The souls, streaks of searing white light, wailed about the Stygian darkness like tiny comets. On a ledge of rock thrusting into the Well of Souls, two divine apparitions stood, staring at the souls.

"These are the souls of women, who were slain in the past by Man's brutality!" the first spoke. She was the taller and clad in flowing robes blue as a light summer sky. She had brown curls that flowed from under her shiny golden helmet. Her soft, gray eyes had an all-knowing gaze, an ancient wisdom that belied her youthful appearance.

"Aye, Athena," the second replied. Despite the other being's incredible beauty, this one was far more attractive. Her golden curls bounced about her captivating and flawless face. A robe of soft pink material floated about her lithe frame. Her alluring voice could captivate the strongest of wills. "You know what we must do?"

"Aye."

The two women held their slim arms out to the wailing souls. The streaks of light swirled about in a rising crescendo of speed as they began to gather in the center of the well. With a brilliant explosion of light, they vanished.

"Come, Aphrodite."

The two goddesses were bathed in a warm golden glow. When it subsided, they were gone.

Aphrodite looked at the woman in the front of the mass. Her raven hair was long and wavy, her skin soft and white.

"She shall be Hippolyta," she whispered to Athena. "Her might and courage shall make her the queen of this race."

Athena nodded, glancing over the women again. She spotted another, a tall woman with long blonde hair, surveying her sisters.

"She shall be Antiope, and she shall be the general of their army because of her loyalty."

Aphrodite pointed to another woman, who was gently stroking a dove perched upon her finger.

"She shall be Menalippe, and her affinity for nature shall make her the oracle of this race."

The mysterious Magala became keeper of the mystic arts. The wise Mnemosyne became manager of knowledge. And so it went. The two goddesses granted each woman a name and rank. To the whole race, the bequeathed the duty of championing the Greek Gods and bringing peace to the world... to the entire group they granted the name... Amazons!

The gods rewarded the Amazons for their faith and courage. When valorous Hippolyta slew a demon that aimed to kill an oracle of Gaea, the earth goddess rewarded her with the Magic Lasso, a long shimmering rope, which could not be broken, even by a god!

Hephaestus rewarded the Amazons when they rescued his smithy of Cyclops from a raging Apollo by teaching them forging techniques. They used these to create mighty weapons. Throwing weapons that could slice stone and unbreakable bracelets that could withstand the strongest of blows.

Queen Hippolyta walked through the black night, creeping silently into her towering palace.

"Your majesty."

Hippolyta was not startled as she turned. "Good evening, Menalippe!"

"I trust your evening with Lord Agamemnon was most enjoyable?"

"Yes, he is truly amazing... for a mortal man."

Menalippe laughed. "Yes. You know, I have had dreams that Lord Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra will make amends and remarry."

"Of course they will. That's how men are like! If he wants to choose that hound over the Queen of the Amazons, it is his loss!"

Menalippe smiled. "There are also prophecies, O Queen, that you will be having a child by Agamemnon!"

"Gaea! Are you sure?"

"The prophecies never lie."

Hippolyta rushed joyously into the palace and Menalippe smiled at the back of her retreating queen.

Hippolyta knelt at the shore in the wet sand of an Aegean beach, the warm waters sweeping up past her knees, pulling her flowing lavender garments back and forth. The setting sun cast its brilliant array of colors across the queen's beautiful body. Her supple arms held a bundle of blankets. Two small, chubby arms reached out, tugging gently at Hippolyta's raven curls.

Hippolyta held the giggling baby up to the sky. "Gods and Goddesses of Olympus! I thank you with all my heart for this most great gift! Not power nor wealth nor the entire of creation could please me so! I name her Diana, and I implore you, immortal and splendid gods, to bless her!"

With a soft glow of light, a beautiful figure appeared, floating on the soft wind.

"Lady Aphrodite!" Hippolyta cried.

"Hola, fair daughter!" Aphrodite greeted, holding a glittering hand in the air. "May I see the Princess Diana?"

"Yes, O Goddess," Hippolyta replied, holding the baby up to the love goddess, who took Diana gently in both hands.

"She is certainly a beautiful child," Aphrodite replied. "Her beauty nearly reaches mine! She shall grow up to be an amazing child! I bless her to be the mightiest and wisest of the Amazons! She shall surpass even you, Noble Hippolyta."

Hippolyta gasped out. "O Amorous Goddess! I thank you for this!"

Hippolyta was the mightiest Amazon, and the knowledge that her daughter would surpass even her brought great joy to her warrior's heart!

Princess Diana stalked angrily into the palace. Menalippe rushed toward her.

