Rayman Legends Adventures in Hercules/Transcript

Long ago, in the distant land on ancient Greece, there was a golden age of powerful gods and extraordinary heroes. And the greatest and strongest of all these heroes…was the mighty Hercules. But what is the measure of the real hero? This is where our story......

Thalia: Do you want to listen to him? He makes this story sound like a Greek tragedy.

Terpsichore: Lighten up, man.

Calliope: We'll take it from here, darling.

Go ahead, daughter.

We are the muses; goddesses of the arts and publishers of heroes.

Terpsichore: Heroes like Hercules.

Thalia: Darling, you mean Hercules. Ooh-wee, I'd like to make soft music with him.

Our story actually begins long before Hercules…there are many eons.

Calliope: Back if the world was new

The planet Earth was down on its luck

And everywhere gigantic brutes called Titans

Ran amok

Thalia: It was a nasty place

There was a mess wherever you stepped.

Calliope: Where chaos reigned and earthquakes

And volcanoes never slept.

All: AND THEN ALONG CAME ZEUS!!

Calliope: He hurled his thunderbolt

All: HE ZAPPED!!

Calliope: Locked these suckers in a vault

All: THEY'RE TRAPPED

And on his own stopped chaos in its tracks

And that's the Gospel Truth

That guy was too type "A" to just…RELAX!!

Calliope: And that's the world's first dish

Thalia: Yes, baby

Calliope: Zeus tamed the globe while yet in his youth

All: Though darling, it may seem impossible

THAT'S THE GOSPEL TRUTH!!

On Mount Olympus, life was sweet

And smooth as sweet vermouth

Though darling, it may seem impossible

THAT'S THE GOSPEL TRUUUUUTH!!

Walt Disney Pictures presents Hercules

On Mount Olympus, the tallest mountain in Greece, gods from all over the country gathered together to celebrate the birth of a newborn infant. This baby was born to the mighty Hera, the goddess of marriage and women, and the almighty Zeus, king of the Gods and goddesses, and god of the heavens. Together, they had given birth to Hercules. As the gods chattered amongst themselves, Hera happily said to the little baby, "Hercules. Behave yourself."

The little baby was placed in his little basket, where he saw his father, Zeus. "Oh, look at that, look how cute he is," Zeus said happily.

Hercules took hold of his father's finger and literally lifted him above the ground. This was his gift; superhuman strength. "Hah, ooh, he's strong...like his father," commented Zeus.

Nearby, one god was zooming past the others in a hurry. This was Hermes, the god messenger. "Woah, excuse me. Hot stuff is coming. Excuse me. On the one hand, Ares," he said as he flew past the gods before giving Hera flowers.

"Why, Hermes, they're so cute," Hera commented.

"Yes, you know, I asked Orpheus to make the arrangement. Isn't that too crazy," replied Hermes before turning to Prince Charming, "famous feast, you know I haven't seen as much love in a room since Narcissus discovered himself."

As they chatted, Hercules noticed some lightning bolts in one of his father's pockets. Hera took notice of her son playing with the electricity and became concerned. "Darling, keep them away from the baby," she said.

"Oh, it won't hurt," replied Zeus who saw the activity, but wasn't concerned, "let the child have a little fun."

Hercules literally sucked on the bolt and got shocked by its affects. He threw the bolt aside, not interested in it anymore. The other gods swiftly got out of the road of the zooming bolt but Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare, hit the bolt away like a baseball and it hit a pole, but caused no damage. Zeus wasn't concerned one bit, since he was overall happy about his son. "On behalf of my son, I want to thank you all for your wonderful gifts," he announced to his fellow gods and goddesses before showing all the nice gifts given to the baby.

"What about our gift, darling," asked Hera.

Zeus realized that his wife got a good point. "Now see here. We're going to take...huh...yes...a little cirrus, and, um...hmph...a touch of nimbostratus," said Zeus as he put together something special for Hercules, "and...a hint of cumulus."

Zeus' creation was cloud created and he made something that looked like a horse, except it had wings. Hercules moved to touch it, but as he did so, something burst out of the cloud like a baby coming out of an egg. This was a tiny horse with wings. "His name...is Pegasus," said Zeus, "and he's all yours, son."

The horse, Pegasus, bonked heads with the baby before licking him. This wasn't mean to be any harmful at all, for the horse was playing with him. The two babies hugged each other, to the other gods' happiness. They found it adorable. "Watch out for his head," Hera said to Zeus as she gave the baby to him.

"He's so small," replied Zeus.

The adorable baby sucked a little on his own necklace, which had the god's symbol on it. He started feeling sleepy. "My boy...my little Hercules," Zeus said silently as he put the baby down in his basket.

This was a cute moment, but it suddenly came to a halt as someone said, "how sentimental."

Everyone turned and saw someone in the shadows. This was a god, but a dark-looking one with fire on his head. "You know I haven't been so choked since I caught a piece of moussaka in my throat. What," he said as he revealed himself to the crowd.

This was Hades, lord of the Underworld, and younger brother to Zeus. Everyone wasn't pleased to see this guy. "What is this, an audience or a mosaic," he asked before walking past the gods, "hey, how are you? Looking good, nice dress."

But while the other gods weren't happy about his presence, Zeus, on the other hand, was happy to see his brother. "Well, Hades, you eventually made it," he said, "how are facts in the Underworld?"

"Well, they're fine, a little dark, a little dark and as always, hey, full of dead guys. What are you going to do," he replied before shifting his attention to little baby Hercules, "ah, there's the little sunburn. Pretty sneaky. And here is a suction cup for the small suction cup, heh, let's go, you come..."

As Hades was speaking, he pulled out his little spiked skull-shaped pacifier and attempted to put it in the baby's mouth. But Hercules caught Hades' finger. Because of Hercules' strength, this grip was very strong and painful for poor Hades. After getting out of his grip, Hades said to himself, "er, powerful little tyke."

"C'mon, Hades, don't be so stiff," said Zeus, "join the celebration."

"Hehehe, I love it, baby, but unlike you, the gods who rush in here, unfortunately I have a full-time concert that you granted me so charitably, Prince Charming," replied Hades, "then can't. I love it, but I can't."

As Hades turned to leave, Zeus replied, "you have to slow down. You're going to murder yourself."

Zeus suddenly found his own line funny. "HAH! WORK YOURSELF TO DEATH!!"

The other gods burst into laughter over Zeus' joke. "Oh, I'm hurting myself," Zeus giggled to himself as the laughter went on.

But Hades wasn't really in the mood for jokes. "If only," he said with laughter, before sinisterly saying to himself, "if only."

If there's one god you don't want to get upset about...it's Hades.

Terpsichore: Because he had a devilish plan.

Thalia: He ran the Underworld

But thought the dead were dull and uncouth

He was as mean as he was ruthless

And that's the Gospel Truth

He had a plan to shake facts up

And that's the GOSPEL truuuuuth!

Hades proceeded through the Underworld, across the Pit of Death. It was dark, depressing, gloomy place, where souls of dead people rested in eternal rest. Some of the souls often got on Hades' nerves, and this caused Hades to blast them with his flames. This was a dangerous place to be, not just because of the souls and dead people, but also because there was a three-headed dog named Cerberus. Upon seeing the giant monstrous canine, Hades tossed them a steak and they fought over it. Hades eventually reaches the center of the Underworld, where he shouts out for his minions. "PAIN!!"

An obese, pink monster with a large full of sharp teeth, crimson hair, small purple wings and two small black horns on his head, came running down the stairs. "Coming from your most dismal," he said before tripping and landing on some sharp thorns.

"PANIC," shouts Hades.

Another monster, a blue, slender one, with a tall, blue gazelle-like fashion, small green wings and a sharp snout, come out as well. "I'm sorry, I can handle it," he said as he ran frantically down the stairs.

By this time, Pain managed to get himself free, but he incidentally smashed into Panic. Panic's horns also landed on Pain's butt. This was painful for both two. "Pain," squirmed Pain.

"And Panic," squirmed Panic.

"BRING BACK YOUR HOMEWORK," they both said.

"Very well, well, well, let me know the moment the Fates arrive," replied Hades, who was a little irritated.

Pain and Panic managed to get themselves to their feet. "Oh...they're here," Panic said to Hades.

"WHAT," Hades suddenly snapped, making his flames turn from blue to orange and reddish, "THE FATES ARE HERE AND YOU DIDN'T WARN ME?!"

The two cowardly monsters lamented and turned themselves into worms. "WE ARE WORMS," cried Pain and Panic, "WORMS WITHOUT VALUE!!"

"Memo to me, memo to me; maim you after my meeting," replied Hades, who calmed down.

In another room in the Underworld, three dark figures stood together. There was Lachesis, the tall one, Clotho, the medium-sized one, and Atropos, the short and stout one. These were the three Greek Fates. "Darling, hold onto this mortal life thread, good...and tight," Atropos said as she got ready to cut a thread of string with scissors.

The string was cut and there was a loud shriek. "Coming in," shouts Clotho.

A soul came flying by, past Hades, and into a dark green room. With the presence of a new soul, the count made it to 5,000,000,0001. Hades turned to the fates and said, "ladies, I'm very sorry to be......"

"Late," they interrupted.

"We knew you'd be," said Lachesis as she took Atropos' eye.

"We know everything," said Clotho.

"Past," said Lachesis as the eye was passed around to her and her fellow fates.

"Present," added Clotho.

"And future," concluded Atropos, who then turned to Panic, "the interior plumbing. It's going to be great."

"Great," replied Hades, "but any matter, you see, ladies, I've had this feast and I lost track of…"

"WE KNOW," they interrupted.

"I know…you know," said Hades, who was annoyed, "then here's the deal....Zeus; Mr. High and Mighty, Mr. 'Hey, you, come out of my cloud.' Now he has a...."

"Bouncing baby kid," concluded the fates.

"We know," said Clotho.

"I KNOW," shouts Hades, who briefly turns orange with his outburst, "you know. I know. I understand. I understand the concept. Then let me just ask, is this child going to spoil my hostile purchase off or what, what do you think?"

Clothos thought, but Lachesis was reluctant about revealing a reply. "Oh, dear, you don't," she said, "we're not supposed to reveal the future."

Hades turned to Clothos and had an idea. "Oh, wait, I'm sorry, can I ask a question by the way? Are you…did you cut your hair or something? You're famous, I mean you look like a fate worse than death."

Clothos giggled about this, but Lachesis and Atropos were annoyed. Lachesis nudged Clothos, making her lose the eye. The eye landed in Panic's hands. "AH, GROSS," he complained.

"Yes, it's blinking," added Pain, who kicked it.

Hades had the eye in his hands and said, "ladies, please. My fate…is in your beautiful hand."

Clothos turned to Lachesis like she was begging for something. "Oh, alright," said Lachesis dryly.

With that said, the eye brightened up and showed an image of the future. "In eighteen years....exactly…the planets will yet line up very well," explained Clothos.

"Yes, worms, oi," commented Hades.

"The time to act will be near," continued Lachesis, "unleash the titans, your monstrous group."

"Uh-huh," Hades said, paying good attention, "good, good."

"Then the once proud Zeus will eventually fall," continued Clothos, "and you…HADES…WILL GOVERN EVERYTHING!!"

Hades burst in emotion. "YES! HADES RULES!!"

"A word of warning to this tale," said Atropos.

"Pardon me," asked Hades, who was confused.

"If Hercules is fighting.....you will fail," concluded Atropos.

The fates disappeared from the room, leaving Hades, Pain and Panic amongst themselves. "WHAT," yelled Hades upset as flames burst out of his head, before calming down, "OK, that's it. I'm cool, I'm fine."

As for Hades, he entered another room with Pain and Panic. "Pain…Panic," he said to his cowardly monster henchmen, "have a little riddle for you; how do you murder....a god?"

"I do…not know," replied Pain.

"You can't," said Panic, "are they immortal?"

"Bingo, they're immortal," replied Hades, who then pulled out a special potion, "well…first you have to transform the little sunburn…mortal."

Evening fell over Mt. Olympus and all was calm and silent. In their little bedroom, Hercules and Pegasus slept together. They were fast asleep, unaware that something was approaching them, slowly and silently. Two shadows emerged in the room and they crept closer and closer towards the sleeping pair. In another room, Zeus and Hera were sleeping together in their bed, but suddenly they heard smashing noises coming from another room. The two awakened from their sleep. At first they were confused, but suddenly became concerned. "THE BABY," they exclaimed.

Zeus and Hera rushed to Hercules' room, but all they found was a mess, and Pegasus stuck in a horn. They all gasped upon seeing the baby's empty basket. It was now clear that Hercules was taken. "HERCULES," exclaimed Hera before bursting into tears over the loss of her son.

Both parents were shocked over what just happened to their son. Zeus, upon seeing that Hercules had disappeared, grew frustrated and yelled a Big No as lightning flashed around him.

Below the clouds, Pain and Panic had Hercules in their possession and they were descending to the ground. "Now we did it," said Panic who was panicking, "Zeus will use us for shooting practice."

"Just hold onto the boy, Panic," said Pain, before the two smashed to the ground after going through dead trees.

Hercules started crying upon hitting the ground. Panic, frantic about Zeus figuring out who took the baby, just wanted their job over and swiftly. "We're going to murder the boy and finish at once, that's fine," he said.

"Here you go, boy," said Pain who gave Hercules the potion from the Underworld, "a little Greek formula."

Sip after sip, Hercules started changing and becoming more mortal. His god glow was fading away. "Look at that," Panic said upon noticing the change, "he's changing. Can we do it now?"

"No, no, no," replied Pain, "he has to drink the entire potion. Until the last drop."

But as it seemed all hope was lost for the poor baby, Pain and Panic suddenly heard a voice. "Who's there?"

Pain and Panic instantly became frightened and fled, dropping the potion bottle onto the ground. But what they were unaware of was the fact that one tiny little drop of the potion slipped off the glass and landed on the ground. Two peasants appeared as Hercules cried. Amphitryon and his wife, Alcmene appeared from behind a rock. "Alcmene, over here," said Amphitryon as he noticed the baby.

"Oh…poor fact," Alcmene said as she took the baby, "ah, ne pas pleure."

"Is there anyone there," called Amphitryon, who wanted to see if anyone was with the baby.

From a safe distance, Pain and Panic saw the couple with Hercules. "Now," asked Panic.

"Now," replied Pain.

The two partners turned themselves into snakes and they slowly crept towards the oblivious couple. "Oh, well, he must've been abandoned," said Amphitryon.

