Strangers In Paradise
Chapter 2: Secrets and Deception

Themyscira – Training Arena

The life of an Amazon revolved around two things – sisterhood and combat. The sisterhood aspect was more a way of life. There were no classes, aristocracy, or disparity. The worth of every Amazon was earned through combat, struggle, and sacrifice. This created a special bond among Amazons, one that was unparalleled in any army of man. This way of life helped their proficiency in combat. By fighting with great individual strength and a bond that united them all, they were an army capable of defeating any foe, man or beast.

The only Amazon who had ever born rank over another was Hippolyta. However, unlike the kings and patriarchs of old, she was not given her status. She earned it, leading the Amazons from their darkest hour at the hands of Hercules and to their greatest triumphs as defenders of Olympus. In doing so, she had also earned undying loyalty from all her fellow Amazons.

However, that didn't make the act of being queen any less burdensome. Hippolyta learned on many occasions over the centuries that being a queen meant making difficult decisions. But in the moments when she saw the strength of the Amazonian spirit, she proudly accepted that burden.

"Ha! Are you still going easy on me, Daphne? I thought you said you had stopped after my sixteenth birthday," boasted Diana, her voice fueled with the rush of combat.

"Well I usually take a certain amount of pity on immature teenagers, but I'll take your tone as permission to stop coddling you, Diana," responded Daphne.

It was one of the most common sights during the early morning hours on Paradise Island. Shortly after the sun rose, the Amazons went about their day-to-day duties. Naturally, combat training was the most important, ranking higher than sustenance at times. Many Amazons took the time to train at the large training arena near the center of the island. This included even Princess Diana and one of best part of Hippolyta's days was when she watched her train.

At the moment, she was sparring with Daphne, an experienced Amazon who had been training with her since she was old enough to wield a sword. They stood together in a combat circle, as they called it. They wielded no weapons and received no instruction. The only rule in this training session was to subdue the other Amazon and stay within the circle. It was among the most basic of training exercises. Several dozen other Amazons had paired up and were sparring in a similar way throughout the arena. But Hippolyta, watching from a balcony that overlooked this part of the arena, focused only on her daughter.

Despite being the princess and only 17-years-old, Diana carried herself like a hardened warrior. She attacked Daphne with agility and strength, striking hard at her opponent's core, knowing she would defend her head. She landed a few early shots around her waist and shoulder, striking the specific areas she had been trained to identify as weak points. She didn't just rely on her strength and inherent Amazonian prowess. She fought with passion and focus, the very core of all Amazonian combat.

Daphne, despite her durability and experience, was somewhat surprised by the amount of force that Diana was able to inflict with her attacks. She didn't show it. She was too proud a warrior to give her opponent that kind of satisfaction. She just endured and countered, striking Diana with attacks of her own. If she wasn't holding back, then it was hard to tell because the match was remarkably even.

"You still keep claiming they hold back, dear daughter. One day you'll realize they've never held back. Then you'll realize just how strong and how special you truly are," said Hippolyta, smiling with unmatched pride as she watched her daughter fight.

Moments like this still had a way of evoking many emotions from the Queen of the Amazons. Her royal stature faded at the sight of her daughter, who was growing into a powerful young woman that embodied the best of the Amazons. She had trained since birth to be a warrior. She had even been allowed to participate in combat, consisting mostly of skirmishes against beasts and fiends. Before long, she would be capable of much more.

"Keep smiling like that and Athena herself might get jealous," said Aleka, who entered the balcony, still sweaty from her own training regimen.

"Then I suppose she'll just have to cope. It would take the full might of Olympus to keep me from cherishing my daughter," said Hippolyta proudly.

"I wouldn't say that too loud. Certain gods might be petty enough to try."

"And they would still fail," retorted the queen.

Aleka laughed as she joined her queen on the balcony and watched Diana spar with Daphne. She was another Amazon that had earned a great deal of respect from her queen and her sisters. Aleka distinguished herself both in stature and strength. She was taller and had a broader build compared to most Amazons, giving her an intimidating presence that had few equals. She was also very formidable on the battlefield, her ability to attack with brute force being second to none. Such power earned her a special level of respect among the Amazons.

In addition to her strength, Aleka was also fiercely loyal, always going out of her way to prove her dedication to Hippolyta. Because of this, her words carried more weight with the queen of the Amazons than most. Hippolyta trusted her deeply both on and off the battlefield, which helped develop a special rapport between them. This also gave Aleka a keen sense of understanding when it came to her queen's demeanor and she rarely hesitated to point it out.

"While I don't wish to dampen my queen's mood, I wanted to inform you that there have been rumors circulating amongst our sisters," said Aleka in a more serious tone.

"What kind of rumors?" asked Hippolyta.

"The kind that involves distressing words such as 'succession' and 'abdication' in the same breath as your name," she said. "I'm hoping you'll tell me outright that such rumors aren't true."

"And what if they are? Would you then prefer rumors of a titan's attack?"

"Honestly, I would prefer to do battle with an army of titans rather than contemplate you might relinquishing your throne."

"I appreciate such loyalty, Aleka. I always have," said Hippolyta, who kept watching Diana.

"I'm still waiting for you to deny the rumors. Tell me now so I can prevent them from spreading further."

The imposing Amazon sounded anxious, hoping that these rumors weren't true. Hippolyta easily could have lied to her and Aleka would have believed her without question. However, she didn't like lying to her sisters, even when it would have made this situation easier.

Hippolyta's smile finally faded, but she didn't take her eyes off Diana. She and Daphne remained in a stalemate. Daphne had Diana by the wrists and kept trying to shove her back, but Diana had dug her heels in and wouldn't let her. Daphne tried to hit her with a knee to the gut, but Diana endured it with uncanny resilience. Seeing that resilience only reminded Hippolyta of why this issue was so important.

"I'm sorry, Aleka. I can't tell you what you want to hear," she said to her friend and loyal sister.

"I'll settle for a half-truth," said Aleka in disappointment.

"Only the corrupt deal in half-truths. And I can't afford to be corrupt at a time like this," said Hippolyta.

"Even when dealing with a teenage daughter?"

"Especially when dealing with a teenage daughter," she replied. "You and I have been through many battles. You've seen first-hand how those battles have evolved over time. With the world beyond this island becoming increasingly chaotic, the realm of the gods is becoming chaotic as well."

"And you worry that the Amazons aren't strong enough to handle it?" questioned Aleka.

"Not at all," scoffed the queen. "The Amazons are still fully capable of waging war through the darkest pits of Tartarus. I only worry that I will not be strong enough to lead the Amazons with the strength they need."

