The God of Olympus (7 page)

“If Hercules is truly the son of Zeus and Hera it will be difficult to get him…”
said another Fate.

Hades laughed.  “Great Fates, do you not all know what this is, in my hand?” said Hades as he raised his staff into the air.  “In the top of this staff contains a globe of unbreakable glass, a globe filled with power unimaginable to any God’s eyes.  This globe contains the souls of thousands of mortals.  With it I can command them to obey me and they will, without hesitation.  And this is not all.  No, this globe gives me power, great power not possessed by any other God.  I
can kill mortals in an instant—any who dare refuse me.  With this staff I can cause mountains to fall, fires to rage, buildings to collapse, and great oceans be torn apart.”

“So wise you think you are Hades!” said one of the Fates.  “But your tale is no different than any other tale…in the end you will fall and when you do you will pray for us to alter the past, but we cannot alter the past.  We can only tell you what you must do to avoid the grim future—and that is to defeat Hercules!  Defeat Hercules and
you will win over all!  You will defeat Zeus and all his Gods and armies and you will control the universe!”

“Let us not care about this ‘Hercules,” sai
d Dionysus, who looked slightly drunk.  “Let us make merry!  After all, you of all people deserve it Hades.  All these long years you have been working while these humans have been at peace.”

Hephaestus shook his head.  “D
o not listen to that drunk fool!  Hades, for a long period of time I have been toiling in your underworld building weapons and armor for your so called war…but when will it occur?  We have all been waiting for a long time Hades, and we are not going to wait an eternity for the Great War.  If you do not fight soon then all that armor and all those weapons can go to support someone else, someone who will fight this war much sooner.”

Ares nodded and slammed his fists on the table. 
“I have been training your men Hades for war, and yet what sign have we that the war is nearing?  Peace abounds and men are beginning to get comfortable.”

“Let them get comfortable!
” retorted Hades.  “That will make my attack all the more surprising.”

Ares laughed.  “That is not all.  I know what people speak behind your back in the dark places of your underworld.  A rumor has been filtering
that you are afraid of starting the war again because you fear Zeus and his army of Gods!”

“I fear nobody!” exclaimed Had
es angrily.  “Especially Zeus…and I assure you war will come and when it comes all of Greece will either submit themselves to my rule or perish!  Once I destroy Hercules then the war will begin…you must all learn patience and timeliness, for when the time is right we shall prevail!  Go my fierce Gods and fallen heroes!  Tell the underworld to prepare more fiercely than ever for war, for within three month’s time I promise that I will have defeated Hercules and the war will begin!”

Hades dismissed his meeting and then was left completely alone
in his throne room.  As Hades stared up through the skylight he suddenly thought about all the Gods.  “They do mock me! Zeus and Hera sit up in their cradle of power while I am forced to remain down here, in this horrible outcast world! Oh, how does Poseidon mock me as he sails over his bounteous sea!  Oh, how Zeus does trouble me with his city in the clouds! Oh, how do all other Gods mock me as they sit gleefully, without a woe in the world, while I, the great Hades, remain stuck under the ground like a withering worm! Is this what fate will have for me! No, I think not! No, soon I will come to power and destroy their perfect little world! Soon they will bow to me!” Hades’ rage seemed to ascend up into the sky. He then laughed. But then he realized he had a problem.

“But Hercules!
What about Hercules? Oh, this stupid demi-god lives and walks and every moment he lives and walks he mocks me!”

Hades then looked up into the sky, through the only window he had, and said, “Oh devil of earth, fire, water, and sky, give me great strength, strength great enough to overthrow this evil devil, this conjurer of cheap tricks and magic!
Hercules does mock me with his feigned virtue and power! Once Hercules is gone then will my name ring loudly across every ear, both of mortal and God!”

Death was Hades’ only great power besides his great intelligence, and he used it to perfection.  All mortals feared death and alone could not conquer it, so his power over the mortal realm was increasing greatly and this he knew.  However, he knew that death was not a fear Hercules had, even if he was mostly mortal.  So for this Hades knew he had to be more divisive.  He had to
figure out a way to make him willingly give up his Godlike power.  But how to do this he still did not understand.

“Ponder upon his weakness I will!” retorted Hades.  He smiled.  “I will find it…sometimes it is complex and other times it is vastly simple
.”