"Amphitryon, for so many years, we've prayed to the gods to bless us with a child," said Alcmene, "maybe they've replied our prayers."

"Maybe he did so," replied the husband as he read the necklace around Hercules, "Hercules."

As lightning flashed, the couple eventually noticed Pain and Panic approach them. They gasped, but as the monsters struck, Hercules caught their necks. Pain and Panic were in pain over Hercules catching their necks. They instantly realized that Hercules yet had his strength. Amphitryon and Alcmene watched in shock as the baby beat up the two snakes and tied them in a knot. He swung the snakes around a few times before tossing them into the air like a hammer throw Olympic event. The couple watched them fly off before turning their attention to the giggling Hercules. As for Pain and Panic, they kept flying off until smashing into a wall. They turned back into their regular selves and complained. "Hades will murder us if he finds out what just happened," complained Panic.

"You mean, IF he finds out," said Pain who had another plan up his sleeve.

"Of course he's going to fuck…" Panic said before realizing that Pain's idea could work, "yes…if it's good."

It was tragic. Zeus led all the gods in a frantic search.

Terpsichore: But as they found the baby, it was already no use.

Melpomeme: Young Herc was mortal then

But since he did not drink the last drop

He yet retained his god-like fashion

Then thank his lucky stars

But Zeus and Hera wept

Because their son could never come home

They had to watch their precious baby

Grow up from afar

Though Hades' horrid plan

Was hatched before Herc cut his first tooth

The boy grew stronger everyday

And that's the Gospel Truth

Muses: The Gospel…Truuuuuth!

Under the blue heavens of Greece, as sheep grazed on the grass, something strange appeared on a nearby hill. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a cart with a lot of hay appeared and frightened everyone in its path. This hay cart was racing toward a market town. This cart had Amphitryon, his donkey, Penelope and the now teenage Hercules. "HERCULES, SLOWLY," begged Amphitryon as his adoptive son raced down the path, "BE CAREFUL!!"

This cart ran below some people doing their business on an arch and they were alarmed. "Wow, I'm sorry, guys," exclaimed Hercules.

"HEY, LOOK WHERE YOU'RE GOING, SUNDAY DRIVER!!"

The people in the market town scattered upon seeing the fast moving cart. Hercules eventually slowed down, but the strength in his legs made him brake and go underground. "Thank you, son," said Amphitryon, "as old Penelope twisted her ankle there, I thought we were goners."

"No problem, Dad," said Hercules, who lifted the big stack of hay.

"Uh, no, no, don't download yet," said the concerned father, "first I have to meet Phidias."

"Alright," replied Hercules, who threw the haystack back onto the cart, unintentionally making Penelope fly into the air, "oops. I'm sorry, Penelope."

"Now, Hercules," said Amphitryon, "this time, please just…"

"I know, I know," replied Hercules, who then caught Penelope, "stay by the car."

"That's my child," replied the father who walked off.

Hercules leaned on the cart, waiting for his dad. As he waited, he noticed the town's pottery seller, Demetrius, attempting to keep hold of a giant pot. "Oh, my heavens, WOAH!!"

"Be careful," said Hercules as he helped him get a stable hold on the pot.

"Oh, why, thanks," said Demetrius.

"No problem."

But upon seeing Hercules' face, Demetrius turned from grateful to concerned. "Wow, Hercules...it's…it's you," he said.

"Let me help you with that," Hercules said.

But Demetrius didn't want to risk any damage with the boy. "No, no, no, no, I have it," he said, "I'm fine. Just run."

"Are you sure?"

"Oh, yes. Absolutely."

The shop's curtains were closed on Hercules, and he felt bad. Suddenly, a discus landed in front of him. Three teenage boys came running as one said, "hey, give it here."

They suddenly stopped upon seeing Hercules. "Hey, you need an extra boy," asked Hercules.

"Uh…I'm sorry, Herc," said one of the boys, "we already have five and we want to keep an even number."

"Wait a second, five isn't a pair......"

"Farewell, Herc," said the teenager after snatching the discus.

"What a geek," said one of the teenagers, "destruction boy."

"Perhaps we should call him 'Jerkules.'"

Hercules was serious by these and walked off in his despair. But as Hercules sat in hopes, he suddenly heard a teenager yell. "HEADS UP!!"

The discus was flying through the air and was heading Hercules' direction. "I have it, I have it," he said as he jumped up to catch the discus.

He managed to catch the flying object, but he was yet flying through the air and he smashed into a pole. As he opened his eyes, he saw the pole shaking. "Oops. Oh, dear," he said before trying to stop the pole from falling down, "it's alright."

But Hercules was attempting to keep the pole straight and it smashed into the other pole. That one started smashing into the other Greek poles and they all came down on each other like dominoes. This terrified the people in complete shock over the sudden catastrophe. Hercules threw the other aside to stop this, but it smashed into the other poles and they came smashing down the same fashion. The people ran for their lives, as Hercules tried desperately to stop the market town from falling apart. "SON," exclaimed Amphitryon.

"HANG ON, DAD," replied Hercules, "I'LL BE RIGHT BACK!!"

Demetrius was stuck in between the two paths of the smashing walls. He had so many pots in his grip that he couldn't get out of the road fast enough. "NONONONONONONO," he cried before bracing for impact.

But the two smashing walls collided with each other, stopping each other from landing on Demetrius' pottery. Demetrius saw this and sighed with relief. But as it seemed the damage was over, Hercules came running and he slipped. "WATCH OUT," he cried as he slid toward the panicking pottery seller.

Hercules smashed into Demetrius, destroying his pottery and making the two walls smash down. The town's wreckage was immense. Hercules looked around the area at the mess he incidentally made. He had the discus in his hand as Amphitryon approached him. "Good catch…Jerkules," said one of the teenage boys who took the discus off.

"Son," said Amphitryon who comforted Hercules.

The crowd of people surrounded them as Demetrius stuck himself out of his pot. "This…is the last...STRAW, AMPHITRYON," he yelled upset as he freed himself and smashed the pot to the ground in frustration.

"That child is a threat," complained one of the people.

"He's too dangerous to be near normal people," added another.

"He didn't want to do any harm," said Amphitryon, "he just…can't…control his strength."

"I'm warning you," snapped Demetrius, "you keep that…that…that…MONSTER…away from here!"

The frustrated crowd of people agreed and walked off. Amphitryon stayed with Hercules.

Under the twilight heavens, Hercules sat with Amphitryon over a hill. Hercules was yet upset over what just happened in the market town. "Son, you shouldn't let these facts they said over there affect you," said Amphitryon.

"But Dad, they're right," replied Hercules, "I'm a weirdo. I try to fit in. I really do. I just can't. Sometimes…I feel like...like I don't really belong here. How am I supposed to be......in another place."

Amphitryon, reminded of how he and Hercules came together a long time ago, approached his son. "Hercules...son."

"I know it makes no sense," Hercules said before walking off, alone.

Amphitryon watched his son walk off. He thought to himself. His father realized that something had to be done.

As for Hercules, he walked to the edge of a cliff, having a great view of the ocean. Hercules threw a small stone across the water as he started singing.

Hercules: I have often dreamed

Of a far-off place

Where a great, warm welcome will be waiting for me

The crowds will cheer, if they see my face

And a voice keeps saying

'This is where I meant to be.'

I will find my road

I can go the distance

I'll be there someday

If I can be strong

I know every mile will be worth my while

I will go most, anywhere to feel like I…

…belong

Hercules eventually walked back to his home, where Amphitryon and Alcmene waited near the front door. "Hercules, there's something that your mother and I wanted to…warn you," Amphitryon said.

The two parents explained to Hercules where they found him, and this made Hercules confused and willing to ask questions. "But if you found me, where did I come from," asked Hercules, "why did they leave me here?"

Alcmene showed Hercules the necklace he had if he was an infant. "This…was around your neck if we found you," she explained, "it's the symbol of the gods."

This gave Hercules inspiration. "What is this," he said, "don't you see? Perhaps they have the responses. I'll go to the Temple of Zeus and…"

He stopped as he suddenly remembered his parents. They looked at him with proud faces. They were happy to see Hercules having independence to do this mission. "Mum…Dad…you're the best parents I could have, but…I…I have to know."

Morning eventually came and Hercules was all packed and ready to go. Hercules gave hugs to Amphitryon and Alcmene one last time before heading out. He waved to the couple before leaving.

Hercules: I am on my road

I can go the distance

I don't care how far

Somehow I'll be strong

I know every mile

Will be worth my while

I will go most anywhere TO FIND…WHERE I…BELONG!!

This journey took him day to complete. Eventually, after a long travel, Hercules saw the giant temple on the edge of a tall cliff. He went inside the dark temple. He saw a massive statue of the almighty Zeus. Hercules looked at his necklace and saw that it had the same symbol as the one on Zeus' robe. Hercules knelt onto his knees and said, "oh, mighty Zeus...please…listen to me and respond my prayer…I need to know....who am I? Where do I belong?"

Wind started picking up and a lightning bolt struck the giant statue. A flame ignited on a torch and the temple was lit up with a light source. This alarmed Hercules for a moment, but as he looked up, he saw the statue moving. This giant statue opened its eyes and saw Hercules down below. "My child…my little Hercules," he said as he reached out his hand.

The sight of the giant moving and speaking statue frightened Hercules. He turned to flee, but Hercules tripped on a candle. The giant statue took Hercules and said, "wait, boy, what's your rush? After all these years, is this the kind of greeting you give your father?"

Hercules, though trying frantically to get off, stopped upon hearing Zeus mention that he was his father. "F…Father," asked Hercules.

"I didn't know you had a famous father, right," said Zeus as he put Hercules on his palm, "SURPRISE!! Look how you've grown. Why, you have your mother's beautiful eyes and my strong chin."

"But…I don't understand," replied Hercules, "if you're my father.....that would make me a....."

"A god," concluded Zeus.

"A god? A GOD," exclaimed Hercules.

"Hey, you wanted responses, and by thunder, you're old enough to know the truth," replied Zeus.

"But why did you leave me on Earth," asked Hercules, "didn't you love me?"

"Of course," replied Zeus, "your mother and I love you with all our heart, but someone stole you and made you mortal. And only the gods can live on Mount Olympus."

"And you can't do anything," asked Hercules.

"I can't, Hercules, but you can," replied Zeus.

"Really," asked Flower, who felt determined again, "what? I'll do anything."

"Hercules, if you can prove that you're a true hero on Earth, your divinity will be restored," said Zeus.

"A true hero? Great," said Hercules, before getting confused, "but…exactly, how do you become a true hero?"

"First, you must look for Philoctetes, the hero trainer," responded Zeus.

"Looking for Philoctetes? That's right. I…" Hercules said before unintentionally walking off Zeus' palm.

"WOAH," said Zeus as he caught Hercules, "hold your horses, this reminds me."

Zeus let out a whistle and a bright light of blue came down from the heavens. Out came a white horse with a blue mane, tail and large wings. It was Pegasus, all grown up. "You probably don't remember Pegasus," said Zeus, "but you two come back, son."

Pegasus, happy to see Hercules again after many years, sniffed him and bonked his head and licked him in the face. Hercules started remembering this horse. "Oh, Pegasus," he said as he hugged him.

"He's a magnificent horse, with the brain of a bird," said Zeus.

As for Hercules, he came on Pegasus and the winged horse flew up to Zeus. "I'll find Philoctetes," he said, "become a true hero."

"THAT'S THE SPIRIT," said Zeus happily.

"I won't let you down, father," said Hercules.

Pegasus flew off with Hercules, now more determined than ever to accomplish his mission. "Farewell, son," said Zeus before becoming a statue again.

Pegasus flew outside the temple and flew into the heavens.

Hercules: I will beat the odds

I can go the distance

I will face the world

Fearless, proud and strong

I will please the gods

I can go the distance

Until I find my hero's welcome

RIGHT…WHERE…I…BELONG!!

Pegasus flew far off across Greece, until eventually finding an island. Pegasus landed on the ground as Hercules slowly approached the island. This island had a lot of goats. "You sure this is the right place," Hercules asked Pegasus.

Pegasus nodded yes. Hercules noticed, from a bush, a bunch of nymphs minding their own business near a stream. Hercules found this new and astonishing. Then he noticed a goat in the bushes. This goat looked like he was stuck. "What's the matter, little friend, you trapped," Hercules said before pulling the goat out.

But to his surprise, this wasn't a goat. Instead, this was a satyr, half man, half goat and it was not happy about being lifted. "WOAH…HEY, CHILL OUT, BUDDY," he snapped, to Hercules' disgust.

The nymphs took notice of the activity and fled the scene. The satyr chased after them and tried catching them. "Girls, stop, stop, come back, come back, come back!  WOAH!!  Oh, sheesh!  Wait, woah, woah, woah…" the satyr said frantically as this continued.

But the nymphs turned into their nature selves, leaving the satyr in defeat. "Ooh, nymphs," he said sarcastically, "they can't keep their hands away from me."

The satyr was slapped off by one of the nymphs who turned into a tree. As the satyr grumbled to himself, he noticed Hercules standing above him, a little intimidated. "What's the matter, never seen a saivor before," asked the satyr.

"Um…no," said Hercules, "can you help us?  We're looking for someone whose name is…Philoctetes."

"Call me Phil," replied the satyr as he munched on a bowl.

Seeing that this was who they came looking for, Hercules swiftly caught his hand and shook it. "PHIL," Hercules exclaimed.

"OW!!"

"Boy, am I happy to meet you," Hercules said, "I'm Hercules, and this is Pegasus."

Philoctetes, annoyed by the crazy shaking and the lick from Pegasus, walked off. "Animals," he said, "that's disgusting."

"Look, I need your help," said Hercules as Phil approached his doorway to his headquarters, "I wanna be a hero. A true hero."

Phil looked at the eager Hercules, but dryly turned around and walked off. "I'm sorry, baby, I can't help you," he said before entering his home.

"PLEASE, WAIT," exclaimed Hercules, who unintentionally pulled the door off, taking Phil with it, "excuse me. Why not?"

"Two words; I'm…retired," replied the cranky Phil as he put the door back.

"Look, I'll do it," Hercules said to Phil, "have you ever dreamed? Something that wanted you so bad, you'd do anything."

Phil thought for a moment to himself before sighing. "Baby," he said, "come in, I wanna show you something."

