Disney Heracles AU: Hephaestus
Other names: Vulcan (from Romans), Hephy (from Thetis and Aglaia), The Lame One (from several Olympian gods), Big Brother (from Achilles), Brother Heph (from Ares)
Occupations: God of fire, volcanoes, metalworking, blacksmiths, metallurgy, artisans, carpenters, forges, and sculpting, member of Olympian deities
Residence: Lemnos Island, Mount Olympus
Parents: Zeus (father), Hera (mother), Thetis (adoptive mother), Peleus (stepfather)
Siblings: Apollo (oldest half-brother), Artemis (oldest half-sister), Athena (older half-sister), Hermes (older half-brother), Ares (brother), Hebe (sister), Dionysus (older half-brother), Perseus (younger half-brother), Heracles (younger half-brother), Achilles (adoptive brother), and there are more demigod half siblings…
Spouse: Aphrodite (1st wife; divorced), Aglaia (2nd wife)
Children: Eucleia (oldest daughter; from Aglaia), Euthenia (second oldest daughter; from Aglaia), Eupheme (third daughter; from Aglaia), Philophrosyne (fourth daughter; from Aglaia)
Other relatives: 49 Nereids (adoptive aunts), Hades (uncle), Demeter (aunt), Hestia (aunt), Poseidon (uncle), Persephone (cousin/aunt-in-law), Gaia (great-grandma), Cronus (grandfather), Rhea (grandmother), Adonis (adoptive nephew; from Hades and Persephone), the Erotes (stepsons/nephews), Harmonia (stepdaughter/niece), Deimos and Phobos (stepsons/nephews), Charites (sisters-in-law), Psyche (stepdaughter/niece-in-law), Hedone (great niece), Ariadne (half sister-in-law)
Friends: Aetna, Cabeiro, Brontes, Athena, Hades (business partner), Asterion, Daedalus
Sexuality: Demisexual
Power & Abilities: Immortality, prolonged youth, divinity and authority over the forges and volcanoes, pyrokinesis, godly strength and stamina, ingenious inventing and crafting, woodworking and metalworking
Likes: Being praised for his work, his found family, Aglaia, crafting and forging new weapons
Dislikes: Anyone that loses or breaks the weapons he forged for them, Hera and Zeus’ dysfunctional marriage, getting involved in Olympians’ private affairs
Born as first child of Hera the goddess of marriage, motherhood, childbirth and women, he was born with a disability of his limping leg, Hephaestus was tossed out of Mount Olympus as a baby and landed on rocky surface of island Lemnos, resulting a facial and body scars. Thetis, one of the Nereids and her friend Eurynome the Oceanid, found him crying. Out of maternal instinct, Thetis decided to raise him as her son with Euryonome’s assistance. Hephaestus had 49 adoptive Nereid aunts, as well. However, he had a lonely childhood as the young ones (especially Poseidon’s children) started to bully him for his scars and limping leg. Hephaestus didn’t want his adoptive mother to get in trouble for defending him against Poseidon, so he asked her to send him to a cave where no one would find him. Thetis decided to move into the cave where no humans, nymphs, nor gods can find her son. Hephaestus starts to craft the diversity of accessories and artifacts to ease his loneliness until a curious nymph named Aetna who asks the price of one of the artifacts he made. He let her take one of his craftworks without asking for payment, and soon, many nymphs visit to purchase them. Over time, when he made farming tools and weapons, even the men started to visit his cave forge.
