Gotc: Ok, so it's taken me a while to get around to typing this up, so I'm not gonna make you all sit through a long and boring disclaimer just to get to the good stuff.

Ace: The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Hopefully she'll admit the same about the stories too-

Gotc: Happy place, happy place, happy place……Squeaky! Happy place, happy place, happy place…..

Squeaky: Squeak! (Go on and read folks before our authoress's happy place includes strangling a certain Ace character. Good thing she doesn't own anything else or she might be in for some property damage lawsuits as well as copyright infringement.)

Gotc: So true! So have fun reading while I go find a nice bat to play with Ace…. Later!

Rise of the Guardian 2: Forbidden Memories

CHAPTER 9: Out of the Pan, and into the Fire

Ace was lost, adrift in a black sea of nothingness. He knew there was something wrong, something that shouldn't be happening was, but in the calm of the void he simply couldn't grasp what it was. That simple fact left him feeling utterly hollow inside.

But here, he was blissfully free from pain, from worry, from the world. Here, whatever was happening to the rest of the outside world, wasn't his problem. Even so, he couldn't shake the feeling there was something he had to do, and that he didn't belong in this place.

Through the silence, he could hear a faint voice calling out in the darkness. He could hear panic in the voice, but just couldn't understand why. Why would anyone be concerned about anything in a place so peaceful?

Then, without warning, a pair of blood red eyes flashed in the shadows, boring straight into Ace's soul. Searing agony ripped through his shoulder, paralyzing the scream that formed on his lips. Maniacal laughter invaded the solemn silence, attacking him from every side.

"You are nothing. A pawn left alone to fight a war you cannot possibly hope to win."

Ace screwed his eyes shut in a vain attempt to keep the voice, the mocking laughter, out of his mind. Still through it all, he could hear that same worried voice calling out to him. So to that voice, Ace clung. He held on to it, determined not to let it slip away and leave him in this madness. Slowly, it became louder and clearer, while the laughter died away. The darkness began to fade, replaced by a soft warm light. Even the calm that surrounded him vanished with the caress of a gentle breeze.

It was difficult to open his eyes again. He felt drained and weary, but at last managed to part his eyelids and sit up. The room he was in was decorated in a simple elegance, with no walls, but rather the room open to the rest of the world save for a few thin white curtains that fluttered delicately in the breeze of a setting sun. He could smell the salt on the breeze and hear the soft churning of the water nearby, along with faint footsteps coming towards him.

"Ace! You're awake!" Came the familiar voice of Hawkgirl, as she rushed to his bedside, "We never thought you would wake up after you passed out in the Javelin. J'onn tried to reach you telepathically, but even then-"

"Wait," Ace stopped her, surprised at how feeble his own voice sounded, "J'onn was in my head?"

"I am sorry," A strange female voice replied, "But you had taken a turn for the worst, and it was our best option at reviving you."

Ace turned his head to see the blonde that had seemingly materialized out of nowhere. Ace had never seen her before in his life, but he had no doubt of who was standing before him.

"Did you see anything?" Was Ace's only question.

"No," The disguised Martian shook his head with a wry grin, "Your mental defenses are…. Impressive to say the least. The most I was able to do was stand at the threshold of your mind and call out to you."

"And for that I'm grateful," Ace sighed, laying back onto the pillows, "How long was I out anyway? And where are we? And where's the rest of the League?"

J'onn and Shayera exchanged uneasy glances under a suddenly accusing glare from Ace

"You were unconscious almost two days," Hawkgirl said offering him a bowl of water, "We tried for an hour to stabilize you on the Javelin, but when you began seizing Batman said you weren't going to last until we got you back to the Watchtower."

"Great," Ace said nonchalantly, "well glad to know that whatever you did worked, but that still doesn't answer-"

A sudden thought hit him, and his eyes darted around the room again. Mentally, he smacked himself for not immediately recognizing the obviously Grecian architecture and influences all around him, nor the reason for J'onn's odd choice of a disguise.

"Hawkgirl," Ace said slowly, "Please tell me we are anywhere else but Themyascira."

