The only people Hercules could remotely trust with the safety of Harmonia and Megara gathered at the Theban palace for the birth of Cassandra's firstborn. Hercules tried to think positive and not wallow in thoughts of whether he'd lose one of his best friends and his wife in the same month. As a god, he could probably influence the luck involved, but he wasn't entirely sure he had the power to do all he wanted. If he did, there'd be no reason to fret over Megara and their sons.
He didn't have it in him to see Cassandra in whatever state she must be in, and judging by her screams, Moni wouldn't like it, either.
"Are you sure you want to stay?" he asked her.
"I can help here," Harmonia replied with a nonchalant shrug. She and her dog Ambrosia seemed to move in synch at times, and this was one of them.
The dog made the same head-tilting shrugging motion as her mistress. Hercules felt that Harmonia and Ambrosia's presence at once would lend an air of peace to the situation despite everything.
"But there are so many bad thoughts and feelings here," Megara reminded her, still clinging to Harmonia's hand even though she encouraged her to go.
They needed each other just as Hercules needed them. This was heartening, but it made him all the more determined that they wouldn't be separated.
"That's why everyone needs me," Harmonia replied with a shrug. "This is the sort of thing we do."
Neither of her parents could ignore their immense pride in her. Neither had it in them to argue.
Only when he was assured that Dionysus would bring all of Megara's brothers and that Megarion would attend Cassandra's ordeal to give birth to their child did Hercules depart for the Hesperides. He flew there astride Pegasus, not because he needed to fly there, but for companionship. "Just like old times, huh, buddy?" He asked over the roaring wind.
Pegasus neighed the affirmative, then flew in a loop.
Hercules stretched his arms to either side and held on with only his thighs. They corkscrewed over the clouds, diving high and then low and skimming along the cloudscape beneath them.
This was one thing he could never do with Meg. She may be less anxious than before, but she wouldn't experience this mind-clearing bliss like he did. He had other ways of clearing her mind…
That was something else he missed recently. He'd lost so much since Megara shrank under the weight of their twins.
He could never blame her for it, but he hated the distance it placed between them. They'd always gone to each other when things were difficult- well, for anything at all times. Now, he felt as if everything they shared was slipping incrementally away.
That was what this whole endeavor was about.
His mother owned the grove of the Hesperides, and Gaia had some say. He knew his mother would give in if he begged, but hopefully, he wouldn't have to. As Pegasus flew along, Apollo's chariot caught up with them.
"Going the same way, little brother?" Apollo asked.
"Uh... yeah. All the way west."
Apollo nodded thoughtfully. "There's only one thing you'd be after in this direction. Am I right?"
The other gods had been so resistant to any effort he'd made that could rescue Megara. If he let on now, would Apollo try to thwart him? Or did Apollo already know his exact purpose? Other gods would never assume something he was doing had an ultimate goal of serving Megara. This had to be perfect. There would be no re-do. Not because he couldn't appear on the island whenever he liked or because he feared a confrontation with the dragon Ladon. Merely because this was the last time he could see himself going anywhere so far away from his family.
"Do you plan to get in my way?" Hercules kept his voice as friendly as possible but couldn't entirely suppress the hint of danger.
"Of course not. I only wanted to let you know the Hesperides always feed Ladon right before I land, so he's out of the way and won't bother my horses. In case that was information you'd need. Brother to brother."
Hercules smiled. This could prove a fortunate omen. It might mean everything for Meg's survival. "That means a lot, thanks. You don't think Mother would mind, do you? I didn't think it through all that much. I just needed to try."
Apollo shrugged. "You're one of her favorites. I don't see why she wouldn't let you peruse the orchard at will. But just to be safe, maybe ask before you take anything."
Thoughts of whether they were in danger rattled and buzzed through his mind. If he weren't careful, he'd vanish off Pegasus's back and appear in Cassandra's birthing chamber.
