Sprawling out on my well worn slightly falling apart couch that is just a little bit too small for my…six foot two linebacker built like a brick shit house frame…okay it's way too small for my frame, watching Young Justice for who knows how many times.
While also reading a Young Justice Gamer Fanfic that I find myself enjoying quite a bit, though I find myself incredibly sad when it comes to an end.
"You know what'd be fucking cool, would be to wake up in this guy's place." I hum sadly while having a little power trip in my head where I maybe let go of all my inhibitions and become something monstrous…with somewhat misguided good intentions…while still acting on every perverted fantasy I've ever had….thanks to becoming all powerful because of a system and my own hardwork/dedication.
Letting out a sigh I set my phone down on the back of the couch while pulling a blanket down over top of me and let myself drift off to sleep.
'It smells like the ocean…' I think while my eyes remain closed moving slightly to snuggle into the soft warmth where I'm laying.
'Sand…I hate sand!' I groan but what my senses register really starts to sink in…I live in Upstate New York in the middle of nowhere, and it's the beginning of winter.
'Todo, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore…' A small gasp slips out of me at the sight of the beach and though I might hate it, I have to admit this is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.
This sand is…so…so white, and soft it's nothing like the sand I've experienced before and the water is so clear I can see fish swimming in the shallows, crabs walking along the bottom. 'This place seems like a paradise…as cliche as that might sound, describing it that way…almost seems like a disservice to this place.'
"Like holy shit, this is…wrong. I shouldn't be able to pick out those dolphins breaking the ocean's surface in the distance. I might not be legally blind but I probably need glasses."
Then I realize at least one thing that's wrong; But now I'm seeing in what I assume to be perfect vision, which should be utterly impossible with my genetics.
I'm still wearing the clothes I had on when I fell asleep on the couch; an oldish black work t-shirt, black athletic sweatpants, and black boxer briefs…with white cushioned socks…but that's not the only weird thing though.
I've lost weight…a lot of weight.
I could bust my ass all year not eat or drink sugary and artificial foods with fake sugars and all that shit, but I never lost the fat oh sure I'd gain weight in muscle…but even then my gains were miniscule and I would push myself to the breaking point to the point by thirty my knees are shot my shoulders pop and I'm just generally unhappy in life.
In the end the only thing I ever really got out of exercising and eating right was being tired, sweaty and miserable afterwards. So for the past few years I've maintained a particularly disgusting, bloated 378 pounds of mostly fat. Now it feels like I'm back at the 180 I hovered around in high school. My gut and man tits are still present, but it's less.
The words of many people that didn't understand I could break their weak little asses in half that if I went into a gym with them I'd embarrass the shit out then when I started benching 450lbs while not effortlessly it'd still be more than then and their noodle arms, but their words always hurt even when they were the kinder ones.
"You are slowly but surely ruining your body." or "You need to eat better and exercise more."
Like how can I exercise more? I work from 4am to 7am go to school from 8am to almost 4pm then it's more farm work, when I didn't have school it was work all fucking day long, most of the time outside in sever elements sweating my ass off…sadly not literally moving heavy shit around, digging holes, chasing animals, only person I acknowledged doing more than me was my Dad, who by all that is unholy is twig thin to this day!
My genetic from my mother's side that I'm esqued to fucking suck!
Shaking my, shaking away those traitorous thoughts that have led to my near constant mental health issues to concentrate on the here and now.
"So. I don't know where I am, or how I got here…even if I do have a sneaking suspicion." Letting out a pained sigh, "I might be totally…royally fucked." pushing myself to my feet from my sitting position, spinning in a circle I see open plains of grass, thick woods there palm trees but there are also trees that I don't think fit within a tropical environment.
Shrugging I start walking in what seems like the easiest direction.
'Fucking sucks to be Irish with a bit O Welsh and English, with this lily white skin…' I complain I've been walking for maybe twenty minutes and have detected no signs of modern life, no noise pollution, no light pollution…it's really fucking strange…the only thing I've got going for me right now is that I'm starting to get a sunburn.
"Hmm, if I get up on that ridge it might help me find a place with people…though that might not be a good thing given the lack of things most people in the modern world take for granted things that are just part of the background to everyone." I mumble while seeing some sheer white cliffs about forty yards away, and pick up my pace a bit…my pale ass is burning and if this is the worst case scenario that I'm on an empty island, sunburn and dehydration could very likely be the death of me.
