A/N: I know it's been a while… this chapter seemed somewhat short so I decided to combine it with the next one!


The Trial of the Gods

The three women made their way to the entrance of the Mount Olympus palace and were escorted to the throne room by Hermes. The throne room was gigantic. Bright white marble covered the entire floor with the sunlight pouring through the open roof, bouncing off the golden walls and pillars. There were two beautifully decorated golden chairs in the center of the room while other smaller chairs, still very beautiful, filled out the row. There were decorations and ornaments scattered throughout the place, weapons and armor made famous by their owners were pinned to the walls above the chairs allowing anyone who saw them to know which deity sat in which particular chair. Hermes told them that the Trials of the Gods wouldn't begin for another twelve earth hours and for them to reside into one of the royal chambers until they began.

Diana asked if she was allowed to see Batman, but Hermes unfortunately told her that the mortal on trial is forbidden to come into contact with anyone until after the trials are over. Hermes opened the door to their room and offered them to eat as much food as they liked. Before leaving the three women to settle into their chambers, Hermes advised Diana to rest up as the trials can be very unbearable to watch, let alone participate in. Queen Hippolyta went to take a bath leaving Shayera and Diana to themselves in the main room. Shayera was finally able to laugh as she thought back to what had happened. "Your conversation with your mother was golden! I can't wait to tell everyone."

"That's NOT funny!" Diana glared at her. "Don't you dare tell anyone about that!" She watched Shayera clutching her sides while rolling around in nonstop laughter.

"Ok…ok… I… won't… tell…" Sayera managed to squeak out between laughs. "We don't want to hurt Mr. Tall, Dark, and Brooding's ego now do we?"

Diana's anger quickly subsided and the two finished their 'Girl Talk' from the earlier conversation in the Javelin. When Queen Hippolyta came back from her bath, she told them about the history of the Trials of the Gods for mortal mates. It wasn't a very inspiring one. Of the hundreds of thousands of men who participated in the trials to deem themselves worthy in front of the Gods, only a small handful succeeded. What made matters worse was that the few who managed to succeed had at least one special extra ordinary power to aid them. No mortal man without any powers has ever made it past the first test.

Queen Hippolyta told them that tests vary each time depending on the will of the Gods. The Gods can even alter any part of the test as they see fit while it is going on. That really worried the Princess but her mother assured her that the Gods would only change the tests if the mortal did something to offend them. She also told them that the harder the test is, the greater the reward would be… should he succeed. Though it is rare, the Gods may even give gifts to the couple if the mortal impresses the Gods during his trials. Seeing how Batman's reward for succeeding would be Diana's love, they came to the conclusion that the tests would be extremely difficult. Queen Hippolyta revealed that Batman could be tested on a variety of things: strength, honor, agility, courage, knowledge, integrity, and anything else the Gods wished to see. There would normally be seven challenges that he would have to take. They would stand in the throne room with the Gods and watch the trials unfold in a vision cloud while listening to Batman's thoughts as he progresses through his journey. Diana would not be able to communicate with him however, only the Gods have the power to talk to him directly. Queen Hippolyta warned Diana that she will probably feel that the challenges may seem cruel or even impossible to complete, but she must hold her tongue and not object to the Gods' decisions. If any one of them did, it would upset the Gods and might make them make the trial harder or worse, kill Batman on the spot and send him on his way to eternal damnation. The only thing they can do is accept the challenges placed before Batman and pray that he succeeds.

Diana stayed up all night worrying about Bruce and knowing that the worst has yet to come. Everything that Bruce will go through was her fault. If Bruce fails and is sentenced to eternal damnation, it would be her fault. She was powerless to help the man she loved as he battled for his life, for their love. For all the times Bruce had hurt her, broke her heart and put her on the brink of multiple nervous breakdowns with his idiotic stubbornness and commitment issues… for all the pain she went through… the pain currently embedded in her heart was hurting a thousand times more. She never realized that her heart could hurt so much, and there was nothing she could do to heal the pain. There's only one man who can save her from the pain that tormented her, to heal her heavy heart, to bring happiness back into her life. Bruce. Batman… the only man she wants, will always want, and will never stop loving. The only thing that stopped Diana from having an emotional breakdown was her undying belief that Bruce will once again be the one to save her. He was always there to save her, even when she didn't need saving, and that wasn't going to change… not if he had anything to say about it. He is Batman, The World's Greatest Detective, her Dark Knight… the best at what he does… If there was a way for him to win, he was going to find it.

