ATN 3: THE JAR IN THE MAZE

RETURNING HOME

After we landed back in Themiscyra through some portal work by Iris, we found out that the huntresses, who were left in charge of the island while we were away, had built shrouds for the five fallen Amazons and two fallen werewolves. We buried them in the separate areas, in the Amazonian tomb, around where, Iris had buried the two Amazons she had killed in anger.

It was a heartfelt moment. Everyone said something about the fallen. Actaeon spoke a lot of things about the two fallen members of his pack. The pack had been reduced to three people now. We had dinner, and slept off that night. We were all super tired, and needed that rest. Now, the official leader of the Atlanteans, I decided that we would return back to Atlantis right after Urwa was coronated.

Next morning, after breakfast, a surprise waited for all of us. While the stage was being set for the coronation ceremony, a centaur entered the island. "Just in time for the crowning of the new Queen, right?" He said.

It was Chiron. The trainer of heroes was back to the place he had been assigned for the last hundred years. He congratulated us on our victory, and said that it was a shame that Delilah and Gerard were going away. However, he was thrilled that Urwa was chosen as Delilah's successor, as she was the best choice. He and Iris exchanged handshakes, and soon, he left to talk to the others.

After Chiron took his position in one corner of the stage, as the trainer of the Amazons, and we were seated on the ground, Delilah walked up to the stage, and said, "The last few weeks have gone by like Hermes running. So much pressure, so much tension, all released. We have lost many, but we have won so much. My Amazons, I am proud of what we have been today, and what we have done in the last few weeks. We thank, specially, our friends from the great land, Atlantis, without whom, it wouldn't have been possible to win the war. I am proud of every moment I spent as an Amazon in the last eight years. And so, now that I step down to look for a new life, I have no worry about this Queendom. It is because, I am leaving it in the hands of the most capable successor I could ever ask for. Urwa Farooqi, please join me on stage."

Urwa walked into the stage. She was wearing her battle armor, but had put on some makeup. She looked nice in this get up. We all clapped as Delilah took the silver girdle from one of the Amazons holding it, and tied it to her waist. Then, she came down the stage, and stood beside Dadai. The two awkwardly held hands. Urwa stepped forward, and started, "I had never expected this, like ever. To learn from Delilah was an honor, but to take her place, 'honor' is too small a word. I am proud that I had such a mentor, and I am honored that I am succeeding her. I, Urwa Farooqi, daughter of Enyo, and adopted daughter of Ares, take upon the responsibility to lead the Amazons in every aspect of life from now on. I wish to run the land in the ways I've seen Delilah run it, so the Cata-Bol highlander can move on, with her first ever relationship. I wish her all the best, and request her to keep visiting whenever possible."

A huge roar of applause came her way, as Urwa, overwhelmed, stood still. Chiron walked to her, and put her on his back, and carried her to her throne. She sat on it, and was welcomed by another round of applause. Urwa Farooqi, my friend from Pakistan, was now the Amazon Queen.

Right after all this, while Chiron was admiring the hippogriff, who was nudging on Chiron's beard, Iris opened a portal back to our home. We wished the Amazons farewell, while we were taking two of their key members with us. Urwa asked us to keep visiting. Iris gave her an Iris ring, and explained it's working procedure, so that if she or any other Amazon wanted to visit Atlantis, they could just ring her up for a portal. I got up on my griffin, Dev, as we walked through the portal.

We landed back in Atlantis, right in front of our palace. I looked at the palace that had given me a home a year and a half back. Iris read my mind, and said, "This is your palace now. You have inherited it."

"From who? A person I was not related to?"

"From a person who was deserving of it. She has passed it on for another person who was equally deserving of it."

We walked on to the palace, and all of us left for our rooms. Actaeon and his pack went back to their caves in the jungle. I asked them to live with us in our palace, but Actaeon said that they were wild creatures, and couldn't live without the wild. When I went to my room, I found it locked. I called Iris and told her about it. She said, "I left your mother in charge of this place. She must have done it already. Jay, you are now the King of Atlantis. You have been shifted to the king's room."

I was taken to the king's room. And as soon as I entered, wow! This room was at four times the size of my previous room. It was a floor above. It had blue walls, beautiful light purple curtains on the windows, other stuff related to me that I had in the previous room. There was a book shelf, a center table, a coffee maker with coffee making kits, a magnificent couch, a few beautiful chairs, a cupboard, a huge LED TV, home theater, a PlayStation, and a king size bed. Now, I could move around in my sleep as much as I wanted. I loved this room, of course.

Life as a newly turned, not yet coronated king was nice. Two satyrs came and asked me if I wanted anything every one hour. I even had a bell in my room, so if I wanted anything, all I needed to do was ring that. I invited every demigod in the evening in my room for a CC evening, which was fun, as all of us ended up playing games in my PlayStation.