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Old vs New

Themyscira…

The Amazons had faced many enemies over the years. Beasts from the pits of Tartarus. Vengeful soldiers from invading countries in Man’s World. Even the dreaded Parademons and evil gods of Apokolips had failed against their might. But the Amazons had never faced such a towering enemy like the Frost Giants of Jotunheim.

Their size, strength, and the accompanying cold that froze the very air around them made the giants an unknown force to be reckoned with. The armies of Themyscira matched with fire, arrows, catapults and all manner of weapons at their disposal. Queen Hippolyta did her best to lead her people against the invaders but every move they made was either counteracted or diminished by the titanic terrors.

“Hold them back!” she called over the sound of war. “We cannot let Themyscira fall to these monsters!”

The heat of the battle Wonder Girl had flow up towards one giant and began punching it right in the face. One super-strengthened blow after another while she fought against the freezing feeling on her fists. Eventually she whipped out her lassos and roped the beast around the neck, using her strength again to pull it down.

With her foe defeated Cassie smirked “Bigger they are, harder they fall.”

The whiney of a horse made her look to see as Hippolyta rode up towards her, accompanied by two other warriors. Cassie hoped down from the fallen giant as both of them took a moment to see as their sisters were fighting as bravely as possible against surmounting odds.

“We can’t win this fight alone.” Hippolyta admitted. “We need help.”

“From where?” Cassie asked her in desperation. “Who can we call on to help with THIS?”

“We must send word to Man’s World. The heroes. Diana’s friends. Your allies, Cassandra. Anyone we can find to-UGGH!”

Hippolyta was knocked off her horse by a sudden beam of energy. Both Cassie and the other Amazon warriors turned to see Loki, a bladed scepter in hand, coming towards them. A growing grin of malice on his face as he brandished his weapon.

“Oh good. More heads to add to the collection.” He said before charging at them.

Cassie was handed a sword by one of the Amazon warriors before all three charged ahead to meet Loki in battle. The Norse God proved a skilled combatant as he blocked all three of their weapons before managing to cut down the first warrior. Wonder Girl attacked in anger but was forced back, leaving the second Amazon to be stabbed through the chest.

After seeing another sister fall to this monstrous deity Wonder Girl knew she had to fight to her utmost to win. She charged and began to fight close combat with Loki, swinging and ducking and blocking during the entire battle. Loki returned each move with his own, their strength and skills matching in the moment as hey locked blades.

“I fought with your sister.” He said while face-to-face with her. “She was as weak as you are now.”

“Liar!” she spat back. “Diana would never lose to you. And neither will I!”

While the two continued to fight Hippolyta recovered and saw what was transpiring. As Her adopted daughter fought against the leader of the frost giant’s invasion she watched as more of her people fell to the colossal interlopers.

“Diana….” She said to the skies in what hope remained. “Please hurry.”

Apokolips…

In a last moment effort Wonder Woman had managed to raise her shield to block Darkseid’s omega beams. Even with the forged steel between her and death she could feel the heat of the raw cosmic power that Darkseid wielded.
“Such strength.” He commented as he continued to lay down the attack. “Such wasted effort.” He increased the intensity, hearing Wonder Woman screaming in her struggle. “Your arrogance towards the inevitable is only continuing to vex me, Amazon. Embrace death or be torn apart by it.”

Despite his words Wonder Woman continued to hold against Darkseid’s attack. The omega beams had been forcing her back little by little until Diana managed to gain a footing. She used it to stop herself before putting her strength into taking one step forward. One after another and another as she fought back against the force from Darkseid.

Eventually Wonder Woman had reached close enough to Darkseid to use her shield to bounce the omega beams away. In the sudden confusion she took advantage, giving Darkseid an uppercut right to the jaw. She went for another punch across the cheek and a third to his eye but was stopped by his giant hand halting her fist.

“You dare!” she bellowed before backhanding her away from him. “I offered you a quick death. And you spat upon my gift like an ignorant child.” Darkseid cracked his knuckles and proclaimed “Very well. Then I shall take further pleasure in breaking you down to the lowest molecule.”

Meanwhile down below in the citadel Thor found his clash with the Furies more challenging than he thought. When not trying to avoid being cut down by Mad Harriet’s claws or Gilotina’s sword he had to worry about Lashina’s whip trying to entangle or trip him while Stompa tried smashing him down like a charging bull. All the while Granny Goodness watched with a quiet pride as her warrior women dealt with the Thunderer.

At one point Thor was backed against a wall, the four Furies surrounding him, to which he said “Now, ladies, I’ll admit you are impressive foes. Perhaps you’d make good Valkyries if you were….more mentally sound. But perhaps this would be the best time to consider laying down your arms and…” In response they all pointed their weapons at him ready to continuing fighting. “….I guess not then.”

