Step In Time Chapter 21: Hades' Flame, a disney fanfic

It was as if the past four months had never taken place. After the incident of discovering the old shack, Meg was swelled with hopelessness.
Zebra tried her best to console and reason with her, but she was also struggling with her own jumble of emotions. She, of course, felt a loss with the negative outcome of their discovery, though it wasn't as devastating as Meg's take on things. But there was still a glimmer of hope within the black cloud, at least they had not found any sign of his demise.
And then there was Torrin. Zebra had never experienced such emotions all at once; Fear, excitement, anxiety, joy......Though they had only been together that one day, those feelings were all present and strong. She was grateful for the time they had alone together. They had learned much of each other in those few hours, and she was yearning to learn more. Would she ever get the chance, with Meg's prejudice?

The next couple weeks went-by uneventful, completely routine. They only change was the weather and the ominous in-coming clouds.
Meg and Zebra worked and harvested what was left in the frosted fields, before all was rendered useless. After another hard day of back-breaking work, Amphitryon and the girls retreated indoors, the growl of thunder encouraging them even more.
After their bellies were satisfied from another of Alcmene's meals, they took to their beds. Not bothering to change into their nightly attire, the girls instantly fell under the spell of Morpheus as their heads sunk into the pillows, skipping their ritual nightly discussions.

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Things were moving a little too slowly for Hades liking, so he decided to take things into his own claws and speed things up a bit.
A seasonal storm pelted the surface with cool droplets of moisture, drenching the earth. Thunder rocked and shook the sky. Lightning, from time to time, lit traces of the valley in a flash of brilliant, blinding white light.
Like a pair of demented birds, Pain and Panic fought against the perilous storm, winding their way through the high powered, turbulent winds, with ill proportioned bat-like wings.

"Why're we doing this, again?" Pain bellowed to his partner, clumsily correcting his bearings.

"You idiot!" Panic criticized. "Hades wanted us to draw those girls out into the open. And since we found their location, this'll be a piece of Baklava", he snickered, as the rain skimmed off his reptile skin.

Since Pain was the largest of the two, he struggled to keep his altitude. "Which part? Re-directing the lightning, or causing the flaming spark?"

"Never mind", Panic moaned impatiently. "Just get ready."

Hades had prepared them well. Hey, he didn't always tune-out Julius' mind numbing nonsense about science and alike. During his more hopeful experiments, Hades watched as he struggled to harness the super-natural powers of Lightning. Unable to maintain his curiosity, Hades inquired of its purpose. Only too glad to oblige, Julius rambled on about electricity and its elements.

"Lightning is formed when positive and negative charges, within a cloud, are separated. The electric current from the charge can reach about 100 terawatts, depending on the length of the bolt. To power my machine, I need that much power in order to get it running." His ramblings continued on a different note, much to the God's tolerance.
" You know, I admit I've no idea how nature works in this time. Before arriving here, I'd never believed beings, such as yourself, existed. I have often pondered why you reside here and now and not in the future. Now I have a theory; as time continued to age, from now to then, mortals may have forgotten their gods, no longer needing them in their everyday lives. Humans learned to survive and sustain themselves without the aid of a divine being. And with such change, the gods disappeared and nature shifted, adapting to the new age of man. In other words, nature controlled itself." He blew a sigh, reflecting on his studies.
"Fascinating......"

Hades' breath caught dead in his throat. He and the other gods would soon be forgotten and cease to be? Well, who cared about his godly colleagues? But he, Hades, would not be remembered? To only be refereed to, as Julius stated, a MYTH?! It was blasphemy of the worse kind. As long he maintained his immortality, he would now allow this 'theory' to come to pass. The god's passion to see the future had increased in that very moment.
"Uhh...thanks for the err....science lecture, Julius." He slapped the mortal, none-to-gently, on his back, knocking the breath from his lungs. "Keep up the good work."

The Imps hefted a bronze shield between them, straining to stay above the eye of the storm.
Hades had given it to them, along with a chorus of instructions, having swiped it from a nameless dead soldier's spirit. It wasn't as if he'd have any further use of it.

"I'm loosing my grip, Pain! It's starting to slip."

"Hold on, buddy, we're almost there!"
The rain molted from their bodies, making the job increasingly miserable.

"There!" Pain announced. "There's the target. Brace yourself!"
Between them, they erected the bronze disk high, facing the angry clouds.

When the land was scheduled for moisture, Zeus would charge the white, puffy clouds with his mighty thunderbolts, already containing water within their pouches from the oceans and rivers under their master, Poseidon. This would disturb the clouds, causing their pores to open and dispense their contents to the world below, giving drink to the soil of the earth.

