Chapter Ten


A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else is either owned by Disney or the Greek Myths!

Holy cats you guys! Are we seriously only two reviews away from 100? Hitting 100 reviews in ten chapters is honestly pretty amazing I'm not going to lie lol :D Thank you guys so much for your continued support—and I hope you stay on for the remaining sixty chapters!

For anyone wondering why the hyenas can understand stray cats, it's because hyenas are actually more closely related to cats than they're related to dogs. So I decided to play with that a little here! :D

OceanBlueSeaEyes: Oh yeah, they're going to be amazing big sisters! As will Sammy!

61394: Yeah I don't think anyone would miss him much except for maybe the Bimbettes, and I'm in that same boat. I don't want to think about Ursula and Facilier either. Of course! It wouldn't be a Descendants fic without the certain teal squid or purple dragon! :D

AmethystDragon14: Yay! Unclehood (if that's a word) really does suit Hades which is weird considering what he did to his biological nephew lol! And yep Harry's on his way! Which reminds me, Jay would have been born by now. Note to self, at least mention him. Of course that means that! Can't have the Rotten four with only three members now can we? :D

danifan3000: Mal will be coming soon, that I can promise you. And while I won't say for certain to avoid spoilers, I can say that there's a possibility of this Hook popping up in Truth or Fiction!

Bluebird: Hi! I'm so glad you're liking my work! Yep, Mal will appear (she's one of my favorite characters, I can't not have her appear) :D

a-person-on-the-internet-75: Hey, thank you so much for the review! I've always thought of Sammy as female after seeing the name and while I could have done more research to find that Sammy's canonically a guy, I went with my vision of the character. They were only written as trans in the WAL series because readers asked for that in order to stay canon accurate as much as possible. In my AUs (Choosing Series, Half and Half, and here), they'll simply be the Sammy I saw them as. :D

twilightgirl587: Hey you didn't think Harry just materialized that attitude out of thin air did you? Lol! And yeah Hades, you had to have expected some kind of title at some point. Of course Harry's coming! Can't have the passage of time and no younger siblings for Harriet! :D I don't want to spoil anything but I will say that CJ's birth will be a happy one!

IWantColouredRain: You'll have to wait and see! :D

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D


"You want to do what?"

"You know I figured I'd get this reaction," Hades said as Hook, Milah, Mollie, and Smee stared at him in shock. They were meeting in Hook and Milah's room, with the door shut, in order to guarantee privacy.

After all, the kids wouldn't bother them if the bedroom door was shut.

"Lord Hades, I mean this with all due respect but have you lost your mind?" Mollie asked. "You want to ally yourself with the hyenas? Why?"

"Because I can't be everywhere and we can't just hold Milah hostage in the Underworld for nine months," Hades said with a matter of fact tone to his voice. "Not to mention having this kind of alliance will be good for the sunspots when they get older and start to explore. Every adult on the Isle has some form of gang or crew to protect them, why not us?"

"Because you want to align yourself with the hyenas," Mollie stressed. "I'm all for alliances but what if they decide they're hungry and eat one of the kids?"

"Hyenas are a matrilineal group," Hades said. "They wouldn't hurt the girls, and if Milah's carrying a boy, they wouldn't hurt him either if he doesn't betray them in some way, shape, or form."

"Should we wonder how you know so much about hyenas?" Milah asked.

"Artemis is the Goddess of Animals, she'd go on random facts back when the other Gods were, you know, talking to me," Hades said with a small shrug. "But anyway, I think it would be a good idea to align ourselves with the hyenas. Like I said, I can't be everywhere and Milah should be able to walk around the Isle. Plus there're the lions, tigers, and leopard to worry about as well."

"Doesn't the leopard mainly bother Clayton?" Hook asked. "Almost like the way the blasted crocodile bothers me?"

"That's besides the point," Hades said, waving his hand as if he was waiving Hook's words away.

Milah shook her head. "I…I think Lord Hades might have the right idea."

"You do?"

"Thank you!"

Milah chuckled at Hades' reaction before looking over at her husband. "James, think about it. I can't just be sequestered in the Underworld for nine months. That's not fair to Jess or Harriet or to you, having to have to run around doing errands and whatnot on top of running the crew of The Jolly Rodger and running the fish shop."

"Milah, nine months of doing all that is more than worth it if it means your safety is ensured," Hook told her.

