Take my heart, it's yours tonight / all that I have it is yours tonight
Get on your knees and pay the toll / soon you will be forced to sell your soul / in the city /
Take off your clothes, you're such a tease / the woman you love is on her knees... - In the City - Operatica

"Oh no. Don't even think about it, Princess. That's not going anywhere tonight."
"I was just looking. Okay, fine, whatever is in the garage upstairs."
"As long as I drive."
"What? Why? I can drive."
"One, my car. Two, I haven't seen you drive. Do you even have a driver's license? And three, I've seen how you pilot a Javelin. No way you're driving."
La Magia de Un Beso - Baila Conmigo

Ancient Themyscira, Palace, Hippolyta's Room
Hippolyta draped herself loosely on the frame of her weaving loom, feeling very sorry for herself. She usually welcomed the morning sounds with their soft energy; an acolyte sang a hymn to Hera welcoming a new day, the shuffling of a weaver working at her own loom, and the tapping of bo staffs as warriors warmed up for the day's training.

Every sound was a nail being driven into the princess' skull. Even the smell of bread made her stomach churn. She reached for the yarrow tea the healer left for her, but she couldn't open her eyes to find it. The light shot through her head like an arrow. When Antiope entered the room, it was to discover her sister blindly patting around for a cup that was behind her.

The queen flopped down onto the cushions beside her hungover sister, stretching luxuriously like a cat. She watched Hippolyta's pitiful attempts to find her medicine, then had mercy and handed it to her. A tiny squeak was the only gratitude the princess was able to give before sipping gingerly at the tea.

"Polly, you know you don't react well to white wine. Why did you drink so much so fast? Were you trying to to get drunk?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I was. It seems to have been the only thing I was able to do right. I couldn't hunt without help and I couldn't handle The Exchange without assistance, but I could down two jugs of wine by myself before passing out. That was my goal and I met it. Victory is mine."

"And we shall immortalize that in a song, ahem..." Antiope was hit with a pillow before one note could come out of her mouth.

"Sing and I shall be forced to gut you with my cup. Tempt me if you dare." Hippolyta opened one eye, peering balefully at her sister. She found Antiope lounging limply in the cushions, still in her red dress, hair in disarray, and a satisfied smile on her lips. She twisted a lock of hair around her fingers and let it go, letting a sigh escape her lips as she stretched again.

Hippolyta noticed an obviously missing piece of her apparel. "Anti, where's your girdle?"

"Theseus has it. He wanted it as a trophy."

"He took it?"

"Nope. He asked for it and I gave it to him. Figured for everything he...did...it was an appropriate prize."

"You look content. Think you got pregnant this time?"

"If I'm not, it wasn't for a lack of trying." Antiope turned onto her stomach and buried her face into a pillow. Hippolyta climbed onto the cushion beside her, carefully lying her head beside her sister's. She could hear her humming something under her breath.

"What is that song, Anti? It's pretty."

"A hymn from Adelphi. Theseus sang the song for me, but I don't remember the words. I liked the tune, though. He has a wonderful voice. Definitely a blessing from Apollo."

"He sang to you? And what were you doing to make him sing?" Hippolyta raised a suggestive eyebrow. Antiope flicked her on the forehead which promptly had the princess whimpering in pain.

"Ooh! I'm sorry, Polly! I forgot!" She brought the blond into her arms and laid her head onto her shoulder.

"You're so mean to me. You didn't even answer my question."

"For your information, Your 'I'm-Curious-But-Won't-Try-It' Highness, I was just lying in his arms like this. We watched the sunrise and he started singing to welcome the light. I asked him to continue, and he did."

"You laid there with him? And until sunrise? Tell me you weren't at it all night..." Antiope's pause in stroking her sister's hair was all the answer Hippolyta needed. "Wow. So...who won?"

"I think it was a tie. Just when I thought I had the upper hand, he pulled out his..."

"Whoa! Don't need to hear the details. Knowing that he nearly beat you has earned him my respect. You usually send them away limping or needing help. This time, you seem like a piece of limp dough."

"I am limp dough. Oh, Polly! He was...amazing! He had to have been blessed by Aphrodite, he was too good."

"Almost makes me want to try it myself...almost. So, is he off to his ship now? Are they all gone?"

