Happy Birthday Brady!!
Title: In Lands From Long Ago
Characters: Diana/Steve, Selina/Dinah, Clark/Bruce, Emperor Luthor
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1500
Warning: kidnapping, implied torture
Disclaimer: DC owns.
AN: for Brady! Happy Birthday, hon! Here's an AU just for you! XD
Diana was a warrior born. Prepared from birth for this very moment when her mortal life would come to an end. She did not fear death. True, she'd had a short life, but a good one. She had fought for her people and with them. She had loved and been loved in return. And, Diana would not dishonor those in her heart with tears. She would remember and smile for them through the pain; she would not give up until the last breath left her body. Even when she was so far away from home that she could smell it in the air, she would not surrender.
Ignoring the pain, Diana raised her head and glanced around her small confines. The chains holding her captive dug painfully into her skin, the crusted blood binding her wrists and the manacles as one. If she wasn't so badly wounded, so exhausted from battle, she might not have passed out and been able to witness her spectacular rescue.
...
Diana awoke to the glorious smells of freshly brewed coffee, just-out-of-the-oven bread, and lilacs from one of her gardens. Her gardens? She sat up in an instant!
"Angel, please don't!" Steve cried, "You will aggravate your injuries."
Diana was grateful beyond words and so relieved when she saw those brilliant blue eyes looking back at her. "What happened?" she asked, laying down again with his help. The cuts around her wrists were nearly healed and her body did not hurt as much as it should given what she'd endured.
Steve could not contain his frown. "Ares was not working alone. Emperor Luthor joined him... Their plan was to overthrow you."
She did not think things had gotten so bad. "How is it that I am here?" She remembers the battlefield. Swords and spears clashing against shields, slicing into flesh. They had been successful in pushing the enemy back from Themyscira's gates, then something struck her and a blinding pain overtook her senses. All she recalls after that is Ares' cold glare as she'd fallen, the evil in his eyes as he tightened the chains around her...
"We freed you."
Diana and Steve looked to the doorway where her military advisers, Dinah and Selina, stood. They were Themyscira's Army and Espionage Generals, respectively. Of all the warriors in her realm, Diana knew there was very little those two women couldn't do, especially when they worked together.
"It wasn't easy," Selina grinned, dropping her whip and short sword, "But it wouldn't have been nearly as fun if it had been."
"How are you feeling?" Dinah asked, removing part of her armor.
Diana smiled at them, then at the man caressing her hand. "I feel much better now that I am here."
"We couldn't return to the palace," Steve explained, waiting a long moment before continuing. He couldn't help feel responsible for everything that had happened. If Diana had not fallen in love with him, then perhaps she and Luthor... "The Emperor is occupying your palace. Selina and Dinah offered to care for you in their home."
Diana did not like the idea of Lex anywhere near Themyscira. Not as a guest and certainly not as its usurper.
"There's something else."
Everyone looked at Dinah. Selina reached for her hand and squeezed it for support.
"She needs to know."
Dinah took a deep breath, then spoke, "The Kingdom of Gotham has offered to lend its support."
Diana could hardly believe what she was hearing. Had they all forgotten what Gotham had done to her family?
"No."
"Angel-"
"No!" Diana took a calming breath before addressing her friends again. "I thank you for saving my life, I truly do and I am in your debt, but what you ask of me now-"
"Please, Princess," Dinah interrupted, "It might be our only option."
"You may need time to think it through," Selina added, picking up her favored weapons and walking out.
"Consider. Please," Dinah said before leaving.
Diana glanced at Steve. She could see what he agreed with them and she looked away.
How could it have come to this?
...
In the Kingdom of Gotham, King Bruce received word that Princess Diana would meet with him.
"Are you sure this is the best way?"
Bruce looked over at Clark, a frown marred his handsome face. "Would you prefer Luthor do to Themycira as he did to Krypton?" Just thinking about it, made Clark relive the pain as if the atrocities had only happened, for he was all that remained of his once powerful realm. "Besides," Bruce continued, "Gotham owes it to the Princess to help."
