"Princess Diana!"

"Yes?"

Diana walked into the room near the door, dressed in her Wonder Woman garb.

"What? You were supposed to change into some of my clothes!" Callista cried.

"Most of them were too small," Diana replied, "but I only needed one outfit!"

The Amazon pulled a golden mask from her girdle. She placed it gently on her face, and there was an explosion of blue electricity.

"Oh my God!"

When the electricity subsided, Diana was much changed. The bright colors and unique style of her costume were gone, replaced by a midriff revealing blue top and tight fitting black pants. Her curly hair was now straightened and cut so that it reached her jaw.

"Holy God . . . "

"The Mask of Proteus," Diana explained.

"Wow . . . " Callista snapped out of her stupor. "So . . . what do I call you now?"

"I hadn't thought about that . . . "

"Hmmm . . . Diana is a common enough name, so you can keep that. Maybe 'Princess' as a last name?"

"'Princess' sounds too . . . artificial. I think Prince is much better."

"Okay, then, 'Diana Prince' it is! C'mon! Let's go see Atlanta!"

"But Callista . . . what about your work?"

"Nah . . . I'm on leave for a few days . . . "

"If you say so . . . "

Now, Callista was once again struggling not to fall off her chair in laughter.

"Callista! I don't see what you find so humorous! I could have killed that man!" Diana growled.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Callista fell off her chair.

The pair had stopped at 'Taco Whiz' for lunch. Almost as soon as Diana bit into her greasy taco, she had spat it out full force. With enough force, in fact, to knock the man in her trajectory unconscious for ten minutes.

"I can't say I enjoy what passes for food these days," Diana said, wiping her mouth in disgust. Then she picked up her cup of Pepsi and took a huge gulp, managing to do it looking dainty. "This, on the other hand, is nearly as sweet as Dionysus's finest wine!"

"No hangovers, either!" Callista added, taking a slurp of her soda.

"Ha! We Amazons are immune to all but the strongest of poisons!" Diana laughed, walking up to the soda machine for her sixth refill.

Well then, better add caffeine up there with cobra's venom and deadly nightshade! Callista thought dryly.

There was a sudden crash, followed by loud screams and a stampede of people. The few customers in the Taco Whiz were gathered at the front window, peering outward. Diana, taller than everyone by far, was able to peer over their heads.

<"Suffering Sappho! Get back!"> Diana screamed, in her panic using Classic Greek instead of English.

Diana grabbed the customers and easily tossed them like rag dolls to the back of the store, as the front wall collapsed on her.

"Diana!" Callista shrieked. She hadn't known her for more than a day, but already she felt an unbreakable bond between her and the shining Amazon.

The handful of customers scrambled out of the back entrance, along with the employees.

"Diana! Are you all right?" Callista cried.

From underneath the pile of crumbled brick and glass, tiny bursts of electricity spurted. The rubble exploded away as Wonder Woman leapt into the street. Callista darted after her, performing an acrobatic flip over the rubble.

Gunfire sprayed from the blue wall of police and vehicles, bouncing uselessly off the thick black belts of the two monstrous hounds approaching. Their eyes glowed like bloody coals as they barked and growled menacingly.

"Black Hounds of Hades!"

"What the hell are they?" Callista cried.

"Exactly what I said! It wasn't just an exclamation! They're Hellhounds. Monstrous, canine demons, brothers of Cerberus, often sent by Hades or Hecate to hunt mortals down!" Wonder Woman cried. "Careful! Their breath is like flames and their strength is terrible!"

An explosion from a police bazooka caused one of the hounds to stumble, but it attacked with vigor, renewed by its fury, which ignited the air in front of it. A tongue of green flames struck a building, causing it to explode.

"I'll get one of those police bazookas! They seem to be working!"

"No, Callista! Stay and see if you can help to save those trapped in the rubble!"

"All right . . . " Callista sprinted towards the nearest crushed building and began to push away the bits of rubble that she could.

"Back to Tartarus, monster!" Wonder Woman cried as she picked up the Taco Whiz sign and heaved it at the monster.

The monster toppled over, just in time for its partner to send a torrent of flame toward Diana.

Diana moved quicker than thought, drawing out the tiny compact that was her Transparent Craft. It morphed into a wall in front of her, blocking the flames. Its shape wavered, before melting into a bubbling puddle on the road.

"Great Hera! You won't have such ease defeating my next weapon, beast!" Diana proclaimed, pulling her lasso from her girdle and dodging the hound's flame breath. She twirled the golden cord expertly, looping it around the hound several times, pinning its arms and legs. "I command you to sleep!"

