"The Succession Myth" by Jorge Martinez

A Manhattan High Rise Apartment Building.

The Black Knight and Sersi are talking to the police in their Manhattan apartment. The assassin Bullseye lays dead in the bedroom. Infact, all that is left are his steel bones. In the bathroom lays Ana the maid. She is also dead. The entity known as Deathurge possessed Bullseye and attempted to kill Sersi. He has failed.

SERSI: No, officer I have never had any dealings with this Bullseye.

BLACK KNIGHT: Ana had a younger brother. Maybe I should try to contact him. She was a good woman. Her death might have affected me worse than all the Eternals that died....

In a flash Dane Whitman and Sersi disappear leaving only some of New York's finest with another mystery.

AVENGERS HEADQUARTERS

Starfox, Firelord, and Gilgamesh walk into the Avengers complex. The automatic doors open for them. Jarvis comes to greet them.

JARVIS: Good afternoon sirs...what?!

The three men disappear right in front of his eyes.

JARVIS: I must alert Captain America!

NEW ORLEANS

Monica Rambeau and her mother walk along a popular shopping district. They have bags of things they have already bought.

PHOTON: Mother, we should go. We have been here an hour and these bags are getting heavy!

MRS. RAMBEAU: Monica, I thought you Avengers were made of stronger stuff. Child, your going to be jumping across the cosmos for God know's how long. You need lots of stuff.

PHOTON:(To self) *sighs* Packing for my trip is the least of my worries. Mentor visited me earlier to warn me this won't be a easy trip. I shouldn't be so worried. Poor Dane has much more to worry about as does Eros. I am just along for support.

In a flash Monica disappears. The bags she was carrying fall to the ground leaving her mother shocked.

MRS. RAMBEAU: Monica! Monica!

The woman falls to her knees and begins to cry.

ATLANTIS

Namor the SubMariner swims quickly into his throne room. His cousin Namorita and one of his advisors are waiting for him.

ADVISOR: Prince Namor! I have grave news for you!

NAMOR: What is it?

ADVISOR: Well, honestly I don't know. But I felt a disturbance. A disturbance in the dimensional fabric of this planet. Something that might affect us. I cannot feel Father Neptune any longer!

NAMOR: Hmm, there might be a problem on Olympus. Namorita does your new "boyfriend" know anything about this?

NAMORITA: Namor, I feel a touch of bitterness or is that jealousy. I know you weren't fond of me dating the Human Torch. But dating Thor has really made you uptight.

NAMOR: Nita, please. I am not in the mood. I wonder if he knows you exist sometimes.

NAMORITA: Hmph! To answer your question...no he hasn't. Ofcourse, it has been days since I have *ahem* seen him.

NAMOR: He's an immortal cousin. A year to him is like a day to us. I am sure he will eventually remember you....

Namor the King of the Seven Seas also disappears.

NAMORITA: Namor!

ADVISOR: Oh my! It's beggining!

NAMORTIA: Beginning of what advisor?

ADVISOR: The begging of the end!

ASGARD

The All Father Odin has summoned his son Thor to his side. There is much they must talk about. Odin sits up in his bed as Thor enters.

THOR: Father, forgive me for waking you.

ODIN: 'Tis fine my son. I have important matters to discuss with thee.

THOR: What is it father?

ODIN: Son, the universe is changing. Everything shall be different soon. But we still have time. 'Tis only small changes for now. Asgard and the Nine Realms will not be affected for some time. But soon enow it shall be here for us.

THOR: What would that be father?

ODIN: Ragnarok!

As Odin goes to put his hand on his son's shoulder to calm him Thor disappears.

ODIN: So it begins. I must prepare. I didn't have a chance to visit Zeus once more.

AVENGERS HEADQUARTERS

Jarvis runs into the communications room. Captain America sits in front of the view screen with multiple connections open.

JARVIS: Captain, excuse me but I have something to report!

CAPTAIN AMERICA: I know Jarvis. I saw them disappear on the monitor. She Hulk was with me and she disappeared as well. I got a call from the New York City Police Department about the Black Knight and Sersi disappearing. I also have Photon's mother on a open link stating the same. We have an alert coming in from Atlantis. Are you a betting man Jarvis?

JARVIS: Prince Namor?

CAPTAIN AMERICA: I hope it is my old comrade but I doubt it.

Captain America puts the call from Atlantis on screen. It is Namorita.

NAMORITA: Captain! Namor he just....

CAPTAIN AMERICA: Disappeared?

NAMORITA: Yes! How did you know?

CAPTAIN AMERICA: He's the eigth one now. I am checking all former Avengers now. Thor has yet to respond but that isn't unusual. We'll inform you if we learn anything.

NAMORITA: Uh, thank you.

He shuts off the view screen.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: Jarvis, please talk to Photon's mom and reassure her I am doing my best to find her. Iron Man has just arrived and I will brief him.

JARVIS: Captain , do we have any clues yet?

CAPTAIN AMERICA: Well, looking at the missing members my hunch is something big is going down. I am sure Thor is among them as well.

JARVIS: Oh my.

OLYMPUS

All the missing Avengers appear at once in the meeting hall of the Olympian gods. Hercules, Dania, and Prometheus are waiting for them.

THOR: Hercules, is there an emergency?

NAMOR: Of that you can be certain Asgardian. Why else would the famed Lion of Olympus call us to his home?

SHE-HULK: I guess it's not for a dinner party.

BLACK KNIGHT: What is it Hercules?

HERCULES: Avengers please sit. I shall let Prometheus explain to you all the dire situation in Olympus.

All the Avengers sit in seats meant for gods. It is not much different than the Avengers own meeting room. Prometheus stays standing and addresses his audience.

