Author's note: Due to the HUGE success of Miraculous Knight, a co-op story written by my self and my friend Reece Wooldridge (who you can find on DeviantArt under the name Tails-2-Me) that featured Ladybug and Batman crossing over, both me and Reece brain-stormed on a possible sequel to MK. And we have one here for you now. But this isn't a crossover between Ladybug and Batman. Nope, this time, it's a crossover between Ladybug and Wonder Woman! ;)
It is still in continuity with MK of course, it's just that instead, we're going to be seeing Ladybug and Cat Noir with a different DC hero this time around. We all hope you enjoy this story and love it as much as (or more than) its predecessor. Happy reading and hope you enjoy this new crossover spectacular! :D
Prologue. Ladybug of Themiscyra.
Long ago, on an island safely tucked away from the hungry eyes of the vicious, warlike humans that sort to conquer land and strip away any freedom and happiness with brutality, there was a young girl with dark hair, running through the food markets, giggling away at losing her older pursuers as they called out after her, frustration and fear in their voices. The girl didn't understand any reason for why they were worried, for this was an island that she wouldn't get lost on, for this was her home, the home of the Amazons. This was Themiscyra.
"Diana!? Diana, for goodness sakes, come back!" her tutor yelled as she shoved through the crowds of civilians going about their business, catching a glimpse of the little girl as she took to the tree branches in front of the balcony up front of her.
Diana giggled as she reached the thin tree in her way, wrapping her arms and legs steadily around it and slid to the bottom at a fast pace, making her tutor's heart leap in fright.
"By Hera, your mother will be livid!" she yelled as she darted to the stairs to get after Diana, who dashed through the bushes, sliding down the gap that took her down to the training ground that held the many Amazon warriors that were letting their fists do their work.
Hiding near the biggest tree that sat at the end of the training ground, Diana watched on with awe as she saw her Aunt Antiope block a sword that swung towards her, gut punch the Amazon that came at her, throw her over her shoulder, then swipd another with her legs when she caught sight of the Amazon running to her. Antiope proceeded to help the two Amazons up, giving them a pleased nod before pulling them close to give them advice. Diana loved that about her aunt, so strong, yet so willing to pass on advice to those she trained even after she won over them in a fight. That was the kind of warrior she aspired to be, if only her mother didn't keep restricting her so much...
"Running away again, Diana?" squeaked a soft voice that almost made Diana jump from her hiding place.
She then beamed when she caught sight of the small black dotted, red creature that floated down to her, smiling gently as she looked down at the girl.
"Well it's boring, Tikki! I've been taught enough history lessons, don't you think?" she asked in response, her voice full of innocence, "Don't you think I should be a warrior now? That's what being an Amazon is about, isn't it?" Diana asked again, getting Tikki to giggle in response as she floated next to the little girl.
"Being an Amazon isn't all about fighting, Diana. I'm sure your Aunt Antiope would tell you that." she said in a reasonable voice, just as Antiope gave a punch to the solar plexus of another Amazon, before taking her to the ground with a roundhouse kick. Both Diana and Tikki saw this.
"Are you sure?" Diana asked with a smile, making Tikki roll her eyes with a smile of her own. Or a smirk as she heard a few footsteps behind her.
"Why don't you ask your mother?" Tikki asked as a tall figure stood over Diana.
"Yes, or why don't you tell me why I shouldn't be pulling my ears off after hearing your tutor that you ran away again?" spoke the levelled voice of Queen Hippolyta, making Diana really jump out of her hiding place this time, getting the attention of Antiope and the other Amazons, all of whom smiled in delight upon seeing her.
Queen Hippolyta stood in her gown that has the most balanced of purple with golden markings trailing over her, a gold crown and headpiece holding a bright red star sitting in the centre, and bright gauntlets sitting on her forearms. Her face was so young yet held a lot of wisdom of the many fighting she endured and of the many people she saw. She looked at her daughter with a lifted eyebrow, making Diana blush as Tikki giggled, before looking up to her mother with innocent eyes.
"Um, I'm sorry, mother?"
Tikki put her small arms on her hips as she sat on Queen Hippolyta's shoulder.
"Don't know, what do you say, Hippolyta?" she asked as the dark, long haired woman crouched down in front of her daughter, her eyes full of seriousness, yet a hint of light was in them.
"Not sure. Do you think a "I will not run away again" will do, Tikki?" she asked with a smirk, getting one off of Tikki
Diana pouted, feeling even more embarrassed by how they were both teasing her. That was when Antiope came over, dressed from shoulder to toe in dark brown armour, her boots' metal straps clanking as she walked. Antiope smiled as she looked down at Diana, who looked at her with the most begging of eyes.
"I'm up for training her, if she's a willing learner." Antiope said, getting a slight groan from Hippolyta, while Diana smiled pleasantly.
