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Batman: World Of the Amazons
Chapter 3: Audience with the Queen
*1000 years ago*
Diana of Themyscira walked along the beach of her home island, deep in thought. The sun was setting and the glow on the water lent a magical appearance to the sea as the small waves lapped softly at her bare feet.
The Amazon oracle, Bremusa, had given her a prophecy, and she couldn't stop thinking about it. She could still see the green wisps of smoke that seemed to whisper right into her brain, bypassing the need for spoken words through the air:
A princess queen of light
Man of secret hidden blight
Empire of times old
A visitor of black & gold
Beware the fiend
The old and new
A swinging sword unseen
Thaw the Maw
With overwhelming awe
Beware
Beware
Diana shivered as she thought over the words. She shook her head and a smile reappeared. She was always so happy. She was one of the younger Amazons, the ones that had never tasted war or seen the horrors of man's world. Despite her mother's continued teachings on the terrible condition of man's world, Diana couldn't help resist wondering, what was out there.
The princess of the Amazons had found herself always engrossed in the stories of the world beyond. She had found books in secluded areas of the libraries and temples that no one really frequented anymore. Along with the teachings on how men subjugated and controlled women, Diana also read about ancient heroes, acts of chivalry, history on democracy and the advancement of the human race.
Surely, the good parts of that strange outside world must outweigh the bad parts that my sister's are always talking about. The princess thought to herself.
A shining light off the sand took Diana out of her thoughts. Following the light back to its source she could see a body lying on the beach, recently washed ashore.
Diana ran towards the individual, it would not be the first time that the God's had sent a new helpless girl for the Amazons to take in. A few feet from the person though and she stopped dead in her tracks. It was a man.
Her breath hitched in her throat. She gripped at her dagger, but she did not retreat. The young Amazon slowly crept towards the man. Eventually she had made her way to his side, looking down on him.
He was tall, garbed in a sailor's uniform with a white tunic and black pants. It looked like the remnants of an officer's jacket was torn off as well. He had a short beard with long dirty blond hair that was caked with salt and sand.
Diana saw that a metal necklace around his neck had caught her eye before as the sun reflected off it. As she reached out to touch it, she was suddenly surprised as the mans' hand grabbed her wrist. His eyes shot open and his breath quickened.
His eyes were a deep green color and as he looked at her like a startled, scared animal, Diana felt like she needed to offer support to the stranger.
"It's ok," She whispered to him, "You're safe right now. Who are you?"
The man looked into her eyes and as his breath slowed down he gave Diana a small but nervous smile,
"My name's William Trevon."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Queen Diana of the Global Themysciran Empire sat on a throne cut from the most blinding marble that could be found. The rock had been worked to allow the surrendered swords of each conquested leader to be inlaid like an intimidating collection piece. The chair was also covered with the pelts of tigers, bears and other big game predators that served to elevate her status but also offer comfort as she looked down at whoever was brought before her.
"Bring in the prisoner." The queen commanded.
At her cue the large doors opened into the throne room and guards walked in carrying the still unconscious Batman. They dragged him along until they got to a circle in the marble just before the steps to the throne. Tossing the man not too gently onto the floor they chained his arms and legs and fed the chain through a lock on the floor. With a click* the guards stood and bowed to their queen slightly.
"Leave us. Except for you, Commander Artemis. I want you to stay."
The red-head Amazon looked slightly uncomfortable, "Yes, my queen."
The others turned without question and walked out of the room. The large room echoed loudly as the heavy, solid doors swung back in place.
"EiiirrrrBoom!" The doors sounded off loudly as they shut. Now it was just the queen, commander Artemis, and the stranger.
Diana inspected the creature lying on the ground. The dark material seemed to be armor. He was very tall and built well. Obviously not an escapee of the breeders. What on earth could those pointy ears be for though, she thought to herself. Curious.
"Artemis?"
"Yes my Queen?"
"Let's wake him up." Diana said, she then threw the lasso at Artemis who caught it in understanding.
Artemis wrapped the lasso of truth around the man's neck. She then whispered in his ear, "We need answers, awake!"
The lasso glowed a bright yellow gold and without warning the man shot up with his eyes wide.
"Aughhh!" He was stopped abruptly when he realized the chains holding him secured to the floor. He turned and first saw Artemis staring down at him.
