Act I: Spring

Enter Persephone Stage...?

A/N: As the summary suggest this will take place after the events of Hercules, and should be seen as solely belonging in this world if you so wish. This will literally contain characters known only to Greek Myths and cameos from characters in other disney films. This idea came to me when I was trying to figure out how Hades met Persephone for my other fics, so this story was born, and I decided it would be better to have it as it's own separate story instead of having one chapter scattered here and there in my Stirrings of Magic series.

My Persephone will be my interpretation of her, so please no flames, I'm trying to make this story as canon as possible and even using her design as seen in the movie, Hercules, but how she meets with Hades will be a combination of both myths surrounding how she ended up in the underworld.

Rated T for minor language and suggestive themes,

Disclaimer: I do not own Hercules nor any Disney movie, nor have I ever claimed to own them. All characters belong to their respective companies, and I am merely using them for a story. My story, sarcasm, and cheesy rom-com is all my own.

You have been warned.

"Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them."

-Napoleon Bonaparte

Zeus, high king of the gods, the mighty ruler of the skies, wielder of lightning bolts, and father to the most famous hero of all Greece(and to a majority of Greece for that matter) was enjoying the second month of festivals that were all dedicated to him. Everyday thousands of his loyal followers, and even his not so loyal, were visiting his temples all across Greece and parts of Persia, to bestow upon him offerings and sacrifices for sending them his son to protect the people of earth from monsters and Titans, and meddling power-hungry gods.

Speaking of Hercules, ever since his son had achieved the marks of a true hero and ascended to godhood- only then to be turned back into his corruptible mortal state just to be with his newly-wed wife, Megara, Zeus along with him had been hailed with festivities and parades and banquets that would have lasted a whole other year had it not been for what happened almost immediately afterward.

It would have been noticed much earlier had it not been for all of the celebrations, but turns out with more than half the population becoming inebriated for the entirety of those two months along with the prosperous year that Greece was experiencing, barely anyone noticed what was going on, much less cared to notice the one tiny little detail that all the gods were forgetting.

Well, it just so happened that one goddess did notice, but by then it was far too late. Athena tried to make her fellow gods see reason to why there needed to be a replacement for Hades, but no one, especially Zeus, ever thought of his little brother's job as particularly difficult.

"It'll manage on it's own, daughter." Zeus has tried to assuage Athena, but the grey-eyed goddess knew better than to make anyone see reason when Bacchus was throwing the greatest party on Olympus, and took her woes to more welcoming ears down on earth.

Hermes himself was the one who told Athena in the first place. He was the one who delivered the souls down to the Underworld and had seen this unrest with his own eyes. Naturally, he told all his nymph friends, the Muses, the graces, Bacchus, Artemis, Demeter, Kore, and then finally Athena.

Though she was not one for gossip, the grey-eyed goddess actually found that her half-brother's little quibbles had turned a little more interesting and worth investigating as of late and turned her attention for the effects of Hades' sudden dethronement.

Maybe she wasn't the only one who noticed, after all, Demeter just the other day was complaining that a large sinkhole appeared in one of her fields where she and her daughter usually frequented. Yet it was not just where the goddess resided, but large sinkholes were appearing all around the country and even in cities. Still, no one seemed to care or notice what was coming out of those holes.

The dead, ghosts, shades, souls, spirits, the dearly departed- whatever you like to call them- were wandering the earth. Once one found his way out, several more followed, until the lines to get into the Underworld started flowing outward.

It seemed that through all the merry-making, people and gods alike, had forgotten that there was no longer a god to keep the Underworld in check and to deal with the mindless shades who were left to wander the earth, terrorizing the mortals as soon as Apollo and his sun chariot left for his golden palace in the east.

People would wake in the middle of the night to find their departed loved ones haunting their homes, creating a living nightmare, cursing them for all that was done to them when they were living, or begging them to help their spirits find rest. Some shades would even haunt in the day, but those were the more desperate souls who had forgotten all that had happened in their previous lives and were trying to make sense of the afterlife.

