HOME | DD

Description
"Zatanna, are you paying attention?"

Zatanna blinked several times in an attempt to shake off the daydream she'd been lost in, "Sorry, zoned out there for a second or two, what were you saying?"

Wonder Woman sighed, "I know you think you're unbeatable, by Hera we all need that type of attitude, but this is important."

"I know Dianna, I'm sorry, just been a bit distracted. Tell me more about this 'Game'."

Wonder Woman rolled her eyes as Zatanna used the 'air quotes' gesture, "The Game," the Amazon corrected the young heroine.

"The Game," Zatanna nodded, "I've never heard of it and there's nothing written in any of my tomes or scrolls."

"No, there wouldn't be," Wonder Woman, Paragon of Justice frowned, "The Game is older than even the gods themselves, if the legends are true."

"Alright, color me intrigued," Zatanna smiled reassuringly, "Promise, you have my full attention."

"I won't go into the Amazon oral tradition regarding the story, we don't have three days to spare or goat's blood on hand."

Zatanna, an animal activist gasped, "Tell me you're joking! You are, aren't you?"

Wonder Woman shrugged off the question, "As I said, The Game predates written history and serves as a cautionary tale, an unwritten rulebook, and a contract between the forces of good and evil."

Zatanna genuinely looked shocked, "And I've never heard of it?"

"No, but trust that every hero, heroine, and supervillain either has heard of it or unknowingly abides by the rules, with few exceptions. Meaning, most are inclined to play by the rules even if they don't know what the rules are. I suppose it's the way the universe keeps balance, so to speak. If you are born under the sign of magic, occult, or gifted by the gods or mutated and given powers, if you answer the call of the mantle for good or evil, you are part of The Game."

Zatanna had a hard time believing in a universal ruleset, "What about, let's say Batgirl or Batman? They don't have any powers, are they part of The Game?"

Wonder Woman smiled, "Have you ever noticed how quickly they heal compared to what we would consider normal humans? How fast they are, how gifted they are with speed, reflexes, intelligence? When they answered the calling, someone or something sponsored them into The Game and gifted them these abilities. It is an ancient mysterious force perhaps, old as the universe itself."

"Sponsored? Someone? Something?" Even for a magic user this was a bit much to believe, "Seriously Dianna?"

"Do you think the Greek, Roman, or Christian gods are the only ones who sponsored champions?" Wonder Woman laughed, "Even Zeus is sponsored by a higher power, that's how it works and has worked since time began."

Zatanna shook her head, "Myth? Legend? Folk tales, right?"

Dianna Prince looked Zatanna up and down while frowning, "I'm a myth and you cast magical spells by speaking backwards."

Zatanna couldn't argue those points, "What about aliens? Superman, Power Girl, Supergirl?"

"The same rules apply, they are aware of The Game. It is universal."

Zatanna shrugged, "Fine, what about a murderer, a child molester, a bank robber?"

"Not usually, the act of evil itself or even good doesn't mean the person involved in the act of good or evil answered the calling," Wonder Woman looked for some understanding in Zatanna's eyes.

"How do I know who's called and who isn't," Zatanna asked.

"The recurring enemy, one obsessed with you, a nemesis, an organization devoted to your downfall? They've been specifically called against you. The burglar, the drug dealer, the corrupt politician? Likely not, though a few exceptions exist."

"Alright," Zatanna sighed, "The Game exists, we play by rules that aren't written down and heroes and villains abide by these rules even if they don't know they do, right? So, what are the rules?"

"We don't kill each other," Wonder Woman said flatly, "Rule number one. That doesn't mean we can't die, that doesn't mean someone can't break the rules, it certainly doesn't mean normal mortals are safe and won't be killed by either side."

Zatanna scoffed, "Has anyone told Joker this?"

"Why do you think he hasn't managed to kill Batman, Batgirl, or Robin? Why do you think Batman can't kill him? He may think he serves Chaos, he does not." Dianna placed her hands on her hips.

