The Legend of Wonder Woman (Patreon)

CHAPTER ONE: THE WAY OF THE AMAZONIt was the first time  in 3,000 years they had done the games. The last time they had done so, they all suffered beyond any human being could have survived. But these were not humans. These women were more. They were Amazon. Amazons who were more than survivors of tragedy. More than just warriors for the gods. They were sisters, United in all matters of peace, and war. Hence, they did not compete in the games. Not until their queen ordered them to do so. Despite no Amazon raising sword to each other in over 3,000 years… they all followed the orders of the Queen. Even when she refused to explain why. The women didn’t care. They trusted their queen. More than trusted her, they believed in her. The Queen couldn’t believe that all of these Amazons, who promises never to strike one another since they came to the Island, would do so on nothing but her orders. Her wife told her that the women did so based entirely on love and admiration for their queen. The Queen feared she wasn’t worth a tenth of this worship… and wondered how many of these amazons would trust in her again if they knew what these games were truly for. Games that every single great Amazon should be at. 

All but one, on orders by the Queen. A queen who saved and protected them for thousands of years. A queen they all knew they could depend on. Hippolyta bit her tongue after she gave the order, not wanting to say anymore. They were loyal to her. But if she explained to every single Amazon there what the mission was and why they had to fight… it may end in Civil War. The Amazons were not women who forgot. Of great deeds, and great sins. Queen Hippolyta looked to her side, and saw the face of her wife, Philppus. General of the Amazons, and the true instructor of these games. The one who knew how to test the Amazons, to see who was fittest among them for the task to come. It wasn’t an easy task, when near every Amazon was concussed perfect. Hard to weed out those not worthy to represent the Amazons when just about any woman can. One can say that Philippus’s games were perfect. If one was far weaker, than they would say it was worse than Tartarus itself. 

If one was a mere man, it would have certainly killed them to perform in these games. But the Amazons were far beyond men. These were women who fought and trained every single day. It was true that while no Amazon ever struck steel against the other, wood was a different thing. These were not women, they were Amazons, and one can only be called an Amazon if they were worthy to hold the title. It was not one to be wasted by just doing nothing. Thus the games that were designed to be too much for any mortal, none of the women failed. Whatever it was pushing a rock over a mile long, a rock that even Sisyphus could never even budge, or how the Amazons were made to test their strength against fire. Standing still as flames were under them, burning their skin to test the Amazon’s courage and will power. Dozens of challenges, from catching arrows fired at them, to wrestling some of great Hephestus’s machines that he designed to be more advanced than any testing dummy, or running 5 miles across heavy rocks and deliberate roadblocks while blindfolded. None of the women failed the tests.

But some did it better than them. While every woman cleaved their hand right through a rock, only a few women also broke the rock holding up the rock they were meant to strike. No woman struggled to control one of the greatest steeds among all of the amazons, the kangaroo, but only a few could smooth the mighty kangaroo to let them rub its stomach in clear signs of submission. Even coming to swimming up a great waterfall that was trying to destroy the bones of whoever was in its path, still only a few women were powerful enough and fast enough to do so on their first try. Hundreds of Amazons joined in the games, and among them, Philippus noted down who she found most impressive. Many of them excelled in so many regards, yet only a few truly surpassed the expectations of Philippus. To her, every amazon was great. But even greatness could be overshadowed by something… beyond.

In the end, she had seven noted as the best among them. Still, seven was not a number that was good for the second phase of the games. Hippolyta looked at Philippus staring at the names she had, and motioned for her to give them to her. With no hesitation, the scroll was given to the queen who looked at the names. Despite thousands of amazons existing, over 8,000, Hippolyta knew every single name on the list. Except one. Hippolyta looked them over, and saw the scores of the top seven. Far above all the rest, and of the seven, one was even higher than the rest of them! It was no question her wife considered them the peak epitome of the Amazons. Looking at the top seven, she did see one name that was the exact one she did not recognize. Compared to the rest of the Amazons, it was far higher than most… but not as high as the top seven. The name was obviously a fake one. No amazon had the name of ‘Sister’. It was still interesting, why she would put that name down. Hippolyta looked at Philippus, and Philippus already knew what she wanted to ask just by her eyes on the name.“The young amazon excelled in many a regards. When it came to the 20 different challenges, she did well at all of them, only excelling in two regards. Still, she wasn’t nearly as strong as many of them, or as fast, and her swimming was… well, she passed.”

“The two she excelled at?”

“Reflexes and Kangaroo treatment. The latter was rather easy for her from what I can tell, she had the girl eating out of her hands in seconds. The first though… I never seen any Amazon who could deflect any arrow like her. Despite that, her scores just aren’t as good as the top seven. Putting her in there would just be a mistake. It would be a clear domination of her. It is better if these fights are equal, to fully test the mettle of the Amazon warriors for the task ahead of them.”

Hippolyta thought over what her wife said. She had taken so much for what she said as sacrescent. If her general said something was foolish, than it was foolish. Still, Hippolyta had made it a policy in her life even above that. To never look down on an Amazon, no matter what. Despite her wife probably being right, Hippolyta made her choice and it was one that she would not budge at all.

“Let her fight. I want to see what this Amazon is made of, perhaps she can surprise even you.”

Philippus offered no resistance to what her wife said, though she hoped that she was right. Philippus did not tell the Queen the true reason she did not want this Amazon to fight. She knew who she was, even under the mask. Still… she promised Sister to not tell anyone who she was. Still, it was the hope of Philippus that the Amazon would fail. If she was to succeed in the games, it would destroy Themyscira. Well, that meant she had to win the games, and while she proved her skill in the first part of the games, the second part was the true test. The ultimate one in every regard. Philippus had not smelled this sensation in thousands of years, but it was one that she could never forget. It was the smell, of blood on the sand. When Amazons proved their mettle among their sisters. When Amazons fought… against Amazon. Perfect warriors fighting to the death against fellow sister.

For the gods, for glory, for the hand of a lover even. These were games that have not happened for one reason. The last games nearly destroyed them all. It was because of those games, that hundreds of Amazons suffered indignity beyond any woman should ever be put in. This time, the stakes were even higher than the one before. It’s just none of the women knew, except for a tiny handful. For the dozen women who knew, this was a great solemn task. For the thousands of amazons watching the games, they were more than excited by what was going on. They were almost envious themselves that they did not get the chance to be one of the final women among the games. It was because of this envy, alongside to make sure no Amazon would know who defeated them, that every Amazon in the games was to wear a mask. It was somewhat silly, because these women knew each other for thousands of years. They knew the voices and movements of every woman to be able to pick out every single Amazon on the island. Still, the order from Philippus was given. Every Amazon was to wear a mask.

The women were made to wear masks, even for the fights. It would not be a hindrance for the women. They were more than trained to handle combat even when slightly bothered. No, the hard part of wearing a mask during combat, was they couldn’t look at the faces of their fellow Amazon. To not know what she was thinking before she struck a blow that could mean the end of the fight, or the end of an immortal life. No Amazon could die from aging. But all can die from a snapped neck. It was not going to be a simple fight for any of the Amazons either. These were women who trained and honed their bodies longer than most civilizations have ever stood. They weren’t the greatest warriors alive. They were the greatest warriors period. If a woman was fighting in the games, then they were simply better than any Amazon here. It was said, back in Ancient Greece, that only a demigod could defeat an Amazon in fair combat. That was more than true. These Amazons, one can say, could only be defeated in combat from an Olympian… or a fellow Amazon. When the eight women were told they were chosen, a flurry of emotions swelled up in them.

Some were afraid, not certain how they could ever truly strike another Amazon. Some were ecstatic, finally getting ready to prove who was the best among them. Only two of them knew… that they were fighting for something far greater than just to prove one’s own might against their fellow sister. They knew why the games were even set up. Both were determined to be the winner. Even if it meant felling a fellow sister in noble combat. As the coliseum was getting louder and louder, from the stomping of anxious Amazons who wanted to see sister battle sister, heartbeats were also beating faster. None of the Amazons there could hide a small part of her was also thrilled about what would happen. Every Amazon believed, deep down, they were the best among them all. This was now the ultimate test to prove they were. Today. 8 Amazons will battle each other to find out who is the best Amazon. It would be the greatest labor any Amazon could ever conceive of. It was a moment that would scare even the bravest of Amazons. 

That fear was quickly quashed as they heard the roars of the women in the crowd in the grand coliseum. One far larger and grander ever devised in the world outside the island. It was able to fit thousands of Amazons watching the battle, and still give them space to move. The center of the Colosseum was a sand pit, at least a kilometer long and a kilometer wide. Enough room for the usual displays of the usual practices among the Amazons before the games. It was never devised for one on one fights. Still, it was not in doubt that the coliseum will forever be remembered for just these fights in the next thousand years. It was the hope of many of the Amazons that the gods were watching from above at the great battle about to commence. Why wouldn’t the gods be watching, it was the most loyal followers of the gods fighting each other to prove who was the best. Any victory would be a massive boon to any Olympian who was favored by the Amazons. It was in no doubt to most Amazons there that their favored Olympian god could possibly praise the winner of the match. It was a false hope, but one many clung too. It had been too… far too long since any of them even heard a whisper from any of the gods. Some even wondered if the games were set up JUST for the Olympians to notice what was going on down below Mount Olympus. If Hippolyta knew that was the belief of many Amazons, she would have felt even guilter about the games. 

While many of the Amazons in the stands were wondering why the games were going on or what would happen, one woman did not think that. All she thought about… was that she had reached this far. The Amazon was sitting in a corner, wondering many things in her life. The most important on her mind was the fights coming up. The Amazon had fought before, but not in true combat. Not like most of the Amazons who had reached this far. It was in her experience that the Amazons were divided in two. Those who were alive before the island, and those who came to the Island afterward. The Amazon remembered the stories told of how Amazons were born, and she even witnessed it more than once. Where Amazons were the souls of women killed by male violence, and if chosen, would become a new woman. An Amazon. It was a moment one would never forget seeing. A magical moment of watching a woman, fully grown and mature, walking from the ocean to the coast of the island. Confused and yet confident at the same time. You just wanted to consider her your sister on first sight. Fighting your sister… was like trying to rip your own arm off. It just wasn’t right at all. Yet she begged to be here. The Amazon begged to fight her fellow sisters, despite loving all of them. Every single sister on the island was a woman she loved deeply and passionately. 

Some were family. Some were even lovers. But all were those she cherished more than her own limbs. All the Amazon could think about as she stared at her bracelets, was that she was not going to go easy on any of her sisters. It would be an insult to them if she held back. She will defeat each and every single one of them. Holding back against them would be an insult. It would also be dangerous to do. Any one of these women could kill her and do it with no problem. It was scary, and it was no shame to admit that as she held her mask… her hands were shaking. Sitting alone, in the dark, alone, it was all she could think about. That today COULD be her last day, if any of the Amazons… chose to kill. They never would. But in the heat of battle, anything can happen. Stories were told of how anyone, even an Amazon, can go into a blood lust to rival even Ares in the heat of war. That was the thought currently in her head, terrifying her to her utter core.But one was hidden even deeper, one that was potentially even scarier. What if the bloodlust… infected her? The sister was scared of it. Because… she had never battled anyone in her life. Spar, yes, but actual combat? Never in her dreams. Perhaps she was just a child, entering into war only to be slaughtered. Or this was the moment that she would reveal to all, including herself, that she was no true amazon. But a monster in the shape of woman. It was a thought she had held all her life… since childhood. As tears hit her mask, she almost choked as she spoke a prayer. One to any goddess or god listening. The sister had prayed every night to her gods. Always for her family, always for her sisters, always for those she cared for. Today, she prayed for herself.“Please… prevent me from slaying those I love.”