"Molpadia's rounding them up as we speak. The headcount looks complete, so they all survived the night." Both monarchs grew quiet to listen to the guard captain's herding:

"Alright now, The Hunts ended at sunrise. On with you, back to your ship...no you can go back for more! Try again next Harvest. Hello missy! Where do you think you're going? Get back... hey! Let him go! You are not allowed to take him home. You there, are you alright? Do you need assistance? Well, that'll be a nice scar to go with your story now, won't it. Excuse me? You couldn't handle me...oh really! Look for me next year, then."

"And how do ours fare?" Hippolyta asked.

"On their way to sleep it off. But I'm hearing some rumors that we lost one yesterday during The Exchange. What's that about?"

Hippolyta snuggled closer into her sister, remembering the drama that unfolded. "Lykopis defected. She couldn't give up her son, and I was close to executing the law. She gave up her sword to save his life. I hate being princess."

"I see. And she's now on the ship with Hestia's Blessed? She took nothing with her?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I followed the law to every point. She only had the clothes on her back and her son." Hippolyta leaned away from Antiope. "If it wasn't for Theseus' Messenger, she would have a hard time surviving with a young child and nothing else. She will be staying at the Athenian palace as one of their servants."

"Then it turned out well. I guess what they say about Theseus is true then - he is a fair and generous king."

"And you seem pretty taken with him. You're not showing preference, are you?"

"What are you implying?"

"Nothing. It's just I've never seen you this taken with a man before. You seem to really admire him."

"I do admire him, but only for the feats he's accomplished and the kingdom he rules. I don't have an opinion of him personally."

"You say that as if you're trying to convince yourself."

"Let it go, Hippolyta. I took from him what I needed and I hope it worked. That is all."

"Fine, whatever you say, Anti." They were quiet for a second, their thoughts their own. "But I heard him say he came here for a reason. He wanted to make an heir. How will he know if he has one?"

"Ahem..." Antiope looked away guiltily from Hippolyta's curious glance. "He said he would come back during the Spring Plantings to see if I'm pregnant. If I'm not, he asked to try again."

"You're going to let him come back when we receive the girls? That's our time to celebrate our new daughters! Why would you invite a man here during that time?"

"It's my prerogative if and when I invite a man to this island. If I'm not pregnant this time, I would also like to try again. Perhaps the Spring would bring better fortune. I will not be questioned on this, Hippolyta. I want a true born daughter for the next Amazon Queen. Unless you're willing to take over the responsibility of providing her..."

"I'll take my turn when you're ready to execute the law when another Amazon wants to keep her son. Or if you're able to listen to those babies wail for their mommas over and over again, and you can't get their sweet little voices out of your head. Or if you're willing to give up your own child because you gave birth to the wrong kind. You don't know what it's like..."

"Don't tell me I don't know! I was there for one when I was very young, and I swore I wouldn't watch it again!" Hippolyta winced at her sister's raised voice, but was surprised at this revelation.

"What do you mean, Anti? What did you see?"

"Polly...Mother never told you because it hurt her to say it, and I never said anything because she wanted to deny it ever happened. Mother had another child before you, a son. He was beautiful, dark haired and blue-eyed like me and Mother. And she loved him just as much as she loved us.

"But when it came time to give him up, she couldn't. It took the threat of execution for her to finally hand over the boy; her station as queen didn't help her at all. I heard him calling for his momma...our momma...but he was also calling for me, his big sister. Mother held me back when I tried running to him. His little voice still haunts my dreams.

"That's why when we discussed how we would handle the Harvest, I took over the Ritual if you'd take The Exchange. I hoped that, if I had a boy child, you could hand him over for me so I wouldn't have to hear his little voice. And now, maybe if Theseus were his father, I might get word every now and then how my son is faring. I might even know his name..."

"Sshhh...shhhh...it's alright, Anti. I think I understand." It was Hippolyta's turn to comfort her sister. "What a convoluted mess this all is. We follow these laws so we can live our lives as free women, but at what cost?"

"What do you suggest we do about it, Polly? These laws were set down as an alternative to the awful way things used to be. Would you want to go back to leaving a newborn boy out in the cold to die? This is for the best. At least they have a chance out in Man's World. That's why we receive their unwanted girls in the Spring. They want our sons, we want their daughters. It's a fair exchange."

Is it? Hippolyta wondered. She almost said it, but between the heavy conversation and hangover, her head was close to exploding on her sister's chest. She didn't feel like a long drawn out debate when she wasn't sure herself how she felt about the situation.

