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Hercules and the Olympian Gods

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"Challenge of the Gods" Part 2

“What do you want to do in this instance, O Hercules?” Hermes asked of the hero.

“It is quite simple. You will distract the mighty warrior, Cerebus, while I free my family. Then, we will journey to Hades and seek an audience with Pluto and his guard.”

“I will do as you ask.’

“Then, let’s do it.”

Then, Hermes, using the super-speed that was his trademark, entered the throne room of Zeus, passing the Olympians that were chained to the wall, obviously too weary and dazed to do anything but helplessly watch this procession. The smile that he flashed to his family members was seen as nothing but a harmless blur to the Olympians. But he was sure that they felt the feeling behind it.

“Hey, Cerebus, they don’t call me the trickster for nothing,” Hermes said to his opponent, as he ran circles around him, punching him at his sides and at what he hoped were his weak points. He knew that Hercules could have done better but like the other gods and immortals, he too was endowed with super-human strength.

“So,” Cerebus said, as he gauged the fighting force that was against him, “It seems that the speedy one has come to rescue his family from my lord Pluto’s chains. Alas, you will fail as will most surely that blackguard, Hercules. He is as weak as a kitten. So persist no longer and turn back now.”

“Never! You are the true blackguard. Your lord Pluto is the true evil one. Why has he done this villainous thing? What does he hope to gain from it? We mean you no harm.”

“So you say. Yet I fear that there is falsehood in your voice. But where is Hercules? Is he a coward as well as you who would do anything to avoid directly attacking me? Is he hiding in the wings for me to attack him and his family anew?”

“You don’t know the half of it.”

“Don’t burden me with thine own troubles of inadequacy, Cerebus,” Hercules remarked to his foe. “Stand aside, Hermes. I am here, Cerebus, and I am ready to do battle with your master and you, if necessary.”

“So, the errant son hast come home to the flock,” Cerebus screamed at Hercules. “Let us do battle, coward, and see if mine strength is as legendary as thine.”

“So be it.”

Therefore, the clash of true titans began in earnest. It was mostly a slugfest between two warring bodies that the poets of old would sing about in the Athenian temples. Hercules jumped on top of Cerebus, attacking him with punches this way and that, trying to find his weak points, as Hermes failed to do before. Maybe he had none.

Hermes watched this fight in horror, not knowing the outcome until it happened.

Cerebus punched Hercules aside, as he fell against a wall of the throne room. He was slightly disoriented for a moment or two but quickly regained his strength and bearings.

“See how easily it is to ward off your puny attacks, Hercules,” Cerebus said. “You are a coward just like the rest of your family and friends.”

Angry, Hercules punched Cerebus upside the head, temporarily sending him into unconsciousness. Hercules was triumphant.

Then, Hercules turned to Zeus and said, “Are you ready for the fight?”

“I think so, my son. I am ready to find the reason behind Pluto’s betrayal.” Turning to his wife, Zeus said, “Hera, my love, I think you should stay here and see to the reparations of my throne room, whilst the rest of the Olympians go to seek Pluto and his horde.”

“Tho’ I would rather fight by your side,” Hera remarked, “I will abide by your wishes. I shall stay at Mt. Olympus.”

“Dost thou have a plan?” Zeus asked of his son.

“Aye, I do. While I was fighting the demon horde and Cerebus, I came to the conclusion that Pluto must be planning his next move in his home world of Hades. We shall go there… without Hermes.”

“Without?” Hermes asked. He was startled and his face had a puzzled expression upon it. “Surely, thou canst not mean that--?”

“I do.” Hercules stood directly in the path of Hermes, trying to explain his reasoning. “Though you art mighty and good in the fight so fair you would do well to mind the fort here with fair Hera. Also, if we fail in our mission, we will need you to contact the rest of the Avengers or other godly might to aid us in our battle. My word is a direct order.”

“Then, so be it. I will comply.”

Then, Hercules and the Olympians were off to Hades.

Within Hades, the mad god Pluto looked through a crystal ball, peering into the activities of his fellow Olympians and Hercules. He was displeased by their success. He thought that they would have found him sooner than they had. Yet they were only immortals. They were gods, yes, but gods could do only so much in a short span of time. Oh, well. He went to welcome his guests.

“Do come in, Hercules,” Pluto said, as he saw the approaching Olympians. He might as well begin this fight anew and get it over with. “What can I do for you?”

“You will talk before we put you in your place,” Hercules commented, unclenching his fists for the first time in hours. “What is your plan with Mt. Olympus? What manner of cunning possessed you to attack your home?”

“It is simple, dear boy. I grew bored of just ruling over the underworld, I wanted the upper world as well. And what better world than the home of the gods. The gods that I call family, mayhaps. Dost that satisfy you, Hercules?”

“Maybe. Does this satisfy you?” Hercules threw the unconscious Cerebus at Pluto’s feet. The lord of the underworld stared openly at his guard.

“What have you done to him?”

“Beat you at you own game, Pluto.”

“This simply will not do.” Eyes blazing, Pluto released twin blasts of energy on Cerebus. The creature stirred for a moment or two and then, he finally reawakened. “Let the battle begin.”

Hercules looked incredulously as Cerebus and a new demon horde advanced on the Olympians.

“Though I am lame, that will not prevent me from fighting amongst the rest of the gods!” Hephaestus shouted this battlecry and joined the fray, along with Ares and Artemis. He raised his hammer above his head and thrust it down on the unsuspecting demons. They were wounded at first but quickly reformed themselves.

Ares rushed to Hephaestus’ side, as some members of the demon horde must have used the knowledge they had of his weak points, namely his leg. “Together we shall vanquish them! Together as one,” Ares shouted, along with Hephaestus.

Meanwhile, Artemis fired her arrows at the horde. Her arrows were more useful than Cupid’s because hers weren’t love-inducing but deadly poison. The demon horde that surrounded her quickly fell at her side.

“Artemis, beware!”

The cry from Hephaestus came too late as a member of the horde tackled her from behind and wrestled her free of her bow and arrows. The huntress was down for the count, for the time being.

“I must protect her,” Hephaestus said, as he separated from the battle with his demon horde and rushed to Artemis’ side. He would do anything to rescue a fellow family member and the great huntress did not deserve to fall in this fashion.

“Finish them,” Ares warned. “While I finish mine.”

“Verily,” Hephaestus returned.

The next couple of seconds were spent in savage fury as Hephaestus awakened Artemis from the attack and the three gods attacked the enemy.

The demon horde never stood a chance.

POW!

Cerebus fell at Pluto’s feet again, as Hercules approached the ruler of the underworld. He was not the least bit pleased. Neither was Zeus who stood beside him.

“There is Cerebus again defeated,” Hercules said. “Now what say you cut out this ridiculousness?”

“I don’t think so, Hercules.”

“Your arrogance is insufferable!” Hercules rose a fist to smite Pluto when Zeus stopped his hand from connecting the blow.

“Stay thy hand, my son.”

“What?!”

“I have a solution. By the power of Zeus, I condemn you to the underworld and if you defy my decree then you will be branded an outcast and stripped of your godly power. So be it!”

Pluto collected Cerebus and his demon horde and continued business as usual in Hades, while the Olympians returned to Mt. Olympus. He knew that for every decree that Zeus set upon his land, there were a million ways to defy it. New plans began to form in his mind, as he departed for his homeland.

Hercules made his journey to Earth. Maybe I could find those fair maidens, he thought, as he walked through the streets of New York.

Send mail to: Gregg Epstein