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This was promised to you guys last week. I am so SO sorry, I had every intention on getting it out sooner but there was a family emergency, more on that at the bottom though.
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They hadn't even arrived where Batman and Wonder Woman were at before Shadow felt a cold stirring inside of her and instinctively knew that the magician girl, Zatana, was there as well.
Indeed when they emerged in the room where the Team received their missions there stood Zatana, Robin right next to her, along with Kid Flash-or Wally, and Conner. Next to them was Batman, Aqualad and a woman Shadow had not seen before.
The woman wasn't just tall, she towered over everyone in the room and was clearly muscular Her red, blue, and golden outfit, while very American, looked to Shadow to be nothing more than a strapless bathing suit. She had on knee high red boots, with a white stripe, down the front. Her ears sported red star earrings and on her forehead was a golden headband with a red star that held back most her long black hair from her blue eyes. The woman's only weapons seemed to be a golden lasso hanging from her hip and metal bracelets; Shadow assumed that she was either a pacifist or otherwise very skilled in hand to hand combat.
"Shadow, this is Wonder Woman." Batman introduced them. Wonder Woman smiled and approached Shadow, holding out a hand.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you." She greeted, Shadow on the other hand, still unsettled by the thought of being stuck here and turned off by Wonder Woman's authoritative personality, didn't take the offered hand and kept her own arms locked across her chest.
When it became obvious that Shadow wasn't going to be civil, Wonder Woman dropped her own courteous façade and straightened herself up more, narrowing her eyes at the audacity of the girl.
"If that attitude keeps up, we will not get very far." Wonder Woman's remark was directed towards Batman but she refused to give Shadow the satisfaction of being the first to look away and even leaned in a bit.
Robin and Kid flash glanced at either and Batman took a large intake of breath as if he were going sigh in annoyance.
"Why are you her?" M'Gann asked sweetly, hands clasped in front of her. She didn't like the tension Wonder Woman and Shadow had brought into the air.
Batman explained. "Because this sensitivity of this situation is extreme, the League was hoping that the Amazons would give Shadow a refuge on their island. I feel that this may be the safest method to deal with our…predicament; especially if the Light is still after her."
"So you're shipping her off to Themyscira?" Kid Flash asked, eyes widening a bit. "Sweet can we come?"
Artemis grit her teeth and with a sarcastic bite answered. "Sure! Let's all pack up and go to an island filled with nothing but supermodels in short skirts and togas? Sounds like a great time!"
Kid Flash turned red, as did a few of the other guys.
"Don't you look so disappointed." Zatana muttered to Robin who gaped at her. "I didn't say anything." He tried to defend himself.
Superboy was gazing off to the side, M'Gann glared at him. "I can see your thoughts Conner!"
Wonder Woman ignored the teenage dilemma and brought the focus back to the topic at hand. "Shadow will be allowed to stay only if my mother allows some impertinent adolescent to walk the shores of my beloved home."
Shadow's eyes blazed a stormy blue, while her English vocabulary did not include the word impertinent she had understood the subtext Wonder Woman spoke it with. She didn't much like the woman's tone when she said 'adolescent' either, she knew that word's definition but Wonder Woman made it sound like it was used to describe some lesser creature.
Aqualad attempted to smooth things over. "I'm sure Shadow will cooperate if knows that it will hasten our advantages of sending her home."
Unable to ignore the blatant que for her to behave, Shadow huffed and turned her head; hating this situation more and more. Wonder Woman gave sly smile saying that's better.
Clenching her biceps and focusing her thoughts Shadow asked her. "Where is Theemasceera?" Her accent handled the word with difficulty.
"We are an ancient race," Wonder Woman spoke, pride elevating her appearance even more as she explained her home to an outsider. "Guided by the Goddess Athena and led by my mother Hippolyta. We are a peaceful nation but will rise to the call of battle if there is need. I am our ambassador to the United States of America and the rest of the world." Her eyes scrutinized Shadow for the next bit. "It will be up to my mother to decide whether or not you are worthy to walk among our forests and live in our dwellings."
Shadow's lips began to curl, but she had enough self-control to keep her snide remarks to herself.