"See, Aunt Antiope thinks I can do it!" she exclaimed, getting a giggle from the blonde Amazon.
"I said I was up for it if you are willing to listen. So how can I teach you if you don't do as your told?" she asked, making Diana throw her arms in exasperation.
"But I want to be like you, Aunt Antiope! I want to fight like an Amazon, I want you to teach me!" she begged, getting a smirk off of Antiope.
"Being an Amazon isn't all about fighting, Diana." she told her, getting Tikki to smile in pleasure as Diana pouted again.
"There you go, Diana" she said lightly as Hippolyta stood up.
"She will be trained when I feel she's ready, Antiope. That's when she's finished doing her translations of the ancient languages" she reminded as the tutor finally reached them, breathing loudly from all the running.
"I'm sorry about this, your majesty!" she said as she patted her chest, making Tikki float in front of Diana with a bright look in her eyes.
"We all have to learn other things before we go on doing what we want, Diana. It's what will help you in your training, and later in life" she pointed out as Antiope smoothed Tikki's head, "Tikki carries a lot of wisdom, Diana, and she's seen many people go through similar situations as you have. You should listen to her..." she said, but gave Diana a wink, telling her she was only saying what Hippolyta wanted to hear.
"See, even your Aunt Antiope has the right words to say, now will you please go back with your tutor?" Hippolyta asked as she brought her over, the Amazon giving Diana a look that was just enough for Diana to know that she wasn't going to have anymore of this. Diana sighed and walked towards her.
"Yes, mother" she said quietly, but gave Antiope a wink as she walked by her, getting a smile from the Amazon general.
That was when the brightness of the sun faded for a moment, catching everyone's attention as they looked to the sky. It was then they could see a ripple of purple coming across the sky, as if they were being sent a message of sorts. While Diana was as confused as any young child would be, Hippolyta, Antiope, Tikki and the rest of the Amazons turned grim as they knew what this meant. Hippolyta turned to Antiope.
"Get them ready, I'll meet you by the beach. They must be there. Tikki, you come with me. Diana, go with your tutor and find shelter" she ordered, only for Diana to clutch at her with a worried look.
"Mother, what's happening?" she asked, not liking the change in everyone's mood.
Hippolyta took hold of her daughter's shoulder gently and walked her towards the path.
"Just get to safety now, Diana and don't come out until everything is all clear, go!" she urged in a voice full of fear and desperation, shocking Diana.
Her mother rarely gotten like this, and being in this mood now was enough to tell Diana that it was bad and that she had to get out of the incoming danger her mother could sense. With that, she gave her mother a hug, stunning her.
"Please be careful, mother!" She begged, getting a small pat on the back in response.
Hippolyta held her daughter close as her heart raced, letting it all settle in that those she deeply loved was coming under attack.
"I will be. Now go. Be safe and wait for us" she told her, letting go of Diana and handing her over to the tutor, who took hold of Diana and carried her off to safety.
Diana stared on as her mother turned to face the long stretch of the sea far out front, Tikki floating closely to her as they took to the path that would take them to the edge of the land. For all Diana knew, this could be the last time she would see her mother, but she deep down felt something telling her that she would be alright. That Hippolyta would see through whatever this was, like every other battle she had taken in.
Tikki felt the change in mood of everyone was incredibly serious and this was enough for her to keep quiet and take in what it was that they were dealing with. Sitting on Hippolyta's shoulder, Tikki listened in as they looked over the edge of the walls and down onto the beach. The Amazons frowned as they wondered what exactly it was that came to their beaches. They could see that these were not friendly, but they were trying to figure out just what exactly they were.
The creatures, about twenty eight of them, stood at a frightening seven feet tall, their skin somewhat thick and rock like, yet functioned as smoothly as that of a human. They had two arms on both sides of their bodies, with two sets of legs stepping into the sand as softly as possible, yet their legs didn't form to that of feet, but that of pincers. Their front arms carried a weapon, mostly axes, others held hideously vile weapons that seemed like that of maces, double bladed swords and others while their round heads looked hungrily up at the Amazons, their eight eyes full of thick darkness that held such evil in them. Their mouths were covered by sets of claws that would be strong enough to eat a living person.
And this was all that was needed for Tikki to see what it was they were going to be fighting.
"Zhīzhū. It seems they've found me..." she said sadly, guilt building up inside her as she realised that the Amazons and Diana were now at risk of getting killed by these creatures, for they were utterly vile and rather hard to stop. She should know for they were distant relatives, and distant relatives of Kwamis, while lacking in similar powers, had powers of their own that made them quite hard to handle.
Hippolyta patted her head softly as she stepped up in front of the other Amazons.
"Don't be guilty, Tikki. We will fight them off, as you, me, and all of us have always done with many other enemies." she assured as she unclipped the brooch holding her cape.
