Chapter 26 – Instances of Life and of Death

Themyscira – The Capital – Months Later

Princess Diana awoke with the birds' songs outside her open window. The gentle ocean breeze wafted in with their pleasant sounds, and fluttered the light draperies in her chambers. Although the sun was not yet completely over the horizon, she could already hear the calls of the Amazons in the streets below the Palace.

Another day on Themyscira, another day closer to her reunion with Clark, and the birth she both anticipated and feared.

Diana arose carefully from her bed, mindful of her big belly. She had not swelled as big as she thought she might, but she felt plenty large enough. Naked, she walked to the large oval mirror by her dressing table, where it amply revealed her supersized proportions. All things given, she thought, she looked like she'd swallowed an only medium-sized beach ball. She examined herself from several angles, marveling at the physical change in her. There was a little swelling in her ankles, but otherwise pregnancy made few changes, something she knew to be grateful for, compared to what most other women had to endure.

It will not be long now, she thought, perhaps only a few weeks at the most. That meant Clark would be returning from the north soon, perhaps any day now. The thought cheered her up immensely. There had been no recurrence of the nightmarish dream she'd had months before, it was mostly forgotten.

In a good mood, Diana picked up her xiphos and began a basic workout routine. A condition like pregnancy was no excuse to stop martial exercise, a belief shared by all Amazons. She did this practice every morning, whether in Themyscira or Man's World.

Upon hearing the sounds that Diana was up and about, the Bodyguard Selene entered her room and bowed dutifully.

"Good morning, my Lady. Shall I fetch your white robe and cloak?"

"My ritual clothes?" Diana stopped and looked at her Guardswoman attendant, puzzled. "What for?"

Selene gave the Amazon Princess a slightly reproachful look. "For your visit to the Sybil. Today is the day you agreed to pay respects to her and hear her prophesy."

Diana sighed. Yes that was right; after weeks of her mother pestering her to go and see Menalippe, she'd finally agreed, if only to cease her mouth.

"My Lady has not forgotten?"

"No, no I haven't. Very well, fetch my clothes. I will go see her and get it over with."

From a sandalwood chest in the corner Selene retrieved the plain white garments which represented purity, considered the proper attire when visiting the Sybil and conducting religious rites.

"The Sybil possesses the ability to read omens and foresee the future. It is good for you to visit her and hear her prediction for your child's future. These are important things."

"You know I respect the Sybil, Selene. I only wonder how effective her prophecies can be. You know she's not always right."

"That is Man's World's thinking," Selene shook her head. "They have forsaken the gods and nature and instead venerate machines in hopes that technology will save them. You have said so yourself."

"That is partly true," Diana murmured, allowing Selene to attend her. She didn't say she liked and used a lot of those machines herself. "But there are many good things also. It isn't all terrible."

Once clad in her plain white robe, Diana sat down before the mirror so Selene could dress her hair.

"Yes, m'Lady, you've told me many stories about Man's World, and I've heard the same from Vanessa. It sounds much too fast-paced and loud for my liking. All your television and cars and flying ships…however did you manage to sleep with all that mechanical noise?"

Diana laughed. "You get used to it after awhile!"

"Your mother often worried about you in Man's World," Selene went on thoughtfully, as she braided the Princess' long black tresses. "Sometimes I would see her staring out to sea for hours, and hear her talk aloud, wondering if you were all right, if you'd been hurt or given offense."

Diana glanced at her attendant's reflection in the mirror, wondering what she was getting at.

"She knew I could take care of myself. She had no cause to be worried!"

"Only because she had visited the Sybil, and was reassured of your well-being in that impious land; after Menalippe had given her reassurances, she was able to fully relax."

"Selene, what are you trying to tell me?"

Selene shrugged as she finished Diana's hair, and set in her tiara. "Your mother wishes to accompany you to the Sybil's Cave."

Diana groaned, and stood up. "Must she follow me everywhere? Does she think I will run away again?"

It was true Hippolyta was not exactly pleased by Diana's trip up north to see her husband; Diana had only shrugged and said, "I just wanted to see how he was doing. He is doing just fine, Mother. You should be happy!" Hippolyta's only response was to keep an even closer eye on her daughter, sometimes popping up when Diana didn't expect it. No doubt she will be hovering over me during the entire birth-travail, Diana thought.

"She only wants assurance from Menalippe that your daughter will be blessed by the Gods."

"Selene," Diana said firmly. "You know as well as I do that the Gods care not one whit for humanity! Whatever Menalippe says or doesn't say – if she's even sober, that is! – will have nothing to do with how my daughter lives her life. She can make her own way in the world with or without their help."