Both laid there together, mulling over the conversation. Hippolyta thought Antiope had fallen asleep when she heard a slight intake of breath.

"Polly?"

"Yes, Anti."

"When Theseus comes in the Spring, you'll stand by me like you did that time with Mother, right? I could use your support. Some of our sisters will want his head on a stick."

"Of course, Anti, like I always have. Remember, you're Orion and I'm Artemis. Together forever, like the sun and the stars."

"Thank you, Polly. I don't know what I would do without you."

Highway to the City of Gotham
"Come on, Robin! What's my name?" The masked Diana yelled over the motorcycle's growl.

"Okay, so I've been thinking...how's Puma?"

"After a shoe?"

"No! The big cat! It's large and powerful. Could be cool!"

"Uh...keep thinking." Diana applied a bit more gas. They roared down the highway.

"How about Jaguar or Panther? They're strong, too, and they can have black fur sometimes. Would be appropriate."

"Umm, not sure about those." Weave around slow minivan, large tanker, pick up truck...

"Tigress, Leopard, Lioness?"

"Is there a reason you keep picking cat names?"

"Well, Batman likes cats..."

"No, he used to be with one. Or at least a woman like a cat. I'd rather not remind him of that. Try something non-feline, if you please." Boy must be trying to get under my skin if he's bringing HER up! They rode in silence for a minute or two. Approaching the Gotham City limits...

"ALECTO!"

"Alecto? Really? You'd name me after the Furie of Punishment?"

"Well, you're trying to partner with the embodiment of Vengeance, right?"

"That's a little extreme, don't you think?"

"You do remember you're trying fight along side with Mr. Extreme himself." She had to admit, he had a point.

"But you were named after such a nice bird. Why can't I get something like that?"

"Well, Alecto is also a species of blue butterfly. That describes you, too."

"Flattery will keep you on this bike, smart boy. Keep trying." Left or right exit..."WHICH WAY!"

"LEFT!" The sudden turn had the bike almost lying on its side. Boy nearly squeezed her in two."Oh my god oh my god...please let me live through this..."

"Keep it up, Navigator. What's next?"

"Nyx, right!"

"No, absolutely not."

"No, I mean go right!"

"Oh!" She leaned the bike to the right; he prayed to the asphalt gods not to meet them too soon."That's a personification that I would rather not take on. She would be...scary."

"Derecho, gale, vortex...night, nox, nocturnal...night vortex, derecho nox...LEFT!" Sudden turn...gasp in relief...

"What are you trying to make up?"

"Wanted to try and do something with 'Stormy Night'. Like any of them?" Diana thought...almost heard one...no...not that one...

"Bird, Robin. Keep looking for the nice bird."

"Dang, wish it would just bust in on you, like the bat did Bruce. Then it would make sense..." Robin muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing! Left, no right...crap, where are we?"

"Hurry Robin, there's a dead end in front of us!"

"Right right right!" Diana turned the bike so abruptly, she thought they were about to have an accident. Instead, she felt the bike take over. It was all she could do to hold on and hope that letting it take control was the correct thing to do. She could hear a clicking and whirring sound emanating from the fuselage. The bike stayed on course, riders still on board.

"Fuckin' A!"

"Tim! Such language!"

"Sorry, but you have to admit that was freakin' cool!" Diana did agree. She glanced down to see a display light up, indicating that the internal gyroscope had been activated. The gimbals inside the fuselage had helped keep them balanced. Diana thanked Athena that Bruce was so smart.

They were riding down a familiar road in central city Gotham. Tim reached over and pushed a button; all the lights turned green. Not surprised to see that button there, Diana thought. The bike slammed down Main Street. She made a quick salute to a headless gargoyle.

"Slow down a little bit, Diana. The streets are going to get narrower and you'll need to turn a few more times."

"We're going to have to find that new name, Robin. You can't call me that when we get there."

"I think I found something. What do you think about..."

"Great Hera, Robin! What happened here?" Diana decelerated to a slow roll, maneuvering the vehicle through the chunks of metal strewn across the street. She desperately peered into each broken window, praying she didn't see a body in any of the blazing wrecks. She sighed her relief when she found that all the flaming police cruisers were empty.

She brought the bike to a halt, letting both her and Robin dismount. They walked through the metal carnage, searching for clues at what had occurred. On her utmost guard, Diana pulled the retractable bo staff from her back and extended it to its full length.

