Episode 8: More Important than Knowledge, Part I

Note: Justice League and Teen Titans are both products of Warner Brothers and possibly DC Comics. If there are any die-hard Wonder Woman fans out there reading this, please understand that I probably got some details horribly wrong. I've done a little research, but I'm making up a lot of stuff too.

It was a crisp autumn day in mid October. Static and Gear had just finished a long afternoon on patrol when Gear noticed something unusual at their headquarters.

"Static, you see that?"

He pointed to a futuristic-looking plane sitting just outside the gas station. On the side were two large letters–JL.

"The Justice League!" Static cried. "You think they need us again?"

"I don't know. They usually make more of an entrance than this." Gear sniffed the air. "Do you smell spice?"

"Yeah, something does smell perfumey. Who knew somebody could cover the smell of old gasoline? I'll go check it out. You see if anybody's lingering around the plane." Gear nodded and they split up. "Hello?" Static called. "Anybody in here–WHOOOA!"

Static backed out of gas station slowly. "What's wrong?" Gear said.

Static replied by pointing a shaking finger at the door. He tried to say what he saw, but he could only manage the first letter. "W . . . W . . . Wa Wa W . . . W . . ."

"What is it, boy? You say little Timmy fall in the well?" Gear quipped.

Static slowly shook his head as he continued to stutter, "W . . . W . . . Wha . . . Wha . . ."

"Let me see." He pushed ahead of Static and stopped short. Sitting "Indian Style" on the floor in front of a small fire of burning incense, was the only Justice League founder Static and Gear had not previously met–Wonder Woman. "Oh."

"Wa WHA!" Static cried

"Get your act together, Static. You know how she feels about men, and you're not helping at the moment."

"She's so . . . she so . . . "

"Let me handle this," Gear grunted. He approached the guest superhero. "Greetings, Princess. Welcome to our humble hideout. It's not quite the Watchtower, but it does the job. Now, is there anything we can do to help you?"

She opened her eyes and looked up at Gear. "I have come to invoke your muse."

"Uh, no problem," Static spoke up. "I'm the best writer in our grade. After all, I share the name of a famous epic poet."

She looked at him in interest. "Homer?"

"D'OH!" Gear laughed at Static's comic outburst. Their guest evidently didn't get the joke. "Not Homer, but very close," Static replied. "So, what do you want me and my muse to do?"

"Static," Gear said, "I think she meant the Muse."

"Oh, yeah. She's not here."

"She's not?" Wonder Woman got to her feet. "Well, where is she?"

"During Muse-Off-Season, also known as the school year, she's at her hometown," Gear explained.

"And where is that?"

"Well, you know, she's a superhero. She's got a secret identity that we're partly in charge of protecting. We can't divulge something like that."

"It's important. A heavy unrest will lie upon the whole world if she does not do something soon."

"Well, is there anyway we can help you?" Static offered.

"No."

"She probably wants a girl," Gear whispered.

"Oh, right. Well, if it's really important and you really need the Muse–"

"It is, and I do," Wonder Woman interrupted.

"–we have the means of getting in touch with her. In fact, she usually calls us around this time to talk about–oh, there she is right now." He picked up his beeping Shock Box. "Hey girl!"

"Hi Static," Precious' voice came over the box.

"Hey, I got a surprise for you!"

"Really? What is it?"

"Someone very special wants to talk to you."

"Who?"

Static quickly handed Wonder Woman the Shock Box. "Go ahead, say hi," he advised.

"It is an honor to speak to you, Muse," she said. "I am Diana, Princess of the Amazons, and I come to–"

"Wow, a real princess?" Precious broke in. "I've never spoken to royalty before."

Gear quickly got on his Shock Box. "Don't you realize who this is? She's better known as Wonder Woman, and she's a member of the Justice League!"

"The Justice League? What's that?"

"Only the powerhouse of superheroes!" Static answered as he took his Shock Box back. "Many of the greatest are members, including Batman and Superman."

"Whoa. Is Underdog a member?"

