Snow Queen of Justice
CHP10: Training like an Amazon
Detectives, crime scene investigators, forensics and police officers were all on scene and responding to a call and it was quite the unusual scene. Eight were dead and one injured, who sat in the back of an ambulance. The crime scene was located in uptown Central City and though he was running a little bit late, Barry Allen arrived on scene and showing his credentials just before stepping over the tape and taking a look for himself each body was covered by a blanket, but that didn't stop him from taking a knee, lifting each sheet one after another. And it was just about what he was expecting based from what he heard in advance.
An investigation was just in the process of questioning the lone survivor and Barry positioned himself close enough so that he could get some of the details. In case it was at all necessary Barry pulled out a small notepad and pen in his opposite hand.
"Let's start off shall we?" the detective stood in front of the singular survivor. "For the record begin by stating your name."
A long pause followed right after that, as the individual internally shivering at everything that he witnessed played over and over like a film.
"Harold," he said feebly and by this point even shaking. "Harold Stevenson."
The detective nodded his head and held a smile.
"Very good mister Stevenson, now I want you to tell me everything that you already went through this with first responders, but I need for you to again tell me everything that you can remember with what happened tonight. I know how difficult it must be to have to retell and go through it all yet again. But in order for us to track down all those responsible for what happened, we're going to need your help."
With his head lowered into the palm of his hands, Harold continuously shook his head and repeated the word "no," over and over.
"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you, no one else did… so why should I believe that you will?"
Just like that the detective breathed out and closed his eyes and Barry was especially dialed in at this point and knew the important stuff was just about to come. For some time the lone survivor mumbled and grumbled silently, before eventually removing his face from the palms of his hands and looking to the detective standing across from him.
"Yeah, yeah it all started just after seven PM," he shook his head, recalling every detail that he could. "I just finished unloading my groceries into the back of my truck. Just as I was about to head out of the parking lot, the screams came."
"Good, you're doing great. So tell me, what happened next?"
The individual took a deep breath as he continued.
"I took off to see what the ruckus was all about and spotted five persons, all of them were wearing top hats. They carried crowbars and other handheld weapons, attacking people at random it seemed."
"Excuse me, but did you say top hats? And what else can you tell me about these persons, anything at all would be very helpful."
The detective wrote down the description of each person which he detailed and other small pieces of information that might be of significance. Barry was all ears the entire time and doing exactly as the investigator and jotting down his own notes.
"Their eyes were so empty and expressionless, almost like zombies or robots. I and others tried reasoning with talking but to no success... it was like they couldn't even hear us. Robots, puppets, I can still see the lifelessness in their eyes."
"Okay and you say they attacked you and others, did they have a purpose? Maybe something they were after?"
"Nah man, I'm telling you... there was something just not right about these guys. Must have been on something, and whatever that something, it must have been strong. But that was only the beginning of the crazy, as what happened next was entirely out of this world I tell yah!"
The investigator lowered his pad for a moment and breathing out.
"So tell me what happened next," he looked towards the body bags. "How did all of them end up like that?"
A long pause followed as the lone witness to the deadly assault bit down and even closed his eyes for a moment and reliving the unreal terror which occurred no further than an hour ago.
"It appeared from the skies, the whole bunch of it. Looked like something right out of a sci-fi film. Its Wings had to be at least twenty feet in length and its body covered in scales. The damn monster breathed fire all over the place! It wasn't long before it set eyes on all of us over the streets and attacked like a wild beast."
"So let me get this straight," the investigator crossed his arms. "And stop me if I'm wrong. What you are saying is that these people were all killed by a dragon?"
"You don't believe me?"
The investigator exhaled scratching at his scalp.
"No one is jumping to conclusions. However, we seem to be jumping all over the place. What happened to the men in hats that first attacked?"
Sitting up in the ambulance, the single witness took a deep breath.
"Soon as that dragon or whatever you want to call it appeared, they took off. It was all so strange, very strange. That fire breathing monster seemed to target everyone else that wasn't those men in hats. I know that sounds crazy, but I'm telling the truth."
