AN: Based on events inspired by the episode "Fury" with my twist to it :D. DC characters are not my own.

JL: The Newest Recruit

Part Five

Fury

Circe sat in the bedroom of her secluded palace on the island Aeaea, just off the Greece coast. Through her large crystal ball that in the middle of the room, Circe watch Diana fight with the Justice League. She has been watching the Princess closely since she arrived in the world. Circe knew all about her including her recent banishment from Themyscira. Circe had wondered; even hoped because of it Diana would turn on humanity and join her in conquering the world but Diana still chose to save it and thus becoming a threat to her.

So, Circe needed another pawn. Watching the Amazons closely on Themyscira, Circe found her sucker in Aresia. Aresia wasn't an Amazon. She was from Man's World washed ashore on Themyscira and taken in. The horrors of what Aresia witness as a child compiled with the Amazon regime hardened Aresia's thoughts on men.

Aresia right now was in the last stage of becoming an Amazon. She was in isolation in a tower on the outskirts of Themyscira going through the last rites. Circe decided now to make her appearance known.

Aresia was in meditation when Circe arrived. She opened her eyes and a saw a beautiful woman with long dark purple hair, red eyes in a green gown with side slits up to her legs.

"Who are you?" Aresia asked. "A Goddess?"

"Yes, darling, I'm a Goddess. Rise, child. I've a mission you are to perform for me."

Aresia stood. "What is it you request of me?"

Circe smiled. She liked this one. She was following her without question. "You know what happened to Princess Diana."

"Yes. It was a week ago she was banished from our island because she trusted men with the secret location of Themyscira." Circe smiled that Aresia said 'men' with such malice. "She deserves banishment for breaking such a noble law. Men are disgusting barbarians who want nothing more than to weaken and degrade women and corrupt the world with their wicked laws."

Aresia certainly had a hate for men Circe noted. "Diana continues to serve with the League as Wonder Woman."

"She continues to work with the men who aided in her banishment?" Aresia scowled. "She is not a true Amazon. How disappointed our Queen must be in her daughter."

"Yes, Hippolyta is," Circe said. The hate in this young one was inspiring. "We can make her pay but first let's deal with the men on Earth. I propose we eliminated the male race once and for all and with them gone, it will be women ruling the world as it should be."

Aresia bowed before her. "I am your servant. I will do what you wish."

Under Circe's power books on germ and human warfare appeared on Aresia's bed. "Study these and in one month I will return and we will begin the ending of men on Earth."

****

One Month Later

Lois Lane dropped the latest edition of the Daily Planet on Clark Kent's desk. Clark looked at the paper's headline, "An Afternoon with a Warrior Princess." Clark wished he could sink into the ground. He looked at Lois with an easy smile and saw the fire in her eyes. Her lips were tight and her arms crossed. She was pissed.

"Hi, Lois."

"Just how the hell did you pull this off?"

"Uh, lucky?"

"Lucky my ass! I've been trying to get--" she cut herself off knowing she was going to expose herself. "A source. I've been working a source for months on getting an interview with Wonder Woman. He fails me and she gives an interview to a country bumpkin like you!"

"Maybe she was more responsive to a man?" Clark suggested.

Lois scoffed. "And you think you're that man?" Lois laughed. "You wish, Smallville. If Wonder Woman's going to be attracted with a man, it won't be you." She sighed. "It was Bruce Wayne, wasn't it?"

"Wayne?"

"In your interview with her, Wonder Woman mentioned she will write the true Greek stories as the ones on Earth aren't accurate and she was working with Wayne Publishing." Lois blew a heavy breath. "Wayne. That S.O.B. He should've given me a call and not you."

"Was he your source?" Clark asked knowing that wasn't the case.

"No, it was someone else I thought I could count on. I'm going to let him and Bruce have it." Lois let out another huff of air and stormed off.

Clark sighed. At least he wasn't going to be the only Lois unleashed her anger on. Still, better to call Bruce and prepare himself. He tried to get through Bruce's personal line at Wayne Enterprises but Bruce Wayne wasn't in for the day. Knowing Bruce he was sleeping in after a night of protecting Gotham.

He will see him tonight at the Watchtower including Diana. It's been a little over two weeks since Clark confessed to Diana he had a girlfriend and things were slowly changing. Clark wasn't sure if it was their busy schedules or not but they were seeing less of each other. Diana was spending her time in Boston, getting to know the city and at her place writing. Clark thought their growing distance was Diana's reaction to knowing he had someone.

However, when they were together, their relationship was still the same. Clark saw this when he interviewed Diana for the Daily Planet. The conversation flowed freely, the connection was still strong. There were no resent on Diana's part. She was as warm and friendly as before, completely unaffected Clark had someone. Clark should be happy about that but part of him wasn't. He was feeling foolish for wanting Diana to feel some emotion to his relationship to Lois. Maybe if she did, Clark would see his feelings for Diana weren't one sided.

****

When Clark arrived at the Watchtower that evening, he found Batman at the console with J'onn looking impatient. "Batman, you're here early."

"I'm waiting for Wonder Woman," was his only response.

"Why?"

Batman didn't answer as the docking bay opened to receive Diana and Flash coming in on the Javelin. The two were returning from a mission in space. Batman walked off to meet them and Superman followed wondering why Batman wanted to talk to Diana.

As soon as Diana stepped off the ship, Batman said. "Wonder Woman. I need to talk to you."

"Yes?" Diana said not understanding what's going on.

Batman held up a photo of a gold necklace. "Recognize this?"

Diana examined the picture. "It's an Amazonian design. Why?"

"I got the necklace off a woman at Gotham Biotech last night. She, Copperhead, Star Sapphire, Solomon Grundy, Tsukuri and Shade broke into the facility and stole a chemical vial scientists were working on. I'm not sure what they are using it for but the woman I fought was strong and wore that."

