Escape

Chapter 1

Diana gazed out the window. She saw a flower outside her window. She opened the window and reached her hand out. Suddenly the flower began to shrink and wilt. Soon it was dead. Diana sighed as she felt the new life force fill her. This was her gift and curse.

Diana could take life forces. She could control it, but that fact didn't make anyone like her anymore. She was an outcast from her own people no matter how powerful her mother-

"Diana." Hippolyta looked at the person in the doorway. Her mom looked regal in her gown. She had to. She was Hippolyta, Queen of Themiscyra. Diana scowled at her mother. Hippolyta ignored it. "You need to get ready. The solstice will begin soon." Diana rolled her eyes.

"You keep acting like I want to hang around all night with you and the others only to be ignored-"

"Diana," Hippolyta said in a chaste voice, "you do not talk about your people court that way."

"They are not my people!" Diana exclaimed. "I'm the queen's daughter and they still don't except me." Hippolyta took a deep breath. She and her daughter had this argument a million times. After a while she just tried to let it go, but it bothered her that her own daughter wouldn't accept the court she was born into.

Diana turned to the flower bush outside her window. She reached out to another flower until her mom caught her wrist. Diana looked at Hippolyta with no expression. Hippolyta's face fell when she looked into her daughter's eyes. The blue eyes held relaxed shadows. They're only like that when there feed.

"Honestly, Diana, must you do this-"

"What's wrong with it? The flower would only die in another week. I just sped up the process."

"You stole its life force." Diana glared at her mother. She hated doing this with her but it never stopped her. She knew her mom disapproved of her using her gift. "Maybe I didn't steal it. Maybe it belonged to me." Before Hippolyta could say anything she saw the shadow in the doorway. Antiope sighed, placing her hand on the door knob. This was the universal sign that she heard everything they said.

"Ladies, must we go through this every time?" she asked in a tired voice. She was sick of the constant fighting between her sister and niece. No one ever won and it just brought constant tension into the house. Diana pulled out her mother's grasp and moved in front of her father.

"Aunt Antiope, please don't make me go! Can't I stay here tonight?" she asked. Antiope looked at her with a reprising look.

"You promised your mother that you would go to solstice if you stayed here last time." Diana groaned, moving to her closet. Hippolyta and Antiope shared a satisfied smirk. Diana rolled her eyes at them. Eternity of being together and they still act like still love winning everything, she thought. She was glad she never looked that ridiculous. Hippolyta touched her daughters arm, giving her a knowing look, before leaving.

As soon as her mom left, Diana spoke.

"You know, I could leave. I'm the strongest of us all. No one has beaten me and Athena isn't telling me to stay. And in Man's world, I'm an adult." Antiope sighed. She kissed Diana's forehead.

"That's true." She told her. She moved towards the door as he spoke again. "But you are also the daughter of a queen and you do not belong with mortals, no matter how much of this Earth they consume. Mortal rights don't apply to you." Antiope closed the door.

Diana plopped on her bed in disappointment. She looked under her bed at a bag. It was packed and ready for her to carry it anywhere.

They might not apply to you anymore, she thought, but they still apply to me, despite your belief.

*****

Themiscyra was Diana's home all her life. She used to love exploring the island when she was younger. But as she got older, she began to feel like a confined animal. That is, until the sacred library. She stumbled on it when she was only thirteen and curious. When she brought it up to her mother, Hippolyta was appalled to say the least.

"You went into the sacred library without my permission?" she said.

"I didn't know it scared but-"

"You are not to go back." Hippolyta told her. Diana's jaw dropped.

"But-"

"Diana!" her mother said, "End of discussion." And they never talked about it again. But Diana never gave up. She snuck out every other night and started to learn about Man's world. And at that point, she was hooked. She fascinated by how the world was so different than her own. The language, culture, history…it was all there. She could even retrieve specific items from it like clothes and food.

Diana wanted to see it, to belong in it. But she knew she couldn't without Athena's blessing. So as the years went on, it was difficult to act like the same ignorant child as she was preceded to be. But she had her ways and it wouldn't matter after tonight, she promised herself.

Diana hates the Summer Solstice. She always had to dress up when she did nothing but sit or stand. There's nothing but the people that are a millennia older than her saying things she "could never understand". And being a princess never helps anything. Especially when people have to actually approach her. She was wearing hr usual white dress her mother picked for her and a small gold crown with other gold accessories and signature silver bracelets.

