Ok people, you know the score. I don't own Disney's Hercules (unfortunately) or any of it's characters or places I only own my Persephone and any other characters that I make up along the way so if you wanna use them please ask me.
Please review and be honest with me… my story is taking things from both the series and the film. And remember people, Disney twisted a lot of myths for their storylines so don't complain to me if you don't like my inaccuracies of events I may present you with…
thanks for your time…. DitzyMinx….
The Plight of Persephone
Chapter Ten:Much ado about Persephone
After Hermes told Demeter everything he knew they searched the farmhouse that the two goddesses shared. Once the two gods had finished searching the whole house from top to bottom, they were able to deduce from the items missing in Persephone's bedroom that the young goddess had simply run away.
This news brought a flood of tears to the Nature Goddess, the two deities were now sat in her cosy kitchen out of the chilly autumn afternoon. Hermes handed Demeter yet another tissue from the box on the table and the goddess blew her nose before sniffing.
'I let this happen y'know.' Demeter said as though she had a bad head-cold and gazed blearily through her bloodshot eyes at Hermes who shifted guiltily opposite her. 'I should have been paying more attention to my daughter and not loafing about Olympus with the other gods… now-' Demeter sniffed feeling the tears well up once more. '-now she's gone.' The green Nature Goddess began sobbing hard into Hermes who's eyes bulged at the bone-crunching hug the goddess had him enveloped in. Privately he thought Persephone must have bones of Titanium just to stand the force.
'Listen Demeter… you just relax, take a load off babe. I'll check the surrounding area for her, trust me… she couldn't have got far.' Hermes said soothingly and Demeter gave him a watery smile.
'You were right all along Hermes, I should have nipped this Apollo business in the bud when I had the chance.' She said softly. 'Perhaps he's the reason she's doing this.' Hermes rolled his eyes.
'Honey, don't get me started on that guy ok?' The Messenger God said wearily. 'Be back in a flash babe.' He smiled at the Nature Goddess who nodded slowly and sighed.
Hermes shot over the neighbouring isles asking the local nymphs if they had seen Persephone. They all shook their heads but promised to call if they heard anything. Widening his search he passed over the forest of Nysa and saw the familiar bulk of Hercules sprawled out in the clearing on his front. His winged horse Pegasus was trying to nudge him into life. Concerned, Hermes lowered himself into the forest and floated around Hercules looking the young hero up and down. The winged horse backed out his way with a low whiney of worry.
'Don't tell me the Hercinator finally met his match!' He gasped horrified seriously hoping the hero wasn't dead. It would just be his luck if he had to break that news to Zeus. Luckily there was a long groan of agony and Hercules finally stirred and rolled over, flashing Hermes the bright purple shiner on his left eye. The Messenger God breathed a sigh of relief and Pegasus perked up.
'Whoa Herc, don't do that to me buddy.' Hermes said in relieved tones. 'You had me going for a moment-' The young hero sat up and pushed his head in his hands.
'What hit me?' He moaned and Hermes blinked.
'I was hoping you could tell me babe, that's some shiner you got.' The Messenger God smiled kindly at Hercules who was now poking the bruised area of his left eye gently.
'Ow…' He winced lowering his hand and looking around the forest wildly finding it clear. 'What happened to the Chimera?' He suddenly asked amazed and Hermes blinked confused.
'What Chimera?' He asked scratching his head and looking concerned.
'The Chimera I was trying to save that strange girl from… you didn't see it?' Hercules asked amazed and Hermes shook his head.
'I just got here man… I'm looking for Demeter's daughter Seph, you haven't seen her have you? She's been missing a few weeks and her mom's a little freaked out right now.'
'Demeter's daughter?' Hercules repeated confused. 'Maybe I can help you search for her… what does she look like?' He suddenly stood up and Pegasus whined with relief and started licking him keenly. 'Hey, Pegasus… cut it out. I'm fine, really!' Hercules sniggered then pushed the horse away, he then turned to Hermes who was thinking the offer over.
