Superman: Mythos #9 "Superman Fights the River"
"The River Lethe is a goddess in and of itself. However, she hardly appears in her godly form. Instead, she remains an elemental, a force of nature. She is a divine body of water in Hades that separates the gloomy meadows of Asphodel and the warrior's paradise of Elysium," Diana explained as she led Clark, Artemis, Nubia and Maxima along a thin forest trail on the outskirts of the city. "Parts of her manage to bubble up to the surface and have become sacred wellsprings in select places. This is one such sacred place," She said, stopping as they entered into a clearing.
At the center of the clearing was a small circular spring, with a trickling waterfall feeding it. Around it laid moss-covered ruins and broken statues, all of which depicted a sorrowful-looking goddess. They were hooded, with their heads hung low and water streaming down from their marble eyes into the spring.
Clark felt the poke of Artemis' battle-axe against his back, pushing him further along towards the spring. Nubia's spear too soon came to his chest and together, the Amazon's forced him to kneel at the edge of the well. He then felt the heel of Maxima press against the back of his head, forcing him to arch his neck and stare into the swirling mystical water.
"Now drink," Maxima said with glee, pressing down on him harder.
Clark had yet to come up with a plan. He'd failed to convince Diana of the dire circumstance. In fact, his seemingly nonsensical ramblings about her so-called sister, Maxima, pushed Diana to go along with her mother's decision to wipe his memories of Themyscira. "Maybe they were right," she said before their departure. "Maybe it is for the best…"
Clark was forced to stare into the water of the Lethe. Its water was bubbling as if it were boiling, yet the steam that rose from its surface was ice cold. Streaks of glowing red pulsated beneath the whirling water and Clark could have sworn he heard drowned screams emanating from its dark depths. He then felt the spear of Nubia back away from his chest.
"The water…" Nubia spoke, gazing down at the well with concern. "Does she look alright to you, Diana?"
Diana raised her brow and swiftly walked up beside the well, peering into its aching waters. "No, no she doesn't look alright, Nubia. Artemis, Maxima, let him go. He cannot drink the water in this state. Lethe is not well, we must determine the cause of this."
"Who cares?" Artemis said, still holding her axe blade to Clark. "Goddess piss is goddess piss. She's been doing her job every day, making Shades forget since even before the Titans reigned. What makes you think today is any different?"
"She's just trying to spare the mind of her man-thing, sister," Maxima spoke, still holding her heel to Clark's neck.
"Right you are, Maxima," Artemis said. "Give it a rest already, Princess. This man is-"
Suddenly, Artemis was cut off when the Wellspring of Lethe erupted like a geyser, sending Clark, Maxima, and the Amazons flying backward. Clark managed to catch the air and hover back down to his feet, while the rest tumbled behind. He held out his hand to block the violent blast of water bursting from the well. Soon the geyser settled and in its steaming wake floated a large humanoid figure composed entirely of water. Clark watched as the creature arched over him with its long clawed hands, flowing waves of hair, and a wisp-like tail that tethered it to the well. It had a ghoulish, vaguely feminine face whose expression was one of pure anger and pain. It let out a powerful shriek, its voice founding like a drowned, gargling banshee.
"Lethe…" Diana muttered as she came up beside Clark, sword and shield at her side.
The creature's dark sunken eyes targeted Diana before raising its claw and preparing to slash. As it did, Clark sent out a blast of heat vision that severed the creature's hand before it could reach Diana. The water that made up its hand splashed lifelessly to the ground, boiling to steam at their feet. The creature reared back and roared before sucking more water up from the well. The extra water moved across its body and down its arm, in order to form a brand new hand, even bigger than the one before.
Clark's eyes narrowed, spotting the thin tether of water that still connected the creature to the rest of the well. "Diana, distract it. I have an idea."
Diana nodded to him before sidestepping to the other side of the well. She banged her sword and shield together, the constant clanging causing the beast's murderous gaze to follow. Meanwhile, Clark flew to the back of the well and began to blow a gust of ice-cold wind onto the thin stream of water. Slowly, the base of the creature was starting to freeze over, along with its supply of well water.
"What have you done?…" Artemis growled, joining Diana to face the liquified beast, giant axe in hand.
"What have I done?!" Diana shouted, pausing to block a watery slash with her shield. "It is likely you, Artemis, who's angered the gods!" She then sheathed her sword and took out her glowing lasso to wrap around the arm of the beast and yank it to the ground.
"Foolish sister, it is only you who deserves' a goddesses wrath, by bringing a man here," Artemis said, while lifting her axe high and chopping it down across the tied down arm of the creature. The severed arm again boiled away, but this time the goddess could not replenish her limb, for the well had been completely frozen over by Clark. The ice was slowly creeping up its body, rendering it less and less mobile with every second that passed.
"Now, now, sisters," Maxima said, coming up behind Artemis, readying her sword. "No use in arguing over a man!" She shouted while sinking her blade deep into Artemis' back. Artemis dropped her ax as blood sprayed from her gaping mouth. "Besides…" She said with a wicked grin, putting her hand to Artemis' shoulder and pulling the bloodied steel out of the Amazon. "He's mine."
