JLU 2001 Fanfiction - Wonder Woman #10

The Amazon Princess.....

Wonder Woman

"Dusk and Dawn"

Epilogue

Wonder Woman #12 -December, Year One

by Des Davies

Diana stood in the center of the Temple on Paradise Island. Around her, the patron goddesses of the Amazons stood looking critically at her, and at the two young women she had brought with her.

Artemis was the first to speak. “This cannot be.”

Demeter said, “It is already done Artemis. I agree that it should not have been, but it has.” She cast reproachful eyes on Diana, who met them without flinching.

Hestia, the oldest of them all, was the next to speak. “You have taken our gift Diana and shared it with another. And you have created a life. Something that only we should have been able to do.”

“You all understand why she did it though,” asked the lilting voice of the golden-haired Aphrodite. “She saved the girl’s life by doing so. We also know that she did not intend to share her own gifts.”

“She might not have intended to share them sister, but she knew there was a chance that might happen.”

There was steel in the voice of the last goddess. It matched the grayness of her eyes.

She continued. “We cannot allow this to stand.”

Demeter and Aphrodite’s eyes dropped at that, but they nodded along with their sisters.

“What do you…”

Diana cut off the angry words spilling from Cassie’s mouth.

“What are you saying Athena?”

“The clay girl must return what she has taken from you.”

“But that’ll kill her!” Cassie exploded stepping forward. Shrugging off the hand that Diana dropped onto her shoulder. “I won’t let you kill her. What right do you have to do that?”

“Cassie!”

Cassandra Sandsmark stopped and turned to look at the final person in the room. Lin-Tse smiled around the terror filling her stomach. Her first attempt to say something was lost behind the squeak that came out. Finally she said, “Cassie, these are goddesses.”

“Not mine,” Cassie replied turning back to face Athena. “You can’t take the power back without killing her. But that’s part of it, isn’t it? Then she just turns back into sand and you don’t have to be reminded that Circe can do something you can.”

Athena’s eyes glinted dangerously, but it was Artemis’ angry voice that said, “Be careful child. You may have gained power but you will find yourself in a form you will not like. Diana, control the child.”

Diana looked across at Artemis. There was a long silence before she said, “What she speaks is the truth, though isn’t it? What Circe did offends you, and you want it removed.”

Aphrodite broke the tense silence by laughing. “It appears daughter, that you have allied yourself with someone as willing to stand up for what they believe in as you are.”

“It changes nothing,” Athena said.

“I will not stand by and allow you to murder her,” Diana answered, matching Athena’s steel.

Before the conflict could escalate, the soft voice of Hestia cut in. “There is another way.”

All eyes turned to look at her as she continued. “The power that the child,” she indicated Lin-Tse, “holds is responsible for binding her form. If we were to replace that with a different power, she would still live.”

Athena cut across whatever Cassie was trying to say. Looking directly at her she said, “Would you give up the power you now have for her?”

Shock etched itself across Cassie’s features. The nasty, victorious gleam in Athena’s eyes rekindled her spirit and she answered immediately, “Yes.”

Diana cast an approving look at the girl and stayed Lin-Tse who was trying to override her. “This is the way it must be,” she said quietly. “They have given more ground that I would have expected. They will give no more.”

“Take her hand,” Athena was saying to Cassie, who obeyed.

The heat in the open-air temple increased dramatically as soon as they touched. The wind whipped though and a spray of water splashed across the two girls. When silence dropped over them again, they would have fallen to the floor if Diana had not looped a strong arm around their waists.

Lin-Tse smiled as she felt the Dragon Lines around her. It was a feeling of coming home, as the energies she had manipulated for centuries were in her hands once more. Then she spared a look at Cassie and her face fell. “I’m sorry,” she began.

Cassie wasn’t listening. She looked up and into the face of Athena, who was looking very satisfied. “What did you do?”

“Gave you a gift of our own free will.”

Diana looked even more shocked than Cassie. She had felt the power return to her from Lin-Tse.

Athena continued. “You have proven yourself willing to stand and fight for what you feel is right. You have courage. We have given you a gift. It is lesser than the one we gave Diana, but as you grow it can grow stronger. If, you continue to show the same strength as you have here today.”

“And if I don’t?”

There was no one to answer Cassie’s question, as the spirits of the goddesses had disappeared leaving only their inanimate statues behind.

Excerpt taken from the Chronicles of the Amazons,
as compiled by Moirai

Translated from Ancient Greek for your reading convenience

… and so it was, that the Amazons welcomed two new friends. One a sister to our own Princess. The other a sister of our own flesh.

Many have speculated as to the reasons for Cassandra’s gifts. Most believe that it is another way for the goddesses influence to be felt in Man’s World. As to Princess Diana, she is keeping her own council.

A great feast was held to welcome our new sisters. They will be welcome here always and Cassandra will be here often to train and learn of herself and of us.

It has been a long time since our family grew. It is a good feeling, and welcome, as it goes some way to easing the loss of our other sister, Artemis.

NEXT: There is no next, at least by Des Davies that is. This issue marks the end of Des Davies' landmark run on Wonder Woman. Des was one of JLU: 2001's original writers, and graciously returned for the previous three issues to help us out and close out his storyline. His efforts are much appreciated by everyone here at JLU, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors. Know too Des, there is always a spot here if you want to come back.

As far as Wonder Woman is concerned, there are plans for a mini series soon, and of course you can find the Princess Diana over in JLA in the meantime. Wonder Woman as a title however is OPEN. Start working on your plots now!

Thanks Des...

Curt F
EIC
JLU: 2001