Act II: Summer

One Swell Consolation Prize

BEWARB YES IT'S SPELLED CORRECTLY. LONG AUTHOR'S NOTE!

Alright I'm reorganizing this fic into four parts- the seasons- get it?

So turns out driving one's sister to her future college, alternating between whatever the radio had on and the entire Phantom of the Opera soundtrack will do quite a number in the inspiration department.

Agent of Teal: *waves* I have to say you have always been one of my fav fanfic authors, with your Hercules' fics being the second to my introduction into this little fandom. I say second b/c I was intimidated by the length of your fics and I chose the shorter route of VanillaSiren's: 'Let it Burn', but of all the Hades' centric fics I have read- you truly have Hades the best in the entire fandom, and I am so honored that you're reading my own fic, and I truly appreciate the praise. Oh and I meant stealing your Persephone's outward appearance- she has a white aura, right? I'm not looking it up bc I make it a general rule to avoid any and all Hades fanfics to avoid stealing ideas. Yeah, definitely not her personality- although I love your Persephone's sass... Yeah my Persy she's… she's… let's just leave it as adorkable- an adorkable Slytherin. I hope you enjoy!

Also this chapter was heavily inspired by Phantom of the Opera song: 'Why so Silent?' And 'Masquerade'

Special thanks to all my dear readers! You guys are my biggest inspiration!

Disclaimer: Chapter 1

"Come on baby, and she had no fear
And she ran to him, then they started to fly
They looked backward and said goodbye, she had become like they are
She had taken his hand, she had become like they are
Come on baby, don't fear the reaper."

- (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult

There are times in one's life when you have to understand that there is capabilities a person is unnecessarily prepared for.

Now I will list them in an extraordinarily blunt manner: Facing a fearsome sphinx only to avoid dying via answering a pompously metaphorical riddle, being stuck in a cyclops' cave (accidentally) and then gouging its eye out- like you do, and finally finding out Zeus is the father. Very common in this particular age and time- trust me, but you'll have to forgive me on not having first-hand experience…

I hope…

But, yes: Being prepared.

I believe there is a very handsome throw rug who had sang something about that at one point, and in making sure to look at all the tiny threads that could hinder one's plot to steal the throne from their big brother.

Yet, this was not the case for our dear, dread lord of the dead. Although, considering he is on the evil side of the spectrum, none of this is really a surprise, except for our aforementioned lugubrious oneness, of course.

Was he extraordinarily ticked off at the turn of events? Being tricked by none other than the goddess he had tricked first?

In fact, rather the opposite.

When Pain and Panic had come galumphing to see what had happened to their master after watching Persephone and Hercules leave, they expected him to be back in his previous prison, but he wasn't.

Instead, their boss happened to be on the shore of the Styx, lying flat on his back with the oddest expression on his face.

It had no proper characteristic, drifting between embarrassment, rage, but overall he looked as if he was in a daze- like he was lost in that swirling omniscient stare of his. A look they had only seen on one occasion before but with only one difference. You see, there was an odd gleam in his eye that they had seen many a time before. He had a plan forming once again, but judging by the state of him it looked nothing like his usual rearrange the cosmos look.

If he was, he would be pacing back and forth- maybe while taking a long drag from a cigar now and then, but now? Gods, one could almost describe him as a-

"Oh, boys," Hades sing-songed, causing both imps to flinch as they hadn't realize he had noticed their presence. "Would you happen to know the location of Mister Nutmeg's soul?"

"Does he mean, Hercules?" Pain whispered to Panic, only for him to shrug in a: I guess so manner.

"Well, probably in his body… Persephone revived him!" Panic squeaked out the last part and couldn't help but reach out to embrace Pain- preparing for the searing pain that never came.

When the two imps opened their eyes not even a second later, they were shocked to see Hades still in the same place, and looked not even the least bit angry- in fact he was calm…

Too calm.

"Good- good- that's one less thing to take care of…" he mumbled under his breath.

Wait, Pain and Panic continued to stare bewildered, since when did he mumble? Wait... Since when was he so fine about Hercules' current state of being?

Hades was standing up now, but he held something in his hands: a sharp metallic shard, and now that the two imps took a closer look around, their eyes took in the remnants of what Persephone had done with her scythe.

