Strangers In Paradise
Chapter 14: Homeward Bound
Themyscira
Every Amazon shared a special connection with their home and the order ordained by the gods. It was part of the many blessings they had received. They could feel when their home was in danger or when the gods were in peril. Many referred to it as a spiritual anchor that kept every Amazon connected to each other and the gods. Even for exiles like, it remained unbroken and strong. At the same time, it also made all the emotions associated with Themyscira more powerful.
These emotions drove Diana towards her homeland as fast as the blessings of Hermes would allow. Her heart raced as fast as the blistering winds that blew past her. As she drew closer and closer to the home she left over a year ago, these feelings of dread escalated. Every nightmare and vision that had plagued her in recent months played out before her eyes. The feelings of death, destruction, and defeat loomed over her with every passing second. It weighed heavily on her spirit and promised to test her resolve in ways for which she couldn't possibly prepare.
'I'm such a fool. I should've listened to my heart. All those nightmares and visions – the gods were trying to tell me something and I didn't listen. I let myself be too concerned about confronting my mother and my sisters again rather than protecting my home. I let my pride keep me from coming to them. I should've…'
Diana had to stop herself as she descended from the clouds and breached the mystical shroud that protected Themyscira. These tormented thoughts did little to ease her dread. If the danger she sensed was as bad as she suspected, then she couldn't afford to make it worse at this point.
'No…I cannot think that way. I can't obsess over what I should or shouldn't have done. Kal taught me that. No matter how powerful we are, we can't obsess over the things we cannot change. We'll only make it worse. Sometimes we have to swallow our pride, admit our flaws, and confront the dangers that our actions or inactions create. We can't let our mistakes keep us from doing the right thing.'
As she contemplated what she did or didn't do for her home, Diana's thoughts drifted back to Kal. She shouldn't have gotten him involved in this. This island had been so hostile to him and his kind. Her sisters and the gods would sooner treat him as just another beast rather than accept his help. But he was going to help anyways and not just because he loved her. To him, this was the right thing to do and that's the only reason Superman ever needs.
It was also the only reason Diana needed. This was her home and these were her sisters. It didn't matter that they hated her for consorting with a man. It didn't matter that they would sooner spit on her and cast her out again before accepting her help. She was going to do the right thing, regardless of what traditions and warrior codes told her. But doing the right thing often meant enduring more hardship and sometimes this hardship couldn't be endured alone.
'I'm putting us both in a very difficult position, Kal. I know I'm putting myself in danger that I might not be equipped to handle. I'm still an exile, scorned by my mother and hated by my sisters. I can't imagine they'll forgive me, let alone embrace me. I'm sure I'll regret this in a great many ways, but that's exactly why I need you so much.'
This was the hardest part of doing the right thing in this instance because it required her to do something with Kal that she had been reluctant to do. Their relationship had often been defined by difficult circumstances. Because of those circumstances, they progressed fairly quickly. They didn't need to go through the more tedious aspects of becoming part of each other's life. But in order to create a deeper connection that went beyond that of mere lovers, Diana understood that they needed to make themselves vulnerable in ways they never once dared.
'By making you a part of this, I need to trust you in ways no Amazon would dare trust a man. Even among lovers, such trust is difficult and risky. I know you're willing to take that risk, even if you're not ready. And I love you enough to risk it too. I also know that you love me enough to do what needs to be done if something goes horribly wrong.'
Diana didn't allow herself to contemplate those horrible possibilities as Themyscira finally came into view. For the first time in over a year, she laid eyes upon her beloved home. Cloudy skies still hovered over the island, creating choppy waters and an ominous overcast. But as she flew in closer, Diana was greeted by a sight that made many of those horrible possibilities more likely.
"No…my home!" she gasped.
The first thing she noticed was the columns of smoke rising up from the center of the island. She was then bombarded by the sickening smell of burning trees and scorched earth. Fearing that she had arrived too late, she flew in faster until she landed in the center of the island just outside the Temple of Hera. As soon as she took in the sights around her, she realized that part of her nightmare had already transpired.
It looked like a titan had rampaged through her home. Large footsteps dotted the charred ground, leading directly from the shore to the south. Whatever or whoever those steps belonged to, it decimated any tree, shrub, or structure that stood in its way. Buildings, homes, and temples that had remained undamaged for centuries now lay in ruin. Arrows, swords, and spears littered the area, broken and discarded. There was little sign of an Amazon victory. However, the most disturbing part of this battle was that there were also no signs of any Amazons.
In every direction Diana looked, she saw no bodies whatsoever. This disturbed her in a whole new way because she knew that her sisters would gladly fight to the death rather than submit. Whatever transpired here was no ordinary battle.
"By the gods…what happened here?" she wondered.
"Isn't it obvious?" came a solemn voice from within the temple. "There was a battle, the Amazons fought, and they lost in the worst possible way."
Diana turned around, fully prepared to fight whoever or whatever survived the battle. To her shock, the voice belonged to none other than Hera, the Amazon's patron goddess. However, she didn't look like much of a goddess anymore.
"Goddess Hera!" gasped Diana as she instinctively bowed in her presence. "Forgive me for not recognizing your voice. I…"
"Don't bother with the empty piety. It's pointless now. And I've no desire to hear it from the likes of you," said the Queen of the Gods in an utterly dejected tone.
Diana was taken aback, both by her words and her demeanor. The Temple of Hera was among the few structures still largely intact. And the only one left to tend it was Hera herself. Her once elegant peacock gown had been tattered and torn. Her once flawless hair and complexion had been dirtied by whatever battle had transpired. Now she just sat on the steps of her temper like a commoner, drinking what appeared to be her fourth bottle of wine.
Hera abandoned her regal poise and proud demeanor. She had nothing to be proud of anymore. All was lost. She was so dejected she couldn't even get too upset about being in the presence of another one of Zeus' illegitimate offspring.
"Just when I thought fate couldn't possibly be more cruel," she muttered. "Here in my time of utter humiliation, I'm confronted by the very reason for my foolishness."
"Me? The reason?" said Diana in confusion.
"Quit pretending that you don't know. Or even if you're not pretending, act like you are anyways. It would be the most merciful recourse I could hope for at this point."
"Know what?"
"Do I have to spell it out?!" yelled Hera as she threw an empty wine bottle against the wall. "My husband and your mother – my greatest champion – lied to us both. You were never made from clay. You're just another product of a lustful indulgence between Zeus and a mortal."
Diana gasped at this revelation, shaking her head in disbelief. There was no way this could be true. Her mother told her the story of her creation time and again. She forged her from clay and prayed for days on end within the Temple of Demeter to bring her to life. The idea that her mother lied about something so important made her sick to her stomach. But this wasn't some wild accusation from typical drunkard. This came from the goddess Hera herself. She would never be this upset if it weren't true.
"He must have taken extra satisfaction in making you – the daughter of Lord Zeus and Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons," Hera went on. "He probably shook the walls of Demeter's temple. Even the trauma inflicted by Hercules couldn't prevent Hippolyta from enjoying it."
"Goddess please…" said Diana, having a hard enough time processing this.
"He might have known that I would do something horrendously foolish if I ever found out. I'm sure plenty of others knew as well. And damn it, I proved them right! I doomed Olympus, the Amazons, and everyone because I was too damn blinded by rage."
