On a world filled with battle, and death. A place where Heroes are stolen only to be enslaved. In a castle filled entirely with Heroes, and royals. The place where it all began for children stolen from another world, a boy and a girl stand above a King with a sword to his throat.

Surrounding the scene are the stern angry eyes of a thousand Heroes watching the scene play out, all following the order of the King.

“Protect the kingdom.” The King had shouted when Warin and Alessia burst into the hall, it was that single order that damned him. The man truly believed he was the kingdom and didn’t even think the Heroes wouldn’t protect him. How else could they interpret the order? The King didn’t even notice that not a single person moved, they all stood watching and waiting. Every single Hero believed killing the King would protect the kingdom from him, the only reason they did not move themselves, was the bands holding them back, a single order always present inside. Do no harm to the King. So the conflicting orders, caused them all to freeze.

When the King finally noticed that no one was moving the Alessia and Warin were already at his throat. The King stared in disbelief up at the two, not comprehending what was happening. They must have put a spell on them, or blocked my command. But I don’t sense a silencing spell.

“You can't do this. It will destroy the kingdom.” The King yells.

The two sneer down at the wretch, as the Alessia speaks, “You are just a slaver, not a King.”

The King looking into their eyes seeing his death, “Kill-” his words cut off along with his head. Alessia and Warin, had taken years of research, into freeing the other people stolen from there homes. They had battled through ancient tombs, fought the church and even beseech the Gods, only for no one to answer. Eventually, in an old worn down church, far out abandoned and forgotten. They found what they needed. In every single one of the bands, holding the children there was a failsafe, designed to keep the king in power no matter where the slaves were sent. The King had ultimate authority over all the slave bands. It was to ensure he would have control. But how did it know who the King was, of course, the crown.

Warin lifted the crown from the dead kings head and placed it on his brow, with the former King dead, the central gem recognized the Hero's authority. The two had discussed this before unsure if it would recognize a female as King. Warin argued it was just semantics, but Alessia knew that mattered with magic, so they worked together carefully constructing one command. “By the crown, and my authority I hereby declare slavery illegal, and all slaves to be freed. From now on no man shall bow to another against their will.”

All across the kingdom black bands fell away from people's wrists. It was a day of chaos and blood as former Heroes, turned slave railed at their captors and kidnappers.

The throne room was not spared nor anyone residing in the castle, as all the heroes were now free, and all the mercy was burned away a long time ago. The capital burned and all the nobles died replaced by the Heroes to restore order. Some left trying to find a way home, others became farmers, but the rest tried to live up to their titles bringing in a new age of technology and prosperity for this world that was once their hell.

In a cave lost to time, a boy and a girl who saved a kingdom, and freed a world, found themselves with a strange old man, name Gregory. Alessia, and Warin were helping with reorganizing the government, and helping with the rebuilding of the society they destroyed, when a strange old man was brought into the office, begging the people for help, but no one wanted to listen as he sounded like a lunatic with his raving about a chained God. That was until Warin had heard about, it and rushed over after grabbing Alessia, remembering when they were brought to this world. They remembered the one who guided them through the world when they were both just scared and cold wearing nothing but swimsuits.

Gregory was one of the many people freed from a slave band, upon the Kings death. He had met the God when he was a child brought to him by the priests. He eventually became friends with the deity, and when he told the priests this they showered him with praise. It was then he asked how they could help him, and they told him they would need his divinity to work a spell to free him. Being young and naive he believed them, and convinced the God, Tamian, to give up his divinity in order to save him. But he was tricked. Once they had his power he was put under a slave band, and had even forgot he ever met the God. That was until the King was killed.

The old man, Gregory, was frail but happy as he guided the two down deep into the cave, where the chained god is held. They all moved in reverent silence, too much had happened in the last ten years for them to truly get their hopes up. Warin and Alessia had come to rely on each other, having been tested time and time again, betrayed by allies and friends alike they learned that in this world they could only rely on each other. For the first few years in this world, their relationship blossomed only for them to drift apart. Though they still loved each other, they no longer felt that spark that once was. Surprisingly, there relationship actually became stronger once they became just friends, always staying close supporting each other.

Now though still young they were no longer children, but now, with every step down into the cave deeps, they felt more and more like those scared children again, terrified of what was to come next. They had long given up going home. They knew the priests had lied to all the Heroes, but could a God send them home?

Would our parents even recognize us? Thoughts like these constantly flowed through their minds with every step. Both were riddled with anxiety when they finally reached the door. A door filled with intricate carvings, magic runes, chains both magic and metal, held the door tight.

The two laughed seeing the symbol on the door, it was a symbol the churched declared was pure evil, the sign of the demons. “What a way to hide a god.” Alessia laughed in disbelief.

