Chapter Three
Themyscira
Sandy beaches as far as the eye can see, oceans so blue they sparkle as the waves move, the skies a warm hue with clouds sprinkling in their presence ever so gently. The temperature, environment and the views so beautiful, worthy of the title the inhabitants imposed on it as Paradise Island.
The architecture and the buildings of the island looked ancient and fictional, like they were literally the paintings out of historical textbooks ripped right out of the pages and pasted on. They looked old but at the same time looked rich in history yet strong enough to withstand the attack of hurricanes, tsunamis and other natural disasters.
Themyscira was so beautiful, the temperature was always set to a great temperature, the waters fresh and clean, the air crisp and delightful, the rays of the sun greeting the island and shining it with natural light, the grass and the trees emitting a green so beautiful they resembled million-dollar paintings, even the rocks, hills and the grounds were so smooth resembling the softness one would see from their beds.
It was evening time on Themyscira, the sun was slowly setting down, still half in the sky emitting a glowing and gentle light to the island, signaling that it was time for the day and its inhabitants to go to sleep and rest up for the next day.
Small footsteps silently walked and crept through the shores of the island, footsteps that belonged to the princess of the island, the champion of the Gods, the daughter of the island and the Amazons, and the Goddess of Truth, Love and Justice, or like many people of the island call her, Diana.
She had all the accolades in the world, titles to boast, a promising destiny, a future so bright and all this legacy and name to live up to, no one would have suspected that all these accolades would have belonged to a ten-year old girl.
Diana was a young girl, she knew she was royalty and that she was different from the rest of the Amazons but she never acted or saw herself greater than or better than the rest. This was her family and she knew she was loved by all and she loved everyone there, she was their daughter and they were all her ageless immortal mothers, no matter how old they were. She didn't want to be treated differently, yes she was the princess, but to her, titles meant very little and she was the type of leader that led by example, just like her mother or so she said.
She knew her mother and her Amazonian sisters have suffered through some hardships and that when she came along, the times and lifestyle had changed. She wanted to know what the history of her mothers was, but when she asked, she was always brushed off and told to be grateful and that she was a blessing to them all and that all she needed to learn and know was right there.
But to a ten-year old girl, knowledge was never enough. Her whole life, she was told certain thing and taught specific things and to her, it seemed that she couldn't make her life decisions for herself, like all her accomplishments and her all her triumphs were already preplanned for her and she just needed to grow a little more to experience that. She liked being praised, but she wanted more than that, she wanted to know what was out there.
Her whole life, she had lived in that island, her whole life, that island and her Amazonian sisters was all she had known. She certainly taught that life was more than this? She wanted to know what laid beyond the oceans, what else was out there, but the shores and the beaches, as far as she knew, were as far as she could go and where her horizons ended. That's why the shores of the island were her favorite place to be, the skies and the sun, she knew touched life beyond the island and touched other islands and places that she could only dream of.
She liked to take strolls by herself, she knew the island well enough and from her ten years of living there, she had yet to encounter a threat to the island, it was safe to say that she felt very secure in the island and was comfortable enough to walk alone and feel at ease. As safe as the island was, her mother always seemed to think the worst and felt that she shouldn't walk alone especially in the evening but Diana didn't care, she knew nothing was going to happen to her.
She walked the shores, not a care in the world, she felt happy, she felt at ease, she felt good. The sand felt warm on her toes, the wind soothing her face, her small dress taking in the fresh water, it felt good. She walked on to the point where the sand met the water and looked on beyond her horizons, taking it all in and letting the ambience soak her in.
Something caught her eye. Something was drifting slowly in the waters, swaying with the waves slowly making its way to her direction. What was it?
It crept closer and closer to her, she can see what it was now. It was a book. Diana didn't know how to react to it, nothing ever washed up to the island. She was always told that they lived in deep isolation, far away from the world, that is why it came as a shock that something washed up.
The book landed on her feet, crashing with her ankle. It was a red book, she knelt to pick it up. She didn't think it was a trap, it looked like an inanimate object, what possible harm could it have done?
The book read, "Romeo & Juliet", by William Shakespeare. It was in English, a language that she had studied and was fluent in.
She opened the book and was entranced by what she read. A tale of a man and a woman, both served with nurses, both from opposing families, both enchanted by their words and both promising lives to one another. There were fights, there were conquests, there were tragedies, betrayals, and drama. Two people obviously feeling things for one another but unable to give themselves up for each other, for death will await them if they fall onto their spells. Is this how people on the outside lived? With conflicts and death and constant fighting?
