Disclaimer: This is written for fun, solely for the enjoyment of those who cannot stand thinking inside the box. I make no money of this, and none of the characters are mine.
AN: I know most people do this at the end, but all work is edited by IMFACI, also training method in this chapter is based off of training method used by SmylingSnake in his funny story Oops. Check it out if you haven't.
Chapter 3 – Euryale
Hippolyta had talked with her General of the Guard and made her see the foolishness of her actions. Diana was not the child she had been, and trying to link her back to that past would be a mistake on her part. Diana's power outstripped any one of them, alienating her from them would only create a bitter soul, something they could not afford.
Her daughter was sitting in the Temple, staring at that statue of their first patron, Aphrodite. The goddess often sought refuge with them, because of Ares. Her gift of a daughter had ended the tryst between her and Ares and began the path to reclaiming her position next to her husband, Hephaestus. To this day, she did not understand what had caused the reconciliation between the two; there was little that connected them.
"Daughter," Hippolyta said, looking at her daughter
Diana looked up; her eyes still brimmed with tears. "Mother."
"Are you well?" she asked, sitting next to the woman-child. For being around for so long, for all her blessings, there was still so much for her daughter to learn.
"I am sorry, mother," she said softly as she looked down at the ground.
"Don't apologize for being strong, daughter," she said looking at her fondly. "What happened though? It's rare to see you slip these days."
"I saw him again," she said softly. She didn't understand it; she had never experienced anything like it before.
"What do you mean?" Hippolyta asked, concerned.
"I saw him," Diana began. "He appeared where you are, he taunted me, and we clashed. I…mother he was as strong as I am. I didn't think the gods blessed a male to be that strong."
Hippolyta's face scrunched slightly. They hadn't as far as she knew.
"He smiled at me, he said if I won, he would tell me how he got here, and we dueled for but a moment. I thought I had an opening, and then I saw you on the ground." Diana sounded miserable. She had learned long around relying on her powers was not always the answer and began to study her control. It was odd to see her slip.
Hippolyta looked worried for her part. A male that was the equal of a champion of the goddess, that was unthinkable in her mind. "Don't worry about it daughter, I think the likelihood of you meeting this man are slim to none."
Diana nodded and looked at Aphrodite. She dared not tell her that she truly wished to meet the man. Her mother would lock her away so fast, she would never be able to dream of traveling the world ever again.
"You should rest daughter, you missed meal so visit the kitchens and rest. We will train again tomorrow," Hippolyta said, standing and giving one last look at her daughter before leaving.
Hearing her mother close the door, Diana looked at the eyes of the statue. "What am I to do, goddess?"
Lift, slam, lift, and slam. Repetitive work was always best to get your mind off troubling thoughts. Clark learned early though, that too much of a slam and he would not only break the wood, but he would also break the axe. He shattered three before he figured out how lightly he had to swing the axe so that it didn't snap. Still looked like he was going to split the stump, or try, with how the fire wood would go. Only half a chord left to go.
"You up for another exercise son?" his dad called out, walking out from the house.
His dad had worked with him on control almost constantly. He looked around to find ways to teach him how to interact with the world around him.
"Sure," Clark set the axe down. "What do you have for me?"
His dad held up a bucket of golf balls. "You're going to catch these without crushing them, and then throw them against the barn tree without imbedding them."
"Oh, this sounds fun," he groaned. He had crushed golf balls into dust before.
"I know but you've stopped destroying horseshoes and throwing iron through the wall. Hopefully, we can get to ping pong balls before the end of the year," his dad said with an awkward smile.
"I think you love coming up with silly training," he said. "Too much Kung Fu: The Legend Continues."
"Of course, grasshopper," his dad said with a mock bow. Clark rolled his eyes. "Let's get to it, your mom is making roast, enough to feed you even."
"I don't eat that much," Clark growled.
"If we didn't grow most of our food, you would never see us, because we had to work so many jobs," his dad deadpanned.
Clark groaned, and suddenly lashed out. He looked at the dust in his hands and cursed.
"None of that," Jonathan said with a smile. "It's only the first try, and we have a lot of balls."
He heard it on the wind, he grabbed it out of the air, and half crushed it. With a flick of the wrist, he made a hole in the barn. His dad shook his head. "Maybe we should work on just catching them right now."
