"When am I gonna get outta here? It’s cold and damp, and ugly... Man, Ares needs an interior decorator." she looked around at the fungusy stone walls, and the single torch on the wall. She stuck out her tongue. Ice. She saw some shackles on the wall, and a skeleton hung from them. "Ick again." she thought.

Then, the large wooden door of the cell swung open. Hairy Ares himself walked in.

Loa barely noticed. She had decided to sing Men in Tights to occupy herself.

"We’re Men... Manly Men! Men in Tights!" Just then she looked up to see Ares.

"Men! Tights! Oh, sorry." she smiled cheeseily at him. "Hi." she wiggled her fingertips at him. The cheesy smile reminded her of something... "Hey... Would you happen to have any... Cheese, on you."

Ares frowned. "No, I do not have cheese. Do you have any idea why you’re here."

Loa was otherwise occupied at the moment. "What are those for?" she asked Ares, looking over at the wall with the shackles.

"Those? Oh, those... Nothing—Hey! I’m the one asking the questions here!"

"Oh, yeah... Sorry!" Loa said, looking at Ares boots. "Nice boots! Looking Sha-rp... As sharp as cheddar!"

Ares smiled. "Really, you think? I’ve been trying to coor—" his broad smile turned upside down. "Look you bratty Amazon! Shut up! I’m the God! I’m asking the questions!"

"Men... Men in Tights..." Loa sang under her breath.

"Shut up! I hate that movie!!"

"Why? It’s a comedic masterpiece. Cary Elwes plays the most perfect Robin Hood, and who could forget Blinkin! I mean, perfect wonderful! The Sheriff of Rottingham’s scene with the "Mafioso" totally sets the mood and....."

Loa continued to talk as Ares stood and stamped his feet. "Look you!!!!

STOP!!!" he screamed, rocking the cell with his vocal cords.

"Have you ever considered becoming a singer? You seem to have powerful vocal cords....."

Ares was now ready to hit Loa. His fist was raised; malice gleamed in his eyes. "I’ll kill you, you little........!"

"Um, Mr. Ares....."

"WHAT?!"

"rar."

"WHAT?!!!!"

"Never mind..."

"ARGG!!! You Amazons are sooo sooo.... OH!" then Ares stormed out of the cell, exasperated.

"Hey! Hairy! I want some cheese! I’m HUNGRY!"

But the halls were silent. Ares was gone.

"Men... Men in Tights......"

"Hurry, little mouse…please…"

Scampering through dark passages that only a mouse could use, the little mouse found its way out of Ares' temple.

The owl sat in the tree, watching and listening. Its patience was soon rewarded when his meal for the night scurried from under the stone wall. Silent wings spread and silent death glided down on the helpless mouse.

Suddenly the owl with a startled cry veered off, his meal had just turned into a human.

Artemis laughed softly, "Sorry my friend. There is a rabbit tired of life in the brush over there."

The owl turned and soon the sound of a rabbit leaving this life was heard.

The air around the goddess shimmered and she vanished.

Despite their best efforts the three Amazons fell into a deep sleep. The air shimmered, and Artemis stood before Falcon. Gently her hand touched the troubled brow and it relaxed. "Oh daughter, you have, even in times of darkness remembered me; even as your mother did. You and your sister were to be priestess of my temple. I did not learn of the destruction of the village until it was to late; but I watched over you. I watched you grow. I watched the beatings; but Zeus would not let me interfere. He did let me ease you birth pains, and I tell you this, your daughter is now a woman grown and an Amazon. I can tell you no more. Now this I will tell you. Your Queen is in danger."

Falcon stirred and fought to wake.

"No daughter, do not wake, not just yet. Return to the mountain pass. Dark ones are close, and they mean to attack her and her party. When you wake you will only know that your Queen is in trouble and that you need to go now."

