"Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there's no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic." – Laini Taylor

Kara emerged from the shield surrounding her home and was instantly battered by a huge storm. She paused just for a moment, losing her bearings and started to feel the panic rise from her stomach.

"Kara, daughter of Krypton, Voice of Rao, listen to my song and fly my dear. Head towards the sun," Artemis whispered above the wind. "Fly!"

Following the voice, Kara rose higher and higher until she broke through the clouds and saw the most amazing view. The clouds stretched to the horizon in every direction and the sun was warm on her face as she gazed at the colors playing on the surface of the clouds.

"Thank you, Artemis," Kara whispered in the wind.

"Of course child, you draw life from the Sun, sweet Kara, but the moon will always be your friend as well," Artemis answered.

"How do I find her?" Kara asked as she looked out over the horizon.

"Follow your heart…," the voice answered as it faded away.

Kara smiled and rose even higher into the sky until she could see the stars above her head and the sun still reflecting off the clouds below. She closed her eyes and breathed in and out, searching for a presence. She felt a pull from the west and concentrated harder on that feeling. As she allowed the moment to envelop her, the Mark of Rao on her shoulder started to glow and throb. Then her smile brightened as she heard a distant voice…

"I'm here for him…"


Kara crossed into the United States and followed the mark as it led her towards Metropolis. She was delayed as she ran across a patrol of Para-Demons. She took them out as quickly as possible and heard the sounds of another fight happening towards the center of the city. She looked and saw a huge man floating in the sky, the bodies of others tossed about. The lightning of Hermes faded from one, a follower of Poseiden lay unmoving near a small creek, and a silver man, that reminded her of Hephaestus' Golems, tried to rise from his spot near a strange vehicle.

Then her blue eyes were drawn towards what could only be labeled as one of Hades' demons risen from the very pits of Tartarus…

"Clark!" the demon yelled out.

The flying man turned towards the voice, and in a low growl, spoke to the demon, "I know you."

Kara's eyes opened wide as the flying man landed and then it seemed as if Athena herself joined the battle. The brunette woman crashed into the earth, rising, and speaking softly, "don't make me do this." Then she raised her bracers and was about to bring them together when the dark-haired man shot forward at superhuman speed and put his hands on her wrist, stopping her movement.

Kara screamed silently as she shot towards the Earth, watching in fear as the man drove his head into Athena's face. She pulled up short as the goddess flinched and grunted but didn't fall, then drove her own head into the stranger's face. Kara grinned maniacally as the man staggered, but frowned when she saw him rise into the air still holding onto the woman's arms. She knew what was about to happen and at that moment, she shot forward faster than ever before and jumped between the two warriors before his head could connect with Athena's face a second time.

Superman's eyes popped open as he felt his head held back by the hand of this, 'this child?' his addled mind questioned.

Diana was equally surprised, as the young woman glanced back, "Athena?" Kara's voice stopped as she looked into the brown eyes of the woman before her. Her eyes roved up and down the woman's muscular frame, and Kara sputtered, "your highness?"

With Kara's attention on Diana, Kal struck. He caught the smaller woman in the side of the head driving her across the park and crashing through a vehicle. To his surprise, Kara was on her feet before she stopped moving. The young Amazon's eyes flashed a dangerous red and then all Kal could see was the amazon's shield flying at high speed towards his midsection. The shield caught him in the gut and the Kryptonian metal doubled him over just as Kara's knee caught him in the face, knocking him up, throwing him towards the obelisk in the center of the park. The Kryptonian's eyes widened and blood ran down his chin from the blow, then rolled back and his head collapsed onto the stone.

Kara watched with satisfaction as the man's head fell back onto the stone, then felt a hand on her arm. Turning, she once again found herself lost in the deep brown of Diana's eyes. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" The princess asked in a sharp whisper.

