Tartarus was the place of dread within the Underworld. It is the prison where the wicked are sentenced to reside for eternity for the evil they had done. It is the place of suffering. Not even the Gods ever enter it.

"Who's there?"

There was silence. But there was a sudden voice that seemed to be male but was an octave higher than usual, "Calm yourself, Kronos. I'm a sort of—friend."

"What kind of voice is that!" Kronos began to laugh with big guffaws.

Just then, Bacchus appeared out of the shadows in Tartarus where Kronos was forever being held after his defeat by Zeus. He just gave a big humph and continued, "Well, you're not going to get out of Tartarus with that attitude, Kronos!"

Kronos immediately became confused and moved right into another laugh because he found it amusing since no one can escape from Tartarus, especially the land of Hades. "And how do you suppose that's going to happen?"

Bacchus smiled with a sneer as he snapped his fingers and Kronos was suddenly set free. He had been there in Tartarus since the reign of Zeus.

Kronos is the father of the 'Big Three:' Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. He is the leader of the Titans and tried to kill his own children… until Zeus overthrew him and took the throne of Olympus. Zeus then bestowed upon Poseidon the realm of the sea, and Hades the realm of the dead.

Bacchus, however, is a different story. He's the son of Zeus and a mortal named Semele. He's the god of Wine, and wasn't always very fond of his father. He felt that he deserved to be worshipped for something greater. Any opportunity that presented itself of him to also overthrow the king of the Olympians, he tried to take. This was one of them.

Kronos was completely surprised at Bacchus and started to believe that he was serious.

"We're going to take over Mount Olympus… by force," he managed to give an evil smile.

"Well… I'm in."

They both shook hands with powerful grips, like it was a vow to one another. However, when you involve a power hungry god with one whose crown was taken and had been rotting in Tartarus for centuries, the ultimate ending has disaster written all over it.

Kronos started to walk toward the entrance to Tartarus, but then realized that someone ought to have been watching prisoners closely. So he asked, "Bacchus, wouldn't my son know if I'm trying to escape?"

"Oh, don't worry about Hades; he's already distraught with the homecoming of Persephone tomorrow."

"Excellent," he smiled back behind him and again began to head to the entrance.

Bacchus remained a few seconds behind while he sneered and whispered under his breath, "I—am going to be King of the Gods." And he followed Kronos continuing their daring escape.

"Faster, Hermes!" Persephone couldn't help but shout to tell him to hurry so she could gaze upon her rightful home that holds the love of her life, Hades, God of the Underworld. She just couldn't wait to gaze upon him and to have her Lydia back in her arms again.

Hermes just replied with, "Yah!" and a smile because he understood after all these years. He was the one who transported her from the Underworld to the land of the living every spring and back down every autumn.

Persephone just closed her eyes and sighed, taking in the slightly chilled autumn-approaching breeze, and she thought about almost being able to hold her husband in her arms.

They flew over the rolling hills of peaks and valleys, and coming to the very rock cliff that he had come out of when he had taken her the first time they'd met. It opened with a loud rumbling crack and they dashed down into the depths of the realm of the dead.

She could start to feel the heat on her face as it flowed through her body and over her skin. They then began to see a light up ahead that opened into the kingdom of the dead. It was the sight that released her soul and filled the hole in her heart every time. They were among the grass and flowers that was just as bright as summer and she could see the beautiful dark castle towering above them.

They flew over the River Styx and saw Charon in his boat down below. She waved to him as he replied in the same manner, "Welcome home, my Queen!"

He seemed happy to see her and she shouted back, "Thank you, Charon!" and she blew him a kiss.

Then she looked off into the distance and her face lit up as bright as the sun. Hades was outside the castle doors pacing impatiently with Lydia sitting on a nearby boulder just waiting for their Goddess of Spring to arrive.

He looked up for a moment at the sound of approaching horses and immediately lit up. He stopped pacing and stood waiting. The chariot slowly started descending to the ground right in front of Hades. He ran around to help her get down but was surprised as Persephone suddenly jumped into his arms from where she was standing next to Hermes… Maybe he wasn't entirely surprised and he just laughed while he held her tight in his arms.

"I can't even tell you how much I have missed you," she said softly to him.

He just gazed at her and replied with the only truth he could think of, "As well as I, my dear. And now, the second half of my heart has returned to me."

She smiled up at him, and he suddenly locked his lips with hers. It seemed as though they would never part, until Persephone felt a tug on her bright, silvery blue chiton. She and Hades pulled away from each other to look down to find a beautiful blonde five-year-old staring at her mother with a grand smile on her face. She reached up with both her arms toward Persephone and said meekly, "Mommy."

