I have returned. Sorry it took so long. Work sucks and I rarely have time, and I rewrote it several times until I was happy with it. This chapter was also a reminder that Nightwing is my favorite Robin.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, they are property of DC comics.
Persephone found her mother tending to some crops. Before her eyes, the younger goddess saw multiple fields rise from the ground healthy and full. The harvest was ready.
"Working hard as always, Mother." Persephone greeted.
Demeter cast a glance over her shoulder and her dark eyes focused on her child, "Hello Persephone. There's always work to be done, you know that." Demeter wiped her hands on her apron, "What brings you to the surface at this time?"
Persephone's eyes narrowed as she frowned, "You asked me to join you for lunch."
Demeter shook her head, "I did no such thing. Even if I did, I didn't expect you to answer. You prefer your husband's company to that of your mother."
"Don't start again, Mother. And don't change the subject. If you didn't ask for me then-"
"Then our King has decided you needed to be away from the Underworld. Consider it a vacation." Demeter remarked, "You can help me with-"
A dark shadow fell over Persephone's face, "Mother, why would Zeus trick me into leaving the Underworld?"
Demeter stared at her daughter and watched the warm hazel eyes turn cold and gray, "You and Hades have been slowly chipping away at Wonder Woman's powers, taking back her gifts from the gods. They do not like someone messing with their Champion."
"She's your Champion too." Persephone snapped.
"True, my clay is what gave her form. I blessed Diana with durability, and your husband has taken that from her."
"We took it from her. Do not blame what Diana is doing on Hades. And do not think this is over Mother. You and I are going to have a very difficult Spring." Persephone snapped before she vanished.
Demeter shook her head, "You were always difficult."
Hades stood before the entire court of Olympus. He wasn't surprised. It was bound to happen. Diana was cherished deeply by the Olympians, and he knew why. However, he also knew that Diana had petitioned them first, and they had turned their backs on her. It was their own fault that Diana had come to Persephone.
"Hades, you have a lot to answer for," Zeus remarked as he sat on his throne.
"Do I, brother? What purpose have you brought me here? I've remained in the Underworld, doing my job. No more escaping, no more seducing Amazons; I've been behaving." Hades's tone infuriated his brother, he could see it in the way Zeus began to grind his teeth.
Athena stepped forward, "You know what this is about, Hades. You've slowly been taking Diana's gifts away. Gifts you weren't meant to touch."
"You did not contribute to Diana's birth, and you have done nothing to ensure her role as our Champion. You have no right to take away the gifts we bestowed." Hera snapped, glaring down her nose at her elder brother.
"On the contrary, sister, I did play a role in Diana's birth. Part of Tartarus is in her, or did Demeter not mention that part? Hippolyta knew, but of course, she'd never have admitted that I had a hand in sculpting our daughter. Diana is mine, and she is the only one I have, unlike our King." Hades watched Hera stiffen at the insult and the thunder and lightning that suddenly flashed above them told him that he'd struck a nerve with Zeus as well.
"Then you've been taking her gifts to ensure that no one will stand in your way when you decide to rise against me!" Zeus roared.
Hades wasn't even insulted; had he never changed, it would be an accurate concern, but he was not the same monster they believed him to be. Though as he thought about it more, the King of the Underworld wondered if it wasn't someone else his brother feared. He was, however, infuriated that harming his daughter was even a possibility.
"Were you more willing to open your eyes and look at me, brother, you'd know that I am not the same petty man I was. Growth has become common in the Underworld since my marriage, though again, one can understand why that might escape your realm of possibilities." Hades bit back.
Lightning flashed in Zeus's eyes and Hades was ready to take the hit.
