Mal sat near the edge of the large pool that was easily triple the size of the one at Auradon. She stared down at the water and looked thoughtfully as she carefully put her bare feet in the pool.

Normally Mal wasn't one to be this close to a pool. Even after two years of attempts to help her learn how to swim, Mal still found herself to be much like an anchor in water. A sinker and not a swimmer.

The purplette glanced up as she saw Audrey floating on her back near her. The pinkette was wearing a white and red rose bandeau top along with a red high-waisted bikini bottom. She looked quite peaceful to say the least and it wasn't a lie if Mal were to say she was jealous.

How can she just...relax? Her wife is up there...against that Aphrodite, or whatever she's called, chick. Mal thought with a soft sigh through her nose. She gazed down at her feet in the water before laying on her back on the tile floor. I can't even relax for one minute or care for my own child. Best mother of the year...woo… She thought with sarcasm as she closed her eyes.

The VK heard a splash before she opened her eyes to see Audrey lying next to her and about ready to poke her arm. "...What are you doing?" She asked with confusion as she furrowed her eyebrows at the former princess.

Audrey blinked at her. "What are you doing?" She asked, curiosity evident on her face.

Mal's eyes halved at that. And here she is to bother me. Good going, Mal, you managed to lure her in with your obvious unhappiness. She thought with annoyance at herself. She glanced at Audrey and shrugged. "Laying down, I guess? Why are you asking?"

"Because you usually don't hang out near the pool...or water in general," Audrey said with a small shrug. "And here you are...with your feet in the pool."

Mal sighed through her nose at that. "Maybe...I just like the feeling...on my feet. They still swell up, y'know." She said, trying to hide her annoyance at the fact that she was about to be questioned to death.

"Oh...Uh…" Audrey blinked and played with her fingers a bit before tilting her head. "Did you want me to find someone to give you a massage or…?"

Mal felt like facepalming at this point. She knew that Audrey was just trying to help and that she happened to be upset at the moment...but she really wanted to slap her.

The purplette internally groaned before glancing over at Audrey. She couldn't help the eyebrow that raised when she noticed the teensy bit of belly fat that the former princess appeared to have. Huh...How did she gain weight...Isn't she on that diet? She thought with mild confusion before shrugging it off and chalking it up to some weight that the woman simply hadn't worked off yet.

"No, that isn't necessary," Mal said after what seemed like years of silence. Forcing a smile, she shot Audrey, what she hoped was a pleasant look, and shrugged. "I'm fine."

Audrey sat up and shifted into a more comfortable sitting position before offering Mal a small smile. "You know you don't have to be here…" She said, pausing for a moment as she looked elsewhere.

Mal subtly bit her lip so she didn't say what she was thinking out loud and closed her eyes. Oh, I know. I just don't feel like dealing with the kid or crazy aunt. She thought to herself with annoyance before opening her eyes. Then again…

Before Mal could continue her internal debate, Audrey returned her pink gaze to meet Mal's and she gave the woman a slightly wider smile. "But...Thanks. It feels better having someone nearby." She said softly, folding her hands on top of each other and resting them on her lap.

I was...not expecting that. Mal thought while blinking before she returned the smile a bit. "...Same. I'm just...upset." She said with a soft sigh, her smile slipping as she shook her head. "I can't help but feel...that it can't be this easy. I mean-who jumps straight to announcing their plot when it would only wind up in their doom?" She rubbed at her brow as she frowned. "Almost like she...knows that she'll be safe even with all the Olympians on the attack."

Audrey patted her on the arm and smiled reassuringly at her. "Maybe...she's just not that smart of a villain? There have been dumber, haven't there?" She asked with a head tilt.

Mal nodded as she internally named off quite a few villains that came to mind as particularly stupid before shaking her head. "...We can only wait...can't we?" She asked quietly, surprising herself a bit at just how much despair was in her voice at that very second.

Audrey frowned and offered the VK her hand, which Mal reluctantly took before she sighed. "That's all we can do, I'm afraid. Wait and believe in them. But...If it helps, I can stay with you. We can have a nightly sleepover and watch some terrible chick flicks." At this, the purplette cracked a smile and chuckled. "Eat candy, junk food, whatever you feel like having. Not to mention...Hestia snuck in cats." She said before whispering out the last part.

Mal, who had grown to like the animal in the past two years, tilted her head with a smirk. "...Are they extremely fluffy?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

Audrey nodded and giggled. "I heard that one of them resembles a cloud when it lays down." She said with an 'aww' as her smile reappeared on her face. "And there are a few others that we can borrow from Hestia and Vesta."

