Chapter 1

You'll never catch me, Dad! I'm way too fast for you!" Aidoneus, or Aidon for short, the young prince of the Underworld, shouted as he raced down the different caverns and hallways of the Underworld.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Aidon," Hades, who was just as quick and knew the Underworld better, raced after his son, and nearly caught up to him. He hoped to catch Aidon before Belle found out. She wasn't too fond of the idea of running around a dark hallway with nothing but spirits of dead souls to guide you, who didn't actually guide you. The moans of the despaired souls could help you find the exit, but they would never intentionally guide someone to safety. The souls still were uncomfortable and afraid of the king of the Underworld and were content to have him suffer slightly. Normally, Pain and Panic played games with Aidon, but today Hades wanted some time with just his son, and he had given his minions the day off. They had certainly earned it lately with Aidon learning to test out some of his powers.

Hades had been worried at first about his son's magical abilities, since when he was born it appeared that he didn't have any. At first, Hades thought it was because Belle was mortal, but then he remembered that he had given her ambrosia to turn her immortal, so Aidon was immortal too. Normally, powers show up the moment the baby is born, but Aidon was different. He was very weak at first and a slow learner for most things, except learning and reading, which obviously, he had inherited from Belle.

"You just have to be patient, Hades. If he's anything like you, he'll have powers and all sorts of magic in no time," Belle had said while trying to console Hades. Despite how much he'd changed, her husband was still "the most stubborn and impatient man in the world." Hades had only grinned at her the moment she said it. It wasn't a bad thing to be stubborn, but he knew his impatience often frustrated her.

"I hope you when you mean like me, you mean how I am currently, not from when I was a villain."

"Of course I mean how you are now."

Suddenly, Rhea and Maurice entered the room.

"You can't rush magic, Hades. If you do, things could go severely wrong. Didn't you learn anything from me?"

"You taught Hades about magic?" Belle asked, shocked. She thought that Hades had learned everything himself.

"Yes, she did. But I'm much better at spells than her." Hades smirked.

"Yes, but I am better at mixtures. Yours need significant improvement and are very much lacking in skill." Rhea retorted, teasing her son slightly.

Belle had been right after all though, as she usually was. Within the next six months, Aidon was able to wield magic fairly successfully. All he needed was time. Hades had been worried about his son because of Hercules, though. If that hero ever came back, he wanted Aidon to have a way to defend himself in case there was ever an emergency. Now that he was five, though, he was more than ready, and he was even better with a sword. Another thing that Belle had been worried about. But it didn't matter that Aidon was young. Hades had learned the art of sword fighting at a young age as well, having basically nothing better to do with his time.

Hades had thought being married was a lot to get used to but having a family to take care of had proved even more difficult. He loved them more than anything, though, and wouldn't change that for anything. It was wonderful having a wife and a son who needed him, and he would never let Hercules, Meg, or anyone take them from him. He was always ready to fight to defend his family, and that time was about to come.

"Dad?" A voice asked. Suddenly, Hades was back in the present and his son was calling out to him.

"Dad, I said I saw something." Aidon reminded him impatiently; father and son were much alike in that way.

"Sorry Aidon. I guess my mind just wandered. What did you see?" Satisfied to have his father's full attention, Aidon pointed to Charon's boat on the River Styx. It was hard to see exactly who was on the boat, but he knew that whoever was on it was living. Instantly, Hades recognized the two figures, Hercules and Meg. They must have bribed Charon with the Greekly World News or something. Charon did have a soft spot for the sports and comics sections. Hades would have to have a word with him about letting Meg and Hercules into the Underworld again. It just wasn't safe for anyone for them to be around. Both of them only wanted one thing, and that was him dead or subjected to a fate worse than death by Zeus, which meant Hades would lose his family.

As the boat drew nearer to the shore, Hades lifted his young son in his arms and went to find his wife. If anyone knew how to handle such a complex situation rationally, it was Belle. Besides, he wanted to see her anyway. Most likely, she was helping Maurice with the new model of the best-selling toaster, which had been an amazing hit five years ago.