"Oh, Princess," Selene shook her head in consternation. If anyone other Amazon had said what Diana did, she would be censured for certain! "You should have more respect for the Gods."

"Now you are sounding like my mother."

Selene bowed her head. "I mean no disrespect, Princess. But the Gods are the Gods. We should respect them and heed their advice, whenever they choose to impart it."

Diana sighed inwardly. Selene was like all her sisters, rather superstitious and tied to tradition without thinking to question it. Was she once that way too? She found she couldn't remember, and that bothered her. Had Man's World really changed her that much?

"I do respect tradition, Selene," Diana replied. I just don't feel bound by it anymore.

Instead she added, "I will go the Sybil and perform all the proper rites, do not fear."

Selene nodded sagely. "Good, that's as it should be."

Just then Hippolyta walked in, dressed identically in a white robe, a fold of it draped over her head. Both Selene and Diana bowed deeply.

"My little moon and stars!" the Queen of the Amazons exclaimed, embraced Diana when she rose. "Not so little anymore, eh? I'm glad to see you are ready for our visit."

"Of course, Mother. How could I forget?" Inwardly she thanked Selene for the reminder.

"Then let us be off."

Hippolyta and Diana left the Palace, descended down into the winding streets surrounding the great building. They would travel without attendants, on foot, to the shrine, according to the proper form. The Amazons in the street of course recognized them, and either bowed or hailed both their Queen and Princess as they passed. Diana saw how her sisters would surreptitiously glance at her belly, speculation rife on their faces. She knew what they were thinking and it made her feel self-conscious.

Just before they left the city's environs, they encountered a party of four Amazons. The Queen stopped and raised her hand.

"Greetings, sisters!" Hippolyta said warmly. "May the light of Gaia shine upon you!"

For a moment Diana stood nonplussed, then she realized the Amazons were the visitors from Man's World! They all looked stunning but foremost among them was Lois; Diana hardly recognized her. Like her companions, she was dressed in a rich peplos of white cotton bordered with gold thread, her hair piled up like Diana's in the Amazon style. She would easily pass for any Amazon on Themyscira, until she opened her mouth; she still spoke with a distinctly Metropolis accent.

"Blessings also upon you, your Majesty," Lois said, bowing in return. "And upon the Princess Diana!"

Lois' eye caught Diana's as her head rose and she knew that look instantly. The one that said, I'm onto a scoop, and you're in my sights! Diana had heard she was quite inquisitive, exploring every nook and cranny of the Capital. Diana had no doubt what she was up to, she was still looking for Clark. She sometimes wondered if she should just blurt out the truth to her, but she thought Clark wouldn't like it.

"Lois," Diana said as casually as she could. "You look wonderful. All of you do."

"They are to undergo the Iron Rite tomorrow," Hippolyta said proudly. "Then, they will truly be Amazons, and our full sisters."

Diana nodded, smiling. "I'm so happy all of you made it through the training! You must be looking forward to the day."

"You bet," Lois said cheerfully. "I'm sure that all sorts of secrets will be revealed," She turned her look on Diana. "We can finally talk together as sisters!"

Diana recognized that tone of Lois', and she tried to keep her poker-face. Continued exposure to the Rope of Hestia made the wielder incapable of deceit, even when not holding it!

"I'm sure you will learn much," Diana replied, then added in a low voice. "But you must not believe everything you see, even during the Iron Rite."

Before Lois could ask what she meant by that, Hippolyta spoke up.

"We are on our way to the Sybil. Once you are consecrated, you must visit with her also."

"Um, sure, your Majesty," Shaniqua laughed nervously. In Man's World she sang in the gospel choir of her AME church - if her pastor could see her now! "That should be, um, interesting."

"My mother and I must be on our way," Diana said quickly, eager to skip Lois' inquisitive look. "We will be present for the Iron Rite."

Lois and her friends bowed as the royal couple departed. Alicia glanced sharply at Lois.

"Why didn't you just straight up ask who's the baby daddy? You might as well have!"

"Oh, that's no fun that way," Lois said. "I have other ways of getting to the truth, and I don't need a lasso."

Maggie shook her head. "Oh, you're going to get us in trouble!"

"We're already in trouble!" Shaniqua exclaimed. "This Iron Rite...you sure we don't have to do no weird stuff?"

Alicia shrugged. "All I've heard is that there's a bunch of music and dancing - I don't know, maybe you have to dance naked or something - and they give you some kind of hallucinogenic drink."

"Then what happens?"

"How the heck should I know?" Alicia nodded at Lois. "She's the reporter! Ask her!"

"Well, Lois?"

"I don't know either," Lois murmured, still looking after Wonder Woman and her mother. "But something's up. I guess we'll know after tomorrow."

