A/N: This is something that has been floating in my head for awhile. Takes place after the Disney Hercules movie. This story is rated M for later chapters.
Disclaimer: I do not own the movie or any of the characters. All credit goes to their respective persons.
A large blue hand with long spindly fingers reached for the ledge. It gripped the stone so hard it nearly turned white. Another hand similar to the first one joined it and with a final heave, Hades Lord of the Dead was back from the River Styx.
He lay there panting on the ground to catch his breath before pushing himself to a standing position. A blue flame ignited on his head and he made his way to his throne room. "Pain!" He yelled. "Panic!"
Hades waited expectantly for his two insufferable imps to coming running. When nothing happened he snarls and shouts their names louder. Finally, he heared the pattering of feet outside the door. Pain stumbled into the room closely followed by Panic.
"You're back," Panic said nervously. His eyes cut to Pain and they both cowered before their master.
Hades couldn't suppress a shudder as he remembered all those slimy souls touching him. They dragged him down to the very bottom and tried to drown him, but he was a god and so immortal. But even that didn't make it easy to swim back to the top all the while fighting off souls left and right.
"How long was I in the river?"
"Well—" began Pain. "Um…"
Hades didn't have time for this. He leaned forward. His eyes narrowed and his hair turned a light yellow color. "How long was I in the River Styx?"
"Three years?" Panic's teeth clacked together.
"Is that a guess or how long I was gone?" Hades asked impatiently.
"You were gone for three years," Pain confirmed and hid under the table. They expected Hades to burst into flames and incinerate everything. When he didn't they peeked around the table and saw him tapping on his dark throne decorated with skulls.
"What has happened since I was gone?"
"Oh well, that—Thebes has rebuilt itself after the Cyclops destroyed it," Pain said. Hades shot a bolt of fire at the minion.
"I am not interested in Thebes! What has happened to Olympus? Is Wonder Boy still alive? And what about Meg?"
Panic started pacing nervously. "Olympus is still the same as ever." He clammed up and neither of the minions seemed inclined to answer his other questions.
Hades hands turned smoky and he grabbed them by the tails dragging them to him. He let them dangle in front of his face. "What has happened to Wonder Breath?" His voice was deadly calm. They knew if they didn't start talking something bad would happen.
"Hercules decided to stay mortal," Panic gulped.
"He married Meg!"
"Typical," Hades muttered. "Only weak minded boys like him would choose a woman over godhood. What else?"
"He went mad," Pain continued. "Zeus and Hera are still conducting a search for the god that inflicted madness disease on Hercules. They knew it wasn't you because you…preoccupied."
"Hercules killed his children he had with Meg," Panic picked up the dialogue. "He tried to kill her too, but she escaped. She is now in hiding. Apollo managed to cure Hercules and he tried to find her, but couldn't. A year ago he married again to a woman named Deianeira."
Hades dropped them and they fell on their faces. He started laughing. It rumbled through the hall. "That's rich! Meg, little nut Meg sells her soul to me to save her lover's life and then he dumps her for some babe. And just when Meg is sure she will never feel anything again, she finds true love in Jerkules. He then goes mad and kills her kids and tries to kill her. She goes to into hiding and Hercules falls in love with another woman. This is why I'm glad I am an immortal."
Pain and Panic glanced at each other. They weren't entirely sure what to make of his short speech. Hades stood and glided toward the double doors. "Come Pain and Panic."
They fell into step. "Where are we going?" Pain asked timidly.
Hades smirked. "To see topside of course. I'm going to pay Hercules a little visit and we might make a side trip and see Meg too."
Panic gulped. "Is it wise to show your face in the Overworld?"
Hades glared at him. "You expect me to stay here forever?" He stepped into his waiting boat and had Charon row him to the entrance. The moment Hades' smoky robes touched the grass, the sky darkened. He smiled. Perfect. Just the way he liked it. He had barely taken two steps when a flash of lightning struck the ground next to him.