Standing at full attention, Kara took a moment to study the woman in front of her, then meeting Diana's eyes she answered proudly, "I am Captain Kara Zor-El of Hippolyta's Elite, last daughter of the Kryptonian House of El, the Voice of Rao and daughter of Myrinna of Themyscira." She paused and licked her lips, "I was sent by the three goddesses to assist her royal highness and her allies in the upcoming conflict with Steppenwolf."

Batman approached the two women, and Kara stepped between him and Diana drawing Tarie from the sheath on her hip, "Hold demon…", she commanded as her eyes flashed red.

Diana placed a firm but gentle grip on Kara's sword arm and smiled at her description of Bruce. "Hold Captain, this man is one of the allies you are here to help," Diana spoke as she tightened her grip, thinking she could lower Kara's arm.

"Your highness?" Kara looked at Diana, questioningly. Her arm was unmoved, but she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks from the princess's touch.

"He is harmless, Captain," Diana whispered, smirking slightly at the blush she could see on the girl's neck and ears.

Kara turned back to Bruce and lowered her sword slightly, allowing him to take a step closer to Diana. He raised his hand to reach for Diana's arm and heard a soft growl of warning from the blonde. Dropping his hand, he turned, studying the woman. His eyes were immediately drawn to the sigil on the woman's chest. His mouth fell open as he stuttered, "Wh-Who are you?"

"I am Captain Kara Zor-El." Kara snapped, "what business is it of yours?"

Diana's head turned and she looked more closely at Kara's sigil. "What is that symbol?" She asked, pointing at Kara's chest.

"It is a combination of my adoptive mother's house and the sigil of the House of El," Kara answered defensively. "Why?"

Bruce pointed towards the unmoving form of Kal-El, "because that man you just threw across the park wears a symbol very much like yours."

Kara's head turned towards the dark-haired man and she started to move towards his unmoving form. After three steps, she looked back at her princess and the demon. Her head moved, looking forward at her cousin, then back at Diana. Her eyes turned once more towards Kal, and she shook her head as duty won out, and she returned to Diana's side, "forgive me, your highness, I forgot myself for a moment."

Diana watched as a small crinkle formed on the woman's face, "Captain Zor-El?" Blue eyes turned towards her, sadness showing, then Kara blinked, and the hardness of an Amazon warrior returned.


Krypton, the Home of Jor-El and Lara

"Mother, can-can I hold Kal?" Kara asked, holding out her arms.

Alura placed the infant in her arms and she looked down and smiled, cooing at the blue-eyed baby.

"I'll be here if you need me, Kal-El," she smiled as she whispered to her cousin.

Kara's memories shot forward three weeks

Krypton, the Pod Hanger

Kara stood, her hand wrapped around her mothers, as the pod shot towards the stars.

She remembered her father's words about the coordinates of the pod and her mother making her promise to protect her cousin. How the yellow sun of Earth would change her. She remembered the hug, the last time she would feel her mother's arms around her.

"I'm not afraid…"


Kara's eyes opened and she swallowed down the memory, her eyes returning to their normal icy glare. "Your highness, I must apologize, I believe my family, my cousin is responsible for attacking you."

Bruce's head jerked to the right, looking at the body of Superman, still unmoving in the center of the memorial. He then looked at Diana and together they headed towards the unconscious hero. Kara followed, just a step behind.

As they approached the still form, Kara noticed the other three men approaching as well, from up close they seemed to be as normal as she and Diana, although she could sense the power emanating from the red-clad man and the long-haired stranger who could only be an Atlantean. The Golem, his power felt familiar, frightening, and uncontrolled. Stopping before she approached Kal, she stood in front of the silver-clad man and spoke, "You-you got your abilities from the box, didn't you?"

The man's head dropped just a bit, "Who are you?"

"I am Captain Kara Zor-El of Themyscira and you did not answer my question," Kara announced, causing everyone to turn their heads.

"Yes dammit, my powers come from that box. Now move out of my way so I can check on Superman!" The silver golem reached out and placed his hand on Kara's arm to move her out of the way. She didn't and the man swallowed hard as her eyes glowed red for a moment, "remove your hand from my person, or Tarie will take it from you!"