"How do you even know about the Amazon's home?" J'onn asked puzzled.

"Does Hippolyta know I'm here?" Ace asked with a sudden air of urgency in his voice, scrambling to get out of bed.

"Well, yes. We had to give her a reason to be able to treat you on the island," Hawkgirl said confused to Ace's reaction, "But she did ask to meet you one you were awake-"

"We're leaving," Ace said scooping up his sword which had been laid against a nearby pillar, "Now."

But Ace had no sooner shouldered the blade, when the Queen of the Amazons herself stepped out from around the same pillar. She had a stone-like look set on her face, her eyes flashing as she tried to stare down Ace. In the same instant, a dozen more Amazons appeared from nowhere, each with a spear aimed right at Ace. Ace let loose a defeated groan, and gently set Tecatsu back down against the pillar.

"Hippolyta," He chuckled nervously, "It really has been too long-"

"Save your formalities for someone who will actually believe them," She snapped, "I was wondering when I would get a second chance at your head, and now I have it."

"Ace!" Hawkgirl yelled in surprise, "What did you do?!"

"I…" Ace mumbled sheepishly, " Well you remember the Imperium invasion, right? Well, Kye and I got into a bit of a skirmish with one of their aerial scouts and sorta-"

"Destroyed it by crashing it right into the Temple of Athena!" Hippolyta finished angrily, "It took us months to rebuild your carelessness!"

"I wonder how long it would have taken the Imperium to take over Themyscira once it returned home?" Ace retorted, earning him a menacing poke in the back by a spear holder.

"It is a crime of the highest punishment to defile a Temple of the Goddess," The queen barked, "No matter what the circumstances may have been."

"Oh come on!" Ace rolled his eyes, "Athena is the Goddess of War and Heroic Virtue! Surely she would understand-"

"DO NOT SPEAK OF OUR GODS AS IF THEY WERE YOUR OWN!" Hippolyta roared at Ace, "Bind him and take him at the Temple, so the Goddess herself may decide his fate."

Ace opened his mouth to say something, but was gagged the instant he opened his mouth as the guards quickly set to work on their Queen's order. Hawkgirl attempted to lunge at the nearest guard to throw them off of Ace, but was held back by one of J'onn's strong arms.

"Let him go!" She demanded, still fighting against J'onn, "He did what he had to do to protect you! Can't you show any mercy?"

Hippolyta turned to Hawkgirl and gave her a regarding look.

"Unfortunately," She said slowly, "There is no excuse for his crimes. And there is also a punishment for those who delivered this defiler back to this island's hallowed shores."

At their queen's words, half of the guards, turned and surrounded Hawkgirl and J'onn. Both Leaguers assumed a fighting stance, ready to attack should their attackers make a move.

"We've already taken your friends," Hippolyta said simply, "So you can come with us of your own free will, or bound and gagged like this one."

The two exchanged a wordless glance, deciding that it would be in everyone's best interests to be as free as possible should the opportunity for escape arise. They dropped their fists, and a thin smile crossed Hippolyta's lips.

"I sure hope you treat other visitors with more respect," Ace snarled, having chewed through his gag.

Hippolyta never even gave him a passing glance as she began to walk back in the direction of the city. As she mounted her horse, she did turn back and looked him in the eyes.

"I had more hope for the Atlantean race than this," She scoffed, "At least the last two to visit this island knew their manners."

Ace's eyes widened in a mix of surprise and confusion as her words hit a nerve.

"Hippolyta! Who was the other Atlantean?!" He called out after her, as she began to ride away.

He thrashed against his captors, trying to get free, screaming after a retreating Hippolyta all the while.

"Hippolyta! Who was the other?!?!! HIPPOLYTA!!!!!"

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Gotc: Wow…so it took me a very long time to get over my slump, and one review in particular. So thanks to BMWWfan for the little nudge it took me to get writing this again! For that this chappie is dedicated to you! Anyway, hope you all liked the cliffie, and you'll have to wait until next time for this whole mess to unfold! Toodles!