Prologue
Scattered around her were wads of crumpled up paper, lines filled with scribbles of half-formed letters discarded earlier in the day. She looked up at the clock and noticed the time was seven fifteen PM. Although the walls of the Watchtower prevented her ability to see the sunset, she knew that it had just begun.
Tucking a few strands of her ebony locks behind her ear she took a deep breath and looked at the only completed letter grasped in her hands as if it was a life line. A silent tear fell from her eye and dropped onto the page. Wiping its residue from her cheek, she stood up and made her way to the door only to freeze in place when it opened.
"Shayera, I was just coming to see you. What do you need?" She quickly addressed her friend.
Shayera steeped into the room as she gave her explanation, "There's an emergency meeting regarding Lex's presidential campaign and the latest voting polls. I haven't seen you since breakfast and wanted to make sure that you got the news," She paused for a moment while contemplating her companion's body language, "Diana…is something wrong?"
Diana walked past her friend and closed her bedroom door, and motioned for her friend to sit down on the bed. She joined her and explained, "Something's happened Shayera. I must return to Themyscira as soon as possible. I'm leaving the Watchtower at eight o'clock sharp.
"What's happened? Do you need me to go with you? Has Felix Faust escaped from Tartarus?"
"It's a bit more complicated than that…if I tell you why I must return to the island, you must swear to me that you won't tell a soul. Not even your husband."
"That's quite a thing to ask Diana."
"You must swear to me Shayera…please, I can't carry such knowledge alone. After everything we have been through...I need your friendship now more than ever to lean on."
"This is serious isn't it," Diana nodded in response, "Alright then, I, Shayera Hol-Stewart, give you my word that what is said in this room is said in confidence. I swear on the friendship we have rebuilt and the bond we share as sisters in all but blood."
Diana chuckled at her friend's mildly comical and sarcastic response. "Since when did you develop a sense of humor?"
"What can I say; after everything that's happened since my people invaded, a sense of humor has gotten me through my darkest times. Plus after being friends with Wally for so long you have to develop a sense of humor to remain sane," Shayera replied shrugging her shoulders, "So spill it. Why do you have to leave? What's troubling you princess?"
"I already told you…I'm leaving."
"Will you ever come back?"
"No."
It was a simple reply that left a depressing silence. Diana had hung her head as the word escaped her lips, too terrified to look at her friend. Shayera on the other hand was in so much shock she couldn't say or do anything at all.
The silence was broken when Shayera uttered, "But you're Wonder Woman…Diana, if you leave…are you hanging up the lasso for good?"
"I have to Shayera, it's too dangerous now."
"What is that supposed to mean? You're practically invincible!"
"Shayera…I don't have much of a choice…I'm with child. I can't put my baby in harm's way. I can't be throwing myself into dangerous situations all the time. I have another life to think about now. Besides, what would happen if my enemies find out? I can't take that risk. And raising a child in this environment…as a single mother…with so many secrets that need to be kept…how could any child be able to handle the secrets that come with being a superhero? How could any child handle their mother being Wonder Woman?"
"So you're going back to Themyscira?"
"I don't have a secret identity here Shayera. I never felt the need for one. Where else would I go besides back to the only woman I know who has raised a child? Where else would I go besides back to the island, to my mother, and to my sisters?"
"But…I thought Amazon's were molded form the earth and the soil of Themyscira. How can you be pregnant unless…" Shayera broke off and looked at her friend. Diana nodded her head as she looked at Shayera with tear filled eyes.
"Then who's the father?"
"I-I don't want to say," she replied as she regained her composure, "And I don't want them to know. I'm going to do this on my own."
"How far along are you?"
"About three months…same as Lois."
Shayera pulled her friend into a hug as Diana broke down in silent sobs. "Can I tell you something? I'm about as far along as both of you. We're all going through the same thing."
Diana ceased crying and looked at her friend with a smile, "Congratulations Shayera, you and John are going to be wonderful parents."
Shayera smiled, "Thank you. But my point is, just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I'm going to give up being Hawkgirl. Being a hero is a part of who I am. Why would you give up something that is a part of you just because you're going to be a mother?"
"Shayera, it goes so far beyond that. I don't want the baby's father to find out. Please you have to understand that. In addition, I'm the first and only Amazon to ever go through this. This pregnancy…it might be different from any other in history. I've been having strange dreams and I fear that my enemies will use this baby against me.
Shayera nodded in understanding, "You mean Ares," Diana nodded in confirmation, "Is there anything I can do to try and change your mind? If you stay I know that the League will protect you and the baby from anything and anyone."