Life on the island had none of that. Sure, there were discussions and disagreements but not to the point of death and conspiracy. Was peace so uncommon?
She was sucked into the tale, she couldn't put the book down even though she knew it was time for her to go back. Her reading became interrupted when a pair of hands rushed in on top of her book, yanking it from her arms, surprising Diana.
"Diana, what do you think you are still doing out here? It is late you know". A tall beautiful statuesque woman with blonde hair and with a golden crown resting on her head declared. She wore a lavender Grecian gown and a white cloak over her arms. One look at the woman and anyone who laid eyes on her knew that she was royalty. Her name? Hippolyta and she was the queen of the island. Next to her was her trusty guard, Phllippus, she was covered in head to toe in armor attentively watching over the back of her Queen.
"Mother! I knew you would finally find me!" She knew she would be in trouble and that her mother would be out looking for her, but she knew that she would never be truly upset with her. The smile on Diana's face never left.
She looked at Diana at first with a serious tone, but after seeing that sweet smile along with hearing her response and seeing that she was safe, she couldn't help but smile too.
"Diana, you know you cannot worry me like that. As your mother and as your queen, you know that you must obey my orders and the rules of Themyscira and that includes not being outside your chambers this late of the night. It is time for dinner".
"I know, I know, but how do you expect me to be in my chambers when the night is so beautiful? Look at it, the sky, the ocean, the sand. It is paradise mother and I still cannot believe that I live here". Diana remained sitting intensively looking at the sunset, her arms grabbing her knees.
Hippolyta knew that she was sucking up to her to not face a scolding, and it was working. Music to a mother's ears was hearing their daughter talk so highly of the world she created for her and appreciative of what she has given to her. She loved her daughter so much, she was trapped in her emotions that she almost forgot the book she took from Diana's hands.
"Diana, where did you get this book?"
"I found it. I saw it in the ocean and it washed up to the island." She paused remembering the contents on the book. She wanted to know if that is what people all around the world lived life like.
Hippolyta opened the book and began to read the pages. Tales of love, tragedy and constant fighting welcomed her. There was death, betrayal, a man and a woman loving each other in secrecy, and so much more written on it. How did this wash up all the way over here?
"Mother, have you ever read such a tale? Is this how life beyond the waters is like?"
Hippolyta looked disgusted at what she was reading. Diana was too young to be reading about tales like this, let alone too smart to let herself be influenced by stories like this. A man and woman in love and willing to die for each other?! They were just children, what did these kids know about love? The audacity people these days have the nerve to write about.
"Mother, what do you think happened to Romeo and Juliet? You think they lived happily ever after together or did their families make them break apart? Can you continue to read it to me?"
"Diana, I do not want you to read this book. I want you to forget about everything you just read. This is not a book meant for you".
"What do you mean?"
"This tale is fake. Stuff like this never happens, it is all make believe".
"It is not true?", responded Diana. Still looking out to the ocean, something in her knew that the tale was false. It was a beautiful tale, but a tale that made her read something completely different and unexpected. She knew the teachings of the Gods and of her island, that is all that she was taught and read, so reading something not in that spectrum was fascinating to her. Was that how the world outside was? Different and unexpected? Reading fake stories and believing in fake stories?
"Mother, what is out there?"
"Diana, do you wish to leave this island anytime soon?"
Her eyes and face instantly lit up. Diana always dreamed of the world beyond, she had thought about it a lot and envisioned it to be this miraculous and wonderous place filled with people of all colors shapes and sizes. She wanted to see them, and her dream manifested into real life, that is all she thought about before going to sleep! But why was her mother asking her this?
"Yes! Mother, yes! I love the island, really, I do, but I must know what else is out there! Can you imagine what else lies beyond? Imagine what kind of people are out there? The experiences and the things they know?! Do you think the people beyond know about our existence?"
Diana was so enthusiastic about the topic. Hippolyta sometimes forgot that Diana was just a child and a young one too. Children have wild imaginations, and Diana was no exception. But she was so excited to leave her and explore. She knew that in time, she was going to let her go, her destiny was greater than her and the island. The time when she leaves and brings peace to the world is imminent, and now was a best time than ever than to let Diana know the truth about who she was and was to become.
"Diana, I think it is time that I tell you the truth about you."
"The truth?" asked the puzzled Diana. What possible truth is there. She knew who she was, what could her mother had meant by that?
