"Be the change that you wish to see in the world."
― Mahatma Gandhi
Kara zipped over the island maintaining a height of about 80 meters, high enough to patrol the kingdom quickly, low enough to avoid the magic barrier, allowing her to cover every corner, looking for any hint of danger. On her second pass, she noticed a sound she hadn't heard the first time. 'That sounds like Para-Demons', the blonde thought to herself, as she came to a slow halt, hovering over the beach where she had saved Narcissa almost six years before.
Kara rose another 40 meters, scanning the island with all her senses. She spotted them as they approached the stone vault housing the Mother Box. In her head, she estimated their speed of approach and how long it would take her to warn Nubia and get to the enclosure before them. 'Too much wasted time,' the warrior thought, her hand falling to her right hip to check her sword.
"Athena, Goddess of Warfare and Wisdom, guide my hand as I defend my home," Kara whispered as she shot forward, her sonic boom causing the trees below to rattle and heads to turn.
"Trouble?" Cassandra said to her hunting party as they watched Kara's blurred form shoot over their heads.
"Kara never flies that fast over the island, there is something amiss, perhaps we should follow?" Persephone suggested.
"Ride back Persephone, tell Nubia something is happening towards the Vault!" Cassandra commanded, "the rest of you, let's hope Kara leaves something for us."
An Amazonian war cry went up among the ten riders, as Persephone steered her horse towards the city. The nine other women galloped the opposite way, following Kara's speeding form.
Mere seconds after passing over her sisters, Kara could see a horde of Para-Demons flying in formation in front of her, their wings buzzing in sync to hide their numbers. She wasn't the same girl she had been six years before when she had caused her first death, she was a trained warrior, a member of Hippolyta's royal guard and in less than two days would become a woman in the eyes of her sisters.
Kara stopped in midair, unsheathed her sword with her left hand and removed her shield from her back with her right, then she used her hearing and vision to check the area for any of her sisters before starting the fight from the air. She smiled as she heard Cassandra's hunting party approaching, she'd have to leave a few for them. Since her shield wasn't really a necessity for her in combat, Nubia had been teaching her to use it as a more offensive weapon. Judging distance and height, Kara climbed to the right of the horde and took her time preparing for the first part of her attack. She adjusted her height by 5 meters and threw her shield like a discus, watching as it sliced through the wings of five of the demons and the bodies of three more, then stuck into a rock below them. She landed before the first five of the creatures crashed to the island, and found herself immediately surrounded by the survivors.
Kara crouched into her battle stance, sword up and ready to attack, her bracers ready to block, as three of the demons raised their weapons up and fired. Their frenzied chatter got even louder as the energy beam struck the woman and dispersed immediately. Kara moved forward so quickly the creatures never had a chance to block her attack as she beheaded two of the shooters and ran through the chest of the third. Then she looked behind them and saw Cassandra and her party approaching at a fast gallop.
She moved back, drawing their attention to her, the creatures moved forward into a tight group, waiting for the moment she knew was coming. She heard Cassandra over the voices of the demons, "Well done, sister." She smiled as she slipped back three more steps.
"Fire now," Cassandra ordered, a smirk coming to her face as the enemy gathered into a tight group, preparing to assault Kara. 'Fools,' she thought as her first arrow was released into the air.
Kara's smile widened as she slid back another step and watched the arrows descend and nine of the monsters fell. The enemy turned in surprise to face the second group of attackers, just as the next round of arrows killed nine more of their number. In less than a minute the number of demons had been decreased by half.
Turning their back on an Amazon wouldn't normally be an issue for the demons, but this was no mere Amazon, this was Kara Zor-El, last child of Krypton, the voice of Rao, and turning their backs was the last mistake ten of them would ever make, as Kara's sword sliced through them. Kara turned and one of the Para-Demons, with red marks on his face stared at her helmet and growled. "Kryptonian!" The monster hissed as he turned a dial on his rifle and raised it to fire.