Pain and Panic stared wide-eyed at their former ally's blade.

"She… she…"

"…broke it," Panic finished.

The malignant blade that once resided in the scythe known as Praxidice were now scattered in billions of tiny shards, all of them reflecting both the green glow of the shades and the blue light of Hades' flame.

"Ha, that she did, boys," he continued to twirl the one shard in his hands, in a tone that almost sounded like awe. "But the question for another time, my imbecilic imps is what did our little Spring goddess reveal?"

"Hmm… That she's… full of surprises?" Pain answered hesitantly, going for the most vague answer rather than implying that Hades was beaten so easily by a pretty pink goddess of innocence.

"Couldn't have said it better myself, and guess what?" A malicious leer smirk spread on his face. "Not only is she gonna face those airheads up on top, but she just so happens to be Peg-lining with my one and only Get-Out-of-Tartarus-Free card. Which means…" He stared expectantly at his two minions.

"That Hercules is alive?" Panic supplied.

"Which means!" Hades hands were now around both his imps' necks, choking and burning them simultaneously, and then proceeded to throw them into the pile of shards. "Is that I don't have to parade the bozo to the other gods, and I get to make the dramatic return to the godly circles! But most importantly, I get to see little Miss Spring, and I… heh," he chuckled, fixing the collar of his toga and slicking back his flame hair, "Get to explain my recent egregious actions… "

Pain and Panic could only supply a thumbs-up as their necks began to reform, all the while wondering how dumb their boss was thinking Kore would be okay with a half-baked apology. Oh well, not their problem, with any luck she'd make his life a living hell in the process...

You know that actually sounded like a good plan... Hmm...

"Alright while I'm gone, you two are on clean-up duty." Hades' voice snapped the imps out of their own meddling, "And don't you dare miss a single one of these shards," he flared before simmering down, tossing the one he had been playing with at Pain.

"Of course, your cleanliness," the magenta imp sat up.

"So, boys, how do I look?" The god straightened and began to pose.

"Positively malicious, boss," Pain praised.

"Like Persephone would fall into your arms, sir," Panic added, enthusiastically.

To put it bluntly, that was the wrong thing to say, and I will spare you all the gory details of what happened to the poor imps as a result. To this day, both will reminisce that this had been one of the more extreme beatings they had ever received from Hades, though it was still a far cry from the one that would happen in the coming weeks.

"Alright, boys- no more funny ideas, kapiche?" Hades huffed, settling down at last. "And keep the dead in line this time- don't need another Spring goddess messing with my oddle-loop. Get the kid if need be," he added already starting to disappear.

"Is now a good time to mention that Than is missing?" Panic whispered to Pain.

"HE'S WHAT?!"

The question left to answer is how can someone be late to the party you're going to crash? Very easily, actually, but it may have just saved Hades some future headaches.

Hercules cleared his throat. He was almost afraid to break the silent atmosphere that had taken over between the two of them. He hadn't said anything to give her time to think, to grieve- to do whatever was going on with her, but he figured the matter needed to be brought up before they made it back to the mainland of Greece.

"We have to face them, you know," he exclaimed to the woman who had buried her face in the crook of his shoulder as she held him from behind. It wasn't uncomfortable for the hero, she was family after all, and seeing how much she required physical touch, Hercules didn't feel it was appropriate to remove the one thing that was giving her some security.

Resting her chin on his shoulder, Persephone sighed, and at last sat up. "I know…"

"So? Would you like to? I'm not going to force you, but, uh…" Hercules searched for the words. "You know Athena did ask me to find you and, well you did win the competition. Fear and Terror barely got out of bed this morning and Echidna- well you saw what happened with her," he meekly smiled.

Persephone paused, choosing her next words carefully. What she wanted to say was: "Hades is free."

But she didn't, because- One: She felt he truly deserved going back to his eternal punishment, but if it meant she would have to take over the hot mess that the Underworld was- hell no! Hence have someone ready to go back to the job he so hated. After all why should she go back to the Underworld to remind herself of her mistakes? She'd take her peaceful forest days laughing and being none the wiser any day.

And Two: Hercules along with the gods would be very, royally, divinely ticked off.

