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War is Hell

Corto Maltese…

As per Diana’s plan she and Thor took the Invisible Jet and, while keeping it in stealth mode, landed in the surrounding waters close to the shore to infiltrate the warring island nation in the middle of the night. With the need to be stealthy key to their plan both Diana and Thor needed to lessen their armored outfits. Diana resorted to her more familiar outfit while Thor, improvising, removed his flaring red cape while deciding not to fly around lest any of the hostiles on the island take notice.

Once they had landed the two swam to the shore, staying under the radar of any and all patrols and search lights. Diana took the lead as Thor made it clear that sneaking around wasn’t his preferred act but he conceded to her argument that the fight was with Ares and not the citizens at war.

After finding cover behind one of the near ruined buildings Thor had asked “Where are we supposed to look in all this chaos? Ares and Loki could be hiding anywhere.”

Diana took a moment to scan the nearby area before spotting what looked like an old castle repurposed as a command post. A lot of security and heavy artillery, including tanks and antiaircraft cannons, with armed guards and searchlights all over the place.

“There.” She pointed it out to Thor. “The best place to oversee the conflict and insight more fighting. If there was any place Ares would want to be during a war that would be it.”

“Good.” Thor said, his tone as eager as the grip on his hammer’s hilt tightened. “The sooner we put an end to this the better.”

As he was about to move out she stopped him, saying “Be careful. Ares will be stronger here. Even being near him drives mortals into conflict. To him it’ll be like stoking a fire.”

He nodded “Agreed. But don’t think Loki won’t help to incite his own brand of mischief while here. His silver tongue can turn most to his will if he chooses. So bare that in mind if we run into anyone. But if we’re going to do things like that then what we need is a proper distraction to thin them out.” He only had to look around for a moment before spotting something and smirking “And I think I found one.”
A few moments later the guards of the command post would hear a loud crash followed by a growing rumbling sound. Their growing curiosity would get the better of them as they waited to discover the shocking source: a stampeding herd of cattle. Thanks to Thor giving them little “incentive” shock and Diana making sure the door to the pen was wide open they bulls and cows all came careening through the patrol zone, scrambling and confusing the guards before more than half of them were forced to chase after them.

While climbing over the walls into the command post Diana commented “Not a bad move, Thor.”

“You can thank Loki for that one.” He explained. “He and I did it on our palace’s royal ranch with a heard of Bilgesnipes.” When Diana asked about the creature he waved it off “Doesn’t matter. I checked, they’re not on Earth.”

The two made their way into the fortress and managed to go undetected. No sign of Ares, Loki or anyone else. It seemed both very good and yet very unsettling as well.

Suddenly the two stumbled upon a woman crawled up and huddled against the floor. She looked ragged and shivered with fright upon seeing them, the look in her eyes telling a sad, painful story.

Diana knelt down and, knowing the native language of Corto Maltese, spoke with the woman. Thor watched with a suspicious eye as they conversed, the woman pleading with Diana for her life it seemed.

Looking to Thor she explained “She says she’s been kept here for days. They take woman from the nearby village every day. The men ‘use’ them and then leave them to die when they don’t have any more use for them.” The woman said more before Diana interpreted “She says they follow a man with great long horns like a devil.”

“Sounds like Loki.” Thor commented before saying “Does she know where is?”

Diana spoke to the woman and in-turn she spoke back, Diana answering “She does.”

“Show us.” He said to the woman who seemed to understand.

She stood and began to lead them down towards the center of the command post, further and deeper in. Thor however stayed behind and close to Diana, his hand reaching for her Lasso of Truth. He waited to make sure the woman didn’t notice before he snatched it off Diana’s belt and lassoed it around the woman, pinning her arms to her waist.

As Diana protested Thor pointed “The only place she was leading us towards was a trap. Isn’t that right, Amora?”

Indeed with the lasso keeping her in place and breaking her illusion the ragged woman was gone and instead stood the Asgardian Enchantress. She looked bitter at being discovered before being forced to turn and face her captors.

“Clever, Thor.” She beamed. “Not as bullheaded as Loki claims you are.” She smiled in a more seductive manner “I always found that so attractive about you.”

