He especially loved spending this time with the demigod...the time right after a battle with a warlord or monster or with bandits. They would both still have that rush from the physical activity. Herc would be animated, exhilarated and babbling almost as much as the hunter himself.
They used to be this excited about everything they did in the early years...the years right after the Academy. They grew up somewhere during their journeys -- mellowed -- which was nice too, but different.
Hercules and Iolaus had just helped rescue a small, poor village from a troop of bandits who were determined to wipe out what little stores the villagers had. Offers of a feast in honor of the two heroes were gently and politely turned down. Iolaus let Hercules explain that they had somewhere important to go in a hurry, but they were nonetheless honored by the gesture. In truth, the two friends couldn't let the villagers part with what little they had to make a feast for them.
It seemed that someone was smiling on the two of them however because, as Iolaus hunted for their dinner, he managed to catch one of those large, wild game birds that Hercules was so fond of. They would have their feast anyway.
A few hours before sundown, the heroes set up camp atop a hill, near the banks of a large stream. They could clean the grime of battle off themselves and have time to really do a good job cooking the beautiful game bird that Iolaus had bagged.
As he cleaned and dressed the bird, Iolaus' thoughts drifted to the events of the past few weeks and to ways he could prolong the demigod's elevated spirits.
Hercules and Iolaus had been invited to Corinth at Jason's suggestion several weeks before. The city had grown in leaps and bounds during recent years and the neighboring farmers were having trouble keeping up with the demands for produce. Iphicles believed that if the farmers had better tools to help them during the planting and harvest seasons that the area farms could handle the demand. This would save him the need to make trade agreements with other city states in the area. Not that he minded trading with his neighbors; he just really wanted Corinth to be self-reliant for its food and its defense.
Iph and Jason were certain that if Iolaus and Hercules put their minds to it they could come up with workable solutions. Both the king and the former king recognized Iolaus' special talents both in design and in the forge. But their constant jokes about Iolaus being better than anyone in the whole world at finding the most inventive ways to get out of hard work were starting to get on his nerves. So, when they received Gabrielle's cryptic message about Xena being pregnant and asking the demigod to meet her outside the village of Andion in a weeks' time, the hunter was champing at the bit to get back out on the road with his partner. There was also his almost urgent curiosity to find out what Xena's pregnancy could possibly have to do with the demigod? And hiding his hands behind his back, he started counting backwards.
As the heroes were preparing themselves to leave, a fire broke out in the main forge of Corinth. It took them almost all night to put out the flames. After surveying the damage it was decided, with great reluctance on both of their parts, that Iolaus would stay in the city and help rebuild the forge and Hercules would meet up with Xena and Gabrielle. Iolaus agreed to stay in Corinth and await the demigod's return on one condition. Hercules knew what was on the hunter's mind and obliged by assuring Iolaus that he hadn't even seen Xena since Serena's death, almost three years before.
Then there was that day, about a week after Herc left, that the midday sky had grown as dark as night and the lightening and thunder came faster, louder and more frightening than anything ever experienced by mankind.
All of the people of the city were running in panic, believing it was the end of the world.
Iphicles, Jason and Iolaus stood on the ramparts of the city watching the chaos both in the streets below and the heavens above. Jason said that he had never seen anything like it before -- Iolaus said that he had once before -- up close and personal -- and that it foretold the death of a god.
Iolaus instinctively knew that Hercules was somehow involved. He was secretly worried that the celestial manifestations were a direct result of Zeus mourning for his favorite son's death. The hunter wouldn't eat or sleep until Iphicles sent out riders to locate the demigod. The riders brought back information that the demigod had been sited but that it appeared he didn't want to speak or be spoken to.
By the time the riders had returned to Corinth, the rumors about the death of Zeus had already begun to circulate. Iolaus wanted to be with the demigod, to offer his support. He still couldn't understand why his partner always shunned his friends and family at times like these preferring to suffer his grief alone.
