Wonder Woman's shout echoed across the churning waters, "No!"

She watched Troia sink below the surface of the river, still caught in the iron grip of the gorgomaid who screeched her triumph with her two sisters. Diana gathered the very strength of the earth to her, gifted by the gods of Olympus, forcing her limbs to move despite the numbness that threatened to render them useless.

Diana's progress against the tentacle was gradual at first. The suction force wrapped around her would have surely crushed a normal being by now. She drew in breath and pushed harder, further, and with greater intensity. In the span of only a few moments, Diana cast off the creature's grip, her lasso instantly in hand.

The creatures' screams of frustration filled the air, angered to be denied their prize. Diana drew back as she hovered in the air, the limbs of the flailing creatures lashing at her form like whips of lightning. Even as Wonder Woman cast forth her lasso to entangle the creature that had only moments before held her, the others converged on her position.

As the second creature streamed forth, its thick-armed tentacles reached out for the Amazon. An instant before contact, the gorgomaid was swallowed beneath the waters. The third screamed in fright and confusion, flailing even more than before and speeding toward the shores of the river.

The survivors of the recently attacked ships scattered, though still some others were frozen in place. Wonder Woman, her grip still firm on the unbreakable lariat, sped after the creature, cutting off its path. She quickly looped around the creature, ensaring it within the lasso along with the other.

"Hey!" The voice called from further out, drawing both Diana's attention and a sigh of relief. Troia waved a hand as she tread the water, beckoning to her sister with a smile. "I think I know just what to do with those two."

"...already been resolved. There were no casualties, but some people had been badly injured." Diana flew high over the city, speaking via the pinpoint communications established through the JLA Watchtower. "Troia and I deposited the creatures in an underwater grotto, she's still there now helping to coordinate the rescue teams."

~Sounds great to me, Princess, ~ The voice of Green Lantern sounded through the red-starred earrings to Wonder Woman. ~I've already alerted Aquaman. He should be there to pick up the garbage any time now.~

Diana smiled, nodding her head to herself. "Good. Wonder Woman out."

The crystal blue sky was spread out before her, an endless sea that was unobscured by the wispy white of clouds. Diana spread her arms wide, feeling the rush of cool air against her skin as she soared. Her destination was unseen to all prying eyes, though she felt its presence.

Warm. Welcoming.

Home.

The Wonder Dome had been created as her safe haven. It was her retreat from the world below when she felt herself a danger to those around her. She needed space to regroup and once more gather her bearings. Even a woman chosen of the gods sometimes needed to take a step back. Time to rethink her place. Her mission.

When she was herself the goddess of truth on Mt. Olympus, she could not stop herself from interfering in the mortal realm. She could never stand idly by and watch her friends and the world suffer and know that she could prevent it. She had welcomed being returned to the world in her mortal guise, and even now as she drew forth a deep breath and hovered before the entrance of her sanctum...she knew why.

Diana smiled as she landed with first one foot and then the other on the solid floor of the Wonder Dome. Her footsteps did not echo against the walls as she strode through the open foyer and toward the inner recesses of the Dome.

"Greetings, Princess." Diana stopped short as she was greeted by the dark-haired centaur who made his home within the same outwardly invisible walls as she. He bowed, a graceful movement for man or beast as he glided forwarded.

"Charon," she greeted him in turn with another smile. "Would you care to join me for a bit to eat? I didn't have time to stop in the city, so - " She stopped as she noted the expression on the centaur's face. His brow was drawn and his lips were set in a stern line. "Is something wrong?"

Rather than answering her, the Centaur stepped to the side. Just behind him stood a tall, blonde teenager. She looked at Diana with wide blue eyes. She was visibly shaken. Cassandra Sandsmark stood silent for a long moment before rushing the Amazon, wrapping her arms tightly about her waist.

Diana blinked in surprise, holding her protégé closely.

Apparently, dinner would have to wait.

Darkness.

It was the all consuming darkness of a Void. The beginning of creation...or perhaps its end. Artemis felt nothing. Though even nothing would be something. Her limbs were unresponsive, though she was not even sure they existed. She saw nothing, if she was at all capable of sight.

