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Hades is silent, his mind reeling with thoughts that are rapidly swirling into an exhausting blur of chaos. The valley below Mount Olympus is spread out before him - a picture postcard of late summer in Greece; the bright sun highlighting the white and red contrasts of the tiny buildings within the swaths of green. It is a testament to the power of the Olympians that they've lived atop this mountain, undisturbed, for centuries. The mortals below are gleefully acting out their mundane lives, oblivious to their eternal skyward neighbors.
"You've been staring out that window for fifteen minutes," Zeus chides. "I know it's been a while since you were here, but really, the Grecians are not that interesting."
"No, they're not."
The ancient oak chair scrapes against the floor of Zeus' apartment as he rises from the dining table. "I can tell you're worried. You didn't even have dessert. You used to love baklava. What is it?"
"I'm not worried," Hades replies.
"Bullshit. Your shoulders hunch up when you're tense. They did when you were young and they still do now."
"Zeus," Hades asks quietly, "what am I supposed to do?"
His brother laughs. "Whatever you want!"
"Yes, but you rule Olympus. Poseidon rules the sea. I used to rule the Underworld but now… I don't."
"Nothing is stopping you from returning. King Arthur actually has his hands full down there – he could use a little help." Zeus grins. "Or you could just kick his ass out and move back in."
Hades sighs. He doesn't want to live in the Underworld, but maybe he should. Maybe it is his duty as a god. That's one of the thoughts spiraling through his mind. But another is shining brighter, and he knows his brother isn't going to be happy about it. He sighs again, heavier, louder. He has to do it. It's going to gnaw at his gut until he does. "I'm thinking… well, I'm thinking there are some things I did… that were wrong. Things I need to fix."
"Well, you can do that now. Look, I get that it's a lot – you went from being locked in the Underworld for centuries to instant freedom, only to be destroyed and trapped in a mortal body for months. And then you were, well… reborn in a matter of hours. That's a pretty big metamorphosis for any god."
"I suppose."
"You suppose? No one has been through what you have. You are unique in ways that even I can't understand. Why don't you take some time to figure it all out? Go hang with your mortal friends again for a while. Cruise around with Zelena and spar with Henry. Have fun for once, little brother."
"I… not yet." Hades finally turns from his vigil at the opulent window. "I want to speak with Father."
His brother's complexion pales. "You want to do… what?"
"If gods can't be killed, then he's still alive, right? He's in Tartarus, where I sent him."
"He is," Zeus replies, words clipped and formal.
"I could free him."
"You could. You are the only one who can." His brother's back is stiff and Hades instantly sees the same confident authority that Godric carried. That air of divine leadership. His mortal self should have picked up on it sooner – it's a dead giveaway.
"Zeus, I don't want to create a war between the Titans and the Gods. We don't even know if he wants to rule Olympus any more. Do you know what he's doing down there?"
Zeus' voice is a mere whisper. "No. I don't."
"You never went to see him? To talk to him?"
"No."
"Has anyone?"
"Not that I'm aware of. Gods, Hades, why would they? He was an arrogant, self-righteous pain in the ass."
Hades chuckles. "Says the apple that didn't fall far from the tree."
"Very funny."
"I think I should go see him." Hades straightens the lapels of his Armani suit. "In fact I'm certain of it. I promise I won't release him if he's on some psychotic quest for vengeance or plotting to overthrow you from the throne."
"I guess."
Hades snorts softly. "Huh. Your shoulders hunch up too. Besides… how bad could it be?" He calls forth his power and lets his flames envelop him. Tartarus…here I come.
He hears his brother's voice right before he teleports away. "That's exactly what you said the day before Father's ceremony – and look where that got us!"
ooooooooooooooooooo
The instant he arrives, the heat from the smoldering rock starts to melt his loafers. Hades flicks his finger and his shoes of demon hide return. He leaves the remainder of his current attire in place – souls of the damned do not make for good armor. Instead, he calls forth his power to modify his suit to adapt to the sweltering climate, the magic of the dark realm burning and icy at the same time. It's unpleasant, and Hades wonders what in the world he was smoking when he thought this was a good idea.
There are tortured souls scattered about him, each locked in a smoky sphere half-buried in the steaming bedrock. They are living and re-living their own personal Hell for all eternity. Hades shudders. Thank the Gods that fate was not his.
He wanders through the hilly terrain, carefully passing sharp boulders and outcroppings, the eerie light from the blood-red sky so bleak it makes the Underworld look cheerful. Somewhere in the bowels of this realm is his father, but damned if Hades knows where. If he's in one of the solitary HellSpheres, well – this might take a while. A long while.
