Hello! I'm back with chapter two! So I thought I was working on chapter four. Turns out I combined three and four and am actually on chapter three. Well I'll post the next one when its ready. I hope you all enjoy! To those of you back after Sacrifice, welcome back! This is for y'all!
Disclaimer: ANY MEMBERS OF THE JL MENTIONED HERE ARE PROPERTY OF DC. THE GREEK GODS ARE MY INTERPRETATION. SERENA IS MY OWN CREATION.
Petition
Persephone was beginning to think that Hermes was never going to locate Diana. It had been a week since Serena informed them that the Amazon Princess was missing, and the goddess was really beginning to worry about her stepdaughter. Hades had been rather agitated as well, and the longer they went without answers, the angrier her husband became.
The Queen of the Underworld was tending to a plant in her garden when Hermes arrived. Her plants tensed at his arrival and they hungrily turned their attention to him. Persephone waved them off as he approached her, and she gave him her attention, "Please tell me you have news."
"Nothing yet, Your Majesty. Not even Helios witnessed it." The messenger stretched, "I'm running out of ideas, but please inform Hades that I'm not giving up yet. Aphrodite also wanted me to let you know that she's been searching for Diana. She had an idea and plans on stopping by soon."
"Aphrodite has never been one to inform me first." Persephone remarked.
Hermes nervously cleared his throat, "The Lord of the Underworld has been rather…. agitated lately. More so than normal."
"His daughter is missing. I hope you don't fault him." Her hazel eyes narrowed on the messenger.
He put his hands up in defense, "No one is blaming him. I'll keep looking."
Persephone nodded, "Thank you, Hermes."
The messenger saluted and disappeared. Persephone sighed heavily as she leaned up against one of her plants. Sending Diana back to Man's World had been necessary, but now she wished she could take it back.
"Sephie, are you here?" Aphrodite's lyrical voice called out.
"I'm here, Aphrodite."
The Goddess of Love and Beauty sashayed through the garden of dangerous flora with confidence and Persephone smiled at the sight. Her friendship with the goddess had flourished recently and she enjoyed having someone else to speak with. There was nothing wrong with the kingdom she ruled alongside her husband, but his title caused a divide between him and the others, and when she'd become his wife, the divide had occurred for her as well. And she'd welcomed it, the freedom to be herself, it had been all she wanted as a child. And then she'd realized that her position as Hades's wife meant that she had only her husband, and she would defend his name to anyone who spoke badly against him. She was his Queen, his equal, and she would defend him until Olympus fell. Then, Diana happened, and Persephone's love for her stepdaughter united her with two of Olympus's most respected goddesses: Athena and Aphrodite. Her smile fell, if only Aphrodite were visiting on better terms.
Aphrodite hugged Persephone, "The Underworld seems to be darker than usual, Sephie." She stepped back and took the Queen's hands in her own, "Hades hasn't been too nasty to the souls, has he?"
"Despite what the stories say, my husband can control himself." Persephone remarked.
Aphrodite nodded, "I suspected. I'm so worried about Diana, if I weren't the goddess of beauty, you'd see dark circles and frazzled hair, and I'd probably be breaking out."
Persephone giggled despite herself and the other goddess smiled approvingly, "That's better. You looked like your mother had come calling."
"That's the last thing I need." The Queen of the Underworld groaned as she rubbed her temples, "Hermes said you had a plan?"
"An idea. It might not even work, but for Diana, I'll try anything." Aphrodite remarked as she linked her arm with Persephone's, "I'd like to meet the siren Hades bound to Diana."
Serena was lying on her stomach, staring at the small flame in her lantern. It had barely moved in the last week and that worried her. Diana's flame was normally a steady, but bright flame, brighter than any fire she'd ever seen before. It was Diana's spirit, compassionate and loving and always fighting. Now, the flame was dim and small and nothing like Diana. The nymph wasn't sure how much longer the Princess could last.
"Serena."
The nymph sat up at the sound of her name and immediately curved over the ground to bow in reverence to the goddesses. Aphrodite smiled at the sight, "Sephie, she's precious."
Persephone smiled and reached down to Serena, "Rise, Siren. Aphrodite would like to meet our Champion's guardian."
Serena leaned back and rested on her knees before them, "It is an honor to serve the Princess."
Aphrodite studied Serena, taking in her braided silver hair and round purple eyes. They were a nice contrast against her dark skin and Aphrodite wondered if Hekate had formed this siren from the very shadows of Nyx and Erebus.
"A pretty little thing to have such a powerful role. Is my Champion well?"
Serena grabbed her lantern and raised it towards the goddess of love and beauty, "The flame is her soul, normally it's so bright it could light the entire cavern, but she's become this barely flickering flame. I pray that Hestia will never allow her soul to become an ember."
The Goddess of Love and Beauty frowned at the sight and her blue eyes watered, "Oh that's not our Diana."
"I don't think we can wait anymore, Aphrodite." Persephone whispered.
Aphrodite flipped her hair, "Agreed, which is why I have a plan," She turned her eyes onto Serena, "Will you do what's necessary to save Diana?"