"HEY! Look at this...whoa!" Tim ducked as Diana's staff whistled pass his head. He gulped when he imagined what could have happened if it had made contact.

"Sorry! I'm not accustomed to feeling this exposed. Guess I'm a bit jumpy. What did you find, Robin?"

She watched as he tugged at a piece of metal in the wreckage. He placed a foot on the hood for leverage and gave one strong heave. The object suddenly released, nearly depositing the boy on the ground. Righting his balance, he held up the familiar projectile for her to see.

In his gloved hand he held a fire-charred batarang.

Constellation of Orion, Artemis' Forest
"Well! This is an interesting situation. You don't want to give Diana your patronage, even if Hippolyta met your criteria for winning it, yet you have a loaded arrow pointed at your back by a love goddess who really wants to practice her craft on you. Dilemma, dilemma!" Apollo's taunting tone nearly made Hippolyta smile - if it wasn't for Artemis' hounds glaring at her, ready to eat her alive.

"Why should I give in?" Artemis threw back. "Hippolyta received help during this challenge. If it wasn't for you, she would never have found me."

"Actually, Arty, I believe your challenge was to face her darkest secrets, not to successfully find you in your forest. That was the cover story - thinking she had to hunt you, she was lured closer to your moon sirens," Aphrodite chimed in from behind the Moon Goddess.

"Are you really siding with her, Apollo? I'm your twin sister! We've always worked together!"

"Yes, my dear other half, but this is more important."

"You know if she hits me with that arrow, there are few options here for me to fall in love with."

"Ah, yes, there is that little problem. Though... you do remember that our father married his sister, right?"

"Oh...shit," Artemis surreptitiously glanced back at Aphrodite's grinning face.

"Lookin' a little shaky there, 'Dite. How's your arm?" Apollo called out.

"Feeling weak, Darlin'. Don't really use these muscles, they're starting to ache. I might have to let go..."

"Wait wait wait!" Artemis yelled. "Um...maybe we could talk about this."

"You? Talk? I thought you were a woman of action,"Apollo taunted.

"Oh, my arms are getting tired," Aphrodite droned.

"I can talk and take action! What do you want me to do?"

"How about calling off your attack dogs?" Hippolyta joined in.

"Alright. Alce, Tigris, Scooby! Come here!" Two of the dogs backed off and trotted to their mistress' side. One stayed, staring at Apollo hopefully. "Oh, go ahead, Scooby. You can go to him." The other dog lumbered over to Apollo, tail wagging and tongue sticking out of his mouth. "I can't believe you had me call him that."

Apollo let go of Hippolyta and kneeled down to scratch the dog behind the ears. "But he looks like a Scooby! Don't you boy, yes you do!" The hound enthusiastically licked his face, tail thumping on the ground in pleasure of the god's attention. The other two hounds playfully chased the dogs Aphrodite subdued. No matter how well-trained Artemis had them, the male canines couldn't ignore the irresistible scent of bitches in heat.

"Great. Now I'm without my hounds. So is that enough? Can I get that arrow off my back?"

"I don't know. Will you talk with Hippolyta? Work with her for Diana's patronage?" Aphrodite nudged her with the arrow again, making Artemis jump. Apollo glanced up at his sister, using his own puppy dog look to win her over.

"Fine. You found the loophole in my challenge. I will listen to see if she learned what she was supposed to."

"Good, but I'm going to sit over here just in case. I will shoot this if I have to!" Aphrodite walked over to a boulder and sat down, arrow nocked and ready. She waved her hand at Hippolyta, scooting her along. "You go ahead and take care of business. I got you covered."

"Graceful Artemis - if we both want to get out of this without getting hit, I suggest we work it out. She looks too eager to use that."

"Agreed, Your Majesty. Come, we'll talk over here." The goddess led the queen to a clearing in the twinkling woods. There, the source of the stream flowed from a silver pool of water flowing out of a pile of boulders. Ferns and flowers grew from the rock's cracks, and glowing trees swayed over the gurgling brook. Hippolyta had never seen a more beautiful place.

Artemis walked over to the pool, peering across without seeming to see it. Hippolyta stood beside her, respectfully allowing the goddess to start the conversation. Instead, she glanced out over the peaceful waters herself. The trickling sound calmed her nerves, allowing her to mull over the visions she had seen.