"Uh . . . no."

Wonder Woman grabbed the Shock Box back. "I need your help."

"What do you want me to do for you?"

"My mother Hippolyta sent me an urgent plea from Themyscira regarding your people."

"Your mother? You mean the queen, right?"

"Yes, of course. You know that the Muses are separated from my people, the Amazons, because of the sacred forest between our camps. Therefore, Mother does not know exactly what is wrong, but she fears something dreadful."

"How do you know that there is something wrong?"

"She says that the magic spring from your camp now flows with a strange kind of water. Drinking it has filled the Amazons with great unease. They sleep too deeply and rarely dream, thus their nights are unrestful. They cannot compose new music or dance. It must mean that the Muses have been unable to work their magic on the stream, and it has now filled with something terrible. Will you help them?"

"I will–"

"Wait a minute!" Static interrupted. "I thought you said this was a worldwide crisis situation."

Wonder Woman looked at him in defiance. "Well, the stream from the Muses' camp flows to ours, and it dumps into the ocean. Therefore–"

"OK, alright, we get it," Gear said.

"So, Muse, as I was saying . . ."

"I'd be happy to do it, your majesty. So when can we all go?"

"Mother allowed me to deliver you to the island as soon as I could. I would ask you to come right away, but as you are in another town, I could probably arrange for you to be picked up tomorrow."

"Maybe Static and Gear can leave with you tonight and get the job started."

"NO! Do you not remember the law? Men are forbidden in Themyscira!"

"What? Why? That law does not make any sense. It's stupid!"

Wonder Woman's eyes flared. "It is the most sacred law of the land. I was exiled because I violated that law. It's far from stupid. I thought you would know that."

"But I always work with Static and Gear!"

"It's ok, Muse," Gear said. "Shebang would probably not mind going with you. You're used to her."

"'Fraid not," Static said. "She's out of town again. I think she said she was going to a science fair with her folks."

"But if the princess is exiled, she can't come back," Precious reasoned. "So . . . I have to go alone? I don't want to be alone!" Her voice was starting to crack, sounding as though she was beginning to cry.

"Don't be displeased, Muse!" Wonder Woman said more gently. "I believe I can arrange for some guides for you."

"You will?" Precious sniffed.

"Yes. There are some very formidable females I have heard of that also have unique powers that they used to promote justice. But you must understand, even they may not be able to accompany you for the whole journey."

"Why not?"

"You shall see soon."

"You know, there are some problems. My uniform is with Static and Gear, and Mommy still doesn't know that I'm a superhero."

"We'll have it all taken care of. Don't worry. Take your rest now, and I will send for you tomorrow."

"OK. I'm looking forward to it. Oh, wait! Who are you thinking of coming with me?"

Wonder Woman paused. "I will let you know when I get them to commit."

"Alright, until then."

Wonder Woman switched off the Shock Box and handed it back to Static. "Now, will you please tell me where I can find her?"

"Batman probably has her address by now," Static answered.

"Batman? We never told Batman where she lived," Gear argued.

"Trust me, he knows," Static replied in a low tone.

"Thank you, young men," Wonder Woman said with a small bow. "You have been very helpful."

"Anytime," Static called after her as she walked out. "Well, that doesn't happen every day," Static observed.

"You can say that again," Gear nodded.

"That again," Static snickered. "You know, I got the feeling that she thought the Muse was a real muse."

"So?"

"So, she's not!"

"I think we should go ahead and indulge her. Who else is she going to find?"

"But this maybe too big a task for our Muse! She's not a goddess!"

"Well, who knows? If there are real muses, they may not be as powerful as Diana's people believe them to be. I don't think she came to the Muse because they have a Greek connection. I think she heard about her powers and thought that she was capable of doing, whatever this is."

The next day, mid-afternoon, there was a knock on the door of a small house in Metropolis. Claire Llewellyn Foley opened the door to see a giant of a man. "Hello?"

"Yes, is this the Foley residence?" he said as he glanced down at a card in his hand.