A low growl from a small cave up ahead stops him in his tracks. Hades' right hand whips across his side, fingers grasping at air. No sword. He smiles at his instinctive movement and magics himself another. It doesn't replace the dragon blade, but it'll do. With a nod of his head he courses his power into it, sharpening the gleaming steel. Whatever unholy demon is hiding in there will not survive.
The growl increases in volume, and from the shadows, two eyes appear, a deep glowing red. A second set appears to the left, and third to the right. They remain there, waiting.
Hades can't believe it. "Cerberus, is that you boy?"
The growls change to whines and yips as the large demon dog comes leaping out from the cave and charges towards him.
"Wait! Whoa!"
It's too late. Cerberus has his massive paws on his shoulders seconds later and flattens him against the burning bedrock, sending his newly created sword flying into a pool of lava. Hades flicks his right hand and reinforces his protection spell, saving his ass from getting scorched any further. Snuffly muzzles and tongues that reek of carrion are scraping his face raw in sheer joy.
"Cerberus! Off!"
The beast complies, sitting back on its haunches, all three heads tilted, three pink tongues lolling out between razor-sharp teeth.
Hades struggles to his feet. "I'm happy to see you too, but be careful, okay? I'm not fireproof like you are." He runs his hand over the charred parts of his body, healing and repairing. Crazy, silly mutt.
The center head 'wuffs' at him when he's finished.
"You always were the bratty one," Hades mutters. "Just because I can heal myself doesn't mean I want to get barbequed in the first place."
The head on the left curls a lip towards the center. The middle head replies with a growl. "No," Hades commands, stopping the bizarre dog fight before it starts. "Knock it off."
The two cease their battle and all three face Hades, waiting.
"Good boy."
Cerberus approaches slowly, ears folded back. Hades meets his pet halfway and rubs each head vigorously. "You're a good dog. I missed you too." Wet noses press against him, nearly knocking him over again. "Yeah, it's okay. I'm here now. I can take you home."
Home. Where is home? He can't bring a three-headed HellHound to Storybrooke. He created Cerberus to be his pet and de-facto torture device while he ruled the Underworld. But he can't bring him back there either; there's no way King Arthur could handle him. Hades sighs, and the far right head licks his cheek gently. He scratches behind one of the short, floppy ears. "We'll figure something out."
Cerberus follows behind him as Hades continues to navigate his way through the dark, spiky terrain. The dog is sniffing at every new rock and soul sphere they encounter, and Hades almost hits himself for being so stupid.
"Hey boy, would you like to help me?"
Three heads look up from the latest interesting scent - the decaying and then re-healing body of a wraith, trapped in an endless cycle of death and rebirth. Hades' eyes widen. You don't see that every day. "Leave that," he commands and the hound obediently lopes over.
"I need to find my father. He's like me. Can you help me, boy? Can you Go Find Kronos?"
Hades made Cerberus to be biddable but intelligent. In theory, the dog understands what he's asking. In reality, all three heads snort at him, spraying him with dog snot, and return to snuffling the ground.
Hades groans. Damned stubborn mongrel. He conjures up a large bone to hover before him, dripping with bloody sinew. It was one of the beast's favorite goodies in the Underworld. "Want a treat?" he asks the dog.
Cerberus leaps to his side the instant the trio of noses catch the scent. Drool-spattered jowls reach for the bone, but Hades evaporates it, the click of teeth against empty air making him grin. "Not so fast, my friend. You want the bone? Go Find."
Six eyes blink in tandem before scenting the air. With a soft huff, the beast trots off, retracing their steps. Hades trails behind as his pet leads him back to the cave. He is about to correct the dog when the dark haunches disappear behind the outcropping of the cave opening. Hades follows him for quite some time, meandering through the winding terrain. He is about to stop and take a rest when they round a corner. Before them is the entryway to a huge cavern, ornate symbols and icons of the Titans carved into the gleaming obsidian stone surrounding it. The doorway must stand at least twenty feet high, and Hades approaches it slowly, his hand resting on the furry shoulder of his companion.
The middle head of Cerberus barks loudly into the darkness, his cry echoing for a good thirty seconds. The ground shakes beneath their feet as grinding metal and crunching stone drown out all other noise. A deep grey cloud of dust billows out from the bowels of the cavern and Hades squints as it courses over him and his pet. When the air clears, there is a faint white glow up ahead of him in the shape of a standard-sized door.
Hades rolls his shoulders, straightening his spine and summoning his courage. "I guess that's our cue," he tells the dog. "Ready to meet my dad?" The far right head leans against his shoulder, as if to comfort him. He always did like that one best.
When they pass through the doorway, Hades blinks in surprise. The air around him is mild, only slightly humid. A blue sky with cottony puffs of clouds hovers above him, and beyond him lies a landscape of rolling hills swathed in green, all neatly manicured and expertly landscaped. Cerberus breaks from his side and starts to run, the demon claws ripping up chunks of green sod.