Persephone just smiled down at her daughter, and with Hades understanding, he set her down gently. She quickly embraced Lydia very tightly, "And guess who I have missed most of all!"

Lydia couldn't help but giggle and shout delightedly, "Me!"

"That's right!" but she winked at her husband who smiled back.

He then decided to chime in and play along, "Yep, that's right. You both sure don't need me; I can just leave you two to rule the Underworld," he started to jokingly walk away from them, "I'll be on Mount Olympus!" He waved his hand behind him.

But Persephone ran after him holding Lydia's hand. They both put their arms around him, and Persephone responded to him, "Oh, no you don't. Without you, my heart would forever have an empty half." She put her hand on his face and he kissed her.

He picked Lydia up into his large arms, put one around his wife and they walked up through the palace doors as a family. And they knew the next six months were going to be wonderful… They didn't know that it was going to be interrupted.

The next day, Hades gazed down upon his sleeping wife in the early morning smiling as he stroked her cheek. She stirred and breathed heavy while she opened her eyes. She saw his face in front of her and she was so happy remembering where she was. Persephone moved closer and he put his arms around her as they both lay in their bed cuddling together.

"I'm so glad to be back in my most favorite place in the world," she smiled at him.

He smiled back and responded, "I know exactly what you mean, my dear," and he stroked her hair.

Their lives were always happier when they were together. They were each other's rocks.

But he suddenly went rigid next to her, and she knew something was wrong. "What is it, darling?"

He could see how worried she was and he just said, "Oh, something is just out of order with the newly judged spirits. Charon is wondering where I am. I'd better go and straighten this out, dear," he then kissed her forehead as he began to climb out of bed.

"I may as well get up too, and tend to Lydia." Persephone also started getting out of bed and put on her silk flowing robe.

"Be back later, sweetheart," and he blew her a kiss with a wink. Within seconds he was out the door.

"I hope it's nothing too drastic down there. I'll go and see what's going on later."

Also within seconds she was out the door as well and headed toward Lydia's bedroom.

After Persephone had gotten dressed and served Lydia breakfast, Lydia went outside. Persephone wanted to go visit her husband and see what was happening. She thought that maybe she could help. She wandered through the palace wondering what could be taking Hades so long. 'It must be a mess down there,' she thought to herself.

But her thoughts were immediately interrupted when she heard her name from a very familiar voice, "Persephone!"

She turned to find Iolaus running toward her, "Iolaus?" she was confused, "What are you doing here?"

"Persephone," he gave her a quick hug and continued, "Hades summoned me here." He saw her puzzled facial expression and then added, "Didn't you know that?"

"Actually, Iolaus, I didn't. I have no idea what's going on down there. I was on my way to see him to find out what actually is going on," she continued after a small pause, "What is going on down there, Iolaus?"

She just stared at him waiting for an answer. He stood there and debated what to say and then he hesitantly gave in, "Well, apparently Bacchus came and released Kronos from Tartarus two days ago…" he paused to let it sink in and continued more slowly, "Hades believes that they might be trying to overthrow Zeus to get the power of Olympus."

She blankly stared at him in surprise and grabbed his arm as they started running down the hall. "We're going to Hades, NOW!"

They reached the entrance to the judgment room and burst through the door. Hades was standing across the room with his head in his hand obviously looking stressed. Persephone ran over to him and took his hands in hers, "Hades, I can't believe what has happened. How could Kronos escape? And how could Bacchus enter the realm of the dead?"

"Calm down, darling. We're doing everything we can to figure it out, and how to stop him." He just looked away and continued angrily, "Neither of them will get away with this."

"I'm so sorry, dear. It's all my fault. You were distracted with me coming home."

He looked at her apologetically, "No, sweetheart, it's never your fault." He tried to comfort her and he embraced her tightly.

Iolaus then came to them and spoke to Hades, "Hades, I offer my services in any way you need."

"Thank you, Iolaus. Could you search on Earth and look for any traces of them?"

"Of course, Hades. There isn't anything that I wouldn't do for either of you," he started to walk toward the entrance, and then turned, "I will report to you my findings—Persephone," he nodded in her direction and turned to leave.

Hades then looked at his wife, "Persephone, my dear, would you see that he makes it out of the underworld safely?"

"Yes, darling." He kissed her on the forehead as she left his arms to walk Iolaus out. He turned to Charon seriously and they went back to work to find Bacchus and Kronos.