"It is. What can I do for you?"

"Hi," he said extending his hand. "I'm Clark Kent."

"Clark Kent, the newspaper reporter for the Daily Planet?"

"The very same."

"Well, welcome! I'm Claire Foley. I used to love your articles. You wrote with such details. It was almost like you experienced everything Superman experienced."

"Well, I just tried to do the best I could."

"Why don't you come in for some coffee?"

"I would love to."

Claire brought him into their kitchen and poured him a cup of coffee. "So, where have you been lately? You seemed to have left town along with your favorite subject. Did you get transferred?"

"Well, you could say I got promoted."

"Oh, good for you. Have you ever considered writing a novel?"

"I don't think I'd be very good fiction." He began to laugh. "Sorry, something just tickled my ankle."

"Oh, that's our pet rabbit, Grint."

Clark looked down to see a rabbit with an apple cider-colored coat scratching and sniffing his sock. "Grint? That's a strange name for a rabbit."

"My daughter named him. I think it's a tribute to a young actor."

"Oh yes. I've actually come to talk about your daughter. I understand she's a special child."

"Are you talking about her disability?"

"No ma'am. I'm talking about her ability."

Precious heard a voice she didn't recognize. She came out of her room and looked down from the banister. She couldn't see the visitor, but she could hear his voice just a little more clearly. It seemed he was talking about some kind of workshop for Precious to help her develop her creativity.

"Out of curiosity, does this have anything to do with the ARC?" Claire asked.

"The what?"

"The Bruce Wayne Autism Research Center in Gotham City. Precious gave me a pamphlet about it a few months ago. It sounded reputable, so I filled it out and mailed it in. And you'll never guess what happened. Bruce Wayne, the billionaire himself, called my house and spoke to me. I'm not sure if that man's a class act or if he just really wants my business, I mean my money."

"I'd have faith in him if I were you. I know the man quite well. I can tell you, when he's passionate about something he sees it to the end, and he is really passionate about this. But to answer your question, he does support this workshop."

"Good. Maybe I should invest some time into it. So, when is it?"

"Now I know this is going to be hard for you to hear. It's this weekend."

"Only this weekend?"

"I'm afraid so. It's our fault that we're telling you about this so late, so you don't have to worry about paying a cent."

"I can't let her go this weekend! What are you . . ." Suddenly she paused. She felt a strange sensation wash over her head, and she lost her train of thought. "Well . . . ok . . . yeah. I'll let her go."

"You sure?"

"But I need her back by Sunday morning. I'm a Bible school teacher."

"Don't worry, we'll bring her back here by Saturday night."

"Great." Then with a distracted, confused look on her face, she rose from her chair. "I know it's rude to leave so suddenly on a guest, but I just remembered that I . . . forgot to buy milk earlier today. I really must get it before the store closes, so if you don't mind."

"That's fine."

"Just lock the door on your way out." She grabbed her keys and looked at Clark seriously. "Tell her to be careful."

"No problem, ma'am." As she left, Clark looked across the room. A green-skinned man in a cape phased in. "Good work, J'Onn."

"It was not all my doing," the Martian replied. "She seemed more trusting than she let on. For instance, it was not I who gave her the idea of the milk."

"That is unusual. Well, I supposed we're going to have to figure that out later. Hey, PRECIOUS!" he called up. Precious ran down the stairs. "It's time to go."

"Excuse me, sir, who are you?" she asked.

The man answered with a smile. He took off his glasses and started to tear open his shirt. Underneath was an emblem of a red and gold S.

"SUPERMAN!" Precious gasped in awe.

"That's right," the visitor nodded.

"You're from Metropolis too!"

"Yes. I was so excited when I heard that you were from here."

"Did you know you saved Mommy once? Her family was going to her grandmother's house for Thanksgiving, and their car went off the road, and you saved her!"

"Wow. Funny how things work out. Here, I want you to meet J'Onn J'Onzz."

The Martian came forth and offered his hand. "Pleasure," he said.