"I will go with you," Clack replied.
Bruce approached him. "No. I want you here. Safe."
Clark shook his head. "Where you go, I go. Besides, the boys will want to come, too."
Three boys jumped out from behind the curtain.
"Can we go? Can we?"
"Richard. Jason. Timothy. We do not spy on each other," Bruce admonished. The youngest had heard this speech before.
"Clark knew we would be here," Jason said. "So, technically, we weren't spying."
Bruce's voice was a low growl. "Pack lightly. We leave at midnight."
...
Dinah and Selina waited three miles from the outskirts of Themyscira for the King of Gotham. They hoped the King was smarter than to march in with his whole army. The longer they could keep their plans from Luthor the better. Selina and Dinah even hid up in the trees because the tyrant Emperor had spies everywhere.
When Selina saw five young men approach, she motioned for Dinah across the pathway to take notice. The young men looked like sheepherders, but Selina wasn't so sure, especially when she caught sight of the black sword on one man's hip.
"The mythical Bat Sword..." she whispered as she realized who walked below them. Perhaps working with Gotham would end well.
Selina and Dinah jumped down and surprised the men, but quickly explained their purpose. Soon, the entire party was headed to the secure and secret place where the Princess waited for them.
Diana welcomed King Bruce, his partner, Clark of Krypton, and the three princes they brought along. But she could not go on with the pleasantries until she said her peace.
"Your father dishonored my home. And yours."
The three boys behind the King stood on guard. Selina and Dinah stood ready, their hands inching closer to their weapons.
King Bruce took a deep breath and held a hand up to calm his people. Normally, he allowed no one to speak of his parents, he was the proud King of a proud Kingdom, but what his father had done to the Queen of Themyscira, he could not defend.
"He did," King Bruce admitted. He remembers the night his mother passed. A week later, a new queen sat in her thrown. "It is why we are here." Steve looked worried. Diana looked enraged. "I wish to make amends for what happened before," the King continued, "Therefore, my army is your army, Princess."
Diana looked around the room. Her Army and Espionage Generals were ready to fight for her, the boys behind the King were ready to give their lives, Steve, too, would die protecting her, and for what? King Bruce had not stolen his mother away destroying her family in the process, his father had and that father was long dead. Reluctantly, she realized the men standing before her were not her enemy, the Emperor was.
"Very well," Diana stated, "We will work together." King Bruce nodded and sighs of relief filled the room. "And together we will defeat the Emperor and Ares!"
Cheers erupted from the small inn.
...
After Ares left the secret chamber, Emperor Luthor remained, still seated on the golden throne of Themyscira. There was a smug smile on his face. He knew Princess Diana's plan to attack come morning, he knew Gotham had joined the battle, and he knew Clark of Krypton was with them. Still, he was not worried.
"Let them come," Lex spoke out loud, "I will be ready."
...
Clark stroked Bruce's hair and watched the shadow's caused by the fading fire dance across his naked body.
"Do not worry," Clark whispered.
Bruce looked up at him. He was worried. Putting his boys in danger, putting Clark in harm's way made him worry. Still, he said nothing about it. "The boys will be ready soon. We should prepare as well."
Clark grabbed Bruce's hand and pulled him back down for one last kiss. "We will be victorious," Clark promised, "And we will end Luthor's reign once and for all."
...
"Angel, are you well?" Steve watched as Diana dressed.
She turned to him and smiled, "I am."
And she was because she knew Ares would not live to see another sun set.
...
"Everything's in place," Selina said, "Everyone's ready."
Dinah wrapped her arms around her and kissed her before putting on her armor.
"Does Luthor still think we're attacking at dawn?"
"Yes," Selina smiled, grabbing her whip. She had made sure word of their early morning assault reached one of his spies. In reality, they would charge in under a dark, moonless sky, taking the Emperor and Ares by surprise. "They won't know what hit them!"
