17889/You Didn't Think This Would Be Easy, Did You

You Didn't Think This Would Be Easy, Did You
Date of Scene:	10 May 2024
Location:	Sandy Beaches
Synopsis:	Monet starts her training, and the first thing she learns is that that Diana and Philippus are bullies. Donna and Cassie have the bruises to prove it!
Cast of Characters:	Donna Troy, Monet St. Croix, Diana Prince, Cassie Sandsmark

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Donna Troy has posed:
    For some time now, Monet has been a regular visitor to the Themysciran Embassy and the cultural center to get in training in Amazon combat skills. More and more she's been offering her help in return. Although part of the idea of making that training available to people is sharing the knowledge, a bigger part is sharing the ideals. People come for the kung fu, but hopefully leave with at least some of the ideals.

    There is a point where dedication gets noticed. Where maybe it's time to take someone on the next step, not just in terms of something less casual on the combat training front, but where the hope might be that by giving that person a bit more dedicated training in the ways of Amazon combat, you might also steer them closer to the path to the more general Amazon Way. Monet's dedication the training might just be the benefit it brings her being a better fighter, but she's been making herself available when the Amazon /cause/ calls often enough of late that she's a good candidate for those next steps. She's been to Themyscira before, and she's fought for Themyscira. She's eager for those next steps.

    She may be less eager when she finds out how hard those next steps can be.

    Previous visits to Themyscira have been something of a vacation, in the main. Sunny beaches, glorious food, great company, stunning landscapes. The martial dedication of the Amazons has always been there in the background, but today it's very much foreground. Here on the beach, two dozen Amazons from the palace guard are going through intense training drills, under the guidance of General Philippus. The air is filled with the clash of steel on steel, with grunts of effort and occasional cries of pain as someone gets bashed with a shield, or struck with a training spear, the points blunt but heavy and capable of leaving bruises even on resilient Amazon flesh. It doesn't really /look/ like training so much as it looks like war, except that nobody is actually lying dead on the sand.

    The first step is of course watching. And after watching for a while, Donna turns to Monet with a little grin. "Are you /sure/ you're ready for this?" she asks. "Even Supergirl and Alura found it tough going."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
She thought she had been through enough things with the X-Men. Fighting aliens in space. Fighting Sentinels. Amazon training would just be another thing to help prepare her for it. To help her focus. The girl even admitted in her mind it would help her learn some control rather than charging in all the time with her fists first almost regardless of circumstance. So upon her invitation to Themyscira for training she had immediately jumped on it.
    The training being more mental, philosophical, and spiritual in nature of learning the Amazon way and having to dedicate herself to it.. That was going to be the hardest part for Monet to have to learn. She was stubborn. Challenging her own concepts and thoughts was always the most difficult thing.
    Part of her as she was with Donna, watching the Amazons go through combat drills as she would commit the maneuvers to memory. Watching how they moved and fought, trying her best to analyse it and review how to best physically match it. And as Donna goes on about teasing if she's ready for it.. She debates quipping back but instead goes for something more honest.
    "I am not sure I am ready. I am sure it will be nothing like I could ever imagine. But I /will/ succeed."

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana had been taking some time away from New York, and as such she'd been doing a bit of traveling. Most recently, she finds herself back on the island, as it was always the most ideal place to get away from the chaos of the rest of the world beyond the magical shroud that encircles this relatively small bastion of land.

With the training well underway already, Diana's horse appears on the edge of the beach. Having come down the main pathway, she rides at a leisurely troth across the sand, the hooves of her horse kicking up small puffs of sand in its wake.

When she draws near, dressed in casual attire, Diana turns her horse around, leading it in to a slow trot around the perimeter of the training area, before she comes to a halt upon her mount. It kicks its front legs anxiously after the ride, as the Princess atop it, adjusts her reigns, and lets her eyes roam over her Amazonian sisters gathered out here under the goldn rays of the sun above.

Donna Troy has posed:
    "There is no try," Donna says with a small laugh. The terrible influence of America on an Amazon. She doesn't make a good Yoda.