PROMETHEUS: Avengers, I have summoned you because Hercules wished it so. The universe will soon be in a crisis. Or as others see it a time of change. Zeus knew his time would be up eventually. And even accepted it despite his pride. The older generation of gods are to ascend to a different plane. All those born after Zeus will remain on Olympus. Some of the other older pantheons have already done this.

THOR: This is what mighty Odin spoke of!

PROMETHEUS: Yes, Thor. The Asgardians shall face their transition soon as well. But one of the older gods has refused to leave this plane of existence. It is a shame. Zeus was most proud that the transition was going to happen peacefully unlike many others. His brother Pluto refused to leave Hades. In what seems a foolish act Zeus went down to Hades to convince his brother. Pluto is as mighty as even Zeus in his own home. But also Pluto had allies. Others who refused to leave, his subjects in Hades, and one that wasn't meant to go but wants to ensure his place on the throne of Zeus.

NAMOR: Ares!

PROMETHEUS: Yes, prince. Ares will wage a war to be the new ruler of Olympus. A war that is certainly destined but not at this time.

GILGAMESH: Where are the other Olympians?

HERCULES: Pluto tricked Hera, Neptune, and Demeter into travelling into Hades. He sent his ferryman Charon to tell them the ascension would take place in Hades. A believable tale. They were also captured. My siblings led by Athena realized the ruse and quickly stormed Hades. They have not been heard of since.

PROMETHEUS: Pluto, is powerful in Hades but to capture the whole pantheon? I think not. I have heard that he has also enlisted some of his parallel death gods and some of the Titans may have joined as well. They are uniting so they can avoid the same fate.

THOR: Hela must be among them!

PROMETHEUS: Thunder god I fear who they have among them.

HADES

Another meeting is taking place in the hall of Pluto. Those in attendance are Pluto, Hela, Mephisto, Seth, and Ares. The war god is arguing with the powerful death gods.

ARES: All of you sit here as cowards! Olympus is mine for the taking if not for Hercules and his mortal friends!

HELA: Thou art the coward Ares! Dost thou fear mortals so much?

ARES: Thor is among them Hela! He hath thwarted thou plenty!

SETH: We grow tired of you war god.

MEPHISTO: Pluto, tell this pup we care nothing of Olympus and to begone!

ARES: Listen....

PLUTO: Ares, enough! We are fighting for survival unlike thee. Thou's quest is merely a power struggle. I have given thee a legion of the undead. They will fight for thee against the Avengers.

ARES: Bah! Thou might as well give me rabbits.

ERIS: Brother, let us leave.

ARES: Aye, I am done with thee Pluto!

Ares and his sister leave the hall.

PLUTO: I have never liked Ares. His siblings have been thwarted and now he wants us to handle the Avengers as well. He expects to walk onto the throne of Olympus without a drop of his own blood to show for it.

OLYMPUS

Ares and Eris walk through a portal that transports them to Olympus. They are greeting by the war goddess Enyo, and the demonic brothers Deimos and Phobos. Behind them stands an army of the undead.

ENYO: The death gods will not assist thee Ares?

ARES: No, old woman. They have deserted us.

The brothers Deimos and Phobos look like jackals in armor. Their fearful masks are enough to kill a mortal it is said.

DEIMOS: It matters not father! We have our swords ready! These Avengers are nothing but mortals!

ARES: Be quiet Deimos! Do not disturb me now.

Ares, Enyo and Eris walk a few yards away.

ARES: This is the chance I have been waiting for. My over bearing father gone as well as my siblings. All save the one I hate the most, Hercules!

ENYO: It is only fitting that you would have to cut down Zeus' favorite son to sit on his throne!

ERIS: Brother, listen too me! The Avengers might be mere mortals but their power might rivals that of our own! Let the Avengers go to Hades to save the Olympians. They cannot defeat all the death gods in their own realm.

ARES: This is true sister. Then Olympus shall be mine to take .

ENYO: A throne isn't taken with a whimper boy.

ARES: Old woman if thou doth not hold thy tongue I shall end thy suffering here and now!

OLYMPIAN MEETING HALL

The Avengers are making a plan to storm Hades. Not everyone agrees with the strategy,

HERCULES: Friend Dane forgive me. I didst forget of Sersi pregnancy in my haste to summon thee.

BLACK KNIGHT: Don't worry Hercules. Your plan is a good one.

NAMOR: You summon the savage Submariner only to play guard!

PHOTON: Namor! With your powers Hades isn't the most suitable environment for you! Besides someone must stay here and defend Olympus!

SHE-HULK: She has a point! Pointy ears.

THOR: So be it! Namor, the Black Knight, She Hulk and Sersi stay to defend Olympus! The rest of us shall travel to Hades! Once there we must all play out own parts!

Thor begins to swing his hammer opening a rift in space and time. Prometheus also shares his energies to assist the thunder god. The Avengers storming Hades are gone!

SHE-HULK: What now?

A voice cries out.

DIONYSUS: Avengers, not all of the Olympians traveled to Hades!

BLACK KNIGHT: Dionysus? How are you here?

DIONYSUS: I refused to battle Pluto.

NAMOR: But why?

DIONYSUS: I feared a rumor. A rumor that my father would replace Pluto with me! I would become the new god of death! A destiny I want no part of.

BLACK KNIGHT: Wait! I hear something!

Dane runs outside and sees troops marching his way lead by four horseman.

DIONYSUS: Yes, this is what I came to tell you. Ares is coming!

NAMOR: Prepare yourselves Avengers!

HADES

Six people arrive in Hades surrounded by thousands of undead soldiers. The soldiers have yet to attack.

PHOTON: Avenger back to back! Firelord once the battle starts join me in the sky!

THOR: AVENGERS ATTACK! MP>The battle begins

THE END