"Hey!" a voice booms nearby. "Bad Dog! Don't rip up the fairway!"
The HellHound, of course, completely ignores this and frolics across the golf course to disappear in a copse of young oak trees.
Hades swallows his nerves and twists his wrist, replacing his wardrobe with one more suitable for his surroundings. Golf was never his thing; he's a little out of his element. He walks across the clipped grass towards the small pennant peeking over the nearest hill. Once he crests it, he sees two demons, a small one holding an impossibly large golf bag, the other, larger one standing idly off to the side, leaning against his club and looking incredibly bored.
Towering between them is Kronos, clad in plaid golf shorts, a paisley button-up shirt and a full-brimmed straw hat with a fishing lure embedded into the pale blue band. Greyish-white tufts of hair are sticking out from beneath the rim, pale against tanned skin, the ears a tad too large for normal. Massive hands grip a giant 9-iron, the broad shoulders and square hips swiveling the club back and forth in preparation to launch the tiny ball onto the green.
"Hello father," Hades states simply.
"Just a minute," Kronos replies, distracted. "I need to make this shot or lava-for-brains over here is going to kick my ass on this hole." He arches his back and swings, and the ball soars through the air and lands with a single bounce about ten feet from the pin.
The larger demon growls. "Lucky shot."
"It's not luck, my friend. It's skill." Kronos turns. "Now how might I help you…?" The confident smirk on his father's face falls, morphing into a mix between nostalgia and shock.
"Hades… Son…"
Hades' grin is lopsided, revealing his nervousness. "Hi… I know it's been centuries, but I… well… oof!" Kronos rushes to his side and embraces him in a massive, crushing hug.
"Son! I knew you'd get here eventually – the Fates foretold it. And look at you! Not a scratch anywhere." Hades scowls as his father spins him around with his paw. "You'd never know anything happened. Well done, my boy."
"I beg your pardon?"
"That whole heart thing, and then the mess with your thread and godhood? Damn! I'll bet you're glad that's over with, huh?"
Hades brows are pinched above his nose "How do you know about that?"
"You haven't seen it? Oh son, it's epic. The best movie I've seen in ages. Ages!"
Hades growls under his breath. Zeus told him that was private! Damn him!
"What is it?" his father asks. He steps backwards unexpectedly, eyes wary. "You're not still angry with me, are you?"
Pain twinges in Hades' gut - a strong sense of guilt combined with something indescribable that makes him a little weak in the knees.
"No, no – look. Is there somewhere we can go to talk?" Hades glances at the curious demons devouring their every word. "Somewhere private?"
Kronos snaps his fingers and Hades is transported to a vast space resembling an 18th century sitting room, the ambiance dark, yet cozy. His father settles himself into a massive leather chair behind an ornate wooden desk. "Welcome to my parlor," he rumbles with a sweeping gesture. "Do make yourself at home."
Hades continues to stand. "I came here…" This is harder than he thought. He sighs heavily and tries again. "I came here to apologize. For what I did."
His father's expression twists in confusion. "What did you do?" His tone is panicked. "You didn't do something to Tartarus, did you?"
Hades shakes his head. "No! I haven't done anything now. I'm talking about back then. When… I sent you here."
"Oh!" Kronos leans back in his chair. "Is that all? Honestly, my boy, you did me a favor."
"What?"
His father chuckles deep in his throat. "You don't remember, do you?"
Hades scowls, shaking his head, and the chuckling grows louder.
"What was the whole reason for the ceremony that day?"
"To appoint the new ruler of Olympus," Hades replies curtly.
"And to retire the old one." He pokes his broad chest with his thumb. "Me."
"But… you weren't meant to retire for decades. You were supposed to transition the authority slowly. Mentor Zeus and all that."
His father's teeth are white against his copper skin. "Yeah, but you, my boy," he points, "saved me from all that. Thank the Gods."
"Somehow I doubt you planned on Tartarus as your retirement home."
"You've got me there, but as you can see, I've made the best of the situation." He snaps his fingers again and they are transported to a dining hall the likes of which Hades has never seen. The tables are so long they disappear into the horizon. Each is covered with food of every ethnicity and palette – a never-ending buffet. Kronos walks to the nearest one and rips the leg off a roast turkey. A new leg magically appears in its place. Munching loudly, he continues, "You didn't think you took my power away, did you?"
Honestly, Hades never thought about it. He was too angry and hurt to see beyond his rage. "So… you're happy I sent you here?"
"Thrilled! Retirement is great. Okay, so perhaps for the first century or so I was a little upset, but then I realized I was looking at it all wrong. And that's when all this came to life." He slurps a section of meat off the bone. "And the best part is… none of the other gods bother me. No more nagging. No more babysitting. Your poor brother has that job now, and I do not envy him. Not one bit."