Aleka looked at her queen with concern. Then she looked back towards Diana, who managed to break Daphne's hold on her by striking her heel to knock her off her balance. This allowed her to gain the upper hand. She took the older, more experienced Amazon into a choke hold and forced her down onto one knee. This demonstrated a level of proficiency that was typical of an Amazon, but not a teenager who had nowhere near the experience of her peers. It gave Hippolyta plenty of reasons to be proud of her daughter, but it also gave her something to consider when planning for the future.

"Watching Diana grow has been one of the greatest joys I have ever known," said Hippolyta, her voice becoming more emotional. "She has the potential to be the greatest of all the Amazons. And with each day that passes, I see her realizing more and more of that potential."

"I want to say that's your motherly bias showing, but I've trained with Diana. I've seen that potential first hand. I even have the bruises to prove it," said Aleka.

"Then I hope you'll forgive me for contemplating a time when I step down from the throne and yield it to someone more capable. Our ways have served us well for centuries, but the world is changing. There must be someone strong leading the Amazons…someone who is not burdened by the scars of the past."

"And you really think Diana could be that great a queen?"

"I have no doubt that she can. It's more a matter of whether or not she will."

"Well why wouldn't she?" asked Aleka. "Is it not her duty to accept such responsibility if it is needed of her?"

"That's my primary concern, I'm afraid. I'm not certain she will accept the responsibilities dictated by the Amazon Code."

This was where some of Hippolyta's pride yielded to frustration. As much as she loved seeing her daughter grow, it was not without challenges. Many of those challenges had come arisen in the past few years and some had not been resolved.

"Unlike most of our fellow sisters, Diana did not endure the horrors that led to the formation of the Amazon Code," said Hippolyta distantly. "She didn't endure the pain and indignation of Hercules and her men."

"She's lucky in that respect. There are times when I still want to crush a rock in my hands when I recall what those animals did to me," said Aleka, clenching her fists in anger.

"We all suffered. And because of it, we understand the tenants of the Code and why it must be upheld. But Diana doesn't understand. More and more, she has been asking questions about it and she is rarely satisfied with the answers I give her."

"She's a teenager. Her understanding is supposed to be limited."

"I want to believe that. I really do. But the more she questions our ways, the more I worry that she won't be able do what needs to be done," said Hippolyta, a slight strain echoing in her tone. "She knows how much I love her. I know she loves me too. She loves all her sisters and will gladly crawl through the pits of Hades for them. I just don't know that she'll do so for all the right reasons."

"Have faith, my queen. No mother in history has given her daughter more love and support than you," said Aleka, offering her queen a reassuring gesture.

"And yet there might still be things I can't give her…things she keeps asking for that I cannot keep ignoring," Hippolyta continued to muse.

"Then she'll have to figure it out on her own. And when she does, trust that she'll make the right choices."

"That's just it. I do trust her. I just worry that her inability to understand what it means to be an Amazon will affect her ability to make those choices."

This had clearly been bothering Hippolyta for some time. Her once beaming smile gave way to uncertainty as she watched the fight between Diana and Daphne unfold. Aleka also watched and while she couldn't understand how this must have felt from a mother's perspective, she did see why this left her queen so conflicted.

Daphne had refused to submit. While Diana tightened her choke hold, Daphne elbowed her in the ribs as hard as she could. It made Diana wince, but she didn't relent. She eventually got desperate and tried to end fight herself by pushing back and trying to shove Diana out of the combat ring. However, Diana was ready for this. While Daphne might have had an edge in strength and experience, Diana made up for it with cunning. She released her grip on Daphne just as she pushed back, causing her to lose her balance and gain too much momentum. This left her vulnerable for a fraction of a second, which gave Diana all she time she needed.

During this moment of vulnerability, Diana hit Daphne with a punishing kick to the core and a heavy blow to the head, which left her heavily dazed. Then she grabbed her again by the waist and used her momentum against her, running her right into the ground so that she fell face first onto the hard concrete. This allowed Diana to pin her and restrain her limbs, effectively ending the fight.

"Yield!" Diana proclaimed.

"I was still…holding back," grunted Daphne, now with blood dripping down her nose.

"Sure you were," the princess scoffed.

It was an impressive display of Amazonian skill. Aleka could easily foresee the day when Diana entered adulthood armed with the skill necessary to earn the title of queen. She could even foresee her using those skills to gain the respect and admiration of all her Amazon sisters. However, she couldn't foresee Diana embracing that role for the same reasons as Hippolyta.

"I can see why you worry," said Aleka.

"I suppose it's inescapable. Being a mother and an Amazon, it's a never-ending battle and I'm not used to fighting battles I cannot win," sighed Hippolyta.

"I respect your dedication, my queen. Although I don't envy your situation."

"It won't be long now before she's an adult. The battle will then be out of my hands. I've given her everything I can possibly give. I've raised her to be strong enough and compassionate enough to face the challenges that lay before her. But in the end, thats still might be insufficient."

"For everything she has become and everything she could potentially be, how could that be insufficient?" asked Aleka.

"Because no matter how much a parent loves her child, they can never control everything about their lives," said Hippolyta as she watched Diana help Daphne back to her feet. "The world of man and gods is full of corrupting influences. I pray to Athena that those influences never tear us apart."

Later That Day

Diana couldn't complete her morning training fast enough. She had been extra motivated to defeat Daphne and complete her chores so she could make her way back to the coast. That added motivation might have even influenced her ability to defeat her. But for once, victory in a fight was secondary. She was just too excited to learn more about Themyscira's secret guest.

After proving that he meant her no harm, Diana had promised to help Kal-El return home. Unfortunately, part of keeping that promise involved a little deceit. While doing her chores, she covertly gathered some tools and materials from the various workshops and storage sheds. This included hammers, screws, rope, fasteners, and saws. In addition, she gathered other supplies to help make Kal's stay more comfortable. She grabbed a spare blanket and pillow from her bedroom, along with some food. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

When she arrived at the shore, Kal-El had already carved out a small settlement for himself. Before she left the previous day, she showed him a cave near a stream not far from the beach where he washed up. This was actually a cave where she often ventured as a child to be by herself and get away from the rigors of Amazonian life. It was small, but fairly spacious. It also had a nice view of a nearby waterfall, which he certainly didn't seem to mind.

As soon as he saw her, he greeted her with a warm smile. Even though he was still somewhat disheveled, he was as kind and as welcoming as their first encounter. Before they got around to discussing how they would get him off this island, she offered him the food she had taken from her home. Together, they sat by the shores of the stream, eating the food and talking amongst themselves. It gave her a chance to learn more about this mysterious man and the world he came from. Diana soon found that the more she learned, the more she realized how much it differed from what her sisters told her.

"This place you speak of – Smallville, Kansas – it sounds so wonderful," said Diana, having already finished her share of the food.

"It's my home. So much of who I am and what I want to be came from the life I had there," said Clark, his mouth half full of mango. "I couldn't have asked for a better place to land after my world was destroyed."