The hound ceased struggling instantly, drifting into slumber. Diana began to untangle her lasso.

With a howl, the other hound pounced on the princess, who grappled with it, her strength and skill easily surpassing that of the monster. She flipped it over with enough force to crack its head against the pavement, sending it into unconsciousness.

There was a loud growl, and something slammed into Diana's side, sending her sailing the entire length of the city block. She bounced off the wall of a bank and hit the ground. The Amazon struggled to her feet. Every move caused pain to shoot through her side and she the coppery taste of blood filled her mouth. With a groan, she leapt into the air, gliding towards her canine opponent.

"It seems there is another misbehaving hound who needs a few good lashes with a sturdy switch!" Wonder Woman cried, her confident tone belying the pain she felt.

It took all her effort to dodge the next torrent of flame, but she couldn't dodge the paw that slammed her to the ground, barely holding on to consciousness. The hound's open jaws were now moving towards Diana's head.

"Oh my God! What am I gonna do?" Callista cried, beginning to panic.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Diana's lasso, lying where she had been forced to drop it.

"If the little animal control trick can work for her with this thing, maybe it'll work for me!" Callista cried. She sprinted over to the lasso and picked it up. "Now . . . how the heck do I use it?"

She decided to not bother with looping it and quickly tied the end around a hunk of pavement. Callista swung the lasso towards the hound's leg. It whipped itself around the large appendage.

"Stop!"

Callista almost collapsed with relief as the hound obeyed, its long fangs, dripping with saliva, halting inches away from the Amazon's pearly skin.

"Come here, boy!" Callista cooed. To her surprise, the hound obeyed. "Now sha- uh . . . I mean, roll over!"

The hound performed a roll.

"Oooh! This is fun!" Callista cried. "Good boy!"

Callista gently stroked the hound's huge head.

"Now boy, go night-night!" Callista commanded.

The hound lay down, its eyes fluttering closed.

"Great job, Callista!" Diana cried, shakily standing up and making her way over to her friend. "Handled like a true Amazon!"

"Th-thanks, Di-Wonder Woman!" Callista said.

Wonder Woman knelt and began to unravel her lasso, tossing the piece of pavement to the ground. She reached out to her melted craft. The glob oozed its way towards her. She gently placed her hand on its surface, and it shrunk back into a compact, which was placed back in her girdle.

"Perhaps we will meet again, sister!"

"Huh? Oh! Um . . . Yeah, I hope so! Just . . . glad I could help!"

Diana leapt into the air, gliding the wind currents out of sight.

Callista darted into an alleyway, just as the first news van arrived.

"Y'know, Diana, people are gonna start getting suspicious. You suddenly show up, and save me from one villain and having me help you with another, and then I suddenly have a friend move in with me who can knock people out by spitting her food, who has no past or occupation. Despite popularly held opinion in other countries, we Americans aren't stupid . . . well . . . most of us aren't . . . but people are gonna start putting two and two together. We aren't really strangers to super-powers anymore; most heroes probably alter their appearances with magic or technology."

Diana thought about this. "You speak wisely, but I really can't concentrate on this right now. I'd like to take a bath, if you don't mind, could you show me the way to the springs?"

"The what? I'll show you the guest's bathroom."

Resting her beautiful head on a folded towel, Diana began to ponder the day's events as the herbs combined with the warm water, soothing her tight muscles and already fading bruises.

Where could those hounds have come from? Diana wondered. I see not why the dismal king of the Underworld would have sent them here! Perhaps they were summoned with magic, but by whom?

What happened today was exciting! I hope we do more stuff like that. Just . . . not with such big monsters!

Callista dipped an apple slice into the container of caramel and began to chew on the sweet snack. She heard a small thump behind her.

"Huh? Diana?"

Callista turned to see nobody.

"Must be imagining things."

Callista turned back to her snack, and found herself staring into a pair of cold emerald eyes.

"Wha . . . AAAAAAIIIIIIIEEEEEE!"

Callista stumbled backward, and the crouching person on the counter stood up to their full height. Callista could see it was a beautiful woman, clad in a sort of small Egyptian battle dress. The woman was tall and muscular, with long red hair tied back in a ponytail that reached the ground. On her feet were sandals with small wings on the heels. Slung over her back was a sword and scabbard.

"Callista! What is it?" Diana cried as she rushed down the stairs in an instant. She was dressed in a fluffy bathrobe, but her bracelets were clamped on her wrists and her lasso was clutched in her hand.

