In life there are many roads to be taken, many choices to be made. All have the power to change our lives. Sometimes the choice is difficult, deliberated for a long time; sometimes it's sheer accident that you start along a new road leading you know not where. Sometimes your choice, conscious or not, can have repercussions throughout your universe, sometimes the universe comes crashing down. All because of one step taken.
It was my fault. It was all my fault. If I hadn't rushed in without thinking again. If I'd seen the second Chimaera coming charging down on me. Damn but I never knew those things worked in pairs. We were ready for one; we knew what to expect - from one; Polyeidus gave us enough pointers. And then there it was, breathing fire down my back and singeing my hair. Herc had to leap to my rescue and I was able to draw the other one off but when I got back ... what's the use? I can't change what's happened. He's dead, he's gone and I can't bring him back. Not like he did for me. I let him down and this is my punishment.
I said his name. Hercules, a whisper on the wind. Nobody heard me. He didn't hear me - he was too busy dying to hear me. Too busy killing the beast that should have killed me to think about me. Hercules is dead. Zeus himself will hate me; the entire world will hate me. I killed their hero.
He's dead.
I should do something, go somewhere. But what's the point? The world needed Hercules and my stupidity took him away from them. I guess I should tell someone, Herc killed the monster and the monster killed Herc. Maybe I'll shout my grief from the highest mountain but Olympus itself wouldn't be high enough.
I should warn them that there's still one on the loose.
I wasn't there for him.
What am I going to do now?
I should talk to Jason; I should go to Iphicles. But they won't want to see me, not now. I can't even see Gabrielle or Xena, they're gone now too. I can't rage at the gods like he would have if it were me laying broken and cold on that rock. I can't make deals with Hades or Zeus. They're gods, they don't deal with mortals. They don't listen to me.
ZEUS!! Where are you Zeus? See what I've done to your son! I know you're still out there somewhere. I killed your son Zeus, punish me! Please, punish me...
Oh Gods. This is my punishment isn't it? Life. Cold, empty, bleak life. Don't leave me Herc. Please don't leave me. You're the one with godly blood; you're the one that's supposed to live forever. Please Herc. Stop playing. Come back.
Don't leave me. Now there's a needy plea. Xena would think I was totally pathetic the way I'm wailing on about myself. But my heart's gone. Lost. Oh Gods!
Herc? Hercules? Come on big guy, you can't die. Come on Herc, please.
MICHAEL!! Damn you Michael! We're supposed to be together! Take me! Kill me, let me die too.
Please.
Michael, please.
Too easy huh?
Herc? Is that you?
Talking to the trees now Iolaus. That's good, that's fine. You just sit here and go slowly mad why don't you. Nobody will notice.
Stop that! You're so pathetic. Stop that stupid self-pity. Hercules deserves better. Don't you Herc? Nebula told me what you said about me - after I died. She told me how you said that I was your... gods... your hero.
I didn't live up to that did I? But you did. You were my hero Herc. And you still are. You'll always be that for me. My hero, my friend, my family.
Please don't leave me.
I need you.
And you still need me too don't you? We can't have the wild animals sniffing round you like you were dinner; I can't let anything touch you. I'll have to take you home.
How'm I going to do it?
Good. That works. A good strong, big, long, wooden, travelling - ah come off it Iolaus, whatever way you look at it the thing is going to be a coffin. Coffin! For dead people, for Herc.
Think I'll just sit here a while longer, watch over you buddy. We'll go home in the morning. Maybe I can do it right this time.
I can't accept this. I guess I'm just like you. But you learned how in the end didn't you? Maybe I'll go to Ireland, but the Druids have gone now. There'll be nothing there for me. Someplace else then. Back East? South? Anywhere but here.
Get away from him! Go! Git! Don't touch him! Get out of here!
Damn them anyway.
It's all right Herc, they've gone. Just some hungry wolves, made brave by the cold winter. They've gone now. They won't hurt you. Nothing will hurt you now. I'm here.
I won't leave you.
I won't ever leave you.
Hmm? Huh? What? Gods it's cold. Herc? Hey Herc, where are ya?
No.
NO! Please.
It isn't true. It isn't true, it mustn't be true. Please.
I was dreaming of you buddy. Back when Zeus used to drop in on us sometimes. Three guys shooting the breeze around a campfire. Who'd have thought huh?
I should get some more wood for the fire, but I can't leave you. I daren't leave you, the wolves'll come back. I can hear them out there, waiting. We'll be fine Herc, everything'll be okay, it always is. You said it would be, and we all know you're never wrong.
Got a plan Herc?
Gods, I'm tired.
Wha? Who?
No you didn't. I was awake. Hey, you're looking good Herc. Never better buddy. Where did you get to?
Oh, Okay.
S-s-scold. I'm cold Herc.
Huh? What...? Herc? Hercules? Where are you? Herc? Don't leave me!
I'm talking to myself. Doesn't matter. So cold.
Herc?
Ares? What do you want?
No. No. I'm not leaving him. Don't you try and make me. I won't leave him. I'll never leave him.
He'll come back for me soon, you'll see. I won't miss him.
No! Leave me alone.
That's better. Stupid, big brother Ares, we always could show him who's boss couldn't we Herc?
G-g-gods it's cold.
So cold.
Herc?
Hiya buddy.
Sleepy now.
I'll just close my eyes for a bit. You keep watch 'kay?
Night Herc.
"Well I did my best, but he wouldn't budge."
"It's snowing down there Ares! You can't just leave him like that."
"I can and I did. I did what you asked sister dear, that's it. Why should I care about your little 'curly'? Huh?"
"Because he's as much yours as he is mine Ares! He's a warrior! He deserves better."
"I'm not so sure there is better Aphrodite. Look at him, he's happy. He's with Hercules. I know, I know! It's what I've always wanted; Herc and his irritating sidekick finally out of my hair. But I don't want a bad death for either one. They're both warriors - of sorts - and deserve honourable deaths. What's more honourable than this?"
"Freezing to death next to the corpses of a Chimaera and your best friend, who by the way you think you killed?"
"Standing watch over your best friend. Protecting him to the last. He could never be happy again, you know that."
"You can't say that!"
"Why not? It's true."
"Oh, but poor sweetcheeks. He deserves a happy life."
"Maybe he'll get one next time around. Maybe he'll just live in eternal bliss with my half-brother in the Light. Whatever. It's too late for him in this life now. Later Sis."
"Well those wolves aren't going to feast on you, Hercules, or you Iolaus. I'll keep watch over you for as long as it takes. Oh Iolaus! I'm going to miss you, lover."
A fork in the road
The road diverges, it has a habit of doing that. We shall always ponder the road not taken, as will Hercules and Iolaus. They will always wonder what might have happened if they had turned left instead of right at the fork in the road. Hercules will always regret the fact that they didn't get a chance to visit King Iobates in Lycia. The Fates were kind to our heroes though, and turned Iolaus' head with a pretty girl and a song, and Hercules followed cheerfully.
Walking down the right road.
The End
03.02.02
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