"You!" Batman said as he glared at the Amazon who had rudely shoved him through a wall.
Artemis returned the glare just as fiercely and proceeded to slap him across the face hard. "You will show respect when in the presence of the queen."
Batman shook his head as his vision was swimming once again. He took a second, looking at the floor, before he shook his head and pushed away the daze in front of his eyes. As he turned to look up at the person on the throne though his eyes widened as he saw who was staring down at him.
"Wonder Woman!?" He said incredulously.
The queen narrowed her eyes at his first words in confusion and tilted her head as she studied his expressions.
"Di...Diana?" Bruce said in a lower voice.
Just like with Artemis, the cold look in Dian's face was momentarily replaced with surprise, but then to anger.
Without a word the queen got off her throne, starting to walk down towards the man chained to the floor. When she was close enough to him she acted, delivering a kick to Batman's ribs.
Crack!
Batman grunted in pain. Damn, that rib is definitely broken now, batman thought.
"How dare you address me by my name?!" The queen spat at the man. "How could you find out my name." Another kick to Bruce, this time to his leg.
"Uhf!" Batman grunted and took sharp breaths, trying not to cry out and show weakness in front of the queen. "Maybe, I could respond if you didn't just kick me." Bruce said with a cold glare.
Artemis loaded up to deliver another hard slap but Queen diana held up a hand for her to stop. As Artemis stopped her strike Diana grabbed the lasso and jerked it towards her. Batman was lifted to the highest he could on his knees. He grit his teeth in pain. It sucked, but he could bear it.
"Fine," She said with a steel gaze, "Who are you?"
The lasso shone bright as its powers were being activated.
Bruce's eyes darted back and forth as he felt the unknown power in his mind, seeking to expose any information it needed.
"Batman." He responded.
"What is your name?" Diana pressed for more
"Ugh…Batman."
The queen's eyes furrowed in annoyance at his working around the lasso, "What is the name your parents gave you?"
The man seemed to struggle, gritting his teeth. He groaned in pain at the lasso but was resisting. Diana had seen some resist the lasso more than others but slowly a few seconds turned into half a minute, then a full minute. It was almost two minutes when the man seemed to break. He lowered his head and muttered out, "Bruce Wayne."
Diana was both perplexed and amused. She had never seen anyone last that long against the lasso, it was made by the gods. But to fight so hard for that info, brought a derisive sneer to the queen.
"All that effort to protect that? Your name must mean more somewhere else, Bruce."
Batman looked up to glare at her, "I just don't like being forced to say it I guess, Diana."
The queen looked shocked that he would again use her name in such disrespect. Before she could get over the comment though Batman was struck again, this time in the gut, by Artemis, who was fuming in anger. The redhead stayed silent but the strike spoke for itself. Batman groaned slightly in pain and hunched over.
The queen composed herself, trying not to let her temper rise because of this man.
"I guess that brings me to my next question," She said, "Where are you from? And how did you get here? Tell me Anything pertinent to those two questions!"
Once again Batman gritted his teeth and fought the mental probe that sought to make him say any and all truths. This time, a minute had passed before Batman was forced to speak.
"Gotham...i'm from Gotham."
"What is Gotham?
"Uh...a city... I think I'm from... a different Earth though."
Diana rolled her eyes, "Enough riddles. How could you be from another Earth."
Batman groaned in pain. "I am a warrior on my world… ug...I fought, alongside other, heroes. A Justice League.
He paused here, "You were there...too...Diana. You were…WonderWoman there."
Diana's eyes had widened at his words but kept rapt attention on the man. Every word he said was ground out through his teeth as he resisted.
"You...you…" Batman shook his head, pertinent information only he thought. Focus, he thought.
"We were fighting a man. Vandal Savage. He had a time machine. And...a plan. A bomb. To destroy the world and the past. So he...could rule. During the battle, I disarmed the bomb, but...the machine was damaged. I was stuck inside...I remember it activating. And I woke up here."
With that, Batman was left panting and gasping. The magic of the lasso halting for now.
The queen stood, contemplating the man's words. Finally, she spoke.
"Mm a fine story. Through it all though, you're still just a man. Welcome to our world. If we had a way to send you back I would. Get rid of you without the hassle."
