15: Chapter 14: The Birth of Wonder Woman!
15: Chapter 14: The Birth of Wonder Woman!
The sea breeze, carrying the unique coolness of the night, swept through the palace corridors.
Only the last remnants of food remained on the exquisite silver platter, evidence of the lavish dinner that had just concluded.
Arthas contentedly patted his round little belly and let out a comfortable sigh.
Diana sat opposite him, a doting smile lingering at the corner of her mouth as she watched his utterly unselfconscious demeanor.
She reached for a napkin from the table, leaned over, and gently wiped the sauce from the corner of Arthas’s mouth.
“Are you full, Little Prince?” Diana’s voice sounded exceptionally gentle in the night, like waves lapping against the shore.
Arthas nodded obediently, his large amber eyes sparkling in the candlelight.
“I’m full!
That Roasted Whole Lamb was absolutely delicious!” “It was even more tender than the roasted meats in Asgard!” “I wish I could eat it every day from now on.” As he spoke, he even licked his lips with lingering relish, his greedy little expression making one want to pinch his cheeks.
Diana smiled, stood up, and straightened her skirt.
She glanced out the window at the now completely dark sky, her expression turning slightly more serious.
“Alright, now that you’re full, it’s time to attend to serious matters.” “The Queen Mother is waiting for me in her Private Chambers.
I must go.” “Tonight…
is very important for me.” A light that was both expectant and nervous flickered in her eyes—a longing for the truth about to be revealed.
Arthas was an exceptionally intelligent child; he naturally discerned the emotions in Diana’s gaze.
He didn’t cling to her like an ordinary child would, nor did he insist on following to see the commotion.
On the contrary, he very sensibly jumped down from his chair and stood before Diana.
“Then go quickly, sister.
Don’t keep Queen Sister waiting.” “I’ll just wander around here a bit to help my digestion.” “The scenery here is so beautiful, I haven’t had my fill of it yet.” “I’ll wait for you obediently in the garden and won’t run off anywhere.” He looked up, his delicate little face full of sincerity and obedience.
Diana looked at the little boy in front of her.
He was only seven, a prince of noble status, yet he always behaved so understandingly.
Over these past few days together, she found herself genuinely liking this ‘little brother’ who had fallen from the sky more and more.
Not only was he powerful, but his maturity and thoughtfulness beyond his years always managed to touch the softest part of her heart in the most unexpected moments.
An indescribable feeling of affection welled up from within her.
She couldn’t hold back—or rather, she didn’t want to hold back at all.
She bent down, cupped Arthas’s chubby little face in both hands.
“So good.” This praise came from the bottom of her heart.
Immediately after, she gently planted a kiss on Arthas’s smooth forehead.
“Mwah.” The sound was very soft, the touch very gentle, carrying a faint hint of lavender fragrance.
This kiss happened so naturally.
It was like an older sister doting on her younger brother, like an elder rewarding a junior.
There was no hint of sensuality, no complex meanings.
At least at this moment, neither Diana, who performed the action, nor Arthas, who received the kiss, thought anything more of it.
Diana simply wanted to express her fondness.
As for Arthas…
Arthas only felt a cool sensation on his forehead, followed by a wave of warm breath.
Then, the pink power within his chest, the one named “Echo of Love,” trembled like a plucked harp string.
“Thump.” It emitted an extremely crisp, vibrating note that only he could hear.
The feeling was strange.
Not like the intense throbbing before, but a tingling, numbing electric current that instantly spread throughout his entire body.
It made his whole body stiffen for a moment, his little face instantly flushing bright red.
“Alright, I’m off.” Diana didn’t notice Arthas’s odd reaction, or if she did, she simply assumed he was shy.
She straightened up, ruffled Arthas’s hair, making his already somewhat messy hairstyle look even more like a bird’s nest.
Then, with a relaxed and cheerful smile, she turned and walked in the direction of Hippolyta’s Private Chambers.
Her steps were light yet firm, her red skirt swaying behind her, tracing a beautiful arc.
Arthas stood where he was, watching her figure gradually disappear into the night.
He raised his hand and touched his own forehead.
That warm sensation seemed to linger there.
“Strange…” He muttered to himself, feeling the pink power within him still faintly trembling.
“Is this…
like being recharged?” “My heartbeat seems to be twice as fast as usual…” “But…
it doesn’t feel bad?” He shook his head, trying to dispel those strange thoughts, then, with his hands behind his back, began strolling around the Imperial Garden like a little old man.
However, the upward curve of his mouth simply wouldn’t go down.
Hippolyta’s Private Chambers were located in the deepest part of the palace, also the highest point.
There were no guards here, only a few Eternal Lamps emitting a tranquil glow.
