JLU 2001 Fanfiction - Wonder Woman #16

Not That Long Ago

A storm was brewing. The night was cold but she never once hesitated in her actions. She had a mission to accomplish and she would be damned if a little sour weather got the best of her. Princess Diana of Themyscira reached up and grabbed a hold of the next obstruction in the cliffside. The rock began to crumble in her grasp but she had already continued forward, moving up.

Climbing up the mountainside had not been the safest choice of a path, but it was the fastest to her destination. The world was going crazy and required the attention of every hero that it possessed. She was needed. Time was of the essence.

It was a pity that the Watchtower's teleporters had no effect here. The magicks that had been put in place prohibited Diana from simply materializing where she needed to be. It was a nuisance, but she had to play along. She wasn't in control here.

It was broken.

Diana didn't know how it had happened, but it had. The golden lasso of truth, a gift from the Gods upon her inception as Wonder Woman, an unbreakable weapon, had been frayed and destroyed. Her eyes drifted down to the small pouch on her belt where the remains had been bound together into a haphazard rendition of what the lasso once was. The power was still there, but it was dwindling by the hour. She was running out of time!

Foot by foot, Diana rose higher, never once looking back. She was not afraid of falling. In fact, she wasn't outright concerned with herself. After the disappearance of the League, earth had been assaulted by both Nabu and the negative energies, two major threats that had been repelled. Diana was afraid for the people, living in a world they no longer knew. They needed her help.

They needed Wonder Woman!

But Wonder Woman needed her lasso. Diana kept on climbing...

As the distance between her and her final destination began to dwindle, the mountain began to shake with the seismic power of an earthquake. It became difficult trying to keep a handhold on the cliffside but Diana was not deterred. She could not turn back now for she had come too far.

Wonder Woman reached up and the mountain gave way to flat land. And, just like that, it was over...

Hoisting herself up, the princess took a moment to regain her breath. The hand that had been broken by Annihilus had healed partially but it still throbbed from being overworked so soon. The ground continued to periodically shake beneath her, leading her to wonder what the source was. She had ruled out immediately that it was not an earthquake for all activity ceased for seconds at a time. It was almost as if someone was...pounding on something.

Wonder Woman rose to her feet and eyed the cave entrance that was laid out before her. This was it.

She had arrived.

Stepping forward without a hint of hesitation, Wonder Woman moved inside, hoping that all her problems would be finished after this meeting. The area shook and Diana thought for a moment that the ceiling was going to fall on top of her, ending her troubles then and there. However, the ceiling held and the cave led into a spacious cavern.

Everywhere her eyes could see, there was fire. The mountain masked volcanic movement; a river of lava spread down the middle of the cavern. Diana knew at once why the subject of her quest had chosen this place for a home: all the fire made it much easier to create weapons and trinkets, as was the trade of Hephaestus. A considerable blacksmith in his own right, the creations of Hephaestus were famous throughout the world. He was a god. But then, Diana had been one as well. When they met, they met as peers.

Hephaestus could repair anything. At least, Diana hoped so. He was her last hope.

Looking up from his work, a giant smile came to the face of the blacksmith. "Diana!"

"Hephaestus," Diana replied with a slight bow. "It's been a long time."

"What brings you all the way up here? I assume it’s something of importance."

"You could say that." Diana took the pouch from her belt and threw it to Hephaestus-

The blacksmith caught it in his right hand and opened it, peering inside. It took a moment, but an expression of surprise spread across Hephaestus' face. "Is that...?"

Diana crossed her arms. "My lasso."

"Geez, you put it through the ringer."

"I need it to be repaired."

Hephaestus closed up the pouch and, to Diana's surprise, threw it back to the princess. He shook his head. "Sorry, Diana, but no can do. That thing was a gift from a goddess. You want it fixed, you're going to have to go to her."

Diana gritted her teeth. All the frustration that she had felt recently was returning. She had barely rested since the League's battle with Superman at his Fortress of Solitude. That seemed like it had been months ago when it actuality it had been only about three weeks. She had been running herself ragged, battling world-ending threats back to back. Now, the world was safe, or rather, safer than it had been in a long time, but Diana had yet to take a moment to collect herself. If what the blacksmith was telling was true, Hephaestus couldn't help her. She had come all this way for nothing. As it turned out, the only person- if she could be considered a mere person- that could help her was the goddess that had given her the lasso in the first place. Hestia...

"Can I interest you in something else, princess?" Hephaestus asked, interrupting her inner thoughts. "I have a number of swords and shields. Perhaps, a suit of armor. They all have my seal of approval." Diana shook her head-

"Sorry, Hephaestus," she replied, "but I must be going. Things are unraveling and my attention is needed elsewhere."

"Good luck," he called after her as she headed back the way she came. Picking up his hammer, he went back to work, filling the order of a God himself.

