*Hello, loyal Wonderbat fans and newcomers. This is Maven Alazais on a new fanfic, with a concept I'm quite frightened to handle but it might get interesting to see. I haven't figured out the end or the solution yet, so I'll be working it out with you as it goes. I hope you enjoy it, and please, like always, leave a review by the end, tell me how you found it.

P.S. Sorry for any typos I didn't notice.*

DIANA OF THE UNDERWORLD

CHAPTER 1-FAMILY BUSINESS

The day at the Watchtower had been quite uneventful. Other than a few ordinary instances around the globe, no serious threats had been presented to the Leaguers. Diana found herself being seated between her two closest friends at the Dining Hall for yet another lunch that week.

"And that's the story, really. I had been following the lead but boy, was I wrong that this really was something. It was nothing. I'm really going to be in a tight spot by the weekend if I don't present Boss something." Clark whined, playing with a meatball in his plate.

Bruce let out a small, bored sigh. "You know you can come work for one of Wayne Enterprise's companies, right?"

"I don't want to. I want to make an honest living. Plus, I like my job."

"Suit yourself." The multimillionaire vigilante replied, turning his look somewhere else.

"I understand where you're coming from, Superman." Diana said. "We really should be able to stand on our two feet. Though Batman is quite generous and his heart is at the right place,"-Bruce tensed up just a bit with that phrase-"it doesn't compare with being able to do what you choose to do with your life on your own."

"Agreed. Unless there's a family business in the way, right, Batman?" Clark asked playfully.

Bruce shrugged. "There is a different sense of obligation to follow up in a family's footsteps, especially when those footsteps have created something huge."

"I don't think it has to do with the size of the thing created." Diana intervened. "Even if the parents own a small shop in the middle of nowhere and with no prospects for it being a considerably profitable business in any way, they would still want their children to inherit it and work in it when they leave. Parents wish to see their children become like them, because they think that's the right thing to do to be happy, since they believe their life is happy and safe. At least, most of the times."

"Interesting thoughts, Diana." Clark commented, chewing on a small broccoli piece.

"Well, I was raised to be a Queen like Hippolyta, so I know a thing or two on following the family business, really."

"But you didn't, eventually." Bruce said.

"Well, I chose to follow my own path. I am content with it, though I wouldn't say the same thing about my mother. Poor soul, she still hopes I'll come back and rule with her one day."

"You're an exile."

"There is a small thing called love and forgiveness, Batman." She looked at him meaningfully. "My fellow Amazons would understand why I did what I did. And they would all agree, at least I hope, to take me back if I ever made the decision to return for good."

"God help the Earth should that day come!" Clark commented. "We need you in 'Man's World'."

"That's why I came."

"And that's why you'll stay too." Clark gave her a big, hearty smile, which she returned. "So, I'm off. You two got the night shift today, and I need to find something to write about. See you tomorrow."

Bruce simply nodded and Diana bid their friend adieu as he left the Hall. "Any suggestions for tonight?" Diana asked but Bruce shook his head negatively.

"I will trust your taste."

OOO-OOO-OOO-OOO-OOO-OOO

Several hours later…

Diana had always found night shifts extremely dull. Most of the times she had nothing to do and she was forced to stay awake as well. She understood the need of night shifts very well, and complied with them, but that didn't mean she had to like them in any way.

Bruce hardly ever got night shifts. He had made it clear around the League that his Gotham duties made it very hard for him to be able to spend a whole night around the Watchtower when he could be of more use back in his hometown. But as the years went by and he became more and more involved with the League, and as his Gotham squad expanded, he felt more at ease with being appointed at a night shift or two. Especially when he was paired with the Amazon Princess.

Their dynamic was a weird one, he had noticed. They worked together almost too well. He recalled Clark saying at one point that they 'went together like salt and pepper'. He knew that the Kryptonian meant more than just teammates, but he didn't wish to comment on that one. It would be better to leave it as it is. Diana was an amazing person and one of the closest people to him and for her sake, their relationship didn't need to become any more complicated.

Diana really enjoyed herself when Bruce was around. She liked to tease him, flirt with him, talk to him; she liked everything with him, really. And he made the night shifts a lot less boring, so whenever she saw his name on the night shift schedule, she was quick in taking that night too. And soon, they had their own kind of almost-weekly rendez-vous.

As the nights went by really slow, Diana took it on herself to find something to keep them awake and busy. Sure, strong coffee could handle the 'awake' part, but the busy one, not quite so. It wasn't hard to see, though, that a good film could fill the missing part. Since she wasn't accustomed with Western civilization before she left Themyscira, the concept of films was something very new to her when she arrived. She had so many films to see! And so, night shifts were the perfect opportunity. She always got some popcorn –humans had the strange habit of eating this particular snack when watching a movie- and found a nice film to keep them occupied.

