Cathedral -The Meeting
"Next," with a wave of Diana's hand she dismissed one male after another after they gave their spiel. Each man had to represent a unique quality of themselves as well as a skill they could serve to the Amazons. Amazonian culture is not for everyone as many have learned over the years. Men never used to be allowed on the Amazon's island, Themyscira. They were hated amongst the Themyscirans, loathed, disgusted and most of all distrusting of the males of the world. All men came from different walks of life, the Amazons knew this, but each man in their eyes was but the same.
Diana, the Princess of the Amazons, daughter of Queen Hippolyta, conceived by no man and born from not a womb, but from the earth itself. A true Amazonian, as her mother says. The most skilled of all the Amazon warriors. Skilled in art such as painting and sculpting, weaponry, martial arts, hand to hand combat, fluent in many ancient languages just to name a few, Greek, Arabic, and Latin.
Although the Amazons were once secluded on their peaceful island it was Diana who wanted to venture out and explore the rest of the world. Disobeying her mother, her queen, she had gone out into the 'real world' as she calls it. Seeing the potential the world had to offer made her think she could change this world and could only make it better. Confined by the ancient civilization of her people she was exposed to new things, new technology, other humans and most of all men. Diana had realized that not all men that her mother and sisters depicted were the beasts they talked about. Some men were kind, some poor, some rich and greedy and others were simpletons. Spending over three years in America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Diana realized that if her people were ever to expand their minds and creativity, they would need to change.
It was revealed later to Diana that her mother, Hippolyta, had gone into the outside world before she was born and experienced some of the things she did. The only difference is that she would appear and disappear without making her mark in the world. Disguised as a modern woman she was able to fool everyone. She would bring back books from the outside world to her island for her people to be educated on modern times. The only problem was that they were only reading from books and were not exposed to anything. They were not cultured in the sense of respecting other cultures, men, women and other religions.
The Amazons had been secluded long enough and Diana had put her foot down to her mother and stood against her sisters. She wanted more for her people and suggested they come out from hiding and release their ideas, culture and wisdom to the world. After all they all live on the same planet, why shouldn't everyone unite together? The issue was that the Amazons didn't have the same technology as the rest of the world did. As Diana described it to her sisters, they lived very medieval-like and the year was 3000.
Earth had gone through several wars, politics and evil to reach what it has now. There is no government nor a president or congress. Diana had come into the world as a naive young woman. She had known nothing about any other country in the world, although she knew every single country geographically and culturally at the top of her head. The world had changed for the better a few years after she explored it and she spent most of her time in America, or as she called it, 'the land of opportunity'. America and almost every other country was run by a council. Each country that participated had a chair in the council and met once every six months for formalities and to discuss how to improve the planet economically, culturally and educationally.
Diana convinced her mother to join the council. Hippolyta had joined once she read the qualifications and laws within the council. Already she has been one of the members for almost eight years. Themyscira was changing, but changing for the good. The traditional Amazonian law was still present but with minor changes to adhere with the modern times of the world.
While Hippolyta was away in the states, Diana controlled the island and handled all the matters of her people and now guests. Diana suggested that there should be a continuing in education not just in America and other countries, but on Themyscira too. By the council, they were now considered a country. Atlantis had become a country very recently, about two years ago once Queen Mera agreed to join the world council. There were few countries that were still governed by a monarch, but the council agreed to their terms once they became members.
Themyscira offers classes on the ancients arts, languages including Themysciran, which was now considered an official language by the council. When Diana had convinced her mother to open up their island for educational purposes, she still decreed no men were allowed on the island and this tradition continued until just under two years ago. Diana suggested that men who are allowed to come on the island should not be only educated in the Amazon culture, but they needed to meet certain qualifications such as being a hard worker, kindly mannered, and have a special skill of their own. Men were also based on their intelligence, build and confidence. Although the Amazons were not keen on this idea at first they soon began to become enjoying the accommodation.
After Diana had decided who best fit to stay on the island she had a special building built just for them. They could not be in the same buildings as the women, at least the Amazons had that. Men could come from all walks of life and from all over the world, the selection was unlimited, but only about two hundred were allowed to come on the island to spend a year living there. Men were once allowed on the island many years ago, before Diana was even thought of, and before the chaos and world peace that was present in today's times. The men were not barbaric, but friendly and helpful when needed, this also included populating the island.
