Chapter Thirty Five
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths!
*blows horn in celebration* guys, we did it! We made it to 300 reviews! Thank you all so much! Also *ducks projectiles* I know, I know! I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to be three weeks before the next update but life somehow found a way to make it so!
And yay, we also made it to a lighter chapter! I'm so happy we're here and if I'm happy, I'm sure you all are too! :D
Lauriverfanboy1: I almost feel bad for Zeus as well….almost being the key word. But like you said, they brought this on themselves!
danifan3000: You're not too far off!
CrystalKaouri: Lol oh if only! But you're right, Zeus is definitely in for it now!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! I know, I know! I'm sorry! But hey, we're almost there! And I think you're right re: Hercules and Hades' relationship mending with this!
charmed princess imzadi: Oh I'm so glad you liked it!
SaikoGoyangi: Yep, she's coming home!
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Only the best for Mal! :D
Guest: It's entirely possible but I don't really see Ariel enforcing that, especially since Leah might think Elle would be too old for Phil Jr (who I just realized hasn't even been born here yet lol)
EM: It's not out of the realm of possibility! :D
Hope you guys like this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Ariel held back a sigh as she, Captain Hook, and Cassandra made their way to the barrier. She couldn't believe…her poor cousin!
Don't worry Malinoë, help is coming! I promise, we'll get you out of there, she thought; blinking slightly as Cassandra opened the barrier and the two of them stepped out onto the small solid platform that connected the bridge. She wasn't going to lie, Ariel was surprised that Captain Hook hadn't used the barrier being opened to escape.
Hey, he might have had an alliance with her uncle but…pirates had killed her mother and inadvertently subjected her to ten years without music. She could trust James Hook, the father and ally…it was trusting Captain Hook the pirate that was more of an issue.
Okay, we can worry about that in a minute but for right now you have a phone call to make, Ariel thought as she quickly dialed Rapunzel's number.
"Hello? Yes, hi Rapunzel. I'm sorry if this call seems rushed but would you be able to send someone to the Isle fo a few hours? Preferably someone with a background in sneaking around?"
"I'm sorry Ariel, I want to make sure I didn't mishear you? A sneaking background? To the Isle? I thought we rounded up most if not all of the villains to the Isle years ago?"
"We did, but Cassandra needs some back up for a rescue mission."
"Cass? Can I speak to her Ariel? Please?"
"Of course, but we don't have a lot of time so please be quick," Ariel said and handed the phone to Cassandra.
"Cass? What's going on? Why do you need backup for a rescue mission? Are you hurt? Do you need to come back to Corona?" Rapunzel rated off as soon as Cassandra held the phone to her ear.
"Raps, Raps, calm down," Cassandra said and then sighed. "I'm not hurt, I promise. It's just…there's someone on the Isle who's in the hands of someone that she really shouldn't be and her parents would like her back…Raps? Are you still there?"
"Hey Dragon Lady, care to explain why Blondie just dragged me to the phone?" Eugene asked and Cassandra sighed in relief. So that was the explanation for the slight clatter—and it made sense too. Rapunzel would jump into action to help a kidnapped child.
"Hey Fly Boy," Cassandra said with a small chuckle. "To catch you up, there's someone on the Isle who's someplace she shouldn't be being held in a rather fortified location so I need one of your ruffian friends to come and help me."
"Lance would be your best bet," Eugene said. "Lance or myself actually. I love the other ruffians for breaking me out of prison and preventing me from seeing the gallows but they're idiots."
"I'm good with either option but I'm guessing you have a kingdom to run?" Cassandra said. "Plus we already have one royal on the Isle, no need to make it two."
"You're right, plus Blondie just reminded me that I also have children who need their father—Lance has two kids two Rapunzel!"
"Lance's kids have grown up by this point Eugene! We have three young children with another on the way!" Rapunzel told him, having switched her phone to speaker for ease of communicating with Cassandra.
"Wait, how many kids do you have?" Cassandra asked.
"Well we have Rachel, Rowyn just celebrated her first birthday and Robin was born a few months ago," Rapunzel told her. "And like we said, we have another one on the way."