Pain and Panic shivered, the rain causing the temperature to drop further than it already was, as they waited for what seemed like an eternity for a single shock. At last, a ribboned electric light shot from the sky, humming with power. "INCOMING!"
The devilish minions scrambled to catch its rays, holding strong. The bolt hit home, ricocheting off the smooth surface of bronze metal, but not without catching our friends in the blast, frying them to a charred, blackened state. But they had done it, countering the bolt's destination. It struck a nearby barn in its vulnerability. At first, nothing happened. Then a spark kicked at the grasses, and its heart swelled. The destruction was alive, and eager to spread.

Late in the night, Meg and Zebra slept tightly within their blankets as the stormed raged on outside. Tossing and turning, Meg felt restless, hearing the never-ending boom as the thunder crashed. He nose wrinkled as a disturbing scent slithered through her senses. Her lungs compressing, causing her to cough in her sleep. She moaned, annoyed at the distrubance;

"Zebra.....you're burning the toast...." She mumbled sleepily. "Shut off that toaster will ya?"

Zebra yawned. "Oooh....sorry....what?" As she became more alert she sniffed the sooty air, trying to decipher where the smoke was coming from, suddenly remembering that toasters did not exist yet. Throwing off her blankets she rushed to the window, her heart plummeting at the sight she beheld.
"MEG!"

Her friend tumbled out of bed, struggling to find her way through the tangled mess of blankets. "What? What?! What's going on?" Meg's long hair stood out in every which way from being under the covers. Had this not been such a diar situation, Zebra would have laughed, but unfortunately that was not the case.

"The barn's on fire!!"

Meg was on high alert, adrenaline bursting through her veins. Since the barn sat adjacent to the main house, everything else would soon be caught in the blaze.
"Wake Alcmene and Amphitryon! We've gotta get outta here!"

They dashed for the couple's bedroom where they still slumbered, oblivious of the threat endangering their home. Each girl approached and shook the couple's shoulders. Amphitryon snorted out of a snore.
"Girls? What's wrong?" Alcmene sat up, still drowsy.

"Hurry! You've gotta get up!" Meg hurriedly exclaimed. "The barn's caught fire. Before long, it will spread here, to the house!"

Alcmene's hand covered her mouth as she gasped, her face draining of color. Amphitryon rose to his bare feet, stripped the bed of its blankets and draped one around his wife's quaking shoulders, while giving the other for the girls to share.
"C'mon!"
He led the way through the darkened house and out the door. The rain met their faces like needles of ice as they labored to put distance between themselves and the house. After several yards, they looked back.

Meg's prediction proved true as the flames began licking at the house's timber. The barn was engulfed in smoky flames. High pitched 'moos' and 'braying' called out from the barn that house the animals.

"Clio!" Alcmene paniced. "Penelope!" She started staggering forward, but her husband held her fast.

"No, dear!"

Meg swiped the blanket she and Zebra shared for herself. "I'll get them!" Without thinking, she took off toward the barn, covering her head with the blanket, to use it for what little protection it might provide.

"Meg! Wait, come back! It's too dangerous!" Zebra called after her.

Reaching the barn doors, Meg padded her hands with the ends of the blanket, and heaved the great door open. The chickens scrambled for freedom, escaping between her legs, feathers flying like petals on the wind.
'What am I doing?!' She reflected. 'I'm gonna get myself killed.' But she would appear a coward if she turned back now, letting the sweet couple down that took them without hesitation into their home and confidence. So even though common sense echoed in her mind; 'this is stupid. This is suicide.' She bravely plunged inside.

Hercules had had a late night. Earlier that day a distress call came by messenger, describing a sea serpent terrorizing the Messene Coast. Answering the request, Herc set off at once, on board Pegasus. Maybe a little monster wrangling would help distract his mind from a certain...person.
Upon arrival he found the creature without directional aid.
Green and blue ridged spikes ran from the top of its head to its whiplash tail, its tongue recoiled and slithered like a snake's. Apparently, even without legs, the monster had crawled upon the land looking for it's next menu selection.
The hero led the citizens to safety, then bravely went to face his opponent. Annoyed at being denied his run-away feast, the beast roared savagely, pelting Herc's face with its revolting drool and phlegm.

"Ugh." Herc spat in disgust, spitting the substance from his lips. "Why do monsters insist on being so gross?"

Wiping his face clear, Herc snatched the creature by its tail, slapping its head from side-to-side against the stone-paved ground. With no bones in its fishy body, the hero effortlessly tied it into Gordian knots. Throwing his arms back, prepared for launch, he gave the monster a fair warning;

"I don't ever want to hear of your return, got it?!"

The serpent gave a nervous nod of understanding.

"Very good."

With that, Herc hurled its body back into the sea from whence it came.
He brushed his hands together at a job well done. Coming out of hiding, with exuberant cheers, the people insisted on him remaining for a short time, to celebrate the city's salvation with a feast.
Herc wanted to decline, but he didn't want to offend them. Phil always said never to let a hero's perks pass you by. Especially when it involved food.
Many noble young ladies urged him eat in their presence, but found it rather difficult to catch his full attention.

"You were so brave!" A black-haired beauty with a plunging neckline gushed, clinging possesivily on his arm.

