One of Us
"You keep doubting yourself Diana," said Antiope firmly as the girl stumbled through their training sequence yet again.
"No I don't," Diana insisted, gripping her sword tightly in her hand and getting back into a fighting-stance, facing her aunt.
"You can do this Diana, don't over think it," Aikaterine called from the sidelines.
"Again," ordered Antiope.
They went through the fight sequence again, only for Diana to fall to the ground, hard.
"Diana!" Oh no - they'd been caught. There was Queen Hippolyta riding up on horseback, flanked by guards.
Hippolyta jumped down from the saddle and rushed to her daughter's side. "Are you hurt?" she fussed.
"No Mother, I'm fine," Diana insisted. "We were just-"
"Training." Hippolyta shot a disappointed glance at her daughter, sister, and Aikaterine. "It would seem that I have not made myself clear as Queen. Betrayed by my own sister..." She shook her head before turning to the guards. "Take her back to the palace."
Aikaterine turned to follow them before the Queen's stern voice stopped her. "You stay, Aikaterine. I would like a word with you as well."
"Yes, My Queen."
Once Diana was gone, throwing an apologetic look over her shoulder at her aunt and friend, who only nodded back at her reassuringly, Antiope and Aikaterine were scolded by the queen.
"My Queen, if I may-" Aikaterine stepped forward and addressed Hippolyta with a bow of her head. "She deserves to at least learn. What if someday she finds herself in a situation where she is all alone and faced with danger? She must learn to fight and defend. She cannot hide forever."
"And how will she ever find herself in a situation such as that?" demanded Hippolyta, denying the very possibility of it. "When she is safe here on this island? As you are, as we all are."
"Well what if the threat comes here?"
"Aikaterine is right, Hippolyta," stepped in Antiope. "We cannot stay hidden forever. Sooner or later, someone will find us."
"And how will they do that?"
Antiope sighed. "You left me no choice, Hippolyta. You neglect your duty if she cannot fight."
Hippolyta scoffed. "You speak of a time that may never come. He may never return."
"Ares is alive! You feel it as I do, in your bones. It is only a matter of time before he returns. And that puts Diana - and all of us - at risk. But especially her. That is why she must train."
Now Hippolyta appeared torn. "The stronger she gets, the sooner he'll find her."
"Hippolyta-" Antiope gripped her sister's arms. "I love her as you do. But this is the only way to truly protect her. Surely you can see that."
Hippolyta sighed deeply. She had made a decision, though one she was not all the way pleased with. However, she saw their point, knew the truth that lied behind their words, that loomed in the distance ahead. Maybe not as far ahead as she had believed, or hoped. The truth she had known would come eventually, that which was inevitable. "You will train her harder than any Amazon before her. Five times harder, ten times harder. Until she is stronger, better than even you," the queen instructed. "But she must never learn the truth about what she is or how she came to be."
Later, Aikaterine found Diana who was feeling overwhelmingly guilty. "Is she upset? Did you get in trouble? I'm sorry Aikaterine, this was my fault-" She was cut off when the young woman tossed her at sword, she narrowly catching it.
"Suit up, Princess. It's time to start training seriously." She grinned.
Diana grinned back, excitement now blazing in her eyes. "I'm one of you now."
"You were always one of us. Now let's get to work."
This wasn't very long, I know. I'll try and make sure later chapters are longer, we're still just starting out!
Gal's Diana is up next! ;) See you (And Gal!) in the next chapter! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)
