Ok peeps, same deal third story (and it's a good one!) ok, fifth if you want to get technical about it… I don't own Disney's Hercules (unfortunately) but Persephone, Thanatos and all the other original characters and places that pop-up belong to me…
This story takes things from both the film and the series while it also contains some carrying themes from it's forerunners; Plight of Persephone & Daddy's Little Hellraiser (plus a few things from both short stories too) so read them first… Also, because constantly being asked the same questions is starting to grate me: please don't rely on Greek Myths, this is Disney and they twisted a lot of myths around, I have done the same and explanations can be found in my Little Notes sections in relative chaps… having said that though, some knowledge will kind of give you a small glimpse into where this fic is heading..
Little hint: if you haven't read it's forerunners then you will get confused because some things that have happened in past fics are coming back in this fate-filled fic..
And a little reminder… Disney twisted a lot of myths for their storylines so I have to do some minor tweaking of my own to make this work…
…enjoy x
AngelOfDarkness1959: Haha, I know, more beings in the Underworld don't get what Jafar's all about… I love it too for some reason, I guess they just don't know how to take Jafar do they? Oh well… X
BlackDiamond07: Glad you liked the chapter hun, here's a new one and although it's a little dull it is important, the next chap will get back to Than I promise! X
DisneyPrincess: Lol, oh you fancy Jaffy now do ya? Hahaha, well don't blame me if he starts calling you 'pussycat' and leering like a snake! XP And yup, Thana and Mel do care about each other even though sometimes they don't show it… I tried not to make the scene too fluffy because I think it would be very out of character of them to act all joking and affectionate since neither of them are like that. Mmmmm 1000 internet cupcakes… *drools*… lol, whoops! My bad, haha, stop tempting me with cake! X
Stay70573: I just knew you'd like that line XP And don't despair, I'm sure Than will prove himself not so evil yet… well, ya never know anyway X
Wonderwomanbatmanfan: Glad your enjoying the story hun… here's the update! :D
The Importance of Thanatos
Please don't forget to check out Birds and the Bees, Oh Geez Louise which is located in the M-rated section of this category (or you can just click on my name and find it in my profile) thank you! X
Chapter Forty-Nine:Bitten by two Little Green-Eyed Monsters
'Hyllos honey..' Meg called out as she held out a brown bag with scrolls, charcoal pencils, a packed lunch and a pouch with snack money inside it. '-the school chariot is here!' The next second a thundering of sandals could be heard drumming down the stairs as the-now fourteen year old Hyllos flew down the stairs, taking his leather satchel while receiving a peck on the cheek from his mother, then rushing out the door to board his chariot-ride to Prometheus Academy in Athens with a few of his friends. Luckily for Hyllos he seemed to have inherited his mother's charm while retaining a certain sense of likeability inherited from his father. This meant that Hyllos was very popular amongst his peers and never seemed to be short of friends.
Meg sighed with a smile as she watched her not-so-little boy get on his school-chariot and chat excitedly with his peers, she was so glad high school was much kinder to her son than it had been to her. High school was not a time Meg liked to reminisce about. Her high school had been full of socially awkward situations, cat-calls from leering teenage boys and cruel taunting from the rest of the cheerleading squad about how 'fat' she was due to their envy over her curves.
Once the chariot had turned out of sight, over the small hill, Meg sighed and finally ripped her eyes away from the road, turning to pick up the wicker basket filled with dirty chitons, mostly Hyllos' and Hercules'… her boys did seem to go through a lot of them. Her violet eyes rolled at the brimming wash basket before she dragged it into the huge, spacious kitchen and over towards the hearth where a huge metal cauldron-like pot stood on a pre-built pile of wood-shavings, kindling and old news-scrolls. Meg hummed a soft, upbeat tune as she took handfuls of the dirty chitons and dumped them into the pot, once the basket was empty she then headed outside and picked up two buckets of water. She lifted them both slowly and carefully and brought the heavy buckets into the villa, raising them and dumping the water into the pot along with the dirty clothes. Meg sighed with relief once this was done then she struck a match and lit the pre-built fire in the hearth and poured in some flowery-smelling alkali-salts then letting the pot boil. While this was simmering the wife of Hercules immediately turned to the counter at the opposite side of the room and fixed her husband's breakfast. Chopped fresh fruit salad and a few slices of bread spread with a thin layer of olive-oil butter, nothing too heavy so he would have an appetite for when lunch rolled around. She quickly set the table for Hercules, she had already eaten with Hyllos before he'd left for school, before picking up a broom and sweeping the dusty kitchen floor as she waited for her husband to appear..