There were some things he didn't need to know about her, even if she was a dear friend.
As much as he wanted to, Hercules didn't pour out his heart to Pegasus at the risk of Apollo overhearing. He would have plenty of time on the return trip. This wasn't like the first time he'd approached the orchard. He'd retrieved an apple on behalf of Adonis, teeth gritted with reluctance, back when he was a demigod. Megara hadn't asked him to do this, and she never would.
That's why he had to take matters into his own hands.
Long ago, he'd risked this journey to save Adonis from the consequences of his callous, thoughtless hubris. Now, he would make the same journey for the sake of Megara, to protect her from the consequences of his actions. Somehow, he should've found a way to ease her suffering without being so selfish... though he couldn't deny part of him was excited to have twin sons. He wished he could be more excited, but this journey would help him make that a reality.
He would not fail her ever again.
As Hercules touched down on the island, exactly when Apollo had predicted he would—gods of prophecy were like that—he found a secluded part of the garden to inspect.
"We've gotta be quick, in and out," Hercules said and gave a quick glance around the orchard for any signs of opposition. Then he hopped off of Pegasus and dropped to his knees. "Mother, I apologize if you see this as impudence, but just this once, I'm going to do something for my family, and I'm not waiting on approval."
He never got it anyway.
He reached the nearest branch and grasped a golden apple, wincing at the memory of how it had shocked him before. Instead, there was no deterrent to removing the apple, even though he knew deep down his mother would disapprove. Even so, he picked the apple and put it in the bag he'd brought.
That's when he heard the singing.
Each of the individual voices he could pick out was sweet and melodic, but he was more worried about whether they'd catch him on behalf of his mother than if they sounded pretty.
Three nymphs surrounded him, all three lovely in the way nymphs couldn't help being. "Aah, it's the hero," one of them said, reaching toward his face. Another had her fingers in his hair, and the third was rubbing his arm. They were just like the girls back in Greece.
Hercules drew on every instinct and skill to swiftly duck and weave away from the invasive trio. "Married hero," he replied, "sorry, ladies. I've gotta be going."
He hurried back toward Pegasus, but his friend was gone.
"Pegasus?" he cried in surprise.
His old buddy never disappeared on him like this!
"Hold on there, hero, you can't just steal from the trees, even if you are a god and this is your mother's orchard!" one of the voices that he didn't bother to acknowledge called from over his shoulder.
Where was Pegasus?
Sure, he didn't need help to get home, but he didn't want to abandon him here. He'd never leave a friend behind, even if overly flirtatious nymphs kidnapped him.
Glinting golden light in the sunset caught his eye, and at first, he thought it was a trick of the light, but in fact, that wasn't Pegasus. Another winged horse whose coat was glossy as cloth of gold bounded over a meadow of fallen apples. Pegasus flew right after her.
Hercules raised a brow. He wasn't about to deny Pegasus precisely what had drawn his attention away from his friends in the first place.
"Do you like her?" One of the nymphs had caught up to him. "Her name's Chryseis."
"The last time you were here, we mentioned to Hera that we wanted our own flying horse. Hera granted us that one, and she said that she'd convince Zeus to make more from time to time."
Hands were all over his shoulders, and one set of fingers was snaking back up through his hair.
"That's great!" Hercules yanked himself free and charged across the field. What was he doing? He could teleport!
For some reason, his mind nagged at him to stay. His mission wasn't complete yet. There was Cassandra to think of, as well as her baby. Why should he be too myopic to acknowledge there were more loved ones out there in need than his wife?
He darted over to the clearing with the nymphs of the Hesperides on his trail and called up to his friend, "Pegasus! Stay as long as you need to, buddy! Enjoy this!"
Despite himself, his mind added the words, while you can to the end of that statement. His guts had gone cold. He stood surrounded by fallen apples on the islands at the furthest reaches of the Olympians' domain. He shouldn't let that cold, fearful whisper become true.