"Yes, Diana, the truth about who you are and what your destiny is".
"My destiny?" Hippolyta saw the confusion and curiosity in Diana's eyes. She sat down next to her and led Diana onto her lap, making her lie down and Hippolyta sitting up.
"Diana, I know you have noticed that you are quite different from the rest of the Amazons. Unlike them, you possess abilities that none of them have. Your gifts were given to you by the Gods, your immense strength, your speed, flight, invulnerability to everything, enhanced healing, and your heightened reflexes and your abilities as a warrior, all of them were gifted to you by them. And now that you have become age, it's time for the Amazons to give you gifts of our own."
Hippolyta turned and looked back at her trusty guard, Philippus.
"Philippus, it is time that Diana get her gifts from us. Will you retrieve them for us?"
"Yes, my Queen".
"While we wait for her, I will continue. Your gifts from the Gods come from the fact that you are the daughter of Zeus, the King of the Gods. He came and answered my prayers for a daughter of my own, for years I have longed for a daughter to have and raise and cherish and as a gift for being loyal and serving them greatly they gave me you Diana".
Diana didn't know that, she knew she was different and being the only child on the island, she did find that suspicious but special. She didn't expect to be a child that was longed for and made from the Gods. Who was she? A demi-goddess now? Who was her family?
"Now even though you are a child of the Gods, that does not mean you are not our family. You are still my daughter and the Amazons are your family, nothing changes surrounding that. However, because you were given such gifts and abilities, the Gods expect that you use their gifts for good".
For good? Was there evil going on in the world? Was there really drama and conflict occurring?
"The Gods expect you to bring peace to Man's World and to the universe, to protect those who could not be protected, the ones that cannot help themselves and the ones who have suffered for too long. They expect you to be their champion and to inspire the world for the better with your mission of love and hope. They see you as Earth's greatest protector and their greatest hero".
Diana couldn't believe her ears. That much was expected from her? To literally be the savior and protector? Do they not know that she is barely ten years old?! How can they expect this much out of her in such a short amount of time! She had never even gone beyond the island and already she needed to save the world, a world that she herself has never even seen or knew existed and needed saving? It was a lot for her to take in, and from the way her mother talked, she didn't seem to have any other option, failure was not an option.
"It may sound like a lot, and I know it is, but this is what is expected of your future. It will not occur right now, but it will occur once you grow older and become stronger and more confident. I know that time will come sooner than expected, that is why I am so protective of you. Our time together is going to come to an end soon and you will no longer be mine, you will become a hero, a hero that I will have to share with the rest of the world".
Hippolyta's demeanor and voice cracked. Just thinking about losing Diana affected her so deeply and emotional. Diana was all that she longed for and she knew that there would be a point in time when she would have to give her up to the rest of the world. The world didn't deserve her, but sadly it needed her.
"Do not cry mother, I will always be your daughter and no matter where I go, I will always come back to you. I will always need you mother, and no matter how far I am, I am still going to love and remember you". Diana grabbed her mother's hands and squeezed them tightly. It was a simple gesture, but Hippolyta was deeply touched by the motion. She squeezed her hand even harder, letting some tears run down her face and smiling at her daughter.
"I thought you would be happy to know that I will become a hero and protector of the world. It is going to be up to me to help it and mommy, I promise you, I am going to be the greatest hero that I can be".
Diana stood up and stepped away from her mother's embrace. Instead she turned to her and stared at her mother in the eye confidently and with such enthusiasm declaring,
"I am going to be the greatest protector the universe has ever seen. I am going to help all those who need help and get rid of all the injustices of the world. I am going to make the world and the universe a better place for everyone and finally bring peace to everyone and happiness. I promise you that".
Hippolyta looked at her daughter with so much admiration, awe and pride. She couldn't have asked for a better daughter and such a fearless and determined one. Hippolyta felt fear for letting her daughter go, but Diana felt quite the opposite, she was determined and enthusiasm for her mission.
She grabbed Diana and gave her yet another hug, grabbing her tightly and kissing her hair. Their embrace was soon interrupted by the arrival of Philippus.
"My Queen, I have brought what you have requested". Hippolyta broke the hug and turned her attention to the grand box Philippus had brought. She took the box from her and opened it.
Inside the box were the gifts from the Amazons. Hippolyta first took the bracelets and showed them to Diana holding them out in front of her.
"These are the bracelets of submission. Use them like gauntlets. They will protect you from just about everything and deflect any attack that will come your way. These are made from the strongest steel in the world and you will use them against anyone that is foolish enough to attack you".
