Turns out Diana did own a personal jet. And while it didn't turn invisible, it did have full VTOL capabilities, making it very convenient transportation to an island with no runways. I suspected it had more than a few things in common with the Batplane, but with its narrow arrow-head fuselage and short wings, it reminded me more as a sort of proto-Javelin from the animated series. The League really just used the Zeta Tubes to get around, but maybe I could convince them to build some more of these as a back up…
In any case, the plane gave us a comfortable ride to Paradise Island, which turned out to be in the Bermuda Triangle of all places. I always just assumed it was hiding out somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea, but it seemed the Greek gods decided to put in the effort and hide the island on an entirely different hemisphere. Diana informed me that the area was a sort of 'mystical convergence', which made it perfect for hiding. And explained the weather we were currently flying through.
"Is it completely necessary to fly through the storm?" I asked, looking out the windows at the dark clouds occasionally lit by lightning. The plane was mostly riding smooth, though there was the occasional bump of turbulence.
"Yes." Diana replied, banking the plane to the left (though I couldn't tell why). "The storms form a sort of protective screen around the island, turning any who come this way aside. You have to know the precise way to get through the storm in order to reach it."
"It's an instinct thing." Donna clarified. "The weird thing is I know where and how we have to go too. No idea why either."
"You may not have been born one of us, but as my sister you are still a child of Themyscira." Diana said. "You will always know your way home."
A few moments later we cleared the cloud wall… and suddenly the sky was bright and clear, with barely any clouds in sight. Clear ocean stretched out around us, and right before us was a large island. Most of it was rolling hills or deciduous forest, but there was also a very tall mountain that dominated the center of the landmass. It was tall enough that the top was obscured by a small ring of clouds.
Diana took the plane in, but rather than land the plane she gave us a fly over of the island first. As the plane swung around the backside of the mountain, I saw a small city nestled between the mountain and an inlet bay, made of gleaming white stones and red tiles. Even from up in the air I could see the columns supporting statues, some embellished with gold or silver. It actually reminded me of Poseidonis a little, if with less nautical themes.
"We should be meeting with a few of my friends upon landing," Diana said as she took the plane down a short ways outside of the city. "Then we go and introduce the two of you to my mother."
"Just to be clear, they know I'm coming, right?" I asked. "I'd rather not… catch them off guard."
Donna arched an eyebrow. "What, do you think they'll just attack you on sight or something?" she asked. I hesitated, which caused her to glower at me.
"There's no worry of that," Diana said quickly. "My mother is aware, and I am sure knowledge of your arrival has spread by now."
"Don't fret, Jacob," Kori said as she picked her pack off the floor. "I'm sure they'll be accepting of you."
Let's hope so, I thought as the plane settled down in the middle of a grassy field. As the plane powered down and we stepped off the opening ramp, I spied three women walking towards us. Two of them were dressed in the expected Greek tunic style, though the third was in a baggy pants/loose shirt combination. That one had her auburn hair done in a braid, and had a more tan skin tone than the other two.
"Diana!" She pulled ahead of the other two and moved forward to meet her fellow Amazon, and pulled her into a hug.
Diana hugged her back. "Artemis, good to be home. How have things been here?"
"Much the same. I know that Hippolyta could use a break from it though. Aella continues to argue for cutting all ties to Man's World, your mother tells her no, she tries again a few weeks later." Artemis pulled back and turned to Donna. "Little Moon! You should come by more often. Diana at least has the excuse of being a diplomat."
"I still have a year of school left." Donna said. "Besides, I have other responsibilities too."
"If you say so," Artemis sighed. "Now, I believe you were bringing someone new-"
That's when Kori stepped forward around the other side of Diana. "Hello! I am Koriand'r! I'm so glad Diana brought me to visit Themyscira."
Artemis straightened in surprise (Kori is a lot to take in, after all), before smiling brightly. "Well, hello to you too. You are from very far away, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am from the world of Tamaran. I came to Earth only a few months ago, but everyone has helped me feel welcome. Diana in particular has teamed up with me several times to teach me what she knows."
Artemis tilted her head to the side. "Teamed up?" She asked in a very suggestive tone.
