Different Worlds by Arcadia
Part Fifteen:
New Beginnings
Wonder Woman flew through the skies of America with a smile on her face as she reflects over the last week. She thought over the War of Gods, the sacrifices and heroes that rose from it. Themyscira was no longer protected by the Chaos Portal. Themyscira was open and vulnerable to the world for the first time in three thousand years. This caused some uneasiness with the Amazons including Diana herself. But it also reminded her how important it was to continue her mission of peace and how important it was for the Amazons to ally themselves with the outside world.
Hippolyta made the first step by thank the superheroes of Earth for their help and officially welcomed them to Themyscira, saying they were all Brothers and Sisters. After the salutation to Earth’s heroes, Hippolyta returned to the Isle of Healing to continue her recovery. It was left to Diana to take her mother’s place and reside over the funeral pyre of the fallen Amazons. Hermes who was buried on the beach was remembered in the funeral pyre as well. Many of the heroes were in attendance including, Superman, Starman, Hawkman and Hawkwoman.
Three days after the War of Gods, the U.S. President addressed the U.N. apologized for blaming the Amazons for the attacks on the planet and admitted America made a grievous mistake. Three dozen of Earth’s superheroes provided testimony of the Amazons’ innocence and the world was taken in by a well calculated plan. Diana knew Superman would be part of the testimony but Diana was impressed, surprised even that Batman testified as well. Behind closed doors, the U.S. President personally apologized to Diana and all was forgiven.
After her meeting with the President, Diana went to the military hospital to see Phillipus who was recovering and brought herbs from Themyscira that would aide Phillipus’ speedy recovery.
Diana continued her reflection as she soared over Canada, getting closer to her destination. She thought back to that very morning on Themyscira as she visit her mother on the Isle of Healing.
“It’s strange, Mother. I’ve lived among them for some time and yet it feels different now,” Diana admitted as she applied new dressing to her mother’s wounds. “It has been assuring that if things became difficult I could always return here but it’s different now. Suddenly Themyscira doesn’t feel like a refuge anymore.”
“Perhaps it’s because Themyscira is revealed to the world and not so impenetrable?” Hippolyta guessed.
Diana smiled. “I guess so.”
“You told me once before Superman asked you to join this Justice League. Perhaps you should consider it. Themyscira is vulnerable now with the portal destroyed and no protection from the Gods. We need all the allies we can get.” Diana secured the new dressing and sat in a chair by her mother’s bed as Hippolyta continued. “Our exposure leaves our race to possibly die. Some of the Amazons have even thought of leaving the island and venture in Patriarch’s world.”
“Our dream of peace and the Amazons will never die, Mother,” Diana assured her mother.
“I hope not,” Hippolyta said but even she didn’t believe her words. Changing the subject, Hippolyta said, “Now about Superman.”
Diana sat up straight. “Yes, Mother?”
“Timandra and Mnemosyne told me about Superman rescuing them. Pythia told me what he has done for you in Patriarch’s world. Menalippe, Epione and I witnessed Superman taking the full blast of Circe’s Hellfire bolt. It is obvious you have his heart, Diana. Does he have yours?”
Diana didn’t take long to answer for she knew. “Yes, Mother, he does.” Diana looked regretful. “But I never told him. I could easily tell Julia and Vanessa I love them but I never told Kal.”
“Now you should.” Hippolyta smiled. “He loves you. He would never hurt you.”
After her talk with her mother, Diana left Themyscira and flew to Boston to attend the high school graduation of Vanessa Kapatelis. Hugs and kisses were amidst the long awaited reunion of Julia and Vanessa. Both Julia and Diana were proud to see Vanessa who wasn’t a fan of school or studying graduate with honors.
After a few hours of celebration, Diana made her last trip for the day: meeting Superman at the Fortress of Solitude.
Superman and Krypto stood at the entrance to greet Diana. Superman allowed Krypto to hog Diana for it had been a while since Diana and Krypto seen each other.
Diana greeted Clark with a hug and a kiss before he led her to the dining area. after a tumultuous month of war and death, Diana and Clark were finally spending some time alone together. These recent events left Diana thinking a lot about her future with Clark.
“Remember when we were first here?” Diana asked. “It was our first date and I was so naïve to everything,” she said with a laugh. “I didn’t understand the feelings and emotions between sexes and I selfishly kept you waiting until I become accustomed to them.”
“Diana, you weren’t selfish. You didn’t understand the feelings whirling inside of you. It was selfish of me to take advantage like that and kiss you like I did on our date.”