It only takes a few to ruin everything and the men were slaughtered and or kicked off the island. By the Greek gods, Aphrodite promised a peaceful secluded life for the Amazons. They had been living there for hundreds of years in peace until their island was recently open to the public again and allowing men to travel, well, to almost travel freely.
Once the men left the island, over half of the island's women were pregnant. This became a large problem for Queen Hippolyta, considering if the babies were male. Everyone knew this and the Amazons continued with their daily lives until they gave birth. Two thirds of the children born out of four thousand Amazons were male. Hippolyta prayed for guidance from the gods, but received no answer. She hadn't received an answer for awhile.
She couldn't just kill the babies, after all they were innocent and it was her sisters' fault for trusting the men in the first place and letting them take advantage. Instead Hippolyta decided to send the children to the underground part of Themyscira and made a home for them. Mothers were allowed to nurse their children and care for them whenever desired. After the boys reached a certain age, they were left with a few guardians and kept secret and blocked off from Themyscira by a magical force. Although underneath the island was quite nice, with special plants and food that was magically grown and had its own buildings and water that ran from up above. The mothers of the children were not allowed to see them once the barrier was blocked off. The Amazons that gave up virginity also gave up their immortality Aphrodite had bestowed upon them. Along with the young mothers passing away many years later, the boys were kept a secret from the new Amazons that populated the island. Hippolyta kept this a secret for hundreds of years and had not seen the now grown immortal men since they were infants. Not even Diana knew of them, technically they were all her brothers, but if she knew this, Hippolyta feared she would be a hypocrite.
Diana sat on their throne in a relaxed state with her leg hanging over the armrest. Phillipus, Diana's and Hippolyta's trusted friend and guard from the beginning of Hippolyta's reign as queen, stood beside the princess and smirked.
"Princess you appear as if you are bored."
As the man spoke of all his skills in front of Diana and Phillipus, she sighed. "I am quite bored. I do this almost every day for two weeks. All of these men have no redeeming qualities. Very few are skilled in hard labor to help with the renovation of the island," she paused, "next," she continued, "mother gives me the boring job while she is in America with the council."
"Every job is important princess. This man looks like a fine applicant."
"He is too short," Diana scoffed.
"Princess, height has nothing to do with choosing who is permitted to be on the island. Of all people you should know this."
Diana rolled her eyes and listened to the man go on and on about how he could play almost every instrument. She wasn't buying it at all, unless the man had the instruments in front of her how could she believe him? She straightened up on her throne and crossed one leg over the other. Her leather sandal's straps wound around her calves and her beige knee length chemise draped over her muscular yet feminine body. Her golden helmet dawned with a deer's antlers, a sign that she has killed and earned her hunt at a very young age. The bigger the antlers the better hunter you are. Her arms painted with stripes representing how many tournaments she had won in the past from seven years old until her young age of twenty seven.
She grew tired of listening to the man's babbling and put her hand up and he stopped midsentence.
"If I provide the instruments, will you play for me, sir uh..."
"Ivan."
"Sir Ivan. What say you?" Diana smiled deviously and sunk down comfortably in her large throne that was next to her mother's empty throne.
Ivan fumbled with his words but nodded, "yes...yes your majesty."
"Perfect. Phillipus bring all of the instruments in the muse hall out." Diana smiled at his fear and fidgety limbs. She grabbed a few grapes from the bowl on the table next to her.
A few Amazons brought out every instrument kept in the music room in the palace. There lay a lyre, harp, pandura, tambourine, phorminx, salpinx, pan flute, mandolin, crotala and many other instruments. Ivan stared at the ancient instruments that lay in front of him. Diana sat on her throne smiling and waiting patiently. She did enjoy these games sometimes that she played with the men.
"Do you have an oud your majesty?" Ivan asked hopeful and Diana blinked and sat up setting the grapes back into the bowl.
"It is an oud you want, yet I have brought you all of the instruments Themyscira has to offer. You told me you could play almost any instrument and so I have brought you all of them!" Her eyelids lowered and she stood slowly coming towards him. "You waste my time, Sir Ivan. Leave, now." She stared down at him as he looked up to her almost six foot frame. He slowly backed away and the guards escorted him out of the throne room.
Phillipus folded her arms as Diana sat back down. "Harsh, princess."
