Chapter 10 –Should I?

Hot ash spread across the land and the ground cracked beneath her. Bombs were going off and heroes were wounded. Demons were coming in from many portals above her and she couldn't hold on much longer. The weight of a man, Green Lantern, against her back, unconscious was not the problem; it was the weight of everyone's lives on this planet. What will happen if they all die, what will happen if she dies?

Demons flew in to scoop up civilians and many other heroes ran to their rescue as fast as they could. They must have had every hero on the planet in this apocalyptic war. Somehow with so many of the heroes helping it didn't seem like it was enough to contain everything. She sat there watching all the destruction going on around her. Her eyes were wide and filled with fear and then she saw her.

She was the older one, the smarter one, the wiser one, the braver one. She was the one that lead the team most of the time. She could stand up against the ugliest and meanest creatures and horrors in the world, and I couldn't? Why can't I do what she does? I can.

Slowly she put down the wounded Green Lantern in, hopefully, a safe place where he wouldn't get hurt.

I saw the demon pick her up like she weighed nothing and throw her across the battle field. A loud crash against a building caused half of the building to collapse with her strength pounding against it. She came out alive, of course, with blood dripping from her lips and arms. Bruises and cuts wouldn't heal for weeks; they were deep in her skin. Now is the time to act! I flew up to the demon and punched it square in the jaw and sent the creature flying backwards hitting the ultimate one. The one with the rock face and omega beamed eyes. This was not part of the plan. Oh but he wants to be tough and show who's boss, well I'll show him who's boss!

She flew up higher into the sky, retrieving the mother box from a parademon reconstructing it. She was able to knock it out unconscious and grab the box before anyone else could. Why do these damn things have to be so complicated? She fiddled with the box a bit more and looked down to see her elder coming closer to the large demon. No, she thought, she is going to kill herself in the process.

I can't let her do this. She has done too much for this world. Slowly I looked at the mother box and couldn't recognize any of the technology in my hands. She was getting closer and closer…no time! Slowly the box began to light up and a large portal appeared. My hands were burning and I felt like my body was shaking from the power this box had.

The big one looked up and saw a light, it was a boomtube. He screamed, "No!" and took my elder by her neck and was slowly lifting her off the ground. I glanced down and yelled, letting go of the box in my hands. It was now on the floor and sucking all the demons back into the portal. This battle has gone on long enough!

"Let. Go. Of. Her!" I screamed flying towards the rocked-faced demon and kicked him in the gut and he went flying backwards finally letting go of my elder. She was coughing up blood and crawling on the ground like a helpless child. She held her ribs, they are probably broken. I looked back at her and told her "I love you, sister" in a whisper that she wouldn't be able to hear and flew up to the demon to throw a couple more hits in his face. It only startled him for a little bit, but not much.

She looked up from the ground as she spat more blood and winced as she felt a sharp pain in her ribcage. She looked at her hands and they were covered in her own blood, she had been bleeding from her side. Her vision was giving out, but she could see the demons were being sucked into the mother box, sending them Gods' knows where. Blinded from the light she saw two people fighting each other deep in the battle field filled with smoke.

"You will die today, little one." He held her by her ribs and crushed one of them. She yelled in agony and felt blood coming out of her mouth, but she remained brave for her because she knew she would be watching. His hand came closer to her face and she did not fear her future in his hands. She heard a feminine voice in the background and it was a little a-ways away.

"NO!" she yelled and got up in pain and limped-ran towards them. She saw his hand smother her face like a kid crushing a wee ant. She heard a snap and he dropped her on the ground, her body lifeless against the hot, cracked ground.

Others there were sending the demons in the portal and finally were able to get the big one trapped inside and the mother box stopped and all was at peace. The air was calm and you could hear people moaning in pain and buildings crashing down.

She ran towards her and knelt down cradling her head in her lap. Others watched her sob and hold the youngest in her lap and rocking back and forth. Tears streaming down her face. They couldn't make out what she was saying, but it was something like, "I…safe…don't worry, sister…don't leave me."

One came up to her very wounded but still sustained his brooding nature. "She's gone…" he put a hand on her shoulder and she didn't move.

She felt the air was still and like she couldn't breathe. She looked up at him and her eyes were red and filled with tears, blurring her vision. She looked around her and others were staring at her. Then she stared down at the lifeless body in her hands, blood stained uniform and skin, her neck had red marks on it and she had cracked lips. She grazed her fingertips against her cheek and a tear fell onto the young one's cheek as she continued to sob.