Yet even with the three judges of the Underworld doing the best they could to sort out who belonged where, there was still no one to take charge. The more wicked souls found that without someone to force them to go to Tartarus, they could escape the land of the dead and continue on 'living' without the fear of the law or Death to hold them back, for what power was there that could stop a ghost?

Pain and Panic, though imps, were the minions of Hades. Even with all the experience they had from watching their former boss do his work, they were still overwhelmed by how bold the spirits had become without the lord of the dead running around.

The two hadn't lasted more than a day without him and had opted to just give up waiting on the return of Hades and spent their days looking for Cerberus(as he had disappeared not long after Hades did), or going to many of the parties going on that day. They could do this now since there was absolutely no one around to burn them to smithereens for just breathing, for once they could be lazy and do all the vacationing they had been planning to do.

And the once bustling Underworld had started to become, ironically, quite dead. For no one chose to step up to the plate and become the next god of the Underworld.

Someone had to put a stop to it, Athena decided, and is she couldn't convince her father, then she knew exactly which child would. After all, Father Zeus always listened to his favorite child.

By the urging of Athena, and that of Meg, Hercules, begrudgingly went to confront his father at the Temple of Zeus. Though going up to visit him always made him feel joy and excitement to see his proud father, the reason for his visitation was one that made him feel a little on the squeamish side.

From what Athena had told him, with Hades gone, literally no one was left to make sure the dead stayed in the Underworld. So now the souls had started to crowd the earth, most of them not realizing that they were wreaking havoc on their friends and family, but others, the more sinister souls were using their newfound freedom to their advantage, and Hercules too, started seeing these effects himself when Phil's former students came back to haunt him day and night, reminding the old goat of his past failures.

Deciding enough was enough Hercules ventured to his father's temple, waiting until all the celebrators had gone home for the night to try and convince Zeus of the problems that were arising on earth. So by the time the last person had left, it was way past midnight. Still, as the hero made his way down the familiar path through the temple, he could not help but feel at home.

Kneeling down, Hercules positioned himself in front of Zeus' statue. Not long after, the wind started to pick up suddenly the torches that lined the temple became alight with flame.

The colossal statue of the thunder god started to move as Zeus himself took the form of the statue, and opened his large stony eyes to see his mortal son kneeling before him.

"Hercules, my boy!" Zeus' voice boomed, echoing across the marble temple. "What brings you here, and especially so late at night? You know you're mother wouldn't approve."

The demigod felt himself gulp in apprehension as he rose to his full height, his feet shuffling from nervousness, but the hero tightened his resolve and cleared his throat. "Father, we need to talk about Hades," Hercules boldly exclaimed.

Now it was Zeus' turn to be nervous. "What about him, son? I thought you took care of him? Punched him into the Phlegethon, you said. Serves him right trying to use the Titans to usurp me!"

"I know, father," Hercules started in a much calmer voice than he had used before. "But it has come to my attention that without Hades around, the shades are roaming the earth, and it it my duty as a hero to protect the people from these dangerous souls."

Zeus snorted. "That's preposterous. Things are going fine in the order of the cosmos," The god thundered. "It almost sounds like you want Hades back. Weren't you the one who took care of him?"

"Father," Hercules pleaded. "I'm not saying to bring him back, but maybe it's a good idea to find a replacement for Hades? Someone who can keep the dead where they belong? Maybe until Hades manages to free himself?"

"Hmm," Zeus considered Hercules' suggestion. After Hercules had told him what had become of Hades when he went to reclaim Meg's soul. Zeus deemed that his little brother got what he deserved and if he did manage to free himself, then so be it.

It would have been punishment enough trying to come back, but a replacement? Who would want the job? He only gave it to Hades for helping during the Titanomachy, and the fact that he felt that both of his brothers deserved kingdoms of their own. Poseidon, naturally, got the sea, he was a literal fish out of water, but Hades?

Where else to put his brooding baby brother than to give him the keys to the Underworld? The very place he was raised when Rhea took him down there to be safe from their mad father.

Still, who in their right minds would want to be the replacement? And how long would it last? Every god and goddess already had a job specified to their talents, so who exactly would have time to take the full time job that the Underworld required for up-keep?

