What to do about Magik Gotham style?
Author's note: I suppose this next story focuses on my thoughts about DC Comic's take on Amazon Island. For the record I am a guy so an island of angry lesbian feminists is not my idea of paradise island; and neither would an island of gay males now that I think about it. Not to mention the whole (where do new Amazons come from if there are no males) issue as the facts of male/female relationships and reproduction is very problematic with the whole ideals of Amazon island if there are new Amazons (I know that they emerge from some magical portal or pool but honestly why not have a stork drop them off as we are in the realm of the absurd). Oh, and I loved the first Wonder Woman film (and hated the second film) for those who think I'm either anti WW. It's not lost on me that DC Comics has a real sales problem as only Batman comics appears to sell in meaningful numbers right now, and while you would think that Wonder Woman would be pitched to mostly female readers (incidentally I have no idea of the sales breakdown by gender), having a female comic of just lesbians is really a fringe product as most women are not lesbians (look folks, most guys and gals marry the opposite gender and if explaining how the birds and the bees causes you to be triggered then perhaps you need to take a time out). That's why Wonder Woman had and has (gasps of horror) male boyfriends in the comic and the films (you know, something that will relate to most females, just like male centric heroes have... girlfriends, and lots of tight female clothing, or lack thereof, and big boobs, really need huge… um… tracks of land… um… what was I talking about, kind of got distracted on the topic of… tracks of land… yeah… land).
Anyway, enough ranting for now, on to the story, part three of what looks to be a four part story (and kind of a sequel to chapter five).
Part 10a: More Jacuzzi time
"And that's how I'd rewrite Friends…" Finished Harley. Who had been expounding, in detail, her idea that the TV series Friends would be fantastic if various rogues and villains were all living together in their secret identities while not knowing that their roommates were villains and heroes. Why, just imagine the embarrassment of the big reveal when one of them discovers that their arch nemesis is their roomie and love interest! Or that occasional F-Buddy hookup.
Illyana did have to admit that the show sounded like it would be fun to watch as not all of Harleys ideas were bad ideas, just that the unending flow could be a bit overwhelming.
"So…" Illyana begin in what she just know was going to likely generate a weird answer. "Who was the strangest person you ever met?"
"Personsssss" Replied Harley a bit of a flutter of her tongue a bit of spray of spit.
"Hu?"
"He talked like that. He and his were newcomers to the Suicide Squad."
"Who talked like that?"
"The duck."
BEGIN HARLEY REFLECTION
"Listen up scum." Began Waller in one of her moral boosting speeches as she addressed the sparsely populated auditorium. "You're getting some new members."
"Fresh meat." Commented Peace Keeper.
"Makes sense." Added Harley as she popped a chewing gum bobble. "Number's getting kind of thin."
Which caused Captain Boomerang to snort some beer out of his nose as he laughed. "Only because of that rocket Harley."
"That was not my fault!"
"Sure Harls, sure." Replied Deadshot who distinctly remembered that event and having to run for his life as Harley just had to try out the RFBR (Really Fucking Big Rocket) that they had discovered.
"Pipe down reprobates." Sneered Waller as she dimmed the lights and a photo was projected, it showed a humanoid black duck of all things holding a prisoner number.
"Goes by the name Daffy." Began Walker.
A whisper from Captain Boomerang. "New buddy for you Harley."
END HARLEY REFLECTION
Which resulted in a long story about how the new squad members had taken down this Dark Fudd dude and his plan for both world domination and a rabbit free universe. As Harley ended the story as the duck, how missing his bill and very scorched had rebuked Harley.
"You're Dessspicable!"
After much laugher, and more wine, Ivy switched topics.
"How did your morning with Wonder Woman go?"
"Go…?"
"Kind of hard not to notice you were limping when you came back from whatever the two of you were doing."
"We… discussed some things." Was Illyana's evasive answer.
Part 10b: Morning in Themiscyra, some time ago
Wonder Woman and Illyana fought in the main arena on Amazon island.
An empty arena as there were no witnesses but the sun. So in reality no witnesses but the gods, and you can bet that at least one of them was, discreetly, watching and recording.