Barry listened on for the next minute and ultimately stepping away; having got most the important details. There was no doubt in his mind as to who was the one responsible for this crime, or at least an accomplice.
XXX
The sun had barely just began to rise and she was already up and out of bed and stretching. It had already been two weeks going on to three that she'd been relocated to the island of Themyscira and it was the best thing that could have happened to her. The time spent not only allowed the queen to physically improve her body and get into great shape but it also allowed her to improve her abilities which she gained an even better graphs applying it to combat. Every day she was presented with a new challenge and she met each and every one with determination and focus.
It was difficult in the beginning and there were often times where she wanted to quit and give up but the whole time Diana was always there to lend a hand and always pull her back onto her feet. Without the support from the amazon princess as well as the other amazons, she wouldn't have gotten as far as she did in such a short time. Out in the open over a mountain side is where she went and started off her morning routine. It was only a few minutes in that she was joined by someone from up the hill and this person already dressed in her practice gear.
"Diana," Elsa waved as the amazon did the same back.
"You're up early," Wonder Woman approached with a welcoming smile. "And I see you've already gotten started, that's good."
The princess of Themyscira looked out in front of her and spotted a couple dozen ice shards already through some of the targets out in the distance.
"How about it?" Elsa's voice brought Diana out of her thoughts. "A sparring session?"
Their eyes were glued to one another.
"Gladly," Wonder Woman accepted.
It was funny thinking about the way she was now, Diana silently mused. In the beginning Elsa was very much timid, boxed in, fidgety and didn't speak much. But progressively the queen of Arendelle overcame this and Diana had been fortunate enough to experience her confidence socially and in her physical abilities/control, improve.
The Two of them got into their positions and standing opposite of each other. Diana was already with the practice played in hand, fully equipped and ready for the friendly dual. There wasn't anything to kick off the session really went without saying they took off and went at each other. It was nothing more than a friendly little session between and so of course the Amazon didn't file anywhere near top speed or strength.
Elsa was very much a student and Wonder Woman couldn't have been any more proud of her progress and how much growth she was showing in the period of time. In a sudden dash, Diana leaped at her opponent but it was when she was just a foot from the Snow Queen a wall of ice erupted from beneath the surface and shielding Elsa. Give or take it had to be at least nine feet in height and sturdy. The Amazon princess kicked off and flipping backwards as she held her blade in hand.
The wall lowered but then two cannon's shaped out of ice on either side of Elsa. Straight away each fired off massive balls at Diana who just dodged and eluded them while slicing others or just punching through and watching them shatter into small pieces. Elsa backtracked watching as Diana was getting closer and closer cutting through and destroying the cannons. And before she knew it the Amazon was up over her and the queen of Arendelle creating ice armor over elbows which extended downward over her arms and hands.
The ice queen increased the size of her arms by three and her attacks as well as defensive strengths. She managed to block the first two strikes by Diana, but the third ended up over the left side of her face in the form of an open hand and then came a knee to the stomach. Elsa was forced off her feet through the air some distance. She only managed to look up as Diana was coming down over her and Elsa rolling out of the way while Diana's blade instead stabbed into the ground.
And she immediately popped up and back over her feet as she suspended the ice around her arms creating a bow and arrow out of ice taking aim over and firing off a couple shots.
Diana eluded each and every one of the projectiles coming her way, doing so acrobatically. Elsa quickly realized this approach was extremely ineffective given the speed of the amazon. Wonder Woman was soon up and over Elsa and knocking the queen off her feet with a simple leg sweep. While midair Elsa created a rope sphere which wrapped around Diana as she pulled back. This was only for a short moment as the skilled warrior sliced through and cutting it in half. They reset and started all over again from there.
Neither realized not far away someone watched with great detail and especially paid close attention to Elsa. Just as Diana, she had been studying the queen since her arrival on the island. Her progression had been quite impressive the way she was adjusting to and improving her ice abilities creatively in terms of combat. The entire time as this went on she waited and didn't budge till after it was over.
