Kal-El floating in the sky looks back at Themyscira one last time. Remembering his adopted mother's face hurt him more than it should. He knows that she didn't mean to hurt him, but some part of him knew that he was just too different. He was too different to be amongst his sisters and Diana. His presence alone brought years of discord and mistrust amongst the amazons.
Even if Hippolyta wouldn't admit it, he understood and saw firsthand the growing resentment among them. They adhere to a very strict code, a code that views all men as deceivers and murderers. If an amazon breaks this code, they would be exiled. But in a controversial decision, Hippolyta chose to raise him as one of their own, going as far as to vouch for him. It was simply unheard of and many felt betrayed by their queen.
Kal-El was hoping that maybe...just maybe he could change them and show them that he was different. But, in his moment of weakness, their inner beliefs and thoughts were realized.
Thinking about Diana, his chest hurt just thinking about her. His companion and best friend who saw him for so much more. She, who looked up to him as a role model, what would she think if she saw him in that moment? How he, an alien of this world, was about to kill her sister?
He shook his head, swallowing the bitterness and sadness. This is her home, she deserves to be among her people. Donna was right, maybe he was a leech and a monster. He was turning Diana and Hippolyta against their own people. This is the ugly truth, he did not belong here.
Closing his eyes in silence. This is for the best.
'Kal-El, travel to the Arctic, I have something to show you.' The Ai says in his head. He blinked in surprise, it has been awhile since he heard anything from it. But understanding that there was nothing here for him anymore, he nodded his head.
He didn't bother looking back as he stood steady in the sky.
"Live your life Diana, among your sisters. This is your home, I have no right to interfere. I hope that one day you can forgive me…" Kal-El mutters softly before flying away.
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"Mother, for the last time, I've told you I'm fine." Cried out the raven haired teen. She, in bed, was still not allowed to leave her room within the palace.
"Daughter, I just want to look out for you."
Diana nods in agreement before looking around. While she was a little saddened by the loss earlier, she was still hoping Astra would come see her after the match. Looking at her mother in expectation.
"Mother...where is Astra?"
Closing her eyes, Hippolyta is at a loss. How should she break the news to her daughter? Damn it Astra, you could have at least told my daughter a farewell of some sorts. But thinking about his face and how he looked at that moment, Hippolyta couldn't place the blame on him. She failed as a mother, failing to give him the environment that he deserved and needed. Their Amazon creed and code which stood strong for many years has come back to bite them. While she is no fan of man and man's world, she knew Astra was different. He was too strong and kind for his own good. Looking at her daughter, these two are similar to each other. Both naïve to the outside world and it's ugliness.
While Hippolyta has not ventured outside in awhile, she knows that times are changing. She still has outside influence that kept her about the machinations of men. From what she understands, men have gained the ability to kill each other in devastating proportions, even after their so-called Great War, turmoil is still brewing among the nations. She needs to keep her daughter away from this, to protect her from this. The world is not ready for her. Not ready for them both. Even if she failed one child, she will not let her daughter suffer.
Hippolyta straightens her back and looks down at her daughter.
Diana, noticing a change in demeanor, feels a growing fear inside of her. Her worries earlier are starting to echo in her mind.
"Diana, Astra is gone. He has abandoned his home and he has left us…" Hippolyta's heart wrench in pain for the next words coming out of her mouth. This is for her own good, she has to be strong.
"He has left you."
Diana, not muttering a single word stared at her mother in disbelief. She couldn't believe a single word that her mother was saying. There was no way Astra would leave her, he promised! He promised one day to venture out into the world and explore together. He promised to always be with her...there was no way he would lie! He wasn't like other men!
Standing up, Diana gets out of her bed and rushes towards the door.
Hippolyta seeing this, chokes back her emotions.
'I'm sorry Astra, I told you that I am a queen first and not a messenger.'
Diana's heart beats in adrenaline as she reaches out of her room and towards the main island. She ran around the island asking for Astra. Unfortunately, her sisters would avoid her look and some even looked at her in disdain. Fear was mounting within her.
Running towards Astra's stoned home that was located away from other people. She opens the door hoping to see him sleeping like he always had and how she had to be the one to wake him up.
But not seeing him again, Diana's heart wallop in pain. Memories of their time together comes crashing down on her. Her heart feels like it was about to break from the surmounting pain. This was more difficult to bear than even the tournament previously.
Feeling a hand reach her shoulder, she turns around in fury.
Her mother Hippolyta stood there standing in her regal armor. Her eyes are colder than usual. This was the mother she saw in the paintings before Astra. This was queen Hippolyta, leader of the amazons.
"Diana, gather yourself. You are princess and heir to the mantle of amazon. I expect you to conduct yourself accordingly." Her mother says coldly.
Diana, clutching her chest.
"A-Astra he is-"
"He is gone, abandon you and his sisters. Once he saw how weak and pathetic you were, he had no reason to be here. Believe it my daughter, men's nature has caught up to him like it always has."