The goddess turned at the sound of a soft whimper. She smiled and caressed the head of the black wolf. His tail thumped softly on the fur rug. "I am sorry I let your mother and littermates die; but it was the only way I could give her a friend."

Artemis turned and looked at the other two sleeping Amazons. "You will follow her to defend your Queen. Her sense of urgency will be your own. You are noble Amazons, and I am proud that you are mine." Looking down at Tama, she smiles. "hmmmm daughters and now sons. Male Amazons... why not." Tenderly she places a soft kiss on his head.

With a last look to Falcon she vanished; leaving behind a dream. A dream of danger to the Queen.

All three Figures startled awake; the dream still fresh in their heads.

"The Queen" they said in unison. Packing quickly, Tama ran to ready the horses; Larc paid the bill and Falcon gathered the wolf. Soon, three very determined Amazons rode as if the hounds of Hades were behind them.

"Artemis please help us." Falcon thought.

"I will." was the unheard reply.

The sun rose brightly and the Queen and her warriors hurried to try and catch the rescue party. "Through this pass and then half a days ride to a village. I hope that they decided to stop there. "

Shatan reared, almost unseating his rider, as dark figures swarmed towards the Queen and her party. Leaping from their mounts, the three Amazons, weapons ready, defended themselves.

The sounds of weapons clashing and shouts of battle reached the ears of Larc and her party. "The Queen." they said; and rode.

The Enforcer was down and a Shadow Priest was preparing to deal a deathblow. Suddenly with high pitched screams, two birds of prey, a falcon and a Merlin, attacked. The steel spurs on their feet made short work of his eyes; giving the Enforcer time to send the Shadow Priest onto a different place.

Amazon battle cries filled the air and Cyan smiled.

"My Queen." Falcon cried as she ran a Shadow Priest through with her dagger.

"Falcon don’t you dare kneel to me now; later will be just fine."

Within minutes the tide had turned. Bodies of the Shadow Priests and hired killers littered the ground. Only two men remained; a Shadow Priest and a hired killer.

The Enforcer tried to question them both but each said nothing. One out of loyalty; one out of fear.

Falcon approached the shadow priest.

He glared at her. "You were paid; you failed." He spat.

A dart appeared in Falcon’s hand, and in a flash the priest was on the ground unable to move. His eyes wide with fear; blood seeping from the scratch on his neck.

Falcon’s eyes were black. The Enforcer started forward, but Cyan stopped her, shaking her head.

"If you know me then you know what I can do. The drug in your system paralyzes; but this one…." Falcon held a vial of liquid, "will keep you alive for hours while I skin you alive. You will scream for the mercy of death over and over, unless you tell us all that which we want to know."

Tama stood beside the other captive; who now was nothing more than a very pale man.

"Your next." he smiled.

The man crumpled to the ground and babbled, "I’ll tell you anything you want…. Anything!" The ground under the captive became wet as he voided in fear.

"Didn’t your mother ever tell you to check before you leave home?" Tama laughed and walked away.

The Enforcer stood silently alongside the Queen watching Falcon and Larc move about. "She certainly is far more skilled than I had thought when she first came to the Island my Queen."

"Yes, she is." The Queen said thoughtfully.

Cyan watched Tama say something to the man Falcon had just spoken to. He laughed and walked away just shaking his head. "She has fit in well with the Island Olympia, and regardless of her secret past, she has earned the trust of the tribe. I am not sure what it is that is so deeply buried, but I do know we all have our secrets, don’t we?" Cyan arched an eyebrow, as she looked over at the Enforcer.

"Falcon, Tama, Larc" the Queen called "we must get going if we are to return to the Island before two days nightfall.

Falcon was a bit surprised that the Queen was returning to the Island, especially before they had found Saran. An Amazon never questioned her Queen however, and Larc and Falcon were in their mounts ready to go just a few moments later. Cyan and the Enforcer flipped up onto their horsebacks and turned west towards their Island.