Opening up a small compartment of the brooch, Hippolyta pulled out a small black dotted red gem, then pulling her sword from her sheath, its handle gold and almost new even though it saw many combat.
Hippolyta slid the gem into her sword's handle, but was then grabbed by the hand by Antiope, who looked worried.
"You have not transformed for years. Can you take it?" she asked with deep concern for her, only for the Amazon queen to smile in assurance as Tikki floated by her.
"It might have been years, but me and Tikki can still do it. Have hope, Antiope." she said softly, making her sigh before smirking.
"Still always going to be Ladybug for us, aren't you?" came the general's answer
"Always. Tikki, let us guide our loved ones into this fight, so we shall win against these vile cannibals!" Hippolyta said as they took another look at the Zhīzhū, all of whom were about to start running at them.
"Are they all ready?" Hippolyta asked Antiope, who readied her sword.
"Yes they are." she replied grimly as she readied herself. This made Tikki float by the sword as Hippolyta looked to her with a look of determination to kill the vile insects coming at them.
"Tikki. Spots on!"
It had been years since this magical transformation had happened. But to Hippolyta, it felt as if it had only been yesterday since she had last used this prodigious power to protect her people. Tikki was glad that she'd be giving her benevolent owner her powers once more. It was her fault the Zhīzhū were here now, so it made sense that she'd help the Amazons destroy them. The Kwami disappeared into the gem on Hippolyta's sword, the Amazon queen holding it up high as the transformation began.
Once the sword was above her head, a wave of pink and red energy emitted from the weapon and spread down onto Hippolyta, seeping over her hands and reaching down to her feet. As it swept over her, Hippolyta's appearance began to change. Her elegant robes became armour of some kind and the armour itself with red with black spots all over, making her resemble some kind of human ladybird. The red was broken up by pieces of silver on the knees, around the waist, just over her breasts and across her collarbone. Hippolyta's hair also changed from black to a fiery red as if to match her armour. The sword itself changed, the handle becoming red with the handguard section completely found and dotted with black spots.
The transformation had concluded and the energy sweeping over her disappeared, allowing the Amazons to see their transformed queen. She was no longer Queen Hippolyta, but instead another of many who had wielded the amazing powers of the ladybug kwami before her. She was now Ladybug, and her red and black dotted armour glistened brightly. Anyone who saw her could tell straight away that she was powerful and that they were in for a fight. Ladybug raised her sword and pointed at the oncoming Zhīzhū, their mouths dripping with saliva as they approached the walls hungrily.
"Now my sisters, let us vanquish these vile beasts and keep the peace on our island once more!" Ladybug yelled, courage and determination vibrating in her cries of war.
Antiope turned to her fellow Amazons and raised her sword high in the air, her pose strong and her grip tight.
"Archers, fire!" she commanded, fierce and loud.
The archers in position did as they were commanded, setting their arrows alight with balls of flame. They took aim down at the beach, before letting go of the strings, sending their weapons down at their hideous enemies.
The Zhīzhū almost fearlessly kept going forward even as the arrows plunged into their chests, merely staggering back a little from the impact, though while they kept up the strong image, some of whom that were hit were set alight in flames enveloping their bodies, letting out horrible cries of agony as they retreated to the water, throwing themselves in to destroy the flames.
Another volley of arrows came flying towards the creatures, only now they hit the sand a few feet in front of the Zhīzhū, creating a fiery wall that stopped their progress. As they clicked their mouth claws in anger, they began to take a few steps back, the lines going off into two to allow one of their warriors to take a shot against the flames. The Zhīzhū they gave way to moved at a sickening speed, its four pincer legs increasing its pace as it took a huge leap over the flames, reaching the other side without a singe.
It looked ever so hungrily up at the walls and made another leap, going for aiming its pincers towards the wall...only to let out one last sickening cry as Ladybug plunged her sword into its back, bringing both down to the sand like a rock. Upon touching the surface, Ladybug drove her sword sideways through the Zhīzhū's body and ripped it out, a splatter of purple ooze shooting from its body, before she drove her blade through its chest, twisting it with loud cracks of the creature's skin, then gave it another shove, finally stopping the twitches its body was giving off, ending its life.
Ladybug looked up, breathing hard as Antiope and several other Amazons joined her side, having jumped down the wall themselves while a few others remained where they were. They looked to see the rest of the Zhīzhū were now coming around the line of flames they put up, all of them ready to use their weapons.
"Shield, Ladybug?" Antiope asked as she saw her fellow Amazons readying another set of bows and arrows.
Ladybug nodded as she pulled a finger ring handle of sorts from the bottom of her weapon, which pulled in her blade, almost as if the blade was collapsible.
