The God of Olympus

by Matthew Argyle

  ******

  It is now time to tell of what happened to Hades before the end. You see, Hades returned to his underworld only to find that Hercules’ words were true—his underworld was no more. The gate was in crumbles and his cave had caved in. It was now nothing but a massive pile of boulders for miles on end.

  When Hades arrived in his underworld he found it nearly empty. The wraiths who were once his servants were now freed and had completely abandoned that place. The fallen heroes that were under his dominion were all freed and left to start their own lives again, under the leadership of Philoctetes. The only souls that were left in that place were the evil ones that lingered in Tartarus, the deepest depths of darkness.

  There, in Tartarus, Hades was frightened as, behind him, appeared the three Fates. “You cursed me!” yelled Hades. “You could have helped me, but you didn’t!” They didn’t say anything at first, and then turned away. “Don’t walk away from me!”

  Then one Fate looked back and spoke, if only for a moment: “You are no longer under the banner of Destiny, for that has already fallen over you! Choose what you wish now for yourself, but you will forever live in this dark place!”

  Then the three Fates disappeared in the distance. “Come back you fools!” yelled Hades. “You are wrong!”

  Like a dark pool all these souls swam around through the air. Hades looked down and then back at the staff he held in his hands. It was powerless. Now his staff was nothing more than a black stick. His hands shook and he tossed his staff aside. He gazed down into the depths of Tartarus and suddenly began to want it.

  His only hope was to climb the rock cave until he arrived at the oculus to his throne room and enter in that way. He searched for a long time and finally found the oculus. He looked down but there was no throne room. Instead, what he saw was a large dark room where the remainder of those souls in Tartarus dwelled that did not want to leave, but rather desired to linger in the darkness.

  There he sang a sad song:

  “Oh, how has Hercules doomed me!

  Zeus and Hera died by my hand,

  But yet, they still defeated me…

  Their craftiness was more subtle than any beast of the field

  To outwit even me!

  The only place I may have true darkness

  is in this glorious pit, where hate and darkness still reigns supreme,

  Oh, how tempted I am to go here, to the dark depths where

  I will not need to rule, where I will forever be rid of my duty over death, that terrible duty destiny gave to me!”

  After Hades said these words he let himself fall, fall down into the pit where, once he hit the ground, thousands upon thousands evil souls collided in on him. Hades yelled and then, a few moments later, it was over. The dark God and king of death, was dead.

  ******

  After the funeral Hercules sat up against a tree like he was used to, and there fell asleep. When the morning came new life came to all of Greece. Before the sun had completely risen Hercules was already up. Philoctetes, now a handsome human, walked along with Hercules. There they walked through the city and around it. Hercules looked over the old battlefield and saw much death. He walked among the battlefield and noticed the shattered swords and shields, and the desolation of buildings.

  “We will rebuild it,” said Philoctetes. “We will rebuild all of Athens and make all of Greece like it was in its great time! It will take time, but I will remain here to see that it is done…I will remain here to see your work fulfilled.”

  Hercules smiled. “Oh Philoctetes! You have already done that and more.”

  Hercules then made his way up to the Acropolis, where he saw his parent’s tombs. He cried over their bodies one more time and then looked out over the city.

  In the morning the people of the city who remained and did not return to their own city, were eager to begin rebuilding their city—Athens. That day Hercules stared down at the city and pondered over this important decision. Then Philoctetes approached him from behind. “The entire land thanks you Hercules, for what you have done. You have saved Greece, and in so doing, have done what your father and mother set out for you to do.”

  “I don’t understand something Philoctetes,” said Hercules. “How was I able to endure Tartarus? The evil of that place should have devoured me, after all the place is a place that Hades said would devour both Gods and mortals.”

  “The power of love and sacrifice combined to make Tartarus itself quiver and fear to devour you,” said Philoctetes. “You see, your parent’s sacrifice allowed you to become a Super-God again, for by the deep laws of the universe there are two ways a Super-God can be created. One is by two great Gods giving up all of their God-power. The second is by two Gods, whether or not they have any God-power, giving up their lives for that person. Hades forgot this second way to become a Super-God and this was his grave mistake. By being a Super-God Tartarus could not ever completely devour you. But this is not what set you free from Tartarus. What set you free from Tartarus was your love—the love between you and Meg that caused Tartarus itself to spit you out!”

  “Now that my mission is complete I do not know what they would have me do,” said Hercules.

  “I cannot tell you what you should do,” said Philoctetes. “Only you may know that.”

  Hercules spent a few moments deep in thought. Then he said, “Philoctetes, I know now that I must leave. While this land no longer needs a hero it still needs a great leader. Your place is here, to lead these people into a great future.”

  After Hercules returned to the city there was a grand meal to celebrate and all the good Gods attended. It was held in what used to be Pericles’ palace. Hermes was the official greeter and welcomed people to the event. Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, and many other good Gods all sat and waited for Hercules and Meg to enter.

  The main room of the palace was filled with several long tables and more food than they could possibly eat. Hercules there saw all the Gods and mortals looking up at them. Hercules and Meg sat at the end of the table and ate. After they were finished eating, Poseidon moved forward, holding his grand trident, and said, “Hercules, your father and mother would be proud of what you have become! And you see all of us Gods; we followed your parents with absolute love and respect.” The great Gods all smiled and approached them. Then Poseidon spoke again: “I see now that you are both true heroes, like the ones we loved and lost. I don’t know about the rest of the Gods here, but I will follow you two just as I followed Zeus and Hera, for you are both filled with their love, righteousness, and power.”

