Issue 3: "Horns of Doom"

“Princess!”

Phillipus’ sharp cry startled Diana from her prayers. She arose from where she knelt in the silent Temple of Athena, wiping the fresh tears from her eyes.

“What is, sister? Have the spawn renewed their attack on the walls?”

Phillipus face was grave. “No. Not yet. But…” The words seemed to die in her throat, as if there were no way to express what she wanted to say.

With the death of Zeus, a great darkness had fallen upon Olympus. What had once been brilliant and sun-dappled, was now withered and dying. The Kindly Ones had fled, screeching into the night, but the gods knew their respite would be brief. They gathered around the scorched and cracked marble where their king had fallen, and took their counsel.

“We are done!” Wept Dionysius. “Our long revels are at last at an end. We shall go into the Outer Dark, and live only as memories in the few mortals that still do us reverence.”

“Alas!” Cried Aphrodite, gazing into the Seeing Pool. “Those hours may be numbered as well! The Spawn of Uranus make bloody war on the Amazons, and Queen Hippolyta herself has fallen!”

Artemis the Huntress clenched her fist, squeezing back tears.

“If I do nothing else, I will go to the aid of our children!”

“No!” Warned Hermes. “If we set our hand to direct the fate of mortals, they lose their power to empower us. That is just as sure an end to us as the alternative. We must have faith in our children, as they have faith in us.”

“Would you have us watch as they are exterminated?” Artemis gnashed her teeth.

“Peace!” Athena held up a placating hand. “We can not interfere directly, but neither shall we abandon the Amazons. Our fates are intertwined. We must trust their champion. Princess Diana has not failed us yet.” The grey-eyed goddess looked around at the grim assemblage, quiet now but for the inconsolable weeping of Hera in the arms of Poseidon. “Nor can we spare the time to grieve for my Lord Father, may he thunder forever in the Fields of Elysium. This was but the opening move. Our doom is upon us. She Whom None Can Escape is awake at last, the Enemy of Everything, the Eternal Antithesis --- The Great Goddess Nemesis!”

The word fell like a stone in their midst, sending ripples of dread through the gathering of the gods.

“Nemesis? But how can this be?” Apollo demanded at last. “It is foretold that She waits at the end of time. I have heard the Fates sing of it!”

“I knew a little of my father’s mind, and what he long feared has come to pass.” Athena bowed her head sadly. “She has been roused from her slumber before the appointed hour. We have a traitor in the Halls of Olympus!”

Disbelievingly, the gods and goddesses exchanged horrified looks, as if expecting to be instantly attacked.

But Hephaestus’ eyes narrowed and his face purpled.

“Ares…!”

Dawn.

The sun rose glorious and glittering, as if in a last farewell to Themyscira. The spawn of Uranus arrayed themselves against the walls of the city, beating their chests and banging their shields. The Minotaur stood on the plain before the walls, his horns sharpened to fierce points, a great broadsword in his mailed hand.

On the walls stood every Amazon left alive, watching and waiting. All but one…

And she appeared as the city gate once more opened, stepping out onto the field of battle.

Diana was dressed to honor her mother, in the silver Wonder Woman armor Hippolyta had worn in her days fighting in the ranks of the JSA. She carried only a silver shield, embossed with an image of Athena, and wore around her eyes a red cloth blindfold. But she walked an unerring path straight towards her opponent, fearless and confident.

The Bull watched her come, and indeed, a hush fell over the entire scene. His lips curled and he snorted disdainfully. False bravado. Her gods were doomed. She was doomed. Today, he would complete his extermination of their race.

“Diana of Themyscira!” He roared into the unnatural silence. “In my hands is the sword that slew your mother’s sister Antiope. And at my belt is the knife that drank Hippolyta’s life! I will pierce you with both!”

A mighty cheer arose from the ranks of the spawn. Diana waited for it to subside before she made her calm answer.

“There is a cold place in the lowest pit of Tartarus reserved for you Bull. You will languish there until the very lamps of Eternity are snuffed out.”

The Minotaur chuckled low and menacingly. He stepped towards her, and began circling her. Diana did not move or follow the sounds of his progress. She just stood her ground and cocked her head, listening.

“You are wrong, Wonder Woman.” He sneered. “I serve a greater Mistress than any you pray to. And I will be seated on the right hand in dominion over all!”

She listened: for the crunch of his sandal on the dusty ground, for the sound of the breath heaving through his snout, and the jangle of the mail links in his armor.

He stopped when he was directly behind her. It seemed like the whole world held its breath--- and then he raised his sword and lunged at her!