"James, I am a pirate after all and you taught me my way around a sword. Even if we didn't have this hypothetical alliance with the hyenas, I'd still be safe because I'd be able to defend myself. But having that alliance would take some of the pressure off of you and the crew."

"Are you sure you want to do this Milah?" Hook asked.

"James, like Lord Hades said, hyenas are matrilineal animals. They're not going to attack a pregnant woman unless they become a threat to their…what is a group of hyenas called?"

"According to Artemis back when she was going on about what groups of animals are called, a group of hyenas is called a cackle," Hades said.

"Then they won't attack me unless I present a threat to their cackle," Milah said, not commenting on how fun of a word 'cackle' was to say. It wasn't the right time if she was honest, though that didn't mean she couldn't think it. "Honestly…it's a win win for us."

Mollie nodded. "I agree, though…Lord Hades, you said that hyenas are more trusting to women than they are men. How are you going to convince them to become our allies by yourself? Won't you need a woman to accompany you?"

"Not on your life!" Hook exclaimed as he realized what was being asked.

"Hook, calm down before you startle the sunspots into ignoring the closed door and they barge in here," Hades shook his head. "I might need to ask for assistance but I haven't lost that many of my mental faculties that I'd risk your unborn child."

"Oh…" Hook said. "Then who…?"

"You're asking me," Mollie said and Smee turned to look at his wife in shock.

Hades nodded. "Obviously it'd be your choice Mollie and if Persephone were here I'd ask her instead but I would appreciate you accompanying me on this trip."

"I don't know about this," Smee said, wringing his red knit cap in his hands.

"William, it's the only way it can be done," Mollie said. "If hyenas respond better to women being present, then that removes you and Captain Hook from going with Lord Hades. And even if the hyenas wouldn't attack a pregnant woman, there's still no sense in risking Captain and Captainess Hook's unborn child."

"You're the Captain of The Rose though Mollie, they need you," Smee said. "And what about Sammy? She needs her mother."

Mollie sighed as she knew that her husband had a valid point about their daughter needing both their parents. However, this deal was to protect their daughter. To protect all the children living in the Underworld.

How could she not at least try?

"If it helps, I doubt the hyenas would be offended by the offer," Hades said. "Basically the deal is they provide their protection to us and the kids and in exchange they will have access to water once I figure out how to desalt it and fresh fish."

"So you're offering up my wares?" Hook asked.

"It's not as if we have food just lying around," Hades shook his head. "If other options become available to us, I'll add those to the hyenas' food but for now we're stuck with fish or whatever we're able to grab in the monthly barge."

"He's right James," Milah said as Hook opened his mouth to protest. "It's not as if Lord Hades would be offering up all of your wares either, just enough to satisfy the hyenas. And I think that would be only in the event that they couldn't find food of their own like say from a dead body?"

Hades nodded. "Right, right, this would be solely an added benefit to what they can get normally. However, there's what? Eight hyenas in the cackle? Even one dead body wouldn't be enough to sustain eight fully grown hyenas. And that's not adding the fact that they also need to compete with Shere Khan, his girlfriend, Scar and Zira, and Sabor. And yes I know hyenas are normally scavengers while lions, tigers, and leopards hunt their prey but Shere Khan runs a pawn shop of all things. I think we can ignore typical animal behavior."

"…I don't have to start getting along with the blasted crocodile do I?" Hook asked. "If we're making alliances with animals?"

Hades shook his head. "No, Hook. You can keep your adversarial relationship with Tick Tock."

"Good. And Gods forbid he should have any kids because I've already warned the girls about the dangers of crocodiles."

"As you should," Hades said. "What? You think I'm advocating for us to become allies with all of the dangerous animals on the Isle? Like I said, I haven't lost all my mental capacities Hook. But with that, are we all in agreement on the alliance with the hyenas?"

Hook looked over at Milah while Smee did the same with Mollie. One by one, each pirate nodded their head.

"Good," Hades said. "And with that, Mollie, we should get going before it gets too dark to safely move around the Isle. The hyenas might hear us out and listen to our deal for an alliance but if we don't get there before the alliance is set up, I doubt they'd be interested in seeing us as anything but lunch."

Mollie nodded and gently kissed Smee on the cheek. "I'll be back," she said softly. "I promise."

"I know, I trust Lord Hades," Smee said as he gently squeezed Mollie's hand before she and Hades walked out of the room.