Warin shook his head, as he pulled his sword cutting cleanly through the door, and chains, while Alessia removed any remaining wards. It was there normal routine they had put together, while diving through dungeons.

Inside the two saw a god chained to the floor. Rage filled Tamian’s eyes thinking the priests had decided to return and taunt him. What he saw instead was a boy and a girl. Two people he once guided, and had given up on them ever finding him. The anger vanished, and Tamian smiled, at the two. That was when he saw a very familiar elderly man, and his smile widened in disbelief. “Gregory?”

At his name the old man ran forward falling to his knees as tears fell from his face, “I tried. I tried. I'm so sorry. You were my friend and they used me to take everything from you.” The old man said begging for forgiveness.

Tamian wanted to comfort his friend, hold him, pat him on the back but he could only give him a gentle smile, and a few words. “It is alright little one. I forgave you a long time ago.”

Gregory cried, harder, but looked up trying to give his friend a smile.

Tamian seeing this, hesitantly asked, “Did you have a good life?”

Gregory fought to get himself under control to look at the good happily, “Actually yeah. They slapped a slave band on me and forced me to forget you. I even have a few grandkids now.”

“I am glad they didn't just execute you.”

“It was close.” Gregory shuddered at the memory of the King arguing with the priests, about how he had become a liability. Surprisingly, it was the head priest who argued that they could just shove a slave band on him, arguing there might be a connection between the child and the divinity.

The two, a God and an Old man, sat as friends for a moment just enjoying each other's company once more. Until he turned to his potential saviors.

“Welcome Hero's, are you here to free me or to continue my imprisonment?”

Surprised by the God's question Alessia raised an eyebrow. She had never really imagined to find the God chained. She expected maybe some communion with the deity, but a flesh and blood body. Made her wonder. She turned to Warin and asked, “Should we?”

Tamian offered his own opinion, “I would very much like to be free.”

Alessia and Warin looked at each other, a silent conversation, one built on years of working together, then they nodded in agreement. Alessia turned toward Tamian. “Ok.”

With that, the two moved like the professionals they were. Examining the ward, and chains holding down a God.

Tamian was in shock at just how easy it was to convince them. “Just like that?”

Warin was trying to his hide a smile when he responded. “Yeah.”

“But but...it's so easy.”

“And why should it be hard.” Alessia asked, as she located the nexus holding back the power of the God. So thats why he couldn’t gather divinity.

Tamian shook his head, trying to understand, “Wouldn't you agonize over using my power for yourselves, to send you home, or rule the Kingdom.”

Something in Tamian's words visibly shook the two. Tamian saw the momentary shudder, as the two kept work. Warin decided to answer, “No we don't want to rule, but can you even send us home?” Warin couldn’t help but pull on the lingering thread of hope.

Tamian hearing his question, knew that the truth was dangerous to his freedom, but he couldn’t lie. They deserved the truth, “I could send one of you home.”

“Oh...” Just like that any hope in their eyes fled knowing neither would leave alone, “Did not expect that to be possible.” Warins voice became distant and lifeless.

“It is, but there is a cost.” Tamian answered.

Hearing this she thought to the many treasures they now had access to in the kingdoms vaults, “What would we have to pay?”

“Nothing form you, it is I who would pay the cost, and you have earned the right if you would take it.” He offered.

The two looked towards each other, a long-lost hope now rekindled, but so much fear. Now knowing that they would not go, without the other, but tortured by the fact they knew the option was there. How long could they last before one of them gives in?

Warin seeing the eventual rift this knowledge might create, spoke, “I didn't think we could go home.”

Tamian was surprised, by his response, but also curious, “Why?”

“We are much older, and have been through too much,” Alessia answered, shaking her head holding back tears, “Our families think us dead.”

“Are you sure? It has only been a few days there.”

“What?” The two asked at the same time.

“Time moves differently here, then from the Earth. It’s why it is so popular, so many people, and we know what to expect.” Tamian explained.

Warin had enough, as he screamed, “Why do you tempt us like this?”

“Because it is what you must know.”

“Arrggghhh” The two shouted angrily, as with a burst of power they free Tamian from his chains.

The god for the first time in decades if not centuries, Tamian, could move freely, “I'm free.” The god was in complete disbelief losing himself in hysterical laughter, “Hahahahahahahaha”

“Hmm sounds a little ominous.” Alessia commented, calmly.

“Almost evil.” Warin agreed.

A new voice that sound vaguely familiar to the two spoke. “Nah, just crazy with freedom.”

The two heroes jumped at the new person suddenly behind them. When they looked they saw a man leaning over looking at the broken wards, and a woman waving. But what made both their eyes widen the most was the semi-truck behind them.