Characters: Diana/Steve, Selina/Dinah, Clark/Bruce, Emperor Luthor
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1500
Warning: kidnapping, implied torture
Disclaimer: DC owns.
AN: for Brady! Happy Birthday, hon! Here's an AU just for you! XD
Diana was a warrior born. Prepared from birth for this very moment when her mortal life would come to an end. She did not fear death. True, she'd had a short life, but a good one. She had fought for her people and with them. She had loved and been loved in return. And, Diana would not dishonor those in her heart with tears. She would remember and smile for them through the pain; she would not give up until the last breath left her body. Even when she was so far away from home that she could smell it in the air, she would not surrender.
Ignoring the pain, Diana raised her head and glanced around her small confines. The chains holding her captive dug painfully into her skin, the crusted blood binding her wrists and the manacles as one. If she wasn't so badly wounded, so exhausted from battle, she might not have passed out and been able to witness her spectacular rescue.
...
Diana awoke to the glorious smells of freshly brewed coffee, just-out-of-the-oven bread, and lilacs from one of her gardens. Her gardens? She sat up in an instant!
"Angel, please don't!" Steve cried, "You will aggravate your injuries."
Diana was grateful beyond words and so relieved when she saw those brilliant blue eyes looking back at her. "What happened?" she asked, laying down again with his help. The cuts around her wrists were nearly healed and her body did not hurt as much as it should given what she'd endured.
Steve could not contain his frown. "Ares was not working alone. Emperor Luthor joined him... Their plan was to overthrow you."
She did not think things had gotten so bad. "How is it that I am here?" She remembers the battlefield. Swords and spears clashing against shields, slicing into flesh. They had been successful in pushing the enemy back from Themyscira's gates, then something struck her and a blinding pain overtook her senses. All she recalls after that is Ares' cold glare as she'd fallen, the evil in his eyes as he tightened the chains around her...
"We freed you."
Diana and Steve looked to the doorway where her military advisers, Dinah and Selina, stood. They were Themyscira's Army and Espionage Generals, respectively. Of all the warriors in her realm, Diana knew there was very little those two women couldn't do, especially when they worked together.
"It wasn't easy," Selina grinned, dropping her whip and short sword, "But it wouldn't have been nearly as fun if it had been."
"How are you feeling?" Dinah asked, removing part of her armor.
Diana smiled at them, then at the man caressing her hand. "I feel much better now that I am here."
"We couldn't return to the palace," Steve explained, waiting a long moment before continuing. He couldn't help feel responsible for everything that had happened. If Diana had not fallen in love with him, then perhaps she and Luthor... "The Emperor is occupying your palace. Selina and Dinah offered to care for you in their home."
Diana did not like the idea of Lex anywhere near Themyscira. Not as a guest and certainly not as its usurper.
"There's something else."
Everyone looked at Dinah. Selina reached for her hand and squeezed it for support.
"She needs to know."
Dinah took a deep breath, then spoke, "The Kingdom of Gotham has offered to lend its support."
Diana could hardly believe what she was hearing. Had they all forgotten what Gotham had done to her family?
"No."
"Angel-"
"No!" Diana took a calming breath before addressing her friends again. "I thank you for saving my life, I truly do and I am in your debt, but what you ask of me now-"
"Please, Princess," Dinah interrupted, "It might be our only option."
"You may need time to think it through," Selina added, picking up her favored weapons and walking out.
"Consider. Please," Dinah said before leaving.
Diana glanced at Steve. She could see what he agreed with them and she looked away.
How could it have come to this?
...
In the Kingdom of Gotham, King Bruce received word that Princess Diana would meet with him.
"Are you sure this is the best way?"
Bruce looked over at Clark, a frown marred his handsome face. "Would you prefer Luthor do to Themycira as he did to Krypton?" Just thinking about it, made Clark relive the pain as if the atrocities had only happened, for he was all that remained of his once powerful realm. "Besides," Bruce continued, "Gotham owes it to the Princess to help."