Hmm, maybe it was time to summon the Olympian council.

"Very well, son," Zeus spoke, breaking the silence of the temple. "I will consider your pleas and look for someone who can replace Hades."

Hercules brightened at that, and flashed his father a grin. "Thank you, father, but please hurry, some of these ghosts are tormenting the living, causing crime to skyrocket, and they've been stopping the many festivities on earth. Athens is absolutely flooded with the dead!"

Zeus gasped. Festivities that were for him?! "Well, why didn't you say so?! I'll summon a meeting of the cosmos right this instant!"

With a roar of thunder, the king of the gods disappeared and with him all the light in the room, leaving Hercules in the now pitch black night.

The demigod sighed. He should have started off with that in the first place.

"Ugh, I am so appalled!" Athena angrily stomped through a large meadow, making her way towards her half-sister. She had just parked her chariot pulled by her two loyal elephants and was now trying to locate wherever Persephone was hiding.

"Leave the males to figure things out. Give the job to Phobos and Deimos they'll be perfectly fine. Bah- why I have half the sense to send them permanently to the underworld," the goddess miffed.

"Persephone!" She called. "Oh heavens, where could she be…" Athena continued to walk around the sloping hills, hoping she'd catch sight of the young goddess.

"Perseph-"

"Watch it!" The pink-skinned goddess' voice rang out as her head popped out of the ground, a small blue owl perched on her head nestled in her flower headdress.

Halting immediately in her tracks, Athena couldn't help but stifle a laugh. "Persephone, what are you doing in that hole? And Ibid, why are you on her head?"

Persephone giggled as she fully climbed out of the deep sinkhole she had been fixing up. "Oh, don't mind him, 'Thena. Ibid just wanted to help me clear up this sinkhole, didn't you?" the goddess cooed, allowing the bird to step onto her hand and brought him down to her cheek to softly stroke the blue owl.

Ibid enjoyed the feeling, but it was often rare that anyone other than Athena did the same thing. He fixed his large golden eyes at Persephone and couldn't held but release a content little "hoo" in return.

The little blue owl was an extraordinary companion that allowed anyone who was taking care of him to possess a multitude of wisdom, for he was in a sense, the personification of it.

"It does help having a little wisdom on your side?" Athena mused, her thoughts turning back to the council meeting she just left. "Well, Persephone, I'm glad Ibid could be of service to you, I just knew he wouldn't have liked the uncouth company of Ares, especially after what happened last time." Remembering when Hercules had to rescue her little Ibid.

"Oh, don't worry about it. I knew I wouldn't go to the meeting anyway," Persephone shrugged, placing the owl on Athena's shoulder, and then dusted off all the dirt and rocks that had attached itself to her dress.

"Besides, I do like the company," the goddess staring longingly around the nearly empty field. "But hey, maybe mother will let me get a pet. Hopefully, a dog, to chase all those uppity suitors away." Persephone groaned.

Her suitors, as her mother called them, not what she called them. They were like weeds, sprouting everywhere and quickly, trying to limit her already limited world. And it still boggled her why there were so many. Literally it confused Persephone to no end why people wanted to get into a romantic relationship.

To emphasize it a little more, dear reader, Persephone is the goddess of innocence. Let that sink in. And in every sense of the word did it apply to her.

"Never get a dog," Athena quipped. "I shave dogs, let's hope your little pup isn't next," the aqua-skinned goddess grinned mischievously.

"Forgot about that. So how'd the meeting go?" Persephone asked, hoping to change the subject. "Mother dearest didn't give a reason for the meeting, just told me to fill up the sinkholes. This one appeared yesterday, but no matter what I do, it just won't go away-" she gestured to the hole she just came out of. "-The others, easy-peasy, this one is being a real pain."

"How odd," Athena noted. "Oh well, anyway, Zeus, finally got an idea in that thick skull of his to get a new ruler of the Underworld. Trust me I know it's thick, I'm the one that burst out of there in the first place."

