The prompt: Neal and Belle go to the Underworld to save Rumple but Hades has an offer they can't say no to.

The Underworld hadn't exactly been what Neal was expecting. He had seen the movies, read the books, thought of it as a scary place where souls were left to spend eternity in a pitted hell. It wasn't like he had planned to find his way into the Underworld. After his father Rumplestilskin, sacrificed himself it was his girlfriend, Belle, who discovered that his soul had been sent to a place even Neal thought was legend. Together he and Belle decided to go to the Underworld and retrieve Rumple's soul.

With, Belle at Neal's side the two of them crossed the River Styx complete with a ferryman shrouded in a moth-eaten cloak. They paid in full, two coins each, and stepped in front of the looming gates of the Underworld.

Belle glanced up, craning her neck so that she could see the skulls that sat atop the spikes of the metal gate. "Is isn't exactly inviting, is it?"

"I'm sure they've rolled out the welcome mat," said Neal, looking nervously around him. It was too quiet. "We just haven't reached it."

On cue, as if someone had been listening, heavy breathing sounded behind the gates. Belle stepped forward, holding her hands tightly in the folds of her skirt, and walked through the entrance. Neal followed close behind, awkwardly holding the sword that David had given him for the journey. It had been...well...plenty of years since he last held a sword, let alone fought with one.

Neal hoped he wouldn't have to use it. But, even he knew the likelihood of that was slim. He tightened his grip on the hilt, raising it slightly as he trailed behind Belle into the gates of hell. With each step he took the breathing grew louder causing the hairs on his arm to rise.

Suddenly Belle straightened her arm, hitting him square in the chest to stop him. She put her finger to her lip, pointing into the darkness before them. Neal squinted, peering through the shadows to see the silhouette of a beast heavily breathing. Belle raised her finger to her lips once more, nudging her head forward toward a set of stairs that spiraled into more darkness.

Like mice in the middle of the night they scurried past the sleeping beast. From the folds of Belle's dress a book fell to the ground. It slammed hard onto the ground, echoing through the emptiness around them. Two blazing yellow eyes snapped open, staring directly at them.

"Sorry," Belle blurted, unsheathing her own sword.

Neal barely glanced at her. His concern was the yellow eyes that bore down on them as if they were nothing more than a light snack. "Why would you bring a book along anyways?" Where was she keeping it?

"I thought it might come in handy," she defended, taking a step back as the large beast took a step forward. "Obviously," she drawled, "I was wrong."

The beast's foot slammed onto the ground, sticking from the shadows to revel a thick, slick, black paw. Neal tightened his clammy grip on the sword. One hit from the paw could easily detach someones head on their neck. Neal swallowed. He was rather fond of keeping his head on his neck.

The beast stepped from the darkness into the light. It was easily the size of a house, with three heads of a dog, each one about as big as a small car. They growled, and barked, spitting drool all around them, bristling the black fur on their back. The middle one lowered its head, baring its large, shiny, yellow teeth. It threw its head back, then howled.

"We need music to put him to sleep," shouted Belle over the deafening sound.

Neal rounded on her, taking several steps away from the three-headed monster. "How do you know that?"

Belle sheathed her sword, producing a flute from the folds of her dress. "I read it in a book once."

Neal rolled his eyes, frowning slightly. "This isn't Harry Potter, we're in the Underworld, Belle. That's Cerberus."

She gave him a bored look, "I know tha-"

Cerberus bounded forward, snapping in between them. Neal and Belle five separate ways, dodging the sharp cage of his teeth from each head. He ran underneath the beasts legs, feeling the heat of Cerberus's breath chase after him as each one of the three heads tried to reach him, moving their paws as he danced underfoot, trying to cause the dog to trip on its own feet.

Neal slashed his sword against Cerberus's paw, stabbing it in between his ankle. Cerberus howled in pain. One of the heads began to whine while the the other two continued to snap at Neal with more vehemence than the last. He took a deep breath, rolled underneath one of the back paws as Cerberus lifted it high into the air. The beast brought its paw down, almost landing on Neal.

Catching his breath Neal wildly looked around to see if he could find Belle. She was backed into a corner, slashing at the air as one of the heads snarled and reached for her. She brought it down, piercing the dog in the side of its jaw. As it howled in pain, stepping back she dove for the flute.