'Sure thing buddy… we could use all the help we can get.' The blue god smiled at Hercules. 'Seph has blonde hair, white skin-'
'Lemmie guess?' Hercules said glumly cutting the god off. 'She's got green eyes and is beautiful beyond all reason, right?' Hermes blinked astonished. For a few moments he was actually speechless, a rarity for him.
'You've seen her!!' He finally choked and Hercules nodded.
'Yup… she's the one who gave me this.' He pointed at his shiner and Hermes blinked again before speaking.
'Really? She gave you it? What did you do to make her hit you man?' Hermes asked concerned but Hercules glared at him.
'Nothing!' He retorted hotly. 'All I did was try to save her and she hit me!'
'Ok… well what exactly did you say to her? I know Seph… she wouldn't hit you unless she had a reason to.' Hermes said and Hercules blinked.
'Well… she did get kinda mad when I called her a damsel in distress.' The hero said looking unsure while the Messenger God nodded thoughtfully.
'Oh. Yeh… that would do it. She doesn't like people insinuating that she's helpless.'
Hades was pacing racked with worry. He hadn't seen Persephone since leaving for work that morning. This was unusual because she always interrupted him when he was rooting through paperwork in his study with a late lunch insisting he eat it. She was a welcome distraction from the tedium that the paperwork was but he always missed her when she left him again.
The Lord of the Underworld paused to gaze forlornly out of the large round window of the throne room. Where on the surface could they have gone? For a wild moment Hades feared the worst but calmed himself by reasoning that the two imps would have come to him straight away if that was the case, they knew perfectly well how fond of her he was. Perhaps they were just having too much fun to remember the time? This thought made Hades sigh. He wished he'd been able to go with them but this was the curse of having such a busy work schedule. It was also the reason he envied Persephone as she had no job herself. Not that she didn't want one of course as she had offered to help Hades out with his but he turned her down. He didn't want her to suffer the same tedium he felt from his job.
Pulling away from the window he moved over to his throne and slumped on it, Hades toyed with the figurine of Persephone he'd picked up when passing the chessboard earlier. He studied it thoughtfully trying to think of where she could be. To his instant relief Pain and Panic appeared in throne room sniggering to each other.
'-I think he should get her some flowers.' Panic was saying cheerfully to his partner who snickered.
'More like an ice pack for her hand.' Both imps fell on the floor rolling around with mirth. Hades blinked momentarily confused by their words then cleared his throat loudly and both imps stopped laughing instantly and swivelled around to see him looking at them firmly.
'Boss! You missed it!' Panic said in a tone that suggested he was bursting with the greatest news in the world while grinning moronically. Pain nodded ecstatically while his smile mirrored his partner's and Hades blinked completely lost by their thrilled faces, what had gone on in his absence that could make the imps this happy?
'Story of my life boys… so what I miss huh? Did Zeus blow up another city state?' He asked and both imps sniggered and shook their heads.
'Better!' They both chorused excitedly bouncing on the spot. Hades blinked surprised then thought harder as the imps continued to bounce making excitable noises.
'Better huh?' He mused while gazing at them thoughtfully for a moment. The two imps were sniggering again while exchanging amused looks.
'Y'know what… I give up. What's this great news ya got for me?' He finally shrugged looking at the imps with a look which plainly read 'this better be good'.
'Miss Persephone knocked Hercules out cold!' Both imps burst out excitedly and for a moment Hades looked completely blown away then began laughing amused.
'Good one boys… you nearly had me there.' He snorted before composing himself and looking serious. 'So what's the real news?' He asked and the imps blinked confused before Pain spoke.
'That was the real news your most flameful one.' Hades blinked again then studied the imps closely. They seemed to be serious, but the idea of Persephone knocking out the overly muscled and arrogant son of Zeus was just ridiculous, wasn't it?
