Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Percy stared at the screen with unexplainable rage. Filled with both horror and disgust as the movie continues. 

All she could think as her body trembled in anger. Was that Raisa– Roa whatever her name was would never!

She crossed her arms, making a face as everyone else began to sing. At least the song was good…

Back when the movie first came out…

Athena started crying in the first few minutes of the movie, while Poseidon raged. 

“WAIT, WAIT! ATHENA IS INTRODUCED, BUT NOT ME! WHY IS MY APPEARANCE ONLY IN CAMEOS!! I WAS HER PARENT TOO!” 

Hera just stared at the sky, as though begging for someone to answer all her unanswered questions. 

“You know, perhaps—” Zeus starts, but is kicked by Hera so hard that he’ll be feeling it for years. 

“Hera!” He exclaims. 

Hera just blanks, says. “Opps, sorry,” Not meaning it all. “I thought you were agreeing that it should have happened is all, but that can't be.” Then with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Right, dear husband?” 

He gulps, seeing pure plain murder in her eyes. “Of course.” 

Apollo just looked at the movie like his soul had been snatched. “I’d never made her cry…” He muttered. “At least… I don’t think I did… Dio… did I ever..” 

Slurping his drink, Dionysus takes one disgusted look at his brother’s pathetic face. “Do you really wanna know?” He says gruffly, which makes Apollo’s face crumble.  “Of course not, you idiot!”

The grand chamber was illuminated by golden light. Adorned with mythical and etherical decorations that shimmered, in the center of the room was a golden cradle where the newborn baby laid as his parents lovingly gazed down on him. Zeus had his arm around Hera who snuggled closer with a content smile. 

Outside the chambers the gods waited anxiously for the proud parents to present the new heir to the throne. As they gathered and whispered to each other, not many paid attention to the godlings that squirmed their way out of the commotion. 

“Come on Rai!” Artemis whined, pulling a resistant Raisa from her hiding spot. “It’ll only be for a few minutes.” 

“I don’t know.” Raisa whispered, clutching the pillar she was hiding behind. “What if my mom comes looking for me?” 

Finally grasping Raisa away from the pillar, Artemis states. “Then she’ll understand, now come on!” They wander off, Artemis leading the way, while Raisa looks around frettfully. 

Artemis grabs her hand and leads her to the first exit of the palace and into the gardens. 

“Okay, we’re here.” Artemis says, pulling Raisa along into a section of the garden where a pond was. “This is where we’ll practice!” Raisa stared at her reflection in the pond, her face full of doubt. 

“What if I can’t do it?” Raisa says, crunching down to poke at the water. Watching as the ripples form from her poke. Scaring the baby fish away from where she poked. 

“Don’t be like that!” Artemis scolds. “You’ll get this in no time! Now watch what I do and repeat it.” Unaware they had been followed by Apollo, who was crunching down hiding behind the bushes watching. A pout on his face as he was not invited to join.

He watches as Artemis jumps up and down, with excitement as Raisa makes a bubble of water float in the air with a baby fish swimming in circles inside. Apollo’s eyes glow directing the sunlight into the water bubble. 

The sunlight reflecting from the water distracts Raisa from her concentration, bursting the water bubble soaking both Artemis and her, Raisa lunges to grab the falling fish before it hits the ground, she lands on the ground staining her dress. 

Apollo smirks, making his way to them. 

“What's this?” Apollo asked, twirling a ball of sunlight on his finger. “Practicing magic?’ His gaze turned to Raisa, who looked down her cheeks flushing in embarrassment. “After what happened last time?” Raisa cringes back as the accident flashes back into her mind. “Didn’t you make the land dry up?” 

Apollo, dismissing the ball of light, does a thinking pose. “Oh no wait.” Apollo snaps his fingers, his tone teasing. “That was right after you turned our teacher into a starfish.” 

“Oh stop talking, Apollo!” Artemis says, stomping her foot onto the ground, glowering at her twin. “She’s trying her best!” 

Unaware their argument was gaining the attention of the other godlings, they whispered amond each other, making Raisa fidget grabbing the hems of her dress. 

“If you ask me, she’s a little strange.” 

“Can’t even control her powers..” 

“No wonder her parents never let her out of sight, she just causes problems.” 

Raisa froze, heart hammering louder as the whispers continued to grow, feeling tears threatening to spill as it blurred her vision. Knowing their eyes were on her, made her feel small with every snicker and whisper that left their mouth.

She couldn’t show weakness, she couldn’t cry, not now.

Raisa’s eyes landed on the lake, where the little fishes were swimming around. Concentrating, eyes glowing and the water slowly rised up and formed a ball of water. Holding her breath, she concentrated on keeping its shape, the water flickered, spilling. 

“It was just teasing!” Apollo says, unaware of the damage he made. “Rai-Rai can handle it, can’t she?” Turning to Raisa's direction he’s met with a ball of water. 

SPLASH! 

“AAH!” Apollo screeches, as the water splashes all over him. He wipes his face to see Raisa stalking off, leaving him soaked. 

The godlings watching from afar snicker. Artemis putting her hands on her hips, smirks. “See? I told you to stop messing with Raisa!” 

Apollo scowls, crossing his arms and looks away from his sister’s gaze and towards the other children godlings. His face grows red as he notices them there for the first time laughing. His face falls as he realizes he must have brought attention to Raisa’s practice; which he only wanted to be part of. 

“Apollo? Artemis?” The twins look at each other and then scurry off towards their mother. Who was no doubt looking for them. 

“Mom, mom! Apollo was being—”

“Shut up Arty!” 

“Don’t call me that!” 

“Raisa, darling.” Athena calls out, looking for her daughter. “Where are you?” 

Sniff. Sniff. 

Athena hears a familiar sound and see’s a statue of Poseidon standing holding his trident looking ahead. She gazes up at the statue and scowls, however her gaze softens as she makes her way around and see’s her daughter sitting on the ground sniffing. 

Raisa, seeing the shadow, looks up. Eyes red and puffy from crying, her small form trembling. 

“Oh sweetheart.” Athena coos, seeing that her daughter’s dress was muddy. “What happened?” 

“Am I a failure?” Raisa asks, wiping away her tears. 

“Oh honey, no.” Athena says, kneeling down. “Who told you that? I’ll have a stern talk with them!” 

“No one.” Raisa says, looking away. “But everyone probably thinks so.” 

Athena pulls her daughter into an embrace not caring if she gets her own gown dirty. “Sweatheart, if this about your magic —” 

“It’s not just that!” Raisa interrupts. “I can’t concentrate like everyone, I need to keep moving, but I'm so clumsy, I cause trouble for everyone.” 

“Oh sweetheart.” Athena says, embracing her daughter tighter, holding her like a precious jewel. “It’s okay, you're uniquely special just like every god on Olympus, and if they say otherwise. Then they’re a lying liar who lies.” 

Raisa leans into her mothers embrace, tired. Yet, comforted even if slightly. Athena then leans aways and with a wave of her hand, Raisa was cleaned up and hair pulled into a braid with a single seashell hanging on the back of her head. 

“Now.” Athena says, standing up and carrying her daughter. “Let’s go meet the new prince, shall we?”  

Raisa, nodds and makes a gesture to get down. Athena lets her down and however holds Raisa's hand. They both walk into the palace where the other gods have lined up to meet the new heir. 

As Athena and Raisa walk up the stairs of the Palace to meet the new heir of Olympus, Hades storms out. 

Athena clutches Raisa's hands and shifts to cover her. “Hades.” Athena says, nodding her head stiffly to acknowledge the god. However, curious Raisa peeks out from her mothers skirt to look up at the god of the underworld. 

“Athena.” Hades nods, without stopping. However, his gaze looks down to meet sea-green eyes. 

He halts. 

“Is that the little Tyke that stirred up a commotion?’ Hades asked, curious. “The one born from the fountain?” 

Athena stills. “She is my daughter.” 

“I see.” Hades said, then crouched down to Raisa level. Who stares back fearless and curious, they stare at each other. Hades then reaches out and in front of Raisa, his hands lit up in fire and then dims a blue diamond laid on his hand. “I believe this belongs to you.” 

Raisa looks up to her mother, who hesitantly nods. 

Raisa turns to look at the diamond in Hades hand and then up to him, she reaches for it. “Thank you?” 

He smiles and then disappears.

Raisa blinks and then stares at the diamond, she holds up to the sun and from there she sees another diamond shine inside the diamond. She puts it down, brows furrowed as that should be impossible. 

“Raisa.” Her mother spoke. “It's time to go.” 

Raisa turns to her mother, who smiles waiting a few steps away. 

For a moment, as the wind breezes through. Raisa feels even smaller, glancing at the diamond and then back to where Lord Hades stalked off too. Feeling a chill run up her spine, Raisa scurries up the stairs to her mother, shoving the diamond into a pouch hidden in her dress. 

The entire room was filled with gods. Hera and Zeus stood by the cradle with smiles on their, proud as the piles of presents continued to grow bigger behind them. 

The godlings surrounded the cradle looking down on the newborn, who was hugging a baby pegasus. 

Athena and Raisa entered the room, hand in hand. They go ignored as the gods converesed with each other and laugh, drinking from their goblets. 

Walking straight up to the king and queen to congratulate them for the new heir being born. Who look up with beaming smiles of pride at the sight of them. 

“Athena!” Zeus exclaimed, standing up and walking to hug the goddess. 

“Lord Zeus.” Athena dips her head in acknowledgement, side stepping the hug. Hera smiles as she comes up to Zeus' side. “Lady Hera.” 

“Athena.” Hera greets warmly, then turns her attention to the former youngest of the godlings.”Raisa!” Hera holds her hand out. “Come, why don’t you meet the new heir?” 

Zeus laughs as Raisa is nudged by her mother to follow the Queen. Raisa follows the queen to the cradle that held the newborn. 

“I hope for the both of you to get along.” Hera said, as Raisa looked over the cradle to see the newborn. “Perhaps, one day, he’ll be your future husband.” 

Raisa paused, looking at  the baby that looked at her with his happy wide eyes and drool dripping from the side of his mouth. Then scrunches up her nose in disgust

. 

Hera laughes, putting her hand on Raisa’s shoulder. “I had the same reaction when I first met Zeus. But one day, perhaps you’ll see him in a different light.” 

Raisa gives the queen a look that says. ‘Yeah, right.’ 

Zeus laughs loudly, clapping a hand on Athena’s shoulder. “How about that Athena?” Zeus asks. “Cementing out relation by our children marrying, someday?” 

Athena looks uncomfortable. “Uh erm… she just a little a girl, Lord Zeus… How about we not make promises..? And think of your son's training, you know I hear the gods of the east have excellent schooling, that would be suitable for your son when he is a bit older… he’d learn lightning and it may be far…  though not far enough away from my daughter.” Athena muttered the last part under her breath. 

“Hmm, what was that?” Zeus asks, turning to Athena. Who forces a pleasant smile on her face. “I said, it may be far but that he’d build his strength from the ground up, just like you.” 

“Hm.” Zeus rubs his chin, thinking about it. 

None are aware of young Apollo not too far from them, frowning, arms crossed as he overhears the conversation. 

The moon bathed a room in gentle silver. Raisa was nestled in her soft, cloud-like bed, a smile on her face, dreaming about the heroic quest she’d go on with her friends, all while leaving Apollo in the dust. 

She sank further into her blankets, just as dream she made a water dragon with impeccable control. When suddenly she lost control of it, instead of aiming to the target, (cough Apollo cough) the water dragon turned and dived towards her. 

Alarmed, Raisa stepped back and suddenly she fell into the lake.

SPLASH!

Suddenly, she was in a nursery room. Not any nursery, Hercules nursery.. Gasping for air, she looks up and see’s shadows creeping up to the cradle. 

She tries to stand up, tries to speak. 

As two creatures loom over Hercules, who laid in his crib, laughter in their voices. She tries harder to stand, focusing on her magic and stopping them. 

However, it’s unsuccessful and just like the scary stories she was told by her mom. The monsters snatch the baby away. 

