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WELCOME HOME

"The child of a royal bloodline does
not have to follow the footsteps of
their ancestors." —Unknown
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Pantheon Hall Of Gods

Location: City Of Olympus, Olympian Realm

June 24, 2015

NEVER did the young Stark think her world would change in an instant? Her mind couldn't wrap around the fact she was the daughter of a fucking Queen, and a legendary one of that. And the granddaughter of Zeus, she had a family here... and it was all ruined because of HYDRA. But those negative thoughts fluttered away as she fidgeted with her fingers nervously, after departing from Asgard and King Odin, she dared say that he wasn't what she expected. There was something odd about how he seemed to stare at her curiously, knowing something that she didn't. Thor stood by her side while Heimdall was readying to open the Bifrost, Athena gave the Gatekeeper one last farewell before being transported.

Brilliant luminescent lights flashed around the family, Aurora smiled at the sight of the galaxies and planets; and in a split second, they arrived at Olympus. Nothing came to Aurora's mind on how stunning her home planet is, evergreen fields, cerulean sea by the Kingdom. Female warriors lined fiercely beside their Queen, bowing in respect towards the royal family. They mounted onto their horses and strolled along the outskirts of the Kingdom, many commoners and nobles greeting them with bright smiles. It wasn't long before they stopped at the steps from the entrance, Thor helped Aurora down which she quietly thanked.

"Welcome home, darling," Athena declared as the warriors clinked their spears onto the ground in a synchronized sound before opening the tall doors. The goddess continued forward as she was greeted by servants and someone came forward to embrace her. Aurora could only stare confused while Thor quietly reassured her that this was her family. Her family? A woman, a man, and what appeared to be young adults came shortly after and smiled fondly at the eldest goddess, however, one turned to notice the young girl.

"Is that her?" The young redhead who appeared only five years older than Aurora asked Athena. She nodded brightly as the others slowly approached the girl, startled by the attention she was receiving. The difference was, they all had sincere expressions, unlike HYDRA that held sinister smiles. Quickly shaking off the thought, she was able to analyze the small group, first was the blonde that had beauty beyond imagination as she could only guess it was Aphrodite.

"My, how much you've grown. I knew you'd be a beauty. You have your mother's face which might I say I'm jealous of," The blonde goddess leaned forward to examine Aurora with excitement, teasing her sister. Athena merely rolled her eyes playfully but relieved that everyone was here. Aphrodite inspected the girl before realizing the uneased expression, the woman chucked before apologizing, "Oh, pardon my manners, I'm Aphrodite."

"Aurora...? I'm your Aunt Artemis. Also your favorite aunt," Artemis whispered the last part with a tiny wink. The brunette teenager cracked a smile, a bit intimidated by their presence. Nonetheless, Thor placed his hand on her shoulder to calm down, which helped tremendously. This whole 'finding her family' situation was something no normal person could experience. Then again, she wasn't normal, far from that.

"Oh please, I should be her favorite since I blessed her to find her true love. Which reminds me, is there someone special you like? Wait, of course not since you're still missing a year to meet." Aphrodite rambled through her words, only sparking Aurora's curiosity on what she meant. There was no such thing as true love... well on Earth, but could it possibly exist here? And how did she know about that?

"Wait... you could see the future? My future?" She momentarily awed at the goddess, however, she composed herself after appearing gullible. The blonde beauty widened her smirk at the question, it was practically a gift she had that was only given to selected individuals. Well, that's how Athena found Loki, after the war Aphrodite constantly hinted at their fate. And now, her only niece will have the same opportunity.

"Mere glimpses but from what I tell, you both look absolutely cute together. Might I say, a perfect match really." She insisted with a heavy sigh, already imagining the moment they fell in love. Aurora greatly wanted to oppose the idea of loving someone, always taught that it was for naive children.

"Or maybe Aphrodite, she'll want to be a maiden." Artemis chimed in, rolling her eyes discreetly as some would rather be independent. Athena too once was a maiden, except it wasn't her decision but instead late Queen Hera. All the siblings agreed that she wasn't the best mother, therefore they looked up to the eldest, which was Athena.