Cassandra shook her head. "Did that flower give you super speed for your fertility or something?"
"I'm not sure…and honestly I don't think we have the time to think about that right now do we?"
"Right, right. You're right. Look, I don't really care who comes as long as I have some additional backup since Lord Hercules will be coming as well but I need the additional backup to get here soon. Or even today if possible. That little girl doesn't have time for us to muck around."
"…I'll send Lance. As much as I'd love to help, you're right Cass. I've got a kingdom to take care of and a pregnant wife to look after along with three young daughters. They don't need me gallivanting on a rescue mission."
"I get it, sometimes you need to be a parent first. I'm sure Lance will act just as well in your stead…even if I'll miss the chance to see you Tiger," Cassandra said softly.
"I'll miss you too Dragon Lady but Lance will be there," Eugene promised. "Sounds like that little girl doesn't have time for us to wait."
"Thanks Eugene…you've gone a long way in getting yourself into someone's good books. And believe me, on the Isle, that means something."
"I'm not doing it to get into anyone's good books. I'm doing it because, as a father, I'd want the same to be done for my girls if it was needed."
"I know…but it doesn't change the fact that you're in the good books. I'll keep an eye out for Lance after I see Queen Ariel off."
"Right, okay. I'm just going to ignore the fact that Blondie never mentioned the fact that Ariel was on the Isle."
"Yeah, you never heard that."
"No, I did not hear that."
"Good. Well you guys…I send my love, give the kids a kiss and tell them…tell them maybe I'll see them one day."
"Of course Cass, I'm sure we'll see each other again." Rapunzel said. "I have no doubt of that. But…you can come off the Isle any time you know?"
"Thanks Raps but…I can't. I have a reason to stay now."
"Well, maybe some day that reason and you can come to Corona," Rapunzel told her.
Cassandra couldn't help but smile at that. "I hope so…but I'd better get off the phone. No sense in tying up the line so Lance can't be called."
"Right, right…Lance will be there soon."
"Rodger that. Talk soon."
Cassandra hung up the phone and looked over at Ariel. "Lance is on his way."
"Oh thank Gods," Ariel sighed in relief.
"Agreed," Cassandra nodded. "And now you, your highness, should really go—."
"Back to the Underworld? You're absolutely right Cassandra, it's my responsibility to be there both as a Queen and as a cousin. I need to make sure that little girl gets home safely and I told my uncle I'd help them get her back so I'm not going to swim on home and leave the work to you," Ariel nodded and Cassandra shook her head. Their High Queen was a stubborn one that was certain.
"Besides…there's more that I need to talk to Uncle Hades about," Ariel said softly. "Specifically the Isle and while I could use the Olympian mind link to talk to him from my home, I'd rather give him the courtesy of talking to him face to face. Which I will do after Lance gets here."
"Fine, fine," Cassandra said with a small sigh; more than a little amazed that Captain Hook hadn't said anything all the while they were calling for backup. "But fix your hood, your hair's starting to show and no offense your highness but you have extremely recognizable hair."
Ariel nodded and quickly adjusted her hood so that all of her vibrant red hair was tucked away. Cassandra couldn't help but sigh in relief. Now they just had to wait.
Come on Lance, Cassandra thought, trying to ignore the slight phantom cries in her head. A little girl is waiting on you…
Thankfully, it wasn't long before a car drove across the bridge and Ariel quickly pressed the button to open the barrier. It wouldn't do much good if the back up wasn't able to, you know, help.
Once the car and the two women were inside the barrier, a tallish bald man came out of the car and Ariel could tell by the look on Cassandra's face that he was the Lance they were waiting on.
"Cass? That you?"
"Long time no see Lance, glad you could make it," Cassandra nodded.
Lance gave her a small smile. "Anything for you Cass, you know that. Now Eugene filled me in on what's going on. I take it we don't have time to catch up with small talk?"
"You'd be right Muscles," Cassandra said with a small nod.
Lance shook his head. "Did you steal Eugene's nickname for me?"