Belle brought the instrument to her lips, blowing lightly, producing a serene melody that filled the room. Neal stood straight, stilling at the lullaby, entrances by the airy music that danced around him. He glanced to Cerberus, his jaw dropped in disbelief. Two of the heads began to yawn while one of then was already snoring.

Slowly, Neal crept past the beast, careful not to disrupt the music. He stood beside Belle, smiling to himself as Cerberus soundly fell asleep, snoring rather lightly for such a large monster. Belle pocketed the flute, giving him an I-told-you look that was well deserved.

He opened his mouth to commend her, when she shook her heard, whispering, "we can talk later. Let's go before he wakes."

Deciding that he didn't want to fight the vicious beast again he followed after Belle down the spiraling stairs into the darkness. They walked with their hands pressed firmly against the damp wall until they reached a long hallway that led to a lone door.

Belle approached it first, brushing her fingers along the intricate detail etched into the blue metal. Her nail traced the eye of a skull, picking at the dead roses that laced around each one. She frowned, stepping back.

"How do we get in?"

"It's not in one of your books?" he teased.

Belle gave him a look. "Easy there, it was my book that just saved our lives back there with Cerberus." She turned back to the door, cupping her chin with her hand, rapping a finger against her jaw. "You know," she started, reaching into her pocket, "I think this might be handy."

Neal leaned forward, Belle opened her hand, a red fruit just a little smallee than an apple nestled in the center of her palm. His dark brows pulled tightly together. "What is it?"

Belle closed her hand. "It's a pomegranate." She turned toward the door pointing in the center. A skull was carved into the middle, its mouth open and toothless. "I hope this works," she lightly said, placing the pomegranate inside the mouth of the skull.

The mouth began to move, squishing the fruit. Red juices flowed from the mouth of the skull, spilling onto the floor. Belle stepped back, careful not to let the liquid touch her shoes. Neal knelt down, wiping his finger against the floor.

He rubbed two of his fingers together. It was a thick, sticky substance. "This isn't fruit juice," he frowned, wiping the blood off of his finger onto the thigh of his jeans.

Neal stood up just as the door swung open revealing another black room. He sighed. Of course it was dark.

The door closed shut behind them. They were drowned in complete blackness. Belle yelped, pressing her hand against his harm. He tightened his grip on his sword, pointing it forward.

A spotlight drenched them, only surrounding where they stood. Belle held up her hand to her forehead and squinted into the darkness around them. She asked if he thought someone was watching but Neal only shrugged. He was most certain that someone else was in the room with them.

Then, a loud clap echoed. "Bravo," said a dry voice in the dark, "I mean, that was splendid, really. And, for mortals too." The voice chuckled, "and neither of you are related to Hercules either, huh? It's just mind boggling how a human," he pointed at Belle then to Neal, "was able to get past. My. BEAST!"

Fire sparked in the form of a human body, cooling down to reveal a tall, slender man dressed in what looked like a designer suit. Neal crinkled his brows, feeling his lips tug downward. The man walked toward them, fixing the neck of his tie, then brushed his long fingers through his styled brown hair all the while staring at Belle and Neal with a hungry smile.

He extended his hand forward. "Hades, Lord of the Dead, you've probably heard of me."

Belle let go of Neal's arm. "You're Hades?" she sputtered.

Hades pursed his thin lips together, raising his trimmed brows high. "Um...yeah," he scoffed, snapping his fingers. A martini with several olives floating around appeared in his hand. "Thirsty?" Neither one responded, magic was no mystery to them. Hades waved the drink away. "Not to your liking?" he frowned. "How about this?"

A puff of purple smoke appeared at Hades side. A thin man dressed in leather bottoms and a long, red coat that touched the back of his knees fell forward onto the ground. Beneath his straggle of ashen hair the man slowly looked up at Belle and Neal, his hallow eyes barely registered they were there

Belle rushed forward. "Rumple!" She cried, tears in her eyes.

Hades snapped his fingers and Rumplestilskin disappeared. Belle stopped in her tracks, watching with wide eyes as he reappeared at Hades side in chains and floating off the ground. Hades tossed his hand at Belle, sending her flying back into Neal. He was quick to steady himself, catching her as she slammed into him.