“Save your games, witch.” Thor insisted with a tug of the lasso. “You’re going to tell us where Loki and Ares are and then you’ll be brought back to answer for your crimes.”

She didn’t answer and only smirked more “You two can’t stop it. Soon both Olympias and Asgard will rip the very heavens apart with their war. Only when the dust settles and those fools are dead will you understand: the time of the Old Gods is truly over! Perhaps then, Thor, when you’ve nothing left you’ll finally start to see things my way. And we can finally be together, just as I’ve always dreamed.”

Now Wonder Woman, fed up with her words, took the lasso and tugged it so Amora was forced to step closer. She grabbed her by the collar to make sure she knew she was serious when giving her threat.

“You’re as bad as Circe. You damn the world for your own childish, selfish needs. You compensate your own misgivings by making other suffer. You claim it’s for love when in truth it’s because you don’t give a damn about any but yourself. Women like you bring nothing but shame. But I promise you this: you’ll get no sympathy from me! If you don’t wish for me to send you and your master to the darkest depths of Tartarus where you’ll know only the grandest tortures that Lord Hades can devise, and believe me he’s a very creative god, you’re going to answer us now!”

Amora, trying to keep her composure, flinched at Wonder Woman’s words. Even Thor looked at her with both a good impression yet a hidden fear if she ever got as angry with him as she was with her. Either way he was all the more glad they were on the same side.

With the threats out of the way Wonder Woman now demanded “Where is Ares?”

Amora’s answer came with another sudden smile “Right behind you.”

Before either of them knew it both Wonder Woman and Thor were grabbed by their heads from behind. Two massive, armored hands gripped them like tennis balls and lifted them off their feet. They were swung to the right before being pushed head first in and out the nearest wall into the courtyard of the former castle turned command post.

The two rolled before getting back to their feet to see Ares stepping out into the open. He stood a grand eight feet tall and clad in his darkened armor; minus the helmet. His eyes were empowered as he looked down at them with a darkening grin.

“Diana. You finally made it. And here we have the famed Thunderer of Asgard. I must say, seeing you in person has left me somewhat apathetic.”

Thor, brandishing his hammer now, growled “We’ll see how you feel after a few good smacks from Mjolnir upside that smug head of yours!”

Ares only laughed at his threats “And a temper to match. Just as your brother said. You do keep interesting company these days, dear sister.”

Wonder Woman halted Thor before saying to her godly brother “This scheme of yours is over, Ares. Surrender now!”

“Over? Diana, my naïve little sibling, my plans have barely begun. Even now I can feel it. Olympus marches against the forces of Asgard in a war that will soon bring the cosmos to its very knees. And with the power I will accumulate from the war amongst gods themselves only I shall bring order back to them, securing my place as a god above all others!”

Amora had joined Ares by now, freed from the Lasso of Truth and holding it in her hand, taunting “Beautiful little trinket, Amazonian. I think I’ll keep it.”

“The two of you won’t stop us!” Thor defended, ready for battle.

“Perhaps.” Ares shrugged before giving a coy smirk. “That’s why we’re far from alone.”

A low rumble was both heard and felt before Thor and Wonder Woman heard a great crash from behind. The outer wall of the command base was brought down by a tank, the smiling pair of Loki and Circe riding atop it. The barrel of the tank turned and aimed directly at the heroes before they were swarmed by an army of what appeared to be animal men. Their features were distorted imitations of humans they once were now turned into oversized wolves, hyenas, lions, and even warthogs; a popular trick of Circe’s as Diana would say.

“I always did love making an entrance.” Loki laughed. “Hello, Thor. You’re looking well. At least a lot better than you will in five minutes.”

The duo were now completely surrounded by Ares’ forces. Wonder Woman turned to face Loki, Circe, the tank and the horde of animal men while Thor was facing towards Ares and Amora, all ready for whoever was bold enough to make the first move.

“Please tell me you have another plan for this.” Wonder Woman asked him, pulling out her sword and shield at the ready.

