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A Trial in Heaven

Olympus…

The journey through the heavens was not as long as Diana expected. Through whatever magic or divine powers Pegasus possessed in felt like less than an hour for him to finally bring her to the peak of Mt. Olympus.

As clouds parted Diana could see the shining kingdom sitting atop the ancient, divine mountain. Grand Grecian temples, great and small, covered the entire top of the mountain. The way it look seemed to almost imply that all of it was grown out of the very mountain itself; something Diana would contemplate later. Some rose higher than others with the largest and tallest indicating the seat of the gods themselves, and their king Zeus himself. While not her first visit to such a seat of godly power every time she looked upon it Diana felt a humbling warmth at such a sight.

Seeing where to land Diana directed her winged steed towards a courtyard clear enough for her to make an entrance. Pegasus whinnied as he seemed to stop the sight himself, circling in the air before finally touching down. Upon landing the two were soon met by a somewhat familiar face for the princess of the Amazons.

“Diana of Themyscira.” Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war greeted her. “You were expected.”

Diana bowed before addressing “Lady Athena. I must speak with my father about the prisoner he brought to you.”

“The Asgardian.” She clarified. “Or so he claims.” She turned and gestured “Come.” The goddess leading the Amazonian princess into the heart of Olympus itself. “Lord Zeus has summoned the others to decide the fate of this interloper. Even Lords Poseidon has arrived.”

This surprised Diana as she commented “It seems surprising that the arrival of one of the Old Gods should worry all of Olympus so much.”

“It is not the arrival that troubles us, Diana. It’s what may come to follow in its wake.”

Hearing that Diana said in a hushed tone “Of that I can understand.” The words of the Oracle even now haunting her.

After a few more minutes of traveling through the interior palaces of Olympus both Athena and Diana had arrived at the central grand temple. Seeing it up close assured Diana further of its status given the large stone guard figures on each side of the towering double-doors. Athena opened them with ease, leading into the royal chamber.

As she entered Diana could see Thor in the center of the chamber, bound and chained with his arms stretched behind his back and his hands bound together. His hammer, Mjolnir, was placed on the ground in front of him and just out of reach to neither be picked up nor summoned to his hands.

All around the entire pantheon of the Olympian gods were assembled; minus the exiled god of war Ares. Zeus and Poseidon, two of the three pinnacle brother gods, sat together in the front of the chamber, looking down at the Asgardian prisoner. To the right sat Hera, the queen of the gods, along with Apollo, an empty seat soon taken by the returning Athena, and Hermes. To the left Diana could see an empty seat that once belonged to Ares next to Aphrodite, Hephaestus and finally Artemis.

As she walked in Diana heard as Zeus and Poseidon argued, the god of the seas calling “This interloper should be sent back where he came from. And let that be the end of it!”

“His attack on Themysrica cannot go unpunished!” Zeus insisted. “Nor his attack on my own flesh and blood!”

“If I may, Lords Zeus and Poseidon” Athena raised her voice to be heard by them “the very ‘flesh and blood’ you speak of has arrived.”

Zeus however pointed to her “Your business with this invader is over, Diana. Return to your home until-”

“Apologies, Lord Zeus” she cut him off “but my business with this ‘Asgardian’ are far from that.” As Zeus looked annoyed at her some of the other gods muttered among themselves before she stepped forward to say “Hear me, lords and ladies of Olympus: this being from another word claims to be Thor, the god of thunder, himself. Perhaps he is not the god of old but rather from another universe. Another reality where the Old Gods ay still live.”

“If that were so” Poseidon said “then he should be sent back with all haste. Lest more of his kind make their way into this reality and cause further harm.”

Hera spoke up and said “And allow him to leave without punishment for invading into our world in the first place? He attacked the very home of the Amazons, a place I ensured with my own blessings. Attacking them was as close to attack me as I see to judge the crime.”

Athena then suggested “Perhaps we should hear what the prisoner has to say in his defense. Maybe he isn’t truly the ancient Thor but some pretender.”

“Agreed.” Hephaestus added. “And I for one would love to know how a fine crafted hammer such as that cannot be held by any of us. What amazing enchantment must be put upon it?”

Hermes rolled his eyes and commented to himself “Good grief.”

They all soon looked to Zeus, Diana included, to hear as it deemed “Very well. Let the prisoner be heard. Under one condition however.” He gestured “Diana.”

Knowing what he had indicated she held out her Lasso of Truth before wrapping it around Thor’s neck. Now with it on him he would have no choice but to speak whatever truths to the questions asked by her and the gods.

Hera was the first to ask “Are you truly Thor, the god of thunder?”

The lasso’s spell compelled him to answer “Yes…I am.”

There was some muttering before she then asked “And are you from our known reality or do you come from somewhere else?”

“I come from Asgard. My home. Far from here in another universe. One where most of the Old Gods are dead. Including the Olympians.”

The muttering was louder among the gods, Zeus the only one silent the entire time, with Apollo asking “How did they die?”

“I do not know. My father, Odin, told me stories of how the people of Earth forgot the Olympians as they had once forgotten us. But their need to be remembered and worshipped brought forth their own destruction.” He gave a defiant look as he added “Clearly the same must have happened to the Asgardians of this world, otherwise I would feel far more comfortable knowing they would aid me against you all!”