Asgard…

The fortitude of the gods of both Olympus and Asgard stood boldly against the seemingly endless swarm of Parademons being led by Steppenwolf and the other general of Apokolips. If not relying on their divine powers then they resorted to full frontal combat. But it wasn’t exhaustion that made their forces start to wane, it was the sinking feeling of losing all hope.

It started with the foot soldiers and other minor warriors. The Parademons began to overwhelm the fighters both on the ground and in the air, the Valkyrie forces losing one after another with every passing minute but Brunnhilde still leading the charge. Kalibak and Mantis were proven warriors in their own right cutting down Asgardian soldiers that tried to best them. The surmounting numbers of winged terrors only seemed to grow as theirs shrank.

During the ensuing war both Athena and Sif had double-teamed against the enormous Steppenwolf. Their swords and spears clashed against his battle-axe. As they fought the two goddesses were as a skilled knife against a bold instrument. Athena made moves in order to distract and wane Steppenwolf while Sif attempted to attack from behind, only for his heavy New God armor to be as thick stone.

Grabbing Sif by the throat he smirked “I remember when the Asgardians fell. I was even responsible for a few of their deaths.” He threatened with the blade of his axe at her neck. “My weapon still carries some of their blood. Perhaps I’ll add a little more.”

His moment of gloating was interrupted by Athena stabbing her spear into the shoulder-blade of his armor. His annoyance was clear as he tossed Sif aside before turning to chop her in half. She matched with a sword up to meet him but his strength started to overwhelm her. Thankfully Sif returned the previous favor by joining her in holding Steppenwolf back, the two pushing him away.

“Thank you…” Athena said in the heat of battle.

Sif only nodded “Save it for after we’ve survived this.”

All the while Odin and Zeus fought side-by-side and yet uncoordinated against their enemies. As seasoned warriors and leaders in battle they were too consumed by their own pride to fully fight together. They would often look to the other, seeing that they still held their own, before going back to their personal conflicts.

As the fighting continued Heimdall, unable to see beyond the Boom Tubes, only said aloud “Thor, wherever you are, hurry!”

Apokolips…

Another hard punch from Darkseid sent Diana flying into a wall. She crashed against it, losing both her shield and the God Killer blade in the process. She groaned in pain as she picked herself up, unwilling to surrender even in the face of such a terrible foe like the Lord of Apokolips.

As he came towards her Darkseid beamed “Your efforts should be commended, princess. But I will not bother to sully my tongue with such niceties.” She lashed at him with her lasso but Darkseid seized it around his massive hand. Even as it glowed he spoke with a dark and threatening manner, saying “It is a vain hope to think you will stop me, Amazon. The only one to ever best me was Superman. It was his death that inspired me to enact my plans, you see. Without your strongest defender both your world and the Asgardian’s will die.” He pulled the lasso forward which forced Wonder Woman to come towards him as he caught her with his other hand. “And that is the truth.”

In an act of defiance she struck him across the cheek with another fisted blow. This one barley phased him as he only gave her an annoyed glance before tossing her away, crashing into a statue and crumbling it to pieces.

As she struggled to stand Diana raised her hands, breathing “I won’t…let you win. And I don’t need….Superman…to beat you.”

He smirked “You can lie to yourself, princess, but even you can’t hide the truth from me. I see it in your eyes.” He began to walk towards her. “The same dying spark of hope I see in all those who are foolish enough to stand against me and fail. They had armies. Powers you could only begin to imagine. They had skills unlike you and the poultry warriors of a forgotten island. What do you have?”

Before either could give an answer Diana heard the familiar sound of a metal object flying through the air. Darkseid turned towards the source only to be met by Mjolnir flying into his face, stumbling him back and away from Wonder Woman. She looked towards the doorway into the throne room where Thor, bruised but still standing strong, stepped in as his hammer returned to his awaiting hand. In his other hand was the unconscious body of Granny Goodness dragged by her cape.

After dropping her he made his way to Diana, helping her to her feet, and said “Sorry I’m late. They’re very stubborn fighters on this world. Must admit I found it enjoyable.” He looked as Darkseid growled, rubbing at his eye from the wound taken by Mjolnir, and smirked “So you must be this ‘Darkseid’ I’ve heard about. Taller than I thought.” He paused and smirked. “Twice as ugly too.”

“The Asgardian Thunderer.” He sneered. “Your brother told me of your arrogance. I will not suffer it here!”

Sensing Darkseid’s attack upon seeing his eyes glowing red Thor didn’t give him the chance. He flew through the air with his hammer in front and made contact, bashing it across the evil gods head several times. The loud clang of ancient metal against a powerful, ancient being echoed all throughout the room and could even be heard outside by the slaves down below.