Kara's head snapped around as the creature spoke the name of her people and a green beam left the creature's weapon. She deflected the beam with her right bracer, but the radiation dropped her to her knees, causing the veins in her arms, hands, and face to turn a horrible shade of green. She grunted in pain, watching in fascination as the veins slowly returned to their natural shade, the pause cost her a moment on the field as one of the monsters swung a bladed spear at her, cutting through the flesh on her leg.
"Ugh!" Kara cried out, as she pushed herself up, her damaged leg almost giving out on her. Then the true force of her powers came to bear, as her bright blue eyes flashed orange, then turned to the red of Krypton's sun and she fired her heat vision and vaporized the remainder of the vile little creatures. Then her leg gave out and she rested on her knees as Cassandra dismounted and came towards her.
"Kara?" Cassandra panicked, "You are injured?"
Kara grinned, her eyes showing the pain she was feeling, "Nubia is going to be angry, I'm not supposed to get hurt on patrol."
"Samantha, bring me my waterskin and some clean cloth," Cassandra ordered.
Two of the other Amazons helped move Kara to a rock, so she could lean back. Then Cassandra popped the cork of her bottle and poured the water over the bloodied area on Kara's leg. Kara didn't even hiss as the cold liquid struck her leg, and all her sisters gathered around as the wound slowly closed, stitching itself back together.
Kara watched in wonder as her leg healed, she rubbed the area, feeling no pain, not even a scar where the blade had sliced her open. She smiled at Cassandra, "Maybe not as much trouble as I thought, Cassie?"
"You still need to see a healer, Kara, and the injury must be reported to Nubia. You know the rules," Cassie sternly reminded her.
Kara's famous pout rose to her lips, her eyes becoming soft and innocent.
"Kara Zor-El, that is not going to work on me, I am second in command of the training grounds, and I am not risking Nubia's wrath no matter how much you push out that lovely bottom lip of yours," Cassie smiled.
"But…" Kara started.
"No buts or I will report this to your mother before I report to Nubia," Cassie whispered, grasping Kara's hand. "They have to know that you can be hurt, Little One."
Hanging her head in defeat, Kara's blonde locks fell over her eyes, "I know."
Samantha came over carrying the weapon that had been shot at Kara, handing it carefully to Cassandra. "This is the one."
Kara looked at the weapon, recognizing the sigil the selector as pointed towards, "That's the symbol of my Kryptonian family. Why is it on this weapon?" One of the other Amazon's had retrieved her shield, and Kara flipped it, the symbol wasn't quite identical to her family's but it did match exactly the one in her memories, the one worn by Jor-El. "He's alive."
Diana's thoughts returned to an explosion, a conversation she had barely heard, the loss of someone she'd barely known, yet had touched her so deeply. She shook her head slowly and looked down on the body of Superman, then at the face of Lois Lane. So much pain, so much grief, and so much love. The brown-haired Amazon smiled at that thought, a bit sad, but she knew that feeling, the feeling of love would be the saving grace for Lois. 'Funny I should think that about someone else, when I can't let go of Steve,' she thought to herself.
She gently lowered the body into Bruce's arms and watched as the shock of the moment wore off, and the tears began. Diana bit her lip, to stop herself from crying and found herself staring into Bruce's eyes. He held her gaze for just a moment, then his head went down, as he looked around at the destruction caused by Lex Luthor's Doomsday.
Superman is Dead…
So read the headline of every paper in the world. The next weeks would be dark, as the Man of Steel was laid to rest. His family and friends however, attended the funeral of Clark Kent, in the small Kansas town of Smallville.
Bruce kept his distance, watching the proceedings from behind a nearby tree. He heard Diana approach, her boots crunching the gravel under her feet. They both poured out their guilt for the other to see. They discussed finding others like Diana, to face an evil that was coming.
"Why do you think they will have to fight?" Diana asked, her hand gently squeezing Bruce's.