But on Mount Olympus, it was a different story. Bacchus and Kronos breached the golden gates and captured all of the gods.

Kronos started to walk up to Zeus' throne, and this got Bacchus' attention. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm taking my throne, ignorant one," he managed a laugh. But Bacchus was caught off guard.

"I don't think so, Kronos! That's my throne! I helped you escape Tartarus so you could help me!"

"Ah, well that was foolish. Don't you know who I am?" He then shouted, "Guards!"

The guards of Zeus had no control; they had to obey. So they seized Bacchus and took him away. There was nothing but utter shock on his face as he was being dragged out of the throne room.

Kronos basked in his triumph, but there was a noise coming from the towering gates of Olympus. He looked and wondered because he had captured everyone in Olympus. So he turned and asked, "Who's there? Show yourself!"

"Father…" Hades said in anger standing before the father of the Gods. Just after Persephone had left the judgment room, Hades knew where to find Kronos.

"Oh, yes. I almost forgot about you, Hades; my eldest son, as well as my captor. You will soon join your brothers, and bow down to me. Oh—I almost forgot… your family as well. They have Olympian blood." He sneered at Hades.

But he just growled back angrily, "You won't touch Persephone or Lydia! I won't allow you to take such power. The only thing you deserve is Tartarus! That's where you belong."

"I don't think so boy. You have no power over me here. You're the God of the underworld."

"Yes, but Persephone has reign on the Earth. She is also the daughter of Zeus, so partly Olympian."

At those words, Persephone appeared through the mist as she strode over to her husband's side.

Kronos took one lasting look at the Queen of the Underworld, "Ah Persephone, granddaughter, how are all the dead people?"

"Kronos, don't you dare talk about our people in that manner! They are not just dead, but they are souls. And you have no reign here! Leave now!—before I make you," she quietly said finally with a glare at Kronos.

But Hades came next to her, "Dear, you don't know what you're doing. Don't provoke the leader of the Titans. I would know; he's my father."

"Oh, granddaughter, you should know better than to anger me; because I may be inclined to do what I must."

Hades put his protective arm around her. "No, Kronos! Your quarrel is with me. Leave her out of this!" He then began to walk slowly toward the most fearful Titan.

Kronos was too paranoid so he started to reach toward Zeus' collection of Lightning bolts. Persephone was seeing the whole thing and she feared for her husband. Just like when she defended her daughter against Philemon, she felt a natural urge to protect the love of her life, the father of her daughter, her King of the Underworld; her heart. So just as Kronos made the reflex to grab a bolt, she had the same reflex, but she was faster. A huge charge of orange-red lightning came from her palm right for Kronos. The blow threw him from Zeus' throne and onto the marble floor before the King and Queen of the underworld.

Hades was surprised at his wife, but ecstatic at the same time. She shared some of his power when they were together.

But Kronos was even more surprised because he couldn't defend himself, "H—how did this happen? I should've been untouched by your power." Kronos used to be so strong that no God's power could penetrate him.

"Ah, you see Kronos, you were overthrown and captured. Therefore you lost your power, so you have no reign here or anywhere else. You should've listened to me in the first place." She stepped really close to the fallen Titan on the ground in front of her that she was towering over him in a shadow. "Now back to your prison, where you belong," and she only waited a second before shouting the word that everyone wanted to hear; the one place where evil did belong, "Tartarus!" She was pointing right at his face, and he disappeared screaming in one bright flash.

Hades looked at his wife with surprise, but then it soon changed to a small smirk because he knew that she could do it. Persephone turned back to face him with a frightened look on her face. "Hades—?"

He saw her fear, so he immediately came to her and held her in his arms, "It's alright, dearest. It's over," he pulled away to look into her large brown eyes, "I am so proud of you."

"I had no idea that I was capable of that. But—you're not surprised…"

He smiled and said, "Because I knew that you had it in you. You are part God of the Underworld, so you have the power... my power."

"I knew he was going to do something to you, so I felt the instinct to protect the other living part of me."

Just as he was about to kiss her, Persephone gasped, "The Gods! We have to rescue them and restore them to their rightful place!"

"Oh, right!" He took her hand and they ran to his chariot. They then took off back to the Underworld after they ordered Bacchus to reveal where they were being held… Tartarus.

They flew as fast as lightning down from Olympus toward their home under the Earth. Hades waved his hand quickly once in front of him as a huge crack began to form in the ground. They flew right through it, down to the depths of the other side. They reached their home and stopped in front of the palace. Hades helped Persephone down, and hand in hand, they ran to the entrance of Tartarus underneath the palace. He let go of his wife's hand and was about to go through the gateway when she stopped him, "What are you doing?"