The one with the green uniform came up to the scene and put a hand over his mouth. She didn't look up but felt another hand on her opposite shoulder. "We need to get you to medical attention…"

She didn't move and two hands were on both her shoulders, she still cradled the body in her arms and continued to cry, not caring who was looking at her. She kept hearing "come on, you need to get to the infirmary." Over and over again. She felt a slight tug on her shoulders and finally some others came and lifted her up from the body.

"No…no…no!" she cried and tried to break free from the hold of four men but she couldn't.

"This is only going to hurt a bit…." J'onn stabbed her upper arm with a sharp needle and her screaming dissipated and she fell limp and the men were now carrying her with ease. She had to be sedated, it was the only way they could handle her and her wounds were beginning to open themselves even more than they needed to be.

Others gathered around the lifeless body in the smoky battle field and put a sheet over her body.

"Somebody alert the Queen."


Diana woke up in a sweat and her sheets were scattered all over her bed and the curtains in her room were flowing against the gentle breeze. She breathed heavily as she sat up from the nightmare. She wiped the sweat off her forehead and went to her bathroom to wash her face. She looked at her face and her eyes were tired, very tired. She had circles under her eyes and she dried her face.

Slowly Diana walked over to her balcony and glanced at the room next to hers that used to be Donna's room, she smiled to herself thinking of all the times they were interchange rooms and talk about anything and everything. She held her head, remembering that horrible death scene. She wanted to be the best, better than her, better than anybody.

"She saved me," Diana said in a whisper as she clutched her gown close to her chest.

She could hear her voice around her, "Don't be so down Diana, life goes on and we all know that you have many years to come."

Diana felt herself giggle a little remembering her sister always saying these ridiculous things to her.

Like…

"You should really get a boyfriend. You know, one of those cute models, or someone in the Justice League. You need someone that can handle your pizzazz and stuff, you know?"

Even though she was no longer there Diana still felt a connection with her little sister and she always would, forever. She had been keeping a lot of secrets lately and they were overwhelming her. These past few days she has been back on the island she has been having horrible dreams. Her dreams of the children back in Algeria, the orphanage burning or Clark….she hadn't thought of Clark in the past three days. She wondered how he was doing. What kind of state she had left him in was not other than rude, but selfish on her part. She decided right then and there she couldn't handle it so she bailed. Is that Wonder Woman does? Wait, she wasn't Wonder Woman, Ambassador of Peace anymore.

Diana groaned and lifted off from her balcony onto the rooftop where she and Donna used to sit and have their long, usual talks. She pulled her legs close to her chest and sighed, looking out at the deep, dark ocean ahead of her. Sighing she began to think if leaving all her problems, all those children, the league, her title as Wonder Woman and as Princess was such a good thing. Was she happier this way or was this making her more miserable than she needed to be? As she stared out at the ocean her brain began ticking. The sea was dark like many souls in the world. The league really needed her help figuring out who was behind all of the mess in Algeria, but she just couldn't do it. Diana looked down at her hands, her hands killed five men. Her race was to train and kill during battle, but that was no battle, that was out of some kind of built up rage that she couldn't control.

She looked up at the starlit sky and squinted her eyes, "What do I do now, sister? You always had the answers to some of my simplest problems. If the Gods will not answer me, I shall speak to you. What do you suggest I do?" she waited for an answer, but the sky was silent, not even a creature in sight. She sighed and looked down at her knees. "That's what I thought." Diana put her chin on her knees and continued to stare at the ocean as the breeze carried her hair. Then she began again, "You know what, now that I think of it, you always asked me so many questions and I never had the answers to them, but you would continue to ask. Always seeking for answers that you might never get. I have learned that it is great to know the answers to the questions, but it is also great to not know the answers at all." Taking another breath and raising a brow, "and another thing, I wanted to tell you, I told mother, that I have met someone in Algeria. He is no super model by all means."

Diana smiled at this, remembering how her sister was so hooked on good looks, but she wasn't that shallow when it came down to meeting a nice guy. "His name is Clark, Clark Kent. He is American. He is a very kind man, he's from Kansas. Now I know what you're thinking, he's from the country, but really he's not…well, I guess you would have to see him. He's good looking and he's always listens to me, he taught me how to fly a kite!" she sat back thinking on the first kite lesson. He was laughing at her trying to do it on her own, but failed immensely.

"By the way, I suck at flying kites." Diana laughed at this. She felt like she was having a conversation with her sister sitting right next to her.

After a long moment of silence Diana's smile faded and she spoke again, "And then I left." She continued to stare at the dark waters. "I left him without an explanation. I never even said goodbye."

Diana threw her hands in the open air, "why am I so difficult?!" she groaned.

Suddenly a heavy breeze came rushing in and leaves from the trees blew past Diana and she covered her face and her hair flew in all different directions.