Fought with normal weapons, Diana equipped with a normal sword and shield and dressed in her usual field costume; she also had her golden whip at her side. Illyana was in her normal skimpy black leather getup, with the spikes on her left shoulder and the spiky hand and forearm gauntlet on her left arm; she was armed with a single Japanese style sword.
Fought for reasons that had yet to be explained to you the viewer. But Illyana was quite curious as to the actual reasons so hence her question.
"Why?"
The engagement was not friendly but the engagement was also not of lethal intent. Just hard fought, perhaps looking for who might be the victor in a true altercation.
"This is not you." Was Wonder Woman's reply. "This is what you present to the world, perhaps what you prefer to look like, but your true capabilities are hindered by such deceptions. Or… perhaps just concealed from the unwary."
Diana did a vicious block with her shield and a twirling one handed upward slice that was likewise deflected by Illyana's armored gauntlet arm as she spun around Diana's right side and attempted a nasty overhead attack at Diana, resulting in her sword bounced off of Diana's shield, but Illyana then did a maneuver where her sword twirled over her Illyana's head and struck at Diana from the other side.
"This is hardly a fair fight." Groused Illyana. "After all, you're the closest thing there is to a goddess in the Justice League. Although Mr. Kent pretty much qualifies as a godling."
Diana turned as her sword swept the thrust from Illyana out of the way while Illyana continued her complaints as she stepped back, thus avoiding a strike from the shield.
"And talk about home field advantage here. Bet Olympus godlings are all eating popcorn and guzzling on Cokes as they watch this." That was a yes on the popcorn, but wine was involved and likely a bit of a snobbish turn of the nose as the use of the word guzzle to describe their imbibing.
"Face me truly demon!" Was Diana's sneer of a reply. "You may have fooled most of the others and those in Gotham in particular. But you are drenched in the blood of your fallen."
"Yep." Was Illyana's reply as she did a fighting retreat before Diana's onslaught. "At least the blood of the fallen part."
BEGIN DIANA RECOLLECTION
Diana was frustrated, very frustrated, at the attitude that the Justice League was taking with Magik. None of her arguments were being accepted as to courses of possible actions. This frustration boiled over one night as she shared a coffee, in civilian garb, with Clark.
"Nothing in the briefing materials Bruce assembled sways you?"
Clark, of course, pointed out that… "It certainly does not appear to sway Bruce."
An argument that was clear and to the point. As Batman, the most suspicious member of the JL and notoriously anti M word practitioner, was not on Diane's side. And the Titans were actually attending concerts and nightclubs with the person in question so no possible allies there.
Clark followed up. "And the source material is very suspect Diana, it's based upon comic books. We have no idea of her actual reality as we have no access."
One of the sources of Diana's angst. "And she does not provide any, yet she has open access to ours."
A shrug from Clark, and a slurp as he sipped his coffee, that just so stated that dem's the breaks.
A significant root cause of Diana's concerns was a quote from Chris Claremont from an interview he had given many years ago. "Magik is as fundamentally evil as a character that can be imagined. The irony with Magik is that deep down inside, she knows she's evil - she is so evil she would scare Lucifer half to death! But there's a part of her that doesn't want to be evil, the super hero part of her."
Now that was an author's quote about a comic book character he had created. But this Magik… how much of that was true? Diana's fears was that it was all true.
"None of you are listening to me."
"We are Diana, most of us just don't agree with your conclusions. Listening does not mean one has to agree."
Diana's voice held tones of bitterness. "And the ones that do won't do anything about it." Meaning the more magical members of the DC universe. Most of the magical contingent did not like Magik, but were disinclined to get into a fight until she did something that showed her, supposed, true colors.
END DIANA RECOLLECTION
Perhaps Illyana was being sarcastic, perhaps she was just being rhetorical. "Is this a kettle calling the pot black situation?"
With the thrust of the shield on her left arm Diana cleared enough separation between the two of them, giving her enough space and time to unleash her master stroke; which is smashing the gauntlets on her two forearms together. Unleashing a wave of power that smashed into not only Illyana but all across the arena. And with that unleashing of power Illyana's mortal guise was stripped away as she resisted the blast. Leaving in her place a rather busty female horned goat legged creature with hooves. A creature dressed in a chain mail bikini with some armor on her left arm and legs, also there was now a flickering devils tail and yellow eyes burning with power.