Her bitterness hid the tears forming in her eyes, which she refused to let Diana see. But she could tell they were there. They offered further confirmation that what she said about her heritage was true. She was indeed the daughter of Zeus.
For a moment, Diana looked up at the heavens, as if to speak to the fates. She wanted to yell at the top of her lungs for revealing this to her during this time of crisis. She had enough burdens to deal with. But since nothing she said could possibly change this overwhelming truth, she remained silent. Diana didn't come here to dig up old secrets about her heritage. She came to protect and, if necessary, save her home and her sisters. From looks of it, she might have to do more than that.
She shifted her attention back towards Hera. Instinct and tradition kept her from approaching the goddess revered by all Amazons. Another affair by Zeus was not enough to cause this kind of disaster. It took something must worse terrible to render a goddess this defeated, especially the wife of Zeus and Queen of Olympus. This had not been part of Diana's nightmares, but it certainly sparked her intrigue.
"I don't care whether or not you blame me for your woes, my Goddess. Tell me what happened here. Tell me so I can confront it!" said Diana strongly.
"While I would love to send you to your doom, I don't have the stomach to be that bitter anymore," she sighed. "You should consider yourself lucky. You were wise enough to leave before this happened. And if you're still wise, you'll leave again and never come back."
"You know I can't do that. I won't," said Diana.
"Well you should because you'll just play into his hands like I did. For all I know, this is exactly what he wants you to do."
"Who is he? Who has desecrated my home?!"
"Who else? My son…Ares," said Hera bitterly. "Who else but my own son could be so cunning and capricious?"
Diana's intrigue turned to more shock. It was one thing for some terrible danger to descend upon her home and attack her sisters. But the idea of a god that they often worshipped attacking was something far worse. There were many stories of gods' misdeeds, but the blessing of Olympus was supposed to protect Themyscira. If these gods they once fought for had turned against them, then this was far worse than any nightmare.
"Why in heavens would Ares attack Themyscira? And what did he do to my sisters? Are they even alive?" said Diana in disbelief.
"Ares never needs a good reason to attack anything. If it serves his so-called war plan, then that's all the reason he needs," said Hera dryly. "As for the Amazons – well, let's just say he gave them a fate far less comfortable than death."
Earlier
"For Themyscira!" roared a determined Aleka with the entire Amazon army behind her.
Standing as one, ready to defend their home and their honor to the death, the Amazons were poised to unleash an onslaught that would've drawn back any invading force from the darkest pits of Tartarus. But this armored beast that dared trespass on their island didn't budge. He just grinned smugly in the face of this onslaught, as though he had nothing to fear.
There was no need to worry about anything for Lex Luthor. The outcome of this battle had already been decided the moment he set foot on this island. He waited patiently, letting Aleka reach him first. He didn't even prepare to defend himself. That only would've kept him from enjoying what was about to happen.
"Go on. I'll give you a free shot," said Lex casually.
"DIE ARMORED BEAST!" exclaimed Aleka.
With all her might, the imposing Amazon jumped up into the brisk air and gripped her sword with both hands. She was prepared to drive the blade right into the head of the hulking armor and let her sisters take care of the scraps. She got within only a few feet of wiping that smug grin off the man's face. Then the armor reacted to her attack without even moving a muscle.
With the lightning still flashing overhead, a powerful burst of purplish energy surrounded the Annihilator armor. The moment Aleka's blade made contact with the armor, the energy flowed right into her so that it surrounded her body in a similar purplish halo. It caused her to freeze in mid-air, her body now paralyzed. As she hovered, the size of the armor actually grew somewhat. In the process, Lex used it to reach out and grab the powerful woman by the throat.
"Please don't tell me that was your best shot. It didn't even tickle," he taunted.
"Hnn…what trickery is this?" grunted Aleka.
"There's no trick, I assure you. I was hoping you and your army of harlots wouldn't be this gullible. Sadly, I'm disappointed," said Lex.
She tried to struggle against his grip, but that only made it grow larger. Luthor's grin widened. This was going to be even easier than he thought.
As the purplish energy intensified, he watched it flow into the powerful woman. As it consumed her, it caused her eyes to shift until they started glowing with the same intensity. In the process, Lex felt this woman's will and spirit submit. She was now a puppet and he didn't even have to manipulate her to accomplish it. She did all the heavy lifting for him.
"Not bad," said a very satisfied Lex Luthor. "Ares didn't do justice to this armor's power. It really is fueled by war itself. And with a suitable mind at the helm, it can manipulate those who make war. It almost feels like cheating. Then again, I've never cared much for playing by the rules."
Upon releasing Aleka from his grip, she fell to her knees in submission. She didn't say a word or show a hint of resistance. She was now a slave to war. Yet the other Amazons didn't seem to notice. If anything, they hastened their attack.
"The beast has somehow corrupted Aleka," gasped Daphne, now leading the charge. "Destroy this monstrosity! Free our sister!"
"Yes…do continue this petty war," taunted Luthor. "I'd like to get this over with quickly."
The Amazons let out another round of war cries. However, these cries kept making the Annihilator armor stronger. It continued to grow in size, now standing at nearly twice its original height. As soon as the first Amazons struck by launching spears and arrows at it, the same purplish energy that infected Aleka began to spread. All Lex Luthor had to do was keep provoking them.
It wasn't a battle as much as it was a trap that every Amazon blindly walked into. Their warrior spirit wouldn't allow them to do anything else. They attacked relentlessly, slashing with their swords and firing arrows from afar. The results were always the same. The Annihilator armor didn't get a scratch. And by attacking them, the purplish energy that consumed Aleka infected the rest of the Amazons.
One-by-one, the energy paralyzed them where they stood, surrounding them in a halo of light and causing their eyes to glow in a steady vacant glare. They could do little to resist. Their own determination fueled it, making the armor stronger and bigger in the process. Luthor didn't even have to move from where he stood, letting the Amazons attack while he focused on solidifying his hold on them. Only Hera had the faintest idea of what was happening. By the time she realized his plan, it was too late.
"Stop attacking! Don't you see? You're only making it stronger!" Hera cried out.
"They can't hear you. They won't. Their warrior pride won't let them," retorted Lex from within the Annihilator Armor.
This man proved himself painfully right. By now, the Annihilator Armor had grown so big that some of the remaining Amazons figured out that attacking it directly was the worst possible tactic. But by now, he didn't need them to attack to seize control of them.
Armed with their bloodlust, Luthor finished the job and used the energy from the armor to seize control over the rest of the Amazons. Once complete, he clenched his fist and had all of them bow down obediently. They no longer had any will of their own. They were now true pawns, as they were always intended to be. The only one remaining was Hera and despite being a goddess, she no longer posed any threat.
"Whatever Ares has promised you, I demand that you stop!" she proclaimed. "I am Hera, Queen of Olympus. You will release my Amazons or suffer my wrath."
"Quit pretending your godly title has any meaning to me," scoffed Lex. "It clearly had little meaning to these women you claimed to cherish. Just look at how eager they were to throw themselves into a battle they couldn't win. No god is that inept."
"I'm warning you…"
"And I'm ignoring your warning. You might be able to impose your will on lesser mortals, but I'm not one of them. And before you warn me about trusting your son, let me make one thing clear – he's even more inept than you."
No mortal had ever dared speak to her with such disrespect. It filled Hera with so much rage that she launched her own attack, taking to the air and flying right at the head of the armor at speeds that rivaled Hermes. This mortal, not to mention her own son, dared to plot against her. She couldn't stand any further indignity.