"Yes, this world in the stars…please tell me more about it," said Diana. "I had no idea the stars could be teaming with such worlds."

"Well I only know what my birth parents sent with me. And what I know I still can't quite put into words," said Clark as he set his meal aside. "From what I've seen, Krypton was an amazing world. But…"

His words trailed off. He still had a hard time putting his emotions into words when it came to his home world. Even though he had no memories of it, Krypton still had a place in his heart. Diana offered a reassuring smile and another helping of the mango he seemed to enjoy, which he accepted.

"It's okay. You don't need to say anymore if you don't want to. I probably shouldn't have asked," said Diana.

"No need to apologize. It's something I can't ignore forever," said Clark after taking another bite of the mango. "I'm still trying to figure it all out. I think my birth parents made sure I didn't learn too much too fast. I guess they thought I wouldn't be able to handle everything at once."

"Doesn't that bother you?" asked Diana.

"On some levels, I guess it does. Then I think back to how scared and angry I was when I first learned about my heritage. Everything I thought I knew about myself was shattered in an instant. I couldn't process it, let alone accept it. I wouldn't wish that kind of hardship on anybody."

Clark fell silent as he finished his mango. It had been a long time since he shared this with anyone. The only ones he ever really opened up to about his insecurities were his parents and they were gone. He didn't expect this girl that he barely knew to understand. But she listened to him and even if she didn't understand, she offered him a special kind of compassion.

His struggles were so different compared to that of an Amazon. Smallville, Kansas was like its own island in many ways, isolated from the complications of the larger world. But it didn't train its people to be warriors. It was just a quiet place for men and women to live their lives. In that sense, she couldn't blame Kal-El's parents for keeping these secrets from him. At the same time, it seemed wrong for someone to have their greatest talents and skills hidden from them.

"I'm sorry you had to go through such hardship alone," Diana said to him. "Your ability to endure that hardship is a sign of strength. You should be proud of that strength."

"I am. Well, I try to be," said Clark somewhat awkwardly. "To be honest, it still overwhelms me at times. I didn't actually step up and proclaim my abilities to anyone until recently."

"Well maybe you should. Celebrate who and what you are. Don't fear it. Take pride in it. That's one of the first lessons we Amazons learn. We embrace our strengths and cherish that which makes us unique. Anyone that attempts to hold us back be damned because we're proud of our identity."

"From what you've told me, you and your people certainly don't lack pride. But unlike most people, you earn every bit of it."

"And that's why I believe you've earned more than you believe," said Diana. "You don't even need to be a warrior to realize it."

"No, but I'm sure it helps," joked Clark.

"I never said that it didn't. But so long as you're stuck here, I might as well help you realize it."

"Will that be in addition to helping me build a boat? You're getting pretty ambitious here, Diana."

"I'm a princess. I'm supposed to be ambitious," she said proudly. "Besides, we'll have more time than I initially thought."

"How do you figure?" asked Clark. "Building a ship shouldn't take that long."

"Well under ideal circumstances, it wouldn't. And I never claimed they would be."

"And I never should've assumed," sighed Clark.

"Don't worry. I still made a promise and I still intend to keep it," said Diana strongly. "We'll need more tools if you want this ship to be robust enough to handle the rough seas. And I can only acquire so many tools before my sisters notice. That means I'll have to either make them using the forge or win them in competitions. In addition, the winds from the east aren't going to settle for another few weeks. You'll want to wait for the south winds, which should guide you to the nearest inhabited island. So we might as well make the most of it."

Clark didn't assume it would be easy getting off this island. However, he didn't think it would take longer than a few days at the most. Looking at the tools Diana brought with her and noting the lack of materials they had to work with, it now seemed his earlier assumptions had been too optimistic. However, the idea of being stranded on this island with someone like Diana didn't bother him that much.

"You know, I want to be upset about being stuck here longer than I thought, but you're actually making it sound appealing," said Clark with a humored grin.

"Is that a complaint?" she teased.

"Not at all," he assured her.

"Good! Because another important Amazon value is to embrace challenges and even find ways to enjoy them," said Diana. "The day we stop enjoying our struggles is the day we become complacent."

With this value in mind, Diana grabbed Clark's arm and led him over to the pile of tools and supplies she had placed near the entrance to the cave. She picked up a saw and handed him a hammer, not treating it like a chore in the slightest. This was the first man she had ever met and he had proven himself to be a good man at heart. She refused to let him despair while he was on this island, even if it meant pushing him at times.

"Follow me. I'll show you where the best trees grow," said Diana. "Along the way, you can tell me more about the wonders of man's world. I would certainly like to know more about these movies, milkshakes, and sports you speak of."

"And in return, you'll teach me to embrace more Amazon values?" said Clark, who didn't resist in the slightest as she led him up the creek.

"I'll teach you as much as you want. A good warrior is always eager to teach another."

"And a good man is always eager to learn from a pretty girl so I think we'll have plenty to work with."

His kind words made her smile and even blush a little. Diana couldn't remember the last time anyone made her blush with words alone. It excited her and heightened her intrigue. Even though what she was doing, protecting the presence of a man, was a high crime under Amazonian Code, this felt so right and she was intent on sharing as much as she could with him.

Clark clearly was getting more than a ship out of this girl. Her spirit and her energy was infectious. He had met plenty of spirited women before in Lana Lang, but Diana had something special. It felt like she was reaching out to him on a level no one else had. He was her insight into a world she didn't know and she offered a new perspective when it came to dealing with his powers. However long he was stuck on this island, Clark intended to make the most of it.

'She wants to help me and she wants to teach me. This girl just keeps finding new ways to intrigue me. It helps that she's beautiful too. Probably shouldn't remind myself of that too often. She's still a princess of a tribe of women warriors who hate men. Probably shouldn't remind myself of that either. Just learn from her, take it day-by-day, and see where this goes.'

Day 3

"Explain it to me again. The quarterback, as you call him, takes the ball from under the center's legs and has to decide whether to throw it or run with it," said Diana as she helped Clark carry a few heavy tree logs back to the camp site.

"Well he doesn't always decide. Sometimes he just runs the play that the coach tells him to run. And he doesn't usually runs with it. He hands it off to someone who then runs with it," said Clark, now questioning whether he was qualified to explain sports.

"That sounds needlessly complicated," she said. "And I'm still confused on the scoring system. Why does a touchdown, as you call it, grant six points again?"

"I'll have to get back to you on that one. I'm not sure of that either," admitted Clark.

Diana sighed and shook her head as she set down the heavy logs near the creek. Clark had spent most of the afternoon trying to explain various sports to her. Themyscira had sports as well, but most involved training and combat. These sports that Clark described, football and baseball as he called them, sounded more elaborate. At times, it distracted them from their task of gathering suitable wood for Clark's ship.

"Leave it to men to create such a convoluted game," said Diana. "It's not enough to just throw a ball around. You need to make it confusing."