I hear something thumping in the distance…my hearing was always pretty decent though my hearing has suffered greatly working around loud equipment/machinery…but there's no mistaking the sound of a horse running at near full gallop and there are multiple hoof beats…meaning multiple horses.
"What are the chances that those hoof beats belong to a herd of wild horses?" I ask myself but feel very much like it is a vain hope.
"What in the hell am I seeing right now!?" I nearly shout at the sight of each of the twenty horses carrying at least one woman…now most people might not find that odd as in the past fifty years horseback riding has been more popular with women than men as me included would rather ride ATV's/Motorcycles/Dirt-Bikes etc.
The thing that's really stumping though is that these women are wearing armor like Greek/Roman armor, toting swords n' shit…the women riding bitch have bows with arrows knocked and strings drawn.
They're shouting something and definitely heading in my direction…and they sound fucking pissed right the fuck off!!!
They're closing in fast and the horses are the big, scary crush-you-to-death make clydesdales look small kind of crush your skull with one hoof fuck you horses…and even if I wasn't so fat and "lazy" I'd never be able to outrun them.
A hot wave of fear, adrenaline and embarrassment floods me, 'What if I'm just trespassing somewhere…where trespassing is punishable by death…I've dealt with those communities before, they're not as rare as some people think they are, but these ladies don't seem like the usual crazies.' my stomach flips…my breath hitches not entirely from fear…these women are gorgeous all of them down to the last and so are the horses…I love animals always have not in some sick twisted way, I used to love riding my horses, especially my horse "Lightning" until I got too heavy safely ride on her for her safely and health.
'Those look like horses I can ride.' an idle thought passes through my mind. I should be panicking, not thinking about lightning or riding horses…from panic, but instead I feel strangely aware of everything happening. I am scared, scared in the same way I get when I see cops in my rearview mirror, but I'm not paralyzed by my fear.
There is nowhere I can run, and even if I could hide somewhere, I would still be lost with no idea where I am. The only people that might have any information I can use are the women riding the horses. Any hostile action could lead the riders to use their very real, very sharp weapons on me, something I'd very very much like to avoid.
'The best thing I can do right now is not make myself a threat or provoke these women any further than my presence here already seems to, I just have to stay calm and do what they want me to make myself appear as small and pathetic as possible hard to do at six two and 180 lbs… it I shall do my best to seem as pitiful as possible, though that might be worse than projecting strength around a group of women doing their best to act like Amazonians from DC universes.' The sinking feeling in my gut intensifies, at my thoughts.
'I just have to hope these horse riding warrior women don't kill me and accidentally divulge some information so I figure out where and hopefully when I am.' Swallowing thickly I slowly drop to my knees so as not to make any sudden movements feeling probably like how a black kid in a yuppie white neighborhood, being held a gun point by a racist white cop feels, while slowly raising my arms and hands up above my head, while tilting my shin towards the ground seeing the less than pleased look on the face of the red haired woman who seems to be leading the other as she grips the sword on her hip and pulls it free from it's sheath.
'I am going to die head.'Is the thought that passes through my mind as I close my eyes and hope for the best.
Best being that this has all been a dream and that I'm going to be waking up on my couch just after being beheaded, but my gut instinct tells me that this is real and if I'm going to be beheaded it will be the end of my life.
{For careful consideration before making a decision or taking a course of action; You have gained [+1 WIS]} Lights up my vision even though my eyelids are closed, I'd like to think that I'm having a fucking stroke…but I'm pretty sure I have a system now.
Normally I'd be focusing on the possibly crazy warrior women or the feeling of heavy cold steel resting on my shoulder and pressing lightly against my neck…but I just heard a ping and got a flash of text across my vision.
The ping is familiar too, like pretty much any game that uses a level up system with drop stats.
'This implies that I have stats to improve, but I'm pretty sure I don't have any stats to speak of…at least I didn't when I went to sleep on my couch…'
The swordswoman/leader barks something at me in some language I don't understand…it's familiar…like something I remember vaguely from movies and tv shows but never actually learned… 'Judging by their armor it's Greek or Latin.' {For careful deductions given very little knowledge; You have gained [+1 INT]} an alert lights up my vision even though my eyelids are closed, the woman barks something at me again so I slowly open my eyes, 'My arms are starting to get tired holding them up like this.'