Herc's mind and soul had plunged to the depths of Tartarus since he had been forced to kill Zeus. As cruel as his own father had been to him, Iolaus realized that nothing, but nothing could beat the damage that Zeus had inflicted on his son's soul. Iolaus' anger at the dead king of the gods was such that he wanted to follow Zeus to the Other Side to personally torture him forever.
Although the demigod knew that Zeus had left him no choice in the matter -- his great heart couldn't help but break. His sense of fairness couldn't help but make him try to think, over and over, about ways he might have done it differently. The Fates and Furies couldn't have punished him more than he was punishing himself.
After Hercules arrived in Corinth that afternoon two weeks ago, gaunt and disheveled, and told him of the circumstances behind Zeus' death the heroes decided that Hercules needed to get back out on the road as quickly as possible. The demigod was afraid that the gods would take their revenge on him and he didn't want innocent people being hurt just because they were in his immediate vicinity. He was about to tell Iolaus that wherever he was going -- he would go alone but the hunter cut him short. Iolaus assured him that whatever they were going to do, they would do it together, like they had promised long ago... back-to-back heroes. An argument almost ensued and it took a lot of fancy dancing and persuasion on the part of Jason, Iph and Iolaus' to get the demigod to agree that it was for the best.
Before all the chaos and confusion, Iolaus had been looking forward to the arrival of his partner so they could resume their journeys. He'd also been hoping to tell the demigod about some strange things he had been noticing about himself lately. Like the 'jumping' thing he called it. Long ago he'd seen Xena stand under a tree and, in one mighty leap, jump up into it's highest branches. He had really admired her ability to do that -- and now he found that he could do it too. And he couldn't wait to show Hercules the two cracked anvils sitting in the royal forge. It seems he didn't know his own strength anymore. He was even prouder of the anvil that wasn't cracked -- that one proved that he had learned to control the new strength he found himself with. But seeing the state his friend was in when he arrived in Corinth -- he tucked his own news away for another time and concentrated all his attention on the demigod.
'Maybe tonight would be a good time to bring this up' the hunter thought. 'This is the first sign of life that Herc has shown since that day, and I want to make it last. Maybe if I tell Herc about my new 'abilities' it will keep his mind off his own troubles for a while longer.'
The demigod watched Iolaus' face while he was enveloped in deep thought and he drifted off into thoughts of his own.
Being with Iolaus on the road together, like they had always been, was re-awakening his soul. The demigod felt as if he had died inside again but slowly and surely, under the hunter's gentle care and attention, he was beginning to heal. Hercules knew that his friend was effected by Zeus' death almost as much as he was, although the demigod realized it was for a much different reason than his own.
Hercules knew how difficult it must have been for Iolaus to be around him over the past two weeks and was grateful that the hunter hadn't hit him over the head with anything -- yet. He could feel the loving concern emanating from his partner in all of his actions and words.
After he had killed Zeus, he had run -- wanting to hide himself away forever. Yet he was inexplicably and almost magnetically pulled back to Corinth -- to seek refuge, as he always had with Iolaus, his best friend, the one constant in his life.
He knew that if he could still find the unconditional love and acceptance in Iolaus' eyes that had always been there for him, everything would eventually be all right.
He needed to let Iolaus know exactly how much he appreciated everything he did for him...everything he was to him. He wanted to tell him how deeply honored he was to have the hunter as part of his life and to finally tell this special man how much he had the demigod's respect and love. He knew Iolaus realized this...they'd been friends for almost all their lives, but he also knew that Iolaus deserved to hear the words from him...to confirm that he thought of them as soulmates and that their friendship, their partnership was the most important thing in his life.
He was glad that Iolaus had persuaded him on the importance of the two of them sticking together...he knew he never would have been able to get through this alone.
There was a new urgency behind his need to express his feelings to the hunter. It had to do with his own newly discovered sense of mortality. This is something he had been brooding about these past two weeks since his return to Corinth. He would remedy all of this tonight after dinner...he would tell his friend what was on his mind.
Hercules hadn't discussed his major, driving concerns with the hunter yet either. First and foremost, with all of this talk about the Twilight, he was worried about what would happen to mankind with the gods' demise. He had been preaching for years that man didn't need the gods to live and he knew this to be true -- but what he was afraid of was that the gods would take their revenge out on all of mankind.
