A Glimpse into the Future
Disclaimer: The characters of Hercules and Iolaus belongs to Renaissance Pictures. No money is being made from this story. This story is written for entertainment purposes only.
Author’s Note: This story takes place at a time before Hercules meets Iolaus. Hercules meets Iolaus in my stories when he is five years old. In this story, Hercules is only four years old and Iolaus has not yet moved to Thebes yet. This story is a prequel to my other story “A New Friend”
CHAPTER 1
“Iphicles..I need to go to your Aunt Illona’s house. She’s ill and she needs me to take care of her children this afternoon..I need you to babysit Hercules..”
“Oh Mom..but I have soccer practice with my friends..Hercules just gets in the way..he’s only 4 and he doesn’t know how to..I don’t want my 4 year old brother tagging along..”
Hercules watches the scene with his finger in his mouth. He doesn’t understand what “soccer” is but it sounds exciting and he can’t wait to go with Iphicles and his friends to play “soccer”.
Hercules toddles over to his mother and pulls on her skirt “I love you mommy..ohm don’t worry mommy..I can take care of myself..I am not a baby..”
Hercules takes his finger out of his mouth long enough to say to Iphicles “Don’t worry Iph..I promise I’ll behave..please let me go to soccer practice with you..I’ve been seen or played soccer before..please Iph..”
Iphicles rolls his eyes and pleads with his mother “Mom..please..I can’t believe you’re doing this..can’t Grandma or Grandpa babysit Hercules while you’re gone..!”
Alchemene pulls Iphicles away from Hercules earshot “Iphicles..you know how Grandma and Grandpa feels about Hercules…I don’t want Hercules to be with such prejudiced people…Son..Hercules’ father is Zeus..many people don’t like Hercules because of that..your grandparents included..”
“But Mom..” pleads Iphicles.
In a firm tone of voice that brooks no argument, Alchemene commands “Iphicles you will do as I say or I will pull you from that precious soccer team of yours and you will spend all your afternoons at home doing your homework and doing household chores is that clear..you babysit Hercules..end of discussion..”
“Yes, Mom” says Iphicles in a resigned voice.
Iphicles takes his brother’s hand and leads Hercules out the door “Come on Hercules..it seems I have to babysit you today..”
“But Iph..”
“Be quiet Hercules..remember I’m the older brother..I don’t care how strong you are..I give the orders..”
“Iph..I didn’t mean to hurt your eye..but you were tickling me..and I wanted you to get off of me..and..”
Iphicles absent mindedly rubs his sore eye. Hercules had the strength of a 13 year old and when Hercules tried to heave Iphicles off of him, he accidently punched Iphicles in the eye giving Iphicles quite a shiner. Jealous of his brother’s growing strength, Iphicles from that moment on, avoided Hercules like the plague. But this afternoon, his mother forced him to babysit the brat.
Hercules knows that Iphicles is mad at him because of the sore eye and he tries profusely to apologize. “Iph..I’m so sorry about your eye..I promise from now on..I won’t use all my strength..I’m sorry..I’ll get mother to get another poltice..”
Furious that his little 4 year old brother could land such a shiner on him, Iphicles yells savagely at his brother “You will not play in the soccer game..you will sit right here and wait for me..”
“But Iph..I promise..I won’t hurt anyone..promise Iph..please let me play with the others..”
“No Hercules..you stay here..until I get you..these are MY friends and I will not have you giving them shiners too!” Iphicles angrily walks away from his baby brother.
Hercules watches the angry retreating back of his older brother. Tears roll down his face as he contemplates his fate. Why am I such a freak? Why am I so strong? I didn’t mean to give Iph that shiner..it was an accident. Why does Grandma and Grandpa hate me? Who’s Zeus? How come Iph and I have different fathers?
More tears roll down Hercules’ face as he watches the other children play soccer with Iphicles. Why can’t I have any friends? Why doesn’t anyone like me? Why am I a freak? Why won’t Iphicles love me anymore like he used to?
Hercules hears the laughter of the other children as they kick the soccer ball around the field. He sees Iphicles butt the soccer ball with his head and earn a point for his team. The goalee of the other team is peeved that the soccer ball escaped him. Lunus, another four year old is allowed to play. Hercules watches with envy the other 4 year olds allowed to play.
Hercules lays back on the soft grass. The warmth of the sun penetrates his body. Am I destined to be alone for the rest of my life? Will people always hate me because I am the Son of Zeus? Who will I play with? Who will be my friend? Why do the other children make fun of me all the time? I can’t help it that I’m strong. I can’t help it that my father is Zeus. When will it be my turn to laugh at a friend’s joke? When will I have someone to talk to? To laugh with? To fish with? To hunt with? To play soccer with? To bring home to mother for sleepovers like Iph does?
Hercules lets the warmth of the sun caress his body like a deep massage. Gradually the sounds of the soccer game fade as Hercules drifts into the arms of Morpheus.
CHAPTER 2
Zeus watches his baby son from a scrying window. He turns to his favorite daughter, Aphrodite with concern on his face.
