Joining the World
16 Year Ago
Shayera was gliding above the clouds and enjoyed the feeling of the night air on her wings. As she grew older, Shayera could no longer spend her flying sessions outside in the daytime. Her wings were growing to an impressive length which made it almost difficult to hide her wings in the daytime. Shayera managed to convince her father to allow her to fly in the night where she can hide in the night sky and land in the shade of the convent. despite the advancement of Thanagarian technology in the city, Sperare turned off almost all lights in order see the stars better and in order to hide Shayera better.
Shayera dreamed of a day when she will one day get to see the rest of the world. Egypt was one of the first countries she wanted to visit after reading along the Old Testament with the other children. She had seen the World Atlas her father keeps in his study and was fascinated by the pictures of tombs and the Nile. She wanted to fly but thoughts of leaving behind her home made her feel a sense of homesickness that was so great that she often had nightmares about Sperare disappearing and leaving her behind. Shayera was seven years old now and in her mind, she should be capable of making grown up decisions.
Shayera glided down and saw the familiar building of the convent loom in the shadows. She landed with ease outside in the alley and quietly opened the backdoor, wanting to give her father a goodnight hug before going to sleep. She was surprised though when she noticed light in one of the classrooms on. She walked towards it and quietly knocked, hearing Mother Superior Frida call her inside. Shayera walked in hesitantly to see Mother Frida sitting at the teacher's desk and looking over an album. Curious, Shayera walked over to her and asked, "Why are you up so late?"
"Just looking through the old classroom yearbooks, my little angel," said Mother Frida, "I remember when your father first brought you here, we debated whether we should allow you to join with the other children or not."
"Why wouldn't you?" asked Shayera, "I wouldn't have met Sarah and Naomi if I didn't"
"That's right, but we were so afraid that the other children might not like to have you around or that you wouldn't want to be around the other children," explained Mother Frida, "we were so happy though to see you get along so well with the children."
Shayera looked over at the yearbook to see pictures of many children that were now older. She recognizes Jaime Alvante who is now Sperare's resident welder. He was her age and was carrying a futbol under his arms while he posed for the picture with other children that are now residents in Sperare. The same residents that have been living in Sperare for years it seems.
"Do people ever leave, Sperare?" asked Shayera.
"Some do, child," said Mother Frida, "Others find their own homes outside of Sperare."
"Will I always be here?" asked Shayera.
"That is up to God and to you child," said Mother Frida as she stood up from her chair and picked Shayera up. Shayera snuggled into Mother Frida's arms and wrapped her wings around Mother Frida, "You make your own path, child and you pray to God to guide you on your way."
"I want to go to Egypt, like Moses." said Shayera. Mother Frida laughed and said, "Perhaps not in the same circumstances as Moses, but Egypt is beautiful place to visit."
"I don't want to leave though, I just want to visit and come back." explained Shayera. Mother Frida smiled at her and said, "We will always be here, Shayera. Wherever you go, Sperare will always welcome you back with open arms."
Mother Frida walked into Shayera's room and tucked the little angel in. Sperare has changed very little since Shayera began to live in the village, but the people loved Shayera and Shayera loved the people. She would always find ways to make people smile and people would always find time to spend with her. Shayera and the children would always be found outside the city walls playing, but the next year is when everything changed.
Present Day
Shayera and her father gave the three heroes the short summary of Shayera's life on Earth. Superman in particular listened with rapt attention, finding similarities of his own life with this woman's life. Both lost their homeworlds and their people but while Clark had Kara, it seemed that this woman might actually be the last of her kind. Superman felt enormous empathy for this woman but Diana and Bruce were apprehensive at best. At first Diana and Bruce were sympathetic to her but she refused to answer many questions and avoided looking at them. It was enough cause for suspicion and Bruce intended to find answers with or without her consent.
Shayera in her part was curious. She had never heard of others who were like her. Her father seemed to know but he only knew basic information. He was just as secluded from the world as she was. Spending the majority of their years deep underground in the Vatican didn't exactly give them a good access to current events. Much of what was happening in the news was given to them by Cardinal Horatio and it seemed that they were given a very heavily edited version of the current events. The Batman character showed them the news in his tablet. It was interesting and also nerve-wrecking to see these news. So many tragedies and horrors that have been unleashed on the people. Shayera wondered if she could have even made a difference if she was allowed to be out in the world.
It had been agreed upon her discovery that she was to be hidden from the world, away from the worldly influences and to be safe from anybody who wanted to use her appearance and her power.