"And why would she be that if all the boys will fall for her beauty." She remarked with a snarky tone, only igniting the argument. The two men just glanced at the other uneased before the younger-looking one came forward to greet his niece. 

"Ignore them, I'm Apollo, Artemis' twin brother. Don't forget the better-looking one, and I could tell you're the mischievous type," He declared, his smirk widening after every second. Artemis glared at her twin, ruffling his hair since he hated someone touching it. In return, he played with her diadem causing the others to sigh at their childish behavior.

"That leaves me, Hermes. At your service dear niece, always the bright child. I still remember how much our father cherished you." The Messenger God introduced himself, leaning forward to lightly grab her chin as his eyes narrowed. Strong features, slim appearance, determined eyes, and a powerful aura he concluded. Most definitely a daughter of Athena. Despite his judgment, Aurora beamed at the thought of meeting her grandfather, considering he wasn't the best god in Greek mythology.

"My grandfather Zeus? Really? Where is he?" She questioned curiously, after meeting Odin it was only right to meet him. Oblivious to the remaining Olympians' silent expressions, no one dared uttered a statement. Athena exhaled silently as she stared at Thor, both with guilty eyes.

"Perhaps we should let her rest since it's been a journey coming here." Her mother interrupted abruptly, placing a comforting hand on Aurora's shoulder. The young Stark stared in confusion as to the sudden change in tone, sensing that the topic was still sensitive to them. The Greek gods and goddesses merely understood their sister's request, lips contouring to one last smile.

"Alright, your Majesty. We'll see you at the ceremony tomorrow." Apollo humored, sending a wink to Aurora. Bowing in a mocking gesture, a chuckle erupted from Athena's lips at her brother's antics. His twin sister gripped his arm as she didn't want her niece to choose him as her favorite. Apparently, it was always some mutual competition between them, the other gods held an embarrassed expression at their childish behavior.

"What's tomorrow?" Aurora asked with slight narrow eyes. The adults maintained their knowing expression, sharing a brief glance at the teenager.

"Well your crowning of a Princess, of course," Aphrodite explained, gracefully bidding one last goodbye at her niece. Eventually, the others followed but not before bowing in respect to them, seeing their figures retracting away towards the inner part of the palace. It left her perplexed at the sudden dense air surrounding her, almost an enigma.

"Come along, I'll show you to your room, darling. The same goes with you, Thor." Athena firmly announced, outstretches her hand to demonstrate the direction. The God of Thunder, however, had other plans since his mission of finding the other Infinity stones was still incomplete.

"If it's alright Athena, I must attend some business." He persisted, gripping his Mjölnir almost as if preparing for taking off in flight. Aurora swiftly turned at her uncle, knowing somehow he wasn't here just to celebrate.

"I understand," She responded, eyes flickering with worry and a bit of sadness. Embracing him tightly, a gesture that made her almost human... an emotion that no science can explain. Longing.

"Don't worry, I'll return for tomorrow." The God of Thunder proclaimed at the young girl, causing her to only nod at his declaration. In a split second, a bright flash appeared and the next moment he was gone, Athena muttering something under her breath about him. Walking through the castle, Aurora tried her best to memorize every detail, from the golden outlines of the corinthian columns to the mesmerizing view of the planet. Being royalty was sure a hell of a different life than a billionaire, considering she was a child of both.

Now that she thought about it, her life will always be filled with luxury and riches... who knew she hit the jackpot? In all her years, nothing in the world could replace a special moment like this. Athena thoroughly explained what to expect as she was still the crowned Princess of Olympus. Reaching towards the ballroom that was also the throne room— something washed over her like a violent hurricane. Her mind created an image of her younger self playing here, wearing the same vibrant ruby silk dress that symbolizes power and strength. Aurora mumbled to herself, unaware that her mother heard her too, "I-I remember this place..."

