Chapter 2
Arrival to Auradon
"I can't believe I'm actually doing this. This is complete mashugana." I muttered as I began to pack a messenger bag of school supplies.
Turns out my cousin, Hercules, said 'yes.' It wasn't on the spot, so at least he had time to think about it. And I couldn't say no when my aunt and uncle are involved. In addition, Herc was more than willing to let me attend, providing he was on the academy staff.
So ol' 'Butterfingers Herc' was going to be a gym teacher and my watchdog.
Brilliant.
After I had packed my bag, I left my personal chambers and let out a bellow.
"PAIN!"
I heard a familiar voice make its way up the stairs as it replied.
"Coming, Your Most Lugubrious-ness."
I flinched when I heard tripping, something roll down the stairs, and a scream of pain. This wasn't uncommon.
"PANIC!" I bellowed again.
I heard the sound of panicked muttering as more screams of pain followed. I impatiently waited as two small demons entered the throne room. A dark pink portly demon and a teal/blue skinny demon. These were none other than my father's most abused minions: Pain and Panic. And once again, Pain's backside was skewered with weaponry from the torture room. They saluted to me, as usual.
"Pain…"
"…and Panic."
"Reporting for duty!"
I sighed at the sight before me. Even after millennia, the two were still pathetic morons. Still, they were of great assistance to me during my reign as Goddess of the Underworld. And at least they cared more for me than my father could. Even more than my so-called mother.
Still, I had to remember what my father taught me: Don't let your emotions get your guard down. If the monsters and demons saw it, they would view it as a weakness. And weaknesses creates chaos in the Underworld.
One of the few Words of Wisdom my dad ever said to me.
"Alright, guys. Today's the day. The day I take part in the insanity conjured by the crown prince of Auradon. You two know what to do, right?"
The pair nodded.
"We take over most of your duties in managing the Underworld until you return, Lady Hilda." Pain relayed as he pulled a literal dagger out of his back.
"And if there is an emergency, we report it to you immediately." Panic spoke, rushed and nervous as ever.
"And if the monsters and demons decide to take over the place while I'm gone for the few hours I'm on the surface?"
"They have been informed that they will face your wrath." Pain concluded.
"Other than that, no interruptions, no plots, and no meddling." Said Panic.
I nodded in approval. According to Zeus and Hera, I'll be starting the sophomore year. Which means a total of three years before I can return to the safety of my dank abode permanently. Of course, they told me that I should not be difficult. How can knowing what's going to happen and doing by best to avoid catastrophe be called "being difficult?"
With the orders recited and understood, I looked at my sandglass clock. A gift from my aunt. It was 7:45 AM. Time for me to go. With a snap of my fingers, I poofed out of the Underworld.
After making my minions grovel, again.
I let out a rare grin. No matter how many years I've spent in the Underworld, that never gets old.
When I appeared in front of Auradon Prep, I was greeted by the sound of band music. Needless to say, I cringed. I poofed under a nearby tree, where I told my magic to meet my cousin, Hercules. And of course, my cousin was at the tree. He still looked like the day he punched my father into the River Styx. However, he was dressed in more modern clothing, though it was still in Grecian-style. I think I had startled him because he jumped a bit when I appeared.
"Hilda?" he asked.
"Herc." I replied, not caring for the situation.
There was an awkward silence between the two of us. I had not been in direct contact with the son of Zeus in centuries. Like I said, the last time I saw him was when he inadvertently made me Goddess of the Underworld. I pinched the bridge of my nose when he tried to speak to me again.
"S-so. How are things in the Underworld?"
I folded my arms, annoyed.
"Same old, same old. Minus the excess souls. How's Meg, Hebe, and Hector?"
"They're…good?" He replied, clearly unsure how to handle the conversation.
I could tell this conversation was going nowhere. Herc didn't want to step on any toes and I didn't want anything to do with this whole Auradon thing. Cousin included. Thankfully, the conversation ceased as a limousine pulled up in front of the school.
"I take it those are the kids from the Isle?"
