Ch23- It's on, now…
Diana clenched her fists as she, Kara, and Donna made their way through the charred terrain of the island. The Amazons that were present and physically able dropped to one knee, bowed their heads, and brought their fists to rest over their hearts in a sign of respect to the royal party. Diana's heart sank as she realized what the gesture signified—the new Queen had arrived. Normally, she would personally greet each of her Sisters, perhaps with a warm embrace or remembering past mischievous deeds, but there was no time to tarry. As she neared the royal palace, which miraculously was mostly undamaged, she was met by her mentor, Phillipus. The elder Amazon met the three heroes as they reached the bottom steps. She and Diana clasped forearms and bowed to one another—a sign of the utmost respect between student and teacher. Her eyes were weary as she regarded the young women before her.
"Queen Diana." Any further words she may have had for the young woman seemed lodged in her throat. Admittedly, Diana was slightly unnerved to see her mentor so shaken. Then, as if she suddenly realized they were not alone, "Princess Donna and Kara Zor-El." She greeted them briefly with a nod before ushering them inside the walls of the palace.
Their sure-footed steps echoed off the marble walls as they neared the main chamber. Diana wanted to question Phillipus immediately about what transpired; to try and get some start on locating her mother. However, she thought it best to let her mentor speak first. Phillipus kept her eyes forward, dismissing the Amazonian guards at the chamber door with an almost imperceptible inclination of her head. Once she secured the doors behind them, she drew a steadying breath.
"Thank you for coming so quickly. I am glad Artemis was able to reach you. We should begin discussing some type of strategy."
"Phillipus-" Donna began, only to be silenced by Diana's raised hand.
"First, Phillipus, tell us of the recent battle. Was it Darkseid?" Diana asked.
"No, Princess—I mean, my Queen. It was not he—I would remember a being that looked as you'd described this Darkseid; although the beasts we fought arrived via the boom tubes you've described to us before. It seemed as if they came with no real plan except to kill and destroy, but they were extremely effective. I have never seen any of their ilk before."
"What do you mean?" Diana prodded.
"They were more savage than any we've ever encountered. More…feral." Phillipus explained.
"Like Circe's bestiamorphs?" Kara chimed in.
Phillipus shook her head, her gaze distant as she recalled the beasts. "No. The being who commanded them kept referring to them as 'Death Dealers'. There was no sign of humanity in these…animals. They resembled the werewolves Princess Donna showed us in the horror movies from Patriarch's world, except these beasts were much larger and more rabid. They attacked us without abandon, savagely eviscerating, biting, and clawing our sisters to death. Thirty of our sisters…lost." The woman's voice wavered slightly at the last statement. Diana closed her eyes briefly at hearing of the loss of life.
"Death Dealers? They don't sound like anyone we've ever encountered before." Donna interjected.
"Artemis told me Mother had managed to behead one." Diana added.
"Yes. She flew into the battle without hesitation. I saw them engaging the beasts in battle as I crested the hill. They were about to be swarmed again and I ran to them. Moments before I reached them there was a great explosion and I was thrown clear. When I came to…"
"Mother was gone." Diana finished for her. Then, as if something just occurred to her, "Phillipus, you said they had a leader. What did he look like?"
Phillipus' brow creased momentarily as she recalled the being. "He is unlike any foe we've ever seen before. Very large in stature, his flesh looked as if it was made of leather and it was orange in color. He wore a suit from the heavens-"
"You mean he was an alien?"Kara interrupted, her interest clearly piqued.
Diana noticed this, "What are you thinking, Kara?"
The young Kryptonian shook her head, "I…I dunno…yet. I would have to check the database from the Legions' database. But… he sounds familiar. I need to check in with Rokk."
"Certainly. Come, we can contact him via the communiqué system on the second floor." Donna said as she led Kara out of the chamber.
Diana turned her attention back to Phillipus, only now realizing she held back on her questioning for Donna's sake. "Phillipus, something else troubles you. Tell me, please." She laid a warm hand on the woman's forearm. "I can sense you have been holding back because you did want to overwhelm Donna and myself, but I must know if I am locate Mother."
Phillipus lifted warm, brown eyes and gave Diana a somber stare. "There's something I must show you. Wait here, please." She turned her attention away and headed into a small antechamber.
Diana felt her stomach clench. Clearly, this will not be good news.
"Queen Diana. I found this in the rubble and whisked it away before anyone else could see it."
