Chapter 3 – Welcome to the Academy

Jason began his tour of the academy with the dorms. He pointed out their classrooms and despite there only being two he didn't go down the corridors saying he didn't want to give Faducius a reason to punish them, even though they were doing what Chiron had asked them to do. He showed them the dining hall and the indoor training room, he also pointed out several offices and a few other areas of the academy before leading them outside to the courtyard.

During Jason's tour Hercules remained at the end of the group observing each of their 'time' travelling friends. However he spent most of his time watching Iolaus finding it hard to believe this person wasn't his best friend but someone else altogether. He looked, walked and talked like Iolaus but he didn't feel like Iolaus.

Hercules was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't realise Jason had stopped so he ended up walking right into Olaf.

"... and this is the courtyard where we do a bit of outdoor training and sometimes play a bit of ball, also to the right are the stables. Well I think that pretty much covers it all, Hercules?" Jason asked turning towards his friend.

"I'm sorry, you said something?" He asked coming out of his momentary daze.

Jason ignored his question and moved to put his right hand on Hercules's forehead; it wasn't like him to not pay attention.

Catching on to what was concerning his friend, he quickly put Jason at ease. "Don't worry I'm fine. I was just a little too deep in my thoughts when you stopped; I was caught off guard that's all."

Before either Jason or Hercules could say more on the matter, Michelle interrupted them. "I'm sorry to interrupt this little gay feast you've got going on but we'd like some real answers here if you don't mind." She stated a bit too sweetly that had Mike rolling his eyes.

Both boys turned to face her, not completely understanding what she had just said. Regardless Jason looked to Hercules who gave him a small nod before leading them all back to the dining hall.

Since majority of the cadets were still in lessons, not that there were more than two at any given time since the only teachers were Faducius and Chiron, the dining hall was empty. Jason and Hercules sat down at one of the long tables, the others following slowly after Ingrid and Olaf gave them a few nods.

Without missing a beat or waiting for the two cadets to address them Michele jumped straight to the chase. "I'm going to say this once and only once. What the hell is going on!?"

Jason and Hercules gave each other a quick glance before Hercules answered her. "It seems that somehow you have travelled back in time to Ancient Greece. We don't know how, but Chiron is working on it as well as a way to send you back. As for your friend..." Hercules turned to look at Anders before continuing "...From what Chiron has said it appears that when you time travelled your friend here has merged in body with our friend Iolaus, it seems that you both have a connection to each other, other than your identical appearances of course. Like Chiron said, you must be here to learn something."

"But why all of us?" Stacey piped in before anyone could stop her. "I mean if it just happened to Anders, shouldn't he be the only one stuck here." Anders gave her the 'if looks could kill' look before turning back to the two cadets in front of him.

"We're not 100% sure on that one. Perhaps there is something for all of you to learn."

"For whatever the reason you are all here now, and by the looks of things it may be awhile." Jason added before standing up "Let's get out of here and head down to Kora's for something to eat." Axl and Olaf were the first ones to follow Jason out of the dining hall, Anders and Hercules bringing up the rear.

"This must be pretty weird for you, uh?" Hercules asked Anders, hoping to break the ice in some way. The truth was that even though Anders had control of Iolaus's body so to speak it meant that even though he couldn't say or do anything Iolaus was still in there. This worried Hercules for several reasons, although for the time being all he could do was try to get to know the guy who had taken over his friend and hopefully come to some common ground. Something told him though that after a day or two this Anders guy would have no problem stepping into Iolaus's shoes, as they were particularly twins from different times.

"Everyone is blaming me for this little misadventure like they always do, not to mentation some guy with hooves is telling me that I'm more or less possessing some guy in ancient Greece. To top it all off its looking like the only way home is if I learn some lesson, despite not knowing what it even is."

"I guess that's one way to put it. Don't be so hard on yourself, we are always being told that we need to lean some lesson but never know what it is until we've learned it."

Anders stopped for a moment and gave Hercules a good look over before continuing forward. Anders had never been this open to anyone about anything let alone his feels or past. "When I was a kid I used to love reading stories about different gods from different cultures, my grandfather used to tell all kinds of stories about the Norse gods, not that I ever understood them until I became one myself. My favourite god or goddess was always the goddess of love Aphrodite, there was just something about her that I liked, not that I can remember what it was now."

"I've only meet a few of the Greek gods, most of them don't like me. But my half-brother Hephaestus is pretty cool."

Anders gave him a small knowing smile before continuing with his inner thoughts. "Perhaps in some weird twisted way maybe the reason for why I have connected with your friend is because he and this time is like a passed life, like I've lived it before. Not that I believe in that type of thing, but it's all I've got."

"I'm not exactly sure on what you mean by that but I can tell from just looking at and talking to you that you're not what everyone says or thinks you are, including yourself."

"What do you mean?"

"Never mind." Hercules told Anders while shaking his head. "Let's just catch up with Jason and the others." With that Hercules took off in a slight jog in order to catch up with his friend but not fast enough that he would leave Anders behind.


Sorry it has taken me so long to update but life kept getting in the way. I know its not long but this chapter was more about getting from A to B, therefore the next few chapters are going to be more full on. Please don't forget to review as they feed the muse.