The Amazon Princess.....

Wonder Woman

"Reconstruction"

A REGAINING GLORY PROLOG

aftermath

Wonder Woman #16 - December, Year Three

by Matt Hrubey

Now

Diana floated immobile over her homeland. The flight to Themyscira had been a long one but, just as it was about to end, something had stayed her movement.

She hadn't been back to the shores of paradise for a long while. Not since the death of Artemis. It had been a somber time for the Amazons, one that she didn't care to drudge up.

Themyscira looked the same, but Diana knew that couldn't be true. Looks could be deceiving. Too much had happened in the world for the Amazons not to have been affected. Wonder Woman had changed, noticing a much more bitter streak in herself. She didn't know what had brought it about, perhaps the constant fighting, but the change was subtle and not worth dwelling on.

In her mind, Diana conjured up images of those waiting for her down below. She had not informed any of them that she was coming, an attempt to dissuade a homecoming celebration. A party in her honor was the last thing on Wonder Woman's mind as she glanced down at the pouch on her belt. It was hitched in the same place that the lasso was usually held.

There was something inside her that kept her on a constant edge.

It was feeling that she couldn't describe...

With a sigh, Diana began floating downward.

She was going home.

The paintbrush lightly grazed the canvas. The artist weaved an intricate combination of colors together to yield the visage of a beautiful queen. With a satisfied nod, the painter placed her paintbrush down and smiled. "My queen, I am finished."

Taking a moment to stretch her tired limbs, Hippolyta rose up. She shivered as a cool breeze blew throughout the room. She moved behind the artist, pulling her robe tight against her neck.

The picture was a masterpiece.

"Oh, Esme!" Hippolyta exclaimed, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "It's wonderful. This portrait will be put up in the palace immediately."

"Thank you, my queen. That is a great honor."

"Hippolyta!"

Startled, the queen turned as her name was called. A female figure ran into the room, adorned in the uniform of the Themysciran royal guard. Her usual stoic nature was shattered in exchange for a giant smile.

"What is it, Phillipus?" Hippolyta asked the head of her guard. "Why did you call out?"

"The improbable has happened."

Hippolyta was truly becoming worried. "Have the gates been broken in the underworld?"

"No, no, my queen. This improbable is fantastic!"

Dumbfounded, the queen asked, "Well, what is it?"

Phillipus responded quickly. "It's Diana, Hippolyta.

"She's here!"

Wonder Woman had been instantly assaulted by the faces of loved ones that she had not seen for a long time. Perhaps, longer than it should have been. Arms wrapped around her from all sides and, momentarily, Diana's hardened senses of battle worried about a sneak attack. However, just as quickly, Diana reminded herself that this was her first home, the place she had grown up, and these women were the closest thing to a family that she possessed. She masked her feelings with the sincerest smile she could muster.

"Diana!"

She recognized the voice even before she felt the arms wrap around her. Her mother pulled her close, her grip tight and getting stronger. Diana felt her airflow halted; her mother's strength was on par with her own. Finally, Hippolyta, all smiles and tears, separated and Diana felt her lungs relax after those few moments of pressure. She returned her mother's smile and noticed that Hippolyta appeared much older than the last time she had seen her.

"Mother," Diana addressed her, kissing the back of her palm gently. "It's been long since we've seen each other."

"Too long, my daughter!"

"I wish that my presence here had a better motive but-"

Hippolyta waved off her daughter's intended comment. "Whatever you have to say can wait until we are properly dined. You have been away for very long. I'm sure that there is much that you have to tell me about your travels in man's world."

"Mother, I-"

Guiding her toward the palace, Hippolyta once more ignored Diana. "There is so much work to be done. I wish you had sent a message ahead that you were coming. I could have-"

"Mother!"

She grasped Hippolyta and turned her until they were eye to eye. Diana's expression was grave.

"What is it, Diana?"

"You're correct, mother, there is much I have to tell you. But reasons most dire bring me back to Themyscira once more. There is an issue that must be addressed before I can think anymore about food or rest. My lasso, mother, it was destroyed."

Hippolyta was dumbfounded. "The gift you received from Hestia? It's...destroyed?"

"The story is long but not without an unhappy ending. I must go now, mother, to worship the goddesses and seek the reconstruction of that which is dear to me. When that is finished, I will find you mother and we will trade stories."

Diana, the royal princess, walked off in the direction of Hestia's temple. Hippolyta followed her until she had disappeared from view. Had she been telling the truth? Was the golden lasso of truth broken? Something strange was going on in Themyscira and it had been brought about by the appearance of Diana. No, not Diana, princess and daughter of Hippolyta. This madness had been brought about by Wonder Woman, hero of man's world. It was a madness that needed to be answered for and resolved.