Kori of course missed it, and plowed forward. "Yes. I've learned a lot underneath her."
Artemis looked between Kori and Diana, before a grin split her face and she shouted to the air "Finally! Ah Diana, we were starting to worry about you!"
Donna and I both facepalmed as one, and Diana's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
"Come on, don't be coy about it. It's been an endless source of gossip when you'd finally find a nice girl."
Diana caught on, "Ah, no that's not-"
"I mean, I never knew your tastes were so exotic. Not that it's a problem, she's gorgeous, but-"
"Artemis!" Diana interrupted. "I am not romantically involved with Koriand'r. "
Artemis blinked dumbly for a moment before looking at Kori, who had the audacity to look surprised at this turn of events. "Ah, no, she's not my lover. Jacob is."
For the first time since she arrived, Artemis directed her full attention at me. I raised a hand and twiddled my fingers. "Hello."
"...Hi."
My mouth pressed thin. "Do you have to sound so disappointed?"
"In my experience, men are often disappointing." She shot back. "Though, I suppose you could be better."
"Oh come on Artemis, I'm sure he's not that bad." One of the other two Amazons, the one with long blond hair in curls, stepped forward. "He's one of those superheros. Like Alan, remember?" The woman approached me with a smile, and clasped my hands with hers. "I'm Mala. Welcome to Themyscira."
I smiled in return and squeezed her hands. "I'm Jacob. And I'm as surprised to be here as anyone else."
"Yes, it's very rare that the gods take an interest in anyone outside of the island," The last Amazon walked up to me, this one even taller than the others and with angular features, and her brown hair into a high ponytail. "In fact, it's been quite some time since they have taken interest in one of us, for that matter. I'm Helen, by the way."
I gave her the same courtesy as Mala. "Pleasure to meet you. So, what do you-" I cut myself off and hesitated. Out of sheer social reflexes I was about to ask them what they did for a living but that… seemed like a bad way to voice that question. "Ah, I always wondered, how do the Amazons spend their time? Diana gives the impression that they're always training or philosophising."
Mala giggled. "Well, that's part of it I guess, but there are plenty of more mundane things we get up to. Some of us make art, some make music, others write books and plays… some of us even work as scholars, though personally I don't know why anyone would do that for fun."
"Hmm. Do any of those scholars study mathematics, perchance?" I asked. "I'm curious to see what they've gotten up to in millenia of isolation."
"...Oh no, not another one." Mala groaned. "Alexis will have a field day with you."
Helen interjected. "Well, we won't find the answer standing around here. Hippolyta has prepared a welcoming feast for you all. Are you hungry?"
Naturally, Kori spoke up before anyone else. "Yes!"
The main city of Themyscira was built around a circular bay, almost into the side of the main mountain. There were some flatter parts of the city on the opposite side from us, but the central part had a lot of verticality, with steps leading up and down the terrain. And the Amazons had made use of every inch of available space with architecture right out of antiquity. Arches and columns featured prominently on most buildings, and even the smaller ones were well constructed and maintained.
As we walked the streets though, I could see several things which I was pretty sure weren't a part of ancient Greece. For one, several of the buildings were taller than they would have been in antiquity, several reaching as tall as ten stories. There was also a lot of interconnectivity, with walkways between buildings and terraces dotting the cityscape. Down on street level... "There are a lot more aqueducts and pipes than I expected." I mulled out loud, looking at the large channel of water running along the side of the street.
Helen answered. "There are many natural waterfalls coming from the mountain, and the city is built to use them to channel fresh water wherever we need it."
"And you've had a long time to perfect it." I remarked. We had passed through one of the city gates on the way in, and the portcullis was controlled by a surprisingly advanced hydraulics system. It was a wonder to see what thousands of years worth of mechanical engineering would get you, even if you never made it to the industrial age. While Themyscria looked like a city out of a past age at first glance, a closer look let me notice all the little differences and innovations the Amazons had made.
I also noticed… well, the Amazons. They were bustling about the streets, and there was a general air of merriment about them. I spied more than a few pushing around carts of materials, and setting up decorations on columns and buildings (one of which I saw actually wall jump between two buildings to string up a banner). And the ones at work helped show the… interesting differences between the Amazons and normal women. I mean, yes, I work with superheroines all the time, but this was still the first time I had been in the presence of such a large volume of statuesque women.
