The End of All Things is near, closer than you think. Be warned, this story might not be the happy ending you were hoping for...
Tartarus-2009
Diana felt like she was walking through a fog, a very hazy fog. She had no clue where she was or why she was there. In fact she couldn't remember anything at all for that matter. All she knew was her name was Diana.
SPLASH!
Diana looked behind her and saw a wretched skeletal figure rowing a boat. The same boat she was on. The skeletal figure was rowing the boat slowly and methodically as if it was in no hurry. She quickly deduced who the rower was. But that would mean…
"I'm dead," Diana gasped to herself as she looked down at her "body." All she saw was a faint ghostly apparition of herself, draped in a toga. She had died somehow but when? Her memory was still a little foggy.
As if on cue, all her memories began to come back. Not just her childhood and early life but everything. She remembered when she first ventured into Man's World. The first time she tasted its food and made friends. She remembered the Justice League and all the trials and tribulations they faced. Her first love, her first kiss. All the losses and pain she had learned to bear as an immortal. The CADMUS Crisis, the last Battle with Darkseid, the death of Bruce.
"Bruce…" she whispered to herself. She remembered after his death everything went downhill from there. She just couldn't remember how. Not all of her memory had caught up with her yet.
"It's nice of you to come visit me again, Daughter," a voice taunted in the distance. "Although I'm pretty sure you didn't intend to…"
Diana felt anger and hatred fill up in her as she heard that sinister voice. She looked to the far side of the banks of the river to see a large man in black armor giving her a gloating grin. Even though there was a fog she could still see the demon god's wicked smile shining brightly. He had come to mock her defeat. She then realized the boatman stopped rowing; Hades wanted to talk.
"What do you want?" Diana demanded. She refused to show fear or submission to him. He was the god of death but she was still an Amazon, even in death. She wouldn't let him beat her.
"Now, now. That's no way to respect your father. Especially considering that I'm letting the boatmen transport you free of charge. It's a shame Hippy never had me around to teach you some manners. Can't a father have one last talk with his daughter before she departs into the paradise of Elysian Fields? You know I'm not allowed to enter there so this is the last time we'll see each other."
"You make that sound like a terrible thing," Diana retorted.
Hades chuckled.
"You may have your mother's beauty and courage, but you have my defiance," Hades commented. "Now, first off, do you remember why you're here?"
"Why does that concern you?"
"I take that as a no," Hades noted. "Don't worry, being dead it takes a while for the soul to fully remember how they died. You'll get there eventually."
As if his explanation somehow influenced her, a new series of memories began to hit Diana. A series of bad memories. Memories she wished she could forget.
She remembered Holt, Zatanna , John, Justin, and Greg were the firsts to die after the villains had shocked them in their prison. Shayera came next along with her unborn children. Diana remembered seeing blood was pouring out of Shayera's already soaked pants. She wasn't sure if Dick died before or after the shocking started to happen because he had already lost so much blood. Wally soon went next despite his attempt to hold out as long as he could. Only Clark, her, and J'onn remained. All already weakened badly.
Diana grimaced but the memories weren't done yet.
J'onn tried to phase through the energy wall in a last-ditch effort only to cause himself more pain. Diana wasn't sure if that killed him or if he was just unconscious. She had passed out just in time for her to see the energy wall go down as they unleashed the powerful Bodach after an unconscious and powerless Superman. She wasn't sure how she died. She just remembered blacking out and never waking up.
Diana opened her eyes again, even though she was dead she could feel tears still somehow. Even the dead could feel pain in the heart.
"You died when they crashed the Watchtower," Hades explained. "Not even my siblings' gifts could protect you from an energy explosion like that. Even gods have their limits, except me…"
"Are you done?" Diana snapped angrily. She was already in enough pain and didn't need her mother's ex aggravating it even more.
"Actually, I have way more important matters to discuss with you," Hades replied. "For example, if it wasn't for me you'd probably still be alive at this moment."
Diana froze at that remark. He was behind this? That was impossible. He was trapped in here. No, this was a game he was playing. He was trying to get at her one final time.
"How?" Diana challenged and narrowed her eyes. "How did you do that?"
"It's a little complicated and I frankly am not in the mood to go into the details, but if you must know, it was me who gave Ra's Al Ghul the idea to use Brother Eye."
"What?" Diana asked. How did he know about all this while being trapped in here?
"It was me," Hades said proudly. "Orpheus, the Dream God, is now in my service thanks to a deal that I made with your so-called patron gods. I've used Orpheus to deliver messages to certain mortals to further my plans the past three years. In fact I also warned the mad mortal you call the Joker about Ghul's plans to betray him and his allies."
"You're lying," Diana denied. "My gods would never let you have a gift to contact mortals from the outside world."
"You don't know them like I do Diana," Hades warned. "You and your self-righteous Amazons always followed them with blind loyalty. I know what they really are. They're nothing more than paranoid deities intent on maintaining what little power they have left. The only attachment they have is to themselves. The difference between them and myself is I at least don't hide my intentions behind the pretensions of nobility or the greater good. I know intentions like the rest of life is irrelevant in the long run."
Hades began to rub his chin with his hand while his smile continued to glow. Diana knew he was holding a lot of information still. He was torturing her by deliberately stalling.
"Why do you think they had you restore me to my throne when Faust overthrew me? Did they tell you it was to restore balance? No, they needed my help with something that only I could do. Your patrons were so eager for my help they even also gave me Apollo's gift to see the future and agreed to not to interfere with my plans. When push comes to shove, my relatives will save themselves before those fools who had given them the utmost loyalty."
"I refuse to believe that. They wouldn't let you have so much power and leeway. They know what you're capable of."
"Believe what you want, I don't care. Now we are getting to why I've sought an audience with you. As your probably wondering, why did I cause the destruction of Man's World, especially since I'm still trapped here?"
"Because you're a foul sadist who takes pleasure in death and destruction," Diana remarked bitterly.
Hades shook his head while slightly chuckling.
"That may be partly true, but the real reason is simple."
"You call the destruction of Man's World simple?"
"Yes. My whole motivation is simple; everything I've done has been for revenge…"
"What has Man's World done to you?" Diana interrupted. "Your quarrel is with my gods and my people."
"You think too big, Diana. The fate of Man's World is irrelevant to me. All I care about is one man. In fact a rather extraordinary man. One who has defied me twice already."
"The mighty god of death has been triumphed by a mortal twice?" Diana called back with a taunting smile. "You really must be losing your touch."
"This man is more than just any man. Especially because he was the man who won your heart…"
Diana froze at that remark. For a second she was confused by what Hades meant. But that was impossible. Bruce was dead. What did he have to do with this?
"You're lying," Diana remarked bitterly. Leave it to Hades to mess with her emotions before she went to Elysian Fields.
"Am I? Does the name Bruce Wayne ring a bell?"
Diana's face went rigid at that. How could he possibly know that? But then she remembered how. She had visited him not too long ago to confirm if Bruce was dead or not. He was just using this information to taunt her.
"You only know about him because I came to you," Diana remarked sternly. "You said so himself he was dead."
"You don't sound as confident as you usually do. Do I sense doubt, Daughter?"
Diana continued to glare at him but the truth was, she was not feeling as confident as she usually was. Could it be after all this time, Clark was right? Was Bruce still alive? No, he wasn't. And she had the proof.
"You said so yourself he was dead!" Diana accused.
"I'm sorry about that, I guess I neglected to tell you that I was interpreting what you meant by dead rather loosely…"
"What?"
"I couldn't have you realizing that Batman was still alive but stuck in time; it would've interfered with my plans. So I gave you the closure you so desperately sought from me."
Diana felt herself collapse at the news. After all this time, Clark was right! Bruce was alive! And she had refused to believe him. Bruce was stuck in time and they could have saved him if she only had faith and wasn't so desperate to move on.
"Now you probably wonder why I know Batman; let's just say our paths have crossed a couple of times during his journey across time…"
"Then why didn't you say anything when Faust released you? You battled Batman yourself and didn't say a word!"
"I lost a wager," Hades explained. "But that's irrelevant. The point is Batman's been travelling through time because of Darkseid's Omega Sanction. Because Darkseid perished, there was no one to control the Omega Sanction so now Batman has jumped forward across time as the energy builds up. Eventually he'll build up too much energy that it will become unstable and it will forcibly release itself, killing him. When that energy is released, it will destroy the entire universe."
"So that's it?" Diana asked angrily. "That's your plan? To let him jump through time until he explodes? You're sick. You'll destroy the universe over one man?"
"The universe is already doomed," Hades warned Diana. "A great war will break out in the future leading to its eventual destruction so whether the Omega Energy is released or not doesn't matter to the grand scheme of things."
Hades turned his back to Diana as if to add more dramatic tension to his explanations.
"No, my plan is more complex than destroying the universe. I needed Man's World to be totally devoid of hope by creating a post-Apocalyptic world where hope is the rarest currency. Why? Because when Batman arrives in this new world order, he will do what he does best; after overcoming his own fears and doubts, he will try to save the day again. He will come very close to success that even he will have hope. But that will be his downfall because as I showed Sisyphus, the best way to break a man is to give them hope when they need it…"
Hades turned back around.
"Only to crush it in front of them!"
He began to laugh wickedly again.
"Now it is true that I've never believed in fate. Life itself doesn't matter. All of our so-called fates and destinies are nothing more than a series of choices and accidents. Life is nothing but a chaotic mess of chance. My plan itself does rely a lot on chance due to free will. However, there are some things that are fixed in time. Some things that no matter what happens, they will still end the same. And that fixed moment is Batman's last failure. No matter what he does or how successful he is, he will still fail. Whether he'll die fighting or live long enough to truly see the hopelessness of his cause remains to be seen. I've seen all the possible futures; Batman is destined to fail and this universe is doomed!"
Diana had collapsed in the boat. She knew Hades was evil but never to this level. He was talking about destroying the entire universe out of some twisted sense of honor. She couldn't understand it. Why would he do all this?
"Now you're probably wondering Daughter, why go through all this trouble? Well here's some knowledge that many don't know about the soul. Souls are just extensions of our will. If you break down a living being so much that they don't just lose the will to live but the will to exist, when they die, their souls don't go into any afterlife. They just cease to exist. When Batman realizes the hopelessness of his cause, I will be there to finally break him, destroy his soul once and for all!"
"No!" Diana cried. Bruce didn't deserve that. No one deserved that. After everything Bruce didn't deserve to be wiped out of existence as if he was just an unwanted memory.
"Oh yes," Hades taunted back, taking great pleasure in her pain. "But that's not all. What do you know about the Anti-Life Equation?"
Diana didn't answer but looked at the god of death with fear. She knew enough from Superman and the New Gods. She didn't know how this played into his plan but she knew that would be bad if he somehow got it.
"I take it from your battles with Darkseid you know enough," Hades deduce by the fear on her face. "But Darkseid had it wrong. He thought the Anti-Life equation was power and control. He didn't understand what Anti-Life is really made up of. It is despair, hopelessness, pain, suffering. Being the ruler of this domain, I've figured out the Anti-Life Equation a long time ago. In fact I could feed off the cries of despair in the souls here to create a small amount of Anti-Life but it would be too risky and unstable. The Anti-Life Equation doesn't bring power to dominate over others. It makes everyone around you feel the despair that is life and destroy their will to exist. When a soul ceases to exist, they become one with the Anti-Life, making it even more powerful. By breaking Batman's soul, the remnants of it will make up enough stable Anti-Life for me to control."
"What can you hope to gain from it? You said so yourself the universe is already doomed!" Diana protested in a last desperate attempt to dissuade the mad god.
"With the power of Anti-Life from breaking such a strong soul, I shall have the power to go to other universes and escape this prison. I will spread Anti-Life across the Multiverse, breaking and destroying more living souls which in turn power the Anti-Life even more. Soon the entire Multiverse will sink into nothing but despair and oblivion as everyone realizes the true secret of their lives. Their lives have been nothing more than a chaotic series of accidents. With the Anti-Life, they'll realize that nothing matters and like Batman, they will die and no longer exist. I'll spare a few souls from the destruction of the Anti-Life if they accept the First Truth; everything ends with death. If they acknowledge this truth and accept death with me as their master, they'll be allowed to exist in Tartarus as my subjects."
Diana couldn't even speak. Hades truly was insane and sick. He was not only talking about killing countless of lives but destroying them into nothing.
"Soon the entire cosmos will be nothing but darkness and despair, and only the few that survive will be under my rule. I will be the only power in the Multiverse. I will be the only meaning in the meaningless abyss. I will be the one light of truth in the darkness."
"Why?" Diana whispered weakly.
"What was that?" Hades asked even though he heard her.
Diana looked up and made eye contact with Hades. No longer was there any confident defiance in her eyes. Instead Hades found himself looking into the eyes of a frightened little girl. It gave him sick pleasure that he finally put his brat of a daughter in her place.