The architecture was some of the best found within the borders of the Themysciran island. The place of adoration was one of the most ancient structures found on the island and it had long ago been dedicated to the sole worship of one of the most prominent goddesses of the Amazons. It was this goddess that Diana had made her long journey to see. Taking a deep breath, she muttered a name older than most things on earth-

"Hestia."

Nothing happened. The silence of the sanctuary was overwhelming. Diana waited a few moments before speaking once again.

"Hestia, I know you can here me. I request an audience with you."

Diana didn't move. She wondered if the goddess knew what had happened and was simply ignoring her pleas. That was always a possibility as the gods and goddesses had long been known to possess a flare for the dramatic. However, Diana found herself unsure. The kings and queens of the skies had a wide view, but Wonder Woman seriously doubted that their vision could peer into the time stream itself. If that was accurate, then Hestia could not have known that the lasso had been broken. She would have no reason to be angry with the princess. Unless...had something happened while she was gone? Wonder Woman needed answers!

"HESTIA!"

The strong breeze picked up through the structure, ruffling Diana's dark locks. She looked around the high ceilings, searching for anything out of the ordinary. It wasn't until she heard the booming voice that she knew her request had been filled.

"You dare, princess, to demand anything of me? I would think that you of all the Amazons would know that the Goddesses don't take kindly to being treated as commoners. If you want something from me, you had better give me a good reason to back it up. But, alas, I am here now, Diana. What is it that you want?"

No, Hestia didn't know.

The visage of Hestia was faintly visible in the shadows. The woman that was so much more than a mere woman was homely, representing the sanctity of the hearth and domestic joy.

"I bring you bad news," Diana said, revealing the pouch.

"You bring me an offering, Diana? I thought we were past that."

Saying nothing, Diana opened the pouch and dumped the contents onto the floor. The pouch soon followed the broken remains of the lasso, fluttering down to the ground and landing on the immaculate floor.

Hestia studied the faded gold of the lasso, a gift from her to the Wonder Woman, and looked back at Diana. "Is this some kind of joke? What are you trying to accomplish by showing me a broken rendition of the lasso that I..." She looked down to Wonder Woman's hips, the very same place she ordinarily kept her lasso, and found that it was missing. Looking back down at the rope on the ground, Hestia placed a hand over her mouth. "H-how did this happen? How did I not know this happened?"

"I recently took a detour through the space-time continuum. The lasso was ripped apart by forces that I couldn't even begin to comprehend. There was...nothing I could do."

Hestia remained speechless, grasping the remains in her hands.

Diana viewed the goddess, unsure of how to continue. "I need you to repair it," she finally said. "As a personal favor to me."

The lasso dropped to the floor, slipping through Hestia's fingers. The goddess looked up at the defender of man's world and Diana swore she saw something that resembled a tear roll down Hestia's cheek. "How dare you ask such a thing? Why should I repair that which I gave you? So you can destroy it once more?"

"It's a usual tool that I need in my endeavors to-"

"To what? Protect man's world? You have lost sight of the goals with which you were sent from Themyscira. Diana, when you became Wonder Woman, it was for the sole purpose of spreading the Amazonian ideals to man's world, making it a place more like Paradise Island. From what I can see, the opposite has happened. Being in man's world, all you have done is fight. You have been turned into nothing but a tyrant, ruling over the inferiors. And you have the gall to come to me? Ha!"

The words were like a sharp wind cutting through the princess. Diana was dumbfounded as she listened to Hestia rant. Was she the only one who thought this or had Diana lost favor with all of the goddesses? What if it spread into the Amazon population as well? No! That was important yet. She needed the lasso repaired. Hephaestus had told her that only Hestia could do it. That meant that she had to do whatever she could to convince Hestia to grant Diana her wish.

"You have to believe that I am not responsible for what happened. No one in particular was. It was a freak accident."

"A gift, Diana. It was a GIFT!"

"All I can do is say that I'm sorry. Do you want me to prove that I'm worthy to hold the lasso again? Whatever you want me to do, just name it."

Hestia glared at the lasso, putting aside her bitterness and trying to remain rational. Slowly, a vicious smile came to her face-

"Well, there is one idea..."

That night, Diana was restless.

So much was going through her head that sleep seemed like nothing but an empty promise. Hestia's request...no, an order...had been that she defeat the gods and goddesses of myth in a series of competitions that would take place the following day in the god realm. Diana had been hesitant but Hestia had made it clear that unless Diana was successful, the lasso would remain broken and frayed for all eternity. Against her wishes and her better judgment, Wonder Woman had agreed to the terms.

Dinner with her mother had also been an experience. Hippolyta wanted to talk about nothing else but the League's trip through space and time that had resulted in the broken lasso. All that trip down memory lane did was drudge up bad memories that she was looking to forget.

Kyle was dead!