The long rocky trail up to the Sybil's cavern took some time to walk, and for a long while Diana and Hippolyta were alone together. Diana feared her mother would use the time to lecture her about her latest misdeed, but to her surprise, she seemed rather (unusually) quiet and pleasant. But she knew what was going to come. Her mother never changed.

"I remember when I was big with you in my belly," Hippolyta said reminiscently. "You kicked all the time, as if impatient to be out and getting in trouble! I could hardly sleep for it."

"I sleep very well, Mother," Diana couldn't help a dig. "Kal's child hardly disturbs me."

"Yes, perhaps that is well," Even the mention of Kal did not seem to alter her mother's mellow mood today. "Have you given any thought as to what you will do after the birth?"

"I…well..not much, actually," Diana muttered, a bit taken aback. "At first Clark and I were thinking of raising the child in Smallville, until he lost the farm. At the moment, we do not have anywhere to live, other than his Fortress in the Arctic."

"I see. You will not consider raising the child here?"

"If it is a daughter…perhaps that is one option," Diana hesitated. "If not, then Clark and I will have to talk about it. There is still a possibility we could move back to Metropolis..."

"'Talk about it,'" Hippolyta repeated. Her face was unreadable as she walked alongside her daughter. "Diana, you know our custom as well as I. You have known of the Amazon Way since you were of age to know."

"You know I never agreed with it," Diana said in a low voice. "Neither with that, nor with what our sisters do."

"It is our tradition."

"Then the tradition is wrong! Being 'tradition' doesn't make it right."

Hippolyta looked at her daughter, her face as quiet and ominous as a thundercloud on the far horizon.

"Have you told him?"

"No. He does not know."

"I am glad to hear that you have not blabbed all of our secrets to men, but, why haven't you told him?" Hippolyta looked away again, up at the looming hillside before them. "Because you fear his reaction? That he will despise you for who and what you are?"

"No…because I am ashamed," Diana replied bluntly. "That is why I never told him."

"Ashamed," Hippolyta said softly. "I knew this would happen once you left this Island. Man's World has taught you to be ashamed of your own people."

"No, I am ashamed that we murder helpless people, and children!" Diana clenched her fist, feeling the old anger seep into her voice. "It is not right!"

"We do not force ourselves on men, you know that! Our sisters only offer themselves, and men simply do as their nature dictates."

"And if they resist you murder them anyway! Isn't that what you tried to do with the King of Alar? The reason why he hates our people?" Diana accused.

"You've been listening to Selene's stories again," Hippolyta brushed off Diana's indignation. "He is of no matter, he can do nothing. Your man, however," she added ominously. "I would not like to see him interfere with our customs."

Diana clenched her fists in vexation. "What do you mean, Mother?"

"Do not be dense, child! You know very well what we must do with male children!"

"Do not call me a child!" Diana shouted. "I will not allow that! I told Clark he would see his baby, whether it be boy or girl. Neither you nor your henchwomen will prevent that!"

"Lower your voice, you are in the presence of the Gods," Hippolyta shushed angrily.

"They can't hear us," Diana muttered, but she did so, seeing that they had entered the columned path directly leading to the grotto where the Sybil resided. The marble busts of the Olympian deities stared down at them as they passed. When she had been brought her as a child they had always frightened her with their cold stone stares; now, she just saw a row of unimpressive sculptures with pale and faded expressions. She wondered why she even bothered to come here.

"Menalippe can, she is expecting us."

Diana looked around but there was no one about. "I do not hear or see anything."

"Perhaps she is back in the recesses of the cave."

Hippolyta and Diana finally arrived at the mouth of the cave. To their surprise, the torches that were usually lit at the entranceway were out. They could hear the sound of the ocean beyond the cliff, but no greeting came. The silence was unusual – the Sybil always knew when someone approached her cave.

"Where is she?" Diana wondered. "Menalippe?" She called out. They paused, but still heard nothing.

"Wait here," Hippolyta ordered, in a voice that brooked no argument. Unwillingly, Diana waited while her mother lit a torch and descended into the cave. No doubt, Menalippe was passed out drunk, not an unusual occurrence. She thought of all the other things she could be doing this morning…

A scream came from the depths of the cave, driving all Diana's thoughts away.

"Mother? Mother!"

Despite her bulk, Diana rushed into the cave, following the dim illumination. She found her mother bent over Menalippe, who lay sprawled on the ground beneath the flat stone altar where she read the omens.

"Menalippe!" Diana gasped, rushing to her mother's side. She saw the Sybil's wide staring eyes, her mouth open in a frozen, dreadful-looking rictus. Dried vomit and spots of blood had splattered over her clothes. Her body was trembling faintly as if in seizure. "What is wrong with her?"