"John Jones? That's not a very unusual name for a superhero."

"It is once you consider that he's from Mars," Superman explained.

"Mars? Wow, we're not alone. That's so cool."

"Well, come on. Time's wasting." Superman led Precious out, locking the door behind them. Then he led her to a secret location where they were hiding the Justice League airplane.

"Where's the princess?" Precious asked in confusion.

"Diana has gone to look for the guides she promised you. We are to rendezvous with them at the Dakota gas station," J'Onn explained.

"OK. Do either of you know the guides she has chosen?"

"She didn't talk to me about it," Superman answered. "I thought she was going to bring Hawkgirl, and I was quite surprised that Hawkgirl didn't even hear about it."

"I thought about it all night. That's what I'm most excited about. I think she's going to get the Powerpuff Girls. I hope so. I've been huge fans of theirs for a long time."

The Muse asked Superman and J'Onn all about the Justice League. The more she heard, the more excited she was. They reached Dakota in about half an hour. Once she got to the gas station, she hopped out and ran straight to her friends. "Guys, they told me everything! Man, the Justice League is so cool!"

"You ought to see the Watchtower, their headquarters," Static said. "We've been there once, and it's awesome!"

"I want to be in the Justice League when I become a superhero by myself."

"We probably will be," Gear said.

"Yeah, and maybe one day the gas station will just be a front for the biggest, coolest lab that would even make Dexter jealous," Static suggested.

"What makes you think we'd do that?" Gear asked.

Static shrugged. "Well, you never know what the future holds. But until then, we're in a league of our own, right?" Everybody laughed.

"Better get in uniform, kid," Superman suggested. "Diana ought to be here any minute. J'Onn and I have to get going."

"Alright. Well, it was nice meeting you. Thanks for everything," Precious said.

"No problem. I was very glad to finally meet you. Looks like my hometown's in good hands."

So Superman and J'Onn J'Onzz promptly left. Precious changed into her costume, and Wonder Woman showed up just minutes later. The Muse gave a small gasp when she saw Wonder Woman for the first time. "Oh my, I didn't know I was going to go swimming! Why didn't I pack more?"

The warrior princess met the Muse with disappointment. "You are the Muse?"

"Here to serve you, Princess."

The Muse knelt before the guest, thus didn't see the frown on her face. "Whatsa matter?" Gear spoke up.

"I had hoped that she was a real muse, a visitor from Themyscira like me. I gathered that impression from everything I have heard about her. Now I see that I am mistaken."

"What do you mean?" the Muse asked.

Wonder Woman looked almost disdainfully at her. "Muses don't have wings."

"They do so! They have large, colorful butterfly wings! At least they do in the Song of the Muse series by Owen Summers. The color of their wings change depending on which kind of muse they want to become. I wanted wings like that, but they wouldn't hold me."

"That almost sounds like a joke. I've seen real muses, and they are not cute, little pixies!"

"Look, we suggested she have wings," Gear spoke up. "Static and I both fly, and we wanted her to keep up with us."

"Yeah, excuse us for choosing her mode of transportation," Static said.

"But look, that shouldn't be the important thing. Don't judge her by her wings, but by her skills."

"You're right. I still believe she is the perfect girl for the job. I may be a little upset, but that's alright. So, are you ready?"

"OK."

"Hey Muse," Static said. "There's nothing in that law that says you can't talk to us. Remember, if you ever feel like you need some encouragement, Gear and I are just a Shock Box away."

"Good thing I remembered to bring it. I'll miss you guys."

"You'll be fine," Gear said. "We'll be rooting for you over here."

Precious got on the plane, and Static and Gear looked at each other. "Her first job without us," Static said as he brushed a metaphorical tear from his eye. "They grow up so fast!"

"So, where are they guides you selected?" the Muse asked eagerly. "It's the Powerpuff Girls, right?"

"Well, they were my first choice, but . . ."

"They were busy," the Muse said in disappointment.