Back on the boat, Charon grew irritable. It wasn't pleasant for him to have to see the hero and his wife in the Underworld yet again, especially since they lacked actual payment. The newspaper was nice, but it wasn't a drachma, as the fee usually was. Even Hades had paid the fee in the beginning, before Charon reminded him that royalty rides for free. "Remind me again why you are here, Hercules and Megara? Even though chances are I don't really care." Charon was growing impatient at having to take Hercules across the river to Hades once again, even if he was his nephew, well, ex-nephew technically. For someone who was alive, it was strange that he was in the Underworld so much.

"I have to find my sister, I'm sure she's in trouble." Meg quickly responded as her husband, Hercules, held her hand for support.

"The boss is not going to like this. If he asks, I just row the boat." Charon coldly replied. Even though Hades wasn't as harsh on him as he used to be, Charon still did not want to be on the receiving end of his wrath.

Hades and Aidon found Belle, Maurice, and Rhea back in the inventor's room. This time, though, no one was working on any inventions. Belle went up to her husband and kissed him gently but pulled back slightly when she noticed the worried look in his eyes.

"Hades, what's wrong?" Belle asked, gently reaching up a hand to stroke his cheek. Hades didn't meet her gaze directly, though.

"Belle, I hate to tell you this, but we have company," Hades said nervously, as Aidon ran over to his grandfather.

Noticing the look in his eyes and the careful way he watched over their son, Belle knew immediately who it was. What would Hercules and Meg want now? Hercules had gotten what he wanted last time hadn't he? Belle still recalled with horror what had happened the last time Hercules had been in the Underworld.

Belle raced up the tower steps. Was she already too late? Suddenly she heard the sound of an arrow being shot through a bow, as well as a loud scream of pain. Hades. I am too late. But the arrow that had been fired hadn't been from Gaston.

"Finally, after all these years, I finally have a fighting chance." She heard a voice say.

Hercules. I wondered why he agreed so easily. I won't let him kill Hades. He can't have his revenge! Even though Belle knew Hercules wanted to fight Hades and had fired the arrow, Hades didn't know, and for years to come, he was to think that Gaston had fired it.

"Do you mind Hercules? This is my fight." Gaston said irritably.

"Gaston, why don't we both fight him, as a team? That way both of us will win."

"Alright, Hercules. It seems like a good idea, since we both want the same thing. Hades finally gone." Belle gasped in horror as she saw Hades wince in pain as Gaston and Hercules continued to go after him.

All those years ago, Hercules had fired that arrow, but Belle hadn't wanted to tell Hades that. She wanted him to not focus on revenge so much and forgetting about Hercules seemed like the best way to do that. Hades had changed so much from when she first met him, and she didn't feel that she could bear it if he ever went back to those old ways. But she regretted her decision now. Hades should know the truth now, especially with Hercules and Meg now in the Underworld (again).

Hades sat down beside his wife and held her gently. He would need all the strength he could get if he was going to face Hercules again after five years. He'd hoped the annoying hero had forgotten him by then, but like Zeus, Hercules could apparently hold a grudge for a long time.

"Belle, did you know they were coming here?"

"No, of course not. You know I would have told you if I knew. Besides, when is Hercules not in the Underworld? It seems like he's always here to start a fight with you." Belle scoffed. As much as she loved Hercules and Meg, the two of them still held an unwavering bad view of her husband, and she didn't appreciate it. Hades had changed so much since that day he had last fought Hercules. He didn't even look the same. No flames, no blue skin, and not as much as an ego to go with it. He still had his moments, though.

Suddenly, Hercules and Megara burst through the door. So much for my chance to tell him, Belle thought.

Hades quickly stood up, and his black hair became bright blue flames as stared at his ex-nephew and former minion standing in the doorway. Noticing the change in his father, Aidon immediately ran to his mother and hid behind her. He had heard about Hercules and Meg before, and neither of his parents really had anything good to say about them. His grandfather, Maurice, and grandmother, Rhea hadn't had good stories either.

"Hades, I demand that you release Belle and Maurice immediately, or I shall have to involve my father in this extreme issue," Hercules said, moving closer towards Hades, holding a threatening gaze.

"Oh yeah, Hercules, when have your "demands" actually worked? And besides, this is my realm. Zeus can't control anything here." Hades snarled.

"We'll see about that." Hercules said as he unsheathed his sword.

Belle didn't want anyone to get hurt, so she decided to speak up before Hades lost his temper again.

"Hercules, you can't hurt him. He's my husband."

"What?"