GASP!

Raisa wakes up from her nightmare and sits up on her bed, panting. Her heart racing and sweat dripping down her race, as she feels a string that had been tied with another string snap. Leaving her cold, just then the door creaked open. 

Athena peeked into the room to see Raisa up. 

Athena rushes to her daughter, knelting beside the bed and enveloping her daughter into a hug. “Oh, thank the fates.” Athena says, kissing her daughter’s head. 

“Mother?” Raisa says, looking at her mother’s worried face. “What’s wrong?” 

“Oh my dear starlit,” Athena whispers, hugging her daughter tightly. “Something terrible.” 

Hercules had finally convinced Phil that he was ready. 

They flew on Peaguses, Hercules screamed in delight all the while Phil clung to Hercules for dear life. 

“So what's in Thebes?” Hercules asked, just as Peagus started to descend and land on the ground. Phil jumped off and hugged the ground, happy to be back on solid ground. 

“What's not in Thebes?’ Phil corrected. “It’s a tough town, but with lots of problems. A good place to start your rep!” 

A woman’s scream. 

“Like that.” 

“Hyahh.” Hercules grabs Phil and then directs pegasus towards the damsel in distress. 

“Alright, kiddo.” Phil says, clinging to Hercules as they race towards the scream. “This is it! Remember to first anaylze the situation and —”

From the bushes they see a woman being chased around by a centaur, Phil narrows his eyes on the woman. Putting a hand to stop Hercules from going, who raises a brow. “Phil?” He questions. 

“It can’t be.” Phil mutters. 

“Do you know her?” Hercules couldn’t help but question his trainer. Just as the water from the pond emerges up and swipes at the centaur. 

“I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE!”  The guys flinch, just as the water comes down hard, however the centaur emerges from the water and runs at her, sword in hand. 

The woman flinches, however she raises the water to shield her. Moving back and dodging each swing from the centaur. 

“Oh, Phil?” Hercules asks, as his trainer mutters under his breath. “Why is she…. That no good… rotten!” 

Pegasus and Hercules share a look. 

The woman raises the water once more, surrounding the centaur and freezes the water. Panting as she does so. 

“Ha!” She exclaims, standing up and getting close to the sphere. “I told you to leave me alone.” She crosses her arms and sticks her tongue out. 

Hercules blinks and looks star-struck. “That’s amazing.” Then turns to look at Phil, who shakes his head. 

The woman has her back turned, when the centaur rams the sphere. Breaking it, the woman barely has enough time to turn when the centaur grabs her from the waist. 

“Ahh.” The woman screams, as the centaur throws her over his shoulder and hauls her like a bag of potatoes. Kicking and hitting his back, she growls as looks at the water and begins to move it. 

“Ah not again little witch.” The centaur comments, yanking the gem tied her hair back. 

“HEY!” The woman shrieks. “NESSUS, GIVE THAT BACK OR SO HELP ME–” 

“Sweatheart, I might like them feisty, but you're not giving me much of a choice here.” He slapped the woman's behind. 

Making her gasp in outrage. 

“Oh that's it.” Hercules says, angry. No longer waiting for Phil to give him the go ahead, she needed help and he was going to help her. 

“Wait kid!” Phil snaps out of his thoughts, however Hercules was no longer listening. Phil sighs and then turns to Pegasus. “You do remember who she is right?” 

Pegasus, cocks his head and turns to look at the scene and neighs in negative. 

Hercules steps into the water, putting his hands on his hips as The woman starts spitting out threats. “If you don’t get your hands off me, I promise you-–” 

“Halt!” 

The centaur and the woman both turn to look in his direction. Giving the intruder the same disgrunted looks. However, the woman dismisses the young man quickly and takes advantage of the distraction. She swings her foot down as hard as it can to  the centaur midsection. 

Making the centaur grunt and then haul her off from his shoulder and deciding to keep her in his hand grasp and slightly further away from him. 

“Step aside two legs.” Nessus says. 

“Pardon me, good…” Hercules looks down to check. “..Sir, I’ll have to ask you to release the young–”

The woman stops struggling to turn to look in direction as best as she could. “Keep moving Junior.” She says and points in a different direction. “I’ve got this.”

Hercules, taken aback, looks at her. “...Lady, but ar-aren’t you a damsel in distress?” 

“I am a lady.” The woman says, once again swinging her foot down and the centaur grunts in pain. “I am in distress,” She gives him a flirtatious smile “I can handle this. Have a nice day.” 

Hercules is stunned, coughs. “Uh- ahem- ma’am, i’m afraid you might be too close to the situation to realize–” He takes out his sword, Nessus immediately reacts and punches Hercules sending him flying. 

 “My hero.” The woman deadpans, then pulls the centuars beard, and moves her leg to kick the arm that tries to get his beard out of her grasp.

The woman perks as she hears a familiar voice. “What are you doing?” Pick up the sword!” 

“Phil?” The woman mutters, looking for the direction of the voice.

“Sword- ri-right!” Hercules stumbles on picking up his sword and The woman winces as he is once again flung in the air and slams into a rock. 

“Talk about hard headed.” She mutters, before turning back to the centaur.

“Hey, now.” The centaur says.Trying to pull her away from his beard. 

She continued pulling with one hand, while the other tried to grasp the diamond off the centaur. When she hears the sound of someone running, splashing the water. She glances back, just as Hercules slams the centaur into the waterfall, letting the woman go. 

Splash. 

Hercules turns to see Phil and Peagus cheering, just as the woman rises up from the water. Raven hair covering her face as she coughs out water. 

“Oh gee, I’m really sorry miss.” Hercules says, picking the woman up fireman style. Then sets her down on a huge tree root. The woman brushes her hair back and he is met with sparkling sea-green eyes. 

“Wow–” He says, mind blanking out. 

“Roar!” The centaur got back up, shaking the water off. Grabbing his sword, his hind legs brush back as he gets ready to charge.

“Excuse me miss.” Hercules says and turns back to the centaur. Just as his trainer and the pegasus come close. 

“Nice work! Excellent!” 

“Phil?” The woman asks, raising a brow. Turning to look at the Satyr, who froze and slowly turned to look at her. Slowly looking up to meet her gaze, he acknowledges. “Rai.” 

They stare at each other, silent 

“So who’s the wonderboy out there? I thought you quit.” 

Phil’s lips pucked, staying silent. Making her roll her eyes. “Oh come on, it’s not like I'll try and take him from you.” 

“Oh really?’ Phil asks. “It’s not like you haven’t done so in the past.”

“First of all, not true and you know it.” Raisa says, crossing her arms. “Second, I thought we had a mutual agreement that hero’s are more trouble than they're worth.” 

Phil scoffs.

Raisa sighs, and then looks up. “Pegasus?” The winged-horse cocks its head and looks at her, then comes closer as if to nuzzle her, coming close to her hair. 

“Hey, boy?” Raisa says, tilting her head. “Remember me?’ 

Phil scowls, crossing his arms. However smirks as Pegasus goes for her hair and chews on it. “Hey! Nonono get off.” Raisa tries to pull her long hair out of the pegasus mouth. 

“I used to feed you!” 

Phil smiles and then turns to focus on Hercules, who was still fighting the centaur. When he gets the idea, jumping on the centauts back who begin to buckle and try to take Hercules off of him. 

Hercules smiles, holding on as though the centaur was a bull. Hollering. “Yee-hah! Yahoo!” All while timining it, he grabs the branch and with his legs holds on to Nessus and flips them over, slamming Nessus into the broken tree remains. 

He jumps back into the lake, all while Nessus turns to glare at him. Hercules punches Nessus so hard it causes him to fly a couple feet up and knock his iron hooves off his feet. When he slams back into the lake, he gasps for air, only to be knocked out completely as the iron hooves fall down on his head one by one. 

Pegasus then jumps on Nessus back, dancing and then slamming his head further into the water. 

Raisa winces, closing an eye. “I don’t remember him being that violent, let alone taking pleasure in doing that.” Then she turns to Phil and says. “I don’t know why pegues is with you, but I blame his obnoxious personalty on you.” 

Phil just smirks at her and jumps down. 

“Rein it in, rookie!” Phil hollars as he makes his way to his trainee. “You can get away with mistakes like those in the minor decathlons, but this is the big leagues!” 

Hercules laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. “I beat him. Didn’t I?” 

“You let your guard down!” Phil pointed accusingly, making Pegausus huff. “In favor of making a pair of big goo-goo eyes! D-oh! It's like I keep tellin' ya. You gotta stay focused, and you-- “ 

Causing her to roll her eyes, but a small smile makes its way onto her face as she watches them. 

They all huddle, celebrating. 

Like a team . 

Her smile vanishes, returning to drying her hair. 

“Next time, don't let your guard down because of–Hey, hey where are you going!?” Phil yells at Hercules who makes his way to Raisa

“Are you, uh, all right, Miss, uh—” Hercules stutters out, as Raisa gazes up to look at him. Her sea-green eyes are memorizing. 

“Call me, Roa.” She says, smiling. “Most of my friends call me Roa, or at least they used to.” She winks at him, making him flustered. “Now did they give you a name along with all—” She smirks, eyeing his pectorials and then to his gaze. “Rippling pectorials?” 

“Uh, i’m, um—” Hercules struggles to form a sentenca his brain malfunctioning. All while Phil runs and intervenes. “Oh no! Nope!” Phil shuts, pushing Hercules away and points an accusing finger at Roa. 

“Not today missy, not ever! You hear me!” 

“Phil!” Hercules shouts scandalized. “What are you doing?” 

“Saving you from signing your death warrent!” Phil shouts, glaring at him and turns back to Roa. Who looks away, annoyed. 

“And I already told you.” Roa says. “I had nothing to do with that!” 

“Your Jewl tells me differently.” Phil spats out, eyeing the gem. To which Roa quickly hides it, frowning. “This and that have no corralation!” 

Then turning to look at Hercules. “Well wonderboy, sorry to cut this session short. But I have things to do.” Flipping her hair as she passes Phil, who had turned to make sure she was leaving. 

He got smacked by her long hair, making him scowl even harder. 

“Wait!” Hercules says panicked. “Don’t leave!” 

“What do you mean, don’t leave? Let her leave!” Phil cries out in outrage. 

Going ignored, as Roa looks back to Hercules. Tilting her head as she raises a delicate brow. Hercules couldn’t even remember his name. 

Couldn’t remember what he was going to say, so he blurts out the first thing he thinks as to not make himself look even more of a fool. “Just… just how-how’d you get mixed up with the,uh–”

“Pinhead with hooves.” Roa contributes. Closing her eyes with a sigh. “Well you know how men are. “No" means "Yes" and "get lost" means "take me, I'm yours". Don't worry, Shorty here can explain it to ya later.”

 Phil growls, making Roa smirk at him. “Well, thanks for everything, wonderboy. It's been a real slice.”

“Wait!” Hercules calls out once more. “Um.. can we give you a ride?” 

To which Pegasus snorts and flies to the highest branch. 

Roa has the most deadpan stare at the stead and then to Hercules. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t like me.” 

Which didn’t make much sense to Roa, she used to feed him back when she was only Olympus. Though, she mused it was because of her aura that changed so much that Pegasus didn’t exactly recongize her as Raisa anymore. 

That or Pegasus just decided that he had a new favorite… Which made her curious as to who wonder boy was to catch Pegasus attention. 

“Pegasus? Oh no he’s very docile—” Hercules is cut off as he is hit with a branch. “Ow!” 

“Don’t worry.” Roa says, sauntering herself out. “I’m a big girl, I can tough it out, bye-bye, wonderboy!”

“I-i-it’s Hercules!” Hercules shouts, realizing he never told her his name. However she doesn’t even pause to look back. Just waves a hand and walks out of his life. 

“Bye…” Hercules says, shoulders slumping. “She's something, isn't she, Phil?” 

Who has been glaring silently this whole time, promising death with his eyes. “Yeah.” Phil says, shortly. “Something alright… Earth to Herc!” Snapping his fingers at the love struck fool. “Come in Herc! We got a job to do, remember? Thebes is waitin!” 