"Shield it is, Antiope." came the response as she stood up, throwing her arm forward and swung her hand in a circular way, spinning it fast enough to form an energy shield of sorts, only it increased in size due to the bigger size of her weapon, doing it in time just as the Zhīzhū opened fire on them, shooting thick lines of web at the Amazons from their mouths.
The webs were somewhat reduced to smoke when they hit the energy shield, allowing the Amazon archers to fire, managing to hit a few Zhīzhū with some of their arrows, though those that managed to get a hit did little but slow them down as they bent the arrows or pulled them out of their bodies, given they weren't set on fire. But slowing them down was enough as Ladybug drew back her shield and turned it back into a blade.
She then darted forward at a huge speed, before taking a leap forward and shoved her blade right into the chest of another, taking it to the ground like the other she killed. A nearby Zhīzhū went to shoot Ladybug with its web, but then it found its four arms bound to its waist as Antiope trapped it with a lasso, pulling herself forward and kicking it right in the back, sending it down into the sand before slashing her blade across its back, finishing it with a brutal stab through the wound. With her work done, she took to the next Zhīzhū near to her.
Ladybug looked around her to see her fellow Amazons were now full into the battle, all of them getting up close to the Zhīzhū in their fight. One Amazon used a spear to fling herself in the air and kicked down another Zhīzhū, getting quick to finishing it off, while another Amazons stabbed a spear through the side of another. Another two Amazons flung a net on another Zhīzhū, allowing them to swipe its feet from underneath and getting it onto the sand.
But Ladybug then caught a look of one Amazon losing grip of her sword, her blood almost stopping as she saw the Amazon get bashed across the face by the creature's spikey weapon, seeing clearly it hit her with enough force to break her neck, sending her dead body crashing to the ground.
Angered at seeing one of her people falling by the hand of these creatures, Ladybug pulled on the string again and shot out her weapon from it like a yoyo, sending it shooting across the beach and slashing its back arms off before slashing sideways down its body, leaving it in a gruesome mess as it dropped to the sand.
Letting out a fierce cry, she pulled her weapon back and dived at another Zhīzhū, sliding under its four legs and stabbing it from underneath, going onto cutting it from its legs and slashing its front arms off, causing it to painfully drop to the ground as it lost a lot of blood.
Antiope was grabbed by the neck from another Zhīzhū, who tried to stab her with its own sword, only for the Amazon general to kick it away, wrap her legs around its body and punch its elbow hard, letting out a horrible crunch as its arm was bent the other way. Getting free, Antiope used her legs to pull herself around and stab it repeatedly in its neck, making a huge hole that shot out more blood from the wound, telling Antiope her fight with it was done.
Ladybug dodged an incoming blast of web as she slashed her blade through another Zhīzhū and swiftly kicked another across the face, but it fought back by punching her in the stomach with one of its front arms. This did little to Ladybug, who kicked one of its pincers out of joint, before driving her sword into its chest, finishing it with a vicious slashing of its arms.
Yet as many Zhīzhū fell, Ladybug saw more Amazons falling by the weapons of their enemies. She saw one Amazon leaping at a Zhīzhū, but it cut her down with a swing of its axe, while another Amazon tried to kill another Zhīzhū but found two pincers shoved right through her body and shoved to the ground where she was stabbed repeatedly. Ladybug quickly took down this Zhīzhū by cleaving her blade through her back, only to fall in a firing shot of another Zhīzhū's web. Yet before she could react, an Amazon flung herself in between the two, allowing the web to take hold of her, bravery giving up her life for her leader.
The Amazon found herself somewhat wrapped in a tight cocoon of sorts, causing Ladybug to try to tear her free of its grip, but gasped in pain as it hotly stung her hands, sending her onto her back. She could only watch on helplessly as she saw her warrior had her body crushed by the cocoon as it tightly wrapped itself around her body even more, turning her body into a crunched up corpse.
Ladybug grit her teeth in anger as she saw a Zhīzhū brutally shoving its blade through the chest of another Amazon, only firing up her disgust even more.
"No...no more of my sisters will fall!" the spotty Amazon declared, brandishing her sword, "These vile creatures will not claim another life on my island!"
"What shall we do your highness?" Antiope cried as she ran up to her queen, "These monsters are putting up a good fight and although we have the upper-hand, they could soon turn the tide against us! We need a plan to finish them off even quicker!"
She drew three arrows out of her quiver and loaded them into her bow, preparing to shoot all three at once as a Zhīzhū began advancing towards her and Ladybug. She aimed straight at the creature's head, intending to shoot an arrow each into at least two of its eyes and the third one in the centre of its head. Three arrows straight through to its brain would finish it off easily.
"Maybe it is time to bring out the Ladybug gem's greatest power..." Ladybug thought aloud, watching her sister fire at the Zhīzhū.