My mouth both seems to salivate and go dry at the same time as my heart beat rate increases but nowhere near what it should, having a sharp metal pointed thing pressed against my neck…the woman herself is beautiful like take Scarlett Johansson in Ironman 2 but increase her hotness by like 100x while having her be a 100% real a mix of muscle mommy but with the softness in areas you wouldn't expect from a tall, tan skinned, redhaired muscle mommy to have.
The armor they're all wearing is quite impressive as well; a helmet with a T-shaped slit for some of their face and eyes to be seen, a sturdy looking breastplate not the boobplates you see in a lot of fantasy art…yet most have an exposed midriff and most have visible washboard abs, they also wear armored skirts, heavy arm guard things, and greaves to complete the ensemble.
'These women are dressed like authentic Greek warriors…though the bronze is very dulled and not shiny like most movies and shows portray it.' I have to actively avoid staring at the sword…and the head of red blood sliding down the blade someone barks something from behind the red haired woman. With my new and much improved eyesight I can actually follow the voice and get a good look at the speaker! She has fancier armor than anyone else here; shoulder pads were present, along with a deep red cape and a Mohawk-styled crest on her helmet.
'The actual leader of these women?' I wonder if the one I believe to be the captain also has much darker skin than everyone under her command…not quite black more like a really tanned olive toned person.
The commander seems to be speaking to the hoplite holding me captive, issuing orders I guess. I turn back to the red head, and she narrows her eyes at me briefly before standing back and sheathing her sword.
Alright, so potentially crazy warrior ladies aren't going to immediately kill me on the spot.
'This is either a good thing or a really bad thing…'
The commander trots her horse forward to loom over me, and with me still kneeling she really looms. It's kinda intimidating if I'm being honest, especially the way her frame blocks out the sun a little bit. Her eyes roam over me. There's a hint of disgust in her eyes that even though I understand…it still hurts. She pauses her inspection of me before beginning to question me, "Who are you?" Her English is really accented, and kind of rusty sounding, as though she hasn't had to speak it in a while.
"Uuuhhm…Mason, Mason Fitzgerald." My voice sounds dry, and it carries a bit of a crackle.
"How did you come to be here, Mason…Fissgerhold?"
"I have no idea…I went to sleep in my home then I woke up on a white sanded beach…" Normally I'd respond with some swearing but my grandmother likes to say swearing tends to symbolize lack of intelligence which I won't deny I'm not the smartest, add in some scary muscle mommies on horseback with swords and bows with arrows ready to fire…swearing at them seems like a bad idea.
Another rider from the back of the crowd of guardswomen brings her horse forward, to stand beside the captain. She is wearing a very concealing cloak so I can't get much of a look at her. She leans in to whisper something to the captain, keeping her face turned away from me, and the captain seems to consider for a moment before speaking again.
"Explain the pulse of magic we felt twenty minutes ago, and the smaller one when we came in sight of you." The Captain or leader demands and I feel a very deep sense of dread at the look the redhead is giving me.
"What?" And though it's probably a poor choice to ask this woman a question instead of answering her questions, it's just such a strange question on top of an insane situation.
"The wave of magic was felt all over the island by all our priestesses and magic users. Another two very minor ones were felt by the woman beside me when we saw you, precisely when you surrendered. An explanation is needed." The accusation is clear in her voice and I try my best not to look at her like she's fucking crazy.
'Must be this…these…priestesses can detect the system notification.'
The clarification is nice, but I still don't understand, "Ma'am I don't think I have an explanation for you…I think I'm still in shock at how I got here and where I am…if you had mentioned magic before I arrived here, and again please don't take this as an insult I would have thought that you were crazy…magic doesn't exist, it's something that's little more than a fantasy."
She sighs slightly before she replies, "How long have you been here?"
I cringe as I honestly don't know I'm a bit of a heavy sleeper, "'I don't know, but I've been awake for about twenty minutes?"
"Then how did you come to be here?" The captain asks as she leans forward slightly on her horse.
