Midnight madness a New years evil The sequel to gift of the Maghami! Eiko's Mother dressed in the garb of Wonder Woman landed softly on the observation deck of the Empire State building. It was already past Midnight and a cold north wind was blowing the beginning of a snow storm thru the big apple. All of this began innocently enough less than three hours earlier with a phone call. "I'll get it," screamed Eiko as she dashed to answer the phone that was ringing in the kitchen. She picked up the phone and said, "Hello, Eiko here." A moment later a warm smile appeared on Eiko's face just before she shouted into the phone, "Uncle Bruce, happy new year!" A moment later Eiko's happy expression changed to one of concern when she said into the phone, "Yes sir, right away sir." Immediately she put the phone down and shouted, "Mama, it's unkie Bruce, he says there's an emergency and he has to talk to you." Almost at once Diana picked up the cordless phone in the bedroom and called down to her daughter, I'm on the other line you can hang up now baby." Eiko was very tempted to listen in on her mama's private conversation, with her Godfather. But knowing her mother the way she did, common sense and fear of her mother's wrath won out over her curiosity. Diana turned on the scrambler switch then listened intently to her old friend for a moment or two until she asked him, "How long has she been missing?" When he told her she shouted back, "Two days, What in Tarturus's name is wrong with that women waiting this long before she asked for help?" When her daughter's Godfather offered an explanation, Diana then asked, "Just how did Artemis know to get in touch with you?" On the other end of the line the deep rich voice of Bruce Wayne said, "My identity was revealed years ago Diana, plus Zoey must have told her mother that she and Donna spent some time with me recently. Artemis has always known how close I am to you and Clark and thought if any one knew how to get in touch with the both of you, it would be me." Eiko's mother marveled at her old friend's detective skills. Over nintey and still blessed with a mind that has remained as sharp and as logical as ever. His body might have betrayed him because of all the physical abuse he inflicted on it thru the years. But his mind and heart was still and always would be that of the dreaded Dark knight. "Did Artemis check in with Donna to see if that is who Zoey ran off to be with?" "That was my first thought as well, he replied. "Artemis's also and she told me the answer was no." He then added, "When is that husband of yours do back?" "He is doing a favor for Nasa by replacing a gyro scope on the Hubbel three in orbit between Jupiter and Saturn. So he should be back some time today," she answered. "I hope it's sooner than later. We could use his help looking for Zoey." "How does Artemis sound?" asked Diana. "Frantic would be my best description," replied the man once know as the Batman. "Were is Artemis now?" "New York city!" was The Batman's reply. "What is she doing in the big Apple?" "Zoey told her mother about our trip to Rockerfella center and the Christmas tree, as well as the little argument the girls had on the ice." Diana was silently debating with herself when she saw her own daughter walk into the room. One look at her own beloved daughter's red hair and innocent face reminded her of another little red headed girl she recently met and how much she recently came to care for her. It was for this reason that Diana told her old friend, "Get back in touch with Artemis and tell her to meet me in three hours on the observation deck of the Empire State building." "Eiko!" her mother called out. A moment later her daughter was at her side, anxiously waiting for an explanation from her mother. She didn't have long to wait as her mother told her, "Zoey has run away from home. I will be leaving soon to travel to the States to help look for her." Eiko told her mother, "I'll be ready to leave in five minutes." Diana raised her hand and said, "No baby, I need you to stay here." "But you might need me." "In fact I do need you, my daughter." "I need you to tell your father when he comes home thatI had to leave to meet Artemis at the Empire State building to help her search for Zoey. More important still, I need you here in case Zoey calls, or more hopefully still, even show up here on our door step." "I understand mama, I'll wait here for Papa." Diana smiled at her daughter and gave her a quick hug before she told her to wait for her down stairs in the parlor. As Eiko waited by the phone, she began to worry for the safely of her recent sparing partner and perhaps newest friend. Eiko was lost in her own worries until the creak on the stairs caused her to turn and see her mother walking down the stairs in her guise of Wonder Woman. The sight of her mother in full costume always gave her a thrill even more so than seeing her famous father in uniform. When she reached the bottom step Eiko dashed to her mother and jumped up in to her arms. There she received all the the hugs and kisses a mother could provide. With a last promise to be good from her daughter Wonder Woman dashed out the back door and took to the sky heading for the big apple. She quickly