The Son of Thunder.

FINALLY DONE WITH THIS GODDAMN CHAPTER!

Sorry for swearing but it was a nightmare to get this done, I mean between dealing with writer's block, working so many ours at my job with no rest and dealing with the inferno that is desert heat in the summer and no fucking air conditioner to help I think I am entitled to it.

Now this ends another story that ended with a cliffhanger and thus will chill for a while as I work on the others still pending and them move onto some new work. This will displease some but I am not moving from this decision ok so you can either be mature about it and accept this or act like a child and whine about it to someone who cares who will not be me. ALL DECISION REGARDING MY WORKS ARE FINAL!

Another thing, I have done everything I could to get the words right, rewrote scene after scene and tried to shape this in a way that made sense to me though it may not to you my readers but with all that said this is the final product. If you like it cool and if you don't well then too bad because after the hell that went into making this there is no take backs.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters portrayed in this work of fiction, I do not own BTVS or any DC characters that appear here, and there will be a slight reference to the Marvel versions of Thor, you have been warned.

"Speaking"

"Whispering"

*Sound Effect*

*Thought*

-Media or transmission—

Chapter 9 part 2: A tale of Fire and Ice.

Previously…

"…why would Faust want this?"

She thought out loud, not noticing that all was not well.

For the relic was not just guarded by machinery and science, but sorcery as well as the statue was soon animated and turned to look at the would be thief. With a thunderous boom it broke free from its base and approaches his quarry.

Diana heard and felt the booming footsteps and saw that looming shadow, turning around she was in shock as the giant stood before her and pull out his massive sword against her.

"Great Gaea!" she cried just before the giant moved to slam the massive blade.

And now the continuation…

A gigantic stone sword rushed towards the Amazon…

*CRASH!*

*What foul magic is this!?* She thought furiously as she landed some distance away from the apparent guardian of the relic. Upon landing she quickly grabs her golden lasso and spins it through the air before launching it towards the sword wielding hand.

Unfortunately, though she succeeds in trapping it, the giant was not very forthcoming in relinquishing his weapon and pulls at the rope to draw her towards his awaiting fist…which soon connects to her body.

*WHAM!*

"UGH!"

Diana flew back and struck the wall before falling to the floor, the blow rattled her senses but not by much since her awareness was still good enough to warn her of the guardian's fast approach, thus she avoids another fatal blow that could have claimed her life.

However, her momentary reprieve had not come without a cost as the kneeling giant rose and turned to face her, all the while looking at his hand…and the relic it held.

"No!" she cries out as her hands flew to her waist and found the object missing, regardless of the danger she rushed to the offending appendage to pry it out of the moving statue's hand "…give that back! I must have it!"

The guardian however was not in a charitable mood as he takes the opportunity to rid himself of the Amazon princess. He swung his sword wildly to strike down the woman, but she nimbly avoided his blade; however he did managed to finally land a blow when she came in close for an attack of her own.

*WHAM!*

"Ugh!" she lands heavily in the ruined columns where the relic was hidden causing them to topple on top of her. The statue moved over the ruins and shifted the rubble with his blade to confirm his victory.

Satisfied the thief was dealt with he begins to turn away, but he did not even move a few feet when the rubble starts to shift. Diana was not dead and she was most certainly not happy as she lifted a broken column over her head and glared furiously at the Guardian.

"I am Diana! Princess of the Amazons! I WILL NOT BE DENIED!" and with that resounding proclamation she hurls the makeshift weapon at her hateful foe with all her might.

The giant slowly turned to face her but could not prevent the column from smashing into his right leg, both the column and the leg shattered under the strain. The Guardian looks to his wounded appendage with an expression that clearly spoke volumes of how wrong things were about to go for him.

Which they soon promptly did as a rather irate Wonder Woman charges him with a look in her eyes that promised swift and painful retribution. She nails him with a vicious right hook that sent him tumbling back followed by a fierce uppercut to the chin then another that finally decapitated the statue and though this did not stop her from raining blow after blow until on broken fragments remained of the giant. She soon spots the relic among the debris and picks it up with some relief it was finally over and she could continue her search…

"Diana!"

Or so she thought as the unmistakable voice of the Man of Steel rung as he flew towards her from the shattered ceiling.

*Damn it all! This is the last thing I wanted to happen!* Grimly she thinks as she turns to face him with a neutral expression on her face. Which naturally made Superman all the more concerned why Diana would be doing this.

"What's going on?"

"This is not your concern." She replied in all seriousness.

Superman for his part looked around all the devastation and thought otherwise.

"It is when my friends start tearing up museums, now I've already alerted the others…" Clark spoke firmly as he could tell form her mood that something had her tense "…when they get here they'll want an explanation."

Diana simply sighed in frustration at another delay of her mission.

Later…

True to Superman's words, Flash, J'onn and Green Lantern arrived on the scene and upon seeing the destruction immediately turned to the Amazon for answers. Answers she gave reluctantly but realized that the cat was out of the bag and now was not the time to be confrontational.

She explained her encounter with Faust, how she was able to track the relic, and her battle with the suddenly animated statue. The heroes were silent through it all and when it ended they all wore expressions of worry for their friend.

Kyle was the first to speak.

"Miss I'm new to this but I think I speak for all of us when I say that you can't trust the word of a man willing to harm others so callously." He says tactfully to the woman.

"Of course I don't trust Faust…"

She replies with frustration but at the same time filled with worry

"…but what else can I do? He literally holds the lives of my people in his hands. If I do not…then my people will be rendered fully into stone and I know of no magic to free them. Only…only he has the item and the knowledge to use it."

"I say we go back and kick that would be sorcerer's butt!" Flash spoke up as he dashed to her side in a show of support.

"No, men are forbidden from ever setting foot on Themyscira."

"Somebody should have told him that before then." The crimson clad speedster quipped.

"Besides…" she spoke next with bitterness at the thought of accepting the malicious individual's demands.

"I gave my word that I would find the other relics. If I do not then he will know that I did not live up to my promise."

"I'm afraid that leaves us with but one course of action." The Martian said in all seriousness as the others looked with equal sentiment.

"We will have to help you." He ended with a reassuring smile at her that made her feel assured that they were truly with her on this matter.

*I should have not tried to hide this from them, they are truly good friends.* Wonder Woman says to herself as she smiled at each of them in thanks.

"Now then…" Superman spoke as he looked towards Diana "…how do we go about this?"

"I suggest we split up into teams, that way we can cover more ground with little time in between." Green Lantern says out loud getting all to agree to the plan.

"Right then, Wonder Woman, Superman will go in one direction while Flash, I and Lantern will head in another, agreed?" J'onn suggested as a plan of action, the others seeing the wisdom of it.

"Here is the tracking crystal J'onn, when it pulses it means you are close to relic." The Amazon noble handed the gem to her teammate who took it gladly while memorizing the instruction she gave him.

"Then let's go, the sooner we get these items the sooner we can save Diana's people and stop this madman." Superman says in utmost seriousness and determination to help his friend and ally.

*Thank you, all of you.* She thinks with gratitude for the words and sentiment behind them.

Now it was a race against time, only this time she would not be alone in this debacle.

Meanwhile with Xander…

"Doctors I have found another wounded!" He shouts as he gently carries an unconscious woman with a head wound that was bleeding profusely as well as having broken legs within his arms.

Two men and women quickly move to their position with a stretcher carried between them.

Xander places he charge onto it before releasing her in her care.

"Thank you Lord Alexander." One of the women says before she helps her colleague with their latest patient.

A part of him wishes they would stop calling him that but right now these people are looking to him for comfort, courage and dare he say leadership.

*Jesus is this how Buffy felt back in Highschool with us?* The storm God can't help but wonder. He decides to check up on them and Tora who has been pushing herself ragged once the shock of the attack wore off.

He makes his way to the makeshift hospital the villagers have made outside the main temple given that their normal one was filled to the brim with the more serious cases.

He spots Dawn and Diana working with the nurses and doctors, passing along messages in the case of the former and the latter lending what few medical skills she has as well as healing spells she knows.

Cordelia is sitting nearby with a steaming cup of coffee, she looks just as exhausted given all the running around she is doing.

"Hey Cordy, pardon my French but you look like shit." Xander points out as he takes a seat next to her.

"Feel like it Xander, I haven't been this drained since graduation and even then it wasn't this…bad." She grimaces as she sees more wounded coming in.

"I know the feeling, for all the godly power I have and I can't stop things like this from happening." The bitterness is coming loud and clear.

"Unless you have a gift foresight no one could have predicted this tragedy doofus." Ever the honest one Cordelia says it like it is.

"I guess, by the way where's Tora? Still with her mom?" He asks as he was hoping to speak with her but didn't want to intrude where he may not be wanted.

"Yeah, she hasn't left her side except to eat or drink. I mean it is good that her mom got off so easy but I think the real toll is knowing her father has been taken." Cordelia couldn't help feel sympathy for the woman, getting the chance to talk to her she couldn't help but like the kind hero so seeing this tragedy happen to her made it hard not to sympathize.

"Right, Buffy and Faith took some of the village trackers to look for clues." He comments grimly.

"Let's hope they find some then for her sake at least." Cordelia adds with a small hopeful smile.

He allowed himself a moment to believe in her words, he too wanted to save the people taken hostage, heck if he knew how to get to the land of the Ice giants he would have already.

However before such thoughts could grow he heard a commotion from the village entrance. Both he and Cordelia shared a look before making their way towards it.

Mjolnir and his sword were in his hands once he saw the cause.

Being surrounded by weapons on all sides was a frost giant twice his size covered in armor who looked pretty smug despite being unarmed and defenseless.

Buffy and Faith had their Manhunter staffs fully extended, charged and pointed at the creature's head. Around him several villagers look at it hatefully or spat curses at seeing the cause of their recent woes.

"Who's your guest Buff?" He tried to be calm but the intense hold on his weapons showed that he was just waiting for an excuse, his temper being something he inherited from his parents or so his grandmother told him.

"The last of the Asgardians…I am waiting to be impressed." The blue skinned giant spoke with mockery.

Xander however took no offense…at least any that could be seen until he sheathed his sword, drops his hammer and then kicks the beast in between its legs hard enough it folded in on itself.

All the men couldn't but cringe at the sight and covertly cover their manhood's.

"You impressed now asshole?" Faith couldn't help but say as she approved of Xander's actions, this earned her a glare, anger and pain quite present in it but frankly she didn't care because she knew her friend had her back.

Before the beast could say anything the Thunder god kicked the side of his face making him face the sky before something incredibly heavy, or at least felt that way, was placed on his chest.

Xander released Mjolnir after just retrieving it and then bent down to look at the Jotun's face.

"Here's how it goes…" Xander began but took grievance at the way the creature look at Faith and slapped him hard to regain its attention.

"…pay attention! Now as I was saying, here's how it goes, you are here because you clearly wanted to tell me something so here I am now talk before I get nasty."

"Grr, our Queen would like to speak to you Aesir." The beast growled.

"And for that she had to kidnap and murder innocent people?" Xander spat back with venom, the giant however smirked at his reaction.

"She felt you would be more compelled to accept if you were properly motivated." The dark grin it gave when it said that made his blood boil.

*KRAKOOM!*

The loud thunder overhead also helped show that.

"Where do I find her and how do I get there?"

"Jotunheim, there is a rune stone in my pouch that will open a portal, just throw it in any direction and it shall activate…it is only one way of course." There's that smugness again.

"So a trap eh? Well it would be rude of me not to walk into it, anything else I should know?"

"I have said all that is needed."

"Oh good…" Xander spoke with sudden faux cheer as he stood up and summoned his hammer to his hand "…that means I can kill you now."

And before the Jotun could even say anything the axe that made part of the mystical weapon parted his head from his body. Not that any of villagers protested as they all silently cheered at the execution of one of their tormentors.