Persephone chuckled. "Full-grown and yet I'm still considered older than you."

"Now, don't fret, you're still my little si-" Athena froze.

No.

Demeter had begged her, and made her swear by the River Styx never to reveal that the two of them were in fact half-sisters. To this day, Persephone was completely ignorant to the fact that Zeus was her father, and had always seen Athena, not as her friend, but a dear cousin who constantly doted over her.

"Cousin," Athena finished.

Persephone blinked, something felt off, but she just chose to ignore it. People were always hiding things from her, it didn't matter what. She sometimes wondered if it was due to her being the goddess of innocence? "Ookay. So did Zeus find one? Or are they gonna take another millennia to make a decision?"

"Well, I don't approve of the choices." Athena admitted. "Zeus wanted someone strong and brutal, so naturally Ares suggested his sons."

"Aren't they mortals?"

"Exactly! But no, Ares is hoping one of them might become a god and be the permanent replacement to Hades."

"Oh, yes that was his name." Persephone exclaimed. "I don't think I've met the guy."

"Eh he never showed up to events anyway," Athena added. "And you rarely show up to meetings anyway, you're little mummy just adores what you do with her fields. Another excellent crop of olives this year, might I add," the goddess winked.

"Uh, I wish I had a better job than this dump."

Athena gave her a curious look. "Really? But I thought you liked your fauna?"

"Oh, no I do, don't get me wrong, but that's my mom's job- this is my… Hobby, capiche? Like, wow innocence is not that great." Persephone couldn't help but chuckle. Schlumping down onto a nearby rock, Persephone sighed. "I like knowing things, that's why I love hanging out with you and Ibid, you're the only ones who likes to challenge me."

"You know, Persephone…" Athena paused trying to find the right words. "I think I've found just the way to challenge you… Do you truly want out of this field?"

"YES! Gods, please, I don't want to be my mom's companion for eternity. I want to be known more than just being innocent and pure. I want to live up to my name." The pink-skinned goddess sat up a little straighter, one hand in a fist held triumphantly over her head, mimicking a general leading her troops to war.

"Ah, yes the bringer of destruction." Athena smiled with fondness. "I called you that when we first met."

The first day they met was actually a funny encounter. It was the day after Athena had been freed from her father's skull. Having never encountered a baby, the grey-eyed goddess had approached Demeter's little newborn Kore with immense curiosity and was allowed to hold the babe.

What happened after only cemented their friendship forever when Kore grabbed Athena's fingers and bit down hard, using them to teethe. To this day, Athena still had four little scars along her index and middle finger from where Kore had bitten her.

Never had Athena thought that such a tiny creature was capable of eliciting such pain, and had yelled at the child dubbing her with a new name. On accident, of course, but Demeter naturally was opposed to the name and made sure only Athena called her thus.

Still, there was an occasion or two when Athena swore she heard the goddess of agriculture call her that name to get her daughter's attention.

"Well, what do you propose?" Kore asked, allowing flowers to sprout along the rock on which she sat. "Please don't tell me you're going to send me with Artemis, again. You know she's out to get me for resurrecting that deer."

"Oh, I sometimes forget that you've developed that power." Hmm, maybe it could work. "Now, Persephone, are you positive you'd do anything to get out of here?"

"I'd marry Ares!"

"Now, Persephone, silly, you have standards, and I was not asking you to do that. Now as you know Zeus is now hiring anyone to rule the Underworld- and I mean anyone, so what if you stepped up to the plate? Your mother might not approve, but I'm sure we can find something that will be agre-"

"YES!"

Athena could not finish her sentence as Persephone tackled her in a rather large bear hug, that sent both goddesses over the edge of the sinkhole and down into its bowels.

"Persephone," Athena groaned from underneath the willowy goddess. "Please don't do that again."

"Sorry, I don't know my own strength," Persephone grinned, detaching herself from her "cousin." Thank goodness her powers had acted up and created a bed of flowers to soften their fall.

Ibid fluttered about frustratingly before he once again rested on Athena's shoulder.