Diana whirled around, throwing up her shield. The broadsword clanged loudly off of it, and sparks flew. But the Minotaur was not deterred. He swung the heavy blade up and around, hacking down at her. Alerted by the rush of wind, Diana brought the shield up just in time, catching the downward stroke, then lashed out with her foot, kicking the Minotaur away from her.

This time the cheer rose up from the Amazons on the walls of Themyscira!

Snarling, the Minotaur closed with her again, regarding her more cautiously now, taking her measure. He circled her, and this time she matched him, tracing his progress around her. He feinted, giving her an easy blow to parry, then slid away from her. He studied how she held her head, how she sniffed the air, missing no nuance… A sinister smile cracked his face.

He lowered his sword and bellowed at her, vomiting forth a great gout of noise, like a dragon breathing fire. He was rewarded by a slight frown creasing Diana’s forehead, and a sudden jerk of her chin. As if in the momentary cacophony she had lost track of him! He raised his head to his army and bellowed again, motioning for them to do the same. They caught on quickly, and a hundred thousand foul voices stained the air.

It was a fearsome noise. The spawn of Uranus cackled and screeched, and clanged their weapons as loud as they could. It was as if pandemonium had broken out before the gates of Themyscira.

Diana backed away from her last position, away from the wall of howling creatures, confused and her head throbbing. She strained to hear the Minotaur, to feel the ground tremble at his approach, to smell his rancid hide…

But the distraction was too much. He caught her unawares, batting her aside with the flat of the broadsword! Diana staggered, her arm throbbing; hurriedly she repositioned her shield, but the attack came next from the other side. She was knocked in the other direction, nearly losing her footing. He was using the flat of his sword, toying with her like a cat would toy with a mouse. He battered at her in a quick succession of blows, pounding at her shield, driving her ever backwards. With a cry of victory, he kicked out her legs, sending her sprawling.

The Amazons on the walls watched in horror as their champion fell to the ground, her shield jarred from her hand.

The Minotaur crowed in triumph, looming over her, sword raised, like a woodsman about to hack down a tree. His army went mad with glee, anticipating the bloodshed.

Then a miracle occurred. Unseen by all but Penelope, an owl swooped out of the cloudless sky and settled on a statue of Athena on a high plinth overlooking the battlefield. It gazed steadily upon the contest of champions---

And suddenly, it was as if Diana was looking, disembodied, through the owl’s eyes, down upon herself and the Minotaur!

Thank you, Pallas!

Through the eyes of Athena’s owl, Diana saw the blade of the Minotaur descend upon her, the sharp edge keen enough to split her in twain. She threw up her arms, crossed in the traditional salute of the Amazons, catching the deadly blade between her silver bracelets! The Minotaur gasped, stunned. With a fierce cry, Diana twisted the blade between her bracelets and shattered it into pieces! Her foe fell away, appalled, and Wonder Woman rolled to her feet in a fighting stance.

“So much for your boast, now.” She called to him. “That sword will claim no more innocent lives!”

Rage filled the Bull.

“I have another weapon, Amazon!” He yelled, and in one motion, drew the dagger he had used to kill Hippolyta and hurled it at her daughter.

Diana watched it happen from the top of the statue of Athena, saw herself raise her arm and the knife ricochet off her bracelet to fall harmlessly in the dust.

The spawn of Uranus howled piteously and the Amazons raised another cheer.

Both unarmed now, Diana and the Minotaur circled each other; his rage building, Diana’s red-cloth blindfold seemed to mock the Minotaur. He stomped and roared and spat at her, but she followed his movements, a cold smile turning the corners of her lips.

Maddened, the Bull could take it no more! He lowered his horns and charged her. Diana braced herself, and met him head on! She caught him by the horns, stopping him in his tracks. She held him at arms length, and he pushed at her. Both of them dug their heels into the ground, neither giving an inch. It was a contest of strength, and the first who buckled would be at the mercy of the other!

Both the spawn and the Amazons watched the struggle, not daring to breathe; Diana herself watched the melee from above, feeling the strain in her arms, watching her muscles shake.

The Minotaur glared at her with such terrible hatred that Diana was glad she could not see it up close. She felt the stink of his steaming breath in her face, and he twisted his head, trying to wrest his horns from her grasp.

The bestial might of the Minotaur was awesome--- he was pulling away from her! Diana gritted her teeth and summoned all the strength she had in her--- and with a loud cry, she snapped off the horn in her left hand and in the same motion, punched it deep into the Minotaur’s chest!

The Bull gasped, all strength suddenly draining out of him.

“That was for Antiope.” Diana tore off her blindfold at last, and with her other hand, she snapped off the Bull’s remaining horn. “And this is for Hippolyta.” Staring him in the face, she drove the horn under his chin into his brain!

The Minotaur staggered and swayed, then crashed dead to the ground at Diana’s feet!