The breeze stopped and Diana brushed her hair away from her face, it was now a tangled mess. She looked around her and then felt a hand on her shoulder; she shot up suddenly getting into a fighting stance, ready to fight. Her gaze softened and her eyes grew wide. She put her hand out and her fingertips touched her like she was real, standing right in front of her.

She shook her head in disbelief and blinked several times. "If this is a trick by the Gods…"

Her sister rolled her eyes and giggled, "It is no trick, sister. It is me, your little sister, duh."

Diana was speechless, "But…but how? Are…are you a ghost?"

Donna sat down on the rooftop and she was in a lavender tunic and golden sandals. She let her hair grow out to her hips and it was wavier than usual. She patted the spot next to her, "come sit, I don't bite."

Diana obeyed and slowly sat down next to her 'sister'. She looked so at peace, Diana thought. The wind against her face and hair made her look so serene. Somehow she looked older than she remembered. Could she age anymore? Is that possible?

"You…you look different," Diana began cautiously. She still didn't believe this was her sister sitting next to her. She began to scan her up and down and all around.

Donna smirked at her and playfully hit her arm, "so do you, sis. Have you been eating?"

Diana felt her sister come in contact with her skin, she felt real, but she wasn't really there…she was still wary of this sudden appearance. A shiver went up her spine; her touch was not cold, nor fleshy, but warm and cool at the same time. "Okay, mother." She smiled. Her little sister laughed, it was the same laugh she had always heard. She heard this laugh numerous amounts of times and she never got tired of it. Perhaps, this really was her sister. Diana had seen some weird things in her lifetime, but this had to be the weirdest.

"So…are you really…"

"Donna? Yes I am. What's up with you? You were chattering away a few minutes ago and now you see me and don't know what to say. What's the deal, Diana?" she looked at her older sister with a raised eyebrow. Her sister's color has drained from her face and she blinked a few times still in shock. "Oh right. I'm dead…I didn't mean to freak you out with my ghostly powers," she wiggled her fingers in mock fright.

Diana slipped a smile and slapped her hands away. She felt their skin come in contact again. A tingle went up her arm as she felt her sister's touch against her own.

"I don't know what to say." Diana began. "I…I want to say so many things…I don't…I don't know where to begin."

Her little sister crossed her legs and looked into her eyes and smiled. "You can tell me your life story; I'll always be there for you."

Diana smiled, "I miss you." Her eyes felt a sting and her tear ducts were clogged already.

"I miss you too, Diana, but we cannot change what has happened." She put her hand on her elder sister's cheek and wiped a falling tear. "You should not cry because I am gone, Diana. You should focus your life on what you want. You shouldn't be stuck in the past. You gave up your title, your Royal title as well, and for what? For me?" a smile came to her lips. It was a true smile.

Diana wiped some of the tears away from her cheeks and felt like she didn't deserve to look at her sister. "I needed some time…time away…" she said softly.

Donna rolled her eyes, "you wanted to hide. You're hiding Diana. You're hiding from being Wonder Woman, from being Princess of the Amazons, from being a friend, a daughter, a lover. You need to stop feeling this remorse."

"Since when did you get so wise?" Diana smirked.

Donna shrugged and smiled.

"I feel like this is my fault. That it is my fault you are not here with me, right next to me."

"But I am, Diana. I am always here. I have always been there with you. In Algeria, in your flat, in your bedroom…okay that sounds a bit creepy, but you get the idea. I wouldn't ever leave you." She cupped her sister's cheeks and Diana fought back more tears. "Ah come on, don't cry. You used to tell me when we were little girls, 'Donna, an Amazon should not cry. Get over it!'".

Diana shared a laugh, "that isn't fair. You cried because a horse ate your doll."

"Same stuff." She shrugged. After a long silence she finally became more serious in her tone. "You will always have me to talk to Diana. If the Gods will not listen, I will." She winked.

Slowly Donna got up and started to walk off the top of the roof like she was floating in air.

Diana looked up, "Donna, wait."

"Yes?" the young one turned, her hair blowing in the wind.

"Should I…?"

"That is but your decision, sister. You will decide when the time is right." She slowly began to fade into the gentle breeze and Diana watched her fade right in front of her. She felt like she died twice in front of her. The first time she was bloody and torn apart and broken, frozen and defeated. The second time she was a beautiful young woman who had grown into her own maturity.

Diana yawned and lay back looking at the stars. Her eyes fought to stay open but her mind wanted her to sleep. Soon she fell asleep on the rooftop.