Diana started at the sound of her mentor's voice. She was so enthralled in her own thoughts she hadn't heard the woman return. Diana turned to face Phillipus and her gaze fell immediately on the items in the woman's hands. There…there…rested her mother's most revered possession; the broken, bloodied, Girdle of Gaea. A foreign gasp escaped Diana. Mother would sooner die than be parted from this girdle. She reached out a hand to touch the girdle, only to realize her fingers trembled uncontrollably. She withdrew her hand into a tight fist, angry with her damned emotions and trying to regain some control. She closed her eyes and whispered a small prayer to Hera that her mother was indeed alive despite the evidence before her. She took a steadying breath and again reached for the girdle. She didn't realize she was holding her breath until it whooshed out her when Phillipus unexpectedly placed a hand to her shoulder.
"Phillipus…this means…" she began, unable to finish.
Phillipus shook her head vehemently, "This means the Queen will be very angry when she realizes she has been parted from the girdle."
Diana nodded briefly, silently thanking the woman for interrupting her sentence. It would do them no good to have a defeatist attitude. Just as she would respond, the vibration of distant drums sounded.
"It appears we have company, my Queen." Phillipus spoke hoarsely.
"Put that away and let us see what this is about, then." Diana commanded softly, not wanting to see a further decline in morale lest the women see the Queen's girdle in such disrepair.
Phillipus soon rejoined her and they strode quickly through the halls of the palace. Upon reaching the outer doors and stepping out into the night, Diana's ears were inundated by the sound of nearly two thousand of her Amazon sisters clapping their shields and spears to greet her, yet another sign of unity and respect for the Queen. She gave them a brief nod of acknowledgement and signaled for silence as they awaited their approaching guests. Diana could make out at least fourteen torches, two apiece bookending ten impressive lines of no less than one hundred individuals each, walking shoulder to shoulder, moving as one unit. She immediately recognized the formation and waited patiently for their arrival, now remembering the sounding of the drums as a note of warning that they approached.
"The Bana-Mighdall." Diana spoke quietly.
Phillipus stiffened at her side, as if expecting a confrontation. "Fine time for them to make an appearance, seeing as they refused to aid us in battle."
"Phillipus, they have no obligation to us, we cannot begrudge them for choosing to stay out of this." Diana softly chided her friend.
The ranks of the formation stopped mid-stride in staggered sections until the last moving flank that neared Diana consisted of two dignitaries and two torch bearers. The two women stopped as they reached their counterparts, each bowing their head as a show of respect. The drumming ceased at that very moment. Diana returned the gesture. Although the two tribes inhabited the same island, they had lived as separate nations for centuries, having very little interaction with one another. On the rare occasions when contact was made, it was usually rife with underlying tension due to their centuries-old division in beliefs on how to dispose of their former captors once freed from their bonds.
"Queen Anahid. Commander Anaya. Good to see you, as always."
"Queen Diana, we offer our deepest sympathy. And we also apologize for not immediately coming to aid during the battle." Queen Anahid offered somberly. "Queen Hippolyta was a true warrior spirit."
"You speak as if my Mother is dead, Queen. I do not believe this to be true and intend to return her to our people." Diana answered calmly. "Now, to what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"
A brief smirk crossed Anaya's face. Straight to the point, as always.
"The Bana come to offer our aid—however you deign it necessary, Queen Diana." At the Queen's statement, the Bana Amazons in attendance dropped to one knee and bowed their heads.
Diana breathed deeply, taking in not only the Queen's offer but the actions of the warriors before her. There was an audible gasp from the crowd, and the resulting silence grew heavy. To accept the offer would mean to command every Amazon on the island, the Bana would also fall under her rule. An alliance of this magnitude had not been made in centuries.
"Queen Anahid, are you certain of what you are offering?" Diana asked.
"Queen Diana, we do not make this offer lightly. I am most regretful that our offer comes so late, as we have heard of the loss of your sisters."
Diana descended the stairs and stood before her counterpart. Both Queens stood firm and held each other's gaze, understanding the gravity of the moment. Every Amazon present waited with baited breath for the outcome. Phillipus looked between the two leaders as the moment stretched on endlessly, preparing to suggest that perhaps this meeting take place in private. Just as she took a step to approach, Diana extended her hand to Anahid; the two Queens clasped forearms firmly, never breaking eye contact. Unexpectedly, Diana used her grip to pull Anahid toward, enveloping the woman in an embrace. Anahid returned the gesture fiercely. A roar erupted from both tribes as they took in the scene before them, some evening venturing across their lines and ranks to embrace one another in a sign of unity.
Diana closed her eyes as she allowed the moment to wash over her. "Thank you, sister." She whispered into the woman's ear.