The general's aim had been perfect. All three arrows had hit their target straight in the centre of its head and two of its eyes. The arrows had been fired with such speed and strength that they penetrated straight through the creature's skin and eyes and embedded straight into its brain. The Zhīzhū was dead before it even realised it had been hit. The huge beast collapsed onto the sand, blood pouring from its penetrated eyes and forehead. Pleased with her shot, Antiope loaded her bow again to prepare herself for another shot. She turned to Ladybug.
"Are you sure you should use the Lucky Charm power? You know that once you use it, your power will run out and you'll lose the Ladybug abilities." Antiope noted, concern edging her words.
"I know the risks sister, but sometimes they're worth taking to finish the fight." Ladybug declared, "Keep on the fight and I'll see what my Lucky Charm brings me."
Antiope nodded and ran off, her bow loaded with arrows for another shot. Ladybug glanced down at the gem in her sword hilt, her face grim as she knew what the downsides of using the Miraculous's greatest power were. She ran the risk of her Miraculous running out and needing a recharge if this Lucky Charm wasn't enough to finish the fight. But Antiope was right, the fight ran the risk of turning in the enemy's favour. So this risk was one she had to take!
"Alright Tikki, let's see what you give me this time..." she murmured, collapsing the sword's blade into itself and pulling the string out. She spun the weapon around and threw it upwards, yelling out loud "LUCKY CHARM!" as she did so.
Her weapon ended up producing a rather odd shape. It was like an oval object styled like that of a seashell, only coloured bright in red and dotted in black. Catching hold of it, Ladybug took a look at the object and opened it up to see it held a mirror of sorts, only it was a bright pink with a matching glow inside it.
"Hmm...lets see..." Ladybug said to herself as she looked around, her lucky sight coming in with her vision turning grey.
Her sight guided her up to the sky, looking to the sun, which was highlighted with the colour of a ladybug. She was then looking back at the mirrored object that lay in her hands and then to the rest of the Zhīzhū, seeing there was only about nineteen of them left. That was then that it all became clear to her, with Ladybug's eyes narrowing intently.
"No more of my sisters shall fall today...Amazons, get down!" Ladybug ordered loudly, her voice echoing across the beach to all the battling Amazons. Antiope was just about to slash down another Zhīzhū when she gotten the word, and while she was wanting to cut it up, she took her sister's word and flung herself to the sand with the rest of her soldiers.
With everyone having done as she said, Ladybug held the mirrored object high above her in the sun's direction.
"I can only hope it works." she whispered as the sun's beam touched the mirror.
From the surface of the object, a pink energy beam blasted out from it, with Ladybug guiding its way across the beach, hitting every Zhīzhū she could see. The Zhīzhū were alarmed at this and caught sight of those that were turned to ashes by the beam. Sunlight mixed with the power of a Miraculous was very deadly, and there was little the Zhīzhū could do other than try to run, but it didn't help as they soon turned to grey ashes once they were hit by the beam. Except for one.
Ladybug caught sight of the last Zhīzhū as it turned back towards the water, trying to escape back to the world outside of Themiscyra. Scowling, Ladybug pointed the beam at the Zhīzhū's four legs, watching on as they were reduced to small clouds of ashes. She watched as the Zhīzhū pathetically dropped in the water, trying to drag itself away from the beach. But Ladybug didn't stop there.
Antiope and the other Amazons watched on from where they were as they saw Ladybug silently walk towards the Zhīzhū, closing the object as she put her foot on its chest. They could only watch with their chests tight as Ladybug spoke to the wounded insect creature.
"You dare come to my shore, intent on capturing my friend, and kill many of my sisters. Something as disgusting as you should not go back to wherever your master is. If any of you come here again. I will find your master..." she trailed off as she raised her foot high and then stomped it right through the Zhīzhū's chest, her foot covered in the purple blood and chunky guts of the big insect, "And I will crush him or her, just like that." she said, her voice full of hatred as she pulled her foot out of the chest, the Zhīzhū falling back into the water, dead.
Ladybug sighed as she stepped back and closed her eyes, tears wanting to run from them as her heart cried out for her fallen Amazons, for what she was about to do would do little to make things better.
"It's time to cleanse the beach of this evil." she said as she then threw the round object up into the sky.
"Miraculous Ladybug!" she yelled.
The objected was then enveloped in a pink light that shot around the beach, spreading across the remaining bodies of the Zhīzhū and had them vanish into nothingness along with their weapons. It wasn't long until the pink light came back to Ladybug, flying into her sword once its work was done. Ladybug opened her eyes and stiffly removed the gem from her sword, and in a flash, she stood there no longer as Ladybug, but as Hippolyta, her clothes and hair normal again. Tikki reappeared by her side, a sad look on her little, round face.