Zatanna thought long and hard, looking for a logical answer, "Every scheme foiled, every murder attempt thwarted, every trap escaped?"

Wonder Woman replied, "Yes, and somehow they can't keep Joker in Arkham, right?"

Zatanna nodded, "They move around like pawns on a chess board, or like puppets dancing on strings."

Dianna softly said, "We all do."

"We do get killed," Zatanna reminded the ancient heroine of legend.

"When that happens what becomes of the killer, Zatanna?"

Zatanna knew the answer, destruction. Heroes would rally and toss out their rules regarding killing, at least in most cases.

"So what then, what is the reward for villainy? It sounds like an empty pursuit, doesn't it?" Zatanna asked, confused.

"What was Hercules reward for villainy?" Dianna asked with a blank expression.

"He was a hero!" Zatanna exclaimed.

"Was he? He and his men bound, raped, and enslaved the Amazons for years. History and mythology may call that a hero, but I do not."

Zatanna felt horrible, she'd forgotten that particular "conquest" as it was later called in lore.

"They want power over all life, ours especially, and if they aren't allowed to kill us they take... other things when they win," Wonder Woman glanced down at the Lasso of Truth.

Zatanna wasn't exactly following along, "For instance?"

"Your dignity, your pride, your virtue. It's a drug and it fuels their side, even their women. They crave your defeat, your submission, it gives them power," Wonder Woman thought of several times she'd been defeated and humiliated by the villainess Cheetah, "Though, when all hope is lost and the situation is impossible, and they've done their worst to you it is possible to..."

Dianna stopped, even unsure herself how to explain it.

"What? Possible to what," Zatanna hung on every word, "Escape, win? Triumph!"

Dianna, Amazon goddess smiled softly at the young, beautiful, and naive spellslinger, "No Zatanna, defeat is defeat and it is inevitable. It is possible to experience pleasure, a gift of The Game."

Zatanna was floored and completely stunned, "You aren't saying..."

Wonder Woman sighed, "That I've enjoyed defeat, humiliation, slavery? No, don't be ridiculous. However, our bodies are special. They will adapt and compensate. The pleasure is a defense mechanism, even against the worst beating or most violent assault."

Zatanna, still stunned, stood silently for several moments, "...adapt to what?"

Dianna was stoic in her answer, "Minotaur, cyclops, harpy, centaur, satyr, giants, dragons...". Wonder Woman was about to add the villain Cheetah to the list but decided against mentioning more recent defeats, "...Cerberus."

Zatanna blinked, choked on a breath of air she'd inhaled sharply, then coughed, "Cerberus. The dog?"

"Three headed guardian of the Underworld," Dianna corrected the young heroine.

"That... Doesn't make it better," Zatanna mumbled.

"Stop being a child!" Wonder Woman's voice rose in commanding fashion, "You've never tasted defeat, obviously, but you will and when you do, trust that your body will compensate and adapt. It will be a small respite from the ordeal but it makes it survivable."

Zatanna stood close to a state of shock. She believed all Wonder Woman said but there was little comfort in the Amazon's counsel.

"Be careful though, when it happens your body will attempt to betray you, your thoughts will become clouded," Wonder Woman put a hand on Zatanna's shoulder, "Don't fall into the trap of seeking it out or becoming addicted."

"Addicted?" Zatanna asked, completely puzzled by the thought.

"Others have, like Batwoman," Dianna nodded, "It is a difficult drug to defeat once it has control."

"... You, Dianna?"

The Amazon looked Zatanna in the eyes, "I was much younger then and had never before tasted defeat, much like yourself now."

Zatanna was angry and visibly shaking, "What about male heroes? This isn't fair! What price do they pay? Are they abused in the same way?"

Wonder Woman looked towards the upset heroine and then looked to the ground, "You don't truly believe Bane broke Batman's spine by merely bending him over his knee, do you?"