"All right, now we know where to go…" Xander openly spoke as he shook the blood of his weapon "…so who will go with me to knock some skulls open and save some innocents?"

"And here I thought this vacay would be dull." Faith spoke up as she walked up to him, already preparing for a fight.

"Well I did want to put this staff through its paces." Buffy added smiling at him as he did her as he knew he could count on his friend.

"I will go as well; I will bring my father and my people back." A noticeable voice spoke from the back, making everyone turn to face the source.

"Tora." Xander greeted her calmly as she made her way towards him.

"I am with you Alexander." She says firmly as she stands before her peoples god.

"Then take what you need and help my friends be ready, we leave as soon as you are done."

"Thank you Xander." Tora replies in gratitude as she motions Buffy and Faith to follow but not before Xander addresses her people.

"You have my word of honor, I will bring your people home, and one way or another you shall see them again." Xander made no allusion that every captive would be brought back home alive and well but he still had to try for their sake.

"Hail to our Lord! Hail to the son of Thor! Hail!" One of the trackers suddenly cheered and was soon joined by others just as loudly.

Cordelia just look at him proudly as she believes he would honor his promise, he wouldn't have been the man she had loved if he wasn't. Xander saw her and nodded to her before making way towards where Diana and Dawn were as they approached, he needed to get them informed before he departed as well as tell the League. One way or another he just knew this was just the beginning of something big, though good or bad he did not know.

Meanwhile deep in the jungles of South America…

The Javelin flew swiftly towards a temple that stood silently in a large clearing, one would be surprised that such a distant culture would have any link with another separated by miles of earth and water.

The occupants soon found a suitable landing zone and once fully secured on the ground the hatch opens and allowing Kyle Rayner, J'onn Jonnz who was the one who carried the gem and Flash to step out. It was he who naturally was once more showing a very carefree attitude despite the circumstances.

"Picture it, the sun, the sea, hundreds of women who look just like her running around and me the first man they've seen in…oh maybe forever!"

The speedster says with a rather vivid idea of what to expect on Diana's homeland, while J'onn stayed focused on the job at hand while Kyle just let the man dream.

"…and look what I brought, iced mochas for everyone! Sweet."

"I fail to see the attraction there." The Martian said in regards to the younger man's comments while Kyle just chuckled before speaking.

"While I won't begrudge another man's fantasies, don't you think that a society that hasn't seen men in while might not take well to your…openness with them?"

"Don't tell me you haven't given it any thought GL." Flash threw back in good humor while Kyle just gave him a side glance and perhaps a small smirk.

"Perhaps we should focus on the relic first?"

J'onn's calm and neutral voice broke any further comments from the two, as they now stood in front of the path that led to the ancient temple.

Flash stood by him with smile as he already came up with a rather impulsive idea.

"No problem!"

With that said the guardian of central city took the gem and dashed inside the ancient structure with only a red blur of as evidence of his actions, in seconds he returned with the amphora and a cheeky grin.

"See? That was easy."

"Impresive." Kyle comments and getting a smirk from the easy going hero. Said hero took the top off and removed the relic, which in this case was a larger cylindrical stone than the one in Diana's possession…and like hers it was not left unguarded as the earth began to rumble.

"What the…!?"

Flash cried out as he tried to remain stable like the others.

The three jump back as a large creature bursts forth from the ground and reveals itself to be a gigantic snake…with fire literally in its eyes and massive blasts of flames pouring from its mouth. Once the thing was done making the very spectacular entrance, it glared darkly at the heroes...it's intent towards them very obvious.

"…okay that would be so awesome if it wasn't about to kill us." Flash idly comments while Kyle and J'onn ready themselves for a fight.

The guardian hissed at them before it charges.

Meanwhile with Diana and Superman…

The two were flying in the direction the gem guided towards objective, suddenly his Amazonian teammate was slowing down while the pulses grew more rapid. Finally they stopped as they reached their destination however where they stopped caused Superman some level of confusion and disbelief.

"Could there be some mistake?"

Superman naturally asked.

"No…according to the gem it's in there." Diana spoke with just the same confusion as all three stared the Metro Mall.

*Thousands of years of history and it gets paved and buried over to make way for a mall…wonderful.*

Clark thought a bit sadly as he did have a certain fondness for history given his own nature for discovering the truth about his origins.

The two soon landed and made their way inside the building, Diana never had gotten the chance to see what a mall was liked, since most her outings in New York were to small shops, so she was rather curious.

*What a strange place to gather.*

She thought before voicing an opinion about the place.

"It's like some kind of temple."

Clark couldn't help but find some amusement at that.

"Yes, for those who worship their credit cards no doubt." The Man of Steel quips with a chuckle.

They moved onward, passing a boutique that showcased some female shaped mannequins in dresses and swim wear. Diana eyed the items distastefully as she felt them demeaning towards women.

"How can any female wear such ridiculous garments willingly?"

"You got me." Superman replies in all honesty as he was a man of simple tastes. The Man of Steel was looking at everything within the X-ray spectrum. This soon paid off as he spotted an ancient jar beneath the floor.

*Bingo!*

"There it is, stand back while I go get it." With those words the Kryptonian took a short flight and began to spin at high speeds to drill through the floor and reach the object of their quest. It only took mere moments before he returned with the relic in hand.

"Why would it be buried here?" She asks out loud as she could not for the life of her understand that.

"Perhaps there was something else here before this mall was built? A temple or burial ground of some sort in history and no doubt the records were lost ever since. That would explain why nothing is here to indicate this being what we expected"

Superman voiced as he returned with their prize, though he can't help but wonder.

*But why go to all the trouble of hiding these relics? What is it they are supposed to do? And most importantly why does this Faust need them so badly that he's willing to take Diana's people hostage?* The Kryptonian thinks as he tries to find some logic in all this chaos.

"It matters little in the long run, getting these relics and saving my people must take precedence." Diana says in response as she prepares to remove the relic from the jar…however it would not be so simple this time either as they were about to find out.

As soon as the top sensed an intrusion, a brilliant flash of white light came from the relic's container making the three stumbled back after being blinded. They heard it crash and brake but paid it no mind as they tried to regain their sight, Diana being the first to do so and was shock by what she was seeing.

Superman was nowhere to be seen and were he once stood now in his place was a large winged demon of scaly gray skin and red eyes which snarled at her.

Superman was also regaining his sight while calling out to his teammate.

"Diana…" he spoke out as his eyes cleared and gasps at what he sees "…what!?"

A horned reptilian demon with a yellow underbelly and very fierce looking claws and a tail was snarling at him.

"Where is my friend!?" She cries out as she took a stance.

The winged demon snarls at her in response, which was all the incentive she needed as she flew at him at and delivered vicious right hook to its jaw followed by a left. The winged demon shook the cobwebs out before getting up and rams into her with a shoulder charge.

Superman watched as the lizard like creature struck a tree before righting itself then flew at him. He responded by ducking under the wild swing it threw and let off an uppercut to the creature's jaw.

*WHAM!*

"UGH!"

Diana cried out as the beast's fist struck her face hard enough it rattled he skull.

*By the Gods! The creature must have steel skin!*

She worriedly thinks to herself as she rubbed her jaw where the creature struck. She spotted it charging her so she had tensed her legs to prepare to dodge; she went right then delivered an uppercut that takes it off its feet and into the second level with a loud crash.

Clark shook his head to get his bearings however never got the chance to finish as he was suddenly grabbed from the waist and slammed backwards into the floor with great force.

*BOOM!*

Another crater was soon formed and was momentarily stunned, allowing the reptilian demon to grab him by the neck and smack him away with a right hook.

"UGH!"

He slammed into another support pillar for his troubles; He got back up while wincing at the pain in his jaw and cursed himself for not paying attention.

*I really hope the others are faring better than us right now.*

He thinks before entering the fray once more.

With the others…

Sadly Superman's hopes were not exactly answered in the right way as three heroes faced off against the relics…a gargantuan fire breathing snake. Flash and Green Lantern leap to the sides as the fire spewed forth from the snake's maw, J'onn however was too late and took the full blast, much to his displeasure as fire was not a Martian's best friend.

"ARGH!"

"J'onn!" Wally cries out as he watches his friend get covered in flame.

"Try this on for size you bastard!" Kyle cried out as he fired emerald beams at the creature.

*ZZAAATTT!*

"SSSSHHHHAAA!"

The fire breathing reptile cried out in pain as the beam lances its scaly flesh. This thank fully diverted its attention away from the Martian and onto the ring bearer.

Flash rushed J'onn to a secure position before running interference for Kyle as the giant guardian reared back its head for another shot.

The crimson clad speedster knelt before the Lantern with his back to him before he spins his arms until they appeared nothing more than red cyclones that began to part the flames before they can reach the duo. This does not deter the creature from its objective and continues its assault on the two; Flash however decides to up the ante.

"You're toast!"

With that said he pours more speed to his arms until the powerful winds they produce push the flame back at the animal.

"Get to J'onn, I'll handle the oversized belt here!"

Wally ordered as he saw the snake was now more angry and determined and launched itself at them.

Kyle said nothing but did as told as he flew to J'onn's position while Flash dodged the snake's maw and ran the length of its body until it he stood a quarter of its body near the head.

The reptile was not deterred as it tried to devour and burn the hero, this however proved its undoing as it chases after him until it tried to snatch him up through a hole made by its own body and ending up in a rather comical knot with its own body.

*Well I'll be damned, so that really can happen in real life.*

He thinks with some mirth as he dashes back to his teammates.

J'onn was leaning on Kyle as he regained his strength.

"Are you okay sir? Do you need medical attention?"

The Green Lantern asked cautiously despite the circumstances they found themselves.

"No…no I am fine Mr. Rayner however I am in need of a breather and some quiet."

He replied neutrally though his intentions were betrayed by the glare he was sending to the snake. Flash was next to them in less than a second while the Martian Manhunter now stood without assistance.

"Get the relic; I'll deal with our friend here." He spoke as he stepped forward just as the snake got out of its predicament and lunged at the last of the Martians. J'onn however stood his ground, rears back his right arm and then…

*WHAM!* delivered a thunderous uppercut to the jaw that knock the snake out in a flash.

"Damn…" Kyle let out as he wore a look of awe "…and I thought Mr. Grant had a mean right hook." He calmly thought despite his surprise.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side." Wally added as he held the relic.

"Let's go…" J'onn said as he took the relic from his teammate and headed towards the Javelin with the others in tow "…who knows what dangers the others may be facing now if they found their piece."

If only he knew how right he was.

Back with the others at the mall…

Clark was not a happy man right now; frankly he was so far from it that he was close to emulating Batman. His opponent had proven to be quite formidable and its blows had left its mark as he felt his bruised ribs flare out to remind him that yes, he can still feel pain.

Diana was in the same boat as he gazed at the gargoyle like creature, during her time in training with Artemis or facing villains with the League she had not been subjected to such powerful blows that left her wishing for a reprieve. But she wasn't about to give up until so long as her friend was still missing and if she had to endure some pain to get answers she will do so.

Superman flew at the reptilian creature at high speed before slamming the creature into a store, the beast backhanded him with enough force to send him flying out. Wonder Woman for her part stood up as she regained her balance after the winged demon had slammed into her before she launched herself into her foe at high speed and charged him through a nearby support column before grabbing it by the neck and delivering a thunderous right hook to its jaw that flung it into a nearby fountain.

*Haven't been hit that hard since I fought Darkseid.* He idly thinks as he shakes his head to clear his cobwebs. Feeling a tremor behind him he stares at the water to get a look at his opponent however…

*What!?* instead of a monster he sees his teammate looking at him with a glare, quickly facing her he sees her standing there and in moments he knew what just happened.

