Hercules and Achilles are not like what the myths say.

There was something oddly familiar that Achilles felt when he battles Hercules, as if they had met before.

Achilles at first didn't think much about it. The more he thought of that name however, the more curious he became.

Hercules
Hercules
Hercules

Why did it sound familiar, yet he couldn't recall it vividly?

After the day was over and night fell onto the land of the rising sun, Achilles decided to retreat back to his home while Aiga was asleep. Sleep was essential for mortals but unlike humans, spirits have a more loose sleep schedule and only slept when they needed to. Achilles wasn't feeling tired so he just sat there and ate some figs whilst still thinking about the archer spirit that he fought a few hours ago.

As he was eating, an unexpected guest arrived at his abode.

"So you are the one running this place." a voice said.

Achilles looked towards the source of the voice. A tan skinned man in tribal armour with black hair stood in front him. Achilles knew this man as Hercules.

"I knew that the figs came from here but I never would've thought that the mighty Achilles himself is in charge." he said, looking around the place.

"I'm just a keeper. The one in charge of this place is my dad." Achilles said.

"Mind if I sit?"

"Do as you wish."

Hercules sat beside Achilles and took a fig from the basket in front of them. They stayed silent for a moment before Achilles asked,

"What are you doing here?"

Hercules swallowed the fig he chewed. "Is it wrong of me to visit an old rival?"

"What in the world are you talking about? We just met hours ago!"

"So you don't remember? Perhaps you know a boy named Patro-" before Hercules could finish his sentence, he was met with a blade at his neck.

"How do you know him?" Achilles demanded, his tone darkened at the mentioning of his old companion.

"Be-Because I've met him. And I met you too with him."

Achilles still didn't recall anything. He remembered every single moment he spent with Patroclus 3000 years ago, from the moment they first met till the moment of Patroclus' death. Among all of those sweet and bitter memories, he didn't remember meeting someone named 'Hercules'.

Unless...he did...but at the time, Hercules went under a different name.

The redhead lowered his blade. "Tell me about that moment. The moment you met me and Patroclus."

"Alright." Hercules said and proceeded to tell the tale.

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Over 3000 years ago, Mount Pelion stood beside the great sea, towering over the surrounding lands. It was the abode of Chiron the Centaur, wise in medicinal knowledge and a master of all weapons. Many would travel up his mountain to seek advice on how to cure ailments and to train to become warriors.

He has had many apprentices in the past, but two stood out among them due to the strong bond that they shared; a spirit who was thought to be of divine origin, and a human who accompanied him to the ends of the earth.

They were Achilles and Patroclus.

One day, while the two were meandering about through the forest of the mountain, they encountered a peculiar young boy.

"I wish to become Chiron's apprentice!" the boy said confidently.

Achilles, being an immature child at the time, laughed at the boy. "If you wish to become Chiron's apprentice, you must face me!" he challenged. Patroclus tried to stop his companion and welcome the boy with open arms, but the boy accepted the spirit's challenge.

Their hands locked firmly into one another and they fought to bring each other down. It didn't take long for the two opponents to realise that they were both almost equal in strength. They struggled for what felt like an eternity before Achilles' hand was finally brought down. Achilles threw a tantrum when he lost and demanded another challenge but Patroclus stopped him.

"If he wants to see Chiron, then he will." the human boy said. Achilles couldn't oppose his companion, so he silenced himself.

When the three reached the centaur's cave, the wise four-legged spirit asked, "What is your name?"

The boy answered, "I am Heracles, son of Alcmene. I have come to dabble in your ways."

"And why do you seek to learn my ways, one blessed by Hera?"

"For my mother. She has made many sacrifices to raise me, so I wish to prepare to make a sacrifice of my own when the time comes. I believe that with your guidance, all that my mother has done for me will not be in vane."

This proclamation of sacrifice for someone so dear astonished Chiron, and so the boy known as Heracles began his training.

Heracles trained alongside Achilles and Patroclus in the art of the blade. He however, proved himself to be skilled with a bow and arrow, as if he was blessed by Artemis herself. Heracles spent almost a year on Pelion. He and Achilles often clashed with each other on who was the strongest. Despite their constant rivalry, the two greatly respected each other.

One day, when they were sparring, a woman approached them.

"Heracles, my child!" she cried as she ran to Heracles and embraced him firmly. "What were you doing all these days?"

"Mother, I-I've been training with the centaur of Mount Pelion, so that I would be able to repay you for all you have done for me." he explained, still clinging to his mother. "If you will, mother, please allow me to spend more time here. When the time comes, I swear upon the divine that I will return."

The woman looked into her son's eyes. Though it pained her to be separated from the only thing that brought her happiness, she let go of him, knowing that he would fulfil his promise.

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"So, you are him. You are Heracles." Achilles mumbled, trying to process the story he had just heard.

"Were Heracles," Hercules corrected. "My mother lost her husband and didn't get the chance to have a child with him. When she saw my infant self in front of her doorstep, she saw me as a blessing from the goddess of childbirth. That was why I was named Heracles. But the age of the Olympians is long gone. I no longer associate myself with Hera, which is why I decided to modify my name. Different but faithful to the one my mother gave me."

"Well, I wouldn't say that your current name is bad. I'd rather kill myself if I were named after an Olympian." Achilles darkly chuckled.

"I see that they still left a sour taste in your mouth after that war. My sincere condolences for him. He was unlike any other human you and I have met."

"I wish I could exact my revenge on them," Achilles thought bitterly of the war he went through and the loss he suffered, but then these thoughts shifted to Aiga. "But...I think vengeance can wait. Right now, I have someone new to fight for. I won't fail him, like how I failed Patroclus."

"I wish you the best of luck." Hercules stood up. "I shall take my leave now." He began to walk away from Achilles.

Before he could leave the orchard...

"Hey, Hercules!" he heard Achilles call. "If we ever meet again, how about we have a nice drink at the tavern? All drinks are on me."

Hercules pondered at this for a second before smiling. "Very well then. Till we meet again." he said before leaving the place for good.