'Nahhh… that's crazy!!' He said firmly dismissing the whole idea. 'Why would he even be near her in the first place?' The imps glanced at each other slightly nervous now.
'Because a Chimera appeared.' Panic said nervously then closed his eyes waiting for the eruption. Hades didn't fail to disappoint.
'What?!' He roared bypassing orange straight to red and both imps cringed nervously.
'But your viciousness Miss Persephone imploded him-'
'Save it!!' Hades snarled cutting Pain off still fuming. 'Get me the leader of the Beasts Union now! I want a word with him!' Without hesitation the two imps vanished out the nearest door before Hades could smite them both. The Lord of the Underworld sat glaring into space waiting for the imps to return.
Persephone winced in the kitchen while wrapping her right hand in a damp wet cloth, holding it against her knuckles which had stung ever since the adrenaline had vanished. The imps had probably told Hades the whole story by now as she hadn't seen them since returning to the Underworld at least an hour ago. She pulled the cloth away and studied the red mark stretching the back of her hand across her knuckles where he fist had collided with Hercules' eye socket. Judging by the yelling that was coming from the throne room, Hades wasn't ready to hear the news of her run in with the hero, hence why she had been hiding out in the kitchen for the last hour waiting for him to calm down.
Parting her fingers Persephone flexed as a dull pain seared her wrist. Maybe she should have just let the idiot fight the stupid beast in the first place? It would have saved her all this pointless agro, but then she hated being made to look like a helpless little flower. Persephone felt a wave of anger sweep over her. Curse her mother for giving everybody that impression, why couldn't she just accept her daughter for who she was? Persephone was so deeply wrapped in her thoughts she didn't even notice that the yelling in the throne room had stopped, or that a figure was now standing directly behind her studying her red knuckles tenderly.
'That looks sore.' Hades' soft voice made her jump and drop the cloth she had been holding. Spinning around Persephone saw the Lord of the Underworld standing there still smiling at her kindly. 'And don't worry about any more beasts comin' after you… I made it clear to the Sphinx what'll happen if they do.' Persephone blinked at Hades who seemed slightly nervous by her silence.
'Thanks…' She finally spoke staring at him unsurely.
'Anytime.' He replied simply and an awkward silence fell over them.
'So… I guess the imps told you what happened huh?' Persephone finally broke it and Hades smirked now.
'Yeh… can't keep anything secret to save themselves.' He spoke lightly making her smile wider.
'Typical.' She rolled her eyes. 'Did they tell you about what I did to the Chimera too?'
'That you imploded him?' Hades asked her amused and she nodded thoughtfully. 'Yup, not exactly a classy way to go but hey, whatever floats your boat-' He broke off at the peculiar look she gave him. She looked a cross between confused and scared.
'Something wrong Seph?' He asked and Persephone shrugged unsurely.
'Well… it's just I've never made anything implode before-' She paused then spoke softly. 'I think my powers are evolving the longer I stay here.' Hades blinked at her.
'Is that a bad thing?' He asked softly with a look of concern. Persephone studied him thoughtfully for a long moment then smiled and shook her head.
'No of course not-' Hades breathed a sigh of relief at her words but Persephone continued as though she hadn't seen. '-I mean Hermes knows how long I've been whining about wanting a separate identity from my mother… besides, growing flowers is ok but it's hardly career material is it?' The Lord of the Underworld smirked.
'Hey it depends what sort of career you had in mind.' He raised a brow at her and she shrugged exaggeratedly.
'I dunno… something different I guess.' She said vaguely then smiled at him. 'So… your not mad at me for punching Hercules then?' Hades blinked then grinned slyly.
'Mad?! Hah! I've wanted to do that since Zeus Junior was last down here! I'm just sorry you beat me to it.' He grinned widely and pulled her closer to him and led her out of the kitchen and along the corridor to the throne room. For a short time they walked in silence before Persephone broke it.