Still, she did want to punish Hades, but having her remind him who held the cards in their little deal was enough vengeance for her. It only cemented herself as a deity that was not one to cross- and if it was to the dread lord of the dead what better way to shove it up his toga? On his own turf and in the basest forms of trickery?

That my dear readers, is divine justice.

"I don't want the job," Persephone almost spat out, but held back some of the venom in her voice.

"But the Underworld-"

"Will find someone else," she snapped, removing her veil and used it to wipe her face to look at least more presentable than she was.

"Then we'll have to go see my father and the other gods. They'll know what to do," Hercules nodded confidently.

Persephone didn't say anything, her fingers going through her hair, unwinding the updo she had made and subsequently releasing the poppies she had interwoven in her hair.

Yes, rest assured that the gods would know what to do when they themselves were clueless about the mortals and their state of affairs. Leave it to them to send the B-Team to try and clean up the world instead of actually sending someone who knew what to do and dress it up as a competition to make it look like a game.

Deep breaths, you're fine- you're fine. Things would pick up again- you'll see, Persephone repeated to herself mentally, trying to calm herself down.

She was mad- to put it bluntly, and Persephone was hoping she'd cool off amid this flight, but now that Hercules had finally brought up his intentions to bring her to the Pantheon, he had stirred Pegasus to go faster than his previous lackadaisical gait.

Almost as if Hercules had intentionally made Pegasus go slow for her sake.

It was clever of him, and it was just another instance of his understanding that Persephone appreciated, and the fact that he wasn't vocal about it just made her respect him just a little bit more than previous.

Still, facing the gods? Strutting up there to their dais, and rejecting the position? After all she'd done to proved herself? Going through this whirlwind of a day putting up with meddlesome gods, tricking them, and subsequently making sure they know never to mess with her again. That would be like flicking the gods off with both hands and turning around and set fire to the world around her- never looking back…

Oh…

She did do that…

Well, she could see now what her little adventure had done to the land of Greece.

Upon reaching the mainland, Persephone had one hand covering her mouth and the other growing ever tighter around Hercules' waist. It was the only reaction she could make, watching in silent horror at the destruction the countryside had been reduced to.

Signs of drakons, manticores, gorgons- you name it- the resulting brood of Echidna destroyed and razed city after city. Buildings were crumpled to dust, blood and bones of mortals and monsters littered the ground, and fires raged where a torch had been left unchecked- turned over by accident and spread to the dried grass that happened to catch one of the greedy sparks.

Yet there were no bodies... Neither mortal or monster... That was curious... Aye, there were body parts, but not one was complete- in fact she hadn't seen any such limbs connected to a torso or a head- where were they?

In fact, Persephone could have sworn she spotted a mortal running around with a spear impaling him through his heart, but still he moved as if he couldn't die.

The chaos was as plain as day- oh that was another thing.

Since Styx had returned to her normal course, the monster hoard receded with her when they realized their fun was over, the sun could be seen returning to the sky above and all the heavy cloud cover had dissipated. If only the earth looked as immaculate as the sky did.

Maybe that would make her feel better, but this all this chaos- this destruction.

Bringer of destruction, indeed.

Persephone found herself sighing again.

Why did things never go as she expected? Why for once couldn't it have meant something else? Persephone internally grumbled, wishing she could just be as clueless and optimistic as she was before all this mess.

Yet one city remained untouched- one shining center of democracy where the ramblings of a bunch of men with rather long beards forever cemented the capital of Greece: Athens.

A large gathering of the gods could already be seen. Every face a different shade- a different shape. Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you. If one could look around they could see the smiles around you, not a care in the world. They were on top of the world and the highest of the peking order, and all their eyes were trained on the white Pegasus and his two passengers.

Two faces stood out from the crowd for Persephone, though: A rather plump green face with her eyes desperately searching for any signs of her daughter and a stoic blue one who fumbled around nervously beside Demeter, a trait that was very uncharacteristic of her.

Oi, could this day get any worse?

Persephone frowned, feeling the heat rise up inside of her. If one of them so much as looked at her wrong she was going to punch them in the face- regardless of her mother's presence.

If she was going to get grounded- might as well give mother a little example of all that she'd done.