“Yeah.” Hercules says. “Thebes.” 

Raisa walked swiftly and silently. The sunlight streamed through the canopy, casting dappled patterns on the mossy ground as she darted to one of the hidden entrances of the underworld.

The sunlight glows brighter in her direction, making Roa wince.. “Great.” She mutters, “He has me in sight.” She surged forward, slipping into the darker recesses of the forest, each step deliberate and quick, aiming to reach the underworld’s entrance before she was caught.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed through the trees, sharp and clear. “Raisa!”

Freezing Raisa in place, as she could hear the neighs coming for the sun horse and the wheels of the chariot turning. 

“Oh, great.” She muttered, turning around slowly, she saw Apollo drive in his golden chariot, the sunlight glinting off its polished surface. Making his way to her and stop when he was within reach of her. 

He grins and leans on his chariot, making her lean slightly away. 

Arms crossed, with a brow raised. 

“Apollo!” Raisa says, hiding the grimace on her face. “What are you doing here?” 

“I thought I heard you scream,” Apollo said, studying her, trying to find any marks that would indicate that she was harmed. “Though seeing that you're okay..” He smirks at her. “I'm guessing, you lost your— ?”

Raisa’s eyes flashes “I did not!” She snaps, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Making him raise his hands in defense. 

“Hey, I didn’t mean to offend.” Apollo quickly said, cursing himself for falling to his usual routine of teasing. “I just… I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

She looked away, her mind swirling with conflicting emotions. Her voice softened. “I appreciate your concern, Apollo. But I don’t need it.”

The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a golden glow on her face, illuminating the strength beneath her weariness.

“You know,” Apollo began, his voice gentle but tinged with sincerity, “There is a way out, a quicker process to regain your status…..”

Raisa’s brow furrowed, her defenses flickering. “There’s another way?” she echoed, skeptical.

Apollo looked away, reaching nto a pocket of his tunic and withdrew a small, ornate box. He quickly hid it behind his back, as if reluctant to reveal something so fragile. His cheeks flushed, and he hesitated before speaking again.

“You could just marry—” he started, but Raisa cut him off with a sharp glare.

“Don’t even joke,” she snapped, her voice icy. “No one wants to marry a jinx.”

Apollo’s expression softened, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes. “You’re not a jinx, Raisa,” he said quietly. “You’re stronger than to believe that.”

“Then how come every hero leaves!” Raisa throws out, turning her back to him. “Every single time I think, I finally got it right! It ends the same! Even B-” She stops herself, then sighs. “Marrying is not an option, I sowed what I reaped and mortal is what I will be.” 

Then giving Apollo one last smile. “But thank you, it’s nice knowing that someone at least still cares.” 

Apollo stops himself from speaking, stops himself from reassuring her that everyone still thinks of her and wants her to come back. It was true they did, but no one knew that she was mortal, no one knew she gave up her powers in order to save the hero she was guiding. 

So he watches her leave. 

When a pair of tiny bunnies suddenly popped from the bushes, their big, wide eyes looking up at him. One of them, a fuzzy little creature, nibbled on his arm and then wiped its face with a tiny paw. They were adorable—so innocent, so harmless. But Apollo’s expression twisted into one of disdain as he looked down at them.  

“Oh, look at that,” he said, voice bland and dismissive. “A pair of rodents looking for a theme park.”

“Who are you calling a rodent?” squeaked Pain, still in his bunny form, voice high-pitched and indignant. “I’m a bunny—an adorable, baby bunny!”

The other bunny, smaller and trembling slightly, nodded vigorously, nuzzling into Pain’s side as if defending their honor. “And I'm his gopher!” Panic says, proudly. 

Apollo scoffed, crossing his arms with a dismissive shrug. “Cute,” he muttered, though his eyes remained cold. “But I’ve seen more charm in a stone statue.”

The tiny creatures, once bunnies, shimmered suddenly, transforming into small, vibrant figures—one pink, one blue—each with mischievous grins and playful eyes. They leapt onto Apollo’s chariot with ease, sitting comfortably as if they owned the place. 

“Lover boy,” Panic sneered, voice dripping with mockery. “Why don’t you just give up?”

Pain, still grinning, added with a sly tone, “If she ever finds out it was your fault… well… be happy you still have that deal with Hades.”

They then shrieked as Apollo swung his arm back at them, they laughed vanishing into dark mists. Apollo eyes burn gold. 

His jaw clenched, and his fists tightened on the reins. 

Hades lounged back in his ornate chair, a wry smile playing on his lips as he casually traced patterns on the map sprawled across the table. The flickering blue flames of his hair shimmered lazily, casting an eerie glow over the room. Coins out of thin air, swirling into neat stacks before vanishing again with a soft metallic chime. 

He was utterly relaxed—so much so that he hadn’t even noticed Raisa’s presence. She let out a breath of relief, slipping into the shadows nearby, careful not to disturb him. Her eyes darted to the map, which had monster figurines stationed in places they would cause the most trouble.

When Hades puts down a parchment, tilting his glasses to get a better look at her. His gaze was sharp, playful, and utterly unbothered. “So…?” he drawled, resting his cheek into his hand with a smirk. “Do I have a river guardian, or what?”

Roa has a wide eyed look, then flutters her eyes. “River guardian?” she echoed, voice sweet and innocent. “You know who needs a river guardian—that measly creature who’s more trouble than they’re worth? What you really need is… fire guardians...”

“Fire guardians?” Hades said, deadpan. “You mean those little buggers that can be taken out with one stomp of a foot?” 

Raisa’s voice shot back with fiery defiance. “What you see as small,  tiny—”

Hades cut her off before she could finish, his voice echoing with amusement. “Beatable!”

Raisa rolled her eyes, undeterred. “And beatable,” she pressed on, voice unwavering. “Is about the number—how many there are. Abundance. That’s what makes them dangerous—more than you think!”

“Raisa.” Roa flinches as for a brief second, she feels her essence come back to her, only for it to be torn away. Hades chuckled softly, a dark, wicked sound. “Roa, dear, sweet, little birdy,” he teased, voice dripping with mock affection. “I thought you had this in the bag. My little firecracker, I thought you had it all under control!”

He slams his hands onto the table, standing up. Making her cross her arms, looking defiant, from where she stood, even as he approached her.  

“And yet,” he added, voice silky smooth, “I am now a river guardian short and one minion short for my uprising. How’s that for a plan falling apart?”

Raisa rolled her eyes. She’d seen this dance before—His plans, grand and sinister, always seemed to unravel at the last moment.

“I gave it my best shot.” Roa said, scowling. “You should have known this would have failed when you sent the former goddess of loyalty to do your bidding.” 

“Oh, Roa.” Hades said, voice dripping with mock sympathy, “Are you still on that?”

Her glare intensified, her patience thinning. “Besides,” she added, “I would have figured something out when Wonderboy showed up.”

Hades tilted his head, eyes narrowing as he looked her up and down with a strange, calculating expression. “Wonder who?” he asked, voice low and curious. Then, with a smirk that hinted at mischief, he continued, “And you needed help? Since when? No, wait—more importantly—someone was foolish enough to take you as a damsel?”

“First of all,” she said, “Wonderboy is someone called… Heracles, I think?” She waved dismissively, not noticing Hades freeze and eyes widened in shock. “I can be a damsel, when I want to be!” 

“I’m sorry… you said, who now?!” 

Just as Panic and Pain popp into the room, to which Hades zooms in on them. Making them flinch as they get glared at. Roa rolls her eyes and then says the name. 

“Heracles… no, wait…” Roa brows furrow. “Hercules is more like it…” Then with a puzzled expression. “Huh.. that's weird.” 

Hades makes a visible threat to his minions who shake, hugging each other. Then turns to Roa, with a strained smile. “What is?”

“I can’t seem to recall why that name itches at me.” Roa tilts her head as she grabs her chin to think.“I’d think I’d remember meeting some innocent farm boy—bright blue eyes, a smile that could melt steel, and a heart that.. Would sweep any woman off her feet.” 

Pain and Panic realize they know the name and who it belongs to, then quickly turn to make a run for it. When Hades grabs them from the neck and squeezes them, causing them to choke and beg for mercy. 

Hades, quick as a shadow, snatched them from their fleeing bodies, gripping their necks tightly in his claws. “Not so fast,” he hissed, squeezing until they squealed, begging desperately for mercy. “You’re not going anywhere until I get some answers.”

“M-Mercy! Please, Lord Hades! We didn’t mean—”  

“You said —” 

All the while Roa makes her way to a different room, musing.

Chapter Text

Chiron looked at the movie full of irritation. Of course. He thinks crossing his arms, he might be gone, but somehow he get’s the glory! His tail twitches and soon he looks away from the movie. 

Then again, they're giving him credit for Hercules for once. Chiron then thinks, looking thoughtful. I only ever taught Hercules for a short amount of time and that was mostly medicine and herbs… And most people then claimed Chiron as the full trainer of Hercules. 

Which was not true! Achilles? Yes, Theseus? Okay, he admits he wasn’t the best trainer back then, knowing his record of students doing something stupid and reckless and in general being bad people. 

However, that didn’t mean all of them were like that, just the most famous ones.

No more Disney movies. Chiron thinks, watching as Cabin 7 look enraged. “They're taking dad’s credit?!” someone yells, having to be restrained by some of the other campers. 

“How dare they!” Another camper 7 shouts. “Dad is always ready to save her, not him! ” 

“Our sister didn't need anyone to save her!” someone in cabin 6 shouts, standing up. Looking more and more like their mother, than Chiron is willing to admit. 

“How dare they make her a damsel in distress! Not one but twice!?” 

“Like hell mom wouldn’t know what's going on with our sister!” 

In the underworld…

“It can’t be that bad, can it?” Zagerous asked his father, sitting on the ground as he watched Alecto set up the movie screen. 

Hades, who sat on the throne, just shrugged. “Your mother has demanded the movie to be banned.”

“Then why are we watching it?” Melinoe asks. 

Hades then looks to Thantos and Hecate, both who’ve decided to join them on their family movie night. “Yes, why are we watching it?” Hades inquires, resting his cheek on his hand. 

Hecate grins, while Thantos munchs on his popcorn. “Its an aquired taste really.”

“It would explain why we’ll be meeting some of the creators of the movie, in a few days really.” 

“Hmm, that too.”

Hades raises a brow, while both his kids tilt their head. “It can’t be that bad, can it?” Melinoe asks. “Aunt Raisa is in it.” 

“The movie is about Hercules though.” Zagerous remarks, frowning. “Phil’s in it too, despite his name not being marked in history.” 

On Olympus…

Apollo was sharpening his arrows, looking more and more enraged. “They're really implying I would endanger Raisa, just to get her to marry me.” He mutters, eyes glowing. “And taking away my credit?”

He promised Raisa, he would always save her. All she needed was to ask, and he would be there. 

Not that she needed saving, she had always been able to defend herself. 

Apollo tested the tip of his arrow, drawing ichor from the slightest touch, good.

Meanwhile, Hercules and Phil were riding on Pegassus, as they reached the city of Thebes.

Hercules' eyes widened as he looked down on the city. “Wow.” He muttered, then to Phil he asked. “Is that really all one town?” 

Making Phil, who had been eyeing the city, smirk. “One town. A million troubles.” with a nostalgic expression, he continues. “The one and only Thebes. The big olive itself. If you can make it.” Gesturing to Thebes. “You can make it anywhere.” 

Pegasus starts descending to land in the middle of Thebes. Getting off of Pegasus., they finally landed on the solid grounds of Thebes.  “Stick with me, kid.” Phil said, pointing to himself, making sure that Hercules was looking at him. “This city is as dangerous as the women we just met.” 

“Roa?” Hercules asks, raising a brow. “She didn’t seem that dangerous to me?” 

“That's because you were too busy making goo-goo eyes.” Phil spat, crossing his arms. “And don’t be fooled by a pretty face, that's how they get you.”

Hercules brow furrows, even as they walk further into town. “Seems to me like you know her,” Hercules commented and then added curiously. “Do you?” 

