Chapter 23: An End and a New Beginning
All look to the direction of the voice. Eris spins round and at the sight before her drops to her knees “M-Mother.”
Donna too kneels “Great Hera. You humble us with your presence.”
Hera looks over the scene and her kneeling child. “Epione please care for Diana.” Epione bows and goes back to caring for Diana. Hera looks down on Eris “To think your brother had the affront to try this once while I was distracted but to repeat his offence is unforgivable and you my daughter, I thought you would know better than to violate my law.”
“Forgive me mother. Ares…”
Hera cuts her off “For once will you try to form an independent thought rather than simply what Ares tells you. I have no time for you now. Return to Olympus and I shall deal with you later.”
“Yes mother.” Eris says as she disappears.
Hera looks over Donna “Please rise child.”
Donna does so.
“You were most brave in confronting Ares and I have heard you are ambassador to the outside world.”
“Yes great Hera.” Donna replies.
“You have our blessing. May you help to unite this world together in peace.”
“Thank you. I was not sure anyone would come. Athena said…”
Hera cuts her off “Yes I know. That we would allow the child to die rather than intervene. I have neither the time nor wish to discuss the politics of the Gods right now but my law has been broken. I cannot let that stand.”
Hera turns to Diana “So a child sired by a man not of this world.”
Diana worries about what Hera will say next.
“Interesting. I doubt my husband foresaw this when he laid down who you could have a child with. Personally I think it is quite amusing. Your child will be very special and don’t fear Diana, Ares shall not lay a hand on either of you. Now excuse me. I have my own errant child to discipline.” Hera then disappears.
Donna goes back to Diana who is between contractions at the moment. “Where’s Kal?” she asks.
Oh Great Gaea, Diana had forgotten all about Kal for a moment. She could only pray he would be alright.
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Kal dodges a blow from Deimos who had joined his brother in attacking Kal after he had gotten up.
“You can’t win Kryptonian.” Deimos tells him.
“Our father shall have his revenge on you and the Amazon Queen.” Phobos adds.
“Your father is trapped in the Underworld forever.” Kal hits back with.
Both Phobos and Deimos smile “Not anymore. In fact your beloved is probably already dead.”
Kal’s eyes glow with rage. “Then I’m finished playing around.” he says as he releases the full fury of his heat vision at Phobos and Deimos. The sea behind them boils and clouds of steam rise shrouding the beach that Kal and the 2 gods are standing on. When the steam clears it reveals Kal breathing heavily as he virtually collapses due to the exertion. He lies flat on his back not knowing whether Phobos and Deimos survived or not.
As it turns out they have but they lie there in agony, their flesh scorched. A shadow crosses over them. Athena looks down on the them with little sympathy “Serves you two right. Zeus and Hera want to have a word with you two later about breaking their laws.” Athena waves her hand and the two gods vanish. She walks over to Kal.
Kal notices a shadow over him and opens his eyes. “Athena?”
“I’m glad to see you remember me.”
“Phobos? Deimos?”
“Oh they’ll live but they may not want to once Mother gets a hold of them. It wasn’t easy to persuade Father to allow her to intervene. He is not pleased about your union with Diana.”
“If I had the energy to care I still wouldn’t. I mean no disrespect but I love Diana and nothing will prise us apart, not even Zeus himself.”
Athena looks mildly amused at that statement “Just don’t say that to him in person and this help comes at a price but be thankful it is not one you have to pay.” Athena then helps Kal to his feet.
“Who does have to pay?” Kal asks.
“Mother. Zeus extracted a promise out of her but it does not concern you at least not right now.”
“What does that mean?”
“I cannot explain further but I will say everything will be fine if you raise your offspring with yours and Diana’s values.”
“She will be.”
“She?” she asks at the sudden realisation of Kal’s words about the baby’s gender.
Kal smirks “Diana didn’t want to know but I have known for a while now that we will have a daughter. Is Diana alright? Those two said…”
“She is fine but if you want to be present at your child’s birth we must go now.”
“She’s giving birth now!?” he asks with some alarm.
Athena nods.
“Can you take me to them?” Kal asks.
Athena nods once more and she and Kal vanish from the beach.
