Lightning tore the sky open.
John transformed into his peak form and flew toward the object at a blinding speed.
The object was falling fast, trailing fire and broken light as it tore through the upper air. At first glance it looked like a meteor, but John could feel the divine energy. He focused and saw that it was actually a woman.
"Woman?" he muttered, and accelerated. 'Her energy is similar to Diana's. Who is she? Her mom?'
He reached her just before she hit terminal velocity.
John caught her midair, wrapping one arm around her torso as he redirected their momentum upward. The sudden stop sent a massive shockwave rippling outward, splitting clouds and hammering the sky with a thunderous boom that rolled for miles. The fire around her extinguished instantly, scattered into sparks. Below, people staggered and looked up as the heavens themselves seemed to recoil.
For a brief moment, they hovered.
Her energy was unstable. Her golden armor was scorched and cracked. One shoulder plate was shattered entirely, exposing skin burned dark beneath it. Blood streaked down her side, glowing faintly before evaporating into mist.
'Wow! She's a beauty,' He thought after seeing her face. 'I'm pretty sure she's related to Diana. Let's heal her first.'
John flew down to the playground and lay her down on the grass. The ground hissed faintly beneath her armor, still hot from reentry.
Maureen was already there, frost forming instinctively around her hands before she stopped herself when she felt the energy coming off the woman. Harley cleared the field before running upto them.
"Divine energy!" Maureen said, looking at the woman.
The woman convulsed weakly, a pained sound escaping her lips as the last of the burning energy left her body. Her eyes fluttered but did not open.
"Yes. She's probably Wonder Woman's mom," John placed both hands just above her chest. The lightning answered immediately.
Golden light flowed from his palms and sank into her body, threading through shattered muscle, burned nerves, fractured bone, and divine pathways. John focused, carefully regulating the flow. Healing divine beings was different from healing mortals. Too much, and he might overwhelm her. Too little, and her essence might collapse.
The lightning dimmed gradually as he finished.
The woman inhaled sharply, her back arching as life surged back into her body. Her eyes snapped open, glowing molten gold for half a second before settling into something calmer, deeper, and wary.
She stared up at John, confusion and alarm flashing across her face as she tried to sit up. Pain stopped her, and she hissed softly.
"Easy," John said, lowering his hands. "You are safe. You are in Khandaq."
Her gaze flicked around rapidly, taking in the park, the lanterns, the stunned civilians, the distant towers, and the barrier shimmering faintly above them. Her brow furrowed.
"Who are you, lady in gold?" Harley asked.
The woman steadied her breathing and forced herself to sit despite the lingering pain.
"I am Hippolyta," she said. "Queen of the Amazons. And I need your help to save Themyscira."
John didn't react and kept his usual cold expression. "Explain."
Hippolyta drew a slow breath, steadying herself. "Hypnota escaped. She dismantled Transformation Island from the inside, freed every imprisoned enemy we ever contained, and then turned her power toward the heart of our people. Her mind control has grown far beyond what it once was. Entire battalions fell without raising a blade. Sisters turned on sisters without realizing it."
Her fingers curled into the grass, trembling despite her effort to remain composed. "Diana tried to stop her. She led the final defense at the palace, knowing she might fail. Before she went, she told me to find you."
John's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why me?"
"Because you carry the spark of Zeus within you and many other gods and you are the only one who can stop what's coming next," Hippolyta answered.
"Which is?" He asked.
"Ares is back. He planned to open the Doom's Doorway. We were gathering our strength to fight him, but we never imagined Hypnota would get that strong and take over the island," Hippolyta said with a heavy sigh.
"She probably used some artifacts or demonic power," Maureen muttered.
"What's this Doom's Doorway? Sounds kinda spooky," Harley asked.
"Doom's Doorway, also known as the Gates of Tartarus, is a portal deep within the Island that leads to Hades, the Greek Underworld. It's a hellish prison that contains all manner of monstrous creatures and corrupt gods," Hippolyta explained.