..A loud chapping at the front door announced the arrival of the morning messenger, who would drop off the mail along with the morning news-scroll. As usual Hercules would answer the door on his way down to breakfast then, after a brief chat with the messenger man and a few drachma tip for his trouble, the middle-aged hero would appear in the large kitchen with the mail. It was just how every other day in the Villa of Hercules started… however, unbeknown to the two mortals living there, this day was going to change everything..
'Y'know.. I feel like I've seen him somewhere before?' Jealousy sounded distantly, as he studied the middle-aged hero. He and his twin brother were hiding in the pantry cupboard with the door open a crack. While the pale-bluish-green imp looked thoughtful his identical twin brother sighed witheringly at him, the slight light coming from the crack in the open door shining on him.
'Yeh, in your dreams..' Envy snorted rolling his eyes at his twin with derisive amusement.
'Oh, ha, ha… very funny.' Jealousy shook his head in disbelief. 'Next time, try being original..' His twin may have been obscured by shadows but Envy could still see him scowling. Envy rolled his eyes a second time.
'So you've seen this yahoo before, good for you, you're the only one of us that actually got to see the outside of Pandora's Prison for an extended time before it was finally returned to Hades as a wedding gift.' Envy sounded with a scowl to his brother.
'That's it! That's when I saw him, except he looked a lot younger then.' Jealousy sounded, moving into the strip of cupboard light and peeked at Hercules as he chewed his breakfast, his nose in the news-scroll while his wife Megara poked and stirred the dirty washing with a large stick.
'Funny thing, bro.. mortals do this nifty thing called aging..' Envy sounded snidely with a wide-fanged smirk.
'Duh.' Jealousy made a face at his brother. 'So what is it we're supposed to do to this bozo's wife exactly?' He couldn't see any reason for this simpering little house-wife to be jealous, nor did she have any reason to be envious… she had her man all to herself.
'Urh, I dunno do I?' Envy sounded almost bored of hiding in a cupboard, his yellow eyes narrowed as he folded his arms across his broad chest. 'Thanatos said justa sit and wait for the Fates to give us an opening.'
'Pfft..' Jealousy snorted derisively at this, his face mirroring his brother's. '-as if the Fates ever give us a break.'
'I know, I hear ya bro but at least this way we'll know if the kid is on the level..' Envy sighed heavily then his face softened, throwing his bother a slight smirk…
…Hercules finally put down the news-scroll he'd been reading and picked up his mail-scrolls and sifted through them.
'Hey, there's a letter here from King Admetus.' Hercules said brightly once he'd separated the junk mail from the fan mail and the regular mail.
'Really?' Meg sounded curiously, pausing in her stirring of the dirty clothes. 'What does he want?' Hercules scanned the official-looking scroll then his face turned a little more serious.
'He's summoning me to Pherae so talk about the future of his daughter, gee, this sounds important..' The middle-aged hero frowned thoughtfully now as he continued to read the scroll silently, mulling it over as he did.
Meg threw her husband a inquisitive look now… wondering why Admetus would want to discuss something of this sensitive nature with her husband. Ok, so the two of them had become great friends after the 'incident' with Thanatos nearly six months ago, but still… it was a little disconcerting.
'I better go see what he wants.' Hercules finally sounded decisively as he pushed himself out of his seat, not bothering to share anything else the letter said with his wife.
'So, why does he want to talk to you about his daughter?' Meg sounded with interest, putting the fire below the pot of washing out, the water inside was now bubbling hot.
'I dunno..' Hercules responded. '-he doesn't say why he wants to talk to me, just that he does.' Meg rolled her violet eyes at this. Why couldn't people just write their explanations down properly. Her own father Creon, who was a lord in Thebes and considered it's financial banker, was exactly the same.. He never wrote everything down so that the person he was writing to was forced to go and see what he wanted… it must be a power-thing.
'But do you have to go now?' Meg sounded a little dejected at this point. Things had been nice and quiet recently and she'd enjoyed having her husband around the house and all to herself for a change.