"I do not doubt that my friend. The League is my family, and I know they would care for my child in the same way. But these dreams… they're telling me to return to Themyscira. I know it. I'm afraid nothing you can say will ease my anxieties or change my mind." Diana replied as her eyes spilt their contents once again.
Shayera stood up and looked at the clock, which read seven forty-five, "Hey, how about we go down to the commissary and grab a quick bite to eat before you leave."
Diana smiled, stood from the bed and followed her friend out the door and down the hall. "You always know how to ease my worries. Besides, ice cream sounds amazing right about now."
"I couldn't agree more."
"I suppose Lois wasn't kidding about pregnancy cravings." Diana added, getting a response of laughter from Shayera.
They reached the commissary in a few minutes time, got their dessert and sat at a table close to the hallway that led to the transporter.
While they were eating, Flash and Green Lantern came over to sit with them.
"Hey-o ladies, what's going on?" Flash asked as he pulled up a chair and sat in-between the two female heroes as Green Lantern, John Stewart, kissed his wife and sat on the opposite side of the table as Flash.
"Not much Wally, just catching up." Diana replied to the speedster.
"Why weren't you two at the de-briefing earlier?" Green Lantern chimed in.
Diana and Shayera shared a hasty look and Shayera replied, "Something came up. An urgent matter that needed to be discussed in private."
Glancing up at the clock, Diana noticed that it was seven fifty-five; she quickly stood up and nodded towards the clock getting Shayera's attention. "Will you guys please excuse us; we have some more things to discuss." Diana stated as she began to head towards the room containing the transporter.
Shayera kissed her husband on the cheek and whispered in his ear, "I need to talk to you later," before following Diana out of the commissary.
"Wonder what Wondy's being so secretive about." Flash asked.
"Who knows." Green Lantern replied.
Flash glanced down at the bowls the girls had left behind, "Ice cream…and bacon? Who would eat that?"
Diana and Shayera reached the transporter in two minutes flat. Diana stood on it while Shayera typed in the coordinates for Themyscira, coordinates only Diana knew and that she had entrusted Shayera with.
Before Shayera pressed the button for transport Diana piped up, "Before I leave, can I ask one last thing of you Shayera?"
"Of course, what do you need?"
"Every summer, could you please come to visit me, mother, all the Amazons…and whoever else may become part of Themyscira?" Diana asked as she glanced down at her perfectly flat belly.
"How can I say no? I'll miss you too much a yearly visit won't nearly be enough."
"I'll look forward to it. Oh and one more thing," Diana stated glancing up at the clock, it read seven fifty-nine, "can you delete all the evidence of what I've told you and of what's happened here?"
"Of course, Diana. I'll keep your secret for as long as you wish. But you have to go, it's eight-o-clock." Shayera stated as she pressed the button for transport.
Diana closed her eyes as she whispered goodbye. After only a second, she could feel the Mediterranean breeze. Her hair blowing lightly, Diana opened her eyes. A golden ball of light diminishing in the distance filled her sight. The pink and orange sky brought tears to her eyes.
She looked around; under her feet were the golden sands of Themyscira. The classical architecture of the island stood behind her. Structures of white marble enveloped in diverse vegetation emitted rays of hope and comfort that warmed Diana's heart.
A smile danced its way onto Diana's face as she took her first steps to a new life…her future.
In a few strides she had left the supple sands behind for a path of travertine stone, one strand of an endless spider web that united Themyscira. She knew the pathways by heart, yet she walked at the pace of a three toed sloth.
Her mother knew of her predicament, yet Diana was unsure of what her mother truly thought of the whole situation. That uncertainty, combined with the terrifying thoughts of what her sisters would think when they found out the truth, crumbled the warrior inside her. All too soon, the path led Diana to the grand courtyard. A wide area spotted with miniature gardens filled with beautiful exotic trees, pristine foliage, and bright mixtures of flowers. The travertine paths that surrounded the gardens filled the ground of the courtyard and connected the royal palace, the library, and the training grounds. In between all three were larger paths that led to the other parts of the island.
Diana didn't see her mother or sisters anywhere in sight. Fearing the worst, Diana rushed into the palace knowing that her mother would be there. Greeted with cheers and shouts of welcome home, Diana didn't know what to do. She stood in the middle of all the commotion with a look of shock and confusion written on her face until her mother approached her and engulfed her in a hug, and action highly unusual for the queen.