Diana looked at the picture again. From the designs of the necklace in the picture, it looked genuine but Diana still didn't want to believe the possibility. "Are you saying an Amazon did it? Amazons do not steal. It's not our code."

"They don't leave the island either but you've managed to do that," Batman shot back.

Diana glowered at him and Clark intervene, "Your point, Batman?"

"To find out who this belongs to, we need to consult my mother to see if anyone left the island," Diana said. "But since I've been banished…" Diana let the rest of the words hang. "Where's the necklace?"

"I've sent Hawkgirl to Themyscira with it."

"What?" Superman and Diana responded with mild shock.

"Only females are allowed on the island and since you are no longer welcomed, Princess, Hawkgirl was the only solution."

"You could've consulted me on this," Diana said.

"You weren't here and time was of the essence," Batman explained himself. "We need to find out why an Amazon left the island and why she stole a biological chemical."

Clark could see Diana was angry by Batman's action and quickly stepped in if Diana's usually calm demeanor wore off. "How long has Hawkgirl been gone?"

"A few hours," Batman said. "In the meantime, we need to be scouring the cities for anymore unusual robberies."

"Diana and I will start off in Metropolis and New York City. Keep us posted." Clark started to leave but he noticed Diana wasn't following him. "Diana?"

Diana shoved the photo to Batman's chest. "Do not do that again," Diana warned. Diana stormed out of the room and Clark got out of her way. Batman rubbed his chest.

"Speaking of angry women, expect a call from Lois. She's mad Clark Kent got the interview with Diana and she thinks you gave it to him."

"What?" Even Batman wasn't expecting that. "Why?"

"Diana mentioned she was working with Wayne Publishing on her books in the interview and so she thought Bruce Wayne made connections with Clark Kent."

"You certainly know to pick 'em," Batman teased.

Superman shook his head and left the hangar. He went to the teleport pad where Diana was waiting. "Have you calmed down yet?"

"Batman certainly have nerves," Diana commented.

"He does what he wants regardless of who he offends," Clark said. "Don't let him get to you. He does mean well."

Diana said nothing else as she was teleported to New York City and Clark went to Metropolis.

Superman surveyed the city looking for any signs of trouble. There were the usual petty crimes but nothing that would suggest a rouge Amazon and members of the Injustice League behind it.

J'onn's voice suddenly chime through their earpieces, "Superman. Wonder Woman. The Amazon has broken in the Gem Depository in Metropolis."

"Got it," Clark said and flew where the depository was located.

At the Gem Depository, Aresia had sent off her new gang of members to go to their hideout and wait for her. Star Sapphire used her powers to destroy a wall of the depository to safely escape. Aresia returned to business, following Circe's plan to a tee. She opened a deposit box and pulled out a large red jewel.

Circe materialized behind her. "Wonderful job, Aresia. You are a most faithful servant."

Aresia bowed before. "I am honored, My Goddess."

Superman flew in through the destroyed wall. Circe and Aresia turned to their new arrival. "That's far enough. You better put that back."

"Why don't you take it from me, Big Man?" Aresia taunted.

Superman reached for the jewel but Aresia quickly maneuvered herself behind Superman and pinned his arm behind his back. Superman easily broke Aresia's grip on him and tossed her on her back. Aresia looked up at Superman stunned. She was a strong Amazon and she was easily knocked down by a man?

"Do not try to fight me," Superman warned.

Aresia jumped to her feet. Aresia moved to kick and punched Superman but he blocked each blow and pushed Aresia lightly, knocking her on her butt.

Circe had enough watching. It was time to get involve. "Don't worry, darling," Circe said stepping forward. "I'll take care of him. You get out of here."

Aresia started to run and Superman was going after her when a charge of Circe's energy surrounded him. "Ah. Ah. Superman. You belong to me."

Superman found himself covered in pink energy. He hated magic. He had little to no control over it. Circe was pulling him closer to her. He summoned what strength he could muster and broke the energy Circe had surrounding him.

"Hmm. I thought a light dose would subdue you," Circe commented. With a wave of her hand, a large rock of kryptonite manifested. Superman fell back weakened. "But I'm sure this will along with me upping my powers." With her free hand Circe released her powers on Superman once more enveloping him. Superman doubled back in pain.

"Don't worry. What Aresia and I have planned for the men of this world, I won't let happen to you. Your Kryptonian body keeps you immune to all diseases on this planet, but I'll have something for you. You will be my personal pet." Circe began enchanting a spell over Superman. Superman tried to break free but he felt her spell working on his weakening body.

Aresia jumped from down from the Gem Depository building and dodged the police as she made her escape. As she was running she saw Diana swooping down to her.

The two both stopped when they recognized each other. "Princess."

"Aresia? What are you doing?"

"Can't stop to talk now, Princess." Aresia started to run away but Diana grabbed her and pinned an arm back.

"You're not going anywhere. You have a lot to answer for."

"Don't you have pressing matters to attend too?" She tilted her head in the direction of the depository. "Your friend will need your help."

Diana looked in Aresia's direction. To her horror, she saw Superman transform into a humanoid lion. His head and chest was covered in a thick, brown mane. Whiskers grew on his face, teeth bared fangs, furs broke through his uniform over his body and a tail formed behind him. A lour roar echoed across the area.

Diana released Aresia. "Superman." Diana flew inside the building and saw her friend growling like a lion and a woman standing over him with a chain wrapped around his neck as if she was his master. "Who are you? What have you done to Superman?"

"The name's Circe's, darling." Though having a human body in spite of the fur and whiskers, Superman was crawling on all fours like an animal. Circe ran her hand through Superman's thick mane. "I've turned this magnificent man into my servant."

"Circe? I know that name."

"Really?" Circe was impressed. "So your mother and those Amazons have told you about me." She smiled wickedly. "I bet they haven't told you everything."

"Release him!" Diana ordered.

"Hmm. No!" Circe fired her deadly rays through her eyes onto Diana. Diana blocked it with her bracelets.