Like she needed another reminder that she was a princess

She glanced around the room at the talking Amazons. She looked at her mother conversing. She sipped at her drink, hating how unnaturally sweet it was. She didn't know how much longer she could deal with being around these people. She saw a figure in the corner of her eye.

Diana knew who it was before she sat down next to her.

"Hey, Mala." She greeted. Unlike the others, she enjoyed her company. Mala was Diana's closest friend. She told her everything, including the sacred library. If she would miss anybody, it would be her.

"Hello Princess Diana." She said with a smirk. She scowled at her.

"You know I hate my title."

"Why? You have anything anyone could want."

"Except freedom." She said. "True freedom. I always have to be approved and shelter for every move I make in a place that I don't want to be in. I've been these same boring circles my whole life."

Mala nodded. She could understand how she felt. Mala loved exploring the world until men started abusing it. "I'd rather be a die than be summated to a life like this for an eternity." Mala became alarmed at the statement.

"Hey," she said in a warning tone, "don't joke like that. You know why." Diana sighed.

"Of course, I do." She heard the tale at least a hundred times before. An Amazonian went off into Man's World without Athena's blessing and died before she ever reached it. In a way, Diana could sympathize. She loved her mother but if it was her choice, she would leave as well.

Diana remembered a secret trip her dad took her on when her mom visited Athena's temple. She learned about the other lands beyond her own. The mere thought of seeing it all left a fantasy in her brain. Diana sighed, focusing to the crowd in front of her.

"I can't live like this." She said. Mala turned away.

"Did Athena grant you her blessing." She said so low, Diana barely heard her.

"Yes."Diana confirmed. Mala sighed. She looked back at her best friend. She hugged her tightly

"I'll miss you, friend." She whispered. Diana hugged her back, knowing this could possibly be the last time she sees her best friend. Diana looked above her head at the sunset. Only three more hours, she thought. That thought alone made her miss Mala more.

As the sky turned black, Diana got dressed. She switched the annoying gown for a simple t-shirt and sweats, she collected from the library. She moved like around her room like a ghost. She checked and doubled checked her stuff. She didn't want to be caught. The first few times she got caught sneaking out, she was sloppy. But this time she was sure she was going to get out.

She checked the hallway quietly before locking her door. She looked one last time before catching her eyes in the mirror. She removed the hood of the block hoodie she wore. Her eyes bore into themselves. She watched the shadows dance at the excitement her body held.

When Hippolyta first saw the shadows in her daughter's eyes, she was frightened. It was possible for a child to belong to a world other than the one their parents controlled. Rare but possible. The gods told her that she was simply had too much of an Amazon to belong to anyone else. No one had any idea why she was born that way. Except Athena, who refused to give the answer. This made her more nervous that her daughter held shadows. The princess was simply a mystery.

Diana lifted a hand to her face. She looked at herself, which she rarely did. She looked at her tan skin, dark hair, angular face, and blue eyes. Her eyes…Diana loved her eyes. They complete the dark beauty she had. She cherished the shadows that were kept inside of them. It was what made her so unique.

She pulled her hood up over her head covering her face once again. She didn't have time to waste being vain. She opened the window and jumped out into the crisp night. She watched her surroundings. Guards would find her soon enough. She only hoped see could fight them quickly and silently.

She was only thirty yards away from the shore when the first guards attacked. She jumped over the first one before forcing the other to the ground she did a series of kicks, each one bringing her closer to the gate. She kicked at a guard's temple, making him unconscious. Then she heard the alarm. The same alarm that told her she was caught.

Not this time, she thought. She ran and pushed the remaining guards out her way. A couple tried to grab her but she dodged them. If not, the girl had amazing speed. Once she had enough room to really speed up, she was on the shore in seconds. But once she felt eyes on her back, she knew she was being followed. A hit on the head sent her sprawling to the ground.

She rolled to a stop. She gritted her teeth to stop herself from crying out loud.

"Just couldn't take the hint, could you?" Hippolyta approached her daughter. The same daughter she loved beyond comparison. The same daughter that was trying to escape.

"You're not leaving." She said. Her tone held finality. Diana stood up again.

"You're not stopping me, mother. You can let me leave now or we can fight and I'll still leave."

"Is that threat?" Hippolyta asked calmly. Solene frowned at her.