"He isn't all that thrilled about it, either."
"Yes, I heard his little heartfelt conversation to you. Don't let him guilt you too badly – he never would have learned to be a great leader if I coddled him into it. Trial by fire sometimes is the only way."
"How did you see all this? Zeus said… that my story was private. Did he share it with you?"
"Oh no, I didn't get it from him. I got it from the Fates. We've kept in touch over the millennia – although they don't visit often. I honestly hadn't seen them in decades until they popped up right in my bathing chamber one morning and said your destiny had been altered and your soul was in jeopardy." He grins slightly. "I was in the tub, and I think I startled them when I leapt out of it and demanded answers." He winks broadly. "They couldn't stop staring."
Hades rubs his eyes with his fingers. He did not need a mental image of his naked father and the Fates, but now it's branded across his psyche.
Kronos' amusement rattles in his chest. "I made them promise to keep me informed of whatever happened with you. They disagreed, claimed they were far too busy to travel back and forth to Tartarus with every little twist and turn of your fate. We settled on them returning once it was over, and sharing the whole story, which is what they did." He snaps his fingers yet again, and a duplicate to the screen Zeus created appears before him. "I watched it from the beginning. From when your brother stopped your heart. You totally failed as the Lord of the Underworld, but son, you were absolutely fantastic in your quest to restart your heart. You dedicated centuries to it and you did so with such aplomb! I can't wait to see what you focus your attentions on next." His father rests his large, and rather greasy hand on Hades' shoulder. "Maybe you and that redhead can start working on a family, hmm? I wouldn't mind a demi-god grandchild or two to keep me company."
Hades steps back, flicking his shirt clean as he speaks. "I'm not sure what my plans are, nor if they include Zelena." That's entirely untrue – anything he does will include Zelena. But he's not telling his father that, because the idea of having a child with Zelena has sent his heart into orbit. He could do that. Sire a son or daughter – with her. The thought never entered his mind and now it is all he can think about. His own child. Their child.
"Well, don't wait too long. Those humans age pretty rapidly. Or are you going to make her immortal?"
"I can't. The ambrosia is gone. Destroyed."
"Oh – that's right. Well, that's a shame. She's impressive. And a True Love too. I always knew you were different from the others."
Hades is done talking about Zelena, and about himself. It's awkward to have his once-arrogant father act so cavalier. Perhaps being locked away in Tartarus has softened him a bit, and Hades isn't sure he likes it. "Father, I did come here to apologize. What I did to you was wrong."
Kronos waves a meaty hand. "Water under the bridge, my son."
"Do you want me to release you? So that you are again free to cross realms?"
His father's features freeze. A red fire flashes to life in his eyes, and Hades is reminded of who his father really is. The casual, dorky giant with bad fashion sense is a Titan – one of the most powerful of his time. "Freedom…" he murmurs, the growl deep in his throat. A darkness seems to emanate from him, and Hades can sense the evil, the need to destroy tainted with rage and hate. It seems his own failings might not have been all that unique after all.
The straw hat rustles against Kronos' hair as he shakes his head. "No." The darkness fades, suppressed by the sheer force of his father's will. "No," he repeats. "Do not free me. I will stay here, where I am happy. Where I am safe."
Hades fills in the rest. And the realms are safe from you. "As you wish."
"Do come and visit me again soon, though. We can play a round of nine-hole if you'd like. Or we could break into the hundred year old single malt whiskey. I've been saving it for a special occasion."
"I might take you up on that drink," Hades replies softly.
"Any time, son. Any time."
"I'll be back for Cerberus soon – can you keep an eye on him? He shouldn't be too much of a problem."
"Your HellHound? Sure. I've been trying to catch him for months - he's a fine animal."
"Try elk bones. He loves them."
ooooooooooooooooooo
When Hades arrives in the Underworld, the streets of his hellish Storybrooke are not as he remembers. The rate of decay has increased two-fold, and there is an unspoken tension in the air. It seems his brother's comment about King Arthur having a rough time down here holds some water. Hades makes his way to the library and takes the plummeting elevator to his old throne room.
The sound of splashing meets his ears before he crosses the threshold. He quickens his pace and comes to a screeching halt at the edge of the circular podium. The River of Souls is churning, its tortured inhabitants writhing like salmon during their yearly spawn. A very dirty and distressed Arthur is beating away skeletal claws that are attempting to climb onto the dais.
Hades raises his hands, blue fire sparking. "That is enough!"
The River of Souls continues to churn, but the frightened Arthur jumps back, scrambling out of his way. The lack of obedience of the doomed souls tweaks Hades' ire. He repeats his command, sending the full weight of his power into the river, scorching the bodies and driving them back into the depths. A line of blue fire radiates along the river's current, forcing the unholy creatures back into submission.
