Strangers In Paradise

by MarvelMaster616

In their youth, Clark Kent and Princess Diana met when Clark was shipwrecked on Themyscira. This accident of fate would come to have a profound impact on their lives and their hearts, disrupting the traditions of the Amazons and the order of the gods. Years later, as greater forces conspire against them, can they come together or will fate tear them apart?

20. Remorse and Reconciliation

Strangers In Paradise
Chapter 20: Remorse and Reconciliation

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Themyscira – Temple of Asclepius

"The wounded always carry a far greater burden than the dead, but they also achieve a far greater glory."

This was part of the prayer that every Amazon recited before going into battle. Every great warrior fought with the understanding that pain, suffering, and death would follow from combat. However, great warriors also understood that there was much to be gained from surviving. It was a harder path, but one that was incredibly fulfilling.

The memories of all the times Diana had said this prayer flashed before her as she finally emerged from her unconscious state. When she opened her eyes, she awoke to a pounding headache and an all-encompassing soreness. The Amazon princess had incurred plenty of injuries over the many battles she fought, but none hurt quite like this. Her vision remained blurred and her whole body felt like it had the weight of a mountain on it. Just trying to raise her arm proved difficult. However, this pain only reminded her of what she fought so hard to achieve and why it had been so worth it.

"Mother…sisters…Kal," she said in a weak tone.

Hearing no response, Diana battled her injuries to rise up from her wounded state. In doing so, her vision cleared and she recognized where she was. She was lying in a special bed within the Temple of Asclepius, the God of Medicine. This was where wounded Amazons would go to recover from wounds incurred in battle. Most treatments involved mystical enchantments or special potions. Given the durability of the Amazons, it took quite a bit to keep them here for very long. Diana had no intention of being the exception.

As soon as she gathered herself, she slipped out of the bed. Her body made her regret that immediately. She felt a wave of soreness and pain shoot through her. Diana toughed it out and attempted to stand. In doing so, she realized that she was naked and her now-tattered battle attire lay on a table next to her bed. Seeing it laid out so neatly assured her that her sisters hadn't treated her with much hostility. She hadn't forgotten that she was still an exile, but that wasn't her immediate concern.

Stammering forward, not even bothering to find a toga to cover up, Diana made her way out of the room. She then realized it was late at night, the corridors of the temple now illuminated with candles and torches. Once making her way into the hall, she looked down at the rows of other rooms like hers. One at the end caught her attention.

"Kal," said Diana, this time with more strength in her voice.

Ignoring more lingering soreness, she made her way down to the room. She could see a steady light coming from the opening, indicating it was occupied. Seeing no others like it, Diana knew her lover had to be there. He endured the same wounds she had. Right now, the best medicine for the both of them was to be near one another. It also wasn't lost on her that he was a man on Themyscira. At some point, they would have to address this and many other complications.

'Picking up the pieces from a battle is often harder than the battle itself. My mother taught me that after my first day of training when I complained of a sore knee. She also told me that those who don't learn from the aftermath of battles never fully recover. I'm hoping she learned something from all this. I certainly have with Kal. But at some point, we need to do more than learn.'

Diana reached the room and, much to her relief, she saw Kal lying in a bed similar to hers. He wasn't in chains. He wasn't being guarded. He was just resting and recovering like her. And also like her, his clothes had been removed and laid out on a nearby table. Just seeing him put a smile on her face, but seeing no traces of her sisters' hostility gave her even greater hope.

'They tended to him. They treated him just as they treated me. Hera herself must have commanded it. I like to think my sisters recognized his exploits from this battle, but some things just can't be learned quickly.'

Assured that she didn't have to worry about her sisters for the time being, Diana made her way over to the bed and slipped under the sheets with him. The second she felt his warm body next to hers, more of the soreness faded. She eagerly curled up to his arm and gazed up at his manly complexion. Looking at him, she recalled the scale and scope of the battle they just fought together.

This man was once just some stranger who washed up on the shores of Themyscira, lost and alone. They had been young, impressionable, and inexperienced. Then, as time passed and fate brought them together, they forged a bond. That bond had now grown in a profound way. Kal-El wasn't just her lover. He was something so much more.

'There's only so much a warrior can learn in the course of battle. To fight and to struggle against overwhelming odds – it need not be constrained to a battlefield. Sometimes the greatest battles happen within our own hearts. We fight to understand and embrace our passions for all the right reasons. It's hard to be sure what they mean. But when the dust settles and the battle ends, we can truly appreciate its power.'

The bond she had with this man and the warmth of being in his presence gave Diana the kind of healing that rivaled Asclepius himself. As she clung to his arm, she began tracing her hand around his chest. This man evoked so many passions in her. He changed her life in so many ways. More changes were inevitable, some of which they would have to face as soon as they were fully healed. But she didn't let herself worry about that at the moment. She just focused on the beautiful man lying next to her.

Diana's warmth and gentle touching helped rouse Kal from his unconsciousness as well. Like her, he was very sore. It showed in the way his breathing remained and his body remained still. When he opened his eyes, he smiled. He didn't mind in the slightest he was in an unfamiliar place on an island full of women who once wanted to kill him. He recognized her touch immediately and that was enough to set his concerns at ease.

"Hey," said Clark with as much strength as he could in his sore state.

"Hey yourself," said Diana as she smiled back. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I just fought a god and a crazy man who thinks he's better than a god," he answered. "I can honestly say I've never been this sore."

"Coming from Superman, that's no easy feat."

"What about you? How are you feeling?"

"As sore as you, I imagine. But not sore enough to keep me from my lover's are," she said warmly.

"Yet too sore to put on some clothes?" Clark teased.

"Is that a complaint?"

"Not in the slightest."

Diana curled up closer, allowing more of her healing touch to sooth his battered form. Clark eagerly accepted her intimate embrace, slipping his arm around her waist and holding in his loving grasp. Her head now resting on his chest, her hand eventually found his and their fingers became entwined. The feeling of their naked bodies entwined provided more healing than any spell or potion. In the same way they supported one another in the heat of battle, they soothed one another in moments of tender peace.

It marked the end of an arduous, emotional journey that began when Clark first found out how alone he was in the universe. He spent a good chunk of his life believing he would always feel alone and isolated. Being Superman and Clark Kent, he thought he couldn't and shouldn't get emotionally involved with anyone because it would put them and others in danger. Then he met Diana, this wonderful woman who proved him wrong.

Holding her in his arms, feeling all the love and strength in her touch, Clark Kent let go of any lingering doubts. He loved this woman. He loved her with all his heart. He may have been from a different world, but the connection they forged was profound. From the moment he first laid eyes on her on the shores of Themyscira to this moment with them in bed together, it grew and blossomed in ways they had never imagined. Now it had gotten to a point where they could embrace it fully.

"So…where do we go from here?" asked Clark distantly.

"Are you referring to us? Or are you referring to the more complicated matters involving my mother?" said Diana.

"Can it be both? I think we'll have to answer them at some point."

"We will. But some will be easier than others," she sighed.

Diana tried to avoid contemplating these questions, but she couldn't ignore them for long. What happened here would have significant consequences and not just for them. Her life, her home, and the gods she and her sisters worshipped would never be the same.

"Our most immediate concern is stability," said Diana. "My mother's authority as queen is tenuous to say the least. The revelations about her affair with Zeus and the lies she told about my birth have been troubling to say the least."

"I can only imagine, but I have a pretty good idea. I know better than most what it's like to learn uncomfortable secrets about your birth," said Clark in a sympathetic tone.

"I know you do. And I'm still trying to process that. But what worries me more is what this means for my home and my sisters. My mother – the dense and stubborn woman she is at heart – will always find a way to be stronger than everyone around her. She won't shy away from the consequences of her actions. She will stand before her sisters and subject herself to judgment."

"You're worried about how they'll judge her," he surmised.

"I'm more worried about what this means for the Amazon sisterhood. Their trust has been broken. Their faith in her and the gods has been shaken. I want to believe that the bonds of sisterhood will keep us together, but…"

Diana had to stop herself. She didn't dare contemplate her sisters and her family coming apart as a result of these revelations. She also didn't doubt that changes would have to be made.

"Those bonds will need to be healed. My mother and the gods won't let the Amazons tear themselves apart," said Diana confidently. "They might allow her to keep her title as queen, but with reduced authority. They might install an interim queen until a proper succession can be organized. Or they might remove the title of queen altogether from Amazon order and craft a different chain of command altogether."

"Sounds like you're not sure about any of those," said Clark.

"I still have faith that the gods and my sisters will find a way. I know that must sound ridiculous after everything we just experienced."