“Just one…” he commented. He rose his hammer in the air and finished with “So much for subtlety.”

Lightning struck Mjolnir as Thor summoned as much power he could wield for the moment. He told Wonder Woman to move, she leaping into the air at Loki, while he struck the ground with a mighty blow. The force and shock and sent a near crippling wave that knocked many off their feet. It was enough as he, taking the chance, leapt as Ares with hammer drawn and surging with energy from the thunder he commanded.

Neither were very successful with their attacks. Circe had struck Wonder Woman out of the air with a bolt of her magic while Ares, summoning a battle-axe to his hand from nothing, blocked Thor’s hammer before kicking him back into the fray.

It was then that Circe ordered her monstrous men to “Tear them apart!”

With that they all swarmed on the two heroic gods. Clawing, biting, growling, howling and roaring the terrible horde attacked with nothing but the command of their master and their animalistic nature to guide them.

Wonder Woman and Thor were forced to fight them back. Sword and shield clashed with claws and teeth while the mighty Mjolnir bashed, blocked and brushed them aside. They almost seemed endless as the two were constantly trying to fight them off and get towards the real threats: Loki and Ares.

As he watched the god of war breathed it in “Yes. Perfect. Even this little bout is enough to sate my hunger.” He turned to Amora “But it could do with a little more.”

The Enchantress nodded who in turn looked to Loki. He returned it and commanded the tank to aim its barrel square at Thor just as he had finished off the last feral soldier sent his way. Without warning a shell was fired hitting the thunder god right in the chest, sending him flying into a nearby wall. He’d live of course but the effect was like that of being hit with ball made of pure metal.

Seeing this Wonder Woman, knocking away the last wild animal soldier away from her, ran towards the tank to cut both it and Loki down. Circe had stopped her half way, jumping down from the tank and attacking with more magic that connected with her shield. As the Amazon warrior tried to push forward something caught her by the ankle, seeing it was the Lasso being held by Amora, and with a great tug knocked her to the ground.

“It’s over, Diana.” Circe boasted. “Your world ends today. As does your precious Themyscira! Once Zeus and Olympus have been dealt with I’ll personally watch your home and sisters burn!”

Wonder Woman rose after kicking off the lasso from her foot only to respond “Olympus may fall. Themyscira may burn. But I promise you, Circe, you won’t be around to see it!”

In anger Circe attacked again but instead of blocking Wonder Woman dodged before sensing as the Enchantress was attempting to use the lasso against her again. She turned quick and managed to snag it around the arm that held the God Killer blade, the rope going taut around the sword and her arm. With a hard yank it forced Amora to fly right towards Diana before she smacked the Asgardian witch in the face with her shield. After recovering her Lasso Wonder Woman turned back to Circe, accompanied by more men-turned-animal soldiers, and charged.

When Thor finally recovered, picking himself up from the pile of rubble that collapsed on him from the wall, the first thing he saw coming at him was the sharp end of battle-axe. He ducked and fell back before rolling away when Ares tried to bring it down on him before getting to his feet.

“You be joining me thunder god!” Ares teased as he created his helmet from nothing to place on his head. “Your kind based their entire worship on warring and pillaging. You could be a king of yours or any other realm!”

“Save your bargains for my brother!” Thor spat his offer back. “I’m not a war god. I’m a god of thunder!”

As before Thor had summoned the powers of the storms themselves to his enchanted hammer. This time however he used it to craft to himself a new armor. Metal peeled itself onto his exposed arms and a new, flowing rep cape bloomed from the shoulders of his armor, giving him a more regal warrior look. Finally a helmet was brought to his hand, shining and crafted with wings shaped on each side. The angelic form to duel against Ares’ demonic one.

After placing his helmet on his head Thor, whirling his hammer for the fight, added to his last statement with “And you’ve officially pissed me off.”

And so two gods charged at each other, roaring their battle cries before clashing with enough force to create a boom heard near around all of Corto Maltese. Axe and hammer collided and clashed loudly as they both threw all their strength into ever hit. Even Ares, in the heat of battle, had to give credit for a god so much smaller than him to hold so much strength.