Her mind was adrift in the endlessness, she had no anchor to anything or anyone. She wanted to panic, or scream, or run. Anything to escape the void that surrounded her. The starless night that threatened her. Artemis was an Amazon born. A warrior. Over time she'd become a leader amongst the Amazons of Bana-Midgall in much the same way that the Amazons of Themyscira looked to their princess as an example.

When faced with an enemy, she would not hesitate to fight. She would treat every battle as a war. Every thrust of a spear as the killing blow. Every arc of her sword would be aimed to take the life of her opponent on a battlefield. But without a means to fight, without a way to confront her enemy, she was lost.

And how did you fight a god, when you didn't even know how to begin?

"Amazon."

That one word boomed through the darkness. A multi-toned rippling that penetrated the soul. The waves of destructive energy arose around her and the Amazon tried to ride the unending tide. Artemis felt herself shudder under the onslaught of that single word, her sense of self was threatening to collapse. She clutched it tightly to her heart. And though her will was strong, the mind of a mortal could only accept so much.

"Listen to me, Amazon." The voice continued and the energy that accompanied it beat against the shores of her soul. "Listen to me and learn of your fate...."

Silence.

And then the screaming began.

"Slow down, Cassandra. Take a deep breath. Relax." Diana sat across from the teenager now, trying to calm and soothe her so that she could understand exactly what happened. The girl had started and stopped a few times, clearly distraught, and in the time she waited for Diana had only grown worse according to Charon. "Now. Tell me what happened. Everything you saw."

"All right," the girl nodded. She clutched a cup of hot tea in her hands. The herbs that accompanied the steam that lifted to her nostrils relaxed her, allowing her to think more clearly. She related the story as best she could, starting with the fact that she and Artemis had trained all afternoon. And then how she had left to get drinks and came back to find Ares and Artemis facing off. "...before I could say anything, Artemis was yelling something to me and the next thing I knew - " She looked up to Diana and tears stood in stark relief in the sky blue of her eyes. " - she was gone."

Diana nodded, her expression showing every bit of her consternation. Ares had returned. He'd taken Artemis. Why? Whatever the war god was up to, all she knew was that it could be nothing good.

"I'm so sorry, Diana." Cassie was speaking again, the tears she'd been trying to hold back coursing down her face. "I wanted to do something, anything, b-but it all happened so fast."

The dark-haired Amazon leaned forward, wrapping her arms around the girl again. "Its not your fault, Cassandra. There was nothing you could have done." Diana was more than certain of it as she clutched the girl tighter, willing her to believe and to know it as well. "Now," she pulled back slightly, looking Wonder Girl in the eyes as she spoke. "I want you to go home and - " She lifted a finger to forestall the coming pleas, " - keep an eye on things for me here because I may not be able to do so."

A look of sour disappointment crossed the girl's features, but she nodded her assent. If Diana needed her to do something, anything, she'd do it. "What are you going to do?"

Wonder Woman didn't answer immediately. After a moment she stood, and when she looked to Cassie again, there was a fierce determination in the woman's gaze that gave even her protégé pause. "I'm going to get my sister back."

Themyscira.

The shores of the island of paradise had been home to the Amazons for thousands of years. Originally slain within Patriarch's World, their spirits had languished in the Well of Souls. Then the day came when the goddesses sought to create a race of warrior women to uphold their philosophies and principals.

Princess Diana had been the first child ever to be raised exclusively on Themyscira. The Amazons had been given full adult form when they were restored by their goddesses. They were immortal. The Queen of their race had prayed each day, each year for a thousand years for the child she had lost. To her greatest joy, her prayers had been answered.

Diana could only pray that the gods would answer her silent prayers now.

As she neared the secret location of her island home, Diana felt the same sense of wonder they never failed to escape her. As eager as she had been to escape the bonds and confinement of life on the island, it was in her blood like no other. Each homecoming filled her heart with happiness, and each departure stung her anew.