"Moon sirens are merciless when it comes to singing their songs, are they not?" Artemis commented. She still did not look at Hippolyta.

"Yes they are. They aim for the heart every single time, even when they're not shooting arrows at you."

"I've had to become accustomed to their song, but one does not become immune. They sing the truths that are in your heart, so you cannot hide from it, only embrace it."

"And what have you had to embrace, Your Grace?"

"That I've caused pain to one I've loved the most. This is something you and I have in common. We are so much alike, which is one of the reasons you stay one of my favorites."

"But if I'm one of your favorites, why put me through such horror? You made me relive some of the worst times in my life."

"And because I love you so, I'm making you face that which holds you back from being more than what you are. These things inside of you have made you the person you are today, good and bad. The good is easy to see - you are a loving mother, a devout worshiper, and a strong queen. But the bad have also influenced who you are, and you've made decisions based upon those experiences. It's time you've faced them."

"But what does this have to do with Diana? I'm ready to do what is needed of me as long as it gets her powers back. Why did you take your favor from her? She honors you with her deeds as well."

"She has to face a few things herself. Diana is truly your daughter in many ways - she is strong, just, and wise. But she also hides portions of herself that she feels are her weaknesses - doubt, insecurity, and needing others. She used her powers to define who she is, not her actions. And her actions speak for themselves."

"Is that why you are displeased with her? That she is choosing to be with a man? With Bruce?"

"No...that's not the reason. I would have appreciated if she stayed chaste, I would have been able to include her with my blessed hunters one day. But she did not promise herself to me, so I cannot judge her for wanting to love a man. But I did show her the responsibility that she's taking for choosing such a union."

"What did you show her?"

Artemis bent down and plucked a flower from the side of the pool. Hippolyta had never seen a rose like it - petals so white they were almost silver, and tipped in pale blue. The wind stirred up their scent; powdery and fresh. The hunter goddess covered the bloom with her hand, then violently ripped it from its stem. She held the petals in her fist.

"Diana is the first Amazon to join with a man since your sister, Antiope. Since then, the circumstances of your immortality have been put into place, ceasing your aging and body cycles. Each Amazon has stayed the perfect blossoms that us gods have blessed you to be. And Diana was and always shall be one of our most beautiful creations.

"However, by choosing love over the blessings we've given her, she has more than given herself to a mortal man." Artemis held her closed palm up for Hippolyta to see. "She has physically separated herself from what holds Amazons to their roots. Her deflowering was not a pleasant experience, not at first anyway. She felt the virgin pains as if they were birthing pains."

"You made a time that is already difficult for a woman even worse? I don't see how this helps her in any way?" Hippolyta couldn't stop the anger from entering her voice.

"I let her know that she chose to place your people on a path that will change them forever, even as her union with the mortal changed hers. She does not know the extent of that change yet, but she will."

"And what exactly is that, Your Grace? That she's damaging our world by introducing Man's influence?"

"Possibly, that will be up to you to decide. For her, she is doing more." Artemis opened her hand, letting the rose petals fall from her palm. The wind picked them up and blew them out over the pool. They seemingly danced like fairies in the moonlight. "She is freeing herself from the illusion of perfection, and living life as a fallible, mortal woman. Such a life is painful, even deadly. But it can also be heart-wrenchingly beautiful."

"Then as champion, she would be the best person to defend those beautiful mortals - because she would know what it is like to be so fragile and temporary, that she would defend those who are weak, even as their weaknesses make them strong."

"'Bringing it back on point', as a hunter would say," Artemis commented, smiling for the first time since Hippolyta had seen her. "Is that the answer you give for my patronage?"

"It is."

"Then you can have it if you answer one question for me."

"What is that, Your Grace?"

"Choose one of the visions you were given by the moon sirens. Tell me how it came to be."

Hippolyta thought back to the last three images she was given - an arrow protruding from a chest, Diana walking away in shame, and the one that scared her the most...

Bruce holding Diana in his cape, screaming her name, begging her to stay alive.

None of these were easy to answer. But one was an incident she was ready to take responsibility for...

"I could have forgiven Diana for bringing outsiders to Themyscira. They aided us in a time of need. Yet I allowed our...my own prejudices to take over, and punished the one person who looked past our traditions and brought those who were able to help us. I caused my biggest fear, and I drove my daughter away. I nearly lost her for good, but circumstances brought her back to me."

"And what did you learn from that?" Artemis asked.

