Hook and the others had finally made it out of the Crystal Cave. They hadn't run into Hades on the way out. It was as though as the cave itself was aiding them in their escape. However Killian didn't understand it nor that he cared, he was more worried about Regina though judging by what he witnessed of her power facing Rumplestiltskin Hook had nothing to fear but Hades was a god whilst Regina was a mortal. It was with these thoughts after they left the cave that Killian had decided to turn back but was stopped when heard a voice waiting for them outside the cave, "Hello darlings."
Ursula knew that voice instantly, she had spent a good many years stranded in New York with this person. "Cruella." Ursula looked at the woman wrapped in fur standing next to a rather large three headed dog, "I see you've been making new friends."
"You could say that darling." Cruella smirked at her old friend and then looked at her new pet, "When Hercules murdered Hades first prized pet Cerberus the Underworld created a new one to guard its gates but for some strange reason this new puppy has proved to be disobedient so I offered my services."
"You're going to kill us?" Mary Margarets arms tightened around her husband David.
"Well not quite." Cruella smirked, "Half of you are already dead and its Cerberus job to retrieve souls that try to escape Hades judgement." Cruella turned the hell beast, "Sick em."
Cerberus growled and went to approach the group when Ursula used her tentacles to grab the dog by the snouts and flip the hound onto Cruella. Ursula turned to the rest of the group and ordered, "Split up and head into town, we'll meet up later."
The group scattered by the time Cruella and Cerberus had managed to get their bearings. This would make the group more difficult to capture but Cruella didn't mind the hunt as long as she'd get what she wanted in the end.
Hades sat in the darkness staring at the small flame he conjured thinking about the first time he was able to create fire. He was only a child when his father had locked him away in this dark prison. After a few years of crying not understanding what he had done to anger his father the despair turned to anger and frustration. This anger fuelled his magic and created orange flames; now his bitterness towards his father turned him cold and created blue fire.
His cellmate Poseidon saw the blue flame, "Thinking about your father again." Poseidon said this more as statement than an observation. Poseidon had been locked in here a few years after Hades imprisonment. According to Poseidon after Cronus imprisoned his son his other son Zeus rose up in rebellion against his father to free Hades. Although Hades was grateful that his brother hadn't forgotten him he wasn't sure Zeus could succeed judging by his first attempt that led to his friend Poseidons' imprisonment.
Hades looked into his palm holding the blue flame and sighed, "Cronus isn't my father, not anymore."
Poseidon was going to comment but was interrupted by a crash coming from outside. Hades summoned more fire to defend himself whilst Poseidon gathered water from the air, both were ready for an attack but were relieved when Zeus entered. "Nice to see you, brother." Hades was pleased, not only his brother hadn't forgotten him but now he was finally free to take revenge against his father and make him regret the day he chose to turn his back on his son.
After the group scattered Hook had lost sight of Henry. He knew he couldn't face Regina again if the boy was harmed but that wasn't the only reason he wanted to find the boy. Henry looked a lot like Baelfire at that age; it was the same age that Hook had made his biggest mistake and failure where Baelfire was concerned.
Initially Hook liked Baelfire and imagined what it would have been like if Milah chose to go back for him but when faced with the reality things took an ugly turn. Hook always liked to believe that his quest to destroy the Dark One was just but Baelfire didn't see it that way. Killian couldn't face that what he was doing was wrong and he pushed the boy away by the time Killian had realised his mistake it was too late. Killian saw no point in earning Baelfire's forgiveness if in his position Killian wouldn't forgive him either, the pirate certainly never forgave his father for leaving him behind so why should Baelfire?
It was too late to make amends with Baelfire but there was enough time to make it up to Henry. Hook had managed to find Henry cornered by Cerberus. Killian slashed at the hounds' tail using his hook to turn the beast attention towards himself. "Henry!" Killian shouted gaining the boys' attention, "Head for Golds shop whilst I've got it distracted."
Henry got over his shock and ran straight to the shop as suggested. When facing Cerberus Henry couldn't help but feel there was something familiar about the beasts' eyes. Henry arrived into the shop where Belle was waiting for him. "Henry are you okay?" Belle asked in concern checking him over for injuries.
"I'm fine Belle." Henry assured, "But I don't think Cerberus is." He then began to explain how the beasts' eyes looked familiar.