"Elsa, Diana," she called out to both and she was dressed in a gold colored robe.
"Mother," Diana bowed her head as Elsa did the same.
"I'm very impressed, you're coming along quite well and picking up on the ways of the amazon. You still have very much to learn but you've been off to a magnificent start. But no one is effective on an empty stomach, so what do you say we have some breakfast?"
"I guess, I am a bit hungry," Elsa smiled and the queen of Themyscira did the same back.
XXX
From the distance he watched the Caped Crusader battle against and take down a clutter of armed thugs who merely just robbed a bank and managed to only get halfway down the block before they were intercepted by the Batmobile. The two vehicles collided side-by-side and the SUV sent spinning as it crashed into a nearby light-post.
On reaction the gunman immediately of the vehicle and each of them armed with automatics. The masked vigilante got around to downing three out of the seven, and the Flash could have patiently waited, but tonight just wasn't one of those. He accelerated with immense velocity and taking down what remained of them. And not only that but he also managed to tie them all up with a long sturdy rope just beside the vehicle. Batman looked to his right and spotting the speedster who rubbed his hands together.
"Flash," the Dark Knight glared. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Didn't mean to interfere but this robbery is a whole lot more insignificant to what you and I need to discuss. You wrap up and take care of all this and I'll be right over there waiting," the Flash pointed to a specific rooftop.
He zoomed out and over the roof, right before Batman's eyes. The caped crusader held another frown, but turned and looked back to the criminals that the speedster so handedly took care of and practically gift wrapped. The call to GCPD was made and the sound of sirens approaching came from all over while Batman regrouped with the Flash over the roof.
"I'm working, this have waited."
"Yeah, I'm inclined to disagree. One of your own has struck again."
Batman looked down as Barry revealed photos from the crime scene. For some moments Batman took time to really look over the photos and the third degree burns sustained over the victims was similar, if not a carbon copy to what he'd seen with recent cases.
"Did you discover any mind control chips?"
"Nodda, not one. But a witness statement more than confirms that he was there."
With his eyes narrowed, Batman repositioned himself slightly, inquiring for more information and the Flash didn't hesitate to give it.
"Overheard a conversation between one of the detectives questioning the only eye witness, as of the moment. Turns out he was the only survivor that was targeted by what he described as being a dragon."
The cape crusader paced about for a moment, scratching at his chin with two gloved fingers.
"It's just as another eye witness claimed at another of the crime scenes. This is getting out of hand and we need to lock in on Mad Hatter and take down both, before they have the opportunity to do something like this, again."
The speedster shook his head and with his arms crossed.
"Couldn't agree more, but like you said it isn't Mad Hatter that we need to concern ourselves with. Hatter isn't a mass murderer that burns people alive, it's whoever is with him. The Hatter angle is all we have for now, so we'll stick to it."
"We track and find Mad Hatter and that will lead us right to this lunatic. Thus for all we know for certain is that our target specializes in some form of magic."
The Flash was with a nod of his head.
"Nice to have Zatanna around to confirm, but then again it isn't every day that you see dragons or dinosaurs roaming around, so it would have come to this conclusion at some point or another."
The wind around them picked up velocity and Batman's cape propelling back and forth.
"This ends now," Batman spoke after a brief period of silence. "I'll start with Jervis's past associates and known hideouts, that'll be a start."
"For sure and I'll keep working what I can from the victims angle and see if maybe there isn't something I can't dig up. We need to put a stop to this before it escalates."
"Yeah and before any more bodies pile up," The Flash responded.
XXX
Elsa sat down on a bench at just passed one of the many waterfalls in Themyscira. She had just participated in three sparring matches against various amazons, and was quite exhausted. The ice queen looked up at the sunny blue sky, seeing the clouds float along and the birds fly through the air. A gentle breeze blew, scattering leaves over the ground. It was a beautiful sight and really put her at ease.
"Such a great atmosphere..." Elsa murmured, her voice coming out as fatigued. "I think I'll just...lay down for a while."
