I came so close to using this version. I still like it very much, but it needed tweaked to work properly. I wrote this when I was still imagining Hermes showing up with a flaming chariot to take them to Olympus. But then I thought, why would they need to go to Themyscira for that? He could pick them up from anywhere . . . And then I remembered the whole flaming chariot thing was Apollo's ride and why would Hermes be using it? Anyway, I ended up rewriting it as you all are aware. Still, you'll be able to see the similarities . . .
The End of Everything - The Journey to Paradise
Warnings: ** If you HAVEN'T read "The End of Everything", this will have SPOILERS. Read the story first, please.** - Rating: K
"I told you the ravens would be no trouble," Diana told him. "We lost them shortly after takeoff. They couldn't keep up with the jet."
Batman grunted. It made him nervous. Not that he wasn't grateful to get rid of the birds, but he wasn't entirely sure what the Gray Woman's reaction would be. So far, they had found no storm clouds gathering.
"We could have taken the Batplane, you know," Batman answered instead.
He shifted Dickie's position onto his other shoulder. The boy was out cold. He didn't even wake up when Bruce had pulled him out from underneath the computer where he had been napping with the newest member of the family. He glanced over at Diana who was currently piloting her invisible plane with that newest family member tucked neatly on her lap. The pup had been too sleepy to give Wonder Woman the kind of enthusiastic greeting she might have normally and spared the Amazonian princess a tongue-bath.
"We could have," she agreed, "but, this way we don't annoy the inhabitants with a reminder that I brought men to Themyscira while we visit Olympus." One of Diana's hands continued to sweep over the pup's soft fur while she steered the jet with the other.
"Is there another way to reach Olympus besides going to Themyscira?" he asked. He preferred to avoid a scene while Dickie was with them. "Will you get into trouble for this?"
"This is the easiest and quickest method," she assured him. Her gaze dropped to the boy for a few seconds, softening at the sight. "It will be the safest route as well. As for trouble, any who oppose our passing through Themyscira can take it up with Zeus himself."
Batman nodded. He could live with that. "How do we get to Olympus once we reach the island?"
"Zeus is sending us an escort," Diana explained. "Normally, I could fly there, but it is too risky to do this with the three of you with me."
"How exactly is it riskier?"
"We wouldn't be able to take the jet. There is a barrier between earth and the gods, similar to the one protecting Themyscira from the world of men, but it is one that mortals aren't allowed to pass." She glanced at him. "What we are doing, Batman, it's a big deal. The last mortal to travel to Olympus was Hercules."
Batman frowned. "I thought Hercules was a demigod."
She nodded. "He was, but he was also mortal at the time."
"Is Dick in danger?"
Her hesitation made his gut tighten uncomfortably.
"I would have left Dick at the manor had I known this would be dangerous," he grumbled angrily.
"No. I'm certain he would have been summoned eventually as well. This will be less frightening for him than had Hermes shown up suddenly to transport him," Diana assured him. "Keep in mind, too, that with Dick present, you can petition Zeus to return the boy to his rightful age."
There was that. "Do you think he would be willing?"
"We won't know until we ask," she said, "but there is a good chance. Zeus doesn't like admitting there are gods who might be more powerful than he is. Helping us will appeal to his ego."
"And his memories? Can he return those, too?"
Wonder Woman frowned as she considered it. "I don't know," she answered truthfully.
"What good will it be for Dick to be returned to normal if he is still missing his memories? What if his mind remained that of a toddler, Di? If he cannot return Dick's memories to him, there would be no reason to return him to his correct age." Batman told her.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. There's the possibility that your Gray Goddess merely blocked his memories. If that's the case, there is a good chance that when we leave Olympus, Dick will be back to normal again," she said.
Batman fell silent. In his mind, however, he wondered if Dick would retain any memory of his time as a toddler or if this experience would be stripped from him in order to regain that which he had lost. Either way, the problems between them still existed. How would his son react once he returned to normal? Would Bruce even retain the right to call him his son after the debacle in the cave?
As anxious as he was for Dick get back his age and his memories, Bruce couldn't help worrying that Dick would reject him the moment he did. If so, he wouldn't even have cause to complain. He could lose his son just as easily this way as he would should the Gray Woman return for him.
