Underworld God

Hades and Hestia continued on their way up to the mountain top. On the way, he saw numerous Titans and spirits enjoying themselves and having a good time. Everywhere he looked, there were festivities. People drinking, feasting and having fun.

'Not like I'll be able to enjoy myself.'

Hades knew he was only here to be interrogated by Zeus for either his actions in the Underworld or his trip to Tartarus, so he doubted he'd be able to actually let loose and have fun.

'Not like anyone would want to chill with the God of Death and Shadows.'

After some time, they finally made it to the top of the mountain and stood before the gates towards the Heavenly Palace. Everywhere he looked, he saw polished white marble and glistening gold that glimmers in the glow of all the divine power concentrated here. Just standing here, Hades was able to feel the divine authority of the King of Olympus.

Walking through the intricately designed corridors and courtyards, he and Hestia came upon 12 meter tall double doors made of a pure white stone that shined in the sunlight. With a creak, they opened up into the Throne Room.

The first thing Hades saw was a grand throne on a raised dais that seemed to be seated upon clouds. Storms and thunder bolts were etched into its design and the air currents of the room centred around it, similar to the eye of a storm.

'Zeus' throne.'

He only noticed the man himself afterwards in all his arrogant glory, his black hair rolling down to his shoulders as he stared down at Hades with his piercing electric blue eyes.

"It's been 200 years," Zeus said, his voice rumbling and echoing within the hall.

'Ah, so that's how he wants to start this.'

"Well, dear brother," Hades said. "Aren't you the one who forbade me from coming? Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I thought I was unwelcome here."

Hestia looked hurt at that sitting on her own throne to Zeus' right. Further to his right (Hestia's left) were two women, each more beautiful than the former. One sat on a throne of leaves, vines and tree bark and had hair a c.h.e.s.tnut brown with warm brown eyes who he assumed to be Demeter.

The other had glossy black hair and blue eyes, but where Zeus' was very piercing and electric, hers was much calmer and more at ease, like the sky. She sat on a white throne of doves and flowers. Hades knew that this was Hera.

"That doesn't mean you don't turn up, oh brother of mine," someone said. "You may just find yourself in trouble."

Looking to the other side of the room, he found the source of the voice. A certain Poseidon, God of the Seas. His own throne was made of sea stones and shells, and he could faintly smell the ocean from it. He looked like a mix between Hera and Zeus, except that he didn't have that same kingly 'Do As I Say Or Die' aura that Zeus had. And his eyes were a deep sea green colour.

"Oh? In trouble you say? What for?" Hades said.

"Don't pretend to be stupid, Hades. It doesn't suit you very well," Demeter said. "We all know what you've been doing."

'Ah, such a pleasant voice. Like a bird chirping in a blissful forest.'

"Dear sister, what is it that I have committed to receive such treatment from my own siblings?" Hades said in mock hurt.

"Enough!" Zeus said, slamming a fist down onto his throne. Hades could hear the thunder in the distance. "What were you doing in Tartarus and why has the Underworld changed so much?"

'Straight to the point. He must be very pissed.'

"The Underworld has been getting out of hand," Hades said. "Spirits never stayed where they were meant to and kept escaping. The current judges aren't impartial either so I've been considering changing them, but I had other priorities."

Before continuing, Hades sat down on his throne next to Poseidon, made of Stygian Iron with depiction of death and suffering on it.

"Hmm, nice chair. Still doesn't compare to my own down in the Underworld."

"Hades."

Zeus' growl caused sparks to fly across the hall.

"Yes?"

"Your trip to Tartarus. Explain," his voice had that no-nonsense 'answer or die' edge to it.

"I was scouting Tartarus as I realised a threat to our lives."

Pin drop silence in the throne room. Zeus' expression morphed into one of incredulity.

"And what are these threats that you seemed to have realised exist?" he asked.

"You castrated Kronos and cut his body into Chaos knows how many pieces, right?" Hades asked, getting a nod in reply from his brother.