Go big or go home right? Persephone almost cracked a smile at her own thought, but quickly dashed it, rolling her eyes at her own musings.

You will never learn you stupid, naive, little-

"Hey, Persephone-"

"What?!" The goddess scowled, releasing her hold on the brawny hero, but as she had done so the heat that had been rising inside of her had somehow made an outlet with her outstretched hands and emitted small sparks.

Both Hercules and Persephone were unbeknownst to them, but Pegasus bucked in the air, feeling the intensity of the sparks as they landed on his feathered wings.

"Whoa!" Hercules stroked his steed's neck, steadying the equine in the process. "Easy there, Pegasus. What's gotten into you?"

Pegasus snorted and with his long face directed his rider's attention to his slightly singed feathers.

Hercules took one look between the steaming goddess and his steed's wings and back at the camera.

"...We're here."

As soon as Pegasus gracefully landed on the ever traveling Cloud 33, Demeter was already pulling her daughter off the horse and giving her the tightest bear hug a mom could give.

Hercules, politely excused himself to allow the mother and daughter to reunite after so long, and approached the goddess that had followed Demeter to where Pegasus had landed: Athena, who only gave him a slight nod and turned to watch the agriculture goddess interact with her missing daughter.

"Oh, sweetheart," Demeter squeezed her daughter ever tighter, all the while Persephone, who was taller than her mother, found her face buried in her mom's floral arrangement- sorry hair accessory.

"You had me so worried! I had to send Nemesis to find you- and oh… you know how messy she can be…. But I don't care anymore, you're safe and that's all that matters," Demeter released a sigh of relief as all the worry she had accumulated started to ebb away.

"Mother- bleh-" Persephone spat out the leaf that had somehow jammed itself into her mouth. "Mother… Please let me go… I'm hugged out…"

"Oh! Sorry, sweetheart," Demeter instantly released her daughter and took in her daughter's face only for her to have all her motherly instincts begin to go haywire.

"Kore! What happened to you!" Demeter began hyperventilating, taking in her daughter's melancholy expression and the slight tinges of red in her eyes. Not to mention the drastic change in her appearance- and her rather questionable state of dress.

"Mother, please calm down, people are staring."

In fact they were staring. Poseidon stood at the center of them, you see he had been conversing with Bacchus about a certain crew of pirates who had been turned into dolphins, and now he and the rest of the gods were listening in on the heated conversation.

The fish god sighed, already knowing that with Athena involved it was gonna get heated fast. Downing his entire wine glass in one swallow, Poseidon handed the empty glass to the rotund god, "Bacchus, if you'll excuse me I have a family argument to stop…"

"But sweetie just look at you!" Her mother cupped her daughter's face in both her hands, attempting to get Kore to look her in the eye. "It's like I'm looking at a ghost! Who did this to you?" Her tone took an instantly icy tone.

"Mother, it's nothing like that," Persephone stepped away from her mom, removing Demeter's hands off her in the process. "I'm fine, it's just- it's just been a really lo-"

"Is it her?" Demeter shot a cross glare over her shoulder at a fidgety Athena, who instantly became as still as a statue.

"Nononono, mother, it's not like that," Kore began to plead, trying to hold back her back by grasping her thick arm, but was caught off guard by how strong she was. "You just need to lis-"

"Athena," Demeter snapped, ignoring the pleas of her daughter. "Look at her and tell me nothing is wrong," she gestured at Kore. "It's like someone sucked the life out of her! And you never expected something like this to happen- because you only saw yourself benefitting from this and you know it!"

The wise goddess began to grimace in annoyance, reaching her limit in nagging. "You can't honestly blame me for how she ended up- she could have come with me- like she was supposed to," Athena shot a cross glare at Kore, who refused to look her in the eye. "Regardless, she's been found, safe and sound by someone I sent. I didn't see Nemesis finding your daughter- she only caught Hermes- who I sent to you."

"Why if you hadn't-"

"Demeter! Athena! Please stop this confounding nonsense!" Zeus finally appeared, separating the two arguing goddesses, with both Poseidon and Hercules trailing behind him. "By thunder, we're not here for family drama-"

Persephone grimaced, muttering under her breath, "Just wait…"

"-We are here to congratulate your daughter after all, Demeter… And Athena, I hadn't expected this behavior from you of all my children," he sent her a cross glare to which she responded with silence and an exaggerated eye roll.