"Olympia, lead the way to the Island, and I will bring up the rear." The Enforcer glanced over at Tamahome who had yet to get on his horse. "Of course my Queen."

Cyan leaned forward on Shatan and sat silently looking down at her warrior. "It seems Tama that you are in disagreement with my having us return to the Island?"

"How can we go back yet? We haven’t found Saran, and it just won’t be the same on the Island without her. Who will build things with me??? Who will spar with me?? I know I can find her my Queen. I will slash and...." The Queen laughed loudly and smiled at Tama.. "I am sorry for laughing Tama. I am not questioning your passion to help a fellow Amazon. The Island will return to normal, and I promise you the last thing I have done is give up on finding Saran. You need to just trust that there is a lot more going on than you yourself know, and that returning to the Island is the right thing to do."

Tamahome saw the gleam in the Queen’s eyes and instantly knew that she had the makings of a very special plan. He smiled broadly and flipped up into his mount. "Yes my Queen! Would you care for a race?" A split second later Tama was at the front of the pack and leading the way. The Enforcer rolled her eyes at the newfound zealousness, while the rest of the party smiled after him.

Vorpax signaled to Celestia to stay where she was. They had found a hidden entrance into the temple of Ares, but Vorpax was uncertain as to whether Kahn’s Shadow Priest may be lurking about. She hurried over to Celestia, as she drew her sword.

"I hope you are as good with a sword as I remember Celestia. The Shadow Priests are good warriors, and with their powers of OutWorld, we may have a huge job ahead of us."

"Are you sure they will be guarding the entrance to the Temple on the other side?"

"It all depends. Perhaps your daughter has begun to annoy Ares enough that he is actually distracted. Zeus also spotted a few of the Shadow Priests hunting Cyan, so perhaps the Temple is empty, at least for now. Whatever we do, we get the sword first."

"We get my daughter first." Celestia said in a harsh voice that was both adamant and challenging.

"Yah right." Vorpax sighed, "Me.. me... me! Some things never change huh Celestia?" Vorpax nudge Celestia in the arm and signaled for her to follow. The two goddesses swiftly entered the dark and hopefully lifeless tunnel. "W should reach the Temple door within a short walk. Be very quiet and listen closely. I don’t want a welcoming party if I can help it." Within 30 minutes walking time, Vorpax and Celestia stood staring at a stone door.

"Ok, so what do we do know.">

Then all three of them said "Find Corde and find her quickly."

• In Corde’s cell—

Corde could hear shouts and thumps from elsewhere in the temple, and she knew that Rae and Loa would soon be there to get her out. She picked up the crude rope she had made by braiding strips torn from her blanket and prepared to strangle any non-Amazon to walk through the door. (See? I can McGyver too!) She heard footsteps in the hall; one set of heavy men’s boots. Not Rae or Loa. She tightened her grip on the rope.

The cell door swung open and hit the wall with a resounding clang. (Cliche, anyone?) Corde stood on the other side and waited for the man to come to where she could jump behind him. The man took one step into the room, then another. Just as Corde was about to jump on his back and throw the rope around his neck, she heard Rae shout, "Corde! Where are you? I’ve got cheese for you!"

Corde and the man turned to see Rae and Loa running towards the cell, and Corde realized with shock that the man was Ares! (Like I didn’t see it first of

all... oh brother, this is one bad cliche after another.) Corde seized the moment and aimed a kick at Ares’ chest... and missed. The god had already moved back and was gathering energy into a glowing fireball between his hands. Corde realized that Rae and Loa would be fried by the fireball, and that she had to do something. She ran into the corridor and saw that not only were Rae and Loa there, but they had saved Saran too!

"Saran!" Corde shouted, "You’re alive!"

"Corde!" Saran shouted, "You’re—" She was cut off by a bright blue fireball that hit the wall behind her.

"Next time I won’t miss," Ares growled warningly.

"Daughter, get your little friends back into their cells."

