When the Princess is away Part IV
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The sky above Themyscira darkened as the moon reached its zenith, casting an eerie glow across the sacred temple. The duel between Batman's relentless technology and the ancient magic of the Amazons had raged for hours, each side pushing the limits of their abilities. Inside the temple, the air was charged with energy as the Amazons and goddesses maintained their vigil, their focus unwavering despite the long, grueling night.
The scrying pool continued to ripple and shift as Bruce's Batcomputer sent wave after wave of data to infiltrate the magic. Every few minutes, new streams of encrypted code would appear, testing the wards, probing for weaknesses. The Amazons responded in kind, summoning layers of defense, weaving together the centuries-old magic of Themyscira.
Artemis stood ready, her spear glowing faintly as she paced along the temple's edge. Her eyes flickered between the shimmering pool and the night outside, her instincts attuned to the ebb and flow of battle. Hippolyta stood beside Athena, her hands clasped in concentration as she reinforced the barriers, sending waves of protection surging through the temple.
"He's pushing harder," Athena remarked, her divine energy flaring as she closed another breach. "But he hasn't yet broken through."
Hippolyta nodded. "He is close, though. Too close."
Suddenly, the scrying pool rippled violently, and the temple trembled. The Batcomputer's intrusion had intensified, its data streams becoming more aggressive, slicing through the magical defenses like a blade. The ancient runes surrounding the pool flickered as they strained to hold the barrier.
Donna narrowed her eyes, watching the pool closely. "He's trying something different. He's... mapping the weaknesses."
"He learns quickly," Athena said, her voice laced with both concern and admiration. "He's adapting."
Another surge of power from the Batcomputer sent sparks flying across the surface of the scrying pool, but just as quickly, the Amazons countered. Athena's hands glowed with divine light, weaving a counter-spell that forced the data streams to scatter.
But even with their combined strength, they could feel the strain of the all-night duel.
"He's not stopping," Donna said, her voice tight with frustration. "How can one man keep this up?"
"He's not just a man," Hippolyta replied, her eyes fixed on the pool. "He's Batman. His mind is his greatest weapon."
Just as she spoke, the Batcomputer sent a final surge of data, one more powerful than any before. The scrying pool flared, its waters boiling and churning as the temple shook violently. The Amazons braced themselves, summoning all their strength to reinforce the wards.
And then, just as suddenly as it began, the surge stopped.
The waters of the scrying pool calmed, returning to their previous stillness. The temple fell silent, the tension in the air lifting slightly as the intrusion appeared to cease.
"He's... stopped?" Artemis asked, her brow furrowed in disbelief.
Donna scanned the pool, her expression suspicious. "It's too sudden. After all that—he just gives up?"
Athena's eyes narrowed as she examined the fading data streams. "No. He hasn't given up. He's... pausing."
Sure enough, as they watched, the faint image of the Batcomputer's screen flickered once more within the pool. Bruce Wayne's figure appeared, slumped over in his chair, his cowl pulled back as his face was bathed in the pale glow of his monitors. His eyes were closed, his breathing shallow, as though he had finally succumbed to exhaustion after the relentless fight.
"He's fallen asleep," Artemis said, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Hippolyta's eyes narrowed. "Or he wants us to think he has."
Suddenly, a sharp crackling sound filled the temple. The scrying pool began to glow brighter, and then, without warning, a burst of fire erupted from within. The Amazons stepped back as the flames danced across the surface of the pool, and through the flickering flames, they saw the Batcomputer's monitors ignite, sparks flying as the screens cracked and shattered.
"He's burned out his systems," Audrey said, her voice awed. "He pushed them too hard."
For a moment, there was nothing but the crackling of the flames and the distant hum of magic as the Amazons surveyed the scene. Bruce's systems had collapsed, his attempt to breach their defenses seemingly defeated by his own determination.
"We've won," Donna said, though her tone held uncertainty.
Hippolyta's gaze remained on the pool. "Perhaps. But we should remain vigilant."
One by one, the Amazons and goddesses began to relax, their stances loosening as the long night took its toll. Artemis lowered her spear, Athena's divine light faded, and Hippolyta released a slow breath. The tension that had gripped the temple began to ease as exhaustion settled in.
But just as the first rays of dawn began to creep over the horizon, an alarm blared through the temple.
The Amazons snapped to attention, their senses sharp once more. The scrying pool, which had gone dark moments earlier, now flickered violently. Bruce's figure was gone, replaced by a stream of encrypted code—a final surge of data that had been hidden beneath the collapse of his systems.
"It was a trick!" Donna shouted, racing toward the pool.
The code danced across the surface of the water, and through it, the Amazons could see the faintest outline of Themyscira's magical signature. Bruce had used the destruction of his system as a decoy, masking his final move beneath the flames.
"He's close—too close!" Audrey cried out.
Without hesitation, Donna reached into the pool, her hands glowing with divine energy as she plunged them into the water. The magical currents swirled around her fingers as she gripped the edges of the scrying pool, her eyes focused with determination.
With a single, powerful motion, Donna flipped the rim of the pool, causing the water to spill onto the floor. The sacred pool, now emptied, flickered one last time before the connection to Bruce's Batcomputer severed completely.
The temple fell silent again, the only sound the steady drip of water on the stone floor.
Donna straightened, breathing heavily, her hands still glowing faintly with residual energy.
"It's over," she said, her voice steady. "For now."
Hippolyta placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "You did well, Donna. But this isn't the end."
Athena nodded, her gaze fixed on the empty pool. "He will try again. And when he does, we must be ready."
The Amazons gathered once more, their resolve hardening. Bruce Wayne—Batman—had come closer than any mortal had before, but for now, Themyscira remained hidden. Yet they all knew that the battle between magic and technology was far from over.