"Princess, what vexes you?"

"That pig of a man, Alexander!" Diana growled. "He told me I was hideous as a harpy, and I was undeserving of him! He said he wished to move on to other women, not a violent Amazon! The nerve of him!"

"You speak of him as if he is gone, Princess."

"He is! He moved on to insult the Amazons and I struck him. He attacked me with his blade, and in self-defense I killed him! I would have only knocked him into unconsciousness normally, but my rage took over me!"

Menalippe frowned. She opened her mouth to say something, but froze, her eyes wide and blank.

"Menalippe? Are you well? Shall I summon the healers?" Diana asked, concerned.

A brilliant flame flared up around Menalippe, and she screamed, collapsing, as the flame extinguished itself, no damage to her viridian robes.

"Gaea!" Diana knelt to easily scoop up the oracle. Menalippe's eyes were burning a shocking blue. She spoke in a misty voice.

"Towards where Helios completes his path
Stirs a mighty empire and a fearful wrath
Swords clash and arrows fly
And our world begins to die
Mighty states come up in arms
The enemies attack in swarms
Greece's children began to pass
Olympians weep and mourn in mass
Yet still hope glides on rosy wings
Sail away from Selene as her chariot rings
Children of our myth gather here
Upon this island; Gaea's tear
A mighty hawk shall lead the way
Follow him, if you wish to stay!"

Menalippe groaned as the fire left her eyes and she fell limp in Diana's arms.

"Great Hera..." she murmured. Carrying Menalippe as if she were a doll, the valiant princess sprinted away to warn the rest of the Amazons.

Hippolyta gently held the tiller, her ship leading the others towards the horizon. Diana and Menalippe led the two ships behind her.

"By Gaea," she moaned. "Where are we to find a hawk to lead us? Not but Poseidon's children swim so far from our shores."

"Perhaps, O Queen, I can provide an answer!"

Hippolyta turned swiftly. Before her stood a dark skinned amazon, clad in baggy, unflattering robes.

"Magala the Mystic!"

"Aye, Noble Queen. A dream graced my mind only yestereve. Wise Athena spoke clearly, of ancient spells and magic."

Not explaining further to Hippolyta, the mystic raised her arms, mouth open in a wordless song.

The wind began to whistle, playing Hippolyta's raven locks about her head. Mists drifted along the wind from Magala's outstretched fingers, twisting into a sharp curved beak, long slashing talons, and wide feathery wings.

"Now, we let Aphrodite guide it!"

The wind picked up, driving the avian fog across the azure sky.

"We have naught to lose," Hippolyta thought before following the hawk.

The Amazons faithfully followed the hawk for days, until a large island loomed on the horizon.

"Hola! Land! Our journey o'er Poseidon's home is complete, sisters!" Hippolyta cried.

The Amazons raised their voices and hearts in cheer as they leapt from the ships, paddling towards land.

In an explosion of light, Aphrodite appeared, sparrows and doves floating about her frame.

"Lady Aphrodite!"

"Hola, daughters! You have journeyed long and far, and have proven yourself to the Gods of Olympus! Here you will live, creatures of myth alongside you, in eternal happiness! Bountiful fields and forests and springs sit upon this isle. Below the surface lie hordes of gold and marble. Just beyond these shores fierce winds and raging waters will stay the approach of invaders! It is a paradise... Now build, my daughters, build your glorious city!"

Hippolyta stared out from her palace window to the spot where they had first landed upon Themyscira.

Hippolyta's gaze drifted out to the horizon, where the sunset played its golden rays across her face. It was... beautiful, as all sunsets were on Themyscira. Perhaps one of the goddesses' greatest gifts was that nothing grew old to the Amazons. When they glided upon wind currents, engaged in a spirited dance, or fought in honorable combat... they never tired of it. Each experience gave the thrill that it did the first few times they experienced it.

"It is beautiful."

Hippolyta spun to see a figure clad in emerald robes. Menalippe smiled at the queen.

"Hola, my queen!"

"Hola, Menalippe. What brings you to my chambers?"

"I have been experiencing strange sensations as of late, O Queen," the oracle replied.

Hippolyta was puzzled. "Are you ill, dear Menalippe?"

"N-no, O Queen, these feelings are similar to those that I experienced before I-I predicted the fall of Greece!" Menalippe gasped, her eyes blanking again.

"Great Hera!"

Hippolyta caught Menalippe before she collapsed on the marble floor, carrying her to the bed.

"Whatever you are about to foretell, dear sister, I beg Aphrodite that it is not dire!" Hippolyta prayed, memories of Menalippe's last prediction akin to this flooding the Amazon Queen's mind.

