Mind over Matter

The following week Diana and Hippolyta traveled to the states for the annual world council only this time the Krypton and Almarac royal families were attending. Diana and Hippolyta were sent to a lavish hotel until the meeting started and had time to freshen up.

Diana clothed herself in a long green gown with a golden sash at her small waist. She donned her white cape as well. Her mother was dressed in a red floor length gown and a white cape to match her daughter. Both wore golden laurels upon their heads, looking quite regal and very much like the royal women they are.

Hours later Diana and Hippolyta made their way into the council room and were seated waiting for everyone else to arrive. It had been Diana's first time to one of the council's meetings in the eight years since Themyscira had a chair in the group. It will be the first time that other planets join the council in history. Krypton and Almarac were not close sister planets to earth, but rather distant cousins. Both planets were highly advanced and have been for many years prior to earth's new era of peace and reform.

The families from the two now neighboring planets had a longer journey than Diana and Hippolyta. They would have no time to stop in the hotel and prepare for the meeting. Any moment now and they would appear in the room. Diana hated to admit it, but she was anxious to see the aliens as the Amazons called them. She had seen earthlings, of course. She had never considered herself an earthling, only a Themysciran. Themyscira had been secluded for hundreds of years that they totally disregarded anyone outside the island until recently.

"King Jor-El and Queen Lara-El of Krypton now entering the world council," a head chairman announced and everyone stood in the room. Diana stood and saw the two walk into the room smiling and waving to everybody. They stood on the opposite side of the large room. The two Els were quite tall and in a sense had a beauty about them, they didn't look 'alien' at all, Diana thought to herself. She depicted they would look much different but in reality they looked just like her and every other human on earth. Both had dark hair, but the El woman had brown hair not jet black like her husband's and she had green eyes that complemented her fair complexion.

"Queen Maxima of Almarac entering the world council," everyone clapped and watched as the tall muscular wild red haired woman entered the room. It was only her and her guard attending. He followed her wherever she went. She made her way down the aisle and stood next to the Els.

"Queen Mera and Prince Arthur of Atlantis," both Atlantians came into the room and smiled making their way over to Diana and Hippolyta.

"Queen Hippolyta and Princess Diana of Themyscira: Home of the Amazons," the last but not least and everyone clapped. After the greetings everyone took their seats waiting for the discussion to start.

Diana sat and was shaking her left foot from the anxiety she felt just being in this room. It had been an hour since the meeting started and all they talked about was the transit system from earth to the two planets. She didn't know how her mother could sit through this for more than an hour. Thank the gods this meeting was every six months except for this occasion because of the Kryptonians and Almaracians.

After the head chairman declared that the official meeting was over he had asked if anyone had questions or statements of their own they liked to make. Hippolyta raised her hand and stood gracefully.

"On behalf of the Amazons of Themyscira, my daughter and I would like to invite the Els and Queen Maxima to our island for a celebratory feast."

Diana glanced up at her mother. Dear Hera, what is she doing?

Jor-El and Lara-El whispered to each other in Kryptonian before answering.

"We gladly accept your invite Queen Hippolyta," Lara said aloud with a gentle smile.

Queen Maxima looked at everyone in the room as they awaited for her reply. If she said no it would be a major insult to the Amazon Queen and if she said yes, she hoped it would be worth her while to come.

"I will attend your feast, your majesty," Maxima smiled smugly and Diana frowned. So far she didn't really like this Almarac Queen at all. Her nonchalant attitude really rubbed her the wrong way.

Hippolyta and Diana grabbed their belongings and would return for Themyscira immediately as they needed to prepare for the feast for their guests. On their way home in the private jet that was flown by a fellow Amazonian.

"You invited the aliens to our island. Why?" Diana asked as she was sharpening her sword on her lap with her feet propped up on a table in front of her.

"It is the proper thing to do Diana. When we return home I want you to check on the male students and make sure they are up to date on the gathering."

Diana stopped sharpening her sword, "you wish for the men to come? Men in the palace for a party?"

"It would be strange if they did not come as they are our students and guests. The Kryptonians and the Almeraci Queen will gossip. We Amazons will show these aliens what our culture and hospitality is all about."

The following day Diana was out on the training grounds with her sisters and male guests demonstrating a sparring exercise. The sun was beating down on everyone and Diana herself was beginning to sweat from the training and hot weather.

She pinned down an Amazon with her legs and upper arms. "That is how you do it, children," she let up and lend a hand to her sister to stand. Diana stood with a long braid and a brown leotard barefooted twirling a large staff.

"Who wants to try?" She gestured to the men in the crowd that looked somewhat afraid and one stepped forward and was handed a staff by an Amazon.

"Ah my lucky opponent. Show me what you have learned, pupil," Diana smiled and readied herself in a crouching position opposite of the male. He started circling the princess and went for her head and missed. Diana was quick and she knocked him to his feet instantly with her wooden staff.