"You do?" The Goddess of Wisdom uttered in shock, wanting to hold back some tears from the distant memories. She didn't expect her to remember anything from the traumatic years Aurora experienced during HYDRA, however, she was proved wrong.

"Yeah... you would always carry me when I fell asleep. I never knew I had a life here," The teenager remembered with a small smile on her lips. Reaching towards the grand throne decorated with golden carvings, her hand delicately tracing along with the symbols. Centuries of Olympian blood running through her veins, unconsciously glancing over her mother... wondering if she could live up to the expectations of royalty?

"What exactly happened after..." Aurora trailed off in the end, wanting to know about her mysterious past. Athena worried she would ask that, but a promise was a promise. 

"Well— After I left you at SHIELD, I believed I could trust them to take care of you. Only that HYDRA took it as an opportunity to choose you, why you? ...Not even I know. Anyway, I returned home in fear that the Kingdom was heading to war, only not yet." The goddess described her eyes momentarily shut at the constant reminder. Both have suffered mentally and emotionally, just two women wanting to heal from the past. She didn't blink away upon seeing Aurora's face, desperately trying to get rid of the weight off her shoulders.

"And then?" She continued, not wavering away from staring at her mother's sudden mood.

"One night when we were ambushed, war erupted that lasted for years, and I desperately tried to see you one last time. But if I left to search for you, the shapeshifters would have used that to their advantage if they caught you. Forcing our hand to do their submission." Her voice trembled softly, remaining stoic with a determined tone.

"Shapeshifters?" Her nose scrunching up slightly, subconsciously wrapping her hand around the necklace. It was vivid in her memory of the attack, just it was contoured by HYDRA to appear that her mother wanted Aurora to die alone.

"We call them Vrykolaka, a race of powerful sorcerers. After the devastating war, my father died in battle along with some of my siblings. The ones you saw today were the only ones who survived... I could never forgive myself for seeing my brother Ares die in vain. Father chose me over him— and eventually, the burden of the throne fell upon me to be Queen." Athena concluded as her hand clutching on the fabric of her gown.

"Do you ever find out who started the war?" Aurora strolled towards her mother, her heels clicking on the marble floor as the tense suspense.

"My step-mother Hera. She did it to get rid of me, knowing if I possess the lightning bolt I'll be the most powerful. I wouldn't be here if it were for Thor or Loki..." The greek goddess held some resentment for the former queen. A Narcissist Bitch, indeed.

"The attack... it was her?" The young girl questioned and only got a firm nod in response. Her eyes blinked in astonishment, she may not remember all the details but that's when everything started to change. She worked up the courage to ask about the thunderbolt, knowing its history behind it, "And you have it with you?"

"I do, it transforms to any weapon that represents the next heir. Mine happens to be the spear, and when the time comes... you'll inherit that same thunderbolt." The goddess smiled softly, wanting to continue the legacy of female heirs. Aurora felt overwhelmed with the sudden responsibilities she will obtain after her crowning ceremony. Athena cleared her throat shorter after, directing her daughter away to rest before the big day.

Weeks have passed since the coronation, although she couldn't say the same on Earth considering traveling through dimensions messed with her mind. The ceremony itself was the closest thing to having a party for Aurora, considering she never had any birthday parties except the small one she had with the Avengers. Speaking of them, she missed her dad... wondering if he missed her too? Probably he would make a wisecrack joke that he was finally about to do things without her. A smile curved her lips at the thought, ever since taking this 'vacation' Aurora hasn't had any night terrors or visions.

Athena did anything to learn about her lost daughter, willing to tell her stories if she said hers. Listening about HYDRA's sinister plans, she only wondered why they chose her? The serum in question held some essence of the Tesseract... potentially killing her but it didn't. The goddess nonetheless held her anger internally, knowing that all who took part will die at Aurora's wrath. When it was her turn, she placed her fingers around the girl's temples before instructing her to close her eyes. The goddess showed her memories— all the good, bad, and bittersweet ones.

