Trick of the Light

No copyright infringement intended with this little work of fiction, either to RenPics or any Heavenly dieties. I own none of these characters, and am not profitting through this bit of harmless entertainment.

“Michael. It is time.”

The archangel nodded at his compatriot and rose from his stately throne. Moving regally across the room, he approached the ornate, golden fountain that stood in the corner. With a wave of his hand, the water contained within began to ripple, allowing him to see into the mortal world and focus in on the woman that he’d had Gabriel keeping close tabs on. Indeed, she was in the grip of labor, crying out as she struggled to bring forth the tiny life inside her. The archangels watched with clinical detachment, the hours of labor passing by in a heartbeat for those who would live for eternity, until finally the midwife held up a squalling baby, outraged over the injustice that had just been heaped upon him.

“This isn’t the Great One.” Gabriel’s remark was a statement, not a question.

“You thought he was?”

“I just assumed.”

“No,” Michael told him. “The Great One’s birth is still two years away.”

“Then who is this one?”

“Someone very special,” came the solemn reply. “He is to eventually be a powerful guardian for the Light, but first he has a hard life ahead of him. He will be asked much, I’m afraid. More than any mortal should.”

“What do you want to do?” Gabriel had served with Michael since the beginning of time. It wasn’t too difficult to see that his friend was planning something.

“Summon the others.”

As the other archangels gathered before him, Michael stepped forward and cleared his throat slightly. His companions all fell silent, eyes fixed on their leader, waiting for his instructions.

“Thank you for assembling so quickly,” he began, looking over each of the six before him in turn. “As you all know, we are nearing the age of the Great One’s birth. He is to be the son of the most powerful immortal, and he is destined to be a champion for the mortals, working to rid them of evil on earth.”

“Their redeemer,” Raphael spoke up.

“Yes,” Michael confirmed. “The Great One will be a savior for the mortals. As revelation nears and the horsemen are unleashed, he alone will be the only one capable of overturning the judgment.”

“But how does the child born tonight fit into this?” Gabriel asked, still confused.

“He is to be the Great One’s savior,” Michael explained. “The anchor that keeps him bound to the Light, the force that keeps his path true, and the love that will lead to humanity’s reprieve. Without him, the Great One is incomplete, and incapable of facing the challenges before him.”

The great archangel paused, letting the others murmur quietly amongst themselves for a moment before he continued.

“This child’s vital role at the Great One’s side comes at a high price. He is to be a mortal partnered with the son of an immortal, asked to carry out the same quests and to face the same risks with none of the protection or strength that the Great One will have. His journey will be treacherous, and he will be asked to overcome unspeakable odds.”

“Perhaps we can do something to help?” Raphael suggested.

A slight smile played about Michael’s lips.

“I was hoping you would say that.”

Erethia had given in to exhaustion and had fallen into a restless slumber. But in the wee hours of the morning, her tense body relaxed and she succumbed to a deep, healing sleep from which she would not awaken until well after the band of angels had finished their work. An ethereal glow illuminated the tiny house as the seven heavenly beings gathered around the newborn infant. Michael gently raised the child in his arms and looked down at the baby, who gazed up at him with calm blue eyes.

“Little Iolaus,” the archangel rumbled. “You may not have chosen the destiny which awaits you, but you will not fail to meet it at every turn. We cannot alter the path which you are meant to tread, but we can bestow upon you the gifts that will help you on your journey.”

Raphael stepped forward, placing his hands over the child in Michael’s arms. A gentle light began to exude from his fingers and was quickly absorbed into the infant’s body.

“I give you bravery,” he announced. “The courage to make a stand, to face your enemies, and to go up against insurmountable odds in the battle of righteousness. May fear never overtake you, or make you lose sight of the greater good. May you always be steadfast in your journeys, and serve as an example of heroism to those that will follow.”

The archangel stepped back, and Uriel came forward to take his place.

“I give you loyalty. May you always remain faithful to your cause and to your legions. May no darkness ever drive a wedge between your devotion to the Great One. May your absolute trust in each other never waver, no matter what the circumstance.”

“I give you a caring heart.” Raguel stepped forward to lay his hands on the child. “May you have empathy for the world’s pain, and may it spur you to try and heal it. May you always remain sensitive to mortals in need, and may you never turn your back on one seeking your aid.”

Saraqael was next, sending the soft light of his gift to the infant as he spoke.

“I give you energy. May you never be felled by the challenges before you, but may you meet them with the unbridled energy that will prevail through the darkness. May you always have the power to journey on, despite the obstacles in your way.”

“I give you a forgiving nature,” Camael continued. “May anger never cloud your heart, and may you find peace with all who may wrong you. May you look past petty transgressions, and always provide redemption for those who seek it. May you never fail to look into another’s heart, and may you be merciful and just, always.”

