Penta heard someone come into the room, but continued arranging items on the alter. She looked back at the paper she was reading. The pattern was wrong. She reached out and fixed it until it looked more like what was on the paper. The person cleared their throat, but Penta still didn't acknowledge the person.
"Penta," Hercules said.
"I thought you weren't helping," Penta said.
The photograph landed in the middle of the circle. Penta slowly picked it up, staring at it.
"That was a happy day. It was my birthday," Penta forced back her tears. "We went to the zoo," Penta sniffed, laughing a little. "Then we had more ice cream than mom would have approved. Then he took me to Mount Olympus. For the first time. I met Aphrodite that day and my grandfather and all the others. It was a perfect, happy, day."
"He and I are the same person," Hercules said.
Penta slid the picture under her belt with a little laugh. "Little hard to say since you haven't been to the future recently."
Hercules followed her around the room as Penta continued with the preparations.
"Let me do this so you can go home."
Penta stopped short and spun. Her eyes were lit with the same angry fire Hercules had seen in his own eyes before.
"You don't get it do you!? I mean, you have figured out by now that you're a god in the future, right? And you're one of the trapped gods. If you sacrifice yourself now, you will cease to exist in the future," Penta's anger died a little. "And I won't do that to mother. If it hadn't been for you she would have married a wife-beating drunk. You've always been good to her. You love her," Penta shook her head. "No. I can be sacrificed and the world won't miss me. But the things you will do in the future must happen to keep things on the same course. And that means you have to remain a half-god."
"I find it hard to believe I would have treated you like you've described," Hercules said.
"I never said you had to believe any of this," Penta turned, lighting a large black candle in the center of the circle. "You just have to accept it."
"Pen--" Hercules started.
A clap of lightening made them both jump. Through the window overlooking the river valley they could see dark clouds rolling in.
"That got Dahok's attention. Go get the others. HURRY!" Penta ordered.
Hercules obeyed.
Penta looked at the paper "Please, brain, keep these words. I have to save him. Mother needs him," Penta started tearing the paper into shreds. Penta tossed the paper around the candle, and then looked out the window. "Today you die, Dahok. And I feel no mercy."
The others ran in just as the clouds reached the palace. An icy cold wind blew into the room.
"Dahok is coming. He knows what we're up to so hurry and form a circle," Penta told the six. "Whatever happens, DO NOT LET GO!" Penta yelled above the howling wind. The roof cracked and the floor began to shake. "Here goes nothing!" Penta yelled and began to chant the words she had memorized.
The wind grew worse, throwing debris around the room. It felt like wind was grabbing their bodies and trying to pull them apart. They closed their eyes and held onto one another's hands with determination. The items on the alter burst into flames and a hellish face appeared in the flames.
"YOU WILL NOT DESTROY ME!" a voice boomed around them.
Hercules looked up at the face, then down at Penta. She had her eyes closed and was repeating the chant. He closed his eyes and held on tighter to her hand.
Painful heat seared out from the fire at the five.
"Waters of the land protect us," Penta's voice yelled.
Hercules opened his eyes. A curtain of water was protecting them from the heat. Inside the curtain of water the fire raged and flared, trying to reach over the top. The water rose to meet it. It was near the ceiling when an explosion of white light burst from Penta. The light shot through the water and picked up the items. The light disintegrated the items then grew to engulf the flames. A white flash blinded them and a heavy force threw the five apart and across the room. The wind died suddenly. The curtain of water splashed to the floor then vanished. Dahok was gone. The five slowly picked themselves up. Hercules helped Penta to her feet. She was watching the alter.
"Is...he dead?" Joxer asked.
"He's dead," Penta answered.
There was a strange unearthly yell that surrounded them. The room suddenly filled with beads of light that one by one turned into gods and goddesses. Aphrodite was one of the first to appear and Penta ran to her. She embraced Penta in a hug.
"They doubted you'd pull through, Penta, but I had faith in you," Aphrodite told her.
Penta smiled, hugging her tighter.