"Not as much as you think," he said, offering an affectionate gesture. "We can never lose faith, especially after experiences like this."

"Then I guess all our spirits will be tested. I know my mother will face consequences for what she's done. I know I will face consequences for what I've done. And, suffice to say, you'll have to face them as well."

"And I'm fully willing to do so, but I can't help but ask – should I be worried?" he asked with a touch of anxiety.

"Not as much as you think you do, that I can promise you. The mere fact you're not in a dungeon bound by chains is a promising sign."

"I noticed that too, but didn't want to assume too much."

"You don't have to. I think you made enough of an impression on the gods and my sisters."

Diana gave him a light kiss on the cheek to further alleviate his concerns. She wouldn't make any promises about what her sisters and the gods would do, but she chose to have faith that they would do the right thing. They all experienced first-hand what happened when they chose hatred over compassion. After they came so terribly close to losing everything they held dear, Diana believed that the Amazons and the gods were ready for a different kind of order.

"Your actions have spoken volumes, Kal. You showed the Amazons and the gods just how good a man could be in the face of hardship," she said in a more serious tone.

"But was it enough?" Clark wondered.

"It damn well better be. I won't let them ignore it, that you can be sure of," she said strongly, "But beyond your actions, you stood for something that all great warriors respect – something I know will keep my sisters and my mother from judging you too harshly."

"And what might that be?"

"Heart," she answered, placing her hand over his chest to emphasize her point. "It's what separates warriors from beasts. It informs us when to show mercy and compassion. It strengthens us when the rigors of combat strain us. It's a trait that my sisters once thought men were incapable of feelings. But you demonstrated it before their eyes. You and the Sons of Leuctra proved beyond any doubt or dogma that a man can have that same heart that all Amazons cherish. That assures me that their judgment will be fair and your feats will bring a long-overdue change to this island."

She saw his actions in such a profound light. Clark only ever saw himself as doing the right thing as Superman, hoping to inspire people with his deeds. The idea that he could inspire the Amazons to finally move beyond their traditions made his triumph over Ares and Lex Luthor all the more fulfilling.

But as important as it was to inspire the Amazons, he still had a more pressing concern on his mind. He was ready to face Diana's mother and whatever judgment he and the Olympians made for him. However, his ability to confront what lay ahead rested heavily on what the future now held for him and Diana.

"I'm willing to take your word for it. But what about the second part of my question? The one that involves us?" asked Clark.

"That…is actually a much easier question to answer," said Diana, her hand now resting atop his. "In the same way your actions spoke volumes to my sisters, they said just as much to me."

"And what did they tell you?" he asked.

"It depends. What did you expect them to convey? I made it clear from the beginning that I was asking a lot of you. And I could tell you were reluctant to get involved with Amazon conflicts again. You might have even had second thoughts at some point."

"Would you hold it against me if I did?"

"That would be redundant at this point," said Diana, giving him a playful swat. "Just tell me what you were hoping to prove by fighting this battle with me."

"You mean other than just to show how much I love you?" said Clark.

"That, you never needed to show. I already know how much you love me. Go beyond love for a moment. What does the battle we just fought mean to you…to us?"

She now turned the question around on him, forcing Clark to think about their struggles from a different perspective. For once, this wasn't just about doing the right thing. It wasn't even about helping his girlfriend, even going beyond being Superman.

Looking at Diana and feeling her in his arms, Clark saw the struggle they endured together in a longer context. He had to help fight her battles with her sisters and the gods. She had to help fight his battles with Lex Luthor. In doing so, they added complications to their struggles that they had never dealt with before. It made achieving the victory they sought all the more arduous. At the same time, however, it made the end result more fulfilling. This made the answer to this very important question incredibly clear.

"Well if I put it in the simplest possible terms, I'd probably miss a lot of important details," he began.

"Then don't worry about the details. Just say what needs to be said," said Diana.

"In that case, I think I wanted to prove to you – and to myself for that matter – that we can fight these kinds of battles. I'm not just talking about battles against gods or men like Lex Luthor who think they're gods either. One of the hardest things about being with someone is still being able to fight your own battles while sharing the struggles of others. It makes us confused and vulnerable because we sometimes have a hard time telling them apart. Sometimes the line between our struggles and those of others gets really obscure."

"To be fair, I had no idea Lex Luthor would get involved with the gods," said Diana. "I never meant for it to get that complicated."

"Luthor always finds a way to cross those lines. I've come to expect that from him," he sighed. "What we did in facing him showed that we could navigate those lines. We could stand against men like him and gods like Ares. We can even hold our own against them. I can be the Superman I need to be. You can be the Wonder Woman you need to be. But in the end – even with all the strength we have on our own – we're so much stronger together."

Diana looked back up at him, her head still resting on his chest. He smiled back at her and tenderly caressed the side of her face. There was so much love in his touch, but there was also plenty of strength. That helped further prove his point. It also helped reinforce what she already knew.

"Then I think you already know what this means for us," said Diana.

"I still don't like to assume too much," teased Clark.

"Then make an exception, if only this once. You fought alongside me as a warrior. I fought alongside you as a hero. We can share each other's world. We can trust one another to hold our own. Since we first came together, we spent so much time and energy trying to reconcile the past with the present. Now – after everything we've shared and everything we've gained – we're ready to start building towards a future."

It was a daunting idea, but one that held so much promise. Had he and Diana not just endured so much hardship together, it would've been overwhelming. Instead, it felt all too fitting. They had already done so much to affect each other's lives. That fateful encounter in their youth led them to make many difficult choices later in life. Now, having come together as a result of those choices, the path before them was much clearer.

Making that path all the more appealing, Diana playfully crawled on top of him so that the full weight of her naked body pressed against his. Her gentle hands remained on his chest while his now rested on her waist. Gazing in awe into the eyes of this woman he had fallen so madly in love with, Clark saw his future looking back at him.

"A future…together," he said with a smile, "You make it sound so wonderful."

"Do you want to talk more about it? Or do you want to kiss me and start laying the foundation?" said Diana in a deep, loving tone.

This time, the choice was clear. Clark captured her lips with his. Simple, heartfelt passions took over. They were once outcasts in their respective worlds. Then, he and Diana came together and forged a special bond. That bond survived a battle against gods, deception, and madmen like Lex Luthor. Now that bond held the key to a new future. And whatever new challenges they faced, Clark and Diana were ready to face it together.

---

Olympus – Graves of the Fallen

"Every great warrior goes into battle ready to die, but those that survive aren't always ready to live."

Hippolyta said these words knowing that none would respond to console her. The dead rarely offered such consolation, leaving the living to find it on their own. It wasn't supposed to be difficult for those who died nobly. In Amazon tradition, a warrior that fell in battle was celebrated for having given her life in service to her sisters and the gods. However, in light of recent events, such tradition offered little comfort.

More Amazons fell in the battle against Ares and the mortal, Lex Luthor, than any since their defeat at the hands of Hercules. Many more were wounded and left to heal with the knowledge that they had been used, deceived, and manipulated by the gods they once worshipped. It was a loss that left deep scars within their sisterhood. These scars made clear that the traditions that sustained the Amazons for centuries were no longer sufficient. These traditions had almost been their undoing and Hippolyta bore much of the responsibility for letting it get to this point.

This burden led the Amazon Queen to the Graves of the Fallen, a special cemetery built near the base of Mount Olympus by the goddess, Athena. This was where every warrior who fell in battle was laid to rest. Many of her sisters had been buried here over the centuries. The aftermath of this latest battle required several rows of graves to be dug, which had just been completed. This was where the bodies of her fallen sisters would be laid to rest. Standing over these solemn monuments, Hippolyta bowed her head in sorrow.

"I'm so sorry, my sisters," she said, tears forming in her eyes. "You gave your hearts, your souls, and your lives to our sisterhood. I wish I could've given you more."

Again, she got only silence in response. In many ways, the fallen were the lucky ones. They wouldn't be present to experience the upheavals that were sure to follow. They could rest peacefully in the Fields of Elysium. This left the living to pick up the pieces from her mistakes and those of the gods.

To their credit, the gods did their part to honor the dead. Upon driving out Ares' forces, they re-established a temporary order over the realm. Hades himself blessed those who fell in battle, assuring them save passage into the afterlife. Athena also took it upon herself to retrieve the bodies of the fallen and prepare them for burial. She and the gods scheduled a ceremony to acknowledge their sacrifice. It was to act as the definitive end to this conflict and usher in a new beginning. However, this beginning would be harder on some more than others.