The demigod was also concerned by the fact that Hades held some major trump cards that could serve to tie the heroes' hands in their quest to help Xena and Eve. His mother, Deianeira and his children, Ania and Iolaus' son and Xena's son Solon, were all in the Elysian fields.
He was planning to sneak into the Underworld while Hades was distracted by his fight with Xena and attempt to hide them. He needed to get the hunter on board with this, as he was sure it would be the most dangerous journey they had ever undertaken together.
Hercules felt the need to accomplish all of this fast. The Twilight left him with some interesting questions about himself as a demigod.
What exactly was the Twilight? Would he be affected by it before all of his Olympian relatives because he was only half god and only had half the strength to resist whatever it was? Would the fact that he was half mortal afford him some sort of protection against this Twilight? Would he become fully mortal and lose all his powers?
Whatever the answers were, he needed to straighten out things with Iolaus first. He couldn't wait even one more hour before he opened his heart to his beloved friend. Then he would be free to take care of the souls of their loved ones in Hades domain and face whatever fate had in store for him.
Despite the fact that his heart was telling him to protect the hunter, hide him away from this fight with the gods, keep him safe...like he should have done in Sumeria...something even deeper inside him knew that if he divided himself from his best friend, even with the best of intentions, that all would fail.
All through their small feast, Iolaus managed to keep the demigod's spirits high -- with stories and songs and happy banter. After dinner, however, Hercules became introspective again. Iolaus could see the thoughts running across the expressive face of his partner, and knew that he couldn't let the demigod sink again into the depressed state he'd been in. Iolaus did his best to get his friend to talk and tried every trick he knew to pull Herc out of the funk he'd fallen into. He was just about to get ready to tell the demigod about his new 'abilities' when he heard his friend clear his throat.
"Iolaus, please bring the water skin and come sit with me. I want to talk with you about this Twilight."
Iolaus handed the skin to the demigod and sat next to him.
"Listen, my friend, I have a feeling that the battle we were in today with the bandits is nothing in comparison to what's coming our way. In fact, I think there's nothing we've ever experienced on any of our journeys that could compare to what's coming, except possibly when we dealt with the Four Horsemen.
"What makes it so different, Herc?"
"Imagine, Iolaus we've been up against so many of the gods before -- but it was on an individual basis. Now they'll be united against us and fighting for their very existence -- and don't forget, they'll be trying to kill me in revenge for Zeus as well. I need to tell you this...to give you time to re-think coming with me. You have to know all the facts and possible dangers to make that kind of decision."
"Hercules, I won't hear of it. We've been over this before. I thought this was all settled before we left Corinth. You know I won't ever consider leaving your side willingly."
"You know what it'll do to me this time, if you're killed again because of me, Iolaus."
"Will you stop that," yelled a very annoyed hunter. "It wasn't ever your fault, Herc. You have to get that through your thick head. I died because of decisions I made. In fact I probably would have been dead and in Tartarus a long time ago if it weren't for you befriending me -- so do me a favor and be happy about all the extra days you helped me live."
"And one more thing, if the gods are after you, Herc, and I'm not there to watch your back I'll never forgive myself. So I'm making the decision to go with you and take my chances the same as you. I'm afraid you're stuck with me."
The demigod took a deep breath and said "not stuck Iolaus; never stuck...I'm blessed with you."
Iolaus looked up at his partner when he heard the soft tone in his voice and saw a matching softness in the demigod's eyes. Hercules moved over close to the hunter and sat facing him. He put his hand on his friend's shoulder, looked him straight in the eye making sure he had Iolaus' full and undivided attention so that there would be no misunderstanding. "I'm going to start talking now Iolaus. I'm probably going to speak more tonight than you have ever heard me speak before in all our lives. I need to tell you something...no, that's not right...I need to tell you everything." And the demigod did just that.