Diana still in disbelief shook her head.
"No! He is different, he is kind he-"
"He is an alien on this planet. Astra is a sole survivor of Krypton and one who values strength above all. His name is Kal-El, call it as it is. He tricked us all Diana, he was under the guise of a kind child when in reality, he is a powerful monster."
"Y-your lying mother! How could you say that about him!" Diana cried out.
"Don't believe me? Look at it for yourself."
Hippolyta tosses an orb towards her daughter. There it shows moments after Diana was stretched away and the duel between Astra and Donna started. It showed the overwhelming strength of Astra and the brutality of just one of his punches. He floated over to Donna and was ready to kill her sister before her mother stopped him. This wasn't the Astra that she knew! He's kind, he wouldn't hurt anyone on this island!
Diana tosses the orb away. Her legs give out as tears run down her face. Doubt beings to sept through her mind. The recent months before plays into her head. How he avoided her and the distance that grew in between them.
'Was it all a lie? Was he just pretending to be her friend?' Diana couldn't help but think.
Noticing her daughter's pain, she wanted to hold her and tell her the truth. But centuries of warfare had hone her emotions. Hippolyta knew that something was brewing, the gods of Olympus had been silent for so long until very recently. The oracle had foreseen a vision in which Diana will face perilous dangerous ahead. She needs to be stronger both emotionally and physically. Diana needed to be the perfect amazon warrior both in spirit and in body.
Placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"Come daughter, we have much to discuss. It's time for your real training to start. Forget about Astra, he's just a man. Your sisters need you here, your queen needs her warrior."
Diana, still silent, looked back at her Astra's bed one last time. She still does not know who to believe. But the only one here with her at this moment is Hippolyta.
Bitterness wells up inside of her as her heart closes. Maybe Donna was right, strength is most important above all else. Only strength will keep her from feeling this pain right now. This feeling of betrayal.
Nothing else matters, not Kal-El and not any man.
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Standing alone against the mirror, Hippolyta looks gravely at the person behind it.
"I hope that this was worth it. My daughter's misery better be worth it!"
"You know why it had to be done Hippolyta, Diana needs no distractions for the upcoming war. She needs her best in order to survive. The mortal world has grown powerful and it's increasingly dangerous will even affect us. " A voice states through the mirror.
Hippolyta snorts.
"Oh how the mighty gods have to depend on my daughter to fight their battles."
The mirror shakes in slight anger before returning to normal.
"She is my daughter too Hippolyta, I do not trust that mortal man. He is too dangerous to be left around her. Diana belongs with her own people. I can only do so much in a world in which mortals no longer pray to us. My power is limited as much as I like to admit it."
Hippolyta turns away before sighing. She looks into night sky with thought.
'Astra, forgive your mother for doing this. I hope you can understand my reasoning. The world is changing, danger lurks in the shadow and Diana needs to be strong. She needs to be strong enough to take on the mantle and lead the amazons.'
Diana must become the Queen and lead her people.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AUTHOR'S THOUGHTS AND NOTES
Hey guys, I hope the story isn't progressing too slowly. I'm still trying to build upon the relationship of Diana and Kal-El and this will hopefully progress the story into the first ACT. As I mentioned earlier, the current time setting will be around WW2, and the continuity and events will start from here. DC comics has lots of things for a fanfic to write about, it's pretty cool.
Final thoughts: Kal-El is still young and he values other's people opinions on him. But don't worry, I too do not like a spineless main character. But you have to learn though hardships and mistakes otherwise it's just op character ez.
Diana: I'm going to further build upon her and make it so that it isn't just Kal-El's partner of what ever.
Donna Troy: I'm trying to set her up like a dichotomy to Diana, hopefully it will work out in the later chapters. She isn't a villain per say, but she isn't a pleasant person right now. More background on her later. Or if your curious, you can just search her up online. I'm going to have my own twist on her of course.
System/rpg: Once again, since I had some comments over this concern. I will most likely tone down this aspect. It will still function but maybe in a limited way like in some other fanfics. It wouldn't be too overbearing as you can see from my recent chapters.
Harem?Harem: Most likely not. But and a big BUT, there can be some new love interests that can probably come into the fold if it fits the narrative and flow. It's not a pump and dump kind of way and I will not go over maybe 2-3. IF I choose this route. So don't worry if you guys are worrying about this. Right now, I'm totally focused on Diana's and Kal-EL's relationship and their adventures at the moment. I don't want to say no to anybody just yet.
Yeah thanks for reading, it's pretty cool to know that some people like these things.
Hey guys, thanks for the nice comments! The chapter was a little short, but i had to keep it in focus and not diverage too much. Yeah, I do appeciate the feedbacks. They are great, I have many ideas for this fanfic since DC is literal a gold chest of interesting things. So many characters and events that a person can write a lot.