Author's Note: Hey all you peoples! Another chappie for you. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you. Life has just been in my way. .

Disclaimer: No matter how much I wish I owned this, I do not. .

Paradise Lost Part 1

The rain was pouring down on Metropolis as I helped evacuate the city. Apparently, Hurricane Gardner just had to come and bring flood waters to Superman's city. The only reason I'm so annoyed is because I finally got the courage to ask the Flash out on a date, but right as I'm about to ask, the alert sounds.

Just before accidentally flying into a tree, I spy Snapper Carr out of the corner of my eye and see a bench flying toward him. Sighing softly to myself, I head off to save a cute reporter's life. I end up using telekinesis to keep the bench from hitting him and slamming into him to keep a tire from making skid marks on his face.

"Thanks! I owe you one!" I grinned at him as I flew off to check on Superman and Wonder Woman. I watched their little exchange about Diana's mother and felt a pang of sorrow. My mother and I could never reconcile after what we both said, but I put on my brave face once I stepped out of the shadows and into the light when Diana flew off.

"Hey, Supes! Nasty weather, huh?" I heard him sigh as if I had come to make him miserable. Someone needed some serious cheering up. "Look, you don't need to worry about Diana; she's a big girl and can take care of herself. I mean, she's older than me, but I have as much rights as she does. If I'm not a damsel in distress, there's no way she is."

My mini-speech gave him a fairly nice surprise since his mouth formed an 'o' and his eyebrows knit together. "Hey, you're not the only hero on our team. Every single one of us has sacrificed something for Earth. We've each bent our shoulders to hold the weight of the world." I flew off to let him stew in that little ditty as I returned to the Watchtower.

"Hellooooooooo, anybody home? Main evacuation is done so… um, yeah… GGAAAHHH!" As soon as I turned around, I saw the Flash standing behind me, grinning like an idiot. "How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?"

"As many times as it takes." he curtly replied. That infuriating grin remained but I had to admit it made him look cuter than usual. What he's got an Olympic runner's body, how can I not like him?

"So, what's with the all-out, I-know-it's-cheesy-but-I-don't-care grin?" I just had to know. The suspense was killing me. It was either really good for me or really bad. I hoped it was the former.

"I have a friend that knows this one bar and I think it'd be fun to check it out with you sometime…" He looked down sheepishly. Apparently, he lost his cool. "I mean, I'll understand if you don't want to go with—" I cut him off with a kiss, so he'd get the message.

"So, are we going to use civilian disguises or go like this?" I felt like screaming out loud, laughing, and jumping all at the same time. I settled for a small smirk.

"Well, if we went like this, we'd most likely cause a riot so I'm in for the civilian disguise. Oh, yeah, meet me at the corner of Fourth and Maine in Central City at 7:00 Wednesday." He was still a little breathless from the kiss, so I walked away after a little, pointless and awkward small talk; I went down to my room and collapsed on the bed beaming brightly and giggling softly to myself.

At times like this, I wish my Makari and Volpel were in the League. Especially Makari, since the bird lover might find a kinship with Batman or Lantern because of his "take everything too seriously attitude." Thinking of my earth side pals, I considered how my teammates would react if I asked if they could visit. Just as I was about to start, my comm. link went off and I had to report to the shuttle.

"We really need to get another Javelin. This is getting ridiculous." I muttered inside the cramped space.

"Well, if you want to be the one to ask Batman, go right ahead. Wait, can't you just teleport from here to there?" The change in tone was obvious to me.

"Do you know how much concentration that takes? I only do it to save time or show off. Otherwise I tend to take the longer route." I made sure to give him a glare that stopped any questions that would be awkward or uncomfortable.

"Could you two please stop your arguing? It is giving me a headache." J'onn didn't ask for the two of us to be there so I took pity on him. So we both agreed to be quiet and thus waited out the remainder of the flight in silence.


When we arrived, I swiftly teleported out of the cramped environment. This caused Flash to give me the evil-eye. I simply grinned and stuck my tongue out at him. The two waiting for us gave me the "disapproving adult" look, but I just widened my grin and rolled my eyes.

As Diana explained the situation, I suddenly thought of something. "I highly doubt he's working on his own, sounds too trickery-smart and not enough calculates-all-odds-smart. There's a difference you know. I mean you seriously trust this guy?"

The shocked expressions quickly subsided. You'd think after 8 months of knowing me, they'd finally start to get my way of thinking.

"Of course I don't trust this Faust, but what else can I do?" Her tone was woeful and made me remember what I'd do for my brothers.

Flash, predictably, ran up saying, "I say we go back and kick that wimpy sorcerer's butt!" He seemed angry and tense, something, I could tell, that seemed to deal with family on a personal level.

"No!" Diana commanded angrily, "Men are forbidden from ever setting foot on Themyscira."

"Someone should've told him that." Flash calmly retorted.

"Besides," continued Diana, "I gave my word that I would find the other relics." Sighing mentally, I tried not to berate her for promising a villain like Faust something.

"I'm afraid that leaves us one course of action." J'onn said gravely as Flash nodded and I looked on grimly. "We'll have to help you." the Martian gave her an encouraging smile.

Diana nodded hopefully and we started to make plans.


I flew angrily over the ocean toward my home in Rome, Italy where I could pick-up my anti-magic shield from way back when I got my uniform, thing. Quickly reaching my destination, I ran up the stairs to my little cabin just inside the city limits. I looked about the golden walls and spied the thing leaning under a window with a beautiful view of the ocean or gulf area nearby.

As soon as I grabbed it, I teleported to Greece and flew due East for thirty miles over the ocean, turned due South for another thirty miles and continued thirty miles in every other direction until I came upon a large crescent shaped island. The white beaches and marble would have appeared beautiful if not for the smoke rising up out of, what I guessed, was their equivalent of a town square.

I looked for the building furthest back in the forest and slowly flew there with the shield blocking the majority of my body. As soon as I entered, I knew something was wrong. It was way too quiet. Slowly, I ventured into the main room, and the first thing I saw was the woman I guessed to be Diana's mother.

Instead of rushing toward her, I carefully picked my way over to her, slinging the shield onto my back, blocking both of us from behind. Placing my hand on her forehead, I quietly searched for her mind behind all the stone. I was too absorbed in my task to realize a shadow had fallen over me until I felt cold metal being pressed against my neck. "Stand up and remove your shield." I didn't dare reply to his orders as I followed his directions.

"Good, now turn around and say goodbye." As soon as I faced him, his spell hit me and petrified me with a cold glare in my eyes and an expressionless mouth.

Ah, it's finally done, and I once again apologize for taking so long!

West189