"That when the time came when we needed assistance again, I did not hesitate to allow her to bring men to our island. She brought a near god and a mortal of extraordinary skill and bravery to help us repel the demons of Apokolips. And they did so to defend a young girl that needed our help. Though our senate objected, I allowed Superman and Batman to help us, no matter their gender."

"Because both of you were able to look past what was written, and do that which actually mattered, I give my patronage back to Diana." Artemis walked up to Hippolyta, raised a finger to her forehead, and drew a star between her brow. The shape glowed for a second, then disappeared into her skin.

"Apollo was right - that last vision you were given was a warning. He is the god of prophecy, so he gave you a gift by showing you that. I only know of it because he also sent me those images. I don't know the details, but I can tell you this - you will play a part of whether or not that vision turns out well."

"You mean if it actually happens?"

"No. I mean if it turns out well." The two women stared at each other, the meaning of the statement sinking in. Hippolyta wiped away a tear but nodded her understanding.

"Your Grace? Can I ask you what the moon sirens sang to you?"

"Because it matters in more ways than you can imagine, I will tell you. I've had to come to terms with a terrible thing that I've done. Some wrote that it was an accident, but, truthfully, it was caused by my own fear. It's ironic that you and your sister played at being me and Orion, the one person I could have loved more than my brother. Apollo once told me Orion would be my immortal beloved, and that scared me. I swore to keep my chastity at all costs.

"Stories say that I mistook Orion for prey, and shot him with one of my arrows. The truth is I shot him knowing exactly what I was doing. I killed Orion. And Apollo's prophecy came true; Orion became my immortal beloved when I put his form into the sky. He became my stars. But how I wish I still had him, not some cold, lovely light."

An arrow protruding out of a chest..."No...don't close your eyes...Anti...don't leave me..."

"How you face that will depend on your next trial, Amazon Queen. You will be challenged on your warrior's skill and cunning."

"Athena...I figured she was next."

"Don't take her lightly. She's been looking forward to this ever since she proposed taking Diana's powers away. Though she did not pledge to her, Athena claimed her anyway. If my chastisement for Diana's decision to love a man was to warn her, Athena's was to punish her. I held back. Athena didn't.

"Take a rest here, Hippolyta. Drink from my waters to refresh yourself, and eat from the fruit trees around you. You are safe until you feel ready to move on." Artemis tilted her head to the side and smirked. "Besides, someone wants to sit with you while you prepare. I'll send him here."

Hippolyta motioned Hestia's blessing of hospitality. Artemis nodded her acceptance, then turned and walked away. Hippolyta leaned over the pool, inspecting one of the white roses growing at the side. They truly were lovely; she wondered if they had a name.

She dipped a hand into the cool waters, splashing her face and cleaning the tears from her cheeks. She unraveled her braid and let her hair hang loose around her shoulders. One of the Herald's Staff feathers fell out and drifted over the pool. It landed among the rose petals floating in the water. She sipped sweet liquid from her hands when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"I swear, it's only an apple. It's not symbolic for anything, nor will it start any wars. I just thought you were hungry." Apollo handed the golden fruit to Hippolyta, smile firmly planted on his lips. She smiled back, taking the offered food and motioning for him to join her.

"You weren't exactly truthful to me, so I shouldn't believe anything you say when it comes to accepting your help." She said this before taking a big bite out of the apple.

"Oh, she wounds me with her arrows to the heart! I shall die painfully in this sylvan glade, gazing upon her beauty as my last vision in life. Hey, that would make a great song! I should write that."

"Only if you come sing it to me after it's finished. I deserve to hear anything created with me in it. I want to know how the story turns out."

"I could do that. But I'm a morning person, I may have to wake you up to sing it to you."

"I get up early, so it wouldn't be a problem for me." The subject matter of their banter made Hippolyta cheeks burn red. She took another bite from her apple to cover her blush. She honestly couldn't tell if it was him or her that scooted their positions closer together.

"So I hear you're up against Athena next. Can I give you some advice?" Apollo asked. Hippolyta nodded. "Go in blazing and fierce like the sun you are. She respects power, which is why she and I fight alongside each other so well. Don't pull any punches with her. She's a goddess, she can take it. And think strategy. She's not like Ares with his blind rage. She's crafty - take her by surprise."

"I'll keep that in mind. Us Amazons worship her for those reasons. I hope my training can keep up with her."