When Hercules finished talking, Iolaus closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. The demigod was right; he had never heard him talk so much in all of their years together. The words he had been waiting a lifetime to hear had finally been said...that Hercules actually felt the same tie of soul, the same sense of linked fates, the kinship beyond family for him that he had always felt for his friend.
Now all that was left was for him to respond. His heart was full to overflowing and he didn't think he could trust his own voice. He had so many questions he wanted to ask but hearing the nervous edge in the demigod's voice he went straight for the most important one. The others could wait for another day.
"Why are you telling me all of this now, Hercules?"
Taking Iolaus' hand and placing it over his heart he said "In my life I have let very few people into my heart. My mother, Deianeira, Serena and you, my friend.
"When Deianeira and the children died a part of me died that day too.
You know that, you were there. The same with Serena and even though she's alive today -- that whole episode cost me part of myself too. When my mother died you were with me. You know what happened. Then when you died in Sumeria the only part that was left of me was the part that hurt. I almost lost my mind then. And with every death, I realized that there were so many things left unfinished...so many things that should have been said were left for a tomorrow that never came."
"I know, buddy," the hunter whispered. The hunter let his other hand rest on Herc's shoulder giving it a comforting squeeze until the demigod could talk again.
"The second reason I'm telling you this now is because before all of this happened I thought I was immortal. Zeus had all but confirmed that I was. I thought I would be wandering the world forever without any of the people I love, alone and hurting like that for all eternity. And I knew you would all be in the Elysian Fields forever without me, and you'd be hurting too because I never had the sense to let you know how much your friendship means to me. But now everything's changed."
"How so, Herc."
"Don't you see Iolaus? If Zeus can die -- then so can I. This Twilight thing could even mean that I might be dead a lot sooner than you, especially with all the gods of Olympus bent on revenge. If I don't tell you now, I might not get another chance in this life and I couldn't die without letting you know how I feel. Even if I'm an immortal like the gods, there will eventually be an end for me -- just like there was for Zeus. That means there's got to be a way that we can all be together forever on the Other Side when our times come.
Iolaus felt the demigod's shoulder trembling under his hand and it traveled uncontrollably all through his body. "Come here, Herc," he whispered and pulled the demigod into a hug. He rested his partner's head on his shoulder and reached around the demigod to find the end of the blanket, pulling it over both of them.
"I killed him, Iolaus...killed him." The floodgates of guilt and mourning opened and Hercules cried. Iolaus was his anchor as he allowed the waves of emotion to run over him for the first time in weeks.
Iolaus could feel the demigod's head becoming heavier on his shoulder. He knew that the release of all the grief and emotions of the past few weeks were exhausting his usually tireless friend. He wrapped his arms a little tighter around his friend and leaned back against the tree. "Sleep, Herc...let it go. I'll be here if you need me."
Iolaus could hear the demigod' voice starting to drift and knew he wasn't far from sleep.
"You're always there when I need you, my friend."
Then Hercules let out a soft snore against the hunter's chest as he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. Iolaus followed shortly after with a smile on his lips knowing that, although it may take quite some time, his partner was going to be okay.
In the meantime, on Olympus, Hades and Poseidon called an official meeting of the Pantheon. Confusion had reigned on the Mount since the deaths of Zeus and Hera. Some of the gods ran rampant with their powers, some closed themselves off from all the others, and some wandered the halls of Olympus gloating and dividing up the spoils. The two brothers of Zeus agreed that it was time to restore some order, plan their revenge and take their next steps to prevent the Twilight.
With Ares abstaining, the rest of the Pantheon voted to turn over the rule of Olympus to Hades and Athena. Plans were made to have the greater gods take care of the most pressing problem of preventing the Twilight. They would deal with Xena, her child Eve and Gabrielle. The lesser gods were to deal with the matter of revenge against Hercules. If they could get Iolaus, who was a guardian of the Light, as part of the bargain; they would be doubly rewarded.
The gods had no doubts at all about how their demise had been engineered and the role that Hercules and Iolaus had played in it, albeit unknowingly.