It was when she finished her prayer, she heard someone approaching the room. As quickly as she could, she put the mask on. A simple small golden skull one, that only covered the upper half of her face. A skull, in honor of Athena. Who broke from Zeus’s to springford as a goddess of wisdom. It was a concept that many a woman believed was true of all men and women. That women came from men and took the best traits of them. She didn’t know if that belief was true. She had never met a man… and before she could finish that thought, she put the mask on as quickly as she could. Just as she finished, the door had opened and standing there was an Amazon warrior she knew of. One that she heavily respected for her immense skill and strength. Compared to many of the Amazons, she was superior to them in almost every single respect, in the sisters opinion at least. 

The amazon was not one of the women who was to fight her. This amazonian warrior master wasn’t good enough for the games. That told the sister how great these games were. It was only the greatest of the amazons, so even the best among them wasn’t worthy enough. No, it had to be women better than the best. When the amazon spoke, the sister heard something in her voice she never imagined to hear from her, or any other woman. Envy.“You are to start the fights. I am not to tell you of your foe, but she is one I believe will be our champion. Fight with honor, sister. Even in defeat, one can learn from it and take pride from what they learn.”

Hearing that defeat was the only option stung her a bit. Still, it was something of a warning for her. That her next foe was that respected, their was many who could fit that title. Yet only a small few could be above even those women, and one was on the top of her head. It would be no surprise if she was the foe, and so as the sister got up, it felt like her feet had become clay. It took a deep breath to give her the energy and the courage to get up. Her mind had to get rid of the worries. No matter what, she was more than just a woman who was ready for a fight. No, she was something BETTER than most women. She was the single greatest kind of woman to ever be. An amazon. One who had proven that she deserved to be here on the merits of just her own power and skill. She got here as far as she did.Now, she will win it. When she strided, every step made her feel bigger than she had before. Something was coming up to her and she saw the light of the sun as it was rising. It was the dawn of the day, meant to be a new day for any Amazon. The games were to last the whole day, even though it was going to just be eight women fighting. The fight’s were expected to last a long time, and the amazons can handle a fight that lasts a whole day. Physically, that is. Who knew if any of these women could handle the mentality of fighting each other to near death? Perhaps some of them could. This amazon knew she was going to end the fights as quickly as she could. Perhaps that was the wrong thing to think of when in a fight. She’ll only really know when the fights started. When she finally got her sandals to touch the sand, she felt something overcome her.

It was the eyes of every amazon on the island on her. All of them knew she was one of the chosen, even if none of them knew who she was. To fight here was not a reward given to her. It was a right she EARNED, and she will now prove why she earned it. As she felt every Amazon’s eyes on her, she knew she had to block them out. Right now, only one Amazon on the island mattered. Only a single one she truly had to focus on. One who was approaching, and she could feel it. Every amazon could feel it. It was true, this one wore a mask just like all the others. But every Amazon knew who she was, when they had one look at her. Only one amazon on the entire island was this size. Her name was on the lips and tongues of every Amazon who had ever seen her.Orana. The largest amazon among them, and maybe the biggest woman on the world. The sister who was to fight her knew she was larger than most of the women here. 2 meters, and at least 90 kg to Orana’s 2.3 Meters, and 120 KG. Both women were not traditionally muscular, both just thicker thanks to wrestling and rock lifting. They were power bodies, over physique. Still, the difference between the two women in size, was still great. Orana was a giant, and her arms as thick as most Amazon’s thighs. Unlike the rest of the women, Orana had a mask over her face made of cloth that only showed her eyes, and was light enough for her to breath through it. It was a mask Orana would wear to plays that she would preform at, usually as the great beast thanks to her size. It was something she found fun and loved to do. Most women loved Orana as an actress.But even the bravest among them feared how strong Orana was. It was in no doubt to anyones minds of who was the physically strongest Amazon was. Not even second could match Orana. Her great strength, her long flowing red hair, and the tattoos on her back were the most famous acts of Orana. From how she could lift any boulder overhead with her hands, her long hair that could wrap around and than snap tree trunks in half with a pull of her neck, and the tattoos of her slaying the Chimera with her bare hands. Her most famous feat of daring. As the two women wore the same amazonian armor, a breast plate and a metal skirt, with metal thigh high boots and protection around them, one could clearly tell how custom Orana’s was, compared to the sisters more traditional version. Sister was quite big even by Amazon standards, but she knew as she stared at Orana… that if anyone was to win this tournament, it would be Orana.That was, if Orana wasn’t fighting Sister. Sister and Orana stood far apart from each other, but each one saw what weapons they had brought. Orana had brought great gauntlets, one’s she used to shatter rocks to create sculptures of her lovers. It was diamond hard, and forged by the daughters of Hephestus, the greatest blacksmiths of the world. The one she was wielding was specially made by one of Orana’s most favored lovers, and had a personal touch. It was pitch black, with each finger bright blue, and on the back of her hand, was a sharp point. One that was shaprend enough to be able to slice apart anything if struck just well enough and as hard. Orana was more than skilled enough to do so. As Orana was more than ready, Sister had her own weapon at her side. A lasso. It was a weapon that wasn’t exactly popular, and so some of the Amazons were more than confused why she was using it. It didn’t look to have been weaved by the daughters of Demeter, either. It looked made by the hands of an Amazon who had the passion to do so, but not the skill.Many would have looked down on her for bringing this weapon here. Orana was not one. It took bravery to bring a weapon many would look down on. It also made her dangerous. If she was bringing the lasso here, it meant the sister was more than skilled enough and proud of her skill with the lasso to do so. It was a sign of courage and bravery to have it. Orana stomped her foot on the ground, more than happy, as she grinned in delight at who her foe was. A brave woman, who might have been foolish to bring this here… but it was a woman Orana could respect. Even if Orana was certain she was going to have to punch in the face of this Amazon and drive it into the ground.The roar of the amazons was immense, almost enough to even shake the two women. Neither of them heard anyone but the body twitches of the other woman. They were already scanning each other for what movements they would make. Each one was studying each other like they were a piece of art that they could only see once, and they were entranced by the other. They were two women who were going into battle. Maybe the last battle of their entire lives. Each one had to think through everything, and know how bad this could end for either one. Despite the great booming cheers of the Amazons, it was easy to silence them. It was at least just a single voice that did so.“SILENCE!”

It pierced through even the roars, and almost impossible, the women stopped. Silenced, they all sat, as still as statues. Only one voice in all of Themyscira had this power over the Amazons. It was a voice they all knew well, that was the absolute authority. Without needing to even be demanded of them, almost on instinct, the two amazons who were to fight each other got on one knee in respect of her. In deference to the queen, who looked down at the two fighters about to battle each other. Orana, she recognized. The other one, she did not. Whoever this one was, she was obviously a woman of impressive skill. Queen Hippolyta did though, as many other Amazons, believe who the obvious Victor was. Than again though, size was not always who won the day. Hippolyta was the smaller of the two when she faced the great Herakles, son of Zeus and the strongest of all the Demi gods. A man who’s strength equaled that if not only the gods themselves, but even the great Olympians, strongest of the gods. Hippolyta defeated him in combat. Victory was determined by those with the greater will, and the greater skill. Only a fool believed that raw power was all that was needed to win a fight. It’s how the Amazons won against greater odds and against larger monsters constantly. Never underestimate your foe, even when they underestimate you. Still, Orana was no beast. Orana wasn’t a man either, she was an Amazon. All Amazons are warriors of unmatched skill. 

It was believed she would win, and win easily. Hippolyta raised her staff, only hoping that when she declared the match, that it would be a good fight for the both of them. When she spoke, there was an almost booming presence to it. Her staff glowed, a gift from the gods, so every Amazon’s wars heard her voice. 

“Declare to all of the Amazons, why you fight in todays games!”

It was important to know why these women stood here, and what they stood for. That they were fighting for a cause that they both believed in immensely. Orana was the first, beating her mighty chest once with her right hand, the smile on her face evident even under her mask. 

“I FIGHT TO MAKE SURE EVERY AMAZON KNOWS THEY ARE STRONG! I FIGHT TO PROVE MY WORTH, AND THEIR WORTH, TO BE BETTER THAN WE WERE YESTERDAY! I FIGHT TO PROVE NOT MY MIGHT, BUT ALL OUR MIGHT!”

It was the truth spoken to word, and the women cheered their sister for speaking her truth. As they all cheered, the Sister herself was impressed by the words spoken by a fellow Amazon. It reminded her that what was at stake. Orana fought to prove the might of the Amazons. So when Sister spoke up, she had her lasso held high as she also looked up in pride to the most important person in her life. 

“I FIGHT TO HONOR EVERYTHING THE AMAZONS STAND FOR! I FIGHT, SO THAT NO OTHER AMAZON MUST BE FORCED TO FIGHT! I FIGHT FOR PEACE, NEVER WAR!”

The cheers continued, though not as mighty as the one for Orana’s reason. The Amazons wanted a victory for all of them, but the one Orana promised was greater. A promise of strength, over peace. It was not left unnoticed by many of the elder Amazons, who themselves had a mixed opinion of war. They lived it. Some wished they still did. It was something that was more than hard to forget, when glory was constantly reminded by those younger, who never truly tasted it. For Orana, getting revenge on Mans world was not an act of hate on her part. It was an act of retribution, taught to her by Amazons who lived on the island for centuries before she was reborn there. For Sister, war was… Sister didn’t even know what to describe of war. All she knew was what she was told. That all wars end in blood, and those who cannot fight suffer it worse than those who did. Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, only had one thing to say to all of the Amazons of the island. With her staff, she slammed it down to the ground and a grand noise was heard. Like a hundred sirens singing a perfect song.“BEGIN!”

The games had started, and the first to strike would be the first Amazon to draw blood, against another Amazon with intent, in over 3,000 years. Sister didn’t even think what to do first. Her first move, was defense, because Orana was already upon her. Orana did not want to hurt a fellow Amazon. Too badly, that is. But the smell of victory was upon her, and Orana had tasted many a nectar. None smelled half as sweet as defeating an Amazon far above any and all others. The speed of Orana was mind boggling to even some Amazons, who couldn’t comprehend how a woman her size could be so fast. Much of it came from the fact that Orana was using footwork and her larger size to appear faster than she was, more leaping than running given her steps. Another, was the burst of adrenaline pouring through every part of her veins as the smile on her face grew larger and larger, her body almost exploding with excitement. The last reason she was so fast… was because Orana was a trained runner. 

One had to be if one would chase down the centaurs that tried to attack the outskirts of the grand city. It was a speed that was highly coveted even among the usual sprinters of the Amazons. What Orana made up for in a lack of stamina, thanks to her great muscular build, was an incredible starting force. Orana was already upon Sister, and Sister didn’t even have any time to defend herself from the greatest knee strike to the head that she ever been hit in her life. Sister spit up some blood as the very colliseum shook, and plumes of sand flew in the air. Dust covered part of the ring and many of the Amazons did their best to look through the dust in the air to see what was going on. Some didn’t see it, but ALL of the women heard the next sound. It was the sound of elbows striking armor.