Athena gently leaned towards Loki's lips, her hands traveling from his chest armor to his soft ebony hair. His tender touch only ignited her longing after being separated for months, it was an unspoken gesture the gods shared. Perhaps it was scandalous, but it didn't matter to them at the moment. Knowing Thor will ascend the throne soon, she first let go of the kiss teasingly. His confused eyes stared down at her, the goddess feigned a bow to leave but not before Loki gripped her wrist before lifting her left hand in display. His soothing voice near her face with a vivid smirk, "I believe that belongs to me..."

His horned helmet transfigured into a small gold ring around her finger, a mischievous grin widened from her lips. Athena slipped it off with ease, using her magic to transfigure back to the helmet, It was typical of them to outwit the other, it was practically tradition when they first met on a similar occasion. Sometimes it would be her tiara or necklace he gifted her, and she would do the same for his daggers or helmet. Inching closer in defeat, the goddess placed it back on his head as she uttered, "I could never fool you."

"Nonsense. You're a natural," Loki retaliated with determination, his heart pinged at the sight of her mischievous smile. The brunette beauty simply traced her finger along his jawline as she lightly pushed downwards to glance at each other. Both had something in their minds... the need to be together. While she was the new Queen of Olympus, it would be inappropriate for her to be seen with the Asgardian Prince in secret.

"I have a wonderful teacher." She whispered softly, hands behind her back in an effect to ease her nerves. A gesture that would appear innocent and pure, a sight that was rarely seen from her. Tugging on her crimson cloak in anticipation, Loki continued on her little act with suspicion.

"I see, I'm sure he's proud of your progress." The Norse god declared in a low tone, tugging her arms closer towards his chest. Scoffing under her breath, both fighting for some type of dominance.

"Is he now?" She taunted, delicately dragging his hands towards the hips as she only focused on the expressions. A growing smile appeared on the god's lips, his lustful eyes wondering at the goddess before him... his love, his Queen.

"Absolutely." He said without hesitation, not after instruments began to play in the background. Sighing at the interruption, she pulled herself away from his body and merely glanced over her shoulder for any wondering intruders.

"I'll see you at the Banquet." Athena finally stated, knowing she had to greet the Asgardian family as a formality and demonstrating respect. It wasn't every day the goddess would see her best friend become the King— hoping he'll understand the burden behind the bloodstained crown.

"Until then, my Queen," Loki smirks before kissing her once again. Both had smiles plastered in their expressions, admiring their significant other as her heels clicked against the floor. The crimson dress flowed elegantly and gracefully, observing her retracting figure that he didn't notice his mother behind him.

"When will you tell her, my son?" Frigga questioned sincerely. He briefly glanced down at his hands, toying with them as he was caught by her.

"Soon, mother...." Loki uttered as he only desired happiness. His mother only smiled softly as she whisks him away to the throne room, hopefully, after the celebration he'll ask Athena the big question.

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"AGAIN!" Athena demanded her daughter to concentrate, both slowly circling the platform for training. The arena of Ares was the perfect spot to do combat, neither wanting to back away from the challenge. Feet shuffling, heavy breathing as they twirled their respective weapons in the hand before pointing forward. Aurora was the first to attack, swiping her dagger towards the face but only for the goddess to dodge it and counteract with a spear. Barely piercing on her cheekbone, the girl reached to her face and felt the familiar cool fluid. Softly hissing in pain, she stared down with a determination to outwit her mother.

"You're not trying your hardest." Athena reminded her, retracting the spear towards the side. Deciding to drop it on the ground, Aurora followed her actions without a doubt. Resorting in physical combat, the teenager gritted her teeth as she raced forward to do a butterfly kick. While momentarily gazing at her mother, the woman recovered with a powerful strike on the legs to lose the momentum.

"I'm trying," She answered frustrated, groaning that for once she couldn't defeat her opponent. Hands forming into a fist, Athena blocked the punches with her arms crossed. Swiftly knocking her on the ground, she wrapped her legs around the neck in an effect to win.