Saran stood her ground. "No, Ares. Your quarrel is with me. Leave the Amazons out of it."

Rae and Loa held a quick, whispered conference. Then Rae spoke up. "Excuse me, mister Hairy Ares."

Ares turned his glare on her. "What did you call me?"

"Would you like to hear some more poetry?" Loa asked.

"The big brown bunny—"

"ARGH!" Ares screamed in frustration. "NO I don’t want to hear your stupid poetry! And I don’t have any cheese! You dratted Amazons are more trouble than you’re worth! I oughta—" but at that moment Corde had taken her rope and thrown herself at the wargod. She jumped on his back and wrapped the rope around his neck. She knew that she couldn’t do any permanent damage, but hopefully Rae and Loa had made him mad enough for her to knock him out.

Ares struggled to knock Corde off his back, hitting her against the walls and shaking himself. Corde held on as long as she could, but when Ares tossed a fireball at her, she fell to the ground lifelessly.

The god stood up and brushed himself off, looking up seconds before Saran’s fist smashed into his face. God or not, he was down for the count.

Rae and Loa took stock of the situation. Saran was alive and Ares was knocked out.

"Cheese?" Rae asked.

"Yes please," said Loa. They took a moment for cheese.

After the girls had calmed themselves with munster, they realized that Corde hadn’t gotten up from her struggle with Ares. Saran knelt on the floor next to her with a hand at her throat, feeling for the younger girl’s pulse. She looked up at Rae and Loa with tears in her eyes.

"Corde is... she’s... gone," Saran whispered bleakly.

Rae and Loa knelt beside their fallen comrade.

"Snaky and growly..." Rae began sadly.

"Rar..." Loa finished as she burst into tears.

Falcon paced the length of the room and back. The two prisoners were secured, and she kept glaring at them.

Falcon turned and dropped before Cyan and again begged. "Let me question them my Queen, I will have them telling us all we want to know in a very short time. "

Falcon's eyes were dark. This was not the gentle healer the Queen knew. Anger radiated from her like heat from a fire. Princess Eponie placed a gentle hand on Falcon's shoulder. The Amazon reacted, spinning quickly, she started to reach for the person who dared to touch her.

Falcon froze , " Princess, I’m sorry." Falcon ran her hand through her hair; frustration evident in her manner.

"Falcon we need to talk. Come with me." Eponie left the room with Falcon behind her.

Rae and Loa stood over the fallen Corde, their eyes misty with the sadness of loss.

"I..... rar...." was all Loa could mutter as she turned her eyes to her friend, Rae.

Rae threw down her cheese, and Loa pouted. "Don’t misuse the cheese...."

She took a deep breath and whirled around. "Stop! This is SERIOUS!"

Loa grew indignant, and he face turned bright red. "I know this is SERIOUS, Rae, but the cheese is too! Besides the point, she’s DEAD! D-E-A-D!"

"I know that, so stop acting like a moron for once in your life!"

"Once in MY life?!" Loa cried. Her eyes narrowed. "Care to remember how we met?" she drew one sharp, gleaming dagger from its sheath and raised it.

Rae reached for her sword. "Remember, I was the one who kicked your—"

"STOP!!!!" Saran cried. "This is no time to fight! Look at Corde! She’s dead!

We need to stick together! We need to stay unified! We’re AMAZONS!"

Loa shrugged. "I don’t care, ya know..." she muttered, looking at the dagger.

Rae stared at her. "What do you mean ‘You don’t care?’"

"I mean I don’t CARE, you thick headed, daughter of a snaky! I’m tired of being pushed around by you God dammit!"

"Don’t mess with me!" Rae said, staring at Loa with hate.

Saran examined the situation... Tried to intervene. "Girls..."

Tried was the key word.

"You know what?! I’m sick of all of you! SICK! I have enough capability to manage myself for a while! I don’t need you Amazons! I can get out of here by myself." She spun around and concentrated, using her telekinesis to throw Rae into a wall.