Orana was smashing her elbows down as if they were war hammers, trying to drill the Amazon foe down to the ground. Sister, despite her head nearly being taken off by the kick, still was on her feet and trying to protect herself. Trying being the key word. Sister couldn’t comprehend how fast Orana was as she was smashing her arms against Sister’s own, and while Sister was a strong woman, it wouldn’t be long before bone snapped from the force of the blows. Sister struggled to keep up, as she felt the blows rain heavier and faster than before. Orana was on a roll, and it was only going to get worse. Sister couldn’t keep tbis up, eventually, she would have no arms to even use in the fight.

As Sister blocked every single strike, Orana herself was confused by what was going on. Orana was a good fighter, and she was switching up her style and angling of her strikes. Orana wasn’t trying to hit Sister’s arms, she was trying for a lot softer spots and the rest of her body. From the top of her head to the side of the thighs, Orana was striking just about everywhere to really do some serious damage. But Sister was blocking EVERYTHING Orana threw at her. The reflexes to do so was insane, it was no question who was superior when it came to reflexes. Still, Orana kept on her attacks. Like Sister, she knew the arms would give up sooner rather than later. Still, as effective as the attacks was on the arms, Orana herself felt her arms were odd with the strikes. Like every single strike made her own arms shake. Still, an amazon was more than upper body strength.

Orana had large impressive arms, but what many a woman noticed of her was her thighs. The kind that when she kicked a tree, the tree didn’t snap. It exploded! Orana threw in a high kick, trying to kick the head off Sister with a powerful whip like kick. Sister didn’t even see it coming, and yet, she felt the air pressure change. Sister lifted her leg up and blocked the kick with her thigh, for the first time throwing Orana off balance. Sister’s leg was shaking a bit, her body harmed by the block. But if she didn’t take the initiative, she would lose the fight instantly. Sister rushed as fast as she could, grabbing the sides of Orana and just kept running. Orana was kept off balance, her body being forced back by the mighty amazon. Orana didn’t have a single second to defend herself against the attack, her arms trapped by Sister’s owns as her arms wrapped around her body. Sister was using all of her power just to hold on to Orana’s mighty arms stuck to her sides.

This would also allow her to prevent her from escaping from Sister’s main method of attack. In a striking contest, their was no chance she would win. Instead, it would be her forcing her down to submission. Sister was still running as quickly as she could before she slammed Orana’s back against the wall of the stadium. It was with enough force to actually daze and stun Orana, confusing the woman just enough for Sister to put her legs against the wall as she still held on to Orana. Pushing as hard as she could, Orana fell down to the ground and slammed down hard as Sister moved her own body. Now, Sister was right behind the body, squeezing her arm around Orana’s neck. Sister than made her whole body trap the limbs of Orana, pushing one of Orana’s arms to the small of Orana’s back and push down hard. Sister had her legs push down on the legs of Orana herself. It was easy to figure out what was going on. It was a wrestling match.

One that Orana was more than a master of. Orana still had a free arm, though she could never strike the woman on her back. While she couldn’t at all breath given the arm around her neck actually pulling as hard as she could, Orana herself still had energy. Enough energy to push her whole body up with just one arm, and despite Sister’s attempts, Orana got to her legs. Orana lifted herself straight, with Sister clinging to her like she was a child. Sister was a large woman, but in comparison to Orana, was like a child holding on to dear life. That is what will happen to her as Orana than attempted to buck her off as hard as she could. For right now, Orana was like a mighty stallion. Using enough force of her whole body to throw off Sister, even flexing her own muscles to do so. Any woman who wrestled Orana knew how powerful the Amazon was in a fight, more than enough to nearly kill any woman who faced her in the wrestling ring. Orana was a woman of great size, and greater strength.

Some women who have tried to wrestle her actually broke themselves failing to make her submit. Orana was able to use her strength against any foe of hers. Orana knew that the belief among the Amazons were to use a foes greater size against them. It was a good philosophy. That could also be used, maybe in even better effect, Orana would use her size against those smaller than her. Her absolute control over her body meant she could make her muscles strike against a foe and harm their skin as she bucks her whole body as fast and as hard as she could. Sister was trying to hold on as much as she could, and found to her surprise, how hard it was. Sister had an easier time as a child trying to tame wild horses than hold on to Orana. The agony against her body being ragdolled everywhere was awful, and her own body made her want to throw up everything in her body that she had eaten in the past year.

But she held on. Like a python holding on to a bull that was jostling it as much as it could. Orana bucked up and down, shifting left to right, even using her free arm to elbow the side of Sister as hard as she could. It was painful, almost agonizing even. It was incredible that anyone could even survive the blow that could just about fracture any bone it hit. Sister felt tears form in her eyes just from the pain, but she held on as tight as she can. Even tighter every second! If Sister let go, than she was dead. It was just something she was certain of, given how mad and strong Orana was. Orana was on her last legs, giving her all just to make sure she was able to stay awake. 

One thing did come to mind to save herself from defeat. Orana stopped standing… and instead fell to the ground like a tree cut down. Sister felt almost like her whole body exploded from Orana on top of her, and how fast the force was when she hit the ground. Orana was certain she had won, but because she still felt the arm around her throat, Orana continued in on the attack. Just rubbing Sister’s body on the ground as hard as she could, rubbing her body alongside the sand and using her own muscles and body to wrestle against Sister. Sister was in utter agony, her own arms feeling ready to burst thanks to how they were bashed by the gauntlet arms of Orana. The injuries across her body was also getting worse, almost causing her skin to change color just based on the bruises. It was pure torture as Orana rubbed her down to the ground, literally trying to grind her to nothing. 

Orana wanted Sister to submit. Orana was doing everything she can to make Sister lose, but no matter what, the arm was like clay on her throat. Orana was starting to black out, and with her one good arm that still wasn’t held, preformed a move that she was certain would get her looked down on by the other Amazons. It was not a cheat, it was a perfectly fair move. It was just one that would make it appear that she was going to maim her fellow sister. Orana sliced at her arm with the gauntlet blade, cutting deep into the arm of Sister. Sister nearly screamed in agony, as blood dripped down to the ground and dripped everywhere. Orana continued on again with another cut to the arm. Not deep enough to hit bone, but still, each cut was deep.

Deeper than the next with each slice. They were going in Sister’s arm, clawing at her and even slicing some skin right off. It was not the kindest way to win a fight. But this was how Amazons would fight if defeat was a possibility. Any way to win. Many an amazon did far worse to win a fight, though admittedly, those were fights much more desperate than this. That didn’t stop the Amazons from feeling their blood pump all the same. What they were seeing, was blood spilled. All for the glory of Amazonian power. To show how truly powerful these women were.

It was more intoxicating than anything Dinoysus could have provided himself. Many of the Amazons, too many in fact, were on their feet cheering at what they were watching. They were watching sister against sister, one of the most horrible things in their lives. But it was also, skill against skill. Strength against strength. No Amazon wished ill will for any woman battling in the ring. Many of them did wish though, that they were one of the two women in the stadium. Some didn’t even care if they were Sister in this exact position. The chance for glory blinded them all at this very moment. The Amazons wanted to be one of the great champions in the very battle to prove they were among the greatest. Hippolyta herself saw what was going on, and was wondering if perhaps… if no Amazon was worthy for the task to come. That what she will offer them would destroy them beyond just the body and the mind. 

While that was the worry, the real one was what was going on down below between the two Amazons. Hippolyta could see the young sister pulling at something to her side to save her. The lasso, a useful weapon, but one Hippolyta could not see being useful at all in this situation. It couldn’t do anymore that the Amazon was already doing. That was because Hippolyta was not someone who ever trusted in a lasso to save her life, which the Amazond did by throwing out the lasso as far as she could away from everyone with her free arm. It was her last bet if she was going to win, underneath Orana’s attack. It was a foolish move, one that may not even work. But she prayed to her gods, and hoped that they would grant her strength to see it through. It was going to take more than prayer to win, though. An amazon also needed guile to win, and the determination to see it through. As lucky as she was, she actually lassoed her rope around where she needed. Right at the thigh of Orana. With a mighty squeeze by pulling on the lasso as hard as she could, Orana would have let out a yelp of pain if she could, as she felt the pain from her leg. It was as if it was being chopped in two. The blood pumping into her leg was stopped dead cold.

It was only going to get worse for Orana as Sister tighetend her hold even more. The endurance test between the two of them was impressive, and frankly, both of them lasted longer than most human beings would at this state. Than, they reached longer than many an Amazon themselves would have lasted. It was a testament not only to their physical strength, but their mental to even last as long as they did. Sister felt the agony of her whole body tingle across all the nerves, and as quickly as she realized that, it felt like she was burning. Giving up was always an option. No one would look down on her for doing so. Submitting sounded rather nice, her body told her. But something deeper in her dared not give up. In fact, her mind was enraged at the very thought of surrendering right now. Her body may have wanted the pain to go away, but the eternal shame of surrendering when she didn’t have too, when victory was still an option? No matter the agony, she will go on for a year if it meant by the end of it, she would win! Sister prepared herself mentally for it being even worse than it already was.

That was when she heard a loud boom, and a flash of light in the air. Smoke, colored in the hue of pink, and horns blared.

“SISTER HAS DEFEATED ORANA IN RIGHTEOUS COMBAT!”

No one could believe it. Sister most of all among them. Orana had passed out, her whole body not even moving or breathing. Sister let go of her hold on Orana and with all her strength, pushed the woman clear off her. Next, came what mattered more than anything else. Sister put her ear to the chest of Orana, hoping to hear it. It was faint, and it was weak, but she heard the beating heart of an amazon. Sister almost broke into tears, as she lifted her fist in the air, and the roar of the crowd almost gave her more energy than she ever felt in her life. Almost, being the key word, because the poor woman was almost broken by what had happened, bruises everywhere on her. With all of her energy now used up, Sister did the one thing she knew she had to do after making sure Orana was alive. Pass out.

In a deep slumber, Sister dreamed of many things. Some were coherent, such as the fear and shame of watching herself actually be defeated in battle against Orana. Some were darker, where she didn’t stop choking Orana because that was what she truly desired. One was of her and Orana battling each other by eating in a pie contest instead of combat, which was bizarre. It took a while for Sister’s eyes to open and the world to return to her. When she did awaken, it was not on the sand, caked in her own blood. In fact, even her bruises were now gone. Sister had awoken in the same room she was when she prepared for the fight before. Inside of the room, was just her, and two woman, one who healed her, and one who commanded her respect above almost any other. Both women she knew very well. One she considered a teacher, and one… she loved.

The healer was named Euboea. Euboea was not a healer, she was instead one of the best fishers on all of the island. A woman who tended to work with the water nymphs that surrounded the island to help look for fish to feed the island. Euboea was also an animal tamer, one who trained the megalodans that surrounded the island to protect it from sea attacks to such a degree that she boasted that she can make them bounce a ball with their snouts. Sister saw it happen more than once. The other woman, was a teacher for many amazons. Philippus, the general of the Amazons, who didn’t even look at Sister. Perhaps some of it was shame. It was unknown who the shame was directed at, because their was only one reason Euboea was healing Sister right here and now. Because Philippus had broken the vow between the two of them. The first word spoken was from Sister, as she was shaking when she asked the question. Not sure of herself as she did.“Does she…”

“Only the two of us know. I know I betrayed your trust… but I didn’t believe you could defeat Orana. I was amazed you did, and at the same time… afraid. So I brought Euboea here to talk you away from suicide.”