Hercules nodded at my question.
"That's right. They'll be staying at the dorms here."
He then added a question of his own.
"What about you?"
I answered as I grimaced at the spectacle before me.
"I go home after classes are done. Just get in, get out, and go home."
I then remembered my minions and actually turned to face my cousin.
"Actually, I better let you know. I've told Pain and Panic that if there was an emergency in the Underworld, they are allowed to find me and take me home immediately."
Herc nodded again as he rubbed the back of his head.
"I'll let the Headmistress know."
The sound of the band silencing caught our attention. There was a new sound that took its place: the sound of scuffling. I struggled to hold a groan as I saw four familiar figures exit the limousine. At first, I saw two girls. One with blue hair and one with purple hair. I knew without looking that they were Evie: Daughter of Grimhilde, AKA the Evil Queen, and Mal: Daughter of Maleficent. I identified the other two by their voices as Jay: Son of Jafar, and Carlos: Son of Cruella de Vil.
I knew the four, but I hardly associate with them. Yet strangely, being the Daughter of Maleficent puts Mal on par with me, the Daughter of Hades. Puh-lease. In a fight, I bet my dad would've beat Maleficent. God or no god. Still, even though I'm hardly on the Isle, I was with Mal on the Villain Kid hierarchy.
Jay, I've found, was a bit of an ironic case. He was raised to be a thief, yet is was a thief who had defeated his father, Jafar. Seeing his antics, I make sure never to bring any of value with me. I have also found him fighting with Carlos often.
Carlos de Vil had the same hairstyle as his mother, and of the four, was part of, what I call, the Fashionista Duo, the other being Evie. Despite living with his fur-fashion-fanatic mother, I've heard Carlos was interested in technology. There were even rumors that he was trying to invent a way of the Isle. Good luck with that. He also has a dog phobia, most likely due to the lies his mother fed him daily. That woman was still sore about not getting her Dalmatian coat.
Evie made the second half of the Fashionista Duo. Despite living on a dump that is the Isle of the Lost, Evie found a way how to make herself (and her mother) fabulous. Still, despite her daughter's ingenuity (and possible genius,) Grimhilde often made sure that her daughter was second-fabulous (next to her that is.)
I could only watch as the four VK's stood at attention as the Fairy Godmother spoke.
"Leave it like you found it~"
Correction. She sang it.
"Ugh! Zeus. If you've ever cared about me, strike me now."
"I mean, just leave it."
The Fairy Godmother concluded in a normal voice. Carlos and Jay put back whatever it was they took into the limo as Herc gently nudge my shoulder.
"Go on, Hilda. You should stand with them."
I gave my cousin an incredulous look.
"I'd rather keep my distance, thank you very much."
I heard Herc groan as he started to nudge me.
"Come on. The sooner, the better, right?"
"Please, Zeus! Fry me!"
I was contemplating on offering a sacrifice as my cousin grabbed my hand and pulled me to the group. I hated this very, very badly.
"I am so getting you back for this, Wonder Boy."
I think Hercules tried to ignore my threat as he brought me over to the group.
"Sorry! Sorry! We were a little held up."
I rolled my eyes. "Great lie, cousin."
I rolled my eyes again as Jay approached me after a failed attempt to flirt with the brunette bimbo before us. That was, until he recognized my hair.
"Hilda?"
I ignored him as I turned my attention to the headmistress. And by headmistress, I meant Fairy Godmother.
"Welcome to Auradon Prep."
"And goodbye, sanity."
"I am Fairy Godmother. Headmistress."
Gods! She even did a curtsy. How more repulsively cute is this going to get?!
"The Fairy Godmother? As in 'Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo?'" Mal asked.
I rolled my eyes behind my sunglasses.
"No. As in 'Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!'" My sarcasm echoed in my head.
"Bibbidi Bobbidi-you know it." The Headmistress answered, causing me to mentally groan again.
"I'm serious, Zeus! Send a lightning bolt in my direction and end my suffering!"