    Donna gives a wave to Diana as she comes into view, then gestures for her sister to come join her and Monet where they stand on the sidelines, watching the training. "You've done a lot of technique over the last couple of years," she tells Monet as she's waving. "But what we don't do in those training sessions is the discipline. We're giving people a little instruction, introducing them to who we are, and hoping they'll go away better able to defend themselves in an unfortunate situation. But we're not readying them for war. If this is what you really want to do, you'll learn more technique, but you'll also learn about dedication. Fighting not simply to be able to defend yourself, but fighting for a cause. Fighting for, and with, your sisters. You'll learn about fear, and pain, and sacrifice. You'll learn about the discipline of fighting alongside other people, not just for and by yourself, but as part of a group. You'll know how to become part of a machine. But most of all, you'll learn about why we fight. You'll learn how and when not to fight. You'll learn how to be merciful, but also how to kill when there is no other choice. And at the end of it, you'll be a different person than you are now, because you cannot go through all of this without either quitting or discovering a drive in yourself that makes you want to continue because you know that /this is the right thing to do/. That this is a way to make a difference to the world, and that desire to make a difference must be more important to you than concerns for your own comfort, because you will be, at times, very uncomfortable."

    As if to make Donna's point for her, at that moment one of the Amazons in the training combat gets smashed in the face with the edge of a shield, letting out a spray of blood. General Philippus calls out "/Istemi!/" and the training combat ceases suddenly. The warriors who'd been training with the injured Amazon rush to help her and lead her to the sidelines where a couple of medics quickly tend to her.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Hop hop hop...

HOP!

With a rythmic, well, you get the idea, a form comes bounding down the beach, up and down, up and down. To most on Themyscira, this cadence is very familiar, so there should be little surprise when the more distant silhouette resolves into something more recognizable: a gigantic kangaroo with a somewhat less gigantic blonde woman riding astride. Also? Apparently no one told her about the training, because it looks awful like she's just out for a pleasure ride on the beach. The first hint would be the two-piece bathing suit worn in lieu of armor, not that she doesn't often fight in all manner of casualwear.

Hop, hop, hop. HOP!

The last comes with a big PWOOOF of sand as the appropriately-named kanga comes to an abrupt stop near the gathering. Seeing that Diana is also riding, and also casually dressed, maybe they'd planned to meet up or something, coming from different directions. But now they've stumbled upon something interesting.

"Hey Donnnna. Watcha- ooh. We got a visitor?"

Monet St. Croix has posed:
That particular pop culture reference seems a bit beyond Monet even as she grasps it - but in it's application here. "I will succeed." This is but another thing she shall persevere through, even if she doesn't know what much of it will entail. She goes to bow her head over to Diana as she would approach. "Princess." Taking on a respectful posture as Diana would come towards them.
    As Donna would elaborate, Monet would turn her full attention over to the lady of Troy. She knew how to fight. Sort of. She fought for a cause. One greater than herself. But she pushed that down. Now was not the time for justification and argument. Now was the time to listen and learn. No snapping that she could already do such things.
    "I will learn. It will hurt. It will push me. But I shall succeed." Admitting that she did not know what she was getting into was painful. But it was one more thing she had to face that was perhaps her greatest challenge.

Diana Prince has posed:
A moment was taken, by Diana, to dismount from her horse. She'd showed Donna a small smile over her shoulder, before she'd pulled a simple wooden combat staff from the saddle lined with a small variety of weaponry. With the intent to use the stick as simply a walking staff, Diana was in the process of meandering gracefully toward the pair of Donna, and Monet, when Cassie made her final bound across the sand. The resulting wave of sand cast a fair amount to splash across her bare calves, and caused Diana to glance down at herself, then over to her sister. She smirked at the youngest Amazon, softly shaking her head. "Jumpa did not want to leave his pen today," she explains, since they were supposed to meet up for a ride together. "Arrow was more than eager to take his place." She explains, glancing back to her horse, before she went on toward Donna.

A look was given to the Amazon warrior who sustained the sparring injury, but she could see the medics were tending to her, and it was best not to interfere.. She'd seek out the woman eventually, to check on her.

