A pink portal opens outside the kingdom of Thebes. The guards at the gate jump from the sudden appearance of Hippolyta. The tall, sinewy woman with the presence of Ares' energy adds more fear.

After calming them down, she introduces herself and asks them where to find Heracles.

"Queen Hippolyta, that isn't wise. The prince doesn't want any company", a guard sadly tells her.

"I need to tell him something."

The urgency of her tone has them point in the direction of the nearby forest. They mention the hut on the hill and to be careful of the traps he placed.

She sees the entrance with signs warning anyone to turn back. Crimson aura gently flows out like a steady river to announce her presence. Like hands, she touches the trees, animals, and traps to get to the hut on the hill.

Her aura touches the house...........golden aura doesn't reflect back to her. She withdraws her red energy and pulls it into her legs. Veins strike down her hamstrings, quads, and calves. She crouches down and pushes her feet off the ground.

A single giant leap has her over the trees. She plants her feet on the hill near the house. Heracles' horse rears its front legs from her presence. She comes near and pets its mane to calm him down.

"Shh. Shh."

Her scarlet eyes then fix on the door.  "Heracles?"

No response.

Her feet approach the door-

"Don't come any closer!", he warns.

She lets out a sigh. "I'm not here to chastise you. I want to thank you for returning my belt."

"You're welcome. I'm sorry about your father. Now leave. Please."

"Son of Zeus. I have a message-"

"Leave it at the door, Hippolyta."

Creak. The door shakes before it is ripped off the hinges. Heracles turns in surprise. Her scarlet eyes haunt him for what he did to her sister.

His golden aura flares up to push her back, but she plants her feet.

"Hera was responsible for everything that happened to us!"

His divine energy dies out. The sudden reveal tries to ebb away at his doubt. He walks backwards to put distance between them. Hippolyta stays at the door frame. After allowing a moment to breathe, she tells him the truth while omitting Takashi's name for his promise.

Her soft words explain it all. How Hera had implemented her madness into his son's wooden horse toy and her sister's favorite sword.

His knees sink to the floor in astonishment. The cause of his agony wasn't his fault. The truth eats away at him just like before.

The Amazon Queen's tears drip to the floor. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for blaming you! It wasn't your fault!"

A big part of him wants to close the distance with a tender embrace, but the past rears its ugly head.

"I still did those atrocities. If I was more in control-"

Her strong arms latch around him. "Stop. Stop blaming yourself."

Tears finally leave his sky-blue eyes. His sculpted arms hold her close. The demigods grieve for each other. His hand brushes through her curls for the loss of her father. Her hands rub circles on his large back.

After some time, she puts some space between them while holding his hands.

His pupils waver. "Do....I deserve to see them again?"

She hands him a pouch of love dust. "You do." Her lips plant a soft kiss on his cheek before walking away.

He wants to kiss her back. But the thought of Megara's feelings stops him. "Hippolyta."

She turns back to him.

"Thank you for everything. And...."

"What?"

His heart spills out. "I have feelings for you."

Her heart thuds against her sternum.

"But....I need time. I-"

"Take as much time as you need. Send me a letter through Hephaestus' fire when you're ready."

She flashes him a peaceful smile before leaving the hut. Her mind argues with her to tell him the truth, but Takashi's concerns stop her. Whatever he saw of Heracles must have been too terrifying to describe.

Sprinkling some love dust, she returns to the Corinthian temple. Her sisters welcome her back, but she heads to her room to contemplate her heart and mind. She clutches a body pillow close to her with a smile on her face. Her feelings were reciprocated.

----

Echo takes staggered steps after finding out about Chrysaor. Not knowing what to think of her beloved as a baby.

Helena notices her behavior and checks on her. "Is everything okay?"

"Taki said Chrysaor is now a baby, but he did say he ages quickly.But how long will I have to wait?Years?Should I be okay with that or should I move on?Would I be creepy if I wait a few decades for him?"

The rapid-fire questions throw Helena off. "Uhm."

"Oh, sorry about that. That's my problem to deal with. Feel free to talk to him", the nymph walks away.

The mortal's heart pounds loudly. After looking through his phone, a video of them kissing brought up guilt and other conflicting feelings.

She storms over to the room with Takashi's tote bag. He notices the conflict within her lavender irises.

"We...We kissed?"

"Yeah. but it was under false pretenses. Eris tricked us."

"Oh."

She sits down on the steps before him while he stays near the mattress and linen they just gave him.