Lost in thought for a moment, his dark eyes focused on hers, "a feeling."
At that word, Diana turned to walk away, lost in her own thoughts, of hopelessness, of sin, but mostly of home.
She stopped at that, and looked to the east, staring at nothing, wondering why after all this time, Themyscira was suddenly on her mind.
Kara entered Samantha's small laboratory, a sudden feeling of weakness washing over her strong form.
"Kara!", Samantha yelled as she locked the weapon into the lead containment box Asteria had built and delivered almost a week ago. "You have to warn me when you are coming here so that I can make sure this is put away."
"I don't understand why it is affecting me so much," Kara snarled, shaking off the effects of the radiation. "Shouldn't my body build up a defense to it over time?"
"Kara something about this particular radiation causes damage not only to your body but to everything from Krypton," Samantha explained.
"What?" Kara asked, confused, "What do you mean?"
Samantha pulled out a small piece of Kara's ship, and pieces of cloth from the clothes she was wearing the day she landed. Both seemed aged, the metal was potted and seemed lost its luster, while the fabric, once white was now yellowed and seemed fragile to human touch. "This is what happened when we subjected inanimate objects to the radiation," Samantha explained. "It must be something from your homeworld, Kara."
"Something able to kill someone like me," Kara whispered to herself. This weapon had been built not for her, but for her cousin, which meant there was a possibility that he was still alive. She looked about the window of Samantha's small lab, towards the ocean, towards a man's world.
"Kara, my daughter, it's time," Myri's voice sounded in her ears, and Kara smiled, her dark thoughts forgotten at the whisper.
"Samantha, I've got to go, mother is calling," Kara smiled. She exited the lab, stepping outside into the mango sunset of Themyscira and jumped into the air, flying towards the palace.
The blonde amazon set down gently on her balcony and stepped inside her private chambers. On her bed was a beautiful wooden box. She ran her hand over the raised carving of her crest and pressed down on the ruby in the center, feeling the box unlatch itself. Opening it slowly, she saw her family crest staring up at her from a deep blue leather and chainmail shirt. She reverently lifted it out of the box and saw that it was sitting on a white cotton shirt and a red leather skirt, including a tasslet belt. The bottom of the box contained a pair of leather boots, much like the pair her mother wore to hide the scar on her leg when she trained with Hippolyta, they fit tightly around her calf and rose just over her knee. After dressing she moved the box to place it under her bed, and found a note.
To the Voice of Rao,
With your coming of age, my sisters convinced me that you needed proper armor. I took the liberty after your run-in with those demon's to include a bit of my own magic. It should disperse a bit of their evil green magic.
Hippolyta has your final gift.
Sorry I missed your Arrival Day celebration.
Hephaestus
Kara smiled as she read the note, then folded it and placed it in the box, and slid them under the bed. Finally dressed, she braided her long blonde hair allowing it to land on her left shoulder. Finally she was satisfied with her appearance and she headed down to the Council Chambers.
Kara approached the chamber doors and was met by two members of the Royal Guard. "Hold Kara, by order of the Queen you are to be announced."
"What? Why?" Kara sputtered out.
"We honestly don't know Kara, why aren't you using your hearing?" Leela laughed, already knowing the answer to that question.
"Because mother told me it was rude to use it to spoil surprises and eavesdrop." Kara sighed. At 21 cycles, she was by far the youngest person on the island and none of her sisters hesitated in reminding her of it all the time.
Leela laughed again and stuck her head in the door. When she drew back into the hallway, she was standing at full attention, opening the door with a flourish and a salute to Kara. Kara stood shocked for a moment, then returned the salute and walked hesitantly towards the open door.
Myri met her just inside the door, standing directly in front of her. Standing on her tiptoes her mother greeted her with a hug and a kiss to the cheek, then straightened her braided hair where it hung over her left shoulder. She also fixed the collar on her new armor and checked her over once more.