Hercules followed Phil into the house, but Pegasus stayed outside, unable to get inside. Inside the house, Hercules was admiring the items and all the different artifacts and statues. He bumped his head on a ship mast before Phil said, "look at this. It was part of the mast of the eagle."

"The argo," asked Hercules.

"Yes, how do you think Jason is taught to cradle?  Cleopatra?  I trained all of them, who would be heroes.  Odysseus, Perseus, Theseus and each of these bums disappointed me, making them discuss.  Neither of them could go the distance," said Phil, "and then, there was Achilles.  Now there was a man who had it all, the build, the leg speed, he could jab, he could take a hit, he could keep one coming......BUT THIS SLINGSHOT HEEL OF THIS!!  He barely gets out there at once and boom; he's history."

"Don't miss me, baby," said Phil, who then calmed down and continued, "yes, I once had a dream.  I dreamed that I was ever going to train the hero.  So great, the gods will hang a picture of him in the stars, all over the heavens and people will say that Phil has a boy.  That's right…eh, but dreams are for crooks.  A man can only take so much despair."

"He's right, Phil, I can go the distance," said Hercules, "c'mon, I'll show you."

Hercules took Phil and ran outside the house. "Sheesh, you don't give up, don't you," Phil commented.

"Look at this," said Hercules who lifted a giant, discus-like fashion into the air and flung it across the sea.

"Holy Hera!  Perhaps if I...." Phil muttered to himself before snapping out of his idea, "no!  Stay out of this!  I'm too old to reintergrate into this stuff."

"But if I don't become a true hero, I'll never be able to associate with my father Zeus," said Phil.

"Hold it, Zeus is your father, well," he asked, suddenly laughing a lot, "Zeus, big man, is he your father?  Hahahaha!"

This was all mockery and Hercules was annoyed. "Mr. Lightning Bolts," mocked Phil, "read me a book, would you, Dad?  HAHAHAHA!  Zeus, once upon a time!  HAHAHAHA!!"

"That's the truth," said Hercules.

"Well, please," replied a skeptical Phil, "allow me to introduce you to the company."

Phil slid down a hill with other displays of deceased heroes and broke out into song.

Phil: 'Then you wanna be a hero, baby? Well, whoop-de-doo!'

I have been around the block before

With blockheads just like you

Each and everyone a disappointment

Pain for which there ain't no ointment

So much for excuses

Though a baby for Zeus is

Asking me to jump into the fray

My response is two words

A lightning bolt suddenly zapped Phil, alarming everyone. Phil, now barbecued, eventually said, "OK, that's it!"

"You mean you'll do it," asked a happy Hercules.

"You win," said Phil.

"You won't forgive me, Phil," said Hercules who celebrated Pegasus.

"Oh, heavens."

"Then where do we start," asked Hercules, "can we start now?"

"Oi vey!"

And the training began momentarily. Phil pulled out some training equipment and together, setting the stage for Hercules' training that will determine his future. Phil sang while this happened.

Phil: I'd given up hope that someone would come along

A fella who'd ring the bell for once, not the gong

The kind who wins trophies won't settle for low fees

At least semi-pro fees, but no…I get the green horn

I've been out to pasture, pal, my ambition gone

Content to spend lazy days and to graze my lawn

But you'll need an advisor, a satyr, but wiser

A good merchandiser and WOAH…there goes my ulcer

I'm down to one last hope and I hope…it's you

Though, baby, you're not exactly a dream come true

I trained enough turkeys who never came true

You're my one last hope where you'll have to do

This training went on for weeks, and they turned into months. As time went on, Hercules tried everything he could to try to fulfill Phil's expectations and get it right. There had been moments where Hercules failed some rules and objectives and Phil got steamed up, but the training had to go ahead. Therefore, they took some of the lessons to heart, willing to improve their chances of battling evil. Some of these training sessions ended with failure though for Hercules. One session had him rescue a dummy from a small fire. "Rule number six; while handling an infertile, always handle with care," Phil instructed.

Hercules managed to catch the dummy, but he ended up falling off a log and into a river in a ravine.

Another session had rows of targets. "Rule number ninety-five, baby; focus," Phil constructed.

Hercules, given multiple small words, flung them to the targets, but only ended up throwing them to Phil. Phil wasn't pierced by them, but was more irritated than concerned about his welfare. "Rule number ninety-six; GOAL!!"

Phil: Demigods have faced the odds

And ended up a mockery

Don't believe the stories that

You read on all the crockery

To be a true hero, baby, it's a dying art

Like painting a masterpiece

It's a work of heart

Other training sessions included rescuing the dummy from dangling from an icy cliff. This also ended with failure. Another session was trying to hit the targets again, but this time, them moving back and forth. Hercules threw the swords again, but they all missed, which trimmed some of Pegasus' mane. Hercules, not even noticing, tossed his final sword, but it actually hit the target right on. This impressed Phil. The training kept going and going, and Hercules grew older.

Phil: It takes more than sinew

Comes down to what's in you

You have to continue to grow

"NOW THAT'S MORE ALIKE," Phil cheered as he realized that Herc's muscles were perfect and under control.

Phil: I'm down to one last shot

And my last high note

Before that blasted Underworld

Gets my goat

Phil's final training session was going through an obstacle curse that required Hercules holding onto a rope and swinging through multiple axes, giant sharp jaws, a huge stone hand, two sharks chomping and a fiery hoop with the dummy. But Phil was confident that Hercules would make it. He gave the signal and Hercules did the obstacle curse.

Phil: My dreams are on you, baby

Go make them come true

Climb that uphill slope

Keep pushing that envelope

You're my one last hope

And baby, IT'S UP…TO…YOUUUUU!!

Hercules managed to get through this obstacle curse, like it was no tomorrow. Once he caught the dummy, he found himself surrounded by boards that resembled enemies, with bows ready to fire at him. Hercules bent his sword and threw it like a boomerang. The boomerang sword chopped off the heads of these boards. He used a round piece of wood to shield himself from the attacking arrows, making them hit the board and shape an "H." Hercules caught his sword and it straightened up again. Phil was impressed by this, and he now clearly saw that Hercules was ready. "Hahaha, did you see that," Hercules celebrated as he clapped hands with Pegasus, "next stop…Olympus."

"Alright, just take it easy, chump," said Phil, trying to calm Hercules down.

"I'm ready, I wanna get away from this island," said Hercules, "I want to see some battles and demons, saving some damsels.....you know, heroic stuff."

"Well…"

"Oh, c'mon, Phil," begged Hercules.

"Well, ok, that's it, you want a road test?  Saddle up, baby," said Phil, "WE'RE LEAVING THEBES!!"

"YAHOO!!"

As said, the trio headed out for the city of Thebes. Hercules and Phil rode on Pegasus. "Then what's in Thebes," Hercules asked Phil.

"Many problems," repsonded Phil, "a big, difficult city.  Good place to start building a representative."

Suddenly, they all heard a loud shriek coming from the forest below. "Sounds like your basic D.I.D.; a maiden in DISTRESS," exclaimed Phil as Pegasus suddenly flew down to the forest under Hercules' request.

Everyone looked around, looking for the shrieker, until eventually seeing a woman flee into a lake. This woman had auburn hair, purple eyes and a lavender dress. A giant centaur was chasing her, and he caught the woman in his hand. "Not so fast, darling," he said.

"I swear, Nessus, put me down or I'll....."

"I like them on fire," replied Nessus the centaur.

Hercules could warn this woman was in danger. Phil gave him tips as Hercules stared at the monster. "Now remember, boy, first analyze the situation.  Don't stay there without thinking," Phil said before noticing Hercules heading off, "he's losing points for that."

"You don't know what it's....."

"STOP," Hercules said, interrupting the woman.

Nessus noticed the human interfering with him business. "Pull aside, two legs," he said menacingly.

"Forgive me, darling…uh…uh…sir," said Hercules, "I'm going to have to ask you to release that young woman…"

"Keep moving, Junior," said the woman, who was annoyed.

"Madam…aren't you a damsel in distress," asked Hercules.

"I'm a maiden....in distress...I can handle that," replied the confident woman as she tried getting out of the centaur's grip, "have a good day."

But Hercules was yet determined to rescue her. "Madam," he said as he pulled out his sword, "I'm afraid you're too close to the situtation to understand…"

But Hercules was interrupted as Nessus punched him off. Phil was immediately annoyed by this. "What are you doing here," Phil asked, "take your sword!"

"Sword, right.  Rule number fifteen, a hero is only as good AS HIS WEAPON," Hercules said as he pulled something out from under the water.

But, to his embarrassment, it wasn't a sword. It was a blue fish. Nessus laughed while the woman sighed. This so-called hero that was supposed to rescue her wasn't doing so well. The fish shrieked as it swiftly came out of Herc's grip. Nessus punched Hercules toward a rock. It was a painful sight and it left Phil moaning, having a painful feeling. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait, please, wait, he has to do it alone," he said before turning to Hercules, "C'MON, BOY, CONCENTRATE!  USE YOUR HEAD!!"

Hercules managed to listen to his mentor's advice, turned to Nessus and charged at him. He put his head forward like a battering ram and rammed him in the belly. The force of the impact caused Nessus to drop Meg and fly towards a waterfall. "ALRIGHT, NOT BAD, BOY," cheered Phil, "not exactly what I had in mind, but it's not bad."

The woman got her head above water and coughed. Hercules noticed her and carried her to a rock. "Oh, sheesh, Miss, I'm really sorry," he said, "that was stupid."

"Yes," replied the woman.

Both suddenly noticed Nessus charging after them. "Excuse me," Hercules swiftly said before turning to fight the centaur.

Hercules jumped on Nessus and gave him multiple punches to the head before tackling him to the ground. "Good job," cheered Phil, "excellent!"

"Is Wonder Boy really here," the woman asked.

"What are you speaking about, of course, he's real," replied Phil, who then noticed the woman's beautiful body.

Phil came up with an idea of his own. "Oh…by the way, sweet cheeks," he flirted before putting himself on the woman's lap, "I'm real as well."

The woman was disgusted and nudged the satyr off her.

As for Hercules, he was riding on Nessus like a bull in a rodeo. As Nessus tried with all his might to get Hercules off him, Herc caught a branch and they both did a flip over the tree. Nessus smashed into the tree while Hercules landed in the water safely. The frustrated centaur turned to Hercules, but Hercules delivered a powerful falcon punch, sending the centaur flying into the heavens with a few horseshoes following behind. Pegasus watched as the centaur flew high into the heavens before smashing down into the water. The horseshoes landed on the centaur's face, making him dizzy and then eventually knocking him unconscious. Pegasus walked on his back as he lay down and defeated. "How was that, Phil," Hercules said to Phil.

"Restart, newbie," Phil scolded his pupil, "you can get along with mistakes like these in the smaller decathlons, but these are the big leagues."

"At least I beat him, didn't I?"

"Next time, don't let your guard down because of a couple of BIG BLUE EYES," shouts Phil, "it's like I keep warning you.  You need to stay focused and…you…"

Phil was again ignored as Hercules walked to the woman who finished drying her hair. Pegasus put his hoof up for a high-five, but Hercules was more focused on the woman. Pegasus scoffed upon seeing his partner pay more attention to the girl. "Are you…alright, miss…uh…" Hercules said, trying to socialize with the woman.

"Megara," replied the girl, "my friends call me Meg, at least they would if I had a friend.  Well, did they name you along with all these wavy pecs?"

Hercules, shy and unsure what to say, tried thinking of what to respond with. "Are you always so articulate," asked Meg.

"Hercules," replied Hercules, "um…my name is Hercules."

"Herc, huh…I think I prefer Wonderboy," replied Meg.

"Well, um, um…" Hercules said before turning back to Meg, despite Pegasus' attempts to block his view, "how did you...get mixed up with the, um…"

"Trinket with hooves," asked Meg before approaching Hercules, "well, you know what men are like.  They think 'no' means 'yes' and 'get lost' means 'kick me out. I'm yours.'"

"Don't worry," replied Meg, "soon here you can explain that later."

Phil realized that Meg was referring to him, and his testosterone rose. "Well, thanks for everything, Herc," she said as she got ready to leave, "it's been a real slice."

"Please, wait," said Hercules, who obviously wanted to do something for Meg, "um, can we get a ride?"

Pegasus flew up into a tree, not letting anything to do with Meg. "I don't think your dick likes me very much," said Meg.

"Pegasus," asked Hercules, "oh, dear, don't be silly.  He'd be more than happy to…"

But before Herc could finish, an apple dropped on his head. As Hercules looked up, he saw Pegasus innocently whistling, pretending that he didn't do anything. "I'll be fine," replied Meg, "I'm a big, hard girl.  I tie my own sandals and everything."

Meg started walking off. "Farewell, Wonderboy," she said.

"Farewell," replied Hercules, who was happy to get to know Meg, "she's something, isn't she, Phil?"

"Yes, oh, yes, she's something fine," replied Phil before suddenly snapping, "A REAL PAIN AT THE PATELLA!!  Land to Herc!  Come in, Herc, come in, Herc!  We have a job to do, remember?!  Thebes is yet waiting."

Pegasus took Hercules and flew off. "Oh, yes, right," he said.

Meg watched them fly off. They were nice people who saved her from Nessus, but she walked off into the dark woods. It was a rather unsettling environment for the girl, but she continued until spotting a cute little rabbit and gopher. "Oh, how cute," she said, "two rodents looking for a theme park."

"Who are you calling a rodent, sister," the rabbit suddenly said, "I'm a RABBIT!!"

"And I'm his squirrel," added the gopher before the two rodents transformed into their true forms; Pain and Panic.

Disgusted by the act, Meg said, "I thought it smelled like a rat."

And if this day wasn't going to get more annoying, a trail of gas came from underneath her chin. This was coming from Hades. "Meg," he said.

"Speak of the devil," she concluded.

"Meg, my little flower, my little bird, my little nut," Hades said as he pulled Meg closer, "Meg, what just happened here?  I thought you were going to convince the river keeper to join my team for the revolt and here I am, kind of less, the river keeper."

"I did my best, but he made me an offer that I had to refuse," replied Meg.

"OK, then instead of subtracting two years from your sentence, hey, I'm going to add, that's it?  Do your best," said Hades.

"Look, it wasn't my fault, it was this wonderful kid Hercules," replied Meg.

Upon hearing Hercules' name, Hades started getting confused, but mostly steamed up. As for Pain and Panic, they were reminded of the boy they failed to murder years ago, but never warned Hades about his survival. "Hercules," said Panic silently, but hesitantly, "why does that name sound like a bell?"