"Why are you doing this?" she demanded.
"Hahahahahahaha!" Hades laughed wickedly. "You really don't know me still! There is no 'why' with me! There is no reason! Nothing matters! Everything ends with death! All I care about is entertaining myself by watching everyone realize the ugly truth about the lack of meaning in their lives. Everything ends with death one way or another. I'm just hastening the process."
"F-father…" Diana choked out weakly. It made her feel disgust that she would ever acknowledge him as her father but she was out of options.
"What?" Hades asked, showing surprise by how she addressed him.
"Father…" Diana begged weakly as she bowed her head. "Please…don't do this…"
"Oh now you finally call me 'Father!'" Hades taunted. "When you have nothing left to do but beg! It's really pathetic. You really are like your mother; underneath the brave façade is just a woman begging submission."
Diana shot her head back up and glared angrily at him. The fire in her was back again.
"Go to Hell!" she shouted.
Hades laughed at the line.
"Speaking of your mother, she'll be coming to seek an audience with me once she realizes you have died. Perhaps I should comfort her…"
"You stay away from her!" Diana warned. "Or I'll make you regret it!"
"You'll do no such thing," Hades retorted and waved his hand at the boatman. "Take her to Elysian Fields!"
"This isn't over!" Diana cried and tried to get out of the boat only to find an invisible force blocking her.
"It is daughter, it is. You'll probably be the first soul in Elysian Fields to never experience paradise because now you know what will happen in the outside world. It'll be hard knowing that while you're in paradise, the very man you love will be destroyed forever and bring about my triumph."
"You evil snake!" Diana shouted again. "You'll fail! You won't succeed!"
"Goodbye my little Sun and Stars!" Hades taunted after her as she was transported away from him. "You'll forever be in the safety of Elysian Fields but haunted by the knowledge of what is to come. Probably the only fate worse than ceasing to exist."
Hades then turned away from the river.
"Consider this as payback for aiding Batman in preventing my last attempt at revenge."
Tartarus- Few Thousand Years Ago
"WHAT?" the god of death roared angrily.
"Calm down Uncle," Hermes protested as he stared at Hades's inhuman face. It was grey and looked like a cross between a demon and a wolf. Most of the Olympians were disgusted with the god of death's appearance. Athena once told Hermes that Hades used to be very handsome when he was younger but years in Tartarus and torturing souls had corrupted him. No wonder why everyone always fawned over Persephone when she got back from her duties as Queen of the Underworld; she had to put up with an ugly face like that.
"I was promised his soul!" Hades complained. "The whole reason why I let him take Cerberus for his twelfth labor was because Athena promised me his soul when he died!"
"The condition was if his soul was dark before he died, not even Zeus's patronage would protect him from you. If his soul was damned, you would've been able to claim it just like every dark mortal soul you claim. However Heracles soul was not dark before he died."
"He imprisoned and raped the entire Amazons a few months ago!" Hades reminded. "Tell me how that is a pure heart! Let alone tell me how my sister let that slide!"
"Heracles was not perfect. He did make some terrible decisions which he'll have to answer and atone for. But he died sacrificing himself to save all of mankind. That little act of redemption was enough to save his soul and allow him to repent. It'll be a long time until his soul is allowed to rest in peace but he doesn't deserve to be sent here."
"You're all meddling with things you should stay out of!" Hades threatened. "Death is my domain!"
"Yes but Zeus is in charge lest you forget!"
"And he's only in charge because in exchange I was supposed to govern Tartarus free from his interference."
"You know Zeus won't budge Uncle. I'm sorry but I have to go now."
And before Hades could protest further Hermes disappeared.
"How dare those fools interfere in my domain," Hades growled to himself. "I am the Lord of the Dead!"
Hades then began to angrily pace back and forth.
"They think they can rule over me? They think they can do it because they have the moral authority when a soul is pure? Morality is one big lie! It's useless when everything ends in death. That is the only constant and creed."
Hades then paused and looked at his kingdom.
"Their scramble for meaning, honor, redemption is pointless. Everything ends the same. I am the god that the humans should fear the most! I am the god that should get the most worship! All souls come back to me into the Oblivion. Death conquers all! There will come a time when even all gods will die."
Hades then paused.
"If anything, I should be ruler of the gods. I am the first-born, it is my right!"
Hades then began to laugh.
"The time has come for me to stop sitting on the sidelines. I cannot wait for The End of All Things to give my siblings what they justly deserve for their arrogance. I will have to dispose of them myself! And this time, the world will finally learn the truth. There is no real power other than death!"
Hades then began to fold his hands.
"Of course I will need help," Hades mused. "I'm sure my old relatives the Titans wouldn't mind having a word with Zeus and the rest after being released from prison. As they reign destruction on this world and dispose of my siblings, I will feed on the despair and suffering they create, giving me enough power to finally bring about the End of All Things myself."
Hades then frowned slightly.
"Or I could try ruling over this planet a few centuries for my amusement until I decide it's time to bring about the End."
"And how are you going to bring that about, you old dog?" a voice mocked.
Hades turned around and realized he had ended up by the hill that he had placed Sisyphus for his punishment.
"Ahh Sisyphus, you always never knew when to shut your mouth," Hades muttered with annoyance as he watched the defiant soul struggle to roll the giant rock up.
"I'm…just…saying…" Sisyphus grunted as he turned around and tried to push the rock with his back. "How do you plan on releasing the Titans? Let alone what makes you think they won't turn on you?"
Hades laughed.
"Maybe your punishment is finally taking its toll on you. I can easily make them swear by the River of Styx before I release them. And are you forgetting that the gate to the prison is within this realm?"
This time Sisyphus laughed.
"Even if you got their help you forgot the Titans were still beaten by the others."
"Barely," Hades reminded darkly. "Besides with one hand I can muster an army of the undead and demons and direct them with the other to invade Olympus. Olympus won't be able to stand up to the Titans and an army of death."
"Even so," Sisyphus cackled. "You think Zeus was stupid enough to leave their prison guarded on only your supervision? You know he doesn't trust you."
"I'm well aware of that. Zeus hid the key to unleash them. Even Zeus didn't know where he exactly hid the key. For centuries the key has passed hand to random hand, always being kept secret for fear that one of the gods would get too greedy and unleash the Titans. However unlike my siblings, I do my research. I always felt knowing the location of that key could be beneficial and now it's about to pay off. I know who has it."
"Who?" Sisyphus asked curiously.
Hades grinned.
"The Queen of the Amazons herself…"
Amazon Island
"I'm sorry my Queen," Helena apologized as she bowed regretfully. A few Amazons were throwing the bloody sheets away. Hippolyta lied in her bed tired and sick. Her skin was pale and her lips were almost white. Also in the room were Artemis and Antigone.
"You have no reason to apologize," Hippolyta assured Helena. "You have no control over what goes on in my body."
"I did my best to try to save the…"
"My Queen perhaps it's for the best," Artemis interrupted. "After all, it would've been his as well."
Helena shot an angry look at Artemis.
"It still would be hers as well, and that's not the worst part."
"What do you mean?" Antigone asked.
Hippolyta looked at Helena with worry.
"What is it Helena?" Hippolyta asked with apprehension. She couldn't die now. After everything with Heracles, her people needed her.
"It's…" Helena mulled uncomfortably.
"Tell her!" Artemis snapped.
Antigone meanwhile eyed Helena with interest.
Helena sighed uncomfortably.
"Based on what I've seen and earlier experience…you won't be able to…"
"What?" Hippolyta asked even though she had the feeling of a stone falling in her stomach.
Helena sighed again and gave her queen a pleading look.
"I know what you want, my Queen. I know you always desired it above everything else. But the operation I had just performed to save your life, you won't be able to have that dream, ever."
"What?" the Queen demanded. Heracles already had traumatized her and her people. Now he took the one thing she always wanted?
Helena bowed.
"I'm sorry my Queen…"
"What did you do?" Artemis demanded angrily. "How did you screw this up?"
"I swear by Hera there was damage before I even began the operation. That was what probably caused the 'incident.'"
Antigone still said nothing and watched the scene unfold with mild interest.
"Are you telling me?" the Queen asked as tears fell down her face. "That I can never, ever…"
She couldn't even finish the statement. She only wanted one thing in the world and now the Fates were denying her that?
Helena nodded reluctantly.
"I'm sorry…"
WHAM!
Artemis slammed her sword on the table.
"Men will pay for this!" she cried.
"What?" Helena asked, outraged by Artemis's threat.
"They captured us, raped us, and now permanently damaged our Queen. They will pay for their sins once and for all!"
"That's not fair! Not all men did this!"
"But they are all wicked and untrustworthy, just like the Queen said. You've been poking your nose too much in those books that you've forgotten what the real world is like. Men are cruel, vile, brutish, and wicked. For too long their world has unjustly punished women and forced them into slavery. It's time we stop hiding from them and go on the offensive."
"As much as I like Artemis's plan," Antigone joined in. "I must say it's a foolish gesture. Man's World still outnumbers us easily."
"But we are warriors!" Artemis boasted proudly."We can take on any army. Besides we have Hera with us."
"And don't forget, many armies in Man's World have the gods on their side as well. Until we get a large enough army, we'll just be creating another stalemate like the Trojan War. I propose we wait a few years to try to find some allies beyond these islands and form a coalition to conduct some raids…"
"We aren't raiders!" Helena protested.
"And we aren't cowards!" Artemis snapped. "This insult to our honor cannot go unpunished!"
"No one is going to do anything!" Hippolyta snapped loudly, much to the surprise to the three Amazons. The Amazon Queen winced in pain as she tried to get out of the bed.
"My Queen I must insist you rest…"
"We heal fast Helena. Besides I feel like if I even rest one of you might send out an attack in retaliation.
"But my Queen," Antigone interrupted. "Surely you need rest after everything. We don't want your judgment impaired while you make decisions…"
"My judgment is fine," Hippolyta snapped and forced herself out of the bed, trying to not wince in pain. "And let it be decreed that I will not tolerate any retaliation, even if it's on Heracles' own men. We shall not attack, raid, or assault anything for the time being. For now, we will just rebuild our own defenses. We may even look at moving to another island that is more defendable if needed."
"But my Queen, failure to retaliate may be seen as weakness…" Artemis complained.
"There's a difference between restraint and cowardice. We shall consult the gods…"
"With all due respect, Hippolyta," Antigone replied, dropping the royalties to signal she was talking on a personal level. "Where were the gods when Heracles attacked? Where were they the past six months? Why, if Io's visions are true, haven't they sent his soul straight to Tartarus as punishment for his sins? The gods haven't been there for us."
"Watch your tone, Antigone," Hippolyta warned. She then looked around at the other two.
"Those are my orders."
Hippolyta clutched her abdomen in pain as she stood on the rocky outcropping to watch the violent waves crash. She initially picked this small island because she thought they'd be safe from invaders. There were not many harbors for ships to dock in, giving the Amazons a defensive advantage. But Heracles had found a way around it. He always would, being the favorite son of Zeus. How could Hera put up with this? She remembered Antigone's complaint. Had the gods abandoned them? They didn't seem to talk to her anymore. She always understood they had to deal with a lot of complex issues and being one big family, things got muddy. Hera and the others always promised their protection though.
At the moment Hippolyta refused to pray, even to Hera. What was the point? The gods didn't care for her.
"Are you alright?" a voice asked.
Hippolyta jumped in shock and turned around at the sound of a male voice. There was not supposed to be any males left on the island. She found herself staring at a very tall and broad shoulder man. He had long dark hair and eyes that were staring at her with mild compassion and curiosity. She noticed though his face was in a slight arrogant scowl. His long hair billowed in the breeze. What puzzled her even more was he was in a simple grey robe.
"Who are you?" Hippolyta demanded, not even backing down despite being weaponless and feeling very weak and sick. The stranger was obviously too large to be a man but could he be a god?
"Apologies, my Queen," the man said while bowing. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lord Hades. Master of the Underworld, Guardian of Tartarus, and the god of Death."
"Oh…" Hippolyta replied in shock. She had met all the main Olympians at least once but never Hades, mainly because he rarely was up there. She only heard second hand stories about him. Most of the stories revolved around how he was supposed to be really ugly, cruel and vicious. She even remember Hermes telling her they rarely invited Hades because he had a temper. It was then she realized she should show some respect.
Hippolyta despite her legs shaking got on a knee and bowed.
"Forgive me," she pleaded before she got up. "You…startled me."
Hades let out a laugh.
"I don't blame you, especially what happened a few months ago…"
Hippolyta grimaced in pain. Hades showed an apologetic frown.
"I'm sorry, I know it must be hard on you. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories for you."
"I appreciate your sympathy," Hippolyta acknowledged before looking at the god of death with suspicion. "But I have to ask why are you here?"