"I'll pray for you. We all will," said Hippolyta to the graves that would soon be filled, "But no amount of praying can change the truth. I failed you. I failed you as a sister and I failed you as a queen."

"No Hippolyta. You didn't," said a familiar voice.

Hippolyta didn't bother turning around or even raising her head. She had sensed King Agesilaus III's presence before he even spoke. She had a feeling he would visit this grave at some point. He bore many of the same burdens, but shared only a fraction of her sorrow.

"I take it you're here for the same reason as I am, King Agesilaus," said Hippolyta.

"This is where I should be right now. It's where I need to be," he said, now standing next to her and looking over the row of graves. "Like your sisters, many of my brothers fell in battle. And as their king, the burden of their loss falls upon my shoulders."

"If only that was the extent of my burden," she sighed.

The Spartan King did not attempt to comfort her. She didn't attempt to comfort him either. They both understood as leaders that they needed to bear this burden alone. At the same time, however, his presence offered another perspective for Hippolyta.

She hadn't forgotten that her Amazons fought and died alongside men in this battle. These brave men that King Agesilaus III loved as much as she loved her sisters carried themselves as true warriors. As such, they would be buried alongside Amazons in this graveyard. It left her and many other Amazons conflicted, fighting and dying alongside men. Those same conflicts promised to fuel many changes and upheavals moving forward.

"Tell me, Agesilaus – from one ruler to another – how can anyone be regal when their darkest secrets are exposed in the worst possible way? Is it even possible?" wondered Hippolyta, tears still filling her eyes.

"I cannot say," he replied. "Secrets are often a by-product of wielding power. The gods themselves are proof of that."

"Even when these secrets are kept out of love?" she questioned. "Everything I did – all the lies I told my sisters and my daughter – I did it because of love. I knew if they found out I had lain with a man and bore his child, they would resent me. That says nothing of the wrath Hera would've unleashed if she knew that man had been her husband."

"A secret kept out of love is still a secret. It doesn't make it any less painful when it's exposed."

"Then what am I to do? How can I face my sisters?" Hippolyta lamented. "They may never see me as their queen again. They may not even see me as their sister."

"If the love of sisterhood is every bit as strong as the love of brotherhood, then I can be certain that such fears are unfounded."

"Even if they are, it doesn't undo the damage I did – not just with my secrets, but with my hubris as well. I upheld every facet of Amazon traditions for centuries, never giving them a second thought. But after what happened with my daughter, I had an opportunity to reconsider. I could've at least tried to look beyond our hatred of men. Maybe that would've prepared us for Ares' treachery. Maybe it would've…"

Hippolyta stopped herself, the strain becoming too great. She wiped the tears from her eyes and sighed, doing her best to remain strong in the face of such failure. She couldn't even contemplate a scenario where her sisters would forgive her sins and accept her as their queen again. Perhaps this was the fate she had forged for herself.

It was just as hard for King Agesilaus III. Hippolyta's sorrow made him contemplate his own failures as well. At some point, he would also have to confront his brothers and determine the course of their future. But that future didn't have to be defined by the losses they suffered.

"Fate is often cruel and unfeeling. At the same time, it exacts a cold brand of justice that even gods cannot escape," said King Agesilaus III distantly as he looked over the rows of graves.

"Even if it is fitting, it hardly feels just," muttered Hippolyta.

"Therein lies its power," the Spartan King continued. "Centuries ago, I prayed to Ares to aid me and my brothers in our darkest hour. While I foolishly trusted that renegade god, my brothers trusted in me. I promised them so much – glory and victory that would preserve our way of life for eternity. I believed, in my own hubris, that I could deliver on those promises."

"Except you didn't know," she pointed out. "You couldn't have possibly known that Ares would betray you."

"On the contrary – I had a very good reason to suspect it," he said solemnly. "Before I went to Ares, an oracle delivered a message from Athena herself. She said that it was not wise to trust Ares so implicitly. I should've listened, but I refused. I didn't even tell my brothers about it until it was too late."

Now it was King Agesilaus III's turn to hold his head low. He still remembered how his men cheered and supported him, swearing to fight for him until their dying breath. He had been so proud and because of that pride, his brothers suffered.

But as much as he despised himself for failing to heed the opportunities he missed, the Spartan King did not intend to succumb to despair. The Sons of Leuctra had already lost so much and so had the Amazons. That didn't mean they needed to lose anything more.

"In both our cases, we had opportunities that our pride did not allow us to take," King Agesilaus III went on, "But that doesn't mean we can't make use of the opportunities before us."

"I question the extent of those opportunities at this point," said Hippolyta skeptically.

"Then dare yourself to question a little more," said the Spartan King. "Our tribes may be wounded, but we are still intact. Both the Amazons and the Sons of Leuctra have homes to rebuild. Whether my brothers trust me enough to be their king or your sisters trust you enough to be their queen does not matter. That shouldn't stop us from standing before them and leading them down a new path – a better path."

"That's just it. I'm not even sure I know what a better path would be at this point. The Amazons have known only one path for so long."

"Yet by standing here with me, talking to me as a man and not a beast, you're already walking a different path," he pointed out. "Sometimes we don't realize how clear that path truly is. My men and I saw a glimpse of it when Superman rescued us. Perhaps someone else has shown you that path as well. You just have to allow yourself to see it."

The mention of the man called Superman shook Hippolyta from her dazed state. She hadn't forgotten that this was the same man who once washed up on the shores of Themyscira and captured the heart of her daughter. That thought used to outrage her. Now, as she turned to look at the man standing next to her, she saw it in a different context.

In being so distraught about her own mistakes, Hippolyta barely noticed that she had been talking to a man. Moreover, past traditions of hatred had not obscured the conversation. It might have been just been due to her sorrow, but the idea that she could carry on a meaningful dialog with a man astonished her. King Agesilaus III did not carry himself like Hercules. He didn't even carry himself like Superman. He and his fellow Spartans were warriors, just like Amazons. That was something even the most stubborn Amazon had to respect on some levels.

At the same time, seeing this man reminded her of the conflict that drove her and Diana apart. Before she encountered this man, her daughter dared to have faith in mankind. Once again, that faith had been vindicated. And while she couldn't imagine her sisters being easily swayed, she could no longer deny what was now so plainly obvious.

"I guess I am still blinded by old traditions. If only I had my daughter's strength to do the right thing when it mattered," said Hippolyta.

"If only we all had that strength," sighed King Agesilaus III.

"Even so – I want to be strong enough this time. I want my Amazons to see beyond past dogma. That's the only way we can be the warriors we strive to be."

"And if you wish, the Sons of Leuctra can help. We fought alongside one another in battle. I think that should establish a certain level of trust."

"It does. Just don't expect it to be much," said the Amazon Queen. "My sisters still bear many scars from Hercules. The Amazons are going to struggle with change, but I have faith that their hearts will win out over their dogma. And if your men are willing to share that faith, then I would be honored walk this path together."

The Spartan King finally tore himself from the solemn sight of the graves and faced the Amazon Queen next to him. Despite all her regrets, she had so much hope in her heart. Hope, in the face of everything he and his brothers had lost, felt like such a fleeting concept. This woman, who had already shown such resilience in battle, revealed a strong spirit that any man would admire. Knowing his men would need such spirit, he smiled and bowed respectfully.

Hippolyta smiled back. It was the first time she had smiled at a man in centuries. It felt strange and a little disconcerting, but she still embraced the feeling. Knowing she had an ally in this struggle, even if it was a man, helped strengthen her faith. Together, they looked back out on the graves of the fallen with a greater sense of hope.

"I suppose we'll both start walking that path soon enough. Every journey is easier with allies by your side," said King Agesilaus III.

"Indeed," said Hippolyta. "It also helps if the gods are on the same page. I imagine they will have to walk a different path as well."

"Should that be cause for concern?" wondered the Spartan King.

"After recent events, I think a little healthy skepticism is warranted. But I still have faith that the gods will also learn from this ordeal. There's sure to be plenty of bitterness, but I believe love will win out in the end."

---

Mount Olympus – Chamber of the Divine

There were times when the gods envied the mortals that worshipped them. Mortality, as fragile as it might be, carried with it fewer burdens than those of the gods. Mortal lives were finite, limited, and smaller in scope. Their struggles, no matter how great they might have been, had a definitive endpoint. That's what made their achievements so much more impressive. It also made the work of the gods so much more difficult.

Immortality brought more than its share of complications to Olympus. Zeus learned shortly after the great war with the titans that being a god often meant being restrictive in creating a stable order. Despite his great power, exercising it to the necessary scale proved strenuous to say the least. He and his brothers managed to create a strong foundation on Olympus that endured for centuries. But one of the great drawbacks of immortality was that, given enough time, even the strongest foundations succumbed to the ravages of time.