I rolled my eyes as Mal spoke up some sort of story involving her wondering what it was like for Cinderella when she was blessed by the Fairy Godmother that fateful night that changed her life for the better. I didn't bother to hear the exact words as my thoughts were busy trying to find some sort of sanity.
"That was a long time ago. And as I always say, 'Don't focus on the past or you'll miss your future." Fairy Godmother spoke as she made some strange hand gesture.
I silently scoffed at her statement.
"Take another look at your so-called heroes, Fairy Godmother. Plenty of them are focused on the past if what I am currently seeing has anything to say about it."
As I finished my thought, the mastermind behind this insanity stepped forward with the brunette practically hanging on his arm.
"It's so good to finally meet you all. I'm Ben."
"Prince Benjamin," the brunette interrupted, squealing like a pig at the end of her next words, "Soon to be king."
I had a feeling Grimhilde would tell her daughter to try to snag a prince, because Evie stepped forward in delight and flirtatiously spoke to Ben.
"You had me at 'prince."
She then decided to add a bit of family lineage into the mix.
"My mom's a queen, which makes me a princess."
It was then the brunette spoke with a venomous tone at Evie.
"The Evil Queen had no royal status here. And neither do you."
Seeing Evie's cast-down glance, I narrowed my eyes at the brunette and decided to speak in her defense. Which was oddly uncharacteristic of me at the time. Clearing my throat to get their attention, I spoke.
"Actually, since Grimhilde, or as you know her as the 'Evil Queen,' married Snow White's father, who was a king and Evie here is a child of that king, she is, indeed, a princess. After all, she and Snow White are half-sisters."
The brunette gave me a glare while the others were impressed at my knowledge. Seeing the confused looks among them, I answered as bluntly as I could.
"With my line of work, I have to know the genealogy of every person on the planet."
That was true. I had to categorize some souls based on their actions in life and how they affect the younger generations to help figure out how much damage they did. Then send them to either the Fields of Punishment, the Asphodel Meadows, or the Elysium Fields. Some get to become part of the River Styx, as the souls in the river dragged him down to who-knows-where.
Trying to defuse the situation, Ben introduced the brunette somewhat nervously. I wouldn't blame him considering her behavior.
"This is Audrey."
"Audrey" then proceeded to gaze lovingly at Ben as she spoke.
"Princess Audrey. His girlfriend. Right, Benny-Boo?"
Gods, this infantile brat is going to make me retch before the end of the day, I just know it.
Pushing herself between the two "lovebirds," Fairy Godmother spoke again.
"Ben and Audrey are going to show you around. And I'll see you all tomorrow."
She then parted their hands from each other, much to my relief.
"The Doors of Wisdom are never shut! But the library hours are from 8 to 11. And as you may have heard, I have a little thing about curfews."
"Don't worry about me. I'll be home before curfew even comes close."
As Fairy Godmother left with the pep band, Ben continued the introductions starting with Jay.
"It is so…so…so god to finally meet – you all."
He stumbled in his words as Jay punched him lightly on the shoulder instead of a handshake. I'll admit, it was amusing. Ben went to shook Mel's hand only to pause mid-shake as he looked at only her for the first time. I rolled my eyes.
"And Aphrodite strike again."
"This is a momentous occasion. And one I hope will go down in history."
Ben proceeded as he shook Carlos' hand which was covered in chocolate. Must have been from the limo.
"…Is it chocolate?" he asked somewhat uncertain.
"If it doesn't stink, then it is not what you fear it may be." My inner sarcastic voice strikes again.
"…as the day our two peoples begin to heal."
"Or the day you show five people where the bathrooms are," Mal replied mockingly.
"Or the day you show one of them where the bar is." I added sarcastically, wanting a hard drink.
This earned a nudge from my cousin next to me.
Slightly chuckling, Ben then proceeded to ask "A little bit over the top?"
"A little more than a bit." Mal replied.
I nodded in agreement.
"Like 'Surpassing Olympus' overdone."