"It's an island, hidden out in the pacific." Batman gave the condensed version for her.. "Inhabited by Amazons, women warriors, who train in hand-to-hand combat, weapons, and some magic, but practice peace. It will be ideal for you to stay there while we sort things out here. You will the rest of the day and until noon tomorrow to prepare yourself to leave." Batman informed her.
"How gracious of you." Shadow drawled, still not looking at them.
Wonder Woman bristled. "I pray to the Goddess that you will have a change in attitude by the time we are ready to go." She then proceeded to turn on her heel and stalk out of the room. "I am ready to depart." She snapped the sentence to Batman whose demeanor seemed to darken further as she passed.
Batman moved his head to address Aqualad. "There will be a new mission for the Team when I return." The others grinned and glanced at each other while Aqualad nodded his in acknowledgement. The Dark Knight then followed Wonder Woman to where she had impatiently by at the Zeta-tubes; they exited the Cave together.
As soon as the mechanical voice began calling their departure Shadow left as well, heading back to the medical wing where her room was.
Wally, naturally, was the first to comment. "Well that could have gone smoother."
"Could have gone worse as well." Robin replied.
"Do you think that she'll really stay at Themyscira?" Zatana asked with a bit of awe, still staring where Batman and Wonder Woman had left.
"I hope so," Wally threw his hands up in the air as he walked back to the living room. "Because then she will no longer be our problem!"
"I really wish you would give her more of a chance!" M'Gann asked, frustration making it sound more like a demand then a question.
Artemis shrugged and proceeded to follow her boyfriend. "Well, it's not like she's the easiest person to get along with."
"Neither were you when you first joined." M'Gann uncharacteristically shot back, and instantly winced when Artemis whipped around to her, shocked but ready to spit back at her.
"Why are you defending her so much?" Zatana crossed her arms and shifted her wait.
M'Gann huffed and rubbed her head with the tips of her fingers. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to shout." She apologized then mumbled, "It's just these stupid headaches." The spoke louder and in a more pleading tone of voice. "It's just that, you guys weren't in her head. In her mind, once you get a glimpse of someone like that, hard not to defend them. I didn't see a lot but it was enough to know that Shadow had been through some tough times, and whatever that was that caused her to act the way she did. It's a constant battle with her, to keep it in check."
"I'm with M'Gann," Robin piped up and moved to stand beside her. "I may not have the ability to read people's minds, but Shadow saved me from a certain death when I fell out of the bioship and stayed with me while we tried to find you guys. She may not be perfect but there's still good in her."
"Yeah, it was real good of her to save you while she made her own escape form the Light!" Conner snarled.
"But she came back to help, even after being tortured by them!" Robin got heated; Wally by now had poked his head out form the door frame. "Yeah that's right, they tortured her. I was unconscious for most of it but I remember I do remember one part. It looked like they were electrocuting her…."
Aqualad, placing a calming, brotherly hand on Robin, glanced down at him before he addressed the others. "I think it best that we reevaluate out behavior to Shadow."
Artemis sighed and looked up form where she had dropped her head. "Alright, I'll give her shot."
"Me, too." Zatana acceded quietly.
Conner grunted a, "Yeah." Then they all looked to Wally who, after a pause caved in. "Fine, fine. I'll try to be nicer to her."
Robin then grinned, all the tension that had entered his body draining away as he jokingly yelled to his friend. "Who knows, you may end up dating her like you did Artemis!"
That earned him shouts of defiance from both Wally and Artemis; Robin laughed as he, and everyone else, went to the living room.
Wonder Woman and Batman ended up back at the Watchtower, luckily the room was deserted for the time being.
"I do not like her, I do not like her at all." The Amazon Princess growled to her companion.
"Now you see why I didn't want to take you to meet her?" It was nothing against Shadow, Batman just knew that the strong willed teen would rub Diana the wrong way.
"But you still insist on taking her to my home!" Wonder Woman's eyes flashed and her fists clenched.
"It was Superman's idea and I happen to agree with him on this one." Batman replied calmly while the other fumed.
"I fail to see how." She was less accusing now that her initial anger was fading away.