*Magic!*

However he can't do much before he is grabbed by the neck and punch in the jaw by the Amazon. From there the fight shifts as the the Man of Steel goes on the defensive trying to think some way to break the spell on Wonder Woman, he knows it had something to do with her reflection in the water so perhaps the same would work for him.

After blocking a kick he saw the solution behind her so with a plan in mind he let himself get turned around and slammed into a nearby clothing store.

Diana soon came and grabbed the creature, her patient all but gone as she grabbed it by the neck hard. She didn't know why it changed tactics; all she cared about was one thing and one thing only…

"Where is Superman!? Where is my friend!?" She demanded ready to pummel the winged beast. Said beast grunted before lifting its left arm and pointing behind her, naturally she turned towards the direction and what she found shocked her.

It was Superman all right, but he was being choked by her!

She faced the creature only to increase her shock as it was not a creature but her friend who she held in her hand and was ready to pummel. Naturally she released him while taking a step back, Clark dropped to his knees and massaged his throat while showing no anger towards his friend who was probably as shook up as he was when he was freed from the spell.

"By the Goddess!" The Amazon princess whispered as she got a good look at the damage Superman had incurred in their unforeseen bout "…what horrors have we unleashed?"

On the isle of the Amazons…

-Where is she Faust!? Where is the Amazon princess!? — The dark malevolent voice boomed through the flaming portal.

"Try to have patience my Lord…" Faust replied though he soon regretted his poor choice of words as the intensity of the flames grew in response.

-Patience!? Patience you say fool!? For 3000 years I have been patient! Do not speak to me of patience you disgusting worm! —

Faust chided himself as he knew full well he could be on the receiving end of his master's wrath if he is not careful...and oh how he dreaded that fate. He would gladly endure the princess's wrath over enraging the God of the Underworld any day.

"Forgive me my Lord, I merely meant to say that that the relics will soon be within our grasp, I can feel it in my very bones and then Lord Hades this world will be ours for the taking."

-They had better be…for your sake they had better be.—

Jotunheim, land of the frost giants…

All was quite in the land of perpetual snow and ice where the Frost Giants or Jotuns as they were called lived, that is until a crackling portal was opened and from it sprung 4 figures, one male in armor and three females that had two in winter clothing and one in a blue jumpsuit with a large backpack on.

"That was trippy." Buffy comments as she lovers the hood of her coat and her goggles.

"No shit Buffy, felt like I got buzzed or something." Faith adds as she also lowers her hood to gaze at the landscape.

*Di is going to flip when we come back and I tell about this place.* the brunette thinks ruefully.

"How are you handling the cold?" Ice asks the duo.

"Fine actually, these clothes your people gave us really keeps us toasty." Buffy replies gratefully.

"Yeah, your people really know their stuff when it comes to this." Faith adds as she looks at the inside of the coat and sees the glowing runes sewn into it.

"Thank you, the runes were passed down to us by Kelda Stormrider goddess of winds and storm." Ice replied.

"Huh? She sounds like a real class act that one." Faith idly comments.

"She was a minor goddess but one who is much love and remembered, when this ordeal is over I can share her story if you like." The heroine spoke kindly despite their situation; a bit of levity did her well before they faced the challenges before them.

"Cool, now let's get this show on the road kills us some giants and save some people." Faith spoke with confidence and a certain eagerness to face their enemies.

"You made sure to bring your accessories ladies?" Xander asks as he checks his sword on his back and hefting Mjolnir in his right hand.

"Got our booms sticks primed and our blades sharp Xander." Buffy replies as she checks the short swords and knives they were given as well as the modified Manhunter weapons Xander had gifted them with.

Faith hefts an axe in her arms as well as a set of daggers across her chest in a bandolier.

Ice checks the backpack, in it were beakers filled with glowing blue liquid, this was restorative potion the village healers prepared for the captured. The next item was a sort of compass that was attuned to the magic she and her people used to help locate the hostages. She gave a Xander a nod after securing the items on her back once more.

"Here is the game plan, I go their HQ and keep their attention on me while you search for the hostages, now they are probably expecting a rescue so do not go loud until you secure Tora's people."

As much as the three women didn't like the idea of Xander essentially using himself as bait against an unknown number of foes they couldn't argue that they indeed needed a distraction to keep the enemy occupied.

"Please be careful Xander." Buffy asks, her friend may be a god but she will always worry for his safety just like it was back in Sunnydale.

"I promise we are going to make it through this Buff." He reassures her with a lopsided smile he was known for.

She nods to him while Faith simply gives him thumbs up.

"Get your people to safety Tora, once that is out of the way we can figure out how to get back home safe and sound."

"Yes Xander." Ice replies with confidence that her lord would see them through to victory.

Once reassured Xander takes to the skies and leaves the three to their mission while he goes on his.

It took a while but eventually he saw a large fortress in the distance.

"Yep, that is definitely an evil lair if there ever was one." He mutters to himself so naturally he makes his way towards it.

He landed on what he assumed was the courtyard of the massive ice fortress, before him was two massive gates. He wondered as he approached whether he should knock, wait for them to open or smash them down, of course as he thought that last one the massive doors groaned and cracked as they began to part to let him pass.

"Ok, option one it is." He calmly spoke as he hefted his sword and hammer in his hands before making his way inside. As he did so he felt a lot of eyes on him as he made his made to the main room, discreetly he looked out of the corner of his eyes and saw some movement in the shadowed areas that led into dimly hallways.

"Jesus guys, stereotypes much?" He couldn't help but say out loud, he didn't really expect an answer but surprisingly he got one in the form of a woman.

"My apologies dear cousin, I normally don't go for theatrics but I felt that the occasion merited some."

He looked up to see a raven haired woman dressed in black & green clothing as well as golden armor and a horned diadem. He would normally say she was rather beautiful if her features weren't marred by a rather condescending look she was giving him, as if he was nothing but an insect to her though it also doesn't help she has a wicked spear in her hand.

"Let me guess, you're the head honcho here? And what do you mean cousin?" Xander asks.

"If by that you mean I am Queen of the Jotuns then yes dear cousin I am, as for why I call you cousin is rather simple Alexander Thorson, I am Sylene Lokisdotter." The now identified Sylene replies from her throne of ice.

"…ok cool." Was all Xander says without anything giving away.

This earned him a look of confusion from the woman.

"What? You expected me to act all shocked? Listen I have gone through so much weird shit in my life this even a blip on the radar. Now I am sure you have some beef against me for reason that makes sense only to you, but frankly I say let's cut the bullshit and get down to brass tacks." The Storm god spoke as he readies himself for the inevitable.

"…which is?" She asks neutrally, though she was not happy with the crack about it only making sense to her.

"Give me back the people you kidnapped and I leave without incident, of course I don't think an explanation is necessary on what will happen if you say no." He says as lighting crackles over the hammer, this of course stirs movement around him.

Sylene for her won part rest her arm on her knee and her face on her hand while looking at him with a dull look.

"Hmm you are not what I expected."

"That wasn't an answer."

"Oh it was just not the one you are looking for." She smirks at him after saying that before banging her spear's end on the ground.

*CLANG!* *CLANG!* *CLANG!*

From the shadows stepped out several heavily armed frost giants, some three times his size while others are just a head taller. All had blue skin and crimson eyes that were looking at him balefully and weapons at the ready.

*SIGH*

"This is what I get for being diplomatic." Was the last thing he said as he rolls under an axe swing before he hurls Mjolnir at Sylene…only to watch as it goes through her and smashes the throne.

*Fucking bullshit!* He thinks as he calls it back while deflecting a spear of ice.

"You didn't think it would that easy now eh dear cousin?" Sylene voice rang from somewhere as more Jotuns came out.

Xander held his tongue as he met the enemy head on.

He blocked an axe to the head while he swung the Axe head of Mjolnir into his opponent's belly.

"Gah!"

Then spins and thrusts his sword backwards as he ducks under a wild swing and stabs another Jotun through the chest.

"Guh!"

"Nice try asshole!" The Thunder God spat as he tore the blade out spilling blue blood onto the floor.

Seeing a trio of house sized giants rushing him he blew them to bits with a blot of lighting from his hammer. This only spurred more opponents to appear for the nearby doorways.

"How many of these assholes do you have!?" He shouts as he deflects a sword whose owner he grabs and headbutts back.

"The Aesir may be gone cousin but their enemies are not, we have waited in the shadows while growing stronger so none may challenge us." The Queen's voice rang.

"Good for you!" He shouted before he threw himself back in the melee.

*I am really hoping the girls and the League are doing better than me right now!* He idly thinks before entering the fray once more as he clotheslines another Jotun. His senses however screamed suddenly as he felt something from behind. He leaps to the right and hisses as a he feels the edge of a spear slice skin on his flank.

"How do the mortals say it? If you want something done right do it yourself." Sylene idly comments as he retracts the weapon.

"Oh damn it all to Hell…" Xander groans as a new complication arose but readied himself once more.

At the apartment of Felix Faust…

After the events at the mall and taken a moment to recuperate after their impromptu bout both Diana and Clark were called by their ally Batman who had uncovered more information on the Warlock after his talks with Giles.

The heroes looked around the man's study and were surprised by how much books, antiquities and relics the man possessed.

"Fascinating…" the Martian spoke up as he surveyed the room and all its contents "…Faust clearly has a great passion for learning."

"Too bad he's bat shit crazy and evil to boot." Kyle added as he flipped through a well-cared copy of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, some chuckles from the League except for Batman.

"Where does he get this stuff, Warlock's R' us?"

The speedster quipped as he held a golden staff with a clear crystal between the staff and a circular ornamentation…which soon opened revealing an eye.

Batman spotted the staff and knew immediately it should not be trifled with, ESPECIALLY by someone like the Flash.

"Don't touch that!"

Flash of course did not see the energy building up until it fired as he turned to face the Dark Knight.

*ZAAAATT!*

*BOOM!*

Batman luckily ducked in time as the energy blasted the wall behind him with considerable force.

*Oh boy!*

"Heh heh heh…um oops?"

THAT was sadly not going to cut it with Bruce.

"Don't touch anything!"

The man angrily snaps as he snatches the staff from the young man's hands

"…we have no idea what kind of powers we are dealing with."

*This is precisely why I hate magic, too many variables not enough facts.* Wayne said to himself. Ever since he learned of magic from a trusted source, he was very wary of magic and ALL forms it took.

The others heeded the warning as they placed the objects back and carefully made sure not to disturb anything they might not recognize.

Superman stared at the blasted wall with unease as his encounters with magic were also coming to the fore.

*We really need to get a mystic on the team for these kind of missions, and I better careful as it is one of my weaknesses apart from red sun radiation and Kryptonite.*

"So who is this Faust?" he finally asks his dark counterpart knowing the man has the answers they sought.

"According to what Rupert Giles shared with me, Felix Faust was once a respected professor of archeology…" Bruce's tone was serious and determined as he placed a photo of the man in a suit standing before an Egyptian cartouche

"…but then he became fascinated by the mystic arts, the dark variety to be more specific. Naturally his colleagues were not very accepting of his heretical ideas."

"So did they sack him?" Kyle asks as he assumes that would be the logical thing to do.

Batman nodded before continuing.

"He swore revenge on those who had mocked and ridiculed him, and several days later they disappeared under mysterious circumstances"

Diana looked to a nearby shelf and spotted something that pretty much confirmed her teammate's words. And further convinced her that she had to do all she could to stop this madman from taking her people away.

"I believe the mystery is over, look here."

They all gathered and spotted the petrified heads of three people looked in a state of terror.

"Ew!" Flash let out in revulsion.

"Okay…I think crazy and evil are both understatements now." The Green Lantern spoke with the same feeling going through the speedster.

*Every time I think I got a handle on this job the universe decides to pull the rug under me* Rayner thinks bitterly.