"Who? What are you?” Alessia stuttered out, readying a spell as Warin turned his sword on the man. The two had instinctively readied themselves for a fight, while being completely dumbfounded at this sudden appearance. They had been a hundred percent sure they were alone, until now. Even now they couldn’t sense the man and woman who appeared from nowhere.

Suddenly, like a lightning bolt, a memory shot to the forefront of their minds, one they had lost when they appeared. A man fixing a hole in nothingness, and a windowless room.

“You!” Warin yelled angrily, “You are the one who took us!”

With that one sentence the threat of violence became just a hairs breath from happening.

“No. You two fell through a hole in reality.” Del corrected, as he tore himself away from the magic, and stretched out his back. It was so nonchalant and normal, all the tension simply dissipated, as the two were now starting to fully remember that day.

“We were at a water park and...Alessia disappeared. I chased after.”

“Then you jumped into a hole.” The man finished.

The two were stunned, and confused. How could they have possibly forget how they were taken?

“That was a hole in the universe.” Del explained, making there heads spin.

Tamian’s mad laughter continued, like a macabre background music, “Hahaha,” Only adding to the strange scene.

Then for the first time, Ge spoke up. “Wonder how long before he stops?”Alessia had completely forgotten about the woman, focusing only on the man.

She blinked, trying to get her mind right, she asked, “Again who are you?”

Del smiled, “I'm a delivery man.”

“You brought us here?” She confirmed.

“Yes.”

Hearing that this was the man who took them, the last sparks of hope she had of returning turned into a raging bondfire, “Then are you here to bring us back?”

“Up to him.” Del pointed to the laughing god.

Alessia looked and grimaced seeing Tamian’s mad freedom, “Well he's gone crazy so take us home.”

Del’s smile faded as he seriously answered, “There is a price to be paid, and he will need to pay it.”

“He said he would.” Warin chimed, hoping he would just take them both.

Del looked sadly at the two, “But only one can go.”

“Are you going to force them to choose who goes?” Ge behind the man demanded. Her face growing red.

“Hey, maybe one doesn't want to.” He quickly defended himself.

“Look at them. They have just been given hope, and for one it will be stripped away.” She yelled with a passion she had never felt before. These were still just children, stolen away. They deserved to go home!

“He already told them this. Don't blame me, like it's my fault.” Del answered slowly backing away from the woman’s wrath.

Ge looked to the two remembering to scared children laying in the back of the truck, seeing there scars and callusous. How they aged and changed, something they should never had to have gone through, the more she looked at them a connection she couldn’t describe seemed to grow. She just knew, “I'm taking them.” She declared, knowing she would do it no matter what.

““What?”” Alessia and Warin asked in unison.

“Um,” Ge blushed shocked by her own declaration, and anger. She had meant every word and would do what it took to bring them home, “I’m taking you both home. If you want.”

Del turned on her angrily, “You think you a hitchhiker can pay the price for two heroes?”

Ge stared the man in the eyes, “I would! And I would take every Hero home if I could.” She said defiantly feeling every single word was right and would be.

He smiled, “Good.”

——

On a small blue marble two teens with eyes older than they should be stepped out of a water park, with only swimsuits. Cold and confused, the two don't remember what happened only that, something had occurred. Alessia and Warren, were beyond confused, one moment they were going down the tube the next they found themselves feeling years older, stronger, and next to the lockers. Time had passed and they knew it on a deep level, and the fact neither of them felt an once of panic, was what scared them the most.

They could feel the memories deep in their mind held back, if only they just reached for them. Though they felt repulsed by them. Every time they reached for the memories, there minds cast an overwhelming fear, keeping them far from remembering.

Eventually, they were able to find a phone, to call there parents, who were currently working with the police to find them. Everyone, was shocked to find they were at the water park where they had disappeared, rushing over before whoever took them came back.

They asked the teens questions trying to figure out what had happened, but when they learned neither of them could remember anything, they were horrified. Thinking the worst possible scenarios had happened. From there they rushed the children to the hospital to run all kinds of tests, to make sure they were healthy and ensure nothing untoward happened. When things came back negative, more tests were ordered, there parent now paranoid that they had done something to there children. With each test returning negative, and finding the two in perfect health, in fact they were in peak physical condition. The parents finally found relief, and complete confusion. Especially, when Warin’s father adamantly denied that his son had a six pack, that he was now sporting.

Warin and Alessias days ahead passed normally, but every so often the teens would see something out of the corner of their eye, and move to pull something from their side finding nothing there. They lived their lives close as close could be as friends, but something was lost between them in those lost days, and never dated again. In times of quiet, they would reach for the memories, only to be pushed back by the fear, but lately, the fear was starting to fade, and a new choice would soon present itself to them.