The day of the ball finally arrived and all of the Grecian Pantheon was getting ready; the Gods cleaning up and wearing their finest togas or armor and the Goddesses doing their hair and makeup and wearing their best dresses. Even Hades was getting ready… but he was struggling to find a decent outfit to wear. He hadn't been to a social gathering in millennia and almost everything he had was practically falling to pieces because they were so old. He went through almost his entire wardrobe and nothing he found was good enough, not even the armor and cape he wore during the Titanomachy was acceptable. He sat on the edge of his bed in nothing but a black cloth wrapped around his hips and a pair of sandals and groaned in exasperation, running his hands through his flaming hair.

"What am I gonna do? I can't go anywhere like this, at least not in my underwear!" He shouted.

Unfortunately for him, Pain and Panic chose to arrive at that moment. At the sight of their half-naked boss, Panic quickly screeched and covered his eyes while Pain groaned and squeezed his eyes shut.

"Uh, boss? Do you mind?" Pain asked.

"Yeah! Please put some clothes on!" Panic cried.

"Ugh, don't be like that, guys. Come on." Hades said as he got up and made his way over to the dark and chipped mirror he owned. He stared at his reflection and placed a hand on his left side, the scar on his stomach was still quite visible. "I don't know what to do, okay? I want to look really good for this ball, but I have NOTHING decent to wear. I definitely don't want to make a fool of myself in front of her."

The two imps opened their eyes and asked in unison, "…Who?"

"Maleficent, you nitwits!" Hades screamed at them as fire erupted from his body; the two cowardly minions squealed and cowered in response. He groaned and facepalmed before turning back to his mirror. "I just wanna look my best for her."

"Knocky-knocky!" A new voice said.

Hades turned around and was surprised to see Nyx standing in the doorway; her hair was pulled up in a massive flowing ponytail and she was wearing a floor-length black gown with golden yellow accents around her waist and bust, mid-length sleeves, and a deep blue rap around her hips. He unconsciously covered his scar with his undergarment the moment she walked in.

"Wow. Nice dress, Nyx." He said.

"Aw, thank you. I designed it myself." Nyx said. "But Hades… you're not even dressed yet? The ball is in a few hours, you have to hurry."

"I know, I know, I know. But I can't find a good enough outfit, okay?"

"Come on, there must be something you can wear. Let's take a look together."

Nyx strode over to her friend's wardrobe and started to look through it with Hades right beside her. She looked through all of the garments he had, but she noticed something about every single one; one had a large stain that wouldn't go away, one was too itchy, there was even one that had a horrible rotting smell to it. And most of the other outfits were so old fashioned that they were almost crumbling to pieces like a broken stone statue. She stood straight and put her hands on her hips, furrowing her brow and pursing her lips in thought.

"See? Nothing." Hades said.

"Hmmm… Well don't worry. I'm always prepared for a fashion emergency. And this is most definitely an emergency." Nyx said as she waved her hands over her head; a box with a black ribbon wrapped around it suddenly appeared and floated into Hades' open hands. "Think of this as an extra birthday gift. Happy Birthday, Hades." She smiled warmly at her friend.

With a curious expression, Hades untied the bow and opened the box. His eyes widened when he saw a set of brand new clothes neatly folded up inside; he looked back at Nyx, who was still smiling.

"I gotta get there early. But go ahead and try it on." She said before making her leave.

So Hades smirked and went over to a set of changing walls in another corner of his bedroom to do just that, but he quickly turned his head to Pain and Panic and said,

"Don't look, boys. I'm gonna change."

The pair of imps turned around and did as they were told, not wanting to anger their superior anymore.

0-0-0-0-0-0

At Maleficent's castle, the Mistress of Evil herself was also preparing for the ball. Not only was she enthused to see Hades, but she also planned to return the Ember of Blue to him as a birthday gift, one that she thought he would greatly appreciate. But as she was taking a nice hot bath to get herself cleaned up, she failed to notice three bright lights approaching her castle, one red, one green, and one blue. The lights made their way over to a window leading to the room where Maleficent was taking her bath.

"Are you sure about this, Merryweather?" Flora asked.

"Absolutely." Merryweather replied, sounding determined.

"But didn't you hear what Stefan and Hubert said? They said that they and their men were attacked by a monstrous shadow a few days ago. They believed it was a ghost." Fauna chimed in.

"It can't be. I know what I saw that day. Maleficent is alive, I'm sure of it. I've also seen her with—" The young fairy argued.

