In a place that never was and always will be, a place of gods, a man, stands as a woman pleads for her world, knowing the man in front of her can help her world, and people, but won’t. He only smiled, which just made the woman angrier at the man’s inaction and callousness.

Ge wanted to continue yelling. She wanted to throw Del through a window, but that wouldn’t help. She just wanted help. She felt exhausted, tears filled her eyes, as she whispers, “Please don't let my world die.”

Del shook his head his smile never faltering, “It's not me letting the world die.”

She snapped, “Are you saying it's my fault?” She gritted her teeth, as she glared daggers at him.

Del held his hands up in defense, “No. It's up to your world to fight for itself.”

She felt herself collapse to her knees. She knew the world had to fight for itself. Never once had she seen him truly interfere, except maybe when he stopped that slave ring. Even then it was minimal and could be argued he was taking payment. All the other times he had used Heroes as proxies, but she could only hope. “But they're not enough.”

“Who said that?” He asked with a sly grin.

She tilted her head in confusion, “...you did?” She stared at the man. Why was he so casual about this? Not five minutes ago he was torn up about it all now, he was smiling and…teasing her.

“No, I said it had to fight for itself.” He corrected.

“But there are not enough Heroes.” She pointed out.

“Didn't you just say you can feel them?” He asked her, in a tone she now realized was his teaching voice.

“Yes, but what can I do?” She asked trying to understand what he was trying to say.

“Bring them home.”

“How?”

“Find the connections, however faint or distant.” Del held his hand out in the air grabbed it, and yanked it back, “Reach out, and pull.”

“I’m not strong enough.”

“Oh, about that. I never did pay you.” Del turned to the back of his truck as he moved his hand over the container, slowly it began to shrink more and more, till it was less than half its normal size, and in the man’s hand blinding to any who could see was an immense amount of power. “Since you didn’t need it I’ve been holding onto your portion, think of it as a severance check.”

She could only stare, at the power, held before her. It was so much, it was just enough, for what she needed. She reached out towards the orb as she did she, latched onto what he said. “Severance?” Then she was completely filled with all her back-pay.

——

Somewhere on earth, in a place where cars used to drive, and people would cross. A place where two boys were lost. There was only destruction, now, the road nearly unrecognizable, as the buildings and ground were torn up by monsters. In the middle of the destroyed road crossing, a tare in the fabric of reality opens as two you boys, long thought dead, step out into the world. Looking out in disbelief. The two boys stand proud, backs straight, golden crowns adorning their heads. Each was adjusting their head-ware, as their heads were now much too small for them. now too big for their heads. The once kings look out onto the world they left so long ago, despite its change, and destruction the two felt a strange sense of nostalgia, seeing the world around them. Later the two would discuss how it was when they stepped foot back on Earth that a piece of themselves they lost, was returned. Making them whole once more.

“Did we really come back?” Liam asked, as he was trying and failing to get his crown to sit on his head, as it kept slipping over his face.

“Looks like it.” Elijah looked around frowning at the destruction of their old neighborhood, “And it looks like it's gone to shit.”

Liam was getting frustrated with the crown and used magic to shrink it to fit his head, “Yeah.”

Elijah seeing this, lets out a chuckle, as he followed his friend's example, readjusting his crown, but taking it a step further as he. Conjured a full set of medieval-styled, regalia, he had grown fond of wearing over the years. He looked back to Liam to see he followed suit. They locked eyes and smiled.

“You ready for another adventure?” Liam asked as he reached out a hand.

Elijah looked at the boy he had grown up with, and conquered a world with, “With you?” He grasped Liam’s hand, “Always.”

“Looks like we have another world to conquer.”

Thus began the conquering of Earth by two simple boys long though dead, as they made their way through their city building their legend. Killing monsters saving people, helping, healing, and teaching the world magic. Creating a firm foundation, for the kingdom they would build.

——

Similar stories played out all over the world, as Heroes who headed the call of the long-forgotten Goddess began to return home. Hundreds of thousands of children, teens, and adults all who were once thought lost or dead, were restored to the time they left, though living countless years in between. They appeared all over the world bringing with them knowledge and powers, the world once thought impossible, working to save their home.

But, not all the Heroes returned the same, some were torn from there lives they built, some wept in joy, others in rage, and too many fell into shock numb at sudden freedom having been forced into slavery as soon as they were summoned, and some lost themselves to blind rage as soon as they saw the state of there once home.

The Heroes had returned, and the Earth was forever changed. Humanity had found what they needed to fight back, and they were winning. Soon the world would stabilize and all new issues would arise, both mundane and yet urgent. Heroes would seek out lost families, people would debate, and laws would be passed.

