Wonder Woman Origins: Orithia
The lights in the small news room studio, were centered in as theme music for Metropolis' very own, Channel 6 Action News, played it's way through. Seated in a simple but comfortable chair back stool, was Anchor woman Lois Lane. Dressed in a simple yet business savvy charcol colored short skirt and blazer with a neatly stylish light pink blouse and accentuating black leather calf high heeled boots. her dark brown hair purposely pulled into a hurried loose ponytail, Lois sat proudly in her chair looking over her notes before she received the cue to look toward the camera settled over her teleprompter. When her lines came up to speak, her sultry no nonsense voice slipped from her darkened lips.
"Good Evening, Metropolis. I am Lois Lane with Action 6 News, and tonight I welcome you to a once in a lifetime live interview. Tonight, we will be speaking with a woman who, until recently had received some troubled times. and we the good people of Metropolis will finally receive not only the answers we've been searching for but a mere glimpse into the world of one of our worlds most secretive societies. Without further adue, I would like to introduce to you all at home, our special guest and interviewee, Wonder Woman. Good Evening Wonder Woman. I would like to state that it is a great honor to finally get a chance to sit down and speak with you one on one."
As Lois finished her Introduction she looked toward a figure settle a few feet from where she was seated, stoically positioned in a proudly noble pose, her legs crossed right over left politely over one another as her hands rested at the front of her right knee. When the lights and camera turned to share focus of the scene between the two women, the cameras captured the figure of a woman, who appeared to hold the powerful presence of the previously known and most beloved, Diana Prince. However, this woman appeared vastly different than what others would have expected. Her skin tone, while still the same olive tanned beauty that Wonder Woman was known to hold, as well as the long shoulder blade length raven feather black hair and piercingly steel blue shimmering soft eyes, she seemed nearly 2 inches shorter than her predecessor, her body appearing more toned and sculpted to entice with it's near peak atheletic shaping. The woman's subtle muscle accented exotic curved were drawn further into the appearance of the camera's by the fitted outfit she dawned, while settled over her pant covered left thigh rest the fabled Lasso of Truth.
With armor plated golden metal black flat soled leather boots, a near indigo shaded blue pair of skin tight pants, which seemed to shimmer with a sense of Magical silkiness. A golden metal belt that seemed to settle itself at just the perfect angle to rest over her hips with her left hip keeping the belt hanging by a single thick belt loop. A intricately crafted and clearly armored soft leather sleeveless red leotard settled itself perfectly out of sight under the pants which seemed to discretely conceal the Amazonian woman's gorgeous body in it's simplistic battle ready design. While a dark blue leather blazer jacket with darkened gorgeously intricate metal shoulder pads cascaded perfectly over the exposed arms and the slender sides of her torso. as though held back from hugging itself around the woman by her golden Amazonian eagle winged symbol armor plating that was drawn perfectly over the stunning beauty of her chest. Around This woman's neck was settled a dark red colored leather strapping of sorts that matched the leotard's design and seemed to accent the full outfit with a stylist unknown meaning. While the sleeves of this woman's jacket were rolled up just enough to reveal a pair of mid tricep length golden bracers bound and clasped around a pair of fingerless red cloth gloves that had what looked like pure gold thread embroydering around both of their ends. As the woman sat her shoulders turned toward Lois Lane and three silvery metal stars revealed themselves on the sides of the woman's shoulder pads as she lifted her head back calmly and shuffled her hair behind her back to finally reveal the golden shimmering beauty of a circlet resting just below her hair line, that had a single red jeweled star in it's front.
As the woman allowed her alluring near otherworldly beauty be taken in she smiled a proud perfect smirk and replied. "I thank you, Lois Lane, reporter for the Action 6 News. Your grand welcome and kind words of introduction are a pleasure to behold. I do agree it has been far too long since Wonder Woman has been the topic of one of your keen insightful interviews. I would be welcoming to answer any of the questions you may wish to ask."