Phil says nothing, but grabs Hercules back, before they get hit by a passing carriage. “Look where you’re goin’ numbskulls!” The Driver yelled as they continued to speed their way down the road. 

“Oi, We’re walkin’ here!” Phil shouts, raging his fist out. “See what I mean? I’m tellin’ you stop getting goo goo eyed about Ra–Roa” Phil nearly stutters out a different name, before automatically correcting it. 

Hercules in mid step, stops to look at Phil to question him. When in the corner of his eyes he see’s someone approach with a cloak. 

“Uhm.” Hercules starts, only to be taken back as the man opens his cloak. 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Phil jumps in between his student and as the man asks. “Wanna buy some sandals?

“He’s not interested, all right?” Phil says, harshly pushing the man away. “Come on, kid.” as another lunatic rushes past them claiming the end of the world is near.

“Yes,yes,” Phil says, waving the man away and then turns back to his student. “Just keep walking,  stare at the sidewalk if you have to. Just don’t make eye contact.” 

“Shouldn’t we…” Hercules trails off, looking at the man with concerned eyes. 

“You're a hero, not a doctor.” Phil reminds, pushing him. “But trust me kid, either way, you’re gonna be just what the doctor ordered. 

When they come aross a group of people surrounding a fountain, discussing the city problems. A woman crying as she washes her shawel in the water. “We lost everything in the fire.”

Hades’s eyes burned with fury as he slammed his hands onto the rocky ground, causing tremors that echoed through the underworld. His voice was sharp and commanding. “Just fix it! Fix it now!” he snarled, glaring at his minions as he threw them out of the shadowy depths. They tumbled back onto the surface with squeaks and grunts, landing unceremoniously on the rocky terrain.

Pain grimaced, rubbing his backside where he’d fallen, while Painic groaned, not moving an inch from his sprawled position on the ground. “Ow,” Pain muttered, wincing as he tried to sit up.

Panic, turned over onto his stomach, eyes wide with worry. “Great, just great,” he said, voice trembling. “How are we going to get rid of the kid now!?”

Their eyes darted across the landscape, trying to come up with a plan. When they spotted Roa. a shawl draped over her head, as she hummed and carried a basket, most likely to collect herbs.  

Pain nudged Painic, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Painic, scratching his head, looked confused. “Getting food to think things through?”

Pain rolled his eyes, then snapped, “No, you idiot! That’s not it!” He then paused as his stomach gurgled loudly, and then his expression shifted, a mixture of scheming and impatience. “Okay, fine—yes—but also… the kid has already met Roa, right?” 

Painic nodded. 

Allowing Pain to continue. “And if the kid is training to be a hero… then that trainer, must also be with him, right?”

Panic’s eyes widened, gleaming with understanding. “Oh, oh—!”

The two exchanged wicked grins. Without a sound, they vanished from their spot and reappeared not far from Roa, but just enough out of her line of sight to keep her unaware of their presence.

 They looked at each other, nodding with wicked satisfaction, and with a snap of their fingers, the gem nestled in Raisa's hair flickered to life.

Dark clouds swirled overhead, blotting out the sun, casting an eerie shadow over the land. The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly—a subtle but ominous sign of impending trouble. 

They waited for a couple of minutes, making sure to keep an eye on Roa to see if she had noticed the change. She hadn’t, so they then pushed a large boulder off the edge of a cliff, causing it to tumble down into the hidden lair of a sleeping hydra.

The creature’s huge, poisonous green eyes snapped open, glowing menacingly as it stirred from its slumber. Its many heads hissed and blinked, settling on the tiny figure below—Roa, who was collecting herbs. 

Pain and Panic grinned devilishly at each other. Then, with a quick, playful gesture, they transformed into two little boys.

“My you look adoarbale.” Panic said, as Pain grinned. “Why thank you, so do you unfortunately.” Panic stuck a tongue out at him. 

“Rock, paper, scissors, on who become’s the victim?” Panic asked. 

“You know it.” Pain confirmed. They played a quick game—rock, paper, scissors—and Pain loses. “Not fair.” He complains. “I made this plan!” 

In a flash, Pain as a little boy throws a ball and pretends to run after it. Making sure to stand right in front of the entrance.

The Hydra comes out, looming over the ‘little boy’ who slowly looks up from his ball and to the monster. 

“AAAHHH!!!!” He screams at the top of his lungs, startling Roa and capturing her attention. Who stands up quickly, forgetting about the basket, and with a glowing hand runs towards the danger. 

Just like they wanted. 

Panic, in his disguise of a little boy, darts off to the city of Thebes, racing to find Hercules and warn him of the chaos unfolding.

“That's it!” A man screeched. “‘I’m movin’ to Sparta!” 

Just as Hercules stepped forward, clearing his throat and puffing out his chest, in order to look more confident than he really was. “Excuse me. It uh ‘ahem’, seems to me that what you folks need is a hero.” Hercules says, then gives a smile, looking more hopeful than confident. 

Which makes them look at him skeptical.

The woman huffed, crossing her arms, as the old woman beside her look at him in disgust. 

The man of the family sighed. “Yeah,” He said, rubbing the side of his face, skeptical in his tone “Who are you?” 

“I’m Hercules.” Hercules introduces himself, putting his hand on his hips and puffing his chest, like Phil was telling him to do. “And, uh, I happen to be… a hero.” 

The group stares at him, eyeing his strained smile and awkward pose, then glances at each other and bursts out laughing. 

Making Hercules deflat his chest. 

“Is that so?” The old man of the group asked, holding his cane to hold him up. “Have you ever saved a town before?” 

“Uh, no, uh, not exactly, but –” Hercules stumbled, trying to gather the right words. But the old man continued on. “Reversed a natural disaster?” 

“Well..” Hercules trailed off, then admitted. “No.” 

The old man’s son then snorted, interrupting the conversation, with a sneer. “So another chariot chaser, just what we needed.” 

The man’s wife shook her head, looking even more disgruntled. When phil stormed out of his hiding place and towards them, fuming. “Don’t you pea brains get it?!” He demanded.

Causing the group to side glance at the satyr, with a questioning brows, 

“This kid is a genuin—” 

“Isn’t that the goat-man that trained Achilles?” The young man interrupted tilting his head. While their mother snorts, dismissively. “No, that was the Atheninde, everyone knows that.” 

“Why you!” Phil saw red and was making his way to launch himself at the young man and women. 

“Wait a minute, you know the Athenide, Phil?” Hercules questions his mentor who gets upset with the civilans 

“Know her?” The fat lady retorted, looking at the hero strangely. “They were rivals, everyone knows that, except… Athenide did everything better, until he.” She jabs her finger at Phil, who was practically gnawing at Hercules arm, to attack them. “Gets involved.” 

“NOT TRUE!” Phil roars out. “THEY WERE MY STUDENTS FIRST! AND I TAUGHT THAT BRAT EVERYTHING SHE KNOWS!” 

“Phil!” Hercules shouts trying to calm him from attacking the civilains.

“Young man.” The woman says, looking at Hercules sternly. “What we need is a professional hero, not an amateur and unfortunately.” She then eyes Phil with disdain. “Heros are rare to come by since the athenide’s disappearance.” 

Then she and her family turn around to walk away. 

“Wait!” Hercules shouts, though still struggling with Phil. “Come back!” However it was too late they were gone. He sighs, as Phil yells out. “YEAH, YOU BETTER RUN!” 

Hercules lets go of Phil, who huffs and crosses his arms. “What was that?” Hercules asked, making Phil freeze. “And what about you teaching the athenide?”  

“Kid.” Phil says, not looking at Hercules. “That's ancient history. Back then I was a different person and so was she!” Pegasus, nieghs beside them, as though agreeing with Phil. 

Though Pegasus also eyed, Phil as though he wanted to kick with his hind legs as well. 

“So if it's in the past, what’s your problem –” Hercules was cut off, as Phil laughed. 

“What's my problem with the Atheni…” Phil sputtered, laughing. “What's my problem with her? Oh gee I don’t know, she’s bad luck, a jinx!” 

“Phil!” Hercules said, aghast, that his trainer would say something so horrible. 

“Look kid.” Phil sighed, tired.  “We didn’t have any problems, she was a cute little goddess, that would help me, then she got older. Suddenly, she didn’t need a mentor , hero’s came flocking far and wide to her.”

“It was fine at first,” Phil admitted with a long breath. “And then things happened left and right, they got hurt, they gave up or worse. It’s like she was cursed or something. Then.. potential candidates that I had eyed went to her, and all that potential, wasted. ”  

Then his eyes snapped to Hercules. “Which reminds me, stay away from Roa! At all costs!” 

Hercules raised a brow. “What does Roa have anything to do with –”

“HELP! PLEASE! HELP! MY BROTHER AND THIS LADY ARE IN TROUBLE!” 

Hercules turns swiftly to see a boy running, panicked, looking in near tears as the town turns to look at the boy as well. The boy, ragged and dusty, looked like he’d just been through a whirlwind—clothes torn, hair disheveled, cheeks streaked with dirt and tears, and a look of sheer panic etched across his face.

“Well..?” Phil said, tapping his foot. “Chances like these don’t just land everyday, go!” 

“Oh, right!” Hercules said, springing into action.

The crowd turned their attention, whispering anxiously, as Hercules knelt down to meet the boy’s wide, tearful gaze. “Where are they?” Hercules asked urgently. “What kind of trouble are they in?”

“Outside,” the boy gasped, voice trembling. “We were playing, and not far from here, this lady was collecting herbs. We didn’t see what happened, but it went so fast. My brother was picking up a ball when suddenly—rockslide! The rocks just came crashing down. The lady tried to help, but then… this monster came out!”

“Monster?” Hercules turned to Phil, looking excited. “Phil, this is great!” Who coughs, pointing at the little boy, while doing a zip it sign. 

Who looked at Hercules in horror. “Why do you mean great!” The boy cried out. “My brother is in trouble!” 

“Right of course this is terrible!” Hercules said, immediately, trying to hide his thrill, with a more serious tone. “Show me where they are–” Hercules scooped up the boy easily, then turned to Phil. “We need to move—fast!”

Then grabbed Phil as well and hopped onto Pegasus,who reared his wings and soared out of the city in a flash. The boy, clutching tightly to Hercules, screamed out in panic.

“W-w-wait!!” The boy screams, panicking, holding on tightly. “I have this terrible fear of heights!” 

Hercules glanced back, a reassuring smile on his face. “Don’t worry, kid! I’ll keep you safe,” he said, trying to sound confident, even as Pegasus’s wings beat fiercely against the sky.

 Roa was panicking, she created a shimmering barrier over her and the kid, however the hydra was relentless. Its tail slammed into the barrier, hoping to crack it. Roa gritted her teeth as she felt the barrier falter, seeing cracks. 

 It wouldn’t be long until the hydra cracked her barrier.

“This is so cool!” The kid said, hiding behind her looking wide eyed. “Are you a witch?” he asked innocently.

That was if the kid behind her didn’t break her concentration. 

Roa shot him a sharp look. "What do you think? I just waved my hands and poof, magic barrier. You tell me, genius."

“Cool!” the boy said, his excitement making her feel even more exhausted. Wasn't he just scared out of his mind a minute ago? When the hydra slammed its tail down once moreonce more, shattering her barrier. The boy scrambled to clutch at her as it roared. 

“Oh boy.” She muttered, nervously. Taking the boy onto her back. “This isn’t good.” The boy whimpered, tightening his grip around her neck, practically choking her. Not that she minded now, taking a few cautious steps back. 

The hydra loomed over them, growling. Its massive, serpentine body was covered in glistening, dark scales that shimmered ominously in the dim light. Each of its multiple heads had razor-sharp teeth, moving independently from each other, snapping and hissing with a terrifying ferocity. 

The eyes of the hydra glowed, and its forked tongues flickered in and out. The creature's talon-like claws dug into the ground, leaving deep gouges wherever it moved. 