"I don’t need you!" her eyes were aflame with anger and hate. "Loa won’t be pushed around anymore!" she wielded both of her daggers, and ran off down the corridor.

"Princess Eponie is talking with Falcon now." Queen Cyan motioned for the Enforcer to follow her out onto the Palace balcony. "I love this place" Cyan said to her friend and bodyguard. "I have never ceased to enjoy this waterfall or the Palace since coming to this Island. You all did a wonderful job in building this tribe. I don't believe I have ever seen a Little Princess, not to mention, a more spoiled Queen in my life."

Cyan and Olympia both laughed as they stood by the railing looking out on the training grounds of the Amazon Island. Mad Matt and Eri were busy leading various exercises that Cyan had made a priority for each warrior to learn.

"Do you really think these additional fighting tactics and techniques will prepare all our warriors for the powers of the Shadow Priests? I saw them fight Cyan, and there is no doubt they are fueled by very dark powers."

The Queen shifted nervously, her eyes darting from one warrior to the next. "Many things will need to happen to prevent the arrival of Shao Kahn, the first being Saran's escape and safe return to the Island with Rae, Loa, and Corde. We must then unite the two halves of Saran and Corde; and I for one will be happy to have just one of each again."

"And what do we do with Falcon my Queen? The more we become involved with Ares, Shao Kahn, and the likes of OutWorld, the more unsettled she becomes. Do you think that perhaps I should speak with her?"

"No Olympia. Leave Falcon to me. She will talk to me when she is ready, and if anyone can at least calm her raging fire for now, it's Eponie. Perhaps they are even making crafts by now?"

The Queen and her bodyguard laughed loudly at the thought of the Animal Healer attempting crafts. The Enforcer barely managed, "If she wasn't frustrated before… that should push her over the edge!"

"Let it be for now." Cyan finally said, "We need to focus on preparing our warriors and being ready to go as soon as Saran returns. If my mother has done her job, hopefully she and Celestia have managed to speak with her."

"As you wish my Queen." The Enforcer turned and left the Palace; returning to the overseeing of training.

Cyan spotted Tama down below and called to him, "Tamahome!"

"Yes my Queen?"

"Please send Labby to see me right away. Tell her to bring the scrolls she had been researching - I have a question for her!"

"My Queen, I went by her hut this morning, and no one was there. I have not seen her around the Island all day."

Cyan turned from the balcony and headed for Princess Eponie's hut. Ep had been with Labby while the warrior parties were off Island, she would know….. if not, someone better!

Saran was almost to the main room of the temple when she saw them. Both were crying and upset with themselves as much as each other.

"Rae? Loa?"

"We’re sorry Saran, it’s just that Corde... then Ares, then. . ." The two Amazons seemed to be talking in synch with each other.

"I know. There’s something I have to do before we can leave. However, I need you two to cooperate ok?"

Both Rae and Loa shook their heads yes as they get up off the floor.

"What’s in there Saran?" Rae asked.

"I believe that’s where Ares was holding me."

"Where is he? Did you kill him?" Loa asked.

"Not yet." The look in Saran’s face told the two Amazon’s she wasn’t kidding. They followed her as she kicked in the door and walked inside.

Just inside the door they watched as Saran gently laid the body of Corde on the ground and began to search frantically through the room. Being it was the temple of Ares, there were a lot of weapons in piles and hanging on the walls. All of a sudden they saw Saran pick up a blade like they'd never seen before. As she turned around Rae and Loa saw something they'd never seen in Saran before. Something very dangerous.

"I’ve found my true destiny girls." Saran stated.

"wwhhaat?" The two Amazon’s stuttered back.

"I’m the destroyer of gods. And I know which one I’m starting with."

Then a wall opened up and Celestia and someone else walked in. The stranger quickly came to Saran as Celestia yelled. "STOP!!!"