"Mother, what is going on?" Kara asked, her hands fidgeting nervously.
"You will see," Myri answered, as she smirked and turned her back on her daughter.
The two women made their way forward and Kara felt herself growing more and more nervous, her fingers slowly moving up to her braid.
"Stop fidgeting, Kara." Myri smiled. Then she stopped moving and gripped Kara's hand. In front of them sat the entire council of the island, with Hippolyta sitting at the center of the table in her formal robes of office. "Members of the Council, your Royal Highness, I present Captain Kara Zor-El of the Queen's Elite Guard."
Kara's eyes widened and her heart started pounding behind her ribs. 'Captain!' she thought. As the word set in, she stood to her full height and looked at the council seated before her.
Hippolyta stood from her chair and walked around the table, standing directly in front of her newest captain. "Kara Zor-El, I, Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons do hereby name you captain of the Elite Guard, and present you with the symbol of your new rank." As the words left her mouth, Nubia approached, a single tear in her eye as she handed a wrapped sword to her queen. Turning to face Kara, Hippolyta spoke solemnly, "I present you with this sword, a gift from the gods, forged from the metal of your own vessel and named by Hephaestus himself. I present Tarie, the sword of Hope. Weild it well Captain."
"Th-thank you, your highness," Kara stuttered as she bowed, accepting the sword with her left hand. Grasping the sword, she stood upright and whispered, "Thank you for this honor Zyvesh."
Hearing the nickname she had been given seven years before, Hippolyta wrapped her arms around Kara, "You have protected our home again Kara, thank you for coming my dear Little One."
As a member of the Queen's Elite, Kara was charged with protecting the Mother Box on the island. She had just arrived back at the palace from her third month of duty. She trotted home on Hope's back, she made sure her beautiful mare was settled into the stables, then headed up to her room. She passed Cassandra as she entered, "Where are mother and Hippolyta?"
"They headed to the vault," she paused, thinking. "The day before yesterday. The Queen decided to take a quick tour of the island, they will be back in a few days."
"I'm going to head to the observatory then if anyone is looking for me," Kara smiled.
"I will send word if you are needed Kara, go and enjoy Astra's company," Cassie smiled.
Kara continued upstairs, admiring the picture of Diana hanging on the wall, sighing at the brown eyes. Then she turned and headed down the hallway to her own room. She entered her room and saw that everything was in its usual place, pulling off her armor, she reverently laid it on the bed and dressed casually in her training garments, forgoing sandals after a month in her boots. She stretched just a bit as she stepped out on the balcony, then launched herself into the sky.
Minutes later the young captain settled gently onto the observation platform, her feet barely making any noise at all.
"Kara, is that you, Little One?" Astra called up from the lower floor.
"Yes Auntie!" Kara cried back with a smile, 'I'm the one with enhanced hearing.'
Kara made her way downstairs to find Astra padding around the kitchen making dinner, "you're just in time to eat Little One."
"Thank you, Auntie, I rode back with my unit, and we skipped lunch to get back before nightfall," Kara smiled as she swapped the salt and pepper before Astra spiced the salad. "Do you have any pears from Zyvesh's trees?"
"Of course Little One, in their usual spot," Astra pointed to the bowl of fruit.
"Did you know I was coming?" Kara asked.
"Your mother and Lyta are out touring, of course, you would come here today, you hate to be alone your first few nights back," Astra spoke as Kara approached the table and set her pears down. Then she placed a bowl in front of her, "eat Little One, then we will go upstairs and stargaze when the sun sets."
"Thank you, Auntie," Kara blushed, her bouts of loneliness were well known, and all her sisters on the island made certain that she was never alone until the night terrors passed.
That same night Lyta and Myri were lying on a blanket staring at the stars. Lyta's blonde hair spilled over Myri's shoulder as she closed her eyes and allowed herself to shed her duties for the night and just enjoy the comfort of her lover's lips and body.