"I do not know," Hippolyta's voice was tight with alarm "She has a pulse but very faint."

"Give her to me, I'll take her to Cyanna!"

"Can you fly in your condition?" Hippolyta asked worriedly.

"I can!"

"Then go quickly!"

Diana easily picked up the comatose woman and rushed out of the cave. Hippolyta heard the whoosh of air as her daughter took to the air. She stood up and held her arms tightly. Fear coursed through her body. She had not screamed because of seeing Menalippe unconscious…but upon seeing what she had scrawled on the top of the altar, in her own blood. Hippolyta raised the torch again, to make certain she had seen it correctly.

DOOM.

Before they arrived, the Sybil must have gone into one of her trances, and whatever she had seen caused her to scrawl this one word on the altar. Then she had collapsed. There could be no worse omen than that, Hippolyta thought. It could only mean one thing. The prophecy was coming true, and it had something to do with Diana's child. This one-word response told the Amazon Queen what she needed to know, and what course of action she must take.

With the hem of her robe, Hippolyta rubbed the scrawl off, staining her pristine cloth. But the mark was gone at least, she would be the only one to see it. She turned and hurried out of the cave, leaving the torch to burn itself out in the darkness.

When Hippolyta returned to the Palace, she was greeted by a somber High Council, Cyanna among them. She knew it could only mean one thing.

"Menalippe?" Hippolyta whispered.

The chief healer shook her head. "Diana brought her to me quickly, but it was too late. She is now with the Gods."

Hippolyta felt an intense pang of grief. Menalippe had been with them since the beginning, it had been she who had prophesied the way to the island. She nodded, forced her sadness aside, for now.

"Where is Diana?"

"In her chambers. She was also much shaken, but she is well…"

"Why?" Hippolyta demanded. "What did Menalippe die of?"

"I…do not know, yet," Cyanna was confused, sounded troubled. "I must perform a full autopsy."

Mara shook her head in dismay. "I always thought she would die of the drink!"

"No. Whatever it was, it caused her heart to stop, but it was not that."

Kwaian shuddered. "It looked like she'd died of fright. Hippolyta, did she say anything at all?"

Hippolyta pulled her cloak tighter. "She said nothing, but she gave us a final warning."

When Hippolyta told them what Menalippe had written on the altar, they all looked stunned and frightened.

"We must...we must search for someone to replace her," Eurydike said. "We cannot be without a Sybil at this time. We must know more."

"What of the Iron Rite?" Philippus asked. "Shall we proceed?"

Hippolyta nodded. "Yes, we must, in her memory. No word of how she died, or what she wrote, must leave this chamber. For now, we will only give out that Menalippe died of natural causes. It may even be true. Now, go to your chambers to grieve, my sisters," Hippolyta said quietly. "We will meet again soon."

The Council members bowed and filed out of her chamber.

"Philippus," Hippolyta said. "Stay behind. We have matters to discuss."

The general turned, and nodded slowly, seeing the look on her Queen's face. Laodice was the last to leave and saw the two talking softly together. She did not need to linger to know what they were talking about. She pursued her lips in a contented smile, and closed the door.

Northern Themyscira

In the big field between the barn and Dierdre's farmhouse, Clark pushed the wooden plow he'd designed, from remembered lessons in history class, through the rich, dark soil. He'd hitched it behind the horse Boudicaa had given him, and together they were tilling the soil in preparation for planting the school's first crop. Krypto, the white mongrel dog that hung around Dierdre's house, followed along playfully, snapping at butterflies.

If Pa could see me now! Clark thought. Farming the old fashioned way, medieval-style!

For Clark, this was very slow work, but it would be something the Amazon children could do easily, which was the point. The oldest kids, Halkyone and Isolde, were watching how he did it, while the second oldest girls, Zanthippe and Megalia, helped scatter the seeds into the furrows. Soon, if everything went well – and Clark was sure they would, given this island's ideal climate – fresh vegetables would soon be on the children's table.

The other girls played with Krypto as he finished up the last row. "You make it look so easy, Kal!" Kori shouted. "You are not even sweating!"

Clark laughed. "I rarely sweat!"

Dierdre, the heavyset Getai matron and teacher, stepped outside the house, wiping her hands on a cloth.

"Girls," she shouted. "Go in and clean up, it's time for dinner."

Clark unhitched Horse (he couldn't decide on a name so he just called him Horse) while the girls reluctantly ran inside. To his surprise, instead of ignoring him as she usually did, she came up to him and held out to him a pitcher of cold water.

"Yer welcome to join us at our table, but be sure ye clean yerself up first, I don't want ye trackin' the dirt into me clean house," she sternly said.

