WONDER WOMAN : THE ENEMY OF MY ANCESTOR
PART 1
The plains of Western Anatolia stretched silently under a starless sky, the only sound the whisper of a cool breeze weaving through the tall grasses. In the heart of this desolate land, Wonder woman approached the remnants of an ancient Trojan temple. The locals had spoken of it in hushed tones, warning of a restless spirit said to haunt the ruins. Was it merely superstition, or was there truth buried beneath the layers of myth?
Wonder woman moved cautiously among the crumbled columns and moss-covered stones. To her surprise, the temple was astonishingly well-preserved, its carvings and walls seeming to defy the ravages of time; she even found untouched pottery and weapons just lying around. Wonder woman paused, her mission momentarily forgotten as she stood in awe of the structure. Three millennia had passed since its creation, yet it stood here, resolute and dignified. How could such a marvel remain hidden, its treasure unpillaged, its history lost to the world?
Her moment of wonder was interrupted by a sudden, undeniable feeling—she was being watched. Slowly, she turned. In the shadows of what was once the courtyard, a figure stood, still and silent, its presence both unnerving and enigmatic. The silhouette was unmistakably human, but its details were concealed by the long folds of a chlamys (cloak) draped around its form. The figure didn't move, didn't speak, but its gaze pierced through the shadows, locking onto her with an intensity that sent her hand to the pommel of her sword.
"Greetings, I am Diana of Themyscira. Who are you?".
The figure discarded its chlamys (cloak) and stepped out of the shadows. It was a man clad in dark hoplite armor, its weathered texture reflecting the moonlight. Wonder woman immediately recognized the symbol on his dipylon shield. Myrmidons; Achilles's handpicked group of elite Mycenaean warriors. His blank-white eyes gave away that he is an σκιά (shade). But these restless spirits typically inhabited the banks of the river Styx, why was this one still here?
"I am Leandros of Phthia. You have the likeness of an Amazon, but your shield does not bear their mark".
"Is that so? And what symbol represents the Amazons?".
"The symbol of Ares of course. I have faced your kind enough times to know it well. I find it hard to believe he would allow his servants to rebel unpunished".
"Unpunished? Far from it. When Ares sought to turn our loyalty into shackles, my mother, Queen Hippolyta, led our rebellion. We paid a tremendous price for our freedom. Since then, we have lived on Themyscira, hidden from the greed and violence of man's world".
Leandros's gaze darkened. "Your kind rebelled against the God of War—and lived? Unfortunate that such valor was sullied by retreat".
"You don't understand. Just because we do not conquer and subjugate doesn't mean we have forgotten how to fight".
"So you say, but words alone will not suffice to convince me".
Leandros unsheathed his kopis sword, grabbed his shield and awaited Wonder woman's response.
Wonder woman hesitated, this fight was unnecessary, Leandros didn't pose a threat to anybody, but she could not let her people's honor be dismissed so easily. With a steady hand, she drew her sword and shield and charged, the deafening song of Hellenic violence filling the ancient ruins once again.
Wonder woman's demi-god physiology gave her the advantage in strength, speed, and agility. But through the teachings of Achilles, Leandros's skill and technique proved a match.
"Hidden from the greed and violence of man's world—these are the words of a people who could no longer endure!".
In the blink of an eye, Leandros grabbed his sling and flung several sharp pieces of metal at the speed of a bullet towards Wonder woman. Instinctually, she deflected them with her bracelets as she has for years which created the small opening Leandros needed. As he swung his sword, Wonder woman's reflexes saved her from losing her entire arm, but suffered a cut on the brachial artery. He wasn't the only one with tricks though. As she jumped high above him, Wonder woman hurled the lasso of truth towards Leandros, the unconventional weapon caught him off-guard and coiled around his sword arm, glowing bright gold as it sought to compel him.
"You will obey!".
Yet something was wrong. The lasso's magic faltered, meeting a strange resistance, as if another power held a claim to him. The air crackled with energy as the lasso tightened, drawing the opposing forces into violent conflict until an explosion of magic erupted, sending Diana crashing through a crumbling wall. When she came to, daylight streamed through the ruins. Leandros was gone—but her lasso was no longer golden. Its threads now glowed bright blue.
Leandros's soul, she realized, had become bound to her lasso. It became clear to Wonder woman that Leandros was no ordinary σκιά (shade), but was cursed long ago as some sort of punishment. Ever compassionate, she resolved to undo this curse entirely so he could venture to the kingdom of Hades. Wonder woman expected some resistance from whatever power was responsible for the curse, but she could have never imagined it would be a god of Olympus.