Menalippe's eyes flared blue as she spoke in a misty voice.

"Fires rage and violence leads
Man commits treason and brutal deeds
The love of the goddesses is torn asunder
Mankind shall torture, destroy, and plunder
Yet the maiden of wonder
Shall correct Mankind's blunder
She shall bring peace
And war shall cease!"

Menalippe's eyes ceased their glowing as she laid her head back on the pillow, the tension flowing from her body.

"By Gaea..." Hippolyta murmured. "I suppose the prophecy must speak of me!"

The Amazon Queen had decades ago clad herself in patriotic armor and gone to fight for America at Aphrodite's bidding. It had been entertaining and exciting, she would admit, but she didn't wish to return to the wars and senseless violence that were the everyday occurrence in Man's World!

A groan issued from the bed. Menalippe was awakening.

"Menalippe, are you well?" Hippolyta asked.

"Yes, O Queen, I am fine. You know of whom the prophecy speaks."

"Yes, but I do not wish to return to Patriarch's World!" the Queen cried out.

Menalippe pondered this. "Perhaps, O Queen, I have come upon a solution."

"Yes?"

"What if you were to propose a contest for the right to become Wonder Woman?"

"By Athena! Menalippe, you are a godsend! Of course! I simply compete, and easily allow myself to be beat, perhaps at wrestling or archery..."

"O Queen, it is not wise to so fragrantly defy a prophecy!" Menalippe warned.

"Well, I shall gracefully disobey it, then!" Hippolyta replied. "If you wish to do this, O Queen, I shall not stop you, but I cannot say I concur!"

Queen Hippolyta opened her mouth to respond, but stopped, her gaze turning to a giant pillar.

"Diana! Appear!"

An irritated sigh came from behind the column as a tall woman stepped from behind. She was even taller than Hippolyta, and greatly resembled the Amazon Queen.

"Diana! Were you eavesdropping?" Hippolyta demanded.

"Aye, mother! Yet, I do not see what warrants your anger!" the princess replied.

"You certainly are not thinking of joining the contest?"

"I shall, mother. I see not why I should prevented from doing thus!" Diana calmly stated.

"You shall not participate, Diana! You do not know what it is like in Man's World!"

"I do not know and I shall not I am prevented from participating!" Diana cried.

Hippolyta glared at her daughter. "That is of no consequence!"

Diana clenched her fists. "With Hera as my witness, I shall compete!"

The princess turned, stomping out of the queen's quarters.

Hippolyta glowered at her daughter's retreating back.

"O Queen, the Princess Diana has duly followed your commands for centuries! Do not be distressed; this is but a long overdo rebellion!" Menalippe assured. "It seems, though, that the Capricious Fates have played a hand in this! Our sisters have little hope of besting Princess Diana, but you have a small chance of doing such!"

"By Gaea, you speak true. It seems I have no choice! I must compete to the best of my ability, or lose Diana to Man's callous hands!"

Menalippe nodded. "I shall notify the Amazons of the impending contest, O Queen."

"Yes, Menalippe. I will go to rest."

Menalippe walked out of the queen's chambers, closing the large doors tightly before sending a prayer to the goddesses that Hippolyta will find peace in Morpheus's arms.

Inside, Hippolyta slid between her sheets and fell swiftly to sleep.

Hippolyta pulled her thick black hair into a ponytail, then proceeded to perform some basic stretching exercises. She and Diana had been placed in different divisions, much to her chagrin. It seems she would have to wait for the chance to save her daughter.

Hippolyta bent her knees, the sprang up in a tremendous leap that carried her high into the air and the fifteen feet into the sandpit, where she was to wrestle her opponent.

"Greetings, queen."

The words were dripping with loathing and sarcasm.

Hippolyta gasped. A savage looking woman with several scars on her body stood before her, her scraggly hair tied roughly behind her head.

"Great Hera! An Amazon of Ares? Seems I forgot to tell Menalippe to exclude you!"

Long ago, a group of Amazons split off from those of Themyscira, choosing to walk the path of violence. They worshiped Ares and his children instead of the other Olympians, dedicating their lives to war.

"Ha! Pray to your gods! Your words are but rubbish, pompous witch! You shall fall before the savagery of a true Amazon; I, Atropos!"

Hippolyta readied her fists. "Though your mother named you after the most terrible of the Fates, you shall find humility in the form of the Amazon Queen!"

The two Amazons charged. Hippolyta grabbed Atropos's shoulders and flipped up, trying to use her momentum to toss the vicious fighter.

