Kara followed closely behind Diana as the pair took to the air. Her movement was still shaky and unsure, and Kara had to work hard to keep herself upright.

She found that flying short distances was far harder than she had expected. Going in a straight line, high above the planet's surface, was a simple matter. The trip between the Fortress and Metropolis was easy, assuming she didn't get lost along the way. But following behind Diana through the skies, staying on her tail as they curved around buildings and not slamming right into the side of a building was another thing entirely.

It didn't help that Diana moved so slowly in the air. She was faster than most vehicles below them, but compared to flying with Kal and Jon, Diana might as well have been walking through the streets.

Her jumps were powerful, her movement graceful, but they only barely got out of the city before Wonder Woman started falling back to the ground. She landed with an elegant flourish, making Kara feel almost clumsy as she touched down next to her. They were in an empty field, just outside the suburbs. A sleek black jet was waiting for them.

Kara frowned. She had seen planes before, both on Earth and on Krypton. Kal-El had made a point of teaching her to avoid them since she might damage them by accident. Now that she had the power of flight, she also never considered ever being inside one.

"A plane?" She asked, brushing windblown hair from her face. "Why not fly whole way?"

A ramp descended from the bottom of the jet, as Diana moved towards it. "Because I cannot fly as you and Kal-El can," She explained, her hand grazing the jet's smooth surface. "I can leap great distances, and the winds favour me, but I am no bird," Kara thought on her words, recontextualising the short but frustrating flight out of the city. "This will carry us where we need to go."

Kara followed her inside, still unsure. "Flying faster."

A small smile tugged at Diana's lips. "Perhaps. But I would not last the entire way, and it would be quite rude to make you carry me."

The inside of the jet was... adequate. Not like most of the clunky, outdated machines humans used. The controls looked sleeker, the metal polished, the seats comfortable. It was still nothing like Krypton's ships, but at least it wasn't as crude as the others she had seen.

Fingers trailing over a display screen, Kara nodded in approval. "This Amazon technology?"

Diana only smiled as she moved toward the cockpit.

Excitement sparked in Kara's chest. If this was their jet, maybe the rest of their technology was even better. So far, Earth had been... frustrating. Their machines were slow, their computers ancient. Kal-El lived like it was normal, but to Kara, it was like stepping backward through time.

At last, something to look forward to.

The jet hummed to life, lifting smoothly into the air. Ocean stretched beneath them, endless and blue. Kara leaned against the window, watching the waves pass below.

-

The flight took nearly three hours, according to the computer that Kara could barely read. Three long hours.

Kara could fly the distance in a few minutes, assuming she knew where she was going. She could've flown there and back a hundred times already. The view outside was nice, but not enough to occupy her attention the entire way.

By the time the jet finally set down, she was restless and tired, and more than a little grumpy.

As the jet descended, Kara's eyes scanned the land below. Themyscira was unlike anything she had seen on Earth.

Lush forests stretched across the island, winding through mountains and waterfalls. White stone buildings, carved with intricate patterns, gleamed under the golden sun. Long bridges of marble and vine connected the cliffs, leading to open courtyards and temple-like structures. Everything looked… untouched. Preserved.

Kara pressed her hand against the window, her curiosity rising again. She had expected something more advanced, but this… This was different. It reminded her of a place on Krypton

Her breath caught as the memory came to her. The old nature reserves, vast sections of artificial wildlife that blanketed the planet. Built after the planet nearly choked itself to death in Krypton's long past. She had visited one as a child, walking with her father under soft red light, touching leaves that glowed in the dark.

Fingers curled against her leg. Krypton was gone. This place was not home.

But still, it was beautiful.

The jet landed smoothly on an open field just beyond the shoreline. The ramp extended, and Diana stepped out first, the ocean breeze catching the edge of her skirt. Kara followed closely, eager to step onto the island.

The moment her boots touched the stone path, she noticed two things.

First, there were only women.

Kara scanned the gathered figures, warriors standing in rows, others watching from the steps of nearby buildings. Not a single man in sight. She had seen all-female teams in Kryptonian academies before, but an entire civilisation? It was strange. She had never considered a world without men.

