Alright, it was difficult, seeing as the episode was Icarus-based, but I think this chapter will work, gonna have a slight break from writing after this.

The Brother Of Hercules

Chapter 22

Maelstrom And The Drama Festival

Olympus Meeting

At the moment the gods were in a meeting, with Artemis suggesting that the offerings be fruit and Vegetables, though Ares was against it, seeing as there was about to be an argument Zeus quickly changed the subject, seeing as Hermes came flying on the scene, with the messenger of the gods telling the gods that it is a drama festival being hosted at Prometheus Academy, with all the gods invited.

Unfortunately, Hades wasn't invited due to being the lord of the dead, with the god not being popular.

Though Ares was against the idea of going to a school play, Zeus made the war god change his mind by reminding Ares that his two sons went to the academy, with the king of the gods exclaiming that his boys would be the stars of the show.

Hermes then brought it up, "Well sire, you're only half right, as it turns out, Hercules is playing you, while Maelstrom, it seems, had decided to bow-out."

This caught the gods attention, especially a certain love goddess since Maelstrom was a whole soap-opera that she enjoys watching, but the gods couldn't believe that one of the sons of Zeus didn't want to be in a play, with Zeus asking about, "Hermes can you please explain why Maelstrom isn't in the play!?"

Quickly with the answer, Hermes explained, "Well you see Big Z, being curious myself, I went to ask him, and he said, and I quote, "While I support Herc in whatever he's doing, acting in a school play isn't really me, I'll help Herc in his acting and words, maybe even have one of the girls improve his Zeus mask, but I just want to focus on both my studies and the girls," is what Mael said."

Zeus gave a big bellowing laugh, "That's my boy, always striving to help out his brother and being responsible, such a good boy."

Hermes quickly told the gods, "Also I think we have a clip of the rehearsal of the play."

This made Zeus even happier, letting the clip play out, unfortunately, the clip wasn't what it was cracked up to be, though at the end the gods saw Hercules groan at his bad performance, with Maelstrom standing next to him, "Ah man, I'm never gonna get this play down, why'd I sign up for it."

Patting Hercules on the back, Maelstrom replied, "Because you leapt head-first again because of you excitement of playing our dad." This caused Hercules to give Maelstrom the stink eye, but he knew Maelstrom was only fooling around.

Maelstrom continued, "Listen Herc, I'll help ya out anyway that I can, alright, with you're lines and acting skills, heck, I'll even ask one of the girls to make you a better mask, cause just by looking at that thing," Both boys flinched at the mask, "The art club REALLY need to work on their likeness for the gods, cause that right there just screams 'give me a curse' or something." Even the gods flinch at the failed likeness of Zeus.

The two boys ended up laughing at their joke of the mask, brightening Hercules's spirits with the two boys having an arm over both their shoulders, ending the clip.

Once the clip ended, Zeus became slightly bashful, though granted it was just a rehearsal, it was still painful to watch, but he was still proud of his boys bonding with each other.

Hades on the other hand was trying to build it up, making out that the rehearsal was amazing, talking Zeus into getting all the gods to agree to watch the play, though Aphrodite was planning on watching it anyway, just in case something dramatic happened to Maelstrom, though she won't tell the other gods... Maybe the girls.

Prometheus Academy

The two brothers were soon interrupted by their teacher, who began introducing Icarus as the next performer, with the frazzled-haired boy making a big speech about it, though the two brothers were wondering what their friend was planning on doing, unfortunately, Icarus had no idea what to do.

With the two brothers becoming worried at the answer, "Icarus, you better hurry, there isn't much time left until the play!"

With Maelstrom adding, "Also you need to prepare for costumes, lighting, music, background and theme of your act as well."

Hearing that Icarus just brushes them off, telling them everything'll be fine, though the brothers were worried, they decided to take his word for it and left him alone.

As the two brothers were walking Hercules couldn't help but wonder to Maelstrom, "Do you think it was a good idea to leave him, I-I mean he is still trying to figure his play out!?"

Maelstrom just shrugs his shoulders, "Hey relax, I'm sure if he needs any help he'll come and ask us for it, besides you should really focus on your part of the play, after all, you are playing our father."

Hercules couldn't deny that Maelstrom was right, so he left it alone for now, "Soo~ which of the girls can help me with my mask!?" Hercules couldn't help but ask.

Knowing his brother was trying to change the subject, Maelstrom just rubs the back of his neck, "Well~ I think we can get Rachnee to help with your costume, since clothes are her speciality and yours don't seem to fit right, I think I can ask Tempest and Cerea if they could carve a mask of father's face for you, since carving might be something they can do... I'll go and ask them."

