Author's Note: Back in 2017 when I was attempting to complete two "Alphabet Drabbles" series, one for Inuyasha, one for Disney. Sadly, I ended up abandoning the Disney one, and later deleting it entirely, but lately I felt the urge to repost old ficlets, so here you go!
Originally posted: Sept. 25, 2017
Alphabet Prompt: "Belong"
Part 8 of "My Old Disney Ficlets"
His True Home
As the pearly gates to Olympus opened, revealing his birthright, his magnificent home, Hercules felt overwhelmed with a surge of happiness, pride, and excitement. For as long as he could remember, he longed to find a place where he'd be welcomed with open arms, for simply being himself.
His childhood home was plagued with painful memories of the townsfolk shunning his "freak" nature and his poor Earthly parents timidly yet staunchly defending him, resulting in them being ostracized as well.
Even his growing fame in Thebes was slightly hollow due to the fact that most of those affections were earned for saving the city multiple times.
For almost twenty years of his mortal life, he felt lonely in his heart of hearts, and wondered if anyone would ever truly accept him and welcome him to a place he could call home. Perhaps Olympus held the answers...
But then he turned around and watched Megara's sad, heartbroken frame slowly walk away from the celebrating gods, and suddenly he understood.
Something about Megara gave meaning to his life. Not just a goal or ambition, like his training with Phil was focused on rejoining his father, Zeus, on Mount Olympus. Meg gave him warmth, comfort, and filled the empty void in his soul that he always pretended wasn't there.
His time with Meg also reminded him of how precious a mortal life can be, and truly made him realize how much his Earthly parents had sacrificed for his sake. But most of all, Megara showed her vulnerability to Hercules, and he reciprocated willingly.
He hurried over to the woman whom he almost died for, the woman who had died for him, and took hold of her hand.
A life without Meg, even an immortal life, would be... empty. He spoke the words of his heart, without hesitation, without fear of rejection.
He took hold of her hands and stroked them, feeling so distant from her in this godlike form. He longed to share physical warmth with her again, to be the same as her, to be one with her...
I…. I wish to stay on Earth with her.
He voiced his deepest desire to his parents and embraced the woman of his dreams. As they leaned forward to kiss, he could feel his immortality leave his body and soul, but he didn't care.
He finally knew where he belonged.