The world of gods and mortals had changed a great deal since the days mortals worshipped them. While the mortals adapted to this world, the gods failed to do so. Despite Zeus' best efforts, chaos and mismanagement that foundation. His restrictive rule created the conditions that Ares and Apollo exploited. While he managed to prevent their actions from utterly destroying the foundation he created, it came at a price.

"So tired…so weak," said the King of the Gods in a raspy voice. "If only my father, Cronus, could see me now."

"He would probably be amused, but still envious," said Hera in a bemused but serious tone.

The extent of the price he paid to contain Erebus was still setting in. After expending so much power to form the tomb, Zeus was still weak and emaciated, bearing a very slim and lanky physique. At least now he was resting comfortably in the Chamber of the Divine.

This special domain, which he built in a heavily fortified area just below his throne room, was forged with remnants of the primordial energies that healed their world in wake of the great war. In the center of the chamber was a large bed surrounded in a greenish field of energy. It acted as a cocoon, allowing those within it to be nourished by these healing forces. He had not used it since the aftermath of the war with the titans. He often resisted doing so because in order to heal effectively, he had to go into a deep sleep. It left him and Olympus uncomfortably vulnerable, but he could not avoid it this time.

He didn't know how long that process would take. This was a very precarious time for Olympus and his fellow gods. Ironically enough, his best hope at preserving Olympus in his absence would come from his wife, who was among the very few who could access this chamber. Despite having suffered so much under his harsh order, she was still willing to do what was best for their fellow gods and the mortals.

"I'm going to be brutally honest with you, husband. I know I may never get another chance like this so I'm going to use it," said Hera. "I was tempted to let you wither. After what you did to contain Erebus, it would've been the easiest way for me to escape your grasp. And make no mistake, I really wanted to."

"Yet here you are by my side – like an honorable wife and a noble woman," Zeus pointed out.

"Don't let it go to your head. Hades and Poseidon would've been just as tempted if they weren't also weakened from their imprisonment. But I decided not to exercise my jealous impulses for once. I chose a harder, more arduous fate – one where I have to swallow my pride and do what's right instead of what's most satisfying."

"It's not an easy choice to make. Believe me, I know."

"Of course you know. I saw you make it and so did everyone else in Tartarus. You making such a noble, selfless choice made it next to impossible for me to be as vindictive as I want to be. You sacrificed so much, helping to make amends for your mistakes and mine. Because like it or not, we were both guilty in allowing Ares and Apollo to exploit us. They took advantage of my jealousy and your arrogance. Were it not for the insufferably noble efforts of Diana and the Superman, we all would've perished."

"A most unfitting fate indeed," said Zeus. "They were the only ones to never waver from doing the right thing."

"And that's a long-overdue lesson that we must learn," said Hera, "Because if we don't, then we'll succumb to the same fate."

The Queen of Olympus tried in vain not to sound too bitter. She still didn't like the idea of being this merciful to Zeus, who had such a long history of not showing mercy to anyone, especially his own wife. Their marriage was still a loveless business arrangement. However, there was still something to gain from that arrangement. As Hera stood over the bed, taking in the sight of her weak and vulnerable husband, she recalled how previous passions had affected her choices. Now, she had a chance to choose a new path and none of the gods had the luxury of being as reckless as before.

"We've all been served an uncomfortable dose of humility, but I'm trying to set an example for the other gods," Hera continued. "Aside from choosing to help you, I took it upon myself to subdue Ares and Apollo. I also tried to locate Persephone, who they said aided them. But she remains unaccounted for."

"I hope you were appropriately thorough," said Zeus.

"I like to think I was as fair as I needed to be. We'll continue to look for Persephone, but we've plenty to deal with in those two. I had to resist the urge to send them to the deepest pit of the Underworld that Hades could reserve. For now, they're going to languish in the Oblivion Prison until the other gods can agree on a fitting punishment."

"I would opt for something exceedingly painful, but I know what that has brought us in the past so I hope you and our brethren take that into account."

"We will. Believe me, we don't want to be slaves to the previous order. We want to build something better for Olympus. And since I'm still your wife, this means I am now acting regent of Olympus. I wield full authority in your absence."

"You say that in a tone that reassures me in some ways, but concerns me in others."

"It reflects honest sentiment. Given all your lies and infidelities, you should be concerned because I'm now in a position to make you regret these illicit acts. But rest assured, I've no intention of using this authority so crudely. That would only send us down the same path and neither of us wants that."

Zeus remained plenty concerned. There was little affection or sympathy in Hera's tone. He didn't expect much, even after the sacrifice he made to save their realm. One sacrifice hardly made up for all the ways he hurt and humiliated her. He expected Hera to find some way to seek justice for his many illicit affairs, but he also had faith that she wouldn't succumb to old habits.

Looking down at his vulnerable form, it was still so tempting. Hera managed to restrain herself. This was so much bigger than the petty grievances of the past. She and the other gods had to focus to the future.

"For now, the damage done by Ares has given us a brief calm within Tartarus. This gives us an opportunity to reform the order that was nearly destroyed," said Hera. "I intend to use this opportunity to establish a more effective order for Olympus. The way in which we confront chaos and govern the forces within our realm must change. And I'm going to make those changes, even though I'm certain that plenty will resist it every step of the way."

"That desire makes you all the more worthy of wielding power in my absence," said Zeus.

"Which, fittingly enough, makes it the most appropriate form of justice against your many failings as a king and a husband," she said in a more bemused tone. "The way I see it – by wielding this authority better than you, I prove that I'm not just your equal. I'm better."

Hera now loomed over the bed and looked her husband right in the eye. Her feelings were still mixed, but it was hard to ignore the centuries of scorn and bitterness that she endured under his reign. No amount of anger or jealous could do to negate his crimes. However, she could channel a different set of emotions to exact a more appropriate kind of vengeance on her husband.

"Imagine, if you can, the feeling you'll have when you wake up from your slumber and find that Olympus is far stronger than it ever us under your rule," she said to him. "There is order, peace, and justice from here to the Underworld. The chaos that you couldn't contain is now as subdued as it will ever be."

She made it sound so appealing, but she was undeniably smug about it. She made clear that she believed she could achieve this and she didn't stop there.

"Then imagine – although I doubt you can – that all this was achieved without your brute strength and unflinching authority. Instead, the gods actually give reason and compassion a chance because I gave them a chance. Can your ego handle that, Zeus? Would you be willing to concede – as uncomfortable it might be – that my order ends up being more effective than yours?"

"It depends. How much would my answer truly matter to you?" asked Zeus, still trying to speak with some level of authority despite his weakness.

"More than either of us is comfortable admitting," Hera replied. "We both have egos. That much I know we can agree on. But ego aside, you've always claimed that everything you do – as dishonest and unjust it might be – you do for the good of Olympus."

"And I stand by that claim," he said.

"Then you already know the answer to my question. And you'll end up having to admit it when I shove it in your face after you wake up. That admission – that I was able to craft a better order than you – will be the best possible justice I could exact on you for your crimes. If preserving Olympus is that important to you, then you'll accept this excessive and overdue dose of humility. If not – well, then you'll just reveal how unfit you were to begin with."

The way she presented it, she won either way. Either he vindicated her with his ego or she vindicated herself with her ability. It almost came off as devious, but the end result was the same. Olympus would be stronger. Order would be preserved. Zeus couldn't deny that his arrogance and lies nearly destroyed everything the gods had built. It forced upon him more humility than he had ever experienced before. It was only fitting that more would be required to rebuild and strengthen Olympus.

"If that is what it will take to create a stronger, better order…so be it," said Zeus.

"Then go ahead and rest, knowing that I have so much incentive to do as I say I will," said Hera.

"Incentives or not – and despite all the reasons you have to hate me – I still have faith in you, Hera."

"And you still have some annoyingly noble qualities that I cannot stop admiring," she admitted. "But this isn't about us anymore. This isn't even just about Olympus. Ares and Apollo may have exposed the weaknesses in our power, but Diana and Superman revealed that there is far greater power in compassion and justice."

"A power we've both lost sight of over the centuries, no less," said Zeus in an increasingly drowsy voice.

"And a power we had best not negate again," said Hera. "I know there is little value in promises, but regardless of what happens between us or Olympus – this is the kind of order we must strive to create. Without it, we'll all succumb to a fate far worse than chaos."