Again, Herc nudge me. Hey. Everyone keeps telling me to socialize. Why not voice my opinion?
Surprisingly, Ben laughed.
"Well. So much for my first impression."
I could see the jealousy in Audrey's eyes as Ben and Mal laughed together, slightly staring at each other.
"Hey! You're Maleficent's daughter, aren't you?"
"Oh, boy. Here we go."
"Yeah, you know what? I totally do not blame you for your mother trying to kill my parents and stuff."
My fist clenched as I heard this. I was even more surprised when she spoke again.
"Oh! My mom's Aurora. Sleeping–"
"Beauty!" Mal cut her off as I sent an incredulous glance at Audrey.
"This is Aurora and Phillip's daughter?! What have they been filling her heads with?! 'How to be a Vindictive Brat 101?!"
"Yeah, I've heard that name. You know. And I totally do not blame your grandparents for inviting everyone in the whole world but my mother to their stupid christening."
"Wow. Way to be the bigger person, Mal."
Audrey pulls out one of the fakest smiles I have ever seen, further cementing my opinion of her.
"Water under the bridge?"
"Totes!" Mal replied, equally fake as their fake laugh that followed.
Not to mention the annoying dramatic sigh that came with them.
I couldn't keep quiet or hidden anymore. Sarcasm got me in an iron tight grip as I opened my mouth once more.
"Wow. Not ten minutes here and there's cyanide for everyone. Who brought the wine?"
That brought everyone's attention to me. Audrey looked to me, already having enough.
"You know, for a Villain Kid, you are sure–"
I interrupted her, having enough of her attitude. I didn't even care that my cousin was getting ready to step in between us.
"What? Vocal? You know, I'm just as surprised myself. But then again, I'm not like other 'Villain Kids' as you are so ready to label like pieces of bargain-binned clothing like that tacky dress you are–"
Ben was quick to cut me off as he proceeded to shake my hand, sending me tense chills down my spine. (I wasn't fond of being touched without giving my permission.)
"Hilda! I am glad you are able to make it."
I bit my lip as I shook Ben's hand to contain my previous insult to Princess Wannabe next to him. Trying to calm down, I spoke to Ben.
"I am surprised you got Zeus and Hera to allow me to come, Benny-Boy. You must tell me how you got them to agree to this."
"Insanity!" I held back.
Audrey and the others looked to Ben in surprise, much to my amusement.
"Uh…Benny-Boo. Do you know this…torch?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Really? Torch? That is about as original as dirt."
Wanting to keep the peace, Ben spoke up.
"Yes, Audrey. I approached Hilda with a summoning scroll since her father's actions has labeled her a 'Villain Kid.' I thought out of everyone here, she could be shown a little light."
"And that is your sugar-coating way of saying 'Her dad's a villain and a god. Therefore, I must reform her!'"
"Well, regardless if I am shown a little light or not, I do need to speak with Fairy Godmother about the 'conditions' in regards to my role as Goddess of the Underworld. Among them being that the allowance of my minions, Pain and Panic, to come to Auradon to find me in case of an emergency."
Audrey scoffed at me.
"And what makes you so special."
If folded my arms, narrowed my eyes, and gave a look a disapproving mother would give to her ill-behaved child.
"Three reasons. Alpha: Goddess trumps Princess. Beta: Underworld priorities over cheer squad. Gamma: I am older than you, so I am able to see a spoiled child who is clearly upset over this proclamation and is not very supportive of her boyfriend who made the proclamation in the first place."
That seemed to shut her up. Or at least, that's what I thought until Herc intervened.
"O-ok! That's enough, you two."
He then looked to Ben and proceeded to shake his hand. Gently, mind you. He still had his god-like strength.
"Hercules. Son of Zeus and Hilda's cousin. I'm here to be Hilda's guardian and one of Auradon's new gym teachers."
Ben's eyes seemed to widen at the sight of the hero before him.
"Really? The Hercules?"
And he said it with the most boyish-tone you can imagine. Hercules smiled as he released his grip.
"Heh. Yeah. That's me."