There was a bit of commotion, mostly the gods and goddesses congratulating Penta. In a flash they changed to pinpoints of light and disappeared. Until the only one left was the future Hercules.
The present Hercules started to walk up but he motioned him to stop. Hercules watched himself walk up to Penta. She was watching the floor, holding her hands in front of her.
"I knew you'd do it," Hercules said to her.
Penta looked up at him, watching his face. Hercules smiled, sweeping her into a hug. "Princess...I love you."
Penta threw her arms around him, hugging him. Hercules kissed the top of her head.
"The instructions were never meant for Eramus, Penta."
"What?" Penta whispered.
Hercules kissed her forehead, and then looked in her eyes again. "The instructions were meant for you."
Penta shook her head. "I don't understand."
"Long before you were born Zeus saw what was going to happen. We never told anyone of what he really saw. We made up what we told the others and said I saw it. We knew that Dahok would find out and he would have destroyed you if he'd known. No one would realize Eramus didn't have the strength to defeat him, that's why Dahok never destroyed him. And that's why," Hercules smiled at her. "That's why I've never spent any time with you, Princess. If I had I would have drawn attention to you. That's why I never wanted you around Aphrodite. If she had told anyone, you would have been killed. If Dahok had found out how strong you were... Oh Princess," Hercules embraced her in a tight hug, kissing the top of her head. "If I could take back all those years I would. I love you."
"WHAT!?" the present Hercules demanded.
The future Hercules turned, looking at him. "Penta was the strongest ever born. She had to do this. No one else would have beaten him."
"You sacrificed your--OUR--daughter to save yourself. I can't believe I'll become so self-centered!"
"You didn't," the future Hercules said. "Without you and I, there would be no balance on Mount Olympus."
"But she can't go home now!"
"And when Dahok began to destroy your present day you would have died and Penta would never be born and Dahok would have won. At least this way you, and I, can still be with her."
The past Hercules realized the events that had brought this event about. Without sacrificing his daughter Dahok would have eventually won.
"What if she became a goddess again?" Gabrielle asked.
The future Hercules looked at Gabrielle. "Then she could return."
"What if we found some ambrosia? She's already half-god. Wouldn't it make her a full goddess again?"
Hercules smiled at Gabrielle. "If you were to find some then she could return home." The future Hercules looked at his past self. "Take care of our daughter, Hercules."
Hercules nodded, promising his future self, "I will do that."
The future Hercules lifted Penta's face up and kissed her forehead. "I have to leave now, Penta."
Penta looked at him.
"I hope you can forgive me some day, Princess," Hercules said.
Penta smiled, throwing her arms around his neck. "Oh daddy...I already have. I love you. Tell mom I love her too."
Hercules smiled, again hugging Penta. "I will tell her that. I love you, Princess. I always have. Good-bye."
Penta stepped back, watching him change to a point of light and vanish. Hercules crossed the room and gently pulled her into his arms. Penta buried her face in his tunic and broke down into sobs.
Hercules looked up when Penta sat down on the deck down beside him. They watched the ocean for a long time before either one of them spoke.
"It's so quiet," Penta commented.
Hercules nodded. He leaned back against the boxes behind him and folded his arms across his chest.
"You should have told me sooner, Penta," Hercules said.
"I know," Penta said.
Hercules looked at her. "Ever been to Athens?"
Penta looked at him, smiling. "No."
"Then we'll go there first," Hercules said, looking back at the water.
"This is going to sound funny," Penta started. She waited for Hercules to look at her. "I love you like I do...my dad." She let out a sigh and smiled. "I've been wanting to say that since we first met."
Hercules reached out and pulled her to him. She laid her head on his shoulder.
"I am your dad...Princess. And I love you too," Hercules said quietly. "And I think I'll do some catching up while your here."
Penta smiled, closing her eyes. "Killing demons sure is tiring."
Hercules nodded with a smile. "Yes it is."
Penta let out a soft sigh, letting herself fall asleep in her father's arms.