Paradise Lost Pt 4

by Arcadia

Chapter Four

Diana viewed Earth from her bedroom window at the Watchtower. After her and Triana's return, the two went their separate ways. Triana remained in the Watchtower by Diana's order. Diana was appalled her sister saw nothing wrong in what she did. Diana understood Triana's style for justice but she knew it was wrong. "Perhaps it was wrong for my sister to come to Man's World to observe," Diana said to herself in the silent room. "Perhaps I was wrong to allow Triana to accompany me on my missions so soon, but I was so excited to share what I'm doing with my sister." Diana heard the door opening. She told J'onn to tell anyone looking for her that unless there was an emergency she preferred to be left alone. She knew of two people to disobey J'onn's orders: Kal and Bruce and seeing the intruder was deliberately allowing his footsteps to be heard, it had to be her love. Superman put his arms around Diana and by natural instinct she leaned on him. "Beautiful blue marble, isn't it?" "Yes," Diana admitted. She loved it when Superman put his arms around her. The two of them just stared out the window as they marveled the Earth for several minutes before Diana spoke, "Ever fear your own strength, Kal?" "Yes," he said without thought. "It's why I always hold myself back. I know what I'm capable of and what my powers can do if pushed to the brink." "So, you've tested yourself to see how strong you are?" "A few times. I once explored a deserted planet. I destroyed an entire mountain with a single punch. It was three times the size of Mount Everest and I only put half my strength into it. It scared me how strong I was. I knew as my parents did I mustn't use my powers for evil. I must never lose control. No one would survive if I did." Superman turned Diana to face him. "May I ask what brought this on?" "Hmm?" Diana asked absently. Superman studied her carefully. "Did something happen in Africa?" Diana looked away for a moment before eyeing Superman again. "When Triana and I delivered supplies to a village in Ethiopia, a militia attacked. Triana and I defended the people but Triana was too rough. She nearly killed a man and would've had I not stopped her. I know things can happen in the heat of battle and I sometimes lose my temper too, but I do hold back. When I told Triana how wrong she was, I didn't see regret in her eyes. She wasn't even scared of using too much power on humans, Kal." Diana stepped away and sat on the windowsill. She looked up at Superman frustrated. "Perhaps, I was wrong, Kal. I thought Triana could help me in my mission of spreading peace, but I think she will do more harm than good." Superman thought about Triana hitting on him and her actions in Gotham. He wanted to give Triana the benefit of the doubt. She was new to this world and needed some time to adjust. Superman knew how much Diana missed her sisters and her home. He knew how lonely she was to not have one of her kind with her. He felt the same thing whenever he thought about being the last of his kind. Kara was the closest he had to finding a member of his race. She was family and it made him happy to not be alone. He knew how happy Diana was to have family with her and he wasn't going to ruin that. Superman sat across from her. "Triana is new to our world, Diana. She made a mistake. Just give her some time and talk to her." Diana shook her head. "You don't know my sister, Kal." "No, but you do. Talk to her again." Diana looked as if she was considering it when suddenly her eyes widen in alarm. "Diana, what's the matter?" "My mother is contacting me." Diana went to her mirror and rubbed the red ruby on her tiara. A stern Hippolyta appeared in the mirror. On impulse, Superman bowed. "Your Highness." Diana was puzzled by her mother's sudden appearance and the look on her face. She was angry. "Mother, what's wrong?" "Triana is with you?" "Yes," Diana answered still lost at her mother's anger. "I want to know whose idea it was to bring Triana to Man's World and I want an answer now!" Diana looked at Superman puzzled and then at her mother. "You did, Mother." Seeing the surprise on her mother's face, Diana said. "You didn't allow her to come here?" "I would *never* allow my Amazons to go to Man's World without my permission! It's bad enough their princess is there!" "Then Triana left on her own," Diana surmised. "But why?" "Curiosity of Man's World and we all know where that lies," Hippolyta said sternly. "Your living in Man's World is having a negative impact on your sisters. I warned you this could happen. You've caused one to disobey my rules and run away to see the land itself." "But I never glamorized the world more than telling about the cruelties and the work--" Hippolyta cut Diana off. "You might not have told them to go but your actions dangle temptation before them like forbidden fruit!" "With all due respect Your Highness," Superman spoke for Diana, "but Diana never told her sisters to come to Man's World. Triana left of her own free will. You can't be angry at Diana when it was Triana, the only one out of an island of woman, who left." Hippolyta shot deadly eyes at Superman. "Your presence on Themyscira had some influence on it as well I imagine. Perhaps I was wrong to send an invitation." Hippolyta looked at Diana again. "I want Triana returned to Themyscira within the hour and that's an order." Diana bowed before her mother. "Yes, Your Highness." Hippolyta's