She handed them to her. Diana didn't expect them to be quite heavy, but she immediately put them on her wrists. She had to admit, they looked really cool on her. Hippolyta continued.
"This will be your tiara. It may look like an accessory, but it is a very valuable weapon. It is sharp enough to cut through just about anything and work as a boomerang. It will not hurt your head but if used as a weapon, it will cause damage to others."
Diana grabbed this gift too and placed right on her head. It was a little too big, but she loved the way it made her feel, like she was true royalty.
"This last one is a true treasure. Diana, I present to you the Lasso of Truth. This golden lasso can bring those who you have captured into submission. Anyone trapped will be forced to only tell you the truth and compel those to see what is real. It will be impossible to lie when you are entrapped in it"
Diana grabbed the lasso from her mother. She didn't know how to use a lasso, she thought it would be more practical to learn how to use the lasso on its own first, its abilities to make those to tell the truth didn't really amaze her. She launched forward and grabbed it. She noticed that the lasso was not the last thing in the box. She saw a sword and some sort of swimsuit in the box.
"Mother, what about those two other things?" Hippolyta knew exactly what she was referring to. The sword and the armor. She closed the box quickly hiding the other two things from her.
"You are not ready for those. The time will come, but not now".
Diana didn't hide her disappointment. She wanted to know everything right away. She loved and was very grateful for what she her mother and the Amazons gave her, but the knowledge that there was more to come and she was yet to get it disappointed her.
Still Diana couldn't help but feel very powerful and blessed to have the rest of the gifts. She smiled on and looked in admiration to her new weapons and accessories. Hippolyta could see the joy in her eyes and she was not going to take that away from her.
"How about I let you keep them on, just this one time? That way you can see them first-hand and learn how to use them and hopefully get comfortable using them"
"Oh yes! Can I please show them to my sisters? I want to thank them and present them to her!"
"Yes of course, just do not overdue it okay? You do not want to cause jealousy, do you?"
"No, no I promise".
"Okay then, run along now" Hippolyta allowed her to leave, Diana took off running. She saw the tiara still on her head, her bracelets on her wrists and her lasso at her side. She gave Philippus a look and pointed her head to her direction, she knew what the look meant. Philippus went after Diana, running after her and staying close behind. Hippolyta stayed behind. She wanted some time alone and read that Romeo and Juliet book. She too was curious of the subject matter.
Diana ran along eagerly. Philippus couldn't keep up, she kept calling for her to slow down but Diana refused. She ran and ran until she heard a loud boom close by causing her to stop and Philippus to catch up. She heard it too, that loud noise. They had never heard of that sound. Could it be an intruder? It couldn't, the oceans and the skies were regularly patrolled and those who guarded it would have alerted the island of an upcoming attack.
The sound of multiple footsteps nearby alarmed Diana and Philippus.
"Diana, I want you to run. Run and hide in the palace. It might be just the Amazons training in combat or a conflict, but I am not willing to risk it or your safety".
"What about you?"
"I will be fine, you have little faith in me, the Queen's guard? I will be fine, you just need to get away. You heard your mother, you are much too important of a person okay?"
"No, I will stay. This is my first test; the Gods are testing me right now. Did you not hear my mother? I am going to be their champion and the protector of Earth. I have to prove to them that I am worthy of their gifts and overcome whatever obstacle they throw". Diana was still unconvinced that she was in trouble, this was a test, she knew it.
"NO! DIANA, RUN AND HIDE. This is not a test, GO NOW!"
Philippus never raised her voice to her. Her facial expression was that of one annoyed and in panic and paranoia. She must have been serious. Diana nodded and did as she was told and ran but something in her told her that Philippus will need her help. She knew the forest well and knew the shortcuts and her way around it. She knew she was near the best hiding spot in the island, she knew from experience. She ran to it. Inside the big tree, there was a small opening at the bottom, all she had to do was crawl in, it was a tight fit but she knew that she could lay there and keep an eye on Philippus.
Philippus should have kept her voice down, her outburst gave away her position and the footsteps were now fast approaching her. She saw Diana run and as soon as she lost sight of her, she became entangled in something, something that felt smooth yet hard.
She didn't have time to identify what it was that entangled her. All she was able to see was a silver whip quickly wrapping around her arms, losing her movement on her upper body. Once she was fully immobilized, she tried to get off of it by moving her body around.
Big mistake.
