Chapter 6: Familiar Friends and Fights
Themyscira 1000 years ago
Diana couldn't believe she was hiding a man in her room, it had been hell sneaking him past the guards but now he was lying on the bed, recovering from being shipwrecked, and eating grapes.
"So William Trevon... what were you doing at sea?" Diana asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I uhhh, I was just on my fish...fishing boat. Bad, Bad storm caught me up and wrecked me out to sea."
Diana pursed her lips, "But what of your clothes, they seem like someone of an army or military?"
"Ah, just some spare clothes given to me by a friend, I take what I can." He said with a nervous smile.
"Well you're safe now, I have to go but you'll be ok here."
"Thank you...so much, I never would have guessed a beauty such as you would save me."
Diana blushed at his words and bit her lip before getting up and leaving. After the door was closed, she couldn't see him getting out of bed and looking out the window, or hear him as he whispered, "Finally, I found it!"
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The Arena
Queen Diana sat on her throne, listening as the throngs of her subjects shouted and cheered at what was about to happen.
A fire headed amazon stood opposite a dark haired man. Both of them waiting for their fight to begin. Artemis had donned a red suit with half her body covered in armor, the other half more exposed, for quicker movements on the battlefield. A single handed sword shone as she held it on the exposed side.
Bruce was still in his own armor, a drop of blood trailing down his side from his match with Slade. For this fight, he had pulled out his weapons, two metal batons that could be wielded individually or combined to make a bo staff. For this fight, he had left them in separate form, opting for the Filipino Eskrima stick fighting techniques.
"Are you ready to die, you trespassing pig?!" Artemis taunted.
Bruce was silent though, and as Artemis's cheeks flushed in anger from being ignored, a gong rang out as Queen Diana signalled the fight to begin.
"BWONGGGGGGGGG!"
At first, neither of them moved, both competitors looking and analyzing their opponent. Batman faked a movement with his stick and Artemis flinched involuntarily to react with a high block. She growled at the embarrassment and attempted a fake back to see Bruce's defense, but the man stayed still, having seen through the ruse.
"Argh!" With frustration, Artemis performed a second attack, this time committing to the move. Bruce sidestepped it easily though. He quickly had to block the sword with his batons as Artemis pressed her attack. Most people got sloppy when they got angry, but Bruce knew that even in his world, Artemis was one of the top warrior Amazons, it would take more than anger to slip her technique up.
Bruce had to act, he was tired of this. With one sweep kick, Bruce faked before sending out a strike with his baton. Artemis was ready to block the stick but then saw that it had turned out to be a second fake as Bruce's other leg was swinging towards her ribs faster than she could react. Her sword ended up blocking nothing and Bruce's metal boot collided with her ribs and she was forced off her feet and to the ground.
Trying to keep her disoriented, Bruce went in for a kick but Artemis rolled out of the way just in time, coming up standing she swung her sword in a devastating arc and it was only Bruce's instincts that saved him, he brought his batons up in a crossed block but immediately the sticks were forced down. Bruce was brought to one knees and was only able to stop the blade once it had also connected hard to his shoulder armor. Bruce had felt the blade even dig in and crack his new armor, the force alone was making his arm numb.
Wasting no time Batman deflected and disarmed the blade off to one side, standing up and close to Artemis, he was able to bring the baton straight up to her chin. Smack! Following through, he twisted around and thrust the other baton into her sternum. BOOF! As Bruce continued with an overhand strike, Artemis caught the attack. Bruce was unphased though and brought his other baton in and connected them, making his bo staff. With the extra leverage, he was able to wrench the weapon from Artemis's grip and spin the staff to create momentum. With this he performed two alternating strikes to her ribs before twirling the staff even faster and striking her head, sending her crashing to the ground.
"Aghhh! You cheating dog!" She screamed out in pain.
As an original Amazon though she wasn't seriously injured and out of the fight, getting up with a new fury in her eyes, she jumped at Bruce, tackling and taking him to the ground with such speed even he couldn't react in time.
"Ugnh!" Bruce was winded, his bo staff flying away, and as he landed on the hard ground he made himself put his hands up to block the punches he knew would be coming. Artemis was punching against his armor so hard he could feel the metal start to crack. As his head cleared though Bruce timed her momentum and used it to base his hips up and roll her so she was now the one on the ground.