Kara turned and marched away, stepping up onto the memorial and reaching down to touch her cousin.

Clark's eyes started to flutter open.

Kara's hand touched Clark's bare arm and the mark of Rao flared on her shoulder, overwhelming both of their senses..


Kal-El was seeing Krypton through Kara's eyes, he saw his parents, holding an infant boy.

Then he was looking at himself as he whispered the words, "I will always protect you…"

He was in a pod, chasing down his infant self, as the world started to spin, and while the infant's pod continued forward, he was engulfed in darkness….

Kara was seeing Kal's life on Earth…

The first time his powers manifested, his hearing and vision suddenly overwhelming the rest of his senses.

Trying to fly and failing over and over again.

The explosion at some building.

A battle against the demon.

Kryptonite.

Doomsday.

The feel of his heart, stopping.

Darkness…


Kara ripped her hand away from her cousin, dropping to her knees and spilling the contents of her stomach all over the black stone.

Clark, wide awake now and in shock slid back on the stone, putting distance between himself and Kara.

Diana approached Kara and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Captain, what did you see?"

Kara stood up, her legs shaky and head spinning from what she had seen, spun on the demon, and held Tarie with a shaking hand. "You-you watched him die, killed because of a weapon you created, and then you ripped him from Rao's embrace."

"The world needs him, I didn't have a choice," Bruce said, raising his hands to placate the woman. "The world needs Superman."

"Does it need you?" Kara snarled as she stepped forward. "He thought he was the only one of his kind, and you hunted him, tried to kill him, and then you just brought him back because-because you are too weak to lead this group."

Diana stepped between Kara and Bruce, "Captain Zor-El, stand down."

Swinging Tarie in Kal's direction, Kara cried in anger, "That man is my cousin and you are defending the demon responsible for his death, I will not stand down for my family."

As tears of rage streamed down her face, Kara stood still as Diana spoke to the demon. "I told you this was wrong, Bruce," she said sadly, then turned to Kara. "What is done is done, Captain, we cannot change what has happened."

"But Kal? What he did?" Kara looked at her cousin and then back at Diana.

"We decided as a group that this was needed, that we were not powerful enough to face Steppenwolf on our own," Diana explained. "We were unaware of your existence."

Kara stuttered, "On Krypton…"

Diana rolled her eyes and snapped, "He was not raised on Krypton, Captain Zor-El, now enough!"

"Yes, your highness," Kara whispered, her grip still tight on the hilt of her sword.

While Kara and Diana were talking, a black vehicle pulled up and a red-headed woman stepped out and approached a bewildered Kal-El.

"Clark, let's go home," the woman whispered.

Kara's head turned at the whisper and she saw blue eyes staring back at her, eyes she recognized from Kal's memories. She watched with a silent frown as Kal and the woman flew off.

"We need to disappear as well," Bruce spoke to Diana as she stared into the sky as Superman and Lois disappeared. "Bring her too, Diana."

Kara kept her eyes to the ground and her mouth closed as she followed Diana and her allies to a strange-looking flying vehicle. She wasn't paying much attention and almost bumped into the one called Barry when the heroes stopped to look at the sky. Using her enhanced vision, she saw Steppenwolf appear and scoop up the last Mother Box.

"The Mother Box," Diana gasped. "He has the last one."

Kara sighed, she had failed to stop Steppenwolf again.

The group entered the transport looking defeated, each taking a seat apart from the others, as the one Diana referred to as Bruce disappeared into the front of the vehicle and they headed towards Gotham.


The Batcave, Gotham City

After a silent flight, the group disembarked and gathered into what appeared to be a war room of some sort. Arthur, the Atlantean ripped a huge machine off one wall and threw it at another. The group was angry and that anger was ripping them apart. They were fighting and picking each other apart, and the tension in the room was uncomfortable to Kara, who slowly approached Diana and asked if there was somewhere to get some food. Bruce pointed her and Barry towards the stairs and told them to seek out someone named Alfred. As they were about to start up the steps, Kara remembered the note from Hippolyta, "Barry, wait one moment, please?" She turned and walked towards her princess. As she came to a halt, she handed the note to Diana, speaking silently, with her head down, "from your mother, your highness."