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Meanwhile Hades and Ares continue their battle trading blows and assorted blasts of energy. They are about to charge at each other again when a enormous bolt of lightning strikes in between them knocking them to the ground. Then suddenly standing there are both Zeus and Hera. Ares gets to his feet as his mother glares at him.
“You dare break my law.” Hera says to Ares.
“Only for the greater good. The child is a threat. One I intended to remove.” Ares replies.
“Lies.” Zeus speaks. “You intended to use the child against us.”
“You know all about deception Father. Everything I know I learned from you. You know deep down that the child must be dealt with for all our sakes.”
“That issue has been resolved for now.” Zeus says as he looks at his wife. “As for you Ares…” Zeus raises his hand and a thunderbolt forms within it. Ares goes wide eyed.
“Father please.” Ares begs.
Zeus says nothing as he strikes Ares with the bolt and he vanishes.
“Where did you send him?” Hades asks as he looks on.
“Not your concern.” Zeus tells him. Zeus turns to look upon Hades. “Well brother. It has been a while.”
“Indeed.”
“Since your betrayal.” Zeus reminds him of how he sided with the Titans against the Olympian Gods.
“It is both deception and lust for power that runs in our family. After all it wasn’t out of concern of the greater good that you overthrew our father.” Hades tells Zeus.
“Do not try my patience Hades. I still have Eris and Ares’ sons to deal with. Now as for you…”
Hades cuts him off “Let me guess back to the Underworld to continue to serve my eternal punishment.”
“Indeed and you can take Ares’ followers with you. A few centuries in the pit might remind them of where their true loyalty should lie. Unless you wish to challenge me again.”
Hades muses on that for a second before deciding “Very well I will return but expect me to continue to seek another way out brother. I will not rest until I am permanently free of that pit.”
Zeus actually smiles “I would be disappointed if you did anything else. Come we must put an end to this.”
Zeus, Hades and Hera vanish as do Ares’ followers shortly afterwards.
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“I want Kal!” Diana demands of Donna and Epione.
As she says it he and Athena appear.
“Diana.” Kal says as he quickly moves to her side.
“Kal. You’re here. Are you ok?” Diana says with relief that he’s here.
“I’m a wee bit tired. I was attacked by Ares sons but more importantly are you ok?”
“You tell me. Is the baby ok?” She asks.
Kal has recharged enough for his x-ray vision to work and he looks at the baby. “The baby is facing the right way and the heartbeat is strong. I would say our baby is ready to join the world.”
“Yes but not for a while yet.” Epione says. “You have only dilated a few centimetres.”
“In that case I will leave. There is a lot to do on Olympus.” Athena says.
“What happened to Ares?” Donna asks
“He has been punished. I can’t guarantee that you will never see him again but it will not be for a good long time.” Athena informs them all.
“Good.” Donna says with little sympathy.
“My sentiments exactly.” Athena says in agreement. “I will go. Take care of yourselves and your child.” she says as she vanishes from sight.
“Well that was fun.” Donna says with a sigh of relief.
“I really hope that was sarcasm.” Kal says to her after the day he has had.
“Ignore her Kal.” Diana tells him and she then grimaces as a contraction hits her.
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A few hours later and much squeezing of Kal’s hand which would have been broken if he was a normal man the moment finally arrives.
“Ok I can see the head.” Epione tells Diana. “One more push.”
Diana does so and screams at her husband “Kal! We are never doing this again, do you hear me!?”
“Superhearing honey. I can hear you from orbit.”
“Shut up!”
“And here we are.” Epione says as she delivers the baby. “It’s a beautiful baby girl.” she tells them as she gently coaxes the baby which promptly begins to cry.
“It’s a girl?” Diana asks tearfully.
“Yes it is.” Epione says as she hands her over to Diana “A beautiful girl at that.”
Diana holds her daughter for the first time “Oh Kal! Look at her. We made her.”
Donna looks over at the girl “She has our hair.” she remarks at the few tufts of black hair on the baby’s head
“She has my eyes.” Kal says back.
“She has Diana’s mouth.” Donna points out.
“Ah but she has my dimples.” Kal tells her.
“Alright stop.” Diana tells them. “I am tired and you two are not going to list my daughters features like it’s a competition. Am I clear?”
“Yes. Sorry.” Donna says.
Kal kisses Diana on the temple “Sorry.”
“Good.”
“So name?” Donna asks.