Moving quickly, Bruce took side side control, Artemis was covering up her face and vulnerable areas, however she never could have seen what was coming next. Bruce swung over and went for her leg. Both their weapons were far away and Bruce had the perfect set up with his Brazillian Jiu Jitsu for a Knee Bar. Artemis was perplexed as she saw him holding onto her leg instead of trying to punch her.
That quickly changed though, as Bruce had her leg behind his back he started to arch back, and Artemis could feel her leg being stretched to the limit. She tried to punch the man but could only hit his legs as he was too far away and they were both tangled so she couldn't stand up.
Bruce knew she was strong enough to break his legs with her punches alone, so he decided this wasn't the time to go easy on her, "Sorry for this." He said
With a sudden movement, Bruce wrenched backwards, all the muscles working in sync to overcome the Amazonian strength, and felt as Artemis's leg broke at the knee from the force.
"AHHHHHHHHGH!" The Amazon howled as Batman let go and rolled away.
"I'll Kill YOU!" she cried out in pain. She tried to stand but the crowds of people could be heard exclaiming their cries of disgust and horror as her bent leg couldn't possibly continue.
"We're done." Bruce said and turned away from her.
The crowds were filled with a mix of support for Artemis, boos for him, calls for Artemis's death, cheers for the man, and more.
Queen Diana was honestly surprised, she thought he COULD win, but she didn't really think he WOULD win against an Amazon, and not against one of the most respected fighters in the empire, and certainly not that fast.
As she listened to the masses, she was tuning them out and staring daggers at the man, I don't know what I want to do right now. This man was the first one to make her confused about ANYTHING in hundreds of years.
Once again, Queen Diana stood and addressed her people, "A historic day, both fighters so skilled, and yet, the man has prevailed again," Diana paused before continuing, "This was a battle to the death, and yet both still live…"
Bruce couldn't tell if she was issuing a command, statement, or a rhetorical question, he didn't intend to find out though. He growled up at her, "I don't kill."
The coliseum was silent, listening to the exchange between the man, and their queen.
Queen Diana pursed her lips in annoyance, "And what if I issue your death if you don't follow through. We've seen your strength, we know you have the skill to finish the job. Why show mercy? Why show restraint? Why not kill for your survival?"
People in the stands were murmuring amongst themselves, but they were mostly waiting for the response.
Bruce looked up at the queen with defiance, "Because I'm strong enough not to...perhaps you wouldn't understand that."
The queen's eyes widened at the comment and the audience was erupting in anger and awe at the sheer audacity of this man. They looked about ready to storm the coliseum and kill him.
Diana wasn't stupid though, she knew that people's emotions were rising, they needed to cool off before any fights could continue, and honestly, if the man was to die, Diana wanted it be something special, she couldn't let a mob ruin her fun.
The queen called for quiet in the arena, "Silenceeee!" The people instantly shut up, the wrath of the noble queen being known as worse than death, "For our dark warrior, I say this-We'll see where your strength gets you. Now for my sisters, it is time for the ceremonial concert, and historical drama re-enactments. Our new warrior will adjourn for now, sit back my sisters, and enjoy music, and drama," She decided to sweeten the deal, "as a show of what a day it's already been, one free beverage for every patron Amazon here today."
The cheers were definitely loud in support of their queen from the free amenities. The risk of Riot was ended and she slumped back in her seat and saw that Bruce was watching her, she quickly sat back up and gave him a smirk, she mockingly gave him a few little claps, as if to say, good effort out there slave. He scowled and looked away, eliciting a small laugh from the queen, as she held the smug look until he was out of site .
Bruce was deep in thought, he had to get out of here, but where would he go? The whole country and world was changed, he wouldn't know the landscapes, the people, and he'd be an enemy everywhere, and to top it all off, the only person he really knows right now is a rage-filled, cold, queen responsible for this whole world.
He was barely paying attention as Amazonian guards escorted him back inside the coliseum, Pleione was waiting for him inside, "I am to escort you to a new temporary cell until your next fight.
"Fine."
"You did well, that fight with Artemis was the most impressive fighting I've ever seen from a man."
Bruce exhaled forcefully, "I'm sure it was, ungh!" Bruce held his side a bit from where Artemis had tackled him, he'd definitely have a bruise on his stomach.