Diana flew to attack her but Superman pounced on Diana instead. He roared into her face. "Superman, it's me!" But he didn't recognize her. Superman raised a fist to strike her and Diana kick him off her. Diana stood and was met with a blast of Circe's dark magic which sent the Princess of Themyscira through the open wall and crashing on the streets below.

Diana rose to her feet. She could only watch in horror as Circe disappeared with Superman. Flash and Green Lantern arrived to find Diana alone.

"What's going on?" Flash asked. "J'onn said that Amazon might be here."

"She was. Aresia left Themyscira and is committing crimes here. I don't know why."

"Where's Superman," John asked. "J'onn said you and he might need help."

"He was here," Diana said. "But he was transformed into a lion and taken away by Circe."

"A lion?" Flash said puzzled.

"Who's Circe?" John asked.

"She's an evil witch. Daughter of Hyperion and Perseis."

"Oh, boy. Sounds like Greek stuff," Flash said. "It's going to go over my head."

"Yes. We've never met but I've heard of her and she seems to know me." And Diana didn't know how or why she got hold of Aresia. She had to return to the Watchtower and see if Hawkgirl has returned from Themyscira. "Has Hawkgirl returned yet?"

"Not that we know of but Batman is up there," Flash said.

"You two track down Aresia. I need to get to the Watchtower. I need to talk to Hawkgirl as soon as she arrives." After giving her orders, Diana flew away leaving John and Flash to follow Aresia's steps.

****

"Has Hawkgirl returned?" Diana asked J'onn as soon as she arrived in the Watchtower.

"No, she hasn't."

"Is Batman still here?"

"He left to pick up Hawkgirl. Where is Superman? What happened in Metropolis?" J'onn asked.

Diana quickly explained her encounter with Aresia, Circe and what happened to Superman. "Flash and Green Lantern are tracking Aresia now. I had hoped Hawkgirl was back."

"Do you know anything about Circe?"

"Only what my mother told me about her being a deadly witch. She has an affection for turning men into her servants. I have to find her and Superman and stop her and Aresia from planning whatever it is they are doing."

An alarm on the console beep. Diana looked to it to see Flash and Green Lantern returning. Diana noticed something was odd. Green Lantern had Flash thrown over his shoulder. Why was he carrying him like that?

"Something's wrong," Diana said and raced to the hangar. She met Green Lantern and Flash halfway. John lowered Flash to the floor. Diana saw Flash was covered in sweat. "What happened? What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know," John said tiredly. "Flash collapsed and so I…." John put a hand on his forehead. "Oh, suddenly…. I'm not feeling so well."

Diana looked at him and saw he was covered in sweat. "John?" John groaned and collapsed in Diana's arms.

J'onn entered the room. "Diana. What's going on?"

"Stay back!" Diana warned. "They're infected."

"What about you? You could be exposed."

Diana stood with John in her arms. "I'll risk it but I don't think I will be infected." Diana carried John to a table and she returned to the hangar and gathered Flash in her arms as well.

J'onn kept a safe distance but look at his colleagues with concern. "Diana, there's something forming on their faces."

Diana saw a weird marks on John and Flash. She removed their shirts and saw it was infecting their chest as well. "I've studied all types of medicines and sciences on Themyscira but I don't know if I can counter this with a cure."

A phone in the sickbay rang. J'onn put it on speaker. "This is J'onn."

"J'onn it's Hawkgirl. Is Diana there?"

Diana went to the phones, "Yes. Batman was right. One of my Sisters has gone rogue."

"I know. Aresia. Batman and I are getting stress calls all over the cities on the eastern seaboard and it's spreading. Men are falling sick everywhere by some strange virus. We're in Gotham now. I think your Sister is involved."

"She is as well as someone else. Flash and Green Lantern have fall victim to it. Where's Batman? He must return to the Watchtower so he won't get infected."

"Too late. He's doing what he can to help."

"He's going to get infected!" Diana raced out of the room. "J'onn stay here! I'm going down to get Batman before it's too late!"

Diana teleported down to Gotham. She scoured the city in search for Batman. Noble that he was for wanting to help, he was also foolish. Still, if she was he, she would be down on Earth doing what she could to help and not stay safe.

Diana saw female firefighters, policewomen, and female rescue workers doing what they could to help the city. Diana saw a bus driving erratically on the road. It was going to hit a group of female firefighters putting out a fire. Diana flew down to stop it when the bus turned on its side and skid to a stop. Diana landed just as the window kicked open and Batman weakly carried a man out. He dropped the man on the ground and stagger.

"Batman!" Diana cried. Batman fell over and Diana gathered him in her arms. His face was covered in spots she noticed on Flash and Green Lantern's face and chest. He was infected.

****

On Themyscira, Queen Hippolyta sat on her throne deep in thought. She thought over what Hawkgirl had told her and what they found at the tower where Aresia was supposed to be in solitary confinement.

"Your Highness," Phillipus called as she entered the room. "Are you all right?"

"No. I was thinking of what Hawkgirl and I found in the tower. How did those books get there? When I sent a group of Amazons to Man's World to study the world and technology, the Amazons never brought back any books. They brought back notes on what they learn to share with us. That was in the early nineteen hundreds. The books I found are more modern."

"Is it possible Aresia left for Man's World to get those books?"

Hippolyta shook her head. "No, at least I don't think so. Oh, Phillipus, I think I made a grave mistake with Aresia."

"My Queen, we had no choice but to take her in. We couldn't leave a child to the sea."

"It's not that." Hippolyta eyed one of her oldest friends. "I never told Aresia she owes her life to a man. And when I think of the Amazonian teachings, the world Aresia came from…" the queen sighed heavily. "It's very possible Aresia misinterpret the teachings and is causing great danger to Man's World."

"Diana is there. She can handle Aresia."

"Yes," Hippolyta said as she stood, "But Aresia is my responsibility. Ready the invisible jet."

Phillipus knew what that meant. "Right away, Your Highness."

