A/N: Thanks for stopping by and read. This is a story with the DC Trinity (Wonder Woman, Superman & Batman) at heart with a little retelling of their origins; set in an alternate universe where the three of them are royals, but in the end they are three young heroes that must overcome impossible odds to beat an evil God, so full of hate and lust for destruction that nearly made their world crumble. This is also the story of one true love that started young; between a girl who was beautiful as a goddess and a boy who was brave as a knight, but the Gods prohibited their love from the start. The story has not been beta read, so all the grammar and spelling mistakes are my own and I apologise in advanced for them.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement intended.
The prophecy
Prologue
She was there contemplating the fire, when the flames started to move wildly raising higher and higher, portraying images of sorrow, destruction and shame; she could hear the screams of pain, the sound sent chills down to her spine but then as sudden as it came the vision disappeared, only smoke stay in the bonfire. Scared, she ran out to the high priestess, and told her everything she had just witnessed.
Silently, the high priestess heard everything she said, and without a word, she decided to consult the chalice of destiny, the highest oracle. After moments of deep meditation, the chalice revealed more dreadful images, and then a voice started to resound in the room, explaining the horror that she was seeing.
"An ancient and eternal evil with lust for annihilation had come to this universe determined to conquer all; his strength is such that could kill gods and goddesses alike."
The priestess shut her eyes, it was too much to take, yet the voice continued to deliver more last words, like thrusts from a blade:
"A mighty and proud kingdom be destroyed, followed by years of false peace and prosperity. A spark of envy will be enough to unleash war, poverty and disease; all the kingdoms will suffer, and will remain that way until three heroes arouse to restore the balance. Only they can stop the evil, but if they fail, the era of the gods will end ".
'Three heroes….There will be hope,' she thought.
The highest priest asked every one of the known gods for an audience to tell them about the prophecy, but only Zeus and Rao concede and only they heard what she had to say: the world as they knew it was about to change forever.
"How are we going to know these heroes?" Rao asked with disdain.
The Kryptonian God was skeptic; he knew very well that the gods' meddling in the lives of the mortals invented many of the prophecies. However, in this case, the prophecy mentioned an ancient evil, as old as the night with red eyes and a face made of stone. Rao himself had fought a god that fit that description many ages ago and he barely survived. That in itself was worrisome.
The highest priestess resented his doubts. 'But at least he is willing to hear me,' she thought, and tried to stay calm as she told him everything the destiny's chalice had mentioned:
"From kings and queens three heroes will be born, their destinies bound to each other for all eternity. They will represent strength, truth, and justice. Together they will be invincible; feared and respected by all. Only they can destroy the ancient evil or make it prevail."
"So, their triumph is not certain?" asked Zeus.
'The mighty god of the Olympus has doubts too,' thought the highest priestess.
"They will have to endure various trials, but they have the potential for greatness. If they triumph, they will bring a new era of peace and prosperity."
"Thank you for bringing this to our attention, now you may leave," said Rao, with a gesture that left no doubt that they didn't want to see her anymore. She hid her wounded pride, usually people treated her almost with reverence, but here among gods she was merely a servant, she made a short bow and left.
The highest priestess was disappointed; her job was done but somehow she knew the prophecy fell on deaf ears. 'Nobody told me that the gods believe in nothing,' she thought bitterly. For the first time she felt hopeless, because if they didn't believe her, what could she do to prevent the world to end?
Once alone, Rao and Zeus looked at each other. They said nothing but each of them knew they have to get ready for what will come. They both parted ways to their realms without saying goodbye, thinking about the prophecy.
Once Zeus was at the Olympus, he summoned Apollo.
"Is this prophecy true?"
"Yes, Father."
Zeus looked at him with contempt. 'How did the great Apollo not know about this beforehand?'
He was angry with his son, but decided against scolding him. Instead, he appointed him a task.
"I want to know everything about these heroes… find them."
Chapter 1 - A tale of Three Cities
Kal – Kandor, the Golden City
General Zod strode furiously trough the halls of the royal palace in Kandor. The king had just made a passionate speech at the senate, yet his words were outrageous. He pretended to end the strict social caste systems that had been ruling Krypton for centuries. 'Equity, education for all, providing for the weak, sheltering the sick?'
To him it sound preposterous, especially now that Krypton was on the verge of bankruptcy because of the constant natural disasters that plagued the country during the past months and reduced the population in half, leaving many of the survivors living on provisional shelters.
Krypton didn't need compassion. 'What we need is order and discipline…and a new king,' Zod thought and smiled, "maybe Kal, the newborn prince could be that promised king."
According to an old prophecy from a caste of scientists and warriors, there will come a prince so powerful that he will be known for all the world for centuries to come. His kingdom will be a place of peace and prosperity. 'But even if Kal is the promised prince, we cannot wait for him to grow…If only somebody truly capable ruled instead of Jor-El.'
He contemplated the idea as a forbidden fruit. That night he had the most vivid dream, where he saw himself dressed as a king. He woke up with a ragged breath, but with a new determination: he was going to raise a coup against Jor-El.
Jor-El had spent the last few days locked in his lab, busy with some secret project that nobody seemed to know about. The secrecy of the project was odd in itself; it was so out of character for him, he was not a man of mystery, at least not with his wife. However, Lara was in the dark in this case.
She decided to go and take him out of his self-imposed exile. 'He must be seen in court, especially now,' she thought. Since the day of his last speech at the senate, the rumours and in general the political environment at the realm was convulsing.
She knocked twice, and then decided to let herself in. Only she held the key to the lab, the king's private refuge.
