The lion garbed hero was escorted by Hippolyta's guards to her. Their eyes meet at the same level of 7 feet tall.

He politely asked to retrieve her belt to complete his ninth labor. The belt was sought after by Admete, daughter of the king who assigned the seemingly impossible tasks on him.

He solemnly explained the reason behind the tasks. Killing his wife and child in a fit of madness.

She gripped her belt. The plate of a boar carrying spears shined from the daylight.

"This was given by my father when I won as best fighter of the group. I already knew he was proud of me, but this meant a lot to me......I will give it to you."

He sensed the emotional connection. "I will bring it back."

Her scarlet irises widened from his kind words. She cleared her throat. "You would do that?"

He nodded. The princess only wanted to wear it for a special occasion. He vowed to bring it back once it's done.

"I....appreciate that. You came a long way. Take a night to rest."

He requested that his room be separate from everyone else on the island. She solemnly understood for his madness could strike again at any time.

The Queen ordered her warriors to construct a small hut right away. They rushed out of the castle to complete the task.

His dark blue eyes captivated her. He asked if she was okay.

She shook her head. "Would you like a tour of the island?"

"I apologize. I want to make this short."

"I understand. This armor you have is extraordinary."

"I owe it to Hephaestus."

"Is there some pelt leftover where I can have a piece of my own?"

"I'm afraid not."

Her lips frowned. "Oh."

But something changed. Heracles took off his lion armor and held it open for her. A smile cracked her face as she slipped her arms into the sleeves. He held onto it, thinking the weight would make her stumble. However, she stood tall.

Lifting up a paw to admire the sharp claws at the end. She walked without a bother to see her reflection. She flexed in different poses to see how she looked. Taking up an apple, she tossed it up---

Slice!

The apple split into pieces. Seeds scattered about. A smile beaming from ear to ear.

Heracles' mouth twitched before he killed the smile. She turned to him to find disappointment.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be mocking-"

"It's not that. You look....lovely."

His unexpected words sent a jolt through their hearts. Her deep red irises softened to a pastel color. She couldn't help but analyze his bicep peaks. His strong jawline. Those blue eyes she wanted to drown in.

The mighty hero rubbed the back of his neck. "You may wear that as long as you like."

"I appreciate that, Heracles."

She unbuckled her belt and gave it to him. He brushed his fingers through the engraved detail of the plate before gently putting it over his shoulder.

"It suits you", she complimented.

She could have sworn his eye color brightened from their time together. Her steps approached him to close the distance. A silence that made Heracles look away.

Guilt and pain rang in his eyes. Her hand traced his jawline, but he turned away.

"I apologize. That was too forward."

Little did she know that he turned to argue with himself. That he had liked it.

"My liege! The hut is ready!"

Heracles was stunned until he reminded himself that these are the divine offspring of Ares. It wouldn't have taken long.

"Rest up until I send someone for dinner."

He bowed to her before leaving. Hippolyta sat on her throne, taking deep breaths to calm the urges inside of her.....

Dinner was a success. Hummus drizzled with olive oil to accompany their kalamata allies, roasted chicken and lamb served on palm leaves, and a goat cheese salad.

Heracles complimented the spread which warmed her heart.

When the feast was over, she escorted him to the lonely hut. She proposed to stay the night with him, but he refused.

"I don't want to hurt you like I did...."

"........What were they like?"

His lips quivered. "The best."

Her arms wrapped around him. Their knees sink to the sandy beach.

She uttered a song to calm his grieving heart. After some time, they broke the embrace.

They sat and admired the starry sky. Seeing the moonlight cascading on her face under the lion's head made his heart bounce. The red irises resembled rose petals.

She asked if he could tell her the other labors he completed. He sat in front to tell her all he had done up until this point. After the lion, he conquered the numerous headed Hydra, captured the Ceryneian hind and a shaggy enormous boar....

The cleaning of the Augean stables had her laughing. A contagion that led to him laughing as well. 

After killing the Stymphalian birds that terrorized a town, he captured a Cretan bull and the Mares of Diomedes. Horses that consumed only the flesh of men. Bringing him to where he is now.

Her eyes sparkled like rubies from his retelling. His courage and ingenuity resulted in a dazzling smile from her. The heads begin to near each other, closing the distance.

She asked him the next question. "What will happen when it's done?"

He brought his head back from realizing how close he was to her. "I....will obtain atonement and peace by Apollo."

"Three more to go....What will you do after that?"

"Living by myself. It's what I deserve."

His regretful words brought a few tears crawling down her face. She wiped them away with the wrist of the lion's paw.

She cleared the lump in her throat. "If you like, you are free to visit or even stay here."

Her statement drove his feet forward into the sand.

"You are always welcome here."

"But what if the madness strikes again?"

She turned her face to him. "I can defend myself just fine. I will kiss you if it snaps you out of it."

He blinked numerous times. The thought of them kissing hitched his breath.

She shifted the hood of the armor behind her. Her hands reached out to his face. He squeezed his eyes shut.

The touch of a cloud makes his body shudder. Her palms cup his cheeks.

Her heavy breathing tickled his nose which opened his sapphire eyes. A treasure in her heart.

She planted a soft kiss on his lips. Holding it to burn it into her memories.

His heart acted. Pulling her closer by her toned hips to kiss her back. His arm cradled around her back. His torso gently tilted her to connect her back to the beach. Her back softly landed on the armor. She slipped out of it to wrap her arms behind his head.

He broke the kiss to admire her beauty. A breeze blows her chocolate curls over her face. He brushed them back, making her softly gasp from his touch. Their lips reunited. Hands began to travel up and down over their clothes.

She undid the clasps on his breastplate, exposing his chiseled pecs and abdomen. He slowly slid off the straps of her dress but jumped off of her. Megara's face haunted his mind.