Mal tilted her head at the second name. "Vesta? Who's that?" She asked as she saw Audrey take her hand away so she could get up.

Audrey shrugged as she helped the other woman up. "Basically another Hestia only from Rome." She summarized with a smile.

"That is…" Mal paused as she felt a shiver at the thought of having two aunts at the same time. "...Slightly terrifying, actually."

"It's only terrifying if you get interrogated. Otherwise...it's actually kind of nice to be around them. Kind of like getting hugged by two of the warmest things you can think of." Audrey said with a small smile. "It's oddly comforting."

Mal raised an eyebrow at that. Odd is right. She thought before mentally waving it off. "So...are those two…"

Audrey appeared to pick up and quickly shook her head. "No, they are just really close friends, nothing else." She said with a small smile.

"Good...otherwise that might have been a bit weird to think about," Mal said, a statement that Audrey happily nodded to in agreement. "Anyway...is there anything else to do here that isn't...that?" She asked as her eyes met with the water.

Audrey hummed in thought. "Well...We have some time before dinner...why don't we get a headstart on making a little area for tonight in the larger family room. It has a large TV and access to a nearby kitchen. Perfect for movie night and early morning snack breaks." She said with a smile as she sat up.

Mal blinked at the last part before shrugging. "I guess we could get started on that. You got any extra pillows and blankets?" She asked as she pulled her feet out of the water and began getting up.

Audrey, who was already standing up, helped the purplette up and smiled. "We have enough for even a little blanket and pillow fort. Ooh, we can handpick out all the pillows and I have a few that are really good at relieving pressure." She said as she walked with Mal back to where her towel was.

Was that last comment for my swollen ankles? Mal thought with an internal deadpan. She nodded and allowed a smile as she saw the former princess wrap herself with her fluffy pink towel.

Following Audrey out, Mal was pleased at the fact that the pinkette was leading her out the hallway that had carpet. Soft, plushy, carpet. If it was marble...she would have slipped in mere seconds. Cringing at the idea of falling on her butt in a two-piece bikini, Mal silently thanked Audrey for taking it into thought.

Audrey looked back at Mal as she lead her into a large yet cozy family room with a massive sofa and a TV to match. "And thanks to a shortcut...we are here. Now, this can either be only a one night thing or...we can just change it into a little living space." She said with a small smile, tucking a strand of her wet hair behind her ear.

Wow, either she really wants to be there for me...or she seriously misses Heidi. Mal thought with surprise, not quite sure how she felt about it. She did know, however, that she couldn't leave Audrey hanging for an answer. Readying herself, the VK nodded. "I think...until my sister gets back that I'd...like that." She said before blinking as she was engulfed in a hug. It's a bit both… Mal thought with a momentary wince.

Once Audrey parted, the woman smiled. "Thank you, Mal." She said before turning around to go find a few things.

Mal had to shake herself off and sighed as she flopped on the couch. Looking for a remote, she grabbed a blanket and covered herself with it. Feeling a bit better now that she was covered, the VK found the remote and turned the TV on to see that it was currently playing some older cartoons. She smiled a bit as she felt a few memories resurface at the sight before she shook them off.

After a few minutes, Audrey returned with a bunch of pillows and a pile of blankets floating behind her. "Oh, I see you found the remote." She said with a smile, dumping everything including the blankets are the far end of the large sofa.

"Yeah, someone shoved it in between the cushions." Mal said with a small shrug.

Audrey rolled her eyes and sighed. "That would most likely be Hermes. He's here...often." She said while laying her hand on her hip.

"Frequent flier?" Mal asked with a smirk.

Audrey paused before nodding and slowly grinning. "Very frequent...he basically lives here."

"Freeloading must be a common hobby if a bunch of them hang out here." Mal said as she propped her head up with her hand.

"Well...Most of the gods pitched in and helped with the construction of the castle, so Heidi and I don't really mind them being here. They earned a room in my book." Audrey said with a small smile as she sat down

"If you say so…" Mal said with a small shrug as she frowned briefly before it faded.

Audrey picked up a throw pillow and placed it on her lap. Running her hand over the fluffy side, her eyes softened along with her smile. "Mal…She will find them."

Mal snapped out of her momentary stare into space and blinked before noticing Audrey looking as though she was going to hug her. Mal was hesitant to accept the hug but smiled a bit at the tiny bit of comfort she received from it.

"Thanks…" Mal said as she pulled away and sighed softly.

Audrey reached over and patted her on the shoulder. "It'll be okay Mal, I know it." She said with a determined look in her eyes.