When Lois heard the reaction from Orithia, she smirked and tapped her papers on the tops of her thighs. "Well alright, lets get right in to the thick of this then! My first question for you, Wonder Woman, is. When she last left our beautiful city, there was another woman standing in your role, What has happened to her? and Why are you laying claim to her mantle?" After a moment, Orithia took in a soft sigh as she looked almost heartbroken by the question. Though, looking toward the Camera a moment she smiled half way and replied, while turning her attention back to Lois. "Mrs. Lane, the woman that was in my position before me. Regretibly failed to uphold her Mantle. She, being unfit for her title at the time was given a stern and direct choice. This choice was heartbreaking to many who respected and loved her deeply. To think back on the entire thing I feel the weight of her thoughts in my own heart just as deeply as if I had said them, were I her."
Looking down a moment she replied further on. "She is alive and well still, though she will not be returning to the world of men any longer. The former Wonder Woman's place is with her people. So by the rights of our people, by the laws and commands of our Queen, I have stepped forward to uphold Wonder Woman's former position." As she finished speaking Lois nodded and reached out to place a calming hand on Orithia's hand in a friendly manner. "Hey, I get that, I'm sorry if I am coming off strongly here. This interview is meant to really gain the answers the people want. Not cause you high amounts of emotional damage. So, try not to let it get to you, okay? Great, Now the second Question. Do you have any sort of love interest. I know the former Wonder Woman had a littered past when it came to matters of the heart. So since coming here, have you found anyone that you'd call Bae? Or are you, basically on the table so to speak."
Blushing deeply as she heard the Question, Wonder Woman laughed nervously and fidgeted in her seat before she'd reply with a snicker. "Well thank you for your kind reassuring words. and I am sorry to have let that first question push my nerves so much. It is simply a hard subject for me, or any sister of Themyscira to really speak about. As for your question of relations. I love every sister of the great City of Themyscira, even then I hold a softness to all of Paradise Island's people. I would die for any of them if it would mean the safety of my people. But, I have yet to truly find a member of Paradise Island or any other world that has captivated my heart. So the definitive answer to your question No, I have no as you called it "bae" to speak of."
After a short moment of laughter, Lois smiles toward the honesty of the Amazonian Woman's obvious embarassment to the question, then looking down at her notes she sighed softly and replied. "Wonder Woman, can you tell me. How you took up the mantle of Wonder Woman? I would assume that a race of women warriors wouldn't just throw a noble title as Wonder Woman around to everyone." After the question was asked, Orithia smirked and replied. "Well Wonder Woman is not the title that my sisters use for my placement. First and foremost, I am an ambassador, a medium to which our Queen can facilitate her concerns and keep a conscious eye over the world of men through. This means that while I am indeed here to assist the people of Earth from criminal acts and or threats that the Women and Men of the Police forces around the world are unable to handle. But, it also means that I am here to ensure that Themyscira's people will be safe from the rest of the world as well. However, you asked about how I became Wonder Woman. So I will tell you a story of how the way my sisters came to choose me as their representative."
At that time, Wonder Woman paused to consider her words, taking a soft sighing breath before she began to speak. "You see, Everything started 8 months before today..."
On the island of Paradise Island. Women have a great Utopian society. Life without the trials or influence of Men is peaceful. The governing women who lead the city of Themyscira, are on equal terms with every other sister that lives within the safety of it's walls. There is commerce trade a form of currency work is free for any who wish to do specific professions and every woman holds responcibility for their own actions. The existence of life is grand and while there are times when conflicts between one another do happen, resolutions are often settled through peaceful non life threatening means. This is the life that has been in existence for Themyscirans for centuries now. However, our way of life was threatened seven decades ago by the discovery of men who were holding battle in crude metal machines over the island. As the men fought many of the women of Themyscira were placed in dangers path.