Diana accepted the note and watched with a frown as Kara made her way back to the stairs, her head hanging down. The blonde warrior followed Barry up the stairs towards a hidden passageway that led into a large house. They were greeted by a distinguished older man who led them to the kitchen where they discovered a plate of sandwiches and several large boxes and a large bowl of pastries that he identified as potstickers. "Make certain to save some of those, they are Miss Diana's favorites."

Kara picked up one of the strange-looking dumplings and popped it in her mouth, relishing the taste. "Great Hera, these are amazing," she said as she swallowed. The taste reminded her of something Myri made for Hippolyta and herself from time to time and a small smile crossed her face.

"Thank you, Miss?" The older man asked.

"Kara," she whispered.

"Miss Kara, thank you. Would you two be kind enough to take the food down to the cave, I fear Master Bruce and the rest of your team may not eat if you don't," Alfred asked politely.

"Of course?" Kara tilted her head.

"Alfred, Miss Kara, thank you," he smiled.

"Thank you, Alfred." Kara and Barry said as they grabbed the food and headed towards the secret door.


Downstairs in the cave, Diana was still grasping the parchment in her hand. Her curiosity finally got the better of her and she excused herself and found a small peaceful spot at the end of a hallway and sat in silence, the paper staring up at her from her hands.

She unfolded the paper and started to read…

My dearest daughter,

It's time to come home. When all this horror is ended, follow Kara and she will bring you back.

I miss you, Diana.

Love forever,

Mother


Still wiping her eyes, Diana re-entered the war room and saw the group sitting at one of the computer tables eating and talking quietly amongst themselves. Kara was sitting on the outside edge of one of the benches so Diana made her way over to the newest member of their team and slid between her and Barry.

"Your highness, I saved these for you." Kara smiled shyly, as she slid the bowl of potstickers over in front of Diana.

"Alfred?" Diana smiled.

"Yes, your highness," Kara answered, nodding her head.

"Kara, you can call me Diana," Wonder Woman smiled, "I think I also owe you an apology for earlier."

"No, Your-Diana, you were right, Kal-El probably doesn't know much about Krypton, I overreacted." Kara hung her head.

"Kara, you reacted according to your beliefs, and I should not have reacted so strongly, my sisters, especially Myri taught me better than that," Diana responded softly and covered Kara's hand with her own.

At the mention of her mother, Kara's eyes lit up and a bright smile found its way to her lips, "Mother has always been so open to everyone and everything."

"Myri is amazing. Don't these potstickers remind you of her cooking?" Diana couldn't help but smile back since Kara's was so infectious.

"Oh yes. They taste like her pork pastries," Kara answered, popping a pastry into her mouth, relaxing into the company in the room.


Barry yawned and it seemed to cause a ripple effect as each person at the table, with the exception of Victor, yawned or covered their mouths to hide one.

"Everyone get some rest, we can let the computer take over the search for a few hours," Bruce commanded. "There are bunkrooms down that hallway."

Each of the heroes got up slowly from the table and made their way down the hall, Arthur took the first room, and Barry joined him. Diana entered her own room and smiled as Kara wished her a good sleep. Bruce had his own quarters at the end of the passage and watched as Kara continued down the hallway, following the sound of running water.


Kara was sitting, her knees pulled to her chest, watching the water running down the walls of the cave and disappearing into a deep pit, the sound echoing quietly. Her head turned slightly as she heard footsteps coming up behind her, at the movement, Alfred spoke quietly, "You don't care for the dark, Miss Kara?"

Kara was so surprised by the question she didn't even pause before nodding her head. "I don't do well by myself."