****

Hawkgirl and Diana were in the Watchtower with J'onn and the fallen male members of the Justice League. Batman now lied with Flash and John on tables shirtless with a mask covering his face just as Flash.

J'onn was careful as he and Diana examine three men in hopes of studying what was affecting them and finding a cure. With him being a Martian, J'onn was certain an Earthling disease wouldn't harm him but he wasn't going to take any chances. "It's not a virus as we feared," J'onn said, "but an allergen. I'll need more time to study it in hopes of finding a cure."

"And to do that, we have to find Aresia," Diana said. "But we also must find Superman."

"There's one thing that doesn't make sense," Hawkgirl said. "Why didn't Circe allow Superman to be contaminated? Why turn him into this lion monster? He's a man, too."

"Maybe it wouldn't have affect on him because he's not from Earth," Diana guessed. "I don't know for sure but I will find out. Circe is working with Aresia. If we find her, she could lead us to Circe and Superman."

Diana and Hawkgirl took the Javelin and descended to Earth to being their search for Circe. As Diana thought about Aresia, she remembered how she was as a young girl. Diana tried to befriend her and connect with her but Aresia still held her at a distance. Sometimes Aresia was happy but other times she was sad, even downright angry. Nothing Diana tried to do could warm Aresia.

"Even when she was a child, I felt a bitterness from Aresia. She never really fit in with the rest of the Amazons," Diana admitted sadly. "Maybe it was our difference in upbringing."

"I think Aresia fits in just fine," Hawkgirl commented.

"How can you say that?" Diana asked.

"She's expressing the Amazon Code to the logical extension."

"We don't teach hatred," Diana said. "We're a warrior society but we are always a peaceful nation and try to settle differences in a peaceful matter through words, compassion and understanding. We only fight as a last result."

"Your kind have a healthy hatred of men," Hawkgirl retorted. "You might be the exception, Princess, but I was on that island. I saw the hate and distrust in the Amazons eyes. I know what you said Heracles and his men did to your mother and Sisters but it's obvious after all this time they haven't forgotten and still think all the men are the same and even you paid the price for it."

"Me?" Diana questioned. "How?"

"You were banished for allowing men to the island. The Justice League did nothing wrong but help you and your family at the risk of their own lives and what did your family do to you? They kicked you out."

Hawkgirl was right but Diana didn't want to admit that. "How is my mother?" Diana asked changing the subject.

"Fine but I sense she is sad about banishing you. She won't change her mind though. I tried talking to her before I left in reinstating you but she said she can't do it. You broke the law and must be punished."

Diana sighed and fought off a tear. It's been a nearly two months since her banishment but the feelings if hurt and loss were still fresh. Diana couldn't think about her own loss again not when the world needed her. Instead she focused on the mission. "Aresia could be anywhere on Earth. Where should we start?"

Hawkgirl typed some buttons on the console of the ship. "An air force base," Hawkgirl commented. "We'll keep the channels open for a break in. If they want to spread this allergen across the world, they'll need a plane. In the meantime, we'll do what we can to help the people of Earth."

"It's going to be hard with just the two of us."

"Not really," Hawkgirl turned on the small monitor in the ship. It was hooked to the news where they were showing other female heroes helping out. Zatanna was on screen with Black Canary. Vixen was on another channel. Supergirl was seen in Metropolis and Batgirl in Gotham.

Diana smiled. Seems they weren't alone after all.

****

Aresia, Star Sapphire and Tsukuri stood in an abandoned building outside Washington, D.C. Earlier, Aresia poisoned Solomon Grundy, Shade and Copperhead to the allergen that would sicken the men on the planet.

Aresia revealed her true plans to Star Sapphire and Tsukuri and they were waiting for Circe's arrival. While Tsukuri was all for the plan Star Sapphire was a little reluctant to the elimination of all men. While she met some bad men in her life she didn't want to be rid of them. They were still useful for some things.

"So, this Circe is really a Goddess?" Star Sapphire asked. So far she has been taken orders from Aresia since she round them up and lured them away from working with Luthor.

"Yes, and you will treat her with respect when she arrives."

"That's right, darlings or I'll make you pay," a voice filled the room followed by a flashing light. Circe appeared with beastiamorph Superman by her side.

"Goddess," Aresia fell to her knees before Circe.

"Rise, child," Circe told Aresia. She looked to the two remaining woman. "The rest of your associates?"

Star Sapphire recoiled seeing Superman looked half man, half lion with a chain around his neck, on all fours like a regular lion even though his body had not complete the transformation into a true lion. "Is that Superman?"

Circe ran her fingers through his fur. Superman purred in appreciation. "Why, yes it is. Beautiful, isn't he?"

"If we're getting rid of all the men on this planet, why are you sparing him?" Aresia asked.

"A woman has to have some pets," Circe said. "And in his condition he can do nothing but obey me. You ladies have done well. There's one more part of the plan needed before it's complete."

"What would you have us do?"

"There's an airbase nearby. Break into it and use the rest of the allergen to load on a plane. Fly to the highest altitude and release it so the winds will take it around the rest of the world. Take one of your girls with you."

Aresia nodded. "Tsukuri, you're with me!"

Aresia and Tsukuri left to carry out Circe's plan. Star Sapphire stood nervous in Circe's company. The woman was downright creepy. "You!" Circe pointed to Star Sapphire who jumped. "Go to Keystone City. You will find Wonder Woman and Hawkgirl there. Tell them of Aresia's plan to spread the allergen."

"Why are you betraying your servant?"

Circe smiled wickedly. "I know you're not entirely for this plan and you were the most likely candidate to squeal to the good guys. Besides, I want Wonder Woman. Now go and it would be in your best interest to not come back!"

"No problem with that," Star Sapphire said and left.

Circe pulled on Superman's chain. "Come, my pet. We have a showdown with Wonder Woman." She looked at her servant. "Why should I get my hands dirty in killing her, when you are more than capable of doing the job."