For once, Hera and Zeus found something they could agree on. They needed whatever order that came from the ashes of this conflict to be better. It was no longer enough to just be gods. They had to stand for something greater than themselves. For mortals, that was easy. For gods, it was more of a challenge, but one they had to overcome.

"I guess we'll both see what fate has in store for us soon enough," said Zeus, finally closing his eyes and preparing for some long, overdue rest.

"Speak for yourself," said Hera, knowing she had a long road ahead of her.

"If at all possible…before I fall into a deep sleep…give Diana a message for me. Tell her…I'm sorry for the lies that I upheld. And let her I am eternally thankful…to have such a strong, compassionate daughter."

With this final request, Zeus succumbed to his weakness and slipped into a deep sleep. He didn't give Hera a chance to reject, ignore, or criticize his request. He just blindly trusted her to deliver this message to yet another one of his illegitimate offspring. It would've been pathetic if Hera weren't so motivated. He probably anticipated that. Even at his weakest, Zeus still found a way to frustrate her.

"You annoyingly clever man," sighed Hera. "You just have to make being better than you so difficult."

The Queen of the Gods shook her head as she lingered over her husband's bed. Once asleep, the glowing green energy surrounding him became more solid, forming a shell that would insulate him as he healed. There was no telling how long he would remain in this state. However long it ended up being, Hera had every intention of making good use of that time.

After making certain that the chamber was secure, Hera left and locked the entrance behind her. She was now officially the ruler of Olympus. She had a lot of challenges before her and the first involved deciding the future of Themyscira.

---

Themyscira – Outside The Temple of Asclepius

After a full day of rest and recuperation, Diana emerged from the Temple Ascelpius fully healed. She stepped out into the morning sun wearing her Wonder Woman attire, which had been cleaned and repaired. She had an eventful day ahead of her. Her future and that of Themyscira would be determined. It was daunting, the idea of the Amazons deciding a new fate after having clung to old traditions for so many years. However, she chose to approach this day with a sense of hope.

Many new challenges lay before them. There was plenty of rebuilding to do. From the base of the temple, Diana could see the extent of the destruction that Lex Luthor left in his wake when he attacked the island in the Annihilator Armor. Homes, farms, and temples lay in ruin. This said nothing about the sisters that fell in battle. And beyond the physical destruction, the entire makeup of the Amazon order was in question.

The lies her mother told about her birth did significant damage. As much as her sisters loved her, their trust in her had been shaken. But Diana had faith that her mother would not be judged too harshly. She also had faith that her sisters would not let the shackles of old dogma tear them apart. The love she and her sisters championed was too strong. She was ready to stand by her mother and her lover to face whatever fate was decided. In the same way she stood strong in battle, she was ready to stand strong for peace.

"You're looking much better, Princess. Glad to see exile hasn't made you soft," said the harsh yet familiar voice of Aleka.

Diana turned to see her imposing sister standing near the entrance of the temple, casually leaning back against the wall. Aleka was among those Diana knew would be more stubborn than most, but she had no intention of avoiding her scrutiny.

"Thank you, Aleka. It's good to see that recent events have not dampened your personality," said Diana.

"I also get the sense that exile has made you even less likely to apologize for past misdeeds."

"I think it's safe to say we're all burned out on the burdens of the past. I'm ready to start looking to the future now and so are our sisters."

"Don't you dare talk to me as though everything is all victory and sunshine," said Aleka in a serious tone. "Yes, we acknowledge the need for change. Yes, we concede that Ares used our hatred and pride against us. And yes, we saw how you and that man of yours fought nobly to save us all. But don't think for a second that this nullifies your past transgressions."

Aleka approached her fellow Amazon with a mix of apprehension and conflict. She didn't allow herself to feel too much hatred. The scars left by the consequences of that hatred were still fresh, but this needed to be said. Diana had to understand her role in the past as well as the future of Themyscira.

Despite Aleka's demeanor, Diana remained poised at the mention of the circumstances that led them to this point. She had a feeling she would have to confront them. She also had a feeling that Aleka would be especially harsh in addressing up.

"I don't expect you or anyone to forget about past misdeeds, Aleka," said Diana. "However, I hope that recent events will cast a new light on those deeds."

"In all likelihood, it will. It's hard not to when Hera herself concedes that our dogmatic hatred of men contributed to Ares' treachery. She says our hatred fueled his control over us, using it to bend our very souls to his whim."

"You give the impression that you're not all that eager to let go of that hatred," she stated.

"Only because that hatred was there for a reason," said Aleka. "Maybe you've forgotten why you were punished in the first place, but I sure haven't. None of our sisters have forgotten either. Those traditions – as much as you despise them – are a product of a world you chose over your own home."

"And I still stand by that choice, as difficult as it was," said Diana.

"That choice still came at a cost. While you embraced man's world, our world became increasingly vulnerable. You weren't here when Ares attacked. You weren't here to stand by us in our hour of greatest need."

"Even if I had, would it have changed the outcome?" she questioned.

"We can never know for sure," said Aleka. "The fact remains – you exiled yourself. You turned your back on us so you could vindicate your beliefs about man's world."

"And those beliefs were vindicated," Diana pointed out.

"Even if they were, that doesn't make what you did any less selfish. And you can't expect me and the rest of my sisters to forget that. No matter how honorably you fought, you still turned your back on us. So don't for a minute think that your triumphs make you above reproach."

Her words came off as harsh, but her tone still came off as conflicted. Diana could tell that Aleka did not completely despise her for her actions. She might have even understood them better now, although she wouldn't dare admit it. But she said still had a measure of truth. Diana could not assume that her recent heroics completely absolved her. Beyond the purely logistical aspects of her actions, there was a personal element as well that Aleka refused to ignore.

"Now I know you're going to be annoyingly humble in addressing this. The council has already informed me that you've agreed to submit yourself to their judgment," Aleka continued. "I don't doubt for a second that you'll do the right thing as you always have, regardless of who stands in your way."

"So why does that seem to bother you so much?" asked Diana. "I know you've always been critical of me. I never expected that to change, even after this."

"Or after I found out you're the illegitimate daughter of Zeus," she muttered under her breath.

"But that can't be the only reason why you're so intent on condemning me for my choices. There has to be more to it. Tell me so we can confront them before we try to move forward."

"You're far too understanding. And to be honest, it's bugging the hell out of me," said Aleka, having to turn away to avoid her gaze.

Diana still didn't turn away from her. She just kept looking at her sister with a caring gaze. No matter how harsh Aleka insisted on being with her, she wasn't going to stop loving her. It added to her frustration, but it made speaking her mind a little bit easier.

"I can no longer deny that man's world is capable of producing strong, honorable men. Fighting alongside the Sons of Leuctra – watching Superman carry himself so nobly – it makes clinging to old assumptions about man's world an act of self-delusion," said Aleka distantly.

"So why must you hang onto some of those assumption?" asked Diana.

"Because that world is still the same world that hurt me and my sisters so much!" said Aleka strongly. "That world that you chose to embrace took my innocence, my honor, and my virginity. Your faith in mankind might take you far, but eventually you will have to confront that horror. And when you do, you'll understand why these traditions matter so much to the Amazons."

There was an undeniable passion in the imposing Amazon's tone. That passion stemmed from the scars that still lingered from the atrocities her sisters suffered at the hands of man all those years ago. These were scars she could not forget or overlook. She made that painfully clear to Diana. Her sisters might be willing to reconsider these traditions in light of recent events, but they could not forget where they came from.

However, Diana did not attempt to argue the merits of these traditions. Instead, she offered her sister a caring gesture, which Aleka didn't accept at first. Her heart had been hardened by betrayal and deceit. First, her loyalty to Hippolyta had been shaken. Then the very gods she worshipped used her. Aleka was a sister in need and, knowing there were plenty more like her at the moment, Diana was prepared to embrace them during these difficult times.

"Aleka, I don't claim to know everything there is to know about man's world, but I feel I've seen enough understand its horrors," said Diana.

"Understanding them isn't the same as confronting them," scoffed Aleka.

"I agree. But I don't have to confront them to see the bigger picture. When it comes to the cruelty that innocents suffer – there's no escaping it. That, I won't deny. But a very wise man once said nobody dies a virgin. Life fucks us all."

"Who said that? Aristotle?" said Aleka with a raised eyebrow.

"No. Kurt Cobain," said Diana.

"Who in Hades is he?"

"Someone far more insightful than Aristotle will ever be," she replied. "Men and women alike acknowledge that we live in an imperfect world, plagued by cruelty and injustice. In the same way a single act of atrocity shouldn't obscure our perceptions, a single act of altruism shouldn't do the same. That's why it's important to take a step back to see the world for what it is."

