The three of them were on Charon's boat, returning back to the palace so that Heracles can collect Theseus.

Hades just stands at the front of the boat, looking ahead, with Persephone by his side. Heracles sits behind them, watching them with wary eyes.

"You have accomplished a great feat, Heracles," Hades says solemnly without looking at him.

"Thank you, Lord Hades," Heracles replies. And then, Hades says no more.

Finally, Charon docks the boat and they both step onto the grounds of the palace. They made their way inside, Hades leading the way to the dining room at the west.

All of them were silent. Persephone had an arm around her husband's, who looked angry, probably because Heracles had managed to do what seems to be the impossible.

Finally, they reached the doors of the dining room. Hades threw open the doors with one hand.

Pirithous and Theseus looked up, startled. They saw the king enter with the queen, Heracles following closely behind them.

Hades stands with Persephone by the side, and says to Heracles, "Take him with Cerberus, and you may leave the Underworld."

Heracles nods. Then Hades points a finger at Theseus, muttering, "You are now released from your bonds."

Just at his words, the rocks that held Theseus' arms and legs trapped to the chair slowly sank back onto the floor. Theseus groans in pain as the rock that infiltrated his flesh disappeared. When the rocks had all disappeared into the floor, Theseus stays still and looks at himself.

The flesh of his arms and legs were as pale as a ghost. They felt numb, and he realized that as much as he tried, he could not move them. He was afraid.

"What has happened to me?" Theseus whispers in agony.

"It will remain like that for the first few hours. It will soon return to normal, but as of now, you will be unable to walk," Hades tells him.

Heracles takes the initiative and goes over to Theseus. He takes one of Theseus' arms and drapes it over his shoulders. He lifts him up to a standing position, though he still sagged.

"Wait…" a small voice mutters, the words full of fear.

All of them looked at Pirithous, who stares at Theseus with wide eyes.

"Please… Take me with you… I cannot take it if I do not have company… I beg of you, great Heracles… take me as well…"

Hades silently stares at the demigod with a hateful gaze. Persephone looks down at her husband's hands and sees them continuously clenching and unclenching.

Heracles and Theseus remains silent, looking back at Pirithous.

"Please, Theseus…. I'm sorry for not heeding your advice…. Please beg for my release…. Let me make amends to you…" Pirithous begs with tears now flowing rapidly rom his blackened eyes.

Theseus stares at him, clenching his jaws.

At that moment, Heracles felt pity for him. To be trapped for eternity in the Underworld is indeed a punishment if one is not sent to the happy Elysian Fields or at least the indifferent Asphodel Plains. Slowly, he reaches a hand out for one of Pirithous' trapped arms,

And just suddenly, the ground trembled beneath them.

On the banks of Styx…

Charon had just brought newly-departed souls to the palace grounds and was about to return to the other side when suddenly the grounds started shaking violently.

He could have fallen into the waters of Styx had he not gripped the edge of his boat for balance.

As he felt the tremors vibrating through his aged body, he thought to himself, What in Styx is going on?

In the foyer of the palace…

Thanatos was walking up the stairs to Hades' study with a bundle of scrolls in his hands when the tremors began.

He lost his balance immediately due to the violent quake. He fell down a few steps, the scrolls dropped from his hands and rolling down the stairs. But luckily, he was not hurt.

He was confused at first. Yes, there has been an occasional earthquake in the Underworld by Poseidon, who was also the God of Earthquakes, time by time. But this was no ordinary earthquake. It seems as though it comes from within the Underworld itself.

What has incurred the wrath of Hades so immensely? he thinks to himself.

In the three realms of the Underworld - the Elysian Fields, the Asphodel Plains and the horrid Tartarus - the earthquake could be felt immediately. Everyone stopped whatever they were doing. Some cried out in fear, others frozen with shock.

Never before have they experienced an earthquake so terrifying.

Back in the dining room…

Both Heracles and Theseus fell to the floor after having their balance knocked out of them.

Persephone gripped onto her husband, confusion washing over her. She did not know what was going on. They have released Theseus, so why was Poseidon doing this?

And that's when she realized how stiff Hades was. She looks at him and sees him standing as still as a statue, glaring at Heracles.