"After each day of the games is over, you'll be healed from those injuries, they'll want you to approach each day fresh." Pleione commented. "Though I was expecting you to have broken limbs by now if you survived, Haha!"
"How thoughtful," Bruce said sarcastically and removed his helmet, "Lead the way." He said, gesturing down the hall, indicating he was ready to go where he needed to.
On his way down the corridors, there were again glass windows where Amazonians got to view him up close.
"I'm sure more of these women are interested in you now after having seen you fight." His escort said next to him as she observed the women.
Some were staring, some were booing, some were giving encouragement, but they were all still looking down at him through the glass, both physically and literally, as the windows were a few feet up the wall. On the extreme ends, one woman decided to flash him, which surprised even him, and then right afterwards another woman was gesturing how she was going to kill him. The high emotions, all different, was almost amusing to the dark knight.
"Hmm." Bruce said with disinterest. He was getting tired of all of this, so done.
Finally, they arrived at a small chamber, it had a bench, a table, and some food set aside for him. There were bars on the opposite side of the room that looked into the next chamber over. Pleione gestured for him to enter.
"How long will I be here?"
"I don't know." Pleione shrugged her shoulders, "Maybe half an hour, maybe 2 hours, we'll see how people like the filler stuff. I'm off now, good luck with the rest of the day. I'll be enjoying the rest of the games as part of the audience."
"Be sure to cheer for me."
Pleione gave him a mock-serious salute then laughed as she strode out, locking the door behind him.
Bruce examined the room, it was locked tight and he had nowhere to go. His stomach growled though so he sat on the bench and started to dig into an apple.
A voice spoke up from the darkness of the adjourning cell, "Must be nice, being a winner, being exotic,having fresh apples and shit."
Bruce was startled, not from the voice's presence, he had seen someone's legs next door but couldn't make out any defining features, no, it was the fact that he RECOGNIZED the voice.
He stood up fast and approached the bars, "...John?"
The man on the cell floor next to him shifted his weight with effort, and a gaunt, malnourished face came into view, but there was no mistake, Bruce knew this man.
"Now how do you know my name, warrior boy?"
A different John Stewart stared up at Bruce.
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20 minutes later, Bruce was sitting close to the bars, he had tossed John one of his fruits, another apple, and John listened as Bruce spoke of how they knew each other.
"...A marine, another kind of warrior, a soldier. And then, you're a Lantern…"
"A what? Marine, Lantern, I don't know what you're talking about man."
"You had a lantern and a ring, you were a hero…"
John sighed and hung his head, "These all sound great Be...Bruce! Bruce, sorry. But I'm just a slave here, used now during games and theater to play the part of the losing sides of history."
Bruce nodded his head at the man's words, "A lot of losers to play the part of?"
John chuckled, "Tons, though none of them recent enough to know personally, you might be the first in ages. I wonder if they'll make me play a version of you after you're gone."
"They keep telling me how special it will be for me to fight and die now, I don't think I see the same appeal though." Bruce said in a tired huff.
"Hahaha, I don't blame you." John Stewart gave him a sad smile, "Sorry I'm not the man you know, sounds like I could've helped out a lot more if I was like that guy."
Bruce shook his head, "It's good enough to have a talk with a familiar face that doesn't look like they want to disembowel me every other minute," He slumped against the wall, "No one's the same, especially Diana."
John flinched at the name, "Man, you're gonna end up with an arrow through you, throwing that name around like that."
Bruce just knit his eyebrows together in annoyance. He was about to respond when he heard banging on the wall and John's cell opened, "Come on Stewart! It's time for the recreation of the Battle of Constantinople!"
John sighed, "Time to go, stay alive mad man, you might get the luxurious lifestyle you see before you." The man looked beaten and battered, standing up and trudging out to follow his next command.
Bruce leaned back, resting his eyes for a moment, his head against the cool rock wall, at least thankful a familiar friend turned out to be friendly.
Hey Everyone, Been awhile since the last post, finished college, COVID-19, etc. Finally have more free time so i've been working on getting over my writer's block and continuing this story. Let me know what you think of this chapter, thanks to those who follow this story, I'm sorry you've waited so long, and hopefully I'll be updating again quicker.