Isle of Themyscira
Royal Temple
Morning
"Arrest all men, Warrior Women of Themyscira!" commanded Queen Hippolyta. "They're in violation of the law of our island! They don't belong here!"
"Mother!" called Diana, hurriedly making her way up the royal steps to lower her voice as she spoke in opposition to her queen. "These people fought for us. These men came to save us."
"Regardless of such truth, we must uphold our law!"
"What about grace, Mother?"
"We cannot afford such, Daughter. Amazons! Prepare to take them into custody or slay them where they stand! We shall defend our heritage to the uttermost!"
At her words, all of the amazon women began to raise their weapons and ready their stances. Despite most of them having uncertain looks in their eyes, they were fully prepared to carry out the orders of their queen. In response, the citizens of Krypton, the guilds and The Justice League stood their ground, poised to counterattack.
The atmosphere was tense, charged and heated, a deadly standoff.
"Amazons!" Queen Hippolyta gave the war cry. "Kill …"
"Citizens of Krypton!" King Kal-El suddenly called out loudly. "Kneel! Now!"
Everyone hesitated. The amazon warriors didn't attack. The citizens and The Justice League looked around warily.
Then, King Kal-El lowered to one knee. All eyes were on him.
The Knight's eyes narrowed as a small grin crossed his face. In addition to the miracle they had all just witnessed, this King had accomplished the feat of stopping crime in the entire province of Gotham, a feat which Bruce had been unable to accomplish despite a life long ambition. Bruce had come to have faith in Kal, and he knew with confidence that he was about to witness another miracle.
"Krypton!" The Knight called out. "Follow our king!"
Then, he too took a knee. With their chief security officer also telling them to lower their defenses, the people relented. First, the Regulators lowered to one knee, and then the members of The Justice League, then the guilds. All over the battlefield, the citizens dropped their weapons and bowed.
Around them, the amazons now hesitated. To their credit, despite the ways the world had wronged them, the female warriors remained true to their spirit. They were not butchers. It was not their innate nature to harm defenseless people.
All was tense and silent.
"My Queen?" called Hessia, her sword held at the ready, but her hand was trembling.
Despite all her vaunted years of leadership, Queen Hippolyta was stunned into silence. Her teeth gritted with indecision. She hadn't anticipated this. Hippolyta looked over to Diana. Then, Kal's voice resounded.
"Great Queen Hippolyta, I, King Kal-El of Krypton, humbly request an audience with your eminence," his voice seemed to boom across the landscape even from his kneeling position.
Hippolyta was quiet for a long moment as she turned to stare down at him. She again glanced over to Diana, marvelled by the man before her. Diana gazed back at her proudly.
"As Queen, I do not idly, callously or easily dismiss the miracle, victory and salvation you have wrought for us this day," said Hippolyta, herself now humbled. "We do owe you a debt which cannot be repaid. You have already shown a grace, dignity and honor which surpass all others of your male race, Great King. The court shall hear your words."
Standing up boldly, King Kal-El slowly walked up the grand palatial steps as his voice resounded throughout the throne room.
"Great Queen, I bring a message of peace," said King Kal-El, standing to his feet and slowly beginning to ascend the royal steps toward her. "Because of your daughter Princess Diana, I have studied your history. I know you have been wronged. The entire human race is guilty of grave and mortal sin. However, I also know from your history of the true reason for which your race was created. Woman was created for man by God. It is your purpose as ordained by Him. You have been out of His will for many, many years. The time for change has come."
As he spoke, he walked toward Hippolyta. She stepped back from him, almost as if the sheer power of his words was overwhelming her.
"Now, I beseech you, with all my heart, I implore you … to return to your calling and the purpose for which your race was created. You once brought peace, love and serenity to the hearts of men. The world needs you. Men need you. We need you. All of you."
As he finished, Hippolyta's weak legs struck the edge of her throne chair, and she fell into it, gazing up at The King.
"You ask much," Hippolyta whispered, deep in thought.
"This … is not my true request, O Queen," Kal said in a low voice. "What I ask is much more simple … and personal."
"What is it?"
"I humbly ask … for the permission to request your daughter's hand in marriage."
Startled gasps arose from all over the throne ballroom chamber … including one from Diana herself.
Staring intently, Hippolyta looked over to where Diana stood. There was surprise in her eyes, but also … that particular softness. That sweet unrealized underlying affection … which could only be love. Hippolyta had known it once upon a time herself. But with Diana, it was much more real, strong and pure than she had ever known.
Fearful, Hippolyta tried to dissuade both of them.
"A marriage of convenience?" scorned Hippolyta. "To make her a concubine? Simply to unify our empires?"