Lex remained unthreatened, if not bored by her outburst. As soon as she got close enough, he casually swatted her with the armor and sent her flying back into her own temple. She crashed hard, doing significant damage in the process. Had Luthor not been behind schedule, he would've stuck around to enjoy this.
"So that's what it feels like to smite a god. I must admit, it's not nearly as satisfying as I hoped," he sighed.
With the Annihilator armor still flushed with power, Lex Luthor flexed his powerful new muscles. He felt so strong in this armor that he could snap Superman's neck without breaking a sweat. If his own plans played out accordingly, he might get to do just that. For now, he had more pressing matters.
"Come, my new army. Let us pay a visit to your beloved deities," ordered Lex. "Hopefully the other phony gods on Olympus are more of a challenge."
Present Time
Hera muttered a string of curses as she opened up another bottle of wine and started drinking. After describing the defeat of the Amazons at the hands of the Annihilator Armor and the destruction of Themyscira, she needed a drink.
"Here…you probably need this almost as much as I do," said Hera as she tossed another bottle towards Diana.
"I don't need a drink. I need to know where this man took my sisters and why you're not going after them," said Diana.
"Weren't you listening?" groaned Hera, already downing half the bottle. "He said he was on his way to Olympus. He probably used the Gates of Tartarus to get there. As for why I'm not going after them, the simple reason is I can't."
"Can't? Or won't?" said Diana critically.
"Don't you dare talk down to me, you illegitimate brat! If I could, do you think I would be drinking myself into a stupor like this? This is Ares we're dealing with. He made sure that nobody can disrupt his plans at this point – especially his mother."
Hera angrily threw the empty bottle across the ruins of her temple. It shattered on impact, much like her spirit. Here she was, a queen among goddesses who finally escaped her philandering husband, and now she was queen of nothing. Her Amazons were gone. Olympus was doomed. All she had was ruin. Worst of all, she played into the hands of her malevolent son. She should've seen it coming, but she was too blinded by her hatred of Zeus. She let him use her and she made it way too easy for him.
Diana refused to let her emotions blind her, but these revelations made that difficult. The events surrounding the Annihilator Armor and the defeat of her sisters were bad enough, but along the way Hera added another painful revelation about her heritage. She didn't believe it at first, her being the daughter of Zeus. It meant her mother had been lying to her all her life. It further added to the conflict between them and this latest conflict ensured she would never confront her mother about it.
The former Queen of Olympus cared little for Diana's emotional turmoil. She just grabbed another unopened bottle of wine and started drinking again. It was all she could do at this point.
"When I awoke from my little nap, I found out that the Annihilator had ransacked the whole island. I think Ares wanted to make sure that none of the Amazons had anything to go back to should they escape his hold," said Hera after opening the bottle. "He also cast some sort of spell on the gate, making it so no gods could get in or out. I guess he didn't want them seeking refuge in the mortal world."
"And now you're just going to drink your problems away? How will that do justice to my sisters…your champions?" asked Diana.
"It won't. That's the point. Ares knows the rules of Olympus and how to exploit them," she said solemnly as she gazed distantly down at the bottle. "Even if there was a way to get around the spell, it would take too long. As we speak, Ares is unleashing his attack on Olympus. And he's going to unleash something far worse before he's done."
"And you think he's capable of overthrowing Zeus?"
"I don't just think it. I know it. I know because I helped him. And I might have destroyed everything I hold dear in the process. So if it's all the same to you, I'd rather you spare me further scorn. There's nothing you can do or say to make me feel worse than I already do."
Hera stared at the bottle a little longer before taking another gulp. Diana just kept glaring at her, astonished that this was the same goddess her sisters had worshiped for centuries. She was so defeated and cold, the complete antithesis of the ideal of feminine strength and compassion. She wouldn't even look her in the eye out of disgust for herself and her being another embodiment of Zeus' infidelity. If the will of a goddess had been broken, what hope did she have?
Diana finally turned away from the sulking Hera and took in the sight of her devastated home. She hugged her shoulders in an effort to retain what strength she had left. She returned home expecting to confront hostile sisters and embittered mother. Now she faced something far worse. Her sisters were now under the control of Ares. Her mother was imprisoned. The very order the Amazons were supposed to protect now lay on the brink of ruin. None of her nightmares could've possibly done justice to such horror. Now she might be the only one left that could save her home and her sisters.
"If you're not going to do anything, then I will," said Diana strongly.
"Then you might as well dive head-first into the nearest volcano. That would be much easier," said Hera.
"I'll do it with or without your blessing," she retorted. "My sister needs me. My mother needs me. I will not turn away from them."
"And you really think you can save them?" scoffed Hera.
"You said that spell prevents gods and goddesses from passing through. You never said anything about demigods, which I guess is what I am now."
"You are just another mistake – a perversion of what the Amazons stand for. You're also a walking testament to man's insatiable lust. Whether they're mortal or god, they'll never be trustworthy. They'll only ever promise as much as they can get away with. And even then, they'll find a way to betray you."
Diana turned back to the former Queen of the Gods that she once worshipped. She didn't sound very godly anymore. She sounded like any other woman who had been deceived and scorned by a man. She was a lot like her mother in that respect, letting her experiences with men dictate her attitudes about them. In her eyes, mankind wasn't worth saving. She might be the product of a man's weakness, but she would not let that define her.
There were still a lot of questions she wanted answered. There were questions about her conception, about Ares' plan, and the Annihilator Armor. However, she didn't have time to gather all the answers she wanted. She doubted Hera would even give them anyways. Diana would have to go it alone, without the blessings of her sister or the gods.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, Goddess Hera. I know even gods are vulnerable to despair. I really do wish you could see beyond your bitterness," said Diana, her strength finally overcoming her emotions.
"Spare me your pity. I can do without the pity of Zeus' illegitimate brats," scoffed Hera as she threw away another bottle.
"It's not pity. I'm speaking to the goddess I know you still strive to be – the goddess that symbolizes the strengths and ideals of womanhood."
"When you've been demeaned as much as I have, it's hard to symbolize anything," said Hera.
"That's what makes it worthwhile," Diana retorted. "I've been living in man's world for over a year now. In that time, I've gained a better understanding for what it means to be a strong woman. Maybe that's something the gods need as well – a better understanding of what they are and what they represent."
Hera scoffed at Diana's tone. Were she not already defeated and humiliated, she would've unleashed her wrath on this foolish child of Zeus. Instead, she continued to seek comfort in wine and bitterness.
"Now you're lecturing me on what I represent…or used to represent? That's even more demeaning!"
"Only if you lack humility, a value both gods and mortals often fail to understand. It's an honorable trait among honorable women and men. That's something else we've clearly forgotten. But I haven't. That's why I'm going after Ares."
"You'll only doom yourself," spat Hera. "Don't you see? This is exactly what he wants. You're playing right into his plan."
"Who's to say I don't have one of my own?" she retorted cryptically, "And if you're not going to contribute, then at least allow me the chance to carry it out honorable."
"I'm no God of War, but I don't see how any plan that involves walking right into Ares' grasp can be honorable."
"That's only because it involves another value that gods and mortals often fail to understand," said Diana.
"And what value might that be?" said Hera skeptically.
"Trust."