image faded and Diana was free to release the anger that was building in her. "How could Triana do that? Run away?! She knew our Queen would find out and be furious about it." Diana clenched her fist tightly. "Triana's going to wish she hadn't lied to me when I'm through with her!" Diana started to storm out of the room when Superman grabbed her arms. She struggled but Superman tightened his hold. "Whoa, Diana. Calm down first." "Calm down?" Diana snapped, her eyes blazing with anger. "She lied to me, Kal! She made me think my mother allowed her to come here. Now Mother is angry with her and me! She thinks I'm negatively influencing my sisters by being here when I'm trying to show her the good I'm doing in this world, how I'm representing our people! Triana didn't help my cause! She hurt it and I will show her how wrong she was to fool Mother and me!" "Shh," Superman silenced Diana with a kiss to her forehead. Diana was still angry but he could tell she was softening. "I know you're angry, Diana. I understand that but if you go in there now as angry as you are, you're gonna make matters worse. Triana will build a wall around herself and retaliate instead of letting you in if you approach her in a calm manner." Diana eyes were angry but her voice had softened as she said, "I hate it when you're right." "Not often that happens, is it?" Superman joked. Diana softened and laughed with him. "I must take advantage of that whenever possible." "When was the last time you were right?" Diana asked, encircling her arms around his waist. Superman reciprocated the move. "A year ago. I was at your apartment. We were making dinner together. Chicken manicotti with salad and what was it we had for dessert?" "Banana pudding," Diana laughed in his chest as she knew why he was right and she was wrong. "I never had banana pudding and you said I should try it." "I also said let's make each dish one at a time, but you said we could easily make the chicken manicotti and banana pudding at the same time and you know what happened?" Superman asked. Diana laughed. "Yes, I put the garlic in the banana pudding." She looked up at him. "It wasn't my entire fault. You distracted me." "I was only kissing you. I was merely showing my affections for you and you didn't seem to mind." She punched him lightly on his arm. "You call it affection. I call it distraction." Superman brushed a lock of hair from Diana's face, smiling. "Feeling better?" Diana smiled back. "Yes, I am." She kissed his cheek. "Thanks, Kal. I think I'm ready to talk to my sister now." Diana left Superman to search for her sister. She found Triana in the kitchen and asked her to come with her to Diana's room. Triana was expecting some kind of punishment from her sister. Triana didn't understand why. She did nothing wrong. Hippolyta would agree with what she did and be proud of her. However, Triana wasn't expecting the worlds that came out of her sister's mouth. "Triana, Mother contacted me." Diana gazed her sister sternly. "Why did you lie about coming to Patriarch's World?" Triana sat down on Diana's bed and folded her hands on her lap. "I'm sorry, Princess. I was curious about Man's World and wanted to see it myself. I wanted to see what was so fascinating about it that you chose to live in it than Themyscira." Diana frowned. "Triana, what you did was wrong. You shouldn't have left without our Queen's permission. She's very furious and demands you return to Themyscira." "I understand, Princess." Diana sighed as she sat beside Triana. "Don't put all the blame on yourself. I feel I shoulder some of the blame." Triana looked at her sister surprised. "You?" "I'm in this world, doing all these things as Wonder Woman and then I brought Kal home. Perhaps I tempted you, showed you something you wanted and caused you to betray our queen." So, she saw this as her fault. Triana wasn't expecting Diana to do that. Well, Triana decided, she was going to pour as more guilt on her sister as possible. "It isn't fair, Diana. We should be allowed to go to Man's World if we wish." "Yes, but for a reason. I'm here to spread peace on Earth." "And be with Superman. The Queen thought you spent enough time in this world but you wanted to stay. You wanted to stay because of a man more than your mission of peace and the queen allowed you." Triana stood and faced her sister. "It's no doubt I will be punished for what I did but I think you should share in the punishment as well, Sister." "Triana, I admit I've made some mistakes but you can't put the full blame on me for what you've done." "Oh, no? Can't blame the Princess who gets everything," Triana said spitefully. "Triana." Diana never heard her sister talk like this. She didn't want to use her authority to get her sister in line but she saw she had no choice. "Triana, get up. We're going to the Embassy and I'm taking you home now." When Triana didn't move, Diana said. "That's an order from your Princess. I don't know what your problem is but I think it will be in your best interest you do as I say." Triana bowed before Diana. "As you wish, Princess." **** Diana and Triana arrived in Themyscira within the hour of Hippolyta's order. They were brought to Hippolyta in her throne room where the council sat in their seats waiting to hear Triana's case before brandishing punishment. "Triana, I'm very disappointed in you. You ran away from Themyscira and you lied to the Princess on why you were in Man's World. What do you have