"DO NOT EVEN DARE TO TRY AND RELEASE HIM! HE HAS COMMITTED A GREAT CRIME AND SHALL THEREFORE BE SUBMISSIVE TO TORTURE BY MY HANDS!" Hades hotly shouted, pointing a shaking finger at Heracles.

Heracles, frightened by the on-going earthquake that seemed to be capable of bringing the palace down, nods, apologizing for incurring Hades' wrath.

"Forgive me, my lord! I know now that I was foolish! Please stop this! " Heracles pleaded.

Hades did not move until Persephone grips his face in her hands.

"Please, husband, stop this! Heracles has committed a simple mistake! Please allow him and Theseus to return now!" she pleads him desperately.

Hades stares at his wife's begging eyes. He knows he cannot refuse her, but what she asks is something that one does not make an easy decision out of.

But just then, the earthquake slowly dies down until finally, it stops.

Persephone looks at Hades and sees that he has his eyes tightly shut and he was breathing deeply. She leans in so that her lips were next to his ear and whispers, "Thank you…"

Hades' eyes flew open and they were looking at Heracles.

"Leave now, before I change my mind. And swear that you will bring back Cerberus to his home safely," he says solemnly.

Heracles nods and stands as he picks up Theseus as well.

Pirithous began to lose it.

"THESEUS! PLEASE! I BEG OF YOU!" he cried.

Hades shouts, "TOO LATE! NOTHING CAN SAVE YOU NOW! YOU MUST PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE TRIED TO COMMIT!"

Heracles walks out of the room immediately, dragging Theseus along. Theseus casts one last small glance at him, whispering, "Farewell, my friend…"

Pirithous cries with immense grief. Hades glares at him while his wife only looks. And then, without another word, he takes Persephone with him, exiting the room, and leaving Pirithous, for the first time, alone.

Heracles dragged Theseus out of the palace. They see the ferryman about to row off, and Heracles cries, "Wait!"

Charon stops and looks at them. He waits for them patiently, watching them approach him.

Just then, a shrill voice called out for them.

"Wait! Wait!"

Heracles and Theseus turns to see Persephone running after them. They stop and wait for her.

"To get to the other side of Styx, you must now pay Charon. Put two gold obols in your mouths, for you are wishing to return to the world above alive. Let him take it straight from your mouths. Only then can you ride safely."

With a flick of her wrist, four gold obols appeared in the palm of her hand. She instructs Heracles to open his mouth, and he does. She proceeds to put two gold obols on his tongue. Heracles closes his lips and Persephone turns to Theseus.

"Thank you, your grace. I apologize on behalf of Pirithous and myself, for what we have done..." he murmurs.

Persephone only smiles.

He then opens his mouth for her, like how he does when she feeds him. She places the remaining two obols on his tongue, and then places her hand on his shoulder.

"I am glad that you can return home, Theseus. I too apologize on behalf of my husband for what has happened," she says to him, the smile still there.

Unable to talk because his mouth was full, he only smiles.

She lets them go and watches as they go up to Charon. They open their mouths for him and he takes the obols, and then they both climbed on board his boat.

As Charon rows away from the banks, Theseus looks at Persephone again. This time, Hades was with her, standing still by her side and looking at them as she waved goodbye.

And then Theseus looks at the palace again, his emotions spiralling downwards. With a heavy sigh, he whispers, "I'm sorry, Pirithous…"

In the dining room, Pirithous stares blankly at the now empty chair that had been occupied by Theseus, his mouth gapping open with saliva dripping down. His breathing was shallow, and he thought that finally, he will die.

But no. He will never die. He will still be breathing and facing the wrath of Hades.

For an eternity….

Author's Note:

And that's a wrap for The Wrath of Hades!

Sorry guys for not updating for three days! I've been busy with examinations :P

I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and gave the story good comments. Especially madame thome. Thank you, thank you! :)

Anyway, I hope you all can read my new story, Who I Am: A Tale of Artemis. There will be a new Hades and Persephone fanfic, with the first chapter coming out tomorrow. I hope you all will enjoy it as much as I do! :)

Sincerely,

Muse of Fanfiction