Artemis watched Diana storm onto the training ground. The Princess was in a snit, she smirked. Something was not going her way. Well, Artemis would make sure nothing went her way here.
Artemis and Diana faced each other. Each saluted the other, giving the traditional Amazonian salute, hands crossed over their breasts. A gentle dip of the head acknowledged the other respectfully.
Then Artemis lunged at Diana who stood ready with her sword drawn. In the moment that Artemis glanced at the sharp steel blade, something hit her wrist hard, loosening her grip on her sword. She managed to hold on to the weapon, but a second impact caught the back of her legs, and she fell to her knees on the dusty ground, while a flash of red and blue passed before her eyes. Artemis swung her left fist around, intent on striking whatever part of Diana was within reach. She swung at empty air.
Diana had leaped into the air, lifting her legs to dodge Artemis's blow. Now she swung backward, with the clear intent of kicking Artemis on her forward swing.
Artemis perceived the attack in time. She threw herself to the right, dropping her sword, and turned swiftly to catch Diana about the legs. Then she gave a hard yank, pulling Diana down to the ground. Diana fell forward with Artemis's arms still clamped around her legs. For one victorious moment, Artemis thought she'd done it. She'd bested Diana.
But the Princess of the Amazons had trained well. Despite Artemis's steely grip, Diana managed to squirm and twist and wriggle free, her parting insult a swift kick to Artemis's chin. Though the impact was sudden, rocking Artemis's head back, it was not a disabling blow.
Diana wouldn't truly injure anyone. But that didn't mean she wasn't still a menace on the training ground.
Artemis snapped up her discarded sword and prepared to engage the Princess again.
Undaunted, Diana sprang to her feet, standing on the path with her legs flexed and her arms raised, ready for combat. In another quick display of combat skills, Diana disarmed Artemis, knocking the sword she held to the ground.
Artemis made fists of her hands instead. "Come on, Princess," she goaded. "You fight like a man."
Diana cocked her head and beckoned Artemis with her finger. Artemis lunged forward and threw a hefty punch at Diana's head. But where her head was one moment, it was not the next. Worse, as Artemis's fist flew past Diana's head, she seized Artemis' arm and shoved her even farther, using her own momentum to push her off-balance.
By the time Artemis had turned around, Diana stood braced for action again. Artemis ground her teeth and eyed her opponent, trying to discern the best approach. Amazon training had taught her skills beyond those learned by warriors. With a menacing growl, she hurtled forward, intending to tackle Diana. Half-expecting her to step aside at the last instant, she spread her arms wide, like a fisherman casting a broad net. It was an ungainly, ugly move, but Artemis had used it well before.
Diana didn't step aside. She took the initial impact of Artemis's tackle, then rolled suddenly backward upon the ground, taking Artemis with her. Diana planted her feet in Artemis's stomach as they tumbled together, and Artemis felt her legs fly up in the air and her head dive toward the earth. In self-defense, she curled into a ball. When she hit the ground, instead of breaking her neck, he landed with a bone-jarring roll along her spine.
Rising quickly to her feet, Artemis weaved her head about and threw a few light punches, luring Diana close.
They danced like that for a while, sparring lightly. When Artemis's attack at last came, she used not her fists but her foot. Diana reared back her head in time to dodge the full impact, but Artemis had already seized the advantage, advancing on her, backing her up along the path.
Artemis blocked a few blows from Diana, blows that were not made with her fists, but with her open hands. They were just as driving and powerful.
Artemis repeated her kick again, and this time Diana was ready for it. She jerked her head out of range, but using both hands, she seized Artemis's foot, trapping her in mid-kick. Diana's legs scissored up and over, flipping Artemis backward in the air and giving her a solid whack on the jaw as she dropped the foot.
Artemis, acting on blind instinct, lunged forward to make a last desperate grab at her prey. Diana simply used her own momentum against her, dropping her to floor.
"Do you yield?" asked Diana as she pinned Artemis down.
"Yes," was Artemis's grim response.
Smiling, Diana allowed Artemis to rise. Then, briefly saluting each other again, the two Amazons hugged.
"You've improved," said Artemis.
"You've slowed down," said Diana.
And joking together, discussing the sparring event, they left the arena, heading for Themyscira's spas.
