It was a trap.
Diana stood at the Gateway Arch, facing Circe with a scathing look, yet she was afraid. Was Hippolyta actually here?
She felt like such a fool, even as she stood there, showing no signs of weakness (except perhaps, the fact that she fell for Pheme, Circe & Gaia's ruse).
Nevertheless, she drew her blade and lasso. She fought against Circe many times before and left victorious. Earth Mother's help or not, there was no reason to assume she wouldn't come out of this unscathed.
"I underestimate how heroes can be so gullible." Circe remarked with a smirk.
Diana said nothing.
"So, it was all a trick. My mother is not in danger."
"Not yet, Wonder Woman," she said those last two words with spite, "but she will be, along with all of your precious Amazonians. And now, with you at my mercy, they are without ample defence."
"Thank you. Now with that said, I must ask: how much more gullible are the villainous ones?"
She promptly unleashed her lasso, which leashed Circe by the neck.
Diana pulled Circe towards her brusquely, before subduing her and placing her foot on the witch's panting chest.
"You do not learn from your mistakes, do you?" growled Diana.
Circe's scowl turned into a malicious smile, and spoke.
"I would ask you the same."
What confused Diana was the fact that Circe's mouth did not move when she said this. Her voice could be heard yet she continued to sneer.
She realized, when it was too late, that she restrained a duplicate.
She turned around just in time to receive a blow to her stomach that pushed her several feet backwards.
After a brief double-take, Diana stood back up with some difficulty.
She rushed forward and swung her sword, which Circe swiftly avoided before attempting another blow, this time to Diana's face.
Diana was quicker this time, and blocked Circe's swipe with her silver greaves. The two were locked in a cross-hand, Circe's left arm pushing against Diana's raised forearms, and eyes fixed on each other menacingly.
"You have lost none of your battle prowess, Diana. I will grant you that. But I have the power of a god on my side."
"You are but a minor, Circe," snarled Diana, "The daughter of a greater divinity who is true mistress over magic itself. And even now, you continue to boast without pause? It is tiresome."
At that, she suddenly swept up her arms, releasing her defensive thrust against Circe's incoming backhand. A downward stoop was enough for Circe's attack to miss before Diana ran the pommel of her sword into the sorceress' stomach.
"Augh!"
It did the trick. Diana seized control of the situation to look around for other duplicates before she knocked Circe to the ground.
As she grabbed Circe by the scruff of the neck and was about to deal a finishing blow with her fist, however (non-lethal but enough to defeat her for the time being), the witch's face blurred and Diana was suddenly facing her mother.
"My daughter!" 'Hippolyta' cried desperately, "Do not harm me. I never wronged you!"
Diana hesitated.
Then she was facing her comrade Artemis, her fiery orange hair tied into a flowing ponytail and her face as anxious as Hippolyta's.
"Remember what I did for you, princess. I have fought beside you many times. I am your equal."
Artemis changed into Donna Troy, another equal of Diana's. Then she changed into Diana's greatest acquaintance outside of Themyscira, Steve Trevor.
"All these years I helped you, and you're about to kill me? I thought we were…"
Diana was positively conflicted. She shut her eyes and turned away, lowering her fist.
Not this, thought Diana, fighting against the images of her family and friends looking at her with fear. Circe's magic was overwhelming her.
Why? Why did she fall so easily for this?
A grunt and her right hand grabbing thin air instead of Circe's scruff were what brought Diana back to earth.
She shook herself and opened her eyes to notice that Circe was gone. Looking right, she saw her being stood on by a large silver wolf, its lips pulled back in an intimidating snarl.
Before long, several girls came out of the darkness wearing winter camouflage, drawing bows towards Circe, holding her into submission.
"Just like our father: useless in the current situation."
Diana turned to see a girl dressed like the others, only she was more easily recognisable due to her spiky black hair.
"You must be the half-sister I was told about." said the girl, "I don't get those very often."
"Who are you?"
"Thalia Grace. Daughter of Zeus, lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis and the one who saved your life."
"I…I thank you." She introduced herself in return.
"You're an Amazon?" Thalia asked, surprised. "I thought all royals of the Amazonians were daughters of Ares?"
"My mother is, which truly throws the family tree into turmoil when the gods are concerned."
"I know, right." Thalia said, grinning before turning to Circe.
"Weren't you supposed to be on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters?"
"Momentarily. You may thank your demigod friends for that change."
