***Episode References 'The Balance' 'Wake the Dead' Contains direct Quotations***
Of course I do not own Justice League or its characters :)
Chapter Eleven
Very slowly the Princess of Themyscira started to open her eyes, thankfully her environment was fairly dark and her eyes were not assaulted by light anywhere near as bright as the last thing she saw. Every inch of her body was groaning with aches and pains but she slowly began to sit up and her brain finally caught up with her.
Sitting bolt upright and sending her vision into a dizzy haze Diana groaned, none the less she managed to look around her surroundings, Hades was sitting against the wall at the far end of the library and Shayera was lying unconscious six feet away.
"Shayera?" Diana called hoping that Shayera was just resting for a moment.
Diana called out again and there was no reply, beginning to grow concerned Diana slowly but urgently got to her feet, as she made her way over to her fallen friend she realised Faust must have been dealt with, although she didn't know to what extent his condition was. The Princess ignored Hades' presence as she knelt down by the fallen Thanagarian, fallen in more ways than one. Once again Diana called her name but the woman did not stir, growing increasingly anxious Diana shook her gently but still there was no movement. Resorting to the last thing she wanted to do because it confirmed fears that she didn't want to accept, Diana checked for a pulse.
"Thank Hera" She muttered as she felt a slow faint pulse against her fingertips at Shayera's neck, she didn't know what the normal pulse rate for a Thanagarian was, but a pulse was a pulse and meant she wasn't gone.
Grimacing Diana made her way over to Hades, she still wasn't happy with the fact that she had had to release him from his torture and put him back on his throne, but she accepted that it was necessary.
"Where is Faust" She asked as she stooped to pick up Shayera's mace which had been flung further than she had realised.
"Out of the way for now My Child, I will deal with him in a moment"
Diana flinched when he called her 'My Child' maybe she'd bring him up on it in a minute.
"How is your bird friend?" Hades asked apparently concerned but Diana knew better.
"She is unconscious"
Hades nodded and stood up dusting off his armour casually "It has been good to see you again"
"Sorry I cannot say the same Hades" Diana replied sharply as she turned to spy Shayera, she seemed to be stirring.
Shayera felt awful, every part of her body hurt and her back and wings ached especially, she began to fight with her brain as she argued with it about whether or not opening her eyes would be a good idea. Growing irritable with her discomfort she decided to open them, her vision blurred aggressively but she remained determined as her eyes started to focus, something was bobbing around in front of her, at least until she could see clearly.
"Shayera?"
It was Diana, Shayera let out an inaudible sigh of relief that Faust must be finished, fully awake Shayera looked up at the Princess who smiled...
'She's smiling?'
Weary Shayera started to try and sit up but a hand was held out to her, almost disbelieving for a moment Shayera stared at it still confused by her muzzy head. As she looked up at the Princess who still adorned a friendly smile, Shayera realised that something had changed something important, Diana wasn't looking daggers at her anymore, she couldn't even feel the resentment and bitterness radiating from the Amazon.
Reaching up Shayera accepted the hand, the opposite of what she had done earlier when the same hand had been offered. Diana pulled Shayera up onto her feet and the Thanagarian almost let out a snap remark about yanking her up so quickly, but kept quiet.
"Your mace protected me from the worst of the explosion...but I was afraid you..."
Shayera suddenly pulled her hand away and Diana was worried that she had insulted the woman in front of her; maybe she didn't want to be friends again...
"Your hand's all sweaty" Shayera remarked wiping her hand down her torn and ripped trousers, the Princess's hand was sweaty but Shayera had suddenly felt uncomfortable about the fact that Diana was so concerned about her welfare, that and even in her Hawkgirl days, neither woman had been particularly close, open gestures of concern were never made despite their sisterly relationship.
"Told you" Diana smiled and was relieved to see that she at least got a partial one in return.
Hades suddenly interrupted them with a sigh "Ah well...who has time to read these days?" He asked as he examined the remains of a scorched book before tossing it to one side and making his way over to the few remains of the Annihilator armour.
