Chapter 16: Olympian Judgment
*Flashback on Diana's homeworld, 100 years ago*
Diana tossed and turned in her sleep, images of her mother floated in her brain and a man behind her, a knife at her throat again. The man would change and shift. She saw assassins that had tried to end her. Kings that had challenged her. It always ended with the same man though, William Trevon. He would laugh and pull the blade slowly through her mother's flesh.
"...NOOOO!" Diana sat up in bed, the cold sweat covering her body as she panted and clutched her chest in fear and anger.
A knock came from her door, muffled through the wood, "My queen, are you alright?"
Diana rubbed the sweat from her forehead, "...Yes, resume your duties…I'm, I'm ok."
There was no response and as silence returned to her dark chambers, her pants slowly turned to quiet sobs. She missed her mother. It had been a while since her knightmares. But they always came back.
She couldn't sleep now, she got up and quietly got dressed in a casual robe. Not wanting an escort she went to the balcony of her room and effortlessly jumped over the side, falling down more than 100 ft before landing in the gardens below with barely a sound. She startled a male slave tending to the gardens though.
Diana would usually ignore the slaves, but she was still angered by her dreams, "What do you think you're doing?!" She whispered with a deadly fierceness.
The slave, an older man with a wispy and white beard, seemed to sink into himself. Fear evident in his eyes, "I..I…I I'm just watering the gardens, my position, your grace."
His hands shook as he held them up in reverence and surrender. Diana picked him up by the chain collar around his neck, "Why do you even exist? You and your kind make me sick. You know I could snap your neck easier than picking one of those flowers?"
The old man's lips quivered and he began blubbering, "Puh..Plea…Please your grace, I…I meant no offense, I'm sorry for whatever I have done," tears began streaming down his face, "I know, I'm filth, I know my place my queen."
Diana held him there, disgusted with the pitiful creature begging in her grip. In the moonlight though, she saw herself reflected in the man's eyes– it was an ugly face that looked back at her. She felt disgusted by herself. She tossed the man back to the ground and whispered to him, "Leave, find something else to do tonight slave." The anger was gone from her voice but the slave wasted no time in bowing before running off as quickly as he could.
The queen sighed, she looked at her hands that shook as well, but not in fear. She clenched them to her side and tightened her jaw as she looked up at the moon. With a heavy breath she let her hands and jaw loosen, and began to walk through her gardens, staying slightly ahead of her own thoughts as she walked the night alone.
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Bruce stared at the so-called deities that were currently casting their sight at him and the Amazonian queen. When he started his war on crime in Gotham, he never imagined it would bring him all the way to Olympus. Diana had immediately bowed to the gods, showing as much reverence as she could. Bruce on the other hand, stood still and silent, examining each of the gods in front of him.
In the center of the individuals was obviously Zeus, he didn't have the white beard, white tunic look of the mythology, He looked like a man just entering his 30's with jet black hair and a full healthy beard. He sported robes of white and light blue that seemed to flow and change like the clouds in the sky. Even from across the room Bruce could feel…Power? Something emanating from the being.
To Zeus's right was Hera, Bruce presumed, she was beautiful, like all the gods here, but she had a hard look, almost a tired look, as she haughtily kept her chin raised. She didn't seem like she liked him.
Bruce took mental notes on all the gods there. Posiedon looked like his brother Zeus, the same black hair and beard, though his robes seemed heavier, and a deeper blue swirled like whirlpools across his figure. The same power seemed to emanate. He seemed a little more relaxed than Zeus though.
Athena sat with a regal indifference, examining both him and Diana with a war-like analysis on her face. Bruce already knew she would not let emotion sway her position, either for or against him and Diana.
Hermes sat with his leg dangling over his chair, he had a loose smile on his face and his demeanor actually reminded Bruce of Wally.
Artemis didn't have much to offer, her face overall stoic, but Bruce could almost make out a small appreciation as she looked at them.
Apollo, her brother, had a similar look, though he seemed a little more open to offering a smile or support.
Hestia stared at the hearth of the room, at the flames, torches, and braziers that burned around them, absolutely no care for them.
Hephaestus could be seen glaring at Bruce, or maybe that was just his face? He was the only one with a slight arch to his back, and the look of calluses and injuries from his centuries of forging.