Diana stood before the massive stone door carved with intricate patterns and took a deep breath.
She could feel her heart beating faster.
The fear of the unknown intertwined with the desire for the truth, making her palms slightly sweaty.
“Come in, Diana.” Hippolyta’s calm voice came from inside the door.
Diana pushed the door open and entered.
Not many lamps were lit inside the chambers; the light was somewhat dim.
Hippolyta stood with her back to the door, facing a huge tapestry.
The tapestry was embroidered with images of the Olympian gods.
In the most prominent position was a majestic man holding a thunderbolt, seated high upon a throne.
That was the King of the Gods, Zeus.
Hearing the footsteps, Hippolyta turned around.
Her expression was calm, lacking the authority of the daytime, replaced by a mother’s unique gentleness and…
weariness.
“Sit.” She pointed to the Soft Couch beside her.
Diana did as told and sat down, placing her hands on her knees, her posture as straight as a soldier undergoing inspection.
Her gaze was fixed intently on her mother, awaiting the verdict.
Hippolyta did not speak directly.
She walked to the window, pushed it open, and let the night breeze in.
Looking out at the bright, clear moon, her voice seemed distant.
“Diana, do you remember the story?” “About how you came to be.” “I molded a doll from the clay by the sea, prayed to the gods, and the gods gave life to that doll…” “That’s the bedtime story I told you countless times.” “I remember.” Diana nodded, her voice somewhat hoarse.
“I believed it wholeheartedly when I was very young.” “But later…” “Later, I found that no matter how much I rolled around in the mud, my wounds would heal.” “My strength was greater than the strongest bull on the island.” “I could run fast enough to catch the wind.” “If I were truly made of clay, I would have shattered long ago.” Hippolyta turned and looked into her daughter’s bright eyes.
Those eyes no longer held confusion, only resolve.
“Yes.” “Such a perfect body cannot be made from clay.” “Such a powerful soul cannot be borne by clay.” “That story is a lie.” “A well-meaning, yet most helpless lie.” Hippolyta walked over, sat beside Diana, and took her hand.
Those hands were warm and strong.
“You are not a clay doll.” “You are my daughter.” “The child I carried for ten months and gave birth to in pain and joy.” “And your father…” Here, Hippolyta paused.
That name, the one that had once brought her endless glory and endless pain.
On this quiet night, it was finally spoken again.
“…is the King of the Gods.” “The Master of Thunder.” “The ruler of Olympus.” “Zeus.” Although she had mentally prepared herself.
Hearing that name spoken from her mother’s lips, Diana still felt a tingling sensation on her scalp.
Zeus.
That supreme being from myth.
The divine king worshipped by the Amazons.
Was actually her father?
“Zeus…” Diana murmured, feeling the name both distant and unfamiliar.
“So I…” “I am a demigod?” “Is this the source of my power?” “Is this also why I have Divine Power?” All her questions found their answers at this moment.
All the puzzle pieces fit together perfectly.
“Yes.” Hippolyta nodded, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
“You inherited his bloodline.” “Flowing in your veins is one of the most ancient, most powerful forces in this world.” “Divine Power.” “It is a gift, and also a curse.” She sighed softly, stroking Diana’s hair.
“To possess power means to bear responsibility.” “The bloodline of Zeus is destined not to be ordinary.” “You were not born to grow old on this isolated island.” “Your fate, from the moment you were born, has been intertwined with the fate of this world, of all humanity, and even of the gods themselves.” Hippolyta stood up and began to pace slowly around the room.
Her voice became low and powerful.
“To uphold justice and peace in the mortal world.” “To fight against the evil forces that seek to destroy the world.” “To protect the weak, to judge the wicked.” “This is your responsibility.” “This is the cross that a Child of the Gods must bear.” “But…” Her footsteps stopped.
She stood with her back to Diana, her shoulders trembling slightly.
“…this is also what I fear most.” “As a queen, I wish for the Amazons to have a powerful heir, a protector who can guard Paradise Island.” “But as a mother…” “…I only wish for my daughter to be safe and happy.” “I don’t want her to face those terrible enemies, to shed blood, to be injured, or even to sacrifice herself.” “The world outside is too dangerous.” “Although the Twilight of the Gods has passed, new threats have never ceased.” “The God of War, Ares, has always been watching the mortal world; all sorts of monsters lurk in the darkness.” “If you leave Paradise Island, if you expose your identity…” “You will face endless battles.” “You will see the ugliness of human nature; you will experience betrayal and pain.” “So I fabricated that lie.” “I wanted you to believe you were just a mortal, just an ordinary Amazon.” “I wanted to hide you here, in this Eden blessed by the gods.” “To let you forever be that carefree little princess.” Hippolyta turned around, tears glistening in her eyes.