arived in New York and began at once to search for the missing child. She checked all the places Zoey had visited while in New York with her family. After three hours of failure Diana landed on the observation deck of the legendary skyscraperand her meeting with Artemis. Ever cautious Diana looked around for the smallest sign of a trap but saw nothing until Artemis stepped out of the shadows. Eiko's Mother was instantly on her guard ready to fight at a moments notice until she saw that Artemis was standing before her unarmed and as incredible as it may seem, she had appeared to have been crying. When she stept out onto the deserted observation deck Artemis said, "Thank you for coming my Princess." "Don't address me as that Artemis. You above all people know I no longer have any claim or right to that title." "I'm sorry," she said. "But ever since Zoey ran away I will say anything do anything to get help in finding her and back into my arms. Even if it means that I must address you by your one time title." Eiko's Mother was a trained warrior. Her whole life and career had been guided by a some time harsh marshal philosophy as well as a dedication to honor and duty that she had lived by all of her life. But she has also lived a life filled with the all to human trait of compassion and gentleness. This truth above all else is what guided her into the arms of Eiko's father. This is what also made her put her arm around her long time rival's and sworn enemies shoulder to comfort her and in turn ask her, "What happened between you and Zoey to cause her to run away?" After a deep breath Artemis told her, "It was after Zoey lost the ritual battle to your daughter Martha that long hidden an often unspoken resentments rose to the surface between us." "What do you mean?" Artemis answered," My daughter felt no shame in losing to your daughter." "Nor should she have, "Diana interrupted her. "Zoey fought well with both courage and skill. She tried her best to win, but most important of all, she fought with honor just like an Amazon should." Taking Artemis by the hand to ease what she was about to tell her Diana added, "As her mother you should have been very proud of her and most important of all never ever struck her." "Don't you think I know that now, "Artemis pleaded as tears began running down her cheeks. "You have to remember Diana I am descended from the lost tribes of Amazons. We followed Antiope your aunt into exile and in doing so we left the security an safety of Paradise Island behind us. We never became immortal like you and your mother and the rest of your sisters. As for us every day was a struggle to survive, we couldn't afford to live our lives in what you would call a so called honorable way. For us there is no honor only victory because victory meant life to us. So we survived in Man's world in the only way we could, by becoming mercenaries and assasians for hire." Diana noted the look of anguish on Artemis face as she attempted to explain fuller, "That is why I hit my little girl the first time and why I started the battle with you," Artemis explained. "When it was all over and we were alone she told me she was ashamed of me. That I wasn't a true Amazon and not much of a mother. My reaction was to demanded that she tell your mother the queen were you were secretly living. I dragged her before your mother but she once again refused to tell her. Instead Zoey told your mother that she gave her word never to tell anyone of your location and she never would. Not to me her own mother or even to her Queen" Curious Diana asked, "What did my mother say?" Artemis bowed her head as if to apologize and told her,"Even your own Mother agreed with her and told me we had no right to try and dishonor a sacred vow my daughter made. Even if it was about the location of her own treasonable child." "But even that would not stop me. If your mother would not force her to break her word,I decided that I would force it out of her. We argued and argued and in the end I even tried to beat the truth out of her. Still she would tell me nothing. Only that she was ashamed of me, that I had no honor. That you and your daughter were true Amazons, something I would never be!" Artemis then sobbed before wailing,"That was when she told me I no longer her mother!" "Oh Artemis I'm sorry to hear that. But people often say things they don't realy mean and quickly regret saying. Most of all young girls. I'm sure in time Zoey will change her mind." "You don't know my daughter Diana, she say's what she means and means what she say's!" Diana nodded her head in sympathy before asking, "Just when did she run off?" "Two days ago. She ran off shortly after I beat her and I haven't seen or heard from her since." Eiko's mother half supported half carried Artemis to the entrance door of the observation deck. As they walked together Diana said, "Don't worry we will find Zoey. Clark will help and we will get Bruce and the J.L.A to help us. Also Donna and her old friends from the Titians will do their part." They had almost reached the entrance door when Artemis reached up on the ledge over looking the exit and took hold of a jewel incrusted handle. Eiko's mother suspected nothing. The first time she realized