"Your majesty!" One of her guards shouted, "We received word from the vault, the box, she's-she's speaking."
Both women shot from their prone positions, "Ready the horses!" The queen ordered, then rushed to her tent. She and Myri emerged minutes later dressed in their armor. "Let's go, we ride now."
Mounting their horses, the small group galloped towards the vault.
The next morning the small group of riders rounded the hills leading to the vault.
"Do you feel that?" Myri asked, her eyes wide. The ground beneath their horses' hooves was vibrating with energy.
"Call Kara, tell her to gather her forces," Hippolyta ordered.
Standing in the stirrups of her saddle, Myri looked towards the city and called, "Kara, bring troops to the vault."
Kara woke with a start as she heard Myri's voice. "Astra, I-I have to go. Trouble at the vault."
"Go child. Be safe Little One."
Kara was airborne as the words left Astra's mouth. Seconds later she landed in the city, yelling for all troops. Her voice was echoed by her sisters and in a few minutes all her and Alexandra's troops were gathered in a semi-circle.
"My mother called for assistance, we need to head out at once," Kara explained, her voice sounding much calmer than she felt.
The women gathered sprinted to their homes to gather armor and weapons, while Kara simply jumped to her balcony and grabbed Tarie and her shield. Then landed back in front of the stables. The stable master had already prepared Hope and Kara fed the horse a few apples and floated onto the saddle. "Let's go girl."
All the troops were mounted and ready, and they flowed through the gates of the city, making their way towards the vault at full gallop,
Three hours later, the plains outside the vault…
Hippolyta's horse was thrown out from under her and Myri as they galloped towards the city, the Mother Box bounced and landed, the stone covering shattering away, the gold of the box crackling with energy.
Myri called out Kara's name as Hippolyta's horse landed on top of her causing her to scream even louder.
Kara heard the cry and forgot her command. She shot from the saddle of her horse and headed towards her mother's scream.
As Kara was flying towards them, she saw a large man about to land close to her mother, using her enhanced vision she identified him from Hippolyta's stories and painting.
Steppenwolf landed, and brought his ax over his head, intending to kill Myri and the horse. The ax began its downward motion and was about to strike when the wind howled and his blade stopped, impacted on some immovable object, and caused a concussive wave that drove the monster back 10 meters.
"Get away from my mother, Steppenwolf!" Kara screamed over the sound.
Steppenwolf stepped back, sniffing the air. "Mother told me there were no Kryptonians left on this planet," the fear was evident in his eyes.
"She was wrong!" Kara snarled, looking back at Myri and Hippolyta. "Zyvesh?"
"She is injured, child, she needs a healer, now!" Lyta yelled, tension evident in her voice.
Kara stepped back, putting herself directly in front of Steppenwolf. He jumped at her and Kara held her ground, raising her bracer to deflect the blow and drawing her sword. Steppenwolf's hand impacted Kara's arm and stopped, causing the young woman to grin wickedly, and bring her sword around. Moving quickly, Steppenwolf jumped back, but not before Kara's sword bit through the flesh on his cheek, causing dark black blood to flow down his face.
He jumped back, the force of his landing causing the ground the shake, and Myri cried out in pain. She looked to Kara then passed out.
"Mother!" Kara cried out.
Steppenwolf smiled at the distraction as he picked the Mother Box up in his massive hand. It turned to a grimace as he saw the Amazon cavalry headed over the hill towards him and the three women.
"You will bow before the Unity." Steppenwolf threatened, as a cyclone of energy surrounded him and he disappeared.
"Amazons bow before no one," Kara snarled as he vanished. Then she turned and lifted Myri's still form and shot towards the city.
Kara landed directly in front of the Healing Temple, calling out, "Eugenia, help me, please! Myri is hurt."
Eugenia rushed down the temple steps, "Kara, what happened?"