Demeter was also one not giving away much, interested instead in cultivating a small plant in her hand, her green robes reminded Bruce of Poison Ivy a bit.
Lastly, Aphrodite was the easiest one to read. She looked like a blonde supermodel in general but as Bruce stared at her, her features seemed to change subtly. He saw a bit of Selina, Talia, Vicki Vale, and more, until she seemed to settle on a very similar Raven black hair that made him think she could be the sister of the Queen next to him. Aphrodite was currently covering her mouth while giggling. She stared at Bruce and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, even giving a wink. Bruce didn't know if it was for him or an inside joke that he wasn't entirely clear on.
Zeus was the one who broke the silence, his very words seemed to crack through the air like thunder, "The queen of the Amazons has requested an audience with the gods. I have accepted that request, as a favor to your past mother, Hippolyta. Speak, Diana of Themyscira!"
Diana meekly walked forward a few steps, but held herself with high confidence, "My lords of the heavens, I come before you because, I'm not sure if you're aware, but Hades and Ares have unleashed a horror on my people's land and the world. We have come to se.."
Zeus interrupted her, "Do you think us blind, Queen Diana!? Of course we have seen Hades' escape from the underworld, and my idiot son's assistance to him!"
Diana bowed her head slightly in apology, "Of course, lord Zeus, I just wonder then, why has Olympus not intervened to stop them?"
Poseidon interjected this time, his voice also thundering, but more like crashing waves during large storms, "It is not that easy, Amazonian, we swore not to directly intervene on Earth anymore, we swore on powers more ancient than Olympus itself. Hades made no such vow from his prison, and Ares has accepted the cost that will eventually come to him."
Zeus nodded, "Yes, quite so brother. You see Diana, we would invite the same dooms on ourselves if we broke our oaths as well to help you and your people."
Diana seemed at a loss of words, now it was Bruce's turn to speak up, "Well can you gods do anything then?! What's the point of all these people believing in you if you can't help them when they need you!?"
Zeus turned his attention to Bruce and his robes seemed to darken into storm clouds, "Careful boy…" the king of the heaven's growled out.
The other gods seemed agitated by Bruce's words as well, Demeter interrupted "We don't do nothing, who do you think helps the harvest grow each year?"
"Why do you think the sun rises each day?" Apollo cried out.
"Why do you think wars are won?" Athena stated.
"Why do you think people still fall in love?" Aphrodite exclaimed.
The room was quickly filled with the gods boasting about all they do to keep the mortal world thriving in balance.
As more gods were added into the conversation, the more tense Zeus seemed to get, "Silence!" he boomed out, making the room go quiet. Every god except maybe Poseidon seemed wary of Zeus's wrath.
Bruce wasn't backing down though either, "That stuff doesn't matter right now. The fact is there are people dying. Dying because of Hades and Ares, they're your responsibility! No one will be left to thank you for harvests and calm seas if they're all dead!"
Aphrodite bit her lower lip, "Ooh I like you, been awhile since we've seen a mortal with this much fire in his bones."
Zeus wasn't amused though, "We did not bring you here to listen to insults, mortal! I will not stand for this!"
Bruce was angry now though, "Stand? You don't stand here! You sit here on a golden throne afraid of reprisal while your people die with prayers for you on their lips!"
The other gods were becoming noticeably worried by Bruce's words. Diana herself looked on in horror at the man's address to the heavens. Bruce laughed, "Why did you even bring us here if you weren't going to help? I'm sure Hermes could have delivered a note if you wanted to tell us you'd be useless."
"ENOUGH!"
Zeus stood and a gust of air blew Diana and Bruce back a few feet. Electricity seemed to crackle off his very skin and his eyes took on a golden blue glow.
Everyone was still as the air crackled with ozone and the buildup of electricity was palpable. Who knew what would have happened if Diana had not bowed to the floor, "Please Zeus, forgive my companion, he knows not of our ways, we have been through much on our journey here, he meant no transgression."
Zeus eyed her with the same anger but slowly the glow in his eyes faded, with a sigh he sat down again, "I have reduced people to dust for far less than what your companion just said to me. No transgression huh?"
The king of the gods took on an amused look, "No transgression huh, Ha! Hahahaha!" Zeus began laughing and the other gods nervously joined in with their own laughter.