She proceeded to lay down and close her weary eyes and thought about returning to her room but that was quite the walk. This period of rest however, didn't last long.
"Hey...Elsa," a voice called out to her.
"Mmm...ten more minutes, Diana," Elsa murmured, half-asleep.
The woman then proceeded to shake Elsa awake.
"Hey!" Elsa shouted as he sat up and opened her eyes.
It was then that she saw and realized it was someone other than Diana Prince.
"Cassandra...?" Elsa asked, somewhat groggily, as he rubbed her eyes. "How can I help, or am I needed?"
Crouching, the blonde amazon warrior answered the ice user, "You know, Elsa, I've been watching your latest matches, and I must say..."
"Yeah?" Elsa asked.
Cassandra took a deep breath and continued.
"I've always found the way you fight with various changes in your ice very impressive. You did a good job out there and you've been improving so fast and turning heads all over."
"Y-you think so?" Elsa spluttered, blushing and scratching the back of her head with her right arm.
"Of course," Cassandra affirmed. Noticing the queen looking away for a moment, she inquired, "None of that should surprise you, and surely you've noticed this yourself?"
"Cassandra...I was wondering if you could do me a favor?"
Cassandra was surprised to hear those words come out of her, thinking silently about what she might ask.
"What's up?"
"I was wondering..." she began again. "If you could teach me how to further my maneuver abilities and anticipation of my opponent without the use of my eyes. Diana has been so busy helping me, but she also has her own duties that come first."
Cassandra was caught off-guard by Elsa's seemingly out of nowhere request.
"You'll eventually get there, but if it's you want to speed up that process than I'll lend you my assist."
Sighing, Elsa admitted.
"I've just been thinking lately...I'm afraid that, if something happened that I wouldn't have any weapons on hand, or like Diana said there will be instances I won't be able to use my abilities. I wouldn't be able to protect anyone if that were to happen..."
She looked at Cassandra in the eyes when he said "anyone", and continued.
"At some point I really do want to return home to where I belong and have the means to protect those I care about."
Seeing the determination in her eyes like a fire burning bright, Cassandra felt moved by Elsa's desire to improve herself and learn to survive if unforeseen disaster might strike. She couldn't help but be reminded of herself, how when she was first beginning her training, she was put in difficult spots and had to learn to survive in harsh conditions, from fighting to adapting to the various environments she was dropped in.
A slight smile graced the amazon's face as she answered the ice user.
"I'm no Diana Prince, believe me… but I'll help you in any way I can," she reached out her hand to Elsa and pulled her up off the bench. "However..."
She began, her voice becoming more serious.
"If I am to guide you in the ways of battling unarmed, I want you to know that you shouldn't expect me to go easy on you, even though you're a guest to our paradise."
"Of course," Elsa affirmed, her voice gaining back the enthusiasm it once had. "I'm tougher than I look. I've been through the grueling training sessions with Diana, and did some things in the Justice League watchtower."
"Heh, I think I get the idea," Cassandra said with a chuckle. "Let's head to the training ground, shall we?" noticing the worried look on Elsa's face, she reassured her. "If you want to rest up a little first, that's fine."
XXX
"Alright, Elsa, you ready?" Cassandra said, taking an offensive stance. "I want you to try to land a few blows on me using only your hands and feet."
"Got it," Elsa said. "Here I come!"
She shouted, running towards her. Elsa attempted to surprise her with a leaping spin-kick, but was unable to gather enough momentum and fell face down on the training mat.
"What was that?" Cassandra halfway laughed.
Sitting up, Elsa shook off the cobwebs.
"I was trying to..." looking away as she blushed and scratched the back of his head, she continued. "Surprise you, I guess?"
From afar they didn't realize, but Diana watched from afar and with a smile over her face. The snow queen was improving immensely with each day that passed and it was a sight to behold. She was truly grasping and becoming an amazon in learning their ways. And the longer the session went on, even in this small sample size Elsa was very much keeping up with the more skilled amazon warrior.
To be continued