to say for yourself?" "I'm sorry, Your Highness" Triana apologized. "I was only curious of our Princess in Man's World and why she liked being there." Hippolyta eyed Diana suspiciously. Triana lowered her head. "I've no excuse for what I've done. I deserve any punishment my Queen wishes to bring on me for leaving Themyscira without telling anyone, but I deserve no punishment for being in Man's World. I've done no wrong there." Hippolyta eyed Triana cautiously. "You will be punished, Triana. I promise you that. You know it's forbidden for you to leave the island." "Diana left." "Diana left because she won the tournament," Hippolyta explained. "Yes, and after spending two years in Man's World, you thought Diana did enough to return home but our princess didn't do that." Triana eyed Diana with disdain. "She stayed in Man's World as Wonder Woman and yet you didn't punish her for disobeying *your* orders." "I stayed to help in Man's World," Diana argued to her mother and the council. "If I hadn't stayed, many lives and cities would be gone now. I've worked hard to save many lives since my arrival in Man's World and my work has tripled since joining the Justice League." Diana turned to her sister. "As for disobeying the Queen's orders, the Queen and I came to an agreement." "Don't use your noble duties to hide your true reason for being there, Princess," Triana said the words with malice. "You stayed in Man's World to be with Superman. I'm accused for breaking the rules and leaving the island without our Queen's permission and I accept full punishment for that, but yours is bigger for your involvement with a man." Triana looked to Hippolyta. "If I'm to be punished then so shall Diana." Diana held her temper in check though inside she was boiling mad. How dare her sister discredit all the good she has done by saying she did it all to be with Kal? She loved Kal and she wanted to be with him but that wasn't the only reason she wanted to stay in Patriarch's World. "There is nothing in the rules of Themyscira that specifically states an Amazon should not become involve with a man." Diana said. "And he's not just any man. He is a man of great integrity, honesty and uses his abilities to help others on Earth and beyond. Why even some of our Sisters have compared Kal to be like a God." "The history we've learned of men and their wicked ways; the horrors they've done and continue to do so to our sisters is reason enough not to get involved with them, but you chose too, *Princess*." "History has proven men have changed," Diana said. "Some men can be trusted." Triana smirked. "You think so? Do you trust Superman or Kal as you like to call him?" "Of course," Diana said without thought. "Would you trust him even though he wanted to kiss me?" Gasps and murmurs spread in the room at Triana's accusation. Diana was shocked. "No. Kal would never do that." "He did," Triana lied. "He wanted to kiss me." "That isn't true." "You believe a man over your own sister?" Triana asked in mocked shock. Diana felt the eyes of everyone on her, waiting for an answer. She knew what her sisters would think of her if she chose to believe Kal, a man, over her own sister. And that was the truth. Diana believed Kal. She knew him and she knew her sister was lying, but how to expose her? "When did this happen?" Diana asked. "The first incident happened when you were at a charity event. Superman was with me in your room." Triana knew how that sounded so she explained to the other Amazons. "I was injured after assisting the Justice League with their enemies. Instead of staying by side the whole time like a true Amazon Sister, Diana thought her commitments with the humans were more important and left Superman in my charge. Superman brought me food and he praised my beauty and my courage for fighting enemies I didn't know no matter the risk. He attempted to kiss me. I refused but he said he never met a more beautiful woman than me. I told him no and mentioned you, Diana. Superman said you didn't have to know but I refused him." Diana shook her head. "That's not true." "It is. When you were working in your Diana Prince persona, Superman often came to the Watchtower to see me, but I refused him every time." Diana clenched her fists simmering. How dare she? How dare her own sister spread such lies about Kal? In her time in Patriarch's World, she witnessed women fight over men and found the act to be disgusting, but she did understand fighting to protect one's honor and she never felt the urge to defend Kal's honor more than right now. But she resisted. "It's all lies." Triana shook her head. "Pathetic. How blind you are by your feelings for Superman, you cannot see the truth. Not only that but you are bending the rules of our beloved home, Diana, and everyone knows it. You think everyone is siding with you and your mission, but I`ve been here while you've been parading in Man's World as Wonder Woman. I know how everyone feels." Diana felt the floor fall from under her. Triana's words were so cold and heartless. While she didn't believe the lies she made about Kal, Diana wondered if she was being truthful about her sisters. Did Triana really know her Amazon sister's better than Diana? Did they think ill of her for her life in Man's World? Diana herself was at a loss for words. "The Council has heard enough," Hippolyta said. "The Council will give their opinions." Diana looked to the wise, older women on the island. The women who