"This is about Diana's gifts. They enable her to be Wonder Woman, and the world still has need of her." Athena remarked, her calm voice cut through the tension and the storm above. "Her gifts-"
"Are hers to do with what she wills." Persephone's cold voice broke in and her shadows darkened the halls of Olympus. She walked up to Hades and took his hand, she gave it a gentle squeeze of reassurance. "We have been out of the way of the mortals for centuries. Diana, as Champion, brought the mission of the Amazons, the mission we entrusted them with, to Man's World. She knows that world better than we do. If she says that the Dark Knight of Gotham is more important than she is, then I will believe her and assist her in her mission to protect him."
"We are gods. We know what is best for the mortals. Diana will return to Man's World." Zeus ordered.
Hades spoke up, "Diana has sworn never to leave Themyscira again after you all banished her for bringing men to the island. This was your doing."
"She broke the only rule we gave them." Hera countered, "Punishment, regardless of the reason, was necessary." Her eyes narrowed, "Her punishment was only possible because Faust was your puppet. Your marriage was long ago, Hades, you haven't changed all that much."
"Either way, the Princess has already made her choice. She will keep her promise. And it was Winter at the time. I was bored without my wife at my side." He admonished.
The comment normally annoyed his wife, but he didn't regret the snarky comment for the sour look it put on Hera's face. She knew exactly how loyal he was to his wife.
Persephone ignored his comment, "Lord Zeus, there is nothing we can do anymore. Diana has willingly given up her powers and they cannot be forced upon her again. She is adamant that her decisions are necessary and correct. I trust her judgment; she was blessed by Athena. Aphrodite's blessing shines through in Diana for every decision she makes. She is compassionate and loving as she is beautiful, and this is seen when she sacrifices her powers. Hera is one of the reasons Diana is even alive, as blessing Diana at all had been her decision, she chose her to be Wonder Woman. You believed that his child would become the hero that the Amazons and Man needed. You trusted her before she could walk; trust her now. She knows so well what is expected of her and that the world needs Wonder Woman. Let her prove to you that she can keep her promise, sacrifice, and allow Wonder Woman to return to Man's World."
Diana woke from a nightmare, anxiety, and fear had her running out the door as fast as she could. She wasn't as fast and she couldn't fly anymore, but she knew that she could get where she needed to go quickly. Unbeknownst to Diana, someone was following her.
Donna flew after Diana, knowing that it allowed her to be stealthier than if she followed her elder sister. Diana had been disappearing as of late, and though she said it was to pray to the gods, Donna had become suspicious. Diana wasn't the same after each of her meditations with the gods, and Donna was beginning to worry, especially when her sister wouldn't confide in her why she was garnering more injuries in training, refusing to fly, and seemed tired more often. The younger princess paused when Diana turned away from the main temple and disappeared into the forest. Betrayal and hurt washed over her; Diana had been lying.
Diana entered the Temple, "Persephone?"
"Hello, Diana." The Amazon immediately fell to her knees, "Aphrodite, I wasn't expecting you."
The goddess of Love and Beauty smiled, "Rise, Diana, you don't need to bow to me. You're my favorite after all."
"Forgive me if I am rude, but, where is Persephone. Its a matter of importance and must be addressed immediately."
The strawberry blonde woman nodded, "I know. I just wanted to speak to you a moment. Are you alright?"
Diana's brow furrowed in confusion, "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I'm only asking if you have been feeling any different. So many gifts you've given away, I wanted to know if you're regretting it."
"Never. I know in my heart and soul, Aphrodite, that this is what I need to do."
Aphrodite nodded as pride swelled within her, "You're everything I wanted you to be and more, Diana. I am so proud of you."
The Amazon Princess bowed her head, "You're too kind."
"No Diana, you are. Allow me to collect my cousin. Wait here."
Donna stepped into the temple, "Diana?"
Diana whirled around, "Donna? What are you doing here?"
"I followed you. What are you doing here?" Her blue eyes wandered the temple and focused on the statue, "Persephone? Why has Mother never told me of this Temple?"
Diana approached her, "Donna, please go back to the palace."
"No. You haven't been yourself. Everyone knows it but you won't explain. I want you to tell me what's going on. What was Aphrodite talking about when she said that you're giving gifts away?" Donna's eyes widened, "That's why you're slower and you haven't been flying. You've been rejecting the gifts of the gods. Diana, what would Mother say?"
