Uncanny Justice League

Chapter 11: Contest of the Amazons- Part 3

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- All familiar characters belong to DC.


Shout Outs-

Sean Malloy-1- Sorry, no plans for the Leaguers to visit the Batman Beyond future I'm afraid.

Doza- When you find out the result of the contest, just pretend to act surprised, okay? Heh-heh.

Thanks to- Todd fan, DarkKnight92, Ccabello.


Themyscira-

The blonde Amazon known as Venelia was carefully stalking through the woods of Themyscira. The hunt for the rival teams of Amazons was in full swing.

Venelia was all alone as she searched for her rival Amazons.

'Diana! Artemis!' Venelia called. 'Where in Hera's name are you? If you're going to scout ahead, at least carry your own weapons.'

Venelia sighed heavily and laid her spear, net and bow against a nearby tree to take a breath.

Unseen by the blonde Amazon, she was being watched by a pair of rival Amazons.

'This is almost too easy.' One Amazon whispered with a smirk.

'Quick. Let's pick her off before her teammates realise that she is alone.' Her teammate responded.

And with that, the devious pair leapt down from the trees.

'Give up your talisman!' Amazon Number 1 demanded. 'Or do you wish to fight for it?'

Venelia smiled mischievously.

'Hmm, I think I will fight for it.' Venelia smiled. 'Artemis, now!'

At her teammate's command, Artemis leapt out from the underbrush and dealt Amazon Number 1 a nasty kick to the chin. Before Amazon Number 2 could attack, Artemis tossed her net at her rival, subduing her.

Venelia looked down at the two beaten Amazons as Artemis took their talisman.

'Next time, you can be the bait.' Venelia sniffed. 'I would like to see some action too.'

'Oh, you will get plenty of that, sister!' Another rival Amazon yelled as she jumped out from cover. 'We have plenty of reserves waiting.'

Venelia spun around and held her shield up high, deflecting her rival's sword blow.

'Wait!' One rival Amazon noticed, looking around.. 'Where is Diana?'

'Right behind you, sister.' Diana replied as she leapt down from her perch, dealing the black-haired Amazon a nasty kick to the back.

'Quick! Let's get her!' The black-haired Amazon's teammates yelled as they leapt in to avenge their sister.

'Gaea!' Venelia hissed. 'We have to help Diana.'

'Diana can help herself.' Artemis sniffed as she leant against a tree. 'She is a big girl now. Let's see how she does.'

Diana met the first Amazon with a meaty kick to the gut and followed on with a throw over her shoulder. The next Amazon fell to an elbow to the throat. Another fell as Diana swept her legs from under her.

Soon all the rival Amazons fell to Diana's might.

'Nice to see that your time in Man's World has not dimmed your skills, Diana.' Artemis sniffed as she approached Diana. 'I would not wish to beat somebody that is not at the top of their game.'

'Your attempts at riling me aren't working, Artemis.' Diana said levelly. 'Some people are not as quick to anger as others.'

'Yes, like a certain redheaded Amazon not too far away.' Venelia snickered.

'You had best watch how you address me, sister.' Artemis hissed. 'I would hate for something nasty to happen to you in the time it takes us to return to Hippolyta.'

'I welcome the challenge, Artemis.' Venelia replied. 'Any time, any place.'

Diana just shook her head. Under other circumstances this would be amusing. Not so right now. The whole contest was too serious for jokes. The slightest misstep and Diana could lose her rights to the Wonder Woman name.


Later-

Queen Hippolyta watched as Diana's team dropped their collected talismans into a golden dish. Hippolyta did a quick count to make sure that her initial score was right before turning to the winning team.

'The winning team consists of Artemis, Venelia, Helena, Trigona, Euboea and Diana. All six Amazons will compete as individuals in the last round of the contest.'

A cheer rose from the Amazons gathered around.

'Why are they cheering for us?' Artemis sneered. 'We defeated and humiliated them. They cannot move on to the next round thanks to us.'

'You are too serious, Artemis.' Diana said. 'Our sisters competed out of fun. They're happy for our victory. Can you not see that?'

'There is no time for jubilance during battle.' Artemis scowled as she turned her back and walked off.

Diana sighed heavily. Artemis would be one tough opponent to beat.


The next morning-

Diana and her fellow Amazons were gathered on a deserted island off the coast of Themyscira. Hippolyta was standing before them with a map.

'The last and final round of this contest will consist of a race around Themyscira.' Hippolyta explained. 'In this race you must cross woodlands, ford rivers and climb mountains. You all must stay alert, as the path will be fought with danger. More than any of you could possibly imagine.'

'Danger, mother?' Diana piped up. 'What kind of danger could you possibly mean?'

Hippolyta just ignored her daughter's comments and picked up a gong.