As soon as she moved around, she noticed that the whip wasn't as smooth as it had looked. It was razor sharp and once she began to move, she was slashed on her arms and in her stomach.
What is this? She stopped moving, any movement she made would result in a cut on her skin. She was trapped, and she couldn't do anything about it.
"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
A loud outburst startled Philippus, she heard it loud and near, she knew it wasn't a cry from her Amazons, no, this was an attack cry. She looked up to where the growl came. She didn't have enough time to identify what that was. Instead she saw a grand pair of legs launch at her shoulders tossing her into the ground with the pair of grand feet pushing her off her balance.
Philippus was in the ground in heavy pain, she knew her shoulders would be broken and dislocated and with the attacker's legs not leaving her shoulders, she knew that the worst was yet to come.
"Where is Diana?!" screamed the owner of the massive legs on her shoulders. She was in agonizing pain, but she could open her eyes and see who the legs belonged to. It was a woman, a big butch woman. She was built quite masculine with her broad shoulders and thick body. She wore heavy boots and an orange and yellow bodysuit that covered her entire body. Her hair was picked up to a high ponytail and wore gauntlets on her wrists. She wasn't a pretty sight.
She pushed her weight onto the shoulders of Philippus, carrying all her mass onto her burying her deep into the ground. She squatted low and lowered her face onto the face of Philippus, a sinister smile at her face, she knew she was causing her pain and she was in agony.
Diana saw her mother's guard in deep pain. She knew this wasn't a test anymore, something about the serious tone of the woman told her that this was real danger. She felt guilty, but she knew she had to stay hidden and quiet.
"Enough Stompa!"
A loud projected voiced announced causing the big woman to stand away from Philippus. Another woman first came into the picture. The owner of the whip went toward the direction of Philippus and pulled her up from the rope. She was strong enough to make her stand in her own. Philippus was powerless, her shoulders and arms couldn't move while her body was still tightly bound.
She opened her eyes and saw the owner of the whip face to face. This woman was far slimmer than the other and had a more feminine physique to her. She was tall and although some of her face was covered by what looked like silver metal where her brows, nose and chin were, she was a beauty. Her body was covered by a dusky gray bodysuit with some white on parts. She looked evil and like she was enjoying herself and the pain she had caused.
She gave her an unpleasant grin and slowly walked to her behind. Philippus was too scared to move, she followed her as much as she could have with her eyes until she was completely lost behind her. Goosebumps ran through her body as she felt a finger running on her shoulders then full-on hands grabbing both her dislocated shoulders.
She then felt a strong hit on her back. The whip owner had kneed her on the back connecting back her shoulders in a hard pain. She screamed in agony through the pain, the pain of dislocated shoulders was one thing but having them put back in their place moments after was too much for her to bear.
She wanted to fall and collapse through the pain, but whip owner kept her up, head and body pointing in the direction of someone else.
Footsteps approached them. She heard someone coming.
Barda walked and approached the captive. She marched on and got right on her face.
"Your shoulders back in their place?" she asked yet she didn't look like she cared for the answer. She had a stern and serious face. She towered over her.
"I trust Lashina here was careful enough to put them back. We don't want anyone to die on us just yet".
Lashina, the name perfectly matched the person.
Diana looked on. She had never thought she would see the day that one of her very own was in serious pain and position. She heard her cries and saw her pain, she tried very hard not to cry but she couldn't. She wanted to look away, but her ears were constantly hearing someone she confided in pain kept picking up her cries, making it impossible to turn away.
The arrival of the tallest one took her completely back. Just who were these women? How many of them were there? She could clearly see three. What were their names? Lashina and Stompa, she heard the tallest one command them and speak to them with those names. The tallest one must have been their leader, she looked dangerous and very powerful.
"We do not desire to kill you, but we will if our hand is forced. We want you to help us find someone. Someone very powerful who our Lord desires. Her name is Diana, she is the princess here".
Diana heard that! These women were looking for her on someone's orders! But who? Who is looking for her? Why were they after her? Is she sure this wasn't a test from the Gods.
"I have never heard of her" grunted out Philippus. She wasn't going to give up.
"Do not defy us. Tell us where she is and where we can find the princess and we will spare your life".
"Themyscira has no princess. You were given false orders."
"I can assure you we were not. If you do not tell us, we will bring death to every inhabitant on this island. Their deaths will be on your hands, hands that we warned."
"I don't know anyone called Diana, please. Who are you?"
