Hades: Lord of the Underworld 

​Hades: Lord of the Underworld
by Amy Hood- @AmyLia403

     
     Hades, Pluto, Lord of the Underworld. Keeper of Souls, Guardian of the Dead . . . all are titles this often divinely wicked god goes by. Along with his raucous reputation, there is often a ton of confusion that comes along with his tale. With Hades descending upon Storybrooke soon, I thought this would be a great time to clear up some misconceptions about both Hades and his domain, so lets hop a boat across the River Styx, shall we?
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    The detail people most often get wrong is in calling Hades the Devil, and the Underworld Hell. Hades is NOT the devil. He is overseer of the Underworld, brother to Zeus and Poseidon. The realms were divided among the brothers, and sure, with Zeus getting the heavens and Poseidon getting the golden blue seas, Hades seemed to pull the short end of the stick. His domain is a dark and not very fun kinda place where all souls go when they die, according to mythology. Not just the bad people . . . everyone goes to the Underworld. Its like a giant purgatory stew/rave, if you will. 
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    This fact is the reason that we will be able to see characters on Once who may have died, but we wouldn't expect them to be in Hell. As the Underworld is for all souls, this leaves us open to encounter ANYONE who has passed on, good or evil. 

     Whatever dangers or souls our heroes encounter, the Underworld is certain to be a perilous place. It is said that the gates are guarded by Cerberus, the three headed Hound. I have a feeling he may pale in comparison to some of the emotional battles our group might face, coming into contact with a myriad of people from their past. While many have been confirmed by show creators, it is feasible that even a few more could be added to the roster. Remember, if you will, that just prior to her death, Cora got her heart back. As it is said that no one can be returned from the Underworld. a reunion with Regina (and most definitely Zelena and her new child) could prove heartbreaking, 

    More drama may come when Rumple must face his father, Peter Pan, or his first wife, Milah. We have no confirmation that either Dylan Schmidt (Young Bae) or Michael Raymond-James (Grown up Baelfire/Neal) will return, but the emotional payoff of having Rumple and Bae, or Henry and Bae meet would be incredible. Speaking of parents, we do know that Regina's father is in the Underworld . . . the father she has not seen since she killed him and used his heart to enact the curse. ("I can be happy . . . just not here. Sorry Daddy.") One wonders how that meeting is going to go as well. (Tissues at the ready, Oncers) 

     Hades is endowed with great power. Like his brothers he can shift forms. He is often associated with pomegranates as he used one to trick Persephone into having to stay in the Underworld six months out of every year in order to stave off his loneliness. Her mother, distraught with grief, causes the Earth above to be barren and cold, where no crops or flowers return until Persephone is back with her. This is where we get the original mythological explanations for Spring and Winter. We have actually already seen pomegranates in a few episodes of Once, like at Lake Nostos in "What Happened to Fredrick" which might seem to mean that since water has magical powers, more than one lake could be the portals.

There is no telling what all this means for Hook. Perhaps with great favors or tasks (as in Hercules Labors) Emma will be able to win his soul back. But if classic mythology is any indication . . . there is always a catch . . . always a price.