The former knight peers up at Hades; eyes wary, tone weary. "I suspected it would only be a matter of time before you returned." He straightens himself. "I have not been able to rule in your stead."
"I see that."
The dark brows furrow. "So. Will you end me now? Or is it to be torture?"
Hades laughs. "Neither. I'm here to help you."
Arthur blinks, swiping at his sweaty brow with the back of his hand. "I beg your pardon?"
"Well, you're King Arthur, right? In all the versions of your stories, you had a magician by your side."
"But, Merlin is gone. He was never there to assist me, either. I was forced to do it on my own."
"Yes, I'm aware."
Arthur's voice rises. "I was successful. I ran Camelot as well as could be expected."
"You ran Camelot horrendously and you know it. But I ran the Underworld horrendously too." Hades snorts softly. "It seems that's another thing we have in common."
"What does this have to do with the help you offered?" The battered knight glances down at the River of Souls again, clearly worried they might attempt to attack him again.
Hades walks towards his old throne. "Well, the way I see it," he says, running a finger lightly across the top, "you need a magician."
"But Merlin is…"
"Yes!" Hades snaps. "I know what Merlin is. I'm not saying Merlin is your magician. I'm saying I am."
Arthur takes a step back. "You?"
"Why not? I have… things that I need to attend to in the Overworld. You have a destiny that was denied to you. I can relate, and hence, I'm willing to help you keep things running smoothly down here," Hades says, pointing to the floor, "while I'm doing what I need to do up there." His finger curls upward.
"You… would help me."
"This was my Underworld. I'd like to see it cared for properly."
"Okay… how?"
"Well, for starters," Hades replies, twirling his hand, "you are missing your Excalibur." A sharply pointed two pronged bident appears in his grasp. He offers it to Arthur. "Here. This will help you keep the restless souls in line."
The ex-ruler of Camelot blinks, confused.
Hades' suppresses his eye roll. It's just like mentoring Henry, he tells himself. "Try pointing it at the River."
Arthur takes the bident and hesitantly aims it at the River of Souls. An arc of power spews forth from each point, sending another ripple of blue flames into the current. Dark eyes widen, and a wide grin forms on the man's face.
"It is a weapon."
"A powerful one. It should help you keep the riff-raff at bay. But there is more. Walk with me and I'll show you."
Hades spends the next hour integrating King Arthur into the role of Lord of the Underworld. He shows him his old living quarters, and magics the room to resemble a space better suited for the knight. The dining areas, his liquor cabinet, and the various other rooms where he stored his treasures are all transitioned to Arthur. Except for the library. That is something Hades wants aboveground with him. And if he needs to teleport from here to Storybrooke thousands of times to get each and every beloved book, he'll do so. It isn't like he doesn't have the time.
Hades waves his right hand over his left palm, and a solid brass key appears. "This is the master key to the rooms in my domain," he states, handing it over. "I recommend you keep it close. Use it to allow or deny access to whomever you like. Which reminds me... there is a contingency of servants here to assist you. However, if you want to form your own version of Camelot down here instead with different souls, feel free to do so. None will oppose you with that bident. Many of them have seen it before. It has the power to send them somewhere they really don't want to go."
"I don't know what to say," King Arthur murmurs, his jaw slack as they return to the Hades' throne room. "I never imagined… I mean, you… you killed me." Light eyes shift to his. "You are the last person I would have expected to provide me assistance."
Hades grimaces slightly. "I apologize for that. You were a pawn in a grander plan than even I realized. I figure the least I can do is help you achieve your destiny."
The knight's shoulders straighten, and Hades can see the innate leadership that lurks beneath the disheveled surface. "I will accept your offer. In fact, I agree that it is a debt owed to me."
Hades' brows arch slightly before narrowing. "Don't push it, Artie. I'm not your servant."
Surprisingly, Arthur's confidence doesn't falter. "I didn't say you were." His lips twist into a grin. "I will offer you the respect you are due, as long as you offer it in return."
He holds out his hand and Hades grasps it firmly. "Agreed. Your success is important to me. I won't let you fail."
"Excellent. It appears we have the same goal." The dark head tilts. "I may need to call on you during the next few days. How will I be able to reach you if I need you?"
Hades didn't think of that. He scans the dais and with a flash of creativity, and a flair for the dramatic, he brings his old bronze statue of an eagle to life. The majestic bird takes flight, circling once, twice before landing on the newly created falconry glove covering Hades' left hand and wrist. "Congratulations King, you are now the proud owner of a realm-traveling messenger eagle."
The man's eyes widen in disbelief. "A bird? I was thinking something a little more modern."