Looking at the time, I cleared my throat again.
"If I might interrupt this autograph session, I believe there are class schedules to pick up?"
Realizing where he was, Ben straightened himself up and proceeded to continue the orientation.
"Ok! So how about a tour, huh?"
"Gods! He's giving a tour?! Ugh! I wanna go home!"
Ben and Audrey led the group, with me and Hercules tailing behind them. Herc looked like he was about to speak when Carlos screamed and jumped into my arms.
"WHAT THE-?!"
My answer to my unfinished question came when Ben gestured to the statue of…the Beast? Why did they have a statue of the Beast? I thought it was something Adam wanted to forget.
"Carlos. It's ok. My father wanted his statue to morph from beast to man. To remind us that anything is possible."
"Does he shed much?" Mal asked, probably going for sarcastic.
"Yeah. Mom won't let him on the couch." Ben replied.
To be honest, I had a slight chuckle out of that joke. But I had an image to keep, so I turned my body into smoke, dropping Carlos, phasing past him before materializing once again.
As we entered the school's foyer, Mal spoke up.
"So. You guys have a lot of magic here in Auradon? Like wands and things like that here?"
Ben answered with Audrey still clinging to his arm like the little parasite that she is.
"Yeah, it exists, of course. But it's pretty much retired."
He then noticed my flaming hair and gestured to me.
"With a few exceptions like Hilda, of course. Other than that, most of us here are just ordinary mortals."
"Who happen to be kings and queens." Mal stated, clearly not trying to be subtle that she was up to something.
"That's true! Our royal blood goes back hundreds of years." Audrey quickly added her two drachmas in as the two archrivals let out another fake laugh and dramatic sigh.
I scoffed.
"Mine and Herc's blood goes as far back as the creation of the world."
"Especially since my paternal great-grandmother is literally Mother Earth and great-grandfather is the sky."
Ben proceeded to notice someone and gestured him to the group.
"Doug! Doug. Come down here."
This "Doug" character was a scrawny boy with chestnut hair and glasses, wearing the band uniform from earlier. Your typical nerd, I had a feeling he was.
"This is Doug. He's going to help you with your class schedules and to show you the rest of the dorms." He then pulled away from Doug.
"I'll see you later, ok? And if there is anything you need, feel free to—"
"Ask Doug!" Audrey interrupted.
As they left, Doug spoke up, somewhat nervously.
"Uh, hi, guys. I'm Dopey's son. As is Dopey, Doc, Bashful, Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy, and…"
He trailed off as he saw Evie, who was twirling her hair.
"…Heigh-ho…"
"Evie. Evil Queen's daughter." Evie introduced herself flirtatiously at Doug.
I shook my head.
"The poor schmuck."
I did raise an eyebrow at him, considering Doug looked more human while his father was one of the seven dwarfs. Maybe he takes after his mother? Snapping out of his stupor, Doug proceeded to go through the paperwork he had in his arms.
"OK! So about your classes. I, uh, put in the requirements already. History of Woodsmen & Pirates, Safety Rules for the Internet, and, uh, Remedial Goodness 101."
"Let me guess. New class?" Mal asked as she ate a chocolate from its foil.
Doug nodded, albeit nervously. Mal and the others proceeded to disperse from the group to find their dorms, with Doug correcting them in the direction. I shook my head as he went over the seven dwarfs' names until he got stuck on the last one. I cleared my throat as I answered for him.
"I believe you are looking for 'Sneezy?'"
Doug looked kinda relieved that I stayed behind as he handed me a piece of parchment.
"I wasn't sure if you could read English or not. So I had your schedule written in Ancient Greek."
"Much appreciated." I said bluntly.
I do read other languages including English, but I felt right at home with Ancient Greek. I went over the schedule and gawked at Periods 5 and 6.