"Like I said Ma'am I don't know, I went to sleep on my couch in my home…a few hours past midnight, then I woke up to the smell of the ocean and the sound of waves crashing against the beach, then I opened my eyes and I myself laying on my back…thinking that I was in paradise or something…beyond it, that's how beautiful I…sorry, I'm rambling."
The captain stares down at me in consideration for a moment, before she turns her head to her left and shouts what I assume are orders and pointing in the direction from which I came. Two guards detach from the group and follow my foot prints at a fast trot. I notice the one who held a sword in my face is staying put on her horse.
The captain turns back to face me and says, "You will come with us."
"Why?" I say in the most unintelligent slack jawed way I can manage.
"You will be held for questioning until a specialist arrives later today."
"Am I under arrest?"
"Yes."
'Aw shit,' "May I ask for what?"
"Trespassing."
"Umm…Ma'am…I'm really sorry for unknowingly trespassing, I know ignorance is no excuse for committing a crime…though I feel the need to ask is the penalty for trespassing painful death after vigorous torture?" The words tumble out of my mouth and I feel the urge to punch myself in my own face as the captain raises an unimpressed eyebrow at me, though there's almost an amused smirk tugging at the corners of her lips and an amused light in her eyes.
"That remains…to be determined…Outsider." Her amusement grows slightly but not in an outright cruel way, it's more like she's found a cute little furry creature that's friendly and willing to let her pet it…which if she wants to pet me…I wouldn't resist all that hard.
'Fuck.' I curse in my head as two women the captain signals with a hand sign jump down off of their horses pull me to my feet, lower my hands and bind them with rope.
The two women who bound my wrists hand the long lead of rope to the captain.
The walk is rather short, all things considered the city…is gorgeous like someone took me into the Assassin's Creed Odyssey but with buildings and streets of much higher quality the city is pretty much right around the cliffs, and there are watchers on top of the cliffs…that I didn't see before.
"Thank you for the slow trot Ma'am." I offer as respectfully as I can and I'm not sure but I think I detect a chuckle from the woman in charge as I trail behind her and her horse.
"You are welcome Outsider…I must admit I am curious about something." She replies back to me her voice only betraying the barest amount of her amusement.
"I'll answer your questions the best that I can Ma'am…in case you are wondering why I call you Ma'am it is typically a term of endearment and of respect…I also don't know your name or rank but by your armor and the deferment of your comrades I can tell that you're deserving of respect…beyond what all women should be paid on principle…my grandmother and mother would not take it kindly if I was rude or disrespectful to any woman and neither would I." The woman lets out a huff of laughter while waving some kind of signal with her left hand.
Which makes the majority of the guards…soldiers, formed around me split off except for the redhead who is giving me the stink eye on my right while the blonde on my left didn't glance in my direction once. The robed woman complaining that I'm using magic is staying in the back following along behind me.
'Yeah, I'm so totally on the island of Themiscyra…most likely a version of the DC universe.' The thought passes through my head given that the citizens are all attractive women dressed for the era, with togas and sandals being the norm along with the big bracelets they all wore. None of them seem happy to see me, with reactions of surprise to outright hostility.
"Are the legends of Themiscrya so cruel you believe that we would torture you?" The captain asks me after a moment.
"I…Uh excuse me, captain?"
The captain didn't turn around, "Yes?"
"Did…did you say Themiscrya…as in the Amazon's and Greek gods?"
At her silence I nervously scratch my left cheek with my index finger, "Well, if you did and I'm not hearing things…I guess that answers the question of why all of the people here seem kinda pissed off that I'm here…at least I'm fat and ugly so I won't be raped to death like all the mythological stories say…the Amazonian warriors do to men who unwittingly end up on the island." The sigh of relief slips out of me, but the way the blonde actually turns to look at me tells me the feeling of relief was too premature.
I also notice the captain's shoulders stiffening, the redhead whips her eyes off of me to ahead of herself, her hands tightening around the horse's reins to the point the leather creaks.
'Well…shit that's not reassuring…in the least.' I can't help but think.