"And what if we still see a world too corrupt to embrace?" asked Aleka.

"Then you have to be willing to have faith in the kind of world it can be. That's why I try to see both – a world that has so much good that's worth saving and a world that has the potential to be so much more. With men like Superman by my side, I'm willing to fight for that world. What about you, Aleka? What kind of world are you willing to fight for?"

The imposing Amazon could not answer that question. Nobody on Themyscira had ever dared to ask it. She tried to look away again, but could not hide from Diana's caring glance. She still had in her a youthful spirit that had not yet been tainted by man's world. A part of her still believed that spirit would be shattered, but Diana had proven just how strong that spirit was, even when her sisters succumbed to the treachery of the gods. As much as Aleka criticized her for not wholly embracing the Amazon way, she proved reliant in ways that few Amazons could match.

Her strength and spirit still shaken, Aleka sighed and shook her head. She still had so many reasons to be angry and bitter, but her heart wouldn't let her anymore. There had been too much upheaval and too much strain. For once, the imposing Amazon chose not to fight a battle she knew she couldn't win.

"I'm afraid that's a question I can't answer right now," sighed Aleka.

"That's okay. It's a question I'm sure our sisters will struggle with no matter what they decide moving forward," said Diana with a caring smile.

"I just don't know what kind of world I'm even a part of anymore. I spent so many years being loyal to your mother. Then, I find out she lied to me. Then, I turn to the gods…only to have them lie to me too. Now here I am, being comforted by a daughter of Zeus – it's as though fate is conspiring to frustrate me!"

"It may feel like that now, but it'll make you stronger in the long run. I know you too well, Aleka. You're too resilient to submit to such strain."

"Your love and faith in me is as annoying as it is appreciated."

"I'll do what I must to help my sisters through this difficult time," assured Diana.

"Well for both our sake, I hope it's enough. I want to be stronger. I want our sisters to be stronger. But if that means dealing with the corrupt world of man world and the lies that nearly tore us apart…"

Aleka allowed her words to trail off, but she didn't need to finish for Diana to get the message. She continued to smile, offering her sister another kind gesture. This time she accepted it. She was still plagued with uncertainty and doubt about the future. Diana shared even shared some of those feelings. However, she still had faith that her sisters would get through this. And if someone like Aleka was willing to take a chance, then Diana was all the more confident that she and her sisters would come out stronger.

"That desire to be stronger is our greatest weapon at the moment," said Diana as she led Aleka away from the temple, "And if you're willing to listen, I'd love to nourish that desire with stories of my experiences in man's world."

"So long as they don't involve the intimate details of your experiences with Superman, I'll at least pretend to listen," said Aleka reluctantly.

"Don't worry. I intend to keep those details to myself. There are still plenty of wonderful things about man's world worth sharing."

"I'll be the judge of that," she said skeptically, "But if at all possible, I'd like to learn more about this man you call Kurt Cobain."

---

Lexcrop Medical Center – Unknown Location

"Hnn…damn you, Superman. Damn you, Wonder Woman."

These groggy, incoherent words reflected the first coherent thoughts Lex Luthor had upon awaking from his coma. He once again found himself in a weak, frail body unbefitting of his genius. He no longer wielded the power of the Annihilator Armor. He was back to being an ordinary human again.

When he opened his eyes, he recognized his surroundings. He was lying in a bed within a secure, windowless room in a special Lexcorp Medical Facility located in Europe. There were no doctors present. He would never trust anyone to care for him when he was in such a vulnerable state. His body had been hooked to an array of machines that he made himself, each designed to keep him strong while his mind was busy. While the machines did what he designed them to do, he didn't expect to return so quickly. In his frustration, Lex Ripped out some of the IV tubes going into his arm and muttered a string of curses to himself.

As his strength steadily returned to him, Mercy Graves approached his bed carrying a tray of medicine. She had done her part, getting his body out of Greece and transporting it to this facility. She also did her part to sabotage Apollo and Ares at the test range in New Mexico. Everything had been in place for Lex, but he couldn't see his plan through to the end. It left him sore in ways no medicine could treat.

"Good morning, Mr. Luthor. How are you feeling?" asked Mercy as she presented the tray to him.

"Is that a rhetorical question?" muttered Lex as he shoved it away. "How long have I been out?"

"Since the ordeal at New Mexico unfolded – about a day," she answered. "For a while I wasn't sure that your mind would return to your body."

"You should've have wasted your time with needless concern. You of all people know I always have a backup plan. I just wish I didn't have to keep relying on them."

Once Lex got enough feeling in his limbs again, he reached under the special hospital gown he was wearing to retrieve a bronze medallion he had around his neck. He made sure to hide it from any mortal or god that might have noticed it while searching for the Annihilator Armor. His tact paid off, although it did little to ease his disappointment.

"This Prometheus Medallion – as Felix Foust called it – did what it was supposed to do. It made sure my mind remained intact in the event the Annihilator Armor failed. It makes me feel a lot less guilty about what I did to Foust to get this," said Lex as he casually tossed the medallion aside.

"Given the state you left him in, I doubt he cares," said Mercy.

"It's the price of doing business," he sighed. "Speaking of which, how much has Superman and his squeeze cost me this time? Can I expect this latest setback to be cheaper than the Metallo debacle?"

Mercy hesitated to respond, which was never a good sign. In addition to protecting his vulnerable body, she had also been tasked with covering his tracks while he carried out his plan. That should've been easy, but Superman had a way of complicating those efforts as well.

"I'm afraid you'll have to temper your expectations, Mr. Luthor. It appears there were some complications in addition to Superman," she said.

"What kind of complications?" asked Lex anxiously.

Instead of giving him the answer he hoped, she retrieved a newspaper sitting on a table next to his bed and set it down on his lap. It was the latest edition of the Daily Planet and the headline almost sent Lex Luthor back into his coma.

"It seems your exploits were captured through some unexpected video recordings. Even though I had all the data from the facility destroyed, that didn't stop Lois Lane and her boyfriend from playing the part of the paparazzi," said Mercy.

"So that means…" said Lex, choosing not to say it out loud in an effort to spare himself further indignation.

"Yes. It means your entire battle with Superman and Wonder Woman was captured on video – as was your rather disconcerting remarks," said Mercy. "I've been on the phone with lawyers, investors, and authority figures all day. I'll spare you the details, but I will say it's going to be considerably more difficult moving forward."

Lex clutched the paper and sneered. Nearly the entire front page was dominated by an image of him in the Annihilator Armor. It had been taken from a distance, most likely from a remote camera outside the perimeter of the base. It wasn't a terribly sharp picture, but it depicted plenty of incriminating details. It documented his exploits for all to see under a headline that read, "Lex Luthor Reveals His True Colors." Seeing Lois Lane's name next to the article only affirmed Mercy's assessment.

In addition to the infuriating implications, the article also answered one of the burning questions he had about this latest failure. Someone had to have tampered with the Cerberus Generators to get them to fail the way they did. Superman might not have been in a position to make that happen, but Lois Lane always seemed to find a way to obstruct his efforts. At times she was even worse than Superman because she brought with her the incessant scrutiny of the media.

With the full extent of his failure now clear to him, he threw the paper across the room in frustration. This wasn't the kind of bad PR he could just throw money at to make disappear. It promised to undermine his efforts more than ever. He came so close to channeling the power of false gods, but he let it slip through his fingers. Now, he would need more than just his uncanny genius to accomplish his goals.

"Damn the press and their infuriating curiosity!" yelled Lex. "These charlatans are going to completely misconstrue my intentions and hinder my efforts. How do they expect me to exert my rightful place in the world with this kind of scrutiny? Now I'll have more than just the FBI and Interpol on my ass. My resources will be limited in a way no genius deserves."

"We still have allies in high places and you still have ways to stay hidden," Mercy pointed out.

"You think I give a damn about hiding?" he scoffed. "This goes beyond evading people pretending to wield real power. Prison, infamy, disgust – none of this scares me in the slightest. While I was in that armor, I personified real power. For a brief moment, I had the ability to turn my genius into something far greater than any lesser mind could comprehend."

Lex was getting worked up, so much so that it showed in his erratic vitals on the life-support machines next to his bed. He was still getting used to being weak again and the process of being this insignificant again sickened him.

"For a brief moment, I knew what it felt like to have the power that unenlightened peons attribute to gods," Lex continued, clenching his fists angrily as he recalled that feeling. "I had to outwit phony gods to get it. I was poised to do more than any god, alien, or mortal ever could. Then Superman and Wonder Woman took it from me. Now the Lois Lanes of the world will keep me from getting it back!"

