The Superman & Wonder Woman Fan Archive

CHAPTER SIX

In anticipation of their Princess’ return, Themyscira’s beach was noisy and crowded, especially so as it was a declared feast day the next day and today, was Christmas Eve. Everyone was full of joy as they anticipated the holiday ahead. The success of the new parliament added to the bonhomie. Diana knew that the Amazons welcomed the change and the chance to govern themselves.

Her mother and sisters crowded around her, hugging her, kissing her, welcoming her with cries of joy all at once. Several started to talk to her at the same time. Laughing, Diana put up her hands. ‘Just a minute,’ and looking at Superman, she drew him forward to stand next to her. ‘All of you know Superman, my colleague and partner of several missions. He is no stranger to Themyscira.’

Hippolyta came forward now, ‘Welcome, Superman’ she said, ‘Friend of my daughter, and Friend of Themyscira.’ And so saying, Hippolyta kissed Superman on either cheek.

Diana frowned, her mother was being too welcoming. Still, even as she turned away to meet Artemis, who had a knowing smirk on her face, her heart was happy that Kal had been welcomed so warmly by those who meant so much to her.

Much later, after they had eaten and were relaxing, the Amazons announced a show of skill and talent. As the Queen and her guests sat around in a circle, the Amazon warriors demonstrated their finest skills at martial arts. And then, daringly, Artemis stepped forward and bowing to Superman, invited him to a duel.

Diana winced as she glanced sideways at Superman, knowing from experience that he hated anything resembling a duel at the best of times. It was only the fact that he could lose his powers (under a red sun, effects of magic, kryptonite, etc) that had caused him to ask Bruce to spar and train with him. While she had faced combat with him, she herself had never actually faced him as an opponent in battle. He had always refused to train with her.

And here was Artemis, without any of Diana’s powers asking the most powerful man in the world to spar with her. Highly skilled, highly trained as much as Diana herself, Artemis could not hope to hold her own against Superman. Whatever was Artemis thinking of? As Diana thought furiously of a way to get Artemis out of the situation, she was surprised to see Superman nod and rising, step out into the arena.

Artemis smiled mockingly and stepped backwards, offering Superman his choice of weapons. They began with battle axes, then onto spears, and maces, before reaching swords. Being evenly matched in skill, the battle was fierce, and though Diana sensed that Superman was holding back his full powers and strength, he seemed to be concentrating on Artemis moves. Each time the weapons touched a body, they shattered on impact, and a new type of weapon was chosen. Diana's eyes narrowed from the in­tense concentration she had to exert to just keep following their moves.

As Diana watched them, she realized that Superman was unintentionally signaling his next move. Artemis was too well trained not to notice that and take advantage. Diana opened her mouth to warn Superman, when Artemis charged Superman suddenly, who instinctively turned sharply to avoid the head-on charge.  The movement brought them closer to Diana, who was too taken up with the duel, to notice anything else.

There was a bumping and grinding noise at the same time, and a thud as Superman fell to the ground with Artemis on top of him and they both fell on top of Diana.

Diana was badly shaken for several minutes, breathless, trembling all over. As she stood up and dusted herself off, she helped Artemis to her feet. And then she re­alized Superman hadn't made a sound since the fall. She turned slowly to look at him, almost afraid of what she might see. She blanched even more as she saw Superman was unconscious, a trickle of blood coming from one side of his mouth.

Oh Hera, Oh Athena, please let him be all right, Diana prayed as she desperately tried to rouse Superman. It had taken only seconds for her to quickly move out from under the bodies and to stand up. Artemis had done the same. Both had expected Superman to bounce up, invulnerable as he was.  What they had forgotten was that Superman was vulnerable to magic. While the weapons shattered on impact, the whole island was magical and Superman had hit the ground head first, banging it pretty hard against the ground, hurting himself and opening up a head wound.

Hippolyta had already ordered that Superman be taken to the healing centre on the island for his wound to be tended. Diana watched mutely as the Amazons sprang into motion all over. As they gingerly tried to move him onto the stretcher, she realized that he had a lump on his forehead that seemed to be very large. And he was still unconscious.