One day, Hephaestus heard of Zeus searching for members of Olympian deities and Hera, his birth mother, had replaced him with Ares who was more handsome and healthier than him. The blacksmithing immortal decided to send the tribute to Hera, which was a golden throne. When Hera took a seat on, the unseen chains bind her tightly, preventing her from being freed. When she spotted the mark on the throne, the same one she embroidered on the blanket prior Hephaestus’ birth, the goddess of motherhood shed a tear of remorse and begged Zeus to not punish him. So, Zeus decided to send Hermes to convince Hephaestus to release the queen of gods, but Hephaestus ignored and continued to forge. When Apollo and Artemis came next, the god of arts and prophecy sneered at his appearance commenting he understood why Hera abandoned him and insulted Thetis. Angered, Hephaestus destroyed Apollo’s lyre as Artemis dragged her depressed twin brother away while apologizing. Ares decided to confront him directly and rudely knocked over his metalworks. Hephaestus responded by beating him ruthlessly with his hammer, causing his brother to return defeated. Dionysus visited him and offered the wine, engaging into friendly conversation. The god of wine confessed his mother was indirectly murdered by Hera’s scheme and was forced to hide away, even dressing as a girl since childhood. However, he added that what holds him back from swearing vengeance was his purpose as god of wine and festive, choosing to use his divinity to make people happy and wanting Hephaestus to find true purpose with his talents. After a long thought, Hephaestus decided to go to Mt. Olympus and met his birth mother. He freed Hera, but referred to her as “Lady Hera”, not as mother, before turning away to leave. However, Hera wasn’t the only deity to receive tributes handmade by him. Many gods were impressed and enjoyed having their artifacts crafted by him, even asking Zeus to recruit him as a member of Olympian pantheon. Since then, Hephaestus has become one of the Olympian gods. Although he occasionally visits Thetis and his adoptive aunts; the Nereids. His blacksmithing skills were recognized as he had even forged the upgraded version of Zeus’ thunderbolts, much stronger than the ones forged by Brontes.
Much later, Zeus came up with an idea to strengthen the bond between Olympian deities by arranging a marriage between Hephaestus and Aphrodite. The love goddess turns out to be one of the regulars of Hephaestus’ artifacts and accessories, as she ordered her priestesses to get them for her. Delighted to have a talented husband, she agreed to marry him and Hephaestus was very shy around her. Even though he was busy as a blacksmithing god, he did his best to become a good husband for her and eventually, a good father to their children, the Erotes and Harmonia. One day, he was visited by Helios the all-seeing sun god (and Apollo who was Helios’ apprentice). They told him about Aphrodite’s suspicious behaviors and Artemis’ twin brother spoke his belief that the goddess of beauty might be having an affair (although Helios begged him to shut up). Feeling suspicious, Hephaestus crafted the strong trap and set it above the bed of his wife. When the trap activated, Hephaestus and the other gods barged in, discovering Aphrodite and Ares naked on the bed. Apollo sneered at the pair, Dionysus whistled in amusement and Hermes commented how he wanted to be Aphrodite’s lover. No gods except Hera, Demeter and Hestia gave Hephaestus a word of consolation. Having enough, Hephaestus decided to divorce Aphrodite. Hera angrily demanded responsibility to Zeus for arranging an unhappy marriage and Poseidon offered to pay the bride price back on behalf of his brother. Even still, Hephaestus spoke no resentment towards Aphrodite, nor Ares. Instead, he only apologized to her for being unable to fulfill his role as attentive husband and wished Ares would make her happier than he could.
Thetis was enraged to hear her son Hephaestus was wronged and mocked by Aphrodite and several gods, she barged into the Olympus and started to attack Aphrodite by ripping some strands of blond hair and was about to kick her stomach, but was stopped by Hephaestus as he told her that the goddess is pregnant with Ares’ twin sons. When Thetis threw wrathful words at Ares and Aphrodite, Hephaestus could only cover little Harmonia’s ears, leading her and the Erotes away from the commotion. Hephaestus has been the pacifist among the gods to the point he breaks up the fight between Poseidon and Athena. Another time, Hephaestus heard Hera and Zeus were intensely arguing over his other infidelity. Knowing the reason for his birth mother’s bitterness, Hephaestus attempted to end the fight and calm them; he stated that while Hera’s vindictive nature is not justified, Zeus needs to put more effort on restoring their marriage instead of avoiding her. Losing his temper, Zeus strikes him once, twice, thrice, fourth, fifth …, before he coldly throws Hephaestus out of the Olympus. Horrified of what he had done, Hera and her sisters confronted him. Snapped from the anger, Zeus realized the grave mistake and attempted to get him back. Only to face furious Hades as Hepahestus had his broken legs amputated and replaced with prosthetic ones. Hades slapped Zeus and Hera for their treatment towards his nephew and forbade them from seeing him. For the punishment, the gods are not allowed to ask for weapons from Hephaestus as the forging god will only provide his works to heroes.