He nodded and closed his eyes. It helped him if he kept his sight out of any of these crazy tests for some reason. His sense of hearing was getting more and more refined. Now he barely heard all of Smallville, but when he had turned twelve it kicked in high gear and he could hear almost half the world. He took the listening to rock music really loud to try and block the calls for help, the crying, and the joy across the world.
He caught another, and another. He dropped them to the ground, one shattered into powder, the other broke in half. Jonathan shook his head. He was going to need to get a lot of golf balls for this to work.
"Welcome to Smallville High School," the old lady said with a genial voice. "I am sure you will find your stay here pleasant."
She smiled as best she could, it was taking all of her control not to turn this woman to stone and shatter her right then and there. She felt so strange, in human skin. Most of her time was spent in her true form, but Ares had demanded that she take human form again and head to the heart of a country that held no real connection with them. The Great Spirits had already warned her that any stepping out would be considered an act of war against the Pantheon.
She shuddered at the memory of meeting with Coyote. The old peyote hound had a wicked smile on his face as he told her that too far and he would show her what Rao had taught them personally, and then whoever sent her. She shuddered again.
Her sister, Stheno, was out looking for a home for them. She was the one sent to get close to him, or to find any friends that he might have. It should be easy, since her human form was a six foot tall brunette with "killer curves" she believed a mortal had called them, before being turned to stone. Her flawless dark skin and brilliant obsidian eyes could ensnare any man.
"Excuse me, does a Clark Kent go here," she asked as they stood.
"Kent," the old woman thought for a moment. She shook her head. "No, the Kents have been homeschooling the boy for years. We thought we might see him this year, but at the last moment they changed their minds."
She growled in her mind. How was she supposed to complete her mission now? She may be immortal but she didn't want to think about the things that Ares would do to her should she fail.
"Are you an old friend of theirs, I could give them a call and let them know you're in the area," the lady offered. Even if Smallville was the quintessential small town, she was not about to give out info on the Kent family. The last group that had come through looking for the Kents caused enough trouble that no one in the town forgot it.
"No, no need," she said quickly, still wishing she could kill her. "I will head over to the farm myself, when I get the chance."
"Have a nice day, Elizabeth Gorgon," the woman offered her a hand. She shook it, fighting the flinch of disgust and left. Letting out a hiss at having to put up with these insufferable mortals.
"You know, you will get wrinkles that way, sister," Stheno said, appearing next to her as she left the building from a side rail. "So is the Kent boy in school here?"
She shook her head. "It seems they keep him at the farm all the time, and you know that Zeus is having Hermes enforce the boundary to their land. None of the pantheon can enter without the consent of the Kent's."
She shook her head. "We should simply end these mortals and be done with it."
"Do you truly wish to challenge Coyote and his pack," she asked. If there was one thing learned, the vengeance of the Great Spirits was far swifter than the Pantheon's and far more brutal.
She sighed. "I hate being in human form, and unable to dispense justice for the way these mortals look upon me."
"When Ares controls the Son of Rao, we will unleash our justice on these fools," she offered. "Come, Stephanie, let us begin."
Rao watched as the two gorgons left the school and could only laugh. Even if he controlled his son there would be no way for Ares to dethrone him from his spot atop the heavens. Such arrogance the Greek Pantheon had bred. The only one foolish enough to think he could oppose him in the Nordic Halls was Loki, and even then the trickster had learned a harsh lesson the time he opposed him.
"Interesting," he whispered. "I wonder how Kal-El would fair against the weakest of Immortals of this world."
He faded from view, and went to set his plans into motion.
Hippolyta stood before the Priestesses of the Oracle. Vapors filled the dark room, where the Oracle sat on a golden tripod. She writhed about in the throes of Apollo's embrace. She mumbled to the Priestess who looked shocked. It was a few minutes before she turned to the Queen and approached.
"My queen, I don't understand this Oracle," she shook her head. "She says that Diana's warrior has come."
The Queen's disgust was clear. "Diana is an Amazon, she needs no warrior."
"I know my queen, but I don't understand it. She said the Last Son of Rao the shining had stepped forward, and that Diana would be at his side."
The priestess looked nervous, the peace that protected the Oracles was only as good as the prophecy they delivered. The autonomy of the priestesses was all a fiction of those who wished to control those who believed in them.
"See that the Priestesses are taken care of for making their aid," Hippolyta told Philippus as she turned and left the room.
"You seem troubled," Epione, the chief healer of the island said as they made their way back towards their home.
"It does not sit well with me," Hippolyta admitted as Philippus caught up. "I don't like that a man I don't know is entering into my daughter's life in such a way."