Description
"Zatanna, are you paying attention?"

Zatanna blinked several times in an attempt to shake off the daydream she'd been lost in, "Sorry, zoned out there for a second or two, what were you saying?"

Wonder Woman sighed, "I know you think you're unbeatable, by Hera we all need that type of attitude, but this is important."

"I know Dianna, I'm sorry, just been a bit distracted. Tell me more about this 'Game'."

Wonder Woman rolled her eyes as Zatanna used the 'air quotes' gesture, "The Game," the Amazon corrected the young heroine.

"The Game," Zatanna nodded, "I've never heard of it and there's nothing written in any of my tomes or scrolls."

"No, there wouldn't be," Wonder Woman, Paragon of Justice frowned, "The Game is older than even the gods themselves, if the legends are true."

"Alright, color me intrigued," Zatanna smiled reassuringly, "Promise, you have my full attention."

"I won't go into the Amazon oral tradition regarding the story, we don't have three days to spare or goat's blood on hand."

Zatanna, an animal activist gasped, "Tell me you're joking! You are, aren't you?"

Wonder Woman shrugged off the question, "As I said, The Game predates written history and serves as a cautionary tale, an unwritten rulebook, and a contract between the forces of good and evil."

Zatanna genuinely looked shocked, "And I've never heard of it?"

"No, but trust that every hero, heroine, and supervillain either has heard of it or unknowingly abides by the rules, with few exceptions. Meaning, most are inclined to play by the rules even if they don't know what the rules are. I suppose it's the way the universe keeps balance, so to speak. If you are born under the sign of magic, occult, or gifted by the gods or mutated and given powers, if you answer the call of the mantle for good or evil, you are part of The Game."

Zatanna had a hard time believing in a universal ruleset, "What about, let's say Batgirl or Batman? They don't have any powers, are they part of The Game?"

Wonder Woman smiled, "Have you ever noticed how quickly they heal compared to what we would consider normal humans? How fast they are, how gifted they are with speed, reflexes, intelligence? When they answered the calling, someone or something sponsored them into The Game and gifted them these abilities. It is an ancient mysterious force perhaps, old as the universe itself."

"Sponsored? Someone? Something?" Even for a magic user this was a bit much to believe, "Seriously Dianna?"

"Do you think the Greek, Roman, or Christian gods are the only ones who sponsored champions?" Wonder Woman laughed, "Even Zeus is sponsored by a higher power, that's how it works and has worked since time began."

Zatanna shook her head, "Myth? Legend? Folk tales, right?"

Dianna Prince looked Zatanna up and down while frowning, "I'm a myth and you cast magical spells by speaking backwards."

Zatanna couldn't argue those points, "What about aliens? Superman, Power Girl, Supergirl?"

"The same rules apply, they are aware of The Game. It is universal."

Zatanna shrugged, "Fine, what about a murderer, a child molester, a bank robber?"

"Not usually, the act of evil itself or even good doesn't mean the person involved in the act of good or evil answered the calling," Wonder Woman looked for some understanding in Zatanna's eyes.

"How do I know who's called and who isn't," Zatanna asked.

"The recurring enemy, one obsessed with you, a nemesis, an organization devoted to your downfall? They've been specifically called against you. The burglar, the drug dealer, the corrupt politician? Likely not, though a few exceptions exist."

"Alright," Zatanna sighed, "The Game exists, we play by rules that aren't written down and heroes and villains abide by these rules even if they don't know they do, right? So, what are the rules?"

"We don't kill each other," Wonder Woman said flatly, "Rule number one. That doesn't mean we can't die, that doesn't mean someone can't break the rules, it certainly doesn't mean normal mortals are safe and won't be killed by either side."

Zatanna scoffed, "Has anyone told Joker this?"

"Why do you think he hasn't managed to kill Batman, Batgirl, or Robin? Why do you think Batman can't kill him? He may think he serves Chaos, he does not." Dianna placed her hands on her hips.