"Shayera? We need your help." said Superman. He could feel it in his gut that she was the answer they were looking for regarding Darkseid's Horsemen. The magical demons were very difficult to deal with and with most of the magical members of the Justice League fighting in another war to stop the imbalance from spreading onto their world, they were very hard-pressed. Bruce though was once again mentally scolding Superman for jumping into the decision making without talking with the himself and the others. He knew Superman had a tendency to do that and it was irking to see it play out again.
"My help? I don't even know if I can make a difference," said Shayera as she got up from her seated position and began to pace, a habit she picked up from her father, "I've been in here for most of my life since the Vatican found me."
"You said though that you have been trained by the Swiss Guard in hand to hand combat and weapon handling," insisted Superman, "If it helps, we actually have a military man in our team who can help you train further. He's a marine and he knows how to train heroes, people like you."
That got Shayera's attention. While the Swiss Guard was made up of the most honorable and kindest of men, they can't really train her regarding her wings and her dormant power. Her power was something that had come to her in flashes when she was under great stress or when she was in an emotional turmoil. She had been told that she took an ethereal and eldritch appearance. She never remembers what happens and it scared her enough that when the Cardinal Horatio had promised her that she will be able to control it, she accepted without a thought. Still though, she has never known life outside of Sperare and the Vatican. Was she really ready to see the world? Was the world ready for her?
"I… Could you please let me discuss this with my father privately?" asked Shayera. Superman nodded his head and gestured to the other two to follow him outside the underground apartment. When the door closed Shayera turned to her father and asked, "What do I do?"
"You ask me, Shayera?" asked her father as he sat down beside her and hugged her, "You are a grown woman now. For twenty-three years I have raised you and have helped you along your path. I take this as a sign from God that now is the time for you to spread your wings."
Shayera smiled at his words. All her life, her father has been the one constant pillar of support and love. He had helped her learn to walk and even without wings he taught her how to fly. Shayera hugged him tighter and said, "How do I do that?"
Roberto carefully hugged his only daughter, careful of her wings, and said, "Well, I believe the first step is to discuss this with his Holiness."
"Are you out of your mind?" asked Batman to Superman once they had left the apartment and the door closed.
"Bruce, you're overthinking this again." said Superman, knowing already where Batman's thought process was going. The man was a genius and a brilliant detective, but sometimes even he gets things wrong.
"You made a decision that required the whole League to convene." said Batman, eyes narrowing in anger.
"Batman, I've seen you induct members into the League that didn't require the Founding Members to discuss about. I trust her Bruce." said Superman.
"Superman," said Diana, "She avoided a lot of questions. We can't place trust on someone who could potentially be hiding something."
"And we need to give her the benefit of the doubt," insisted Superman, "We need her Batman and she is willing to help us."
Batman just kept glaring at Superman. Of course the Boy Scout will trust her immediately. She had the same backstory as he did and he was already forming a bond with her. Diana though was very much apprehensive about Shayera. Until she can have all the answers to her questions, she will remain distant to the woman until then. Superman though was getting frustrated at how Wonder Woman and Batman were acting about this. They were never this opposing when a new recruit was brought even if said new recruit is a victim of suspicion. When Batman brought in Question, Superman held his tongue as Question began to snoop around Watchtower files and knew that it was just in his nature.
A new idea formed in his head and he said, "We'll ask J'onn to read her mind if it helps."
Batman seemed to consider the idea and Superman felt a little relief that at least they had a plan. The door opened behind him and he turned to see the bishop and Shayera emerge.
"I will gladly help you," said Shayera, "but I must speak with His Holiness first before I do."
"Understandable," said Superman, "Would you like us to go with you?"
"Yes, if you don't mind," said Shayera, "Perhaps you three will convince him that I can provide some help."
"Of course." said Superman.
The Pope was convinced by Shayera's request and by the Man of Steel's that now was the time for the church to make their move. When the Vatican had discovered Shayera, they kept her hidden from the world except for Sperare in order to get her ready for threats such as this. The church's scientists had discovered that Shayera's metal has the capabilities to render magic and energy useless. With Shayera representing the church in the Justice League, they will hopefully have the chance to beat back the demons from the outer world. Cardinal Horatio was vehement about allowing Shayera leave the Vatican but the Pope had the final say and by tommorow, Shayera will be shown to the world.
Hey readers! I'm sorry it's been so late. I honestly had a little difficulty writing this because I didn't know how to write it. Hopefully it's good. Next chapter, Shayera meets a certain Lantern :)
