[img]http://i.imgur.com/woWRoy1.png?1[/img] The Arena was filled with all her sisters. Diana raised her unclad arm in greeting. A welcoming roar followed from the masses. A broad smile plastered on her face, Diana was Queen of the world. This was the day she had been waiting for since she first picked up a sword. Across the stone fighting ground was her mother, in similar grab to her daughter. Only royalty of the Amazons could wear the crest of the eagle across their breast. Her mother's black hair was bound sharply up and enclosed in golden bands. In contrast Diana's hair was loose and hung around her shoulders. Aella stood on the middle of the Arena. Today the older warrior would be arbitrator. Her customary double-headed axe was strapped to her back. Her blonde hair was loose like Diana's. Her wide set features were as plain as Amazonian women could be. She wasn't not beautiful, for who couldn't be once blessed by Aphrodite? But she was close. "[color=00a651]SISTERS![/color]" Her booming voice echoed, silencing everyone. "[color=00a651]WHO COMES BEFORE HIPPOLYTA, QUEEN OF THE AMAZONS?[/color]" "[color=ed1c24]DIANA! SEEKER! SISTER! SERVANT![/color]" Diana shouted as she drew her sword and pointed it skyward. Aella turned to the Queen. "[color=00a651]BEFORE YOU STANDS A MAIDEN SEEKING TO BECOME A WARRIOR. WHAT SAY YOU?[/color]" The Queen raised her enchanted sword. It sparkled in the morning sun. "[color=fff79a]THEN LET HER PROVE HERSELF WORTHY![/color]" The roar of the crowds drowned out Aella's command to start the battle. But it made no difference. Mother and Daughter knew this dance. And the cheers of her sisters made Diana strong. Her blood pounded in anticipation in her veins. As soon was Aella dropped her hand Diana charged the woman she called mother. Swords meet with a harsh clang. Diana's black hair swung into her opponent. She saw her mother grab at her long locks and shoved away, kicking out with her feet. And so the two danced, closing in only to break apart. Neither gave the other quarter. The smile on her face showed how much she was enjoying herself, just like her daughter. Diana's body moved through stances and forms like water. For this she had trained her entire life. It was more natural than breathing. The world narrowed to the women's dual. Nothing else mattered. Time seemed to slow as the two fought. Strength against strength. Cunning against cunning. Neither shied away from fighting dirty. Not did they pull their punches. Hippolyta gave her daughter no mercy in the Arena. [i]Falling Rain. Rushing Among Reeds. War Strike.[/i] Diana's sword was beginning to feel heavy. Though the blade tip never wavered. Her arms ached from blocking blows and landing them. The two danced away from each other and took the moment's reprieve to shake their muscles and to catch their breath. Never more than a handful of heartbeats were they apart though. To give your enemy space was to give them room to win. Diana clashed her blade against her mother's once more. The two strained, tried from their previous attacks, but neither gave way. Sweat poured even though the wind was sweet and gentle. Their leather armor creaked as their bodies strained. Their bare feet slid in the dust ground. Black eyes locked together, waiting for the other to give way. The two warriors parted, breathing heavily. The crowd was silent feeling, knowing, that the next bout would decide the winner. The two women circled for a few heart beats before Diana launched herself at her mother. She pulled at all her reserves, leaping off the ground, so the sun would be in her mother's eyes. Her hands gripped the hilt of her sword as she swung it down. Of course the Queen blocked it but the blow staggered her. Diana landed smoothly, crouched and swept her legs against her mother's. The Queen already off balance tumbled to the ground. The crowd held it's breath as the Queen rolled. Diana didn't wait for her mother to regain her feet. She forced tired muscles to pounce upon her mother and pin her to the ground. Vaguely she could hear Aella shout and her mother laugh. As if coming out of a daze Diana accepted Aella's hand and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. Around her the voices of her sisters blurred together. Aella let go of Diana and helped her Queen off the ground. Diana blinked as the realization hit her. She had won. She had WON! A large smile spread across her face, the excitement and thrill washing away her exhaustion. Diana turned to her mother, knowing this part by heart. Mother and daughter embraced then clasped arms together. Her mother's bracer moved and wrapped itself on Diana's unclad arm. Then it retreated leaving behind a bracer. Diana turned to the crowds and raised her two clad arms, proudly showing off her new, and old, bracers. Behind her she could feel her mother's approval. Diana was a Warrior now. Then the celebrations began. So it continued into the night when there was a feast in Diana's honor. The large bonfire was achingly bright in the darkness. Yet it kept drawing the Princess' attention. The towering flames danced across her vision. Inside those flames dark shapes danced uneasily. Yet no one else seemed to notice. [i][color=fff200][b]What do you need?[/b][/color][/i] Diana looked around but none of her sisters had spoken directly to her. [i][color=fff200][b]What do you need?[/b][/color][/i] Diana turned back to the fire. A woman danced then vanished into another flame. The young warrior shivered. Unbidden a memory surfaced of her dream earlier, floating above the world. [i][color=fff200][b]What do you need?[/b][/color][/i] She looked over her family. Her sisters both blood, and by adoption. And over at her mother. They belonged here. But what about her? She looked up to the sky at the large moon overhead. She loved her family more than anything else, but there was more out there for her. She balled her hands into fists. She didn't belong, not right now. She choked back tears and forced herself to return to the party. Later Diana stepped over the body of a passed out woman. It was Aella, one of her guards. The woman snored softly, the drink having gone to her head. No one would wake for a long while. Diana made her way to her mother, who was propped up on her throne with pillows. She placed a note in her open hand. [i]Mother,[/i] it read, [i]I know you wont understand but I have something I must do as a warrior and as a woman. I will be gone for a moon turn, please do not look for me.[/i] She curled her mother's hand around the paper and departed. The first few notes she had written said she didn't plan to return, but her mother would have tracked her down with those words. This way she could at least buy herself sometime before her mother sent her sisters after her. Time enough to find herself and where she belonged. And who knew, maybe Diana would return before the moon finished turning.