A smile was sent to Monet, along with a nod. "Hello, how is the training proceding?" She asks in a friendly tone, as her quarterstaff is given a idle spin within the fingers of her right hand at her side.

Donna Troy has posed:
    Donna nods her head slightly. "We'll see," she says to Monet. "I hope you're right. Being determined is a very good starting point, because you'll certainly need determination. The only way to be sure is to try though, right?" Donna flashes Monet a grin before turning to the newer arrivals.

    "Hey Cassie!" Donna calls out with a broad grin for the youngest Amazon. She reaches a hand up to give Hoppa ear scritches. "Hey Hoppa," she adds. Donna tends to favor horses over kangas as mounts herself, but that doesn't mean she's not fond of the animals! "You've met Monet, right?" she asks. "I mean you Cassie, not Hoppa. One of the X-types. She's been getting training from the trainers in New York pretty much since we started doing that, and she's helped us out a few times before. Thought it was time she had a try at taking things a bit more seriously and see if it works for her."

    Donna gives Cassie's attire a glance and grins a little wider. She's well armored herself -- not her own fancy hi-tech hybrid Themysciran armor, but standard Amazon training armor. "I see you've come ready for combat," she confides in Cassie. "Though perhaps in your case combatting the winter loss of tan."

    "What do you think, Di? Let Cassie beat Monet up a bit just to start off with?" She's teasing. Of course she's teasing.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
"Aw, that's a shame," Cassie laments, of Jumpa's apparent disinterest in joining the fun. "You know we'll take any chance we can get to go for a ride. And it's really hard in the city." They DO have stables there, at the Arts Center, but it isn't like a giant kangaroo gets off any better than the Handsome Cabs do, when it comes to trying to compete with New York City traffic. This whole thing may also conjure questions about the practicality of packing the Kangas up on the Invisible Jet and other great mysteries. Better not to worry!

Despite Diana dismounting quickly, Cassie remains up in her place for a bit longer, leaning forward on Hoppa's neck, as she happily leans in a bit for some Donna scritches. "Hmm, yeah I think so, at some of the Art Center events?" Where she's met Monet before, that is. And so, the X-lady gets a friendly up-nod from her perch. "'Sup?"

And then another grin for Donna. "What, am I NOT gonna take advantage of the fact that we've got a year-round tropical paradise to enjoy? Though it's getting super hot in the city anyway. Bet people will be hitting Coney Island super early this year." It's... still probably not much of a competition, as far as the scenery goes between the two. Creepy clowns and the a lot more occasional bit of strange garbage or debris versus, well.

They don't call it 'Paradise Island' as an alternative to the real name, for nothing. "Beat her up? Pft. I came to, like, pre-tan. Or maybe swim. Beat her up yourself." Lazy!

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would give a formal curtsy over to Cassandra. "A pleasure. We've encountered one another in passing." At the Embassy, at whatever monster there is at the moment hitting the Starport or the city.. But, ultimately barely interacted with one another at any of them. As she's introduced, she cuts back her normal tendency to overly-introduce herself and elaborate upon it. As she's volunteered to be beat up by Cassie, she lets out a sigh.
    "Very well, nothing that will have me thrown in a regeneration tank please. That would impact my ability to further train myself." Beaten up by a berserk Supergirl and at least two brutal losses to Cheetah had given her a rather good impression of what being on the receiving end of total physical brutality was like. She waits to see whether she'll be directed to spar with Cassie or soemthing else, paused over and standing still to listen to Donna and Diana, and watch the Amazons sparring and moving back and forth.
    The talk of 'beach paradise' had her blink for a few moments. "Can't you just fly to wherever you might.." Nevermind, tangent and unimportant. Giving a sigh as Cassie would go on. "If you require it I can book a resort for you in Morocco. It has the loveliest beaches."

