Chapter 5

Darkness. That was all. But this time it wasn't a dream. I had changed into my armor. My sword was at my side, and shield around my arm. A black cloak draped around my shoulders. My hair let down to feel the gentle breeze. I didn't care if people saw me. I was Wonder Woman to them. Nobody else. Well, of course, nobody was outside to see.

I began to run. My legs getting back to the quick pace. Right, left, right. I tried not to think of Steve, yet he was the only reason I was running. I knew where I was going. Not Gateway, not Belgium.

Home.

I was going home.

Themyscira was all the same. I passed the invisible border, and I saw them. Everybody was there, crowded by the shores, waiting for my arrival. Cheers began to form as I landed Bruce's plane nearby. I stepped out. Unsure of what to do. I hadn't been here in ages. It wasn't different. Nothing had changed. Everything was nearly the same, it was just so unfamiliar. Mother ran towards me smiling and soon I was in her arms.

"Diana!"

I smiled.

Others came crowding around me. Antiope smiled at me, and I smiled back, the first time being able to smile. But it still wasn't right.

"Diana, you must have lot's to tell me." Mother pulled away from me, and I smiled, I wasn't who I was before. I wasn't the little girl who wanted to save the world. What was I?

Mother sent everyone back and began to walk with me. I glanced back at Antiope. She nodded, and left with the other warriors.

"Diana, I know that you'd never come here unless something was wrong. Tell me. What happened?"

I paused, unsure of what to say, noticing that I haven't said anything to mother since I got here. "It's been a long time."

"Diana."

"Steve. It's Steve."

Mother looked at me. I saw the disappointment in her eyes. "Diana. He's man. He left a long time ago. I know that."

"No, he didn't I saw him. He's here!"

"No, Diana, he's not. If the only reason you came back here was to talk to me about men, you may as well leave!"

I closed my eyes. Opened them. "No. You don't understand. He, Ares. Ares is here! He's back!"

Mother looked at me. "Godkiller? The Godkiller is back?"

"I don't know. But Steve. Whenever Clark or Bruce see Ares, I see Steve!"

Mother stared at the ground. "But that man, he died. Only Hades could bring him back."

"What do you mean?"

"The one god that did not fight against Ares when Zeus created man, was Hades. Hades was the god of death. That's what he wanted. So he didn't fight."

"Then Hades could have brought Steve back?"

"No. Only if there was a trade. If he was able to come back, Ares would have to give him something in return."

I paused. "Ares wants me. I'm the trade."

"No, that isn't right. Hades, he knows how valuable you are. That's why Ares wants you. It wouldn't be a fair trade. Ares wants you dead, but he doesn't want the man alive."

"Then he's using him. He's using Steve, so whenever I see Ares, I see Steve."

Mother paused, and shook her head. "Be careful in the world of men, Diana."

She turned her back on me, and left, leaving me to wonder why. Why.