While the gods seemed offended Diana was the one to tell him “They died with the rest of the Old Gods in this universe. A great war had come and all but the gods you see before you had survived.”

“By hiding on your precious mountain I have no doubt.” Thor commented in a coy manner, clearly unafraid of riling the gods’ tempers.

To silence him Diana pulled on the lasso to quiet him while saying “You’d do best to mind what you say, Asgardian. My father’s temper is enough to bring down entire cosmos if he so chooses.”

Hearing that Thor huffed “Funny. Reminds me a lot of my own father. Less handsome however. Though clearly your looks come from your mothers’ side.”

Diana gave a small smirk at his expense before Zeus called “Enough! Tell us, interloper, why you have come here now!”

The lasso’s magic forced him to answer “I came to this reality to search for my brother, Loki.”

“The Old God of Mischief?” Apollo asked. “Why would he be here?”

“I do not know.” Thor answered.

“The why did you come to Themyscira looking for him?” Hera demanded.

“One of my friends had found a sword belonging to the Amazons where Loki was imprisoned.” Thor explained. “She told me of its origin and how this reality was the most likely place to find him. She also warned me of the dangers in dealing with Amazons, or their Olympian masters.”

This seemed to annoy Diana as she insisted “The gods may have saved us, and we may serve them dutifully, but they do not hold mastery over me or my sisters!”

Despite this Artemis was the one to ask “Is this true, Diana? Is Themyscira harboring a god from another universe in its bowls?”

“Of course not!” she was quick to defend herself and her home. “We have no knowledge nor any means of traveling anywhere beyond the borders of our island. Let alone to another universe where gods like these exist.”

Poseidon hummed with interest before saying to Zeus “It seems there might be a deeper game at play, brother. With the Lasso of Hestia keeping the Asgardian from lying its clear what he says is true. And I doubt your own daughter would lie if it meant risking her precious Amazonian sanctuary.” He leaned in and whispered “Perhaps the true culprit lies with someone not present at this time?”

In-turn as he finished the sea god’s finger poked towards the empty seat that once belonged to Ares. Glancing at it himself Zeus contemplated heavily.

“Enough!” Zeus bellowed, slamming his scepter to the ground. “Despite the cause, the action is still to be accounted for. The Asgardian is accused of attacking Themyscira and a child of the Lord of Olympus. Punishment must be given for such defiance!”

As the gods seemed to rally on the idea Diana was quick to call “Wait! Please, father, allow me one final question for the prisoner.”

“What more could be needed?” Artemis asked. “Sentence seems pretty clear to me.”

Hephaestus gave an annoyed “But I wanted to ask about the hammer. At least let me keep it if the Asgardian loses his head by the end of this.”

“Do you ever think of anything else?” Hermes asked with annoyance.

Hera stood and called for “Silence!” before saying “Go ahead, Princess Diana. Ask your question.”

She bowed her head to thank the queen of Olympus before turning to Thor and saying “This lasso compels you to speak nothing but the truth. So tell me now…would you really have destroyed by home, my sisters, and even my own mother?” Thor looked at her with hesitant eyes and seemed to grow silent. “Tell me!”

“….no.” he finally answered. “I wouldn’t have.”

The answer both surprised and comforted Diana. The look both of them shared in the moment seemed to indicate to the other that hearing this truth was a relief for the two of them.

“Father, hear me now.” She said, turning back to Zeus and the other gods. “Let me decide the punishment for this attack.”

“This is a matter for the gods to decide.” Hera argued. “Not one of their children.”

“Hold your tongue, wife!” Zeus retorted with an angered look. “Let my daughter speak.”

Diana continued with “I feel the best punishment for this intruder would be to prove his innocence. Let him stay under my watchful guard and we will find whoever is responsible for this treachery. Be it Loki, Ares, or whoever else has wronged you.”

As the gods discussed this among themselves Thor whispered “You would really save my life? After why?”

“Aside from not wanting to see an innocent die, maybe we both have something to gain from stopping whatever’s going on.”

Poseidon had finally said to Zeus “It only seems fair, brother.”

The king of Olympus finally stood and declared “I have made my decision. I-”

Suddenly a boom and small shudder came from outside. Everyone looked in confusing and anger at the idea that someone was attacking Olympus itself.

Zeus then ordered “Hermes. See what that was.”

The messenger god nodded and in practically the blink of an eye zipped out of the royal chamber to see what was outside. The other gods stood to attention as it seemed to grow louder.

“Are we under attack?” Athena asked.

Apollo pointed to Thor “Perhaps this is another Asgardian ploy!”

“No! I have nothing to do with this!” Thor defended himself, Diana pointing out that with the lasso around him it had to be true.

When Hermes finally returned he was in a near panic as he reported “Lord Zeus! Olympus is being invaded!”

When Zeus had asked “By whom?” his answer came after the doors to the chamber were busted wide open.