Alfred smiled slightly, "Master Bruce had the same issue for years after his parents passed. Would you care to join me upstairs?"

Kara was getting up when Alfred held out his hand to help her. She smiled as she took it and followed him up the same stairs as earlier. This time, instead of the kitchen he led her to the patio overlooking the lake. "Why don't we sit for a while?"

Kara smiled as she looked over the lake and at the light of the moon reflecting off the calm surface, "still looking after me, Artemis?"

Alfred closed his eyes and shook his head, swearing that moon had gotten brighter, 'a trick of the eyes' he thought to himself.

Both heads turned as a voice sounded on the wind, "always, Kara."

Kara yawned and stretched as she leaned back on the chair, her eyes finally getting heavy. "Would you like to be alone, Miss Kara?"

"Do you mind staying for just a bit, please?" the young woman asked, reminding Alfred of another child's voice saying the same words almost forty years before, on the porch of a larger house.

"Not at all, Miss Kara," Alfred answered quietly. "Not at all."


The Kent Farm, Smallville, Kansas

While his fiance and his mother slept, Kal-El, the Earth's Superman, stood, looking over the cornfield of his childhood home. His thoughts were chaotic, as he kept reliving the events of the day. "There is another Kryptonian? Where has she been? My cousin, family?" He asked the corn as he rubbed the stubble on his face. He didn't know a lot about the world he had come from, had never considered that someone else may have survived.

He smiled slightly as his mother approached, "Hey, ma." Then he turned and held out his arms to the woman who had raised him since he'd come to earth.

"Everything okay, Clark?" Martha Kent asked as she wrapped her arms around the man she raised.

"I don't understand why Bruce brought me back, why do they need me, when they have her?" Clark asked the top of his mother's head.

"You know he doesn't know everything, right?" Martha Kent asked her son in a whisper. "From the footage I have seen, it looked as if she surprised them all."

"Well, she definitely put me in my place. I don't know that I have ever met anyone who could put me on my ass like that," Clark sighed.

"Who is she, Clark?" The older woman asked.

"When she touched me, I-I was in her head…," Clark paused a moment, and turned looking up to the sky. "She's Kryptonian, like me, and I think she might be family. Her mother asked her to protect me, then I saw Krypton explode through her eyes, and then darkness."

"Protect you?" Martha asked.

"She was a teenager, I think," Clark answered, looking towards the dark sky for answers.

"But she seems younger than you from the pictures and video?" His mother said as she stepped beside him and took his hand, looking across the cornfield.

"I don't know, Ma, I just don't know," the Man of Steel answered honestly.


Alfred watched the young Amazon fall asleep and stepped into the house to gather a blanket and wrap her shoulders. He smiled down as her brow furrowed and she rolled onto her side, snoring lightly. As he turned back to the doors, he was met by a pair of smiling brown eyes. "Miss Diana?"

"I was coming up to check on our newest addition." Diana smiled, looking in Kara's direction.

"Apparently, Ms. Kara has an issue with being alone. I brought her up here hoping she might get a bit of sleep," Alfred admitted.

"Thank you, Alfred," Diana said quietly as she stepped up to the older man. "I have been alone for so long, I have forgotten how to…," she trailed off as her eyes saw how bright the moon was.

"Miss Kara thanked Artemis and I swear the moon got brighter," Alfred laughed lightly, changing the subject. "I must be tired as well."

"Why don't you get some rest, I'll sit out here with her," Diana volunteered.

Alfred nodded and closed the sliding door, then turned and headed towards his room.

Diana waited for Alfred to step away and looked up towards the moon. "I haven't prayed to you or your sisters in a very long time, Artemis." Diana smiled sadly, and continued, "I'm sorry."

"No apologies are necessary, sister," Artemis's voice sounded across the water.

Diana's mouth fell open at the response, "you are still with me?"

"Of course, dear sister, why else would we have sent some hope to assist you in your upcoming battle," the voice answered, clearer this time.