Diana was about to ask her mother what was going on, to question the warm welcome after being banished nearly five years ago. But before she could speak her mother cut her off with a firm hand. "I know what you're thinking my child. But listen to me for one second. Our people are warriors that have turned our backs on the hatred of man and the scorn and evils that come with their world. However…we are still women. When you first left the shores of Themyscira I feared that you would forget who you are and the history of your people. How we Amazons were violated by the evils of men. But I fear no longer my little sun and stars. Yes you fell victim, but we are women my child…all of us. There is naturally a place in our hearts for love and children, one that cannot be hidden or shut away. Both I and our people will support you throughout this in spite of the circumstances. Welcome home Diana."
"Thank you mother." Diana replied.
Shayera had heard Diana whisper goodbye on a level most dogs wouldn't have been able to hear. Shayera uttered her own goodbye as she deleted the coordinates Diana had given her and turned the transporter to standby mode. She flicked the lights off glancing back to where her friend had stood moments ago.
A weak and broken smile graced her face as she turned away and walked down the hall in the direction of the surveillance and security corridor. Rather than going to the monitor bay to take over for J'onn, Shayera let her mind go blank and just walk. In a few minutes she found herself at the door to Diana's room…old room.
Absent mindedly, she placed her hand on the scanner and opened the door. Hesitantly entering, Shayera looked around at what used to be. Frames draped the walls flaunting newspaper clippings in all languages of the world presenting the good deeds the League as a whole, and the original seven, had performed. The oldest was the front page of a Daily Planet newspaper, it was titled "Superman Teams Up, Could a Superhero Society Be Coming?". Of course written by Lois Lane, the article beneath described how they all came together and their first triumph dotted with pictures from Jimmy Olsen.
Five years, we've been doing this for five years; has it really been that long? Shayera thought to herself as her fingers graced the multiple frames.
Shayera approached the massive bookcase that covered an entire wall floor to ceiling. She fingered the spines of the abundant books that lined the shelves. Noticing the works of William Shakespeare and Jules Vern, along with multiple pieces written in all languages ever known, and some forgotten long ago, Shayera fully realized the true level of Diana's intellect.
As she observed the shelves the one standing at eye level drew her attention. Rather than being overflowed with books and textbooks, it was stuffed with pictures preserved in glamorous picture frames and the most random nick-knack's one wouldn't expect Diana to keep. Shells and exquisite stones of all types filled the empty spaces left from the surplus of picture frames. Unlike their relatives hanging on the wall, these pictures displayed photos of their non-superhero life.
Shayera began to sink into memories as she examined each picture one by one. The monthly barbeques, the annual Christmas party that Bruce held every year, the simple wedding of Clark and his soul mate Lois Lane, and of course the extravagant wedding Diana and Starfire insisted she have when she tied the knot with John Stewart.
Before she could become completely submerged in the pool of memories, Shayera was sharply yanked to the surface by the crisis alarm blaring and the names of the League's founders being called for a mission. Shayera flew from Diana's old room and made her way to the transporter as fast as possible.
When she reached the room all the other founders were there and Batman was punching coordinates into the computer like he was playing Whack-A-Mole.
"What's going on?" Shayera asked.
"Doomsday's attacking downtown Metropolis." Superman answered.
"Hey Bats, stop killing the computer." Flash exclaimed.
"The damned thing won't accept the coordinates. It was just working this morning." Batman responded through gritted teeth as he slammed his hands on the keyboard.
Shayera bit her lip as Green Lantern piped in, "Then we'll just have to fly."
"Good idea John. Head out to the Javelin everybody." Superman exclaimed taking the lead.
"Wait a minute…where's Diana?" J'onn asked.
"She left, and she's never coming back." Shayera exclaimed with a heavy heart as she flew from the room to the hanger.
The rest of the team followed her in a daze and once there Green Lantern exclaimed, "Shayera wait! Sweetheart, what do you mean she's never coming back?"
"Look all I know is her mother and her people needed her home and she won't be coming back. Now if we want to stop Doomsday before any innocent people get hurt we need to go…now." Shayera lied as she boarded the javelin.
Batman nodded and addressed the rest of the group, "She's right. We can discuss this later but right now we have a job to do," before following the winged heroine onto Javelin.
The others nodded and followed suit hoping that the reason behind Diana's sudden departure would become common knowledge. Yet, that wouldn't be so.
After defeating Doomsday the original members kept trying to figure out the real reason behind Diana's sudden departure. They all had accepted long ago that Diana would someday need to return to her people as she was their princess, however the sudden departure with no goodbye was too out of character to be left alone. However, in time, the members of the Justice League came to accept a life without Wonder Woman. Yet there would always be a special place in their hearts for their dear friend; and no one stopped hoping that one day she would return.