Suddenly his winged servant entered the room.  “I have completed the task you gave me
my Master.  May I now depart?”

“No!” yelled Hades.  “Go! 
Tell all your friends that wait in the caves on Mount Olympus to fly away and search abroad for this Hercules.  There is no need now to lay watch on Mount Olympus.  Once you find him you must tell me immediately.  Then I will go to him and let him fall into my trap!  I will find Hercules and destroy him!”

“But that is such a long way!  We have been waiting for a rest you promised us!” 
Hades suddenly grabbed his staff and sent a powerful beam of dark magic towards the beast, propelling him back against the wall.

“There is no rest now!” exclaimed Hades.  “Now go!”

Hades’ flying servant nodded and then flew away, up through the oculus, towards Mount Olympus.  Once he arrived again at that snowy mountain he let out a loud screech.  Then, a few moments later, hundreds of flying servants emerged from the caves and flew up into the air.  For a moment they all flew around in circles above the mount.  Then they all flew away in search for Hercules.

******

Zeus and Hera looked down from Mount Olympus at all that was occurring.  “So it has begun,” said Zeus solemnly.  “Hercules has begun his hero journey.  He has been to Philoctetes and is now going to Greece.  Hades is now searching for him.”

Hera looked to Zeus and wept.  “We cannot go to him?  We cannot warn him of Hades’ evil plans?”

Zeus shook his head.  “In time we may be able to help our dear child.  But that time is not yet.  For now we must trust in Hercules and Philoctetes.”

“Oh, so it must be, but at lea
st let me shed my tears on you!”  Hera leaned her head onto Zeus and wept.  She knew that the days of darkness were on the horizon.

Chapter 5: Sparta

It was midday when Hercules, Pegasus, and Philoctetes arrived at the port known as Gytheon or Gythium, twenty-five miles south of Sparta. The busy and bustling port was home to the Spartans, and was their only port in the entire region. Situated in Laconia, Peloponnese, the great port was large could accommodate the arrival of many ships.

Hercules looked down and awoke Philoctetes
, who had dozed off on the way there. “Philoctetes, do wake up! We are here already, at Gytheon.”

“Ah, yes, great my friend,” said Philoctetes
, as he looked out over the sea and bustling port. “We are here, at the town noted to have been discovered by Herakles and Apollo of old. But this is not where we will stay. We must journey northward to Sparta, where you will see what has become of much of Greece.  You see, the only other city in Greece that can rival it, in terms of military power, is Athens.”

When they began to pull their boat into the dock, Philoctetes motioned for Hercules to cover up Pegasus with the sail.  “Do not let
these people see Pegasus.  Who knows what terrible things these people these people will do to him.  He is a creature of the Gods, and a creature valuable above all others.  Keep him out of sight!  I must go and find someone to keep watch over the ship.”  Hercules nodded and pulled the sail down and placed it over Pegasus, who curled up and tried to remain invisible.

Philoctetes
then left Hercules.  He had a hood covering his hideous face and body, he spoke to a few old fishermen, asking them to keep his boat in good condition should he be in need of it. Philoctetes paid them off with what money he had and they didn’t question his appearance. Then Philoctetes returned and beckoned Hercules forward from off the boat.  “Come quickly and quietly!” said Philoctetes.  “I have found a man to watch our boat.  Place the sail over Pegasus wings and lead him on so they think him a horse.”  Hercules nodded and obeyed.

Pegasus didn’t seem to like having to put his wings down and pretend to be a horse, but he seemed to understand.  “We don’t want to make enemies here,” said Hercules.  Pegasus nodded.

So they were both off, walking secretly through the town in into the wilderness towards Sparta.

“Why are you taking me to Sparta?” asked Hercules.

“Because, it is a place you must see in order to truly learn how grand of task this task will be,” said Philoctetes.

The three reached a hill called Therapne and there found an ancient shine made to worship Helen and Menelaus.  From there they could see a river and the
n the great city of Sparta.

Philoctetes sighed.  “Ah, Sparta
...here you will find a city that needs a hero Hercules.  This city is dangerous and you must obey me without hesitation.”

“I will do what you ask,” replied Hercules.