"Too slow, next," she had one the Amazons drag him off the training circle. Another man approached and without a staff. "No staff? Alright I will play too," Diana tossed her staff to the side and balled her fists up. She could feel the sweat dripping on her cheeks and she came at him punching the left side of his face and grabbing his shoulders to knee him in gut. Then she twisted his arm behind his back and he groaned at the pain.

"Do you have what it takes to be a true warrior? Do you?" Diana smiled deviously and her victory came to a halt when the male student elbowed her in the ribs and she backed up catching her breath. "Very good, show me more," she gestured him to come attack her.

He ran for her body and she grabbed him in a bear hug and flipped him over her body and landed audibly on his backside groaning at the achy pains.

"No man will best Princess Diana, warrior of Themyscira," she threw her arm in the air and all Amazons cheered at her victory. She was given a cloth to wipe her face from the sweat. "That is enough for today. Meet back here tomorrow afternoon." She walked off and into the palace so she could shower. Luckily for her she didn't have to do any evaluations today. As she treaded down the long halls she found her sisters and mother preparing for the event that was being held tonight.

Eulaya passed Diana and smiled, "Princess," she bowed, "are you ready for the festivities tonight?"

"As ready as I'll ever be, Eulaya," she waved as she made her way to her royal chambers.

The Kryptonians and the Almaraci Queen arrived promptly at seven o'clock and Diana was in her room preparing for her entrance to the royal feast hall. Almost all of the Amazons were attending and she wanted to make a grand entrance with a new golden gown she had made for her recently by the royal seamstress. Putting the final touches on her hair that was half pinned up and half down. Her dark locks tumbling down her breasts and finally she placed her tiara on her head. Her tiara had golden thorns placed on it, showing her courage and bravery as a true Amazon warrior. She smiled looking pleased with her appearance and exited her room making her way to the feast hall.

"Princess Diana of Themyscira!" The Amazons yelled and held their swords in an arc as Diana walked beneath the sword arc and everyone clapped as she entered the room. Her mother was standing with the Els talking about gods knows what.

Diana approached the Els and her mother towards the center of the room. The Els both bowed slightly and smiled at Diana's appearance.

"Your dress is lovely, princess," Jor-El commented and Diana smiled in return.

"Your mother has said so much about you. I hear you are quite the warrior of your people," Lara smiled crinkling her green eyes into crescent moons.

Diana glanced over at her mother and cleared her throat, "I am the best warrior of the Amazons. I am trained in six different combat styles and craft my own weapons from time to time as well as educate myself on languages from around the globe. Soon I will learn Kryptonian as well." With her words, she seemed to won the Els over with her charm and over confidence.

"Very fascinating. I too come from a warrior people. I am head of the Kryptonian army back home," Lara commented and Diana perked up at this. She was interested in learning new cultures, but was slightly intimidated by the El Queen. They were the same height, both equally beautiful, although she was older than her, age didn't matter to Diana.

"Perhaps we can spare if you have time to stay a bit longer," Diana smirked and Hippolyta frowned and cleared her throat."

Hippolyta smiled, "Diana, let us show the Els to their seats."

Diana nodded and looked around for the Almarac Queen and saw no sight of that unruly red hair of hers. "Where is Queen Maxima?"

"She will come later, she told Phillipus earlier."

Half way through the dinner, everyone was talking and Maxima had shown up an hour late and sat at the far end with the men at one of the tables. There were around twenty tables in the room. The Els, Hippolyta and Diana sat at one table with a few Amazons. Their table was the most quiet and Diana thought the most boring.

Diana grabbed her chalice of wine and stood on the table. Hippolyta's jaw dropped at the sight of her daughter on the dining table. Lara and Jor stared at the Amazon princess with confusion.

"Sisters!" Diana yelled and every face turned to her and she smiled, "Let us drink to our new friends, Jor and Lara-El and Queen Maxima!" Everyone cheered and grabbed their glasses to drink to Diana's announcement. Hippolyta unwillingly took her wine and drank from the golden chalice. The Els followed as everyone else. Both didn't know what to think of the Amazons, especially Diana. They seemed like nice enough people, but their culture was so foreign and less refined compared to their own.

As Diana stepped down from the table she saw her mother's glare and it wasn't easy to ignore. Diana winked at her mother and drank from her chalice.

"I am getting in the spirit of things, mother!"

"Indeed." Hippolyta continued to eat her food and not make eye contact with her daughter.

After the feast there was dancing outside in the palace gardens. Diana decided to leave the party and head out to the Bengal village once more. She went once a week, or at least tried to. These parties were always a major bore to her and as much as she loved meeting new people she couldn't be around her mother's glare any longer. Without saying goodbye she left. She knew she wouldn't be missed with all these people here.

Some Amazons stayed and some made their way to the Bengal village and took some men to accompany them.

Diana went unnoticed at the village as she wasn't a princess there, she was just a regular Amazonian sister there. She felt like she could let loose, more than her mother permitted, but she didn't really care what her mother thought of her devious acts she committed sometimes. She had stayed true to her word about not having relations with a man though. She could do so many wrong things in her life but that would be the ultimate sin in her and her mother's book.