"I don't know," said Pain, "perhaps we owe you money."

"What…was that name...again," Hades asked Meg, his frustration rising.

"Hercules," responded Meg, causing Hades to get cranky, "he continues this big, innocent farmer's routine, but I can see that in a Peloponnese moment."

"Wait a moment," said Pain, "it wasn't Hercules the boy's name we should be…"

"OH, MY HEAVENS," Pain and Panic suddenly exclaimed upon seeing Hades reach out to catch them, "RUN THAT UP!!"

But Hades caught hold of their tails and pulled them towards him. "Then you took care of him, right," asked a frustrated Hades, "dead like a ponytail.  WEREN'T THESE YOUR EXACT WORDS?!"

"It could be a different Hercules," said Pain.

"Yes, I mean Hercules is VERY POPULAR NOW," squirmed Panic as Hades increased his grip pressure.

"Remember a few years ago, all the other boys were called Jason and the girls were called Brittany," asked Pain, trying to escape severe punishment.

"I'm about to reorganize the cosmos," Hades said, getting himself involved in the conversation, and before dropping Pain and Panic to unleash his extreme temper, "AND THE ONE SCHNITZEL THAT MAY DISAPPEAR IS WALKING AROUND IN THE WOODS!!"

As Hades was yelling out his rage, he literally burst into flames and this decimated a majority of the dark woods. Meg managed to dodge a burst of flames heading her direction. "Please, wait," said Pain, "we can yet interrupt your waltz."

"That's right," added Panic, "we made him mortal.  That's a good fact....isn't it?"

Hades thought for a moment. Although outraged that Hercules was yet alive and Pain and Panic lied to him, he had another plan up his sleeve. He caught his teammates and said, "fortunately for the three of you, we yet have time to fix this outrageous oversight, and this time...no problems."

Now Hades had a new plan to get rid of Hercules that would surely spell danger.

Meanwhile, high above the ground, Pegasus flew over the big city of Thebes. Hercules eventually had a view at what Phil was speaking about. "Wow, is that all one city," asked Hercules.

"A city has a million damages," responded Phil, "the one and only Thebes.  The Great Olive itself.  If you can do it there, you can do it anywhere."

Down below, the city was very busy. Pegasus landed met up with Hercules to explore the city. The trio took a stroll around the town. "Stay close to me, boy," said Phil as they proceeded down the streets, "this city is a dangerous place."

As they got ready to cross a street, a chariot suddenly raced past them. "LOOK WHERE YOU'RE GOING, PINHEAD," shouts the driver.

"HEY, I'M GOING HERE," Phil shouts before turning to Hercules, "see what I mean?  I'm warning you; crazy people."

They all continued down the street, looking around. Hercules was fascinated by this new place, but Phil stayed cautious and wary of city goers. Suddenly, someone appeared right in front of them. "Hey, Mack," he said as he revealed his robes filled with sundials, alarming Phil.

"Oops, whoa, what the--"

"You wanna buy a sundial," asked the seller.

"He's not interested, alright," replied Phil, who walked past the seller, "c'mon, boy."

"The end is coming," someone said frantically before turning to Pegasus, "can't you feel it?"

"Yes, sir, thanks for the info, yes," Phil said before turning to Hercules, "just stare at the sidewalk, c'mon.  Don't make eye contact.  The people here are crazy because they live in a city of turmoil.  Trust me, boy.  They'll be exactly what the doctor ordered."

At a small fountain, five townspeople gathered around and complained about their constant misfortunes. "It was tragic," said a redhead woman, "we lost everything in the fire."

"Everything except old Snowball here," said a burned up man who showed his cat.

"Now the fires were before or after the earthquake," added an obese man.

"You were after the earthquake, I remember," said the elderly lady.

"But before the flood," said the redhead.

"Don't even let me start with the crime rate," said an elderly man.

As this conversation went on, Hercules and his friends came by and listened. Phil realized this could be a chance for Herc to reveal himself as the hero of the town. "Thebes certainly went downhill in a rush," said the redhead.

"Warn me about it," said the elder man, "it seems that every time I turn around, a new monster wreaks havoc and…"

"Now all we need is a plague of locusts," said the burned man.

Unfortunately, a locust appeared in front of them and chirped. This alarmed them all and they got cranky, having seen enough. "That's it," complained the elderly man, "I'm moving to Sparta!"

"Excuse me," said Hercules.

The townspeople saw Hercules as he tried to speak. "It seems to me that what you need is…a hero," he said.

The five people were actually not impressed at all. "Yes…a New Year," asked the obese man.

Phil nudged Hercules forward a little, trying to make him speak up. "I'm Hercules, and, um…I happen to be.....A HERO," he said.

But his reception was one of laughter and insulting. "Is that so," asked the elderly man, "have you ever saved a city?"

"Um, no, not exactly, but I…"

"Have you ever undone a natural disaster," asked the obese man.

"Well, um, no…"

"Oh, listen to this," said the obese man, "he's just another chariot.  We need that."

Phil was frustrated by his insult. "Don't you understand," he snapped, "this boy is a real article."

"Hey, isn't that the goat man who trained Achilles," asked the burned man.

Upon remembered what just happened to one of his deceased students, Phil got steamed up. "Watch it, buddy," he growled as he started turning red.

"Yes, you're right," said the obese man, "hey, good job on these heels.  You missed a seat."

Phil, frustrated at this man's rude words, lost his patience and tolerance of these guys. "I HAVE YOUR HEELS, RIGHT HERE," he yelled before flinging himself onto the man and beating him up, "I'LL WIPE THAT SILLY GRIN OFF YOUR FACE, YOU…"

"Hey, you," Hercules said frantically while pulling Phil off the man.

"What are you, crazy," asked the beaten up obese man.

"Young man, we need a professional hero, not an amateur," said the redhead woman.

Phil spit out his piece of the man's pants he tore off. "Please, wait," begged Hercules.

But he was ignored. His introduction to Thebes was not very pleasant. But while this wasn't pleasant for Hercules, who plopped down to the ground. "How am I supposed to prove myself as a hero if nobody gives me a chance," he asked.

"You'll get your chance," said Phil, "we just need a kind of disaster; a tearjerker."

But before any explanation could happen, they both heard someone lamenting in a crowd. They saw Meg running through the crowd, begging for help. "Wait, please, wait, there's been a horrible incident," she cried.

"Meg," asked Hercules, who became shocked to see her again.

"Speaking of disasters," commented Phil.

"Wonderboy," Meg said upon noticing Hercules, "Hercules, thank heavens."

"Wait, what's wrong," asked Herc.

"Oh, out of town, two little boys, they played in the gorge.  There was a rock slide, a horrible rock slide.  They're trapped," explained Meg.

"Children…caught," asked Hercules before becoming emotional and turning to Phil, "Phil, that's great!"

"You're really suffocated, aren't you," commented Meg dryly.

"C'mon," said Hercules as he took Meg and came on Pegasus.

"No, I…you don't understand, I'm so terrified of heights," begged Meg before getting a ride from Pegasus.

Knowing Meg's fear, Pegasus flew really high and fast, trying to intimidate her. The townspeople chased after the flying horse, trying to see the event themselves. "I'm right behind you, boy…whoo…I…I'm far behind you, boy," said a tired Phil, "I have a fur wedgie."

Pegasus' wild ride took Hercules and Meg into a gloomy gorge. Pegasus landed on a ledge. By now, Meg's hair was messed up after the crazy flight. "You alright," asked Hercules.

"I'll be fine, just bring me down before I ruin the upholstery," replied a dizzy Meg.

After Meg was helped off, they heard two children shouting out for help.

"Help, I can't breathe."

"Hurry up!"

"Bring us out!"

"We'll suffocate."

"Somebody call IX-I-I!"

Hercules swiftly sprang into action. He approached the two boys, who were stuck under a giant boulder. From the looks of facts, they were running out of air as well. "Easy, folks, you'll be fine," said Hercules.

"We can't hold out much longer," said one of the boys.

"Get us out before we get knocked down," said the other.

By now, the townspeople gathered to see the confusion. Hercules crouched down and tried with all his might to lift the gigantic rock off the ground. His strength was starting to pay off. The rock was slowly lifted into the air. Hercules eventually lifted the enormous hunk of rock above his head. This impressed Meg. The two boys came out of the rock slide as the crowd applauded silently. "How are you guys doing here," asked Hercules.

"We're fine now," said one of the boys.

"Jeepers, sir, you're really strong," said the other one.

"Well, just try to be a little more careful next time, right, children," said Hercules.

"We will for sure."

The two boys ran off while Hercules tossed the rock off. These boys ran up the canyon walls before seeing Hades. "Touching performance, boys," said Hades, "I was really moved."

"Jeepers, sir," asked one of the boys, who suddenly morphed into Panic.

"I wanted to be innocent," said the other boy, who morphed into Pain.

"Hey, two thumbs WAY, WAY up for our main actress," said Hades, who gave two thumbs up for Meg, "what a dish, what a doll."

"Get outta there, you big nose, while you yet can," she said silently, concerned about Hercules.

Back down below, Phil eventually managed to catch up with Hercules. "Phil, I, I did great," said Hercules, "they even applauded......somehow."

But the joyous moment was suddenly interrupted by the sudden sound of a hiss. Phil heard this and became concerned. "I hate to burst your bladder, boy, but that's not applause," he said.

Two red eyes appeared and they were frowning at Hercules. Suddenly, something burst out of the cave and towered over the shocked friends. "Ph…Ph…Ph…Ph…Phil," asked Hercules, "what is that fact?"

"TWO WORDS," exclaimed Phil, before fleeing, "AM-SCRAY!!"

This monster was enormous and it looked like a dragon. It had an enormously long neck, rows of huge, sharp teeth, a long, snake-like fashion and big menacing eyes. It was a Hydra. The crowd shrieked at the sight of the giant monster. But even Hades watched this event like a football game. "Let's get ready for FOOTBALL," Hades shouts out, ready for action.

The Hydra approached Hercules and got ready to strike. Phil tried giving out directions to Hercules as the fight started to rage. "That's it, dance around, dance around," he said, "watch the teeth, watch the teeth!  Keep moving, c'mon, c'mon.  Lean with your left, LEAN WITH YOUR LEFT!!  Your other left."

As Phil was giving out orders, Hercules dodged the Hydra's attacks. The Hydra lunged down to attack and almost chomped on Herc. Hercules managed to get off, but he didn't have his sword in his grip. Luckily, it landed a few feet off, but there was little time to get it. The Hydra lifted itself up and got ready to strike. Hercules, realizing that there was little time to run, caught a huge chunk of rock and threw it at the monster. But the Hydra caught the rock and chomped it to pieces. He laughed menacingly as Hercules ran to get his sword. The Hydra attacked and almost bit into Herc, but Hercules caught the monster's jaws and attempted to keep them from catching him. He was backed off as this fight continued. Hercules eventually managed to tackle the Hydra to the ground and get his sword. But the moment he had the sword, the Hydra was up again. But before Herc could retaliate, the monster's tongue caught Hercules' leg and flung him into the air. Hercules was sent falling into the Hydra's opening maw. The Hydra chomped as Hercules landed in his mouth. The monster swallowed as Phil watched in disgust. Then the Hydra belched, giving Meg a disgusting feeling. Then the Hydra turned his attention to the panicking crowd of people. But as he lunged forward to attack, he suddenly felt something happening inside him. He looked at his long neck and saw something pushing its road outward. Suddenly, the neck was sliced off. Hercules had slashed the neck off. The body smashed down to the ground as the beheaded Hydra head landed on the ground. The crowd applauded louder as Hercules tried to get to his feet. "OK, THAT'S IT! YOU'RE BAD!! ALRIGHT," cheered Phil.

But while Hercules was lucky to be alive, he was dizzy. "You see, Phil," he muttered before collapsing, "that…it wasn't that difficult."

Phil rushed to his friend's side. "Boy, boy, boy, how many horns do you see," asked Phil.

Hercules' vision was blurry. "Six."

"Eh, close enough," said Phil as he helped his student get up, "let's clean you up."

From above, Pain and Panic muttered hesitantly, afraid of an outraged reaction from Hades. But Hades wasn't concerned at all. "People, people, relax," Hades said to Pain and Panic, "it's only halftime."

Hercules slowly walked with his friend, yet dizzy from being stuck in the Hydra's neck. But as rain came down gently, the Hydra's dead body started moving and making noises. "That doesn't sound good," said Phil, who noticed the confusion.

Everyone watched as the body lifted up into the ground. The area where the neck once was started growing into three parts. Three Hydra heads burst out of the neck, and looked at the heroes menacingly. "CERTAINLY NOT GOOD," cried Phil as he handed Herc his sword and fled.

Hercules ran himself with the three Hydra heads in hot pursuit. Pegasus sprang into action and flew into the battlefield. He managed to get Hercules just before the monster heads could bite him. Now Hercules had an advantage to this battle; a flying horse. Pegasus flew around, dodging attack after attack from the biting monsters. But with his sword, Hercules slashed the attacking Hydra heads. But as he fought off the monster, more and more heads kept coming his road. But he continued slice after slice of monster heads, preventing them from eating him. But this strategy wasn't really getting him anywhere, for after each slice by force, three more heads appeared to replace. Hercules and Pegasus stared at what the monster had become; a hydra with several heads that this made Hercules and Pegasus outnumbered. "FORGET THE HEAD CUT," shouts Phil.

Despite outnumbered, Hercules was not giving up. Pegasus flew up into the air as the Hydra heads attempted to catch them. After dodging a few, one Hydra head bumped into Pegasus, separating him from Hercules. But the Hydra heads were more focused on Hercules, and they all closed in on him as he slid down a Hydra neck. "AAH!! PHIL, I DON'T THINK WE TREATED THIS ONE IN BASIC TRAINING," cried Hercules as he slid down the neck, "AAHHHH!!!!"

Down below him, one head opened its mouth, ready to catch Herc, but one head bit on the neck, trying to catch Hercules himself. This sent Hercules flying around the attacking heads. He managed to dodge these attacks, but was collided into a wall. As he fell, the Hydra's foot stopped Herc's fall, but now Hercules was immobilized. "My favorite part of the game;" Hades said menacingly.

The Hydra heads raised themselves up high, ready to strike. "...sudden death," finished Hades.