"Verizon's cell towers don't quite make it down this far, my friend. It's called a dead zone for a reason." Hades lifts his hand and the bird's talons shift to maintain balance. "Besides, you need a pet. Only the finest Lords of the Underworld have pets. This one is easy to care for too. It's bronze." He snaps his fingers and the glove and eagle materialize on King Arthur's wrist.
The knight does a good job of maintaining his composure as he studies the bird. He reaches out a finger and strokes the gleaming metallic head. "So, I just draft a message and send it to you when I need you?"
"That's it."
"Well then," King Arthur nods, releasing the bird with an outward gesture and watching it fly over to the pedestal where it originally perched. "I expect you will hear from me when I require your magical abilities again." He raises his gaze to Hades. "I thank you for this."
"You're welcome." Hades turns to leave but then stops short when he straightens his cufflink. He studies King Arthur, internally cringing at the man's tarnished armor and scuffed boots.
"Hey… what size clothing do you wear?"
ooooooooooooooooooooo
After promising to provide Arthur with a new-to-him wardrobe, courtesy of Sir Zacharias and the heroes, Hades returns to Mount Olympus to speak with his brother. There is one last stop he needs to make, and he wants his brother's opinion on how to best handle the situation.
He appears in the Great Hall, but the vast space is empty. With a shrug he leaves and navigates his way through the main corridors, attempting to remember the various turns he needs to make to find Zeus' primary quarters.
The home of the Olympians seems strangely quiet, until he rounds a corner and finds a small gathering of gods in the process of repairing a section of an oversized oval alcove, clearly meant as a recreational area.
"Hades!" a voice calls out. It is Hephaestus, who is in the process of re-mounting yet another too-large flatscreen TV on the curved wall. "Your woman was looking for you."
Zelena? Mortals can't cross into Olympus. It's impossible.
"She's something else," murmurs another god. Hades quickly identifies him as Thanatos. That deep growl is unique to him and his brothers. "Better you than me; that's all I have to say."
Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, swats at him. "You're just mad she interrupted The Big Bang Theory."
"It was a good episode!"
Hades grimaces. He thought he wanted to rule this? "Which way to Zeus' quarters?" he asks formally.
"Down that hallway, make a right, first door on the left," Demeter chirps happily. She turns to Thanatos. "I'm good with the directions-thing lately, aren't I?"
Hades only hears the low rumble of Thanatos' mumbling reply as he strides down the hall. He pauses at the aforementioned door, noting it is slightly ajar. He knocks firmly and peeks his head inside. "Zeus?"
"Hades!" his brother calls from within. "I knew you'd show up eventually."
What's he talking about? He's has only been gone a day.
"I spoke with Father," he says firmly. "Do you want to hear about it?"
"I do. I'm in my office. I've got a few things I need to discuss with you, too."
Slightly confused, Hades walks through the narrow entryway into Zeus' main living quarters. He turns right and heads down a wide hallway to his brother's office, created to resemble an executive suite in downtown Manhattan, including a gorgeous view of Central Park. He swivels the jet black modern office chair and plops heavily into it, the events of the past day rapidly catching up with him.
"Tired?" his brother asks from behind his sleek desk.
"Quite. After I visited with Father, I went to the Underworld and got things settled with King Arthur. I fairly certain I'll be back there tomorrow to help the poor sot out again. Arthur isn't all bad, though. He'll get the hang of it eventually."
"So... you're not going to rule the Underworld."
"No."
"Well, that's a relief. Your woman probably would have disemboweled you if you did. She's gotten pretty steamed up under that pretty fur collar of hers – be prepared for damage control when you return to Storybrooke."
"What? Why? I've only been gone a day."
His brother scoffs slightly. "You've forgotten."
"Forgotten what?"
"Time works differently in Tartarus." Hades' confused expression brings a smile to Zeus' face. "You have forgotten."
"Care to enlighten me?"
"For every hour that passes there, a week passes here. You've been gone for almost two months."
Oh holy hell. He did forget. He didn't even think. Shit. Is Zelena okay? Why was she here? Did something happen in Storybrooke?
"Relax," his brother chides, reading him easily. "Storybrooke is fine. Olympus, on the other hand, got a little singed. She really is quite powerful, for a mortal."
"Zeus, mortals can't enter Olympus."
"Yours can. We're not quite sure how she did it, but she was hell-bent on finding you and wasn't afraid to show it." Hades' stomach plummets. How could Zelena be so foolish? Any of the gods could have killed her in an instant.
His brother's mind-reading abilities are definitely on point today. "Don't worry. They didn't, and won't lift a finger against her. They fear your wrath. They all saw what happened and honestly, they're a little frightened by it. No one wants a one-way trip to Tartarus, or wherever else you might have the power to send them."