"Sorry I didn't mean to be rude or insult any of you or Themiscrya…it's just those are the types of stories that circulate about this place and…all of you other than your suffering at the hands of some douchebag demigod rapist piece of shit, that if I could…I'd well Zeus's punishment for Prometheus's stealing of fire and gifting it to humans would look tame in comparison, let's not even get started on the gods themselves absolute scumbags the lot of them especially Lightning ass, who is a serial rapist and murder…Haa sorry, I'm being rude still, it's just I love the women in my family and the thought of anyone doing the things my uncle did to me to them or any one woman, man or child is as sickening as it is infuriating. I guess insulting the gods is probably a crime here even if they don't exist…maybe they did once but…" suddenly my mouth is being covered by a firm but gentle hand, and I'm surprised to see it's the blonde whose eyes and head whip around searching for something with a near frantic look in them.
Not finding anything amiss the blonde removes her hand from over my mouth and glares at me…in warning, 'What's she trying to warn me about…wait if this is DC…then the Green Gods are real and still have some form of power whether they're truly device or just immortal metahumans with advanced technology like the Asgardians in the MCU remains to be seen.
"Did I do something wrong? Besides the trespassing thing, I mean." I ask as the blonde practically vanishes before my eyes and returns to horseback.
Still not turning to look at me, the captain says "The gods are very real... insulting them is unwise though not a murder able offense by Amazonian law, for your own safety I warn you not to insult them here on Themiscrya."
"Ah, alright then…thank you for the warning Ma'am…so are even half of the stories about this place true. I mean me not being beheaded as soon as you found me means that some things must have been exaggerated…right? I mean you all seem like good people so far and you take good care of your horses. They are beautiful animals. Some of my best memories were of riding my horse on the family farm."
"I…there was a time when we Amazonians took our grievances out on innocent men. Do you have a strong appreciation for animals?" Her answer doesn't surprise me all that much though her question does.
"I do, Ma'am…animals besides being much more trustworthy than humans are easier to understand, I…I sometimes struggle to connect with people, though I'm sure if I could understand the language animals speak besides their body language I would most likely find that I can no longer get along well with them anymore…also the horse the woman with red hair is riding is favoring its rear left leg, the leg should be wrapped and the hoof should be inspected." I offer and then laugh a little awkwardly when both the blonde and redhead turn to look at me. The looks in their eyes aren't unkind…just evaluating.
The captain makes a noise of affirmation, and says, "Our stable master takes good care of our mounts."
"Yeah, I can tell it's just…having red hair here continuing to ride the mare with the hoof injury will aggravate the issue and may make the horse lame. I know it's not my place but I don't think your stable masters would appreciate that." I offer with a slight shrug.
"I see." The captain says and raises a closed fist and I'm totally man enough to admit I flinched expecting to be hit for mouthing off…but the redhead jumps off of her horse glares at me for a bit then signals to her horse with her eyes.
I nod and point to the saddle, and am surprised that she moves to assist me. I don't miss that subtle look of surprise I receive from the women surrounding us as the woman and I lift the saddle off of the horse together.
"I need you to hold her steady while I lift her leg to get a view of her hoof…to see what the problem is." I say to her and though her eyes widen in surprise she nods and gives her horse a concerned look.
"Just give me a second to get the horse's permission…does she have a name?"
"Equa." The redhead informs me and I nod as I gently rest my hands against her left flank and walk to her front the horse bumps her head against my chest and snorts.
"Hello Equa, you're a good girl…I bet you're really fast too." Equa stomps her right front hoof and makes a snort sound before bumping her snout against my chest.
I can't help but laugh softly as she begins rubbing her head against me, even as I can tell she's trying to take the wait off of her hoof.
My hands being bound making my efforts a bit more difficult than I'd like, and as if sensing that Equa begins trying to chew on the ropes binding my wrists, making me laugh again.
"Now I don't mind if you chew through the ropes girl…but I'm pretty sure the captain…or commander, and your rider won't be too happy with either of us if you do." Equa huffs but stops her chewing of my bindings.
"Alright sweetheart now that we know each other is it alright if I look at your hoof, I know it's hurting you?" I ask the horse who nods her head and gives my shirt a light nip, making me chuckle softly.
Walking around Equa keeping my hands on her flanks to keep her at ease while I move to her injured side.
Keeping my back to her front I gently take hold of Equa's leg and lift it up into the air, stuck between her hoof is a bronze arrowhead that is slowly drawing a trickle of blood.