"You are staring quite a bit at my sisters," Artemis remarked, her tone full of suspicion.
"They're staring at me quite a bit too." I replied. I found it a little amusing how I was getting stared at more here than back in my home city, but I guess the fact they hadn't seen a man in their homeland in at least a few decades would do that. Not to mention my exotic appearance and modern clothes. The looks were mostly curious ones, though I did spy one or two looks of intense interest.
That said, Kori was drawing a lot more attention than I was. No one approached our little group, but I saw several of the Amazons turn their head on a swivel to stare at her. Not surprising, considering that's often what happens back home too. By the look of it, I may have to ward off some potential suitors before we leave here.
Kori picked this moment to be helpful. "It's fine. I believe the Amazons are what Jacob considers his 'type'. So, he is looking on them most favorably."
My shoulders sagged in defeat, and I just gave a helpless shrug at the stares I got. "Personally, I blame Lucy Lawless."
Lucky for me I didn't have to clarify that statement, as we then came to a short flight of steps leading to a building very reminiscent of the Parthenon. A rectangular structure with columns all around the outside, the Amazons coming out of it were dressed in longer and more formal robes than the rest I had seen so far,
And waiting at the top of the steps was Queen Hippolyta. I had never seen the woman before, but considering she had a woman behind her decked out in armor standing guard, and she wore a circlet similar to Diana's on her head, I think it was a safe bet. She also bore a familial resemblance to Diana, with similar dark hair and face shape. I wasn't quite sure how that worked, but what did I know about divine clay babies.
We reached the top of the stairs, and Wonder Woman kneeled, with the rest of us following suit. "I have returned from Man's World." She said.
"Rise, and be welcome home." Hippolyta replied, and as Diana rose a much less formal smile crossed her face and she stepped forward to embrace her. "It's good to see you, daughters." She pulled away and embraced Donna. "It's always a pleasure for you to be with us again. How are things in their world?"
"Much the same," Diana said. "A lot of spinning plates, as my colleagues like to say, but we're keeping on top of it." She looked back at Kori and me. "And we've gotten some more help along the way."
Hippolyta focused on Kori, regarding her with an expression that was equal parts warm and curious."You are the one from another world, I presume. Though from what my daughter has told me your people are not so different from our own."
"Indeed." Kori said brightly. "Of all the places on Earth I have visited, I think this is the one that reminds me of home the most. Something about this city and it's people are almost achingly familiar."
"Well, I look forward to showing you all Themyscira has to offer." She then looked towards me. She took a moment to take in my appearance before saying "And this must be the man who has gotten the attention of the God of the Forge."
"Jacob Morgan, at your service." I nodded. "Though I couldn't tell you how I got his attention. I've never prayed to him or anything of the like."
"Hephaestus has his ways, it would seem." She mused, the woman still trying to figure out what to make of me.
I paused before I continued. "I feel I should ask, is there a set time when I'm supposed to meet Hephaestus? Should I get going now or…?"
"Unless you have received specific instructions that I have not, I don't see a need," Hippolyta said. "When I was informed of your invitation, I was told that he would inform you of when to see him when you arrived." She looked around expectantly for a moment before she looked back at me with a smile. "It seems the gods wish for us to be good hosts first. Please, come and eat. You must have had a long journey."
Lunch was a pleasant affair, the queen having prepared just short of a feast for our little group (which Kori took care of most of it). The ladies took care of most of the talking, varying between Diana and Donna letting their mother know the details of what they've been up to, and Kori talking about Tamaran. Given how animated she got, it was easy for me to let her take all the attention. It was an old habit to slip into, but I was a little self conscious about my hosts noticing I wasn't eating.
Afterwards Hippolyta suggested we take a tour of the city, asking what we'd like to see first. Which is when Artemis interjected. "I know exactly what you'd like to see: The Grand Arena. The Tourney proper won't start until tomorrow, but there should be some exhibition matches today."
"Oh, that does sound fun!" Kori exclaimed. "I have yet to see any sports that can contend with Tamaranian contests. I've tried watching human sports but… well, they try their best, I'm sure."