Kal groans slightly “We hadn’t agreed on one yet.”
“Actually I’ve had one in mind for a while if our child was a girl.” Diana says.
“You have?” Kal asks with some surprise. Diana hadn’t seemed to have one before. In fact she had seemed to be avoiding the whole issue. Well if he wanted dull and predictably he wouldn't have married her in the first place.
Diana nods “In honour of a women who I think helped bring us together. I want to call her Lois if that’s alright with you Kal.”
Kal breaks out into a wide smile “I think that’s lovely. Do you want a middle name for her?”
“No I think Lois Kent is just fine.” Diana says.
“Does she have a Kryptonian name?” Donna asks.
Kal thinks about it for a moment. They could keep the name Lois, not a traditional Kryptonian name but it would do. All he has to do is add the family name. “It would be Lois Kal-El. On Krypton daughters always take their father’s name at the end.” Kal tells her.
“Typical. Let me guess a man came up with that.” Donna says.
Kal shrugs “I don’t know truthfully. It was an old tradition on Krypton.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Diana says trying to avoid a debate she was far too tired to endure at this precise moment.
By now Phillipus has heard of the news of Diana being in labour and has made her way over as soon as was practically possible considering everything that had happened. She knocks on the door and Epione opens it.
“I heard you were giving birth.” Phillipus says as she enters.
“She has given birth. Say hello to our new princess.” Donna informs her.
A smile forms on Phillipus’ face “Princess? It is a girl.”
“Yes I have a daughter.” Diana tells her.
Phillipus walks over and examines Lois “Oh congratulations your majesty, she is beautiful.”
“Yes. I suppose a girl will make the Senate happy, well happier. A new heir to the throne.”
“Yes I suppose so.”
“What happened with Ares’ followers? He told me they were attacking the island.” Diana asks Phillipus.
“They were but we were holding our own and then they just vanished suddenly. It was truly a miracle of the gods.” Phillipus informs them.
“The only miracle I care for at the moment is the one in my arms.” Diana replies.
Phillipus smiles “As you should. Do not worry. Althea is most qualified. You chose well in appointing her to handle your duties.”
“She is a good and loyal friend who has served me well for these last 60 years.” Diana replies.
“Yes and you also chose well in an ambassador who at this moment should not be here.” Phillipus points out.
Donna suddenly realises that she shouldn’t really be here. “Oh. Yes. Right. I had a meeting, another meeting. Oh great Hera. How do I explain why I left?”
“Tell the truth.” Diana says.
“All of it?” Donna asks.
“Well no leave Lois out of it for now. We’ll have to carefully consider how we reveal her to the world but Ares attacking us you can tell them about.” Diana tells her sister.
“You named her Lois?” Phillipus asks.
“Yes we did and one day she’ll need a good trainer. Up to the task?” Diana asks Phillipus.
“It would be an honour as it was training you your Majesty. Well I think we should let you rest. Come Donna. We have to get you back to your duties.”
“Oh joy.” Donna says sarcastically as she kisses Diana’s cheek and leaves with Phillipus.
Diana’s attention turns back to her daughter, their daughter. All mothers probably think this but to Diana she looks like the most beautiful baby in the world. Of course the most ironic part of this whole saga is that if it wasn't for Ares Diana would never have had to seek help and had never met Kal again and now she's never been happier. She's married and has a daughter. Out of the corner of her eye she can see Kal staring at their daughter with the same wonder she has. “Isn’t she wonderful Kal?” she asks him.
“Yes she is. I can’t tell you how happy I am today Diana. I love you.”
“And I love you too Kal.”
They kiss once more as Kal contemplates how he got here. From misery and grief Diana appeared like an angel restoring joy to his life. Now he no longer worries about his longevity because he knows he will spend it with Diana and their daughter. Their precious, wonderful daughter. Back in the cemetery at Bruce’s funeral he had thought about how there was only one left, him. Diana showed up and then they were two and he wasn’t alone anymore and now, with a new baby daughter, now they were three.
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Author’s Note: So I went for Lois as their daughter’s name. My reason is that despite her being dead Lois actually has a big-ish part in this story helping Kal and Diana get together so it made sense to me to call her Lois. Anyway we are near the end of my story. I’m going to add an epilogue and then I’m done.