"I was just wondering if you heard the news?"
"What news?"
"That Heracles even though he has died will not be suffering in Tartarus for all eternity. There was some loophole to the rules."
"I'm aware of that," Hippolyta said through gritted teeth as angry tears tried to form in her eyes. "You don't need to remind me."
"I'm sorry," Hades apologized. "I wasn't sure if you knew or not. I just figured that you have the right to know when something like that happens. My siblings aren't the most considerate to others' feelings sometimes."
"I trust the will of the gods very much," Hippolyta snapped, trying to hide the resentment in her voice. "I may not agree with them always, but I trust them."
"You don't sound like your trusting them now though," Hades pointed out.
"Why are you here?" Hippolyta snapped again. "Why is the god of Tartarus talking to me?"
"I honestly felt my siblings owed you an explanation for letting Heracles not suffer eternal damnation," Hades explained. "I was just trying to be sympathetic."
"I don't need your pity," Hippolyta warned.
"Yes, I guess not," Hades noted. "Well since you're already up to speed, I guess I won't waste your time."
Hades then turned around and began to walk before pausing.
"However, I think I should warn you…"
"Warn me?" Hippolyta asked.
Hades looked around nervously.
"They aren't watching us now, I can sense it so I guess there is no harm in me telling you."
Hades then walked back to Hippolyta and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"Let's just say letting Heracles escape punishment isn't the only controversial issue on Olympus."
"What do you mean?" Hippolyta asked, her curiosity growing despite her better judgment.
"I'm not up there all the time but from what I gather dissent seems to be growing. Olympus seems to be on the verge of erupting into two sides. Almost a civil war if you like."
"What?"
"A large conflict may be coming soon among the gods. If I were you I wouldn't be too keen on trusting them to fix your problems. Some may try to recruit you to pick a side. I'd do what I do and stay neutral and away from them until this calms down."
"Who are you?" a fierce voice demanded.
Hippolyta and Hades turned around to see Antigone holding a sword and pointing it at Hades with suspicion.
"Stand down Antigone, this is Hades himself."
"Oh, I'm sorry my Lord," she apologized and got on a knee.
"Relax my child," Hades said benevolently and winked at the loyal Amazon. "The Queen is luckily to have such a loyal guard."
Antigone blushed slightly.
"Well, I must be going. I have to monitor a million souls."
Hades then turned to look at Hippolyta one final time.
"See you around. If you need someone to talk to who's outside the political and familial mess of Olympus, call me."
And with that Hades transformed into a cloud of black smoke and shot up in the air, disappearing into the sky.
Hippolyta looked up to where Hades had disappeared before looking back down at Antigone.
"Why are you here?" Hippolyta asked.
"Forgive me my Queen, I came to apologize for my transgressions earlier. I didn't mean to question your judgment."
Hippolyta placed a hand on Antigone.
"You are forgiven Sister," Hippolyta assured.
Antigone sighed with relief.
"Also, Io wanted to know what ceremonies you wanted to do tonight for the gods?"
Hippolyta paused before looking back at the sea.
"Just the usual ceremonies. Nothing special. Just enough to appease them."
"But my Queen, don't you want us to do something extra special in hopes of good luck and fortune from them?"
"If the gods want me to show extra reverence or make a personal plea myself beyond the ceremony they're going to have to earn it," Hippolyta remarked bitterly and walked away, leaving a stunned Antigone to herself.
Themyscira-2059
"Took you long enough," Artemis muttered angrily as Andromeda appeared at the front door.
"Sorry," Andromeda apologized. "I had to talk to Phillipus. Io already leave for the night?"
"I offered to cover down for her," Artemis explained. "She was tired."
Andromeda sighed.
"She still has nightmares," she explained.
"I thought the Queen forbid her to stop trying to see the future fifty years ago?"
"Yeah well Io still gets those prophetic dreams. She keeps muttering about the final battle and something called the End of All Things."
"A final battle?" Artemis snorted at that. "We haven't seen conflict in years. Even when Man fell and The Queen's Daughter was killed, we still did nothing."
"I never knew you to be so caring for men," Andromeda noted dryly.
"I don't care for them," Artemis muttered. "But I care about our honor. Especially the Queen's. Diana would've wanted us to go out and try to save Man's World."
"We all know Diana's death hit her hard," Andromeda reminded the angry Amazon. "Besides you could have led the army without Hippolyta's permission, why didn't you?"
"We've been through this before," Artemis reminded bitterly. "I have and always will be loyal to Hippolyta. I will never betray her, even when she has let that…that…monster bed her again."
Andromeda shuddered at that. None of the Amazons were too keen on Hippolyta rekindling her romance with the god of death. Even though he was powerless and couldn't harm them as long as he wore those gauntlets, most of the Amazons didn't trust him. He did slay half their race thousands of years ago.
"If you ask me," Artemis whispered after looking around to make sure Hades wasn't near. "I wouldn't be surprised if he had something to do with Diana's death and the destruction of Man's World."
"How?" Andromeda demanded. "I don't like Hades any more than you but how could he have done anything? He's been trapped in Tartarus for centuries."
"We both know how resourceful and manipulative he can be. Who's to say he didn't discover a way to influence outside events from the inside of Tartarus? I just find it suspicious with Diana dead he is back in Hippolyta's life and now free from his prison."
"The gods would've stopped him if he was plotting to destroy Man's World," Andromeda replied.
"The same gods who left us because we failed to save Man's World? The same gods that took our power of flight away as punishment for our inaction? The same gods who left us to be at the mercy of Hades as Man's World came to an end? Who's to say if the gods were willing to do anything…"
BAM!
Artemis and Andromeda looked up at the palace. A bright light had shown from the window of the Queen's room.
CRASH!
The sound of something falling was heard. Artemis and Andromeda wasted no time. They both quickly ran into the Queen's palace and up the steps to her room. They could hear voices already and Artemis thought she heard Hades laugh. In no time they were both bashing through her room.
"Get away from her you scum!" Artemis shouted as she entered the room, running towards Hades. Hades looked at her with an evil grin and then looked at the center of the room. Artemis and Andromeda realized in the center of the room surrounded by white light was a man. At first Artemis didn't recognize him but then she saw the sharp blue eyes and realized who he was.
"You?" Artemis cried in shock.
"I thought he was dead!" Andromeda interrupted.
"Unfortunately he's not," Hades mused.
"What are you doing with him?" the male warrior demanded looking at Hippolyta.
"Isn't obvious? We're together again," Hades said as he put an arm forcibly around Hippolyta.
"Don't touch her," Artemis snarled.
"Artemis!" Hippolyta warned.
"After everything you go back to him?" the man said in disappointment.
"Don't act like you know me!" snapped Hippolyta.
"How did you get back here?"Andromeda demanded. "Are you a god?"
"The only god in this room is me dearie," Hades replied with offense in his voice.
"How did you get here?" Hippolyta demanded.
"I was looking at necklace and next thing I know I'm here…"
"Likely story," Hades muttered."Hippy this is just some cheap trick…"
"Don't listen to him," the man warned. "All he does is lie and kill."
"How did you get the necklace?" Artemis demanded, turning her suspicions from the god of death to the warrior.
"And how did he know how to work it to transport his consciousness back to Themyscira?"
"I didn't," Bruce retorted. "This was an accident."
"Just like your whole life am I right?" Hades taunted. "Just a series of random accidents…"
"ENOUGH!" Hippolyta shouted to cause everyone to look at her.
Hippolyta took a deep breath before looking at the other occupants in the room.
"I want everyone except him out!"she ordered while pointing at the man.
"But my Queen," Artemis protested.
"Not now Artemis!"
"I don't see why I can't stay…" Hades complained.
"If you don't, I'll throw you back into Tartarus," Hippolyta threatened.
Hades frowned angrily and looked like he was about to complain further but found Artemis gripping his arm.
"The Queen commands you to leave," Artemis threatened.
Hades put on a fake compliant grin in response.
"Of course," Hades agreed and followed Artemis and Andromeda out of the room.
"You two must have a lot to catch up on, especially with Diana," Hades called after as he exited the room.
Amazon Island- A Few Thousand Years Ago
"My Queen I must insist the omens and visions I've been seeing don't bode well," Io explained. She, Andromeda, Phillipus, Artemis, and Helena were meeting with the Queen and Antigone.
"How so?" Hippolyta asked.
"Well they're blurry and clouded so I can't discern the actual meaning…"
"All that matters is something is wrong. We need to do something…"
"What do you suggest then Artemis?" Antigone asked. "Go out there waving that sword you love so much at random things?"
"We were thinking more of doing something along the lines of gathering information," Phillipus explained. "Send some spies into Man's World to see if the source of Io's visions are from there."
Hippolyta paused.
"I'll consider it. That'll be all for the day," Hippolyta spoke.
"But…" Helena protested.
"You heard her, that will be all today," Antigone ordered and began to usher everyone out. "She needs time to herself."
Hippolyta smiled slightly at Antigone's comment and watched as Antigone shoved everyone out. Antigone then turned around and gave her queen a knowing smile. Then like the rest, she was gone. Hippolyta let out a huge sigh.
"Are they gone?" a voice asked. Hippolyta smiled.
"Yes they are Hades."
Over the past few months, Hippolyta and Hades had began to bond. Usually at the end of the day, Hippolyta needed to talk to someone who wouldn't expect her to make life or death decisions at the moment. Quickly Hades filled that role. It was just nice for Hippolyta to have someone she could talk to quite frankly and openly.
"So how has your week been?" Hades asked.
"Awful," she admitted. "We still haven't found a new island to live."
"You know you could always conquer a small one inhabited by men," Hades offered.
"You know how it is. One of the gods will be their patron and mad at us and the next thing you know it's another Trojan War."
"Good point," Hades chuckled. "I've never understood my siblings' fascination with men. All they do is fight, enslave, pillage, cheat, lie, and steal from another. They are nothing more than animals that can build their own cages."
Hippolyta laughed at the insult.
"I'm serious. This is all Prometheus's fault. It's a shame they didn't create women first."
"Why?" Hippolyta asked.
"From my experience, women don't give into animal impulses as much. Now you Amazons, you're different from even women though."
"What makes you say that?"
"You have more stones than any man I see," Hades complimented.
Hippolyta laughed for a while at the joke.
"Thank you Hades, I know no matter how I feel, you can always cheer me up."
"Any time my dear," Hades responded and gently held her hand. Hippolyta felt a chill go up through her arm at the contact. She looked at Hades and slowly pulled her hand away. Hades didn't seem to notice the awkward moment they just shared.
"So…how's Olympus?" Hippolyta asked, trying to change the subject.
Hades grimaced.
"Not well. I went up there for a celebration and it doesn't look good. I can feel the tension in the air."
"So you think war might actually come?" Hippolyta asked.
"I hope not."
"I wish you'd tell me which side is which and who's on it," Hippolyta demanded.
"We've been through this Hippolyta. The less you know about it, the easier it is for you to play neutral if this boils over."
"I know…"
Hades let out a sad sigh.
"It's just hard now. Everyone expects me to pick a side and yet they treat me like an outsider. They want me to make decisions yet they fail to fully understand who I am."
Hades then sadly looked at the Amazon.
"Do you know what it's like to have so many people demand so much from you only to still feel alone like an outcast?"
"Yes…" Hippolyta breathed heavily and couldn't help as she and Hades inched closer together.
Suddenly Hades turned back away much to Hippolyta's disappointment.
"When I met Persephone, I thought things would be different. I thought that I'd finally not be alone. And we were happy, for a while at least."
"Oh…" Hippolyta said, trying to not hide her jealousy at Hades mentioning his estranged wife. Occasionally during their talks Hades would mention her. Hippolyta before meeting Hades didn't know much about Persephone but now was beginning to dislike her more and more. How could she neglect Hades like that?
"But then my sister Demeter got a hold of her and poisoned her mind. Convinced her that I kidnapped her and didn't really love but only lusted after her."
Hades then began to show anger.
"They just can't stand to see me happy…" he muttered and clenched his fists angrily.
On instinct Hippolyta grabbed his hands. In surprise, Hades turned to look at her.
"Don't…" she whispered.
"What?"
"Don't be angry, please," she begged. "I need you to not be angry…"
"Why?"
"Because…because I'm angry. I still am. And probably will be for the rest of my life."
"What are you angry about?"
"I…I can't tell you…"
"Hippolyta…"
"Please Hades. Let me keep this secret."
Hades sighed and bowed his head before looking up.
"I understand," he replied sympathetically. "You have the right to keep some things personal."
Hippolyta smiled sadly.
"That's why I can't have you being angry. You're my rock. You're the one person in this world I can trust to understand me. Without you, I don't know how I would be handling my life right now."
"What are you saying?" Hades asked nervously and unsure. Hippolyta slowly began to lean into him.
"Hippolyta…" Hades protested.