"We do not answer to those below us. If you don't want to cooperate, then you will force our hands". Barda kept her eyes locked on to Philippus. She turned her head into her right direction.
"Bring her in".
In came Hippolyta but not alone. To her left side, another female with insane eyes, poisonous green hair, silver spiked gauntlets and small steel armored suit. She had a sword drawn to Hippolyta's neck. On her right side, another female, a pretty blonde with white armor. Out of all the females she resembled the most of a warrior and she too had a sword drawn to her neck along with another one on her back.
"Queen Hippolyta" whispered Philippus. Her queen was in danger and captured by them. She was her trusted guard and yet she failed to protect her. The queen possessed a stern look trying her hardest not to show her fear, but Philippus knew she was absolutely terrified.
Diana couldn't believe her eyes. They had captured her mother! But how? And when? They must have captured her while she was at the beach by herself. She was all alone and weaponless and without a guard at her side. She was defenseless and left prone to danger. She was an easy target.
"It is foolish for a queen to wear a crown you know. The crown gives off the status of one. Trust me, I have been to many worlds and captured many royalties easily all because they were stupid enough to give their position and wear a crown". Barda knew that now they had them.
"One of you will tell us where this Diana is. She is the princess of this island and we are not leaving until we retrieve her. Either you", Barda crept down to Philippus face, "Or you", she said to the queen.
Barda took a hard look at Hippolyta staring at her in the eye. She can sense the fear in her and her will to fight it. She had fought and stood face to many people, but she always recognized that face, that face of defiance. So foolish yet they still fail.
"Tell me, where is your daughter".
"I have no daughter".
Barda looked to her henchwoman on the side of Hippolyta. They knew what she wanted them to do. They were her soldiers, and she trained them to be the best hunters in the universe. It was either be the best hunter or die, the choice was obvious.
Right on cue and in mere seconds, they changed their positions. Instead of both of them drawing swords to Hippolyta's neck, only one of them would be drawing swords to Hippolyta. With a swift motion, the insane haired one dropped her hand, giving a slight opening to the blonde. With one sword never leaving the neck of Hippolyta, the blonde jumped to the back of Hippolyta, her legs constricting the waist of Hippolyta and the sword drawn to her back now drawn to the other side of her neck forming an X formation on her neck while tightly grabbing her waist and arms with her legs.
"Nice work Gilotina" she told the blonde that Hippolyta in her possession.
Now with one of the henchwomen freed, she stood to Barda's side, insane smile and all.
"This is Mad Harriet", Barda presented her to the women. "We call her that due to her insane and her unpredictable nature. She can slice through anything, she takes pride in slashing and puncturing her victims. You see her spiked gauntlets? With just her hands, she can skin anything that comes her way, I have seen it first-hand Those eyes of her don't see fear, they sense no sympathy or sorrow. They only see casualties." Barda spoke slowly as she described Mad Harriet, she wanted the fear in them to come out and know that they were dealing with dangerous people.
Barda could see them soak in her words, and their hearts beating faster as her words reached them. They were scared. Perfect.
"She is someone that you wouldn't want running wild on your island, that I can assure you. She will kill without question, your precious sisters, all of them will perish. Your isolated island will become an abandoned and deserted island."
Barda looked on to the women. She had them now. Mad Harriet grabbed her sword and launched to the side of Phillipus and drew her sword to her eye. She let out a terrified scream.
"Oh no, please DON'T" She was trembling now.
"Are you going to tell me where she is now".
Hippolyta saw in horror. Her trusted guard was in severe danger, she was scared and about to die. But she couldn't tell them, she couldn't! Diana was her daughter, her precious love!
"She isn't here, there is no princess Diana here!"
"Still refusing to obey I see?" Barda didn't hide her disappointment and unsatisfactory response. "All right, you have left me no choice". Barda looked at Harriet, "Let loose".
With her sword on her hand, Harriet began slashing at Philippus exposed shoulder with her other hand at her mouth trying to silence the oncoming screams that she knew were coming. One slash, two slashes, three slashes, four. She screamed in agony, she felt it all.
"STOP IT!" Hippolyta screamed. They all stopped to look at her.
"Please, stop it. I am the Queen of the island. She is one of my subjects, if you are going to torture someone for information, let it be me".
Barda listened to her outburst. It was honorable, laughable and pathetic, but foolish.
"Will you tell us where Diana is?"
"She is not here! I am the queen and I know all of my subjects, Diana isn't one of them".