"How can we ever repay you?" A brunette on the opposite arm inquired suggestivily, sliding her hand over his chest.

Unfortunately for them, he was made very uncomfortable with their constant fondling and fussing. Another face kept appearing before him mind. Feeling an air of claustraphobia crushing him on all ends, Herc retreated, sliding from their grasp. "Just doing my job", he chuckled nervously, his face blushing, and went in search of his ticket home.

Just after sun-set, the hero announced his departure. He hopped aboard Pegasus, hoping he would be able to lift off the ground from all the food the horse had taken into his bottomless belly, then waved goodbye to the city-state of Messene.

Then came the rain.

Herc used his cape to shelter him from the on pour of rain, but it did little good.

"I knew we shouldn't have stayed", he complained to his winged companion.

He kept his head down, to help his vision of where they steered. In doing so, he spotted an orange dab below and soon the smell of smoke met his nostrils. He sighed as he realized it was another sign of trouble. A hero's work is never done.

"Down Pegasus!"

He whinnied and aimed his nose down, like the point of a sharpened spear, shooting through the night. Upon closer inspection he realized the location of the house in flames, and his heart sank.

"No...."

A deathly heat enveloped Meg as she navigated her way blindly to the helpless animals, with only their screams as her guide.
Coughing, her lungs protested at the contaminated atmosphere. She heard the jangle of Clio's cow bell and spotted the distressed animal cowering in a corner. With urgency she grabbed at its rope and heaved when the animal refused to move.

"Move, ya big hamburger! Or you'll find your rear simmering on the grill!"

But she was too frightened to budge. Time for plan B; She went around to Clio's rear and raised her hand behind her head. Then, with as much force as she could muster, slammed her open palm mercilessly upon the heifer's rear with a numbing slap.
Getting the desired result, Clio stampeded out the barn doors. Now, for the jack a.......err......the donkey, Penelope.
Growing weaker by the second, Meg gave her the same gentle nudge. With great relief, the animals had escaped safely.
Meg's chest felt as if it were in the same condition as the barn, shrinking, desperately trying to catch a breath. It was clear now; she wasn't going to make it out. She was exhausted from expelling the smoke from her body, only to inhale more. Falling to her knees she sought the air that hadn't yet been swallowed up by the blackened smog. The temperature was stifling, like the eternal depths of Hades.

Hercules leaped to the ground long before Pegasus touched down. He saw as the animals fled from the wreckage.

Zebra was suddenly at his side, gripping his soaked tunic. Her frightened, desperate tears mixing with the rain. She could barely relay the words of her distress. Herc held her steady, clasping her shoulders, asking her to calmly explain.

"Meg's in there!"

Nothing else needed to be said. Without another thought, he plunged into the angry inferno, ripping the barn doors right off its hinges. Between choking coughs, he screamed out Meg's name, his eyes scouring every fiery inch. A low moan reached his ears, coming from the rear of the building.
There she was, unmoving, covered in a blackened blanket. He was about to go to her when he heard the creaking of weakened wood. A rafter was giving way just over head, about to collapse on Meg's silent body. With his legendary speed and determination he reached the girl, without a moment to spare, and swept her into the cradle of his arms.

Alcmene, Amphitryon, and Zebra watched with tensions running high, clasping onto one another for support. To their horror, the roof of the barn caved in, filling the air with a boisterous crash. The party gasped in disbelief, thinking they had lost everything and everyone. Only the sound of the roaring flame could be heard over the rain storm as they curled toward the clouds.

Soon after, to their profound relief, Hercules crashed into the open, damp air, cradling Meg close under his protection.
He gently laid her down upon the wet grass, using his body as shield to block out the rain. Everyone waited with mounting despair, praying for any signs of life.
Meg's chest started to rise and fall steadily as her lungs discovered the clean oxygen, coughing out the remaining pollution. Her eyelids trembled, then opened, finding the hero crouched over her.

"Thank the Gods!" Alcmene exclaimed.

Herc's face became stern as relief washed over him. She was going to be alright. "Are you Crazy?!"

Which was a shocking reaction coming from him, with his usual easy going attitude. But never before had he cared for a woman so deeply.

Unoffended by his outburst, Meg's face split into a mischievous grin. "Wouldn't you like to know. *cough*"

He raised an eyebrow, not sure how to interpret that. He placed a strong hand behind her back and helped her sit-up.

Zebra was automatically at her friend's side to help, as the others gathered around as well. "What were you thinking?!"

Meg shook her head tiredly. "Sheesh. If I had known that I would get this kind of treatment from everyone, I would have turned tail and fled."

Zebra flung her arms around her neck, throwing them both off balance. "I'm sorry", she cried, burying her face in Meg's damp hair. "I just thought I'd lost you."

"She's right", Alcmene agreed. "You took a great risk.......but........Thank-you, my dear. You saved my family."

Meg nodded. "Aww, it was nothin'."