"Artemis!" Diana cried, turning away from Lethe to race toward Maxima. "How could you, sister?!" Wonder Woman roared, bringing her sword down upon Maxima's. Artemis fell to the ground at their feet, gasping for air as a pool of blood formed around her. As they held their blades firm, Diana looked for support from Nubia. Only then did she spot her in the back of the ruins, incapacitated with a similar wound to Artemis. The heinous betrayal fueled her anger, her crushing strength growing too great for Maxima to hold against.
Maxima backed away, dodging Diana's weighty blow. "You should have listened to Kal-El, princess," She taunted while Diana prepared for another strike. Though before she could, the giant watery fist of Lethe came crashing down upon her.
"Diana!" Clark cried, ceasing his stream of freezing breath. Without the constant freezing, the river monster soon broke free of the ice, and once more, water moved freely into it from the well. He flew towards Diana, now entirely trapped in the beast's liquid grasp, drowning as she was sucked further and further into its body. Clark forced his hand into the raging current and grabbed hold of Diana's arm. He tried with all his might to pull her free of the corrupted divine waters, but it was no use. She slipped free of his grasp and was pulled down into the depths of the well.
Clark then slowly turned around to face Maxima, eyes burning red with rage. "What have you done, Maxima?" he said through gritted teeth, clenching his fists at his side. "What kind of twisted magic is this? Brainwashing the Amazons? Corrupting a goddess?"
"Ha!" Maxima laughed. "Hell if I know. We each had our part to play. I left the spell casting to the witch."
"The witch?" Clark questioned. "What witch?"
"Then we left the boring stuff to baldy," Maxima continued, ignoring Clark as she strutted towards him, unafraid of his burning eyes. "Leaving me to be…" she began, rearing back her fist. "The muscle!" Her fierce fist collided with Clark's chest, shaking the very ground they stood upon while he remained completely still.
He brushed her fist to the side like it was nothing. "You'll have to do a bit better than that."
"Do I?" she said, taking a step back.
Suddenly, the two watery claws of Lethe crashed down upon Clark, wrapping around his neck and lifting him into the air. He tried to pry himself free of the beast's grip, but there was nothing to grab hold of. His hands merely skimmed against the rushing water. Soon, his body was pulled beneath the swirling current. He saw Maxima up through the refracting surface of the water, watching with a grin as he was pulled down into the well.
Darkness overcame his vision. Then, the water around him began to glow a vast array of colors. He felt his body being thrust forward through the vibrant kaleidoscope. Faster and faster he was pulled until it became too much to watch. He closed his eyes and everything stopped.
When Clark opened his eyes again, he did not know if a minute had passed, or hours, or even days. All he knew was that he was back on dry land. He crawled out of a crashing surf onto the orange sands of a riverbank, gasping for breath. Looking up, he saw Diana. She was lingering up the bank, having emerged from the flowing river moments prior. Clark lifted himself to his feet and turned around to see the large, raging river they'd come from. They were no longer in Themyscira. Past the river, was a wide-open landscape, dotted with crystalline leafless trees and brushed with orange sand. There was a vast empty plain stretching into the horizon, with no signs of civilization in sight. Above them, the atmosphere was a pale blue with a handful of misshapen moons dotting the sky.
Clark then turned back around to follow Diana up the riverbank. "Are we in…" Clark hesitated. "...the Underworld?"
"Worse," Diana said, stopping at the height of the riverbank.
Clark came up beside her and joined in her gaze. They saw a small hill in the distance and an ancient homestead sitting atop it. At the base of the hill, walking towards them was a figure riding upon what appeared to be a lion, dragging another figure along behind them by chain.
"The Planet Sorca," Diana said as the lion rider came into view. She had long, dark violet hair, fashioned in classical Greek style. She wore a revealing emerald dress that hung loosely to her shapely figure. The rest of her was overly adorned in gleaming golden jewelry, no doubt full of powerful enchantments. In one hand she held laxly onto a silver chalice of wine, while in the other she held the end of a magical chain. The glowing purple chain was bound to the neck of a young girl whom she tugged along beside the lion. The girl had pale skin, a thin blue dress, and straight black hair that hung over her eyes. Along with her neck, her hands too were bound with magical chains and her bare feet were worn from walking. So much so, that when the woman halted her lion before Clark and Diana, the girl collapsed to her knees in exhaustion.
"New Aeaea. The home of Circe…" Diana continued. She then glared up at the woman. "I should have known this was your doing, witch!"
Circe chuckled while lounging across the back of her lion. "Welcome, Diana, Superman. Make it here alright?" Circe taunted. "I can't take all the credit. You can thank her for that," She yanked on the young girl's chain, forcing her forward.
"Lethe…" Diana said beneath her breath. "How dare you? Binding a goddess and using her for your own twisted ends? A goddess of the Underworld no less? Hades will have your head for this."
"Athena's wisdom fails you, Princess," Circe said. "Have you forgotten? The gods cannot touch me lest they risk a war with my father and the remaining Titans. For my exile is the treaty that binds their uneasy alliance."