Hade's mind is reeling. "Is she still here?"
"I sent her home. I told her where you were, what you were doing, and why. That seemed to calm her down a bit."
"Oh. So she's okay?"
"Yes, and I recommend you hightail it back to Storybrooke sooner rather than later before she tries to come find you again."
Hades cringes. "I can't go back just yet. I have one more place I need to go. One more wrong I need to right."
Zeus scowls, brow raised. "Oh? And what is that? Freeing Father?"
"No. He is happy down there. I offered, and he declined."
"You're joking."
"No, actually I'm not. It turns out he's not all that upset I sent him there – he wanted to retire. He's turned a third of Tartarus into his own private version of Vegas, minus the slot machines. He's having fun and is thrilled he doesn't have to babysit Olympus any longer."
"Is that so." The venom in his brother's voice is palpable, and Hades realizes he shared a little too much information.
"You can go speak with him. I could probably conjure you up a map."
"Once you're settled, please do. I think I should pay a visit to our dear old dad."
Uh oh. Well, the problems between Zeus and his father are their own. Hades is staying out of it. He rises from his chair. "I need to get going, but I could use your wisdom. I need the ability to find a mortal in the Fields, repeatedly. Without wandering around for days on end looking for them. I know it's a locator spell, but there's nothing tangible in a soul to track. Any ideas?"
His brother's expression relaxes as he ponders the question. "The only thing I can think of is to use something in their environment. Something unique to that area."
"All right," Hades says, not entirely pleased. "I'll see what I can do."
"Don't dally in the Fields too long, either. Time is different there too."
"I'm not planning on it. My life is waiting for me, and I think it's high time I started living it."
"Oh! Speaking of life, you need to go see Apollo."
"Why?"
Zeus grimaces. "I'd rather he tell you. Try not to be too upset. It all worked out in the end."
Hades bids his brother good day and heads to Apollo's quarters, two doors down. He knocks softly and the firm but ethereal voice of the sun god beckons him in.
"It's Hades," he says, somewhat awkwardly. He and Apollo were not that close.
"Yes, please do come in. Zeus just messaged me and said today was the day."
Hades stares at Apollo in confusion, the latter's white-gold hair glittering in the sunlight beaming through the curved glass ceiling. Pale, airy robes coat the powerful man, layered in such a way to outline his musculature. Apollo has impressive pecs, biceps and is probably sporting an eight-pack under that bizarre toga of his. Physically, he could snap Hades like a twig. Yet his icy eyes are emitting fear, or at least concern.
"Apollo, what's going on?"
The larger god bows low. "I offer you my sincerest apologies, my friend. My carelessness led to some unforeseen consequences that even I could not predict. My powers showed me a vision, and I believed it required my intervention to enact. I did so without approval from Zeus, and it led to much peril. Peril which I also did not foresee, although I was looking…"
Hades cuts him off. Apollo can ramble on for hours like this if allowed to do so. "Cut to the chase. What are you talking about?"
Apollo pulls a small, folded paper from within his robes. "This is for you. Well, for your lady love, really. It is a copy of the original… and is why I owe you an apology."
Hades unfolds the paper and reads:
Knowledge and wisdom, gifted freely… from ink that binds with ties strong as blood
Love and faith, pledged eternally… from an immortal heart that death spun awry
Strength and loyalty, defined by birthright… from deepest enemies to allies in fight
All these combined, in balance and harmony… to thee shall grant, indestructible life
He reads it again. "This is an immortality spell."
"Yes. I created it."
Hades is impressed. "You did?"
"Yes. One night, while in the mansion in that Storybrooke, I had a vision of Zelena here on Olympus. She was parading through the halls with a sense of familiarity. I had assumed, at the time, this meant she was destined to become immortal. The instant it ended, a draft of the incantation on that paper came into my mind. I discussed it the next day with your brother, who insisted I leave it be. To let fate play out without divine intervention." His lips tighten. "But I couldn't let it go, so I wrote it down on one of the notepads in my room. I kept it hidden for days, until I saw how well you were doing with Henry and his family. It was then I decided it was best to heed Zeus' advice. So later that night, I crumpled up the paper and tossed it into the waning fire in the sitting room on the first floor."
Apollo's eyes drop. "It was my fault. I should have made certain the spell was completely destroyed."
Hades is still confused, but a prickle along the back of his neck, along with the memory of what Hyde said to the Queen, is starting to fill in the blanks.
"How did they find it?" he asks, as the implications start to snowball in his mind.
"Not they. Hyde. He came to speak with Zeus, err… Sir Godric late that same night. My power cannot see what transpired, as he has no soul, but I can only assume it caught his eye and he fished it out of the ashes when Zeus wasn't looking."