****

Aresia and Tsukuri had no trouble breaking into the air base and taking care of the few guards there. Aresia looked up at the large plane she and Tsukuri were going to use to spread their poison across the globe and rid the world of men forever.

"It's perfect. Absolutely perfect."

"For what, Aresia?" Aresia turned and saw Hippolyta walking into the air base in full battle armor. She wasn't expecting her Queen to be here but she was happy none the less. "More betrayal? Destruction?"

Aresia bowed before Hippolyta. "Your Highness. You of all people must understand why I am doing this."

"No," Hippolyta was defiant. "You have violated sacred Amazonian Law."

Aresia only smiled as she saw Tsukuri moving to strike Hippolyta. "I'm sorry you see it that way but I answer to a higher calling now."

Tsukuri moved to strike Hippolyta with a metal baton. Hippolyta unsheathed her sword and cut the baton in half. She then moved to kick Tsukuri. Tsukuri rose to her feet to strike Hippolyta again with her sword but Hippolyta with her years of training easily discarded Tsukuri of her weapon and knocked the woman out.

Hippolyta sheathed her sword. "Now Aresia, will you come quietly or will I show you why I am Queen of the Amazons?"

Aresia ready herself to fight her queen. "That won't be necessary, darling. I will deal with Hippolyta myself."

Hippolyta turned and saw Circe walking in the base with Superman in tow. "Circe!"

"Ah, another Amazons who know me."

Hippolyta thought of her daughter. "Where is Diana?"

"Oh, she's fine for the moment. It's you who will have to worry." Circe released her chain on Superman. "Pet, be a dear and take care of her."

Hippolyta unsheathed her sword. "You're an ally of my daughter. You're Superman. What have you done to him, Circe?"

Circe laughed. "Made him my pet. After he subdues you, he'll finish off Diana. Pet. Take her."

Superman roared and launched himself towards Hippolyta. Hippolyta swung her sword at Superman to which he deftly moved from. He fired his heat vision on Hippolyta to which she blocked it with the blade of her sword. "You are not the man who fought so gallantly at my daughter's side on Themyscira. I cannot free you from Circe's spell. Only the lasso of my daughter can save you but I will fight you with all I've got."

Hippolyta sliced his arm tearing into his skin. He roared in anger. Moving with swiftness too much for Hippolyta, Superman knocked the sword out of her hands. He locked an hand around her throat and tossed her into a steel wall. The Queen of the Amazons fell unconscious.

Circe sauntered over to give Superman a kiss on the cheek. "Good, my pet. Very good." She looked to Aresia. "Take her and put her on the plane." She turned to Superman. "Pet, be a dear and load the chemicals."

****

Diana and Hawkgirl followed Star Sapphire as she lead them to where Aresia, Circe and Superman were. Diana thought of Superman. They haven't seen much of each other since the interview she gave him as Clark Kent. Justice League and their own personal careers kept them apart. Diana welcomed the distance as she needed to understand her confusion and come to terms with her feelings for Superman. She was drawn to him, wanted to know what it would be like to date him but all plans were destroyed with his revelation that he had someone. Diana felt foolish. Of course he would have someone and it was her fault for misinterpreting her friendship with him for something. Now all she wanted to do was help return him back to normal only she didn't know how or how to deal with Circe.

When they entered the hangar, Diana spotted Superman standing with Circe. "Circe! Superman!"

Aresia stepped out of the ship, shocked to see Diana. "Diana! What are you doing here?"

"I invited her." Circe said.

Aresia looked at Circe stunned. "Goddess, why?"

"Goddess? She is no Goddess, Aresia. She is an evil witch," Diana told Aresia.

Aresia was shocked by the revelation. "You're not a Goddess."

"No," Circe admitted. "But does it really matter, Aresia? You want to eliminate men from this world. Only I can help you do that."

"Don't listen to her, Sister!" Diana tried to reason with her. "What you are doing is eliminating not only the wicked men of this world but you are killing the good men. Think of the policemen who fight to protect the innocent, the male doctors who save lives, the male teachers who teach the children of this world, the male scientists and humanitarians who try to make this world a better place."

"We have women to take care of the people of the world," Aresia said. "Women can do anything a man can do but only better."

"Then think about the women of this world and what you will be taking from them," Diana pleaded with Aresia. "You will be killing a woman's husband; a mother's son, grandson; a daughter's father, grandfather, uncle, brother. You had a family once, Aresia. You had a father and a brother who you said were good people. Can you really take that away from your fellow Sister?"

Aresia thought about Diana's words for a moment then said, "They'll get over it."

"That's it!" Hawkgirl said pulling out her mace. "Talking's not working. This Amazon's going down!"

"Tsukuri!"

A recovered Tsukuri jumped over Aresia weapons out ready to fight Hawkgirl. While the two battled, Diana advanced on Aresia.

"Pet," Circe called.

Superman left Circe's side and advanced on Diana. Diana groaned in pain as a punch from Superman sent her through one of the steel walls in the hangar. "Superman, it's me! Diana!"

When Superman came for her again roaring, Diana grabbed his wrists and head butted him with all her strength. Both groaned in pain and fell back. Diana's head was ringing. Suddenly, there were two Supermen dancing before her eyes.

Superman fired his heat vision on Diana. Diana saw four pairs of heat vision rays coming to her. Not sure which was real, Diana jumped to avoid it instead of using her bracelets. The result caused her left side to be burned. Staggering and clutching her side in pain, Superman moved with speed to grab her by the hair and slammed her face into the floor.

Diana was knocked down momentarily before she gathered the strength to strike a blow to Superman's face then chest. It wasn't much of an attack but it was buying her time.

Circe laughed at the beat down Diana was getting by Superman. "He can't hear you! He only hears my commanding voice."

Hawkgirl had finally taken out Tsukuri only to see a monster Superman fight Diana. Hawkgirl charged up her mace and flew to help Diana. "Yeah, well he's gonna feel my mace."

