Legends of Wonder Woman #5

[Spider-Man Beyond]

The Multiverse Presents

Legends of

#5
Creating Her Destiny
Part Five:
Freedom

Written by Dean Grey (Circe55)

Edited by Daniel Dyer (Spider-Man Beyond)

Multiverse logo created by Tony Peterson (Starfall)

(*All dialogue translated from the Greek Language)

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Early morning on Themyscira (Paradise Island)...

I’ve never felt my heart beat so fast. By the gods, I’m so excited! This is the moment I’ve been waiting for. A chance to prove myself. A chance to bring glory to my Amazon sisters. A chance to finally be free!

Practically every Amazon was up by now. The whole island stirred with warrior women engaged in various contests and mini tournaments. Last minute sparring and games of skill before the big event.

Near the feminum mines, roughly three dozen Amazons took part in a game of archery among the huge boulders. Dressed in light, casual tunics, each woman tried to get the highest score.

Up next was the Queen’s oldest daughter, Diana. She tensed her tall, curvaceous body and outstretched the longbow in her skilled hands. Dazzling blue eyes locked onto the bulls-eye over 900 yards away.

I cannot wait, Princess Diana thought as she lined up the feathered arrow with the target. If I win the sacred tournament it will change everything. Not only will I be able to return Steve Trevor to his homeland but I can share my gifts with those in need and be of help where I’m needed most. She felt her tan skin tingle. I’ll be able to see the outside world for the first time.

I know I can win. I just know it!

The Amazonian Princess let the arrow fly. It raced through the air with a muffled whistle and made a light thud as it reached the small painted target.

<“Bulls-eye!”> Diana’s teenaged sister, Drusilla, exclaimed. She grabbed onto Diana’s arm and pointed straight ahead in the far distance. <“It landed perfectly dead center. That’s the fifth arrow today!”>

All of the Amazons cheered and a few whistled while Diana smiled and handed the longbow to Drusilla so she could take her turn.

<“Daughters, I need to speak with you,”> a serious voice called out from behind the merriment.

Poised and regal with her golden scepter in her right hand stood Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Her long, dark purple robes kissed the rocky ground while she waited for her daughters to come to her.

<“What is it, Mom?”> Drusilla asked jogging up first.

<“We were practicing before the big tournament,”> Diana added, having walked up behind her.

<“That’s what I’ve come to talk to you about, Daughter. So... I’m assuming you’ve already heard the news?”>

Diana took the quiver full of arrows off her back and nodded. <“Yes, Menalippe told us. That the gods decreed we have a contest like no other. One in which the winner will return the American pilot, Steve Trevor, back to the outside world.”>

The oldest princess broke eye contact with her mother and added, <“I look forward to taking part in the tournament.”>

Hippolyta clenched her teeth a bit then stated matter-of-factly, <“That won’t be happening, Daughter.”>

<“But Mother, the contest is open to any Amazon that wants to participate,”> Diana explained. <“Why can’t I be allowed to--”>

<“--I will not send one of my daughters to be corrupted in “man’s world”. You do not know what it is like. The other Amazons can handle the task.”>

<“That’s not fair, Mother,”> Diana said in a raised voice. <“I should be--”>

<“--You need to start preparing for when you take my place as queen.”> Hippolyta added in her own raised voice, <“That is what you should be doing.”>

Drusilla had seen this happen many times before and the raven-haired teen tried to calm the argument down. <“Maybe we should all go back to the stables. I think a ride on horseback might do us some good right about now.”>

But Drusilla’s older sister and her mother ignored her gentle prodding.

<“We’ve talked about this, Mother,”> Diana said, her eyes locked with her mother’s. <“My role as queen is centuries from now. All I want is a chance.”>

<“No, Daughter.”>

<“This may be my only opportunity,”> Diana pleaded, her singsong voice cracking.

The Queen replied loudly, <“I said no.”>

<“I’ve waited my whole life for something like this,”> the oldest princess passionately replied. <“The gods know how I’ve prayed and prayed! I want to see the outside world, Mother... whether you like it or not.”>

Hippolyta was red faced now and clearly losing her patience. <“As your mother and as your queen I forbid it!”>

Diana tried to respond but Hippolyta lifted and slapped the tip of her scepter on the ground. <“Not another word, Daughter. You are forbidden from entering the sacred tournament. My decision is final!”>

Diana’s eyes welled up. She stood there silently.

The Queen calming down a bit, gestured up ahead with her golden staff. <“I want you two to go to the royal chambers. You both need to get fitted for the ceremonial garments.”>

<“No,”> Diana replied in a stressed voice. <“If I can’t be allowed to enter the competition, then I don’t want to have to watch it. I’d rather go to the summer palace until the sacred tournament is over.”>

Hippolyta threw her hands up and sighed in frustration. <“Fine... do as you wish, Daughter.”> The Amazon Queen turned around, walked away in heavy steps, snapped her fingers and said, <“Drusilla, come with me.”>

Princess Drusilla made eye contact with her older sister then quickly followed her mother towards the royal palace.

~*~

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Later that evening...

Ornate torches reflected off the shiny marble walls and illuminated the many vases and statues that adorned the luxurious room.

<“You’re really not going to go?”> Drusilla asked while seated on the edge of the large bed.

