Hello this is a fan fiction story about DC's Circe. Originally it was for a fan fiction competition that is now defunct, I probably would not have chose to write about Circe ordinarily, because I like her, but don't feel I know her that well. Writing is about challenging yourself though eh? This story is rated E for Everyone, the versions of Circe and Ares I use in this story are meant to echo DC's versions but they are also in public domain. Also the rules for the fan fiction tournament were that the normally villainous Circe be written as a hero and a hero that evoked her normal characterization. Hopefully it reads that way. Also had a word limit at 1500. Feedback is appreciated and thank you kindly to any who decided to take the time to read, even if you don't comment. Cheers.

Circe Rex Inclusive

A small assortment of colorful furry, feathered, fluffy and otherwise diverse animals bounded into the auditorium knocking chairs and tables over with a reckless abandon that is typical of such wildlife. Despite being in the presence of some of their natural predators and prey, the animals seemed well mannered and organized once gathered in the centre of the large room. Among the ranks of species present were two lions, a peacock, two eagles, a hawk, five domestic cats, one raccoon, two brown bears, a shoebill, four domestic dogs, one very large wild and fluffy dog, two bunny rabbits, one wolf, three cows, three penguins and a baby seal in a small trolley pulled by a very tired looking pig. A stunning statuesque woman with unusually light violet hair swayed into room dressed in a sharp black business suit sporting a devilish grin. With a flick of her wrists she produced a light aura around the room that was superseded in commotion by all the gathered animals transformations into humans. The bedlam was brief but subsided after a few giggles and gasps, various humans checking their pockets to check for wallets and keys, finding their bearings and familiarizing themselves with their normal hume forms. Circe asserted herself over the now gathered human assembly with an almost inhumanly enchanting voice.

"Attention please mortals, please find a seat, makes yourselves comfortable. Some of you may feel slightly disorientated after your respective animal metamorphosis's but this shall be temporary, but more importantly you should all otherwise be mindful and aware to your current state of ease, relation and calmness. This content state of being is how you deserve to feel."

Circe continued to capture the attention of the room with her words, her presence and voice was comforting and enchanting, firm and motivating. It was a now-standard group therapy session for the sorceress who had been using her magical talents for five years to aid, support and counsel humans in conditions of anxiety, nervousness, shyness, anger management, traumatic stress among others. By using her various powers in unorthodox ways such as projective animal metamorphoses, she could allow repressed human individuals to feel a powerful release by regressing to their more simple and animalistic nature and state, as an actual eagle for example, then by returning them to their original state holding over their newfound sense of purpose, comfort and satisfaction with life. Such one ability among an arsenal of magical derived abilities she manifested in various ways to help others. Such practices had raised the ire of many who would label Circe and her practices as pseudo science, but Circe would usually face such criticism by shrugging her shoulders and referencing her considerable age. Magic, science, magic, science, she didn't really care about semantics she cared about results, and her results were impressive.

Circe's brand of herbal remedies and natural medicines earned her a fortune large enough to buy her own island paradise but she was uncharacteristically transparent as far as channeling such large sums of money into various charities and organizations, mostly relating to children, woman and feminism which in itself drew further criticism, but Circe was essentially a goddess, she above such petty assaults on her character. Perhaps she was demonstrating a superiority complex, but she loved nothing more than manipulating mankind to reach its true potential, and what better way to give the finger to the ways of old, gods, kings, patriarchy! At the conclusion of her session Circe hugged a young socially anxious woman who had gotten to experience flying that day, and planted a memory suggestion that would compel the woman to join a local running group. Circe would retire to her room to gather her thoughts.

"Ah with your blatant manipulations and deceit, you would make a better villain to these wretched creatures than a hero, or perhaps you are just more committed to your treachery these decades!" boomed a grim voice accompanied by heavy leather forced by heavier power against humble wood. Ares, Deity of War, Deity of Conflict, of Blood, Iron and Steel. Ares who needs no introduction, at least not to Circe, their lives, histories, backgrounds, intertwined past several centuries of blood, love, betrayal and threats.

"You do more than insult me with your pacifistic platitudes and attempts to drive Man from their true nature, you know that a peaceful and content Mankind is a direct threat to my very being and core. That you employ deceiving spells and illusions is more than a sign that this is not natural and that you seek to circumvent the foundations of humanity and spit in the face of gods. You are not naive Circe, you know you injure me, you know how I react to challenges!" Ares words were laced with sharpness, yet Circe's smile never diminished during the intrusion of one time associate.

"Oh Ares, must you use such archaic and gender exclusive terms - but no, none of my actions intend to hurt you, despite the fact our goals and motivations seem at odds, however War god they do not need to be. For centuries I was trapped in a cycle, but I made no choices. From arranged marriages to ignorant Greek mobs to being manipulated by wrathful goddesses to severe isolation. Our long lives are curses but they are gifts as well. I was a selfish spoiled power hungry brat and it got me nothing. Technically speaking I am still a selfish spoiled power hungry brat" Circe delivered dryly "but there is value in helping others. Mock me when you refer to me as a hero, but mind your manners son of Zeus, my tongue may be silver but you risk more than your pride by attempting to enlighten me about nature. Manipulation and deceit is my nature, but helping humans and being considered a heroine is my choice. It frees me from millennia of bondage. You are a puppet with an axe, but why? Defy your father, Ares, defy the fates, why would you allow anyone else to tell you what is or isn't your nature?" Circe seated crossed her leg as she posed that all too sincere sounding challenge.

Ares would have none of it as he rushed towards the spell caster and drove his war axe down straight through her in a blow which could only split her in two, and the war god would follow through with that attack with a sweeping horizontal strike that be so vicious and violent as to create ripples that would scar the walls. "Vulgar illusions you cursed creature!" Ares' anger apparent, many of his following curses uttered in ancient Greek. Circe was still seated in her original position with no damage of any sorts inflicted against her at all. She stood up and sighed. She was not there, only a projected visage, an illusion of herself kept the company of Ares now.

"Forgive me Ares, I taunted and mocked you, what can I say? I still have a streak of wickedness in me, and yes I understand you fancy yourself as quite the powerful and strong war god and I am just a female of illusions and mind games, but these humans. They are so soft and mortal, fragile and easy to corrupt. Its slightly depressing to see them try so hard and fail. Yet somehow they have managed to collectively acquire more knowledge and understanding of reality than even we can claim to have. Don't you realize that humanity has struggled so hard and huddled so tightly that after hundreds of years they now have the power to make choices that have eluded powerful beings like you and me? I was naive once and abused for it, and the humans are still naive and I choose not to abuse them. They come to me to help them and I chose to help them. Pick up a book Ares, pick up a book by Steven Pinker actually, study evolution, read of man's discoveries of the past, learn of forensic archeology, of empathy, we live in the most peaceful era that humans have ever experienced and that is a trend that is projected to continue. Right now as the god of war you are the weakest you have ever been and you are only going to get weaker. You have been lied to child, the only way you can survive is to change your nature and forfeit war. I don't know, maybe you can be the god of the Internet or the god of atheism, those are both popular right now? You can still be relevant and coexist alongside man. What you can't do Ares is stray me from my current path. Even if you were to somehow kill me, mankind will continue to outgrow war even if they are skeptical of that fact. I'm sending you the bill for the damages done to this building by the way. No hard feelings though."

Circe's visage faded away as she smiled gently...