Auradon Preparatory Schedule
Hilda: Daughter of Hades
Period 1: History of Woodsmen & Pirates
Period 2: Safety Rules of the Internet
Period 3: Mathematics
Period 4: Lunch
Period 5: Music
Period 6: Dance
Period 7: Remedial Goodness 101 (required for the Children of Villains)
Period 8: Study Hall
"Um…why am I in Music and Dance? I'm no muse."
"Yeah, uh…" voiced my cousin, causing me to turn around to him. "My mother was the one who set up your schedule."
I groaned.
"Aunt Hera. Of course."
Don't get me wrong. I do know how to sing and play the lyre. But I haven't done that in centuries. And I haven't danced since the last time Dionysus invited me to the last Bacchanal before my dad's "unfortunate accident."
Needless to say, I wasn't looking forward to those classes.
I sighed as I looked at the room numbers next to the classes.
"Well, I'm going to locate the classrooms, then head back to the Underworld."
"Err…we do have a dorm for you, Miss Hilda." Doug spoke up.
I shook my head.
"No. I have to return home when my last class ends. Got to keep the Underworld running ship-shape."
Hercules stepped forward, showing concern.
"But what about clubs or afterschool activities?"
I narrowed my eyes at Herc.
"I have no time."
"No thanks to you." I thought bitterly as I left to find my first class.
But as I turned a corner, I bumped into something. Something cold. I staggered a bit before looking up to retort. What I saw left me speechless. It was a boy of all things. But for some reason, I found him very…interesting.
He had platinum-blonde hair that could pose as snow-white in a mid-back length braid, crystalline blue eyes, and radiant pale skin with just a hint of freckles. He was dressed in a crystal-blue Henley shirt with white snowflake buttons that trailed up the collar and a snowflake diamond-and-silver pin over his right breast, white slacks, and white-and-blue Oxford shoes. Seeing me, he held out a hand.
"E-Excuse me, miss. Are you alright?"
Snapping myself out of my stupor, I nodded as I straightened myself out.
"Aside from a slight chill and a migraine? Just peachy."
As I brushed myself off, the boy pointed to my head.
"B-but your hair..."
I looked up and realized he was talking about my flames.
"…yeah. Blame my father. I got it from him. Can't do a thing with it."
That caused the boy to slightly chuckle and my face to flush. What was happening to me!? The boy ceased his chuckling as he spoke to me with a gentle smile.
"Heh. I know the feeling. I got some things from my mother I didn't want."
I let out a slight laugh.
"Yeah, well at least your hair is not a fire hazard."
This earned me another chuckle from him, relaxing me. I had no idea what was up with me at the time, but I broke out of my stupor again when a new voice called out.
"Emil? What happened?"
I looked behind the boy, now named Emil, and saw another boy behind him. This boy had strawberry-blond hair, brown eyes, and light freckles. He was dressed in a blue-and-green polo shirt with tiny sunflower buttons, a sunflower pin over his left breast, brown slacks, and black shoes. While first boy had a calm-yet-passionate air about him, this new boy was carefree, bubbly, and he looked like he was fun-loving, too.
Soon as he saw me, he gave me a friendly smile. Something I was NOT anticipating.
"Who's your new friend, Emil?"
The boy, Emil, had a red tint on his face, showing me that he was embarrassed.
"Anders! We've only just met. I don't even know her name."
The strawberry-haired boy continued to smile.
"Well why don't we introduce ourselves? Then we'll know who's who."
I struggled to keep my stoic look, but the second boy proved to be amusing.
"WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?!"
Clearing his throat, the first boy held out his hand again for a handshake.
"I am Emil, Crown Prince of Arendelle."
The second boy held out his hand, as well.
"And I'm his cousin, Anders."
I bit my lip as I shook their hands.
"Hilda."
I had never met those boys, but I knew of their mothers. Since Emil was the crown prince, which meant his mother was Queen Elsa of Arendelle and most likely had her ice magic.
"That explains why his touch is cold."
Which meant that Anders' mother was Elsa's sister, the Duchess Anna of Arendelle.
"Judging from the hair, I guess you're…" Anders trailed off, causing me to reluctantly finish the sentence.
"The daughter of Hades? Yeah."
