Epilogue (Berserker Side): A Hero's Homecoming

Heracles drifted through the darkness, a castaway with direction or forbearing. His arms and legs lacked the strength to wade against the current, so he reclined into it, having little care where it would take him. Either it was darkness or inferno that awaited, he would soon find out.

Heracles feared neither. He had walked the path of redemption, all tasks completed and all missions fulfilled. His wish was not meant for his own happiness but for hers, the one he had entrusted with his life.

As long as she was happy, Heracles needed no happy ending of his own.

He drifted through the darkness, soothed by the sound of waves. The current carried him along. To where, he couldn't care less.

Long moments passed before Heracles found the resolve to open his eyes. Rays of light blinded him. Tearing, he fought the glare and lifted himself above the sand and waves. Wherever he was, it sure wasn't hell.

The rising sun peeked over the horizon. The sand felt soft and loamy beneath his bare feet. Beyond the shore, grasses and leaves swayed, caressed by the warm Mediterranean breeze. Deeper within, the lush green blanket parted to reveal a tilled field, lush with summer harvest.

He knew the field. He knew every inch of it by heart. He knew this orchard of grapes and olives that flourished under his wife's constant care. He knew the lonely house that stood in the distance. He knew every brick that was laid by his hands.

It was a vision of happiness beyond all that could be attained by fame or glory.

Voices came from across the shore, youthful and vibrant.

"It's dad! It's dad!"

"Ah, Dad!"

Children…His own…

Their faces contained no expressions of horror. As if the horror of death had long since slipped their mind, only pure jubilation remained.

"How…? How is this possible?"

"There you are." A woman walked up to him with a smile as brilliant as the sun that bathed her in an orange glow. "We have much to catch up, my dear, but first let's get you settle down. Your breakfast is waiting."

"We helped too, you know!"

"Right! Right!"

"They were so eager to hear of your journey. Oh dear, I couldn't even manage to calm them down."

Three betrayed souls stood to welcome him home. Four, counting the infant cradled in her arms. Heracles thought it was heaven, but it couldn't be. No heaven would open its gate for a grave sinner.

His vision blurred. He feared that it was all a delusion. He feared the sight before him would fade, leaving him to wallow in the darkness once more, but his vision did not flicker. The tracing of their bodies still remained sharp and vivid against the scene of the rising sun after he wiped the tears away.

Heracles doubted his senses. A life of loneliness had turned him into a skeptic. He had lived through this same scene many times, only to wake up alone with the stink of sweat and wine on his breath.

"Come on now, what are you standing there looking all forlorn for. Show us a smile once in a while." Her palms reached up and caressed his chin. Two fingers pushed the edge of his lips into a makeshift smile.

"There we go. Much better."

The gesture of intimacy brought him back to senses. That was when he knew it was real.

All of it. Everything.

Real.

Shame flooded him in waves and forced Heracles to his knees. The great hero fell and prostrated himself like a petty murderer.

"I…I'm sorry..." Heracles's words couldn't quite capture the message he had in mind. Words were grossly insufficient in expressing his guilt. His tongue was clumsy and tied down. The same doubt visited him as when he'd first consulted the oracle as to whether there truly was an appropriate way to ask forgiveness for a crime so dire.

"Say no more. We speak no more of it."

"But I-"

"Shhh. All is forgiven, my love. We know of your pain…your torment." The woman leaned over on his groveling form. Her bosom nestled against him and silenced his protest. Both her arms draped over his shoulders. "We know, so come back to us with pride."

The children formed a circle, each leaning their small body upon him.

"Dad…? Will you be staying this time?"

"Don't go, dad. We really miss you."

He anticipated hatred, fear, and distrust. He expected them all to descend upon him like a storm.

Instead, he received mercy. Heracles wept. Tears rushed down in an endless stream, but, for the first time in years, they were ones of joy instead of sorrow.

"You've suffered for far too long. Come to us and stay…Stay."

"…I swear I'll stay…." he replied, choked with sobs. He took them all in his arms, relishing in the warmth that he had been deprived of for so long. "I'll stay forever…"

His journey was a long one. Years of strife and sorrow went by, followed by years of emptiness, but what lay at the end of this dark tunnel was well-worth all his effort.

He obediently followed as the children dragged him by the hands, all the while laughing happily. The winding gravel road led to the conclusion of his journey. The shack stood to welcome him like a friend. The rickety wooden door creaked open, revealing the prize that awaited his claim.

"Welcome back."

"I'm home."

It was the only prize that Heracles had truly yearned for…

Home.

I know this ending have zero basis in the canon conception of the world, but anyway I just want to give Heracles his own happy ending. Well, a dream or reality, feel free to take the epilogue any way that you like.

I'll be really grateful for any review. Thanks!

- EB

PS. I'm currently planning for extra chapters in this story. Depending on the reception, I might be writing a few more. Let me know what you think! A review would be great! Thanks!