Most would be sceptical of Henrys' observation but not Belle. Belle knew Henry had good instincts considering he was the first one to suspect Storybrooke was under a curse. "If what you're saying is true then Cerberus is under a curse."
"Isn't he already cursed to follow Cruella's every order?" Henry asked.
"In that form he has to follow Cruella's order but in the form of a human that would be different." Belle theorised pulling out a book from a nearby shelf. She flipped the pages until she found what she was looking for. "This was the spell that was used to create Rubys' cloak."
"But don't you need magic to create it?" Henry queried.
"We can still gather the ingredients needed to set up the spell." Belle said, "We'll figure out that problem when we come to it."
Hades and Poseidon followed Zeus to a cave. Hades who spent a long time in darkness was a bit reluctant to be closed off from the outside world but Zeus assured him they would be fine. "There are some people I would like you to meet."
"Who?" Hades wondered. He looked to Poseidon to see if he knew who his brother was referring to but Poseidon shook his head. Poseidon had no idea who Zeus wanted them to meet.
Suddenly a voice came from the darkness, "We go by many names young man." The woman who spoke had dark hair and green eyes.
"Some people called us the Fates." The second woman with blond hair and green eyes revealed herself.
"Others called us the Norns." Another woman with red hair came out of the darkness.
The woman with dark hair smirked sinisterly at the three young men, "Some called us old hags or even witches."
The blond woman smiled kindly, "We call each other sisters"
"But you may call us your guardians." The red head finished.
Hades observed the three women although beautiful he knew they weren't to be trifled with but there was something he was desperate to know, "If you are the Fates then you must know why my father imprisoned me for all those years."
"Hades." Zeus warned his brother, he knew how Hades suffered but he also knew that Cronus wasn't the type of father he remembered as child. Cronus was cruel and unkind; anyone who would harm his children in such a way was unworthy of being a father.
"You don't understand Zeus." Hades existed, "For years I lived locked away in darkness never knowing my crime."
"It wasn't anything you had done." The blond said sympathetically. "Your father was acting on the word of a seer. Your grandmother Gaia."
The red head began to explain, "Gaia predicted that like his father Cronus would be killed by his own son."
"She was a mere amateur." The dark haired sister snorted in disgust. "She only saw one thread in the tapestry. By pulling Cronus away from his offspring's threads he is now closer than ever to his doom."
"Are you saying that my father locked me away over some self fulfilling prophecy?" Hades growled trying to keep his temper in check.
Poseidon seeing his friend distress tried to sooth him. "Cronus doesn't matter now. You're free now that's all that matters."
"But for how long?" Zeus asked, "It's only a matter of time before Cronus is going send his army of titans after us."
"Cronus chose to believe this prophecy, now it's my turn to have his worst fears realised." Hades smirked sinisterly.
"And how are you going to get past his guards?" Poseidon queried being practical. Cronus was the leader of the titans there was no way he was going to be left unprotected.
"With this," the dark haired sister revealed a war helm, "you who have spent a life time in the shadows, with this helm you will be allowed to blend in with the darkness. No guard will be able to see you wearing this." Hades tested the helm and as the woman had described he disappeared.
"But you can't take on Cronus single handed." The red headed sister stated holding up a trident for Poseidon to take, "You must help him as well Poseidon, this will give you power over the ocean and is a very powerful weapon."
Zeus looked on as Poseidon reluctantly took the trident and asked, "What do I get?"
"You are an impatient one aren't you?" The blond sister smiled playfully and handed him a lightning bolt. "Remember lightning doesn't strike the same place twice. Be careful not follow in your fathers' footsteps or be prepared to suffer the same fate."
With those final words from the Fates they disappeared leaving Hades to wonder what those final words had meant. Was it possible that Zeus would betray him as his father had done? Hades then thought better of it. Cronus doubt in Hades loyalty created enemies of his sons, Hades had decided he would not make his fathers' mistake. Hades just prayed Zeus wouldn't be the one to follow in his fathers' footsteps.
Henry and Belle had just finished gathering the ingredients to make the spell when Regina had stumbled in dragging an injured Hook. "Seriously Killian, I don't know how you always manage to find yourself in these situations." She helped him into a seat and checked his wounds, "You must be the most unluckiest pirate I've ever met."
"I wouldn't consider myself that unlucky love." Killian smiled flirtatiously at the queen.