Second, and more alarming to Kara. There was no advanced technology.

No blinking screens. No floating transport. Not even something as simple as a streetlight. Just stone, wood, and fabric banners rippling in the breeze. She had been looking forward to seeing Amazonian technology. Surely, it had to be better than the rest of Earth's. But instead, she had landed in what felt like an ancient, albeit well-kept, ruin.

Her shoulders sank. This place was worse than Smallville from a technological perspective.

Diana stepped forward, raising a hand in greeting. Several Amazons bowed slightly, others placing a fist over their hearts. A few warriors gave Kara curious glances, their gazes sharp and measuring.

One of the women approached, a tall warrior with dark skin and braided hair, her armour gleaming under the sun. Her stance was strong, her presence commanding.

The woman stopped before them, eyes settling on Kara. When she spoke, the words were completely unfamiliar.

Kara stiffened, unable to understand a single syllable. The cadence, the sounds. None of it made sense.

Brows furrowing, Kara glanced toward Diana for help.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Diana's lips before she turned back to the woman, responding in the same flowing language. The two exchanged a few brief words, their conversation smooth, practised.

Then, her own name.

"Kara," Diana said. Voice as steady as ever even as the words around it were a mystery. A few more words followed, then, "Kal-El."

After a moment, Diana nodded and shifted back to English. "Apologies," She said. "We were speaking the language of the Amazons. She gestured to the warrior before them. "This is General Philippus. She oversees the training of our warriors."

Philippus crossed her arms, now speaking in words Kara could finally understand. "She doesn't look as strong as her cousin."

Kara was thrown off by the language barrier, she was still getting used to speaking English. Now there was a whole new language that the people here spoke? Kara was too caught up considering the inefficiency of having multiple languages on one planet to be insulted.

Only after a short moment did she register the meaning of the words. Kara crossed her arms. "I am strong," She said stubbornly.

Philippus raised an eyebrow, but before she could respond, Diana turned to Kara and motioned for her to follow. "Come. I will explain as we walk."

Kara exhaled and fell into step beside her. The paths were wide, lined with statues of warriors and marble pillars. The Amazons moved with quiet grace, many watching Kara with open curiosity.

"You notice, of course," Diana began, "That there are no men here."

Kara nodded. "Yes. I see." She glanced around once more. "Why?"

Diana's expression remained calm, though there was something firm beneath it. "Themyscira is a sanctuary. A place of peace, granted to us by the gods. Long ago, my sisters and I were made to suffer under the cruelty of men. The gods, in their mercy, freed us and gifted us this island, hidden from the outside world."

Kara considered this. "Men… not allowed?"

Diana nodded. "It is a sacred law."

Kara frowned but didn't argue. It was different from Krypton, very different, but she had learned that Earth's cultures were not like her own. Earth was a collection of many cultures after all. She supposed if these women had suffered, then perhaps it made sense that they would want a place of their own.

Still, it didn't explain everything.

She gestured around them, toward the open courtyards, the towering columns, the sunlit training grounds. "Where is… tech?" she asked. "Machines? Power?"

"We have no need for the inventions of men," Diana said proudly.

Kara stopped walking. She stared at Diana as if she had misheard.

"No… need?" She repeated slowly.

Diana turned to face her, hands resting at her sides. "We do not rely on machines as the world outside does. Themyscira is sustained by something far greater."

Kara's frown deepened, she could not see anything of note. Not even simply lights, instead they had a fire held in a stone bowl. "What greater?"

Diana's gaze flickered toward a nearby brazier, its fire burning bright in the daylight. "Magic."

"Magic?" Kara tried to recall the word. It hadn't been used in her English lessons.

Diana seemed to notice her confusion, and elaborated, "A force of nature, given shape and purpose. We use it to keep Themyscira protected."

Kara stared, the words sinking in. Magic was a force, like energy, or gravity. Something tangible, and powerful.

"How?"

"The gods of Olympus granted us their blessing," Diana replied, gesturing to a nearby fountain. "They allow the magic to flow freely throughout the island, sustaining it. Our plants and animals flourish. The fires never burn out. And water runs endlessly through the fountains like this."