"I want to stand up for men as a whole, but even I can't justify some of these rules," said Clark as he used his heat vision to ensure the logs were cut equally.

"I never said I didn't like it. I still think it sounds like a fun game…especially the hitting. I would play it just to get one of those quarterback sacks you speak of."

"Yeah, I had a feeling you would appreciate the hitting," laughed Clark.

"Except I wouldn't bother with pads and helmets," added Diana. "I would wear no armor and let my muscles impart all the force, like a true warrior should. Is it at all possible for football to be played in the nude?"

Clark almost misfired with his heat vision when he heard that. He tried as hard as he could not to laugh. This was something he was still getting used to with Diana and her culture. They were big on feats of strength and didn't shy away from danger. They also didn't place much emphasis on modesty. They were proud of who they were and didn't care what anyone else thought. While Clark found that refreshing, sometimes it went too far.

"Maybe it would be better to just leave that part of the game convoluted," said Clark.

"Do you always attempt to dodge an issue when you get frustrated in conversation?" teased Diana.

"I'm not frustrated. I just…think it's better to not belabor certain details."

"Sure you do," she replied, utterly unconvinced. "If it makes you feel better, I won't ask any more questions about uniforms or armor."

"They actually call it padding," Clark corrected.

"Whatever it is, it doesn't matter. I still want to know more and we still have a few more logs to gather. Please tell me more about these games, but only if it involves more hitting and less complicated scoring systems."

This time he couldn't stop himself from laughing. It seemed like a losing battle. Looking at all the logs they had gathered and all the work they had ahead of them, it was probably not a good use of their time, explaining the complexities of certain sports. At least Diana was more enthusiastic about them than most women he had met.

"In that case, maybe I should just skip football," said Clark. "Why don't I tell you about another game called baseball?"

Day 4

"So what did you do after you killed the harpy?" asked Clark.

"Before or after the blood stopped spurting out of his neck?" replied Diana.

"Um…whichever gets the point across."

It had been several hours since Diana began telling Clark about her first battle against an incursion from Tartarus. What started as a trip through some dense brush to gather branches that could be used as scaffolding and rope for his boat turned into a detailed account of Diana's youth. Apparently, Amazons didn't ease young children into combat. They were expected to participate as soon as they were strong enough. It sounded harsh at first, but from what Diana described, she held her own.

"Well to do that, you need to know the context of this battle," Diana continued as she uprooted some more bushes. "Amazons are frequently called by the gods to help contain the chaos that they cannot handle themselves."

"Yes…these gods that are apparently real," said Clark, this revelation still sinking in.

"On this particular incursion, a number of rogue cyclopes escaped from their prison in Olympus. They managed to open a few gateways to Tartarus to unleash a horde of harpies, which helped cover their escape."

"Does that happen often?"

"Less than you think, but more often than we prefer," answered Diana. "While the more experienced Amazons were tasked with taking on the creatures, I was allowed to take on the harpies. Being young and inexperienced, I allowed myself to get separated from the main force and cornered. That's where one particularly lucky cyclops found me."

"And exactly how big was this lucky creature?"

"Big enough to see a young girl like me the same way a wolf sees a wounded chick," said Diana.

"It doesn't sound like you were scared."

"I wasn't. Like every Amazon, I learned to set aside my fear before I entered the battlefield."

Clark tried to picture the scene. A younger, less imposing Diana enters the battlefield for the first time against a horde of blood-thirsty harpies. From what she spent the past few hours describing, it must have been horrifying on so many levels. Then she finds herself cornered by a creature that's bigger, stronger, and capable of swallowing her whole. Yet she never hinted that she showed any fear. She might have just been boasting, as teenagers are prone to do. However, he never got the impression that Diana was being dishonest.

"It was the first time I had to fight for my own survival," Diana continued. "Everything slowed down in the heat of battle. I was still covered in harpy blood and mapping out my attack. The creature roared and kept trying to grab me. I avoided it and tried to stab it, but my sword had been dulled from slaying so many harpies."

"And you said you had already lost your shield at this point so how did you beat it?" asked Clark, now on the edge of his seat.

"I still had my fists and a lasso. That was more than enough," she said proudly. "I admit the creature did get in a few lucky shots. I lost a good chunk of my armor avoiding its wrath, but I eventually turned the tables. It eventually managed to grab me, but this turned out to be a mistake."

"How much blood was involved this time around?"

"Not that much actually," she replied in a humored tone. "It squeezed me hard, but I freed myself by biting its hands with my teeth. Then while it was still thrashing, I climbed up its arm and used my lasso to choke it. The creature still put up quite a fight and I was certainly sore the next day. But I managed to bring it down. When my sisters found me, they were truly impressed. My mother was so proud."

It was one of Diana's most vivid memories. She considered that to be the moment when the warrior within her truly emerged. That battle proved to her sisters that she was not just a coddled princess. She was a warrior every bit as worthy as other Amazons. It was the day she began her transition from being a girl to being a woman.

The idea of a girl emerging from so much war and bloodshed astounded Clark. Its effects showed in the way Diana carried herself. Even as she gathered more branches and hitched them over her back, she conveyed a sense of pride and strength that rivaled any man. Yet she still managed to maintain this aura of compassion and honor. What should have traumatized her only added to her strength. It was the kind of strength he wish he had during moments where he also felt trapped.

"You had quite an interesting upbringing, Diana. Between fighting monsters and becoming this warrior princess, you've found a way to fight through it and come out stronger," said Clark.

"And I didn't even tell you about what I did to the harpies that took my shield," said Diana. "But I think you can figure it out by now."

"I'll use my imagination. It just amazes me that someone who went through so much hardship could still be so kind and caring."

Diana smiled and blushed at his words, which was becoming incredibly common whenever she was around him. But she was getting used to it. Every day, it seemed, she found a new way to astonish him and he found a new way to astonish her. It continued to undermine her assumptions about men, but she had long since stopped caring.

"Well I'm equally amazed that a man of such power can still be so noble so we're even," said Diana.

"I don't know about that. From what you've told me about the challenges you've faced, I think it's safe to say you've got me beat," said Clark.

"Don't mix flattery with humility, Kal. It doesn't suit you," she teased. "But if you're interested in catching up, I would be happy to teach you a few warrior techniques."

"Learning to fight from a warrior princess whose idea of a playground is a battlefield…I'd like that."

Day 7

"Your technique is still a little weak, but it's improving," remarked Diana as they entered their second out of training.

"I haven't gotten a faceful of sand in nearly a half-hour. I like to think I'm doing more than just improving," said Clark.

"Well I have no intention of sending you off this island unequipped, so you had better improve faster."

She almost sounded menacing, making Clark wonder if it had been a good idea to accept her offer to teach him some Amazon fighting techniques. Then he watched her show him the motions again and he remembered why this was worth getting thrown into the sand on multiple occasions.