"Shhh…" she hushed and their lips made contact.
Hippolyta closed her eyes and fought the urge to moan in pleasure. She didn't want to give in just yet to the feelings of lust and passion she was letting herself feel. Hades at first resisted but he soon opened his mouth, inviting her in. She could feel is large hand grabbing her by the neck and holding her tightly while she lifted up her small smooth hands through his thick mane of black hair. The two could've kept the kiss going on forever but Hippolyta knew sooner or later she would need to breathe again and reluctantly broke away.
"Wow…" Hades replied in awkward amazement. "That was…wonderful."
Hippolyta blushed with embarrassment.
"I'm sorry…"
"No Hippolyta, it's okay," Hades assured and pulled her in an embrace. "I always thought there was something between us but I didn't know how you feel so I didn't act on it."
Hippolyta smiled. At last she finally found someone to help her in her loneliness. However she knew it wouldn't be perfect.
"There's something I have to say," Hippolyta explained.
Hades broke the embrace and looked at her with uncertainty.
"I do want us to be together, but go about it gradually. Once my sisters find out we've been courting each other, they'll probably not understand at first. It'll be easier to convince them if we are doing things at a slow pace."
"I understand completely," Hades nodded. "Why rush something this good?"
Hippolyta smiled.
"Well I must be going," Hades said sadly.
"So soon?" Hippolyta asked with disappointment in her voice.
"I'll be back Hippy," Hades assured with a wink.
"Hippy?"
"Short for Hippolyta."
Hippolyta smiled at his explanation of her pet name.
"I like it."
Hades smiled and turned around. He morphed into a cloud of black smoke and exited out of her balcony. The smoke flew out of the room and soared a couple of yards before landing on the edge of the island.
The smoke cleared as the god of death turned around to give a taunting grin back at the Queen's palace.
"You're so easy to fool Hippolyta," Hades mocked.
"Still though, even I have to admit, I am surprised how much I enjoyed that kiss."
Themyscira-2059
Bruce stared at Hippolyta as the Queen looked at him with a very confused face. For awhile neither of the former allies were able to say anything to each other. Hippolyta was surprised by the sudden appearance of Bruce while Bruce was surprised that not only had Hippolyta released Hades but was in an intimate relationship with him again.
However Bruce couldn't contain his disappointment any longer.
"You're with him?" he asked with disgust.
"Don't act like it's that simple," Hippolyta shot back. "It's a lot more complicated."
"No it isn't. He tried to take over the world and your people stopped him. Or have you forgotten their sacrifices?"
"I will not be lectured by a man!" Hippolyta snapped as her face was flushed with outrage. She had to take a few breaths to calm down.
"Besides, he's harmless now," Hippolyta explained. "He swore by the River of Styx that every time we let him out he has to wear those special gauntlets. They make him just a mortal man as long as he keeps them on. And he can't take them off until he's about to go back into Tartarus."
Bruce now knew why he hadn't endure the god of death's taunts in a while; he was too busy bedding Hippolyta.
"Why would you let him out though?" Bruce demanded."You know what he's done. He's evil."
"None of you understand!" Hippolyta cried in an emotional outburst and Bruce realized she probably had this argument a thousand times already. "Hades and I have a complicated history. He was there for me before he tried to rebel against the gods…"
"He was just using you…"
"Can you be sure of that? Can wicked people not be allowed to love as well?"
Bruce didn't respond to that. Hippolyta calmed down again although her eyes were watering.
"My daughter is dead. The gods have abandoned us and took away our power of flight for our failure to save Man's World. My people resent and hate me now. Hades was the only one still there for me. He's all that I have left."
Bruce flinched in pain at the mention of "daughter". He then realized he might find a way to reach common ground with Hippolyta.
"How would your daughter react to finding out in grieving for her you went back into the arms of the very same evil she stopped escaping from Tartarus fifty years ago?"
"How could you know about that?" Hippolyta demanded in surprise.
"I know about it because I was there," Bruce explained.
"Who are you?"
"In a previous life, I was one of the founding members of the Justice League," Bruce explained.
"That's impossible," Hippolyta retorted. "The Justice League all perished at the Fall of Man's World."
"That's because I was already dead when the League fell," Bruce shot back.
"What?"
Bruce sighed.
"We were battling an invasion on Earth. I was sent back in time during the battle. The rest of the League thought I was killed. I've jumped forward through time as my memory slowly began coming back. When we first met each other back during the war against Hades, that was one of those jumps. I now have jumped to this time period."
Hippolyta was looking at Bruce with her jaw hanging open in shock. Bruce gave a frustrated grunt.
"Look I know this sounds ridiculous but I've…"
"You!" Hippolyta suddenly shouted pointing at Bruce. "It was you! The Man in Black!"
"What?"
"My daughter told me about you when she thought you died! Your death made her feel a lot of grief!"
Bruce felt guilt crept over him. He had tried to avoid thinking how the League had reacted to his death. He didn't want to think about all the guilt and pain they would have to experience like he experienced every night.
"It's your fault!"
"What?"
"Diana died because of you!" Hippolyta accused. "She left Themyscira even though the signs of the future were bad because she wanted to honor your death! If you hadn't died, I could've convinced her to stay on Themyscira and she would still be alive!"
Bruce finally began to understood what Hippolyta was thinking. Asa mother who loss her child, she couldn't help but feel responsible over Diana's death. The only way Hippolyta could cope was to try to diffuse the blame onto others.
"We both know Diana wouldn't be able to sit by if Man's World was in danger," Bruce replied.
"What makes you think you know my daughter so well?" Hippolyta shot back.
"Because I loved her!" Bruce snapped, frustrated by Hippolyta's resistance to talk to him with an open mind.
"What?" Hippolyta asked in shock. Bruce realized his mistake. He had just said something he had never told anyone in person. In fact he wasn't even sure if he even told himself this. It was just as if his voice spoke on instinct.
"What did you say?" Hippolyta demanded again. Bruce gave a defeated sigh. There was no way of denying it now.
"I loved your daughter," Bruce repeated. "I don't know how it happened but it did. I've spent most my life thinking my mission would need me to be alone. Every time I had hope for love I would get hurt. And then I met Diana. She gave me something I hadn't felt in a while. She gave me hope. Hope that maybe there is something better beyond the horizon. That maybe there is a chance I can finally have peace."
Bruce then stopped to think about his next response.
"She always cared about others, not herself. She wouldn't risk letting an evil out like Hades for her own personal reasons."
Hippolyta walked closer to Bruce.
"My daughter…" Hippolyta began. "Was always the better Amazon. To this day I'm proud of her because she was a better woman than I could ever be."
Hippolyta then backed away.
"But I'm not my daughter. If you came here expecting me to be like Diana, then you're mistaken. I'm sorry but Diana is gone."
"Well that's where you're wrong," Bruce shot back.
"What?"
"There's a way to get Diana back. There's a way to bring the entire Justice League back and save the world."
"You can't cheat death," Hippolyta shot back. "Not even Hades can do that."
"Yes you can," Bruce argued defiantly. "There is another way."
"What kind of magic do you speak of?"
"Not magic, science."
"What?"
"Right now there is a resistance movement in Gotham against one of the tyrants who rule what is left of Man's World. The same tyrant who helped killed your daughter in fact. This tyrant has discovered a time machine. If the resistance movement can get to it…"
"They hope to send you back in time to stop this from happening," Hippolyta said, finishing his sentence. "We may be isolated from Man's World but we aren't stupid. We know enough about your technology."
"So now you see why I need your help."
"My help?" Hippolyta asked in surprise.
"Yes. Sector 1, the tyrant, has sent a whole army to block our access to the time machine. They outnumber our forces. We need an army to combat his. A real army."
"And you wish to use the Amazons," Hippolyta finished.
"I know I'm asking a lot…"
"You have no idea," Hippolyta cut in.
"What?"
"You have no idea what it's like to be responsible for other lives."
"Yes I do," Bruce shot back. "And I feel the pain when each one of them dies because it's another failure that I'm reminded of."
"But you've never been responsible for an entire race, have you?"
Bruce didn't say anything.
"We are the Last of the Amazons. Do you think I was the only Queen of the Amazons? We've been around for millennia, long before the pyramids were built. Now our numbers have been reduced and I am responsible for what's left. If I send my people to help your cause, I will have sacrificed what's left of my race. It will be my responsibility."
"If we succeed, they won't die," Bruce tried to point out. "If we change the timeline..."
"If? If? You think I'm willing to stake the lives of my people on a big if?"
Hippolyta then turned around.
"I'm not blind to what happens in Man's World these days. I know of these weapons and technology the Sector Leaders possess. Even my Amazons cannot hope to stand up to such advance weaponry."
"But they are better skilled..."
"I won't risk my people when there's no hope of victory."
"I do recall you were willing to do it when we fought Hades together," Bruce retorted with anger.
Hippolyta's face grew pale as a sheet for a second but she recovered.
"That was different. I was a different person back then. I needed to redeem our honor. We almost let Hades succeed in unleashing the Titans. Besides, we weren't trying to change fate which you are trying to do."
"I don't believe in fate," Bruce muttered darkly.
"But we do. And we know enough that you don't meddle with it. There are some things we are powerless against."
"Let me ask you something then. When you fought Hades, did you feel for sure you were going to win?"
Hippolyta didn't say anything.
"No, the deck was stacked against you wasn't it? I remember how you were clearly outmatched by the forces of Hades in every way. In fact I recall I didn't want to initially help you because I was cynical about the outcome."
Hippolyta continued to look at Bruce coldly.
"Wasn't it you who told me you fought anyways not because of the odds but because on principle? Wasn't it you who told me you would fight for Man's World even if you wanted nothing to do with it? What happened to the warrior queen who would be willing to fight for justice no matter what the odds?"
"She became a mother," Hippolyta responded darkly. "And lost her daughter."
Bruce stopped, there was no way she was going to budge. Yet he felt he still needed to try.
"I helped you beat Hades. You owe me…"
"We saved your world before your time. If anything, we're even," Hippolyta interrupted.
Bruce glared in frustration.
"So that's it? You're not going to help us? Even if it means ruining the one chance of bringing your daughter back?"
"You don't know if you'll succeed!" Hippolyta cried angrily. "I already buried my daughter, don't try to use her to guilt me into sacrificing what I have left on a fool's errand."
Bruce couldn't think of a response. He needed to convince her, he needed the Amazons. But maybe there was a way to get the Amazons without Hippolyta.
"I want to talk to Artemis," Bruce demanded.
"What?"
"Artemis, I want to talk to her; alone," he added.
"Why do you want to talk to her?"
"Because I do," Bruce snapped back. "If you aren't going to help me, the least you could do is let me talk to Artemis before I leave."
"What are you going to say to her?" Hippolyta demanded.
"You'll know; she'll tell you anyways," Bruce assured.
Hippolyta paused to think for a whole minute before relenting.
"Fine, I'll call her in. You have five minutes."
Ancient Themyscira- A Few Thousand Years Ago
"Where are we?" Hippolyta asked.
"Welcome to Themyscira," Hades greeted. "A secret island not corrupted by my siblings or men. The entrance to Tartarus."
Hippolyta looked around. The island definitely was not like an island she had seen before. On one hand it looked like it used to be very lush but at the same time seemed dry. Much of the foliage and trees were dry and dead. The ones that still had leaves were like nothing she had seen before on an island.
"Does anyone live here?" Hippolyta asked.
"There's a shrine to Apollo that has the sword of Perseus but other than that, it's empty, save for the wildlife."
"Oh…" Hippolyta responded, looking at the island with mixed feelings.
Hades sighed sadly.
"Yes I know she's not the prettiest mainly because I have to open the doors of Tartarus below to travel from the living to the dead. But still, at least it's quiet and that's not what's the beauty of this place."
"What do you mean?"
Hades smiled.
"Turn around."
Hippolyta did and realized they were close to the shore. While Themyscira itself seemed perfect for an island of the dead, the beach itself was pretty. Far beautiful than any beach she had ever seen from her travels to Greek islands.
"Told you the view was breathtaking," Hades teased as he came behind and grasped her shoulders. "I know most of the island is barren but at least the view is nice."
At the mention of the word "barren", Hippolyta felt tears fall down her face. She just couldn't keep it in despite her Amazonian pride feeling shame that she was showing weakness to a male.
"What is it?" Hades asked a little amused. "I know it's beautiful."
"No…" Hippolyta sobbed as she drowned in her own tears. "It's not that."
"Then what? You don't like it?"
"No! It's perfect! It's just that…that…"
"What?" Hades demanded.
Hippolyta choked before she managed to regain some of her composure.
"When you mentioned the word 'barren' I just lost control."
"Why?"
Hippolyta looked uncomfortable.
"Hippy, it's me. You can tell me…"
"I was pregnant!" she interrupted.