Hercules watched as the heads raised themselves into the air, but he also noticed the gigantic rock wall. Thinking fast, he clinched his two fists together and hit the rock wall with all his might, just as the heads lunged down to attack. They suddenly looked up at the cracking wall and were confused. They spotted several huge rocks plummeting down at them. Unable to respond swiftly, they all got hit by the falling boulders and rocks. But Hercules was taken down with them. The Hydra was buried in the rockslide, leaving only a foot outside the buried pile. Everyone gasped upon seeing the wreckage, concerned if Hercules survived. But there was no response and everyone started concerning, who growled in frustration before shouting out an enraged "HERC!!"

These yells were so loud that it echoed across the canyon. "Oh…there's another one......just like Achilles," mourned Phil.

Meg looked at the rock pile and then at Hades, who was satisfied with the outcome. "Game…set…match," said Hades as he lit a cigar.

Phil mourned over the loss of his friend, hearing the frustrated townsfolk shout his name. But as it seemed all was lost, everyone heard a creaking noise. He looked and saw the hydra's foot moving. Everyone was concerned if the Hydra survived this battle. Suddenly, the foot was pried open and Hercules stood, injured and tired, but alive. It turned out that Hercules didn't die and he beat the Hydra. With that said, the crowd erupted with loud applause. Pegasus was happy, seeing Hercules alright. The townspeople approached Hercules and lifted him up, carrying him back to Thebes. "Phil…you have to admit.....that…was pretty heroic," said Hercules.

"YOU DID IT, BOY," cheered Phil, "YOU DID IT, YOU WON BY A LANDSLIDE!!"

Up above, Hades, seeing his enemy alive, burned his cigar as frustration rose desperately. "Hades is crazy," begged Pain and Panic as Hades clinched onto them in frustration.

Meg watched this and turned back to Hercules. "What do you know?"

From that day on, our boy Hercules couldn't go wrong. He was so hot....steamed, looked cool. Oh, ye-ee-ee-es!

Calliope: Bless my soul

Herc was on a roll

Thalia: Person of the week

In every Greek opinion poll

Terpsichore: What a pro

Calliope: Herc could stop a show

Point him at a monster

And you're speaking S.R.O.

He was a no one

Clio and Terpsichore: A zero...zero

Calliope: Now he's a honcho

He's a hero

Here was a boy with his act down pat

All: Zero to Hero in no time flat

Zero to Hero.....

Calliope: Just like that!

All: As he grinned

The girls went wild with 'oohs' and 'aahs'

Thalia: Then they slapped his face on every vase

Clio: On every 'vahse.'

All: From appearance fees to royalties

Our Herc had cash to burn

Now newly rich and famous

Calliope: He could warn you what's a Grecian turn

All: Say amen

There he goes again

Melpomene: Sweet and defeated

And an awesome ten for ten

All: Folks lined up

Just to watch him flex

Thalia: And this perfect package packed a pair of pretty pecs

All: Herbie, he goes, he sees, he conquers

Darling, these crowds were going bonkers

He showed the moxie brains and spunk

ZERO TO HERO!!

Thalia: A major hunk

All: ZERO TO HERO!!

Calliope: And who'd have thunk?

Who put the "glad" in "Gladiator?"

Chorus: HERCULES!!

Melpomene: Who's daring deeds a great theater

Chorus: HERCULES!!

Melpomene: Is he bold?

Chorus: No one braver

Terpischore: Is he sweet?

All: OUR FAVORITE FLAVOR!

HERCULES!!

What a guy

Ask his friends

Darling, they won't lie

HERCULES!

HERCULES!!

Bless my soul

Herc was on a roll

Undefeated

Riding high

Calliope: And the nicest guy

All: Not conceited

He was a nothing

Chorus: Zero, zero

All: NOW HE'S A PONCHO!!

Chorus: HE'S A HERO!!

All: He hit the heights at breakneck speed

From zero to hero

Herc is a hero

NOW HE'S A HERO.....

Calliope: Yes, indeed!

Hercules became a hero after beating the Hydra. But this was just the start of an ever-growing popularity for him. As time went on, more and more monsters were being sent his fashion from Hades, who was yet trying his best to beat the hero before time ran out. But no matter what monsters Hades sent, whether it was a gigantic, vicious-looking boar, a big lion, Medusa or some other frightened-looking beasts, they were no match for the strength and power delivered to them by Hercules.

Speaking of which, popularity for Hercules expanded to facts like action figures, theater plays and even a drink flavor. Hercules was eventually considered the most famous person in all Greece. Phil was getting fame as well for being his trainer. Phil was on a roll, since his latest pupil was clearing every wave of monsters and obstacles. Hercules, Phil and Pegasus were getting endless fame and respect from the country. Thebes had peace for the first time in years also. Hercules' foster parents heard about this and were proud of their adopted son. This would surely make Zeus and Hera proud of their son as well.

But not everyone was happy for Hercules. From a balcony, Hades watched Hercules put his fingerprints in cement. "PULL," he yelled.

Pain and Panic threw a Hercules pot and Hades destroyed it with his fire. "Nice shot, Rex," commented Meg.

"I can't believe this guy," complained Thrax, "I throw everything I have to him, and I don't even......"

Hades' rant was interrupted as he heard a squeaking noise. This was coming from Pain. "What…are…these…" he asked sternly.

Pain was wearing Hercules sandals. "Um…I don't know...I thought they seemed a little rushed," replied Pain.

"I have twenty four hours to get rid of this…bozo…or the entire plan I have set for eighteen years…goes up in smoke," said Hades as his frustration rose high, "AND YOU…ARE WEARING THESE MERCHANDISERS?!"

Hades' rage on Pain interrupted as they heard a slurping noise. It was coming from Panic. He was drinking a Hercules cup. Seeing his boss notice him drinking from something related to the same media, Panic hesitantly and silently said, "thirsty?"

This infuriated Hades to boiling point. He yelled frustratedly and BOOM, an explosion went off in his area. This yell was so loud that it echoed across the museum. But they weren't hurt, nor did they seem to care. Pain and Panic were out of luck, as usual. Meg was nearby, but she didn't get burned. "It looks like your game's over," said Meg, "Wonderboy's hitting every corner you throw at him."

Hades calmed down and came up with a new plan upon watching Meg look at Hercules. "Oh, yes," he said to himself before approaching Meg, "I wonder if perhaps I didn't throw the right curves at him…Meg, darling."

Meg realized where Hades was going and said, "don't even go there."

"You see, he must have a weak point, because everyone has a weak point," said Hades, "I mean for what?  Pandora, it was the box.  For the Trojans, hey, they bet on the wrong horse.  Us…we just have need to find out Wonderboy."

"I did my part," replied a reluctant Meg, "take your little devils....."

"They couldn't handle him like a kid," said Hades, "we need someone who can handle him…like a man."

"Hey, I swore to handle the man," replied Meg.

"Well, you know, it's alright because what's brought you to this jam in the first place, didn't you?  You sold me your soul to save your boyfriend's life, and how does this thrill thank you?  Running away with a little babe," said Hades, "he hurts you a lot, didn't he, Meg?  What?"

Reminded of an event she did in the past, Meg said, "look, I've learned my lesson, alright?"

"That's exactly why I have the feeling, you'll jump to my new offer.  Bring me the thing to dropping Wonder Breath, and I'll give you....the fact you crave most in the whole cosmos," said Hades who then whispered sinisterly in Meg's ear, "your freedom."

Meg gasped upon seeing this. It was a request under account that she'd be free, or she'd be stuck with Hades forever. What was she to do?

Oblivious to the dark scheme, Hercules and Pegasus traveled back to the Temple of Zeus. Here, Zeus was hearing from his son about what was going on. "You should've been there, father.  I destroyed the minotaur, grappled with the gorgon," said Hercules as he presented it through example with Pegasus, "just as Phil warned me; I analyzed the situation, checked my strength and kicked!"

Hercules pretended to kick Pegasus into a nearby fountain, presenting what the battle was like. "The crowd went wild," he said as he tried mimicking the crowd's sounds, "thank you, thank you all."

Zeus was very happy to hear from this. "HA!!  You're doing great, son.  You're making your old man proud," he said.

"I'm glad to hear you say this, father," said Hercules, "I've been waiting for this day for a long time."

"Huh, what part is that, son?"

"The day…I reunite with the gods," replied Hercules.

"You did wonderfully......you really have my boyfriend," said an unsure Zeus, "you just aren't there yet.  You haven't proved yourself, a real hero."

Hercules' happiness turned into shock and confusion. "But father, I beat every single monster I came across," said Hercules, "I'm, I'm the most famous person in all of Greece, I…I'm an action figure!"

"I'm afraid being famous isn't the same as a real hero," said Zeus.

"What more have I done," asked Hercules.

"It's something you have to find out for yourself," said Zeus.

"But…how can I..."

"Look inside...your heart," said Zeus before turning into his statue form.

"FATHER, PLEASE, WAIT," begged Hercules.

It's too late since Zeus had left and his statue stayed frozen. This left Hercules unsure, but disheartened, he growled in frustration before shouting out an enraged "STEELE!!"

This yell was so loud that it echoed across the Temple of Zeus. He hit his fists into the ground in frustration and sobbed, under Pegasus' comforting wing, hearing the frustrated artist shout his name.

The following day, a chariot rode past Hercules' mansion. "On your left is Hercules' villa.  Our next stop is the Garments and Goods gift shop, where you can pick the thirty moments of training from the hero 'Buns of Bronze,'" the tour guide announced.

Inside the mansion, Hercules had a lion hide on and he was posing with a sword and shield for a painter while Phil was reading requests for the hero. "At one o'clock, you have a meeting with King Augeas," he said, "he has a problem with his stables.  I'd advise you not to wear your new sandals…"

"Phil," Hercules said silently.

"I warned you, don't move," growled the painter.

Hercules tried remaining silent for his pose, but he yet wanted to get Phil's attention. "...MGR, McDonald's of the Greek Revolution," Phil continued, "at three o'clock…"

"Phil," Hercules said.

"You have to get a belt from some Amazons," Phil said.

"PHIL," Hercules said upset before tossing his stuff aside, "WHAT'S THE POINT?!"

This made the painter mess up on his painting. "DAAAAEEEEEEUGH!! THIS IS IT," complained the painter.

"Keep your toga on, man," said Phil.

But the painter tossed his paint over Phil, making his face colorful. "That sucks," he said before turning to Hercules, "what do you mean 'what's the point?' You wanna go to Olympus, don't you?"

"Yes, but this stuff doesn't seem to get anywhere," said Hercules as he took off the lion hide.

"You can't give up now," said Phil as he wiped his face with the lion costume and threw it off, "I'm counting on you."

"I gave everything I had," replied Hercules.

Seeing his pupil upset made Phil mournful, but he was not giving up on him, not after all the facts he did to make him famous. "Listen to me, boy," he said gently, "I've seen them all and I'm warning you…and that's the truth about Zeus. You have something I've never seen before."

"Really?"

"I can feel myself up to these squat bow ties of mine," said Phil, "there's nothing you can't do, boy."

The emotional moment between the friends was suddenly interrupted as a group of fan girls burst through the door and shrieked. "IT'S HIM," shrieked one of the girls.

Some fan girls surrounded Hercules. "Hey, look at it, look at it," complained Phil.

"I touched his elbow," said one of the girls.

"I MADE HIS SWEATSHIRT," shouts another one.

Hercules was tackled to the ground, unable to get off from the psychotic fan girls. "Phil…help," begged Hercules.

"Alright, escape plan; beta," Phil whispered to Hercules.

"Got you now."

Phil approached the doors and whistled upset. The fan girls noticed that Hercules was gone. "Hey, where is he?"

"Here he goes on the porch," said Phil, who pointed outside.

The fan girls raced out the building, trying to find their hero. As the girls left, Phil pursued them, in another attempt to flirt. But with them gone, the door closed and Meg appeared. She walked around the room and saw two feet with sandals underneath a closed curtain. Meg had a suspicion she knew who was wearing these. "Let's see, what could be behind the number one curtain," she said as she removed the curtain.

"Meg," exclaimed Hercules.

"Alright," said Meg, "the sea of storm hormones is reflected."

"Sheesh, it's…it's nice to see you," Hercules said to Meg, "I missed you."

"Then this is what heroes do on their days off," said Meg as she looked around the interior.

"No…I'm not a hero," replied a shy Herc.

"Of course you are," said Meg, "everyone in Greece thinks you've been the best fact since they put your pocket in sandwiches."

Hercules chuckled and said, "I know, it's…it's crazy.  I can't go anywhere without being attacked.  I mean…"

"Looks like you could take a break.  Think your little nanny goat would go…" Meg said as she squeezed a Phil squeaky toy, "…crazy if I played with the hook this afternoon."

"Oh, damn it, I…I don't know, Phil did the rest of the day in a very nice fashion," said Hercules.

"Ah, Phil Schnitzel, follow me out the window, around the dumbbells, lift the back wall and we're gone," said Meg as she approached Hercules.

Despite the fear at what Phil would think, Meg let Hercules have a well-deserved break. The two did many facts together throughout the day, and their relationship strenghtened as a result. "Wow, what a day," said Hercules as he and Meg walked through a garden under the evening heavens, "first that restaurant near the bay, and then that...that game, that Oepidus fact.  Dude, I thought I had problems."

Meg chuckled with her friend, but remembered Hades' request to find out Herc's weakness. Two birds were nearby and they got Meg's attention while Hercules was distracted. These two birds were actually Pain and Panic in disguise. "Stop bossing around," Panic whispered silently to Meg.

"Yes, take the goods, sister," added Pain.

As Hercules turned back to Meg, Pain and Panic returned to their bird forms. "I didn't know playing hooky could be so much fun," he said, "thanks, Meg."

Meg watched Pain and Panic fly off and felt a bad feeling inside her. "Don't thank me again," she said silently before tripping.

Luckily, Hercules caught her. "Oops, watch out."

"I'm sorry," replied Meg, "weak ankles."

"Oh, yes," asked Hercules who then carried Meg to a bench, "you'd better sit down for a while."

Sitting with her friend, Meg said, "well, uh, do we have any damage…with facts like these?"

"Uh…weak ankles," asked Hercules, "I mean…oh, dear…no, not really."

"No weak points," asked Meg as she approached Hercules, "no knee deception...broken records?"

"No, I'm…I'm, I'm scared...I'm…uh…fit like a violin," replied Hercules.

"Wonderboy, you're perfect," said Meg, feeling that Hercules had no weakness or damage.