Kara eyed the water flowing from the fountains with scepticism. Of course, Krypton had gods. Like her parents, she was a follower of Rao. But Krypton's gods were more a concept, something to revere and learn from, rather than a tangible presence.

There were always more devout followers on Krypton. Those that believed in the physical existence of Rao, and his role in their daily lives. Even on Earth, some humans seemed to hold great faith in their deities. There was a word for people with that kind of devotion, and the supposed power that those believers held.

People who thought the gods were a literal force of nature. Who gave shape and purpose.

"Magic," Kara scoffed, understanding the word. She shook her head. "Magic is not real."

Diana only smiled. "And yet, here we stand."

Kara didn't buy it. Magic was a word used for things people didn't understand. She knew it was more complicated than that. The crest on her chest demanded it. Diana of Themyscira might not know, or perhaps she refused to reveal it, but Kara would find out the truth.

Her eyes drifted to the brazier. The fire flickered gently in the wind, bright and golden. There were no visible fuel sources. No smoke rising from the coals. Just fire, burning without end.

Still sceptical, Kara reached out and pressed her fingers into the flame. She wanted to feel where the energy was coming from. Perhaps this was some sort of advanced hologram. Maybe they were using a form of geothermal power, or maybe-

Pain shot up her hand.

She gasped, pulling back sharply. Her hand burned, the skin pink with heat.

For a moment, she simply stared at it, stunned. Fire did not hurt her. Earth's sun made her invincible. Mostly invincible, metahuman lightning notwithstanding. But a simple flame should not have harmed her.

Slowly, she looked up at Diana. The Amazon watched her carefully.

"You were saying?"

Kara swallowed, flexing her fingers. The pain faded quickly, but the shock remained.

"Magic," Kara muttered, "I do not like it…"

"Funny," Diana smirked, continuing to walk on. "Your cousin said the same thing once."

-

Kara stood in the center of the modest stone chamber she had been given, staring at the folded garments on the bed. The tunic was a deep crimson, the fabric lighter than it appeared, with golden embroidery along the edges. Flourished down to a skirt, along with what looked like sandals and bracers.

Diana had assured her that none of the clothing provided for her used leather, unlike the rest of the Amazon's outfits. Another horrific product of Earth's animal cruelty Kara had learned about. Even so, Kara didn't move to pick them up.

Her fingers curled against the worn fabric of her Kryptonian suit. A tether to her past, the last physical piece of home. She'd worn Earth clothing to fit in before, but she had no reason to hide while on Themyscira.

Yet, she was here as a guest of the Amazons and Kal-El had made it clear that she needed to learn to fit in with Earth's society. If she was to train among them, she would respect their customs.

With a deep breath, Kara peeled off the suit, folded it carefully, and set it aside. The Amazonian attire felt unfamiliar against her skin. Lighter, freer, but she still felt oddly exposed. As if she had taken off more than just a uniform.

She pushed the thought aside and left the room.

"You look well," Diana said, waiting for her outside.

Kara frowned. "It is strange," She admitted, shifting awkwardly. "Very loose... and breezy."

"I know it is different," Diana said, giving her an apologetic look. "But it will grow on you. For now, let us go. We shall begin training tomorrow, until then, I will show you the island. And then we shall feast."

Kara nodded and followed Diana down the long halls, her steps slow, and uncertain.

The tour of the island was both fascinating and frustrating. Themyscira was undeniably beautiful, its lush forests and pristine beaches, unlike anything Kara had ever seen. Marble structures, intricately carved with symbols and figures she did not recognise. Courtyards lined with fountains shimmered in the sun, their water so clear it seemed almost unreal.

Yet, as Kara walked through the winding streets, past training grounds and bustling marketplaces, everything felt just as alien as Kara's first days on this planet. The Amazons spoke in a language she did not understand, their words fluid and lyrical, yet completely indecipherable. She caught glimpses of knowing smiles, friendly nods, but every attempt at conversation was met with confusion. Some Amazons tried speaking with her through gestures, pointing to objects or making exaggerated expressions, but the language barrier was a wall she could not yet climb.