"No, oh no, Great Queen," King Kal-El said humbly, finally turning to gaze upon Diana as he spoke. "I have loved her since i saw her from afar a long time ago. I know this now. During her time in my kingdom, she has saved my life more than once. As you heard for yourself, even our adversaries stated that her presence in the kingdom was the pivotal difference in keeping them from world domination. The people adore her, as do i. I can no longer imagine my life without her."
Hippolyta wanted to hold onto her anger, but his loving words slipped it from her grasp. She looked over at Diana, and saw her standing transfixed by The King's words. When Hippolyta spoke, her voice did not hold the commanding dominance she had intended, but instead was barely a strained whisper.
"And you, Diana, would you have This King?"
Walking toward the throne seat, Diana spoke proudly. "This man has proven himself more worthy than I had ever dared to dream. Instead of tyranny, hate and oppression, he rules with grace, humility and … love. Within him, he has the power to usher in a new world, a better world, a greater world. But, despite all his strength, he can't do it .. without me by his side. I would … pledge myself to him willingly."
"And your heart?" Hippolyta asked in a quiet voice.
"He … He has it," Diana whispered. "I don't know when it slipped away … so simply … so easily … before I even realized, or understood … what I was feeling … almost as if it were … destiny."
Hippolyta's head lowered, solemn in a quiet resignation, remembering her past and contemplating her own fate now. "You describe the ways of love, young one," she said. "True love." Then, she looked up at King Kal-El. "And what of an old withered queen, Great King? Am I to be discarded … exiled … put to death?"
"Oh no, Great Queen Hippolyta," King Kal-El said quickly, turning back to her. "I seek for Krypton to be a land of peace, and I have formed a League of Justice, comprised of those most venerable in the kingdom. You shall have an honored seat at the table of The League. You will be involved in all decisions for the land. As a lawful mother, you shall be our queen emeritus."
Hippolyta gazed up at Kal, stunned into silence by the graciousness of This King. She couldn't have asked for better circumstances. Now it was encumbered upon her to make a decision for her people. Then, she suddenly realized, she could let them choose for themselves. Strengthened by Kal's kindness, she stood to her feet and spoke loudly.
"My amazon sisters, two paths lie before you this day. Will you continue to follow your queen now in the ways we have known, or will you follow a new queen into a very different era? The choice is yours."
For long moments, all was silent in the auditorium. No one moved. No one made a sound.
Then, the silence was broken by the loud echoing clang of a sword dropping to the ground.
All heads turned to stare. Standing beside Donna, Hessia had dropped her sword. Then, with a nod to Diana, she lowered to her knees.
Another sword dropped. Then another. More. All over the land, weapons fell to the ground. No longer needed.
Little Donna lowered to her knees. Other amazons followed. Then, all of them.
Seeing the decision of those under her charge, Hippolyta sat back down.
"King Kal-El, do you have a minister of The Most High God here?" she asked.
"I am here," a strong voice called out.
Kal turned to stare out over the battlefield, and watched a particular figure make his way through the crowd up the royal steps.
"Steven!" Kal called out proudly, taking his hand as they met at the top of the staircase. "My old friend. You don't have your shield this time?"
"Oh, I do," answered Steven, pulling out his copy of The Book. "I carry the shield of faith."
Kal hugged Steve and then drew him over to Diana.
"Diana, this is Steven Rogers. We're kindred spirits. He has always been such a soldier on the battlefield that we call him The Captain."
"A pleasure to meet you, Captain," Diana smiled as she took his hand.
"The pleasure is mine, Princess. But I think we're about to change your title, aren't we? Follow me," he said cordially.
Walking to the apex of the royal staircase in the temple, Steve drew Kal and Diana to stand on either side of him facing one another. Now standing as one great unit, the people began to crowd together near the foot of the staircase, staring upward. As far as the eye could see, everyone stood silent to bare witness.
"Place both your hands on The Bible," Steve said reverently, waiting until Kal and Diana did so. "Do you, Kal-El, take Diana to be your lawfully wedded wife?
"I do," Kal-El answered.
"Do you, Diana, take Kal-El to be your lawfully wedded husband?
"I do, Diana answered.
"Then, in praise of Almighty God, may He ordain, bless and sanctify this marriage. You may now kiss …"
Kal and Diana were already kissing.
"... the Bride," Steve finished with a smile.
All the land burst into thunderous applause. All the peoples were together in celebration, a joining which would eventually spread across the earth as a whole. The blessed marriage union of Kal and Diana began an era of peace, love and joy which would last for all time …
The Beginning ...