"What?" Hades asked, legitimately surprised by the outburst. "I got you…?"
"You weren't the father. It was before I met you!" Hippolyta assured.
"Then what happened?"
Hippolyta began to sob some more and pulled Hades in an embrace.
"I've never told anyone this. Only a few of my sisters know about it…"
Hades was unsure. On one hand he brought her here in hopes of finally manipulating her into giving him what he wanted. He didn't expect for her to suddenly open her soul to him, or that he would actually feel compassion for her. Since when did he feel compassion to someone else?
Hippolyta wasn't aware of her lover's hesitation and managed to attempt to tell more of her darkest secret to him.
"Heracles was the father."
"What?"
"He impregnated me when he held us captive!" Hippolyta said. "He never knew but I could tell. I could feel something living growing inside of me!"
Hades paused at the revelation and couldn't help but feel even more anger towards his siblings.
"And they let that scum escape judgment…" Hades muttered darkly.
"You don't understand, I was happy when I discovered I was pregnant."
"You were happy he raped you?"
"No of course not! But all my life, I just wanted a child that I could raise and love. Being Queen I'm expected to take care of over thousands of Amazons. I just wanted one child I could raise as my own. When I discovered I was pregnant, despite the circumstances I was happy. Regardless of what did and what would happen, I planned to love and raise this child as my own."
"But what happened then?"
"There was complications with the pregnancy…" Hippolyta sniffed. "I had…had…to end the pregnancy…"
Hades noticed she shuddered in horror.
"I had no choice or I would've died…"
Hades continued to watch her as she slowly relived the worst day of her life.
"During the operation, one of my sisters noticed due to complications of the pregnancy I wouldn't be able to have any more children."
Hippolyta then let out a sad laugh.
"It's funny. Heracles did a lot more than capture me and rape me; he gave me what I wanted most in the world before cruelly snatching it from my hands and ruining my chances of ever having it again."
Hippolyta then broke away from Hades.
"I'm sorry…" she apologized. "I didn't mean to…"
"You'll never have to apologize to me for anything," Hades assured gently as he placed his hands on her shoulders.
"I know, it's not your fault I can't have any children…"
Suddenly an idea popped into the god of death's head.
"But you can Hippy, we both can…"
Hippolyta laughed.
"I doubt it. That is usually Hera or Hestia's territory and seeing they haven't been willing to grant me it…"
"You're right," Hades agreed. "I can't heal your womb and make it fruitful again because Hera would probably block me for going outside my jurisdiction, but I can give you a child still…"
"How?"
Hades smiled and walked away towards the beach.
"Follow me…"
For a few hours Hades and Hippolyta had run their hands through the wet mud and clay that the sea caressed in its waves. Together they began to form the perfect model of a baby. They decided on a girl early on. Pretty soon they were finished and after Hades muttered a simple spell, the wet clay baby had hardened into a sturdy and durable statue.
"This…" Hades announced as he held up the "baby" in his arms high. "Will be our little girl. Say hello to your mother."
Hippolyta smiled while trying to not cry again as Hades gently placed the clay model into her arms.
"She will be our little Sun and Stars," Hades cooed.
Hippolyta laughed before looking at Hades.
"Thank you Hades."
The couple both leaned in for a quick kiss.
"I need to get going now," Hippolyta said reluctantly.
Hades winked at her as a boat came upon the horizon to pick up Hippolyta.
"You know I could always transport you back myself…"
"I like the sea," Hippolyta reminded.
Hades nodded.
"Well I need to get going. I would stick around but I don't like the dirty looks your sisters have given me."
"They'll come around to you, just wait," Hippolyta assured.
Hades laughed before changing into a cloud of black smoke and taking off deeper into the island heading towards the hidden entrance to the underground cavern. In a few minutes he found himself back in the land of Tartarus. He took a deep breath and smiled as he began to walk around with a beat in his step. He was passing by Cerberus when he felt a presence behind him.
"I must say Uncle, she really is a wonderful woman, to even make you have a skip in your step."
Hades turned around to find Hermes giving him a taunting grin.
"Have you been spying on me?"
"We both know that we can't watch everything you do. But all of us are aware of your relationship with Hippolyta."
"Oh really?" Hades asked, feeling a little relief. He was worried they were aware of his other agenda.
"Yes. And even though Hera is quite angry…"
Hades snorted out a laugh.
"Zeus has decided to let you two stay together."
"I don't recall needing his blessing of who I choose to engage in a relationship with…"
"Well then don't choose women who are daughters or under the patronage of goddesses who don't like you that much."
"Fair enough," Hades retorted. "Is that all?"
Hermes paused for a second before smiling.
"Off the record, I have to say I am really proud of you Uncle."
"Why?"
"Because most of us were thinking you could never change. That you'd always be the brooding rebel who refused to let things go and make sure to drive everyone away. But now Hippolyta seems to be making you into a better person. You seem to be a lot happier and dare I say it, a little less dark."
"What?"
"All I'm saying Uncle is, Hippolyta's changing you for the better. Don't screw it up."
And before Hades could protest Hermes had disappeared. Hades frowned angrily.
"Those fools," he laughed. "They aren't even aware that I'm just using her as a means to an end."
Yet Hades couldn't help but feel that wasn't completely true. He felt as if a small part of him was nagging that maybe, just maybe he was really in love with her…
"No, that's ridiculous!" Hades denied to himself. "Love is meaningless, it doesn't exist."
Hades then went to the hill by Sisyphus where he had a large mirror about his height.
"This is my real face…" Hades said proudly as he went to remove his handsome disguise, expecting to see his true face. Except he didn't.
Puzzled, he quickly concentrated on removing the disguise. Except it wasn't working.
"Show my real face!" Hades shouted with angry frustration. "I command thee!"
But still the mirror showed the handsome disguise still staring back. In horror Hades touched his face.
"What's happening to me?!" he cried.
"Isn't it obvious? You're changing!" Sisyphus's voice taunted. Hades angrily turned to look at the mortal who was still pushing up the rock.
"Look at you, she's changing you. You aren't the all-powerful destroyer of worlds without all that hate in your heart. She's slowly neutered that from you!"
"That's not true!" Hades denied. "My mission has been the same from the beginning. I need her to help me unleash the Titans and bring about the end of my siblings!"
"Then why have you taken so long to put your plan in action?"
Hades couldn't respond to that. He looked back at the mirror. Could it be after all this time that the satisfaction he sought didn't come about destroying everything but from the love a woman? After this whole time believing that nothing mattered in the long run, did he finally found something in his life that mattered?
"See, you never intended to fall in love with her. Now you have to choose, her or your revenge. You won't be able to have the will for revenge if you keep her in your life."
Hades didn't say anything and continued to look at his face. He then felt anger and defiance fill up inside of him.
"No," Hades said defiantly. "I don't have to be confined to two choices! I can have both!"
"What do you mean?" Sisyphus asked.
Hades looked at him and began laughing.
"I'll just have to alternate the plan to include a queen to help me rule over what's left in this world. Perhaps I won't even destroy other universes like I originally planned."
"You think she'll choose you when she finds out what you really are?"
"She already knows who I am. I am exactly like her. An angry spirit who has been wronged by the Olympians too many times. Two souls who know they deserve better than mankind and deserve to be revered above everything. Two future rulers who are destined to rule over the darkness, forever!"
Themyscira- 2059
Artemis looked at Bruce with suspicion while he refused to feel uncomfortable under her gaze. He was about to explain himself when Artemis interrupted him.
"No need to explain your situation," Artemis cut him off. "I was eavesdropping at the door, I heard everything."
Bruce frowned, he should have figured Artemis wouldn't trust him to be alone with Hippolyta.
"But I want to know how you got the necklace."
"What?"
"The necklace!" Artemis demanded. "Diana's necklace. The Queen gave it to her the last time Diana came here. How did you get it?"
"Someone found it in the wreckage and handed it to me," Bruce explained feeling he didn't need to go into detail about Lobo. For some reason he felt like Artemis wouldn't like him.
"Seeing the Greek letter reminded me of Diana and Hippolyta. Does thinking of Hippolyta why holding it transport a projection of the mind to Themyscira?"
"Hippolyta meant it to be a surprise for Diana if she was really stressed out and desired to talk to her mother without having to fly all the way over here. She never intended it to be used by man…"
Bruce didn't respond to Artemis's insult, instead he chose to ignore it.
"Aren't you wondering why I requested you to come talk to me?"
"You're hoping by going through me I can convince the Queen to lead the Amazons to your cause. I won't do it…"
"Artemis I know you don't like men but this is a way we can save Diana. We can save her and Hippolyta will never let Hades out again."
"You don't think I'm aware of that?" Artemis muttered angrily. "I'm well aware of the fact that there's a chance we can change this for a better present."
Artemis then looked towards the door.
"I've never trusted Hades since I first learned he was involved with Hippolyta before the War. He always has some hidden agenda or plan up his sleeve. Hippolyta might think he cares but he only cares about himself. He's never understood loyalty or love."
"Then why don't you try to convince Hippolyta to help me? You're her most trusted Amazon. In fact you know this is the best thing for her and your people. The Amazons would still follow you…"
"It doesn't matter what is best for the Queen or my sisters. I don't make that call. Hippolyta trusts me because I've always stayed loyal to her. No matter what reservations I have, I will follow her to the jaws of Tartarus. I know it doesn't sound sane but when the world around you is collapsing, sometimes the only thing you have left is loyalty to someone else."
"But you could argue being loyal would mean you help me fight to try to change this timeline for the better…"
"Maybe, or maybe not. Not even you can know for sure. All I know is the Queen will not commit the Amazons to Man's World. I will have to uphold and respect that decision."
Artemis then turned around.
"People only see me as a blood thirsty warrior with a love for violence. While that may be true, my word and loyalty is my bound. I swore to forever be loyal to the Queen and I will not violate it."
Artemis sighed and began to leave. She paused at the door.
"For what it's worth, I would've still helped your cause not even out of some forlorn hope that it would change the past but rather as retribution for the death of our Champion."
Artemis looked back over her shoulder.
"Good luck Dark Warrior."
Tartarus- A Few Thousand Tears Ago
Hades stood before his forces. Over the past year he had amassed an army of the dead and monsters too big to be quantified by human numbers. He was now wearing a brand new black and gray armor mixed with red that he had made himself. He never thought he'd see the day when he would wear this.
"DEMONS! GHOSTS! FALLEN DEAD!" Hades commanded.
"TAR-TAR-US! TAR-TAR-US! TAR-TAR-US!" his forces chant.
"TONIGHT MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW AGE! THE OLYMPIANS WILL FALL AND WE WILL COME FROM THE GRAVE TO RULE THE MOUNTAIN!"
The forces cheered, if you could call the sound of grunting and screaming cheering.
"WE WILL BEGIN A NEW AGE! A NEW AGE OF FIRE, BRIMSTONE, AND DEATH!"
The forces cheered even louder.
"WE WILL NOT ONLY REIGN IN HEAVEN BUT HELL AS WELL!"
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
By now many of his forces were beating their swords, spears, and whatever other weapons they had in rhythm.
"MARCH TO OLYMPUS! TO THE SEAS! WE WILL SEE THE END OF ALL THINGS! GO NOW!"
The army cried and got ready to march, Hades turned around leaving his back to them.
"Now that the pawns have started moving, it's time to bring my Queen out."
Amazon Island- A Few Thousand Years Ago
BOOM!
CRACK!
WHOOSH!
Hippolyta tried to shield the rain and wind from her face. The entire Sea was erupting into a storm. The waves violently clashed on the rocks as the wind kept howling. Many Amazons were running around, calling commands to prepare for the storm. Meanwhile the clouds in the sky had turned almost completely black as lightning and thunder erupted everywhere.
"My Queen what kind of devilry is this?" Antigone asked. "Why are the gods angry?"
"I don't think the gods are angry," Io responded cryptically. "War has finally come."
Hippolyta closed her eyes in fear and dread. Hades had always hinted war was coming, she just never thought it would actually happen. But she was seeing it with her own eyes. The skies and seas had erupted in war. She only wish she knew which faction supported what.
"Any word from Hades?" Hippolyta demanded trying to hide the worry in her voice.
"No," Antigone responded reluctantly.
"Look!"
From the sky a pillar of black smoke began to descend on the island towards Hippolyta. They hadn't noticed it at first because it matched the dark clouds. The Queen felt relief, he was alright at least still. The cloud of black smoke descended violently on the ground in front of Hippolyta. Hippolyta unconsciously flinched in response to the impact. Next thing she knew her lover was standing in front of her. Except this time he wasn't in a toga with a usual happy look in his eyes. Instead he looked half crazed in terror and fear. Hippolyta realized he was wearing black armor that already look dented.
"Are you alright?" she cried and ran up to him. Hades pulled her in an embrace and held her tightly.
"I'm alright knowing that you're unharmed."