"Ugh spare me." Henry groaned. It was bad enough when Emma giggled like childish school girl at Killians' flirtations but Regina was different in that aspect.
Regina rolled her eyes at the pirates' comment and turned her attention to her son, "What are you working on here?"
"Henry believes that Cerberus might be human." Belle answered, "So we want to make a cloak similar to Rubys'."
"Can you help us Mom?" Henry asked.
"When you make this cloak how are you going to get it on the beast?" Killian enquired. "I doubt Cerberus will simply let you."
Regina looked around the shop and found the perfect weapon. "With a mild sleeping curse on an arrow all we would have to do is get Mary Margaret or Robin to fire it." Regina said taking a bow and arrow off one of the display cases. The group set to work in preparing the plan to stop Cerberus; they just hoped that Henrys' theory was correct.
They had planned this out carefully. Hades would use his helm to sneak into his fathers' fortress and open the gates to allow Zeus army in. Zeus and Poseidon had drawn Cronus guards away leaving Hades to face his father alone.
Unlike his guards Cronus had sensed his sons' presence. "I knew you would be the one to kill me."
"You shouldn't have locked me away, maybe then I would have felt bad about it." Flames ignited in his palms but there was something he couldn't understand. "Why aren't you getting ready to fight back?"
"Why do you think I locked you away all these years?" Cronus countered, "I could have killed you many times over when I discovered the prophecy but I let you live."
"Don't tell me it was out of sentiment that you kept me alive." Hades snapped approaching his father, "Killing me would have been a small mercy after spending a lifetime in that hole."
"So do it then." Cronus insisted, "Grant me mercy."
"Oh I will father." Hades snarled raising his hands and taking aim at his father, "I'll show you the same mercy you wouldn't show me." Hades unleashed his hell fire on his father causing Cronus to scream in agony. It wasn't until the screams had died down that Hades stopped and knelt by his fathers' remains. He should have been happy to finally have his revenge but instead he grieved not only for the loss of his father but his lost innocence.
Poseidon and Zeus had found Hades still kneeling next his dead father after the battle was won. Zeus had been horrified by his brothers' appearance his skin turned blue, his hair was now a blue flame but his eyes which frightened Zeus most they were a soulless yellow. Eventually Hades would be able to his hide true form using spells to make him look more human but Zeus would always remember how Hades looked after he killed his father, like a monster.
Killian and Regina had left Henry with Belle in Golds' shop carrying the items that would stop Cerberus. Both Neal and Emma were left to fight the hell hound whilst there seemed to be no sign of Robin or Mary Margaret. "What do we do now love?" Killian was looking around trying to find the thief and the bandit. "The so called heroes are never around when you bloody need them."
"Maybe we should try it ourselves?" Regina suggest with uncertainty. Archery wasn't her strong suit though her sword fighting skills had developed it wasn't what was needed right now.
"Unfortunately I'm better with guns than archery and what skills I did have was lost when I lost my hand." Killian stated waving his hook.
Regina knew he was right and was about attempt to shoot the arrow herself but was approached by a familiar young woman. "Perhaps I could be of assistance."
"Marion?" Regina was surprised, she never expected to run into Robins wife here of all places.
Marion explained, "I saw Robin get knocked out by Cerberus and strangely enough that witch who killed me used her magic to protect him not to mention the rumours going around town of the Evil Queen and the Bandit Snow White working together. It seems as though a lot of things have changed since my death."
"You have no idea." Regina muttered sarcastically but remembered to get to the task at hand. Regina quickly handed Marion the bow and arrow. "Fire this at Cerberus and we'll take care of the rest."
Marion nodded and took aim at the hell beast whilst Regina and Killian got into position. Marion shot the arrow into Cerberus side causing him to wail in pain. Both Emma and Neal who had been fighting Cerberus let out a sigh in relief as the hell hound had become drowsy but Regina wasn't done. She took the cloak that they had made in Golds' shop and laid it onto the animal.
Emma looked on in shock as the creature beneath the cloak began to transformed into a human. "How did you know that was going to work?" She asked.
"We didn't." Regina admitted surprised herself that the spell had worked.
"It was Henrys' idea." Hook stated in disbelief looking over the unconscious form underneath the cloak.
"Henry believed he recognised Cerberus from somewhere before." Regina explained to the Saviour.