In reaction to this threat of destruction at the hands of foolish wars of men, The Queen of Themyscira, ordered her warriors to the air to greet the threat the men were facing with the peaceful island. With brute ferocity and precise training, the Warriors made speedy work of the men and their machines. Many of them falling from the skies they stole to be swallowed in the crushing depths of Posideon's realm. This is where the Queen's Daughter, Princess Diana, happened across a man who survived. This man was taken as a prisoner, and for several weeks he was interrogated over his reasoning for encroaching on Themysciran borders. The Queen grew tired of supporting the existence of a male within her walls, even as a prisoner, and was going to order his execution, when Princess Diana stepped forward and plead for his pardoning. Debates rose and meetings between the governing members of Themyscira with the Queen, and at the end of the man's first month on Themyscira, The Queen met with him and Princess Diana officially.
This meeting resulted in the pardon and escorting of the man to safe waters near his homelands, where he was given a small boat and ordered to never seek Paradise islands shores again, or Themyscira would consider it an act of war and swiftly retaliate. It was several months after this day, that the queen received a message from the world of men. From the man that was once a prisoner. He had discovered information from spies that were working for his homeland that stated the enemies were poised to make a full act of war against Paradise Island and that the entire island was in life ending danger.
In fear of her people being placed into harms way once more, the Queen ordered all of her forces to meet in the colliseum. There she explained the situation and the plight that the world of men were bringing to the peaceful shores of Paradise Island. At which point, she decreed that she would set forth a set of trails testing loyalty, battle prowess, intelligence, leadership, selflessness, morality, and understanding. These trials would determine a person who would stand ahead of all the other sisters of Themyscira and would be an ambassador for the Island in order to gain allies who would combat this great threat that she was told was called Communists.
The trials were harsh, each one gathering six of Themyscira's most decorated warriors, and a mystery warrior who stood as the seventh contestant. For loyalty, the contestants were violently interrogated for three days without rest. and then commanded to surrender or there would be further torture. One after another the trial sisters fell. Until only one contestant was left. From that point the trials went the same way, one trial after the next for several weeks. Until finally that final trial came and the Mystery Warrior stood victorious. When the Queen addressed the Warrior, she ordered her to reveal herself and to many sisters shock and awe it was found that Princess Diana was the Mystery Warrior all along.
Soon, she was placed in the position of Diplomatic ambassador of Themyscira and was sent to the world of men to serve Paradise Island's best interests. For numerous decades, Princess Diana performed her duties as best she could. However, time has a very strange way of altering fate. Soon, the Princess grew more and more distant from her people, each year finding more and more reason to combat threats to the world of Men rather than seeking to aid the people of Themyscira. Until finally after having to lead and fight in her third entire war against the forces of Circe and her Animorphs, without the aid of her own daughter's presence, The Queen snapped and called for a demand for Princess Diana's arrest.
After several bloody and emotional battles of Amazon against Amazon when it came to the Princesses capture and detainment, Princess Diana was finally brought back to Paradise Island, where she was bound and shackled, her weapons and tiara stripped from her head, before she was lead before her mother's presence in chains. Once Diana was in the company of the Queen, verbal battles were waged between mother and daughter. and The Queen, in her rage from the way her Daughter was standing against the people of Paradise Island, commanded that there be a contest. Diana would fight against any sister who wished to take the place of ambassador. And should Diana fall, she would surrender her rank, her title as Princess, and her freedom to the City of Themyscira. If Diana succeeded she would be given the chance to face The Queen and thus earn the right to defeat and take her place as Queen of Paradise Island with The Queen standing as Queens consort to ensure that Diana would never leave Paradise Island again.
