Paradise Lost by Jorge Martinez

HADES

A trio of supermen continue their battle with Pluto's demon horde. The supermen are Thor, Firelord, and Gilgamesh. Pluto has called all of his troops to battle. He is considering joining it himself. He stands before a statue of Zeus, Neptune, and Hera. Pluto talks to the statue.

PLUTO: Brother. Why must it end so soon? Where shalt we go from here? If thou knew the answers I might have gone along peacefully.

THE BATTLE

GILGAMESH: Now is a good time to confront Pluto himself.

THOR: Aye. But what of Hercules?

GILGAMESH: Zeus has blessed Hercules with greater strength than ever before. He is stronger many times over than he was. He shall be fine.

FIRELORD: Something is happening! I see in the distance a giant followed by an army!

THOR: Ah, Prometheus returns with help.

OLYMPUS

Two groups battle each other on the fields of Olympus. One consists of mostly Avengers and the other of ancient war gods.

Ares engages Namor. He fights like never before. He will not be shamed by a hybrid mortal.

The ancient war goddess Enyo battles against the Black Knight. He takes her measure. She is stronger and a expert swordsman. Better than him infact. With her next swing he slices her sword in two with his own ebony blade. She is surprised. She takes out a dagger. The Knight puts away his enchanted sword and reveals his photon blade. A weapon made of concentrated light. She lunges at him and he strikes her with his photon sword.

ENYO: Ugh! That is not a real weapon! It causes pain but cannot kill me! Take out thy other sword!

BLACK KNIGHT: I have no intention of killing you.

ENYO: Then remember this! I rather die than lose!

The old woman uses her dagger and slices her own neck.

BLACK KNIGHT: No!

She Hulk fights in circles. The evil Eris casts illusions driving the giantess mad while Deimos and Phobos attack. She Hulk is in a panic. Swinging wildly and taking much punishment. Suddenly, the ground shakes. Vines grow out of the earth and then the ground itself rises to capture the trio. It has been Dionysus doing.

ERIS: Dionysus! What hast happened to thee?

BACCHUS: You may call me Bacchus now. I have been reborn again. My powers are as they once were woman!

Ares has seemingly defeated the Sub Mariner. He is panting and tired.

ARES: Ha! The fish man proved no match! He should have jumped in the lake! Ha! I hath come too far this time! I would not let him beat me!

BACCHUS: Ares, you barely beat the Sub Mariner. You are no match for the rest of us. Your allies have all been neutralized. It was the greatest fight I have seen you win but it shall be your last!

ARES: No! I say thee nay! Even a reborn Dionysus cannot defeat me!

Ares charges at them. Both the Black Knight and Bacchus prepare. Suddenly, a energy blast hits Ares and he falls down. He doesn't get back up.

SERSI: Let the dog lie there a bit longer.

HADES: PLUTO'S HALL

Pluto sees his troops have lost. Thor and his allies have won with the help of the heroes of Elysium.

Pluto looks at Zeus statue once more.

PLUTO: Brother, forgive me.

The statue of Zeus begins to crack. The surrounding statues of Hera and Neptune follow. Light shines through the cracks. Pieces of stone begin to fly apart until the true gods stand in front of Pluto. Thor arrives with the others.

PROMETHEUS: Zeus, thou art free.

ZEUS: Aye. My poor brother Pluto. Hast thou finally accepted thy fate?

PLUTO: Aye, Zeus. I was a coward.

PROMETHEUS: The Avengers left on Olympus have defeated Ares with the help of the reborn Dionysus now known as Bacchus. Charon delivered me to Elysium safely as he promised.

THOR: What of Hercules and the others in Tartarus? I must go there.

ZEUS: Nay, Thunderer! This hast all been a test for all my children! Hercules must rescue his siblings alone!

TARTARUS

Hercules stands strong against three Titans. The old gods Oceanus, Crius, and Coeus have surrounded him. They all trade blows. They are no match for the Lion of Olympus.

HERCULES: Old men thou stand no chance against me! I am stronger now than when you last faced me!

OCEANUS: We hath been imprisoned here for centuries because of thee! And now Zeus would have us die!

