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Donna Troy stepped into the grotto as she was told. The entrance was narrow, but it gradually became wider as she entered, and eventually she found a space that looked like a small open space. There was holes somewhere in the grotto, and she could see the inside of the grotto dimly.As she was told, Artemis was sitting on a flat rock in the corner of the grotto, eyes closed, meditating.
"Artemis?"
Donna called out in a quiet voice, but Artemis did not move an inch. When Donna turned to go back, Artemis asked with her eyes closed.
"What?"
Donna approached Artemis.
"I need to talk to you about something."
A few months have passed since Donna Troy became a member of Bana-Mighdall. Donna spends about half the month living in Bana-Mighdall, while she works as a hero in the United States in the other half. It seems other Amazons are accepting her as one of their own, rather than just a guest.
During her stay at Bana-Mighdall, Donna was exclusively in charge of teaching the newcomers. Some of the newcomers had left their old lives behind to become Amazons. Naturally, they would be trained as warriors, but they had to acquire basic physical strength at first. Donna has been entrusted with teaching them this part of the training.
The subject that she wanted to discuss with Artemis was about the guidance. She wanted to know if she could use the same kind of training equipment Donna uses in the U.S. to strengthen her muscles.
"Are you going to buy that equipment from the U.S.?"
Artemis asked after hearing Donna's story.
"No,"
Donna replied.
"I asked Layla, the blacksmith, to take a look at what I have and she said she could make it for me."
"If that's the case, I don't mind."
Artemis gave his permission readily, then added, "It would be hard to come up with the cash to buy it."
"I understand. Thank you."
Donna turned to go, and Artemis called out to her. Artemis opened her eyes and looked at Donna.
"I've heard rumors about you, Donna Troy. You have a reputation for being very attentive and your lecture is easy to understand."
Artemis smiled so broadly that it was clearly visible even in dim light. Donna smiled shyly and replied,
"Everyone listens to me so well."
"You're very popular, 'Miss Donna Troy',"
Artemis said teasingly.
"I bet you were popular in Themyscira, too,"
She added. Donna's face clouded at the mention of the word.
"In Themyscira, ... it was a little different," she replied
Artemis was completely taken aback, "Why?" Artemis asked back.
Donna sat down on a rock a short distance away from Artemis.
"Artemis, how well do you know me?"
"What?"
"For example, my relationship with Diana."
"You are Diana's younger sister or something, right?"
Donna took a breath at Artemis' answer.
"You don't know anything about me," she said. Then she hurriedly added,
"I'm not blaming you. I was just surprised. I thought Diana had told you."
Artemis seemed to think for a moment, then spoke up,
"Donna. If you have something you want to keep secret, just keep it to yourself. I don't want to expose it. If you have something to say, you can always say it. I'll listen to you."
Donna hesitated for a moment, "Thank you," she said, and then began to speak slowly.
"Diana is the princess of Themyscira, but not all the Amazons welcomed her with open arms. Especially since they knew she is the daughter of Zeus, some were resistant to her."
Artemis nodded. Diana's presence is unique in Themyscira. That could happen.
"They gathered around a certain Amazon. You can call her a witch, if you like. They finally began to plan an attack on Diana, but... such plans are bound to fall through.
An elite force led by General Phillips raided the house where the gang was hiding, killing the witches and capturing many of the rest. Someone set fire to the lair, possibly to hide evidence, but then Diana heard a strange sound..."
"Wait a minute."
Artemis held up a hand and stopped Donna's story.
"Why was Diana in the elite unit? It's as if she's doing it to save them the trouble of getting in touch with her."
Donna replied,
"That's true, but...Diana was there anyway. She could have joined in without telling Queen Hippolyta or General Phillips."
"Diana could have done it."
Artemis muttered and urges her to continue.
"Diana, who was in the elite unit, heard a baby crying in a room on fire. Diana rescued the baby and escaped from the lair, and tried to get the identity of thebaby from the surviving members of the gang, but no one would answer. Queen Hippolyta commanded Menalippe, the Oracle, to ask for a sign from God. God immediately gave the answer. It was..."
Donna took a breath here.
"The baby was the child of nobody. She was created from clay by the witch with a curse in order to defeat Diana. There was anger and hatred seeded in the child's heart, and when she grew up, she would surely attack and kill Diana."
"... that baby, and Donna, you...?"
Artemis's voice trembled as she asked this. Donna pretended not to notice.
"That baby is me."
Artemis could not see Donna's expression as she answered. Only her voice came from the darkness.
"The weapon created from clay to defeat Diana. The cursed weapon. That's me."
'...'
When Artemis could say nothing, Donna went on.
"When Queen Hippolyta learned the truth, she and the Amazons in her entourage argued back and forth about what to do with the baby. Many argued that the baby should be killed. This is the right idea, isn't it, General Artemis?"
Artemis sighed when Donna deliberately called her general.
"I'm sorry to say," she replied reluctantly.
"They were right. Any future threats should be eliminated."
"Don't apologize. I totally agree with you. But Diana and some others insisted that I should be kept alive. They said that if I was raised with love, I would become a true Amazon, not a cursed weapon...foolishly."
Donna said with self-mockery. Artemis listened with sadness.
"In the end, Queen Hippolyta made the decision not to kill me, but to raise me. I was raised like Queen's second daughter. Everyone was indeed kind and raised me with love. But no one told me the truth. I was told that I was an orphan that Diana had found in the human world and that she had brought me back to the island. So, when I felt a little kept distance from everyone else, I assumed it was because I wasn't a real Amazon."
"So you went to the human world? Because you belived you were from there?"
"That was part of it, but the main reason was because I admired Diana. I followed Diana. But...I never thought that my true past would be revealed to me by Diana when I was fighting the enemy with the Justice League. I was really shocked at the time. ......"
Donna's voice becomes quieter. Artemis had the feeling that Donna was going to disappear.
"Sometimes I envy Cassie," Donna said.
"She has nothing to be ashamed of in her past. And she could believe you even though she knew you killed Queen Hippolyta. At the same time, I was ...so angry at you and hated you. All I wanted to do was to kill you. It seems the anger and hatred that was seeded in my heart at birth is still there."
"Donna."
Artemis gets up and goes to Donna's side. Donna was sitting on a rock, looking down. Artemis put her hands on Donna's shoulders. Donna slowly looked up and met Artemis' eyes.
"Never mind. A true Amazon is angry and hateful toward the murderer of the queen. Diana was right. You are now a true Amazon. I can only see one brave Amazon in front of me. You will stand beside me and fight the enemy with me, won't you? That is enough for me. How you were born does not define who you are today. Donna Troy of Bana-Maighdall is one of the best and fiercest warriors of our tribe."
"Artemis, ..."
Donna found herself really relieved, and she couldn't take her eyes off Artemis. Artemis was also staring at Donna.
"I've heard rumors,"
Keeping eye contact with Artemis, Donna suddenly changed the subject.
"They say that General Artemis loves a warrior who is as strong as she is. Is that true?"
"Not exactly."
Artemis chuckled and continued.
"I love a worrior who can use the strength for the benefit of others."
"You mean, a warrior like Diana?"
Artemis quickly moved her mouth close to Donna's ear and whispered,
"I mean, a warrior like Donna Troy."
Then she looked into Donna's eyes again.
"Donna, okay?"
Donna nodded silently, and Artemis gently pressed her lips to Donna's.
-The End.