Sister wanted to say something, anything, but before she did, Euboea grabbed her head… and pulled her in for a deep kiss. A strong passionate one, that Sister returned back as she held Euboea. Sister didn’t want Euboea here, but at the same time, having her here wasn’t undesired. The kiss continued for a while as she could feel Euboea’s thoughts. It was a belief by an Amazon when she loved another, that the two could more than connect with the other and have the sense that they knew what the other was thinking at that very moment. For Sister, it was more than obvious what Euboea was thinking. It was only her hope that Euboea also understood what was going on in the woman she loved head. When the kiss finally finished, as tender and sweet as it was, Sister felt even more drained than she was before.

Hurting Euboea was never something she desired or thought her actions would do. But when she looked at her face, the worry and concern was like marble on there. Poor Euboea… just the way she looked at the woman she wished to be with forever, she didn’t understand. When she spoke, it nearly broke the hearts of every woman in the room.

“Are you doing this because of something I did? Did I… did I offend you in any way? Please, I know last night was bad… but I love you, I’ll ALWAYS love you, by Aphrodite I would climb Olympus carrying the tallest mountain on the island for you! Please just tell me, what did I do wrong? I promise to be better next time, what can I do to change so you don’t get yourself killed on this mad quest!? You don’t have to prove yourself to any of the Amazons here, you already beat Orana! Please, I saw who you are up against… you can’t beat her! You NEVER could beat her!”

Never could beat her? That only meant one thing. She won the fight, and she is to her foe. Mala. The one woman Sister feared. A woman who had constantly defeated her in combat. Sister still felt some bruises, the healing rays that Euboea was using on her, granted by the gods by the glorious purple leaves that when reflected just right could provide light that heals the body, only did so much. Sister had never defeated Mala at her best. Sister was far from her best.“How is Mala, Philippus?”

“Pratically unharmed after her battle. The Amazon she faced fought hard and well, but you know how Mala is. I once witnessed Mala in battle against men when we broke away from mans world… and she fought harder than any other, besides Hippolyta. Mala is the only Amazon here who worships Ares, and you know why. Battle for her is… something unlike you have had with Orana. Orana has never killed a person before. Mala has. Mala will not hold back in this fight. She may even go for the kill. I suggest staying here and surrending, she is too much for you. You CANNOT defeat her, you have no ability to do so.”

Euboea grabbed Sister and hugged her tightly, tears flowing down her face. All of it was worry for what she would do, and it was Euboea’s wish to never se her go out there. The love radiating off her was… was what gave Sister the energy and strength to break away from her hold and stand still. Euboea looked as if her heart was broken, and Philippus looked at Sister, not certain if she was glad she was still going to battle… or worried that this will be the last she heard from a woman she cared for extremely. Sister looked to the ground, holding her lasso tight, and looking at her bracelets. It was a mark of shame. It was a mark of pride. The Amazons were slaves once, but they broke away from their slavery. Now, if Sister failed… slavery was the future of the Amazons. A fate FAR worse than the one they escaped from Mans world. Everything she did, was because she loved every one of her sisters. Even Mala, who the two only saw as a monster, but Sister also saw as a teacher for the new Amazons. A woman who more than earned the respect of any Amazon she taught with her survival lessons and training.

It was true that she loved Mala. It was also true that of all the Amazons, she was the one she feared above all others, save one. That one she fears more, for ever disappointing. Sister looked back at the two women, and gave them her best smile. She spoke nothing but the truth, and it still hurt her to say it.

“I’m doing what I do because I love the both of you. I love you two enough to leave you… even though I feel like I’m dying as I do so.”

Sister left the room as quickly as she could, not wanting to hear them cry as she left. Perhaps she was going to her death. But if she didn’t even try to fight, how could she call herself an Amazon? When the amazon who came to take her saw her, the woman was a bit surprised, and motioned for her to follow. Sister swore though, the expression on the womans face was surprise. One that anyone wanted to fight Mala. How bad was the fight that happened while Sister was unconscious? It didn’t take long for Sister to find out when she got to see the ring. The sun was starting to set, and Sister could smell it. The smell alone overwhelmed her more than any sight or sound. Blood. Blood from immortals, and more than enough to cake much of the area. Standing in the ring, waiting for Sister, was Mala. A giddy Mala, wielding her two weapons.

In terms of size, Sister had an advantage over Mala. Mala was actually one of the smallest Amazons, just a mere 1.81 meters. Still, what she lacked in size, she made up more in every regard. Blonde hair like golden that even in a ponytail reached her hips, with large eyes colored like scarlet that seemed to stare into your very soul, Mala was muscular and had scars all over her body. Scars older than many immortals who walked across the earth. Scars that Mala refused to have healed, to always remind her of what happened to her to get them. Covering Mala, was the fur of various monsters she had skinned. Minotaur to cover her chest, Hydra scales to cover her waist, Cyclops tongue as a belt, and twin fangs of a Kraken as guards for her legs. Mala was masked, but only her mouth was covered, so every woman could know who she was. The mouth mask looked to be jade fangs covering her lower jaw, and it was obvious why she picked that. Mala was known to have a strange ‘diet’ of only ever eating what she killed… and she killed the horrific and bizzare. Mala was not like many amazons. Orana was strong, but in the end she was just like any Amazon. Mala was more… her own being.Such as her weapons she had, which were even bizzare compared to Sister’s. A harpoon, made of bronze and as thick as Mala’s own impressive thighs, chained to her wrist at the end. With her other hand, she had what looked to be a standard amazonian shield with a net attached to it that draped to the ground. Sister noticed the spikes on the net… and the blood on it. It would not be an exageration for Sister to admit she was afraid. Many an amazon sparred with Mala, and Sister was no different. Mala ALWAYS won, and Sister was defeated dozens of times when she faced with Mala. Among the Amazons, Mala was given a title. The Breaker. If an Amazon became cocky and thought she was the best, it would not be long before Mala would teach the Amazon her place. Sister was never one of those women, but she was one who thought one day she could defeat Mala, and gain her respect as an equal.

Instead, Mala gave her a nickname herself. The pampered one. It was a term Sister hated, and as she faced off, her heart beat faster. Before with Orana, it was fear of the fight and what it could bring. Now though, as her heart beat louder than the roaring crowd of the amazons, it was just fear of Mala. Mala looked more to be a giant than a human, and Sister held on to her lasso. Mala saw Sister was ready for the fight, and clung to her harpoon as well, gripping it so hard that if she did so any harder, she’d snap it in half. Under her mask, Mala was grinning, and roared out her next words.“I HEARD WHAT YOU FIGHT FOR, AND I MUST SAY… YOU SPEAK LIKE A CHILD! ARE YOU TRULY AN AMAZON, OR ARE YOU A CONFUSED MOUSE WEARING THE BARB OF A WARRIOR?! DO YOU KNOW WHY I FIGHT? I FIGHT NOT FOR GLORY OR HONOR OR PROMISE OF SOMETHING GREAT… I FIGHT… TO SEE IF I AM TRULY THE UNDEFEATED AMAZON AMONG YOU ALL! IF THEIR IS A SINGLE AMAZON ON THE ISLAND WHO CAN MATCH ME, I WISH TO MEET HER AND TEST MY SKILL AGAINST HER! ARE YOU READY YOUNG ONE, TO FACE ONE WHO HAS BEEN CALLED THE BREAKER! I HAVE KILLED AND KILLED AND KILLED IN THE NAME OF MY AMAZON SISTERS, TO WHERE I EVEN SLEW 18 THRACEN FUCKS WHO FORCED THEMSELVES UPON MY SISTERS WHEN WE WERE DEFEATED IN THE PREVIOUS GAMES! I HAVE ONLY LOST TWICE IN MY LIFE, ONCE TO A MAN WHO BROKE US IN SLAVERY, AND ONCE… TO A QUEEN, THE GREATEST QUEEN OF ALL! CAN YOU MATCH THE MIGHT OF THE ENSLAVER, OR THE SAVIOUR OF OUR KIND! TELL ME SISTER… DO YOU WISH ME IN CHAINS… OR TO BREAK US FROM OUR CHAINS… CAN YOU TELL US…”

Suddenly, in a whispered hush, only the two of them heard what she said next.“My pampered one, Diana.”

She knew. Of course she did… she fought Diana a hundred times. One look at her stance… and she knew. Mala didn’t even hesitate to throw the harpoon as hard as she could, taking a mighty step forward and all her muscles screaming as she hurled the harpoon as hard as she could right at Diana. Diana blocked the thrown weapon as best as she could with the one thing of her body that could protect her from Mala’s attempted killing blow. The braclets. The shame of the Amazons. The pride of the Amazons. The greatest gift her mother gave her. Diana didn’t have much time to even comprehend how her bracelets protected her from the trident, even as her arms shook, when Mala was already upon her, quicker than maybe even great Hermes could be. Appearing right in front of her, Mala pulled the harpoon back and sweep kicked Diana as hard as she could. Diana felt her legs give and she hit the ground, and Mala in quick succession planted the harpoon right next to Diana’s neck. The edged point was just an inch away from slicing open Diana’s neck, as Mala planted her foot on Diana’s chest, holding her shield. The pride in her voice almost boomed when she spoke.“Tell me, young one. Why does a pampered princess, daughter of the queen of the Amazons, fight? Tell me the truth… or lose a head as any liar would be. Tell me… why do you fight, when you and I both know your mother ordered you NOT to fight in the games… under penalty of eternal imprisonment?”

Diana looked at Mala, and in her eyes, she saw… a twitch of concern. Mala may not have respected Diana much, that was more than obvious given their last conversation… but even Mala didn’t want Diana to suffer. Diana instead grabbed the harpoon, and with all of her strength, began to push it up, as she attempted to rise. Mala pushed down, both her foot and harpoon. Mala was using all of her force to push down and Diana felt her body scream at her. The injuries were not fully healed, Mala had the advantage, and Mala WAS strong. Not as strong as Orana, but stronger than so many. Diana still rose, because as much power Mala had… Diana had a reason to fight. One stronger than Mala’s. Diana got to her feet as her body was rising, and with a guttural scream that shook EVERY WOMAN to her core when they heard it, even Mala, Diana was able to finally stand firm and tall as Mala’s foot slipped off, still holding on to the harpoon. Diana’s hand bled as she did, but Mala could not make her harpoon escape from the grasp of Diana.

It was as if her grip on the harpoon was greater than the grip Zeus had on his fathers neck in their climatic battle. Mala felt a twitch of confusion, and fear. Diana had never fought like this. Never fought like… her life depended on it. It was Mala’s one strength over every other Amazon. They fought for whatever reason they gave, honor, courage, to impress others, to impress themselves. Mala fought to kill and survive. Now… now Diana was doing the same. Mala was smiling ear to ear under her mask. Finally… Finally, a TRUE fight. When Mala spoke, her body shivered in excitement at what was going to happen for the both of them. A fight… to end any and all fights they ever been in.

“I was wrong, Diana. You are no pampered girl. But still… if we are to make this fight interesting…”

Mala shot her head back, and Diana knew what she was about to do. Diana pulled her own head back, and the two slammed their skulls into each other as HARD as they could. It nearly ruptured both their skulls and the sound defeaned the entire coliseum, and now, everything was silent. No one heard what the two said, but each other. It was to be maybe the greatest fight either woman had in their lives. It may be the greatest fight any amazon had witnessed in thousands of years. It would be a fight that changed both women forever. All because Mala asked Diana the question.

“Tell me true… why do you fight me? The real reason. Tell the truth sister, why?”

Diana almost hesitated as the blood dripped from her head, her mask nearly crumbling as she did. Just like Mala though… Diana was smiling. For the first time since this all started… Diana knew what she was doing was the right thing. In respect to Mala, Diana gave her answer. What may be her last words on this earth.

