Chapter 6

After Carlos, Mal and Percy woke up in cold sweats, the heroes all made their way to Auradon Prep. Sure enough, Freddie and Jackie had been there and had taken Jane.

Reporters had already the made their way on the school grounds. Parents were calling and arriving to check in on their kids. Some were even talking about transferring them for their safety.

"This is bad," Mal said gravely.

"No kidding. Still think we should've kept Hazel and the others on the bench?" Percy asked.

Mal gave him a look. "We have to do this ourselves."

"Mal's right," Annabeth agreed "The last thing we need is for Circe to get her hooks in Hazel. Or Reyna."

Reyna and her sister Hylla had spent years living on the island of Circe. Annabeth feared that it wouldn't take long for them to fall back in line with their old boss.

"Carlos!" Fairy Godmother cried.

She came running down the stairs in a pale blue nightgown and slippers. Her eyes were panicked and full of tears.

"They took her," she cried in a trembling voice "They took her. They took my baby!"

"I know. I know," Carlos said, struggling to stay calm "We'll find her. I promise."

"Was anyone badly hurt?" Annabeth asked.

"Thankfully, no. The rest of the students were asleep. But Ahli, the son of Aladdin, found this in his windowsill."

Fairy Godmother handed Annabeth an imperial gold arrow with a heart-shaped point. She studied the "Grover, you smell that?"

Grover sniffed the arrow and yawned. "Sleep magic. This arrow was dipped in water from the river Lythe."

"That's a trick from cabin fifteen," Percy remembered "The children of Hypnos, god of sleep."

"Freddie said that she and Jackie were working with a new partner," Carlos recalled.

"Fan out," Ben ordered "We need to figure out where they might have gone."

"Wait."

Grover tiled his head. "Tyson, you hear that?"

The cyclops nodded. "Pretty."

"What? What is it?" Percy asked.

"Camp."

Grover and Tyson led the others upstairs towards the freshman dorms. Eventually, they heard it: music.

A man in his early forties leaned against railing, wearing a long white polo shirt with navy blue slacks and polished black wingtips. He had jet black hair, a deep tan and sky blue eyes. It was King Eric of Velona, Ariel's husband and Melody's father. He was playing a imperial golden flute, providing musical accompaniment to a beautiful woman as she sang. She looked like she was in her mid-thirties, wearing a beautiful purple dress. She had summer green eyes, sun kissed tan skin and long golden hair. Very, very long golden hair. It was so long, that it trailed the ground even with Celia, Dizzy and Melody could each holding a handful as they formed a circle around her. It glowed as the woman continued to sing, pulsing in time with every note.

Nico's throat clamped up like a vice. He knew that tune. Will Solace used to sing it in Cabin Eight, using it to heal the wounded of Camp Half-Blood. Will and his siblings sung it in ancient Greek, but the woman sang it in English.

"Flower, gleam and glow. Let your power shine. Make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine. Heal what has been hurt. Change the fate's design. Save what has been hurt. Bring back what once was mine. What once was mine."

"Rapunzel," Mal gasped.

"My queen." The queen of Corona bowed respectfully "I was just tending to the wounds of our young heroes."

"Melody!" Triton ran to his granddaughter's side "Are you alright?"

"Grandpa," Melody whined "you're embarrassing me."

"They're fine," Eric assured with an easy-going smile "Their injuries were minor."

"Where's Henry?" Nico asked.

"In his room," said Melody "He hasn't come out sine the reporters arrived."

"I'll talk to him," Nico decided.

"I'll go with you," Celia decided. And she walked off with Nico behind her.

"None of this makes any sense. Why would Jackie leave Celia and take Jane?" Lonnie asked.

"I think I know," said Rapunzel "For the past month, Eric, Jane and I have been plagued with dreams from our father."

"Apollo? He's been sending you guys dream messages?" Percy asked.

"Possibly. My dreams, they are hazy at best. But Jane's are vivid. She says Apollo was asking her to find something. An ancient gift he left to Auradon."