Within three days, this became another activity on top of constructing the ship. They had gathered plenty of materials, but Diana still needed to forge some of the necessary tools to help put it together. This gave them extra time to work on these combat techniques. From the beginning, Clark got a harsh reminder that for all his power, he never actually learned how to fight.

Despite this, Diana didn't go easy on him. She showed him everything from take-down maneuvers, grapples, and identifying pressure points on a body. This often involved them sparring on the beach not far from where he washed up. That also involved her demonstrating these techniques on him, which usually ended with him being slammed into the sand. It was a lot to take in, but promised to be very useful. It certainly would have come in handy against the pirates that caused him to be shipwrecked in the first place. And while he could have done without the sand in his face, he made a concerted effort to learn these techniques.

"Watch my hands as I aim for those pressure points I outlined yesterday," said Diana as she skillfully performed every motion. "You must think of your limbs as independent weapons. Let your left go one way while your right does the other. Train them to move on instinct. That way you'll be able to counter any move your enemy makes."

"Speed has never been an issue for me. I could probably stand to refine my instincts," said Clark, standing next to her and attempting to mimic her moves. "I just need to be careful sometimes. With strength like mine, it's easy to hurt someone."

"That's where focus comes in," said Diana. "When Amazons fight alongside each other, they must also be aware of their surroundings. We're constantly outnumbered and overwhelmed. That means we can't afford to hurt one another with recklessness."

"So what kinds of techniques help you with that?"

"Sometimes you need more than technique. Sometimes there's no substitute for experience."

Without warning, Diana turned on him and attacked. She didn't move at speeds he couldn't match, but she was so focused and so swift with her motions that Clark didn't get a chance to pick up on it. She ended up striking him just below his chest at a pressure point that sent a sharp sting up through his body. Unlike the first time she did this to him, he blocked the secondary attack with his right arm dug his heels in so that she couldn't push him off balance.

Another impromptu sparring match followed. Diana went for more pressure points and Clark blocked every one of them. He didn't strike back, staying completely on the defensive. It was a very different approach to fighting compared to what he experienced since becoming Superman, but it felt much more intense.

"Every move…every strike…every block…never lose focus!" barked Diana.

"I won't. Not this time!" said Clark with greater determination.

She kept on attacking, not holding back in the slightest. She landed a few strikes, sending more stings through his body. But he endured every one of them, taking shots that sent him falling flat on his face only two days ago. Eventually, he saw his window to counter. When she attempted to strike at his neck, he maneuvered his upper body in just such a way as to gain the right over her. This allowed him to grab her arm and pull her into a grapple. It was the first time he had ever managed to stop one of her attacks.

"What do you say now? Am I still improving?" asked Clark with a wry grin.

"Somewhat," she said curtly.

Diana then employed a technique she hadn't shown him yet, hitting him in the lower leg with her heel to knock him off balance. This stunned him for only a half-second, but it was long enough for Diana to flip him over and body slam him right onto the wet sand again.

It hurt his pride more than his body, but it sent the right message. He still had a long ways to go. He must have looked somewhat pathetic, lying on his back, looking way more shell shocked than he should have after three days of training. But Diana didn't hold it against him. She just kept grinning and offered him a hand.

"You've made your point. I've got a long ways to go," said Clark.

"All the more reason to keep refining your technique," said Diana as she helped him up. "I might not be able to impart a lifetime of warrior training in just a few days, but I can still guide you down the right path."

"Does it have to hurt this much?"

"Yes…it does."

Day 10

"Incredible! You saved a whole bus full of children from drowning in the river? Even after they treated you so unfairly?" said Diana, once again astonished by another tale of this man's humility.

"I honestly wasn't thinking about that at the moment. I didn't care that Pete and his friends tripped me and stole my lunch. All I cared about was saving them," said Clark.

The sun was setting over the beach and Clark was hard at work carving the hull of his makeshift boat. Diana had been helping him by laying out the keel, but she eventually became engrossed in another one of his stories from Smallville. The more time they spent with each other, the more personal these stories seemed to get. The other day, Diana told him a story about how one of her sisters, Daphne, called her "Clay" after defeating her in a sparring match. It hurt her in a way that she never revealed to anyone, which inspired Clark to share a personal story of his own. And it happened to be one that came to define him as Superman.

"I was going against everything my parents told me about using my powers. They worried that by revealing them to the world, I would make myself a target in ways I wasn't ready for," said Clark, still focusing on sanding down the hull.

"I can relate. Parents have a way of worrying about their children, far past the point of frustration," said Diana distantly.

"But they also taught me the importance of doing the right thing when nobody else can. Every one of those kids would have drowned if I hadn't done something. I was responsible. I had the power. So I used it."

"And how did those other children react?" she asked.

"Well they were so scared and confused that they didn't really see me push the bus out of the river. But I know Pete saw me. From that day forward, he was the first to stand up for me."

"Did he even apologize for the way he treated you?"

"No, he didn't," said Clark.

"He didn't? Why?"

"Because he didn't have to."

While Clark kept working, Diana set her tools aside and thought about the deeper meaning of this story for a moment. As a child, Clark didn't really fit in with his peers. They thought he was too different, but they had no idea just how different. They went so far as to tease him. If anyone did that here on Themyscira, a fight would break out. Amazons didn't take kindly to insults. They didn't seek forgiveness. They sought vengeance. What Clark just described was the complete opposite of what she would have done if she were in his position, yet what he did sounded more righteous.

This boy had teased and humiliated Clark, but that didn't keep Clark from doing the right thing. He didn't even ask for an apology. Diana kept trying to wrap her head around that notion. It clashed so completely with the Amazonian Code, forcing her to look at it from a completely different perspective. Her mother would have scolded her for entertaining such thoughts and so would her sisters. But that only made her dwell on it even more, so much so that Clark noticed her change in demeanor.

"Um…is everything okay, Diana? Did I say something wrong?" asked Clark.

"No. Not at all," said Diana, still somewhat dazed.

"Then why do you look like I just said the craziest thing I could possibly say?"

"Because in that story, you did something I can't see myself doing if it happened to me mere weeks ago," said Diana, still running through the scenario in her head. "What you did that day was right. In fact, it was the most honorable thing anyone could have done."

"That didn't stop my dad from getting upset, but thanks anyways," said Clark.

"What really bothers me though is that had I done what my Amazonian heritage had taught me, it wouldn't just have been less honorable. It would have been for all the wrong reasons. I've never even imagined a situation like that…one where just following the Amazon Code isn't enough. I find it unsettling."

"Then maybe we should change the subject and focus on finishing the hull," said Clark.

That sounded plenty appealing. It probably wasn't a good idea to be thinking these thoughts anyways. The Amazon warrior in her urged that she forget everything she just contemplated, but Diana stopped herself before that could happen. These thoughts felt too important to forget.