"And we have to work on your hugging." Athena miffed, readjusting her helmet. "You just can't act like a nymph. You have to act and be a commanding goddess. One that is bold, fearless, and above all resolute in her decisions. They'll eat you alive down there."

"Oops," the goddess shrugged. "I just can't help myself sometimes."

"Ugh, Persephone do you even know anything about being any of those things? "

"I am a sheltered, obedient daughter, do you really think I'm any of those things?"

"I suppose you're right." Athena huffed.

Oh, her plan might not work, but she'd do anything to keep Ares and his brood away from the Underworld. What if he tried to make his sons help him when it came to wars? What would happen to the side she was supporting? Would they send some inhuman army to help them? Would the world fall back in progress and be swept up in the dark ages?

No, someone other than them had to take the job, and who knows maybe the experience working down in the land of the dead would make Persephone grow as a goddess? She might even come to like the job. Well the worst that could happen is she'll quit, but that's still enough time for me to come up with a better replacement? Oh, if only Hecate would come back from her travels to the North! Everyone knows she was out for Hades' position. Wait- Hades! What if he came back while she was down there? Would he get the wrong idea about Persephone? No, Athena reasoned. Hades wouldn't hurt the girl, but it wouldn't hurt if she came up with a backup plan. Oh, yes, that'll do nicely.

"Hmm, I have an idea, but, oh, I'm going to have to use up that favor Hephaestus owes me."

"What about my mother?"

"Don't worry about that- have you ever heard of plants that only grow without sunlight?"

"Um, no…"

"Well then start making some. It might be your only chance to convince your mother to go down there."

"I don't know…"

Athena thought for a moment. "Wait… This hole!" She gestured to the large cavern they were still in. "You said it just won't go away right?"

"Yeah, it's been really kvetching me all day."

"What if the Fates put this hole here for a reason? What if this is where you'll go to access the Underworld?"

Persephone pursed her lips. "And maybe! Oh, if mother calls me I'll be able to be topside in a second or she'll hear me if I'm in trouble! Maybe this will work! Since you know… she disabled my teleportation powers."

"Oh, you cheeky thing, don't you remember why she did that?"

Persephone groaned. "Because apparently when your mom's introducing you to gods- and especially suitors it's very rude to disappear and dangerous considering how mom was so worried sick that she nearly turned the world into a literal ice cube after disappearing for nearly eight hours. That was twenty years ago! I should get them back now!"

"Persephone, you know as well as I do, that that wasn't the only time you did it, and where you went each time."

"Oh, c'mon, 'Thena, lay off. Just go and tell Zeus I want the job," Persephone stated, and boldly added, "… Damnit."

Athena snorted, but concealed any other sign of her mirth. "That's the spirit. I'll be heading to Olympus again, then."

"Yeah… While you're up there…" Persephone hesitated, she bit her lip in thought. "Can you not mention it to my mom, just yet? She's gone to a festival in Corinth, that's apparently "Adults only" for the next three days, so if I could delay telling her till then, that would be wonderful."

"Of course," Athena nodded her head in agreement. "I'll be back here tomorrow to deliver the news and a small little gift you might need. Just imagine it, dear, in a few days you'll be the new Queen of the Underworld."

Persephone laughed. "Oh 'Thena, I hope you're right."

"Come now, you know I'm never wrong." The aqua-skinned goddess winked and disappeared leaving Persephone alone in the sinkhole.

"Oh my gods, mother is so going to kill me when she finds out…" Persephone mused, as she created a little stairwell out of vines for her to climb up.

"Don't panic, Persy, you've got it all under control," she told herself. "You are a strong, independent goddess who don't need no mom."

"Hey, Kore, what are you up to?"

The goddess screamed in the god's face, having not noticed Hermes flying by, socked him right in the schnoz, and dove right back into the sinkhole from where she had recently come out of.

"Was it something I said?" The lanky blue-skinned messenger asked in pain from his position on the grass where Kore had knocked him senseless.

"Ow, gee wiz, babe, you've got quite the arm," he moaned massaging his now purple nose, half-wondering where the goddess had run off to, and where his glasses had gone.