Mal took a deep breath before nodding. "Okay."


Heidi's breath shuddered as Poseidon and her appeared in the heart of Auradon City. She glanced around at the floating chunks of buildings that appeared suspended in time and grimaced a bit. "This is...crazy." She murmured, resisting a shudder as the wind whistled violently.

Poseidon regarded the dismantled city with a hardened look. "It is unlike anything we have seen before...but nearly not as bad as what we have seen. This does not appear to be Aphrodite's work, however." He said lowly with his frown deepening.

"But it isn't Aphrodite...She said that's just what you guys know her as. What if she's all powerful like a genie or something?" Heidi asked with a raised eyebrow.

"If she was that powerful we would know about her. If she's been flying under the radar as Aphrodite, there should have been at least one mistake made." Poseidon said while shaking her head.

Before Heidi could respond, an unfamiliar voice suddenly rang through the eerie town. "Oh believe me, I made my single mistake, you just haven't caught it somehow." The feminine voice said, sounding far off and close by at the same time.

Ares whipped around at that. "Aphrodite? Is that you?!" He asked loudly, prompting the others to shoot him a glare.

The woman chuckled before stepping out of a nearby alleyway. With her long blonde hair and ocean blue eyes, it was rather obvious to them that is was indeed Aphrodite in their midst. The goddess stood still as her dress blew and flower petals floated around her as she gazed at them. "Hello Ares, I hope I haven't kept you waiting for too long." She said with a sultry smile as she began slowly approaching him with hips swaying hypnotically.

"He isn't going to fall for that…" Heidi began with a confused look.

Artemis looked at her with halved eyes. "You clearly don't know much about him then." She said while jabbing her thumb at them.

Once Heidi looked back, she was astonished to find that they were already making out! Raising a hand to cover her gaze, she grimaced and groaned as she saw Aphrodite sucking on his neck. "That is just...I'm not even going to begin."

Once the goddess pulled away from her lover, she ran a finger along his jaw as his eyes lit up with a purple glow. "You're mine...aren't you, Ares?" She asked while licking her lips.

The gods weren't surprised when he nodded, he was always a brain cell or two short when Aphrodite was nearby, but they were taken aback by the sudden appearance of a butterfly tattoo where Aphrodite's lips had been only moments before.

The gods reacted immediately with several pulling out their weapons while Artemis readied her bow and Hermes gained the higher ground. Heidi looked at them in confusion before summoning her fire to her hands and clearing her voice. "That mark-What did you just do?" She asked with furrowed eyebrows as the gods nodded at her question.

Aphrodite appeared amused that Heidi had been the one to ask and smiled at her. "Either you are brilliant...or the rest of you are far dumber than I initially believed. I'd prefer the first one personally as it would pain me to know if it wasn't true." She said, her tone sounding mocking for some reason.

Heidi blinked and tilted her head as her fire dimmed a bit, prompting Poseidon to shake his head while pointing his trident at the blonde goddess. "Do not try to get into her head, Aphrodite." He said as the tips of the trident glowed threateningly.

Aphrodite smiled in humor and shook her head. "Do not tell me what to do, Poseidon. I have a right to speak with her." She said while tilting her head up.

Heidi looked even more confused as her uncle stepped in front of her. "Really? Perhaps you wouldn't mind telling us what that right is. She doesn't know you aside from your appearance." He said with a frown.

Aphrodite laughed and searched the gazes of every other god and goddess. "You really don't know?" She scoffed and smirked. "You are supposed to be the most brilliant beings and you can't even figure out what could be easy for mortals to uncover." She shook her head with disappointment.

"Just shut up and tell us." Artemis said with annoyance.

Aphrodite blinked at her and shrugged innocently. "It is a mother's right to speak with her daughter. Is it not?" She asked with a head tilt.

Everyone, even the monotonous Artemis, were caught off guard. Artemis was quick to ready an arrow as her expression hardened. "You mean to tell us that you left your child at the gates of Olympus?" She asked with a dangerous tone as her silver eyes glowed.

Aphrodite blinked before shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly. "A wise man once told me to leave my mistakes behind and move on, so I did." She said as a cold look entered her eyes.

Before Artemis could fire the arrow, Heidi moved past Poseidon and walked up to the blonde. "Your bullshitting me." She said, slapping Poseidon's hand away when he tried to grab her. "You totally are!"

"You shouldn't really use such coarse language. You never know when children might be watching." Aphrodite said with an eerie smile.