Heavy breaths visible from what they almost done.

"I'm sorry. I can't be with you."

Her lips quivered before letting out an exhale. "At least I kissed someone I liked. My offer still stands."

He walked away into his made hut without looking back. He closed the door. She gently folded the armor and left it outside the hut. She kissed the hood before adjusting her dress.

Her hand lingered on the door before drifting away to her castle......A scream in the night startled her awake. Her aura told her it was from Heracles. Agony sang the night of his family's deaths.

She wanted to hold him through the night, but it would only complicate things for him. He needed peace more than love. 

What happened before he departed nearly broke her heart. There was a commotion. Red aura crackled against golden. With only one being the victor.

She ran over and wished she hadn't. Her twin sister, Antiope, laid motionless among the debris of fallen trees.

Heracles expressed regret in his eyes. He tried to explain what had happened. That Antiope and him were just talking before a fit of madness corrupted her. He couldn't restrain her before she looked to hurt the others. He made sure it was a quick death.

Tears flooded down from her eyes. Her mind couldn't piece together his words. She closed the eyes of her fallen sister before a thick cloak of vermillion threatens him.

"You can keep the belt! I never want to see you again! You don't deserve peace or anything!"

Words that agreed with his guilt. He gathered his belongings while holding back tears of what he did. The crimson aura died down after his ship left her sight.

She mourned the loss of her beloved sister along with her niece. Ares attended the funeral with a weeping heart. He vowed to end Heracles' life but Hippolyta begged him not to. She still loved him.

Days later...... her guard is notified by something in the hearth. She alerted her queen right away. In the hearth, the belt rested without being melted by the flames. He kept his promise to her.

She wore the belt again. Regret rested in her heart from the hurtful words she had last told him.

-----

Her illustration of aura dies down. After a moment, Takashi nears the door of his cage.

"I'm sorry for what happened to your sister. But I know that Hera was behind it all!"

The daughter of Ares closes the distance to analyze him.

"The fit of madness for both Heracles and your sister were caused by Hera to torment him."

She cuts the air with her hand. "My grandmother would have never done this!"

"But she had! She admitted what she did to him."

She almost pulls the cage apart from his accusation. Yet, truth rings in them. She grips her belt to calm down. "Explain."

He recounts what had happened. Where he actually came from. The Greek Myths of who they are. His acquired powers. His wife's knowledge. His fight with Heracles. The demigod tournament where Hera had admitted to her crimes.

Crimson wisps touch him. Her feet stumble back from the horrible truth. She recalled that Antiope was never seen without her sword. That day her sword could never be found again. Heracles wouldn't have stolen it.....

Tears stream down her face. She wishes she could have listened to the son of Zeus. Her heart breaks for his innocence and cruel manipulation by her grandmother.

Her feet want to run to Thebes. To comfort her beloved for what he had suffered. But she needed more answers to her questions.

"You mentioned resets.....you mentioned two consequences, but only described one."

His hands grasp each other. He digs deeper and deeper for a sliver of strength. I need to get to Demeter. Help me say it, Nyx. I need you.

He takes a breath as brittle as glass. "When I say that word, Zeus completes it by saying "jump". If Gaia was a ball of yarn, it would.....It would....."

Her rough hands clasp around his handcuffed wrists. The texture helps him focus his thoughts.

"If Gaia was a ball of yarn, it would unravel until nothing is left."

Her hands grip tighter. Her pupils waver from the implications. She and everyone died several times already.

His tears drip to the floor. The vessel inside him begins to crack. "I had no idea. I didn't know. I'm just as guilty as Zeus. He's right about me. I had hurt everyone I care about!"

Hippolyta breaks the cage open to the alarm of her guards. She pulls him up....and wraps her strong arms around him, holding him close to her heart.

"You didn't know. You couldn't have known that."

He tries to push her away. "Why was I even chosen? I fail every time!"

She brushes her fingers through his hair to soothe his heartache. His hands cling onto her arms to prevent himself from sinking further.....

"I don't know the answer to your questions. But you are here now. One more reset? Let's find a way to break the cycle."

"How when fate isn't on my side?"

Something comes to her mind. "Let's try and contact the Fates. They can help us go again-"

He shakes his head. "Zeus must have taken them away just like their mother."

"Damn that bastard! There has to be a way."

"Demeter is my only hope. If she can't help me-"

"Then let's get you to her."

He lifts his chin to look at her. Her red irises are encouraging him to keep going. She asks him where she could be and he tells her.

"Perfect! That's just west of here. Not too far away. But first-"

She breaks the vines off his wrists and ankles. He looks at her in shock. 

"You're not a prisoner. You're a survivor. And you can only go up from here. And you won't be alone."

He looks down. "The less people, the better. I don't want you to-"

"Get hurt? Die?" She begins to chuckle to his surprise. "It seems I'm too stubborn to die."

Her laughter. He thought she would be terrified from what he told her. Instead, she embraced it and found a new meaning from it. He finds it encouraging in a way. A genuine grin cracks across his face.

"You would need to rest up first before we get you there, but I believe in you. Just stay here while I relay this to the girls."

He figures she will also tell Heracles. "When you talk to him, don't tell him about me. Please."

Although he didn't tell her about his last death, she figures it would bring more sorrow for Takashi if Heracles got involved.

"Can you also let Medea know that I'm okay?"

"Certainly."

The Amazonian Queen walks away to leave him with her guards. His mind thinks what will happen when he meets Demeter. Part of it thinks it will lead to nothing.

He shakes his head. He takes up Hippolyta's strength as his own to think of his future. Zeus brought to justice. Retribution for everyone he wronged. And him finally being home.