"If there's anything I've learned about the Queen of the Amazons, is that she can keep up." He rubbed his chin derisively. She laughed and reached over, touching his jaw where she had punched him. To her surprise, Apollo closed his eyes and leaned into her caress, placing his hand over hers to keep it there. Her heart jumped when he looked back at her, his green eyes blazing with gentle intensity.

It was like his gaze had looped her in and tugged her towards his lips. Her light touch was answered by him pulling her closer and deepening the kiss. He tasted like apples and her favorite red wine, making her feast on his lips even more. He wound a strong arm around her waist and threaded his fingers through her golden hair. They started leaning back into the soft grass together...

"HEY! Not in my glade," Artemis yelled. "Keep your arrow to yourself, Apollo! No, stop that...what, why are you holding me back, 'Dite? Let me go! I'll go show them..."

"Whoo hoo Polly! Your second god? Girl, you have some high standards, that's for sure. Yeah, you get him! Oh, lighten up, Arty, they're just having fun."

The embracing couple suddenly separated at the jeers and cheers from their audience. Artemis glared at them from across her pond, Aphrodite hugging her to holding her in place. The love goddess laid her head on the moon goddess' shoulder, gazing at them in glee. Apollo and Hippolyta moved away from each other. She subtly readjusted her borrowed chiton.

"Don't worry Arty, I wasn't about to deflower your glade," Apollo growled back at his sister. "Just pluck a few petals, that's all," He added under his breath, winking at Hippolyta. She blushed back and looked away.

"I swear, Apollo, you do that in my glade and I'll make Scooby eat you for a snack!" The dog at her side perked his ears, looking back at her as if saying 'really?'

"Why don't you just take 'Dite over there for some target practice. She could use your help. Use your arrows, and make her put the loaded ones away."

"Fine, but I'm watching you! I'll know if you do 'that' here!" Artemis allowed Aphrodite to pull her away. "First thing we need to do is bind your breasts. Damn woman, how were you able to pull that bow with these huge things in the way?"

Apollo waited for them to disappear, then turned back towards Hippolyta. "Just because we won't do that here doesn't mean I can't do this." He leaned back into her, kissing her until she started reacting passionately. Hippolyta was driven to such a state of excitement, she actually whimpered when he pulled away.

"Why are you doing this to me? I'm about to jump into this pool right now!"

"Oh no you don't, my beautiful queen. You're going to take my bow and arrows and leave yours with me so they won't be destroyed in your battle with Athena. They're as precious as you are. Then you're going to take this frustration and work it out on her. And when you've won, and you're back home lying naked in your bed, I will come to you and make you sing. Something to look forward to, yes?" Hippolyta could only nod.

"I've waited for you to take part in the Ritual since the last time your sister did," Apollo murmured in her ear. "I attended the one when Theseus chose Antiope...oh, don't get it confused, he chose her first. I was too late to take my chance when Heracles came in and messed it up for the rest of us. But now, I'm going to make my opportunity to have you."

"I remember you now. You kept looking at me; Antiope thought we'd make a pretty golden baby."

"A very smart woman! I was there to make sure she chose Theseus, though he was more than able to handle that himself. I saw you and thought what a shame that you weren't going to worship Aphrodite either. But my sister was happy with you, so I left you alone. Now, I will follow your daughter and my chosen warrior as you finish your challenges and wait for you to return home victorious. I should have a song ready for you by then."

"I thank you for watching over my daughter, Your Radiance," he smiled at her flirtatious use of his honorific, "but if Superman is there, why would she need you to watch over them?"

"You think the alien is my chosen warrior? While I'm flattered that he finds power in my sun, he wasn't born under my star, so he's not my chosen one."

"But so many have called him 'Apollo Incarnate'. I figured it was an apt title since he was so heroic."

"Yes, he is a heroic figure, but there is a warrior that I favor more than him. One whose not defined by his power but lets his actions speak for themselves. You yourself called him a mortal of extraordinary skill and bravery. He has honored me many times, though he stays out of my light on his own accord."

Hippolyta gasped, then smiled at what Apollo was telling her. Seems Diana knew how to pick them...

"So as Theseus was your chosen warrior, Bruce is also..."

"Funny thing about him is that while he shuns my light, it shines on him anyway. And those that receive the strongest light cast the darkest shadows."

I'm going hunting / I'm the hunter - I'm going...hunting. - Hunter - Bjork