Circe shot a blast of her energy on Hawkgirl which knocked the hawk woman to her knees. "Sorry, dear, but this battle doesn't include you." Circe look to Aresia. "Get that plane up in the air and spread that poison."

"Yes," Aresia agreed. Aresia started up the ramp of the plane when she was suddenly knocked back from someone inside. Circe turned and saw Hippolyta stepping off the ship.

"What! I thought Aresia tied you up good. You can't find good help these days," Circe cursed and was struck by Hawkgirl's mace from behind.

Circe screamed as the electric current charged through her body.

"Depends who you are working for," Hawkgirl said and hit Circe again with her mace.

Diana was thrown to the ground like a rag doll once more. Superman under control was fighting at full strength. As strong as she was, even Diana knew she couldn't beat him this way. As she saw him coming towards her, her mind raced with ideas.

Then it hit her. Superman was turned to half man half lion thanks to Circe. Lion. Animal. Diana had the power to communicate with animals. If she could tap into that side of Superman.

"Superman," Diana said gently. "It's me, Diana. You know me. You do not want to hurt me. I am your friend, remember." Diana smiled warmly at him, eyes soft with caring. "I am your friend."

Superman suddenly stopped moving. He just stared at Diana. Diana slowly approached him. "It's all right," she smiled as she got closer to him. "It's Diana." A hand neared Superman's face and he growled. "Shh. It's okay. I just want to touch you." Superman said nothing as Diana touched his hair and Superman purred contently. "See, that wasn't so bad. Your fur is so soft." Superman purred excitedly.

Circe saw the exchanged between Diana and Superman while she continued to fight Hawkgirl. "What the hell? Don't let her touch you! Kill her!"

But Superman wasn't responding to Circe's words. His attention was on Diana.

"Diana has the gift to communicate with animals," Hippolyta said stepping off the plane. "And since you made the foolish mistake of turning Superman into a half animal, you lose."

"Mother?" Diana was taken back by her mother's appearance. Where did she come from?

"Diana, use your lasso to tie Superman!" Hippolyta ordered her. "Only the truth in Hestia's lasso can free Superman!"

"No!" Circe cried out only to be punched by Hawkgirl.

Diana didn't argue and did as her mother said. She unhooked her lasso. "I'm going to put this around you, Superman, but don't be afraid." Diana wrapped her lasso around Superman. He struggled to break it but it wouldn't budge. Diana continued to smile at him, talking in soft tones. "Don't fight it, Superman. This will free you of the spell Circe has cast on you. This is not to hurt you. This is to help you. I will never do anything to harm you." The gentle tones of Diana voice calmed Superman as he allowed the lasso to cure him.

The sounds of engines hummed and everyone saw the plane departing from the hangar.

With Circe and Hawkgirl still fighting each other, Diana knew it had to be Aresia who got away. The poison was on the plane. Diana knew she had to stop her Sister but she couldn't leave Superman.

"Keep talking to him, Diana," Hippolyta ordered, keeping her daughter focused on Superman. "Remind him of who he is. The lasso reveals the truth of one's self."

Diana nodded and focused her attention on Superman. She had no idea her lasso had that kind of power. If she hadn't run away from Themyscira, she would've known this. "You are not only Superman, but Kal-El of Krypton. You have come from humble beginnings to be the man you are now." Diana saw the fur on Superman was rescinding, the tail was fading. He was returning to normal. "You are strong, resilient. You inspire others. The people who look up to you to protect them need you now. Don't fail them, Superman. Don't fail me."

Returning to his body completely cured, Superman fell to his knees. Diana went to his side. "Superman?"

Superman opened his eyes. He saw Diana looking down on him. She had cuts and bruises on her face. Part of her uniform was burned revealing more wounds. "Diana? What have I done to you?"

"Nothing," Diana told him gently. "It's not your fault."

"Your mother. Diana I remember attacking your mother and I couldn't stop myself. I attacked *you*. Diana, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it."

"It's all right," Diana said soothingly. "You didn't mean it. We both know that. After all, it was my mother who helped me get you back to normal, but we'll talk it out later. We have other matters to contend to."

"That's right," Hippolyta said approaching them. "You must go after Aresia, Diana. Whatever she's planning can't be good. Superman and I will deal with Circe."

Diana didn't argue as she flew out the hangar, going after Aresia. The plane Aresia was in was fast but so was she.

Hawkgirl's scream took Superman and Hippolyta off Diana flying away. The pair turned and saw Hawkgirl soaring across the room, victim to Circe's power. Circe saw Superman and Hippolyta advancing on her. Circe knew she was out powered for now and her plans to have Superman killed Diana failed.

"You two can fight me now but would that be the smart thing? In minutes, Aresia will release the poison and the winds will carry it across the globe. Diana can't stop her alone."

Superman asked, "Who are you and why did you send me to attack Diana?"

Circe only smiled. "Afraid there's no time to explain, darling, but her mother might tell you."

A flash of light blinded them and Circe was gone.

A groan was heard from Hawkgirl on the other side of the hangar. Superman went to his friend side and helped her stand. "Are you all right, Hawkgirl?"

"Oh," Hawkgirl groaned. "I think so." She looked him over seeing he had recovered. "Superman, you're back to normal."

"Yeah. We need to help Diana."

"Wait. Look at this." Hawkgirl knelt and picked up a rolling vial of liquid that was near her when she crashed. "Circe tossed me over her and I found this. I think it's the allergen that poisoned the men. We can use it for a cure."

Superman didn't know what Hawkgirl was talking about since his memory was fuzzy since turning into half a lion, but he knew he'll get the answers later. It was time to deal with the now. If men were poisoned while he was out of commission, then it was possible the male League members were affected, too. "Are any of the League members active?" Superman asked.

"Only J'onn."

"Take that vial to him," Superman ordered. "Maybe he can find a cure. I will help Diana."