Even the way they moved was different. Every Amazon, regardless of age, carried themselves with a quiet grace and confidence that made Kara feel clumsy by comparison. They were warriors, scholars, artisans, but most of all, they were a people deeply connected to their traditions. And she was an outsider.

The strangeness of it all left her uneasy.

As they walked through the heart of Themyscira, Kara began to notice something else. There were very few children. And no elderly. Every Amazon she had seen so far appeared to be in the prime of their life, strong and capable.

She hesitated before asking, "Diana... where are children? The elderly?"

Diana gave her a small smile as if she had expected the question. "New Amazons are rare, Kara. Most of us are immortal, untouched by time. Some choose to leave for the world of man, to live and grow old. Some have joined us after Themyscira's interactions with the wider world, and some... some have been born."

Kara's eyes widened. "Born? But you say men forbidden here?"

Diana chuckled. "They are. But that has never meant Amazons were without companionship. In recent years, as Themyscira has engaged in diplomacy and trade, some Amazons have chosen to leave and bear children, later returning with their daughters to raise them here," Diana explained. "My expeditions into the world of man have brought about some change. After several hundred years of isolation, many Amazons have grown curious to meet outsiders."

They passed two women leaning against the railing of a terrace, hands clasped and foreheads pressed together, their soft murmurs carrying over the distance.

"Though even before then," Diana continued, studying Kara's reaction, or lack thereof, as she gestured at the pair, "We have found comfort in each other."

Kara considered this, nodding slowly. It made sense, assuming she could wrap her head around the immortality aspect.

Diana glanced at her, her expression turning thoughtful. "Some cultures in the world of man do not tolerate such things. They find it strange and offensive. Do you?"

Kara blinked, momentarily confused. Then she realised what Diana was asking. "On Krypton, was not strange," She said simply. "Love was love. No one cared. Men and women, women and women. Men and men. It just... was."

Diana's lips curled into a small smile. "And you?"

Kara hesitated for a brief moment before answering, "I... I think I like both? I never think for it. It just normal."

Diana nodded approvingly. "Then you will find yourself quite at home here."

Kara took another look at the people she passed. Blushing as she realised that the friendly smiles and warm greetings she received might have meant more than she initially thought.

-

Dinner was another reminder of how different this place was. Kara hesitated as an Amazon placed a wooden plate in front of her, the scent of fresh herbs and roasted vegetables wafting up. It looked good, but she couldn't shake her unease.

She glanced around the hall, watching as Amazons gathered in groups, their voices overlapping in a language she still could not understand. Long tables were lined with steaming dishes and despite the beauty of the setting. A golden glow of torchlight flickering off the marble walls, the soft hum of conversation. It was impossible for Kara to ignore the large platters of meat. A whole roasted boar sat on a carved wooden slab at the center of one table, its charred skin glistening. Another plate held skewered fish, their scales still faintly shimmering under the firelight.

Kara swallowed, her stomach twisting.

It wasn't that she didn't understand why they ate meat. But after spending so much time on Krypton and after that one disastrous meal with Kal-El, she couldn't bring herself to even look at it. She still remembered the way her stomach had rejected it, how violently ill she had become afterwards.

She pushed back from the table and stood. Diana, seated nearby, caught her movement. "Kara?"

"I need air," She said quickly.

Diana gave her a knowing look but didn't argue. Kara took her plate with her and left the hall, stepping out into the cool evening air.

She wandered until she found a quiet ledge overlooking the ocean. Themyscira stretched out before her, bathed in moonlight, the white stone of the temples glowing softly against the darkened jungle beyond. Waves lapped against the shore, rhythmic and soothing.

Kara sank onto the stone ledge and picked at her meal, her appetite dulled. Her mind replayed the day. Diana's tour, the unfamiliar language, the way the Amazons moved with such effortless strength and grace. They were warriors, each and every one of them, their bodies honed through years- centuries, of training. They carried themselves with confidence.

