Chapter 10: Zero to Hero

Following Meg's discussion with Hades, she was told to keep an eye on Hercules by attending Disney Academy again though she was expelled a few years ago for not abiding to the dress-code. Yet she was able to convince Principal Disney that she had learned the error of her ways and agreed to wear the girls' uniform despite never being fond of it. She didn't try to make friends with anyone at the school, though some students like Anna certainly tried to befriend her, and she avoided Hercules' companions Phil and Pegasus when they came to pick up Hercules from school. Though towards the end of Spring Semester, Meg found out that Hercules wasn't doing well on his grades as he kept skipping school to find something heroic to do in the city and was always being shrugged off by people.

"If I wanted a Hero I would want a professional, not an amateur!" A plump middle-aged woman with a pointy nose said as she walked past Hercules on the street while Meg watched from a nearby alley.

"He's just another chariot chaser, reckless and full of himself," added a big man with medium black hair and a chin-beard who walked alongside the woman. "Reminds me of Achilles, who looked tough until that weak point on his foot killed him. Who's your mentor?"

"Um, Philoctetes," Hercules answered reluctantly.

"See? He's not worth our time if he was taught by that Satyr who mentored Achilles," the big man said and walked away with the plump woman further down the street.

Sighing, Hercules slid down against the wall and sat on the sidewalk. Before Meg could approach him, though, Phil showed up along with Pegasus.

"What're you doing here, kid?" Phil asked, looking annoyed. "You should be at school."

"I know, Phil, but I thought looking for heroic deeds to do in the city might get me closer to becoming a true Hero," Hercules explained. "Yet no matter how many people I ask, nobody wants my help."

This made Phil frown and pat Hercules on the shoulder. "You'll get your chance, kid. These people don't know they need a Hero, unless something big and devastating happens."

Remembering Hades' plan, Meg stepped out of the alley and pretended to look winded. "Hercules…"

"What's wrong, Meg?" Hercules asked, getting to his feet. "And why are you wearing the Disney Academy uniform?"

"After I met you, I started attending Disney Academy but that's not important," Meg answered. "These kids, they were playing in the gorge south of town but then this rockslide happened and now they're trapped inside this cave."

The people standing nearby looked at Meg in surprise, including the plump woman and the big guy who didn't get very far.

"Kids…trapped!" Hercules' eyes lit up and he said excitedly, "Phil, this is great!"

Meg frowned. "You're really choked up about this, aren't you?"

"We'll use Pegasus to get there," Hercules said, and grabbed Meg's hand. "You can show me where the gorge is, right?"

"Yes, but I've never flown a Pegasus in my life!" As soon as Meg was placed on Pegasus in front of Hercules, the winged horse took off without warning causing Meg to scream.

With the wind blowing her hair all around, Meg yelled out the directions with her eyes closed as the horse continued flying swiftly in a south direction neighing mischievously. Once they got close to the gorge, Hercules helped Meg off as she was still reeling from the thrilling ride.

"You okay?" Hercules said out of concern.

"Don't ask me to fly your crazy horse again," Meg responded, causing Pegasus to glare at her.

Ignoring it, she sat down on a nearby rock and saw a boulder at the bottom of the gorge where children's cries were coming from.

"Not to worry," Hercules insisted, looking down at the boulder as well. "I'll get the kids out in no time!"

While Hercules climbed into the gorge, Meg walked away from Pegasus who was busy watching Hercules out of concern. She eventually found Hades sitting in a chair of his own creation inside a rocky outcrop that offered a great view of the gorge and at his feet were two young boys with blond and brown hair.

"Well, done, boys," Hades said to them. "You fooled Hercules."

"It was largely due to my whimpering being the loudest," said the blond-haired boy who transformed into Panic.

"Actually, it was because I looked the cutest," replied the brown-haired boy who became Pain.

Meg looked back down in the gorge and saw that Hercules had moved the boulder that was blocking the cave while a crowd of spectators watched him.

"Get out while you still can," Meg said quietly in Hercules' direction.

Just then, a menacing roar came from the cave much to Hercules' and the crowd's surprise. A pair of snake-like eyes appeared, then a long serpentine neck followed by a four-legged body with sharp claws.

"It took me a while to find the Hydra, but he was much closer than I thought," Hades said loud enough for Meg to hear. "Now, let's get ready to rumble!"

Down below, Hercules took out his sword which he carried in a baseball bat bag instead of a scabbard and avoided the Hydra's fang-ridden mouth. Then in an instant, the Hydra swallowed Hercules only for him to cut its head off from the inside. While the crowd cheered, Hades only grinned making Meg nervous. A few seconds later, three heads sprouted from the Hydra's body forcing Hercules to swing at them again. Yet no matter how many heads he cut off with Pegasus' assistance, more grew in their place till he was staring at dozens of heads. Though they managed to pin him against the side of the gorge, he used his brute strength to create another rockslide which crushed the Hydra completely and seemingly Hercules along with it.

"Game…set…match," Hades stated, lighting a cigar for himself.

Then just as rain that was pouring down intensified, something wriggled inside the Hydra's remaining claw and pushed them out revealing it to be Hercules. While the crowd went wild, Hades burned through his cigar in anger.

"Guess I didn't need to worry after all," Meg remarked as she genuinely smiled down at Hercules. "You did a good job, Wonder Boy."

End of Chapter 10