Wonder Woman had finally had enough of Circe’s tricks. She fought her way through her monsters and her magic before finally reaching her. The witch, in her desperation, had grabbed a fallen rifle from the ground and fired. Without sword or shield Diana was able to block all shots with just her Amazonian forged bracelets alone.

Circe, scared for her life, dropped the rifle and backed away, pleaded “Loki! Help! We had a deal!”

“That we did.” The god of mischief grinned while watching from the tank. “But this is so much more fun.”

There was nowhere left to run. As Circe was backed into a corner Wonder Woman grabbed her by the collar and with a mighty blow from her forehead, and by extension her tiara, she sorceress was down for the count.

Now looking to Loki she threatened “You’re next.”

He stood and held put his hand to his side, warning “Careful with your threats, quim. I’m not some simple witch to be bullied.” With his powers he manifested a staff with a sharper, bladed edge on one end. As he pointed it towards Diana he challenged with “Let’s go.”

No shield was needed. Wonder Woman used only the God Killer to handle Loki after an insult like that. He leapt from the tank towards her and the two began to battle. While Loki surprised her with his moves, proving he was as matched a fighter as a trickster, Wonder Woman gave no quarter in her retaliation. All of the trouble caused for her home, her family, friends, and even the gods she worshiped had stemmed from him and it would end with him.

And so they battled. Gods against gods. Powers matched by powers. Steeled weapons clashing and clanging against each other. Strength tested. Skills used to their fullest. What transpired was more than a fight but a testament to the power of the Old Gods.

Eventually Wonder Woman had bested Loki in single combat. She disarmed him of his scepter before knocking him to the ground, her blade pointed right at his neck.

“Yield, Loki!” she warned. “Your plans have failed and Ares will soon fall with you. You’ll no longer be protected by your master now.”

At that Loki burst into laughter than unsettled Diana before he said “Ares? You really think I served him? HA! He’s just a pawn. A greater fool than he is a god of war.”

Confused she replied “But you escaped. You helped Ares escape. I thought…”

“You thought wrong, woman. Ares didn’t aid in my escape. I only aided him because he was necessary for the REAL plan.”

“What plan?” she asked with no answer given. She threatened with her blade again “WHAT PLAN?”

The sudden cry of Thor in pain had distracted Wonder Woman. It was the opportunity Loki needed to move away and cast an illusion that made several clones of himself appear, all running in different directions. Of the two closest Diana reached out to grab them or cut at their heels to keep them from running, both revealed to be fakes.

With no choice she turned to help as Thor was being picked up by the neck as Ares boasted “So much for the Thunderer of Asgard” while the blade of his axe was ready to cut his head clean off.

Rushing in Wonder Woman bashed Ares against the back of the head with her shield. He dropped Thor and turned, smacking her away from him. Seeing the number of discarded rifles and guns all lying about Ares extended his powers to them, lifting them off the ground and aiming them all at Diana. All at once they fired and she used her shield to defend herself; far too many to block with her bracelets alone this time.

His back turned Thor took the opportunity to bash Mjolnir up against Ares’ head. He roared in pain and dropped all weapons as he tried to calm his head. It forced him to remove his helmet before holding his head from the violent vibrations he felt.

“Diana, now!” Thor called as both he and she came running at Ares.

With their combined efforts both Wonder Woman and Thor brought the fight to an end. With Mjolnir bashing and banging against Ares while Wonder Woman’s mix of her sword, shield and fighting skills managed to cut at vital spots on Ares’ armor they soon brought the god of war to his knees.

Broken, bruised, bleeding Ares coughed as he sat on the ground and struggled “This…is far from over. Once the war among the gods begins I’ll…regain my strength and crush you both!”

“There won’t be any war. Not after today.” Wonder Woman shot him down.

Ares managed a laugh before going on to say “This won’t end with me. Do you…hear me, Diana? War will come. It always does! I…I may fall today but soon I will return. I’ll become…stronger! Smarter! Far more powerful than the last! And when I do, OH when I do, dear sister, there shall come a reckoning unlike-”

Thor finally cut him off with “Alright. I heard enough” before placing Mjolnir right on top of Ares’ face.