Heroes turn into villains, warlords rose, and new Heroes were born. The world had a long road ahead but it would survive.

——

In a place between worlds, out of phase with a pale blue marble, a man and a Goddess stand, in front of a much-reduced semi-truck looking at one another.

The Goddess Ge, looked at the man with a fond yet sad smile, “So, is this goodbye?”

Del gave her a soft smile, “For now.”

She looked at the man who had taught her so much and brought her through the multi-verse showing her great wonders, and terrible tragedies. The man who taught her to use her powers, and helped shape her into someone she was proud to be. “I really enjoyed the ride.” Tears formed in the corner of her eyes.

“It was better with you there.” He said sincerely.

Ge turned away to look over her world, jumping all around the children she had brought back. “Will you keep taking Heroes from here?” She knew she was distracting herself but she didn’t know if she was ready.

Del let out a small chuckle, “From time to time, but not as much as before.”

She pulled herself back as she tilted her head. “How come?”

“You’ve woken up.” He said plainly.

“What?”

“You were sleeping. Even riding with me you were letting your power seep into your world, granting them an even greater imagination. It was why they were so adaptable, why they were so driven. A world of stories. There are none like it anywhere else or at least none that I’ve found.

The Goddess looked out onto her world sadly, “So me waking will reduce them?”

He reached down and grabbed her hand, “No, that can never be taken away. They will always be what they are. What you’ve given them.”

“And what is that?”

“Dreamers and they've just woken up.” He said smirking.

She let out a small laugh, “You really should have become a poet.”

Del pulled the goddess into a hug, “You were a pleasure, little hitchhiker.”

She leaned into the man returning the hug, “It was an amazing adventure delivery man.”

After long minutes the two let go, and the man entered his truck and began to drive off watching the goddess in his mirror as a flash of memory overcame him.

——

A delivery driver drives around the world grabbing people who would be Heroes, all to save worlds in peril. He moves through gates, he creates, jumping through possibilities and following the connections to find just the right person, for the world in trouble. Thankfully, he had recently adopted a procedure he had seen right there on Earth. Paperwork. It helps him in narrowing down the best prospect. As he always had done he was driving alone, doing his job.

However, today was different, as he found something he never thought to see on this Earth. A god, or to be more accurate a goddess.

She was drifting, wandering, looking completely lost shifting through the between, and the world, stumbling like a drunkard, who was just learning to walk. He watched the deity for a long time, trying to understand what she was doing until his curiosity peaked, and he just had to know. He pulled his truck right alongside the goddess, who looked to be a little girl no older than eight, and steps out to talk to her.

“Hello, are you lost?” The man asked.

The goddess stopped to look at the voice speaking to her, her eyes cheerful as she looks at the man, “Have you seen my ball? I can't find it.”

“Your ball?” The man asked raising an eyebrow.

The little girl of a goddess frowned, as she tried to think, of these new things she had recently learned. Words were strange to her, and they were hard to put together. The man was patient as the right words came to her, “It's big and rocky, and it had another smaller ball floating around it.”

“Oh.” The man started to understand what she was talking about as he gives her a soft smile. “I think your ball has changed.” He said as he looked out to the crowd of people all going about their daily life.

“Oh.” The little girl said before locking onto the man, “Who are you?”

“I'm a delivery man.”

The little girl tilted her head, “That's a strange name. Can I call you Del?”

“Sure, why not.” He said holding back a chuckle, “Though that’s not my name, it’s my profession. I deliver things.” He explained.

Her eyes grew wide as the concept of a delivery man appeared in her mind, “What do you deliver?” She asked excitedly.

“Heroes.”

The little girl looked up at the man in wonder, “That sounds fun! Can I come?” She asks with enthusiasm.

“What about your ball?” The man asked surprised at the sudden request.

“You can deliver me to it.” The girl said triumphantly.

“Like a hitchhiker?”

The girl looked confused, “What's that?”

“That's you.” The man pointed at the girl

“So you'll take me?” She asked, giddy with a furor of emotion.

“Why not?” The man surprised himself with his own decision, but now that he made it he felt it was right, “Hop in.”

The man helped the Woman climb into the truck and puts her seatbelt on. She laughs as she plays with the belt fascinated by it. The man enters the cabin and turns to the little god-ling. “What do I call you?”

“Oh! A name. I have a name…Lots of names.” She felt the words floating around her little head and found the word. “I like Ge.”

Del smiled, feeling good about the child, and started the truck, “Nice to meet you Ge”

She smiled back, “Nice to meet you, Del.”