As confusion reigned on Olympus, Discord and Deimos were not idle. They thrived on the chaos around them and plotted together to take control of the lesser gods much the same way that Hades and Athena took control of the Pantheon. They would make short work out of seeking revenge for Zeus' death and spend the rest of their time plotting to take over Olympus while the so-called greater gods were off dealing with Xena.
During their wanderings through the great halls of Olympus and Zeus' quarters, they discovered a room that held 12, left over, malformed lightening bolts and they devised a plan. It would be a kick to kill Hercules with his father's own power. Like Zeus' hand reaching out from the grave to exact his own revenge.
During the early morning hours, while the heroes slept, and with the help of some tools that they had stolen from Hephestus' forge, Discord & Deimos broke the chains on Zeus' left over lightening bolts. They collected them in a clearing near where the demigod and his friend were camping and waited for dawn.
The heroes awoke to the most beautiful sunrise that the two of them had ever seen. They knew that this was not the doing of Apollo. Apollo had never created something so beautiful and the two friends knew that this must be a result of the new order of things. For the first time in weeks, Hercules felt a sense of peace descend over his heart.
Iolaus was the first to notice that something was wrong. As the two friends stood on the brow of the hill they had camped on the night before, the hunter could see that the sky was beginning to darken ominously but only over their immediate vicinity. Flashes of what appeared to be lightening were emanating from the center of this darkness. As far as their eyes could see, every place else was still covered by the beautiful blue sky. The heroes knew this was meant as a sign for them so they took off at a rapid pace, following the stream in the opposite of the direction they were originally headed. Now that the heroes knew they were being watched, it wouldn't do to show the gods the true direction they were headed in.
They saw the flash over to their left and it was coming straight at them. Hercules shouted to Iolaus to run as far away in the opposite direction as he could. The hunter headed for the stream as the demigod took off down the hill. For a moment, Iolaus froze as the lightening bolt hit about 20 feet from where he was standing. He was momentarily blinded by the light and was immediately confronted by a vision from the past. It was that day many years ago that he was actually hit by lightening. The visions he had seen of wondrous things in the future -- the dark vision he had seen of his dearest friend being struck down and Iolaus knowing -- just knowing -- that he demigod was dead. Fear gripped the hunter's heart and he started to head towards where he last saw his friend. From far off he heard the demigod yelling at him to get moving and he made his eyes focus on the direction the voice was coming from. He could see the demigod wildly waving at him and screaming for him to keep running towards the caves that were about a mile from the hill. They ran in separate but parallel tracks in the direction of the caves as lightening bolts rained down barely missing each of them in turn. Iolaus counted... Seven...Eight...Nine blasts of lightening. Was Zeus back from the dead himself taking revenge on the demigod? Where was this coming from? And just as the thought came to him, the hunter could hear the maniacal laughter of Deimos being carried to him on the wind.
As he kept running, Iolaus yelled to the demigod that he knew who was behind the lightening attack. Hercules yelled back asking who it was -- and before he could finish getting the words out of his mouth a bolt came straight at him. He could tell from the look on Iolaus' face that he saw it too. Hercules turned to run, but there was no time to get out of the way. Iolaus held his breath, took a mighty running jump in the direction of the demigod and sprang into the air using the benefit of the new powers he'd recently discovered, and drop-kicked the demigod out of harms' way as the bolt hit. The last thing the demigod remembered was the feel of Iolaus' boots landing really hard on his backside. Neither one took the full brunt of the hit but both were knocked senseless anyway.
Discord & Deimos saw the lifeless bodies of the two heroes laying near the bottom of the hill, about a quarter of a mile away from the caves. They were so full of their apparent success in killing both Hercules and his little friend that they ran back to tell the other gods that they had avenged Zeus' death, and to demand the reward for killing both Hercules and his friend, the guardian of the Light.
Hercules woke first to the acrid smell of smoke and realized that it was his own shirt smoldering. He ripped it off, sat up and searched the landscape screaming Iolaus' name. No response. He located a stream of smoke rising from the ground about 20 yards away and sprinted over to find Iolaus sprawled across the grass. He was not moving and he was not breathing.