“Why else would I fight my fellow sisters? Why else would I draw blood on women I see as family, break the hearts of my mothers and the woman I wish to marry one day, and throw away paradise. You already know the answer, you’re just too afraid to hear the answer. I’m throwing everything I love away and cherish above my life… for a man.”

 Chapter Two: A man has fallen into paradise

A lot of people ask odd questions when you have two moms. That was what he always remembered since he was a kid. He was the only kid in the park with two moms, the only kid in school in Enid, Oklahoma, that had two moms. College, well their was a girl with two dads, but he barely knew her. He still remembers a lot of the awful things guys said about his mom being with another woman. He still remembers a lot of the very nice things they said when he broke their teeth for it. He still remembers what either one of his moms would say when they heard what he did to a kid for it.“Steve Rockwell Trevor, do you think you can make this a better world with violence?”

Given he joined the military… probably. It wasn’t like he wanted to make his moms disappointed in him. Steve never meant to make either woman ashamed of him, just… he knew what the world was like. It wasn’t a world that accepted love with a hand. Maybe Steve wasn’t much of a good son because he didn’t listen to his parents. Constantly he looked at what was going on around him, in America, and the world around. People treated his mom like garbage when she came out as gay and ended her marriage with dad. When she got with the woman she did love, Edna… it was hell for both of them. No matter how much each one loved the other, and no matter how much they raised Steve from a toddler to an adult, he saw how others treated them. Less than human. None of these people even KNEW his moms. All they knew was what they thought the two were liked, and made sure they suffered for it.

Every slur, every firing, every bad word and look, Diana Rockwell Trevor and Edna Trevor tried to ignore it for the sake of their son. But Steve NEVER ignored it. He couldn’t. How could he ever forget what happened to the two most important people in his life. The rage that he felt from the mockery, it just… consumed him. So when he heard America had gone to war with Bourabia, a nation that had attacked American ships several times, he was more than happy to join the Air Force. Especially because in Bourabia, it was illegal to be gay, under punishment of death. I served in the war and won a medal. I’m not sure if what I did there was right, especially with what had happened after. But I served, and I preformed to the best of my abilities. I did enough of a job that I even shook hands with a president I didn’t vote for, but the pictures showed our best smiles.

My moms weren’t exactly smiling… and they hadn’t sinced. I don’t think they wanted to admit that the son they raised had taken lives. 6. I had killed six people in the war. All pilots in planes trying to gun down my fellow air men. I don’t know how to feel when you press a single button, and in an instant, you shred a human being apart as you blow their aircraft apart. It was something I didn’t ever care to admit to others bothered me, so I went to therapy for it. Met my first real friend there. Not a therapist, she was the receptionist for said therapist, and frankly did more of a job helping me than the guy my VA got for me. Man seemed more concerned I was fit and ready for any next conflict we were in, while Etta Candy seemed to care more that I wasn’t mentally well. Woman was maybe the toughest person I ever met in my life, which was something I’d never forget.

Like my parents, she was open and proud. Which given the fact she was 4’10 and was someone who had a more than healthy diet, was thick everywhere. Short woman, with a very short fuse to those who pissed her off. But get to know her right, and she’s the closest person I ever trusted in my life with everything. I never met a woman like her in my life, and I even told her, when we were drunk and at a bar, that I hoped to meet a woman like her who was into guys. Etta just laughed her ass off, drunker than me, and clapped my back as she told me something I’ll never forget.“Trevor, you meet a woman like that, never forget to thank God every single day of your life she exists.”

I told her I would. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t believe it happened when a week later, I woke up… and saw that very woman. Boy was she stunned to see me though, more stunned than I was to see her, which I can’t blame her. She was the greatest woman I ever met in my life… and I was the first man she ever saw in her life.

-36 hours before Diana fought Mala-

Diana was in intense fight, one that was making her struggle as much as she can just to stay on her feet. With a mighty swing, Diana was thrown like a ragdoll and hit the tree as hard as she could. As Diana slid down, she saw the figure approach her. Diana was ready for what was about to happen, regretting what was about to occur.“DIANA, ARE YOU OKAY? DID I THROW YOU TOO HARD?!”

Euboea was a woman who worried too much. Diana was able to get her feet, trying as much as she could to not wobble as she did and rolled her shoulders a bit. Euboea looked so worried, as if she had just nearly gotten Diana killed with the throw. Diana was in a bit of pain but made sure not to show it as she leaned in and grabbed Euboea. Euboea thought this was a new attack and was ready for it. Not as ready for a kiss on the lips that made her body swoon. Diana could have attacked again, and many an Amazon would have. But Euboea was a woman who worried too much, and Diana knew to make the woman she loved not worry about what had happened. All that mattered with her was having the woman she love feel that she didn’t hurt Diana. The two women were in passionate embrace, and Diana was glad they were far away from anyone else. It wasn’t easy for Diana to find many Amazons brave enough to want to be with her.

Most of them dared not anger the queen by messing up with Diana. Some would be even more furious than Hippolyta if someone was to disappoint the princess. Than again, it was hard for most of the Amazons to even see Diana as a woman. All of them knew her as an infant, molded from the clay of the island and breathed life by the gods and Hippolyta. Every Amazon of great stature decided to be her teacher, from shield techniques to wrestling to spear throwing to basket weaving. Diana was the first infant in all of the island, and so, something changed in the Amazons. Not all of them felt the maternal instinct, but more than enough did. Euboea was different from the other women. For one, Euboea was a bit more recent than many of the other women so she didn’t see Diana as a baby.

What also separated her, was the fact she just… got Diana.  Not seeing the queen when she saw her, only really seeing her. No one else on the island saw her like that. No one. Diana and Euboea broke away from the kiss and laid against the tree, staring at what was in front of them. The grand shore of the island, a long white beach and the cool blue sea. The two held hands and looked at each other, and Diana just felt… safe. Their was no beast that would attack, no trap for her, no surprise sneak attack from Mala. Just… just she felt safe with Euboea, and that was all she could explain, really. Diana held the hand of the woman she loved tight, and broke the silence as she spoke.“Euboea… can you keep a secret between us?”Euboea nodded, and rested her head on Diana’s shoulders. Diana hated that she had to hide this from everyone else, and took a deep breath. As she stared at the ocean, the way it looked so calm and peaceful, it almost calmed her down. Almost enough to not make the next few words sound harder than eating a bronze shield.“I… want to leave. I want to leave the island. Not forever, not… I love Themyscira. I love the island. I love you all… I love YOU, most of all. But… I’m tired of being smothered. This is the first day in weeks that I had enough time between you and us. Mother doesn’t even know we’re together.”“Diana, she won’t disapprove. She’ll be happy for you. Your mother only loves you.”“I know… I know… and I would do anything for her. But… I want to know Mans world. You don’t remember the world, and I never even stepped outside of the shores.”

“Oh Diana, you heard what the others have said. It’s Tartarus incarnate. The men there… you never faced one. I have. I don’t have much memories, really shadows, but I remember things. Horrible things that happened to me in the very end. Here, we’re safe. We’re happy. We’re loved. I won’t pretend the world outside doesn’t have some benefits, but they PALE to what we have, and the horrors there would terrify even the bravest of Amazons. Diana, where we are, we’re able to breath. I understand what you REALLY want, and don’t worry. I’ll talk to your mother, and find a way for you to lessen some of the lessons.”

The lessons. Constant lessons, constant teachers, constant monitoring. It was agonizing. But that WASN’T what bothered Diana. It was what Euboea was doing right now. Condescending. It wasn’t on purpose and Diana ignored it, yet it was something so many of the Amazons did. They just ignored what she had to say or think. All they tended to do was remind her how she was a child, and she will stay a child in their minds. Even as she was now, a full grown woman who could fight, who could ride any horse or kangaroo, who could even build a ship. If only they knew she had done so three times. Each time failed… and she swam back to the island. But each time, she got farther and farther. Escaping the shores of the island… no, that wasn’t what she was doing. Diana just wanted to be able to do so. Diana pulled her head back, and pondered Euboea’s words. Euboea was far wiser than most women give her credit for. 

If she thought the outside world was awful, than perhaps it was. Still… Diana did wonder if men really were the monsters that so many have told her about. In all her life, every mention of man was of him as a monster… except one. Her own mother told her she was raised by a man… who was kind. Hippolyta told Diana quickly this man was not her father, that her father was pure evil… but the man who raised her from infancy to womanhood was kind. Diana wondered, if he was alive, would he have been invited to the island. Would he have been given the gift of immortality? Diana didn’t think constantly of having a grandfather with her, she was more than content with the family in her life. Yet still, Diana felt that the island was too limited. That it was… too small. Diana had no idea how big the world outside was.All the amazons knew of the world was the island, or Thrace. A place that Diana only knew of from scrolls and what she was told. Diana than did look at the woman that she loved, and as Euboea was more than content to be here, Diana did know that her world was right here. Perhaps this was more than enough for her. Or maybe things should be better for the both of them. Diana didn’t know what to really think, it wasn’t as if the world for her was going to change. It was just the island was going to stay the same. Many Amazons came, but none of them really changed the island. Great sisters, but none who truly challenged the stale society that this was in. It was a perfect society, why would you try to change it? Diana was always told that the world she was in was perfect, because the Amazons were the greatest. Diana just sighed, and knew that as long as days like this happened, she wouldn’t really leave the island. Why would she? Things were just… perfect, Diana sighed. Always perfect.It wasn’t a warning when it happened, it just happened. One second, the sky above was blue and clear and perfect. Than, like a flash… something came out of the sky as if it just exploded in view. It was a fireball, and Diana saw it coming fast and hard. Diana grabbed Euboea and with all her might, threw the woman she loved down and covered her body. Diana grit her teeth, prepared for what was about to happen to the both of them. Diana didn’t know what had happened, perhaps the gods were at war once again with the Titans or the Giants. No matter what, Diana knew that something horrible was about to happen. Nothing like this had ever happened to the island, no attack ever occured. The next thing that happened, was a great sound. Diana felt something hit the thigh of her leg, but she wasn’t hurt. Diana looked down, and saw what had hit her leg. Sand. Still holding on to dear life of Euboea, Diana observed what was right behind her.It was a crater, and jotting out of the sand, was something she NEVER seen before in her life. It looked like a strange chariot, with a spear coming out on top. Fire covered it, giving a bright orange glow. Diana held on hard to Euboea and scanned out further of the area, as fire creeped across the beach and the water had chunks of… no, one of the things on the water was not a chunk. It was a body! Diana whispered in Euboea’s ear as quickly as she can.“Get medics, I think a sister was harmed!”Diana didn’t know who could have been hit on the island. Perhaps one of her mothers agents. Any anger or annoyance at Diana having any privacy ruined was not even foremost on her mind when she saw the person on the water, and Diana broke into a sprint. As fast as she could, she headed right for the water at speeds that would shock a horse. Diana leaped right in the water, and like a fish, gracefully swam to the person harmed. Not even getting a good look, Diana grabebd the person and swam to the shore as quickly as she could. Diana didn’t even get a good look at the person, all that mattered was getting them to shore. Just as she did, Diana made sure the person was upright, and took a look to see if they were harmed. Diana had seen many things in her life. Nymphs, centaurs, gorgons, and once a stone giant. Diana had seen every single creature on the island at least 6 times. 

