A/N: I did try to depict Athena to the best of my ability. Especially after discovering she's still worshiped to this day by some modern pagans and witches. AlyaAeryn, I never liked adult Neal either. The actor, character, or some combo.. (child Bae is a different story) Now on with the story!

~Athena~

The woman's fierce green eyes carefully eyed the three before her, before they finally landed on Belle.

"Come here, child." Her voice was softer this time, though it was just as powerful as before.

"Ath-Athena?" Belle slowly moved, taking baby steps toward the Goddess.

"Why have you called upon me this day?"

"We seem to be having trouble with a few Gods-" Belle started. The fierce gaze was softer now. Kind. "We believe it's the fates."

"Mmm." Athena nodded, her curls bouncing with the movement. "We've noticed. How have they affected you, child?"

"Not me, specifically. I haven't had a true friend in a very, very long time." Belle said softly. "They've hurt her. They took control of Neal," She waved her hand, motioning toward him. "And made him… violate her."

Athena's face darkened, which seemed to darken the entire room. "Those cunts!" Her voice was booming again. She composed herself. "Apologies. A woman's purity is not something I take lightly."

"Can you help us?"

"There isn't much for me to do, I'm afraid. What did you have in mind?"

Belle took in a sharp breath. "We don't know. We think at least two of the sisters have gone rogue. Perhaps if we could talk to the third? Could you help us contact her?"

Athena looked into Belle's eyes. "I suspect you have an idea who is innocent in all this."

"We believe it's Clotho." Belle admitted.

A smile from Athena brightened the room. "You are humble, child. And quite right. You've done well in your research. I appreciate that in a person, so I will tell you this much. You are indeed right. Clo is the innocent one. She always has been." She chuckled, seeming to reflect on some past happenstance. Her laughter, slight as it was, somehow lifted the spirit of the room. "Tell me what else you believe happened."

Belle took in a shaky breath. "We believe one sister is changing things, for the better from her point of view. And the other is trying to change them back, to stay in line with fate's original design."

That made Athena smile brighter. "You are correct. It seems that Lace cracked under the pressure. She held the largest decisions in her hands, often fretting when people would be unhappy. I believe it was when a woman's fate led to her suicide, which sent Lace down a spiral for a while. But it was a vital moment for the woman's son, for when he recovered, he grew into a hero who caused positive change everywhere he went. Several people connected to him found their own destinies. This was his destiny. Lace stopped looking at the big picture."

"Everything is connected."

"Precisely."

"And the last sister?"

The Goddess sighed. "Atty isn't known to be the inflexible for nothing. I suspect she's rather livid at her youngest sister."

"Is there anything we can do to set things right?"

Athena's face saddened, and the room darkened once again. "Mortals who dip their toes in the affairs of Gods often lose a leg. You must step carefully, child. This is between the Moirai. Anything you do, or don't do, they have already seen. This is their gift."

"We can't just sit around and wait for them to do something else to us mortals." Belle pleaded.

"Whatever you do, I cannot say the outcome. Together, they may undo all the damage done."

"Which would mean, I'd cast the curse again…" Regina muttered in agitation.

Athena's fierce gaze landed on the former queen, her curiosity piqued. "You too are a student of knowledge." She said matter of fact, smiling at the former Evil Queen. "Yes, it is possible for them to erase time. But all three must agree before taking such drastic actions."

Athena turned back to Belle and took a long hard look at the woman.

"Hmm. I get the sense that you have never been a damsel in distress." She said plainly. "I see you're determined to try anything to solve this problem. Am I wrong?"

Belle shook her head.

Athena glanced up, almost as if she were listening to someone else in the room, someone invisible to the three mortals.

When Athena looked back to Belle, her smile had returned. "I can send you on a quest. I can't promise the outcome."

"Why-" Belle bit her lip.

"Goddess of wisdom, remember? Asking questions is how we learn, all of us. Go ahead."

"Why don't the other Gods take some form of action?"

"Hmm. My father, Zeus, is about the only one of us who can take action without repercussion. The rest of us make a point not to get involved. If we did, there would be very few worlds left." She smiled sadly at the shocked looks surrounding her. "I only wish I could help more." Athena pulled a compass from thin air. "I see you are determined to take action, young Belle. If you choose to follow it, this device will take you to Clo."

"What would that accomplish?"

Athena smiled. "You don't expect me to spoil the ending of a story now, do you?" Belle's face fell, and Athena took pity. "I can only say that a solution will be found." She winked.