With that in mind the two brothers split apart, with Hercules going over his lines, trying to get the voice right, Maelstrom went around a corner, but before he knew it, "WHOOP!?" He was up in the air wrapped in webbing, quickly he got his barrings and realised where he was, having a frustrated look, "RACHNERA!"

Just as he yelled, the spider-girl was upside down grinning at Maelstrom, "Why hello there honey~ nice to see you hanging around~"

Maelstrom began to mumble to himself, "Rachnera, do you think you can do me a favour," Gaining her attention, the arachnid leaned towards him, "Um! D-Do you think you can help my brother with his costume, t-the clothes aren't really fitting for him."

The silver-haired girl placed a clawed hand under her chin in thought, "Hmmm, I suppose I can help him out, cos even I have to admit some of those costumes are an eye-sore," Maelstrom was happy to hear her agreement, "However, honey~ I wish for something in return from you~" when she said that, Rachnera moved really close to Maelstrom, rubbing her face against his own, along with her body against his, she was even rubbing him just below the belt.

Though he knows he's gonna regret this, "A-Alright, j-just calm down Rachnee, I'll return the favour, b-b-but n-n-n-none of THIS type of stuff at school!" Once of her legs just happened to come up from around his back and between his legs, catching him off guard.

Rachnera was happy at his reply, though she was a bit upset at not doing any "school-playing" she can at least look forward towards the favour, so with that, the arachnid made her way to ground floor, surprising a few of the students, but they quickly moved on from it, "Alright honey~ I'll go to the stage and ask for Herc's measurements, since I doubt you'd want me to mess with him~" With that she made her way to the theatre.

Maelstrom released a sigh of relief at that, since he was a little worried for his brother, but he could trust Rachnera since she hasn't been tangling anyone besides himself and the girls... speaking of which.

Looking down at himself, he says in a deadpan voice to himself, "She didn't release me from here!" It seems in Rachnera's rush, she "forgot" to let Maelstrom out of her webbing.

Having no other choice, Maelstrom flexes his muscles and breaks the webbing himself, once he was freed he landed on the floor of the corridor, though after brushing himself off he looks back up, "Um, t-that type of webbing should dissolve in an hour, at least that's what Rachnee said."

With that Maelstrom made his way to Tempest and Cerea, where he found them in the usual place, the archery, each one using their own weapon, Tempest using a spear, while Cerea was using bow and arrows for long distance, though he was thankful that the two have just finished.

He waved to them gaining their attention, with the two smiling towards him, "Hey you two, I see you've been busy."

The amazon and centaur were happy at Maelstrom's visit, with Cerea answering, "We have enjoyed ourselves very much Master, it was quite the work out."

With Tempest finishing, "So Maelstrom, what brought you here before us."

Maelstrom rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment, "Can't get nothing by you huh Tempest!?" Gaining a narrowed expression from the amazon, he continued, "Ahem! Well, I was wondering if you two were good at carving masks, you see my brother Hercules is doing a play about our father Zeus, and, well, h-have a look at this!"

With that he showed the two the really crummy mask, causing both girls to flinch at the sight, they might be strong-hearted warriors, but even that ugly mask made them think twice, with Cerea exclaiming, "W-W-WHAT SORT OF AFFRONT TO THE GODS IS THIS!?" Grabbing the mask and throwing onto the ground and began using her hooves to break the mask.

With Tempest wholeheartedly agreeing, "For such a mask to be made, it is an insult to Zeus himself!"

Maelstrom couldn't really deny their "anger" since it was a terrible mask, "Um, so d-do you two think you can help my brother out, if you do this I'll owe you two a favour-!" Before he could realise what he just said, the two amazon-type girls had heard his offer, they would've done it anyway, since the mask was rubbish, but to be offered a favour by their master/future-husband, they couldn't really deny it.

The two accepted the job and headed out, planning to carve the mask from some strong wood so that others cold use it in later plays, leaving a nervous Maelstrom behind since he didn't know what the three girls wanted in return for their help.

Releasing a sigh, Maelstrom couldn't help but say out loud, "Man, Herc really owes me for this, at least three times he owes me!"

With that Maelstrom was on his way.

A Week Later

After his "deal" with three of his girls, Cassandra and Hercules were in line in the lunchroom, while Maelstrom was at a table waiting for them, though it turned out that the gods were asking for fruits and vegetables for sacrifices, meaning it was meat loaf day, once they get to the table Cassandra says out loud, "Next time, I'm packing a lunch."