"Ah . . . The Princess Diana! My, doesn't she look regal!" the redheaded woman taunted.

"Who are you? I demand to know!" Diana cried, holding up her lasso.

"No need for your silly rope, princess! I am Artemis, champion of the Amazons of Bana-Mighdall, known to the prissy weaklings that inhabit Themyscira as the Amazons of Ares! When you and your silly mother defeated all of us during the contest on Themyscira, we held our own tournament to see who would go and defeat you!"

"What? Why in Gaea's name would you do something like that?" Diana cried.

"Humph! And I thought you were a warrior! Have you no pride?"

"We of Themyscira have pride, Artemis! But true warrior's pride is not giving in, and honorably challenging the one who defeated you in combat! Not attacking their friends and them while they're weak!"

Artemis leapt from the counter, attacking Diana with a powerful punch that sent her careening through the wall. Artemis flew like lightning through the hole, into the large living room. She ducked one of Diana's kicks and swung upward, hitting her viciously in the side where the Hellhound had hit her before.

"Aaah!" Diana cried out.

Artemis nailed her again in the side. "Remember your little skirmish with the Hellhounds earlier today? Guess who they belonged to!"

Artemis punched Diana in the face, downing the Amazonian Princess. She pulled out her sword and held it above her head.

"Diana! Take this carrot top! Kiyaaaa!" Callista rushed Artemis with a powerful high kick. Artemis caught her ankle and tossed her away.

"Pathetic!" the raging Amazon spat as she rose into the air, the wings on her sandals fluttering furiously. She felt an iron hand clamp on her ankle. Using Artemis's leg as leverage, Diana swung upward, landing a kick to the back of Artemis's head. She then slammed her attacker into the ground. "Not bad, princess! But you can't defeat a true Amazon!"

Artemis rushed her, but Diana narrowly dodged, tossing her lasso at Artemis, who caught it in midair. She swung her leg into Diana's stomach, and then caught her with an uppercut. Diana collapsed.

"I'd kill you now, but I want to feel a the rush of true combat, not attacking some wounded weakling!"

Artemis sheathed her sword, then turned and flew out the window.

Callista moaned, pulling out of her daze. She clumsily made her way over to Diana, trying to make the princess come to.

"Oh . . . " Diana moaned in pain. She shakily sat up.

"Who was that?" Callista asked.

"She is an Amazon of Ares, or Bana-Mighdall. They are Amazons who split off from my tribe to worship Ares and war. They didn't bother to learn many Themysciran fighting techniques, like gliding on wind currents. The sandals she wore were the Sandals of Hermes, which grant the wearer incredible speed and the power of flight. She's dead set on killing me for her tribe's defeat in the contest."

"So we're in trouble?"

"No, I am in trouble. You are going to stay out of this!"

"Like hell I will!" Callista retorted.

"I can't argue this now. We should rest. Are you hurt?"

"No, just stunned."

"Good. I'm going to finish my bath. The herbs I brought, along with my natural Amazon Stamina, should have me healed soon."

"Okay. I'm going to the gym tomorrow to work out. You should go relax, you've had a tough day."

Diana nodded. "I'll do some shopping, maybe."

"You do that. Well, I'll see you tomorrow morning. Good night!"

"Sleep well, Callista!"

Callista lashed out with a powerful kick to the punching bag, swinging it back and forth. She launched herself into a flurry of punches, peppering the small bag with them. She vaulted backward, turning head over heels several times, the sprinted forward.

She attacked with a powerful enough kick to send the bag sailing from its hook across the gym, leaving a trail of sand.

Panting heavily, Callista wiped the sweat from her brow, and walked slowly over to the drinking fountain. She bent her head and slurped the water down. She straightened up and wiped her mouth.

Callista turned, to see a fist whistling towards her face.

"Hmmm . . . This store looks nice . . . " Diana side thoughtfully, walking into a large, elegant looking bookstore.

Diana walked slowly, looking at the books. She paused at a section on mythology. After looking over the books and their titles, she grabbed a thick one, and began to leaf through it.

It covered basically everything, Perseus and Medusa, The Odyssey, Heracles, the Gods, and much more. Diana was able to spot fifteen mistakes on the first chapter about Aphrodite. She put the book back on the shelf, and continued to browse.

"Are you looking for anything in particular?"

Diana turned to see a handsome young man, taller even than she, with blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

"Hi, I'm James Grande. My father's the owner of this store."

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Diana Prince. And no, I'm just looking, but thank you."

