Chapter Three

After the conversation with his father, Hercules quickly readied himself. He was fitted in all black armor, the latest in all of Olympus. Zeus had his half-brother, Hephaestus himself, craft this under the impression it was an early birthday gift. His sheathed sword sat on his back. Hercules arrived at the front gates of Olympus. He prepped Pegasus for travel.

My journey to becoming a God begins now.

There was a nervous- excitement that Hercules hadn't felt in some time. He smirked to himself. He was so caught up in his own thoughts, he didn't realize eyes gaze upon him from the tallest point in Olympus. Eyes full of hatred.

"Hera", Zeus spoke. Never flinching, never even taking her eyes off Hercules, she responded.

"And where's my husband's favorite bastard off to today?", she questioned. Her voice carried venom in it. "Can't say I'm not happy he won't be polluting Olympian air anymore."

"What does it matter?"

"OH but it does matter my king. Especially when you have my children slaving for him, no matter how unsightly they may be."

"Hera, I-"

"Do you not have others for... what task is the 'great' Hercules embarking on anyway?"

"Something trivial. Nothing even worth mentioning."

"Oh is that why it went unmentioned?" Hera slowly turned her neck to look at Zeus. She was no fire goddess, but her eyes held back the flames of a thousand hells. Zeus didn't avert her gaze though. He would not be challenged, especially in his own home... by a woman no less.

"As the mortals would say, this is need to know in basis. And I rule Olympus. I'm the only one who NEEDS to know anything." It was clear in his tone. Zeus wouldn't be taking much more disrespect from Hera. She slowly turned back to look at Hercules, but he was gone. She left her perch and walked passed Zeus without looking at him. She stopped a step or two after passing him.

"Yes my love, you do rule Olympus, but for how long. So many heirs, both legitimate and illegitimate. Even your father birthed his own downfall." As she tried to walk away, Zeus turned and grabbed her arm.

"Maybe you should remember how my beloved mother and father ended up next time you speak, woman." Hera chuckled, but she understood.

"I jest love. Let's not let a petty lover's quarrel ruin the peace of the mortals." She broke from Zeus' grasp and exited from the room.

Hercules directed Pegasus through the sky. The sky had suddenly gotten dark. It was a quick trip though. They landed on the shore of Cape Matapan. Hercules sent Pegasus off. He knew he'd be awhile. Hercules said a quick prayer to Zeus to watch over him. He proceeded to the Temple of Poseidon. He then prayed to his uncle, out of respect. No one came here other than tourist these days. There were a few early risers here, but they didn't take much notice of Hercules.

The magic Hephaestus put on this armor works.

The magical enchantment made Hercules look like less of an ancient Greek figure and bended the light and mind of mortal on-lookers to craft an image that is more fitting of their environment. So to everyone else, Hercules probably just looked like another tourist.

Hercules followed the signs that directed those who would follow them to Hades. These were also cloaked in enchantments. The average mortal saw the opposite directions that led to a tourist shop. Hercules was no tourist.

He followed the path to a hallway with 3 doors. In the left was a woman's restroom, on the right was a men's restroom, and further down the hall was a big red door with the word, Hell, written in white on it. On either side of the hall there was a security guard sitting in a chair. Both were asleep. Hercules approached them.

"Now what would my uncle think if he knew his guards were sleeping on the job", Hercules mocked with a grin. Both guards were startled awake. They immediately jumped to their feet.

"Hercu-", they started wide eyed, but Hercules raised a hand to cut them off.

"At ease. I'm not doing an inspection or anything. How about we strike a deal hmmm?" Both guards seemed uneasy. They looked at one another then back at Hercules.

"Like what?", the guard on the left asked.

"Well you don't want Hades to know you're not working. I don't want it to be known I was here. I'll just go about my business and we pretend none of this ever happened." The guards continued to look uneasy but what choice did they have. They cautiously returned to their chairs and Hercules walked on by. He walked through the door and was greeted by a vast darkness, the mouth of a cave. The air was heavy and warm. It almost felt calming, as if it was whispering him to sleep. He shook his head.

I'm too mighty for your mind games.

He pressed forward, the door closing itself behind him. He continued onward, unbothered by this.

After roughly 15 minutes of walking, Hercules was drenched in sweat. The heat would overwhelm almost anyone else.

But I'm not just anyone. I'm son of Zeus. These trials are trivial compared to my labors.

Just as that thought left his mind, the actual gates of hell entered his view. Maybe the length of a football field away. Tall, strong, black gates made of obsidian coated diamond. Hercules was filled with a new determination.

Just how I remember them.

He charged the gates when something dropped from the cave ceiling. Hercules instincts saved him, for he couldn't even see how high the ceiling had been due to the darkness. He jumped and rolled out the way as a being landed where he was just moments before. The ground quaked. Torch lights lit up everywhere along cave walls. Hercules turned to see what he was faced with... it was something he'd never seen before.