Diana awoke still on top of the roof and birds were chirping and she could hear her Amazon sisters below her on their balconies. She rubbed her eyes and smoothed her hair out with her fingernails and climbed down from the roof and landed on her balcony. Her sisters from two balconies away were engaged in a conversation until they saw their princess jump from the roof in a tattered mess.

Najwa commented, "Was the princess just on the palace roof?"

The other, Sulema answered, "I…think so. What business does she have on the roof?"

Diana finished showering and put on her clothes for the day and walked into the long hallway. She noticed her sisters giving her odd looks as they were standing outside their doorways. She continued down the hall and ignored their strange expressions. There she saw her mother at the table having a conversation with Phillipus. Hippolyta turned to see her daughter sitting next to her.

"Diana, good morning," she patted her daughter's shoulder.

"Good morning, mother. It is a lovely morning," Diana took the cloth and placed it on her lap like a proper princess would do. She picked up a fork and scooped fruit onto her plate. The queen eyed her and Diana paid no attention to it and then she grabbed the bread and went for the cheese next. Hippolyta smiled and raised an eyebrow. It wasn't until Diana realized her mother was staring at her when she was spreading the cheese on her bread with a knife.

"Uh…something to say, mother?" Diana's eyes widened.

The queen smiled, "I have heard strange things this morning, my dear."

Diana nodded as she bit into her slice of bread and drank her glass of juice. "Mhmm…and those strange things are?"

"May I ask why some of our sisters saw you sleeping on the roof of the palace?" she bluntly said.

Diana coughed and cleared her throat and set her glass down. She stifled a laugh and brought the cloth napkin on her lips.

"What is so funny?" the queen persisted.

Diana saw her mother's expression stiffen and she stopped laughing and cleared her throat. "Nothing mother."

"So the roof…why were you sleeping on the roof?"

"I was talking to someone," Diana ate some of her fruit on her plate.

The queen seemed more interested now. "Who was it? An intruder?"

"No, mother. Someone who is not of this world anymore," a smile slipped as she reached for more cheese.

Hippolyta now set her hands beneath her chin and pondered. She looked at her daughter –she had a mischievous smile, the queen thought, why? "I'm afraid I do not understand, Diana."

The elder daughter looked up from her plate and had a soft smile on her face, "That is because you were not there with me. Now excuse me I must go pay a visit to Donna's memorial." She got up and left her mother in a puzzle. The queen didn't know whether to keep asking questions or leave it alone. Since she had no idea what she was talking about, perhaps she should leave it alone for now.


Clark arrived in New York just yesterday and it had been quite a long journey. Sure, he could fly across the world in a few seconds, but he decided to take a boat and a few trains and a plane from London to get to New York. He needed some time to think this over. He was remembering what Diana had said in the email about leaving and that he would understand later. So does this mean that he would see her again and if so where? All they had were email addresses and she said she was going to a place where she did not have access to computers for some time. Where could she have gone? Perhaps she went back to her mother and sisters in Greece or perhaps back to her government base where she said she had worked at? Why would she leave so abruptly and not even say goodbye? This seemed to really trouble Clark, but he couldn't help it. Over the last few months he had been in Algeria, he had grown fond of Diana and her…weirdness so to speak. She constantly had excuses to leave to certain places, that girl on the beach that spoke with her, those weird men chasing her, those….men that she killed at night. He had kept all those secrets and had not told anybody about her and her undercover job. She still continued to wear her abaya and hijab like she actually believed that she was an Arab woman living in an Arab country. She really believed this. Perhaps she was not really a spy after all, but all full of crap and lies?

Normally Clark would think this way about any other women coming up with such ridiculously outlandish cover stories as this, but he believed Diana. He really believed she is a government spy sent to find the Assassins that are taking over the Middle East and South Asian countries. He knew about the Assassins before he even met Diana and that was one of the reasons he had come to Algeria in the first place, but then he met Diana and suddenly he forgot why he was there, but he remembers now through the fogginess in his mind.

Clark walked down the streets of Manhattan and hoped to find something new, but he had been here before. He thought he had seen everything. He then stopped at a large building and all the lights were on and the windows must have been eight feet high and five feet wide. The doors were massive and the building resembled a Grecian style mansion. He didn't look inside but he saw women walking around on the second floor of the large mansion like building.

A man walked by and stared at the building with him. He smirked and nudged his arm. "Beautiful embassy isn't it?" he was chewing on a toothpick and Clark slowly looked over and cleared his throat.

"Oh..um..yes it is. This is an embassy?"

The guy scoffed, "Yeah buddy it is. Where have you been? This fancy house belongs to Ambassador Wonder Woman."