Zatanna thought long and hard, looking for a logical answer, "Every scheme foiled, every murder attempt thwarted, every trap escaped?"

Wonder Woman replied, "Yes, and somehow they can't keep Joker in Arkham, right?"

Zatanna nodded, "They move around like pawns on a chess board, or like puppets dancing on strings."

Dianna softly said, "We all do."

"We do get killed," Zatanna reminded the ancient heroine of legend.

"When that happens what becomes of the killer, Zatanna?"

Zatanna knew the answer, destruction. Heroes would rally and toss out their rules regarding killing, at least in most cases.

"So what then, what is the reward for villainy? It sounds like an empty pursuit, doesn't it?" Zatanna asked, confused.

"What was Hercules reward for villainy?" Dianna asked with a blank expression.

"He was a hero!" Zatanna exclaimed.

"Was he? He and his men bound, raped, and enslaved the Amazons for years. History and mythology may call that a hero, but I do not."

Zatanna felt horrible, she'd forgotten that particular "conquest" as it was later called in lore.

"They want power over all life, ours especially, and if they aren't allowed to kill us they take... other things when they win," Wonder Woman glanced down at the Lasso of Truth.

Zatanna wasn't exactly following along, "For instance?"

"Your dignity, your pride, your virtue. It's a drug and it fuels their side, even their women. They crave your defeat, your submission, it gives them power," Wonder Woman thought of several times she'd been defeated and humiliated by the villainess Cheetah, "Though, when all hope is lost and the situation is impossible, and they've done their worst to you it is possible to..."

Dianna stopped, even unsure herself how to explain it.

"What? Possible to what," Zatanna hung on every word, "Escape, win? Triumph!"

Dianna, Amazon goddess smiled softly at the young, beautiful, and naive spellslinger, "No Zatanna, defeat is defeat and it is inevitable. It is possible to experience pleasure, a gift of The Game."

Zatanna was floored and completely stunned, "You aren't saying..."

Wonder Woman sighed, "That I've enjoyed defeat, humiliation, slavery? No, don't be ridiculous. However, our bodies are special. They will adapt and compensate. The pleasure is a defense mechanism, even against the worst beating or most violent assault."

Zatanna, still stunned, stood silently for several moments, "...adapt to what?"

Dianna was stoic in her answer, "Minotaur, cyclops, harpy, centaur, satyr, giants, dragons...". Wonder Woman was about to add the villain Cheetah to the list but decided against mentioning more recent defeats, "...Cerberus."

Zatanna blinked, choked on a breath of air she'd inhaled sharply, then coughed, "Cerberus. The dog?"

"Three headed guardian of the Underworld," Dianna corrected the young heroine.

"That... Doesn't make it better," Zatanna mumbled.

"Stop being a child!" Wonder Woman's voice rose in commanding fashion, "You've never tasted defeat, obviously, but you will and when you do, trust that your body will compensate and adapt. It will be a small respite from the ordeal but it makes it survivable."

Zatanna stood close to a state of shock. She believed all Wonder Woman said but there was little comfort in the Amazon's counsel.

"Be careful though, when it happens your body will attempt to betray you, your thoughts will become clouded," Wonder Woman put a hand on Zatanna's shoulder, "Don't fall into the trap of seeking it out or becoming addicted."

"Addicted?" Zatanna asked, completely puzzled by the thought.

"Others have, like Batwoman," Dianna nodded, "It is a difficult drug to defeat once it has control."

"... You, Dianna?"

The Amazon looked Zatanna in the eyes, "I was much younger then and had never before tasted defeat, much like yourself now."

Zatanna was angry and visibly shaking, "What about male heroes? This isn't fair! What price do they pay? Are they abused in the same way?"

Wonder Woman looked towards the upset heroine and then looked to the ground, "You don't truly believe Bane broke Batman's spine by merely bending him over his knee, do you?"