"He's mad." Superman added quite aghast at the willful disregard for life before him.

"It gets worse…" Batman spoke up in the same grim tone.

"Worse? How could it possibly get worse?" Wally felt the need to ask, a need shared by everyone present and listening.

"Faust kept a journal; the final entries make reference to Tartarus."

"The pit of lost souls…" Diana was askance as she said this as she now understood what it was that Faust wanted…and who he served. That definitely made her even more worried as to what was going to happen.

"But isn't that just a myth?"

Superman naturally asked as despite the rather unusual things he had seen in his life this was never taken into account.

Wonder Woman did not reply at first as she recalled the details regarding Hades and his connection to her mother as this was one side of her people that she shared with no one.

*SIGH*

"If only that were so, long ago in ancient times my mother Hippolyta fell in love with a God, Lord Hades…"

"The God of the Underworld?" The Superman questioned, she nodded sadly in affirmation, something he took note of. This convinced the group that whatever history Diana's mother had with Hades was anything but pleasant.

"…when war broke out between the Olympian Gods and their ancient foes the Titans, Hades struck a treasonous bargain with the enemy. He would deliver Mount Olympus into their hands in return for domination of humanity."

"How does your mother play in all this?" the Dark Knight now asked, although by the way the tale was going he was pretty sure he what would happen next.

"Hades tricked my mother into opening the gates of Olympus to the invading Titans; there was a battle the muses still sing to this day. Through much blood and strife, the Gods prevailed and drove them back; Zeus cast Hades into the pit of Tartarus for his treachery to rule over the dead…my mother was tasked with watching over the gate of the underworld for her unwilling role in his plot and to make sure it stayed closed for all time."

Wonder Woman turned to face her friends as she concluded her story.

"To make sure it could never be unlocked the key was broken into fragments and scattered across the world never to be found. Mother told me she kept one of the pieces in the temple as a reminder of her eternal shame and her eternal duty."

"…shit, these things we are collecting are the key aren't they?" Kyle says out loud with dread.

"But how does getting them help this wacko?" Flash asks as he holds the largest of the three pieces, only for Batman to take it and place it next to the others.

"Only one reason…" the Dark Knight spoke as he began inserting the pieces into one another until they took on the form of a crank "…he intends to use it."

"Well that just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. We're dealing with a nut who wants to literally unleash Hell on Earth." Flash says in a way that showed he was anything but comfortable with the situation; he wasn't the only one as the others wore a grimace at the thought of the God of Hades being unleashed upon the world.

"Diana, you can't give it to him." Superman spoke softly as he did not relish the idea of telling the woman she had to choose between her people and the world. Needless to say Diana's reaction was very much what anyone would have made.

"If I don't everyone on the island will remain petrified!"

"And if you do it could spell the end of all mankind." Batman added, silence reigning with that terrible reminder.

"Um I know I'm basically a stand in but here's a thought, what if we use this key as bait for Faust, make him spill the beans on how he disabled Wonder Woman's people and then we take him out of the equation after we secure their safety." Kyle says out loud to the group, seeing the others become pensive after hearing his idea meant they were at least considering it

"Interesting strategy, it could work given the fact he will not be expecting us to accompany Diana to her homeland much less help her." Batman says to the team as he believed it had a high success rate given they had surprise by their side.

"Diana? What do you think?" Clark asks the woman in question as it involves her intimately as well as the safety of her people.

"…if this is the only course of action that ensures victory then we must take advantage of it." The Amazon replies as she agrees it is their best chance to win.

"Very well, let us depart now while we still have time." J'onn spoke as they all agreed it would be better to move now.

Diana gave a small prayer to the gods for victory…and one to Xander to grant them strength.

On Themyscira…

Faust awaited in the demolished throne room next to a petrified Queen, feeling very reassured in the success of plan to use the Princess to obtain the pieces of the key to free his Lord.

"I should thank you for raising such a devoted daughter…" the warlock speaks with amusement enough as he stroked the cheek of the Queen "…She was so eager to cooperate, oh if she only knew what I have planned."

Any further comments were stopped as Diana bursts through the temple doors.

"Faust!"

"Ah back already, and with hours to spare, I am most impressed..." He spoke in a tone that left her feeling disgusted with his false humor as he conjured the hourglass to prove a point before going straight to business.

"…have you got the relics?"

She revealed the assembled key, again feeling anger at the satisfaction that showed on the villain's face. But she had to keep him from realizing that she had help, though no doubt her mother was not going to be too pleased when she found out.

"First free my mother."

"Oh yes, yes of course, a deal is a deal after all." Once more the man summoned the amulet and spoke the spell that reversed the effects on the Amazon Queen.

"Ugh…" said Queen let out as her body once more took life.

Diana wasted no time as she gave the wicked man the artifact and kneeled next to her mother.

"Mother…"

"Finally after 3000 years the key is finally complete." Fausts exclaims with great satisfaction as he is now closer than ever to achieving his goal.

"Diana…you didn't." Hippolyta let out in shock.

*I was not worth the world's safety Diana, but no matter we must stop him before Hades is freed!* she thought with equal parts sad and anger.

"Thank you Princess for your assistance, but now that your usefulness is at an end…" the dark mage conjures the medallion as he speaks "…Petro K…"

*WOOSH!*

Before he could utter the incantation a red and yellow blur soon passed him and he found himself one magical amulet short.

"What!?"

"Please, you aren't the only one with an ace up your sleeves their buddy." Flash cocky tone rang strong as he played with the amulet in his hand.

The sorcerer's attention was soon diverted away from the speedster to the sound of a grappling gun being fired…

"What is this!?" he cried out as the Dark Knight swung down towards their foe and delivered a swift backhand to the man's face.

"Ugh!"

The Queen saw this and was not exactly pleased to see the MALE heroes on the Amazon homeland.

"You brought men here? To Themyscira?" she asked her daughter accusingly.

"Mother, I will explain later for now we have more urgent matters to deal with." Her daughter asked albeit with a bit of worry as she knew she would be facing many accusations once the current crisis passed, she instead focused on her allies dealing with Faust.

"Did you really think she would trust the promises of scum like you Faust?"

The protector of Gotham city coldly remarked as he was joined by Superman and the Martian Manhunter, with the former addressing the villain followed by J'onn.

"It's over Faust, come quietly." The Man of Steel ordered firmly at the downed magic user.

"There is no escape." The former man of science however was not in the mood to listen to reason.

"Never!" The madman cried out in denial as he saw the obstacles to his "quest" for knowledge stand in the way. With a gathering of mystical energies, he began to fire of spheres of explosive energy at the heroes.

Faust fired randomly, the last son of Krypton evading one attack only to be struck midair by another.

"Agh!"

Landing roughly on the ground and feeling the rare but familiar sensation of pain in his chest.

*I forgot how much I hate pain and magic…suck it up Clark they need you!*

Faust continued his desperate assault, sending a trio of spheres at the Queen and her daughter.

"Mother look out!" Diana cried out as she immediately placed herself in the path of the attack.

"Diana!"

However before they reached her an emerald dome encapsulated the two warrior women.

*BOOM!*

"Call me crazy but that is no way to treat a woman." The Green Lantern quipped as he retracts the emerald beam of will power back to his ring.

"What now!?" the Mage angrily cries out as he is once more thwarted by another meddlesome hero. Seeing said hero form a rocket launcher snaps him out of his anger to counter the impending attack.

*I have had enough of this!* He thinks as he waves his free hand and raises block of the floor to act as shield, of course in his haste he forgot about the other interlopers this being evidenced as he feels someone tapping him one the shoulder. He naturally can't help but turn and get a right hook to the jaw by the Crimson speedster.

"Dude just surrender already and change all the pretty ladies back."

"Fools!" the mage roared at him as he fired balls of mystical energy at the speedster.

"Miss me!" said speedster spoke as he dashed away.

"Enough!" Faust cries out as he ducks under another swing of the man and tries to blast him away with an orb of energy, though he misses as the man quickly dodges right.

"You are going down!" The protector of Central City yells as he rushes the warlock, who scoffs at him before waving his hand on the floor and creates a wave of earth to protrude from it in the speedster path.

*Oh that can't be good!*

And it wasn't as his great speed now worked against him as he tripped over the obstacle and rolled over three times before slamming into a column.

Faust was about to finish him off when J'onn shoulder tackled him, making him drop the key in the process, this only served to further anger the man who conjured a rather large bolt of energy he soon hurled at the heroes, prompting Superman and the Martian to dodge to avoid both it and the following explosion.

Batman caught the tail end of the blast and was thrown away under a collapsing pillar, luckily Superman caught in time to save his ally.

Wonder Woman dashes next to Batman who had managed to ensnare Faust with his grapple gun that was soon joined by the Amazon's golden lasso. Faust was far from beaten as he took hold of both ropes and sends a wave of violet electricity through both that catch both heroes off guard.

"Argh!"

"Urgh!"

"Diana!" The Queen cries out in worry at seeing her child be wounded.

Taking haste the sorcerer grabs the key and moves to the door, but that plan was derailed as the Martian Manhunter phased through the ground before him thus blocking his escape.

"Halt." The last Martian calmly spoke despite the circumstances, naturally the cornered man chose not to heed his order and turned to run to the opposite side only to see Superman, Green Lantern and Flash in his way.

*Damn it all! When will these meddlesome fools leave me be?!* were some of the angry thoughts running through his head as he reached into his robes and hurls large seeds at the League members.

"Empaloy!" Faust cried out as soon as the seeds left his hand and watched with satisfaction as they suddenly exploded into action and turned into monstrous sentient vines that ensnared them.

"Oh crap!" Kyle cried out as he was being held upside down and tossed side to side.

Flash had procured a sword and was slashing away at the bases.

"Anyone got weed killer?" he asks in all honesty despite the dire situation.

"Got something better!" Kyle cries out as he creates a chainsaw and cuts an approaching vine.

Faust ignored this as he made his way through the vines with little worry of being harmed, as not even the Martian can get to him as he too is captured.

Wonder Woman and Batman both rose from their unwanted stupor and saw the grim situation, Diana grabbed a sword and flew in to aid of her friends with Batman soon following after.

Faust ignores them as he focuses on getting his reward, but first…

"Come your highness, we don't want to be late for the grand opening." The man said with no worry or care as the League fought against his creations. The Queen however was far from amused as she pulled out a dagger that gave him pause; sadly she was in no condition to fight as the spell had left her drained.

Faust easily evades her lunge and held her firmly by the wrist before shocking her into unconsciousness much to the ire of the Princess.

"MOTHER!" she cried out as with renewed sense of vigor she began to hack away more ferociously to reach her and her captor, even she was detained by the vines her desire to rescue her mother did not wane…sadly it was all for not.

"Est necroponen el fomen!" as the words left the man's mouth a swirling cloud surged forth and engulfed them both before leaving only a scorch mark as evidence of their departure.

As soon as the source by which the malevolent plants came to be was gone they slowly began to shrivel up and die, this allowed the heroes to break free and rush to the area where the captor and prisoner once stood.

*No! Not again! I can't have failed her again!* Diana though with great anger and guilt as she looked at the scorch mark.

"Ah man, we're too late, they're both gone!" Flash cried out.

"And with them the key." Superman added grimly.

"No…" Wonder Woman's tone told the two just how she was feeling.

"It's not over yet, we know the entrance is here, we find it we find him and her. Diana, do you know where they are headed?" Batman says to rally the group into action.

"Yes, follow me."

And followed they did as they ran to an entrance next to the altar, Wonder Woman snagged a nearby torch and approached a raised block of marble, pushing it inwards and activating the hidden mechanism that opened the hidden passage.

"Here, the Necropolis is down there and with it the gateway to Tartarus."