Saran turned to slash at the unknown woman but she grabbed the hilt of the sword so that both she and Saran were holding the sword at the same time.

Rae and Loa having seen Celestia come in, tried to hide Corde from her by sitting down on top of her. Trying to look innocent and as if they weren’t hiding anything they began to sing "Men in Tights" while watching Saran and the woman lock eyes with each other.

"Your name is Vorpax." Saran stated.

"Yes Saran. Give me the sword, this is no longer your destiny."

"Isn’t it? Just because your daughter took me from it. . ." Saran stopped as if questioning where she got this information from.

"It’s the sword, it makes the one who holds it, and the one it’s pointed to, tell the truth. We are both holding onto the hilt so we are seeing the truth in each other." Vorpax’s voice had an edge to it, but you could tell she was far more concerned about the outcome than she would have admitted.

"Cyan is your’s and. . ." Vorpax’s hand covered Saran’s mouth quickly so she couldn’t say the father’s name.

"That is my secret and I’m trusting you to keep it."

"Why? I don’t hold any loyalty to you."

"No, but you do to my daughter, and she needs you and your skills Saran. Give up the sword."

"Only after I kill Ares with it."

"NO! You can’t do that. There is no turning back if you do."

"He killed Corde, I’m not going to let him get away with that." Saran’s anger was rising again. Her grip on the sword was firmer and Vorpax’s was loosening.

Just then Celestia looked at her daughter and said "It’s not her time Saran."

"WHAT! Go away, I don’t want you in my life." Saran’s eyes darted between Celestia and Vorpax.

"Saran, Celestia is right. It’s not Corde’s time."

"What does that mean?"

"Vorpax, she will not listen to me. You must tell her."

"Saran, Celestia would know if it was Corde’s time, so would you. You would smell it. Do you?"

Saran stopped, she realized that she had carried Corde and never once smelled the stench of death on her. "Give me the sword, and if this is true then the sword is yours."

Vorpax against her better wishes let go of the sword. She saw that Saran only wanted her friend back and not to destroy all the gods.

Saran turned around to find Corde’s body. "Rae. Loa. I need you to get up." The two Amazons complied quickly. Saran then knelt by Corde’s body; lying the sword down the length of Corde she watched. The burn marks began to disappear, Corde began to breath and then her eyes opened.

"Tinks?"

"No Corde, we’ll get you back to Tinks soon enough." Saran didn’t try to hide the tears of joy streaming down her face. Rae and Loa began to dance a jig and Corde looked at her friends.

"Somehow I really don’t want to know."

The smile on Saran’s face told all she could as she picked up Corde and gave her the biggest bear hug possible. Setting her down, Saran picked up the sword and gave it to Vorpax. "I’ll keep your secret and I’ll trust you’ll keep that away from the wrong hands."

"I will." Vopax said as she took the sword from Saran.

Saran then walked over to Celestia. "Why did you help Ares take me? And why are you helping me now?"

"I’ve missed you my child, and Ares said he only wanted you home so he could see more of you. I knew I shouldn’t have believed him, but I wanted to see you too. I do love you."

"How am I to believe you?"

"Take the sword and then ask me."

Saran knew that Celestia wouldn’t trick her. Celestia had been many things, but deceitful wasn’t one of them.

"Ok. I’ll trust you."

Celestia then reached out asking "Will I see you again?" Saran walked into her mother’s arms whispering "We’ll figure someway of doing that." Meanwhile, Corde, Rae and Loa watched as Saran walked into the death god’s arms and began to scream. "NO SARAN SHE’S DEATH, YOU’LL DIE." Hearing her friends, Saran added quite a bit louder "Mom."

"MOM?" the three Amazons asked in unison.

"Yeah, Mom. Is there something wrong?" Saran asked them, but before they could answer Vorpax stopped them.

"The four of you must go quickly. Your Queen needs your help."

Part 3