Again, with that crap? Barda looked onto Mad Harriet. She motioned her to Hippolyta's direction. She jumped off of Philippus and launched herself to Hippolyta.
"An honorable gesture, but a proper Queen isn't stupid enough to die for her subjects". Barda nodded at Mad Harriet, she knew the command. Let loose. "Slash her slowly so she feels it".
Mad Harriet lifted the sword onto her neck and onto her collar bone and finally stopping at her shoulder blade. The tip of the sword slowly punctured inside of her shoulder. Hippolyta felt the entire sword slowly inserting onto her skin. She was defiant at first to let out a scream in pain but she only lasted two seconds holding her breath in.
She finished the first slice, then came the other one. She screamed in pain this time, she didn't hide it.
Diana saw it all, this was all her fault. Her mother and her trusted guard were all being tortured because of her. She was the one they were after and she was the one that had to put a stop to it. She couldn't handle seeing them in pain, it hurt her to her core. She kept telling herself that this was all a test from the Gods, no one was this evil and this insane. She couldn't take it anymore.
She launched herself out of her hiding spot and ran into their direction.
"STOP IT! PLEASE STOP IT!"
All eyes turned to Diana.
"NO DI- LITTLE ONE. RUN!" Hippolyta almost said her name. But thanks to her quick thinking she didn't, or so she thought.
"Little one?" asked Barda. She could have sworn she heard Di at the beginning of her outcry. Who was this little girl and where did she come from?
"Please, stop all of this please" cried Diana, she pleaded them to stop. Barda looked at this one, maybe this one could tell her where Diana is.
"Yeah, okay we can stop this, but you have to tell us something first", Barda responded to her slowly walking into her direction.
"We are looking for someone. You think you can be assistance? We promise we will leave once you help. Can you do that? Asked Barda in her most sincere voice that she can pull off.
Diana nodded. Her eyes drifting into the direction from Barda and onto her mother. She saw the fear in her mother's eyes and her head moving in a no gesture as subtle as she could.
"Great. We are looking for someone named Diana. She is the princess of the island. Do you know where we can find her and if she is near?
"Yes, she is. She is very near to you. It is me".
Barda and the Furies were all taken back. This was the girl that they were looking for? She was just a girl! A young girl. This was the one Darkseid wanted? The one that he said would be Kal's greatest obstacle in facing when taking this world?
"NO!" cried out Hippolyta. "She is not Diana. I am". The Furies all looked onto her direction.
Philippus saw what they were doing. With all her strength and her losing breath she mumbled, "No I am Diana". None of the Furies heard her.
Barda and the Furies were confused this time. They can see the honorable gesture in them both. Which one was Diana? The child or the queen?
None of them looked like major threats. The queen was easily captured, she couldn't be the one they were looking for. The child was well, just a child. It would make sense if it was she who they were after.
Barda didn't know how to deal with this. Normally, people would rat out the other when facing with torture, not foolishly defy her. She looked at the two idiots to her side, she grabbed the sword Harriet had and walked into the direction of the more tortured soul on the ground.
Barda grabbed Phillipus by the end of the whip Lashina had and rose her sword to the shoulder blade that had been previously slashed.
"Either you confess which one of you is Diana, or I slash her again!"
Diana and Hippolyta heard the cries Philippus cried before. They sounded awful. They didn't want to cause her anymore pain or be the cause of it.
"I am Diana! Just please don't"
"No, I am! Take me!"
Diana wanted to put an end to this. She knew Hippolyta wouldn't give her up but she knew she needed to for Philippus sake and the sake of the Amazons too. They would be next, either tortured or killed. They wouldn't stop and seek mercy.
"I am Diana" Diana rose and declared confidently. She knew how to prove herself and put an end to this.
"I know you may not believe that it is me, but I can assure you that I am Diana, princess of Themyscira and the person you desire". She saw the disbelief in their faces.
"I can prove it to you" She pulled her lasso from her side. Hippolyta saw it, she was going to use the Lasso of Truth to prove her word!
"DIANA NO!" Hippolyta blurted it out. The instant look of regret and failure plastered on her face. How could she have been so foolish to say that.
Barda heard it. The little girl was Diana. She looked at Diana suspiciously. She said she could have proven it to her, but how? How was she going to prove that? Barda wanted to see how. Was it the lasso that she was aiming for? The gauntlets?
"Just how exactly were you going to prove that?" Barda asked.
Lashina answered her instead. "The old hag confessed it. You heard her, she called her Diana."