Diana still wouldn't face her patron goddess. She had already set her sights on the Gate of Tartarus. She could already feel the war raging within, most likely under the guidance of the God of War himself. Getting through it and to the peak of Olympus would not be easy. It might even be exactly what Ares wanted her to do, but she had no intention of backing down from this fight.
The former Queen of Olympus just stared at Diana in bemusement, but she made it clear that she would not be dissuaded. She would brave whatever obstacles lay before her to confront Ares. It was still foolish in ways that only a bastard child of Zeus could manage, but there was no denying her courage. There was also no denying the influence of the mortal world.
"This might be the wine talking, but I have to ask…was he worth it?" said Hera, now looking at another empty wine bottle.
"Was who worth it?" said Diana.
"That man – the Superman – that you left this island for. Was it worth tearing yourself away from the only life you had ever known? Even now as you're about to make the most reckless decision of your immortal life, was he truly worth it?"
Diana turned back to face her goddess one last time. This time, she smiled with a confidence that any goddess would respect.
"Yes," she answered. "He was worth it. And no matter how reckless this decision might be, I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
"Then remember these words before Ares snaps your neck and claims Olympus as his own because you'll never hear them from any god or goddess – I envy you."
It was a startling admission from a goddess not known for admitting her faults. Hera might have attributed it to all the wine she had ingested, but that didn't make it any less sincere. As she held her head low and sought more solace in drink, Diana offered her patron goddess a look of compassion. She didn't acknowledge it, but it conveyed the necessary feelings.
The Queen of Olympus had lost all hope. Her sisters and mother had already been defeated. Everything now rested on Diana's shoulders. With the strength and determination of a true Amazon warrior, she took off and made her way to the Gates of Tartarus. Having made so many difficult decisions that put her at odds with everyone she loved and the ideals she championed, she stood ready to shoulder that burden. But unlike the heroes of old, she was prepared to trust another to share that burden.
London – First Royal Bank
"Thanks again for helping me with this, Hessia," said Clark as they entered the heavily secure bank vault.
"Please stop thanking me, Clark. You have no idea how much I've been dreading this day," replied Hessia.
"I know. And I'm sorry," he told her.
"Don't apologize either. You're too good and decent a man to blame yourself for this. It had to happen sooner or later. I just didn't think it would be this soon."
Every Amazon went into battle ready to sacrifice their lives to achieve victory. However, no Amazon dared make that sacrifice without taking precautions to ensure that it was not in vain. Amazons cherished their lives and those of their sisters. They went to every possible length to preserve and protect those lives, even if it meant bending certain rules.
Even exiled Amazons understood that there might come a time when they would have to return to Themyscira. It was also a given that such a return would require the most dire of circumstances. This most certainly qualified. Like Diana, Hessia sensed the sudden discord on Themyscira. She had been prepared to carry out her own precautions. Then Clark arrived at her front door and told her about Diana. This changed her plans, but promised to complicate others.
Hessia knew the day Diana arrived that they would have to bend more than a few rules to prepare for this moment. They must have spent at least a week debating on how they would go about this. Since Diana was the princess and left Themyscira on such unique circumstances, they had to do something different. It had to be bold, ambitious, and even a little reckless. She convinced Hessia that if she ever returned to Themyscira, it would be under the worst possible circumstances. As such, Hessia went to great lengths to ensure they had something that would allow them to navigate those circumstances.
This is what led them to the First Royal Bank. This was where Diana set up a private account under a false identity. Hessia was the only one who had the key to access it and she prayed she would never have to access it. Unfortunately, that day had come. After signing the necessary papers and accessing the vault, she used the key to open the box and retrieved the contents inside.
"We'll need to discuss this in private," said Hessia with her hands still in the box. "What I'm about to tell you is very important. And if my sisters found out, I would likely suffer a fate far worse than exile."
"I understand," said Clark. "I promise you anything you say to me will remain secret."
"No need to promise. You're Diana's lover. That makes you worthy of my trust. I just hope it also makes you worthy of this."
Clark followed Hessia out of the vault and into one of the private rooms where they could look over the contents. The bank even had a security guard stand outside the door. He couldn't see what she had in her hand, but he assumed it was very important.
As soon as the door was closed and locked, Hessia laid the contents of the deposit box out on the table. It was small and surrounded in a linin cloth. When she unwrapped it, she revealed a jeweled pennant bearing all the features of Greco-Roman design. It was circular in shape and coated in polished gold. In the center was a large heart-shaped red ruby that had a distinct glow to it. While Clark was not usually a fan of magic, he could definitely sense mystical energy within this gem. When Hessia set it on the table, the light from the ruby flickered as if to react to the mood of the room.
"What you're looking at is something I shouldn't possess," said Hessia. "You don't need to know how I got it. You just need to know that it's one of those ancient relics that should still be locked within the vaults of Olympus."
"I won't ask any questions. I'll just assume it involves the kinds of magic I don't care to understand," said Clark.
"It's gone by a few names, but the Amazons called it the Pennant of Athena. Its origin is somewhat of a mystery. According to the story I was told, Athena forged it to help her navigate the River Styx during the war against the titans. It guided her and all those who wielded it through any barrier, shield, or illusion that kept them from their goal."
"So it's like a mystical form of GPS?"
"Well if some of the other stories I've heard are true, it's that and much more," Hessia went on. "At some point after the great war, the pennant was given a new enchantment. The details are lost, but it somehow has the ability for anyone, god or mortal, to seek out whoever has marked it with their blood."
"So that means if it was marked with Diana's blood, it would take me to her no matter where she ends up?"
"It would actually do you one better," she said. "It would take you there, protect you from any barriers or shields that might be in your way, and remove any corrupting influences that might taint the wielder or the one it seeks. Since Themyscira is protected by a mystical shroud, you and anyone else who isn't Amazon or a god would need it just to get there."
"Guess it's a lot easier than getting shipwrecked again and hoping I wash up on the right shore."
"I don't disagree, but that reason alone isn't why she would want you to have this. The pennant also creates a cloak around the wielder, allowing them to navigate Themyscira and the realm of the gods without being detected. It provides stealth so effective that at one point, the gods ordered its destruction. That's probably why it ended up in the mortal world. It's also probably why Diana saw fit to use it in the event of a disaster on Olympus. Either she or someone she trusted had to have the ability to aid her."
It was a pretty impressive list of qualities. Clark was beginning to see why Diana deemed this item so important. If she was going up against gods and monsters, then getting to her in her time of need would be the biggest challenge. Getting there without attracting too much attention was the second biggest and from what she told her about the realm of the gods, even Superman would have difficulty navigating all the obstacles. This relic effectively solved both those problem. However, he had a feeling it would create others, as was often the case with magic.
"There's more, I'm afraid. And this is where it gets a little volatile," said Hessia.
"It would expect nothing less. Magic always has a way of getting volatile," said Clark.
"Not like this," she said anxiously as she gazed at the pennant. "After Diana somehow convinced me to use this as her failsafe if her return to Themyscira went bad, she used her blood to mark the pennant."
"Makes sense," he shrugged. "Wouldn't she have to anyways to get it to work?"
"She would, but something about her blood triggered a reaction within the pennant. I'm not entirely sure what it was. Diana wasn't sure either. But before I stored it here in this vault, I ran a few tests. Without giving you a crash course in Amazonian mystical knowledge, I'll just say that the pennant behaved in ways it shouldn't have for an Amazon…or any mortal for that matter."
"How so?" he asked nervously.