There wasn’t much she could do now, turning on her heel she made a run for it with the kid on her back. Securing the boy with one hand, she frantically waved the other, hoping to conjure something—anything—to slow down the beast.

But her hand remained stubbornly unresponsive, no glow, no magic. "Nonono," she muttered, panic rising in her chest. "Not now!"

When the hydra slammed down behind them, she jumped and prepared to skid through the ground, making sure to take the impact. She has no time to wince quickly; she gets up and runs as much as she could with a limp and the weight of the kid holding her back. She goes straight for a pile of pf rocks that have a hole entrance in hopes of hiding from the Hydra or at least waiting it out. 

When the Hydra blocks the entrance with its tail. 

Dust and debris fly in their direction, the boy hides his face behind her neck and Roa brings an arm in front of her to cover her face. When it finally subsided, slowly she looked up to see it once again looking at her. 

“Nice.. boy,” Roa says, weakly. Her chest heaving faster as fear finally settles inside her. There was no hope, no one would come to save them… unless… 

Roa looked to the sky, in hopes of seeing where sunlight was hitting the most. She took in a deep breath and opened her mouth. “A-Ap—-” she was cut offf, by hearing a familiar voice shout. “Hyaa!” 

“Wonderboy?” She whispers, as a white pegasus soon stands in front of her. “Roa!” Wonderboy said, looking surprised. 

“YOU!” Phil shouted, but was ignored as Roa and Hercules set their gazes to each other. It felt like eternity, a lightning spark between the two. 

When someone wiggled off Pegasus. 

“BROTHER!” The boy that Roa carried on her back shouted, giddy, then struggled to get off of her back, making her wince and snap out of her staring contest from wonderboy. 

Hercules chuckles. “Looks like I got here in time?” He offers, then drops Phil off as well. “Make sure to bring them to safety Phil, I got this.” 

Who looks alarmed and tries to stop Hercules. “Wait, kid—” however, Hercules flies off on Pegasus, bringing his sword out to distract the monster. 

Phil, looks worried. His breath becomes heavy and for the first time in such a long time he feels the world dim, like he’s about to watch another student of his die. 

He then glares at Roa, who takes a step back, wary of his gaze. “You.” He bites out, then looks away. “If something happens to him…” 

“Oh for the love of–” Roa shouted, her fist clenching at her sides with frustration. “They left me, as they chose you! When will you get that through your pig head—” 

“What are you talking about? They never—” Phil cut her off, voice rising with confusion and fury.

“Oh, so you know what went down, do you?” Roa shot back, voice trembling with a mixture of bitterness and pain. “Then tell me, because I’ve been wondering what went wrong!”

It was as they got angeir at each other, the more dangerous the hydra got, neither noticed that the kids had long since disappeared. Mischievous grin on their face as the gem in Raisa's hair glowed lightly. 

Suddenly, the scene shifted. Out of the shadows, the imps appeared— still transformed into children, watching from a ruined temple of their master. The place was crumbling, broken pillars left to rot. 

Sitting atop a throne made of twisted, blackened stone was Hades himself, calmly munching on a bowl of worms, his gaze sharp and calculating. His dark cloak billowed slightly as he leaned back, a sinister smile curling on his lips.

“Great performance, boys,” Hades said, voice smooth and mocking, as he chewed. “So close to sealing the deal with Apollo. Almost there, almost finished.”

 He set the bowl aside with a slow, deliberate motion, the grin on his face widening—almost as if he found the entire scene amusing.

“But,” Hades continued, voice lowering to a wicked whisper, “did you really have to leave your leading lady out of the loop? The one you’re supposed to be protecting?” He tilted his head, eyes glinting with amusement. “You do realize if anything actually happens to her—” he chuckled darkly, “—you’ll be the ones to suffer , boys. Hahaha.”

Pain and Panic trembled under his gaze, gulping and then glanced at each with nods. Promising that next time they would at least consider a back up plan in making sure that Roa wouldn't get hurt. 

Back on the battlefield

The argument between Roa and Phil grew louder, even as rocks and debris flew through the air like angry missiles, neither seemed to notice—too caught up in their increasing anger.

“YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS SO LIKE YOU—” Roa spat, throwing her hands up in exasperation. She turned sharply, eyes blazing, and stalked away, the rocks around her scattering around her, not that it seemed to bother her.

Phil, furious, followed close behind, his voice rising. “OH, OH, YOU WANNA GO THERE? WELL, AT LEAST I DIDN’T NEED TO AMPLIFY MY REPUTATION—”

“OH OH YOU WANNA GO THERE? WILL AT LEAST I DIDN’T NEED TO AMPT UP MY REPUTATION—-”

“OH, NO! NO!” Roa whirled around abruptly, pointing a finger accusingly at Phil. “I DRAW THE LINE AT BEING BLAMED FOR THOSE STUPID RUMORS!”

“WELL, IF NOT YOU, THEN—” Phil started, but Roa cut him off sharply, her gaze turning toward Hercules. Who was trying—poorly—to handle the hydra. The young hero was swinging wildly, one of his sword strikes missing as the monster’s heads darted in different directions.

“What are you doing? Go left! LEFT!” she shouted, trying to direct him, her voice edged with concern.

Phil’s eyes widened as he saw Hercules making a mistake—jumping off of pegasus to fight on the ground. Roa cringed back, muttering under her breath, “Well, Phil, I see you didn’t give him the Hydra lessons one-on-one.”

“Oh, who asked you?” Phil shot back, crossing his arms defensively. “And what are you just standing around for? Do something!”

Roa, gaps at him, then turns to look at Hercules, she shouts. “Whatever you don’t—oh too late.” Roa says, touching her neck nervously as she looks away.

Phil, meanwhile, let out a heavy groan and slapped his face with a loud smack, muttering under his breath, “Don’t cut the necks, don’t cut the necks, just aim for the—”

They hear the crowd cheer, startling them. They turn to glance behind them to see a bunch of civilain from thebes surrounding the area as though this was some sort of arena. When they hear a sharp slicing. 

Neither Roa nor Phil dared to look at what had happened . i nstead counting the thumps—the wet, heavy thumps that signified the heads falling.

They hear one, two… then three.

A tense silence fell over the battlefield, then the crowd breaks into cheers loud and proud as Hercules makes his way out of the body of the hydra. Phil’s eyes closed as he let out a weary sigh, knowing what was coming next.

“Hydra,” he muttered, voice grave, “was dangerous and hard to defeat with just three heads. But cut all three? No mortal or demigod could survive.”

Roa clenched her fists, biting her lip, her mind racing with concern and dread.

Drip.

Roa blinks as water drips onto her head, looking up as another drop of water falls and then another… it was raining. 

“Come on, we need to make sure he doesn’t have a concussion.” Roa says, more like orders. Concentrating on the rain, hoping that the hydra wouldn’t regenerate quickly. Her hands finally glow, while Phil nods and scurries off to Hercules. 

Who stumbles. 

“Kid, kid!” Phil says, jumping and waving his hands to grab Hercules' attention. “How many horns do ya see?”

“Uh.. six?” 

“Good enough for me.” Phil shrugs and starts rushing Hercules to Roa, despite not wanting her anywhere near his student, he knows she’s the best option to get Hercules healed. Roa approaches fast with water circulating around her hand and helps Phil to bring Hercules out of immediate reach. 

Her hand touches the back of his head to relieve dizziness.  

“I didn’t know you could heal,” Wonderboy says, feeling rejuvenated. Roa keeps an eye on the sliced hydra while remarking, “There’s a lot of things you don’t know, Wonderboy.” 

“Hercules,” Hercules replied immediately, making Roa raise a brow. “My name,” Hercules says, noticing her unasked question. “It’s Hercules.” 

“..hmm, no, think I'll stick to Wonder Boy.” Roa says, a smile playing on her face. Despite Hercules' protest. 

From above, watching his captive assistant smile to Hercules, a smile that captured the attention of the sun, Hades frowns. The monster was also taking too long to regenerate. Narrowing his eyes on his assistant, he saw that the gem was deactivated.

“This just won’t do,” Hades muttered, snapping his fingers with a sharp click. Immediately, the gem in Roa’s hair ignited once again, casting a ghostly, flickering light across the darkness. “Much better,” he said, eyes narrowing with satisfaction.

He then looked down at his trembling minions, who cowered beneath his gaze. “Oh, don’t look so scared,” Hades chuckled darkly. “The show is just getting started. Just watch.”

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, the hydra’s terrifying regeneration was in full force. More heads sprouted from its long, writhing necks, each more menacing than the last. Roa’s eyes widened in horror as the beast’s many heads snapped and hissed, closing the distance with terrifying speed. 

Without hesitation, Roa shoved Phil and Hercules out of the way. “Get back!” she shouted, her voice fierce with desperation. The hydra’s tail swung like a whip, wrapping around her waist and yanking her forward—the beast’s gaping maw opening wide as it aimed to swallow her whole.

“ROA!” Both Phil and Hercules shout, alarmed. 

Hercules’s eyes darted to the cliffside, where Pegasus stood flapping its wings. Neighing. 

Without wasting a second, Hercules whistled sharply, calling out to his winged steed. Pegasus responded instantly, swooping down from the sky with powerful wings, circling low as Hercules prepared to leap onto his back.

The monster throws roa into the air and opens its mouth to swallow her whole. Her eyes widen and she lets out a scream, when pegasus swoops in and save her. 

The hydra’s massive jaws snapped shut just inches from Roa, who was struggling in its grip. She leans away and concentrates, making the rain form around her like a shield and burst on the monsters face. 

When it tosses her up into the air, letting go of her. Roa’s eyes widened in terror, and she let out a scream as the beast’s mouths opened and snapped ominously.

The scream captures the attention of Apollo, who pulls on the reins of the sun horse and turns to look down on the city of Thebes, however his view is blocked by the clouds. He narrows his eyes.

Meanwhile, Pegasus soared in like a flash of white lightning, dodging through the hydra’s heads. As Hercules steady himself jumps off of Pegasus and leaps off him, Roa’s eyes widen as she see’s him reaching out to her.

Lightning flashed across the darkening sky, illuminating the scene with a blinding brilliance. . Hercules reaches Roa, His hand grasping Roa’s arm, pulling her into his embrace . As Pegasus makes his way around, dodging the heads and stomping on them, to make his way to Hercules and Roa.

  Hercules holds Roa close, his eyes blazing with fierce determination, soon Pegasus reaches them and they land on his back. 

 Pegasus soars through the sky, Hercules holding Roa close, eyes blazing with determination. The hydra roared in fury below, its many heads snapping wildly as Pegasus carried them higher into the sky. 

“Ah, boss?” Pain squeaked nervously, clutching his tail tightly. “Didn’t you just say no harm was to come to Roa?”

Hades’s gaze sharpened as he looked down from his shadowed throne, eyes swirling with amusement and menace. His minions trembled beneath his stare, caught between fear and guilt.

“Of course,” Hades said smoothly, as if stating the obvious. “You two were going to vanish her, before she got gobbled up.” He leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. “You were planning to make sure of that, right?”

Pain and Panic froze, their faces pale and eyes wide with terror. They dared not meet their master’s gaze, haunted by the image of Roa in peril—an image that left their minds spinning in panic.

“Right...” Pain squeaked out, voice trembling.

“Of course...” Panic echoed, swallowing hard.

Hades’s expression darkened, a sinister smile curling his lips. “Good,” he said softly, voice dripping with menace. “Because If you hadn’t your heads would be mounted on Apollo’s golden wall.” 

They squeaked. 

Back to Pegasus. 

The storm raged fiercely around them, rain pounding against Pegasus’s wings, making it harder to navigate. Hercules held Roa close, feeling her trembling in his arms.

“Are you alright?” Hercules asked, voice steady but filled with concern. His eyes searched hers, her sea-green eyes were clear and wide. If they currently weren’t in danger, he’d be willing to lose himself in her eyes.

“Just fine!” Roa squeaked out, trying to mask her trembling as she clung to him. She took a shaky breath, pushing aside the rush of adrenaline and fear flooding her mind. “So, what’s the plan, Wonderboy?”