something was amiss was when she felt the searing white hot flame of pain between her shoulder blades as she staggered forward and collapsed on to the snow covered floor of the famous sky scraper's observation deck. Diana looked up and saw the snarling smile of triumph etched across Artemis's face. She stared at the blade her one time sister held in her hand, the blade that was now covered in her own blood. It was her blood that now dripped of the sharp point of the knife. leaving dark splotches of crimson in contrast to the virgin white of the snow on which it fell. Diana reached in back of her with her hand to the pain she felt and when she looked at her palm it was stained red and the steam arose from her own life's fluid in the frigid cold of the night air. "WHY!" Eiko's mother asked as she looked up at her would be assassin? "Why, you have the nerve to ask me why?" Artemis all but screamed. "Ever since I and my tribe have rejoined you and your sisters on Themyscira you have been a never ending thorn in my side. A thorn that I am about to remove once and for all." "Is that the only reason," Eiko's Mother asked as she took in great lung fills of frigid night air in an attempt to regain some of her strength back. "No that's not all," she answered. "You first stole the mantel of Wonder woman from me after I won it in fair contest." "You know full well Artemis that is not true, that my mother fix that second contest so I would lose and stay at her side!" "LIAR!" screamed Artemis in turn. Once again the red head brgan her tirade, "Unlike us the daughter's of Antiope you are immortal. We on the other hand had to give birth in order for our tribe to survive. So we needed the services of men, But we used them in the way they should be used for their seed and nothing more. You had no need of such sevices but because of your lust you still out of all of us dared to fall in love with one of those creatures and became a traitor to us all and a shame for your own Mother." "Then all of what you told me about Zoey was a lie?" "NO," Artemis sneared. "That was the worst part of all. Because every thing I told you about her was true. In the end you even managed to drive a wedge between me and my own daughter and for that above all else you are about to die!" Holding up the knife Artemis asked, "Remember this, I stole it from your Mother. It was forged by the God Hephaestus himself. It can cut thru anything even that thing you mistakenly call a husband. Perhaps when I'm finished with you I will spend some time tracking him down or better yet when I come to your funeral to pay my respects. I should be able to get close enough to use it on him and perhaps that abomination you call a daughter." Diana one time Amazon princess staggered back up to her feet. She stood on shaky legs as she said, "I'll kill you with my bare hands before you ever get any were near my family." Artemis laughed out loud as she said, "Kill me! You can barley stand up. Surrender now my one time Amazon Princess and I swear by the Godess that I will end this quickly and painlesly as possible." As she leaned on the wall for support, the so called one time Amazon princess said, "Sorry I don't know how to do surrenders." Even as she was about to come face to face with her fate, Diana's husband was at that moment was picking up his daughter into his arms so he could hug and kiss her. When he finished he began to look around for his love and when he didn't see her he asked his daughter, "Were is your mom punkin?" Eiko said,"Zoey ran away from home and mom is on her way to New York to help her mother look for her." Suddenly Eiko saw her father had a worried look on his face as he said, "Zoey is with Donna." "But I over herd mom say that Donna didn't know were Zoey was." "You mean Zoey didn't run away from home?" asked Eiko. Eiko's father told his daughter, "Oh she ran away from home all right, she ran straight to Donna. Who sent a message back to Themyscria telling Zoey's mother that she was safe and with her. I only found out about it because I stopped at the Titan tower to speak with Donna when I finished my job for Nasa." Suddenly he called out, "KRYPTO!" His ever faithful pet was instantly at her side. He leaned over and with his arms around his dogs neck told him, "Krypto, stay here and protect Eiko." "What's wrong?" His daughter demanded to know. Her father told his daughter,"I think your mother might be in trouble Honey Bunny. I want you to wait here with Krypto until we return. When we do return I expect you to be in bed." Even before Eiko could finish saying, "Yes papa." He was already gone. Even with her wound Diana was battling fervently with Artemis. Artemis had not bothered to use the blade forged by a god but instead preferred to finish off Eiko's mother with her own hands. Even wounded the daughter of Hippoylata showed just how dangerous she could be even badly wounded as she managed to knock Artemis down twice during their battle. After the second knock down she collapsed on her own from the lost of blood.. As she lay bleeding in the snow Artemis got back up to her feet and said,"Even when your bleeding your life away, your as strong and brave as ever!" Reaching into her belt Artemis pulled out the God