"Actually, I would rather not. I think it's a good thing it bothers me," said Diana.

"Are you sure? I don't want to make this more uncomfortable than it has to be," said Clark.

"I'm sure. Sometimes it's good to feel uncomfortable. It forces us to look at things from a different perspective. And you've given me many new perspectives to consider."

Day 13

"Hey Kal! Are you up yet?" Diana called out into the cave. "My mother thinks I'm off hunting boars this morning so I can be here all day. I even saved you some of my breakfast if you're hungry."

Not getting a response, Diana looked around the cave for any sign of Clark. His makeshift bed had clearly been slept in and his shirt and cape were neatly folded nearby, which meant he had to be close. She hoped to surprise him this morning. She usually had to wait until the afternoon to drop by, but she managed to beat Daphne in a swordfight, which resulted in her getting stuck with her chores. That meant she had more time to spend with Clark today. She just had to find him first.

She set the food down and started looking around for him. She noticed fresh footprints in the dirt so he was clearly nearby. While remaining vigilant like any good warrior, she followed them from the cave through one of the animal trails leading towards the creek. Diana suspected he must already be working on the boat. She intended her early arrival to be a pleasant surprise. In addition, she found herself increasingly eager to spend time with him. The more she was around him, the more she wanted to be around him. After nearly two weeks, it had gotten to a point where she planned her entire day around it. Since the boat was almost completed, she had been trying to add to that time and she might not get many more days like this.

After following the footsteps to the shore of the creek, she noticed that they shifted direction. They now headed up towards the waterfall that poured into the small pond. Without giving it much thought, she followed the footsteps.

"Kal? Did you hear me?" she called out again.

She moved aside a few bushes and shrubs as she approached the pond, giving her a clearer view of the waterfall. That's when she saw him. However, she ended up seeing way more than she expected.

"By the Gods…" she gasped.

Diana froze where she stood, something she had never done even in the heat of battle, but no battle could have prepared her for this. Standing under the waterfall was Kal, casually washing his hair and rinsing off his body. And when he turned around briefly to run his hands through the thick beard that had grown since his arrival, she got a full view of all his naked glory.

Her mouth hung open in a mix of awe and lurid curiosity. Diana wasn't usually uncomfortable around nudity. It wasn't unusual for her and her sisters to do certain exercises in the nude. It wasn't like male nudity was completely foreign to her either. She had been around farm animals and seen statues of male gods. She knew the intricacies of male anatomy. She just had never seen it like this and she found herself reacting in unexpected ways.

'Amazing. He doesn't just have the strength of a god. He has the body to match it as well…not to mention the endowment.'

Diana scolded herself for having such perverse thoughts, but it didn't alter her reaction. It started with a red hot feeling around her face and a sudden dryness in her mouth. Without realizing it, she took a few steps closer to get a better view. After he finished washing his beard, he turned back around, giving her a perfect view of his butt. This caused the hot feeling in her face to spread to other parts of her body. She soon felt weak in the knees, so much so that she shifted awkwardly. It gave her even more reasons to berate herself.

'What am I doing? I shouldn't be staring at him like this…even if he looks so damn good. I swear those legs muscles are worthy of Atlas himself. And those arms! I've seen him without his shirt on, but I never realized how well they complemented his…'

Diana closed her eyes and shook her head, forcibly stopping those thoughts before they could become any more lurid.

'No! How could I be thinking these things? I'm an Amazon for crying out loud! I'm supposed to be disgusted by men. Kal is a good man, but I shouldn't be feeling this…this drawn to him. Should I?'

That last thought forced her to open her eyes and stare again. Clark had already shattered so many assumptions she once had about men. She had reassessed many of the perspectives she once never questioned. Maybe this was another one.

Part of Amazon conditioning involved learning all the ways men were disgusting. This included physical attributes. She remembered some of her sisters sitting her down and vividly describing the male body. They often compared it with that of a pig, dirty and foul until it was slaughtered. And if the appearance didn't disgust her enough, their inclinations should. She had been told men were selfish, greedy creatures who would gladly slit the throats of ten fellow men just to ravage one woman. Everything they did was part of their unending pursuit to dominate and exploit, which often led to horrific stories of what Hercules and his men did to them centuries ago.

All this was supposed to paint men as vile and seeing one naked should have triggered only revulsion. However, that's not what Diana felt when she saw Kal-El. This man had already given her reason to question the inclinations of men. Now she found herself questioning what she had been taught about her appearance as well.

"Maybe I should," she found herself saying.

She didn't mean to say that out loud. She also failed to realize that she kept inching her way closer to get a better view, which allowed Clark to hear her. When he turned around and saw her, his eyes widened and Diana's awe quickly turned to embarrassment.

"Whoa! Diana?!" gasped Clark, quickly covering his lower regions with his hands and turning around.

"Kal I…didn't mean to say that out loud," stammered Diana.

The proud warrior who never lost her poise, even in the heat of battle, stumbled back and ended up falling flat on her butt just near the shore of the creek. Her face burned hot with utter mortification, along with other parts of her body. She didn't take her eyes off him at first. She ended up having to put a hand up to block her view while Clark retrieved his pants.

He ended up stumbling plenty as well, almost tripping over himself as he grabbed the jeans he had folded on a nearby rock. Since his body was still soaked, he didn't try putting them on. He just held it up to lower body as he emerged from under the waterfall to confront Diana. She looked plenty embarrassed, but she also had this strange half-grin on her face. She might not have realized it, but it indicated that she liked what she saw. That helped take away some of the embarrassment from this moment.

"Uh…you're early today," said Clark with a sheepish grin.

"I didn't know you were bathing! I just came here early because I saved you my breakfast, I swear!" she exclaimed, as though she had just been caught committing a crime.

"Take it easy. You just saw me naked. It's not a big deal," he replied, trying hard not to laugh at the look on her face.

"I…still should've known better. This was so wrong of me!"

"Diana, it's not wrong for a teenager to be curious about the human body. Then again, your circumstances aren't typical so maybe I'm assuming too much. But it's still not wrong."

Once the embarrassment faded, he slipped back behind the waterfall to put on his pants. He said these words in good humor, but he didn't realize just how much his words clashed with everything Diana had been taught. She finally lowered her hand, getting one last brief view of his butt in the process. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make her feel that same hotness throughout her body. However, in light of Clark's remarks, it didn't feel quite as uncomfortable.

Diana eventually rose back to her feet. She also found herself smiling as she watched Clark dry himself off with his cape. She had already been drawn to him because of his kindness, humility, and strength. That alone had been quite overwhelming. Now she found herself drawn to him physically. It should have been overwhelming, but instead it felt right. It still clashed with many aspects of Amazonian culture, but that didn't bother her as much anymore. Having had so many of her previous assumptions about men shattered, she began to accept that her experiences with Kal-El would change her.