"Thank you," said Hercules who threw a skipping stone into a fountain.

This little stone collided with a statue. "Oops," said Hercules.

This wasn't very harmful, but instead it was funny. "It looks better that fashion," said Meg as they looked at what just happened to the statue, "no, it really does."

The two friends looked up into the night heavens and saw a shooting star. "You know, if I were a boy, I…I would have given anything to be exactly like everyone else," said Hercules.

"You wanted to be mean and dishonest," asked Meg.

"Not everyone likes that," said Hercules.

"Yup, yup? Doesn't sound like you."

"You're not like that."

"How do you know what I'm not like," asked Meg.

"All I know is....you're the most extraordinary person with…the weakest ankles I've ever met," said Hercules.

Mike liked this nice comment, but while she was walking back a little, she incidentally bumped into an angel statue's arrow. "Meg, if I'm with you....I…I don't feel so well," said Hercules.

"Sometimes it's better to be alone," said Meg mournfully.

"What do you mean?"

"Nobody can hurt you," said Meg.

Feeling bad for Meg, Hercules approached her and gently said, "Meg…I would never....ever…hurt you."

"And I don't want to hurt you," said Meg, "let's both do a favor and…let's stop that…before…us…"

The two friends moved closer to each other, but as it seemed they were going to kiss, they were suddenly alarmed by a bright light. This was coming from Pegasus, who was flying like a helicopter. He and Phil had found the two friends in the garden. Phil yelled out on his megaphone. "OK! THAT'S IT!! BREAK IT UP!!! THE SHOW'S OVER!!!! I'VE BEEN LOOKING ALL OVER THIS CITY!!!!!"

"Calm down, mountain ram," complained Meg, "it was all my fault."

"You're already on my list, sister, THEN DON'T MAKE IT BAD," replied Phil with his megaphone.

Pegasus snorted at Meg, but Meg snorted back, taking out Pegasus' light. "AND AS FOR YOU, SEX ASS," Phil snapped at Hercules, "YOU'RE GONNA GO TO THE STADIUM AND YOU GONNA BE PUT THROUGH THE TRAINING OF YOUR LIFE!  NOW GET ON THE HORSE!!"

"Ok, that's it," said Hercules.

"I'm sorry," said Meg.

"Ah, he'll get over it," said Hercules, who pulled a flower from a big tree, gave it to Meg and kissed her.

This made Meg speechless. "MOVE, MOVE, MOVE, MOVE, MOVE," ordered Phil.

Hercules slowly approached Pegasus while staring at Meg. Pegasus nudged Hercules onto him and flew off. Meg waved a farewell to Hercules. But Hercules couldn't take his happy eyes off Meg. "Hey, watch it, watch it," said Phil as he dodged branch after branch, "ooh, watch it!  Keep your sticky eyes on the…"

Phil suddenly collided into a branch while trying to get Hercules' head in the right direction. Pegasus was oblivious to what just happened to Phil and continued flying forward. As for Phil, he landed on his head and landed on the grass. "That's all…the next time I drive," Phil said before going unconscious.

Now on her own in the garden, with Hercules' flower, Meg thought to herself. While fearing this guy would be like the other guy who dumped her, she was obliged to have received nice comments from him. Meg grinned while looking at her flower, but thought to herself if she was doing the right fact. "What about me," she said, "you'd think a girl would learn."

Meg: If there's a prize for rotten judgment

I guess I've already won that

No man is worth the aggravation

That's ancient history, been there…done that

This was where we came into song.

All: Who'd you think you're joking

He's the earth and heaven to you

Try to keep it hidden

Darling, we can see right through you

Girl, you can't conceal it

We know how you feel

And who you're thinking of

Meg: No chance, Jose

I won't say it no, no

All: You swoon, you sigh

Why deny it, whoops

Meg: It's too cliche

I won't say I'm in love

All: Shoo-doo, shoo-doo

Ooo-ooo-ooo

Meg: I thought my heart has learned its lesson

It feels so good if you start out

My head is shrieking 'get a grip, girl'

Unless you're dying to cry your heart out

All: You keep on denying

Who you are and how you're feeling

Baby, we're not buying

Darling, we saw you hit the ceiling

Face it like a grownup

If you gonna own up that you

Got…got…got it…BAD!!

Meg: No way, Jose

I won't say it no, no

All: Give up, give in

Calliope: Check the grin, you're in love

Meg: This scene won't lay

I won't say I'm in love

All: You're doing flips, read our lips

You're in love

Meg: You're way off guard

I won't say it

All: She won't say love

Meg: Get off my case, I won't say it

All: Girl, don't be proud

It's alright, you're in love

Meg swiftly thought to herself. Perhaps whoever was singing this to her was right. Perhaps she was in love with Hercules.

Meg: Oh, at least out loud

I won't say I'm in.....loooooOOOOVE!!!!

All: Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-ahh!

Meg imagined what it would be like if she were to admit to Hercules that she loved him. But this romantic thought didn't last long. The fountain statue cracked open and out came Hades. "Hey, what's the buzz, right, Meg," said Hades, "what's the weak link in Wonderboy's chain?"

But Meg, having set her mind, said, "get yourself another girl.  I'm up and running."

"I'm sorry, you're going to run it by me again," said Hades rudely, "I must've had a piece of chest pain stuck in my ear or something…"

"READ MY LIPS THERE," snapped Meg, "forget it."

"Meg, Meg, Meg, my sweet disgraceful little minion. We won't forget a teeny wiener dog but ever so decisive little detail," said Hades before suddenly yelling upset with orange flames, "I OWN YOU!!"

Nearby, Phil was starting to awaken. He moaned upon seeing the bump on his head. "Oh, man, I have another horn here," he said as he pushed the bump down, "that boy will do laps for a month."

Phil heard another conversation. He peeked from behind a hedge and saw Hades speaking with Meg. "If I say 'sing,' you say 'hey, name of that tune,'" said Hades, "if I say 'I want Wonderboy's head on a barrel', you say…"

"Medium or well done," muttered Meg reluctantly.

Phil gasped as he hid behind the hedge. "I knew that lady was in danger," said Phil, "this will break the boy's heart," before running off to catch up with Herc.

Back in the garden, Hades said, "I'm sorry, what's that? It's the sound of your freedom…fluttering out the window…forever."

"I don't care, I'm not helping you hurt him," said Meg.

"I can't believe she's getting so worked up about any guy," said Hades.

"This one is different," said Meg, "he's honest and sweet."

"Well, please," said Hades dryly.

"He'd never do anything to hurt me."

"He's a guy."

"Besides o unity," said Meg with confidence, "you can't beat him. He has no weaknesses. He will..."

But Hades had a realization. "I think…he does, Meg," said Hades, "I really think....he does so."

Now this was turning into a desperate time for Hades. The planets were getting extremely close to lining up. Time was of the essence for him, but he had the perfect solution of getting rid of Hercules.

Meanwhile at the stadium, Hercules was jumping around, using the workout gear and having a great time. Pegasus was eating while he watched Herc have fun. Phil eventually appeared and mournfully approached his friend. "Hey, Phil," Herc said upon seeing the satyr, "what just happened to you?"

"Boy, we have to speak."

But Hercules, in his emotions, picked up Phil and spun him around. "Oh, Phil, I just had the biggest day of my life," he said, "I can't stop thinking about Meg. She's something else."

"Boy, I'm trying to speak to you," said Phil as Hercules maneuvered himself around workout bars a few feet above the ground, "will you just come down here and listen?"

"Oh, how can I get down here if I feel so UP," replied Hercules before launching himself high into the heavens.

Pegasus watched as Hercules flew into the air. A suggestive whistle suddenly caught his attention. This was coming from a female-winged horse. She looked at Pegasus as if she was flirting with him. Pegasus stood in awe of this horse as she walked off. Pegasus followed her and flapped his wings, willing to flirt back with her. But as the female pegasus walked into the room, she suddenly split in half. This shocked Pegasus badly, but there was something else. The transformed pegasus' two parts morphed into Pain and Panic as they attacked Pegasus. "NOW I'VE GOT YOU," shouts Pain.

"Ah, very nice," Phil continued trying to warn Hercules about Meg, "what I'm trying to say is…"

"If it wasn't for that, I never would've met her," said Hercules, "oh, I owe you big time, you little guy. I do."

"Will you just turn it off for a few seconds?"

"Rule number thirty-eight," said Hercules as he tried sparring off with him in a friendly match, "please, Phil. Keep them up there, alright? Phil, I have two words for you; duck!"

"Listen to me, she's…"

"A dream come true?"

"Not exactly...."

"More beautiful than Aphrodite?"

"Apart from that...."

"The most wonderful....."

"SHE'S A FRAUUUUUD," yelled Phil upset, "SHE'S BEEN PLAYING YOU FOR APPLE JUICE!!"

"Ah, please, stop bossing around," replied a skeptical Hercules.

"I'm not bossing around," said Phil.

"I know you're upset today, but there's no reason to......"

"Boy, you're missing the point," said Phil.

"The point is, I love her," said Herc, who was getting annoyed.

"She doesn't love you?"

"You're crazy."

"She's nothing but a two-timer…"

"STOP THIS," said Hercules.

"…no good, lying scheming...."

"SHUT UP," snapped Hercules, who unintentionally slapped Phil and knocked him towards a pile of metal supplies.

Hercules realized what he had done and became concerned himself. Phil, hurt from Herc's action and disappointed about his lack of listening, picked himself up and brushed himself. "Phil, I…I'm sorry," Hercules attempted to say.

But Phil was done like dinner. "Hang on…back up, that's it. You're not going to face the truth? Well, fine," he said before walking off.

"Phil, wait, where are you going," asked Hercules.

"I'm skipping the first barge outta here," said Phil, "I'm going home."

"WELL…FINE," shouts Hercules, who was upset, but disappointed about Phil abandoning him, "JUST…GO!! I don't, I don't need you."

Before leaving the stadium, Phil turned back one last time to Hercules. "I thought you would become the all-champion," he said before walking off, "not all the time."

Hercules turned back to where Phil was and started feeling bad over his action. But he was mostly saddened about Phil's departure. But his despair was short-lived. A nearby torch went out, leaving the stadium dark. "Sheesh, Louise, what has his goat, right?"

This voice came from Hades, who was lying on the bars. Hercules was confused as to who this person was. Hades came down to the ground and walked to Hercules. "A bamboo stick," he said, "name is Hades, lord of the dead, hi, how are you?"

"Not now, alright," said a distressed Hercules.

"Hey, you, I just need you for a few seconds, and I'm a swift chatter, alright," said Hades, who balanced himself on the chicken leg, "look, I have this big deal in the works. A real estate company, if you will. And Herc, you little devil, you, can I call you Herc? You seem to be constantly getting in the fashion of this, right?"

"You're the wrong guy," said Hercules, who tried walking off.

"Hear me out, little one..." said Hades impatiently before regularly saying, "just hear me, alright? Then I'd be forever grateful if you just took a day off from your hero business. Yeesh, I mean monsters, natural disasters. You wait a day, don't you?"

"You're out of your mind," said Hercules.

"Not so fast, because you see, I have some luggage…you might want to know about," said Hades before snapping his fingers.

Meg appeared out of nowhere. "Meg," exclaimed Herc upon noticing Meg.

"Don't listen, Herc…" Meg begged before suddenly getting tied up and gagged in Hades' gas.

Hercules rushed to Meg's side, but she suddenly disappeared. Hercules, realizing that Meg could be in danger, turned to Hades and demanded, "LET HER GO!!"

"Here's the trade; you give up your strength for about twenty-four hours, let's say the next twenty-four hours," said Hades as he made Meg appear, yet tied and gagged, "and Meg here is free as a bird, safe from injury, we dance, we kiss, we sleep, we move on, we go home happy. What do you say, please?"

But Hercules also started feeling concern for other people. "People are…will be hurt, they are," he said.

"Nah, I mean it's, you know, it's a possibility. It happens because you know it's war, but what can I warn you? What is this you owe these people, or ask," asked Hades as he turned to Meg, "isn't Meg...your little chubby face, you…isn't she more reluctant than you are?"

"STOP THIS," Hercules demanded.

"ISN'T SHE HERE," asked Hades.

"You have to swear that she'll be safe from any damage," Hercules said sternly.

"Well, fine, I'll give it to you," said Hades, "Meg's safe, or you'll get your strength back. Yadda, yadda, fine print. Cookware, a baboon!"

"You almost got me murdered at the canyon. Thanks a lot," said Hercules.

"Alright, we're ready, what do you say we shake it," Hades said as he extended his hand for Hercules.

Hercules was unsure, but Hades didn't want to wait. "Hey, we really don't have time to hit this," said Hades, "we have a schedule here, I have plans for August, alright? I need a response now."

Hercules turned to Meg, who shook her head no. She didn't let Herc lose his strength. She could warn this was a trap, but Hercules knew her freedom and safety were his priorities. "Going once, going twice," said Hades.

"ALRIGHT," said Hercules.

"YES, WE'RE THERE, BAM," exclaimed Hades as he shook Hercules' hand.

But upon shaking the hand, Hercules felt a bad feeling going all around him. He started feeling horribly weak and he couldn't stand it. Meg watched in horror as Herc started losing his god-like fashion. Hercules tried standing up, but this wasn't going well for him. "You might feel a little calm. It's kind of natural," said Hades as he lifted a giant weight and was ready to send it towards Hercules, "perhaps you should....SIT…DOWN!!"

The weight smashed into Hercules, and Herc was left unable to lift it up like he used to live in the Prometheus Academy. He wasn't strong enough to pick it up. "Now you know what it feels like to be just like everyone else," said Hades menacingly, "isn't it just....preachy? Oh, you'll love this, one more fact. Meg, a deal's a deal. You're out."

Meg was eventually freed from her bondage and was able to speak again. "And by the way, Herc, she's not like a famous little actress," said Hades.

"Stop this," begged Meg.

"What do you mean," asked Hercules.

"I mean your chicken poop here worked for me all the time. Duh," said Hades.

"You're…YOU'RE LYING," exclaimed Hercules, who couldn't believe what Hades said.

"Help," one of the boys coughed.

"Jeepers, sir, you're really strong," mocked the other one as they morphed into Pain and Panic.

"Couldn't have done it without you, sugar, darling," Hades said to Meg.

"No, it's…it's not so. I didn't think.....I couldn't...I'm so sorry," cried Meg.

Hercules, in his depression, walked off in despair. "A HERO'S A ZERO," teased Pain and Panic, "A HERO'S A ZERO!!"