"I won't permit just anyone onto this island, per mother's instructions. I grow tired of listening to these men babble on and on about how special they are, when in reality they are like every other ordinary man. Over the past year I have only found fifty suitable men to live on this island."
"Indeed," Phillipus gestured for the next male to enter the room. "It is quite an honor to stay with the Amazons considering our past."
Diana lent her hand for the man to begin. She had heard over one hundred speeches easily today and it was getting harder not to tune them out as the day went on. Luckily this was the last one for today as it was nearing sundown.
"I know the sisters consider this a great honor especially after sundown in the lower quarters of Bengal village on the island." She continued to listen and Phillipus just registered what the princess had said.
A desperate hand went to Diana's shoulder, "what do you mean?"
"You're smart Phillipus, I am positive you will figure it out," she smiled, "Enough, enough. I've heard enough, you are dismissed." She shooed away the man and the large doors were closed leaving her and Phillipus alone in peace at last. She sighed and stood stretching her arms above her head.
"I am off to Bengal village, if my mother asks, I'm studying in the atrium next to the library."
As Diana disappeared flying off into the distance Phillipus' eyebrow quirked and she put her hands on her hips. "Harlots," she shook her head and left for her room.
Hippolyta arrived on Themyscira just after sundown and found the palace empty but the guards standing out of each entrance. She nodded as she passed them and she entered the throne chamber to find it empty and nobody in sight.
Archyda appeared cleaning up the far end of the chamber and she caught Hippolyta's eye.
"Archyda, where is my daughter? Is she not supposed to be analyzing the potential male students?"
"I am afraid that ended about an hour ago, your highness," Archyda continued to clean up and continued sweeping the floors of footprints.
Hippolyta nodded and thanked Archyda for her information. Walking down the long hallway out onto the bridge that connected the central palace with the east wing. She came to her dear friend, Philipus' room and knocked before entering.
"My Queen," Phillipus bowed slightly and Hippolyta sighed.
"No need for the formalities Phillipus. Where has Diana gone? I thought the evaluation would continue after I reached home."
The dark skinned Amazon didn't want to lie to the Queen, to her friend, but she respected Diana as well, but as a daughter that she never had. Hippolyta's words were more harmful than Diana's after all.
"The meeting ended early because there were not as many men coming in today. Diana went off to study for awhile," she felt her voice was a bit off and saw the Queen's eyebrow raise in suspicion.
"Study? Of course, right, because Diana studies at half past ten," she folded her arms, "I see you are not going to tell me, that is alright, I will not bother with it. I will find out sooner or later." She turned to leave and was stopped by Phillipus' words.
"Hippolyta, do you know of the Bengal Village?"
The Queen turned with steely light blue eyes and thought for a moment, "of course. They are of South Asian and Arab descent over on the southwest side of the island. Why?" After a long moment of silence Hippolyta finally understood. Diana was with them, the Bengals.
Diana had taken off her helmet and walked into the fiery lit village of Bengal. Women walked around with glasses of almond and date wine and sang songs in their native tongue. Diana knew this was the place to be after hours of hard work. The men came to Bengal village to not only mingle with the women, but to party and commit sexual acts, even with multiple women at once. Diana knew her mother would disapprove of this and especially of her being here while it all was happening. She wasn't here to get in bed with any man, but only to observe and she disguised herself in casual clothing, not royal. She wore a long gown with a shawl and gold sandals. A lot of the Amazons had no idea what Diana looked like so she knew in the Bengal village she'd have no problems fitting in.
She did have two of her childhood Amazon friends that came to the village to engage in the festivities and kept her disguise a secret from others and her mother. Diana sat down with her two friends, Mala and Eulaya smoking a water pipe filtering opium in the clay bowl. She didn't really feel the same effects as everyone else did when it came to drugs and alcohol, but she still enjoyed participating every now and then.
Mala scooted closer to Diana who was lounging on the large pillows on the floor rug. She whispered, "Hey Diana I thought you wouldn't be able to make it"
Diana looked around at all the men and women having a good time with their wine and water pipes. "The evaluation ended early and my mother had not returned so I thought I'd stop in for a little while," she smiled inhaling a large amount of smoke and exhaling slowly.
Eulaya grabbed a bottle of wine and poured some in her glass to sit next to Diana and Mala. "Have you both heard? I overheard Artemis saying that alien males might come to this island. She said the Queen has been in discussion over it for the last four months now."