"You poor girl, people have to learn not to leave arrowheads lying around." I coo softly as I grab hold of the arrowhead at the base where there isn't sharp edges to cut myself on, pulling it out nearly getting tossed to the ground as Equa kicks her legs out but I hold firm, looking around I see some medicinal plants and herbs that I was taught to treat lightning and cows with by a Native American veterinarian.
"Red, I need a flat rock and a rock to grind some plants with, I also need one of you to hold this leg up…poor girl shouldn't have to put weight on it until I get it treated." I bark out orders and I suddenly feel very afraid for my life but Equa lets out a pained snort which makes the feeling go away soon the captain is lightly moving me out of the way like I'm a small child while having a much easier time holding up Equa's leg than I was.
"Collect what you need." She tells me with a stern voice and I nod while jumping to do as she says, picking a few flowers, stems and roots of the plants I need, while red hands me a mortar and pestle.
"Thank you." I offer with a nod and begin grinding up the ingredients using a bit of saliva to assist in breaking down the plants and to help turn them into paste.
Having it as ground up as I can with what I have, I move back to Equa's side pluck the arrow head from the ground and use it to cut material from my shirt, using one swath I scoop the paste up and press it into the wound, and then using a longer length of my shirt to wrap the hoof.
"She's good now, Ma'am…I'd still inform the stable masters to give her a good look over and wash out the wound." I offer to the captain who gently lowers Equa's hoof to the ground. I pick up the mortar and pestle and return it to the redhead who gives me a reluctant but grateful nod, and I offer her a smile back and proceed to hold out the arrowhead to her.
"So it doesn't go up someone else's foot." I offer with a smile and if I'm not mistaken red almost seems to gain a very faint pink flush to her cheeks but I mentally shrug it off.
We begin our march again heading up the flag stone roads of the city to what I think is an acropolis at the top of a hill. It looks like a fortified rectangle with a tower sticking out of the back. As our little party reaches the base of the steps leading to the building, everyone dismounts their horses except Red who has been walking beside me shooting me appraising glances, everyone hands the reins off to waiting stable hands.
Red quickly informs the Stable hands, who quickly move to inspect my work, though my view is cut off when the captain lightly jostles the rope to make it clear that it is time to follow.
"Ma'am if I'm not put to death in the next few minutes…could you let me know how Equa makes out?" The captain nearly pauses midstep or it seems like she will, but she just keeps on walking while offering me a nod in response to my question. Red surprisingly rests a comforting hand on my shoulder and I notice that she's a few inches taller than me for the first time.
It's quiet as we enter the building, passing the two guards armed with shields and spears.
Finally we're entering an open chamber with four guards posted outside it; I'm getting one hell of an evil eye, like I shot their dog. I stick a little closer to the captain, just in case.
There are women in more formal togas standing at the base of what can only be a throne, but the woman sitting on the throne… is absolutely stunning. She is the very definition of a regal queen; long blonde hair held back with a gold circlet, pure white robes with a short staff in her hand. The queen's face is lovely, a heart shaped face with eyes that were almost impossibly blue, a small, straight nose and full lips. If the queen was just beautiful, it wouldn't be that big of a deal; from what I've seen so far, every woman on this island is hot, even the regular women that aren't muscle mommies that glared at me in the street.
But the thing that makes the queen so… queenly I guess, wasn't her looks, but this presence she has. It fells like the queen could withstand anything, never give ground and always perform her duties. She feels strong like her physical and mental power produce an aura or something.
Of course, this very attractive woman just has to see me led in with bound hands, my fat ass covered in sweat, sand and grime.
'Even though I'm not wearing shoes or boots my feet probably stink to high heaven can't even count the number of times the women in my have complained about my stinky feet.
The captain hands Red my lead, and Red takes it very gingerly… 'I guess tending to her horse really put me in Red's good graces.'
The captain then approaches the throne and kneels before the queen and her advisors. The guards meaning Blondie and Red quickly follow suit, and before I could start my own kneeling, Red helpfully pulls me down with her, making me curse her in my head.
Given my size I've never been what anyone would call agile wobbling into a kneeling position, accidentally knocking into Red as she drags me up forward…I'm slammed by a retaliatory elbow to the jaw.