While the enchantment over the hammer did not crush Ares under its weight it did keep him from moving it off. All either could hear now were the muffled cries underneath; preferred noise over his grandiose monologue.

Thinking about how she had saved him from Ares Thor commented “Guess that makes us even for Aeaea then, eh?”

She gave a slight shrug “Hadn’t of thought about that but I suppose. For now at least.”

She smirked before saying “Thank you, though.” She returned it before he looked around and asked “Where’s Loki?”

She looked as well before noticing “Where’s the Enchantress?”

After slipping away from the fight Loki made sure he was far enough away from being spotted by anyone. When he finally found a clearing he reached into his pocket to pull out his coveted device.

“Loki!” Circe called as she ran up to him. “What in the hell are you doing?”

He turned “The plan’s being…altered. And you’re no longer needed.”

With a swift motion of his free hand Loki pulled out three golden rings that flew over and entrapped Amora where she stood. One ring around her heels and the other two around her waist and shoulders, pinning her arms to the side before she fell over on the ground.

“Damn you!” she cried out. “This was your plan all along wasn’t it?”

“Not my plan, dear Amora. Someone far more powerful. Soon you’ll know.” He stopped when he saw Wonder Woman and Thor finally starting to arrive on the scene. “You’ll ALL know.”

It was then that Loki held up the device that, upon seeing it, made Wonder Woman halt in her tracks in shock. She watched as Loki pressed a button on it that made a portal appear with a loud, familiar noise. Thor, confused, tried to snap her out of it which only allowed for Loki to step through and escape. In a moment both the portal, the device, and Loki were all gone.

“Diana, what’s wrong with you?” Thor demanded, bordering on anger. “You let him escape!”

“That device… I’ve seen it before.” She managed. “But…but it can’t be…”

“What?” Thor insisted. “What IS it, Diana? What was that device? What does it mean?”

The more she thought on it the more it started to dawn on Diana what might have been really going on. As she put the pieces together it shook her down to the core to where she was near shivering. Even Thor was worried now.

“From beyond shall darkness fall to end the light and ancient evils rise to subjugate all.” The Oracle’s words haunted her now. And to think the answer was there all along and she was too blind to see it.

“I think I know how Loki escaped his prison. It wasn’t the Enchantress. But…if it is who I think it is, then we’re in far more danger than before. Something’s coming, Thor! Someone is coming!”

“Who?”

Far Beyond…

Loki had arrived in the presence of his master’s realm. He was reluctant, yes, but he knew the consequences of not returning with the news would be far deadlier than to face judgement. Despite the heat and unnatural feel of the place he marched up before the throne of his liberator from the Isle of Silence and knelt deeply.

“You return.” Loki’s master beamed.

“Yes, my lord. I’m sorry to say that the plan did not go as intended. My brother and the Amazon have defeated and captured Ares and the others. Soon they will deliver them to the Old Gods and the war will never come to be.”

“Your tone implies defeat so soon, my servant. Yet you fail to see that even in defeat my will shall be carried out. The Old Gods shall war and they shall fall. A new stratagem must be played.” The master went quiet while contemplating the new plan. “Where will the Asgardians meet with the Olympians for battle?”

“Knowing Odin, my lord, it will be within Asgard’s realm itself. A testament to the All-Father’s power and command over such a place.”

“Then by playing by one side’s advantage we may yet have our own. You, lowly god, shall aid my forces in their invasion of your home realm. However I have another task for you to accomplish. One you will oversee with your own powers. Your own subjects to call to aid.”

“It shall be done, my lord.” Loki bowed. “I will not fail you. I swear it.”

“By whatever long, forgotten dead powers you pray to, sub-deity, you had best hope not to. I am a benevolent god. But I do not hesitate to depose whatever torturous punishment I can conceive on those who fail me.”

“I understand, my lord.”

The master stood and finally demanded “Swear to me, servant. Swear by my name.”

Loki bowed his head lower and said “For the honor to serve. For the glory of death. For my life unto your bidding. For you, my lord. For Darkseid.”