No Quarter For Heroes

Chapter One

Though time within the Underworld wasn't as it was within the living world, the God over the domain of the dead knew that weeks had passed since the heroes from Storybrooke had defied and defeated him again for the second time by rescuing Captain Hook before he could be returned to where he belonged and by killing the Enchantress, an ally he had tried to enlist in order to help him in his reckoning against them. As the time passed, the more restless and angry Hades became until he finally learned that it was going to take a lot more than one ally to destroy theses heroes and realized what it was he needed to do in order to get the vengeance he sought.

Hades sent out a summons to one of the souls trapped down in the Underworld, whom he knew he could count on to do his bidding so long as he was given something in return, and when he finally arrived, far past the time the God would have liked, Hades engulfed himself within his flames as he spoke first asking angrily, "Exactly what was so important that you felt it was all right to keep me waiting, Peter? Or is it that you would prefer to going back to being called Malcolm? You know that I have the power to take away the youth you remained when you died."

Pan knelt before the God's throne as he pleaded, "Forgive me, Lord Hades. I mean no disrespect. I was dealing with business, having heard of another of your souls trying to defy you. He needed to be taught a lesson. I only was looking out for your precious goods. Please, allow me to remain as I am."

"Luckily for you I am in a forgiving mood at the moment and I need your loyalty to do something for me," Hades responded curtly as he stepped down from his throne and began to pace slowly behind the man, appearing as a boy, still upon his knees. "You have done well by me thus far and so therefore I offer you a proposition, a chance to regain the life your son stole from you. Fail me, and I will steal your youth from you. You will go back to being that foolish, weak old man and a coward."

"You know that I am at your service, My Lord," Peter immediately answered as he sat up and waited for the immortal to continue. "I will do anything for my life back."

Hades smiled smugly and then he replied, "And as a bonus, you will also have a chance for revenge against all those who put you here, oh… except your son unfortunately. It appears as though the heroes forced him out into the non magical world with no memory of him ever having the darkness inside of him or of Storybrooke."

Pan looked at the God in confusion as he asked, "You're really sending me to Storybrooke? And I can make my enemies pay for running everything I built?"

"I thought you might like my deal," he responded and then continued. "Yes, you can have all that, so long as you give me what I need in return. We both want the same thing, although I will be needing something more. I need you to steal all of the Savior's power, along with all of the light magic you can. I will need it for what I have planned. Do this however you'd like to, but I do have one more stipulation to our deal. I need you take back what belongs to me. Emma Swan stole it from me and I want it back."

"You mean, Hook?" Peter stated quickly. "Or his soul rather? You have a deal, My Lord. I am finally going to be able to make my old nemesis suffer before I can finally get to kill him. It was always one of my biggest regrets that I didn't spend more of my focus on making Killian pay for betraying me while they were trapped within Neverland. I didn't really have the opportunity because I was so focused on Henry. This time, I won't fail. Might I ask what makes Captain Hook's soul so special to you? Even though he has cheated death as I have for centuries, he is really nothing more than a one-handed drunkard."

The immortal glared at the boy before him as he answered cruelly, "Perhaps that was your impression of him, but he is also the very man who has found true love with the Savior and has escaped me now, not just once, but twice. Despite what you think of him, or what he might even think of himself, the rest of Storybrooke reveres him as a hero just like Emma and the others who came down to my realm to thwart my plans. I cannot let this stand. Question my orders again, and I will find another soul just as much in yearning for a second chance at life as you. Is this understood?"

Pan bowed his head, then he thought back to the last conversation he had ever had with Hook while both men were still alive as he replied humbly, "Yes. Forgive me for questioning you. I will not fail you, Hades. I promise you I won't. Like you, I know what it was like to underestimate and to be bested by the Captain."

"You really should've taken my deal," Peter said coldly while he slowly walked toward the Captain as he was sitting upon a fallen log and drinking from his flask.

"It doesn't look like I need your help with Emma after all, mate," the pirate answered smugly as he turned to look at the youth who was even more of a villain than he was.

Peter asked him skeptically, "What, you think that kiss actually meant something?"

Killian nodded while he replied honestly, "I do. I think it means she's finally starting to see me for the man I am.

"What?" Pan scoffed cruelly in order to put a damper into his rising spirits. "A one-handed pirate with a drinking problem? I'm no grown up, but I'm pretty sure that's less than appealing."

"A man of honor," Hook responded, trying not to let the hurt show in front of his enemy while he put his flask away again.

Peter Pan knelt down beside the pirate captain as he glared at his ex-employee and asked him with a sneer on his face, "So tell me... What would a man of honor like yourself do with a big, fat secret?"

Not believing that Pan could have anything important enough to say in order to convince him to come back to work for him for, Hook mockingly answered, "Um… Well, that depends what the secret is."

"Baelfire…" the boy replied smugly once more. "Neal; whatever name he goes by these days. The guy Emma loves. Henry's father."

"What of him?" Killian asked quickly. "He's dead."

Peter continued to mock the man now standing face to face with him until he began to walk away to leave his enemy alone with his thoughts as he responded cruelly, "No. I'm afraid not. He's alive. And that's not even the best part. He's in Neverland."

Hook asked nervously, "Is he?"

"Oh yes," Peter Pan answered arrogantly. "Can you believe it? I'm sure Emma would love to know that Henry's father is still alive. But I'd hate for that to get in the way of budding romance. So I'll leave it up to you... to tell her or not. Let's see what kind of man you really are."

"You have my word, Lord Hades," Pan replied after the God of the Underworld had turned his back to him while waiting for his answer to the deal. "I will not fail again. But, exactly how might I get my hands on the Savior's powers? It won't easily be accomplished. And even if I can, how will I be able to contain them?"

The immortal turned back around and handed him a large, ruby red stone that had the image of an eye etched into it while he spoke up again saying, "Convince Emma to hold this for several seconds without letting go and all of her magic will be extracted from her body, as well as that of all the light magic contained within their little town of Storybrooke. This stone is called the Eye of the Phoenix. The Savior certainly won't do as you want unless you give her a reason to. Perhaps that will be where her precious pirate will become of use to you, only you will let him die anyway, even if she does cooperate. Once Captain Hook is dead, his body will become yours for the taking and with it, you will be able to reopen the portal to the Underworld, where Charon will rise once again to take his soul and the jewel back down to me. As for your youth, you'll have to find another way to get that back once you're alive again and back in Neverland where you belong. It certainly is a pleasure doing business with you, Peter. And to think, I was considering asking someone else to help me with this task of grave importance."

The young man quickly retorted, "I assure you, Hades, I am the best you have, to do exactly what needs to be done. I know Killian and Emma better than even they know themselves. I will succeed and when I do, you will have everything you need for whatever you have planned for all that power."