Diana leaned against the wall and watched her friend doing battle and, to her amazement, seeming to overpower the Lord of Apokolips. Perhaps it was his different approach to battling the evil god, a brutish but effective manner over her pristine and honed stratagems. Perhaps it was because Darkseid had yet to ever truly face an enemy like the god of thunder before. Perhaps it was Thor’s own inner strength and bringing determination to save the lives of all those threatened by this mad ruler that fueled his fire. Regardless of the why Diana only smiled at the sight of seeing Darkseid being bested.

Another crack upside the head brought Darkseid to his knees, Thor giving a rousing “Ha! Lord of Apokolips? God of Evil? Harbinger of the doom of the Old Gods? I’ve known mortals who could live up to such grandeur better than you, foul creature!”

The momentary victory was brought to an end when Thor, attempting a finishing blow, felt his hammer stopped by Darkseid’s massive hand grabbing it by the head. Thor was surprised that the New God’s sudden burst of strength was enough to stop even Mjolnir.

As his eyes burned Darkseid growled “Enough!” and fired his Omega Beams.

Thor’s screams were like nothing Wonder Woman had heard from him before. He had never experienced the pain and power of the raw, ancient power Darkseid had controlled. Knowing for herself how it felt like the skin burning off her very bone she gasped in horror as Thor went back from the force of the beams.

Darkseid proved his merciless intent as he did not hesitate to further assault Thor with his Omega Beams even as he writhed on the ground. He only relented long enough to see Thor’s hammer dropped from his grip, he now kicking the unarmed thunder god away to further punish. While on the ground Thor had seen the God Killer blade nearby and reached for it only for Darkseid to bring his boot down on his arm.

“Insolent boy!” he gritted before stomping on him. “I am not some fire demon or pointed ear deceiver you can smash away like a gnat!” Another hard stomp. “I am a god! I am beyond you! I am beyond any powers your world, then ALL worlds will know!” Another stomp. “You have nothing!” Stomp. “You ARE nothing!”

Watching the scene brought back one of the darkest memories in Diana’s past. The situation was all too hauntingly similar.

A beloved friend faced against a monstrous foe. Fighting to his very last to protect everyone he cared for. The world at stake. And Diana cast aside with no way of helping.

Even now she saw Thor as she had seen Superman in the moment: broken, bleeding, yet determined to ensure the death of his enemy. Even if it meant his own. A tear rolled down her eye as she felt as helpless as she had then. Too drained and without any hope of fighting what seemed to be a dark repeat of the inevitable.

A sudden spark came to her as Diana realized there was one thing she did not have then that there was now: Mjolnir. The hammer was close to her, practically at her feet. If she could use it to save Thor and perhaps herself then there was still a chance. She reached for the hilt but soon stopped.

Diana recalled what happened on Aeaea. The last attempt she made failed and she was clearly not worthy to carry such a mighty weapon. She imagined if Thor could he would temporarily lift whatever hex was over the hammer so she could just for this once carry it. Although his predicament was the exact reason she needed to lift it now.

It was then she recalled what Darkseid had said to her. A taunt at her attempted at bravery in a dark stretch of time.

You can lie to me, princess, but you can’t hide the truth from me… Without your strongest defender both your world and the Asgardian’s will die.

Diana understood now. Indeed there was something holding her back. Something that had stalked in her mind ever since the death of her friend. Ever since she was offered a bargain from Hades. Ever since she learned that there was some chance that Superman could live again: she didn’t have any faith in herself.

Her hand finally gripped the hammer as she made her confession to herself: “Clark…I will never stop missing you. I can’t be you…but I can be something more.”

With Thor still gasping for air under his boot, pressing harder and harder down on him, Darkseid proclaimed “The death of the Old Gods will be today! And it starts with y-”

Another familiar crack echoed as Darkseid was struck in the chest hard enough to send him flying back into his throne. The sound of metal against ancient skin made Thor look up in true surprise while Darkseid, recovering, looked with a shocked chagrin.

Wonder Woman carried the powerful Mjolnir in her hand. The power of the Asgardian weapon seemed to fully react to her divine heritage as it healed her of her wounds and seemed to not only mend her armor but build upon it as well. Were cracks and broken-off bits had been from her previous fights they were replaced and grafted with a newer patchwork that blended Olympian and Asgardian deign together. Among the pieces of her knew amalgam armament was that her tiara now sported a star with lightning bolt points and a flowing cape of red and blue. All the while her eyes glowed and sparked with the thunder of the old gods within.

Wonder Woman, standing boldly in front of Thor to defend him, proclaimed “I am Diana of Themyscira. Daughter of Hippolyta. Child of Olympus. Wielder of Mjolnir. In the name of all that is good your wrath upon the worlds of the Old Gods is OVER!”