"Thank you," Clark wondered what the special occasion was. He took a deep drink. The water here on Themyscira was the best well-water he'd ever tasted.

As if guessing his mind, Dierdre replied,

"Seein' as ye might not be with us for much longer, ye might as well come in. All the bairns wanted it. They took a vote." Dierdre sounded amazed at the thought.

"Was it unanimous?"

"One abstainin'," Dierdre grunted and stomped off. Clark grinned, knowing who that vote came from!

Dinner was very enjoyable, if a bit surprising to Clark - he noted that Dierdre served the same food to the kids as she did to him. Not that it was bad, but he thought he could be a better cook - all those years of bachelorhood had given him some culinary skills.

"If you don't mind Dierdre, I can take over some cooking duties," he gently hinted.

The girls goggled at him. "Can men really cook?" Isolde asked doubtfully.

"All the time! There are famous chefs who are men."

Dierdre only shrugged. She didn't quite seem her usual boisterous and grumpy self, another surprise.

"If ye want. Ye'll only be here a few more days, I believe."

Clark's heart leapt, then he saw the looks on the girls' faces. They looked distinctly glum.

"Already?" Iocasta sniffled. "But you just got here!"

"Why can't you stay?"

For a moment it looked as if Dierdre would reply, but she didn't, so Clark answered.

"I have to go back to the Palace. My wife is waiting for me."

"You mean the Princess?"

"Did she have the baby yet?"

Clark smiled. "Not yet! But I want to be there when she does!"

"Why?"

"Erm...because that's what fathers do," Clark hadn't quite expected the conversation to take this direction. The little girls looked exchanged confused looks with one another. Did they even know the word 'father' Clark wondered?

Maia stared with wide eyes at Clark. "So you can kill the baby if it is a girl?"

Clark nearly choked on his glass of milk. He stared at her but she'd asked that question with all the innocence of a seven-year-old, which she was.

"No! No...of course not," Clark shot a glance towards Dierdre. Did she teach the kids this stuff? But her back was to him, tidying up the kitchen things, as if she hadn't heard. "Of course I don't want to kill the baby. Fathers love their children just as much as mothers do." Clark explained as gently as he could.

"But only if it is a boy baby, right Kal?"

Clark shook his head. Where the hell did they get this? "No, I would love the baby no matter what."

Halkyone stirred her soup, staring down at it sadly. "I had a baby brother once."

Clark froze again. Had he heard her right? "A brother? What happened to him?"

"I don't know. He just went away."

"Where?" Clark pressed. The other kids had gone quiet.

Halkyone shrugged.

"Just away."

Before Clark could ask anything else, Dierdre was suddenly there.

"That's enough botherin' 'im for tonight, he has a lot of work to do before he goes home! Now tidy and wash up, and off to bed with ye!"

With much protesting and clatter the girls did as they were told. Dierdre and Clark waited there, silently until they were alone. He took a deep breath.

"Is that what you teach?" Clark asked mildly. "That fathers kill their kids and hate girls?"

"You cannae deny it does not happen in Man's World," Dierdre's voice was quiet. "I may not know much, bein' up here in the north, but I do know...some things."

"Some things!" Clark stared at her, angry now. "Shouldn't these kids have a right to know the truth? That men can be good people too?"

"For what reason?" Dierdre shook her head. "If they are blessed, they will never set foot off this island."

"And never get a chance to see the truth for themselves? To grow? To know there's a world out there?"

"You knew what we were like when ye came here," Dierdre said. "What our ways are. I admit, they are hard ways, but that is how we live."

"But you've seen me now and so have these children! They will know that what you teach is a lie!"

Dierdre stiffened, but she kept her voice mild.

"It changes nothing. Sometimes, we rescue a wolf cub. The cub is playful and harmless, but when it grows to be big, we cannae keep it, and it must be released to the wild, because it becomes dangerous, even to its carers. Even a child knows this."

"But I'm not a wild animal!"

"No. Yer ten times more dangerous," Dierdre said quietly. "Ye're a man. Not even a human man. Ye frighten people just bein' who ye are. I'm sure ye know that already."

"Yes, I do," Clark pushed his chair back and stood up, frustrated. He turned and faced Dierdre. "Be straight with me - after everything I've done here, all I've done, are you still scared of me?" He had known that Dierdre's bluff act was just that, something to save face before the children.

Dierdre stared up at him, perhaps the first time she really looked him in the eye. Long seconds passed.

"No," she finally said. "Not anymore. I admit that does surprise me."

"There, you see?" Clark pressed. "The children aren't scared of me. Doesn't that show that there's nothing to be frightened of?"

