Bruce lit the incense that rested in the golden tray, then knelt down before one of the many altars that stood in the temple. It had been three weeks since Diana and he had parted, and Bruce had come to Apollo many times to beg for an audience with the sun God. He had tried shouting and cursing at the sky, praying from high places, and even contacting some of Apollo's prophets. Nothing had worked; Apollo was still silent.

Eventually, seeing that other methods were not working, he had come to Apollo's temple, offered incense, and then prayed. This had not yielded any results, but Bruce felt that if anything would work, it would be this.

"Lord Apollo," he now prayed. "Heed my plea. I beg you, show yourself to me. Meet with me. I wish to fight for your sister, to prove myself to your father. There is nothing I will not do." Bruce was silent for a while, thinking of what he wanted to say. "I know you can hear me, and I know that you approve of what Diana and I have. Please. I have a plan." Bruce had not mentioned this plan to Apollo before, and he had a feeling that it would get the God's attention.

A raven flew in through the open doors of the temple and landed on the the edge of the golden tray. Bruce looked up at it, and the bird fluttered to the ground and hopped back toward the doors. Bruce rose and followed, running after it when it took off.

The raven led Bruce around the side of the temple and into an area where there were many trees, and no people. Then it alighted on the ground, and with a flash of sunlight, it transformed into a man wearing a toga and a purple cape. The man turned, and Bruce, blinking the spots from the flash out of his sight, saw that it was Apollo.

"You summoned me," said Apollo, looking irritated. "What is this plan of yours?"

"Lord Apollo, thank you for seeing me," said Bruce. "I propose that you take me to your father, and let me talk with him, face to face. I can convince him that Diana has done nothing to deserve her banishment, and that we truly have something worth keeping."

Apollo laughed. "I am already tempting the fates by meeting with you. If I brought you before my father, he would sentence me to a fate worse than my sister's. And you- well, by the time he would finish with you, there would be nothing to send to Pluto."

Bruce folded his arms and growled in the back of his throat. "Is there any God or Goddess that does not fear Jupiter?"

"A few. My mother, Juno, Venus, the Goddess of love, and, of course, Neptune, God of the Seas."

Bruce squinted and sat down on the ground. "Perhaps," he said slowly, "if we met with them as well as Jupiter, they would support my plight."

"Venus and Neptune probably will," said Apollo. "But I'm not sure about my mother. She can be unpredictable. She does not fear my father, but she may not approve of you and Diana."

"I'm willing to try it," said Bruce, getting to his feet.

"Even if it means you may die?"

"Even so."

Apollo sighed. "Alright. Tonight, I will call a family meeting. Then I will come and get you from your house. Since you are a mortal, you will need to wear something magical to protect you, at all times. Otherwise, you will burn up from the splendor of Mount Olympus. Here," he removed his cape and held it out to Bruce. "Wear this."

Bruce took it. The fabric was as soft as swan feathers. "Thank you, Lord Apollo. Thank you for everything."

"Don't thank me yet," Apollo responded. "Your life may be ending tonight."

There was another bright flash, and then Apollo was a raven again, soaring over the treetops.

~Later~

The sun had just finished setting. The sky was still streaked with orange and pink, and Bruce decided that if any night was a good night to die, it was this one. His only regret was that he might not be able to protect his city after tonight. Such a thought almost made him want to give up on his plan, but he decided to follow through. He was not one to back out.

He sat waiting, Apollo's cape around his shoulders. He heard a sound and turned, seeing Alfred walk into the room with a tray carrying a wine glass. "I thought you might like some refreshment before you leave, Master Bruce," said the old man.

Bruce smiled sadly. "Thank you Alfred, I would like something to drink." He lifted the glass from the tray and took a sip. "This is wonderful wine. You always pick the best drinks, Alfred."

"Well I should hope I do," said Alfred. "I have been doing this for longer than you've been alive."

"And if I don't come back tonight, I hope that your next master appreciates you as much as I do," said Bruce. Alfred knew about everything: Bruce's first meeting with Diana, their time spent together, her punishment for seeing him. Alfred was Bruce's closest confidant.