"Anything on the radar?" She asked, entering the Monitoring Hall.

"Nothing of importance. Quiet as usual."

"Great. I got us a Disney classic today!" Diana said cheerfully, moving towards the projecting machine. Bruce raised an eyebrow. He was used to having a different film every time she was with him at the night shift, but this might have been the first time she chose something like that. "Mary Poppins! Julie Andrews stars, that actress I told you I liked in-"

"Yes, I remember."

"It is based on a series of books, I read."

"By P. L. Travers."

"Oh, you know that, then."

"Used to read them when I was child. They were-" He cut his sentence there.

"They were what?" Diana insisted.

"Some of my mother's favorites." Bruce replied faster, but with a softer voice.

"Mm, I see…"Diana said, nodding and smiling ever-so-lightly. She liked those rare moments when Bruce let his guard down for just a second and admitted or shared something a bit more personal. And the more night shifts they had, she had noticed, the more moments like this she had gotten. "Then Mrs. Martha must have had a great taste. This movie will be brilliant."

Bruce, not surprisingly, didn't bother to reply and got his usual seat, waiting for the projection to start. Diana pushed the right buttons and a holographic screen emerged in front of their seat. She joined Bruce and grabbed a handful of popcorn.

Some minutes later, Bruce observed Diana from the corner of his eye, as she watched Mary Poppins land with her magical umbrella and her eyes shone bright and wide like a small kid on Christmas day. He might have smiled a bit, wondering how it would be to get so easily excited with things.

The following hours went by pleasantly, with Bruce listening to Diana humming along with the songs. She was quick in catching up to the rhythm and he might have also tapped his foot lightly, but there was no need to point that out.

Just when the magical nanny was about to leave the Banks, a small message appeared on the screen, reading 'Urgent for Wonder Woman'. Diana jumped up from her seat and moved to the consoles. Bruce followed her wondering what was going on, but before he could reach the panel, Diana turned around. "It's from Themyscira. I'll be going, then. Call on Flash, he was the standby for tonight."

"I'm coming along." Bruce said without a second thought but Diana shook her head negatively.

"It's my homeland, and the message was for me personally. Should the need arise, I will ring you up."

Bruce for some reason he couldn't really pinpoint, agreed without arguing, even though he felt it was wrong. Diana gave him a small, contained smile, touched his cheek with her hand and stormed off.

OOO-OOO-OOO-OOO-OOO-OOO

Diana felt her hands sweaty on the steering wheel. She realized she had been clenching them for all the time she was flying back to her island. Something about this notice had really disturbed her. There was no information in the message. Just a 'distress call' from Themyscira. It would normally mean trouble and she would need to have other Leaguers along too, but this was specifically sent to her. Only to her.

Maybe someone was dying and there wasn't another way of contacting her. Maybe something needed to be resolved and she was the only to do it. Maybe…

She shook her head trying to dismiss the intrusive thoughts. Whatever it was, she was just about to find out, as she flew through the protective barrier of the island and saw the outline of Themyscira. It was dark, as the morning hadn't arrived yet, and a few fires shone yellow and orange here and there. She landed her jet in a clearing among some trees and got out. She took a deep breath, inhaling the cold and crispy air, and flew to the capital of the island, where she would likely find her mother and the rest of the Amazons.

She knew something was seriously off when she found no Amazon anywhere to be seen. If someone was dying, let's say, they wouldn't all be concentrated at her room, for starters. Something else must have been. And, of course, it would be with Hades. How could she even think that it couldn't have been it? She ran inside the Palace and straight to the Chamber which led to the Underworld Door, that her mother was now obligated to guard.

As she had feared, Hades was out once again. No one was attacking him, however. All of the Amazons, fully armed, were just pointing their weapons at him, with Hippolyta standing by his side, held by his firm grip.

"Ah, you've finally come, Diana." Hades said, giving her a sly grin. "I've longed to see you."

"What is going on?" Diana asked, ignoring his welcome message and approaching. "How are you out?!"

Hades shrugged. "Don't forget that I'm an Olympian too, dear. Doomed to stay in his hell-hole, but a god nonetheless. And my beloved brother Zeus needed a favour. So, naturally, I granted him his favour with a small reward."

"Zeus would never let you out! Never!" Diana retorted, readying her fists.

Hades took a step forward, his long black hair flowing around at the whims of his aura. The Amazons readied their weapons again but Hades looked at them with pity. They all knew they were powerless against him. "But he did. On the terms that I wouldn't kill or injure anyone, and that my job wouldn't be jeopardised. And you don't see me doing any of that, do you?"