To the surprise of all, but Thor most of all, the royal chamber was soon swarmed by Asgardian warriors. Sif, the Warriors Three, Balder, Tyr, and even Brunnhilde the Valkyrie were all armed and ready for battle as the Olympians gave the same combative stance.

Zeus was angered as he called “How dare you sully my mountain with your presence! Who are you to invade on this divine home of the gods?”

In response the Asgardians parted as a final figure entered the room, saying “I do! Odin, King of Asgard!” As everyone seemed to tense at such a powerful arrival he now ordered “Release my son or suffer the wrath of Asgard’s strongest warriors!”

As Zeus and the other Olympians were prepared to fight Zeus retorted “You dare to challenge the gods in such a manner? You will be slain for you insolence alone!”

Before any action could be taken Wonder Woman stood against her father and the other Olympians, saying “Hold, my lord! Hold! There’s no need for conflict!”

“Listen to her, father! Please!” Thor defended. “I was just about to be released when you arrived! There’s no need for bloodshed now!”

“That point is moot now, Thor!” Odin retorted. “Especially when these heathens and pretenders attack my son and expect to not be met by Asgardian steel!”

“Your son is the invader, fool!” Zeus called. “But for such a bullheaded offspring it would come from a warmongering pest like you!”

“Enough words!” Tyr yelled. “Let us end these self-proclaiming bastards once and for all!”

Both Wonder Woman and Thor looked to each other, the Amazon nodding to the Asgardian as he turned while she drew her blade. In one swift stroke she used the God Killer blade to cut the bonds that held Thor and his arms in place. Now freed the Thunderer summoned his hammer back to his hand, both turning to face their respective pantheon compatriots to halt their advances.

“This ends now!” Wonder Woman called. “Don’t you see? We’re being turned against each other all for some greater game.”

“It’s true, friends.” Thor added. “I sense Loki’s schemes at work. Don’t let yourselves fall for more of his trickery lest we end up taking the wrong lives this day.

Volstagg pointed out “These so-called gods imprison you and let you stand by their side, Thor? What madness has come over you?”

“Not madness, my friend, but clarity. What the lady says is true, we’re but pawns in a grander scheme.” He then looked to Odin and begged “Remember, father. Remember Volla’s warning.”

As Odin seemed to hesitate Wonder Woman spoke to the Olympians “I agreed to find the true culprit responsible for these crimes, father. By your judgement and blessing, and by the good graces and faith in your own daughter, I beg you to give me this chance.”

With the words of their own children keeping them and their followers at bay for the moment both Odin and Zeus glared at each other. If they had so chosen they could attack now and see which the mightier king of the gods was. Yet what was said was true, that this was all a greater scheme by their true enemies.

The two nodded and in unison called “Agreed!”

From there Zeus decreed “You ‘Asgardians’ may return. You, Diana, will have a full day and night to bring the true deceivers before us to face judgement.”

“The same said of you, my son.” Odin added. “However if none are found by then the acts committed against both kingdoms will be met as transgressions of war. And will be met in combat to decide the fates of all.”

Zeus gave a small smirk “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”

Both Diana and Thor looked to each other with a little concern. While it was fragile terms of agreement they were likely the best they would have from either side until all of this was settled.

“Agreed then.” Wonder Woman said, speaking for both herself and Thor.

With that the Asgardians began to leave little-by-little, Odin being the first to exit the royal chamber hall with the others starting to follow. Sif, the Warriors and Valkyrie however remained behind to wait for Thor.

“Aren’t you coming?” Sif asked.

He glanced back at Diana before admitting “I cannot. At least not yet. I…still have a sentence to serve after all.” While Diana smirked at this Sif gave an uneasy look, Thor then quick to say “But before you go, there is something I ask. Brunnhilde show this woman” he indicated Wonder Woman “the sword you found on the Isle of Silence.”

She looked confused at him before saying “I never found any blade, Thor. I don’t even recall seeing you today until now.”

Thor was taken aback for a moment before cursing at himself and saying “Of course. Another trick.”

“From Loki?” Diana asked.

“I fear it may be more than just Loki we’ll have to deal with.” After that he offered “Come, Amazon. Let us be off with haste before tensions rise any higher.”

“Agreed. Though I should probably make a proper introduction so you don’t keep calling me ‘Amazon’.” She held out a hand, the first true sign of civil greeting between the two, and said “I am Diana of Themyscira. Though in the realm of men I am also called ‘Wonder Woman’.”

Shaking her hand he commented “A worthy title for a woman who fights as well as you. I am Thor. God of Thunder. Prince of Asgard. And wielder of the mighty Mjolnir. But to the mortals….they just call me ‘Thor’.”

The two shared a laugh for a moment before Sif called with a poisonous tone “Do not be too long on your quest, Thor. Don’t forget your more ‘personal’ matters that wait you when you return home.”

When she finally left Thor gave an awkwardly chuckled “She’s very passionate about me is all.” Diana gave an unconceived look before he changed the subject with “So where are we to venture forth in search of our answers?”

“I know where we can start.” She answered as she led him out of Olympus to be on their way on the start of their journey. “I sense the hands of Ares are involved in this plot. But to be sure we must visit his jailer: the lord of the Underworld, Lord Hades.”