'I'm sorry honey but look at it this way..' Hercules sounded with an encouraging smile. '-the sooner I go see what he wants the sooner I'm back..'
'Alright, fine, but what does his daughter's future have to do with you?' Meg scowled irritably as she gripped the handles of the cauldron, which were still cool, and strained to drag the cauldron off the fire.
'Here let me get that for you Meg.' Hercules sounded, immediately taking hold of the cauldron and lifting it as it weighed no more than a saucepan. 'And I dunno about that either, but she's a sweet little thing..' Hercules sounded as his mind thought about Admetus' daughter Iole. He smiled to himself as he began carrying the large pot of washing towards the back door, heading towards the rinsing vat in one of the side buildings of their property.
'I'm not saying she isn't nice..' Meg huffed, pouting her pinkish-red lips as she followed her husband. 'I just don't get why Admetus wants to talk about her future with you…it's none of our business.' There was only one reason the king would want to discuss Iole's future with her husband and that was betrothal… However Meg did not want to share this theory with her husband because she was worried he would not take her seriously. Meg had been here before. But she still didn't get why Admetus would want to talk to her husband about it… did he want him to marry her? It wasn't uncommon for a guy to pick out a younger girl once he'd gotten bored with his first wife but her husband wasn't like that.. Was he?
'I know..' Hercules responded with a sigh in response to his wife's words, completely oblivious to her insecurities. '-but I still better go see what him, he is a king after all.'
'I guess..' Meg sighed heavily now causing her husband, who had been heading to the back door with the cauldron-pot of washing, to pause and glance back at her.
'Hey, I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise honey.' Hercules smiled boyishly at her with a reassuring look in his baby blue eyes. Meg sighed as he crossed the threshold to the veranda outside.
'That's not what I'm worried about Wonder Boy..' She sounded with an anxious look in her violet eyes…
…Once the mortal couple had left the kitchen, the cupboard the Resentment twins had been hiding in popped open and both identical pale green-blue imps jumped out with mirrored smirks.
'No wonder Hades enslaved this one..' Jealousy sounded with a look of mischievous glee. '-she's practically a slave to her own emotions.' He threw his brother a devious look.
'I'll say..' Envy sounded agreeably his own wolfish smirk widening. '-and to think we actually doubted his kid! She's clearly got anxiety issues..'
'We can use that to our advantage..' Jealousy exclaimed, the glee still shining bright in his mischievous face as he rubbed his hands together. Just envisioning devouring this mixed up mortal made his senses tingle with excitement.
'Yeh, but remember, Than only wants us to fan her emotions, not consume her.' Envy sounded in a reprimanding manner as if he knew what his twin was thinking. Instantly Jealousy's face fell and he pouted with regretful longing.
'I knew that, but a Misery can dream can't he?' The twin looked back at his identical brother.
'Only if he remembers the objective at hand..' Envy smirked. 'I don't know about you brother but I'd rather not bait the God of Death..'
'I hear ya bro..' Jealousy sounded with a smirk back to his brother. 'Now do ya think Johnny Nepotism has gone yet cause I'm gettin' kinda hungry..' His yellow eyes narrowed evilly.
'Only one way to find out..' Envy sounded lightly making an 'after you' gesture to his twin. Both imps then headed to the back door..
In the side building designated for laundry Hercules had poured the washing and hot water into the rinsing vat, which was an invention of Dadelaus' that worked in a similar manner to making wine. The idea was that you stood in the vat and squeezed the water out with your bare feet. Now that she was alone, her husband and Pegasus had both left for Pherae promptly after helping with the pot of washing, Meg kicked off her sandals and hopped into the rinsing vat, hitching up her lavender skirt to stop her chiton getting wet. Frowning in annoyance at the washing beneath her wet feet Meg stomped moodily on it squeezing the water through the grate underneath. She liked being in the rinsing vat herself because sometimes stomping the water out of clothes could be very therapeutic when she was in a bad mood… like now.