"I'm not going to pretend I understand what you experienced, Mr. Luthor. I'm also not going to give you the kind of shallow sympathy I know you'll reject," said Mercy.

"I appreciate that, Mercy," he muttered.

"But you actually have more resources than you think – resources that Lois Lane and her media cohorts couldn't take from you."

Lex's frustration gave way to curiosity and he looked at Mercy with a raised eyebrow.

"What are you babbling about?" he asked.

"While I know you always have a contingency plan, I also know you don't believe in luck either. You prefer to make your own when an opportunity presents itself. Well, I think this certainly qualifies."

Mercy retrieved a remote control device from her pocket and pointed it at the wall next to his bed, revealing that it wasn't actually a wall. It was a divider that could be mechanically controlled. This secure room had been cordoned off to keep it isolated and confined. And in activating the mechanism that pulled back the divers, she revealed a second bed that wasn't surrounded by medical equipment.

On top of this bed sat a woman in a dark cloak. Most of her body was obscured, but the cloak did not hide the uncanny beauty of her face or the well-defined shapes of her body. It also didn't hide that this woman was in a great deal of distress. She wasn't shackled or restrained in any way either. She just hugged her shoulders to her knees, staring off into space until she felt Mercy's eyes on her.

"Is that who I think it is?" asked Lex, his brilliant mind already revising his previous assumptions.

"Persephone, Queen of the Underworld – or former queen as it were," said Mercy. "Shortly after everything fell apart in New Mexico, I used the same portal generator that I used to access Tartarus to do a little cleaning. I found her still shackled to the wall, looking rather indifferent to it all."

"And yet she's not shackled now," he pointed out.

"It wasn't necessary. She was quite cooperative. Apparently, she can't go back to her world. She betrayed her husband. She aided Apollo and Ares in their efforts. She has exceedingly few options in terms of escaping Olympus' harsh judgment. I convinced her that her best recourse was to trust in the man who outsmarted the gods once before."

"You didn't have to be so immodest," said Lex, now grinning intently.

"It still worked. She agreed to come with me and I agreed to hide her here. She hasn't said much, but she has revealed quite an extensive knowledge of these gods you so thoroughly subverted. It sounds like the kind of knowledge that will be useful moving forward."

"Oh it most certainly will," he affirmed with the utmost certainty.

His body was still weak and his vitals were still unsettled, but Lex Luthor refused to let this feeble form slow down his genius. Ignoring the lingering soreness and discomfort, he ripped out the IV tubes and monitoring sensors. Then, with legs barely strong enough to support his weight, he slipped out of the bed.

Mercy attempted to support him at first, helping him take his first steps. He quickly shook off further assistance, choosing to make his way over to the other bed under his own power. His determination and will were no match for the damage done by Superman, Wonder Woman, and Lois Lane. Upon reaching the still solemn figure of Persphone, he looked down on her and smiled. He lightly pushed back the hood obscuring her beauty and caressed her face. When she finally looked up at him, he saw in her the key to regaining the power that had been unjustly taken from him.

"I…I'm told you can help me," said Persephone in an anxious tone. "Please…I'll do whatever I can to aid you. Just protect me from Olympus' wrath."

"I can do more than that, my dear. And you can do more than you think," said Lex. "Come with me. I'll prove it. I think you and I will be able to help each other in some very productive ways."

---

Themyscira – Temple of Athena

Every great upheaval left behind a great many wounds. Centuries ago, the battle against Hercules created the upheaval that led to the Amazons forging a new home and a new future on Themyscira. The wounds from that battle still lingered, but it didn't prevent them from becoming stronger. Now, the Amazons had incurred a different kind of wound that would require a different kind of strength from which to heal. It promised to create plenty of upheaval, but it also promised to make them stronger.

It had been two days since the battle against Ares ended. It was hardly enough time to fully recover, but the Amazons never allowed themselves to rest for long. As soon as enough sisters were able to get up and walk, they began the solemn task of rebuilding what Ares tried to destroy. Their homes, ships, and temples could be repaired. Their immortal bodies could heal from the physical scars. However, the number of sisters that fell in this battle made this rebuilding effort more arduous than any battle. The first day was spent collecting the bodies, wrapping them in linins, and digging graves. Some Amazons broke down and cried at the sight of such loss, but their spirits remained strong and so did their faith.

Despite the treachery of Ares, the Amazons did not abandon their faith in the gods and the gods did not abandon them. The oracles remained in constant contact with Olympus. Hera now sat on the throne as Zeus recovered from his sacrifice. The Sons of Leuctra were permitted to stay in Hera's garden on Olympus until their fate could be decided. She also decreed that Diana and Hessia's exile be temporarily suspended until a more official judgment could be rendered. She even granted Superman provisional access to Themyscira, but stopped short of giving him full rite of passage. Amazonian attitudes towards men could not be expected to change after one battle. The traditions and customs that had sustained their sisterhood for centuries could not be reformed overnight. However, they could take the first important steps.

This long-overdue process was set to begin in less than an hour. Nearly every Amazon in Themyscira had gathered at the Temple of Athena to learn how their new future would be administered. Themyscira was now without a queen. If they were to navigate this future, then they needed a leader. In the hearts of many, Hippolyta was still that leader. However, she had tainted the trust and honor of her sisters by having an illicit affair with a god and lying about Diana's birth. No matter what her status was before, she could not escape judgment, nor did she try to. She understood that in order for her sisters to move forward, they needed to leave these old burdens behind.

'Rulers fail their citizens. Gods fail their adherents. And mothers fail their daughters. Every Amazon knows this, but few understand it. We fought for so long to uphold our traditions and our sacred code, thinking it would protect us. We were wrong. I was wrong. It's time to accept that.'

Hippolyta had to process many harsh realizations since her secrets were exposed. Now her sisters had to process them as well. Aleka was organizing the Amazon Court with the aid of Hera. While the primary purpose of this gathering was to establish new leadership for the Amazons, part of that process involved rendering a judgment for her crimes. She would soon have to face her sisters and accept whatever punishment the gods decreed.

This meant she had to wait in the chamber of the accused within the temple like any other transgressor. As the former queen sat on the cold floor and hugged her knees, she found herself praying once more.

"Gods give me strength," she said with anxious breath.

"Are you sure you want to make such a request? Your response might be mixed, to say the least," said a familiar voice on the other side of the chamber door.

Hippolyta perked up from her solemn state as the chamber door opened and Diana entered. It made for an awkward moment, her daughter seeing her in such a vulnerable state. But Diana didn't let it stay awkward.

"I thought I'd pay a visit before the trial. If the gods won't grant you strength, then I guess it's up to me to fill in," said Diana.

"I appreciate the intent, Diana. But I was hoping you would skip this part of the trial," said Hippolyta. "Perhaps you would be more comfortable in the arms of your lover."

"He had to leave the island for a bit. He needed to catch up with his friends of his back in Metropolis. He promised he'll be back in time for the final judgment."

"Would you blame me if I hope he broke that promise?"

"Not as much as you think," she replied. "The mere fact you encouraged me to be in his presence reveals just how difficult this is for you. That gives me all the more reason to be by your side."

Exile had not made Diana any less compassionate or loving. Despite her mother's solemn state, she smiled and sat down on the hard floor next to her. Hippolyta only managed a partial smile in response. She still had a hard time looking her daughter in the eye. There was still so much unresolved bitterness between them, but now was as good a time as any to confront it.

"It's ironic, is it not?" mused Hippolyta. "It wasn't that long ago when our positions were reversed. You were the one sitting in this chamber, preparing to face judgment. And I was the one trying to give you strength."

"I've always found irony to be grossly overrated," said Diana.

"There's just one major difference this time," the former queen continued. "When you sat in this very position, you did so with a pure spirit – whereas mine is tainted with hypocrisy."

"I've always found that concept to be grossly overrated as well."

"That doesn't make it any less valid. I condemned you for feeling love and compassion for a man, just like the rest of your sisters. But unlike our sisters, I had a similar experience with a man…an experience that I hid from everybody I loved."

For the first time in years, Hippolyta allowed herself to relieve that experience in her memory. She went to great lengths to censor it from her mind in order to avoid revealing it in any way. Now, her secrets having been revealed, she could confront them. It was liberating in a ways because it reminded her how powerful an experience it had been.

"I'll spare you the intimate details, as I'm sure you'd rather not know them," she said.

"I can do without them, but even I admit I'm curious," admitted Diana.

