I do not own Diana/Wonder Woman, Donna Troy/Wonder Girl, Themyscira, Steve Trevor, or anything else recognizable as DC.


Royal Palace, Themyscira

Demostrate rose from her couch long before the morning bell rung. Perhaps it was childish, but her anticipation had left her unable to rest easy all night. Outside she could hear the muffled clatter of the changing of the guard mixed with the cry of seabirds over the cliffs. She threw on a lightweight exomis, there was still a chill in the air but that would not bother her for long.

Dema's chambers were on the ground level of the palace so it was only a simple matter of a low drop from the balcony onto the damp sand and short jog to the cliff-face before she could begin to climb, she shivered in the morning air and gripped the rocks.

The cliff was a sheer drop from the top, where rested the great temple, to the base, which met the water and jagged rocks of the surf. There was no real reason for Dema to climb the face, a road on the land-side went right to the very gates of the temple, leaving aside Dema's ability to fly.

But as her mother, the queen, often said, it was not where you were going that mattered so much as how you got there, and Dema loved climbing the cliff, the strain it afforded and the satisfaction of attaining the top. There was just enough light to safely climb, if Dema followed one of her well-known and familiar ways to the top instead of seeking out a new one. The stone was softly grey in the dawning, the edges softened and the sparse patches of vegetation rustled in the breeze like the spears of an army on the march.

By the time she reached the ledge that was more-or-less halfway she was no longer shivering and strands of her hair were stuck to her neck, damp and sticky with perspiration. A strong hand gripped hers and helped her to hoist herself onto the ledge.

"Sister." Dema acknowledged, panting ever so slightly from the exertion.

Diana smiled down at her and gestured to the bench-like stone set apart from the rock. "Well met, little sister."

Dema dropped to sit. "Well met indeed, I am sorry I was not able to be there when you returned from Man's World last night."

Diana sat beside her with a laugh. "'Twas no great thing you missed. The greater part was merely the delivery of greetings and messages from the kings and rulers of Men to our mother."

"I missed you though." Dema said mournfully, leaning against the older woman, her damp and crumpled exomis pressing close to Diana's clean-pressed chiton. "You are so often in Man's World these days. There is little time for us to talk as we once did."

Diana's arm was a comforting weight around her shoulders, chasing away the chill that had begun to creep over her skin since she had stopped climbing. "That will change after today."

Dema gave in to the temptation to snuggle closer like a child. "What is Man's World like?"

Her sister hummed thoughtfully. "It is...different. There is more coming and going, in the Empire at least, and less isolation for the greater part. It is also not so different." Dema looked up to see her smiling down. "There is family and foe, peace and war, joy and grief, as there is here. Something I have learned from Man's World is that man or woman, people are people and everyone has something they can learn from others.

"Sometimes," Dema hesitated, "Sometimes I think that I remember Man's World. I remember the fire but...before that, I sometimes get these scattered images that cannot be anything here in Themyscira."

"What manner of images?" Diana's voice was worried.

"Good ones," Dema reassured her. "A woman I believe to have been my mortal mother is in most of them. I always feel safe and loved."

Diana sighed and rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Forgive me, my sister. I do not enjoy any reminder of the hard years 'ere you came to us."

"But I am here now." Dema said quietly. "As your bond sister and now, sister in arms."

"After today," Diana smiled and pulled her close. "Little sister, yes we shall be."

Dema smiled up at her. "Tell me of your friends, please."

Diana laughed. "You do not wish to wait and meet them for yourself?" Dema shook her head and Diana acquiesced. "There are many who I fight beside in the League. Lady Shayera is a valiant warrior of the Thanagarians. She and her mate are fierce and love war, as do all their people, but they understand the true value of peace.

The Canary is also a mighty warrior, as any mortal who faces the Elder Darkness must be. She is gentle as well, and has taught me much on how to care for the minds and emotions of those we assist, and not merely protect their bodies.

The Knight of Steel is one of our leaders. He is a warrior such as shall be sung about a thousand years hence, but he is also a simple man, who wishes no more than to defend this world and those who dwell upon it, whether mortal or fae."

Diana paused, looking thoughtful. "And then there is The Bat." Dema shivered and Diana rubbed her shoulder gently. "Even here on Themyscira's shores, his name has been heard, if only in whispers."