“Hercules!” he corrected with a grin, despite the danger, as Pegasus is forced to fly higher. 

“Now’s not the time to argue.” Roa snarks, taking a glance down, her vision blurring slightly from the dizzying height. Her voice was small, almost lost in the howling wind. “What’s important is figuring out how to defeat that hydra. There are still people down there—you know, civilians—who need help.” 

Hercules’s brow furrowed deeply as he stared below. The hydra’s many heads snapped and hissed, a nightmare of writhing, deadly limbs. There were too many to fight directly, and landing wasn’t an option with so many lives at risk. Meaning that Roa would have to be with him, while he fought… When he realizes, he could see when just minutes ago, he couldn’t 

Then, he noticed something—a shimmering water barrier, a shield of sorts, holding back the rain from hitting them directly.

“You do magic, right?” Hercules asked, glancing at Roa—an obvious question, but one that needed confirmation.

Roa shot him a look, her eyes flashing with a mixture of annoyance and determination. “Right, stupid question,” Hercules admitted quickly, holding up his hands.

He then  threw his shield at the hydra. It clanged loudly as it ricocheted off the beast’s scaled hide, drawing its attention with a loud, echoing clang.

“Why’d you do that?!” Roa shouts. 

“Getting it to chase us!” Hercules yelled back, gripping her tighter. “Now, if you can use your magic, keep its attention on us!”

“What? Why?” Roa exclaimed, her brows furrowing with confusion and hesitation.

“Just trust me!” Hercules said urgently, feeling her hesitation. Tme was running out, and they needed a distraction—something that could buy them precious moments to plan and strike.

Roa hesitated for a moment, her mind racing. Could she do it? She was never good at magic, not even when she was a goddess, however. Then taking a deep breath, focusing her energy. The rain around her shimmers and shifts, forming into swirls like barriers. She extended her hands, and the water responded—forming a glowing shield that sparkled with divine light.

With a determined cry, she unleashed her magic—sending a powerful wave of water crashing toward the hydra’s many heads. The creature roared in frustration, turning its massive, serpentine necks towards the threat. Its eyes blazed with fury as it snapped and lunged at the shimmering water barrier, trying to tear through it.

Pegasus darted and dodged, weaving between the hydra’s heads to keep it occupied. Hercules held Roa close, eyes blazing with resolve. “Keep it distracted! I’ve got an idea!”

Hades's smirk deepened as he watched the chaos unfold. “Oh, dear, sweet Roa,” he murmured, tilting his head with a cruel gleam in his eyes. “This will end badly.” 

None noticed that the gem was no longer in her hair, believing that her current ability to control the water perfectly was a false hope that would end badly. 

Pain and Panic twitched nervously, their eyes flickering between the scene below and each other. 

“Here comes my favorite part.” Hades murmurs, a smirk crosses his face as the Hydra narrows in on them. “Sudden death,” 

Pain and Panic, with a quick exchange of nervous glances, cracked their fingers and backs, preparing to snatch Roa away.

Meanwhile, Hercules steadied himself, his eyes locked on the monstrous hydra. He tightened his grip on his sword, determination blazing in his expression. “Ready, Roa?” he asked, voice steady.

“No,” Roa squeaked, voice trembling with fear and uncertainty. But there was no more time for hesitation. Heart pounding, she took a deep breath and leapt off Pegasus, stumbling onto the rocky cliff’s edge. Her eyes darted to the hydra, ensuring its attention was still fixed on Hercules.

Hercules, with a fierce cry, launched himself from Pegasus’s back, diving straight into the beast’s grasp. A deafening roar erupts from its many heads, as it cultures him in it’s grasp. 

The people gasp. 

The crowd below gasped in horror, watching Hercules caught in the hydra’s deadly grip. Phil, crouched behind a boulder, shook his head in dread. “Nononono, kid… no,” he muttered, fear choking his voice.

When Hercules forces himself out of the monster’s grasp, with a shout. “NOW!” Hercules shouted, his voice echoing through the storm.

Roa and Pegasus pushed a boulder that was teetering on the edge of the cliff— sending it tumbling down the cliffside in a roar of stone and dirt.

Hercules, still caught in the hydra’s grip, strained every muscle. With a burst of strength, he shoved off the monster’s jaws and slammed his fists into the cliff walls on either side. The sound of cracking rock echoed as he used the force to pry himself away before the inevitable crushing,  adrenaline fueling his every move.

The hydra’s heads snapped wildly, furious at losing its prey. Didn’t notice the cascade of debris to tumble down, still focused on it’s prey, roaring when it was finally crushed by the rocks. 

Below, the crowd held their breath. The storm raged overhead, lightning illuminating the battlefield, Hercules tumbled onto the rocky ground.

The dust eventually cleared and the beast was crushed and defeated. All while Hercules was on his feet now, bloodied but unbowed, in front of the mess. 

 Roa looked down from the cliff with Pegasus, panting, adrenaline slowly leaving her system. She smiles. Below, Phil rushed to Hercules’s side, helping him to stay on his feet. The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices echoing through the sky. 

Roa watched, feeling strangely weaker, more tired. 

Well what do you know? Roa thinks, You finally did it, Phil. A hero like no other..

“Well?” Roa asks suddenly, crossing her arms to look at Pegasus, who looks confused. She tilts her head down to the scene, “Go you big lug,  a hero needs his best friend, doesn’t he?” 

Pegasus nickered softly, wings fluttering. Roa reached out and gently ruffled his mane, which to her surprise Pegasus allowed, before he head butted her. 

“Hey now.” Roa clutches her nose. “I thought we were having a moment.” 

Pegasus laughed at her, making her roll her eyes and mutter.  “Should have put laxsives in your food when I was younger.” 

Chapter Text

Hades stared at the screen blank faced, while his children looked on conflicted. 

“On one hand, we can forever tease Apollo.” His son said, looking as though it was still a loss.

“On the other hand, we’d be supporting this movie.” Melinoe said, blanked face. Together they turned to Thantos and said in complete harmony. “How long until the creators of this movie die?” 

Thantos looked down at his clipboard and stated. “Unfortunately they’ll be living for a rather long time since they have other projects to make.” 

They tsk in disapproval, and in silent communication vow to disrupt the lives of the people that decided to make this movie. They couldn’t blame the voice actors though, they were innocent in all this… the writers and the producers on the other hand?

They were fair game.

On Olympus…

“WHERE ARE THE MUSES!” Hermes screamed running around looking for them. “THEIR NOT HERE AND APOLLO HAS DISAPPEARED LOOKING READY TO KILL!!!” 

Dionysus sipped his wine and looked at his brother dead in the. “Doing what they must do.” He said, as though he had lost his soul and will to live by just watching the movie. “Killing the people that made this movie.” 

“Hermes.” Zeus sighed out, rubbing his forehead. “Gather Ares and Athena and stop them.” 

Hermes whips around to his father. “I can’t bring Athena.” Hermes says. “She’s the most likely to join them!” 

“Fine Artemis go with him and calm down Apollo from mutilating the mortals.” Artemis gave her father a long, long side glance as though to say your talking to me? Before getting up. 

Hermes was rather tense, knowing that one wrong move and Artemis would make things much worse. Though he wasted no time in getting Ares to come with, though if they were too late…

Hermes just needed to make sure he had his phone out, so he could get his people to clean out the evidence. He could make the mortals death look like freak accidents couldn’t he?

In camp-half blood….

“What are you kids doing?” Chiron demanded, making the kids from cabin 6 and 7 look up eerily in usion. 

They blink at him. 

“We’re just updating dad’s introductory film.” A kid from cabin 7 said, they couldn’t be older than 7 as they looked at Chiron with the most innocent and sincere expression. 

That face didn’t fool Chiron one bit though. 

“We just wanted to make sure that all information was included.” One of Athena's kids also added. “To make sure there weren't any future incidents.” 

They twitched.

Chiron noticed the subtle blood thirty intent beneath their words. They were mad of course they were. “Just make sure not to curse.” Chiron sighed, giving in. 

After all, it's not like they could do much damage by adding a few bits of information right?

Famous last words…

“I should have put laxatives in your diet..” Roa mutters, rubbing her nose. Side glaring at the laughing Pegasus, before the cheers get louder.  

Roa smiles as Hercules is lifted up into the air, alongside Phil. “Go on,” She says to Pegasus who gives her a look as if to say are you coming with? Roa shakes her head and tilts her head towards them.  

Pegasus neighs and flies down, leaving Roa to watch with a smile. The wind blows softly in her direction and the sky clears, allowing the sun to shine on Hercules. Who feels a little too warm but ignores the heat of the sun.  

“Hey, where have you been!” Hercules laugh, before looking around. ‘And where’s-“  

“Forget about it!” Phil says, grinning as he points at something. “And look over there-“  

While Roa watches enjoying the view and the warm air, Hades is furious, smashing the bowl of worms he had. Making Pain and Panic squeak in fear.  

Que song and The muses.  

“And this was just the start!”  

“Mhm, sing it-“  

Hercules is shown in many different adventures saving civilians, beating monsters, running errands. He’s smiling and running around with Phil and Pegasus adding him in the background.  

Hades in the background ordering Pain and Panic to unleash monsters over Thebes, before smashing each statue of his minions that he sent over were defeated. All while Roa looks from the palace balcony to see Hercules and frowns.  

Eyebrow twitching as more females gather around him, she looks away and sighs. Rolling her eyes as she hears Hades yell at Pain and Panic.  

She shakes her head and walks away, revealing that she hasn’t noticed the gem is no longer in her possesion. Waving a hand to make a scroll appear, though she is seen to grow paler as she does so.  

Hercules is seen sending money over to his adoptive parents, who wave him off as he goes on another adventure saving many, many different damsels in distress. While Roa is seen talking to other monsters with a contract in front of them.  

She smiles charmingly unaware of the glazed looks in the monster’s eyes as they sign away to the contract. Though she does show signs of discomfort as she walks away with the scrolls.  

All while Hades is sitting in his throne in the shadows glaring at all of wonder boys' achievements.  

“Pull!” Hades shouted as a minion hurled a Hercules figurine into the air. With a flick of his wrist, Hades unleashed a fire blast, disintegrating the figurine instantly. “Nice shootin', Rex.” The minion, Rex, saluted Hades, who began pacing in front of a large map.

“I can’t believe this guy! I throw everything I’ve got at him…” Hades ranted, flipping the table that held the map onto its side. “And it doesn’t even ph…” He paused, breathing heavily as he tried to contain his fury.

Turning around, Hades spotted Pain, waddling in squeaky sandals, and Panic, noisily slurping from a sippy cup. Hades pursed his lips, struggling to suppress his seething rage at the sight of his two main henchmen decked out in Hercules merchandise.

With a forced, sugary-sweet smile, he loomed over them and asked, “What are those?” His voice dripped with fake kindness, but his eyes blazed with barely-contained wrath.

Pain plays with his pointer fingers and stammers out. “Uh, um, I don’t know. I-I thought they looked kinda dashing.” Pain rocked back on his heals as though modeling the sandals to Hades.  

Who takes in a deep breath, rubs his forehead and lets out a chuckle. A dark chuckle that sends shivers down his minions spine. “I’ve got.” Hades chuckles out. “24 hours to get rid of this bozo…” his hair flares up “or this entire scheme I’ve been setting up for 18 years goes up in smoke...!”

He steps closer as the two of them tremble. "And you are wearing his merchandise?”

Clap. Clap.

Hades turned his attention away from the two idiots and to Roa, who strode in clapping. “What do you think you’re doing?” Hades hissed, his eyes narrowing.

Roa rolled her eyes. “Look,” she stated, her voice dripping with disdain. “I don’t know what your deal is with wonder boy, but your game is over. He’s hitting every curve you throw at him.” Walking past Hades, she threw out, “Perhaps it’s time you move on.”

“Move on?” Hades said, the shadows around him growing darker and more menacing. “Move on, she says!” He grabbed her wrist with a vice-like grip and yanked her around to face him. “Look at you!” he shouted, his voice echoing with fury. “Look around at what you decided to sell yourself to. You’re practically drowning in the past.”