Diana Prince has posed:
"I think he gets Jet Lag whenever we go to and from the island and the city..." Diana ventures a guess as to the grumpiness of her own stabled Kanga friend. "I am sure he will be fine by morning." She adds with a soft grin sent back toward the other rider. With a quick exhale, Diana gives another twirl to the quarterstaff in her right hand, before she darts her eyes from Donna, to Monet, to Cassie. She shakes her head softly, grinning ear to ear. "Do not let Phillipus catch you sparring in a swimsuit, Cassie." She states, glancing toward the highest ranking Amazon within their military here on the island, save for the Queen herself, of course.

The quarterstaff is lowered to rest horizontally in front of Diana's legs, as she eyes Monet closely for a moment.

"I have witnessed Monet fight some rather imposing enemies. With.... mixed results, of course, but the effort was commendable. Still though, Monet, you do have an impressive dedication, devotion, and as you said... determination." She glances toward Donna, "But, the avoidance of injury is where Monet needs to improve most. She cannot simply tank her way through these dangerous fights. She cannot keep allowing herself to get battered, broken, or even bruised. She needs to build up strong defenses, or her offensives are forever to be rendered useless, should she succumb to her tendancy to acquire injuries."

Another smirk shows on Diana's face, as she softly shakes her head side to side within the glowing light of the paradise sunshine.

"I believe you can accomplish this too, Monet. Your drive proves that to me. But you do have a long way to go yet still."

Donna Troy has posed:
    Donna just flashes Cassie a grin rather than respond to the 'beat her up yourself' comment. "Year round though," she says to Monet instead, emphasizing Cassie's comments. "Even Marrakech is merely pleasant during the winter months. Sure Cassie can fly wherever she wants, but who'd want to go anywhere else?" Donna gives Monet a little wink, she's not /wholly/ serious.

    Donna nods to Diana. "She's certainly got the drive for it, but discipline is harder to learn. And relying on powers is a short cut that we both know all to well." There's something unspoken there, but Donna and Diana are the only two Amazons to have really gone through this from scratch, without the guidance of people who've gone through it before, and with powers that overmatch their sisters. It's easy to guess that she's referring to some kind of shared experience of their own youthful training.

    Donna tilts her head in Cassie's direction. "You might wonder, what with all this talk of discipline, how someone as undisciplined and casual as Cassie got through it all. Don't let her fool you with the party girl image, Monet. Cassie proved herself very capable of being disciplined when she needed to be. Of course it helped that she knew she had to impress Diana. You don't get to be Di's sidekick for long if you can't get serious when it's needed. I have to admit that when Cassie first showed up here I was more excited by the idea of having someone I could get up to mischief with, but she impressed everyone once she got down to the training."

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
"Lovelier than here? Ehnnnn." Cassie lifts her hand, does a wobble. "I went there once with my mom, to see Msoura, Kouass and Thamusida. It was OK." Despite Monet's jet-setting ways, she has her own kind of worldliness, albeit from a far less luxurious point of view. Presumably, her and Helena weren't staying at any five-star hotels. "And yeah, sure, I can fly anywhere pretty much, but like, it's a little, I don't know, it's awkward to bring luggage like that, you know? So what would I wear once I got there? It's so much better to go in style."

A beat.

"On the Invisible Jet! That's a true luxury ride." She grins broadly, but then tilts her still kanga-leaning head to look sideways over at Diana. "Unless you're Jumpa, apparently."

As far as combat technique goes, she can only chime in to echo an agreement after Diana: "Yeah, I had a bit of that whole 'face tanking' issue myself. It's easy to get overconfident when you can toss an actual tank, but you know, 'always a bigger fish in the pond' and all that. It's bad fundamentals." She has now been doing this, well, an eyeblink's worth of time, compared to Diana, but for several years, which on her own more limited timeline represents a large investment, and pretty significant portion of her life. So Cassie thinks she's learned at least a thing or two! "Ask Donna about the time I tried to tank a spaceship and ended up orbiting Jupiter naked."

"... or you know, don't do that." Grin. Of course, she's also happy to soak up Donna's compliments. "Oh yeah. Don't let my follower count fool you. I'm a total serious hardcore badass." Insert (humorous) scary-face!