Kara could not imagine living that long on a single island. An island that by Diana's brief oral history, had not changed in over a millennia. How had they not advanced? Why did they not climb for the stars as so many other civilisations did before them?

A small huff of bitter amusement left her. Krypton wasn't any different when she really thought about it.

Sure, they had technology on a level unheard of on Earth. But they too had chosen the route of isolation. Limiting themselves to a single star system, even when they had the power to go beyond. Krypton had called it a focus on internal unity. But the Krypton Kara had been born into wasn't that far removed from the Krypton of one thousand years ago.

That's what frustrated her the most about this island. The idea that they had stagnated, not because of a lack of ambition, but simply because they had no desire for change.

If Krypton had pursued a desire for change, as it had long ago, then perhaps-

She exhaled, it was pointless to think about. Looking down at her untouched plate, Kara forced herself to take a bite.

-

Themyscira was breathtaking at sunrise.

The first light of dawn stretched across the sky, bathing the island in hues of gold and crimson. The white marble temples shimmered under the morning sun, their surfaces almost glowing as the light kissed their edges. The dense jungle beyond the city remained shadowed, the mist rolling down from the higher cliffs in slow, wispy tendrils. The ocean sparkled, waves reflecting the sky's colours, calm yet endless.

Kara took it all in as she followed Diana along a winding stone path toward a large arena carved into the mountainside. From a distance, it resembled the ancient coliseum Kal had pointed out during a flight over Rome. Its towering walls stood strong against the passage of time. The structure was open-air, allowing the morning breeze to sweep through as the first Amazons of the day gathered for training.

The sound of weapons clashing and boots pounding against the dirt floor filled the air. Kara saw women sparring with spears and swords, others practising acrobatics and hand-to-hand combat. Every movement was precise, every warrior fully in control of her strength.

At the entrance of the arena, an Amazon presented Kara with a set of armour. It was similar to what the others wore. A bronze chestplate, skirt reinforced with metal plating and intricately designed bracers. They fit over her tunic, designed to complete the amazonian outfit when worn.

The armour gleamed under the morning light, bronze with golden ceremonial markings etched into the metal in flowing, ancient script. The engravings curled around the edges of the chestplate and bracers, intricate symbols whose meaning was lost on Kara. The Amazons clearly valued tradition, and this armour, while functional, was meant for more than just battle.

As she examined the pieces, her gaze drifted toward Diana's armour. It was the same design, ornate, regal, built for both war and ceremony, but Kara noticed something different about it. Diana's chestplate and bracers had a subtle shimmer, something just beneath the surface, like a power thrumming inside the metal itself. It almost reminded her of Kryptonian technology, how some of the crystals back home pulsed with energy when activated. But this… this wasn't technology.

She hesitated to call it magic.

The skirt armour was simpler. Less of a full skirt and more of a wide belt, from which metal-plated strips draped down, layered to allow for movement. It fit over her current tunic, adjusting seamlessly as she fastened it. The bracers were smooth and lightweight, hugging her forearms without restricting movement.

It felt strange, wearing battle armour when she had no real need for it. She tested the chestplate's strength with her fingers, gently pressing at the metal's surface. The bronze dented beneath her touch, folding like a weak alloy. Her body was stronger than any forged material on this planet. Armour, swords, even bullets. None of it could break her skin.

Diana must have caught the doubt in her expression. "Armour is not only for protection, Kara," She said, voice calm yet firm. "It is a symbol. A reminder of who we are and what we stand for."

Kara hesitated before nodding, finishing the last straps. The weight settled around her. It wasn't heavy, at least not to her, but it still felt different.

As she adjusted the bracers, she noticed movement around them. The other Amazons who had been training in the arena were gathering their weapons and stepping away. One by one, they left, some casting glances in their direction, others murmuring quietly among themselves.

Kara frowned.

They weren't afraid of her, were they? No, that wasn't the right feeling. Their expressions weren't fearful. More… knowing.

She wondered what they knew that she didn't. Diana gestured for her to step onto the sand-covered training ground.

"Before we begin your physical training, we must address something more important."

Kara tilted her head, confused. "What now?"

"Your emotions."