"Wish Thor was here with us, we could use some divine intervention you know?" Flash comments.

"Can't argue with that logic." Kyle adds as he too felt they could use another big gun.

*Hope whatever it is he is dealing with is better than what we got.*

Back at Jotunheim…

Tora, Buffy and Faith had made their way inside the fortress and carefully made their way to the hostages, occasionally they had to duck or hide from the patrols or sentry's but thankfully their presence had yet to be found.

*BOOM!*

"Jesus Xander, try not to bring the whole damn place down on us." Buffy couldn't help but mutter with worry.

"Hate to say it B but the more ruckus he causes the better for us." Faith adds though she is also wondering about her friend.

"We are getting close to the hostages." Tora cut in.

"Good, the sooner we get them safe the sooner we can leave this shithole." The Boston Slayer comments as frankly she had enough of the place and its dangerous inhabitants.

The other two women nodded as they approached a hallway that led to what they can only assume are dungeons. Tora was in the lead so naturally she stopped at a corner to said hallway, she knelt down and pulled out a small mirror to get a better look.

Standing before a large door were to giants, these of the large variety holding a lance and Warhammer respectfully.

"There's two guards." She whispers to the Slayers.

"Shit, anyway around them?" Buffy asks quietly.

"No, none that I can see." Ice replies.

"Well looks like there is only one thing to do and we better do it fast." Faith adds as she palms the handle of her axe, while Buffy mirrors her as she grabs her short swords too thinking it is their best shot.

Tora agreed that they would need to take out the guards to gain entry but to further their chances she decided to use a trick she used when the occasion called for it as she holds out her hands before the hallway and begins to expel a cold mist from them.

The two guards were immediately alert for what could only be an impending attack…it was sadly all for not as an axe rapidly spun in the air and embedded itself in the face on the one on the left. The guard on the right was distracted sufficiently he didn't spot the impeding attack until he turns and sees Buffy flying through the air with her swords aimed at his eyes and then blackness and pain took over.

Buffy for her part released the blades once they were half way in its skull and then kicked herself of the handles to push herself away and forcing the swords into its brain. By the time the body landed she was already on the ground with all the grace and poise of a ballerina.

"Way to stick the landing B." Faith quips with a small clap.

"Well you did give me a hell of a boost, you working out?" The blonde Slayer replies as she goes to get her blades.

"New routine Diana and Wondy have me doing, good to know it is working out, you know you can join if you want."

Tora tuned out the two women as she moved towards the doors, she was no strangers to banter given her partnership with Beatriz who liked to talk during missions but she knew to focused on the matter in hand.

She grabbed the large key and created an ice platform to reach the keyhole, she struggles a bit to turn it but thankfully Faith jumped up and used her enhanced strength to do so.

The three women entered he cells and using their compass began to swiftly move towards the captives, hey would need to hurry in order to get everyone out. Fortune favored them as they quickly located half of the hostages, Buffy blasted open the lock and saw that the cell hell children and women, two of whom were elderly and were offering comfort to their fellow captives. All looked towards their saviors and broke out in relief at who was there with the two Slayers.

"Tora! Praise the gods you came." One of the elders spoke with relief as she approached the hero and hugged her tightly.

"We came as soon as we could, Lord Alexander is currently engaged with the Jotuns while we gather you all, now do you know where the others are?" She asks while Buffy and Faith distribute the healing potion.

"Further in and around the bend, your father was among them." One of adults present spoke up. That news spur the heroine into action.

"B go with her, I got this handled." Faith says to her sister Slayer who nods in return and sets off with Tora in search of her father and the other prisoners. They had passed two doors when at the third one they found them, like before Buffy wasted no time blast the lock to expedite the process.

Here they could see all the men that have been captured from teen to elder, however Tora gaze is directed at one lying on a small cot and looks to be worse than the others given the number of bruises and blood on him.

"Father!" The ice wielder cries out in horror and rushes to him, the men easily parting to let her.

"Father speak to me please." Tora begs as she gently cradles his face.

"Ugh…" The man groans as he struggles to open the eye that isn't swollen shut until pain won out and deny him the sight of his daughter.

"Tora here." Buffy speaks up as she hands over a potion which the hero quickly grabs and uncorks.

"Here father, drink this." She says as she gently pulls his head forward and carefully pours the healing liquid through his parted lips. The effects are slow but noticeable as his bruises start to fade and his body relaxes.

"Ugh T-Tora? You're here?" He weakly says as his daughter helps him sit, as he does so another thought comes to mind "Your mother! Is she safe!?"

"Yes father, she is alive, she was hurt when we found her but our healers have helped her as best they can…though there were many others dead or wounded." She ends sadly.

Her father shared in that sadness, though again another thought comes to mind.

"Is Lord Alexander here?" Jorgen asks her with worry as his daughter helps her up, in the back he can see Buffy sharing more potions to the men with him, that was good as a few of the men were fighters who can help protect the others.

"Yes he is, he is causing a distraction that allowed us to come here." Tora replies.

"That is exactly what that monstrous woman wanted; she used us as bait to lure him here." He angrily spat, he would not be forgetting Sylene any time soon given she personally saw her as he was being beaten by her men and took relish in his pain.

Before Buffy or Tora could comment they heard a ruckus outside the cell.

*BOOOM!*

"Buffy! We got company here!" Faith shouts over the noise of her manhunter weapon firing at whoever is out there waiting, they hear a bellow followed by more shots and explosions.

"Yeah well fuck you too you oversized smurf!" They hear her curse.

"Ok people move, it is never a good sign when she starts throwing out the F-word."

*Xander we need you here right the fuck now!* Buffy thinks hoping that if it worked for Cordelia it will work for her.

Xander for his part is not having an easier time holding the attention of the Jotun's as he is covered in blood, his and theirs, and is starting to show more wounds on his person as it has become difficult to defend himself once Sylene entered the fray.

The queen herself sported some gashes as well as bruises here and there; she could admit that her cousin was giving her quite the fight.

*Finally a challenge!* She can't help but think as she thrusts her spear at her opponent only for him to deflect it with his sword and then hurls his hammer. She in turn dodged left wincing as the crackling energy surrounding the mythical weapon craze her before it impacts in another of her soldiers with a sickening squelch.

Xander recalled his weapon to his hand before getting ready for another attack; however he felt the call and knew his girls had found the hostages.

*Now how do I get out of this?* He thinks as he tries to formulate a plan. Sadly Sylene is not in the mood to let him out of her sights as she leaps high and comes down with her spear in the lead. He jumps back only for her to quickly drag it upwards and earning him a cut on the right side of his face that nearly takes his eye.

"Gah!"

Sylene smirked before drawing her weapon back earning Xander's attention; he sees her eyes glow with sickly yellow light when suddenly he is besieged by a dozen images of her who spread out around him.

"That is some serious bullshit right there!" He yells as he is now even more tense then ever even as he slowly turns in order to keep all in his sight.

"All is fair in war cousin." They all say in a sweetly sick manner.

One makes a charge on his left making him swing his sword only for it to pass through the illusion, then another on the right does the same with the same result with his hammer until…

"Fuck!" He shouts as a dagger of eldritch ice finds its way into his flank, the only thing that helps is that he sensed the attacked and moved enough to avoid it piercing anything vital.

"Aw did that hurt?" the Sylene cackle while Xander pulls out the make shift weapon.

The next few minutes find Xander getting more cuts and stabs that he barely misses or moves to avoid any critical blows...all the while Buffy and now Faith call to him and his anger grows. Finally the Thunder God is back towards one of the few intact columns while staring the Jotun and a dozen illusions of their Queen.

"Perhaps we should discuss the terms of your surrender then? After all I still need to deal with my other guest's dearest cousin." She mocks earning an infuriated look from the god.

"…Surrender? SURRENDER!? I say to Hell with that, your goddamn flunkies and especially you!" He shouts as thunder begins to rumble and lighting starts to fly of his hammer and body. Sylene suddenly tenses as she feels his power grow.

"I'm the son of Thor, and I don't surrender ever!" He ends as a bolt of lightning crashes through the ceiling and onto Mjolnir much to his enemies' surprise, that surprise soon turned to horror as they watch him raise his weapon slam it into the ground to send out a massive electrical blast that blows them all back.

Sylene barely conjured a shield of ice before the powers sends her flying into her thrown as well as dispelling the illusions. Happy that he can finally get some breathing room he twirls Mjolnir and flies towards his friends at full speed.

Sylene heard the crash of ice and stone giving way in his way before she slumps into unconsciousness.

Buffy, Faith, Tora as well as any able-bodied fighter do all they can to hold back the horde of enemies blocking the only exit out of the dungeon. They had tried to blast through the walls but they were too thick to make an exit through them.

"We are not going to be able to hold them back for long!" Ice shouts over the dim of battle as she fires deadly icicles at the Jotun who do the same only in larger sizes.

"No shit lady!" Faith spats as she fires at another tall giant who tried his luck to enter. This earns him losing his footing quite literally as the brunette slayer blasts off one of its leg while Buffy delivers a headshot. Faith doesn't take time to comment as another barrage comes forcing her to duck, she regrets snapping at Tora but having her enhanced hearing make her hear the children's fearful cries is making her testy as well as fearful.

*Come on X! We need you.* She thinks and prays…which oddly enough are answers as a rolling wave of destruction suddenly erupts behind they're would be killers.

*BOOM!*

This was soon followed by multiple cries of pain and then silence.

Both of the Slayers and superhero carefully looked to see what had happened and were shocked to see a bloody and disheveled Xander standing in a group of corpses.

"You called?" He simply asked in a deadpan tone making all three women nod dumbly.

"Good, now gather everyone and let's leave this godforsaken place." He says as he ignores his pain and exhaustion to concentrate on where he wants to transport them all, in this case to Tora's people. Soon all of the hostages are gathered around him, he ignores the looks of awe and worship, now isn't the time to deal with that as Mjolnir begins to glow with power.

Not a moment to soon it seems as he Sylene and a group of her warriors begin to arrive just in time to see a flash of light and a roar of Thunder take them away.

"Grrr, next time cousin you will not be so lucky." She spat before ordering her subjects to remove the bodies and begin repairs.

Themiscyra, in the Necropolis…

At the very entrance to the Underworld Faust approached the "keyhole" after securing the Queen to a makeshift altar from a broken column, naturally she struggled against her bindings.

"Please I beg you to stop this madness! The consequences will be immeasurable and the loss of life incalculable!" She pleads for the sorcerer to stop this disaster in the making.

"I care little of that, I have come too far to be stopped now, now be silent as I bring about our new Lord and master to this realm."

And with that said the mad man placed the key in the slot and turned to activate the mechanism that held the ancient horror bringing about the Queen's greatest fears to life.

*Gods above please save us from this horror!* Hippolyta prayed in hopes of anyone stopping him from unleashing her hated foe but they pointless as the man turns the key.

Gears turned and earth trembled as the locks moved to release their captive. The vibrations travelled all throughout the cavernous area that the League felt them, Superman, J'onn and Wonder Woman were each carrying one of their non-flying members while Flash raced along the ground, Diana's heart sank as she realized what was happening.

"Hera help us all!"

"We're too late!" Kyle cried out as he quickly deduced what was about to happen.

"Move!" Batman orders as he is held in a green field.

Everyone silently agreed with him knowing the stakes were too high to let doubt and fear cloud their judgment now.

Back with the Queen and Faust things were taking a turn for the worse as the doors slowly parted and revealed nothing flames roaring out of control and then he came slowly came through the flames. A dark figure approached in pitch black armor with red highlighted on the edges over grey chainmail, spikes on the shin, forearm and shoulder armor, a black tattered cape and finally a horned black helm that obscured his features.

"Free at last!" The Olympian God of the underworld says with great satisfaction as he relishes the sensation of his new-found freedom.