"Cheating, so that's how it's going to be." Groused Illyana with a growl as her soul sword burned into existence in her hands as the Japanese sword faded away. "If you insist on fighting like this then I might was well use what I have."
Now it was Diana who did a fighting retreat before the power of the Darkchild as Diana stated.
"And thus your true self is shown."
"True self… this?"
"Yes."
"No… This is more my innate physical self, but true form? That is something much different."
"Baaaa!" Was Diana's reply to this obvious falsehood.
Which was ignored by Illyana, who expounded as the two exchanged strikes. "I'm partial to what Frederick Douglass once said. They measure and esteem men according to their moral and intellectual worth, and not according to the color of their skin. And I think the Bible has a few words on the topic. 'Ye shall know them by their fruits,' he said. 'A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Mathew 1:15-20'." Then a bit of a sniff from Illyana. "But I suppose you don't read that particular book here."
A glare from Diana. She was used to being the one making moral arguments in a fight, and found the role reversal very aggravating. "I dislike it when people quote the bible at me. Even more annoying when…"
"A demon does it?"
"Yes…"
A bit of a shrug from Illyana as they fought. "A knife cuts the same, regardless of who wields it."
The two fought on, ever harder.
A snarl of a request from Diana. "I would prefer that you to leave this world and never return."
"Because…?"
"I believe you observed the mental recording."
Illyana ducked below a sword strike. "Of the one where… the alternative Justice League was slain?" (Author Note, see the story Arkham for details and shame on you if you have not read it)
"Yes, slain by you."
"Hypothetical alternate me." Corrected Illyana as her sword struck from below only to be blocked as Diana backed away.
"Irrelevant, what a you did, you so can do. Or do you claim otherwise?"
"No…"
"It is my belief your potential threat matters the most."
A sigh from Illyana. "Now you sound like Lex."
"Come again?"
"Lex, he really can get worked up on the whole alien thing." Alien being how Lex Luthor refers to Superman.
"And again you show the reason of my concern, your association with known villains." And that association had resulted in Diana having to welcome both Ivy and Harley to Themiscyra as they had arrived as Illyana's guests; an obvious snub to Diana.
"And you don't? Don't you have some crazy cat woman you called a friend?"
"She… she is ill!" Was Diana's reply. "I hope, I pray for her healing and redemption."
A blazing series of strikes from Illyana, and a reply dripping with sarcasm. "Ah… so do as I say, not as I do."
"You twist my words."
"No, I hold your words up as a mirror. Not my fault if you don't like what you see. You fear that I plan conquest."
"Any given Amazon is the equal of ten of your demons."
Illyana's reply made no sense to Diana. "WW2 German joke."
"What?"
"Logan likes to tell a story whenever people feel high and mighty about their skills. A captured German made disparaging remarks about American tanks to the Americans who had captured him. He said 'A German tank is worth ten American tanks.' But before the Americans have a chance to get angry he followed up with. 'But you always have eleven.'"
A narrowing of the eyes from Diana. "I… see."
A not nice smile from Illyana, and flickers some something dire as flames began replaced some of her blonde hair. "There are a great many demons in Limbo. More then enough for this trivial island."
Part 10c: Fight Night, but in the morning
The fight was personal now, as each strove to be dominant. And with such a fight, were it to be a choreographed film, there would be a sound track, not that there was one playing. But… if one was… it might be…
Unstoppable by Sia.
Feints by Illyana as the two circled, half down slashes and stabs that stopped or reversed, trying to lure Diana out of position
All smiles, I know what it takes to fool this town
I'll do it 'til the sun goes down and all through the night time
Oh yeah
Oh yeah, I'll tell you what you wanna hear
Leave my sunglasses on while I shed a tear
It's never the right time
Yeah, yeah
A sudden rush from Diana as she blocked Illyana's sword with the shield on her left arm while stepping to the right and slashing with her sword, causing Illyana to franticly twist and jump backwards to avoid the strike. Diana followed up with a whirlwind of slashes and stabs, continuing to force Illyana to retreat.
I put my armor on, show you how strong how I am
I put my armor on, I'll show you that I am
A force on force blow from Illyana proved who wielded the better sword, and it was not Diana as her sword shattered.
I'm unstoppable
I'm a Porsche with no brakes
I'm invincible
Yeah, I win every single game
Now Diana retreated before the sword strikes as she blocked and deflected with her shield.