Brows knitting together, she blinked. "What about them?"

Diana crossed her arms, her gaze steady. "You are holding on to something, whether you realise it or not. A weight that clouds your judgement, that makes you dangerous."

Confused, Kara scoffed. "I not understand.

"You are," Diana countered, her voice even. "Perhaps not at this moment. Perhaps not in the ways you think. But if you cannot rein in your emotions, you will be." She stepped closer, lowering her tone, but her words carried no less weight. "And if you cannot control them, you cannot stay here, Kara. Not just on this island. Earth."

The statement hit harder than any strike could. Kara's stomach twisted. "What?"

Diana's expression didn't waver. "You must master yourself before you can master your strength."

Fists clenching, Kara took a breath, trying to push down the frustration bubbling up. "I no emotional."

Diana studied her, then shook her head. "No. You only think you are."

The accusation stung. "I- I have outbursts, maybe. But that's why I am here, yes? Training, learning control." She motioned toward the weapons nearby. "Teach me how to focus power, how to fight. Practical things."

But Diana remained unmoved. "You believe controlling your strength will fix everything. But strength is not the problem."

Kara's brow furrowed. "It is-"

"No," Diana interrupted. "Your anger is."

That made her hesitate.

"Am not angry," Kara muttered, the words coming almost automatically.

Diana gave her a knowing look. "You are."

Lips pressing into a thin line, Kara shook her head. "But I am not-" She exhaled sharply. There were a myriad of emotions bubbling inside Kara at any one time. But anger was a childish response. She knew better than to hold on to it. "I do not break things, I do not attack."

Diana stepped back slightly, allowing her space. "That is not control. That is suppression. You hold back because you are afraid of what happens if you don't."

Kara's chest tightened. "I not afraid."

"You are," Diana said simply. "And I will prove it to you."

Before Kara could protest, Diana drew her sword, the steel catching the light. The scrape of metal echoed in the arena.

"If you truly believe you are in control of your emotions," She said, settling into a ready stance, "Then show me."

Kara hesitated, looking at the blade in Diana's hands. "I do not want hurt you."

"You won't," Diana assured her. "I have faced a Kryptonian's full strength before and lived," Kara studied her face for a moment, unsure how much bravado was behind her statement. Diana smirked, her eyes pondering on a memory before adding. "Ask Kal-El about Darkseid's second invasion one day."

The arena was empty now. The other Amazons had left, but Kara felt their absence keenly. The sun had climbed higher, casting long shadows across the sand. A breeze carried the scent of salt from the sea.

Diana tossed her a sword and raised her shield, her stance balanced and prepared. Kara took a deep breath, gripping the hilt tightly.

"I do not know-" Kara began, holding the weapon in one hand as best she could.

"You are adept at making excuses, Kara Zor-El." Diana interjected, cutting off her complaint. "Humour me and prove you control your own emotions. Attack me with everything you have. Once I am convinced, we will move on to more practical things."

Teeth grinding together, Kara stepped forward. "Fine." Feeling the swords weight in her grip. The blade was as weightless as most objects on Earth to her, feeling small in her hand.

Diana gave a single nod. "Let's begin."

The fight began.

Kara struck first.

Her blade cut through the air, fast and forceful, aimed straight for Diana's shoulder. But Diana was faster. She raised her shield, deflecting the strike with a metallic clang before pivoting away with effortless grace.

Kara spun, adjusting her stance, and lashed out again. Another deflection. Another dodge. No matter how quickly she moved, Diana stayed just ahead, weaving through her attacks with an ease that made Kara's frustration rise.

She lunged, swinging harder, but Diana stepped to the side, avoiding the blade entirely.

"Your emotions cloud your actions," Diana said calmly. "You are letting them control you."

Kara gritted her teeth. "I fine."

She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to keep breathing, but the more Diana dodged, the more her frustration bubbled. She pushed forward, striking again and again. Diana parried the blows effortlessly.

Diana took a step back, lowering her guard slightly. "Why are you angry?"

Kara scoffed. "Because you keep dodging!" She cut away at the air around her. "Am trying to fight, but can't hit you!" She swung her blade hard, aiming for Diana's side. "I no warrior."