I then tried to move away, only to stop when Emil spoke up.
"Oh! Uh…sorry if my cousin touched a sensitive subject. We've heard that five children from the Isle of the Lost were attending Auradon this year and we were wondering who's children were coming."
I folded my arms, trying to think of a way out of this.
"FOUR children from the Isle are here. Maleficent, Jafar, Grimhilde or Evil Queen as you may know her, and Cruella de Vil. I'm from the Underworld. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find out where my classrooms are and deliver some paperwork to the headmistress before I go home, today."
"Maybe we can help?" Anders spoke up, obviously looking to make up for his "blunder."
I felt Hercules' hand on my shoulder as he spoke in a friendly tone.
"Sure. I can take my cousin's paperwork to the headmistress if you two can help her find her classes. Sound fair?"
I gave Herc a glare.
"Really? You're just going to leave me alone?"
"With them?!"
Hercules took the initiative to pull me to the side for a private conversation, leaving the two princes watch in confusion.
"Could you just give us one moment, please?" he asked sheepishly.
Gods. Even as a grown man, he acts like a teenage dork.
As soon as we were several feet away, I folded my arms at Hercules.
"What are you doing? I know your parents asked you to be their watchdog on me. So why are you leaving me alone?"
For the first time, Herc stood firm. Not in a stern firm, but more of a concerned firm.
"My parents didn't send me here to keep an eye on you. I was tasked to protect you and help you. And one of the things Mother and I agree on is that you should make some friends, not keep to yourself."
I pinched my bridge in frustration.
"But it is keeping to myself that I show that I can behave, much to everyone's disbelief. I am not my father!"
"And I know you are not!" Herc raised his voice slightly, trying to keep a good grip on the conversation. "I know you are not Hades and I know you have been treated unfairly in the past because of the Titan Incident. But that doesn't mean you should give up on the gods and humanity."
He then places a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"I have been where you have been, Hilda. Until I learned of my godly heritage, everyone except my adoptive parents thought I was a freak—an outcast—because of my strength. But I kept trying to make friends in spite of my strength. And it paid off even after I learned I was the son of Zeus."
"But I'm different. I don't have god-like strength. I don't control the tides. I have power over the dead and riches thanks to my father. I don't intend to threaten people and I don't believe in bribing them."
"And that is a sign that you are, indeed, not your father. You admit your powers and I can see you don't want to abuse those powers for your own gain. We just need to find you an angle that can make you more…approachable. And that's why I think it is a good idea that you should go with these two."
I raise an eyebrow, not believing him. But before I can voice my opinion, Herc gave me a somewhat pleading look.
"Come on, Hilda. Aren't you sick of being hated and feared? Aren't you tired of staying in the Underworld without break and being forced to live up to your father's reputation in the Underworld every day?"
He had me there. I hated acting like my father when dealing with the demons. But I had to because otherwise they'll run rampant and take over the Underworld. I hated staying in the Underworld all the time. But how can I go out when I have to keep up with the demand of souls and there was the fact that the gods would give me the stink-eye every time I make an appearance. And I do hate being hated and feared. But what can I do? Not even my mother wanted me.
I was eternally cursed.
Well, that fact was made after my father was cast into the Styx. And I do miss trying to make a name for myself and finding a way to separate myself and my father. In the end, I sighed in defeat.
"No promises, Hercules."
Settling with my answer, we made our way back to the Arendelle princes, who were waiting patiently and curiously for our answer. I sighed as I kept myself from flaring up with annoyance.
"Which way to History of Woodsmen & Pirates?"
With a prince at each side, I ventured forth to find where my first class was going to be held, not noticing the intrigued side glances of Emil.
Next Time:
"You're not joining any clubs, Hilda?" :?
"I have a full-time job managing the Underworld. I don't and can't do clubs." :-.
000
"Why don't we start our own club?"
"Such as?" :/
"I don't know. Magic Club?" ┐('；)┌
"…Maybe we should keep thinking, Emil." (－‸ლ)