DISCLAIMER: This story is a work of fan fiction using characters from The Underland Chronicles world, which is trademarked by Suzanne Collins. I do not claim any ownership over the characters from The Underland Chronicles or the world of The Underland Chronicles. This story I tell here is my own invention, and is not purported or believed to be part of Suzanne Collins story canon. This story is for entertainment only and is not part of the official storyline. I am not profiting financially from the creation or publication of this story.

Hero

Every crisis has its heroes, every disaster its displays of selflessness and sacrifice. And now, amid the coronavirus pandemic, our health-care worker, doctors, nurses, EMTs and support staff who risk becoming infected themselves—who risk infecting their own families—are making extraordinary sacrifices to care for the rest of us.

This one-shot is dedicated to the true-life heroes we may not see personally, but know of today.

"Ares the Flier, was a true hero. There is no denying that he was not, in his time of light, given the respect he deserved. We let our tradition step in front of our hearts, and our minds, and cloud our view, and thinking. So I make a call today, in front of the whole of regalia, to do something extraordinary. And I wish for you to join me. For today I do the ultimate sacrifice— The sacrifice of evil. Today I take whatever hate, whatever spite, whatever grudge or sneer against this Flier, and I let it go. I allow it to drift away, and let other feelings fill the gap. Admiration. Gratefulness. I wish that our beloved warrior could join us in this mourning, be he, as well, is long gone. And yet, I think we can still learn from him—learn from his heart. Even in the very beginning, Gregor the Warrior showed more mercy and kindness than any of us. Even after Ares had betrayed his bond, and we were prepared to banish him, the Warrior, instead of letting hate fill the gap in his vision, he allowed love to. And he bonded with him. After everything he had been through in this land, all of the strife, he chose to make a life-long oath to a Flier who was recognized as a traitor to it's kind. I believe that is why Ares is such a hero now.

"On Ares' first quest bonded to the Overlander, he did great deeds. He traversed the waterway, in spite of the dangers, to protect his bond. Showing us that he was not a traitor. He was nearly killed, like his companion, by terrifying flesh-eating mites. And yet he persevered, all of the way through to the labyrinth. He helped our Warrior find what turned out to be a baby. Just a baby. He chose, yet again, to listen to his heart, and see through the clouds. And yet we persecuted them. For doing what could only be the right thing. Yes, that choice may have come back around in the end, but ponder this—what is the goal of doing good deeds, if you are focused on the bad ones of others?

"On the quest to cure the Curse of the Warmbloods, Ares traversed not the waterway—but the jungle. Arguably, that is much more dangerous, for it is unknown. And yet he pushed on. I do not wish to repeat the horrors of that trip, but I will say this; In the end, he aided in saving the entire population of warmbloods in the Underland. And what did we do? Did we celebrate him? Congratulate him? No. We shunned him.

"On yet another journey with the Warrior, he helped uncover secrets unknown. He helped discover a terrible plot to rid the Underland, yet again, of a species. I doubt I need go on, for everyone knows the rest of his tale.

"My last words, I feel, are the most important. In the future, learn from this. Do not shun yet another hero. and most importantly— Do not take heroes for granted."

—Read from the saying of Vikus the Underlander, Present at Ares the Flier's Funeral.

I know this one's a bit short, but inspiration strikes only as it chooses. As you read at the top, this one-shot is dedicated with a whole heart to the heroes of the Coronavirus. I know that you guys out there are probably having a tough time. I'm lucky enough to be in an area where it has not hit to hard. I, at least, am allowed to leave the house for essentials. My heart goes out to those of you who have or had a loved one with the Coronavirus. Stay safe, wash your hands, and grasp happiness from every source possible.

Fancied it? = Review

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Desire to assassinate me for being such a blatant idiot? = Review!

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.

—Arthur Ashe