"Steppenwolf, the Mother Box, she was thrown from a horse, her right leg is broken, I think she is bleeding internally," Kara's thoughts were all over the place.
"Take her inside Kara, we will see what we can do," Nia said calmly.
Gently carrying Myri inside, Kara placed her on one of the beds. "Mother, I'm right here," she whispered as she took her hand.
"Kara, tell me what you see, point if you can," Nia encouraged.
Scanning Myri with her enhanced vision, Kara pointed out several broken bones, "Her right hip, her right ankle, left fibula, and her spleen is ruptured." Kara pointed to the left side of Myri's stomach, "right here."
"You are sure, Kara?" Nia asked solemnly.
Kara nodded, frowning as she focused once again and verified the exact location.
Three hours later, Nia came out onto the stairs where Kara sat, her head in her hands. The young Kryptonian's head came up, and Nia saw the loose braid and red-rimmed eyes of a frightened girl, not a strong Amazon warrior. They all forgot from time to time the loss Kara had faced, the nightmares that accompanied that loss, and the loneliness that sometimes reared itself, and right now the healer could see it all. "Kara...Little One, she is sleeping."
Standing slowly, Kara tried to smile, "Will-is she-will she be okay?"
"She will live child, we had to take the spleen, but Hera help us, the gods were on our side." Nia smiled softly, opening her arms, "she will need the healing springs at least once a day, and will have to stay here for at least a week."
"Thank you, Nia," Kara cried, the tears streaming down her cheek as she embraced the healer. Then her head came up and she looked up to see Hippolyta riding towards the temple on Hope.
The Queen dismounted and rushed up the stairs towards the two women, "is she?"
"Zyvesh, she is okay, Myri is going to be okay," Kara said, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
Lyta fell to her knees on the steps of the temple, her blonde hair falling over her eyes and she sobbed unashamedly.
Kara fell down beside her, wrapping her arms around her shoulders, "She's okay Zyveshh."
"We could have lost her, Little One," Hippolyta sniffled. "And we lost the box."
"I'm sorry Zyvesh," Kara held her head down. "I forgot my duty."
Wiping away the tears, Hippolyta stood. No, Kara, you fought bravely, no Amazon could have battled him as you did. You stopped him from kill-killing her, Kara."
"But my duty was towards the Vault." Kara stood at attention. "I need to go after him."
"Kara, Little One, you would not know where to go, how to follow him, but we can warn the outside world, we can contact Diana, let her know to be prepared," Hippolyta spoke calmly.
The other leaders began to arrive, checking first on the condition of Hippolyta and Kara, and then filing in to see Myri. When everyone came out, Hippolyta summoned them to the Temple of Athena.
Once everyone was gathered, and prayers were said, Hippolyta pulled the Bow of Artemis from its place on the wall, and lit an arrow, "we must light the ancient warning fires."
Eugenia stepped forward, "the fire has not been lit in 5000 years, men will not remember what it means."
It dawned on Kara, and she spoke, just above a whisper, "men won't, Diana will."
Hippolyta drew back the arrow and rested her cheek against the fletches, sighting down the arrow and raising just a bit, she whispered, "listen to me, Diana." Then she released the arrow, watching as it disappeared through the island's shield. The arrow arced over the island, flying further than any human would have thought possible finally descending towards the city of Athens and crashing into the Temple of the Amazons. The flame lit slowly, catching the wind and becoming a whirlwind of blue and orange flames.
The next morning at the Louvre in France, Diana was cleaning a statue and carrying on with her colleagues when the news showed the flames at the Temple.
"Invasion," she gasped, as worried filled her brown eyes. 'Athena, keep my sisters safe. I hear you mother,' the Amazon thought to herself. "Gentlemen, please, excuse me, I have family in Athens, may I have a few days to go and check on them."
"Of course Diana, take as much time as you need," one of her colleagues responded.