"I'm sorry. They were fighting one of their most formidable villains. But I was able to procure two powerful young superheroes that I have been interested in meeting for a long time. They're both from the Titans."

"Oh. I know some boys at Church that are huge fans of the Titans. They like to wear these light blue and white shirts that say 'George' and 'McNair.'"

"No, that's a football team called the Tennessee Titans. This is a team of superheroes called the Teen Titans."

"Oh yeah! That's that group that Batman's sidekick Robin's in charge of! Is Robin . . . wait, is Robin a boy or a girl?"

"A boy."

"Oh."

"Well, come on. I'll introduce you." Wonder Woman led her into the cockpit. A tall girl was standing by the door waiting. She wore a skimpy purple outfit. She had waist-long red hair, mysterious green-on-green eyes, and one of the hugest smiles that the Muse had ever seen. "This is Starfire."

Starfire immediately threw her arms around the Muse's shoulders. "It gladdens my heart to make a new friend!"

The Muse was very surprised with Starfire's sudden greeting, and she did not hug back. She backed away finally and said, "Same here."

Just beyond Starfire's shoulder was another girl. She was very pale. She wore a dark outfit of black, navy blue, and dark purple. She was levitating just a few inches above the floor, her eyes closed, as she chanted something under her breath. "And this is Raven," Wonder Woman said.

The Muse immediately went into reciting, "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, / Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore / While I nod–"

"While I appreciate the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, I must ask you to stop," Raven croaked. "You are interfering with my meditation."

"Sorry," the Muse said, her head bowed in shame.

"OK," Wonder Woman said. "Everybody buckle up. We got a few hours before we get there. I want to take a little time so that you all can get to know each other."

"Here Muse," Starfire chimed eagerly. "Sit next to me."

"OK," she answered as she buckled in. She and Starfire talked for most of the trip. The Muse told her all about Static, Gear, SheBang, and Rubberband Man, and Starfire in turn described all the absent members of the Titans. The Muse got very excited when she heard about Beast Boy.

"So, he's like a real-life animagus?"

Starfire cocked a curious eyebrow. "What is an . . . animagus?"

"Haven't you heard of Harry Potter?"

"I do not know. Does he make furry vases?"

The Muse couldn't stop herself from giggling. She thought Starfire was making a joke. Starfire did not look offended, just very lost. "I do not understand what you find so humorous."

"It's Harry Potter, a name, not hairy potter. It's a book series about a young wizard, and an 'animagus' is mentioned in it as a wizard who can turn into an animal."

"I see. Well, then I suppose that Beast Boy is."

Then they traded some of their favorite adventures and described their most troublesome enemies. After a while, their conversations became more personal. Starfire talked a little about life was like on her planet, and she asked the Muse about some of her interests.

"I had no idea that there were people on Earth with blue skin," Starfire said with intrigue.

"I think they're the only three. Sometimes I wonder if they're aliens, because they don't act like anything on Earth. But that doesn't matter to me. What matters is they make good music."

"I do believe I have heard of famous musicians with blue skin from a small planet in the same system as mine. What were they again?" She talked about this mysterious band, but the Muse wasn't listening. She turned and looked at Raven, who was still whispering to herself and floating just off the ground. "Muse? What troubles you?" Starfire finally asked.

"She's still . . . still . . . doing that thing."

"Raven meditates much of the day. It helps her control her emotions and her powers."

"But she won't let me talk to her when she's doing that. I want to get to know her as well as I did you, but I don't want to make her mad."

"Perhaps if you offer to join her, she will open to you. That is one of the ways of how I got to know her."

"I don't know how, though."

"She will be glad to show you. If all else fails, do what she does."

"And when I sit like that, my feet always fall asleep."

Starfire pulled her leg up and looked amazed. "Feet sleep? Do they snore?"

The Muse laughed again and shook her head. "I'll give it a try." She got up and approached Raven. "Uh, Raven? I, uh, um, um, er, uh, um, um, um–"

"Do you have a tongue or don't you?" Raven asked impatiently.

"Yes," the Muse answered embarrassed.

