11. Interlude

Leaving the island Batman directed the batwing towards the watchtower.

Meanwhile at the watchtower,

The rest of the league members had gathered in the meeting room and awaited any news or signal from Batman. J'onn Jones had informed them that Batman had taken Diana back to Themiscyra. The dagger which Diana had used was magical and she could only be healed by magic.

"Why couldn't Batman contact Zatanna? She is his friend and a powerful magician. Or we could try contacting Dr. Fate. I have heard that he is helpful towards other superheroes." Asked Superman.

"Batman didn't think either of them would be able to help Diana. And it would have taken time to contact either of them and Diana was fading fast." Informed J'onn.

"But men aren't allowed on Themiscyra" stated Flash. "The last time we were there to save their asses, they exiled Diana. He could have asked Hawkgirl to take her."

Both Hawkgirl and Green Lantern had been silent since Batman had told them that they had unknowingly handed Diana the dagger she had used.

"Batman has his reasons, Flash." Began Superman, "We may not understand or agree with them all the time, but over the years I have realized that if not all, most of the time he is correct."

"Yeah" Flash looked at Shayera. "Shy, what did Batman mean by what he said to you?"

Shayera remembered Batman's parting remark,

"You can thank yourselves now, for getting her the things she needed to do this."

"It was me who had gone to Gotham to get Diana her remaining clothes, armor and other things including the dagger."

"She wasn't alone, I was with her" confided Lantern.

"But why did you go to Gotham?" asked Superman.

"Batman had revoked Diana's privileges. She came to me and asked me to get the remaining things from Gotham. When I told her that Batman won't like it, she said that he was sleeping and that I would be back before he came to know about it and then she would take care of him. John was going to earth to recharge his ring and he offered to accompany me."

Superman was quite for sometime and then he spoke firmly. "Hawkgirl, you made a big mistake. You went behind Batman's back. Everyone knows Gotham is off limits, until Batman agrees to allow you access. He only allowed Diana and me there and even then we weren't supposed to interfere in Gotham and we had to come at night while he was working. Secondly, the reason Batman brought Diana back was because he thought she wasn't safe being alone. He wanted her to be safe here. He trusted you with the responsibility to keep her safe. He knew better than us about her chaotic mental condition. That's why he took away all her military and weapons privilege. You should have known better than to disregard his advice."

Hawkgirl merely nodded her head.

----

Just then the watchtower sensors detected the approaching Batwing. The entire league rushed to the hanger and saw the Batwing taxing into the landing bay. Soon Batman was walking towards them.

"Where is Diana?" asked Superman. "How is she?"

"She is fine" he answered moving past them. They rushed behind him. Superman came to a stop in front of him, blocking his path.

"Where is she?" he asked again.

"Themiscyra" came the single word reply.

"Why isn't she with you? You said she was fine."

"She is staying there"

"For how long?" asked Flash. "She's coming back, right?"

"When will she return?" questioned Hawkgirl.

"When she wants to." With that Batman pushed Superman aside and walked away.

The other league members watched him walking away and looked at one another. Only J'onn Jones stood silent sensing the pain emanating from his team mate. Something had happened on Themiscyra which had resulted in Batman's current state. He wondered what it was.

----

The Justice League awaited the return of their teammate. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months and before they knew it had been one year since Diana had left. The league members decided to look for a replacement. Batman declined to become a permanent member. He however did provide them with a list of seven possible candidates – Nightwing, Supergirl, Green Arrow, Zatanna, Black Canary, Plasticman and Aquaman. Each of them brought something special to the table. The league approached all of them. Aquaman declined a membership but assured them that if they needed help, Atlantis would respond. The rest accepted the league's offer with Nightwing accepting a temporary membership.

----

Meanwhile on Themiscyra,

After Batman left, Diana was taken to her room. The next morning she gained consciousness to find her mother next to her bed. She seemed perfectly fine except for weakness due to high blood loss. Over the next few weeks she regained her strength and began to move about. Soon she was back to her old routine.

Although, Diana had recovered physically but mentally and emotionally she was in a very fragile stage. She decided to meditate and train to strengthen herself. For that she moved to a small single room house in a corner of the island.

But soon she was forced to return to the palace and that is where is stayed from then on. One day, Hippolyta noticed her daughter sitting in the window staring out into the sea.

"You miss it don't you?" she questioned.

Diana had been in thought and almost missed her mother's question.

"Huh…..Did you say something mother?" she asked turning to her mother.

"The League and your friends, you miss them" Hippolyta stated. She knew this day would come. Although she wanted her daughter to stay on the island, she knew it was not to be.

"Yes" sighed Diana.

"When are you leaving?" her mother asked.

"Soon…But not yet. I am not ready. Physically I am strong, but there are other wounds. I need time for them to heal."

Hippolyta fondly placed a hand on her daughter's head. "You are resilient and strong. I have faith in you, my sun and stars."

Finally the day came for Diana to return to man's world. She bade a tearful farewell to her mother and left for the watchtower.

----

On arriving she was met there by Hawkgirl and J'onn Jones.

"DIANA….Is it really you?" yelled Shayera, hugging her. "We missed you a lot?"

Both of they hugged each other, tears in their eyes.

"Shayera, it's been long."

"Long" cried Hawkgirl. "Diana it's been almost four years since you left. We were wondering if you were going to come back or not."

Diana wiped her tears, "I needed time to recover. A lot has happened during the time I have been away."

"You are one to talk. You stay on a magical island. I can't wait to tell you everything that has happened here. But come let's go, we have a meeting to attend first."

Both of them moved towards the conference room. On the way they ran into Flash and Superman. While Superman engulfed Diana in a super-bear hug, Flash practically jumped onto her.

Entering the room Diana noticed many new faces. She turned to her teammates. Superman sensed her confusion. "We had a recruitment drive a few years back?" he said.

With that he started introducing the new members who were at the meeting. Diana recognized Supergirl as Superman's cousin Kara. They then moved down the line to Green Arrow, Black Canary and Plasticman.

Diana then turned and walked towards the tall man in the shadows. She held out her hand to him.

"I'm Diana." She said smiling to him.

Suddenly Flash interrupted. "What Di you don't know him?"

"No" she answered frankly.

Superman stepped forward. "This is Nightwing. You must remember him as Robin."

Diana's eyes widened with recognition. "Nightwing….nice name and costume"

The young man rubbed his neck and gave a small self-conscious smile.

Flash piped up again. "Yes...He is Nightwing…..scourge of criminals….savior of Bludhaven. He is the Bat-Prince and the heir to the cave." He ended with a bow.

"Bat-prince? Cave?" questioned Diana.

Superman smiled, "Nightwing is Batman's eldest son."

Diana nodded her head. "But….."

"Yes Diana"

"Who's Batman?"