Before anything could be said, a cry of pain reached their ears. Both Hippolyta and Tikki ran to the source of the cry, for it was an Amazon, laying in a big pool of blood that was drenching the sand. Coughing up blood from her chest, the Amazon looked tiredly into Hippolyta's eyes as Antiope and the other Amazons gathered around them. Tikki felt a deep shiver go through her as she fully looked on, already feeling her life fading.
"Y-Your majesty...I'm so sorry...I wasn't strong enough..." the Amazon let out, only for Hippolyta to grab her hand and gently smooth it.
"No, don't you be sorry, sister...I...I should have used my Lucky Charm earlier...none of you should've been killed..." Hippolyta tearfully let out, her out reaching out to her dying sister, who then put on a weak smile.
"No...it's okay...we are...Amazons...we fight together...die together...whether you are Ladybug or not...we always fight, not alone, but together...do not blame yourself...Ladybug..."
The Amazon stared long and softly up at Hippolyta and Tikki, her eyes full of the last lights of life, and full of forgiveness. Hippolyta couldn't help but feel her heart stop as she saw the Amazon's eyes then go still, now lifeless and empty, while her last breathes had silenced to nothing. Tikki felt a cold chill come over her own heart as she saw this, for being the Kwami of life, feeling only one person die around her was enough to bring down her warm spirit. She closed her eyes and let two small tears trail across her small face.
Hippolyta, Antiope and the surviving Amazons lowered their heads in respect for their sister, with Hippolyta closing the Amazon's eyes to make sure she could now rest, for it was over. The Amazons loved life, and to lose any one of their own would deeply hurt them, for they were family, no matter what.
Tikki could only feel a huge wave of guilt coming over her as she saw the rest of the Amazons that had died on the beach, up to about eight of them, some of whom were cocooned by the webs and crushed up, others with huge wounds from the Zhīzhū's weapons.
"It's all because of me...I'm so sorry, Hippolyta." she said quietly, guilt clear in her voice.
Antiope looked over at Tikki with an accusing glare. The Kwami shuddered. The general was terrifying when she looked at anyone like that!
"What do you mean it's "because of you" little one?" she said, her voice like venom, "Do you mean to imply YOU are responsible for this bloodshed?" she gestured to the dead Amazons sprawled over the beach as she said that.
"Antiope, that's enough." Hippolyta said firmly, "Our sisters wouldn't want us to fight with our own."
She held a hand out for Tikki to sit in. The Kwami sat herself down and Hippolyta patted her head softly as if she was stroking a cat. Tikki felt the guilt inside her slip away a little upon receiving such comfort. She always enjoyed it when Hippolyta petted her.
"Tikki is not responsible for what happened general." the queen explained, "Those Zhīzhū vermin acted on their own accord. They came here because they sensed Tikki's presence. This would've happened no matter where she was. Regardless, there is no reason to blame little Tikki for what's happened."
"That's right everyone." the little Kwami agreed, "I didn't tell those monsters to come here and attack you all! But I still feel responsible for their attack. If I hadn't stayed here then none of you would've been caught up in this slaughter. I really hope you can all forgive me for all this death." she added, her eyes welling up as she prepared to cry again.
The Amazons all shared sympathetic glances towards the pink creature in their queen's hands. Nothing in the world felt worse than having death on your hands and feeling responsible for it. They could understand Tikki's guilt. Antiope herself was regretting her earlier challenging tone, feeling she was just pouring more grief onto the poor Kwami when she was guilty enough already.
"You don't need to be sorry." the general insisted, "You weren't to know they'd eventually find you."
"And we're Amazons!" cried one of the warrior women, "Amazons live to protect one another! Our sisters died to protect our own. You don't need to feel responsible for their deaths. We would've fought them, whether they came for you or not, and happily died to protect our island just the same."
"That is why we're always training and preparing ourselves for war." Hippolyta added, "Even in peace, war always lingers. Remember, one of our greatest enemies is the literal God of War himself, Ares. We prime ourselves for combat on the possibility he may return. It's these traditions that prepared us for this invasion today. And your presence helped us claim victory Tikki. You knew the enemy and you were able to provide your amazing powers to one of us to fight off those creatures. I understand your feeling responsible, but remember that you're just as responsible for our victory today. We owe this victory to you Tikki."
She concluded her testimony with a warm smile that showed she had meant what she'd said. Despite still feeling guilty, Tikki couldn't help but beam in return, feeling warm and touched inside by her owner's kind words. The queen always knew what to say, no matter the situation.
"I...I really don't know w-what to s-say your majesty." she said bashfully, "I'm j-just glad I was here to s-stop the Zhīzhū with you."