As Hawkgirl rushed off in the Javelin to follow Superman's order, he turned to Hippolyta. "Your Highness, I'm so sorry for what I did."

"You can make it up to me by taking me to my daughter."

Superman put an arm around Hippolyta and flew with great speed to where Diana was. He saw the plane high in the sky, and looking inside, saw Diana fighting with Aresia. "Hang on to me tight," Superman ordered the queen. With one hand he pulled the ramp of the plane down and helped Hippolyta climb in the plane. The Amazons continued to fight despite the new arrivals.

A punch from Diana sent Aresia back on the controls. "Stop it!" Aresia ordered Diana. "I'm not your enemy. It's the men of this world!"

"Is that so Aresia?" Hippolyta questioned the Amazon. "The way I see it. If it wasn't for a man, you wouldn't still be here. You owe your life to one."

"What are you talking about?" Aresia demanded.

"The last thing you remembered on the ship you were on was drifting in the ocean on a piece of board. You fell unconscious and do not remember a man swam you to the shores of Themyscira. From his clothes, my guess he was the Captain of the ship. He used all his strength to get you ashore before his heart gave out. Phillipus and I buried him in an unmarked grave. He is the only man buried on Themyscira. Do you know how every year I will take you to the shores I found you?" Aresia nodded slowly. "We will pray at that unmarked grave. You thought you were praying to the Gods for bringing you to Themyscira. You were doing that but you were also remembering the man who saved your life. So, while you hate men, you owe your life to one."

Just like Aresia, Diana was shocked by this revelation as well. She didn't know about the man who died saving Aresia. She was only told by her mother and Phillipus they found the girl washed ashore. This is what they told the Amazons which meant they were the only ones that knew this secret.

"Why didn't you tell me this?" asked Aresia.

"At the time, I didn't think it was important," Hippolyta admitted gravely, "but seeing what you've done, what you're trying to do, I see I've made a grave mistake in that matter."

"Mother, by withholding this information, so much could've been avoided," Diana said. She looked at Superman wondering if he was going to say anything but he remained silent. He knew it was not in his best interest to speak at this moment.

"So, everything you preached is a lie," Aresia concluded.

"No. You misinterpret my words, Aresia. I should've counseled you more; made sure your mind was free of the hate you harbored since losing your family through the war before I began your Amazon teachings. Amazons may teach wariness of men, distrust, but we never taught hate nor genocide of the male race which is want you want to do."

"It's only the next logical step," Aresia said. "Distrust of men logically leads to fear, which leads to anger, then hate and the only way to deal with the hate once and for all is to kill all men and no act of kindness by one man will redeem the sins of all men."

Aresia pressed the launch button which would set off the poison missiles. "Aresia!" Hippolyta advanced on her but Aresia knocked the Queen of the Amazon out of the open ramp sending the queen out of the plane.

Superman went after Hippolyta leaving Diana to battle Aresia alone in the ship. Superman caught the Queen of the Amazons and flew back to the large aircraft. The plane had four launching bays that carried the deadly poison. The first launching bay started to open. With one arm around Hippolyta, Superman used his free hand to press the launching bay closed. He sealed it shut permanently with his heat vision. He busied himself with the other three launching bays.

When that was done, Superman looked inside the ship and saw Diana and Aresia were still fighting. "Your daughter needs help. If she doesn't get out, the ship will explode."

"No. Pull back, Superman," Hippolyta ordered. "Diana can handle this. She won't leave until she reach Aresia. That's the way she is and we will only get in her way."

Reluctantly, Superman did as the queen ordered and pulled away from the large plane.

With Superman jamming the launching bays shut, the controls started to malfunction causing smoke to fill the plane. Despite this, Diana and Aresia continue to fight with Diana trying to knock some sense into her Sister. "Aresia, the missiles carrying the poison are jammed. This ship will explode if we don't get out! Let's go!"

"I rather die for my cause than to live in a world where men live!" Aresia argued and punched Diana across her face.

"Don't be foolish, Sister!"

Aresia ripped off a large piece of interior of the ship and hurled it at Diana. "If you won't aid me, then you are my enemy!"

The large piece of the ship hit Diana head on in her stomach and knocked her through the window of the ship. Diana plummet towards the ocean before she caught herself. "Aresia!"

To her horror, the ship exploded in a burst of flames! Pieces of the ship and Aresia's remains fell into the ocean.

"Aresia!" Diana cried out again with tears in her eyes.

Superman with Hippolyta flew to Diana's side. Diana looked to her mother for answers. "Mother….Aresia. I tried to save her…"

Hippolyta brushed the tears away from Diana's cheeks. "Don't cry, Diana. You did your best. We can only pray the Gods can grant Aresia's tortured soul peace at last."

Diana went into the mother's arms and the queen hugged her daughter. Even though this was a time for mourning, Hippolyta and Diana were happy to see each other.

****

On the Watchtower, Superman and Hawkgirl assisted J'onn with developing a cure to the allergen poisoning the men while Diana and Hippolyta have a small reunion in her room. There, Hippolyta told Diana about Circe and their connection to Hectate and why Circe wanted her dead. She told Diana this was revealed to her by the God Hermes when Diana was still a child.

"I had thought with you staying on Themyscira, you will never encounter Circe but now with you being in Man's World that's not an option anymore." Hippolyta sighed heavily.

"So, if I kill Circe, Circe believes Hectate's soul would possess me, making me even more powerful, evil, and her soulless body would be reduced to dust," Diana said coming to an understanding of this new information. "And if she kills me, she would keep her immortality, youth and power."

"Yes, but the Gods can be tricky in their prophecy," Hippolyta warned Diana. "I don't think she can outright kill you. She might try other ways to be done with you. I fear with you being Wonder Woman, you will encounter more deadly foes; foes that will work for Circe to try to kill you."

"I'll be all right," Diana assured her mother. "I can take care of myself. I wish I could've save Aresia."