"What are you doing? Shouldn't you be up there?"
"I've come to warn you," Hades said with the utmost urgency.
"Warn me?"
"One side is getting desperate, they are thinking about unleashing the Titans!" Hades explained.
"That's impossible, the Titans are locked away in Tartarus forever!" Antigone exclaimed.
Hades looked back at Hippolyta regretfully.
"I'm sorry Hippy but when they find out you have the key they'll be coming for you."
"What?" Io asked, not catching on.
"He's right. I have the key to unleash the Titans…" Hippolyta revealed darkly.
"What?" Antigone asked in surprise the Queen kept such a secret.
"Both sides are deadlocked right now!" Hades gasped. "The rebel side is willing to unleash the Titans to even the odds."
"What do we do then?" Antigone demanded.
"Obvious, we should destroy the key," Io exclaimed.
"I have a better idea," Hades countered.
"What?"
Hades grimaced.
"I wouldn't suggest this under any circumstances, but the tide of the war could tilt either way at a moment's notice. It will be a dark day for us if the wrong side wins."
"What are you suggesting?" Io demanded suspiciously.
"That we unleash the Titans…"
"Are you crazy?" Io demanded.
"Io!" Hippolyta warned.
"I know, I know it's risky," Hades said in an attempt to calm her down. "But we can control them. We could make them swear by the River of Styx…"
"They only know of death and destruction!" Io protested. "Releasing them can lead to the end of the world!"
"And what do you think happens if the wrong side fails to win the war?" Antigone demanded. "Hades is right, we are pressed against the wall."
Io and Antigone both looked at the Queen who looked torn on what to do. Io was shaking her head and muttering "no" while Antigone was whispering "it's the only way."
Hades meanwhile squirmed urgently.
"Hippy we don't have time to stall, the time to make a decision is now!"
"Alright!" Hippolyta relented. "We'll unleash the Titans…"
"Alright I'll…"
"But I'll be the one to unleash them from the prison," Hippolyta finished interrupting Hades.
"What?" Hades asked a little taken aback. This was not part of the plan.
"I was trusted to guard the key and now I'll see to it that it'll be me who uses it."
Hades wanted to protest but realized it would look suspicious if he did.
"Fine," Hades agreed, unintentionally sounding more impatient by the second. "We need to get going now. I'll take you to Tartarus…"
"I'll meet you there!" Hippolyta countered back. "I'll need to get the Amazons ready for war. It looks like we won't be able to play neutral any longer…"
"But Hippy there's not much time…"
"Our boats can travel to Themyscira just as fast as flying even in this storm. I promise I will meet you there…"
Hades did his best not to frown. The longer it took to unleash the Titans, the more time it gave his siblings to be able to counter his assault. He needed the Titans soon. But he relented. Hippolyta didn't have the key on her at the moment and he had no clue where it was. Trying to rush her or find it himself would jeopardize his plans even further.
"Fine…" Hades said darkly. "I'll meet you at Themyscira."
Hades then turned around.
"Wait!" Hippolyta called, a little surprised by her lover's sudden coldness.
"What?" Hades snapped, a little frustrated.
Hippolyta showed surprise at the snap.
"Uh…I…be careful…" she whispered unsure.
Hades forced a caring smile.
"I will, I'll see you back at my place Hippy…"
And the god of death turned around and transformed into a cloud of black smoke while taking off into the sky.
Hippolyta then looked at Antigone and Io.
"Gather our sisters, tell them to be ready for the end of the world. And someone find Artemis, Andromeda, Phillipus and Helena! We need them now!"
Ancient Themyscira- A Few Thousand Years Ago
Helena gagged and spit out water as Artemis violently hit her on the back.
"That storm…" she coughed weakly. "Came out of nowhere…"
"This isn't a storm," Artemis noted grimly. "This is war."
"Huh?"
"Hades always kept talking about a final battle. I guess it finally came."
Helena then looked at the ruins of their destroyed ship that got smashed in the storm.
"We should have taken one of the war boats, not a fishing boat," Helena replied ruefully with guilt.
"They would've noticed if a war boat was missing," Artemis reminded and got to her feet. "We got a job to do and secrecy is important…"
"But Andromeda and Phillipus could still be alive!" Helena protested looking out to the Sea in an attempt to spot more of the shipwreck or the other two Amazons.
"We don't have time. They wouldn't want us to compromise our mission while grieving over their deaths!"
Artemis then helped up Helena and they began to run deeper into the island. Thanks to Helena studying the maps and books, they were able to find the underground entrance to Tartarus in no time. Pretty soon they were both racing down the steps and found themselves at the bottom. They were facing a wide open cavern deep underground. In the distance sat two doors that stood open, showing a violently swirling orange portal.
"Are you sure I can't just cross over?"Artemis asked.
"You can if you want your body to disintegrate forever. Only mortal bodies that have the blessing from a god can cross over," Helena reminded. "If you want to get inside I'll have to do an astral projection spell."
"Are you sure you know how to do this?" Artemis asked as she and Helena began to make the preparations.
"Well this is my first time…" Helena admitted.
"What?" Artemis snapped. "You said you knew how to do it."
"From a theoretical perspective yes. I've just never actually practiced it."
Artemis closed her eyes and shook her head.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Helena asked nervously.
"We all talked about this. We know Hades is up to something but the Queen won't listen. We'll have to find out ourselves and considering the storm going on outside, we need to find out fast!"
"Okay, okay," Helena said while nervously taking a few deep breaths. "Even though your astral projection should be safe from any harm in the underworld, what happens if Hades is in Tartarus and he sees you?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Besides with everything going on above us, I find it hard to believe he's just sitting quietly in there."
"How can you sure?"
"I'm not, but I rely on my Amazonian instinct," Artemis explained. "And it's telling me I need to go inside Tartarus and find out what's going on…"
"Alright," Helena conceded. "Here we go…"
Helena began to chant the spell as Artemis stiffened.
"Watch my body…" she warned as she collapsed to the ground.
Tartarus- A Few Thousand Years Ago
Artemis found herself staring into what looked like a maze. The walls were fiery red and seemed to shift on their own. According to Helena, Tartarus would change its own internal structure if Hades was not present. A symbol of ever-present chaos constantly fluctuating and changing. Artemis however wasn't going to get scared. She called upon her own Amazonian willpower and fought on through. She refused to be intimidated.
After running through the maze, jumping between shifting walls and dodging sudden trap doors she finally got through.
"Some security system," she taunted haughtily.
"GGGGGGGGRRRRRRR!" a growling sound was heard.
Artemis turned around and saw a giant three-headed dog bearing their teeth at her.
"Uh…sit?" Artemis tried to command. She never liked dogs.
"GRRRRRRR!" Cerberus snapped at her as Artemis closed her eyes and flinched.
"GGGGRRRRR!" the heads growled in frustration and Artemis opened her eyes to find the dog heads tried to bite at her but would just phase through her. Helena wasn't kidding when she said the astral projection would be unharmed.
"That all you got?" Artemis taunted and passed through the dog. She needed to find what Hades was up to.
Ancient Themyscira- A Few Thousand Years Ago
Helena paced impatiently near Artemis's lifeless body. She warned Artemis that Tartarus would probably be ever-changing its own internal structures as sort of defense mechanism if Hades was away like they hoped for. Still, she hoped Artemis would hurry. The sound of the storm above was getting more violent by the second and she didn't feel comfortable staying underground.
"Come on Artemis…" Helena complained. "Get back here before Hades…"
"Before I what?" a deep voice demanded.
Helena felt an icy chill go down her spine which paralyzed her for a second. She slowly and apprehensively turned around in desperate hope that if she took awhile to face him he would disappear. No such luck. At the foot of the steps that led to the surface stood the god of death this time in battered black armor who had an angry look on his face.
"You dare trespass in my domain?" he accused.
"Well…" Helena chuckled nervously, she needed to stall somehow.
"Does anyone know you're here?" Hades asked.
"Excuse me?" Helena was confused by the question.
"Did the Queen sent you, does anyone know you're here?"
"No…"
Hades then smiled evilly.
"Good."
"Uh-oh…"
FFFFFFRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSHHHH!
Hades blew fire out of his mouth much to Helena's surprise who managed to dodge it barely.
"I honestly usually don't like using this. Often I like fighting my foes hand to hand, prolonging the agony."
He then slowly and threateningly began to walk towards Helena.
"However, time is pressing and I don't have time to play hide and seek…"
Hades took another deep breath and spewed fire. Helena barely managed to evade that blast.
Tartarus- A Few Thousand Years Ago
Artemis grunted in frustration. Tartarus itself was confusing. The entire layout seemed to be endless and every time Artemis thought she was heading towards something, she would end up somewhere else. Of course this place would show Hades's own twisted nature. It seemed only a god could actually navigate through the realm as if it was just any normal place.
"Not lost are we?" a voice cackled.
Artemis turned around and saw a man with wild hair and beard struggling to push a boulder up the hill. She immediately deduced who he was.
"You must be Sisyphus."
"At your service…" the man grunted as he gave a mock salute while trying to stop the boulder from rolling onto him with one hand. "And I know you aren't dead because you're soul doesn't look fully developed here."
"Is that an insult?" Artemis asked angrily.
"No, just observation. Now what brings you here?"
"None of your business," she muttered. "I don't need your help."
"Fine, go spend an eternity trapped here between life and death and hope Hades will show you mercy and let you leave for trespassing his realm."
Artemis glared at the man. She hated to admit it but he was right. She really had no clue where she was.
"So…" Sisyphus gloated and stopped trying to push the rock so he could concentrate talking to Artemis. "What brings your pretty face here?"
Artemis growled in disgust.
"I've come here to try to find out what Hades is up to…"
"Oh I can tell you!" Sisyphus said gleefully.
"Really?" Artemis asked in surprise. Was is that easy?
"Of course any chance to stick it back at him."
"Then what is he doing?" Artemis demanded. "Why is he courting Hippolyta? Is he trying to take over the Amazons? And does he have anything to do with the storm?"
"Well basically Hades has sent his army to take over Olympus hence the storm…"
"Is he mad? Zeus and the rest can easily overpower his forces!"
"Yes he's aware of that. He plans to unleash the Titans though to give him the advantage, hence why is his sudden interest in Hippolyta."
"I knew it!" Artemis said smugly. "I knew he was after something! And Antigone didn't believe me!"
It was then Artemis realized she was missing the connection.
"Wait, what does Hippolyta have to do with the Titans?"
"Oh you don't know? Hippolyta secretly has the actual key that will unleash the Titans from their prison here. In fact as we speak Hades has sent out his army to attack Olympus while trying to convince Hippolyta to give him the key."
Artemis then realized the urgency in her mission had just tripled.
"I need to warn her!"
"Yes, I assume you do."
"How do I get out of here?" Artemis demanded.
"Just think about your body and the projection of your soul should send you back to the real world. Good luck."
"Thanks," Artemis muttered, not wanting to loudly show gratitude to a man.
"What was that?"
Artemis ignored him and began to fade away.
"No respect," he muttered angrily and tried to continue to push the boulder.
Ancient Themyscira- A Few Thousand Years Ago
"Where are you pretty girl?" Hades taunted. "Daddy's getting anxious."
Helena was hiding behind a stalagmite as Hades searched for her. She just wished Artemis would hurry up. Thankfully Hades seemed to have chosen to ignore Artemis's lifeless body.
"I can sense you…" Hades taunted. "No use of hiding from me."
Helena held her breath. She wished she was like Artemis. Always willing to face Death itself head on. But Artemis was counting on her and Helena couldn't let her fellow sister down.
BOOM!
"I see you…" Hades taunted in a sing-song voice as he destroyed the stalagmite she was hiding behind.
"Ugh…" Helena groaned as she fell to the ground. The destruction of the stalagmite had completely caught her by surprise. She was still stunned at the moment.
"If you wanted to die, you just needed to ask," Hades taunted as he approached her lifeless body.
"Get away from her!" a strong voice commanded.
Alarmed, Hades turned around to find himself staring back at Artemis who was angrily glaring at him. Helena sighed with relief. Her sister had made it back from Tartarus.
"Another one?" Hades noted with slight annoyance.
"It's over Hades," Artemis threatened. "We know about your plan. You were trying to use Hippolyta…"
"I was doing what she wanted!" Hades snapped. "I'm creating a new world order. A world where fiends like Heracles won't escape their sins because of nepotism. A world where my siblings will submit themselves at my feet like the dogs they truly are. A world that will finally be at peace…"
"You wanted to manipulate Hippolyta!" Artemis snapped. "For your own selfish goals!"
"Maybe so, but regardless of my motives, I'm giving Hippolyta exactly what she's always wanted. In time she'll realize my plans were for the Amazon's best interests…"
"What makes you think you know what the Amazons need? You aren't our Queen!"