Hades peers down at the small piece of paper again, the handwriting ornate and delicate. With a burst of insight, he folds it in half, and the haze of confusion disappears, revealing a startling reality.
"Half of it," Hades grumbles. "The version Hyde had was only half the spell."
"The instant Hyde realized what it was, I saw the future shift and change dramatically. Yours, Henry's, Zelena's, the entire town's. But at the time, I didn't connect the two as related. The truth is, if I had not drafted that spell onto paper, and been so careless, your fate and the fate of the people you care for might have been a lot less… acrimonious."
Hades' temper is indeed flaring. The incident at the library, his injuries, the theft of the book as well as Henry and Zelena's kidnapping – all of it was caused by this spell, and Apollo's carelessness.
The sun god's complexion pales. "I realize you might be upset. Your brother was as well, once he learned of the truth. You see, we did not know this was the driving cause until much later, when Hyde returned with the soulless version of Regina. They had this in their possession, and showed it to Zeus. Godric."
Hades can see what happened clearly. This explained the sudden disappearance of all the other gods, and Godric's strange behavior. Zeus must have realized the implications, and sent everyone packing. Because he knew the fate he'd designed for Hades had changed, and in a rather bad way. The outcome was now out of Zeus' control.
"You put them all at risk," Hades growls, tempering his rage. "Great risk."
"I am aware. I do apologize."
"You have no idea how lucky you are that they weren't hurt. Or killed."
"The same applies to you as well. Your brother's wrath is terrifying to behold. I am indeed fortunate that my heart was not stopped and my power still remains. Or worse. He is capable of a great many things." Apollo pauses. "As are you."
Hades is seething inside, unable to shake the memories, particularly the entire series of events in Regina's office. But, his conscience screams in his mind, Henry and Zelena are okay. So are you. This fate gave you everything you ever asked for, and then some. You even have a way to make Zelena immortal now.
He sighs heavily. "Thank you for telling me the truth. I... I will accept your apology."
Apollo is stunned, the relief prevalent on his features. "You will?"
"Yeah, I will."
The formal posture and tone drops as Apollo flops down onto one of his cushioned wicker chairs. "Finally! I've been so damned worried." He looks up at Hades. "You really have changed. I never would have foreseen it. The other gods and I are absolutely amazed at all that's happened to you." His voice lowers. "We'll pass on our own versions, though. What you went through was horrid. Even pretending to be a mortal was horrid. To actually be one…" Apollo shudders. "Stuff of nightmares."
Hades suppresses his frustration. Yeah, ruling Olympus can be Zeus' burden to carry. These gods are nuts. "I must be going," he states formally.
"Do keep the spell," Apollo says cheerily. "It will definitely make her immortal. Unsure if you should use it before or after the baby though."
Wait … what? The anxious, happy fluttering returns to his chest. So it happens then. I will have a child.
"That part is hazy," he continues, "even for me. Might not be for a while, if at all. The future is always difficult to see. You could go ask Atropos, but only Zeus seems to be able to get the future out of her."
That's not all he gets out of her, Hades thinks silently. Apollo must not know of Zeus' dalliance with her, and he doesn't see a reason to enlighten him. Besides, his heart is still locked into overdrive about the news of the baby. The urge to teleport straight to Zelena is strong, but he promised himself he would set things right, and that's what he's going to do. "Good day to you, Apollo."
"See ya, my friend. Next time your in town, we definitely need to hang. First round will be on your brother, but the second is absolutely on me."
Hades doesn't reply as he walks out Apollo's door into the hallway. Bowing his head, he stretches out his arms and calls forth his power, drawing a great deal of it in. His next stop is the Elysian Fields, and he may or may not still be barred from them.
To his delight, he appears in a meadow filled with wildflowers, their scent permeating the air around him. The sun is warm on his skin, and a faint breeze cools the fine sweat an instant after it appears, coating him in a never-ending sensation of relief. It really is nice in the Fields.
He heads to the top of a small hill and scans the horizon. He was right. This place is enormous. With two swipes of his hands, he generates a transparent map in front of him. Tiny colored dots flicker across the giant landscape, each a soul enjoying the peace and delights of the afterlife. Hades' brows furrow as he tries to hone in on the single soul he's looking for. A greenish-brown dot expands, located along the edge of a thicket of pine trees. Instantly Hades teleports to that spot, and his arrival startles his target off the raised stump he was sitting on.
A small hunting knife and a bundle of sticks tumble to the grass as the man backpedals towards the woods, obviously terrified. "You… no… it can't be."
Guilt floods Hades, but he swallows it down. He's going to make things right, even if it means chasing the damned mortal all around the fields to get him to listen. Besides, Regina needs him.
He takes a deep breath. This isn't going to be pleasant. "Hello Robin."