Diana smiled fondly at the memory. “Advantage is one way to put it.” Clark blushed. “It wasn’t fair to you to keep you waiting when you could have moved on to anyone else,” Diana countered.
“I didn’t want anyone else. I wanted you.”
Diana’s heart warmed at the confession. “Since the War of the Gods and my death, I’ve been thinking. It‘s time I take a much needed break. I‘m going to go home, spend time with my mother and my Sisters.”
“You’re leaving?” Clark asked hurt.
“Not for long,” Diana assured Clark. “With my mother in recovery and Phillipus healing from her injuries, I need to be home. And since my mother has welcomed you to Themyscira, you can come as often as you wish. I need to take a break from my responsibilities as Wonder Woman and just be Diana for a while before I decide what I should do with my life. I have some ideas.”
“Like what?” Clark was eager to here what Diana had to say, now knowing Diana wasn’t leaving forever.
“When I return, I’m going to move out of Julia’s home. It’s time I finally have a place of my own, take care of myself without depending on others to clean my clothes or---”
“Cook your meals,” Clark teased.
Diana playfully kicked Clark under the table.
“How are you going to finance it?” Clark asked. “Are you going to take up a disguise and get a job?”
Diana shook her head. “No, a secret identity works for you but not for me. Perhaps when we are out together as Clark Kent and Diana, I will wear a disguise. I want to write a book. Julia has been encouraging me to do so ever since I arrived in this world. She even said some of my journals could be made into books. There are also so many stories about Ancient Greece and the Gods that are incorrect. It’s time the people of this planet know the truth. I also want to write about Themyscira and our philosophies of peace. It can help with my mission. If I get enough funding, I would like to open an Embassy.”
“You certainly thought this out,” Clark said. “And I know someone in Wayne Publishing that could help you sell your book. So, anywhere in particular you want to live?”
“Somewhere not too far from Boston or Metropolis. I’m seriously considering joining the Justice League though becoming a crime fighter and actively seeking out violence would compromise my ideals.”
“We can use you,” Clark told her. “None of us seek out violence. We try to preserve peace. Some of us can get carried away but peace is our objective, not war, not violence. You can make a difference and remind us why we became heroes.”
Diana smiled thoughtfully. “Batman told me of the speech you made to the other heroes.”
“He did?”
Diana nodded. “Mm-hmm.” Diana pushed her seat closer to Clark’s. “It just makes it easier to say I love you. I should‘ve said it sooner but I didn‘t know how and--”
Clark silenced Diana with a kiss. “You don’t have to explain. I love you, too.”
The two resume kissing as a new chapter was being marked in their relationship. For now, there were no wars, just peace and new beginnings for the world, the people of Themyscira and Clark and Diana.
Seven Years Later
Diana laid in her bed, resting and deliriously happy. Today her son was born in the home she shared with Clark just outside of Metropolis. Being a mother wasn’t something Diana thought would happen to her. Being a wife never fit into that equation either.
After the War of the Gods, Diana took six months off from being Wonder Woman. She stayed on Themyscira, rebuilding her home, reconnecting with her Sisters and mother. She was just Diana again. She also spent a great deal of time writing the books she planned to publish when she returned. Clark visit Diana every week. The more Clark visit the more Diana’s Sisters warmed up to him. Even Iphthime was softening her attitude towards him.
When Diana returned to Patriarch’s World, she landed a deal with Wayne Publishing. Her first book was on Themyscira and it became a number one best seller. With her money, Diana was able to move out of Julia’s home in Boston to a penthouse apartment in New York. She also joined the Justice League.
Reading about Themyscira made more people opened to the Amazons and Diana made another attempt at an Amazon tour which was successful. At the end of the tour, Diana was confronted by the Bana Amazons who wanted to join the Themyscira Amazons and when they did, they challenged Diana for the title of Wonder Woman.
Shockingly, Diana lost to the Bana Artemis but she wasn’t giving up being a hero. Martha Kent made Diana a uniform, a little more conservative than her Wonder Woman uniform. It was a red and gold spandex suit with a D shield blazing across her chest. Martha made a matching cape with the suit and though Superman was for it, Diana wasn’t. Diana wasn’t in her new suit long for when Artemis unfortunately died in battle by the White Magician, Diana retain her Wonder Woman status.
