A/N: Sorry this has taken me so long (which I kind of say every time and I am sorry about that too). I hope this can tide you over until we get to the main part of the story.

As always, I don't own anything. Please enjoy and review.


It is only when the office door closes that Emma breathed a sigh of relief, unsure of how much longer she could stand the anguish in Zoe's eyes.

"Okay, Gold, spill," Emma said firmly, "What do you know about Elantris and Stitch and whatever Hades may be planning."

"I know a great many things, dearie, and not all of it is relevant to you," he continued with frustration when he noticed Emma's unimpressed look, "Elantris is a world of thieves. They jump from realm to realm taking whatever they please – magic and technology – and scamper back to their own world."

"If there's a whole realm of people who can easily pass between them, why'd it take you so long to figure it out?" Regina asked dismissively.

"They had some defences against magic – enough to ward me off so they had time to jump away, but it looks like they wanted to start attacking if that creature was anything to go by."

"As interesting as this is, I don't see how this helps us now." Emma cannot help but agree with her father and looked to Gold.

"It does mean that she may have brought other magical items that may be of use to us but I think the question you all need to be asking is how long it's going to take before she trades the creature for her sister?"

Mary Margaret frowned at the comment, "She seems to care for him, it doesn't seem like she would just give him back.

Gold shrugged dismissively, "A being that's not even human versus your own flesh and blood. The choice seems very simple to me."

The idea seemed to make her mother uncomfortable, but she nodded anyway.

"Killian's watching them for now so he can monitor the situation," Emma said, "What are we going to do when Hades comes looking?"

"I'm not sure what there is to do, according to Gold here we can't risk killing him and we have no way to weaken or trap him," Regina replied with a thoughtful tap to her lips.

"Great, so all we have are more problems and no solutions." Emma simply wanted to throw her hands in the air and maybe kick a table.

"Regardless, we have to help her," her mother said and her father nodded in agreement, "Hades only took her sister because of his problems towards us. We owe it to Zoe to fix the mistakes we made."

"You're right. I'm going to talk to Zoe again, see if she has any tricks that may help us. Gold, I want you to help Belle and looks through all your magical items to see if there's anything we can use to at least slow him down. Regina, can you do the same with your spellbooks?"

Regina nodded and Emma stood decisively, "Mom, Dad, it'll be up to you to keep the town running while we're following up our leads."

"Don't worry, Emma," her mother said soothingly, bouncing Neal, "We'll make sure we still have a town."

They split off to complete their own tasks as Emma pulled out her phone, realising she never told Killian a specific location to go to. She trusts his instincts and knows he's taken them somewhere safe – although, she acknowledged that 'safe' is a very relative term considering they are attempting to face the Lord of the Dead.


Hades barely kept himself from scorching the ceiling as Lilo laughed again, Panic protesting that she still didn't understand the game.

Taking care of a mortal child was more effort than anything of them had been prepared for. Either Pain or Panic had to continually watch her and she soon protested that she was bored and needed something to do. She ate frequently and continued her chatter even while asleep.

Hades couldn't understand why any mortal would willing inflict a child upon themselves.

He attempted to return to his meditative state, needing focus to absorb the magic from this world when a voice to his left distracted him.

"Where's Pain?"

Hades kept his eyes closed for a moment before he sighed and turned, knowing through experience that Lilo did not take kindly to being ignored.

"I sent Pain to look for the creature you call Stitch, once we have it, you will be returned to your home."

"Stitch is not an 'it'," she protested with a stamp of her foot, "He is my friend and I won't let you hurt him."

He had become as used – as any ruler could – to her disrespect, not finding any point in correcting her ignorance.

"Your wishes are of no concern to me, mortal, I need the creature for my own purposes and I will have it."

He is alarmed when tears well in her eyes and she takes a seat next to him, head in her hands. Panic tutted at him from the other side of the cave and the glare he shot back made her scamper away.

His hand hovered over Lilo's back before he patted down, awkwardly.

"It's all my fault," she said between sobs, "Stitch would still be safe if I had never taken him out and if I had been better, they wouldn't have wanted to take me from my sister. If I had been better, I wouldn't have killed my parents."

Hades hand froze over her back, "Child, I have spent my life dealing with matters concerning death and I know better than most that it leaves a mark on you. You are not touched by death."

Hades stood, walking from her grateful look when he sensed both Pain and Panic waiting outside.

"Report," he commanded after they both bow and he ignored the approving look in Panic's eyes.

"The creature is no longer on Hawaii," Pain said, "But I tracked it to its next location."

Pain puffed his chest up importantly and Hades injects all the icy calm he has left into his tone, "Where is it, Pain?"

"Here," he crowed gleefully, "The creature and Lilo's sister are in this very town."

"Finally," Hades breathed, "Something goes right."

He allowed himself a moment to revel in the fact he may be able to leave this wretched realm soon before he began to bark out orders, "Pain, it's your turn to watch Lilo. Panic, go track the creature, do not be seen. I will soon be going into town myself."

The sprites gave their idiotic salute before Panic disappeared and Pain wandered into the cave to find Lilo. Hades closed his eyes for a moment, picturing home, her and when he reopened them, nothing but cold apathy shone in their golden depths.


A/N: The plan is to have the next update in two or three weeks. This plan will hopefully be followed through with.

Stay healthy,

Adrina Stark.