Serena cuddled the lantern, "Yes."
A brilliant smile appeared on the goddess's face and lit the room, "Fantastic! Athena is meeting us there."
There weren't many missions that required the entire Bat-clan, but when three of Batman's villains-Penguin, Two-Face, and Black Mask- banned together, Batman had to call on his protégés. The warehouse and the tanker at the dock were being patrolled by the entire Bat-clan and there was a sense of pride that had taken root in his chest; they worked like a well-oiled machine.
"Batman come in."
"What is it Nightwing?"
"Comms are supposed to be silent." Robin snapped.
"Red Hood and Red Robin are signaling that something is wrong. I'm also picking up interference. Almost sounds like singing." Nightwing remarked.
Batman's eyes narrowed as he crept along the warehouse roof and as he moved a song drifted over him. It was hauntingly sweet, and he realized that it had lulled the gangs into a trance. He turned quickly as the sound was louder to his left and caught sight of a girl, around Damien's age, holding something to her chest and singing. She looked up at him and met his gaze and her eyes were a vibrant purple that was burning with power. She smiled and the note died.
All Hell broke loose.
The girl melted into shadow and the gangsters woke from their trance and started shooting. Batman cursed under his breath and moved, and by the sound of gunfire and explosions, his backup was just as frustrated. Shadows raced across the ground, bringing pitch black with it as it writhed around and captured many of the gangsters before swallowing them whole. An owl cried out and a woman walked out of the shadows donned in a warrior's helm, armor, and carrying a shield with the monstrous face of a Gorgon on one arm, and a spear in her other hand.
She raised her head high and her voice rang out, "Lepídes!"
A battalion of soldiers cheered in agreement; their swords raised as they charged out of the pitch black.
"Batman are you seeing this?" Red Robin questioned.
"We're all seeing it." Red Hood countered.
Batgirl asked, "That's Athena right? Diana's goddess?"
"It's not often that 'Thena gets to stretch her legs." A lyrical voice commented from beside Batman.
He turned and glowered at the Greek goddess of Love and Beauty, "You're in my city."
Her strawberry blonde hair was long and luscious, and curled at the ends. Her lagoon blue eyes were welcoming and kind and just as seductive as the curvature of her breasts, the pale skin of her hip, and the rose gold garter on her thigh. She smiled and it was breathtaking, "Very astute, Dark Knight. We wanted to speak to you and saw that it would take quite a while if we left you to your own devices. So, my cousins and I thought it would be better to expediate the process."
"Athena and-"
"Persephone, Queen of Spring, Curses, and the Underworld." Persephone appeared on his other side looking very much like an exotic queen. Her chiton was silver with obsidian clasps and ebony detail. Her dark skin was glowing and beautiful and brought out the hazel green eyes that stared into his cowl unflinchingly. She bore a metal crown of vines and briars while flowers wove themselves into her thick, curly hair. "Hello Batman."
"None of them better be dead." He growled with a gesture of his head to the soldiers and gangsters below.
Athena joined them and the owl landed on the tip of her spear, "They're Greek soldiers, only the best. Of course, none of your villains were killed." Her gray eyes were intense.
"The Greeks were some of the greatest killers of their time." Batman countered.
"Only when it mattered." Athena remarked and there was a spark of fire in her eyes. She approved of Batman.
"We'll leave you to finish cleaning up, Batman, and we'll meet you at the manor." Aphrodite winked and before he could argue, they were gone.
If Alfred was surprised that three Greek goddesses appeared in the sitting room of the manor, he didn't show it. Instead he politely inquired if they required refreshments and went to gather them when they smiled and accepted his offer.
"Sephie, look, Greek Mythology, and your story is in here, although it is written rather poorly." Aphrodite placed the book back on the shelf. "How horrendously backwards. If only they really knew." The goddess winked, "The real story is so much better."
Persephone's lips pulled into a wicked grin, "True, but mortals don't like knowing things that disagree with their views of society. They'd never believe it."
"Such a disappointment." Athena remarked as she placed the book she'd been eyeing away.
Alfred returned with iced tea and sandwiches, "Chicken salad, your graces. I also made a fruit and cheese plate, if you'd like."
"Thank you," Athena nodded as she took her glass and a sandwich.
Aphrodite bit into a sandwich and moaned in delight, "Alfred, when you're ready, I'll have a position for you on Olympus! This is delicious!"
The butler bowed, "I'm glad you like it."
"Alfred, there will always be a place for you in my household." Persephone added.
The goddess of love and beauty turned her head, "I'll fight you for him, Sephie."
"I'm honored. I'll bring out the cheese and fruit. The master of the house should be home soon."
The grandfather clock shifted, and Bruce stormed in and the goddesses watched him with interest. Here was the man that their champion loved more than life, that she respected as much as her patrons if not more, the man whose children she loved like her own.
"Why are you here?" Bruce demanded.
Alfred narrowed his eyes, "Master Bruce, I suggest you watch your tone. These are three of the greatest goddesses of their pantheon. You will be respectful."