At a nod from Michael, Gabriel came forward for his turn.

“I give you the gift of cleverness,” he said quietly. “Where you may be lacking in size and strength, may skill and ingenuity serve as compensation. May you always remember that the mind is capable of much greater feats than the body, and may your cunning always serve as your greatest weapon.”

“Thank you, my friends. You have all done well.”

One by one, the archangels nodded and took their leave, until Michael was alone with the child. Even though the baby was only a few hours old, the strength of his heart was already evident. It was clear to Michael why this mortal would be such a commanding presence in the life of the Great One. His spirit was filled with the Light, and had been even before the archangels had visited him.

“Well, Iolaus,” Michael told the infant. “We have done all we can. The rest is up to you now. Take care of our Great One. It will not be an easy task, but you will not be alone. The gifts we have given you will not only protect and aid you in your journey, but they will also win you many allies. Others will be drawn to your energy and inspired by your unselfish bravery. They will be attracted to the Light which shines from within you. The Great One himself will be loyal to the death. He will need you, Iolaus, more than you will need him, for he will not possess that inner strength that drives you. He will need you as much as he needs food or shelter or the air that he breathes. I can’t explain it to you, and you may never understand, but you are the love that will complete him, make him whole. It will be his love for you that will inspire him to save all of mankind. I doubt you will ever fully realize the depth of your significance for him, but that does not matter. Just follow your heart as you journey on, and you will work it all out as you go.”

Michael gently placed the child back down into the basket where he’d been lying. The infant had been quiet and placid through the archangels’ visit, already showing signs of the sunny disposition which would define him throughout his life.

“You’re probably wondering about my gift,” the archangel told him. “Well, I haven’t forgotten.” He placed his hands over the baby, sending the soft glow out into the child as a strange gleam twinkled in his stern blue eyes. Although he rarely liked to demonstrate it, the stone-faced archangel did have a sense of humor. “I give you the gift of stubbornness. It will undoubtedly get you into trouble, but ultimately, it will ensure that you never give up. May you always find the tenacity to press on, even in the face of absolute darkness, and may you have the obstinace to resist the cold hand of death when it comes calling. May you always have the persistence to reach for the stars, even when the Great One tells you they are out of reach.”

Michael stood quietly for a moment, observing the newborn as he yawned broadly and closed his eyes. They had been calling the child that was to be born in two years’ time “Great One”. Indeed, this Hercules was to be a champion of mankind and the one that would stop the four horsemen, earning the entire world a reprieve. But where would he be without this small mortal by his side?

“Perhaps you are the Great One after all,” the archangel whispered to the sleeping child. “Your destiny is of utmost importance, though it will remain largely uncredited. Hercules could not fulfill his own path without you to help guide him. So, take care of him, and take care of yourself. I’ll be watching, and when your journey on earth is finished, we will welcome you to your rightful place as a guardian of the Light. Until then, use your gifts wisely, Iolaus. Both the ones that we have given you tonight, and the ones that come from the power of your own heart. Be safe, my little warrior, and may the Light always be strong within you.”

Michael gently stroked the sparse, golden strands of hair on the infant’s head, smiling softly at him before disappearing from the house and returning to his place in Heaven.

Raphael shook his head, looking into the image in the rippling fountain that showed Iolaus bouncing along beside Hercules. Somehow, he had escaped from the Light and had returned to the mortal plane to warn the Great One about Michael unleashing the four horsemen.

“You just had to go and give him the gift of cleverness, didn’t you?” he accused his companion.

“Hey, don’t blame all this on me,” Gabriel protested. “Michael was the one who gifted him with the persistence to overcome all odds.”

But as Michael watched the two partners bearing down on him, he knew that Iolaus’ return to earth had nothing to do with the Heavenly gifts that were bestowed upon him so many years ago. It had to do with the love that he and Hercules shared, and a tie of the soul that not even the Light could control. The bond between them was a force of its own, stronger than even Michael had anticipated. It transcended everything in the natural world, and in the spiritual world as well. The depth of it was enough to puncture the barrier between the worlds, and to allow Iolaus to return to his true place by Hercules’ side.

As he prepared to shatter another seal, Michael hid the smile that was twitching his lips. The interference of the demon Dahak had concerned him. Iolaus had come to the Light sooner than expected, before the judgment had taken place. The archangel feared that Hercules would not succeed at overturning the judgment without the incentive of Iolaus by his side, but he needn’t have worried. True destinies, although they can be sidetracked, can never really be altered. Michael was confident that the mortal and the Great One would play out their parts, earning the world its reprieve. And, earning one for themselves, as well. It was the least he could do to reward them by restoring Iolaus’ life. After all, two souls that completed each other so perfectly should never be apart for long. And if Michael had anything to say about it, they never would be again.

Disclaimer: Iolaus’ virtues were slightly enhanced during the writing of this story.

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