She tugged on the lasso in control and shrugged and gave an amused smirk.
"I guess you'll be in our world now. You'll have to get used to a new order."
Batman's eyes widened, "What do you mea..?"
"It's been a long time since something new and interesting came here."
She turned to Artemis. "When was the last games in the Coliseum?"
Artemis looked confused. "My queen…?"
Diana rolled her eyes. "Tell my council they are to start preparations for the games." She looked at Batman with a smirk, "We'll see what this Man can do." Batman was barely listening, still recovering from the effects of the lasso, it hurt so much more due to his resistance.
Diana turned back to Artemis, "Go. I can finish up with him, just leave two guards outside to take him away afterwards.
Artemis bowed and briskly walked out of the throne room.
The sound of Diana's boots on the floor echoed throughout the chamber. She kneeled down in front of Batman, studying him.
"What?" Batman muttered as her piercing eyes bore into him.
"One last thing…" She said before reaching out. Her hand grabbed at one of the cowls ears, she tugged hard, her strength easily ripping through the kevlar and separating the cowl from his suit. Exposing the man. "You, won't need this anymore."
As she looked back at him she paused for a second. His face was one of the most handsome faces she had ever seen. His eyes were an ice blue but not inherently cold, just piercing, and sharp. His face was well set with a strong jaw, his face had the shadow of a beard that made girls for wild for his playboy persona. Even better looking than… no don't even think that way. Just a thought passing by, in the blink of an eye though Diana had continued her cold controlling look.
Bruce narrowed his eyes at the pause but continued to glare at her. She just gave a little laugh though, seeing through his eyes. "Feeling vulnerable? Exposed?" she chuckled. "It will be interesting to see how you do." No man has survived the games before. It could be due to the fact that we've trained them well."
She plucked a hair from his head. "You probably have more fight in even just this little hair's amount than any of the men in this city combined," she discarded the hair from her fingertips, "Maybe you will even last past the first round, though I doubt it."
Diana was once again over him, looking down on Bruce with challenging alpha eyes. Bruce returned it and she had to admit she was enjoying herself. It had been ages since someone had openly showed any form of defiance towards her. She could insult the male slaves in the palace for hours and they would just nod meekly and accept it. No, this man at least still had some fire. She would enjoy quenching it and stomping the ashes to the wind.
But then, Bruce surprised her. His glare dropped. His eyes seemed to open up to her for a second. His shoulders also seemed to drop a little. Not in defeat, but just the toll and weariness of the day, time travel and all.
"What happened to you...?" he whispered, "This isn't you."
Diana jerked her head back like a snake had lunged at her.
"What?! You don't…!" She cried out in anger.
Then the walls were up again for him though and Bruce had the anger in his eyes as well. "I do! What happened! I fought with you, we saved your island once, we rescued your mother Hippolyta from…!"
"Don't you dare speak her name!" Diana yelled, picking him up off the floor like he weighed nothing. "First rule of your new world you leech! You, and all other men, are never to speak that name!" Diana tossed Bruce to the ground. The chain went tight though so Bruce jerked to a stop a little ways away groaning once again in pain from the solid marble impact.
Queen Diana was fuming. "We're done here." She whispered. Guards!" She yelled out and the doors opened up as the guards came to collect Batman.
"Done for now…" Batman muttered to her as the guards undid his chains. Diana whipped her head to glare at him but kept silent. She clenched her teeth as her guards pulled the man out of the chamber.
"This isn't you!" He shouted back to her, "Diana! What Happened Here! Dian…!" His voice cut out as the solid doors closed behind him.
The queen of the Amazons was furious. She stood trembling for a few moments but then she exploded, turning to one of the columns.
CRACK!
The marble cracked and exploded as the queen stood there, breathing through gritted teeth.
After a few minutes, she exhaled and chuckled darkly, "Well, it was getting a bit boring around here." She muttered to herself.
The lasso was one way of getting information. But she always knew you found out the most about someone when they fight. Soon, she would see what kind of person this mysterious, infuriating man really was.
Third Chapter done! Sorry about the small wait, Christmas delayed it a little. Let me know your thoughts. I appreciate everyone who has shown their support so far with reviews and follows and such. Keep it up.