Dema nodded, "Eudokia says that The Bat is a Daemon, separated from the Darkness of the Black Islands, that preys upon its own kind."

Diana chuckled. "So many believe, and it suits his purpose that they do so. In truth, he is a mortal, a man, who faces impossible odds and emerges triumphant. He pretends to care for nothing and no one," she said softly. "But he does so to try and hide that he truly cares deeply. Deeper than any other I have ever met."

*JLA*JLA*JLA*

They stayed on the ledge, watching the sunrise until the morning horn was sounded. Flying down was not as satisfying as climbing but they had places to be and today was not the day to be late.

They broke their fast with bowls of honeyed yogurt and peaches before Dema left her sister in the hall and hurried off to the bath chamber reserved for the royal family and commanders.

The process that she usually found relaxing only served to make her nervous as the attending slaves moved with their usual deliberate pace and all Dema could think of was the ceremony that was to come. There were only a few others there, an archer and her sister, and they remained on the other side of the rooms. She was bouncing on her toes as she exited the Laconia and made her way to the benches where her clothes waited.

"Peace, Little Princess." Eudokia, the elderly slave who served as her caretaker chided, running a fine comb through Dema's wet hair. "It matters not whether we hurry or no, high noon will come no sooner."

Dema sighed and sunk a few increments further onto the couch, aware she was pouting and finding it hard to care. "But I don't want to wait. I've been waiting for two years!"

Eudokia laughed and dripped just a few drops of perfumed oil into Dema's hair, combing it in. "And if you have managed for that long, surely a mere five hours is nothing."

Dema sulked and stared at the basin in front of her, before Eudokia's wrinkled face intruded on her view and a gentle finger lifted her chin to look Eudokia in the eyes. "There is no need for distress, honeybee. This day has been long coming. You have fairly won your right to stand among the warriors of Themyscira."

"Will you be there?" Dema asked, seizing upon the thought that suddenly crossed her mind.

Eudokia chuckled, a low, warbling sound and returned to combing and pinning Dema's hair. "These old, mortal feet are in no shape for standing ship-board, my Princess. But I shall hear the horns of the Royal Guard and be glad." She placed one last comb and stepped back. "There. All finished. You must make haste." She gathered up the supplies. "You have not much time to dress yourself."

"Oh!" Dema took off, flying down the hall and through the courtyard, followed by Eudokia's admonishment to be careful not to muss her hair.

*JLA*JLA*JLA*

Rather than the amphitheater, or the Great Courtyard, the usual locations for ceremonies, it had been decided after much passionate debate between Queen Hippolyta and Diana that Dema's commissioning was to be held on board the royal warship. After all, Diana had said, if Dema would be accompanying her into Man's World, it was good that at least one Man should be witness. And no man could set foot on the shores of Themyscira.

With everything else happening, Dema almost missed her first opportunity to catch a glance of the man who had won the right to a place in her sister's heart, but one glance and she forgot all else. When Diana said his hair was golden like sunshine Dema hadn't quite believed her. There were light-haired Amazons but even Thracia's hair seemed dull in comparison. For a moment she stood, dumbly staring up at the first man she had seen in the span of her memory.

He smiled down at her, warm laughter crinkling the edges of his pale blue eyes, and knelt so that he was on a level with her. "You may touch it, if you wish." His voice was deeper even than Dema's mother's. Cautiously, she reached out one hand and brushed her fingers against the short golden strands. They were much finer than she had expected, like sun-dyed silk and almost uncomfortably warm from him standing in the sun.

As she retracted her hand he caught it in one of his own, his skin an unnaturally fair shade emphasized by her own olive tone. He lifted her hand to his forehead, turning his kneeling posture from that of a man humoring a child to that of a warrior swearing an oath. "I am Steffan of Trefmawr, Princess. Commander in the Imperial Rangers Intelligence Corp. It is truly an honor."

Dema flushed red and tried to find her tongue. She was saved by her sister. "Commander, this is my younger sister, Demostrate."

"The lady of the hour." The commander lifted her hand once more, this time to his lips, before releasing it and standing to salute, fist over his heart. "As I said, an honor. I look forward to fighting beside you." He winked at her and Dema blushed all over again.