Stompa added, "We got her, the mission here is completed, let's get out of here".
"No please, do not take her. She is my daughter, my love. You can't take her from me. Please. She is all that I have. Take me, kill me, just let her go" pleaded Hippolyta, seeking sympathy from them.
Barda looked at the begging mother slowly walking to her. "We gave you many times to tell us where she was at. You lied to us, deceived us and now you expect me to cooperate with you?" Barda stopped, getting right in her face. "you disgust me".
Barda marched onto the direction of Diana. "You are coming with us".
"NO! NO!" yelled Hippolyta.
"Mother, I will be fine. This is a test from the Gods that I must pass. I will prevail mother and then I will return to you. Do not worry about me, I have gifts from you and from the Gods, I will be fine".
She heard her daughter, she wasn't scared. How could she think this was a test?
"It is not Diana, please run away. Run or just fly out of here please!"
Diana nodded her head no. "Mother I will be fine, you will see".
Hippolyta couldn't take it anymore, she launched herself to Diana's side. Before she could take a step, she saw the tall one grab something from her pocket. It was a small box, a mother box. Barda pressed the button and a giant portal opened up, shocking Hippolyta and stopping her right on her tracks.
A giant portal opened behind Barda. The current was so strong and its pull vigorous. Diana didn't have time to react or hold onto anything and was sucked right in to it. Stompa, Lashina, Gilotina and Mad Harriet ran right into it, the mission was done. Hippolyta and Philippus collapsed to the ground.
Barda had yet to jump onto the portal. She saw the two Amazons fall to the ground. Philippus couldn't even keep her head up or her eyes open.
Hippolyta was another story, she dropped but she still made an effort to crawl after Diana but with her shoulder blade slashed, she could barely crawl let alone put her weight onto her arms. She began to cry and scream no, no, no begging for them not to take Diana looking visibly heartbroken.
Barda saw the determination this woman had. She was surprised to see her still trying even when she couldn't possibly give anything anymore. She had to be the child's mother. Barda had gone on hundreds of missions and yet she had never been sent to capture a child, this was her first. She couldn't help but feel off for doing this. She knew this is what she had to do, for her life's sake yet she couldn't help but feel sympathetic for her. Such emotion and refusal to quit, she had never seen an action so heroic and noble, which caused her to do something completely out of character.
She squatted to the face of the queen. Hippolyta expected a snide comment or for her to laugh at her face, or a slashing.
"She will be my responsibility. I will look after her". Hippolyta was taken back by the comment. Her responsibility? What did that mean? She was dumbfounded and confused. Barda rose up, took one more look at her and ran to the portal leaving them behind.
When the portal closed, Hippolyta let out the most horrifying cry a person could let out. Her daughter was kidnapped, taken from her. Her precious world was robbed right in front of her. How could she have let this happen? What kind of mother was she? To let her child be taken?
The raspy cough of Philippus interrupted her thoughts. She didn't have much time. She had to take her to the healing isle right away or she will die in the few minutes. She went on her knees to her direction.
"Philippus you are going to be alright. Just please preserve your energy".
"They took her, they took the princess"
"Shhhh…. No more words from you. We will pray the Gods for her and they will protect her. They haven't failed us in the past, and they wont fail us this time. We will search for her and we will find her. She is a tough girl, she will be back, I know it. Right now, we need to get you to the healing isle right away". Hippolyta said it but not even she had faith in her words.
Philippus collapsed in her arms giving Hippolyta the opening to collapse herself and cry some more.
Diana had been kidnapped and she didn't know where she could have been taken or by who.
The furies landed back home onto Apokolips. "We got her, another mission done". Diana didn't know how the portal worked so when she landed, instead of landing on her feet, she landed on her side crashing hard to the ground.
When she opened her eyes, she saw the most terrifying place that she had ever seen. Where was she? She couldn't believe what she was seeing, it was like the stories she heard the underworld to be like only she wasn't dead, she was very much alive.
She was frightened. Why the hell did she let herself be taken? If this was a test from the Gods, then why would they let it get this bad? Surely the Gods couldn't have been this cruel could they?
Barda shortly after landed. She set foot and immediately went to Diana. She could see the fear in her. She didn't deserve this, to be kidnapped and taken from her home but Darkseid wanted her, and no one defied or disobeyed him.
"Stand little one" Barda commanded.
Diana rose to her feet, examining her surroundings. "Where am I?"
"This is Apokolips, Diana. This is your new home".