Reaching down, the God of the Underworld picked up the squirming remains of Faust "Besides, I have a new hobby...tormenting Faust's pathetic soul, any problems with that?"
Shayera, tired and quietly revelling in the fact that her friendship with Diana might be on the repair simply stated that it wasn't her department.
"And you 'My Child'?" Hades asked referring to Diana.
Diana frowned at his repeated use of 'My Child' "Have a party...but don't call me 'My Child' again, or you'll get what he got"
Hades was suddenly quiet before he glanced up at the proud Amazonian before him "Your Mother never told you did she? Weren't you the least bit curious of your Father's identity?"
Shayera's insides writhed 'What's he playing at? As if he hasn't caused enough trouble as it is'
Diana was noticeably taken aback before she recovered "I don't have a Father; my Mother sculpted me from clay and breathed life into me"
Shayera just knew where this was going.
"Your Mother and I sculpted you, together...when I met you a few years ago I realised that Hippolyta must have brought you to life sometime after I was condemned to Tartarus...as a reminder of me perhaps"
Shayera watched Hades walk away and she could see that the Princess was affected by what he had told her, her shoulders were slumped and the air of royal confidence had diminished. Hades had basically told her that she was like him the man she considered a monster... he was her Father.
"He's lying Diana we can prove it, use the lasso on him, make him tell the truth!" Shayera encouraged practically shoving the lasso into the crestfallen Princess's hands.
Diana paused for a long moment quietly appreciative of her companions concern "The real truth is...it doesn't matter" Diana had learned that a lot of things didn't matter today, her resentment didn't matter, Shayera's betrayal didn't matter, the fact her friend was a Thanagarian didn't matter, Diana grasped her friend's hand in response.
"I know what I need to know, I know who raised me and I know what I was raised to do" Diana took the lasso and reattached it to her belt, not realising Hades standing with pride at his daughters words.
Both women with absolute relief left the library and made their way back to the gates of Tartarus, on the way Diana contacted J'onn.
"We're fine J'onn, we are heading back to the gates now and will be leaving shortly, I will not be able to stay long"
"Copy that Diana everyone is returning to normal here... are you both fine?"
Diana glanced at Shayera with a smile which was returned "We are fine J'onn, Wonder Woman out"
Reaching the gates Diana knocked against them with her fist before declaring her name and title, slowly the doors were heaved open and Diana and Shayera eagerly stepped past them into the fresh clean moist air of Themyscira.
They were both met with cheers from the other Amazons, some of them bashing their shields with their swords, Shayera smiled inwardly at the appreciation, that for once someone wasn't telling her she shouldn't be there or that her efforts were an empty attempt at gaining atonement.
Diana smiled warmly; it was good to see her sisters again, to be somewhere familiar, despite living in Man's world for so long the Princess was still homesick and sometimes even now didn't feel as though she fit in.
Hippolyta climbed the stairs and Diana prepared herself to leave, but she wanted to thank her Mother for her help...without the lasso they might not have been so successful.
"Thank-you for unlocking my armour's powers, I might not have made it without them"
"You earned them a long time ago, I was too stubborn to admit it" Hippolyta said softly and Diana beamed internally at the subtle praise and possible forgiveness, none the less she turned to leave.
"I better go"
Then her Mother after glancing at the winged woman standing a short distance away said something she had been pondering upon since her Daughter had left for Tartarus.
"Stay and rest for your trip, at the very least you and your friend can share a meal with me"
Shayera glanced up at the use of the word friend and she was warmed that Diana didn't deny the term, the Thanagarian was consoled and felt one of her many burdens lift from her shoulders. She had repaired one of her lost friendships...maybe her adoptive family were not so unrecoverable.
Diana turned to her Mother "But...I've been banished! The Gods..."