'Urhh, why is he so maddingly naïve..' Meg huffed to herself as she continued stomping on the washing. She loved her husband's boyish charm and general naivety to some aspects of life but at the same time it was tiresome too… especially when some things were so obvious one of Hades' imps could even recognise it for what it truly was. '-if Admetus even dares to suggest his daughter as a future consort of Herc's I'll- Ahrugh!' Meg cried out in shock as her footing slipped and she fell onto her back in the soaking flowery smelling washing. She groaned as she pulled her now saturated self upright before getting shakily to her feet, gripping the side of the vat for support. Her violet eyes then rolled upwards as she frowned. 'Well I'm glad one of you god's is having fun..' She uttered irritably towards the sky outside the roof of the laundry building, though silently hoping they were watching over Hercules… she just couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that the end was near. Meg then sighed heavily, feeling slightly guilty of her jealous ranting, her husband had never, ever given her a reason to envy other women before.. If anything he had been nothing but the perfect husband to her over their fifteen year marriage. He shunned all his squealing fans in favour of her and even when they were out and about he never let too many fans crowd them, always mindful of how anxious his girl fans made her.
'Urh… what's the matter with me?' Meg groaned to herself as she began stomping the washing once more, keeping a grip on thee side of the vat this time. 'You think a girl would learn to be more trusting..' She sighed sadly to herself but even as she did, it did not help the small burning resentment that seemed to have formed from nowhere in her chest… Why was this bothering her so much?
…Unseen by Meg the two identical imp-twins Envy and Jealousy flashed each other two matching gleefully maniacal grins, their yellowish fangs glinting evilly.
'Y'know, this is going to be much easier than anticipated..' Jealousy concluded as both twins had already swelled a little in size due to Meg's repressed resentment towards her husband's situation.
'I know..' Envy sighed pleasantly admiring his extra inch in height. '-who would have thought she'd have such a possessive nature.'
It was around mid-afternoon when Hercules and Pegasus finally reappeared at the villa only to be greeted by a flustered and put out Megara. The wife of Hercules frowned as her husband brought dusty sandal prints into her freshly cleaned home. He'd been gone pretty much all day and with nothing else to occupy her time Meg had scrubbed, cleaned and dusted down their home while her mind just could not shake the ill feelings in her heart… it was like a pit of suspicion in her stomach, like her husband had deliberately gone off to be with his royal friend instead of wanting to spend time with her. Now here he was, back late and they couldn't even get any alone time because Hyllos would be due home from school any moment.
'Hi..' Was the only thing Meg could bring herself to utter as her husband appeared in their home.
'Err, hi..' Hercules responded, unsure of what he'd done to deserve such a frosty welcome… sure he was a little late back but he didn't think she'd be this upset about it. He had been having a few goblets of wine with Admetus and forgotten the time.
'Did you have a nice time in Pherae?' Meg said softly, trying to mask her feelings, recognising the hurt in her husband's face as he was an open scroll to her. She felt she was being silly and selfish about wanting to occupy his time.
'Uh, yeh, you shoulda come Meg, Askeles was asking after you.' The middle-aged hero responded with a slight smile. 'And I'm sorry I'm late back, I guess I just lost track of time..'
'So did you and Admetus discuss Iole?' Meg sounded curiously, wanting to settle her jealous heart's fears once and for all.
'Uh, yeh..' Hercules sounded with a faint smile to his wife, completely oblivious to her true feelings. '-Admetus is planning on holding a charity archery contest and Iole is the prize.'
'Excuse me?' Meg suddenly frowned now. Yes, she liked Admetus but he did remind her a lot of her own father… Had Iole tried to speak to him about her fears of being betrothed? Had he ignored her? Or had the King of Pherae simply dismissed his daughter's objections and planned to betroth her anyway… probably. Women in this time had very few rights and honouring a parents wish was important in higher society.
'Well, to be honest I wasn't sure about it either but Admetus told me he'd spoken to his daughter about it and she understood the situation.' Hercules added, raising his hands in wary defeat of his wife but Meg only rolled her violet eyes in frustrated exasperation. 'Apparently the winner of this contest will receive Iole as a bride.'
'That's what I was afraid of..' Meg sounded grimly, frowning as Admetus was behaving exactly like her father had. Only Creon, who was considered the financial backbone of Thebes, had thought a chariot race had been a good way to choose a husband for his eldest daughter.
'Well the winner doesn't have to marry her himself, he could just be representing someone else..' Hercules added with a sympathetic smile to his displeased wife, understanding why she didn't approve of this plan of Admetus' whatsoever.