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would glance at Diana, about to mouth a comeback in self-defense but keep her lips stilled, even as they would twitch a bit in indication of her restraining herself. Any sort of self-defense or justification that she might bring to the forefront is sealed away as she reminds herself to be quiet. She is here to learn, not to argue. She is here to better herself and dedicate herself. Belittling those trying to teach her in the name of her own ego defeats the purpose, and even moreso insulting to those that have welcomed her to their culture.
    "I would not remotely think to question her dedication and her focus." Monet would cock her head over in confusion. "She has clearly demonstrated the capabilities to fight as one of you and earned her right to do so. I am the one here to learn." And perform. And have to batter down and steel herself.
    She would sigh, "Yes, that is.. Rather difficult. I have to improve." Her immediate thoughts are that when they were so much /faster/ than her that could be rather problematic. That's eas yto pick up off her face. "Your tutlage will help a.. Great deal." Because while she might be able to take a few punches she'd rather not have to.

Diana Prince has posed:
The talk of Cassie, her abilities even in spite of her party girl stylings, has Diana showing a soft smile toward her. "I will refrain from comment." She quietly adds to the conversation. "I will say, however, that Cassie listens when she needs to, and that is important. I believe you will too, Monet, and that if you ever feel as though we are pushing you too hard, know that it is done to preserve your life where it otherwise may be threatened."

Diana's double grip upon her staff held in front of her in that horizontal position, gets a quick turn over in her palms, her fingers tightening, then loosening again upon the weapon, before she glances toward the other Amazons gathered on the beach.

"Monet's training level is essentially on the same plain as that of the 700." Diana states, now placing her eyes back upon Donna. "Perhaps we should assign Monet to that same group, and their regimented training sessions? The ... seven hundred, and one?" She asks with a faint smirk. "It would make sense to keep her on-par with them, to let them train together, rather than keep Monet bouncing between us, and general training lessons."

The French woman gets a glance again, and Diana lowers her chin ever so slightly. "What would you prefer?" She asks her head-on, rather than talk around the young woman who is right here before them. "In the mean time, though, do not let me interrupt a bit of a spar. It is a fine evening for it after all..."

Donna Troy has posed:
Donna nods her head to Diana. "Yeah, that's the plan really. She can't be here full-time like the 700, but she can at least participate in sessions with them when she does have the opportunity to be here. The training she's done with us back in America gives her a starting point at least. And if it works out?" She glances speculatively towards Monet. "Well, maybe she'll decide in time that she wants to take a sabbatical from life in America and spend a few months here really learning things."

    The injured trainee has had the ministrations of the healers to deal with the immediate pain and injury, but they're now leading her off to the House of Healing, because she's going to need some new teeth. Philippus calls a restart to the training, and the surviving warriors get back to sparring. With that done, the general makes her way across the beach. "I only heard about the Jupiter thing after the fact," Donna is reporting as Philippus arrives. "I was stuck inside a black hole at the time. While I don't recommend you ever try what Cassie tried, particularly the being naked in space thing, I can't help but be proud of Cassie for trying."

    "Diana. Troia. Cassandra," Philippus says in greeting, before turning her eyes towards Monet. Philippus is very business-like in public, and in professional situations, though those who know here well know she's a lot warmer in private, casual situations. She's very fond of the three she just mentioned, even if she's not giving that away. "This is the one you think might need some proper training?" She arches an eyebrow, studying Monet as if she was evaluating a horse.

    "You have powers, yes?" Philippus' english is excellent, but her accent is even deeper that Donna or Diana's. "Many of the princesses' friends have powers. Tell me yours."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
As Monet listens to the back and forth she would nod at Cassandra respectfully, before listening over to Diana. "It.. Would likely be best for me to start with the others. I need to have a firm foundation in place before I can expand upon it. I must understand the basics before I can expand upon them." That is the way one learns, the foundation must come first. She would be sabotaging any potential training she might have from one of the more skilled Amazons if she does not understand the form which it builds upon. If she does adequately in that then the others can decide if she has the potential for something more in depth.
    "I do not believe that I could take any of you in a spar, though I would appreciate being able to observe one." She allows. "My combat style is.. Inelegant."
    As Donna brings up staying for a few months Monet would close her eyes. "I would.. Appreciate that but obligations would likely not permit it. If the situation allows at any point I would gladly take you up on it." Her attention then shifts over to Philippus. Turning to cock her head over. Not recognizing her as a general, but by the way she moved and how the other Amazons seemed to defer to her to some degree indicating that she was someone of rank and respect.
    "Ma'am. And I have powers. I have flight, enhanced strength and durability, and a degree of telepathy. Not to the extent of.. Many others that have come to the island for training." For once not going into the full monologue. Learning!