'Wow…guess my goodwill earned with Equa doesn't mean shit to her…' I can't help but curse in my head, I'll admit I've been in a few scraps, bar brawls, some unsanctioned fighting in college to earn some beer and drug money…I've been punched in the face more than a few times, but not a single time compares Red's elbow…expect for maybe that time I got whacked in the face by the handle of a handyman Jack when the safety bolt slipped because it wasn't properly seated when I let go of the handle.
I can feel the inside of my cheek being shredded against my teeth that are cracking and breaking as the sharp round bone of the joint slams into my jaw. My neck folds around the direction of the impact, like the metal of a car's body.
My mouth fills with the taste of blood as blood bursts from the cuts my teeth made and my gums.
I spin round while sailing through the air away from Red. All the air is driven from my lungs, as I whack into a marble wall blood flies from my mouth, I crumple against the ground turning on my side coughing out blood and teeth on a guard's foot.
{Critical Damage Detected! -74 HP} a blue textbox flashes across my vision. 'Pretty sure I just got some major brain damage from that hit and the fall.' I groan but something's odd I feel pain pain it running my tongue over my teeth I find that they're still in place and undamaged though my jaw, gums and cheek hurt checking my cheek I find that though it's extremely raw, there isn't the sharp pain typical in brushing a tongue over a mouth injury.
Everyone's yelling in Greek or Latin except for the Blonde guard who helped escort me here. She's hovering over me checking me for injuries. The other guard is glaring between me and…my blood and spit staining her toes.
"Shorry." I slur out while looking up at the guard who looks like she wants to kill me.
'My eyes aren't watering…strange sitting up I look around I see Red is standing stiffly at attention as the captain verbally tears into her in their language. Red sees me looking at her and drops her gaze to the floor, her shoulders slumping ever so lightly the captain actually goes to hit her.
"Wait, Ma'am it's not her fault!" I holler to the captain my words slurred almost as if I've been getting shit faced but I'm quickly starting to feel better…not that I felt all that bad to begin with.
"I fell into her elbow is all, I'm a bit of a klutz." I quickly tack in the captain arches an unimpressed eyebrow at me but nods in acceptance after staring me down and finding that I don't look away from her.
The captain turns back to Red, and though she doesn't exactly start to yell at her again I can tell from Red's reaction it is a rather unpleasant dressing down.
Blondie gives me a soft appreciative look before extending a hand to me to help me stand up.
She easily pulls me up to my feet, "Thank you." I offer and she frowns at me so I put my hands together and give a quick bow of my head and a softer look appears in her eyes and she nods to me.
I notice Blondie and I are close to the same height, her shoulders are a little broader than mine, and her arms and legs actually have muscle on them.
'Jesus, are all the women here a minimum of six feet tall, I know a lot of them are muscle mommies but hot damn!?'
When I'm done standing the queen makes eye contact with me for a brief moment and sort of inclines her head in my direction.
Not really sure how to respond, so I go with the old standby of the awkward shrug and a slight wave.
That seems to serve as a decent response, as the queen nods her head and seems to square her shoulders…
'Okay, something's up…' I can't help but think as I spit out a glob of blood and mucus and possibly inner-mouth-skin into the puddle I made earlier, grabbing what little of the extra material of my shirt that is left and using it to wipe the blood and saliva from my face. The queen raises her staff in her right hand and solidly taps the ground once, bringing everything to a distinct halt. Without raising her voice the queen points her scepter and orders, and even with a language barrier it can only be an order, the red haired guard leaves the chamber.
Her head down she raises it slightly as she gets closer to me and I try to give her a reassuring smile that I'm alright and I don't hold anything against her. An accident is an accident after all.
"Don't worry about it Red, an accident is an accident…next time though aim for my chest or something my face is already ugly enough." I try to tease and Red's cheeks gain a rosy hue and a slight smile tugs at her lips but the captain clears her throat making Red flinch and quickly look away from me and at the floor, I can't help but send a little glare at the captain granted there isn't any heat behind it.
The captain almost smirks at me and I realize there's a good chance that this was a test.
The queen then turns her full attention to me…and it feels like an arc of lightning just traveled through my spine making me stand a little straighter, shoulders stiff all around uncomfortable under her gaze that though steely isn't unkind either.
"You speak English, yes?" She has an accent like the captain, but it's less pronounced, and maybe as a frequent public speaker she just naturally sounds self-assured as she speaks.
"Yeah, how do I refer to you Ma'am?" My voice sounds a bit thick and strained.