Thalia turned back to Diana. "So what do you want us to do with her?"
Diana thought for a second.
"Let her go" she said finally.
"She tried to kill you, and would have there and then if it weren't for us, but you want her to run free?"
"There's no more we can do with her. She's a goddess, and too powerful to keep in check."
"Look at her. Does she look like she can fight back?"
"You don't know her. Trust me."
Thalia rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. Look, Annabeth sent us here to help you. Where is she, anyway?"
In her time of anguish, Diana had neglected to wait for Annabeth at the mansion. Now, she felt intensely guilty for it. If Annabeth had died there, choosing to save someone she had only just met in her final moments. And the Prophecy of Seven…
Fortunately, she was spared the obligation to admit her mistake by an echoing hoo.
Everyone turned and looked up in the direction of the strange call just in time to see a majestic bird soaring towards them.
The Hunters drew their bows but Thalia ordered them "No!"
The creature, an eight-foot tall owl, landed gracefully in front of Thalia & Diana, close enough for them to see someone clambering off its back.
"Annabeth!" Diana & Thalia both cried.
Annabeth patted Pallas.
"I'd pick her over a pegasus any day."
Pallas hooted affectionately, which Diana guessed translated to No worries, miss. She was sure it gave a wink to Annabeth.
"Annabeth," Diana said, her eyes fixed on Annabeth despite her shame, "I am sorry…I…back there…"
"It's fine, Diana," Annabeth interrupted, "To tell you the truth, I would have done the same thing. The number of times I thought I could handle a situation on my own…it's my fatal flaw in many ways."
"You dropped this," interjected Thalia, who was holding a blue Yankees baseball cap. She handed it over to Annabeth.
"Thanks, Thalia. And thanks for the help."
"Not a problem. We felt like we weren't making any progress in finding Percy, so it's the least we could…"
Thalia was interrupted by a bright flash nearby. The Hunters and the wolf flew past as if they were picked up and thrown by an invisible hand. Pallas screeched.
By the time Annabeth drew her dagger, Diana her sword and lasso and Thalia her hunting knives, the space where Circe lay was empty.
Annabeth cursed as Thalia kicked the side of the arch in frustration before checking on her dazed comrades.
"She admits defeat" Diana said simply, "She will return, but she is of no concern now."
"Yeah, you said that before" Annabeth said grimly.
"What exactly was Circe up to anyway?" Thalia asked, "What was she hoping to do?"
"It is a long story." said Diana simply.
"It's Gaia." Annabeth then said. Clearly, Diana thought, she trusted Thalia with her life. She quickly explained the recent events – Circe's ambush, Diana's appearance, their journey to see Pheme and what happened after Diana left – while Thalia's expression darkened as the story progressed. Diana could definitely a part of their father in her eyes when they looked serious.
"Wait, so you say Themyscira is in danger?"
"Yes. Fama said that Circe was intended as a diversion."
"Then this is not over. I must get to Themyscira. My people need me."
"I'll come with you" Annabeth said suddenly.
"No, my mother would not allow it. Your place is with Percy, in any case."
"Never mind that. You saved me earlier, Diana. I feel like I owe you big time."
"Even though you sent my sibling and her comrades to save me?"
"Like I said. Big time. Besides, you left me behind to fight on your own, so let's just say you owe me one as well by letting me fight beside you. Who knows? You could all do with a child of Athena in your team."
Diana looked at Annabeth with a strange expression on her face. At first taken aback by her unique determination and courage, Diana then felt grateful.
"Very well. We had better get going."
"Thalia. Will you help?"
Thalia didn't answer right away. She was listening to one of her Hunters, who was holding a hawk on her padded forearm.
"'Fraid I can't" she said apologetically, "There's been a report of unusual wolf activity in the north. We'll need to check it out."
"Thank you, sister. I will admit, I wouldn't have made it if it weren't for you."
Thalia smiled. "Happy to help a sibling, half or not. And by the way, love the costume."
She went to hug Annabeth. "Keep me posted on Percy."
"Will do. Take care of yourself."
From Diana's perspective, Annabeth said this as if she lost Thalia once before.
"Always." She winked, and at that turned and left with the Hunters. The two heroes watched them go before preparing to leave.
"So," said Annabeth, "Ready?"
"When am I not?" Diana replied with a grin, "It is an honour to fight to the death with you, Annabeth Chase." She extended her hand.
"Likewise…" Annabeth took it and shook firmly, "Wonder Woman."