WONDER WOMAN : THE ENEMY OF MY ANCESTOR

PART 9

As expected, Apollo's terms were unacceptable, each demand a step backward into the shadow of the gods, erasing the Amazonian struggle for independence. And Diana had no intention of surrendering Leandros to the whims of Apollo. The tension in the air was palpable, as the Amazonian and divine forces stood poised on the brink of annihilation.

Hippolyta stood at the front, her gaze unwavering as she looked upward at the still-open rift in the sky, through which the pantheon of gods watched in judgment. Their eyes bore down on them. Even Ares was present, his smile a twisted reflection of his enjoyment, eager to see the fate of the Amazons who once served him. With the gods' eyes fixed upon them, the tense silence between the two armies stretched on. It seemed, for a moment, as though history itself was waiting for its inevitable conclusion, the battle set to begin at the signal of a single command.

And yet, just as both parties were preparing to give their orders, a distant sound shattered the stillness—a steady, rhythmic galloping. The sound grew louder, defying the distance, as if the fates had sent a herald to alter the course of history. Through the trees of the forest came a solitary figure—Leandros. The sight of a Myrmidon, the last remnant of the age of heroes, wielding weapons belonging to the very people who were his enemies, was as unexpected as it was spectacular. He rode into the clearing, bearing the marks of battle on his body—wounds from his escape. His movements were deliberate as he dismounted, his eyes fixed on the figures before him.

Diana's heart skipped a beat as she pieced together the truth. Gloria was missing, the wounds on Leandros's body spoke volumes and the weapons he carried were not his own. Diana felt a pang of pride—a quiet satisfaction—that her belief in him had been the spark to ignite this turn of fate. But before she could speak, Apollo stepped forward, his voice like thunder, his eyes filled with contempt.

"What will you do now, Leandros? You can no longer hide behind the skirts of the Amazons. They will not protect you now".

Leandros stood tall, his gaze unwavering as he did the unthinkable,

"I never asked for their help, Apollo. Yet they have risked their lives for me, and there is only one way i can repay this debt. Let us end this, here and now".

The audacity of his challenge hung in the air, an echo of defiance that rippled through both armies. A mortal challenging a god—an act of impossible foolishness or unmatched courage? Even Hippolyta, who has successfully rebelled against a god, couldn't believe the brazenness of this decision. Diana could not help but smile, her compassion had borne fruit, if only Gloria were here to see how wrong she was. But Apollo and Artemis were not amused.

"Your time amongst them has affected your thinking, Leandros. You are still just a mortal, every bit as weak as the day I snuffed out your pathetic existence!".

The divine arrogance in Apollo's voice was palpable. Leandros took a step forward, his hand gripping the hilt of the Amazonian sword,

"You humbled me once, and i took it as a hard lesson and bettered myself. Let me show you".

Apollo's eyes flared with fury at this unacceptable defiance, he looked to Artemis who nodded,

"So be it. I accept your challenge".

With that, the goal post has shifted for Apollo and Artemis. The goal of subjugating the Amazons for their defiance has changed to killing Leandros and making him an example for all to see.

Diana stood frozen, her eyes fixed on Leandros as he walked toward the center of the battlefield. Every step he took seemed to weigh heavier than the last, the weight of fate pressing down on him as he prepared to face the god who had once shattered him. She knew, as deeply as she knew her own name, he couldn't win. Even though Leandros had changed, transformed, redeemed—he was still a mortal standing before a god.

A quiet anguish gnawed at Diana's chest. She had helped Leandros find his strength, his purpose. Hippolyta spoke, her hand gripping Diana's shoulder tightly,

"He has chosen this path, daughter. Themyscira is safe. We cannot interfere".

Diana's jaw clenched, her heart heavy with sorrow. She knew her mother was right—Leandros had chosen this. He had chosen to face Apollo alone, to stand his ground if it meant he could right his wrongs.

With a swift motion, Diana broke free from her mother's grasp, her determination clear in every line of her posture. Without a word, she walked towards Leandros. As he stopped at the center of the field, he turned to face her. His gaze met hers—steady, but touched with the gratitude of a man who's eyes had been opened. He knew the journey he had taken from a tool of the gods to a warrior with his own will, had been shaped by her.

Diana reached for the spear strapped to her back, it was no ordinary weapon—it was a symbol of everything the Amazons stood for, adorned with intricate carvings of their heroes. It symbolized their undying defiance against the gods, and now nobody embodied that belief more than Leandros. She held the spear out, it was a final gift—a weapon meant not only for battle but as a token of the faith she had in him. She knew he could not defeat Apollo, but she believed in his heart, his resolve and in his worth as a warrior. Leandros looked at the spear, his hand trembled slightly as he reached out, grasping the weapon she offered with a quiet reverence.

"Good luck". Diana whispered, before returning to Hippolyta's side.

With the spear in his hand, Leandros looked up at the night sky, the full moon shining so spectacularly bright, as if it were a consolation. With a deep exhale, Leandros turned around to face Apollo, who stood ready with his greatsword. The great words of Achilles echoed in his mind,

"Brothers. The road to everlasting mortality is earned in blood. One day, even the dust of our bones will be gone. But our names will remain".