The world was without a Green Lantern, unless you counted Alan Scott, who was long past his prime, regardless of his physical stability. Kyle Rayner had been vaporized by the man called Nefaria that the League and the Avengers had fought and defeated. He had been defeated, simply too late. With his death, the Justice League had been shattered to the brink that they had disassembled, J'onn calling up an interim team to take their place. Diana missed the presence of her friends already, but there was much that she had to get done before she could see them again.

After dinner, Diana had sparred with Phillipus, hoping that the physical battle would relax her mind. The ploy hadn't worked. In fact, it had had the opposite effect. Every time Diana struck Phillipus, she saw the face of some evil threat that she had faced recently. Stefan Holliday...the Time Trapper...Count Nefaria...Doctor Midas...Ra's al Ghul...it didn't matter. She had faced so many that they were all starting to blend into one being of pure, unadulterated evil.

And the worst feeling was that it was only a matter of time before she had to fight again.

The Next Morning

The festivities were still a few hours off, but Diana had been driven from her bed by anxiety, and had taken to walking the perimeter of the island. It was a long distance, but one that she was used to. When she had been a young girl, before becoming Wonder Woman, she would walk the same path, using that time to clear her head of thoughts. And here she was, years later, except that her thoughts stuck with her like a plague, making her physically ill.

Diana straightened after emptying the miniscule contents of her stomach. She hadn't eaten anything since dinner the previous night. She scanned the surrounding and found that she was alone. She preferred it that way, at least for now.

Everything was coming to a head quickly, and Diana couldn't shake off the feeling that something bad going to happen very soon.

"Diana."

The warrior woman spun around, taken by surprise. Where once there had been no one, Hestia stood draped in a cloak of shining satin. "You scared me," Diana said, taking a deep breath to steady her heartbeat.

"I apologize, Wonder Woman," Hestia replied. "However, I've come to inform you that it is time to go."

"This is a bit sooner than I expected."

"I have brought my idea before my fellow gods and goddesses and they were eager to get the competition under way. I don't know what you've done to make some of the enemies you have in Olympus."

"Your fellow gods and goddesses like to tamper with the innocent. I stand in the way," Diana explained. "It doesn't leave the best of impressions. Especially with Ares."

Hestia smirked. "It's funny you should mention him. But that is for another time. Are you prepared?"

Looking down at the battle armor she was wearing, Wonder Woman's eyes strayed to the pouch of lasso remains. It was the reason she was doing all of this. With a less than convincing nod, she said, "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

Diana watched Hestia clap her hands together. "I believe you know the way. I await your arrival on the other side." And with that, the goddess disappeared.

Without hesitation, Diana turned and headed back toward the palace. Toward the gateway to the God's realm.

Toward her destiny...

Not everywhere on Themyscira is the paradise that it is made out to be. Deep beneath the sunshine and laughter lay another place altogether. It was cold and dark and merely being there made Diana very sad. It was almost ironic that such a place held the gateway to one of the fantastic places she had ever seen. It was a location that was very prestigious and talked about in myth. Wonder Woman was probably the only person on Themyscira, and even the entire planet, that had ever graced the halls of Mount Olympus.

Olympus!

It was the home of the gods. It had been Diana's home for a short period of time. The thought of going back filled her with a sudden warmth, even though the reason for her return was less than thrilling.

"Are you sure about this, Diana?" The princess looked to her mother, who was shivering despite herself. The doors that blocked the path to Olympus were ominous, opened rarely for fear of unleashing unbridled forces that the earth couldn't contain.

Diana smiled at her mother's worry. "I'm positive. This is something that I have to do. Don't worry. I'll return to you."

"Of course, I'll worry," Hippolyta said, taking her daughter's hand. "It is my duty."

Then, as if they had a life of their own, the doors opened. Diana knew that it was Hestia's doing. The Gods were anxious for their chance to best the famed Wonder Woman, one who had defeated several of their number since taking the alias. It would inevitably be a battle that the Muses would write into history.

A chilling breeze swept through the underground chamber as the doors stood open. Diana gave one last look at her mother, offering a smile, before moving inward. Wonder Woman disappeared into the shadows.

Hippolyta held back the tears that were threatening to pour outward. She was losing her daughter again, and, like always, there was nothing she could do about it. Diana was an independent woman, who did not need the protection of her mother, much less the Queen of the Amazons.

And as Hippolyta watched, the doors began to close once more.

Next Issue- Wonder Woman sets about repairing her lasso in the first part of REGAINING GLORY. However, you'll have to wait for that story. Next issue, while Diana's away the mice will play. Themyscira comes under attack and will never be the same again. As a part of SWAP MONTH, be sure to look out for FURIOUS! in WONDER WOMAN #17 written by none other than JLU's EIC, Curt Fernlund!