'Yeh, and I'm sure there will be plenty of creeps who would want that poor girl as a wife.' Meg uttered scathingly under her breath, remembering how terrified of her own potential husband she'd been… this poor girl was probably going to be stuck mothering some lecherous old pervert's children.
'Y'know, I was thinking of entering myself..' Hercules sounded conversationally and this brought his wife out of her thoughts and she snapped sharply back to reality.
'I'm sorry, what?' She asked him, not missing his words but in total disbeleif about what it was he was saying.
'The contest looks like it could be a lot of fun..' Hercules added in a slightly nervous tone, not liking the way his wife was scowling at him now. '-plus it's for charity, every drachma goes towards helping the less fortunate. That's a good thing honey..'
'Uh-huh, and what about Iole?' Meg's eyes narrowed further into slits of irritation, she didn't know what girls from other states did but tough and gritty Theban-girls like her did not share husbands.
'Meg, I don't expect to win..' Hercules laughed affectionately at her words. He couldn't believe she was jealous of a girl who was the same age as their son… even if he did win he wasn't going to marry Iole. Why would he when he already had Meg who was perfect in his eyes.
'Oh.' Meg then sounded snidely as her arms crossed her chest. 'And what happens to her if you do win?' She sounded in a harsh voice, not liking this idea one bit.
'Then I'll find her a suitable husband.' Hercules sounded, looking both bewildered and hurt by his wife's distrust. 'Meg, you've nothing to worry about honey.'
'Who says I'm worried!' Meg screeched out in annoyance as a couple of angry pink patches appeared on her cheeks. Why couldn't he understand how she felt about this whole thing?
Before Hercules could say anything the front door to the villa banged open and a fourteen year old Hyllos appeared grinning while stood on the doorway.
'Hey guys, what's up?' He sounded cheerfully before he clocked the strained look on his mother's face while his father only forced a smile, the air was thick with the kind of tension that only came from an interrupted awkward moment..
'I think I'll get dinner started..' Meg instantly excused herself with a sharp glance to her husband which said 'we'll talk later'..
'What're we having?' Hyllos tried to be conversational as he dumped his school bag on the floor and fished out his homework scroll.
'Mutton loaf.' His mother replied before vanishing around the corner towards the kitchen at the back of the house.
'Uh.. Is everything ok?' Hyllos turned to his father confused and Hercules sighed wearily.
'Ah, it's nothing for you to worry about..' The middle-aged hero sounded lightly, thinking he and his wife would resolve their differences later once she'd calmed down… they always managed to resolve their issues.
Little Notes:
Hey peeps, I'm sorry this chapter is all about Meg and Hercules but it is really important for the storyline to see how Jealousy and Envy get to Meg, I find this chapter a little dull and so lacking in humour that I'm not happy with it… still it is necessary. I promise Thanatos will be back in the next chapter!
Ok, not a lot to add myth-wise, I did do a little research on how ancient Greeks washed their clothes and although I used a small amount of that knowledge I kind of made up most of it. In this ancient society women mostly stayed at home and took care of the house, hence Meg being stuck at home. However I don't honestly think that Meg would let any hired-help enter her home, in the film she always had a rather distrustful nature, keeping everything close to her heart and once she was free from Hades I think she would want to keep her family safe from any 'potential' revenge plot (even though Hades isn't plotting one)… I see her as very protective and distrusting of anyone outside family and a close circle of friends.
Ok, in myth Creon was King of Thebes but I kind of imagine the Thebes in Hercules to be a kind of democratic society, since a king would be blamed for all the towns bad fortune and there was no mention of a king in the film. Creon in my fic is kind of like a lord and he financially runs Thebes, in a sense you could argue that he is like a king even though he does not hold that title. Even though I mention that Creon and Meg have patched up their differences, things are far from rosy between father and daughter. Meg clearly still has issues with her own betrothal and this is kind of the centre of her problem with Hercules entering the archery contest.
Ok, even though I've said before that Admetus is not (in myth) Iole's father, her hand was indeed sought by an archery contest. Though the outcome will be a little different from the myth as Iole's father was far from pleased with the idea of Hercules marrying his daughter..
Stay tuned for more soon guys..
~Ditzy x