"Welcome back Lord Hades, to honor you I brought an offering to celebrate your triumphant return." The sycophantic man spoke as lay groveling to his dark master.

"Do my very eyes deceive me? Can it be my beautiful Hippolyta is here to greet her lord's triumphant return from…ah but you know what I mean!" He ends as he removes the helmet to reveal a man who appeared to be in the prime of his life with ebony hair beard and mustache.

"Not a day goes by that I do not recall the treachery you had me perpetrate or the sting of your betrayal." The scorn in the woman's voice was unmistakable, proving that indeed Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Hades ignores this as it was much expected and frankly it only reminded him of the fire that burned brightly in her that makes him desire her so.

*No matter, once this miserable rabble that is humanity is kneeling at my feet I will all the time in the world to turn her to my cause once more.* these thoughts went on through the God's mind as he prepared the unwilling Queen for a rather unwanted kiss, however…

"My Lord! I upheld my end of the bargain…"

Faust spoke, drawing the attention away from the Queen; she in turned heard movement behind her and quickly saw her daughter hidden behind a column in wait of the right opportunity to liberate her. Both of her captors remained unaware of their hidden guest. And she knew better than to reveal to Faust and Hades the arrival of those who were going to stop them both.

"…I delivered you your freedom and the Amazon Queen, now I demand what is owed to me."

"Ah yes…" Hades spoke calmly as he conjured flames in his left hand "…ultimate knowledge."

*I will savor this moment, heh heh heh.* the dark God thought to himself as he laid his finger onto the sorcerer and began to drain him of life, making him age at an accelerated rate.

"Ultimately pain and suffering is all you mortals will ever know." He says casually as he brings those two things to the Warlock.

"AAAGGHHH!"

The League could do nothing but watch in mute horror at the spectacle they just witnessed.

"Good Lord." Superman muttered in disgust at the Olympian's callous betrayal of the man.

Diana however had seen enough and quickly rushed to her mother's aid, she grabbed a sword from the lifeless skeleton and leaps into the air and shattered the chains that held the Queen. Once she fell off the column her daughter took her and led her away from the imminent danger.

"Quickly mother!"

"My darling, you didn't say anything about having a daughter." And with that thought in mind the God exhaled a massive fire ball from his mouth at the fleeing duo...

*FWOOSH!*

Thankfully the duo luckily made to an outcropping of rocks to shield them in the nick of time.

*BOOM!*

"Good reflexes my dears, I wonder if she is as good as you my sweet." Hades speaks as he gazed at the two and thus did not see the rushing Kryptonian heading for him right before delivering a massive right uppercut.

*WHAM!*

"UGH!"

The blow was powerful enough to make the Olympian back away from the Amazon's though from the looks of things it was not enough to cause any visible damage.

"Hmm, impressive…" He comments in a casual tone as the Man of Steel flew at him once more, only to be swatted away into a column.

*WHAM*

"Ugh!"

"…But not good enough I'm afraid."

Once more he stars at quarry only to catch a batarang that flashed a few times before…

*BOOM!*

Batman threw another explosive at the deity as it was engulfed in flames, yet as he calmly walked out of the inferno and swatted it away like an insect it showed just how effective it was.

"And now you throw mere trinkets at me? Truly disappointing." Hades rebukes

"Try this on then!" Green Lantern shouts as he brings up a construct in the form of a six-pack rocket launcher. Six missiles fly from it and impact the deity who brought its hands to block

Flash and J'onn soon came in to engage with the Scarlett speedster circling the deity and unleashing a barrage of punches at him.

Hades for his part could not strike him due to his speed so he went for the next best option as he opens his mouth once more to release a steady stream of Hellish flame at the hero of Central City.

*Oh that's not good.* Flash worriedly thinks as he ran away from the fire yet still can't help but to comment on the situation.

"Somebody get this guy a breath mint fast! Who knows what he's been eating!"

Soon he began to run up walls and columns to avoid being burnt alive, though this served to the advantage of the heroes as Hades focused all his attention on the fastest man alive, as shown as J'onn soon floated above the God.

*WHAM!*

"AGH!"

…and soon flew out just as quickly.

"Fire in the hole!" Kyle cried out as he lobbed emerald grenades into the crater left in the wake of the Martian's attack.

A series of explosions soon go off in the hole.

"Please tell me that was enough." Kyle spoke as he was soon joined by Diana and the Queen…

*FWOOOSH!* a massive flame burst from the crater and soon from it the angered God rose with fire literally shining in his eyes as he sent a harsh glare on the heroes.

"I think we made him mad." Was all the Green Lantern could reply as he readies himself for what is to be an epic fight.

"It matters not if that is so, he must be stopped at all costs." Hippolyta all but commanded as she armed herself with a sword and shield, knowing full well the fate of mankind hinged on their victory.

"You impudent mortals dare to challenge a god! You dare to challenge me!" Hades bellows as the earth beneath him trembles at his command and rises where he stands.

"Uh-oh, this does not bode well guys." Flash remarked as he got a feeling things were about to get worse…and they did as skeletal arms rose from beneath him and latched onto his legs, once he was done the owners of said arms rose from the earth. These figures were skeletons wearing archaic armor and carrying swords. Rusty swords to be sure but still dangerous as hell weapons

*Oh great zombies…with swords!*

Batman was in no better position as the too managed to grab him in an attempt to pull him down.

"Behold the fate of all heroes."

All around the heroes and queen undead warriors began to rise and cry out in fury.

"You have got to be shitting me! I did not sign up to be in an Evil Dead rip off!" Kyle shouts as he creates a minigun and let loose a barrage on the oncoming horde.

Still the undead legions pushed onwards towards the heroes to kill them with their superior numbers. This was the case for Flash who was being overwhelmed by the reanimated bodies and was going to be engulfed.

"Get them off!"

Thankfully Superman was nearby as he took to the air and was firing his heat beams at the corpses.

"Hang on Flash!"

Superman soon picked up the young man as well as an unwanted passenger in the form of the dried up body of a soldier trying to strangle him, one right hook to the jaw by the speedster took care of that problem…though it appeared that even dismembered limbs still felt the need to destroy the interlopers as the arm Flash removed from his throat still desired his death.

"Ah gross!"

Batman had to engineer his own escape as he fired his grapple gun at the ceiling and quickly pulling away from the undead warriors, one had managed to cling to the caped crusader but a well-placed kick took care of it.

Unfortunately it appeared that these reanimated soldiers were not without some skill and intelligence as one hurled his axe at the grapple line and cut it, the sudden drop was unexpected but Batman managed to maneuver himself to land upon a column before dropping down onto the ground.

The nearby "zombies" immediately began to converge on his position, yet swiftly the Dark Knight hurled an explosive batarang at the dead soldier, said explosive caused a chain reaction that ended the undead life of a dozen or so enemy combatants.

J'onn was in the middle of a group of ten out of phase as it were as his intangibility allowed him to use his opponents attack against them. Sword, shield and axe all passed through his body and struck necrotic flesh as the reanimated beings destroyed one another in their desire to eliminate their alien adversary, in the end only one remained an then it to meets its end with a casual back hand from Martian.

The Queen parries and blocks strike after strike with sword and shield against one of her adversaries before it over extended itself and was cleaved in half. Behind her Diana blocked a slash with her own sword before letting loose a volley into a skeletal warrior that reduced it to dust.

Diana spots a trio of warriors trying to attack her mother from behind so she quickly reaches up to her tiara and hurls it like a boomerang and takes out all three before it returns to her. Her mother in turn hurls her sword at a skeleton behind her daughter, it pushes it back and gives her enough time to reach the creature, rip out the sword and then decapitate it.

"Thank you for that mother, though how can we beat this endless horde?"

"You can't." Hades replied smugly with an infuriating smirk as he down upon them before turning his sights on the Dark Knight and the Martian Manhunter who were standing their ground rather effectively with sword and fist.

*Well we can't have that now, can we?* With that thought in mind the God of the Underworld let loose a fireball at the duo, much to the friend's horror.

"INCOMING!" Diana shouts at them.

Both men hear her cry and escaped as soon as the fireball struck…

*BOOM!*

…however the shockwave soon caught up with them.

"Agh!"

"Ugh!"

"J'onn! Batman!" The Amazon princess cries out as she ran to them to check on them.

Superman and Flash were the next to be targeted as they fought for survival, the Man of Steel lived up to his namesake as swords shattered against his skin while Flash was moving too fast to be caught this time, that however did not prevent the attack that had been launch from slamming into the last son of Krypton…

"Agh!"

And sending him into a column behind the crimson speedster who had duck down to avoid his teammate turned projectile, he managed to get a few feet away from the falling pillar but it soon landed and though he evaded certain death the crash and the resulting mini earthquake were another matter as he was knocked out.

"HA HA HA! Bow to me mortals!" Hades cries out triumphantly as he gazed at his handy work…

*WHAM!*

"Ugh!"

"Monster!" Diana's furious cry rings as she took his lapse of awareness as an opportunity to fly at him and deliver a vicious uppercut to his jaw which she followed up with a spinning back kick to the same place that sent him to the ground.

"You dare to strike a god?!"

"You're a monster!" She spat venomously.

"I will make kneel before me princess!"

"I kneel before no one, and especially not mad despots like you."

That was enough to make Hades charged at the heroine.

Diana ducks under a right hook then struck with a left-right-left combination to his head that rocks him hard that Hades began to fall that Diana swooped in and delivered a devastating uppercut…

*WHAM!*

"ARGH!"

That snapped the deity's head back hard before he tumbled to the ground hard.

Diana wasted no time and rushed on top of the god and began to literally hammer his head into the ground with her fists at full power behind the blows. The very earth shook with each blow and the Hades cried out as the Amazonian warrior struck him over and over again.

Hades had enough being a punching bag and back hands the Amazon as she went for a sixth blow…

"Enough!"

*WHAM!*

"Ugh!" Wonder Woman cried out as she felt her face explode in pain as the armored fist connected and hurled a distance away from the enraged deity.

"Diana!" Hippolyta cries out in alarm as ran towards her as fast as she could to her daughter, she slid next to her and helped her stand while she shook her head to clear it. Her mother tried to ignore the blood on her lip.

Both warriors looked as Hades stood back up and glared at the two, they however stared back defiantly at the Olympian which only further enraged him, so much so that he didn't see his former pawn slowly stand and charge a spell despite his weakened condition.

"Luminous…Daktorb…"

The sphere of ethereal energy struck true to its mark and the god cries out as the magic envelopes him in a thunderous clash. The Amazons were shocked at the surprising turn and even more so at its effects as the handsome visage of Hades seemingly burns away and be replaced by a more demonic aspect.

"Great Hera!" Diana cries in horror while the Queen was silent for a moment as she spoke calmly at the sight.

"Now you see him for what he truly is."

The god of the Underworld was livid with the mortals interfering with his return and decided that the gloves were off now…starting with Faust. With a simple turn he reared back his head and released a ball of flame at the sorcerer.

"AAAHHH!"

*BOOM!*

The League had arrived just in time to watch with the Amazons as the monstrous creature disintegrates his former minion for his treachery.

"I think we need to call in some divine assistance." Flash comments openly as he finds the new appearance of the Olympian quite daunting…he isn't the only one given the shocked and appalled looks on Kyle and Clark's faces.

"I hope he answers my prayers then." Diana says as she mentally calls out to her friend the only way she has been told as she prays to the only other Storm god she knows.

"Who do you all speak of?" The Queen asks while keeping an eye on Hades.

"A god of thunder and lightning ma'am." Kyler replies as he gets his ring ready for another battle with the ancient deity.

"You are calling on Zeus for help!?" She replies in shock.