Clark nodded his head. Now he understood why the building was so large and extravagant. It belonged to Princess of the Amazons. "Ah, so I see she uses her mother's money to buy the estate."

"Nah, it was a gift and their money isn't even current with ours or the Euro anyway, but it might be shut down in a few months." He sighed and spit on the ground and Clark raised a brow and put his hands in his front pockets. He heard the words, 'shut down' and that grabbed his attention.

"Shut down you said? Why would it be shut down?" Clark was more interested now.

The tall, lanky man shrugged and looked at him, "Donno. Wonder Woman has been out of the hero business for a long time. Say that she went back to her island to help her mom or something like that."

Clark thought for a moment. The Justice League is still active but without the main members such as that alien fellow, Wonder Woman and the so called legendary, Batman and others. There were people like Wonder Girl, Green Lantern and others. Clark did watch a little bit of the news as he traveled but he did not even notice that Wonder Woman and the other league members had been basically absent.

"Why did she leave and is she coming back?"

"Look, I don't even know the gal, but some say it is because she has princess duties yadayadayada, some say she has had some psychological damage from the battle a few months back and some say she was traumatized from her sister's death so she left. I don't really know, people talk, you know?" he spat again. "if you really wanna know what happened to the woman, why dontcha go up to the embassy and ask for yourself? I doubt they'll give you a straight answer, but hey…worth a shot." He smiled and started walking down the rainy sidewalk.

Clark looked back at the embassy and thought for a moment. Why would he care about a super heroine leaving her title? He wouldn't. But something in him made him want to know more. He had always found her very beautiful, but who wouldn't? She had a striking face and a body that most women would die for. She was tall and had olive skin with bright blue eyes and a huge smile. Clark smiled at the thought of people at his job dying to get an interview from her. She was so new to the world and so naïve, he thought, but she was a very smart young woman. She had to be at least in her forties by now, but even if she was she didn't look a day over twenty eight, a mature twenty eight that is. He saw an Amazon walk out from the building in armor and then he and the woman exchanged glances.

She spoke first with a serious tone, "May I help you, sir?" she had long blonde hair and was tall, but not as tall as the Amazon princess.

He cleared his throat and walked up closer, but she held up her hand to a halt. "I…ah…wanted to ask a question."

She seemed to soften and put her hand down, "State your question."

Here goes nothing, he said to himself. He sighed and started, "What happened to the Princess? I heard this embassy will be shut down soon."

The Amazon looked behind her and closed the door so others wouldn't listen. "Why would you want to know where the princess has gone? Are you a reporter? A spy?"

Clark shook his head rapidly and quickly denied, "Oh no, no. Not a reporter or a spy, just a curious person. I have not seen her around in a long time."

"Are you asking for an autograph?" the Amazon pursued.

This woman doesn't give up does she? "No, I am not asking for an autograph, I just want to know if…what happened to her. Some say she has gone mad and fled back to her queen. I do not know the full story that's all." He hoped that sounded honest enough.

"The princess now lives back on her island with the Queen and her sisters. She left due to the death of her sister, Princess Donna." She took a deep breath. "I do not know if she will ever be back and I do not know if a replacement Wonder Woman will come in to the league."

Clark smiled, "But you can't replace Wonder Woman, can you?"

"If the queen wishes to have another Ambassador, she can if she wanted to, but we have not heard from either in a long while. If you will excuse me, I need to be going. I hope that answers your question, sir."

Clark nodded and watched the Amazon go back inside the large building and shut the massive door behind her. He stared at the building for a just few more moments before continuing down the sidewalk. He looked up to see Wonder Woman inside a store filled with girl clothing. It was a large picture on the glass window and she stood with her hands on her hips and a bright smile planted her face. He looked at her face closer.

Where have I seen that smile before? That face? He studied her eyes. He had seen those eyes before, but of course everyone in the world had seen those eyes before. But this was different; he had seen these eyes in person. Clark's mind began to wander all over the place and tried to pinpoint faces with Wonder Woman's.

Those blue eyes. That smile. That nose. Those arched eyebrows. "Diana…." His mind clicked and it began to rain a little and he continued to stare at the glass, at her.


Algiers, Algeria –Orphanage 10:13pm, three days later

Due to the missing girls, others were alerted and many orphanages sent out calls to orphanages across the city to find the girls, but nothing happened. Alia was given a phone number to call Diana if she needed her and give her information about the Assassins Noor. Still in the upstairs office all alone, Alia dialed the number to New York. The phone kept ringing and ringing and then someone answered it. The time was six in the morning and a young woman answered.

"Themysciran Embassy, how may I help you?" the young woman said.