blade and added, Well no much for the fun way, guess I will have to put an end to your misreable life in the quick way after all." Diana, known to the world as Wonder Woman, estranged daughter of Hippoylata, wife of Superman and loving mother to Martha [aka Eiko] with a will and courage few people have pulled herself back up to her feet. The ex-Amazon princess was determined to meet her fate on her feet as any true Amazon would. Raising her fists she offered a short silent prayer to Athena asking the Amazon's paramount godess to protect and watch over her husband, her daughter and the mother she still loved. With a almost manical grin on her face Artemis raised her blade and moved forward preparing to deliver the final blow. She managed to take one step to were Eiko's mother stood when there was an ear spitting sonic boom over the city that never sleeps. Suddenly there was a flash of blue which seized the hand holding the knife. A moment later Artemis screamed in pain as the bones of the knife welding hand were crushed. Her scream of agony was cut off by a grip around her throat by a hand that could compress a lump of coal into a diamond. Even as she hung in mid air her eyes focused on his other hand as he formed a fist and held it above her head. There he paused as if he was debating weather to use that fist to turn her head into so much jelly. Superman shook with rage, as he yearned to bring down that fist on the woman who tried to kill his wife his love. Suddenly he heard Diana cry out, "KAL NO!" He once again remembered his oath ner to take a life to and with a last shudder released Artemis and let her fall to the floor were she wimpered holding her broken hand to her breast. He rushed to his wife and held her in his arms as he ignored Artemis. His wife looked up at him an told him, "I'm proud of you, for not breaking your oath, never to kill." "It was close," he admitted to her. "In the end it was only the sound of your voice that called me back!" He heard the tiny sound of metal scraping on stone as Artemis picked up the god blade with her good hand only to find the blade forged by a God turned to so much molten slag as Eiko's father melted it with a blast of his heat vision. She screamed once again as her good hand was burned. As Artemis rolled on the dirty floor in pain and plunged her burnt hand into the newly fallen snow Diana asked her husband, "How bad am I?" He used his wonderful eyes and told her, "Your lung was pierced but the bleeding is beging to slow. He held her close as he told her, "Half an inch more to the left, and she would have gotten you right through the heart." Looking at the snarling hate filled face of his wife's would be assasian he asked his Love, "What about her?" "She needs medical atention as well." Nodding his head yes, he picked up his wife and her would be assassin and flew them both to the nearest trauma center. When they landed and before they all went inside Clark turned to Artemis and told her, "If you ever try and hurt my family again, You already know I won't kill you, but I swear I will break every bone in your body." Starring into the pale blue eyes of Eicko's mother Artemis told he, "Have your so called mate do his worst whore. I won't rest until one of us lies dead at the others feet one day. An hour later patched up and sutured, and over the strong objections of both her husband and her worried doctors Diana was being carried in the arms of her husband up the stairs of their own home and towards their bedroom. Eiko rushed outside from her bedroom to check on her mother's condition. Instead the only thing she got was was her Father's harsh voice telling her,"Get to bed now!" Eiko ran back into her bed room but peeked out under the door and into her parents own room. She looked on in horror as her father striped her mother and saw the bandages and how badly injured she was before he managed to get her in to a set of pajamas. Not caring what her father might say or do she rushed to her Mother's side and climbed int bed with her and began to weep as she held on to her. Eiko looked up and Asked, "Did Artemis do this to you?" Her mother answered by nodding her head yes! In responce Eiko growled and spat out, "I hate her, I swear I'll kill her some day for doing this to you." Diana took her weeping daughter in her arms and began to rock her the way she used to do when she was baby. She told her,"Hush, I don't want to hear any thing else about killing and I also don't want to hear any more about you hating any one." Diana held her only child close and told her, "Artemis is sick and twisted, If you want to feel anything it should be pity not hatred." Even injured Diana managed to comfort her troubled daughter, who after two hours finally cried herself to sleep at her mother's side with her small little arms holding her mother close. Soon her mother joined her in Morpheus's play ground and she too was also soon fast asleep. Her father sat in a chair next to the bed were the two most important people in his life slept. He would be sitting there all night and would still be there in the morning. To make sure that the first thing mother and daughter saw in the morning would be him as he watched over them both thru out the night