The pair shook hands, a little longer than one would have expected, before drawing away.

Suddenly, an elderly man cried out.

"James! He's getting away with the money!"

A man dressed in black, his face hidden by a ski mask, rushed towards the door, a sack in his hand.

"Hey, stop!" James yelled. The thief whipped out a gun and aimed it at James's throat.

Before he could fire, Diana kicked the pistol from his hand and nailed him in the jaw with a right hook. Careful to only look like she was an ordinary woman deploring her self defense skills, Diana grabbed the man by the shirt and flipped him onto his back, sufficiently knocking him unconscious.

"Wow . . . " James was stunned. "What was that?"

"Hmmm?"

"What martial arts style do you practice?"

Realizing how strange 'Amazon Grappling' would sound, Diana quickly thought of an Eastern martial art. "Aikido."

"Oh . . . You've been practicing it long?"

For 3,200 years, mortal! Diana thought. Instead she replied, "For awhile."

"That's cool. I've practiced judo since I was thirteen."

"Must be in good shape, then," Diana said. "Martial arts really help people in life. They don't just teach people to fight, they help people stay in shape, or get in shape, as well as learn the path of righteousness and honor."

"You're in pretty good shape yourself," James thought aloud.

He said it so quietly that a normal woman would have heard only a mumble, but Diana's keen ears picked up everything clearly. She was a little puzzled at first, but realized what he meant, and told herself he didn't deserve to be struck; he WAS only a man . . .

"James! Are you all right?"

An elderly man walked from behind a book display. He was obviously old, but still spirited.

"Yeah, thanks to Miss Prince, here."

"Oh, hello young lady. I'm Jeremiah Grande. Thank you so much for saving my store!"

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Grande!" Diana said, shaking hands with Jeremiah. Young lady? I'm a good three thousand years older than you!

"Hey, Miss Prince-" James began.

"Please, call me Diana."

"-Diana, would you like to have lunch with us at our café? It'll be on the house!" James offered.

"Oh, I don't know. I can pay for it!"

"Diana, I insist!" James said, pulling on Diana's arm.

Even though a flick of her wrist could send James sailing through the wall, Diana allowed him to pull her through a door in the side of the bookstore into an empty café, filled with tables and plants.

"This place is usually brimming with customers, but there's school and work right now. We'll eat before the rush comes in!" Jeremiah said.

The three sat down at a round table, and James handed Diana a menu.

"Just tell me what you want and I'll get it for you."

Diana glanced over the menu. "I'll have a large Pepsi and a . . . um . . . Caesar salad."

"Great choices. I'll get you your usual, Dad."

James walked quickly into the kitchen.

Jeremiah leaned over to Diana. "He likes you, you know."

"Excuse me?"

"He has his eye on you, darlin'. You're a beautiful young lady, with strong morals and a stronger will. You'd be great for James."

Diana smiled at the praise. "How do you know I have strong morals?"

"I can just tell that about people. It's a natural talent. You're a beautiful person, inside and out."

"Why thank you," Diana responded, flattered. Neither Jeremiah nor James is like Alexander . . . Even in mother's recent adventures, she told me that many men, even occasionally the heroes she worked with, were chauvinistic.

James arrived with the food. Diana immediately began to sip her soda.

"So, Diana, what line of occupation are you in?"

I am Princess of Themyscira and emissary of peace to Patriarch's World, Diana thought. "I'm unemployed right now. I recently moved here, and I'm staying with a friend of mine, Callista Domaine."

"Oy . . . Callista," James laughed. "She must be fun to live with."

"James, she's friends with her. Callista is a very nice young lady, even if she does have a bit of a temper."

"A bit of one, Dad? She put me in the hospital for three days when I was fourteen because I called her a wimp during Judo Class!"

Diana laughed along with Jeremiah.

"It was just hilarious!" James grumbled.

"Callista's a sweet and intelligent girl, too. She has a bit of a merciless streak, and she's a mean business woman, but she has a heart of gold underneath all that."

"Fool's gold," James grumbled, earning a thump in the back of the head with Jeremiah's cane, while Diana hid her laugh behind her hand.

"So Diana," Jeremiah said. "Where'd you come from?"

Diana thought quickly. "Crete."

"Your accent is Greek," Jeremiah said. He spoke rapidly in Modern Greek.

Luckily, Queen Hippolyta had brought back a great deal of texts on different languages to the Amazons. Their natural learning abilities allowed them to become versed in several languages, Modern Greek being one of them. Diana replied smoothly.