"Then use it to speak, or don't use it at all."

"I was . . . I was just, uh, wondering if you wouldn't mind if I uh, if I joined you in your . . . thing."

"I see no harm in it, if you remain quiet."

"Could you, could you please show me how?"

"Very well. Sit like this."

"But when I sit 'Indian style,' my feet fall asleep."

"Trust me, in a minute that's not going to matter. Clear your mind of all thoughts, your heart of all emotions."

"OK, I'll try."

"It usually helps to close your eyes."

"Alright."

"Now, center all of your attention on these three words: Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos."

"A-Z-A . . . A-X-E-R . . . M-E-T-E . . . Z-I. . . X . . . Excuse me, Raven, but what do those words mean?"

"Meaning is both pointless and irrelevant."

"That's not true! Without meaning, how can a word function?"

"The words you just uttered, 'um' and 'uh,' have no meaning, but they do have a function. They give your brain a chance to pause as it attempts to think of the right word, a task it could just as well do if you were QUIET!"

"OK." The Muse decided to let the matter drop, thinking that it was probably some sort of spell, and spell words didn't have to make sense to work. She said those three meaningless words, but she kept stuttering and she couldn't keep in sync with Raven. After several minutes, the Muse felt like she was about to fall asleep, and her mouth was dry. Her brain kept wandering off, so the meditation wasn't doing much for her. Without interrupting Raven, she got up and returned to her seat. Once again, she lowered her head in shame.

"Now why is your face full of sadness?" Starfire gently asked.

"She doesn't like me."

"That is not true! This is just the way Raven is. If she gets too emotional, her powers lose control. She does not seem cold because she is cruel or because she does not care."

"But she acts as though I have upset her."

"Even if you have, I would not be troubled. Raven is not one to hold a grudge . . . usually."

The plane stared to descend. "We're here," Wonder Woman announced.

It was night when they landed. A woman wearing a white Grecian dress and holding a torch was waiting for them. Wonder Woman greeted her warmly as they got off the plane. "Mother!"

"Diana, my little sun and stars!" the woman answered as she hugged the princess.

Wonder Woman turned to the guests. "I present Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons." All three guests bowed low. "Mother, I have come with the help I have promised and even more. This is the Muse, accompanied by Raven and Starfire."

Hippolyta held her torch up to the Muse. "This is the one called the Muse? What sacrilege! She cannot be a muse! She has wings!"

"She works with young men who don't know any better, Mother. They suggested that she have wings. Besides, do muses not have the power to appear in any form they wish?"

"Perhaps, who can say? Even if they do, I doubt they would ever appear as this travesty!"

As they continued to argue, the Muse felt full of shame and began to cry. Seeing the sorrow in the Muse's eyes, Starfire quickly interjected, "Your majesty, please do not judge our new friend with your eyes alone. After all, is it not the heart that makes a hero?"

"Don't forget the mind," the Raven solemnly added.

"They have a point, Mother," Wonder Woman nodded. "She may or may not be a real muse, but my closest colleagues in the Justice League are amazed at her courage, power, and innocence. I am certain she has all the skills needed to make it through the forest, but even if she does not these other two will graciously aid her where she lacks."

"Very well," Hippolyta nodded. "I should not have gotten angry. At times as grim as these, we should take all the help we can get. And I know I should accept with faith the help my daughter gives me. Thank you, Diana."

"You are welcome, Mother." Wonder Woman bowed, and then she approached the three girls. "I must leave now. Hera be with all of you." So saying, she got back on the plane and took off.

"Why did she have to leave so soon?" the Muse asked.

"I allowed her to come here to bring you," Hippolyta answered. "However, by being here she violates her banishment. That's why she must leave."

"Oh yes, that's because of that law, that–"

But before she could say what she thought of that law, Starfire spoke again. "Your majesty, would you please tell us the situation? Your daughter explained it to us, but she spoke too quickly. I do not feel I completely understand."

"What did she tell you?" the queen asked.