But the agricultural goddess was having none of it. "Oh, of all your children, is it?"

"Demeter I will not have this conversation with you right now," Zeus harshly whispered.

"Demeter, your daughter is safe- she's restored the balance of the cosmos," Poseidon stepped up and squeezed her green shoulder, trying to keep the peace as usual. "You should be proud of her," he exclaimed in a soft whisper near her ear, in a gesture that could have been mistaken as intimate.

Persephone, who was off the the side couldn't help but look between the three of them: Zeus, her mother, and Poseidon…

Oh gods, what was going on with these three?

"Proud?" Demeter scoffed, "That she went behind my back?! And created that?!" She pointed to the destruction down on earth, gaining the attention of all the present gods to gather round and see for themselves what had taken place in their revelry.

"Right here. Thanks for noticing," Persephone miffed, shielding her eyes from all the stares she was currently receiving.

"-With his permission?! Of all the gods I've been keeping her from?!" Demeter pointed crudely at Zeus, who had wisely chosen to remain silent.

"What? But I thought…" the words died on Poseidon's lips. The fish god, briefly made eye contact with Persephone, only for his eyes to lower to the cloud floor. "Too good to be true, huh?"

Wait…

"Poseidon, it's not like that-" Demeter pleaded as he began to walk away.

"But it is…" Poseidon simply stated, his shoulders sagging. "If she was mine I wouldn't have let her be without her father…"

She had a father…

Demeter's jaw was clenched, her gaze drifting from Kore to Zeus and finally to Poseidon. If Kore was to know, then so be it, but not with her thinking she broke his heart all on her own.

"Don't you dare blame this all on me, Poseidon," Demeter exclaimed in a guarded tone. "You got swept up in your newest obsession of creating your horses and sea creatures that you forgot all about me. Never noticed once that I had left you… And who was there to help me through it?"

"Zeus," Poseidon sighed.

"Mhm, now please, I believe this conversation was between her father and I."

Hercules and Athena shared matching facial expression, along with the rest of the gods. They hadn't expected Demeter to come out swinging on her former lovers- on Athena and her accomplices yes, but wow...

All the while Persephone was having her own mind-blowing expression of a different caliber.

"I have a dad… Oh gods- you're married!" Persephone stared horrified at Zeus. How does this whole baby thing even work? Wasn't it just the whole kiss at midnight thing?

"Couldn't have said it better myself," Hera added, entwining her fingers with Zeus'.

"Dear, I didn't-"

"Don't make this worse for yourself, darling," Hera deadpanned.

"Yes, dear…"

After a few moments of awkward silence, Hera nudged her husband, "Darling, the competition?"

"Oh, of course… Kore," the thunder god, turned all his attention to his currently youngest god-daughter. "Forgive me for never introducing myself as your father. Your mother asked me a long time ago not to, and so it goes… But I can't tell you enough how proud I am of-"

"Look… father, before you go on- I want to drop out," Persephone interrupted him. "I don't want the Underworld, please, I can't- I just can't…" She couldn't look at any of them now: Her mother, Hercules, Athena, her father, even the other gods.

"But, Kore,I thought you wanted it- Why, Athena-"

"You heard, my daughter," Demeter reminded him. "You can't force my daughter to take up Hades' job."

"She collected the most souls, though," Zeus argued. "By the rules of the Competition, the throne is hers."

Persephone's heart froze. If she wins, she owes Hades something in exchange and with no limitation, save for taking over Olympus- he could ask for practically anything else.

"Please, please, I can't be Queen- not after everything," she pleaded. "Please… father if you love me, you'll let me drop out."

"Kore, you've seen the earth, it is under disarray without someone to take care of the Underworld- why no one but you wanted the job, and took the competition seriously," he added, briefly glancing at Ares.

Hercules took one look at his half-sister and suddenly understood why she was so eager to drop out. "But, father, you said whoever collected the most souls by the time the sun set, and the day has a few hours left and with that logic she can drop out at anytime."