With Hercules agreeing, though his mind was elsewhere, but Maelstrom answered, "Well if you want, you could share some of my food, I've pack quite a lot today since it's part of the whole "hero-diet" thing that Phil gave us."

Cassandra looked at both of their food, "Hmm, what should I do, eat some meat that no-one has any idea what's in it, or have some of my boyfriend's hero food(?)" She asks sarcastically, "I guess even you and your food are my hero." With that she tossed the tray away and grabbed half of Maelstrom's food, though they watched where the tray had ended up sticking to the wall and it wasn't moving.

Hercules was a little upset by this, "Cassandra, can't you at least put the tray away properly-!?" Unfortunately, as Hercules went to do just that, as he pulled at the tray part of the wall came off with it, showing the outside, making the three look in puzzlement of what the meat loaf just did, with the wall part still stuck to the tray.

Quickly deciding to throw the wall-tray away, Hercules sat with Maelstrom and Cassandra, trying to forget about the meat loaf confusion, "A-Anyway, have you guys noticed anything different about Icarus?"

Hearing this the couple looked at each other, then back at Hercules with a deadpan look, making him realise, "Yeah, yeah, there's a whole lot of things wrong with him, but I mean different than usual." Though Hercules hated to say anything bad about his friends, he couldn't really deny that Icarus is certainly... different from others.

Just like Hercules said, Icarus came cruising into the lunchroom, dressed in different clothes as well as acting different, with Maelstrom saying out loud, "Why is he acting like a very bad version of Hades!?"

Before anyone could say anything, Icarus ended up crashing into Maelstrom, who ended up crashing into Cassandra, who knocked Hercules off his seat, "HEY YA CRAZY CATS! Hows it hanging huh!? I see they've opened a new door to the place, should make things easier huh!" Icarus exclaimed, as well as pointing to the opening that Hercules had accidentally made with the tray and meat loaf.

A dizzy Hercules was getting up, while Cassandra and Maelstrom had confused looks, both not really knowing how to respond to such an entrance.

While the group was eating, Hercules decided to try and get some answers, though Icarus ended up insulting Hercules slightly because of his imitation, which caused Maelstrom and Cassandra to raise their eyebrow at, since it was a good imitation, until Icarus blurted out that Hades took him to the Underworld to study the god in action.

This got the brothers to try and talk some sense into the brain-fried boy, but Icarus wasn't listening, until it hit him that Hercules was playing Zeus, where he thinks that Hercules was "in-character" of Zeus, though the brothers tried to talk to Icarus again, it still didn't work since Icarus walked away, which gave the brothers a headache.

Opening Night

Everything seemed to be going well, all the guests were getting to their seats, not only that but the gods were getting in their own seat as well, with Ares in his seat calling for some nectar to be delivered to him, with Hermes showing the king and queen of the gods to their seats, though Hera was a little upset, "Dear couldn't you have somehow talked Maelstrom into joining the play, I hate the fact that both our sons at in it."

Zeus knows Hera was upset, "I agree dear, but you know how stubborn the boy can be, once he's set his mind on something he follows through with it, besides, he is apart of the play, kinda, I mean, he's been helping Hercules with his lines and acting, from what I heard he even got a few of the girls to help make his costume even better."

Though Hera was still put off at the idea of one of her sons having a large group of women falling for him, she can't really deny that both her son and the girls are happy together, being the goddess of marriage being a big part of it.

Though what nether gods knew was that Aphrodite had a knowing smile, since she spent most of her time off watching Maelstrom for any drama, though she must admit things certainly became hot and heavy when she watched a drunk Maelstrom having his way with those Nymphs he saved, she was fanning her face for weeks after that, though it did make her laugh at is expression the day after, when he saw all the naked nymphs around him, having pleased smiles.

Before the two gods could continue their discussion, along with being interrupted from her thoughts, Ares turned to talk to the king and queen, "Hey, where's Hades, I thought we ALL had to be here!?"

Zeus gave a huff, "Oh, that big baby's probably still upset that nobodies doing his story." Though Zeus was happy that Ares managed to change the subject for him, since Hera was about to continue their talk, Aphrodite was a little upset about being interrupted from her thoughts, but she knows she has to pay attention to the play.

Backstage

Right now the students were getting ready for their parts, though Homer was interviewing Adonis, what nether noticed was a certain red fox having a devious smirk on it's face, "But I do like gravy- GAH!?" Unfortunately before Adonis could finish a bowl of gravy fell on his head, covering him in the meat-drippings.