"The only detail that mattered to me was my desire to have a child. Even though childbirth was exceedingly rare, I was present for nearly every birth. In those wonderful moments, I saw the joy in the eyes of my sisters when they held their child in their arms. The more I saw it, the more I wanted to experience it. But between the mere act of producing a child and the process Amazons had to endure to enjoy that benefit – well, let's just say I grew impatient."

She could still feel Diana's loving, compassionate gaze on her. Hippolyta still couldn't bring herself to look at her, knowing it would only make these emotions harder to deal with. She closed her eyes and rested her head back against the wall, reliving that fateful experience that produced such a beautiful daughter.

"This is where part of the lies took on a grain of truth," she continued. "I told my sisters I would spend a week at the north shores, fasting and praying to the gods for a child to call my own. In reality, I locked myself in the Temple of Demeter. I made sure I did this during the Festival of Artemis because I knew this would ensure my sisters would be occupied. I then started praying at the shrine, begging the gods for a chance to embrace the joys of motherhood. I didn't know how they would respond, but nothing could've prepared me for what happened."

"I take it that's when Zeus showed up," surmised Diana, trying not to picture that moment too vividly.

"And this is where my greatest desperation became my greatest secret," said Hippolyta. "I don't remember everything he told me. I knew he had made a promise to cease his illicit affairs and I knew that having one with him would incur the worst possible wrath of the very goddess the Amazons worshipped. But that didn't matter. All that mattered was the promise he made me. If I would lay with him, then he would give me the child I wanted so desperately."

"On some levels, you had to understand that doing so would come back to haunt you," said Diana.

"I did. In my heart of hearts, I knew it was inevitable. But I didn't care. I was willing to take that chance."

This was the point where her memories got too vivid. She remembered the moment she first disrobed in front of Zeus. It was the first time she had exposed herself to a man since she was brutalized by Hercules. At first, it disgusted her. Then Zeus disrobed and a different set of emotions took over. At that moment, she knew she was betraying Hera, her sisters, and the Amazon Code she swore to uphold.

"From the moment the sun set to the moment it rose the next day, I laid with this man. I let him touch me in ways I swore no man would ever touch me again," said Hippolyta distantly.

"Now I'm not nearly as curious," muttered Diana, getting somewhat uncomfortable with these details.

"Our union was…powerful to say the least. Strength supporting strength…sinews entwined…it was an experience unlike anything I had ever imagined. At times, I had to remind myself that this was still a man. Sometimes I tell myself Zeus put me under some kind of charm. Or maybe Aphrodite herself was secretly hiding in the shadows, making sure my revulsion of men didn't hinder the experience. But that would've only added to the lie."

"You do seem to enjoy making things harder on yourself, mother."

"There's more to it than that. I made it clear to Zeus that I didn't want any manipulation to be involved in the creation of my child. I wanted it to be done willingly in a clear state of mind. That meant enduring an experience that evoked some rather mixed feelings."

"I thought you said you were going to spare me the details."

"These details are worth noting," said Hippolyta. "The act of making you and the act of being ravaged by Hercules couldn't be more different. I promised myself I wouldn't enjoy it. I think Zeus actually took a special satisfaction in doing everything he could to make me reconsider my revulsion of men. Maybe I should've shared in that effort. Maybe I should've seen it as a sign. Maybe Zeus even intended for it to be a sign."

"I doubt Zeus ever puts that much thought into how he exercises his list," said Diana.

"It doesn't matter. I still should've acknowledged it. The act of lying with a man didn't have to be so repugnant. It could actually be…enjoyable. If I had dared allowed myself to think such provocative thoughts, then maybe I wouldn't have made such poor decisions with a man came along to evoke similar thoughts in you."

It still made for some uncomfortable notions for Diana. She didn't care to think about how much her mother enjoyed lying with Zeus in the act of making her. However, she did understand why it was so important to share. It revealed that on some levels, her mother understood the flaws in the Amazon attitude towards men. It was refreshing in that Diana wouldn't have to go as far to convince her that these attitudes were in need of reform. It didn't make some of her decisions any less misguided, but it showed her mother and her fellow Amazons could change.

The idea of changing these traditions still felt so daunting. But in recalling this profound experience, Hippolyta realized just much she clung to her hatred of mankind. When she finally turned to look at her daughter, she felt another wave of remorse because she went to such lengths to instill that same hatred. What made it even more egregious now was that her experience with Zeus revealed to her just how flawed that hatred was.

"Diana…I know I don't deserve your forgiveness so I'm not going to ask for it," said Hippolyta, her voice now strained with emotion, "But I need to say it anyways. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for the lies I fed you…the questions I never answered…the hypocrisy I showed."

"It's okay, Mother. It doesn't matter now," said Diana, her tone becoming emotional as well.

"No. It's not okay. I remember so many times you daring to show love for man and not just your sisters. And I kept stopping you. What kind of mother stops her daughter from loving others?"

"The kind who fears for what her daughter might learn. I understand that now," said Diana, offering her mother a comforting gesture. "It's not always right, but it's still done out of love."

"It's still not an excuse. No amount of fear is enough to justify what I did to you. Luckily for both of us, you were too stubborn and headstrong to blindly obey your mother."

"I'm not sure that counts as luck."

"Then maybe it was fate. Maybe you were meant to be the Amazon who dared to defy our traditions. It put you in a position to save us all. You were the only one who could've done what was right…because you knew in your heart what was right. If only all of our sisters had that strength. If only I had that strength to…"

The former queen had to stop. The emotions became too much to handle. She started sobbing and tried to turn away so her daughter wouldn't see her tears. But Diana didn't let her. Overwhelmed with emotion herself, Diana embraced her mother with all the love and compassion that a daughter could give.

It was a moment that should've happened a lot sooner. It was a moment that came dangerously close to not happening at all. They had been torn apart over these rigid traditions and misguided values. It took a crisis of divine proportions in the most literal sense of the term to get them to see everything clearly. Now all these feelings and uncertainties that plagued them were melting away. Even though their future was still shrouded in uncertainty, Diana and her mother could now say they were ready to face it.

Diana kept holding her mother for as long as they needed to get the emotions out. When sobbing subsided and the two proud warriors gathered themselves, they felt a renewed sense of strength. Being Amazons made them inherently strong, but being able to finally follow their hearts made them many stronger than any blessing of the gods.

"What's done is done. There's no use lamenting over it. There's no use being defined by it," said Diana. "Right now, I just want to focus on the future."

"So do I," said Hippolyta, wiping some of the tears from her eyes.

"Whatever our sisters and the gods decide, we'll face it together."

"That we will. And so long as we listen to our hearts, I have faith that we can make a better future for ourselves and our sisters," said the former queen proudly.

"Well this time, we have much more incentive," said Diana with a smile.

Hippolyta smiled back and hugged her daughter again. It felt like she had finally said everything she needed to say. However, there was still one issue that needed to be addressed.

"And while we're on the subject of following our hearts, can you tell me where your heart currently stands on this man you've given it to – this Superman as the Sons of Leuctra called him," she said in a more curious tone.

Now Diana felt uncomfortable again. This was one issue she hoped to address after their judgment was rendered.

"Do we really need to go into that at a time like this?" asked Diana.

"Well what time could be better?" questioned Hippolyta.

"Mother, you already know where I stand with Kal. I love him. He loves me. I am his woman. He is my man. First, I built a life in man's world. Then I built a life with him."

"And I'd like to know more about both those lives. But more importantly, I'd like to be part of those lives as we move into the future. I know the future of the Amazons and Themyscira is important. But what about your future, Diana? What do you want out of it and how does this man fit into it?"

Diana hadn't gotten around to asking herself that question yet. She had been so focused on reaching out to her mother and her sisters that she didn't have time to think about what this all meant for her and Kal. Fighting by his side and sharing the burdens of battle with him did more than enough to convince her that this was the man her heart desired. But knowing this and knowing how to move forward with it were two very different concepts.

It might have been too soon to think about, but the time when she and Kal would have to start taking those first steps forward would come soon enough. Her mother was taking that step. Her sisters were taking that step. Even the gods were taking that step. She could only stand by them for so long. At some point, she would have to stand on her own.

Her mother was still very curious about how she would answer her question. However, Diana never got the chance. The chamber door opened and Aleka stepped in. The mood quickly became tense. This woman had been the one to trigger the events that led to this moment. It seemed only fitting that she would be part of how it ended.

"It's time," was all she said.

Knowing what this meant, Diana and Hippolyta exchanged glances. All these issues about the secrets of the past and the affairs of the present could wait. Now, as they stood up together as mother and daughter, they were ready to face their future.

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Up next: War and Peace and Love