"Look, I'm all for a happy ending, I really am," he placed his hand on his heart, giving both Belle and Neal an apologetic look. "But," his eyed hardened, "here's the thing: you see, I run a business and as you know every business has it's rules. If you didn't have rules, why, the whole system would just fall apart!"

He threw his head back and cackled. Neal and Belle exchanged nervous glances. "It's simple. I have few rules here but they're all important nonetheless. Rule number one," Hades cleared his throat, "you don't come WALTZING IN HERE LIKE YOU OWN THE DAMN PLACE!"

Neal pulled Belle back as Hades burst into flames, sparking ashes into the air. Hades inhaled sharply several times, his shoulders heaved up and down until they became slow and relaxed. He ran his fingers through the flames of his hair, fixed his tie, then cleared his throat.

Calmly, Hades began to apologize. The fire extinguished into purple smoke around him as he chuckled, "I'm so sorry, that was rude of me. Where was I?"

Belle crossed her arms. "Rule number two," she firmly stated.

Hades grinned, winking at her. "Ah, yes, I can see why Rumple likes you," he teased, but Belle was not baited. She flicked her thin brows up, waiting for his second rule. Hades frowned, losing his enjoyment in her boring reactions. "Rule number two: I keep my body count to a T here, okay kids. One person leaves then ones person stays."

"What?" Neal and Belle both cried out.

Hades held up his hands in front of him. "Hey, don't look at me, I don't make the rules." He blinked, then casually shrugged, "well, actually I do. I am the Lord of the Underworld, of course."

"So, you could let him go and none of us would have to stay behind?" Belle hopefully asked.

Hades thought for a moment. "Yes!" he exclaimed. Belle's face lit up with a smile. "But, I'm not going to."

Neal stepped forward, knotting his brows tightly together. "Why not?" he demanded, pointing his sword at Hades neck.

Hades glanced down at the tip of the blade. "Careful, Baelfire," he soothing warned, "I only keep my cool for so long."

Neal slowly lowered the sword to his side. A smirk slapped itself across Hades face. "That's a good boy."

Neal ignored his comment, turning to Belle who had tears in her large, brown eyes. He grabbed her by her shoulders spinning her around to face him. "It has to be me," he told her, bracing himself for her argument.

"What?" she squawked, shaking his hands off of bet shoulders. "No," she firmly told him, shaking her head. "No, I have to do it. You have to be with your father. He needs you. You need each other. And you have Henry, you have people waiting for you in Storybrooke." She shook her head, swallowing hard, "no, it has to be me. I have no one waiting for my return."

Neal licked his lips. "Belle, when my father lost me it was your light that led him from the darkness. You're the only one who can do it. He cannot become The Dark One again."

Belle fiercely shook her head, shaking the tears so that they fell down her pink cheeks. "No," she cried, "he lost you once already. He can't lose you again."

He promised Snow that he wouldn't say anything. She had confined in him Belle's secret before they left. Neal hadn't intended to use it against her but now was not the time to argue. He needed her to take Rumple back to Storybrooke and help end the curse. Without him they'll all be lost.

Neal felt his lips tug into a frown. Emma had told Henry once that he had died a hero when she was too ashamed to tell the truth about his thieving father. At least this time it would be true.

"I know about the baby, Belle," he whispered. She gasped, flinging her hand to her stomach. Neal turned sharply on his heel facing Hades who was filing his nails. "I'll do it!" Hades glanced up. "Take me."

Hades smiled, waving the nail file away. "Excellent," he cried, clapping his hands loudly together, "I just need you to sign a few things," a thick stack of papers and a feather pen appeared floating in front of him. "You know just saying that you understand that once I have your soul because you're, you know," he scrunched his nose, "a trade in, that there are no exchanges, all sales are final, that sort of thing."

Hades snapped his fingers and a bottle of ink appeared in his grasp. He held the bottle forward toward Neal. With shaky hands Neal plucked the feather pen from the air, and dipped the tip in the ink jar, maintaining eye contact with Hades the entire time.

Then he began to sign. After he was finished Hades snapped his fingers and the stack of papers, bottle of ink and feather all disappeared in a puff of purple smoke. Hades grinned, wrapping his arm around Neal's neck, tugging him toward Rumple.

Hades barked a wild laugh. "Let's get this show on the road!"