"What kind of gift?" Annabeth inquired.

"A powerful one. Jane often said it was our father's mark of Athena."

Annabeth paled.

"Ok, that is really not good," said Percy.

"What's the mark of Athena?" Mal asked.

"An ancient statue," Annabeth answered "one that radiates my mother's power."

"So, Jackie wants to take over Wonderland with a magic statue?" Jay concluded.

"I don't know what the gift is," said Rapunzel "Only that Apollo fears what may happen if the source of the music were to fall into the wrong hands."

"The source of the music?" Carlos repeated.

"That is what my father called it. Every child in Auradon is born with a song in their heart. Apollo's gift to Auradon is where those songs come from. Where all songs come from."

"So this gift from Apollo is why everybody in Auradon is singing all the time?" Percy asked.

"It does far more than that," Eric insisted "Apollo was the only major Olympian who supported Aphrodite in her mission to keep Auradon from being banished to the sea of monsters. The music of Apollo strengthens the love of Aphrodite and the magic of Hecate. If the Queen of Hearts were to get her hands on it…according to Jane, the results could be disastrous."

"So why Jane would help them?" Ben asked "If she knew they were coming for her, why didn't she run? Where is this source of music?"

"I don't know its exact location, but I know the kingdom where it is hidden. A place full of wild creatures and madness."

"Wonderland," Ben said gravely "That's not good. It's the biggest territory in the United Kingdoms of Auradon."

"And a warzone thanks to Jackie and her mom," Mal added.

Ever since the barrier had gone down, the Queen of Hearts had been obsessed with regaining her throne. Her new card soldiers had already been a massive problem. If she got her hands on a blessing from Apollo…

"Grandma! Stop!" Dizzy shouted.

She was being dragged down the hall by Lady Tremaine, the wicked stepmother of Cinderella.

"I don't want to go!" Dizzy wailed.

"I don't care what you want, young lady," Lady Tremaine said firmly "You are coming home right now, and that's final."

"Lady Tremaine!" said Fairy Godmother "what are doing?"

"I'm withdrawing Drizella from this school. I'm taking back home where she'll be safe."

"Your daughter will be protected here," Fairy Godmother promised.

"The same way your daughter was protected tonight?" Lady Tremaine asked.

Fairy Godmother looked like she'd been slapped in the face.

Lady Tremaine turned to Mal. "I have already lost one daughter to that mad woman. I won't lose my granddaughter too."

Mal's face softened. During the early days of the Isle, the Queen of Hearts waged war with anybody and everybody over the pettiest of slights. On day, she sent her card soldiers after, Drizzella, Dizzy's mother, bumping into her at the marketplace. She was never seen again.

"Dizzy," Mal said gently "Go with your grandma."

"But Mal,"

"It's just for a little while. You'll be at Auradon Prep in no time," Mal promised, though she didn't really believe it.

Reluctantly, Dizzy did as she was told and followed her grandmother out the door.

"I can't believe this is happening," Ben muttered.

"I can," said Rapunzel "My king, three years ago, you opened the door that kept out the greatest enemies of over 20 kingdoms. I know your goal was to make amends with their children, but you never once considered the possibility that past might repeat itself."

"That's why you're here," Annabeth realized "You didn't come to Auradon Prep to find out about Jane. You came to get your daughter."

"With a very heavy heart," Rapunzel confirmed "I am truly sorry, Ben. I deeply believe in what you are trying to achieve by making peace with the people of the Isle. But you ask for too much too quickly."

And with that, she left to collect her daughter.

Ben sighed and ran hand over his face. "Jackie and her mother have been loose for too long. The people are starting to lose faith."

"Then restore it," Triton advised "Send the finest warriors after Hearts and tell them not to rest and until they bring her back dead or alive."

"What about Circe?"

"Right now, Hearts is the more eminent threat to your rein."

"You have got to kidding me!"

Harry looked ready to tear Triton in two.