"No but I will be king of Olympus soon, and I can't allow you to threaten that…"
Hades took a deep breath.
"RUN ARTEMIS!" Helena warned as Hades began to breathe fire.
"Ungh!" Artemis grunted as she flipped over to dodge the flames. While she was in midair she violently tossed her shield like a discus squarely between the demon god's eyes.
WHAM!
"ARRRRRRGGGGHHH!"Hades cried in shock and pain as he covered his face. Usually Artemis would strike again but she knew for once in her life flight was better than fight.
"Come on let's go!" Artemis commanded as she helped up Helena and they ran towards the exit. They needed to get to Hippolyta first and tell her the truth. They were almost to the stairs when a pillar of black smoke appeared out of nowhere blocking their path. Helena yelped in surprise.
"Going somewhere?" Hades taunted wickedly. Artemis glared at him in defiance. There wasn't even a scratch on his face.
"I'll teach you to strike a god…" Hades gloated.
SWWWSSK!
"ARRRGHH!" Hades wheezed in pain and clutched his side. Artemis noted a sword had been lodged in it from behind. Two gauntlet covered hands then appeared next to his ears.
WHAM!
"Arrrggghh!" Hades groaned and covered his head in pain as he collapsed from the impact of the gauntlets hitting his temples, revealing two fierce and very wet Amazons standing at the bottom of the stairs in triumph.
"Phillipus!" Artemis said in surprise.
"Andromeda!" Helena cried with relief. "You're alive!"
"Next time we take a bigger boat," Andromeda noted dryly. "It's really hard to swim during a storm."
"We'll talk later, we need to move!" Artemis said with urgency and ran pass the two Amazons dragging Helena with her. Phillipus and Andromeda wasted no time as well and sprinted up the steps. They could Hades groaning and stirring. He was a god after all, he could heal fast.
Hippolyta walked onto the beach with Io and Antigone. Even with the magic of their ship, it was still treacherous trying to navigate through the storm. Hippolyta could feel her long blonde hair being blown wildly in the storm. They didn't have much time. Unconsciously, she held onto the little box she had. The very key to their survival was hidden inside it. It was funny that such a small object could cause so much destruction.
"My Queen we need to hurry…" Antigone urged, snapping Hippolyta from her thoughts.
"Yes," Hippolyta agreed. "It's the only way…"
"HIPPOLYTA!" a voice shouted.
Hippolyta looked up to see running towards her Artemis, Phillipus, Andromeda, and Helena all looking exasperated and out of breath.
"Thank the gods we found you!" Helena gasped.
"Where have you been?" Antigone demanded angrily. "Don't you know there's a war going on?"
"The war's a farce!" Artemis snapped.
"What are you talking about?" Hippolyta asked.
"Oh no…" Andromeda muttered angrily looking over her shoulder. Soaring towards them was a big black cloud of smoke. Before anyone could say anything the smoke landed right behind the Amazons, which a very angry Hades appeared.
"Hippolyta! I caught those four aiding the enemy!" he accused. "I'll deal with them!"
"That's not true!" Artemis protested. "You're the enemy!"
"They're trying to sabotage us!" Hades shouted. "Give me the key, I'll release the Titans!"
"My Queen you can't!" Artemis protested. "You're making a mistake!"
"It's the only way to end the war!" Antigone shot back.
"There is no war!" Artemis snapped in frustration. "Hades orchestrated it! It's a lie! He wants you to release the Titans so he can take over Olympus!"
"Why would I want to do that?" Hades asked with disgust. He then looked at Hippolyta. "Hippy, you can't possibly believe in them…"
Hippolyta looked at Hades and back at Artemis, feeling unsure. The whole fate of the world could be at stake and she found her own turned upside down and inside out. Who could she trust? She couldn't believe Hades would use her like that. After they went through she knew he loved her. Yet she couldn't believe her own people would betray her…
"My Queen," Artemis pleaded and for the first time Hippolyta didn't see the angry confident Amazon. She only saw a pleading young woman showing fear and worry instead of masking it behind rage and violence.
"I've always been loyal to you. I've always followed you no matter what. Haven't I earned your trust?"
Hippolyta hesitated. She didn't really know what to say to that.
"I'm sorry…" Hades gloated and took a step closer to the group. "But Hippolyta knows who you really are. She trusts me more than all of you."
At that moment Hippolyta didn't know if it was fate, instinct, or just how Hades gloated but an alarm turned on in Hippolyta's head. Something she should have realized at first but never asked.
"How did you know I had the key to unleash the Titans?" Hippolyta demanded.
"What?" Hades asked.
"How did you know?" Hippolyta asked, the tone in her voice dropping an octave lower and more threatening. "The key has changed hands for a millennium in secret. Not even the gods were supposed to know."
Hades looked uncomfortable.
"You told me…"
"I never told you anything!" Hippolyta snapped. A tear was beginning to roll down her cheek.
"You figured it out. That's why you started appearing to me. You were hoping you could trick me into giving it to you!" Hippolyta demanded angrily.
"Hippy…"
"Don't Hippy me!" she warned. "You've been using me this entire time! You…you sick, twisted spawn of Cronus!"
Hippolyta spat at the ground.
"You lied to me, manipulated me when I was vulnerable!"
Hippolyta then looked at her own shaking hands.
"I trusted you, you violated me…"
"Everything we did was on our own choice. I never forced you to do anything," Hades protested.
Artemis pulled out her sword.
"You tricked her," Artemis said with disgust. "Used her like your own pawn. You'll pay for that!"
Hades slowly began to glare in anger. But then he did the unexpected and began to laugh.
"So is this how it's going to be? Fine. You all have made the grave misunderstanding that I was only willing to ask nicely for the key. What's to stop me from taking it by force?"
The Amazons, although trained to not show fear in combat couldn't help but let slip a few nervous grimaces. Hades chuckled.
"So if you won't give it to me, who do I have to kill first?" Hades asked and took a step forward.
BOOM!
"ARRRGH!" Hades screamed as a lightning bolt struck the ground right in front, startling the god of death.
"Look!" Helena noted. "The storm's lifting!"
The Amazons looked around and noticed she was right. The sea was calming down and the clouds were becoming less dark.
"Hades!" a young voice commanded angrily. Both the god and the Amazons looked up to see cloaked in bright light was none other than Hermes himself. Except this time the Messenger was in full battle gear. Also his usual casual facial expression was replaced by anger and disappointment.
"Oh look, my little nephew is starting to learn to grow up," Hades taunted.
"It's over Hades," Hermes warned.
"No it's not," Hades snarled back. "Once I release the Titans you and your father will finally meet your end!"
Hades then lunged over to Hippolyta.
ZAP!
"ARGH!" Hades screamed as lightning struck him. His knees buckled and he almost collapsed.
"I come with the entire authority of Olympus on you!" Hermes explained. "Your army has been beaten! They are retreating! Your plan has failed!"
"No! I won't let Zeus win this time!"
Hermes extended his hand and to Hippolyta's surprise the box flew out of her hand and into is.
"Thanks to you Hades, we've located the key. Thank you for your help," Hermes replied sardonically.
Hades growled and made to lunge at his nephew.
"Don't even think about it," Hermes warned. "Unless you want to taste a fully charged lightning bolt from Zeus!"
Hades reluctantly stopped and stared daggers at the Messenger.
"From this day forth, you are forever banished from Olympus! You are no longer welcome there and will be forever cast down here!"
"I don't care!" Hades replied angrily. "If I can't take over heaven, then I'll bring Hell to Earth!"
"So be it," Hermes said coolly. "We won't attempt to stop your mad ambitions because in the end it will lead to your downfall. Fate is against you, you won't be able…"
"There is no such thing as Fate! I make my own destiny!" Hades cried defiantly. "If Zeus wants to stop me then he's going to have to come down and face me himself!"
Hermes didn't say anything. Hades glared and looked at the Amazons.
"The world you know will no longer be known as Man's World!" he threatened. "It will be a new underworld that only knows the bliss of death! Soon I will be worshipped and revered more than Zeus!"
And before anyone could say anything, Hades transformed into a pillar of black smoke and took off in the air.
Most of the Amazons just stared at the scene in shock and bewilderment. Hippolyta's face was white and covered in guilt. Artemis however was showing raw fury.
""That's it?" she shouted angrily at Hermes. "You're just banishing him from Olympus?"
"Artemis…" Helena warned.
Hermes looked at Artemis.
"Hades has committed many atrocities but he is still Zeus's brother. Zeus has hoped that maybe exile will allow him to reflect…"
"Not even the Trojans were that stupid and they let in that damn horse!" Artemis shouted angrily. "You'll know he'll never repent."
Hermes didn't say anything and continued to stare at Artemis with curiosity.
"I thought Amazons didn't care much for the outside world…"
"I…we don't…uh…that's not the issue!" Artemis complained, getting flustered by the Messenger's observation.
Hermes then looked at Hippolyta.
"Queen Hippolyta," Hermes proclaimed. "You have turned your back on your patrons and nearly aided in bringing about the end of the world…"
"She was tricked!" Phillipus protested.
"No," Hippolyta warned Phillipus. The Queen then bowed her head in guilt and tears began to roll down her face.
"I was angry and selfish. I let myself believe his lies because I was angry at the gods. I will accept the consequences of my sins."
"My Queen…" Artemis begged.
"Zeus considered punishing you for this," Hermes warned. "But Hera interceded on your behalf. The Amazons will no longer be under Olympian patronage, but that is it. You are free to live your life for the better or the worse, it is your choice."
And before anyone could say anything Hermes disappeared.
"What does that mean?" Andromeda asked.
"It means we're on our own…" Hippolyta noted sadly.
Themyscira- 2059
Hippolyta stared at Bruce.
"So I take it you failed to convince Artemis as well?" Hippolyta noted.
Bruce didn't say anything.
Hippolyta sighed guiltily.
"I'm really sorry for your predicament and I really do wish you the best of luck. But I just can't help you…"
"It's alright," Bruce said coldly although Hippolyta could sense the disappointment in his voice. "How do I get back to where I was?"
Surprised that he didn't try to fight some more, Hippolyta was caught off guard for a second.
"Uh…you need to think back to the place you where at. Then your consciousness should return to your body."
"Thank you," Bruce replied and then looked Hippolyta square in the eyes.
"Remember how I once told you that we couldn't ever bring peace to the world?"
Hippolyta didn't say anything and watched him curiously.
"Well Diana always disagreed with me. Even when the odds were stacked up high, she always believed that her dream would come true."
Before Hippolyta could respond, there was a bright light and Bruce had vanished, leaving her in her room by herself.
Bat Knights Headquarters-2059
Bruce's eyes shot open and he found himself on an uncomfortable bed. He quickly realized he was in the makeshift medical tent. He could still feel the necklace clenched in his fists.
"Ha! He's awake! I knew he would make it!" squeaked a triumphant voice. "You owe me ten bucks!"
"Shut up ya runt!" Lobo muttered.
Bruce looked and found all the members of the "war council" were by his side.
"What happened?" Terry demanded. Bruce could tell by Terry's tone of voice the question came out of curiosity, not concern.
"Was it the Omega Sanction?" Vandal asked nervously.
"No," Bruce grunted weakly and tried to sit up. His head still hurt like hell.
"The necklace took my conscience to Themyscira…"
"The island full of Amazon babes?" Lobo asked excitedly. "Why didn't anyone tell me that necklace did that?"
"Wait you were with the Amazons?" Terry asked skeptically. "Are you sure it wasn't a hallucination?"
"It was real," Bruce snapped and looked at Savage.
"I talked to Hippolyta, their Queen…"
"Is she coming?" Vandal asked interrupting Bruce.
Bruce didn't say anything. How did he tell them that his talk with Hippolyta didn't matter and it was all for nothing?
"Are they coming?" Vandal demanded again impatiently. "Are the Amazons coming?"
Bruce sighed.
"She said no, but I know they will…"
"What?" Lobo asked. "You ain't makin' sense pal!"
"What do you mean?" Terry asked.
"Hippolyta says they won't come but they will eventually. Trust me…"
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I know her," Bruce interrupted. "How long will it take to mobilize two thousand Bat Knights from this Sector and have them all here in Gotham?"
Terry paused to think.
"A little less than a week if we get the word out now."
"Then we'll strike back in a week," Bruce said bluntly.
"Are you sure Bruce?" Vandal noted. "You said so yourself the Bat Knights would not be enough to overcome Sector 1's Army."
"The Amazons will come, just you wait."
Amazon Island- A Few Thousand Years Ago
Hippolyta sat in her room. The past few days she demanded to be left alone. Not even Antigone or Artemis were allowed to see her. She had failed. Not only as a queen but as an Amazon. She was surprise her sisters hadn't abandoned or deserted her. The Amazons were a disgrace now all because of her. Forgotten and cast aside by the gods.