“That is my decision!” Roa snapped, yanking her arm away from Hades' grasp. “No one else’s.” Her eyes blazed with defiance as she glared at him.

Hades stepped closer, his face inches from hers, his breath hot and angry. “Well, this is mine!” he growled, his hair flaring up in a burst of blue flames.

Roa’s jaw tightened, her fists clenched at her sides. “You think you can intimidate me?” she spat. “You’re nothing but a coward hiding behind your supposed power.”

Hades’ eyes flashed with rage. “Watch your mouth, Roa,” he warned, his voice low and dangerous. “You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

“Try me,” she challenged, her voice steady and unwavering.

For one single moment, Hades saw a flash of Roa's previous self. Raisa the fierce young goddess ready to fight. But that couldn’t be, she couldn’t be leaking her divine essence as she lost it. 

They had made sure of that. 

Pain and Panic watched the confrontation with wide eyes, their mouths agape. Pain nervously fiddled with his squeaky sandals, while Panic slurped his sippy cup even louder, trying to distract himself from the escalating tension. They exchanged worried glances, clearly uncomfortable with the intensity of the argument.

Pain leaned over to Panic and whispered, “Do you think we should... you know, do something?”

Panic shook his head vigorously, his eyes wide. “Are you kidding? I’m not getting between them! I like my head where it is!”

Pain nodded, his sandals squeaking with every movement. “Good point. Maybe we should just... blend in.” He attempted to hide behind a potted plant, which was far too small to conceal him, making the scene even more ridiculous.

For a moment, Hades and Roa stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills, the tension between them crackling like electricity. Pain and Panic held their breath, unsure whether to intervene or flee.

Then, with a final glare, Roa turned on her heel and stalked away, leaving Hades fuming in the darkening room. Pain and Panic let out a collective sigh of relief, but their unease lingered as they watched their master simmer in his rage.

Pain whispered to Panic, “Next time, remind me to wear quieter shoes.”

Panic nodded, still clutching his sippy cup. “And maybe we should invest in some invisibility cloaks.”

“Next time remind me never to make another deal with a love-struck child.” Hades spats out. “The turnover rate is killing me.” Hades turns to Rex who throws another figurine and Hades aims another blast at it.  

“erh boss?” Pain asks weakly. “Don’t you think you might be too hard on he-“

What?” Hades hisses as he turns to the imp, making him shrink behind Panic. Who gulps and says. “What he means to say, perhaps instead of fighting with Roa, why not use her?”

“Use her?” Hades says looking at them. “Use her how?  

“Well.” They looked at each other and then to their master. Panic continued. “Every man has their weakness and well if the curve balls you threw at him won’t work. What about a different set of curves?”  

“Or something even Hercules can’t resist.” Pain added. “Like the essence of the divine? One that could make him a god?” 

“THATS WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO PREVENT!” Hades shouts flaring the fire that is his hair, when it hits him. Making the imps jump and hug each other. Pain continues quickly, “what if you hit two targets with one stone!” 

Hades, who was about to choke them, stopped, and raised a brow. The imps nodded two each other. “Roa just need to have her heart sweeped by the golden boy, make a bet with her.” 

“A bet?” Hades repeats. 

“A bet.” Panic said, nodding. “Have her spend time with Wonder boy and have him choose. Roa or…” Panic and Pain reveal the gem stone that Roa had in her hair. Hades eyes widen, as he see’s it glowing even brighter than it had ever been. 

“It’s cracking.” Hades said, observing the stone. Then eyed the imps, “how long has it been away from her?” 

“Long enough.” Pain and Panic said, together. 

Hades pursed his lips, on one hand he was rather fond of the former goddess. On the other hand, Hercules was in his way of getting the throne of Olympus. “It would reject him.” Hades muttered the thought settling in his core. “Yet, Roa would lose much more… “ Roa no matter how much she insisted was not in fact completely mortal, at least… not yet. “She has a contract.” 

He said more to himself than the imps. 

“So does lover boy.” They sanged, flashing a little wooden box that was crafted by the finest material. 

Hades smiled. 

“Boys, I believe it’s time to remind Roa… What hero’s really are.”

“I can’t believe him!” Roa seethes furies as she leaves the underworld and back to the surface. “I work my butt off and he can’t answer a simple question!” She kicks a pebble as she makes her way to the city of Thebes. 

She rolls her eyes as she see merchants of Hercules everywhere. “Phils, really got to do something about this.” She mutters, sighing. “He might grow a big head at this rate.” 

She smiles though, when someone squeezes a Hercules action figure causing it to squeak. “Though, I suppose buying a few merch wouldn’t hurt. If it makes the big bad boss mad.” Roa says, walking to a vendor. 

When she hears high pitch screams of rabid fangirls, she jumps out of the way as they stampede towards a direction. Raising a brow, she glances at the vendor, who grins at her. 

“New here aren’t you?” He asks. “It’s around the time our city famed Heros comes out of the temple of the mighty lord Zeus.” 

“Huh.” Roa is all what she says, not bothering to correct the vendor, that she has been around the city for a rather long time now. Curious at the particular information that wonder boy is often seen in Zeus temple. 

“Mind if I buy this.” She says, trying to change the topic, squeezing the life out of the Hercules doll. 

“Five gold darchma.” 

“Gosh damn it!” Roa mutters, taking out the darchma. 

XXXXXXX

“What am I going to do with that boy?” Zeus sighs, shoulders slumping down as he looks down at the last photo he had of his family being complete. 

When Hades opens the doors, strolling in with a smile on his face.  

“Hades, what a surprise.” Zeus says, smiling and standing up to greet his guest. “Now what are you doing here?” 

“What? Can’t a guy come and visit his big brother?” Hades says, playfully punching Zeus in the arms, while Zeus laughs. “Certainly, but you’re not well known for your visits”  

“ah well you know the underworld and what not.” Hades says, waving his hand dismissively. Then looks at Zeus a gleam In his despite trying to keep a cool exterior. “Stuff is always going down there.”  

He gestures towards a seat. “May I?”

“Of course! Sit, sit!” Zeus said, eagerly.  

“You know it such a shame.” Hades says, looking at the columns that gave an outside view of the courtyard. “it’s not as lively as it was a few years ago.”

Zeus' smile dims, “ah.” He says, looking drained. “Raisa disappeared a few years ago. Used to brighten up the place with her event planning.”  

“Raisa? Ah, I haven’t heard from the squirt in so long, though missing you say? that’s odd.” Hades says, tapping his chin. “I thought… no, no I guess I was wrong.”  

“What?” Zeus asks, curious.  

“Well, you didn’t hear it from me, but I heard the little Athenide had a spat with her hero, things went down from there and well to my imagination I could have sworn that the Athenide was spotted around the entrance seals of the giants.”

“What!?” Zeus straightens up.

Hades shrugs. “Whether she is there by force or not I can’t say for certain, just know the rumors that my minio—cough—employees say.”

“I see.” Zeus said, straightening, his face brightening. “This is great news!”  

Hades pretends to look confused, tilting his head. “That she might be trapped? Zeus, brother I know we haven’t spent much time together, but I never thought of you as one to punish—”

“No, not that.” Zeus says standing up. “This is an opportunity for my son! He’ll rescue Raisa from the clutches of evil, this will help my boy ascend!”  

Hades raises a brow and stifles his smirk. “I see, that will certainly help, won't it?” Hades got up from his seat and waved at Zeus. “Will I’m off.” Hades says, with a wave of his hand. “Those souls aren’t going to judge themselves now are they?”  

Roa shouldn’t be here, like really shouldn’t be here. 

Hades barely tolerated the fame that wonder boy was gaining, and Phil… didn’t like her. Wouldn’t exactly want her near his student, despite their brief reconciliation during the Hydra problem. 

So why was she here? 

Roa watches as Phil tries to keep the rabid fangirls out of Hercules house with a smile on her face. You wanted fame, and here it is. Roa thinks, then feels disappointment that she couldn’t experience it with her old mentor. 

She sighs, when she see’s and opening. 

Biting her lower lip, her eyes glance to see Phil to distracted and the rabid fans fighting each other to get in.

…

She takes her chance, making sure that she wouldn’t be spotted, she snuck in. 

“GET BACK! BACK YOU RABID—-” Roa could hear Phil;s voice shout from afar.

She continued walking, looking around the yard that was bigger than any rich nobles she had seen. The mansion was grand, making her feel just as small as she did when she was on Olympus and yet as she walked closer up to the building, she couldn’t help but feel her heart thump agains her chest. 

She wondered, had he changed? Was he as arrogant as Apollo Or would he still have that same charming farm boy smile? The one that had her heart on guard, because no one, and she means no one could be that naive and charming. 

So she watches from behind a column as the sculptor tries to get the best of Hercules, who has a strained smile as he poses. 

She wrestles with a smile that tries to make it’s way on her face as he gets the sculptor so made with clusmyiness that the sculptor stalks off. Who knew wonder boys would be so clumsy?

As the scuptor leaves, wonboy lets out a sigh of relief as he drops the sword and shield on to the ground. “Who knew being a hero would be like this?” He said, outloud.  A small smile comes to her face, perhaps he hadn’t changed much since their first encounter with the centaur.  

“Still has the same farm boy charm.” She mutters, leaning on the column watching as Hercules takes off his cape, then grips his armor to take off. Roa clears her throat when he was about to take it off.

“Ahem.” She clears her throat caing him to jump.  

“Not that I mind.” Roa says, with a flirtatious smile. “You can continue on really, but is this a bad time?” Hercules almost trips turning to look at her. “Roa!” He shouts, then really trips and fall down as she walks to him. “I didn’t—I didn’t see you there?”  

“Well I can see that.” Roa says, lending out a hand to which he accepts. She checks out the merchandise that is his body, as she helps him stand. “Poor Phil is out there shoving the rabid fans away and you’re here playing statue.” 

Making sure to eye him, which makes him blush despite being covered up. “Not that it’s a bad look for you honestly.”  

He gulps and tries to speak, however he’s so flustered he can barely get a word out. 

“It’s alright.” Roa says. “I’ll tone it down!” 

“NO!” Hercules shouts, before recovering. “I mea, ahem it’s fine I don’t mind.” 

“Really?” Roa says, “The raging sea of hormones that is currently outside in the form of rabid fangirls seem to beg to differ, ya know.” 

“Ah, well you know th–that’s different.” 

Roa raises a brow. To which Hercules seems at a loss to say, when he spots her smile. “Gee, give me a break, won’t you?” 

“Hm.” Roa hums. 

“It’s great to see you.” Hercules says, watching as Roa turns around to gaze at his home. “I-I missed you.” Roa gives him a look that makes him want to persist that he did really miss her. But as she sits, he’s tongue tied as for the first time he envisiones a different kind of future instead of godhood. 

“So,” Roa says, looking awkward. “This is what hero’s do on their day off now?” 

Hercules' smile disappears and his shoulders slump. “I’m no hero.” He says quietly. Which makes Roa raise a brow. “Sure you are. Everybody in Greece thinks you’re the greatest thing since they pocket in pita.” 

Staying silent for a moment, Hercules turns to look at her honestly. “You did most of the work that day, you know?” 

“Hm, no I don’t.” Roa denies. 

“Roa.” Hercules says, making her look away. “Just forget about that day, and enjoy what you’ve achieved since then.” Roa says, giving him a pleading look. 

“I don’t think it's fair that I got to take all the credit.” Hercules protests, to which Roa smiles and grasps his hand. “Thanks, but really.” Roa says. “It’s better for everyone that it remains in the past, please?” 

Hercules, though reluctant to let it go, nods. 

“Why didn’t you come back though?” He couldn’t help but ask. Making her blink at him in surprise. “You could have come down with Pegasus, you know?” 

“And be mobbed by your rabid fangirls? No thank you.” 