Alia froze and thought she had the wrong number. She remembered Diana telling stories about Themyscira and Wonder Woman to the children. Diana had gone to see Wonder Woman like she promised Elissa. She stuttered for a moment before answering.

"I…am looking for Diana Al-Wahhab."

The woman was very polite, "I'm sorry there is nobody of the name Al-Wahhab, but we do have a Princess Diana."

Alia was confused. She only knew Diana Al-Wahhab and nobody else by the name of Diana. Could this be the wrong number, she thought. Suddenly she began to choke up and the woman on the other line kept saying "Ma'am, ma'am, hello are you there? Hello?"

"I…I…tell Miss Diana that Alia has called for her."

"I will most certainly will." They hung up the phone and Alia put her hand over her mouth.

"Diana…."


Diana stood in her floor gown and stood in front of her mirror at the embassy. She decided after the talk with her sister that she would return to her role as Ambassador of Peace, but not as Wonder Woman, not yet. She thought it over and decided she was hiding, she was hiding from the world and no one can escape from the world no matter how big your problems are.

She came out of her room and all the Amazons smiled as they watched her descend from the staircase. "Good morning, it is quite early." Diana managed to say. Her sisters managed to speak to the press and tell them that their Princess is back on board as Ambassador and will speak in front of an audience at eight this morning.

It had been awhile since Diana had done this, half a year to be exact, and she was becoming more nervous at the time ticked by. It was now 7:16 and she would leave at 7:30 so she could arrive on time to the short ceremony. She was not looking forward to the bombarded questions the press will come up with, but she has been putting up with it for several years.

"Princess someone called for you earlier," one of the Amazons told her as Diana was heading for the door.

7:20am

"I am sure the call can wait. I shall attend to it when the ceremony ends." Diana assured her and started walking out the door with her Amazon guards behind her.

7:30am

She sat down in the black limousine and brushed her hair with her fingers and made sure her dress was wrinkle free. The driver started the car and looked back at Diana.

"Ready Princess?" she smiled.

Diana nodded her head and put on her seatbelt and watched as she waved to her assistants back at the embassy.

This is really it. She will address the public that she will be coming back to her post as Ambassador of Themyscira. Diana twisted her dress between her fingers and looked out the window and saw all the people outside the Hall of Justice. She was the only one that was going to be on that stage and the league was absent.

7:45am

She arrived to the ceremony early and was able to calm her nerves before she stepped on the stage to speak to the public.


Two days before

Clark found a hotel to stay in for a couple of nights. He was going to find Diana and get some answers out of her. He wasn't sure how or when but he was going to find her some way or another. He turned on the television for local news and saw a news anchor woman talking about Wonder Woman, Ambassador of Peace returning to her embassy in Manhattan. He turned around and saw a picture of Diana on the television screen and his eyes widened.

"What a coincidence." He scoffed and began putting his clothes for the day on the bed as he grabbed a towel to take a shower. This time he was going to get answers from her no matter what. He was going to that ceremony.


Present 7:58am

Diana was now on the stage trying to calm the crowd down with her hand gestures and bright smile. Her eyes blinked several times as the cameras flashed in her face. She looked in the sea of people and her hands clenched the sides of the podium and people were screaming her name. She felt like she was not in right state of mind. Maybe this is too soon to go back or maybe she should have gone back later, or not come back at all. Should see have discussed this with the league? So many questions, so many things to decide and yet so little time, or was there enough time…

Clark stood in the middle off to the side of the crowd and saw her on the dais upon the stage. She looked nervous but beautiful as ever. He tried to imagine her with a black abaya on and veil to match and it was definitely her.

The speech went on for two hours and she still had a lot left to say but it would only take another hour. Clark listened to everything she had to say. She was a very smart woman, he noted. Sure he made fun of all the super heroes and even the gorgeous Wonder Woman herself. He had to admit that she was quite a looker and may have jumped to the wrong conclusions about her many years ago when married to Lana.

He used to say to her "She is a floozy wearing a swimsuit and can't think for herself. She is a princess of a private remote civilization; she knows nothing about our world. She won't last long".

Clark was starting to think differently as the years went on and she became successful all over the world spreading her peaceful ways in third world countries. She had a certain aura about her that nobody can ignore, but he saw past that. He got to see the Wondrous Woman beneath the armor, the fancy clothes and cars and buildings. She was just an Arab woman the last time he had seen her. She had fooled him for months and if he had not asked that Amazon about her he would have probably still been played as a fool.

Another hour passed and the Ambassador stepped down after she attended to many questions. She stepped inside her limousine and Clark watched her leave the ceremony. She's probably going back to the embassy, he thought.