Dierdre shook her head. "Man, ye may still be the greatest fool creature this side of Themyscira! We may not be afraid of ye, anymore, but that in itself...aye, that's something to fear. Maybe not by me, but our sisters. What ye bring here to our Island."

The Getai picked up the last of the dishes. "Heed me advice, man. Once ye're reunited with the Princess, leave this Island, with her. Ye'll be happier that way, I swear it."

Clark slowly walked to the door as Dierdre continued her cleaning. As he opened the door he paused and looked back.

"What happened to Halkyone's baby brother?" Clark asked quietly

Dierdre's hands hovered between the table and the sink.

"There never was a baby brother," Dierdre said harshly. "She be too young to remember something like that. She was mistaken."

Clark watched Dierdre disappear back behind the kitchen, then he went outside into the darkness, shutting the door behind him

Themyscira - The Capital

Vanessa hummed to herself as she hitched the horses to the royal cart. She was excited that it was time to go back north and fetch Superman back from the Getai. It would be a relief to take another trip, a break from the books in the Library and her research. She was still fascinated by the early stories of the Amazons she had found, and was trying to hunt down more. The story of Cassilda was more gripping than she expected, and she had found a few more materials from the mysterious writer who had penned the original work she'd found, which she still was not able to relocate. Still she had her notes. She supposed that eventually she would approach the other Amazons to ask about the story's authenticity. It seemed that there was a prophecy connected to it, the type of apocalyptic doomsday type that Vanessa had similarly studied in her comparative religions classes. She had hoped to eventually talk to Menalippe herself, but with her unexpected death that vital link to the past was lost. Everyone was saddened by her passing, so Vanessa was looking forward to leaving gloom of the city for awhile.

Before she could toss in her gear she turned and saw Illythia behind her, dressed likewise for traveling, in her helmet and cloak.

"I am to go to the North to retrieve the man Kal back to the Capital," the blonde Amazon said pre-emptorily. "This is my duty now. You may go return your studies in the library." She added mockingly.

"What?" Vanessa said, confused. "No one told me this."

"Well, now you are told," Illythia smirked "Do you have a problem?"

"But Superman – Kal – is expecting me."

"My orders are from General Philippus herself," Illythia lifted her chin. "If you wish to question them, you may ask her yourself. She is right over there."

She was, right by the stables. To Vanessa's dismay, the general heard the argument and came over.

"Is there a problem?" Philippus asked. The tone of her voice implied that there'd better not be one.

"Uh, I was just, um, wondering why Illythia was going North," Vanessa said nervously. "I thought that was my duty."

"You are a Bodyguard and do the duties you are assigned. I have assigned Illythia to this task. You are to work with our sisters from Man's World now." Philippus said curtly.

Vanessa did not want to argue with the Amazon General, who could easily snap her spine with one hand and make a daiquiri with the other. Reluctantly, she handed over the reins to Illythia, who smugly mounted the wagon. As she drove off, she could have swore that the two shared some knowing look. There was definitely something going on, Vanessa thought, but who could she share her concerns with? Then she remembered the visitors. Yes, there was one sister she could confide in.

The royal cart rolled on; just outside the Capital, Illythia made a slight detour, to a small blockhouse used as a way-station before entering the city. She pulled up and waited, but not long.

Four heavily armed Amazon riders appeared on fast horses, all whom Illythia recognized as former members of the Bodyguard. All were directly under Philippus' command, but for this mission they were dressed as ordinary Amazon warriors without markings of rank or affiliation. One had a fearsome scar across her chest.

Illythia raised her hand in greeting. "Herodias, Apollonia, Nike, Melite. Blessings of Black Persephone."

The Amazons returned the code greeting.

"We have the weapons from the Sacred Armory," Apollonia reported. "They're concealed in the blockhouse. I shall fetch them."

"Very good," Illythia nodded. "I've just come from General Philippus. Our orders are to detain the dog Kal-el in the cavern beneath the Cliff of the Western Gate. There are chains there which were constructed to restrain even a Titan. He will be held there, for now."

"Why do we not just kill him?" Herodias asked. "Surely it would be the safest course?"

"The Queen does not wish it…yet," Illythia explained, though her tone suggested she did not agree. "It depends on whether or not the Princess bears a daughter. If not she wants him out of the way, so he cannot interfere with our custom."

"How shall we take him?" Nike asked. Her head was shaved bald and ritually scarred, a mark of her devotion to the Black Persephone.

"He expects to be fetched from the north in this conveyance so he will suspect nothing. After we leave the land of the Getai that is when we shall strike. Meet me before the fifth milestone. You will disguise yourselves as the Queen's Bodyguard, he won't suspect anything out of the ordinary, he will think you are sent by the Queen. If we move swiftly, he will have no chance against us, now that we have the Ropes of Harmodias and the Club of Herakles."