helped Hippolyta raise and train all the young Amazons who sat at the high Council. Agatha was the first to speak. "Though Triana attempts to put the blame of her actions on Princess Diana, it was Triana who made the final decision to go to Man's World." "Diana's actions did sway Triana's decision to leave Themyscira and Triana is right in Diana disobeying the Queen's orders in staying in Man's World. Not only should Triana be punished for her actions but so should Diana." It was years of training that helped Diana not reveal her shock at Lynn's words. That's the way the vote of the rest of the council voted. Half were for the punishment of Triana and the other half thought Diana should be punished as well as Triana. It was a tie and in the event of a tie, it was left to Hippolyta for the final vote. Diana dreaded what her mother would say. "It falls on me to give the final vote. Triana, you lied and deceived your sister into thinking I allowed you to leave the island." Hippolyta looked to her daughter. "Diana, you are also at fault for not notifying me upon Triana's arrival. You know how I feel about Man's World. You should've thought my decision to allow her to join you as suspicious. I can only imagine you subconsciously knew it was lie but allowed Triana to stay in Man's World so you can have sisterly company." Diana wanted to argue but remained quiet as she waited for her inevitable punishment. "Triana, as punishment for your actions, you will remain guard at the Lookout Tower of our island in total isolation for six months. It will be your duty to purge yourself from any influence of Man's World and strengthen your faith in the Amazons." Hippolyta looked to her daughter. "Diana, I'm ordering your immediate banishment from Themyscira as punishment for your mistakes." Diana gasped, shocked by her punishment. "Banishment? You cannot mean to banish me for the mistake of trusting my sister?" "It is more than that," Hippolyta said gravely. "The result of your sister's actions is proof of your negative influence from Man's World and as Queen of Themyscira I cannot allow you to contaminate anymore of our people." "Contaminate? Mother, I--" Hippolyta raised her hand silencing Diana. "I will forgo the banishment if you return home forever." Diana couldn't hold back her feelings at the shocking punishment. "Mother, how can you ask me to make such a decision? It was you who created the tournament to decide the best Amazon to go to Man's World." "And your mission was successful. You have done a lot in the years you were in that world. There are many other heroes who can protect the planet. But it was *you* who decided to remain in Man's World and allow their negative influences have an affect on you and unfortunately your sister." "My Queen," she said refusing to address Hippolyta as her mother as she was angered by the fact her mother was turning things around and putting the blame of Triana's actions on her. "You accepted my judgment to stay in Man's World and it was you who named me as Ambassador of Peace from Themyscira. It was you who agreed I could stay and continue my work in bringing peace to Man's World." Hippolyta raised a fine eyebrow. "Yes, it was my decision to allow you to say in Man's World as Ambassador, but it's also my decision to revoke such privilege from you." Diana was outrage as the woman who talked to her wasn't her mother. She knew her mother to be strong and even strict at her at times but this was too much. "You can't revoke my duty as Ambassador, as Wonder Woman. I've important things to return to in Man's World: helping poorer countries, striving for world peace, the constant threat to Earth--" "You've not listed your desire to be with Superman. I know that is high on your list as well, Princess." Hippolyta's stare into Diana's were devoid of any emotion. "It seems you have made your decision. You will stay in Man's World. Very well. You may stay on Themyscira tonight to say goodbye to everyone but by dawn you will leave Themyscira forever. Nor I nor your sisters or aunts will contact you again." Her words were final and Diana knew she could argue no longer. She could feel tears ready to fall from her eyes but Diana wouldn't let it. She held her tears in but she couldn't stop the emotions from her mouth as she spoke, "As you wish, Your Highness." She bowed before her mother and the council. "That's it?" Triana scoffed. "I am sent into isolation and Diana is allowed to return to Man's World forever? You knew Diana would choose Man's World to be with Superman over staying on our beloved island. If I have to go into isolation and decontaminate from Man's World then so should Diana. She shouldn't be allowed to set foot in Man's World ever again." Hippolyta appeared appalled at Triana's outburst. "Our princess is banished from her home. She will never see any of us again. That is enough punishment for her." "Diana is banished and retains her title as Princess of Themyscira?" Triana questioned outrage. Hippolyta gripped her scepter tightly. The urge to smack Triana for her behavior was strong. "The decision of the Council is final. Accept it." Diana and Triana bowed before the Queen and her council and exit the room. Diana looked over at Triana and saw the anger on her face. Diana started to speak but decided not to. Instead she retired to her room to reel over the punishment handed down to her. How could she Diana wondered. How could her mother do this to her?