Diana had never seen anything like this in all of her life. It was a creature that looked like an Amazon, but at the same time, didn’t resemble one at all. Like a parody of one, just wrong in every spot. Whatever this creature was, even if it looked like a woman in the wrong ways, Diana was certain that it was dying. Diana was certain, given it looked close like a woman, must have meant that she knew the breathing techniques to help it. Diana bent down, ready to push on the chest and breathe in their lips, when she got a better look at what the being was wearing. It looked like fabric. Clothes, but not at all like the togas or armor that the Amazons wore. Darker, and more covered up.Diana quickly tore it off, and than saw the chest. A chest unlike that of any Amazon. Diana knew from stories that their was one beast on the planet that looked like Amazons, but didn’t share their chest. Diana should have instantly known the second she saw it, and yet now she knew for a fact what it was. Maybe she didn’t want to believe it, and that was why she just ignored the obvious. Now though, it was time that Diana admitted it. The worst fate to ever happen to the island has happened. Nightmare stories she heard since she was a child. A man has finally stepped foot on the island, and he did so on fire and doom, trying and failing to destroy the island. Many Amazons would have just let him suffer, or more, throw him back in the water. Maybe that was what he deserved. Who knew how many women this man killed in his life.

Diana thought it all over. Diana also thought of how her sisters may suffer by letting him live. Diana quickly bent down and pushed the chest of the man, trying to get water out of his lungs. Diana thought of what she knew of men from Amazons. They loved war, and making women suffer. Diana thought of all the women this man hurt, and judging by his knuckles, she could tell he was someone who punched before. Diana was furious for any victim he struck, and yet at the moment, she was doing everything to keep him alive. No Amazon would have done this, except maybe the medics. Even then, many would never have done so. Diana still did everything she could to save his life. Maybe he didn’t deserve to live. Perhaps Athena herself would come down from Olympus to tell Diana she was saving the life of the worst man to ever exist.Diana would have ignored the warnings of the goddess she respected above all others, because in this very moment, a human life was at stake. Hippolyta had more than taught Diana the value of life, that Amazons were not killers. Every Amazons duty was to preserve life in the best way they could, and only to kill if they were forced to do so. Diana believed in that code. For all her problems of how her mother tried to control her life, Diana loved her mother. Diana knew, as terrible a fate this may be for the island, all Diana could really do or think was save this mans life. Diana saw him begin to cough up some water, and knew what he needed, was to survive. Diana bent her head down, and knew she had to suck up some of the water, and than give him air.

Just before Diana’s lips touched his… something grabbed her arm, and stopped her from saving his life. Looking at what had grabbed her, Diana could see the face of the Amazon stopping her. Mala.

-Present-

Mala was grinning ear to ear as she threw a fist right at the jaw of Diana, nearly tearing it right off. Diana dropped to her knees in pain, as Mala continued on her attack. Grabbing the head of Diana, Mala slammed her knee repeatedly in the face of her foe. Mala was ecstatic, and going further and further on the attack, not at all caring about the fate of Diana. Why the hell should she, right now, she was FINALLY putting the princess down in her place. All the girls life, she had it easy. Never had to die or be tortured to get on the island. Diana had it easy. Though, for a gal who always had it easy, she gave as good as she got! Maybe Mala was going to be done with Diana very soon. Diana didn’t have any problem though, despite all of the horrible attacks against her.

Diana bit on the thigh of Mala as hard as she could. Almost attempting to devour Mala, rather than just bite deep into the skin of Mala. Mala didn’t scream in agony, but she was in pain. Enough for Diana to push Mala down on to her back, and knew she was going to strike Mala as much as she could across the face and body. Mala didn’t just let this happen, because just as Diana threw her own fists or elbows as hard as she could, Mala blocked a few strikes and hit back just as hard as she could. Diana had the advantage over Mala given she was on top. But Mala was speed, and not at all focused on making sure she stayed on top. Diana hit as hard as she could, Mala hit as hard as they did, and both women were making certain that they were hitting as fast as they could at the other. It was a brutal display of power over the other.

But weapons were here for a reason. Mala knew, given her harpoon was attached to her hand by a chain, she just had to keep on hitting Diana as much as she could to get her off enough for her to get her harpoon. Blow after blow against the other, Diana’s eyes were starting to swell a bit from the pain. Diana’s eyes were starting to blind, not able to see everything going on below her. Mala was hurt as well, her skin bleeding hard from the impact. Given that Diana was now nearly blind, Mala had no problem to pull in her harpoon. With her hand on the harpoon, Mala was ready to stab right into the side of Diana. Mala was making too much noise though, as she did. Diana was a woman who trained all her life in many activities. One such, was archery. When one trained as hard as Diana did, they would enter the advanced class. The first step in the advance class, was to see if you could hit the target blindfolded.

Diana was VERY good at archery, and even blind as she was, she could hear the metal clanging from Mala’s wrist bands. Diana didn’t allow the weapon to get close to her, on threat of her life being ended then and there. Instead, Diana dodged the attack by getting off of Mala, which while lost her an advantage, Mala swung wildly and hit nothing but air. Diana wouldn’t allow this one moment to be lost, and rushed at Mala as quickly as she could. Mala didn’t even see it coming as Diana slammed her knee right in the chin of Mala, nearly taking Mala’s head off. For most Amazons, the sheer raw force and power behind Diana’s knee strike would have been the end for them. Mala hit the ground and skidded across the ground, as she felt all of the power against her. Diana landed on the ground, knowing she’ll have to continue the attack on Mala. Diana knew that Mala was the kind of woman who would never give up unless someone forced her to do so. Mala was considered one of the greatest warriors for a reason. Diana skid across the ground as quickly as she could, and rushed back at Mala. Thinking that she could attack Mala before Mala fought back, which was her only hope. Mala saw Diana coming for her, and Mala just struck her harpoon against the ground right where Diana was about to be on. Diana was going too fast to dodge it, and so, Mala rose her arm and with it, sliced at the thigh of Diana. Diana let out a howl and rolled away. 

Mala got to her legs, clinging hard to the harpoon, and leaped right at Dina. Diana saw her coming, and raised both her hands as quickly as she could. The harpoon struck the bracelets of Dina, forcing her back. Diana felt her arms rumble the whole time, and Diana wasn’t certain what if her arms would even work. Diana could practically see that Mala continued in on the attack, lunging at Diana faster and faster every second, as Diana blocked blow after blow. Diana thought Orana was strong, but even the strong gauntlet blows of Orana didn’t match Mala. Mala had no wasted movements and her speed was far superior, with some blows just briefly grazing Diana. Diana felt her hair get sliced up a bit by the harpoon, and Mala was only using one hand to lunge at Diana. Her other hand was still holding a weapon. One that was more than deadly enough for her to swish the net right below Diana. Diana, for a brief moment, looked down to not have her feet strike an edged blade attached to the net. It was only a brief second of a look. It was like eternity for Mala, as she thrusted yet again, just barely touching the neck of Diana. It wasn’t because Mala stopped in her attack. 

It was because Diana had kicked Mala in the arm with a strong side kick, and Mala grunted in pain as she hit the ground, her arm nearly broken from the kick. Diana’s neck did bleed, but it didn’t stop her from leaping right at Mala, ready to strike with arms that didn’t stop shaking. Mala saw Diana leap at her and Mala thrust her harpoon in the air, reach to gore Diana as she did. Diana didn’t even hesitate to strike the harpoon’s edge with her bracelets as hard as she could. Diana felt her wrists nearly explode, but in return… the tip of the harpoon shattered. Mala was so surprised that she didn’t even stop Diana as Diana was now on top of Mala, and Diana struck blow after blow. Diana was nearly blind, bleeding, and her arms felt ready to fall off. Her whole body was in utter agony, as Mala had injured her greater than Diana had ever been injured in her life. But Diana didn’t dare give up. Diana did so before, and because of it, all of these games happened. Mala was a woman feared, and that fear meant Diana didn’t stop her when she did something wrong. Like try to murder a man who couldn’t even fight back. 

-

Mala held on to the arm of Diana, and when Mala saw the man on the ground… her face changed. Diana had never seen this face before in her life. Not just on Mala’s face, but ANY Amazon. Mala’s face twisted, as her lips snarled and a growl erupted from her mouth, as her eyes looked to be bloodshot. Something must have overcome her, a berserker fury, Diana thought. It was the only way to explain why an Amazon did the impossible. Mala grabbed the sword on her hilt, and in one motion raised it and than lunged right at the chest of the unconscious man. It was a quick and terrible blow. One Diana couldn’t comprehend, mentally, but reacted faster than she ever had physically. Diana was on her knees as she blocked the blow with her bracelets, and yelled out at Mala, fury almost matching Mala’s own. 

“SISTER, WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO MURDER HIM?! THIS ISN’T OUR WAY!”

Diana barely believed those words escaped her lips. Words she never would have spoken in all her life or imagined she would even say. Mala may have been rough and forceful against Diana, but never like this. Never in her wildest dreams, did she imagine to be in a situation like this against such a proud sister. Mala’s fury was evident on her face, and for a brief moment, quicker than even light, Diana thought she saw intent to strike again. That even with Diana in the way… she would be struck down. Before Mala could even swing again, an order was barked.“GET AWAY FROM THE MAN, NOW!”

Both women recognized the voice, and didn’t even hesitate to stand aside. Diana did though, give a glare at the woman who had come. Philippus didn’t even notice Diana as she marched past her, with a small group of Amazons. Just 3, but each one highly skilled and decorated. Diana knew why all of them were here, and it made Diana’s stomach turn. Mother forced all of them to follow her. Privacy was never for Diana, no matter what. Thankfully though, Philippus was a woman that Diana trusted to be what the best that Amazons can be. Philippus looked down at the unconscious man, and her whole body tensed up. It wasn’t fear. It was concern. Philippus knew that if news got out of him existing, it could potentially tear apart the island. So many of the Amazons were women of peace, and followed in the ways of harmony with themselves and the world around them.

But they would become worse than any fury if they found out this man was here. The knowledge that one of the greatest nightmare scenarios the island would ever face finally coming true was almost too much to even fathom. Part of Philippus wondered if, perhaps, taking the neck of the man and letting whatever creatures lived in the ocean have him would not have been best for everyone there. The way two of her fellow amazonian guards looked at the man, she could tell their was a heavy amount of emotion from both. Even Mala, a woman respected by all, was driven to near animal rage just by the fact the man existed. It wasn’t anything that Philippus was proud of, but she more than understood why the women were like this. Diana had no idea what men did to her, as Philippus pointed to the man and gave her next orders. A voice normally known for it’s steel wavered, but only just barely.“Bring him to the queen, now. Make sure no one sees him… and he is to be unharmed. We need to know if the attack was just him, or if they have more. Bring him to the room of truth. Diana, Mala…. Euboea, the three of you will follow. Speak of this to NO ONE, understood?”The amazon guards took fabric out of their pouches, normally used to conceal the fresh kill of a monster that attacked so they could bring it in to the kitchens to not disturb other Amazons, and tied it around the man. In moments, what was once a person was now gone to the visible eye, but the women carried him off and followed after Philippus. Diana saw Mala grumble and follow along, and all Diana could think of, was what would her mother think of this all. If any woman can bring reason to the proceedings, than it would have to be the queen. Despite all of Diana’s current problems with her mother, their was an immense level of respect for her and what she has done. How else could Diana justify the fact that she was not angry at her mother for keeping no less than FIVE spies on her, and that apparently… Euboea knew about this. The poor amazon woman hiding her face from Diana the whole time when they transported the man to the second most sacred room in all of the island.It was when they finally put him in the room, a room that was just white with a single blue door made of stone, that he began to stir. It took a while, his head hurt and feeling his body was stepped on by an elephant and the elephants bigger meaner mom. His eyes opened, and the first person he ever saw in his life… was maybe the single most gorgeous woman he ever seen in his life. Steve’s eyes nearly bulged, as words escaped his lips to the air.“Dear heavenly mother I’m dead and in heaven.”