'So is it true that Hercules saved his girlfriend from here?' She asked Hades who groaned inwardly at the question. Clearly not something he was comfortable talking about.
'Yeh… she was a minion of mine, before she fell in love with Jerkules and betrayed me!' He scowled slightly as his grip momentarily tightened around her waist.
'Oh… I'm sorry.' She said but Hades shook roughly and smiled at her.
'Heh, shoulda seen it comin' really. Meg wasn't exactly my most obedient minion.' Persephone blinked at the name of Hades' minion.
'Meg? Huh, I feel like I should know that name from somewhere.' She mused thoughtfully to herself, trying to think where she could possibly know that name as it sounded dangerously familiar. For some reason she just couldn't remember where she had heard it from.
They entered the throne room which was empty. Both deities assumed that the imps were taking their usual daily soul count down by the river Styx. This left them alone with no interruptions for the first time in a long time.
'So… how was your day?' Persephone turned to Hades who sighed smiling wearily at her while siding his hands further round her waist.
'Boring, pointless plus there was no distraction.' Persephone raised a brow and pursed her lips into a pout before jabbing him lightly in the chest.
'Ah I see, so that's what I am huh? Just a distraction.' She smirked as Hades' hands gripped her more securely as he laughed softly.
'Hey, if the sandal fits babe-' He broke off as Persephone punched him on the arm for this remark scowling playfully. '-ouch! Hmmm… just as well I like girls the way I like my drinks. Full bodied with a bit of bite.' He mused softly as Persephone's hands snaked round his neck.
'Hah! Just you try and bite me.' She declared lightly lifting her chin in mock-defiance.
'Is that an invitation?' He smirked playfully pulling her roughly against him gazing at her through narrowed eyes as she clung to him smiling a faint smile.
'Maybe… only one way to find out.' She breathed softly although her hands seemed to be pulling him forward closer to her. Their heads were inches apart now and closing his eyes Hades parted his own full blue lips slightly vowing to make this the best dam kiss of his life. Nothing was going to ruin this moment for him now, then just as their lips were about touch a voice spoke from behind Persephone.
'Holy Nyx?!' It cried out surprised. The moment was ruined as both Persephone and Hades' eyes flew open. They sprang apart then turned surprised to see Pain and Panic standing there with their mouths hanging open in shock staring. Hades flared a nasty shade of red glaring at the two imps for ruining the best moment of his life.
'I uh… I should go.' Persephone's small voice made him turn blue with shock and see her blushing a fierce peachy tone.
'No, no, no… don't go.' He said instantly but Persephone ignored this and fled from the room leaving a bewildered and disappointed Hades staring after her.
'Oh, now look what you did idiot!' Pain scolded Panic suddenly breaking the silence and the green imp looked instantly terrified as Hades' head snapped around at the pink imp's words. The god suddenly advanced, glowing a nasty shade of red with bright yellow flames.
'I was this close… this close!' His fingers demonstrated how close by barely touching each other. 'And then you… had to just waltz in here and ruin it!!' Both imps shook terrified as Hades advanced on them dangerously angry.
'Oh my gods!! Run for it!!' Both imps screamed in terror and shot off down the stairs to the Styx with a flaming mad Hades in hot pursuit.
Little Notes:
Hercules is alive and well people so stop glaring at me for having him punched (don't think I don't see you doing it). Of course I bet you all went: why the hell did she punch him? Now you know people… another way for Persephone to lash out against the character her mother longs for her to be. Then of course Hades' response is to applaud her actions (typical) but hey he got punched by the demi-god into the Vortex at the end of the movie so it was like payback for him.
Am I the only one who thinks the idea of beasts having a union is funny? No.. oh well, yet another chance to flash off Hades' protective side while his little hissy fit at the imps for ruining his and Persephone's first kiss balances the whole thing off. I never wanted Hades to suddenly change his bad-tempered ways just cause he's in love.
Lots of Love Ditzy xXx