It was the most vulnerable, most genuine side of a mother.
“But…” “I also knew it was futile.” “A fledgling eagle must eventually spread its wings; a lion must eventually return to the plains.” “Your talent cannot be hidden.” “Your bloodline calls out for battle.” “If I don’t let you grow strong, if I don’t teach you how to fight…” “…when true danger comes one day, you will only become more fragile, more helpless.” “This is my contradiction.” “I want to protect you, yet I have no choice but to push you onto the battlefield.” That’s why I had Antiope train you.
I instructed her to hold you to the most rigorous standards.
Even stricter than any other Amazonian Warrior.
Because I didn’t just want you to survive.
I wanted you to become the strongest.
Only the strongest can survive in this cruel world.
A long silence fell in the room.
Only the sound of the wind outside gently echoed.
Diana sat there, digesting this massive amount of information.
She looked at her mother’s slightly pale face, at those eyes filled with love and worry.
The tiny bit of resentment born from the lie completely vanished from her heart.
So…
all of this was for me.
Even that seemingly ridiculous clay doll story held a mother’s deepest love within it.
The helplessness and pain of wanting to shelter your child under your wing, yet having to let go.
At this moment, it deeply touched Diana’s heart.
Diana stood up.
She didn’t cry, nor did she appear weak.
On the contrary, her eyes became clearer and more resolute than ever before.
It was a gaze that had undergone a baptism.
She walked up to Hippolyta, reached out, and gently embraced this mother who had silently borne everything.
“Thank you, Mother.” Her voice was calm and powerful.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.” “I understand your good intentions now.” “But, I have grown up.” “I am not afraid of danger, nor am I afraid of battle.” “Because I am an Amazon, your daughter, and also…
the daughter of Zeus.” Diana released the embrace and took a step back.
She looked directly into Hippolyta’s eyes, her words firm and resonant.
“If there is a responsibility I must bear, I will bear it.” “If there is an enemy I must face, I will face them.” “Whether it’s Ares, or any other monster.” “I will not run away.” “Because running away is not the Amazon way, nor is it the path I will walk.” “I want to see the outside world.” “I want to use my strength to protect those who need protection.” “Just as you taught me.” “This is the fate I desire.” “Mother, will you believe in me?” Hippolyta looked at her daughter, who now stood half a head taller than her.
She looked at the heroic aura and radiance emanating from that young face.
It was as if she was seeing her younger self, even more dazzling than she had been back then.
At that moment, the final stone in her heart settled.
The worry that had been suppressed all along finally transformed into overflowing relief and pride.
She smiled.
A smile so relaxed, so proud.
“Very good.” She reached out and firmly patted Diana’s shoulder.
“Truly my daughter.” “Truly the Princess of Paradise Island.” “You are braver, stronger than I imagined.” “Since you have made your choice,” “then, it is time I give you what is rightfully yours.” Hippolyta turned and walked to the other side of the room.
It was a seemingly ordinary stone wall behind a tapestry.
She reached out and pressed a hidden mechanism on the wall.
“Clunk, clunk, clunk…” With a series of dull mechanical sounds, the stone wall slowly parted to the sides, revealing a secret passage leading underground.
The passage didn’t feel dark or damp; instead, it emitted a faint golden light.
“Follow me.” Hippolyta stepped in first.
Diana followed closely behind without hesitation.
It was a small chamber with glowing gems embedded in the surrounding walls.
And in the very center of the chamber stood a circular stone platform.
On the platform, a set of equipment lay quietly displayed.
Bathed in the light of the gems, the set of equipment exuded a breathtaking sense of sanctity.
“This is…” Diana stopped in her tracks, her breath catching instantly.
Her gaze was firmly captured by the equipment, unable to look away.
It was a red breastplate, engraved with a golden eagle totem.
The red was like raging flames, like fresh blood, brimming with vitality and the passion for battle.
The golden edges flowed with the cold, metallic sheen unique to metal under the light, yet carried a noble dignity.
Beneath the breastplate was a blue short skirt.
The blue was as deep as the night sky, dotted with a few silvery-white stars.
As if an entire starry sky had been cut out and draped upon her.
On either side of the armor lay a pair of silver bracers.
This was not ordinary silver, but a special metal gleaming with a cold light.
They were covered in ancient runes, which seemed almost alive, with faint streams of light flowing within.
And behind the armor hung a round shield and a longsword.
The round shield was engraved with an Amazon totem, heavy and solid.
The longsword had a slender blade, cold and sharp, clearly a divine weapon capable of cutting hair with a touch.
Most eye-catching was a coiled golden rope hanging nearby.
It lay there quietly, yet emitted the purest light.
The light was not blinding, but it could illuminate the deepest darkness in one’s heart.