HERCULES: Alas, my father knows when his time is done! He doth not want to become a sad old man like all of thee!

Hercules remembers his teammates face the dangerous Hecatonchires. He quickly ends his battle with the three Titans. It was never a true battle at all. He kills them one by one. They seemed relieved before they died.

EROS: My powers do not work on these beings!

PHOTON: I am unleashing as much energy as I can without risking my health! They have thick hides!

HERCULES: Fear not Avengers! Hercules hast joined thee!

EROS:(to self) I do feel my emotion manipulation powers doing something but not the desired effect. They still attack. I wonder if I reverse the emotions. Fill them with hate?

Hercules challenges the guard Cottus. He is much quicker than Hercules and almost as strong. Hercules again wastes no time and delivers his Gift when he has the opportunity. The Hecatonchire falls dead.

Photon concentrates all her energies into the one called Gyges. It is too much for the monster to bear. Photon is also victorious.

Starfox uses his powers to fill the last guard Briarius with hate. The manbeast cries outloud! He falls too his knees and wails.

HERCULES: Good job my friends! Now let us find my brothers and sisters!

ATHENA: We are here Hercules.

The Avengers turn around and the missing Olympians are before them.

APOLLO: We could not escape while the Hecatonchires kept watch. The moment they left to battle thee we took the advantage.

HERCULES: I am glad to see thee Apollo. Now we must save our father!

The voice of Zeus rings out.

ZEUS: No, my children! The time for battle is over.

The three Avengers and six Olympians are transported from Tartarus to Olympus. It seems a feast is taking place this night.

HERCULES: Zeus!

ZEUS: Aye, son. I hath thrown a celebration in honor of our ascension. Thy current comrades the Avengers are here as well as thy former allies the Argonauts and their children who came from Elysium. Please enjoy thyselves!

The feast has a wide variety of entertainment. A dance is performed for Zeus by some of his daughters. Apollo plays his harp while Hermes and Pan their flutes. Orpheus sings a new song of that day's important events. Hercules bids farewell to his old friends who return to Elysium. Even the Amazons were courteous too him. The Avengers enjoy themselves but some are still concerned.

BLACK KNIGHT: I can feel it. The tension in the air.

NAMOR: Yes. My advisors told me the world is in a transition. The old gods will disappear. Will new ones take their place?

THOR: I fear thou may be right Namor. My father Odin didst call me to discuss these things. I believe Ragnarok will come soon.

PHOTON: Aren't you suppossed to die in Ragnarok?

THOR: Aye, Photon. But the fates have been wrong before. It is a splendid night isn't it. The stars so bright.

They all grow silent. One breaks the silence.

GILGAMESH: Avengers, I know what will happen. There are indeed new gods coming. Sersi carries one of them in her. Thor you will be indeed be counted among the new pantheon. You will lead the new pantheon.

THOR: What? Z

eus calls the crowds attention and then addresses them.

ZEUS: I shall not make a long speech. Our time hath run out. I hath left many good and capable children as a legacy. But Mount Olympus itself shalt be barren after tonight.

The crowd gasps.

ZEUS: My children need to find their own place among men. The powers of the mortals rival that of the gods now. It is time we see them as equals. Some of thee wilt ascend with me and others shall be reborn as was Bacchus. Yet, others will have new roles.

ZEUS: Athena, Hephaestus, Artemis, Persephone, and Hermes shall all be reborn as was Dionysus. Thou shalt join the survivors of Ragnarok as the new pantheon.

Again the crowd gasps.

ZEUS: Apollo, thou shalt have a special mission to perform. Once thou art done thou wilt be reborn.

ZEUS: Ares, I shall leave thee as a prisoner of the Asgardians. Thou shalt die during Ragnarok.

ZEUS: Finally, my son Hercules. Thou's destiny is in the stars. Thou shalt populate a new race of gods throughout the cosmos.

ZEUS: Farewell my children....

All the Olympians turn into energy. Like butterflies they fluuter around. Hercules and the Avengers watch in amazement. The energy all dart into the night sky and until they disappear. Hercules weeps for he will miss his father and wonders if he will ever see his siblings again.

THE END