"I have no reason to help you," John said after a bit of thinking. "You should go to Justice League or Justice Society."
Hippolyta started to speak, but he raised his hand.
"And even if I wanted to," John continued, "I cannot leave Khandaq. This nation has barely stabilized. Borders were returned days ago. Infrastructure is still fragile. If anything goes wrong or if we face an outside threat, everything we've built could fail. I won't risk my people's lives for yours."
The words were cold, but true. Harley blinked and looked between them, choosing to stay quiet this time. Maureen sensed the change as well. John chose his people over Amazon.
Hippolyta finally stood up. "They aren't strong enough to stop a fully recovered Ares, not to mention if the Doom's Doorway is opened... The world will end."
She looked directly at him now, not as a queen begging another ruler, but as a witness addressing a force she understood all too well.
"You wield the lightning of Zeus."
John did not deny it.
"For centuries," Hippolyta continued, "I searched for a way to permanently seal Doom's Doorway. We poured divine power into it. We built safeguards. We bound it with magic older than most civilizations. Nothing worked. Only Zeus's power can destroy it completely."
Her hands clenched into fists.
"But the old gods are gone. Their thrones are empty. Their voices are silent. Zeus will never descend to strike the Doorway himself."
She lifted her gaze again, unwavering.
"You are the only one left who carries enough of his authority to do what he no longer can."
"You think I care about Olympus' unfinished business," he said. "You are wrong."
Hippolyta did not flinch.
"I think you care about consequences," she answered. "Ares is not seeking Themyscira alone. Doom's Doorway is a conduit. Once it opens fully, Tartarus will bleed into this world. Demons, corrupt gods, and beasts will kill everyone on their way under Ares's command. This will not stay contained to my island."
She paused, then added quietly, "Khandaq will be one of the first targets because of your power."
John turned his gaze toward the city lights in the distance, the laughter, the music, the lives finally unafraid to exist. 'Not a moment of peace. One thing after another.'
She took a breath, steadying herself before delivering the last card she held.
"If you help me free Themyscira, stop Ares, and destroy Doom's Doorway permanently, I will give you anything you ask."
"Anything," Hippolyta repeated. "Amazonian knowledge, weapons, alliances that have never been offered to the outside world."
She hesitated only a fraction of a second before continuing.
"Even my daughter's hand in marriage, if that is what you demand."
Maureen's head snapped toward Hippolyta, eyes flashing with disbelief. Harley's jaw dropped.
She blinked.
Once.
Twice.
She walked forward until her face was level with Hippolyta's.
"…I'm sorry," Harley said, cupping a hand to her ear. "I think I just got hit with, like, twelve different flavors of crazy at once. Lemme check, I heard this right."
She straightened, turned, and pointed a thumb at John. "You want thunder thighs over here to go punch a brainwashing witch, save an island full of warrior supermodels, slap a war god back into his crib, and permanently close the spooky hell door to Greek Satan's basement."
She turned back to Hippolyta, eyes wide. "And in exchange, you're offering… your daughter?"
Maureen inhaled sharply and then stopped herself, clearly deciding that whatever came next was none of her business but absolutely all of her business at the same time. She wondered if another girl was going to join the harem soon. 'If so, are we going to have foursomes now? Ah! Why do I always think of sex?' She looked toward Harley. 'Her fault...' Then she looked at John. 'And his.'
Hippolyta did not flinch. Her voice remained steady, regal, and painfully serious. "Yes."
Harley stared at her for a long second, then burst out laughing so hard she nearly fell backward. "Oh wow. Oh WOW. You Amazons do not mess around, huh? No coupons, no gift baskets, just straight to 'have my kid'."
She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and glanced at John. "So, uh, big guy. How do you feel about political marriage proposals from divine MILFs?"
John looked at Hippolyta the same way he looked at a battlefield map, as something to be assessed, measured, and reduced to outcomes.
"I want you."
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