Hippolyta became stern "This is your home, and I am your Mother...if the Gods don't like it, they can take it up with me" With that the Queen of the Amazons descended the stairs to address the other Amazons.
Diana smiled, her relationship with her Mother had been repaired, there was just one more...
"What about us?" Diana started as she turned to Shayera, the woman she once called Sister and hoped that she could do so once again "Are we good?"
Shayera was grinning she too was pleased to see that Diana and her Mother had reconciled "Like oil and vinegar...we go together but we don't mix"
Diana grinned too "Works for me"
Hippolyta came back to them "The Sisters are putting together a feast; I trust that you will both join me?"
Diana looked at Shayera and the Thanagarian nodded "Fine with me"
"Good" Announced Hippolyta "It will be arranged at the temple"
Diana and Shayera made their way quickly to the Princess's Jet whereby she sent a transmission to J'onn, the signal far better than it had been in Tartarus and informed him that they would be staying for an evening meal. J'onn was pleased to hear that Diana was once again welcome at her home and bid them to have an enjoyable time.
The two then flew towards where the feast would be held, Diana leading the way.
"Shayera...I want to thank-you for your help...even though I was so inappropriate before"
"I'm glad I could help" Shayera admitted honestly and recognising Diana's attempt at an apology "You are all my family...even if I'm not a part of it anymore"
Diana glanced at her friend.
'My friend that never truly stopped being my friend'
"I heard about Grundy...I am sorry" Diana offered her condolences as they landed outside of the temple.
Shayera noticeably sighed "There's no reason to apologise...it wasn't Grundy, not really"
"I know, but he was your friend"
"Yeah...and I betrayed him too"
Diana shook her head "You freed him Shayera...and in return he freed you from your exile just as you have helped me to be free of mine"
The winged woman smiled weakly.
"Come, I am sure the feast will be prepared"
Shayera followed the Princess into the temple and found that a small banquette had been prepared, food of varying types and varieties were spread across a long low table with cushions and pillows scattered all around. Hippolyta greeted them at the door.
"You will both join me at the end" She said with a smile and lead them onwards, the Queen taking a seat at the far end with Shayera and Diana taking seats either side of her and opposite one another. Others joined until the entire table was lined with Amazonians, Shayera the only one that stuck out amongst them but for once she didn't mind being obviously out of place, everyone around her was willing to talk to her and not judge her.
The food laid out for them all was delicious, Shayera enjoyed trying various things not having tried Greek before...well not proper Greek food. Diana was conversing with one of her Sisters nearby and Hippolyta turned to Shayera.
"I must offer you my gratitude for protecting my Daughter"
"There's no need...I told you there was nothing to worry about" Shayera smiled.
Hippolyta nodded "Still...you are welcome here whenever you should want to visit, you may not be an Amazon, but we each consider you a Sister...you have helped us in the past on a number of occasions and have certainly proven your worth as a warrior"
Shayera smiled humbled "I...thank-you...I can't tell you how much that means to me"
"You are our Sister Shayera" Diana smiled and Shayera felt herself returning it.
"Thank-you...even though I don't deserve it"
Diana frowned for a moment "Tell me Shayera...why didn't you ask for my forgiveness?"
Shayera shook her head "I can't even forgive myself...what I did...it's too much to be forgiven"
"I don't think so" Diana replied "And whether you ask for it or not Shayera...you have mine...because I understand"
Both Diana and Hippolyta were smiling at her.
"Thank-you..."
Diana would later tell Batman that she swore at that moment that she could see the burdens lift from the Thanagarian's shoulders, and the withdrawn wounded woman start to heal. Diana's burdens had lifted too, the burden of holding a grudge for someone you still cared about and considered a member of your family and the burden of being exiled from Themyscira were both lifted.
It was amazing what friendship could do...
It was amazing what Sistership could do...
AN/ Epilogue next and this Journey of reconciliation shall be completed!
I really hope you've enjoyed reading it and once again I would like to thank all reviewers for their feedback :D It really does help :)