Diana grabbed her younger sister by her shoulders, "Mother won't know. She can't."
"Why are you doing this?" Donna demanded. "You're Wonder Woman."
"I am Diana of Themysicra, Wonder Woman is the mantle the gods gifted me."
"So that you could protect Man's World, give them the message of the Amazons. That's your mission."
Diana released her hold on Donna and stepped away from her. Donna considered her a role model, she knew that, and though she was afraid of losing her sister's admiration and affection, Diana knew she could not change her mind. Not now. Not when Richard was in danger.
"Pretty words, Persephone, but-"
"Excuse me," Aphrodite spoke up and the crowd of gods parted for the exquisite goddess. "Persephone, Diana is waiting for you."
"Aphrodite." Hera snapped.
Athena's gray eyes narrowed on the other goddess as she waved them off, "My dear cousin and her husband are only doing as my Champion asks. I have no problem with her decisions." Aphrodite stated.
Persephone offered the goddess a thankful smile and Aphrodite winked before facing Zeus, "Diana is doing this out of compassion and love, and I have never been more proud of her. I support Diana's decision because I trust her, will you believe in her less because you are afraid of your brother and his wife, or will you be our King and honor the warrior's decision?"
"Watch your tone, Aphrodite. We remember the last time you supported a decision out of love." Hera hissed venomously.
Aphrodite raised her chin proudly as Ares chuckled darkly in his corner. The goddess of Love and Beauty would never live down the catastrophe that was known to mankind as the Illiad.
"I may have chosen the wrong horse then, but Diana is no foolish Paris; she is an Amazon warrior and my Champion."
Zeus turned his eyes on Persephone, "Do as you will, but should Diana not find a way to also ensure Wonder Woman's return to Man's World, I will be forced to intervene."
"Well, it wouldn't be the first time," Persephone muttered under her breath before Hades swept her up in a deep kiss to silence her. They broke apart after a moment and he stared into her eyes, "You're beautiful Persephone. Go to her. I'll see you back home."
She gave him a wicked smile, "I obey, my King," and disappeared.
The sisters waited in silence, though Diana was becoming more anxious the longer the goddess took to arrive. Donna's eyes were burning a hole in her back, but she knew that she couldn't face her. Not yet. Richard needed help.
"Diana, how may I assist you today?" Persephone asked as she appeared.
Diana bowed her head as Donna fell to her knees. Persephone's hazel eyes drifted over the younger goddess before she gave Diana an inquisitive look. "It's Richard."
"The eldest son. Is he in danger of joining my husband's kingdom?" Persephone asked.
"He's hurt. He's bleeding out in Gotham. I can't...he's...he makes his father so proud. He's a good son and a good man and he's a mentor to others, just like-"
"Like his father." Persephone finished. "A good son, hmm? To the man you love, or to you?"
The pain that flittered across Diana's face almost made Persephone regret asking that question but Diana whispered an answer back that made the goddess's heart swell with happiness for her step-daughter.
"What exchange will you make?"
Donna stood up abruptly, "What?"
Diana ignored her, "My advanced healing for Richard's life and health, may he bounce back to continue living his life and to be an anchor for those that waver."
"My King and I will see it done."
"Diana is this what you've been doing? Bartering your gifts for men? Why?"
"Donna, please-"
"And you! Why are you allowing her to do this? Do you do Hades's bidding?" Donna demanded of the goddess.
Persephone's hazel eyes iced and shadows darkened the temple.
"Donna, please-"
"You're a brave little princess to speak so rudely to the Queen of Curses." Persephone's tone was dangerously low as she approached Donna. "A petulant child that feels she knows so much about the world and people that she opens her mouth before she understands anything."
"Persephone, I can handle Donna. I haven't explained to her what I'm doing." Diana remarked, choosing to step between the goddess and her sister. "I will protect my sister, Persephone, even from you."