Her hands pull out a fur vest. Her fingers trace the immaculate stitching and material.

"Did you make this?"

His heart sinks to the bottom of his stomach. He swallows it back up. "It....was from a friend. He was on Ithaca."

Her breath hitches. For a reason semi-known to her, she embraces the vest.

"Please. Tell me who made this. He did a great job."

His lips quiver. "Damian."

His uttered name waters her eyes. Tears begin to stream down her face. Her body shrinks. Despite his mind arguing not to, he embraces her.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry", he repeats.

She doesn't fight him off. His kind warmth brings up moments of their past friendship. The laughter they shared. And them moving on as friends.

After letting her catch her breath, he puts space between them. "In case I can't bring him back, keep that vest. I hope you will find the peace and love you deserve."

A grin cracks across her face. "Thank you, Taki. Tomorrow morning, we will send you to Demeter."

"Why not now?"

"She's.......uhm, neurotic around this time."

He assumes why. "Is it because Persephone isn't with her?"

She nods. "If you aren't careful with your words, she could go against you. So, rest to figure it out."

He understands. She slides her arms through the sleeves of the vest. Admiring it in the reflection before walking away.

"Taki. Whether or not it works, I believe in you. Find your spirit to keep going."

"Thanks."

The "daughter" of Artemis leaves his sight. 

An ember forms in his body from the support he received. A strength that he can count on.

He points his index finger up to the ceiling. He imagines the green wisp forming on the tip of his finger......Nothing. He sighs. It will take him time to conquer his personal mountain.

"Hello?", Selene calls out to him.

"I'm here."

The priestess of the fallen Hera stands before him. "I've...seen you before. How close were we?"

He thinks back. "Not well. Just acquaintances. But....I remember Bellerophon-"

Her eyes widen. "You knew him?"

He briefly explains that there was a tournament. Bellerophon and Selene were embracing each other. The thought settles into her mind from the truth. She smiles while crying happily.

Shame fills his eyes. "I'm sorry for driving you two apart."

"And yet you bring us together. I thank you for that."

A gasp leaves his lips. She runs from him to be in touch with her best friend again. 

The corners of his mouth almost curl upwards. He allows it to continue to signal the first step to conquering his own mountain.

After a brief dinner, the orange streaks of the sunset has him lie down on the makeshift bed. He hopes tomorrow with Demeter will change things for the better.

----

Mt Olympus

Hammers, anvils, scalpels, and various weapons are thrown about in Hephaestus' forge. His servants of Cyclops keep clear to avoid his wrathful grieving.

His unbrushed hair stays close to his head. His mind brings up the hurtful words he told his arranged wife.

"You whore! How dare you betray our marriage?!"

His hands clench the wheels of his chair. Despite hating his brothers for having affairs behind his back, he couldn't ignore the good moments. Hermes had admired the handiwork on his staff while Ares loved his war armor.

His mother had cared for him ever since his father threw him off the mountain. Her support had led him to create his wheelchair to move around.

Hestia had come in from time to time to deliver food for her nephew. He appreciated her genuine warmth.

And now Takashi Watanabe had ripped them all away. Flames dance around him before exploding outwards. His tools are left untouched from his divine talent to withstand the hottest of flames.

He wants to capture that strange mortal and exchange him for the perfect wish. Part of his mind wants to bring back his loved ones.

But his heart could only focus on the angelic blond hair of Aphrodite. Her perfect body that he wanted to make love to. Her heart-shaped pupils that would appreciate his gifts......and yet their lips never touched.

Her kind words, yet she betrayed his trust several times. He settles on his wish: only bringing her back, but under his full control to love him the way he deserves. She would only acknowledge him. She would abandon her many children just to be with him. His need for her attention would always be satisfied.

His lustful urges try to reach to his wife.....his eyes widen. He could almost feel an inch of her energy. He looks out through a window in the direction he felt it. Golden embers of aura silently reach out to touch her again....

Takashi startles awake from feeling the god of fire's selfishness. The pink aura within him shrivels up to protect its host. He steps back from the golden aura hovering towards him. It covers the doorframe as if to trap his beloved. 

He holds his breath while clinging to behind a column. The perverse fingers walk around it to capture him.

He shrinks down to the floor, praying that he would leave. The hand of aura dissipates to his relief.

He waits several minutes before shouting for some love dust to escape. He can't afford for Hephaestus to hurt any of them.