"She said that somehow your water supply was poisoned, your people are sick, and you fear for the safety of a group of people just upstream," Raven replied.

"That is not quite what she said," Starfire argued.

"It is when you look past the poetic language," Raven answered.

"No, it is much more than that," Hippolyta answered. "You three are due for a better explanation. Come with me." She led the guests to the metropolis of her city. "Themyscira is known as the home of the Amazons, but few know of the true nerve center of this island. We share the island with a community of muses. You can't see it now, but they live just beyond the city in a huge forest. We do not visit them regularly, for their forest is full of trials that are difficult to pass. They do not come to us, for it is the same for them. It is said that these tests were placed by our creator to prove the traveler worthy of living on the other side. Therefore, the muses almost live on an island to themselves."

"Why is that?" the Muse asked.

"Because both of our people are blessed with different magical secrets. This is why the muses are so mysterious. We understand little about them. They are all women, just like we Amazons, but as we devote our lives to strength and agility, they are devoted to art and innovation. We help each other, of course. We Amazons do all we can to protect them. They repay us by supplying water. A stream flows from their forest, to here, and dumps in the ocean. They purify it so that is clearer than crystal, but they do more that. They put their magic art into the water and inspire us to create. They are responsible for the beautiful buildings you see around you and the designs of the clothes we wear, the music we make, even the food. Their contributions help make life joyful."

Hippolyta walked over to a fountain, now dry, with the fountainhead of a golden fish. "About a week ago, we noticed something was wrong. The water did not taste quite as sweet as it once did. We thought nothing of it. Then we felt restless. Slowly, a strange feeling began to creep in. Painters neglected their paintings. Musicians stopped playing. Dancers forgot every step. Several of my subjects told me that they wanted to work no longer, but somehow I knew that was not true. As time passed, everyone was affected. We all dreamt terrible nightmares whenever we slept. And our water grew worse. Look at it now."

She pushed a pump, and water with a black tinge to it gurgled out of the fish's mouth. The very sight of it made the Muse gag. It had a musty smell to it. Starfire held her nose. "I have not smelled liquid with such a powerful stench since I visited the sulphur pools on Alpha IV."

"The muses would not let their water get in this condition," Hippolyta said. "The spring is their pride and joy, for they share it with us. That is why we fear foul play."

"If it is so important, why did you not send your own people to investigate?" Raven asked glumly.

"But I have. Most of the Amazons I sent could not pass all the tests and were sent back to us. There were a few that never came back to us."

"So you think that whatever attacked the muses got them too?" Starfire asked.

"Exactly. That is why I asked for help from the outside world. Will you help us?"

"Of course!" the Muse answered. "This is what I promised I'd do, rid the world of nightmares."

"Everyone needs sweet dreams, music, happiness, and poetry to describe it all," Starfire added. "I will gladly help you."

"While I think such pleasures are pointless, they are somehow needed to maintain order," Raven assessed. "You can depend on my aid."

"Hera bless all three of you!" Hippolyta said joyfully. "We have a feast prepared. Though it may not be very enjoyable, it shall surely sustain you and give you strength for the long journey. Then you may rest for as long as you need. Once you are ready, I will lead you to the forest."

The Muse thought the feast was enjoyable and delicious. She'd never had roasted lamb before, and the baklava served for dessert was sumptuous. She only didn't like fetta cheese much because of the texture. Starfire loved it and ate it like mashed potatoes, but then again she drank olive oil as though it were a beverage. Raven made few comments about her meal, except to say that at least it wasn't tofu. The only really bad thing was the mood. Perhaps it was because it was so late at night, but the large dining hall was so unearthly quiet. The young girls who served them hardly spoke, and they never smiled. They looked sickly and pale, as though they had not slept in days.

Then the three young heroes were led to a room with three cots. The Muse was very tired after such a huge meal, but she tossed and turned the whole time. The windows were closed tightly so that no light would be let in, but the Muse woke early anyway. Or at least she felt she did. Starfire and Raven's cots were empty.