"I will go with you," Clack replied.
Bruce approached him. "No. I want you here. Safe."
Clark shook his head. "Where you go, I go. Besides, the boys will want to come, too."
Three boys jumped out from behind the curtain.
"Can we go? Can we?"
"Richard. Jason. Timothy. We do not spy on each other," Bruce admonished. The youngest had heard this speech before.
"Clark knew we would be here," Jason said. "So, technically, we weren't spying."
Bruce's voice was a low growl. "Pack lightly. We leave at midnight."
...
Dinah and Selina waited three miles from the outskirts of Themyscira for the King of Gotham. They hoped the King was smarter than to march in with his whole army. The longer they could keep their plans from Luthor the better. Selina and Dinah even hid up in the trees because the tyrant Emperor had spies everywhere.
When Selina saw five young men approach, she motioned for Dinah across the pathway to take notice. The young men looked like sheepherders, but Selina wasn't so sure, especially when she caught sight of the black sword on one man's hip.
"The mythical Bat Sword..." she whispered as she realized who walked below them. Perhaps working with Gotham would end well.
Selina and Dinah jumped down and surprised the men, but quickly explained their purpose. Soon, the entire party was headed to the secure and secret place where the Princess waited for them.
Diana welcomed King Bruce, his partner, Clark of Krypton, and the three princes they brought along. But she could not go on with the pleasantries until she said her peace.
"Your father dishonored my home. And yours."
The three boys behind the King stood on guard. Selina and Dinah stood ready, their hands inching closer to their weapons.
King Bruce took a deep breath and held a hand up to calm his people. Normally, he allowed no one to speak of his parents, he was the proud King of a proud Kingdom, but what his father had done to the Queen of Themyscira, he could not defend.
"He did," King Bruce admitted. He remembers the night his mother passed. A week later, a new queen sat in her thrown. "It is why we are here." Steve looked worried. Diana looked enraged. "I wish to make amends for what happened before," the King continued, "Therefore, my army is your army, Princess."
Diana looked around the room. Her Army and Espionage Generals were ready to fight for her, the boys behind the King were ready to give their lives, Steve, too, would die protecting her, and for what? King Bruce had not stolen his mother away destroying her family in the process, his father had and that father was long dead. Reluctantly, she realized the men standing before her were not her enemy, the Emperor was.
"Very well," Diana stated, "We will work together." King Bruce nodded and sighs of relief filled the room. "And together we will defeat the Emperor and Ares!"
Cheers erupted from the small inn.
...
After Ares left the secret chamber, Emperor Luthor remained, still seated on the golden throne of Themyscira. There was a smug smile on his face. He knew Princess Diana's plan to attack come morning, he knew Gotham had joined the battle, and he knew Clark of Krypton was with them. Still, he was not worried.
"Let them come," Lex spoke out loud, "I will be ready."
...
Clark stroked Bruce's hair and watched the shadow's caused by the fading fire dance across his naked body.
"Do not worry," Clark whispered.
Bruce looked up at him. He was worried. Putting his boys in danger, putting Clark in harm's way made him worry. Still, he said nothing about it. "The boys will be ready soon. We should prepare as well."
Clark grabbed Bruce's hand and pulled him back down for one last kiss. "We will be victorious," Clark promised, "And we will end Luthor's reign once and for all."
...
"Angel, are you well?" Steve watched as Diana dressed.
She turned to him and smiled, "I am."
And she was because she knew Ares would not live to see another sun set.
...
"Everything's in place," Selina said, "Everyone's ready."
Dinah wrapped her arms around her and kissed her before putting on her armor.
"Does Luthor still think we're attacking at dawn?"
"Yes," Selina smiled, grabbing her whip. She had made sure word of their early morning assault reached one of his spies. In reality, they would charge in under a dark, moonless sky, taking the Emperor and Ares by surprise. "They won't know what hit them!"