"No," Diana agreed, sidestepping the blow with ease. "Yet you could have easily killed me had that strike connected."

Kara huffed. "I wouldn't-"

Diana cut her off. "Had this been with any other of my sisters, you would've carved them clean in half."

"You told me-"

Diana's sword darted forward, forcing Kara to block. The impact rattled her arms, but she pushed forward, using her strength to overpower the taller woman. Diana allowed the force to carry her back before smoothly redirecting the momentum, stepping out of reach once again.

"That still doesn't tell me why you're angry," Diana said, circling around.

The contradiction of her actions and words made Kara growl in annoyance. Diana wanted her to attack without holding back but then chastised her for doing so.

On Krypton, she had been taught that violence was always the last resort. The closest thing she'd ever come to being in a fight was during a particularly heated sports incident, and that ended up with her being pushed to the ground. Now she had the strength of a god, but it meant nothing when she couldn't even land a single hit.

"You are confusing lady," Kara complained, panting. It was the second time since coming to Earth that she had exerted herself enough to become winded. "Tell me to attack, then get mad when I do."

"I am not mad," Diana countered, her movements fluid as she dodged another strike. "I am simply asking a question. I saw this same anger when you fought Livewire." She gestured toward Kara's tightened fists. "This is not new. It did not start with me."

Diana's shield swung out and smacked Kara in the face, the blow strong enough to send her staggering backward. In response, Kara's frustration boiled over, and she swung again, too hard. Diana dodged, as Kara's sword crashed into the ground. The stone beneath them cracked under the force, sending shards flying. A sharp snap followed as the sword in her hands broke in two.

She didn't care. She just kept swinging, her strikes increasingly erratic and sloppy as her anger kept rising. Her breath came fast, and her throat felt tight, her pulse thundering in her ears. Diana blocked her every time, their blades meeting in a storm of steel, her motions as precise and calculated as they had been at the start.

Kara let out a frustrated growl and threw the broken weapon aside. If steel wouldn't do the job, her fists would. She lunged, swinging with raw strength, but Diana caught her wrist mid-swing.

"Your anger makes you sloppy," Diana said calmly, not letting go. "Your anger will make you lose control. And that control will cost lives. So tell me why you hold on to it?"

Kara clenched her jaw. "I lost my home! Wouldn't anyone be angry?"

She swung again, this time with her full power. Diana caught her fist once more, this time with her shield, the force rippling outward in a gust of wind. The ground beneath them cracked.

Diana's expression softened. "Yes. And you have every right to grieve." She paused, eyes searching Kara's face. "But I don't believe your anger is about Krypton alone. This anger has a target. And Krypton's destruction was no one's fault."

An accident. A tragedy. A series of seemingly minor events that all built up to one terrible, irreversible disaster. Kara knew that, had lived it. By the time they knew what was happening, there was no stopping the chain reaction.

But knowing the truth didn't make it any easier to accept.

Another punch. Another block. The heat behind her eyes began to build.

Kara exhaled sharply, blinking it away. Ignoring the burning sensation creeping into her vision.

Diana dodged another strike and slammed the edge of her shield against Kara's side. It barely hurt, but it sent her reeling.

The heat in her vision flared.

Diana stepped forward, her voice steady but pressing. "Who are you angry at?"

Kara surged forward again, fists swinging wildly now. Diana moved with precision, blocking, countering, but never striking with more force than necessary. The more Kara fought, the more destructive her attacks became. Each blow shook the ground. Each step cracked the stone beneath her feet.

The heat behind her eyes grew unbearable.

"Kara," Diana said, her voice steady. "You can let it out. It is safe here. You won't hurt me. But if you want to learn control, you must first acknowledge what drives your anger. Now tell me. Who?"

Kara swung again. This time, Diana didn't dodge. She met Kara's strike with her shield. The impact sent a shockwave through the arena, dust and debris rising around them.

The air around them vibrated. The ground beneath her feet cracked. The heat in her vision burned brighter and brighter, pushing against her skull.

The words ripped from her throat before she could stop them.

