A/N: Back in March of this year, I was asked by manuelmusical14, who had read The Story Behind It, if I would be willing to write a story featuring the idea that Antiope survived the beach battle and accompanied Diana and Steve to find and stop Ares. At the time, I did find it intriguing, but decided that since I still had a pair of major projects going in another fandom, wanted to wait until I had finished the older of the two. After finishing at the end of July, I let the person know that I would be starting it up soon. And here it is now.

There will be scenes where dialogue will be the same as in the movie, but given the inclusion of Antiope, there will be some alterations as well.

That all said, I now introduce you to Guiding the Godkiller.

"There are winds of destiny that blow when we least expect them. Sometimes they gust with the fury of a hurricane, sometimes they barely fan one's cheek. But the winds cannot be denied, bringing as they often do a future that is impossible to ignore." ― Nicholas Sparks, Message in a Bottle

"You are stronger than you believe. You have greater powers than you know." —Antiope to Diana, Wonder Woman movie

"You know what she is going to do."

Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons did not break her gaze from the window where she stood. "I know."

"And you are not going to stop her?" There was a slight trace of surprise in the other speaker's tone.

Not that the Themysciran Queen could blame her companion, given how hard she had fought against the idea of Diana being raised as a warrior.

Hippolyta gave a brief, sad smile, unseen by her sister behind her. "I know I cannot. When she has set her mind on something, she will find a way to do it, even if it breaks her heart. And she feels strongly the story of Ares."

"She has a strong sense of justice, Hippolyta. And faith in humanity."

"Perhaps a misguided one. Many centuries have passed in the world outside Themyscira, Antiope," Hippolyta replied, turning to face her companion for the first time since the conversation began. "Mankind has a whole has become more violent, if that mortal's story was any indication. Ares could not have been responsible for creating all of that. He might have planted the seeds of corruption, but humans were given the free will to make their own choices."

"Even so, such a weapon as the mortal described would be very much pleasing to Ares," Antiope replied. "And we both know he is indeed still out there."

She will go, and I cannot stop her, Queen Hippolyta thought wearily. She had long known this day could, nay, would come. Dreaded it, even, and had fought against it with every ounce of her soul. But the moment she had seen Diana release that blast of energy, she had no longer been able to deny that the time of her daughter's destiny was drawing inevitably closer.

And less than an hour later, that mortal called Steve Trevor had arrived, bringing chaos and death in his wake along with him.

Not to mention his story...

"I cannot stop Diana, but the rest of us cannot get involved in this now, Antiope," Queen Hippolyta said firmly. "We have experienced many losses today. And you nearly were killed as well. Epione said it was a miracle that you survived that projectile weapon. You should not even be out of the infirmary right now."

Antiope's fingers brushed her shoulder, where stitches lay underneath a cloth bandage. "It was worth it," she murmured. "There was more at stake than my own life, and what is mine when compared to Diana's own destiny?"

Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons made no reply, her features now grim. As much as she loved her daughter, there had been times when she had regretted going along with Zeus' plan, and more so as Diana had grown up, knowing the burden she would one day have to carry.

But never had she felt it weigh her down so heavily before today, when that future had finally come.

Not that she regretted having Diana, not for a moment. It was the reasons for it that she wished hadn't been necessary.

It would be hard to let her go, Hippolyta knew. Unfortunately, there was no other choice now.

"You do not want her to go," Antiope began carefully.

Hippolyta turned back to the window. "As you said, it is not about what I want, Antiope. I will let her go, with my blessing." But she would grieve her daughter's absence for the rest of her life, she knew. And the remaining Amazons would miss their spirited princess, even if they understood the reasons for her going and would hope she succeeded in her mission.

The threat of Ares was far too great for any of them to ignore, after all. And of the Amazons, only Diana had the ability to defeat Ares.

"She does not have to go alone," Antiope replied.

The Amazonian Queen turned her head, and raised an eyebrow. "She will have that mortal with her, Antiope. She will not be alone."

Antiope shook her head. "You know what I am asking."

Once more, Hippolyta's mouth became a thin line, but this time her brow creased with worry. "I do, and I wish you were not asking that of me."

"Diana may be going with that man, Steve Trevor, but she knows nothing of how to read a person's features. Or listen for what is not said. We have had experience with man's world, Hippolyta."

"Not in millennia, Antiope. The mortal world has changed in leaps and bounds while we have been isolated. The weaponry and transport they used speaks to that. What we knew then is no longer the case," Hippolyta replied.

"I doubt mortals have changed so much that I will be unable to read a situation, sister," Antiope said with a wry smile.

"What about Menalippe?"

A flicker of guilt flashed through Antiope's eyes. "She will understand."

Hippolyta gazed at her sister, her sister who had barely survived this day when others of her comrades had not. The sister who had fought by her side against Ares the first time, who had assisted in delivering Diana, who had trained Diana against her wishes...

That sister was standing in front of her, features filled with that old determination that Hippolyta had come to know so well.

In the depths of her heart, Hippolyta wouldn't deny that she wished she could accompany her daughter, and a part of her screamed at losing both her daughter and sister to unknown fates.

But in the end, she was a queen, and a queen needed to put her people before herself.

She bowed to the inevitable.

"Very well," Hippolyta stated as the sound of running footsteps began to be heard approaching the room. It seemed Diana had made her move. And now it was time for her mother to do the same. "You may go. But I want you to promise me that you will protect Diana."

Antiope nodded. "Of course, Hippolyta," she replied as the footsteps grew closer. "She is my niece, after all."

She raised a hand to her heart.

"I will protect her...

"With my life."