"Lara, your timing is perfect as usual," he said without even looking at her.
"Jor, what is going on? You've been locked in here for days," she said, half concerned and half mad at him.
Taking his eyes for the first time since she entered off whatever he was doing, he said, "Come with me, I want to show you something."
"What is this?" Lara asked, perplexed. 'I cannot believe he spent days building this toy.'
"It's a capsule," Jor explained, as if it was the most obvious thing to notice.
"What for?" she asked, barely controlling the anger that started to boil inside of her. She was worried, the incendiary speech his husband said days ago left many powerful people confused and afraid, and that was not good.
"For Kal," he said, his face suddenly looking deeply serious.
"Why?"
"Lara, the nearby volcano is active, and as you know is completely unpredictable. It could explode at any moment now. I am making plans along with a group of scientists to evacuate the city soon. However, this capsule will keep Kal safe from the lava or worst."
"Worst?"
"Lara, I am many things but blind. I know my ideas did not settle well with the senate, and I am aware that some at court are getting restless"
"That is to say the least." Now she was worried, this was worst that she could imagine. "Jor-El, we need to do something that brings the people together again, that can make them see beyond their selfish reasons."
"And I thought I was an idealist," he said with a smirk.
She ignored his sarcasm, "Jor, I am a politician and what you did was political suicide. It's difficult to make the senate less restless, but we can do it if we turn again to our faith."
Jor -El glanced at her in confusion.
"Let's make a big ceremony for Kal's presentation to Rao."
"Lara..." he said as a warning.
"I know we were against it. But the people need to see who the king is, and that will be a display of power without any violence. Besides, what if Kal is the chosen one?"
"Lara, do you really believe in that old wife's tale?"
"It is not an old wife's tale, Jor. It's a sacred prophecy"
"Something somebody made up thousands of years ago! For every generation we have waited for the same thing to happen, even my parents were hoping I was the chosen one until the presentation day came! Every time is disenchantment, I do not want my son to feel like he is a disappointment, when he must be proud of who he is prophecy or not."
"He will be, you will see."
And without further comment Lara left. Jor hated it when she did that. He was the king but his wife always had the last word in their conversations.
Bruce - Gotham, the Winter City
Meanwhile in Gotham, another couple was having a more pleasant conversation about a royal ceremony.
"Thomas, I doubt any ambassadors from Themyscira or Krypton will come."
"I know. As usual, Themyscira sent a gift...and Krypton, well…I know Jor is facing a national emergency with all the natural disasters they had recently. I have already sent a relief brigade, I hope they can help."
"Come, don't be so sad, now that Bruce is baptized, we can send more help to Krypton, maybe even deliver some personally and visit Lara and Jor."
"Yes, we had good times recently. We can afford it. Besides, it's good that Bruce meets the princes from other kingdoms."
"So it is settled then, we will go as soon as we can. Now, let's go to the fest."
Thomas smiled at his wife, and they kissed. The Waynes were an odd couple; in a world where marriage was a business, they managed to found love. Theirs was an arranged marriage settled since they were born; however once they met, they fell head over heels for each other. Now after many years of trying to have a child, they had the prince heir to the kingdom and their happiness was complete.
Martha won't said it aloud, but she felt guilty all those years when they were childless, especially because the law of their kingdom set up that if there were once a time when no Wayne will be there to rule Gotham, the seneschal and his family will be the guardians of the kingdom until another rightful Wayne will be found or be old enough to rule.
They left their chambers, holding hands, unaware that somebody in the shadows was watching them with hateful eyes.
Diana –Themyscira, Paradise Island
At Themyscira, another pair of hateful eyes was watching intently at a giggling baby. A sinister man was hiding in the shadows of the royal chamber, dimly lit by the light of the fire; his eyes however reflected the light as flames full of ire. Even with a heart full of hatred, he couldn't deny the baby girl was beautiful.
'A gift from Aphrodite without a doubt,' he thought. 'If only my brother was not here, I may even choke that giggling bundle.'
"No Ares, you cannot hurt Diana," said the golden god, leaving the baby inside her cradle.
"I'm a god, Apollo, "cannot" is a word that is not in my dictionary," he said, stepping out from the shadows.
"So I noticed, but perhaps you must make an effort to include it. Why are you here, to grant her a gift?"
Ares snorted. "No, I was curious. I wanted to see the latest phenomenon in the Olympus. I wanted to see the daughter of Hades with my own eyes, brother. Is that so bad?"
"I've never thought you liked to gossip."
"Please, anyone can see the resemblance."
'Indeed,' thought Apollo. 'How can anyone who had met Hades deny it? The same blue eyes as well as the black hair...'
"Hippolyta claims that the baby is made of clay and Hera made it came to life as a present."
"She's a liar. Why are you here, brother?," suddenly Ares was curious, his brother and the Queen of the Amazons had not seen eye to eye in the past.
"To grant Diana a gift," said Apollo with pride.
"What kind of gift?," Ares curiosity piqued.
"It is a secret for now, it will reveal itself when the time comes," said Apollo with a mischievous smile.
"You are quite generous, why?," Ares did not buy it; he knew his brother was not generous unless he had ulterior motives, something he had seen in one of his visions of the future, perhaps.
"I like her. Besides, I am one of the patrons of the Amazons, and so are you."
"Yes, something I had paid with a large cost, " Ares' face distorted in an immense sadness before he said, "They killed my son."
E/N: Special thanks to Rianna Lauren for her insightful comments on this chapter. This story starts slow, it has more intrigue than action scenes but I hope you can give it a chance. Love to read all your comments and feedback.