<"I hate it when you do that, Dad!"> James said in French. <"You know I can't speak Greek!">

<"That's what parents are for!"> Diana responded in the same language.

James groaned and laid his head down.

"So James, do you work here?"

"Yeah. I help manage the bookstore, but I also write books."

"Like what?" Diana said, interested.

James shrugged. "Just different fantasy ones. I write the 'Tales of Greek Mythology' series. Each book tells a different myth, but it's a full blown story."

"Amazing, I love Greek Mythology!" Diana exclaimed. How could I not? I am a part of Greek Myth!

"Do you? I'll give you some copies of the different books," James said. "Any particular ones?"

"Oh . . . maybe one about the Amazons . . . " Diana said.

"I've written chapters on them, like when they were defeated by Heracles and Theseus . . . "

Diana frowned. "Through trickery and deceit!"

"I'm sorry?"

"Oh nothing," Diana replied. "Have you written anything about the goddesses?"

"Well, they've appeared in all of them, but nothing really staring them, except a collection of tales on Aphrodite and Athena."

"Sounds interesting!"

The trio chatted on for a while.

"Aaah!"

The sun was bright and beating down on her. She was hot and parched, her dry mouth aching for water.

She lay in the dust, which billowed about her, stirred by her movement, causing her to cough.

Callista looked around, her vision bleary from pain. She could see distant purple mountains, and large cacti. A horny toad scuttled across the dry ground. She quickly found a sort of thermos. She screwed the top off and gulped the water inside greedily. It was cold, so her attacker must have recently left it there for her.

Callista tried to stand up, but something caught her foot. She twisted around to see a heavy chain, about ten feet long, clamped onto her leg, with a huge boulder rolled over the other end, so no matter how hard she tugged, it wouldn't come loose. Callista collapsed in despair.

"Help!" she cried. Her voice was weak and shaky. "Somebody! Can anyone hear me?"

Not one word came in reply.

She crawled slowly to the other side of the boulder, into the shade, for some small relief from the sun.

James walked Diana up the driveway.

"You really don't need to walk me up to the house," Diana said.

"It's no big deal," James replied.

Diana began to feel offended, because it seemed James was implying she couldn't handle herself, but decided that it must be part of the etiquette of Man's World.

"Do you need a drink? I'm sure Callista wouldn't mind!" Diana offered.

"No thanks, I'm fine," James replied.

"I insist, come on in."

"If you're sure Callista won't be angry . . . " he said, remembering the beating Callista had given him years ago.

Diana tugged James in. The novelist whistled at the sheer size of the foyer. He looked up at the immense crystal chandelier.

"Um . . . Diana? Is there supposed to be a woman with long red hair and big sword hanging from the chandelier?"

"What do you . . . Suffering Sappho!"

Artemis dropped with the grace of a cat from the chandelier, brandishing her broadsword threateningly. Diana threw James behind her.

"It seems the princess has a prince with her!" Artemis laughed.

"What do you mean? I'm no princess! Who are you?" Diana demanded, faking her identity.

"Hmmm . . . You don't look like Diana . . . but then again, there is a scent of ancient magic about you . . . "

Artemis struck Diana in the face with an open hand strike. The mask of Proteus was dislodged and sent sailing into a wall. There was a brilliant crackle of energy, and Wonder Woman appeared.

"I knew it!"

"Holy . . . " James gasped in astonishment.

Diana reacted with anger, slamming her fist into Artemis's face. The Amazon of Ares was lifted clear off the ground and into a wall. Artemis rolled to the side as the enraged Amazon Princess's boot smashed the floor where Artemis's head had been.

"It wouldn't be wise to kill me, princess!" Artemis cried. "For only I know where that pathetic mortal friend of yours is!"

"Callista!" Diana cried. "Artemis! Tell me where she is!"

"Do I really want to?" Artemis said with a sly grin. She suddenly found Diana's lasso around her.

"Tell me where she is!" Diana snarled into the violent Amazon's face.

"She's in the Sonoran Desert, which I'm sure that man can tell you where it is. Of course, I have a black magic spell around the area, so you won't be able to sense my trail! And if you kill me now, well, the mortal is tied up in front of a mystical cage encasing my hounds. Its magic should wear off in about oh . . . three hours and ten minutes. You had better meet me in three hours, Diana! We'll engage in personal combat, for the life of your mortal friend."

Diana clenched her fists in anger, glaring at Artemis. She jerked her lasso, sending her foe tumbling to the ground.

"With Athena as my witness, I swear I shall defeat you!" Diana cried.