There was a small delegation that awaited the princess as she landed on the sands of the coastal beach. General Phillipus was the first to approach Diana, offering a formal bow before meeting her gaze. "Your message was most urgent, Your Highness. Will you tell us now what is amiss in Patriarch's World?"

At first, Diana paid her little heed. Her gaze scanned the crowd, noting most of the delegation was intimately familiar to her. They were each members of her mother's royal guard. But there was one vital person missing from the equation....

"Where is Mother?" Diana glanced over her shoulder, as if half-expecting the Queen would appear over the bluffs.

Phillipus drew herself up, "Her Majesty had business in Patriarch's World. I - " She paused momentarily as Diana looked to her again, " - was unable to reach her."

"I see." Diana's voice was low, the underlining hard edge of those few words apparent to the General, though she said nothing. "Then it looks like I will have to handle this myself. Gather the Themysciran Amazons," she began. "Ares has returned and - "

"Ares?!"

"Yes," Diana answered her in a crisp tone. "We have to be prepared for anything. I'll leave the Amazons readiness in your capable hands, General. I must speak with those of my aunt's tribe."

Phillipus frowned slightly. She knew well of Hippolyta's dislike of the new tribe of Amazons, even if she was not sure of its source. They had been banned from most political proceedings of Themyscira and lived apart from them on a remote part of the island that was savage even by the best of standards. "Are you sure that is wise, Princess?"

"As sure as I can be," Diana answered her truthfully. "Whatever may happen, we're going to have to be united. The Themyscirans and those descended from Antiope. Otherwise all may be lost before we have even begun."

The general nodded and offered another bow before returning to the delegation of Amazon warriors. She spoke to them in clipped tones, and the Amazons snapped to ready attention and spread out as ordered.

One thing down, and the hardest yet to go.

Anaya came running into the new council chambers that were still under construction. Though they still had their temporary village of huts and make-shift housing, Antiope's Amazons would hardly abide by such living conditions for long.

Anaya quickly made her way over to a towering warrior, her head dress falling around her shoulders, held in place by a simple band of leather. Falzia directed the builders so that the mortor was placed where it was needed and the artisans would still have room to work across from them.

"Falzia!" Anaya's voice echoed in the enclosed space of the room, catching the attention of all as she made her way to the other woman, not even pausing to catch her breath. "Princess Diana is here. She says its urgent and we should come quickly."

"Is that so?" Falzia frowned, folding her arms. "Well, if things are so urgent then why hasn't the mighty queen of Themyscira herself decided to come to our hospitable part of the island?"

"Because she is indisposed with other business," Diana replied as she strode into the room, followed by a small group. She glanced around with appreciative surprise. When she last saw the settlement of the newest tribe of Amazons, it had been rough by most standards. But now she could see the beginnings of a small city forming. The influence of Egyptian architecture and art was clear, a beautiful compliment and contrast to the classical Grecian structures of Themyscira.

"Well, princess." The title was said with some disdain. Falzia crossed her arms and stood with a wide and defiant stance. "What trouble have your Themysciran Amazons gotten themselves into this time? Perhaps you need us as more canon fodder to defend your Nation? Perhaps afterwards this time, you'll give us a vote on what crops to plant this year instead of just a piece of desolate land."

Diana stood before the other warrior woman, her expression calm but determined. "I did not come here to argue, Falzia. There is trouble coming and we - "

"Ha! I see. So once again you come to us for aid. I should have known - "

"If you will listen to me," Diana interjected smoothly, staring the other Amazon down as she waited to be heard. The two women stood for a long span of moments, only the shuffling of a dozen feet could be heard before Falzia relented and nodded her head. "There is trouble coming, but not just to my mother's Amazons, but to those of Antiope's as well."

"And what trouble might this be, Princess?" An older woman stepped forward. She was dressed in a tattered robe and her face was severely scarred. She had only one eye by which to see and the other was covered by a patch.

"Ares." She looked around at everyone present. "It would seem the War god is up to something. He kidnapped Artemis - "

Shouts of rage and indignation assaulted her ears, the previous murmur of the crowd now a roar. Diana held up her hands for silence, raising her own voice to be heard until the voices died down. "He has taken Artemis. Where? I don't know. But I intend to find out. In the meantime," she turned and looked to Falzia, "we have to be prepared for anything."