"You're going to leave Uma at the mercy of that crazy witch?"

"Watch your tone when speaking to me, boy. A king must put the needs of the many over the needs of the few. I will can deploy a legion of merman to intercept Uma's vessel. If she resists,"

Triton shrugged dismissively. "The girl chose her path.

"That girl is the love of my life!" Harry shouted "and the only reason she's on this path to begin with is because you treated your own sister like dirt!"

"That monstrous filth is no kin to me!"

"Call her a monster again and I swear I'll turn you into fish and chips!"

"That's enough!" Percy shouted, stepping between the two.

Harry gripped his sword and Percy glared at him, daring the son of Nemesis to duel him again.

"I should've known better than to put up with you lot," Harry snarled. And he marched off.

"Harry. Harry, wait!" Gil shouted, chasing after him.

Percy sighed. He wasn't exactly best friends with Gil and Harry, but right now they were the only ones with a chance at convincing Uma to come home.

"Dad?" Melody glanced at Eric nervously "Am I going home too?"

Eric paused and kissed her cheek. "Go get some rest, sweetheart. We'll talk about it in the morning."

"But Dad,"

"Melody. Go to your room," Triton ordered sternly "Your father and I have much to discuss."

Eric tightened his jaw. Clearly, he didn't always get along with Triton either. Reluctantly, Melody did as she was told.

"There is no decision to make," Triton insisted "Melody must return to Velona."

"That isn't your decision to make, Triton. And I would appreciate it if you would watch your tone when speaking to my daughter."

"The sea does not like to be restrained. Melody requires a firm hand to keep her out of trouble."

"Like the firm hand you used with Ariel? The one that made her run away?"

Storms of anger brewed in Triton's eyes. "Ursula has returned from Tartarus. We need to put an army between her and Melody."

Eric grimaced, his eyes lost in memory. Despite the stories back home focusing on Ariel's perspective, Percy knew that it was Eric who killed first killed Ursula and her pet eels. Judging by the look on Eric's face, Percy got the idea that the battle had been a lot more intense than the fairy tales let on.

"Melody is not a child anymore. Ariel and I will decided what is best for her, but we will also give her the chance to speak her piece. In the morning. I'd invite you to the meeting, but Melody tells me you and your brothers are setting sail in the morning."

Eric's face softened as he looked at Percy. "Try to be patient with the old barnacle, eh?"

"No promises," Percy muttered.

Eric chuckled and patted his back. Then he bowed to Ben and Mal and walked out.

"So what we do now?" Jay asked.

Mal felt Ben's hand slip in hers. As tough as it was being queen, it was a lot easier to do when she wasn't alone.

"We divide and conquer," she decided "Half of us will set sail to the island of Circe. The rest of us put a stop to whatever Jackie's planning."

"Harry! Harry!" Gil shouted, chasing his best friend down across the school grounds.

Eventually he caught up and grabbed him by the arm.

"Harry, would just stop and talk to me for a second?"

"I'm through bloody talking!"

Harry ripped his arm free and glared at Gil.

"How many times are we going to fall for this, man? How many times are we going to trust Mal and her lot just for them to stab us in the back?"

"We have to save Uma ourselves."

"Harry, we can't just go after Uma ourselves," Gil insisted "We don't even know how to get Circe's Island!"

"I saw Jackson's charts!" Harry hissed "They're going to the Western Isles. You want to see Mal and her mates bring our families home in irons?"

Gil paled and shook his head.

"Me neither. Look, this is a family matter," Harry insisted "which means the only people we can trust, is family."

As the two young pirates headed off for the harbor of the Isle of the Lost, they never noticed the three young faces chasing after them.

Nico walked with Celia down the hall, trying to come up with some way to fill the awkward silence.

"Your sister needs better friends," blurted.

"No kidding," Celia muttered.

She had never liked Jackie. She always thought she was crazy. But Freddie liked her. Jackie was the brawn to her brain.

"Freddie thinks I care more about impressing Mal than my family."