Diana scoffed, "Artemis cannot even tame the wildest of horses. You shouldn't believe what that red says." Red is a term Amazons use to describe ill tempered Amazons on the island. She was part of a fierce tribe on the island, the Bana Mighdalls. They lived on the east part of Themyscira.
Mala giggled, "Diana if Artemis was here she would make you eat your words."
"She cannot even best me in combat Mala, besides I am not afraid of her," Diana took a sip of the wine and coughed, "do these people put drugs in their wines as well? By the gods, that is strong," she says as she continues to drink the thick wine, "but quite tasty."
The next morning Diana awoke in her bed with a headache and her hair in a tattered mess. A knock came to her door and she weakly said, "enter" and behold, her mother came into the room fully dressed, crown and all.
"Good morning Diana!" Hippolyta said loudly and smiled at Diana's appearance and grimace.
"I am but only a few feet away from you so why are you yelling?" Diana rolled over and buried her face into her pillow.
Hippolyta leaned down and picked up Diana's shoes and clothes off the floor and neatly put them on a chair across from the princess' large bed. Next she went to the wide open window and opened the curtains and Diana groaned.
"Did you have fun last night?"
Diana shot up with anger, oh great, I cannot trust Phillipus even with the simplest task. She rolled her eyes and crossed her legs and yawned.
"I know you went to the Bengal village, Diana. And I know you were drinking and smoking Hera knows what because you reek of it." she folded her arms and frowned at her daughter laying in bed with a sheet over her nude body.
"Do I smell like sex and shame, mother?"
Hippolyta's eyebrows raised upon hearing those fowl words come out of her daughter's mouth. "I beg your pardon?" She asked in a calm cool voice.
"Sex and shame," Diana teased, "I only jest mother, I have not committed anything such as having sharing my bed with a man. Losing my perfect chaste soul. How could I do such a thing?"
Her mother threw a towel at her daughter and proceeded to exit the room. "Go bathe, we need to discuss important matters."
At breakfast Diana arrived in a fresh gown and damp hair. Her mother was already eating before she arrived. Diana grabbed an apple and took a large bite into it and smiled at her mother.
"Don't look at me like that, daughter," Hippolyta continued to eat her cheese and assorted dips with dates and bread. "you should eat more than an apple, Diana."
"I am not hungry. What are these important matters you wished to discuss, mother? I have to meet our male guests in two hours."
Hippolyta set down her bread and chewed her food slowly as she locked eyes with her daughter. She didn't remember her being such a sassy young lady. The stare was enough for Diana to back down and she continued eating.
"I wanted to tell you that the council meeting went very well yesterday. Earth has finished building the transit system to Krypton and Almarac. Our people will be able to travel to other planets other than our own now."
So the gossip that Eulaya said last night at the Bengal village was true, or at least some of it were true.
"Also since there are other planets involved the council will meet again next week to discuss potential members from Krypton and Almarac to be put on the board."
"so what does this have to do with me other than being in charge for awhile longer?" Diana reached for the knife to cut some cheese and place on her plate. She went ahead and grabbed a warm piece of bread from the basket and a few sliced tomatoes. As she was eating Hippolyta stopped.
"You will need to come with me."
Diana stopped chewing her cheese and tomato spread. "Excuse me?"
"Krypton and Almarac are monarch planets just as Themyscira. It is mandatory for all delegates to attend. Queen Mera and Arthur will be there as well."
"Who decides these rules?" Diana said setting her bread and fruit down on her plate.
"The council decides and I am part of it, as I am your mother, but your Queen as well. You are attending."
Diana said no more and both continued eating in silence.
AN: alright, I am trying out this new story idea I have, but not sure about it yet. I wanted to write the first chapter, or rather, introduction to it. Yes, another scifi Elseworld, although not as intense as Queen of Arrakus, for those who read it. I will add more detail once I get some feedback. I will still write Blind, Deaf and Mute. I love writing that story, but this idea has been bothering me for a month now. I have changed some things of course like Krypton is involved as with my other stories as well. It won't be the same story as the others. You may notice that Diana is a bit of a snot. She is a different kind of Amazon in this story, a self righteous warrior, who is kind of pompous. Although she can see the good in people just like Diana would, it's in her nature. Her attitude will change over time.