Meg, overcome by guilt, despair and stress, wept over what she had done. As for Hades, he got his chariot ready and was ready to leave. "Well…gotta be, there's an entire cosmos waiting for me, with hey, my name on it," said Hades.

"You almost got me murdered at the garden. Thanks a lot," said Meg.

"So much for preparation, AND NOW FOR THE MOST RELUCTANT EVENT," exclaimed Hades as the chariot rode off into the air, with Pain and Panic on board.

He left the hero hopeless and stressed out. He could not believe Meg was using him. It turned out Phil was right about Meg. But their dangers were not finished yet…not by a long shot.

Hercules had given up his strength for Meg's freedom now he was defenseless. But there was worse to come. As forewarned by the three fates, the planets were to align. After an eighteen-year wait, the planets eventually did so. They lined up and this unleashed a beam that shot down to the Earth, straight into the ocean. Hades flew his chariot over the sea. Hades saw what was down there at the bottom of the ocean; a prison underground with lightning bolts acting like prison bars. "BROTHERS," called Hades, "TITANS! VIEW YOUR SQUALID PRISON!!"

Something was down there and they intimidated Pain and Panic. "WHO GOT YOU DOWN THERE," shouts Hades.

"ZEUS," the monsters responded.

Hades unleashed powerful blasts from his hands, making the prison weak. "AND NOW THAT I RELEASE YOU, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FIRST," Hades shouts.

"DESTROY HIM," the titans replied as they punched their road free.

"Good response," commented Hades.

The titans were at last freed from their prison, and they began to rampage. Lythos, the giant rock titan with two heads, stomped his road across the land. "CRUSH…ZEUS," he yelled as he walked.

Hydros, the giant ice titan that looked like a skeleton, stood over a panicking herd of horses. "FREEZE…HIM," he yelled as he froze the herds below him.

Pyros, the giant lava titan, made completely out of lava with big yellow eyes, slid himself across the land, melting everything in his path. "MELT…ZEUS," he yelled as he burned down the trees with his lava.

Stratos, the giant tornado, a living storm, rampaged his road across the land, picking up many facts with his powerful wind force. "BLOW…HIM…OFF," he said as he blew across the land.

The four giant titans stomped their road across the land. They all headed out to find Mount Olympus and destroy Zeus. But as it seemed they were about to cause chaos to the land, Hades suddenly stopped them by saying, "uh, guys?"

"What?"

"Olympus would be like that," Hades said, pointing to the tall mountain behind him.

The titans realized that Hades was right. They were going the wrong road. Apparently, while destructive and violent, they weren't very intelligent. But this didn't stop them from turning around and going the right fashion. "ZEUS," Lythos yelled as he and the other titans proceeded down the right path.

But these weren't the only destructive beings unleashed. A giant Cyclops was among them. "Hold it, clear eye," said Hades.

"What," the Cyclops said.

"I have a special job for you, my optical friend," said Hades.

Near Mount Olympus, the ground started shaking violently. Lythos was leading the titans as they marched slowly towards the tall mountain. Up above, Hermes heard the confusion and put on his glasses. "AAUGH!! DESTROY ZEUS," yelled Lythos upset.

Immediately realizing the danger, Hermes shouts, "OH, WE'RE IN DANGER, OH, BIG DANGER! I HAVE TO..." as he swiftly got his staff and flew to Zeus and Hera, "my lord and lady.....the titans have escaped AND THEY'RE PRACTICALLY AT OUR GATE!!"

Zeus, although shocked the titans were back, was not going to tolerate any destruction to his home or fellow gods. "SOUND THE ALARM," he ordered, "START AN IMMEDIATE COUNTERATTACK! PULL!! PULL!!!"

"Go ahead, Babe," replied Hermes before flying off and warning the other gods about the danger.

Hermes' warning was heard and all the gods sprang into action. Hephaestus immediately started making as many thunderbolts as he could. Ares, the god of war, got his gear and was ready to fight. "CHARGE!!"

Apollo, god of the sun and music, came in his chariot and was ready for battle. "TO SUCCEED," he announced.

The gods headed out, ready to fight off the destructive titans, who were about to start climbing the mountain. Hephaestus delivered Zeus his thunderbolts, and Zeus started throwing them down at the titans. One bolt hit Lythos, but it didn't stop him from climbing further up the mountain. Stratos sucked the gods up into his body with his powerful wind powers like a vacuum. The gods, unable to withstand the powerful wind force, were sucked in like they were nothing. "YOU BLADDER," shouts Ares as he and the other gods spin in circles.

"Boom, badda, boom, boom, boom," cheered Hades, "HA!!"

Back in Thebes, the city was in panic. The Cyclops was stomping his road around the city. "HERCULES," he shouts as he demolishes everything in his path, "where are you?"

He caught a building and threw it at gasoline, igniting a fire. The townspeople were terrified and frightened. "What have we done," exclaimed the elderly woman.

"Where is Hercules," asked the obese man.

"Yes, Hercules'll save us," said the elderly man, who was paying attention to a Hercules statue.

But the statue was swiftly destroyed as the Cyclops stomped by. "HERCULES," the Cyclops yelled, "COME OUT…FACE ME!!"

Nearby, Hercules and Meg watched as the monster rampaged his road through the town. Hercules, yet in depression about being used, walked towards the monster. "What are you doing here," Meg asked, "without your strength, he'll be hurt."

"There are worse facts," Hercules said dryly before walking towards the Cyclops.

"PLEASE WAIT, STOP," begged Meg.

But Hercules didn't listen to her. He walked onto the streets to meet up with the monstrous Cyclops. "Hey, look, it's Hercules," said the obese man emotionally.

"Thank the heavens," said the redhead woman, "we're saved!"

But the Cyclops heard this and stomped towards Hercules. "Well…you mighty Hercules," the Cyclops said as he crouched down to the yet depressed Herc.

The Cyclops started laughing upon seeing how tiny Hercules was and how weak he was. But Hercules didn't care about what this monster thought. The Cyclops knocked Hercules off and he smashed into a Hercules sign, getting badly injured in the process. Meg watched in horror. But as Meg was about to stop him, she heard a frantic neighing sound. It was coming from Pegasus. He had been tied up by Pain and Panic and was unable to move. "Easy, horse fibers," Meg said as she tried getting him free.

Pegasus wasn't happy to see Meg, as usual. "Woah, stop shaking," she said, "listen, Hercules is in danger."

Pegasus stopped fighting and became concerned. "We need to find Phil," said Meg, "he's the only one who could speak to him wisely."

Pegasus, although reluctant to help Meg, knew he needed to help Hercules. He put aside Meg's dislike and put her on his back. But she had to move fast. Hercules wasn't doing too well against the Cyclops and she didn't know if Phil was already on his road back to the island on boat.

Facts weren't going well for Zeus either. The titans climbed higher up into the mountain as Zeus yelled, "COME BACK, FUCK YOU," before throwing another lightning bolt.

This bolt missed and Lythos was above the clouds. He lifted his boulders and threw them against the Mount Olympus gate. "Ooh, chihuahua," commented Hades.

"ZEUS," yelled Lythos upset as he proceeded closer to the Greek king.

Down below, a barge was waiting for Phil to get on board. "C'mon, hurry up," the barge captain shouts, "we're leaving here!"

"PHIL," cried Meg, who eventually appeared on the scene with Pegasus, "Phil, Hercules needs your help."

"What does he need me for," asked a cranky Phil, "he has friends like you."

"He won't listen to me," said Meg.

"Good," complained Phil rudely, "he's eventually learned something."

Phil was stopped by Pegasus. "Look, I know what I did was wrong, but this isn't about me, it's about him," Meg said as Phil walked past her, "if you don't help him now, Phil, he'll die."

Phil stopped and thought for a moment.

Meanwhile, back on Mount Olympus, Zeus demanded, "I NEED MORE THUNDERBOLTS!!"

"Hephaestus has been imprisoned, my lord. Everyone's been imprisoned," reported Hermes before getting pulled off by Pain and Panic, "I've been imprisoned. Hey, you, watch the glass!"

Now Zeus was on his own, but facts started getting worse as Pyros stood over the now defenseless god and blasted him with lava. Hydros appeared from behind and blasted him with ice. The combined elements formed together to make a mountain, engulfing Zeus. "ZEUSY, I'M AT HOME," called Hades.

Zeus saw Hades and was shocked. "Hades…" he said sternly before yelling, "ARE YOU BEHIND THIS?!"

"You're right, sir," said Hades.

Back in Thebes, Hercules was getting beaten up badly from the Cyclops. The monster laughed as he put Hercules on his knee and said, "FLEA!!"

He flicked off Hercules like a fly, sending him smashing into another wall. "HERCULES," a voice suddenly called.

He turned and saw Pegasus fly down. Phil was with him. "Phil," said Hercules.

"Come in, kid, c'mon, fight back," urged Phil, "c'mon, you can take this wanderer. This guy's a pushover, look at him."

But Hercules' fighting spirit was down. "You were always right, Phil," he said, "dreams are for new ones."

"No, no, no, no, no, no, boy," said Phil, "giving up is for new ones. I came back because I don't stop at you. I'm willing to stand back…are you?"

These encouraging words got to Hercules and he suddenly remembered Phil being reluctant to train him from the start, but now he was wililng to stay behind his side for his battle. But there was little time to think, because the Cyclops picked up Hercules and moved him closer to his mouth. "Me bite away...head," the Cyclops said as he was ready to murder.

Thinking fast, Hercules caught a torch and shoved it into the Cyclops' face, injuring him. Hercules was dropped as Phil cheered. "WOAH, BABY!!"

Hercules caught a wire and proceeded towards the panicking monster's feet. Together, he tied the legs up with all his strength and the Cyclops was sent falling down, over a cliff and down to the ground below. He smashed to the ground, murdered in the process, but the impact's force caused a heavy pole behind Hercules to crumble. Seeing the pole about to land on Hercules, Meg rushed to him. "HERCULES, WATCH OUT," she cried as she shoved Hercules out of the road.

But Meg was crushed by the pillar as a result. "SARABI!!" Simba gasped as Hercules yelled, "MEG!!! NoooooOOOO!!!!"

Hercules swiftly ran to the pillar and tried desperately to move it out of the road. The pillar was heavy, but he tried as best he could to get it off Meg. But as he fought, something shone inside of Hercules. Phil and Pegasus watched in awe as Hercules lifted the giant pillar above his head. "What just happened," Hercules asked.

Badly injured, Meg said, "Ha…Hades' deal has been broken," she said as she moaned in pain, "he promised I wouldn't hurt myself."

Hercules rushed to Meg's side. He was concerned sick about her as he said, "Meg…why did you...you had no...."

"People always do crazy facts…" Meg muttered, "if they're in love."

Hercules realized that Meg loved him, just like he loved her. "Oh, Meg," said Hercules, who was afraid at what would happen to her.

"Are you…always so articulated," asked Meg.

Hercules chuckled a little, but was yet afraid about what would happen to Meg. "You don't have much time," she moaned, "you can yet stop Hades."

Phil placed a smooth rock underneath her head as he said, "I'll watch over her, boy."

"You'll be alright," said Hercules, "I promise."

Hercules came on Pegasus and said, "LET'S GO, PEGASUS!!"

With his strength restored, Hercules flew to Mount Olympus to stop Hades and the Titans.

Up on the mountain, the gods, defeated and chained, slowly went down the mountain while Lythos watched as Hydros and Pyros continued engulfing Zeus in ice and lava. "Hup, two, three, four, c'mon, everyone," Pain said to the chained gods before yelling in Hermes' ear, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!"

"I swear, Hades, if I come out of this......"

Zeus' rant was interrupted as he became engulfed all the road up to the top of his head. "I'm the one giving orders now, roustabout," said Hades as he sat in his chair, "and I think I'll like it here."

"Don't be too comfortable, Hades," Hercules' voice came, alarming Hades.

Pegasus and Hercules appeared from the clouds. "Hercules," exclaimed Apollo.

"This is even the chance," said Hercules as he destroyed the chains, immobilizing the gods.

The gods were free and they embraced. "Yes, Hercules," cheered Hermes as he beat up Pain and Panic, "thank you, man."

"GET THEM," Hades ordered the titans.

Pyros unleashed a blast of lava, but missed Hercules. His lava blast instead hit Hades. Hades, covered in lava, said, "no, catch him, not me. HIM!!"

Hydros fired his icy blasts at Hercules, but Hercules defended himself with his sword. Hydros followed Hercules as he flew past Hades. "Follow the fingers, him," Hades instructed before getting frozen by Hyrdos' ice, "the yutz with the horse."

With Hades down, Herclues jumped off Pegasus and pried open the mountain that engulfed Zeus. Upon seeing Zeus free, Hades burst into flames in frustration. "Thank you, my boy," said Zeus.

"Nice horse," begged Pain as he and Panic were being chased by Pegasus, "my intentions were good. I was really drawn to you."

But Pegasus beat up the two cowardly monsters like balls strapped to rope. As this happened, Hephaestus threw some thunderbolts to Zeus. Zeus, now able to fight again, said, "now look how your old man works."

"Oops," both heads of Lythos said upon realizing they were in danger.

Zeus blasted both of the heads, making them unable to fight. The titans, seeing their chances of failure, started fleeing. "Guys, put your gigantic rear into gear and kick an Olympic ass," Hades ordered before Pegasus blew out the fire on his head, "woah, is my hair off?"

Pegasus laughed at seeing Hades all bald. But Stratos appeared behind Hercules and was ready to suck him up. But Hercules caught Stratos and swung him around. He swung the tornado towards the other titans and they were sucked in. Hercules swung the storm around and around until eventually throwing the monster into the heavens. The titans were sent into space and they exploded, ending their threat for good. Zeus cheered alongside his son, but Hades was not pleased. "Thank you very much, Wonderboy," he said as he fled the battlefield with Pain and Panic, "but I have at least one major consolation prize; a friend of yours who wants to see."

Hercules came on Pegasus and pursued the evil god down the clouds and to Earth. But upon getting through the clouds, Hercules realized who Hades was speaking about. "Meg."

Down on the ground, Meg yet lay with Phil behind her side, trying to tend to her wounds. But these wounds were pretty serious and Meg was barely able to stay alive. But she was also being watched by the three fates. Lachesis spread out her thread of life and Atropos was ready to cut the string with her scissors. Hercules and Pegasus flew as fast as they could to Earth, trying to reach Earth in time. Atropos' scissors came closer and closer to the thread of life before clipping shut. The thread was cut and Meg's life faded off. Pegasus landed as Hercules rushed to Meg's side. "Meg," he said.