To help explain her point, Hessia picked up the pennant. As soon as she touched it, the ruby in the center reacted. It flickered with a greater intensity, resembling that of a human heartbeat. It effectively demonstrated that the magic within this relic was in tuned to energies of life. This helped make it useful, but it also made it dangerous in ways that went beyond its intended use.
"In all forms of magic, there are often two sets of rules," Hessia explains. "One governs its use by mortals like you and me. Another governs its use by the gods. Needless to say, the rules for the gods tend to be less predictable because they're not subject to mortal limits."
"And something about those limits doesn't apply here," Clark surmised.
"That's what concerns me. For reasons I still don't understand, Diana's blood allowed the relic to resonate with her life signs and spirit, but it also began resonated with another form of energy. I can't determine the source. I can only surmise that it's strong and it breaks a significant number of rules."
"Breaking rules tend to have consequences," he pointed out.
"You're very right. And I cannot determine what those consequences might be. I can only say that using this relic without understanding these anomalies make it very dangerous, even for you. It might help you find Diana, but it might also become a mystical bomb that blows up in your face."
Hessia tried to make clear the extent of the danger in using the Pennant of Athena. However, Clark remained undeterred. He had already made his choice. So long as this relic helped him reach Diana and help her in her time of need, he was willing to risk it. No amount of danger would keep him from aiding the woman he loved.
Seeing no fear or reservation in his eyes, Hessia clung to the pennant a bit longer before finally placing it on the table. When Diana first arrived, she worried that she would have to be the one to use this relic to help her. Having aged since her exile, she didn't feel like she could be the warrior she needed to be for her sister. This man, however, had no such worries. He was prepared to go father and fight harder than any mortal, warrior, or god.
"There are any number of other dangers I could list, but I doubt any of them would change your mind," said Hessia.
"You're right. It wouldn't," affirmed Clark, not taking his eyes off the relic.
"Then before you take the pennant and fly off, let me just say one more thing that needs to be said. Diana will never say it so I guess I'll have to."
"By all means," he replied.
This promised to be just as difficult as explaining the dangers of venturing into Tartarus or wielding a volatile artifact. Being an Amazon, Hessia had painfully little experience when it came to love. She had seen it in others to varying degrees, but she had never seen it unfold the way it had with Diana and Clark. Diana was willing to trust him with this relic. He was just as willing to brave the worst that Themyscira and Olympus could throw at him to get to Diana. Having seen Diana's relationship with this man blossom before her eyes over these past six months, she understood just how important it was that she trusted him to do this. Such powerful emotions carried equally powerful implications.
"You love Diana. That much I'm certain of," said Hessia. "I'm also certain that Diana loves you too. She's made that abundantly clear to me on numerous occasions."
"I believe you," said Clark distantly, his thoughts never straying far from Diana.
"But being an Amazon raised in Greco-Roman traditions, we're told a great many stories that involve the joys and perils of love. Nearly everyone knows the joys, but few understand the perils. Part of loving someone means being with them and being with them involves being part of their world…and all the conflicts they entail. It's hard enough for ordinary people living ordinary lives without gods, aliens, or superpowers. Naturally, it's going to be much harder for men like you and women like Diana."
Clark finally tore his gaze away from the Pennant of Athena. His immediate inclination was to grab the relic and follow it to wherever Diana might be so he could aid her. He managed to hold himself back because what Hessia was saying definitely had merit. He owed it to her and to Diana to listen.
"I don't know how familiar you are with Greco-Roman mythology, but there are more a number of stories where getting caught up in the conflicts of the gods doesn't end well…especially for lovers," Hessia continued.
"I've taken a few ancient literature classes. I know the stories you're referring to," said Clark.
"Then I don't have to be too graphic when I say that what you're about to do for Diana – it's a lot more than most men are willing to do for a woman they've only been dating for six months."
"I'm not most men. And Diana isn't most women," replied Clark.
"It's for that very reason that this is such a big step," said Hessia. "If these stories are any indication, the odds are not in your favor. Personally, I believe that the love you and Diana have is strong enough to beat those odds. But you need to understand – and Diana needs to understand as well – that you'll be supporting each other in ways you might not be ready for."
"Does it really matter if we're ready at this point?"
"It does if you want your love to be the kind that makes you stronger," she said. "You can love someone with all your heart, but if you can't be part of their world – well, let's just say those are limits even gods cannot overcome. And by entering the conflicts of the gods, your love will be forever strengthened or utterly destroyed."
It made the task before him more daunting than it already was. It was a task few men were prepared to confront. He knew Diana for only three weeks in his youth and had only dated her for six months. They were still at a stage in their relationship where they were learning to live together as civilians and superheroes. Now they had to take a much bolder leap, confronting the personal conflicts that plagued them as individuals and embracing them together.
It was a lot for any man to contemplate. This was one instance where the line between Clark Kent and Superman disappeared and he just saw himself as one man wanting to be with the one woman he loved. It made him feel painfully human at a time when he was preparing to take on actual gods, but in many ways, this only made him feel stronger. There was no ambiguity. There was no uncertainty. He knew what he was facing and he had to face it as Clark Kent, Superman, and everything in between.
With Hessia's words in mind, he took the Pennant of Athena in his hand. As soon as he touched it, the ruby in the center reacted again. This time, its radiance was even stronger, sensing both his heartbeat and his love for Diana. He could already feel it guiding him, like a compass pointing him in the direction of his lover. As its power flowed through him, his decisions and his heart came together in a single resolve.
"I'll keep that in mind," Clark told her. "Thanks again for all your help, Hessia. I know you said it wasn't necessary, but I'll say it anyways."
"Then I guess this is we part ways and you start following your heart," sighed Hessia. "I don't know if the gods can even hear my prayers anymore, but I'll still pray for you and Diana."
"I appreciate that," he said with a smile. "What about you? Do you intend to confront this conflict as well?"
"Honestly…I don't know," sighed Hessia. "Unlike Diana, I didn't choose my exile. It was imposed on me."
"At this point, should it really matter?" he questioned.
"I don't know. I can only do so much as an Amazon at this point. I can't imagine I'll be able to contribute more than you."
"You don't have to be able to do everything. You just have to be willing to do the right thing for the right reasons," said Clark.
"Is that a common theme of Kryptonian mythology?" asked Hessia.
"No. It's just something that being human teaches you."
Clark gave Hessia another reassuring smile before pocketing the amulet and exiting the room, leaving the jaded Amazon in a state of uncertainty. He more than convinced her that Diana was in good hands. Armed with that pennant, he could do far more for her than she ever could. Hessia didn't intend on getting involved in this conflict out of concern that it would further complicate tensions among her sisters. Now she wasn't so certain.
'Do the right thing. Why does that sound so daunting? Then again, that might be a sign that I should do it.'
She was already contemplating what she would have to do and how hard it would be to do it. But she didn't let it overwhelm her. Even after Clark left, Hessia found herself smiling and shaking her head. That man was a cut above the rest and not just because of his strength. Maybe she, and every Amazon for that matter, could learn something from that.
'I can see why she loves him so much. His greatest strength lies in his heart. I just hope that'll be enough to get him through this. Gods be with you, Clark Kent. Gods be with you, Diana. For all I know, they need your mercy as much as you'll need theirs.'
Mount Olympus
"The gates of Olympus have been breached! Defend the summit at all costs!" ordered Zeus from the peak of Olympus.