That statement surprised every Amazon in the room, including the one who had heard it. They didn’t expect any man to give word to a female god. Some didn’t even think men even worshipped the gods anymore, having come to worship themselves as said gods. Steve Trevor looked in the eyes of the woman who was most surprised, the first woman he saw in the room, and her eyes were unlike anything he seen before. Gray, like clay. It was actually gorgeous in its own way, as the long silky raven curled hair of the woman danced across her face. When he looked down to see her whole body, he was surprised to see how big she was. Steve had seen some big guys before, a lot of marines and guys at bars who thought they could beat up marines. Not a single one of them looked as big or burly as the woman. The woman didn’t look overly muscular either, she looked generally built. 

Arms that looked like they could wrestle a bull down and crush it between her biceps. Steve had to admit, he never understood the appeal of a woman who looked like she crushes brickhouses just by flexing her muscles too hard until now. The rest of her looked as muscular, but her face, that was beyond gentle. The concern on her face, he couldn’t tell who it was for. Was it for him, or because of him. Her words would forever be what he would remember her for till the day she died. A string of words he couldn’t at all understand. If he known anything of amazonian language, he would have known what she said.

“Are you okay?”

Instead, the first words he heard that he understood were when another woman came to him. One who looked a LOT like the woman he just talked too, but older. Like the woman before her, they both wore red and blue togas, with a golden sash tied around their waists. The main difference between the two women clothing wise, was the fact the older woman had a tiara with a star on it that glowed. The way she held to the shoulder and gently pushed her away to just be behind her, Steve understood. What he blurted out was probably not the smartest thing to say to anyone in this situation.

“Protecting your daughter, smart move.”

The woman’s face twisted in annoyance and she spoke.

“How did you know she is my daughter, warrior from mans world. Did your king send you in an attempt to slaughter us, and he failed to tell you we are defended? Are you the first or last soldier, how many are you waiting to attack us, when is the attack, and what new weapons did you devise to poison our shores, blacken our skys, and RAPE us like you tried thousands of years ago? Which new demi gods rule you? How many women have YOU killed personally?”Steve Trevor was never captured before in his life, but he knew the exact words to say. They were drilled into him daily, just for this exact occasion. As a soldier, he was more than ready to give her the spiel of name, rank, serial code, and how he’ll never talk. That was what he wanted to say.“I can tell because it was the same way my mother would protect me when people harassed her for being gay and raising a child. I serve no king, and spit on the idea of a monarch. I did not come here in attack, but a recon mission to understand why a submarine in this area went missing. I am the only one sent here, which confused me because such an order would require multiple soldiers, not one. I bring no weapon, not even a pistol or a knife. I don’t know why you say we are ruled by demi gods, because demi gods don’t exist. I have killed no woman in my life, even when a civilian woman tried to stab me during a mission, I disarmed her without harming her.”

Steve didn’t know why he said those words, and the woman who gave him the questions was… disturbed. The queen didn’t know what to say, and asked a question to another woman that Steve couldn’t hear. The way the women around him looked at him, Steve felt less like a captured soldier being questioned, and more like Hitler if he was captured by a group of jewish soldiers who all had anger managment issues. The way their eyes burned into his skull were not those he forgot. Every woman, but the first one he saw. The only one who didn’t seem to view him as a threat. The only one who saw him as a person. One of the women in the room, who also looked like she wrestled and than ate bears for a living, eyed him. A black woman with long braided hair, this one was adorned in armor. Somehow, Steve couldn’t understand why he thought this, the woman looked like she was protected enough that even bullets would bounce off the armor. The scepter on top of the woman before glowed when she spoke.

“Did you even know… that we existed here?”

This time, Steve Trevor was prepared. If they wanted to know anything, than all they were getting was the typical response any kidnapper got.

“No, I did not. I had no idea that land here even existed, and neither did any maps or comm devices. I hit a barrier, and suddenly everything in my plane stopped working, and I saw land. I had no idea what was going on, and was utterly frightened. Than I worked to make sure that I didn’t die, and hit a spot that I saw was no where near your city. I was willing to crash my jet, rather than have it steer up and hit a single building and kill any person.”Again, the women didn’t believe what they were hearing. He HAD to be lying, and he himself was confused by what he had just said. It was the truth, sure, but he didn’t want to tell them that! It was as if he couldn’t lie at all to them. The first woman who asked the question, the one he believed to be the leader, given how she positioned herself, asked a question. This time though, she hesitated.“Do… do you even know if we existed? Do you know of the Amazons of Themyscira? The scourge of Thrace, the women who sailed across the world and discovered every continent, the women who wrote of the first poems of love… did you even know… that we were still alive?”

The way she said those words, like she already knew the answer. Steve didn’t want to say anything, and yet from the bottom of his gut to his mouth, he had to tell her.“We knew of Amazons… but frankly… most of us considered you all a myth. No one really believes you all existed. Why would we, when theirs no evidence any of you actually existed beyond myth?”

Hippolyta knew those words were true. Yet, in the same way, it struck her how cruel they were. While she knew this, Mala could not even pretend to accept this, as she barked out in fury.

“LIES, THAT’S ALL THEY ARE, EVERY MAN LIES TO US JUST TO HURT US! HE’S BREAKING THE ROOM WITH HIS VERY NATURE! ASK THE ORACLE, SHE CAN TELL US THE TRUTH!”

Steve didn’t understand a single word of what was said, but the women did. What Mala said, as emotional as it was, had a hint of truth. The oracle was the wisest choice. Talking to her COULD solve this problem. The Amazons made sure to quickly leave the room, leaving Steve alone. Steve tried to get up, but felt his wrists, ankles, and neck stop him. He saw no chains, and yet as he pulled, he felt them. It didn’t make sense, how could he be trapped? Was this to be his fate? To die trapped in a room, by women who refused to tell them who they were beyond Amazons? He tried to hide his fear and confusion as best as he could. Somehow, they trapped him on here, on a mission he never understood. He knew the man who gave the orders, he was a good general. A man who wouldn’t lie to him. 

Yet, something was off about the General. More… secretive, than usual. He also drank more than he normally did, and when he gave the order, he was harsher than Steve had ever seen the general. It was no mistake, they were the same man, and the official orders he had, they were real. Steve even had them authenticated. They couldn’t have been faked! Steve didn’t know how that this place existed, or who these women were. What he did know, was the way they were treating him, and the way that last woman roared… his fate was sealed. Steve tried his best to be brave. In any other room, he could have faked it perfectly. But in the room of truth, everything you said was the truth. Every feeling you had, was also true as well.

Thus, because of what Steve knew would be his fate… he cried. It was not gentle tears either. Steve let out a powerful cry, ashamed of everything. He knew why he was so ashamed, and didn’t want to say it out loud. Hoping that the feeling would go away, even though all it was doing was building up inside of him bigger and bigger. Deeper was the feeling, like he was sinking into the very earth. Steve didn’t just feel like a failure, he felt like he was a mistake. That everything he did, everything he believed in… just lead him right to here. Where he belongs. Just like his mother said he would. Why did he have to have that fight with her? Why… why was the only memory of her, and not the hundreds of good memories of her before. As Steve was crying, he heard the door open and he instantly knew he had to stop crying. To give the image of strength. In the room of truth, his attempt didn’t help him hide it at all, but he did at least stop crying. It was the same woman from before, the gentle one.Hard to call a woman with biceps almost as big as his skull, and as he suspected far harder, gentle. Yet the way she carried herself, like she wasn’t built to fight. He didn’t see her as a person who was living weapon. He had more of the thought of her, as a protector. The woman saw he had cried, and in her hand, was the glowing tiara. Steve didn’t know why it glowed, but given the context clues of when it did, it told him it let them talk to him and for him to understand them. That kind of tech was unlike anything Steve had ever fathomed! Whoever these women are, they are of a culture and tech that Steve Trevor had a hard time fathoming. The woman saw tears on his face, and the way she looked… like she knew why he was crying. The woman sat down to the floor with him, and crouched down a bit so that the two of them were at least eye level. The woman spoke, and he had to admit, he never heard a voice like hers before.

“Are you injured? If you are, I can get you medical supplies. If you need anything, we can help you.”

The woman wiped away his tears, and Steve just looked away. Diana was confused, and leaned in a bit.

“I’m not here to hurt you, if you need aid, I’m here. You must be starving, I can get you…”

“It’s not that. I’m sorry for crying.”

“Why? The way you hit the water when I got you out…”

“Got me out? You… you’re the one who saved me? Thank you. I’m sorry that I cried… men shouldn’t cry in front of women.”

The woman was confused, and craned her head a bit.

“Why?”

“I don’t know, many men and women told me that I shouldn’t cry in front of a woman. My moms tell me I can do so, but that was when I was a little kid. I don’t want them to be even more ashamed of me than they already are by watching me cry.”

“I don’t understand, you’re… not allowed to cry? Do the men of your society punish you for crying?”

“Yes. Their is no actual law against crying, but public shaming happens when… why am I telling you this? Why is every word out of my mouth… why am I compelled to even tell you?!”

“This is the room of truth. It not only makes you confront the truth, so you can’t even lie or hide who you are, it also makes you feel how you truly feel. It’s personally my favorite room in all of Themyscira… outside of Euboea’s room on certain nights after I… sorry, I just have nice thoughts of the woman I love. Tell me… is their anyone in your life like that?”

“Once. She… died, saving me.”

“Saving you… I’m sorry, no one should ever suffer like that. If you want, you can tell me why you were crying. If not, just lift your hand and I’ll leave. I don’t want to impose on you, especially when you are imprisoned by us until we decide what to do with you. In my opinion, you’re not as bad as many of the stories I heard of men. You seem… kinder. I never seen a man before in my life, and watching you cry, all I can think is, nothing evil can cry like that. Their’s nothing that would make them care that much if they were as cruel as the stories I have been told.”Steve didn’t know what to even say to… any of that. Still, the warmth of the woman, not her body heat but her general aura of kindness and compassion for him, did make him think hard. In all of his life, he didn’t have many friends. Hell, he had NO friends. Steve was so used to seeing just about anyone around him as a potential threat that he would have to battle one day. So why wasn’t he combative with the women here? Maybe it was because he never had a problem with women. All his life, the people he could trust most WERE women. From his moms, to the woman who saved his life… and died protecting it. Now, as a group of women decide his fate behind locked doors, he should be furious. He should be trying to fight back. Yet here again, a woman was here to comfort him, and he didn’t need the room to tell her he believe her. He just, on an instinctual level, trusted her. Because she was the only one… who asked if he was fine.“I’m crying because the last time I met my mom… we fought. I have two moms, and one of them is my birth mother, Diana, and she never accepted I joined the military. Told me they’d turn me from a person into a gun. After a war I was involved in… she found out I got an award. Which, to her, meant I killed people. My other mom, Enid, tried to smoothe things between us. I know she meant well, and Enid was always more lax with me than Diana. Enid tried her best to stop us, but well… the way my mom looked at me, I felt… dirty. Than I got mad. I started yelling at her, and saying things I didn’t mean, because I didn’t want to be the only one who felt like I was stabbed in the heart. Turns out I was better at it than her. For months, mom has been trying to get me to reach out… but I didn’t care. I didn’t want her to reach out to me, I wanted HER to reach out… and all I got was what I gave in return. Silence. I never fought with my mom like that before. I was just so tired of her hating me because of what she thinks I am…”

“A killer?”

