Shayera, Bruce, Clark, and Diana sat quietly in the study. Awkwardness, tension, discomfort filled the air. Alfred stuck his head into the study and motioned for Bruce to follow him. Bruce excused himself before leaving the room. A second later, Bruce popped his head into the study and asked Clark to accompany him somewhere. Clark was off the couch and out the door in half of a second, leaving the two heroines sitting across from each other in a silent staring contest. After a few minutes of sizing each other up, Shayera was the first one to speak. "Come on, Diana," Shayera said stiffly, "say what you want to say. Get it over with."
"How are you, Shayera?" Diana asked in the same tone.
"Do not play polite with me, princess," Shayera all but sneered. "I am the only one here. I will not tell anyone if you accidentally swear…or burp."
"Fine," Diana leaned forward. "How could you, Shayera? We were your friends. Your family. And you handed us over like we were nothing."
"If it makes you feel any better, it wasn't personal. I was doing my job. I thought as a warrior, you of all people would understand." Diana pressed her lips together. "What would you have done if you were in my position?" Shayera asked. "But I don't think that is what you are really upset about. So say what it is you actually want to say. I have other things that I could be doing so stop wasting time." Diana's façade changed. The stiff posture she was displaying disappeared, and her face fell. Her face became more open, more vulnerable. "You hurt me," Diana said. "When I left Themyscira, I was not allowed to return. I left my family and friends behind. I was very lonely. But then the Justice League formed and…you were there. Suddenly, I didn't feel so…alone. There was another female around. Someone I could bond with, become sisters with. And we never really saw eye-to-eye, but it was still nice to have a female around to just have a laugh with. I saw us as…friends. But then you betrayed us. And I was so mad. But then you saved us, and I became even more upset. I remember standing in this very room, deciding your fate. Wally immediately voted in favor of you staying, Bruce was, surprisingly, for you staying a-"
"Bruce wanted me to stay?" Shayera asked in shock, confusion, and …shock.
"Yes," Diana said. "You did not know?" Shayera shook her head. "He said he would have done the same if he were in your shoes," Diana said. "I, of course, was against you. I wanted you gone. But, while we were still deliberating, you already decided to leave. You looked so…miserable and pathetic and contrite. And my anger towards you grew. I was so happy you left. And for two years, I never thought of you. I had washed my hands of you. Then your sister contacted us. I didn't even know you were still on the planet. But I wanted you gone. We argued over whether or not we should hand you over. But they threatened invade Earth. The decision was made. When I saw you again…my anger for you returned like a tsunami. I wanted you out of my life. When they tore your wings – " Diana's voice broke. "I was so happy. You were finally getting the justice I thought you deserved. And I was so ashamed. I had realized a long time ago that you really were stuck between a rock and a hard place. You owed this planet nothing. It was not your world or your home. And you chose us anyway. Your entire planet disowned you – majority of humans hate you…but I don't hate you, Shayera. I am done being mad and angry and upset over decisions made by you, because at the end of the day; I would have chosen the way you did, too. I was hurt because…" a tear rolled down Diana's face, "I thought we were friends." Shayera sat in silence, listening to Diana pour out her heart. She slowly stood from her position on the couch and walked over to her friend. "I really am sorry, Diana. I just…I didn't know what to do. I was so confused at the time."
"I know," Diana said, "I get that now."
"I didn't want to hurt you. I didn't want to hurt anybody. I did not think of how my actions would affect the rest of the team. I only thought of myself."
"It was an awful situation you were in, Shayera." Shayera nodded. "Diana," Shayera turned to her, "I cannot tell you how sorry I am."
"I know, Shayera," Diana gripped the younger woman's hands. "I am sorry for how I have treated you these past months. It was unfair. I should – " She stopped when she felt arms around her. Shayera was hugging her. Diana reciprocated the hug. "I missed you, too, Diana," Shayera said.
"I missed you too, sister," Diana said. The two females eventually separated, both with tears in their eyes. "Now tell me about this new relationship with Bruce. Have you consummated your love for each other?" Shayera felt her face redden as her eyes widened with newfound horror.
This was it, Issi thought. In a few hours, they would phase into Earth's solar system; and she would finally get to kill that traitorous bitch she called her sister. Why couldn't she have been born first? Issi gripped the railing of the catwalk in the command ship. Her sister was such a waste of talent…a waste of wings…a waste of life. Even when she made horrific mistakes, her parents still chose her over Issi, simply because Issi was born 2 years later. She was going to crush her traitorous sister. She was going to literally wipe her bitch of a sister from existence. Shayera Hol was about to become a distant memory.