"I did, say that… Hmm?"

"Wait! Just cancel the entire Competition and try again tomorrow," Persephone brought up. "After all, there is still a number of souls out there- why Athens is still overrun. Please, for my sake-"

"Yes, father, please, for her sake-"

"Now, now settle down, you two!" Zeus thundered, silencing his two children. "That still leaves the role of the Underworld. I think we can all see how hard the job is, I was right to say that Hades worked himself to death, but with his absence we have to consider-"

"Uh-oh, ears are burning- y'know what that means," Hades appeared from out of the blue fire that erupted from the cloud surface.

"Hercules," Persephone whispered under her breath, and couldn't help but reach out to grab the hero, pulling him to her, "While they're distracted you need to run, now."

"What?" Hercules was cut off guard as she continued to push him away.

Horrified gasps filled the air at the entrance of Olympus' most hated god, followed by the sounds of weapons being raised at the ready to attack. From the shings of swords, to the strings of bows expanding.

"Would ya look at that, such a nice warm, welcoming- so what's the occasion? Don't tell me you've got another bouncing baby brat, Zeus." Hades made his way through the crowd, all of them parted as he made his way, not one eye blinking as he headed straight for his oldest brother, daring not to miss even the slightest of the unpredictable god's motions.

"He can't collect you if he can't find you," Persephone hurriedly explained. "If all goes according to plan, you can stay in Sicily with me until he cools down- I have a seer friend who tells me that Rome is going to get big, and it'll be far enough from Greece to get you out of Hades' sight."

Hercules' eyes widened at her in sudden realization, reading her face like an open-scroll, "You knew he was coming- you planned this. To cover up for running away and nearly destroying Greece, didn't you?"

Persephone froze, stunned, and immediately released Hercules. "You don't understand-"

"Yes, I do! You're running away from your problems-"

"I will lose all of my freedom, Hercules! I have been practically trapped on that island for years, I can't give my mother another reason for keeping me isolated," Persephone insisted, briefly glancing between the gods and Hades as he stood there smugly, watching her interact with Hercules.

The hero shook his head in almost disappointment. "With all the show of power you've done today, I don't think it's just your mother holding you back- you're afraid, and you know it. You can't keep running, there is always a way out, or sometimes other ways to change someone's mind- especially your own. Take risks, Persephone, but I'm not running, and neither should you." Hercules stood his ground, and met Hades' knowing gaze.

"Brother, you know better than to come here," Zeus released his wife's hand and stood practically toe to toe to his little brother.

"Ha actually, you're the one who beseeched me," Hades wagged his finger in his brother's face. "I swear if you wanted me to come so bad, send an invite, but y'know kind of hard to RSVP when you're swirling down a never-ending river of death, so I understand where you're coming from." Hades lifted up both his hands in a mock surrender.

"Don't play the innocent, Hades," Zeus huffed. "I have every right to punish you for your crimes against Olympus, humanity, and the very balance of the cosmos-" he grabbed at the collar of Hades' chiton.

"Crimes?" The god shadowed through his brother's grip, "Oh come on- nobody got hurt- well maybe Nutmeg did-" Hades finger-gunned Hercules. "A few buildings- maybe a herd of horses, but hey it's a hostile take-over what do you expect, babe? After all ol' Herc got rid of the Titans for good, why should you even worry about me anymore? I mean it's not like I had some diabolical back-up plan to get back at you lovely people," the god winked at Persephone's direction, who continued to stare at the ground, ignoring him entirely, her mother acting as a physical barrier between the two of them.

"Knowing you, Hades it wouldn't surprise me," Zeus scowled.

"Oh, I'm touched, I really am, but I guess you could say it didn't work out, or I'd be standing where you are, bolt boy."

"Why you-"

"Uh-uh-uh," Hercules found himself being used as a human-shield as he appeared, in front of Hades, "Wouldn't hit your own kid, would ya?"

"Hercules!" Hera cried from behind her husband.

"What trickery is this- release my son at once!" Zeus ordered, the very sky becoming darker shades of mauve.

"Sorry, Zeusy, but the kid belongs to me," Hades encircled his arm around Hercules' shoulders.