Heading upstairs and changing quickly in a private, locked room, Diana, now dressed as Wonder Woman, headed up to the roof and with a mighty push, propelled herself into the sky towards her apartment. She landed on the balcony facing an unused alley and made her way inside. She quickly gathered some clothing and contacted the airlines, making a reservation for Gotham City in the United States.
Over the next week, Bruce Wayne and Diana worked together to gather other forces to help them, unaware that the second box had been stolen from Atlantis. The Flash was recruited from Central City and Cyborg had met with Diana. The team was forming, but something was missing, Bruce would call it heart, to Diana, they weren't missing heart, they were missing hope.
On Themyscira, Myri was back at the palace, being fussed over by everyone who came to visit. Her legs would mend, although it was likely she would have a limp from the extensive damage done to her hip. She was limping around her room on crutches when her daughter and Hippolyta came through her door.
"Mother, what are you doing up?" Kara protested.
"I am pouring myself some water and getting out of that forsaken bed," Myri smiled. "When did you two forget to knock?"
Both women looked chastised and apologized, "You shouldn't be up and about without someone with you, Myri," Hippolyta said quietly.
"No one was here, and I was thirsty," she pouted.
'So that is what that feels like,' Kara thought to herself, watching her mother's face. "Regardless, mother, please, call one of the guards," she begged.
The light coming through Myri's balcony door started to intensify and the three women turned their heads as three forms stepped from the light. The Queen and Myri attempted to kneel, but Kara was rooted to her spot as she recognized Athena. Then she thought for a moment and stepped forward wrapping her arms around the Goddess of Wisdom.
"Ka-Kara," Athena gasped. Kara released her and Athena took a breath, "may I introduce my sisters, Artemis and Aphrodite."
Artemis stepped forward, her red hair tied in a ponytail at the top of her head, and flowing down her back, "Kara Zor-El, the Voice of Rao, my brother speaks highly of you."
At the mention of her title, Kara's brand took on a light of its own, and Artemis smiled, "You led me home. Six years ago, it was your voice."
Artemis smiled, "Apollo told you we would always be here for you."
The quiet blonde then stepped up, holding out her hand, "I am Aphrodite, and you are the talk of Olympus, Little One." Then she looked at the other two women in the room, "Hippolyta and Myri, stand. All this formality from two of my favorites."
Kara stepped over and helped her mother stand, and Hippolyta rose to her feet. "Three Goddesses, are you here to punish us for failure."
Aphrodite spoke first, "Failure? The loss of the mother box was foreseen. There was no failure. Kara put family and her sisters first, she has brought hope to this island."
"Kara Zor-El, Voice of Rao, Amazon, and Kryptonian, we are here to set before you a quest," Athena began. "You must travel to a Man's world and help stop Steppenwolf."
"It is also time for our sister to come home. You must bring Diana, the Wonder Woman, back home to see her sisters. She is lost and homesick, and her mother misses her." Artemis smiled as she continued.
Hippolyta stared at the three women, surprise evident in her eyes, "You would allow her to return?"
"Of course, it is time. It is her destiny to protect the world outside the Barrier, but at the same time, there is hope for her here as well," Aphrodite smiled coyly.
"But mother?" Kara questioned.
"Kara, my daughter, I will be fine, you saved me. I am broken, but I will heal," Myri wrapped her arm and her daughter's shoulder.
Kara bit her lip, and fiddled with her braid, her nerves evident. "They will be safe while I am gone?"
Artemis laughed lightly, "Kara, they will always be safe my child. Even your sisters who have crossed to Hades are cared for as their souls find peace on the Elysian Fields."
"You have my word Kara that nothing will happen to your sisters during your absence," Athena smiled.
"When do I need to leave?" Kara asked, standing proudly.
"You must travel to America, to a city called Metropolis. There you will find Diana and her allies," Athena explained. "Tomorrow morning would be best."
"I understand," Kara responded.
"If you could excuse us, we need to speak to Hippolyta and Myrinna alone for a moment, Kara," Artemis spoke.