Time seemed to move excruciatingly slow as the three women were anxiously waiting in the throne room with an hour left before the trials would begin. Both Shayera and Queen Hippolyta wanted to help comfort Diana but neither could find anything to say that would have done so. They both knew the odds of Batman succeeding were not in his favor. Diana was pacing in circles nervously as she didn't know what else to do when they suddenly heard footsteps coming from the other side of the throne entrance. Hermes was the first of many figures to be recognized. Diana's jaw dropped in shock as another figure flew straight at her, knocking her back while giving her a gigantic hug.

"Diana! You should have told me! You look like crap…" Donna Troy released her grip on Diana while taking a look at her sister, noticing all the tear stains on her face. "Don't worry… Batman's the best there is… I mean come on… he kicks your butt all the time when you spar with him." she said with a smile, hoping to lighten the mood.

Diana tried to crack a smile but could only sigh in grief. "What are you doing here? How did you…" Diana asked but stopped as she saw who else Hermes had escorted into the throne room: Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, Superman, Green Lantern, Flash and J'onn. Hermes allowed them to enter and acknowledged Diana and Queen Hippolyta before leaving.

Donna explained to Diana that Superman informed her of the situation and if there was anyway they could help. Once she found out, Donna had to tell Nightwing to come and since Hermes owed her a favor, she had him escort everyone to Mount Olympus to support her and Batman in their time of need. With Diana still too distraught to talk in length, Queen Hippolyta explained what was happening and that there was nothing they could do to help Batman. She also warned them not to speak to the Gods and allow her, Diana, or Donna to speak on their behalf knowing the Gods would be irritated with the number of mortals watching the trials.

It was the longest hour of her life, but finally it was over as the Gods appeared instantly when the sun broke over the horizon. All the Gods chatted and settled into their respective thrones as their attention focused on the Amazons and their friends. "Why are there mortals in my presence? Hippolyta, why do you insult us with such beings?" Zeus demanded angrily.

"My lord, they are earth's greatest warriors… all of whom honorably share the battlefield with the one named Batman. They only wish to see his worth in your view my King… nothing more." Queen Hippolyta said humbly, hoping that Zeus wouldn't smite them for their annoyance while the heroes nervously knelt before the Gods unaware of the consequences they might face if the Gods didn't approve of their presence.

"Let them watch my husband. After all, they are friends of our favorite Princess Diana. I'm sure they will be well behaved." Hera said while signaling her approval to Queen Hippolyta and Diana.

"Very well… Hermes, bring forth the one named Batman." Zeus demanded while gesturing towards Hermes. With a flash of bright light, Batman appeared unharmed as he stood facing the Gods with his back against the heroes. Diana instantly had the urged to go kiss him and hold him in her arms again. It took all her willpower and strength to not move, she knew no one was allowed to talk to him until after the trials were complete… if he succeeds…

"Hey Bats!" Flash yelled as Batman turned and glared at him. Although Batman didn't show it, he was surprised and confused as to how all the original members of the league, Donna, and the batclan were able to be standing next to Diana and Queen Hippolyta.

"SILENCE!" Zeus shouted as he eyeballed the heroes, thinking if he should smite them or not. Everyone else furiously glared at Flash while Shayera hit him over the head with her mace.

"Oh… right… I forgot…" Flash whispered as he rubbed the back of his head.

"You pathetic powerless mortal! Do you truly believe you are worthy of my daughter's hand? That you can take her purity before my judgment?" Hades angrily stared down Batman, but Batman didn't show any reaction as he glared back at Hades. Diana had to give it to Bruce, not even the Gods intimidated him. And even if he was, he didn't show it as usual. "Speak mortal!" Hades demanded as he grew impatient with his inability to visibly intimidate Batman.

"Calm down brother… that's why we have these trials. If he passes, he will then be worthy of having the honor of being Princess Diana's mate." Hera calmly stated then took her attention to the Dark Knight. "Batman, I presume that the rules and stipulations of the trials were presented to you?"

Batman nodded. "Yes… I'm aware of the consequences of my failure to succeed."

"What is your decision mortal?" Zeus demanded.

Batman narrowed his white screened eyes. "When this is over, Diana is coming home with me."

After most of the Gods calmed themselves from their intense laughter, Hades sat up with a smirk on his face. "Your arrogance is very amusing."

Zeus took a few more breaths as his own laughter finally subsided. "Very well… You will be sent to a given location where you must complete certain challenges. If you succeed, you will then be immediately sent to another location to complete another challenge. There will be no intermissions." With a flash of bright white light, Batman was gone and a giant vision cloud appeared in the middle of the room.