“I’m worried about Hercules. I must go see the Fates to see if they can find Hercules a friend..I don’t want my son to go through eternity alone.”
“Don’t worry Dad..I’ve been to the Fates..Hercola will have a friend..it just isn’t time yet. Sweetcheeks will be along soon.”
Zeus gives his flightly daughter a quizzical look as his grey eyebrows arches upward in bewilderment. Perhaps Aphrodite has lost her mind after all. “Aphrodite..who is Sweetcheeks?”
Aphrodite giggles “Oh..I looked into the Window to the Future..that the Fates keep..and well Hercola’s life thread is interwoven with Sweetcheeks..sorry Dad..ah..a kid named Iolaus..he’s going to be quite the lady heartbreaker in the future..anyway..he’s going to be Hercules’ best friend.”
Zeus paces as he gives Aphrodite a serious look “If this “Iolaus” is to be Hercules’ friend, there must be some way to let my son know he won’t be alone..”
“Ah Dad.. there’s more..it seems Iolaus is destined to become ‘Guardian of the Light’, Hercola and Sweetcheeks will be best friends forever..that’s Hercules’ destiny..”
Zeus gives his daughter a rare hug “Thank you Dite..I must go see Morpheus now..”
Zeus disappears in a flash of smoke…I intend to let my son know what his destiny is.
Zeus appears in front of his son and he makes sure that Hercules gets his nap. He waves his hand in front of the sleeping boy. Hercules grows sleepier and sleepier..the sounds of the soccer game become ever so remote. Hercules settles down into the grass as his limbs grow heavier and heavier. Hercules finally gives in to sleep and is in the arms of Morpheus.
In his dreams, Hercules sees:
“Hi, my name is Iolaus..what’s yours?”
“You want to be my friend?”
“Sure, why not?”
Other scenes emerge in a disjointed fashion
“Back to back heroes Herc..I, Iolaus of Thebes, will always promise to watch your back”
“Back to back heroes, Iolaus..I, Hercules, son of Z..Alchemene, will always promise to watch your back Iolaus..”
Iolaus gives Hercules a warrior handshake as they seal their solemn promise in blood.
Few years later..
“Iolaus..you know the routine..you distract the hydra..I’ll go around back and strangle it..”
“Got it Herc..I’ll be there to watch your back..” Iolaus runs in front of the Hydra waving his arms wildly..
Hercules climbs on top of the hydra and uses his legs to crush the hydra’s neck. The Hydra crashes to the ground. The ground shakes.
Iolaus shakes his head and laughs “You know Herc..monster slaying is fun..sure builds up my appetite..let’s go get something to eat!”
“Iolaus..do you know that your stomach is a bottomless pit?”
Hercules fondly tousles his partner’s blond unruly hair “Sure Iolaus..let’s wash up first..I still have monster goo all over me!”
Iolaus takes off his clothes as he races Hercules to the lake. “Last one in the lake has to pay for the meal!”
Hercules jumps into the lake fully clothed as he yells “I guess that means YOU will have to pay for the meal!”
Few years later…
“Don’t worry Herc..I’m Guardian of the Light..I’m back for good..Michael says so..”
“You mean..you are alive..I can’t believe it..”
“Herc..we promised we would be friends forever..well I intend to keep my promise..Iolaus spits on his hand..and takes Hercules’ in a warrior handshake..I, Iolaus of Thebes, Guardian of the Light promise to watch your back and be your Guardian Angel forever..”
Hercules spits in his head and repeats the ritual and then he gives Iolaus a big bear hug. “You are my best friend ever..you’ve kept me centered and focused all my life. Whenever I had a problem, I knew you’d be there for me no matter what. I was never alone because of you..Iolaus..don’t ever leave me again.
“Don’t worry Herc..I’m with ya back to back from now on..for the next millennia..if you don’t get bored of me before then” giggles Iolaus…
In a husky voice, Hercules replies “The world is never boring with you in it..Iolaus..”
The 4 year old Hercules wakes up from his sound nap remembering every detail of his bizarre dream into the future. He rubs his eyes in amazement. Iphicles is still playing soccer with his friends. The sun is still shining brilliantly in the meadow, but Hercules is no longer sad. Hercules had glimpsed into the future and saw his destiny—a destiny forged with a blond haired blue eyed kid named Iolaus.
Iphicles marches towards his smiling brother. “Well doofus..what are you so happy about..our team lost the match!”
“Oh Iph..I just had the most remarkable dream..I dreamt that I will have a neatest best friend..and we will be friends forever..back to back..I won’t be alone anymore..his name will be..”
“Hercules..come on..we have to get home..mother expects me to bring you home before the sun sets and the sun is setting soon..let’s go..” Iphicles still peeved at losing the soccer game to a rival team..takes his brother by the hand and drags him home.
Hercules keeps the smile on his face and disregards his brother’s fowl mood as he thinks about his glimpse into the future…his future with Iolaus…
THE END