Oh, Hera, was he seriously injured?

She followed the Amazon medical team into the healing centre and watched as they carefully checked all vital signs. While they gave him the all clear, the healers did not know why the purple ray would not work on Superman. It was Magala who had the bright idea of exposing Superman to the yellow sun’s rays. Diana agreed, she had seen the near miraculous recuperative powers Superman’s body under the light of the yellow sun in combat earlier. She knew that he drew his energy from the sun.

There was only one thing to do. Lifting up the unconscious Superman into her arms, she flew up, out of the Themysciran atmospheric layer and towards patriarch’s world.

She could not fly out into space and close to the sun like Superman, but she was able to find a place on earth that had daylight. And then she simply cradled Superman in her arms and pulled him up against her as she buried her face against his hair. 'Oh, Kal, wake up.'

She trembled uncontrollably, tears falling unheeded down her cheeks. 'Please, Kal, wake up. Oh, Hera, what am I going to do? What am I going to do?'

'I don't like salt,' he murmured gruffly against her.

Diana moved back slightly to look down at him wonderingly. 'You're alive!'

But her elation was short-lived as she re­alized he was also delirious; he had to be. It must be that bang on the head. Lord knew what damage it had done.

She stared into Superman's eyes. Were the pupils supposed to be dilated or not dilated if you were suffering from shock? And—

'What are you doing now?' he demanded ir­ritably, straightening up and putting a tentative hand to his lip and chin, swearing profusely when the hand came away covered in blood.

'Checking your eyes,' Diana answered dis­tractedly, still trying to remember whether his eyes should be dilated or not. 'And you shouldn't get excited in your condition,' she tried to soothe his temper as he angrily wiped the blood away with his cape.

'What condition?' he said, as flexed his shoulders experimentally, obviously satisfied with the result as he began to test his limbs.

'And you've chosen a fine time to decide to gaze into my eyes!'

He stood up and began to walk around in the sun, feeling the cells of his body begin to respond to the power of the yellow suns rays, to feel the energy coursing through him.

Diana scrambled after him. 'And you really should sit down! Who knows what damage you've done to yourself?' she fumed worriedly.

'The damage who's done?' He turned and looked at her. 'I wasn't the one who charged me in what was supposed to be a friendly duel.'

Had she really been overjoyed a few mo­ments ago when she'd realized he was still alive? Of course she had, but did he have to regain consciousness as the same single-minded,  super-human—

'But laying the blame on anyone doesn't alter the fact that I am feeling a little weak. It will take some time before I am my full powers again.' Superman looked about them disapprovingly.  He seemed lucid now—in fact he seemed more than lucid!—and yet he had been talking so strangely when he came around…

'I think the most important thing at the moment is to get you to a doctor, may be the Science Labs —'

'Doctor?' he repeated skeptically. 'I don't need to see a doctor for this little bump on the—'

'It isn't only the bump,' Diana cut in firmly. 'It's the bleeding from the mouth that worries me. Who knows what internal damage you've done? Your speech was completely disorien­tated when you regained consciousness—'

'My dear Diana,' he interrupted with forceful impatience, 'the bleeding from the mouth can be explained by the fact that my tongue is hurting from the deep gash it has down the side of it where I bit into it on impact—that's the only internal damage I have. As for what I was saying when I regained con­sciousness—if you remember, you were crying all over me, and it was your tears that were salty.'

Diana stared at him disbelievingly. She could not believe he was behaving in this uncharacteristic manner. He managed to make her concern sound childish and unnecessary. Great Hera, it was unnecessary; this man, this Superman didn't need anyone's concern. And in future he wasn't going to get any from her!

'I'm so sorry,' she said with only thinly dis­guised sarcasm. 'The next time, I'll just sit by and let you bleed to death!'

'There won't be any next time,' he rasped. 'Because in future I'll be more careful around an Amazon.'