The demigod knelt over the hunter's body, picked him up gently and cradled him in his shaking arms. Looking to the heavens, Hercules realized that he couldn't call on any of the gods that he had before to help him get his friend back. He knew that the reason for that was personally and totally his own fault. He also knew that there was only one other who might listen, so he took his chance and began to call Michael. Before he could even get his tongue to form the name, the archangel appeared before him and time seemed to freeze.
"Michael please help me...it's Iolaus. He's dead and I can't help him this time. I can't do this again. If you're taking him, please take me too, Michael. Please."
"Iolaus isn't dead, Hercules. He can't be dead. He's an immortal now, just like you. Didn't you hear what I said when I sent the both of you back. I promised you that he would be with you again, fighting by your side. I also said that Iolaus would be judged again in the end. The end is a long, long way off, Hercules.
"Immortal??? I don't understand...but he's not breathing...what happened?
"Iolaus is not dead Hercules; he just needs you to put the breath of life back in his lungs. The bolt knocked it out of him as he tried to save your life. Just tilt his head all the way back, put your hand over his heart, hold his nose and put your breath into his mouth. Hercules followed orders and Iolaus started breathing again. Herc smoothed the hair out of his partner's face with awe and wonder.
'This man, this special man...'
"It'll take him a moment to recuperate Hercules. He's still not as strong as you are.
"Iolaus is immortal, Michael?"
"Yes, and as much as you may have been led to believe it, you were NOT immortal until that brief time you spent in the Light."
"You know, Hercules, people who know the two of you have always believed that Iolaus was like your 'loyal follower' -- after all, each god has their followers, why not demigods? Does that surprise you? No, I can see it doesn't. Iolaus has always known what the people thought about him and it may have even bothered him at one time. His great heart has let him dismiss the talk that's hurtful."
"Know this, Hercules, it is not by virtue of the fact that you are a demigod that you have gained this status. It is because of your bond with Iolaus that you are immortal now. You see, Iolaus has always had the potential destiny to be an immortal. When your friend made that trip north so long ago he sealed his destiny. He let himself be led by blind faith and the goodness and purity of his heart. You didn't know it at the time, but when you followed him north because of your own faith in the purity and goodness of his heart you became one of HIS followers".
"Iolaus has given his life for you and for others on several occasions. We tested you to see if you had the same overwhelming concern for mankind that your friend here does -- and you've proven that you do -- even to the point that you would lay down your life for him and for all mankind. When Iolaus was taken the last time and became a guardian of the Light he became worthy of immortality. When you died for Iolaus you also became worthy to share in that immortality. "
"Michael, does Iolaus know this yet?"
"No, Hercules. Iolaus is not aware of this yet."
Hercules drank in all of this information slowly -- overwhelmed by the emotions that were churning through his soul then one small thought broke through -- something that had been nagging at the back of his mind.
"Michael, can you answer a question for me...if Iolaus was over by the river bank, how did he make it all the way over here to kick me out of the way of the lightening bolt in time?"
"Ah, you see, Hercules, Iolaus has been having a little trouble dealing with some of the new abilities that come with being a guardian of the Light."
"New abilities?"
"Yes, he has been manifesting some of them ever since he returned to your side but he was almost afraid to acknowledge them. He's wanted to tell you about them but he's been having a hard time coming to terms with them himself. At first he thought he might be losing his mind," Michael laughed. "He was planning to tell you when you returned to Corinth, but your needs took precedence."
"My needs always have come first with him, I'm ashamed to say", the demigod murmured as he let his eyes rest on the beloved face nestled so close to his heart.
"They always will. That is Iolaus' nature", replied Michael.
Iolaus stirred in Hercules arms. His eyes focused on the demigod and he gave a brief smile replaced by a look of confusion. "Why are you holding me Hercules?"
The memories of Deimos and the lightening bolts hit the hunter all of a sudden and he jumped out of the demigod's arms. For the first time he noticed that they were not alone. He concentrated on the other presence and recognized Michael.
Turning to Hercules he motioned with his hand between the both of them and with an unsettled look on his expressive features he asked "Toast? Again? Oh, Hercules...not you too?"