All the Amazons nodded. "We understand and obey."

Illythia looked at all of them. "You must not show the slightest bit of fear or of excitement. He will sense a racing heartbeat and increased respiration. You must be calm."

Herodias stared coldly at her. "We are Amazons and we fear no man, even if he is an alien demon. We will conceal our intent, have no doubt."

"Good. Then let us go with Hecate's blessing!"

Illythia flicked the whip over the horses while the other Amazons rode off in another direction.

Northern Themyscira - Several Days Later

Clark knew that any day now Vanessa Kapatelis would arrive to take him back to the Palace. His forebodings stirred by the talk with Dierdre had come to be replaced with anxious anticipation, and excitement. It took all his self-control not to just up and fly back to the Palace right now, but if truth were told, he would miss the kids, and Krypto. The kids caught his mood and were excited for him. Right now, Clark thought, nothing could shake his good mood. He felt like he was friendly towards everyone, even the annoying Getai. When Dierdre came to bring him his lunch he even hugged and planted a kiss on her ear, while the kids giggled and Dierdre pretended to be gravely offended.

"Can we come and visit you in the Capital, Kal?" Iocasta asked.

"You can come and visit me in Man's World!" Clark said while Dierdre scowled. "If Dierdre will let you."

"The Queen let the Princess go," she muttered. "One be enough."

"Look" Halkyone pointed. "Someone is coming!"

Clark jumped up. He could see the wagon coming down the path, with its rider clad in the Queen's livery, the helmet pulled down on her face. His heart leapt - it was here!

Krypto snarled and began barking. Clark had to hush him.

"Are you going now, Kal?" Kori said sadly as the girls gathered round.

Clark nodded. "It's time. I will miss you girls. Be sure to keep up with the newspaper!"

"We will, Kal! But how will we send you issues in Man's World?"

Clark grinned. "I'm sure you'll find a way!"

The wagon drew closer, and Krypto only kept barking, until finally Dierdre had to take him inside. As she did so, the wagon finally pulled up as the girls watched.

"Nessie!" Clark waved his arm excitedly. "Long time no see! How is-?"

Then the Amazon removed her helmet, and instead of red curls, a stream of blonde locks poured out. The woman smiled at him innocently.

"Oh…Illythia," Clark tried to conceal the disappointment and surprise in his voice. This was the last person he'd expected (and the last person he really wanted to be alone with, of anyone on this Island). "I, ah, wasn't expecting you, I thought Vanessa Kapatelis was coming to get me?"

"She is preoccupied at the moment with her studies, so she asked if I could go in her place," Illythia replied easily. "Of course I am always willing to help a sister even if she is from Man's World."

"That's nice, I guess," Clark said. That didn't sound like Vanessa. But did it matter? He was going back to the Palace and to his Diana. Any way he could get there he'd take!

"The Queen thanks you for your care for this...man," Illythia announced loftily to the Getai matron. "You see, Kal-el, we all have our uses."

He turned to Dierdre, who was eyeing the blonde Amazon with unconcealed disdain and suspicion.

"Thank you Dierdre," Clark said sincerely. "I will miss you and the girls, I mean it."

The Getai matron nodded. "I know ye do."

Clark held out his hand. "In my world, we shake hands. Will you honor me with shaking mine?"

Dierdre eyed his outstretched hand doubtfully, as if he'd forgotten to wash after using the urinal, but she did. She seemed a bit surprised at herself, after all.

"Blessings go with ye, Kal," Dierdre said. It was the first time she had used his name. "And...remember what I said."

Clark waved goodbye to the girls, who waved back. Then he climbed into the wagon and soon they rode off, out of sight.

"Will we see Kal again, Dierdre?" Kori asked.

"No...I do not think so," the stout old matron replied quietly. Kori looked up, wondering at the sad tone in her teacher's voice. "No, we shall not see him again. But...I do hope you will remember what he taught you girls."

Kori nodded, looking back after the wagon, although she could not see it. "I will, Dierdre," she said. "I promise."

Southern Themyscira

To Clark's relief, Illythia seemed quite pleasant and well-behaved during the journey back. He supposed that after his time with the Getai, she seemed quite moderate. But he still would have preferred Vanessa's company. Fortunately she didn't make any more passes at him. She seemed more cool to him, perhaps his novelty had worn off.

"What has happened since I've been gone?" Clark asked.

Illythia shrugged. "Not much. The Princess has been well and attending to her duties, as has the Queen. Life goes on on our little Island, as it always has."

"Oh. What about the...the visitors?"