<“It would be too hard,”> Diana replied as she placed folded garments in a leather bag. <“I’ll come back in a few days when the tournament is over. I haven’t been to the summer palace in a while so it’ll be nice to get away,”> she added with a forced smile.

Princess Diana took one last glance around her spacious bedroom for any other items she might need while away. When she knew everything was accounted for, Diana walked over to her somber-looking sister and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. <“You have fun, Drusilla.”>

And with that, teary-eyed Drusilla watched her older sister casually exit the bed chambers with a full bag slung over her shoulder.

~*~

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Elsewhere...

Directly below Paradise Island, deep underground, two immortals argued.

The heat was unbearable for them, the stench even worse. Huge stalactites dripped a glossy slime overhead while fire pits below lit up skeletons and carcasses strewn about the craggy floor.

<“How much longer, witch?”> the giant impatiently asked, pressing his multiple hands against a huge vaulted door.

<“You’ve been trapped here for thousands of years, Cottus. You can’t wait a mere few days more?”> she heatedly replied while mystical energy swirled around her dark green, Grecian robes. The exotic woman had a look of concentration on her angry face. <“The seal keeping us here is weakening more and more each day. Soon I will escape. When I do, I will set you and every other horrid beast free to lay waste upon Themyscira. Those Amazon whores will regret ever trapping me in this damned, hellish place.”>

Cottus laughed deeply which made his massive frame rock back and forth and his many arms wave about like mad tree branches. <“Then be quick about it, Circe,”> he bellowed, breaking into a raucous laugh again. <“I can’t wait to be free!”>

~*~

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Nightfall...

The stars up above could not be seen because of all the clouds. What little moonlight poked through barely broke past the full canopy of the great forest. The forest floor was especially dark tonight but Princess Diana’s night vision was so sharp she had no trouble traveling along the mighty oak and sycamore trees.

Diana decided to take the long way to the summer palace. She thought the long walk would help take her mind off her troubles. Here the oldest princess could be alone, many miles away from her Amazon sisters.

She heard several field mice scurrying away through the wild grass and spotted an owl as it swooped in right behind them. The Princess watched the bird arc up and land onto a long branch empty-handed. Diana winked towards the owl and whispered, <“You’ll get them next time, my friend.”>

<“How disappointing,”> a deep voice said from behind. <“I always enjoy watching a fresh kill.”>

The Amazon Princess turned around at once having recognized the visitor. <“Ares,”> she said sternly. <“What are you doing here?”>

His large, ethereal form glowed an eerie crimson which bathed the nearby tree trunks and underbrush a deep red. <“I’ve come to see if you’ve accepted my offer,”> he said underneath his horse-plumed helmet. <“To become my champion.”> Ares slowly grinned and added, <“For you to finally see the outside world.”>

Diana looked at the fully armored war god but did not answer.

<“I know what they are planning,”> Ares said in a loud voice as he slapped his dark blue breastplate. <“The other Olympians dare to use the Amazons against me. To send one of my daughters to the outside world to thwart my efforts!

<“Zeus and the others are using your “sisters” like pawns, Granddaughter. Is that what you want?”> Another smile spread across Ares’ shadowed face. <“Your own mother doesn’t even think you are capable enough, still treating you like a fledgling. None of them understand you,”> he said, then finished by whispering, <“but I do”.>

<“You know nothing about me,”> Diana defiantly replied only a few feet from him now.

<“I know what stirs within you, Granddaughter. The jealousy when your younger sister arrived here and stole your mother’s affections. Resentment that you’ve had to control and downplay your abilities so as not to outshine the other Amazons. Hatred towards your mother for keeping the outside world from you.”> Ares’ glowing red eyes became brighter. <“Granddaughter... I know everything about you.”>

Again, Diana did not reply.

<“I will give you real purpose,”> Ares boasted as his muscled arms outstretched towards the night sky. <“Be my champion and all you desire shall be yours. Here all you can eventually be is Amazon Queen. Be my lifeline to the human race and you will be queen of the whole world and all its nations!”> The Greek god of war took a step closer. <“What is your answer, Granddaughter?”>

Diana stared blankly at the ground. She let her leather bag fall from her slumped shoulders. A defeated look was all over her face and you could tell that she was in deep thought. That her next response would be true.

After several long moments, the Amazon Princess stood up straight, took a deep breath, and held her head up high. She looked Ares straight in the face, pointed at him, and confidently said, <“You are violence, you are bloodshed, you are war. My Amazon sisters may have worshipped you in the past, but they have atoned for their actions and proudly guard “Doom’s Doorway” as their penance. I was raised better, Ares. To be loving, peaceful, and full of hope. I could never serve you.

<“You represent everything I am against,”> Diana added as her eyes welled up slightly. <“Even if it means I’ll never get to see the outside world... I could never serve you, Ares.”>

<“Stupid woman,”> Ares sneered under his breath. His incorporeal form flashed a brilliant red and in an instant the war god’s armored body was now a solid, physical form.

<“The Olympians nor the Amazons will stand in my way!”> Ares shouted as he aggressively withdrew a large double-headed axe from behind his back. He snarled exposing the white of his teeth. <“If you will not help me then I will make sure you do not help those that plot against me!”>

Ares raised his axe high over his head in one quick motion and screamed, <“I will destroy you, Granddaughter... here and now!!”>

...To be continued.