." Fairy Godmother points out.
"Josette tonight is not the night to worry endlessly tonight is the night we forget about our problems. And celebrate all the good we have right now. Come on lets dance and drown out all of our troubles." Helena told Fairy Godmother.
"I suppose, so Helen, just no drinks." Fairy Godmother spoke.
"Of, course no drinks for you. But for me on the other hand, I'll just have to make the sacrifice and drink yours in your place." Helena says.
"You always do Helena," Fairy Godmother replied. Helena then quickly downs her drink puts the glass to one side before the two walks onto the dance floor.
"I have you know the last time I drank was at your wedding two years ago," Helena told Fairy Godmother.
"In your twenties, you could be found drinking in a tavern every Friday to Sunday, until your mother either found you or I had to take you to my place." Fairy Godmother reminds Helena. Helena just laughed those times were some of her fondest memories.
"If I haven't gone on all those nights out, I wouldn't have had Peter, even if his father disgusts me now," Helena said.
"I am sorry and I do wish you never had to fight against Rumplestiltskin, I know that you're divorced but still I know how much he means to you." Fairy Godmother says as the two danced.
"How much he meant to me in the past. He made a choice to betray me, the family we made he chose to use forbidden magic, one that changed him into a monster and made him forget me, our child and anything that made him human. He's no longer the man I loved." Helena almost snipped.
"Of, course we're going to find a way to free Peter and his Lost Boys, I promise you." Fairy Godmother told Helena.
"I don't know what I would do without you, Josette," Helena confesses.
"You won't have to Helena," Fairy Godmother said.
The two friends danced a little longer even drank, well Fairy Godmother kept to non-alcoholic drinks unlike Helena, who decided to have a mixture of drinks. Just when Fairy Godmother's husband arrives, on the dance floor desiring to dance with his wife who to him is the most perfect woman in the world. Not long after, Fairy Godmother and her husband Josh started to dance together a new visitor arrives one that no one recognised but appeared to have a genuine invitation. The man approaches Helena, he is wearing a Greek armour and his air combed to one side.
"May, I have this dance?" The man requested holding out a hand to Helena. Helena wouldn't admit but the man's voice did have this smooth and rather soft yet charming tone.
"Tempting offer, but why should I accept?" Helena questioned with a smirk.
"Well for one, I'm not a fool you have the face that screams no one but your friend will dance with you and you were only invited because of that friend. Secondly, you're too beautiful to not see a smile. Unlike them, I can see a true pearl in a sea of shells." The man answered. This answer makes Helena crack a small smile, he wasn't wrong about only being invited because of having a friend in high places, she will forever be associated with her ex-husband Rumplestiltskin's crimes despite her showing constantly she opposes to everything he believes in.
"I suppose one dance couldn't hurt," Helena told the man, he then gently sweeps her into his arms as a new song starts to play one by violins and a piano. One dance turned into two and two turned into three until eventually, they danced together for almost three hours straight.
"Why Helen of Troy of all women?" The man asked.
"Why not the woman who launched a thousand ships, someone who unintentionally brought around a chain of events no one foresaw. She's someone I can relate to all too well." Helena told the man.
"Not entirely, people got it so wrong about Helen of Troy." The man spoke.
"Oh, really what did they get wrong?" Helena questioned.
"She didn't have the face that could launch a thousand ships, she had the face that would sink a thousand ships," The man answered, Helena just laughed.
"You really have a wicked sense of humour," Helena commented.
"As do you, Helena or you wouldn't have laughed." The man pointed out.
"Fair point. Thank you for dancing with me for not seeing me how most other people see me, I will always be either Rumplestiltskin's ex-wife or Grimhilde's sister." Helena says.
"No, you will always be the wonderful woman you are right now the most remarkable woman in the world. Something your sister will never be." The man tells her.
"Do you feel like getting out of here?" Helena suggests.
"That sounds like a remarkable idea." The man responds.
The two left the ballroom but still remain on Aurora and Philip's grounds in the royal gardens the two walk together.
"The gardens remind me of my mother's." Helena comments.
"Oh, I assume you lived a life running through fields and collecting flowers." The man assumes.
"On the country, the complete opposite, my mother's garden although beautiful was off limits, to me and my sister in our early childhood, all we could do was spend our day in the tower learning witchcraft and how to be the perfect queen consort. It was only when we were in our early teenage, years that we were allowed to roam in our mother's garden." Helena said.
"The lessons must have been effective more than what expected." The man spoke.
"How so? My sister is the queen, I am merely a baker." Helena pointed out.
"Oh, but you're so much more than a baker and a queen. You're a goddess walking on earth, an empress, the queen of all queens. Your skill, intellect and wit I hear are legendary, I believe you don't give yourself enough credit." The man tells her. Helena couldn't help but blush she hasn't really being given such kind compliments in her life.
"Where were you when I was in my early twenties?" Helena asked.
"Clearly somewhere I shouldn't have been. But with much regret, I must leave," The man says with a frown.
"Wait, what's your name will I see you again?" Helena requests.
"It would be a great loss not to see you again. As for my name where's the fun in telling you my name when you can easily find that out yourself?" The man replies before walking away.
End of Flashback:
End of chapter 26.