The gods were facing their greatest threat since the great war against the titans. Mount Olympus was under siege. The chaos they had had been fighting for centuries had manifested into a powerful force that surprised and overwhelmed them. Hordes of powerful monsters, undead soldiers, and renegade souls attacked the domain of the gods from every direction. Harpies darkened the skies, minotaurs and cyclopses attacked heavy fortifications, undead soldiers swarmed every possible opening, and angry souls attempted to infect anything and anyone in their path. These were all creatures that the gods were used to defeating with relative ease. But there was something different guiding them this time that made them far more imposing.
'They just keep coming! Our defenses – our barriers that have secured Olympus for centuries…gone or rendered useless. These creatures shouldn't be able to even approach our defenses. They should never have been able to find their way out of Tartarus. This after my wife learns of my latest secret offspring…it cannot be coincidence.'
The King of Olympus was convinced. This attack was not the result of complacency or incompetence. This attack was too coordinated and too efficient to be the result of traditional chaos. These creatures should never have been able to get around Olympus' many defenses. Somebody had to both let them in and direct them in a way that would overwhelm and overpower the might of the gods. The number of beings capable of such a feat was short and Zeus already had his suspicions. But for the moment, he focused on protecting his domain.
While he stood atop the summit, hurling thunderbolts upon swarms of harpies and winged demons, Poseidon led the attack to defend the base of Olympus. Using the lakes and streams that surrounded the mountain, he summoned various sea creatures to come to his aid. Other gods such as Hermes, Helios, Demeter, and Athena aided him, utilizing their various powers and talents to destroy the creatures pouring in. But for every one they destroyed, ten more seemed to pour in from an unknown source.
Their inability to push back these forces further added to his suspicions. He also noticed that not every god had heeded his command. One god in particular was absent from this battle. Apollo, being the God of Light, should've been among the first to defend Olympus. For reasons he did not have time surmise, he was nowhere to be seen. Athena and Artemis told him just after the battle began that he had not returned from the mortal realm. This alone was a serious crime. It was also a sign that his fellow gods might be working against him.
Every god and goddess could feel the very foundations of their order crumbling. This led Hades and a few others, including Charon and Nyx, returned to the Underworld in hopes of securing their domain and acquiring reinforcements. Zeus ordered him to return with those reinforcements as soon as possible, but he fully expected his brother to do what was in his own best interest just as he expected Apollo to serve his. And from what he could see from atop the summit, that might not include preserving Olympus.
'I cannot count on Hades returning with the armies of the Underworld, nor can I count on Apollo to have a valid excuse for his absence. For all I know, the Underworld is under siege as well and so is the mortal realm. If they both didn't have so much to lose by Olympus falling, I might suspect them of facilitating such an attack. But neither of them are that brazen. They, along with every other god, understand the danger of undermining the balance of forces to such a degree…although a few might not particularly care.'
The father of Olympus had every intention of making those responsible for this pay. He also had every intention of preserving Olympus and all it stood for until his dying breath. He led his fellow gods to victory against the titans. He could do so again, especially against armies of lesser creatures.
Zeus tapped into more of his godly power, rising up above the summit and unleashing larger and larger thunderbolts. The skies above Olympus flashed and sparked with massive displays of power, killing off a good chunk of the harpies and winged demons that attempted to attack. While more kept attacking and the forces below continued to advance, he had no intention of letting up his assault. He would slaughter every one of these creatures between Olympus and the Underworld if he had to. He was still king and his power was still absolute.
"Poseidon, direct your forces to advance into the oncoming armies. Follow them all the way to the River Styx if you have to," ordered Zeus, his booming voice echoing throughout the mountain. "Helios, get on your chariot and fill the skies with the fires of the sun. Athena, you and Hermes reinforce the inner sanctums. And tell Hephaestus that his forge had better be working at full capacity. Break out every weapon in his arsenal if you must and tell him to…"
"Save your breath, father. They're fighting a losing battle and so are you," came a powerful voice from the clouds of monsters above.
Zeus recognized that voice immediately. It essentially confirmed his burning suspicions as to who was behind this atrocity. Looking up into the cloud of oncoming harpies, he saw Ares fly out ahead of them from atop a black Pegasus covered in war armor. He was much more imposing than the pestilent brat he threw into the Oblivion Vault months ago. He wasn't just wearing his battle armor again. He was surrounded by a powerful new energy that somehow allowed him to direct the harpies away from him as he approached. There was something very perverse and unsettling about his power. Zeus already regretted not inflicting a harsher punishment on his son.
"Ares! I knew it had to be you," yelled Zeus. "Only you are capable of such sacrilege!"
"Oh I'm capable of much more than that. If you're at all wise, you'll retreat and salvage what little dignity you have left," taunted Ares as he flew up right into his father's line of sight.
"Insolent brat! You dare talk down to your father and your king?"
With a rage that would've obliterated an army of titans, Zeus unleashed a full arsenal of his thunderbolts upon Ares. It was so powerful it filled the sky with blinding blue flashes, triggering shockwaves and bursts that startled even his fellow gods from below. No one, even a god, could possibly endue such a blow. However, Ares remained utterly unthreatened.
"I'll take that as a no," he said with a grin.
Before the full force of the attack could strike him, the energy surrounding Ares flashed and he disappeared in flash of light and reappeared through a miniature gateway that appeared right behind his father. The sheer scale of the attack actually left Zeus fatigued, a feeling he rarely showed or even experienced. It was such a satisfying sight.
"What…what perverse trickery is this?" said Zeus breathlessly.
"It's not trickery and it's hardly perverse. I like to think of it more an exploit," he said proudly. "It's a basic principle of war. If you can't get around an entrance, you make your own."
"That gateway…these creatures…you're the one behind them. You're tearing holes between the realms and exploiting them, aren't you?" surmised Zeus.
"That's not all I'm doing, but I'm glad you noticed. Would it be too much if I hoped you would be proud?"
"You've now gone beyond being insolent, Ares. Are you mad? Such recklessness could cause every realm to completely collapse!"
"Only if you lack the tools and will. You've always had one, but not the other. It was only a matter of time before someone else came along to do what you wouldn't," said Ares.
"What I'll do…is make you pay for your crimes," said Zeus. "You think the Oblivion Prison was torture? You'll soon consider that an act of mercy!"
He tried attacking with another thunderbolt, but Ares just evaded it again with the same tactic. Using this perverse new power of his, he opened another gateway and vanished through just before the bolt struck. Zeus tried again, but the outcome was the same. He kept firing thunderbolt after thunderbolt, filling the sky with more massive sparks that took out plenty of harpies and winged demons in the process. But all it succeeded in doing was furthering his fatigue.
Ares let his father wear himself out, utilizing a cunning worthy of the God of War. He knew from previous experiences that he could not overpower his father directly. He had to let the King of the Gods defeat himself, allowing his pride and his arrogance to blind him. Zeus still fought under the assumption that the rules of his order still applied. He was about to find out just how wrong he was.
"You immature…reckless…coward!" yelled Zeus as he kept up his thunderbolt barrage. "Do you really think…you're fit to be king?"
"Look around you, Father. I think your question answers itself," retorted Ares. "If not, maybe this will get the point across."