'Ready, everyone, it is time.' The Queen of the Amazons said as she banged the gong. 'May Hera bless you!'

And with that, everybody dashed into the water to swim over to the main island.

Venelia was the most at home in the water so she had a considerable head start. Diana and the other Amazons were close behind her though.

Diana blinked in surprise as she saw a dark spot in the water in front of her. When Diana felt herself being tugged forward by an unnatural tide, that was when she realised what the dark spot was before her: A giant whirlpool! One of Diana's fellow Amazons was having trouble escaping the whirlpool's clutches and was perilously close to drowning.

With the concern for a sister Amazons overwhelming the need to compete, Diana dived deeper into the water to rescue her fellow Amazon.

Diana's lungs burnt with the strain as she tried desperately to reach the struggling Amazon. Then, like a sword cutting through the water, Artemis swooped down and grabbed the semi-conscious Amazon by the hair, pulling her back up to safety.

With her fellow Amazon safe, Diana sped back up to the surface.

Once the Amazons had all escaped the whirlpool's clutches, they took a breather in a small clearing.

'Gaea.' Trigona, the Amazons that had almost been lost to the whirlpool gasped. 'I thought I was lost for good back there. It seems that I owe you an apology, Artemis.'

'You may be premature in thanking me, Trigona.' Artemis replied simply as she narrowed her eyes in thought. 'I can hear something…'

Sure enough, Trigona yelped in surprise as somebody, or something, dropped a net on her.

'Harpies!' Diana hissed. 'Quick! We must defend ourselves before somebody is hurt!'

As usual, Artemis was the first to attack as she leapt upwards, tackling one Harpy to the ground and swiftly snapped its neck.

Diana followed her lead as she caught one Harpy's sword in her hands and snatched it away, decapitating the foul creature in the process.

Artemis has also snagged herself a weapon as she ran yet another Harpy through with a purloined spear.

Diana wiped Harpy blood from her eye as she brought the pummel of her sword down on another creature's skull, crushing it like an eggshell.

The foul creatures soon fell to the Amazon's might. Artemis took that as her moment to carry on to the rest of the race as Diana hurried to release the captured Venelia.

'This race is becoming too dangerous.' Venelia sniffed. 'I'm starting to regret entering this contest to begin with.'

'Save your regrets for later, sister.' Diana replied as she helped her friend up. 'Now, let's show Artemis how to win, shall we?'


Later-

Diana huffed and puffed as she climbed up the side of a cliff. Venelia and Euboea had fallen behind while Artemis and Trigona had sped off ahead.

Diana sighed in relief as she finally reached the top of the cliff. Diana's relief was to be short-lived as she saw a familiar stone figure.

'No! Trigona!' Diana gasped as she ran up to the petrified Amazon. 'She's been turned to stone. That could only mean one thing…'

Sure enough, a ghastly hiss announced the presence of Medusa, the legendary snake-haired woman whop could turn people to stone with one mere look.

Diana closed her eyes tight as Medusa crept up behind her and wrapped her tail around the Amazon's body.

Diana didn't intend to sacrifice herself however as she clutched her sword tight and catapulted both herself and Medusa off the edge of the cliff. Medusa let out a fearsome screech as she met the deadly rocks below, whereas Diana managed to grab the limb of a tree, preventing her from a similar death.

Diana grunted with strain as she started to climb up the cliff once more.


Near the finish line-

Donna and the other spectating Amazons cheered as Artemis and Venelia burst out from the bushes.

'Come on Diana.' Donna muttered to herself. 'Where are you? Please don't tell me that you've fallen already…'

As if to answer Donna's prayers, Diana burst out form the bushes like the Flash with a firework up his backside. She had already sped past the lagging Venelia when she began to approach Artemis.

Diana's lungs burnt like the Pits of Hades as she pushed herself to beat the redheaded Amazon. For every few steps she gained, Artemis sped on more.

Finally, Diana seemed to be winning. That was until her foot caught a stone, making her tumble head-over-heel. Artemis took that as her moment to speed onwards, bursting through the winning line.

The gathered Amazons ran up to the victorious Artemis to congratulate her. Donna however stood back to help up Diana.

'Diana…' Donna said. 'I-I'm sorry… You lost… Artemis…'

'Artemis is Wonder Woman now.' Diana nodded solemnly. 'I understand.'

Donna's heart sank as she watched her beaten sister turn her back and walk away.

'Diana…' Donna whispered. 'Please. Come back…'

But it was too late, Diana had already left.

TBC…


Next: Deadly Trinity

A victorious Artemis is crowned as the new Wonder Woman while Diana and Donna travel back to Boston. Unfortunately, Cheetah, Poison Ivy and the assassin known as Cheshire may just make Diana's return to Boston a short one…