"Are you sure it's him who is doing this?" Epione questioned.
Philippus looked as if it was a certainty. "What man would not want an Amazon? He must be trying to suborn her to his will."
Epione snorted. "Not every man in this world is out to get us, sister. Remember which earned us our penance in the first place."
She growled. "They did their best to break us, they deserved what they got."
Hippolyta shook her head. She didn't like this argument, simply because it was getting old. "Enough, both of you!"
Both of them looked appropriately cowed. "Sorry, my queen."
Hippolyta looked forward again, wondering about the man. She had artisans sit with her daughter and listen to her describe the beast that had invaded her thoughts. She had never seen another like him before, if he was as strong as Diana claimed, he would be greater than Hercules, and he had become the God of Strength after his penance had been served. She would not let her people be suborned again, but why would Diana dream of him? Diana was the strongest of them, the one that could break even Hercules if she was forced to do so, so why her?
Diana described an intimacy between the two of them that she could not have imagined. Simple gestures, no wild rutting, were what defined them in her dreams. A smile, a hug, a touch of comfort, how could those things truly matter to a male?
"None shall speak of this," Hippolyta ordered as she stepped into her chariot. "All who know will be sworn to silence. Philippus, prepare a group to investigate this male. I wish to know if he is truly real, or only a dream in my daughter's heart."
Philippus looked like she would rather fight Charybdis on her own than deal with the male. "Your will be done, my queen."
Hippolyta nodded. She would see of this man, and do her best to keep her daughter away from him.
Diana was in a field, far away from home. Gold was all around her, the tallest of wheat that she had ever seen. She ran a hand over the still growing stalks and looked towards a small house, and a large red structure in the distance. She could make out a fence and something that she guessed was an automobile that she had heard about.
She was barefoot, it was odd, and she rarely walked around without even sandals on. She could hear laughter coming from the house, and felt the warmth. She walked towards the house, hoping that someone was there.
She stiffened as she felt a pair of arms encircle her, and a soft kiss planted against her neck. Her eyes closed and she leaned back into the arms that were wrapped around her.
"You shouldn't do that to me," she whispered hoarsely.
"Why not, love," a teasing voice came back. "You do the same all the time."
"That's different," she whispered. "I am allowed."
He laughed, his arms shaking her with them. "You're my princess, now and for always. I must do my best to worship you as any subject should."
She rolled her eyes. He could lay it on thick sometimes. "I have missed you."
"And I you," he said, laying his head against her shoulder. "Why are you here though? I thought you would be at the island."
"How do you call it? A surprise homecoming present," she said, turning to face him. His blue eyes took her breath away every time she looked at them.
He smiled, warmth that permeated him seemed to grow stronger. "The greatest gift I have ever received."
"Naturally," she remarked dryly, reveling in the feel of him. It still stunned her that he was so strong. She laid her head on his shoulder this time, and breathed in his scent. "I wish…"
"As do I, love," he whispered.
He faded from her arms, and she spun around, facing an older man with ancient eyes. He smiled at her, and stepped towards her. The world around them, the warmth of the sun, and the cool breeze faded and all that remained was the white.
"How do you like this future," he asked softly.
"This is real," she said stunned.
"It can be," he whispered, holding out a small crystal towards her. On it was emblazed the same symbol that she had seen so many times.
"Who are you," she asked, taking a step back.
He shook his head. "Not something I can tell you yet, Diana of the Amazons."
"How do you know who I am," she said stunned.
"You mean you haven't figured it out yet," he raised an eyebrow.
She thought for a moment and then seemed repulsed. "You've been feeding these visions to me?"
He shook his head again. "I need no subterfuge to manipulate you to my will. If I truly commanded it, you would do my bidding without question."
"I would fight you," she growled.
"As many others before you have, and failed," the man said with a nonchalant wave. "For all your strength, for the gods that patron you, they are but a drop in the bucket compared to my power, girl."
He waved his hands and the last image, of him and her embracing came back. He moved and stood next to her. "None of this is me though, these dreams that you have been having, the feeling of longing, that is all you."
"How," she was stunned. "Can this be real?"
"It's a possibility," he shrugged. "Your soul is trying so desperately to show you this path, to get you to walk it. I have never seen such a strong pull before."
"Why are you doing this," she all but cried. She was an Amazon, she would never cry.
He turned and looked at the girl. A woman in body, but a child in spirit. Like his own son, he thought wearily as she stared at her form embracing the man she had never known.