After dodging another thunderbolt, Ares appeared in front of Zeus again. Before he could strike with another thunderbolt, he finally showed off some power of his own. The strange new energy surrounding him grew, expanding to create a large shell of purplish light that filled the darkened skies. Zeus, now starting to feel the effects of his fatigue, had to fall back to avoid it. But in doing so, he saw the effects of what Ares was doing.
As he looked at the creatures flying around him and the massive hoards attacking below, he noticed their eyes glowing with the same purplish energy. It revealed that Ares was actually directing them with his own will. This shouldn't have been possible, even with Olympian powers. Like opening new gateways between the realms, it was extremely dangerous. Ares somehow managed to get away with it. This meant all these powerful creatures followed his guidance and his undeniable cunning.
"That power…it is not of this realm," dreaded Zeus.
"You're half-right," said Ares ominously, "But you don't need to know about the other half. All you need to know is that the very chaos you've been combating all these centuries is now mine to control."
"You can't possibly such control won't disrupt the natural order. You'll end up destroying yourself and us!"
"Are you saying that because you're so worried about the natural order? Or that I might do a better job solving the problems you couldn't?" quipped the God of War.
"You are but a child obsessed with war. You don't comprehend the danger of attempting to control that which cannot be controlled."
"Again, you're half-right. You're just leaving out the part about that which you cannot control. Call me what you want. Scold me like a father is supposed to scold his son. It won't change one inescapable truth. You're just not strong enough to be king anymore."
True to his arrogance, Zeus let out another angry grunt before unleashing another onslaught of thunderbolts. Ares evaded it again using another portal, taking more and more satisfaction in his father's frustration. At this point, Zeus' attacks were doing damage to the summit and disrupting the efforts of his fellow gods below. He cared less and less about proving him wrong and more about appearing strong. It would've been so pathetic if the forces involved weren't so dangerous.
"You know nothing…of true strength, Ares. You never have. You'll destroy us all…if you think otherwise," said Zeus, now short of breath.
"There's another possibility you refuse to entertain," quipped the God of War. "I could actually succeed."
"You…won't!" spat the King of the Gods.
"Spoken like a weak, beleaguered king. Will you not even entertain that possibility, father? That your son might be able to bring order where you have not?"
"I know…what you're capable of. And the order I seek…the order our realms demand…is not possible for a war-monger like you!"
Zeus tried to launch another attack, but this time Ares didn't let him. He had goaded his father enough. Tapping into the new energy he now wielded, he expanded the purplish aura surrounding him until it consumed Zeus. The King of the Gods was unprepared for this energy. It rendered him stunned, a feeling he hadn't experienced since the great war. Before he could recover and counter, Ares flew in on his Pegasus and grabbed his father's arm.
"I didn't expect you to be reasonable, father. I just expected you to wear yourself out to the point where you would be vulnerable," taunted Ares.
"You would dare…strike your king…your father?" yelled Zeus as he fought his father's grip.
"Said the god who killed his own father," laughed Ares, "But don't worry. I'm not you. I'm better than you. I'm going to prove to you and every god on Olympus that I can bring the order you can't."
"The other gods…will stop you. Or you'll…stop yourself."
"We'll see," said Ares snidely. "I fully intend to prove you wrong. I also intend to make sure that you and the other gods can only watch."
Ares felt his father prepare another attack. He still had plenty of power with which to fight. Zeus would defend his power until his dying breath and his power was still inherently greater. But the God of War understood that he didn't have to kill his father in order to defeat him.
As Zeus prepared another attack, Ares expanded the purplish energy around him even more. It soon consumed a significant portion of the skies above Olympus. All the creatures and spirits below react as well, demonstrating the strength with which Ares wielded this power. With it, he opened up a series of portals, tearing more holes in a realm that was already very unstable. They all appeared in front of or behind every god and goddess fighting for Zeus. And in one coordinated push, all the creatures under Ares' control shoved them into the portal.
"What…what are you doing?" gasped Zeus.
"Something I rarely do and will probably regret – showing you mercy," said the God of War.
Ares made sure Zeus saw every one of his fellow gods vanish into the portals, leaving him as the sole defender of Olympus. He then had to watch as Ares' forces completely overwhelmed his domain, taking control of everything he had built and fought so hard to protect. It was cruel and cunning, even for the God of War. It filled him with more outrage, so much so that he didn't notice a similar portal forming behind him. With a simple shove, Ares pushed his father into the portal and watched him struggle in vain as it consumed him.
"ARES!" was all he could get out before he disappeared.
"I hope you enjoy your stay in the Oblivion Prison as much as I did, father. You'll have a front row seat to the final war between gods and mortals."
When the portal closed, Ares stood in triumph over the summit of Mount Olympus. He watched with the utmost satisfaction as his endless armies occupied this pillar of power amongst the gods. It would've been so easy to just raze it to the ground, turning into a glorified hill of dirt. There were any number of places in any number of realms to construct another palace fitting for a god of his power. But he planned on saving such a satisfying moment until after he had achieved his final victory.
Riding the Pegasus down to the summit, he took a seat in the throne his father had occupied for centuries. He could sense his forces now creating garrisons and strongholds within Mount Olympus, turning it into the ultimate fortress from which to guide this war. However, he had no intention of enjoying his new domain. There were still more battles to be fought.
'That actually went better than I had hoped. I expected Zeus to level half of Olympus in resisting me. Guess I overestimated him for once. Now comes the riskier part of my battle plan. If Persephone and Apollo know what's good for them, they'll have already succeeded.'
The Underworld – Hades' Palace
"Persephone!" yelled Hades as he stormed through his palace. "It's time you cease your endless lament and make yourself useful. War has descended upon Olympus. And for once, my sniveling brother might actually lose."
The King of the Underworld didn't get an immediate response from his queen, which was to be expected. Persephone might have had the beauty to sway the hearts of gods, but she was painfully inept when it came to dealing with crisis. Hades could ill-afford ineptitude at this point. He suspected that a day would come when Zeus' arrogance finally caught up with him, but he never imagined it would unfold like this.
He had just arrived at his palace, having convinced his brother to let him secure the Underworld. He could already sense hordes of monsters traveling down the River Styx, making their way to his palace. He had every intention of keeping it secured, even if it meant letting Olympus burn. The Underworld might have been a desolate kingdom, but it was still his kingdom.
"Persephone, you had better not be under your bed crying again!" said Hades in a louder, more forceful voice. "I need you to secure the garrisons here the palace while I lead my undead army to the shores of the River Styx. If you know what's good for you, you've already started. I'd rather not get your mother involved when the foundations of Olympus are crumbling."
Usually the mention of her mother was enough to get a response from his queen. Her desire to see her mother again was still his most important leverage over her. However, this time it didn't work. He still only heard silence as he rushed to his throne room.
"You're silence is starting to annoy me," Hades called out. "You are my wife and my queen. I demand that you respond this…"
The King of the Underworld stopped the moment he burst through the doors. In his throne room, he saw Persephone sitting in front of his throne on her knees. She was wearing her most elegant attire that she usually reserved for when she visited her mother. It looked like she was praying, which was something neither she nor anyone else in the Underworld usually did.
"What are you doing in my throne room? Did you not hear my command?" he demanded.
"Yes, dear husband. I heard your command loud and clear," she replied, not even turning around to face him.
"Then you had best obey it. I'm in no mood for your insipid crying. The gods are in the midst of the greatest crisis since our war with the titans!"
"There's no need to raise your voice with me this time, Lord Hades. For once, I'm not crying."