No pressure there, Hades thought as the two of them began to make their way out of the Underworld. Just have to ensure that I don't lose Smee's trust while taking his wife to talk to hyenas….maybe I have lost some of my mental capacities if I truly think this is a good idea.

But it was the only thing he could think of to ensure Milah's safety and the safety of her unborn child. And yes, he had resisted the urge to talk to the Fates to see about getting the gender of the baby just so Hook didn't look like a fool again when the baby was born.

Yes, Hades had heard that story. Milah enjoyed teasing Hook with it from time to time.

"Lord Hades?" Mollie asked.

"Hmm?"

"I was just wondering…do you know where the hyenas would be for us to request a parley with them?"

Hades paused as he looked over at Mollie. That…that was a good point. One he hadn't necessarily thought of when he came up with this idea.

"I would assume we'd go to their den," he said after a moment of silence. "But by the look on your face you're not in favor of that idea."

Mollie sighed. "It's not the most preferable. If the hyenas get their guards up immediately, we'll be in their territory without backup and while I know you'll be unharmed, I'd rather not risk it. However…it seems like it's the only plan we've got."

"It seems that way," Hades nodded and the two of them began to make their way to where the hyena den was believed to be. Logically, it was believed to be by Amos Slade's farm as he had been looking after the chickens that had somehow managed to make their way onto the delivery barge one month.

Hades had to wonder how a being with fewer brain cells than Gaston had managed to survive on the Isle for as long as the chickens had but then decided it truly wasn't worth the brain power.

And before anyone decided to ask why Hades hadn't tried to grab one of the chickens from Slade's farm, it was because he had no intention of staring down the barrel of a gun or interacting with Chief, Slade's dog.

"Well, well, well, Banazi, what do we have here?"

"I don't know Shenzi…what do you think Ed?"

Hades shook his head before Ed could laugh his response, the hyenas' voices pulling him out of his thoughts. "As entertaining as this is, Matriarch, we come seeking an alliance with your cackle."

"An alliance?" Shenzi asked, tilting her head as the trio of hyenas continued to circle. "Do you know what happened the last time the hyenas entered into an alliance?"

"Do you think me as dumb as Scar to insult the cackle and try to frame you for my own crimes?" Hades asked as Mollie remained silent. "If you hear us out, I think you'll find our alliance to be extremely beneficial to you."

Shenzi shook her head. "Fine, we'll hear you out but only because we'd be fools to deny ourselves fresh lunch when it wanders so willingly into our den. But she does the talking."

"Mollie?" Hades asked, following Shenzi's paw which was pointed at Mollie.

"Do you see another female human here? Typical males, always thinking of themselves," Shenzi muttered. "Well come on, we're wasting cloud just sitting here and I'm not in the mood to be chased by that older human's dog of all things."

Banazi and Ed nodded and the three hyenas turned to make their way back to their den; Hades and Mollie quickly following them into the small cave that the hyenas had established as their home.

It was no Elephant Graveyard but it was better than nothing.

The four remaining members of the cackle looked over as the three approached; Shenzi leading with Banzi and Ed in the rear. Hades knew that seven of the eight hyenas in the cackle were from the pride lands; the last remaining member was from the circus the Ringmaster had led.

I will never know who was the 'brains' behind the Isle but if I find out, I'm going to smack them over the head for thinking a hyena bred in captivity would do fine on the Isle, Hades thought. As well the hyena didn't do anything! Where are those pompous pachyderms who made fun of Jumbo Jr.? Or Dumbo as they had called him? Honestly if ostracizing a traumatized child doesn't get you on the Isle, then nothing should in my opinion.

"What do they want?" One of the hyenas asked, pulling Hades out of his thoughts.

"They claim they have a deal for us," Shenzi said, lying down on the floor of the den. "We're going to hear them out, or more importantly, we'll hear the female out. If it's a good deal, we can think about it. And if it's a bad one, well then we've got lunch."

Mollie gulped softly but started to speak, her voice strong despite her nerves. "The deal is…is a simple one but one I hope you'll consider Matriarch. We would like added protection while my ally is carrying her child. You wouldn't need to do anything or move your den but rather if you're out and you see her in trouble…"

"You're right, that is rather simple," Shenzi nodded as another hyena snorted in amusement. "So your ally would get our protection—."

"The allies and their children," Hades spoke up. "There are three young female human cubs under my protection Matriarch and I know you said that you would only hear Mollie speak but I thought it important to add that detail."