"I don't wish for you to enter Tartarus, Persephone. It's a vile place and those who enter it, may lose themselves forever," he came over to her and he put his hands on her face, "I can't bear to lose you, my love. Stay here and when I bring each god out, help them through to the other side. There's a gateway over there," he pointed near his desk, "Use it." He gave her a quick kiss on her forehead, "I'll be back soon." And he turned to enter the dreaded gateway into Tartarus.

She replied worried, "You better be."

After he had been gone a few minutes, the Olympian Gods began emerging through the gate one by one: Zeus—Hera—Athena—Aphrodite—Hephaestus—Hermes—Apollo—Poseidon—Hestia…

Persephone waited for her husband to return. Hades finally emerged, but he wasn't alone… Diana and Iolaus were with him. Persephone was shocked and angry that this was done to her closest friends. She didn't know that Iolaus had been taken right after he got back to Earth when Persephone led him out. Diana was next after that.

"Diana! Iolaus!" She held her arms open as Diana ran into them. "I can't believe this was done to you! I thought you were safe!"

Iolaus came and shared in their hug. They then stood with Persephone's arms around both of them and Iolaus spoke as Hades came over to them, "Thanks to both of you, we won't have to spend another minute in that dreadful place." He managed a smile at his friend.

Hades replied, "It was actually Persephone who saved you all. She got rid of Kronos and sent him back where he belongs." He smiled looking at his wife as she smiled back. Iolaus and Diana both looked at her.

"Really?" Diana asked her friend.

"Yes, it's true. I share the power of the Underworld," she paused at their unsurprised expressions, "I didn't know I had that power in me—why are you looking at me like that?"

Iolaus took her aside and they sat down on a nearby stone bench. He just smiled and said to her, "Of course you had it in you, Persephone. What else could it have been to protect Lydia those few years ago from Philemon? And how else could you have stood up to Zeus against Ares or help that little girl, Carina? How else could you have stood up for me at that hearing when I was charged with murder, or stopped Kronos, the most powerful Titan, just now?" He paused to let it sink in and he held both of her hands in his. "You are one of the most selfless goddesses I know, and you would do anything for justice—for your family. That is what makes you a wonderful person with a heart of gold. That's where your power comes from… your heart. It's the amount of love that you possess which makes you even more powerful. That's why we all love you so very much, for how much you give your love in return. I hope you know just how powerful really are."

She laughed a little, "I do now," and they all giggled with her. "Thank you, Iolaus." She leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek and he gave her a hug. Then they both went over to stand next to their spouses. Iolaus put his arm around Diana's shoulders and Hades' lightly rested on Persephone's waist.

"Don't wait too long to come and visit us again—properly this time," Hades said and they all laughed together.

"Will do, you two," Iolaus said as the King and Queen of the Underworld escorted the God and Goddess of the Hunt to the portal to the land of the living. They each gave their last good-byes and they disappeared out of sight.

Hades and his wife just stood there in the silence that followed, when Persephone spoke first, "What a day," enunciating each word.

"You definitely said it, my dear." They exited the judgment room and started to walk upstairs in the palace to check on Lydia.

"I can't believe Bacchus would be that stupid."

"Well, you know Gods and their obsession with themselves and power."

"But Hades, you're not selfish and obsessed with power."

Persephone was looking at him and he looked at her in return, "That is true, but I was always upset with my fate to rule the Underworld while my brother Zeus got to be King of all the Gods, and my other brother Poseidon got to be God of the Sea. So I'm not perfect," she turned and looked ahead of them again, "But you, Persephone. You are different from all of us."

"Really?" She looked deep into his eyes as he stopped them from walking further so he could face her.

"Oh yes. I admire how selfless you are, and I believe that it was you who changed me, making me into a better man… a better God… a better husband."

"I see," she replied. "But you have no idea what you do for me, and for Lydia." He was smiling slightly as she put one of her hands on his cheek. "You are my rock; my support. You keep me down to Earth," and she started to laugh as she said, "You keep me sane. I go crazy when I'm away from you for six months. It tears me apart inside. It feels that if I had to go another day beyond those six months, my heart would explode. You are the only one who can make it flutter just at the thought of you or sight of you. So don't you say that you aren't different from the other Gods because you are the most unlike any of them. You're mine."

At that moment, he took her in his arms and laid one giant kiss on her that was full of passion and love than any other time in their lives… if it were possible. They then walked upstairs with their arms around each other ready to unwind from the day they just had.