I felt like I should be offended by that, but I guess when your species can fly and bench press a semi-truck, football just isn't very exciting.
Artemis gave a coy smile. "Well, let's see if we can fix that."
The way to the Arena took us through a wide avenue, and the buildings that lined either side were larger and more embellished than most of the others I had seen. It only took a cursory glance at the statutes and frescos adorning them to realize they were temples. I could make out images of Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, and the other members of the Dodekatheon. It was clear that the temples dedicated to the female gods were much more popular among the Amazons, judging by how many more seemed to be going in and out of them. That said, each temple had a priestess out front, directing some kind of service. "Is it always this lively?"
"Not usually, no." Artemis said. "But the Autumn Tourney is such a time when we give the gods particular praise."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Tournaments are a regular staple of our festivals, though they vary in grandeur depending on the season." She looked to Kori. "A shame you're not seeing our Summer Tourney. Among other events it's when we host the Melee. The sight of hundreds of Amazons fighting is truly something to behold."
"So, the Autumn Tourney…?" I prompted.
She gestured. "It's more of a dedication to the Gods and all they have done for us." She clarified. "The matches are structured as reenactments of great moments in our history. Sometimes in the past there were special events, in which one of our own attempted a Trial."
I heard the capitalization in that last word. "Trial?"
"Set out by a god, in exchange for a boon or favor. Quite a powerful thing. Though it has been some time since we've had one of those."
Kori took an interest. "Why is that?"
She paused for a moment before she continued. "Well, it has been a long time since an Amazon has truly wanted something that much. These Trials are not trivial, there is a real risk of grievous wounds or permanent injury. And the gods are not fond of… frivolous requests."
"Diana!" We all turned to the source of the new voice, and found a priestess hustling towards us. She was very pale and had short blonde hair under her hood, and she smiled brightly as she approached us. "I had hoped you'd be back in time. Can I expect you at the dedication for Athena tomorrow?"
Diana smiled back. "Of course, Eudia. However, for now I'm helping to play host to guests." She gestured to myself and Kori.
"Oh my," the woman muttered as she looked between the two of us. She regained her composure quickly though, focused on Kori before saying "Far be it from me to intrude, but have you considered worshiping Athena?"
"I vaguely remember Diana telling me about her," Kori mused. "It's she your Goddess of Wisdom?"
I'm starting to feel a little left out, I thought as I watched the priestess launch into her recruitment pitch. On the other hand, I almost have to admire the woman's hustle.
While the priestess talked, I found my gaze drifting to a line of statues behind us, each one depicting an Amazon in a dramatic pose of some sort. What caught my eye was that one in the middle seemed to be missing; there was a base in that spot just like all the others around it, but there was no statue. Still under construction? I walked towards them, admiring just how lifelike the statues looked. The marble had the mastercraft touch of looking as soft as flesh, and they were all life sized.
I was then struck by a rather mischievous thought.
I hesitated for a moment. Then, in a brief instant when no one was looking, I stepped onto the empty base, posed, and changed my Mask.
At first, no one noticed, my party still listening to the priestess's speech. Then a pair of women walked right in front of me, dressed in hunter leathers and hauling a giant boar on a log between them. The woman in front, a dark skinned woman with her hair in a braid, abruptly stopped and stared when she saw me. The woman in back, pale with almost blue-black waves of hair, yelped as she suddenly found herself stopped. "Lydia, warn me when you're about to stop like that!"
"Carya, have you seen that statute before?" the now named Lydia asked.
The other woman peered at me. "Oh, did Kaisa finish her latest… wait, a man? I didn't think she made those."
"Clearly she does… and it looks incredible too, the features are immaculate. Not sure about that pose though. Seems almost… menacing."
Carya shook her head. "No, clearly it's supposed to be confrontational, challenging even." A beat. "Do you think it's someone specific? Maybe Apollo?"
"He would be the type to commission something like this," Lydia conceded. "I'm not sure that's what he looks like though." She shrugged. "I'll ask Kaisa the next time I see her. If nothing else, I'd like to know what it's named."