Athena offered the older man a nod of approval, "Wise choice of words."
"Thank you, ma'am."
The rest of the Batclan had filed in, their curiosity causing them to forget that they shouldn't be in the room. Persephone watched Dick Grayson's eyes widen at the sight of her; he remembered. She gave him a subtle nod of her head, but Bruce Wayne's ice blue eyes caught the gesture and his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Persephone stood and Aphrodite and Athena stepped closer to her, forming a wall of formidable power. These mortals knew the myths and legends, they knew the great powers that now stood in their presence, and they knew that as mortals, they were at the mercy of the powerful women before them.
As one, all three goddesses gracefully fell to their knees and the atmosphere in the room shifted.
"Bruce Wayne of Gotham, the World's Greatest Detective, the Batman, I, Athena, Goddess of War, Strategy, Politics, and Crafts, humbly ask your assistance."
"Bruce Wayne of Gotham, son of Thomas and Martha Wayne, World's Greatest Detective, The Batman, I, Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, Beauty, and Passion humbly ask your assistance."
"Bruce Wayne, the Batman, Champion of Gotham, I, Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, Goddess of Spring and Curses, humbly ask your assistance."
Silence echoed around them but none of the goddesses lifted their heads. They waited. They waited like Diana had waited.
"Please don't do that." He finally spoke and the goddesses rose under the watchful gaze of the Wayne family.
"If you're here, like that, then its serious." He stated, "Where's Diana?"
"That's why we've come to you, Bruce Wayne. Diana is missing."
His blue eyes studied Athena, as she'd been the one to answer. The gray-eyed goddess simply stared back at him; her gaze was unflinching.
"Diana returned to Themyscira."
"She left the island several weeks ago."
"We were told that the Princess could never leave her island once she returned." Alfred remarked.
Aphrodite nodded, "And that is true, however her ban was lifted a year ago, by Athena. It was a vow that only Hera or Athena could overrule."
"Why not you?" Tim asked.
Aphrodite offered a dazzling smile that made her eyes sparkle, "Diana is my favorite. I'd give her anything she desired. I was forbidden from releasing her from Hippolyta's offer, and the Queen of the Amazons wouldn't have forgiven me. She's still upset at me for a few things. But Hera and Athena, they would never give in to Diana's requests without careful thought."
"Why did you do it?" Dick asked, and Athena turned to meet his gaze, "Because I saw that in her sacrifices, she was still my champion."
Bruce's body went rigid and his skin paled, "What sacrifices?"
"Diana petitioned us to save your family." Athena stated.
Jason swore under his breath, Cassandra's breath caught, Tim whistled lowly, Dick's shoulders relaxed, Damien scowled, and Alfred's face softened.
"We rejected her petition." Those words made Bruce's entire form relax, but then Persephone spoke, "So Diana turned to me." Her hazel eyes held Bruce's glare and she raised her chin, ever the queen, and continued, "Diana petitioned me, when Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera refused. Your son, Damien, was in danger. She offered up all of her abilities for every member of your family, yourself included." Her eyes glossed over each of his children, his surrogate father, and finally back to Bruce, "I could never deny her, she who is my husband's heart, my Champion as well, and the only gift I refused to take from her, was her life, which she was prepared to offer in exchange for yours."
"You could've ignored her."
Persephone quirked a brow, "The only person to deny her, is you, Bruce Wayne, and regardless of your attempts, my step-daughter, my champion, views you as a beacon of hope and light this world desperately needs. Diana's unwavering faith and love for you are the reasons I helped her." The goddess paused, "You may have been content knowing she was safe on Themyscira, but I did not want to watch her mourn you or the family that you've built. And now, Diana is missing."
"We sent for Hermes to search far and wide, to ask others if they'd seen her." Aphrodite stated.
"Like in your story." Tim added to Persephone.
The Queen of the Underworld scowled, "That's not how the story went, but the concept is the same. Hermes found nothing."
"We wouldn't have even known Diana was missing if it weren't for Serena." Aphrodite added.
"Who is Serena?"
Persephone snapped her fingers and from ink black shadows, the white-haired Serena appeared, cradling her lantern to her chest.
"You!" Damien hissed.
She blinked at him curiously before turning to look at Bruce. Her purple eyes studied him carefully before she offered him the lantern. He looked from her to the lantern but didn't accept it.
She gave him a cautious smile, "Here. Nothing bad will happen." Serena placed the lantern in his hands, and he shuddered as Diana's presence washed over him and he felt himself relax. This was the effect she had over him. He released the lantern, "What is that?"
Persephone explained, "Serena is a nymph of the Underworld. Typically, she and her sisters serve Hecate, but Serena was too gentle for the goddess, and instead, Hades employed her to work for him. Her only duty is to watch Diana."
Serena raised the lantern and frowned, "The princess's spirit is strong and beautiful, it radiates enough light to brighten the depths of Tartarus, but now…its barely an ember. She's gone where I cannot follow. If she remains this way for much longer, then Princess Diana will die."
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