And so the three then descended into the grand city of Sparta.  Hercules noticed that the noise of the city was horrific, far from anything that he was accustomed to.  He also noticed that the city was a gross, smelly place.  Trash lingered all around the city, including left-over food, old weapons, wooden boxes, scraps of metal and other similar materials.  Many of the buildings were broken down.  Some women and children lay in the streets with no home, while chariots, carts, pedestrians, and guards rushed through the streets.

“Welcome to the dredge,” said Philoctetes.

“What’s ‘the dredge’?” asked Hercules.

“The ‘dredge’ as I call it, is the slums of the earth,” said Phil.  “You see, you have lived your life so far away from people, true
people—evil people—that you don’t know what you really need to save.  You see this city…this city is filled with adulterers, fornicators, murderers, thieves, and every other type of sinner imaginable.  Most people won’t bat an eye at killing you instantly should you give them a bad look or accidentally bump into them.  The buildings are crumbling and the society is only held together by fear.  You see Hercules, without a hero this is what all people will become.  But the hero must be able to empathize with even the worst of sinners.  All these people are now your people Hercules!  You must learn their ways and live their life without compromising your integrity or mission.  The land you see Hercules, it is this land that is plagued by wars and conflicts of many kinds. Indeed, you will soon see how quick people are to anger, to fight and attempt to destroy that which they don’t understand. You must find a way to unite these people.  There are no young men in homes, for they are taken away from their parents when they are seven and live in barracks to prepare for war. Sparta has long been preparing itself for war that is to ensue upon it, as they are far outnumbered by neighboring nations.  So boys know very little of their family.  However, this has caused civil unrest in the country. Mothers mourn for their sons who are taken from them to the barracks. Women are often are left without suitors, and the ones who do find suitors must often be away from their husbands for long periods of time as their husbands prepare for war. Sometimes they lose their husbands in war. This leaves sons and daughters alone without a father. This society is a harsh society with one primary objective—survival. And it is even worse in the dark hours of the night. For it is then, when the government in not looking, that grave evil occurs. In the darkness the streets light up with robberies, rapes, and other horrible crimes.”

“Shouldn’t there be some justice?” asked Hercules.

“Who is going to give them justice?” asked Philoctetes. “The King of Sparta, King Archidamas and all those in his court?  They don’t care about the ordinary people.  They only care about their own power.  But, no matter how bad Sparta is, the people here above all value bravery and heroism, and if you can prove yourself as possessing these values then you may be of great worth. In essence, what we have here is an ideal place for a hero to reveal himself.  If you can get the people to believe in you Hercules, then Hades’ magical power will turn against him…then the dark covenant of Hades over his mortal world will be destroyed.  Here we must remain, at least for a time.  Rumor has it abroad that Hades has sent his fierce winged servants to search for someone and I believe that this someone is you.”

“What?  Me?”

“Yes, so we must hide for a time in the midst of the great city of Sparta.”

“So that is it?” said Hercules.  “I am just supposed to live here?  That is my heroic mission?”

“My young Hercules, a hero’s journey is never as straight or obvious as you believe,” replied Philoctetes.  “A hero must trust, and have faith enough to live in the moment, and wait for a pathway to present itself.  If we do our best a pathway will present itself, I promise.”  Immediately after he had said these words Hercules noticed a fight occurring ahead.  A boy around the age of eighteen was being thrown out of his house by armed guards.

“Another one that has hid from us and slipped under our grasp!”

“Where are you taking me?”

“To th
e barracks!” yelled a guard.

“No!  I will not go!” he yelled.

But they took him anyway.  The last two remaining soldiers had this conversation:

“Is there anyone else in his house?  Any relatives?” the man peaked through his door.

“No,” replied the other.  “He was the only one left of his family…he lived alone in this house.  Come, let’s leave it!”

So this was how Hercules, Philoctetes, and Pegasus found a place to live in for the time being.
  It was a small house, but a house large enough for them to live in peace and privacy.

Hercules
remained in the city for several weeks, wandering in alleyways, moving to and fro amidst the city, searching to understand the human mind, heart, and soul. He wanted to learn about how it moved, how it grew and developed, and how it was able to sustain itself (or at least attempt to sustain itself). It was during these dark, but yet somehow hopeful times, that Hercules learned of mans’ wickedness.