Princess Diana accepted this challenge willingly, and with pride and determination to succeed, she was more than prepared to face off against anything the Queen could fathom to throw at her. For several months Sisters came and faced Diana one after another trials were thrown at them and each time the Princess overcame her trials and the sister fell. It wasn't until 3 months ago, that I finally decided to step forward. All my life I had trained, right at Princess Diana's side. Learning how to fight and stand tall in every aspect of the word 'equal' to Diana. Reaching for every moment I could to learn and grow from overcoming the experiences that were placed before me. Standing across from the woman that I had grown up to call sister. Seeing her stripped of her rights and dignities of being who she was, Standing in the center of the prisoners arena with only a ragged toga and a dulled rusted Gladius in her hand. I felt the weight of her life choices through her eyes and I felt pity. I wanted her to just surrender. To give in before the fight, so that I could hold her close and just welcome her home. So many before me wanted the same thing, but I am Amazon.
When the signal was given to begin, Diana was vicious. As though, she was little more than a beast unleashed and she relentlessly showed me everything she held on her soul. Her attacks were ruthless and seemingly endless, but where other sisters tried to counter her resolve with ferocity, I weathered the storm and used my patience to bide my time. Blade and bracer clashed in stunning displays of strikes, legs thud violently against one another as our attacks met one after another. Before long, the world seemed to simply melt away as we battled one another. No mercy was needed, Pity faded into nonexistence, and even emotions gave way to the flurry of battle. We were matched and our souls connected at that moment, battle forging our hearts to follow the same beat of instinctual urges.
minutes felt like hours, hours felt like days and soon the moment came where Diana made her mistake. It was small, most of the Amazons would never have seen it. In fact, had it been anyone else the mistake in itself would have proven for Diana's victory. But I was not just any other Amazon, I had worked for every second I survived as Diana's training partner. and As Diana moved, she mistakenly moved to lift her elbow around for a fierce surprise elbow after a feint kick step to my knee. I took the moment and lurched forward, grappling the Princess and placing her in a modified choke hold. Both of us at this point had battled for long enough that neither of us were clean. dirt, grime, sweat, and the heat of our struggle had caked over our bodies in the walled dirt arena. This made combat more and more difficult to control for the both of us and when I managed to catch Diana, she knew what was going to happen. I am uncertain if she wanted this or how her mind felt when it happened, but from the corner of my eyes I looked and noticed a soft comforted and accepting smile on Diana's worn and tiring lips. Then she spoke lightly. "Good Luck sister, finish this battle, you've been given everything and earned more than I want anymore."
It was all that I needed, and in a way I believe it was what Diana wanted as well. To be done with the trials, relieved of the weights that had amassed on her shoulders in her life. So, with a slight nod and roar of passionate fury I used the hold that I had placed her in to lift and pull Diana up from her feet only to arch my back and bring her face crashing down with all our bodies weight into the dirt with a vicious suplex, that left Diana exposed to my follow up of climbing over her back and straddling her shoulders with my knees, before placing her in a powerful submission hold and demanding her surrender. Something, Diana was finally not reluctant to give to me.
Now, after several feasts of victory, ceremonies, and public displays of my new position. Here I have been placed, ambassador of Paradise Island and your newly appointed Wonder Woman.
When Orithia finished telling her story, she sighed out softly and looking toward the camera smiled with the confidence of a Goddess as she spoke to what she assumed was people watching at home. "I am Wonder Woman, appointed such by the Queen and Ruler of Themyscira. I have earned my right to stand as the woman you see now, through the tests of my people. I have faced off against the prior woman you all gave the mantle of Wonder Woman and I say now that have beaten her in honorable combat, So beware. If you are a criminal and you seek the harm of the people of Earth or my sisters of Themyscira, I will not hold quarter to you."
Lois, at that time clapped her hands and replied with pride in her voice. "There you have it folks, our new Wonder Woman. I would stay and ask more questions but we're out of time. Thank you Wonder Woman, I want to be the first of so many to wish you luck and hope to have many more moments that you and I can meet and have another interview again! This is Lois Lane, with Action 6 News. Stay proud and heads up, Metropolis!"