“This is what I prepared for you.” Hippolyta walked to the platform, her fingers gently stroking the cool armor.
“A long, long time ago, when the gods still walked among us,” “I asked the god of fire, Hephaestus, to forge this set of equipment for you.” “This breastplate is named [Starlight Radiance].
It can withstand most physical and magical attacks.” “Those bracers are the [bracelets of submission].” “They were forged from shards of Zeus’s Aegis, indestructible.” “When we cross our arms, they can channel Divine Power, releasing shockwaves powerful enough to shatter mountains.” “They are your strongest shield, your final line of defense.” Hippolyta picked up the longsword and offered it to Diana.
“This sword is named [Godslayer].” “Although its true power needs your divine energy to awaken,” “in the mortal world, it remains an unbreakable, sharp weapon.” “It can cut through steel, and it can cut through shackles.” Then, she pointed at the coiled golden rope.
Her tone became especially solemn.
“And this, is the [Lasso of Truth].” “It was woven from the golden girdle of Gaea, the Earth Goddess.
Not only is it unbreakable,” “but more importantly, anyone bound by it cannot tell a lie.” “It can force enemies to reveal the truth, and it can help you see the reality behind the fog.” “It is the embodiment of justice, the manifestation of truth.” Diana reached out, trembling, and took the sword.
Then she gently touched the red breastplate.
A feeling of blood connection spontaneously arose.
As if these cold metals had been waiting for her all along, waiting for this very moment.
They belonged to her.
They were battle robes tailored just for her.
“Put it on.” Hippolyta took a step back, her gaze gentle and encouraging.
“Put it on, and go to meet your destiny.” “Go become the hero you want to be.” “Wonder Woman!” Diana took a deep breath and nodded.
She took off her ordinary white dress.
In this chamber, with only her mother present, she began to don the equipment piece by piece.
First, the blue starry short skirt, fitting snugly around her long legs.
Then, the red and gold boots, the kind that treads through thorns.
Next was the red eagle breastplate.
The moment the breastplate clasped shut, it felt as if a surge of power instantly infused her body.
She felt herself standing taller, stronger.
Putting on the pair of bracelets of submission, their cool touch cleared her mind.
Finally, she picked up the golden tiara.
It was a tiara with a red five-pointed star, symbolizing her status as an Amazon princess.
The moment Diana placed the tiara upon her forehead, the very aura of the chamber changed.
The once naive, somewhat impulsive, somewhat confused little girl was gone.
Standing there was a true Valkyrie.
The red, blue, and gold armor shimmered brilliantly under the light.
Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, stirring slightly in the breeze.
In those blue eyes, an unquenchable fire burned.
Her beauty was no longer merely physical; it was a stunning beauty filled with power, justice, and divinity.
She was so dazzling, so indomitable.
As if just by standing there, all the world’s evils would retreat on their own.
Hippolyta looked at her daughter, and tears finally streamed down her face.
They were tears of joy, but also tears of reluctance.
“So beautiful.” She said, her voice choked.
“You are like a goddess.” “No, you are a goddess.” Diana looked at her reflection in the mirror, also feeling as if a lifetime had passed.
She clenched her fist, feeling the sense of power the armor brought.
Then, she turned and gave Hippolyta a radiant smile.
“Thank you, Mother.” “I will wear this, and make you proud.” “I will let the whole world know.” “The Amazons have not vanished.” “And justice has never been absent.” “Go now.” Hippolyta wiped her tears and regained her queenly composure.
“Go, with your honor.” “But before that…” She seemed to remember something, a playful smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.
“I think you should first go see that little guy still waiting for you in the garden.” “Let him see you as you are now.” “I believe, when that kid sees you like this,” “his jaw will drop enough to fit an apple.” Hearing Arthas’s name, the divinity on Diana’s face faded slightly, revealing a hint of a girl’s playfulness.
“I was just thinking of giving him a surprise.” “I wonder if he’ll be startled?” “Or…
will he spout some more embarrassing flattery?” Thinking of this, she grew impatient.
She took the Lasso of Truth and hung it at her waist, then slung the sword and shield on her back.
“Then I’ll go first, Mother!” With that, she shot out of the chamber like a red-and-blue bolt of lightning.
Hippolyta looked at the empty doorway and sighed softly.
But this time, the sigh held no heaviness.
Only a sense of release.
“Go, my daughter.” “Go and fly.” “You have your own sky, you have your own wind.” “And I…” “I will be here, always watching over you.” “Until the day of your triumphant return.” The chamber door slowly closed.
But the last ray of golden light seeping through the crack seemed to herald the dawn of a whole new era.
An era belonging to Wonder Woman.
An era where gods and heroes dance together.