While Hercules lived in Sparta, he tried to
lay low and observe other people, in an attempt to understand the human mind and will.  He was not treated as a God or hero and told nobody of his objective to be a hero. Now was not the time for Hercules to gain great prestige, wealth, or power; instead it was time for Hercules to learn the subtleties of what change people—what make them happy. So he performed secret labors—labors of love all throughout the city of Sparta. For the daughter in need of a father’s love, he would be that father. He would help her up off the ground after she was trampled down by the rushing crowds of the city. For the wife in need of food to support her children while her husband was away, he would provide that food, in the form of a wild sheep that he had slain outside of the town. Why you might ask, would Hercules do all this? Because Philoctetes said that all great and heroic deeds come first from doing small things—the small deeds that make a difference in someone’s life. Once Philoctetes saw that Hercules was willing to do small things, and do so with no thought of reward or recognition, he knew that Hercules was ready for more.

So, in secret, and at night, while they were eating
in their house, Philoctetes told Hercules of what he was to next. “I am very pleased with you Hercules. You have helped many people in this city and given them what they need—a particle of hope. But now you must do something else, for Greece is far more than Sparta, and you are ready for your next test.”

Hercules looked excited.
“What is required of me?”

Philoctetes pu
lled out his old map of Greece and placed it on the table. While you have been doing heroic deeds here in Sparta, I have been thinking of a way that you may make a great difference in the world, and I think I have finally found it. You see, this land is now a very divided and corrupt land. Between the farms and villages lies two great cities—Sparta and Athens. Both are very different, but yet pay homage to the same Gods. If we are to repel Hades and the war that is sure to come upon the world of Greece, you must find some way to unite these two great city-states. Then the rest of Greece will follow. For too long has Hades taken advantage of the people here. You must do something to garnish great attention.”

“Like what?” asked Hercules.
  He could hardly think of anything that he could do that would draw that much attention.

“Participate in the Olympic Games,” said Philoctetes.
“Right now, as we speak, a man by the name of Pericles, a much respected gentleman and ruler of Athens, will be journeying to Olympia, to the north-west of here to preside over the Olympic Games. The games will be an opportunity for you to show your great speed, strength, and skill and perhaps gain enough praise to be invited into Pericles’ house. Pericles likes making powerful friends and will want you as an ally. There, with Pericles, you may be able to reveal your true identity and mission. Pericles is a wise man and may aid you in your effort.”  Suddenly Philoctetes’ voice went silent.  Hercules knew something was wrong.

“What is it?” asked Hercules.

“Playing in the Olympic Games will not be easy,” said Philoctetes.  “It is said that the games were created to prepare all men for war and there is one man, above all others, who may challenge you greatly.  His name is Milo of Croton. He is notorious for his fierceness as a wrestler and Olympic athlete. They say he possesses a strength and agility beyond that of any athlete that has ever played in the games. He will be most difficult to win.”

“How did he get so strong?” asked Hercules.

“It was said that when he was a young child he began lifting and carrying newborn calves on his back…then later bulls themselves. He spent his entire life training for the Olympic Games, and making his body prepared to win. Legends say that he carried his own statue, made of solid bronze, to Olympia, where it now stays. People will route for Milo, and Milo will be a challenge unlike anything you have had before. But come…let us not talk about these things now. You must get rest, and prepare for your journey northward. You must take Pegasus, but do so quickly and quietly.  We do not want people to recognize Pegasus as the mythical creature he is, for then they will desire to have him and will take him from you. When you arrive you must enlist yourself quickly. The rest of the contestants have no doubt already enlisted. And you will have no chariot to ride in the first event, the chariot racing, so you will not be able to win the first event. You will need to win three out of the other four events.  Hercules you must know that the Olympics is a time for men to think of themselves as Gods.  It is a rough affair for a hero, but one that you nonetheless must endure.”

“But what about you?”

“I will catch up to you later, for I have vowed not to ride beasts,” said Philoctetes, as he looked over at Pegasus. “Even ones as gentle and handsome as your Pegasus. No, the ride you make north must be of you only. Fly with all haste, but do not let them see Pegasus else he may be threatened.”

Hercul
es nodded.  He knew what he had to do.  Growing up in Greece he heard about the Olympic Games and learned much about the games.  But he had never thought about playing them.  Now it was all about to become a reality.