She suddenly felt a breeze at her back and the presence of someone behind her. She quickly turned around to find herself staring at the face of a man she had hated so much. The face of a man who had not only violated her but robbed her of achieving her dream. The very man who drove her mad with grief and into the arms of Hades.
"Hello Hippolyta," Heracles said guilty.
"YOU!" she shouted angrily and pulled out her sword.
"I'm dead," Heracles reminded her and she realized he was not fully solid, just an apparition.
"I don't care," Hippolyta warned. "I'll find a way to make you hurt."
"If you did, I would deserve it," Heracles replied with remorse. "In fact I would deserve way worse than that."
"You...what?" Hippolyta cried. She never recalled Heracles being so humble before.
"I know you'll never believe me or forgive me and rightfully so. I may have been spared from eternal damnation because of my one last act of redemption. But I still have a lot to answer for my sins. I probably will not rest in peace until after a few millennia…"
"So why are you here then?" Hippolyta asked, tears in her eyes. She already had to deal with a lot the past year.
"I know what happened to you," Heracles noted.
Hippolyta let out a fake laugh.
"So you've come to gloat now that even Hera has abandoned me?"
"Not that. I heard how I…I made you with child. And not only did you lose it but your ability to give birth as well. I've made you barren…"
Hippolyta was stunned that Heracles knew about that.
"I know it's because of the consequences of my sins that I have no right to ask for your forgiveness. Yet I've come here to ask for your help."
"Help? You come here reminding me of every atrocity you committed to my people and myself and now you want me to help you?"
"Not me," Heracles corrected. "I was talking about Man's World. Mankind needs your help."
Hippolyta looked at Heracles in shock at his request.
"Hades as you know in response to his banishment from Olympus has gathered an army to take over Man's World. The Amazons are the only army able to stop him…"
"Get your father to help," Hippolyta warned cynically.
"He won't interfere," Heracles corrected.
The once mighty man now looked more like a pleading child who was about to be punished by his parents.
"Please Hippolyta," Heracles begged softly. "I know you don't like men, especially after what I did to you, but you know not all of them are bad. I gave my life knowing that there were a lot of people out there who were better men than me that didn't deserve death yet."
Heracles then bowed his head.
"I'm begging you Hippolyta. Mankind needs you. Even if you don't like men, I beseech in your heart to find it in you to stop Hades. I know that deep down you are the most selfless woman I've ever met."
Heracles then looked back and made eye contact with her.
"You're the only warrior I ever met that had a pure heart. A warrior that cared about the well-being of her own comrades and enemies before herself."
Hippolyta didn't say anything but continued to stare at her former enemy with uncertainty.
"I need to get going…" Heracles explained as he began to fade away. "I pray that you find it in your heart to save mankind when everyone else had abandoned it…"
Themyscira- A Few Thousand Years Ago
"Well this is interesting," Hades noted with amusement. He was currently on "neutral" ground with Artemis, Hippolyta, and Antigone.
"I must say I was surprised when I sent my army out to conquer Man's World to find your own army blocking my way. If you wanted to join me Hippy, you just needed to ask. You didn't have to throw all this theatrics and call a parlay."
Hippolyta didn't show any reaction other than a cool stare at the god of death. Artemis however had a terrible poker face and was not making an attempt to hide her disgust with their present company. Antigone however looked conflicted as if she wasn't even sure what was going on.
"If it's my forgiveness you want then…"
"I didn't come to ask you for your forgiveness," Hippolyta interrupted.
"What?" Hades asked, sounding very offended by the response.
"I came here to stop you. You shall not be allowed to invade Man's World as long as there is one Amazon still breathing."
Hades seemed to have been rendered speechless as he just sat completely stunned by Hippolyta's proclamation. However he soon erupted in laughter.
"That's a good one Hippy!" Hades laughed. "I didn't know you could joke like that!"
"How dare you mock her you swine!" Artemis threatened.
Hades stopped laughing.
"You're actually serious?"
Hippolyta's stone silence confirmed the answer.
"What?" Hades asked, completely caught off guard. "But…don't be a fool Hippy! This is ridiculous!"
Hippolyta didn't say anything.
"After everything we've been through?" Hades shouted. "Both of us exiled by the gods and now you're going to turn against me? The one god who didn't abandoned you? The one god that was there for you when no one else was? The one god who would lead your people to their rightful place above Man's World?"
"You lied to me," Hippolyta reminded him. "You seduced me to try to use me for your own mad desires."
"That may be true, I admit that. But after meeting you I was willing to share that power with you and your people!" Hades snapped.
He then for the first time actually seemed to show he was actually emotionally hurt by something.
"I realized you deserved better. I was going to help you. It would've been in your best interests!"
"My best interests?" Hippolyta asked. "You don't know me!"
"Yes I do! I know how you were angry, just like me! You were robbed of justice and the respect you deserved! My siblings let mankind nearly destroy your entire race! I would've given you all the power you needed! This time it would be men who would be your prisoners!"
Hades then began to show even more anger.
"I would've still offered it to you!" Hades snapped. "Even though you ruined my plan to take Olympus I was about to offer you a place by my side after I take over Man's World! This is what you always wanted! Payback against mankind and glory for your Amazons!"
Antigone looked back at her queen with uncertainty. Hades offer made sense. It was confusing Antigone why Hippolyta didn't seem willing to take it.
"It is true," Hippolyta admitted. "I sometimes did feel angry like you. And I don't share as much love to men as the gods would like me to. However, you still don't know me. There is a difference between you and me."
"And what is that? That I'm actually willing to act on my dreams and desires? That I don't let myself be constrained by the lie that is fate or the crutch that is morality?"
"No," Hippolyta corrected. "The difference is while I may be angry, I never give into my selfish desires over the expense of others. That is not who I am. I want and wish for a lot of things, but I will never succumb to those desires. As a queen I learned early on I could never allow myself to submit to my temptations. You however have lived your life in constant selfishness and pursuit for your own self-interest. Everything you do is for yourself; you never have done anything that wasn't for your benefit."
Hades didn't say anything but glared at her.
"Let me ask you something Hades. If you really do still care and love me, would you be willing to give up your quest for power for me?"
Again Hades said nothing.
"Would you stop right now and end this invasion just so you and I could be together forever?"
Hades didn't say anything still.
"That's what I thought," Hippolyta responded coldly. "You only delude yourself into thinking you care for me. The only person you care for is yourself."
She then looked at Artemis and Antigone.
"We're done here," she ordered and turned around.
"See you on the battlefield," she called out to Hades as she began marching away. Artemis followed as did Antigone who kept looking back at Hades with uncertainty.
"You think this makes you better than me?!" Hades called out to the retreating Amazon angrily. "You think your so called "selfless" act will prove something? It won't! Nothing can stop the march of my army! I will cover this world in darkness and make sure your people suffer the most! Then I will grant you death's sweet release when you finally realize that none of your attempts of morality mattered! Nothing matters in the face of death!"
Hippolyta didn't say anything and continued to walk away. Hades glared and turned around. Waving his hand he produced a small mirror. He could feel the anger and hate burning in his heart again so he needed to see something.
Looking at his own reflection in the mirror, Hades moved his hand above his face. Immediately the visage of the handsome man was replaced by the face of an ugly demon wolf like creature snarling at the mirror. Feeling satisfaction he crushed the mirror in his hands.
"Nothing matters," Hades muttered as he morphed back into his handsome disguise. "Not even love."
Themyscira-2059
Hippolyta sighed as she stared at the doors to Tartarus. It felt so long ago when she last saw the warrior. She remembered the pain she felt when she saw Hades dragging him back into Tartarus while she desperately tried to save him. She remembered how he called for Diana as the doors shut. By the gods, she didn't even tell him that he was the reason Diana had her name. But it was too late. Everything was too late.
"There you are Hippy!" Hades called out. Hippolyta grimaced and didn't bother to turn around. Hades approached her from behind and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"So you've come to see me off before I have to return to my duties in Tartarus, that's so sweet."
Hippolyta didn't say anything still.
"I know, I know. I wish I could stay around forever but you know how these underworlds work. No one there to run it and they fall apart."
Again Hippolyta didn't say anything. Hades didn't seem to care and leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.
"Well I must be going dear…" he announced as he took off his gauntlets.
WHAM!
The doors of Tartarus flung open the second both gauntlets fell off. Hades meanwhile began to transform, growing into a larger form while his toga was replaced by his dark armor.
"See you next week Dear," he called out as he walked towards the orange portal.
"No…" Hippolyta muttered bluntly.
"I'm sorry?" Hades asked and turned around.
"There won't be a next week. Not anymore," Hippolyta explained angrily.
"What?"
"I will never summon you again. You will remained trap in Tartarus for eternity," Hippolyta warned. "I've had enough of you. Artemis warned that you would corrupt me and she was right!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Man's world and my daughter can be saved right now and I was almost not going to help because I was afraid! I put my own fears and insecurities ahead of me! I put my own self-interests ahead of the good for all!"
"Not this again Hippy," Hades moaned. "Didn't you learn last time? Your efforts for the greater good amount to nothing. The odds are agaisnt you..."
"It never was about the odds," Hippolyta shot back. "I rather die in a hopeless battle than survive by cowardice!"
"Hippy you're being unreasonable..."
"I'm going to go help Man's World," Hippolyta explained. "And nothing you can say will change my mind."
She then began to chant the spell that would close the doors.
"Wait Hippy!" Hades protested in desperation. "Don't be a fool!"
Hippolyta finished the chant. The doors began to glow, indicating they were ready to close.
"Hippolyta! Stop!" Hades warned. "You don't have to go risk your life for a hopeless cause! You owe them nothing!"
"It's like I said before," Hippolyta reminded the god of death. "The difference between you and me is I don't make my decisions based on my own selfish needs, but the needs of others! It's not about who owes what!"
"Hippolyta!"
"Be gone!" she shouted and waved her hands as the doors began to slam shut.
"Hippoly-"
BAM!
Hippolyta coldly turn around.
"Besides if there was someone who is owed something it's my daughter. If anything I owe doing all I can to give her another chance of life."
Few Hours Later
Hippolyta sat at the bow of her ship. Hundreds of other ships surrounded her own. All were packed with Amazons ready for battle. On Hippolyta's own private ship was herself, Artemis, and her closest sisters.
"My Queen. We are ready. All Amazons and supplies have been accounted for," Artemis explained.
"Good," Hippolyta replied while turning to Phillipus and Andromeda. "Launch the signals."
Phillipus and Andromeda fired two flaming arrows each high up in the air so all the Amazons could see it. Hippolyta could hear the Amazon cries as they stomped their spears and bang their shields.
"If everything goes according to plan. With the magic of our boats, we'll be arriving just a little south to this Got-Ham in about a week," Andromeda explained.
"Good," Hippolyta said while looking into the endless horizon before her. "I just hope we aren't too late."
The ship began to move as did the others, indicating the entire Amazon fleet was heading west.
"You know, I never mandated that everyone had to come," Hippolyta reminded Artemis. "I made it clear that I was going to Man's World and anyone who wanted to help could join me."
"We all understood that my Queen. That's why we all volunteered. We'll never leave you now or ever. We'll go to the jaws of Tartarus and back for you."
Hippolyta smiled sadly, she looked at Artemis with the utmost pride and respect.
"Thank you Artemis, for everything."
Artemis smiled.
"It's what good warriors do," Artemis explained.
Hippolyta chuckled and looked into the endless horizon.
"Something is happening that hasn't happened for millennia," Hippolyta noted.
"What?" Artemis asked.
"The Amazons are going to war," Hippolyta continued solemnly. "It is likely we sail to our doom; the Last March, of the Amazons."
Tartarus
"No Hippy don't!" Hades cried. "Please don't I beg you…HAHAHAHA!"
Hades began break down into a fit of laughter.
"I'm surprised I was able to keep a straight face," Hades said to himself as he wiped the tears from his eyes. "Oh well, as much as I enjoyed our rebound, all good things must come to an end and I have better things to do. Poor Hippolyta. Sweet foolish Hippolyta. Once again I tricked you. Everything is going according to plan."
Hades then sat back onto his throne which began to transport him around Tartarus.
"You're so easy to manipulate it's not even funny. You played right into my hand. I've seen the future! You and that pathetic mortal will come so close to your goal of changing the past…"
Hades then clenched his fists tightly.
"Only to discover you can't possibly succeed! And when that mortal finally realizes the true worthlessness of his struggle, the power of the Anti-Life will be mine!"
Up next
A Savage looking for Redemption,
A Revolutionary looking for Victory
A Time-traveler looking for Hope
An Imp looking for Heroism
A Warrior looking for Sacrifice
A Queen looking for Purpose
and A Bounty Hunter looking for some Fun
Together these lost souls will form something the world has not seen in a long time. The Justice League shall return just as the story comes to its end. A new League shall rise just as the world reaches its darkest hour.