It wasn’t long after this, Diana and Clark agreed to have a union ceremony on Themyscira but the happy day turned to horror when Darkseid attacked with his parademons. Diana lost many Sisters that day but not as much as she would have if Clark wasn’t with her. They faced Darkseid together and avenge the fallen Sisters and Diana made a permanent enemy with Darkseid
Eventually Clark and Diana had their long delayed union ceremony. Life resumed as normal as can be for two powerful figures with the occasional enemy trying to kill them or a battle threatening their city, their world. When Doomsday arrived things seriously changed. Diana was on Earth when Doomsday attack. She fought with Clark and at the end, they were both seriously injured, Clark more so than Diana. He was near death and only when they retreated to the Isle of Healing did they finally recover. On the Isle, Clark proposed marriage to Diana. Diana didn’t see why they had to do so since they had a union ceremony by her people but seeing how important it was to Clark, she agreed to a wedding.
Life as a married couple was anything but dull. Clark continued his life as a reporter while Diana had to take up an identity. If the world knew Clark was married to Wonder Woman, his identity would be exposed and Diana didn’t want that. So, she came up with the identity of Diana Prince, wife of Clark Kent who was often away on business.
That business was being a member of the Justice League as Wonder Woman and Diana, Princess of Themyscira and Ambassador. While married to Clark, Diana opened an Embassy in New York which made living arrangements with Clark difficult but a little exciting with them sneaking around. Only Ferdinand knew Diana was married to Clark. Everyone else only suspected Diana was seeing Superman secretly. Superman made frequent visits to the Embassy. Sometimes he was seen coming in at night and not leaving until the next day. Many times Diana was left alone when Superman dropped by the Embassy. None of the staff mentioned this to the press out of respect to Diana.
Despite the business of their lives, they often made time for one another and were very happy.
The incident with Max Lord almost put an end to their marriage. With Diana killing Max Lord, there were many arguments between Clark and Diana, cold stares at each other, separate bedrooms. They didn’t separate but they came very close. Sometimes Clark spent his nights at the Fortress leaving Diana at their home. It was after the Crisis when they took a year off from being Superman and Wonder Woman they worked to salvage their marriage. They were just Clark and Diana. They took trips together around the world, other worlds and time alone at the fortress, discovering new things about each other and rekindled their love for each other.
It was during this time, their child was conceived. It made them and their union even stronger. They knew after overcoming the Max Lord incident, nothing would separate them.
Diana lost a lot that year: the Embassy, her Sisters, her home, and almost Clark but after patching things up with Clark and having a child, Diana had hope. Her mother was gone before the Crisis, killed during war with Imperiex but the pain of that lost was still there, even more so now that she was a mother herself.
Diana’s thoughts went away when she saw Clark returning to their room holding their son in his arms.
“Everything checked out. Jon is just fine.”
“Was there any doubt?” Diana asked as she held her arms out to hold her son.
Clark placed their child in Diana’s arms. “No, but he has to go through the regular procedures. Lucky for us, he didn‘t break any instruments. He probably will later on.” Clark sat on the bed with Diana. “I called Ma and Pa. They are taking the first flight out. I offered to fly them in but Ma thought I should spend my time with you.”
“I’m glad she suggested it and that she and your father will be staying with us for two weeks to help out. I’ve no experience with babies.”
“And you think I have experience?” Clark asked laughing.
“We probably should let Jon’s godfather give us some advice,” Diana joked. “He has experienced with children.”
“Children over ten,” Clark reminded her. He shook his head. “Oh, no. Bruce said he’s not taking Jon until he’s out of diapers.”
“But he is coming over today right?”
“He’ll be here in ten minutes.”
Diana smiled. “I thought so.” Diana stroke Jon’s cheek. “After last year, I never thought this was possible. I wasn’t sure our marriage would survive.”
Clark frowned thinking over the events of last year. “I didn’t think so either.” He thought of the shouting matches he and Diana had. He felt even worse for not being with Diana as much as he should’ve. He was so judgmental of her and not giving her support when she lost her home, when the world turned it‘s back on her. He even did so by staying at the Fortress. Kara let him have it with his behavior towards Diana. She almost had to drag Clark to see Diana in jail when she turned herself in to the authorities.
“That was a dark time for us. We both said and did things that were cruel to each other. I’m deeply sorry for my treatment of you. I wasn’t the husband I should’ve been.”
“Kal, we’re past that. We’ve forgiven each other and we’ve moved on.” Diana stared at their son. “We have him now. We have a new future. That’s what matters now.”
Clark watched his son in his wife’s arms and knew she was right. What he was staring at were the two most important people in his life. It was nearly ten years ago he met Diana in Washington and became fascinated with her. It was several months later, they finally met for their first date and their lives changed forever. From awkward first dates, to deep bonds, first real kisses, union, marriage, almost separation and now parenthood.
Clark and Diana were from different worlds but they both discovered their worlds weren’t so different after all.
The End