"Well that's not surprising when you find out who he is." Neal said looking underneath the cloak taking good look at the persons face.
"Well don't leave us in suspense," Hook said folding his arms, "who is it?"
Neal lifted cloak to reveal a very familiar face. "Graham!" Emma gasped in shock. It was now Regina felt even worse for the man who was forced to serve her, now he was being forced to serve someone else.
Poseidon the newly named God of the Sea approached the newly appointed God of the Underworld. He noticed how the sons of Cronus had begun to distance themselves from each other. Zeus became distrustful of this new dark form Hades had taken whilst Hades still hurting from his fathers' betrayal began to suspect that one day Zeus would betray him too. The fact Hades was made God of the Underworld a place known for darkness was all the proof Hades needed to realise he was no longer welcome in his brothers' shining kingdom of Olympus.
Poseidon placed a comforting hand on Hades shoulder and said with sympathy, "Just because Zeus no longer sees you as his brother doesn't mean I've stopped. We may not be joined by blood but you are still my brother by bond. Your new transformation hasn't changed that."
"Thank you." Hades had meant those words he was truly grateful that the man that was there for him during his imprisonment still chose to be there for him now. "Will you come to visit me in the Underworld?" He asked attentively reminding Poseidon of that small frightened child he had first met in that cell.
"Only if you'll promise to visit me in Atlantis." Poseidon smiled genuinely. He had every intention on keeping his word regardless of what Zeus had thought. Hades needed him and unlike Cronus or Zeus, Poseidon didn't turn his back on his family.
Everyone gathered in Golds' shop where they awaited for the Huntsman to wake up from his mild sleeping curse. Regina had assured them all that it was mild and he would wake up eventually no true loves kiss required.
Robin had decided to split off to have a private chat with Marion which made Zelina nervous. They were doing well at putting the past behind them and were even begin to compromise in deciding to name their daughter. Zelina was worried that seeing Marion again would set things back but wasn't that what the Wicked Witch deserved, Zelina thought. It was Zelina's plan to sabotage Regina's own relationship with Robin by having his dead wife who was supposedly murdered by Regina show up.
If Zelina was honest with herself it wasn't much of plan to begin with, she hadn't even meant for herself to be sent in that time period in the first place but somehow the Saviours' magic had sent Zelina off course. Zelina didn't know who the woman was when she killed her; Zelina was just using her image to disguise herself in that timeline. Zelina certainly never expected to be captured by the Evil Queen nor did she expect to be rescued by Emma and brought back to her original time. It was by dumb luck that Robin had recognised her as his deceased wife that's when Zelina had decided to use the disguise to her advantage. During her time as Marion Zelina's plan had changed more times that she could count, at one point Zelina had considered on letting Regina have her happiness with Robin, after all Regina did try and save her from the Snow Queens' curse when the Regina of the past wouldn't have hesitated stepping over a corpse to achieve her own happy ending. Zelina soon changed her mind when she begun to suspect that Gold was onto her trick, remembering her previous encounter with the Dark One she fled to New York taking Robin and Roland with her. One of the biggest problems pretending to be someone else is when you start to believe the lie yourself, Zelina had become so used to the routine that she was beginning to lose her identity. Zelina had no clue who she was anymore so when Gold had shown up in New York Zelina practically jumped at the chance in revealing her true self. Zelina didn't know whether the Dark One believed her lies that she planned this all along to hurt Regina but she got what she had wanted at least she thought she did.
The truth was Zelina didn't know what she wanted and that was something her sister could relate to. Regina knew what it was like to lie to yourself and believe that revenge would solve all your problems but it wasn't. It was just a distraction from Zelina truly wanted a family which now she had and what she had stolen from Marion. Marion deserved to be here, not some Wicked Witch.
Zelina's thoughts were interrupted when Robin arrived and asked for the Huntsmans' welfare, "Is he awake yet?"
"Where's Marion?" Zelina asked nervously.
"She's moved onto Elysium, only after berating me for not giving our daughter a name." Robin smiled remembering how his wife expressed her disappointment in him, not for having a child with the woman who murdered her but for not being a good father to his daughter.
"What?" Zelina asked in shock not understanding Marions' behaviour.