Diana was about to speak again when a moonbeam hit the water of the lake and a beautiful red-headed woman emerged.

Artemis stepped onto the patio and smiled at the open-mouthed Amazon princess. Her voice was full of mirth as she held out her arms, "is this any way to greet your sister, Diana."

Diana stepped into the welcoming arms and felt a warmth engulf her. Through Artemis's eyes, she saw her mother and Myri, and so many of her sisters. Tears fell down Wonder Woman's cheeks as the images slowly flickered away like moonlight lost to clouds.

"They miss you, Diana." Artemis smiled brightly.

"I miss them, so much, sister," Diana answered, emotion so evident in her voice.

"They miss you as well, especially Hippolyta," the Goddess of the Hunt responded, "but when this first battle is over, you need to follow Kara home."

"I don't understand, how can she go back, when I could not?" Diana asked, frustrated.

"Hippolyta was following old laws, old rules. Rules that don't apply to you or to Kara anymore," Artemis answered.

"Rules that don't apply? Old Laws?" Diana asked, confused. "Why do the rules not apply?"

"Kara was marked by her god, her Rao. And you-you defeated your brother." Artemis laughed, "you are strong, Diana, but you were struck by a man, an alien who can move worlds and you barely flinched."

Diana paused, thinking of the fight with Clark, realizing she hadn't even paused before smashing her head into his. "My gifts…"

Artemis smiled as she interrupted, "gifts, Diana, you are a daughter of Zeus. By defeating Ares you have the right to claim his mantle, to walk in Olympus."

"You are telling me that I...I am a?" Diana stuttered.

"Oh Diana, you carry the light of truth in your soul. Our brother saw the truth in men's souls and savored the chaos he could create." Artemis paused a moment and let the words sink in, "Ares was not the God of War, Diana. He was the God of Truth, he just cared only for the hate the truth could cause."

Diana seemed overwhelmed by the words from Artemis. She stepped towards the edge of the patio and stared out over the water. "All this time, I could-I could have gone home?"

"Yes, sister." Artemis stepped beside Diana and grasped her hand, "but you stopped talking to us, you let grief over Steve Trevor rule your spirit."

Tears rolled down Diana's cheeks, "And Kara?"

"She is a daughter of Rao, the hope of a new day rises with her smile. Your mother hopes that she brings you home. Myri hoped for a family, a daughter of her own. Kara is a Paragon of Hope, the powers of a demigod run through her blood." Artemis looked over her shoulder at the sleeping form, "Tarie will be the sword that ends this conflict. Kara's hope will overcome the greatest evil we have seen in thousands of years."

"If she is so important, why send her now?" Diana asked, forehead wrinkling in concern.

"Because you need her help, Kal-El is strong, he gains much from our brother's light, but even he is not strong enough to face Steppenwolf alone. Kara has, and it was so beautiful to behold." Artemis beamed.

"Why does she need us at all?" Diana queried.

"She is young, Diana, she still seeks guidance, acceptance, and love. You are capable of teaching her so much. This whole team looks to your little bat, but you, you inspire them, you can lead them." Artemis whispered as the moonlight started to brighten around her.

"Must you leave, sister?" Diana asked sadly.

"I will visit when you come home, Diana." Artemis smiled as she started to disappear, "watch over our hope, princess."

Diana watched as the moonbeam faded and settled into the chair beside Kara, "So Kara Zor-El, if I lead, will you follow?"

The blonde's eyes fluttered open for just a moment, "of course your highness." Then she slid back to sleep, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Diana sat for a bit watching Kara sleep until her own eyes started to feel heavy. She slid her chair closer to the sleeping blonde and rested her palm on the younger woman's hand. 'I need a touch of hope and home,' she thought to herself as sleep finally blanketed her in its embrace.


Diana and Kara were up the instant the door flew open, swords were drawn and ready to defend the other's weak side. Arthur stopped, freezing for a moment at the sight of two blades pointed at his bare chest, "The cyborg found him, we are wheels up in twenty minutes."