"Shush! Do you hear that?" Flora hissed as she heard something from inside.

The trio of Fairies remained silent as they heard a very familiar voice say, "Ah! There's nothing quite like a scalding hot soak to make you feel refreshed."

Merryweather turned to her older sisters and gave them a look that screamed, 'I told you so!' Without as much as a second thought, the little fairy in blue burst in through the window and reverted to her original size and shouted,

"I knew it!"

Flora and Fauna quickly joined their sister and were shocked to see Maleficent with her hair down and her head poking out from behind black and purple curtains. She had a mortified and enraged look on her face as she gaped at the trio.

"What do you think you're doing?!" She shouted, using the curtains to cover herself even more.

"I knew you were still alive, Maleficent! Just wait until everyone in the kingdom hears about this!" Merryweather exclaimed triumphantly.

"DON'T YOU DARE!" The dark fairy screamed as she shot a plume of green fire from her finger at the three Fairies, who jumped back in fear. "How dare you intrude on my privacy?! I'm indecent!" She disappeared for a few moments before coming out from behind the curtains wearing a floor-length robe of deep purple silk. She glared at Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather who had rather flustered looks on their faces. "Usually, I would relish in watching you three cower before me, but I haven't the time right now. I already have plans for this evening and I mustn't be late." She then walked over to what looked like a vanity and sat down in front of the mirror before she picked up a hairbrush and started brushing her hair. Diablo cawed as he flew into the room and perched on top of the mirror.

Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather stared at each other, then at Maleficent in shock, unsure of what to make of this unusual situation. Fauna nervously cleared her throat.

"Late for what, if I may ask?" She asked.

Flora took a step forward and said, "We, um… we promise we won't say a word." She urged her sisters to agree; Fauna and Merryweather reluctantly nodded.

Maleficent rolled her eyes in exasperation and breathed through her nose, but she didn't turn around to face them. She merely glanced at their reflections in her mirror.

"If you must know, there is a ball on Mount Olympus… and I've been invited, so I must get myself ready." She said.

The three Fairies' expressions changed from curious and nervous to shocked and confused. "A ball? Olympus?!"

"Yes, yes. I know all of this sounds rather fantastic and utterly absurd, but it's true." She heaved an annoyed sigh. "I have been invited to a ball on Olympus. It's tonight and I wish to look presentable. Now if you don't mind, I would like to continue prepping myself."

"Um… could you excuse us for a moment?" Flora asked.

The three Fairies gathered in a huddle and they started whispering to each other to decide what to do. Maleficent stopped brushing her hair, got up from her chair, and took a few steps closer to them with her arms crossed. After a few long moments of silence, the trio parted and looked up at the dark fairy before them.

Flora cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, but if I heard you correctly… you were truly invited… to a ball… on Mt. Olympus? Where the Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology live?"

"…Yes." Maleficent answered.

"I'm sorry. That is just the strangest, oddest, and most peculiar thing I've ever heard you say…" The fairy in red said before her face brightened. "But I love doing makeovers!"

"Excuse me?" Maleficent asked, sounding baffled.

"If you're going to a ball, you'll need to look more than presentable! You have to look your very best!" Flora retorted. "And as bizarre and ludicrous as it sounds, my sisters and I have decided to help you! And we're not taking no for an answer! Let's do it!"

"Let me do her hair, let me do her hair!" Merryweather cried excitedly.

"I've got nails!" Fauna chimed in.

That was when the Fairy trio excitedly surrounded Maleficent and rushed around the room to help her get ready for the ball. The Mistress of Evil could only stand there in complete shock; she could hardly believe what just happened. Three of her sworn enemies whom she had known and hated for centuries… were offering to help her? Not in a million years would she ever expect something like this.

"Oh Gods, what have I done?" She muttered before he felt her wrists being grabbed. Before she knew it, she was suddenly pulled back to the vanity. "Whoa, there!"

0-0-0-0-0-0

"Ooooooh, looking good, Hades! Looking good, ha-cha-cha!" Hades said as he admired his reflection while wearing the outfit Nyx made for him. He turned to his minions. "What do you think, boys? Is it too much?"

"Oh it's you, boss!" Panic said.

"Yeah, Nyx really is a wiz when it comes to clothes!" Pain added. "By the way, you want us to come with you?"

"Yeah, you never know when you might need backup."

"No, no. I'll be fine." Hades said, grabbing a long cloak and draping it around himself.