"As am I. Tikki, I'll always be there for you as you were there for me out in the rest of the world before we came here. You taught us so much after we came here, made us remembered what life means, restored our hope. If there is indeed another life beyond death, I can only hope our sisters that died today are resting beyond the Gates of Elysium." came Hippolyta's soft response as she put a small kiss on Tikki's head, allowing her to nuzzle her chin.
Hippolyta casted a sad glance over the dead bodies of their Amazons, before turning to Antiope.
"Gather our dead, and ready the funeral pyres. Be gentle with them." she ordered, getting a quick nod from Antiope.
"Yes, your majesty. And do we send word to Diana? Should she come out now? Or after the funeral perhaps?"
"After the funeral." Hippolyta decided, "I wouldn't want to let her see the horrors that have occurred on this beach. She's too young to witness blood and death."
Antiope knew that she didn't disagree with her sister. Let the child keep her innocence until the time is right, there was no need to sully it with this massacre. Antiope turned to pick up the first body for the funeral. The other Amazons began to disembark and pick up corpses to take away as well, handling them with great care as if praying against all odds that the bodies might still be alive and mishandling them would cause great discomfort to them. Hippolyta led the way off the beach with Tikki in her hands as the Amazons all climbed towards the wall to get off the beach and return to their village. Hippolyta mourned for the lost Amazons, but another part of her had one thing in mind. How would she explain all this to Diana...?
It had been a while since Diana had come out of hiding, yet she had seen no sign of her mother or her aunt. Worry filled her young heart for a while. She could tell the enemy had been dealt with, but with very little word being spoken about the Amazons that went into the fight, Diana couldn't help but think that her mother or aunt might had been hurt rather badly, and her tutor was keeping her back to stop her from seeing the state of them.
For what was a few hours seemed like an eternity for Diana as she studied more with her tutor, learning the ancient languages the Greek Gods communicated in, ranging from different words, to looking at different signs that represented each god. Diana wouldn't admit it, but a part of her was fascinated by the myths of the Greek God pantheon, for how Zeus ruled fairly and stood up for what he believed was right for the world. Hera was who had her most interest though, for while she sounded loving and brought about balance with her kindness, she was full of utter fury that could level the whole of Olympus. Diana could only imagine what she would do to an army of enemies on Earth with all she heard of Hera, whether she would talk them out of a fight or use her powers to wipe them out. Diana honestly preferred the former, not liking imagination of the all loving goddess bringing about a lot of death.
It was then that Antiope entered the cave, catching her attention and the tutor's, giving her a nod.
"Is everything alright, general?" she asked.
"Yes. I'm here for Diana, her mother has sent me for her." Antiope said as she gestured for the tutor to leave. After she did so, Diana smiled as she hugged Antiope, happy to see she was alright and still standing.
"You are okay! I knew you would make it!" she said happily as Antiope lifted her into her arms.
That was when Diana noticed how small her smile was and how distant her eyes were. She looked as if she had been crying.
"Antiope? Are you alright?" she asked quietly, getting her attention.
Antiope brushed her face a little and smiled a little.
"I-I'm fine...the battle was...very hard, Diana...you'll know everything when I bring you to your mother." she said, carrying her out of the cave.
Diana noticed how she stuttered and how she struggled to even give her a full explanation with her trailing off. And it took a lot to make Antiope get like that along with the hints of her crying. And that was enough to tell Diana that the battle was a bittersweet one.
It was night time when they had come out of the cave, the fires lightening up the darkness to help guide them around the city. They had soon come to the beach walls that towered high over the beach, which now looked grey in the night. Her mother was there, with Tikki floating next to her, both of them quiet as they looked over the beach.
"She's here, your majesty." Antiope said as she reached the Amazon queen and the Kwami, both of them giving as small nod as they stood by their sides. They were all quiet for a bit before Hippolyta spoken up, talking to Diana.
"Many of our loved ones had died today, Diana. All killed in the most gruesome of ways...this is what happens, Diana, when you go to battle. You will lose those that fight with you. You have to remember that...if you are to ever become an Amazon." Hippolyta said, her voice stiff as she tried not to let her emotions get the better of her.
Diana could only look at her mother with wide eyes of horror as she let this sink in, before looking out at the beach with sad eyes. Diana always saw her older idols as near invincible, strong, and never to fall injured or killed in battle. It was always a hit to the stomach to remember like all living things, they could be killed.
Hippolyta looked to her daughter again with eyes full of seriousness.
"Do you still desire to be an Amazon, Diana? Even knowing you have death to cope with?" she asked sharply, making her daughter look to her with her own young eyes sharp.
"Yes. I still do...it's what I want to be." she said, her voice full of confidence.
Antiope then placed her hand on her back, getting her attention.
"Then why do you want to be an Amazon, Diana?" she asked, leaving Diana thoughtful for a moment. Given she was young, she had to think her answer carefully.