"Until we know more about Shadow's powers and the Light's plan then Themyscira is the safest place for her to be. The knowledge that the Amazons possess could help her learn to control her abilities better and if the Light is still trying to find her, which they probably are, she'll be safely secluded from them." Batman rationalized, not for the first time, to her on why sending Shadow to Themyscira was a good idea.
"I do not like putting my mother and my sisters in harm's way." Wonder Woman said darkly.
"I know, but this is not a permanent solution to the problem. Shadow will only be there temporarily. Until we can either figure out what to do with her or create a device that will send her back to her own world." Seeing as how Wonder Woman was now calm enough that she wouldn't bite the head off of any unsuspecting Leaguer, Batman started his way toward the elevators at the far side of the room.
Wonder Woman kept in pace with him and huffed "Creating a device that we had deemed at least ten years away from our technologies capability? I don't even believe that Doctor Fate has the ability to send her back, not without some disastrous consequences."
"I'm already determining whether or not she'll make a good addition for the Team." Batman informed her as they got into an elevator and he punched the down button.
Shadow fought to keep her breath under control. She entered her room, careful to not let the door slam, and immediately dropped her weight into a back stance then began performing patterns that she was taught at a young age.
Having kept her mind distracted with perfecting her stances and forms, she then sat on the ground with her less crossed as she tried to approach the new problem with a clear head.
Themyscira. Why send me to Themyscira?
Because you'll be more hidden? The more practical voice offered. That was a possibility.
To keep a better eye on you? The more paranoid side of her said. That was a possibility too…
They also practice some magic there. That detail that Batman had mentioned stuck with her for some reason. Her powers were magic based, yes, but there seemed more to him saying it then just to enlighten her about what Amazons did.
Shadow's stomach churned, she still hadn't had anything to eat and it was passed lunchtime, or she assumed so since there weren't any windows to see how bright it was outside.
She sighed and tilted her head back; her life seemed to once more be spiraling out of control and there was nothing she could so about it. Her mind wandered to Sunshine and Chamele, Professor Xavier, the people she had met at the mansion.
Were they looking for her? Trying to figure what happened and where she went. Were they worried about her? Fearful of what was happening to her and whether or not she was okay and safe.
Or did they even care?
Her eyes snapped open. Of course they cared! How could I even think like that. She chided herself, even as that small part of her wondered. Memories of when the three of them, her, Sunshine, and Chamele, had first arrived at the Mansion, drifted to her.
She had been problematic. Not caring at all what the others thought of her at first, but persuasion from Sunshine and the risk of having them getting kicked out had her attempting to act better. Storm had been infinitely patient with her and Shadow longed for the woman's guidance now.
She had just gotten comfortable living at the Mansion and now she may have to start all over. Not to mention the thought of being without Sunshine and Chamele, it threatened to tear her apart.
After so long of watching out for them and taking care of them, making sure they were safe…
Shadow stood, not sure what to do but not wanting to be stuck alone with her thoughts. That was dangerous and she knew it, but she didn't really want to go back out.
She was being problematic with the Team now, and she knew full well that they didn't like her very much at all.
Shadow stared at the door, contemplating which move to make.
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Okay, this author's note is going to be a bit long, so brace yourselves.
First off, what do you think of the Team finally going to try and accept Shadow? Do you think Shadow is going to try and accept the Team? And what are your thoughts of Shadow going to Thymiscira? Also be prepared for a cameo from a certain someone who we saw in season 2!
Secondly, some of you guys have been sending me challenges, I am not ignoring those nad they do seem very fun to write but I can't guarantee when I'll get to those when I have this puppy to finish.
Thirdly, the family emergency I mentioned above. It's serious. Odds are a very close relative of mine, my Dad, is now terminally ill. I'll have to move back to where he lives to help take care of him alongside my insane and frustrating Stepmom. Needless to say this will affect not only my summer plans but the progress I was hoping to make in this story as well. I am not necessarily putting this story on hiatus but I am not guaranteeing any updates anytime soon.
I hate to spill all this on you guys but I figured you show know what's going on seeing as it will affect my ability to update. Thoughts and prayers for my family would be nice, and I hope you guys have a wonderful day.
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