"Hades, where are you? We need to go!" Thanatos' voice called.

"Coming!" Hades called back before he turned to Pain and Panic. "I'll probably be home late, boys. Hold down the fort while I'm gone. And make sure nothing, and I repeat NOTHING, out of the ordinary happens down here. Capisce?"

"You got it, boss!" The imps nodded and gave a salute before their boss made his way to the door, down the stairs, and down to the dock where Charon, Thanatos, and the Fates were waiting for him. "Here I am." He climbed into the ferry and sat down next to his winged friend before Charon started rowing down the river.

"It's about time." Clotho commented.

"Hey. I was just trying to find an outfit, okay?" Hades retorted.

"And you chose a cloak?" Atropos asked.

"What I'm wearing is under the cloak. Nyx made it for me." He folded his arms.

"Alright then. It is your birthday, after all." Lachesis said.

Hades just rolled his eyes and slumped forward in his seat as the ferry continued down the river.

0-0-0-0-0-0

"And… done!" Flora exclaimed triumphantly.

"You can look now, Maleficent." Fauna encouraged.

"I refuse to look. Knowing you three, you must've given me a complete overhaul I will NOT be happy with." Maleficent argued with her eyes shut.

"Come on. Trust us, just this one time. I think you'll like it." Merryweather said.

"…Very well. But if I'm not pleased with what I see, then I will make sure you three pay." The dark fairy said. The three Fairies turned her around to face the mirror and she slowly opened her eyes, only to be surprised by what she saw. Maleficent's black hair was done up into a bun which was all held together with strings of lime green pearls and the little makeup she had on seemed to make her face sparkle.

"So… what do you think?" Merryweather asked.

"I… I hardly believe it. I don't know what to say." Maleficent said, staring at her reflection in bewilderment.

"Well, I like to think we did a good job." Fauna commented.

"I think so, too." Flora added.

"Good? This is… perfect." The dark fairy said.

"It is?" The fairy sisters asked in shock.

"Yes! I… Wait!" Maleficent cried before getting up from her vanity. "…There's one more problem."

"What's that?" Flora asked.

Maleficent strode away from the trio and over to a wall mirror next to her wardrobe. "I have absolutely nothing to wear!"

"Nothing at all?" Fauna asked.

"Surely there must be something." Flora said.

"Have you seen my wardrobe?" Maleficent then opened the doors of her wardrobe to show the three Fairies the few dresses and gowns she owned. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather looked through them as she continued. "I've had these dresses for centuries. They're so old fashioned they're practically falling apart at the seams! And I cannot possibly wear my robes to Mt. Olympus! I wear them every day!" She took off her robes to reveal her old black and purple dress; she looked at herself in her full length mirror again. "And these old things are nowhere near appropriate for a ball with the Gods! What am I to do?"

"Well… maybe you could do it up." Merryweather suggested.

"I beg your pardon?" The Mistress of Evil asked.

"You know, change that dress into something else. Something new, something beautiful, something that would be perfect for a ball." The fairy in blue said.

"She makes a good point." Fauna chimed in. "You're one of the most powerful magic users on Earth. Surely you can do something."

Maleficent paused. "Hmmmm, perhaps I could… Where did I put that tome? I left it here somewhere." She then walked over to a small bookshelf and took out a thin book; she leafed through the pages until she found the right page. "Aha! I'm going to solve this dilemma by the book." She walked back over to her mirror and set the book down on a nearby pedestal. "Now, let's see. 'Raise your wand or your scepter with your right hand, swish briskly three times in counterclockwise direction. The one you wish to enchant must twirl three times clockwise when the spell strikes them.' Sounds simple enough." She then picked up her scepter that was set nearby and faced the mirror again. "Let's give it a try." At that moment, she started to slowly swish her scepter three times as the orb began to glow. She cast a beam of magic at the mirror; it bounced off the glass and onto her, transforming her dress. She twirled three times in the opposite direction before turning to face the Fairies. She was now wearing a simple black dress with long sleeves and a purple wrap around her shoulders and a matching wrap around her hips, both accented with lavender pendants. "Now, I want you three to be completely honest with me. Don't hold back; just tell me what you think."

The trio looked at the dress, then at each other, then back at Maleficent as they tried to think of an answer that wouldn't upset her.

"Oh! It's… it's, um…" Flora stuttered.

"Well, it's… pretty." Fauna said.

"Oh yes, the purple is a nice touch."

"It certainly goes with the black."