"Master Bruce," said Alfred, setting his tray on a table. "I have every confidence in the world that you will come back tonight. But if you don't, then I shall join you soon in the afterlife."

The raven flew in an open window, and seeing it, Alfred said, "I think now is the time for me to bow out gracefully." He took up the tray and exited the room.

When he had gone, Apollo transformed once more into a man. "Are you ready?"

Bruce rose. "I am."

Apollo offered his arm, and together, they walked out into Bruce's garden. Apollo lifted off from the ground, enveloping Bruce with his magic, so that the mortal would not fall to his death. Bruce clung tight to his arm.

They flew quickly, upward, and to the east. They rose above the clouds, and Bruce saw in the distance a mountain: Mount Olympus, home of the Gods. Apollo quickened their flight, and soon they were flying over rooftops, past palaces, and through the doors of the temple on the peak of the mount.

Apollo touched down lightly, and Bruce hesitantly let go of his arm. "Scared?" Asked the God. He tried for a reassuring smile, but the smile was filled with anxiety.

"I just don't want to burn up from the splendor of the mount," retorted Bruce, his words holding a hint of sarcasm.

"Like I said, just keep the cape on and you'll be fine," said Apollo. Then he pointed to a pair of double doors that lead farther into the temple. "Through those, my family sits waiting. All of them. Do you know what you're going to say?" Bruce nodded. "Then here we go," Apollo finished. Then he strode up to the doors and pushed them open. Bruce followed.

Inside, the room was gigantic, and for good reason. There were twelve thrones, at least 20 feet high, arranged in a circle, and in these thrones sat the Gods. They were giant, and as he walked, Apollo grew to their height.

"Apollo!" Cried a God, his skin dark and his hair cropped. "You're late! I thought you were the one who called this meeting!"

"I was," Apollo responded. He stepped into the middle of the circle, and Bruce followed. The Gods gasped, and an old man with a white beard grabbed something from beside his chair, something that looked like lightning. "Everyone please!" Apollo said. "This mortal is here because he needs his plea to be heard. Father," Apollo addressed the old man with the lightning bolt. "Please listen."

"This is the same mortal who was with Diana!" Jupiter shouted, causing Bruce to nearly cover his ears. "How dare you bring him here?"

"Indeed, I am the same mortal!" Bruce shouted up at the Gods. He turned around, taking in each one, and upon seeing Diana, he smiled sadly. She returned the smile, but her eyes took on a gaze of great worry. "Please, listen to me! The Lady Diana and I have spent much time together, this is true. We have enjoyed each other's company, and we have grown to care for each other. I know that my Lord Jupiter does not think that I am worthy of her, and that by caring for me, she has betrayed herself.

"But I say that Diana has not betrayed herself. You all know her! She values honesty and truth! If she did not care for me, then she would not have spent so much time with me. She would not have sacrificed her freedom for one-hundred years, just so that Jupiter would not kill me! She has been true to herself, and you," Bruce turned to Jupiter, "you punish her for that!"

The Gods murmured to each other in a language that Bruce did not understand. A woman on Jupiter's right whispered in his ear. Jupiter looked angry, but then sighed when the woman glared at him.

At last, Jupiter spoke. "Mortal! What is your name?"

"My name is Bruce, Lord Jupiter."

"Alright. All who side against Bruce, stand." Half of the Gods stood, while Apollo took his seat. Jupiter was among those standing. "All who side with Bruce, stand." The Gods who were standing, took their seat, and the other half stood up.

"Half and half," said Apollo. Bruce sighed. It was better than what he had hoped for.

Jupiter stroked his beard. "It would seem that we have come to a stalemate, Bruce. Hmm. You seem to think that you are worthy for my daughter. Well, we shall see how worthy you are. In three days, we will all meet again, in the courtyard at the base of the mount. There, you will fight a champion that I will choose.

"If you win, Diana may talk with you again. If my champion wins, then you will die. Do you agree to these conditions?"

Bruce thought about it. He weighed his chances. Then he looked back at Diana. She was gazing at him and shaking her head. Bruce turned back to Jupiter. "I agree. Name your champion."

Jupiter smiled. "I name my son, Hercules." The woman to his right glared at him.

"Alright," said Bruce. "I will return in three days."