Hercules chuckles. “Fair, honestly I can’t even go anywhere anymore without being mobbed! I mean—” 

“And now you sound like you need a break.” Roa cuts him off, frowning slightly. Wondering what Phil was thinking. It was obvious that the fame was getting to Hercules and not in a good way either. 

“Think you nanny goat would go berserk if you played hooky this afternoon?” Roa said, standing up from the couch. 

Hercules looks at her hesitant and startled. “Oh gee. I-I don’t know, uh phil’s got the rest of the day pretty much booked.” 

“Ah Phil, shmill.” Roa says, glancing back at him. “Just follow me. I’ll take the heat for his ruined schedule ya know, he’d believe I did so intentionally. Unless you don’t trust me?” 

“What, no I mean I do!” Hercules rushed to say. “I trust you.” 

Roa was taken back by the earnet response in his voice. Her cheeks heated and she looked away from him. “Then let’s go.” Her voice got a little higher than normal, but thankfully Hercules didn’t notice. 

They laugh as they walk around his garden, one that Hercules never had time to really look at, much less explore with how often he was away from home. Adventuring from one adventure to the next. 

Hercules spots white lily growing on the ground and cuts it. As Roa rambles on. “And so really, I had nothing to do with that - what are you doing.” 

Hercules smiles and places the white lily in her hair. “It suits you.” He states, stunning her into silence. The sun was still shining, and the bird’s chirped and they stood looking at each other in the eyes. 

“Roa.” Hercules says, coming closer to her, his hand reaching out to gently cup her cheek “when I’m with you…” he starts to lean in, she stares at him as though in a trance. “I-I don’t feel so alone.”  

Roa eye search for any trace of dishonestly, she sees none and her heart makes a little pitter patter sound. 

When the image is ruined by a flash image of the contract that she made with Hades all those years ago. She looks away from and moves a step back from Hercules. Hugging herself as she says. “Sometimes it’s better to be alone.”  

Stunning Hercules for a moment, but all he sees is Roa suffering in silence, so he says. “What do you mean?” Stepping closer to her, she takes another step away from him. “Nobody can hurt or disappoint you then.”  

Hercules face softens and he approaches her, she feels he is close behind her and this time she doesn’t move away. “Roa.” He says softly. “I would never ever hurt you.”  

But you would disappoint me. Roa thinks, seeing that he promised one thing and not the other. But she doesn’t say it, not wanting to believe that he would disappoint her intentionally. “And I don't want to hurt you...”  

Roa could admit she didn’t want to see Hercules’ luck go crashing down because of her magic going haywire. 

She hated admitting it, but she was Jinx's , a bad luck charm… That day with the Hydra? It must have been just pure luck that she was able to burst out as much magic as she did that day. Though she had been feeling ill ever since that day too. 

“so, let's both do ourselves a favor and...” she looks up to see him close his arm snakes around her waist and he leans in, their forehead touch. “Stop this before we...” Roa trails off as Hercules comes close to pulling her into a kiss, when someone small rams into them.  

“All right! Break it up, you two.” Phil says, glaring at them both.  “The party's over!”  

Hercules laughs, while Roa looks away from the side glare Phil was giving her. “I've been lookin' all over this town!”  he exclaims, pointing a finger at Hercules.  

To which Roa rolls her eyes at Phil, knowing his antics from the back of her hand. “Calm down, mutton man.” Roa says, causing Phil to gasp. “It was all my fault. -“  

“I may have forgiven you.” Phil says, pointing a finger at her. Making her blink stunned at the declaration. Just as Phil turns his back on her saying “But You're still on my hit list, sister! So don't make it worse!”  

“But, wait Phil!” Hercules shouts as phil pushes him away from Roa. “I’ll see you tomorrow, here?” He shouts inviting and hopeful that she would say yet. 

“”No she’s not!” Phil shouts. 

“Roa?” Hercules ignores the grumbling’s coming from Phil and Roa looks stunned not having planned on seeing wonder-boy anytime soon. However, she smiles. 

“Well then I’ll see you here.” Roa says, smiling even as Phil pushes Hercules away giving her scowls as he does so. Roa leans on the column and then turns to look at the sky where the sun was setting.  

Her heart was pounding as she recalled how close Hercules was. “Oh, what's the matter with me?” she questions quietly walking to the gardens  

“You'd think a girl would learn.” She says, walking towards the entrance and gazes at a reflective bronze shield of a statue. “If there's a prize for rotten judgement, I guess I’ve already won that.”

“No man is worth the aggravation.” She walks past a statue of Apollo. “That’s ancient history, been there done that!” She walks and sneaks her way past the rabid fans of Hercules, with a look of disturbance on her face as she sees them trying to climb the fences

When she jumps, hearing familiar voices sing. “Who do ya think you're kidding! He's the earth and heaven toya.” She sees the muses sing on the sculptured walls.  

“Try to keep it hidden,” One of the muses makes I see you gestures. “Honey, we can see right through ya.”  

Roa scowls and crosses her arms. “Oh, no.”  shaking her head as she stalks further away, making them follow her. The wall was designed with battlefields that Hercules has won so the muses smirk as the sing.

“ Girl, you can't conceal it.” They sing, as the scene of the hydra comes up. “We know how you feel and who you're thinkin' of” the gesture to Hercules jumping off Pegasus to snatch her.

Making her take a step back.

 “Oh, no chance, no way,” crossing her arms into and x as she storms off, only to be me with a statue of Hercules being hauled up. “I won't say it, no, no.”

“You swoon, you sigh” the muses sing as they show up on a few vases of a merchant that Roa was walking by, she glares at them when the merchants’ back were turn and they flutter their eyes as they sing. “Why deny it, uh-oh.”

“It's too cliché.” Roa says, turning her back on them. “I won't say I'm in love.”

Shoo-doo, shoo-doo Oo-oo-oo

They sing when Roa spots a tapestry depicting herself following behind her hero’s “I thought my heart had learned its lesson.” She confesses, spotting a couple of lovebirds by a fountain, the man proposes to the girl who accepts, and he twirls her around.  

Roa looks away. “It feels so good when you start out.” She says, eyes dropping to the floor, leaning on a statue that unbeknownst to her was Hercules. “ah,” She shakes her head snaping out of her trance. “My head is screaming, get a grip, girl.”  

“Unless you're dyin' to cry your heart out, oh” She rushes out of the center of the city while the muses follow her, showing up in vases or tapestries that were hung out.  

You keep on denyin ' who you are and how you're feelin'

Baby, we're not buyin' Hon, we saw you hit the ceilin'

Face it like a grown up When you gonna own up that you

- Got  Got  Got it bad

“Oh, no chance, no way.” Roa says once more, turning to look at them, unaware that she was standing in front of another fountain that had cupid on it, with a golden arrow glinting as it aimed at her. “I won't say it, no, no”

“Give up, but give in, check the grin, you're in love”

“This scene won't play!” Roa says, as she points to the dark corners with a sad look. “I won't say I'm in love.”

“You're doin 'flips, read our lips, You're in love

- Shoo-doo, shoo-doo

“You're way off base” Roa says as she heads towards the shadow entrance of the underworld.  “I won't say it!”  

“She won't say love.” The muse’s gossip around a building with sculpted figures crafted into it.” Pointing at her as though it was the most amusing gossip.  

“Get off my case I won't say it!” Roa says storming into the entrance and being finally away from the crazy matchmakers. The muses shake their heads, not believing that she would be that stubborn. 

“Girl, don't be proud It's okay, you're in love.” Their voices echo, and Roa is finally alone at the entrance of the underworld, walking close by the river Styx that flows down.  

“Oh.” She says as a flower falls off her hair, one that Hercules had put in her hair. “At least,” She sings quietly. “Out loud, I won’t say I’m in love.”

She sits on a boulder looking at the flower near the river Styx, when Hades comes striding up.  

Roa was sitting on a boulder by the river Styx, humming as she looked at the flower Hercules presented to her. Her back was turned from him and Hades snapped his finger to the imps.  

Who handed him the gem.  

He slicked back his hair and strode over. “Roa, my sweet.” He goes to touch her shoulder when she says in a low warning tone. “Don't even go there.” He nearly flinches at the glare that reminds him very much of Po and her mother Athena.  

“What? What?” Hades said, then proceeded to apt up the remorseful tone. “Okay, I said somethings, you said somethings I apologize. Now let bygones be gone, why don’t we?”

Roa says nothing, just moodily look at the styx.

 Alright time to ampt up the uncle role. Hades thought. “Roa, dear you just don’t get it.

“Of course I don’t.” Roa snaps. “I don’t know what Hercules has done to you, that you want him out of the way! Nor do I get how he’s ruining your plans!”  

“So he never told you.” Hades said, sounding surprised.  

“Tell me what?” Roa snaps.  

“hm, no I guess not.” Hades says, not answering makes her even more irritated. “Let me ask you this,” Hades said, turning away from her and walking closer to the styx. “When you look at him, you see a hero, don’t you?”

Roa doesn’t answer.  

“You see someone selfless and good, doing all this not for the praise but just because he can.” He tsk and looks at her sadly. “That just isn’t so and you know it.”  

“I see what you’re trying to do.” Roa hisses. “But here’s one thing you forget, he has Phil to keep him in check.”

“The same Phil who sent that former hero of yours?” Hade croons out. “The hero who chased you down until you agreed, the hero turned boyfriend that you were willing to give your serves to me for a few years and what does that creep decide to do?”  

Hades grips the gem, making Roa clutch her chest, while a faded chain appears, circling around her neck to the gem in his hand. “He leaves you for another and then binds you.”  Roa gasps as for a brief second her essence comes back to her, only for it to be torn away leaving scars in her soul. “And proceeds to dump all your divine essence away.”

He leaned in closer, his breath hot against her ear as he gently grasped her chin. "He hurt you real bad, didn’t he?"

"I’ve learned my lesson," Roa gritted out, her eyes blazing with defiance.

"Now that’s just it," Hades said, releasing her chin with a smirk. "I don’t think you have, which is why I’m offering you a new deal."

Roa's glare intensified, her fists clenching at her sides.

"What makes you think I’ll agree to anything after this?" Roa hissed, struggling to get back up. Despite the immense pain, her skin was growing paler.

Hades tossed the gem into the air, allowing it to flash gold. "I gathered a few favors here and there." Roa watched in shock as the blue gem turned gold. "Ran it over with the god of medicine," Hades nudged her. "Who was adamant about getting it to you soon, seeing as how you’re running out of magic, little witch."

"I am not!" Roa said defensively. "I have” Her hand went to the hem of her dress to grasp the gem she usually kept there. When her hand found nothing, Hades chuckled.

"You lost it a while ago, during your adventure with the boy wonder," Hades mocked. "You thought you finally got the control you needed, when all you were doing was draining the last bits of magic out of you faster."

"No," Roa said, panic creeping into her voice.

"Now that I think about it," Hades mused, holding his chin as though in thought, "He didn’t give you any credit for helping defeat that hydra, did he?"

"So, let's make a deal," Hades said, flaring his magic into his hand. “If you truly think Phil’s new boy is the hero you think he is, he’ll give up his greatest opportunity to save you.”  

Roa glares at him.  

“What's the catch?” she questions, while apologizing to Phil in her head.  

"No catch," Hades replied smoothly, his eyes glinting with malice. "You win; you get your freedom. You lose, wonder boy disappoints you, but you still get your freedom."

“That doesn’t seem like you.” Roa says narrowing her eyes. “Either way I’m free and you lose someone doing your work, that doesn’t sound like you.”

Hades shrugged nonchalantly, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

Roa backs away from Hades and thinks about it, then with a final look turns away from Hades. “No deal.”  

His grin fades. “No deal?” He repeats and then chuckles. “Oh Roa, I knew you weren’t completely sure of your own judgement.”

Roa glares. “I am sure of my own judgement; I just don’t trust anything that you dish out.”

“I’m hurt.” Hades mocked, “I thought we had something special.” Roa scoffs, but Hades continues. “What if I offer you something you really truly want?”

“Like what?” Raisa asked, Hades smiled and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “Going home.” 

She takes a step back, eyes wide and Hade’s smile in victory.