Diana arrived back at the embassy in less than twenty minutes. Up in her office she needed to check her missed calls her assistant told her about. A note on her desk said "missed call from a woman named Alia." Her heart stopped and she smiled, but then realizing how someone must have answered the phone her smile slipped.

"She knows" Diana said aloud and immediately phoned back. The phone kept ringing and ringing but no answer. She called twice and a third time, but no answer. Diana instantly thought something was wrong. Diana told Alia not to use the phone number unless something was truly wrong and now she knew something was most definitely wrong.


Algiers, Algeria –Orphanage 12:03am

Alia stayed at the orphanage to make sure all the children were alright and unharmed. She set her glasses aside and looked out the window in her office. The streets were dry and cold and empty. A slender figure appeared in the dark and watched Alia walk around her office like a nervous wreck. She really misses those little girls. The figure smiled and crept around the room quietly.

"What am I going to do?" Alia spoke in Arabic as she sat back down in her chair. Suddenly Lashina came out from the shadows in a black abaya without a hijab and circled the room. Alia was about to scream but Lashina ran over and covered the woman's mouth.

"Hello there, or shall I say assalamualekium Alia." A wicked smile draped her lips. "I have a confession to make. I took those girls to my master, Darkseid. You think you are safe here, but you are not and neither are these children. Your life is in danger yet you have nobody here to protect you, now do you?"

Alia's eyes grew in fear of the woman holding her and a dagger came to her throat. Alia tried to break free but Lashina's grip became tighter.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. I don't think you need to understand English to understand what a dagger to the throat means do you?" Lashina smiled and made the small woman stand up and walk to the window. "See those women down there? They are going to set you free." Bloody Mary and Gilotina waited at the front of the orphanage for the signal to leave. Alia started weeping and tears fell on Lashina's fingers. An evil smile appeared once more. "I know of the information you give Diana. You know information about the Assassins Noor.

The dagger came closer to Alia's neck as Lashina spoke. "I'm afraid I cannot have anyone contacting anyone outside the premises about this operation." The dagger came in contact within Alia's throat and she died almost instantly and fell to the floor lying in a big pool of her own blood.

"Congratulations. You are free now." Lashina left the room and set the signal to Gilotina and Bloody Mary. The mad women pressed a button and the building exploded in a matter of five seconds. Bloody Mary opened a boomtube to India for them to escape before the explosion.

Darkseid waited for the Furies to return to him. Lashina approached him first. He struck her with his fist and she hit the back wall and slid down it as she moaned. The other two Furies ran to help her up and Lashina wiped the blood from her lips and bowed to Darkseid.

"My lord I see I have disappointed you," she didn't look at him in the face.

"The Amazon is now back in her Ambassador title. You said you would bring her to me and you haven't. I don't see the problem here, Fury. Do you?" he stepped closer but she did not eye him.

"I will get her for you." She said matter-of-factly. Darkseid nodded and the Furies turned to leave.

"You will not fail this time or I will have you put to death. Understand, Fury?" he did not turn to look at her but could only imagine her expression.

"Of course, my lord." The three women left and Lashina's inside already felt like goop.


11:36am Embassy

Diana began to pace in her office as she thought what could have happened to Alia or to the other women –the children! A knock came to her door and it was the young woman, Nassira. She was a petite woman with brown wavy hair and she usually took Diana's calls and scheduled meetings.

"Yes?" Diana said in a sturdy voice. She almost faltered.

"Some man is here to see you."

"I am not answering anymore questions from the press at the moment. Tell the man I will be more than likely to set up an appointment for an interview."

"He says he really wants to see you Princess. His name is Clark Kent."

Diana shook her head as she thought of the reporters. They never stop do they? Then the name registered in her head and the color drained from her face. Should she invite him in? he came to America probably to come back and live in Smallville again, but why? Was it because she left without a goodbye and he was never really fond of the Justice League. Why would he come to see me? Wonder Woman…he is just curious like everybody else, yes that's it!

"…send him in…" Diana couldn't believe what she had just said but she ran to the mirror and fixed her hair and gown before another knock came not too longer after the last one. Okay this is it.

She readied herself and opened the door with a bright smile on her face.

"Hello Mr. Kent, how are you today? Were you able to make it to the ceremony?" she sounded friendly. Clark smiled and shook her hand; he could sense that she was nervous. Good, she better be nervous.

"Yes, I had found out you were coming back to the role of an Ambassador days before and decided to make an appearance there today. You did a fabulous job Madame Ambassador." He sat down across from her desk and Diana sat behind her desk and nervously smiled, but hopefully he did not notice.

Oh he did notice alright.

"So what brings you here today Mr. Kent? An autograph? An interview? A book signing?" Diana offered.