There's a slight smirk tugging at the Queen's lips at my question but she brushes it off.
"I apologize for the actions of Orana. She will be disciplined appropriately." I
"Alright…but I think she's been punished enough getting scolded in front of or by her heros…" I nod to both of them and point to the captain with my chin.
The Queen raises an amused eyebrow at me, "You will be taken to Althea for treatment after our interview. Is this acceptable?"
"Sure, but I don't think there's anything wrong with me, Ma'am besides my general unhealthiness." I offer with a nod of my head.
Her eyes narrow slightly and god, does that do funny things to me,
"Introduce yourself." Her voice grows a bit cold.
'Shit, I must've pissed her off!'
"My name is Mason, Mason Fitzgerald, Ma'am those close to me though usually only use my nickname of Bub…" the words tumble out of me and I cringe on reflex, while someone behind me tries and fails to cover up a snort of amusement.
"To answer your earlier question, you may address me as Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons and as you have offered a personal name that means much to you and those you care for…you do not have to use formalities, Mason."
My head starts to hurt and I can't help the slight groan I release, "Uhh…as in Hippolyta the First, Second…or Forty-third…?"
Hippolyta… gives me a look between withering and amused before answering, "Hippolyta the First and Only."
"Th-that…shouldn't be possible…but then again waking up on a beach in what seems like paradise shouldn't be possible either after falling asleep on my couch." I mutter more to myself than anyone and get a couple of shocked noises in return.
"Sorry Hippolyta, that was rude of me. When you say that you are Hippolyta the First and Only…are you…I mean do you mean that you are the demigoddess of legend that was meant to lead the world into a golden age of peace and prosperity?" I think the trembling of my voice makes all the women in the room uncomfortable.
Hippolyta nods her head, "Yes, I am a daughter of Ares, God of War."
"Woah…" I mutter unintelligently and feel my legs almost give out and crash against Blondie who shoots me a concerned look, and I try to give her one that says I'm okay.
"Ma'am…I mean Hippolyta…is umm do, do you have a daughter named Diana that goes by the name of Wonder Woman…?" I ask her and when she nods this time I do fall flat on my ass and put my head in my hands a choked sob slipping out of me.
"I'm in a different fucking universe, how the fuck did I end up in a different fucking universe, I mean I had my suspicion there's no place on my worlds that is as beautiful as the place I woke up, fuck, fuck fuck!" I mutter while rocking back and forth, slightly uncaring of being rude.
Suddenly I feel gentle hands on my shoulders, "You said a different universe?" Hippolyta asks me her voice, is surprisingly gentle and concerned whether for me or the safety of her island and people, if a dimension hopper can appear here.
Lifting my face from my hands I nod to her and answer truthfully, "Yes, Hippolyta."
Hippolyta's nostrils flare like that of an irritated bull, or maybe a dragon expelling smoke from its nostrils…the explosive release of air is rather powerful.
"You are rather impertinent." Hippolyta murmurs and I feel like she's teasing me.
I shrug, "I guess…but it's probably a cultural thing." I offer her a small shaky smile.
Her eyebrow rises regally, again, "Do you still doubt me then?"
"I…I want to…the evidence that I've somehow traveled to a different universe…unwillingly I might add…but most people who say they're related to a god are either fulla shit or crazy as hell. I don't think you're either of those things but I know for sure if you're either one of those things yet…either."
Hippolyta's left eyebrow raises slightly before returning to its position, "And if I am neither of those things; if I am truly what and who I claim to be?"
I squirm uncomfortably, "Well shit, I dunno. I've never met a god before, or a demigoddess, I guess…I'll have to apologize to you and make amends somehow for insulting you…I'd rather not make an enemy of you…and would like to stay on your good side."
That seems to satisfy her, so she nods, "Very well. Someone will be here shortly to verify both of our claims then."
"Oh really, Who?"
"My daughter, Princess Diana."
"Hah, if this were a dream you'd all be naked and I'd be a ten foot tall muscular dude with a massive cock being worshipped like a…god, yeah this is too real to be anything but real, fuck…I hope my mom and younger siblings are safe…and that whatever abducted me didn't hurt them." I mumble softly though the affronted noises a few of the guards make tells me my mumbling hasn't gone unheard.