She soon answered, "Because...because I want to be strong. To be brave. To help those that need every help they can get. Just like how you did, back when you were out in the world."
Small smiles came over the faces of Hippolyta and Antiope, seeing the honesty in Diana's response. Tikki smiled too, though she hovered into her face with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"Diana, to become an Amazon, you must understand the importance of life. To understand what death means, to know when the time is right to pass over to the next realm. To see who needs the help and when to make the right choice. It has to be a balance of your head, and your heart. I want to teach you, that, Diana. And I want to do it soon." she said, her voice full of care in her approach towards Diana, who's mouth opened a little in shock.
"You...you would help me...you would, Tikki?" she gasped, getting a nod from the Kwami.
"Yes. It will be hard, but I promised I would teach you all I know before I leave. Being an Amazon isn't all about fighting, it's about embracing the right of life and understanding the world. We will all help you. But are you ready for it?" Tikki asked as she looked Diana in the eyes, trying to see if she had an answer there.
The child princess turned over the Kwami's words in her head, making sure she had understood everything. It was incredible, especially for someone her age, to think that there was so much more to fighting and being an Amazon than just throwing punches and kicks and swinging weapons around. As Tikki had let her know, the world was much more than it seemed and life was full of balance. If she was to become an Amazon now, she would be playing a part in life or death situations. She could easily be killed just like any other Amazon could. It was becoming very clear to Diana that warfare wasn't a game just like she had often fantasized it as. But did any of it matter to her?
Diana turned back to Tikki, her mind fully made up. The word she was about to say would change the lives of not just herself, but everybody on the island...and even the world itself forever.
"Yes. I am ready for it." Diana declared, "I'm ready to train and become the greatest Amazon Themiscyra has ever seen!"
The determination in her voice was enough to make Hippolyta, Antiope and Tikki all gaze at the princess in astonishment. To hear such courage and brevity from the young child was incredible. She maybe a child, but she clearly had the heart of a warrior just as much as any Amazon on the island. With the answer given, Diana looked back from one to the other, anxiously awaiting their response. Something told her they weren't going to take it well. But then she received the answer she didn't think she would get, and it came from Hippolyta.
"I'm rather pleased to hear that my dear child." the queen replied, "I had hoped you would share the determination to protect lives that all your sisters do. I know it seems like I've tried to strive you away from warfare, but I knew deep inside that I couldn't keep you from your birthright. You were clearly meant to be an Amazon like all of us."
"That is why we will all train you to become as strong, brave and compassionate as your sisters before you." Antiope declared, "We will make you not only strong, but the strongest that any Amazon can ever be. I have a feeling that when your training is complete, you will amount to something wonderful."
"A wonder woman perhaps." Tikki suggested, "An Amazon who can save lives, protect the helpless and fight off monsters to save the world!"
Diana smiled with delight. She was finally going to become an Amazon warrior just like her mother and her aunt! At long last, she was going to be what she'd always wanted to be! She was so excited that she began to bounce up and down. This earned a teasing smirk from Antiope, who folded her arms and shook her head.
"You can't be a great warrior if you act like that little Diana." she snickered, "A true warrior is disciplined and proper. You'll have to try and curb your excitement when training begins or you'll not get anywhere."
Diana stopped what she was doing and bowed bashfully.
"Sorry Antiope." she said meekly.
"We'll begin training in the morning." Hippolyta announced, "It is late and we must rest for the night. I hope you sleep well my daughter, you will need plenty of it." she said, embracing Diana as if she was saying goodbye to her, which in a way she was. She was saying goodbye to the childlike innocence of her daughter. Diana would sleep a child and awake a warrior come the next morning.
"I won't let anyone down mother. I promise." Diana swore, embracing her back.
Tikki watched the tender scene with wide eyes, feeling a little sad for her owner. She knew full well what the queen was feeling. It was like they were wishing a fond farewell to the child they knew and preparing to give welcome a warrior. She would miss the days of fun and innocence that she had spent with the princess. But the Kwami knew that it was the right thing to do. Diana had to become a warrior just like the Amazons. They couldn't keep her sheltered forever.
Yet neither of them could even imagine what great things were in store for Diana. Tikki had suggest she would become a wonder woman who would save lives and protect the world from threats. Many years later, she'd soon realize how appropriate the name "wonder woman" would become...and what incredible feats she would achieve in the world of men, the world outside of their paradise island...
Interesting isn't it to see what things were like when Tikki used to belong to Queen Hippolyta and how she used to be Ladybug? ;)
With the prologue over, we return to the present as we catch up with Marinette and Adrien after the events of "Miraculous Knight". Hope to see you then readers! :D
Credit goes to my co-writer, Reece Wooldridge (Tails-2-Me) for the story idea and joining me to produce this sequel. You're awesome pal! :D