"We're on the Isle of the Lost. Stealing's kinda one of the major pastimes around here. But come on, you were right about not having time to waste and we have to go pick up Hercules as well before Lord Hades decides to flambé him."
"I feel I should ask why Lord Hercules is on the Isle but I feel like you'll catch me up," Lance said as the three of them started to make their way back to the Underworld. "Gods, it's gloomy here."
"Tell me something I don't know," Cassandra told him.
"Right, right. You'd probably already know that," Lance said before tossing Cassandra a black hooded cloak. "Eugene said it'd probably be a good idea if we blended in. I've got one too."
Cassandra nodded as she caught the cloak before pausing as she looked at it. "Raps…you didn't…"
"What's wrong?" Ariel asked, looking over at Cassandra as Hook also glanced over at her. Hey, if she was leading the rescue charge for Malinoë, then he was going to keep an eye out for Cassandra's safety.
"This is the cloak she wore when I snuck her out of her room before her coronation," Cassandra said with a small chuckle as she put it on; her hand brushing over the stitching that repaired the rip the rocks from the moon stone had caused. "I didn't even know she still had it after all these years."
"If she couldn't be here herself, she wanted to be here in spirit," Lance told her as they reached the gate to the Underworld. Hercules was already waiting at the gate and he and Ariel switched places. Hook also slipped inside as well, not wanting to be locked out.
"You should know this is the strangest thing I have ever done," Lance muttered to Cassandra.
"More strange than storming a castle to fight a teenager who had Queen Arianna held captive in an attempt to kidnap Rapunzel?" Cassandra muttered back to him.
"Good point," Lance nodded before he grew silent, opting to follow Cassandra's lead to Maleficent's castle. Hercules hadn't said any word since he had joined the other two when he swapped with Ariel in the Underworld.
"Alright," Cassandra whispered as they arrived at Bargain Castle, aka Maleficent's domicile. "Now I'd prefer not to use a window to get in there since we'll have an extra on the way back but I'm not seeing any other way to get in."
"There!" Lance whispered, gesturing with his head as to not garner any attention. "There's a balcony overlooking the main courtyard. The problem is, it's too noticeable to go from the center. We'd have to go from one of the sides."
"I've done harder," Cassandra told him with a slight shrug.
"As have I," Lance nodded. "The question is where is our exit point. I'm not jumping from a balcony holding a baby, and I'd reckon you don't want to either."
"What if I wait out here when you guys go in so I can open the front door for you?" Hercules offered, speaking for the first time. "If you guys are climbing up to the balcony, I'm a bit more noticeable than you are and the last thing we need is to draw attention plus…I'm not really seeing any other exit points you guys could use. I mean…from Corona's history, Gothel jumped from a balcony when she kidnapped Queen Rapunzel but..that was Gothel."
"We may have to knock some goblins on the head to get out but you're right. I'm no seeing any other option and I'm not taking a page from Gothel's book of all people," Cassandra nodded. "We'll need some rope or a—."
"Hook?" Lance offered as he handed Cassandra a bunch of rope with a hook attached at the end. "Eugene told me to bring something in case we needed to go from above."
"Tiger's smarter than I thought," Cassandra said with a small chuckle as she took the offered rope. Thankfully it only took a couple of throws before getting the rope to stick and she and Lance began to climb.
"Eugene's going to be upset he missed this, breaking into Maleficent's castle would have been the highlight of our thieving careers," he whispered.
"Yeah well he's got bigger priorities than career highlights right now," Cassandra whispered back to him.
"Oh I know, I know. Trust me, I wouldn't want those little girls to be without their dad. No kid should grow up without a father."
"I have to agree," Cassandra said with a small smile as she thought about her adoptive father. Well actually father. Cassandra had done some research back before she went to the Isle and found records from her father's notes about a time where he'd met an extremely attractive, dark haired woman back when he was rising the ranks of the castle guard. He had never put two and two together that the middle aged woman with the three year old toddler she'd abandoned was the same young woman he'd spent time with.
Hopefully I'm making you proud dad especially after all that mess with the moonsone, Cassandra thought and shook her head to clear it. "Now let's get a move on so that this little girl can get back to hers."