"No, no Iolaus...not toast. Not this time... not ever again apparently. Michael's been telling me that we're immortal...the both of us.
"Michael, is this true? We can't die anymore? We're here like...forever?"
"Yes, Iolaus, even until the end of time if you both so choose. As you know, the Light has guardians in heaven and now there is a need for guardians on earth as well. You and Hercules are the first of those guardians if you so decide. You have the free will to accept this as the gift it's meant to be or refuse it. I will await your decisions. I only ask that you consider well but consider fast.
In the meantime, we are aware of your concerns for the souls of your loved ones in the Elysian Fields. You are right to be concerned and I am here to offer our help. I am not permitted to enter your underworld but if you can bring these souls to the gates of Hades kingdom I can take them from there and insure their eternal safety in Bliss. Iolaus can tell you more about that if you need assurances for their well being.
"Also, I am here to tell you that you do not need to help Xena and Eve in their mission. Their destinies lie in another plane of existence. Be assured of their ultimate safety. For the time being, you are both needed here, in Greece".
"Michael?"
"Yes, Iolaus?"
"Where is Zeus?"
The simple question shot like another bolt of lightening through the spring air. The demigod flinched at the mention of his father's name -- but Iolaus, in his wisdom knew that he had to resolve this problem fast in order for the demigod to get on with his life, whether it be a mortal one or an immortal one.
"He is with us, of course, Iolaus. He understands the full picture now and knows that it was his time to move on. Zeus was an excellent vicegerent here on Earth in spite of his flaws.
Zeus sends his forgiveness to you, Hercules and calls you his most beloved son. He asks for your forgiveness in return for forcing you into an impossible situation."
When the demigod heard Michael's words he crumbled into himself and fell to his knees. He shook as silent tears coursed down his face not realizing how much he needed to hear those words from the archangel.
Iolaus held him tightly in his strong arms until the shaking passed and until Hercules could whisper his thanks to the Archangel for being the deliverer of his absolution. He asked Michael to take what was in his heart and share it with Zeus. Michael assured him that he would.
"I must leave you for a time now, my friends. I will leave you with some advice. Hercules, you've had the strength of the gods and other enhanced abilities since you were born. Iolaus' new abilities do not match yours but complement them. You will always be stronger because of your demigod status. Let Iolaus talk to you about this, Hercules. He'll need your help to adjust to them. Just like you'll need help adjusting to your new abilities too."
Iolaus looked a question at the demigod.
"Don't tell me that you weren't startled to learn that you could understand and speak other languages since you've come back from the Light yourself? Did you ever learn Latin at the Academy? Yet here you are conducting an entire conversation with me in that very language. When you were in Egypt you could understand every word the people spoke and you could have replied to them if you wanted to. You could read all the markings on the tombs and monuments. Maybe you thought that was part of being a demigod?"
"Iolaus is in the beginning stages of this language ability and it will develop further in time. Other gifts will be given to you both, as you need them. I know you will treat them with the respect that they deserve."
"When you need me just whisper my name and I'll be there for you. I'll leave you now to tell Iolaus the whole story. It seems that there are a lot of other things that you have to speak about with each other as well."
They went to retrieve their few belongings that were scattered across the hill and turned back toward the road that led to the entrance of the underworld.
They walked along the road, in companionable silence, for several miles, each lost in their own thoughts.
Breaking the silence, Iolaus asked with a quick giggle -- "So, Hercules -- when this is all over, you wanna follow me for a while or can I follow you?"
Grinning from ear to ear, the demigod replied, "both, Iolaus...definitely both."
They walked a little further and it was the demigod's turn to break the silence. Taking a playful swat at his friend he said "Abilities?
What's that about?"
Playfully jabbing the demigod back he said "You show me yours, Herc and I'll show you mine -- but you've got to catch me first." And with that, the hunter took off running with Herc hot on his heels -- but the demigod was in no hurry to catch his friend. He was taking his time enjoying the scenery and his partner's exuberant presence in it because after all, they now had all the time in the world.
The end.
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