Hyenas are matrilineal after all, he thought as Mollie shot him a small smile for thinking about her daughter. Besides, added protection for Jess is worth its weight in drachmas honestly. Frollo's still out there and so's his son.

"So…protection for your allies and their cubs," Shenzi said, looking at Hades. "That's what you would get out of this alliance?"

"That's correct," Hades nodded.

"And what do the hyenas get?"

Mollie took a small breath to steady her nerves. This would be the part that would either please or offend the hyenas—and offending a hyena could be the last thing she ever did.

"You would get access to food from Captain Hook's fish shop along with de-salted water once we figure out how to de-salt it. In addition to that, you'd have full access to any and all dead bodies found in Lord Hades' territory," she said.

Shenzi paused. "That deal sounds more advantageous to us than it does you."

"Lord Hades is a God, he doesn't really need to pad a deal to favor him," Mollie said with a small shrug.

Banzi shook his head. "Shenzi, the last time the hyenas got a deal that good, it ended up not being so good for us."

"You think I don't know that?" Shenzi snapped. "But a deal this good will likely only last so long. You think if we turned down the humans right now, they wouldn't just decide to go to the lions, tigers, or leopard? Especially if they're looking for protection for their cubs."

"So? There are too many human cubs now anyway. Fewer cubs means more food for us," one of the other hyenas said.

Shenzi shook her head. "Banazi, go ahead and smack Savanah for me."

"With pleasure," Banzi said, going over and smacking Shenzi's younger sister over the head. "Think before you speak why don't you?"

"Banazi's right," one of the only other males in the cackle spoke up. "We're not talking about human male cubs, if evidence has shown us anything they're not the brightest. But the female cubs have certainly proven themselves. At least for humans."

"More importantly, you don't insult the cubs of potential allies when those allies could very well just declare us their dinner and be done with it," Banazi growled.

Shenzi nodded, her head slow as she thought the deal over. It truly was something that a hyena would be a fool to pass up…but she had been quick to bring her cackle into a deal that seemed too good to be true before. And that had ended up burning them and landing them on the Isle.

"I'll accept your terms…on a trial basis," Shenzi said as she got up. "Prove to us that you won't betray us and we can work to make this a permanent thing. But for now, I reserve judgement."

Mollie shook her head. "You can trust that we won't betray you, Matriarch. Not with everything we have on the line," she said softly.

"Your words are pretty but as Scar proved, pretty words are just that. Words," Shenzi told her. "Actions speak louder than words ever could, and if I'm honest, had it not reached our ears from the stray cats that wander the Isle about what you did for Captain Jessica's cub, I would wonder if you'd be able to prove your words true."

Mollie froze. "You…you know…?"

"That one of Captainess Milah's cubs aren't truly hers? Of course. The felines might not speak your language but we can understand them just fine," Shenzi scoffed. "But you don't need to worry. For one, the day the hyenas tell Frollo anything is the day we join Scar again. Besides, for him to know would mean he'd have to pay attention to the animals of the Isle. And since you're now our allies, we'll keep your secret."

Banazi chuckled. "Hey, this just means that they have a reason to not betray us."

"Savanah, you can smack him."

"Ouch!"

"You know you were owed that," Savanah smirked as Banazi rubbed his head. "Besides, the humans already have a reason not to betray us. Us."

Hades nodded. "Yes well I can assure you, I'm not in the betraying my allies' business."

"That is true," Shenzi nodded. "From what we've heard around the Isle, you didn't betray the Titans and you didn't betray the human female you were allied with. That being said, words are just that. Words. Let's see what your actions bring you."

Hades and Mollie nodded and then, after a quick goodbye, made their way back to the Underworld.

"Did you feel nervous back there too?" Mollie whispered as they walked through the gate.

"Every second," Hades told her.

"Oh…good. I thought it was just me. Especially after Shenzi said that the hyenas knew."

Hades didn't say anything as the girls ran up, all of them giving Mollie a big hug before Harriet broke free to hug Hades' leg.

Yeah…my heart was pretty much in my throat after Shenzi said that, Hades thought as he smiled down at Harriet. The only good thing is, just as we have a reason to not betray the hyenas, they have a reason to not betray us. Not if they want to lose out on this deal and risk their own safety.

For the first time in a while, the residents of the Underworld could rest easy; knowing they were as safe as one could possibly be on the Isle.