"Caesar Zeppeli faces the Pillar Men." The two women turned their head to see Kori approaching, stiffening in surprise at the sight of her. She walked past them and looked at me, eyes tracing up and down my form. "I didn't know you could make your clothes still like that."
I had changed my clothes to something closer to a Greek tunic, but I had also added a longer robe that I was in mid-discard, falling partway down my back. Both were frozen as if billowing in the wind, and were framed by my advancing stance and hand held open in front of my face. Of course, all of it (including my skin), had changed color and texture to match the marble of the statutes around me.
I shrugged, my clothes remaining motionless. "It's not too hard actually, I've just never had to do it until now."
The two women almost jumped at my movement. "Wha-what in Tartarus is going on?! Who are you people?!"
"It seems our visitors are having a bit of fun." Hippolyta ambled over to our procession, a bemused smile playing over her face. "Sisters, this is Koriand'r and Jacob, heroes from Man's World. They will be our guests for a few days." She then looked at me. "I wasn't aware you had such talents."
"I have many 'talents'," I said as I shifted back to my normal coloration, though I kept the outfit. "It would be difficult to describe the specifics, but the short of it is that I'm a shapeshifter." I raised a hand and formed it into the shape of a blacksmith's hammer, and back again. I noted with some pleasure that aside from some odd texting of my skin, it only took a few seconds for my hand to look mostly human. I was getting better at that. Still... "It takes me a while to turn fully back to human, so you'll have to forgive me for not giving a full body demonstration."
"You are underselling yourself," Kori said. "You can also fly, cast lightning and lasers, command machines… I believe that someday the list of what you can't do will be the shorter one."
"That's… almost unbelievable." Artemis said. "What else are you capable of?"
"I can also de-pants a woman at one hundred yards with just a suggestive waggle of my eyebrows." I said flatly. And waggled my eyebrows for good measure.
There was a sudden gust of wind… and Artemis's pants suddenly dropped to the ground.
Everyone just stopped and stared for a moment before they slowly turned towards me (Artemis in particular had murder in her eyes). I frantically waved my arms in front of me. "It wasn't me! I swear to god it wasn't me!"
Everyone looked at me with various levels of doubt, except for Diana. She looked at me for a long moment… before she let out a suffering sigh and looked upwards. "Hermes!"
"Oh come on, Diana." I suddenly felt someone leaning against me, and I nearly jumped when I found it was a lean, tan man wearing a simple tunic and a very distinctive winged cap. "You can't expect him to give a line like that and for me to do nothing." He looked at me and nodded. "Nice outfit."
"Lord Hermes," Hippolya said, and nodded her head in deference. Several of the Amazons nearby caught on and followed suit. Though I could see a bit of… reluctance on a few of their faces. Artemis in particular was glaring daggers at him as she pulled up her pants. "Your presence honors us. You're antics… less so."
He clutched at his chest in mock hurt."Why must my presence always be met with such scorn? You wouldn't sass Athena like that."
"Athena would not give us cause." Diana folded her arms across her chest. "What brings you here today?"
"What, I can't visit my favorite person when she comes home?" He said with a smirk. The steady look he got in return caused the god to sigh. "Fine fine, work first." He stopped leaning against my shoulder and reached into the messenger bag at his hip. Stepping in front of me, he pulled out a scroll and unfurled it.
In that moment he… changed. Not in a way I could see, but he seemed to get bigger, take up more of the street. Hermes seemed just a little more real than everything else around him, and when he spoke next all other sounds fell away.
"Hephestus bids you welcome, Jacob Morgan." Hermes said. "He will receive you in his forge tomorrow at noon. Till then, enjoy Themyscira." He rolled up the scroll, and the god 'shrunk' back down to a normal person again.. "He could have just left a letter the first time he sent me, but that's what it's like being the Messenger of the Gods. No respect for my time management."
"R-right," I said, still trying to wrap my head around meeting a Greek god so suddenly. "So… forgive my ignorance, but where is his forge?" I asked. "Do you mean in the temple over there, or-"
"Oh no, his forge," Hermes pointed up at the mountain, towards the ring of clouds at the top. "Up on Olympus. Well, a bit lower, in the mountain, but you get the idea. Don't worry, you'll figure it out."