'He says it's not wrong. Every instinct I have tells me it's not wrong. Yet I can still hear my mother's voice yelling at me. First my heart betrays me. Now the rest of my body has followed suit. How many more ways will you affect me, Kal-El? But maybe that's the wrong question. Maybe I should be more concerned about how I'm starting to reconsider what it means to be a woman and an Amazon.'

Day 15

"Wait…back up. I need to hear that again," said Clark, who had to stop working for a moment. "Venelia called you Clay, the name I know you hate with a passion, and you didn't challenge her to a fight?"

"I'm not going to repeat myself. You clearly heard what I said the first time," said Diana, not making nearly as big a deal about it as she probably should have.

"I know what I heard. But from what you've told me about Amazon culture and the way you've dealt with insults in the past, I'm just…surprised that you would do something like that."

"Not as surprised as Venelia, that's for sure."

Diana sounded proud of herself, but she also sounded conflicted. She had arrived to the cave late today. They had recently completed work on the hull of his boat. It took a lot of stolen nails and creative woodworking, but it was almost seaworthy. Now it needed a sail. Diana brought with her a pile of cloth from tattered togas that her sisters had thrown away, providing the necessary material for a sail. But as they went to work cutting them up and sewing them together into a large sheet, she told why she had been late. Apparently, she got into another argument with one of her sisters, but it didn't end the way Amazonian arguments usually ended.

"You know the circumstances of my birth as well as the rest of my sisters, Kal. You know how much I hate being called Clay," said Diana, still pretending to focus on the sail.

"Given the lengths your mother went to bring you into this world, it's a petty insult. But it strikes all the right chords," commented Clark.

"That's exactly why Venelia says it. She knows it'll provoke me. And I always provoked her back, demand that she apologize. She never did. So naturally, we fight to right these wrongs. That's how we defend our honor and resolve our conflicts."

"But that's not what you did this time," Clark pointed out. "What changed?"

Diana finally stopped sewing and looked over at Clark, still conflicted by what had transpired earlier this morning. He hadn't known her for very long, but he knew enough about Amazonian culture to understand how arguments usually unfolded. They didn't just forgive and forget. They fought for vindication. That's what made Diana's actions so startling, both to her sisters and to her. And she never would have even contemplated such actions until recently.

"You did, Kal," said Diana. "These stories you tell me – like how you saved all those children from that bus – reveal a different way of winning a battle. It's a way few Amazons have contemplated because they don't dare question what has worked for so long."

"I feel like I should apologize, but I don't think you would accept it," said Clark.

"So when Venelia insulted me, looking for a fight, I thought about the way I had been doing things and the ways you've been describing. And at that moment, I decided that your way was more honorable than that of the Amazons."

It pained her to say this, but it echoed with truth. Clark set the sail down for a moment and scooted closer towards her. He offered to console her, taking his hand in hers. She lightly squeezed it, still deeply conflicted. He never intended to make her question her culture. She probably never intended helping him to get this personal. But it was too late now. There was no use avoiding it.

"That couldn't have been easy," said Clark.

"It wasn't. I was so enraged. I wanted to fight like I've always fought. I never imagined it would feel so…wrong," said Diana, shaking her head in disbelief as she recalled the situation.

"I won't say that it's wrong. We all have to fight our battles at some point, but that doesn't mean we have to make a battle out of everything."

"Tell that to my sisters. They kept calling me a coward, trying to get me to strike them. If my mother hadn't shown up, they might have succeeded."

"But they didn't," said Clark. "You won that battle by not fighting. I know that seems strange. It sure did to me when I was a kid. But my dad would always tell me that the greatest warriors are the ones that avoid the most battles."

"Is it always supposed to be this hard?" sighed Diana.

"Most of the time it is, but that's usually how we know we're doing the right thing."

It sounded so counterintuitive, but it made sense on some levels. In Diana's experience, the hardest fought battles were the most satisfying. Noble endeavors were supposed to be difficult. Every Amazon understood that. If only they could understand it in this context, maybe they would appreciate it as she had come to appreciate this man's insight.

Day 18

"This wild boar's is great, Diana. Thanks for sneaking it out here to me," said Clark as he bit into a thick leg of meat.

"Well I figured you were getting tired of fruit and bread after over two weeks. I think you were due a treat," said Diana, having already finished her share.

"It's not my mom's famous Kansas barbeque, but it's close. It's probably as close as I'll get so I'll be sure to enjoy it."

Clark continued to devour his dinner, savoring the freshly cooked meat and all its flavor. This had been an unexpected treat. Diana arrived late in the afternoon, having had extra training to complete. But she made sure it was worth the wait. She came with a freshly caught boar, which was a common animal throughout the island. She hunted it down herself, cleaned it up, and promised to cook the whole thing over a fire pit near the beach.

The meal was complete just after sunset. He and Diana had spent the last couple of hours just relaxing in the sand, watching the fire and looking up at the stars. Clark made sure nothing went to waste, devouring every last scrap of meat. With the raft almost done and needing a few more pieces to mount the sail, it wouldn't be long now before he could finally leave. That made savoring moments like this all the more important.

Looking over at the nearly completed boat, Diana also knew he would be leaving soon. She understood that he was eager to get home and had no desire to keep him here any longer than he needed to be, even if she had grown fond of his company. But that meant she had precious little time to appreciate his company.

"Can I ask you something, Kal?" asked Diana.

"Of course. You can ask me anything, Diana," said Clark as he licked some of the meat juices from his fingers. "It's the least I could do for a meal like this."

"It's kind of hard to talk about, but I've been thinking about it a lot lately. And it has to do with…well, being lonely."

Her tone became solemn in a way Clark had not yet heard from her. Her usual Amazonian pride and charisma faded in an instant. Now she was just a vulnerable teenage girl, hugging her knees and staring into the crackling fire. Seeing her this way made him feel less like Superman and more like just another vulnerable young man.

"Oh…well I don't know how much help I can offer there," said Clark.

"But you still understand," Diana went on. "You're the last of your kind. And you're adopted parents…"

Her words trailed off, not wanting to say it. Clark made sure she didn't have to.

"I know. They're gone too," he said solemnly.

"It must be so lonely, losing so much and being so different. You're a god among men, yet you embrace them. You don't let the loneliness consume you. And I just want to know…how do you deal with it?" she asked intent.

"Are you asking me because you're curious? Or is there another reason you're not ready to share?" retorted Clark.

"Does it matter?"

She already knew the answer and Clark wasn't going to press her. She could have been asking this question for any number of reasons. He imagined she must feel pretty alone herself, being a teenage girl on an island with so few and being a princess that had to live up to so many expectations. Her circumstances might be very different, but he could still relate in all the ways that mattered.