"I can't give you all the answers, Diana," he said softly. "All I can tell you is that this is something you can find. If you are willing to reach for it. Stay strong, child of the earth."
He faded from view, and the world around her shattered.
Diana was used to her dreams now. Slumping in the chair she looked up and saw the sun setting in the horizon. Was it possible that it could be real? She shivered, remembering the feel of him, and the kiss that he had left against her skin. She sat there, waiting for her mother to return from the Oracle. Hopefully, she would have some good news.
Martha looked in her fridge and sighed. She turned back to see her son and husband sitting around the TV, watching a football game.
"Would one of you head into town, and get me some butter and salt," she asked. "I don't have enough to cook dinner."
Clark looked at his dad with some longing. The older man sighed and reached into his pocket and handed him a set of keys. "Be careful," he said turning back to the game.
"I will be," Clark said happily, rushing up the stairs in a burst of speed that left him nearly a blur. His mother chuckled.
"He is the only boy I know who is eager to go to the grocery store," Martha told him, sitting next to him.
"He likes being around people, I think it helps learn," he said softly. "You know, he still beats himself up for hurting you."
Martha winced, remembering the hug that had nearly cracked a vertebrate and left several deep bruises across her back. It had been a simple hug, and yet because he was not in complete control over his power, she had ended up hurt. She had tried her best to hide it from him, but he had found out, and threw himself to finding ways to control his strength. He was nine when it happened.
"He shouldn't beat himself over it," Martha said softly.
"It's the way he is, Martha," Jonathan said softly.
"He's growing so cold though," she said with a hint of worry. "I see him flinch when I try and give him a hug."
One thing she noticed after the accident, Clark stopped making a move to touch anyone. He didn't hug her anymore like had when he was a kid, and even flinched when she tried. Was it really hurting him that much?
Jonathan couldn't say anything else. It was a conversation that they had many times before, and he was no closer to an answer than before. His son was slowly becoming indestructible. He had seen his son take a blade head on, without flinching. But, what good was it when all it did was take? Take away the warmth of the world, and take away his ability to touch those around him? What good was it if he was isolated from the world?
Clark came back down, fully dressed, and said a good bye, leaving both parents to their thoughts.
It was a weird experience driving. He had to pay a lot of attention when he was learning, because he could not feel the pedal correctly, considering his lightest touch nearly floored the damn thing. His dad had a heart attack as they careened along the path to the main road at nearly a hundred. Sometimes, he thought he should just run, but the less people that knew about his abilities the better.
"Hi, Clark," Mrs. Jackson called from behind the counter. She and her husband had run the local store for nearly thirty years.
"Hi, Mrs. Jackson," he returned calmly. She had been there when he was younger, always with a cookie and a smile. It was a shame she had not been able to have children of her own, they would have benefited from her and her husband.
"What do you need this afternoon, sweetie," she asked with genuine affection.
"Mom said she needed some butter and salt," he said quickly. He wanted to get back home for some reason.
"Sure, sweetie," she said with a smile, walking out from behind the counter. "It'll do me some good to stretch, you mind if I walk with you?"
He shook his head, and tried to smile. It felt weak. "How is Mr. Jackson doing?"
"He's doing well," she said brightly. "He has been wanting to go and see your dad for a bit, wondering if he needed any extra help on the farm. He's annoyed with David, sitting around all the time, and wants him to put some real work in, he says."
Clark wanted to cringe. He remembered David, he wasn't an easy kid to get along with growing up. It's one of the reasons he was happy his parents had decided to home school him. If he had been around, he probably would have done worse than Pete did, and he had the strength to make it true.
"I will be sure to let him know," Clark said, finding what he needed. "I should get back quick though, if mom wants to have dinner done any time tonight."
She nodded. "Tell your mother I said hi."
"I will," he said, as they walked back to the counter.
After paying, he went back to his truck. He stopped as a slithering sound entered his ear. He spun around. It had been ages since he could remember seeing any snakes in Smallville. There was nothing there. He shrugged and headed to his truck, when he heard it again. He stopped, and felt the cold descend on him.
"Who's there?" he asked, not even looking back.
Nothing answered, but he heard another movement. He closed his eyes and listened. He heard it again, it was stronger now. He spun around, and came to a stop. A woman with dark brown hair, and violet eyes stared at him.
"Who are you?" he asked softly. She was beautiful, but not even close to the woman that he had seen in his dreams.
She smiled slightly. "I am Euryale."