"Our grandmother wouldn't be too happy about that when she wakes up."

"And what exactly does this have to do with Tartarus?"

" If she plans to have more kids after she wakes up, what will their agenda be and who will father them?"

Hades let them think on that question. Surprisingly, it was Demeter that answered.

"Gaea would send them to overthrow us, wouldn't she?"

Hera chose now to speak up as well.

"And since Ouranus' physical form is dead, the only male beings to father her children would be the Primordials Tartarus and Pontus. But Pontos is a pacifist, so that leaves Tartarus."

"Precisely," he said.

An uneasy silence descended on the room. Hades could see that they all shifted uneasily in their seats.

'I guess this is a sore point to bring up.'

"Give us the room," Zeus said. Hera made it speak.

"Zeus you can't just-"

"I said," Zeus said, cutting her off. "Give. Us. The. Room."

Seeing that he wasn't playing around, the four of them got up and walked out of the Throne Room. Surprisingly, Demeter flashed a look of concern at him before walking out.

After they left, Zeus turned to him with a sharp look in his eyes.

"Tell me, Hades. Why and how did you suddenly come to these conclusions?" he asked. "And is it related to your immediate character change?"

'Well, f.u.c.k. Now there's no escaping the questions.'

"I had a most distressing prophecy of the future," Hades said.

He had been debating what excuse to be using, and that was the only one he could come up with that could explain such a sudden character shift.

"What exactly was this prophecy of yours?" Zeus asked.

"It was a dream. Olympus laid in ruins, covered in our mutilated corpses. Gigantic beings sat upon our thrones. In the distance stood a serpent whose head was above the clouds. The ground laughed in contentment as monsters surged out into the world."

They were both silent for a few minutes as Zeus tried to digest what Hades told him.

"You will speak of this with no one, do you understand?" Zeus said.

"I understand," Hades said.

"Swear on the River Styx, Hades. Or I can promise you that you will not be leaving this hall with your ability to speak intact," Zeus threatened as lightning bolts began to swirl around them.

'Okay, okay. Sheesh, this guy is so damn trigger happy with his lightning.'

"I swear on the River Styx that I will not tell anyone about this," Hades solemnly said, lightning thundering in the skies above them.

"Good," Zeus said, visibly relieved. "You've given me a great deal to think about, Hades. Anything else you'd like to tell me? And do tell what caused such a great personality shift?"

"Upon contemplation, I realised that I was a very, umm, distasteful person to be around," Hades said.

"This is important how?" Zeus asked.

"Because it appears I won't be able to have children that way," Hades said. He noticed a mocking look on Zeus' face. "Oh, don't give me that look. I need strong children. We all do." Zeus seemed to lean forward slightly at that.

'So I have his attention now.'

"Let's face it Zeus, we're in danger. We are only 6. 6 Gods.. Out of us 6, only you, me and Poseidon are worth anything in combat. Demeter may have some use, but Hera and Hestia are practically useless. In our own territory, we are surrounded by Titans. To the north are the very unified and militaristic Asgardians led by Odin. To the south are the Egyptians. To the east are Yahweh, Shiva and the Emperor of Heaven. Above us is Nyx and maybe Ouranus. Below us is Gaea and Tartarus. We are surrounded on all sides. We need more war potential."

For a couple of hours after that Hades and Zeus had some hopefully lighter about the Underworld before Zeus ordered him to leave. Within those few minutes, the pressure in the room seemed to rise by the second and made it feel like Zeus would start fighting at any moment.

'I guess the message got into his head. And here I thought he was the type to hide his head in the sand.'

In that discussion, he got the go ahead to recruit more monsters from Tartarus and to start increasing security and maintenance in the Underworld, so long as he swore on the Styx never to face them at Olympus (an oath he swore immediately). He got the Underworld judges changed and, as a reward for the information brought forward, he got to pick them himself.

All seemed to be going well. If he had anything to say about it, they wouldn't even need a Percy Jackson to save their asses.