Pain and Panic screeched and ran for cover. They hid behind a rock. Lightning flashed again and the tall imposing form of Zeus stood before Hades. The Lord of the Dead gazed at the Sky god with a hint of boredom. "You always were one for dramatic entrances, Zeus. Remember our father swallowing everyone, but you? You thought it was terribly funny watching Kronos upchuck us. You also thought it was funny shoving this job on me."
"Hades," Zeus said in a powerful and thundering voice. "I ought to throw you into Tarturus for trying to overthrow me."
Hades pretended to yawn. "Did you give this same boring speech to Poseidon when he overthrew you eight hundred years ago?" He glanced at the sky. "I'm a little rushed and have people to see. So if you could speed this up a bit."
Zeus stared at him coldly. "Stay away from Olympus. You're not invited."
Hades chuckled. "Now you see I am never invited to Olympus except on the winter solstice and Hercules birthday. Speaking of which where is the little sun spot?"
"Stay away from Hercules too. The minute you stepped foot on earth I whisked Hercules and his family away to safety."
"I heard of Hercules' new wife, Deianeira. Did you take Meg with him or are you and Hera still mad at her for taking your boy away from you?"
"I'll be watching you, Hades." Lightning struck and Zeus was gone.
"I'll be watching you, Hades," he imitated. "Please." He looked around for his imps and found them cowering behind their rock. "Well?" he demanded. "Where's Meg?"
"You want us to take you to her?" Pain asked. His voice trembled slightly.
"No, I want her address so I can send her pizza. Of course I want YOU TO TAKE ME TO HER!" Hades hair turned yellow and his face, red.
The minions scampered off and Hades followed them. Moments later they were standing in front of a small tumbled down house in the middle of the forest. "This is where she is?" Hades asked in disbelief. He half expected her to be in the city since she liked the hustle and bustle of traffic.
"This is the one place Hercules hasn't thought to look," Panic said timidly.
"Women," Hades muttered. He never understood them. Why would Meg come back to the same spot where she first met Hercules? Wasn't that putting more pain on herself? He quickly dismissed his thoughts and strode into the little cottage like he owned the place. Hades found Meg stirring something over the fire. She didn't hear him come in.
He waltzed over to her and lifted the strand of hair she kept by her ear. "Hello Nut Meg," he whispered.
Meg whirled around quickly nearly falling into the fire. Hades grabbed her arm and steadied her, then he let go and smirked. "Miss me babe?"
"What do you want?" The fire in her eyes that he often admired was gone. In its place was hopelessness and despair. It reminded him of the look she had when her first lover left her.
"Well, you see I want a lot of things," Hades began to pace. "I still want to take over Olympus, but that will have to wait. For now I will settle with you delivering on our deal."
"What deal?" She asked sharply.
He feigned surprise that she didn't know what he was talking about. He pulled her closer and lifted her chin with his finger. "Delivering Wonder Boy's head on a platter."
Meg pulled away and stalked to the other side of the room. "I am no longer bound to you, Hades. Now go away."
Hades poofed over to where she was. "Yes, you have your freedom which means we will be working as partners toward a common goal."
"What? Getting revenge on Hercules?" Meg asked sarcastically. Hades chuckled as he saw a shadow of her old fiery self returning.
"Babe, sweetheart, darling," he cooed in her ear. She brushed him away like she would a pesky fly and tried to escape him by moving around the room, but he followed her everywhere. "You can't tell me you don't want to hurt Hercules after all he's done to you? He killed your children and tried to kill you. Then when he became sane again, instead of searching the ends of the earth looking for you, he finds love and marries again."
"What?" Meg asked horrified.
"You didn't know?" Hades lifted an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Its true. Isn't it Pain, Panic?"
"Yes," Panic nodded and looked at the floor. Pain found great interest in a broom in the far corner.
Meg sat down heavily stunned by the news. Unbidden, tears spilled down her cheeks. "So, what do you say?" Hades asked smoothly. "Are you ready to take down Wonder Breath?"
Meg let out a loud shuddered sigh.