"Luckily, I'm no god," Clark said, stepping forward. "I'd recommend you free that poor girl, ma'am. Or else."
"I'm sorry," Circe said with a laugh. "You don't actually think you have any leverage in this discussion, do you Kal? Diana, please tell your friend to be quiet, the women are speaking."
Clark launched forward into the air, aiming to grab Lethe's chain. Though before he could reach it, Circe lifted a single finger and stopped him in mid-air. His body became enveloped in a glowing purple light, a bubble of magic Clark couldn't punch his way through.
"Not very bright are you?" Circe said, moving her glowing fingers about to affect her spell. The bubble around Clark became more jagged, with pieces piercing him. He grunted in pain, feeling as if a hundred flaming needles were being injected across his body. "And not so fond of magic either, hm?"
"Enough of this, Circe!" Diana shouted, pointing her sword up at the witch. "What do you want with us?"
"First off," Circe began, throwing Clark to the ground and letting him free of her magical grasp. "I want nothing with him, it's you I want Princess. The Superman goes to her, as per our arrangement," Circe said, pointing behind them.
Diana and Clark turned to see a soaked Maxima emerge from the river. She ran her hands through her long fiery hair before unsheathing her sword with a grin. "Let's finish this shall we?"
Clark got back to his feet and stood back-to-back with Diana. He looked back up at Circe who gave him a smirk while twisting sparks of magic in her hand. He then looked behind his shoulder to see Maxima approaching Diana, the two ready to clash swords once more.
"Mind if we switch dance partners?" Clark asked.
"Gladly," Diana replied.
The two swapped positions and immediately sprung upon their respective opponents. Circe dismounted her lion and sent it forth to clash with Diana. The beast was larger than an average lion, bred and raised on the harsh alien planet of Sorca. Its claws, like razor blades, came down on Diana's sword with an incredible force. While the princess was busy, Circe tightened her grip on the chains of the goddess Lethe.
"The time has come," Circe spoke to the goddess, placing her heel to her back and forcing her to her hands. Lethe nodded to her captor and began to command the water of the nearby river. The current diverted up onto the bank and surrounded the goddess' hands in a swirling puddle. Then, the water rose into the air and formed a vertical circle. The water in the center of the circle began to move so fast that it began to open another portal, just like it had back in Themyscira. "Good…" Circe said, seemingly taking control of the portal herself, surrounding it in her violet magic. She stilled the water, making it become a clear gateway into a reddened land. Circe then positioned the portal behind Clark and Maxima as they clashed.
Circe's lion had since forced Diana to the ground. She smiled before creating more magical chains that bound the immobilized Amazon. Diana struggled to break free, but the magic was strong. It diluted her powers, same as Lethe, or put them under the command of Circe, at least. Nevertheless, Diana could do nothing as she watched Circe send her beastly lion toward Clark.
"Kal-El!" Diana cried, using the last of her strength to throw her sword toward Clark. Clark heard her, as well as the sword flying towards him and the beast's charge. He headbutted Maxima, sending her to the ground before turning to catch the hilt of the sword. He turned the blade out just in time to stab the lion through the heart as it tackled him. However, the momentum of the collision sent them both tumbling backward, right into the portal.
Clark grunted in pain as his back hit the rocky red surface on the other side. Suddenly, the weight of the dying beast on top of him became extremely heavy. He managed to lug the lion carcass off of him and climb back to his feet, his entire body overcome with a sudden weakness. He glanced up into the hazy pink sky and spotted a glaring red sun over the horizon. "No…" He said beneath his breath, looking back towards the river-portal that was still open. He limped toward the gate, hoping to dive back into Sorca, free Diana, and finish the fight.
Clark took one step back into Circe's planet, but his face was soon met with Maxima's fist. The impact pushed him back through the portal and onto the red moon, Maxima on top of him. Maxima leaped to her feet and stood over his body triumphantly. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" she cried, laughing maniacally while grinding her heel into his chest.
Clark stretched his hand out towards the portal as it began to shrink. "Diana…" He spoke between coughs, blood leaking from his lips.
"Kal! Kal!…" He heard her voice begin to fade as the swirling divine gateway closed, leaving him stranded beneath the red sun. He was alone on the barren moon, alone with Queen Maxima.
Present Day
"I was exiled on the red moon for just over two weeks," Clark told the Naltorians. At last, he had reached the end of his heroic tale. The feast in the dining hall of the palace had long passed, yet the royal court was still gathered around, listening intently to the Man of Steel. "Until I escaped my imprisonment by constructing the rocket that was destroyed in your atmosphere. The rocket I still need to get back to Earth."
A silence fell over the Naltorians, only soft whispers floated amongst them. Then the High Seer Aretea stood and placed her hand on Clark's shoulder. "It has been an honor, Kal-El. Your tale will echo throughout these halls for generations to come."
"As honored as I am, ma'am," Clark began. "My tale is far from over. I'm afraid Maxima was just one piece in a larger puzzle."
A messenger entered the quiet hall and rushed up to the High Seer, whispering something into her ear. Aretea nodded as she accepted her message. She then looked to Clark with a smile. "Our futurists have something to show you, Kal-El…"