Heidi faltered a bit at that and swallowed. "Shut up." She murmured, her eyes darkening as Aphrodite chuckled. "Shut the hell up!" She yelled, getting up in the woman's face as her hair flames up.

Aphrodite watched with a smirk as the woman was pulled away into a protective hold by Poseidon. "Did I strike a nerve? My bad."

"That's enough!" Poseidon said with narrowed glowing eyes. "Are you the person who did this to Auradon?"

Aphrodite tilted her head as she allowed Ares to bring her close. "Hmm...Yes. Yes I did." She said with a smirk. "They never saw it coming. It went over rather easily with my associate." She said, turning her head to a dark alleyway. "Come on out."

The man was quick to answer to her call and walked over to her. His deep blood red hair and scarlet eyes traced over the gods before he smirked. "It has been a long time since I have seen the Greeks." He said, his right hand resting on a sword at his hip while his left intertwined with Aphrodite's.

Apollo groaned at the sight of him. "Great, she has Ares and Mars. Figures…" He said with a deadpan before staring him down. "Why are you with her when you have Venus?" He asked matter of factly.

Aphrodite smirked and chuckled. "Because I am his Venus." She said, prompting Apollo to facepalm.

Hermes zipped down and tilted his head. "That means…you also infiltrated the Roman pantheon!" He said with a hint of awe in his voice. Awe that quickly disappeared thanks to a well deserved glare from Artemis.

Aphrodite tilted her head at that. "Infiltrated is the wrong word...they welcomed me in just like you did." She said with an amused smirk.

"Well that's because you're hot as fu-" Apollo was cut off by a punch to the stomach from his sister. The blonde god looked at his darker haired sister and silently groaned. "What was that for?"

Artemis shook her head in annoyance. "Shut up." She said coldly before she regarded the goddess. "Why haven't you killed anybody? To take control of this large of a city...some must be sacrificed for control to be taken." Her eyes shifted to a deeper gray at her words.

"That is where you are wrong, Artemis. I didn't sacrifice anyone. Why would I when they can be useful to me?" Aphrodite said before glancing at the butterfly marks that were on both Ares and Mars.

"Then you kill them when they aren't useful anymore?" Artemis asked with a slight tilt of her head.

"None have made it to that point." Aphrodite commented with a chuckle.

Heidi frowned at that. "What have you done to the king and those who were with him?" She asked, having given up on escaping from her uncle.

"Besides letting the Queen go? The king is in a secure place along with those who fought by his side." Aphrodite said easily with a shrug.

"Let them go. They haven't done anything to deserve this." Heidi said with a hint of worry in her voice.

"And give up such a good little hostage? I would have thought you had been more educated on this." Aphrodite said with a mock sigh before rolling her shoulders. "How about...You pick between two of my choices? The little one and his doggy...or the descendant of Poseidon."

"Or you could just give me both of them." Heidi said with a huff as she felt her uncle tense up at the mention of Uma.

Heidi knew she couldn't pick one or the other, not without consequences. While Carlos was her little brother in all but blood, Uma was one of her Uncle's few living descendants. Her uncle would never forgive her if she took Carlos and let Uma die...yet at the same time...she couldn't live with peace knowing she gave up Carlos like that.

Aphrodite licked her lips as her eyes glowed. "...No. You either choose one...or neither. Choose neither and they both stay with me. They are on thin ice, Heidi."

"Then...I guess I'll just have to break them both out." Heidi said with a frown.

"Oh? You and what army?" Aphrodite asked as her fingers touched her lips.

Before Heidi could react, the blonde goddess blew a magical kiss that hit Apollo dead on. Her eyes widened as she spotted the butterfly mark quickly form before Apollo rose and quickly turned on his sister.

Artemis scowled at this and kicked her brother in the shin, causing him to fall again. The goddess looked at Poseidon and frowned deeply. "Take Heidi to the Underworld this instant. This is control...using her power over love." She said lowly as Aphrodite smirked.

Hermes zipped past a blast of love magic and quickly grabbed ahold of Heidi. He took her from Poseidon and regarded the elder god with a frown.

Heidi could tell where this was going and began struggling. "No! Hermes, let me go! We aren't leaving him!" She yelled as Hermes began flying further away.

Hermes shook his head before pointing as Poseidon disappeared in a blast of magic. "No we aren't-but we are leaving this!" He said as he spotted Artemis retreating before turning into a hawk and joining them in the air. "She is using some form of control to make them obey her and do whatever she wants them to do."

Heidi was frozen as she saw how effortlessly Aphrodite gained control of Dionysus before she closed her eyes to hide the tears that were quickly forming.