"Myself!"

Twin beams of crimson light erupted from her vision, scorching across the training grounds. The ground cracked, stone and sand, blasted into the air as the sheer force of her heat vision tore through the arena.

She screamed.

For the first time since arriving on this planet, she let go.

"I'm angry at myself!" She yelled again, her voice raw. "Why I survive? When everyone else die! I leave them behind! My family, my people, my life!"

She fought back the tears that threatened to fall. She felt the heat, the power, the raw, unfiltered strength. Her breath came in sharp, shaking gasps.

"Now. I have nothing! Kal-El I knew is gone. Is stranger to me. I start over on world that isn't mine. Earth... This primitive place. With outdated ways and strange traditions."

Kara fell to her knees, breathing hard. She pressed her palms against her temples, her fingers tangling in her hair.

"I change everything about myself, to survive," She choked out. "Learn new language, new customs, pretend I normal. When I never be normal again!" Her hands dropped, fists shaking. "Every day, I lose another piece of Krypton! Every day, I forget word, or song, or way sky look at night!"

Her vision blurred. The battle was over, yet the red lingered. She couldn't make it stop. The tears steamed away as soon as they formed, leaving nothing but vapour.

"But you know what makes me angriest?" Her voice cracked, breaking into a broken mix of a cry and a laugh.

She reached out to grab the hilt of a nearby sword, the metal bending under her grasp. The solid metal crumpled into a fine powder, falling through her fingers.

"Because of your yellow sun," Kara continued, sobbing. The red light faded, but the heat lingered. She couldn't bring herself to look up, not even as Diana approached her. She felt the older woman's hand on her shoulder. "Because of Kryptonian cell energy conversion, or Rao's blessings, or... magic!" She cursed silently in her language before continuing. "I now have power to save my people. But what is point?" Her fingers dug into the dirt. "It's not fair."

The words hung in the silence.

Kara swallowed hard and wiped her face, finally lifting her gaze. The arena was a wreck. Cracks lined the stone, training dummies reduced to ashes. The once-pristine sands were scorched into scatterings of heated glass.

Her stomach dropped. "Diana, I-"

The warm hand on her shoulder stopped her.

Kara expected anger. Or disappointment. But when she finally met Diana's gaze, she found neither. The Amazon warrior only looked at her with quiet understanding.

"There is nothing to apologise for," Diana said gently.

Kara shook her head. "I lost control."

"Yes," Diana agreed. "But that is why we are here." She gestured at the wreckage around them. "This arena is meant to withstand forces beyond mortal strength. It has endured the mightiest warriors of my people. Even a god, once or twice. The damage is a good sign, not a failure."

Kara exhaled sharply, her hands still trembling. "I- I no want to feel this way." She forced herself to unclench her fingers, but the tension remained, coiled tight inside her. "I hate, this... anger. I hate what it do for me."

"That is why it is dangerous." Diana nodded, kneeling beside Kara. "Power without control is destruction. And anger, left unchecked, will burn through everything. Including yourself."

Kara swallowed past the lump in her throat. "I know."

Diana's grip on her arm tightened slightly, grounding her. "But you can control it. You will learn." She paused. "You believe your power is a curse from your god? That it is something cruel, given too late."

Kara flinched. She hadn't meant for her outburst to be quite so personal, but the words tumbled out, and once they began, they couldn't stop. She didn't like getting upset, especially not in front of others.

"But what if, instead of a curse, you viewed it as a second chance?" Diana continued, her voice gentle. "You carry your people with you in everything that you do. Your new strength does not dishonour them."

Kara closed her eyes, breathing deeply. Her muscles were still tense, her chest still tight, but she felt the fire behind her eyes cool. She exhaled, feeling some of the weight lift.

A second chance.

She wanted to believe that. Rao, she wanted to believe that.

She exhaled, opening her eyes. "I... I not know how to start."

Diana smiled, standing and offering her hand.

"We begin with training." Kara hesitated for only a moment before grasping it, allowing Diana to pull her up. Diana squeezed her hand. "You will not face this alone, Kara. This, I promise you."