Aphrodite volunteered, "I'll go with her, I want to see the armor that Hephaestus made for her."
Kara and Aphrodite left the room and headed for Kara's quarters. Leaving Artemis and Athena alone with two nervous Amazons.
"You are testing her?" It wasn't really a question, it was more of an accusation.
Athena sighed deeply, "The world needs her, she inspires her sisters, she inspires us, the world outside the barrier needs what Kara offers."
"What does she offer that they can't find?" Myri cried.
"Hope, Myrrina, that child inspires hope in everyone," Artemis answered quietly.
"She is my hope, she is my child," Myri protested, then looked at Hippolyta as she felt a hand enfold hers. "Lyta? She's mine."
Lyta pulled Myri into a hug. "It hurts Myri. I understand giving up your child to the world." She thought back to that night on the beach, watching her Diana sail away.
Upstairs in her room, Kara was showing her armor to Aphrodite, "I can come home right?"
"I told my sisters you were not nearly as innocent as they believe." Aphrodite turned to look at Kara in her armor, "you will always be able to come home Kara, but the world outside the Barrier needs you right now, they need something that you can offer."
"I am just a warrior?" Kara questioned.
"Oh child, you are so much more than that. You bring hope wherever you go Kara." Aphrodite smiled as she looked over the armor. "My husband, always with the dark colors," she laughed as she placed her hand on Kara's shoulder, and slowly, spreading from her hand, the colors of Kara's armor changed, becoming a lighter shade of blue, brighter golds and reds to rival the sun of Krypton.
Kara looked down as her armor glowed underneath the hand of the Goddess in front of her. Then Aphrodite waved her hand, and she felt her cloak become a cape, stretching down to her ankles and clasping to her shoulders. Finally her sigil brightened and raised itself off her chest. "Now your weapons…"
Kara lifted her sword and shield off the bed and watched as the Kryptonian metal took on the same blue and gold hues of her armor.
"Your colors are incredibly close to Diana's," Aphrodite smiled again. "I believe she will really like you."
Kara looked over herself again, amazed at the changes in her weapons.
Early the next morning Kara made her way down to the cliff and knelt by the edge. Looking up, she felt the sun on her skin, felt it charging her body. "Apollo and Rao, please watch over me on my journey, Athena guide my sword, Aphrodite my heart. Artemis, mistress of the hunt, guide me on my journey through the barrier, and may your song lead me home." She felt invisible hands touch her shoulders and smiled as Artemis whispered on the wind, "always, Little One."
Returning to the palace, Kara wasn't surprised to see everyone there. Breakfast was served and she made it a point to say goodbye to her sisters, her teachers, and her friends. Finally it was time and she was led out by Hippolyta and Myri, on her crutches.
"Kara, be careful, Little One, a man's world can be dangerous." Then she pulled a small piece of folded parchment from her belt, "can you deliver this to Diana for me?"
Taking the note with her hand, she tucked it into her belt, "You have my word." Then she hugged Hippolyta with all her might, "I love you, Zyvesh."
Hippolyta smiled a sad smile and turned before the tears could be seen on her cheeks.
Then there were two…
Taking Kara's cheeks into her hands, Myri leaned in, till their foreheads touched. "Kara you are not of my blood, but I am so proud of the woman you have become. You have defended your home, saved your sisters, and dedicated yourself to our ideals. I will miss you my daughter."
"Mother, I will miss you so much, please get well, and I promise to return as soon as I can." Kara tried to keep the catch out of her voice but felt the tears burning in her eyes. "Please take care of Hippolyta, and watch for me to come home."
They pulled each other into a hug and Kara kissed the top of Myri's head. "You need to go child, or I'm not going to be able to let you."
"I love you, mother," Kara whispered.
"I love you too, daughter." Myri smiled as they parted. Then she watched as Kara shot into the sky.
"Up, up, and away…"