Diana punched the commander in the arm. "Steffan," she hissed at him as Dema became aware of her mother's eyes on them. The commander raised his hands, his laughter no longer silent, but audible chuckles.

"Hey, I can't help that I am so charming."

Diana snorted before drawing herself up as the dignified warrior and princess she was. "Are you ready Dema?"

Dema swallowed and nodded. The commander drew back to stand off to the left-hand side of Queen Hippolyta's dias.

Her elder sister turned to face their mother and the Commanders beside her. "Queen of us all, protector of Themyscira, I come before you today."

"For what reason do you come before us?" The Queen asked regally.

"I bring with me my sister," Dema took a deep breath and stepped up beside Diana. "She has proven herself worthy to bear arms by the traditions of the Amazons and I ask that I may take her, to train her to uphold our principles and to be an ambassador to the World of Men."

"You ask to take a youngling from the haven of our shores." Their mother says gravely, and even though the entire ceremony is scripted, Dema's heart beats faster. "Into the dangers of Man's World, where not even our most vaunted warriors seek to tread. What cause have I to grant this request?"

"To show that Man's World is not to be feared." Diana replied boldly, her voice ringing over the deck of the ship. "To show, both to our people and to theirs, that we may once again fight side by side and to bridge the gap between man and woman. I have sworn myself to this mission, and my sister seeks to do the same. She is worthy, she is ready, she is able."

"So we have witnessed." Akantha, captain of the royal guard and one of Dema's trainers said. "The girl is able." The other Commanders agreed and Eudane, the high priestess, nodded gravely.

Queen Hippolyta turned to the attendant beside her, who bore a cushion covered in a light drapery that fluttered in the sea-wind. "Then, as she goes forth as an Amazon warrior, she must be armed as befits an Amazon warrior." Her visage softened ever so slightly. "And as befits my daughter." Dema's breath caught in her throat as her mother beckoned her forward, the glint of metal in her hands.

She knelt before the dias and her mother fastened the bracers around her wrists before turning back to the cushion and lifting from it a golden lasso. "You have taken upon yourself a grave responsibility my daughter." Her mother said, "To take up these bracelets and this lasso is to declare yourself an Amazon. To proclaim that you stand for truth and justice for all. The eyes of all the world shall be upon you." She paused. "Do you accept this charge."

Dema's nervousness faded away beneath a strong surety. "I do."

"So you have spoken, so shall it be." The Queen said solemnly. "Diana, daughter of Hippolyta, we give to you Demostrate, daughter of Hippolyta as your student. Teach her well and guard her until such time as she is able to guard herself."

"I accept this charge." Diana said evenly, "And swear myself to this service."

"Go." Their mother said, and Dema was surprised to see tears in her eyes. Their mother loved them dearly and was seldom so formal as was necessary for the ceremony, but she was not overly emotional either. "May the sun shine upon your faces and the wind be at your backs."

Eudane gave a few blessings that Dema barely heard, and that was that.

Upon the completion of the ceremonies, as the Royal Guard sounded their horns and the others broke up into smaller groups, Dema's mother descended from her dias and came down to wrap Dema in her arms. "My little girls." She said softly. "All grown up."

Dema leaned back far enough to look into her mother's eyes. There were more tears, but also smiles. A gentle, sword-calloused hand stroked her cheek. "I am so proud of you. Both of you."

*JLA*JLA*JLA*

They did not linger long after that. The Man Commander clearly held back as long as he could but the tides wait for no Man or Amazon and soon Dema was flying over the water behind her sister as the elder woman bore the commander in her arms to his ship, anchored just beyond the bay.

As they set foot on the wooden planks of the deck, all the cheerful joking mannerisms that the commander had maintained through the short flight melted away and he began barking orders at his men, the bustle of a ship deck seeming strange to Dema as men scaled the riggings and manned the oars and slowly, Themyscira grew smaller on the horizon.

"We shall journey most of the day with them." Diana said softly. "But we have an appointment to keep at sunset."

Dema grinned. Maybe she could make some friends of her own.


Reviews make my day. Constructive criticism makes me a better writer. Flames tell me that you just want to complain about something and my writing was a convenient target.