The two women stared at one another, sizing each other up, before Persephone spoke, "I will continue to assist you, Diana, as I love you too much. Your sister, however, has insulted my husband, and too many people have done that today."
"Olympus is angry," Diana remarked.
Persephone nodded, "However, Aphrodite and I have argued in your favor. Zeus believed and probably continues to believe, that Hades is doing this as a grab for power. He knows nothing of my husband."
"Hades was a monster." The Amazon stated.
"The only monster to be feared in the Underworld is me," the goddess stated, "they've made a stipulation. My husband and I disagreed, but Zeus likes to throw his weight around when he feels his position is threatened."
Diana nodded, "What have they ordered?"
"Wonder Woman must return to Man's World." The Queen of Curses answered.
"I made a promise never to leave. I cannot return. How could they expect me to?" Diana inquired, looking to the goddess for an answer.
"You'll figure it out, Princess." The shadows retreated and Persephone's hazel eyes thawed as she kissed Diana's hair, "You've had a plan from the beginning, Diana, see it through."
Diana turned to her younger sister when Persephone was gone, "Don't look at me that way, Donna. I am doing what I think is right."
"You're selling yourself, for me. Auctioning off your power, I know better than to think anyone put you up to this, but...why?" The younger princess inquired.
"Do you trust me, Donna?"
The younger sister was quiet as the pondered her elder sister's request, and after a moment, nodded, "Always."
"There are people in Man's World that have seen darkness, the darkness that the Amazon's themselves have seen and we could not face again. They face it every day, some when they walk down the street, others when they look in the mirror, but no matter how shrouded in shadows and hopelessness, they rise against it and bring light to everyone around them." Diana put a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder, "Like you say I did for you."
Donna studied her sister before speaking, "I trust you, but, I need to process this."
"I understand, but, please, Donna, know that I wouldn't do this if I didn't think it was necessary."
"I won't tell Mother," Donna remarked before flying off.
Richard was trying to stay awake, but his eyelids were heavy and the temptation of rest was so much stronger. He was really hating his decision to watch Gotham while Batman was summoned for League work. He reached for the emergency button on his suit, the one that alerted the Bat-Clan to his location, but found the fight with Scarecrow had damaged it. Richard put all of his weight against the wall and looked down at his hand to see blood seeping through his grasp.
Well, this wasn't his night.
As he walked slowly forward, his eyes getting heavier with every step and the pain throbbing as his breath became short. Fear, genuine fear rose up within him, more powerful than any artificial fear Crane had inspired. Oddly enough, it wasn't for death. Richard wasn't afraid of death, he'd been familiar with it since his parents' death. His line of work meant you had to have a close relationship with it. No, he was afraid for his family.
It wasn't that long ago that they'd almost lost Alfred, and Richard had witnessed what that stress had put on the Bat-clan. Alfred was still supposed to teach him how to handle the family. He was supposed to make sure Damian didn't remain a Frankenstein monster of Bruce's worst qualities and those of Ra's Al Ghul. Mend bridges with Jason. Mentor Tim. Keep Bruce from hating himself. That was his duty, his mission. The one Diana knew he had to bear, and the one she trusted him with.
He put his back against the wall and slowly slid down beside a dumpster. His feet were lead and he was seeing spots behind his eyes. Diana had been a light in his life too. He had seen Bruce seduce more women than any of his siblings. He'd only ever seen Batman fall for one, and he'd chosen well. In fact, Richard had been waiting for the day when he could call her Mom. She would've burst into tears from sheer happiness. Hell, she'd reminded him of his mom. And his stoic father needed someone as strong and easy to love as Diana, to keep him from being an ass.
The most wonderful thing about Diana was that she didn't just love Bruce and Batman, she loved his whole family, even the ones that hated her and she'd never met. He remembered the way she'd hugged him before she left. He'd heard the word she whispered right before she released him. He hadn't told Alfred. It was something he cherished for himself, and if anyone else knew, they would know that he'd turned into a baby the second she flew off.
