Ares reclined against a rock, watching the battle unfold before him. The excitement, fear and rage flitted into his senses and he couldn't help but smile. He had staged this, every piece of it.

He had whispered into the ears of a rogue warrior, causing him to gather himself an army and wreak havoc on the land. Borias was a strong warlord and Ares was proud of his creation. He knew that his subject's army would easily defeat this puny army. The king was dead and his arrogant and selfish wife had no head for battle.

"Ares, Ares," clucked a voice. Ares turned his head to see Hades approaching. "My occupation would certainly be a boring one if not for you."

"Then you should be thankful that I'm so good at my job," he said. But then frowned. "Why are you here? Celesta normally collects the souls of the dead."

"I wanted to have a chat," he said, taking a seat beside Ares.

Ares narrowed his eyes. What was Hades up to? Did he need him to off someone? Such things had happened before. Hades whispered to the Fates occasionally perhaps they needed a certain event to unfold.

"Don't you ever get bored of just manipulating warriors into following your commands? Where is the challenge?"

"I'll have you know that it isn't as easy as it sounds," Ares got to his feet, gesturing towards the army fighting, not ten feet away, "I'd like to see you make this happen."

Hades smiled, "No one does war like you do, Ares," he said, "and I'm quite content with judging and watching over our departed subjects. I mean you are just so good at what you do… don't you ever get bored?"

Ares thought for a moment. As a god, boredom wasn't a concept he fully understood. "Nothing about war is really that boring."

"No I suppose not," he said, "but the men and women you recruit to do your bidding, they are all of a similar type. They all love to fight."

"What are you getting at?"

"Why not try to turn someone into a warrior who has no interest in war at all?" Hades asked.

"But that makes no sense at all," Ares said, "why would I want a warrior who has no interest in fighting? Have you lost your mind?"

"Quite the opposite," he said, "but I guess you aren't as good as everyone thought. I imagined the god of war could turn even the silliest soul into a hardened warrior… guess we were all wrong."

"Hey, now," he said, "I never said I couldn't. I just said it would be silly."

"How about we make a little bet then," Hades said, "a bet that would benefit this war you have going."

"I'm listening," Ares said, "but what's in it for you? Why are you offering to help me?"

Ares knew that Hades often benefited from War but he rarely ever asked for favors or made bets. Something didn't feel right about this.

"Let's just say that this will benefit me as well because I need someone killed."

"I'm not saying I agree yet, but I want to know more," Ares said.

Hades snapped his fingers and Ares felt himself dematerializing. He landed on solid ground in a very familiar place, Hades castle. Hades walked over to a bowl of water on a podium and waved his hand over it. "Come and take a look," Hades told him.

Ares saw a confident woman gazing into a mirror and brushing her long dark hair. He recognized her immediately. "Queen Grimhilde is who you want dead?" Ares asked.

"Yes, she's lived far too long and knows far too much," he said.

"I could have anyone kill her. Borias could take her easily."

Hades waved his hand over the bowl and the image disappeared. "You clearly know little of Grimhilde," he said, "she's a witch and it would take more than a barbaric warrior to defeat her. In fact I have someone picked out."

Ares was irritated. Why did Hades think he had the right to decide who would be his champion? He couldn't believe he would dare intrude upon his job like this.

An image of a young raven-haired woman appeared in the bowl. She was singing in a garden while picking apples, birds flitting around her. Her blue eyes looked towards them, almost as if she could sense they were watching them, but she quickly returned her attention to her task. "And here she is," Hades said.

Ares let out a laugh. "You're kidding right? King White's daughter?"

"There is potential with her, Ares, and she knows the palace better than anyone," he said, "it has to be her."

Ares thought for a moment. "So if I accept this bet and succeed what do I get out of it? Winning this war just isn't good enough for me, I need something more."

"I'll let you bring back one warrior from the dead, Ares," he said.

"Deal," he said, immediately. There were thousands upon thousands who had served him. Great warlords and kings, and he knew of many he'd love to have back.

"Good," he said, "I expect you to turn this young Snow White into a fierce warrior within a year," he said.

"Easy," Ares said with a smirk.