Artemis scoffed. "Your oaths mean nothing to me! Remember princess! Three hours!"

With that, Artemis flew out the open skylight.

"You're Wonder Woman?" James cried.

Diana could only nod. "Now, where is the Sonoran Desert?"

"I can't believe YOU are Wonder Woman!" James mumbled, as if the shock was over-whelming him.

"Great Aphrodite, James! I am Wonder Woman! I'm Princess Diana of Themyscira, also known as Paradise Isle! I'm the daughter of Queen Hippolyta! And that violent redheaded offal-spawn is going to KILL Callista if you don't snap out of your cursed stupor and tell me where on Gaea the blasted Sonoran Desert is!" Diana screamed in James's face.

James shook his head. "It's in the Western U.S.! I can lead you there!"

"Good," Diana said. "We should arrive on time then. I pray Callista will be all right!"

"Huh? If you're sure we can get there in time to save Callista, why are you so worried?"

"The Amazons of Ares, the tribe of Amazons Artemis is from, are notorious liars. I fear Artemis is going to kill Callista if she begins to lose!"

There was a soft breeze and Callista looked up to see her captor.

Artemis laughed. "Your puny strength can't break that chain, mortal!"

"Go to hell!" Callista snapped.

Artemis slapped her prisoner.

"I could shatter your skull with a tap of my finger, mortal. I suggest you stop misbehaving!"

Callista stood up and punched Artemis with all her strength. Artemis rubbed her chin slightly.

"That almost tickled!"

Artemis gave Callista a backhand that knocked her into a deep, black oblivion. She fell to the ground, a small trickle of blood seeping from her mouth.

"Come princess! Come and try to save this worthless mortal! I thirst for combat!" Artemis let loose an evil laugh that echoed over the desert.

The Transparent Craft shot through the air at blinding speed, cutting the clouds and creating powerful winds.

"I really, really wish this thing was opaque!" James Grande moaned from his seat beside Wonder Woman. Seeing the ground rush by you at 'speeds matching those Hermes' was extremely nauseating for him.

Diana ignored him.

"All right, James. Here's the plan. When we locate Callista, I'll deal with Artemis. I'll telepathically steer the plane away. It will land, and you must sneak back to free Callista! Artemis has most likely bound Callista with chains of Amazonium alloy . . . Amazonium is the hardest metal on earth, only found on Themyscira, but it is still rare. As the princess, I have access to all the Amazonium, so I can make my weapons from them. This sword is made from pure Amazonium. Use it to cut Callista free."

Diana handed James a silver colored sword, which was surprisingly light, since it was supposed to be crafted from the strongest metal on earth.

"Okay . . . How are we going to find Callista?"

"Though Artemis's magic is blocking my natural Amazon ability to sense magic, I can use my own magical power to locate them. Through mystical training, I was able to develop some telepathic abilities. With the aid of an Amazonian device, I can boost my powers to find Callista easily!"

Artemis paced back and forth in front of her, shaking her long red mane impatiently. Callista was reminded of a lioness she had seen at the zoo when she was nine; totally confident and utterly sure of herself.

"Diana's gonna kick your butt, you know," Callista taunted. She knew it was dangerous, as she was defenseless against Artemis's fury, but Callista knew that if the raging Amazon hurt her, Diana would make her pay even more.

"How little you know, mortal!" Artemis growled. "A peace loving Themysciran fool can't defeat a warrior of my caliber!"

"Awfully proud, aren't we?"

"Be silent!" Artemis hissed, turning on the mortal woman, her green eyes flashing dangerously.

Callista stared defiantly back. One of the first rules of business was never to let someone know they're intimidating you. That rule apparently applied to being kidnaped.

Resisting the urge to throttle Callista, Artemis resumed staring at the darkening sky. Callista felt a small spark of pride, knowing she had won a small psychological battle.

"This is my Mental Radio," she said. "We Amazons used to use only magic, but an alliance with a different kingdom earned us their advanced technology. This is but one of our inventions."

"Wow."

Concentrating hard, Diana reached out to Callista. The screen flickered briefly, and the image of Callista, chained to the rock appeared.

"Holy God! Look at her face!" James cried out.

Large bruises and a black eye marred Callista's normally gorgeous face. Through the one eye that wasn't swollen shut, James could see a waning spark of the woman's fiery determination.

"Great Hera! Artemis is going to pay," Wonder Woman vowed.

The Amazon concentrated hard, and the Transparent Craft became invisible to the outside eye. Wonder Woman willed the plane in the direction she felt Callista in.