Atropos was too agile, and twisted out of Hippolyta's grip in midair, flinging the queen to the ground with her own flip.

Locking her legs around Atropos's, Hippolyta performed a handstand, and then fell forward, slamming Atropos into the sand. Quick as a fox, Hippolyta pinned Atropos to the ground, until Penthesilea, the tall golden haired Amazon who was watching the match, intervened, declaring the Amazon Queen victorious.

"Now violent one, who is the true Amazon?" Hippolyta taunted. Atropos snarled, then turned and stalked off.

The rest of the Amazons charged forward on their stallions with mighty battle cries and the small circle drawn on the ground became a writhing arena of battle. Amazons struck with precise and powerful attacks, their poles sending each other to the ground, whereupon that Amazon would concede graciously and leap out of the ring.

A hard pole struck Diana's back, nearly toppling her and splintering upon impact.

"Amorous Apollo!" the Amazon cried, looking at the shattered remains of her weapon in disbelief.

"Valiant attempt, sweet Eurionome," Diana responded as she sent the beautiful Amazon before her to the ground with a single sweep of her staff. Eurionome rolled away to avoid the thunderous hooves of her steed as she exited the arena.

Despite gallant tries, each Amazon fell to Diana's superior skills, and the princess was soon declared the victor.

The queen and princess proved themselves victorious through each, until the final event came.

"Bullets and Bracelets!" the Amazons cheered.

Hippolyta and Diana faced each other, fifteen feet apart. A gun was clutched in each hand.

Penthesilea cleared her throat. "Each of you may fire the gun five times, and the other must catch each bullet upon their bracelets, or be wounded! Princess Diana, you shoot first!"

Diana moved like liquid lightning, firing the bullets towards her mother. The queen's bracelets were flashes of silver as each bullet bounced harmlessly to the ground. Diana set her pistol down and readied herself. Hippolyta held the gun towards her daughter, her grip tightening on the trigger, before...

"No! I cannot!" The Amazon Queen tossed her weapon to the ground. "I cannot bear to harm you in such a way, daughter!"

"But mother! We've sparred before, and I can be healed with utmost ease by the healers!" Diana cried.

"Yes, but still; the pain of a bullet wound is incredible, and has happened to me before when my bracelets had been stolen, and I was shot at! I could not bear to harm you! I-I concede!"

"Queen Hippolyta has surrendered! Princess Diana is the victor!" Penthesilea proclaimed.

Hippolyta held back her dismay, letting a small ounce of pride seep into her awareness.

"We congratulate you for your victory, Princess Diana!" Penthesilea stated. "In one hour, adjourn to the Temple of Aphrodite to accept your armor! You have the remaining time to ready yourself!"

Princess Diana, garbed in flowing white robes, her hair combed into loose curls, walked gracefully through the temple's shiny halls, Antiope, the Amazonian General, walked beside her. She soon came to the end. At the feet of an immense statue of Aphrodite lay armor of red and gold, as well as a star spangled loincloth and red sandals. A tiara lay above, the sharp edges gleaming in the light seeping in from the window.

The Magic Lasso lay next to the armor, glowing softly.

"Hola, Princess," Menalippe walked up to Diana, carefully holding a violet pillow. Positioned on the pillow was a golden mask, decorated on each side, as well as a small circular object that looked like it was made from crystal. "These are new artifacts to assist you in your mission!"

Diana looked with interest as the oracle held up the golden mask.

"This is the Mask of Proteus! Place it upon your vestige and it shall transform your voice, features, and body into those of another woman! Your garb shall also vanish. And this," the oracle explained, "is the Transparent Craft."

Diana touched the small artifact, and she felt closeness to it. "It responds to your thoughts, Princess, and can form itself to whatever you please. You can control it with your thoughts as well, but it cannot change as long as you are not in contact with it."

Antiope spoke. "With this garb, these weapons, and your Amazon Power you shall tear the violence of Man asunder!"

"Aye, Noble Antiope. That I shall," Diana replied, for the first time becoming somewhat apprehensive of her mission.

"Then come, Diana, you shall leave with the night!"

Diana, dressed in her armor, the lasso upon her girdle and the mask and craft tucked in near it, stood on the outcropping, her hand raised to the heavens as the rising sun cast an ethereal look about her.

"Sisters! I bid you all farewell, and by my Amazonian Heritage, I swear I shall bring peace to Man's World!"

Hippolyta gazed at her daughter.

"I pray to all of Olympus and the Fates themselves, bathe my daughter in your glory! She now holds the title I once held. She must embrace her role as... Wonder Woman!"