"Try harder." The goddess provoked her as she grabbed one leg and twisted it away to create some pain. Yelping at the sudden sensation, Aurora loosened the grip and only for Athena to attack with one last blow, her fist near the girl's face. Sighing in defeat, the teenager got on her feet annoyed however, accepted the training. Who knew training with your mother could be intense? Examining her daughter curiously as the cut steadily healing, she commented, "You did good, you just need to train."

"But for what? How am I supposed to train for something that I don't even know what it is?!" Aurora shouted in frustration, hearing the same thing every time doing training. It irritated her that she didn't have an answer to the sudden need of doing better. Realizing her mistake after yelling at her mother, the girl quickly apologized, "Sorry, I didn't mean to yell."

Athena merely nodded, guilty that she didn't have a definitive answer yet. Placing a loving hand on the shoulder and under the chin, smiling softly with pride. The Goddess of Wisdom contemplated on showing Aurora her true destiny, "No... you have every right to be frustrated, dear. I wish I knew all the answers but there is one thing I must show you."

Confused about what she was saying, the teenager felt her armor changed to an elegant gown just like Athena. No words were spoken as she trailed along towards some temple where female guards stood. Their Queen nodded firmly, discreetly stepping aside to let the royal family through. Directing her down a stairwell that spiraled and portraits plastered on the wall. So this must be her extended family... Aurora pondered at the stoic expressions of her grandfather Zeus. Staring at the rest of them to see what could have been her aunts and uncles.

"What is this place?" She awed in amazement upon reaching a corridor. A grand library that seemed to extend for miles and burning torches that lit the entrance to hell knows where. The young Princess may not be much of a reader but it would be a paradise to those who do, thinking of even bringing some back to Earth.

"This is the Olympian treasury, my grandfather built it to store relics and history within these books. About a hundred volumes just on our history alone, but they guide the future generations of survival and wisdom. After I was crowned Queen they renamed it in my honor as the Athenaeum." Athena stated with a small chuckle at how Aurora's eyes sparkled with excitement. This was the first time she saw the girl express a genuine smile... a broken soul just like her.

"What does this have to do with me?" Aurora wanted to know, her fingertips grazing along with the leather book covers with interest. It varied in different languages from Latin to an ancient dialect she didn't recognize yet understood. Skimming through it and realized she was about to read it well.

"You have All-Tongue, every royal has it." Athena explained until she noticed her slight confusion as she added, "Meaning you understand every language. But that's not why I brought you here. You see, every Olympian has a power that represents them, just like me."

"But I'm not like you, I'm only half-Olympian. Besides I don't think I have anything that represents me." She shrugged in response, feeling almost ashamed and inferior to anyone here. Aurora may be a Princess... she was still new to her profound responsibility.

"But you do. Your grandfather declared you the Goddess of Dawn after you were born." The Olympian Queen revealed, muttered to herself as she went searching for a particular book.

"Oh, what power do I have then?" The girl voiced softly, her cheeks turning into a pale pink tone. Athena pointed on one page that displayed Aurora as a toddler, eyes piercing through the page— and there she was. Barely three years old and so much as passed...

"Legend was once told about a young girl with the unique power to change fate itself." The goddess chanted in remembrance. The fates themselves spoke to them, whilst pointing at the young Aurora who didn't know better years ago.

"And you think it's me?" Aurora placed a hand on her chest in surprise. Accidentally summoning a blue mist around her as her emotions were taking over. The same hue color as the Tesseract.

"I know it is. You always had the power within you, destiny just always works in mysterious ways." Her mother reassured, Aurora forcing herself not to scoff. This entire trip was practically discovering her past but now the future? Even she couldn't process all the information, feeling arms wrapped around her.

"But how can I do it? Find the source of my power that will determine the future?" The teenager whispered as her voice faltered in worry. Athena tilted her head up to calm her, their expressions mirrored each other.

"It's not a matter of how... but when."