It caught Hades by surprise, which was no easy feat in and of itself. In his rush to prepare his domain for battle, he didn't notice a major difference in his queen's demeanor. She wasn't weeping. She wasn't trembling. She wasn't acting anything like she usually did when she stayed within the Underworld. It drew the King of the Underworld's suspicion at a time when he could not afford distractions.
With growing frustration, Hades stormed over to his troublesome queen. As he got close, he noticed she was clutching something in her hands. It must have been important because she held onto it as if it were of great value. He began to reach for her when she opened her hands and revealed what it was. As soon as Hades saw it, he froze where he stood.
"Is that…no, it can't be. You wouldn't dare!" he roared.
"A beautiful woman in a loveless marriage tends to do a lot of things she wouldn't dare," said Persephone.
She made sure he got a good look at it so that there was no room for doubt. It was a single broken chain link, but it came from no ordinary chain. The blackish metal and the shadowy energy radiating from it could only have come from the Tomb of Erebus, a place that was supposed to be secure even from the gods. It was the last thing he or any of the gods wanted to see right now, the cage of a titan being weakened. This cage could only be affected or even accessed by a select few. The Queen of the Underworld was one of them.
"The seal on the Tomb of Erebus – you've been tampering with it?" said Hades in a mix of disbelief and outrage.
"Amongst other things," she said cryptically.
"That's impossible. I wouldn't allow it!"
"That would just make you another foolish man who thought he could control his woman."
"Whatever you think you'll accomplish by releasing Erebus, it won't work!" barked Hades. "It won't return you to your mother. It won't release you from your curse. It'll only destroy everything and everyone you hold dear!"
"It'll do more than you think. And even if it doesn't, do you really think destruction scares me after spending centuries in the Underworld at your side? As far as I'm concerned, I should've done something like this long ago."
Now Hades was beyond furious. Of all the times for his wife to go mad with defiance, this was by far the worst. He sensed over the centuries how much she had come to despise living in the Underworld and being his wife. He thought her love for her mother was enough to control her. Now, in hearing her cold voice that was devoid of her usual sorrow, he realized just how much she deceived him. As King of the Underworld, he could not let this stand.
"Insubordinate wench!" he shouted. "You are still my wife. I can still make you dread a fate far worse than destruction."
Hades prepared to subdue his wife and make her regret ever contemplating such defiance. But just as he was about to reach her, a swirl of purplish energy formed within the throne room. It stunned him, but Persephone didn't even flinch.
While Hades turned around and watched the purplish energy gather in front of him, Persephone finally rose up. Within seconds, the energy formed a large purplish gate right in front of Hades. It started drawing him in like the hard current of a river. He instinctively fought it, but Persephone had no intention of letting him win that fight.
"What is this? Another attempt to escape your king's wrath?" yelled Hades.
"No. Not my king's wrath. Just the fate he trapped me in," said Persephone.
Then, in an act once thought to be unconscionable in the realm of the Underworld, she struck Hades to shove him into the portal. As he fell in, he let out an angry roar that echoed throughout the palace and beyond. Persephone could actually feel the souls of the dead tremble at the feeling of their king just vanishing from his domain. It was so satisfying that Persephone did something she never thought she would do again. She smiled.
"So that's what it feels like to defy fate. I like it!" she said curtly.
She continued staring at the glowing portal while still clutching the broken chain link from the Tomb of Erebus. She could already feel her mother scolding her for doing this. She might even be more upset with her than Hades at the moment. But that didn't matter. She was freeing herself from the shackles of her fate. If that meant participating in a plan to release a titan, then so be it.
The portal flickered and pulsated erratically for a moment, no doubt because of Hades and the other gods resisting their little trip into the Oblivion Prison. Then it shifted, taking on a wider, less volatile shape. It soon revealed it revealing a gateway to a different destination. From this new gate, a familiar figure emerged and Persephone's smile quickly faded.
"You cut it rather close, Apollo," said Persephone to greet her fellow god.
"You make it sound like opening portals into our realm with mortal technology is easy," said Apollo in a humored tone.
"Like you would ever allow yourself to work too hard to accomplish something," she scoffed.
"Go ahead. Belittle the one who helped you finally smite your husband in ways you've only fantasized about."
"Believe me, my fantasies about smiting my husband are far more elaborate. But I'll gladly accept this, provided you and Ares continue to deliver."
Apollo grinned wryly. He could always count on a desperately miserable spouse to be so useful. Enlisting the aid of Persephone was inherently risky, but her desire to escape her fate did plenty to mitigate that risk. Now it was poised to pay off in a big way.
Persephone still made it clear that she didn't trust Apollo, even after what he just helped her accomplish. He had too long a history of deceit to believe he would deliver on everything else he promised. Right now, her most important asset was her ability to access the Tomb of Erebus. He still needed her for that and so did Ares. That tomb was the key to everything at this point. The power it contained promised to reshape the realm of the gods, mortals, and so much more.
"In that case I won't bore you with other lurid fantasies…unless you want me to, of course," said Apollo.
"You're already reminding me way too much of my husband," said Persephone in bemusement.
"Don't forget him too quickly. I just received word from Ares that he has successfully contained the gods in the Oblivion Prison. As promised, your mother is among them. And no, she was not harmed during the siege."
To further alleviate her concerns, Apollo manipulated the portal so that it showed the cells in the Oblivion Prison. Sure enough, Demeter was in one of them. She was trapped and not very comfortable from the looks of it, but she was otherwise unharmed. Persephone tried not to react too strongly to seeing her, but it showed she still her mother was still very important to her.
"I wouldn't recommend you visit her right now. She and the rest of the gods aren't exactly in a good mood at the moment," said Apollo.
"I wasn't planning to…not until this is over," said Persephone strongly.
"While I can't guarantee she'll appreciate the role you've played, I'll still make sure you get your chance," he told her. "With Olympus and the gods secure, Ares is ready for the next phase of his battle plan. As we speak, the Amazons and the Annihilator armor are breaking down the gates to the Tomb of Erebus as only they can. However, the seal containing him…"
His words trailed off, allowing Persephone to fill in the details. She still understood her role and all the danger that came with it.
"I know. That's where I come in," said Persephone. "I can still access the lock, but I cannot break it. A feat such as that is beyond even Zeus' power."
"You need only grant us access. We already have a means of breaking it."
"I still doubt whether that's even possible, but I'll entertain your bravado. Even if it fails, it'll at least be entertaining."
"It won't fail. That you can be sure of," said Apollo strongly.
"You sound awfully confident for someone attempting a feat that Zeus himself made certain was impossible. The means of unleashing a power like this are not to be taken lightly."
"I agree and so does Ares. That's why we intend to rely on cunning instead of power," he said, "Because when it comes to acquiring the necessary means, the most effective strategy is to have it come to you."
Apollo altered the portal again to change the view. This time it revealed two images, one from the mortal world and from Tartarus. The first showed Diana, having made her way into Tartarus in search of her sisters. She was on her way towards Olympus, fighting through plenty of monsters and undead soldiers along the way. The second showed Superman, having just left London and now making his way to Themyscira. If he had any means of coming to Diana's aid, he would be arriving soon.
They couldn't possibly understand what they were getting into. They had already walked into the elaborate trap that had been set into motion months ago. And they only made it infinitely harder on themselves by being foolish enough to fall in love with each other.
Up next: Heart Shaped Box