Illythia smirked again. "They are still there. They successfully passed the Iron Rite, even your "friend" Lois Lane. They are full Amazons now."

"That's...nice, I suppose."

That was about the depth of their conversation; most of the time was passed in silence or Illythia humming some Themysciran tune. Clark was surprised that Lois and the others were still there, but perhaps it wouldn't be too much of a problem, if he could just stay in the Palace with Diana. It must be very soon that Diana would go into labor, and as soon as she was ready, they would leave...

Clark was brought out of his reverie by the sound of horsewomen approaching. Two riders coming up on them from the west. Illythia seemed unconcerned at their approach.

"We have visitors," Clark said. They were unarmed, he noticed. Illythia only shrugged again. Perhaps they just heard he was coming, and were curious. One of them had a large scar across her front and he wondered how she got that. He noticed that some Amazons did have scars, perhaps they didn't heal that easily. He especially noticed the scars some of them had on their breasts.

Abruptly, Batman's question of months ago popped into his head. Does Diana have any scars?

No, Diana didn't have any, due to her superhuman healing properties, but the other Amazons did. What did they mean? Did it have anything to do with childbirth? He wondered.

"Greetings sisters," Illythia said as the riders approached. "This is the man Kal-el."

The one with the scar nodded, her face a mask of composed serenity. "Yes, we have heard of him. My name is Herodias and my companion's name is Melite. May we ask questions of you, Kal-el?"

Clark was impatient to get back to the Palace, but he nodded, not wanting to seem unfriendly. "Sure. What do you want to know?"

"I have heard that you are not a human man. However, I believe that all men are the same, whether gods or mortals. What say you to that?"

Clark was puzzled for a moment, then he suddenly felt something cinch tightly around his neck and jerk him backwards clean off the wagon. The force would have broken an ordinary human's neck but he was Kryptonian. Choking and bewildered he grabbed at the rope, his fingers scrabbling at something incredibly tough and sinuous. he saw it resembled Diana's lasso, only it's color was silver, and it vibrated in his hand like it was alive. It felt like it weighed so much more, it was certainly no ordinary rope.

He spun around, seeing Illythia holding the other end, all amusement gone from her face, in its place was a fierce determination, and she was grinning madly, enjoying the fight. He realized that she had planned all this from the beginning. What was she about?

"Illythia!" He shouted angrily. "Stop this!"

He yanked on the cord and despite the silver lasso's power nearly pulled the blonde Amazon off her feet. He tried to unhook it from around his throat when he heard multiple cracks in the air and his arm was pulled away, and something at his left ankle yanked him off his feet, and he stumbled awkwardly feeling the unfamiliar pain in his extremities. He saw that the other two Amazons had dismounted and were wielding long black whips. At once he knew he was being attacked by magicked weapons. His hearing picked up the sound of two other horsewomen galloping towards him. This was no trick, like what the Getai had pulled on him, he was being attacked.

His eyes blazed, but then he felt something thrown over his head, like a hood. It also reeked of magick, and he suddenly realized not only could he not see, he could not burn his way through the cloth. He choked as the rope tightened around his neck.

In a millisecond the Amazons were on him, securing his arms behind his back with the silver Lasso. Furious, he struggled to rise, to fly off, but somehow this rope's power prevented him by immobilizing him. He felt as if he was suffocating under the weight of an entire planet. He barely felt or heard the curses and blows the Amazons were raining on him.

He could still hear. He heard one of the Amazons approaching, then he heard Illythia's voice.

"The hood you are wearing is made from the hide of the Nemean Lion. Hippolyta took that and this club from Herakles when she slew him," the haughty Amazon said. "So it should do for you, dog."

Clark's eyes widened, then the thought of his child flashed into his mind, and for the first time he was filled with desperate fear as understanding swept through him.

They know!

"NO!"

He roared and rushed forward, breaking the grip of the Amazons holding him down, just as the club came down on his temple, and everything went black.

[AN: If you liked the Amazons before I'm sure you really love them now XD

In the New 52, WW doesn't know what the Amazons do to get babies until Hephaesteus tells her, and reveals that male babies are given to him to be servants in his forge. WW assumes they're his slaves and tries to free them but they tell her they are happy to work for him because he saved them from being killed. I wonder how could she not know all that, she was raised on Themyscira after all! So it does make her look really obtuse, IMO. But I don't work for DC Comics, thank goodness.

But how about poor Clark, how's he going to get out of this mess? Will it take a couple of ladies from Man's World? As usual, it's up to Lois to save the day!

The Amazons will only have a short while to savor what they "think" is their victory, until the REAL enemy approaches. Next chapter up: Invasion - Coming soon!

As always, your review are appreciated!]