"Diana, we need to send him back!" Hippolyta urged. "The Underworld can't stay unguarded!"

"Of course it can't, Hippolyta, my love." Hades said, with a faked charm decorating his voice. "And that is why I can't, supposedly, stay out for too long. I just came to say hi." He smiled devilishly.

"Go back in Hell!" Diana shouted, launching herself onto him, but Hades teleported on the other side of the room with the Amazon Queen with him.

"That isn't fair, child! I am not attacking any of you, am I?"

"You're holding our Queen hostage!"

"Oh, this?" He looked at Hippolyta as if he had forgotten about her and gave her a push away from him. "I just needed her to contact you. Nothing more."

"What do you want, Demon?!" Diana asked, grabbing her lasso.

"I need you to help me out a bit."

"What makes you think I will ever help you?"

"Why, it's your duty in the family line."

"What?"

"Stop it, Hades!" Hippolyta shouted, running to her daughter. "Diana, don't listen to a word he says!"

"But it's the truth, my old love."

"We don't want your truth, Hades. And trying to convince me to do anything based on lies is useless." Diana said, crossing her hands over her chest. This all was exhausting her.

"But they're not lies. Before I was condemned into never exiting the Underworld again, I did help Hippolyta sculpt you..."

Diana smirked. "So you played with the sand I was created with. How on Earth does that make you my father in any way? Really?"

"Are you this naïve, Princess? We're Olympians. Athena popped out of my brother's head fully armed. Aphrodite emerged out of some semen-foam. As you can see, natural birth is nothing of importance around here."

Diana rolled her eyes. Yes, she was familiar with that theory. She tried denying it in her head, but something about Hades' confidence on the matter made it extremely hard for her not to believe him. But, what if she was indeed related to him, she thought. It meant nothing.

Hades got a bit closer. "Yes… The black hair, the strength, the height, the charm. Where do you think you got all that from?"

"Even if it is true, I don't care. The only parent I know is Hippolyta. I want nothing to do with you. Get back."

"And I would want nothing to do with you too, child, if I didn't need you to take care of the…family business." Diana arched an eyebrow. "Confused, are you? Let me explain." He took a look at the Amazons present, and at the ashamed Hippolyta, like a showman in front of his audience and grinned. "Olympus has always been about family. Find one god or goddess not related to another in some way. Family above everything. The thing is, though… The Olympians stopped bothering with this world a long time ago. But me. Oh, poor me, I am condemned to always stay in the Underworld. Yes, people can go without asking the gods favours or making sacrifices. But they can't not die. And someone has to keep their dead remnants tucked away. Being the least friendly god and with the unfortunate history I have with my brothers, I was the one left behind. But not anymore."

"Do you think we will pity you with this pathetic story?"

"I don't need you to pity me. I need you to step into your father's shoes. Your time has come, to help out. The Underworld, my dear, much like everything the Olympians built, is supposed to work on family grounds. There always needs to be someone to guard the dead, and the throne only recognizes, well, you know it, family. And what better suited person to do that than my own daughter? It's the only way the Underworld can stay intact, I'm afraid."

Diana looked at him in horror. Only a twisted mind like his could come up with a scheme like this. There was no way she could do that. "Go back! I don't need to hear a word anymore! You are full of lies and deception! Go back where you belong!"

Hades gave her another devilish grin. "The hard way then."

With a small shake of his hand, the gate of the Underworld opened and out came a strong gush of wind and energy from the dead and whatever was down there. Diana saw him teleporting and she guessed right; he landed right behind her. She span around and tried to land a punch on his chin. Hades easily defended himself and summoning his power over the dead, captured the Amazons in a whirlwind, throwing them on the walls. Diana tried to kick him again, but his forearm caught her shin before it could land on his ribs. He was smart, she noticed. Not breaching Zeus' terms, he was only defending and not injuring.

"You can't escape this. Good luck!" Hades said, giving her a strong push. Diana found herself caught on the whirlwind of the gate, with nowhere to grab and no power to fly against it. Before she could even realize it, she was dragged inside and the gates closed after her, as the image of Hades waving his hand at her vanished and the whirlwind stopped. She was no longer being dragged.

"My job here is done." Hades mumbled to himself, rubbing his hands. Dodging a predictable attack from Hippolyta, the last Amazon stranding, he teleported away.

Hippolyta, whiter than ever and in a pitiable condition, ran back to the throne room. She had to issue another distress call.

*This is it, then! Our story begins. I hope you liked this idea and I also hope you find the rest of the fic interesting. Please tell me how you found it! Thank you!*