"Hmmmm, I'm not so sure about this one. It's a little too… plain." Merryweather frankly said. Flora and Fauna gave their sister terrified looks. "What? She said be honest."

Maleficent turned to face the mirror again, examining the dress very carefully. "Hmmmm… you're right. This won't do; too simple. I need a gown with more… panache."

"Then in that case, try another one." Merryweather suggested.

"Very well." The dark fairy waved her scepter, cast the spell a second time, twirled another three times, and faced the trio. She now wore a black and red gown with long flowing sleeves, a wide skirt, and an extended collar. They grimaced.

"Oh dear… I don't know about this one." Flora said.

"It's… a bit too much." Fauna said nervously.

"The red doesn't really match your complexion."

"Plus, it makes you look like a vampire." Merryweather chimed in.

Maleficent nearly gagged when she saw the dress in the mirror. "Eugh, you're right. Too much. I need something with less… zest. As Hades would say, third time is the charm." She cast the spell a third time and was now wearing a black and blue dress with long sleeves, a long blue wrap around a short black skirt, and black sandals on her feet. "How about this one?"

"Oh my! Well, uh…" Fauna said, sounding flustered.

"I definitely like the blue, but…" Merryweather said, sounding uneasy.

"Um… it's definitely ahead of its time!" Flora said.

"Yes, yes I think so." Fauna agreed.

"Ahead of its time?" The dark fairy gasped in disgust at the sight of the blue outfit. "I should say NOT! What am I thinking? This won't do either!" She pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath. "I need a gown that says 'This is me.' Alright, one last try." She closed her eyes, waved her scepter even faster than before, and cast the spell for the fourth and final time; she twirled as she was enveloped in magical fire and light. When the light finally faded, she looked in the mirror to see that she was now wearing a beautiful black and green dress with long sleeves and a raised shoulder line, somewhat similar to Princess Aurora's own signature dress. She stared at her reflection for a moment or two, then smiled before giving a quick twirl. "Now THIS is more like it."

Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather gasped in awe; they had never seen their sworn enemy look so glamorous.

"Oh Maleficent, you're… you're beautiful!" Flora exclaimed.

"No, no, more than that! You're gorgeous! No, magnificent!" Merryweather added.

"Absolutely perfect!" Fauna cried.

Then Diablo flew over to the open wardrobe, dug through it, took out a pair of black leather shoes with straps, flew over to his mistress, and placed the shoes on the floor in front of her. She smirked at her pet and put the shoes on. Then she made her way back to her vanity, opened her mother's jewelry box, and took out a necklace with an emerald green pendant, her favorite onyx ring, and the bracelet that came with her invitation. She put them on and smiled at her reflection in the vanity mirror, feeling quite satisfied and confident.

"Now I feel ready." She said.

Maleficent's thoughts were suddenly interrupted when a shriek pierced through the air; it was loud and animalistic, almost sounding like a mix between a neighing horse, a buzzing hornet, and a screeching bat. She turned to see something very big and very fast practically zoom past the window. Maleficent, Diablo, and the fairy sisters hurried down to the entrance of the castle to see a jet black carriage with two horses with fangs and dragon wings pulling it and a little purple imp driving it waiting on the drawbridge.

"Are you Maleficent, the Mistress of All Evil?" The imp asked, turning her head to face her.

"Yes, I am." She answered.

"Oh, thank Chaos! I was worried I would NEVER find this place!" The imp heaved a sigh of relief before she straightened up, jumped off of the carriage, and bowed before Maleficent. "My name is Dementia, one of Hades' newest minions, and I'm here to take you to the ball on Olympus."

"You are?"

The imp nodded.

"…Alright then. Thank you."

Maleficent then climbed into the waiting carriage before Dementia closed the door and made her way back to her original seat. Diablo then flew over and quickly gave the invitation and the Ember of Blue to his mistress so she wouldn't forget. But then Merryweather stopped her.

"Maleficent, wait!" She cried. "I just remembered something. I looked at that book and the spell you cast will only last until midnight."

"So… I must leave by then?" Maleficent asked.

"It would seem so."

"…Very well. And, um… thank you for your help."

"You're welcome."

"You ready back there?" Dementia asked.

"Yes." Maleficent said.

The little imp whipped the reins and the carriage suddenly flew off into the night sky towards Mt. Olympus. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather looked up at the sky before they turned to look at Diablo, then at each other.

"She'll be fine." Merryweather said, sounding a bit unsure.