Callista clumsily clambered behind the boulder and peeked out at the confident Amazon's back.

C'mon, Diana! Where are you?

"It seems your Themysciran friend couldn't make it in time!" Artemis taunted. She twisted her sword, letting the dimming sunlight flicker across its deadly edge.

Callista backed away.

"Artemis! Hold!" Wonder Woman appeared from nowhere in all her glory, the dying sun catching the metal of her breastplate just right as she hovered on the air currents, bobbing gently up and down.

"Diana! Thank God!" Callista cried.

"It seems you aren't as cowardly as I originally thought!" Artemis laughed. "No matter!"

"Come, Artemis, let's begin!" Wonder Woman challenged.

"Humph! So eager to die! And so foolish for attacking me unarmed!"

Artemis flew into the air towards the Amazon Princess, who twisted, letting her opponent's blade pass through the air near her harmlessly. Wonder Woman lashed out, catching Artemis on the cheek with her fist and knocking her from the air.

Diana dove like a falcon, trying to knock Artemis away from Callista. Her fiery opponent dodged and kicked out, nailing Diana in the stomach and sending her flying backward. Artemis pounced on her opponent, and Diana caught the sword blow on her bracelets with a loud clang. Diana rolled back, using her legs to flip Artemis high into the air.

Winged sandals fluttering furiously Artemis managed to right herself and dove again. Wonder Woman leapt up, letting the blade slash the ground. She tossed her lasso at Artemis, only to have Artemis narrowly avoid it and kick it out of Diana's hands.

With lightning speed, Artemis backhanded Diana, sending her shooting like a comet into the mountains.

Diana looked around, and a heavy weight slammed into the back of her head, sending her headfirst into a mountain. She barely rolled away in time to avoid Artemis's sword.

Artemis attacked again, but Diana blocked each strike with her bracelets, the clangs echoing over Arizona.

"Um . . . Calli-oomph!"

Callista sprang up and caught him in the stomach with a powerful right hook. He collapsed, holding his stomach in pain. She nailed him in the face with a dropkick, sending him onto his back.

James struggled up as Callista attacked with a ferocious left hook. He rolled with it, and used her momentum flip the rich publisher over his head and onto the ground. She cried out in pain as the landing jarred her wounds, her eyes tearing as she struggled to stand, but barely made it to her knees.

"Oh God . . . Are you all right? I'm so sorry!"

"Go to hell! I know you're with that redhead! If you're going to kill me, go ahead!" Callista cried, her melodious voice strained with pain and broken by sporadic winces.

"No, no Callista, I'm here to help you? Remember me? James Grande? The kid whose collarbone you broke with a tornado kick?"

"Huh?" Callista looked up, biting back the pain. "J-James? What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to help. It's a long story, which Diana and I will explain later, just hold still!"

James raised Diana's sword high into he air. Callista shut her eyes tight as the blade came down, slicing the chain away inches from her leg.

"Mary Mother of God! You think you could've cut that a little closer?" Callista cried.

"You haven't changed much. Dang, that psycho must've treated you pretty badly. Your kicks and punches used to hurt a hell of a lot more!" James commented, rubbing his chin. "And that was when you were eight!"

"That stupid barbarian . . . I got about two small glasses of water and no food . . . And she hit me at least ten times, not counting when she knocked me out back at the gym! I hope Diana takes that ugly hair of hers and crams it up her butt!" Callista looked up, shaking with anger, and screamed.

"Jesus! Not in my ear! What's wrong . . . " James trailed off as he felt a hot breath on his neck. He turned slowly. "Aaah!"

The Hellhound lunged and, as more of a reflex action rather than a practiced strike, James drew the sword across its wet nose. The beast snarled in rage, sending James sprawling with a head butt. As its teeth descended toward the cowering novelist, it opened its mouth wide, and howled in pain. James saw a long shaft sticking out of its eye, and turned to see Callista holding a bow.

"Where'd that come from?"

"That stupid witch left it here!" Callista said. "Look out!"

James yelped as he narrowly avoided the hound's snapping jaws. It charged towards Callista, who also dodged, but stumbled, and the Hellhound swung its head. Callista was struck and fell to the ground, landing on her arm with a snap.

"Aaaaahhh!" Callista collapsed, clutching her broken wrist to her stomach. The hound knelt to finish her off, but collapsed.

"That arrow must have been dipped in poison!" James cried as he knelt to examine Callista's hand.

Callista gazed at the fallen Hellhound, and sniffed in sympathy.

"I feel so sorry for it!"

