The battle had ended. The air, once thrumming with magic and steel and fury, now hung still and quiet, save for the soft crackle of residual energy and the distant groans of shifting rubble. The spectators, though silent at first, now murmured with disbelief and awe.
For the victor wasn't the one most had expected.
Today, they had glimpsed a hidden chapter in the tale of the Amazons. Not only had the fearsome and majestic Queen Hippolyta shown the depths of her ancient power, but Donna—fiery, determined Donna—had eclipsed even Diana herself. With the grace of a seasoned warrior and the cunning of someone who had spent years sharpening her spirit in shadow, Donna had stepped out of the background.
And she had triumphed.
Not with the flashy brilliance of Wonder Woman, nor with the regal command of the Queen—but with raw grit, tactical brilliance, and a light all her own. The arena whispered her name, and a reverence now clung to her like a cloak spun from myth.
She had become, in this moment, the strongest Amazon alive.
Yet Donna Troy didn't care for titles or praise or the glimmer of admiration that now danced in the eyes of her sisters. Her heart was drawn to something else entirely.
Someone else.
The smile that tugged at her lips was one not born from pride or conquest. It was gentler, more vulnerable—intended for one person only. A man who stood at the edge of the battlefield, golden hair tousled by the wind, eyes gleaming with something between pride and affection.
Naruto.
Donna had never sought this battle for glory. Her aim had been simple. She wanted to stand at his side—not as a subordinate, not as just another comrade—but as his equal. Others could fight beside him. Others could protect him. But she wanted him to want her there. She wanted him to need her, not for power or strategy, but for something deeper.
She didn't wish to be a distant companion anymore. She wanted to be his home. She wanted a place in his heart, a place no one could take away. And she knew—knew—that if she claimed that space, he would never abandon her.
Because Naruto was not like other men.
Many men could be charming, many could be strong, but they strayed, they faltered. Naruto, for all his abundant passion, never gave in to passing lust. His desires were immense, yes, but his discipline was even greater. The women in his life weren't fleeting dalliances or indulgences. They were cherished. Loved. Chosen.
Donna had seen countless women try to ensnare him—witches with spells, priestesses with beauty, even powerful warriors with promises of glory. None had stirred a flicker of interest in him.
Only love could reach him.
"Take a break now, and we'll meet up later, okay?" Naruto's voice drifted through the fading echoes of battle. He stood at Donna's side, his tone soft, carrying the warmth of sunlight through an open window. Nearby, one of his clones gently helped the weary Queen Hippolyta to her feet.
Donna turned to him, daggers now sheathed neatly across her back, her posture relaxed but her heart still pounding. "How was it?" she asked, tilting her head, watching him with eyes sharp enough to see past the silence between his words.
He didn't answer right away. His gaze met hers, full of awe and unspoken wonder. She could read him like a spellbook left open—every line and mark etched with admiration. He was proud. Not just of her victory, but of her growth, of her ability to fight like him, think like him.
He smiled, brushing the dust and sweat from her face with a tenderness that made her breath catch. "Hmm… I don't know," he murmured with a teasing tilt of his lips. "Why don't you give me the words to say? I think I'm at a loss."
Her heart soared. His touch was like magic. She wanted to seize the moment, to kiss him, to feel his love in return. Her body leaned towards him, drawn like a moth to the only flame that wouldn't burn her.
She knew this path she walked was dangerous, like a potion brewed too strong, too fast. She feared becoming a puppet dancing for his affection. But, oh—if it was a spell, she would gladly remain enchanted.
For in that enchantment, she found happiness. She found peace. She found herself.
"This might sound bold," Donna whispered, wrapping her arms around him, pulling him close, her voice barely a flutter in his ear, "but I would very much prefer a kiss… a simple prize for winning not one—but two battles today."
Naruto didn't pull away. Instead, his arms wrapped around her in return, holding her with the kind of embrace that made the rest of the world disappear. The battlefield melted away. The ruins became stars.
"You already know," he said, his hand lifting to her chin, his touch reverent, "I'd never go that far unless our hearts were completely aligned. So… this will have to do for now."
And then, gently, he kissed her cheek.
The softness of it sent a tremor through her soul. It wasn't the kiss she craved, but it was honest. It was real. It carried meaning.
And for now, it was enough.
Still, his fingers lingered. His thoughts flickered—brief flashes of the previous night stirring memories both dangerous and intoxicating. Had Donna not removed the silver armor before his arrival, her composure might've shattered in his presence.