"And how do we know this to be true?" Falzia practically shook with rage. And though her voice was strained with anger, the princess was only a convenient target, not the true focus of the Amazon's frustrations.

"Because I have never lied to you."

Falzia stood for several moments staring at the other Amazon as she had before. Finally, she nodded her head once. "Very well." She turned and motioned to another. "Bitari...sound the order, make sure every Amazon is prepared for battle."

"Thank you, Falzia." Diana gave the woman a curt nod and turned to leave. There was still much to do, and she had a sinking feeling there was going to be very little time to do it.

"What do you think could be going on, Falzia?" Anaya stood watching in the princess' wake, her expression showing every bit of the concern heard in her voice. "If Ares has Artemis, then how do we get her back?"

"We fight him." Falzia's hands were clutched into tight fists, "We fight until our dying breath or until he gives her back."

"You can't take what is freely given." The familiar contralto came from the back of the room, causing all heads to turn. Artemis stepped from the far corner, beneath the scaffolding that dominated the area.

"Artemis!" Anaya rushed toward her sister Amazon, but came up short, blinking. "But Diana said you were kidnapped. That the god Ares had taken you from - "

"As in so many other things," Artemis smiled, "Diana was wrong." She glanced around the room, her dark green eyes narrowed as she looked at each of her Amazons in turn. "Now, let me tell you a little story...."

Diana made her way back across the island interior on foot. The way was not an easy one by any standard, but she was without many other options. Within the island proper of Themyscira, Diana was without her gods given gifts. She was no greater and no less than the sum total of her natural skills and abilities.

She glanced to the sun that sunk lower and lower in the sky, touching the horizon's edge. Surely the Themyscirans would be well underway with their preparations, and the tribe of Antiope should be gathering themselves as well. But she couldn't help but feel as if she were setting the pieces on the chessboard without knowing who the main players were going to be.

Wonder Woman paused, a prickling sensation along the back of her neck let her know she was not alone. She turned abruptly on her heel and watched as a figure materialized in the clearing she crossed. Tall. Muscled. Armored. She could not misplace the mere look of the god even if she could ignore the sheer volume of energy she felt flow from his form.

"Where is she?" Not a greeting was given. Not a weapon drawn. The princess was as focused as ever, and she wanted answers, not games of pleasantry or anything else.

Dark laughter filled the space like an oil slick across crystal waters. Diana's face wrinkled with mild disgust as she regarded the god. "It is not your place to demand anything of me, goddess of truth."

"If you recall, that is not a title I hold any longer."

"No." The god stepped forward. Most mortals with the sense they were born with would have retreated, but Diana merely stood her ground. "You threw it away because you could never leave well enough alone. You could never stop interfering in a battle you cannot hope to win."

"Where is she?" Again, the question. Diana drew herself up, jaw tightening.

"I will offer you a chance, Amazon." The darkness within Ares' helmet seemed to bore into her. "You think me evil, and I think your entire race is one doomed to failure. But, I am willing to give you a single chance."

"What do you mean?" Diana tilted her head slightly. She didn't know what Ares was up to, but she was unwilling to put much past his motives to see the world dissolve into war and chaos.

An endless field of worship to suit his blood thirsty whims.

"The Amazons are failing. You know it. I know it. But I offer you a chance to prove your worth. Your ideals of peace and prosperity are doom to fall upon deaf ears, the way of war and violence will continue to thrive and prevail. However," that empty darkness within the visor of the god's helmet turned to her again. "Accept my challenge and defeat it, and I will leave your simpering race to their island refuge."

"And if I refuse?" Diana asked defiant, her right hand falling automatically to her lasso.

"You may never see your fellow Amazon again. The choice is yours."

Diana stared at the war god, her eyes narrowed. She felt her fingers twitch around the golden smoothness of the lariat at her side. She knew she had no choice.

"I accept."

Next Issue: Diana's challenge.