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Cassie nods along an otherwise mute agreement with the plan they discuss for Monet. It makes sense, after all, given some of her similarities to their newest Amazon sisters, so why try and meddle any further? Of course, since the idea of taking a break off to train here in earnest comes in, she does have to pipe up: "That's what I did. Even put off starting college to do it. Amazon training is intense, it's hard to fully embrace it if you're part-timing." A window into the more serious side of the party-zon.

"Details, details," she starts to reply to Donna, acting very unimpressed by the concept of a black hole (when, at the time, she had been rather inconsolable about the whole thing!). But all that joking about quickly comes to a halt, all her happy-go-lucky, unserious attitude melting away as Philippus arrives. Even Diana doesn't inspire that kind of reaction!

Despite her attire, Cassie sits bolt-upright on Hoppa's back. "General." Someone who commands the kind of respect to get her to de-nonsense, that says a lot! And as said General goes about grilling Monet, she finally takes the opportunity to less-flashily dismount her kanga, landing neatly in the sand and soon leading her over closer to where Diana had originally ended up.

Diana Prince has posed:
"I am sure the X-Men are not keen on their members taking months long hiatus' to places that they are not privvy to the whereabouts of, let alone the access to reach their member should they so need to." Diana is quick to state, as she glances toward the General, then toward Donna.. both of whom likely know what Diana is mulling over within her mind. "But the road to a full fledged Amazon requires a dedication such as so." She states, her eyes landing upon Monet again. "You will be welcome here for your training, but until you can dedicate more time... I am not so sure that you will be able to progress up in rank and state. We will happily chip away at the rough edges, and even give you an honorary place amongst us... but as I am sure you can understand, this life is not one easily achieved with so many other obligations on your plate, so to speak."

Diana falls silent then, her quarterstaff swept around to be held behind her back now, gripped in a reverse position in her hands, as Cassie joins her on her left side, garnering a sideways glance from the Princess, who offers Hoppa a reserved smile as well.

Donna Troy has posed:
    "We can make special arrangements to deal with access issues if that becomes a thing," Donna says. "I mean... don't kill me Di, but since I got that satellite internet link set up at the palace, well... luckily she hasn't got into the habit yet, but technically mom could be phoning to check up on you daily in the near future."

    Donna cracks a smile that spreads into an impish grin. It must be torment for Hippolyta -- the concept of being able to check up on her daughters, versus her now more act than anything else disapproval of Donna's network connectivity scheming. Donna hasn't yet dared explain to the queen exactly what a top level domain is and why Themyscira now has one.