"Son." It had felt so natural hearing her say it, refer to him as such, and it touched him. It was a single word, but it had meant the world to him, as much as it had meant the first time Bruce had said it. Had he been angrier than the others with his father's decision? Yes. Had he shown it? No. Because when the greatest woman on the planet, the paragon of compassion, peace, strength, and beauty refers to you as her own child, you don't throw a fit. You don't dole out words to hurt someone else in retaliation because something didn't go your way. You emulate her, you do as she would've wanted and what would've made her proud. And that one word had told Richard that he'd made her proud just by being himself, and for her, he'd be the best son he could.
"Richard Grayson, Son of Bruce Wayne and Diana of Themyscira." A voice greeted him and he looked up, barely making out the visage of a woman. She seemed to study him before she placed a hand under his chin and suddenly, Richard could see.
The woman was dark skinned and beautiful, with deep hazel eyes and vines and flowers woven into her thick curls. He could smell the earth and something dark in her perfume.
"I have alerted your father, as to your whereabouts." She watched the pain flit across his face, and she paused, "Give me a moment, young man."
"K...not going anywhere."
Persephone reappeared before Diana, who hadn't left the temple yet. The Amazon Princess stood and opened her mouth, but the goddess spoke first, "Do you trust me?"
Diana nodded, "Of course."
The Queen of Spring stretched out her hand, "Then allow me to do this for you."
Without a second thought, Diana took the goddess's hand and found herself standing in a Gotham alleyway. Nightwing was leaning against a wall, barely conscious with blood staining his suit and pouring through his hands.
"Dick!" Diana was beside him in a heartbeat, reaching for his hand but her hand went through his.
"What in Hera's name?"
"Mom?" Diana's heart soared as a lump formed in her throat and tears were in her eyes at the title Richard had given her. She swallowed, "Dick, its Diana. Wonder Woman."
The lenses in his mask widened slightly, "Wasn't confusing you..for the mother I lost before."
Her vision blurred as she tried to blink away the tears, but they still fell down her cheeks. "I am honored, Richard," she whispered.
"Alfred and I...W-we were right."
"What do you mean?" Diana asked as she tried to smooth down his hair, only for her hand to go through it, reminding her that there was nothing she could do.
"You're protecting the family."
The Amazon nodded, "I'm doing everything I can, everything in my power. I'll always protect you." She felt Persephone squeeze her shoulder, and Diana blinked back more tears and swallowed the sobs, "I have to go now, Richard. Your father's nearly here. Hold on, alright?"
Nightwing grabbed her wrist and the weight of his touch made her gasp, but then it was gone. She lost sight of him as his words still reached her ears, "No!"
Diana stared at the space before her, tears streaming down her face and anxiety and heartbreak thrumming within her. Persephone frowned at the sound of Diana's sobs. The goddess kneeled down and wrapped her arms around the Princess, smoothing her hair as Diana sobbed into her shoulder. Persephone whispered a lullaby into Diana's ear as the Amazon cried.
Donna hovered quietly in the air. She'd returned from her flight to argue with Diana, but had arrived in the middle of Diana speaking to a dying man that called her Mom.
Batman rushed to Nightwing's side, "Batman to the Cave, I've located Nightwing. Alfred, get Leslie to the Manor ASAP. I'm bringing him home."
"Dad?" Nightwing's low voice reassured and inspired a flare of guilt into the Dark Knight.
"I'm bringing you home, son," Batman remarked, cradling Nightwing as best he could.
"Mom...said..to wait for you..."
"She was a smart woman," Batman nodded as he reminded himself that Richard was probably hallucinating because of the loss of blood.
"You know...its her. Smells like...her perfume." It was that comment, that told Bruce what he'd subconsciously realized; Diana's perfume was hanging heavily around Nightwing.
Well, that's the end of that chapter. Next one needs some major thinking on my part and may take a while. Teaser for next chapter: Batman is next.