"No." she answered. "But I will if I have to." Hippolyta didn't want to fight Diana. She knew every weak spot she had despite the powers she contained. But there was no other way for Hippolyta to make her stay. She knew that. With a sad sigh, she made her decision

Hippolyta was in front of her in a second ready to hit. Diana dodged the blow and tripped her mom. Hippolyta rolled back to her feet. She charged at her daughter sending her down with one hit.

Diana caught her hand and threw Hippolyta over her shoulder. Hippolyta landed on her feet before kicking Diana in the stomach. Diana stumbled to the ground, trying regain her breath. Hippolyta knelt over her daughter.

"It's over, Diana." She said. She had won. But Diana looked up and the shadows in her eyes became excited. She grabbed her mom's hand and Hippolyta started to feel weak. Diana gained her mother's energy. She was healed as soon as she stood up. Her mother looked at her with disbelief and hurt at the betryal.

"I'm sorry, mom." She said. It was no use. Hippolyta was unconscious. Diana checked to see if her mom was okay before running as fast as she could before jumping and flying away from the only home she knew.

*****

"What do you mean she's gone?" Antiope demanded. She, Cassandra , and Aella, a royal guard wondered the same thing as Hippolyta iced her head, something she only did for her major headaches. Only Diana could cause it.

"What do you think I mean?" she snapped at Antiope. "She got away."

Just as she said the words Mala joined the group in the throne room.

"You wanted to see me my queen?" she said drifting in. Hippolyta looked at Mala with hope. She was her daughter's best friend. She would know. Hippolyta stood up.

"Diana. She ran away a couple of hours ago." She summed up. Mala's eyes widened.

"How did she get away?" she asked, innocently, "I'm sure I saw her come back her after the Solstice."

"She did. And then she snuck out and ran to the beach. I followed her but I was too late. She must have gotten Athena's blessing, somehow." she explained. Mala struggled to keep calm. She promised Diana she would cover her escape. It was Diana's last request to her. Antiope stepped up calmly.

"You wouldn't know about any of this." Antiope asked, suspecting her because Mala was Diana's best friend. Mala found strength to look into the general's eyes and lie.
"She talked about exploring the world a couple of times but never showed any signs of actually planning to do it." Antiope opened her mouth to ask more questions when Hippolyta interrupted.

"Interrogating each other gets us no where. What we need to know is how exactly she got away." Cassandra sat down once again. Every one looked at Hippolyta expectantly. She sighed before telling them.

"We fought and I had her on the ground. Then she…" she massaged her temples at the thought of what happened, "…she used her powers on me." Everyone gasped. Diana only used her powers as a last resort in a fight. They've seen it plenty of times. She usually made her sparring partner unconscious for days but since she was her mother, it was only a few hours. Antiope placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, but nothing helped the situation. An uncomfortable silence fell over everyone.

"We have to find her." Cassandra said, breaking it. "She's in a lot of danger. Her nativity of Man's world only heightens it." Antiope nodded in agreement.

"How?" Mala asked. "I know Diana. If nothing else, the girl has two things that make finding her almost impossible. Her intelligence and speed. Not to mention her ability to fly anywhere. How can we find her?"

Antiope stoop up straight.

"I'll go. I've been waiting for a good challenge for years."

"I'll talk to Athena." Hippolyta said, "She's bound to know something."

"We both will." Cassandra chimed in. Antiope nodded.

"I'll send some scouts on the ocean. One of them is bound to recognize who she is." Antiope added.
Everyone talked a while longer deciding on a plan, except for Mala who stood on the edge of the room. As it formed, hope grew in Hippolyta. They would find her daughter and she would be safe once again in her care. "It's settled then," said Antiope. "Diana will be found."

Hippolyta nodded before dismissing them. "Mala, please stay." Mala's heart sped up a bit. When the door was closed, Hippolyta stood and approached the girl. She looked Mala straight in the eye. Mala shrank back a little.

"You may be able to lie to Antiope but I know you know something." She told her. Mala sighed.

"I'm sorry, my queen. But Diana was so determined. I don't think I could've stopped her no matter what I did."

"No matter," Hippolyta said calmly. She walked to the throne. She pulled out a sword and a set of keys. "Man isn't the only one with proper transportation and good fighters."

"What are saying?" Mala asked confused. The queen walked over to her and deposited the items in each hand. Hippolyta stared her down until she flinched.

"Find her," Hippolyta commanded, "and soon."