Zeus pointed at Bruce, "You most certainly meant transgression from your words, did you not?"
Bruce was wary but slowly nodded. Zeus nodded as well and laughed, "We watched those games you had for this man, he wasn't your companion then Queen Diana, what say you about that?"
Diana stammered over her words, "Well…much has happened since then."
"I'll say!" Aphrodite perked up with a devious giggle.
Zeus continued, "We were impressed by this man's showing in your games. The truth is, the world has been needing a change in balance for a long time. Your actions, Queen Diana led to Hades and Ares' emergence."
Diana knit her eyebrows in confusion, "I never meant to…"
"Of course you didn't mean to, no one ever does," Zeus interjected, "But still, the danger placed on the world is solely from your actions."
Diana bowed her head, "Forgive me, please my lords and ladies of Olympus."
Zeus waved his hand in dismissal, "That's already done, do not spill energy on the past, we were getting ready to give up on this world, but then this man showed up. He is rude and arrogant to address me in the ways he has, but nevertheless, we have enjoyed his heart and his actions these last few weeks."
Athena raised her voice in contribution, "It is true, this man is a warrior unlike any other. There are few with as much skill and honor as he."
Artemis nodded her head, "A noble man of the hunt, Orion himself would run alongside this one."
Her brother Apollo groaned, "Enough about Orion sister."
Another glare from their father Zeus shut them up as he went on, "My children are prone to exaggeration, but yes, we have enjoyed the traits you've brought back to man. We did not accept your presence today to JUST lament our inability to intercede."
The words hung in the air for a moment, their meaning sinking in. Diana spoke up tentatively, "Does this mean, you will help us?"
Zeus had a devilish gleam in his eyes, "That depends on you two."
Bruce answered for Diana, "What do you mean?"
Hera answered this question, her voice being heard for the first time, "The help of Olympus is no small thing, if you want the assistance of the gods, you will have to prove yourselves worthy. We have a test for each of you. You must both pass your test to receive anything from us."
Bruce was about to protest again but Diana shot him a look that stopped him from speaking out. She turned back to the gods and thanked them, "We would be honored to take on these tests and prove our worthiness."
Bruce shook off Diana's glare and addressed the gods again, "What kind of test will it be? Physical? Mental? We're running on smoke and fumes right now, Diana is still injured."
Zeus pondered his words for a moment, "Hmm, I must agree. We will not be revealing the tests, but we will give you the best chance possible. You will stay as our guest for one day. Our healers will tend to you, and when night falls tomorrow, you will return here and face your challenges.
Bruce knew this was likely the best offer they'd receive, and so he bowed his head slightly in thanks and acknowledgment.
Zeus nodded his head, satisfied with himself. He clapped his hands and three wind nymphs appeared in the air, "These nymphs will take you to rest and heal, enjoy your day on Olympus Bruce Wayne of Gotham and Diana of Themyscira. Let us hope we do not regret this."
Without any more words Bruce and Diana were led from the throne room, the massive beings watching their departure. Bruce saw Aphrodite blow him a kiss as they left. It seemed as though Diana had caught it too, and she had an annoyed look on her face as well.
As they walked through rooms and out of the hall of the gods they were met with a sight unlike any other. None of the paintings or descriptions came close to what their eyes saw now– columns of white built from clouds themselves rose up all around, the sharpest marble gleamed in the sun as it made up buildings and walkways. Vines of fresh green climbed walls and covered objects in organic and beautiful fashion. Streams and fountains flowed freely all around them. Above, space seemed like they could reach out and grab the stars, despite the brightness of the sun that still reached them.
Bruce was not easily impressed, but even he could appreciate the mythic beauty that the landscape in front of him offered, "Wow…" He exclaimed.
"Wow indeed." Diana agreed.
"If we do end up failing the challenges and dying or something, this won't be a bad way to get there." Bruce joked.
Diana turned to look at him, "What now?" She asked.
"Now? Now we rest, and enjoy it. We've got one day in heaven. We'll worry about what comes next after."
Diana looked at Bruce, then at Olympus, "Ok."
End of chapter 16, hope you like it, got hit with inspiration and wrote the whole chapter in one day. Please let me know your thoughts, thanks to all of you that continue to review and voice your support for this story. It really does mean the world to me.