"She said 'It doesn't matter who the mother is you should always strive to be a good parent' but then Marion was always like that." Robin then became sad as he began to explain, "When Marion first found me I was in a dark place but she saw something good in me that I couldn't see myself. That's why I'm so angry at myself for not realising that you weren't Marion sooner. The Marion I knew wouldn't have hesitated giving Regina another chance."
"I would apologise but I don't think it would help." Zelina said honestly. "Apologising would mean regretting having my daughter and even though I do regret the manner in which she came into this world I wouldn't want to wipe away her existence. Like you I was in a dark place and like Marion my daughter sees something good in me that I couldn't see in myself."
Robin understood in a way but it would take some time to heal the wound Zelina had caused. He wasn't just mad at Zelina for deceiving him, he was mad at her for being able to have a relationship with their daughter that he could not. He couldn't look at his daughter without thinking about how her mother had tricked him. Marion knew right away that Robin was punishing the child for her mothers' sins by not giving her a name. It was something they had to change when they would return to Storybrooke.
Robins' thoughts were interrupted when Regina announced that the Huntsman was waking up. People gathered round but Emma stopped them, "Back up, give him some room to breathe."
"It'll be hard considering he's already deady." Killian muttered sarcastically.
Graham groaned and recognised the siblings, "Neal, Regina?"
"What do you remember?" Regina asked gently.
"I remember being in Elysium." Graham closed eyes and remembered his version of paradise. He was in the forest with the wolves he considered family and the feeling of being free.
"Did Hades pull you out of Elysium?" Neal asked. He heard of people being pulled out Tartarus before and given opportunities for redemption but people in Elysium had no reason to want to leave.
"It wasn't Hades," Graham answered, "the Underworld asked me to serve as a guardian by becoming Cerberus."
"You agreed to become that?" Emma could not understand, in that form he almost killed them.
"It's in my nature to hunt and the role suited me until Cruella got her claws into me." Graham thought being Regina's pet was humiliating, being Cruella's was far worse. There were times in private where Regina did show her human side but Cruella revelled in his misery and wasn't sorry for it.
"Cruella said she offered her service because you were disobedient but disobedient to whom?" Ursula asked, "The Underworld or Hades?"
"There's a difference?" Mary Margaret asked.
Ursula explained, "Milah said that Hades used his magic to create this town and it collapsed in a matter of days because the Underworld rejected it."
"It can do that?" David queried.
Ursula nodded and continued, "The residents of the Underworld maybe dead but the land itself is alive and has a mind of its' own. It chooses its' ruler and at one time it chose Hades as its' own. When the land and its' ruler were working together in harmony the Underworld was a beautiful place for the people awaiting judgement but if I'm right and there is discord between the land and its' ruler…"
"Then Hades has no power." Belle finished, "Poseidon did say that Hades draws power from the Underworld."
"It would also explain why Hades mainly relied on Rumplestiltskin when he was fighting us." Zelina commented.
"Come to think of it, Hades has been relying more on his minions rather doing the dirty work himself." Milah claimed. In fact she saw more of James and Cruella than Hades himself.
"Merlin did say he was losing power in the Underworld that's why he wanted your father and sister." Emma commented to Neal.
"Well he can't have them." Neal said finally, "We've been on the defensive long enough it's time we fight back. The Underworld isn't helping him anymore."
"Believe me it isn't." Graham confirmed, "That's why I let you in. The Underworld normally doesn't allow the living to enter but the Underworld thought a boat carrying the Saviour and the Dark One could offer a helping hand."
"Dad would most definitely help out once we get that dagger out Hades hand." Regina commented. Regina knew her dad wasn't coping well under Hades control. The longer Rumplestiltskin remained in someone else control the bigger the chance of the darkness taking over him again and neither Regina nor Neal could let that happen.
AUTHORS NOTE: I've used some Greek Mythology and Disney with my Hades. I wanted his transformation to be similar to Nimue in how one simple act of vengeance changes a person forever. I also wanted him to be a character you could sympathise with, in the Mythologies he is the least selfish out of the Gods of Olympus and he always took his duties seriously.
I've also took some liberties with Zelina's character. I know OUAT claimed she planned on pretending to be Marion the whole time but it just didn't make any sense to me. I don't think Zelina is rational enough to come up with plan like that so I made it to a thing where it was a lie that spun out of control. I think it fits in with character well in a case where something deviates from her original plan she doesn't know how to react so jumps to a conclusion follows through with it.