"Not that god but another one." Flash replies with as much humor as he can muster despite the dire circumstances. This earns a look of confusion as the Queen looks to her daughter but finds her with her eyes closed in concentration.

*Xander! Xander please head my prayers! We need you!* Diana sends out and hopes he can hear her.

At Tora's village…

Xander was resting as his wounds healed, despite the villagers wanting to tend to him in thanks he waved them off and told them to focus on their people first and foremost.

Next to him were Tora, Buffy was being look at by Dawn, Faith who had her watcher tending to her and finally Cordelia who sat close to Xander.

"Thank god we got out of there with everyone." He heard the blonde slayer comment as she drank some water her sister gave her.

"I'll drink to that as soon as I find what kind of beer they have here." Faith adds as she rests up as well, while Diana mutters something as makes sure her charge is well.

"I believe that can be arranger miss Lehane." Tora says to the brunette.

"Call me Faith, only she calls me that and usually when I do some dumb or crazy shit." Faith motions to her watcher who gives a exasperated nod towards the ice wielding hero.

Tora couldn't help but giggle at the two, Faith may seem to enjoy teasing and exasperating her Watcher but she did respect and care about her.

Xander shared in the humor now that the mission was accomplished, however that would soon come to an end as he felt Diana's call to him.

*GASP!*

"Diana!"

"Xander?" Dawn asks worriedly at his sudden yell.

"Wonder Woman's calling for help, I have to go." He replies as he summons his hammer.

"Wait what!?" Cordelia shouts as she grabs his arm "Xander you are in no condition to help anyone."

"I have to go Cordy, they need me." He insisted but still gently placed his hand on hers.

"…ah fuck it." Faith grumbles as she stood up with Buffy following suit "If you go we go X, and don't even say that it ain't happening." She snaps when he looks to object.

"I too will go, I owe you a debt and if this is how I can repay you so be it." Tora says with confidence.

"Fine but get ready because I just know we are about to step into it again." He says in utmost seriousness before concentrating as he spun his hammer.

*Tame to them! Take me to the League!* He thinks as the power grows before in a flash they are gone.

"I hope they come back safe." Dawn says.

Cordelia places an arm around her in comfort.

"Believe in them Dawn and they will."

*Don't make a liar out of me Xander.* She privately thinks as they depart the tent to notify the villagers.

Back at the Necropolis…

It came suddenly and without warning, one moment the cries of undead was all that was heard around the League and the Amazon queen and suddenly a thunderous boom overcame this army of undead as an explosion took place that released a dust cloud at the source.

Both sides looked away for a moment before looking at the figures that could be seen within.

"Goddamn X! Do you have to show off?" They all heard coming from the cloud.

"There is a certain level of expectation Faith, got to give the people what they want."

"I call bullshit Xander." A certain blonde Slayer threw out there.

The quartet soon stepped out into the open to the sight of the League and Hades.

"So who do I have to hit?" Xander calmly spoke towards Diana while Faith, Buffy and Ice flanked him as they saw the undead warriors around them.

"What the heck happened to you big guy?" Flash spoke out the question on their minds as they saw the condition of their comrade.

"Explanations later right now we have him to deal with." Batman broke in as he motions towards the other god who looked as imposing as ever.

Xander faced towards Hades and was wide eyed for a moment, Hades thought it was awe or fear but sadly it was anything but.

"That is one ugly motherfucker."

"Have to agree with X here, who the hell is that supposed to be?" Faith adds as she readies her weapon.

"That is Hades, God of the Underworld." Hippolyta replies while eyeing the newcomers.

*Those two…there is something about them I find familiar.* she thinks as she looks at Faith and Buffy.

"Wonderful…" Xander grumbled before he stepped towards the Olympian.

"Let's cut this short shall we? I assume you and your undead goons are not supposed to be here and if you are then you got bad intentions towards my friends the world right?" He asks while readying his weapons for the inevitable.

"This world is mine to rule and all who stand in my…" Hades began before he got cut off by the storm god.

"Ok shut up now I get it." Xander spoke with exasperation, which earned a growl from Hades for his audacity.

"You dare!?"

"Of course I do, it's my thing, now here is how this is going to go. You are going to take your ugly ass as well as your zombies back to wherever you came from or I am going to take my friend Mjolnir here to make you."

"…so you're the last of the Aesir, I should have known, only one of your brutes would be stupid enough not to bow to greatness. You should have done the whole of creation a favor and die off instead of barring my way to my new kingdom" Hades spat venomously at him.

Xander raised an eyebrow at that before he suddenly hurled his hammer without warning.

"UGH!"

"…I warned you!" He shouted as he goes after the deity.

With that the fight resumed as the Slayer began to fire on the skeletons and Ice began to freeze them.

"That escalated rather quickly!" Buffy shouted over the dim of battle.

"You think!? I thought it lasted rather long!" Faith replies.

Meanwhile Ice was approached by Diana and the queen.

"Ice what happened to Xander that left him in his condition?" Wonder Woman asks as she blocks a slash to her head before shield bashing it.

"My people's rescue was far more arduous than we first believe, but as it stands he is no longer the last of his people." The ice wielder replies missing the surprise look on the Amazon.

"Talk later Diana, there is a crisis to resolve." The queen buts in as she destroys another skeleton.

Meanwhile Xander had reached Hades who was shaking off the effects of the blow, Xander of course did not give him the chance as he ram his knee to the side of his head…

"Ugh!"

Then delivers a left hook to the jaw…

"Argh!"

And finally pulls back hard at the scruff of his neck before he uppercuts him.

"Pick the wrong day to come to this realm!" Xander shouts as he summons his hammer to him.

Hades fury reached new heights as pushes off the ground and unleashes a wave of hellfire at the Aesir. Xander responds by twirling his hammer in front him as a shield that parts the flames before it reaches him.

Seeing that didn't work Hades concentrates his power and summons a sword and shield to his open hands.

"Time for me to rectify the mistake of your existence interloper!" He shouts as he charges him.

"Your ugly ass face is the mistake asshole!"

*CLANG!* Sword met sword and hammer met shield which sent out a shockwave around the area. Both gods glare at one another as they struggle to overcome one another, Hades parried Xander's sword and moved to stab him but Xander sidestepped to the right and reversed his blade and swung for the others head but Hades ducks under the attack before backing off.

Xander through his hammer fired a bolt of lightning towards Hades who deflects it with his shield.

"Really? You come at me with lighting? My brother's bolts are far more potent." Hades remarks as he charges at Xander shield first. Xander rolls right and moves to removes his legs only for Hades to flip backwards and while in the air he aims his sword to impale the other god while he was on the ground.

Xander spun to the left quickly however just as Hades landed he opened his mouth and blasted him with Hellfire while he was on the ground.

"Argh!"

Hades wasted no time going after him with his sword held high, Xander for his part had put out the flame and just barely can make out the other god charging at him, as soon as Hades was in range Xander tackled him to the ground and began to slam the arm wielding the sword on the ground to make him release it which after the fifth time he succeeds at before he viciously backhands the demonic face of his foe to earn time.

"Ugh!"

Taking this chance Xander straddles the monstrous deity and begins to rain blows on him despite Hades attempts to shield himself with his armored forearms. It was unfortunate that when Xander goes to bash his skull with both hands that Hades took a chance and punched him in the area Sylene had stabbed him on his right flank.

"Guh!"

With his enemy distracted Hades grabs Xanders head and head butts him straight on his unprotected nose…

*CRUNCH!*

Xander can't help but hold the damaged area giving Hades time to push him off of him and take the chance to rip off his helmet before delivering a vicious blow to the back of his head to both hurt and disorient the storm god.

"You will rue the day you faced me Aesir!" Hades yells as he grabs him by the back of his armor and waist to hurl him into a nearby column with enough force to shatter it and leave him tumbling on the ground.

"Suffer!" The Olympian shouts as he runs after the wounded hero who was struggling to stand only to get a kick to the stomach for his troubles that send him up into the air, Hades lets go of his sword and grabs Xander's leg and swings him towards the battle where his allies fight for survival.

As the battle raged Kyle was providing air support as he pilots a mech of his own creation into sweeping aside any skeleton that throws itself at him, spotting Buffy and Faith about to be overrun he has the mach launch emerald missiles at the creatures.

*BOOM!*

"Thanks!" Faith shouts before firing at the enemies.

Ice was on an ice slide while firing a beam of intense cold that froze the pack of undead soldiers, Flash took advantage by shattering the skeletons into fragments.

Batman had brought out his electrified bracers and was ducking and weaving while bashing the skeletons with his fist and kicks. Superman was blowing away skeletons with powerful gust of winds while behind him J'onn fired twin beams of energy from his eyes.

Wonder Woman and her mother were hacking and slashing any skeleton that approached in a coordinated effort, when one attacked the other covered to defend.

All this became moot the moment Xander's body came hurling from nowhere and crashed into the ground while digging a trench with it, the only thing more shocking than that was Hades seemingly flying through the air and smashed into Xanders with vengeance.

They all saw as he lifted Xander by the neck and began to savagely beat his face in before Xander suddenly counters by ramming his elbow into Hades chin making the Olympian drop him as he clutches the damaged area. The heir to Thor drew what strength he had at the moment to pull Hades off his feet and grab his legs, he began to spin him around until hurling him away into broken mausoleum that gave way under his weight and force.

"Ugh!"

His allies quickly rushed towards his position as he called Mjolnir to him, though he regretted that his mother's sword did not have that same ability.

"Xander!" Buffy cried out as she got next to him and helped him stand despite her smaller size while Diana did the same at the opposite end while their friends provide cover fire.

"Somebody find the driver of that bus so I can kick his ass." He groans as his wounds throb in pain.

"We need to end this now." Superman comments as he sees just how hurt his teammate is.

"There is a way…" Hippolyta says as she points towards the key that holds the gates open "…if we remove the key Hades will be cast back to Tartarus"

"I doubt he will make it easy for us to do so." Kyle comments as he forms a bulldozers that runs over a squad of skeletons.

"When was this shit ever easy mean green?" Faith comments as she takes potshots at the legion.

"Time for a Hail Mary then." Xander lets out as he finally stand on his own while nodding in thanks to the ladies.

"Split the group in half, one to distract him and the other to cover whoever has to remove that thing." He ends earning a nod of approval from Batman who quickly offered how best to implement it.

They soon acted on it just as Hades burst once more onto the scene with murder in his eyes as he spots Xander hammer in hand and with Superman, Green Lantern and Martian Manhunters covering him.

"Hades I command you to go back to your hell hole and leave this realm be!" Xander orders while pointing his electrically charged hammer at him.

"You dare command me!? I am a god! I am the one who makes commands not take them Aesir!" He spat back as the sheer audacity of being order around as if he was some weak mortal only drove is rage further.

"Newsflash asshole, so am I!" The wielder of Mjolnir shouted back as he and the others charged at the Olympian who did the same.

Superman reached Hades first and fired off his heat vision which the god deflected with his armored forearm as he continues forward regardless of the attack. Superman cut off the attack just as Mjolnir flew past him towards Hades who seeing the attack spun left to dodge and straight into J'onn oncoming fist.

*WHAM!*

"Ugh!" Hades cries out as he is thrown back by the surprise attack.

This was soon followed by Kyle swinging a emerald fist at him to further add to his troubles as it uppercuts him into the air where Superman meets him with both hands clasped as they strike his head and sends him crashing back to the ground.

Before he can stand and retaliate he is suddenly stuck hard by a thunderbolt courtesy of Xander.

"How's that for lighting huh!?"

Hades could say nothing as he was being electrocuted, mustering his power a wall of earth rose to protect him, before it crumbled behind the onslaught he counters with another gout of hellfire that clashed with Xanders power making it a contest between the two.