Before Zeus could interject, Hercules spoke up, "Father it's true- I traded places with Meg to bring her back."

"You- you WHAT?!" Zeus shouted.

Hades released his hold on the hero, and stepped back to allow the full gravity of the situation of what Hercules had promised sink in to the kid's parents.

"Hercules," his mother cupped her son's chin. "My son, you can't- she'll be dead in forty or fifty years- what is that compared to eternity?"

"Mother, please I did and it's done. I belong to Hades now," Hercules simply stated.

"Whoa," Hades mockingly cupped his ear. "I can't believe it, but I think I may have won. Bacchus, babe, a round of drinks please- I need a bottle of champagne to celebrate this momentous occasion. So nice of you gods to show up," Hades continued to chuckle despite the heated glares and death threats from the accompanying gods, but through it all Persephone remained silent, a war was brewing within her.

"Hades, you will pay for this," Zeus seethed.

"Sorry, Zeusy, can't hear you over my gloating!"

"Please, Hades, we will give you anything in exchange for our son," Hera pleaded.

"Wellllll, there is one thing," Hades began pacing around the radius of the circle the gods that had gathered around to watch the family feud continue. "But you'd never consider it."

"Name it, brother."

"Since you asked nicely, I want Olympus. Nothing less, nothing more. I want your job and throne, and for you to get the hell out of my way," Hades stated his ultimatum.

"That is a ridiculous offer, and you know it."

"Hey, not for me, but until then I have places to burn, faces to spite- all that jazz. C'mon, Jerkules…" Hades commanded with one swipe of his index finger.

"Wait, Zeus! I mean father," Persephone gathered all her resolve and pushed through the crowd, despite the protests of her mother.

"Kore, this doesn't concern-"

"Yes, it does," Persephone brushed off her father's complaint. "I think you're forgetting about me. I believe someone owes me a throne of my own- specifically yours, Hades," she barely glanced at him, before making eye contact with Zeus.

"Excuse me, but who are you?" Hades smirk continued to grow as Persephone briefly shot him a death glare over her shoulder that looked adorable on her face.

"I could ask you the same question, Eu- I mean, Hades," the goddess snapped. "Father, I think you're forgetting that I won this competition fair and square and I deserve the Underworld in all its rights."

Now it was Hades' turn to be baffled. What was she playing at?

"Kore, you just tried to convince me that you don't want the job," Zeus reminded her.

"Well…" Persephone mulled over her next choice of words, biting her bottom lip anxiously. "I changed my mind. Sorry, Hades but looks like you're out of a kingdom."

"Hey, it was my kingdom before you, babe, back off," Hades' tone suddenly became defensive, his grin falling flat off his face.

"Well, it's not mine yet," Persephone clarified, speaking once again to Hades without even turning around. "We still have till sunset to decide who gets the Underworld, and in this competition Zeus came up with, whoever returns the most souls to the Underworld takes the throne for the land, and I've done the most with at least four billion."

"That is a good point, daughter," Zeus laughed. "Why that means if you don't compete Hades, you're fresh out of a job!"

The surrounding gods began to join in to Zeus' infectious laughter.

"Excuse me?!" Hades began to flare.

"If you don't compete you'll be kicked out of the Underworld and exiled from our Pantheon as you won't have a role to fill any longer," It was Zeus' turn to give out his own ultimatum.

It was a desperate attempt on Persephone's behalf to try and buy Hercules some more time alive, Hades could see it almost immediately, she was indeed clever, but she was still not at the caliber that he was at for scheming. Too many holes, not enough leverage to save the hero entirely, but it also meant if she won she owed him a favor, but with it would come humiliation galore in front of the entire pantheon. Although if he picked up the rest of the souls, he'd still have a kingdom, just sans Persephone's favor.

Still.

She refused to look at him, having her back turned the entire time. All the gods ignored him true, nothing was new there, but her, it hurt for some reason. She had put so much trust into him and now that all of it was thrown asunder, he started to wonder how far she had fallen because of him?

Damn her.

She didn't know how to truly outsmart him, but she got him in another way. He'd let her have today, she didn't have to save him- twice now, but she did because that's who she was, and if that was a start for an apology, so be it.