"I like that part about you," she said with a sigh that danced between longing and delight, "but I'm also starting to hate it a little… just a little."
Her voice was light, but her eyes shimmered with affection and mischief—an Amazon's strength, wrapped in a woman's heart.
And in that quiet moment, amidst broken stone and cooling magic, they stood—no longer just warriors of myth, but two people reaching out for love in the only way they knew how.
One gentle touch at a time.
"Hm, I didn't think you'd act so direct," Naruto said with a warm chuckle, his blue eyes twinkling like starlight on calm water. His voice, ever so gentle, held a quiet pride. "I like it. I suppose bottling up your emotions for so long really did weigh on you. So don't hold back anymore. Just… enjoy life."
As he released her from their soft embrace, Donna's hand instinctively reached back, her fingers wrapping around his. It was unconscious, the way a flower follows the sun.
"Do you enjoy doing this to us?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with a vulnerability few had ever heard from the proud Amazon. She didn't let go. She couldn't.
Naruto's gaze didn't falter. He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. It was tender, not romantic—yet it sent a thrill through her all the same.
"I feel honored," he began, "and happy… that others can feel this way about me. But more than that, I want people to be happy. So if these emotions bring joy, then I'm glad. But if they bring sadness…" he paused, his voice taking on a quiet solemnity, "then I wish you'd let them go."
He gave her a crooked grin. "Still, as a man, I can't deny this is a rather… fun situation."
It was everything she expected from him—honest, warm, never misleading. Naruto didn't play games with hearts. He offered them clarity, even if he couldn't always offer certainty. In that, he was pure.
"I'll be waiting for my date," Donna said with a radiant smile, finally releasing his hand. Her steps were light, victorious in more ways than one, as she turned and strode off with grace.
"I look forward to it," Naruto murmured, watching her go. He turned and found two very familiar faces waiting nearby—Raven and Kara.
"You're working hard," Kara remarked with a smirk, her arms folded as she leaned casually against a column, her golden hair catching the breeze.
"I'm just being honest with my heart," Naruto replied, his tone easy but thoughtful. "She's one of mine. I want to nurture these feelings, see where they go—so when I do respond, it's not hollow. It's real."
"You could just say yes, you know," Kara teased as she walked up to him and took his hand in hers. "You already plan to. Why wait?"
Naruto smiled gently and squeezed her hand. "Because it wouldn't feel right. I don't want to start something serious unless my heart truly beats for them… deeply and completely."
"You can be so cheesy sometimes," Kara giggled, her cheeks slightly flushed, "but I love it. And I'm sure Raven enjoys the cheese too."
Before either of them could react, she leapt up with childish glee, throwing herself into his arms. Naruto caught her effortlessly, lifting her into a princess carry.
Raven raised an eyebrow, watching with a dry smile. "You're acting like a child, Kara. We're still in public."
"Let them watch," Kara grinned, unbothered by the audience. "It's not like I'm doing anything indecent. Now then… to our room!"
"You're just insatiable," Raven sighed, though the amusement in her tone was undeniable.
"You're welcome to join us," Naruto added before Kara could suggest it, giving Raven a knowing glance. "I won't have time later."
"You're both so ravenous," Raven said with a shake of her head, but her hand found Naruto's other one all the same, her expression softening as she walked beside them.
Kara, ever bold, climbed onto Naruto's shoulders, laughing with a kind of joy that made even the stoic warriors nearby blink. Raven walked with him, quiet but close. The scene was a portrait of affection, of love in many forms—open, honest, and unafraid.
From the far side of the coliseum, Queen Hippolyta watched the trio leave. Her injuries may have faded under healing magic, but her heart ached with something deeper.
Love… real love.
It was something she had once dreamed of—once, long ago, when her heart had been foolish enough to believe that Hercules might offer her more than pain. She had never truly known affection without cruelty… and now, seeing this scene, a yearning bloomed within her. A longing for something gentle.
Diana, too, stood quietly, her arms crossed as she observed her sister, her mother, and the man who had disrupted all their hearts.
Donna's growth, her joy—it stirred something in the warrior princess. Memories of love long lost stirred in the back of her mind. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to be seen, to be held, to be cherished.
But Naruto… Naruto had rekindled something. And slowly, steadily, it was growing. His words, his heart—they were the kind she had always hoped for.
So, she smiled. A small smile, but one full of possibility.
Watching them go, Diana breathed deeply and whispered to herself, "Let time guide me… it always does."