J'onn thinks to capitalize on the Olympians distraction by phasing through the ground to get behind Hades however Hades was no fool despite his rage at the defenders actions, he was expecting an attack and so when sensed someone behind him he quickly struck by grabbing him and throwing him into the path of Xander's attack.

"ARGH!"

"J'onn!" Xander cries out as he ceases the attack.

Kyle quickly has J'onn in a makeshift stretcher while Clark charges Hades to provide cover.

"So the mighty Kryptonian wishes to face me eh?" Hades taunts as he meets the Man of Steel head on, they soon reach one another with Superman throwing the first punch that Hades easily catches and uses to pull him towards his other fist aiming for his face only for Superman to mirror his actions now forcing a deadlock between the two powerhouses.

The very earth cracks under the pressure the two exert, Hades knows he will be struck again if he stays this way so in a sudden move he pulls Clark forward and rams his knee into his stomach…

"GUH!"

…followed up by him ramming his elbow into the Kryptonians back hard enough he slams into the earth before he grabs one of his legs and hurls him towards an incoming Kyle Rayner looking to avenge his teammates.

Kyle chose to create a giant catchers glove that caught the other hero, Hades took this distraction to spat hellfire at them. Kyle encapsulated them in a sphere but was being hard pressed to hold back the onslaught.

Hades kept the pressure on before sensing an imminent attack which he dodged as Mjolnir flew at his head…of course that didn't help as the Aesir tackled him as he jumped after his weapon was thrown.

They tumbled for a bit before Hades got the advantage and began to rain blow after blow on the Aesir with his armored fist. Xander tried to defend himself but his opponent was being driven by rage and malice as some strike made it through to his face.

"I will tear out your skull and use it as a chalice!" The foul deity cried out as he broke his opponent's nose with a satisfying crunch.

"ENOUGH!" Someone shouted behind him as he felt arms suddenly encircle his waist and hurl him away from his enemy. As he struck the ground he was suddenly blasted by twin beams of energy courtesy of a newly returned and infuriated J'onn J'onnz.

"Good to have you back buddy..." Xander groans as he struggles to stand only to be helped by Kyle "…and sorry you got hit by my attack." He adds at the end as he spots Superman slamming feet first into Hades midback.

"None are needed Xander." The Martian replies as he helps Green Lantern to stabilize their comrade.

"I hope the others are close to ending this because, and no offense Xander, but you look like shit." Kile grimly points out as he sees just how messed up Xander is.

"Feel like it…" he replies as he summons Mjolnir back "…but we got to keep Hades busy in the meantime." The others nodded as they got back into the fray.

Meanwhile the rest of the group was charging towards the key with the seemingly unending horde of undead warriors.

Flash had grabbed a shield and ran at speeds that had the skeletons shatter as he bulldozed through them while any he misses were snipped by precision shots from Buffy and Faith alien weapons or Batman's explosive batarangs.

"Hurry Diana! We're almost to the key!" The queen says as she cleaves another skeleton.

Diana said nothing as she sidesteps a skeleton's spear lunge while ramming her elbow into its skull and then using the spear to destroy another charging at them.

"Good! I don't think the guys can keep ugly's attention for much longer!" Flash comments as he twirls his arms to form horizontal tornados at incoming squads of undead creatures.

"X's got this Flash!" Faith comments though not before sparing a glance in their direction and sees Xander and Hades wailing on each other.

*At least I hope he does.* she thinks with some worry for her friend.

Despite this she and the others continue to the key, drawing themselves ever closer to their objective.

Sadly Murphy decides to up the ante so to speak as back with Hades, who is currently has Xander in a chokehold while J'onn is shaking cobwebs out of his head and Kyle is on the ground knocked out after being struck with a column and finally Superman is trying to stop the Olympian from crushing his head with his foot.

"I am going to enjoy this Aesir." Hades spits venomously at his enemy who continues to struggle. However as he spares a glance to his surroundings he sees something that makes him pale and release his captive.

"NO!" He cries out as he sees the group move towards the object that lets him remain in this realm.

"Guys our covers blown!" Buffy shouts as she sees the demonic looking deity head for them.

"Now or never Di!" Faith shouts at the princess as she and her sister Slayer begin to rain down cover fire at the Olympian.

Wonder Woman hears the veiled panic in her friend's voice and dashes towards the key as fast as she could, knowing everything was riding on them succeeding. Hades for his part was closing in fast to the group ready to send him back to the pit, however as he catches up the queen appears before him with her weapons in hand.

"Your madness end here Hades." She shouts as she slashes and stabs at the deity who can't deal with the scorned woman right now.

"I'll deal with you later my sweet!" He shouts back just before he backhands her into unconsciousness.

Diana for her part had finally reached the key and began to pull with all her might, the very moment she did waves of energy erupted and struck at her body but through the pain she held strong as it turned until…

*CRACK!*

…the key was torn from its base, much to the shock of Hades.

"What have you done woman!?"

"Ending your plans here and now! Go back to your pit foul monster and trouble this world no more!"

She screams at him as she smashes the key into the ground before him and thus unleashing a torrent of energy that strikes the gateway and begins a chain reaction in the form of everything being pulled into the vortex that lead to Tartarus.

Hades grabs hold of the ground as hard as he could while Diana is also being pulled towards the swirling vortex, though at the last minute she grabs hold of the base where the key once stood and uses it as a cover.

Columns and warriors are drawn into the pit of lost souls and among them is the dying Faust who in the end is nothing but dust and an empty cloak. Batman fired his grapple gun and anchors himself to a submerged column with both Buffy and Faith grabbing on as well.

Flash runs at full speed over columns and debris with the full intent of not being sucked into Hell. Kyle grabs Ice and creates a sphere tendered to a large emerald anchor while J'onn flies and phases through the worst parts with Superman doing the same but smashing any object in his way.

Xander had for his part sunk the axe head of Mjolnir into the ground and held on to its strap as he struggled not to get sucked into the gateway. However as he struggles he spots something among the debris and ruins heading for the gateway to the Underworld.

*The Queen!*

He wasn't the only one who spots her as Hades reaches out and grabs her as soon as he could; sadly his attempts to escape his fate with her were for nothing as he was caught unexpectedly by a flying piece of the ruins…

"UGH!"

…and he and his unwanted passenger were sent flying into the pit, much to horror of Diana as she sees her mother moving towards it with no sign of stopping.

"MOTHER!"

She screams as she makes a grab for her hand and barely manages to grasp with one hand while using the other to grab onto the stone base, though sadly Hades latches onto the Queen's leg and thus adding more to the problem.

Xander sees this and comes to a quick decision as he lets go of Mjolnir and runs as best he can as he aims towards the mad Olympian…

"Hades!" he calls out as loud as he can to gain their attention, Hades eyes widen as he figures out too late what the Aesir is going to do just as his body slams into his own hard.

*WHAM!*

"Xander!" Buffy, Tora, Diana and Faith cry out as they watch their friend and the Olympian tumble towards gate.

The Aesir god quickly slams his hands into the ground hard enough to tear grooves into though having an infuriated Olympian clutching at his leg and squeezing it hard enough to shatter boulders doesn't help at all.

Hades' next words were more than enough to showcase his intent.

"I'm not going alone Aesir!"

After securing her mother Wonder Woman sends her golden lasso to aid the storm god.

"Xander! Take it! Take the lasso!" She screams over the cacophony of destruction.

Xander despite being hindered by Hades manages to barely grasp the golden rope with one hand while trying to shake of his enemy.

Hades for his part is using Xander as a makeshift ladder and moving towards lasso as well, however Xander has other plans as he looks and focuses on his hammer to come to his aid. The weapon flies past a surprised Diana into Xander's free hand and as he aims it at Hades sparks of electricity surge from it, Hades for his part can do nothing but stare in horror as lighting shoots from it and strikes him square in the chest.

"ARGH!"

"Go back to Hell and stay there!"

"HHHHIIIIIIPPPPPOOOLLLLYYYYTTTTAA!" The defeated deity screams in fury as he is literally dragged back into his own domain.

The gates slowly begin to close while the vortex continues to pull in everything it can, and that includes a very wounded and exhausted Aesir who is struggling to hold on as much as he can until finally…

"Agh!"

…he can do so no longer and is pulled away by the ethereal force.

"Xander!" The Amazon cries in horror with one hand outstretched as if she could still save him.

Though it seems fate favors the young god as the gates close behind just as his body slams into it with enough force that no normal man could survive though thankfully this does not apply to him as he is merely knocked out and blessed darkness claims him.

Diana rushes to him and turns him onto his make and looking for a pulse, one she finds though it is slow moving.

*Praise the gods he lives!* she thinks before her attention is grabbed by the sound of movement behind her.

"Urgh!"

"Mother…" as soon as she sees Hippolyta awake she gently lays the Aesir down and moves towards her "…are you all right?"

"Yes Diana, what of Hades?"

"Gone, we won mother."

"Praise Athena…" she speaks before she looks at the downed god "…is he…?

"He lives mother, but he needs healer quickly...and our sisters are…" there is no need to finish as they both realize that Faust's spell still lingers.

Outside the temple…

The heroes, Slayers and Amazons gaze sadly at the petrified warrior women, with no clue how to help them regain life.

"Damn it! All this shit we went through and this is our reward?!" Faith spat as she looks around sadly and then at the bruised, beaten and bloody form of her friend being held between Diana and Clark.

"Is there nothing we can do for them?" J'onn asks in a tone that tells them even he feels a great sadness at seeing these fine people in this state, a sentiment both women share as they feel all is lost.

"Wait!" Flash speaks up suddenly as he recalled what he took from Faust during their attempt to ambush him as he pulls out the medallion which cursed the Amazons "….I still have this snake headed doohickey."

"But only Faust knew the spells, without him…" J'onn began to speak as the sun rose on the horizon, and then as the rays of lights touched the medallion it began to glow brightly that a startled Flash dropped it and soon they all shielded their eyes as light surrounded them all.

Its effects were soon seen by the group as slowly all the women began to move once more.

"It's a miracle!" Hippolyta spoke with joy as her people regained their true forms.

"But how?" the crimson clad speedster asked as he was really confused since they all figured that Faust was needed to undo the damage he caused.

"Faust's enchantment could only last so long as he willed it so." Batman replied, none too surprised by the man's assessment.

"Then with Mr. Dust in the wind gone it broke the curse." Buffy finishes happily.

"Well that's great and but we need to help Xander now." Flash reminded.

The Queen had not forgotten the actions of the storm god who had come to aid them and the world, there would be much to do but thanks to her daughter and her allies their people still endured.

*There will be many decisions to make regarding these strangers but in the meantime we have a debt to repay.* she thought before she began to rally her people and begin the healing process for them and one of Earth's champions.

Unknown to them, high on Olympus the Gods watched and began to decisions regarding the events that just unfolded.

To be continued…

A/N: So there, Xander got to fight TWO gods and helped save two people. To be honest I originally planned to have him be called during the hostage rescue and land in the middle of the Hades fight but I scrapped that idea because it got to complicated…hell I still think what I put is!

But anyway, when I get around to updating this, which I won't say when because I don't know when that will happen, we will see the Olympians get involved in the aftermath of this fracas and let's just say Xander will not be endearing himself to them…especially a certain goddess of wisdom and one of the hunt (anyone find it odd that in both Marvel and DC those two are antagonistic most of the time? I mean pre N52 Athena was rather mean to Diana from what I heard.).

And of course, Xander won't take kindly to Zeus ogling his girls or Hera looking to mess with them because of it. And of course, he will also speak on behalf of Diana when they look to punish her for bringing the boys to play on the island.

Well if you will excuse me I am going to rest as best I can in this heat and then plan which story is next down the line, I'm thinking either my Mutant Ranma story or Avengers story (BTW Infinity was the shit! I mean good lord that Spidey death hit me hard every time I saw it!). PEACE OUT!