I'm so powerful
I don't need batteries to play
I'm so confident
Yeah, I'm unstoppable today
A twist of that shield, a strike with the edge upon the sword and Illyana's blade was knocked from her hands.
Unstoppable today
Unstoppable today
Unstoppable today
I'm unstoppable today
Illyana received a savage upwards slam to the face via the shield and a punch to her unprotect gut as she was wearing a bikini.
Break down, only alone I will cry on out
You'll never see what's hiding out
Hiding out deep down
Yeah, yeah
But Illyana dove to the side, while grasping the shield and attempted to twist it from Diana's grasp, which failed. Resulting to both being flung in the direction of Illyana's dive.
I know, I've heard that to let your feelings go
Is the only way to make friendships grow
But I'm too afraid now
Yeah, yeah
The two were separated by about ten feet. Illyana advanced upon Diana in a shifting pattern as Diana flung her shield and… missed! The shield slamming into the base of one of the tall stone obelisks that decorated the edge of the field, causing it to crack.
I put my armor on, show you how strong how I am
I put my armor on, I'll show you that I am
A thrown punch at Diana, but it was a bluff as instead Illyana rotated 360 and delivered a roundhouse kick to Diana that slammed her to the ground.
I'm unstoppable
I'm a Porsche with no breaks
I'm invincible
Yeah, I win every single game
A few slashing stomping kicks upon the prone Diana that dented the breastplate of Diana's armor.
I'm so powerful
I don't need batteries to play
The last of the kicks was caught by Diana with both hands, just inches from her face.
I'm so confident
An overhead throw from Diana that did not let go of the hoof, resulting in Illyana being slammed into the ground behind Diana.
Yeah, I'm unstoppable today
A forward throw from Diana that pulled Diana to her feet as Illyana was slammed into the ground again.
Unstoppable today
Unstoppable today
Unstoppable today
Diana swung Illyana over her head in a circle. Once. Twice. Thrice. Then she let go and flung Illyana into the stone bleachers that were at the base of the arena with a thundering smash of erupting stone.
I'm unstoppable today
Unstoppable today
Unstoppable today
Unstoppable today
I'm unstoppable today
From the dust strode Illyana, looking very much the worst for wear. "Time to test those bracers of your's bitch!" As she gestured with both hands, magically flinging a storm of rocks at Diana (She felt it was her turn to cheat as it were).
I put my arm around, show you how strong I am
I put my arm around, I'll show you that I am
All of which were deflected by Diana.
I'm unstoppable
I'm a Porsche with no breaks
Deep fake strike from Illlyana, as the intent was to allow Illyana to close again and do a gut punch that dented Diana's armor yet again.
I'm invincible
Yeah, I win every single game
Upper cut from Diana.
I'm so powerful
Foot stomp from Illyana, from hooves that are hard and sharp.
I don't need batteries to play
I'm so confident
A strike that Diana used her trapped foot as a brace to slam her other knee into Illyana's gut.
Yeah, I'm unstoppable today
Unstoppable today
Followed by a clap to the ears from Diana in an attempt to either stun or rupture eardrums.
Unstoppable today
Unstoppable today
I'm unstoppable today
Illyana's arms threaded Diana's head strike, pinned her arms and…
Unstoppable today
Unstoppable today
Unstoppable today
I'm unstoppable today
Slammed her head into Diana's. Thus stunning Diana.
Moments later, Diana came to, to find herself prone upon the ground with Illyana straddling her. Illyana had her left hand on Diana's throat and the point of her soul sword, held by her right hand, under Diana's chin. She snarled at Diana's glaring visage as her hands tightened, then…
A smile that showed her bloody incisors. "Nice try Princess, but I'm still just me, regardless of what you think or try to force into existence."
With that the soul sword faded away as Illyana started to stand up, Diana's view became less obscured as Illyana moved further away, thus reveling to Diana that one of the stadium's obelisks was collapsing and plunging down upon the two of them like a giant fly swatter! Diana responded in a lightning fast move as she surged upright, grabbed Illyana by the shoulders as she spun her around so she could hurl Illyana clear, but it was two late as the stone moonlit smashed the two of them into the ground with a thundering roar of shattering rock.