The seven women sat in the jet silently. Finally, Canary broke the silence.

"What's the game plan?"

"I think we should split up. Fire, Ice, Vixen and Zatanna, you four should tackle the Aresia problem. Huntress, Canary, and I will try and find Hades and Hippolyta. Guys, this is serious if the Amazons are calling for aide. And, Aresia alone will be difficult to beat. But Hades, he makes things much more complicated. He's a god. He will not be easy to put down."

"How did he escape?" Huntress asked.

Shayera sighed, "No idea. With Aresia's help I guess. The Amazons are guardians to the gates of the Underworld. Maybe she set him free. I have no idea why she would though."

"How long can the Amazons last?" Vixen asked.

"I don't know. Aresia must have some of them fighting with her. Hippolyta's forces would be spread thin fighting on two fronts. We need to tip the scales back in her favor, but these are Diana's people, so keep that in mind when engaging them. Use whatever force is necessary, just…"

Vixen interjected, "Don't kill anyone if possible? Really Shayera? They are likely to hate our interference being outsiders."

"I know it's asking a lot. Just do what you need to, but be merciful if you can. If we can restore Hippolyta, we may find the Amazons more agreeable to our presence."

"How are we going to deal with Hades?" Canary asked.

Shayera gripped her mace, and it began crackling. "Hopefully I can do some damage. We just need to free Hippolyta, and then work the rest out. But Canary, Huntress, this is going to be a hell of a fight…if you forgive the shitty pun."

Huntress and Canary smiled slightly, but their faces fell again. The gravity of the situation was well known to them.

When they landed on Themiscyra the women were shocked at the site. Half of Diana's island paradise was on fire. There were two small forces fighting on the beach.

"Which side are we on?" Canary asked.

Shayera spied the two groups, and then pointed. "Theirs. The ones clothed in gold and white. Those are Hippolyta's colors."

Immediately the women engaged themselves into the fray. It took very little time for the opposing force to realize that they were outmatched. Quickly they fled deeper into the island. The remaining Amazons regarded the Justice League members with suspicion. Finally a battered blonde emerged from their ranks.

"I am Alindra. One of Queen Hippolyta's generals. We called for Diana. Is she with you?"

Shayera stepped out to greet the blonde. "No, she isn't. The League is trying to contact her, but she may not be available for some time. In the meantime you'll have to make due with us."

"You're Shayera Hol, I recognize you from previous visits. Thank you for coming. We are engaging Aresia's forces all over the island."

"How is this possible? Aresia went down on a plane into the ocean."

"I can assure you she is alive. And half of the Amazons are fighting with her."

"Why?"

"She returned to the island, claiming she had rights to the throne on Themiscyra."

"What rights?"

"Hippolyta adopted her when she first arrived. She stepped into the throne room and issued the right to challenge."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"A queen's rule can be challenged, but only by royalty. The challenger duels the ruling queen for the right to lead the Amazons. If the challenger is successful in beating the queen, then she earns the right to be the new queen. All rights to rule transfer to her."

"Oh my God, Hippolyta…"

Alindra nodded. "The Queen met her challenge. She should have been well matched against Aresia, but the fight wasn't fair."

"What happened?"

"At first it looked like Queen Hippolyta would be victorious. But Hades showed up. Aresia freed him. In return she was given powers that helped her defeat our queen. Hippolyta only survived because Hades demanded it. He harbors hate for her keeping him sealed in the Underworld. Once she was defeated, he and some Aresia's followers took her away. With Hippolyta defeated, Aresia became queen, of sorts."

"Of sorts?"

"Technically she beat Hippolyta, albeit unfairly. Hence the splitting of the Amazons into factions. Half blindly follow her because she won the right of challenge. Our half still believe Hippolyta is queen, and we are disgusted that Hades was freed. Had Diana come she would hold the right to challenge. If she beat Aresia, the others would have no choice but to fall into line. But, that won't happen now."

"What about Hades?"

"A force of Amazons and demons are escorting him back to his dominion."

"He's going back to the Underworld?"

"He is. At least he's headed in the direction of the gates. So far it only appears that he wanted Hippolyta. What forces that aren't engaged with Aresia's have been trying to stall his progress. But that is all we have managed to do; slow him down. We are getting beaten, badly. We need the rest of the Amazons to fall into line, but that isn't happening."

Shayera looked at her colleagues. "Guys, I am open to suggestions here."

"What condition is Hippolyta in?" Canary asked.

Alindra responded, "Pretty bad. Aresia may have spared her life at Hades' urging, but she's pretty battered."

"So even if we get to him and somehow manage to seal Hades away, we still have Aresia and a faction of disloyal Amazons to deal with. And considering Hippolyta's condition, she'll hardly be able to challenge Aresia again," Shayera stated.

Huntress interrupted, "Don't split us up now. For now, Alindra, call your forces back. No more engaging Aresia or her followers. All of us need to concentrate on getting to Hippolyta and sealing Hades in the Underworld. Let Aresia believe she is queen for a time. Right now, she isn't top priority."

Alindra just stood there, not moving. Shayera noticed the woman's hesitation.

"Alindra, Huntress is right. If Diana were here, she would do the same."

Alindra weighed Shayera's words, and then nodded. She returned back to the other Amazons. With a few quick orders they all dispersed, and Alindra returned to the other group of women. Shayera looked at her friends. "Fire, take the jet back to the tower. Tell J'onn what is happening. Figure out how to contact Diana and let her know what is happening here. Get her here as quickly as possible. Ice, you, Vixen, and Zatanna figure out how to stop the fires from spreading. I would like Diana to have a home to come back to. At least some semblance of one anyways. Huntress, Canary, Alindra, myself, and any Amazons we find along the way that are loyal will go after Hades. Alindra, what happens to Hippolyta once she passes through those gates?"

"She'll start to die slowly. The living do not last too long down there. And in her present state…"

"Then we need to get a move on. We need to free Hippolyta and buy Diana time to get here."

Vixen, Zatanna, and Ice took off towards the heart of the island. Fire returned to the jet and took off. Shayera nodded at her remaining companions and they took off towards the gates of the Underworld.


A/N: So the right of challenge thing, at least in my mind, came from Xena I believe. I will be stealing one more idea from that show to flush this story out. Hope you are enjoying. Thanks for the reviews!