"You did your best, Diana. That's all you can hope for. Truly, Aresia was beyond saving and the truth of the matter is, no matter how many people you want to save, you can't. There are some that won't be reached."

Diana took her mother's advice into account and embraced her again. "I'm so glad you're here, Mother. How did you get here by the way?"

Hippolyta smiled, "With my invisible jet of course. It could've been yours but with your banishment, it's not possible."

"Because I allowed men to the island?"

"Yes, but there's another reason for your banishment, daughter, that I didn't speak of."

"What?"

"You stole the mantle of the Champion of Amazons to aide in Man's World and you didn't return immediately. Had you returned after you left to explain yourself, you would've been forgiven, but you were gone for months, Diana. You only thought of yourself and what it felt for you to be in Man's World and not what your leaving did to me, your Queen or your Amazons Sisters. I couldn't look away from that and it fuel the grounds for your banishment."

"What could I have done if I had returned?" Diana asked.

"Well, had you returned and explained why you did so, it would've opened talk that it was time for Amazons to return to the world. A tournament would've been held to determine the Champion of the Amazons to represent us. If you were the victor, not only would you have not been banished when you invited men to the island but you would know how to use the gifts from the Gods you have stolen." Hippolyta pointed to the lasso. "You merely thought Hestia's lasso was something to wrap opponents in. It's is more than that. Not only is it unbreakable but it forces anyone in the binds of the lasso to tell the truth. By using the truth, you can free one from magic and spells as you did with Superman earlier. Practice the gifts of the lasso. It can be your most powerful weapon."

"I will," Diana promised.

"Now, daughter. Tell me what you have been doing in this world besides being Wonder Woman."

Diana relayed to her mother how she was living on Earth in Boston and how she was making a living writing the true Greek stories and her humanitarian plans to help the world.

Hippolyta listened intently while her daughter's cause was noble, it bothered her how she associated herself with men more than she liked her daughter, too. "It seems you have relied on men to allow this transition possible."

"They are my friends, Mother, and I could've have done it without them. If only Aresia saw the nobility of men," Diana stated sadly. "I wonder if the antidote is working."

"Let us see if it is," Hippolyta suggested.

Diana and Hippolyta found everyone in sick bay where Green Lantern, Flash and Batman were fully recovered and getting dressed. "I see you have found a cure," Diana said. "How are you?" Diana asked her allies.

"Better," was all Batman said.

"I think I'm still sick," Flash said. "Am I seeing things or is that your mother standing by you, Diana?"

Diana smiled. "It's my mother. She came from Themyscira to help us."

"Oh good," Flash sighed. "I thought I was sick again."

Hippolyta stepped forward to the men. "As Queen of Themyscira, I apologize for Aresia's actions."

"Just make sure no more rogue Amazons leave the island," John snapped.

Superman intervened, "Green Lantern, there's no need to be angry. Diana and Queen Hippolyta feel guilty about this enough as it is."

"Well, I think it's best in the future the Amazons should reconsider their teachings," Hawkgirl said supporting John's stance. "We have enough of the antidote prepared. We need to start administering this to the hospitals that are holding the victims."

"I'll take some," Superman volunteered.

"Yeah, so will I," Green Lantern joined in.

"With this crisis on this planet dealt with, I will return to Themyscira," Hippolyta announced.

"So soon?" Diana said hurt. "You can stay longer can't you, Mother?"

"No, daughter, I must leave and return to my place. Walk me out," Hippolyta requested of her daughter.

Diana walked her mother to the hangar where the invisible jet was waiting. Hippolyta hugged her daughter. "May the Gods be with you, Diana."

"And you mother."

"Your Highness!" Mother and daughter turned to see Superman entering the room. "Before you leave, I want to apologize again for my behavior. I'm so sorry for attacking you when Circe had me under her control."

"It is forgiven, Superman. No more apologies are needed."

"I would also like to apologize for Green Lantern's behavior. He was just upset."

Hippolyta smiled almost amused by Superman. "It is not needed and the Green Lantern is right. The world has changed from when I remembered it. Perhaps, it's time the Amazons change as well."

Superman bowed before Hippolyta again. "Thank you for your time, Your Highness and thank you for your help in dealing with Aresia and Circe."

Superman left and Hippolyta looked to her daughter amused. "He's a strange one, Diana."

"How so?"

"He has nobility. It's something I've not seen in men in centuries. It's something I never thought I'd see again. Still, he reminds me so much of Heracles."

"Perhaps in strength but that is where the similarities end," Diana said well aware of Heracles history.

"Yes." Hippolyta said slowly. "You haven't lied with him have you, daughter?"

"What?" Diana exclaimed, her shock apparent. "No. No! Why would you say that?"

"You've been in this world for nearly a year now. You yourself have said Superman has helped you more than anyone else."

"That doesn't mean we are lying together," Diana said. She couldn't believe her mother was so bold with her statement. She had wanted to go on a date with Superman yes but she had not even considered sleeping with him. "You should also know Superman has someone, Mother."

Hippolyta was pleased with that information. "He does. That's good. That's very good." The news really gave Hippolyta peace of mind for she worried if her daughter fall for a man similar to Heracles like she. "I should be going, Diana. There's much to tell the Senate."

Hippolyta embraced her daughter once more. "May the Glory of Gaea be with you."

"And with you, Mother."

Diana watched her mother leave once more in her jet. She wondered if she would see her mother again. If so, it won't be soon and perhaps that was best as Diana. Considering what Aresia had done, Diana knew she would think long and hard about her Amazon teachings and how she would share it with this world in a way that Aresia's attempts in genocide of the male race would not happen again.

Diana Grey: Only I can hug and kiss Clark senseless but since your name is Diana I can share him with you. :)

Kairan: Clark will understand alot quicker than DC! :D

Kyer: Thanks I hope you like the banter between them when I revises Maid of Honor.

VFSnake: The path the true love isn't an easy path. There are always bumps in the road.

Thanks for the reviews everyone.