The Muse groggily got up and looked for her friends. "They're probably already heading toward the forest by now," she thought. It didn't take her long to find Starfire. She was standing on the shore and looking out to the ocean. "Good morning, Starfire."

"Oh! Greetings," she replied as though she was caught off guard. She turned back to the ocean.

"What is it?"

"I am . . . contemplating." She looked down at a round device in her hand with a T painted on it.

"OK. Do . . . do you want to talk about it?"

"I miss my friends. I wish they could come as well."

"Yeah, I know. That stupid law–"

"Please do not say such things!"

"Why not? It doesn't make any sense, and it only caused us frustration!"

"I understand that it seems senseless to us, but I have learned many things from observing people of Earth. All such laws, no matter how senseless they seem, make sense to others and serve strong purposes. They are never stupid. There are many rules and laws on earth that my people would find laughable on my planet. You see?"

"OK, but still, it really hurts."

"I know. How was your slumber?"

"Not good. I always have trouble sleeping in a different place. I never remembered falling asleep."

"Oh, you slept," Raven's voice said behind her. "You snored."

Again, the Muse bowed her head and apologized. "Are you sure it was not me?" Starfire asked. "I have heard that my race have extra-loud snores at times."

"Don't worry about it," Raven answered. "I found somewhere where I could rest in peace."

"Good," the Muse nodded, not catching Raven's morbid reference at all. "So, we are all awake. Should we go?"

"My mind is prepared," Raven nodded.

"I feel all is in readiness," Starfire affirmed.

"Then let's go get Queen Hippolyta."

Hippolyta was indeed waiting for the girls. She led them to a large grove of trees. "This is where I must leave you. Just follow the stream at your feet. It will lead you directly to the muses' home."

"Your majesty, I was pondering," Starfire spoke up, "what tests should we expect?"

"That I cannot say. It is part of the test to face the unknown." She handed a bundle to the Muse. "Here is some food and other supplies, if you ever have need of them."

"Thank you," the superheroes nodded.

"No, thank you. May Hera guide you and all of the goddesses on Mount Olympus look down on you in favor."

"Oh, they don't have to bother," the Muse said. "My God will watch over us."

Hippolyta looked confused by this sudden statement, but she nodded. "Very well."

Slowly, the three heroines entered into the forest. The Muse gasped in surprise. On the onset, it looked quite ordinary with trees and wildlife. Yet there was something about it, maybe the organization or the smells in the air. Somehow, the Muse knew.

"I've been here before."

Both Starfire and Raven shared a look of surprise. Neither said anything for a moment. Then Starfire stammered out, "I, I do not know how that could be possible."

"I know! I've never flown down to Themyscira or anywhere else. I've never seen real muses, if there are any. But I just know I've been here before. I feel like I came here several times, but I can't remember when or why or how or who brought me here."

Starfire was still dumbfounded. "This is truly wondrous." She put her hand on the trunk of a nearby tree with blue leaves. "I did not know these existed on earth."

"Have you been here too, Starfire?"

"I do not recall, but it feels so familiar."

"It must be part of the test," Raven answered. "Queen Hippolyta told us the muses have powers that influence the mind. Somehow, they are making you see these woods as a place where you feel comfortable. Do not become too accustomed to it. You might let your guard down."

"OK." The Muse wasn't sure if she understood. If the muses were really reading minds and were taking a memory for the woods to emulate, why did they choose her memory? Where did this memory come from? How did she come here the first time? Maybe it wasn't really a memory at all. Maybe she was seeing a composite of scenery that she read or that she saw in movies or RPGs. Yeah, that made more sense.

"We won't get anywhere if we just stand here and look," Raven reminded them.

"Oh, right," the Muse nodded. "The stream. There it is. Let's go."

Well, I decided to take Antimatter Manticore's advice and make this a two-parter. I didn't want to, but at the rate I've been writing this would have been one monster chapter. I felt like I've kept you guys waiting long enough.

So, sometime soon, I'll be back with the rest of this.