    Philippus keeps staring at Monet while she goes through the listing of her powers, and for a few moments afterwards. Then, very suddenly, the general has her sword at Monet's throat. Even Diana barely caught the tells that she was about to draw her sword, and the general's speed and precision is pretty frightning -- from sheath to about a quarter of an inch from touching Monet's throat in a single, perfectly executed motion. "Enhanced durability to the degree that Kara, that Supergirl has?" she asks in an entirely casual voice, carrying not the slightest hint of threat to it. "Even that is something you should not rely upon. This was the lesson we found it hardest to get through to her, and I know Troia had been working on her about that very problem for a considerable time before she ever came to our shores. Monet, correct? Monet, you must learn to forget that you have powers, before you can learn to fight well. Only once you have learned to fight well can you start to consider how to account for your powers into your combat techniques without undermining those techniques."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would nod over at Diana and frown for just a moment. Before giving a nod of acceptance. "I will hope for such a time.. But my obligations take precedence and I cannot guarantee I shall be able to give this privilege the focus that it deserves." But she doubts that it ever will. Monet's expression softens for just a few moments as her mind is elsewhere, before she focuses back firmly on the here and now. Such things are far more important, no matter how much she would wish it. "I will do whatever I can to participate and what you allow me to." Much as she wants the challenge, the pain, the feeling of actual acceptance somewhere.
    The sword snaps out at her from Phillippus even as she looks inwards. It would have slit her throat before she even was aware of it. Her head would have been rolling off before her mind had even started to move to defend herself. She winces, and goes.. "NOt remotely to that degree, Ma'am." She has taken hits from Supergirl and knows the limitations of her durability. "And yes, you are right,Ma'am." Bowing her head in acknowledgement.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Of all things, it's the chance of long-distance motherly attention that seizes Cassie's interest, causing her to grin rather broadly at Diana. "Oh, wouldn't that just be soooooo nice..?" She grins REAL wide at Diana, and then sneaks a look back at Donna. "We really ought to help make sure she knows how to use it, huh?" Cassie has often suffered (in her view!) under the somewhat oppressively watchful eye of her own mom. A mom who just happens to have an off-switch for her powers. So Diana getting a bit of 'the business' from Hippolyta seems to have a certain appeal to her.

Then there's that blink-and-you'll-miss-it (and she does) movement that suddenly has Monet under the General's blade. Though it's still astonishing to see her move like that (or, well... to not see it!), the ultimate reaction from Cassie is a bit of a knowing grin. Just Amazon things. And it's always nice not being the noob any more!

Now she drifts over to reach up and give the top of Arrow's long face a bit of an idle but friendly rub-scritch.

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana's chin lowers at the banter, a smirk showing on her ruby hued lips. Her left eyebrow arches some at Cassie's reaction, and spoken words, as her gaze casts a sideways look toward her protege. She's about to react to that, when the sword is drawn and sent right up to Monet in a measure of Phillipus' skill, and Monet's status as one under the proverbial blade when it comes to learning what the Amazons have to teach.

Diana had been through similar before, but at the mercy of Antiope, so long ago. She quietly stands aside, listening to the General speak to the Amazon trainee, though she does eventually afford a glance toward Cassie giving a pet to the side of her faithful horse fellow, who snuffles at the attention. With Cassie's own attention directed in that way, something else quickly happens...

The staff held behind Diana's back, snaps out to her side, and slaps across Cassie's poorly defended back!

Slap!

Oh, that must smart!

And the smirk only grows larger upon the Princess' visage, who just stands perfectly still, like it definitely was not HER who just did THAT!

Donna Troy has posed:
    Monet has just enough time to notice the sword tip starting to move away from her neck when there's another blur of motion and confusion, and the next thing Monet knows, Philippus is lying on the floor with Donna straddling her, pinning down her sword arm with one hand and holding her neck with her other.

    "And why did you attack me, Troia?" Philippus asks in a very restrained tone.

    "Because your shoulder moved out before your elbow moved back," She replies. "You were about to pull the same trick on me," Donna replies in an equally restrained tone."

    "Correct," Philippus says, her eyes on Monet again. "It is the understanding of the situation you must rely on, not power. And it is the ability to understand a situation to that degree you must learn. It will not be easy. Troia has learned it quite well, for her scant few years of training. Do not think that means you can go easy on your training though, princess. You still have much to learn, and I allowed you this small victory purely as a demonstration."

    There's a slight lightening of Philippus' tone when she says this, a hint she's teasing a touch. Donna responds by sticking her tongue out at Philippus.

    Philippus in turn responds by punching Donna full force in the face with her spare hand, then bucking Donna off to get herself free before she has a chance to recover. Donna gets to her feet rubbing her nose and looking slightly chagrined. At least Cassie isn't the only one getting beaten up by the older Amazons. "You knew I had a hand free, Troia. How many times must I tell you, when we are training, you always treat it as if it was real until I call halt?"