For a second he mulled over the idea to reveal that she had worked with him the entire time, but what fun would that be if it was common knowledge? It was a secret ally he wanted to keep. A stalemate would suffice for now. He'd collect Hercules tomorrow, give him a day to pass on the news to Nutmeg, and have Zeus mull over any other ideas, or make him squirm for just a bit longer.

"Fine then," the flaming god seethed. "I guess I'll have to collect the remaining souls, then, Zeus... but I'll be back for you tomorrow, Wonder Breath," Hades smirked in his direction and Zeus'.

"We wish you the best of luck, Hades," Zeus sounded somewhat cheery, becoming suddenly relieved that Kore had somehow saved some time to give the Pantheon another way to bargain with Hades for his son.

The rest of the gods were relieved as well, but most of them had wisely chosen to take their leave, wanting to be away from this dramatical family scene, save for a few of the more gregarious of the divinity.

"Yeah, I bet," Hades deadpanned, his eyes roaming over Persephone's back. "Oh... and before I forget," he appeared in front of her, a classic confident grin spread itself across his long face as one of her hands were now clasped between both of his. "It's been a pleasure," he planted a kiss on the top of her hand. "Persephone," he bowed lowly.

Their eyes truly locked for the first time, as he rose to his full height, ever since she left him on the shore of the Styx. Her violet eyes were full of hurt and a mixture of other emotions as she began to blush deeply, while her bone white aura shone a bit brighter than it had before her senses returned to her and switched on over to a menacing glare that made her lips come out as a pout, not by choice mind you.

"Hades," she returned the bow by curtsying. "May the best god win," her normally liquid-honey voice was now cold and (if one listened hard enough) raw as she felt her throat constricting.

"Oh I fully intend to, sweetness."

"Then the game is on," Persephone snatched her hand from his grasp and dashed back to her mother.

The game was on, dear reader, but it was not what the surrounding gods assumed it was. It was a game of wills and smarts, and it was a game Hades was more than willing to play if it meant she was waiting with open arms.

Sure she was angry now, but he vowed silently right then and there he would be paying her a visit sooner than she thought.

Who knows maybe he could settle for one swell consolation prize, and what a consolation prize she was.

A/N: Did I look up every Hades' related content to see if I got his reaction right?

Hell yeah I did.

Now for text evidence.

In Halloween with Hades from House of Mouse- it's an amazing show that I watched growing up and you should all watch it now. Okay so the gist is Hades tries to woo ol' Maleficent- she bonks him in the head, humiliating him, but instead of being turned off, home boy gets even more turned on- going through rather drastic measures to do so even pretending to be nice. *shudders*.

On a side note, I'm really disappointed about the whole Descendants 3 thing, but that's just my opinion. I was going for Yen Sid to be Mal's dad as a plot twist and I honestly can't see Hades with Maleficent on the basis that she is too proper and regal for the mobster type guy he is.

Anyway, the fact that Persy showed her more darker side last chap (and the real reason she let Hades go was revealed) Hades would in turn be increasingly more interested in her in a romantic sense. I mean from the get-go we can see that Persy isn't as goody-two shoes as first presented, and gets incredibly more devious as time moves on and in my little blurbs of her exposition she has mastered the art of cunning using the POWER OF SCIENCE. It's kind of why I see her as a nerd *shrugs*.

Also a note about Persy's father. Before I had begun this fic one of the biggest decisions I struggled with was: Who's the father? And mind you there is enough evidence to point to at least four guys and I almost went for Po-po b/c of the whole controlling the Styx bit, but I thought the whole drama of Zeus being the father would add some good plot. But Po-po is depicted as a nice dad in Greek myth- I mean look at Theseus and Polyphemus- he actually took care of them while Zeus was like: You can't prove anything, gtg!

PSA: I don't plan on making Hades good, I mean come on he wouldn't be Hades if he wasn't evil, I don't care how cute she is, people don't change that much for a chick even if she is your true love. I mean sure he's only going to be nice and respectful towards Persy, and he'll get a tad calmer, after all I think he learned his lesson real well that she is a force to be reckoned with ;)

Thanks guys! See ya real soon! Heading up to Disney soon, who knows if I'll have next chapter b4 then.

Also NEW CHARACTERS!

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