  All the other Gods spoke up and moved forward next to Poseidon. “As will we!”

  Poseidon then said, “Hercules, have you thought about our offer? Are you to come with us?”

  Meg stood up beside Hercules and was confused. “What is he talking about Hercules?”

  Hercules looked to Meg. “I will rule Mount Olympus, but I will not be ruling alone. May Meg come with me?”

  Athena stepped forward and said, “Meg may come, if she be bound to you?”

  Hercules knew what these words meant and he immediately felt happy.

  Suddenly Hercules watched as Aphrodite approached, followed by several other goddesses. Aphrodite came forth and bowed, “May the love of you two be strong forevermore!” She then lifted up a ring and handed it to Hercules. “Hercules, we thank you and Meg for your great contributions! As a token of our appreciation I give to you this ring.” She suddenly pulled from behind her back a small white case, with gold embroidering. Hercules smiled and bowed as he took the ring. He then knelt before Meg and placed the ring on her finger.

  Meg looked down. Before her was a shimmering white ring, with two laces of sparkling, diamond-like material. Hercules smiled and looked up at Meg with all the love he had. “Meg, will you marry me?”

  Meg smiled, as tears ran down her cheek. “I will!”

  Their lips met and they wrapped their arms around each other. All those in atte
ndance cheered and declared, “Hercules and Meg, together the God of Olympus!”

  Athena smiled as she stood next to Hercules and Meg and said: “So as the Goddess of Law I pronounce you husband and wife! May you together be the God of Olympus!”

  In the time that followed many people desired to construct statues of Hercules, Meg, Philoctetes, Milo, and all of their great God heroes. But Hercules did not like such a thing. He was reminded of Meg’s palace and the peace that prevailed where there were no statues to Gods. Instead, Hercules said the greatest symbol of the God they were to be was to be found in their heart.

  The people of Greece were surprised to hear Hercules say such words. “But you are our great God?” they said. “You are now our God just as Zeus and Hera were our Gods before you.”

  Hercules shook their head. “No, there is one greater than I and it is he that you must keep in your hearts.”

  And so the Greeks did not construct a great statue of any Gods any more, but tried to keep their memory in their hearts.

  The truth was that Hercules did all this because he knew that everything they would or could construct would eventually be torn down, or erode with the passing of time. Hercules knew that his legacy would eventually leave the minds of all people. He knew that mortals so easily forget and their lives were so short. But in the end he knew that his own legacy was not the legacy people should live by. He knew that the legacy people should truly live by is the legacy they create for themselves. His job was to give people hope in their ability to great their own great legacy. And he had done that.

  Hercules’ eternal legacy was meant to be with his family—with Meg as his wife and the many children he would have in the future.

  ******

  The celebration continued the rest of that day, until Poseidon led Hercules, Meg, Philoctetes, and the rest of the Gods to the sea to the west of Athens. There Poseidon said, “The time has now come for our departure. I will go to the oceans where I must be. Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes and all the rest of the Gods will return to their lands. But you two will be able to rule the land of the Gods, and in turn, this mortal world, from afar.”

  Hercules and Meg suddenly saw a gate open, a gate glittering in gold, all elegantly decorated. Beyond the gate was a bright light, a light so bright that Hercules could see nothing else through it. “This the only way from the land of mortals to the land of the Gods, although once a God on Mount Olympus you may take any path to the mortal road.”

  Hercules looked to Meg and Meg looked back at Hercules. Meg said softly, “I shall show you what I saw in those moments when I died. It was far grander than you can imagine—far grander than this world.”

  “Go,” said Philoctetes, with tears in his eyes. “I will miss you, but you belong there, up on Mount Olympus. I will take care of things here.”

  Pegasus, of course, was not going to abandon Hercules. Hercules was eternally grateful for this. Hercules and Meg both mounted Pegasus and looked back at the Gods and Philoctetes. Tears of joy streamed down Philoctetes’ face. Hercules then flew away through the gate and into the land of the Gods.

  Epilogue

  This epilogue is devoted to telling what happened after Hercules and Meg departed the mortal world for the God world, to rule Mount Olympus forevermore.

  Although Hercules did not desire it, the people built a great statue to him and placed it up in the center of their city. Why? So that they could remember their hero, and so that their own children, and their children’s children could remember their hero. Stories would certainly be told of Hercules, and not every story would be exactly the same, but it is certain that the message would be.

  With almost the entire city gathered together in the courtyard of Athens Philoctetes spoke some great and powerful words: “Hercules and Meg did something for us that we could not do for ourselves—they restored our confidence in the mortal man and woman, thus restoring our confidence in ourselves. Worship the Gods we still should, for we are far from them in progression. However, we should believe that we, like Hercules and Meg, may someday become one of them! You see, the hero really doesn’t belong on the earth, but makes himself belong, at least for the period of his service. None know him fully, although everyone knows him in part.” Then all looked up into the sky and watched as a bright star shot across the night sky. “The future is bright for our city and for all of Greece! Three cheers for Hercules and Meg, both the great Gods of Mount Olympus! May they ever be ever blessed!”

  The entire city erupted in cheers and a great and new future began.

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