    Donna gives a rueful nod of her head and looks Cassie to roll her eyes slightly. Philippus and Diana are such /bullies/!

    Philippus pokes Monet in the stomach gently with a finger. "You will go now to get fitted for training armor. Troia will see to it. Then tomorrow morning you will be here at dawn. Understood? Then we will see if you have potential."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
This is where Monet's slightly enhanced reflexes come into play as the Amazons move at higher speed. Now that she's paying attention to it, she can track it just a little bit better. not enough to keep up with it, but at least to be aware of it before it's over as she watches. As the quick exchange between Donna and Philippus finishes, Monet goes to replay in her mind those few moments. The exact posture of the General's shoulder and her positioning, the way that Donna moved to it to counter-attack and engage, and the moments of vulnerability there and how they were taken advantage of. She replays it in her mind several times as she turns her attention over to Diana and Cassie, before returning it to the General.

"I will be there, Ma'am." SHe would promise. And let out a sigh. The things she did for self improvement.. But, this would be a large step for her. But she had to actually -complete- it and earn it. And this was something that just stubborness wouldn't see her through. She had to atually finish it first before she congratulated herself.

A look of agreement given tot he consensus of Donna and Cassie on the 'bully' bits. The older ladies were total meanies.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Cassie definitely doesn't see this coming any more than Monet does, and gives a rather yappy kind of yelp at the impact, equal parts surprise, indignation, and the actual sting of it, as well as a little hop. In fact, she reacts so much, she 'hangs' at the end of that jump, swiveling around mid-air to confront Diana while reaching around to rub her backside.

"Ow! Hey what gives!" This was definitely supposed to be 'rag on the newbie' day, in her mind, so Philippus and Diana turning the tables definitely definitely ranks as 'uncool.' Indeed, her and Donna must be on a wavelength, as after shooting that first mildly glaring look at the innocently-presenting Diana, she quickly snaps toward where Donna was as if in appeal - only to find her in a similar spot. TOOOOTALLY bullies.

In Cassie's case, she never comes down from hovering. Or at least, not down to the ground, instead maneuvering about to land again on Hoppa, giving a little wince as she does and adjusting her position on the saddle. "If you're gonna be like THAT, I'm just gonna enjoy my ride alone!"

It is a little bit petulant, yes. But gosh. "This is what you're in for, Monet!" she shouts back over her shoulder, while already in the process of turning Hoppa away and beginning a bounce-bounce-bouncing escape down the beach. Still looking back, she even sticks her tongue out at Di!

Diana Prince has posed:
Diana's chin rises up again, when she sees Donna counter the strike that was meant for her, or more accurately-- pre-emptively strike before it could even be countered. She tilts her head at the situation that follows, before smirking when she sees that strike to Donna's cheek that casts Troia off of the General. It gets a small wince from Diana, but she felt countless similar strikes from Antiope-- and others-- back in her day.

Cassie's reaction has Diana trying to hold back a smile, until she sees her sister, and counterpart, begin her ride off. A little laugh escapes the Princess, as she shakes her head. "I will have to fix that now..." She states, knowing she may have gone a bit too far with that one, but her mischievous side has never been punched out of her fully. "I will join you in a bit! I have to go check on Jumpa again!" Diana calls out to the riding-away-one.

Her eyes sweep back to Monet, Donna and the General. "Assigned to the seven hundred, seems the best course for Monet." She states, showing a soft smile to Monet specifically. "When you can come to the island, you should barrack with them, fight with them, bond with them. Become a sister to them. The more you can mirror of their training, the more they can mirror of yours. I am sure even some of your X-Men experience will help influence them. But yes, your main focus is raising your defenses."

Diana turns toward Arrow then, who had stepped back several paces after Cassie had flown up and yelped loudly. Soon, Diana is back atop her saddle, and reaching for her horse's reigns, her staff slipped back in to the saddle's sheath for the weapon.

"Also remember that you are here to enjoy yourself, Monet, and that all of us are here if you need to vent about being surprise punched... or slapped." She states, smirking toward the others before she begins to make soft clicking noises to guide her horse in to beginning a new ride back the way they had come.