The two made their way to the top of the balcony and swung over the railing.
"Okay…now if you were Maleficent where would you keep a baby?" Cassandra whispered, trying her best to not make any extra noise than what was needed.
"Probably far enough away so that she doesn't have to think about the baby but close enough so that she'd have easy access," Lance whispered back. "If I had to wager a guess…I'd say her throne room isn't too far from here either since she'd use the balcony to 'rule' over everyone so a baby's room would likely be around here too since the baby would be used as a status symbol instead of actually caring about her…"
Cassandra nodded. "Right then, let's go."
The two of them headed into the castle, keeping an eye out for any potential traps or hazards that would have alerted Maleficent to their presence.
Come on little one, where are you? Cassandra thought as they searched, carefully opening doors wherever she could. We'd like to get you out of here. Come out, come out wherever you are.
It took some searching but Cassandra paused as she heard a small whimper in a room that could be generously called a closet.
"Oh you have got to be kidding me? Surely you're not that cruel Maleficent?" Cassandra muttered as she pulled the door open. Her heart broke as she saw that Maleficent was, in fact, that cruel. A purple haired baby could be seen before her win a slightly tattered and filthy dragon onesie.
"Shh, shh, it's okay little one. Don't be scared, I'm going to take you home. You want to see your daddy?" Cassandra whispered soothingly as she picked the girl up and wrapped her cloak around her.
"Lance! I found her," Cassandra hissed.
Lance hurried over to her and his eyes widened. "Whoever we're rescuing this little girl for is going to freak when they see the state of their kid," he whispered. "The smell alone…"
"Well we don't have time to wash her right now," Cassandra sighed softly. "Little one, can we make a deal? Please don't cry until we leave here?"
The only response she got was the little girl burrowing closer to her chest but Cassandra took that to mean the girl agreed.
Cassandra and Lance quietly but quickly made their way out toward the agreed upon exit; Cassandra trying to keep her left hand supporting the little girl and her stronger hand on her sword. Thankfully Lance seemed to understand the struggle she was dealing with since he had moved so that he was in front of her and slightly to the left, scanning for any incoming goblins.
"So far so good," he whispered. "No sign of trouble…which is a little odd. There should be trouble. Or least more guards. I mean this is Maleficent we're talking about…"
Just as Lance finished speaking, they could hear a faint shriek deeper in the castle and the little girl in Cassandra's arms whimpered softly but thankfully didn't cry.
"Fools! Idiots!"
"I suggest we take advantage of Maleficent apparently choosing now to torment her goblins and leave before she realizes we're here," Cassandra whispered. Yes it was surprisingly too easy but she'd worry about that later. Or maybe even chalk it up to the fact that Maleficent didn't care about the girl Cassandra held in her arm but was so egotistical that it would never occur to her that someone would steal from her.
"I second that," Lance whispered back and the two of them began to rush out of the castle. Cassandra didn't know how much luck they had needed to pull that off but she was thankful they had it.
"Everything alright?" Hercules whispered as Cassandra and Lance rushed out of the front door he held opened for them and made their way into the courtyard. In her later years, Cassandra would wonder why Maleficent didn't realize someone was so close to her front door but in that moment, all she cared about was that she'd successfully gotten the little girl in her arms away from that Dragon.
"Never better," Cassandra told him, showing Hercules their young charge. "Come on, I think it's time we get someone home."
"I can hold her," Hercules said and Cassandra paused in shock.
Hercules shook his head. "I do have two young children, I can control my strength. Besides, no matter what, I wouldn't harm a child and it's not fair to you to have to hold her and potentially fight off attackers."
Cassandra couldn't help but be impressed by that logic, and knew it would help in the event that they were attacked if she was able to wield her sword in her stronger hand.
"Alright," Cassandra nodded and gently transferred the little girl in her arms to Hercules'.
"Hello Mali," Hercules whispered. "Let's get you home."
An excellent idea, Cassandra thought as the four of them began to make their way back to the Underworld and to an anxiously waiting cousin and father.