"Is she right?"

"No," Celia said instantly "Freddie's my sister. And the closet thing I've ever had to a mom. Maybe I should've told her that."

"I know how the feeling," Nico muttered. He had felt the same way about his sister Bianca.

When they came to Henry's dorm, he was making a break for it. Pegasus was waiting for him just outside his dorm window. He wore a blue Auradon Prep tracksuit, an imperial gold breastplate, a white t-shirt and running sneakers. A gold shield hung off his shoulders like a backpack. He held a golden javelin in one hand and a duffel bag in the other.

"Uh, hi guys," he said awkwardly.

"Henry, where are you going?" Celia asked.

"Wonderland," he answered, tying his bag and spear to Pegasus' saddle.

"I'm going to find Jackie."

"Henry, are you crazy? You can't go to Wonderland! That place is a warzone!"

"I don't care!"

Henry punched a hole in his bed frame.

His voice broke. "This whole stupid mess is my fault. You told me to play defense and I couldn't protect the kingdom from a couple of stupid automatons."

"Henry."

"I know why Jackie took Jane. I know what they're looking for. If we don't stop her, it could be the end of Olympus."

"We?" Celia echoed.

"End of Olympus?" Nico repeated.

"Before I came to Auradon, my father promised that I would get the chance to prove myself a hero," Henry explained "That I'd get the chance to go the distance. I thought he meant stopping Circe, but I get it now. Circe isn't my fight, this. But I can't do it alone."

He stretched out his hand, and Celia felt butterflies in her stomach as she looked into his eyes. She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. White Mist surrounded her, changing her pajamas into a purple jacket, matching pants, a black t-shirt, and thick soled boots. A celestial bronze knife and pack of magical tarot cards hung from her belt. She took Henry's hand.

"Okay. Let's go."

"You can't be serious," Nico insisted.

"Before Freddie left the school, she said that I didn't care about her. I need to show her she's wrong," said Celia.

"There's no way I'm talking you two out of this is there?" Nico asked.

"Nope," Henry said as he helped Celia on the flying horse "So, you coming?"

Nico hesitated.

"You should go with them champ," a voice suggested.

He turned around and saw Hades standing in the doorway of Henry's room. He wore a black Italian suit with a matching shirt and patent leather loafers. The tips of his hair were still dyed blue from his time on the Isle.

"I can't," said Nico "Mal needs me."

"Perhaps. But your friends need you more. The son of Hercules has training but little experience. The daughter of Hecate has experience but no training. You have both. My son, I know that you have lost much," Hades acknowledged "but just because your loved ones have died does not mean your heart has to. Death means nothing if life is not experienced first."

And just like that, he disappeared.

"Hey!" a voice hissed "What's taking you guys so long?"

Nico looked out the window and saw a familiar flying carpet. Sitting in the middle of that carpet was Ahli, son of Aladdin, grandson of Hermes. He was also dressed for a quest: a pair of celestial bronze scimitars strapped across the back of his Auradon Prep tracksuit.

"The paparazzi are heading this way," he whispered "If we're gonna go, we're got to go now!"

"Wait!" Nico called.

But the freshmen were already soaring across the sky. Nico groaned. He hated the idea of Mal going on her first wuest without him. But he liked the idea of these questing alone even more.

"Sorry sis," Nico muttered. He shadow traveled to the ground, summoned a skeleton horse and rode after them.

Henry grinned as he spotted the undead steed chasing after Pegasus. "Took you long enough, bro!"

"Don't call me bro!" Nico shouted "So, what's the plan once we get to Wonderland?"

"First, we find the Mad Hatter."

Celia paled. "The Mad Hatter's the craziest person in all of Wonderland."

"Nope," said Henry "He's the only sane person in Wonderland."

Author's Note: Sorry about the long hiatus, but I am back! Will do my best to get this fic finished as soon as I can. Planning on posting a new chapter bi-weekly if I can. Can't wait for you guys to see what's coming next ;)