"I'm not going to lie. It does get to me. After my adopted parents died, I felt like I had lost my world all over again," said Clark, doing his best to remain strong in the face of such harsh emotions. "Other people have friends to turn to and new people to meet. But me…I have nobody. I might be able to make new friends, but I can't share with them who I really am."

"But you've shared them with me," said Diana.

"Yes, and I can't tell you how much that means to me. But before I ever washed up on these shores, I had to learn a hard lesson…one I learned while standing over my parents' graves."

Clark needed a moment as he recalled that fateful memory when he said goodbye to Jonathan and Martha Kent. In some ways, that was the moment where officially became Superman. It was a defining moment and one he hadn't talked about since it happened. But for a girl like Diana, he made an exception.

"We're only as lonely as we allow ourselves to be," said Clark. "The pain of losing someone and being isolated from everyone else is hard, but we only make it harder by letting it define us. I am who I am because of the people who loved me, the friends I've made, and even the strangers I've met. They've all helped me become the man I am now."

"So in a sense, they're a part of you?" said Diana, some of her spirit returning to her tone.

"That's a good way of putting it. So while I may feel lonely, I remind myself that I'm never truly alone. Because in the end, we all affect one another on some level. Some just have a greater effect than others. That's why it's so important to cherish the experiences and memories we have with them."

When he said this, Diana scooted closer towards him. Her solemn demeanor faded and she found herself leaning into the warmth of his body. Even though his hair and clothes were disheveled and his face now had a full-fledged beard, she took such comfort in his presence. Just being near him helped her recall the many experiences they had shared since he arrived. Every story, every mundane conversation, and every intimate detail took on greater meaning.

Clark understood that meaning as well and didn't hesitate to embrace her. It seemed fitting. When she first saw him, she attacked him. Now here they were, sitting by a campfire and sharing a moment. It showed how far they had come. In many ways they had gone farther than they had ever intended, but they had long since stopped caring.

"I guess that's what I'll have to do from this point on," said Diana, now clinging to his arm. "I know you're leaving soon. The boat is almost finished and the winds have started changing direction. It's going to be a lot lonelier without you."

"That's for sure. I'll miss having someone like you to talk to…someone who knows what it's like to crush a rock with my bare hands."

"I'm going to miss you too. I wish you could stay longer or at least find a way to visit."

"On an island where my presence is an affront to the gods? That would be a challenge, even for me," sighed Clark.

"But I don't want to think about that right now. I just want to focus on all the good you've brought into my life. You've given me an entirely new insight into the world beyond these shores."

"Maybe one day, you can see that world for yourself. I'll even make sure to protect it," said Clark.

"I know you will. Being an honorable man and a Superman, I would expect nothing less," said Diana warmly.

Their embrace deepened as thoughts of loneliness gave way to feelings of contentment. With the stars shining above and the fire still crackling, they had all the makings of a moment worth cherishing. That still didn't stop them from entertaining the possibilities of the future.

"And maybe one day, the Amazons will finally forge peace from the chaos. We've been fighting for so long. It needs to end at some point."

"Well maybe you could be the one that makes peace," suggested Clark. "You are the princess after all."

"Easier said than done, I'm afraid," said Diana. "War has a way of hardening some and strengthening others. It certainly has affected my mother in ways she'll never admit. I like to think that growing up as I have and surviving the heat of combat along the way gives me greater appreciation for the peace it preserves."

"If only more warriors thought like that," sighed Clark.

"Well we all can't be great warriors. Sometimes they are born, not made."

"And I guess in your case, they're both. That's only makes you even more special."

She smiled at his kind words, taking strength in them that could not be gained from any battle. He smiled back, embracing her closer and conveying all the ways they had affected one another since his arrival. Knowing Clark would have to leave soon, they practically clung to one another in an effort to commit all the experiences they shared to memory. These experiences created in them so many powerful feelings. They were running out of time to express those feelings.

As they sat together, enjoying the warmth of their embrace, Clark glanced over at her and contemplated those feelings. There were plenty he had yet to express, but there was this unspoken agreement about limiting such expressions. He saw it in her eyes and felt it in the way she clung to his arm. If they shared too much, then it would only make his departure more painful. There were many things he wanted to say and do before he left and time was running out for both of them. He had to decide soon how far this would go because the last thing either of them wanted was for him to leave with regrets.

Meanwhile

'By the Gods, what is this abomination?'

Aleka had seen some pretty disturbing sights in her lifetime. She had watched Hercules and his men ravage her sisters and her queen. She had encountered the most blood-thirsty beasts from the foulest depths of Tartarus. This might not have been the most disturbing, but it was close. Diana, the Princess of Themyscira and the Amazon destined to lead them into battle one day, was consorting with a man.

It would have been less shocking if she found out Diana had been keeping a harpy for a pet. Aleka only came out here at the behest of Hippolyta, who had grown concerned about her daughter's recent behavior. She worried that she was spending too much time alone, isolating herself from her sisters to an unhealthy extent. The recent incident where she didn't attack Venelia for calling her Clay only deepened her suspicions. Since she never had a reason not to trust her daughter, she decided to send her out in search of reassurance. Instead, she found the opposite.

"A man…here on Themyscira, corrupting the princess?!" said Aleka with burning anger. "He must be using some form of black magic or deception. That's the only explanation I can digest!"

With the stealth and skill that had led her through countless battles, Aleka moved in for a closer look. She crouched down behind a tree and some bushes, taking care with every step and keeping her hand on her sword at all times. She watched on, ignoring her revulsion every step of the way. She prayed to Athena that this wasn't as disturbing as it appeared. But as the scene before her unfolded, it only got worse.

'She's…embracing him? She's smiling and laughing in his presence?! Diana, what has he done to you?'

She gripped the handle of her sword, resisting the urge to jump out and slay this man where he stood. She still didn't rule out some kind of black magic. That's when she heard Diana say it.

"You're a very special man, Kal-El. No matter what happens from here on out, know that you have already carved a very special place in my heart," Diana told him.

"You've certainly entrenched yourself in mine so I guess we're even," the man replied. "How much deeper do you think you can go?"

"As far as we can get away with!"

She actually sounded playful when she said those words. If that weren't bad enough, she was exceedingly affectionate with him, grasping his arm and looking at him in a way no Amazon would dare look at a man. Aleka then realized that this was no black magic. This was something far worse. Diana was genuinely smitten with this man. That meant that this couldn't have happened yesterday. This man had been on this island for who knows how long, infecting the princess with his perverse ideas and undermining Amazon law. Such a transgression could not stand.

'You foolish little girl, succumbing to the charms of a foolish man. You dishonor the Amazons just by being near him. This will not stand! This man will pay for his transgressions and so will you. By Hera, you will learn that even the princess is NOT above Amazonian law.'

Up next: Royal Decree