Hephaestus had taken a major role in several events. For example, when Eros was harshly scolded by Ares for abandoning Psyche after he denounced her “doubt”. The god of love angrily talked back; “You shouldn’t talk, dad! You were mom’s secondary! Her affair!” and flew off, leaving the god of war shocked. However, Hephaestus kindly scolded Eros for such comments and made him reflect on his actions involving isolating Psyche from her loving family and not showing his true self. The blacksmith god told him the reason why he and Aphrodite divorced was because of lack of communication and feels bad for not communicating with her. Hephaestus advised Eros to be more honest and confront his mother bravely for Psyche. Even though Psyche works for Hades thanks to Aphrodite’s trap regarding the fourth labor, Hephaestus occasionally visits the underworld to receive minerals and metals from Hades, as the god of the underworld has dominion over wealth and minerals. Hera’s firstborn would return and tell Eros about Psyche’s daily life working for Hades. Also, when Zeus returned with newborn Heracles and announced the boy would succeed his throne, Hephaestus expressed concern to Hades and Persephone, stating the child is not ready for such a burden. His relationship with his birth mother Hera is still awry, still referring to her as “Lady Hera”. Carrying guilt over the years, Hera confessed to Thetis what she had done to Hephaestus when he was a newborn, begging for once, to mend her mistake. Hephaestus once had unrequited romantic feelings for Athena, but she rejected him despite the compatibility they share. However, much to Athena’s surprise, he didn’t try to take her by force or expressing anger, as he respects her feelings and asked to remain as friends.
One day, Thetis approached her adoptive son and announced she is getting married to Peleus, which makes the king of Phthia his stepfather. Hephaestus congratulated their wedding and gave them a finely forged dagger, which its magic can protect both and their future child. Months passed, Hephaestus became a big brother to Achilles. He understood Thetis’ fear for his son’s life, so he promised her that once Achilles grows older he will forge the strongest armor for him, and he kept that promise. Achilles is highly attached to him, always visiting his forge to see him crafting or building weapons. The demigod brother expressed uncontrollable anger when someone talks ill of Hephaestus, but the said god would reassure he doesn’t have to be vengeful for him. Later, Eurynome the Oceanid visited Hephaestus’ cave forge and asked if he could meet someone. It was revealed that she had brought one of her daughters Aglaia, one of the Charites (goddesses of beauty and grace). Blushing madly, Aglaia struggled to speak to him properly but Hephaestus behaved politely to her, patienting waiting for her to speak. Eurynome told Thetis and Hera that her daughter Aglaia is in love with him. Witnessing Hephaestus reciprocating the feeling over the time, Thetis and Hera shared a common agreement to get them married. Hephaestus and Aglaia got happily married, resulting in having four lovely daughters (and many more in future).
One of the running gags is that there is one of few occasions Hephaestus would be furious. For instance, if someone broke or lost the weapon he forged for them, Hephaestus would chase after that person with his large forging hammer. Common victims of his anger are Apollo, Hermes, Heracles, Jason, Odysseus, and other demigods. The only thing that calms him is a bowl of cereal with milk. One another running gag is whenever he and Heracles share brotherly bond, jealous Achilles will drag Hephaestus away before angrily blow raspberries or stick his tongue out at Heracles. Another running gag is listening to his half-siblings’ troubled love life with a tired look on his face before kicking them out of his forge. Being the peacemaker, Hephaestus is often seen pulling Thetis, Hera, Achilles or other temperamental figures away from maiming their targets; Poseidon, Zeus, or other unfortunate figures, he would often comment he doesn’t get enough credits for cleaning their mess as Hermes nods in agreement and sympathy. Hephaestus has a forgiving side to others, such as he gave newly built Lyre back to Apollo as the solar god of arts and music apologized to him months after Hyacinthus’ death, as the blacksmith god realized the deceased mortal lover has shaped Apollo into a better man.