"Hey! It tried to eat us!"

"I said I felt sorry for it, not for killing it!"

There was a loud crack and a small shape was seen sailing towards them . . .

She hit the ground fifteen feet away from Callista, James, and the dead Hellhound.

"Oh my God! Diana!" Callista screamed.

Wonder Woman groaned, pushing herself to her feet. Artemis flew behind her, slashing out with her sword. Diana threw herself back, but the blade sliced through the bright metal of her costume and into her skin.

"Aaaaahhhh!" Diana screamed in pain as she was kicked into a mountain.

She left a trail of blood along the dry slope as slid slowly down.

"Diana! Diana!" Callista's screams were growing distant to the Amazon Princess. There was an explosion of howls and growls, and James yelled out. Callista screamed as the remaining two hounds converged on them.

Diana moaned, pushing herself up. She felt so weak . . . It would be so easy just to give in! Callista and James's cries of terror grew even further as the darkness permeated the Amazon Princess's senses. Artemis's triumphant laughter echoed over the landscape.

<"Gaea give me strength . . . I-I won't give in! I am an Amazon . . . and I swear . . . by all good spawned from the swirling winds of Chaos . . . you won't win! YOU WON'T WIN!">*

(*-Translated from Ancient Greek-Kevin)

Diana's bracelets snapped up in time to deflect the killing slash of Artemis's sword, already speckled with the Amazon Princess's blood. Artemis slashed again, but Diana, in a flash, pulled off her tiara, parrying the blow. With a flick of her wrist, she shattered Artemis's sword into three pieces. Diana kicked Artemis onto her back and raised her tiara; its deadly point aimed at her exposed throat. Artemis's eyes were wide with fright.

"My . . . tiara is pure Amazonium as I . . . am pure Amazon! Despite being one by birth, you forsake your heritage the moment you start down the path of hatred and violence! An Amazon is a warrior, through and through, but a true warrior . . . knows not only strength and skill, but compassion and . . . mercy!"

Diana twisted the tiara, bringing its blunt part down upon Artemis's head, sending her into unconsciousness. The princess managed to send out a single telepathic command, before sliding into a comfortable blackness.

Up on the mountain, the Transparent Craft dropped the veil of its invisibility and floated downward.

The side of the jet warped, as two hands appeared, gently scooping up Wonder Woman, Artemis, James, and Callista.

The remaining Hellhounds milled about, before vanishing to the Underworld.

James held Diana in his arms, his shirt tied as a makeshift tourniquet around her wound to stay the blood. The princess was still unconscious, but her breathing was strong and steady.

Callista lay across from them getting some much-deserved sleep.

Finally, Artemis, still blacked out, was against the back of the plane, bound in Diana's lasso.

James saw the plane begin to descend towards the roof of a large building, which he recognized as a hospital near where he lived.

The plane landed softly and several hospital workers stepped out.

"What the heck-"

"Who's this?"

"Is that Wonder Woman?"

The plane formed a ramp, and James cried out.

"A little help, here?"

"Hello, James."

"Diana! Thank God you're all right!"

"I hear you tied a tourniquet to stay the blood of my wound. Thank you for that!"

"I . . . uh . . . it was . . . something," James finished softly, as Diana planted a soft kiss on his cheek.

The princess turned toward a doctor. "How is Callista?"

"She's fine. We've set her wrist in a cast, and she's sleeping now. She shall awake in a small while."

"Thank Hera!" Diana said.

"I must say, Miss Diana, you're physical abilities are . . . amazing!" the doctor commented. "Your wound, having been inflicted as long ago as Mr. Grande claims, should not have healed so quickly!"

"We Amazons heal much faster than normal mortals."

"What about Artemis?" James asked.

Diana frowned. "Artemis has had her bracelets bound by a male doctor . . . if an Amazon's bracelets are bound together by a man, she loses her powers, an old curse inflicted upon us by Aphrodite, at Zeus's bidding, after other gods complained we were too powerful . . . and the Transparent Craft is carrying her back to Paradise Island as we speak. She shall be rehabilitated in the temple of Aphrodite."

"Rehabilitated?" James cried. "She tried to kill you!"

Diana shook her head. "Though an Amazon doesn't hesitate to kill if absolutely necessary, we have found rehabilitation to be the best way of dealing with criminals."

"Are you sure about that . . . ?"

"Yes. No matter how evil a villain or villainess is, within them always lies the potential to be fair and just."

Diana watched out the large window as her Transparent Craft shot out of sight.

http://dcmarvel.cjb.net