Kurama on the other hand, was on his back struggling to breath from his prank on the stuck up prince, all the while thinking, 'I know I've been targeting the idiot most of the time, but it keeps getting funnier everytime I prank him!" Right now the fox was having difficulty breathing, being thankful the gods blessed him otherwise he'd probably die laughing, though with his leg twitching that probably wasn't a good thing.

Thankfully someone picked him up, knocking from his laughing fit, turns out it was Cassandra, though she had a smirk on her face, "Come on boy, best to make our get-away before the gravy-covered prince points his finger at you." With that the fox and girl made it to their seats, next to the other girls and their boyfriend, who managed to pass the new and improved costume to Hercules. (A.N. Bet ya thought I forgot about Kurama didn't cha! lol.)

Maelstrom smiled at the two, once they sat down Maelstrom gave a peck to Cassandra's cheek and gave a rub to Kurama's head, while Cassandra sat on his right, Tempest sat on his left, with Cerea sitting in front of him with her head nestled on his legs, while he was running his hands through her hair, with the centaur-girl having her back-legs to the side of her, since she needed three seats, Rachnera was sitting behind Maelstrom, having her arms crossed on his shoulders, with her head perched on top of his own, with the spider-girl pushing her chest into his back.

As the girls have settled, enjoying Maelstrom's company (embarrassment for Rachnera), the play began, with the teacher fumbling over his words, along with pleas of not being smite, though when he gave a broccoli as a sacrifice to the gods, Maelstrom and the girls heard Ares voice yell out, "YO PAL! MAKE MINE MUTTON!"

Maelstrom looks behind them seeing an upset Ares, "Huh, I guess the gods are going through the whole "dieting" thing, or something."

The girls ended up "shhing" him, making him grumble at them, which caused the girls to giggle at his response.

Icarus began his part, though the peculiar thing was when he began the gods felt themselves becoming sleepy, slowly closing their eyes to slumber, while Maelstrom was he could feel himself slowly nodding, though he was still awake, almost like being in a boring class where you try to stay awake to listen to the teacher, but the teacher was droning on about the same question and answer.

He couldn't even think straight, "I-I (yawn!) guess the girls (yawn!) tired me out more than I thought last night!?"

He was trying to stay awake but it was a uphill battle, though before long Hercules was on stage, using his improved acting skills thanks to the brothers training, where Icarus finally gave Hercules the mask, though once Hercules used his strength to throw the mask away Maelstrom became fully awake now.

"H-Huh!? What!? Who!? Wow, I think my drowsiness had something to do with that Mask, good thing Herc threw it away."

"U-Um, M-Master, I-I a-am h-happy that y-y-y-ou are (ah!) feeling more a-a-awake now, b-b-b-but can you please w-w-w-wait until we have r-r-r-returned home!"

Hearing the voice, Maelstrom looked down and blushed bright red, as it turned out, during his drowsiness, he had accidentally began groping Cerea's breasts through her toga, quickly pulling his hands away, Maelstrom quickly apologised to the centaur, though she forgave him she explained that it wasn't what he was doing that upset her but that he was doing it in a public place.

With that out of the way and the gods waking back up, though one goddess was denying a certain dream involving a certain blond demigod, the group was happy that Icarus and Hercules won the award together, though it became unpleasant when Icarus gave a smooch to Hercules's cheek.

"And with that we are out of here!" Says Maelstrom to his girl, with each one agreeing with Maelstrom they quickly made their getaway.

As the group were leaving, with each girl asking about why he was groping Cerea, though they enjoyed Maelstrom's embarrassment, with Cerea's own embarrassment being cute, a volcanic explosion happened close to the theatre, making Maelstrom look at it in puzzlement, "Huh, I wonder what set that off!?"

With the girls shrugging their shoulders, though as they were walking three of the girls were making plans on their repayment, with Maelstrom having no clue what they have in store for him.

The End.

There you have it, it was a bit difficult, since it was an Icarus involved episode, along with Hades, but I think I did well with managing to focus on Maelstrom and allowing him to help Hercules in the play.

Though if everyone feels that the episode should be more explained, feel free to watch it on (www. the watch cartoon online. tv/) for a better understanding, since I mostly skip the canon parts.

As for Aphrodite, I'm not gonna say anything, I'll leave that for the future since I don't want to spoil anything.

I Do Not Own Naruto Or Hercules.