But Phil turned to him with a mournful face. He realized that Meg had died. Hercules, brokenhearted over losing the girl he loved, came on his knees and hugged her dead body. "Meg, no," he lamented, who growled in frustration before shouting out an enraged "MEG!!"

This yell was so loud that it echoed across Mount Olympus. Hercules sobbed over Meg's dead body while Pegasus mourned badly. A friend who he formed a good friendship with was gone. Even Pegasus and Phil were brokenhearted over Meg's loss. This was too mournful for everyone, hearing the frustrated demigod shout her name. Hercules put Meg's dead body on the rock, and wept. "I'm sorry, boy," said Phil as tears ran down his face, "there are facts you just can't change."

Hercules sobbed as he thought to himself. His despair turned into rage as he came up with a plan of his own. "Yes, I can do that."

In the Underworld, Hades was throwing many tantrums with his fire, expressing his rage over failure of conquering Olympus. "WE WERE VERY CLOSE," he yelled upset, burning Pain and Panic in the process, "because it was so close we tripped the finish line because all our little nut Meg had to go noble."

But Hades' rant was interrupted as everyone felt the ground shake. Pain and Panic watched hesitantly, afraid at what was coming their road this time. Suddenly, the wall burst open and Cerberus came through. But Hercules was on top of him. "WHERE'S MEG," demanded Hercules.

"See who's here, Wonderboy," said Hades, "you are too much."

"Let…her…go," demanded Hercules.

"Have a grip," replied Hades, "come here, come here. Let me guide you around."

Hades guided the intruder into a much larger room, but this one was more spooky and more dangerous. It was the River Styx. Souls were swimming around the river. "Yes, well, well, it's a little Underworld after all, right," said Hades.

Hercules noticed Meg's soul floating down the river. "Meg," exclaimed Hercules.

"No, no, no," said Hades, "don't touch. You see, Meg's running with a new crowd these days, but she's not very active."

Meg's soul was in a spot that could murder anyone who would dare swim in it. But Hercules, knowing that Meg deserves more than this, said to Hades, "do you like to do business? Take me, instead of Meg."

This decision seemed reasonable for Hades, but he thought for a moment. "Um…has my hated opponent's son been trapped forever in the river of death?"

"I'm going once," said Hercules.

"Yes, is this a drawback?"

"I'm going twice."

"OK, that's it," replied Hades, "you take her out....she goes…you stay."

Decision confirmed, Hercules shook Hades' hand and dove into the river. "Oh, you know what slipped my mind," said Hades, "you'll be dead, before you reach her. Isn't that a problem?"

Hercules didn't listen to Hades. He was focused on swimming to save Meg's soul. But as he kept swimming, he started getting more and more old. His skin started to get wrinkly, and he started feeling weak, but he had to keep moving. The Fates were watching him, like they did to Meg. Lachesis expanded his thread of life, and Atropos was ready to cut the thread. In the river, Hercules was running out of energy. He was getting closer to Meg, but he was now dying. He swam as close as he could and reached out for Meg's soul. He reached as far as he could, but Atropos' scissors were ready to cut his thread of life. But just as it seemed the thread was going to get cut, the thread suddenly shone brightly and it didn't split in two. The Fates were shocked by this. Atropos tried cutting it again, but this wasn't working. "What's the problem with these scissors," asked Clotho.

"The thread's not broken," said Lachesis as she looked at the glowing thread.

In the Underworld, something shone brightly out of the river. A hand reached out for the ledge as its elderly look ceased. Hades stood shocked over what was going on. Something was coming out of the river. It was Hercules. He was shining brightly as he came onto the ledge with Meg's soul. "This is…this isn't possible," said Hades, "you, you, you cannot live. You must be a...."

"A god," Pain and Panic asked.

But Pain and Panic were right. Now Hercules had transformed into an immortal god. Hades yelled in frustration before saying to Hercules, "Hercules, stop, you can't do this to me, you can't…"

But he was met with a punch to the face from Herc. Hercules walked past Hades, who recovered from the punch and said, "well, fine, I know it's worth it. Herc, Herc, Herc, can we speak? Your dad, he's a fun guy, right? Then perhaps you could put in a word with him and kinda blow this fact off, you know? Meg, Meg, speak to him, you know, a little schmooze, uh…"

Hercules hit his fist into Hades and he was sent flying into the River Styx. The souls gathered around the frantic Hades. "Ew, stay away from me, don't touch me! Keep your slimy souls away from me," he said.

But these souls surrounded Hades and pulled him down deeper into the river. Pain and Panic watched as the souls took Hades down deeper into the bottomless pit of souls. "He wouldn't be happy if he came out of there," said Panic.

"I mean IF you come out of there," replied Pain.

Seeing this as a good idea, Panic said, "if…if is good."

As for Hades, he was dragged deeper and deeper into the river. "Taxi! I don't feel very good.  I feel a little.....AAHHHH!!!!"

Back above ground, Hercules walked to Meg's dead body. Phil and Pegasus looked in awe of Hercules' new look. Hercules carried Meg's soul and put it back in Meg's body. Everyone waited hesitantly to see if this worked. But they saw Meg's body moving. Meg breathed, making Hercules realize it was working. Meg was starting to come back to life. Phil and Pegasus looked and became happy. "Wonderboy," said a happy Meg, "wh…why did you..."

"People always do crazy facts," said Hercules as he helped Meg to her feet, "....if they're in love."

Realizing that he loved her, like she loved him, Meg grew with happiness. But as the two leaned forward to kiss, a bolt of lightning zipped down and created a cloud underneath them both. They were both sent up into the heavens. Phil and Pegasus followed them. Everyone looked up into the bright heavens, and saw Mount Olympus' gate. The gods had gathered around and were cheering for Hercules. Hercules and Meg jumped off the cloud and watched as the crowd cheered for their hero. "THREE CHEERS FOR THE MIGHTY HERCULES," cheered Apollo.

"EVERYBODY'S BLOSSOMING," cheered Hermes, who threw flowers to his friends.

Everyone was amazed by this celebration. But up above, near the gate, were the two gods who were most proud of Hercules; Hera and Zeus. Hercules approached his mother and father while Meg watched. "Hercules," Hera said as she hugged her son, "we're very proud of you."

"Mother…" replied Herc, who was happy to see her.

Zeus was also very happy. "It's a great job, my boy. YOU DID IT," he cheered, "you're a true hero!"

"You gladly gave your life to save this young woman," said Hera.

"A real hero isn't measured by the strength of his heart, not by the magnitude of his strength," said Zeus, "eventually…my son…you can go home."

The gates to Mount Olympus opened and everyone saw the legendary palace. It was so beautiful for them. The gods gathered around Hercules and congratulated him on a job well done. But while now Hercules was a god again, there was only one person who wasn't happy…Meg. She was happy to know Hercules was now where she wanted to go, but was saddened since mortals weren't allowed on Mount Olympus. Therefore, she would never get a chance to see Herc again. "Congratulations, Wonderboy," she said silently, "you make God oneness."

Hercules was happy upon receiving much applause from the gods, but as he turned around, he noticed Meg mournfully walking off. His happiness turned into despair upon realizing that as a mortal, Meg couldn't be with him on Olympus. Then he decided something different. "Father," he said, "this is the moment I always dreamed of."

Zeus and Hera looked at their son proudly, but Hercules had a different thought. "But," he continued as he walked to Meg, "a life without Meg.....an an immortal life.....I'll be empty…I…I want to stay on Earth with her. I eventually knew where I belong it."

Zeus and Hera were stunned by this decision. For years they waited for Hercules to return home to them, and now he was denying immortality to be with a mortal. But the two parents realized that Hercules was doing this out of love, and he could have it for being a true hero. Zeus and Hera nodded in agreement, and Hercules became mortal again. As long as Hercules was happy, they would be happy as well. It was another sacrifice Hercules made on Meg's behalf. Everyone cheered as Hercules and Meg kissed. "Take it, ladies," Hermes called.

And now, we had one final song to sing.

Calliope: Oh, gonna shout it from the mountaintops

All: A star is born

Thalia: It's the time for pulling out the stops

All: A star is born

Darling, hit us with a hallelujah

That boy came shining through

Girl, sing that song

Come blow your horn

A STAR IS BORN!!

Calliope: He's a hero who could please the crowd

All: A star is born

Calliope: C'mon, everybody, shout out loud

All: A star is born

Just remember the darkest hour

Within the hearts the power

For making you

A hero as well

Then don't lose hope if you're forlorn

Just keep your eyes

Upon the heavens

Every night

A star is

Right in sight

A star is

Burning bright

A STAR IS BORN!!

And so, Hercules returned to Earth with Meg, Pegasus and Phil. The townspeople of Thebes celebrated as their hero came back down to the city. Upon landing, Hercules reunited with Amphitryon and Alcmene. But there was more to celebrate. Everyone looked up into the night heavens and saw Zeus making an image in the stars. The stars came together and formed Hercules' constellation, for achieving his goal as a true hero. Phil noticed this and stood in awe and amazement. The townspeople cheered upon seeing the beautiful stars. "THAT'S PHIL'S GUY!!"

Phil, overcome by happiness, wept a little. He eventually achieved his dream of training the most successful hero in Greece. A hero's picture was held in the heavens and people eventually came to recognize Phil as the trainer. He was given accomplishment, just like his friends. This was a happy time for everyone in Greece. Hercules became a true hero and earned himself a place in the stars, for understanding the strength of his heart. He would certainly go down in history.

Executive Producers DENNIS DESHAZER SHERYL STAMPS LEACH

Senior Producer JIM ROWLEY

Producers JEFF GITTLE LINDA HOUSTON MARTHA DATEMA LIPSCOMB

Director BRUCE DECK

Writer REBECCA SELF SNIDER

Production Designer JESS NELSON

Musical Director BOB SINGLETON

Lyricists/Composers STEPHEN BATES BALTES LORY LAZARUS

Performance Director PENNY WILSON

Educational Specialists MARY ANN DUDKO, Ph.D. MARGIE LARSEN, M.Ed.

Cast: Voice of Barney... BOB WEST Barney's Body Costume... DAVID JOYNER Voice of Baby Bop... JULIE JOHNSON Baby Bop's Body Costume... JEFF AYERS Voice of B.J. ... PATTY WIRTZ B.J.'s Body Costume... JEFF BROOKS

Cast: Shawn... JOHN DAVID BENNETT, II Tosha... HOPE CERVANTES Stella the Storyteller... PHYLLIS CICERO Jason... KURT DYKHUIZEN Kathy... LAUREN KING

Cast: Juan... MICHAEL KROST Carlos... COREY LOPEZ Min... PIA MANALO Kenneth... NATHAN REGAN Julie... SUSANNAH WETZEL

Associate Director ERIC NORBERG

Stage Manager TERRIE DAVIS MANNING

Lighting Design BERNER & BRILL LIGHTING DESIGN, INC.

Editor MCKEE SMITH

Audio Director DAVID M. BOOTHE

Art Director ELIZABETH SAGAN VELTEN

Wardrobe Supervisor/Designer LISA O. ALBERTSON

Technical Operations Supervisor RANDY BREEDLOVE

Video Engineer BINK WILLIAMS

Camera Operators LARRY ALLEN  OZ COLEMAN TOM COX  BRUCE HARMON

Production Audio RONALD G. BALENTINE

Boom Operators JAMES JOHNSON DAVID M. ROBERTS

Lighting Director CASEY COOK

Key Grips BUZ CANNON STEVE RITCHEY

Lighting Board Operator TODD DAVIS

Grip/Electric JAMES EDWARDS

Construction Supervisor CHARLES BAILEY

Craft Shop Supervisor RAY HENRY

Art/Craft Coordinator AMY ATHERTON

Set Dresser AGGIE DAVIS-BROOKS

Draftsperson CHRISTOPHER MCCRAY

Craft/Prop Artist MARK BROGAN

Props/Special Effects DAVID COBB

Carpenters TY M. BURNS DANNY SMITH

Scenic Painter E. (BILL) SLETTE

Swing Crew CARMELO GOMEZ

Costume Shop Manager GEORGIA FORD WAGENHURST

Costume Technician D.J. SEGLER

Costume Sewing NATALIE SERGI-SAARI SUSIE THENNES

Make-Up Designer JEANIE L. D'IORIO

Hair Stylist DEBRA HERTEL HAEFLING

Costume/Wardrobe Assistants BRIAN N. BLEVINS JANET BUSH

Field Producer SANDY JANTZEN

Post Videotape DUDLEY ASAFF

Dialogue Editor DENICE CROWELL

Post Production Audio CRAIG CHASTAIN

Production Office Manager SUE SHINN

Script Supervisor CATHERINE REYNOLDS

Production Coordinators JULIE HUTCHINGS KELLY MAHER

Production Accountant DEBBIE COTTLE

Production Secretary AUSTIN GRAY

Asst. to Performance Director DAVID VOSS

Production Assistants BRADEN MCDONALD TIM THOMASTON JOEL ZOCH

Barney Music Department JILL HANCE CHARLES KING  JONATHAN SMITH

For Singleton Productions, Inc. BRADFORD COLEMAN  LARRY HARON MIKE PIETZSCH

Educational Research Staff PATSY J. ROBLES GOODWIN, M.Ed. KIMBERLY THORNTON, M.Ed. JOY STARR

Children's Teachers SANDRA GILPIN  HAMODY GILPIN

Children's Supervisor MARY EVANS

Barney and the Backyard Gang™ and Barney & Friends® were originally developed by Sheryl Leach, Kathy Parker and Dennis DeShazer.

Vocal Performances Enhanced with Help from Singleton Productions, Inc.

"I Love You" • Lyrics by Lee Bernstein (BMI)

Special Thanks to Tom Rennen of Intelligent Light Digital Imaging The Medicine Center

Original Barney, Baby Bop and B.J. Costumes by IRENE COREY DESIGN ASSOCIATES

Produced by THE LYONS GROUP AND CONNECTICUT PUBLIC TELEVISION

For Connecticut Public Television Executives in Charge LARRY RIFKIN SHARON BLAIR

Executive in Charge RICHARD C. LEACH

BARNEY & FRIENDS • Doctor Barney is Here! Copyright 1997 • Lyons Partnership, L.P.