"Please call me Clark, and no those are none of the reasons why I am here today, Madame Ambassador." He still had a sly smile about his face.

Diana cleared her throat, "Then how may I help you Mr. Ke…I mean Clark?" She laced her hands on the wooden desk and stared at him as steadily as she could.

"I was hoping you could answer a few questions for me", he paused, "Diana."

Diana's color drained and she turned white as a sheet. She felt a lump in her throat and didn't know what to say.

"Yes, I know who you are, so I suggest you start explaining." Clark leaned forward and Diana could barely speak, she would try to talk but no words came out.

Four days ago

Diana kneeled in front of her sister's memorial and began to whisper and talk to the statue.

"I want to thank you for coming to talk with me last night. With the few words that you have said I have decided to go back to America and claim my title as Ambassador again. I am not ready for Wonder Woman yet, but I don't think the world is ready for me either. I have abandoned the peace wagon too long."

A few more minutes of silent prayer and then Diana head back to the palace to inform her mother what her further plans were. She found her mother in her throne room talking with one of the Amazon guards about border patrolling the island. She saw her daughter and dismissed the guards and welcomed her daughter in the room.

"Diana." She hugged her tightly. She has been doing this ever since she came back to live on the island.

"Mother, I need to speak with you about something very important."

Hippolyta's face remained stone-like as always and she slowly blinked with her large hooded brown eyes and gestured to sit in a lounge adjacent from the throne. "Then we shall converse."

"I would like to return to patriarch's world and reclaim my title as Ambassador of Themyscira." Diana decided to prolong this anymore than it should be. She just came out with it straight forward.

The Queen was startled at first, "What made you decide this so abruptly?"

"Someone visited me and guided me to the right path," Diana smiled at her words.

"I see. What about Athena's wrath?" her mother asked quite concerned.

"I will deal with Lady Athena when the time comes. If she understands she will forgive me, I know she will." Diana placed her hand on her mother's and smiled.

Diana snapped out of her daydream and looked at Clark again.

"Hello…Diana?" he was looking at her kind of strangely and she put her hand to her head.

"I'm sorry."


Themyscira 9:05pm

Lashina and her two partners in crime arrived on the remote side of the island in the jungle. They crept beneath the shrubs and managed to make it past most of the guards. The guards sometimes came their way as they heard rustling in the bushes, but never found anybody.

Bloody Mary floated on her disk to the Queen's chambers and saw her reading a scroll of some sort. She looked very busy and she smiled. She reported back to Gilotina and Lashina that the Queen was inside her bedroom looking very occupied.

"Okay listen," Lashina began, "We need to plan this carefully and we must not let the guards see us. She most likely has guards outside her doors guarding her and there are numerous guards in the gardens and well…just everywhere! We have to be careful. Gilotina you will stay here and make sure nobody comes near us and if there are then alert us with a low whistle.

"And you Bloody Mary you will do your thing and report to me and I will carry her to back to Darkseid as a hostage so I am sure the Amazon Princess will come to her mother's rescue. Got it?" she held her thumb up and the two women smiled evilly and nodded.

Ten minutes later Bloody Mary floated into the queen's bed chamber and she was fast asleep with her dark curly hair spread across her pillow and she was breathing lightly. The Fury came closer to the queen and wrapped her hand around her mouth.

"Excuse me your majesty," the red haired woman smiled and the Amazon queen struggled against the woman and grabbed a dagger underneath her pillow and stabbed the Fury in the hand and jumped up from the hold.

"Intruder!" Hippolyta yelled loudly, "Who are you and why are you here?"

Bloody Mary rubbed her hand and her skin closed up but the ache still pained her. "You won't go easily I see." She floated up to the queen and began staring in her eyes and the queen couldn't help but keep eye contact. She froze and looked dumbfounded as she stared into the evil woman's eyes. She then fainted and the energy vampire grabbed her and through her over her shoulder.

"Just like your pathetic daughter," she laughed as she descended from the bed chamber.

Guards came to the balcony and screamed, "INTRUDERS!" they began to fire arrows at the women and they gasped.

"Idiot! I told you to make this quiet as possible!" Lashina scolded Bloody Mary as they started running and Gilotina opened the boomtube so they could escape.

Phillipus came running towards the portal but she was too late as it had closed right before she reached it. "Our queen….someone alert the princess!"

Artemis came running from the woods to see a gaggle of Amazons surrounding a barren spot. "What has happened, General?"

"Our Queen has been kidnapped."


AN: it has been far too long since I have touched this story. I have been busy writing many papers for college classes. I finally had some time alone to myself to write a bit.

I hope this will do until the next chapter (: