"A Source?" Artemis asked, unable to hide her curiosity as she stared at the golden motes drifting through the air.
"What's a Source?" another Amazon echoed.
Hippolyta's eyes narrowed slightly. "I have only heard whispers—legends that a Source is the essence of a divine mantle. To possess one is to claim that god's power and station. But I have never seen it myself. I have never witnessed the death of a god."
Her voice carried a mixture of wonder and disbelief.
Jack Kadere slid the Lasso of Truth—now safely coiled—back onto his belt, then offered Diana a hand. She took it, though her expression was conflicted. Earlier, she'd thought Jack's "there's only one" remark had been about her; now she realized he'd been referring to the Lasso itself.
"The Source," Jack said, turning his gaze skyward, "comes from the Sphere of the Gods. When a deity falls, their mantle—the raw power that defines them—can be released like this."
The Amazons leaned forward slightly, listening.
"If I take Eris's Source," Jack continued, "I could become the new God of Discord." His lips quirked. "But why would I bother becoming a god I can kill with one punch?"
A ripple of unease and awe passed through the gathered Amazons. To them, Eris had been unstoppable—her chaos magic overwhelming even Diana at her fiercest. But Jack's words carried an unshakable logic. What use was a title that came with less power than you already possessed?
"Artemis," Jack called.
"Master?" she answered, stepping forward.
"This one's yours," Jack said simply, gesturing to the drifting golden light.
"Mine?" Artemis blinked, startled. She knew what this meant—claiming the Source would make her the new Goddess of Discord. It was a level of power she'd never dreamed of. Her eyes darted briefly to Diana, wondering why Jack wouldn't give it to her instead.
"Don't want it?" he asked, brow arched.
"No, I just—"
"Where's that resolve you had when you swore yourself to me? When you handed Diana the Godslayer Sword without hesitation?" Jack's tone carried an edge of challenge. "If you waste time, the Source will return to the Sphere of the Gods."
Then, without warning, his eyes shifted back to Diana.
She barely had time to react before Jack scooped her up over his shoulder.
"We're not finished," he said with a low chuckle, striding away.
The Amazons watched them leave. There was no shouting this time, no rage in their faces—only a tangled mix of gratitude, unease, and uncertainty. Even Diana herself hesitated in her struggles before falling still.
The door to the guest chambers closed behind them. Jack set her down on the bed—firmly, but without malice—and loomed over her.
"This ends now," Diana said, pressing her hands against his chest. Her voice was steady but laced with emotion. "You can't force me again. I still cannot forgive you for what you did to Themyscira, or for what you did to me. But you saved the island today. If you agree never to harm my people again and free those you've taken, I… I won't hate you anymore."
Jack studied her for a moment. "So everything before is forgiven? Including the Truth Lasso incident?"
"Yes," she said firmly.
"I don't agree," he said, smiling faintly.
Diana blinked. "You… don't agree? Why?"
"Because in your terms, I lose too much," Jack said evenly. "I give up my hold over you, but what do I gain? A promise that you don't hate me? That's not a fair trade. Second, you said you wouldn't hate me anymore, but you didn't say I could still have you. You still won't forgive me, and you can't stop me. So why would I give up the pleasure I've already taken—for nothing more than a single sentence from you?"
Diana's eyes flashed. "You can't—"
"The most painful thing for a person isn't wanting something and not getting it—it's not knowing what they want at all. And I know exactly what I want right now: you. Why should I deny myself that? And remember… a bet is a bet. You lost the challenge. That means you agreed to have children with me. What's the matter? Is the Princess of the Amazons going to go back on her word? Is this what Queen Hippolyta taught you?"
His voice dropped, amused but cutting. "So please… continue to hate me."
"No… you can't…"
Diana's cry was fierce, but her strength wasn't enough to stop him. Jack Kadere's actions were unrelenting, and resistance only seemed to feed his resolve.
When it was finally over, Diana shoved him away and stood up, trembling with fury. She pointed at him, her voice breaking with disgust.
"I hate you! By the name of Diana of Themyscira, Princess of the Amazons, I swear I will never rest until you pay for this!"
Jack rolled over on the bed, relaxed and almost playful. "So… the challenge agreement still stands?"
Her glare burned like wildfire.
Throughout the entire ordeal, her resistance had been constant—yet it was precisely that defiance that, to him, carried its own twisted sense of conquest.
"I hate you!" Diana spat the words like a blade and stormed out.
"Ah… avoiding the question," Jack muttered with a faint chuckle.
But outside, Diana stopped almost immediately.
In the center of the gathered Amazons, Artemis sat on the ground, bathed in swirling motes of golden light. The air around her seemed alive, shimmering with energy.
"Is that the Source?" Diana asked, turning to her mother, who had just approached. "Has Artemis already taken it… and become the new Goddess of Discord?"
Hippolyta nodded. "Most likely. But she'll need time to adapt before she can truly wield that power." Her gaze softened. "Diana… are you alright?"
Diana simply shook her head.
Hippolyta sighed, but pressed no further.
She had much to think about. Eris's death. The nature of the Source. Jack Kadere's mention of the Origin Wall. Something told her Themyscira's era of peace might be ending.
For now, though, she stayed with Artemis. If the transformation succeeded, this could mark the first new Themysciran god in generations. But Artemis showed no sign of waking soon.
When Jack reappeared around midday, clearly intending to check on Artemis, Hippolyta decided to take the initiative. Offering to guide him, she led him through the island's breathtaking landscapes—white beaches, lush forests, gleaming marble structures.
Themyscira's beauty was unmatched, and Jack noticed it immediately.
He thought to himself that Felicity Smoak would probably love it here. Which led to a dangerous idea…
Maybe it was time to take the Waverider from the Legends of Tomorrow.
*******
While some of this is not 100% accurate as per DC lore, note that it is a fanfiction. The author is free to take some creative liberties to get the point across.