The following afternoon Diana went to the training grounds to hold her annual training lessons for the Amazons and students. This time she wore a white leotard and her hair in a ponytail and was barefoot again. This lesson would be about using a sword mixed with hand to hand combat. She saw the men were stretching and some she recognized were a bit hungover from last night.

Jor and Lara sat with Hippolyta on a balcony overlooking the royal gardens. The Amazons were cleaning up the palace from last night's party. The Els would stay another day and then return back to their home planet. Queen Maxima had taken the liberty of exploring the island with a few Amazon escorts. She had no problem getting along with the male students. It seemed they were her favorite part of the entire visit. She couldn't resist good looking strong men when given the opportunity.

A jet arrived near the palace grounds and guards came forward to greet the new guest. Hippolyta informed her sisters that another Kryptonian guest would be joining them on the island after the feast. Out came the son of Jor and Lara, Kal-El. He was a spitting image of both his parents combined. His father's build, hair and eyes but with his mother's face and grace.

"This way your majesty. You parents await for you on Queen Hippolyta's balcony."

Kal smiled as the Amazons took his belongings, which were few because he'd be leaving with his parents the following day. "Thank you. Perhaps I could look around before greeting my parents?"

"Of course your highness," the Amazons left with his bags and entered the palace west wing.

He was not dressed in his royal robes but in blank pants and a long sleeved skin tight shirt. About a mile away he saw a training exercise was taking place. He walked over to watch these Amazons in action. He saw a tall woman wearing a white leotard sparring with a thin tanned male. He looked almost frightened of her. Kal saw that she dominated him easily with a simple pin to the floor.

"You need to work on strength training. Who is next?"

A man stepped forward and was a bit more muscular than the last. Kal came closer and looked behind the other males. This woman was tall, strong and fierce. He admired that in a woman and she somewhat reminded him of his mother with her fighting skills.

Diana gut punched the man and round house kicked him in the head and he fell to the ground in pain.

"Another victory for Princess Diana!" Diana shouted and all the Amazons cheered.

Everyone clapped and after everyone stopped there was one person still clapping slowly and Diana tried to locate the mocker.

"Impressive but I have seen better," Kal said with a smile.

"Show yourself!" Diana put her hands on her hips and Kal stepped forward from behind the crowd.

Diana laughed, "ah, another male. If you think you are better than me, then dance with me, male," she readied herself with her sword.

"I don't use swords," Kal calmly stated.

She smiled and gave her sword to a woman nearby. "Alright, that is fine with me."

Kal came at Diana and she was instantly knocked back by a kick to her jaw. She heard some gasps and she rubbed her jaw and shook her head. "I see." She threw her leg in the air to kick him in the leg but he grabbed her leg and she fell to the ground on her back and he flipped her body over bending her leg close to her spine. She growled. She will not be defeated, especially by a man.

Diana used her other leg and kicked him off of her and he stumbled back. Quickly she got to her feet and smiled. Kal was smiling back at her, "you are not bad."

"I am better than you!" She ran towards him and wrapped her arms around his waist attempting to pick him up and throw him, but was stopped by her ponytail being pulled and she was dragged across the ground and picked up and face planted into the dirt.

He sat on tap of her and grabbed her ponytail lifting her head off the ground. Blood dripped from her nose and she groaned at the pain from the strong impact.

"Get off of me you beast!" Diana yelled.

Kal obeyed and smiled lending a hand to help her up but Diana snubbed the offer and got off the ground covered in dirt. Kal and Diana stared at each other for an awkward silent moment. She was defeated, she didn't know how to react. She never lost. She's never lost a match and this was the first, unfortunately it was to a male. Diana huffed and turned and exited the training grounds to retreat to her room.

After besting the snobby Amazon he followed an Amazon guard to the balcony where his parents and Queen Hippolyta were still talking and enjoying the view.

"Your majesty," Kal bowed to Hippolyta and kissed the top of her hand.

Hippolyta was surprised at this young man's nice manners. She responded with a warm greeting, "Welcome, Prince Kal-El. Your parents have told me that you do work for your people and will start a company on earth."

"Yes. I am sorry I could not attend the dinner. I was on a trip in Argo back on my home planet."

Diana had changed clothes and bathed. She was irritated. She was beaten by a man, what could be more humiliating than this? She slapped herself on the cheek and slapped the other side to relieve her anger built inside her.

"Stupid man. He will pay." She stride down the hallway and went to the royal feast hall and saw her mother with the Els. She took a deep breath in and put a smile on her face.

Hippolyta saw Diana nearing them and she stood to greet her daughter.

"Diana, how are you?" Her mother asked kindly.

Diana almost responded warmly until she saw the man...that man that bested her. She gasped and furrowed her eyebrows.

"YOU!"

AN: I had saved this chapter to see if this story was going to catch on. This shall be interesting! Also excuse the grammar from the previous chapter. Feedback please! Enjoy everybody!