“A murderer. I don’t know what to call myself with that… I joined the military because I was tired of always… always being… hated. My biological dad… he was a hero. I barely know him, he and mom… never really saw eye to eye. But the times I did meet him, he just seemed to be a good man, and so… look at what I’m talking about. I have two moms who love the hell out of me and I pick the man I met 8 times in my whole life over one of them. I’m a terrible son. I’m a terrible human being. I… I deserve to be here.”

Steve didn’t know why he even said those things, but that feeling deep inside him got worse and worse. Forcing him just to blurt out everything. Steve Trevor was at his lowest, feeling like he was sinking into the very earth, when Diana grabbed Steve by his head, and kissed him on the forehead.

“What is your name?”

“S… Steve Trevor…”

“Steve Trevor, I promise to bring you back to your mother, and I will make sure she knows her son loves her. No mother… and no son, should ever be separated this way. I will do everything in my power to do this. Even if… even if I have to fight everyone here to get you out.”

The woman smiled at Steve, and that feeling inside of him, that he was an utter failure… went away. He couldn’t explain why, but somehow as he looked at her, he never felt safer in his entire life than chained and trapped in a place he never even heard of… as long as she was here. He didn’t even have to have the room be here to know she was telling the truth. It was as if this woman never told a lie, and not because she was a saint who didn’t understand what lying was. It was just… lying wasn’t in her nature. The woman smiled at Steve, and for the first time in a long while, even BEFORE the crash… he smiled back.

“What’s… what’s your name?”

“Diana.”

The woman chuckled and whispered in Steve’s ear that he will be safe, and left. Steve felt his body rise, even though he was still chained to the floor, and felt safe once again. But while he felt better… Diana crashed to the floor on her hand and knees… knowing what will happen. She promised him something that she knew was impossible to do… without hurting her OWN mother. Diana wanted to scream and roar, knowing the agony she brought her family… and it will only get worse for her afterward.

-

It was all Diana could think about as Mala struck her in the chin with an elbow strike. That very moment, and what happened afterward. That for some reason that she wasn’t told… the oracle ordered Steve Trevor to leave the island. With a champion. Diana remembered the pain from her mothers words as Mala kneed Diana in the stomach hard. To not join in these games, or forever be shamed by her own mother. Diana knew she couldn’t join the games at all given every Amazon knew who she was. Thus, to keep a promise she held to a stranger she barely knew, she was ready to throw everything away. Destroy who she was as a woman, just to bring joy to a man who she wasn’t even certain would truly accept her people if he knew the full truth. Diana didn’t know how she felt about fighting all of this for a man she barely knew. What Diana knew was that no matter what, she had to WIN this fight. Both women got to their feet, and as tired as they were, neither woman refused to let the other win. Both had their reasons to win.

Diana had to win because of what she knew to be right, and what she promised. Mala had to fight and win… because she didn’t want Diana to die. The oracle… Mala knew what was said. Not Diana. But Philippus knew, and still allowed this FARCE to happen. The love of a mother for her child could be a foolish thing. Mala wished one day she could understand that foolishness, and for the sake of two women she respects more than any other, by god, she will BREAK their child rather than let the child suffer the consuqences for her actions. Mala was too weak to even kick Diana, but she was more than strong enough to knee her. The two women struck each other as hard and as fast as the other could, ignoring the damage was bringing to each other. Neither grappled, because the other would just claw them. Strikes to the head and hips were the favorite, as the two women continued into the attack. Mala was faster. Diana was stronger. 

The winner was to come in not who could dish the damage more, but who could take the damage. Mala was a woman who suffered far more than Diana, and so thought she would not be the one to falter. Mala struck harder in this fight than she ever had in her life, and yet when her knuckles cracked as they hit Diana’s skull, it wasn’t the pain that scared Mala. It was Diana’s face. Diana wasn’t angry, or feral, or the like. Diana was determined, and more than that, Diana was dedicated to winning this fight. Mala didn’t know what had happened to Diana before, but Diana knew why. The reason Mala always beat her. Mala always had a reason to win that was more than just to be better. Diana never truly had a reason. Diana was no longer fighting for herself, Diana was fighting for a purpose, and that purpose made her pull back her fist, and flex every muscle in her body as she bit back any blood in her mouth. With a roar, Diana threw the hardest punch in her whole life, and Mala… for a brief moment… smiled.

Because in her eyes, Diana was no longer a child. Diana was an Amazon, and one all of the women would be proud of. The punch connected to Mala, and the sound alone reveberated all across the coliseum as Mala dropped down to the ground like a sack of bricks. In that moment, everything was silence, and no one could believe it. Mala was a legend, respected by all. Even Hippolyta was taken back by what she had seen, that in her mind, only THREE amazons could even hope to defeat Mala… and none of them were who defeated her. Thousands of Amazons witnessed a woman they saw as a hero and a figure of fear… fall. With that, the roar was so loud from everyone who saw it that it nearly threatened to destroy Diana herself, as she still stood firm. Diana was too weak to move, unable to even keep her eyes open, as blind as she was, but Diana knew she had won. That was all that mattered before darkness took her… and kept her for a bit longer than she wanted.

-

When Diana was awoken again, this time she knew what to prepare for. Euboea and Philippus were both in the room, and Diana felt much better than before. Still hurt, and not wanting to run around, but she could see. What she did see, was the faces of both women were more than… heart broken. Diana didn’t understand, and her attempt to speak was hoarse.“I… I won… and I’ll… win again… don’t worry…”

Euboea, who was holding what healed Diana, looked too ashamed to speak. Philippus herself, who had seen more than enough misery in her life to fill a library, was still shaken by what had happened. Her pride in Diana was washed away by the horror she had witnessed before.

“I’m sorry… their won’t be another fight. You were declared the winner anyway.”

“W… Why? What’s… making you two… almost cry?”

“... One of the Amazons was killed in the fight. No, not even that. Her opponent… murdered her. The amazon surrendered… and was slain anyway.”

Diana couldn’t believe it, and Euboea, who saw the fight, didn’t believe it herself. Euboea was terrified when she saw how VICIOUS the fight between Mala and Diana was, and yet, watching that Amazon on her knees and surrender the fight, only to still have her throat slit? It was more than cruel, it was just… the act of man. Diana herself couldn’t even wrap her head around how they lost a sister, no… two, to these games, but Philippus took a deep breath, and got on one knee to Diana. Diana never saw Philippus like this, and tried to sit herself up right from where she was sitting.

“Diana, when I first saw you… you were an infant. An infant made from clay, given life thanks to the wishes of the gods. Your mother molded you, and than… she asked me to be your other mother. Since that moment, I promised two things at that very moment. To keep you safe, and to make you the woman I know you can be. It is why, despite my better judgement, and the wishes of the woman I love and my queen… my wife… I did what I did for you. But Diana, this has to stop. If you go out and meet your mother… you will break her heart. You will crush her as a woman, and as a queen. Please, if you love her… if you love me, don’t do this. The journey ahead will be FAR worse than the one you faced with Mala. This is a labor that… I cannot stop you, can I? You already made a vow… and not even the woman you promise your future, or your mother can stop you? Fine… than understand this. You were given life because of the gods. The gods are known to give gifts… and it’s time your mother gave them to you. But be warned. All gifts from the gods, even those desired, have a catch.”

Diana believed Philippus more than any other, and so hugged the woman who raised her and kissed her on the head. Philippus, general and instructor for all Amazons, one of the hardest women on the island, almost broke into tears as she hugged her daughter. The two were in tight embrace before finally, Philippus kissed the forehead of Diana.

“Please, before you leave… let me see you once more as the woman I raised.”

“I will, mother.”

Philippus slowly left the room, holding back sobs. Diana looked at Eubobea… and the woman looked away in shame. Diana tried to hug her, but instead she pulled away from the hug, not knowing why Diana had left her. The amazon left, unable to stop her sobbing, and Diana knew the pain she brought the two of them. All because of a promise. Diana was furious. Not at Steve Trevor, but at herself. For ever accepting this promise. Breaking it wasn’t an option. That would do more than just lie to Steve Trevor, it would be a lie to herself. Diana did though, notice something. As well as Euboea healed her… oh Eoboea, Diana wanted to say the right thing to you, but how could she explain how much she loved you as you abandoned her? Diana noticed a small bit of blood under her mask. Diana pressed her finger to it, and looked at it. Diana didn’t know if it was hers, or Mala’s.

Staring at the blood of an amazon… Diana was disgusted. The fact ONE of them would murder the other, just to win the games… was it any more brutal than what she did? No. It wasn’t. What Diana did, she did for a reason, and Mala will live and remember. Still, Diana was not certain how she will live with herself when she tells her mother who she truly is. These gifts that her mother hid from her though… was a question Diana was also going to ask. Diana got up, and went to the door to leave… when she saw someone in the way. Diana instantly recognized the woman, and dropped to both knees. Diana raised her hands up, to show reverence to the woman, as Diana shivered in… in absolute awe. Diana was shocked… the oracle had NEVER left her chambers. Diana barely looked up, just to see the full body robes of the oracle.

The oracle was covered in nothing but robes, several to symbolize the island. Blue, red, white, black, white, every color known. The oracle’s face was covered in the robes, but her eyes glowed a blue that could blind if stared at. The oracle was a short woman, half the size of Diana, but to all who knew her, she was a giant. For thousands of years, she was the voice of the gods, to and back. Diana’s mother was the queen. But even Hippolyta bowed when the Oracle spoke. Diana didn’t know why the Oracle was here, and shuddered at what the Oracle would say. 

The last time Diana had ever seen the Oracle, it was when she was a child, and it still haunted her to this day. The way the woman just floated in the air, speaking in a tongue that Diana didn’t understand, and the burning fires around her in a room covered in water. It was too unnatural for Diana, and the voice of the woman alone. Like thunder and fire, mixed with steel. Diana never forgot the voice, and no woman could after hearing the Oracle. Diana tried to look up even more, waiting for the oracle to speak… when she saw something she never thought she would witness. The Oracle… was bleeding from her robes. Diana didn’t know what to think, but she reacted. Diana went to grab the healing herbs behind her to help, but a hand grabbed her wrist. A decrepit hand, one unlike any other on the island. A hand that was just flesh and bone, covered in spots.The hand was like iron on Diana’s wrist, nearly breaking it, as Diana felt pain. When the Oracle spoke, it was with absolute authority… and with words Diana will never forget.“Diana, daughter of Hippolyta, daughter of the gods of Olympus, daughter of truth… listen to what I have to tell you, before you meet with your mother. You must know, from me, and only me, what is at fate. It is more than the island, it is more than mans world… Olympus itself, is not even at stake. The life of every Amazon, human, beast, and god is at stake… and it is because of YOU that this all happened. All because your mother LIED about who you are. You are no Amazon, Diana… you are a GOD in the body of clay… and you and the man who crashed on paradise are to kill the goddess of war, the false faced monster, and the one who stole the throne of the gods from Zeus. You must do all this… or the First Man will return to the island and BREAK US AGAIN. Diana… listen… to the tale of Amazons, and know your future… or shatter like the clay doll that your mother crafted you from.”Chapter Three: Coming to America.